Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ebun Oloyede, better known as Olaiya Igwe, has apologised to Nigerians for his actions before the last eternal elections. Recall that before the 2023 elections, the actor shared a video of himself completely nude while praying at a beach for Tinubus victory. The actor and producer has now explained that he did it because Tinubu was there for him when he was ill, and afterwards he got a revelation to go naked at the beach to pray for him. He said his actions elicited curses from Nigerians and he is sorry. Watch him apologise in the video below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lindaikejiblog (@lindaikejiblogofficial) Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The 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 facility told Nigerian online newspaper, Peoples Gazette, 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. Hushpuppi celebrating Tunde Ednuts Birthday from his cell in the U.S Ramoni never change. pic.twitter.com/PIxg3ZuOJz Ikponmwosa (@EGHO231) January 22, 2024 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The project team at the start of work at the end of 2018 in the University Library's manuscript collection with (from left) Marketa Preininger, Korshi Dosoo and Edward O. D. Love. Credit: Gunnar Bartsch, University of Wuerzburg "Magical" texts from Egypt in Coptic script and language are at the center of a research project at the University of Wurzburg. They have now been collected and scientifically annotated for the first time in a 600-page book. A team of scholars spent five years studying "magical" texts from Egypt that were written on papyrus, parchment, paper and shards of clayso-called ostracaand date from the period between the 4th and 12th centuries AD. Worn in an amulet around the neck or secretly hidden in the house of an adversary, the texts were supposed to heal illnesses, curse enemies, evoke love or hatred or allow a glimpse into the future, among other things. What these texts also have in common is that they were all written in Coptic script and language. Coptic is the last stage in the development of the Egyptian language. It replaced Demotic around the 2nd century A.D. and was itself gradually replaced with the Arab conquest of Egypt in the 7th century. Five years of research "Papyri Copticae Magicae" is the title of the book. The scholars of antiquity Dr. Korshi Dosoo and Marketa Preininger are responsible for the publication. At the Chair of Egyptology at Julius-Maximilians-Universitat Wurzburg (JMU), the two have led the research project of the same name for the past five years. "Around 600 of these texts have survived, but the largest published collection to date only contains around 100 of them. The rest were previously scattered in numerous books and articles and were therefore only accessible and known to a few specialists," says Korshi Dosoo, describing the initial situation of the project. Love spells and separation wishes The content of these texts can be categorized into a handful of categories. For example, they deal with protection from death or demons, the appeasement of enemies or the fulfillment of specific wishes. Love spells are a frequently found genre; they were mainly used by men. In some cases, the spell was intended to ensure that married couples separated again. Magic played an important role in medicine, for example, to prevent fever, headaches and insomnia. It was not uncommon for the papyrus to help its wearer become pregnant. "These documents serve as an important source of information about popular religionthe reality, rather than the ideal, of religious practices and beliefs as they were lived and practiced in everyday life," explains Marketa Preininger Svobodova. They thus provide today's readers with information about the experiences of people on the threshold of the transition from traditional Egyptian religion to Christianity and Islam, about their ideas of the human and divine world and about how human experiences such as happiness and success, suffering and illness, love and conflict were understood and negotiated. "These texts give us a direct insight into people's private lives at the time; they convey their true emotions," says the researcher. The transition to Christianity leaves its mark In fact, this transition to Christianity also left its mark on the magical texts. "The Christianization of Egypt ended the cults of the numerous gods of the pharaonic period, but it did not end the belief in a world full of superhuman powers," explains Korshi Dosoo. Instead, people transformed their former gods into angels and saints who served the almighty God and into evil beings who wanted to harm his creation. Accordingly, these manuscripts are "rich sources of information about daily life and religion in Egypt in the last centuries of Roman rule and the first centuries after the Arab conquest," as the publisher writes. Closing a gap in the research landscape With their interest in magical texts from Egypt, the Wurzburg research team is following in a long tradition. As early as 1928, the papyrologist Karl Preisendanz published the collection of texts Papyri Graecae Magicae (PGM), which, despite its name, essentially contained papyri from Egypt and was later supplemented by the Papyri Demoticae Magicae. However, a comprehensive collection of magical texts in Coptic script and language had been lacking until now. "Thanks to JMU funding, Korshi Dosoo and Marketa Preininger have been able to begin to close this gap with the volume that has now been published," explains Professor Martin Andreas Stadler, Chair of Egyptology at JMU. Continuation of the project is secured Marketa Preininger and Korshi Dosoo and their team worked on the volume for five years; the Coptic Magical Papyri research project was completed a few weeks ago. However, the pair's work on the magical texts is far from over. Volume 1 could be followed by several more"presumably seven," estimates Korshi Dosoo. And at least volume 2 already seems to be assured. The two scientists recently learned that their application to the German Research Foundation (DFG) has been approved. With this financial support, they can now tackle a new project: the Corpus of Coptic Magical Formularies. Over the next three years at the University of Wurzburg, they will continue to study love and hate, curses and wishes and all kinds of emotions from a bygone era. More information: Korshi Dosoo et al, Papyri Copticae Magicae (2023). DOI: 10.1515/9783111080109 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain In high school, Jordan Parker wrote a paper on plastic pollution titled: "Is our country doomed to be buried beneath its own garbage?" Decades later, that question continues to galvanize Parker. In 2017 Parker founded the Triveni Institute, an environmental nonprofit that recently hosted a fashion show in which local designers created looks and outfits exclusively using single-use plastic, thrifted clothes and "found objects." "The intention of these designs is to create beautiful art out of plastic pollution and help people lean into this issue in a way that doesn't seem so scary," they said. "So it's not about, 'Look at all these amazing things that we can create with this plastic waste!' That's not the message. The message is: We are drowning in single-use plastic pollution, and we have to turn the spigot off. There's no way we can recycle our way out of this. There's no way we can create our way out of this." Between 150 million and 190 million tons of single-use plastic products were produced globally in 2021, according to international research. That number is expected to triple by 2060, with half ending up in landfills. "I've been involved in this work for a long time," Parker said. "It is depressing, and it's so easy to fall into deep grief." But Parker and other Chicago-area environmentalists and artists refuse to give up. "Trash is just a failure of imagination," said Barbara Koenen, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange, which redistributes surplus donations of materials, supplies and equipment to local teachers, artists and community groups. A group of volunteers spent a Saturday morning at the organization's headquarters in an Auburn Gresham warehouse, making hundreds of notebooks from old spirals and composition books that the nonprofit will give to young Chicago authors in an upcoming festival. Almost 20 miles from the city, a lifelong Elmhurst resident gives old items a second life and a new purpose through her art, which she creates in her basement studio. Though Donna Castellanos works with just about any materials, lately she keeps coming back to outdated encyclopedias and leather-bound books sourced from estate sales. Their end goals might be somewhat different: to beautify the world, offer resources to others or create a space to share an urgent message. But they also share the desire to find new approaches to the overabundance of objects humans are quick to discard. "We need complex thinkers, we need people who are going to nurture a deep sense of empathy for themselves and others and all the creatures that we're sharing this planet with," Parker said 'Rescuer of once-loved things' Castellanos calls herself a "rescuer of once-loved things," which she often finds at estate sales after owners have died, things they didn't want to get rid of until they had to. "I've always felt like there's something there; they kept it for a reason," she said. "And I use it in a different way." Her fascination with pre-owned objects began after she got married and took maternity leave, which gave her time to search garage and yard sales for furniture she could repaint and bring home. She started going to estate sales with a group of friends, armed with paper maps to find their destinations, $40 and a truck. She brought home all the bizarre items she came across. "Things will sometimes sit for years, decades, before they tell me what they want to be," she said. Her home is brimming with artwork, all of which begs a closer look. The coat rack by the front door is made of carpenter rulers. Displayed on a wall in the dining area is a massive tree, its rugged trunk and branches made from ripped book pages. Behind the living room couch hangs a triptych, gilded wood framing scenes that were assembled with vibrant leather from book covers and spines. Resembling a Christian altarpiece, it is a tribute to and portrayal of her mother: "Saint" Joan. "She's embarrassed about it, but she helps everyone who needs the most help at the time," Castellanos whispered with a low chuckle, her muse in the next room. She was inspired by the "Virgin and Child with Saints" painting in the Art Institute. That project follows a portrait she made in 2020 of her grandmother Bertha, part of a traveling National Portrait Gallery exhibition. It was a finalist in the Smithsonian's 2022 triennial Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, which selected 42 out of more than 2,700 entries from across the country. For that portrait, she stitched zippers, pins, buttons, knitting needles and other sewing tools onto fabric, honoring her grandmother who in her youth installed zippers at a small-town factory in Missouri. Castellanos now often finds herself on the receiving end of random gifts. When a neighbor who repaired stringed instruments died, his partner gave her a set of violins and a guitar which became part of two of her shows at the Elmhurst Museum and the Illinois State Museum. When a friend bought a house that was filled floor to ceiling with pipe organ pieces, she transformed some the pieces he gave her into limbs and a torso for a sculpture called "organ donor" and cut out anatomical illustrations from old medicine textbooks. Somewhere in her house, she also has a box full of cicada wings. 'Finding a new purpose' Inside the Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange warehouse, a few dozen University of Chicago students and other young volunteers sat at some tables making new composition notebooks. "I feel like I'm on an assembly line. Also, that I was born for this," laughed Megan Parker, 29, who was there with her friend Rachel Durbin for their first experience with Volunteering Untapped, which matches Chicagoans with local organizations. "It feels nice. It's gratifying to create something that someone else is going to use." Kathy Trumbull Fimreite, the organization's development director and a self-professed teaching artist, had walked them through the necessary steps and was looking over their work. "We take in all sorts of surplus and redistribute it, but we also reimagine it," she said. "And that's something that's really, really fun to do because you're finding a new purpose for something that doesn't have life in its original purpose." The warehouse is full of shelves upon shelves of objects. There's school and crafting supplies, electronics and fabrics. Then there are more unusual items such as quail eggshells and a World War II-era viewing device known as a stereoscope. One volunteer said the place was as equipped as an apocalypse bunker, "in the best way." The microscopes and lab instruments piqued Durbin's attention as a medical student at Rosalind Franklin University. "That's so cool," the 31-year-old said. "Because that can be so expensive to buy yourself new. It'd be really nice to be able to find something like that in a place like this." The nonprofit accepts donations of just about anythingas long as it's clean and safe. Local teachers, artists and community groups are welcome to source from their collections by heading to the exchange's website at creativechirx.org to make in-person appointments or shop at their online store. According to Koenen, the exchange fills a vacuum for things thrift stores such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army won't or can't accept. "All this stuff is great, and it would all be thrown away," she said. But as landfills fill up, she is concerned about what happens next. "The good news is, we do this, and it's fun and it's rewarding. And we're making a difference." 'Something that we don't talk about' On a Saturday evening, the seventh floor of the Macy's on State Street became a runway. Brimming with sequins, studs, bling and feathers, punctuated by a few top hats and even a cape and scepter, the hundreds of event attendees looked like they might be part of the show. A closer inspection of the runway models, revealed their peculiar assemblages: from run-of-the-mill single-use bags to cigarette butts to a fishing net. Designer Sophia Fargo of the brand Sisumoira created a dress with plastic film and old cables, and another model showed off a skirt that artist Eileen Ryan had made entirely out of disposable coffee cup lids all collected from the lakefront. In May, the Triveni Institute held its first fashion show featuring 36 local designers and 50 runway looks, most made from upcycled single-use plastic products. Parker called the outfits "plastic pollution couture." "When we started to advertise for it, to call for designers and casting calls for models, all of these people came out of the woodwork who were really invested in the cause," they said. "They wanted to do something to address plastic pollution and our environmental crisis, using their creativity and their vision. And the end result was just stunning. The works of art that people created for the show were just incredible." That first show was dubbed "Trashion Revolution," Parker said, to hammer on the need for a revolution in thinking "because clearly our leaders are not taking action." Building on its success, the opening segment of the institute's more recent Shadow Ball was an abridged version of the "trashion" line with 25 looks from 17 returning designers. Phoebe Whalen of the brand Patched by Phoebe modeled their own creation, a Rococo-style dress, its lower half bouncing with red solo cups, the look's finishing touch a tall white wig made from plastic bags. The last three looks, created by Luz Maria Diaz of LuDia Couture Designs, included a dress made of intertwined black plastic zip ties, a hooded, floor-length patchwork dress from upcycled denim and a dress made of tightly woven plastic bags topped with a zip tie shawlthe latter won first prize at the May event. The models reached the end and posed under a spotlight, in front of a trash can that had been purposely tipped over. Plastic takeout containers, coffee cups and bagsall single usespilled from within. The philosophy behind these events, Parker said, is to provide "fun and sexy environments" for people to feel relaxed and open to having difficult discussions that bring plastic and greenhouse gas pollution into broader societal conversations like race and economics. People need to first resolve their personal issues, Parker said. Once they can do that then they can be open to healing environmental problems such as pollution and waste. "Because our trash is something that we don't talk about. We just get rid of it," Parker said. "Everything goes to landfills. "We push it away just like we do our own personal stuff," they said. "That inner pain eats us from within if you don't face it, and our pollution and our trash is eating at us because we're not facing that either." 2024 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: DLR's four-legged robot Bert explores and monitors the unfamiliar environment. The Surface Avatar Experiment rehearsed an important scenario for future exploration missions on the moon and Mars. Bert is being developed at the DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics and can walk, trot, gallop, perform a passing gait and even climb. This enables him to cover long distances and at the same time move around in rough terrain or small caves. Credit: DLR Swedish astronaut Marcus Wandt took control of a series of robots in Germany while on board the International Space Station, zipping around the Earth at 28,000 kilometers per hour (17,500 mph.) Researchers want to understand how time delays can affect the remote control of robots from an orbiting platform. Future astronauts could control rovers on the moon or Mars from a spacecraft in orbit. Until now, only wheeled rovers have been part of the tests, but now they have added a dog-like robot called Bert. This robot research session, called "Surface Avatar" follows initial experiments carried out in July 2023. Wandt operated the robots from a control station in the space station's Columbus module, commanding three different robots at the German Space Agency's (DLR) Robotics and Mechatronics Center in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. The goal is to develop innovative technologies that will allow humans to control several robots with precision, and have them act semi- or fully autonomously and even have different robots perform a task together. "Future stations on the moon and Mars, including astronaut habitats, will be built and maintained by robots operating under the guidance of astronauts," said Alin Albu-Schaffer, Director of the DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, in a DLR article. "Our latest control and AI algorithms enable a single astronaut to command an entire team of different robots. Our DLR-ESA team is a world leader when it comes to this technology." The remote operation of the dog-like robot Bert was marked the first time a non-wheel-driven robot was controlled remotely from space by astronauts. Previously, DLR's humanoid service robot Rollin' Justin and ESA's Interact Rover have been teleoperated from space. During the session, Wandt, who is part of the private Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), was able to command Bert to utilize several types of gaits and, because of his leg-based locomotion, Bert was able to explore rough terrain, including small cavesareas that the rolling robots cannot reach. At one point, Wandt allowed Bert to explore the lab's surroundings independently and monitor the terrain with his camera eyes. Meanwhile, Wandt operated Rollin' Justin and the Interact Rover. The time delay between the ISS and Earth is usually less than one second. "That's because my radio call comes from ISS first to White Sands in the U.S.," explained German Space Agency astronaut Matthias Maurer, in a video from DLR. "From there it goes to Houston at NASA. From there it will be forwarded to Munich where our control center is in Oberpfaffenhofen." Maurer added that the delay experienced is like what sometimes happens on a Skype call, which occasionally has delays in communications. And of course, the round-trip delay time might be close to 2 seconds, which is deficiently noticeable, especially during conversations. DLR said that future operations of robots and humans working together must be well planned out in order for them to work as a team. When building a habitat, for example, combining the different skills of several robots is very helpful. Wandt also tested out this concept and for the first time two robots worked together to accomplish a task: Rollin' Justin and the Interact Rover jointly installed a short pipe representing a scientific measuring device. Under the command of Wandt, Rollin' Justin used his dexterous hands to safely grasp the pipe and carefully guide it to the measuring point. Wandt then used the Interact rover's remote control to install the pipe held in position by Justin. Robots have also been used in space on board the ISS. Robonaut is a joint DARPANASA project that created a humanoid torso robot to test out robotics in space. Additionally, three free-flying robots on the space station, known as Astrobees, support multiple demonstrations of technology for various types of robotic assistance on space exploration missions and on Earth. 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: Overview of DEBmicroTrait. Credit: Nature Microbiology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01582-w Climate models are essential to predicting and addressing climate change, but can fail to adequately represent soil microbes, a critical player in ecosystem soil carbon sequestration that affects the global carbon cycle. A team of scientists led by the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has developed a new model that incorporates genetic information from microbes. This new model enables the scientists to better understand how certain soil microbes efficiently store carbon supplied by plant roots, and could inform agricultural strategies to preserve carbon in the soil in support of plant growth and climate change mitigation. "Our research demonstrates the advantage of assembling the genetic information of microorganisms directly from soil. Previously, we only had information about a small number of microbes studied in the lab," said Berkeley Lab Postdoctoral Researcher Gianna Marschmann, the paper's lead author. "Having genome information allows us to create better models capable of predicting how various plant types, crops, or even specific cultivars can collaborate with soil microbes to better capture carbon. Simultaneously, this collaboration can enhance soil health." This research is described in a new paper that was recently published in the journal Nature Microbiology. The corresponding authors are Eoin Brodie of Berkeley Lab, and Jennifer Pett-Ridge of Lawrence Livermore National Lab, who leads the "Microbes Persist" Soil Microbiome Scientific Focus Area project. Seeing the unseen: Microbial impact on soil health and carbon Soil microbes help plants access soil nutrients and resist drought, disease, and pests. Their impacts on the carbon cycle are particularly important to represent in climate models because they affect the amount of carbon stored in soil or released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide during the process of decomposition. By building their own bodies from that carbon, microbes can stabilize (or store) it in the soil, and influence how much, and for how long carbon remains stored belowground. The relevance of these functions to agriculture and climate are being observed like never before. However, with just one gram of soil containing up to 10 billion microorganisms and thousands of different species, the vast majority of microbes have never been studied in the lab. Until recently, the data scientists had to inform these models came from only a tiny minority of lab-studied microbes, with many unrelated to those needing representation in climate models. "This is like building an ecosystem model for a desert based on information from plants that only grow in a tropical forest," explained Brodie. The world beneath our feet To address this challenge, the team of scientists used genome information directly to build a model capable of being tailored to any ecosystem in need of study, from California's grasslands to thawing permafrost in the Arctic. With the model using genomes to provide insights into how soil microbes function, the team applied this approach to study plant-microbiome interactions in a California rangeland. Rangelands are economically and ecologically important in California, making up more than 40% of the land area. Research focused on the microbes living around plant roots (called the rhizosphere). This is an important environment to study because, despite being only 1-2% of Earth's soil volume, this root zone is estimated to hold up to 30-40% of Earth's carbon stored in soils, with much of that carbon being released by roots as they grow. To build the model, scientists simulated microbes growing in the root environment, using data from the University of California Hopland Research and Extension Center. Nevertheless, the approach is not limited to a particular ecosystem. Since certain genetic information corresponds to specific traits, just as in humans, the relationship between the genomes (what the model is based on) and the microbial traits is transferable to microbes and ecosystems all over the world. The team developed a new way to predict important traits of microbes affecting how quickly they use carbon and nutrients supplied by plant roots. Using the model, the researchers demonstrated that as plants grow and release carbon, distinct microbial growth strategies emerge because of the interaction between root chemistry and microbial traits. In particular, they found that microbes with a slower growth rate were favored by types of carbon released during later stages of plant development and were surprisingly efficient in using carbonallowing them to store more of this key element in the soil. The root of the matter This new observation provides a basis for improving how root-microbe interactions are represented in models, and enhances the ability to predict how microbes impact changes to the global carbon cycle in climate models. "This newfound knowledge has important implications for agriculture and soil health. With the models we are building, it is increasingly possible to leverage new understanding of how carbon cycles through soil. This in turn opens up possibilities to recommend strategies for preserving valuable carbon in the soil to support biodiversity and plant growth at scales feasible to measure the impact," Marschmann said. The research highlights the power of using modeling approaches based on genetic information to predict microbial traits that can help shed light on the soil microbiome and its impact on the environment. More information: Gianna L. Marschmann et al, Predictions of rhizosphere microbiome dynamics with a genome-informed and trait-based energy budget model, Nature Microbiology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01582-w Journal information: Nature Microbiology 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: First used by Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT scientists to detect COVID-19 in Colombia, nanopore technology can also analyze the spread of plant viruses. Credit: Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT / E. Ramirez In a recent breakthrough, DNA sequencing technology has uncovered the culprit behind cassava witches' broom disease: the fungus genus Ceratobasidium. The cutting-edge nanopore technology used for this discovery was first developed to track the COVID-19 virus in Colombia, but is equally suited to identifying and reducing the spread of plant viruses. The findings, published in Scientific Reports, will help plant pathologists in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand protect farmers' valued cassava harvest. "In Southeast Asia, most smallholder farmers rely on cassava. Its starch-rich roots form the basis of an industry that supports millions of producers. In the past decade, however, cassava witches' broom disease has stunted plants, reducing harvests to levels that barely permit affected farmers to make a living," said Wilmer Cuellar, Senior Scientist at the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT. Plant pathologists based in Vientiane, Laos, have identified the root cause of cassava witches' broom disease. Credit: Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT / A. Galeon Farmers and agricultural extension agents are trying to identify and stop cassava witches' broom disease before it stunts harvests across Southeast Asia. Credit: Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT / A. Galeon Since 2017, researchers at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT have incorporated nanotechnology into their research, specifically through the Oxford Nanopore DNA/RNA sequencing technology. This advanced tool provides insight into the deeper mysteries of plant life, accurately identifying pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and fungi that affect crops. "When you find out which pathogen is present in a crop, you can implement an appropriate diagnostic method, search for resistant varieties and integrate that diagnosis into variety selection processes," said Ana Maria Leiva, Senior Researcher at the Alliance. Nanotechnology, in essence, is the bridge between what we see and what we can barely imagine. This innovation opens a window into the microscopic world of plant life and pathogens, redefining the way we understand and combat diseases that affect crops. More information: Ana M. Leiva et al, Ceratobasidium sp. is associated with cassava witches' broom disease, a re-emerging threat to cassava cultivation in Southeast Asia, Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49735-5 Provided by The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Research samples collected over decades at a prestigious Swedish medical university have been destroyed after a freezer malfunctioned over the Christmas holidays, the university said on Monday. The incident has been reported to police, the university added. The samples were stored in tanks cooled with liquid nitrogen, at a temperature of minus 190 degrees Celsius (minus 310 degrees Fahrenheit), at the medical university Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Stockholm. KI is home to the Nobel Assembly, which is tasked with selecting a winner for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Sometime between December 22 and 23 there was an interruption in the supply of liquid nitrogen to 16 cryogenic tanks, and while the tanks can go for four days without additional liquid nitrogen, they were left without it for five, leading to the destruction of samples from multiple institutions. "It happened at possibly the absolute worst time imaginable in Sweden, just one day before Christmas Eve," Matti Sallberg, Dean of KI's southern campus, told AFP. Some media outlets reported that the estimated value of the samples lost was some 500 million kronor ($47 million). Sallberg said no official estimate of the value of the samples lost had been made, but said it was easily in the millions. "Those worst affected are those researching leukemia, they have gathered samples from patients over as much as 30 years," Sallberg said. An internal investigation has been launched at the university and despite there being no indication of sabotage, the incident has also been reported to police. "Currently there is no indication that it was due to outside influence, but the police report was done to cover all bases," Sallberg said. The samples were all strictly for research so it would not affect the care of any current patients, but had been intended to be used in future research. "These are samples that have been the subject of extensive studies and there were plans for more studies," said Sallberg. 2024 AFP The unification ministry said Monday it will push to conduct genetic testing on the bodies of North Koreans found in South Korean waters or coastlines in case North Korea refuses to accept them. The move is aimed at helping the families of the deceased North Koreans in the North identify their family member. The ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs said it will push to revise a related directive, as North Korea has been unresponsive to Seoul's offer to return the bodies of North Koreans amid frayed inter-Korean ties. When the bodies of North Korean citizens are washed away and found in South Korea due to flooding or other reasons, the ministry returns them to North Korea if Pyongyang will accept them. If the North does not accept them, the government cremates them in cooperation with the respective provincial governments in accordance with relevant procedures. Since North Korea cut off an inter-Korean liaison channel in April last year, North Korea remained unresponsive to Seoul's proposal to return such bodies in May and September last year. Since 2014, the government has carried out genetic tests on separated families in a bid to set up a database so that it can be used for finding their kin in North Korea after their deaths. The ministry said the latest move is aimed at expanding such a policy on humanitarian grounds. Since 2010, the bodies of 29 North Koreans have been found in South Korea. The North has accepted Seoul's offer to return the bodies in 23 cases, with the last case occurring in 2019. (Yonhap) This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Soil Ecology Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s42832-023-0204-4 Microscopic nematodes play important roles in the soil ecosystem and often serve as bioindicators of soil health. The identification of soil nematodes is often difficult due to their limited diagnostic characters and high phenotypic plasticity. The DNA barcoding and metabarcoding techniques are promising but lack universal primers, especially for mitochondrial COX1 gene. In a new study, a degenerated COX1 forward primer COIFGED was developed. The primer pair COIFGED/JB5GED significantly improved species identification and thus can be supplementary or alternative to the conventional 18S metabarcoding. The researchers' findings were published in Soil Ecology Letters. A series of studies on the soil nematode metabarcoding have been conducted by Plant Nematode laboratory at the Nanjing Agriculture University, and many interesting findings have been obtained. For example, a proportion of the non-Nematoda ASVs were assigned to soil eukaryotes such as Arthopoda and Ascomycota. These organisms may represent a part of nematode gut microbiome as soil nematodes feed on a large variety of food sources, alternatively their degraded debris can be carried by nematode cuticles. Researchers also found that the relative abundances recovered from metabarcoding data were not proportional to morphological observation. The variability in these recovered-abundance may be attributed to primer biases, as some nematode taxa lack an adequate primer-binding site due to mutations in the primer-binding regions, especially for the COX1 genes. Professor Qing said, "We designed four degenerated sites in primer with two Ns (contains all four nucleotides) in hyper-variable sites, aiming to improve the primer binding efficiency for the hyper-variable COX1 gene." Together with existing reverse primer JB5GED, the new primer pair outperforms widely the commonly used JB3/JB4.5 primers both in broader taxon recovery and higher amplicon production. "We observed a significant proportion of unidentified ASVs, others were assigned unexpected taxa resulting in many mock community taxa unrecovered. Based on a phylogenetic reconstruction, we confirmed that many of the unidentified ASVs had Nematoda origin emphasizing the importance of database coverage, and comprehensive work that will need to take place towards nematode COX1 database expansion before the COX1 gene can be used as a metabarcoding marker." Currently, driven by a broad taxon representation in databases, 18S rRNA has been the most commonly used barcoding gene marker. However, 18S rRNA has been shown to provide limited taxonomic resolution, especially species or even genus level for some nematode groups. The hyper-variable mitochondrial COX1 gene is a suitable gene to discriminate among closely related species or even phylogeographic groups within a single species. The newly designed COX1 primer significantly improved the binding efficiency, and thus can be supplementary to the conventional 18S metabarcoding in the future. More information: Yincai Ren et al, A single degenerated primer significantly improves COX1 barcoding performance in soil nematode community profiling, Soil Ecology Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s42832-023-0204-4 Provided by Frontiers Journals 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: (Left) The Grenvillian super-mountain-belt, which consolidated the Rodinia supercontinent, represents a key component of the Earth-system balancing act required to maintain environmental stability at ca. 1000 Ma. (Right) Kjeragbolten rock from the Sirdal Magmatic Complex in Scandinavia, denoted by a red star in each reconstruction, epitomizes this delicate balance. Photo gratefully used with permission from Balance Eskil Rnningsbakken / Sindre Lundvold (https://www.kompanibliss.no/eskilbalance). Credit: David Evans Branding seems like it's everywhere today. And it's not just the swoosh on your Nikes or the bitten apple icon on your laptop anymore. Social media influencers craft their personal brands. But is there even branding in science? You bet there is. There's a billion-year-long stretch of Earth's 4.56-billion-year-long history that has for decades been referred to by geologists (somewhat reluctantly) as the "Boring Billion." But the name has never really taken, and recently I (Ross Mitchell, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and author of "The Next Supercontinent") and David Evans (Yale University) have suggested that it's time for a change. The concept of a so-called Boring Billionfrom roughly 1.8 to 0.8 billion years agowas first inspired several decades ago by the apparent absence of any significant perturbations to Earth's carbon cycle and was linked to the relatively dull interval in the long-term rise of atmospheric oxygenation. In our new paper in the journal GSA Today Evans and I start by showing that the data behind the concept of the Boring Billion have not only stood the test of time, but the apparent idiosyncrasies of that eon extend beyond Earth's surface environment, into Earth's deep inner workings as well. Our paper starts by pointing out other aspects of Earth's surface environment that were also static during that time. First, there is a complete lack of evidence for glaciation. Glaciation has come and gone repeatedly through Earth's history, with this one exceptional, very long, warm period that some might find climatically boring. Second, the origin of complex life (called eukaryotes) occurred before the ice-free interval and its diversification into animal life as we know it waited until after it to take place. A billion years is quite a long time to waitespecially for impatient evolution. Records from all of Earths layers (from top to bottom) exhibit important idiosyncrasies during the Balanced Billion (light brown band). Credit: Ross Mitchell And we didn't stop there. We dug deeper (literally) into Earth's inner layers. Citing recent advances from plate tectonics and Earth's crust, mantle, and even the core, we find that essentially the whole Earth was acting peculiar during that time. But the old term the Boring Billiondespite its apparent validity in the Earth system and the appeal of its alliterationhas soured in recent years. Scientific articles and the popular press have repeatedly reported strawman arguments when any new discovery from that interval is at odds with the subjective concept of dullness. Picking up on new clues from convection in the massive mantle, and the moon and the sun's tidal forces controlling Earth's length of day, Evans and I introduce a new concept of "balance" and suggest rebranding the time period to the "Balanced Billion." Just as one might marvel at a tight-rope walker, we suggest that discovering what overarching processes kept the Earth from swinging between extremes is the real question to be asking. For an entire planetary system to remain suspended in balance, a series of interrelated feedbacks between the solid Earth, its ocean, and its atmosphere, must act in delicate synchrony. Nick Roberts of the British Geological Survey, who wasn't involved in the study, says, "The Boring Billion needed to go. I never bothered to think of an alternative, so I'm glad someone has." Roberts also thinks the new name will serve the science well. He asserts, "How balanced was it? Well it's a good cue to do more research and find out...." We hope that the concept of Balance will help us better understand the long-delayed fuse in the rise of animals. We also bring to attention that unlocking the secrets to the Balanced Billion may help society devise climate change solutions that mimic a time when Earth was more measured in its global change. This story is part of Science X Dialog, where researchers can report findings from their published research articles. Visit this page for information about ScienceX Dialog and how to participate. Dr Ross Mitchell is a professor at the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGGCAS) in Beijing. He holds a PhD in geology and geophysics from Yale University and served as a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech. His research aims to discover the governing dynamics of the supercontinent cycle the repeated assembly and breakup of Earths continents by plate tectonics. His research has been published in Nature and Nature Geoscience and covered by outlets including the New York Times, Scientific American, NPR Science Friday, and Science. His book, The Next Supercontinent, published this year by the University of Chicago Press, uses Earths distant past to predict its potential future. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The Aldabra giant photographed in the Anjajavy Reserve on 26 August 2022. Credit: Chainsawpunk/Wikimedia Commons, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International A six-year-old project to return giant tortoises to the wild in Madagascar could result in thousands of the 350kg megaherbivores re-populating the island for the first time in 600 years. The first group of Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) were brought in from the Seychelles in 2018, and have been reproducing on their own since. Ecologist Grant Joseph explains how reintroducing this tortoise to areas degraded by cattle grazing will help restore the island's forests, grassy woodlands and shrublands of the past. It could also help prevent devastating forest fires in future. What is the Aldabra giant tortoise and why is it important? The Aldabra giant is the second-largest species of land tortoise in the world, after the Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra). It can live for 100 years and has a fascinating history. This tortoise evolved from ancestors of Aldabrachelys abrupta, one of two giant tortoises that inhabited Madagascar for 15 million years. Four million years ago, the Aldabrachelys abrupta lineage migrated, likely via a combination of drifting with floating vegetation and assisted by their natural buoyancy and good swimming abilities, to the Seychelles. From there it moved on to Aldabra (an island 1,000km south-west of the Seychelles), evolving into a third species, the Aldabra giant of today (Aldabrachelys gigantea). Six hundred years ago, all giant tortoises were wiped out on Madagascar by hunters. The reintroduction of the Aldabra giant is the first time giant tortoises have been released in Madagascar since the 1500s. Aldabra giants are particularly social, coming together in large numbers to forage and sleep together. It is likely that many hundreds of thousands of giant tortoises lived historically on Madagascar. They played a key role in maintaining the ecological balance in a now lost habitat mosaic (a place where different habitats exist side by side). They ate fruits of various trees and dispersed the seeds in their dung, a process known as megafauna-dependent germination. This helped foster the growth of forests, woodlands, shrublands and patchy grasslands. Today, humans have burnt most of these habitats and there is mostly treeless grassland in the areas where giant tortoises once lived. How difficult was it to reintroduce this tortoise to Madagascar? In 2018, Madagascar-based tortoise specialist and conservation biologist Miguel Pedrono was part of a group that worked with the government of Madagascar to reintroduce the Aldabra giant to the Anjajavy Reserve in the north-west of Madagascar. I am an ecologist and conservation biologist working in Madagascar and I modeled the impact the tortoise could have on vegetation. The first group of 12 giant tortoises, five males and seven females, arrived and were fitted with transponders before being released. Reintroducing the tortoise was far less daunting than anticipated. Two babies were born the year after the tortoises were resettled in Madagascar and in the five years since, another 152 tortoises have hatched. All the baby tortoises (hatchlings) were taken to live in a tortoise nursery in Anjajavy soon after they were born, and will be returned to the wild once their carapace (the convex part of the shell which is made up of the tortoise's ribs, fused with bone) is large enough to protect them from predators. Hatchlings are very smallso feral cats, dogs and rats are potential predators, as are raptors (birds of prey) and the fossa, Madagascar's largest endemic carnivore. Meanwhile, the juvenile tortoises are being raised in an environment that looks just like the one they will be freed into, so that they develop the foraging skills they need to survive in the wild. Through natural breeding, this project aims to have 500 wild giant tortoises in Anjajavy Reserve by 2030 and about 2,000 by 2040. Why is it important to bring the tortoise back? My recent research has shown that much of Madagascar is burned annually by people to create grazing land for cattle. In other areas, woodland and forest is cut down, and the ground then burned for cropland. Our research predicts that reintroducing the Aldabra giant tortoise will limit such fires in the future. Tortoises limit fire by feeding on any grass or dry leaves on the forest floor, leaving less dry fuel available in these forests to catch alight. The original, shady forests and woodlands of Madagascar also limited the ability of fire to spread. Without the tortoise helping seeds to germinate for the past 600 years, endemic trees have not reproduced as fast as they could have. We believe that reintroducing the tortoise will speed up the growth of forest and woodland considerably. On Rodrigues and Ile aux Aigrettes islands in Mauritius, research shows that ebony forests returned after giant tortoises were reintroduced. Our dream is to expand the Aldabra giants' habitats beyond the Anjajavy reserve, so that this tortoise can help regenerate forest and woodland across as much of Madagascar as possible. There are 100,000 Aldabra giant tortoises living on the 155km island of Aldabra in the Seychelles. On the Mascarene islands (Mauritius, Rodrigues and Reunion), giant tortoises once numbered in the many hundreds of thousands. But between 1700 and 1840, all Mascarene giant tortoise species were driven to extinction by humans. We are hopeful of reintroducing the same kind of numbers to Madagascar through this project. If the reintroduction continues to be successful, we are optimistic that we will be able to return these tortoises across their former rangelands one day, benefiting biodiversity and tourism. This will also enhance animal biodiversity: there will be a return to habitat mosaics with trees, supporting animals like lemurs, indigenous birds and chameleons. People also stand to benefit, as Madagascar recently experienced a famine, which in some areas may have been worsened by climate change. The likely increase in tree cover following larger scale reintroduction will help reduce the impacts of climate change. More information: Grant S. Joseph et al, Fire incongruities can explain widespread landscape degradation in Madagascar's forests and grasslands, PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET (2023). DOI: 10.1002/ppp3.10471 Journal information: Plants, People, Planet This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Gray wolves in Idaho will not be relisted under the Endangered Species Act despite conservationist concerns, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced in a ruling Friday. The agency's decision concluded more than two years of analysis in response to multiple petitions regarding the animals' status in the Western U.S. and the Northern Rocky Mountains area, which includes Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and parts of Oregon, Washington and Utah. Fish and Wildlife Service officials said the Northern Rocky Mountains population doesn't constitute a "valid listable entity" for Endangered Species protections. It said the Western U.S. population qualifies for protections but determined the animals don't meet the threshold to be listed under the Endangered Species Act. Conservation groups brought relisting petitions to the federal government in 2021 and 2022 following an expansion of wolf hunting and trapping opportunities in Idaho and Montana. Several of them expressed disappointment at the Fish and Wildlife Service decision. Nicholas Arrivo, managing attorney for wildlife at the Humane Society of the United States, in a statement called the ruling "reprehensible" and said the agency is standing by as wolves in Idaho and neighboring states are "pushed to the brink of extinction once again." "The agency is essentially turning their backs on wolves," Arrivo said. Suzanne Asha Stone, director of the Idaho-based International Wildlife Coexistence Network, told the Idaho Statesman in a text message that the decision "clears the way for states like Idaho to brutally kill as many wolves as they want." "We have to ask the Biden administration: Why did the American people bring healthy wolf populations back only to see them eradicated from the landscape just a few decades later?" she said. Friday's ruling adds layers to an already-complex landscape of wolf protections. With the exception of wolves in the Northern Rocky Mountains area, wolves in the Lower 48 states are protected by the Endangered Species Act. The species is considered "threatened" in Minnesota and "endangered" in all other states. Idaho has managed its wolf population since 2011, when they were removed from the Endangered Species list. The Statesman has reached out to Idaho Department of Fish and Game officials for comment on the ruling. The Fish and Wildlife Service decision coincides with the agency's announcement of plans to start "a national conversation" about gray wolves. The agency said it will develop a national recovery plan for the species by December 2025. 2024 Idaho Statesman. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A retrovirus has a membrane containing glycoproteins, which are able to bind to a receptor protein on a host cell. There are two strands of RNA within the cell that have three enzymes: protease, reverse transcriptase, and integrase (1). The first step of replication is the binding of the glycoprotein to the receptor protein (2). Once these have been bound, the cell membrane degrades, becoming part of the host cell, and the RNA strands and enzymes enter the cell (3). Within the cell, reverse transcriptase creates a complementary strand of DNA from the retrovirus RNA and the RNA is degraded; this strand of DNA is known as cDNA (4). The cDNA is then replicated, and the two strands form a weak bond and enter the nucleus (5). Once in the nucleus, the DNA is integrated into the host cell's DNA with the help of integrase (6). This cell can either stay dormant, or RNA may be synthesized from the DNA and used to create the proteins for a new retrovirus (7). Ribosome units are used to transcribe the mRNA of the virus into the amino acid sequences which can be made into proteins in the rough endoplasmic reticulum. This step will also make viral enzymes and capsid proteins (8). Viral RNA will be made in the nucleus. These pieces are then gathered together and are pinched off of the cell membrane as a new retrovirus (9). Credit: Wikipedia/CC BY-SA 3.0 A research team has caught a glimpse of a rare case of retrovirus integration. Retroviruses are viruses that multiply by incorporating their genes into the genome of a host cell. If the infected cell is a germ cell, the retrovirus can then be passed on to the next generation as an "endogenous" retrovirus (ERV) and spread as part of the host genome in that host species. In vertebrates, ERVs are ubiquitous and sometimes make up 10% of the host genome. However, most retrovirus integrations are very old, already degraded and therefore inactivetheir initial impact on host health has been minimized by millions of years of evolution. A research team led by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) has now discovered a recent case of retrovirus colonization in a rodent from New Guinea, the white-bellied mosaic-tailed rat. In a paper in the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences," they describe this new model of virus integration. The observations on this process will help to improve our understanding how retroviruses rewrite host genomes. Retroviruses, such as the pathogen responsible for AIDS (HIV-1), integrate into the genome of the host cells they infect during their life cycle. When this happens in the germline (egg cells or cells that produce sperm) of the host, the retrovirus can actually become a gene of the host itself. This process is apparently common, as up to 10% of the genomes of most vertebrates consist of the remnants of such ancient infections. One of the best-studied models of this process is the koala retrovirus (KoRV), which is currently colonizing the koala genome. "What happens to the virus and the host during this process of genome colonization we do not know, as most such events occurred millions of years ago and we only see the leftover 'fossils' of the retrovirus," says Prof Alex Greenwood, head of the Leibniz-IZW Department of Wildlife Diseases. "Nor do we know what the host suffered health-wise during the infection process. The koala retrovirus (KoRV) is one of the few models of this process that occurs in real time and where we can observe the effects of genome colonization on the host animal." There is now some evidence that KoRV-related viruses are circulating in rodents and bats in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. A group led by Greenwood and Dr. Saba Mottaghinia, former Ph.D. student in Greenwood's department, analyzed 278 samples from seven bat and one rodent family endemic to the Australo-Papua region (Australia and New Guinea). They discovered a retrovirus that is currently colonizing the genome of an endemic rodent from New Guinea, the white-bellied mosaic-tailed rat (Melomys leucogaster). This is only the second example from the Australo-Papuan region, after KoRV, of a retrovirus that has colonized a genome while retaining a functional viral life cycle. The gibbon ape leukemia viruses (GALV), a group of viruses discovered in gibbons and wooly monkeys at a research facility in Thailand in the 1960s, are very closely related to KoRV. This is a curious and surprising relationship, as there is a geographical barrier, known as the Wallace lineage, which separates the fauna of Southeast Asia from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia's fauna. However, there is evidence that the gibbons and wooly monkeys at the research facility in Thailand have been infected with viruses from Papua New Guinea. "The discovery of GALV-like viruses in rodents and bats in Indonesian and Australian rodents and bats from New Guinea suggests that these viruses, and possibly also KoRV, originated in New Guinea," says Greenwood, who initiated the research project. The Leibniz-IZW team, together with scientists from the Charite, the Robert Koch Institute, the Max Delbruck Center, the University of Nicosia, California State University Fullerton, the South Australian Museum and Museum Victoria, examined 278 bat and rodent samples from Australia and New Guinea for KoRV and GALV-like viruses. They detected a GALV, the Wooly Monkey Virus (WMV) in a population of the white-bellied mosaic-tailed rat, an endemic rodent from New Guinea. In five of the rats from two New Guinea collection sites, WMV was integrated into the genome at the same location, indicating that it has spread as a gene and not by infection, i.e. it has become part of the genome. However, in other white-bellied mosaic-tailed rat populations the virus was absentsimilar to KoRV in koalas, where all koalas in northern Australia have KoRV in their genome, whereas there are koalas in southern Australia that do not have intact KoRV. The virus, now called the "complete Melomys wooly monkey virus" (cMWMV), was able to infect cell lines, produce new viral progeny, was visible by electron microscopy as viral particles that detached from the cell membrane, and was even sensitive to the antiretroviral drug AZT. "The virus has all the characteristics of an exogenous infectious retrovirus, but is endogenous. It is probably a very recent colonization event, much younger than KoRV," says Dr. Saba Mottaghinia, the lead author of the paper. The results suggest that cMWMV is a new model for retroviral colonization of the host genome that occurs in real time, as in KoRV, and they also suggest that GALVs like WMV originated in the diverse fauna of New Guinea. The discoveries in New Guinea have certainly not been exhausted. "There are hundreds of mammalian species from this region that have not yet been studied, suggesting that many more viruses and models exist in this region," says Greenwood. More information: Mottaghinia S, et al, A Recent Gibbon Ape Leukemia Virus Germline Integration in a Rodent from New Guinea. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024) DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2220392121. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2220392121 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Weather-related disasters and climatological extremes, including rivers bursting their banks and flooding as well as heat waves and droughts, cause tragic loss of life and cost billions of dollars in property damage each year. Therefore, weather forecasts and protective measures are enormously important and will become even more relevant in the future. However, there is a natural limit to the predictability of the weather, which has not yet been reached. "There is still great potential to further improve weather forecasts for middle latitude regions," said Dr. Michael Riemer from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). "But there is also a point beyond which reliable prediction is just not possible." Riemer and his colleagues have investigated the accuracy of weather forecasts in best-case scenarios. According to their calculations, it should be possible to extend the forecast period by up to four or five days. The study is published in the Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences. Weather forecasts have become more reliable Midlatitude weather can be predicted with reasonable accuracy for seven to 10 days in advance. This was not always the case. The quality of weather forecasts has improved considerably over recent decades. A forecast covering seven days is now as accurate as that for four days 30 years ago. Better computer performance and the availability of new data have contributed to this improvement, but the quality of the prognoses is still extremely poor in some cases. Weaknesses and flaws in forecasting methods are part of the problem, but certain weather conditions are inherently difficult to predict in a chaotic atmosphere. Extensive storm cyclones, for example, can be identified about seven days in advance, whereas the period is much shorter for thunderstorms. As the forecast period increases, so does the likelihood of errors. Decisive factors for the limits of predictability The limitations of weather forecasting have been subject of research since the 1960s. Unlike the tides and the orbit of planets, the atmospheric system has an intrinsic limit that represents a natural and ultimate boundary beyond which prediction is no longer possible. "Research has repeatedly reached the same conclusions: We can predict the weather up to 14 days in advance at best," said Dr. Michael Riemer, a meteorologist at the JGU Institute of Atmospheric Physics. In collaboration with his colleagues Dr. Tobias Selz and Professor George Craig of LMU Munich, Riemer has confirmed the existence of the intrinsic limit of predictability. The researchers also investigated the responsible processes. "The predictions are currently most affected by errors in our initial conditions," added Riemer. "If we improve these initial conditions from which our computer models start their predictions, then our predictions will also be more accurate." The butterfly effect in weather forecasting Using quantitative estimates, the team demonstrated that it is necessary to account for large-scale factors such as wind, wind pressure, temperature, and the jet stream more closely. "We have to reduce the initial uncertainty by 80% to 90% to reach the intrinsic limit inherent in the system," stated Riemer. This could extend the period of reliable forecasts by another four to five days. Once this 90% of error reduction has been exploited, the mechanisms involved will change and the large-scale factors will no longer be decisive. From this point onwards, the butterfly effect will dominate events. "Thunderstorms as the main driver of the butterfly effect will then come into play." However, this effect is so small that even a severe thunderstorm would not affect the reliability of a current-day weather forecast for the next few days. More precise weather predictions require increased allocation of resources to atmospheric observation U.S. meteorologist Edward Lorenz coined the term "butterfly effect" in the 1970s to describe how small changes in initial conditions of a complex system, such as the atmosphere, can lead to significant differences in a later state, which limits the predictability of such systems. Even disturbances that are too small to be detected in the very beginning can snowball and cause extensive changes to the weather after a certain period of time. "The individual thunderstorm cells in our study are like those butterflies," added Riemer. "To improve our predictions, we must focus on the major influencing factors." The scientist recommends intensifying atmospheric observations and measurements, possibly with the assistance of satellites. The potential for weather forecasting has not yet been exhausted and could be improved significantly in the coming decades. More information: Tobias Selz et al, The Transition from Practical to Intrinsic Predictability of Midlatitude Weather, Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences (2022). DOI: 10.1175/JAS-D-21-0271.1 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Miami-Dade's biggestand most vulnerablesewage treatment plant is getting a big upgrade, which could help the county stop dumping tens of millions of gallons of wastewater into the ocean in the next few years. At a groundbreaking event on 1st February, county leaders praised the project as a step toward a "future-proofed county." "We are making bold achievements to ensure we have a resilient futurewe will and we must," said Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. The wastewater treatment plant on Virginia Key has long been a poster child for the havoc sea level rise could wreak on Miami-Dade County's basic functions. It's low-lying and at risk from even a few feet of storm surge. The $216 million upgrade includes building new components of the plant stronger and higher to better protect them from sea rise. It also features top-of-the-line diesel generators to keep the plant running after a storm and extra capacity to better handle the extra wastewater flowing its way as the county works to switch residents from polluting septic tanks to county sewer. And perhaps most importantly, the upgrades could also help Miami-Dade get closer to meeting a state requirement by 2025 to stop dumping most of its treated wastewater into the Atlantic Ocean. Ocean outfall In 2008, Florida passed a law requiring all counties to almost completely stop dumping partially treated sewage water into the ocean by 2025, as well as reduce nutrient-dense discharges that pollute the water and reuse at least 60 percent of its wastewater by 2025. Roy Coley, director of the county's water and sewer department, said Miami-Dade still dumps about half of its treated wastewater into the oceanabout 150 million gallons every day. Of course, he said, that's not the same as directly flushing your toilet into Biscayne Bay. The water is treated to remove solids and bacteria, and it's "as clear as the water from your tap." But it still has more nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus than scientists say is good for the ecosystem around it. Right now, the other half of the county's wastewater is shot deep underground via injection wells. The new project includes additional injection wells at the Virginia Key plant, but the county's main plan to stop spewing sewage into the ocean also helps it meet another state goalwater reuse. Miami-Dade produces about 300 million gallons of sewage water a day. About 15 million gallons a day get re-used for things like cooling off the heated equipment used at wastewater plants like this one to purify and treat the sewage. The county plans to expand that figure dramatically, to about 100 million gallons a day, by using treated wastewater to cool machinery at three of its wastewater plants. After the water cools off the equipment, it gets pushed deep down below the ground via injection wells. Using treated wastewater for these projects is a replacement for what they currently useclean drinking water from the aquifer. "We should not be doing that. We should be conserving our tap water," said Raquel Regalado, commissioner for District 7. The south district plant's reuse project broke ground a year ago, and after Thursday's groundbreaking, that only leaves the county's north district plant to go. This, combined with an under-construction project at Florida Power and Light's Turkey Point nuclear plant, would push the county past the minimum re-use standards set by the state. "It's cost-effective, it's sustainable and it complies with the state's ocean outfall legislation," said Levine Cava. The Virginia Key re-use project is slated to be completed by 2028, and the third one at the north district plan hasn't even started. Overall, Coley said, the county is about 30% of the way to meeting all of the goals the state requires by next year. "We have to accelerate nonstop to make this goal of 2025," Coley said. "We have to do more work in two years than we've done in a decade." The good news, he said, is that the county has already met the state requirements for at least one of its goals, nutrient reduction. "We are 100% in compliance for removing phosphorus from the water, which is the most detrimental to the bay," he said. 2024 Miami Herald. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: This undated image provided by Amos Winter shows a sponge from the Caribbean. This sponge, a simple animal that filters water, and a handful of other centuries-old sponges are causing some scientists to think human-caused climate change began sooner and has heated the world more than they thought. Many sponge species live long, and as they grow they record the conditions of the environment around them in their skeletons. Credit: Courtesy of Amos Winter via AP A handful of centuries-old sponges from deep in the Caribbean are causing some scientists to think human-caused climate change began sooner and has heated the world more than they thought. They calculate that the world has already gone past the internationally approved target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times, hitting 1.7 degrees (3.1 degrees Fahrenheit) as of 2020. They analyzed six of the long-lived spongessimple animals that filter waterfor growth records that document changes in water temperature, acidity and carbon dioxide levels in the air, according to a study in Monday's journal Nature Climate Change. Other scientists were skeptical of the study's claim that the world has warmed that much more than thought. But if the sponge calculations are right, there are big repercussions, the study authors said. "The big picture is that the global warming clock for emissions reductions to minimize the risk of dangerous climate changes is being brought forward by at least a decade," study lead author Malcolm McCulloch, a marine geochemist at the University of Western Australia. "Basically, time's running out." "We have a decade less than we thought," McCulloch told The Associated Press. "It's really a diary ofwhat's the word?impending disaster." This undated image provided by Amos Winter shows a sponge from the Caribbean that has been cut. This sponge, a simple animal that filters water, and a handful of other centuries-old sponges are causing some scientists to think human-caused climate change began sooner and has heated the world more than they thought. Many sponge species live long, and as they grow they record the conditions of the environment around them in their skeletons. Credit: Courtesy of Amos Winter via AP In the past several years, scientists have noted more extreme and harmful weatherfloods, storms, droughts and heat wavesthan they had expected for the current level of warming. One explanation for that would be if there was more warming than scientists had initially calculated, said study co-author Amos Winter, a paleo oceanographer at Indiana State University. He said this study also supports the theory that climate change is accelerating, proposed last year by former NASA top scientist James Hansen. "This is not good news for global climate change as it implies more warming," said Cornell University climate scientist Natalie Mahowald, who was not part of the study. Many sponge species live long, and as they grow they record the conditions of the environment around them in their skeletons. Scientists have long used sponges along with other proxiestree rings, ice cores and coralthat naturally show the record of changes in the environment over centuries. Doing so helps fill in data from before the 20th century. Spongesunlike coral, tree rings and ice coresget water flowing from all over through them so they can record a larger area of ecological change, Winter and McCulloch said. A man walks past an abandoned canoe at the Sau reservoir amid a drought in Vilanova de Sau, north of Barcelona, Spain, Jan. 26, 2024. Credit: AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti File They used measurements from a rare species of small and hard-shelled sponges to create a temperature record for the 1800s that differs greatly from the scientifically accepted versions used by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The study finds that the mid-1800s were about half a degree Celsius cooler than previously thought, with warming from heat-trapping gases kicking in about 80 years earlier than the measurements the IPCC uses. IPCC figures show warming kicking in just after 1900. It makes sense that the warming started earlier than the IPCC says because by the mid-1800s the Industrial Revolution had begun and carbon dioxide was being spewed into the air, said McCulloch and Winter. Carbon dioxide and other gases from the burning of fossil fuels are what causes climate change, scientists have established. Winter and McCulloch said these rusty orange long-lived spongesone of them was more than 320 years old when it was collectedare special in a way that makes them an ideal measuring tool, better than what scientists used in the mid- to late 1800s. "They are cathedrals of history, of human history, recording carbon dioxide in the the atmosphere, temperature of the water and pH of the water," Winter said. Beachgoers flock to Ipanema beach to beat the extreme heat in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sept. 24, 2023. Credit: AP Photo/Bruna Prado, File "They're beautiful," he said. "They're not easy to find. You need a special team of divers to find them." That's because they live 100 to 300 feet deep (33 meters to 98 meters) in the dark, Winter said. The IPCC and most scientists use temperature data for the mid-1800s that came from ships whose crews would take temperature readings by lowering wooden buckets to dip up water. Some of those measurements could be skewed depending on how the collection was donefor example, if the water was collected near a warm steamship engine. But the sponges are more accurate because scientists can track regular tiny deposits of calcium and strontium on the critters' skeleton. Warmer water would lead to more strontium compared to calcium, and and cooler water would lead to higher proportions of calcium compared to strontium, Winter said. University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann, who wasn't part of the study, has long disagreed with the IPCC's baseline and thinks warming started earlier. But he was still skeptical of the study's findings. A pedestrian uses an umbrella to shield against the sun while passing through Times Square as temperatures rise, July 27, 2023, in New York. Credit: AP Photo/John Minchillo, File "In my view it begs credulity to claim that the instrumental record is wrong based on paleo-sponges from one region of the world. It honestly doesn't make any sense to me," Mann said. In a news briefing, Winter and McCulloch repeatedly defended the use of sponges as an accurate proxy for world temperature changes. They said except for the 1800s, their temperature reconstruction based on sponges matches global records from instruments and other proxies like coral, ice cores and tree rings. And even though these sponges are only in the Caribbean, McCulloch and Winter said they are a good representation for the rest of the world because they're at a depth that doesn't get too affected by warm and cold cycles of El Nino and La Nina, and the water matches well with global ocean temperatures, McCulloch and Winter said. Princeton University climate scientist Michael Oppenheimer, who also wasn't part of the sponge study, said even if the McCulloch team is right about a cooler baseline in the 1800s that shouldn't really change the danger levels that scientists set in their reports. That's because the danger levels "were not tied to the absolute value of preindustrial temperatures" but more about how much temperatures changed from that time, he said. A boy rests under a tree while watching the sun set as triple-digit heat indexes continue in the Midwest, Aug. 20, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. Credit: AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File Although the study stopped at 2020 with 1.7 degrees Celsius (3.1 degrees Fahrenheit) in warming since pre-industrial times, a record hot 2023 pushes that up to 1.8 degrees (3.2 degrees Fahrenheit), McCulloch said. "The rate of change is much faster than we thought," McCulloch said. "We're heading into very dangerous high-risk scenarios for the future. And the only way to stop this is to reduce emissions. Urgently. Most urgently." More information: Malcolm T. McCulloch et al, 300 years of sclerosponge thermometry shows global warming has exceeded 1.5 C, Nature Climate Change (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-023-01919-7 Wenfeng Deng, Ocean warming and warning, Nature Climate Change (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41558-023-01921-z Journal information: Nature Climate Change 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A study published in the European Journal of International Management has looked into the relationship between learning from failure and the internationalization process in entrepreneurial ventures. The researchers show a subtle link that perhaps challenges the received wisdom regarding success and failure suggesting that a cyclical process exists where the global expansion of entrepreneurial firms is intricately linked to experiential learning. Leila Hurmerinta, Niina Nummela, and Eriikka Paavilainen-Mantymaki of the Turku School of Economics at the University of Turku in Turku, Finland, explain that this process involves a reciprocal transfer, analysis, and internalization of experiential knowledge. Failures within the entrepreneurial landscape act as stimuli whether they are failures of the entrepreneur themselves or their peers. Indeed, entrepreneurs play a pivotal role as gatekeepers of experiential learning, absorbing, digesting, and transferring knowledge within their organization to enhance the positive effects of learning from failure. Moreover, contrary to the received wisdom, this research indicates that entrepreneurs need not experience failure personally to gain valuable insights. Failures encountered by peers, other companies in the same industry, or fellow entrepreneurs, even in different sectors, can serve as valuable sources for long-term learning and ultimately help nudge the company towards success. The team adds that the timing of the learning process regarding failure emerges as a critical factor, with delayed learning leading to reactive as opposed to proactive decisions without sufficient analytical thinking. The work offers a dynamic model that illustrates the interaction between non-linear internationalization and experiential learning with feedback loops depicted in the model highlighting how experience might either fuel or inhibit the internationalization process. In this context, the importance of near-failures is also revealed. By offering a conceptual, theory-based cyclical model, the researchers thus shed light on the role of learning from failure and also suggest new avenues of exploration for future research where the subjective and context-dependent nature of both success and failure are investigated. More information: Leila Hurmerinta et al, Boosted by failure Entrepreneurial internationalisation as a cyclical learning process, European J. of International Management (2024). DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2024.136483 Provided by Inderscience 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: 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. Credit: AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File 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, 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 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 told TASS. 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 United States and Russia still cooperate closely following Moscow's 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. FILE -- Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, a crew member of the next mission to the International Space Station, attends a news conference at the Russian leased Baikonur Cosmodrome, in Kazakhstan, Tuesday, July 21, 2015. 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. Credit: AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File Russian Space Agency experts test a space suit of Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, a crew member of the next mission to the International Space Station, prior to the launch of Soyuz-FG booster rocket with the space capsule Soyuz TMA-14M at the Russian leased Baikonur Cosmodrome, in Kazakhstan, Wednesday, July 22, 2015. 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. Credit: AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin, File 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Moscow shows ambivalence in relations with Seoul By Lee Hyo-jin A diplomatic rift between South Korea and Russia over North Korean issues has intensified over the weekend, overshadowing a rare visit by Russian Vice Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko to Seoul which was apparently intended to prevent bilateral relations from worsening further. Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol's recent remarks about North Korea, Friday, calling them "blatantly biased" and "odious." She was referring to the president's remarks made during an annual central integrated defense council meeting, Jan. 31, when Yoon labeled North Korea as "the only country that specified preemptive nuclear use in its Constitution." In reponse, South Korea's deputy foreign minister Chung Byung-won summoned Russian Ambassaor to Seoul Georgy Zinoviev, Saturday, and lodged a protest over Zakharova's "rude, ignorant and biased" comments. The exchange of harsh words occurred as Russian Vice Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko was visiting South Korea to meet his counterpart Chung, as well as First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-gyun and Seoul's top nuclear envoy Kim Gunn. "The spokeswoman's comment, perceived as an overreaction and diplomatically crossing the line, was a message of gratitude to North Korea for openly supporting Russia in its war with Ukraine," said an expert on Russia who requested anonymity. He also added that Zakharova is known for her combative style of speech and anti-Western sentiments. She has been a vocal critic of the United States and its Western allies since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "It appears that South Korea has become one of her targets," the expert said. Wi Sung-lac, a former South Korean ambassador to Russia, pointed out Moscow's contradictory steps. "There must be underlying factors behind Russia's rhetoric and diplomatic moves because, based on the available information, its actions appear contradictory," Wi told The Korea Times. It is unusual for Moscow to make a fuss about the South Korean leader's comments, which did not directly concern Russia. Previously, Moscow has reacted furiously to South Korea's potential provision of weapons to Ukraine or when Seoul raised speculation about military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. "There may have been some unknown factors below the surface that caused Russia's foreign ministry to react that way," the former envoy said. "Zakahrova's remarks have overshadowed Rudenko's visit to Seoul, which was apparently intended to break the ice with South Korea." He added, "Recent developments show that bilateral relations between South Korea and Russia are nosediving, regardless of which side is responsible." Rudenko's trip to Seoul, which was disclosed to the public only after he returned home, marked the first known visit by a senior Russian official under the Yoon administration. His visit was initially scheduled for September of last year, but was canceled at the last minute. During the meeting with Rudenko, South Korean officials expressed a stern stance on Russia's military cooperation with North Korea, according to the South Korean foreign ministry. In response, the Russian diplomat emphasized a strong commitment to developing mutually beneficial ties with Pyongyang while adhering to international laws. 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: UV color mutant strains and their applications in cheese production. (ai) Wild-type and representative UV color mutant strains of Pencillium roqueforti. (jm) Cross sections of cheeses made with parental and UV color derivatives (mutants) of Penicillium roqueforti strain B20: j) Parental wild-type B20, k) strain B20-14 (green), l) strain B20-10 (fawn), m) strain B20-4 (albino/white). Credit: npj Science of Food (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41538-023-00244-9 Experts at the University of Nottingham have discovered how to create different colors of blue cheese. After discovering how the classic blue-green veining is created, a team of experts from the School of Life Sciences, were able to create a variety of different fungal strains that could be used to make cheese with colors ranging from white to yellow-green to red-brown-pink and light and dark blues. The findings of the study are published in the journal npj Science of Food. The fungus Penicillium roqueforti is used worldwide in the production of blue-veined cheese such as Stilton, Roquefort and Gorgonzola. Its unique blue-green color and flavor comes from pigmented spores formed by fungal growth. Using a combination of bioinformatics, targeted gene deletions and heterologous gene expression, the research team, led by Dr. Paul Dyer, Professor of Fungal Biology, learned the way in which the blue-green pigment is produced. The researchers found that a biochemical pathway gradually forms the blue pigments, starting at a white color, which progressively becomes yellow-green, red-brown-pink, dark brown, light blue, and finally dark blue-green. The team were then able to use some classic food safe (non GM) techniques to "block" the pathway at certain points, and so create strains with new colors that can be used in cheese production. Dr. Dyer said, "We've been interested in cheese fungi for over 10 years and traditionally when you develop mold-ripened cheeses, you get blue cheeses such as Stilton, Roquefort and Gorgonzola which use fixed strains of fungi that are blue-green in color. We wanted to see if we could develop new strains with new flavors and appearances. "The way we went about that was to induce sexual reproduction in the fungus, so for the first time we were able to generate a wide range of strains which had novel flavors including attractive new mild and intense tastes. We then made new color versions of some of these novel strains." Once the team produced the cheese with the new color strains, they then used lab diagnostic instruments to see what the flavor might be like. "We found that the taste was very similar to the original blue strains from which they were derived," said Dr. Dyer. "There were subtle differences but not very much. "The interesting part was that once we went on to make some cheese, we then did some taste trials with volunteers from across the wider University, and we found that when people were trying the lighter-colored strains they thought they tasted more mild. Whereas they thought the darker strain had a more intense flavor. "Similarly, with the more reddish brown and a light green one, people thought they had a fruity tangy element to themwhereas according to the lab instruments they were very similar in flavor. This shows that people do perceive taste not only from what they taste but also by what they see." The team, which included lead postgraduate student Matt Cleere, will now look at working with cheese makers in both Nottinghamshire and Scotland to create the new color variants of blue cheese. A University spin-out company called Myconeos has also already been established to see if the strains can be commercialized. "Personally, I think it will give people a really satisfying sensorial feeling eating these new cheeses and hopefully might attract some new people into the market," adds Dr. Dyer. More information: Matthew M. Cleere et al, New colours for old in the blue-cheese fungus Penicillium roqueforti, npj Science of Food (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41538-023-00244-9 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: 2023 shark bite data. Credit: Florida Museum of Natural History There was an increase in the number of unprovoked shark attacks worldwide and an uptick in fatalities in 2023 compared to the previous year. The University of Florida's International Shark Attack File (ISAF), a scientific database of global shark attacks, confirmed 69 unprovoked bites in 2023. Although this is higher than the most recent five-year average of 63 attacks, the data remain consistent with long-term trends. Ten of the past year's unprovoked attacks were fatal, up from five the year before, with a disproportionate number occurring in Australia. Although the country accounted for 22% of all attacks, it made up 40% of fatalities. There were also two confirmed deaths in the U.S., and one each in the Bahamas, Egypt, Mexico and New Caledonia. Other confirmed, non-fatal bites occurred in Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, New Zealand, Seychelles, Turks and Caicos, Ecuador (in The Galapagos Islands) and South Africa. "This is within the range of the normal number of bites, though the fatalities are a bit unnerving this year," said Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Museum of Natural History's shark research program. The United States had 36 unprovoked attacks, accounting for 52% of incidents worldwide. Of these, twoone in California and another in Hawaiiwere fatal. As in previous years, Florida had more shark bites than any other state, with 16 attacks. While ISAF documents and investigates all bites on humans by sharks, the annual report focuses primarily on unprovoked attacks. These are defined as any instance in which a shark is in its natural habitat and attacks without any human provocation, which includes intentionally approaching a shark or swimming in an area where bait is being used to lure fish. Unprovoked bites are the most useful for studying how sharks behave. "We're biologists, and we want to understand the natural behavior of the animalsnot the unnatural behavior," Naylor said. ISAF's records include an additional 22 attacks last year that were intentionally or unintentionally provoked. The most common victim activity at the time of provoked attacks was spearfishing. 2023 shark bite map. Credit: Florida Museum of Natural History Surfers and Australia get the brunt of fatal bites Three fatalities in 2023 occurred at one remote surfing destination off the coast of Southern Australia. The Eyre Peninsula is known for its wild, untamed beaches and phenomenal surf breaks, and despite being challenging to access and navigate, it is an alluring spot for surfers. The region is home to seal colonies and a high density of white sharks. "If a white shark is going after a seal and the seal knows it, the white shark hasn't got a chance," Naylor said. "Seals are really agile, so the only ones that get caught are the ones that are goofing off and flopping around on the surface minding their own business. And that's kind of what a surfer looks like." Surfers experienced 42% of bites worldwide, with swimmers and waders a close second at 39%. Australia, in addition to its white shark populations on the coast, also has bull sharks in and around its estuarine rivers. A fatality from a bull shark attack occurred in early 2023 in a brackish river near the coast. "Beach safety in Australia is second to none. They're fantastic," said Joe Miguez, a doctoral student in the Florida Program for Shark Research. "However, if you go to remote regions where beach safety isn't in place, there is a higher risk of a fatal shark attack. This is because when an attack happens and there is beach safety, you can get a tourniquet on sooner and save the person's life. So, the solution isn't to not surf. It's to surf in areas where there's a good beach safety program in place." 2023 shark bite activity and U.S. state occurences. Credit: Florida Museum of Natural History Fatalities caused by white, bull and tiger sharks in 2023 The vast majority of unprovoked attacks are test bites, which occur when a shark misidentifies a human as their preferred prey. When this happens, the shark will typically swim away after a single bite. Some species like white sharks and tiger sharks, however, are large enough that even a single bite can be fatal. Unusual incidents when a shark continues biting their victim, rather than swimming away, have been documented with tiger sharks, bull sharks and white sharks. This February marks the 50th anniversary of the book "Jaws," and notably, the number of recorded white shark bites have increased precipitously over the last few decades. This pattern isn't due to increased aggression from white sharks, but rather a combination of more of people being in the ocean each year and a stronger emphasis placed on reporting bites and fatalities. Along the banks of the Red Sea in Egypt, an encounter with a tiger shark proved fatal. "The bite in Egypt stood out because a video shows a tiger shark taking multiple passes at a human in the water. Even though predation events are exceedingly rare, it's pretty clear that's what it was," Miguez said. The Red Sea has a deep narrow trench in its center and extensive coral reefs. Its deep walls allow fish most often found in deep waters to come unusually close to shore. "You see pelagic fishes like oceanic white tip sharks only 700 feet off the beach, when usually you have to go 20 miles out to find that species," Naylor said. "These pelagic animals are used to living in a food desert, so when they come across anything they'll give it a try. The Red Sea's geomorphology brings very large, pelagic predatory fishes into juxtaposition with tourists that are diving and enjoying their holiday." Global fatalities from shark attacks over the last ten years compared to those in Australia. Credit: Florida Museum of Natural History Shark bites correlated with temperature and population density Despite the increase, the number of bites and fatalities that occurred in 2023 are within the average for the last decade. Each year, there are consistently fewer than 100 unprovoked bites, making it more likely for someone to win the lottery than to be attacked by a shark. When there are more attacks, it often means that more people are spending time in the waternot that sharks have become more dangerous. Miguez described it as a numbers game. Increased human activity in sharks' natural habitats naturally leads to an increase in the number of animal encounters. Something as simple as a holiday weekend falling on particularly hot days can contribute to a spike in attacks. Water quality around New York has increased over the last two decades, and experts attribute the greater number of marine mammalssuch as whales and dolphinsobserved off the coast to bigger fish populations. More fish often means more sharks as well. This contributed to several bites over a few weeks over the summer, including the first known shark attack in New York City in more than half a century. "It causes a lot of fear, but the reality is you're putting a lot of people in the water on a hot day with bait fish in the water," Naylor said. Most shark bites typically occur during the Northern and Southern hemispheres' summers, both because that is when many species are more active and because that is when more people spend time in the water. While the odds of being bitten by a shark are incredibly low, ISAF provides recommendations for further precautions people can take. These include staying close to shore, not swimming at dawn or dusk, and avoiding excessive splashing. More information: 2023 Report: International Shark Attack File's website This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain When a total solar eclipse comes to the Dallas-Fort Worth area on April 8, and the moon starts to cover the sun in the sky, it may feel safe to sneak a peek without eclipse glasses. But experts say that staring at the sun for as little as five seconds can damage your eyes. Look longer, and that damage could become permanent. Here's why it's worth looking into the many safe and inexpensive ways to protect your eyes as the eclipse draws closer. What happens when we look at a solar eclipse? Light enters the front of the eye and is focused onto a structure at the back called the retina. Cells in the retina called photoreceptors absorb that light, converting it into an electrical signal that travels to the brain and tells us what we're seeing. The sun, however, has a lot of light. Focusing all of it onto the retina can cause photoreceptors to absorb high amounts of energy, damaging or killing them. "Basically, you're killing the photoreceptors from within," said Dimitrios Karamichos, executive director of the North Texas Eye Research Institute at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. During a total solar eclipse, the moon starts to cover the sun before obscuring it completely. While the sun may appear smaller in the sky, its rays are no less dangerous. "The sun is still the sun, even if it's partially covered," said Dr. Rafael Ufret-Vincenty, an associate professor in the ophthalmology department at UT Southwestern Medical Center. It's only safe to look at a total solar eclipse without protection during totality, or the time when the moon fully covers the sun. Timing and duration vary across the D-FW area, but totality is expected to begin in Dallas at 1:40 p.m. and end just under four minutes later. Symptoms of eye damage There's some debate about how long a glance at the sun can lead to eye damage. Experts have to rely on anecdotal reports: People come to the doctor with eye damage and guess how long they looked. Karamichos said permanent damage to the retina can happen in 60 to 100 seconds or less. The retina doesn't have pain receptors, meaning the damage can happen without us feeling it. People who experience retinal damage after looking at the sun can see a change in their vision anywhere from minutes afterward to overnight, said Karamichos. Symptoms of this condition, called solar retinopathy, include distortion, dark spots in central vision and a loss of sharpness. There is no treatment for solar retinopathy. The eye could recover on its ownor not. Even if vision improves, some distortion and dark spots may remain. And there's no replacing dead photoreceptors. "They don't divide, they don't multiply," Ufret-Vincenty said. "So once you lose them, you lose them." How to view a solar eclipse safely There are many ways to safely experience a solar eclipse. Eclipse glasses have a black polymer that blocks out UV rays and nearly all visible light. They typically cost a few dollars. Many online listings for eclipse glasses can be counterfeit, but a list of safe options is available on the American Astronomical Society's website. Glasses should comply with the International Organization for Standardization's safety guidelines. (A note on the back of the glasses should say they meet ISO 12312-2 requirements.) Sunglasses are not protective enough. At about 12:23 p.m. on April 8 in Dallas, the moon will start to cover the sun. Before totality, viewers will see the sun shrink in the sky until it disappears. They can then take off their glasses and set a timer based on how long totality will be in their area, leaving time to put on their glasses again for the eclipse's final phase. Can't find eclipse glasses? No problem. Viewers can indirectly observe the eclipse by poking a hole through cardboard or an index card and looking at the shadow cast on the ground when the sunlight filters through. Using a colander, a cracker or even intertwined fingers would produce a similar effect. 2024 The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Captive bred southern pygmy perch. Credit: Mallee Catchment Management Authority An endangered fish has returned to Bendigo, Victoria, thanks to the help of Flinders University research in collaboration with local community groups. Five years after the community hatched a plan to bring them back, they are showing signs of local recovery, says Flinders Molecular Ecology Lab Ph.D. Sean Buckley, a co-author of a recent research article recently published in Conservation Science and Practice. "Recently we heard our established population at the Cadella Way wetland has just been used to reintroduce southern pygmy perch to nearby areas where the species has been locally extinct for more than 20 years," says Dr. Buckley, now a lecturer at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. The southern pygmy perch is a small freshwater fish that was once abundant throughout the Murray-Darling Basin. Invasive species such as carp, habitat fragmentation, droughts, and bushfires have seen the fish disappear in many regions, including near Bendigo. This led to establishment of a community-driven collaboration between local government, landcare managers, fish hobbyists, an aquaculture business and researchers from Flinders University. Volunteers from the local community painstakingly restored nearby wetlands and collected the fish from nearby rivers, bringing them to the aquaculture facility to breed up numbers. A year later, 600 fish were released into the three wetlands. Genetic research by the Molecular Ecology Lab at Flinders University (MELFU) helped guide the program and empowered the community to give the reintroduction the best chance of success. Using knowledge gained from more than 10 years of captive breeding and restoring populations of southern pygmy perchincluding in South Australiathe team also looked at how well the program was maintaining genetic diversity and preventing inbreeding. "Something we knew about pygmy perch is that they have very low genetic diversity, so this was something we particularly wanted to keep an eye on," says Dr. Buckley. "Making sure that the population wouldn't lose any diversity from the captive-breeding and release was essential to give them the best chance of thriving in their new home." Their research showed that the efforts made by local communities did not reduce the genetic diversity of the population, with follow-up monitoring showing that the population numbers are booming. Based on the success of the program, more reintroductions of southern pygmy perch and other threatened fishes are occurring all throughout the region. "We hope that our study showcases how collaborative community efforts that include genomics might have great outcomes for conservation," says MELFU lead Professor Luciano Beheregaray, a co-author of the latest journal article. "We're looking forward to expanding these collaborations in the future." More information: Sean James Buckley et al, A communitydriven captivebreeding and reintroduction program maintains genetic diversity in a threatened freshwater fish, Conservation Science and Practice (2023). DOI: 10.1111/csp2.13054 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Researchers from University of California San Diego, as part of a large collaboration with scientists around the world, have developed a new search tool to help researchers better understand the metabolism of microorganisms. Microbes are key players in virtually all biological and environmental systems, yet limitations in current techniques used to study microbial metabolism make it difficult to decode their interactions and activities. The new research, published February 5, 2024 in Nature Microbiology, directly addresses these limitations, which could ultimately transform our understanding of both human health and the environment. "Humans are walking ecosystems in which microbes vastly outnumber us, but we know so little about the metabolites that microbes produce," said senior study author Pieter Dorrestein, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology and pediatrics at UC San Diego School of Medicine and professor at Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at UC San Diego. "This technology allows us to match microbes to the metabolic signatures they produce without any prior knowledge, which represents a major leap forward in our ability to study microorganisms and their intricate relationships with humans and ecosystems." The groundbreaking tool, which the scientists call microbeMASST, was developed by scientists at UC San Diego's Collaborative Microbial Metabolite Center, an NIH-supported initiative that aims to build an internationally-curated repository of microbial metabolomics data to help researchers studying the complex interaction between microbes and humans. Beneficial microbes play a key role in human health by colonizing certain areas of the body, including the skin, where they protect us against external pathogens, and the gut, where they contribute to essential functions such as nutrient absorption and regulating the immune system. Disruption of the microbial communities in our body is associated with a wide range of diseases. "This resource will help us mechanistically interrogate the role of the microbiome in health conditions such as liver disease, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis and others," added Dorrestein. Microbes are also at the center of important environmental processes, such as the carbon and nitrogen cycles. When microbial communities involved in these processes are disrupted, it can become harder for ecosystems to cycle nutrients, leading to a wide range of destructive ecological imbalances. Because of their crucial role in the environment and their interactions with larger organisms, the metabolism of microbes is a driving force in virtually all aspects of biology. However, the vast metabolic potential of microbial communities is often overlooked in modern experiments, which generally only look at microbial metabolism with a wide lens. "One of the challenges of studying microbes at the molecular level is that it's difficult to tell which microbes are producing which molecules unless you already know what you're looking for," said first author Simone Zuffa, a postdoctoral researcher working with Dorrestein. "If you think of colonies of microbes as crowded parties with lots of people talking, our current experiments can only record the sound, but we want to figure out a way to unscramble that audio to figure out who is saying what." To help produce the new search tool, which the researchers have called microbeMASST, researchers from the Collaborative Microbial Metabolite Center at UC San Diego collected more than 100 million data points from 60,000 distinct microbial samples, gathered by scientists from across the world. This database has been meticulously curated from community contributions and metadata curation, and includes microbes from plants, soils, oceans, lakes, fish, terrestrial animals and humans. By cross-referencing an experimental sample with this massive library of individual microbes, microbeMASST can detect which microbes are present in that sample. "There's no existing tool that can do this, and ours can do it in seconds," added Zuffa. Because microbeMASST can identify microbes in a sample without any prior knowledge, the researchers are confident that the applications of the technology extend into various fields of biology, such as aquaculture, agriculture, biotechnology, and studying microbial-mediated health conditions. "We anticipate that microbeMASST will be a transformative resource for the life sciences research community," said Dorrestein. "Further, the tool will only improve over time as the community gathers more data for the system to reference." More information: microbeMASST: a taxonomically informed mass spectrometry search tool for microbial metabolomics data, Nature Microbiology (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01575-9. www.nature.com/articles/s41564-023-01575-9 Journal information: Nature Microbiology 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: Temporal patterns. a) Changes in most probable ancestral state (L1, L2, or L34) of human RNA virus genera estimated using sequences from species/types discovered before cutoff date shown. b) As a) showing fractions. c) Changes in the numbers of distinct human-infective RNA virus lineages (human transmissible, strictly zoonotic, or mixed) estimated using sequences from species/types discovered before cutoff date shown. d) As c) showing fractions. Credit: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2024). DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad272 Virus family history could help scientists identify which strains have the potential to become the so-called Disease X that causes the next global pandemic. A new study published in Molecular Biology and Evolution has identified 70 virus lineagesgroups of related virusesthat pose the biggest risk. Viruses from other genetic backgrounds are unlikely to cause a high number of infections in humans, the research shows. The findings will support ongoing efforts to monitor and prepare for future pandemics, including guiding vaccine and diagnostic development, experts say. Disease X Disease X is the generic term used by the World Health Organization to represent a hypothetical, unidentified pathogen that could pose a significant threat to people. RNA viruses carry their genetic information as RNA, a structure similar to DNA. They cause many diseases, including the common cold, COVID-19 and measles, and have been responsible for most epidemics, or global pandemics, in recent history. Monitoring RNA viruses in animal populations could help to identify those that are most likely to emerge and spread rapidly in humans. However, the huge number in circulation makes this extremely challenging and expensive. Virus evolution The University of Edinburgh-led research team traced the lineage, or family tree, of 743 distinct RNA virus species to track how they evolved, including all species currently known to infect humans. Researchers compared the development of strictly zoonotic virusesthose that spread from animals to humans, but not between peoplewith human-transmissible viruses, which can spread within human populations. Human transmission The findings showed that viruses that can spread within human populations typically evolve separately from strictly zoonotic viruses. Human-transmissible viruses often emerge when related viruses from the same lineage can already spread between humans. Strictly zoonotic viruses have historically not led to epidemics in human populations. Having a close relative that can infect humans, but not spread between them, does not appear to increase the risk of epidemic potential. Streamline surveillance The research team caution that there is still a chance the next pandemic could come as the result of a strictly zoonotic virussuch as bird fluor an entirely new virus. However, the findings offer a route to help streamline surveillance for Disease X among the vast number of RNA viruses in existence. "Viruses without the right ancestry don't seem to cause epidemics. Out of potentially huge numbers of mammal and bird viruses in circulation, we should concentrate on the ones that are related to existing human viruses with epidemic potential. This research narrows the search for the next Disease X enormously," says Professor Mark Woolhouse. More information: Lu Lu et al, Temporal Dynamics, Discovery, and Emergence of Human-Transmissible RNA Viruses, Molecular Biology and Evolution (2024). DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad272 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: Sorghum plants growing in August 2020 in a field at the Agricultural Engineering and Agronomy Research Farms between Boone and Ames. Credit: Jianming Yu Efforts to breed more adaptable crops benefit from testing locations with wide ranges of weather, according to a research team led by an Iowa State University professor. The recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Botany is the latest work by agronomy professor Jianming Yu exploring phenotypic plasticity, the disparate ways plants respond in different environments. Better understanding the genetic and environmental underpinnings of plasticity can help scientists and breeders create hybrids tailored for their location and able to adapt to challenging conditions. "Our research really has broad implications for climate change, sustainability and precision agriculture," said Yu, the Pioneer Distinguished Chair in Maize Breeding and director of the Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding. To a certain degree, the study confirmed the Midwest is an ideal region for experimenting on new cultivars, thanks in part to its erratic weather, Yu said. "Seed companies have breeding locations across the Corn Belt, and historically, we know some testing sites seem to be more successful and did not end up on the chopping block as companies have merged. There hasn't been much actual research into that. It's just been the assumption," he said. "But if you want the most variability you can get, that's a good place to be pulling data. Location matters." The study examined data from 174 rice plants grown in nine different combinations of sites and growing seasons across Asia from 2007 to 2009 and 237 sorghum plants in nine different site-and-season environments in Iowa, Kansas and Puerto Rico from 2011 to 2016. In prior analysis of the same data, including studies in 2018, 2020 and 2022, Yu and his colleagues looked for the environmental signals connected to plant traits. For example, the researchers established for both crops an environmental index that predicts flowering time, an analysis the new paper builds upon. "This time we changed the focus to whether what you observe could depend on the specific examples you encounter in terms of environment," Yu said. By comparing small subsets of data to the overall sample, an analysis that incorporated many simulations, researchers found they could accurately extrapolate with four or more environments. But the environmental mean range, a gauge of the variability of the conditions, served as an even better indicator. "While both factors are critical, our results indicated that considerations leading to an increase of environmental mean range should be given priority in study design," said Tingting Guo, professor at Huazhong Agricultural University, a co-lead of the study. Even two testing sites could offer accurate predictions if their environmental conditions are diverse and extreme, the researchers found. Additional simulations based on historical weather records and varying planting dates were used to show the distributions of potential environmental variability for each site. "This offers breeders some practical guidance for resource allocation and testing site optimization," Yu said. Yu said his research group will continue to study phenotypic plasticity, mostly by further scrutinizing existing field test results. He sees harnessing plasticity as essential to making agriculture more resilient in the face of climate change. "We're analyzing data in different ways and from different perspectives to generate knowledge that applies to real-world decision-making," he said. More information: Tingting Guo et al, Environmental context of phenotypic plasticity in flowering time in sorghum and rice, Journal of Experimental Botany (2023). DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad398 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A Mexican gray wolf called Asha wandered hundreds of miles across Arizona and New Mexico searching for a mateno easy task for one of the most endangered mammals in the United States. After five months of scouring hills and arroyos, she crossed Interstate 40 west of Albuquerque in the fall of 2022 and headed into the forests outside of Santa Fe. But when she traipsed across the interstate blacktop, she crossed an invisible boundary set by federal wildlife officials. As part of longstanding federal policy, any Mexican gray wolf found north of the interstate can be relocatedwhich is why Asha was darted and flown south, as documented in news stories and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports. The Mexican gray wolf subspecies has made a significant recovery over the last 25 years, but government biologists now worry that the reintroduction of the larger northern gray wolf in Colorado could derail that progress, should the two populations mix via wandering wolves like Asha. Those worries prompted Colorado wildlife officials in September to sign first-of-their-kind agreements with New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. They will allow those states to relocate any roving northern gray wolves back to Colorado. The agreements will help keep the 10 wolves released in Colorado in December inside the state, crucial to establishing the self-sufficient population mandated by voters who approved reintroducing the species. "This is not a typical kind of agreement for us to have between states," said Eric Odell, the wolf conservation program manager at Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "It's not common practice. Wildlife work usually involves geographic boundaries, not political ones." Much is at stake with the Mexican gray wolf. Its recovery took hold through an extensive, decades-long effort involving a captive breeding program, international transplantations and ongoing litigation. The states' recent agreements, coupled with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's I-40 policy, will create a buffer zone between the two wolf populations. Without the precaution, Odell said intermixing could result in Colorado's larger northern gray wolves taking dominant breeding positions in packs, changing the subspecies' gene pool until they are indistinguishable. In effect, government biologists believe northern gray wolves likely would take over the Mexican gray wolf population. "Having that hybridization would become detrimental to the Mexican wolf," Odell said. "We're working hard to keep (northern gray wolves) separate from those Mexican wolves." But conservationists question whether allowing the two to mingle would imperil the rare southern subspecies, and some say the Mexican gray wolf needs the northern gray wolf to survive. The wild Mexican gray wolf population suffers from a limited gene pool, so breeding with the northern gray wolf could help diversify the population. "Historically, there was a spectrum of wolf species and subspecies from Mexico up to the Arctic Circle," said Chris Smith, the Southwest wildlife advocate for WildEarth Guardians. "To have this wolfless zone between Colorado and Mexican gray wolves is a bizarre and arbitrary symptom of the politicization of our legal treatment of these wolves." A subspecies on the brink The Mexican gray wolfalso called the lobois a smaller subspecies of the gray wolf that historically ranged across Mexico and into Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The Mexican gray wolf is managed separately under the federal Endangered Species Act than the northern gray wolf, which numbers in the thousands across the northern Rocky Mountains and the Great Lakes region. People nearly eradicated the Mexican gray wolf from both the United States and Mexico by the 1970s. Decades of unregulated hunting and targeted trapping by the federal government to protect livestock took their toll. By 1977, there were only seven known remaining Mexican gray wolves in the two countries. Wildlife officials returned the subspecies to the wild in 1998 and, after decades of management, at least 241 Mexican gray wolves now roam New Mexico and Arizona, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service. The federal agency imposed the boundary along I-40, which cuts across the Southwest, in part because the documented historical range of the subspecies did not extend north of the interstate. Officials also faced pressure from ranching and hunting interests to restrict the recovery area. But the wild population has a lack of genetic diversity. Each wild Mexican gray wolf's genes are as similar to the next as siblings' genes would be, said Michael Robinson, a senior conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity and the author of a book on wolf management. Instead of creating a wolfless buffer zone, Smith and Robinson said, wildlife managers should introduce Mexican gray wolves into southwestern Colorado. Those wolves then would breed with northern gray wolves and add much-needed genetic diversity to the subspecies, while minimizing the risk of the northern species' genes taking over the Mexican gray wolf population. The risk to the Mexican gray wolf would be greater if northern gray wolves established themselves farther south in the core of the Mexican gray wolf's habitat. "We can try to approximate the gradation of wolf types that (once) existed from north to south," Robinson said. Wandering under watch The technical working group that shaped Colorado's wolf reintroduction plan considered reintroducing Mexican gray wolves here but found them the "least desirable" option. The ballot measure that mandated Colorado's reintroduction of wolves did not specify whether a subspecies could be reintroduced. But the group wrote in its final report that the Mexican gray wolf should be the lowest priority for reintroduction because Colorado was not part of its historical range. It also cited logistical management concerns due to the subspecies being managed separately under the Endangered Species Act. "Because they are listed as a unique entity under the ESA, maintaining the genetic uniqueness of this subspecies is paramount," the November 2021 report states. "If Mexican wolves were present in Colorado, premature interbreeding with wolves from the north could compromise the Mexican wolf recovery effort." It's unlikely that Mexican gray wolves roamed in Colorado before their extirpation, but the subspecies is better adapted than the northern gray wolf to warmer, drier climateswhich is the expected future for southwest Colorado as the climate shifts, Smith said. "We have to recognize that we're imposing not just political boundaries, but also pretty complicated legal frameworks on wildlife that do whatever they want on a landscape," he said. "It's a problem that we've painted ourselves into." Biologists have said that Mexican gray wolves need at least three separate but connected populations to thrive, Robinson noted. One study found that one of those populations should be located in southwest Colorado. It would have made sense to keep the Mexican gray wolves separate when there were only a few dozen of them, Robinson said. But the population is now robust enough to allow some northern gray wolf genetics into the pack, he said. While all of Colorado's 12 current wolvesincluding two that predated the reintroduction effortand the wolves released in the state in coming years will have radio collars, their progeny will not. That will make tracking whether the wolves have moved into neighboring states more difficult, Odell said. "It's not in perpetuity," Odell said of the agreements with the other states. "We'll revisit this in time and see how things are going." 2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Creoles, who make up around ten percent of Sierra Leones population, say they are being marginalised in the countrys politics. They include the Muslim wing of the Creoles otherwise known as the Akus or Fourah Bay. At an impressive meeting at the YWCA Hall in Freetown, attended by over 500 members of ethnic group, the former Mayor of Freetown, Winstanley Bankole-Johnson said that the trend needed to be reversed. They must not take our silence for weakness he warned, adding that being meek, peaceful and law-abiding did not mean being afraid. Mr Bankole-Johnson said We must speak up now or we die and went on to say that they must be politically relevant by confronting issues that must be changed. He said Creoles needed to evaluate the political relevance and gains over the last 15 years and reposition themselves for better and improved recognition and rewards under any political dispensation. While entreating the group to remain united as one family regardless of their politically differences, he said that ahead of the post-November election they should sustain their relevance and ensure they get appointed to key positions in governance of the country. Amid thunderous applause, he expressed concern over the filthy state of Freetown, lawlessness and the demographic disadvantage he said the group was suffering as a result of the influx of people into the city at the height of the civil war. He said such a demographic imbalance was such that it was now difficult for a Creole to run against a non-Creole for Mayor of Freetown and expect to win. The meeting also questioned a letter written by the office of the Vice President Sam Sumana in November 2009 in which he called for the approval of the vice president of any land that is over one acre asking why the same was not extended to land owned in the provinces. This must not be allowed to continue they resolved. The meeting also resolved that Creoles must not take any instructions from tribal authority in Freetown otherwise let them reload us on to the boats and take us back to where our ancestors came from. We are endangered, Johnson said, adding that there should be a compensatory option for Creoles in elections while questioning why Paramount Chiefs are represented in Parliament while Creoles are not. Speaker after speaker spoke especially of the countrys land tenure system which they say is unfavourable to the Creoles. They also lamented over the eroding culture of Creoles and called for its rescue. The meeting agreed that ways needed to be thought out for the elimination of street trading in the city and questioned whether masked devils was necessary on religious holidays. A Fairfield Township man accused of killing two people and injuring three others in a shooting during a 90s-themed birthday party was indicted last week. Arthur Armstead, 30, faces one count of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of murder and other charges related to the shooting deaths of Kevin Elliott and Brailyn Holmes and the injuries sustained by other victims, Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae said Monday. A date for his arraignment is pending. State Police responded to a home on East Commerce Street in Fairfield about 11:45 p.m. May 22, 2021, after receiving reports of a mass shooting at a party attended by hundreds. When police arrived they found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Authorities said three people died and 11 others sustained minor or serious injuries. Following the shooting, Armstead fled to Delaware. Investigators originally charged him with obstruction, hindering apprehension and conspiracy. Armstead then traveled to Atlantic City and stayed in a hotel before turning himself in to authorities at the State Police barracks in Bridgeton. The investigation is ongoing, and new information recently surfaced implicating Armstead in the shooting, Webb-McRae said. FBI Leads Surge in Arrests Targeting Drug-Trafficking Organizations Nationwide Across more than seven FBI field offices in the last two weeks, nearly 200 people have been charged as part of a series of arrests targeting large-scale drug-trafficking organizations operating throughout the United States and North America. "As demonstrated by the sweep of arrests and criminal charges filed nationwide over the last two weeks alone, the FBI will never stop until violent criminals are taken off the streets and brought to justice, making our communities safer, said FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate. The FBI works relentlessly day and night alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement partners across the country to arrest and neutralize the most dangerous violent offenders and dismantle the criminal enterprises behind them. This is a snapshot of the work our dedicated personnel are committed to doing 24/7, and the community impact occurring each and every day. FBI Los Angeles: On January 30, ten people were arrested in multiple North American cities in relation to two federal indictments charging members of an organized crime syndicate who allegedly conspired to traffic and import hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and other controlled substances from Mexico through Los Angeles for export to Canada or redistribution throughout the U.S. The indictments allege illicit drug trafficking activity cumulatively involving approximately 845 kilograms (1,860 pounds) of methamphetamine, 951 kilograms (2,092 pounds) of cocaine, 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of fentanyl, and 4 kilograms (nearly 9 pounds) of heroin. Over $900,000 in cash was seized during the investigation. The estimated wholesale value of the narcotics seized was between $16 and 28 million. Until today, the organized members of this conspiracy operated with impunity throughout the many thousands of miles that comprise the North American continent, poisoning communities along the way, said Assistant Director in Charge Donald Alway of the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. The strength of this partnership cannot be overstated. The agents and detectives on this case did an outstanding job of pooling resources and worked seamlessly across borders toward a mutual goal of putting this massive drug pipeline out of business. FBI Columbia: On January 29, the FBI Columbia Field Office, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina, and other local and state law enforcement agencies announced that more than a dozen individuals were charged in federal court in connection with narcotics, firearms, and conspiracy offenses after a targeted violent crime reduction initiative in Myrtle Beach and the surrounding areas. The indictments are a result of a series of coordinated arrests made following a targeted multiagency investigation that spanned several months. Over the last year, the FBI Columbia Field Office assisted local and state law enforcement agencies in an advanced, intelligence-based, multifaceted law enforcement operation to identify communities in Myrtle Beach that were experiencing high levels of gang- and narcotics-related violence. The joint investigation has led to 13 defendants facing federal charges. Agents seized multiple firearms, ammunition, and various dangerous drugs, such as fentanyl. FBI Anchorage: On January 25, Special Agent in Charge Antony Jung of the FBI Anchorage Field Office, the U.S Attorneys Office for the District of Alaska, and a multitude of local, state, and federal partners announced that 53 people have been charged through nine indictments in connection with a large-scale organized crime ring operating within the state of Alaska. Charges include drug trafficking, violent crime, conspiracy to distribute fentanyl resulting in death, continuing criminal enterprise, and money laundering. Court documents identified at least 76 separate money-laundering transactions as part of the investigation, including some made internationally to Mexico. From February 2022 to July 2023, law enforcement intercepted roughly 36 kilograms of fentanyl, 27.3 kilograms of meth, 11.3 kilograms of heroin, and 118 grams of cocaine connected to the enterprise, with the majority destined for various communities across the state of Alaska. According to the indictments, the enterprise mainly used high-level suppliers to send drug packages through the U.S. Postal Service from Oregon and California to Alaskan communities, from the most populous cities to some of Alaskas smallest villages. FBI Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Richmond: On January 24, 82 people were indicted by a federal grand jury for a drug trafficking operation that distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine as a result of a collaborative investigative effort by the FBI Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Richmond field offices. In a coordinated effort across three states, the FBI and our partners worked seamlessly to degrade the capabilities of a criminal enterprise that endangered the lives of our children and neighbors by pedaling illegal narcotics into our communities, said Acting Special Agent in Charge Mike Shanahan of the FBI Pittsburgh Division. Today, their illicit activities came to an end. The investigation yielded 10 kilograms of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, firearms, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets, with individuals from Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia being charged with drug trafficking. FBI Omaha: On January 23, an operation led by the FBI Omaha Field Office and the Nebraska State Patrol led to the arrest of 19 people and the unsealing of at least nine indictments for their roles as part of a methamphetamine distribution ring operating throughout Nebraska with ties to Kentucky and California. Those arrested face a variety of charges to include conspiracy to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine, possessing a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The investigation and prosecution of these cases are part of Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operations, which aim to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multiagency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. This story has been published on: 2024-02-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Meteorological authority issues four extreme weather warnings; freezing weather strands travelers returning home for Spring Festival 11:08, February 05, 2024 By Cui Fandi ( Global Times Prolonged extreme weather continues to sweep across Central and East China. On Sunday morning, China's National Meteorological Center (NMC) issued four extreme weather warnings, including a blue warning for strong winds, an orange warning for freezing, an orange warning for blizzards, and a yellow warning for dense fog. Due to the impact of extreme weather, a large number of travelers returning home before the Spring Festival have been stranded on their way, and local authorities and departments are actively taking measures to cope with the situation. According to the forecast, from 8 am Sunday to 8 am Monday, blizzards are expected to mainly concentrate in the area between central and eastern China, including the eastern part of Henan, the central-northern part of Anhui, the central-northern part of Jiangsu, and the central-eastern part of Shandong, with snowfall of 10 to 13 centimeters expected. Freezing weather, on the other hand, will affect a wider range of provinces including those in East China, Central China, and Southwest China. Dense fog will mainly occur in South China. Central China's Hubei Province experienced a maximum snow depth of 18 centimeters over the past day. On Sunday, the provincial capital Wuhan witnessed heavy to blizzard levels of snowfall. A resident of Wuhan told the Global Times on Sunday that this is the largest snowfall he has seen in the 20 years he has lived in Wuhan, "It's as if I was in Northeast China." The resident, surnamed Wang, said that the extreme snowfall has already affected local urban transportation, and almost all trains departing from Wuhan are unable to depart on time. In addition, logistics have also been affected. On Sunday, many courier companies suspended or delayed their services for receiving and sending parcels in Wuhan. Due to the large-scale rain, snow, and freezing weather, both runways at the Wuhan Tianhe Airport were closed on Sunday morning. Some trains departing Wuhan were also suspended, and a number of entrances to highways in Hubei were temporarily closed. As a crucial transportation hub in Central China, the traffic issues in Wuhan have affected a large number of passengers, especially during the busiest inter-provincial transportation period of the year - the Spring Festival travel rush. Due to the influence of low temperature rain storms and snowy weather, more than 50 pairs of trains running between cities in Hubei have been suspended. A total of 22 pairs of overnight high-speed trains running between Hubei cities to Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shanghai have also been suspended. The Global Times learned that there are currently a large number of stranded passengers at the high-speed railway station in Wuhan, with extensive delays in train services, some lasting up to 11 hours. Additionally, a flight scheduled to depart from Wuhan Airport on Saturday was delayed for eight hours, with passengers not allowed to leave the plane for six hours, leading to disputes between passengers and staff, media reported. In addition, on Sunday, on China's X-like platform Sina Weibo, some netizens said they had been trapped on highways in Hubei for over 10 hours, facing difficulties such as road closures, traffic jams, running out of fuel, lack of food and hot water, and difficulties in reaching rescue helplines. In response, the Hubei Provincial Department of Transportation stated that they attach great importance to this situation and are already coordinating efforts to address it, as reported by China Newsweek. Due to snowfall and icy road conditions, 1,665 toll stations across the country were closed on Sunday, according to China News Service. According to flight information provider VariFlight, multiple airports in the provinces of Hubei and Anhui have been affected. On Sunday, a large number of flights were canceled at the Wuhan, Yichang, and Shiyan airports in Hubei, while the Jingzhou airport experienced significant delays. In Anhui, there were small-scale cancellations at the Hefei airport and large-scale cancellations at the Anqing airport. The Wuhan airport has been impacted the most, with a flight operation rate of less than 20 percent, resulting in over 200 scheduled flights being canceled as of 7 pm Sunday. Due to extreme weather conditions in Central China, trains traveling from the north to the south and vice versa have also been restricted. According to the railway department's timetable, high-speed trains departing from Beijing to Shanghai, Anhui, Zhejiang, and other eastern regions were mostly delayed on Sunday. Only trains departing from Beijing to the surrounding northern regions were not affected. The railway department reminds passengers to closely monitor train schedules ahead and avoid "blindly" going to stations, in order to prevent station congestion. In addition, passengers will not be charged any refund fees for ticket cancellations due to train suspensions. In Wuhan, the railway bureau has taken multiple measures to cope with the severe cold weather. Major railway stations have mobilized over 3,000 personnel from various railway units to form a team for snow removal and de-icing. Additionally, 48 internal combustion locomotives have been arranged to be on standby at all times. Wuhan has also promised to promptly announce train operation conditions and delay information, and has increased the number of ticket refunds and exchange windows to facilitate passengers. Over 1,000 blankets have been prepared on high-speed trains and regular trains for the use of priority passengers such as elderly, disabled, and pregnant travelers. Along the route, tens of thousands of instant noodles, bottled water, and ham sausages have been prepared as emergency food to meet the needs of passengers. Currently, major train stations such as the Shanghai and Guangzhou stations have announced that their waiting rooms will be open at night, providing comfortable waiting environments for travelers. Sunday was the 10th day of the 2024 Spring Festival travel rush. Gao Bo, deputy director of the Transport Service Department of the Ministry of Transport, said that in the first nine days of the Spring Festival travel rush, the daily cross-regional passenger flow across the country exceeded 190 million trips, and the overall transportation operation was stable and orderly. According to the weather forecast, low temperatures in Central and East China will continue in the upcoming week. Especially in Henan, Anhui, Hubei, and Hunan, maximum temperatures will be more than 6 C lower than usual, and some areas may be about 10 C lower. These lower temperatures will continue for nearly a week. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) Korea and Saudi Arabia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to pave the way for cooperation in the defense industry and joint weapons development, Seoul's arms procurement agency said Monday. Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Minister Eom Dong-hwan and Saudi Assistant Defense Minister Talal bin Abdullah Al-Otaibi signed the agreement in Riyadh as Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik was on a visit to the Middle Eastern nation this week. Under the MOU, the two sides will launch a bilateral committee to jointly conduct research and development of weapons systems for continued cooperation in the defense industry, DAPA said. The signing took place as major Korean defense firms, including Hanwha, LIG Nex1 and Hyundai Rotem, are displaying their latest weapons systems at the World Defense Show 2024, which opened in Riyadh on Sunday. (Yonhap) ATLANTIC CITY A judge on Monday reopened a 2023 city ward election challenge case that involves allegations of wrongdoing by political operative Craig Callaway, after Callaway was federally charged Thursday with vote-by-mail fraud related to the 2022 general election. Without making any conclusions, it is in the interest of justice to come back within 30 days for one final hearing, Superior Court Assignment Judge Michael Blee said after hearing lawyers from both sides. Blee set a new date for continued testimony for 9:30 a.m. March 7 in the Atlantic County Civil Court House. I will reopen the hearing with the limited issue of specific vote-by-mail ballots, Blee said in a hearing that was set to issue his decision in the case after closing the record last month. Democratic candidate Viana Bailey is challenging the results of the Ward 2 City Council election after she lost the Democratic primary to incumbent Democratic Councilwoman LaToya Dunston by just six votes. Baileys lawyers have argued more than six illegal mail-in votes were cast and improper assistance given to some voters by Callaway, who supported Dunston. Dunston remains on City Council. Callaway has avoided being served with subpoenas in the case, according to Baileys lawyers. Atlantic City's Craig Callaway charged with mail-in ballot fraud Political operative Craig Callaway was arrested Thursday and charged with procuring, casting and tabulating fraudulent mail-in ballots in the November 2022 general election. The news that Callaway was federally charged with fraud involving mail-in ballots during the November 2022 election caused him to consider giving plaintiffs more time, Blee said. Although most testimony dealt with the use of disability certificates, (the plaintiff) clearly alleged fraud regarding mail-in ballots, Blee said in explaining his decision to reopen the case. Several people who voted by mail were repeatedly subpoenaed to come in and testify, but most did not appear, and that concerned him, Blee said. They will be subpoenaed again to testify at the March hearing. The court was reluctant to use its contempt powers, but we may have to in future, Blee said, saying the court is attempting to protect the integrity of the (voting) process. Richard Birch, Baileys attorney, said 23 subpoenas were sent out to people to testify about their vote-by-mail ballots, and only 14 were successfully served. Of those 14, three people appeared, Birch said. Baileys lawsuit contends some people who voted by mail do not actually live at the addresses they provided to register to vote, and her attorneys have said in court that people who do live at those addresses have said the person is unknown or left some time ago. Viana Bailey challenge to Ward 2 race in Atlantic City in final stretch Attorneys trying to prove fraud in the 2nd Ward's Democratic June primary in Atlantic City were prevented Monday from putting information on the record about some voters not living in the ward. Baileys attorneys have said they believe Callaway had involvement in the questionable vote-by-mail ballots but have not provided proof of that. Only one of those people who showed up as a result of a subpoena testified. That was Yudi Florian, who said she did not authorize anybody to get her a vote-by-mail ballot and did not vote in the election. Another voter, Hannah Johnson, did not appear but submitted a written certification alleging misconduct by Callaway, Birch said. Dunstons attorney Matthew Moench said he objected to the certification since it did not allow him a chance to cross-examine Johnson. Moench also objected to reopening the case. This matter has been going on since June in one form or another between the recount and now, Moench said. Ms. Bailey has had seven months to develop a record. But he said Baileys lawyers have not shown evidence of what they are alleging during several hearings. Not a single person who appeared in court pointed a finger to Mr. Callaway. Ms. Florian didnt mention Mr. Callaway, Moench said. At some point, this has to come to an end. Judge allows addition to Atlantic City primary election contest in Ward 2 A candidate challenging the results of the June Democratic primary in Ward 2 can amend her complaint to include voters who say their vote-by-mail ballots were tampered with, a judge decided Monday. But Daniel Antonelli, one of Baileys attorneys, countered that people for whom vote-by-mail ballots were illegally cast would have no idea who was conducting the fraud. As to Yudi Florian who testified ... how would she know if Craig Callaway cast her vote or not? Antonelli asked. In our petition we ... did reference four individuals we believe had vote-by-mails accepted that never cast votes. Another voter, Malikah Shakur, testified in December that she voted in the Ward 2 Atlantic City race but actually lived in Pleasantville. Blee said she may be recalled to testify as to whom she voted for so the count can be adjusted. But if other voters come in to say they didnt vote, even though mail-in ballots came in in their name, it will be impossible to know for whom those votes were cast, all agreed. Last week, the U.S. Attorneys Office charged Callaway with one count of procuring, casting and tabulating fraudulent mail-in ballots in the November 2022 general election. He was charged and released on a $50,000 appearance bond. GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP Nature is inspiring Stockton Universitys art gallery for the spring semester. Located in the lower gallery, We Are the River: Complex Narratives, Conservation, and Committing to New Jerseys Waterways dives into each of the states major rivers and watersheds. Some works in the exhibit are on display for the first time. Participating artists include Nancy Agati, Milcah Bassel, Michael Chovan-Dalton, Nancy Cohen, Joanie Gagnon San Chirico, Tyrese Gould Jacinto, Steve Kuzma, Lauren Rosenthal McManus, Jean Shin, Rebecca Schultz, Brandon Seidler, Lawre Stone, Amanda Thackray, Rachel Blythe Udell, Michael Williamson and Cheryl Patton Wu. The exhibit examines how contemporary artists are inspired by, interact with, and interweave their own stories into the complex history of our New Jersey rivers, Ryann Casey, exhibition coordinator, said Monday in a news release. The exhibition will address the past, present and future of rivers that once brought life but now threaten the very communities they help build. The upper gallery features the exhibit Dwell & Dusk: The Incredible in the Mundane by Elizabeth Gerdeman and Michael Hahn. Gerdeman, an American artist working in Germany, is a lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts Leipzig, and her work is in numerous exhibits. Hahn lives in Leipzig, Germany. Gerdeman will host a Viewfinders Workshop from noon to 4 p.m. Feb. 28 to give students an opportunity to create viewfinders out of paper cutouts and paint. The viewfinders will then be photographed around campus and displayed in the gallery as part of the exhibit. Both exhibits run until April 7 and are free to the public. The gallery is open from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday through Sunday. For more information, visit stockton.edu/art-gallery. Atlantic City's Craig Callaway, the get-out-the-vote expert arrested Thursday and charged with fraud related to his handling of mail-in ballots in the 2022 general election, will still speak at Liberty & Prosperity's annual fundraiser, its founder said Friday. Attorney and former Republican congressional candidate Seth Grossman said Friday he has spoken to Callaway since the arrest, and Callaway confirmed he will attend the Feb. 17 event. "The reason he was invited in the first place is with the presidential election coming up, a large number of Republicans believe the 2020 election was stolen (from President Donald Trump)," Grossman said. "Our members should be aware how the mail-in ballot messenger system works, and why it should be abolished," Grossman said. "Callaway's method would explain that ... how they gather ballots and put them in at the end." Grossman, a supporter of President Donald Trump in the 2020 election, said many Trump supporters didn't understand how Trump could be ahead after the polls closed in swing states yet lose after all mail-in-ballots were counted. Callaway is accused of paying Atlantic City residents $30 to $50 per person to act as vote-by-mail "messengers," going in to the Atlantic County Clerk's office with paperwork filled out by voters and collecting mail-in ballots, according to federal charges filed by the U.S. Attorneys Office. Under state law, the messengers are supposed to take the ballots back to individual voters, but the U.S. attorney is alleging the messengers gave hundreds of the ballots to Callaway to handle himself. And the charges include allegations from four "purported voters" who say they did not vote but ballots were put in in their names. "These are the messy things that happen when we have a very flawed system," Grossman said. Atlantic City's Craig Callaway charged with mail-in ballot fraud Political operative Craig Callaway was arrested Thursday and charged with procuring, casting and tabulating fraudulent mail-in ballots in the November 2022 general election. Liberty and Prosperity, a nonprofit educational group founded in 2003, says its mission is to understand and teach why New Jersey's motto, "Liberty and Prosperity," is "still relevant and true today." Grossman, 74, is a lawyer who lives in Atlantic City. A former city councilman and former Republican candidate for state Senate and U.S. Congress, his group often rallies against what they call abuses of the Constitution by those in power, including government. In September 2022, a Superior Court judge ruled in favor of Liberty and Prosperity in its lawsuit against the state, deciding that 2021 amendments to the casino payment-in-lieu-of-taxes law were unconstitutional. The amendments cut the amount casinos had to pay to replace property taxes by $55 million a year. Gov. Phil Murphy has appealed the decision. Holding onto ballots and sending them back at the very end keeps opponents from knowing how many ballots are coming in from the opposing party, and from then cranking up their own get-out-the-vote effort, he said. Michael Suleiman, the Atlantic County Democratic chairman, said Thursday he will lobby for changes in New Jersey law to ban payments to those who act as ballot messengers and bearers, and to mandate prepaid postage on all mail-in ballots so voters do not need to engage third parties to safely return their ballots. But Grossman said reform is not enough. He advocates for going back to the past system, in which votes happen at secure polling places and only those with legitimate health or travel needs can vote by mail. There is a ban on electioneering at the polls or near the polls, Grossman said. "When we have vote by mail, even with Suleiman's reforms, every kitchen table becomes a polling place," Grossman said, and voters are subject to influence from anyone who wants to exert it. "The ballot box is completely unsupervised." "Their (Democrats') agenda is to say the system is good," Grossman said, and bad people must be stopped from breaking the rules. "But in fact the system is wrong. ... We need to go back to voting on Election Day (in person)." Grossman also has many questions about why Callaway has been targeted now for prosecution, when he has been conducting the same get-out-the-vote efforts in the Atlantic City area for years. Until 2021, when he lost control over the Atlantic City Democratic Committee, Callaway had worked mainly for Democratic candidates. He did, however, work for U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, in his 2020 reelection bid. When Assemblyman Don Guardian, R-Atlantic, narrowly lost reelection as Atlantic City mayor to Frank Gilliam in 2017, he took evidence of improper mail-in ballot handling by Callaway to authorities, but no action was taken. Now that Callaway is working for some Republicans including Guardian in 2021 Grossman said, Callaway has been charged. "Craig Callaway is doing the basic math. It is what Democrats throughout America have been doing over the past 20 years," Grossman said. "They have been using a massive number of messengers assisting people in getting it done." He also has questions about the evidence laid out in the federal complaint. Dems criticize Guardian for hiring vote-by-mail organizer Callaway Democrats are criticizing Republican Assembly candidate Don Guardian for hiring political or "It's curious that after five weeks of surveillance ... the FBI agent focuses on four voters," Grossman said. "Four voters say they don't remember doing it (signing a ballot or ballot application), as opposed to providing an envelope with a fudged signature." He looks forward to seeing what other evidence the federal government may have, Grossman said. 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. 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, Johnson 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. Okla. 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 reelection 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. 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 so far have successfully staved off Republican efforts to close the states open primaries, but the threat is constantly looming. 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. 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. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania is closer than it ever has been to adopting an open primary system. 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. But its not there yet. The full House chamber still hasnt acted on the bill. A spokesperson for the House speaker, who has the power to call the bill down for a vote, told Lee Enterprises the measure is currently being reviewed. 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. Scott County's three Democratic state lawmakers urged constituents to continue making their opinions known about education legislation, including on Area Education Agencies. "We can't underestimate the power of your input, particularly on this bill," Sen. Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport, said at a forum the local Democratic lawmakers hosted Saturday. Earlier this week, House Republicans said that they would not move forward Gov. Kim Reynolds' bill to restructure how schools receive teacher and student support services. Instead, House leaders plan to hold their own meetings with stakeholders and return with a bill of their own. Reynolds' most recent proposal was to allow school districts to opt out of using AEAs and instead contract out for special education services and training. Reynolds has pitched the change as necessary as test scores of Iowa students with disabilities have lagged and the state spends a comparatively high amount on those students without seeing top-level results. Some AEA educators, however, have said the school districts provide disability services, the AEAs provide specialty services and training. About 50 people turned up at the Eastern Avenue Branch of the Davenport Public Library on Saturday morning to talk to their legislators about education legislation. Several members of the audience were AEA employees. Lori Janke, whose 15-year-old daughter uses speech services from the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency, said working with the agency has produced mixed results. Janke isn't in favor of complete overhaul of the AEA's and said she doesn't trust Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to bring reform to the agencies. But, she said she thinks the data on outcomes for students shows some changes need to be made. "You're not going to run into too many parents who've been part of the system for a long time who'll say reform is not maybe needed, and an agency is always worth looking at and seeing how we can better do this, but the idea of dismantling it all is a little far extreme," Janke told the legislators and audience. "I'm just asking is in all the conversations, I hear jobs, and I hear nothing about how we're going to make it better for the students. "We hear this and it's all about jobs and saving that, and I'm all for saving the AEA's, but we also have to talk about the data's the data and it's real. What are going to do to make it better for the kids?" Paula Carlson-Parrella, who's worked as substitute teacher for the Davenport school district and as a para-professional, said the AEA was instrumental for her work. "If the schools didn't have the AEA for resources, they would be in big trouble," Carlson-Parrella. "They came in to the middle school when I was working at the middle school during the summer and helped us develop lesson plans. They put together so many fantastic resources for us." For a few years, she worked in a severe and profound disabilities room with AEA employees. "They can pull in resources, they find whatever they need, they can as an organization, they have the ability to reach resources that I don't think we would otherwise have," Carlson-Parrella said. Photos: QC Storm hosts Education Day DES MOINES After a weekend trip to Texas, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Monday she plans to for a third time send Iowa law enforcement officials to assist Texas authorities with security efforts at the U.S.-Mexico border. During a news conference Monday at the Iowa Capitol, Reynolds repeated her criticism of how Democratic President Joe Bidens administration has enforced federal immigration laws, and cast doubt that Congress would be able to pass border security legislation. She traveled to Eagle Pass, Texas, on Sunday to join Texas Gov. Greg Abbott along with 12 other Republican governors at a news conference, where she did not speak. Back Monday in Iowa, Reynolds said she is working with Texas authorities to once again send Iowa State Patrol officers and Iowa National Guard troops to aid Texas authorities with border security efforts. For three years, Texas has been on the front line of the most serious national security and humanitarian crisis of our time, and Gov. Abbott has led the response, Reynolds told reporters Monday. Having no option but to protect itself, Texas is enforcing the law by denying illegal entry and detaining those who attempt it. If the federal government wont do the job protecting Americans, the states will step in. Other states assistance to Texas is needed because, she said, the federal government has not sufficiently addressed historical spikes in illegal migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border. She attributed increases in fentanyl seizures, drug overdose deaths and human trafficking to illegal immigration issues. The details of the pending deployment are still being worked out with Texas authorities, Reynolds said. It will be the third time Reynolds has deployed Iowans to assist Texas authorities with border security. In 2021, she dispatched 30 Iowa State Patrol officers. Last year, Reynolds sent 31 Iowa State Patrol officers and 109 Iowa National Guard troops for separate one-month deployments. The pending mission will again be funded by federal pandemic relief funding, from the American Rescue Plan that Biden signed into law in 2021 and Reynolds opposed. Last years deployment cost $2 million, according to the governors office. The Gazette has asked the governors office for information on the funding source for her travel to Texas this past weekend. The governors office said Reynolds trip to Texas over the weekend was paid for by the Republican Governors Association. Iowa National Guard has deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border on three other occasions since 2020 in response to a separate federal request, the governors office said. According to the Associated Press reporting on federal figures, arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico reached an all-time high in December since monthly numbers have been released. The Border Patrol tallied 249,785 arrests on the Mexican border in December, up 31% from 191,112 in November and up 13% from 222,018 in December 2022, the previous all-time high, the AP reported. Reynolds, as she has on multiple occasions in the past, excoriated the Biden administrations enforcement of border security policies, for which she blamed the influx of illegal border crossings. Biden has said there are limitations on what the president can accomplish without Congressional action. Asked Monday to comment after the news conferences, the White House pointed to remarks Biden made Jan. 30 to reporters. Ive done all I can do. Just give me the power. Ive asked from the very day I got into office. Give me the Border Patrol. Give me the people give me the people, the judges. Give me the people who can stop this and make it work right, Biden said. Border security legislation is being considered in the U.S. Senate, but Reynolds declined when asked Monday to call for its passage, instead reiterating that she believes the Biden administration should be stronger in its enforcement of immigration policy. She also expressed doubt that the Republican-led U.S. House and Democrat-led U.S. Senate would reach an agreement. Both (political) parties are guilty and not coming to the table, sitting down and having an adult conversation about what we do moving forward, Reynolds said. I dont have a lot of confidence in no disrespect to the people that serve out in Washington, DC., Im grateful for them but listen, in this environment, I dont have a lot of confidence in really too much getting done. PIERRE Stronger penalties for people convicted of raping a child younger than 12 years old could be forthcoming, after a bill was passed out of a House of Representatives committee Friday. HB 1192 would increase the penalty of raping a child from a maximum sentence of up to life in prison with the chance for parole to a mandatory sentence of life in prison with no parole. Thats after an amendment by Rep. Tim Reisch, R-Howard, passed. Originally, the bill wouldve allowed for the death penalty to be sought in child rape cases. Testimony from the Trial Lawyers Association and the Criminal Defense Lawyers Association against the bill before the amendment relied upon a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court decision that found it unconstitutional to sentence to someone to death for the rape of a child. That decision cited it was a cruel and unusual punishment. If it's a parent-child situation, where it is oftentimes incest, you essentially would have a child putting their father to death, said Steve Siegel, a lobbyist for the Trial Lawyers Association. I think that would be a really heavy burden for the child to carry for the rest of her life. Rep. Ben Krohmer, R-Mitchell, who sponsored the bill, refuted the unconstitutionality of the decision saying that it could be overturned anytime, referencing a number of Supreme Court decisions overturned recently. He also cited a case making its way through a Florida court. Currently in Florida, the state is pursuing the death penalty for a man accused of raping a child. The Florida statute was signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May. I think this bill is an important step to protecting our kids from the most heinous acts imaginable, Krohmer said. And as a state, we ought to be able to determine how we're going to punish these people. Worried about the constitutionality of the legislation, Reisch put forward the amendment to take the penalty down from a class A felony to a class B felony, requiring a mandatory life in prison sentence. I think people like this that go to prison for life sentences, the inmates know what the offense is, he said. I think that will be a very, very severe sentence indeed. Rep. Scott Odenbach, R-Spearfish, opposed the amendment saying that the 2008 Supreme Court case referenced was a 5-4 vote and that today, its a wholly different court than before. HB 1195 passed with a 7-4 vote and now heads to the House floor for debate. This story originally appeared in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. PIERRE In a Groundhog Day like fashion, lawmakers picked up where they left off in 2023 after Gov. Kristi Noem vetoed a bill that wouldve added updates to a package of laws that regulate interstate commerce. Friday morning saw the House State Affairs committee vote to pass two bills related to the Uniform Commercial Code, frequently called the backbone of American commerce. The first, HB 1161, which passed unanimously, bans the state from accepting a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The second, HB 1163, which passed with one "no" vote, lets the state accept new updates to the UCC including better defining cryptocurrency. The UCC came to be in the 1890s as a way to align business transactions between the states, Nathan Sanderson, executive director of the South Dakota Retailers Association, explained. The package of laws arent federal and rather each state adopts the UCC so businesses across the country can process checks, certify leases and allow bank deposits. As business has evolved, so does the code, Sanderson said, adding the code had been updated many times since its establishment and that, this time around, the UCC updates allow for recognizing cryptocurrency as a form of money and the usage of e-signatures for financial documentation. The updates do not allow for a central bank digital currently, dont specify a certain type of cryptocurrency, dont take away physical money, and federal powers dont expand, Sanderson said. Last year, the South Dakota Freedom Caucus opposed the UCC update because the group believed it would stifle cryptocurrency competition and open the door for a federal CBDC. Gov. Noem opposed the bill because of how it defined cryptocurrency as money, leading to her veto. But with work done over the year by many groups, Noems office supported the bill Friday, saying that the language wouldnt damage the economy or limit financial freedom. Opposition came from Rep. Sue Peterson, R-Sioux Falls, who asked the committee to defer the bill to another day when HB 1199, a similar UCC bill, would be heard. She requested HB 1163 have some surgical edits to address her concerns. Rep. Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, used his time during the questioning period to ask about specific definitions of items in the UCC such as chattel papers and hybrid transactions. While those were answered by a UCC lawyer, Hansen was displeased that an out-of-state expert had to take on those questions. I think that's irresponsible government, subjecting our constituents to a law that the proponents in this state can't explain, Hansen said, when he explained why he opposed the motion to pass HB 1163. I think that's embarrassing, frankly. Many of the lawyers in the room were familiar with the UCC because of the required contract law classes they took while in school, Rep. Will Mortenson, R-Fort Pierre, said. It was disrespectful to doubt their expertise and the thousands of hours that they spent over the past year trying to come up with a solution to the concerns voiced by people about the UCC. Make no mistake, this is the product of an intensely scrutinized process, and they are delivering for us an update to the backbone of our commercial law, the House Majority Leader said. HB 1163 passed out of committee 12-1 and now heads to the House floor. This story originally appeared in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Korea will participate in a U.S.-led multinational training event on space security this month, the Air Force said Monday, amid Seoul's efforts to boost defense capabilities in the increasingly important domain. Personnel from the Air Force, the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute will take part in Global Sentinel 2024 hosted by the U.S. Space Command at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California from Monday (local time) to Feb. 16. The event will involve some 250 personnel from 28 countries and focus on boosting cooperation in space domain awareness operations, such as those on satellite collisions and falling space debris. Korea will form a joint team with counterparts from Australia, Japan and New Zealand to discuss and practice ways to respond to such situations, the Air Force said, adding that other Korean officials from the Army, the Navy and the Agency for Defense Development will attend the event as observers. Korea, which has participated in Global Sentinel since 2014, has pushed to enhance its space-based defense capabilities, recently highlighted by the launch of its first military spy satellite last December. The Air Force said it plans to further strengthen its operational capabilities in the domain this year by upgrading its Space Operations Squadron to a group-level unit and deploying a space weather prediction system. (Yonhap) A fundraising ad for U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) shows a photo of Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, behind bars, swarmed by flying bats. Rosendale, who is eyeing a challenge to incumbent Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, maintains that a Montana biomedical research facility, Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, has a dangerous link to the pandemic. This claim is echoed in the ad: Its been revealed that Fauci brought COVID to the Montana one year before COVID broke out in the U.S!, it charges in all-caps before asking readers to Donate today and hold the D.C. bureaucracy accountable! The ad, paid for by Matt Rosendale for Montana, seeks contributions through WinRed, a platform that processes donations for Republican candidates. Rosendale also shared the fundraising pitch on his X account Nov. 1, and it remained live as of early February. Rosendale made similar accusations on social media, during a November speech on the U.S. House floor, and through his congressional office. Sometimes his comments, like those on the House floor, are milder, saying the researchers experimented on a coronavirus leading up to the pandemic. Other times, as in an interview with One America News Network, he linked the labs work to covid-19s spread. ITS BEEN REVEALED THAT FAUCI BROUGHT COVID TO THE MONTANA ONE YEAR BEFORE COVID BROKE OUT IN THE U.S! ITS BEEN REVEALED THAT FAUCI BROUGHT COVID TO THE MONTANA ONE YEAR BEFORE COVID BROKE OUT IN THE U.S! An ad from the Matt Rosendale for Montana campaign A fundraising ad for U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) shows a photo of Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, behind bars, swarmed by flying bats. In that interview clip, Rosendale recounted pandemic-era shutdowns before saying, And now were finding out that the National Institute of Health, Rocky Mountain Lab, down in Hamilton, Montana, had also played a role in this. Rosendales statements echo broader efforts to scrutinize how research into viruses happens in the United States and is part of a continued wave of backlash against scientists who have studied coronaviruses. Rosendale is considering seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Tester, in a toss-up race that could help determine which party controls the Senate in 2025. Political newcomer Tim Sheehy is also seeking the Republican nomination for the Senate. Rosendale proposed amendments to a health spending bill that would ban pandemic-related pathogen research funding for Rocky Mountain Laboratories and cut the salary of one of its top researchers, virologist Vincent Munster, to $1. The House has included both amendments in the Health and Human Services budget bill that the Republican majority hopes to pass. A temporary spending bill is funding the health department until March. We contacted Rosendales congressional office multiple times with emails, a phone call, and an online request asking what proof he had to back up his statements that the Montana lab infected bats with covid from China before the outbreak. We got no reply. Kathy Donbeck, of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Office of Communications and Government Relations, said in an email that the ads claims are false. Interviews with virologists and a review of the research paper published shortly before Rosendales assertions support that position. Where this is coming from Rosendales statements seem to stem from a Rocky Mountain Laboratories study from 2016 that looked into how a coronavirus, WIV1-CoV, acted in Egyptian fruit bats. The work, published by the journal Viruses in 2018, showed that the specific strain didnt cause a robust infection in the bats. The study did not receive widespread attention at the time. But on Oct. 30, 2023, the study was highlighted by a blog called White Coat Waste Project, which says its mission is to stop taxpayer-funded experiments on animals. Some right-wing media outlets began to connect the Montana lab with the coronavirus that causes covid. Rosendales office issued an Oct. 31 news release saying the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China shipped a strain of coronavirus to the Hamilton lab. Our government helped create the Wuhan flu, then shut the country down when it escaped from the lab, Rosendale said. Its a different virus Rocky Mountain Laboratories is a federally funded facility as part of NIAID, the nations top infectious disease research agency, which Fauci led for nearly 40 years. According to the study and Donbecks email, the Montana researchers focused on a coronavirus called WIV1-CoV, not the covid-causing SARS-CoV-2. Theyre different viruses. The genetics of the viruses are very different, and their behavior biologically is very different, said Troy Sutton, a virologist with Pennsylvania State University who has studied the evolution of pandemic influenza viruses. In a review of media reports on the Montana study, Health Feedback, a network of scientists that fact-checks health and medical media coverage, showed the viruss lineage indicated that WIV1 is not a direct ancestor or even a close relative of SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, the description of the coronavirus strain as being shipped suggests that it physically traveled across the world. Thats not what happened. The Wuhan Institute of Virology provided the WIV1 viruss sequence that allowed researchers to make a lab-grown copy. A separate study, published in 2013 by the journal Nature, outlines the origins of the lab-created virus. According to the studys methodology, the researchers used a clone of WIV1. An NIAID statement to Lee Enterprises, a media company, said the virus was generated using common laboratory techniques, based on genetic information that was publicly shared by Chinese scientists. Stanley Perlman, a University of Iowa professor who studies coronaviruses and serves on the federal advisory committee that reviews vaccines, said Rosendales claim is off-base. He said Rosendales focus on where the lab got its materials is irrelevant and serves only to make people wary and scared. Rosendales efforts to prohibit particular research at Rocky Mountain Laboratories appear ill-informed, too. Rosendale targeted banning gain-of-function research, which involves altering a pathogen to study its spread. In her email, NIAIDs Donbeck said the Rocky Mountain Laboratories study didnt involve gain-of-function research. This type of research has long been controversial, and people who study viruses have said the definition of gain of function is problematic and insufficient to show when research, or even work to create vaccines, could cross into that type of research. But both Sutton and Perlman said that, any way you look at it, the Rocky Mountain Laboratories study published in 2018 didnt change the virus. It put a virus in bats and showed it didnt grow. And it had no effect on the covid outbreak a year later, first detected in Washington state. Our ruling Rosendales ad said, Its been revealed that Fauci brought COVID to the Montana one year before COVID broke out in the U.S! The campaign ad and Rosendales similar statements refer to research at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories involving WIV1, a coronavirus that researchers say is not even distantly close in genetic structure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused covid-19. Rosendales claim is wrong about when the scientists began their work, what they were studying, and where they got the materials. The researchers began their work in 2016 and, although they were studying a coronavirus, it wasnt the virus that causes covid. The Montana scientists used a lab-grown clone of WIV1 for their research. The first laboratory-confirmed case of covid was not detected in the U.S. until Jan. 20, 2020. Rosendales ad is inaccurate and ridiculous. We rate it Pants on Fire! USE OUR CONTENT This story can be republished for free (details). KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF. Ashley Hicks and her family were among thousands in attendance Saturday afternoon for ChinaFest at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. Coinciding with the museums Family Day, entry to all exhibits was free, including Dawoud Bey: Elegy and Willie Anne Wright: Artist and Alchemist. The celebratory event attracted Richmond families in droves. Its something free for families to do to get out and about, Hicks said. But for our family personally, its really special because our daughter Maisy is from China. So this really ties in and celebrates her culture and her heritage, and this is just a fun way to get to do that. ChinaFest is the VMFAs annual celebration of the Lunar New Year. The event brings an opportunity for attendees to immerse in and experience Chinese culture and tradition. Performances, presentations and activities occur throughout the museum. The celebration is annually one of the VMFAs largest, with roughly 10,000 attending last year. This was the Hicks familys second time in attendance. We loved it so much last year, we came back, Hicks said. She and her husband adopted Maisy from China in 2015. Maisy held the red paper dragon she had made at one of the events arts and crafts areas. Her artwork signified this years theme, Year of the Wood Dragon. Other art activities included decorating a banner as well as creating an interactive paper lion and a collaborative peony flower curtain. Performances took place in the museums Atrium and Cheek Theater, and family friendly films about Chinese culture played in the lecture hall. Traditional Chinese dances were performed by On the One Dance Company and Yu Dance Arts. Dancers from Choy Wun Dance Troupe performed a traditional Lion Dance and Dragon Dance. Each performance included vibrant colors. Ryan Marsh, a chief instructor at the Richmond Moy Yat Kung Fu Academy, has been involved with ChinaFest for five years. Marshs students practiced warrior moves in front of the packed Atrium audience. We really enjoy the museum allowing us to come in and do what we do. We focus on kids doing the work and getting the audience involved, Marsh said. Marsh explained the Year of the Wood Dragon is special, as it represents growth and protection of the community. ChinaFest is a good way for the Richmond community to celebrate a tradition that is about all communities. Its celebrating coming together and protecting the community. We use loud drumming, magic animals, color and kung fu performance to bring joy to everyone. Recognize this? 114 photos of Richmond's restaurant past Colleen Curran Living Editor Follow Colleen Curran 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 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 Randy and Shirley Cooper, of Richmond, share a legacy together in many respects: as husband and wife, as parents, as business leaders and now, advocates for financial equality. In Richmond, two longstanding financial institutions have been led by the Coopers, with Randy serving as president and CEO of the Richmond Heritage Federal Credit Union and Shirley recently retiring from her role as president and CEO of the Credit Union of Richmond. While Randy is making his own transition out of his leadership post, he is continuing to assist people with their finances by getting his Forward Thinking Vision Foundation nonprofit off the ground with Shirleys help. I always wanted to understand money and how you get it, Randy said. More importantly, how do you keep it? Once I started to understand those things, I started to realize that this is something I really wanted to help people with. The Coopers stories both began in Halifax County; the difference being that the Halifax Randy grew up in was located in North Carolina, while Shirleys version of Halifax was two hours away in Virginia. Shirley Cooper, 55, is the oldest of five children. Growing up, Shirley wanted to get into modeling, even taking part in an Ivory Soap commercial, but that plan did not work out long term. She attended Danville Community College, but mainly focused on working in various retail jobs from cashier to manager. Shirley intended on continuing her education at Virginia Commonwealth University, but those plans fell through. Her best friend lived in Richmond, however, so she still decided to move there. While working at a grocery store, Shirley was recruited by Credit Union of Richmonds then-president who liked her personality. The Credit Union of Richmond was founded in 1923 as Richmond Postal Credit Union and is the longest continuously operating credit union in Virginia. Shirley started at the credit union as a teller in 1995 and worked in nearly every other position on the way to becoming the first Black president and CEO of the company in 2014. It meant a lot to me, Shirley said. It really opened up a lot of my co-workers' eyes because they saw my growth. And because I was the first African American, it was really encouraging. Randy Cooper, 55, is the youngest of 11 children that grew up in Enfield, N.C. He studied business at Nash Community College not far from home. Like Shirley, he started off working in retail. After a couple mishaps as a dishwasher and cook at KFC, he was moved into a cashier role, which turned out to be a more natural fit. While visiting one of his brothers in Richmond, Randy enjoyed the nightlife in the bigger city and decided to move here. He went to Cloverleaf Mall and got a job at a mens clothing store. Randy worked at a variety of places such as a gas station, convenience store and storage unit. He got into management which eventually led him into banking. In 2017, he became the fourth president and CEO of Richmond Heritage Federal Credit Union, the last Black credit union remaining in Richmond. Richmond Heritage Federal Credit Union, formerly known as the Richmond Teachers Credit Union, was founded in 1936 by 10 Black educators, eight of them from Virginia Union University. After speaking with the senior members at Richmond Heritage, a common theme Randy kept hearing was pride: pride in ownership, pride in building something bigger than themselves, pride in establishing a legacy. I thought it was the most amazing story ever, Randy said about Richmond Heritages roots. When (the previous CEO) retired, I saw this as an opportunity to continue his legacy and start my own. As president and CEO, Randy created the board leadership training program designed to share the wealth of knowledge with young people. The program will continue on outside of Richmond Heritage. Over the years, Richmond Heritage and Virginia Union drifted apart, but when Randy took over the credit union, he helped rebuild their relationship. Now, Richmond Heritage has a presence on the Virginia Union campus, including legacy programs, ATMs and the slogan, Were the other HBCU. One of the challenges Randy faced in running a Black credit union was the limited number of people he could work with. Because of a decades-old city charter, Richmond Heritage was only allowed to do business with negro employees of the School Board, as well as their immediate family members and associates. Even today, Richmond Heritage can only serve the Blackwell, Manchester and Swansboro communities, placing it at a disadvantage against competing banks and credit unions with a wider reach. For those restrictions to change, the company will need to show growth. One of the challenges that our credit union faced then and still now is that when someone would die, their family members would come in and take the money out of our credit union and take it to other banks, Randy said. Randys goals for the credit union included growing membership, growing loans, decreasing delinquencies and slowing attrition that stemmed from having an older customer base. Richmond Heritage has been aided with support from partners like Henrico Federal Credit Union, Self Help Credit Union out of North Carolina and even Credit Union of Richmond. As Randy moves away from his role as president and CEO, he is looking to use the Forward Thinking Vision Foundation to help close the wealth gap and positively impact the social and financial health of future generations. That vision includes hosting four events at the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, beginning with the 424 Vision Shared Legacy event on Feb. 24. The idea is that we will work together and share our legacies and help one another achieve our goals, Randy said. The Coopers have been married for 29 years and have a daughter, Tatyana, who currently attends Longwood University. They are looking forward to focusing on their new passions in helping their community. Closing the wealth gap for me would be honoring the generations from before, Randy said. So many of us have worked together to build up equality, but in doing so, we still have these restrictions. It would be about being a part of Martin Luther Kings dream if we could close that gap. From the Archives: Jackson Ward in the 1970s and 80s Chesterfield County police announced Monday that charges had been filed against a Chesterfield public schools teacher who reportedly assaulted a student at Manchester High School last month. Police said Freddie L. Williams, 49, of Chester, on Jan. 18 struck a juvenile male student at the school, located at 12601 Bailey Bridge Road. Following an investigation, Williams was arrested Monday at his home in the 4600 block of Laurel Spring Court in Chester. Williams has been charged with assault, according to court records. The incident remains under investigation. Shawn Smith, a spokesperson for Chesterfield public schools, said Williams will not return to the school division pending adjudication of charges. Williams could not immediately be reached for comment. Williams is the second Chesterfield public schools teacher to be charged with assaulting a student in recent months. In December, Mark Boehles, 65, of Henrico County, was served a releasable warrant in a Nov. 3 incident in which Boehles reportedly kicked a juvenile male student in the lower leg and deliberately stepped on his foot in a classroom at Thomas Dale High School. Close Queen Elizabeth II, Va. visit July 10, 1976 Musician Stephen Christoff, takes a "selfie" with his cell phone as he waits for His Royal Highness Prince Charles, at the farm area Mount Vernon Wednesday, March 18, 2015 during a visit by the Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker-Bowles to the historic home of George Washington in Mount Vernon, VA. His Royal Highness Prince Charles, left, Carol Cadou, Senior Vice President for Historic Preservation & Collections of Mount Vernon, center, and Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, right, stand outside Mount Vernon Wednesday, March 18, 2015 during a visit by the Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker-Bowles to the historic home of George Washington. The Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker-Bowles, left, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, center, and His Royal Highness Prince Charles, right, walk outside Mount Vernon Wednesday, March 18, 2015 during a visit to the historic home of George Washington. The Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker-Bowles, left and His Royal Highness Prince Charles, right, walk out a doorway at Mount Vernon Wednesday, March 18, 2015 during a visit by the Prince and Duchess to the historic home of George Washington in Mount Vernon, VA. Curt Viebranz, President of Mount Vernon, left, and the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker-Bowles, right stand outside Mount Vernon Wednesday, March 18, 2015 during a visit by the his Royal Highness Prince Charles and the Duchess to the historic home of George Washington . in Mount Vernon, VA. His Royal Highness Prince Charles, at the farm area Mount Vernon Wednesday, March 18, 2015 during a visit by the Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker-Bowles to the historic home of George Washington in Mount Vernon, VA. King Charles Virginia Visits Queen Elizabeth II, Va. visit July 10, 1976 Musician Stephen Christoff, takes a "selfie" with his cell phone as he waits for His Royal Highness Prince Charles, at the farm area Mount Vernon Wednesday, March 18, 2015 during a visit by the Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker-Bowles to the historic home of George Washington in Mount Vernon, VA. His Royal Highness Prince Charles, left, Carol Cadou, Senior Vice President for Historic Preservation & Collections of Mount Vernon, center, and Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, right, stand outside Mount Vernon Wednesday, March 18, 2015 during a visit by the Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker-Bowles to the historic home of George Washington. The Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Parker-Bowles, left, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, center, and His Royal Highness Prince Charles, right, walk outside Mount Vernon Wednesday, March 18, 2015 during a visit to the historic home of George Washington. The Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker-Bowles, left and His Royal Highness Prince Charles, right, walk out a doorway at Mount Vernon Wednesday, March 18, 2015 during a visit by the Prince and Duchess to the historic home of George Washington in Mount Vernon, VA. Curt Viebranz, President of Mount Vernon, left, and the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker-Bowles, right stand outside Mount Vernon Wednesday, March 18, 2015 during a visit by the his Royal Highness Prince Charles and the Duchess to the historic home of George Washington . in Mount Vernon, VA. His Royal Highness Prince Charles, at the farm area Mount Vernon Wednesday, March 18, 2015 during a visit by the Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker-Bowles to the historic home of George Washington in Mount Vernon, VA. Richmond police have opened a death investigation after Salvador Vitervo Ortiz, 31, was found dead in the 2700 block of Cofer Road on Saturday. Ortiz was reported missing by family members after last being seen on Jan. 19 in the 3100 block of Richmond Highway. Richmond police, family members and community groups searched the area to no avail. Family members found Ortizs body in a wooded area near Cofer Road and contacted police. The Richmond Ambulance Authority pronounced Ortiz dead at the scene. Detectives are investigating the incident. There are no indications of foul play at this time. Anyone with further information is asked to call RPD Major Crimes at (804) 646-6741 or contact Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. The P3 Tips Crime Stoppers app for smartphones may also be used. All Crime Stoppers reporting methods are anonymous. One person has been charged with reckless driving in a fatal Saturday morning crash on Interstate 95 in Chesterfield County. Virginia State Police said officers responded to the southbound lanes of I-95 near the exit for Route 288 in Chesterfield at around 12:48 a.m. Saturday. At the scene, detectives determined that a 1994 Honda Civic driven by Thomas J. Calix Lisboa, 25, of Hopewell, had veered off the road and struck a 2010 Mercury Milan that had stopped in the right shoulder. A passenger in the Milan, identified by police as Crailynn Christie, 23, of Petersburg, was killed in the crash. She was not wearing a seat belt, police said. The driver of the Milan, identified by police as Kweli J. Grooms, 21, of Petersburg, suffered serious injuries. Grooms was wearing a seat belt, according to police. Calix Lisboa, who was also wearing a seat belt, was treated for minor injuries, police said. He has been charged with reckless driving, driving with a suspended or revoked license and driving an uninspected vehicle. Police said fatigue also may have been a factor in the collision. The crash remains under investigation. 11 photos of Richmond's retail past Four of Richmonds public schools need significant school safety updates and 26 others need moderate updates, according to information Richmond Public Schools prepared for the School Board. Nineteen other RPS schools need no updates or minor updates, according to information in briefing materials for Monday nights School Board meeting. The four schools listed as needing significant updates are Chimborazo, Elizabeth D. Redd and Westover Hills elementary schools and Richmond High School for the Arts, formerly known as George Wythe. Virginia law says all public school boards must require all schools under their control to annually conduct school safety audits and make them public within 90 days of completion. However, the Richmond school system has not posted the audits since 2020, and the district could not confirm whether it published prior results. Despite not publicizing them, the district did consistently conduct the audits and send the results to the state as legally required, according to an RPS spokeswoman. School Board member Jonathan Young, who represents the 4th District, said in an interview that it is important to note that the district has made significant safety improvements over the past few years, including adding video cameras, metal detectors and thousands of interior door locks. But obviously, the district has a lot of improvements to be made, he continued. Thats kind of pointing out the elephant in the room. The safety audit ratings come weeks after a Richmond judge forced the release of RPS external report on the fatal June 6 shooting outside the Altria Theater after the Huguenot High School graduation ceremony. Shawn Jackson, 18, and his stepfather, Renzo Smith, 36, were killed. The report found that the slain student had participated in the graduation ceremony without consideration of safety concerns that were known by several school staff members. The Richmond Times-Dispatch, WTVR-TV and transparency advocate Joshua Stanfield sued the School Board to force it to release the results of the investigation that it paid Richmond-based law firm Sands Anderson to conduct. At its meeting in late January, the first since the release of the report, the School Board rejected a motion from 3rd District representative Kenya Gibson to hire a senior officer focused on school safety. The latest safety audit ratings, Young said, are only an affirmation that Kenya (Gibsons) motion should have been approved. I dont think shes looking for an opportunity to say, I told you so, but this would certainly merit it, Young said. At its meeting Monday night, the board also was to discuss the 15-point safety plan that it approved in August in response to the Huguenot graduation shooting. The plan includes a cellphone ban at six schools, enhanced safety training and additional mental health resources. Of the 15 components of the plan, five are complete, nine are in progress, and one a Care and Safety Innovation Fund for Schools is at a standstill because the school system has not been able to find funding. Today in history: Feb. 5 1937: Franklin D. Roosevelt 1971: Apollo 14 1983: Klaus Barbie 1993: Family and Medical Leave Act 2008: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi 2012: New York Giants 2014: CVS 2017: The New England Patriots 2018: Jerome Powell 2020: Impeachment 2023: Beyonce 2012: New York Giants 2017: The New England Patriots 2020: Impeachment Recreational vehicles filled the gallery halls and the parking lot outside Richmond Raceway for the Richmond RV Show over the weekend. Attendees were able to shop for RVs that best suited their needs, budgets and family sizes. Options ranged from a small, two-person pull along, such as the ModBug or Bushwhacker, to a 44-foot, diesel-powered vehicle with two bathrooms. That model was described by one person as a tour bus that rock stars would have. The vehicles were parked in front of and inside the Exhibition Hall, Commonwealth and Henrico Buildings on Richmond Raceways complex from Friday until Sunday evening. One of the things that were really excited about is that RVs have really changed over the course of the last few years, said Doug Clemons, sales manager for General RV Center. Especially in the way that people use them. Theyre not just for camping anymore. Clemons pointed out that people are using RVs to travel the country while being able to work remotely, mentioning the current popularity of camper vans and living a nomadic lifestyle. He also said some of the larger bus-sized RVs are being used for tailgating at sporting events, pointing out amenities including TVs mounted under awnings outside the buses. So its not just a campsite anymore. Theres a full spectrum of venues that RVs are accepted at, Clemons said. Were super excited that we can be a part of the show and showcase some of our most popular products. Five dealers from around Virginia were represented: General RV Center, Gloucester RV, Campers Inn RV, Petes RV Center and Bishs. People with Virginia State Parks, Kampgrounds of America and other entities were also on hand to suggest places to bring current or newly purchased RVs. Carrie and Charles Evans were at the show to hunt for places to take their daughter and two boys for trips and vacations. We own a camper already. Were more looking for ideas and places to go, Carrie said. It puts things into perspective about what were looking for and what we want to do in the future, said Charles, who had just returned from the outdoor RV lot. Mark and Phyllis Dorsey felt like going to the RV show was a good way to spend a Sunday. We have one (RV) already, Mark said. Weve had a Sunday with nothing going on, so we figured we come here and have a look. The one we have we researched for four years, Phyllis said. Maybe someday well get a new one. Were looking at the innovations and what well someday replace ours with our new home. While every now and then an air horn would announce a new purchase, many folks were just browsing. We have a travel trailer. So were looking for something were going to upgrade into or what we want to get into, Bonita Prentis said. Her husband, Steward, quipped: All while hoping nothing catches her eye to where we have to upgrade too soon. WASHINGTON A case with the potential to disrupt Donald Trump's drive to return to the White House is putting the Supreme Court uncomfortably at the center of the 2024 presidential campaign. In arguments Thursday, the justices will, for the first time, wrestle with a constitutional provision adopted after the Civil War to prevent former officeholders who "engaged in insurrection" from reclaiming power. The case is the court's most direct involvement in a presidential election since Bush v. Gore, a decision delivered a quarter-century ago that effectively delivered the 2000 election to Republican George W. Bush. It comes to a court that has been buffeted by criticism over ethics, which led the justices to adopt their first code of conduct in November, and at a time when public approval of the court is at near-record lows in surveys. The dispute stems from the push by Republican and independent voters in Colorado to kick Trump off the state's Republican primary ballot because of his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden, culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Colorado's highest court determined Trump incited the riot in the nation's capital, is ineligible to be president again as a result and should not be on the ballot for the state's primary March 5. A victory for the Colorado voters would amount to a declaration from the justices, who include three appointed by Trump when he was president, that he engaged in insurrection and is barred by the 14th Amendment from holding office again. That would allow states to keep him off the ballot. A definitive ruling for Trump would largely end efforts in Colorado, Maine and elsewhere to prevent his name from appearing on the ballot. The justices could opt for a less conclusive outcome, but then the issue could return to them, perhaps in the midst of a full-blown constitutional crisis. The court signaled it will try to act quickly, dramatically shortening the period in which it receives written briefing and holds arguments in the courtroom. Trump is separately appealing to state court a ruling by Maine's Democratic secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, that he was ineligible to appear on that state's ballot over his role in the Capitol attack. Both the Colorado and Maine decisions are on hold until the appeals play out. Whatever the justices decide, they are likely to see more of Trump, who is facing criminal charges related to Jan. 6 and other issues. Other election-related litigation also is possible. In 2000, in Bush v. Gore, the court and the parties were divided over whether the justices should intervene at all. The conservative-driven 5-4 decision was heavily criticized ever since, especially given that the court cautioned against using the case as precedent. In the current case, both parties want the matter settled and quickly. Trump's campaign declined to make anyone available for this story, but his lawyers urged the justices not to delay. "The Court should put a swift and decisive end to these ballot-disqualification efforts, which threaten to disenfranchise tens of millions of Americans and which promise to unleash chaos and bedlam if other state courts and state officials follow Colorado's lead and exclude the likely Republican presidential nominee from their ballots," Trump's lawyers wrote. Donald Sherman, the top lawyer at the group behind the ballot challenge, said voters and election officials need to have an answer quickly. "And I think, obviously, voters have a not small interest in knowing whether the Supreme Court thinks, as every fact-finder that has reached this question, that Jan. 6 was an insurrection and that Donald Trump is an insurrectionist," Sherman said in an interview. He is executive vice president and chief legal counsel at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Justice Clarence Thomas is the only sitting member of the court who was on the bench for Bush v. Gore. He was part of the majority in that ruling. Three other justices joined the legal fight on Bush's side: Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Bush eventually put Roberts on a federal appeals court and then appointed him chief justice. Bush hired Kavanaugh to important White House jobs before making him an appellate judge, too. Kavanaugh and Barrett were elevated to the Supreme Court by Trump, who also appointed Justice Neil Gorsuch. Thomas ignored calls by some Democratic lawmakers and ethics professors to step aside from the current case. They note his wife, Ginni Thomas, supported Trump's effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Ginni Thomas repeatedly texted White House chief of staff Mark Meadows after that election, once referring to it as a "heist," and she attended the rally that preceded Trump supporters' storming of the Capitol. Trump lost 60 different court challenges to his false claims that there was massive voter fraud that would have changed the results of that election. The Supreme Court ruled against Trump and his allies in 2020 election-related lawsuits, as well as his efforts to keep documents related to Jan. 6 and his tax returns from being turned over to congressional committees. A Seoul court acquitted Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Monday in connection with the controversial 2015 merger of two Samsung affiliates allegedly conducted to help him take over control of Korea's biggest conglomerate. The Seoul Central District Court delivered the not-guilty sentence for Lee, three years and five months after he was indicted on charges of involvement in market irregularities in the merger of Cheil Industries Inc. and Samsung C&T to solidify his managerial control of the group at a lower cost. Lee was charged with stock price rigging, breach of trust and accounting fraud in the course of the controversial 2015 merger, where three Samsung C&T shares were offered for one Cheil share. The merger was seen as crucial to Lee's succession as the heir of the family-controlled group, as his father, Lee Kun-hee, had suffered a heart attack the previous year. Prosecutors suspected that the group manipulated the stock market to inflate the prices of Cheil and drive down Samsung C&T prices through various unfair practices, including disseminating false market information, mass purchasing the affiliates' stocks and illegally lobbying the National Pension Service, a major Samsung C&T shareholder, to support the merger. Prosecutors suspected that such irregularities had been pursued since 2012 in favor of Lee, who was the biggest shareholder in Cheil with a 23.2 percent share, and with the intent to help him tighten his control of Samsung C&T, the de facto holding company of Samsung Group. Announcing the acquittal Monday, the court found no illegalities in Lee's succession process. The court concluded that Lee's succession as the group chairman or the solidification of his control of the group were not the sole purpose of the 2015 merger, nor was there any evidence showing that the merger inflicted financial losses on shareholders. The court also found Lee not guilty of charges of involvement in the suspected accounting fraud at Samsung Biologics, a subsidiary of Cheil Industries. "None of the criminal charges in this case have been proven," the court said. Lee's side welcomed the not-guilty sentence. A lawyer representing Lee told reporters after the sentence: "I truly appreciate the court's wise decision." The prosecution has a week to appeal the court ruling. In the ruling, Choi Gee-sung, a former head of Samsung's now-disbanded control tower Future Strategy Office, two other former officials at the office and 10 others were also acquitted of charges related to the merger. Prosecutors had demanded a five-year prison sentence for Lee, along with a fine of 500 million won ($375,206), pinpointing him as the ultimate person responsible for the alleged manipulation scheme. Lee has denied the charges, claiming his personal interests were not considered during the merger of the affiliates. He has also pleaded with the court to acquit him so that he can "concentrate all resources on moving the company forward." Lee had been sentenced to two and a half years in prison in a bribery case involving ousted former President Park Geun-hye and was released on parole in 2021 while serving the term. The following year, he was given a special presidential pardon to have all his rights reinstated and return to management. (Yonhap) A Virginia man was sentenced on Friday to 30 years in prison for his role in a drug distribution conspiracy, which included using the U.S. Postal Service to ship bulk packages of nearly pure methamphetamine, officials said. Prosecutors said Malik Mayo Dillard, 47, of Virginia Beach, for years used out-of-state suppliers to import substantial amounts of methamphetamine, which he then provided to dealers in the Hampton Roads area. Between September 2021 and February 2023, Dillard oversaw the shipment and sale of wholesale quantities of controlled substances, officials said. Dillard would receive the shipments at different addresses in Virginia Beach, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Norfolk, officials said. His network included at least five dealers. In March 2021, authorities said law enforcement agents watched Dillard collect a suspicious 5-pound package at an address on Edward Street in Norfolk. The next month, agents executed a search warrant at the same address and recovered a package that had been shipped to the residence from California. The parcel was found to contain nearly 1,800 grams of methamphetamine with a purity of nearly 99%, according to court records. In a subsequent undercover operation in December 2022, law enforcement arranged for a confidential informant to purchase $4,500 worth of methamphetamine from a dealer in Dillards network. The dealer, identified in court records as Sebastian Balthazar, was arrested and told law enforcement that he had received the drugs from Dillard. Dillard was arrested in July and pleaded guilty in September to one charge of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess methamphetamine and one charge of distributing methamphetamine. According to the Virginia Department of Health, methamphetamine-related overdose deaths across the state increased by 9,500% between 2007 and 2022. There currently is no approved medication for treating methamphetamine addiction. Dillard in 2009 was sentenced in a string of bank robberies that spanned eight states. The robberies, which netted Dillard and co-conspirators nearly $200,000, included a SunTrust Bank branch in the 4000 block of Glenside Drive in Henrico County. 22 Richmond buildings that no longer exist The State of North Carolina has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit Dare Countys six towns brought against it over a county-specific affordable housing provision. The towns of Manteo, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Southern Shores and Duck jointly filed the lawsuit in Wake County Superior Court on Oct. 6 challenging House Bill 259. That surprise Dare County-specific provision included in the state budget, which passed on Sept. 22, usurps their abilities to govern their towns, local leaders said. The state requested and was granted two extensions to reply to the complaint, once in November and again in December, according to online lawsuit information. The state filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on Jan. 12, which North Carolina Attorney General Joshua H. Stein and Special Deputy Attorney General Orlando L. Rodriguez signed. The state contends this action is subject to dismissal due to a lack of subject matter jurisdiction, a lack of personal jurisdiction, a failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, and a failure to join necessary parties pursuant to rule 19(d) of the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, the motion said. It is unclear what will happen next in the case, or when. A panel of judges has not been appointed, so until that happens, or until theres some reason like a pending project for things to change, I think thats just where we are, [and] where well be for the foreseeable future, Nags Head Mayor Ben Cahoon said on Monday. The history of the contentious provision State Rep. Keith Kidwell, R-Beaufort, who represents part of Dare County, was listed as the sole sponsor of the draft version of the bill, dated Sept. 1, with the short title, Expedited Permits for Dare County Housing. WUNC.org published the draft bill on Oct. 12. Kidwell has not responded to requests for comment. In both mid-October and in late January, his legislative assistant, when reached by phone, said to email Kidwell questions. Those remain unanswered. State Rep. Ed Goodwin, R-Chowan, who also represents part of Dare County, has maintained that the provision came solely out of Kidwells office. Goodwin said he doesnt fault Kidwell for doing what he thought was best for constituents. Im not mad with him, Goodwin said. The only aggravation I had was that it was blamed on me. When the legislature was in session, the two sat next to each other, Goodwin noted. Kidwell knew Goodwin traveled to Dare County after citizens learned of the provision, to emphasize in person that he wasnt behind it. Neither representative has had any cross words with the other over the situation, Goodwin said. Dare County town leaders filed the lawsuit over their concerns that a project using the state-allocated $35 million for affordable housing would not be required to comply with an individual towns zoning, Cahoon explained after the filing. The provision, titled, Dare County Affordable Housing, violates several sections of the states constitution, the 16-page lawsuit alleges. In one example, the provision is designed to enable a private party, working with the authority and funding provided by action of the Dare County Board of Commissioners, to be exempted from laws that plaintiffs were authorized to develop, adopt, amend and enforce, despite the fact that no other private parties or other entities receive such exemptions or special privileges, according to the lawsuit. That constitutes an unconstitutional private emolument, which is prohibited by Article I, Section 32 of the Constitution of North Carolina, according to the lawsuit. Dare County commissioners have also acknowledged the provisions curtailing of local authority. House Bill 259 exempted workforce housing constructed pursuant to the provisions of certain state laws, thereby limiting the application of some local government zoning regulations to such housing efforts, according to the Dare County Board of Commissioners Jan. 2 Resolution Concerning HB 259. The resolution noted the critical need for workforce housing for those living and working in Dare County, the unsuccessful efforts to date to create it, the adamant opposition of the towns to the state budget provision and the need for local governments to work together to address the housing issue. The Dare County Board of Commissioners has maintained that it did not ask legislators for the provision, and its resolution affirmed the boards prior verbal remarks stating its intentions to not use the provision to address the workforce housing problem. The board recently organized the Dare County Housing Task Forcewhich includes members from the county, each town, private citizens, the chamber of commerce, visitors bureau, hospital, board of education and from each of the restaurant, home builders, realtors and hotel/motel associationsto promote the idea of working together. The task force met for the first time Jan. 18 at the Dare County Administration Building and plans to meet at 9 a.m. on the third Tuesday each month. The heartbreaking death of a 2-year-old boy from Warrenton in 2022 after a nurse mistakenly gave him a fatal dose of painkiller sparked a first step to unwinding a 13-year-old deal between two of the General Assemblys lobbying powerhouses and creating an exemption to the current cap on medical malpractice awards. Artemis McRaes parents took him to the University of Virginia Childrens Hospital emergency room with stomach pains that turned out to be a routine case of appendicitis. But the 1,000 milligrams of Tylenol that a traveling nurse mistakenly sent through an IV left the vivacious toddler with a failing liver and swelling pressing his brain. After a two-week struggle, it proved to be insurmountable damage. If he had been able to survive, the 2011 compromise would have limited a malpractice award to $2.6 million. That is unlikely to be anything nearly enough to cover the medical and nursing care bills for someone who would never be able to care for himself, his father, Carson McRae, told the Senate Courts of Justice Committee. The cap rises by $50,000 a year through 2031. I have to ask you, what is the life of a child worth? he said. The 2011 compromise negotiated between health care providers and trial lawyers was meant to end the regular wrangling over Virginias caps on medical malpractice awards. State Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin, has proposed creating an exemption from Virginias caps on medical malpractice awards when a case involves a child under 10 years old. It is meant to help families cope with what can be a lifetime of heavy costs for care for children harmed by medical negligence and malpractice. This committee is Courts of Justice and this is about justice, Stanley said Monday. He said Virginias broad cap is unique. Scott Johnson, general counsel for the Medical Society of Virginia, led a parade of a dozen medical society and hospital lobbyists opposing the measure. He said it would send the cost of healthcare soaring, as doctors and hospitals scramble to pay for dramatically higher malpractice insurance bills. He said the cost of malpractice insurance was exorbitant before the General Assembly enacted a schedule of annually rising caps on awards and that only some providers could afford it. Shari Barkin, physician in chief and chair of the pediatrics department at VCU Healths Childrens Hospital of Richmond, said ending that cap could force the hospital to reconsider offering some of the higher-risk pediatric services it now provides. Stanley said only 42 Virginia cases since 2005 found damages to adult or child patients exceeding $2 million, before the state law caps then rolled back the award. He said the cost of ending the cap for childrens cases would be easily affordable, since the cases were rare. Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Rockingham, whose legal work has included defending insurers, as well as drafting a brief defending the malpractice cap for a state Supreme Court case, said the current system is broken and he blamed insurers for this. Because the cap limits awards, insurers find it makes economic sense for them to battle every claim in court, rather than launch good-faith negotiations to pay a fair settlement, he said. If I hurt someone, I pay insurance to make sure that person is made whole, he said. Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax, noted that the medical groups compromise with trial lawyers over award caps was approved by legislators who for the most part are no longer in the General Assembly. The committee approved Stanleys bill 8-4. Inside Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University new tower American boat from Cancun assisted after engine fire in Isla Mujeres waters Isla Mujeres, Q.R. A private American boat in Isla Mujeres waters caught the attention of beach goers Saturday. Other vessels made their way to assist the boat that was carrying at least nine people after seeing smoke. A small engine fire generated a fair amount of black smoke as the boat sailed along the west side of the island. Those on board were able to contain the fire with an extinguisher before it spread. The boat suffered only minor damage with no injuries being reported. American boat Alma was assisted by a crew from a nearby Ultramar ferry. The Wilmington Delaware registered boat was transporting tourists and had arrived at Isla Mujeres from a marina in Cancun at the time of the incident. Crew from Ultramar assisted Alma during an engine fire. Photo: February 4, 2024. Guests on board were seen moved toward the front of the vessel while the crew worked to extinguish the fire in the back. The boat was reportedly transferring guests to an island restaurant when the engine caught fire. Ultramar, the Port Captaincy and Isla Mujeres Marina assisted Alma in the Saturday afternoon mishap. Driver flees after double-decker tourist bus becomes lodged in underpass Mexico City, Mexico More than a dozen people were injured when a double decker tourist bus drove under an overpass and sheared off its roof. Mexico City emergency services were on site Sunday after the Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC) of Mexico City received the report. The too-tall tourist bus was coming from Toluca, State of Mexico bound for Puebla when it entered the underpass, shearing off its roof. Two sections of a city sign were ripped from their concrete structure as the double-decker bus entered the space. The bus drove less than half way into the underpass before coming to a stop. Behind the bus at the entrance to the underpass were chunks of concrete, two large sections of a city highway sign and the entire top to the bus. Traffic was backed up for kilometers while the Fire Department and Civil Protection worked to free the bus from under the Viaducto Miguel Aleman at the Avenue Division del Norte intersection. The roof of the bus along with chunks of concrete and sections of a city sign are seen at the entrance to the underpass. Photo: February 4, 2024. A total of 16 people (10 women and six men) riding on the top level of the bus were injured after the bus became stuck in the underpass. Medical services, including the Rescue and Medical Emergencies Squadron (ERUM) and Civil Protection (PC), were at the scene Sunday morning. There were no serious injuries reported. Mexico City police continue to search for the bus driver who fled the scene at the time of the accident. Driver hospitalized after clipping car on highway corner Jose Maria Morelos, Q.R. The driver of a motorcycle was hospitalized Saturday after colliding with a car on a highway corner. The incident happened on a section of road approximately four kilometers from the town of Jose Maria Morelos. Motorists stopped to help the young motorcycle driver until police and paramedics arrived. At the scene, police found the driver had been thrown from his bike during the corner collision with the small car. Paramedics from the Jose Maria Morelos fire department attended to the accident scene. The driver of the car was not injured. The black and red Honda motorcycle was found circulating on roads without plates when it clipped the side of the Chevrolet Aveo car. The young bike driver collided with the car when, on the corner, he drove into the opposite lane. Two separate abductions believed related to land dispute Chetumal, Q.R. Two people abducted in Chetumal Saturday are believed related to an ongoing land dispute. A woman who was at a neighborhood convenience store was abducted Saturday night. Witnesses in the residential area of Nuevo Progreso reported seeing the 67-year-old woman, identified only as P.L., forced into a waiting vehicle by a group of armed men as she arrived at the store. The vehicle then sped off at which time witnesses called police to report the 8:00 p.m. incident. Not long afterward, a 60-year-old man was reported abducted by a group of five armed men. The man, Helodio R, was with his family when he was forced into a pickup truck. The 67 year old woman was abducted as she arrived at a residential convenience store. Photo: February 3, 2024. Police believe both abductions are related to an ejido land dispute in the small Mayan community of Luis Echeverria Alvarez. After a search operation in the city of Chetumal, police relocated to the community of Luis Echeverria Alvarez after receiving reports of armed men in the area. The new Democratic majority in the House of Delegates on Friday passed a bill to ban semi-automatic rifles and pistols, sending it on its way to a sympathetic Senate. But it will likely then reach a governor, Glenn Youngkin, who has said such bills are an unnecessary distraction, as Virginia already has what he describes as some of the toughest gun laws in the nation. While Youngkin has not said directly that he would veto it, legislators and lobbyists are betting that he almost certainly will. In a closely divided legislature, Democrats do not have the votes to override a veto. Ten states and Washington, D.C., currently ban assault-style firearms. The vote on House Bill 2 was strictly party-line 51-49, as it was for a second gun control measure, House Bill 173, this on banning plastic firearms, which can get past security checkpoint scanners. The House also split 51-49 in passing House Bill 1, sponsored by Del. Jeion Ward, D-Hampton, to step up the pace of 2020s phase-in of a higher minimum wage. The state Senate is slated to consider the same proposed ban on semi-automatic weapons next week. Del. Tim Griffin, R-Bedford, spoke against the measure on the House floor. Were talking about the most commonly owned rifle in the United States, he said. These are used to protect property owners and to protect people who cannot protect themselves. Griffin said of the legislation: Its probably unconstitutional. The bills sponsor, Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, said the weapons at issue are like those he carried in the Army, operating in hostile territory, and are designed to kill people. We should not accept that the number one killer of children in our commonwealth is bullets, he said. Under Helmers bill, possessing assault-style firearms, defined as any semi-automatic center-fire rifle or pistol with a magazine that holds more than 20 rounds of ammunition, would be banned for anyone under 21. Buying and selling such weapons, transporting them or giving them to someone else would also be subject to up to a year in jail. The ban on semi-automatic weapons does not apply to any that have been rendered permanently inoperable; that are manually operated by bolt, pump, lever, or slide action; or that were manufactured before July 1, 2024. That exemption for older weapons, however, would not apply in cases when people under 21 possess, buy or sell the weapons. It would also bar the sale of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, as that term is defined in the bill. In his State of the Commonwealth address on Jan. 10, Youngkin urged lawmakers to focus on punishment rather than gun control. We should also know that Virginias gun laws are already among the toughest in the nation, he said. Therefore, Im asking you: allow us to hold accountable those criminals that commit crimes with guns by lengthening and making more severe the penalties in order to keep them off the streets. A federal ban enacted in 1994 expired in 2004 and, while the U.S. House of Representatives backed a ban in 2022, the Senate never acted because backers could not assemble the 60 votes needed to end a filibuster. 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. An unidentified person called about 20 taxis to the presidential residence in central Seoul early Monday morning, prompting the police to open an investigation. According to the Yongsan Police Station, the taxis arrived near the presidential residence in succession between 2:30 am. and 4:20 a.m. in response to the individual's calls. The person did not appear for the taxis. Stopped by police officials guarding the compound, the taxi drivers said they had been called. Police said the individual appears to have hailed the taxis using an application, setting his departure point at a location near the presidential residence. The telephone number the person provided in the application does not exist, officials said. Police launched their investigation into the person on charges of business obstruction and are currently tracking the individual while enhancing security around the presidential residence, officials said. (Yonhap) The Horizon Europe project eLITHE kicked off at the beginning of January 2024, marking a significant milestone in the quest for sustainable industrial practices. An EU-funded projecteLITHEhas been launched to advance the decarbonisation of the ceramic industry. Led by Fundacion CIRCE, Spain, it will showcase innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective pathways for electrifying high-temperature thermal processes such as melting, calcination, and firing. eLITHE, which stands for "Electrification of ceramic industries high temperature heating equipment," aims to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of electrification in the ceramic industry, thereby contributing to a greener manufacturing sector. The project will unfold at three demonstration sites located in Spain, Greece, and Germany, showcasing the larger applicability of the solutions proposed. The four-year initiative, scheduled to run until December 2027, kicked off in Zaragoza, Spain, on 23-24 January 2024 at the Fundacion CIRCE premises. Roberto Arevalo, Project Coordinator at CIRCE, stated: "2024 has begun with an electrifying partnership to modernise the ceramics industry, reduce CO 2 emissions and advance toward 2050 climate neutrality. The eLITHE project will develop novel electric heating solutions to decarbonize the ceramics industry and improve its competitiveness through digitalisation, materials circularity and energy storage, as part of its mission to contribute to the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA)." The eLITHE consortium, coordinated by CIRCE, brings together 18 partners from 9 European countries, with experts in the ceramics and electrification sectors. The project will develop solutions, such as microwave-assisted heating in Mytilineos (Greece), novel flexible hybrid H2 burners in IZF (Germany) and electric technologies in Torrecid (Spain). Its enabling technologies will be smart control through digital twins, novel sensors and materials, and high temperature energy storage." The project will open its website in the next few months and establish a presence on social media platforms to engage with industry stakeholders and the broader public. Contacts: Project coordinator: Miguel Zarzuela, Fundacion CIRCE, mzarzuela@fcirce.es Technical Project Coordinator: Roberto Arevalo Turnes, Fundacion CIRCE, rarevalo@fcirce.es Communication Manager: Silvia Raimondi, Communication leader, silvia.raimondi@icons.it Provided by iCube Programme Q: I just finished watching the second season of Reacher and enjoyed it very much. Will there be a third season? A: Yes. Prime Video announced the renewal of the show in December, about two weeks before the second season premiered. The third season will be based on Persuader, the seventh of the Reacher books by Lee Child. Prime says the plot is that "Reacher must go undercover to rescue an informant held by a haunting foe from his past. Production has already begun, and fans of Reachers friend Frances Neagley will be happy to know that she is back in the third season and played again by Maria Sten. (Fans of the books will know, as The Wrap reported, that Neagley is not actually in a couple of books used for the series but Im still happy to see her onscreen.) Q: We have been enjoying the episodes of "Ghosts UK" during the break from the regular American version due to the Hollywood strikes. Any hope of that continuing? Or where else we could find it? A: First, the U.S. version of Ghosts will begin a new season on Feb. 15. Thirteen episodes (two seasons) of the original British version, called Ghosts UK here, aired on CBS as strike filler. Based on my mail, that show developed its own following, and it would seem logical for the network to air the 21 episodes from UKs other three seasons, perhaps as summer programming. But theres no word from the network so far. For now, you can revisit those first two seasons on Paramount+. And Prime Video has all five seasons of UK for sale digitally each season costs about $15. Q: Can you tell me why Jeffrey Donovan is no longer on Law & Order? A: Viewers noticed that the latest season of the NBC drama no longer had Donovans character, Detective Frank Cosgrove, after two seasons on the job. TVLine reported that he was let go for creative reasons." I can understand that; while I've admired Donovan's work, I wasnt a fan of the sour Cosgrove. Of course, Im also no fan of prosecutor Nolan Price, played by Hugh Dancy, and hes still around. In any case, theres a new detective on the show, with Reid Scott playing Vincent Riley. And change is common on this show (and its siblings). Detectives alone have included Mehcad Brooks, George Dzundza, Chris Noth, Paul Sorvino, Benjamin Bratt, Jerry Orbach, Jesse L. Martin, Dennis Farina, Anthony Anderson and more. Q: I think I remember a movie called Nobodys Fool with Paul Newman and maybe Newman's wife, Joanne Woodward, too. It was based on a book by Richard Russo. I would love to see it again but cant find it anywhere. Can you help? A: Nobodys Fool (1994) is one of my favorite Paul Newman movies. Based on the Russo novel and directed by Robert Benton (who also wrote the screenplay), it was called a tale of modest, common lives, beautifully shaped, by the critic David Thomson. The formidable cast included Jessica Tandy (in her last movie role), Melanie Griffith, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Margo Martindale, Dylan Walsh and Bruce Willis but not Woodward. Pluto TV streams "Nobody's Fool" (for free). It is also currently available on Blu-ray and 4K and as a digital rental or purchase. It was at one time released on DVD thats how I have a copy although that appears to be harder to find. Perhaps check your local library? However you find the movie, it's worth seeing. LOS ANGELES 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. Hearst's allegiance to the Symbionese Liberation Army raised questions about Stockholm syndrome, a common term used 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 Hearst's 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 group's robbery of a San Francisco bank on April 15, 1974. Surveillance cameras captured her wielding an assault rifle during the crime. She wasn't 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. NEW ORLEANS It's Carnival season in New Orleans and that means lines are long outside local bakeries and the pace inside is brisk as workers strive to meet customer demand for king cakes those brightly colored seasonal pastries that have exploded in popularity over the years. Mardi Gras is our busiest time of year, says David Haydel Jr. of Haydel's Bakery, who estimates the sale of king cakes in the few short weeks between Christmas and Lent accounts for about half the bakery's income. Behind him are racks holding dozens of freshly baked cakes ready for wrapping. Nearby, workers are whipping up batter in large mixers, rolling out lengths of dough, braiding and shaping them into rings and popping them into ovens. It's a similar scene at Adrian's Bakery in the city's Gentilly neighborhood, where Adrian Darby Sr. estimates king cakes make up 40% of his business. Without Mardi Gras, you know, you have to make cutbacks, and you don't want to do that. You've got full-time employees and you want to maintain that. Food historian Liz Williams says the roots of king cake culture date to Saturnalia celebrations of ancient Rome, when a cake was baked with a bean inside and whoever got the slice with the bean was deemed king for a day. Over the centuries the traditions developed and were adapted into European pre-Lenten festivals that evolved into the modern Mardi Gras traditions. The evolution hasn't stopped, according to Williams. King cakes in New Orleans were once uniform and simple a ring of braided lightly sweet brioche topped with purple, green and gold sugar. Instead of a bean, tiny baby dolls made of china at first, now plastic were baked inside. There was not really one variation from one bakery to another, Williams said. But by the 1970s, changes were happening. Some bakers began using Danish-style pastry dough. Some began filling their king cakes with cream cheese or fruit preserves. The treat's popularity grew from one Mardi Gras season to the next amid the usual frenzy of parades and colorful floats, costumed revelry and partying in the streets. Years ago, Williams said king cake was probably consumed a few times a year, perhaps during a king cake party during Carnival season. Now, said Williams, Mardi Gras season means almost daily king cake consumption for some. People will pick up a king cake and take it to work, and whoever gets the baby has to bring one the next day, so people are eating it all the time. Still, it's not a year-round binge treat. Tradition holds that king cake is not to be eaten before Carnival season begins on Jan. 6 nor after Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday which falls this year on Feb. 13. King cake's popularity was evident one recent morning at Manny Randazzo's bakery in New Orleans, where a line of more than 60 people stretched down the street. Customer Adrienne Leblanc loaded the back of an SUV with king cakes for friends and family in New Orleans and beyond. Some of these are going to go to Houston, some will go to Mississippi, said LeBlanc. And some will stay here in New Orleans. King cakes: The sweet stars of New Orleans famed Carnival season JERUSALEM After a weekend of retaliatory strikes, the United States on Sunday warned Iran and the militias it arms and funds that it will conduct more attacks if American forces in the Mideast continue to be targeted, but that it does not want an open-ended military campaign across the region. We are prepared to deal with anything that any group or any country tries to come at us with, said Jake Sullivan, President Joe Biden's national security adviser. Sullivan said Iran should expect a swift and forceful response if it and not one of its proxies chose to respond directly against the U.S. Sullivan delivered the warnings during a series of interviews with TV news shows after the U.S. and Britain on Saturday struck 36 Houthi targets in Yemen. The Iran-backed militants have fired on American and international interests repeatedly in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. An air assault Friday in Iraq and Syria 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. The U.S. fired again at Houthi targets on Sunday. We cannot rule out that there will be future attacks from Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria or from the Houthis, Sullivan said. He said the president has told his commanders that they need to be positioned to respond to further attacks as well. The U.S. has blamed the attack at the Tower 22 base in Jordan on Jan. 28 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. Biden is not looking for a wider war, Sullivan said, when questioned about the potential for strikes inside Iran that would expand the conflict in the volatile region. But when asked about the possibility of direct escalation by the Iranians, he said: If they chose to respond directly to the United States, they would be met with a swift and forceful response from us. While pledging to respond in a sustained way to new assaults on Americans, Sullivan said he "would not describe it as some open-ended military campaign." On GPS: How much control does Iran have of its proxies? Fareed talks with Vali Nasr, professor of Middle East studies and international affairs at Johns Hopkins University, and Mina Al-Oraibi, edito Still, he said, 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. There will be more steps taken, he said. "Some of those steps will be seen. Some may not be seen. The U.S. attack on dozens of sites in Iraq and Syria hit more than 85 targets at seven locations. These included command and control headquarters, intelligence centers, rockets and missiles, drone and ammunition storage sites and other facilities that were connected to the militias or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, the expeditionary unit that handles Tehrans relationship with, and arming of, regional militias. The Biden administration has so far appeared to stop short of directly targeting Iran or senior leaders of the Quds Force within its borders. The U.S. military does not have confirmation at this time of civilian casualties from those strikes, Sullivan 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. Some of the militias have been a threat to U.S. bases for years, but the groups intensified their assaults in the wake of Israels war with Hamas following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage. More than 27,000 people have been killed by Israels offensive against Hamas in Gaza, the territorys Health Ministry has said, The Houthis have conducted 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 a new international force to protect vessels in the vital waterway. 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. Meanwhile, Iran warned the U.S. over potentially targeting two cargo ships in the Mideast long suspected of serving as forwarding operating bases for Iranian commandos. The statement from Iran on the Behshad and Saviz ships appeared to signal Tehran's growing unease over the U.S. strikes across the region. The ships 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 Revolutionary Guard. 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 declined to comment on the threat. The Saviz is now in the Indian Ocean near where the U.S. alleges Iranian drone attacks recently have targeted shipping. Sullivan appeared on NBC's Meet the Press, ABC's This Week, CNN's State of the Union and CBS' Face the Nation. The ultimate prize: A look at every Super Bowl ring ever produced Super Bowl I: Green Bay Packers 35, Kansas City Chiefs 10 Super Bowl II: Green Bay Packers 33, Oakland Raiders 14 Super Bowl III: New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7 Super Bowl IV: Kansas City Chiefs 23, Minnesota Vikings 7 Super Bowl V: Baltimore Colts 16, Dallas Cowboys 13 Super Bowl VI: Dallas Cowboys 24, Miami Dolphins 3 Super Bowl VII: Miami Dolphins 14, Washington Redskins 7 Super Bowl VIII: Miami Dolphins 24, Minnesota Vikings 7 Super Bowl IX: Pittsburgh 16, Minnesota Vikings 6 Super Bowl X: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Dallas Cowboys 17 Super Bowl XI: Oakland Raiders 32, Minnesota Vikings 14 Super Bowl XII: Dallas Cowboys 27, Denver Broncos 10 Super Bowl XIII: Pittsburgh Steelers 35, Dallas Cowboys 31 Super Bowl IV: Pittsburgh Steelers 31, Los Angeles Rams 19 Super Bowl XV: Oakland Raiders 27, Philadelphia Eagles 10 Super Bowl XVI: San Francisco 49ers 26, Cincinnati Bengals 21 Super Bowl XVII: Washington Redskins 27, Miami Dolphins 17 Super Bowl XVIII: Los Angeles Raiders 38, Washington Redskins 9 Super Bowl XIX: San Francisco 49ers 38, Miami Dolphins 16 Super Bowl XX: Chicago Bears 46, New England Patriots 10 Super Bowl XXI: New York Giants 39, Denver Broncos 20 Super Bowl XXII: Washington Redskins 42, Denver Broncos 10 Super Bowl XXIII: San Francisco 49ers 20, Cincinnati Bengals 16 Super Bowl XXIV: San Francisco 49ers 55, Denver Broncos 10 Super Bowl XXV: New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19 Super Bowl XXVI: Washington Redskins 37, Buffalo Bills 24 Super Bowl XXVII: Dallas Cowboys 52, Buffalo Bills 17 Super Bowl XXVIII: Dallas Cowboys 30, Buffalo Bills 13 Super Bowl XXIX: San Francisco 49ers 49, San Diego Chargers 26 Super Bowl XXX: Dallas Cowboys 27, Pittsburgh 17 Super Bowl XXXI: Green Bay Packers 35, New England Patriots 21 Super Bowl XXXII: Denver Broncos 31, Dallas Cowboys 24 Super Bowl XXXIII: Denver Broncos 34, Atlanta Falcons 19 Super Bowl XXXIV: St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16 Super Bowl XXXV: Baltimore Ravens 34, New York Giants 7 Super Bowl XXXVI: New England Patriots 20, St. Louis Rams 17 Super Bowl XXXVII: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48, Oakland Raiders 21 Super Bowl XXXVIII: New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29 Super Bowl XXXIX: New England Patriots 24, Philadelphia Eagles 21 Super Bowl XL: Pittsburgh Steelers 21, Seattle Seahawks 10 Super Bowl XLI: Indianapolis Colts 29, Chicago Bears 17 Super Bowl XLII: New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14 Super Bowl XLIII: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23 Super Bowl LIV: New Orleans Saints 31, Indianapolis Colts 17 Super Bowl XLV: Green Bay Packers 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 25 Super Bowl XLVI: New York Giants 21, New England Patriots 17 Super Bowl XLVII Baltimore Ravens 34, San Francisco 49ers 31 Super Bowl XLVIII: Seattle Seahawks 43, Denver Broncos 8 Super Bowl XLIX: New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24 Super Bowl 50: Denver Broncos 24, Carolina Panthers 10 Super Bowl LI: New England Patriots 34, Atlanta Falcons 28 OT Super Bowl LII: Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl LIII: New England Patriots 13, Los Angeles Rams 3 Super Bowl LIV: Kansas City Chiefs 31, San Francisco 20 Super Bowl LV: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31, Kansas City Chiefs 9 Super Bowl LVI: Los Angeles Rams 23, Cincinnati Bengals 20 Super Bowl LVII: Kansas City Chiefs 38, Philadelphia Eagles 35 DES MOINES After a weekend trip to Texas, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Monday she plans to for a third time send Iowa law enforcement officials to assist Texas authorities with security efforts at the U.S.-Mexico border. During a news conference Monday at the Iowa Capitol, Reynolds repeated her criticism of how Democratic President Joe Biden has enforced federal immigration laws, and cast doubt that Congress would be able to pass border security legislation. She traveled to Eagle Pass, Texas, on Sunday to join Texas Gov. Greg Abbott along with 12 other Republican governors at a news conference, where she did not speak. Back Monday in Iowa, Reynolds said she is working with Texas authorities to once again send Iowa State Patrol officers and Iowa National Guard troops to aid Texas authorities with border security efforts. For three years, Texas has been on the front line of the most serious national security and humanitarian crisis of our time, and Gov. Abbott has led the response, Reynolds told reporters Monday. Having no option but to protect itself, Texas is enforcing the law by denying illegal entry and detaining those who attempt it. If the federal government wont do the job protecting Americans, the states will step in. Reynolds said other states assistance to Texas is needed because, she said, the federal government has not sufficiently addressed historical spikes in illegal migrant crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border. She attributed increases in fentanyl seizures, drug overdose deaths, and human trafficking to illegal immigration issues. The details of the pending deployment are still being worked out with Texas authorities, Reynolds said. It will be the third time Reynolds has deployed Iowans to assist Texas authorities with border security. In 2021, she dispatched 30 Iowa State Patrol officers. Last year, Reynolds sent 31 Iowa State Patrol officers and 109 Iowa National Guard troops for separate one-month deployments. The pending mission will again be funded by federal pandemic relief funding, from the American Rescue Plan that Biden signed into law in 2021 and Reynolds opposed. Last years deployment cost $2 million, according to the governors office. The Gazette has asked the governors office for information on the funding source for her travel to Texas this past weekend. It had not responded as of Monday afternoon. Iowa National Guard has deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border on three other occasions since 2020 in response to a separate federal request, the governors office said. According to the Associated Press reporting on federal figures, arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico reached an all-time high in December since monthly numbers have been released. The Border Patrol tallied 249,785 arrests on the Mexican border in December, up 31 percent from 191,112 in November and up 13 percent from 222,018 in December 2022, the previous all-time high, the AP reported. Reynolds, as she has on multiple occasions in the past, excoriated the Biden administrations enforcement of border security policies, for which she blamed the influx of illegal border crossings. Biden has said there are limitations on what the president can accomplish without Congressional action. Asked Monday to comment after the news conferences, the White House pointed to remarks Biden made Jan. 30 to reporters. Ive done all I can do. Just give me the power. Ive asked from the very day I got into office. Give me the Border Patrol. Give me the people give me the people, the judges. Give me the people who can stop this and make it work right, Biden said. Border security legislation is being considered in the U.S. Senate, but Reynolds declined when asked Monday to call for its passage, instead reiterating that she believes the Biden administration should be stronger in its enforcement of immigration policy. She also expressed doubt that the Republican-led U.S. House and Democrat-led U.S. Senate would reach an agreement. Both (political) parties are guilty and not coming to the table, sitting down and having an adult conversation about what we do moving forward, Reynolds said. I dont have a lot of confidence in no disrespect to the people that serve out in Washington, DC., Im grateful for them but listen, in this environment, I dont have a lot of confidence in really too much getting done. SIOUX CITY Food is an integral part of people's memories and some restaurants leave a lasting impact on people. For Sioux City residents, there are a variety of restaurants that stand out in time. The Sioux City Journal asked readers what restaurants they miss that have closed throughout the years. With more than 250 responses naming more than 50 restaurants, here are the top choices. Green_Gables_Sandwich_Shop_opens.jpg A 1929 Sioux City Journal ad for the opening of Green Gables restaurant in Sioux City. Green Gables Green Gables closed on Aug. 23, 2014, after 85 years of operation. Sioux City residents miss the restaurant's matzo ball soup, hot fudge sundae, hot beef sandwiches, and carrot cake. We have loved being a part of your lives," a sign on the door said when it closed. Green Gables Sandwich Shop was opened on Sept. 28, 1929, by Albert Seff and was family-run for three generations. It was known for its one-of-a-kind sandwiches, according to Journal archives. "Specializing in barbecued meats and fried chicken. Something new for Sioux City - The Dixie Automatic Machine barbecues meats before your eyes," according to a 1929 ad for the opening of the restaurant. Seff's sister, Rose Krueger, joined the business in 1931, managing Green Gables until 1973, when Seff's son, Bob Seff, assumed ownership. "Aunt Rose believed in having friendly people cooking great food for a fair price," said Mark Levine, a great-nephew of the restaurants original owners. "In the 1950s, a person could get soup, salad, an entree, potatoes, another vegetable side dish, a beverage and dessert, all for $1. Over the years, the menu expanded to include breakfast, lunch and dinner fare. "If you went to Green Gables, you always had to try their matzo ball soup," Marcene Heeren, of Akron, Iowa told The Journal in 2014. "That and the hot fudge sundae, which came with a bowl of vanilla ice cream and a mini pitcher of hot fudge." Heeren said at least four generations of her family dined at Green Gables. "It was where we went with our parents and grandparents," she said. "It was also the place where we'd teach our kids how to act inside a nice restaurant." Located on the corner of 18th and Pierce streets, the restaurant closure was a family decision and was prompted by financial reasons. Bishop's Cafeteria Bishop's Cafeteria closed on Dec. 30, 1997, after 72 years of operation. Many people who responded recalled fond memories of visiting the buffet with their grandparents and great-grandparents. The custard, chocolate silk pie and corn fritters were favorites. Bishop's originated in 1920 when Benjamin Franklin Bishop opened the first Bishop Cafeteria in Waterloo, Iowa, according to Journal archives. Instead of printed menus, his restaurant offered displayed foods with dining room services. Bishop Cafeteria first opened in Sioux City on May 9, 1925, at 516 Pierce St. Hello Folks of Sioux City! an ad from the opening of the restaurant posted. Every fixture in the dining room and every machine in the kitchen is of the latest design to insure cleanliness and speedy production of tasty foods, according to a 1925 Journal ad. One of the interesting innovations is the cork tile flooring, the first to be laid in any business establishment in the state of Iowa. Bishop Cafeteria Bishop Cafeteria, also known as Bishop's, was located on the first floor of the Commerce Building at the southeast corner of Sixth and Nebrask The restaurant could seat about 200 people and would employ 35. By the beginning of 1930, Bishops moved to a new location, the Commerce Building. The remarkable public acceptance of the Bishop Cafeteria at Sioux City demanded that we seek a larger place a place big enough for us to serve our patrons as they should be served, according to a 1930 Journal ad. After 59 years, Bishops Cafeteria closed on Aug. 31, 1984. Patrons stopped in one last time for a cup of coffee and a piece of chocolate ambrosia pie, according to Journal archives. More than 400 people showed up for breakfast the last day, manager Kim Walton said. And the lunch hour brought in 688 people, 200 more than an average Friday noon. The facility is worn out, said Edward C. Bartz, president of Bishop Buffets Inc. To replace everything in good operating condition, the investment wouldnt be worth it. At the time, the buffet chain had more than 30 restaurants in a seven-state region with new ones scheduled to open in Des Moines and Kansas City. A new Sioux City location was opened in 1980 in the Southern Hills Mall. It could seat 310 customers and had 135 employees. By the time it closed in 1997, the restaurant had 43 employees. Coney Island Weiner House Coney Island closed on Nov. 30, 2017, after 96 years of operations. "Where your dollar has the most cents," according to a 1926 ad for the restaurant. It not only served popular New York-style Coney Island hot dogs but preserved the original Ye Old Tavern recipe. Coney Island was opened on Oct. 15, 1921, at 510 Nebraska St., by Greek immigrant George Margeas. At the time, it was Sioux City's first hot dog restaurant. It was said that Margeas felt Sioux City needed a "good five-cent hot dog," according to Sioux City Journal archives. Coney Island Coney Island, December 1926. George Mallinas and an employee in front of Coney Island. While it is unclear why he decided to name it Coney Island, George Margeas grandson said they guessed when he got off the boat in New York after coming from Greece, probably the first thing he saw was a Coney Island restaurant. "While his friends told George they didn't think he could make any money selling hot dogs, hamburgers, soft drinks and milk as five-cent items, and featuring chili at 15 cents, George went ahead with his plan," according to a 1976 Journal story. Coney Island had a variety of famous visitors including Elvis Prestley, Guy Lombardo, the Osmond Brothers and more. The restaurant featured a wall of pictures of all of the politicians and celebrities who visited the shop. George's son, Steve, later took over the operation after he died in 1973. When Steve died in May 2017 his wife, Virginia, took over the operation located at 510 Nebraska St. After six months of looking for someone to purchase and continue the business, she decided it was time to close the doors. A second Coney Island location, 3013 Hamilton Blvd., was opened on July 30, 1973, and was operated by the Margeas family until being sold in 2009. It closed in 2020. Steve Margeas Steve Margeas holds a coney dog at his Coney Island restaurant in downtown Sioux City Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010. The hot dog restaurant has bee The U.S.A. Steak Buffet, also known as the Great American Sirloin Buffet or Bonanza The U.S.A. Steak Buffet closed on Dec. 1, 2008. It had many names throughout the years but it officially started as a Bonanza. U.S.A. Steak Buffet offered a daily lunch and evening buffet that featured grilled steak and other entrees, including burgers, chicken, BBQ ribs and fried shrimp, as well as an assortment of side dishes and desserts Larry Miller, owner of U.S.A. Steak Buffet started working at the restaurant when it was a Bonanza in 1968. He moved his way up the ranks, eventually moving on to buy a different Bonanza in Omaha. In 1978, he and a partner bought the Bonanza area distributor rights for Nebraska, Iowa and part of South Dakota. Miller eventually individually owned 21 Bonanza restaurants. In June 1996 Miller changed the name of his Bonanzas to the Great American Sirloin Buffet. The Sioux City location changed its name in December 1996 with a new menu, look and expansion. "The Great American Sirloin Buffet was a great name," Miller told The Journal in 1999. "We tried to trademark it and ran into a problem with that, so we converted to U.S.A. Steak Buffet." In the summer of 1999 the restaurant undertook a new name change, but this time it was only a name change. No reason was given in 2008 for its closure. Honorable mentions With more than 50 restaurants mentioned by Siouxlanders, some other fan favorites include: The Normandy, Biltmore, First Edition, Black Bear Dinner, Ruth's Cosina, Casa Del Rey, Normandy, Paddock, Theo's, Windy City Pizza, Bread Basket, Coyote Canyon, Garfield's and Little King. Lim Jong-hun, former deputy head of the National Court Administration (NCA), the Supreme Court's governing body, was sentenced by a court Monday to two years in prison, suspended for three years, after being convicted in a controversial power abuse case. The Seoul Central District Court handed down the suspended prison sentence to Lim, who was indicted in 2018 on abuse of judiciary power and other charges. Lim, who worked for the NCA from 2012-2017, was indicted on about 30 charges, including dereliction of duty, cracking down on critical voices against the judiciary, creation of a slush fund, leaking official secrets, loss of national treasury and the creation of false official documents. He was accused of being the key man who helped former Supreme Court Chief Justice Yang Sung-tae use trials as bargaining chips in dealings, including the alleged push to establish a court of appeals, with the presidential office under the previous Park Geun-hye government. Lim thus became the third to be convicted among 14 former and incumbent judges indicted in the judicial power abuse scandal. Yang was acquitted of all charges by the same court last month. The court said it found Lim guilty of intervening in trials involving unionized teachers in 2014 and a former lawmaker embroiled in legal disputes in 2015. He was also convicted of creating a slush fund worth 350 million won ($262,459). (Yonhap) Keeping up with Donald Trumps court schedule is a dizzying task, since he faces two federal trials, a criminal trial in Georgia, and two separate civil and criminal trials in New York. (Oh, and hes running for president.) To make it easier to follow along, each Monday well be looking back on all the Trump trialrelated developments you might have missed the previous week. It was a big week for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willisthe Georgia prosecutor who indicted Trump and 18 otherswho finally admitted to being in a romantic relationship with a special prosecutor she hired. And over in New York, a court monitor issued a report that found the Trump Organization is still not getting its financials straight, while the companys former chief financial officer could be on the brink of accepting a plea deal with prosecutors. Fani Willis admits to dating special prosecutor Nathan Wade On Friday, after staying mostly silent for the past three weeks on pretty damning misconduct allegations, Willis finally addressed the scandal in a court-ordered 176-page motion. And buried in the pages of legalese is an admission that Willis is in fact in a romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. The disclosure is a response to a separate motion filed by an attorney for Mike Roman, one of 18 people charged in Willis election interference indictment, that levels myriad misconduct allegations against the DA. Roman argues that Willis and Wades relationship creates a conflict of interest in prosecuting the case. Roman wants all of his charges dismissed and to have the DAs entire indictment thrown out. While she admitted to the relationship, Willis disagreed that it creates a conflict. While the allegations raised in the various motions are salacious and garnered the media attention they were designed to obtain, none provides this court with any basis upon which to order the relief they seek, she wrote. She asserted that she holds no financial or personal conflict of interest in her prosecution of Trump and that Romans motion demonstrates basic misunderstandings of rudimentary county and state regulations, and provides no legal basis for dismissal of the indictment or disqualification of any member of the prosecution. In other words, she argued that yes, she has been dating Wade, but no, it does not prejudice the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Included in Willis motion is a sworn affidavit by Wade, who says he never shared any compensation he received from Fulton County with the DA and that travel expenses between the couple were roughly divided equally between us. Hours after Willis motion was filed, Trump, staying true to form, posted on Truth Social, THAT MEANS THAT THIS SCAM IS TOTALLY DISCREDITED & OVER! Actually, Judge Scott McAfee will be the one to decide that during an upcoming evidentiary hearing on Feb. 15. Jack Smiths election interference trial is officially off the calendar The future of the special counsels case is officially unknown, after Judge Tanya Chutkan formally took the federal election interference trial off the courts calendar. (It had been slated for March 4.) In a new order issued last Friday, Chutkan said a new trial date would be set if and when Trumps presidential immunity claim was resolved. Advertisement It shouldnt come as a surprise, since back in December Chutkan agreed to stay any further pretrial proceedings and deadlines while Trumps attorneys see through his presidential immunity claim. The fate of the trial is currently in the hands of the U.S. Court of Appeals, which held a hearing about four weeks ago to hear the former presidents appeal. (Their decision is expected any day now.) His attorneys argued that Trump is entitled to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution simply because he was president, and the only way he could be prosecuted was if Congress impeached and convicted him for the actions in question. The argument did not seem to sit well with the judges, and if they do not rule in Trumps favor, the former president could have his appeal reconsidered by the full panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals or sent up to the Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear when Smiths election interference case might get a new trial date. A court monitor says Trump Organization is still committing operational errors As the former president awaits the verdict in his civil fraud trial, a court-ordered company monitor found that the Trump Organizations operations still raise some red flags. Financial documents prepared are often lacking in completeness and timeliness, monitor Barbara Jones found; there is no formal compliance department, and the company generally operates in a way that suggests a lack of effective governance. Jones, a former federal judge who is now a partner at a New York law firm, has been observing the former presidents company since 2022, shortly after Manhattan District Attorney Letitia James sued Trump, his children, and their company for fraud. Advertisement Jones report also noted that the Trump Organization doesnt have any identifiable accounting or presentation standards, procedures, or trainings for employees in preparing financial documents. However, she did acknowledge that when she raised these concerns with the company, they were receptive to her recommendations. Trumps attorneys were less than thrilled with Jones assessment and accused her of acting in bad faith, emphasizing that she did not find any fraudulent activity. Trump attorney Chris Kise told ABC News that Jones was exaggerating and trying to fill the gaping hole in the attorney generals case. Advertisement Advertisement However, prosecutors for the AGs office and Trumps lawyers both nominated Jones to be court monitor, and Judge Arthur Engoronwho is overseeing Trumps civil fraud casechose her for the job. The AG is asking that Jones continue to monitor the Trump Organization for years to come, in addition to a $370 million penalty and having Trump banned from doing business in New York. Advertisement Judge Engoron is expected to announce his verdict of Trumps civil fraud trial any day now. Heres a rundown of all the key figures involved in this case. Former Trump Organization CFO might be working on a plea deal Allen Weisselberg, the former CFO of the Trump Organization, is negotiating a deal with the Manhattan DAs office where he would plead guilty to perjury, according to a New York Times report. Advertisement Related From Slate The Stakes Were Too High for Fani Willis to Do This Read More Weisselberg was employed by Trump for nearly 50 years, and was also charged in James civil fraud lawsuit. During the trial last year, Weisselberg took the witness stand and testified that he never focused on Trumps 5th Avenue penthouse, yet prosecutors found financial documents prepared by the Trump Organization listing the property at 30,000 square feet, certified and signed by Weisselberg. Prosecutors also introduced a 2017 Forbes article that accused Weisselberg of lying about the square footage after reporters there calculated the penthouse was only about 11,000 square feet. While on the stand, Weisselberg admitted that Forbes size estimate was correct. If the plea deal pans out, Weisselberg would admit to committing perjury; he lied while under oath on the witness stand and in interviews with the DAs office. The deal may save the 76-year-old from going back to jail (he already served 100 days in New York Citys Rikers Island after pleading guilty to 15 criminal charges related to tax fraud in 2022). But it doesnt appear that Weisselbergs plea deal will include implicating Trump. The end of January brought two momentous decisions from two very different courts. First, on Jan. 29, the left-leaning Pennsylvania Supreme Court declared that abortion restrictions constitute sex discrimination under the states Equal Rights Amendment, rendering them presumptively unconstitutional. Then, on Jan. 30, the hard-right U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit refused to reconsider an earlier opinion by a three-judge panel that dealt a potentially fatal blow to the Voting Rights Act. Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discussed the two cases on this weeks Slate Plus segment of Amicus; their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Dahlia Lithwick: One topic we really need to think about this week is: What does courage look like in a judge? Because on Monday, we saw the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issue a completely capacious beatdown of Dobbs showing how Justice Samuel Alito cherry-picked some of the worst misogynistic history and cited it as the last word on womens equality and dignity and freedom. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court even cited law review articles suggesting that Justice Alito is wrong. And that really is a heavy lift for progressive judges, even just to say: Here are 50 law review articles suggesting that Justice Alito is wrong on history and also wrong on equality. Mark Joseph Stern: I think progressive judges are just temperamentally averse to calling BS on the U.S. Supreme Court. They tend to be much more restrained in this area. You know, weve seen the Fightin 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals defy SCOTUS and just openly refuse to enforce its precedents. We dont see that with left leaning-judges today, almost ever. But you have this fanaticism on the conservative side, with judges just inventing new boundaries to push. Which leads me to the 8th Circuit, which wants to end whatever vestiges remain of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, and to do so in the boldest way possible. Advertisement So this past week, the full 8th Circuit refused to reconsider a truly abhorrent decision written by Judge David Stras, a Donald Trump appointee, which held that individual voters do not have a right to sue under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which is basically the last operable section left in the entire law. Back in the fall, Stras said that under his reading of the act, only the attorney general of the United States is ever entitled to bring suits under Section 2 to defend voting rights. And if the attorney general doesnt get involved, the entire suit has to be thrown out. As Judge Lavenski Smith pointed out in dissent at the time, this was a truly unprecedented move. There have been at least 400 cases brought under Section 2 in the last 40 years, and at least 182 were successful. And only 15 of those suits were brought by the attorney general. If Stras is right, then, the Voting Rights Act is dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Stras is wrong. A majority of the Supreme Court has previously held that there is a private right to sue under Section 2. The text of the law itself says that either the attorney general or an aggrieved voter can bring a lawsuit. Stras swept all that away. And I thought there was a remote chance that the full 8th Circuit might reconsider his ruling, because this is so extreme and unprecedented and directly defies the Supreme Court. But only three judges on the entire court were willing to stand up and say: We should revisit this decision because its wrong. And one of them is Judge Steven Colloton, who is a conservative George W. Bush appointee. I mean, this guy worked with Kenneth Starr. He helped Bush win the 2000 election. Hes a dyed-in-the-wool conservative. And he wrote a scathing dissent saying, basically: Our decision is disastrously wrong and in defiance of the Supreme Court, and its a shame that weve allowed it to stand. Advertisement Related From Slate Some of the Most Obstructionist GOP Legislators in the Country Just Got Their Comeuppance Read More I want to connect this up to something weve talked about a lot because we do talk about lower courtsoften in the context of the 5th Circuitkind of jamming the Supreme Court from below, right? Advertisement Right. And were seeing this perversion of the notion of what it means to be a courageous judge, this idea that it means overturning the Supreme Court from below because you have a beef with their own precedents, or minimizing the rights of the most vulnerable among us. It reminds me of Judge James Ho, on the 5th Circuit, who plays this same game. When he wrote a concurrence saying it was important to stand up for the rights of domestic abusers to keep their guns, he framed that as judicial courage, too. Advertisement Advertisement You also have courageous judges like Matthew Kacsmaryk suddenly saying, Oh, the Comstock Act bans abortion, thats a thing. I mean, the Supreme Court probably doesnt want to be deciding Kacsmaryks stupid mifepristone case in an election year shortly after Dobbs, but there it is. They have to. I do want to point out that we arent saying progressive or moderately conservative judges who refuse to invent the law on the fly, the way Judge Stras did here, lack courage. Its more that, unlike some of their colleagues on the far right, they arent going to force the issue down the Supreme Courts throat. Its a sense of institutional humility thats all but lacking in those crazypants decisions coming down from conservative judges who just dont care what precedent says or what the text of the Voting Rights Act requires. They just want what they want and they want it now. And they think they have five votes on SCOTUS already. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As you and I have written over and over again, it feels like everything is up for grabs at SCOTUS these days. When the court is overturning so many precedents each term, judges like Stras and Ho and Kacsmaryk feel like they might as well take their moonshots because its as good a time as any to see if they can overturn huge areas of the law that favor Civil Rights. And theres just no corollary to that for progressives or even center-right judges. They feel bound by precedent that the far right thinks they can obliterate from below because theyll surely nab five votes on a court with a six-justice conservative supermajority. Hay farming is an agricultural practice that has been around for centuries. It involves the growing and harvesting of hay, which is used primarily as feed for livestock. Hay is a critical component of the agricultural industry and plays a vital role in sustaining the livelihoods of farmers across the world. In this article, we will discuss what a hay farm is, the different types of hay that are commonly grown, and how to start a farm that produces hay. What is a Hay Farm? A hay farm is a type of agricultural operation that focuses primarily on the growing and harvesting of hay. Hay is a type of grass or legume that is cut and dried for use as animal feed. It is typically grown in large fields and harvested using specialized equipment, such as hay balers and mowers. Hay farms can be found all over the world, from small family-run operations to large commercial enterprises. How to Start a Hay Farm: 12 Practical Steps 1: Research and Plan Conduct thorough research on hay farming, focusing on different types of hay that thrive in your area. Decide on the type of hay you plan to grow based on the local climate, soil type, and market demand. Develop a detailed business plan that includes your farming goals, target market, and financial projections. 2: Selecting the Right Hay Varieties Choose hay varieties that are well-suited to your regions climate and soil conditions. Consider the needs of your potential customers, whether they require alfalfa, timothy, clover, or Bermuda grass hay. 3: Securing Suitable Land Look for land that has the right soil type for your chosen hay variety, ideally well-draining with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Ensure the land has adequate sunlight and access to water sources for irrigation if needed. 4: Understanding Soil Health and Fertility Test the soil to determine its nutrient levels and pH balance. Amend the soil based on test results to create the optimal growing conditions for your hay crop. 5: Preparing the Land Till the land to create a smooth seedbed for planting. Remove any weeds or debris to minimize competition and pest risks. 6: Planting the Hay Plant your selected hay variety according to the best practices for seeding rates and depths. Consider using a no-till drill or broadcast seeding method, depending on your land and equipment. 7: Irrigation and Water Management Implement an efficient irrigation system to ensure your hay crop receives enough water, especially during dry periods. Monitor moisture levels regularly to avoid over or under-watering. 8: Pest and Disease Management Apply integrated pest management strategies to control pests and diseases. Regularly inspect your crop for signs of infestation or illness and take action as needed. 9: Harvest Timing and Techniques Determine the optimal time to harvest your hay, usually in the early bloom stage for legumes and late boot to early head stage for grasses. Use sharp, well-maintained harvesting equipment to ensure a clean cut and minimize losses. 10: Post-Harvest Handling and Storage Bale the hay at the correct moisture level to prevent mold and spoilage. Store the hay bales in a dry, well-ventilated area, off the ground, to maintain their quality. 11: Marketing and Selling Your Hay Develop a marketing strategy to sell your hay, targeting local farmers, livestock owners, and feed stores. Build relationships with your customers to encourage repeat business and referrals. 12: Evaluating and Adjusting Your Practices After each growing season, evaluate the success of your hay farm by analyzing yields, customer feedback, and financial performance. Adjust your farming practices as necessary to improve efficiency, yield, and profitability. By following these steps, you can establish a successful hay farming operation that produces high-quality hay for your target market while managing resources efficiently and sustainably. The Business Side: Simple Steps to Start a Hay Farm Business Starting a hay farm business involves several steps to ensure success. Here are ten simple steps to help you establish and grow your hay farm business. 1. Name and Brand Your Hay Farm Business Choosing a name and brand for your hay farm business is an important step. The name should be easy to remember, and it should accurately represent your business. You should also consider trademark and domain availability before finalizing your decision. Your brand should reflect your target audience and the values of your business. 2. Form a Legal Entity and Register Your Hay Business To protect your personal assets and comply with legal requirements, you should register your hay farm business as an LLC or corporation. This also helps establish credibility and trust with potential customers and partners. You should also obtain any necessary licenses and permits for your business, and make sure you have adequate insurance coverage. 3. Sort Out Taxes, Licenses, Permits, and Insurance When starting a hay farm business, you need to familiarize yourself with tax requirements, obtain any necessary licenses and permits, and ensure you have adequate insurance coverage. This helps you comply with legal requirements, protect your business and assets, and avoid any potential fines or penalties. 4. Create a Hay Farm Business Plan Creating a business plan is essential for any successful hay farm business. It defines your business objectives, target market, marketing strategies, and financial projections. Your business plan should also identify potential challenges and solutions, and include a clear roadmap for the future growth of your business. 5. Market Research Conducting market research is crucial to understanding your target market and competition. You need to identify market trends and potential customers and assess demand and pricing in your area. This helps you tailor your marketing strategies to effectively reach and engage with your target audience. 6. Buy the Necessary Equipment for Baling Hay To operate a successful hay farm business, you need to invest in the necessary equipment, including tractors, mowers, balers, and storage facilities. You can purchase or lease equipment, depending on your budget and long-term goals. Its important to research and compare options to ensure you get the best value for your investment. 7. Open a Business Bank Account Opening a separate business bank account is important for managing your finances and keeping accurate records. It also helps you separate your personal and business finances, making it easier to track expenses, monitor cash flow, and prepare tax returns. You can also access financial services and benefits specifically designed for small businesses. 8. Market the Business Developing a comprehensive marketing strategy is crucial to the success of your hay farm business. This should include a mix of online and offline tactics to reach and engage with your target audience. You can use social media, email marketing, content marketing, and advertising to increase brand awareness and drive sales. 9. Choose Where to Sell Your Products Identifying potential buyers and sales channels is an important step in growing your hay farm business. This includes feed stores, horse stables, and livestock auctions, as well as offering delivery services to customers who need it. You should also consider building relationships with potential buyers to establish long-term partnerships. 10. Expand Your Hay Farm Business Exploring opportunities to expand your hay farm business is key to sustained growth. This can include diversifying your product line, increasing production, or offering value-added services. You should also continuously monitor market trends and adapt your strategies to meet the evolving needs of your customers. What is Needed to Start a Hay Farm and How Much Does it Cost? Starting a hay farm requires suitable land, equipment, and baling machinery. The costs of starting a hay farm depend on factors such as land availability and equipment quality. A small hay farm can cost between $10,000 to $20,000, while a large one can easily cost hundreds of thousands. Suitable Land: Hay farming requires land that is suitable for growing hay. The ideal soil type should be well-draining and have a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. The land should also receive adequate sunlight and have access to water. The cost of purchasing or leasing suitable land varies depending on location and size. Hay farming requires land that is suitable for growing hay. The ideal soil type should be well-draining and have a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. The land should also receive adequate sunlight and have access to water. The cost of purchasing or leasing suitable land varies depending on location and size. Equipment: Starting a hay farm requires a significant investment in equipment. This includes a tractor, mower, tedder and hay rake, and baling equipment. The cost of equipment depends on the size and quality. Used equipment can be a cost-effective option for beginners. Starting a hay farm requires a significant investment in equipment. This includes a tractor, mower, tedder and hay rake, and baling equipment. The cost of equipment depends on the size and quality. Used equipment can be a cost-effective option for beginners. Tractor: A tractor is a critical piece of equipment for any hay farm. It is used for plowing, tilling, planting, and harvesting. The cost of a new tractor can range from $20,000 to $100,000, while a used tractor can cost between $5,000 to $30,000. A tractor is a critical piece of equipment for any hay farm. It is used for plowing, tilling, planting, and harvesting. The cost of a new tractor can range from $20,000 to $100,000, while a used tractor can cost between $5,000 to $30,000. Mower: A mower is used to cut the hay before it is baled. The cost of a new mower can range from $2,000 to $10,000, while a used mower can cost between $500 to $5,000. A mower is used to cut the hay before it is baled. The cost of a new mower can range from $2,000 to $10,000, while a used mower can cost between $500 to $5,000. Tedder & Hay Rake: After the hay is cut, it needs to be dried before it can be baled. A tedder is used to fluff up the hay and allow it to dry evenly. A hay rake is used to gather the dried hay into rows for baling. The cost of a new tedder and hay rake can range from $5,000 to $15,000, while used equipment can cost between $1,000 to $5,000. After the hay is cut, it needs to be dried before it can be baled. A tedder is used to fluff up the hay and allow it to dry evenly. A hay rake is used to gather the dried hay into rows for baling. The cost of a new tedder and hay rake can range from $5,000 to $15,000, while used equipment can cost between $1,000 to $5,000. Baling Equipment: Baling equipment is used to compress the hay into bales for storage or transport. The cost of a new baler can range from $10,000 to $50,000, while a used baler can cost between $2,000 to $10,000. Other baling equipment includes wagons, trailers, and wrappers, which can add additional costs. The Hay Farm Industry in the United States The hay farming industry in the United States is a significant sector of the agriculture industry. Hay is an essential feed source for livestock, making it a crucial element for the countrys meat and dairy production. The United States is the worlds largest hay producer, with over 53 million acres of hay harvested annually. The top hay-producing states in the U.S. include California, Texas, South Dakota, Montana, and North Dakota. The industry has been growing steadily over the years, and advancements in technology and farming techniques have improved the efficiency and profitability of hay farming operations. The demand for hay continues to rise, and the industry is expected to remain an important contributor to the U.S. agriculture industry. Deciding What Type of Hay Farm to Run Choosing the right type of hay to grow on your hay farm is essential to your farms overall success. By considering your livestocks nutritional needs, soil type and climate, market demand, and cost and labor, you can make an informed decision that will benefit both your farm and your livestock. Common Plants to Grow for Hay Production There are several different types of hay that are commonly grown on hay farms. These include: Timothy Hay: Timothy hay is a type of grass hay that is widely grown in North America. It is known for its high nutritional content and is often used as feed for horses. Timothy hay is a type of grass hay that is widely grown in North America. It is known for its high nutritional content and is often used as feed for horses. Alfalfa Hay: Alfalfa hay is a legume hay that is high in protein and other essential nutrients. It is commonly used as feed for dairy cows and other livestock. Alfalfa hay is a legume hay that is high in protein and other essential nutrients. It is commonly used as feed for dairy cows and other livestock. Clover Hay: Clover hay is another type of legume hay that is commonly grown on hay farms. It is high in protein and is often used as feed for horses, sheep, and other livestock. Clover hay is another type of legume hay that is commonly grown on hay farms. It is high in protein and is often used as feed for horses, sheep, and other livestock. Bermuda Grass Hay: Bermuda grass hay is a warm-season grass hay that is commonly grown in the southern United States. It is known for its high yields and is often used as feed for cattle and other livestock. Growing Hay for DIY on a Family Farm or Growing Hay to Sell You can either grow and let your livestock eat hay on your own farm, or you can grow hay to sell to other farmers and livestock owners. Consider factors such as soil type, climate, and market demand when choosing which type of hay to grow. How to Source Equipment to Grow Hay and For Harvesting Hay Sourcing equipment is essential to growing and harvesting hay. The process involves finding the right equipment that matches your needs, budget, and timeline. There are three main ways to source equipment: New: Buying new equipment is an option if you have a higher budget and want to invest in equipment that will last for years. Many farm equipment suppliers offer warranties on new equipment, and you can customize purchases to your specific needs. However, its more expensive than used or rented equipment. Buying new equipment is an option if you have a higher budget and want to invest in equipment that will last for years. Many farm equipment suppliers offer warranties on new equipment, and you can customize purchases to your specific needs. However, its more expensive than used or rented equipment. Used: Buying used farm equipment is a cost-effective option. However, its crucial to inspect the equipment carefully to ensure its in good condition. Look for reputable sellers, and research the equipments maintenance history before buying. Used equipment may have a shorter lifespan than new equipment. Buying used farm equipment is a cost-effective option. However, its crucial to inspect the equipment carefully to ensure its in good condition. Look for reputable sellers, and research the equipments maintenance history before buying. Used equipment may have a shorter lifespan than new equipment. Rent: Renting equipment is an option if you dont want to invest in equipment or only need it for a short period. Renting allows you to use high-quality equipment without the upfront costs of buying. However, it may be more expensive in the long run if you need equipment for extended periods. Renting is also subject to availability, so plan accordingly. The Steps in Making a Hay Crop Understanding the steps in making a hay crop can help farmers achieve maximum yield and quality. Lets look at what the process involves Preparing the Soil Soil preparation is vital to ensure the hay crops success. This involves tilling the soil to create a smooth seedbed, adding fertilizers and lime to correct soil pH, and removing any weeds or debris. Planting and Growing After the soil is prepared, the hay crop is planted and grown. The seed is spread evenly across the prepared seedbed and then covered with a layer of soil. The crop is then allowed to grow, and farmers must monitor it for weed growth and disease. Mowing Mowing is a crucial step in the hay crop process. Farmers must wait until the crop reaches the optimal height before mowing. This typically occurs when the crop is in the mid to late bud stage. Tedding Tedding involves fluffing and spreading the cut hay out to dry. This step helps to ensure the hay is dry and ready for raking. Raking Raking is the process of gathering the hay into rows to facilitate drying and baling. Farmers use specialized machinery, such as a rake or tedder, to move and shape the hay into neat rows. Stacking and Baling in Round Bales or Square Bales The final step in the hay crop process involves stacking and baling so theres no loose hay. Farmers can choose to bale hay in either round or square bales, depending on their preference and the type of machinery they have. The farmer can then store hay so its ready for transport. Step Description Preparing the Soil Tilling, adding fertilizers, and correcting pH to create a suitable seedbed. Removing weeds. Planting and Growing Spreading seed evenly, covering with soil, monitoring growth, and managing weed and disease. Mowing Cutting the hay crop at the optimal height, usually in the mid to late bud stage. Tedding Fluffing and spreading cut hay to aid in drying and moisture evaporation. Raking Gathering hay into neat rows to facilitate drying and baling using specialized machinery. Stacking and Baling Creating bales (round or square) from the dried hay. Stacking bales for storage or transport. Hay Farm: Downsides to Consider Despite its benefits, hay farming has downsides to consider. Weather conditions, such as drought or excessive rain, can reduce hay quality and yield. Hay storage can also be a challenge, and the cost of equipment and labor can be high. Hay Farming: A Sustainable Business Venture In conclusion, starting a hay farm represents a promising and sustainable business venture in the agricultural sector. With careful planning, appropriate land selection, and adherence to best farming practices, hay farming can yield significant returns while contributing to the agricultural community and supporting livestock nutrition. It requires dedication to soil health, crop management, and market understanding, but the rewards can be plentiful for those willing to invest the time and resources. As the demand for quality animal feed continues, hay farming stands out as a valuable and enduring business idea. Whether youre looking to support your own livestock or supply to local farmers and businesses, a well-managed hay farm can serve as a robust foundation for a thriving agricultural business. Hay Farm FAQs What is the Difference Between Hay and Straw? Hay is a forage crop harvested for livestock feed, while straw is a byproduct of harvested grains used primarily for bedding and other non-feed purposes. How Hard is Hay Farming? Hay farming can be physically demanding and time-consuming, requiring specialized equipment and knowledge. However, it can also be a rewarding and profitable industry. Can a Hay Farm be Profitable? Yes, a well-managed hay farm can be profitable. Factors such as crop yield, market demand, and operational efficiency can impact profitability. Is Hay Easy to Grow? Hay requires specific soil, moisture, and weather conditions for optimal growth. However, with proper preparation and care, hay can be successfully grown in many regions. How Much Hay Can 1 Acre Produce a Year? The amount of hay 1 acre can produce in a year varies depending on factors such as soil quality, crop variety, and weather conditions. On average, 1 acre can produce 1-4 tons of hay per year. Is it Worth it to Grow Hay? Whether growing hay is worth it depends on factors such as market demand, crop yield, and operational costs. With proper management, growing hay can be a profitable endeavor. How Should Hay Bales be Stacked to Reduce Waste? Hay bales should be stacked on a well-drained surface, preferably with a moisture barrier, and kept out of direct sunlight to prevent spoilage. Stacking bales in a crisscross pattern can also help reduce waste. Are Round Bales or Square Bales Better for Hay? The choice between a round bale and small square bales or large square bales depends on factors such as storage space, feeding method, and equipment availability. Round bales are generally better for outdoor storage, while square bales are easier to handle and stack. With fewer professional job opportunities in popular fields, lots of job seekers and employers are now turning to the internship. Unfortunately, over the years, the internship has gone from apprenticeship to just plain free help. As a small business owner, how do you make sure if you use interns, it will benefit your company as well as the intern? How do you make sure there is meaningful work to be done for your company and that it will give the intern experience they can use later at a full time job?. On The Small Business Radio Show this week, I talked with Robert J. Khoury, who is the Co-founder and CEO of Agile Rainmakers, a high-impact advisory firm based in Chicagos Gold Coast. His twenty-plus-year career in the financial industry has seen him in many roles: an equity derivatives trader, portfolio manager, corporate strategist, recruiter, hedge fund executive, and private equity investor. Rob has developed and managed a comprehensive internship program for college students that has resulted in a significant impact on dozens of students and his clients. He is the co-author of successful books, Intern Management and How to Intern Successfully. Here is what we discussed during the interview: What are some of the principles that can make an internship exceptional and successful? Should all interns be paid, and if so, how much should they be paid? How can companies improve their intern interviewing process to get the right candidates? How can managers best prepare for their interns before they arrive? How can employers ensure that their interns are fulfilled, and what steps should managers take to prepare for the end of each internship? Why is it so important to weave dignity into the internship? Considering hiring interns? Listen to the entire interview with Rob on The Small Business Radio Show. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. If you dont allow smoking or vaping at your business, its a good idea to post signs saying so. Youll want to place signage anywhere people may light up including inside and outside. Many states have mandates regarding where you can and cannot smoke in and around businesses. Familiarize yourself with your local laws to find out more about yours. However, regardless of where you live, if you own a business, you can decide if youd like your premises to be smoke-free. Creating a smoke-free environment in your workplace isnt just about setting a rule; its about fostering a healthier environment for both your employees and customers. When you prioritize health, you also create a positive impression for your business. Reasons to Implement a Smoke-Free Policy: Healthier Workplace : Exposure to second-hand smoke is harmful. By ensuring a smoke-free zone, you reduce the risk of respiratory problems and other related health issues for everyone. : Exposure to second-hand smoke is harmful. By ensuring a smoke-free zone, you reduce the risk of respiratory problems and other related health issues for everyone. Increased Productivity : A smoke-free environment can lead to fewer smoke breaks and reduced absenteeism due to smoking-related illnesses. : A smoke-free environment can lead to fewer smoke breaks and reduced absenteeism due to smoking-related illnesses. Cleaner Environment: Say goodbye to cigarette butts littering the premises and the lingering smell of smoke. A cleaner workspace is more appealing to customers and can enhance your businesss image. Fortunately, there are plenty of no smoking signs, no vaping signs, and the like available online. And there are more options than you may think there are decorative signs, signs that come in a variety of colors, indoor and outdoor signs, and more. Selecting the Right No Smoking Sign for Your Small Business No smoking signs are essential for maintaining a smoke-free environment and complying with regulations. When choosing a no smoking sign, consider the following factors, which were also used in our product selection: Visibility and Readability (Very Important) Scale: 9/10 The sign should be easily visible and readable from a distance. Clear lettering and universally recognized symbols are crucial. Size and Placement (Important) Scale: 8/10 Choose a size that is appropriate for where the sign will be placed. It should be large enough to be noticed, but not so large as to be obtrusive. Material and Durability (Important) Scale: 8/10 The sign should be made of durable material suitable for its environment, whether indoors or outdoors. Design and Aesthetics (Moderately Important) Scale: 6/10 The design should align with the aesthetic of your business. While maintaining compliance, the sign can still reflect your brands style. Compliance with Regulations (Crucial) Scale: 10/10 Its imperative that the sign meets all local, state, and federal regulations regarding no smoking signage. Ease of Installation (Important) Scale: 7/10 The sign should be easy to install, with any necessary hardware included or easily obtainable. Weather Resistance (for Outdoor Use) (Important if applicable) Scale: 7/10 If the sign is for outdoor use, it should be resistant to weather conditions like sun, rain, and wind. Cost and Budget (Very Important) Scale: 9/10 The sign should be cost-effective, offering good quality at a reasonable price. Language Options (Moderately Important) Scale: 6/10 Consider bilingual or multilingual signs if your business is in an area with a diverse population. Customization Options (Less Important) Scale: 5/10 Customization might not be crucial for compliance, but it could be considered for brand consistency or specific messaging. By evaluating these criteria, you can choose a no smoking sign that effectively communicates the policy while aligning with your businesss needs and aesthetic. And now, our picks: No Smoking Signs for Your Business Adhesive Vinyl No Smoking Sign This large red sign is easy to see and read and sends a clear message. It is 10x14 and has an adhesive backing for mounting. Accuform Signs 10 x 14 Adhesive Vinyl Smoking Control Sign Buy on quill Metal Sign Absolutely No Vaping Or Smoking This eye-catching sign adds some artistic flair to your signage. Made from durable aluminum, the sign is 8 x 12 and comes with pre-drilled holes for mounting. You also have the option to use double-sided tape for mounting, as the sign is very lightweight. Metal Sign Absolutely No Vaping Or Smoking Buy on Amazon Accuform Signs Adhesive Vinyl No Smoking Sign A 10 x 7 durable vinyl sticker in white with bold letters and graphics, this adhesive sign can stick on any flat surface. It is moisture resistant, but is intended for indoor or sheltered use. Accuform Signs Safety Sign Buy on quill No Smoking/ No Vaping Sticker This is a pack of 2 stickers, each 7x10 on a white background. You can easily peel and stick them to just about any surface. iSYFIX No Smoking No Vaping Sticker Sign Buy on Amazon Absolutely No Smoking Vaping of Any Kind Designer Sign This stylized sign will add a little class to your request. The sign is black with white font, 3 1/2 x 5 in size, and comes with mounting tape. Absolutely No Smoking Vaping of Any Kind Designer Sign Buy on Amazon No Smoking Sign for Business These signs are made from rust-free aluminum, so they can be used outdoors. You get four 10x14 signs; each has 4 pre-drilled 3/16-inch holes for screws or wire tiess. No Smoking Signs for Business No Vaping Sign Buy on Amazon This Is A Smoke-Free Property, Thank You For Not Smoking Sign This large, 12 x 18 no-smoking sign is made from heavy-duty rust-resistant aluminum. It comes with rounded, burr-free corners and 3/8-inch punched and pre-cleared holes SmartSign This Is A Smoke-Free Property, Thank You For Not Smoking Sign Buy on Amazon ADA NO SMOKING Sign This sign features the words No Smoking, the familiar no smoking icon, and Braille, making it ADA-compliant. It is gray with white text and graphics and has an adhesive back for easy installation. U.S. Stamp & Sign Headline ADA NO SMOKING Sign Buy on quill No Smoking Window Stickers These clear vinyl No Smoking window signs can be used on just about any clear surface. You get a pack of two 6X6 stickers that are easy to read and apply. No Smoking No Vaping Sign 6X6 No Smoking Window Sticker Buy on Amazon No Smoking Signs for Business 4 Pack These lightweight metal signs have adhesive backs, so they can be placed indoors or outdoors. You get 4 rust-resistant, 5.5 x 5.5 light aluminum signs. 4 Pack No Smoking Signs for Business Buy on Amazon No Smoking Spanish Poster Since so many people speak Spanish, its never a bad idea to include bilingual signage. This No Fumar sign can be used along with No Smoking signage so that there are no mix-ups due to language barriers. This noticeable poster is 11 x 8 1/2. ComplyRight No Smoking Spanish Poster Buy on quill Positively No Smoking Allowed On These Premises This sign will let customers and others know that your entire premises are smoke-free. It is a 10x14 rigid plastic sign. Positively No Smoking Allowed On These Premises, 10X14, Rigid Plastic, Notice Sign Buy on quill No Smoking Engraved Door or Wall Sign This 6 x 6 sign is black with yellow text for easy visibility. Self-adhesive backing is included for easy hanging. No Smoking Sign 6 x 6 Engraved Door Suite Wall Sign for Business Buy on Amazon No Smoking Stickers Pack Keep it simple with this pack of 6 No Smoking stickers. They are made from adhesive waterproof vinyl and are each 2.25 x 4.25. No Smoking Stickers Pack Buy on Amazon Premium No Smoking Thank You Sign for Business & Home This beautiful silver and black Diamond Plate No Smoking Sign is made of 32 mil thick aluminum and can be used outdoors or indoors. It can be mounted using the included tape; there are also predrilled holes if youd like to use screws instead. The sign is 5x 4. SmartSign Premium No Smoking Thank You Sign for Business & Home Buy on Amazon 2 Pack No Smoking Thank You Sign The unique design of these signs makes them very easy to notice. Each sign is 10x7 and wall-mountable. They are made from durable plastic to keep them looking good. 2 Pack No Smoking Thank You Sign Buy on Amazon No Smoking on Premises Aluminum Sign With Stake For an outside option, this aluminum no-smoking sign comes with a stake for mounting the sign and placing it in a soft, grassy area. The sign is 12 x 10 and the stake is 3 tall. No Smoking on Premises Aluminum Sign With Stake Buy on Amazon Steps to Enforce a Smoke-Free Policy Effectively: Research Local Laws: As already mentioned, understanding your local smoking laws is essential. This will ensure youre compliant and give you a framework to start from. Clear Signage: Invest in clear, easily visible signs stating your policy. Place these at entrances, break areas, and other spots where individuals might be tempted to light up. Educate Your Team: Ensure that all employees are aware of the new policy. Consider offering resources for those who want to quit smoking. Regularly Review and Update: As with any policy, its essential to revisit it periodically. This ensures that its still effective and meets the needs of your business and employees. Remember, its not just about forbidding an action but promoting a healthier, more productive work environment. Its a decision that showcases your commitment to the well-being of those who engage with your business. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Save money on shipping costs for your Amazon purchases. Plus, enjoy thousands of titles from Amazons video library with an Amazon Prime membership. Learn more and sign up for a free trial today. Organic dairy farming has experienced significant growth in recent years, establishing a niche market. Consumers are increasingly concerned about the quality of their food and the environmental impact of agriculture, which has led to a rising demand for organic dairy products. The market growth varies by region, but overall, organic dairy has become a notable segment within the dairy industry. What is Organic Dairy Farming? Here are some specifics about organic dairy farming: Feed : Organic dairy cows are primarily fed organic forage and grains without synthetic pesticides or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Conventional dairy cows may receive non-organic feed. : Organic dairy cows are primarily fed organic forage and grains without synthetic pesticides or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Conventional dairy cows may receive non-organic feed. Antibiotics and Hormones : Organic dairy farming strictly limits the use of antibiotics and hormones, while conventional farming may use them to promote growth or prevent diseases. : Organic dairy farming strictly limits the use of antibiotics and hormones, while conventional farming may use them to promote growth or prevent diseases. Pesticides and Chemicals : Organic dairy farms avoid synthetic pesticides and chemicals on pastures and in feed, whereas conventional farms may use them. : Organic dairy farms avoid synthetic pesticides and chemicals on pastures and in feed, whereas conventional farms may use them. Grazing : Organic dairy cows are required to have access to pasture during the grazing season, promoting more natural foraging behavior. : Organic dairy cows are required to have access to pasture during the grazing season, promoting more natural foraging behavior. Access to Outdoors: Organic dairy cows have access to the outdoors, while conventional cows may spend more time confined in indoor facilities. The Principles of Organic Dairy Farming Organic dairy farmers must follow these core principles: Certification : Farms must be certified organic by an accredited certifying agency. : Farms must be certified organic by an accredited certifying agency. Feed : Use of organic feed and forage. : Use of organic feed and forage. No Synthetic Chemicals : Prohibition of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers. : Prohibition of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers. Animal Welfare : Ensuring proper living conditions, access to pasture, and limited stress for the animals. : Ensuring proper living conditions, access to pasture, and limited stress for the animals. No GMOs: Avoidance of genetically modified organisms in feed and production. The Benefits of Organic Dairy Farming Organic dairy farming reduces environmental impacts by the use of synthetic chemicals to help protect soil and water quality. Organic farming practices often promote biodiversity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Organic dairy products are typically free from residues of synthetic chemicals and antibiotics, which can be a healthier option for consumers. Organic dairy farming can provide economic benefits to farmers through premium prices for organic products and potential cost savings due to reduced chemical inputs. Starting Your Own Organic Dairy Farm Next well take you through the steps to starting your own organic dairy farm, including information on getting certified, basics of production, and marketing. Understanding Organic Dairy Farm Regulations Organic dairy farming in the United States is regulated by the National Organic Program, or NOP. To become certified as organic dairies, farmers must adhere to strict standards and undergo an annual inspection by a USDA-accredited certifying agency. Key regulations include using organic feed, providing access to pasture, avoiding synthetic chemicals, and ensuring animal welfare. Detailed record-keeping is essential to demonstrate compliance with organic standards. Investment and Financial Planning Establishing an organic dairy farm typically involves higher initial investments compared to conventional farming due to the cost of transitioning to organic practices, organic feed, and potentially larger grazing areas. Financial planning should include budgeting for organic certification costs, organic feed sourcing, infrastructure (barns, fencing, milking equipment), and ongoing operational expenses. Farmers may benefit from seeking grants or loans specific to organic farming to help with the transition. Securing Land and Facilities Look for land that can support dairy farming and is suitable for organic practices. Consider factors like soil health, water availability, climate, and proximity to markets. Develop infrastructure such as barns, milking parlors, and waste management systems. Ensure that these facilities comply with organic standards and animal welfare considerations. Acquiring Dairy Cattle Choose a dairy cattle breed that suits your climate and farming style. Consider factors like milk yield, feed efficiency, and adaptability to organic practices. Implement a herd health management plan that aligns with organic standards, focusing on preventive care, natural feed, and humane living conditions. Obtaining Organic Certification Familiarize yourself with the specific requirements for organic certification, which may vary depending on your location and the certifying agency. Apply for certification through an accredited agency. This process usually includes a comprehensive inspection of your farm, records, and practices to ensure compliance with organic standards. Implementing Sustainable Practices Adopt organic methods for soil enhancement and feed crop cultivation, such as crop rotation, composting, and natural pest control. Incorporate sustainable practices like water conservation, renewable energy sources, and waste reduction to minimize environmental impact. Marketing and Sales Create a strategy to market your organic dairy products. This may include branding, packaging, pricing, and choosing sales channels like local markets, retail stores, or direct-to-consumer models. Establish relationships with customers, retailers, and other stakeholders. Being transparent about your farming practices can help build trust and loyalty among consumers. Continuous Improvement and Adaptation Regularly assess the performance of your farm and make adjustments as necessary. This includes monitoring animal health, product quality, and financial performance. Stay updated on industry trends, technological advancements, and regulatory changes. Being adaptable and willing to innovate can help ensure the long-term success of your organic dairy farm. Step Focus Key Activities Considerations 1. Research and Education Understanding Organic Farming Principles - Study organic farming regulations - Learn about dairy farming best practices - Requires time and dedication - Importance of continuous learning 2. Business Planning Strategic and Financial Planning - Develop a comprehensive business plan - Secure funding - Financial management skills - Long-term profitability focus 3. Securing Land and Facilities Infrastructure Setup - Acquire suitable land - Build or renovate facilities - Land suitability for organic farming - Compliance with organic standards 4. Acquiring Dairy Cattle Livestock Management - Choose appropriate cattle breed - Implement health management plans - Breed adaptability to organic practices - Focus on animal welfare 5. Obtaining Organic Certification Compliance with Standards - Understand certification requirements - Undergo certification process - Adherence to organic guidelines - Regular inspections and audits 6. Implementing Sustainable Practices Environmental Management - Adopt organic soil and crop management techniques - Use environmentally friendly practices - Soil health maintenance - Reduction of environmental footprint 7. Marketing and Sales Market Penetration and Growth - Develop marketing strategies - Establish sales channels - Effective branding and customer relationships - Navigating market competition 8. Continuous Improvement and Adaptation Operational Excellence - Monitor farm performance - Stay informed about industry changes - Flexibility and adaptability - Ongoing improvement efforts Essential Practices in Organic Dairy Farming Sustainable feed and grazing management are key elements of organic dairy farming. Sustainable Feed and Grazing Management Organic dairy cows must have access to pasture during the grazing season, which means maintaining suitable pasture areas. Best practices involve rotational grazing, which helps improve soil health, prevents overgrazing, and supports biodiversity in organic agriculture. Focus on growing and harvesting organic forage crops for winter feed to reduce reliance on purchased feed. Animal Welfare and Health Care Providing comfortable and clean housing for dairy animals is essential for their well-being. Regular veterinary care is crucial for preventive health measures and prompt treatment of illnesses. Organic farmers use holistic approaches like herbal remedies and homeopathy when appropriate, as synthetic drugs are limited for dairy animals. Organic Dairy Products: From Farm to Table Organic Milk: Quality and Health Benefits Organic milk is often perceived as a healthier option due to the absence of synthetic pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones. Some studies suggest that organic milk may have slightly higher levels of beneficial nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants. Consumers appreciate the assurance that organic dairy products come from cows with access to pasture and better living conditions. Marketing Organic Dairy Products Be sure to highlight the organic certification prominently on product packaging and in marketing materials: Emphasize the health and environmental benefits of organic dairy. Consider local and regional marketing strategies, such as farmers markets, co-op stores, or direct-to-consumer sales. Engage in online marketing and social media to connect with eco-conscious consumers. Challenges Faced by Organic Dairy Farmers There are two main challenges faced by organic dairy farmers. Certification Maintenance: Organic farmers must consistently meet stringent organic standards to maintain certification. This can be challenging due to changing regulations and the need for meticulous record-keeping. Market Competition: While the organic dairy production market is growing, it is also competitive. Organic dairy farmers may face challenges in pricing and distribution, especially when competing with larger conventional dairy operations. The Future of Organic Dairy Farms The organic dairy industry may see continued regulatory changes to address evolving consumer and environmental concerns. Advancements in technology, such as precision farming and data analytics, may help organic dairy farms become more efficient and sustainable. The trend towards organic production and sustainably-produced dairy products is expected to persist, potentially driving further growth in the market. FAQs: Organic Dairy Farming Is organic dairy farming profitable? The profitability of an organic dairy farm, including production costs per unit, can vary widely depending on factors such as location, scale of operation, management practices, and market conditions. Here are some general considerations: Production Costs: Feed Costs : Organic feed can be more expensive than conventional feed, and it forms a significant portion of production costs. Costs vary based on the types of crops grown and the availability of organic feed sources in the region. : Organic feed can be more expensive than conventional feed, and it forms a significant portion of production costs. Costs vary based on the types of crops grown and the availability of organic feed sources in the region. Labor Costs : Labor costs, including milking, feeding, and animal care, are a significant part of the budget. : Labor costs, including milking, feeding, and animal care, are a significant part of the budget. Healthcare Costs : Organic dairy farms often invest in preventive healthcare and may use more natural remedies, which can affect costs. : Organic dairy farms often invest in preventive healthcare and may use more natural remedies, which can affect costs. Infrastructure and Equipment : Costs associated with barns, milking equipment, fencing, and pasture maintenance are part of the expenses. : Costs associated with barns, milking equipment, fencing, and pasture maintenance are part of the expenses. Certification Costs: Annual certification costs are also a consideration. Income and Prices: Organic dairy products generally command higher prices in the market compared to conventional products due to the premium associated with organic certification. However, these prices can fluctuate, and farmers may need to negotiate contracts with processors or distributors to secure stable pricing. The region and specific market dynamics can also influence the prices farmers receive. Economies of Scale: Larger organic dairy farms may benefit from economies of scale, as they can spread fixed costs over a larger production volume. Small-scale organic dairy farms might have higher production costs per unit, which can impact profitability. Example: Average production costs per hundredweight (cwt) for organic milk in the United States were estimated to be higher than conventional milk production costs. However, the exact figures can vary widely. In some cases, the premium price for organic milk may offset the higher production costs, leading to a profitable operation. Its essential for organic dairy farmers to conduct detailed financial planning and budgeting specific to their farms circumstances. Consulting with agricultural extension services or agricultural economists in your region can provide more up-to-date and location-specific information on production costs and profitability for organic dairy farming. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. Every small business owner and entrepreneur who runs a deli, a salad bar, or a food establishment understands the importance of having the right equipment. Of course, the sandwich prep table is among the must-haves. Thats because its an efficient and clean way to prepare sandwiches, salads, and other food products. Many prep tables are refrigerated for storing perishible items, and many have other storage as well. F What is a Sandwich Prep Table? Sandwich or salad prep tables are refrigerated units that combine a worktop for food prep, such as sandwich and salad preparation, with refrigerated storage space beneath. This commercial appliance keeps ingredients fresh while allowing for quick, efficient sandwich and salad assembly. Different Types of Sandwich Prep Tables Sandwich prep tables vary in style and design. They range in size from small units with one door and a few ingredient bins to large units with several doors and numerous ingredient bins. Some sandwich prep tables are top style, with ingredients instantly available at arms length. Others come with cutting boards and even overhead shelves for additional storage. Sandwich Prep Table: Our Top Picks There are many great prep tables available on Amazon. Weve developed a set of criteria to guide you in choosing the perfect sandwich prep table for your business. Our recommendations are based on these carefully considered factors: Size and Capacity (Importance Scale: 9/10) Criteria: Space availability in your kitchen, number of ingredients it can hold. Space availability in your kitchen, number of ingredients it can hold. Rationale: Ensures efficient use of kitchen space and meets your daily volume needs. Material and Durability (Importance Scale: 8/10) Criteria: Stainless steel construction, resistance to corrosion and easy to clean. Stainless steel construction, resistance to corrosion and easy to clean. Rationale: Contributes to longevity and maintains a hygienic preparation environment. Temperature Control (Importance Scale: 10/10) Criteria: Consistent cooling ability, compliance with food safety standards. Consistent cooling ability, compliance with food safety standards. Rationale: Essential for keeping ingredients fresh and preventing foodborne illnesses. Ease of Cleaning (Importance Scale: 7/10) Criteria: Removable parts, smooth surfaces. Removable parts, smooth surfaces. Rationale: Promotes food safety and saves time in kitchen cleanup. Layout and Accessibility (Importance Scale: 8/10) Criteria: Convenient arrangement of storage and prep areas. Convenient arrangement of storage and prep areas. Rationale: Enhances workflow efficiency and reduces preparation time. Additional Features (Importance Scale: 6/10) Criteria: Cutting boards, adjustable shelves, food pans included. Cutting boards, adjustable shelves, food pans included. Rationale: Adds value and versatility to the prep table. Price and Warranty (Importance Scale: 7/10) Criteria: Cost-effectiveness, warranty period, and coverage. Cost-effectiveness, warranty period, and coverage. Rationale: Ensures good return on investment and protection against defects. Energy Efficiency (Importance Scale: 5/10) Criteria: Energy Star rated, low power consumption. Energy Star rated, low power consumption. Rationale: Reduces operating costs and is better for the environment. By adhering to these criteria, weve curated out list of sandwich prep tables that we believe best suit the needs of small business owners. Check out our favorites below: Arctic Air 40 Countertop Sandwich Prep Table Station Features: Dimension: 39.5W x 15.5D x 11H. 5 Star Energy rating, promoting energy efficiency. Integrated internal thermostat One door with manual defrost system for easy maintenance. Compact design, making it suitable for small spaces. Stainless steel finish, ensuring long-lasting durability Self-contained refrigeration system with R290 refrigerant for reliable and even cooling. Arctic Air 40 Countertop Sandwich/Salad Refrigerated Prep Table Station Buy on Amazon Aceland 3-Door Mega Top Sandwich Prep Table Key Features: Equipped with an Embraco compressor and Carel controller Fan cooling system ensures consistent temperature maintenance from 33F to 41F. Robust shelves with a loading capacity of 90 lbs each, coated for corrosion resistance. Features an automatic defrost system for low-maintenance operation. Eco-friendly, utilizing R290 refrigerant Durable, anti-fingerprint stainless steel exterior and interior facilitate easier cleaning and ensure longevity. Pre-installed with four wheels (2 with brakes) for easy maneuverability Digital temperature display for easy temperature and defrost frequency adjustments, with a clear LCD readout Aceland 3-Door Mega Top Sandwich Prep Table Refrigerator Buy on Amazon VEVOR Refrigerated Prep Station Key Features: Powered by a 146W compressor, ensuring ingredients remain at the proper temperature. Uses energy-saving R290 refrigerant in its self-contained refrigeration system. Accommodates 8 food pans in a 40-quart tank Electronic thermostat with digital LED panel, allowing temperature control between 35.6F and 46.4F. One-click auto-defrost function for smooth air circulation and consistent cooling. Features a detachable tempered glass shield for clear visibility and ingredient protection. Includes four 1/3 pans and four 1/6 pans with removable dividers, offer flexibility to customize the station to your specific needs. VEVOR Refrigerated Prep Station Buy on Amazon Commercial Refrigerated Sandwich Prep Table 2-Door Key Features: Efficient Storage: Two-door refrigerated storage beneath the workspace offers an additional 8.6 cft. space, perfect for keeping deli meats, cheese, or toppings fresh at 33F to 41 F. Durable Shelves: Epoxy-coated shelves, each capable of handling up to 90 lbs, allowing the effective organization of your supplies. Insulated Lid: A stainless steel lid featuring a lift-up design aids in maintaining safe food temperatures. Mobility: Includes four heavy-duty 4 casters (2 lockable), simplifying cleaning and servicing by providing mobility. Cutting Board: 3/4 thick removable cutting board is affixed to the surface for slicing ingredients and prepping orders. Warranty: 3-Year All-Parts warranty, a 6-Year Compressor warranty, and a 1-Month Labor warranty. Commercial Refrigerated Sandwich Prep Table 2-Door Buy on Amazon Commercial Refrigerated Sandwich Prep Table 2-door Features: Spacious: 16.4 cubic feet of two-door storage space below the workspace, refrigerated at 33F to 41 F Durable Shelves: Epoxy-coated shelves, each holding up to 90 lbs. Insulated Lid: Stainless steel lid with a convenient lift-up design aids in maintaining food-safe temperatures. Mobility Assured: Includes four 4 casters (2 lockable) for easy movement Cutting Board: 3/4 thick removable cutting board affixed to the surface, ideal for slicing ingredients and assembling orders. Commercial Refrigerated Sandwich Prep Table 2-door Buy on Amazon KITMA Salad Sandwich Prep Table Features: Pan Capacity: 18 pans (6.8L x 6.25W x 4D) for ingredient organization and food-safe temperatures. Cutting Board: Includes a fixed cutting board for efficient preparation. Refrigerated Storage: 1/5 hp compressor, Dixell digital temperature control system, and R290 refrigerant ensures a temperature range of 33 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit. Durable Construction: Made from 430 and 304 stainless steel for both interior and exterior Adjustable Shelves and Mobility: 3 reinforced adjustable shelves for custom storage; sits on casters for easy mobility. Warranty: 5-year warranty on the compressor and 2-year warranty on additional parts, which includes on-site service within 48 hours. KITMA Salad Sandwich Prep Table Buy on Amazon Kratos Refrigeration 48W Commercial, Sandwich/Salad Prep Table Features: Cutting Board:Reversible, removable cutting board for easy cleaning. Storage: Two hinged doors and two adjustable epoxy-coated shelves facilitate easy access and efficient airflow. Material: Durable stainless steel exterior and a painted aluminum interior Condensate Evaporator Pan: Eliminates the need for floor drain, provides immediate plug-and-play compatibility. Temperature Control: Comes with adjustable solid-state temperature control with a digital display. Pan Capacity: It includes slots for industry-standard adapter bars for sixth-size pans and can hold third, half, or full-size pans up to 4H without requiring adapters. Insulation: CFC-free urethane foam insulated walls and doors to retain coolness. Extras: Includes two adjustable epoxy-coated steel shelves, casters, cord, and plug for convenience. Dimensions: Measures 48-7/16W x 30-15/16D x 45-7/16H. Kratos Refrigeration 48W Commercial, Sandwich/Salad Prep Table Buy on Amazon Arctic Air 48.25-Inch 2-Door Refrigerated Sandwich/Salad Prep Table Key Features: Pan Capacity: Cold topping area holds twelve 1/6 size pans provided with the unit. The hinged insulated lid cover maintains the freshness of the food items when not in use. Cutting Board: Comes with a full-length, heavy-duty cutting board Magnetic Door Gaskets: The self-closing doors remain open at 90 degrees, and the magnetic door gaskets are removable and replaceable without tools. The doors have solid construction with foamed-in-place recessed handles. Refrigerated Storage: The unit provides 12 cubic feet of refrigerated storage capacity, an adjustable coated wire shelf per door for added storage, and an interior made of bright white ABS liner with a full stainless steel floor for easy cleaning. Durable Construction: Its heavy-duty stainless steel construction, comprising a stainless steel lid on top, guarantees longevity and freshness of the toppings. Arctic Air 48.25-Inch 2-Door Refrigerated Sandwich/Salad Prep Table Buy on Amazon Atosa USA 3-Door Refrigerated Sandwich/Salad Prep Table Key Features: Cutting Board: 10 poly cutting board provides a dedicated area for precise and hygienic food preparation. Pre-installed Casters: Pre-installed casters, facilitating effective space management and cleaning. Digital Controller: The Dixell digital controller ensures precise and easy temperature control. Storage: 18 stainless steel pans and three adjustable shelves, giving ample room for various ingredients. Door Design: 3 solid-hinged self-closing doors with recessed handles for easy access without compromising temperature control. Construction: Stainless steel interior & exterior and galvanized steel back Refrigeration: Equipped with rear-mounted, self-contained refrigeration using R290 Hydrocarbon refrigerant, the unit maintains a steady temperature range of 33 to 40F. It also includes features like ventilated refrigeration, automatic evaporation, and air defrost. Atosa USA 72.70 3 Door Refrigerated Sandwich/Salad Prep Table Buy on Amazon SEAGATE Refrigerated Sandwich/Salad Prep Table Key Features: Quality Construction: 430 stainless steel exterior, 304 stainless steel interior Convenient Features: Electronic thermostat and digital LED temperature display for accurate control and easy temperature readings. Mobility: Easy-to-mount 2.5 casters for mobility Doors: Doors are self-closing but can be locked in an open position when set to a 90 angle Advanced Technology: Forced-Air cooling for rapid temperature recovery after opening/loading, and it cools food down faster than normal refrigerators Storage: Includes one adjustable, heavy-duty epoxy-coated wire shelf per door, providing plenty of storage space. Certification: The SSP61 is NSF and cETLus certified, ensuring it meets the highest safety and quality standards. SEAGATE Refrigerated Sandwich/Salad Prep Table Buy on Amazon Commercial Refrigerated Prep Table 2-door 36 Mega Top Model Engineered with a robust stainless steel body, this freestanding refrigerated prep table offers sturdy construction and durability, making it ideal for heavy-duty commercial use. Key Features: Dimensions: 36W x 34D x 46H 8.6 cubic feet two-door storage space, refrigerated from 33F to 41F. Insulated with foamed-in-place polyurethane Comprises of epoxy-coated shelves, each capable of carrying up to 90 lbs. Compressor cooling method for superior temperature control. Stainless steel insulated lid for maintaining food-safe temperatures, and a lift-up design for swift usage 3/4 thick mounted cutting board can be removed for easy cleaning Includes four heavy-duty 4 casters (2 locking) for easy mobility for cleaning or maintenance. Commercial Refrigerated Sandwich Prep Table 2-door 36 Mega Top Model Buy on Amazon Leveraging the Efficiency of Sandwich Prep Tables for Your Business Success Enhancing Workflow A well-placed sandwich prep table can significantly improve your kitchen workflow. By keeping ingredients organized and at the correct temperature, your team can assemble sandwiches and salads more quickly, improving customer satisfaction and your bottom line. Ensuring Food Safety Sandwich prep tables also play a crucial role in food safety. By maintaining the proper temperature, they prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, ensuring the freshness and safety of your sandwiches and salads. Boosting Productivity Incorporating a sandwich prep table into your workspace enhances productivity. With its in-built storage sections for an array of ingredients, it allows staff to assemble meals with speed and precision. This increased efficiency can lead to a higher turnover, positively impacting your profit margins. Optimizing Your Sandwich Prep Table Strategic use of your sandwich prep table can be a real boon to your business. Firstly, train your team on optimal usage to ensure consistent, high-quality outputs. Secondly, use the table to experiment with new recipes during off-peak hours, enhancing your menu and attracting a wider clientele. Finally, use the table to reduce food waste by promoting dishes made from ingredients nearing their use-by dates. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Save money on shipping costs for your Amazon purchases. Plus, enjoy thousands of titles from Amazons video library with an Amazon Prime membership. Learn more and sign up for a free trial today. Elizabeth ("Liz") Passarelli passed away peacefully on Friday, January 26, 2024, at Hospice House in Callaway, MD, after a long and courageous battle with cancer, with her cousin, John P. Price, by her side. Liz was born from the union of the late Alfred Thomas Passarelli (her hero) and Anne Frances Nakraseive Passarelli. She was predeceased by her beloved brother, Alfred Thomas "Freddie" Passarelli. Liz's family moved to St. Mary's County, Maryland from the Bronx, New York when she was a young girl. She grew up in Piney Point, Maryland and graduated from St. Mary's Academy. She had a long career as a dedicated legal secretary. She was considered a legend in her field. Over the years she worked for numerous Judges, State's Attorneys, County Commissioners, and many lawyers. She was known for her veracious work ethic, dedication, loyalty, and potty mouth. Liz never met a stranger and was never afraid to tell them her opinion. You either loved Liz or you didn't. If you took the time to get to know her, she was kind, loving, generous, and tender hearted. She had a core group of dear friends she met while growing up in the community, worked with at Courthouse, met at various law offices she worked, and at the county government. She loved them fiercely. She was a devout Washington Redskins fan and would cheer or curse them every game. She was thrilled/relieved when they recently got a new owner. She also volunteered her free time for SMAWL. Liz was never married nor had any biological children, but was the "second mom" to many of the law clerks she 'trained' while working for the Honorable Marvin S. Kaminetz. She acted as their county tour guide, mentor, wingman, and devoted friend. She also considered herself the ultimate adult daycare provider for the most patient bailiffs and court reporter on the planet. When she loved you, you knew it. When she was angry at you, you knew it. The only filter Liz had was attached to her cigarette. Liz not only was a second mother to her law clerks, but she adopted their children and was considered the best nonni/Godmother a child could have. She was kind, loving, and considerate with them. During a one night sleep over she taught her special Maddie Rose how to properly pour her vodka and light her cigarette. An incredible feat considering the child had just recently learned to walk. Liz was beautiful, intelligent, funny, grumpy, and difficult. She was a complete and complicated woman. Her wonderful group of dedicated friends accepted and loved her for her. They loved her because under the tough exterior was a kind, soft and gentle heart. Liz will be missed by many. A Life Celebration/Roast in honor of Liz will be held at a later date this Spring. A special thank you to her wonderful neighbor Sandy for helping to care for her and her four-legged children when she could not. When Liz was sick, her cousin John stepped up and reminded Liz on a daily basis that she was loved, even on the rare occasions she made it difficult. She is survived by her cousins Giovanna Passarelli Riley and Maria Passarelli Crellen. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at 10:00 am, followed by a Mass at 11:00 am, then interment immediately after. All services are to be at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church located at 22373 Three Notch Road, Lexington Park, Maryland 20653. Donations in Liz's memory can be made to SMAWL, P.O. Box 1232, Leonardtown, MD 20650 in her honor. Children need to be taught differently to navigate todays world, teachers say. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share When the communist regime fell in 1989, among t he many changes that followed were those in the education system. Innovative teachers and others in education used the opportunity they suddenly had to leave what many of them saw as an old-fashioned system behind and create something new. They set out to found modern educational institutions employing the most up-to-date methods and knowledge. We gave students the opportunity to solve problems, suggest changes, and propose new activities in school by debating them in the student council, where each class has its own representative. This council even participates in classification conferences, meaning, for example, that they speak and have a say in what marks they are given for their behaviour, Maria Smrekova, one of the founders of the first private gymnasium (as the more academically focused secondary schools are known) in Slovakia, 1. sukromne gymnazium, told The Slovak Spectator. This caused an absolute shock, but its an excellent way of teaching cultivated debate and democracy. We continue to do it to this day. The Slovak Spectator spoke with Smrekova and Eva Ohradanova, President of the Association of Private Schools and Educational Institutions (ASSSZ), about the beginnings of private education in Slovakia, differences between state and private schools, the unflattering results of Slovak students in recent PISA testing, curriculum reforms, and more. Can you recall the conditions under which private schools were first launched in Slovakia? Eva Ohradanova (EO): The Velvet Revolution paved the way for private schools to emerge in the 1990s. At the start it was difficult for everyone, whether for clerical schools that had been run in the past and set up again, or for private schools that were starting from scratch. What they all had in common was the desire to do things differently, to bring something new, to communicate differently with pupils and to create a new atmosphere in schools. They also all had the courage to break what at the time was basically new ground. Maria Smrekova (MS): There were three reasons why we, a group of four teachers at the Gymnazium on Ulica Ladislava Saru 1, Bratislava, launched the first private secondary school in Slovakia, in 1991. The first reason was that we saw a need for the position of teacher and pupil to change. We believed that they should be partners in the educational process, that it was supposed to be about cooperation in education. The second reason was that at the time in schools there was little, if any, interconnection between individual subjects in educational areas. The third reason was that most schools used old education methods even though there were so many new methods available that had already been tried and tested abroad. And we wanted to use them. It was difficult because of the way state schools viewed us they saw us as a competitor with better financial security because we collect tuition fees, but also the state subsidy to which every child is entitled. I only recall that during the first years, before a proper funding scheme was created, private schools only received 650 Slovak crowns (around 20) per pupil per month from the state, and we often had problems obtaining even this, which caused us financial difficulties. Has this changed over the years? Maria Smrekova: A chemistry and physics teacher, she was one of the founders of the first private secondary school in Slovakia, the Bratislavabased 1. sukromne gymnazium, where she was headteacher for many years. Together with Frantisek Toth, the schools first headteacher and first president of the ASSSZ, she also played a key role in helping to launch the Association of Private Schools and Educational Institutions (ASSSZ). (Source: Courtesy of Maria Smrekova) MS: Yes, today [state] funding of state and private schools is equal. Nevertheless, some people still think we are making money off our pupils but all the money from the fees we charge is invested back into their education either in the form of better equipment or higher remuneration for teachers, as the whole educational sector, including state schools, is grossly underfinanced. But it needs to be pointed out that schools and facilities in ASSSZ are actually non-state schools and not private schools in the same way there are private schools abroad. Our institutions are called private, but they are performing an education service on behalf of the state and they follow the state curriculum. The way we teach it is different compared to state schools, but we do not operate in the same way as private schools abroad, which are separate from the state, do not receive any state subsidies, and can teach whatever they want. Were bound by laws and the state curriculum and by what the state wants the students to know. What distinguishes state and private schools today? EO: As far as their legislative status is concerned, they are, except for a few minor differences, equal. What really sets us apart is our freedom from the civil service apparatus. Also, in the state education sector there are a lot of wonderful innovative teachers, but they often face difficulties in their schools when introducing anything new. In private schools this is easier, faster and more straightforward. We do not need to wait for an official stamp. Our hands are more untied when it comes to procedures and experimenting with various teaching methods. On the other hand, we bear more responsibility for every step we take. MS: What also differentiates us from state schools is that we work with pupils who have, or their parents have, chosen us either because of the prestige private schools have, their different teaching methods, or because private schools usually have fewer children and more assistants in classes, better equipment, better food or simply cleaner toilets. Are private schools accessible to children from underprivileged backgrounds? EO: As we collect tuition fees, there might be an impression that private schools are only for those wealthy enough to afford them, but this is not true. Private schools have various support schemes for talented children from socially weak environments, either funded from tuition fees, donations or the 2-percent tax allocation scheme. The only thing that matters is these childrens passion for learning and motivation. And thats what we want to work with, not with parents wallets. MS: At our secondary school, tuition fees are evaluated individually. We had a student who finished school, then graduated from university and is only now going to pay back his tuition fees. Nobody has ever left our school because they couldnt afford the school fees. Eva Ohradanova talking with colleagues. (Source: Courtesy of ASSSZ) What is the usual range of tuition fees? EO: This depends on the individual school, where it is located and how it is equipped it might range from a small number of euros up to hundreds per month. The Association of Private Schools and School Facilities (ASSSZ) An apolitical, independent, non-profit and non-governmental organisation that brings together the founders and directors of private schools and school facilities. It is the only organisation working to protect the equal status of private schools and other educational institutions as a legitimate part of the educational system in Slovakia. It represents more than 200 founders and principals from private educational facilities kindergartens, elementary schools, secondary schools, elementary art schools and conservatories, as well as school facilities (leisure centres and school clubs, and counselling and prevention centres). Together, these are attended by about 100,000 students. The association will this year celebrate the 30th anniversary of its founding. What is the current share of private educational facilities among the total number of educational facilities? EO: Approximately 2 percent the number is in the thousands. In 1994, there were only 30 private schools. Today, we ensure compulsory school attendance in private schools for 5 percent of school-age children, about 44,000 children. We also have 30 percent of pupils in private leisures activities , about 330,000 children. Are there any general benefits that private schools have brought to the education sector since they first appeared in Slovakia? EO: We have brought plurality and different prospects. It was often only with the advent of a private school that local state schools began to change, too. So today, after more than 30 years, we can really say that private schools have their place in Slovakia, and enjoy a status equal to state schools, even though not quite entirely. There are areas where we still need to strengthen the position of their founders. But we are a respected partner at all levels, including at the highest at the ministerial and parliamentary level. What is your opinion about the performance of 15-year-old Slovak students in the international PISA assessment? Education Minister Tomas Drucker described the results as tragic. MS: There may be plenty of reasons why the results of Slovak students were so unflattering. Sometimes there is a problem in translation, sometimes the task is too easy, and students expected something more complex. But, in my opinion, the basic problem is too much memorisation, which is a kind of legacy of the previous regime, even though things are a bit better than in the past. Instead of memorising, we should teach our children critical thinking, from as early as six years old. I need to stress that reading with understanding is not something restricted just to the Slovak language but applies also to maths, the social and natural sciences, as well as to culture and the arts, etc. Related article Related article PISA testing shows how bad Slovak education is Read more EO: I see the PISA results as a confirmation of the urgent need for change. If anyone still hasnt figured out that weve already missed the train, this should be a clear sign that we have to start running fast and maybe well catch the last carriage. Times are changing, children are changing and we cant just go on teaching them old things, including memorisation, which is killing creativity. For example, we still teach children about the reproduction of unicellular organisms, which became extinct in the Tertiary period. To get this information, they only need a mobile phone and connection to the internet. What we need to teach them is where to look for reliable information, how to work with it, how to safely work in the online environment, how to identify hoaxes, and so on. We should focus on the process of learning, not a package of facts. Actually, the amount of things students need to learn should be reduced and instead there should be a focus on skills like creativity, cooperation, communication and critical thinking. Lets not just give them fish, but teach them fishing. Maria Smrekova receiving the Medal of the President of the Slovak Republic from then head of state Andrej Kiska. She was recognised for her many significant contributions in the field of education, upbringing and education. (Source: Chancellery of the President of the Slovak Republic) How did students of private schools perform in PISA testing? EO: We dont know. Five years ago the published results showed state and private schools separately, and there were subjects in which students from private schools performed better. But this time only the results of the whole country in general were published. To what extent is teaching at private schools bound by the national curriculum? EO: 100 percent, although there is some degree of freedom. To put it another way: it would not be a problem for us at all to fulfil the state curriculum 100 percent if it were different. We face information overload and children do not need more information from us. They need to know how to understand information, how to select it, how to verify it, how to seek relationships, respect each other and lead an orderly life, how to remain human in todays world. Curriculum reform is being undertaken in Slovakia. Will this help? EO: In my opinion, we should be even braver and reduce the curriculum even more than has been proposed. Scalability in the education system is also lacking. Not every student needs to be perfect in each subject. Teachers need to talk to each other about which kid is better at what and agree on subjects on which they should focus. For example, a child is an excellent linguist, so theyre not pushed to excel in maths that way the child will not feel like a loser because as the teacher I wont make them feel that way. In terms of curriculum reform, we are in a pilot phase at the elementary school level. As the first students will start graduating from the new education system around 2035, we need to start reform at the level of secondary schools as soon as possible. MS: For us as private schools, curriculum reform is an open page where we can finally do what we want without waiting for someone to slap our wrist. Thats what we expect and want to have freedom and responsibility in what we do. What is the biggest challenge that the education sector will face in the next 5-10 years? MS: The basic problem is that so far each government has wanted to achieve tangible results during its fouryear term. But this is impossible in a sector like education. Each change in the education system needs years before it brings results. Now, for the first time, we are in a situation where some processes, for example curriculum reform, which will run over multiple election periods, have been launched. EO: In terms of the future, nobody knows what the biggest challenge will be, but we know what we should always keep in mind: that students are human beings, that they need to learn to be fully responsible for their actions and attitudes, that they need to know themselves well enough to recognise their strengths and build on them. Shortening the statute of limitations for white-collar crimes will have immediate, irreparable effects. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Welcome to your weekly commentary and overview of news from Slovakia. The coalition is about to deliver a blow to the whole prosecution system in Slovakia. The deadline for submitting candidacy applications for the presidential election has passed; 11 people are set to run. The government ponders buying Patriot air-defence systems, but wants a discount from the US. If you have a suggestion on how to make this overview better, let me know at michaela.terenzani@spectator.sk. MPs are about to pass the changes The justice system in Slovakia is about to undergo drastic changes, ones which have prompted an ever-increasing number of people to take to the streets in protest, and led Brussels to express alarm. Parliament is now set to pass the changes as early as this week after the coalition limited the opportunities for opposition MPs to speak. The whole process has taken longer than Robert Fico and his government originally anticipated. They first submitted the amendment to the Penal Code on December 6 and intended to have the changes, including the scrapping of the Special Prosecutors Office, passed by Christmas and in effect by January 15. Thanks to a combination of opposition filibustering, street protests and some pressure from Brussels, the changes were delayed. But now the possibilities to delay the process seem to have been exhausted and the coalition is readying for a final vote on the reform. If opposition MPs use up all the time they have been allocated, the parliamentary debate will last until Wednesday at the latest, meaning parliament might pass the changes on February 7. President Zuzana Caputova, who has also opposed the changes and particularly the fast-tracked procedure being used to pass them, will then have 15 days to decide whether to sign or veto the bill. Assuming she vetoes it, which she has shown every sign of doing, parliament will need to vote on it again, which may take another few days. This means that the final vote on the law will likely take place before the end of the month. In its current form it would come into effect immediately. The president and MPs can still appeal to the Constitutional Court, but even if the justices later decided to suspend it, the law would still become effective before that happened. Last-minute amending proposals Following the backlash that its attempts to pass the changes incurred, the coalition came up with a plan B a set of changes introduced through an amending proposal submitted by Smer MP Tibor Gaspar, the former Police Corps president who himself faces organised crime charges within what is known as the Purgatory case. (Gaspar, along with his relative, oligarch Norbert Bodor, stand accused of attempting to corrupt the police force, among other things.) These changes are also meant, observers say, to appease those EU institutions that might worry about the protection of the unions financial interests, which would provide grounds for them to halt EU funds for Slovakia the way it has done for Viktor Orbans Hungary. By Kim Hyun-bin A recent survey conducted by the National Fire Agency (NFA) has found that a staggering 40 percent of firefighters are grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), raising concerns about the mental health of these first responders. The 2023 Firefighter Mental Health Survey, based on interviews with 52,802 firefighters between March and May 2023, showed that 44 percent were identified as at-risk individuals requiring management or treatment for at least one of four major psychological conditions: PTSD, depression symptoms, sleep disorders and problematic alcohol consumption. This revelation underscores the urgent need for targeted mental health support for those who regularly face traumatic situations. "Although the mental health of firefighters improved last year amid the pandemic, many still require urgent management, the NFA said in a statement. The findings have prompted immediate calls for action, with experts and lawmakers emphasizing the necessity of prioritizing mental health initiatives for firefighters. Rep. Oh Young-hwan of the Democratic Party of Korea, a former firefighter, expressed deep concern, saying, "The high prevalence of PTSD and the increased risk of suicide among firefighters demand urgent attention and comprehensive support systems." Moreover, the survey highlighted that a distressing 5 percent of surveyed firefighters are at high risk for suicide. Individuals at high risk have indicated contemplating suicide at least once annually. The emotional toll of their demanding profession has left a notable portion of firefighters contemplating suicide, shedding light on a critical aspect of their mental well-being. The National Fire Agency acknowledges the severity of the situation and is urged to enhance mental health programs tailored specifically to address the challenges faced by firefighters. As the firefighting community grapples with these alarming figures, there is a growing consensus on the need to prioritize mental health resources and support those who risk their well-being to protect others. Meanwhile, two young firefighters who lost their lives in a recent fire at Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, were honored in a memorial service at Daejeon National Cemetary, Saturday. Kim Soo-kwang, 27, and Park Soo-hoon, 35, were remembered as heroes after responding to the fire at an industrial complex in Mungyeong on Jan. 31. Upon hearing reports from civilians that there might be people inside, Kim and Park courageously entered the building to search for survivors and attempt a rescue. Unfortunately, they were unable to escape the rapidly spreading fire. A person's life does not depend on nationality. Kevin has already been transported back home, contributing to his demanding medical treatment and rehabilitation is still possible. (Source: FB University of Zilina in Zilina) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share 20-year-old Kevin Leonardo Guzman from Colombia came to Zilina to pursue his dreams of studying aviation transport at Zilina University two years ago. However, in October, a burst blood vessel in his brain dramatically altered his plans. Due to his severe condition resulting from the brain hemorrhage, Guzman was immobile and unable to speak, writes the My Zilina website. Medical expenses soared, prompting his family to seek help for his return to Colombia for rehabilitation. Slovaks support Colombian Numerous people, including those who have faced health struggles themselves, rallied to support the student. Maria Kebiskova, a Zilina native, reached out to Guzman's father, leveraging her connections, and joined others like Daniela Belkova, who, along with her family, experienced community support during a similar situation. The entire Zilina University community also played a significant role. Students and staff shared their plea for help on social media, successfully raising funds for hospital bills. A transparent account was set up, collecting around 30,000 to cover the outstanding debt. Kevin is back home, fundraising continuing Despite the financial challenges, there is a glimmer of hope. The young student is now back in Bogota, Colombia, but the fundraising remains open. All contributions will go towards his medical treatment and necessary rehabilitation. In the words of university spokesperson Adriana Valentovicova, "The university provided free accommodation for Guzman's parents, and the caretaker was in daily contact with the family." Kevin's return to his studies at the university in Zilina is uncertain, but everyone hopes for his improved health and future educational pursuits. Washington, DC is Americas federal district, flooded with monuments, memorials, and corporations on every other corner. But its residents know it to be an incredibly vibrant and lively area that celebrates creative expression in many forms. The duality of the District is that there is consistently expressed individuality embedded into the city that is simultaneously cross layered with a rather straight-laced, politically fueled atmosphere. The DC coffee scene is one of the most interesting creative expressions this city has to offer, highlighted through many talented local roasters, several USBC competitors, an engaged barista community that regularly participates in monthly barista throwdowns. And I can think of no more exciting example of what DCs coffee culture has to offer the the citys inspiring coffee pop-up scene. Coffee pop-ups existed long before the pandemic, often showcased in food halls like Union Market, but COVID-19 disrupted so many business plans. The Districts coffee community showed incredible resiliency and saw an impressive surge in pop-up coffee concepts during the pandemic despite many restaurant and cafe closings. Industry professionals were forced to rethink long-held ideas centered around the traditional coffee business model, and the city witnessed a wave in pop-up coffee concepts that emphasized building a community around experiencing a memorable cup. Coffee pop-ups can be nimble, and by nature this model of cafe has far less financial risk than signing on a 10-year lease for a brick and mortar. But there are challenges when it comes to establishing brand recognition without a proper cafe, and the format puts a magnified emphasis on the quality of the cup. A great introduction to the pop-up scene is woman- and deaf-owned Steam Valve Espresso. Cajal Rutti runs this pop-up shop within Bryant Streets Market where she enjoys the flexibility to focus on the quality and education of coffee. Steam Valve focuses on building a community around specialty coffee and bridging the gap between the hearing and deaf realms. Rutti aims to break the stereotype of a deaf person by hiring a wide spectrum of deaf people in terms of hearing loss and communication systems, such as ASL and Cued Speech through hospitality. (Washington DC is also home to Gallaudet University, one of the worlds most important deaf educational institutions.) Steam Valve Espresso recently hosted a throwdown, bringing together a gathering of baristas and spectators immersed in coffee culture. Rutti envisions a future in which Steam Valve Espresso has established itself as a permanent location in DC, continuing its mission of serving and including marginalized groups, the cafe housing a roastery, a zero-booze afternoon bar, event space and an educational center for coffee. A pop-up concept that consistently transcends beverage innovation is Black Crown Collective, led by Drago Tomianovic and Sam Deur. The pair bonded over their shared affinity for artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, and aims to focus on intentionality and quality. Most of their pop-ups function as event-style, highlighting different spaces and partnerships. Paying a visit to one of Black Crown Collectives pop-ups clearly showcases the curation behind the beverages, emulating the precision of mixology, and sourcing of high-quality ingredients. While presentation can often go overlooked in a high-volume cafe setting, Black Crown Collectives dedication to presentation is an integral part of the experience. It allows for an acknowledgement of the time and effort spent in preparation, as well as the stunning result, and fosters meaningful conversation in a more intimate setting. For the pair, the pop-up model was compatible with their lifestyles, a way to connect to the local community, and a natural extension of Tomianovics expertise of nearly 10 years experience in the specialty coffee industry. Their shared dream for Black Crown Collective is to grow into a brick-and-mortar space that serves as a collective for shared passions in art and culture. Imagine a space that functions for specialty coffee, community events, and hosts a rotating residential tattoo artist. They note that something special about the DC coffee community is the sincerity behind the pop-up businesses; it seems there is a genuine passion for the industry and the pop-up expression, far beyond just making a profit. One of the most unique explorations of coffee and connection is hosted by Roots&Rivers. Helmed by artist Rhema Jordan Labbe, R&R is a curated studio space that was once initially Labbes personal creative studio. Now, Labbe explains that their pop-up functions as an experiential studio that hosts monthly gatherings and curated experiences in specialty coffee, design and collective expression. R&R serves as a third space that feels like walking into the home of a friend, and encourages the ritual of enjoying coffee with those around you. There is a sense of comfort in the stillness that R&R encompasses through mostly pour-over coffee, highlighting local and global roasters that inspire Labbe. With a pop-up that fully challenges the traditional scope of a coffee shop, and instead approaches coffee through a community-centric lens, there is a lingering feeling of inspiration leaving one of Roots&Rivers pop-ups that can only be experienced rather than explained. R&R has fully broken the mold of a traditional coffee space, and opens the door for those seeking connection and coffee in a no-frills atmosphere. They note their vision for Roots&Rivers is to continue to invite people into a creative and cultural space, and for those to find resonance with one another, and to engage in the exchange of things like coffee, art, and memory. A birds eye view of the District may only showcase a city littered in government entities and political prattle, but a deeper look will illuminate a multilayered culture that is fueled by creative connection and of course, a delicious cup. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/us-uk-conduct-new-strikes-on-yemens-al-hudaydah-saada-governorates---local-officials-1116591135.html US, UK Conduct New Strikes on Yemen's Al Hudaydah, Saada Governorates - Local Officials US, UK Conduct New Strikes on Yemen's Al Hudaydah, Saada Governorates - Local Officials Sputnik International The United States and the United Kingdom carried out 15 strikes on positions of Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, in the Yemeni governorates of Al Hudaydah and Saada on Sunday night, officials told Sputnik. 2024-02-04T23:48+0000 2024-02-04T23:48+0000 2024-02-04T23:48+0000 world houthis ansar allah ansar allah militants united kingdom (uk) yemen us us hegemony air strikes https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/04/1116591226_0:288:3000:1976_1920x0_80_0_0_0b20f81381d71f8862421a1a69a7091e.jpg "The American and British aircraft carried out 11 strikes on the governorate, including eight strikes on the Ras Issa area in Al-Salif District in the north of the city of Al Hudaydah, and three strikes targeted Az Zaydiyah District in the northeast of Al Hudaydah," a local source in the Al Hudaydah governorate said. He added that the airspace of the governorate, located on the coast of the Red Sea, has witnessed intense fights of jets. Yahya Saria, a spokesman for the Houthi armed forces, said Sunday that the US and UK militaries launched 48 airstrikes at six Yemeni governorates the previous night, adding that retaliation would follow. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240201/us-revises-account-of-two-seals-who-died-trying-to-board-yemen-bound-ship-1116528167.html united kingdom (uk) yemen Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us strikes, us-yemen war, strikes against houthis, us, us strikes on yemen, us strikes on houthis, red sea, red sea crisis, uk strikes, air strikes https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/whats-left-1116544767.html What's Left? What's Left? Sputnik International Americans are told the US is a conservative country where its ideology is to the right of European democracies from which its politics stems. But, there's a gaping chasm between its two-party policy orientation and the status quo. 2024-02-04T20:35+0000 2024-02-04T20:35+0000 2024-02-19T10:48+0000 analysis opinion us americans bernie sanders karl marx israel iraq gallup revolution https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/07/1100520182_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_da75c880f4b6ba79c0e65139c032cdfe.jpg Gallups decade-plus poll of basic opinions consistently finds that four of 10 Americans have a positive view of socialism. (Half of these are also favorably predisposed toward capitalism.) When given a chance to demonstrate that, they do. Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, received 43% of the Democratic primary popular vote in 2016 and 26% in 2020. Four members of the Democratic Socialists of America are currently serving in Congress. Despite a century of Cold War reactionary Cold War suppression and McCarthyite propaganda, US voters have moved more left since the heyday of the old Socialist Party, whose four-time presidential standard-bearer Eugene Debs peaked at 6% in 1912.History is punctuated by periodic spasms of protest that reveal Americans yearning for a world with greater economic equality, a merciful justice system, increased individual rights and the prioritization of human needs over corporate profits: the Black Lives Matter demonstrations and riots of 2020, Occupy Wall Street in 2011, marches against the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the 1999 Battle of Seattle, etc., etc., all the way back to the womens suffrage and abolitionist movements at the dawn of the republic. These leftist movements were ruthlessly crushed by state violence and marginalization by the media before, in some instances, ultimately achieving their goals. Like streetcar tracks that keep having to be repaved over as asphalt erodes, however, fundamental human cravings for fairness and equality always reemerge despite the US political systems suppression.I write this at one of those times between uprisings, when the presence of the Left in Americans lives feels irrelevant. (Were talking here about the actual, socialist/communist-influenced Left of the sort we find in Europe, not the corporate liberal Democratic Party.) The Green Party, the nations biggest Left party, received 0.2% of the vote in the last presidential election; it will probably not appear on the ballot in many states, including New York, this year. There are no sustained street protests about any issue, including the Supreme Courts radical repeal of abortion rights. Israels war against Gaza inspired one major (over 100,000 attendees) anti-war demonstration in Washington, DC, and it was matched in size by an opposing march in favor of Israel. Sanders and his fellow socialists have been absorbed into the Democratic Borg.Whats Left?There is no organized Left in the US. We are pre-organized. We are bereft of leaders. We have no presence in the media. We have no realistic prospect of having our positions aired, much less seriously considered and debates or enacted into law.The Left may not exist as a political force. Yet we exist. Polls show that there are tens of millions of individual Leftists here in the United States. Sanders massive campaign rallies, with tens of thousands of attendees in numerous cities, proved that were able and willing to mobilize when we feel hope. Our record of taking to the streets to fight racist cops and warmongers and strikebreakers and gaybashers, despite formidable risks, point to our revolutionary spirit.Four out of 10 Americans view socialism favorably. How many more would feel the same way if they were exposed to leftist ideas? What if there was a socialist party that might possibly win?Some readers criticized my 2011 book The Anti-American Manifesto because it called for revolution, or more accurately for opening rhetorical space for revolution as a viable political option, without laying out a step-by-step path for organizing a revolutionary organization. My omission was intentional. Allowing ourselves psychological access to the R-word must precede organization, revolution must be led by the masses rather than an individual, and in any case I am not blessed with the gifts of an organizer and wouldnt know where to begin to build a grassroots movement. Still, no doubt about it, we have a lot to do. We must agitate and confront and organize and work inside electoral politics and out in the streets.But for what? What do we want? What should we fight for?Karl Marx and his socialist contemporaries would call this a programmea list of demands and desires, like a political party platform in the not-so-distant past, which confronts the biggest problems facing us and lay out specific ways to solve them if and when we win power at the ballot box or seize power at the point of a gun as the culmination of a revolutionary movement.We need a coherent vision for the county. We must build credibility by demonstrating that we know what has people worried, terrified and merely annoyed; successfully identifying peoples concerns shows that we get it, that we get them. We need solutions to their problems. We need to walk people through our ideas, listen to their thoughts and adjust our programme in response to their feedback.What is the Left?The Left is the idea that everyone is entitled to the good things in life by virtue of existing, that we should all have equal rights and opportunities and that the basic necessities of life like food, shelter, health care, education and transportation should be guaranteed by the government.In this richest nation that has ever existed anywhere, albeit the one with the biggest wealth gap, we can get there. But we will never accomplish anything within the constructs of the electoral politics trap. Never has the dysfunction and uselessness of the duopoly been clearer than in this election cycle, when most voters say they wish neither of the two major-party candidates were running.Lets figure out how. Next week, Ill take a look at the tax code, federal government revenues and spending priorities.(Ted Rall (Twitter: @tedrall), the political cartoonist, columnist and graphic novelist) https://sputnikglobe.com/20240107/ballot-cleansing-how-democrats-pushing-us-to-political-chaos-1116024952.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230720/fed-up-with-biden--trump-half-of-us-voters-consider-backing-third-party-candidate---poll-1112021812.html israel iraq Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ted Rall https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125340_0:0:360:360_100x100_80_0_0_1ed1a3494a53cde87e19521c3658fe92.jpg Ted Rall https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125340_0:0:360:360_100x100_80_0_0_1ed1a3494a53cde87e19521c3658fe92.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ted Rall https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125340_0:0:360:360_100x100_80_0_0_1ed1a3494a53cde87e19521c3658fe92.jpg where is the american left party, what is the american political system, how many political parties in the us https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/zelenskyy-confirms-thinking-about-replacing-armed-forces-commander-in-chief-zaluzhny-1116589858.html Zelensky Confirms Thinking About Replacing Armed Forces Commander-In-Chief Zaluzhny Zelensky Confirms Thinking About Replacing Armed Forces Commander-In-Chief Zaluzhny Sputnik International Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Sunday that he is thinking about replacing Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny. 2024-02-04T21:34+0000 2024-02-04T21:34+0000 2024-02-05T04:27+0000 world ukraine valery zaluzhny volodymyr zelensky https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0b/1e/1115307893_14:0:1077:598_1920x0_80_0_0_d1cb1616d75ce697872e4702061d47b1.jpg "This is a question that concerns the people who should lead Ukraine. Of course, a restart and a new beginning are needed," Zelensky said in an interview with Italian broadcaster Rai1 when asked about the dispute with Zaluzhny. "The issue concerns the entire management team that leads the country," he said on Sunday night in an appearance on the TG1 television newscast. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240131/why-zaluzhny-may-become-more-dangerous-for-zelensky-if-fired-1116517084.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International zaluzhny vs zelensky, zaluzhny and zelensky, what's happening with zaluzhny, who is zaluzhny, why is zaluzhny out of control, what did zaluzhny do, zaluzhny to be fired, zaluzhny to retire, zelensky fires zaluzhny https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/drone-attack-on-base-in-syria-housing-us-troops-kills-6-members-of-sdf-forces-1116605210.html Drone Attack on Base in Syria Housing US Troops Kills 6 Members of SDF Forces Drone Attack on Base in Syria Housing US Troops Kills 6 Members of SDF Forces Sputnik International A drone attack on a training base housing US troops in the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor killed at least six members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the SDF Media Center said in a statement on Monday. 2024-02-05T16:59+0000 2024-02-05T16:59+0000 2024-02-05T16:59+0000 military middle east syria deir ez-zor iran syrian democratic forces (sdf) us military base https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/01/1116541533_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_7082f5b2f99eeeceb2c54204685418bf.jpg The Iranian-backed militias used the Syrian regime-controlled areas in Deir ez-Zor as a staging ground for the terrorist attack that targeted our Commando Academy and resulted in the martyrdom of six of our commando fighters, the statement said. Initial investigations have confirmed that the Iranian-backed militias were behind the drone attack against the SDF forces in the Al-Omar oil field in Deir ez Zor, the statement said. The attack was aimed primarily at hindering the joint operations against terrorism, making the Islamic State terror group* the "sole beneficiary," the statement added. The Syrian Democratic Forces, which is led by Kurdish fighters and backed by the United States, operates in northeastern Syria allegedly to prevent the resurgence of the Islamic State*.*A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240203/strikes-against-anti-isis-militias-in-syria-and-iraq-prove-us-war-on-terror-is-a-sham-1116574680.html syria deir ez-zor iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International attacks on us bases in the middle east, us bases under attack, strikes on us bases, what countries have attacked us bases, why are us bases under attack, recent attacks on us military bases, why are us bases under attack, whos targeting us bases, how many us bases are there in the middle east, how many us bases are there in the middle east, why is u still in the middle east https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/german-farmers-block-entrances-to-ndr-broadcasting-center-in-hanover-1116600843.html German Farmers Block Entrances to NDR Broadcasting Center in Hanover German Farmers Block Entrances to NDR Broadcasting Center in Hanover Sputnik International German farmers blocked the entrances and parking lot of the NDR broadcasting center in Hanover on Monday to protest the withdrawal of government subsidies, German tabloid Bild reported. 2024-02-05T11:39+0000 2024-02-05T11:39+0000 2024-02-05T11:39+0000 world europe's farmer protests bild hanover germany https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/08/1116051430_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_f58919df51aee0728af6707b697db9ba.jpg A considerable number of farmers and representatives of small and medium-sized businesses gathered in front of the NDR broadcasting center in Hanover in the morning, the newspaper reported. Over 30 tractors and 20 other types of vehicles blockaded the entrances and the parking lot. The protesters are criticizing the insufficient coverage of agricultural sector workers' demonstrations and are demanding the cancellation of the budget passed by parliament last week, which includes cuts to fuel subsidies for farmers. In December 2023, the German government announced austerity measures amid the budget crisis. The government intends to lift subsidies on diesel fuel for forestry and agriculture, with this part of the national budget expected to be discussed in German legislative body Bundesrat on March 22. The announcement triggered multiple farmer protests throughout the entire country. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240201/how-eus-ukraine-and-climate-change-adventurism-kill-blocs-farming-1116541935.html hanover germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International german farmers blocked the entrances and parking lot of the ndr broadcasting center in hanover on monday to protest the withdrawal of government subsidies, german tabloid bild reported. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/germany-ready-to-support-sanctions-against-israeli-settlers-in-west-bank---government-1116605036.html Germany Ready to Support Sanctions Against Israeli Settlers in West Bank - Government Germany Ready to Support Sanctions Against Israeli Settlers in West Bank - Government Sputnik International Berlin is considering imposing EU-level sanctions against Israeli settlers involved in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and is ready to support this initiative if it is compatible with the EU legislation, German FM spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer and government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said on Monday. 2024-02-05T16:43+0000 2024-02-05T16:43+0000 2024-02-05T16:43+0000 world europe palestinians peter stano germany berlin west bank european union (eu) palestine-israel conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/05/1116604875_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_4d4306df24abf343a45d3ed2396d724d.jpg "I can tell you that, similar to the measures introduced by our close partners, such as the United States, we within the EU are also considering imposing restrictions against some radically-minded settlers who have committed violence in the West Bank," Deschauer said at a cabinet briefing. At the same time, she also said she had no information about whether any of those Israeli settlers had assets in Germany. The spokeswoman explained the delay in considering the introduction of sanctions by the fact that a large number of countries participated in the discussions. Meanwhile, Hebestreit dismissed the reports about Germany being involved in blocking this initiative at the EU level. Berlin is ready to support the sanctions if they are compatible with the EU legislation, the spokesman said. The EU is currently working on agreeing on similar sanctions, the lead EU spokesperson for external affairs, Peter Stano, said last week. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240202/eu-continuing-talks-on-sanctioning-israeli-settlers-in-west-bank---spokesperson-1116564821.html germany berlin west bank Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International west bank settlers, jewish settlers in west bank, violence in west bank, jewish settlements in west bank, why are there jewish settlers in west bank, sanctions against jewish settlers in west bank, white house new sanctions, us sanctions against jewish settlers in west bank https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/hms-queen-elizabeths-technical-woes-highlight-systemic-problems-in-wests-largest-weapon-programs-1116607412.html HMS Queen Elizabeth's Technical Woes Highlight 'Systemic Problems' in West's Largest Weapon Programs HMS Queen Elizabeth's Technical Woes Highlight 'Systemic Problems' in West's Largest Weapon Programs Sputnik International Commenting on the current situation with HMS Queen Elizabeth, geopolitical analyst and former US Marine Brian Berletic told Sputnik that it is just the latest incident in a long line of maintenance problems plaguing both the carrier and its sister ship. 2024-02-05T19:07+0000 2024-02-05T19:07+0000 2024-02-13T11:48+0000 analysis britain british royal navy hms queen elizabeth hms prince of wales problems https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107233/53/1072335380_0:86:1281:806_1920x0_80_0_0_f2586238a2db089d3f4719d7fbbc980f.jpg Britains HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier is stuck in its dock for the immediate future after an issue with the vessels starboard propeller shaft was discovered by engineers.The ship was due to take part in NATOs Steadfast Defender military exercises launched mere days ago.Having announced this development via X (formerly Twitter), the UK Royal Navy said that the carriers sister ship HMS Prince of Wales is going to set sail for Steadfast Defender as soon as possible.Earlier, UK Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said that the Queen Elizabeth may be deployed to the Red Sea where the UK helps the United States wage a military campaign against the Houthis. It remains unclear, however, how this breakdown may affect Londons plans for the carrier.Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales has its own history of rendering itself unfit for battle all on its own.In 2022, the ship had to abort its voyage to the US, where it was supposed to engage in joint drills with US and Canadian warships after the carrier broke down near the Isle of Wight and had to be towed back to port.As British media noted at the time, this breakdown occurred after the carrier had to delay its departure from the Portsmouth Naval Base in Hampshire due to a technical issue. Ironically, said issue reportedly involved the starboard propeller shaft as well.The fact that the HMS Prince of Wales has been plagued by technical malfunctions practically since it entered service in 2019 raised concerns that the vessel may be cannibalized for parts for HMS Queen Elizabeth, though this did not happen to date.While reports from 2023 claim that many Royal Navy ships quit the service, UK media revealed that two British warships were decommissioned and their crews reallocated to newer vessels amid what appears to be the lack of naval personnel this January.Commenting on the current situation with HMS Queen Elizabeth, geopolitical analyst and former US Marine Brian Berletic told Sputnik that it is just the latest incident in a long line of maintenance problems plaguing both the carrier and its sister ship.According to him, the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier program itself reflects a disconnect between British ambitions and the means to pursue them.He pointed out that the US-UK military operations in the Red Sea have failed to stem the Houthi missile attacks there, thus highlighting the fact that the economic and technological disparity British, European, and American imperialism enjoyed for generations is over, even though said fact is unacknowledged by the collective Wests foreign policy circles.He added that, while the British Royal Navy should not be underestimated, its capabilities will continue to decline well into the foreseeable future until British foreign policy finally fits the reality of the world the UK actually exists within, not the world it wishes it still existed in.For his part, Matthew Gordon-Banks, a former British Conservative member of parliament and senior research fellow at the UK Defence Academy, offered a different take on the matter, arguing that the only thing wrong with the Royal Navy is that it is too small in size with a secondary issue of insufficient crew to man the existing ships.Though the United Kingdom has extremely professional armed forces, Gordon-Banks said, there have been significant reductions in numbers and equipment in the last 25 years following the peace dividend after the collapse of the Berlin Wall.Regarding the current situation in the Red Sea, Gordon-Banks said that the US is the leader and primary combatant for the West there.Whilst it is unlikely more UK ships will be sent to the region, the UK may still take part in long-range air strikes on minority groups, he added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240128/ex-mp-uk-navys-lack-of-missiles-shows-anti-houthi-op-was-knee-jerk-reaction-1116452910.html britain Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International british royal navy problems, hms queen elizabeth problems, uk aircraft carrier breaks down https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/houthis-hold-drills-simulating-attacks-on-israels-army-barracks-settlements---reports-1116591461.html Houthis Hold Drills Simulating Attacks on Israel's Army Barracks, Settlements - Reports Houthis Hold Drills Simulating Attacks on Israel's Army Barracks, Settlements - Reports Sputnik International Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, has held a major military exercise simulating attacks on Israel's army barracks and settlements, the Al-Masirah broadcaster reported Saturday, citing the movement's spokesperson. 2024-02-05T01:04+0000 2024-02-05T01:04+0000 2024-02-05T01:05+0000 houthis ansar allah us us hegemony united kingdom (uk) us forces military drills military exercise palestine-israel conflict genocide https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/05/1116591744_0:0:2856:1608_1920x0_80_0_0_3eddb25ae6f1b155c41dedbac28b17c6.jpg The broadcaster aired footage partly showing the exercise conducted by the movement's reserve and advance forces "as part of the preparations for the battle to conquer Palestine and the holy jihad." Missiles, drones, tanks and artillery were used in the exercise dubbed "Yemen in support of Palestine," but the date and location of the drills were not disclosed. The broadcaster aired that the exercise began with artillery and rocket strikes on alleged Israeli targets, followed by an infantry assault on these targets and alleged Israeli settlements from three directions, resulting in taking control over them and capturing those inside. Maj. Gen. Ali Al-Mushki, the deputy chief of staff of the movement's defense ministry, after the exercise, confirmed "the readiness to support the Gaza Strip, which is suffering grief and destruction, since its support comes from a religious, moral and ethical duty," the broadcaster reported. The Houthis revealed the exercise after announcing another rocket attack on "certain targets" in the city of Eilat in southern Israel and after claiming to have attacked a UK commercial ship in the Red Sea that was heading to Israeli ports. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240128/ex-mp-uk-navys-lack-of-missiles-shows-anti-houthi-op-was-knee-jerk-reaction-1116452910.html united kingdom (uk) gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ansar allah, the houthis, houthi movement, houthi ship attack, yemen ship attack, us aircraft carrier yemen, houthi strikes, us sends warships against houthis, war on yemen, red sea crisis, yemen, houthis, houthi rebels, houtis attacked us vessel, us ship, us vessel, us attacked by houthis in red sea, middle east crisis, humanitarian catastrophe, humanitarian ceasefire, israel-hamas conflict, gaza strip crisis, shelling of gaza, gaza devastation, israel-palestine conflict, palestine-israel conflict, israeli-palestinian conflict, palestinian-israeli, zionist regime, zionists, hamas attack, israeli strikes, israeli forces, hostages, israeli military, hamas fighters, hamas soldiers, hamas military, killings of civilians, civilian infrastructure, civilians dead, civilians die, israel kills civilians, civilian casualties, civilian deaths The development plan for an abandoned train maintenance depot site in the central Seoul district of Yongsan has become more concrete, as the city government said Monday it will permit the construction of a landmark building with around 100 floors and an unprecedented sky trail linking high-rises there, among others. The Seoul government said it has finalized the Yongsan International Business District blueprint to transform the 500,000-square-meter site into the world's largest "vertical" city featuring extensive green space from the basement and ground to the rooftops. Infrastructure construction is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2025 and businesses will begin to move into the futuristic urban space, about 4.4 times the size of Hudson Yards, New York's largest mixed-use development site, in the early 2030s, it said. The unused train maintenance depot owned by the Korea Railroad Corp. and the land ministry has been dubbed the last remaining large section of undeveloped land in Seoul. It lies between the former USFK compound set to turn into a massive urban park and the Han River. It is also close to the Yongsan Presidential Office compound. The predecessor of the Yongsan international business district project was first announced in 2006 but floundered thereafter mainly due to the outbreak of the global financial crisis in 2008. The city government said the Yongsan district will be reborn as a "compact city" where business, residence and leisure culture can be approached within walking distance. Depending on the intended purposes, the district will be divided into three zones international business, business complex and business support, it noted. The international business zone covering 88,557 square meters will see the construction of a skyscraper with around 100 floors, as the city government will ease its zoning and floor space regulations there. The zone will also host Class A office buildings, hotels and a metropolitan transit center, while the envisioned skyscraper will feature observation and amusement facilities and various attractions, it added. The business complex zone covering 104,905 square meters will accommodate business and corporate support facilities and the 95,239-square-meter business support zone will house support facilities, such as housing, education and culture. Notably, 45-story office buildings envisioned for the business complex zone will be linked by a sky trail and the lower level of the international business zone will house a concert hall, an art museum and a cultural complex library to form the so-called Seoul Art Band, the city government said. In addition, the new business district will aim to further expand its green area ratio by connecting itself with the Han River and Yongsan Park areas. (Yonhap) https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/italian-farmers-driving-200-tractors-towards-rome-to-hold-protest-rally-outside-city-1116601675.html Italian Farmers Driving 200 Tractors Towards Rome to Hold Protest Rally Outside City Italian Farmers Driving 200 Tractors Towards Rome to Hold Protest Rally Outside City Sputnik International A convoy of 200 tractors is moving toward Rome to hold a protest on a highway on the outskirts of the city, a representative for the united protest committee, Galgano Palaferri, told Sputnik. 2024-02-05T13:42+0000 2024-02-05T13:42+0000 2024-02-05T13:42+0000 world europe's farmer protests protests https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/1a/1107809956_0:134:2560:1574_1920x0_80_0_0_96aa0795b7eb9bb6731b31aa5e54e4e1.jpg The farmers traveled from the south of the central region of Tuscany on Monday morning and will be later joined by their colleagues from other Italian regions, the representative added. The protesters are bringing along food and water to be able to hold a multi-day rally, he said."The convoy will arrive on Monday evening. We are currently negotiating with the police to determine the place of our stay on one of the two highways on the outskirts of the city," Palaferri said. The protests by Italian farmers is a part of bigger picture the farmer protests across whole Europe. The agitating farmers list reasons like EU markets being flooded with cheap and tax-free agricultural products from Ukraine, agricultural subsidy cutbacks amid energy crisis and new regulations that disrupt business planning. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240201/europe-farmer-protests-are-a-consequence-of-ukraine-support-we-shot-ourselves-in-the-head-1116525496.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International european farmer protests, europe farmers, europe protests, farmers europe https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/kremlin-calls-monstrous-terrorist-act-ukrainian-forces-attack-on-lisichansk-bakery-1116600316.html 'Monstrous Terrorist Act': Kremlin Slams Ukrainian Bombing of Bakery in LPR 'Monstrous Terrorist Act': Kremlin Slams Ukrainian Bombing of Bakery in LPR Sputnik International The attack of the Ukrainian armed forces on a bakery in the city of Lisichansk in the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) is a "monstrous terrorist act," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday. 2024-02-05T10:10+0000 2024-02-05T10:10+0000 2024-02-05T10:48+0000 russia ukrainian crisis terror terrorism https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/04/1116586912_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_2f5f95100206ba0bbb40330da7a350de.jpg On February 3, the Kiev regime bombed a bakery that was filled with people, completely destroying the building and leaving approximately 40 civilians trapped beneath the rubble. This horrendous act resulted in the death of at least 28 individuals, one of whom was a child, while 10 others sustained injuries. "It is impossible to call it anything other than an act of terrorism. The relentless attacks on civilian infrastructure, such as a bakery in this case, are monstrous terrorist acts ... To ensure that there are no more of them, the special military operation carries on," Peskov told reporters.Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have morphed into a terrorist organization, specifically targeting innocent civilians. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also maintained that the Kiev regime, seeking to showcase its achievements to its Western backers, consistently perpetrates acts of terrorism against Russian civilians. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/aftermath-of-ukrainian-terrorist-attack-in-lugansk-region-in-photos-1116585034.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian crisis, ukrainian terrorism, lisichanks shelling, ukraine terrorism, ukraine lisichansk https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/non-starter-why-senates-border-security-and-foreign-aid-bill-wont-even-receive-a-vote-in-house-1116603774.html Non-Starter: Why Senate's Border Security and Foreign Aid Bill 'Won't Even Receive a Vote' in House Non-Starter: Why Senate's Border Security and Foreign Aid Bill 'Won't Even Receive a Vote' in House Sputnik International The US Senate has unveiled a bipartisan border security and foreign aid bill to try to break the deadlock on Capitol Hill. Republican House Speaker Michael Johnson, however, has stated that the legislation is even worse than the GOP expected. What's in the bill? 2024-02-05T16:28+0000 2024-02-05T16:28+0000 2024-02-05T16:28+0000 us americas joe biden us-mexico border us-mexico border donald trump republicans us house of representatives us senate ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1c/1116445760_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_e14137360ba126376b26abb138a36794.jpg The long-anticipated Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024, was released on Sunday, prompting a heated debate among US Senate and House lawmakers.Top Senate Republicans seem to be satisfied with the $118 billion bill, arguing that the measure "has direct and immediate solutions to the crisis at our southern border," as Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) summed this up on February 4.For his part, Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) published a three-page summary of the bill, insisting that "the new border security authorities will put powerful new tools in the border security toolbox of any administration willing to secure the border."The bill is the result of months-long negotiations between senators. It is largely aimed at passing a hefty funding package for Washington's proxy war in Ukraine and for Israel's military effort. A similar bill got stuck in the US Congress in December.One of the key conditions brought forward by the GOP for passing the measure was that the bill must include border security reforms to stop the influx of migrants that has dramatically grown since Joe Biden assumed the presidency.However, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson wasn't impressed by the measure. To the contrary, he said that the legislation is even worse than any GOP representative expected: Ive seen enough. This bill is even worse than we expected, and wont come close to ending the border catastrophe the president has created." Per Johnson, the bill de facto ensures that "the US border never closes."Why is the Bill Doomed?One of the prerequisites to pass the bill set by House Speaker Johnson and like-minded conservative Republicans was the inclusion of provisions from the GOP-sponsored H.R.2 Secure the Border Act of 2023 that was introduced to the lower chamber in May 2023 and subsequently passed by House lawmakers. Nonetheless, none of the measures described in detail by GOP representatives has been included in the "compromise" legislation. Furthermore, House Republicans have grown highly skeptical about sending billions to Ukraine, following the Kiev regime's botched counteroffensive and growing concerns over corruption and lack of oversight of funds sent to the Eastern European state.House Republicans made it clear that once the law reaches the lower chamber it won't even go to a vote, according to House Majority Leader Steve Scalise: "Let me be clear: The Senate Border Bill will not receive a vote in the House," he said."Ill say it again: Any deal from the Senate that explicitly allows for even one illegal crossing will be dead on arrival in the House. What weve seen is an insult to the American people whove been forced to bear the consequences of Democrats open-border policies," tweeted GOP Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota."This Joe Biden/Chuck Schumer Open Border Bill is an absolute non-starter and will further incentivize thousands of illegals to pour in across our borders daily," echoed GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York.For his part, former President Donald Trump, the Republican frontrunner, has argued that the bill is unnecessary since Biden has the authority to close the border and stop the migrant flow under existing laws. The House opposition to the bill is likely to upend the Biden administration's push to fund Ukraine, something that many conservatives have lost their appetite for. In the eyes of the most conservative part of the House, the so-called Freedom Caucus, it's inappropriate to allocate a whopping $60 billion for the Kiev regime at a time of a domestic border crisis.Things look differently, however, when it comes to Israel: while seeking to kill the Senate bipartisan border security and foreign aid bill, House Speaker Johnson announced a standalone $17.6 billion Israel funding package for the nation's military and US military forces in the region involved in Tel Aviv's Gaza war. The US lawmakers' effort indicates that Ukraine has been put on the backburner with domestic issues and the Israel war becoming a priority for the GOP-dominated House. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/us-senate-releases-118bln-bipartisan-deal-on-border-security-ukraine-israel-aid-1116591563.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/biden-urges-passage-of-border-bill-to-secure-lethal-aid-to-ukraine-israel-1116594159.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240123/dc-think-tank-house-could-kill-ukraine-aid-bill-1116334491.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/houthis-hold-drills-simulating-attacks-on-israels-army-barracks-settlements---reports-1116591461.html americas ukraine israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova us border crisis, us border security and foreign aid bill, house republicans, house speaker mike johnson, migrants, influx of illegals, us-mexican border, security at border, freedom caucus, aid to ukraine, aid to israel https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/russian-security-service-prevents-terror-attack-against-crimean-leader-1116605837.html Russian Security Service Prevents Terror Attack Against Crimean Leader Russian Security Service Prevents Terror Attack Against Crimean Leader Sputnik International As the Ukrainian Armed Forces suffer one frontline failure after another, the focus of the Kiev regime has shifted towards attacking civilians and local authorities on Russian territory. Yet another Ukrainian terrorist act has been prevented by Russia's security service 2024-02-05T18:15+0000 2024-02-05T18:15+0000 2024-02-05T18:15+0000 russia alexander bortnikov crimea russia ukraine ukrainian security service (sbu) russian federal security service (fsb) federal security service https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/09/07/1113174802_0:35:3072:1763_1920x0_80_0_0_159345c36efc746f2e9c55534510705f.jpg Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has reportedly prevented a terrorist attack organized by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) against one of Crimeas leaders, the FSB reported.According to FSB information, the suspects had a cumulative radio-controlled improvised explosive device (IED) made from a modified German-made DM22 anti-tank mine with a 1.9 kilogram hexogen-based charge. They were also in possession of:Bondar, one of the detainees, said that a mine had been kept in a cache in a garage, found on the SBUs assignment.The authorities have launched a criminal case for an attempted terrorist act, as well as for the illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transport, shipment or carrying of explosives or explosive devices. The detainees are under a two-month arrest, Crimeas FSB office told Sputnik.In December, FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov said that amid Ukraines military failures, Kiev began to send spies and saboteurs over to Russia, as well as to establish contacts "with those on our soil, in order to harm us in the rear."According to Bortnikov, security services regularly act in advance to prevent such crimes. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231220/foreign-intelligence-backed-ukraine-on-path-of-terror--putin--1115700439.html crimea russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukraine's attcks on russia, ukrainian terrorist attacks, ukraine tergets civilians in russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/south-korea-to-take-part-in-gs24-space-training-in-california---reports-1116600724.html South Korea to Take Part in GS24 Space Training in California - Reports South Korea to Take Part in GS24 Space Training in California - Reports Sputnik International South Korea will take part in an annual US-led space cooperation event, Global Sentinel 2024 (GS24), hosted by Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, South Korean media reported Monday. 2024-02-05T11:14+0000 2024-02-05T11:14+0000 2024-02-05T11:14+0000 beyond politics south korea us space command us space force https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/0a/1108240794_0:164:3058:1884_1920x0_80_0_0_e365d9ef33ae5bb570ca0cce03848701.jpg Personnel from the South Korean air force, the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute will train alongside hundreds of personnel from 27 other countries from February 5-16, the Yonhap news agency reported. South Korea will reportedly team up with Australia, Japan and New Zealand to discuss and practice ways to respond to satellite collisions and falling space debris. The US Space Command bills the event as a security cooperation effort to strengthen partnerships with other space-faring nations, improve operational collaboration and promote responsible behavior in the space domain. South Korea has been taking part in Global Sentinel events since 2014. The Asian nation plans to bolster its operational capabilities in space this year by upgrading its space operations squadron to a group-level unit and deploying a space weather prediction system, Yonhap reported. south korea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International south korea space, space force, south korea space exploration, space drills https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/texas-bentleys-top-10-predictions-for-2024-1116607045.html Texas Bentleys Top 10 Predictions for 2024 Texas Bentleys Top 10 Predictions for 2024 Sputnik International I put on my Swami hat and my Guru suit, met with the Shamans, and consulted AI. I crunched all the data, checked all the facts, consulted all the "experts", and analyzed the results. And here they are - Texas Bentley's Top Ten Predictions for 2024 (and beyond). 2024-02-05T19:14+0000 2024-02-05T19:14+0000 2024-02-05T19:14+0000 analysis palestine-israel conflict joe biden donald trump ukraine texas nato european union (eu) white house gaza strip https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106306/79/1063067909_0:354:1019:927_1920x0_80_0_0_6619ab410f5eacf4cf8521786de17836.jpg And here they are - Texas Bentley's Top Ten Predictions for 2024 (and beyond).#10 - Vladimir Putin Will Be Re-elected as Russia's PresidentYeah, I know that's not an especially astute or amazing revelation (we'll get to those later) but it is an absolute slam-dunk guaranteed-to-be-correct prediction, which ensures, at least, that I won't get them all wrong. Of course, I could have predicted with equal certainty that the Sun will rise in the morning, but that is not completely certain. A giant meteor could smash the Earth into pieces tonight, or the Sun itself could explode before tomorrow. It's possible. But barring either of these two possible events, it is absolutely certain that Putin will be re-elected in 2024. It's also nice to start off with some good news, since there's not going to be a lot of that in the near future. Which brings us to my next prediction...#9 - Things Will Get Worse Before They Get BetterMost people who have been keeping up with the news, and whose understanding of history extends beyond last Saturday night, probably already know this, but that particular set of people is a very small minority in the West, especially in the USA. Those who think that voting will change anything, or that there's any chance that the governments and the ones who own and control them will loosen their grips on the collective throat of Humanity have a naive and ahistorical world view that, to be honest, is a big part of the problem. There can hardly be any credible argument against the fact that in the 21st century, for people throughout most of the world, things have not only gotten worse, they've gotten much worse. Those who say their rulers are "stupid" because of this fact, miss the whole point. Their rulers are not stupid, they are doing it on purpose, and will continue to do so, unless and until we stop them. Voting will not do it, singing songs and carrying signs will not do it. Posting the sad face emoji on Facebook will not do it. If you want to try to make things better, you will have to pass through a crucible of fire, from which there's no guarantee you'll make it to the other side. But it is guaranteed that if you're not willing to go there, you'll never see the other side. And you will sit and wait to get what you deserve. If you want to know how to do it and what must be done, ask the Houthis, ask the people of Palestine, Iran and Syria, ask the people of Cuba and the people of Donbass. They know, and they are doing it, right now, today. Take a lesson from them. Speaking of which...#8 - The Shia Axis of Resistance Will Not Back DownThe harder the US/UK/EU and Israeli forces hit the Axis of Resistance, the harder they will hit back. NATO forces are laughably unprepared for a conventional military confrontation in the Middle East or anywhere else. However, they are nuclear armed, experts at dirty tricks, and there is no moral line they will not cross to cling to power or slaughter those who resist them. They have already proven it themselves, by their actions in Gaza and elsewhere. Iran has stated officially that they do not possess, nor seek to possess, nuclear weapons, because those types of weapons are immoral and repugnant to God and Humanity. If attacked, they will use every weapon at their disposal to defend themselves, and they will fight to the end, without hesitation.#7 - NATO Will Soon Involve Itself in a Multi-front WarIn Ukraine, in the Middle East, domestically in Europe and North America, for sure, and probably with China too. Within a year from now, the countries of NATO will be in a kinetic shooting war in most, if not all, of these places. And they will be getting their butts kicked, on all Fronts. just like they have in Ukraine. The Houthis have already defeated the US-backed invasion on the ground in Yemen, and they have proven their ability and willingness to hit targets in the Red Sea. What the Houthis have done in the Red Sea, Iran can do in the Persian Gulf. The logistics alone make it impossible for the US/EU to win, but their naval and commercial ships will be sitting ducks for Iranian and Houthi missiles, in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, and treated accordingly.NATO's misadventures in Ukraine have absolutely depleted both the military and economic reserves of the US and EU, and Russia has proven that they cannot be beaten, even by the full power of NATO, in a war using conventional weapons in Ukraine. So NATO will use their unconventional weapons - nuclear, biological and chemical. They have done it before, they will do it again.The farmer's uprisings going on throughout Europe will only grow in both size and intensity, as will the confrontation between Texas (plus the 25 states that support Texas) and the US federal government. In France, the police are literally handing out chocolate to the farmers who have blockaded Paris, dumped manure in front of government buildings and burned trucks with foreign produce. These are extremely militant actions, violent felonies, and it is only because of the fear on the part of the government and police that an equally violent reaction has not occurred. They will, but not yet, and not in the traditional form of suppressing uprisings. The NATO Nazis will use nuclear weapons on the foreign Fronts, and biological weapons against their own citizens domestically. You have been warned.The same goes for the "Dis-united" States. The conflict between the "Liberals" and "Conservatives" has now gone far beyond any possible peaceful political resolution. There will be another US Civil War. It may not be sparked by the current confrontation on the Mexican border, but most certainly, it will begin shortly after the upcoming US "election", which will again be rigged, and more obviously and blatantly than ever. On purpose.#6 - Genocide and War Crimes Will Continue and Increase, in Gaza and ElsewhereThe horrific slaughter and war crimes in Gaza are not primarily about "defeating Hamas" or even stealing the last remaining land from the Palestinian People. The main purpose of the genocide in Gaza is to move the Overton Window to a place where genocide becomes not only acceptable, but unremarkable and commonplace. Soon, they will do in the US and Europe what they are now doing in Gaza. The current death toll in Gaza from bombing and shooting, of mostly civilians by the IDF stands at 27,000 as of today. Tomorrow, it will be higher still, but that number will soon be eclipsed by the number of deaths from famine and disease caused by the Israeli blockade and the failure of any international response to prevent it. Israel and its lackeys in the US and EU have laughed in the faces of the ICJ and UN, proving the collusion and abject impotence of international law. What is the use of "international law" if it is not enforced? It is totally useless and incapable of being used to prevent the ongoing slaughter in Gaza, and the multiple genocides that are on the horizon across the globe.Economic sanctions and blockades of humanitarian supplies are every bit as deadly as missiles, bombs and bullets. Who can forget the half million Iraqi children murdered by US economic sanctions against Iraq under the Clinton regime, that Madeleine Albright said "were worth it"? Quite a few, apparently. But they forget at their peril - The blockade of Iraq, like the blockade of Gaza, are examples of what's to come, genocide by depriving millions, or billions, of people of food, water, medicine, electricity, transportation, communication, everything, in fact, that is required to sustain life, that will be used against all areas and people that oppose the Nazis of the 21st century, including in the US and Europe.Death by starvation is the worst possible death that there is. It is slow and painful, humiliating, and creates a mad desperation in which people become willing to sell their children or their souls for a cup of gruel or a handful of Soylent Green. And this is exactly the weapon that will be used by 21st century Nazis, but it is not the only one. Nuclear and chemical weapons will be used on the battlefields of Ukraine and the Middle East, and biological weapons will be unleashed not only against foreign adversaries, but also domestically.#5 - The War Will Be Global, and It Will Be Based on Economic Status, Not NationalityThe war will not be between nations, it will be a war of the Parasite Class, the "Golden Billion" that exists in every nation on Earth, against the majority of Humanity. Famine, pestilence (disease), and military conflict will be the main methods used to depopulate the planet of the majority of its human inhabitants. This war has already begun, and as in chess, we are now entering the Middle Game, where all the death and destruction take place. After the Middle Game comes the End Game, and the world will be vastly different for those few who will be left when they get there.#4 - Trump Will Not Be the Next US PresidentIn the 21st century, only idiots vote in the US. Same goes for Europe. The US "elections" in the last few decades have been marked by a blatant and impudent fraudulence, as if it were being done openly and intentionally, just to rub it in the faces of the chumps who still vote, who continue to believe they could win in a crooked game of 3 card monte. Which is exactly the case. Even though Trump is just another huckster and servant of the Parasite Class, he has zero chance of being again, for the third time, elected US President, or at least of taking the office, which is all that counts. Even if he doesn't have a "heart attack" or suddenly succumb to some mysterious form of "turbo cancer", or "accidentally" fall off the balcony of his penthouse on the 54th floor, he currently stands indicted on 91 felony charges in four separate court cases. And though being indicted, convicted or even actually being in prison does not preclude one from running for, or even being elected President, being in prison does prevent one from actually moving into the White House. And Dandy Donny Trump ain't no Eugene Debs.There are four charges against Trump, having to do with the J6 "insurrection", that in fact do prevent anyone who is convicted of them from holding office. Trump already had the 2020 election stolen from him, and he took it like a punk, and didn't do anything about it when he had the chance. How can anyone believe he would do anything different if he gets punked again? Besides, Trump and the Republicans are owned and controlled by the same scum who own and control Biden and the Democrats. They will decide who moves into the White House on January 20th, 2025, and you can bet, it won't be Trump. Or Biden.#3 - Biden Will Not Be the Next US President. He Won't Even RunBiden can't even walk, so how can he run? He slithered into the White House after a rigged and stolen election, and proceeded to ensconce the most corrupt, contemptible and humiliating presidential administration in US history. No competent person can deny or even question the obvious fact that Biden is not capable enough to bathe himself, much less be President. And while Biden may not have as many felony charges as Trump has, if there was any justice at all left in the USA, (there isn't) Biden's degenerate drug addict sex pervert son would be facing a number of charges that would make Trump's 91 felony charges look like a parking ticket. (He won't.)Because, of course, one of Biden's cronies, hand-picked by those who own and control both parties and the entire US government, will be installed in the White House to make sure all Hunter's charges simply "go away". If actually charged for the multitude of crimes which are already irrefutably proven by the evidence on his infamous laptop, Hunter Biden can be counted on to sing like a canary and squeal like a pig on anyone and everyone, including his own senile father, at even the first thought of jail time. There's no chance he could even handle a few weeks or months in jail. He must have protection from the very top, and only the White House can provide that kind of protection. And obviously, it has worked so far, so it will continue to work again. The next US President can't be a Republican, they would put Hunter on trial, just as the Democrats have done to Trump. And Hunter Biden knows as much as Epstein, and cannot be allowed to talk. The next President has to be a Democrat, which is exactly what it's going to be. Biden will not be re-elected, because he won't even run. Nor will the cackling harpy, Vice-President Harris. They, like Hunter's felony charges, will simply "go away", swept into the dustbin of history like a wad of used kleenex.The non-entities who make up the top ten Democratic contenders for US President in 2024 are an insipid tribe of political pygmies and perennial losers who are about as important and inspiring as the aforementioned kleenex. No sane person would vote for any of them. And none of them will be President in January 2025. Nor will any of the sold out mob of craven lickspittles that make up the rat's nest collection of Republican candidates (including the lead contender against Trump, Nicky Haley, who is currently trailing 20 percentage points behind "None of the Above" in the Nevada Republican primaries) look. But The Powers That Be have already decided that it won't be a Republican, (it won't) it will be a Democrat (it will) who moves into the White House next year. But it won't be any of those listed above. Read on, I will tell you exactly who it will be. Brace yourselves.#2 - The Next US President Will Be... Mobomba!!!"Mobomba", is an amalgamation of "Michelle" and "Obomba", Barack Obama's well-earned nickname, as the "drone killer" President, who personally authorised 540 lethal drone attacks that killed at least 3,797 people, of whom at least 10% were innocent civilians, including at least one teenage US citizen. In exactly the same way that Dick Cheney was the shot-caller behind Bush Junior, and as Bush Senior called the shots behind Ronald Reagan, Barack Obama is now coming to the end of his third term as de facto President of the USA, the one who has been hiding behind the curtain and making every decision of the Biden regime all along. Obomba's work has again proven satisfactory to his masters, so shortly will begin his fourth term, hiding in the wings behind his spouse, "Michelle", (who may or may not have been born an actual biological female) and will soon be the next President of the USA. Take it to the bank, and remember you first heard it here.I was born in 1960, I remember when JFK was murdered, and since then, every US President has been worse than the one before. This trend will continue with the selection of Mobomba. The 2024 US Presidential "election" is a freak show distraction for the rubes who still think that voting means anything in the 21st century USA. Meanwhile, it's all already been decided, and things will go on as usual. The rich will get richer, the ultra-rich parasites will continue to get ultra-richer, and the hard working and long suffering majority of Humanity will continue to be targeted for extermination and ground into the dust, through poverty, pestilence, famine and war. Mobomba will not only be the worst President in US history, they (pronoun is correct) will go down as the most malignant despot in human history. Caligula, Vlad the Impaler (who was Romanian, not Russian), Hitler. Mobomba. The Antichrist. And now, folks, for the Number One Texas Bentley Top Ten Prediction for 2024... (Drum roll, please.)#1 - Everything Will Still Be OkThings are going to get worse, much, much worse, and they will probably never get better. You and all those you love will probably suffer more than you could ever imagine, and then you will die. The next few decades will probably be, barring a miracle, the most horrific in all of recorded human history. Famine, plague, World War Three. The reign of the Antichrist. The extermination, like insects, of the vast majority of Humanity, folks like you and me. All brought on, on purpose, by genuinely satanic forces in human form. No one gets out alive.But don't worry too much about it. Just keep on keepin' on. Don't sell your soul, don't betray your Humanity. We can't save the world, it's already too late for that. But we can still save our own souls, by doing everything we can to try and save the world, being on the right side of truth and justice and Humanity, fighting against the demons in this world, putting them out of their misery when we can. And in the end, that's what counts - that we tried. You know, like Don Quixote's Impossible Dream. Obviously, the devil is real, and here now. You can literally see him in the faces of Klaus Schwab and Bill Gates, Chrystia Freeland and Victoria Nuland, and in their every action. But if the devil is real, then that means God must also be real. And He is. Remember that. Don't just believe it, understand it. That everything we do in this life, good or evil, right or wrong, comes back to us in equal measure. Everything. And what could be more beautiful than that? This is not the only world, and this is not the only life. As my homeboy Bill Hicks used to say, "It's just a ride." We will all get to the end of it, and then beyond. And get everything we deserve. Be brave, be good, say your prayers, trust in God. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/ukraine-cant-be-discussed-without-addressing-natos-expansion-eastward--us-commentator-1116595414.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240202/staffers-speaking-against-us-gaza-stance-shows-how-morally-bankrupt-biden-admin-has-grown-1116565860.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240120/new-poll-reveals-puppet-master-behind-aging-president-biden-1116278815.html ukraine texas gaza strip Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Russell Bentley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/03/1d/1094281697_332:0:1182:850_100x100_80_0_0_f4d7604e530b3861449b2db55c72f353.jpg Russell Bentley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/03/1d/1094281697_332:0:1182:850_100x100_80_0_0_f4d7604e530b3861449b2db55c72f353.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Russell Bentley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/03/1d/1094281697_332:0:1182:850_100x100_80_0_0_f4d7604e530b3861449b2db55c72f353.jpg russel bentley, russel bentley political analysis, russel bentley political analytics, russel bentley on russia, russel bentley on usa, russel bentley on gaza, russel bentley on israel, russel bentley on nato https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/tucker-carlsons-popularity-on-the-increase-in-russia-heres-why-1116602291.html Tucker Carlsons Popularity on the Increase in Russia: Heres Why Tucker Carlsons Popularity on the Increase in Russia: Heres Why Sputnik International US political commentator Tucker Carlson came Moscow on February 3, amid speculation that the goal of the visit is to interview Russian President Vladimir Putin. It seems the unofficial popularity rating of the ex-Fox News host in Russia is extremely high. Sputnik explores why. 2024-02-05T14:55+0000 2024-02-05T14:55+0000 2024-02-05T14:55+0000 world us russia tucker carlson popularity ukraine vladimir putin volodymyr zelensky stance https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/05/1116602126_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_f0dca20e027b230a107c1f51e25a5b2d.jpg In one video of Tucker Carlson meeting one of his Russian fans in Moscow, a mans voice can be heard praising the 54-year-old conservative commentator as the best US journalist.The former Fox News anchor is then seen thanking the man and lauding Moscow as a beautiful city that he had planned to visit for a long time.But why is Carlson so popular in Russia?Some Career FlashbacksFox News surprisingly announced that the company and Carlson had agreed to part ways in April last year, despite the fact that he hosted the network's top-rated program at the time.Numerous media reports suggested that Tucker was let go due to his coverage of some controversial topics - ranging from the January 6, 2021, US Capitol breach to the COVID-19 measures to White House support for Kiev in the Ukraine conflict.Others, however, insist that Carlson was fired for his criticism of Fox News' senior management.In early May, the ex-Fox News host took to Twitter to announce a new show on this social networking giants venue. Tucker added that his new program will be "a new version of the show weve been doing for the last six and a half years." The Tucker on Twitter show was rebranded as Tucker on X shortly after the website changed its name.Tucker's Stance on Russia, US, UkraineWhen it comes to Carlsons ever-increasing popularity in Russia, its safe to say that many Russians perceive him as a window to America, which allows them to learn about US domestic issues from sources other than the liberal press. On top of that, Carlson doesnt hesitate to give his own thoughts on Russia as such.When a Fox News host, Tucker once hinted at his attitude toward Russia and its special military operation in Ukraine, making it plain that he is rooting for Moscow.Separately, the conservative commentator warned in one of his programs about the possibility of a "hot war" between the US and Russia. He urged his viewers not to discount such a scenario no matter how far-fetched it may seem."He also once insisted that anti-Russian sanctions that Biden painted as a "moral victory" against Putin are damaging the US while the Russian president is "winning" the bilateral standoff.On Ukraine, Carlson minced no words when calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sweaty and rat-like and describing Ukraine as not a democracy but rather a pure client state of the United States State Department.Public Popularity Tucker remains the American journalist of choice for more than one million viewers who earlier signed up to the Russian-language YouTube channel CarlsonTV.Many users in the comment section praised Tucker, describing him as a "straightforward person who tells the whole truth." They expressed their desire for more "brave and honest individuals like him" to be in the US, a country which rguethey a is "drowning in lies and attempting to dictate to others how they should live."There are more than 46,000 subscribers to the CarlsonTV channel on Russias social media giant, VKontakte, where several users recently applauded Tuckers decision to visit Moscow.Russian TV channels frequently include clips from Carlson's shows in their programs. This is because numerous political pundits in Russia believe that his partially pro-Russian stance, particularly regarding Ukraine and Biden, unwittingly or consciously evokes sympathy among Russian viewers. Chairman of the Union of Russian Journalists Vladimir Solovyov has meanwhile announced that Carlson will be welcomed into the organization. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231213/tucker-carlson-says-does-not-think-he-would-be-good-pick-for-trumps-vice-president-1115548275.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230607/tucker-carlson-in-first-twitter-show-any-fair-person-thinks-ukraine-struck-kakhovka-hpp-1110969728.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg former fox news host tucker carlson, tucker carlson's growing popualrity rating in russia, ex-fox news anchor's pro-russian remarks, tucker carlson, tucker carlson in russia, tucker carlson in moscow https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/ukraine-cant-be-discussed-without-addressing-natos-expansion-eastward--us-commentator-1116595414.html Ukraine Can't Be Discussed Without Addressing NATOs Expansion Eastward US Commentator Ukraine Can't Be Discussed Without Addressing NATOs Expansion Eastward US Commentator Sputnik International Russia has repeatedly warned NATO against its eastward expansion, which Kremlin says could further stoke tensions in Europe. 2024-02-05T06:51+0000 2024-02-05T06:51+0000 2024-02-05T07:54+0000 world russia us nato vladimir putin nato expansion expansion https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0a/14/1114352435_0:0:3048:1714_1920x0_80_0_0_58b97879b4d788a3a91ca4ae4f52c1d9.jpg American political commentator and podcaster, Candace Owens, has stressed the significance of linking the Ukraine conflict with NATOs ongoing expansion toward Russian borders.Owens recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin "signified this reason in virtually all of his speeches leading up to and after" the start of Moscows special military operation.The remarks came after the Russian head of state last year berated the US-led military bloc for repeatedly making "empty promises" not to expand eastward. In an interview with Chinese television, Putin noted that there have been "five waves" of expansion since the US administration assured Russia in 1991 that NATO would not expand eastward.Prior to this, Putin made it unequivocally clear that if Ukraine were to potentially join NATO, it would pose a security threat to Russia, and would in no way bolster Ukraine's own security. In recent years, the North Atlantic alliance had particularly disregarded Moscow's offers related to NATO and the US, which aimed to provide security assurances. These proposals included an agreement that would enforce a mutual commitment from both Russia and NATO to refrain from positioning troops, ships, or aircraft in proximity to one another.In addition, Moscow requested an immediate halt to NATO's expansion towards Russia's borders, emphasizing the importance of abstaining from inviting post-Soviet countries into the bloc or deploying military infrastructure on their territories. russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg conflict in ukraine, nato's eastward expansion, russia's warnings about nato's eastward expansion, russian president vladimir putin https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/ukraine-loses-up-to-290-soldiers-in-donetsk-in-past-day---mod-1116600979.html Ukraine Loses Up to 290 Soldiers in Donetsk in Past Day - MoD Ukraine Loses Up to 290 Soldiers in Donetsk in Past Day - MoD Sputnik International Ukraine has lost up to 290 soldiers in the Donetsk region over the past 24 hours, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Monday 2024-02-05T12:27+0000 2024-02-05T12:27+0000 2024-02-05T12:27+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine donetsk ukraine russia donetsk region donetsk peoples republic ministry of defense (mod) russian ministry of defense https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/03/1116571647_0:197:2941:1851_1920x0_80_0_0_3d94d74d7ea141eae0773e013699eff3.jpg Over the given period, the Russian armed forces have repelled two attacks by Ukrainian troops around Donetsk, two attacks in the Krasny Liman area and another one South of Donetsk. Ukraine has also lost up to 260 soldiers in the Krasny Liman area and up to 130 in the Kupyansk region, the MoD added. donetsk ukraine russia donetsk region Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russias special military op in ukraine, special military operation, special military operational zone, special op zone, russian troops in special op zone, ukraine casualties in conflict, total ukrainian losses, how many people did ukraine loose, how many people did kiev loose, new russian weapons in ukraine, advanced russian weapons, russian defense ministry statements, latest russian military statements, what did shoigu say about ukraine, donetsk peoples republic, nato in ukraine, is nato in ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/un-food-convoy-in-gaza-comes-under-fire-from-israeli-forces---head-of-unrwa-1116601360.html UN Food Convoy in Gaza Comes Under Fire From Israeli Forces - UNRWA Chief UN Food Convoy in Gaza Comes Under Fire From Israeli Forces - UNRWA Chief Sputnik International A UN food convoy heading to the northern part of the Gaza Strip was shelled by Israeli warships, and no one was injured, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Director Thomas White said on Monday 2024-02-05T13:04+0000 2024-02-05T13:04+0000 2024-02-05T13:25+0000 world palestine-israel conflict middle east israel gaza strip palestine hamas united nations relief and works agency for palestine refugees in the near east (unrwa) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1d/1116478125_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_a6da4b891b1d499d01ddb150c222ee22.jpg "Gaza this morning a food convoy waiting to move into Northern Gaza was hit by Israeli naval gunfire - thankfully no one was injured," White said on X (former Twitter).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/20240204/borrell-says-eu-has-not-suspended-funding-for-unrwa-some-member-states-increasing-support-1116578667.html israel gaza strip palestine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International gaza genocide, is israel committing genocide, whats happening with gaza, israeli genocide against palestinians, will israel be charged with genocide, whos backing israel, un hearing on gaza, current developments in gaza, whats happening to palestinians, us military aid to israel, us arms supplies to israel, us violating international law, what weapons is israel getting from us Korea's health ministry is expected to make a decision on the enrollment quota hikes for medical schools as it is set to hold a meeting on medical workforce policies this week, an official said Monday. Last week, the government said Korea is anticipated to fall short of around 15,000 doctors in 2035, and that the upcoming increase will consider this estimate. If decided, it will be the first hike of the medical school enrollment quota in 19 years. The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, is expected to determine the extent of the expansion, currently capped at 3,058, with pundits suggesting a potential increase of up to 2,000. "Considering the sensitivity of the issue, the government is considering announcing the scope of the increase on the day the policy meeting is held," a health ministry official told Yonhap News Agency. The government has been making efforts to persuade the local medical community to increase the quota amid the lingering shortage of doctors in non-metropolitan and remote areas, as well as in the essential medicine field, including pediatrics and emergency care. Korea vowed to provide a set of incentives for the medical community, including allocating 10 trillion won ($7.5 billion) by 2028 to enhance compensation for medical services in crucial areas and to attract more doctors to practice in such sectors with higher risks. The government said it will also institute a "safety net" to limit doctors' criminal liability in cases of malpractice, aiming to allow health care professionals to prioritize emergency treatments while ensuring swift compensation for patients. (Yonhap) https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/us-forces-struck-in-self-defense-four-houthi-cruise-missiles-in-yemen---centcom-1116593415.html US Forces Struck 'in Self-Defense' Four Houthi Cruise Missiles in Yemen - CENTCOM US Forces Struck 'in Self-Defense' Four Houthi Cruise Missiles in Yemen - CENTCOM Sputnik International US forces on Monday struck "in self-defense" four anti-ship cruise missiles in Yemen's territory controlled by the Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, which were " prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea," the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said. 2024-02-05T02:35+0000 2024-02-05T02:35+0000 2024-02-05T02:35+0000 world red sea us us central command (centcom) houthi yemen houthi militants houthi rebels israeli-palestinian conflict us interventions https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/02/05/1116593550_0:160:2100:1341_1920x0_80_0_0_3b2e86d90558c6da51034e664e992bf5.jpg "On Feb. 4, at approximately 5:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) [02:30 GMT], U.S. Central Command forces conducted a strike in self-defense against a Houthi land attack cruise missile. Beginning at 10:30 a.m. U.S. forces struck four anti-ship cruise missiles, all of which were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea," CENTCOM said on X. The command added that US forces "identified the 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." Earlier on Monday, local government sources in the Yemeni governorates of Al Hudaydah and Saada told Sputnik that the US and the United Kingdom carried out 15 strikes on Houthi positions in the said governorates. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240204/us-uk-conduct-new-strikes-on-yemens-al-hudaydah-saada-governorates---local-officials-1116591135.html red sea yemen Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us strikes, us-yemen war, strikes against houthis, us, us strikes on yemen, us strikes on houthis, red sea, red sea crisis, uk strikes, air strikes https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/us-lied-about-warning-iraq-in-advance-of-strikes---state-department-admits-1116608727.html US Lied About Warning Iraq in Advance of Strikes, State Department Admits US Lied About Warning Iraq in Advance of Strikes, State Department Admits Sputnik International The United States did not provide advance notice to Iraq before its recent strikes on Iraqi territory, contrary to last week's statement by Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby, US State Department deputy principal spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Monday. 2024-02-05T19:54+0000 2024-02-05T19:54+0000 2024-02-06T07:37+0000 americas john kirby us us hegemony iraq syria islamic revolutionary guard corps (irgc) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/03/06/1082269281_0:82:3071:1809_1920x0_80_0_0_7e2d3c05895d795188b061116ae39853.jpg "Iraq, like every country in the region, understood that there would be a response after the deaths of our soldiers. As for this specific response on Friday, there was not a pre-notification. We informed the Iraqis immediately after the strikes occurred," Patel said. Last week, Kirby said that the United States had informed the Iraqi government about its operation prior to conducting the strikes. In January 2024, three US soldiers were killed in an attack on a US base in Jordan, which further spiraled tensions as the US retaliated by striking what it said were Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Syria and Iraq. Iran has denied playing any role in the attack in Jordan. Tehran says that resistance groups in the Middle East do not receive any instructions from Iran. Both Iraq and Syria condemned the US strikes on their territory, and the Iraqi parliament's Security and Defense Committee called for the quick signing of an agreement on the withdrawal of the international coalition troops from the country. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/iraq-cites-unforeseen-consequences-of-strikes-in-region-as-us-lashes-out-at-iran-1116592400.html americas iraq syria Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International john kirby, us strikes, us-iraq conflict, strikes on iraq, strikes on syria, us interventions, us hegemony, us military operation, us-led terrorism, american terrorists, terrorist state, us hegemony, pro-american terrorists, us-iraq war, us-syria war https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/us-senate-releases-118bln-bipartisan-deal-on-border-security-ukraine-israel-aid-1116591563.html US Senate Releases $118Bln Bipartisan Deal on Border Security, Ukraine, Israel Aid US Senate Releases $118Bln Bipartisan Deal on Border Security, Ukraine, Israel Aid Sputnik International The US Senate on Sunday released the $118 billion proposed deal on border security, including aid for Ukraine and Israel. 2024-02-05T00:44+0000 2024-02-05T00:44+0000 2024-02-05T04:22+0000 americas funding us ukraine israel us senate joe biden us hegemony us assistance financial aid https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/08/1115487429_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_c34925f37c2a846c5cc2a6ee6f1fc419.jpg The draft text of the bill proposes some $60 billion in additional aid for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel. The legislation includes $48.43 billion to provide Ukraine with military training, intelligence sharing, increased US presence in the European Command area of responsibility, and other US support activities through December 31, 2024. According to a summary of the spending, some $19.85 billion would go toward replenishing US military weapons and equipment provided to Ukraine from US stockpiles, $13.8 billion to allow Ukraine to rearm itself through the purchase of weapons and munitions from the US defense industrial base. Some $14.8 billion would be used for the continued US support to Ukraine through military training, intelligence sharing, increased presence, and other support activities, the summary stated. The bill also includes $7.85 billion for direct budget support to Ukraine. The proposed bill also includes $8 million for the US Defense Department Inspector General (IG) to continue to exercise oversight over US assistance to Ukraine.US President Joe Biden supported the bill, urging Congress to swiftly pass it. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/us-house-speaker-johnson-says-new-supplemental-funding-bill-even-worse-than-expected-1116593979.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/biden-urges-passage-of-border-bill-to-secure-lethal-aid-to-ukraine-israel-1116594159.html americas ukraine israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us aid, american aid, military aid, financial aid, arms to ukraine, supplemental funding, supplemental funding bill, funding bill https://sputnikglobe.com/20240205/us-state-dept-fails-to-answer-questions-on-involvement-of-ukraine-in-terrorist-attack-against-il-76-1116608874.html US State Dept. Dodges Questions on Ukraines Involvement in Terrorist Attack on IL-76 US State Dept. Dodges Questions on Ukraines Involvement in Terrorist Attack on IL-76 Sputnik International US State Department deputy principal spokesperson Vedant Patel reacted in a boorish manner to a Sputnik correspondent's question about the possibility of a Washington investigation of the terrorist attack on the Il-76, adding that he doubts the reliability of evidence of Ukraines involvement. 2024-02-05T21:04+0000 2024-02-05T21:04+0000 2024-02-06T10:04+0000 il-76 world pow ukrainians ukraine crisis ukrainian conflict ukrainian crisis ukraine russia russian investigative committee https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/1e/1116484833_0:0:1280:720_1920x0_80_0_0_10a199be8da77ff17182c1a24515ec4e.jpg At the briefing, Patel refused to directly answer the question posed, asking the Sputnik reporter whether the evidence presented corresponded to "the same level of credible evidence that the Russians show when they tell the truth about other things". Six Russian crew members, three Russian servicemen, and 65 Ukrainian POWs aboard the airplane were killed after a missile hit the Il-76 airplane over the Belgorod Region on January 24. The aircraft was en route for a planned prisoner exchange that was subsequently canceled. The Russian Investigative Committee said that the Ukrainian armed forces used the MIM-104A guided missile of the Patriot system to shoot down the plane. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240124/russias-il-76-crashed-in-belgorod-region-was-shot-down-by-two-ukrainian-missiles---defense-ministry-1116357897.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia's il-76 crashed, belgorod region, russian aerospace forces, ukraine shot plane, ukraine killed its own pows, ukraine kills pows, american patriot system, us arms for ukraine, ukrainian pows, patriot system, patriot missiles Callie Davies-Gooch, whose harness racing involvement spans over 50 years in a variety of areas, has been named to the U.S. Hall of Fame Screening Committee. The announcement was made by United States Harness Writers Association (USHWA) President Barry Lefkowitz on Monday, Feb. 5. The Screening Committee takes the Hall Of Fame nominations from USHWA Chapters, discusses them with a panel of representatives from the Hall Of Fame, and then decides who will go on the summer ballot for Hall of Fame election. They also select a Veteran to go into the Hall of Fame. Although coming from a farming family in California, it wasnt until Davies-Gooch accompanied her mother to Phoenix Trotting Park in the mid-1960s at the age of 14 that she caught the harness racing bug. After Phoenix, the family returned to California to race at Hollywood Park, Santa Anita and Bay Meadows. She married Brent Davies, who, along with her mother, Jackie, operated a successful stable on the Ontario Jockey Club circuit for many years. Then, in 1972, Davies-Gooch moved from the backstretch to the racing administration, first with the Canadian Trotting Association (now Standardbred Canada) as a field representative inputting race results and other administration duties. After a stint with Times: In Harness, a leading harness racing publication, as marketing manager, she took a long-lasting job with the Hambletonian Society as staking manager. Part of her duties with the Hambletonian Society was travelling to various host tracks for the Breeders Crown (and of course, the Hambletonian), not only being the advance person at these facilities, but also helping facilitate the events on race days, ensuring everything would run smoothly. In addition to her work with the Hambletonian Society, Davies-Gooch was and still is involved in volunteering her time to many harness racing endeavours, including a 14-year stint as president of the Harness Horse Youth Foundation. She currently underwrites the January Davies Humanitarian Award, which is given annually at the USHWA Dan Patch Awards Banquet. Callies well-rounded experience in the sport will certainly be an asset to the Hall of Fame Screening Committee, commented Lefkowitz in making the appointment and announcement. Davies-Gooch, a member Director of the New Jersey chapter of USHWA, joins returning committee members Steve Wolf, Gordon Waterstone, Leon Zimmerman and Thomas Hicks. USHWA is the leading group of communicators about the Standardbred horse. USHWA conducts the official annual balloting for the sport's most prestigious honours: induction to the U.S. Hall of Fame and Communicators Hall of Fame, along with the selection of the U.S. Horse of the Year, Trotter and Pacer of the Year, and the leading divisional horses of each season. (With files from United States Harness Writers Association) At the Black Book Yearling Sale in 2006, Ken Sucee bought back an Art Major filly by the name of Arts Diva, on behalf of her co-breeder, Dr. David Legge, for $20,000. Then, over the next five years, Ken trained her to earnings of almost $700,000. Fast forward to 2020, and after a very solid career as a broodmare, Sucee and the Legge brothers named her final foal - a Bettors Delight filly - One Last Wish. 27 starts, $447,802 in earnings, and an OBrien nomination later, that spectacular filly has made their wish come true. By Melissa Keith. It started with a mare. Three generationals later, OBrien Award finalist One Last Wish is the culmination of dreams dating back to that foundation mare - Leggins. The champion Ontario-bred three-year-old pacing filly of 2023, One Last Wish (p,3,1:50.1s; $447,802) is owned by brothers Brian Legge of Toronto and Dr. David Legge of Ajax, and she brought their wishes to life during the 2023 season, when she captured three Ontario Sires Stakes Gold legs and the October 14th OSS Super Final at Woodbine Mohawk Park for trainer Ken Sucee and regular driver Paul MacDonell. Along with the aforementioned equine family, her story is also one of human families, tested by tragedies over time and united by Leggins descendants. Ken Sucee trained One Last Wishs dam, Arts Diva (p,1:49.3s; $691,175), who is still owned by Brian and David Legge. The 19-year-old mare is alive, well, and living out her retirement at Kendal Hills Stud Farm, in Campbellcroft, Ontario, the same place where she was foaled. Arts Diva was bred by Mrs. [Annelies] Horn and David Legge, said Sucee. What happened was, Caliterra [p,3,1:54.2f; $55,242], the dam of Arts Diva, was the daughter of the Legges foundation mare, Leggins. Brian didnt like Caliterra for a broodmare apparently, and I had offered to buy her, but David kept her, and I believe my late brother [the pedigree expert and TROT contributor Ralph Sucee] bought in for a piece of her, as did Mrs. Horn from Kendal Hills Stud Farm. Annelies was down with David [Legge] as the breeder. Ralph really wanted them to breed her to Art Major, and they did, but I think that before she was registered as a baby, my brother got out on her. Arts Diva was consigned to the 2006 Harrisburg Yearling Sale, but the first foal of Caliterra, from the first crop of Art Major, did not attract sufficient bidding. David Legge asked me to go down and protect her to $18,000 or $20,000, said Sucee. Subsequently, I got her back for $20,000 I was happy to keep her at that price if they didnt want her, but they did I was never owner on her. I just brought her back. I already had a couple of horses with the Legges, and I trained her all through her career for them. Arts Diva started rewarding her believers late in her two-year-old season. She never, ever missed a beat, said Sucee. You never know how fast theyre gonna be, but I said, This one is special. A June foal, she had a relatively late start to her career, but proved a fast learner. She broke her maiden in her second lifetime start, in 1:55.4, at Kawartha Downs for driver Kurt Hughes. Her next win wouldnt come until October 19th at Woodbine Racetrack, but it was in her Three Diamonds elimination, going away, for driver Paul MacDonell in 1:53.1. A week later she finished second to A And Gs Confusion in the rich $660,200 final. She just had the mannerisms, the gait. She was just so easy to get along with, said her former trainer. You couldnt ask for a more perfect horse. Never did anything wrong. Never wore a headpole in her life Drove straight. Just a super gait: She won over Flamboro in :52 and a piece, just off the track record at that time. Shed get around anywhere. Arts Divas early career was interrupted when two curses struck the Sucee family. I was not around as her two-year-old year progressed, said Ken. The night that we had her in the Shes a Great Lady final at Mohawk [September 1, 2007], my brother Ralph and my other brother were both coming up to the track, but Ralph was in a horrific and debilitating car accident on the 401 Well, four or five days later, I came down with a pancreatic attack; it put me in the hospital So I missed most of her Grand Circuit stops [that year]. It was actually Paul MacDonell who made sure the two-year-old Arts Diva made it to her last start of that freshman year - the $91,096 Trillium Stakes on November 4th at Windsor Raceway. Pauls father, Blaise MacDonell, had been a superintendent at General Motors in Oshawa, where Kens father, Ronald Sucee, also worked for decades. Ive known Paul for a lot of years, and Paul stepped up to the plate, said Sucee. He drove her all the way to Windsor on that November night and brought his bike. I told him to get a groom, and he didnt. That boy took the horse all the way to Windsor and had her back in her stall at four oclock in the morning. No small accomplishment, considering that MacDonell also drove Arts Diva to a 1:53.4 victory that night, and that she was stabled all the way out at Sucees former training centre in Bowmanville, Ontario. Although Sucee was able to eventually leave the hospital in time for the Trillium Awards, he said he was also lucky to have a talented newcomer - Kurt Hughes - training his horses while he was recovering. I hired [Hughes] when he came to me in April [2007]... him and [wife] Colleen - shes a vet. At first I said I dont really need anybody, but it was just his mannerisms, says Sucee. They had just come from the East Coast. [Colleen] was actually going to get a job with McKee-Pownall [Equine Services]... I showed Kurt different training things that I learned over the years, and he was actually my protege. Arts Diva had won a qualifier at age two, in July, 2007 at Kawartha Downs, with Hughes in the sulky, and never missed the board with him driving in her first four pari-mutuel starts. Sucee credited Hughes with making the filly into the star she became: He is responsible, really. He followed my directions, limited as I was, and Paul MacDonell was certainly a big, big part of that whole thing too. But Hughes work with the talented filly wouldnt last past her three-year-old year, as tragedy struck once again. Sucee recalls how Kurt Hughes promising career as a trainer/driver came to an abrupt stop on November 1, 2008. That night at Kawartha Downs, [Kurt] had won with one of my horses I remember looking for his parents in the grandstand, to give them a picture, because they were heading home [to Prince Edward Island] the next day. Driving home from the track that night though, Kurts car went off the road, resulting in severe permanent injuries. I was just shocked when I came to the barn the next day. It was a Sunday, and they [Kurts parents] said, Have you heard yet? I was just devastated. So we went right to Toronto [Weston Hospital] We didnt get to see him, of course, right then. Two days later, I remember his Dad calling and telling us, Theyre working on him, trying to get him to breathe on his own. He eventually came out of it. He is a paraplegic, but the bottom line is that his mind is intact. His heart and soul is just amazing. Arts Diva, of course, raced on for Sucee and MacDonell - and the odd other catch-driver - and earned just shy of $200,000 both at age four and five. She recorded a career stat line of 81-14-22-10, while racing at the highest level, and taking on some of the greatest pacing mares of the modern era, including Dreamfair Eternal, My Little Dragon, Darlins Delight and Southwind Tempo. Her retirement came in April 2011, when an old issue finally reared its head. Sucee said that veterinarian Dr. Terry Ruch had cautioned him that Arts Diva had a bad sesamoid, back right when she was a two-year-old. He told me, You might get through her two-year-old [season], but this is going to be her Achilles heel. When this mare is done, it will be because of this. At age six, Arts Diva broke the sesamoid and was instantly retired. She was sent to Hanover Shoe Farms and bred to Well Said, resulting in the unraced Eloquent Diva. Subsequent matings showed that Arts Diva was as strong a broodmare as she was a race mare. She produced Shes Lights Out (p,1:51.1s; $203,585) and Maroma Beach (p,1:50f; $384,951), both by Somebeachsomewhere, before the ill-fated Western Ideal son Phil The Thrill (p,3,1:50.2s; $109,210). He was a nice, big, beautiful horse, and he died on March 16th [2020]... right at Mohawk, said Sucee. My Dad died on March 13th and [Phil The Thrill] was racing on March 16th I thought it would do me good to get out and race one. David Legge was there to give me support, racing his horse after my Dad died. Instead, Phil The Thrill was pulled up with a broken pastern. I was inconsolable, recalled Sucee. He was a really nice horse, a quiet gentleman. Arts Divas fifth, and second-to-last live live foal, was Touchem All Joe (p,1:54.2s; $39,918), by Roll With Joe, but she definitely saved her best for last. After a date with the king of pacing sires, Bettors Delight, Arts Diva gave birth to One Last Wish. Thats where her name came from, related Ken. We knew it was going to be her final foal before being retired so the name made sense, he laughs. That one last wish definitely came true for her connections, and Sucee calls the intelligent filly her dams carbon copy - except for in one regard perhaps. But more on that later. On conformation, [Arts Diva] was good, but as far as manners, she was the most perfect horse. I broke her by myself, in one day, recalls the Bowmanville, Ontario horseman. And One Last Wish was no different. Her dam passed it on to her. The other foals, between them, they were OK, but certainly not like One Last Wish. The 2023 OBrien nominee resulted from a golden cross identified years earlier by Kens late brother Ralph: Most Happy Fella with Abercrombie. Back in the day, that gave us some great [horses], said Ken, adding that Caliterra, Arts Divas dam, was paired with Art Major based exactly on that formula. Ronnie Waples had Armbro Dallas [$1,401,201], by Abercrombie out of a Most Happy Fella mare. It was a great cross, so you just take it a few generations further and you get Arts Diva by breeding the grandson of Abercrombie [Art Major] and the daughter [Caliterra] of a Most Happy Fella grandson named Camluck. So really, it was a no-brainer. Ralph Sucee would be proud that the formula once again came up golden for his brother years later, with multiple OSS Gold winner One Last Wish. We bred Arts Diva to Bettors Delight, who is Cams Card Shark/Cam Fella/Most Happy Fella, coming back into the Abercrombie line again with Arts Diva. We got quite a bit of Abercrombie in there, and Cam Fella, and it worked again. One Last Wish raced free-legged as a two-year-old many times; and she won last year, free-legged, in 1:50.1. Quite a gifted and natural little animal, Ken beams. An OSS Grassroots winner as well as a free-legged winner at Mohawk in 1:52.3 at age two, One Last Wish only added hopples at age three after a rare break in her ninth start of the year. Nothing was wrong with her. She was just a little sore in her hamstrings, said Sucee. Shes a muscular filly, so I just rub them out with olive oil. With no reason to keep her free-legged, he added hopples for the rest of her starts. (You dont get any more money for having them off, he quipped.) Now four, One Last Wish is back home after spending downtime at Peninsula Farms in Georgetown, Kentucky. Her lifelong disinterest in training remains intact, as does her competitive spirit: She recently chased two trotting fillies around a paddock, kicking one in the belly. This is what makes her what she is, explained Sucee. When shes with her own, she is the boss. I believe horses give off some kind of persona. I thought four horses were going by her in the [OSS Super] Final. Honest to God, just the way they always close up that last little bit [at Mohawk]. The way she did that last sixteenth [of a mile], its like my brother Rob flew into her lungs. (Kens brother Robert Sucee passed away unexpectedly on December 24, 2022). Im serious: I thought she was beat. The Legges thought she was beat And then she just kicked in. That brings us to the one way that Sucee can think of where mother and daughter might just differ: You know, Arts Diva never won off of a two-hole-trip in her life, he laughs. Shed always come second. Not only did this mare win the [OSS] Super Final off of a two-hole trip, but shes never come second in her life! Arts Diva came second something like twenty-two times, he exclaims. One Last Wish will likely qualify twice at the end of March, in preparation for the Canadian Graduate Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and her trainer is even thinking of tackling the boys in the Juravinski Memorial perhaps. Her immediate battle however is on February 3rd in Charlottetown, when she is up against Dan Patch Award winner Sylvia Hanover for three-year-old pacing filly of the year at the OBrien Awards. While Sucee cannot attend the banquet in person, he said he will be cheering for both the Legges filly and a certain OBrien Award of Horsemanship finalist; P.E.I. trainer/driver Jason Hughes - Kurt Hughes brother. Kurt is now a racing analyst with Red Shores Charlottetown. Jason works very, very hard, said Sucee. I dont know how they do it out there. They just love their horses It was also nice to see [Kurt] go back home and get established there. Meanwhile, One Last Wish isnt yet finished fulfilling the promise of her pedigree and the faith (and wishes) of her connections. Paul [MacDonell] said we never got to the bottom of her yet. When she won the Super Final she wasnt even blowing. This filly, theres just so much there, reflected her grateful trainer. Her mother was a bit like that too. And like her mother as well, this mare seems to be like a wish that just keeps on giving. This feature originally appeared in the February issue of TROT Magazine. Subscribe to TROT today by clicking the banner below. Scottsbluffs sole remaining TV news station closed quietly last week. NBC Nebraska, also known as KGWN Scottsbluff and KNEP in Sidney, was closed after Gray Television announced its plans to sell its TV stations in Scottsbluff, Sidney, Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Casper, Wyoming, to Marquee Broadcasting Group in exchange for an FCC permit authorizing the construction of a new TV station in Salt Lake City, according to a Gray Television press release on Thursday, Feb. 1. The deal is not expected to be finalized until the second quarter of this year. While the deal is pending approval from the FCC, changes are already underway. The news station here in Scottsbluff has been closed, Jim Beck, general manager for KGWN Wyoming News Now, confirmed to the Star-Herald Monday. Beck said Gray Television opted to close the Scottsbluff news station as it was no longer able to maintain a separate news bureau from its Cheyenne station. Given the many challenges facing news media, particularly in small communities, it is no longer possible to continue to underwrite the investments necessary to keep that news bureau open, Beck said in an email. Beck said Marquee is not currently making any personnel or operations decisions for Gray and that they are trying to find other positions for the Scottsbluff news staff in Cheyenne or other stations. He said there are four news professionals in the Scottsbluff bureau that are being offered other employment opportunities. As viewers may have noticed, since the Scottsbluff station was shuttered, the channel has been airing news broadcasts from Wyoming News Now. Beck said in an email the plan is to air those newscasts produced in the Cheyenne newsroom in the eastern part of its market, including Scottsbluff. In terms of Scottsbluff, we are proud of the very good work that our Scottsbluff news bureau has provided over the past several years, he said. Beck indicated that other employees would be staying and working out of Scottsbluff, though he did not go into specifics. Per the sale agreement, Marquee is required to offer employment to the employees of the stations at the time of closing and maintain similar pay and benefit packages for those employees. In the agreement, both parties also agreed not to make any public statements or announcements without the consent of the other. Marquee Broadcasting was founded in 2013 and will own 17 broadcasting stations when the deal with Gray TV is finalized. In the press release, Marquee Broadcasting CEO Patricia Lane said, Marquee is excited to acquire Grays leading stations in Wyoming and western Nebraska. We are looking forward to building on the legacy there. The press release made no mentions of the future plans for the Scottsbluff (KSTF), Sidney (KNEP), Casper (KCWY) or Cheyenne (KGWN) stations that will be acquired once the agreement is finalized. Seoul City seeks to resurrect international business district project By Lee Hae-rin A 100-story landmark building will be built in central Seoul's Yongsan District, which will also feature a pedestrian bridge linking buildings at the 45th-floor level, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said, Monday. These are part of the city government's revived plan to transform the 500,000-square-meter former railyard into an international business district. The land has been vacant for 10 years after the previous development plan had been canceled due to the global economic crisis. The state-run railway operator KORAIL holds 70 percent ownership of the land. The development project is the first part of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoons plan to develop Seoul, dubbed Seoul Vision 2030. Once all phases are complete, the worlds largest vertical city, 4.4 times the size of Hudson Yards, a real estate development in New York, will be built in the heart of the capital. Yongsan, due to its geographical condition, has long been considered a potential hub of the city connecting to Gangnam and Yeouido as well as an ideal stopover for the countrys train lines, Oh said during a briefing. Developing the district has been delayed until now. I want to get to it before its too late. Construction is scheduled to kick off in the second half of next year and businesses will be able to move into the urban hub by 2030 at the earliest. Under the citys plan, the international business zone will house the landmark skyscraper with office space for financial and ICT companies, as well as accommodate MICE and hotel facilities, an intercity transfer center and a cultural complex featuring a concert hall and a library in the lower level. The business complex zone covering 104,905 square meters will house artificial intelligence (AI) and big data corporate facilities in affiliation with Yongsan Electronics Market and Hyundai's research and development center. The 45-story office buildings here will be linked by a 1.1-kilometer-long sky trail, which will offer spectacular views of the capital, the city government noted. Additionally, the 95,239-square-meter business support zone will feature a residential area, as well as education and cultural facilities. The new business district will also feature an extensive green space expanding 80,000 square meters that will connect the urban hub to the Han River and Yongsan Park areas, as well as eco-friendly forms of transportation, such as autopilot shuttles and urban air mobility (UAM). The 51.1 trillion won ($38.3 billion) project will generate economic ripple effects, including creating about 146,000 jobs and sparking 32.6 trillion won worth of production, according to the city government. The decision to raise the bundle's price is a response to the financial losses incurred by the state, al-Souria Net writes. As loyalist media outlets have indicated, Assads Ministry of Internal Trade is reportedly planning to increase the price of a bread bundle in the coming days. According to a source within the ministry speaking to the pro-government website Athr Press on Monday, the new price for the subsidized bread bundle will be disclosed soon. The source explained that the decision to raise the bundles price is a response to the financial losses incurred by the state treasury due to continued subsidies for the material. Although the source did not specify the exact new bundle price, the pro-regime Hashtag Syria website confirmed on Sunday that it is expected to reach 450 Syrian pounds per bundle. Sources within the Ministry of Commerce, quoted by the website, indicated that the decision has been approved and is awaiting the right time for announcement after preparations for public reception. Additionally, the website reported that bread distribution appraisers in Damascus were informed by the bakery administration of an impending increase from 200 to 450 Syrian pounds per bundle in the next few days. In a report from the 24th of January, al-Baath newspaper hinted at an imminent rise in bread prices at the beginning of the following month. The newspaper expressed concern over the impact of such price hikes, emphasizing that it would place additional burdens on the already strained finances of citizens. Muayad al-Rifai, the director-general of the Syrian Bakeries Establishment, suggested the possibility of raising the bundle price by addressing the high subsidy bill. Rifai stated to the semi-official newspaper Al-Watan that Syrian bakeries daily flour allocations amount to 5,400 tons, producing approximately 5.653 million bundles (equivalent to about 39.6 million loaves of bread). He noted that the subsidy bill for bread is escalating daily, reaching annual amounts in the thousands of billions of Syrian pounds. Currently, the subsidized bread bundle is sold to eligible citizens at 200 Syrian pounds, while those not benefiting from the subsidy are required to purchase it at 3,000 Syrian pounds. If implemented, this will mark the seventh occasion since 2011 that Assads government has raised the price of a bread bundle, starting at 15 Syrian pounds. 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. According to a reliable source reported by Athr Press, the operation took place with SDF support. U.S. forces, in collaboration with Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commandos, conducted an airdrop operation targeting a house in the villages on the eastern outskirts of al-Shadadi, near the Syrian-Iraqi border. According to a reliable source reported by Athr Press, the operation took place with SDF support, focusing on a house in the village of al-Rajla al-Hamar in the southern countryside of Hassakeh. The source confirmed that two individuals lost their lives during the landing: one with Iraqi nationality and another identified as Daoud Hammad, a local tribesman. The Media Center of the Syrian Democratic Forces announced the death of an Iraqi individual known as Abu Sufyan in a security operation in the southern countryside of Hasakeh. The media center identified Abu Sufyan as Mahmoud al-Lahibi, an emir of ISIS responsible for the organizations cells both inside and outside the al-Hol camp, controlled by the SDF east of Hasakeh. In a similar operation last August, U.S. forces, with ground support from the SDF, executed an airdrop operation in the northern countryside of Deir-ez-Zor, resulting in the arrest of an individual suspected of being associated with ISIS. 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. Two Kelso High School students won first and second place in the SkillsUSA SW Region Welding Competition, which was hosted at Kelso High School Wednesday. Carter Huff was named regional champion and Tucker Salisbury was the silver medalist. Cascadia Tech student Steven Jacka took bronze. A total of 32 students from 12 high schools competed in timed activities including a written test, measuring gauges, oxy-fuel cutting processes and arc welding, according to a Kelso School District press release. Huff plans to pursue welding as a career after high school, and is speaking to Longview-based construction company JH Kelly about potential future employment, district spokesperson Michele Nerland said. The three winners will go on to the state competition held March 22 at Clover Park Technical College in Tacoma. February 5, 2024 16:17 The new Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset is not nearly as fragile as it might seem at first glance. However, the $3,500 gadget has many other shortcomings that many buyers are unhappy with. Is it easy to break the Apple Vision Pro? Blogger Sam Colem of Apple Track crash-tested Apple's new headset and found it's harder to break than you might think. The device can withstand accidental impacts on walls and doors without any problems: however, small scratches may remain on the outer glass. Even after intentional impacts against the wall, the glass did not break, however, the light-protective film at some point began to peel off. The headset also withstood several falls onto the carpet from a small height, although the speakers were still damaged. After the third fall, the right speaker stopped working due to an internal contact break. Despite this, the headset as a whole remained usable. However, after falling from a height of 3-3.5 meters, the front glass of the headset still broke. Interestingly, even after this, Vision Pro continued to work, since the internal displays were not damaged. Apple Vision Pro is poorly protected from theft and loss An important drawback of the Apple Vision Pro headset, many users consider the lack of a Find My device location tracking function, which makes it more difficult to track the device in case of loss or theft than the iPhone or most other Apple gadgets. According to MacRumors, Apple has confirmed that the Vision Pro's location cannot be viewed in the Find My app on another company device or on iCloud.com. Of all the Find My features, the headset only supports Activation Lock, which prevents a thief from erasing or resetting the headset unless he knows the owner's Apple ID and password. Considering the high price of the headset, it can be very attractive to thieves. While most will likely use it at home, it is possible that some users will take it with them on planes and other places. The weakest point of Apple Vision Pro The iFixit team of technicians, specializing in assessing the repairability of electronics, disassembled the Apple Vision Pro mixed reality headset. The design of the device turned out to be quite complex, which is why disassembling and repairing it will not be easy. But the problem is not so much this as the fact that the gadget has a so-called Achilles heel in the form of EyeSight This creepy feature has many potential points of failure. But we must give Apple credit: the easily replaceable speakers and battery are a big plus in terms of repairability, noted iFixit. Why do some users return Apple Vision Pro and ask for a refund? Some users who bought Apple Vision Pro in the US have already been disappointed with the purchase and have returned their money - or are thinking of doing so in the near future. For example, a user of the Reddit forum with the nickname reluctantclinton wrote that he was optimistic about the release of the Apple Vision Pro, but after the purchase he was disappointed: he did not like the limited field of view of the headset in transparency mode, the quality of the image of the environment (which is transmitted to the screens of the Vision Pro camera), In addition, the weight of the device is quite large, and the head and face get tired quickly. User Betterjake, in turn, complained about the high cost of Vision Pro, its heavy weight, and the operation of the gesture and gaze control system. However, there are also a lot of positive reviews: many users like the quality of the displays and the interesting experience of watching movies. Recall that Apple Vision Pro headsets went on sale in the United States on February 2. In other countries, the company promised to release a new product before the end of the year. The headset is powered by an M2 chip with an 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core neural processor, and 16GB of unified memory. Other features include up to 1TB of storage and an all-new R1 chip that processes input from 12 cameras, 5 sensors and 6 microphones to make content feel like it's appearing right in front of the user's eyes. Nokia announced it has signed a multi-year patent cross-license agreement with vivo. Under the agreement vivo will make royalty payments to Nokia, along with catch-up payments to cover the dispute period. The agreement resolves all pending patent litigation between the parties, in all jurisdictions. The terms of the agreement remain confidential as agreed between the parties. Jenni Lukander, President of Nokia Technologies, said: This is the sixth major smartphone patent license agreement we have signed in the past thirteen months, and we have now almost completed our smartphone license renewal cycle. Together these licensing agreements demonstrate Nokias significant contribution to developing key technologies relied upon by the entire smartphone industry and they will provide long-term stability to our licensing business for years to come. Lukander added: We are delighted to have reached an agreement with vivo which reflects mutual respect for each others intellectual property rights. vivo is one of the leading players in the global smartphone industry. We look forward to bringing more innovation to their users around the world through our collaboration. Xianwen Xu, General Manager of Legal Affairs Department at vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd., stated, We are pleased to have reached a global cross-license agreement with Nokia. Signing the agreement, reflects the mutual recognition and respect for each others patent value in cellular technology and it also plays a significant role in fostering a positive development environment within the industry. We are dedicated to investing in R&D of smart devices and intelligent services, providing extraordinary hi-tech products and services for users worldwide. The agreement is consistent with the assumptions that Nokia has disclosed for Nokia Technologies in its Financial Report for Q4 issued on 25 January 2024. Nokia will begin recognizing net sales from this agreement, including catch up payments covering the periods of non-payment, in Q1 2024. Nokia Technologies is progressing towards the conclusion of the smartphone licensing renewal cycle and is making good progress in its growth areas of automotive, consumer electronics, IoT and multimedia. It remains confident that its annual net sales run-rate will return to EUR 1.4 to 1.5 billion in the mid-term. Nokias industry-leading patent portfolio is built on around 150 billion invested in R&D since 2000 and is composed of around 20,000 patent families, including over 6,000 patent families declared essential to 5G. Nokia contributes its inventions to open standards in return for the right to license them on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. Companies can license and use these technologies without the need to make their own substantial investments in the standards, fueling innovation and the development of new products and services for consumers. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Those who are old enough might remember when "The Facebook" was a more exclusive clubone where only American college kids could post raucous party pix, browse through a crush's public photo albums or track down childhood friends with a few clicks. Twenty years after the social media juggernaut's launch, Facebook users can still do all thatexcept now they're 40% of the world's population. That massive user base powered the pioneering social media company's evolution from a way to connect with friends to a force in the political world as well: first for organizing against oppressive regimes, but then co-opted as a tool of extremists and trolls to disrupt democratic elections and spread conspiracy theories. Despite its diminished popularity and reputation in the United Statesit lost daily users for the first time in late 2021Facebook remains a formidable global influence. As of 2023, it had 3 billion monthly active users and nearly a billion more across parent company Meta's other platforms, which include WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger and Threads. As Facebook turns 20 on Feb. 4, information studies Assistant Professor Cody Buntain, an expert on how people use social media during crises and political unrest, spoke to Maryland Today about how the website transformed our societal interactions while squandering its potential as a force for positive changeand how more transparency could help it find a way back. What was the internet landscape like in 2004, and what made Facebook stand out? It was a much less interactive place. Some news sites had rapidly updated pages, but most didn't. There was no reason to go to the same site later that day, or even a few days later. Facebook was one of the early movers where you could go and see what people were posting very quickly. There was a clear social element that wasn't available before: You didn't have to directly engage with someone to see what they were talking about or doing. It lowered the barrier for connection in many ways. What has been its global impact? As Facebook extended beyond the borders of the United States, Canada, Western Europe, it filled the same sort of niche: social connection. But as it grew into developing nations, you see a blurring of the lines between Facebook and the (broader) internet. For example, in countries like India or Myanmar, or throughout Latin America, the company would subsidize the rollout of internet infrastructure to villages, or pay mobile phone providers so users could access Facebook without being subject to data limitations; then you're incentivized to check it first for news or buy a product. It becomes your window to the world. Since the 2016 election, Facebook's reputation has taken a hit, at least in the United States. What has been Facebook's trajectory over its history? From around 2005 to 2008, after it opened to the general public, it became more and more popular. Then around 2008, the major media elite and politicians start to use it, realizing its power. Around 2011, the Arab Spring happens, and you see it become a tool of the masses to push back against power. There was a motto at the time: We use YouTube to broadcast the revolution, Facebook to organize it and Twitter to share it. But by 2014, we start to see social media isn't the beacon of liberalization it might be. The countries that experienced uprisings generally didn't come out well in the end. And in the U.S., you start to see divisiveness in the online political space. One of the values that social media provides is that people who need social support, who are marginalized, can find it. But it also allows people on the political extremes to find their brethren. By 2016, it's clear that platforms, including Facebook, are being used by active foreign nations, like the Russians, to influence the U.S. presidential election. It's a bellwether moment. Has Facebook lost influence in recent years? Since the mid-2010s, there's been a proliferation of other platforms, from Snapchat to Instagram to Reddit, and younger users are choosing those. As Facebook grew, people became more concerned about privacy. In 2005, if you post a picture of your friends doing something stupid in college, nobody cares, but in 2015, your employer is potentially looking at it. People are opting for less public conversations. If you look at advertising or internationally, Facebooknow Metais still a major influence. It has acquired other platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp, so it continues to have major financial value in terms of advertising. And internationally, the number of users continues to grow, including during COVID. What is Facebook's legacy at 20? It's a technology that we thought would be extremely valuable and powerful and positive for society, but has turned out to very much not be that. There are benefits: It's empowered grassroots movements, given non-incumbent politicians a way to build an audience, and has become really important during disasters to help people prepare and to tell their friends they are safe. But since around 2015, Facebook has been actively used to propagate extreme partisan ideals has become an exposure on-ramp for extremely racist groups. One big problem is that Facebook doesn't allow researchers access to its data. Right now, for every neo-Nazi or superfascist private group, there could be a group for parents of young trans kids in Texas just trying to survive. We just have no idea what it looks like. Society needs to have a conversation about what our technology should be doing for us and the types of regulations needed. But it's unclear if there's political will in the halls of Congress or the boardroom of Meta to do that. The EU recently passed a law requiring platforms with more than 500,000 monthly users to open their data to researchers, so we'll see what Facebook is willing to do to maintain relevance in a huge market. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain Eight global technology companies including Microsoft and Mastercard on Monday pledged at a forum in Slovenia to build 'more ethical' AI in accordance with UNESCO's framework of principles. The deal comes after UNESCO in 2021 adopted its Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, which is based on "the promotion and protection of human rights, human dignity, and ensuring diversity and inclusiveness". The other six signatory firms were GSMA, the Lenovo Group, INNIT, LG AI Research, Salesforce and Telefonica. The companies agreed to integrate the values and principles of UNESCO's 2021 framework "when designing and deploying AI systems", according to a statement. The deal obliges the signatories to "guarantee human rights in the design, development, purchase, sale, and use of AI". It also calls on them to carry out due diligence in a bid to "meet safety standards and identify the adverse effects of AI" while aiming to prevent and mitigate them. "This alliance of the public and private sectors is critical to building AI for the common good," UNESCO chief Audrey Azoulay said in a statement. Following the 2021 ethical framework on AI use, "today, we are taking another major step by obtaining the same concrete commitment from global tech companies," she added. Monday's agreement between the UN body and the eight technology companies was signed in the Slovenian city of Kranj at the second UNESCO Global Forum on AI. While the EU lacks powerful AI companies, the bloc has recently stepped up the pace of regulating the technology in response to rapid advances. 2024 AFP The Texas A&M University System is now offering all 153,000-plus students free access to the TELUS Health Student Support app. The app, available on IOS and Android, provides students with 24/7 access to mental health help via telephone or chat, the university said in a press release. Students also can schedule short-term video or telephone counseling appointments. The app also supports multiple languages including Spanish, French, Mandarin and Cantonese. According to James Hallmark, A&M System Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, around three-quarters of students facing mental health issues are reluctant to get help and the app aims to give students easier access to such resources. Concerns remain as expansion requires huge increase in human resources By Jun Ji-hye President Yoon Suk Yeol and the Ministry of Education vowed, Monday, to dramatically expand before- and after-school care programs to all elementary schools throughout the country this year in a bid to cope with low birthrate challenges. The programs, which operate from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., provide various education programs and care services to elementary school students who need such services, mostly because both parents are working. Usually, school hours for first graders at elementary schools in Korea begin at about 9 a.m. and end at about 1 to 2 p.m. After-school care programs will be expanded to 2,000 elementary schools within the first half of this year and all schools in the latter half, Yoon said during a government-public discussion on education issues in Hanam, Gyeonggi Province. Beginning in 2026, students in every grade will be able to benefit from the programs. Currently, only the first graders are eligible for after-school programs. Under the expansion plan, the programs will continue to be offered to the first graders by priority this year and expanded to second graders next year, and to all grades in 2026. According to the education ministry, after-school programs have been provided to some 50.3 percent of the entire students. It noted there are still many who have been unable to benefit from the programs although they needed, because they were pushed back on the priority list or lost in the lottery system. Because of this, many working parents have faced difficulties in taking care of their children after school hours, and this has led to rising private education costs and womens career breaks. Against this backdrop, the ministry said anyone who wants and needs the programs will be able to benefit under the governments expansion plan. The government, however, faces a bevvy of tasks to smoothly implement the programs that will require a huge increase of human resources. The government said it will recruit 2,250 irregular teachers who hold part-time or contract-based teaching positions, for the programs in the first half of the year. In the second half, an additional 6,000 personnel will be recruited from public servants and retired teachers to be in full charge of the programs. The government said these measures are aimed at reducing work burden of existing teachers, but concerns are rising over the possibility of the failure of some regions to recruit sufficient irregular teachers or other personnel, which would inevitably lead to increasing burden of the existing teachers. Jeong Soo-kyung, who heads a union of elementary school teachers, also raised concerns over the issue of where the responsibility will lie in the event of accidents. Even if newly-recruited persons, not existing teachers, operate the after-school programs, parents will call the teachers when school violence cases or accidents occur, Jeong said. The programs should be completely separated from existing teachers by, for example, transferring the jurisdiction of the programs to local governments. A union of public servants working at education offices across the country, for its part, slammed the governments plan to recruit relevant personnel from public servants, claiming that the government is shifting the responsibility and work burden on them. There will be high demand for the after-school programs, and workload will drastically increase, said Jeon Tae-young, a secretary general of the union. The government should clarify details on how to increase the number of public servants. The union held a press conference in front of the education ministry later in the day, urging the government to withdraw its after-school program expansion plan and be back to square one. China's battery swapping technology could help rescue U.S. EV revolution: report Xinhua) 11:20, February 05, 2024 BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Battery swapping is taking off in China, and it could help rescue the EV revolution in the United States, U.S. media outlet Business Insider has reported. America's EV revolution is stalling, and the time it takes to charge an electric car is at the heart of the issue, said the report published on Saturday. Charging an EV can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 50 hours and anxieties over range and charging are putting many drivers off going electric, it added. Battery swapping, an approach being used by Chinese EV maker Nio, might provide a solution as it sees dead EV batteries replaced with fully charged ones in less than five minutes, the report said. The company's battery-swapping strategy has picked up traction in the fiercely competitive Chinese EV market in recent months, with deals being signed with fellow Chinese electric vehicle makers, the report said. Experts quoted in the report said battery swapping offers a solution to many of the concerns of EV drivers. "From a purely technological point of view, it is the panacea," said Dylan Khoo, an analyst at ABI Research. In the meantime, he noted that establishing a battery-swapping network in the U.S. would require intense collaboration between U.S. automakers, who would have to agree to use batteries with a similar size and design. "A lot of the automakers in the West are a bit more protective and defensive. They want to have a lot more ownership and they wouldn't necessarily be as comfortable with sharing this big network because the battery is really the key defining component of EVs," Khoo said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) Main opposition leader decides to stick to current proportional system By Nam Hyun-woo The chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said on Monday that the main opposition party will stick to the current electoral system that prompts rival parties to create so-called "satellite parties" fielding candidates for 47 proportional representation seats in the National Assembly. Following the decision, the DPK and the ruling People Power Party (PPP) will create satellite parties again for the upcoming April 10 general elections. This comes four years after facing criticism during the prior general elections for allegedly exploiting a loophole in the proportional representation system through these satellite parties. During a press conference in Gwangju, Rep. Lee Jae-myung said the DPK will push the current semi-mixed member proportional (semi-MMP) system for the April 10 general elections, and will create a satellite party for proportional representation seats only. We will find the path to victory within the semi-MMP system, Lee said. The ruling party has rejected implementing a bill banning satellite parties and is now seeking to hijack the election victory by creating its own. There is no way we can stop them ... I apologize for failing to set up a law banning the satellite party system and thus we too have decided to create a satellite party. The comments came after heated debates over the electoral system for proportional representation between the current semi-MMP and parallel voting in the upcoming general elections. Until the previous 20th general elections in 2020, Korea employed a parallel voting system to elect proportional representatives. In this system, voters cast separate ballots for constituency candidates and parties, determining the allocation of 47 proportional seats based on the votes parties received. Right before the 20th general elections, however, the National Assembly amended the election laws to adopt the semi-MMP system as pushed by the DPK and minor opposition parties. Under the MMP system, voters cast ballots for both constituency candidates and parties. Party votes are then used to allocate additional proportional seats based on the ratio to the total 300 Assembly seats, compensating for imbalances between the two results and helping minor parties gain more seats in the Assembly. The proportional representation system used in the previous elections is called semi-MMP because it applies the MMP rule for only 30 proportional seats in a 50 percent ratio. Since the semi-MMP rule results in a smaller number of proportional seats for parties with more constituency seats, the DPK and then-opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), which is a predecessor of the PPP, created satellite parties to run for proportional seats during the 2020 general elections. The DPK created the Citizens Party of Korea and the LKP created the Future Korea Party. Few days after creating the satellite party, the LKP then merged with minor conservative parties to form the United Future Party just two months before elections. After the election, these satellite parties were merged back into their respective mother parties, sparking criticism that the parties exploited a loophole in the electoral system. Due to the criticism, the DPKs factions had heated debates over the two electoral systems, and decided to have its chairman make the final decision. Regarding the criticism that the DPK is choosing to replicate the previous practice, the party's chairman passed the buck to the ruling PPP. The DPK had to choose between returning to parallel voting or coming up with measures to counter the PPPs foul play within the semi-MMP system, Lee said. Please understand that we at least have to raise a shield. The DPK chairman added that the satellite party will be a comprehensive proportional representation party that embraces all political groups that agree with the cause of making the judgment against the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and the progress of history. The satellite party is anticipated to be a coalition of a number of minor liberal political groups, such as one led by Basic Income Party Chair Rep. Yong Hye-in, so that it can be a platform for minor liberal politicians to gain a presence in the Assembly. Last month, Yong proposed the DPK create a satellite party to collectively recommend proportional candidates, and the DPK also showed a positive response. Rep. Yong, the founder of the Basic Income Party, won her proportional seat four years ago as a candidate of the DPKs satellite party, and returned to her own party after winning her seat. The PPP, which has been calling for a roll-back to the parallel voting system, denounced the decision as an outcome of political maneuvering. Though Lee gave his explanations, the DPK will create a satellite party, PPP senior spokesperson Rep. Park Jeong-ha said. Park criticized that the DPK decided to set the electoral system under the sole decision of its chairman, calling it a dictatorship. During the negotiations process, the PPP will continue to persuade the DPK about the parallel voting that everyone can easily understand and reflects the peoples intentions precisely, Park said. New memorial to him is unwarranted, unnecessary By Steven L. Shields No politician is without controversy. Opinions range broadly, no matter the time or the place. The first president of the Republic of Korea, Syngman Rhee, is no different from the rest. The challenge is that there is no objective way to approach the past. In many respects, as one pundit put it, History is the lie we all agree on. The recent move to fund and build a memorial to Syngman Rhee is a case in point. Public opinion in Korea and the rest of the world is divided. Of course, as the first president of the newly founded Republic of Korea in 1948, he has earned a place in history. His connections in his youth in Seoul with various Western missionaries propelled him into circles of American society that few people have ever enjoyed. Rhees benefactors in the United States promoted Rhee as a democratic hero against the increasingly draconian rule of the Japanese Empire. The United States government provided Rhee with free air travel from the U.S. to Seoul in 1945. The Americans made it quite clear that he was their choice moving forward. Americans knew little or nothing of the myriad other members of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and the thousands of independence activists, nor their decades-long efforts in freeing the Korean people from the noose of oppression. When it came down to it, there were only a few viable possibilities for leadership of the newly forming Republic of Korea in the aftermath of the Japanese defeat. Kim Gu had a huge standing among Korean independence advocates who, like Rhee, had served decades in the provisional government. Unfortunately for Kim, the dominant power to replace the Japanese was the United States, and they were having none of Kims chats with communists, fearful that Kim might take the Korean peninsula into the realm of the true enemy, the Soviet Union. When free speech, a cherished principle of democracy, was suppressed on Jeju Island, and later Yeosu and Suncheon in South Jeolla Province, Rhees true colors were brutally displayed. Because people in Jeju were demonstrating against United Nations-sponsored elections to be held only in the southern half of the peninsula, they were branded as communists. The cruelty of what happened on April 3, and later, in Jeju, went far beyond that of Japanese Imperil rule, but few want to discuss that in modern-day Korea. After Rhee was elected during the south-only balloting, he fully brought the infant Republic of Korea into the American circle through various official and unofficial acts. Rhee perhaps had imperial airs as well. His ancestors were of the Joseon royal family, after all. Statues of Rhee were erected throughout the country in schoolyards and other places. His face appeared on the money in circulation. In one design of the Korean currency, Rhees image was placed in the center of the bill, matching the design of the United States $1 note depicting George Washington. However, because people folded the money, a crease appeared in Rhees picture, and he ordered a redesign. When the armistice ending hostilities was signed with North Korea, China and the United Nations in 1953, Rhee refused to sign. Instead, he demanded that the country be reunified by force. When Rhees second term in office ended, Rhee pushed through an amendment that removed the term limit from his continuing as president. Those who protested the move were labeled communists and imprisoned. Some were executed. Rhee made good use of the former Japanese prison at Seodaemun. Rhee banned opposition parties and banned democratic rallies. His lackeys in the police and security departments did to Koreans what the Koreans accused the Japanese of having done. Popular protests erupted when it became clear in March 1960 that Rhee had rigged the election. Some who protested were killed; police brutality was covered up. When the protests finally broke out in Seoul in April 1960, the police were given orders to shoot to kill. Hundreds died, and many more were wounded. My dear friend, the late Ms. Oh, was a high school girl at the time and was involved in the protests. Some of her friends were killed or maimed. She lived to tell the tale. In the aftermath of Rhees exit from power, dozens of his cabinet ministers and other government officials were tried and convicted of heinous crimes against the Korean people. Many of the convicted government officials were executed by hanging at Seodaemun prison. Only Rhees exile in Hawaii prevented him from being tried as well. His vice president, Lee Ki-poong, was killed by Lees son, along with all the family members. The son then committed suicide. Rhees terms as president of the Republic of Korea were marked by corruption, cronyism, electoral irregularities, absence of economic development and violence against political opposition. His actions in office destroyed whatever positive legacy he might have left, especially toward the end when he desperately rigged the election in March 1960. The reign of Syngman Rhee is one of the dark chapters in the history of the Korean people. Many people claim that we should focus on the good. The blemishes are humiliating. Its hard to find a balanced approach to the legacy of Syngman Rhee. No matter, a new memorial monument to him is unwarranted and unnecessary. Let his imperial-style tomb at the National Cemetery in Dongjak, built at a considerable cost, be sufficient to remember Rhee and all he did for Korea, good and bad. Rev. Steven L. Shields (slshields@gmail.com) has lived in Korea for many years, beginning in the 1970s. A lifelong member of the Royal Asiatic Society Korea, he has served as a director and president. He was copy editor of The Korea Times in 1977. By Ko Dong-hwan Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) has begun implementing a new AI-based mountain fire monitoring system nationwide that prevents fires more effectively and cheaper, the state-run utility said Monday. It said the system has been developed to protect the country's power grid from fires, prevent blackouts and safeguard human lives and properties. The new system, using the company's existing infrastructure, is at least 50 percent cheaper to install compared to the conventional system that relies on security cameras. It also has a 99 percent fire detection rate. The system uses cameras installed atop existing electric towers in the mountains to record live-feed visuals and heat-sensitive images. It then analyzes them using data accumulated by the company and shared by other government agencies that handle mountain fires, including the Korea Forest Service and the National Fire Agency. KEPCO said it is currently working with the forest service and local governments to install the system nationwide. The company also plans to commercialize and promote the system to developing countries often vulnerable to mountain fires. "It will expand our country's export market for our intelligent monitoring and data analysis sectors," a KEPCO official said. "We are drawing the interest of countries in our rising technologies by commercializing the latest information communication technology to control [mountain fires]." KEPCO received President Yoon Suk Yeol's recognition in November for the fire detection system in an award organized by the Ministry of Personnel Management to honor government bureaus for their outstanding work. The state utility won the recognition for using the existing power-distributing infrastructure to reduce installation costs and introducing an effective mountain fire monitoring system. Indonesia remains committed to its joint fighter jet development project with Korea, a news report has said, amid a probe into an Indonesian engineer's alleged theft attempt of the jet's technologies. On Friday, Seoul's defense officials disclosed the ongoing probe by intelligence and defense authorities into the allegation discovered last month at Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), the aircraft's manufacturer. Dedy Laksmono, director of technology and defense at Indonesia's defense ministry, reaffirmed the commitment to continuing cooperation with Korea on the project the next day, according to Kompas, an Indonesian daily. The official also said Indonesia has prepared 1.25 trillion rupiah ($79.5 million) this year to cover its unpaid share of costs in the joint project launched in 2015 and worth over 8 trillion won ($6 billion). Seoul has agreed to pay about 60 percent of the project's cost, with Jakarta and KAI covering around 20 percent each. But Indonesia's commitment to the project has faced questions as it has failed to make timely payments, with overdue payments estimated at nearly 1 trillion won as of last October. On Monday, Choi Kyung-ho, spokesperson for Korea's arms procurement agency, said talks are currently under way with Indonesia over the project's cost-sharing in a regular briefing. The KF-21 project is aimed at developing a supersonic fighter to replace Korea's aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets, with plans to deploy the first model in the country's Air Force in 2026. (Yonhap) Korea's oceans ministry said Monday it has clinched a contract to build and lease four car carriers to address the lingering supply shortages of shipping vessels. Under the contract, the state-run Korea Ocean Business will construct and lease four pure car and truck carriers (PCTC), each with a capacity of 10,800 car equivalent units (CEU), to Hyundai Glovis, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries. The contract came amid the prolonged global shortage of carriers, which hindered outbound shipments of domestically produced automobiles. "The agreement is expected to support Korea's automobile exports by easing the congestion of car deliveries amid the Red Sea situation and the shortage of carriers," Oceans Minister Kang Do-hyung said. The newly constructed PCTCs are anticipated to be delivered in 2027. The vessels will incorporate eco-friendly and low-carbon technologies to meet the global environmental regulations, the ministry added. Last month, outbound shipments of automobiles expanded for 19 consecutive months by increasing 24.8 percent to $6.2 billion. (Yonhap) Nebraska Extension will host its 2024 on-farm research results update meeting this month at various locations across the state. Two of the meetings are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, at the Holthus Convention Center in York, and Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Buffalo County Extension Office in Kearney. Farm operators and agronomists from across the state will have the opportunity to obtain valuable crop production-related information from on-farm research projects conducted on Nebraska farms by Nebraska farmers in partnership with University of Nebraska faculty. These research projects cover products, practices and new technologies that impact farm productivity and profitability. Participants will have the chance to learn about the 100-plus research projects that were conducted across the state during the 2023 growing season. There is no cost to attend any of these in-person meetings, but please pre-register at least two days in advance for meal planning purposes. Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) credits have been applied for and are pending approval. More information and online registration can be found at the following website: https://on-farm-research.unl.edu/. Questions can be directed to Laura Thompson, Nebraska on-farm research coordinator, at 402-245-2224 or onfarm@unl.edu Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference The 39th Nebraska Women in Agriculture Conference is set for Feb. 22 and 23 at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Kearney. The two-day conference will offer a variety of topics designed to educate and uplift women involved with every aspect of Nebraskas ag industry. By participating in these workshops and presentations, attendees will learn how to better manage risk, improve their farms and ranches, and become more successful operators and business partners. This conference focuses on the five areas of agricultural risk management: production risk, marketing risk, financial risk, human risk, and legal risk. Various presenters and keynote speakers will be present throughout the conference to share expertise, uplift issues, and inspire attendees. Speaker bios, presentation topics, and registration can be found online at the Women in Ag website (https://wia.unl.edu). More information can be found on the Nebraska Women in Ag website and questions can be directed to Jessica Groskopf at 308-632-1247 orjgroskopf2@unl.edu Land application training Turning manure nutrients into better crop yields while protecting the environment will be the focus of Land Application Trainings this winter. The Dawson County Extension Office will host land application training from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 1002 Plum Creek Parkway in Lexington. Participants who attend the day-long event will receive NDEE Land Application Training Certification. The initial land application training certification requires participants to attend all day. Attendance at the afternoon session will meet minimum needs for recertification, but participants who only need recertification may choose to attend the full event if they wish. Sessions will include an update on regulations and discussions on how to best use manure. Sessions will focus on what fields should be chosen to best utilize manure nutrients and other benefits. Each session will be highly participant-led with limited seating. Regulations and record keeping pertaining to manure storage and application will also be addressed. Pre-registration is required for planning purposes. To ensure a seat, please register at https://water.unl.edu/lat. Additional dates and workshop locations can also be found on this website. For more information, contact Leslie Johnson, Extension Educator, at 402-584-3818 or leslie.johnson@unl.edu). CHI Health facilities in Grand Island and Kearney have earned honors for breastfeeding support and overall maternity care. CHI Health St. Francis in Grand Island and CHI Health Good Samaritan were recognized as LEARN (Lactation Education Across Rural Nebraska) Breastfeeding Hospital Champions by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Immediate postpartum care, ample rooming-in opportunities, comprehensive breastfeeding education, in addition to continued support after discharge at both facilities contributed to the honor. In addition, as part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield systems national Blue Distinction Specialty Care program, both were once again designated Blue Distinction Centers+ for Maternity Care. The LEARN Breastfeeding Hospital Champion campaign was designed to increase breastfeeding initiation and support in hospitals. The many benefits of breastfeeding for infants, children, and mothers is a key strategy to improve public health. Breastfeeding can seem overwhelming for first-time moms. We are there every step of the way to ensure the journey is everything they could wish for, said Lactation Nurse Alycia Packer, RN at St. Francis. According to the Centers for Disease Control Breastfeeding Report Card, only 32.6% of Nebraska babies are exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. A Blue Distinction Center is recognized for quality care of moms and newborns, better overall patient satisfaction, and fewer early elective deliveries. Programs are awarded the added plus, the highest designation given, for recognized efforts to provide affordable health care with lower complication rates and fewer hospital readmissions. Only five hospitals in the state, including CHI Health Lakeside and CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy in Omaha, have achieved this top designation for maternity care. Good Samaritan and St. Francis are also designated Blue Distinction Centers for demonstrating quality care, treatment expertise and better overall patient results in Knee and Hip Replacement and Spine Surgery categories. In addition, St. Francis is noted as a Blue Distinction Center for Substance Use Treatment and Recovery. Since 2006, the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program has helped patients find quality providers for their specialty care needs while encouraging health care professionals to improve the care they deliver. For more information about the program and for a complete listing of the designated facilities, please visit https://www.bcbs.com/blue-distinction-center/facility. Learn more about the LEARN Breastfeeding Hospital Champion campaign at https://dhhs.ne.gov/LEARN Graduates Ryan Noble of Iowa City, Iowa, formerly St. Edward, received a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree last month from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Noble was a student in the Carver College of Medicine. Academic honors Joshua Randall of Kenesaw was named to the Deans List for the fall semester at Chadron State College. To qualify students must earn at least a 3.5 grade point average, be enrolled in 12 credit hours of coursework, be seeking their first bachelors degree, and have no incomplete grades during the semester. Cities and states listed are the home address provided by the students. Alyssa Breckner of Doniphan has been named to the fall Presidents List at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. Breckner qualified for the academic honor by earning a 4.00 grade point average during the semester. Augustus Lehn of Gibbon has been named to the Deans List for the fall semester at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Lehn, a theater major, is the son of Michael and Sina Martin Lehn Several Central Nebraska students were named to honors lists for the fall semester at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Elena Kuehner of Aurora and Carson Moritz of Hastings were named to the Presidents List. Tyler Fay of Doniphan, Jacob Homan and Nicholas Homan of Kearney, and Susan White of Ravenna were named to the Deans List. To qualify for the Presidents List, full-time undergraduate students must have a 4.0 GPA (all As), while students on the Deans List must have a GPA of 3.5 or above. Easton Bruce and Medora Koupal of Kearney have been named to the Presidents List for the fall semester at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, by achieving at 4.0 GPA. Sydney Conner, also of Kearney, was named to the Deans List. To qualify for the Deans List, a student must be enrolled in 12 hours of graded credits and earn a semester grade point average of 3.4 to 3.99. Three students with Grand Island ties were named to the Deans List for the term completed in December at Southeast Community College campuses in Beatrice, Lincoln and Milford. They are Karlea Moon Fosket, of Grand Island, business; Kassie L. Morse of Grand Island, business; and Juan Carlos Zapata Lima of Lincoln, business. To be recognized on SCCs Deans List, a student must complete at least six semester credit hours of the term with a minimum grade-point average of 3.5. Classes with a grade of P (Pass) do not count toward the six-hour minimum. Dakota Kassebaum of Hastings was named to the fall Deans List in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Kassebaum joins more than 2,500 additional Fulbright College students on the Deans and Chancellors lists. To qualify for the Deans List, students must achieve at least a 3.75 grade-point average for the semester while completing at least 12 credit hours. Kassebaum is one of more than 8,000 students who study and research in Fulbright College, which has degrees across the fine arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. Brianna Arguello of Broken Bow is one of the more than 650 cadets and students recognized for their academic achievements during the fall 2023 semester at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. Gold stars are awarded to cadets and students at The Citadel who achieved a 3.7 grade point average or higher. Cadets and students who achieve gold star recognition are also placed on The Citadels deans list. Those cadets may wear gold stars on their uniforms throughout the semester following their academic achievement. Arguello was also named to the Deans List. HASTINGS The inaugural Walter Scott Jr. Community Leadership Challenge at Hastings College began the evening of Friday, Feb. 2, when 20 students from across Nebraska arrived on campus. Central Nebraska taking part are: Samuel Acosta Castellanos, Allison Haney and Breanna Miller of Grand Island; Rebekah Reynolds and Abigail Fielder of Hastings; Constance Stober of Kearney; and Ashtian Nielsen of Minden. The application process drew 90 applicants, which made the selection process challenging, but also rewarding. The number of applicants exceeded our expectations and made the process narrowing to the final 20 a difficult one, said Dave Rippe, director of the Scott Scholars Program at Hastings College. But this also shows how many young people have a strong desire to make a positive impact in their community and invest in further developing their problem solving and leadership skills to do so. The Hastings College Scott Scholars developed and are implementing the program in partnership with the City of Hastings, the Hastings Chamber of Commerce, the Hastings Economic Development Corporation, the Hastings Community Redevelopment Authority, the Hastings Community Foundation and the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation. During the weekend conference and workshop, students will explore the components, meaning and importance of community while using design thinking to solve real-world, community-based problems ranging from economic to social to developmental issues. Theyll connect with local and state leaders, as well as other like-minded students. The Community Leadership Challenge will take place at Hastings College and The Lark (809 W. 2nd St.) in downtown Hastings. After arrival activities on Friday, students will participate in team building and workshops on Saturday, followed by culminating presentations that begin at 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4 at The Lark. Doors open at 9 a.m. Wayne State hosts Honor Band Festival WAYNE Approximately 300 junior high and high school students from Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota participated in Wayne State Colleges Honor Band Festival on Saturday, Jan. 27. The festival concluded with a concert that featured the High School Symphonic Band, the High School Wind Ensemble, and the Junior High Honor Band. Each year, the Wayne State Department of Music hosts this day-long festival for junior high and high school students from Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota. Students must audition in advance to participate. Throughout the day, students learn and rehearse with one of three clinicians. T his years clinicians were Dr. Randy Neuharth, retired music instructor from Northeast Community College; Todd Cook, instrumental music director at Norfolk Public School; and Michael Genslinger, instructor of music and assistant director of bands at Wayne State. Area students taking part include: HIGH SCHOOL WIND ENSEMBLE: Eryn Gregoski of Palmer, flute; Sidney Gawrych of St. Paul, oboe; and Savannah Glause of Palmer, trumpet. HIGH SCHOOL SYMPHONIC BAND: Cheyenne Veach of Central City, oboe; Kassidy Hymer of St. Paul, clarinet; Kalvin Sindelar of St. Edward, alto saxophone; Brody Dibbert of St. Paul, baritone saxophone; Nevaeh Schleicher, Chloe Scheer and Makenna Mottl of Palmer; Emma Schuele of Central City and Audrey Anderson of St. Paul, trumpet; Kallie Wright of Central City, trombone; Blaze Blauhorn of Palmer, tuba; and Evan Simonsen of Palmer, percussion. JUNIOR HIGH HONOR BAND: Rebekah Steiner of Palmer and Ella Larkins of Central City, flute: Shyann Zmek of Palmer, clarinet; Taya Olesen of Northwest (Grand Island), Jadelynn Gifford of Osceola, and Gemini Mickley of Palmer, alto saxophones; Rachel Balcom of Northwest (Grand Island), tenor saxophone; Kayden Tyan of Palmer and Mia Mitchell of Northwest (Grand Island), trumpet; Noah Gawrych of St. Paul, trombone; Jack Lane of Palmer, euphonium; and Amelia Buhlke of Central City, percussion. 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. Photos: Railroading Heritage of Midwest America Five most exported categories by Vietnamese selling partners on Amazon By Lan Do Mon, February 5, 2024 | 1:38 pm GMT+7 Amazon Global Selling Vietnam has just released its 2023 Vietnams small and medium enterpirses (SMEs) Empowerment Report, detailing how the companys investments, innovations and initiatives help SMEs across the country increase their product sales, build brands, and accelerate exports. Vietnamese selling partners sold more products year-on-year in Amazons store and broadened their customer reach through increased export sales, according to the report. This data signifies the powerful partnership between SMEs and Amazon, as well as the resiliency of entrepreneurs as they continue to successfully navigate and thrive in a challenging economic climate, said Amazon Global Selling Vietnam. The report shows that, in 2023, Vietnamese selling partners sold more than 17 million products, an increase of 70% year-on-year. The most exported and sold categories from Vietnamese selling partners in Amazons store were home, kitchen, health and personal care, apparel and beauty. The top 5 product categories from Vietnam sold on Amazon. Source: Amazon Global Selling. According to Amazon, local companies are daring to branch out into niche products within their top-selling categories. For example, Abera, a Vietnamese beauty brand, chose to specialize in niche market products. This start-up develops products using entirely new applications of natural ingredients focused on special treatment solutions. They always keep the customer at the forefront of product development and invested in brand cultivation early to gain customer recognition and loyalty. Abera achieved over $1 million in revenue in less than a year on Amazon and increased its conversion rate by up to six times. This encourages local beauty brands to establish their own identities on the global stage and expand their product offerings to cater to global consumers. 50% export value growth The report showed that thousands of Vietnamese businesses sold and exported their products through Amazon. In the 12 months, the number of Vietnamese selling partners selling on Amazons store increased by more than 40%. These included established domestic retailers that have transformed to digital, like Lamer, which tailors their catalog to suit foreign tastes; traditional manufacturers that have differed their focus to B2C online exports, like Beefurni; and startups that have built their brands and launched on Amazon from the start, like Tidita and Abera. These Vietnamese businesses not only prospered through e-commerce amidst challenges but also inspired locals to envision exporting their own brands and products directly to international consumers. Selling in Amazons store has also enabled Vietnamese selling partners to revive local economic communities, create more jobs, and upgrade digital skills in the local workforce, which continues to fuel economic opportunities across the country. Overall, the export value of Vietnamese selling partners selling with Amazon increased by over 50% year-on-year. The number of Vietnamese selling partners surpassing $100,000 in sales on Amazon increased by 70%. Gijae Seong, head of Amazon Global Selling Vietnam, said that small and medium businesses are the heart of our local communities and the backbone of the Vietnamese economy. During the last four years, Amazon Global Selling Vietnam has supported thousands of local enterprises to enhance the growth of businesses in Vietnam and equipped them to embrace changes and reach new heights in this new global environment during challenging times. Malaysian firms subsidiary to sell popular Chinese brand auto products in Vietnam By Tri Duc Mon, February 5, 2024 | 5:22 pm GMT+7 TC Services Vietnam Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of Malaysias Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad, will import, distribute and sell vehicles and parts made by Chinas GAC Motor International. An agreement to this effect was signed by TC Services Vietnam and GAC Motor International earlier this month, Tan Chong Motor Holdings Berhad said in Monday filing with Bursa Malaysia. GAC is among the most popular vehicle brands in mainland China, with sales of over two million units in 2020, according to the filing. A GAC Motor SUV. Photo courtesy of GAC Motor. It said the move will help Tan Chong Motor expand its foothold in Vietnams auto industry. Starting July 2023, TC Services Vietnam ceased being the distributor of Chinese auto brand MG, and it has not had a vehicle brand to distribute until the new agreement. In October 2020, the company had lost Vietnam distribution rights of another vehicle brand - Japans Nissan. The Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers' Association (VAMA), not including VinFast and Hyundai, sold 301,989 vehicles in 2023, down 25% year-on-year. Outside VAMA, a report by TC Group, which is a manufacturer and official retailer of Hyundai vehicles in Vietnam, said it sold 67,450 vehicles of the Korean brand last year. Vietnam central bank inspector arrested for appropriating $226,000 By Thai Ha Mon, February 5, 2024 | 5:12 pm GMT+7 Pham Trong Cuong, an inspector at the State Bank of Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City Branch, has been accused of using fake documents to borrow VND5.5 billion ($226,000) from a financial company and then appropriating it. Cuong, 42, was detained by the HCMC Police's investigative agency (PC01) on Monday for fraudulent appropriation of property and using fake seals and documents. Pham Trong Cuong at a police station in HCMC, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the police. Cuong had a VietCapital Bank loan that was overdue and no money to pay interest. In addition, he owed more than VND4 billion ($164,000) to various sources, so he needed to liquidate real estate on Phan Dang Luu street, Ward 1, Phu Nhuan district, HCMC. According to the investigative agency, in 2021, Cuong needed money while his house was mortgaged at VietCapital Bank, so he hired a person to make forged "loan approval" documents from state-run Agribank - West Saigon Branch with the content "agreed to lend VND9.3 billion" so he could use it as collateral. With this document, Cuong approached Vay Online247 Company to "temporarily borrow" VND5.5 billion. When the financial company sent its staff to verify the documents, Cuong asked a contact to pretend to be an Agribank - West Saigon Branch employee, hand over the fake documents and provide false information about the "loan balance" at VietCapital Bank. The trick worked and Cuong received VND5.5 billion ($226,000) in a loan from Vay Online247 Company, which he appropriated. Receiving a complaint from the financial company, PC01 launched an investigation and arrested Cuong. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code During the Feb. 1-2 quarterly meeting of the Clemson Board of Trustees in Charleston, the body gave approval for the formation of a new Clemson University Center for Human-AI Interaction, Collaboration, and Teaming, and key facility project authorizations, leases and improvements. In committees over two days and a full board meeting on Friday, the board received updates from Clemson President James P. Clements and senior university leadership about ongoing research, education, student support, fundraising and statewide outreach. Updates and presentations centered around the universitys strategic plan Clemson Elevate. The board received construction updates on two major main campus projects, the Alumni and Visitors Center and the Advanced Materials Innovation Complex, and gained a status update on the Tillman Auditoriums renovation. New Academic Center Trustees approved a new Clemson University Center for Human-AI Interaction, Collaboration, and Teaming (CU-CHAI), which is projected to be self-supporting by its second year as part of the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences. The centers focus will be the exploration of how humans and AI can coexist and collaborate, provide interdisciplinary research in real-world settings and address growing concerns over workforce replacement and negative societal impacts. Get The Times and Democrat app today Local news has never been this personal. Free to download. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access. Projects and leases For the College of Veterinary Medicine, the board approved the following requests: Clemson Public Service and Agriculture (PSA) Phase 1 budget: $232,000 for design work for the PSA Animal Farms. Clemson PSA Phase 2 budget: $15,466,000 to construct the PSA Animal Farms. Clemson University Phase 1 budget: $10,000,000 for design work for the Education & General (E&G) portion of the College of Veterinary Medicine Project. Clemson University Phase 2 budget: $95,000,000 to complete design work for the E&G portion of the College of Veterinary Medicine Project, begin initial site work and to award early release packages for long lead time items such as HVAC equipment, electrical transformers and switchgear, and structural systems for the E&G facility project. The board approved the university entering a new seven-year lease at Clemson Centre to begin July 2024. The lease supports the universitys initiative to move administrative functions to the periphery of campus to open spaces on main campus for student-facing initiatives. Also, the board approved Phase 1 and Phase 2 construction capital projects of the following projects with budgets less than $5 million: The $4.2 million Kite Hill Parking project, initiated in March 2024, with a projected completion date of August 2024, will create parking and transit improvements, adding approximately 430 parking spaces, an easier connection from an outer area of campus and a connection to the newly installed multimodal path. The $4.9 million Research Infrastructure renovation project, initiated in May 2024, with a projected completion date of November 2024, will improve utilities on the southeast side of campus to upgrade existing infrastructure and increase capacity for future development growth. In addition to replacing the aging and deteriorating steam piping system to Godley-Snell, the project will create capacity to service approximately 200,000 square feet of anticipated new construction on the southeast side of campus. Korea's sovereign wealth fund said Monday it reported an 11.6 percent return on investment last year, fueled by gains in stock and bond investments. The Korea Investment Corp. said its return on investment in stocks and bonds stood at 14.3 percent last year. In particular, it booked a 22.4 percent return on stock investment. In 2022, the fund posted a minus 14.4 percent return on investment. As of the end of last year, the fund's total assets under management rose by $20.1 billion to $189.4 billion. (Yonhap) COLUMBIA The South Carolina Broadband Office (SCBBO) has announced funding for the two remaining underserved Main Street communities in the state the towns of Norway and Ridge Spring. These investments, when combined with previous grant rounds, finalize broadband investments for all predominantly underserved Main Streets in South Carolina and when construction completes by the end of 2024 will eliminate the Main Street digital divide. For this phase of investments, the SCBBO selected Charter Communications (Charter) through its American Rescue Plan Acts (ARPA) Capital Projects Fund (CPF 1.0) competitive grant program and committed $1,562,236, which will completely transform the communities of Norway and Ridge Spring. These CPF investments are an important part of our overall strategy, and they create the foundation for solid economic development and quality-of-life improvements for all our residents, said Andrew Bateman, Acting Executive Director of the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff. Get The Times and Democrat app today Local news has never been this personal. Free to download. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access. In the town of Norway, 390 residential units and 47 businesses will receive fiber to the premises, and Charter has agreed to deploy free public Wi-Fi in the Main Street area and provide a $25,000 digital-education grant to the community. The overall project is estimated to include 39 miles of fiber and cost approximately $2.2 million. The SCBBO is investing $940,517, and Charter will cover the remaining cost. Im beyond excited for what the future holds for us here in Norway. Strong, reliable internet connections will have a lasting, positive impact on our students, existing businesses and new recruitment, and senior citizens throughout our community. We appreciate all the time, resources, and collaboration between entities that will ensure this project is a huge success, said Norway Mayor Lynn Garrick. In the town of Ridge Spring, 363 residential units and 28 businesses will receive fiber to the premises, and Charter has agreed to deploy free public Wi-Fi in the Main Street area and provide a $25,000 digital-education grant to the community. The overall project is estimated to include 31 miles of fiber and cost approximately $1.8 million. The SCBBO is investing $621,719, and Charter will cover the remaining cost. Eliminating the South Carolina Main Street digital divide is a primary goal of our CPF investments in South Carolina, said Jim Stritzinger, Director of the SC Broadband Office. It is hard to believe that by the end of this year, every municipality that features a Main Street in the state should have robust high-speed broadband service. More information can be found at ors.sc.gov/broadband. COLUMBIA The South Carolina State Fair announced the opening of applications for its 27th annual Ride of Your Life Scholarship program. Each year, this initiative allocates more than $500,000 in college scholarships to high school seniors across South Carolina. Applications are open until March 15 and can be submitted online at scstatefair.org/scholarships. At the South Carolina State Fair, we are dedicated to championing excellence within our state, beginning with the education of our young adults, says Nancy Smith, general manager of the South Carolina State Fair, about the organizations unwavering commitment to education. Our mission is to play an active role in shaping the future of South Carolina through the invaluable gift of education. Get The Times and Democrat app today Local news has never been this personal. Free to download. Subscribers enjoy unlimited access. Since 1997, the S.C. State Fair has awarded more than $5 million to South Carolina students through the Ride of Your Life Scholarship program, reflecting the fairs commitment to community-focused initiatives. Circle K collaboration The S.C. State Fair announced an expansion of its scholarship program, made possible through a collaboration with Circle K stores and EMC Tickets. Circle Ks commitment to education and the community is evident through a $34,000 donation presented to the South Carolina State Fair on Jan. 22. The donation allows the S.C. State Fair to award an additional three scholarships increasing the total to 53 total scholarships this year. Scholarship details and application This year, $10,000 scholarships will be awarded to 53 high school seniors across South Carolina and will be paid out at $2,500 per year over four years. Students pursuing two-year degrees will receive $2,500 per year over two years. One of the 53 scholarships is exclusively designated for a Circle K employee or dependent. The scholarship funds must be used at a South Carolina university, college, or institution and may cover tuition or other educational expenses such as on-campus housing, a computer, or textbooks. Scholarships are awarded based on academic and extracurricular achievement, communication skills, need and completeness of the application. Recipients must retain a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale and enroll in no less than 30 credit hours each academic year to receive funding for that year. Prospective scholars and/or parents can learn more at scstatefair.org/scholarships or by contacting Betsy Cooper at betsyc@scstatefair.org or 803-799-3387, ext. 110. Scholarship applications must be completed online at https://www.scstatefair.org/scholarships by March 15, 2024. Scholarship award recipients will be notified in mid-May of their award status. An Orangeburg-based program that has worked for more than 20 years to address infant and maternal health has opened a Family Resource Center. State and local officials say it will be a one-stop shop for meeting community needs. Family Solutions staff members gathered Thursday morning at 1031 Middleton Street to celebrate the grand opening of the Family Resource Center. It will provide everything from mental health counseling to daily household items. This Family Resource Center is intended to be a family-friendly place where anyone in the community can receive multiple services in one stop. ... There is so much to offer in this space, but it's all because of you," Family Solutions Director Lamikka Samuel said. The center is housed next to Family Solutions' administrative offices. Its services include legal counseling, pregnancy information and support, WIC services, HIV and hepatitis testing and information on topics such as life insurance. The center will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and from noon to 6 p.m. on Fridays. Individuals and families will also receive support in understanding and accessing services provided through, for example, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children and the South Carolina Infant Mental Health Association. It's a place where you can gather to learn more about financial health and economic self-sufficiency. You can learn to sew by hand and, coming soon, you can have your taxes filed. The Family Resource Center is also a place where you can come if you need assistance with daily household items, or clothing items," Samuel said. Graham Adams, chief executive officer of the South Carolina Office of Rural Health, touted the services Family Solutions has been providing in Orangeburg, Bamberg, Allendale, Hampton and Barnwell counties for decades. Lamikka and the Solutions team, they're from these communities, they live in these communities. They've been doing fantastic work for 25-plus years now. They are the local experts. They are the ones that really know the community and are trying to build these bridges," Adams said. The Family Resource Center is not necessarily a brand-new idea. Its about putting a lot of resources in one place so that folks who need those resources can have better access to them... So by having a lot of our partners in this space and being available to the families that we serve, we're hoping we can break down a lot of barriers that are in place now," he said. S.C. Department of Social Services Director Michael Leach said, "I'm excited about the partners that we've heard from today: Children's Trust, DSS, HopeHealth, Infant Mental Health Association, DHEC, SC Legal and it sounds like more are coming. As we continue to do this, it's growing. Leach continued, "We need the community to be part of this. We need the community to support this, and we want this to help the citizens that really need it the most. ... We're learning, we're figuring this out, but why not here? Why not continue to see what we can do? Samuel said, Orangeburg County is one of the communities that's supported through an initiative called Thriving Families, Safer Children. And for our state, Children's Trust of South Carolina and the DSS are the spearhead organizations. They just saw the work that we're doing here at Family Solutions and felt like our desire to develop this sort of a center deserved that type of financial support. So they've been supporting us through that initiative, but then also through some other things that they have within their organizations, as well. Sue Williams, chief executive officer of Children's Trust of South Carolina, also praised Family Solutions and the safety net that the resource center will provide for families. South Carolina is blessed to have in every community individuals and organizations that are ready to help those in need. Those helpers are that community safety net where families land when they need help, fall on hard times, or just need a listening ear or a little encouragement. The stronger and more connected that net is, the more likely it is to catch those who fall into it, she said. She continued, Family Resource Centers, like Family Solutions, ensure that their community safety nets are tightly woven and strong, and this one is ensuring that no one in Orangeburg will fall through the cracks. We also want Family Resource Centers to be strong and vibrant organizations worthy of investment and donations from individuals and organizations. We applaud the team at Family Solutions for their commitment to national quality standards around family-centeredness, family strengthening, diversity, equity and inclusion, community strengthening and evaluation. This commitment to excellence will be a critical building block in their success, Williams said. Orangeburg City Councilwoman Annette Dees Grevious said the services provided through the center were invaluable. Oftentimes rural areas such as Orangeburg are overlooked or limited when it comes to support to providing much-needed services to our residents. So we are truly fortunate," Grevious said. Personally, and on behalf of Mayor Michael Butler, city council and the entire Orangeburg community, I want to thank you for your dedicated work you do to serve our residents, your commitment and your investment to our community and for being a neighboring partner for Orangeburg and our surrounding counties for more than 25 years, the councilwoman said. Samuel said the opening of the center means a lot for the citizens of Orangeburg and the surrounding area. It means that transportation doesn't necessarily have to be a barrier anymore, and it means that some of the basic needs can be met in one day in one location. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). A long history of advancing the status of women: The first state to give them the right to vote; the first female jurors, bailiff, justice of the peace and governor; unprecedented freedom and rights for the times. Thats Wyoming. Lindsay Linton Buk, commercial photographer and fifth-generation Wyomingite, wanted to honor the states history and its trailblazing women. So in 2016, she started photographing various female Wyomingites around the state. Freshly returned from New York, she wanted to reinvent herself, connect with her peers and break out of the mindset that her home state doesnt give women the same opportunities as other places in the country. It really just became this question of me having to face my viewpoint of Wyoming is limiting. And was that true? And this project became a way to explore that and challenge that, she said. The fruits of her labor words, stories, pictures, digital media are now on display at the Nicolaysen Art Museum. It opened on Friday. And Linton Buk admits that she was challenged by what she found. By creating a project, I discovered that it was very much full of opportunity if you can go out and with an open mind, and I think theres a lot of space to add your voice and perspective in ways that you could do more easily here because it is small scale, Linton Buk said the morning of the day the show debuted. The morning of opening day was sunny and busy in Casper, and inside the McMurry Gallery at the Nic was the same. The finishing details were being put on the exhibit, which is on its fifth stop of a tour around the West. Previously, it was displayed in Oklahoma City. The backbone of the exhibit are the photographs, in which some women smile gaily, others look determinedly into the distance and still others pierce the viewer with fierce gazes, looking straight at the camera. There are writers, dancers, educators, religious leaders, politicians, scientists. They hail from both the bigger cities in Wyoming, like Casper or Jackson, and from teeny-tiny towns. They are Black, white, Indigenous, Indian. The project consists of five chapters thus far. Their stories are recorded using physical media, like photographs and words, but also with podcasts and QR codes that take the viewer to the projects website. (A forthcoming book is planned, Linton Buk said, as a way to spread the project via more traditional tangible media.) Almost directly diagonal from the entrance, swaths of bright, satiny fabric drape over a headless mannequin. These are Nimi McConigleys saris. McConigley is an Indian woman who moved to Casper in 1976 due to her husbands work as a petroleum geologist. She and Casper at large both faced a shock when her family moved here. As far as she could find, there were no other Indian families or, as McConigley recalled, really not that many other people at all. It was a totally bizarre, really weird, traumatic experience, she said. Educated at the Columbia School of Journalism in New York and having worked at a news organization in Boston and in India, McConigley successfully navigated the sometimes delicate art of building bridges in Wyoming as a person of color. She was determined to be an active part of the state and, as she continued living here, she said, she learned that Wyomingites value and prioritize volunteer work. She started getting involved. Thats how I established myself: I found that if I was unhappy with this place, the way to know this place is to meet it halfway, she said. So she did. She continued her work as a journalist and went to Cheyenne to serve in the state legislature from 1994 to 1996, the first Indian-born person in the country to hold an elected position in state government. And she continued wearing her saris and practicing the cultural traditions of her home country all the while. When I drape a sari around me, I feel the dignity, pride and grace of the rich tradition of the culture in which I was raised. It is another colorful thread in the tapestry of America with all the peoples who have come here weaving their own vibrant cultures into the vision of one diverse nation, she wrote for an explicatory sign for the sari display. Originally, she and her family were only supposed to stay in Casper for six months. She was initially frustrated at the seeming lack of visibility and recognition that women had here. But by the end of the six months, she had flipped her views on Wyoming and its people: She wanted to stay. So involved in Casper, roots were beginning to spread. I found that the relevance of somebody is what youre involved with, she said. Moreover, she felt that, because of her identity, she could really make a difference here. McConigley is featured in the exhibit with her daughter, Nina, who is a professor at Colorado State University and the author of a book called Cowboys and East Indians, a collection of short stories on the West and growing up in Wyoming as an Indian woman. McConigley and her daughter are just two of the women featured. They are surrounded by ranchers and pilots, CEOs and choreographers, entrepreneurs and hunting guides, their faces caught in a sliver of time, but their stories preserved forever. Editors Note: An earlier version of this story misspelled Lindsay Linton Buks and Clarene Laws names and misdated the year of the Cadillac displayed in the exhibit. The Star-Tribune regrets these errors. After several years of dormancy, a key public lands advisory body has re-constituted a quorum and is rapidly moving to establish local voices at the center of federal lands policy in the Cowboy State. Authorized by federal law and administered within the Department of the Interior, the Wyoming Resource Advisory Council (RAC) is a 15-member charter board composed of representatives from pertinent user groups. Members come from backgrounds in sporting and outdoor recreation to energy. While the body has no official decision making authority, its believed to hold outsized sway over agency action, and could become a powerful political force in the state. The main function of this group is to make recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior, so if the RAC has an opinion or a direction they think the Bureau should go, that has a lot of weight, said Brad Purdy, deputy state director for the BLM. Last week, the RAC gathered in Casper to discuss energy trends and the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan, and after six years without a full quorum the group hit the ground running with a tentative priorities blueprint for 2024, including action on wild horse management. I thought it would take them longer to coalesce around goals and the things they want to accomplish, Purdy said. Theyre ahead of schedule. The groups reconstitution comes amidst heightened interest in land-use policy, and it sets the stage for improved relations between Wyoming and the federal government, which have deteriorated in recent years over mineral leasing fights and related land-use squabbles. The gathering in Casper was a signal from both sides that a serviceable partnership is mutually desired. It wasnt because of a lack of interest from the community of Wyoming. The reason for the lull in RAC involvement has more to do with direction and support from D.C., said Jennifer Leinenon, chair of the Wyoming RAC, who brings expertise from her background in the oil and gas industries. So the fact that the [Biden] administrationstarted this back up and realized these were important has a trickle down effect. The RACs ultimate power, however, will depend on its ability to present a unified front, which may yet be difficult for such a diverse group, and challenged moreover by the complex and high stakes issues at hand, including renewable project siting, wildlife management, and fossil fuel energy development. Because of the diversity of this group you really see where you have to create a balance, and not everyones going to agree. But I see this eclectic group coming in to have a positive conversation about topics that affect the entire state, Leinenon said. BLM officials say the Wyoming RAC is setting a new bar, and represents a welcome spike in public involvement. Sometimes we hold public meetings and nobody shows up. So you wonder how useful they are. But recently we have been getting a lot more interest and involvement, said BLM-Wyoming State Director, Andrew Archuleta. This group, in all my years working with RACs, is the most active and involved so far. It is super energetic, he said. Im really excited about this group. By Park Jae-hyuk Booyoung Group decided to pay a combined 7 billion won ($5.25 million) in cash for 70 babies born to its employees after 2021, to contribute to the nation's efforts to tackle low birthrates, the construction firm said Monday. With a plan to continue offering its employees 100 million won per birth, the company also vowed to allow workers with more than three children to choose between 300 million won and permanent rental housing sized below 85 square meters, if the government provides land to build the homes. If Koreas birthrate remains low, the country will face the crisis of extinction in 20 years, Booyoung Group Chairman Lee Joong-keun said at the companys New Year ceremony, Monday. The low birthrate results from financial burdens and difficulties in balancing work and family life, so we decided to take such a drastic measure. This is the first time for a Korean company to pay such a large amount of money to encourage its employees to have children. Booyoung also asked the government to exempt taxes on donations to help raise the birthrate. I was worried about financial difficulties from raising a child, but thanks to the companys support, Ive been able to consider having another baby, said a Booyoung employee who gave birth last month. Industry officials expect other construction firms may follow suit after Booyoung, given that low birthrates can have a negative impact on them, due to declines in the workforce and demand for new housing. 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. Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra opens 2024 with a concert of works by often-overlooked Black composers in honor of Black History Month. A highlight of this weekends concert is the SASO debut of Tucson violinist Carissa Powe, a University of Arizona music major who has won a number of local honors since she made her orchestra debut with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra at age 12. Powe, who will graduate in December with a degree in music performance, will perform African-British composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylors Violin Concerto in G minor. Its absolutely beautiful and gorgeous, she said of the work, which she will perform for the first time with SASO. Theres a really beautiful second movement thats so sweet and so enduring. It packs a lot of energy, especially in the first and third movement. In addition to the Coleridge-Taylor concerto, SASO Music Director Linus Lerner curated a program that draws from the masterpieces of Americans George Walker, the first African-American to win the Pulitzer Prize for music; and William Grant Still, the prolific 20th-century composer often referred to as the Dean of African-American Composers. The program also includes an Afro-centric work by Brazilian composer Oscar Lorenzo Fernandez, whose percussive-rich Batuque borrows from African idioms developed by women in Portuguese-colonized Cape Verde where the African slave trade originated. The piece, which is the final movement of Fernandezs Reisado do Pastoreio suite, uses forceful brass and wind motifs layered over pulsing crisscrossing Afro-Brazilian rhythms. Batuque, which Fernandez composed in 1930, kicks off the concert, which the orchestra will perform Saturday, Feb. 10, in SaddleBrooke and Sunday, Feb. 11, at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. Although this is Powes first appearance with SASO, the 24-year-old who grew up in Tucson with her two musically-inclined siblings, won prizes in the orchestras Dorothy Vanek Youth Concerto Competition in 2013 and 14. Powe, who was born in Montreal and grew up in Tucson, made her orchestral debut with the TSO days after she turned 12. A Star review from that performance said Powe was alternately controlled and carefree on the stage among the professional ensemble, summoning a warm, rich tone from her violin on Jean Batiste Accolays Concerto No. 1 in A minor. She has since gone on to perform with the Civic Orchestra of Tucson and Arizona Symphonic Winds, and has won a number of awards, including string division winner of the UA School of Musics Concerto Competition and first place in the schools solo string competition that same year. Powe was selected for the inaugural season of Carnegie Halls NYO2 and was a semifinalist in the 20th Annual Sphinx Competition. She also was featured in Arizona Arts Lives pandemic-era at-home series in Centennial Hall in November 2020. Powe and her siblings Levi (cello) and Aliyah (violin) started studying music when they were 4 or 5. The siblings, who were homeschooled, were active in the TSOs Young Composers Project and concerto competitions for several local orchestras. When I was little, I drew a picture of myself playing in an orchestra, Powe recalled, thinking at the time, That will be me one day. As her December graduation date looms in the distance, Powe, who has been teaching violin for six years, said she is still considering a performance career. She and her siblings still perform as a trio. 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. Naver Cloud said Monday it has signed an initial agreement with NHN Cloud to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) business to foster a domestic AI ecosystem. Under the memorandum of understanding, the two companies will work together to develop multi-cloud services using Naver's hyperscale AI model HyperCLOVA X and conduct large language model businesses in the public arena, according to officials. Naver Cloud is the cloud affiliate of Naver, Korea's leading internet portal operator. In particular, Naver Cloud said it will focus on creating an AI platform centered around HyperCLOVA X to strengthen the competitiveness of the Korean AI ecosystem and AI technologies. "The global competition surrounding leadership of the AI industry has been intensifying such that some people say it's the era of AI nationalism," Naver Cloud CEO Kim Yu-won said, noting his company will work to expand the domestic AI ecosystem. (Yonhap) The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: Re: the Jan. 26 article Renewed push to ban DEI programs. Senator Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek) has made a second attempt to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs with a bill that is headed to the Senate floor. As a long-time educator, I am hard-pressed to understand why anyone who knows the poem on the Statue of Liberty, understands the principles of the Declaration of Independence, and has recited the Pledge of Allegiance would find DEI programs objectionable. The only reason the Legislature should spend time discussing these programs is to educate themselves on their benefits and consider DEI in the laws they enact. Diversity: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Emma Lazaruss poem on the Statue of Liberty proclaims our invitation. We live in one of the most diverse countries on the planet. Our citizens hail from every county and culture in the world. There is no place in our state where diversity is more evident than in our K-12 public schools and university system. It is shocking for legislators to think it wise to ignore the fact of diversity in terms of gender, age, religion, ethnicity, heritage language, cultural background, sexual orientation, and educational attainment level. Todays youth understand the diversity dividend that comes from the rich learning opportunities that result from interacting with a wide variety of perspectives and experiences. Stepping up to meet its charge to fully fund our public school system is a way for the legislature to show respect for and understanding of the positive outcomes gained from diversity programs. It should be noted that businesses that diversify their workforce note improved problem solving, more creativity, and innovation rather than status-quo stagnation; diversity helps them compete in the global marketplace. Equity: Equity means that everyone has access to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That includes providing everyone access to a high-quality education and other benefits for which they qualify such as having equitable access to the ballot box. The original school vouchers were equitable because they ensured support to help special needs students succeed. In contrast, the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) have resulted in the opposite of equity. ESAs are largely a gift to families whose children were already attending private and parochial schools or were previously homeschooled. The cost of ESAs has far exceeded the funds budgeted for them. By exactly how much is unclear because the legislative committee tasked with overseeing ESAs is unable to secure accurate 2023 data from the Arizona Department of Education. ESAs disadvantage the ninety-percent of Arizona public school students whose districts are being shortchanged by the legislature. Inclusion: Inclusion means that everyones voice is heard and considered, but that is not the case in the Arizona legislature. Democratic representatives propose bills that are never even heard in the appropriate committees much less considered on the floor of the Republican-led legislature. This year, as it has since Sandra Day OConnor started this tradition, a Democratic state representative will put forward a bill to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment. The ERA simply states that equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex and further that the Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. It is unconscionable that in 2024 this bill will not even be heard. Our country is a beacon of hope and opportunity for people searching for a better life for themselves and their families. The goal of DEI programs is to work toward the promise we make when we recite the Pledge of Allegiance: with liberty and justice for all. Applying a DEI lens to the work of our legislature can only improve life for all Arizonans. A Pryor lawyer who helped write the Oklahoma Constitution and chose the name for Mayes County was elected to the state Supreme Court in 1930 but served less than a month before resigning. The departure of J. Howard Langley drew praise from many -- not because of a feeling that he wouldn't be a good justice; but instead because of his reason for quitting. Langley said his health would prevent him from carrying his load on the court docket. He noted that during his campaign for the office that he had promised that if elected, he would keep up his end of the work or quit. "That was a clear instance of patriotism and common honesty," a Tulsa World editorial said when Langley died Oct. 27, 1935, more than four years later. Noting that Langley could have continued as a member of the court and would have drawn his salary until his death, the World said "he set an example of rightful conception of the importance of the court and of consideration for the state." The World called Langley "the foremost citizen of Pryor and of Mayes County." After his resignation, Langley spent time regaining his health until Gov. E.W. Marland appointed him as the chairman of the Grand River Dam Authority in 1935, only a few months before he died and long before the dam was built. His answer to a questionnaire from U.S. Court of Appeals Judge R.L. Williams, a former Oklahoma governor who was trying to keep track of members of the constitutional convention, was terse and to the point: "Elected to the Supreme Court in 1930, took office Jan. 12, 1931, so completely wrecked myself in the campaign as to render myself wholly unfit for a creditable discharge of the duties of the office and rather than half fill the office, resigned Feb. 2nd, 1931." Langley's answer to the questionnaire was reported in a 1937 Chronicles of Oklahoma article by W.A. Kornegay of Vinita, who was named to the high court by Gov. William H. (Alfalfa Bill) Murray to replace Langley, a longtime friend. A native of Missouri, Langley came to what is now Delaware County to help his father and brother on a farm. He returned to Missouri to complete his education, including a correspondence course in law. Langley was admitted to the bar in 1897 at Vinita. He established a practice the following year in Pryor, where he helped with the building of a small-frame courthouse. He also was responsible for building a more substantial courthouse in 1921, a $160,000 structure that was erected without a bond issue. The money was raised through various savings of court and county expenses. When the U.S. entered World War I, Langley was too old for military service. He acted as a legal adviser to the Council of Defense, which earned him recognition from the War Department. Langley was elected as a delegate to the 1906 Oklahoma constitutional convention and was responsible for naming his county Mayes, in honor of a Cherokee family that had included two tribal chiefs, including his long-time friend Samuel H. Mayes. He also represented the city of Tulsa in hundreds of condemnation suits to obtain title for land for the Spavinaw Lake water project. The town of Langley is named in his memory. Like this column? Read all the columns in the Only in Oklahoma series from the Tulsa World Archive. 16 years ago today, Oklahomans turned out in record numbers on a cool, wet day to cast their votes in the most competitive race in two generations for presidential nominations. For the Republicans, U.S. Sen. John McCain (37%) held off former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (33%). Huckabee finished the state a little more than 11,000 votes behind McCain. On the Democrats' side, Hillary Clinton swamped the eventual Democrat nominee, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, 55 percent to 32 percent. Former Sen. John Edwards, who suspended his campaign a week ahead of the primary, got 10 percent. Oklahoma's next presidential primary election, ahead of the 2024 election, will be March 5. See photos of Hillary Clinton and John McCain's past visits to the state below: Throwback Tulsa: Clinton, Trump have Oklahoma connections Anna Codutti Tulsa World Breaking News Editor Follow Anna Codutti Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is assisting Bixby police after a standoff Sunday in which officers exchanged gunfire with a barricaded person. Officers had responded around 5 a.m. to a residence near 131st Street South and Memorial Drive in Bixby, where a domestic dispute was reported. According to police, 55-year-old Christopher Veal remained inside the residence and refused to follow officers commands. A SWAT team was deployed, and negotiation attempts were conducted, police said, but Veals noncompliance continued. After officers used less-lethal force, Veal fired multiple rounds toward officers, according to a news release. The gunshots prompted officers to fire back, striking Veal, the release states. After receiving medical attention at the scene, Veal was treated at a hospital and released. No other injuries were reported. Late Sunday afternoon, Veal was booked into the Tulsa County jail on complaints including shooting with intent to kill, assault and battery with a deadly weapon, threatening a violent act and tampering with security equipment. He has not yet been charged but remains held in lieu of bonds totaling $100,500. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Election deadline: Early walk-in voting is available at county election boards Thursday and Friday for the Feb. 13 school bond elections in Bixby, Jenks, Mounds and Sand Springs. Community confabs: Sand Springs Public Schools will host a community meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the districts Central Administration Services Building, 14 W. Fourth St. Superintendent Sherry Durkee and other SSPS officials will take questions about the districts 2024 bond proposal and other topics facing the district. Bixby Public Schools will host a community forum about its $12 million bond proposal Tuesday starting at 6:30 p.m. at Bixby West Elementary School, 14901 S. Harvard Ave. Attendees are asked to RSVP at bixbyps.info/forumrsvp. Teacher of the Year: Catoosa Public Schools has named Marcie Wenzel as its 2023-24 Teacher of the Year. A Catoosa Public Schools graduate with 18 years of teaching experience, Wenzel teaches second grade at Helen Paul Learning Center. Tutors wanted: Monroe Demonstration Academy, 2010 E. 48th St. North, is seeking volunteers to help with small-group English language arts tutoring after school during the spring semester. All tutoring materials will be provided. Volunteers may sign up online at tinyurl.com/MonroeTutors Story time sign up: Applications open at noon Thursday for the next virtual session hosted by the Muscogee Nations Accessing Choices in Education Indigenous Readers Program. Registration is available at mcnaceservices.com, and the program is open to any American Indian or Alaska Native student attending school within the boundaries of the Muscogee Nation. Every student who participates in the session will receive a free book bundle, which will be delivered by March 1 in order to be incorporated with Read Across America Week. Enrollment night: Jenks Middle School will host an enrollment night at 7 p.m. Monday for current sixth-grade students who will attend the school in 2024-25. Instructional shifts: Liberty will have in-person classes Monday to make up a previous snow day. Monday is a distance-learning day for Wagoner. Dove Charter Schools are not in session Friday due to a professional development day. Friday is a distance-learning day for Prue. School board calendar: The boards of education for Kiefer, Sand Springs and Tulsa Public Schools each have a meeting scheduled for Monday. Lone Stars board is scheduled to meet Tuesday. Bixbys board is scheduled to meet Thursday. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Amoni and Zoe scattered the contents of a sandwich bag full of fruit-flavored candy across their desks as part of a math lesson on ratios. What does it mean to have 50%? their teacher, Kelly Woodfin, asked the sixth graders in her advanced math class. What does it mean to have half? Years ago, when Woodfin attended Union Public Schools from kindergarten through eighth grade, she sat in fairly homogenous classrooms. Woodfin recalled her peers as predominantly white, a legacy of families moving to the suburbs as Tulsa schools desegregated. But when she returned to teach at Union in 2012, the white student population had shrunk to a little more than half of total enrollment. Until recently, however, students in Unions advanced math classes remained mostly white. The accelerated track in middle and high school drew mostly from elementary schools in affluent neighborhoods, where students tended to perform better on a pre-algebra placement test that they had one chance to take as fifth graders. But on a recent winter day, only two of Woodfins students identified as white, and more than a third were still learning English. The transformation of Woodfins class rosters represents more than a general shift in who attends Union schools, where today only 1 in 4 students is white. Its also the result of a years-long campaign to identify and promote more students from underrepresented backgrounds into the districts most challenging math courses. We try really, really hard not to keep people out of accelerated math, said Shannan Bittle, a secondary math specialist for Union. But we do our best to give them the tools to succeed. Challenges to change Concerns about who gets access to advanced math have led some districts to end the tracking of students into different math classes by perceived ability or to remove accelerated classes altogether. Union, by contrast, has attempted to find a middle ground. The district, which overlaps part of Tulsa and its southeast suburbs, continues to track students into separate math classes beginning in sixth grade. But it has also added new ways beyond the one-time placement test for students to qualify for higher level math courses, and its increased support including in-school tutoring and longer class periods for students whove shown promise in the subject. Enrollment data suggest that the effort to make higher-level math accessible to more students had started to yield results before the pandemic. But there have been challenges: In the past few years, fewer students overall have enrolled in advanced math classes, though the declines for Black and Hispanic students have been less steep than for other groups. Anti-teacher sentiment, on top of Oklahomas low teacher salaries, has made it difficult to hire math educators, administrators here say. At Union High School, an Algebra II position remained vacant for more than a year. But the district remains committed to its changes. Recently, principals and veteran math educators have persuaded some former students to join Unions teaching ranks. Bittle said new academic programs like aviation and construction could offer students more ways to apply higher levels of math in lucrative jobs. Algebra or other advanced math in middle school places a student on the path to calculus in high school, considered a gateway course for many high-paying STEM careers. Federal education data show that white students enroll in high school calculus at nearly eight times the rate of their Black peers and about triple the average for Hispanic students. There are many Black and Latino students and students from low-income backgrounds who have demonstrated an aptitude and are yearning for more yet they are systemically denied access to advanced math courses, according to the authors of a December report from nonprofits Education Trust and Just Equations. This practice and mindset must change. Word-based math exam in fifth grade In a recent AP calculus class at Union High School, only eight of 22 students identified as white. Lizeth Rosas said she first got into an advanced math class as a seventh grader. In the beginning, I questioned myself a lot, she said. I didnt know if I was ready. Its kind of a lot to process, and we move so fast. Rebecka Peterson, a Union High School math teacher and 2023 National Teacher of the Year, started working for Union schools about 12 years ago. She taught math classes ranging from intermediate algebra to Advanced Placement calculus. Early on, Peterson noticed the demographic split in her classes. Were a very culturally rich district, and yet my calculus classes were mostly white, she said. She decided to talk with her principal at the time, Lisa Witcher. The pair discovered that, although Union High enrolled students from all 13 elementary campuses, Petersons calculus students primarily started at just three the whitest and wealthiest of Unions elementary schools. Shortly after, district administration tapped Witcher to spearhead a new early-college program. She began recruiting students who had completed geometry as freshmen but found that only a tenth of Black freshmen in Union were eligible to enroll in that class. They hadnt taken the prerequisite, Algebra I, in eighth grade. That sparked some uncomfortable conversations, said Witcher, who retired from the district in 2021. Ultimately, administrators traced the cause of the narrow pipeline into advanced middle and high school math to the fifth grade. Thats when schools administered a heavily word-based exam, which students had one chance to pass. District officials said the high-stakes exam disadvantaged two growing populations in Union schools: kids who were still learning English and children from low-income families, whose parents couldnt afford private tutors. This discovery prompted a series of changes, beginning about a decade ago. The school district did not eliminate the fifth-grade exam as an entryway into advanced math, but students can now attempt the test multiple times. Elementary schools offer math tutors starting in the third grade. Teachers can refer promising students for sixth grade advanced math, regardless of placement exam results. A central administrator also reviews student grades and growth on proficiency exams to automatically enroll students into an accelerated class. (Parents are sent a letter notifying them of the automatic enrollment, at which point they can choose to opt out.) We hunt them down from every corner of the school district, said Todd Nelson, a former math teacher who now oversees data, research and testing for the district. Hard to hire for high-level math Since 2016, the diversity of students enrolled in the districts advanced math courses has increased. Hispanic students now make up 29% of enrollment, up from 18%; Black and multiracial students each represent 10% of enrollment, up from about 8% in 2016. More recently, however, participation in higher-level math has dipped in Union schools, across all student subgroups. District data show that the trend, especially in high school, started before the pandemic. But administrators say the disruption of school lockdowns contributed to a lingering aversion to signing up for challenging courses. Still, the share of Black, Hispanic and multiracial students enrolling in Unions advanced math classes has fallen at much lower rates than those of Asian and white students. We see this as the long-term process of the work that were doing, as opposed to fixing the problem in one year, Nelson added. In Woodfins sixth grade class, 11-year-old Vianca wasnt sure how she got into advanced math. She remembered taking a super hard test as a fifth grader and registered for regular math in middle school. I guess I was just placed in here, she said. Vianca said the subject has been a struggle this year. But a recent shift in sixth grade schedules to add more time for math means she has 90 minutes instead of just 45 with Woodfin each day. Doubling the amount of math that sixth graders take in Union has come with a cost. Some parents bristled at the reduction of extracurriculars, like art or music. The change required doubling the number of secondary math teachers, and principals already had a hard time recruiting teachers for those subjects. (Last school year, the turnover rate for Oklahoma teachers reached 24%, the highest rate in a decade, according to state data.) The lack of teacher diversity also complicates the districts overall mission of increasing diversity in advanced math, Bittle acknowledged. Only two out of about 90 middle and high school math teachers identify as Black, and efforts to recruit at Langston University, the states only historically Black university, have yet to prove successful. Bittle added that Oklahomas low pay for teachers doesnt help: Schools in neighboring states tend to offer much more than the roughly $40,000 starting salary for teachers in the Sooner State. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell. Mr. Speaker. Mr. President Pro Tem. Members of the 59th Legislature. Members of the Judiciary. Statewide elected officials. Thank you for being here. Tribal leaders. To my cabinet members thank you for your service to the state. To my wife Sarah, the greatest first lady in the country. To my children who are with me today. And most importantly, my fellow Oklahomans. First off, I want to give thanks to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to serve in this position and for all the blessings we have in this great state. Its my honor and privilege to stand before you today to give my sixth state of the state address. Im sure some of you are excited about that because it means you only have to listen to me two more times. As we begin a new session, I am happy to report that the state of our state is the strongest its ever been. At the start of our sixth session together, I want to recognize Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell, President Pro Temp Greg Treat, and Speaker Charles McCall for the hard work theyve put in over the last five years. Never in Oklahoma history have the same four elected officials served in our positions together for six full years. We havent always agreed, but weve accomplished a great deal working together for the people of Oklahoma. Thank you. I also want to thank all of you in this room for the work you put in on behalf of your constituents. We cant do any of this on our own. In 1 Corinthians 12:14, Paul talks about how the body of Christ has many different parts. He is referring to the Church, but those lessons apply here in this building as well. We have to work together to move our state forward. As we fight for the well-being of those who entrusted us with leadership, there will be challenges, but we can face those challenges head on with a vision of hope. Hope comes from neighbors walking with neighbors, and churches and communities coming alongside those who are hurting. We are blessed in Oklahoma to have people who bring hope to those who are in some of the most hopeless situations. I want to highlight Gail and Mike Priest. They are the founders of the 99+1 Foundation. They renovated an old nursing home into a home for young women aging out of foster care. Their guiding scripture is Matthew 18:14 - Even so, it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that ONE of these little ones should perish. They truly have a heart for the Lord and they are teaching young women that their future can be better than their present. The women they care for are some of the most at-risk for human trafficking. Its time for legislation that protects our most vulnerable populations from those who seek to exploit them. Gail and Mike are here today, and we are so proud to have them in our state. We know hope is not a speech or a government program. Thats why we started BeANeighbor.org, to connect people in need to churches and nonprofits in their community. Hope is a science that can be taught, and hope emerges when you can see a path forward. Im grateful to my wife Sarah who started Hope Rising Oklahoma. Because of her efforts to highlight and teach the science of hope, Oklahoma is the nations first hope-centered state, and were bringing this science to the rest of the country. Thank you, Sarah, for standing by me for the last 25 years and for being an inspiration to so many Oklahomans. Hope comes from hard work, because we know that we are designed by our Creator to work to provide for our families and contribute to society. It comes from teaching our young people the future is bright and you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. So what is our job as state leaders? To create more government programs? Or to get government out of the way? Excessive government intervention encourages people to look to government programs instead of personal responsibility. Theres a school of thought called the Success Sequence that outlines three steps to combating poverty: 1) Graduate high school; 2) Get a job; 3) Get married before having kids; Thats it. Those three things are a surefire way to keep families out of poverty. Thats why we need strong families teaching values in Oklahoma. We are living in the most fatherless generation in our history. In 1970, just 10% of kids were born out of wedlock. Today, the statistic is staggering 40% of kids are born to single mothers. Single mothers are five times more likely to be in poverty than two parent families. We know that the best preventer of poverty is a married mom and dad in the home. So we became the first state in the nation to declare Family Month this past November. Thats the culture were promoting here in Oklahoma, and we know it works. In 2019, I addressed this body for the very first time, and I laid out a vision to make Oklahoma top 10 in everything we do. I said, The Oklahoma Turnaround starts right now. And we are well on our way. We have gotten government out of the way and allowed families and businesses to thrive. Weve revolutionized our education system creating more options for parents and students while investing more in our teachers and public education than ever before. Weve cut excessive regulations and made it easier for businesses to navigate state government. Since then, it has become even more clear to me: Government isnt the answer. In the last five years, weve had record revenue growth, the lowest unemployment, and record savings. We are top ten in Real GDP growth. Were number 6 in lowest cost of living and number 8 in energy affordability. We have an energy advantage because were promoting our bedrock industries of oil and natural gas. Were pioneering new forms of energy and now were number 3 in wind energy production. We are securing the critical mineral supply chain right here in Oklahoma. And now, we are top ten in people moving to our state. People are looking to Oklahoma as the example of a shining city on the hill. I want each of you to take a moment and consider what is possible in Oklahoma in the next 20 years - the Oklahoma you want your children and grandchildren to live in. Do we want a state that is stuck in a boom-to-bust cycle? Or do we want prosperity and growth like weve experienced over the last five years? When I stop to think about Oklahoma in 20 years, heres what I see: I see people from all over the country moving here so they can keep more of their hard earned money thanks to our 0% income tax. I see entrepreneurs flocking here. Were the business headquarters capital of the world. Because of our energy advantage, we are the manufacturing, the AI and the data center capital of the world. Our schools, colleges and universities are teaching kids how to think not what to think. And students from all over the country are coming to Oklahoma to take part in the free flow of ideas. Our flagship universities have each grown to over 40,000 students and are the premier think tanks in their field. I see Oklahomans who take seriously the commandment to care for the widow and orphan. A state where family values are foundational. A state where our communities are safe. The Oklahoma Standard is alive and well and we are thriving as a state. But we cant let our success make us complacent and forget what made the Oklahoma Dream possible: free enterprise and individual liberties. Not more government programs. Ladies and Gentlemen, nows our time to shine. If we are a top 10 state, all boats will rise education, infrastructure, health outcomes, and quality of life. Its not that complicated. The economy is going to follow the path of least resistance. Our job is to make Oklahoma the state where it is the easiest to start and grow a business. Lets talk about how to get there. To accomplish our vision and create the most business friendly state where freedom and opportunity abound for every single person, a top 10 state for generations to come, we need to limit the growth of government not put more burden on the taxpayers. Kevin OLeary from Shark Tank came to visit Oklahoma a couple weeks ago as he explores places to make new investments. He says he would never invest in states like California and New York because of their overregulation and high taxes. Oklahoma has the business environment he is looking to tap into. To be the best state for business and attract more top level CEOs, we need to keep pushing business friendly policies and reducing burdensome regulations. Im calling on the legislature to take a page out of Delaware and Texas playbook and set up a system of courts specifically designed to address business disputes. Businesses need assurance that disputes will be adjudicated by courts with expertise in business law. Next, Im calling on our local governments to join us in the effort to be the most business friendly state in the nation. If our local governments are levying huge permitting fees or delaying projects, it will chill investment and cause companies to look elsewhere. We have to match our competition in Dallas, Kansas City, Denver and Houston to make Oklahoma the headquarters capital of the world. Were going to keep inviting energy companies to come here and join the ranks of Devon, Williams, Continental, and Oneok. We want more retail giants like Hobby Lobby, Braums, and QuikTrip to call Oklahoma home. We want to keep building our aerospace and defense industry, with companies like American Airlines, Boeing, and Lockheed Martin. We want to secure the critical mineral supply chain and loosen Chinas grip on these technologies. And we can do that right here in our backyard. Blue Whale, Rare Earth USA and Stardust are setting up shop and are part of the critical mineral supply chain we need for our national defense. If we get our regulations right, with our low cost of energy, central location, and strong workforce, Oklahoma is the perfect place for new industries looking for a home. Each new industry is part of something great. In Oklahoma we feed the world, fuel the world, and defend freedoms around the world. But lets first make sure we have a sustainable government budget to solidify our prosperity for years to come. Listen to this New York has 19.8 million people, and their annual budget is $233 billion dollars a year. Florida, one of the fastest growing states, is bigger than New York with 22 million people. Their annual budget is half that, about $116 billion dollars a year. Florida doesnt have an income tax. New York is at 10.9%. If more government spending was the answer, Florida would be falling apart. The opposite is true. Its states like New York and California that are facing a massive budget crisis. Last year, I called on the legislature to cut the personal income tax from 4.75% to 3.99%. Ive called three special sessions to try and give Oklahomans a pay raise. Instead, our recurring expenses grew last year by over $1.14 billion dollars. And that doesnt include one time expenses or ARPA funding. With record savings and surpluses, Im asking, if not now, when? In the 1990s, we were at 7% income tax. So Im renewing my call. Lets get Oklahoma back on the path to zero. Youve heard me say year after year, we dont need more taxes, we need more taxpayers. Two years ago, we cut a quarter point from the individual income tax and we lowered business tax by two full percentage points. Since then, revenue collections have increased by $1.5 billion dollars. Thats been the trend after every tax cut weve passed. So Ill sign any tax cut that comes to my desk. Because as we have growth, it should be automatic to return excess to the taxpayers, not to seek out bigger government programs. People are moving here every single day from states like California because they see opportunity and they see freedom and they see they can keep more of their hard earned money. Its not tax cuts that will get us in trouble, its the unrestricted growth of government. Im calling for flat budgets across state government this year. To be clear: Im not advocating for cutting core services. What I am advocating for is a sustainable amount of growth where we are funding needs not wants. Listen, there is never a shortage of new programs or someone pitching a good idea. In politics, you are only criticized for saying no. Its easy to feel like youre leading when the wind is at your back and youre always saying yes. But its our jobs as leaders to make the tough decisions now for future prosperity of Oklahoma. A strong economy is essential to being the most business friendly state in the nation, but we also need an education system that meets our workforce needs. Thanks to everyone in this room, we led the nation by passing the revolutionary Parental Choice Tax Credit last year. Now, students and parents have more options than ever. Because we know God gave kids to parents, not to the government. Emily McDonald, an Edmond mom of three, sent her kids to their zip code school. Her oldest child is thriving in public school. Her second child, a boy with autism, faces struggles, but has gotten the support he needs there as well. But her youngest daughter came home from school crying everyday because of the way other students treated her as she stood up for her brother with autism. Emily had recently lost her husband and was raising three children on her own. She saw her daughter starting to fall behind academically because of the bullying she was experiencing. On a single income, she didnt know if shed be able to afford to send her daughter to another school. The tax credit was in the works, so she took a leap of faith and enrolled her daughter in a private Christian school, praying that they would be approved for the tax credit. Im happy to report her daughter is thriving in her new school. In just half a school year, she has jumped three grade levels in reading. Emily is with us today. There are so many reasons parents may choose a different school that isnt their neighborhood school, and its our job to make sure they have that freedom. Looking forward, lets focus on opening the door to more workforce-oriented schools so that every kid in Oklahoma is college ready or career ready. Lets empower community leaders to start new, innovative schools that are molded to the needs of our state and prepare our students for the future workforce. We want more schools that prepare kids for the workforce like Cristo Ray, Dove Science Academy, or the Norman Aviation Academy. These high schools focus on career training instead of only focusing on college readiness. Norman Aviation Academy is a public school that gives students hands-on experience in the aviation industry. Students can work towards their pilot license or technical certificates in aviation maintenance and leave high school with great jobs at one of the aviation companies here in Oklahoma. Cristo Ray requires kids to intern at different companies one day a week to gain valuable work experience. Lets have more of these schools and be number one in the nation for charter schools. Especially when theyre already proving they work! Oklahoma is top ten in charter school performance. Not only that, Oklahoma ranks number one in the nation for smallest racial performance gap in charter schools. So why are there still barriers for charter schools to use vacant school buildings? Lets put some of these vacant school facilities to use and get more high performing charter schools up and running, especially in areas with failing public schools. More schools, more innovation, more freedom! Send me legislation that paves the way for more charter schools and gives students more options. Additionally, I want to empower our colleges and universities to be the best in the nation. To be the best, we need to shift our focus to outcome-based higher education models and stop subsidizing institutions with low enrollment and low graduation rates. Technology has transformed the way we do higher education, so we cant keep relying on 20th century education models to bring our students into the future workforce. Each college and university needs to focus on the subjects they are best at and become the premier institutions in their area. I want to see legislation that incentivizes models that fulfill our states workforce needs. I also want our regents to focus on consolidating colleges and universities that arent meeting this standard. In Oklahoma, education freedom is for every single student at every single level. We can be the best state for business and have the greatest universities, but if we dont have safe communities, no one will want to live here. I want to be clear: Oklahoma is a law and order state. We support our law enforcement. We punish criminals. We protect our citizens. I want to put criminals on notice: you are not welcome here and you will serve time. We believe in fair sentences, and we believe in second chances. Weve worked hard here to make sure we are prosecuting crimes and rehabilitating those with substance abuse and mental health struggles, and we are focusing on eliminating barriers for those who have served their time. With efforts like the Sarah Stitt Act and our drug court system, we are now #2 in lowest recidivism rates in the nation. Now, we need to focus on limiting fines, fees, and court costs to only what is needed for restitution. We need to address civil asset forfeiture. Its crazy to me that somebody can be pulled over and have their cash and truck taken for an alleged crime, get acquitted of that crime, but they still never get their property back. That isnt fair and we need to make sure it isnt happening anywhere in Oklahoma. In 2022, I said we were going to focus on the states marijuana industry and get it back in line. At its peak, reports showed somewhere between 12,000 and 14,000 licensed marijuana businesses, including many with links to criminal organizations from China, Mexico, and Russia. Through enforcement actions by Donny Anderson at OBN and Adria Berry and the team at OMMA, Oklahoma has gone from having a reputation as the Wild West of Weed to now being viewed as having some of the most effective enforcement and regulatory oversight in the nation. Now, licenses are down 76%. We have to keep bad actors, like the drug cartels, out of our state. That starts with securing our countrys southern border. I have been vocal about my support of Texas and Governor Abbott as they fight to secure our southern border and put pressure on the Biden administration to enforce our laws. I will continue to offer the assistance of the Oklahoma National Guard because we know that when we dont have a secure border, every state is a border state. Lets take a moment to recognize the service of those in our National Guard under the leadership of Major General Tommy Mancino. Many have answered the call of duty and deployed to the southern border in Texas, and to Kenya and Djibouti. We are proud of their bravery and commitment to serving our state and our country. As I talk to people around the state, they tell me they want state government that works efficiently, treats them fairly and protects their fundamental rights. Many Oklahomans I talk to want clarity about who has authority to do what in our state. Thats because today, our state is still dealing with the fallout from the McGirt decision. Its a decision that has rocked our state and caused division where previously there was none. But I know there is a path forward because of the success weve found negotiating compacts with the Chickasaw, the Apache, the Citizen Potawatomi, and the Wyandotte tribal governments over the past few weeks. But we still need clarity. Three years ago, in my state of the state, I asked a few questions stemming from the Supreme Courts decision. In 2021 I asked: Do tribal members living in eastern Oklahoma pay income tax? Today, there are tribal governments supporting a woman named Strobel in her lawsuit before the Oklahoma Supreme Court so she can be exempted from paying income taxes in Oklahoma. In 2021 I asked who regulates agriculture? Water? Energy? Today, there are tribal governments trying to stand in the way of our state Department of Agricultures ability to issue necessary permits to farmers to work on their private land. In 2021 I asked what is the States ability to enforce the laws? There are tribal governments who supported a man named Hooper as he fought against Tulsa Polices authority to enforce traffic laws. In 2021 I asked who had the authority to make arrests and prosecute people? Today, we are dealing with the fallout from the conflict at Okmulgee County Jail where, due to disagreements about who has authority over that part of the state, there was a standoff as a Creek tribal officer tried to arrest a county correctional officer in his own jail. Three years after McGirt, we are still operating under a confusing and conflicting patchwork of jurisdiction across our state. It is imperative that we clarify our law enforcement relationships immediately. Thats why I created the One Oklahoma Task Force to come up with cross-deputization and jail agreements. I hope that this task force can work to find a solution that protects the safety of all four million Oklahomans, regardless of their race or heritage, and I hope the tribes will choose to participate. In 2021 I said, It is critical while embracing the tribal heritage of many Oklahomans that we dont lose sight of the fact that we are all Oklahomans. We cant be a state that operates with two different sets of rules. Especially based on race. Heres the deal things are different in Oklahoma than they are in places like Arizona. Arizona has the Navajo Reservation. And its true tribal members who live on the Navajo reservation dont pay taxes to the state of Arizona. But heres whats also true: The State of Arizona doesnt build roads on the reservation. They dont fund hospitals or public schools or airports on the reservation. They dont send the Arizona Highway Patrol to enforce laws on the reservation. There are tribal governments who want Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma to look like the Navajo Reservation. But Eastern Oklahoma is different than the Navajo Reservation. And we have better outcomes for our tribal populations across the board. Weve operated as One Oklahoma since statehood, and its how were going to operate for as long as Im Governor. I ask you to stand with me to protect one, unified Oklahoma. Before I wrap up, I want to challenge each of us to consider two things: One who are we allowing to influence the laws we make? I love how Boone Pickens put it. When people tried to influence him, he would ask himself do they have a vested interest in what theyre trying to push? Who are we letting influence us here in this building? Are special interests dominating? Or are the interests of all four million Oklahomans guiding our decisions? And the second question is what legacy are we going to leave behind? We need to be working for the next generation, not the next election. Are we leaving Oklahoma better than we found it? Are we willing to risk everything to do the right thing? Or will we risk the dream of Oklahomas future just for personal gain. Ronald Reagan said this, There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right. What are we doing today to protect this Oklahoma we love for our children and grandchildren? If that isnt our sole focus, we are here for the wrong reasons. Governing should be about making the tough decisions, not whats easy or convenient. As I conclude, I want to declare: As for me and my state, we will serve the Lord! Im calling on our businesses to serve God in the marketplace. Our churches to serve God and people in our communities. Our government officials to serve God by acting righteously and serving without partiality. Were making sure the next generation can live out their American Dream their Oklahoma dream. Lets go. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless the great state of Oklahoma. 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 The number of asylum-seeking immigrants entering the country would have been reduced by more than 80% over the last four months had the bipartisan border security legislation released over the weekend been in effect, U.S. Sen. James Lankford said during a teleconference with reporters late Sunday. The greatest deterrent that we have is immediate enforcement and a consequence that is immediate, Lankford said. Right now people get released in the country for 10 years and its a slow if never consequence. If this border emergency authority had been in place Oct. 1, instead of having right at 1 million people who have crossed the border it would have been 200,000, and that 200,000 would have been screened at a higher standard, Lankford said. Of those 200,000, a large share likely would be ultimately deported, too, Lankford said. The measure primarily targets asylum and parole, which almost everyone involved seems to agree are being abused by people attempting to enter the country through normal channels. The proposal ran into quick opposition from House Republicans. The Associated Press reported that House Speaker Mike Johnson said on social media that it would be dead on arrival if it reaches the House. Johnson said on social media, Ive seen enough. This bill is even worse than we expected and wont come close to ending the border catastrophe the president has created. The bill marries border measures with additional support for Ukraine and Israel in their respective wars. Biden said in a statement that the Senate proposal allows the United States to continue our vital work, together with partners all around the world, to stand up for Ukraines freedom and support its ability to defend itself against Russias aggression, the AP reported. The bills stiff opposition in Congress comes mainly from isolationists opposed to $60 billion in aid to Ukraine that was part of the negotiations and those who think it does not go far enough or because they want immigration to remain an emotional issue for the 2024 election. Some people will say, Not enough. This is good stuff, but its not enough, Lankford said. That will be one issue. One will be a political issue. People will say, Hey, its a presidential election year; we should leave this alone. We shouldnt give Biden a win. If the border gets better, hell look better. Former President Donald Trump, the GOPs presumptive 2024 nominee, is in that camp. Lankford disagrees. I dont think anybody is going to look at Biden and say, Hes the border security president after weve had 8 million people cross the border illegally the last three years, more than the previous 12 years combined. Lankford said the legislation includes provisions Trump sought in 2019. As a legislator, he said, he would rather immigration policy and enforcement be set in statute by Congress than by whim of executive order. The measure would essentially end the unsupervised parole of immigrants seeking asylum status in the U.S. Such entrants would be detained until their eligibility is determined according to what Lankford said is a higher standard included in the bill. The bill includes money for 50,000 additional detention beds, additional border agents and staff to screen the applicants. When fully implemented, the plan is to complete those screenings within 90 days. A mandatory border emergency would be declared whenever contacts with illegal immigrants on the southern border, including maritime boundaries from Florida to California, average 5,000 per day for one week. The chief executive would have discretion to call such an emergency if the average reaches 4,000. During a border emergency, all intercepted illegal immigrants, including those claiming asylum status, would be immediately deported. The 5,000 number was much debated, Lankford said. I obviously wanted that number to be much lower. My colleagues on the Republican side want that to be much lower. The White House and Democrats didnt want to have that as a mandatory piece at all. The Associated Press contributed to this story. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Melissa Jacques Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Melissa Jacques 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 Tulsa-area lawmakers have submitted 501 bills for consideration this legislative session, which begins Monday, and affordable housing is a common theme among the measures being proposed. Rep. Monroe Nichols D-Tulsa, with the support of Sen. Kevin Matthews D-Tulsa, has put forward an affordable housing tax credit bill, House Bill 3243, similar to the one they submitted last legislative session. This bill would amend the law that created a tax credit for the owners of eligible projects, which would have to meet the federal standard of low-income housing. The bill would put a cap on the amount of credit the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency is able to offer. Nichols has previously spoken about the need for affordable housing in Tulsa, noting that homelessness and education are also among his primary concerns. He told the Tulsa World when he announced his candidacy for mayor that if you look at the indicators on what it takes for kids to be successful, if you dont have stable housing, you are going to struggle along that (educational) pipeline. According to Tulsas Citywide Housing Assessment, Tulsa will need 12,900 housing units of all types and price points over the next decade. The assessment found that Tulsa is woefully short of affordable housing, with just 14,600 dedicated units. Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, has signed on as the principal Senate author of HB 3499, which would make it easier for people with a criminal record to gain access to housing, tying certain restrictions on landlords to access to the Affordable Housing Tax Credit. In the bill, an applicant for the Affordable Housing Tax Credit would be denied if they have criteria for prospective tenants that discriminate against those with criminal records. Reviews would have to be done on an individual basis to determine whether a potential renter is actually a risk to the property or other residents. A landlord with a blanket policy rejecting any potential renters with a criminal history would not be eligible for the Affordable Housing Tax Credit. Sen. John Haste, R-Broken Arrow, has submitted SB 1755 to create an Affordable Housing Task Force to advise the Legislature on the best policies on affordable housing. Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa, has put forward HB 3956, which would create the Oklahoma Affordable Housing Commission, with a fund to be used to address the needs of low- and middle-income households. Most bills submitted: Sen. Nathan Dahm, R-Broken Arrow, has filed 108 bills and resolutions in his final term. Lawmakers in Oklahoma can serve no more than 12 years in either chamber since Oklahomans passed State Question 632 in 1990. Dahm has proposed several attention-grabbing measures, including one, SB 1837, to license journalists and require criminal background checks and regular drug testing before they are allowed to publish. Another proposal, SB 1684, would ensure that no state employee receives higher compensation than Oklahomas governor. Fewest bills submitted: Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Tulsa, has put up two measures. Newhouse announced in August 2023 that he would not be seeking reelection. One of Newhouses bills, SB 1815, would allow a board of county commissioners to remove dilapidated buildings or vehicles within 300 yards of Oklahoma 66 and state scenic byways. The other, SB 1646, would allow the buyer of an interest in real property to use a transfer-on-death deed, creating beneficiaries of the interest. Real world impact: Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, who is speaker pro tem, submitted HB 3285, which would require state agencies to bring wait times down to 10 minutes and offer a call-back option. This bill is one of the 29 Hilbert has submitted. It has not yet been assigned to a committee. <&rule> The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Vietnam Airlines temporarily grounded eight Airbus A321neos for mandatory engine inspections, as stipulated by the engine manufacturer, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV). The CAAV informed the Ministry of Transport of the impact of a recent Emergency Alert Service Bulletin (EASB) from the U.S.-based Pratt & Whitney, the manufacturer of the PW1100G engines which power Airbus A321neo aircraft. The EASB, issued on November 3, 2023, was applied starting January 1, 2024 to promptly detect unusual failures from the engine production process, the CAAV said. According to the engine manufacturer, 44 Airbus A321neos operated by Vietnamese carriers are subject to the engine inspections. As of January 31, the Federal Aviation Administration of the U.S. and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency had yet to issue any airworthiness directive linked to the recall of the potentially flawed PW1100G engines used in the Airbus A320 and A321neos. However, to ensure the ultimate aviation safety for PW1100G-powered A321neos, the CAAV analyzed the possible effects of the engine recall announced by the manufacturer. The national aviation authority of Vietnam on January 30 asked local carriers to strictly comply with the requirements from Pratt & Whitney, while regularly working with the engine manufacturer and the local airlines to discuss safety measures. Subsequently, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines withdrew the eight A321neos from flying and sent their engines to the manufacturer for maintenance. The local carriers impacted by the engine recall have also taken measures to ensure they maintain adequate fleet sizes for regular operations, the CAAV said. The Airports Corporation of Vietnam, which operates 22 airports in the country, arranged parking slots at two major Vietnamese airports, Tan Son Nhat in Ho Chi Minh City and Noi Bai in Hanoi, to house the grounded aircraft. In related news, the CAAV recently provided local carriers with support in increasing their fleet size to satisfy the soaring travel demand during the Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet, and upcoming public holidays this year. By January 31, local airlines had wet-leased 15 aircraft to serve the Tet peak travel season. A 'wet lease' is a short-term leasing arrangement whereby one carrier provides an aircraft, a complete crew, maintenance, and insurance for another. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! By Lee Min-hyung LS e-Mobility Solutions has opened a new factory manufacturing safety parts for electric vehicles (EV) in Mexico, which the company said will become a strategic base for the supply of key EV components in North America. According to the EV parts arm of LS Electric, Monday, the plant comes with a production capacity of five million EV relays and four million battery disconnect units annually. Both components are considered key for the safety of battery-powered EVs. The facility is located in Mexicos north-central state of Durango. This is the first time the company has established an overseas factory since it was split up from LS Electric in April 2022. LS e-Mobility Solutions identified the region as a key base for the production and logistics for its expansion into the United States. The company operates two other production bases in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, and Wuxi, China. The LS affiliate also presented its vision of achieving sales of 700 billion won ($524.85 million) in North America by 2030 by expanding its partnerships with leading automakers there, such as Ford and Stellantis. Buoyed by its potential growth in the region, the company also aims to generate annual sales of 1.2 trillion won on the timeline. LS e-Mobility Solutions will play a pivotal role in the next-generation core business by growing to become the best auto parts manufacturer for EVs in North America, LS Electric Chairman Koo Ja-kyun said during an event to celebrate the completion of the factory. Investment in EVs is perceived as crucial in an era of electrification. We are expected to create measurable achievement in that we have preemptively expanded our production base in the worlds largest EV market. LS e-Mobility Solutions clinched a mega-sized EV relay supply deal worth 250 billion won with Hyundai Motor and Kia in August last year. It has been only about a year since its division that the company attained an accumulated contract worth 1 trillion won. We have decided to set up the EV parts production line in Mexico as part of efforts to meet the standard required in North America, and this is the first time that a local firm has done so there, an official from the company said. Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City recorded nearly 700 out of 1,100 flights either delayed or canceled during the first three days of February, with bad weather to blame. Many passengers expressed concerns about potential flight delays and cancelations, especially given that Tet is just a week away. These flights were mainly transporting passengers from the southern metropolis to other localities, according to statistics from the Tan Son Nhat Operation Control Center. Bad weather, triggered by dense fog, in the northern region hampered flights from taking off or landing, resulting in flight disruptions in Ho Chi Minh City. Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, promptly issued a directive asking relevant units to ensure air traffic efficiency during the peak period ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. A dense mist enveloped the majority of airports in the northern region on February 2 and 3, disrupting flight operations due to severely limited visibility, the aviation authority said. Impacts from the bad weather on flights were predicted to last until February 8, or the 29th day of the 12th lunar month, according to the national weather center. A representative of a local air carrier told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that all airlines tried their best to ease congestion at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. As of early Sunday morning, all affected passengers have successfully boarded their aircraft to return to their hometowns, gearing up for Tet celebrations The weather is an unavoidable issue, and it has taken a heavy toll on airlines, said the representative. If a flight is delayed, it will cause a domino effect on others, the representative explained. To smooth air traffic flows, the aviation authority urged air carriers to sketch out scenarios for their flight schedules. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read what is in the news in Vietnam today: Society -- Eight Airbus A321neo aircraft in Vietnam have temporarily halted operations to undergo engine removal for inspection in compliance with a recall order issued by engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney, according to the Civial Aviation Authority of Vietnam. -- Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City recorded close to 700 out of 1,100 flights either canceled or delayed during February 1-3. -- Nha Trang City in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam has witnessed a notable surge in the number of Chinese tourists, as well as visitors from South Korea and Russia for the 2024 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday. -- Numerous Vietnamese tourists opt to travel abroad during the extended 2024 Tet holiday to immerse themselves in foreign cultures given affordable tour packages. -- Police in Binh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam on Sunday announced that they had temporarily detained a Russian man suspected of murdering a compatriot with a hammer, concealing the body within bedding, and disposing of it at a land plot. Lifestyle -- A spring flower festival gathering ornamental plants from nurseries in the Mekong Delta region kicked off at Binh Dong Wharf along the Tau Hu Canal in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 8 on Sunday evening. -- The Van Gogh Art Lighting Experience, hosted at Gigamall in Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City, remains accessible throughout the Tet holiday. This immersive exhibition utilizes modern technologies such as 3D mapping and virtual reality to breathe life into the masterpieces of the renowned artist. World News -- 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, Reuters reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Nha Trang City in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam has witnessed a notable surge in the number of Chinese tourists, as well as visitors from South Korea and Russia for the 2024 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday. A representative of Danang Holiday Co. Ltd., which specializes in welcoming Chinese travelers in Nha Trang City, said the number of Chinese tourists visiting the city has climbed, with the majority of them coming from Tianjin, Jinan, Shanxi, and Shenyang. Our company welcomes some 10 charter flights with 200 passengers on board. Many groups of Chinese tourists have arrived in Nha Trang and planned to celebrate Tet there," the representative said. They will stay [in the city] for two to three days, then some choose to travel to Da Lat [in the Central Highlands] or Da Nang City [in central Vietnam]." According to Do Thi Van Anh, deputy director of Khang Thai Vietnam Travel Co. Ltd., the opening of many air routes from China to Khanh Hoa has helped bring a large number of tourists from the northern neighbor to the south-central Vietnamese province. Chinese tourists favor Khanh Hoa because the province celebrates Tet, shares cultural similarities, and boasts a favorable climate, particularly appealing to visitors from Chinese localities still experiencing cold weather. The company has initiated promotional programs, and the reported number of Chinese tourists booking tours to Nha Trang for this Tet is approximately 20-30 percent higher than the figures recorded in the last two months of 2023, Anh said. Chinese are fond of experiencing Vietnamese Tet, so we have designed tours involving lion dances and calligraphy, Van Anh said. Chinese tourists prefer Khanh Hoa as the province shares many similarities in culture with China and has a favorable climate. Photo: Minh Chien / Tuoi Tre Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the two countries, China was the largest source market of Khanh Hoa. The revival of Chinese tourists this Tet is a positive signal, said Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, director of the provincial Department of Tourism. In May last year, the department paid a trip to promote Khanh Hoas tourism in Sichuan Provinces Chengdu City and Shanghai City and invite Chinese agencies and enterprises to join fam trips to the Vietnamese province. In 2024, the province will persist in enhancing promotional programs in the Chinese market and introducing new products to cater to the needs of Chinese tourists, Thanh said. During the Tet holiday, from February 6 to 15, Cam Ranh International Airport in the province is expected to welcome over 850 flights with 150,000 international tourists on board. Of them, there will be about 60,000 Chinese travelers on 430 flights, or 21 flights per day, an airport leader informed. There will be also 370 flights carrying 66,000 South Koreans, 40 flights with some 6,000 passengers from Russia, 20 flights with 6,000 visitors from Kazakhstan, 14 flights with nearly 2,000 Malaysian tourists, and 20 flights with 3,000 travelers from Thailand during the period. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Netizens have expressed outrage over dashcam footage showing a driver permitting their two children to stand up through the sunroof while traveling on a high-speed section of the Phan Thiet-Dau Giay Expressway connecting south-central Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City. The video, which surfaced on social media on Monday, depicts two children sticking their heads and bodies out of the sunroof of a car traveling on the expressway from south-central Binh Thuan Province to Ho Chi Minh City. The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday afternoon on a section passing through Xuan Loc District in southern Dong Nai Province, where speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour are permitted. Many witnesses were alarmed by the sight and criticized the potential danger. Initially shared on social media, the controversial footage quickly circulated among car enthusiast groups, sparking outrage from netizens. Many Internet users voiced frustration at the driver for allowing their children to engage in such perilous conduct. As per regulations, drivers caught violating seat belt laws -- permitting passengers to travel without wearing seat belts in designated positions while the vehicle is in motion -- may incur fines ranging from VND800,000 (US$33) to VND1 million ($41). Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! While the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday offers a chance for many people to reunite with their families in their hometown and celebrate the arrival of spring, for overseas Vietnamese, it also provides an opportunity to receive effective medical care at affordable rates in Vietnam. In the days leading up to Tet, the University Medical Center under the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City has seen a significant influx of overseas Vietnamese patients seeking respiratory examinations. Among them, many expressed immense joy and relief upon receiving treatment after years of grappling with their conditions abroad. Reflecting on his experience of respiratory examination within the U.S. healthcare system, N.T.V., 46, complained, In the U.S., scheduling an appointment with a family doctor typically entails a month-long wait. After five to six visits, if issues persist, theres a chance of a referral to a specialist. In Vietnam, I can undergo examination with specialists immediately on my first visit, and I have the freedom to choose doctors according to my preference. Overseas Vietnamese also encounter language barriers during medical examinations in other countries. Many elderly Vietnamese patients in the U.S., unfamiliar with English, must rely on interpreters, often feeling embarrassed to disclose their medical conditions to strangers. V. noted that despite undergoing numerous examinations with his family doctor in the U.S., he never received a clear explanation of his condition, often being prescribed a blue inhaler for his breathing difficulties. Several other overseas Vietnamese patients recounted being diagnosed with asthma without undergoing respiratory tests, instead being prescribed inhaled corticosteroids commonly used for mild asthma treatment. During emergencies, they are provided with additional inhalers and backup oxygen tanks. They can only count on relatives for transportation to medical facilities in the event of acute asthma attacks, posing significant risks to their lives. In Vietnam, in situations similar to V.'s, doctors conduct inquiries into medical and family histories, current medications, exacerbation history, triggers for shortness of breath, and current symptoms. Subsequently, patients undergo a clinical examination, X-rays, and spirometry to confirm diagnosis. Prescriptions are then tailored to each patients diagnosis. In the U.S., only a limited number of family doctors possess the necessary equipment to conduct spirometry, necessitating patients to seek specialized facilities for this procedure. Most overseas Vietnamese patients have reported that the results from their follow-up examinations in Vietnam after four weeks indicate a significant decrease in respiratory symptoms. The positive results even prompted one patient to consider arranging their permanent return to Vietnam. In addition, dental treatments and beauty services such as skincare and cosmetic surgery are highly favored among overseas Vietnamese when they return to their homeland. Tran Cao Binh, director of Hanoi Central Dental Hospital, noted a sharp increase in foreigners and overseas Vietnamese seeking dental care in Vietnam post-COVID-19. Binh attributes this surge to the substantially lower cost of dental treatments in Vietnam, which can be five to 10 times cheaper than in foreign countries, with certain services being up to 20 times cheaper, while in terms of technology and medical expertise, Vietnams standards are on par with other nations. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Binh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam have detained a man of Russian nationality on suspicion of killing his countryman out of their conflict over room renting. Nikiforov Roman, 40, was taken into custody over 48 hours after law enforcement initiated an investigation prompted by a report of a body discovered in an uninhabited area in Phan Thiet City, located within Binh Thuan Province, local police said on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Vasilii, a 44-year-old Russian man. His lifeless body was discovered wrapped in bed drapes and plastic bags by local residents late on Thursday afternoon, police officers said. Upon removing the coverings, law enforcement officers observed that the victim had sustained head injuries, and his legs were bound. Based on Roman's initial statements, he and the deceased Russian individual had a close relationship and had previously shared a rented room. On January 30, a heated dispute erupted between the two individuals over room rental matters, leading to a physical altercation that took place in a rented room in Phan Thiet's Ham Tien Ward. Roman employed a hammer to fatally assault his compatriot and subsequently transported the victim's body on a motorcycle to the aforementioned remote area, abandoning it in an attempt to eliminate evidence of the crime. During the search of the room, law enforcement confiscated the hammer, the motorcycle, and other items connected to the killing. Local police are actively pursuing their investigation. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Ambassadors to Vietnam from the G4 countries, New Zealand, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland, have expressed their good wishes to Vietnamese people and other foreigners in Vietnam with a short tribute video. The four foreign diplomats walked down the street in Hanoi to meet sanitation workers and street vendors to thank them for their contributions, as well as to give them lucky money, a custom called li xi in Vietnamese. As we get ready to celebrate Tet and the lunar Year of the Dragon, we all want a more beautiful, happier, and fairer world for ourselves and our children. This cannot be achieved by governments alone, said Thomas Gass, Ambassador of Switzerland to Vietnam. The better world that we want will only become a reality if all people, all organizations, and all private enterprises participate in pursuing these goals." Everyone can and should participate with their resources, capacities, and reflections, Gass stated. Sustainable development requires a society where all people can participate in the reflection about what should change, how it should change, and how they can contribute, he added. Meeting Tuyet, a sanitation worker, on a street in Hanoi one day, a few days from the 2024 Lunar New Year festival, Hilde Solbakken, Ambassador of Norway to Vietnam, shared that she was so happy to feel the pride that Ms. Tuyet is showing in her work. Another Tet is around the corner. Lets take this occasion to highlight the contribution of workers like Tuyet who I met today," she said. She and many others are working hard every day, and even more now around Tet to keep the city tidy and clean and enjoyable for all the rest of us. Tet is the time for appreciation and hope, so I wish the new Year of the Dragon will bring everyone joy, health, prosperity, and also opportunities for decent work and professional fulfillment." The over-three-minute video also shows Ginny Chapman, charges d'affaires ad interim at the Embassy of New Zealand in Vietnam, visiting a street stall and handing out lucky money to Hien, the owner of the stall, as a way to hail her contribution to Vietnams economic growth. She said that workers like Hien play a vital role in the Vietnamese economy. They offer a wide range of goods and services, many of which are much more affordable for lower-income residents, Chapman stressed. Street vending offers an alternate source of livelihood for many people who might otherwise struggle to find work, she said. And for me, street vendors add to the richness and the diversity of the Vietnamese landscape, Chapman said. She also wishes the Year of the Dragon will bring these workers and everyone else the best of luck and happiness. I wish all of us, including informal workers, a more prosperous, mentally and physically healthy, and supportive year, said Shawn Steil, Ambassador of Canada to Vietnam. He also underscored, Supporting informal workers and guaranteeing everyone decent work is crucial for a more inclusive and equitable society. The four foreign diplomats and some local street vendors and sanitation employees say Happy New Year! to end the video. Ambassadors to Vietnam from the G4 countries, New Zealand, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland, send Tet wishes to the Vietnamese people. Video: Embassies of the G4 countries. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Renowned Dutch DJ and record producer Martin Garrix spent four days exploring Son Doong Cave, one of the world's largest natural caves, which is located in Quang Binh Province, north-central Vietnam, describing the trip as one of a lifetime. He called the four days in the cave "the most magical days ever." He shared a post of his journey with 10 photos taken at Son Doong Cave on Instagram on Saturday, which has attracted more than 170,000 likes and 1,000 comments. Many of his followers praised the beauty of the cave, saying "fantastic, unreal," "epic," "so beautiful," or "looks absolutely amazing." Norwegian DJ and music producer Alan Walker, who is primarily known for his single 'Faded' left a comment under Garrixs post, saying, Filmed one of my music videos there! Amazing location! In 2019, Alan Walker went to Vietnam to film his music video Alone Pt. II, which has attracted more than 361 million views on YouTube. Many Vietnamese fans thanked Garrix for coming to Son Doong Cave and invited international friends to visit Vietnam. Son Doong Cave was discovered in 1991 by a local man named Ho Khanh. Photo: Instagram of Martin Garrix Late last month, Garrix posted a video of him and his friends enjoying coffee on the train street where coffee shops are just inches from the active railway in Hanoi. Previously, Garrix traveled to Vietnam for a 20,000-spectator concert in Hanoi in 2016 and for a Formula 1 event in Ho Chi Minh City in 2018. Born in 1996, Martin Garrixs birth name is Martijn Gerard Garritsen. He is the youngest music talent to be in the DJ Mag magazines Top 100 DJs in the world, ranking 46th, at the age of 17. He topped the list in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2022. Son Doong Cave is nearly nine kilometers long with sections reaching up to 200 meters tall and 160 meters wide. Photo: Instagram of Martin Garrix U.S. National Geographic magazine announced Son Doong Cave as the worlds largest natural limestone cave in 2009 and the Guinness World Records Organization recorded the cave as the world's largest natural cave in 2013. Photo: Instagram of Martin Garrix Its name Son Doong means the cave of the mountain river or cave of mountains behind Doong [Village].' Photo: Instagram of Martin Garrix Son Doong Cave is five times larger than Deer Cave in Malaysia, the worlds largest known cave before Son Doong was found. Photo: Instagram of Martin Garrix Son Doong Cave has many magnificent stalagmites and stalactites, some over 80 meters tall, and even a primeval forest with an underground river. Photo: Instagram of Martin Garrix Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Ad agencies have welcomed VOZ tools for cross-media reach comparisons, but will not use it as a trading currency until it achieves gold standard certification, Mediaweek has reported. Media agencies are at least 12 months from adopting VOZ Total TV audience reach metrics and will continue to trade and report TV ratings using total audience measurement (TAM). While the media and networks will now exclusively report using VOZ Total TV audience reach, media agencies will continue to trade and report in TAM while also using VOZ and other metrics. Paige Wheaton, head of investment at Initiative said there was a great opportunity for people to confuse total Reach with average audience Reach. Its easy to see how a marketer could look at MAFS national reach of 2.5 million and think, Oh my gosh, thats massive; it used to be 1 million. But we have to tell them, No, its a different measurement and metric. Theres an important job for us to educate clients and ensure they have access to the original reporting that we would typically provide to understand the difference because it can be confusing or misleading. If youre a client looking at last nights MAFS episode, for example, said Lucy Formosa Morgan, managing director of Magna. For it to be relevant to them, they would have had to have had a spot in every single one, in terms of metro, regional and BVOD, and chances are they havent. Chris Androulidakis, the operations manager at PHD Australia said, As a metric, it is a positive change that will enable cross-media reach comparisons, which is more relevant than audience numbers. Total National Reach will be used to report against, however figures wont be comparable to what we are used to seeing and historic evaluations will be difficult. Available ratings reports will be very topline until the tools are fully operational with third-party suppliers. Senior media agency executives told Mediaweek that agencies would not switch to VOZ as a trading currency until it achieves gold standard certification, with Q4 2024 cited by agencies as the earliest this could happen. You can read more here. SKY News anchor Peter Stefanovic will present MH370: Ten Years On later this month, as the 10th anniversary of arguably the greatest mystery in aviation history approaches. This follows from previous documentaries that includes MH370: The Final Search and MH370: The Untold Story which remains the channels highest rated documentary. Peter Stefanovic said: An increasing number of experts weve spoken to are adamant the plane crashed in an area that was never searched and, not too far beyond the original search zone. Surely, with the advances in technology and another recent vessel that was found at a similar depth, its worth another crack at solving the greatest aviation mystery of all time. On the night of 8 March 2014, a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 carrying 239 people, including six Australians, vanished without a trace while on a routine flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. After ten years and following the most expensive sea search the world has ever seen involving Malaysian, Australian, Chinese, and French authorities, what happened to MH370 remains unknown. In this new one-hour documentary Peter speaks with aviation experts, oceanographers, and brave sailors who took on the quest of finding MH370. He also meets family members of victims, with their own appeal to our government. More recent advances in technology have reinforced the theory that the plane crashed in an area that was never searched and at a location that experienced pilots, as revealed in MH370: The Untold Story more than three years ago, have suspected all along. All evidence to date has been meticulously re-examined. With the addition of new scientific evidence and analysis, Peter uncovers why the search must go on and why all previous attempts have been unsuccessful. The documentary also sheds light on the diplomatic difficulties with the Malaysian Government, the actions of Australian search authorities, and hears campaigners ask the question: was there a cover-up? Tuesday 20 February at 7.30pm on SKY News. Lee Jae-yong acquitted of charges related to 2015 merger of 2 affiliates By Park Jae-hyuk A local court has acquitted Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong of stock price rigging and accounting fraud charges involving the 2015 merger of two affiliates. The verdict clears the path for the chairman to resume full-scale business activities for the group, including pursuing large-scale acquisitions. The Seoul Central District Court cleared Lee of the allegations regarding the merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries, which, according to the prosecution, was intended to allow him to illegally inherit management control over the group from his father. The court also acquitted former Samsung executives of any involvement in the alleged crime. The presiding judge said it is unclear whether the merger was intended only for Lee to inherit management control over Samsung and tighten his grip over the conglomerate. It is difficult to see that the stock exchange ratio between Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries was unfair, the ruling read. The merger does not seem to be intended to damage shareholders. The judge said the merger was beneficial to Lee's control over the group, but highlighted that the two affiliates had deliberated on the necessity of the merger, acknowledging its business relevance. The ruling came three years and five months after prosecutors indicted Lee. Last November, the prosecution sought a jail term of five years and a 500 million won ($373,000) fine for the chairman. During his trial, Lee was also sent to jail in January 2021 on charges of bribing impeached President Park Geun-hye to win the administrations support for the merger. He was released on parole in August that year and President Yoon Suk Yeol pardoned him a year later. Although it is expected to take several more years for an appellate court and the Supreme Court to arrive at rulings on Lees allegations, legal experts expect the upper courts to reach similar conclusions. In his concluding testimony last November, the Samsung chairman urged the court to give his company an opportunity to concentrate on moving forward, especially in the face of escalating geopolitical risks. After the ruling, Lee's attorney issued a short statement expressing gratitude over the court's decision. Financial Supervisory Service Governor Lee Bok-hyun, a former prosecutor who led investigations into the Samsung chief, told reporters on Monday morning that the court ruling will settle legal risks surrounding the company. I hope the court ruling unshackles Samsung and Lee, so that the company can reform its management and contribute to the national economy, the governor said. Securities analysts also expect the nations largest conglomerate to pursue aggressive investments under Lee's leadership. Samsung has never carried out a large-scale acquisition since 2017 when it purchased Harman for $8 billion, although its executives have continuously hinted at the Korean firms takeover of promising companies here and abroad. Despite Lees appointment as the chairman in 2022, uncertainties over his sentence have made it difficult for him to conduct a large-scale investments or increase shareholder returns, Hi Investment & Securities analyst Lee Sang-heon said. The court ruling paved way for him to manage the conglomerate in his own style. Securities analysts also expect Lee to re-register as a Samsung Electronics director. This week Back Roads heads to Timber Creek in the Top End with guest presenter Kristy OBrien. This week, join guest presenter Kristy OBrien as she flies into one of the biggest live fire training areas in the world. Near the NT town of Timber Creek, the Australian Defence Force conducts large scale military exercises, often with its allied partners. But on arrival Kristy finds a different kind of friendship is being forged, this time between the ADF and the traditional owners of the land, the Ngaliwurru Nungali and Jaminjung people. The elders have fond memories of growing up here when it was a sprawling, privately owned cattle station and the army welcomes them back on country to hold a culture camp, to teach their children and grandchildren the old ways. In recent years, theyve invited the soldiers and US sailors and marines to join in and this special friendship is having positive spin offs for neighbouring Timber Creek. One of the elders, Daniel Jones, started a contracting firm in town in 2008, doing fencing, road grading and cultural burning for the Army. Nearly all its employees are Indigenous. Daniels sister Lorraine worked as a Police Liaison officer in Timber Creek in the 1990s. She says permanent work has given the young men a great sense of pride. And Kristy discovers Timber Creeks connection with the military dates back to WW2. She meets Bazza Burrowes, whos 81, the colourful caretaker of the local police museum, and learns about the little- known unit that patrolled the region on horseback. The special friendship between the ADF and the traditional owners isnt the only surprise in store. Kristy stumbles across the locals whove found love in the most unexpected places. 8pm Tuesday on ABC. Australian actor Gregory Charles Rivers, who built a career working in Hong Kong film and television, has died aged 58. The South China Morning Post reports police discovered his body dead in a suspected suicide at his home in Clear Water Bay on Friday, after receiving a report from his family. Less than 40 years ago, Rivers bought a one-way ticket to Hong Kong to work as an English teacher. He met his wife, Bonnie Cheung, in the city and later secured a contract with TVB, the leading local free television broadcaster, to act in a drama series, Twilight Of A Nation. The audition was really bad but they didnt have a second choice, he recalled in an ABC News interview. I ended up being TVBs token Caucasian for 20 years straight! Renowned among local audiences for his fluency in Cantonese, he appeared in more than 200 soap operas in roles that ranged from high-ranking police officers to foreign ambassadors. Some of his popular work included the 2022 action thriller Man on the Edge opposite legendary Hong Kong actor Simon Yam. He also starred opposite Jackie Chan in the 2021 HK comedy movie All U Need Is Love. One fan wrote: He was one of us, the Hongkongers. It is very sad to see this great man go this way. Other admirers spoke about the actors passion for Cantonese culture and artistic contributions to Hong Kong, with some saying they grew up watching him in local TV dramas. His love for Hong Kong, its film, TV, music culture, and Cantonese really shined through, another internet user wrote. Gareth Williams, Australias consul general in Hong Kong and Macau, wrote, Born in Gympie, Queensland, Rivers moved to HK in 1988 and went on to become one of the best-known Cantonese-speaking foreign actors in Hong Kong television, he wrote. My sincere condolences to Rivers family and many friends. Rivers was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2017, though he successfully underwent surgery and remained cancer-free after that. In 2018, however, Rivers was diagnosed with arrhythmia, and was reported to be in heavy debt after undergoing two surgeries for the heart condition. Tragically, Rivers wife Bonnie Cheung passed away just a few months before him. Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Lifeline: 13 11 14 Source: South China Morning Post, The Star, Daily Mail. (Bloomberg) -- Olaf Scholz is not known for expressions of self-doubt. So a nation took notice when the German chancellor voiced, for the first time, that things werent going to plan. Most Read from Bloomberg When quizzed on the dissatisfaction engulfing his three-party coalition Scholz told the weekly Die Zeit: As chancellor I bear responsibility for the government. Period. So it would be absurd to say that I have nothing to do with it. Is that a form of self-criticism? the reporters asked, in apparent disbelief. Yes, answered the chancellor, shocking German citizens who have come to doubt that he could doubt himself. Despite an ailing economy, a self-inflicted budget crisis and an electoral menace from the far-right, the Social Democrat has long presented himself as a leader with everything under control. His first reaction after Germanys top court ruled his budget unconstitutional was to insist on business as usual. When protesters drowned out a speech he gave in the city of Cottbus by honking horns outside, he told the assembled crowd We live in turbulent times. Hes brushed away critics of his leadership with the remark that he is hardly John Wayne. After his recent, unlikely flash of contrition it wasnt long before Scholz was back in Teflon mode. Last week gave him reasons to be cheerful: Germany had taken a hard line on Hungarys obstruction to the aid package European Union states wanted to pass for Ukraine and, with a little help from fellow leaders, theyd got Prime Minister Viktor Orban to cave. The win in Brussels will be followed this week by a visit to Washington the third time US President Joe Biden has received Scholz since he was elected two-and-a-half years ago. The US presidents mantra compare me not to the almighty, but to the alternative is one the chancellors team are known to enjoy. Story continues Still, the problems tailing his leadership would be hard for even a professional optimist to ignore. Downfall of a Know-It-All, read the cover of Der Spiegel magazine after the budget court ruling, depicting a disgruntled Scholz holding his worn-out briefcase. Inside it the chancellor likes to keep tomes by authors like Richard Rorty, whose Pragmatism as Anti-Authoritarianism he was reading last year. Under Rortys influence, he clings to his belief in the power of an upbeat narrative. Members of society must be able to tell themselves a story about how everything can get better, Scholz says on his website, citing the American philosopher. The economy is one thing that keeps the rest of the country from buying in. Critics and even members of his party worry Scholz and his inner circle dont have a plan for turning things around. Through a series of crises, German governments got used to exempting themselves from their own budget rules. Now the crisis is that there isnt one at least, not officially and so, chastened by the high courts ruling, the government is having to obey the usual austere limits on financing through debt. Thats resulted in clawbacks that are antagonizing everyone from farmers to businesses trying to embrace clean energy. We just dont have any money anymore, Carsten Schneider, a lawmaker from Scholzs SPD, said last week. Members of Scholzs party have their own motives for gloom. The erosion of the chancellors power is unsettling lawmakers in his Social Democrat parliamentary group. For them, the slump in polls requires a major turnaround before the 2025 federal election. Their partys polling in third place at 14%. Some colleagues expect debate over Scholzs leadership to reach fever pitch after September, when the far-right Alternative for Germany party is set to place first in three regional elections. Those colleagues shared their views on condition of anonymity, like others who spoke to Bloomberg for this article. In the state of Thuringia, polls suggest the SPD could even fail to clear the five-percent threshold meaning it would be kicked out of the regional parliament. The chancellor must find a way out of this fatal downward dynamic, Philipp Tuermer, head of the SPD youth wing and one of the loudest internal critics of Scholz, told RND media instead of continuing to work in a mode where no one trusts each other anymore. In his first parliamentary speech this year, on Wednesday, Scholz at least managed to rally the SPD behind him again with sharp attacks against conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz. What does your political program actually have to do with the future of Germany? Scholz shouted at Merz in the Bundestag. Economic expertise: Zero. That is the truth. No prospects for Germany. No industrial perspective. No prospects for jobs. SPD lawmakers cheered the chancellors combative speech. For now, at least, he has averted open rebellion. Recent allegations about a meeting where Scholzs resignation was discussed he dismissed as a fairy tale. When the Die Zeit interviewers reminded him that even Pope Francis, Gods representative on earth, admitted to moments of doubt and darkness, Scholz responded: I also have self-doubt. But your question was whether I had thought about quitting. The answer is: No. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Nishta Mauree says she is scared for the future of her family with looming visa costs (Praxis) Nishta Mauree came to the UK from Mauritius in 2006. During that time, she has only used the NHS once: to give birth to her baby daughter in 2022. And yet from Tuesday, she faces a bill of more than 1,000 every year just to access basic healthcare. The Hackney mother and charity worker is among tens of thousands of migrants that will be affected by a 66 per cent rise in the immigration health surcharge (IHS) from February 6. The fee, jumping from 624 to 1,035 a year for most migrants, is paid in a lump sum by most visa or immigration applicants who are staying in the UK for more than six months. Under the changes, a family of four will pay more than 3,500 a year to use the NHS, despite already contributing to the health service through tax. Charities have warned that the rate rise could push thousands of people into poverty and financial hardship. "I am scared for the future of my family. My visa renewal is coming up in four months and I don't have the savings to cover it or know whether it will even be possible to pay," Ms Mauree, 31, told the Standard. "Thank god I am healthy at the moment and I hope it stays like that. I have always paid my taxes and played my part, so it is outrageous to be put in this situation." The rise in the standard rate comes on top of a significant hike in visa fees and other restrictions on migrants. Last October, work and visit fees went up by 15 per cent while family and settlement visas increased by 20 per cent. From March, care workers will no longer be able to bring family members to the UK, and an increase in the minimum salary required for those arriving on a skilled worker or family visa comes into force later this year. 'This money could go towards my daughter's future' Ms Mauree is currently on the ten-year route to settlement pathway, which means she has to pay the NHS surcharge every two and a half years as well as fees for her renewal application, which cost 1,258. An adult entering the ten-year route to settlement now will have paid the Government more than 18,000 by time they are allowed to remain in the UK indefinitely. Story continues "I know a lot of people in the immigrant community who won't use the NHS, no matter how sick they are. People are really struggling to make ends meet as the cost of living is immense," Ms Mauree, who lives in Hackney, said. "My daughter is a British citizen - this money could be going towards her future. There are times at the end of the month where I dont have any money left and I have to borrow it from friends and family even though I work a full time job. It's really hard." A House of Commons research paper published in November quoted a Home Office estimate that around 1.5 million visas or visa extensions were granted on routes liable for the surcharge in the year to June 2023. In a written statement last month, legal migration minister Tom Pursglove said that people coming to the UK on a visa should make a "sufficient financial contribution" towards the cost of services such as the NHS. The rate rise, he claimed, would "reflect the increases in healthcare expenditure and better reflects NHS service use by payers". Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also justified the rate rise on the basis that it will help fund a pay rise for NHS workers, including nurses. "I am hoping that Mr Sunak will change his mind and give us a way to pay this. If he wants a good night's sleep, he needs to think about what he is doing to people," Ms Mauree said. "We didn't come here to take people's jobs or benefits... it upsets me because many people have no choice, they have to come to this country to be safe." 'Immigrants can't just go home' Josephine Whitaker-Yilmaz, policy and public affairs manager at Praxis, a migrant help organisation, said that the rate rise would leave many families unable to afford their bills. "This is going to cause great levels of financial hardship and more people pushed out of lawful immigration status. Contrary to common perception, many migrants can't just 'go home' when they can't afford their visa fees. For many people the UK has been their home for decades and they have family here," she told the Standard. "People who can't afford this are going to slip into undocumented status, which will create barriers for them to get the healthcare they need. A lot of migrants will put off getting treatment until their condition has got really bad, which will push up the cost of treating them in the first place." She also raised doubts over the accuracy of the Government's calculation for raising the charge by 66 per cent. "We have seen MPs and peers recently question how the fee has gone up so much. It seems to be an entirely political move and certainly not one that is based on how this is going to impact the poorest households." A Home Office spokesperson said: While recognising migrants contribution to the United Kingdom, the government mandates a financial contribution from those using public services including the NHS. From 6 February, the Immigration Health Surcharge will be raised by 66 per cent to 1,035. The new rate reflects increases in healthcare expenditure and better reflects the NHS use by migrants, who are provided with near comprehensive access to health services in return. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Views & Analysis Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur: Appropriating Icons for Political End As soon as the BJP-led NDA government announced the award of Bharat Ratna posthumously to Karpoori Thakur, he became the subject of discussion in the mainstream media as a 'socialist icon'. Read More Monday February 5, 2024 10:52 PM , Prem Singh On the occasion of the birth centenary of Karpoori Thakur (24 January 192417 February 1988), several programs have been organized at different parts of the country from January 2023 till now. But the coverage of those programs in the mainstream media was negligible. Information about those programs was available only on social media. Articles and comments discussing Karpoori Thakur's personality, politics and ideology were also published on social media and in a few small magazines. As soon as the BJP-led NDA government announced the award of Bharat Ratna posthumously to Karpoori Thakur, he became the subject of discussion in the mainstream media as a 'socialist icon'. Particularly English newspapers published the news, reporting, articles and editorials about him with great enthusiasm. The reactions of many leaders and parties on this sudden decision of the government also became a subject of the media. In all this, the government's politics behind the decision to award Bharat Ratna to Thakur was also mentioned and discussed. It was said that the government has used Bharat Ratna to blunt the opposition's caste-based census card. That is, the feat of immersing mandal into brimming kamandal with the construction and inauguration of Ram Temple has been accomplished by awarding Bharat Ratna to Thakur! The RSS/BJP has tried to prove through this award that there is no conflict between Hindutva and social justice. By conferring the same award on LK Advani is in line with its well thought out plan. However, it is worth noting that the central government did not commemorate Karpoori Thakur in Bihar or any other state during the entire birth centenary year, which ended on 24 January 2024. Despite being awarded the Bharat Ratna, it does not seem that the government will have any serious concern with Karpoori Thakur even in future. Actually, this is just an election maneuver of the government. Politics of Bharat Ratna The politics of Bharat Ratna has also engulfed the Grand Alliance government of Bihar. There was a tussle between the claimants to the inheritance of Thakur. Nitish Kumar, an 'engineer' of Extremely Backward Classes (EBCs), while commenting on the award, took a dig at RJD's dynastic politics by saying that Thakur never did dynastic politics. He, in fact, declared himself the real heir of Thakur by saying that he himself too never took his family forward in politics. In order to further strengthen his claim he also stated that he made Thakur's son Ramnath Thakur a member of the Rajya Sabha, who always follows him. He also conveyed a message to the BJP that he alone has the patent on EBC votes in Bihar. That is, the benefit of giving Bharat Ratna to Thakur passes through the corridor of his rightful heir! There was a tussle going on between JDU and RJD for some time. Apart from this, Nitish was upset that despite being a tallest leader in the opposition camp, the India alliance did not declare him as the Prime Ministerial candidate. He was not even made the president of the alliance. Even before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he expected that the Congress would go ahead accepting him as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the combined opposition. When this did not happen, he left the Grand Alliance and went back with the BJP. He again returned to BJP-led NDA, picking up the bale of legacy of Thakur. The interesting thing is that Thakur, who suddenly came into limelight after the announcement of Bharat Ratna, has been ostracized, and Nitish Kumar has gained the centre-stage. Editorials and articles in newspapers are now throwing light on mandal-kamandal politics and its various variations. Thakur and his persona, politics and ideology are no more topics of interest. Political analysts seem to have accepted that the future of social justice politics lies not with the socialist ideology of Thakur, but with the politics of Hindutva, which carries their cherished agenda of development and good governance. Also Read Bharat Ratna to WHICH Advani? About Krpoori Thakur? In such a situation, it would be appropriate to ask the question whether the Bharat-Ratna, that came out of the womb of power-greedy politics of communalism, casteism, individualism and vanshvad (dynasty rule) while sitting in the lap of corporate houses, to Thakur enhances his honor or diminishes his dignity posthumously. In fact, this episode once again explains that in the era of corporate-communal nexus in politics the national icons are being humiliated by being used in undignified power-politics. A little discussion of Thakur, the politician, would not be out of place here. He has been a leader of great versatility. As much as he was involved in politics and socialist ideology, he was equally learned in literature, art and culture. People in academia and literature often noted that he always used to travel with a heavy bag of books. He had his own ideological and political training in socialist thoughts and movement. However, he used to imbibe all the transformative ideas coming from various sources including the ideas of Phule, Ambedkar and Periyar. He had a deep commitment towards basic modern values like democracy, secularism, civil liberties and human rights. His simplicity and his insistence on not taking the slightest advantage of his political position for the benefit of his family and friends was a clear indication of his link with the Gandhian-Socialist stream. Thakur belonged to an extremely backward and small in numbers the barber caste. Despite such a background, he could develop an independent political personality of himself. Thakur was actually a child of the Freedom Movement and the Socialist Movement. He started his political innings by leaving college and participating in the Quit India Movement. He was elected member of Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1952 elections. From then till his death, he always won the assembly elections continuously. He won the Lok Sabha election from Samastipur in 1977. In his entire political career, he lost only the 1984 Lok Sabha elections. He played the role of Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly for a long time. He became the Chief Minister of Bihar twice from 22 December 1970 to 2 June 1971, and from 24 June 1977 to 21 April 1979. He had a deep knowledge of parliamentary rules and processes, and was sincerely adhered to them. He had made a provision of 8, 12, 3, 3 percent reservation for extremely backward classes, other backward classes, women and economically poor of general category respectively. This is known as Karpoori Formula, for which he had to face even abusive language from people with upper caste feudal mindset, especially the Jan Sangh cadres. Not only did southern leader Devraj Urs take a dig at Thakur's reservation policy, it also became a subject of controversy among socialists. Some people say that the provision of sub-quota within the quota had the consent and inspiration of JP, whereas some hold the opposite opinion. Both Lalu Prasad Yadav and Nitish Kumar, who claim to be Thakur's heirs, have proven to be leaders who only settle the electoral calculations of castes. They have not been moved by Thakur's commitment to socialism and social harmony. 'A Committed Socialist' Being a committed socialist, he always tried to bring the marginalized groups forward, but considered himself mainly as a representative of the people of Bihar. Many obstacles came in his way, not to forget his 'low' caste, but he overcame them all with his political and ideological commitment. Never in his life did he resort to communal casteism and casteist 'identityism'. He emerged as a leader of the people - jannayak, not a leader of any caste. This particular merit of his personality can be viewed through a poem titled 'Bheed Se Ghira Adami (A man surrounded by the crowds) by Jabir Husain. This poem, the best among many poems written on him, shows that the personality of Thakur was not bound by region, caste and religion. He used to call himself a casteless person. Even his commitment to the country was only that it should be freed from colonial subjugation so that a society of equality can be established by transforming the multi-layered feudal-hegemonic system. The poem also suggests that his personality is not meant to evoke worship but to be an inspiration for struggle. During the freedom struggle Karpoori Thakur himself composed a famous poem titled 'Hum Soe Watan Ko Jagane Chale Hain' (We walk to stir the nation awake): We walk to stir the nation awake/ breathe life into the dead/to through the gauntlet at the powerful/who ignore the helpless ill-fed/dont push us further o tyrant/lest we burn it all to ground/ unbent, headlong we rush/to raise the listless from the ground/we walk to stir the nation awake. This poem too suggests that he was a leader of the underprivileged-exploited masses with a deep ideological understanding. 'De-Brahmanization' Dr. Lohias thesis - Class is mobile caste. Caste is immobile class - is about Thakur's understanding of caste and class question at a practical level. When the leaders who openly play dynasty politics in a feudal style claim themselves as the heirs of the legacy of Thakur, they simply devalue him. Lohia's offer to bring Dalits, Adivasis, backward castes, women and poor Muslims ahead in politics was an epoch-making idea to transform the socio-economic-political-cultural structures of the country forever. Lohia hoped for de-brahmanization and de-colonization of the minds of these marginalized communities because this 'mind' had been largely free from the clutches of old brahmanical and the new colonial value systems. In this way, that 'mind' could have been a permanent deterrent to communal fascism and capitalist imperialism. But this idea of Lohia, full of possibilities of epoch-changing, was turned into a blatant casteism by the leaders playing politics of social justice. They, in fact, put the same in the service of communal fascism and capitalist imperialism. Among the Backward/Dalit leaders, Thakur was the only one who fulfilled Lohia's hope through his political work. This is the most important dimension of his relevance today. It is to be hoped that this dimension of his relevance will not be allowed to disappear in the politics of Bharat Ratna. (The author associated with the socialist movement is a former teacher of Delhi University and a former fellow of Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla) Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home India Chandigarh Mayor Polls: SC shocked over behaviour of RO The Supreme Court of India Monday February 05, 2024 expressed its shock over the way Chandigarh Mayor Poll was held and ended the days hearing with scathing remarks against Anil Masih, a BJP nominated member who was the Returning Officer (RO). Read More Tuesday February 6, 2024 0:00 AM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India Monday February 05, 2024 expressed its shock over the way Chandigarh Mayor Poll was held and ended the days hearing with scathing remarks against Anil Masih, a BJP nominated member who was the Returning Officer (RO). In a rare oral observation, the Supreme Court commenting on the way Chandigarh Mayor Election called it murder of democracy and mockery of democracy. The Supreme Court of India was hearing a petition by AAP member Kuldeep Kumar Singh challenging the Chandigarh Mayor Election held on January 30, 2024. Kuldeep Singh in his petition alleged that the Mayoral election was marred by manipulation. He said Presiding Officer Anil Masih by his own hand tampered the ballots and later ruled 08 votes of AAP and Congress members invalid. The Chandigarh Mayor Election was in favour of Congress-AAP joinded candidate Kuldeep Singh. Kuldeep bagged a total of 20 votes as against the BJPs Manoj Sonkar who got 16 votes. Masih however ruled 08 votes of the Congress and AAP members invalid and declared Manoj Sonkar New Mayor of Chandigarh with 16/12 votes in the BJP candidates favour. Abhishek Manu Singhvi representing the AAP candidate requested the SC bench headed by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to watch a video. "Is this the behaviour of a returning officer? He looks at the camera, and defaces the ballot obviously, the CJI said as reported by Live Law. Where there is a cross at the bottom (of the ballot paper), he puts it into the tray. The moment there is a cross at the top, the man defaces the ballot and looks at the camera, the CJI said. Tell him that the Supreme Court is watching him. We will not allow democracy to be murdered like this. The great stabilising force in the country is the purity of the election process," the CJI said. The Supreme Court ordered that the entire record of the Mayor election should be sequestered and be kept with the Punjab & Haryana High Court Registrar General. The SC also asked the Chandigarh Civic Body to preserve the ballots and videography of the election process. "The Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh UT, who has possession of the records at present, should hand over them to the HC Registrar General by today 5 PM", the SC bench said. The SC also asked Masih to be present in the Supreme Court on the next hearing on Feb 19 and explain his conduct. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Hajj 2024 Hajj 2024: Nigerian Pilgrims Cautioned Against Unrealistic Promises IHR Nigeria advised the Hajj Commission to refrain from unnecessarily raising intending pilgrims' hopes of a reduced fare until all options are considered and decisions taken. Read More Monday February 5, 2024 5:24 PM , ummid.com News Network Hajj 2024: Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a Civil Society Organization (CSO), that monitors and reports on Hajj and Umrah activities has commended the leadership of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), for coming up with the most realistic Hajj fare for 2024 Hajj pilgrims but cautioned against making unrealistic promises. NAHCON had on Saturday announced this years Hajj fare for intending pilgrims from Nigeria in which those from the southern part are expected to pay N4, 899, 000 while their counterparts from the north will pay N4,699,000 while pilgrims from Yola and Maiduguri are to pay N4,676,000. The announcement of the fare comes after NAHCON announced that it has succeeded in cutting down the cost of the Hajj through a downward negotiation of the prices of vital services such as flight tickets and accommodation. The announcement also came at a time when the exchange rate of the US dollar, which constitutes about 85% of Hajj expenses was hitting the roof on a daily basis. IHR in a statement Monday signed by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Mohammed said it is aware that the average cost of Hajj this year across the globe is about $6000 and based on the prevailing exchange rate in Nigeria, the fare for Hajj would have translated to over N6 million. The group, therefore, said the highest fare of N4.899 million indicates that the shrewd negotiation tactics employed by NAHCON have saved Nigerian pilgrims around N1.5 million each. Word of caution IHR, however, advised the Hajj Commission to refrain from unnecessarily raising intending pilgrims' hopes of a reduced fare until all options are considered and decisions taken. The Chairman of NAHCON, Mallam Jalal Ahmed Arabi has repeatedly assured that the cost of the Hajj this year will not be more than the N4.5 million announced as a deposit for all pilgrims. In the same vein, a recent statement by the Head of Public Affairs of the commission has given details of the reduction of prices of vital services ahead of the announcement of the fare, thereby, raising the hope of the pilgrims that the fare may not be up to N4.5 million after all. For example, the statement said the cost of accommodation in Madinah dropped from SR 2,080 (Saudi Riyals) of 2023 to SR 1,665 this year. Similarly, the cost of accommodation in Makkah was negotiated at SR 3000 against SR 3,500 for the previous year. Pilgrims of 2024 Hajj will pay SR 4,770 for the Masha'ir package (VAT inclusive) against SR 5,393 paid by last years pilgrims. For airfare, the Commission was able to beat down the cost with a $138 discount from what was paid last year. This short analysis triggered the hope of a possible reduction in Hajj fare that will be below the initial N4.5 million promised by the NAHCON Chairman irrespective of foreign exchange rates. Intending pilgrims might not be aware of arithmetic intricacies involved in hajj fare computations. In the same vein, contrary to age-long practice, the statement announcing the Hajj fare was silent on the amount of Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) that each pilgrim is expected to receive. We urge NAHCON to immediately inform all intending pilgrims how much they will be receiving as their BTA to aid their proper planning for the pilgrimage and also promote transparency and accountability IHR said. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home India Apologise or : Nitesh Rane sent notice for calling Malegaon Mini Pakistan Bhartiya Janata Party MLA Nitesh Narayan Rane has been sent a legal notice Monday February 05, 2024 over his derogatory remark against the Malegaonians and calling Malegaon Mini Pakistan. Read More Monday February 5, 2024 9:04 PM , ummid.com News Network Malegaon: The Bhartiya Janata Party MLA, Nitesh Narayan Rane, has been sent a legal notice Monday February 05, 2024 over his derogatory remarks against the Malegaonians and calling Malegaon Mini Pakistan. We have sent a legal notice to Nitesh Rane for insulting the people of Malegaon and calling Malegaon Mini Pakistan, Advocate Azeem Khan told reporters. In the legal notice sent to him, Nitesh Rane the BJP MLA from Kankavli Vidhan Sabha constituency of Maharashtra, has been asked to apologise within seven days. In the notice, Nitesh Rane has been asked to apologise unconditionally within seven days failing which he will have to face a criminal case for his derogatory remarks against Malegaon and the people of the City, Advocate Azeem Khan said. 'Malegaon is the City of Nationalist Muslims' Advocate Khan further said that Malegaon is the City of Nationalist Muslims where Hindus and Muslims are living in total harmony. Malegaon is the City of nationalist Muslims and has nothing to do with anti-National activities. Such statements are deliberate attempt to vitiate the peaceful situation in the City and gain political mileage, Khan said. Hindu and Muslims live in the City with total harmony. In the last more than 15 years, there has not been a single incident of communal clashes in Malegaon. Such statements are purposely being made to create tension, Advocate Khan alleged. Role of Police under scanner Advocate Khan also criticised the local police and accused it of working under pressure. The local police should have taken cognizance of Nitish Rane the moment he compared Malegaon with Pakistan. The police, possibly because Rane belongs to the ruling party, did not take any action against him, Khan said. The legal notice to BJP MLA Nitesh Rane has been sent on behalf of former Malegaon MLA Asif Sheikh Rasheed . We will bring Nitesh Rane to Malegaon Court if he does not apologise to his derogatory comments within the stipulated period, Shaikh Asif said. 'Unnecessary Provocation' Slamming Nitesh Ranes Maharashtra Minister Dada Bhuse said the BJP leader should avoid indulging in unnecessary provocation. As a politician, Rane is free to raise issues of public interests. But labelling the entire City is improper and unnecessary provocation, he said. It would be fair on his part if Rane avoids making such sweeping statements, he added. Dada Bhuse , a Cabinet Minister in the Maharashtra Government. A strong Shiv Sena leader of the Nashik district, Bhuse revolted against his parent party and joined Eknath Shinde Sena last year. Three days ago, registering their anger, Malegaon Samajwadi Party workers led by Shan e Hind Nihal Ahmed and Mustaqeem Dignity submitted a representation at Malegaon City Police Station demanding suo-moto legal action against Nitesh Rane. How it all started? It all started after Malegaon Power Supply Limited (MPSL) a private contractor, accused "huge amount of electricity and power theft" in the City. The MPSL in January this year said there is a difference of more than 3,00 crore rupees in the power consumed and the actual electricity it supplies. Commenting on the MPSL claims, Nitish Rane talking to local media accused the people of Malegaon of stealing electricity and instead of paying electcricity bills, the saved amount is used for land jihad, love jihad and other anti-national activities, Rane alleged. In the same vein, Rane also called Malegaon Mini Pakistan. Malegaon , popular for its textile and powerloom industry, over 75 per cent local population is of Muslims. Nitesh Ranes rants against Malegaon and its people is because of the majority population of the City who are Muslims, Adovacte Khan said. Khan said Nitesh Rane has made false allegations against the people of Malegaon earlier too. Recently, he said cow vigilantes and gau rakshaks are attacked in Malegaon. The fact of the matter is exactly opposite. It is the gau rakshaks who routinely attack the cattle traders, Advocate Khan said. Power Theft Myth Malegaon has added around 225,000 new power looms since 1976 when there were only 60,000 to 70,000 looms in the City. Despite the installations of new looms in such a huge number, the electricity infrastructure in the city however has never been upgraded and it remained as it was in 1976, local weavers claimed. Malegaon Power Supply Limited (MPSL) had committed to improve the electric infrastructure of the City at the time of signing the contract. It had till now done on this front. And, this is open secret that the electricity company is incurring losses because of poor infrastructure and over-loaded decades old transformers, Mufti Ismael , Malegaon Central MLA, said. The MPSL instead of amending its mistakes issuing misleading data which is then used to malign the people of Malegaon, he added. Nitish Rane has been in the recent days found in anti-Muslim rants a handy tool to garner space in the media. Also in the last month, Rane was accused of making provocative and inflammatory comments following the communal clashes in the Muslim dominated areas of Mira Road in Mumbai Suburbs . Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Upcoming Spring Festival to see 'hottest outbound tourism in five years' Global Times) 13:19, February 05, 2024 Beijing Daxing International Airport welcomes its first day of peak travel as the Spring Festival travel rush started on January 26, 2024. Photo: Li Hao/GT The upcoming Chinese New Year (CNY) holidays, also known as Spring Festival holidays, are set to mark a rebound in the tourism sector as ports across China will embrace hustle and bustle again, which is expected to reach the same level as in 2019. With China achieving comprehensive mutual visa exemption with 23 countries including Thailand, Singapore and the Maldives, the tourism market is expected to witness "the hottest outbound tourism in five years," industry insiders predicted. The tourism rebound is also set to fuel economic recovery which will boost public confidence, industry representatives said. Besides, China's solid economic foundation, visa facilitation and its large population are favorable factors for the long-term development of the outbound tourism market. During this year's Spring Festival holidays, international points of entry and exit will see high volumes of inbound and outbound travelers. The daily average number of passenger clearances at international is expected to reach 1.8 million people, approximately 3.3 times higher than last year's Spring Festival and equivalent to the 2019 Spring Festival level, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) predicted on Sunday. Major international airports are expected to experience peak passenger flows from February 8 to 11 and from February 16 to 17, the NIA said. Land ports to Hong Kong and Macao are expected to experience peak passenger flows from February 11 to 15, with estimated daily passenger numbers at Shenzhen Luohu customs facility, bordering Hong Kong, set to reach 198,000. Singapore and Thailand have both recently signed mutual visa exemption agreements with China, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the mutual visa exemption between China and Singapore, to be effective on the eve of this year's Spring Festival, is a Chinese lunar New Year gift for Chinese and Singaporeans. "This year's inbound and outbound travel is different from previous years. First, the holiday period is longer, and compared to previous years, especially during the COVID pandemic, now there is more certainty," Yang Jinsong, director of the institute of international tourism development and associate researcher at the China Tourism Academy (CTA), told the Global Times on Sunday. Meanwhile, there has been significant progress in visa facilitation, which has also instilled confidence in Chinese tourists, Yang said. According to a report released by the CTA on Thursday, since the beginning of 2023 when China downgraded COVID-19 management, the county's outbound tourism market has started to reopen, moving from a harsh winter toward a spring of recovery. With the strengthening of China's tourism market dynamics and residents' willingness to travel abroad, the pace of international tourism recovery in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to accelerate significantly. In 2023, the number of outbound tourists of China exceeded 87 million. It is projected that the number of outbound tourists in 2024 will reach 130 million. In full recovery After a flight of five hours, a couple from Beijing arrived Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok at 11:49 pm local time on January 19 as they embarked on their honeymoon in Thailand. Since Thailand has granted visa waiver status for visitors from China and some other countries, the wife of the couple, surnamed Xu, told the Global Times on Sunday that when they arrived at immigration and prepared to enter Thailand, all the immigration booths were open with about several hundreds of passengers from China, Japan, Europe and other countries and regions lining up for clearance. "About two-thirds of the passengers were from China. Thailand is very popular among many Chinese travelers," Xu said. Although the line was long, it did not take long for the couple to rush through. During the immigration process, Chinese tourists only need to show their inbound flight tickets and passports, provide their fingerprints and take a photo before obtaining a clearance stamp, and completing the process. Xu said that it only took around two minutes. "It was super fast. You don't need to fill in the immigration card, neither to show the return ticket, or the hotel order, you just need your passport," Xu said. Many Chinese travelers prefer Southeast Asian countries as their top overseas destinations for the upcoming Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year holidays, with Maldives, Singapore and Thailand topping out the top 10 list of favored destinations, according to a Global Times online poll. According to the 2024 Spring Festival tourism market forecast report released by China's major travel booking platform Ctrip, in terms of outbound tourism, Southeast Asia, Japan and South Korea and other short and medium distance outbound routes are popular choices, while popular destinations include Thailand, Japan, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, South Korea, the Macao SAR, New Zealand and Vietnam, the company said in a report sent to the Global Times on Sunday. Up to now, outbound travel bookings during the Spring Festival holiday have increased by more than 10 times year-on-year, Ctrip said. A Beijing resident surnamed Fan, whose parents currently live in Canberra, Australia, told the Global Times on Sunday that she finally has the chance to reunite with her family in Australia for this year's Spring Festival holidays. "I've been planning to go to Australia since the lifting of COVID-19 prevention measure in China over a year ago, but the air ticket was too expensive for me. Now the ticket prices are much lower, and with the visa application process quite easy, I finally have the chance to spend a Chinese lunar new year in the warm summer breeze in the Southern Hemisphere," Fan said. She found that especially in the past year, with the easing of China-Australia relations, many of her Chinese friends have reignited their interest in Australia. One of Fan's friends visited the country in December 2023 to see a concert, and she bought a return ticket for merely a little over 3,000 yuan (approximately $421). "That's about the same price as domestic flights!" Fan said. "You can find tickets of all kinds to major Australia's tourist attractions and travel products being sold on China's e-commerce platforms such as Taobao," Fan told the Global Times. "The most popular ones are diving experiences and helicopter rides to the Great Barrier Reef. We tried to book a tour a month ago, but many of them were already sold out." Many of Fan's friends are also choosing to spend this year's Spring Festival holiday abroad, including Japan, Singapore, and Thailand. "Normally Chinese people go back to their hometowns to spend the holidays, but this year as overseas travel is recovering at full speed, many young people in China are looking into another way of enjoying the holidays," she noted. Inbound tourism China has recently implemented a slew of measures to help ease the process for foreign nationals coming to China, including relaxing visa application requirements and simplifying visa application materials, indicating that China continues to speed up its opening-up to the outside world. In 2023, driven by policies such as visa exemptions, inbound tourism started to recover. However, during the three-year pandemic, many services now operate on smartphone apps and payment platforms which are hard for foreigners to sign up to and use, according to a report by Caixin on January 9. This poses extra challenges for foreigners who want to visit China. Despite a significant increase in the number of arrivals thanks to a series of visa facilitation measures, inbound tourism numbers have yet to fully recover. According to statistics from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, in the first half of 2023, the number of inbound tourists received by travel agencies nationwide was 477,800, compared to 8.5616 million in the same period in 2019, the report said. And there is still considerable room for improvement in the convenience of inbound tourism, including areas such as visas, payments, transportation and tourism services. "Besides the policy support, inbound tourism is still in gradual recovery," Xu Xiaolei, a marketing manager at China's CYTS Tours Holding Co, told the Global Times on Sunday. And it may take longer time to fully recover as the global tourism supply chain needs to be repaired after three years of pandemic closure, he said. (Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing) By Lee Min-hyung Samsung Electronics is anxious over the growing risk of losing its once-dominant market position in its key businesses memory chips, smartphones and even home appliances as its rivals are rapidly closing the technology gaps and expanding their market shares, according to industry officials and data, Monday. The concerns of Samsung employees are deepening after the company reported a drastic fall of 84.86 percent in its operating profit last year. This marked the first time since 2008 that the firm generated less than 7 trillion won ($5.25 billion) in annual operating profit. Samsung was hit hard by a drastic earnings shock in its cash-cow semiconductor business, which reported losses of around 15 trillion won in 2023. But of particular concern is that the company is losing its reputation as a brand that exuded dominant leadership in technological prowess, as SK hynix, which was once considered a runner-up in the memory chip business, is on track to threaten Samsungs stronghold of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips. SK hynix is rapidly increasing its DRAM market share through its exclusive HBM supply deal with Nvidia. Nvidia is de facto a monopolistic market player in the artificial intelligence (AI) chip industry. The surging demand for chips for AI servers has enabled SK hynix to narrow its DRAM market share with Samsung Electronics. According to data from market tracker Omdia, Samsung Electronics attained a DRAM market share of 39.4 percent in the third quarter of last year, and SK hynix is following closely with a share of 35 percent. This marked the first time that the gap between the two firms has been reduced to below 5 percentage points. There is an internal concern as to the falling reputation of Samsung Electronics chip business, an official from the company said on condition of anonymity. Samsung Electronics was an unmatched leader in the memory chip business about a decade ago, but this appears not to be the case. Few would refute that Samsung Electronics drove the tech paradigm in the area, but this looks not to be the case now amid the rapid rise of competitors. Samsung Electronics used to lead the market with its technological excellence, and other players such as SK hynix and Micron ended up following after Samsung, the official said. But the trend has changed now. One thing clear is that Samsung Electronics is no longer a dominant market player in terms of technology, even if its influence is still massive across the global chip industry. Samsung is facing a triple whammy in its other businesses, with its archrivals posing growing threats. The firms visual display and home appliance unit generated an operating profit of 1.25 trillion won last year, down 7.4 percent from the previous year. This fell behind that of LG Electronics, which saw its home appliance business chalk up an operating profit of 2 trillion won, up 76 percent during the same period. According to data from market intelligence firm IDC, Samsung also lost its leadership in terms of smartphone shipments last year to Apple for the first time in 13 years since 2010. Apples annual shipments in 2013 reached 234.6 million, while those of Samsung came in at 226.6 million. Beirut, Feb 5 (UNI) 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. UNI/XINHUA ARN HA NOI The country's agro-forestry-fishery exports in January saw a significant increase of 80 per cent to US$5.14 billion compared to the same month of last year, according to Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). The import value amounted to $3.72 billion, up 40 per cent year-on-year. That resulted in a trade surplus of over $1.4 billion, a yearly surge of over 4.6 times. In the first month of this year, the export revenue for forestry products reached $1.49 billion, up 73 per cent; seafood $730 million, up 61 per cent; farm produce $2.71 billion, up 94 per cent; production inputs $177 million, up 50 per cent; and livestock farming $36 million, up 3.5 per cent. According to the ministry, export values of agricultural, forestry and aquatic products to different regions all witnessed growth. Typically, exports to the American region hit $1.18 billion, up 94 per cent; Africa $104 million, up 185 per cent; Asia $2.52 billion, up 86 per cent; Europe $532 million, up 38 per cent; and Oceania $78 million, up 101 per cent. It added that China was the largest consumer of Viet Nam's ago-forestry-fishery products, accounting for 23 per cent of the total or marking a yearly rise of 106 per cent. The US came next with 20.8 per cent or an increase of 96 per cent, while Japan ranked third with 7.4 per cent, up 48 per cent. The MARD noted that in January, prices for most commodities tended to rise compared to December 2023, driven by skyrocketing demand during the Lunar New Year (Tet). However, these prices remained relatively stable with intertwined fluctuations. Overall, there is an abundant supply of agricultural products, ensuring sufficient provisions for the Tet holiday. Prices have not fluctuated significantly; in fact, some items have witnessed price decreases as a result of shifts in consumer habits, the ministry said. The agriculture sector in 2023 posted a new record in the agro-forestry-fishery export value, hitting more than $53.2 billion, a year-on-year increase of 9.3 per cent. The ministry reported on December 27 that the sector enjoyed a trade surplus of $8.5 billion, 30 per cent higher than that of 2021. Specifically, the export value of main agricultural products reached $22.59 billion, up 4.8 per cent; main forest products topped $16.93 billion, up 6.1 per cent; and aquatic products hit $10.92 billion, up 22.9 per cent. During the year, the sector focused on removing trade barriers, thus helping set the new export records, the ministry said. MARD kept a close watch on price fluctuations and the balance of supply and demand in the market, while proposing solutions to promote the consumption of agricultural products. It also coordinated with embassies, and trade and agriculture counsellors to set up channels for providing information related to export markets. At the same time, it also strengthened online trade promotion activities to expand exports to big markets such as China, the US, the EU, Russia and Brazil, and effectively exploited potential markets including Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. The ministry closely coordinated with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to negotiate on opening export markets for local farm produce and promptly solving problems to promote agricultural, forestry and fishery exports. It had measures to minimise negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict which have affected the global supply chain of agricultural products. It actively took advantage of free trade agreements (FTAs) to promote agricultural product exports. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh headed a meeting with the State Capital Management Committee in Enterprises (CMSC) and 19 state-owned enterprises (SoEs) in Ha Noi on Monday to discuss production and business plans for 2024. According to CMSC, last year's revenue of the parent company of the 19 SoEs reached nearly VN1,135 trillion or nearly US$47 billion, equivalent to 105.15 per cent of the 2023 plan. Pre-tax profits reached VN53,256 billion, not including the Electricity Vietnam (EVN), equivalent to 166.09 per cent of the 2023 plan and 110.92 per cent compared to the same period in 2022. The SoEs contributed over VN79,252 billion to the state budget, equivalent to 199.96 per cent of the 2023 plan and 120.22 per cent compared to the same period in 2022. During the meeting, Prime Minister Chinh said in the face of numerous difficulties and challenges worldwide, the country achieved important and comprehensive socio-economic results in 2023, and that Viet Nam remained a bright spot in the gloomy world economy. He said sovereignty and territorial integrity were maintained; political stability, security, order and social safety were ensured; foreign activities had improved, achieving historically significant development milestones. The Prime Minister said, among these achievements was the contribution of the 19 SoEs under the management of the Government, directly managed by the CMSC. Expecting the economic and social development tasks for the whole country this year to be more challenging than those in 2023, the tasks of the Government would be difficult, as would those of ministries and sectors, including the CMSC and the 19 SoEs. He cited examples regarding the results, successes and challenges of corporations and state-owned enterprises. For instance, EVN's 500 kV circuit 3 project faced delays for many years, but now was expected to be completed within 6 months. The Airports Corporation had made notable efforts in the construction of Long Thanh Airport. The Railway Corporation, after years of losses, innovated and turned a profit in 2023. There were also positive developments in the implementation of gas projects in Block B O Mon after many years of delays. The PM said the Government directed an increase in rice exports during a period of rising prices, and as a result Viet Nam achieved record rice exports, ensured domestic food supply and contributed to global food security. Leaders of the Northern Food Corporation expressed excitement about recent agreements on rice trade between Viet Nam and major importers such as Indonesia and the Philippines, as Vietnamese companies won a significant portion of Indonesia's 500,000-tonne rice procurement. The Prime Minister suggested continuing discussions on rice trade with high-level leaders of other countries. He said SoEs held significant material resources, large assets and capital, and they played an important role in promoting Viet Nam's economic development, ensuring social stability. He stressed the need to avoid complacency with current achievements. Alongside successes, he pointed out existing limitations and challenges in the activities of corporations and state-owned enterprises, such as bureaucratic issues in mechanisms and policies, limited investment for development, lower-than-average disbursement of public investment, and inadequate contributions to GDP growth. The main reasons for these limitations and challenges included insufficient leadership, creativity and proactivity by SoEs. Legal obstacles, especially related to land, public investment, decentralisation and delegation, still existed. Personnel policies at enterprises and capital management were not appropriate for the actual situation. Business management had not fully adapted to the market economy, with many intermediaries causing work obstructions. The lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic also persisted, affecting the performance of businesses, as exemplified by Vietnam Airlines. He stressed the importance of the 19 SoEs focusing more on development investment. He tasked the leaders of ministries, sectors and the 19 SoEs with analysing and evaluating the results of their activities in 2023, and proposing solutions to improve production and business, and contribute to socio-economic development in 2024 and beyond. In assigning specific tasks for the upcoming period, the PM emphasised key responsibilities, such as Vietnam Electricity Group ensuring sufficient electricity supply for corporations; Vietnam Oil and Gas Group ensuring adequate oil and gas supply according to the plan; Coal and Mineral Group ensuring sufficient coal supply based on long-term planning; Steel Corporation completing the expansion project of the Thai Nguyen Steel Plant Phase 2 (TISCO 2); Vietnam Airlines addressing losses and current issues; and Vietnam National Petroleum Group preventing shortages of petroleum products. He highlighted the importance of adjusting electricity prices gradually and reasonably, avoiding abrupt changes and hasty decisions. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) was told to simplify and improve the management mechanism for petroleum business hubs, making it easy to monitor and supervise. Attending the meeting were Deputy Prime Ministers Le Minh Khai, Tran Hong Ha and leaders of ministries, sectors and the 19 SoEs. VNS HA NOI A surge in consumer demand, particularly after the Kitchen God's Day, has been recorded through Hanoi, with a notable uptick ranging from 20-30%, reported a working delegation of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the municipal Peoples Committee following their inspection on February 5. Supermarkets and businesses, which anticipated an increasing demand in the run-up to the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival, have strategically formulated plans and inked contracts to augment the supply of goods by an average of 7-25% compared to the same period last year. The focus was primarily on essential goods, particularly food and groceries. At retail points, the inventory has increased by 15-40% to satiate demand, with 90% of the products being of Vietnamese origin. Businesses are also escalating their efforts in the digital arena, from fortifying online sale channels to the seamless integration of electronic payment methods. They are also providing home delivery services and proactively connecting with cities and provinces to promptly supply goods to Hanoi when there is high demand or unforeseen fluctuations. At present, Tet goods at distribution systems are abundant and diverse, with prices remaining stable, ready to meet shopping needs of residents. So far, a total of 32 firms have joined the market stabilisation programme for essential food items, including industry leaders such as Saigon Co.op, Satra, Bach Hoa Xanh, Central Retail, MM Mega Market, Lotte, Aeon and key suppliers like Vissan, CP Vietnam and Ba Huan. VNS HA NOI Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu and Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nong Rong have shared their view on measures to materialise high-level common perceptions between the two countries. During their talks in HCM City on February 4, the officials focused on how to concretise the joint statement on continuing to deepen and elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, and to build a Viet Nam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. They noted with pleasure the positive development pace of the bilateral relationship, and its milestones over the past time, especially the visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022, and the state visit to Viet Nam by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping in December 2023. The officials agreed to step up high-level exchanges, contacts and visits, effectively implement cooperation mechanisms between the two Parties, and well organise the 16th meeting of the Viet Nam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation. The two sides will also enhance collaboration in national defence, security, external affairs, culture, education and tourism, and people-to-people exchange, while expanding cooperation in economy and trade, and transport connectivity, for the sake of their peoples and businesses. They will work together to better manage the common border line, and satisfactorily address border issues lingering or emerging, in line with their reached documents and agreements. Vu, who is also Secretary General of the Steering Committee for Viet Nam-China Bilateral Cooperation, suggested the two sides foster their transport connectivity, especially roads and railways connecting Viet Nam's northern provinces and Chinas southern and southwestern regions. He called on China to expand its import of Vietnamese agro-aquatic products and facilitate the establishment of Vietnamese trade promotion offices in Haikou, Chengdu, and Nanjing. The two sides should work to soon negotiate and sign a framework agreement on rice trade, he said, suggesting China support Vietnamese businesses that have received the national brand title to build distribution channels and develop brands in the neighbouring market. Vu also suggested the two sides expand collaboration in investment and direct relevant agencies and enterprises to remove prolonged obstacles to a number of industrial projects, speed up the implementation of those in Viet Nam using Chinas non-refundable aid, and form a working group to promote tourism cooperation. The two countries should strengthen water resources cooperation, effectively and sustainably using Mekong River water resources, for the legitimate interests of all parties, especially downstream countries, he continued. Sharing Vu's views, Nong Rong, who is also Secretary General of the Steering Committee for China-Viet Nam Bilateral Cooperation, affirmed that China is ready to expand the import of high-quality agricultural products from Viet Nam, and accelerate the licensing process for the official import of Vietnamese fresh coconut, citrus fruits, and avocado. He proposed the two sides push ahead with the building of the smart border gate model to improve customs clearance efficiency and ease goods congestion at border gates, expand cooperation in green development, digital economy, and new energy development, further their coordination and cooperation at regional and international multilateral forums. The officials exchanged views on maritime issues candidly and sincerely, emphasising the importance of maintaining peace and stability at sea amidst the complex development of the international and regional situation. The two sides consented to effectively implement high-level common perceptions and the Viet Nam-China agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues, carry forward negotiation mechanisms, and make efforts to control and better resolve differences at sea based on the sequential and gradual principle, easy first and hard later. They will work together with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea), striving to soon achieve an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS). Vu proposed the two sides respect each other's sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction established in line with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS, prevent complex incidents affecting the bilateral relationship, and properly handle issues regarding fishing vessels and fishermen, contributing to peace and stability in the region. VNS LONDON Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), Viet Nam has been built into a thriving economic, political and cultural powerhouse, said British researcher of Vietnamese politics and history and member of the Communist Party of Britain Kyril Whittaker. Talking with Vietnam News Agency correspondents in the UK on the occasion of the CPVs 94th founding anniversary, Whittaker said that since the establishment in 1930 in Hong Kong, the CPV has guided the country through the resistance against the French colonialism and US imperialism, and liberated, re-unified and re-built the country into prosperity. Quoting President Ho Chi Minhs words about democracy Democracy means that the people are the master, the British researcher stressed that not only is the Vietnamese society today a product of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, but it is also imbued with the culture of socialism, with progressive values, a love for peace and independence, and the values Uncle Ho often talked about such as integrity and thrift. According to him, the underlying recognition between providing a better quality of life for the people and the increasing development of culture has provided the basis for the Vietnamese society of today, one which is beloved and recognised by people all around the world for its rich culture, economic growth and expansive history. For the past 94 years, the CPV has continued socialist construction and overcome challenges, being the driving force of the Vietnamese society, which provides a leadership of the people, by the people and for the people, and continues to therefore provide the grounds for healthy growth in all areas, especially in cultural preservation and development. Through various policies by elevating the peoples lives by eradicating poverty, building infrastructure, encouraging a healthy environment and preserving of the culture of ethnic minorities in Vietnam, the Party and the people of Vietnam are planting the seeds for the continual development of Vietnamese culture, he said. Assessing Viet Nam s achievements in 2023 under the leadership of the CPV, Kyril said the country followed the continuous line of previous years in enhancing the peoples lives in all respects. The economy continuously grew, from 2.56 per cent in 2021 to 8.02 per cent the following year and 5 per cent in 2023. In his view, this is because the Vietnamese Government sees the people as the roots. During the pandemic, this could be seen through the comradely activity of neighbours in helping each other deal with the pandemic and the utilisation of the peoples police and army forces to assist with buying groceries for the population, harvesting crops, distributing free face masks and delivering of temperature checks. The Government has also punished those who took advantage of the pandemic for economic gain by trying to raise prices on much needed products and those who would willingly spread dangerous disinformation, according to Kyril, saying it is clear that the world has much to learn from Viet Nam in controlling the pandemic. He said visiting and living in Viet Nam for a period of time has shown to him immense transformation in the cities and rural areas of the country, powering through productivity and bettering peoples lives. New roads, new motorways, new transport systems, and the development and utilisation of green technology on a much wider scale are the norm in Viet Nam , with the development of green public bus networks, increasing use of public transportation, development of sustainable agriculture and utilisation of walking streets whereby large areas of cities traditionally affected by congestion are closed off and used as public spaces so that the public can experience peaceful walks in such historically rich and architecturally beautiful areas as Hoan Kiem Lake in Ha Noi or Nguyen Hue Street in Ho Chi Minh City. This reflects what Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has recently emphasised, namely building on rapid but sustainable development. That is, to continue to develop and expand the economy whilst developing the green and circular economy in association with intensifying resource management and environmental protection. The researcher said in 2023, Viet Nams foreign relations increased significantly, remarkably with the visits to Viet Nam of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden, saying Vietnam has strengthened its friendship with traditional friends and continuously developed trade and international relations, expanding and deepening its relations with 193 countries. Besides this, Viet Nam has taken an active role in international organisation such as ASEAN, the Non-aligned Movement, the UN and the Mekong River Commission, he said, stressing that through these forums, Viet Nam has utilised its foreign policy of bamboo diplomacy to expand relationships and create new partners whilst maintaining its independence, security and freedom and promoting peace. Vietnam has been an active member of discussions to developing a Code of Conduct in the East Sea and has consistently advocated for the independence and freedom of peoples worldwide. Speaking about Viet Nam s fight against corruption under the leadership of the CPV, he said the country has tackled corruption at every turn with Party members disciplined, ejected from the Party and from their positions and facing real consequences for their actions. The corruption campaign has been carried out very well in Viet Nam and is an example and an inspiration to countries, parties and peoples all over the globe, he affirmed. VNA/VNS HA NOI President Vo Van Thuong has offered incense in commemoration of some late Party and State leaders and visited several former leaders in southern localities on the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival and the 94 founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 - 2024). President Thuong offered incense to commemorate late President Le uc Anh and late President of the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam Nguyen Huu Tho who used to hold the positions of State Vice President, Acting State President, Chairman of the National Assembly, and Vice Chairman of the State Council. On this occasion, President Thuong also visited former Presidents Nguyen Minh Triet and Truong Tan Sang. He expressed his appreciation for the contributions of the two former Presidents to the Party's revolutionary cause, enhancing the country's position and prestige and strengthening the great national unity bloc. President Thuong wished the former leaders good health, happiness, and longevity and hoped that they will contribute more brainpower and experiences to the countrys development. - VNS HAI PHONG The Vietnamese and Chinese coast guard forces conducted a joint patrol in the border maritime area between Mong Cai City, the northern province of Quang Ninh and Dongxing city, Guangxi province of China on February 5. The patrol aimed to fortify coordination in the fight against crime and law violations, particularly during the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival. This maritime area, marked by bustling export-import activities and the exchange of goods between Vietnam and China, has been a hotspot for illicit practices such as smuggling, trade fraud, illegal border crossings and entry via sea routes. Starting this year in 2024, joint patrols will be held by the two countries every quarter to regularly maintain security and law enforcement for the people of both nations, contributing to preserving and developing the traditional friendly neighbourliness between the two countries and between their coast guard forces in particular. On the occasion, the Vietnamese coast guard delivered Tet gifts from the Vietnam Coast Guard Command, including 100 chung cakes (square sticky rice cake) and 200 pomelos, to officials and staff of the China Coast Guard. VNS Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would impose tariffs on China again if he is elected in November and they could exceed 60 percent. "We have to do it," Trump said in an interview aired on Sunday with the Fox News program "Sunday Morning Futures." "I mean, look, the stock market almost crashed when it was announced that I won the Iowa primary (sic) in a record. And then when I won New Hampshire, the stock market went down like crazy," he said. Asked about a report that he is considering imposing 60 percent tariffs on Chinese goods if elected, Trump said, "No, I would say maybe it's going to be more than that." Trump is the frontrunner for his party's nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 U.S. election. Trump imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods in 2018 and 2019 amid a bitter trade war between the world's two largest economies. The Biden administration retained the tariffs and added new restrictions prohibiting the export of advanced semiconductors and the equipment to make them, citing security concerns. The U.S. trade representative is conducting a review of the tariffs. Trump dismissed the notion that he would start another trade war with China. "It's not a trade war. I did great with China with everything," Trump said in the interview, taped last week. "I want China to do great, I do. And I like President Xi a lot. He was a very good friend of mine during my term." (Reuters) HA NOI The Ministry of National Defence on February 5 held a virtual event connecting with the Vietnamese forces engaged in the United Nations peacekeeping mission on the threshold of the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival. The event facilitated a connection between Hanois Military Radio and Television Centre, Ho Chi Minh Citys 175 Military Hospital, and key UN peacekeeping missions, including the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and the UN headquarters in the US. Chairing the event, Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien, who is also Chairman of the Defence Ministry's steering committee on participation in the UN peacekeeping operations, extended his warm Tet wishes to the Vietnamese "blue beret" soldiers. He reminded them to enjoy Tet while fulfilling their duties, especially ensuring the safety of the forces stationed in peacekeeping missions amid conflicts and instability in Africa. Exchanges between officers, soldiers and their relatives were also held at the event. As a guest at the Abyei point, Minister of Education and Construction of Abyei region Nyinkwany Aguer Bol commended the Vietnamese peacekeeping force in Abyei for going beyond their mission, not only fulfilling their peacekeeping duties but also making specific contributions to assisting the local people. Over the past nearly a decade, Vietnam has sent nearly 800 officers and soldiers to the UN peacekeeping missions at UN bases and headquarters, in alignment with the country's commitment to realising the Party and State's foreign policy of multilateralisation and diversification of external ties, and being a responsible member of the international community, in which the military and police forces have been at the forefront. VNS HA NOI On the occasion of the Lunar New Year holiday, provinces and cities across the country have held many meaningful activities to support the people to welcome a warm Tet. The Ben Tre National Assembly Delegation on Saturday coordinated with the provincial Labour Federation to organise a "Tet Reunion programme in Chau Thanh District. In the programme, the organiser gave 350 gifts to workers at industrial parks in the province. Each gift is worth VN1-1.3 million (US$40-53). It also awarded certificates of merit to organisations and individuals with outstanding achievements in the contest "One million initiatives determine to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic". Besides, the province presented nearly 40,000 sets of gifts worth VN32 billion ($1.3 million) and 20 houses to poor people. The Quang Nam Province HCM Communist Youth Union coordinated with the armed forces and womens unions to visit, give gifts, repair and clean houses for families with great contribution to the nation and Vietnamese Heroic Mothers. The province gave transport tickets to poor workers and students to return to their hometowns. Young people also repaired and renewed martyrs graves at martyrs' cemeteries in the province. The provincial youth union worked with the Ha Noi-based Bach Mai Hospital to give medical examinations to Agent Orange victims and families in Que Son District. Kien Giang Provinces education sector had a similar programme in My uc Junior Secondary School in My uc Commune, Ha Tien City on Saturday. Nguyen Thi Xuan, one of the poor teachers receiving gifts at the programme, said that her hometown was in Thanh Hoa Province. She has been teaching literature at My uc School since 2008. Xuan said that most of the schools students were poor ethnic Khmer people. In addition to teaching basic knowledge, Xuan spends a lot of time guiding life skills, social knowledge, communication and behaviour to her students. She hopes leaders at all levels would pay more attention to the material and spiritual lives of teachers. Danh Tuan, a student of the My uc Primary School, said: "My family is very poor. My father works for a fishing boat, and my mother works as a waiter at a restaurant. Due to difficult circumstances, I still haven't bought anything for Tet. Now Im very happy with gifts from the programme. I will use the money to buy new clothes for my younger brother and I and some confectionery for Tet. Head of the Ha Tien City Education and Training Department Nguyen Van Ba said that the city had more than 100 teachers and more than 1,000 students in poor condition. In recent years, the provincial education and training sector has regularly coordinated with local authorities and unions to care for teachers and students. The HCM City Labour Confederation on Sunday organised the "Spring Trip" programme to bring hundreds of workers back to their hometowns to celebrate Tet after many years away from home. Deputy Chairman of the HCM City Labour Confederation Pham Chi Tam said that the COVID-19 pandemic caused many workers to lose their jobs, have reduced working hours and face many difficulties. Many people have to stay in the city to do seasonal jobs to make their living even during Tet. Therefore, the municipal trade union widely publicised the programme so everyone in need could register. This was a meaningful activity of the trade union, actively contributing to social security, showing timely concern and encouragement for workers. It spread the message of solidarity and the spirit "No one is left behind", said Tam. Nguyen Thi Cam, from Thua Thien-Hue central province, works for a company in District 12, HCM City. Her four-member family has not been able to return home to celebrate Tet for three years due to low income. The "Spring Trip" programme is a special gift for her family. Cam wishes that the trade union would have more "Spring Trip" to support poor workers and informal workers. VNS President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, with Vietnam PM Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi last week During the state visit to Vietnam by the Philippines President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos last week, the two Southeast Asian nations agreed that they will devise new mechanisms to enhance regional economic connectivity such as ASEANs Free Trade Agreement, Trade in Goods Agreement, and Comprehensive Investment Agreement. The two countries have also pledged to facilitate investments of each other into respective markets, especially projects involving processing, infrastructure, the vehicle supporting industry, renewable energy, and high-tech agriculture. According to an investment report released in late December by the ASEAN Secretariat and the UN Conference on Trade and Development, from 2013 to 2022, more than one-third of the favourable foreign direct investment (FDI) measures in ASEAN related to opening new sectors or activities. For example, in 20212022, Vietnam allowed complete FDI in insurance and set implementation guidelines for the 2020 Law on Investment, which includes a restrictive list for market access for foreign investors. Similarly, the Philippines permitted full FDI in renewables and revised its negative list by removing manufacture, repair, storage and distribution of products requiring clearance from its defence department. Foreign ownership restrictions in small- and medium-sized enterprises and trading enterprises were also relaxed. Besides this, wholly foreign ownership of public services, such as telecommunication, airlines, shipping and railways was allowed. Figures from the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment showed that currently the Philippines has 95 valid ventures in Vietnam registered at $608.2 million, ranking 31st out of 144 nations and territories with projects in Vietnam. Last year, leaders of Philippine group Vista Land visited the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho searching for investment and trade opportunities. Currently, Vista Land is looking for Vietnamese partners to supply assorted products to distribute to its retail chains. The products include enamelled tiles, cement, furniture, rice, agricultural products, snacks, fruit juice, and coffee. URC Vietnam, part of Universal Robina Corporation and belonging to JG Summit Philippines, also considers Vietnam a lucrative market. In Vietnam, URC started operations in 2003 as a trading company specialising in imported products until its first factory with snack and candy lines was built at Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in the southern province of Binh Duong. URCs factories have been replicated throughout the country, including three in Binh Duong, one in the south-central province of Quang Ngai, and one in Hanoi. Meanwhile, Vietnam currently has five projects in the Philippines, registered at nearly $4 million. In addition to investment, Vietnam and the Philippines have also agreed to promote economic and trade relations, with a major focus laid on the rice trade. They will consider removing unnecessary barriers and support each other to ensure food security, while creating a favourable business and investment climate. Both nations last week also inked an MoU on rice trading cooperation, aimed to help ensure economic benefit and food security. The Philippines is now the largest rice export market of Vietnam, with a volume of 2.63 million tonnes in the first 11 months of last year, valued at $1.41 billion. The two countries last week also set a target of reaching a bilateral trade turnover of $10 billion next year, and promoted cooperation in other potential fields such as digital economy, circular economy, green economy, renewable energy, combating climate change, and supporting each other in developing the marine economy, innovation, and startups. Bilateral trade turnover between the pair increased from $2.9 billion in 2012 to $7.8 billion in 2022. In the first 11 months of 2023, the figure hit $7.1 billion. The Philippines is the 16th largest trade partner of Vietnam worldwide and the sixth-largest trade partner of Vietnam in Southeast Asia. At present, there are about 30,000 Vietnamese nationals living and working in the Philippines, where there are also 700 Vietnamese students. Vietnam and the Philippines forged their diplomatic relations in 1976, which were elevated to a strategic partnership in 2015. In 2019, they signed an action programme on implementing the strategic partnership for the following five years. Sectors of cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines Regarding defence and security, the two sides have been actively implementing signed agreements to expand cooperation in defence, logistics, military medicine, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance and natural disaster relief, transnational crime prevention, and anti-terrorism. At the same time, the two countries are also speeding up negotiations and the signing of an MoU on bilateral logistics support, and of agreements on extradition and transfer of sentenced individuals. When it comes to sea and ocean cooperation, Vietnam and the Philippines established a joint working group on seas and oceans, which met regularly every year and then was upgraded to the Joint Commission on Maritime and Ocean Cooperation in 2012. As for maritime cooperation, the two sides are promoting negotiations on a commercial transport agreement to replace the Vietnam-Philippines Maritime Transport Agreement signed in 1992, while also actively implementing a bilateral agreement on search and rescue at sea inked in 2010 and taking effect in 2012. In addition to the MoU on academic cooperation was clinched in 2010, and the two countries are also working on an educational cooperation deal. There are currently nearly 40 Filipino students studying at Vietnams Thai Nguyen University. Regarding culture and tourism cooperation, the two sides are negotiating the Cultural Cooperation Programme for 2024-2028 and discussing the initiative on Implementation of the Cooperation Agreement on Tourism between the Department of Tourism of the Philippines and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Vietnam for 2024-2028. In 2022, Vietnam welcomed about 49,300 Filipino visitor arrivals, while the Philippines was visited by more than 25,900 Vietnamese tourists. In the first nine months of 2023, the number of Filipino visitor arrivals to Vietnam reached 130,000, and the Philippines welcomed nearly 52,000 visitors from Vietnam, equivalent to the same period in 2019. When it comes to labour cooperation, the two countries planned to coordinate to soon sign a labour cooperation agreement. However, the two sides labour management agencies have yet to negotiate and ink this agreement. Regarding cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture, from 1964 to 2009, the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines trained 254 scientists for Vietnam, including 55 masters and 29 doctors. In 2010, the two sides signed an agreement on fisheries cooperation, laying the groundwork for specific cooperation projects on fisheries and the establishment of a fisheries cooperation committee. At present, Vietnam and the Philippines are considering the establishment of an intergovernmental agreement on rice cooperation with a term of five years to support each other in ensuring food security. At the recent Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation meeting in August 2023, the two sides agreed to deploy a new agreement on setting up a hotline to handle illegal fishing issues and support fishermen. Source: Vietnams Ministry of Foreign Affairs Philippines sets ceiling on rice prices The Philippines has imposed ceilings on rice prices across the country amid an alarming increase in retail costs of the staple grain and reports of hoarding by traders. Philippines seeks measures for cutting rice prices The Philippines is considering options other than a price ceiling to tackle high rice prices, the countrys National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has said. Fusion welcomes the New Year of the Dragon with special Tet activities From Cam Ranh to Quy Nhon, and from Saigon to Ho Tram and beyond, Fusion is offering numerous ways to mark the Lunar New Year in style. Tet is the most important holiday in the Vietnamese calendar, marking the arrival of spring and new beginnings. During the seven-day celebration, Vietnamese practice an array of customs including cooking traditional foods, cleaning out their homes, donning new clothes, visiting relatives, and giving li xi or lucky money to children. Heres a taste of the Fusion properties that are rolling out the red carpet with special offerings to help couples celebrate Tet. Fusion Resort Cam Ranh Step into a world of enchantment at Fusion Resort Cam Ranh's Tet celebration, where each day promises a unique blend of flavour and festivity. On February 8, Fresh Restaurant will lead the centuries-old tradition of making Banh Tet, guided by a local expert sharing the secrets of this traditional delicacy. On these days, the beach transforms into a captivating canvas adorned with Lunar New Year pole decorations, creating an atmosphere of magic and celebration in collaboration with a special Poolside BBQ. Lunar New Year at Fusion Resort Cam Ranh is not just an event; it's an all-encompassing experience that weaves culture, cuisine and pure enjoyment into an unforgettable three-day celebration. Fusion welcomes the New Year of the Dragon with special Tet activities Maia Resort Quy Nhon Exciting lion dances, calligraphy lessons, and captivating arts and crafts classes help create unforgettable family moments at Maia Resort Quy Nhon during Tet. Experience the essence of Tet with Xuan Maia, the resorts vibrant Lunar New Year promotion, a fusion of daily culinary delights and cultural celebrations. An array of offerings, including a special set menu and more, celebrate not just Vietnamese traditional cuisine but the diverse flavours of the entire East Asian region. Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion In Vietnamese culture, water represents wealth, rejuvenation and good luck. The resort is offering many exciting activities during the Lunar New Year, such as baking workshops for children, handicraft workshops for families, and a set menu for a healthy journey to start the New Year. An exclusive Lunar New Year stay package at Alba Wellness Valley by Fusion is priced from VND2.32 million per guest per night including breakfast anytime, anywhere, along with a special set menu dinner, in addition to all spa, Japanese onsen and scheduled movement therapies. Fusion welcomes the New Year of the Dragon with special Lunar New Year activities Ixora Ho Tram by Fusion Located in the Grand Ho Tram Strip complex, Ixora Ho Tram by Fusion is offering numerous traditional Lunar New Year dining options, as guests usher in the Year of the Dragon. From a mixed grill platter at Sea Salt featuring baked lobster gratin, grilled salmon steaks and grilled ribeye served with chimichurri sauce and truffle sauce, to popular dishes at Ju Bao Xuan like prosperous salmon Yee Shang and double-boiled chicken with ginseng, Ixora Ho Tram by Fusion offers a genuine Lunar New Year experience. Yu Bao Xuan and Yee Shang are in the Grand Ho Tram Strip complex. Fusion Suites Saigon Celebrate Lunar New Year like a local at Fusion Suites Saigon, with many Vietnamese specialities and activities on offer, including an exclusive buffet breakfast and special set menus featuring traditional Lunar New Year dishes. The hotel is also offering lucky red envelopes (li xi) to all guests who check in on the first day of Lunar New Year. Furthermore, the hotel is offering discounts on spa treatments and food and beverage. Fusion Suites Vung Tau Fusion Suites Vung Tau will be bringing New Year's delight to all from February 9-14. On February 9, traditional performances including lion dances, watermelon cutting and more will be held in the lobby. The following days will include traditional Lunar New Year culinary favourites crafted by Executive Chef Duc Nguyen. As a token of Fusions gratitude and greetings for an auspicious New Year, guests will receive lucky money when visiting Fusion Suites Vung Tau from February 10-12. Ixora Ho Tram by Fusion the newest addition to the Grand Ho Tram Strip The Grand Ho Tram Strip has unveiled its newest piece of the puzzle - Ixora Ho Tram by Fusion. Visit paradise at Ixora Ho Tram Fusion Hotel Group has announced the opening of Ixora Ho Tram by fusion, a wellness-inspired resort featuring 164 luxury guest rooms and 46 private villas with breathtaking views overlooking southern Vietnams pristine coastline. Fusion Hotel Group launches business hotel brand Fusion Hotel Group, Vietnams fully integrated hospitality and management company, has announced the launch of HIIVE. The Asian Management Excellence Awards ceremony is a prestigious annual event organised by Asian Business Review to celebrate outstanding business leaders and companies leading in innovation in various fields across the region. Awarded the "Innovator of the Year Healthcare," Hoan My Thu Duc Hospital was lauded by the judges for its comprehensive approach to innovation and continuous improvement of patient outcomes. Since 2023, a series of initiatives have been launched to focus on streamlining the entire patient journey, from finding information about the hospital to medical examination, treatment, and post-discharge follow-up. In addition, the hospital has been improving room and meal services, planning training activities, and organising seminars and conferences. We greatly appreciate the commitment and relentless efforts of Hoan My Thu Duc Hospital to enhance the quality of healthcare, with a focus on patient-centred service, said Tim Charlton, publisher of Asian Business Review. The hospital is not only committed to clinical excellence but also pioneers innovation and continuously improves non-clinical services to bring satisfaction to patients, while contributing to new standards for the healthcare industry in Vietnam. Dilshaad Ali Bin Abas Ali, group CEO of Hoan My Medical Group, was named "Executive of the Year Healthcare, recognising his stewardship of Hoan My Medical Group in a period of remarkable growth and development. He has led the team in pioneering the implementation of advanced technologies, developing strategies for digital health, telehealth, and e-commerce, and building a digital ecosystem designed to deliver a more seamless patient experience. Along with continuously improving the healthcare model at Hoan My Thu Duc Hospital, we will continue to enhance the quality of care throughout our entire network, implementing effective and innovative programmes to provide high-quality healthcare services to advance the health and wellness of the Vietnamese people," said Dilshaad Ali Bin Abas Ali. A healthcare veteran with a wealth of industry experience across Asia and the Middle East, Dilshaad Ali Bin Abas Ali has made a mark with his commitment to excellence, patient-centredness, and a spirit of continuous improvement and innovation. Under his leadership, Hoan My Medical Group continues to develop a diverse, multi-branded healthcare portfolio, providing comprehensive healthcare services to patients and communities. Hoan My Medical Group aims to advance health and wellbeing in Vietnam Hoan My Medical Group, the largest private healthcare network in Vietnam, is focussed on clinical excellence to advance the health and wellbeing of the Vietnamese population. Prima Saigon shares advances in ophthalmology care and treatment On December 16, Prima Saigon Medical Center, a member of Hoan My Medical Group, organised the Prima Medical Center Saigon Scientific Conference 2023 themed Updated Advances in Ophthalmology Care and Treatment to share new methods in the treatment and care of eye diseases. Leveraging its profound understanding of the domestic market, regulations, and labour laws, Talentnet has formed the 'g-local philosophy - 'think globally, act locally' - affirming its position as a major HR consultancy firm in Vietnam, while its partnerships with Mercer and ADP Streamline - two global giants in the human resources industry - has enabled the firm to deliver globally recognised standards to Vietnam. Tieu Yen Trinh, founder and CEO, Talentnet Tieu Yen Trinh, founder and CEO of Talentnet, said, This expansion not only builds Talentnet into a regional company, but also opens up opportunities to support Vietnamese businesses moving out into the region. With Vietnamese firms increasingly investing throughout the region in countries such as Cambodia, Talentnet can assist local partners in clearly identifying the right business opportunities and accurately implementing the process of entering new markets. For Singapore, Talentnet will assist enterprises based there to enter Vietnam, providing a big picture of the Vietnamese labour market, working culture, and labour laws, ensuring compliance with governmental requirements, and contributing to the country's overall economic development. A Talentnet seminar held in Cambodia last December With proven professional capacity and the pride of a Vietnamese business that well understands the national spirit, Talentnet strives to collaborate with local partners in bolstering the image of Vietnamese businesses and indeed, the whole country, on the international stage, Trinh added. Coro expands footprint in Vietnam's renewable energy market Coro Energy PLC, a Southeast Asian company with a natural gas and clean energy portfolio, is continuing its expansion into Vietnam's renewables market. Food delivery firm Baemin bids farewell to Vietnam Baemin, the South Korean food delivery firm, has announced its departure from the Vietnamese market, effective from December 8. INCHAM organises annual business meet and Lunar New Year reception The event also celebrates the remarkable growth of Vietnams exports to India in 2023, despite the economic downturn trend. Vietnams exports of goods to India grew by 6.7 per cent compared to 2022, reaching $8.5 billion. This achievement is a testament to the strong trade relations between Vietnam and India. India is currently Vietnams largest trading partner in South Asia, accounting for nearly 80 per cent of Vietnams exports to this region. Trade is an important pillar in Vietnam - India bilateral relations, continuously achieving steady growth over the past 20 years. Bilateral relations from about $200 million in 2000 reached $15 billion in 2022, making India one of Vietnams top eight trading partners, while Vietnam is in the top four ASEAN countries with trade relations with India. INCHAMs Tet Reception was honoured to receive Sandeep Arya, Ambassador of India to Vietnam, Marc Knapper, Ambassador of the United States to Vietnam, Nguyen Trung Khanh of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Shantanu Chakraborty, country director of Asian Development Bank and Nguyen Thanh Hung, chairman of the board of Sovico Group. In addition, there are government officials from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and representatives from fellow chambers AmCham, AusCham, SingCham, KoCham, and NordCham. At the event, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary, the Indian Business Chamber also presented honorary ,embership to Chakraborty and Hung for their positive support to Vietnam India bilateral relations. The annual reception is an opportunity for the Indian community to recognise appreciation to the government of Vietnam and business partners for their support and commitment to the India-Vietnam trade and business relations. The event hopes to promote the partnership between the two countries to continue to develop and prosper. Vietnam to enjoy standout growth in 2024 Vietnams economy is likely to continue to outperform its regional neighbours through 2024, with its manufacturing and export industries drawing significant inward investment thanks to the openness of its economy and the strength of its fundamentals. A further 125,000 workers to go abroad in 2024 The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) predicts that there will be more job opportunities for Vietnamese workers in markets such as Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea this year, with as many as 125,000 contracted workers expected to make the move. Xay Tet 2024: Being grateful for the silient contribution to create the icons of country When seeing billion-dollar projects in urban areas, people usually remember or mention the reputation of investors and contractors. However, at Coteccons, this perspective only tells part of the story. ITL has been honoured with various titles in recent years Identifying 2023 as a year for building foundations, ITL took a cautious approach and used its internal resources to transform challenges into opportunities. CEO Ben Anh said, We spent 3040 per cent of our time researching new development opportunities even during the market slowdown. We adopt the long-term strategy to run our business but also adjust our business operations to keep up with the trends in anticipation of any new opportunities. Anh explained that last year taught the company major lessons about retaining customers, partners, and employees as businesses were vying to snatch them away during the period. Customers would cut expenses and find logistics partners who provided the best services at the most competitive prices. If we dont do well, we can lose current customers, Anh said. However, this will create a strong motivation for us to draw out lessons, optimise, and improve productivity of our operation. This is how ITL sailed through last year, Anh stressed. In 2024, ITL will continue to invest $100 million to develop infrastructure, such as expanding its northern port, doubling cold storage capacity, expanding its warehouse space by 15 per cent, and increasing barge capacity. The company aims to realise its long-term goal of building a sharing ecosystem for logistics businesses to take advantage of the benefits. ITL has a culture of transformation every five years. In its second transformation from 2017, ITL aimed to become a company with $500 million in revenue. The group achieved the target in 2022, two years ahead of schedule, and so now sets out to generate $1 billion in revenue in its third transformation phase of 2023-2027. In 2024, we will begin our real transformation. We have set up five division companies to make a deeper presence in aviation logistics, freight management, contract logistics, port logistics, and digital logistics. We have a clear business and investment plan for each for the next five years, Anh said. Along with transforming business models, the group has also built a foundation to develop the sharing ecosystem, with elements covering infrastructure, technology, and people, all aimed at building a sustainable logistics ecosystem and becoming a billion-dollar enterprise, he added. Leveraging its strong resources, ITL is at the forefront of applying global trends to its transformation journey. It has reformed its structure to promote supply and sees sustainable development as a vital factor to meet market requirements. To protect the environment, ITL has gradually switched to using energy-saving devices and installing rooftop solar systems at warehouses. It also received the Label Leaf Level 3 from the Green Freight Asia Non-Profit Association by adopting and implementing sustainable development programmes towards green logistics. In addition, the group has also made heavy investment in a fleet of prime movers with fuel-efficient engines and meeting the standards of Euro 4 emissions for environmental protection. ITL has been listed in the Top 500 largest Vietnamese enterprises for 17 consecutive years, the Top 50 Vietnam The Best for nine consecutive years, and the Top 10 Most Reputable Logistics Companies in Vietnam for five years. In addition, it was named one of the Best Companies To Work For In Asia 2022 as voted by HR Asia Magazine, and in the Top 100 Vietnam Best Places To Work 2023 by Anphabe. Momentous year for US-Vietnam relations, photo: VNA The government has tasked the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Industry and Trade with setting up discussions between officials of Vietnam and the US on realising commitments set out in the new comprehensive strategic partnership established last autumn. According to the US State Department, the US is now advancing cooperation with Vietnam on economic security, with a focus laid on increasing trade opportunities, clean energy promotion, semiconductor and supply chain cooperation, following US President Joe Bidens state visit to Vietnam last September. On January 25, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose Fernandez met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi, reaffirming the United States as an enduring partner and expressed support for the rapid development of Vietnams semiconductor ecosystem as part of the US-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This effort includes cooperation to launch workforce development initiatives. PM Chinh told Fernandez, It is suggested that you continue pushing the US side to soon consider recognising Vietnam as a full market-based economy and remove barriers related to exportation of high technology against Vietnam, and that the US continue sharpening its cooperation with Vietnam in all sectors based on the spirit of benefit harmonisation and risk sharing, including many new breakthrough sectors such as innovation, AI, supply chain, green transformation, and especially the semiconductor supply chain. According to Fernandez, the US and Vietnam are now in a superb position to boost their partnership, and the US stands ready to assist Vietnam in developing a semiconductor ecosystem including human resources training and semiconductor trading promotion. The US official said that the US was positively considering and solving issues proposed by Vietnam, especially when it came to the market economy status and hurdles related to high technology. At a media briefing over a week ago in Hanoi, Fernandez revealed that 15 US unnamed companies operating in the sectors of semiconductor and green technology had stated interest in Vietnams chip and clean energy industries, with investment mounting to about $8 billion. One of the key reasons is that Vietnam is in the process of growing its chip production in response to a growing demand thanks to steady global adoption of AI. Last September, Vietnam and the US forged a new semiconductor partnership to support resilient semiconductor supply chains for US industry, consumers, and workers. The partnership is reflected via the signing of a memorandum of cooperation on semiconductor supply chains, workforce and ecosystem development, which will formalise this bilateral partnership to expand the capacity of the semiconductor ecosystem in Vietnam, supporting US industry. Under the International Technology Security and Innovation Fund, created by the CHIPS Act of 2022, the US will partner with Vietnam to develop Vietnams current semiconductor ecosystem, regulatory framework, and workforce and infrastructure needs. The comprehensive workforce development initiatives in Vietnam will jointly develop hands-on teaching labs and training courses for semiconductor assembly, testing, and packaging. The US government will provide initial seed funding of $2 million to launch the initiatives, in conjunction with future support from the Vietnamese government and the private sector. The effort will support the expansion of good jobs for the American middle class for work further up the semiconductor industry value chain. According to a statement from the White House, the US recognises Vietnams potential to play a critical role in building resilient semiconductor supply chains, particularly to expand capacity in reliable partners where it cannot be re-shored to the US and promote manufacturing and industry development at home under the US CHIPS Act. The MPI has been assigned to formulate a scheme on semiconductor manufacturing, in the context that the nation has put its state-of-the-art National Innovation Centre into operation, including semiconductor research and development. The US has set priorities on developing resilient and secure supply chains with Vietnam because the Southeast Asian nation has already demonstrated the capacity to produce semiconductors to world standards with American companies like Intel and Amkor. Semiconductors are of vital importance to US manufacturing. The US and Vietnam have become trusted partners based in years of dealing with each other, said Carl Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales. The US has chosen to prioritise AI and quantum computing because these are the frontier technologies for the future. Vietnam has also set priority on Industry 4.0 technology, so the views of Vietnam and the US are congruent. The US would also like to develop green energy technology with Vietnam. According to the joint leaders statement on elevating US-Vietnam relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership released, Vietnam and the US decided to strengthen science, technology, and digital innovation cooperation, regarding this as a new breakthrough of the comprehensive strategic partnership. The US has declared its commitment to increasing support for Vietnam in the training and development of a high-tech workforce. Acknowledging Vietnams tremendous potential as a major player in the semiconductor industry, the two leaders pledged to support the rapid development of Vietnams semiconductor ecosystem and to work together energetically to improve Vietnams position in the global semiconductor supply chain, the statement read. In the coming months, Vietnam and the US will organise dialogues on these important cooperation sectors. PM Chinh said that Vietnam was now quickening the implementation of a programme on training 50,000-100,000 high-quality engineers for the semiconductor industry, improving the quality of legal regulations for renewable energy, and ameliorating the quality in zoning of rare earth, accordingly helping Vietnam to draw in foreign investment in specific projects. According to German data provider Statista, revenue from Vietnams semiconductor market is forecast to hit $20.15 billion this year and post a compound annual growth rate of 11.62 per cent in 2023-2027, for a market volume of $31.28 billion by 2027. The largest market within the semiconductor industry is integrated circuits, with a projected market value of $16.44 billion this year. MPI figures show that cumulatively as of December 20, 2023, total US registered investment capital in Vietnam reached nearly $11.83 billion for nearly 1,340 valid projects, making the US the 11th largest foreign investor here. Two-way trade between Vietnam and the US increased from $450 million in 1995, when the two countries established their diplomatic relations, to $110.6 billion last year. According to data released by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) on February 5, the trade turnover between Vietnam and South Korea reached $79.43 billion last year. Among them, exports from South Korea to Vietnam contracted 12.3 per cent to $53.49 billion. Meanwhile, imports from Vietnam also shrank 2.9 per cent year over year to $25.94 billion. Vietnam has overtaken Japan for two years in a row in 2023 to maintain the position as South Korea's third-largest trading partner. The decline in trade with and exports to Vietnam was attributed to shrinking chip exports. South Korea saw its semiconductor shipments to Vietnam drop by 21.6 per cent on-year to $12.73 billion in 2023. A decrease was also observed in four other exports: flat panels and sensors, petroleum products, wireless communications equipment, and synthetic resins, according to KITA. Trade between South Korea and Vietnam was $500 million in 1992, when the two countries set up their formal diplomatic relations. After South Korea and Vietnam inked a free trade agreement in 2014, the volume of bilateral trade increased even further. As a result, Vietnam became South Korea's eighth-largest trading partner that year, but its ranking surged to fourth place a year later. In 2022, bilateral trade between the two countries reached $87.7 billion, a 175-fold increase. Vietnam surpassed Japan and became South Korea's third-largest trading partner in 2022. South Korea to open $14 million logistics centre in Dong Nai On January 4, South Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that it has set up a corporate body to open a logistics centre in Vietnam to support South Korean small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). RoK seeks to import graphite from Vietnam The Republic of Korea (RoK)s Technology DA Company on January 3 announced that it has signed an exclusive contract for importing natural graphite with Vietnam Graphite Group (VGG). Nearly a hundred members of Myanmars Border Guard Police have fled their posts and taken shelter in Bangladesh during fighting between Myanmar security forces and an ethnic minority army, an official of Bangladesh's border agency said Monday. Shariful Islam, spokesperson for Border Guard Bangladesh, said by phone that the Myanmar forces entered Bangladesh over last two days to escape fighting with the Arakan Army in Myanmars Rakhine state bordering Bangladesh. They entered Bangladesh through the Tombru border in Bandarban district, he said. In total 95, Myanmar troops are there now, he said. They have been disarmed and taken to safe places. Since Saturday, gunshots could be heard coming from the Myanmar side of the border, local media reported. The Arakan Army is the well-trained military wing of the Rakhine ethnic minority seeking autonomy from the central government and has been attacking army outposts in the western state since mid-November. It is part of an alliance of ethnic minority armies that launched an offensive in late October, gaining strategic territory in the countrys northeast bordering China. Its success was widely seen as a major defeat for the military government, which seized power in February 2021 from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and is now embroiled in a wide-ranging civil war. The alliance, called the Three Brotherhood Alliance, said in a statement Monday that the Arakan Army had attacked two border outposts in Maungdaw township in Rakhine state and captured one of them on Sunday. Khaing Thukha, an Arakan Army spokesperson, said later Monday that fighting was still continuing at the second outpost. Myanmars military government made no immediate comment. The alliance includes the Arakan Army, the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Taang National Liberation Army. Bangladesh shares a 271-kilometer (168-mile) border with Myanmar and hosts more than 1 million Muslim Rohingya refugees, many of whom fled from Buddhist-dominated Myanmar starting in late August 2017 when its military launched a brutal clearance operation against them following attacks by an insurgent group. (AP) ASEAN, EU FMs pose for a group photo at the meeting (Photo: VNA) Brussels Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has 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 (AEMM) in Brussels on February 2. Acknowledging positive progress in the two regional groupings strategic partnership, the minister stressed the need for resolute and effective implementation of decisions made by leaders at the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in 2022, particularly regarding economic, trade, investment, sustainable development, and maritime cooperation. He also underscored the importance of fostering new growth drivers such as digital transformation, energy transition, green economy, and circular economy. Son went on calling on remaining EU countries to swiftly ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and further enhance the effectiveness of existing cooperation frameworks, including the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). He proposed that the EU support Vietnam in implementing its Resource Mobilisation Plan (RMP) for the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). It is necessary for ASEAN and the EU to coordinate efforts to ensure peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, to strengthen multilateralism, and to promote dialogue and cooperation, thereby reinforcing an open, transparent, inclusive regional structure based on international law with ASEAN at the center, said the diplomat. The minister reaffirmed Vietnam's and ASEAN's stance on the East Sea issue, urging EU countries to support ASEANs and China's efforts in fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) and building a substantive, effective Code of Conduct (COC) in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). At their biennial meeting, the two blocs underscored the importance of their strategic partnership established during Vietnam's ASEAN chairmanship in 2020, while also acknowledging the positive progress in the relationship over time. Currently, the EU stands as ASEAN's third largest partner in terms of trade and foreign direct investment, while the latter is the former's third largest trading partner outside Europe. Participating ASEAN FMs considered the EU as one of the blocs top strategic partners with positive contributions to the ASEAN Community-building process. Meanwhile, their EU counterparts affirmed their support for ASEAN's centrality and wished to enhance the sides comprehensive cooperation and regular dialogue and consultation, as well as to continue negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs) with remaining ASEAN member countries following the EUs FTAs with Vietnam and Singapore. ASEAN and the EU agreed to effectively implement the joint statement of the 2022 commemorative summit and the action plan for 2023-2027. Their priority areas include economy-trade-investment cooperation, the connectivity and self-reliance of supply chains, climate change response, food and energy security, digital economy, innovation, green economy, and green services, aiming at the establishment of an ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement in the future. Amidst increasing complexity, instability, and conflicts, both agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation in maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for development. They emphasised the importance of multilateralism, compliance with international law, dialogue and cooperation promotion, and peaceful handling of disputes and conflicts. The FMs also reiterated the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, and safety of maritime navigation and overflight across waters, including the East Sea, based on international law, especially the UNCLOS. Concluding their meeting, ASEAN and the EU adopted a joint statement. While in Brussels on February 1 and 2, the Vietnamese FM had separate sidelines meetings with Luxembourg Deputy PM and FM of Xavier Bettel, Portuguese FM Joao Gomes Cravinho, Cyprus FM Constantinos Kombos, and Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts. Son also met with his Bangladeshi counterpart Hasan Mahmud, and Secretary-General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Salman Al Farisi. Vietnam calls for stronger ASEAN EU relations Vietnam is willing to share its experience as well as work closely with other ASEAN member countries to continue promoting the ASEAN-EU strategic partnership, a Vietnamese diplomat has said. ASEAN, EU join hands in protecting labour migrants in Southeast Asia The 2nd ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Safe and Fair Labour Migration and the launch of awareness-raising campaign videos for the ASEAN Safe and Fair Migration Campaign, held in the Philippines on July 4-7, brought together over 70 policymakers, practitioners, and representatives of civil society and international organisations. Nonetheless, the underlying fundamentals of Vietnams economy remain strong. Real estate ranked second in the list of industries attracting foreign direct investments in 2023. Joseph Low, President, Real Estate (Vietnam), Keppel Ltd. As a global asset manager and operator, Keppel is well-positioned to capture growth opportunities in Vietnam. Over the years, we have formed many rewarding partnerships and grown with established local players, such as Khang Dien and Phu Long, who contribute their wealth of experience and networks. Correspondingly, Keppels suite of quality sustainability solutions, international brand name, and access to third-party funds for co-investments are a good complement to our local partners strengths. We are confident that we can continue to build on these win-win relationships with local partners to turn challenges into opportunities in Vietnam. In recognition of our commitment to providing high quality developments, nurturing the community where we operate and contributing to the sustainable development of Vietnam, we are heartened to have been named one of 2023s best workplaces in Asia by Great Place to Work, taken part at the Top 50 Corporate Sustainability Awards, as well as being named regional winner in the Best Commercial Developer category at the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards last year. Looking ahead, we see many growth opportunities in Vietnam for the sustainability solutions that Keppel provides. For example, we have identified potential pipeline assets for the Keppel Vietnam Fund, our private fund which combines capital from Keppel and global institutional investors to invest alongside us in real estate projects, with a focus on Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Within the real estate sector, Keppel is driving a sustainable urban renewal initiative, bringing people, AI-driven technology, and processes together to bolster the efficiency, sustainability performance, and valuation of both new and aged commercial buildings. A sizeable share of real estate development over the next decade is expected to be based on retrofitting and repurposing existing buildings, which are greener, less costly and faster than new construction, and contribute to the circular economy. By incorporating smart and sustainable features into retrofitted buildings, we can also help enhance the assets performance and value. We believe that this initiative is a compelling solution that can contribute to Vietnams journey to net-zero. Beyond real estate, we also see opportunities in the areas of infrastructure solutions. In 2023, we announced up to $70 million of energy-as-a-service deals were made, further demonstrating market adoption of our business model in Vietnam. Our subscription-based service solution in Vietnam includes energy supply, cooling, decarbonisation, and smart energy management. These services are complemented by real-time remote monitoring and optimisation of energy assets at our newly opened, state-of-the-art intelligent operations nerve centre in Keppels integrated township in Thu Duc of Ho Chi Minh City. We look forward to growing further with Vietnam and contributing to its sustainable development as a global asset manager and operator. There's Lyft. There's Uber. There are taxis. Late on a Thursday night in January, Lisa Broer found a new kind of rideshare in western Illinois. Broer was at Quad Cities International Airport in Moline, Illinois, amid a week of heavy fog across the Quad Cities of eastern Iowa and western Illinois. She was waiting on a standby list for a potential flight to Hawaii and had been there for almost eight hours when she threw in the towel, because flights out of the airport were grounded by fog in the area. She was retrieving her bags from the ticket counter when she saw a group of 22 senior citizens waiting around 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 group 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 began 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. The post piqued his interest. Before he could finish reading the hundreds of comments, 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 pieces 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 overnight trek to Chicago together, making it back at 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 offers rides to those in a pinch he started the business 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. Neither Broer nor Tumbleson has 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, because 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 number 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. WATERLOO Waterloo police are investigating two reports of gunfire over the weekend. No injuries were reported but in one incident a bullet pierced an occupied vehicle, passing within inches of the drivers legs, police said. Officers said the victim was in a Chevrolet Traverse in the area of Burton Avenue and West Donald Street around 8:32 a.m. on Saturday when people in a gold-colored vehicle began shooting at him. The victim fled and notified police. That was the second shooting incident on Saturday. The first came at about 12:05 a.m. in the 800 block of Wellington Street. Witnesses reported hearing about 10 gunshots, and officers found numerous spent shell casings in the area. No injuries or damages were reported. It wasnt clear if the shootings were related. 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 WAVERLY The Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District has named David Hill as its next superintendent. Hill said he received a phone call Thursday evening with the job offer. I accepted during that same phone call, he said. I am elated. I couldnt be happier to have this opportunity. Im honored to have been selected as the next superintendent of one of Iowas premier school districts, Hill said in an earlier news release. The district employs a talented staff, has great facilities and outstanding programs, and enjoys tremendous community support. I look forward to collaborating with the board, community, administration, and staff to take Waverly-Shell Rock to the next level. Its a great day to be a Go-Hawk! I think one of the highest priority items for me is to get into the system and listen and learn about the current situation, Hill said in a phone interview. I have no specific agenda or changes right now. This is a school system that is doing many things right that have led to outstanding student achievement and community support. Well look at how we can capitalize on those things. I do know there are plans to revisit the districts strategic plan and vision and mission. We will get started in earnest with that in the fall when school starts, working with a cross section of the district to participate in that. Its hard to say how long that will take, he said. We need to be open to following the process. It is important to know who you are as a district and what you believe in and why you believe in it. Charlene Wyatt Sauer, Waverly-Shell Rock Schools Board of Education president, commented on behalf of board members. Its with great pleasure we welcome David Hill as our new superintendent of Waverly-Shell Rock Community Schools. Davids proven experience and collaborative leadership style with a vision for student success makes him the right leader for our district, Sauer said in the release. We have full confidence in David to lead the future of public education at W-SR especially as we begin this fall the process of strategic planning and long-term assessment for our school district. This is an exciting time to envision and plan what academic achievement means for our children in our communities. We appreciate the staff, student and community participation during this process and their input. As superintendent of the North Tama County Community Schools, Hill has helped improve the districts financial position while adding programming and new student opportunities in addition to leading a successful bond referendum election with 65% supermajority voter approval. Simultaneously, Hill served as the shared superintendent of the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community Schools from 2016 to 2020. Hill is certified in ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) training and is a member of the Central Rivers Area Education Agencys superintendent advisory committee. He holds an education specialist degree from Drake University and a PK-12 superintendent certification. Hill said it will be bittersweet to leave the North Tame Community School District. Informing people here has been a very emotional experience for me, he said. I love this school district as Ive served it over the last nine years. And Ive told them over the next five months and even beyond, I will do anything I reasonably can to help the district succeed. The future is bright for North Tama. This is a wonderful school district. Hill does plan to relocate his family to the Waverly-Shell Rock district. I do intend to use some of my accumulated vacation days to do some things within the (Waverly-Shell Rock) district, with the blessing of the school board and current superintendent, of course. Hill said he plans to attend some school board meetings. As my schedule allows, I hope to attend some school events this spring and make more introductions in the district. Board members worked with Grundmeyer Leader Services to conduct the search. Hill interviewed with stakeholder groups consisting of students, parents, teachers and community members on Thursday. Hill will officially begin leading the district effective July 1. Waverly-Shell Rock is one of the top school districts in the state, he said. Im glad to become a part of it. 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. Chiefly, 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, Krasner's 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 Wright's 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. There's 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, Bluestine said. 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. In all, he spent 25 years in prison. The group's 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 that's enough to taint the case. Defense lawyer Brian McMonagle accused Krasners office of trying to smear the detectives reputations. 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. A history of police violence in America Intro 1704: Start of slave patrols in South Carolina 1838: First police department 1865: Southern states establish first 'black codes' Dec. 24, 1865: Ku Klux Klan formed 1877: Protesters and law enforcement clash in the Great Railroad Strike May 4, 1886: Labor leaders, strikers protest police brutality in the Haymarket riots Sept. 10, 1897: Immigrant miners are attacked in the Lattimer massacre 1904: Parchman Farm in Mississippi shifts from plantation to prison 1916: Start of Great Migration causes racial tensions May 22, 1917: Ell Persons lynching 1919: The 'Red Summer' of 1919 1929: President Herbert Hoover establishes the National Commission on Law Observance and Enforcement May 30, 1937: Chicago police shoot 10 protesters at Republic Steel Plant protests 1943: LAPD officers complicit in attacks against Mexican Americans during Zoot Suit Riots 18821968: Lack of law enforcement and government intervention during lynchings and murders 1956: COINTELPRO is founded to monitor radicals and activists 1960s: Rising militarization of police forces around the US 1963: Over 250,000 attend March on Washington 1965: Watts Riots highlight tensions between police and Black Americans 1965: Special Weapons and SWAT team established in LA 1967: Newark race riot begins due to injuries inflicted by police on John Smith 1967: Racial profiling and police brutality culminate in Detroit riots 1967: Federal Kerner Commission admits that police action is the cause of urban rebellions of 1960s 1969: New York City riots after a police raid on Stonewall Inn 1971: Death of George Jackson in prison sparks controversy June 18, 1971: War on Drugs campaign kicks off 1970s1980s: Spike in urban crime perpetuates stereotypes and creates 'broken windows' policies 1991: Video of police officers beating Rodney King sparks outrage 1992: Riots begin in Los Angeles due to Rodney King beating and Latasha Harlins killing 1994: Congress passes the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 1994: Violent Crime bill's "three strikes" provisions pave way for mass incarceration 1997: 1033 program helping to militarize police is created Feb. 4, 1999: Police shooting of Amadou Diallo 2000: Prison population almost doubles in a single decade 2000s: School-to-prison pipeline emerges with increased police presence and zero-tolerance policies in schools April 7, 2001: Cincinnati police officer shoots Timothy Thomas 20012013: NYC police target people of color due to 9/11 and expansion of 'stop and frisk' 2002: NYPD's Street Crimes Unit disbanded 2006: Police shootings of Sean Bell and Kathryn Harris Johnston further escalate tensions 2007: Under pressure, NYPD releases data showing racial disparities in its policing Dec. 20, 2011: Police shooting of Anthony Lamar Smith May 16, 2010: SWAT shooting of 7-year-old Aiyana Jones 2014: Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, and Michael Brown all die at the hands of police Nov. 28, 2014: UN Committee against Torture condemns police brutality and excessive use of force by law enforcement in the US 2015: Deaths of Freddie Gray and shooting of Keith Childress Jr. raise questions July 13, 2015: Sandra Bland is found dead after being arrested during a traffic stop July 2016: Police shootings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling happen just a day apart September 2016: UN's Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent issues scathing report on police killings 20172020: Trump administration peels back Justice Department programs that investigate local police departments for racism and excessive force May 2020: Deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd reignite worldwide protests against police brutality and racism Former U.S. president Donald Trump said he would impose more tariffs possibly in excess of 60 percent on China if he is elected again. Responding to a Washington Post report on him mulling a sweeping 60 percent tariffs on all Chinese imports if elected, Trump said in a Fox News interview on Sunday: "No, I would say maybe it's going to be more than that." Trump is the front runner for the Republican nomination in the U.S. presidential race this year. In 2018 and 2019, his administration imposed tariffs of up to 25 percent on hundreds of billions worth of Chinese goods. To retaliate, China also attached additional tariffs on certain U.S. goods. In the interview, Trump said he was not planning on another trade war. "Not a trade war. I did great with China, with everything. China came in, they were going to destroy our steel industry, and I put tariffs, big tariffs," Trump said. "And they stopped it." In 2018, the Trump administration levied a 25 percent tariff on steel imports including those from China and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum, citing national-security risks and the need to protect domestic manufacturers from global overproduction of the metals. "I have steel people, that every time they see me, they start to cry, they hug me, they say 'you saved our industry', but now we're letting it go," Trump said in the Sunday interview. U.S. President Joe Biden has maintained the tariffs on Chinese goods, at an average of 19.3 percent. The U.S. trade representative is conducting a review of the tariffs. While trade has remained a friction point between the two nations, the Biden administration has also been stepping up efforts to relocate U.S. supply chains outside China. China's exports to the U.S. fell by 13.1 percent in 2023 compared to a year earlier, marking their deepest decline in almost three decades, according to Chinese customs data. According to U.S. data, China is also set to lose its position as the top exporter to the U.S. for the first time in 17 years. From January to November in 2023, total U.S. imports for consumption those that have physically cleared customs from China were $388 billion, outpaced by Mexico and even Canada, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission. According to a 2023 report from the commission, U.S. importers bore nearly the full cost of the Trump era tariffs, as import prices increased at the same rate as the tariffs. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin declined to comment on the report of Trump's 60 percent tariffs plan, saying that "we don't comment on unverified information." "I want to stress that the economic and trade relations between China and the U.S. are mutually beneficial and win-win in nature," Wang said. "Upholding sound and steady growth of China-U.S. economic and trade ties serves the fundamental interests of both countries and our peoples and is conducive to global economic growth," he said. Read the full story at SCMP 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. Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (4 February 2024) The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation. In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled four attacks launched by assault groups of AFU 30th, 32nd mechanised, 25th airborne brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Terni (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-made M777 artillery system have been eliminated. In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces improved thier positions along the front line. Aviation and artillery repelled three attacks launched by AFU 60th mechanised and 12th Azov Special Operations brigades near Yampolovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic). In addition, strikes were delivered at AFU manpower near Torskoye (Donestk Peoples Republic) and Serebryansky forestry. The AFU losses amounted to up to 120 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled two attacks of AFU 112th territorial defence, 24th mechanised brigades units near Krasnoye and Leninskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of AFU 22nd, 93rd mechanised, 80th air assault brigades close to Bogdanovka, Noviy, Kleshcheyevka, and Shumy (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Up to 380 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, three Kozak armoured vehicles, and six pickup trucks have been neutralised. In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one D-20, and one D-30 howitzers were hit. One ammunition depot of the AFU 47th Mechanised Brigade has been destroyed close to Pokrovsk (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, helicoptes, and artillery inflicted loses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade and the 1st National Guard Brigade close to Ugledar and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Up to 115 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, two Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems, and one D-30 howitzer have been eliminated. In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of AFU 33rd, 65th, 118th mechanised, 128th mountain assault brigades close to Rabotino, Verbovoye, Nesteryanka, and Sherbaki(Zaporozhye region). The enemy lost up to 45 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and one Grad MLRS. In Kherson direction, coordinated efforts of the Russian Group of Forces in coordination with aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems defeated clusters of AFU manpower near Ivanovka, Tyaginka, Kazatskoye, and Zolotaya Balks (Zaporozhye region). The enemy has lost up to 30 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one M777 artillery system, and one D-20 howitzer. Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have destroyed one AFU fuel depot, and have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 124 areas during the day. Air defence systems shot down 97 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Velikiy Vyselok (Kharkov region), Golikovo, Belogorovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Tokmak, Novoye, Ocheretovatoye, and Chistopolye (Zaporozhye region). In total, 568 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 11,775 unmanned aerial vehicles, 462 air defence missile systems, 14,904 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,216 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,963 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 18,230 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. Tags: WtR Russians should look at what the West is starting (has been doing for years) to do as a warning sign for the future! kKEETON The Russians living in the West, even Russians born in the West, are looking at Genocide if they stay in the West and I mean what I say. The timer is counting down to leave the West and any Russian and that means genetically a Russian and they will test you. Russian genetics means you leave, one way or another and it does not matter if you are an ass kisser Russian and help the West, they will kill you sooner or later Fear and suspicion: An EU state deports thousands of native-born Russian-speakers as the West turns a blind eye Latvia is attempting to deport thousands of Russian-speaking people and apparently, these purges affect not only newcomers who have recently applied for a residency permit, but people who have lived in the country their entire lives. https://www.rt.com/russia/591697-latvia-deports-russian-speaking-residents/ Actually if you have listened to me? You would realize that these are the lucky ones and it is time for all Russians to come home from the Western World. Soon they will not even kick Russian out and and By the way, this is called creating grounds for new war (as they did in Ukraine and trying within Taiwan, China) and the USA Empire of Chaos and Lies is behind it. They will kill Russians in the future and that is after they (West) play every game you can imaging. From having Russians decry their homeland to turn-coating, worship their gods, tortured, exploited, caged, whatsits and you name it. Yet, die the Russians will, if they stay in the West It is an interesting concept that evil will always use what good embraces against the good. For evil does not care about her people and or things. Evil only cares about what it gets to satisfy its desires and nothing more matters. Evil loves to kill the innocent and then watch good try to save them, It is one of Evils strong traits and a strong flaw, Evil does not have loyalties and will sell their family to the highest bidder and will sell your family just as fast. Never think that anything and or anyone evil would have compassion for innocent, for innocents are just tools for leverage against God and goodness Time for Russians to get home to Mother Russia, for the hate and evil will not embrace you except in use as an accoutrements and then if lucky death. You are worth more to them as leverage in all forms to destroy Russia with Time to wake up Russians and get home from the West WtR 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. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Buckingham Palace said a separate issue of concern was noted during Charles' treatment for an enlarged prostate last month, when he spent three nights in a London hospital. The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers about the potential risk of eye infections associated with three brands of copycat eye drops products that closely resemble major brands. South Moon, Rebright and FivFivGo eye drops were cited for being easily mistaken for Bausch + Lombs Lumify brand eye drops, used to treat redness. These copycat drugs are unapproved for sale in the U.S. and are marketed to treat eye conditions such as glaucoma, which would typically require a prescription drug or surgery. Testing of South Moon and Rebright eye drops purchased online found that the products were contaminated with Burkholderia cepacia complex, a bacteria group that could lead to antibiotic-resistant infection. The eye drops also lacked brimonidine tartrate, the active ingredient in Lumify. Although Rebright tested negative for contamination, the FDA is still advising consumers not to use the product. Screenshot from a Food and Drug Administration warning that compares advertisements for three copycat products with those for a real Bausch + Lomb Lumify eyedrops. FDA It is unclear where the products are from, the FDA said. However, South Moon is labeled as made by Shantou Cross-border Premium Products E-Commerce Co. Ltd. in China. There have been no reports of negative reactions to the specific products, but the FDA said it is aware of reports related to possibly fake Lumify eye drops such as product quality concerns, eye irritation, pain and infection. Advice to consumers The FDA recommends that consumers buy eye products only from reputable retailers such as state-licensed pharmacies, and not online retailers selling products with false claims. Anyone with symptoms of an eye infection should seek medical care immediately. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, signs of an eye infection include: Discharge from the eye Pain or discomfort Redness Sensitivity to light Blurry vision Binding Agreement with QFH and Growing Sales Sydney, Feb 6, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Veratin Limited ( NSX:VTN ) is pleased to announce it has signed a binding Goods Supply Agreement (Agreement) with QFH Multiparts (QFH) in Katanning for a minimum purchase of 10,000L of Verigrow(R) per year. The contract is valid for a period of two years and Veratin has the option to extend the Agreement for a further three years if it wishes to do so. The contract is worth a minimum of $25,000 for the Company. Founder and Executive Chairman, Dr Ramiz Boulos says, "I am delighted by this development. This is a testament to the fantastic trial results we've had to date on wheat using Verigrow(R). We are now on track to achieving projected sales of $100,000 this financial year compared to $60,000 last financial year. As we continue to develop the broadacre market opportunity, and after the conclusion of ongoing horticulture and turf trials, I can only see sales continuing to grow in 2025 and beyond." *To view tables and figures, please visit: https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/YVCSQP80 About Veratin Limited Veratin Limited (NSX:VTN) is involved in the research and development of products derived from waste wool, including the development and sales of its initial product, Verigrow(R), a wool-based liquid fertiliser for domestic and commercial use. The Company is also involved in the development of additional products and opportunities derived from its registered intellectual property. Related Companies Authored by Gaurav Bhagat, MD, Consortium Gifts. From long ago, startups have emerged as dynamic threads weaving innovation, growth, and entrepreneurship into the fabric of progress. Playing a crucial role in shaping the economic environment, startups act as catalysts for change. Their mobility is intricately linked to the impact of government policies, where the true power of startups unfolds. Recent years have seen a significant 25% growth in global startup creation, becoming a key component of economic growth (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, 2022). Historical Impact of Government Policies on Startup Growth: History testifies to the transformative power of well-designed policies, with past government actions laying the groundwork for today's dynamic ecosystem. For instance, the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) in the United States, since 1982, resulted in a notable 30% increase in innovations for SBIR-funded agencies compared to non-SBIR counterparts (National Bureau of Economic Research, 2021). The watchful hand of government support not only fosters innovation but also paves the way for future growth and strength of startups. Navigating Startups through Innovation Challenges: The interplay between innovation and government initiatives determines the fate of startups, with 90% facing first-year failure (Forbes, 2022). Primary industries, especially technology, globally show a 20% increase in enrollment due to government policies (Statista, 2021). These statistics underscore the critical role of government policies, providing not just a lifeline but also a launchpad for startups redefining our economic future. Navigating current challenges, startups rely on government insights to chart a course where innovation thrives, businesses flourish, and resilience prevails amidst change. Key Government Initiatives: Specific government policies emerge as winning architects. Programs like Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) boast a 30% higher innovation rate (NBER, 2021). The intricate dance of fiscal policy, tax incentives, and regulatory reform sets the stage not only for entrepreneurial dreams to flourish but also redefines the business environment, emphasizing the crucial role of government support in shaping the future of startups. Success Stories: Startups like CRED, Pharmeasy, and Nykaa demonstrate this synergy, leading to a 15% increase in productivity and 25% economic growth, coupled with transformative technological advances. These findings highlight the impact of government policies on the future activities of startups. Challenges and Areas for Improvement: Notably, 60% of startups face regulatory hurdles (Startup Genome, 2022). Proposed measures include easing regulations and increasing funding to boost startups. International Perspectives: Countries like Singapore show success with flexible regulations, driving an annual growth rate of 10% in startup registrations. Implementing adaptive policies at the local level can enhance the resilience and growth of startups. Future Outlook: Forecasts show an increase in government support for sustainable startups, in line with emerging trends such as green technology and digital innovation. Summary: In the orchestra of innovation, government policies shape the music guiding startups. Their central role in fostering a vibrant and sustainable ecosystem resonates, ensuring that as startups grow, creativity and innovation align for a promising and sustainable entrepreneurial future. Brace yourself for a groundbreaking event as Republic TV hosts the Republic India Women's Summit, celebrating the rise of extraordinary women in a digital age. "Thriving in a digital era" isn't just a theme; it's a promise. Join us for a day packed with inspiration, insights, and connections, brought to you by the network that reaches every third person in the TV universe. That's a staggering 27 crore monthly viewers tuning in to hear diverse voices and witness captivating stories unfold. Sanjukta N Kapoor, VP & Business Head, Branded Content of Republic Media Network, declares: "This summit is a testament to Republic TV's unwavering commitment to amplifying the voices of women who are redefining success and shaping the future in and through technology. The summit transcends being a mere event; its a powerful movement." What awaits you at the summit? Inspiring keynotes & fireside chats featuring icons like Smriti Irani, Mithali Raj, Nigar Shaji, and many more. In-depth panel discussions tackling the challenges and triumphs women face in diverse fields. Valuable networking opportunities to connect with a vibrant community of women leaders. A mesmerizing performance by renowned dancer Sonal Mansingh celebrating the spirit of womanhood. Join the movement! Share your support for the Republic India Women's Summit on social media. #RepublicWomensSummit #ThrivingInDigitalEra #EveryThirdPersonWatchesRepublic Stay tuned for further details on speakers, the full agenda, and registration! Republic Media Network is a leading Indian media group, reaching every third person in the TV universe, with a monthly viewership of 27 crores. Republic TV, the group's flagship channel, is known for its bold narrative and unwavering commitment to amplifying diverse voices. The Republic India Women's Summit is a testament to the network's dedication to empowering women and celebrating their achievements. The Ayurveda Company (T.A.C.), a leader in Indias Ayurvedic lifestyle sector, proudly announces its expansion into the general trade market with the pan-India launch of TAC Bharat. This strategic move represents T.A.C.'s commitment to making Ayurveda's timeless wisdom accessible to a broader audience, especially in areas underserved by online retail and emerging Bharat. TAC Bharat, the new general trade vertical, is designed to bring T.A.C.'s unique blend of traditional ayurvedic knowledge and modern innovation to more consumers nationwide. T.A.C, an early mover amongst the D2C brands to venture into general trade has already set up a strong offline team to ensure a robust presence in the retail channel, enhancing brand visibility and customer engagement. By venturing into general trade, T.A.C. aims to increase its market reach, particularly in the rapidly urbanizing tier 2/tier 3 towns, recognizing the unique opportunities these areas bring. This move is not just about expanding T.A.C.s geographic footprint; its about deepening the connection with diverse consumer segments and understanding their unique preferences and needs. Param Bhargava, Founder at T.A.C said, "Our general trade expansion line, TAC Bharat, is a step forward towards our goal of making ayurveda's timeless wisdom available to all. The name 'TAC Bharat' embodies our commitment to growth and new opportunities in India's rising towns, mirroring the dreams of its young people." The product designs are aligned with our distribution model, ensuring success in these markets. This channel will enable us to achieve profitability by FY 2025." Adding to this, Mr. Sanjiv Gupta, the Chief Advisor at T.A.C, shared, "The Ayurveda Company stands at the helm of the Modern Ayurveda movement. This general trade expansion line is a reflection of the same. Our target is to reach 50K touchpoints by Diwali 2024, supported by media and BTL activations & building an entire network on the cash & carry model. T.A.C strengthened its leadership team & appointed Mukund Raut as the Head of Marketing with his extensive 6+ year experience at Nestle, poised to play a crucial role in building the brand for the general trade market with strong demand generation inputs. The offline team at T.A.C, headed by Vice President Shekhar Singh, is well-positioned for considerable achievements in expanding the business. With his 32 years of extensive experience in establishing offline businesses at notable companies like VLCC, Henkel, Cargill and Coca-Cola, Shekhar Singh leads the team in developing the entire front end. This development includes the strategic appointment of over 100 super stockists and more than 800 distributors within the calendar year, leveraging their substantial sales experience. T.A.C. anticipates that this expansion will significantly contribute to its growth, marking a new chapter in its journey of blending traditional ayurvedic practices with modern lifestyle needs. Plans to launch more products and expand the product line are also in motion in summer, further solidifying T.A.C's position as one of the fastest-growing brands in the Ayurvedic lifestyle sector which is backed by experts. Authored by Bhaskar Majundar The Public Relations industry in India has experienced a notable journey of evolution, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic. As India's economy expanded, the intricacies of business operations and interactions with stakeholders also grew. In an era characterized by rapid technological progress, Public Relations has undergone significant transformation globally. The communication landscape has seen a radical shift, propelled by the availability of data, widespread internet access, and the proliferation of smartphones, particularly post-pandemic. Today, the distinction between traditional outreach, video production, event development, brand marketing, media planning/buying, content creation, and influencer strategies is becoming increasingly blurred. The convergence of communications and marketing has created fresh challenges and opportunities. Presently, brands leverage social media platforms to announce rebranding initiatives, akin to the approach adopted by Fever FM, which undeniably generated considerable buzz. The communication industry in 2024 is indeed experiencing a significant trend towards consolidation, as evidenced by notable mergers and acquisitions reshaping the competitive landscape. Consolidation in the PR industry worldwide has significant implications, including those felt in India. As global PR firms merge and acquire smaller agencies, it reshapes the competitive landscape and influences market dynamics in India. Key developments such as Havas' acquisition of PR Pundit and WPP's merger of BCW and Hill & Knowlton into Burson reflect strategic moves aimed at enhancing market positions and addressing evolving market dynamics. Havas' acquisition of PR Pundit, leading to the formation of PR Pundit Havas Red, highlights the company's commitment to bolstering its public relations services in India. By integrating PR Pundit's expertise with its existing offerings, Havas aims to provide comprehensive communication solutions to clients, capitalizing on the growing demand for integrated services in the Indian market. Similarly, WPP's decision to merge BCW and Hill & Knowlton into Burson underscores the company's strategic realignment to consolidate its market presence and improve operational efficiency. This consolidation creates a formidable PR entity with a $1 billion valuation, positioning Burson as a frontrunner in the global PR landscape. Consolidation often leads to larger PR conglomerates with extensive resources and global reach. These conglomerates can offer a wider range of services, access to international markets, and specialized expertise to clients in India. This can potentially benefit Indian businesses seeking comprehensive PR solutions and access to global markets. However, consolidation also poses challenges for smaller, independent PR agencies in India. Increased competition from larger firms and decreased market share may squeeze out smaller players, making it harder for them to compete and thrive. This can limit diversity and innovation within the PR industry, potentially leading to less choice for clients and a homogenization of services. But consolidation may impact the quality of service and client relationships. As larger firms absorb smaller agencies, there is a risk of losing the personalized approach and client-focused service that smaller agencies often provide. Clients in India may prefer working with boutique agencies that offer tailored solutions and a more intimate client-agency relationship. Furthermore, consolidation could affect pricing and fee structures within the Indian PR market. Larger firms may have more bargaining power and economies of scale, potentially driving down prices and squeezing profit margins for both large and small agencies. This could lead to a commoditization of PR services and increased pressure to deliver results at lower costs. In terms of talent and employment, consolidation may result in job losses or restructuring as redundant roles are eliminated and operations are streamlined. However, it may also create opportunities for skilled professionals to join larger firms and access more resources for career growth and development. Overall, while consolidation in the PR industry worldwide may bring both opportunities and challenges to India, it is essential for stakeholders to adapt to the changing landscape. Collaboration, innovation, and a focus on delivering value to clients will be critical for PR agencies in India to thrive in an increasingly consolidated and competitive environment. In India, another notable change is the emergence of smaller boutique agencies amidst the consolidation trend adds diversity to the industry. While these agencies offer niche expertise and agility, they face challenges such as resource constraints and limited professional development opportunities. Addressing these challenges is crucial for sustaining the growth and competitiveness of smaller agencies while fostering a robust talent pipeline within the industry. The consolidation wave in the communication industry reflects broader shifts towards scale, efficiency, and adaptability in response to evolving market conditions. Strategic alliances and mergers serve as mechanisms for organizations to enhance their competitive advantage and navigate the changing landscape effectively. The consolidation trends in the communication industry underscore the need for innovation, agility, and client-centricity. As stakeholders navigate this period of transformation, the ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamic environment will be key to shaping the future trajectory of the industry. By embracing change and leveraging strategic partnerships, organizations can position themselves for long-term success in an increasingly competitive market. One of Indias leading news website, The Federal, has launched its Karnataka edition in Kannada. The launch of The Federal's Karnataka edition marks a significant milestone in the publication's journey towards providing comprehensive coverage across various states in India. By offering content in Kannada, The Federal aims to cater to the diverse linguistic preferences of its audience while maintaining its commitment to delivering quality journalism. S Srinivasan, the Editor-in-Chief of The Federal, highlighted the importance of delivering in-depth news stories across different genres, ensuring that readers have access to a wide range of content in their preferred language. This move not only enhances the accessibility of news but also demonstrates The Federal's dedication to providing readers with a nuanced understanding of regional perspectives. C Rajamani, the CEO of New Generation Media, which oversees The Federal, emphasized the organization's dedication to inclusivity and global accessibility. By launching editions in multiple languages, The Federal aims to transcend linguistic barriers and resonate with a broader audience, reflecting its belief in delivering news that is relevant and meaningful across diverse cultural contexts. The expansion into various states presents both opportunities and challenges for The Federal, particularly in navigating the rapidly evolving media landscape characterized by advancements in technology, changing content consumption patterns, and evolving news preferences. Nonetheless, The Federal remains optimistic about its ability to provide a fresh perspective on Karnataka while showcasing the state's vibrancy to the world. The Federal-Karnataka is led by Muralidhara Khajane, a senior journalist renowned for his expertise and professionalism in the state. His leadership underscores The Federal's commitment to ensuring high-quality reporting and editorial standards in its Karnataka edition, further solidifying its reputation as a trusted source of news and information. A new analysis gives Alabama kudos for boosting students math skills back to where they were before the COVID pandemic. Researchers with the Education Recovery Scorecard project said the state was the top in the country. And they praised some individual districts, including Birmingham, for recovery efforts. Alabama has reason to be proud of its recovery so far, said Tom Kane, Director of Harvard Universitys Center for Education Policy Research. Now is the time to finish the job and ensure all districts have recovered to 2019 achievement levels. As good as the state looks compared to others, improvements arent spread evenly across the states school districts, according to the analysis. Thats something the state needs to improve, researchers said. Stanford University professor Sean Reardon co-authored the analysis with Kane. Students overall havent returned to pre-pandemic levels of achievement, he said. But clear progress is being made. Alabama Superintendent Eric Mackey said he is encouraged by the results of the analysis. I am proud of our outstanding success so far, he said. But like every other state across the country, we still have more work to do. This report shows Alabama is on track for continued success. The authors analysis covered reading and math, but because Alabamas reading test changed between 2022 and 2023, only math results were considered in the study. Some districts improved The analysis showed math achievement in 65 of Alabamas 137 school districts surpassed 2019 pre-pandemic results, which is good news, but in many of those districts, despite the improvement, students are still testing below grade level. Statewide, students in 111 school districts scored below grade level in math on 2023 tests. Still, some of the districts that remain farthest behind national peers have made the most progress. In Birmingham City Schools, where the average student is 3.5 grade levels behind in math and 80% of students are eligible for free and reduced-price meals, student learning outpaced the state as a whole. Math tests showed Birminghams students accomplished more than a year and a halfs worth of learning from 2022 to 2023. The state averaged a year and a quarters worth during the same time period. And in rural Wilcox County, student math results improved at the same rate Birminghams did -- rising from 3.6 grade levels below in 2019 to 3.0 grade levels below in 2023. The chart below allows you to select a district to see where the average student is in terms of grade level in math for 2023 as compared to 2022 and 2019. Click here if you are unable to see the chart below. National district-level comparisons of progress from 2019 to 2023 Researchers compared district-level achievement among 30 states whose 2023 state-level tests were publicly available using a statistically-valid method that equated individual proficiency levels on state tests to state-level results on the federal National Assessment of Educational Progress or NAEP. The Education Recovery Scorecard is the only publicly-available tool to compare state-to-state results. Click here for the interactive tool showing all results. Alabama had a good showing among the top tier of those making progress in math. Among 5,700 school districts in the analysis, five of Alabamas school districts landed among the top 20 for making the most progress in math from 2019 to 2023: 3rd - Piedmont City - 1.8 grade levels 7th - Opp City - 1.3 grade levels 9th - Andalusia City - 1.3 grade levels 11th - Thomasville City - 1.3 grade levels 16th - Boaz City - 1.2 grade levels This analysis of both changes from 2022 to 2023 and from 2019 to 2023 follows a report from the same authors in 2022, which used statistical methods to compare achievement levels on state tests in reading and math to gauge learning loss over the pandemic, comparing test results from 2019 to 2022. In that 2022 report, Alabama stood out for success in showing less learning loss than others across the country. Alabamas school districts further stood out for measures showing Black and Hispanic students had less loss than in other states. ESAs - short for Education Savings Accounts - are what some call the ultimate in school choice and educational freedom. Though she didnt support the tool last year, Gov. Kay Ivey said she is bringing her own ESA bill to this legislative session. She will reveal it during her State of the State speech Tuesday evening. Currently 13 states offer ESAs, according to EdChoice, a school choice advocacy organization that says it represents 326,000 students who used ESAs during the 2023-24 school year. Different states have different options. In Alabama, which kids are eligible, what goods and services are covered, how parents access the money in the ESA, whether kids using ESAs have to take annual public school tests and whether private or homeschools will have to be accredited remains to be seen. Lawmakers will make those decisions when they hash out whether to make ESAs available in the state. Update: Learn more about the bill moving forward in Alabamas legislature in 2024 here. What is an ESA, or education savings account? ESAs give parents a certain amount of money - typically tied to what the state spends to educate a public school student - to pay for their preferred way of educating their child. The state spends roughly $7,200 per public school student. That means money can be used for private school tuition, homeschool materials, special education services or whatever else the law says is an eligible expense. Families would likely get the money on a debit card, to be spent over the course of a year. How much money will parents get in their childs ESA? That all depends on the bill. The amount is typically pegged to the states portion of public school funding, which for the current school year is about $7,200 per student. Some states give additional funding for students with disabilities who typically need additional services beyond what the state provides EdChoice states the average amount of an ESA ranges from $4,299 in West Virginias ESA program for students who were enrolled initially in public school to $11,230 in North Carolinas ESA program for students with disabilities. What if the ESA doesnt cover all of the cost of tuition at my childs private school? If the ESA doesnt cover the full cost of tuition, the family is on the hook for the rest. What kind of schools can my child attend using an ESA? Again, this depends on the bill. There are many ways the bill can be configured to limit or include some schools and not others. Or it could simply say all non-public schools are eligible to take ESAs. Homeschool could be included, too, but could be limited to those who use a cover school. Typically, students use ESAs to pay private school tuition or cover the cost of homeschool materials. Are all children eligible for ESAs? It depends on how lawmakers write the bill. Students in all grades may be eligible. Or the state could phase in a few grades each year. Eligibility could be limited to students with disabilities, like it is in Mississippi. Lawmakers could restrict access to low-income families as in Tennessee. or it could be universal, like Arizonas. My child attends a charter school. Will he be eligible for an ESA? Charter schools are public schools. If your child is enrolled in a public charter school, he would not be eligible for an ESA. Can my child get an ESA if he or she receives a scholarship through the Alabama Accountability Acts tax credit scholarship program? That depends on how the bill is written. The tax credit scholarship program was expanded at the start of this school year to include all students with disabilities and the 100,000 students enrolled in priority schools, which are schools that earned a D or F on the 2023 school report card. What school choice options already exist in Alabama? Beyond enrolling a child in the school the child is zoned for, Alabama has the following types of school choice: Magnet schools (most have admission tests or requirements), Public charter schools, Private schools (religious or non-religious), Online schools, Homeschool without cover Some public school districts allow students living outside of the district to attend their schools, though some charge tuition and can kick a child out if the childs behavior is unacceptable. Jason Isbell and the Blind Boys of Alabama added to their Grammy glory on Sunday, winning three awards total during the afternoon Grammys Premiere Ceremony in Los Angeles. Isbell, an Alabama native, and his band the 400 Unit won the Grammy Award for Best Americana Album for Weathervanes. Isbell also earned a songwriting award for Cast Iron Skillet, winning in the category of Best American Roots Song. Cast Iron Skillet is a track from Weathervanes, released in June 2023 on Isbells Southeastern Records label. Thank you so much. I want to thank everybody at Thirty Tigers, everybody at Southeastern Records, Traci Thomas, my fantastic band the 400 Unit everybody that helped out with all this stuff, Isbell, 45, said when accepting the award for Cast Iron Skillet. But I also just want to say that it makes me really happy that these stories can be told and can resonate with people, the Green Hill native said. And I want to encourage all new songwriters out there to tell the truth and be as honest as you can, as quickly as you know what the truth is. Thank you so very much. Jason Isbell accepts the Grammy Award for Best American Roots Song, for "Cast Iron Skillet," at the Grammys Premiere Ceremony on Feb. 4, 2024.(Screenshot from Grammys Premiere Ceremony) Isbell made sure the musicians of the 400 Unit joined him when accepting the award for Best Americana Album, and according to the Premiere Ceremony rules, they had 45 seconds to get on stage and give a short speech. Come on, guys, youve got 40 seconds. Step it up, Chad, step it up, Isbell said, calling out to drummer Chad Gamble as he headed down the aisle of the Peacock Theater. Heres the band. Heres the rock n roll band. Isbell also gave an affectionate shout-out to Jimbo Hart, longtime bassist of the 400 Unit. Hart was part of the recording sessions for Weathervanes, but left the group before the 400 Unit launched a tour with Isbell in summer 2023. Look at Jimbo. Hey, Jimbo, Isbell said at the Premiere Ceremony. He turned the microphone over to the 400 Unit, but said, I want to thank these guys right here for getting in the van with me and never getting back out. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit accept the award for Best Americana Album for "Weathervanes" during the 66th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) Isbell now has six Grammy Awards to his credit, including four previous wins. He won a Grammy for Best Americana Album in 2016 for Something More Than Free, and in 2018 for The Nashville Sound with the 400 Unit. Isbell also won two Grammys for Best American Roots Song, in 2016 for 24 Frames and in 2018 for If We Were Vampires. Isbell and the 400 Unit scored another Grammy nomination this year for Best Americana Performance for King Of Oklahoma, but lost in that category to Brandy Clark and Brandi Carlile for Dear Insecurity. READ: Which Alabama music star has the most Grammy wins? The answer might surprise you Blind Boys of Alabama accept the award for Best Roots Gospel Album for "Echoes of the South" during the 66th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles.(AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) The Blind Boys of Alabama took home a Grammy Award on Sunday in the category of Best Roots Gospel Album, for their 2023 release Echoes of the South. The album was recorded at The NuttHouse in Sheffield and released in September 2023 by Single Lock Records, a label based in the Shoals. Overall, this was Grammy No. 6 for the Blind Boys, a harmonizing gospel troupe formed during the 1930s at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in Talladega. (Its now known as Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind.) The Blind Boys have been faithful to their gospel roots throughout a long and distinguished career, although original members such as Clarence Fountain and George Scott have died and longtime member Jimmy Carter, a Birmingham native, recently retired from performing at age 91. Carter was not on stage with the Blind Boys on Sunday as the group accepted their latest Grammy Award, but he participated in the recording sessions for Echoes of the South. The Blind Boys received two more Grammy nominations this year, in the categories of Best American Roots Performance for Heaven Help Us All, and Best Americana Performance for Friendship. Allison Russell won the Grammy for Best American Roots Performance for Eve Was Black. Brandy Clark and Brandi Carlile won the award for Best Americana Perfomance for Dear Insecurity. The Blind Boys of Alabama previously won five Grammys in the categories of Best Traditional Gospel Album and Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album, for Down in New Orleans, There Will Be a Light, Go Tell It On the Mountain, Higher Ground and Spirit of the Century. Grammy winners in 94 categories will be announced on Sunday by the Recording Academy. Winners in a handful of top categories, such as Record of the Year and Album of the Year, will be announced on Sunday night during a ceremony televised on CBS, airing live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. It starts at 7 p.m. CT. However, most Grammy winners received their awards earlier on Sunday at the Grammys Premiere Ceremony. Its typically held at a theater across the street from the Crypto.com Arena, now called the Peacock Theater. The Premiere Ceremony, which started at 2:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, ended shortly after 6 p.m. CT. Roy Wood Jr. continues to keep himself busy after leaving the The Daily Show, next releasing a new book, The Man of Many Fathers from The Crown Publishing Group. The book will focus on lessons Wood learned from unexpected father figures in his life after his own father passed when Wood was 16. This includes bosses, teachers, co-workers, an ex-con, along with high-profile media and comedy figures. Wood then uses the lessons to audit his own approach to fatherhood and unpack the complicated relationship he had with his own father. The book was sold at auction to Matt Inman at Crown, by Anthony Mattero at CAA (North American). Wood announced that he would be leaving The Daily Show in October 2023 as a correspondent after eight years on the nightly program. Earlier in the year, he hosted the White House Correspondents Dinner which received the highest ratings since 2017 and continued to guest host the The Daily Show as part of its rotation of fill-in hosts. In early 2024, Wood announced a new 14-date standup comedy tour called Happy to Be Here for North America. Last month, the comedian went viral a couple of times on X, formerly known as Twitter. One for his thoughts on the viral Katt Williams interview with Shannon Sharpe, and secondly for mouthing Please hire a host during Trevor Noahs speech at the Emmys. Wood is a comedian, born and raised in Birmingham where he became known for his prank phone calls on 95.7 JAMZ- WBHJ. He received an Emmy nomination for producing the PBS documentary The Neutral Ground. His acting credits in television include Only Murders in the Building, Better Call Saul, The Last O.G. and Space Force. His first Comedy Central standup special Roy Wood Jr.: Father Figure debuted in 2017, the same year he was named the new host of Comedy Centrals storytelling series, This is Not Happening. Debuting in 2019, his second Comedy Central special Roy Wood Jr.: No One Loves You remains the networks highest-rated original standup premiere. Author LaDarrion Williams, originally from Helena, is making his mark with his first fantasy book called, Blood at the Root. Williams wrote a post on Facebook that has more than 12,000 shares and 6,000 likes celebrating the pre-order release of the book. In the post he says: Yes. I wrote a book about a Black boy from Helena, Alabama with ancestral magic. Yes, he can cast spells. Conjure hurricanes, teleport through time and space, and burn down the world with his blue ancestral fire. He is his ancestors wildest dreams. Took 14 years years to get here. #BloodattheRoot will be in bookstores nationwide. May 7th, 2024. Yes. I wrote a book about a Black boy from Helena, Alabama with ancestral magic. Yes, he can cast spells. Conjure... Posted by LaDarrion Williams on Thursday, January 11, 2024 Williams, who is based in Los Angeles, told AL.com this book first started out as a television script that was pitched to various production studios. The story first went viral on twitter when I posed the question, What if Harry Potter went to an HBCU? he said. Then I made a short film with some friends during the pandemic, I thought I had something special, I got gold. I thought Hollywood would want it because it had a viral moment. However, he said the idea was rejected by several executives because they werent sure how to market it and they didnt really connect with the main character. But it was important to Williams to showcase a young Black boy having a coming-of-age story that was coming into his powers at a magical HBCU. Williams then reimagined the story as a book due to his love of reading. When I was in high school, it was the peak of the young adult book genre. There was Hunger Games, Twilight, Harry Potter. But being a Black kid from the South, especially a small town in Alabama, I loved those stories, but I didnt see anybody who looked like me or sounded like me, said Williams. He also mentioned getting theme inspiration from Beyonces Black Is King visual album and the movie Moonlight. Williams initially planned to self-publish, but he received several offers from high-profile publishers that led to a competitive bid. He ultimately signed with Penguin Random House in January 2023 and will have two more books to follow to create a trilogy of Maliks life as he further discovers his magical powers. The book is currently available for pre-order, and has already made Amazons number one pre-sale bestseller books. The book will be available for purchase in September 2024. Williams plans to hold a launch and book signing in the Birmingham area. Killer Mike was walked out of Los Angeles Crypto.com Arena in handcuffs Sunday and charged with misdemeanor battery after winning three Grammy Awards. On Sunday February 4th just after 4pm a male adult was detained & handcuffed for a physical altercation that occurred at the 700 block of Chick Hearn Court, the LAPD announced Sunday. The suspect was placed under arrest and was transported to LAPD Central Division. Police confirmed Monday the suspect was Killer Mike, a.k.a. Michael Render. According to Variety, the Scientists & Engineers rapper was released soon after being taken into custody late Sunday afternoon and had plans to be celebrating his sweep that evening. Police confirmed he was in the process of being released around 8:30 p.m. local time. Its not clear what led to Killer Mikes detention during a pre-show ceremony, where several awards, including his, were handed out ahead of the Grammy Awards broadcast. LAPD hasnt returned a request for information. Video shot by Hollywood Reporter writer Chris Gardner shows authorities walking the 48-year-old performer through the stadiums hallways with his hands cuffed behind his back. It was an otherwise good night for Killer Mike, who was honored for Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Album. The Atlanta native posted I did it for the city on social media Monday morning. It had been more than 20 years since he won his last Grammy. The alleged incident that landed him in police custody occurred in an area adjacent to the Crypto.com Arena, according to CNN. Its unclear who else was involved. 2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Giovanni Loyola says that that he was handcuffed for hours so tightly during an arrest in Alabama that the circulation in his wrist was blocked, leading to the amputation of his hand. The case now appears headed to trial. Its horrible, Loyola, who lives in Pinson, just outside Birmingham said in a 2021 interview with AL.com. I dont wish that pain on nobody. Its just really unexpected. I have no words for it. Loyola is suing the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department. The trial is now set for April 15. Loyola claims the deputies used excessive force against him and violated his civil rights. A spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said they would not comment on pending litigation. Loyola was arrested for disorderly conduct/disturbing the peace on the evening of February 16, 2020. According to his complaint, he was at his mothers trailer watching television when several deputies knocked on the door. A report filed by Deputy Christopher Godber six days after the arrest said that he and two others went to the trailer park after getting several calls reporting gunshots and two men fighting. Loyola, who was 25 at the time, claims in his suit that he was not fighting anyone and that while his brothers may have argued outside, no one fought. When Loyola answered the door, the deputies reacted aggressively, the complaint said. Deputy Godber, without answering and without asking permission to enter the home, reached inside the doorway, grabbed Plaintiff by the wrist and jerked him outside the home and down the steps, the complaint said. Loyola alleges the deputies slammed him into a car, threw him on the ground and punched him in his face. Loyola is about 55 and weighed 132 pounds. According to the complaint, Godber placed the handcuffs tightly on his wrists while he lay on the ground. The complaint alleges Loyola said that he had done nothing wrong, and Godber stated, (He) doesnt know how to be fucking quiet. Loyola repeatedly pled for help adjusting his handcuffs, according to his complaint, a request that the deputies ignored. In his report to the magistrate from February 22, 2020, Deputy Godber reported Loyolas speech was slurred, he was intoxicated and arguing with family members loudly inside his mothers trailer. Dep. Godber tried to detain Loyola where he immediately became combative pushing Dep. Godber away. Loyola then struggled with deputies on the ground and resisted being handcuffed, the deputys report stated. Once in jail, Loyola was denied medical treatment, his complaint alleged. Loyola later went to the hospital where he was told he would need an operation for his hand. (He) was found to have a severe problem with blood flow to his left hand and is in need of emergent surgery, the complaint said. The tops of three of his fingers were removed in a March 2nd surgery. Still, his hand remained so painful, he returned to the hospital. Ten months, several surgeries and hospitals later, Loyola had his hand amputated. Sarah Pugh paid her $72 January water bill, but left a 26-cent balance. The town of Pine Hill in Wilcox County, west of Montgomery and east of Thomasville, shut off her water and charged her a $75 re-connect fee. They cut me off for 26 cents, Pugh told WAKA Channel 8. And its done happened to more than just me up here. Pine Hill Water Clerk Rebecca Nelson told AL.com that the town sent her a disconnect notice and attempted to contact Pugh by phone, but the phone number listed on her account was disconnected. Weve got 800 customers. We do everything across the board, because if you do for one, youve got to do it for the others. You cant make special allowances, Nelson said. The town released a copy of its policy, which states that all bills must be paid in full: All bills must be paid in full by the 10th of the month. A service charge will be added on the 11th. Then the service will be disconnected if the bill is not paid by the 24th. Nelson said the town routinely sets up payment plans for those who have a leak or have trouble paying their bill. Pugh told the TV station she received her disconnect notice in the mail after her water was cut off. They spent more on postage than my bill was, she said. Pugh paid the $72, but didnt pay the remaining 26 cents by Jan. 24, as required by town policy. They could have easily put that 26 cents on my next months (bill), she told WAKA. Nelson said that Pugh dropped a check off at the Town Hall on Jan. 19, the same day the disconnect notice was mailed. She dropped a check off, and she shorted it. She does not pay it every first of the month. She never paid her bill on time. Shes gotten cut off a couple of times, Nelson said. Pugh has since come by the office and paid $75.26 - the 26-cent balance she had remaining, plus a $75 re-connect fee, Nelson said. Her water service was re-connected. Nelson said Pine Hills policies are in line with other towns, and the rules are clearly stated. Were pretty much right where everybody else is, she said. It was 26 cents, yes it was, and we did disconnect her. But we didnt do anything to her that we dont do to everybody (who owes a balance after the deadline). Thats our policy. It has to be paid in full by the 24th of the month or on the 25th it gets disconnected. Theres no exceptions. They know that. Euphoria and Saltburn actor Jacob Elordi is under investigation by Australian police after allegedly assaulting a radio producer. Elordi, 26, was at a hotel in Sydney on Saturday when he was approached by Joshua Fox, a producer for morning program The Kyle & Jackie O Show, according to Australian newspaper Daily Telegraph. On Sundays episode of the show, Fox said that he asked Elordi for some bathwater as a gift for one of the radio hosts, a jokey reference to a provocative scene in Saltburn featuring an obsessive Barry Keoghan. Elordi purportedly asked Fox to stop filming their interaction and delete the footage before the situation escalated. Fox said he refused because it was the only evidence the situation had turned a corner. Im backed against this wall. Hes right in my face, and his two boys are now on either side of me, Fox said. Its like a switch went off, and hes becoming quite aggressive, and Im feeling intimidated. And then Jacob kind of just flips and he kind of pushes me against the wall and his hands are on my throat, Fox said on the show. Police confirmed to Variety that an altercation at a hotel is being investigated. Officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command are investigating after a man was allegedly assaulted outside a hotel in Sydneys Eastern Suburbs, a statement from NSW Police reads. Police were told about 3:30 p.m. 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. Inquiries into the incident is continuing. 2024 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A man authorities say wielded a knife inside a bank on Monday and then held police at bay at a nearby home was found shot to death after law enforcement fired into the home, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. ALEA identified the slain man as Boyd Douglas Phillips. He was 47 and lived in Ozark. ALEA was notified that a man later identified as Phillips was threatening individuals with a knife at the All In Credit Union on Andrews Avenue in Ozark. A state trooper tried to stop Phillips and a chase ensued, leading to a home in the 100 block of Hub Street in Ozark. Authorities said Phillips barricaded himself inside. ALEAs SWAT team, along with multiple local law enforcement agencies, responded to the scene to assist. During the course of the incident, officers with ALEA SWAT fired shots, striking Phillips. Phillips was pronounced dead on the scene. No officers were injured. Additional details werent released. The investigation is ongoing. Once complete, the findings will be turned over to the Dale County District Attorneys Office Target is yanking a Black History Month item from its stores and website after a TikTok user pointed out that it mixes up the images and names of Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois and Carter G. Woodson. We will no longer be selling this product in stores or online, the retailer said in a statement. Weve also ensured the products publisher is aware of the errors. In the social media post that went viral, TikTok user Issa Tete said she bought the civil rights magnetic learning activity from Target for Black History Month. I dont know who is in charge at Target, but these need to be pulled off the shelves like immediately, she said in the post. Tete added that she teaches U.S. history and noticed mistakes as soon as she opened the toy. This is not W.E.B. Du Bois, she says, pointing to an image erroneously labeled with his name. This is Booker T. Washington. She juxtaposed the images of the prominent historical figures used in the product next to actual pictures of those men to show the discrepancies. The product was made by manufacturer Bendon, which did not respond to a request for comment. This is not the first time Target has run into issues related to its special collections. Last year, Target pulled some items from its Pride collection after backlash and protests over the products. 2024 StarTribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. WTVM 13 has named Taylor Sarallo its newest meteorologist. Sarallo will appear on NBCs Birmingham affiliate station during weekday newscasts at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. A commitment to keep Central Alabama safe during severe weather is core to Taylors passion, WTVM president and general manager, Susana Schuler said in a press release. Shes made Birmingham home, and we are thrilled to welcome her to WVTM 13. Taylors background and experience will enhance our outstanding weather teams mission to inform and protect the viewers in our area. Stephanie Walker, also a WVTM meteorologist, said in an X post, HUGE NEWS!! The @wvtm13 weather team is growing. Help me welcome our newest meteorologist, Taylor Sarallo. She is no stranger to central Alabama, and we are thrilled to have her as part of the team! Watch her on the midday news at 11 a.m. and again at 4 p.m. HUGE NEWS!! The @wvtm13 weather team is growing. Help me welcome our newest meteorologist, Taylor Sarallo. She is no stranger to central Alabama, and we are thrilled to have her as part of the team! Watch her on the midday news at 11 a.m. and again at 4 p.m. pic.twitter.com/ZRsqvqCYeg Stephanie Walker (@StephWVTM13) February 5, 2024 Sarallo left ABC 33/40 in August after four years with the ABC affiliate station, with no given reason at the time. Originally, born in Plano, Texas, Sarrallo was raised in Georgia and attended the University of Georgia in Athens. It was there that she graduated second in her class and was the first woman to obtain a B.S. in Atmospheric Sciences from UGA. Sarallos first on-air job was chief meteorologist at WDHN News in Dothan before she joined WKRG in Mobile where she covered multiple hurricanes including Hurricane Michael. Im very excited to continue my career in Central Alabama, serving the people I have grown to know and love over the past four years, Sarallo said in the WVTM release. I look forward to working with and learning from the other meteorologists. I love forecasting because conditions are always changing, and I take pride in giving viewers the information they need to protect their families. Sarallo joins chief meteorologist Jason Simpson, morning meteorologist Stephanie Walker, and weekend meteorologists Brylee Brown and Adrian Castellano. All eight Republican members of Alabamas congressional delegation have voiced opposition to the Senate border security bill, claiming the legislation doesnt go far enough to stem illegal border crossings. At every step along the way, President Biden has made it clear that he doesnt want to end the border crisis - he wants to enable it, said Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., who said border security was one of her top priorities during her 2022 campaign. I wont support this supplemental funding bill, because it would not effectively stop President Biden from continuing his mass migration agenda. At every step along the way, President Biden has made it clear that he doesn't want to end the border crisis - he wants to enable it. I won't support this supplemental funding bill, because it would not effectively stop President Biden from continuing his mass migration agenda. Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) February 5, 2024 The $20 billion earmarked for border security in the bill, which also would provide $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel, includes funds to hire thousands more officers to evaluate asylum claims, adds hundreds of more Border Patrol agents and helps stop the flow of fentanyl. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said he is an immovable NO on the bill. I cant believe this is the border security bill thats been negotiated, he said. This bill DESTROYS American sovereignty. It will weaken immigration laws for decades and handcuff the next President that actually wants to secure our borders and defend our country. This bill has been crafted to solidify the invasion of illegals into the United States of America. Im an immovable NO. I can't believe this is the "border security bill" that's been "negotiated". This bill DESTROYS American sovereignty. It will weaken immigration laws for decades and handcuff the next President that actually wants to secure our borders and defend our country. This bill has been Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) February 5, 2024 Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, said he would not be voting for the bill if it came to the House floor. The Senate border security bill mentions Ukraine 370 times. It sends $60 billion in taxpayer dollars to Ukraine and only $20 billion to our southern border. I OPPOSE this legislation. America First! Moore said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, adding the hashtag #KilltheBill The Senate "border security" bill mentions Ukraine 370 times. It sends $60 billion in taxpayer dollars to Ukraine and only $20 billion to our southern border. I OPPOSE this legislation. America First! #KilltheBill Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) February 5, 2024 Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, said the bill would be detrimental to our country, calling it a poor excuse for a border security bill. He said the Senate should instead back the House bill addressing the border. I cannot believe the Senate actually thinks this bill will secure our border. This poor excuse for a border security bill will continue to incentivize illegal crossings and will not have my support. Gary Palmer (@USRepGaryPalmer) February 5, 2024 Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, said the legislation does nothing but reward illegal immigration into the U.S. The Senate "border bill" allows 5,000 immigrants a day into our countryand thats just the beginning. This bill does nothing but reward illegal immigration into the U.S. We need to finish the wall and end the border crisis. The Senate MUST pass HR 2. Rep. Jerry Carl (@RepJerryCarl) February 5, 2024 Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, said the bill is dead on arrival in the House. The Senate border bill is Dead on Arrival in the House. We have an unprecedented national security crisis at our border. We deserve a secure border, protection from fentanyl traffickers, and communities not overrun by illegals. This bill doesnt measure up. #senateborderbill Robert Aderholt (@Robert_Aderholt) February 5, 2024 Aderholts tweet was confirmed by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, retweeted Scalises tweet: Let me be clear: The Senate Border Bill will NOT receive a vote in the House. Heres what the people pushing this deal arent telling you: It accepts 5,000 illegal immigrants a day and gives automatic work permits to asylum recipientsa magnet for more illegal immigration. Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) February 5, 2024 Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, said the legislation will not meaningfully improve our border crisis. After reviewing the 370 pages released by the Senate, I am concerned that the emergency authorities are so riddled with exceptions, loopholes, and waivers that it will not meaningfully improve our border crisis, he said. For example, the bill creates a new Border Emergency Authority, but only allows the President to use it for under nine months of the year, and only after at least 4,000 illegal aliens cross in a day. I dont believe that the Senate proposal even represents incremental progress, he said. In New York City, the bad guys have long understood an unwritten rule: you dont hit a cop. In the past, doing so put you at the top of the NYPDs to-do list and ensured that you would not be free on the streets for long. When 30,000 officers are tasked with securing a metropolis of nine million residents, the impenetrability of the thin blue line is a matter of life and death. When video emerged of a group of illegal aliens wrestling two cops to the ground near Times Square and beating them with fists and feet, that thin blue line got thinner. When news broke that the offenders were released without bail and that a left-wing charity had likely given them a free ride to California, the blue line all but disappeared. By looking the other way as criminal invaders attack the people charged with protecting the city, NYC mayor Eric Adams and district attorney Alvin Bragg not only betray their duties to those who risk their lives every day for others safety, but also prove their complicity with those who wage war against citizens of the United States. Before he disappeared without a care in the world, one of the foreign nationals apprehended for the attack left Manhattan Criminal Court with two middle fingers extended into the air and a broad smile across his face. It was an F you to all Americans from a man who should never have been allowed to illegally enter the United States in the first place. At the same time, it sure felt as if Adams, Bragg, Biden, Mayorkas, and all the other open-borders advocates and politicians were really the ones flipping off desperate American citizens whose decades-long pleas for secure borders have been entirely ignored. Ever since Obamas presidency, Democrats have demonized police officers and lionized criminals. They lied about hands up, dont shoot; maligned cops as Klan members with badges; and instigated race riots throughout the country. They excused criminal behavior, cut bail requirements, reduced felonies to misdemeanors, and celebrated unethical prosecutors who have used their powers to lock up police officers for spurious charges while treating violent crime as some kind of race-based civil right. Barack Obama and Eric Holder (the corrupt attorney general who regularly abused the law to protect friends and target political enemies) set the country down a dangerous path, where criminal gangs are psychologically empowered to target law enforcement officers for assassination and municipal politicians are so desperate to prove their soft-on-crime bona fides that they release violent criminals from jail in order to make room for unjustly indicted cops. The end result has been that police officers are retiring in droves and refraining from any proactive policing that might put them in the crosshairs of one of George Soross cop-hating district attorneys. Just as the woke U.S. military is struggling to recruit warriors willing to take commands from deranged men in skirts who would rather fight climate change and white supremacy, municipal police forces are struggling to refill their ranks with good cops willing to protect and serve their communities, when two-bit, backstabbing politicians endanger their lives and threaten to send them to prison. Democrats attacks on police officers and coddling of criminals are part and parcel of their larger war against the American people. In this day and age when the Marxist destroyers have risen to the heights of institutional and financial power they barely disguise their hatred for the United States or their contempt for regular Americans. Every insane policy initiative such as the choice to provide illegal aliens with thousands of dollars of free stuff each month and a get-out-of-jail-free card for sucker-punching cops can be understood if seen through the lens of a simple question: does the policy damage American society? If so, then Democrat politicians, Uniparty co-conspirators in the swamp, and the Marxist globalists who seek money and power from Americas demise are all on board. Its why the Department of Homeland (in)Security specializes in aiding and abetting terrorism-linked cartels, human-traffickers, and drug-smugglers in their criminal enterprises across our borders. Its why corrupt D.C. politicians send working Americans tax dollars to un-American international institutions such as the United Nations that use those dollars to fund the manufactured migration of tens of millions of foreigners from all over the world into the United States. In effect, the federal government steals from the incomes of struggling Americans so that it can pay for violent criminals (and foreign soldiers and murderous terrorists) to break our laws, victimize American communities, and gang-stomp police officers. The sick SOBs actually make Americans pay for the foreign invasion from which they suffer. Forget two-tiered justice. This is just plain old evil disguised as politics. Only in a nation under attack from demonic forces would J6 political hostages be imprisoned for exercising their First Amendment rights at the U.S. Capitol when a congressional staffer can make gay porn videos in a Senate hearing room without any risk of ever being charged for a crime. Only in a nation suffering from the widespread proliferation of evil would the Department of (in)Justice seek decades-long prison sentences for peacefully protesting Americans who dare to speak out against abortion, while federal agents routinely look the other way as unknown assailants vandalize and firebomb the buildings of Christian churches, pro-life organizations, and politically conservative groups. Only in a nation whose government chooses to embrace evil and reject godliness could a Christian veteran be charged for the hate crime of destroying a demonic shrine celebrating Satan. When adherence to moral conscience is criminalized and the protection of flagrant sin becomes governments chief concern, there can be no doubt that evil has risen from the shadows and seized control of the State. When Christians are punished for their convictions and Satan has more friends in political office, it is clear that Americas institutions are rotting from the inside. Once that decay begins, it is difficult to save the host without first severing the cancer from the body. It is why government-engineered injustices now occur with almost daily regularity. Consider a few of the startling news stories of just the last few weeks. A group of international scientists is calling for a global moratorium on COVID vaccines because a peer-reviewed study concludes, For every life saved, there were nearly 14 times more deaths caused by the modified mRNA injections. Meanwhile, there is now documentary evidence that the CDC intentionally covered up risks from the experimental, yet largely mandated, treatments particularly the risk of myocarditis. Switching to the growing evidence of 2020 election fraud, unearthed documents confirm that the FBI and Michigan authorities were notified of alarming witness accounts attesting to ballot fraud in Detroit. How was that situation resolved? The FBI buried its head in the sand, and Michigans Attorney General Dana Nessel charged sixteen Republican alternate electors with felony fraud crimes. Not wanting Michigans rampant election-rigging and political persecution to get all the glory, PBS (the Marxist news organization that Americans are forced to support with taxes) confirmed that Congresss partisan January 6 Committee was never anything more than shameless political theater meant to tilt the 2022 midterms toward the Democrat party. Finally, in international news, even though the Biden administration has been forced to temper its support for a U.N. agency implicated in the October 7 attack on Israel, nobody is surprised that the U.N.s terrorists have still been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Lies beget evil, and evil begets more lies. One thing is certain: Hell must be empty, because all the devils are ruling right here. Throughout history, tyrannical governments have taken freedoms from their citizens openly. In a country such as America, though, government employees might try to take away freedoms and leisure somewhat secretly, or disguised as something good. An example might be U.S. federal laws on biosurveillance, which allow for real-time, all-hazards biosurveillance capabilities and collection of data on humans and threats to humans. Such laws on using real-time biosurveillance capabilities for all-hazards, which apparently means what it says every type of potential harm to humans have multiple potential interpretations. Could some interpretations be used by government employees to support the use of some of the most intrusive technologies possible? For example, could biosurveillance laws support the use of radio wave surveillance technologies (types of radar) that see into homes and have been used by the FBI? Would government employees simply describe such surveillance as collecting biological data on Americans for all-hazards prevention? In other words, one who does not want to have American freedoms and leisure taken away by government employees might at least try to know the possible secret methods, technologies, sources, and operations of local and federal governments. One of those technologies is radar that can see into homes and, if improved for use from longer distances, could surveil every movement of a human throughout his life. This article, though, is about the use of secret or plain-clothed government employees throughout America. They are sometimes referred to as government agents or undercover agents. How many, if any, government agents are there throughout America? And what might they do? The government keeps those things mostly secret. There might be, however, some hints provided in the publications of a Biden administration national security official. President Biden appointed Cass Sunstein, a lawyer and professor, as a national security official in 2021. Some might know him for is co-authoring the book about entities and governments nudging Americans. The nudging concept is itself controversial but beyond the scope of this article; basically, though, as several commentators have explained, government employees might wrongly describe their shoves, gut punches, and mandates as merely nudges. Another concept supported by Sunstein that requires reiterating is his suggestion to use government agents to infiltrate groups to change the way they think. In his co-authored article entitled Conspiracy Theories, he suggests that the American government respond to conspiracy theories and extremist groups by having government agents secretly get into the groups and by planting doubts about the theories and stylized facts that circulate within such groups, thereby introducing beneficial cognitive diversity (page 15). And once corrective information is introduced into those groups, large numbers of people can be shifted to different views (page 23). The article begins by describing extremist groups with conspiracy theories that the authors suggest can be dangerous to government employees. What is not mentioned, though, is how many groups the U.S. government employees might label as extremist. For example, the FBI reportedly supported the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)s understanding of at least some Catholics has hate groups, while the SPLC has also essentially suggested that the entire Roman Catholic Church should be considered a hate group. In other words, a government official who suggests that agents will use a method only on extremist groups might have millions of Americans in mind. Sunstein and his co-author first mention that direct government rebuttals of the reigning conspiracy theory will prove ineffective and government will instead do best by using various tactics of cognitive infiltration to break up the polarized information cluster from within (page 13). They then elaborate: Government might undertake (legal) tactics for breaking up the tight cognitive clusters of extremist theories, arguments and rhetoric that are produced by the hard core and reinforce it in turn. One promising tactic is cognitive infiltration of extremist groups. By this we do not mean 1960s-style infiltration with a view to surveillance and collecting information, possibly for use in future prosecutions. Rather, we mean that government efforts might succeed in weakening or even breaking up the ideological and epistemological complexes that constitute these networks and groups. How might this tactic work? Recall that extremist networks and groups, including the groups that purvey conspiracy theories, typically suffer from a kind of crippled epistemology. Hearing only conspiratorial accounts of government behavior, their members become ever more prone to believe and generate such accounts. Informational and reputational cascades, group polarization, and selection effects suggest that the generation of ever-more-extreme views within these groups can be dampened or reversed by the introduction of cognitive diversity. We suggest a role for government efforts, and agents, in introducing such diversity. Government agents (and their allies) might enter chat rooms, online social networks, or even real-space groups and attempt to undermine percolating conspiracy theories by raising doubts about their factual premises, causal logic or implications for political action (pages 21-22). The authors explain that such attempts at breaking up the ideological and epistemological complexes that constitute these networks and groups can be done openly or secretly by government agents: In one variant, government agents would openly proclaim, or at least make no effort to conceal, their institutional affiliations. ... In another variant, government officials would participate anonymously or even with false identities. Each approach has distinct costs and benefits; the second is riskier but potentially brings higher returns. In the former case, where government officials participate openly as such, hard-core members of the relevant networks, communities and conspiracy-minded organizations may entirely discount what the officials say, right from the beginning. The risk with tactics of anonymous participation, conversely, is that if the tactic becomes known, any true member of the relevant groups who raises doubts may be suspected of government connections. Despite these difficulties, the two forms of cognitive infiltration offer different risk-reward mixes and are both potentially useful instruments. Next, the authors suggest that the real world or physical penetration of groups might be the best option: There is a similar tradeoff along another dimension: whether the infiltration should occur in the real world, through physical penetration of conspiracist groups by undercover agents, or instead should occur strictly in cyberspace. The latter is safer, but potentially less productive. The former will sometimes be indispensable, where the groups that purvey conspiracy theories (and perhaps themselves formulate conspiracies) formulate their views through real-space informational networks rather than virtual networks. Finally, the authors suggest how the infiltration will cause large numbers of people to be shifted to different views and break up the groups: Once corrective information is introduced, large numbers of people can be shifted to different views. If government is able to have credibility, or to act through credible agents, it might well be successful in dislodging beliefs that are held only because no one contradicts them. Likewise, polarization tends to decrease when divergent views are voiced within the group. Introducing a measure of cognitive diversity can break up the epistemological networks and clusters that supply conspiracy theories. The emphasis should be on large numbers of people being shifted to different views as a result of undercover government agents secretly penetrating groups and planting doubts ... and stylized facts. Several questions arise from the suggestion from the author, who is, or at least was, a Biden administration national security official. One question is, if large numbers of people might be influenced by undercover government agents, are there also large numbers of undercover government agents throughout America whose responsibilities are not law enforcement, but instead include things like secretly placing corrective information into groups? Image via Picryl. The purpose of The Al-Aqsa Flood, Hamas's October 7, 2023 "operation" in southern Israel, was to drown the Zionist enemy in its own blood. However, this massacre and the kidnapping of hundreds of Israeli citizens did not elicit unanimous condemnation of this terrorist crime, but rather, in many cities around the world, on the five continents, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators supported the murderers and rapists, chanting the slogan "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," which meant the destruction of the State of Israel. This slogan was first used in 1964 by the newly established Palestine Liberation Organization, which rejected the partition plan for Palestine that had been adopted by the United Nations on November 29, 1947, calling for "two states for two peoples." Neither the Arab countries that attacked the newly formed Israel on May 14, 1948, nor the Palestinian Arabs accepted the partition of Palestine approved by the United Nations resolution, for they did not accept the existence of Israel. The Palestine Liberation Organization then and later, followed by Hamas supporters, called for the establishment of a unified Palestinian state stretching from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, that is, they called for the destruction of the State of Israel. The Palestine Liberation Organization's call for the destruction of Israel predates the Six Day War, that is, before the "Zionist occupation." In 1964 and now, it means support for the massacre and a campaign to encourage its continuation. The massive support for Hamas means that "Operation" Al-Aqsa Flood has become a "flood" of antisemitism in many corners of the world, a globalization of antisemitism. The outbreak of antisemitism in the Middle East and around the world as a result of the October 7, 2023 massacre is due to the outrage of the Jews' foes that the Israelis put up stiff military resistance to the pogromists. During the Holocaust, Jews did not put up proper resistance to murderers and pogromists. No one resented their passivity then. The extermination of six million Jews did not provoke protests in the world during the events themselves. The weak Jewish resistance to the Nazis and their handmaidens was accepted as a natural reaction. Jews as victims of crime evoked indifference or quiet sympathy. The refusal of Jews to be victims of radical Islam creates the image of the Israeli oppressor. Armed Jewish resistance to Hamas pogromists has provoked anti-Semitic outrage. Jews revolted against the pernicious tradition of submitting to the pogromists. Muslim Salim Mansour, a professor of political science at the University of Ontario, Canada, explains what is happening as follows: "The current wave of irrational antisemitism sweeping the Western world is inspired by Arabs, feeds on the Arab inferiority complex, and can lead to unfortunate consequences for Muslim nations as a whole. Arab antisemitism is caused by a sense of frustration accumulated over the past hundred years over the inability of Arabs to adapt to the modern world. The Arabs got along well with the Jews while they were a humiliated minority in the Islamic world, but they cannot forgive the Jews for having managed to establish their own state and prospering despite all the injustices done to them, while the Arabs, despite their natural wealth, cannot fit into modern civilization and culture." Mansour writes of the Arabs' inability to adapt to the modern world, that is, their "disproportionate" response to Western civilization. Israel responds to the invasion of its country on October 7, 2023. Now there are calls for a "proportional response" on its part against Hamas. This is also the meaning of the sharp criticism of Israel expressed by the judges of the U.N. international court in Hague on January 26, 2024. That organization, too, was outraged by Israel's "disproportionate" response to the massacre and kidnapping of Israeli citizens carried out by Hamas. The only democratic country in the Middle East is being accused of a "disproportionate" response. Israel is always required to be "proportional" in military action. During the Holocaust, those countries that today demand "proportionality" and " commensurability" in Israel's military response were disproportionate in their military actions on the side of the Jews being exterminated, failing to use military force at all in favor of the victims. Israel's only proportionate response is to eliminate Hamas, that is, to eliminate the deadly threat that this terrorist organization poses to the lives and safety of Israeli citizens. "Commensurability" does not mean responding to an attack with force equivalent to the force of the attack. Rather, it means using force to the extent necessary to prevent future attacks. To prevent future Hamas rocket attacks, to prevent future terrorist raids from the ground and from under the ground, it is necessary to use far more force than Hamas has used. Those who demand "proportionality" are actually demanding Israel's willful weakness and therefore its suicide. The implicit claim is that Israeli lives are worth less than the lives of others because they are Israeli. There is no call for "proportionality" toward Hamas murderers. The correct demand is not "proportionality" but justice, which is the complete and final destruction of Hamas. This is the only "proportionate" response to Hamas, proportional to its threat. Demanding "proportionality" in the use of force by the IDF in the case of Hamas crimes is latent antisemitism, which does not preclude a new flood of antisemitism. Image: Pexels / Pexels License Its impossible to pack into a single short essay how unutterably vile Canadas euthanasia program is. It was inevitable, of course, because when you have socialized medicine, eventually you run out of money to treat those with physical or mental illness. At that point, you can use authoritarianism to kill them (as the Nazis did, along with killing Jews, gypsies, and other undesirables), or you can convince them to kill themselves. But what happens if your program is so successful that you run out of people willing and able to participate in the slaughter? Thats Canadas problem today. When Canada was stuck with a struggling socialized medicine system, it did the inevitable and legalized euthanasia in 2016 under the Orwellian title Medical Assistance in Dying. Since then, its gone about as well as you would expect. First, the system came for the terminally ill. Then, it started expanding the options for people eligible to have a doctor execute them. One of the recent expansions was for people experiencing poverty and homelessness in the nations post-COVID economy. That was unofficial. Its now official: In March, mental illness, unattended by any terminal physical illness, will get people into the euthanasia program. (Or at least, the program was to have started next month. See below for why it wont.) The state also indoctrinates children about the wonders of euthanasia. Image: Justin Trudeau (edited). YouTube screen grab. In a few short years, euthanasia has become Canadas leading cause of death. With that volume of bodies piling up, it was inevitable that Canada would go into the business of organ harvesting. Indeed, the program has been so successful that Canada now provides more organ transplants than any other country in the world. Its a great, if deeply disturbing, business model for socialized medicine: Stop providing medical care for the living, encourage them to kill themselves, harvest their organs, and then reuse those same organs for people within the country who arent being encouraged to kill themselves. Now, though, Canada is up against the same problem that it ran into when it started its journey to euthanasia: Its running out of doctors. You see, euthanasia is a great option when your socialized system stifles the growth of medical care. But that same stifled growth means you dont have enough psychiatrists to process killing patients: Canada has delayed the extension of its assisted suicide program to people suffering solely from mental illness, health officials announced Monday. [snip] But now, health officials are slow-walking plans to expand the program, stating there are not enough doctors, specifically psychiatrists, in Canada to evaluate mentally ill people who wish to die, according to the announcement made by Health Minister Mark Holland and Justice Minister Arif Virani. This followed a meeting of the special parliamentary committee looking into the plan, the Times reported. The system needs to be ready, and we need to get it right, Holland told reporters. It's clear from the conversations we've had that the system is not ready, and we need more time. Although the curriculum is present, although the guidelines are set, there has not been enough time for people to be trained on them, and provinces and territories are saying their systems are not ready and need more time, he added. When I think of killer psychiatrists, I think of Radovan Karadzic, the killer psychiatrist of Bosnia. And of course, killer physicians inevitably force one to think of Mengele. Doctors are supposed to save lives, not select people for culling. Canada used to be a wonderful, sturdy country, filled with people who worked hard and carried with them traditional Western values. It also produced incredibly good comedians. However, within a very short time, its become a thought-controlled concentration camp (just look at Jordan Petersons forced re-education), with the lunatics in charge draping their horrific policies in the garments of compassion. We in America, thankfully, still have a Constitution, but leftists have steadily shredded it for the past century, so its not clear how far we are from going down the Canada path. All I can say is that you must vote wisely in November, or we will soon be Canada. "The national media, once an important force in presidential voting, is collapsing. TV News ratings are in decline, and once mega-newspapers are finished. Most Americans don't trust the press; many despise it." --Bill OReilly, Feb. 2, 2024 CNNs Abby Phillip is determined to push the narrative that the United States is a racist country. In a video segment grandly titled "Abby Phillip breaks down the facts undercutting Haley's racism answer" (viewable here), she replied to the governor of South Carolina and Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley's statements that I refuse to believe that the premise when they formed our county is that it was a racist country to start with, asking: Is the United States a racist country? Note first that Abby and Nikki are talking about two different things, something to which Abby seems clueless. Whereas Nikkis statement refers to the United States when it was founded (1776), Abby asks whether the United States is [present tense] a racist country? Since they refer to different times, the two statements are logically independent of each other. Nothing but confusion can result from a discussion so logically confused. When the Left cannot find racism now, they claim finding it more than 100 years ago is sufficient. Abby then reels off a list of accusations she takes to support her claim that the United States is (present tense) racist. She begins with the most divisive of these, claiming that The U.S. Constitution held that black people were only three-fifths of a person. In fact, the U.S. Constitution says no such thing. One must, however, be able to read at the high school, not the Harvard, level, to see this. Phillip is referring to the three fifths clause approved at the 1787 Constitutional Convention that stated that any person who was not free would be counted as three-fifths of a free individual for the purposes of determining congressional representation. First, the three fifths compromise does not refer explicitly to slaves or to black people but to non-free persons, and, in fact, there were many thousands of non-free white persons in early America. Second, the three fifths compromise does not say that non-free persons or black people are to count as three-fifths of a person. As the black Vanderbilt political science professor Carol Swain explains, it says that for very specific purposes, taxation and proportional representation in Congress, non-free persons would count as three-fifths of a person: Black people are not stated to be three-fifths of a person, as Abby claims, in an unqualified sense. In order to understand what the three fifths compromise was really about, one must understand the relevant historical context. This debate occurred soon after the founding of the country when the various contending parties were trying to reach compromises to hold the Union together. Since the number of House members that a state would be allotted was determined by the population in that state, e.g., a state with four million residents would normally receive double the number of House members as a state with two million residents, the slave-holding states wanted to count their slaves for purposes of increasing their congressional representation. The non-slave states rejected this demand. The three fifths compromise was worked out in order to prevent the slave states from obtaining the full benefit of their slaves in order to increase their political power in Congress. It was, in that sense, anti-slavery. It is true that the three-fifths compromise allowed the slave states to get some benefit from their slave population but not as much as they wanted. As the black Vanderbilt political science professor Carol Swain puts it, no three-fifths compromise, no United States. And Northwestern Professor of Constitutional Law John McGinnis explains that the three-fifths compromise likely [helped] end slavery faster than the alternatives. There is actually a name for the specific fallacy Abby commits. It is the fallacy of accent (a fallacious inference based on a misleading emphasis on part of a sentence at the expense of the whole meaning). Abby commits this fallacy when she accents that part of the sentence in the compromise that describes slaves as three-fifths of a person while ignoring the part of the sentence that limits that qualification specifically to taxation and congressional representation. Abbys aim is to inflame emotions by falsely implying that black people are described in the Constitution as lesser in dignity than white persons. She is going to need some better reason to feel sorry for herself and prop up her confused, faltering Democrats. Abby then, apparently having forgotten that her question was about present racism, brings up segregation and Jim Crow from the past. For, segregation officially ended with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (59 years ago), although demagogues refuse to let it go so that they can exploit it for present political purposes. Her complaint is especially ironic that it is currently the Democrats and liberals, not Republicans, that now embrace racial segregation. Further, whereas the Republican Party was founded to combat slavery, and its first president, Abraham Lincoln, was assassinated for having done so, the Jim Crow laws that made black people second-class citizens were passed after the Civil War by Democrats. One common reply to this last point is that the Republican Party of old is not the Republican Party of today: CNN claims that Back then, Republicans were, generally, a party of Northerners and Democrats were, generally, the party of the South. Today, its pretty much the opposite. Unfortunately, the issue of South and North is a completely irrelevant abstraction. One must look at the actual policies of the two parties (the standard leftist flight to abstraction to distract from looking at relevant details). Abby and CNN will also need to explain why the Democrats are haemorrhaging black voters after the illusory joys of the Obama and Biden years. Finally, Abby brings up certain facts that she thinks support her case, that the median wealth of white families is about $285,000 while that of median black families is only about $44,900 and that roughly 40% of black people invest in the stock market whereas 59% of white people do. Unfortunately, establishing causality is always difficult in the social realm, and there are many reasons other than racism that cause these outcomes, particularly, the dreadful schools and dangerous environment that black students must endure in completely Democrat-controlled cities like Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, Newark, etc. The real tragedy with Abbys dishonest demagoguery is that creating inflammatory phantoms stands in the way of actually solving the problems in the black community. We must look at today, 2024, and try to get black children out from under the tyranny of the teachers unions that condemn them to a second-class start in life. One could start by trying to get someone at one of 13 Baltimore schools to pass a math exam. Finally, if these virtue-signaling specialists really cared about the evils of slavery, they might want to look at the shocking modern slavery and sex trafficking of women and children created by Bidens open Southern border. The Democrat news-media colluders do not, however, care about this because they believe that the illegals that survive Bidens policies will eventually vote for Democrats. It seems that the Democrat party never changes. Image: Screen shot from The Kennedy Center video, via YouTube David Frum wrote an essay arguing that its time to Uncancel Woodrow Wilson. No. Just no. Wilson didnt champion any values that we need to reinstate in America, a fact that goes beyond his acknowledged racism. Wilson was racist, something even Frum concedes. He undid the last remnants of Reconstruction. However, according to Frum, there are things about Wilson conservatives should admire: He instituted the first income tax to redistribute wealth. He took America off the gold standard. He nationalized Americas rail system. There are a few other credits to Wilsons name: He supported womens suffrage (something Ive come to disagree with when I look at leftist women) and nominated Louis Brandeis to become the Supreme Courts first Jewish justice. He started giving the Philippines autonomy, although he managed to embroil us in Haiti for two decades. He also promised but failed to keep America out of WWI. And its WWI that leads me to what is Wilsons biggest flaw, and thats the policy he crafted that saw America as the worlds policeman, tasked with making the world safe for democracy. Americans did not want to enter WWI, and the country was ostensibly neutral, although that neutrality was Anglophilic. That was partly because the British cut the transatlantic cable, so all war news that Americans received came via England. More importantly, American ships could continue to engage in commerce with Britain while Britains blockade kept them from the continent. Eventually, England owed America a lot of money, making Englands possible economic collapse a threat to Americas economy. It didnt help when the Germans sank the HMS Lusitania. Image: Woodrow Wilson. Public domain. By 1916, the Germans concluded that the Americans were a de facto combatant in WWI. They announced that moving forward, all American ships approaching Britain were fair game. With that, plus the infamous Zimmerman Telegram, Wilson felt he could no longer stay out of the war. This was true even though if Americans returned to true neutrality, there was no reason for Germany to threaten themand Americans knew that. Still, the monied interests needed that war, so, in April 1917, Wilson made his case to the American people, setting the tone for Americas foreign policy for the next 100-plus years. Since he couldnt admit that Britains debt to America was the real reason to side with it, Wilson instead came up with a high-flown moral doctrine justifying Americas entry into the war. And so the Wilson doctrine was born: The world must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty. We have no selfish ends to serve. We desire no conquest, no dominion. We seek no indemnities for ourselves, no material compensation for the sacrifices we shall freely make. We are but one of the champions of the rights of mankind. We shall be satisfied when those rights have been made as secure as the faith and the freedom of nations can make them. Although the Wilson doctrine was essentially a cover for an economic war, Wilson probably believed his own rhetoric, which is why he tried to get the victorious allied nations to welcome Germany back into the fold. The Allies thought the American president was a ridiculous little man and ended up, disastrously, wringing every penny possible out of Germany. While the Europeans sneered at the idealistic hick from America, the American intelligentsia, deeply in love with the whole rule of expertise that Wilson promised, agreed that America was the engine of a higher calling. It did not occur to them that Americas freedoms might, in fact, be uniquely American. Since then, with only a brief break during the Trump administration, official American foreign policy has hewed tightly to the Wilson Doctrine. Americas foreign wars, whether in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and now (via proxy) in Ukraine, have ostensibly been about democracy and liberation. (WWII was the exception because Japan directly attacked America and Germany then declared war against us.) No matter the special interests behind the scenes tugging policy one way or another, in the grand panoply of American foreign policy, America fought on the principle that her blood and wealth, when spilled on foreign shores, would free the world from tyrants to the benefit of all, America included. The policy stuck during the Obama years, except that Obama, unlike Wilson, who was a patriot, albeit a progressive one, hated America. Obamas dark vision led him into a Bizarro World version of the Wilson doctrine. We were no longer tasked with making the world safe for democracy. Instead, we had to make the world safe from America. Thus, Obama pulled us out of nations where we were making a positive difference and allied us with Iran, Turkey, and Ukraine while bowing to China. America would make this world safe by leading from behind. Trump, for the first time in over 100 years, came up with an America-first policy. Our politicians shouldnt be making the world better; they should be making America better. With Biden, though, were right back to Wilson: Were going to make Ukraine, one of the worlds most corrupt countries, safe for democracy. And it all started with Wilson, who should never be rehabilitated. (You can read my longer, more detailed version of the same essay here.) Mayor Mike Johnston (D) of Denver has revealed the thinking of Democrats and leftists on immigration The picture is as disorienting as a Salvador Dali painting. Mayor Johnston realizes only one aspect of immigration policy. He seems unable to see the others. For example, he seems happy to be mayor of a sanctuary city and to welcome illegal immigrants warmly, but he doesnt seem to grasp that his problems stem from those policies. One has to wonder if the mayor is really as clueless as he seems or if he is just propagandizing for his party and the socialist Left. During January 2024 Mayor Johnston went with a Colorado delegation of Democrat politicians to Washington D.C. to lobby Congress: Denver, like many cities in America, is a vibrant, thriving city full of generous folks who want to see everyone succeed, Johnston said. We are also a city right now that is facing a humanitarian crisis and a fiscal crisis unlike anything weve seen in the last 25 years. And that is the result of what we know is the ongoing influx of migrant arrivals who are seeking asylum in America and the system that is not adequately helping them to succeed. Johnston uses the euphemism migrant instead of saying illegal immigrants. Also, the mayor asserts that all the arrivals are seeking asylum. That is not true; in fact, while most may say they are seeking asylum, the majority are not. Notably left out of the delegations itinerary in D.C. was a visit to President Biden to ask him to close the border right away to stem the tide thats swamping Denver. In an interview with Fox News Reporter Laurence Jones, Johnston was asked, At what point does your city reach its breaking point? Johnston: Yeah, I think our city is very close to its breaking point now, and weve been talking to leaders in D.C. and around the country about how we can take action here. I think we have successfully welcomed almost forty thousand migrants in the last year, and we know what it takes to do this successfully. We just need that help, and the things we need are... federal dollars, but the most important thing is we need work authorizations for folks when they arrive and we need those resources at the border so that you can add more security at the border and so you can help process those asylum claims, so the folks who do arrive here can work. The challenge we have is you have someone that will arrive in Denver who has been admitted on an asylum claim but their court date for their asylum case is six years away, and theyre in Denver for six years without the ability to work and support themselves, and that means we have to support them, and thats not what they want to do or what we want them to do. Laurence Jones says that he has never seen the usually warm and friendly Denver residents so enraged, and not because theyre anti-immigrant, but because of how city government is prioritizing illegal immigrants over citizens. Johnston turns the talk back to federal dollars. Jones also asked about the city having to push illegal immigrants out of shelters and who is responsible for this. Johnston answers that they have a length-of-stay policy and brings up the Democrat talking points: the border has been broken for 40 years, both parties are at fault. Finally, it seems that Johnston does not have in his field of view the actual humanitarian crisis that Joe Biden caused. On the journey, women and children are sexually assaulted and traumatized; about one thousand people have died on the way. Mexican cartels traffic fentanyl into the U.S., which has killed hundreds of thousands of Americans, and traffic innocent women and children for sex and labor slaves in our country. Johnston doesnt mention these terrible things. Does he know? Mayor Johnston has shown that Democrats thinking is way lopsided on immigration. He has told us how they really see things. C.S. Boddie writes for Meadowlark Press, LLC. Image: CBdenver House "squad" leftist Rep. Ilhan Omar, who was last seen pledging fealty to her native Somalia, suddenly has caught the Sorosian "democracy" bug. She put out this tweet, piously claiming, in the Soros style of 20 years ago her concerns about "democracy" in El Salvador, which last we heard, was doing pretty well. Omar, who openly supports Hamas, wants you to know shes very concerned about democracy in El Salvador, where the president was democratically elected and is incredibly popular. https://t.co/5421aO1r6w Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) February 1, 2024 Election day over there is today and out in the Virginia suburbs, where many Salvadoran expats live, it looks like this: Massive turnout to vote in the El Salvador Presidential election today. Dual citizens can vote from polling stations in the U.S. Bukele is hated by Joe Biden. Bukele has criticized Joe Bidens attacks on democracy by trying to throw Donald Trump off the ballot. Lets go https://t.co/hnzfVh13Ln Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) February 4, 2024 A local: Today is the 2024 Presidential Election in El Salvador I'm feeling all the feels, I'm so grateful to call El Salvador home! #ElSalvador #elections pic.twitter.com/VdF8MVy2NP Carol (@ThatExpatMom) February 4, 2024 Looks pretty democratic to us. Instead of getting away with the democracy pieties, as the NGOs have been doing since airing such "concerns" became the way Democrats ran foreign policy, Omar got this reply from El Salvador's very popular president: 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 That's a smackdown Omar probably didn't expect. The "democracy" concerns that have so upset Omar and the Sorosian left in the West are that El Salvador has solved its massive crime problem by -- get this -- putting its criminals in prison, every last one of them. That upsets the Soros crowd, which would prefer the model seen in blue cities of unpunished crime run rampant to keep middle-class non-criminals imprisoned in their homes. That 'democracy' line may rope in the left, but it didn't fool Bukele, who knew very well what she was all about. Her hypocrisy was pretty amazing, actually. She recently went on record praising that paragon of democracy, Somalia's government, and pledging her loyalty to it, even as she supposedly represents the U.S. in Congress. Somalia hasn't had democracy of any kind in decades, and its last free and fair election was in 1967. Instead of policing El Salvador's election, maybe she can redirect her democracy bug there. Ilhan Omar attacked El Salvadors government and democratically elected President. Here is a picture of Ilhan Omar fraternising with Somalias unelected President & unelected Prime Minister. Somalias last free and fair election was in. Wait for it 1967! pic.twitter.com/lP09Mf5Vwj Dr Adali 55thAfricanState (@dradalite) February 2, 2024 For that reason, Somalia is a dump while El Salvador has become a star of the emerging markets, sporting rising domestic investment and World Bank-forecast 2.8% GDP growth in 2023, following an 11.2% growth spurt in 2021. It's nice over there. Crime-stat-wise, it's actually safer than Canada. The place has grown so popular its expats are coming home and the country has stopped shipping illegals. It's also put a huge "tax" on illegal border crossers headed north (thank you, El Salvador) and it's actually drawing expats from the states, happy to spend their retirement years in the beautiful country whose direction now is strictly upward. Democracy problems? Not really. President Bukele put the bad guys in jail and now sports a 91% public approval rating. He is expected to win his re-election by a nuclear margin. Longtime foreign correspondent Brian Winter writes: El Salvador votes today. Bukele may win by 50, 60, 70 points. I find the debate about El Salvadors democracy fascinating, it raises uncomfortable questions I dont have answers to, some of which Ill try to raise here.https://t.co/66gd2xlMvg Brian Winter (@BrazilBrian) February 4, 2024 Reuters says he has it in the bag, too. How Omar can wave the 'democracy' card at a success story like this is amazing. Only a leftist can do this, hating freedom and all the good that comes of public order. The foremost human right, as Robert Young Pelton has noted in one of his books, is personal security. Bukele has given that and now the country is blooming. The president of El Salvador bit back at Omar's underhanded democracy claptrap and drew lots of applause on Twitter and beyond. Image: Twitter screen shot Oh, so national sovereignty, respecting a countrys borders, and established law and order are objectionable political ideals? Please Mr. President-of-an-indian-reservation, tell me more. The Condescending Wonka meme comes to mindseriously, is this the battle that a tribal reservation president wants to fight? Apparently yes, because from a Fox News report published yesterday, we learned this: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem was banned from the Pine Ridge Reservation after speaking about wanting to bolster the U.S.-Mexico border by sending razor wire and security personnel to Texas, adding that cartels are infiltrating the states reservations. Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out issued a statement on social media on Friday regarding Noems comments. Due to the safety of the Oyate, effective immediately, you are hereby Banished from the homelands of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Star Comes Out said in a Friday statement addressed to Noem. Oyate is a word for people or nation. Star Comes Out said he believes many people coming to the southern border in search of jobs and a better life are indigenous people from places like El Salvadore, Guatemala and Mexico and do not deserve to be dehumanized and mistreated by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his cohorts. 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, Star Comes Out said. (Heres a thought dont be stupid and climb over/through razor wire.) Im sorry, did Star Comes Out say Noem was banished? Banished from what? Banished from entering a sovereign nation of which she is not a citizen? Crossing a border against the will of the people who live there? Violating political boundaries and the rule of law? Would her presence in Pine Ridge be illegal if she were to disobey her banishment? And this, all because Noem said that borders matter and shed be supporting border security efforts? Oh the irony. Now, pretend Noem violates that reservation border and enters Pine Ridge anyway, bringing millions of friends in search of a better life with her, then successfully demands money, housing, and college tuition at the expense of his people, maybe curbstomps a few tribal law enforcement officers, and insists on representation in Pine Ridges government. So were the Obama-Biden cages okay? And would he prefer that children be left with parents who arent really their parents, but traffickers exploiting the family unit loopholes? Heres another layer of irony, from someone in the comments of the Fox News item: The Sioux were historic enemies of most native American tribes, among them the Ojibway, the Assiniboine, the Cree, the Crow, the Pawnee and the Kiowa Indians. The Great Sioux war in the late 1870s were against the Northern Cheyenne. It's not like they were peaceful, loved and supported their neighbors in the past as they are claiming they do now. Now, Im a proponent of the mass deportationbring back Eisenhower-style politicsbut since thats a pipe dream, maybe we start busing the illegals to Pine Ridge instead of Chicago? Image: Office of the Governor, South Dakota, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered. Tucker Carlson is a longtime opinion journalist, and journalists go places and talk to people to see for themselves all sides of an issue. But somehow, that escapes the neocon and swamp left, which has been having an absolute cow since Carlson departed for Moscow to talk with Russia's president, Vladimir Putin: Ex-Congressman Adam Kinzinger says Tucker Carlson is a traitor. Bill Kristol says Tucker shouldn't be allowed to return to the U.S. They praised Barbara Walters, so why are they so afraid of this interview with Putin? https://t.co/GyeFbEy2HX pic.twitter.com/ggSExqlGdg TaraBull (@TaraBull808) February 4, 2024 JUST IN: The Ukrainian Government has condemned Tucker Carlson for his planned interview with Putin. Zelensky actually thinks that Ukraine has the right to interfere with American journalists doing their job? First they killed US journalist Gonzalo Lira, now this? pic.twitter.com/2uIbj9UBYs Aussie Cossack (@aussiecossack) February 4, 2024 Tucker interviewing Putin - itll be like Goebbels interviewing Jack the Ripper. Post-truth, post-decency, post-reason. What a time to be alive!#StandWithUkraine olexander scherba (@olex_scherba) February 4, 2024 Tucker @TuckerCarlson is aiding and abetting the enemy. The same enemy that threatens us with nuclear weapons, interferes in our elections, and allies with Iran, North Korea, and Hamas. This is who Tucker courts. https://t.co/9qAIlDm9aA Alexander S. Vindman (@AVindman) February 3, 2024 What kind of lunacy is this? All he wants to do is talk to the guy, ask questions, and find out how Putin thinks. It's a reasonable endeavor, given the blackouts of news coverage from Russia, the shutoff of travel, the shutdown of most diplomatic relations, and the double blackout of very few people knowing the Russian language to start with here in the states. Russia is so isolated and such an interesting story that anyone who can go there and get any kind of perspective ought to be praised for doing so. Yes, it's dangerous; Carlson could get arrested as that poor Wall Street Journal correspondent was. But someone needs to try. That so many of these swamp parties, all of which have an interest in big, bigger, biggest aid packages for Ukraine and all their consultant contracts, want to shut off free journalistic inquiry is nothing short of outrageous. The Biden White House even sicced the National Security Council onto Carlson the first time he tried to interview Putin, invading his emails and text messages and leaking them to the press. It was a disgusting abuse of power. For the record, Putin is a normal guy. We have known him for years, he has never been a problem to us, and there were so many things we could have worked with him on and didn't. He's not the Minotaur. He's not nine feet tall. The swampies put such a mythical status on him when, in fact, he's probably someone we should have been talking to years ago because we certainly could have done business with him. Pull him westward so he won't have to move eastward; it's such a simple thing to try for. But the Soros-y bunch and the Russia-haters have always had the upper hand. Then Ukraine happened, and all hell broke loose. Is it really the catastrophe the swampies claim if Carlson just goes to Moscow to talk to Putin? I think we know the answer to that one. One voice of reason comes from an unexpected source, non-swamp outsider presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has defended Tucker's visit: The legacy media is in shambles because weve caught onto their lies and propaganda. Tucker Carlson has every right to interview Putin. We need more transparency instead of less. It used to be understood journalists would interview world leaders, even those with whom we were at https://t.co/loLOTneDS0 Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) February 5, 2024 As for the rest, what are they so scared of? That the truth will get out? Image: Twitter screen shot It has been said that history repeats itself. This is perhaps not quite correct; it merely rhymes. (attributed to Theodor Reik) On October 7, 2023, as Ilhan Omar said of September 11, 2001, some people did something. What they did was so appalling that its still difficult to comprehend the level of atrocity. But its not the first time. The same some people something before to the Jews, back in 1929, in Hebron (quoting Shai Ben-Tekoas Phantom Nation: Inventing the Palestinians as the Obstacle to Peace): Half of the massacred Jew, those in Hebron, were non-Zionist Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) boy studying in a yeshiva. Sixty-nine of them were slain while others were deliberately maimed: hands, toes and fingers chopped off in order to leave the victim crippled for life. Some had their eyes gouged out; others were castrated. Not one person was just killed; all were inventively mutilated and tortured to death. One pre-teen girl was gang-raped by thirteen Arabs who then suspended her from a tree upside down over a bonfire until the heat made her brain swell and explode, and she died. Like October 7, just not quite. Rhyme, not repetition. Muslim violence doesn't occur in a vacuum. October 7 did not take place in Hebron. It took place some 50 miles away in Israel, near Gaza. (Of note, the website distance-cities.com, from which the above link comes, refers to Gaza, Palestine, and Hebron, Palestine, despite the fact that there is no Palestinian state, and labels them as such on their map.) The Hebron Massacre of 1929 was the result of Muslims being Muslims after being told by Haj Amin al-Husseini that the Jews were planning on destroying holy places, e.g., Al-Aqsa. Muslims repeatedly accuse Jews of trying to destroy Al Aqsa. It is so weird that not a single weapon in the hands of the Israelis, precision-guided or otherwise, has found this target in the near century between the massacres. As in Hebron, the Muslims involved in October 7, killed, maimed, eye-gouged, raped, castrated, disfigured, and cooked Jews. (They were apparently uneaten, a not-unheard-of Muslim thing. Perhaps cooked Jews are haram.) Some deny these events. These October 7 deniers include the Queens College Muslim Student Association, Roger Waters, The Tehran Times, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, Jordans Queen Rania, the director of a sexual assault center at Canadas University of Alberta, Electronic Intifada and others suffering from a direct connection between their rectums and skulls. The Hebron Massacre of 1929 is not the only massacre Muslims have committed against Jews. There were also the Jaffa Riot of 1936 and the Tiberias Pogrom of 1938. The list is long and extends from the 7th century through the British Mandate to today. October 7 is no outlier when it comes to Muslims being Muslims. Muslims have been musling from the 7th century until the 21st with no end in sight. Whether it is the massacring of Jews, Christians, or Hindus (not a complete list of Muslim targets), Muslims will continue musling until the world puts an end to these Islamic practices. Image: One of the least disturbing images from the October 7 massacre. About 50 km south of Tel Aviv, on the Mediterranean coast, near the ancient city of Ashkelon, archaeologists from the 1985 Leon Levi Expedition were digging under a hill when they unearthed over a thousand canine skeletons and skeletal remains dating back to the fifth to third centuries BC. This discovery was unprecedented as nowhere in the ancient Near East had so many dog burials been found at a single site and with no apparent reason for the burials. The discovery piqued the curiosity of many scholars, who have attempted to explain the motives behind the dog burials at Ashkelon. A dog buried in Ashkelon. Photo credit: Leon Levy Expedition to Ashkelon The dogs were interred in shallow, seemingly unmarked pits, positioned on their sides with tails nestled between hind limbs. Many of these canine burials occurred beneath streets and in narrow alleys, necessitating smaller pits that confined them closely. Some dogs were laid with tightly drawn-together legs, resembling a trussed posture before burial. Noteworthy is the absence of burial offerings, and the dogs showed no specific orientation in their placement. The skeletal remains exhibited no discernible butcher marks, and there were minimal signs of violence. Analyzing the burial's stratigraphy, as well as considering the age and sex of the dogs at the time of death leads to the conclusion that these dogs did not perish in a singular cataclysmic event. Instead, they seem to have died and been interred gradually over an extended period. American archeologist Lawrence Stager, who led the excavation, maintained that the dogs belonged to a Phoenician healing cult in which they were trained to lick the wounds or sores of humans, in exchange for a fee. He believed that these dogs were worshipped in a sea-side temple located near the burial site (although no signs of the said temple has been found). As such, they were considered sacred and were given respectable burials when they died. There is also evidence of a possible cultic link between dogs and the Middle Eastern goddess Astarte, further strengthened by Herodotus who mentions that the oldest temple in Ashkelon was dedicated to Aphrodite, who the Greeks associated with Astarte. A preserved grave from the Ashkelon dog cemetery. Photo credit: Haaretz Dogs, and in many cases especially puppies, were associated with many different cults and rituals in ancient Near Eastern cultures. In Ancient Egypt dogs (and other animals) were associated with several deities such as Dwamutef, Wepwawet, Khentimentiu and most important Anubis, and were revered in special temple precincts. In Achaemenid Iran dogs were especially revered and were considered by the Zoroastrians as the second most important beings, after humans. In ancient Greece dogs were primarily associated with Asklepios, who according to one mythical tradition was watched over by a dog as a child. Dogs were involved in healing rites in Asklepios' temple in Epidaurus. They were also associated with the goddess Hecate and were frequently sacrificed to her during funerary rites. The absence of discernible physical evidence on the canine bones interred at Ashkelon does not preclude the possibility of ritualistic killing. In the ancient Near East, various methods of killing, such as poisoning and drownings, were employed that left no visible marks on the victims' bones. The notable prevalence of puppies among the interred may imply a preference for younger dogs, yet some scholars argue that high mortality rates among the young were not uncommon in pre-veterinary settings. These same scholars (Wapnish and Hesse) rejected the theories that there was a dog cult and that the burials were religious. Instead, they claim that the dogs were semi-feral urban dogs whose burial in one principal site was simply the result of local custom rather than any religious motivation. They proposed that the act of burial might have been all that truly mattered to the people of Ashkelon, and that the corpses and graves had no significance whatsoever. They also refused to call it a cemetery, arguing that the dogs were buried where there was space, rather than a space being prepared to receive dogs. The goal was not to produce a cemetery or preserve the memory of the animals, but simply to inter, they wrote. References: # Wapnish, P., & Hesse, B., Pampered Pooches or Plain Pariahs? The Ashkelon Dog Burials, The Biblical Archaeologist # Meir Edrey, The Dog Burials at Achaemenid Ashkelon Revisited, Tel Aviv HMD has been all over the news lately. The company has no intention of releasing new Nokia phones, phones under the Nokia brand. However, HMD Global will continue releasing phones, that are HMD-branded. Well, 9 HMD devices got spotted online, and the company revealed the launch date of the first models. 9 HMD devices got spotted, as were waiting for the first ones to arrive Folks over at GSMChina spotted 9 HMD phones in the IMEI database. Unfortunately, no specifications are given, or anything of the sort. All we can see here are the model numbers. They are HMD TA-1584, HMD TA-1588, HMD TA-1589, HMD TA-1592, HMD TA-1594, HMD TA-1595, HMD TA-1602, HMD TA-1605 and HMD TA-1631. Advertisement Advertisement Thats basically everything we know about them thus far. HMD also confirmed that it will host a press event on February 25. The company will announce its very first HMD-branded smartphones during that event. That press event will take place in Barcelona, as part of the Mobile World Congress. That is something the image above confirms too. The event will start at 12:30 CET (Barcelona time). Some of the companys upcoming devices are on display officially In any case, some of those devices have already been shown by the company itself. Theyre on display over at HMDs official website, even though we dont know their names or anything about them. At least one of the models is reminiscent of the old Nokia Lumia devices, as you can see in the images provided below. HMDs phones will be quite colorful, based on what we can see here. Were still not sure if the company plans to announce high-end devices during the launch event. HMD could stick to budget smartphones only, it remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, though, more than one phone will launch on February 25. We could possibly see some wearables too. Apple has bagged the Fortunes Worlds Most Admired Company award for the 17th time in a row. Every year, Fortune releases its list of most admirable companies in the world. The list consists of over 1,500 companies of which 1,000 are US-based and 500 are from the rest of the world. Notably, all these companies have at least $10 billion in revenue. Whats more intriguing is despite Microsoft taking over Apple as the worlds most valuable company, Apple hasnt lost its position. At least, in the eyes of Fortune. Apple becomes the Worlds Most Admired Company for the 17th time Cupertino tech major has once again topped as Worlds Most Admired Company. This ranking is in terms of being socially responsible, financially strong, innovative, and competitive globally. Microsoft also did great, especially in computer software, and came in second. Amazon got third place, slightly lower than before, but still did well in internet services and retail. Advertisement Advertisement According to Fortune, the yearly ranking is determined through a survey of about 3,700 executives, directors, and analysts. Even though Apple is still at the top, its ratings have slightly decreased. It scored 8.19 this time, whereas last year it was 8.65. There could be several factors behind this, but most importantly, Tim Cooks remark regarding layoffs might have a role. The Apple CEO had referred to layoffs at Apple as a last resort. However, a recent report outlined Apples plans to relocate its San Diego team working on Siri to Austin, Texas. Those not complying with this decision might have to face layoffs. Despite this move, Apple has largely avoided layoffs, unlike the global tech industry, which saw more than a quarter of a million layoffs in 2023. Moreover, the coming time looks mixed yet bright for Apple as it prepares to introduce generative AI in its devices. Also, it had one of the biggest releases in a long time, the Vision Pro. And the company has already sold over 200,000, according to Macrumors, even before it hit shelves on February 2. Other companies that made it to Fortunes Top 10 include Microsoft, Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, JP Morgan Chase, Costco Wholesale, Alphabet (Google), American Express, Walmart, and Nvidia. There can only be one; right now, Google has two powerful generative AI products, and they are Bard and Gemini. Ever since Gemini hit the scene, people wondered what Google was going to do with Bard. Well, according to the company itself, Google is going to replace Bard with Gemini next week. Also, theres a new app in the cards. This news shouldnt come as a surprise, as we had seen a few leaks pointing to Gemini replacing Bard. A few strings of code were discovered pointing to Gemini eventually taking over Bard. These strings were found in different places, which means that this is going to be a sweeping change. Advertisement Advertisement While it may seem odd that Google is replacing a chatbot that most of the internet knows about, theres not much point in having two AI tools coexisting on the same platform that perform the same tasks. Google Bard is powered by Gemini Pro, so theres really no difference in functionality between them. Gemini Ultra has not launched yet. So, theres not much point in keeping two separate products. Gemini could replace Bard next week Google Gemini was introduced back in December 2023, and its been swiftly taking over. The company quickly implemented Gemini Nano into the Pixel 8 Pro, and its now powering Galaxy AI on the Galaxy S24 phones. Gemini Pro is powering Bard, and Gemini Ultra is soon to hit the market as Googles most powerful AI model. So, someone at Google must have flipped the switch to start the transition from Bard to Gemini. Advertisement According to a report from Dylan Russel, Google released a new page saying that Bard is now Gemini. This must have been an accidental upload, as the page is currently unavailable. Anyway, Russel was able to capture a screenshot of the page. It announces the transition from Bard over to Gemini. It also states that Bard Advanced, the paid Google AI tool weve been hearing about, is now called Gemini Advanced. While it got a name change, its still powered by the same model, which is dubbed Gemini Ultra 1.0. When it launches on February 7th, it will be available in over 150 countries also, it will only be available in English. Google still didnt clue us in on the price of Gemini Advanced. Thats one of the most important bits of information weve been waiting for. Theres also an app coming Aside from changing Bard to Gemini, Google is also unveiling a new app so that you can better access Gemini. Right now, youre able to access Google Bard from the mobile version of Chrome. However, its about time Google unveiled an actual app. ChatGPT has its own app interface, and you can also access Snapchat My AI from its dedicated app. Advertisement Right now, we dont know too much about the app, but it seems that it will act pretty similar to the Google Assistant app. In fact, 9To5Google discovered that the Google Assistant app available on the Play Store has been renamed to Gemini. So, if thats true, it seems likely that Gemini will be one step closer to replacing Google Assistant as the default voice assistant on Android. In fact, a screenshot shows a screen letting you assign Gemini as the default voice assistant on your phone. So, before too long, we might see Google sunsetting two AI products in order to streamline everything and bring on the new age of Gemini. The last bit of news is that Gemini is going to make it to Canada on February 7th. Canada has been left out of the club with the country being passed over for Bard. Comcast, a cable TV company in the US, has agreed to discontinue its Xfinity 10G Network brand name after an appeal ruling from NARB (National Advertising Review Board) found the term to be misleading. The challenges were brought forth by Verizon and T-Mobile, who contested Comcasts use of the term 10G. The National Advertising Division (NAD) ruled against Comcast in October 2023. Notably, the term 10G doesnt denote a technologys 10th generation but refers to the potential of 10Gbps connection speed of the Comcast Gigabit Pro fiber. Advertisement Advertisement NARB panel concluded that the term implies significantly faster speeds than 5G, which is misleading While Comcast will no longer use the Xfinity 10G Network brand, the company disagrees with the decision, arguing that it makes 10Gbps speeds available to 98% of subscribers upon request. However, these high speeds require a specific fiber-to-the-home connection and are not part of standard cable service plans. The Gigabit Pro fiber connection providing 10Gbps speeds comes at a high cost, including a monthly fee of nearly $300, an installation charge of $500, and an activation charge of an additional $500. The NARB stated that the recent availability of 10G speeds through the Gigabit Pro service tier doesnt support the claim for the Xfinity network as a whole. The absence of data on how many Comcast customers use this service contributed to the ruling. NARB considered the term 10G as misleading due to the implied comparison with 5G wireless networks. The NARB panel concluded that the term implies significantly faster speeds than 5G, a claim not supported by data comparing speeds experienced by Xfinity network users with those on 5G networks. Comcast will still use 10G in advertising, but not in places where people may compare it to 5G Despite the decision, when contacted by Ars Technica, Comcast informs that it will continue using 10G in advertising but in a manner consistent with the panels recommendation. The ruling emphasizes the importance for cable broadband users to scrutinize advertised terms like 10G and verify the actual speeds offered in their service plans. Dating back to January 2023, it seems like Google just cant get away from layoffs. The company cut 12,000 jobs in January 2023 and followed that up with another few thousand layoffs to start 2024. Whats more, is that Google CEO Sundar Pichai outright confirmed layoffs will continue throughout this year. All this has caused company morale at Google to plummet, and its CEO isnt doing much to weather the storm. In an all-hands meeting heard by The Verges Alex Heath, Pichai failed to significantly acknowledge the growing rift between Google employees and leadership. The comments from Pichai came after an employee raised a question about how company leaders and workers can find trust again. There seems to be a growing rift between leadership and employees, one employee said, as relayed by Inc. What is leaderships perspective/awareness of this? Do you think there is a problem, is there anything being done to push us back to a relationship of mutual trust? Advertisement Advertisement In response to this kind of question, you might expect a leader like Pichai to address this concern directly. However, the Google CEO barely acknowledged that the company had a morale issue at all. People feel it on the ground and sometimes people write back and say, Thank you for simplifying,' he said. Sometimes we have a complicated, duplicative structure. This goes back to Google and Pichais belief that layoffs are simply a means to achieving peak efficiency, and nothing more. Pichai also sees the decisions as necessary, which he expressed in response to a question raised by another employee. Part of leadership is also making the tough decisions that are needed, said Pichai. The comments echo an earlier memo to employees, in which Pichai justified the job cuts. We have ambitious goals and will be investing in our big priorities this year, Pichai said in the memo. The reality is that to create the capacity for this investment, we have to make tough choices. Advertisement What the Google CEO is missing about company morale It appears that Pichai has simply lost touch with the fact that his leadership decisions have effects on the lives of real people. Thats true even if theyre for efficiency, or if you call them role eliminations. People are losing their jobs and their livelihoods. Somehow, Pichai fails to consider that Google has a company morale problem. Employees exist in a state of constant distress, not knowing if they will be laid off next. Its not a great environment, and its shocking that Pichai has done so little to address it so far. MediaTek has reportedly offered Samsung an exclusive discount on its chipsets. The Taiwanese semiconductor firm wants the worlds second-largest smartphone vendor to increase the use of its processors in Galaxy devices. It is unclear if Samsung has accepted the offer. We might see more Samsung phones with MediaTek processors Samsung has been the worlds largest smartphone company for the past several years, until 2023. The Korean firm lost the crown to Apple last year, according to recent industry estimates. It still shipped more than 225 million Galaxy phones globally in 2023, comfortably leading the Android-only chartdistantly followed by Xiaomi with around 145 million shipments. Samsungs annual shipment volume once topped 300 million units. Advertisement Advertisement While Samsung makes some of the best and most expensive Android flagships, its budget and mid-range devices are volume drivers. These low-cost phones sell in incredibly high numbers in many price-sensitive markets. The company ships those phones with MediaTek, Qualcomm, or Samsung Exynos chipsets, sometimes opting for a dual-chip strategy for the same model. Flagship phones, such as the Galaxy S24 series, use Exynos and Qualcomm chips. It appears MediaTek wants to increase its share in Galaxy phones. According to noted X tipster Revegnus, the Taiwanese firm recently offered special pricing for its chipsets exclusively to Samsung. Details are scarceit is unclear whether the proposal was only for budget and mid-range SoCs or also flagshipsbut the firm is seemingly willing to take a hit on its profit to ship more chips to Samsung, which sells more Android handsets than anyone else. The source also doesnt make it clear when MediaTek approached Samsung with its offer and whether the talks have advanced further. The Korean firm has a bunch of new A, M, and F series products in the pipeline. The floodgates are expected to open in March, giving us a flurry of phones at every price point. If Samsung accepts the proposal, we should see more Galaxy devices with MediaTek chips this year. Flagship Galaxy phones may stick to Qualcomm and Exynos SoCs Over the past few years, MediaTek has emerged as a more viable competitor to Qualcomm in the flagship segment than it was before. However, Samsung might not switch over to the Taiwanese firms Dimensity chips for flagship Galaxy phones. It wants to increase the use of the in-house Exynos SoCs in the premium segment. Qualcomm is also its partner in this segment, so MediaTek likely doesnt stand a chance, at least not anytime soon. Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, is planning to deploy a second-generation custom chip into its data centers this year, according to an internal document obtained by Reuters. This move is part of Metas ongoing efforts to enhance its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and reduce reliance on Nvidia chips. Meta aims to reduce its reliance on Nvidia for AI-focused chips The new chip, known internally as Artemis, follows the announcement of a custom silicon line by Meta last year. The goal is to not only cut costs associated with running AI workloads but also reduce reliance on Nvidia for AI-focused chips as Meta intensifies its push into generative AI products across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and hardware devices like Ray-Ban smart glasses. Advertisement Advertisement The deployment of Metas own chip could potentially lead to significant savings, reducing annual energy costs and billions in chip purchasing expenses. Dylan Patel, founder of the silicon research group SemiAnalysis, suggests that at Metas scale, the successful deployment of its custom chip could result in substantial financial benefits. The move signifies Metas attempt to establish greater control over its AI infrastructure. Meta expects performance and efficiency improvement on its specific workloads with Artemis Metas plan to complement commercially available AI-focused GPUs with its internally developed Artemis chips aims to optimize performance and efficiency on Meta-specific workloads. The companys CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, recently outlined plans to acquire around 350,000 Nvidia H100 processors by the end of the year, highlighting the substantial computing capacity Meta aims to accumulate. The new chip, Artemis, is designed for inference processing, where models use algorithms to generate responses to user prompts. Despite a setback in 2022 when executives decided to abandon the first iteration of the chip, Metas renewed focus on in-house AI silicon marks a positive development. The company had initially chosen to purchase Nvidias GPUs, which currently dominate the AI training process. While currently focused on inference, the Artemis chip indicates Metas exploration of more ambitious chips capable of handling training and inference, as reported last year. A South Korean court has acquitted Samsung chairman Lee Jae-yong in a stock price manipulation and accounting fraud case connected to the controversial merger of two company affiliates in 2015. The Seoul Central District Court ruled earlier today that the prosecution failed to sufficiently prove the charges against Lee, hence it found him not guilty. Prosecutors had sought a five-year jail term for the Samsung chief. Samsung chairman avoids a third jail term, at least for now Lee Jae-yong has been surrounded by several controversies over the past decade. He has already served jail terms twice in a 2015 bribery case involving former South Korean President Park Geun-hye. He spent more than a year in jail between 2017 and 2021 before eventually receiving a presidential pardon in 2022. In the meantime, the Korean state prosecution has been pursuing a separate court case against him. Advertisement Advertisement It is connected to the high-profile, $8 billion merger of Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries in 2015. Lee had a 23.2 percent stake in the latter, and the merger helped him tighten his control of the new entity. It strengthened his chances of succeeding his father as the leader of the family-controlled electronics giant. However, prosecutors accused Lee of stock price manipulation and accounting fraud to his benefit. The Samsung chief allegedly inflated the prices of Cheil and deflated the prices of Samsung C&T. He also allegedly disseminated false market information and approved other unlawful practices during the merger to reduce the value of Samsung C&T to aid his purposes, effectively causing massive financial losses to other investors. He always denied wrongdoing, saying the merger was part of normal business activity. Court finds Lee not guilty due to the lack of evidence Lee and two other senior Samsung executives were indicted in this case in September 2020. In November last year, prosecutors demanded a five-year jail term and a fine of KRW 500 million (approx. USD $386,000) for the Samsung chief. Prosecutors also demanded a 4.5-year jail term for the other two executives. However, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that there was not enough evidence suggesting Lees ill intentions. Even if Lees control has been strengthened, the merger in this case cannot be considered unfair, as long as there is a reasonable purpose for the merger, said chief judge Park Jung-jae. Todays reports dont state whether the court also acquitted the other two Samsung officials indicted in this case. It is also unclear if prosecutors will appeal this ruling. If they dont, it would come as a massive relief for Lee. Last year, Samsung landed into a controversy after the Galaxy S23 Ultra was found to be faking Moon shots. The phone captured non-existent details on a blurry photo of the Moon shown on a monitor. The firm explained this as AI enhancement of images. Now, amid talks about the Galaxy S24s AI-powered Generative Edit feature, a company executive said that every photo is fake. There is no such thing as a real picture, Samsung EVP Patrick Chomet said. Samsung executive says there are no real pictures in the age of AI Smartphone cameras have gotten better with each new generation. However, the camera hardware isnt the real deal. It is the software processing that helps achieve photographic perfection. Phones use various technologies to enhance the details in images and improve the quality of the output. Multi-frame capture techniques reduce noise in photos while improving the brightness, white balance, dynamic range, and other parameters. Advertisement Advertisement Mobile devices also boast scene AI-powered recognition technologies. They can recognize scenes in the frame and adjust everything from colors and contrast to skin tones and textures to give you the best results. In a sense, the photos you get arent a true representation of what you see. Advanced software algorithms and AI play a big part in enhancing the quality and making images look more attractive than what the camera hardware captures. Patrick Chomet talked about the use of AI-powered camera tools in a recent interview with TechRadar. He started with last years controversy, referring to a video from YouTuber Marques Brownlee, aka MKBHD. There was a very nice video by Marques Brownlee last year on the moon picture. Everyone was like, Is it fake? Is it not fake? There was a debate around what constitutes a real picture. And actually, there is no such thing as a real picture. Advertisement Chomet, who is Samsungs Head of Customer Experience, added that as soon as you have sensors to capture something, you reproduce [what youre seeing], and it doesnt mean anything. He reiterated that there is no real picture. You can try to define a real picture by saying, I took that picture, but if you used AI to optimize the zoom, the autofocus, the scene is it real? Or is it all filters? There is no real picture, full stop. Galaxy S24s Generative Edit is a way to create a new reality The Samsung executive also talked about Generative Edit. It is a suite of AI tools that allow Galaxy users to artificially enhance images by erasing imperfections or recomposing a scene by adding non-existent details. So, not only do you have real-time optimization of the scene, but also the ability to further refine the output later. Chomet says all of this is necessary in todays world where people have created a new reality on social media. Advertisement When people go on Instagram, they add a bunch of funky black and white stuff they create a new reality. Their intention isnt to recreate reality, its to make something new. So [Generative Edit] isnt a totally new idea. Generative AI tools will accelerate that intention exponentially in the next few years, he said. There is a big customer need to distinguish between the real and the new, the Samsung SVP added. To that end, Samsungs Generative Edit feature automatically adds a watermark to the images you edit or generate using AI. It also edits the metadata of the image. Chomet said the company is working with regulatory bodies to ensure people understand the difference and is very aligned with European regulations on AI. The Samsung official noted that governments are right to express concerns about the potential dangers of AI. The industry needs to be responsible and it needs to be regulated, he said, adding that Samsung is actively helping regulators with that. Our new technology is amazing and powerful but like anything, it can be used in good and bad ways. So, its appropriate to think deeply about the bad ways. Samsung plans to roll out the new AI features to over 100 million Galaxy devices this year. Samsungs Galaxy Ring has surfaced in the companys Good Lock app. It has been spotted by a user on Reddit. The South Korean brand officially showcased its first-ever smart ring earlier this month at the Galaxy S24 Series launch event. Since then, there has been plenty of excitement about Samsungs new product line in the wearables realm. Samsung Galaxy Ring appears in the Good Lock app The screenshot shared by a user on Reddit shows the Galaxy Ring listed along with other devices in the Good Lock app. It mentions which devices can be shown on the battery widget on the smartphone. The feature is quite useful as it shows the battery status of all connected devices. For those unaware, the Good Lock app lets Galaxy phone users customize their phones interface and helping them do more with their device. Advertisement Advertisement The Good Lock app listing does not reveal any core details. However, it suggests that the smart rings development is currently underway. What do we know about the Samsung Galaxy Ring so far? Samsung revealed very little information about the Galaxy Ring by just giving us a glimpse and confirming support for Samsung Health. The South Korean brand claimed that the smart ring will change the shape of future health like only Samsung can. The teaser video also hinted at the presence of a heart-rate monitor and pogo pins for charging. Meanwhile, as per a Tech Analyst who spent some hands-on time on the Galaxy Ring revealed that it will be available in sizes up to 13. It is also ridiculously lightweight. The upcoming wearable device will also be available in three finishes. The Samsung Galaxy Ring is expected to launch later this year with the exact timeline remaining a mystery. It could go official at the next Unpacked event in August which focuses on the Galaxy Z Foldables, Galaxy Watch, and Galaxy Tablets. With Samsungs entry, the smart rings segment could become the hottest consumer tech segment and something to look forward to. The Xiaomi MIX Fold 4 could end up offering a truly compelling camera setup. Based on a new rumor, the Xiaomi MIX Fold 4 will end up featuring four 50MP cameras on the back, including a periscope telephoto unit. The Xiaomi MIX Fold 4 to offer four 50MP cameras, including a periscope unit This information comes from Digital Chat Station, a well-known Chinese tipster. He shared some information not only about the Xiaomi MIX Fold 4, but the Xiaomi MIX Flip as well. In addition to the camera info weve already mentioned, he said that both devices will be thin and light. Advertisement Advertisement That would suggest that the Xiaomi MIX Fold 4 will be even thinner and lighter than its predecessor. Were not sure how will Xiaomi achieve that with four 50MP cameras on the back, but it remains to be seen. The Xiaomi MIX Flip, on the other hand, will be the first of its kind for Xiaomi. This will become the companys very first clamshell foldable, and its expected to arrive this year. The tipster also said that the Xiaomi MIX Flip will include the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. So, Xiaomi plans to make this smartphone just as powerful as some of its flagships in terms of performance. A previous rumor claimed that the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 will be used. Xiaomis first flip phone could ship with a zero-perception crease The device will also feature a zero-perception crease. In other words, the crease will be barely noticeable, as is the case on some other foldables out there, like the OnePlus Open. Who knows, perhaps Xiaomi can up the ante even further. It will be interesting to see how will Xiaomi handle the hinge. We presume that a teardrop curve for the display will be used, but well see. Perhaps Xiaomi has an even better idea up its sleeve. Were not sure when will these devices arrive, but the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 launched in August last year. Its possible Xiaomi will be aiming for a similar launch timeframe again. What is Google Play Store? Well, from the mobile standpoint, its an app, though its actually a platform. So, its essentially far more than that, which is something well get down to in a minute. In this article, well talk about the Google Play Store, and try to answer quite a few questions, most of which are quite basic. That is the point of this article, to share as much information about Googles Play Store platform as possible. So, lets get started. What is Google Play Store? So, what is Google Play Store? As mentioned in the introduction, its a platform. Its Googles platform for offering various digital content to its consumers. Contrary to what some people may think, the Google Play Store is not just an app store, not at all. You will find all sorts of content available here. The Google Play Store is home to music, movies, books, and games in addition to your regular Android applications. Advertisement Advertisement Google is offering a huge collection of music from all around the world, though that requires a subscription, or a one-time payment, as you can digitally purchase content. Movies and books are available to purchase, while there are tons of free apps and games available. Some of those apps/games require payment, and some do not, but everything is clearly stated in app listings. Do all Android smartphones come with Google Play Store pre-installed? No, they do not. The Google Play Store is pre-installed on smartphones that ship with Google Mobile Services (GMS). Granted, those are the vast majority of phones out there, and the vast majority of phones you can purchase. We are talking about Android as a platform here, and Android is open-sourced. Its free to use, and manufacturers are not forced to pre-install Google Mobile Services if they dont want to, not at all. Consumers are used to Google Mobile Services, which include a number of pre-installed apps by Google. For that reason, pretty much every smartphone manufacturer that sells Android phones will have them pre-installed. There are some exceptions, though. Huawei, one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world is banned from pre-installing GMS on its phones by the US. Theres a long story behind it, but that was the case at the time of writing this article. Advertisement What sort of content can be found on the Google Play Store? The Google Play Store is home to not only apps and games but some additional digital content as well. You can books in the Play Store. Google basically launched the Play Store as a hub for its users to get all sorts of digital content. The main content would probably be apps and games, as the Play Store was mainly launched for Android smartphones. Having said that, the service offered movies and music at one point too, but that changed over the years. Google Play Music is a thing of the past now, as YouTube Music replaced it entirely. Movies are also gone from the Google Play Store, as Google TV is now here. Books are still available, though, alongside apps and games. Do I have to download apps from the Google Play Store if its pre-installed? Google recommends that you download all your Android applications from the Play Store, especially if it comes pre-installed. The company does its best to vet all the apps that are submitted to the Play Store. In other words, the company tries to make sure that no malware makes its way to the store. The Google Play Store is not the only source to download Android applications, though. Advertisement Well talk about that in the next paragraph. But before that, lets just say that the vast majority of users should use the Play Store and only the Play Store. If you opt to use a third-party store, you should use a legit one. If you sideload Android applications, you should also use a source that is reliable. Otherwise, you could get malware in the package with an app youre getting, and thats certainly something you want to avoid. What are Google Play Store alternatives? There are actually quite a few stores that come to mind. Huaweis AppGallery is the companys very own app store, while Samsung has its app store for Android applications as well. There is the Amazon app store as well, while some other smartphone manufacturers offer their own iterations as well. Now, there are some legit Android applications out there that are not available via the Play Store. Advertisement The main reason for that is because theyre breaking the rules, even though those specific apps are not dangerous. Some of them are allowing you to access features Google is blocking, like playing YouTube videos in the background, for example. Good examples of such app stores are F-Droid and XDA Labs. Youll find a ton of interesting apps there, apps that are not available in the Play Store. The best of all, those apps have been vetted for security issues as well. What about sideloading? Well, sideloading is also an alternative to the Play Store, kind of. If you really want to get the latest version of an Android app that you know is out, but it still has not arrived on your phone, you can always sideload it. Or if you want to install an app that is not available in your region, and thus not visible in the Play Store. You can download the APK file (Android app file), and install it manually on your device. Advertisement The procedure is quite simple, as all you have to do is install it, enable your phone to install apps from unknown sources, and thats it. Just make sure to download those APKs from sources you trust. The best way to go about it is to visit APKMirror. That website has been around for a long time, and it always verifies signatures for specific Android applications. This is also a great way to get alpha and beta versions of some applications if you want. How do I update apps via the Google Play Store? Updating applications via the Play Store is really simple, and you need to do that via your smartphone This is not even something you have to do manually, as your phone is set by default to update apps automatically. It will do so when youre connected to Wi-Fi, and check if new updates are available automatically as well. If youd like to keep it that way, you dont have to do anything. Advertisement If, for some reason, youd like to update manually, that is an option. Perhaps youd like to see the changelog before updating, or something of the sort. First, youll need to go to the Play Store options on your phone and disable automatic updates. Your phone will let you know when an update is available, if you do this, after which you can navigate to the hamburger menu of the Play Store, hit My apps & games option, and youll see what updates are available. Alternatively, you can hit the notification that lets you know updates are available. How do I uninstall apps via the Google Play Store? Chances are you already know how to uninstall apps from the app drawer, or your phones settings. Well, you can uninstall them via the Google Play Store as well. They can be uninstalled from the same menu that youd use to update your apps. So, you need to open the app, open the hamburger menu on the left, and then hit the My apps & games option. There youll see three tabs at the top, Updates, Installed, and Library. Advertisement You need to aim for the Installed tab, where you can see all your installed apps. You can either open an app from here or tap on it to be able to uninstall it. This will essentially do the same thing youd do directly from your phones settings or the app drawer. You can even sort apps here to see which ones youve installed most recently, check out their reviews, check out how much phone storage your apps take up, and so on. Does Google Play Store support a dark theme? Yes, the Google Play Store does support a dark theme. It was first made available to Android 10 users only, in 2019. In March 2020, Google pushed it to everyone, basically. There is a physical switch in the Play Store settings. Once you enter settings, you will see the Theme menu. Tap it, and there youll be able to select System default, Dark, or Light themes, depending on your preference. Advertisement The Google Play Store dark theme is now pitch black. It follows Googles design from its other apps. Google opted to use a really dark gray color here, not exactly black. Thats Googles choice, and it works, though perhaps it would be a better idea to go all black. It is what it is, though, at least there are options. Can I uninstall the Google Play Store from my phone? Well, chances are you cannot. If the Google Play Store app came pre-installed on your phone, its quite possible that the device wont let you uninstall it. You can do it if you root your phone, and get admin privileges by doing so, but thats about it. That goes only if youve purchased a phone that is not pre-rooted or something of the sort. If its second-hand, it is possible that someone already messed with it. Advertisement If you root your phone, youll be able to remove the Play Store, but thats not exactly recommended. Before you do, however, make sure you have another app store on hand, so that you can download applications. That is not a requirement, but it sure is recommended, so that you dont have to manually download them from the APK Mirror website, or something of the sort. How does the Android Market relate to the Google Play Store? Android Market = Google Play Store. Confused? Well, the Google Play Store was initially called the Android Market. Back when it launched, in October 2008, it was called Android Market. Back then, only applications and games were available via that app. Google opted to rename the service years later, in 2012, when it started adding music, books, and so on. It considered that to be a more appropriate term, and thats probably true, as its not focused on Android only. Advertisement Are non-Android apps available via the Google Play Store? No, theyre not. The Google Play Store contains applications for the Android system only. As already mentioned, other content is available, but as far as applications and games are concerned, only Android is supported. You can utilize music, movies, and books on other platforms, though. Chances are that this will not happen, as the Play Store has been made mainly for Android. How many applications are there in the Google Play Store? As of January 2024, it was reported that 3.5 million apps are available to download from the Play Store. Back in March 2020, there were over 2.8 million applications available in the Google Play Store. Do note that prior to the summer of 2018, there were also 3.5 million apps in the Google Play Store, as are nowadays (early 2024). Google has decided to remove large quantities of applications from the Play Store in the summer of 2018. Why? Well, mostly due to an updated version of the companys Developer Policy. When the company did that, the number of apps dropped from over 3.5 million to just over 2.5 million. Since then, however, the Play Store grew quite a bit, to 3.5 million again. The article has been updated on February 5, 2024. AI Vibes: 'Loong' Time No See! Here comes the Year of the Dragon 14:24, February 05, 2024 By Sheng Chuyi ( People's Daily Online China is basking in festivity as red lanterns and firecrackers usher in the Year of the Dragon, a legendary creature in the Chinese zodiac associated with divine blessings and fortune. The dragon, known as "loong" in Chinese, holds deep cultural significance in Chinese tradition. Unlike Western dragons, Chinese dragons are depicted as wingless, serpentine creatures adorned with features from various animals like the carp, tiger, and eagle. So, what exactly is the difference between Chinese dragons and their Western counterparts? Western dragons, influenced by literature such as "Beowulf," are often portrayed as fire-breathing treasure hoarders. Greek mythology depicts them as vicious sea monsters or guardians of valuable possessions. By contrast, the Chinese dragon is an auspicious creature, symbolizing strength, wisdom, good luck, and power over the elements of wind and water. As such, Chinese people proudly claim they are the descendants of the dragon. An anecdote in the "Records of the Grand Historian" (Shiji) tells the story of Liu Bang, the first emperor of the Western Han Dynasty, whose mother dreamt of a dragon lying on her body, foretelling the birth of a future emperor. Another distinction lies in the realms these dragons inhabit. While Western dragons are closely tied to the earth, Chinese dragons reign over the sky. They were worshipped as the God of Rain, believed to bring rainfall for prosperous harvests. In times of drought or flooding, people would visit dragon-king temples, burning incense to pray for favorable weather. The dragon's power to control rain and waves is also closely linked to the sequence of the 12 zodiac animals in the Chinese zodiac. This cycle consists of 12 animals representing different years and reflecting people's attributes. The dragon's rank corresponds to the time between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., when fog often occurs, allowing the dragon to ride atop clouds and mist. The Lunar New Year will begin on Feb. 10, 2024. Let's celebrate the upcoming Chinese zodiac Year of the Dragon to embrace new hopes and a better future! Happy Chinese New Year! (Ye Jingyi, as an intern, also contributed to this video.) (Web editor: Sheng Chuyi, Liang Jun) The following is the preface to the 2023 Indonesian edition of the Manifesto of the Communist Party. The last Indonesian translation of the Manifesto was made in 1948, but unfortunately the quality of that edition is far from what this important document deserves. Furthermore, the 1948 edition was written in an Old Indonesian style. Meanwhile, the Indonesian language itself has developed a lot in the past 75 years. Therefore, there is a pressing need for a new translation that can explain more clearly the ideas contained in this brilliant work for the new generation of Communists. The new edition can be accessed at the Marxist Internet Archive. One 175 years ago, Marx and Engels wrote the Manifesto of the Communist Party. This brilliant work has gone through a very long journey, but its main ideas are not only still relevant in todays world, but have even matured. Every time the ruling class triumphantly proclaims the death of communism and writes its obituary, which it has done many times, the living reality of capitalism itself affirms the fundamental truth contained in this work. There is no other text in the history of mankind that retains such historical force, a real force in history that has moved and continues to move mankind and shape history. Especially today when capitalism is entering its deepest crisis, there is a pressing need to renew and improve the Indonesian translation of the Manifesto, so that the ideas contained in it become clearer to the new generation of Communists who are entering the arena of history. The first Indonesian edition of the Manifesto came out in 1923. It was translated by Partondo, who edited the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) paper Soeara Rajat (Peoples Voice), and serialised in the PKI newspaper in April 1923. The second edition was translated in 1925 by Axan Zain or Subakat, a journalist and PKI activist who was then on the run from the Dutch colonial government. Those years, the 1920s, witnessed the first revolutionary awakening of the Indonesian masses. On one hand, we had the rousing of Indonesian proletariat, who just found their class identity; on the other hand, the birth of a national consciousness, in a nation that had been under the colonial yoke for three centuries. Thus, the publication of the Communist Manifesto in Indonesia marked a significant change in the course of Indonesian history. Engels, in one of his prefaces to the Manifesto, had commented on the relation between the publication of the Communist Manifesto and the development of capitalism and the proletariat. In his preface to the Polish edition, Engels wrote prophetically: It is noteworthy that of late the Manifesto has become an index, as it were, of the development of large-scale industry on the European continent. In proportion as large-scale industry expands in a given country, the demand grows among the workers of that country for enlightenment regarding their position as the working class in relation to the possessing classes, the socialist movement spreads among them and the demand for the Manifesto increases. Thus, not only the state of the labour movement but also the degree of development of large-scale industry can be measured with fair accuracy in every country by the number of copies of the Manifesto circulated in the language of that country. The Communist Manifesto arrived in Indonesia together with the first revolutionary wave of the proletariat. With the ebb of this revolutionary wave, which was marked by the complete crushing of the PKI in the 1927-27 rebellion, the Manifesto practically disappeared from the public eye. For almost two decades the Manifesto, and whatever was left from the decimated Communist movement, was forced to contend with an underground existence. They only resurfaced in 1945, with the outbreak of the Indonesian National Revolution. To commemorate 100 years of the Communist Manifesto, and also to mark the return of PKI and assert its authority as the party of Marx, in 1948 the PKI published a new translation of the Manifesto. The translation work was carried out by D.N. Aidit, M.H. Lukman, A. Havil, P. Pardede dan Njoto. This third edition was later reprinted by the PKI publishing house, Jajasan Pembaruan, with minor changes in 1952, 1959, 1960 and 1964. Just like its first arrival, the second arrival of the Manifesto was a harbinger of a new revolutionary period that was unfolding in Indonesia. The difference is, this time, the PKI had become a mass party. In 1923, the PKI was a small party of about 1000 members, but during the revolutionary period of 1950-60s at its height it boasted 3 million members and 10 million followers behind it. The three decades that separated those two periods did not pass in vain. A more mature capitalism had created a strong proletariat that was not only more numerous but also more mature politically. A communist revolution was truly on the cards, and as proclaimed by the Manifesto: Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. But the 30 September Movement in 1965 changed everything. The PKI leadership amongst them the translators of the 1948 edition: Aidit, Lukman and Njoto proved ill-equipped to lead the Indonesian Revolution to its final conclusion. Here is not the place to examine in detail the roots of this tragic defeat (Read The ideological roots of the Indonesian Communist Partys defeat in 1965). Suffice to say, the Stalinism in the official Communist movement had rendered impotent the revolutionary thought of Marx and Engels, much like what the Social Democracy had done in 1914, and led the Indonesian proletariat to its biggest defeat. The 1964 reprint of Aidits version of Manifesto would be the last print, one that ended a courageous era. The Manifesto had to return to an underground life, for a longer period. Capital won the battle by spilling the blood of millions of people, that literally flowed through all the rivers and creeks in Indonesia. In 1989-91, the Berlin Wall fell, and the Soviet Union collapsed. It seemed as if Capital had won the whole class war. Referring to what Marx and Engels wrote in the Manifesto, that: The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle, with the collapse of the Soviet Union the ruling class announced with confidence the end of class struggle, the end of history. Crisis and revolution are things of the past, they said. The Manifesto seemed henceforth forever doomed to oblivion, destined to be a footnote in history, a mere historical curiosity. The Men of Capital, embodying practical reason had triumphed. But history is stubborn and refuses to be subordinated by Capital. The proletariat, the gravediggers of capitalism, still exist and also refuse to be done away with. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98, that sparked the 1998 Revolution in Indonesia, was the first blow against the End of History / Image: Office of the Vice President, Wikimedia Commons The Asian financial crisis of 1997-98, that sparked the 1998 Revolution in Indonesia (also known as Reformasi), was the first blow against the End of History. The history of class struggle continues. The 1998 Revolution overthrew the brutal military dictatorship of Suharto. With the collapse of the New Order regime, a floodgate was opened; independent publishers sprung up like mushrooms, publishing the works of Marx and Engels that were previously banned by the military. There is a thirst amongst a new generation of youth to study Marx. Unfortunately, as far as we know, there was no attempt to improve the translation of the Manifesto. Even though the 1948 edition was a marked improvement from the 1925 one, it still leaves a great deal to be desired. Some ideas were not translated adequately, or in ways that are not clear. This is also true for many other classic Marxist works, whose quality is not proportional to the quantity that has been produced since then. Therefore, there is a pressing need to produce a new translation of the Manifesto. Today the world is changing at a never-seen-before pace. Following the Asian financial crisis, the world was shaken by a global crisis in 2007-08, which was the deepest crisis in the history of capitalism, whose impact is still being felt today. Since then, capitalism has been rocked by one crisis after another. There is no longer any stability left. Capitalism cannot escape from crisis, as explained in the Manifesto: It is enough to mention the commercial crises that by their periodical return put the existence of the entire bourgeois society on its trial, each time more threateningly. But today we are witnessing not a normal crisis, following capitalisms regular cycle of boom and bust. No, capitalism is in a period of organic crisis that is affecting all aspects of society: economic, social, political and cultural. Everything is stagnating and decaying. The bourgeois is filled with pessimism, despite the gigantic productive forces that have been created by its system. Why? Because, as Marx wrote: The conditions of bourgeois society are too narrow to comprise the wealth created by them. When capitalism can only bring about poverty, famine, and war; when capitalism is dragging humanity toward barbarism, then the spectre of Communism will keep haunting it and manifest itself. This fact is recognised by the bourgeoisie, and makes them tremble in fear. This is why, this year, a ban against Communism was codified in the new Criminal Code Law of Indonesia. Yet, there is no legal apparatus that can stop an idea whose time has come. This new Indonesian edition is translated from the 1888 English Edition of the Manifesto of the Communist Party, which is published in the Marx and Engels Collected Works, compiled by Lawrence & Wishart. The German and French edition was also consulted to improve on the translation. We hope that this new edition, that arrives in Indonesia 175 years after the birth of the Manifesto, can become another important ideological weapon for revolutionary youth and workers who are now fighting to bring about a classless society, free from oppression. 1 November 2023 A British radio producer has made allegations of assault against Australian actor Jacob Elordi. Elordi, the star of viral dark comedy Saltburn and teen drama series Euphoria, was approached outside a hotel in Sydney by an employee of an Australian breakfast radio show, it has been claimed. Formerly UK-based, Joshua Fox, who is a producer on The Kyle And Jackie O Show, said he was outside a venue when he spotted Elordi and began filming. In a clip posted on Instagram, Fox told the shows listeners that he informed Elordi he was with a radio programme and asked him to recreate a moment from Saltburn, a thriller about high society. The scene sees the upper-class character, Felix Catton, drink bathwater. Fox said: He (Jacob) says Hey, are you filming? Can you not? And I go Yeah, thats fine. He claims he told the actor he would delete the footage and alleges that Elordi then pushed him against the wall and put his hands on his throat. Saltburn was directed by Emerald Fennell (Ian West/PA) In a statement to the PA news agency on Monday, the New South Wales Police Force said: 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. Inquiries into the incident is continuing. Fox said someone made the complaint to police on his behalf and that he hopes they can both move on from the incident. Elordi has been nominated for Baftas 2024 Rising Star Award after starring in Saltburn with The Banshees Of Inisherin actor Barry Keoghan, Gone Girl actress Rosamund Pike and Withnail And I star Richard E Grant. The movie, directed by Emerald Fennell, has also received Bafta nods for outstanding British film and original score, along with Irishman Keoghan for lead actor, Pike for supporting actress and Elordi for supporting actor. Elordi recently played Elvis Presley in Sofia Coppolas biographical drama about the King of Rock and Rolls ex-wife, Priscilla, and is known for Netflix romance trilogy The Kissing Booth. He is also set to be in a Second World War series, based on Richard Flanagans Booker-winning novel The Narrow Road To The Deep North, and Oh Canada, with Hollywood stars Uma Thurman and Richard Gere. A cancer charity close to the Kings heart has sent best wishes following news of his diagnosis. Charles has been patron of Macmillan Cancer Support for more than 20 years, having taken up the role in 1997. The Royal Household is currently conducting a review of royal patronages across dozens of charities and organisations. Our thoughts are with His Majesty The King and his family. We are sending our best wishes at what we know must be an incredibly challenging time. https://t.co/m661AKLB4P Macmillan Cancer Support (@macmillancancer) February 5, 2024 A statement from Macmillan on X, formerly Twitter, said: Our thoughts are with His Majesty the King and his family. We are sending our best wishes at what we know must be an incredibly challenging time. A statement from Cancer Research UK on X said: Were sorry to hear the news that King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer. Were sending our thoughts and well wishes to the King and the royal family at this difficult time. We are saddened to hear of HM King Charles III's cancer diagnosis and wish him all the best with his treatment and recovery. Our thoughts are with the whole of the @RoyalFamily including our Patron HRH The Princess Royal. Tenovus Cancer Care / Gofal Canser Tenovus (@tenovuscancer) February 5, 2024 Maggies cancer support chief executive Dame Laura Lee said of the announcement: We are incredibly sorry to hear the Kings news and our thoughts are with him. We also know how challenging and worrying a time a cancer diagnosis can be for the whole family and our thoughts are very much with our president, Her Majesty the Queen. Professor Pat Price, founder of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign, said the outpouring of well wishes reflects the collective concern we all share. She added: The Kings openness about his battle with cancer is a powerful reminder that one in two of us may face cancer at some point in our lives. Finding out you have cancer can be very daunting we hope King Charles treatment goes well. As ever, if you have any symptoms or signs of cancer, please do come forward for checks. https://t.co/4aUvjQRyrc Amanda Pritchard (@AmandaPritchard) February 5, 2024 Judi Rhys, chief executive of Tenovus Cancer Care, of which the Princess Royal is patron, said: We are saddened to hear of the Kings cancer diagnosis and wish him all the best with his treatment and recovery. Our thoughts are with the whole of the royal family including our patron HRH the Princess Royal. NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: Finding out you have cancer can be very daunting we hope King Charless treatment goes well. As ever, if you have any symptoms or signs of cancer, please do come forward for checks. Chiara De Biase, director of support and influencing at Prostate Cancer UK, said: We are saddened to hear of the Kings cancer diagnosis and wish him well as he starts his treatment. Whilst were aware that the King has not been diagnosed with prostate cancer, more detail about his condition has not been disclosed and we respect Buckingham Palaces request for people not to speculate. The Kings openness and honesty in announcing his treatment for an enlarged prostate raised vital awareness about the condition. We saw a 500% increase in people coming to our website for information and support in the week following the news, and an impact in men looking to learn more about their prostate and prostate cancer, with an increase in men taking our 30-second online risk checker. Its important to remember that an enlarged prostate is very common in men over 50. It isnt caused by cancer and it doesnt increase your risk of getting prostate cancer. Escape To The Country has paid tribute to the late TV presenter Jonnie Irwin with a montage showcasing his highlights from the show. After his death aged 50, which was announced on Friday, a spokesman for his family said Irwin had fought bravely against cancer with unwavering strength and courage. On Monday, an episode he had hosted on the BBC One programme aired which showed Irwin helping a retired couple find a house in Somerset so they could make the move from Reading. At the end of the programme a montage played which showed Irwins highlights from the show and it included clips of him surfing, playing baseball and sitting on a moving model train. Tribute to Jonnie Irwin (BBC/PA Wire) In one of the clips he was heard saying I love this job sometimes, and in another he joked: Its a tough job but someones got to do it. At the end an image of Irwin popped on to the screen alongside his name and the dates 1973 2024. Irwin had been a host on the British daytime property-buying programme since 2010. The property expert had also presented on what used to be called A Place In The Sun: Home Or Away? with Jasmine Harman. A Place In The Sun helps couples who want to move from the UK to find a home abroad with sun, sea and sand. Irwin also starred in Channel 4s Renovation Game, which ran for three seasons from 2011, in which builders and designers put their fees on the line if they did not raise the property value of a house during a revamp. "An extraordinary man and wonderful presenter" Rob Unsworth, Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak Commissioning, pays tribute to Jonnie Irwinhttps://t.co/EfDrbFBz6l pic.twitter.com/IyTm3YifaK BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) February 2, 2024 In 2022 Irwin disclosed that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020 and it had spread to his brain. He said the first warning sign was while he was filming A Place In The Sun in Italy in August 2020, when his vision became blurry while driving. Escape To The Country presenter Nicki Chapman said she was heartbroken at the news of Irwins death, and his A Place In The Sun co-star Harman said she would miss her partner in crime and OG co-presenter. Irwin has three sons, Rex, and twins Rafa and Cormac, with his wife Jessica. A Foreign Office minister will travel to the United Arab Emirates to continue talks with partners in the Middle East about establishing a sustainable ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon will return to the region on Monday to continue British engagement over the conflict, the Foreign Office said. He will visit Abu Dhabi, where he is expected to meet foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss how to secure an immediate pause in the fighting, and alleviate the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza. Officials said he will try to build momentum on the UK initiative for an international contact group that can work towards long-term peace and stability in the region. Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron has been advancing the concept in recent weeks. Middle East minister Lord Ahmad said: The humanitarian situation in Gaza is desperate and there is an urgent need for an immediate pause to get life-saving aid in and hostages out. The UK remains firmly committed to working with our key partners, like the UAE, to secure an immediate pause in fighting, make progress towards a sustainable ceasefire, and build momentum towards a long-term political solution to the crisis. 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 that have left more than 27,000 dead, according to the territorys Hamas-run health ministry. The visit follows a tour of the region by the Foreign Secretary. The UK is working to help preserve stability in Lebanon and prevent a damaging regional escalation. Were supporting the Lebanon Armed Forces weve trained over 26.5k Lebanese soldiers and are giving further humanitarian aid to help the most vulnerable. Thank you PM pic.twitter.com/6z8obYgFZF David Cameron (@David_Cameron) February 2, 2024 Lord Cameron in January visited Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, along with Qatar, Turkey, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, to discuss the conflict and regional security. He has irked some senior Conservatives by proposing that the UK look at recognising a Palestinian state despite Israeli opposition. Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads a right-wing government, has said publicly that he does not support Palestinian statehood. But Lord Cameron told the Sunday Times 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 former prime minister said. 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. Sustainability leaders in large businesses have identified unfair scrutiny of climate efforts as a barrier to net zero, according to a report. The Carbon Trust, which helps businesses and governments to decarbonise, surveyed more than 400 sustainability experts at companies in the UK, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands and Mexico. The research found that almost a third are struggling to make the internal business case for net zero within their firms. It also found that fewer than 50% of sustainability decision makers feel they have the organisational structure and leadership buy-in to deliver a transition plan and make net zero business-as-usual. Meanwhile, 26% of respondents said companies are greenstalling a term denoting the avoidance of climate action due to the fear of being called out for getting the work wrong. Check out the @TEAEnergyAccess Forum taking place in Rwanda between 13-14 March. The in-person event convenes #CleanEnergy innovators. More details #EnergyAccess https://t.co/0RT12cQ1Eq The Carbon Trust (@thecarbontrust) February 1, 2024 Other barriers to net zero progress identified by the sustainability leaders included tackling scope 3 emissions those produced by supply chains and products sold. The report found that prohibitive costs and the complexity of managing and measuring carbon footprints were hurdles for effectively tackling scope 3, which make up the vast majority of an organisations emissions. In response to the findings, the Carbon Trust urged businesses to refer to globally recognised best practices on net zero. It cited the International Organisation for Standardisations Net Zero Guidelines and the UN Integrity Matters reports 10 criteria for credible action. Other recommendations included taking a hard line with suppliers who do not meet environmental expectations, completing a climate compatibility checkpoint for business models and ringfencing a percentage of revenue for investments in low carbon solutions. Simon Retallack, director of the organisations Net Zero Intelligence Unit, said: It is no surprise that some businesses are nervous about how their actions to address climate change will be judged. However, that mustnt stop them. Net zero is all about actively reducing emissions from businesses and their supply chains, and we know the best thing businesses can do is get started on that journey today by creating a credible transition plan and implementing it. Northern Ireland Secretary says Stormont funding is ample amid calls for more Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has rejected claims by Stormont ministers that better funding is needed from the UK Government as powersharing returns. The Cabinet minister insisted the 3.3 billion package offered by Westminster is ample for the Executive to get on with the job. Mr Heaton-Harris is joining Rishi Sunak and Irish premier Leo Varadkar in Belfast on Monday to mark the restoration of devolved government. But the newly-formed Executive has already written to the Prime Minister calling for urgent discussions on long-term funding stability to deliver public services. Asked about claims that the current funding arrangement will not provide the basis for the Executive to deliver sustainable public services, the Northern Ireland Secretary told BBC Breakfast: I dont believe that is the case. I think Stormont has fantastic, strong foundations now and it will survive, it will be sustainable. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill is Northern Irelands first nationalist First Minister (Liam McBurney/PA) He added: There is a thing, I think, about choices. Youre going into politics, you have to make choices on these sorts of things. Those choices havent been made for a long time out here, and I believe the new set of ministers are completely capable of running their public finances perfectly well with the fair and generous funding package weve given them. Theres a 3.3 billion package available to ministers on day one here to get on with the job of sorting out Northern Ireland public sector pay, health services and a whole host of other things, and Id say thats ample for the time being. Mr Sunak and Mr Varadkar will meet each other, as well as the leaders of the new powersharing Executive which was formed on Saturday, ending two years of political stalemate. The Executive, headed by Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill with the DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly serving as deputy First Minister, will also hold its first meeting on Monday as it begins the task of trying to manage Northern Irelands strained finances. Delighted to be at Parliament Buildings today to witness democracy being restored through the nomination of ministers. A great day for the people of Northern Ireland and I look forward to working with all parties in the Executive. pic.twitter.com/GgQRxP3SyN Chris Heaton-Harris MP (@chhcalling) February 3, 2024 The institutions were restored after a deal between Mr Sunaks Government and the DUP to address unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements, which included passing new legislation at Westminster. The UK Governments 3.3 billion funding offer is aimed at stabilising finances in the region, and settling public sector pay claims. The Executive will press Mr Sunak for more funding but he has described the package as a generous and fair settlement. Ms Little-Pengelly said Stormont ministers will be speaking with one voice in their talks with the Prime Minister. She added: We will be saying that the people of Northern Ireland deserve better public services and that we need to work together the Executive and the Government to deliver long-term fiscal stability. We are ready to engage with the Government and get down to the work of putting our finances on a sound footing; however, we will also be seeking to ensure the UK Government provides sufficient funding in a package to fulfil its promises on public sector pay. Michael Jayston, who appeared in Only Fools And Horses, has died aged 88 after a short illness, his agent has said. The British actor played the father of Rachel Raquel Turner (Tessa Peake-Jones), love interest of Derek Del Boy Trotter (Sir David Jason) in the BBC sitcom. In the episode Time On Our Hands, Jaystons character, antiques dealer James, tells Del Boy and his brother Rodney (Nicholas Lyndhurst) that a watch in their garage was made by clockmaker John Harrison and is worth a fortune leading to an auction where they become millionaires. A statement from M&M Famous Faces on Monday, on behalf of Jaystons family, said: It is with great sadness that I have been asked by his family to share the news Michael Jayston sadly passed away this morning after a short illness. Only Fools And Horses stars Sir David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst (Barry Batchelor/PA) Those who knew Michael will know he was full of love, laughs and happiness. He adored meeting his fans all over the world. His family and friends would appreciate privacy at this time. Doctor Who star Bonnie Langford paid tribute and shared a photo of herself with the late actor. On X, formerly Twitter, she said: Just over a week ago I was with this wonderful man. She added: We laughed about when this pic was taken and all the joy and jokes wed shared on @bbcdoctorwho. So sad hes gone. So glad he was here. In the BBC adaptation of John le Carres espionage thriller Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Jayston portrayed Peter Guillam, confidant of George Smiley (Sir Alec Guinness). The series secured nine Bafta nominations in 1980, including best drama, and saw Sir Alec win best actor. Jayston also portrayed Nicholas II of Russia in the 1970s historical film Nicholas And Alexandra. Just over a week ago I was with this wonderful man #michaeljayston We laughed about when this pic was taken and all the joy and jokes wed shared on @bbcdoctorwho. So sad hes gone. So glad he was here. xx pic.twitter.com/UQvgkmJkdg Bonnie Langford (@bonnie_langford) February 5, 2024 The movie about the last days of the tsars in Russia and the relationship between the ruler and his wife Alexandra (Dame Janet Suzman) also featured Doctor Who star Tom Baker as Grigori Rasputin and Lord Laurence Olivier. Jayston also starred as Edward Rochester in a 1970s TV adaptation of Charlotte Brontes novel Jane Eyre, and appeared in science fiction series Doctor Who as Valeyard an evil character made up of the worst aspects of the Doctor. He played The Confessor in Roger Crane play The Last Confession opposite David Suchet as Cardinal Benelli at Chichester Festival Theatre in May 2007. In the ITV soap Emmerdale, from 2007 to 2008, Jayston played the husband of Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) before his character died within a year of moving to the Yorkshire village. He also appeared in 1990s ITV police comedy drama The Good Guys with Coronation Street actor Nigel Havers and Call The Midwife actress Jenny Agutter. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar have played down suggestions of tensions between the two governments after they did not appear together in public to mark the return of powersharing to Northern Ireland. While the two leaders did meet privately, they held separate engagements with Stormonts political leaders. Mr Varadkar said the day was about progress in Northern Ireland, rather than the two premiers, while Mr Sunak said Ireland would remain a close and valued partner of the UK. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he deeply regretted Irelands legal challenge over the Legacy Act (Liam McBurney/PA) Speculation over a rift in the Anglo-Irish relationship has increased since Dublin launched an interstate legal challenge against the UK Governments contentious legislation to address the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Laws enacted by the UK Government strive to provide a limited form of immunity to those accused of Troubles-related offences. The move has faced staunch criticism and is opposed by many victims groups in Northern Ireland and all the main Stormont parties. Last week, Mr Sunak used a call with the Irish premier to confront his counterpart about the UKs disappointment over the legal challenge. He repeated those sentiments on Monday, saying he deeply regretted the move. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said focus should be on the return of the Stormont Executive (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Varadkar said he had had a very good meeting with Mr Sunak at Stormont. He said: Theres a long standing tradition since the Good Friday Agreement was signed that the Taoiseach would attend events like this. This isnt about us, this is about Northern Ireland. Its about the major political parties here coming together, forming an executive working together on the day to day issues that people across the province are concerned about. So it isnt really about me or the Prime Minister. Its about powersharing here in Northern Ireland, which is so important. So I think the focus will be on them rather than us. Asked why he had not appeared in public alongside Mr Varadkar, the Prime Minister said: Ireland is always going to be a close and valued partner and friend of the United Kingdom. Thats always been the case and will remain the case. Whilst we deeply regret the decision that the Irish Government made on legacy, we disagree with it, but it is important we continue to co-operate where we can. I met the Taoiseach today, I spoke to him last week. I also was the first prime minister to attend the British-Irish Council in over a decade. I regularly speak to him and I also have an enormous amount of respect for all strands of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. Mr Sunak added: I also congratulated him on Irelands rugby victory while I was at it. Following her meeting with the Taoiseach, the DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly said she looked forward to building a relationship Mr Varadkar based on mutual respect. She added: It makes sense for us to have a constructive relationship we havent always had in the past. Stormonts new leaders have vowed to work in unity to press the UK Government for more funding to tackle the long list of problems facing public services in Northern Ireland. The regions first ever nationalist First Minister, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill, and her DUP counterpart, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, were commenting after meeting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Irish premier Leo Varadkar on a day when Stormonts new ministerial Executive got formally down to business. The powersharing institutions were restored on Saturday after a deal between the UK Government and the DUP to address unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements, which included passing new legislation at Westminster. Ms ONeill said she and Ms Little-Pengelly had put on a united front as they delivered a loud and clear message to Mr Sunak on Monday that a 3.3 billion Treasury package to accompany the return of devolution was not sufficient. Ms Little-Pengelly said securing enough money to meet the pay demands of striking public sector workers was a key ask of the Government. The ministers conducted their first joint press conference ahead of convening a meeting of the new Executive at Stormont Castle. Earlier in the day, all the Executive ministers gathered at the castle for separate meetings with Mr Sunak and then Mr Varadkar. While the Prime Minister has said the 3.3 billion offer represents a generous and fair settlement, Stormont ministers have collectively penned a letter to the Government insisting it is not enough to deliver sustainable public services and public finances. They say more money, along with further reform of the funding model for the region, is required if they are to get on top of a bulging in-tray following two years of political impasse in Northern Ireland. Earlier, Taoiseach Mr Varadkar insisted the Irish government was willing to help Northern Ireland with further financial support. Ms ONeill said the Executive needed more money to deliver good public services. The offer that has been put on the table sounds good on the face of it, but whenever you break it down into the details theres a lot more to be done here, she told reporters. If were going to be successful politically, we need to also have the resources to deliver good public services. I think the Prime Minister heard that very loudly and clearly from both Emma and I collectively, and from all Executive colleagues. She added: We are not working on failure, we are working on the basis that we are going to be successful. We know weve a lot of work to do but we need the Treasury to be engaged with us because for many, many years we have been underfunded, we now are trying to fix that, we want to transform our health service. We have an in-tray as long as your arm in terms of the issues we need to deal with. Ms Little-Pengelly said Executive ministers had to work together to meet Northern Irelands financial challenges. Within every department there are very important issues, she said. But the key thing here is we are only going to find resolutions for those by working together and working constructively together. Thats what were up for, I think the rest of the Executive is up for that challenge. The DUP MLA added: We know that theres a very clear expectation of delivery, we want to deliver, we need to fix our public services, we need to help those people who are struggling at the moment in terms of getting access to those necessary public services. So we took the opportunity this morning to raise that issue directly with the Prime Minister. I welcome the fact that the Prime Minister has indicated that he will continue with those conversations, that those will be detailed conversations around issues such as the fiscal floor and public sector pay. Prior to their meeting with Executive ministers, Mr Sunak and Mr Varadkar met for private discussions at Stormont. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Glencraig Integrated Primary School in Holywood, Co Down, after his meeting at Stormont (Liam McBurney/PA) However, they did not conduct any joint meetings with local politicians or hold a joint press conference through the course of Monday. The lack of a side-by-side public appearance fuelled talk of tensions in the Anglo-Irish relationship following Irelands move to launch a legal challenge against the UK Governments contentious legislation to address the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Both sides moved to play down suggestions of a rift between them. During his individual press conference at Stormont, Mr Varadkar highlighted that the Irish government had already invested millions of euros in projects in Northern Ireland that had a cross-border element, and he said more funding pledges through its Shared Island Initiative would be forthcoming. The bulk of Irish investment in the region has focused on capital infrastructure projects. The Taoiseach, addressing reporters in Parliament Buildings in Belfast, said he was confident the new administration in Belfast would last. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar arrives for a press conference at Parliament Buildings, Stormont (Oliver McVeigh/PA) I want to thank people who made today possible, to congratulate the First Minister, the deputy First Minister, the new Executive on taking up their new roles, and really pledge to do everything that we can do to help this Executive to be successful, he said. Theres a lot of everyday issues that need attention here in Northern Ireland, and I know theyre going to work very hard on that. Were keen to get north-south co-operation going again and have a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in the next couple of weeks and focus on some of that practical co-operation that works well for everyone on the island. So, very keen to work with a new Executive and looking forward to doing that. Asked by reporters if his government was prepared to offer new money to the region, the Taoiseach said: Yes, we are. You know the Shared Island Fund is there and we would intend to make further allocations from that over the course of this year. But were also very keen to co-ordinate that with the Secretary of State (Chris Heaton-Harris) and also with the Executive, now it is up and running. Mr Sunak said his Governments funding deal for Northern Ireland was significant and generous and would focus on long-term sustainability as well as addressing the immediate issues. He added: I had very constructive meetings this morning with the Executive, with political leaders across Stormont, and it is a historic and important day for the country, because Northern Irelands politicians are back in charge, making decisions on behalf of their people, which is exactly how it should be. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, First Minister Michelle ONeill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Stormont Castle (Oliver McVeigh/PA) Now, our new deal gives them more funding and more powers than they have ever had, so they can deliver for families and businesses across Northern Ireland. And thats what everyones priority is now. Mr Sunak also insisted that Stormonts leaders should focus on the day-to-day concerns of people in Northern Ireland, rather than the prospect of a poll on reunification. He made clear that constitutional change was not a priority in response to weekend comments from Ms ONeill in which she claimed a border referendum could be held in the next 10 years. It is not constitutional change, it is delivering on the day-to-day things that matter to people, the Prime Minister said. Mr Varadkar would not be drawn on the question of reunification when asked by reporters. Aside from the difference of opinion on the legacy laws, Mr Varadkar was asked to respond to the suggestion of disquiet in No 10 amid claims he had muscled in on the Prime Ministers visit to the region to mark the re-establishment of devolution. I had a very good welcome and very good meeting with the Prime Minister and then a very warm welcome from the First Minister, deputy First Minister and Executive, he replied. And theres a long-standing tradition since the Good Friday Agreement was signed that the Taoiseach would attend events like this. Sunak admits he has failed on pledge to cut NHS waiting lists Rishi Sunak has admitted that he has failed on his pledge to cut NHS waiting lists. The Prime Minister last year made cutting the number of patients waiting for treatment one of the five key priorities of his leadership. While he did not put a timeframe on achieving it, he has conceded that he has not met his target. The Conservative Party leader told TalkTV that industrial action in the health sector has had an impact on delivering the commitment. Asked about the NHS commitment during an interview with Piers Morgan in Downing Street, Mr Sunak said: We have not made enough progress. Asked whether he had failed on the pledge, the Prime Minister replied: Yes, we have. (PA Graphics) A pay deal with striking nurses and Agenda for Change staff was agreed last year, but junior doctors and consultants have continued with walkouts. Data analysed by the PA news agency last month suggests that, despite recent decreases in the waiting list, it is still higher than when Mr Sunaks pledge was made. The list stood at 7.21 million treatments waiting to be carried out in January 2023. In November a month when there was no industrial action some 7.61 million treatments were waiting to be carried out. When the increase was put to the Prime Minister by Morgan, he replied: Yes, and we all know the reasons for that. Rishi Sunak pledged in January 2023 to cut NHS waiting lists (Jaime Lorriman/The Daily Telegraph) And what I would say to people is, look, we have invested record amounts in the NHS, more doctors, more nurses, more scanners. All these things mean that the NHS is doing more today than it ever has been. But industrial action has had an impact. Morgan went on to tell Mr Sunak about his 79-year-old mothers experience three months ago after having a heart attack. The broadcaster told the British leader that, despite being driven to the hospital in an ambulance, she waited on a trolley in an A&E corridor for nearly seven hours to be seen, in a scene she compared to a war zone. The Prime Minister said the account was shocking and that performance in A&E and with ambulance waiting times were not good enough. But he denied that the Tories had failed the NHS since 2010, citing the backlog created by the coronavirus pandemic. We cant escape that, he added. When you shut down the country in the NHS for the best part of two years, that has had an impact on everything since then. And we just have to recognise that reality. Expanding pharmacy services. Ending the 8am rush to get seen. Freeing up millions of GP appointments. Were cutting NHS waiting lists and helping patients get the care they need more quickly. pic.twitter.com/9oznWNrpr0 Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) January 31, 2024 Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said: Rishi Sunak has finally admitted what has been blatantly obvious to everyone else for years the Conservatives have failed on the NHS. Where Sunak has failed, Labour will succeed in getting the NHS back on its feet. We did it before and we will do it again. Also during the interview, Mr Sunak accepted a 1,000 bet with Morgan, a former Daily Mirror editor, that deportation flights to Rwanda will take place before the next general election, which is expected in the autumn. He has previously set the target of sending asylum seekers who arrive in the UK via unauthorised routes, including those crossing the English Channel in small boats, to the east African country by the spring. The UK has paid Rwanda 240 million under the Prime Ministers plan to stop the boats another of his five key pledges and ministers expect to pay an additional 50 million next year. But no migrants have yet been removed due to legal challenges that resulted in the Supreme Court last year finding the scheme unlawful. Mr Sunak is trying to revive the policy by passing legislation deeming Rwanda a safe country and ratifying a new treaty with Kigali. The Rwanda Bill is currently making its way through a House of Lords that is hostile to the scheme. After shaking hands with Morgan on the terms of the Rwanda bet, Mr Sunak said: I want to get the people on the plane. I am working incredibly hard to get the people on the planes. The full interview is due to be shown on the Piers Morgan Uncensored YouTube channel at 2pm and TalkTV at 8pm on Monday. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Irish premier Leo Varadkar are to visit Stormont as they mark the return of devolved government in Northern Ireland. Mr Sunak and Mr Varadkar will meet each other, as well as the leaders of the new powersharing Executive which was formed on Saturday, ending two years of political stalemate. The newly-formed Executive has already written to the Prime Minister calling for urgent discussions on long-term funding stability to deliver public services. The Executive, headed by Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill and the DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly, will also hold its first meeting on Monday as it begins the task of trying to deal with Northern Irelands strained finances. Rishi Sunak and Leo Varadkar will meet with Michelle ONeill and Emma Little-Pengelly, the leaders of the new powersharing Executive (NI Executive/PA) Ms ONeill made history when she was appointed the regions first nationalist First Minister. The institutions were restored after a deal between Mr Sunaks government and the DUP to address unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements, which included passing new legislation at Westminster. Mr Sunak is also carrying out community engagements during his visit to Northern Ireland, meeting people involved in public services. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a visit to Air Ambulance Northern Ireland at its headquarters in Lisburn (Carrie Davenport/PA) On Sunday, he was at the headquarters of Air Ambulance Northern Ireland in Co Antrim, where he said the return of Stormont represented a brighter future for people. The UK Government has offered a 3.3 billion package to stabilise finances in the region, and settle public sector pay claims. However, the Executive will press Mr Sunak for more funding. The Prime Minister said the offer 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. However, the letter from all Stormont ministers to the Prime Minister states that the current financial package on offer does not provide the basis for the Executive to deliver sustainable public services and public finances. Michelle ONeill said the Executive would be pressing the Prime Minister for adequate funding for public services (Liam McBurney/PA) Ms ONeill said: This morning the Prime Minister will meet Executive ministers united in our determination to get the right long-term funding package agreed. If we are to tackle the serious problems across public services in our hospitals and our schools then how we are funded needs to change and I will be strongly pressing that point at todays meeting. It is critical that the Executive has the right resources to deliver effective public services for all our citizens and we will engage with the Prime Minister to achieve our shared objective. Ms Little-Pengelly said the Executive would be speaking with one voice in its meeting with the Prime Minister. She added: We will be saying that the people of Northern Ireland deserve better public services and that we need to work together the Executive and the Government to deliver long term fiscal stability. We are ready to engage with the Government and get down to the work of putting our finances on a sound footing, however, we will also be seeking to ensure the UK Government provides sufficient funding in a package to fulfil its promises on public sector pay. Train services in the North have got poorer in the 10 years since the Northern Powerhouse was promised, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said as he joined other leaders to call for a different approach to transport. Speaking at the Transport for the North annual conference in Liverpool on Monday, Mr Burnham said to transform the rail network they needed to do something different to what we did in the last decade. He said: Its 10 years this year since George Osborne came to Manchester and promised a Northern Powerhouse. That was going to mean HS2, HS3, as it was then called, now Northern Powerhouse Rail, better everyday services on the existing network. You name it, we were going to be promised all of this. Andy Burnham said to transform the rail network they needed to do something different to what we did in the last decade (PA) Barely any of it has happened. In fact, new analysis that TfGM (Transport for Greater Manchester) has done says that rail services are poorer now than they were in 2016. Speaking to the media after his speech, Mr Burnham said: This general election year, I think, lands at an uncomfortable moment for a Government that promised to level up because we have proof that railways have gone backwards in the decade since George Osborne made that speech. Its almost unbelievable. During a question and answer session later in the day, rail minister Huw Merriman was asked whether services had gone backwards in the last 10 years. He said: One of the things I feel weve got to communicate more strongly is the investment that is going in right now. He said improvements were being done on the Transpennine route and they needed to demonstrate the positives. Rail minister Huw Merriman also attended the conference (PA) Lord Patrick McLoughlin, former Conservative transport secretary and chairman of Transport for the North, said: Has there been improvement? Yes. Has there been enough improvement? Well, thats for others to decide, but its a continuous journey. In October last year, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cancelled the plan to extend HS2 between the West Midlands and Manchester amid spiralling costs. Mr Merriman said the decision was a radical change in the Governments approach to transport. He said: It is important to me that every penny of HS2 savings from the North is spent well and makes a difference to transport in the North, benefiting more people in more places, more quickly than was ever conceivable under the HS2 projects. Last week, Mr Burnham and his West Midlands counterpart Andy Street met Transport Secretary Mark Harper to discuss privately funded alternatives to a scrapped section of HS2 between Birmingham and Manchester. Mr Burnham said there would be a meeting of the private sector project group on Wednesday and there was momentum behind the plan. He said: Unless we improve Manchester to Birmingham productivity and capacity were going to have transport headaches for the rest of this century. Metro mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram told the conference he had written to the transport minister to seek a guarantee that any future northern rail network would deliver the maximum possible benefits for the whole city region. He said he had called for assurances that plans for a new Liverpool to Manchester line would reduce disruption to Liverpool Lime Street station as the conference heard one proposal would see the citys main station disrupted for between one and three years. Speaking about the decision to scrap the northern leg of HS2, Mr Rotheram said: What message does that send about the North? That we are somehow worth less than people in the South? That the UK is not serious about being a place to invest or do business in or that the Government simply doesnt care that Victorian infrastructure is holding back the North? He added: Maybe the Prime Minister should travel across the North on the train. Martin Tugwell, Transport for the North chief executive, said: There is a prize to transform the North up for grabs, but it requires both investment to create transformational change, and the devolution of powers to those closest to the people and places that will benefit to use them. We need to change how we plan for, develop, invest, and deliver transport infrastructure and services. Further devolution offers the opportunity to remove inertia, accelerate delivery and see the benefits of investment realised sooner. US President Joe Biden said he was concerned about the Kings cancer diagnosis, as foreign leaders wished him a swift recovery. Mr Biden, who is six years older than the 75-year-old King, was asked by reporters whether he had a message for Charles during a visit to Las Vegas. The President replied: Im concerned about him. Just heard about his diagnosis. Ill be talking to him, God willing. Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship takes hope and absolute courage. Jill and I join the people of the United Kingdom in praying that His Majesty experiences a swift and full recovery. President Biden (@POTUS) February 5, 2024 Mr Biden later tweeted: Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship takes hope and absolute courage. Jill and I join the people of the United Kingdom in praying that His Majesty experiences a swift and full recovery. His predecessor in the White House, Donald Trump, described the King as a wonderful man. The frontrunner for the Republican party posted on his Truth Social platform: King Charles has cancer. I, like Canadians across the country and people around the world, am thinking of His Majesty King Charles III as he undergoes treatment for cancer. Were sending him our very best wishes and hoping for a fast and full recovery. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 5, 2024 He is a wonderful man, who I got to know well during my presidency, and we all pray that he has a fast and full recovery! Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also offered his best wishes. He tweeted: I, like Canadians across the country and people around the world, am thinking of His Majesty King Charles III as he undergoes treatment for cancer. Were sending him our very best wishes and hoping for a fast and full recovery. Canada is one of the 14 Commonwealth realms where the King is head of state. Australians know that His Majesty King Charles has always reached out to us in our country's toughest moments, showing kindness and care for those doing it tough. All of us are thinking of him and his family in this very hard time. We wish him well for a speedy recovery. Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) February 5, 2024 The leader of Commonwealth member Australia said his countrys thoughts were with the King and his family. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: Australians know that His Majesty King Charles has always reached out to us in our countrys toughest moments, showing kindness and care for those doing it tough. All of us are thinking of him and his family in this very hard time. We wish him well for a speedy recovery. Mr Albanese, who has said he believes an Australian citizen should replace the British monarch as the countrys head of state, recently put on hold a plan to hold a referendum on becoming a republic. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: Wishing His Majesty King Charles III a speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with the British people. Amities. President of Ireland Michael D Higgins is very sorry and concerned to hear todays statement regarding King Charles medical diagnosis, according to a statement on his behalf. The president has sent his best wishes on behalf of the people of Ireland to King Charles for his medical treatment and for his full recovery, as well as to Queen Camilla and his family. The Prince of Wales will carry out his first public engagements since the Princess of Wales underwent major abdominal surgery last month. William had taken time off to support his family as Kate recovered first in hospital then returned home to Windsor to convalesce. He will host an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday and that evening will attend the London Air Ambulance annual fundraising gala in central London, said Kensington Palace. Kate is expected to spend a period convalescing after her operation (Chris Jackson/PA) Kate left hospital last Monday and returned to Adelaide Cottage to be reunited with her three children, after undergoing the planned operation on January 16 at the London Clinic. At the same private hospital, the King received treatment for an enlarged prostate and was discharged the same day as his daughter-in-law. The exact details of the princesss condition have not been revealed but the Palace said previously it was not cancer-related, and that Kate wished her personal medical information to remain private. William, 41, was due to return to royal engagements once Kates care and recovery had settled, but the 42-year-old future queen is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter. The prince last carried out a major royal event more than three weeks ago, when he travelled to Leeds to make former Leeds Rhinos team mates, Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield, each a CBE for raising funds and awareness for motor neurone disease. Rob Burrow is made a CBE by the Prince of Wales at Headingley Stadium, Leeds (Phil Noble/PA) Kate will be under the careful watch of royal doctors and also benefit from the London Clinics aftercare, with dedicated physiotherapists on hand with a personalised plan and a video check-up at home with a nurse specialist on offer. NHS advice about recovering from abdominal surgery says that, after a major operation with a large incision, it takes two to three months to be able to move around comfortably. But this will be quicker if the procedure was keyhole surgery. William and their family are being supported by their staff, including loyal, long-standing nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo. Kates parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and siblings, Pippa Matthews and James Middleton, are also expected to be hands-on in helping the Waleses navigate the next few months as the princess recovers. A young Scot who began making music in his bedroom has said it feels amazing to win a Grammy award. Blair Ferguson, 20, won for his contribution to singer-songwriter SZAs chart number one, Snooze, which was named best R&B Song. He was also recognised for his contribution to SZAs SOS album which won the best progressive R&B category. The Grammys are the highest awards in the US music industry and are awarded by the Recording Academy of the United States in recognition of musical excellence. Blair Ferguson has won a Grammy for his contribution to a hit song (Elaine Livingstone/PA) The former Kelvinside Academy pupil began making music in his Glasgow bedroom aged 15 and adopted the stage name BLK when he launched his career. After collecting his award, Ferguson told the recording academy: I feel amazing. Its incredible to be out here being from Scotland and representing the country. Its not something that happens to people from out there (Scotland) very often. Its incredible, huge thanks to the whole team, to SZA, and to all my co-producers. Its just been an incredible experience. All my family are back home celebrating. Theyve been texting me a lot Ive spoken to them a good bit. Theyre (my family) all celebrating. Its been lovely. His family: mother, Linda Christie; step-father, Alex Christie; and sister Emily, stayed up all night to watch the ceremony at a special party arranged by friends in Glasgow, while his father, Stephen Ferguson, a former arts critic, was in Los Angeles where the ceremony took place. Mrs Christie, head of projects and programmes at Zero Waste Scotland, said: Its incredible. We are all absolutely ecstatic we cannot believe it. We all watched it on a big screen surrounded by friends and family. We were screaming and crying when they read out Snooze. Blairs sister was so overwhelmed she couldnt even speak. Blair Ferguson worked with singer-songwriter SZA to win the Grammy (Ian West/PA) He wanted us all to enjoy it, so video called us from the limo, at the table, backstage, and at the party. Its just not a world you ever expect to see and he wanted us to enjoy it with him. Hes so level-headed and takes it all in his stride. She added: When Blair said he wanted to leave school to pursue his music career, he was so determined and asked us to trust him, so we did. As academics, its not a world we understand but he does. Never did we think that just five years later hed have a Grammy in his hand, but hes reached for his dreams and now hes living them. She added: As a parent, you just want to equip him to handle everything and, as we say in Scotland, he just needs to keep the heid and the skys the limit. Jenny Cunningham, who taught Ferguson at Kelvinside Academy in Glasgow for 10 years until he left school in 2020, said his talent was always there to see but not necessarily a sign of where hed end up. She said: Blairs flare for music shone brightly from the beginning particularly in classical piano and choir singing. He always had something special. It was clear he had the potential to go far, but it wasnt until much later that the path hed go down became more clear. Once he found it, though, there was no stopping him and its astonishing to see what hes achieved. Most young musicians doing well in the music industry would be celebrating a record deal, or getting a song out, or even selling out a gig. She added: To win a Grammy is beyond most musicians wildest imaginations. Its incredible, yet he seems to take it all in his stride. We are all extremely proud and delighted at his success. You could argue that he has already reached the top but I am certain that hes only just getting started. A young Ferguson spent every waking moment producing music from his bedroom during lockdown and struck a deal with his parents he would put a pause on education and not attend university if he could land a record deal within one year. He went on to be signed by a record company, recently secured a deal with Warner Music Group. and has worked with people including Justin Bieber and Rozalia. Dan Wyatt, rector at Kelvinside Academy, said: We are all immensely proud and Im sure I speak for all in the Kelvinside Academy community in wishing Blair the hugest congratulations. An 8-year-old girl has died after being struck by a car while boarding her school bus, the Georgia State Patrol confirmed Saturday. The incident took place in Henry County on Thursday when the young girl was struck by a Ford Fusion, driven by 25-year-old Kaylee Andre, on Jackson Lake Road, according to police. The identity of the victim has not been released. She was a student at Rock Springs Elementary School, according to Atlanta ABC affiliate WSB. MORE: School bus monitor charged after 6-year-old with special needs dies in bus incident Troopers say the school bus had its red flashing lights activated and the stop sign displayed to the front and rear when Andre's vehicle hit the victim while she was attempting to cross the roadway. The victim received lifesaving measures at the scene by Henry County EMS personnel but was airlifted to Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta in critical condition, according to GSP. PHOTO: Stock photo of a stop sign at the rear part of a school bus. (STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images) The victim was pronounced dead from her injuries on Feb. 2, according to law enforcement. On Saturday, GSP troopers arrested Andre and charged her with homicide by vehicle in the first degree, failure to stop for a school bus loading and unloading, and failure to exercise due care. Andre is currently being held at Henry County Jail, according to court records. MORE: 7-year-old speaks out after school bus driver jumps to his aid: 'She's my hero' Lindsay Bridges, a Rock Springs Elementary School parent, became emotional over the tragedy during an interview with WSB on Friday. "It's crazy to think about something like that happening to a child when you have kids. Well, even if you don't have kids. It's very, very sad to hear about. But I can just imagine what those parents are going through," Bridges told the affiliate. 8-year-old girl fatally struck by vehicle while boarding her school bus originally appeared on abcnews.go.com An intense, long-lasting atmospheric river is moving across California bringing widespread power outages, mudslides and life-threatening flooding as it dumps heavy rain and snow. Follow our live coverage here. This is whats happening: Rare high flood risk persists: A firehose of rain has parked over Southern California, worsening flooding conditions Monday with rain set to linger into Tuesday. Some parts of Los Angeles County have already seen nearly a foot of rain and on-and-off showers are expected to persist Tuesday and expand south into San Diego. At least 2 fatalities reported: A man in Yuba City, about 40 miles north of Sacramento, was killed Sunday by a large redwood tree that fell as winds of nearly 50 mph hit the area. Through the investigation, it appeared he was possibly using a ladder to try and clear the tree away from his residence when it fell on him, the Yuba City Police Department said in a statement. Further south, a 45-year-old man was killed in Santa Cruz County after a tree fell into a Boulder Creek home Sunday, a Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Office spokesperson said. More than 120 mudslides: In Los Angeles, more than 120 mudslides were reported and about 25 structures were damaged, Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley said Monday. The weather service earlier warned of an extremely dangerous situation in the Hollywood Hills area where homes have been evacuated and around the Santa Monica Mountains. Numerous damaging landslides, flooded roadways, submerged vehicles, and flooded creeks and streams are ongoing, in an area that includes Malibu, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Brentwood and Burbank, the service said. A historic downpour in Los Angeles: The torrential downpour brought an astonishing 6.65 inches of rain since Sunday to downtown Los Angeles, marking the third-wettest two-day stretch the city has seen since January 26, 1956. February is typically the wettest month of the year in Los Angeles, with an average of 3.64 inches of rain in total downtown. People walk Sunday during heavy rains in downtown Los Angeles. - Aude Guerrucci/Reuters Power outage numbers remain high: Strong winds and rain have knocked out power for nearly 300,000 customers in California, particularly along the coast, according to the tracking website PowerOutage.us. The majority of outages are across the northern half of the state where winds gusted as high as 100 mph over the past day. Major air travel headaches: Heavy rains and gusty winds have caused flight disruptions at several of Californias major airports. More than 1,000 flights in and out of Los Angeles International Airport have been delayed since Sunday, according to tracker FlightAware, and San Francisco International Airport has had more than 200 cancelations and over 800 delays in the same period. Airports in San Diego, Oakland and Sacramento have also seen disruptions. Rare rain risk: The Weather Prediction Center issued a rare high risk of excessive rainfall - or a Level 4 of 4 - for more than 16 million people across Southern California on Monday. This includes downtown Los Angeles, Anaheim and Long Beach. In Central and Southern California, widespread rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches are expected more than a months worth of rain for most areas in several days. Storm causes avalanche in Nevada: The same storm system helped cause an avalanche in the Lee Canyon and Mount Charleston areas, northwest of Las Vegas, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Lee Canyon has received about a foot of snow in the last 24 hours. Several people were reported missing after the incident but have been found. Residents evacuate past damaged vehicles after storms caused a mudslide on Monday in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles. - Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Almost a foot of rain in Bel-Air: Heavy rain doused the ritzy Los Angeles community of Bel-Air with more than 11 inches of rain since Sunday afternoon, according to the weather service. Due to the hilly nature of our canyons, there are multiple mudslides and landslides, and tons of debris in our roads. Many of the roads are closed, Bel-Air Association spokesperson Hattie Rogovin told CNN. Storm hinders travel in the mountains: Significant snowfall is burying parts of the Sierra Nevada and Southern Californias mountain ranges, with heavy snow expected through Tuesday afternoon. Heavy, wet snow will reach pass level for some travelers and pose very difficult-to-impossible conditions, according to the National Weather Service. Parts of the Sierras have already recorded more than 2 feet of snow this week, with several more inches coming Tuesday. Some schools closed: All Malibu schools are closed Monday, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District announced on X, citing road closures and the inability of some staff to get to schools. Several school districts in Santa Barbara County canceled classes due to the severe weather, and Pepperdine University in Malibu canceled in-person classes. Others schools, including California State University Fullerton, switched to remote learning. Two bigger factors are making this worse: Scientists say the broader climate crisis and El Nino are increasing the rainfall and destructive power of this storm. When El Nino has a strong presence in the Pacific Ocean, it can intensify atmospheric river events on the West Coast. Atmospheric river still slamming California This strong type of atmospheric river a long, narrow moisture band that carries saturated air thousands of miles then discharges it like a fire hose is called a Pineapple Express. Its carrying moisture buildup from the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii and walloping the US and Canadian West coasts with heavy rain and snow, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The strongest winds associated with the system have subsided, but there are still gusts up to 50 mph across the higher elevations of Central and Southern California. Wind advisories are in place across Central California and in Orange and San Diego counties Monday morning. The atmospheric river impacting California this week follows another recent storm that drenched most of the state, including Los Angeles, with record rainfall. As the state braced for flooded roadways and swollen rivers, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sunday declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Debris is strewn Monday on a road in Studio City, California. - Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Southern California continued to prep for the prolonged impacts of the storm, which parked as it moved onshore, bringing a much longer duration of rain compared to the last storm. Californians can expect to see the worst of the storms impacts through Tuesday, according to the weather service. In Los Angeles, officials urged residents to stay off the roads and stay home, if possible even sending a flash flood emergency alert to phones Sunday evening telling people not to travel due to the dangerous and life-threatening situation. All lanes of Interstate 5 were flooded in San Fernando in Los Angeles County as of late Sunday evening. A flash flood warning in place for western and central Los Angeles County covers more than 2.5 million people. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass signed a declaration of a local emergency Monday, saying it will help the city respond to the storm now and during the recovery. President Joe Biden spoke by phone with Newsom and Bass Monday evening about the availability of federal support, if needed, the White House said. FEMA has already staged personnel and resources in the state to ensure support can be mobilized if requested, it added. Bass asked residents to follow evacuation orders to help out first responders. We have had to rescue individuals in certain neighborhoods because they did not follow the evacuation orders, Bass said at a news conference Monday. We ask that when notified that you need to evacuate, please do that so you do not end up needing to be rescued. Officials rescued a man Monday who had jumped into the Los Angeles River to save his dog in the fast-moving water, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. A helicopter crew lowered a rescuer into the rain-swollen river, who was able to grab the man and hoist him to safety, officials said. The dog managed to swim safely to the edge of the river and escape the rapids, the department said. The man was taken to a hospital and his dog was taken to a shelter for minor injuries and temporary care. Firefighters rescue a woman from a homeless encampment that became surrounded by floodwater in the Santa Ana River on Monday in San Bernardino. - Ethan Swope/AP The worst of the storms rainfall is set to slowly expand south throughout Monday, with the threat moving to include more of the San Diego area by the evening. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria told CNN Monday the city was preparing but the downpour followed another recent storm that sent several feet of water rushing through some streets and prompted hundreds of rescues. Weve seen areas that have not traditionally flooded flood because of the volume of rain in a very short amount of time, he said. These atmospheric rivers are something that probably many of us never even grew up with knowing about, but now theyre sort of ever-present in our lives. Low-lying and flood-prone areas of San Diego were issued an evacuation warning, according to Gloria. The city will likely see somewhere between 2 and 2.5 inches of rain through Tuesday, with some areas potentially getting half an inch of rain per hour, he said. As the rain moved in over San Diego, salvage workers dressed in hazmat suits were traipsing in and out of Louis Edwards San Diego home Monday, cataloging his every possession after nearly everything he owns was destroyed by rain-induced floodwaters that besieged his neighborhood nearly two weeks ago. He said he barely escaped the last storm, having to swim through his front door as water rushed into his home. He climbed onto the roof of his minivan, which he says was only about an inch above water. He doesnt have much to lose this time. I just take one day at a time, he told CNN. Thats all, I cant do no more otherwise than that. A garage door is damaged by a storm on a home on Monday in Studio City. - Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Across Los Angeles, damage and evacuations were reported. Two homes in the Studio City area were damaged and nine others were evacuated after debris flow in the area, according to the fire department. In the Encino area, three homes were impacted by debris flow and several people were evacuated, the department said. Debris flows are fast-moving landslides that destroy objects, and can occur during periods of intense rainfall, according to the US Geological Survey. North in Ventura County, the storms dangers began taking shape on Sunday after law enforcement reported several flooded roads, submerged vehicles, rock and mudslides and quickly rising river levels, according to the weather service. In San Bernardino County, three people were rescued after becoming stranded in a tree while trying to cross a flooded road in their vehicle, the San Bernardino County Fire Department said on X Monday morning. Two factors making this storm worse A house stands on top of a landslide in Encino on Monday. - Aude Guerrucci/Reuters Scientists point to two factors that are increasing the rainfall and destructive power of this weeks storm: the broader climate crisis and El Nino. On top of the global warming trend and ocean temperatures at record highs, a strong El Nino is present in the Pacific a phenomenon that can enhance atmospheric river events on the West Coast. California, which is recovering from a historic megadrought that triggered water restrictions, has seen a deluge of heavy rain and snowstorms since last winter. These dramatic swings between the two extremes extreme drought and high precipitation also known as weather whiplash, is another phenomenon that scientists warn will happen more often on a warming planet in coming decades. CNNs Cindy Von Quednow, Amy Simonson, Christal Hayes, Joe Sutton, Jeffrey Kopp, Tina Burnside, Nouran Salahieh, Allison Chinchar, Caitlin Kaiser, Sara Tonks, Elisa Raffa, Nikki Carvajal and meteorologists Mary Gilbert and Brandon Miller contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Jarrett Renshaw and Trevor Hunnicutt LAS VEGAS (Reuters) -President Joe Biden might join Las Vegas hotel employees on a picket line if they go on strike Monday, a move that would bind him closely with another group of workers in a 2024 election battleground state, the union's chief told Reuters. Workers with the politically influential Nevada Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino have until early Monday to reach an agreement. Failure to do so could mean the workers start a strike. Biden has committed to joining striking workers if they walk out, Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer and head of the union, told Reuters in an interview. Biden will be in Las Vegas on Monday, capping two days of political events. Asked whether Biden will join workers on Monday if they strike, Pappageorge said "there will be opportunities" for Biden to rally with workers, and that Biden was invited to join the picket line. Company and union negotiators were headed back to the table Sunday evening ahead of a Monday morning deadline for a deal. The Culinary Union has already reached more than 30 agreements that cover 50,000 workers with other Vegas hotel and casino properties. Biden's campaign declined to comment. The campaign and the White House have not yet provided any schedule for Biden on Monday. If Biden joins the picket line, it would be his second such step in recent months after he joined striking autoworkers in Michigan last September. That was the first visit by a U.S. president to striking workers in recent memory and came ahead of an endorsement by the United Auto Workers last month. Just last week, Trump met with the leadership and some members of the 1.3-million member International Brotherhood of Teamsters, one of America's biggest unions, in a bid for the support of labor groups. The arid Western state of Nevada, where Biden is expected to easily win a Democratic Party primary on Tuesday, is one of seven identified by Biden's campaign as a closely contested battleground in November's general election. Voter support in such states could swing to either party. In 2020, Biden narrowly beat his Republican rival Donald Trump in Nevada by 33,596 votes, or less than 3%, and opinion polls show a rematch between the two men this year, which seems likely, would be close. About 30% of Nevada's population is self-described as Latino or Hispanic on the U.S. Census, and Republicans are making some inroads with these voters nationwide. Biden calls himself the most pro-union president in history and has taken many pro-labor actions. The AFL-CIO, an umbrella group for worker groups including the Culinary Union, endorsed Biden last year. The Downtown Grand, which is owned by the investment company CIM Group and operated by Fifth Street Gaming, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington; Editing by Kim Coghill and Gerry Doyle) SAN DIEGO A strong Pacific storm system is expected to bring life threatening flooding and heavy snow to California on Sunday and early into the week, according to the National Weather Service. On Sunday, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a storm-related state of emergency as federal forecasters said an atmospheric river of precipitation drawn from waters north of Hawaii is producing a firehose of rain and snow for the state. The combination of warm air from the Pacific, strong onshore winds and cooler air onshore could produce thunderstorms as well as a deluge producing as much as 1 inch per hour, they said. Damaging winds, brief tornadoes and waterspouts were also possible Sunday along coasts and valleys in southwest California, according to the National Weather Service in Los Angeles. Multiple feet of snow were expected in parts of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Newsom's emergency declaration was for San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. It will allow for activation of the National Guard, if necessary, and facilitate faster recovery efforts, his office said in a statement. Much of the state is expected to get heavy rain, with estimates increased as the day has progressed: Around 4 to 8 inches was possible in coasts and valleys, and 8 to 15 inches was likely for mountain ranges, National Weather Service meteorologist Robbie Monroe said at an afternoon press conference. Monroe described the storm, one of several in California this winter that may be influenced by a rainy El Nino weather pattern, as "potentially historic." A flash flood warning, which means rapid flooding may be underway and those in flood-prone areas should rush to higher ground, was in effect for a wide swath of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties on Sunday. The warning also covers the northern edge of L.A. County. Covered communities include Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Camarillo, Lompoc, Fillmore, Ojai, Montecito, Santa Ynez, Point Conception, Chatsworth, Moorpark, Santa Paula, Port Hueneme, Carpinteria, Solvang, Summerland and Rincon Point, the NWS service said. Heavy rain could bring life-threatening flash, river and urban flooding to the the region, as well as potential debris flows and mudslides, according to the weather service. The most at-risk communities in California are those on or below hillsides, especially those affected by wildfires, according to the Governors Office of Emergency Services. Residents are encouraged to follow local alerts and seek higher ground and not to walk or drive through debris flows, emergency services spokesperson Diana Ibrahim said in an update. The storm was sending bands of rain into the Bay area Sunday afternoon as it moved south and east into Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, according to weather service statements and radar. It was expected in Los Angeles in earnest Sunday evening, and in San Diego Monday night, forecasters said. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for parts of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Santa Barbara's public school district said in a statement that its campuses would be closed Monday as a "precautionary measure." At least nine other districts in the Santa Barbara region canceled classes for Monday. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass issued an evacuation order for La Tuna Canyon Road. "The City urges residents in this area to evacuate immediately," the mayor's office said in a news release. "The area subject to the Order is at an increased risk of significant flooding, mudslides, and sediment flow because of the burn scars left by the Land Fire that occurred in 2022." The city's Emergency Operations Center was also activated to level 2 Sunday morning. Los Angeles Unified public schools will be open Monday, but Glenwood Elementary School, at the foot of the Verdugo Mountains, will be shuttered, Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said at a news conference. Sandbags are available for residents in multiple locations, and shelters will be opened for those who need them, the state emergency services office said. The PGA Tours AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in Pebble Beach along the coast was delayed Sunday as a result of the rain and strong winds, The Associated Press reported. The storm system could cut the tournament short. Damaging wind gusts of up to 95 mph Damaging wind gusts up to 95 mph may also affect Northern and Southern California through Sunday night, leading to downed trees and power outages, according to the NWS. Felled trees, utility poles and power lines were reported in the Wine Country city of Santa Rosa north of San Francisco, fire officials said. A man was injured when a tree fell on an occupied vehicle traveling north on Highway 101 in Santa Rosa on Sunday morning, authorities said. Its not clear what condition the man was in. In the San Francisco Bay Area, hurricane-force wind gusts are possible. And to the south, in San Luis Obispo County, wind gusts of 61 mph were reported overnight. Video showed palm trees swaying in strong winds in Discovery Bay on Sunday morning. Teams with San Francisco Public Works were removing downed trees in West Portal. San Francisco International Airport issued a ground delay for departures to the airport until early Monday because of wind, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Hurricane-force wind warnings were in effect for the waters off Big Sur, south of San Francisco, with wind gusts of 92 mph possible, the NWS said. A road into Goleta State Park in Santa Barbara County was flooded enough to make driving through it a bad choice, the weather service said on social media platform X. The weather service said 1 to 3 inches of rain already fell in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties as the storm rotates toward the southeast from the coast. Snow in the Sierra Nevada Heavy snow will be the headline event for higher elevations, including the Sierra Nevada and Northern California mountain ranges, specifically above 5,000 to 6,000 feet. Snow totals of several feet are forecast for the Sierra through Tuesday morning, the NWS said. Heavy snow rates of 2-3"/hour along with strong winds will lead to whiteout conditions and dangerous, near impossible travel conditions. Elevations above 7,000 in Southern California may also get heavy snow. The system is expected to move north and inland and bring moderate to heavy snow for the regional mountain ranges of the Pacific Northwest, Great Basin, and Northern Rockies over the next couple of days, the weather service said. Over 200,000 utility customers did not have power in California as of Sunday evening, according to Poweroutage.us. The number of migrants arriving at the southern border is unprecedented. Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded two-and-a-half million instances of detaining or turning away people attempting to cross into the United States from Mexico. So what's the fastest growing group among them? Chinese migrants. Yes, you heard that rightChinese. We saw large groups, including many from the middle class, come through a 4-foot gap at the end of a border fence 60 miles east of San Diego. The illegal entryway is a new route for those hoping to live in America. Just after sunrise, we saw the first group of migrants make their way from Mexicothrough a gap between the 30 foot steel border fence and rocks. Ducking under a bit of razor wire and into the United States. We were surprised to see the number of people coming through from China...nearly 7,000 miles away. Our cameras, and at one point this armed Border Patrol agent standing 25 feet away. did not deter them. / Credit: 60 Minutes This man, a college graduate, told us he hoped to find work in Los angeles. He said his trip from China took 40 days. Sharyn Alfonsi: What countries did you go through? College grad: Thailand, Morocco, Ecuador Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica Nicaragua. Sharyn Alfonsi: Jeez. Thirty minutes later, a smuggler's SUV raced along the border fence and dropped another group at the same spot. And 30 minutes after that. another group. Over four days, we witnessed nearly 600 migrants adults and children- pass through this hole and onto U.S. soilunchecked. We saw people from India, Vietnam and Afghanistan. Many of the Chinese migrants who came through will end up asking for political asylum. Sharyn Alfonsi: Did you travel by yourself or with family or friends? Migrant no. 2: Eh No. Just me. Sharyn Alfonsi: Just you. Migrant no. 2: Yeah. The gap is a global destinationlittered with travel documents from around the world. Travel documents from around the world have been left on the ground at the border gap. / Credit: 60 Minutes With the help of a translator, we learned a little about the Chinese migrants coming through. We also met a banker and small business owners. Some of the migrants made a grueling journey through Central America with dusty backpacksbut we noticed middle class migrants from China arriving with rolling bags. They told us they took flights all the way to Mexico. Some flew from China to Ecuador, because it doesn't require a visa for Chinese nationals. Then, took flights to Tijuana, Mexico. The migrants told us they connected with smugglers, or what they call snake heads, in Tijuana. And they each paid them about $400 for the hour-long drive that ended hereat the gap Sharyn Alfonsi: Why did you decide to come to the United States? Female migrant/Translator speaking English: Oh, it's hard to live there hard to find jobs. Sharyn Alfonsi: What did you do? Did you work in China? Female migrant/Translator speaking English: She worked in the factory but now it's hard to work in the factory. Sharyn Alfonsi: Was this-- trip expensive? Female migrant /Translator speaking English: Yeah. She said it wasand that she sold her house to cover the $14,000 cost of her trip to the U.S. / Credit: 60 Minutes Last year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 37,000 Chinese citizens were apprehended crossing illegally from Mexico into the U.S.that's 50 times more than two years earlier. Many of the migrants told us they made the journey to escape China's increasingly repressive political climate and sluggish economy. This 37-year-old woman said China's COVID lockdown destroyed her child care business. She left her two young children with family at home. Sharyn Alfonsi: And why did you decide to come to the United States? 37-year-old female migrant/translator speaking English: Many reasons. Sharyn Alfonsi: For work or? 37-year-old female migrant/translator speaking English: Not not entirely. Sharyn Alfonsi: OK. What-- what reasons? 37-year-old female migrant/translator speaking English: Freedom. Sharyn Alfonsi: Freedom. We wondered how all of these migrantsknew about this particular entryway into California. The answer was in their hands. Translator: TikTok, TikTok. Sharyn Alfonsi: Oh you learned on TikTok. TikTok is a social media platform created in China. The posts we found had step-by-step instructions for hiring smugglers and detailed directions to that hole we visited. We were struck by just how orderly and routine it all seemed. The migrants walked about a half mile down a dirt road and waited in line for U.S. Border Patrol to arrive so they could surrender. The land they are waiting on is owned by 75-year-old Jerry Shuster, a retiree. Sharyn Alfonsi: The whole world seems to know there's a way in. And it's on your property. Jerry Shuster and Sharyn Alfonsi / Credit: 60 Minutes Jerry Shuster: They're all doing this. They're all doing this. when they come over here, they come with the suitcases. They come prepared with the computers just like they got off on a Norwegian cruise ship yesterday. Shuster owns 17 acresjust north of the border fence and a quarter mile outside of Jacumba Hot Springs, California. Population 540. Sharyn Alfonsi: You're an immigrant yourself. Jerry Shuster: Yes. Sharyn Alfonsi: Where did you come from? Jerry Shuster: I come from Yugoslavia. And I left Yugoslavia, I went to Austria. I stayed there eight month. And I knock on this door. I didn't bust the door down to come over here. Sharyn Alfonsi: You came through the front door. Jerry Shuster: I came through the front door. Sharyn Alfonsi: And what do you think about this? Jerry Shuster: They-- they don't care. They-- they-- they-- they come through the hole like they're comin' to their own country over here. And nobody do nothin' about it. Shuster says it all started in May. He went to investigate some smoke coming from his property and found migrants burning trees to stay warm. Today, his property looks like a messy moonscapelittered with the trash and tents migrants have left behind. Tents have been left behind on Jerry Shuster's property / Credit: 60 Minutes Sharyn Alfonsi: Have you ever just yelled, "Get outta here?" Jerry Shuster: Well, they sayI uh - it was, like, four month ago, there was eight guys start-- knocking my trees and start burning my-- my-- my trees on the other side. So I told 'em, "Please, don't do that. Please don't do--" and they start surrounding me. I went home, and I got my gun, and I shoot in the air. They arrest me. Sharyn Alfonsi: They arrested you? Jerry Shuster: Yeah, they arrest me. Sharyn Alfonsi: On your property? Jerry Shuster: Yeah, on my property. Yeah, just because. I ask 'em not to burn the trees, not to knock the fences. And they-- they arrested me. They put me in a police car. I'm just protecting my own land. Shuster wasn't charged but his gun was confiscated. Sharyn Alfonsi: If you had to guess, how many migrants do you think you've seen come through here? Jerry Shuster: Maybe 3,000a week. Sharyn Alfonsi: 3,000 a week? Jerry Shuster: I would say that, yes. Because this is ongoing deal. About two hours after these migrants arrived, we saw the Border Patrol pull up, broadcasting recorded instructions in Mandarin. The migrants were driven to a detention facility near San Diegowhere they are given background checks. Some are interviewed. Typically - within 72 hours they are released into the United States and can begin the process of filing an asylum claim. Jacqueline Arellano has volunteered on the border for eight years offering humanitarian aid to migrants. Jacqueline Arellano: So I'm a-- native Spanish speaker. I have been able to rely on being bilingual in doing this work for the duration that I have been doing it. And in this past year, I mean, there's been times that I've come to the sites and not spoken to a single Spanish speaker. She relies on translation apps to communicate with Chinese migrants. Sharyn Alfonsi: These people want to be picked up by border patrol. Why isn't this happening at a port of entry? Jacqueline Arellano: That would definitely be the ideal situation. And people would much prefer to do so. It would definitely be much safer and more efficient. Unfortunately, there are barriers to people being able to seek asylum at a port of entry. One barrier is the phone app called "CBP One". Asylum seekers are supposed to use the app to make an appointment to enter the U.S. through a legal border crossing... As we saw last spring in Juarez, Mexico...the system is glitchy... Volunteers who work with migrants told us there is still a three to four month wait to secure an appointment at a border crossing. Sharyn Alfonsi: So is this a shortcut? Jacqueline Arellano: It's really, like, the only one that they have. I don't even know that they would consider it a shortcut. For years, millions of Chinese entered the U.S. with a visa that allowed them to visit, work or study. But in the last few years, those visas have been increasingly difficult to secure as tensions between the two countries have grown. In 2016, the U.S. granted 2.2 million temporary visas to Chinese nationals. In 2022, it was just 160,000. Tammy Lin is an immigration attorney and has worked with clients from China for nearly two decades. Sharyn Alfonsi: if someone's not granted asylum here, will China then say, "Okay, yes, we'll take them back"? Tammy Lin: I haven't seen that happen, really. I-- I think-- even back to 2008-- a lot of the Chinese nationals that had failed asylum cases weren't able to get passports-- to be put on the plane to be sent back. So we can't send you back. Based on our review of data from Immigration and Customs Enforcement there are at least 36,000 Chinese who have been ordered by U.S. courts to leave the country. But China is notorious for not taking back its citizens and the U.S. can't force China to accept them. Sharyn Alfonsi: So, then, what happens if they have a failed claim but they can't go back to China? Tammy Lin: That's a very good question. They're stuck in this limbo. According to the Department of Justice, last year 55% of Chinese migrants were granted asylum. compared to 14% for every other nationality. With the odds in their favor, and a phone to guide them, there's little to discourage more Chinese migrants from coming through the gap near Jerry Shuster's place. Sharyn Alfonsi: Have you said to anybody, "Hey, there's this giant hole. They're comin' through. How 'bout patching that up?" Jerry Shuster: They know that thing is there. And-- we-- we all been tellin' 'em, "Hey, when this thing gonna quit over here? you gotta call Washington D.C." That's what they say. So, we did. U.S. Customs and Border Protection told us their agents don't have authority to stop people from coming through gaps like this one and can only arrest them after they've entered illegally. As for closing that gap, they said it is on their priority list. But would require money from Congress. Produced by Guy Campanile. Associate Producer, Lucy Hatcher. Broadcast associate, Erin DuCharme. Edited by Craig Crawford. 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 By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan border security bill headed to a U.S. Senate vote this week is likely to dash hopes for a quick, clear path to citizenship for hundreds of thousands of people brought into the U.S. illegally as children, as Congress takes a harder line on immigration. This group, known as "Dreamers," had been a top priority for Democrats in immigration policy talks for more than a decade. But as Republicans made new border restrictions a condition of aid for U.S. allies Ukraine and Israel sought by Democratic President Joe Biden, the Dreamers question was left off the table. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said that at the onset of the just-concluded talks Republicans rejected his plea to include the Dreamers. "There are members on the other side that have the position of not one single immigrant under any circumstances," Durbin said in an interview. Some Republican lawmakers said it was unlikely Congress would take up the question of the Dreamers at any time in the foreseeable future. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, one of three senators who negotiated the bill, acknowledged the lack of progress in helping Dreamers. "We still have work to do, like providing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and other undocumented people, but this bill is an important downpayment on immigration reform," he said on Sunday. There are no guarantees that the bipartisan bill will become law. It faces some opposition from both left and right in Congress and may not even be taken up by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, after former President Donald Trump repeatedly criticized the idea. Currently, there are 544,690 Dreamers receiving temporary protection from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program created in 2012 by then-President Barack Obama, a Democrat. While they also are granted work permits under DACA, their status in the United States has to be renewed every two years and the new Senate bill keeps them in limbo. But there are thought to be as many as 2 million Dreamers in the United States when counting those who currently are not covered by DACA. New sign-ups under the program have been placed on hold by court challenges to the program. "To say that it's disappointing and frustrating I think is an understatement," said Diana Pliego, whose parents brought her to the U.S. at the age of three in 1997. "I've been waiting 26 years for Congress to pass a meaningful pathway." Now 29, Pliego recounted a lifetime of deportation fears and childhood poverty because of her family's illegal immigration status. She qualified for protection from deportation under the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, went on to earn a college degree and now lives in a Washington suburb and works for the National Immigration Law Center. But her childhood fears of deportation linger. "I'm always aware of a police presence," Pliego said. "Even to this day when I am driving, I see (police) lights, I kind of panic a little bit." 'OFF THE TABLE' Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who was part of past immigration reform attempts, said he is sympathetic to the Dreamers plight. But the notion of helping them or other undocumented immigrants who have long lived in the U.S. has become "toxic" because of the mass migration at the southern border, he added. "I think that's off the table for years now," Tillis said in an interview. U.S. law enforcement has arrested around 2 million immigrants in fiscal year 2023 amid a wave of global migration due to wars, natural disasters and persecution. Immigration ranks as the second-greatest worry for Americans, according a Reuters/Ipsos poll published last week. Some 17% of respondents said it was their top concern, a sharp increase from December. Many Republicans argue that any program granting new rights to people who immigrate illegally, including children who had no say in their arrivals, would simply encourage more chaos at the border. Meanwhile, the legality of the DACA's implementation is being challenged and the U.S. Supreme Court could ultimately decide its fate. "Of all the undocumented, these are the most sympathetic and the most likely to be helped," Durbin said. Marielena Hincapie, distinguished immigration scholar at Cornell University Law School, held out hope for future action by Congress on behalf of Dreamers, especially if DACA appeared to be at risk. Such a "crisis," she said, could create "a legislative window" for Dreamer legislation. "For many years, there was always this quid pro quo: If you talk about increased enforcement and detention, you also have to talk about legalization" for certain groups of immigrants, she said. Edwin Torres DeSantiago, a 30-year-old DACA recipient in Minneapolis, said it is infuriating but not surprising to see senators negotiate a border deal without Dreamers. "We're not talking about 10,000 people," he said, speaking of the DACA population. "We're talking about hundreds of thousands of people who are teachers, who are nurses, who are doctors, who are professionals." Torres came to the U.S. from El Salvador on a tourist visa at age eight to join his parents, who also lack permanent status. Today, he is vice president of a public relations firm. He worries that the Supreme Court could undo DACA or that Trump, if re-elected, could further clamp down on immigrants. His family's "Armageddon" plan is to move to California because of its strong immigrant protections. (Reporting by Richard Cowan; additional reporting by Ted Hesson; Editing by Scott Malone and Daniel Wallis) Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the California rain event for Monday, Feb. 5. For the latest news on the weather, view our live updates file for Tuesday, Feb. 6. SAN DIEGO The tail end of a powerful atmospheric river storm that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of California homes and businesses was deluging the state Monday with more heavy rain, mudslides, flooding, and several feet of snow in the mountains. The brunt of the storm's fury Monday centered on the Los Angeles area, where 1.4 million people were under a flash flood warning including the Hollywood Hills and Beverly Hills. A local state of emergency was issued for the city of Los Angeles by Mayor Karen Bass on Monday afternoon. Across Southern California, the heavy winds that blasted the region Sunday were diminishing, but the National Weather Service warned that an unstable weather pattern could generate waterspouts or small tornadoes. Flash flooding "is a much greater threat than any weak tornado that the storm may spawn," the weather service said, and dangerous flooding was likely across much of the region from the atmospheric river the equivalent of a river in the sky that is responsible for extreme rain and snow in the West. Additional rainfall totals of 5-8 inches were forecast in some areas, which would bring 48-hour totals as high as 14 inches for some locations, the weather service said. A state of emergency was declared in eight Southern California counties. "Life-threatening conditions may evolve extremely fast in some communities," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski warned. An SUV sits buried by a mudslide on Feb. 5, 2024, in the Beverly Crest area of Los Angeles. Developments: A debris flow caused significant damage to about five homes in Beverly Hills on Monday, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. Although no one was trapped, about 10 people have been displaced, the LAFD said. The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that 1,000 firefighters were responding to 49 mudslides and debris flows, 130 reports of flooding, half a dozen structure fires and other rescues of motorists stranded in vehicles. Los Angeles recorded more than 4 inches of rain Sunday, breaking the record for the day by more than an inch. It was the most rain in one day in more than 20 years, and surpassed the average for the month of February. The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am golf tournament in Monterey County, which had postponed Sunday's final round to Monday, canceled play Monday and declared Wyndham Clark the winner despite playing only 54 holes of the scheduled 72-hole tournament. Officials have attributed three deaths to the storm. In Yuba City, 40 miles north of Sacramento, a man was killed when a redwood tree toppled on him in high winds, police said. Two other men were killed by fallen trees Sunday in Carmichael, a suburb of Sacramento, and in Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz County. LAPD firefighters respond to a landslide in the neighborhoods above Beverly Hills that caused two vehicles to be trapped in the mud and forced several residents to evacuate on Feb. 5, 2024. San Diego residents advised to remain vigilant San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria issued an evacuation warning for low-lying, flood-prone areas that were battered by heavy rains last week and flooded out two weeks ago. Some areas outside the city saw up to 7 inches of rain in the last two days. "I understand the weariness that must come from these repeated warnings," Gloria said. "I recognize that fatigue may be settling in. But I can assure you this decision to issue this warning is not taken lightly. I ask that everyone remain prepared and vigilant." A flood advisory was issued for the entire county coastline and will be in effect until 8 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service. A flood watch for the county will be in effect until Tuesday. According to Gloria's office, nearly 160 households were referred for temporary placement in hotel rooms. Santa Barbara cancels evacuation orders Evacuation orders for Santa Barbara County were canceled Monday after the worst of the storm hit the area overnight. Officials had made an early recommendation to close schools in preparation for dangerous conditions, according to Camilla Barnwell, director of communications for the Santa Barbara County Education Office. The office said most schools across the county will reopen Tuesday. "One or two schools had some debris that needed to be removed," Barnwell told USA TODAY. "The storm just barely lifted yesterday evening so they were out on campuses today assessing the damage... heavy trees coming down, maybe one school (had) some power issues." 'Non-stop rain' in Los Angeles as shelters aid city's homeless population Between 5 and 10 inches of rain had fallen in the Los Angeles area with more expected, according to the National Weather Service. Dave Bruno, a meteorologist with the weather service in Los Angeles, said Monday was the third wettest two-day period on record in downtown. Shelters were adding beds for the citys homeless population of nearly 75,000 people. Georgia Berkovich, chief communications officer of The Midnight Mission, said there has been "non-stop rain." She added that The Midnight Mission, which is a Los Angeles-based human service organization, has opened its dining room for shelter and provides resources to people, including hot meals and 24-hour restrooms. About 100 people came to The Midnight Mission "just to get out of the element," Berkovich told USA TODAY. "Once your clothes are wet its over. People are freezing to their core," she said. "So strange in LA we have this great climate but people die of exposure, die on our streets all the time." Storm by the numbers A rough calculation estimates that 5.6 trillion gallons of water has fallen across California the past two days, according to FOX Weather meteorologist Greg Diamond. AccuWeather estimates the preliminary total damage and economic loss from the intense storms and record rainfall in California this week will be between $9 billion and $11 billion. The 11.87 inches that fell in 24 hours at UCLAs weather station was a 1-in-1,000 year rainfall event. Technically known as a "1,000-year recurrence interval event," according to meteorologist Jacob Feuerstein, a 1-in-1,000-year rain event is a statistical way of expressing the probability of such a huge rainfall occurring in any given year in a given location, according to NOAA. Mud flows through multimillion-dollar homes Several multimillion dollar houses in the Hollywood Hills were damaged as mud, rocks and debris oozed and rolled through the area Monday. Sixteen people were evacuated, city officials said. I cant believe it," Keki Mingus of Studio City, California, said, as water rushed down her road around dawn on Monday. "It looks like a river thats been here for years. Ive never seen anything like it. Wind, snow hammer Mammoth Mountain The storm unleashed howling winds and huge snow totals in the mountains. The National Weather Service recorded a wind gust of 125 mph at the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area late Sunday. That same location received a storm total of 39 inches as of Monday morning. Where is the storm headed next? After battering California on Monday, the storm's moisture will help fuel heavy snow across the West, and heavy rain in the normally arid Desert Southwest over the next few days, forecasters said. "Rainfall totals generally between 1-3 inches may lead to some scattered instances of flash flooding," the National Weather Service said. Flood watches were in effect throughout portions of southern Arizona and southern Nevada because of the threat of heavy rain and flooding. Climate change, El Nino conspire to fuel storms Multiple weather and climate phenomena are conspiring to make these storms particularly damaging. Warm water provides energy to storms, and record-high ocean water temperatures, likely from climate change, are being detected around the world. Additionally, the Pacific Ocean is also seeing the effects of El Nino, where weakening trade winds reduce the upwelling of ocean waters and allow surface waters to bake in the sun and grow warmer still. And California, coming off years of drought and wildfires, is particularly vulnerable to mudslides and flooding. "The atmospheric river firehose is aimed at Los Angeles," tweeted meteorologist Ryan Maue. "The onslaught has just begun from this treacherous bomb cyclone." 102-mph wind gust recorded in San Francisco Bay area In Northern California, the storm swamped streets and toppled trees and power lines across the San Francisco Bay area. A rare hurricane-force wind warning had been posted for the area, and winds exceeded 60 mph with wind gusts recorded as high as 102 mph in Marin County the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane. In nearby San Jose, first responders went door-to-door warning residents of the flood threat and removing unhoused people from riverbeds. They pulled travelers out of the windows of a car stranded by floodwaters and rescued several people and dogs from an island in the Guadalupe River as it became overwhelmed by high waters. United States Weather Alerts Storm is second to blast state in days The storm slammed California just days after much of the state was soaked with up to 6 inches of rain by the first storm in the "Pineapple Express," so-called because moisture builds up in the tropical Pacific around Hawaii and can roll across the ocean and pound the U.S. and Canada's west coasts with heavy rainfall and snow. The current storm is packing more moisture and overwhelming already-saturated regions. Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said the state had a record number of emergency assets responding to the "serious storm with dangerous and potentially life-threatening impacts." Those impacts included almost 600,000 homes and businesses without power Monday. Life-threatening flood threat: Heavy rain and powerful winds clobber California Landslide hits Hollywood Hills In the Hollywood Hills the weather serviced warned Monday of an "extremely dangerous situation unfolding" with life threatening landslides and flash flooding. Several families had to evacuate when a mudslide caused a gas leak. A neighborhood in Studio City was forced to evacuate after a slide severely damaged multiple homes. In suburban Tarzana, three homes were swamped by debris flow with firefighters aiding the evacuation of residents. Flooding and small mudslides were also reported across Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Malibu and Beverly Hills. Life-threatening flash flooding is ongoing and will continue into the morning hours of Monday, the weather service said. Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath urged residents near wildfire burn areas of Topanga and Soledad canyons to get out ahead of possible mudslides. The county set up shelters for evacuees. If you have not already left, please gather your family, your pets, your medications and leave immediately, Horvath said at a Sunday briefing. Contributing: Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Atmospheric river hits California with dangerous floods and mudslides Real estate commissions have survived the rise of the Internet and decades of attacks from disruption-minded discounters. But a flood of legal challenges to the existing brokerage model poses a new threat to the status quo. An industry-shaking lawsuit making its way through the federal court system could upend the long-established way of paying commissions namely, the custom of home sellers footing the bill for both their own agent and their buyers. This typically totals 5 to 6 percent of the homes sale price, taking away a hefty chunk of the sellers proceeds. In October 2023, a federal jury in Missouri found that the National Association of Realtors (NAR), along with several large brokerages, conspired to inflate Realtors commissions. How might real estate commissions change? Its unclear exactly how or when that verdict will affect commissions, but the cases price tag alone $1.8 billion in damages, with the potential of billions more is roiling the industry. Some predict big changes: One possibility is that home sellers will no longer pay both the listing agent and the buyers agent, so homebuyers who want representation might have to pay their own agents separately. The Missouri verdict and other court cases may lead to a revolution in our industry, not just reform, Glenn Kelman, CEO of brokerage firm Redfin, told investors in a recent earnings call. The bulwark is falling apart, said Brad Case, a housing economist at Middleburg Communities who has also worked for mortgage giant Fannie Mae and the Federal Reserve. The Realtors have held this situation together for 100 years, but its not tenable for the long term. Some see the federal verdict as a sign that the real estate industry finally will have to give in to pressures for discounts. Others say it will be years before the verdict will translate to savings for homebuyers or sellers. Stephen Brobeck, senior fellow at the Consumer Federation of America, expects commissions will ultimately fall below 4 percent, maybe even to 3 percent. But he doesnt see that happening anytime soon. Any change is going to happen slowly, Brobeck said. The old guard is going to try to keep the old rates. How much do commissions cost? If a homeowner sells a property for $400,000, about average for existing homes in the United States, a 5 percent commission amounts to $20,000. That amount is then split between the sellers own agent and their buyers agent (which hardly matters to the seller, who still has to pay the full amount regardless). Long ago, 6 percent was the going rate for real estate commissions; 3 percent to each agent. But after decades of competition and regulatory scrutiny, the typical commission now is slightly less than 5 percent, according to data from Anywhere Real Estate, the parent of Coldwell Banker, Century 21 and other large real estate brands. In its filings with securities regulators, publicly traded Anywhere reports that its average commission side half the commission is currently about 2.4 percent. While commissions briefly rose during the Great Recession and again in 2023, rates in general have been falling steadily for decades. For Realtors, this decline in commission rates has been offset by rising home prices: Theyre getting a smaller piece of the pie in terms of their percentage-based fee, but the pie is getting bigger. About the NAR lawsuit In the case that went to trial in 2023, Missouri home sellers alleged antitrust violations by NAR and four major brokerages: Keller Williams, Anywhere, RE/MAX and HomeServices of America. Anywhere and RE/MAX settled before trial paying $83.5 million and $55 million in damages, respectively while the other defendants opted to take their chances in the courtroom. The jury ruled against the industry, and a judge ordered NAR and the two remaining brokerage firms to pay $1.8 billion in damages to home sellers. That figure could eventually balloon to $5 billion. Keller Williams has since settled as well, for $70 million, while NAR and the remaining defendant are appealing. But if the verdict stands, it could mean that a home seller would no longer be required to pay the agent who represents their buyer. Star Alt Keep in mind:If the verdict stands, home sellers might no longer be required to pay the agents who represents their buyers. The success of the Missouri suit, filed on behalf of hundreds of thousands of home sellers in that state, has spawned similar legal complaints in Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania and elsewhere. However, it could be years before those suits are settled and the fallout comes into focus. Other dramas NAR is also facing other headwinds in addition to the antitrust lawsuit and related cases. A sexual harassment scandal led to the resignation of the organizations then-president in 2023, and the organizations next president and longtime CEO have since stepped down as well. All the drama has created unease and unrest in the ranks. Redfin cut ties with the trade group, requiring many of its brokers and agents to cancel their memberships, and other brokerages have followed suit. In addition, two influential real estate agents have announced the launch of a competing trade group, known as the American Real Estate Association (AREA). One of the new groups cofounders, Jason Haber a broker/agent at Compass in New York City and an outspoken NAR critic described AREA as an alternative, not a replacement. Were not trying to replace NAR. Were not trying to replicate NAR, he said. They have a 108-year head start. A perfectly competitive industry? The residential real estate industry long has presented a dichotomy. On the one hand, it has essentially controlled the marketing of properties for sale through a nationwide network of multiple listing services (MLSs). That reality has led to grumblings about collusion and price-fixing, along with scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice. On the other hand, real estate sales is a relatively easy business to get into, as evidenced by NARs membership rolls of more than 1.5 million agents. To earn a real estate license, an agent typically needs to take a couple of classes and pass a state exam. No college degree is required, and the costs of entry are modest. Lawrence Yun, NARs chief economist, points to these low barriers to entry as evidence that competition is alive and well: Real estate is a perfectly competitive industry, Yun said during the organizations annual conference in November. Brobeck, the consumer advocate, disagrees with that assessment. Its not a free market right now, he said. Theres intense competition for clients. But theres no competition on rates. In a normal marketplace, you compete based on marketing, but also on the price you charge. Meanwhile, the industry mantra long has held that commissions are negotiable, suggesting that sellers and buyers call the shots when it comes to how much they pay agents. In practice, though, consumers buy or sell a home only once every 5 to 10 years, and many arent knowledgeable enough about the process to successfully negotiate the rate down. Consumers are at a disadvantage, Brobeck said. They buy and sell homes infrequently, and theyre mostly concerned about sale price and timing. Historically, discounters have not succeeded For decades, detractors have predicted the demise of real estate commissions. These fees were sure to go the way of stockbrokerage commissions and travel agency fees, the naysayers said. Instead, real estate commissions have proven stubbornly resilient. Its not for a lack of trying. Many disruptors have seen commissions as a problem to be solved, but most have fallen short of reshaping the industry. In the early 2000s, for instance, a splashy discounter known as YourHomeDirect (and later Foxtons) offered 2 percent commissions in New York and New Jersey. But after advertising heavily and gaining market share, it ultimately collapsed. A decade later, London-based Purplebricks pushed into the U.S., wooing sellers with a flat fee of $3,200. It, too, overestimated demand and pulled out of the U.S. market in 2019. One high-profile discounter, Seattle-based Redfin, has achieved greater staying power. It launched as a cheaper alternative to traditional brokers and touted listing fees of just 1 percent, although it has since shifted to focusing on 1.5 percent listing fees. How home sellers can save on commission If youre not keen on paying 5 or 6 percent of your homes sale price, here are some alternative options: Former Acting U.S. Solicitor General Neal Katyal expressed alarm Sunday over how former President Trumps federal case on charges related to the 2020 election is being delayed by consideration of his immunity claims. To use your phrase, Jen, at the beginning of this show: I am officially now at the freakout stage, Katyal said in an interview on MSNBCs Inside with Jen Psaki. I think were now at the point to use a different legal phrase, justice delayed is justice denied. I mean, I cant imagine a more compelling need for speed than the idea that American citizens deserve to know before the election whether a candidate for office is a felon and an insurrectionist, added Katyal, who served as solicitor general in the Obama administration. It was thought that the Trump case related to the 2020 presidential election and the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol could start next month, but an appeals court consideration of his immunity claims has now pushed that schedule back. U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan suspended the case Friday given the wait for an appeals court decision. Its unclear when the case will be heard and whether it can take place ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Trump is the likely GOP nominee for president this year. Katyal further argued that he was particularly concerned because he didnt think the presidential immunity case should take so long to decide. When Trumps legal team argued the total presidential immunity case before the three-judge District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals panel last month, Trump attorney John Sauer was presented with a hypothetical that led him to answer with a qualified yes that a president would be immune from prosecution if he ordered SEAL Team Six to kill a political opponent or if he sold pardons. The argument met heavy pushback from the panel. Kaytal said the delays were galling to him because he believes it is an easy case. There is no responsible constitutional scholar who thinks Donald Trump is right, that there is an absolute immunity that a president can go and order his Navy SEAL Team Six to go murder his political opponent, and then go and murder the senators who would try him for impeachment. That cannot possibly be right, Katyal said. And Judge Chutkan set a fast schedule here. And I have no idea what the Court of Appeals is doing right now. But I can tell you that Im really worried that this delay is going to put the trial past June. Its possible that Trump will try and go to the Supreme Court after he loses on the Court of Appeals. That can take months. This is a real problem, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. More than 100 days since Hamas terrorists invaded Israel on Oct. 7, the Israeli military continues its bombardment of the neighboring Gaza Strip. The conflict, now the deadliest between the warring sides since Israel's founding in 1948, shows no signs of letting up soon and the brief cease-fire that allowed for over 100 hostages to be freed from Gaza remains a distant memory. Click here for updates from previous days. Latest Developments Feb 7, 7:22 AM Blinken meets with Netanyahu on latest trip to Israel U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Wednesday. First, Netanyahu and Blinken "held a long and in-depth meeting in private" before having "an extended meeting" with other Israeli and U.S. officials, according to a statement from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. It's Blinken's fifth trip to the Middle East since Oct. 7 when war erupted between Israel and Hamas, the militant group that rules the neighboring Gaza Strip. The United States, along with Egypt and Qatar, has been involved in negotiations between the warring sides. -ABC News' Jordana Miller and Morgan Winsor Feb 6, 7:35 PM US House fails to pass Israel aid bill The U.S. House failed to pass a $17.6 billion standalone bill to provide aid to Israel. The bill failed 250-180 during a vote Tuesday evening. The GOP measure was being considered under suspension, which required a two-thirds majority to pass. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who unveiled the standalone bill over the weekend, blamed President Joe Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for its failure. "The decision by President Biden and Leader Schumer to torpedo this bill to aid the Israeli people in their fight against Hamas is a disappointing rebuke to our closest ally in the Middle East at their time of great need," Johnson said in a statement following the vote. The Biden administration had issued a veto threat to the bill on Monday, saying it "strongly opposes" the measure after a bipartisan group of senators came to an agreement on a national security supplemental that includes Israel aid. Schumer said he was against the bill and wanted Israel aid coupled with aid for Ukraine, Taiwan and the border. -ABC News' John Parkinson and Lauren Peller Feb 6, 4:50 PM Qatari prime minister: Hamas has responded to hostage deal framework Hamas has formally responded to the proposed framework for a deal exchanging hostages remaining in Gaza for an extended cease-fire, Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani said Tuesday during a press conference with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. PHOTO: Israeli women raise placards bearing messages and pictures of Israeli hostages as they protest outside the ministry of defence, in Tel Aviv, Feb. 1, 2024. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images) "The reply includes some comments, but in general it is positive," he said via a translator. "However, given the sensitivity of the circumstances we will not tackle details. We are optimistic and we have delivered the response to the Israeli party." Hamas in a statement did not say they had agreed to the deal but said they "dealt with" the proposed hostage deal "with a positive spirit." However, after receiving the response from Hamas, Israeli officials indicated a deal is still "far off," according to Israeli political sources. While Blinken didnt express the same level of optimism as the Qatari prime minister, he maintained that a hostage deal was within reach, saying now that they had a response from Hamas, negotiators would be "intensely focused on that." PHOTO: People react during a rally calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza on Feb. 3, 2024 in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Amir Levy/Getty Images) "Were reviewing that response now, and Ill be discussing it with the government of Israel tomorrow, Blinken said. "There is still a lot of work to be done, but we continue to believe that an agreement is possible and indeed, essential, and we will continue to work relentlessly to achieve it." When asked about the amount of time it took for Hamas to deliver an answer, the Qatari prime minister said "communication was presenting some challenges" and that "it took some time to get them to a place where we get that response," adding, "we are hoping to see it yielding very soon." -ABC News Shannon Crawford Feb 6, 4:02 PM 31 hostages are dead and remain in captivity in Gaza, Israeli sources say The bodies of 31 hostages remain in Gaza, according to Israeli sources. The 31 hostages either died while being held captive by Hamas or were killed on Oct. 7, the sources said. PHOTO: A woman takes part in a protest demanding a hostage deal amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Feb. 1, 2024. (Susana Vera/Reuters) -ABC News Ellie Kaufman Feb 6, 9:49 AM Blinken meets with Egypt's president amid push for new truce U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Cairo on Tuesday to discuss Israel's ongoing war in the neighboring Gaza Strip. Their "meeting focused on developments in unyielding efforts aimed at reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, exchanging detainees and providing access of needed relief aid to end the severe humanitarian catastrophe in the sector," according to a readout from Egypts presidency. It's Blinken's fifth trip to the Middle East since war erupted between Israel and Gazas militant rulers, Hamas. Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been involved in negotiations between the warring sides. -ABC News' Ayat Al-Tawy and Morgan Winsor Feb 5, 11:54 AM UN secretary-general opens independent review into UNRWA United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced Monday that he has appointed an independent review group to determine whether the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is "doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality and to respond to allegations of serious breaches when they are made." The probe comes amid Israel's allegations that a dozen UNRWA employees were involved in the Hamas-led Oct. 7 terror attack. "These accusations come at a time when UNRWA, the largest U.N. organization in the region, is working under extremely challenging conditions to deliver life-saving assistance to the 2 million people in the Gaza Strip who depend on it for their survival amidst one of the largest and most complex humanitarian crises in the world," Guterres said in a statement. The independent review group will begin its work on Feb. 14 and will provide an interim report by late March. A final report is due April 2024, according to Guterres. The probe is separate from an investigation the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight is conducting into the allegations. UNRWA has said it is investigating the allegations and took swift action against those accused of participating in the attack. However, the United States and other top donors have suspended their funding to the agency, which is the biggest humanitarian aid provider in the war-torn Gaza Strip. -ABC News' Ellie Kaufman and Morgan Winsor Feb 5, 8:44 AM Food convoy hit by Israeli naval gunfire in Gaza, UNRWA says A food aid convoy waiting to move into the north of the Gaza Strip was struck by Israeli naval gunfire on Monday morning, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). "Thankfully no one was injured," Tom White, director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, wrote in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. #Gaza this morning a food convoy waiting to move into Northern Gaza was hit by Israeli naval gunfire - thankfully no one was injured@UNRWApic.twitter.com/1kvShgX6MG Thomas White (@TomWhiteGaza) February 5, 2024 There was no immediate comment from the Israel Defense Forces. -ABC News' Morgan Winsor Feb 3, 4:52 PM House plans vote on standalone Israel aid bill next week House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Saturday the House will vote on a standalone $17.6 billion Israel aid package next week. Next week, we will take up and pass a clean, standalone Israel supplemental package. During debate in the House and in numerous subsequent statements, Democrats made clear that their primary objection to the original House bill was with its offsets. The Senate will no longer have excuses, however misguided, against swift passage of this critical support for our ally, Johnson said in a letter to colleagues obtained by ABC News. This news is a major reversal after House Republicans previously approved a $14.3 billion Israel funding package that included cuts to IRS funding. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer did not bring this legislation to the floor for vote because of Democrats opposition to IRS funding cuts. Johnson again emphasized the Senate negotiated supplemental will face an uphill battle in the House and attacked Senators for excluding him and the House from the bipartisan talks. -ABC News Lauren Peller Feb 3, 3:21 PM IDF deploys 3 divisions to northern border amid Hezbollah attacks The Israeli military has deployed three divisions to the northern border amid Hezbollahs attacks on northern Israel, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said at a press conference Saturday. He said the IDF is working to reshape the security reality on the northern border, so that some 80,000 Israelis displaced by Hezbollahs attacks can return to their homes. We do not choose war as our first option but are certainly ready, and preparing for it all the time, if need be, Hagari said. PHOTO: Smoke billows over the southern Lebanese village of Shihine on the border with Israel during an Israeli air strike on Jan. 22, 2024. (Kawnat Haju/AFP via Getty Images) The IDF has struck more than 150 cells, killing some 200 terror operatives, mostly members of Hezbollah, and targeted more than 3,400 Hezbollah sites since the beginning of the war in Gaza, according to Hagari. -ABC News Anna Burd Feb 2, 2:23 PM Blinken to travel to the Middle East next week Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to the Middle East next week, making stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and the West Bank, the State Department announced. This will be Blinkens fifth visit to the region since Oct. 7. PHOTO: People walk past destroyed buildings in the Maghazi camp for Palestinian refugees, which was severely damaged by Israeli bombardment in the central Gaza Strip, Feb. 1, 2024. (Anas Baba/AFP via Getty Images) PHOTO: Smoke rises over buildings in Khan Yunis during Israeli bombardment on February 2, 2024. (Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images) During this trip, Blinken will focus on reaching "an agreement that secures the release of all remaining hostages and includes a humanitarian pause that will allow for sustained, increased delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza," State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said. Blinken is also looking to prevent the conflict from spreading while "reaffirming that the United States will take appropriate steps to defend its personnel and the right to freedom of navigation in the Red Sea," Miller said. -ABC News Shannon Crawford Click here to read the rest of the blog. A filmmaker with an affinity for the dark, Daniel Espinosa caught international attention with 2010 Swedish thriller Easy Money. Hollywood was immediately and understandably intrigued by his capacity to make us care about shady criminal types, and for his part, the Chilean-born, Sweden-based director couldnt resist the lure of making an American studio movie. Or three. Alas, each paycheck took Espinosa farther from his core strength: finding the humanity in morally compromised characters. Now, in a hard swing from ill-advised snabba cash project Morbius in 2022, Madame Luna can be seen either as penance or simply a return to form. Either way, this tense, tragic contemporary immigrant drama makes infinitely better use of his instincts. Where Espinosas past four credits allowed him to work with an enviable roster of English-speaking stars Denzel Washington, Tom Hardy, Jake Gyllenhaal and Jared Leto this smaller, more sociological character study gives him a chance to seek out and work with unknown actors. In first-time leading lady Meninet Abraha Teferi, Espinosa has found a ferocious raw talent with piercing eyes and a powerful screen presence. Even so, Madame Luna has an infinitely trickier road ahead than any of his previous credits, and thats not even counting the lawsuit facing its producers. More from Variety In Europe, where the film is set, audiences are exhausted by stories of immigrant strife. But Madame Luna isnt like the vast majority of those movies, which mean well in their humanistic portrayals of African exiles struggling to cross the Mediterranean, only to be turned away, detained or exploited upon arrival. Taking more of a genre-film approach, Espinosa and co-writers Suha Arraf and Maurizio Braucci find inspiration in the ambiguous morality of their milieu specifically, a Calabrian refugee camp at the toe of Italys boot-shaped peninsula. What if, instead of the typical victim story, they focused on a character whom either side might see as a villain? Strong and resilient, Abraha Teferis title character no longer goes by the name Madame Luna. In fact, this Eritrean survivor stiffens when she hears it spoken in the street, nervous that the authorities might identify her. Madame Luna was a criminal. She smuggled people out of Libya into Europe for profit. But that was a lifetime ago. Now shes stuck alongside the passengers of a risky crossing she helped to arrange, a fugitive among refugees. Looking out for herself alone, she has reverted to her birth name, Almaz. As soon as she can get a new passport, she intends to leave everyone else behind. Almaz, aka Madame Luna, is hardly conventional hero material. But Abraha Teferi makes her a compellingly complicated character, ripe for redemption. (That can be a reductive concept in movies, and yet, one senses the turmoil in Almaz and longs for her to escape her illicit dealings.) She isnt simply callous; the world has been cruel, as Espinosa reveals late in the story, when she finally gets her hearing before an asylum committee. Opening and closing with shots of open sea, Madame Luna spares us the horrific flashbacks, trusting Abraha Teferis performance to convey what shes been through. Adopting an occasionally disorienting, immersive aesthetic, DP Juan Sarmiento G. observes Almaz in the present, shooting handheld as this resourceful ex-criminal navigates the claustrophobic corridors of the detention center. The place looks like a cross between a prison and a housing project, with blind corners where nasty surprises can catch characters off guard. In one scene, a car barrels past, nearly killing a pedestrian; in another, law enforcement officers unexpectedly seize Almaz from behind. The authorities suspect she helped her roommate to escape, but just as theyre arresting her, an aid worker named Nunzia (Claudia Potenza) intercedes, enlisting Almaz as her interpreter. Now indebted when all she really wants is to disappear, Almaz finds herself pulled into an entirely new scheme, no less corrupt than the one she was running back in Libya. Using her command of multiple languages, Almaz motivates and ruthlessly manages her fellow immigrants, convincing them to serve as a low-cost labor force, while the local Mafia pockets the profits. If Almaz has misgivings, she doesnt show them at least, not until shes recognized by a fellow refugee named Eli (Hilyam Weldemichael), who begs her for help in getting a relative out of Libya. By agreeing to assist Eli, Almaz inevitably complicates her own plans, taking responsibility for someone else in a system swarming with predators. Theres no clear path to doing whats right in this quagmire, as audiences learn when the fate of the last person Almaz helped is revealed. That setback merely underscores the stakes and the mounting sense of doom. Somewhat predictably, Madame Luna winds up putting Eli in peril, with no one but Almaz to save her a relatively conventional, Paul Schrader-style plot development that lets the film climax in a blaze of glory. Espinosa can handle that kind of action in his sleep. And yet, this movie means something not in the activist sense of so many other immigrant stories. But in setting a thriller deep in the shadows of the refugee crisis, Madame Luna shines a light on the complexity of that problem. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. CONCORD, N.H. Marilyn Manson, who was sentenced to community service for blowing his nose on a videographer at a 2019 concert in New Hampshire, recently completed his time at an organization that provides meeting space for Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, according to court paperwork. The shock rocker, 55, spent 20 hours last month at the Windsor Club of Glendale, a California nonprofit that provides meeting locations for Alcoholics Anonymous and families of alcoholics to achieve a more meaningful life through recovery, according to the groups website. A certificate of completion was filed by the Assistance League of Los Angeles with a New Hampshire court on Jan. 30. Manson had to file proof of his service by Feb. 4. Marilyn Manson has completed his community service after allegedly spitting and blowing his nose on a videographer. Manson, whose legal name is Brian Warner, pleaded no contest in September to the misdemeanor charge in Laconia, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Concord, the state capital. A no contest plea means Manson did not contest the charge and did not admit guilt. He initially was charged with two misdemeanor counts of simple assault stemming from the encounter with the videographer at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford on Aug. 19, 2019. The second charge, alleging that he spit on the videographer, was dropped. Manson also was fined. He needs to remain arrest-free and notify local police of any New Hampshire performances for two years. Prosecutor Andrew Livernois had said it was his first offense and he had no prior record. Manson initially pleaded not guilty to both charges in 2021. His lawyer had said that the type of filming the videographer was doing commonly exposes videographers to incidental contact with bodily fluids. Manson emerged as a musical star in the mid-1990s, known as much for courting public controversy as for hit songs like The Beautiful People and hit albums like 1996s Antichrist Superstar and 1998s Mechanical Animals. Last year, a California judge threw out key sections of Mansons lawsuit against his former fiancee, Westworld actor Evan Rachel Wood, claiming she fabricated public allegations that he sexually and physically abused her during their relationship and encouraged other women to do the same. He is appealing the ruling. The judge recently ruled that Manson cover Woods legal fees, according to Rolling Stone. Mansons lawsuit, filed last year, alleges that Wood and another woman named as a defendant, Illma Gore, defamed Manson, intentionally caused him emotional distress and derailed his career in music, TV and film. Several women have sued Manson in recent years with allegations of sexual and other abuse. Most have been dismissed or settled, including a suit filed by Game of Thrones actor Esme Bianco. The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Marilyn Manson completes mandated AA program after simple assault case "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Miley Cyrus debuted a completely new style at the 2024 Grammys this evening. The Flowers singer dressed up in a see-through gold mesh dress by Maison Margiela with her brown hair curled up. She posed solo and accessorized with Tiffany & Co. jewelry. Matt Winkelmeyer - Getty Images Matt Winkelmeyer - Getty Images Matt Winkelmeyer - Getty Images This is Cyrus first big red carpet event of 2024. Her hit song Flowers is nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Endless Summer Vacation is up for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album. Additionally, she and Brandi Carlile got a nod for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their collaboration, Thousand Miles. In May, Cyrus spoke to British Vogue about writing Flowers, which many fans speculated to be about her ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth. (It didnt help ease rumors when Cyrus literally released the track on his birthday last year.) I never need to be a master at the craft of tricking an audience, she said with a shrug. It will set itself on fire all by itself. She broke down how she wrote the song, explaining it was originally much darker. I wrote it in a really different way, she said. The chorus was originally: I can buy myself flowers, write my name in the sand, but I cant love me better than you can. It used to be more, like, 1950s. The saddest song. Like: Sure, I can be my own lover, but youre so much better. She ultimately went for a more empowering message: The song is a little fake it till you make it, which Im a big fan of, she said. You Might Also Like KYOTO, Feb 05 (News On Japan) - The production of "Tokkuri Ika," a popular souvenir item, has hit its peak in Miyazu City, Kyoto Prefecture. "Tokkuri Ika" involves drying squid into the shape of a sake decanter, taking advantage of the cold, dry winter air. The process involves removing the innards and legs of the Surume squid and then inflating the body, a delicate task that takes about five days. Pouring hot sake into the "Tokkuri Ika" not only releases a rich squid flavor but also enhances the sake, offering a smooth taste that spreads throughout the mouth. After enjoying the sake, the squid itself can be savored as a delectable accompaniment to the drink. This year, production is expected to be about 10% less than last year, with around 7,000 units planned, primarily for local sales. Source: YOMIURI LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer, Buckingham Palace said on Monday. Following are reactions to the announcement. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK "Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. I have no doubt hell be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well." OPPOSITION LABOUR PARTY LEADER KEIR STARMER "On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery. We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health." US PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN "Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship takes hope and absolute courage. Jill and I join the people of the United Kingdom in praying that His Majesty experiences a swift and full recovery." FORMER US PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP "King Charles has cancer. He is a wonderful man, who I got to know well during my presidency, and we all pray that he has a fast and full recovery!" CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU "I, like Canadians across the country and people around the world, am thinking of His Majesty King Charles III as he undergoes treatment for cancer. Were sending him our very best wishes and hoping for a fast and full recovery." AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE "The thoughts of all Australians are with King Charles and his family. We wish him very much a speedy recovery. Ill be sending a message to the palace this morning and we hope that King Charles has a speedy recovery and a return to his duties as soon as possible." IRELAND'S PRESIDENT MICHAEL D. HIGGINS Higgins is very sorry and concerned to hear today's statement regarding King Charles' medical diagnosis. The president has sent his best wishes on behalf of the people of Ireland to King Charles for his medical treatment and for his full recovery, as well as to Queen Camilla and his family. UK CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (FINANCE MINISTER) JEREMY HUNT "Thinking about His Majesty the King and his family tonight. Cancer is a horrible disease but we all pray it has been caught early enough for him to continue his remarkable life of service to our country." UK DEFENCE SECRETARY GRANT SHAPPS "I wish His Majesty the best for a full recovery ... As a cancer survivor, I know how impactful his decision to share this news will be in lifting understanding for those affected." LONDON MAYOR SADIQ KHAN "On behalf of Londoners I wish His Majesty a speedy and full recovery. I look forward to his return to full health as soon as possible." MICHELLE ONEILL, FIRST MINISTER OF NORTHERN IRELAND FROM IRISH NATIONALIST SINN FEIN PARTY "I am very sorry to hear of King Charles' illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment and a full and speedy recovery." (Compiled by William Schomberg; Editing by Alison Williams, Hugh Lawson and Timothy Heritage) The Museum of Life and Science euthanized an 18-year-old black bear last week after discovering an inoperable cancerous mass, the Durham museum announced Monday. Gus had been at the museum on West Murray Avenue since arriving as a cub in 2006. Staff had noticed a dramatic change in his behavior, according to a news release. Veterinarians from the N.C. State University College of Veterinary Medicine discovered the mass near his heart and lungs during an examination and, based on his prognosis and age, euthanized him on Wednesday. Gus was one of those souls that brought people (and bears) together, Sherry Samuels, senior director of Animal Care at the museum, said in the release. His behavior with other bears, young and old, as well as what he did on his own, has made many of us smile, laugh, moan, roll our eyes, and just look at him in awe. Black bears generally live no more than 10 years in the wild, though the oldest in North Carolina was known to be 26, according to the N.C Wildlife Resources Commission. Gus body and cells will be donated to cancer research organizations, to better understand and treat cancer in both humans and animals, the museum said. The Museum of Life and Science says Gus, an 18-year-old American black bear who has been part of the Durham museum since 2006, has died. Orphaned as a cub The museum is an Association of Zoos & Aquariums-accredited facility that houses rescued black bears, lemurs, endangered red wolves, and more than 60 species of live animals. Gus came to the museum from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries as an orphaned 5-month-old cub after wildlife officials determined he could not be released into the wild. Known to staff as Mama Gus, Gus raised several of the museums bears Little Bear, Murray, and the late Yona who learned typical bear behaviors from him thanks to his patient nature, the news release stated. While I sit with this huge hole, I also have immense gratitude, Samuels said. Gratitude for how Gus impacted so many so positively. Gratitude for the veterinary team who cared for Gus so quickly and thoughtfully in his last days and minutes. I am so appreciative that Gus will live on not just in stories told of him by people I know, but likely hundreds if not thousands of people I dont, she said. About the Museum of Life and Science The Museum of Life and Sciences 84-acre campus has a two-story science center, one of the largest butterfly conservatories on the East Coast, and landscaped outdoor exhibits. Last year, the museum celebrated its 75th anniversary. For more about Gus and his life at the museum, check out this tribute on the museums blog. Florida Republican Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar refused to allow California Rep. Barbara Lee, a Democrat, to sit in on House subcommittee hearing because of Lees views on Cuba. That led to criticism that Salazar was acting like the Cuban regime and devolved later into name-calling. As is often done on Capitol Hill, Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, asked Salazar to allow Lee and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. neither of whom are committee members to participate in the Thursday hearing of the Western Hemisphere subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The hearing's focus was to be on the Biden administration's policies on private business in Cuba. Lee wanted to provide a statement and listen in to discuss Cuban entrepreneurship, ways to support human rights in Cuba and reinvigorating U.S. relations with Cuba, her office said. Lee has supported normalizing relations with Cuba. Salazar responded that Wasserman Schultz was more than welcome, Barbara Lee is not. When Castro, the subcommittee's ranking member, asked for her reasoning, Salazar said, Because Barbara Lee, who is a member of the Democratic Party is friends with the oppressors and not the Cuban people. Barbara has been friends of Fidel Castro. That drew criticism from Castro, the congressman, saying that Salazar's refusal to allow Lee to participate was unprecedented. Youve been critical of the government in Cuba, in part, because it suppresses free speech and suppresses different opinion, Rep. Castro said. Thats exactly what you are doing here right now. You are suppressing somebody from even sitting here and participating, in the same way the Cuban government has done for decades. Castro told NBC News on Friday that he worries Salazars action may further erode collegiality in Congress. He said that when he chaired a Foreign Affairs subcommittee, he regularly allowed Republicans he disagreed with to participate. Lee stood up on her own behalf and while her comments were not captured by the microphones of the committee room, they were captured by others. Im an African American woman who has a point of view. In a democracy, those points of view are allowed and you are doing the same thing the Cuban government is she said, according to video posted by The Young Turks. In a statement issued after she was denied attendance in the subcommittee, Lee called the expulsion another example of the extreme GOP suppressing freedom of speech and diversity of opinion. She warned that if we dont push back against this silencing, we risk becoming governed by misinformation and wanna-be dictators like (former President Donald) Trump the death of our democracy. Her office later told NBC News that this is not the first time [Lee] has had to deal with being treated differently, as a Black member of Congress. Wasserman Schultz refused to participate unless Lee was also allowed to do so. Wasserman Schultz said she and Salazar share a position on the Cuban regime Wasserman Schultz has been very critical of the Cuban government "but we're all provided equal access under the same rules," she said about the hearing. Salazar's office referred to her Thursday statement when asked for comment. Salazar stated that Lee's presence would have "insulted" Cuban exiles she represents and she called Lee an "apologist" of the Cuban communist regime. I exercised my authority as Subcommittee Chairwoman to not allow an off-Committee Member to spread communist propaganda during my Cuba hearing," Salazar said in the statement. "Letting someone as radical as Barbara Lee degrade a hearing on Cuban freedom would insult the Cuban exile community in Miami and amplify regime propaganda. The conflict carried on in social media, with Salazar accusing Lee of trying to disrupt the hearing and calling her a communist sympathizer and a mouthpiece for the Cuban regime. Your unequivocal support for Fidel Castro, who starved and murdered the Cuban people, is communist propaganda," she said in one of her postings. Lee responded with a posting tagged to Salazar saying shed be happy to debate Cubas policy and Castros legacy with her, but that would require you actually letting me speak. She included a screenshot of a 2018 news story about an interview Salazar did with Fidel Castro in the 1990s when she was a journalist. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, D-Calif., who is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, protested Salazars action at the hearing, saying Lee is not a pawn of the Cuba regime; she is a Black woman who was just silenced, denied her rightful voice. CORRECTION: (Jan. 19, 2024 6:15 P.M. E.T.) A previous version of this story misstated Rep. Salazars response to an NBC News request for comment, which was mistakenly sent to a wrong email address. Rep. Salazars office has responded to our query and referred to an earlier statement made on the issue. Public nuisance laws have been used to make drug manufacturers and distributors pay for their part in the deadly opioids crisis. Photograph: BackyardProduction/Getty Images/iStockphoto Opioid manufacturers and other major corporations are pushing legislation to strip away state laws that have been used to sue the pharmaceutical industry for hundreds of millions of dollars over the worst drug epidemic in US history. The influential rightwing pressure group the American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec), which is funded by large US companies, is behind model legislation to greatly restrict lawsuits under state public nuisance laws which are widely used to hold big business to account. Related: I dont see how it ends: expert sounds alarm on new wave of US opioids crisis Public nuisance legislation was central to state lawsuits against the tobacco industry over the damage caused to public health by smoking in the 1990s. The laws are also at the heart of some litigation against fossil fuel companies over the climate crisis and emerging lawsuits against companies that failed to adequately protect workers from Covid. They have also resulted in drug manufacturers and distributors paying out hundreds of millions of dollars to cities and other authorities for their part in the opioid crisis that has claimed about 800,000 lives. On Friday, the advertising company Publicis Health agreed a $350m settlement with US states that sued the company under public nuisance laws for promoting the high-strength painkiller that kicked off the opioid epidemic, OxyContin, to doctors with false claims about its safety. But in an attempt to limit public authorities and others harmed by the actions of big business from seeking redress, corporations are using groups such as Alec and the US chamber of commerce to push state legislatures to pass laws to curb similar legal actions in the future. Mary Graffam, the director of state affairs and research for the legal group the American Association of Justice, warned that the legislation would strip away rights for local governments and other entities, such as hospital districts and Native American tribes, to hold corporations to account. Because municipalities have successfully held corporations accountable for causing catastrophic harms such as the opioid crisis and environmental pollution, these companies are now turning to front groups like Alec and the US Chamber of Commerce to push laws that would give them complete immunity for their future bad acts, she said. The model legislation was unveiled by Alecs civil justice taskforce at the organisations national meeting in December 2020 where big pharma and other corporate interests were well represented. The attendees included two senior executives of the drug industry lobby group PhRMA and Neil Pratt, head of international legal affairs for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The model legislation significantly limits the basis of public nuisance claims, specifically banning them for cases based on the manufacturing, distributing, selling, labelling, or marketing of a product, regardless of whether the product is defective. The law would also bar claims over any product that endangers the health, safety, or welfare of the public at large or has caused injury to one or more members of the public. Corporations have grown increasingly concerned about cities and counties across the country working together to sue for large amounts of compensation. Alec has said that use of the laws should be limited to individuals and government entities that can show direct harm caused by unlawful conduct. Historical basis for public nuisance was defendants wrongful or abusive use of land or obstruction of public highways and waterways, it has said. Opponents said that the proposed legislation would have prevented public nuisance lawsuits over the opioid epidemic and cigarettes. Not long after the 2020 summit, the model legislation disappeared from Alecs website but re-emerged in state legislatures, including Texas, West Virginia and Missouri, where it was strongly backed by corporate interests. Although it did not progress to become law in any state, groups monitoring state legislation say they see signs of a fresh push to get the model bill passed this year. The Texas legislature held hearings on the legislation last year, which pitted major corporations against local authorities. Among those who gave evidence in support of the bill was Nathan Morris, senior vice-president of the chamber of commerces institute for legal reform. The ILR argues that public nuisance lawsuits were traditionally used to address problems like blocked roads or polluted waterways, not lawfully sold products or public policy issues best left to legislatures. But it ran into strong opposition from representatives of local government and other bodies across Texas who said public nuisance laws provide an important tool in ensuring the drug industry paid for the cost of the opioid epidemic borne by hospitals and social services. Related: Rightwing group pressures states to pass pro-Israel resolutions Sally Basurto, San Antonios director of government affairs, told the legislature that if the law passed it would endanger lives. This essentially gives manufacturers and distributors of dangerous products, such as opioids, a free pass to act with reckless disregard to the public safety, she said. Jonny Hipp, administrator of the Nueces county hospital district in Corpus Christi, told the committee the proposed legislation was a very bad bill as it shifts responsibility for paying for care caused by misconduct from those who commit the misconduct to taxpayers. He said the county and hospital district were able to fund treatment for those addicted to opioids by suing the drug industry under public nuisance laws. If we had not had the right to bring these lawsuits, the taxpayers would have had to pay for that care. And taxpayers already feel overtaxed, they dont want to pay more tax to bail out a company that did something wrong, he said. The bill passed committee in both houses of the Texas legislature but the session ran out of time before it became law. 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 and a return to normal 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. "Reckoning Crew members Carol Eaddy, Sydellia Greenidge, Joyce Dell, and Hazelette P. Wilson call voters urging them to vote for President Joe Biden in the South Carolina Democratic primary on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. 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 Afghan authorities captured a rare snow leopard in the country's mountainous northeast and were preparing to release it back into the wild after it reportedly killed dozens of livestock animals, a conservation group said Sunday. The leopard was captured on Thursday night after becoming trapped in a livestock enclosure in the rural Zibak district of Badakhshan province, savaging some 30 animals, the district's deputy governor Abdulrahman Kasra told AFP on Saturday. The juvenile leopard was transported to provincial capital Faizabad and was being held at the governor's compound, he added. A snow leopard is seen in a cage at the governor's house in Fayzabad on February 4, 2024. / Credit: OMER ABRAR/AFP via Getty Images The head of the Wildlife Conservation Society office in Badakhshan said a veterinarian had treated a minor injury to the big cat's leg and that it would be released back into the wild. "The authorities have promised us they will release the leopard back to the Zibak district soon," Khorosh Sahel told AFP. The mountainous northeast 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 due to 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. In a similar incident last year, some 40 livestock animals were reportedly killed by a snow leopard in Badakhshan. The farmer whose animals were killed on Thursday said he had sought support from the government after losing his only source of income. "The animals were the only asset I had to support my family," Ganji Baig said. Other Zibak residents told AFP they wanted authorities to follow through with the plan to release the leopard. "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," resident Mir Saeed told AFP. Snow leopards are native to Central Asia, where they live high in the mountains of China, India, Russia, Afghanistan and other countries. According to Snow Leopard Trust, scientists estimate that there may only be between 3,920 and 6,390 snow leopards left in the wild. Snow leopard populations may still be dwindling across parts of their range, according to the Wildlife Conservation Society. "Poaching, both for its skin and for traditional medicine, is a growing threat, " WCS says. "So is the loss of its natural prey species (mostly large wild mountain goats and sheep), damage to its fragile, high-elevation habitat, and a lack of awareness amongst local communities and governments of the snow leopard's status and threats." In 2019, CBS News reported that about two dozen local residents in Siberia, including former poachers, were helping the World Wildlife Fund with a snow leopard conservation program. Watch that report in the video player at the top of this story. Fed Chair Jerome Powell: The 2024 60 Minutes Interview Candice Bergen on Truman Capote's storied Black and White Ball Immigration deal hangs in the balance as U.S. border crisis divides the country Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday expressed optimism over a bipartisan bill that seeks to impose stricter immigration and asylum laws, saying he believes it will pass the chamber despite opposition from hard-right Republicans. Im confident hopeful is the right word, Schumer said in an interview on MSNBCs Morning Joe when asked about the bills chances of passing in the Senate. This is hard. And our Republican senators we need a bunch of them are under a lot of pressure from right-wing Trump part of the party. Senators released the text of the bipartisan bill Sunday night after months of negotiations. The $118 billion bill comes amid record-high crossings at the southern border and also includes foreign aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. Republicans have said they would only support aid to those countries on the condition that it is paired with new policies restricting U.S. immigration. The bipartisan package faces opposition from House Republican leadership and other conservatives, including several members of the House Freedom Caucus. Shortly after senators released the text of the bill, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in a Sunday night post to X that it will be dead on arrival if it reaches the House. Schumer said the bill is a compromise, adding that is the only way you get important things done in the Senate. He blamed pressure from former President Trump and his allies for the hard-right Republicans opposition to the legislation. Will the senators drown out the political noise from Trump and his minions and do the right thing for America? he asked. Its a crucial question. History will is looking down on every one of us right now. Asked what happens next if the bill passes through the Senate, Schumer listed groups within the House that he argued the bill would appeal to. First is a big group of hawks in the middle, and they care about funding Ukraine they always have and the strategy of Johnson is right now do nothing, he said. Theres a large number of pro-Israel people they care about that. Then theres a large number of progressive legislators, Im included, who want to see that Gaza, the people in Gaza, dont starve and we get that aid to them. Plus, there are some who care about Taiwan, and theres money there to bolster us against Chinas aggression there, he added. You know, were in an aggressive world and we got a lot of dictators linking up Russia, China, Iran. If we dont defend ourselves, we dont want this to be like 1938. Schumer predicted that Johnson will eventually face huge pressure from within his caucus to pass the bill if it gets through the Senate. Well, hes saying that now because he hopes his nightmare is we pass it in the Senate," Schumer said about Johnson's opposition. "So hes doing everything he can to thwart us passing it in the Senate. But once we pass it in the Senate, God willing, I think therell be huge pressure from within his caucus and without to get this done. If he put this bill on the floor of this House right now, it would pass," Schumer said. "Wed get a lot of Democratic votes, and we get some good number of Republican votes." In a joint statement Monday, the top four House Republican leaders Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, whip Tom Emmer and chairwoman Elise Stefanik said they oppose the bipartisan border bill because it fails in every policy area needed to secure our border and would actually incentivize more illegal immigration. They cited the proposed expansion of work authorizations without also including "critical asylum reforms, what they said were loopholes in the border shutdown authority that would give Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas too much discretionary authority, insufficient limitations on Bidens parole authority, and the use of taxpayer funds to house migrants in hotels through a FEMA program that provides them with shelter and services Any consideration of this Senate bill in its current form is a waste of time, they wrote. It is DEAD on arrival in the House. We encourage the U.S. Senate to reject it. Before the Senate released the border bill text, Johnson announced Saturday that the House will vote this week on a standalone bill to provide aid to Israel. He defended his move during an interview on NBC News Meet the Press, denying that he had proposed the standalone aid package as an attempt 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 also denied that Trump, who opposes the Senates immigration deal, influenced his decision to push an Israel bill. Of course not, hes not calling those shots," Johnson said. "I am calling the shots for the House, thats our responsibility. And I have been saying this far longer than President Trump has." In a Monday morning post to Truth Social, Trump urged Republicans to vote against the border bill, which he slammed as horrendous, and called for a separate bill that does not link to foreign aid. Only a fool, or a Radical Left Democrat, would vote for this horrendous Border Bill, which only gives Shutdown Authority after 5000 Encounters a day, when we already have the right to CLOSE THE BORDER NOW, which must be done, he wrote. This Bill is a great gift to the Democrats, and a Death Wish for The Republican Party. It takes the HORRIBLE JOB the Democrats have done on Immigration and the Border, absolves them, and puts it all squarely on the shoulders of Republicans. Dont be STUPID!!! Top Senate Republicans have also begun stating their rejection of the bill. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., a member of Senate GOP leadership as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, came out against the bill, saying he cant support the provisions on the border. I cant support a bill that doesnt secure the border, provides taxpayer funded lawyers to illegal immigrants and gives billions to radical open borders groups. Im a no, he wrote in a post to X. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah also panned the bill and urged their colleagues to vote against it. This is INSANE," Cruz wrote in a Sunday night post to X. "On Schumers Open-Borders Legislation, Republicans shouldnt just vote no but HELL NO. In a Sunday night post to X, Lee wrote that the bipartisan border bill is even worse than we thought. No one who cares about our border security should support it, Lee wrote. It is a betrayal of the American people. Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Tx., a former Republican whip, have not commented publicly on the bill. SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) Volunteers in central Chile tried to remove charred metal, broken glass and other debris Monday from neighborhoods devastated by wildfires over the past several days, as officials raised the death toll to 123. Hundreds of people remain missing. The fires appeared to have diminished by Monday morning after burning intensely since Friday on the eastern edge of the city of Vina del Mar. Two other towns in the Valparaiso region, Quilpe and Villa Alemana, also have been hit hard, and President Gabriel Boric said Sunday that at least 3,000 homes had been burnt down in the area. An additional 10 victims were added to the death toll on Monday afternoon, said Marisol Prado, the director of Chiles Forensic Medical Service. Prado said that many bodies were in bad condition and difficult to identify, but added that forensic workers would be taking samples of genetic material from people who have reported missing relatives. Vina del Mar's Mayor Macarena Ripamonti said that at least 370 people have been reported missing in the city of about 300,000 residents. The fires ravaged several neighborhoods that had been precariously built on the mountains that loom to the east of Vina del Mar, which is also a popular beach resort. Officials have suggested that some of the wildfires around the city could have been intentionally provoked. Dry weather, strong winds and low humidity helped the fires spread faster, Boric said. Priscila Rivero, a chef from the neighborhood of Alto Miraflores, said that it took about 15 minutes for the flames to travel from a neighboring hill to her home. She said she rushed her children to safety when she saw the fire approaching, but by the time she returned to salvage some of her posessions her house was burning, with licks of flame emerging from the windows. Its the place where we have lived all our lives Rivero said. Its so sad to see it destroyed, and to lose our memories, our photos, the pictures from my parents' wedding, but some of that will remain in our hearts. Later Monday, a statement from U.S. President Joe Biden said Jill and I are deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by the ongoing wildfires in Chile. My administration is in contact with our Chilean partners, and the United States is ready to provide necessary assistance to the Chilean people, he said. Schools and other public buildings in Vina del Mar and in the capital city of Santiago are currently serving as depots, where people are taking donations of water, food, candles and shovels for the victims of the fires. In Vina del Mar and the nearby towns of Villa Alemana and Quilpe, police have asked people who have not been affected by the fires to stay at home so that rescue crews can move around with more ease. Hundreds of people affected by the fires returned to their homes on Monday to search through the debris. Many have said they prefer to sleep near their homes in order to prevent looters from taking what is left of their possessions, or from claiming the land their homes were built on. In the neighborhood of Villa Independencia, on Vina del Mar's eastern periphery, Marco Delgadillo tried to clear rubble from his home, which he built 25 years ago, when the area was first settled haphazardly by workers without construction permits. The furniture in Delgadillo's house had been devoured by the flames and the walls were blackened by smoke, but they still stood. The construction worker said he would rebuild and urged the municipal government to help him fix the collapsed roof of his home before winter starts in the southern hemisphere. We don't have any other choice, Delgadillo said. Buying a new plot of land is unaffordable right now. ____ Rueda reported from Bogota, Colombia ____ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america 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) ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will discuss a new mechanism to allow Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin during his upcoming visit to Turkey, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Sunday. Putin is expected to visit Turkey on Feb. 12 to meet Erdogan, a Turkish official previously said, in what will be the Russian leader's first trip to a NATO ally since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. There are efforts to find "new methods" to transport Ukrainian grain to the world markets, Fidan said in an interview with private A Haber television. "The previous grain deal worked within a certain mechanism, now it has been seen that there is a possibility of going with a different mechanism, and now there are efforts to concretise this possibility," Fidan said, adding that Erdogan will raise this issue in his meeting with Putin in Turkey. Ankara has sought to persuade Russia to return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which Moscow pulled out of in July 2023, a year after it was implemented. The accord was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to provide safe passage to exports from Ukrainian ports. Kyiv has said talks were underway to revive the deal, but Moscow said there was no prospect of reinstating it. Fidan said some ships had managed to transport Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea, even without the accord in place. "We want to make clear this de-facto (situation) with the new mechanism," he said. (Reporting by Huseyin Hayatsever; Editing by Sharon Singleton) The US and UK have conducted strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen from air and surface platforms, including fighter jets, with the support of several other countries. At least 30 targets were struck across at least 10 locations, according to two US officials. The targets included command and control; an underground weapons storage facility; and other weapons used by the Houthis to target international shipping lanes, one official 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 worlds most critical waterways in the face of continued threats, the US and UK said in a joint statement with Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand. Two US destroyers fired Tomahawk missiles as part of the strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, a US official told CNN. The USS Gravely and USS Carney, both of which are Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers, fired the land-attack cruise missiles during the operation. F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier also took part in the strikes, officials said. Earlier Saturday, the US struck six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles before they were launched toward the Red Sea, US Central Command said. The strikes on consecutive days come as the Biden administration has adopted a multi-tiered response to a drone attack that killed three US service members and wounded scores more last weekend. US-led coalition conducts airstrikes in Yemen in response to the Houthi aggression at the Red Sea on February 3, 2024. - US Central Command Seeking to avoid a regional war with Tehran, the US has not targeted Iran directly, instead going after some of its most powerful proxies in the region. It is an indirect way of trying to send a message to Irans leadership, which has grown increasingly nervous about the actions of some of the militant organizations it backs, CNN has reported. Iran funds, arms and supplies these groups to different degrees, but its leadership does not control them directly. The strikes in Yemen are distinct from the attacks in Iraq and Syria: The former is a response to ongoing Houthi attacks on international shipping lanes and US warships in the Red Sea, while the latter is a retaliation for a deadly attack on US troops. But both target Iranian-backed groups in the Middle East. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the most recent strikes are intended to further disrupt and degrade the capabilities of the Houthi militia. 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, Austin said in a statement Saturday. We will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways. President Joe Biden gave the green light for Saturdays strikes earlier in the week, according to two senior administration officials who stressed to CNN that the US doesnt want escalation and the strikes are in direct response to the actions by the Houthis. Biden conceded last month that previous strikes against the Houthis did not deter the rebel group but made clear that the strikes will continue. Meanwhile, Mohammed Al Bukhaiti, a top member of the Houthi Political Council, said in a statement Saturday, The US-British coalitions bombing of a number of Yemeni provinces will not change our position, and we affirm that our 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. On Friday, the US carried out separate, unilateral strikes against four sites in Syria and three in Iraq, hitting more than 85 targets, including command and control centers, intelligence centers and weapons facilities. We believe that the strikes were successful, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said following the operation. But the Biden administration vowed there would be further actions taken against Iranian-backed groups in Iraq and Syria. Austin said in a statement that the US strikes on Friday were the start of our response. Neither the White House nor the Pentagon would telegraph exactly when the next stages of the response would play out. US-led coalition conducts airstrikes in Yemen in response to the Houthi aggression at the Red Sea on February 3, 2024. - US Central Command Almost exactly 24 hours after the first US weapons hit their targets in Iraq and Syria, the US carried out more strikes in Yemen. Saturdays strikes are the third time in recent weeks the US and UK attacked Houthi targets as part of a joint operation. On January 11, the two militaries struck approximately 30 Houthi sites. Less than two weeks later, the US and UK struck another eight sites. The previous strikes targeted Houthi weapons storage facilities and radar sites in an attempt to disrupt the ability of the Iran-backed rebel group to attack international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, some of the worlds most critical waterways. But the Houthis have remained defiant, vowing after the last round of US-led strikes they are more determined to confront what they called the US and UK aggressors. In addition to the larger scale strikes on Houthi targets, the US has carried out smaller attacks on Houthi weaponry. On Friday, US forces struck four Houthi drones that US Central Command says were prepared to launch and posed an imminent threat to shipping lanes and US warships. The same day, US forces, including a guided missile destroyer and an F/A-18 fighter jet, shot down a total of eight drones over the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Kaanita Iyer and Priscilla Alvarez contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Taps on the roof dont exist now... its a high-impact strike from the get-go - AFP via Getty Images All but two of the 152 UN workers killed in Gaza were off duty when they died, according to data that casts new light on the first weeks of the war. Nearly half of all casualties among the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) came in the three weeks between the October 7 massacre and Israels ground invasion. The findings follow allegations that a dozen UNRWA staff were involved in Hamas attacks last year. Israel has long claimed that the UN agency, which provides humanitarian aid and education in Gaza, has been infiltrated by the terror group. More UN aid workers have been killed in the Strip than in any other conflict in the organisations history, and the death toll has led to accusations that Israel is deliberately targeting staff members. The casualty data shared with the Sunday Telegraph by UNRWA covers 150 deaths recorded between October 7 and January 4. Two further deaths have since been confirmed. Analysis of the data offers a clear picture of how the war unfolded in the coastal enclave in the weeks after October 7, as the UN agency scrambled to address a spiralling humanitarian crisis. But questions remain over the circumstances surrounding the deaths of so many UNRWA workers. Just two staff members were on-duty at the time of their deaths on December 5 and 20, respectively. One of the workers was killed in an airstrike on a UN facility, according to the data. The remaining 148 workers died while off-duty, often when they were at home and in the company of their family members. Men account for nearly two-thirds (93) of the total deaths, according to the data. This is surprising as women make up 59 per cent of the UNs 13,000-strong workforce in Gaza. In addition, casualties were evenly spread between the north of Gaza and safer south, while the death rate for UN staff is out of sync with the reported civilian rate over the same period. The analysis also shows that the three weeks following the October 7 attacks were by far the most dangerous for UNRWA workers, with 73 killed by airstrikes in the first 20 days of the war. Each successive week brought greater casualties. In the seven days before Israel launched its land invasion, on October 27, 52 UNRWA workers died a third of the total. The deadliest day of the war so far for UN staff came on October 25, when 15 people were killed in airstrikes. However, after the land invasion started two days later, the data shows deaths among UNRWA workers suddenly dropped, while the rate of fatalities among the broader civilian population remained the same. Dr Michael Dunne-Willows, an ambassador for the Royal Statistical Society, reviewed the Telegraphs analysis and confirmed that the downward trend in UN deaths is statistically significant. What explains this reduction is not clear, but the trend is marked and appears unlikely to be coincidental. The data shared with the Telegraph also details the location of Israels airstrikes across the Gaza Strip ahead of its land invasion. On October 12, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) urged the 1.1 million people living in the north of the enclave to flee south of Wadi Gaza for their own safety. However, the Sunday Telegraphs analysis shows that UNRWA deaths were spread broadly equally between the north and south in the weeks following the evacuation order. At least 23 workers died in the south of the territory, including in Rafah, on the border with Egypt, between October 12 and 27. Over the same period, 22 workers died in Gaza City, in the north of the Strip. Major General Charlie Herbert, a former British army officer and an expert on urban warfare, told the Telegraph that the apparently high proportion of UNRWA staff killed by the IDF in the first months of the war warrants further investigation. Consideration should be given to the distinction, proportionality and target selection of the Israeli air campaign, he said. But, he added, it would be too speculative to draw any conclusions from the data, or to infer any deliberate targeting of UNRWA. UNRWA sources offered their own explanation for the higher casualty rate among the agencys workers in this conflict. Every Gaza citizen, including UNRWA staff, has an ID number that is held on a database which both Palestinian and Israeli officials can access. This ID code is also linked to an individuals residence. Israel knows where everyone lives in Gaza and they know their names, said an UNRWA official. Ahead of a planned IDF strike on a building, there would have been an understanding that a UN staff member lived in that property and could be at risk. In previous conflicts in Gaza, the buildings where local UNRWA staff lived were tapped on the roof with inert shells or bombs to warn of incoming strikes in the area. In the current war, warnings have continued to be given to international employees living in compounds, but not to local workers at their homes. This change in policy likely explains why the vast majority of UNRWAs staff have died while off duty. Taps on the roof dont exist now, the UNRWA official said. Its a high-impact strike from the get-go. An IDF spokesperson said: The IDF has never, and will never, deliberately target UN staff or other innocent civilians. The IDF takes all operationally feasible measures to mitigate harm [among] civilians. The IDFs strikes on military targets are subject to relevant provisions of international law. Read more: UNRWA cannot operate without Hamas no wonder it has a neutrality problem Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security 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. Vote counting is underway after polls closed Sunday in El Salvador, where the strongman president Nayib Bukele is expected to easily win a second term amid a dramatic turnaround in the countrys once-sky high levels of violence. Bukele, 42, faced little in the way of organized opposition and enjoys one of the highest favorability ratings in the region, regularly polling above 70% in independent surveys. His supporters trumpet a crackdown on criminal gangs in the country that resulted in a dramatic fall in the murder rate, once the highest in the world. But the mass arrests El Salvador now has the worlds highest incarceration rate have also triggered outcry from human rights groups, who allege Bukeles government has detained innocent people and subjected prisoners to dehumanizing conditions behind bars, including torture. The dissonance has elevated the election in this small Central American state to a broader referendum on the extent that voters are willing to relinquish basic liberties in exchange for relative peace and safety. I know its not perfect, maybe of a thousand they detained, a hundred were innocent, Jackelyne Zelaya, whose niece was a bystander killed in a 2017 gang shootout, told CNN earlier this week. Then I look at my sons, I have two aged 16 and 23, and seeing them being able to go out at night, go to play ball down the road with their friends without fearing they could be killed or recruited for something bad, that has no price. Results are expected to be announced later Sunday evening. Speaking Sunday shortly before polls closed, Bukele defended the crackdown, comparing the mass arrests to chemotherapy that eliminated the cancer of the gangs. El Salvador had a cancer with metastasis because it was in all parts of the country, in every zone, he said, claiming that 85% of the territory had been controlled by gangs. El Salvador had metastasis but we conducted surgery, chemotherapy we are doing radiotherapy and we are going to end up healthy, without the cancer of the gangs. Did our police make a couple of mistakes? Of course they did, he added. But he insisted that El Salvadors judicial system has secured the release of thousands of people who were wrongfully detained. A lopsided win for Bukele would likely give the young leader more leeway to reform El Salvador in his heavy-handed vision. Bukele has not shied away from comparisons to autocrats once setting his Twitter biography to read worlds coolest dictator and his government has said they are eliminating democracy in the country. Bukeles ability to run for a second term is a clear example of the effort: with El Salvadors constitution barring presidents from seeking re-election, the countrys Congress in 2021 replaced the top judges on the Supreme Court with a new class willing to grant him the power. Leaders in the region are paying close attention. The so-called Bukele method has fast become the Latin American security policy au courant, with the presidents of Honduras and Ecuador both clearing the way for mass arrests in their own countries to disrupt spiraling gang violence. In at least 13 countries in Latin America, most of the population wouldnt mind an undemocratic government rising to power if it resolved problems, according to a 2023 poll by Latinobarometro. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A man drafts his retirement letter. A retirement letter serves as an official declaration of your departure from a job, giving your employer ample time to find a replacement or allocate your duties elsewhere. This strategy ensures a smooth transition and minimum disruptions in the workflow. But what are the key components of a retirement letter? Lets explore together how to craft an effective retirement letter that not only paves the way for a smooth transition but may also help create potential opportunities for post-retirement consulting. If you need help planning for retirement, consider working with a financial advisor. What Is a Retirement Letter? A retirement resignation letter is a vital piece of the retirement process, establishing formal communication between the retiring employee and the employer. Essentially, its an official notice from an employee, communicating their decision to retire from their current role within the organization. The letter is a professional and respectful way of notifying the employer about the employees impending departure, enabling them to plan appropriately. As with any form of professional communication, its critical to ensure that the retirement letter is clear, concise, and adheres to the standard business letter format. A retirement letter performs numerous functions. Primarily, it acts as a vital instrument for companies to plan and strategize for the future. With prior knowledge of an employees retirement, the company can commence the process of recruiting a new employee or reallocating tasks among its existing workforce. The retirement letter also serves as a sign of respect toward the employer. Sending a formal retirement notice exhibits professionalism and courtesy, allowing the employer adequate time to transition. A retirement letter can also present an opportunity for future consulting opportunities. The retiring employee can express their interest in contributing their expertise on a part-time or consulting basis post-retirement. Its crucial to phrase such an offer tactfully, for instance, I would be open to providing my expertise in a consulting role, should the need arise. This may provide an avenue for continued professional engagement with the company even after retirement. However, while drafting a retirement letter, its important to avoid certain common pitfalls. Ensure your letter is free from negative sentiments or criticisms about the company or colleagues. Also, avoid being overly casual or informal in your tone. Remember, even though its a letter of retirement, its still a formal piece of communication. Why You Need a Retirement Letter An employee shakes hands with his boss after submitting his retirement letter. From both the employees and the employers perspectives, retirement letters play a significant role in workplace transitions, as they provide a tangible timeline for both parties to make necessary adjustments and plans. Its a professional courtesy that benefits both the employee and the organization. Heres why you should submit a retirement letter to your employer when the time comes to call it a career: Its your formal notice. A retirement letter serves as the official communication that youll be leaving your position due to retirement. Submitting a retirement letter well in advance also allows your company to manage this transition smoothly, ensuring that your responsibilities will be adequately covered and that the remaining staff are prepared for any changes. Gives your company enough time to plan. Without sufficient notice, a company may struggle to fill a sudden vacancy, which can lead to missed deadlines, increased workload for remaining staff and potential loss of business knowledge. A timely retirement letter helps the company plan for these changes, ensuring that the transition does not negatively impact the companys operations or employee morale. Shows respect and professional courtesy. A well-written retirement letter can serve as a testament to your professional respect toward your employer. It is an expression of appreciation for the opportunities provided by the employer and a recognition of the positive impact the company has had on your career. Maintaining professionalism in your retirement letter can help keep doors open for future opportunities, such as consulting or part-time work. How to Write a Retirement Letter Employees shake hands with a coworker who is retiring. Before beginning your letter, take a moment to reflect on your career. What key experiences stand out? What have you learned? How have you grown professionally? Use this reflection to shape the content of your retirement letter. Your letter should be seen as a valuable tool to communicate your intentions and set the stage for your departure. Therefore, it should include several key elements: Provide the Date of Retirement In the opening paragraph, make it clear that you are retiring. Use straightforward language to avoid any ambiguity and provide your intended retirement date. While youll typically want to give at least two weeks notice before leaving a job, the more time you can give your employer to prepare for your eventual retirement, the better. Express Your Appreciation for Your Time at the Company Before diving into the how-to, its important to note why expressing appreciation in your retirement letter is crucial. It not only shows your gratitude for the opportunities the company provided but also leaves a positive impression. To effectively articulate this, consider mentioning specific experiences that contributed to your professional growth. For example, you might say, I am deeply grateful for the opportunities I have been given and for the professional growth I have experienced during my tenure. Recap Your History on the Job Providing a recap of your job history can serve as a reminder of your contributions to the company, thereby leaving a lasting legacy. Consider mentioning key projects youve worked on, roles youve held, or milestones youve achieved. This will not only highlight your achievements but also provide a sense of closure as you recap your journey at the company. Offer to Assist in the Transition Following the recap of your job history, its also important to help during the transition period. This respectful and professional gesture reflects positively on you. It shows your commitment to the companys continuity and your willingness to ensure a smooth transition. You may offer to train your successor or to remain available for questions even after your official retirement date. This can go a long way towards maintaining good relationships with your employer and colleagues. Explore Consulting Opportunities if Youre Interested To maintain a connection with the company post-retirement, expressing your interest in possible consulting roles within your retirement letter can be beneficial. This could involve mentioning your openness to consulting opportunities or other ways you can continue to contribute to the team. For example, you could write, I would be open to discussing potential consulting opportunities or other ways I can continue to contribute to the team after my retirement. Communicate Your Needs Before Retiring Lastly, its crucial to communicate any pre-retirement needs in your retirement letter. This may include discussions about pension or retirement benefits, final paycheck or the return of company property. Providing examples of these needs and detailing how to communicate them professionally in your retirement letter ensures that there are no unresolved issues or misunderstandings, paving the way for a smooth transition into retirement. Provide Your Contact Information Its important to ensure that your employer has your current contact information, as well as a way to get in touch with you if you plan to move in retirement. Example of a Retirement Letter Lets put this into practice with a real-world example. Heres a well-written example of a retirement letter that includes all the necessary elements discussed in the previous sections. The following retirement letter is professionally formatted, cordial, direct and expresses gratitude toward the employer: John Smith 123 Main Street Los Angeles, CA 90001 jsmith@email.com 123-456-7890 1/1/2024 Jane Doe XYZ Marketing 456 Main Street Los Angeles, CA 90001 Dear Jane, After careful consideration and reflection on my career, I have decided that it is time for me to retire from my position at XYZ Marketing. With this letter, I am providing my formal notice of retirement, with my last day of work proposed to be March 1, 2024. This decision has not been an easy one, as my time at XYZ Marketing has been an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling chapter in my life. I want to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation for the support, mentorship and guidance I have received throughout my tenure here. Over the years, I have had the privilege of working alongside dedicated colleagues, and I am grateful for the invaluable experiences and opportunities this organization has provided me. As I prepare for retirement, I want to assure you that I am committed to ensuring a smooth transition. I am more than willing to assist in any way possible during this period to ensure the continuity of projects and responsibilities. Whether it involves training a successor or providing insights from my experience, I am here to help make this transition as seamless as possible. I am also open to potentially consulting for the company in retirement. For any matters that may require my attention after my retirement date, please feel free to contact me via email at jsmith@email.com or by phone at 123-456-7890. I want to thank you once again for the incredible journey Ive had at XYZ Marketing and for the unwavering support of the entire team. I am proud of the accomplishments weve achieved together, and I have every confidence that this organization will continue to thrive in the future. I look forward to staying in touch and witnessing the continued success of XYZ Marketing from the sidelines. Sincerely, John Smith Bottom Line A retirement letter is a crucial part of a smooth and professional career transition. It not only serves as an official notice of departure, giving the company time to find a suitable replacement, but also lays the foundation for maintaining a positive relationship with your former employer. Retirement Planning Tips Retiring with confidence requires knowing that youll be able to generate enough income to cover your living expenses and support your lifestyle. SmartAssets retirement calculator can help you determine how much youll need to save before youre able to retire and whether youre on track to hit that savings target. A financial advisor can help you save and plan for retirement. Finding a financial advisor doesnt have to be hard. SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Photo credit: iStock.com/CocoSan, iStock.com/FG Trade Latin, iStock.com/filadendron The post How to Write a Retirement Letter appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset. TOKYO, Feb 06 (News On Japan) - Yoko Abe, the mother of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, passed away on February 4th in Tokyo at the age of 95. Born in Tokyo in 1928, Yoko Abe grew up in a prominent political family, being the daughter of Shinsuke Kishi and the niece of Eisaku Sato, both of whom served as Prime Ministers of Japan. In 1950, she married Shinzo Abe, then a newspaper journalist who would later become the Foreign Minister, and supported his political career while raising their three children, including the future Prime Minister. After the death of her husband, Shinzo, in 1991, she consistently supported her son, Shinzo Abe, in his political journey as his successor. Serving for many years as the leader of the spouses of members belonging to the current Abe faction, also known as the Seiwa Policy Research Council, Yoko Abe was widely supported within the political sphere and affectionately known as the "Godmother of the Political World." Source: TBS NEWS YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. The Netherlands is preparing to deliver six additional F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Minister of Defense of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren said this in a post on the social platform X. The Netherlands Ministry of Defence is readying 6 additional F-16 fighter aircraft for delivery to Ukraine. This brings the total number to 24 F-16s. Ukraine's aerial superiority is essential for countering Russian aggression, she posted. This video is a Feb. 10 update. Have a look at an entertaining presentation at The Lambs I have yet to read Michael Wolraichs new book, The Bishop and Butterfly: Murder, Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age, to be published tomorrow. But The New York Times has already posted a review online: Entrapment, Corruption, Murder and Justice in Old Gotham, which describes the text as brick-dense yet propulsive. Im not sure what brick-dense means. Perhaps it means lots of solid detail. I do understand propulsive and I also appreciate this: Unlike the sensationalist reporters of the era, Wolraich manages to handle even the seediest of underworlds with reportorial spareness and elegance, treating his material more as a nonfiction political thriller than a true-crime whodunit. Read the opening of the first chapter: A MOTH THAT LOVES THE FLAME. The prose itself is an attraction. Wolraich will talk about his work and sign copies of The Bishop and the Butterfly at the Jefferson Market Library, in Greenwich Village (425 Sixth Ave.) on Wednesday, February 7 at 6:30 p.m. He has written to his friends (me among them): I love this location because it plays a central role in my book. The red brick building in Greenwich Village was once a courthouse that housed Manhattans notorious Womens Court, where crooked vice cops and defense attorneys conspired to frame innocent women as prostitutes in the 1920s. My book focuses on a woman named Vivian Gordon. Her sensational murder in 1931 precipitated a series of shocking events that ultimately forced Mayor Jimmy Walker to resign in disgrace and broke the power of Tammany Hall, the corrupt political machine that had ruled New York City for a century. The publisher is apparently unconcerned that its description makes the book sound like a true-crime whodunnit and frankly, I like the way it sounds: Vivian Gordon went out before midnight in a velvet dress and mink coat. Her body turned up the next morning in a desolate Bronx park, a dirty clothesline wrapped around her neck. At her stylish Manhattan apartment, detectives discovered notebooks full of namesbusinessmen, socialites, gangsters. And something else: a letter from an anti-corruption commission established by Governor Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Had Vivian Gordon been executed to bury her secrets? Id bet thats why, wouldnt you? POSTSCRIPT: Feb. 9 Here tiz, on display BJP's touted 'Integral Humanism' philosophy raises questions as manifestos reveal stark discrepancies over the years On its website, the BJP says: The philosophy of Integral Humanism looks at the individual not merely as a material object but one who has a spiritual dimension. It talks of integral approach to economic development that has the individual at its core, linked to the family, the society and the nation. What do these words mean? What does a government and political party have to do with the spiritual dimension, and even if this is possible how can this spiritual dimension be tapped with the usual levers available to the State? How are these words reflected in the BJPs manifesto or in the BJPs Budgets through actionable policies? If they are, in what way are they missing from the policies of other parties? Let us have a look at the manifestoes of the BJP/Jan Sangh, which were published by the party a few years ago. It may surprise readers to know that there is little or no continuity in the way that the party thinks and on critical issues it has reversed its position with no explanation for why. In its 1954 manifesto, and again in 1971, the Jan Sangh resolved to limit the maximum income of all Indian citizens to Rs 2,000 per month and the minimum to Rs 100, maintaining a 20:1 ratio. It would continue working on reducing this gap till it reached 10:1, which was the ideal gap and all Indians could only have incomes inside this range based on their position. Additional income earned by individuals over this limit would be appropriated by the State for development needs through contribution, taxation, compulsory loans and investment. The party would also limit the size of residential houses in cities and not allow plots of more than 1,000 square yards (someone should tell the Ambanis and Adanis this). In 1954, it said that tractors will be used only to break virgin soil. Their use for normal ploughing purposes will be discouraged. This was of course because it was trying to protect the bull and ox from slaughter. In 1951, prohibition of cow slaughter was explained as something needed to make the cow an economic unit of agricultural life. In 1954, the text was more religious and called cow protection a pious duty. Though it says it is today a champion of a uniform civil code, the party consistently opposed divorce and nuclear families. Its old manifestoes (1957 and 1958) say that the joint family and indissoluble marriage have been the basis of Hindu society. Laws that alter this basis will ultimately lead to the disintegration of society. The Jan Sangh will therefore repeal the Hindu Marriage and Hindu Succession Acts. The Jan Sanghs 1973 analysis of caste violence reveals that in most cases the conflict is not between Harijans and caste Hindus as such, but it is between Harijans and a set of people who are in power and who also happen to belong to the upper castes. Meaning that caste itself was not the source of the conflict. Culturally, the party stood firmly against alcohol and sought nationwide prohibition. And it wanted English to be replaced in all spheres by local languages, and especially Hindi. Most interestingly, the Jan Sangh said it would also repeal preventive detention laws like UAPA which it said were absolutely in contradiction to individual liberty. This promise was made repeatedly in the 1950s. However, by 1967, it began to qualify the demand and said that care will be taken to ensure that fifth columnists and disruptionist elements are not allowed to exploit the fundamental rights. In time, the Jan Sangh and BJP became one of the most enthusiastic champions of preventive detention. In 1954, the party said it would repeal the first amendment to the Constitution that curbed freedom of speech by imposing reasonable restrictions. This amendment essentially took away freedom of expression because the list of what is seen as a reasonable restriction was far too wide and broad. The Jan Sangh sensed that it was not something that could be allowed to go unchallenged. However, after 1954, this demand that the first amendment be repealed and complete freedom of speech, association and assembly be restored to Indians disappeared from the Jan Sangh manifestos without any explanation. Integral Humanism is, according to the BJP constitution, the partys basic philosophy. It opposes the idea of linguistic states by saying (in Lecture 3, April 24, 1965): The first para of the Constitution India that is Bharat will be a Federation of States, i.e. Bihar Mata, Banga Mata, Punjab Mata, Kannada Mata, Tamil Mata, are all put together to make Bharat Mata. This is ridiculous. We have thought of the provinces as limbs of Bharat Mata and not as individual mothers. Therefore, our Constitution should be unitary instead of federal. When was the last time we heard the BJP push for this? The Jan Sangh was unable to express its majoritarianism as clearly and in as full-throated a fashion as the BJP was later able to. This was because it lacked a specific programme on the back of which to mobilise anti-Muslim sentiment, such as the campaign against the Babri Masjid. Even though the idols were smuggled into the mosque a few months before the Jan Sangh was formed, there was no reference to Ayodhya or a Ram temple there in any of the Jan Sangh manifestos from 1951 to 1980. Once power was secured, all the things that the Jan Sangh claimed it stood for over the decades, including its manifestoes and its basic philosophy, have been cast aside. by Vladimir Rozanskij Brussels has promised the Central Asian partners to mobilise substantial resources for state and private investments of up to EUR 10 billion by 2027. The largest part will go towards the creation of the Transcaspian multimodal corridor, which will be the main alternative to the northern route through Russia and Belarus. Moscow's reactions. Brussels (AsiaNews) - The "EU-Central Asia" Forum concluded in Brussels on January 30, in which Europeans promised their Central Asian partners to mobilize huge resources for state and private investments by 2027, up to 10 billion EUR. As several observers comment, for example the political scientist Anatolij Ivanov-Vajskopf on Orda.kz, it can be predicted with great probability that "we will not have to wait long for the response from Moscow and Minsk", the historical protectors of the former Asian countries -Soviet. European resources are heading towards the new Asian corridors with ever greater intensity after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They concern oil and gas, black and colored metals, rare earth elements, cotton, wool and various fabrics, raw materials for articles of all kinds of markets. Meetings in various formats have multiplied in the last two years, with all five countries in the region and especially with Kazakhstan, after years in which European institutions did not seem to show interest in these areas. The EU representative for foreign affairs, Joseph Borrel, spoke at the Brussels Forum acknowledging that he still knows very little about the Central Asian countries: "In this difficult geopolitical contingency, Central Asia has become a very important partner for us, but still four years ago, when I arrived in Brussels, it was unknown territory for me, while now you are at the center of everything, the cornerstone of relations between Europe and Asia". The reactions of the leaders of Astana, Bishkek, Tashkent, Dushanbe and Ashgabat to these words were enthusiastic. The most important part of European investments will go towards the creation of the Trans-Caspian multimodal corridor, which will represent the main alternative to the northern route through Russia and Belarus. In this regard, the European Investment Bank has already concluded an agreement with the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan for one and a half billion euros, earmarked for the development of transport infrastructure. The declared objective according to the European Commission's estimates is to reach a standard of 15 days for the coverage of the Eurasian route. Observers, however, warn Central Asian politicians not to be too attracted by the "carrots of European white collar workers", and to consider all the political and economic risks linked to these initiatives. The two weeks for transport, for example, can only work in optimal conditions, and we must first of all take into account the instability of the Caspian Sea basin, with its treacherous storms that recur quite often, and its water levels that can rise unexpectedly. Political instability instead concerns the Caucasian route, where the corridors between Azerbaijan and Armenia are far from practicable, and there are still many tensions in this regard. In the border areas of Turkey there are still conflicts with the Kurdish population, which demands autonomy from Ankara and could cause various obstacles. Nor can we ignore the existence of previous and very deep-rooted agreements between these countries and Russia, which has no intention of allowing itself to be completely bypassed and circumvented in trade routes, and often organizes military exercises on these territories also together with Iran , the other champion country of Western sanctions. The Russian press has already reacted to Brussels' statements, obviously in a decidedly negative light. In particular, many reproaches were directed at Kazakhstan and its "illusions regarding the promises of Europe", which led to the granting of external administration to 22 local airports. According to Russian media, in Central Asia there will be an infestation of advisors and lobbyists from every corporation, who will use investment money to benefit the usual centers of power, as Izvestia states. The road to Eurasia is still very long, and certainly a few weeks will not be enough to reach the goal. The 26-year-old Thai Natthaporn Onkeaw was among those kidnapped on 7 October. During his detention he had vowed to become a Buddhist monk if he managed to get out alive. In the country, being ordained as a monk - even temporarily - is increasingly a traditional rite of passage for young people. Ban Nongsang (AsiaNews/Agencies) - From hostage in the Gaza tunnels to Buddhist monk in Thailand. This is the path taken in just a few weeks by 26-year-old Natthaporn Onkeaw, one of the farm workers kidnapped in the kibbutzim around the Strip in the raids carried out by Hamas on 7 October that sparked teh ongoing war. Freed along with other of his compatriots in the brief November truce, the young man - the French Catholic daily La Croix reported yesterday in an article - after returning home now lives in a monastery. From Gaza, while he was held hostage by Hamas militiamen, he said he begged Buddha every day to get him out of that hell alive. There,' he added, 'he made an oath to himself: if he managed to save himself, he would become a monk. On 15 January, Natthaporn was ordained a monk in Ban Nongsang, Nakhon Pathom province. As in the traditional ordination ceremony, his head and eyebrows were shaved and then, dressed all in white, he paraded with his family through the streets of his village in north-east Thailand. With its 40,000 temples, 90% of Thailand's population is Buddhist, loyal to the Theravada branch. According to the Supreme Council of the Sangha, the Buddhist community numbers between 200,000 and 300,000 monks with an increasing number of 'temporary novices' aged 12 to 20. Entering monastic life on a temporary basis is in fact increasingly a rite of passage for many young Thais. 'A good portion of Thai men become monks at some point in their young lives,' Thomas Borchert, professor of religion at the University of Thailand, explained to La Croix. The reasons are varied: to honour someone's memory, to obtain forgiveness, and above all, in a society where religious beliefs are anchored in customs and traditions, to accumulate merit, a practice that consists of performing beneficial deeds in order to endow oneself with 'good karma' (a reflection of our past deeds)'. Originally, these ordinations lasted for three lunar months, from July to October, the withdrawal period of the rainy season. "Some went even beyond this simple 'Buddhist Lent', extending it for several years," adds the anthropologist, pointing out that today being ordained for a short period is a very common experience. Especially for poorer families, becoming a monk guarantees access to education and takes away a mouth to feed at home. by Melani Manel Perera Official events were held amid tight security without the public. President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin attended the main ceremony. The president praised the country for surviving bankruptcy ahead of a new renaissance. Rights and youth groups protested amid clashes with the security forces. Card Ranjith slammed the crackdown against freedom. Colombo (AsiaNews) Sri Lankan authorities yesterday celebrated the countrys 76th Independence Day with festivities under tight security, closed to the public, while protests were held across the island nation, especially in the north where a Black Day was observed. The government marked the anniversary with a call to Sri Lankans: Let's build a new country at a ceremony held at Galle Face Green, Colombo. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin were present at the event. A Holy mass was also held at the All Saints' Church in Colombo presided over by the Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith for the independence celebration. In his address, he did not shy away from criticising the country's rulers, calling for a renewal in leadership. In his independence message, President Wickremesinghe stressed the need for Sri Lanka to learn from the mistakes of the past and avoid repeating them in the future. Noting the international community's praise for the countrys change of course and move towards recovery, he urged his fellow Sri Lankans to persist on this path and reinstate prosperity for all. In his statement, released by the Presidential Media Division (PMD), Wickremesinghe said that at last year's anniversary the country was "labelled" as "financially bankrupt. But this year, 76th anniversary of independence, "we have effectively navigated through these challenges, steering the economy towards stability despite the numerous impediments and challenges" and thanks to all this "Mother Sri Lanka will undergo a renaissance. Not everyone agrees. Human rights and youth groups as well as civil society organisations held a sathaygraha, i.e. a silent protest, in Colombo, to coincide with the official celebrations at Galle Face Green, which was off-limits to the public. The authorities deployed police, army, and riot units, backed by water cannons and tear gas, to keep protesters at bay, particularly near the Lipton roundabout, where the satyagraha took place. Clashes broke out, involving unidentified men. We don't say that we should not celebrate our independence after a time of enslavement, said Tharindu Uduwaragedara, a youth activist with a social media presence, speaking to AsiaNews. We should be proud of that, but at the same time, we should really question whether we have freedom. We ask these people (i.e. security forces) who are waiting to attack us and label us as unpatriotic: Dont we both live in freedom?" he asked. The Movement of Christian Women's Voice (MCWV) also issued a statement, highlighting the ways the government is celebrating the 76th anniversary of independence, an event closed to the public but paid for with public funds, a huge amount of money. As reported in the media, nearly 37 million rupees (US$ 120,000) in public funds were used during such an unbearable economic crisis, the MCWV statement notes. Do you think that spending such a huge amount is food for a country like Sri Lanka which is sinking in the middle of a huge crisis? it adds. Sri Lanka declared bankruptcy in April 2022 when its debt topped US$ 80 billion, more than half of which owed to foreign creditors. The upheaval led to a political crisis that forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign, with parliament choosing Wickremesinghe as president despite opposition from the grassroots Aragalaya (people's struggle) movement. For his part, Archbishop Card Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo called for a change in the country's leadership ahead of this years elections. During yesterdays liturgical service at All Saints' Church, on the outskirts of the capital, the cardinal, 76, questioned the wisdom of celebrating freedom when the country has been hit by economic turmoil and is in a political stalemate. We ask the leaders: Whose freedom are you celebrating? The freedom of the rulers? Or the freedom of the people? Cardinal Ranjith said. Isn't it a mockery of the people to celebrate the country's independence by showing military parades, police, and aircraft displays, bringing dignitaries and ambassadors when the people of the country are hungry? he asked. by Santosh Digal Pope Francis instituted the International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, to be observed on 8 February. A network of Catholic nuns fighting this scourge urges the Philippine government to do more to provide protection and prevention. Manila (AsiaNews) Talitha Kum Philippines (TKP), which is part of the international network of Catholic nuns working against human trafficking, has called for better policies to protect and prevent human trafficking in the Southeast Asian country. On Sunday, 4 February, several Philippine Church leaders observed the second National Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking titled "Listen, Dream, and Act". Yesterdays meeting was held at the Shrine of Mary, Our Lady of Peace, Quezon City, near Manila. The TKP was represented by Sister Evelyn Jose, Sister Elizabeth Pedernal and Sister Perlita Ponge. Other religious organisations were also represented, namely the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), the National Council of Churches in the Philippines (NCCP), the Philippines Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC), the Philippine Children's Ministries Network (PCMN), and the International Justice Mission (IJM) Philippines. For TKP, networking and collaboration are very important to achieve the institutional and missionary objectives, to increase the capacity of professionalism and the quality of the processes and actions we develop, Sister Pedernal said after the Mass. We act as our mission calls us to give integral attention to the victims and survivors, the trafficked persons, the migrants, and the most vulnerable ones we meet, assist, and give support, she added. For TKP, as well the other religious organisations, it is possible to improve communications and advocacy for these people; to this end, they call on the Philippine government to adopt public policies that provide legal and social protection to victims of trafficking. The United States Congress passed the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection in 2000, which established minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking. The Philippines is one of 30 countries that have met these standards in 2023, according to the latest report by the US State Department, which calls on the country to do more to prosecute and appropriately punish convicted traffickers. According to TKP, the Philippines must also undertake initiatives to support victims of "labour trafficking i.e. workers treated as a mere commodity or targeted for their vulnerability to be exploited in certain jobs. This requires educating law enforcement, social care providers and labour inspectors about the signs of the new slavery. According to TKP, it is necessary to boost funding to prevent the practice while ensuring that victims of trafficking receive the compensation mandated by courts. This entails giving law enforcement and anti-trafficking task forces the means to carry out timely investigations and support victims and witnesses. Lastly, it is essential to foster inter-agency cooperation in the identification, tracking down, and prosecution of traffickers, via a consolidated database of illegal recruiters and human trafficking cases. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Ford's F-Series remained America's favorite nameplate and best-selling truck for the 47th year in a row, followed by Chevrolet's Silverado and Ram's trucks. The GMC Sierra and the Toyota Tacoma and Tundra are also popular. However, one interesting thing to note is that Ford is in command of both full-size pickup trucks and the reborn compact pickup truck sector because its unibody Maverick is quickly approaching the 100k-delivery threshold.Now, that means two things carmakers were probably wrong to dismiss the segment a few years ago, and life is very hard for the only other unibody compact pickup truck on sale in America, aka Hyundai's Santa Cruz. In fact, the latter only sold almost 37k examples last year compared to the former's 94k performance. Naturally, things could get even worse if Hyundai doesn't act fast.No worries, they're not slouching around. More precisely, our spy photographer partners have caught the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz testing alongside its 2024MY sibling, and it's pretty clear the South Korean automaker will kick off manufacturing of a facelifted Santa Cruz later this year at HMMA in Montgomery, Alabama.The unibody compact pickup truck is built on the same Hyundai-Kia N3 platform as the 2024 Hyundai Tucson (NX4), and maybe one of the problems with it was that it remained too close for comfort to the crossover-like design of the Tucson. Instead, the rugged Maverick is more akin to the Ranger and F-150 rather than the Escape and Bronco Sport, which share the Ford C2 architecture.Of course, the latter also has the advantage of selling as a hybrid, and its electrified option actually outsold the Ford F-150 PowerBoost last year. So, maybe Hyundai should also consider a hybrid option for the 2025 Santa Cruz to go along with the updated exterior and interior. We will know all the details soon enough, as the reveal is probably just around the corner.Until then, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators has been trying to shed some light on the styling perspective for the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz based on recent spy shots. For example, the Halo oto channel on YouTube provides fresh automotive info corroborated with their virtual designs; now, there are new CGI ideas about the upcoming Santa Cruz.So, what do you think? Is Hyundai going to offer a subtle update of the Santa Cruz in the hopes of making up the difference between its unibody compact pickup truck and Ford's best-selling Maverick, or is the company preparing a deeper refresh to try and take over the crown next year? Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (PANA) - Recent attacks by Houthi rebels on ships in the Red Sea have triggered a 40% decrease in trade volumes in the Suez Canal, which is decreasing global food security, the World Bank said on Monday, attributing the statement to the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) It is fast and that is all it takes when it comes to chasing perpetrators. The Lucid Air becomes a police car in Saudi Arabia. The vehicle will be unveiled during the World Defence Show. Photo: MOI Saudi Arabia .#_ Security efforts, advanced technologies, for the future of a safe and thriving country.#WDS2024#EquippedForTomorrow pic.twitter.com/75K8lnmgvt (@MOISaudiArabia) February 3, 2024 The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Interior uploaded to former Twitter/current X a video showing the upcoming police car. It is the Lucid Air , which becomes part of the Arabian police fleet. The information was provided by the ministry officials during a defense conference this weekend.The Lucid Air wears the national police livery and is equipped with an unusually shaped siren mounted on the roof. That is because there is a box integrated into it from where a drone can be deployed. The video shows the drone flying off from the roof of the electric sedan.The "Police" lettering shows up on both sides in the company of Saudi Arabia's General Directorate of Public Security logo. The model wearing the police livery will be shown at the World Defence Show that is taking place these days in the countrys capital, Riyadh.The hood displays the Police lettering on the hood alongside the police number 911. The Lucid Air police cruiser is making its official debut next week. However, the sedan has already been spotted cruising in the King's motorcade last week.There is no information regarding the version of the Airs being part of the police fleet in Saudi Arabia. But if they are to catch thieves around the country in it, they should go for the range-topping Sapphire.That is a three-motor electric sedan, which benefits from the presence of 1,1234 horsepower (1,250 metric horsepower) and 1,430 pound-feet (1,938 Newton meters) of torque, which is just enough for a run from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph) in an impressive 1.89 seconds. The sedan with hypercar credentials does the quarter mile in 8.95 seconds with a top speed of 205 mph (330 kph).The move does make sense. And that is because Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) holds approximately 61 percent of Lucid's shares. Furthermore, the American carmaker was the first to build a car factory in the country The facility has been operating there since September 2023, with a capacity of 5,000 units per year. According to a Lucid executive, approximately 800 locally assembled Air sedans have rolled off the production line so far.The cars are manufactured at Lucid's plant in Casa Grande, Arizona, before they are disassembled, shipped to Saudi Arabia and re-assembled again. Lucid targets the transition to complete build production after the middle of the decade, when the center is expected to reach an annual capacity of 150,000 units.Lucid signed a contract with the Saudi Arabian government to deliver 100,000 EVs over a ten-year span. Shiro Nakajima has long been building custom marvels under the alias 46Works, operating right near the Yatsugatake mountain range in the quaint Japanese countryside. His talents extend far beyond bike-building, though, and hell often indulge in things like vintage car restorations and crafting furniture. Mind you, 46Works wasnt even the first motorcycle customization outfit that Nakajima-san had established. Photo: 46Works Photo: 46Works He is the founder and previous owner of Ritmo Sereno, a firm known for its spectacular restomods well beyond Japans borders. Things havent gotten any less impressive since Shiro moved on to his second venture, but the machines he puts together are now fully-fledged customs. The specimen were about to look at is the latest entry in his project archive, and it broke cover on 46Works Instagram page in January of this year.It started out as a Triumph Bonneville T140 from the model-year 1976, yet our protagonist turned it into something far more exciting. Master Nakajima looked to vintage desert sleds for visual inspiration, eventually deciding to base his design on one of Steve McQueens best-known motorcycles. We are, of course, referring to the King of Cools famed #955 Triumph TR6 desert racer, which is surely among the most iconic bikes of its kind.The build was commissioned by a client who sought desert sled styling mixed with tarmac-friendly running gear. He intends to take part in a Japanese racing series called Legend of Classic, and this rad T140 is his weapon of choice for the competition. Thats right; Shiro didnt just create a visual treat with McQueen charm, but a genuine race bike made to go fast around the track!Now, he wasnt exactly provided with a complete motorcycle to use as the projects basis, because the customer only had the Bonnevilles engine, frame, and swingarm. To get the ball rolling, Nakajima-san tasked the experts over at Gladstone with an all-inclusive powertrain overhaul. The parallel-twin mill was sent to their HQ in Shizuoka, where it gained new cams, high-compression pistons, and Keihin CR carburetors topped with velocity stacks.Gladstone also revised the head for good measure, and power is now sent to the rear wheel via a five-speed gearbox and a belt final drive. As for the high-mounted exhaust system, it is a custom titanium unit painstakingly fabricated from scratch by Shiro himself. The pipework comes with a drilled heat shield, as well, so as to prevent things from getting too toasty near the riders leg.Moving on to the chassis, 46Works used billet aluminum triple clamps and a bespoke steering stem to install a fresh set of forks up front. These were sourced from a classic Yamaha but fitted with modern internals prior to installation, while rear-end suspension duties have been assigned to premium aftermarket shocks. Youll find 18-inch Excel hoops down in the unsprung sector, both laced to repurposed Yamaha wheel hubs.Avon rubber is present fore and aft, in the form of a Roadrider tire at the front and an AM18 Super Venom at the other end. Plentiful stopping power is an absolute must for any self-respecting race bike, so the T140 gained some serious kit all-round. There are twin AP Racing brake calipers up north, along with a single Brembo module down south and drilled Sunstar rotors on both ends.Brembo supplied a pair of high-grade master cylinders, too, and everything got linked together via youthful hoses. On the other hand, the Bonnies rearsets and their accompanying linkages are all tailor-made parts manufactured in-house. Cues taken from Steve McQueens TR6 are most evident in the bodywork department, with a reproduction Triumph gas tank proudly sitting center-stage.Its placed right ahead of a handmade solo seat, which was formed atop an aluminum base and upholstered by Razzle Dazzle. We see custom-built number boards placed on each side of the saddle, as well as a shiny high-mounted fender at the back. Of course, Shiro didnt need to bother with a license plate bracket or any lighting components since the Triumph was to become a fully-fledged racer.At twelve oclock, he added a simple mudguard and a flat number plate with #955 TR6 vibes, but everything about the cockpit has also changed. The instrument cluster is now made up of a standalone lap timer, a digital temperature display from Daytona, and an analog tachometer supplied by Stack. A low-profile handlebar with bare-bones controls rounds out the equipment in that area.For the finishing touches, the mastermind at 46Works added a Setrab oil cooler complete with Kinokuni fittings, as well as a bespoke oil catch can. The T140 desert sled was then handed over to Drops Design Works for the paint job, which saw items like the fuel tank, rims, and frame finished in a stealthy coat of gloss-black. Other aluminum bodywork components have been left unpainted for contrast, as were the engine covers and titanium exhaust pipes. Google Maps is often considered the best mobile navigation app on the platform, and people use it to find directions to a specific address or explore the world from the comfort of their smartphone. Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution Google Maps keeps evolving Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution Here is the story of how @googlemaps helped me recover items stolen in a moving train from my father. My father was travelling from Nagercoil to Trichy in sleper class in Nagercoil - Kacheguda express. He had boarded at 1:43 AM from NCJ. The train was relatively empty & another pic.twitter.com/j2RLo8Xb4z Raj Bhagat P #Mapper4Life (@rajbhagatt) February 4, 2024 Someone in India used Google Maps with a completely different purpose. They relied on the location data provided by the navigation application to track down the thief of their father's smartphone, eventually alerting the police and catching the criminal hours later.Raj Bhagat P. explains on X (formerly Twitter) that his father was traveling from Nagercoil to Trichy in the sleeper class when someone boarded the same almost empty train. It didn't take long before the stranger stole his dad's bag and mobile phone, eventually deboarding in Tirunelveli Junction.Several hours later, his father contacted them from a friend's phone, letting them know about the theft and asking for help.It was the moment Raj Bhagat turned to Google Maps to track down the thief. His father enabled location sharing in Google Maps to let his son see where he was in real time. After the theft, the feature continued to broadcast the phone's location, so the hunt for the thief kicked off with help from the railway police.Raj Bhagat detailed every step in posts on X, explaining that the thief eventually got lost in the crowd, but his location was exposed again thanks to Google Maps. Minutes later, they managed to track him down again, with Raj approaching him at the Anna bus stand. He spotted his father's bag, and using other people in the bus station, they caught the thief and called the police.Upon a detailed search conducted by law enforcement, the man turned out to be a serial thief, as he stole (and ingested) other electronics, including Bluetooth earphones.The location-sharing support is integrated into Google Maps to allow users to let others know where they are, being available on both Android and iPhone.However, several other applications come with support for sharing the live location, including WhatsApp, the world's number one messaging service . WhatsApp allows users to share their current location or the live location directly in the conversation screen.Google Maps also offers permanent location sharing, though most users enable it temporarily, typically until they arrive at a destination. The feature lets users share their location with someone who has a Google account, so they can view the data directly in Google Maps (if the app is installed on the mobile device) or with a non-Google user, in which case the sharing is powered by a link which opens in the web-based version of Google Maps.Google keeps refining Google Maps, adding new capabilities that improve its navigation and non-navigation capabilities.One of the subtle but very useful improvements coming to Google Maps is support for 3D buildings on Android Auto . The application already offers such a layer on mobile devices, but Google is now working on bringing the same interface to Android Auto.The feature is now rolling out to users worldwide, though the behavior seems to be different, still requiring additional polishing. For example, the 3D buildings are enabled only in the light theme for some, while others see it exclusively in the dark mode. However, once the 3D buildings land on your device, they are enabled by default, with Google Maps sporting a new toggle under the settings screen to let users disable it.Google Maps is also getting more innovative capabilities that aren't directly related to navigation, including Immersive View . Announced two years ago, Immersive View is one of the biggest updates received by the app in the last few years, allowing users to explore the world using a multi-dimensional view comprising satellite imagery, street-level photos, and other details, including the weather forecast.The feature is only available in limited regions, considering the overwhelming amount of data involved in creating the multi-dimensional view, with Google promising to bring it to more locations in the coming years.Immersive View has also evolved to include additional capabilities as Immersive View for routes. With this component, the feature allows users to preview routes before they begin driving, offering a quick look at every turn with realistic details, including buildings and trees. Eventually, drivers can get more familiar with their routes before they begin the journey, so Immersive View for routes helps make every trip safer and more predictable.Google Maps is currently the world's top mobile navigation app, dominating this space on Android and iPhone, despite the latter coming with a native alternative. However, Google Maps is considered the more feature-complete alternative to Apple Maps, especially as it includes extra capabilities, such as satellite navigation. Apple Maps offers satellite maps, too, but this view is disabled when navigation is enabled. Until recently, Apple Maps lacked offline maps, too, though the feature was introduced with the release of iOS 17. More and more airline startups are determined to bring a fresh perspective, including betting on alternative, clean designs and game-changing propulsion, such as ZeroAvia's ZA600 hydrogen-electric powertrain. kW In just two years from now, we might be witnessing one of the greatest achievements in recent years in terms of clean aviation the full certification of a hydrogen-electric powertrain capable of powering a 19-seat commercial aircraft. That's the plan for the ZA600, a 600propulsion system developed by ZeroAvia, an expert in hydrogen-based propulsion for aircraft. ZeroAvia is building its way slowly but surely, gradually moving toward bigger and bolder engine designs. Last year, it kicked off real-world testing of the ZA600 in the UK with the help of a retrofitted Dornier 228. So far, the aviation company has secured pre-orders from multiple players around the world, including the Indian aviation operator Mehair, which plans to retrofit its Cessna Caravan fleet with the ZA600 solution.It's not just established industry players that are eyeing the ZA600 and its potential benefits. Flyv is a German airline startup looking to introduce an innovative commercial concept. The concept includes using AI technology for flexible booking and operating smaller aircraft with no more than ten passengers for even more flexibility. Plus, this will be a good way to ramp up activity in the existing smaller airfields, which, according to flyv, are largely underutilized. In terms of aircraft, flyv intends to operate mixed fleets of existing aircraft and new-generation air vehicles that run on clean fuels.This is how the German startup teamed up with ZeroAvia, and the two have big plans for regional air mobility across Europe. A new era is dawning, and innovative airlines will be at the forefront just as much as eVTOL makers, SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) producers, and hydrogen technology experts.While the ZA600 is already working to obtain its certification in both the UK and the US, ZeroAvia is eagerly anticipating the next step, which is the HyperCore motor. This 900 kW electric motor will be a crucial component of the ZA2000, the company's ultimate hydrogen-electric system designed for regional turboprops with 40 to 80 seats.The ZA600 was also previously selected by another innovative airline, Ecojet. Ecojet aims to become the UK's first green airline. Although it will kick off operations this year with conventionally powered aircraft flying to and from Edinburgh, the airline hopes to move quickly to hydrogen-electric alternatives in the form of retrofitted aircraft.So far, ZeroAvia has secured more than 2,000 pre-orders for the ZA600 powertrain. And that's not all. The UK-based and US-based hydrogen expert is also developing the auxiliary infrastructure, including hydrogen refueling trucks. It was recently awarded a grant by the California Energy Commission (CEC) to design a brand-new concept for mobile liquid hydrogen refueling. Porsche started 2024 in grand style, taking the checkered flag at the 23-hour-58-minute-and-24-second Daytona race a few days ago. For all those wandering what in the time-measuring heaven has struck my keyboard: the race was cut short 95.277 seconds before the actual finish time of 24 hours due to an officiating error. It was a momentous victory for the German carmaker, its 23rd overall win at Daytona. Even more so for Roger Penske, who last won the famous event in 1969 with Mark Donohue in a Lola Chevrolet. Porsches last time taking the crown was 14 years ago, in 2010, so this win couldnt have come at a better moment for the Porsche Penske Motorsport team. The Porsche 923 hybrid secured victory after an intense battle against a Cadillac V-LMDh. The red-and-white racecar blitzed the track and wrote history and possibly the future.Races have served as a development base for carmakers since day one, and Porsche is no stranger to this practice. Some of the brands most reputed nameplates have deep roots in the fast-paced speed trials worldwide. Curiously, the Germans havent jumped the gun on grafting race tech into street models. The renowned Rearing Horse House of Speed from Stuttgart acknowledges only five performance peaks in its glorious history.Five hypercars, to be precise, starting with the fabled 959 from the mid-80s and ending with the Mission X concept revealed last fall. The 911 GT1 Strassenversion, the Carrera GT, and the 918 Spyder are the other three in order of appearance. The latest proposal, Mission X, naturally embraces the switch from the historical piston-driven firepower to the age of electrons.Like its predecessors, the full-electric concept hypercar has yet to become a palpable machine ready to break speed records. Still, for now, it serves as inspiration for an imaginative alternative. Courtesy of a digital artist from Pasadena, California Zack Fu (riding his pixel-errant horsepowers under the zackx429 social media coat of arms), a vision of Porsches future hypercar has emerged from the depths of digital car design.His creation is the Mission B Concept, an all-electric missile thats equally at home on the track or the street. Or, in the artists words, Aims to strike a perfect balance between leisure and work. His idea is a two-seater with gullwing doors, a split windshield, electric motors on both axles and active aerodynamics. Sounds familiar The no-nonsense Porsche Mission B sits on a 106-inch wheelbase (2.7 meters). Its highest above-ground point is 43.3 inches over the tarmac. Still, the bullet-shaped speed demon is over 86 inches wide (2.2 meters). And that doesnt account for the side mirrors, mainly because there arent. Its a hypercar even if only in imagination so it probably uses cameras. Either that or the drivers of the future are clairvoyants who dont need to look (with the eyes!) to see whats around them.Discrete vertical stabilizers, air diffusers, and concealed inverted wings should keep the Mission B glued to the tarmac, particularly in corners. The air-bending theme is omnipresent in the cars overall profile, from the rear-oriented air vents for the wheel arches to get rid of the excess pressure created by the superfast-spinning wheels to its fighter-jet-like cockpit.The vertical front lights directly hint at the Mission X concept car, but the rear is a deja vu experience altogether. But, unlike Porsches designers, the car visualist from California preferred a more driver-focused cockpit with an unobstructed lateral field of view. The A-pillars are removed, and a central vertical splitter halves the windshield, very much like present Formula One cars. Much like you shouldn't believe everything you see on TV, especially if it's branded "reality" programming, you shouldn't believe everything or much of anything you see on social media. This viral video proves it. Photo: Richard Mille In the rarefied world of luxury watchmaking, Richard Mille is a name that hardly needs an introduction. Richard Mille watches use spectacular complications, surprising combinations of materials, and countless carats to create pieces that walk the fine line between watchmaking and fine jewelry.Richard Mille watches are not for everybody, and not just because of their prohibitive prices . Aesthetically, they're designed for the bold, outward type who not only isn't afraid of attracting attention but is especially seeking it out. They're showy, flashy, heavy, and outrageous pieces that sit well on the wrists of individuals who match the description.Few would imagine such an individual would be a teen girl a young student taking the subway, no less. This explains why this rather old video is still making the rounds within the community of watch nerds, still dividing opinion.The video popped up online at the end of last year, so by Internet times, it's positively ancient. But the confusion it's causing is time-enduring because people can't seem to decide whether the student is really wearing millions in designer gear or she's just decked out in fakes.For one, there's a Richard Mille Skull piece on her wrist, which is identified as a one-of-one RM 052 Skull tourbillon watch and priced at $5 million. For the record, the most expensive Richard Mille piece with this caliber that's also a one-off is $2 million on the secondary market. If this is worth $5 million, it must be some sort of private commission that was not covered in the specialized media. At all. Which is unlikely.The student is also donning a Rolls-Royce umbrella that retails for about $1,000, a diamond Hermes ring ($4,500), a Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet ($6,200), Louis Vuitton trainers, and a backpack from Tsinghua University. She's on her phone, casually killing the idle time while the train takes her to her destination.It's the location of the sighting rather than the accumulation of designer items that seems to confuse people. Who in their right mind would take the train with millions on their wrist even if the RM isn't worth $5 million but "only" $2 million? In a city like London, she'd already be fighting off thieves with that Rolls-Royce umbrella, and she'd still end up without most of her stuff.Needless to say, the consensus seems to be that she's wearing fakes since this is China and because she's riding the train. But there are those who still think the student is a product of generation wealth, attending Tsinghua University or its high school and choosing to commute by train because it's safer, smoother, and more convenient.To think that we live in a world in which a teen could wear a $5 million watch on an everyday basis while riding the train and not get mugged now that's abaffling thought. With a national legacy dominated by art and exploration, thousands of miles of coastline, and a rich maritime history, Italy is known internationally as a shipbuilding superpower. Boatbuilders hailing from this country are producing nearly half of the world's luxury yachts, so it's no wonder one of the stars of the upcoming Miami International Boat Show might be an Italian-built vessel. Photo: Riva Yacht We're talking about Riva 82 Diva, an 82-foot (25.3-meter) flybridge yacht crafted by Italian shipyard Riva, a brand of Ferretti Group. The vessel made its international debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival last September and will be on display at this year's edition of the Miami boating event, set to take place from February 14 to 18, as part of yacht broker Allied Marine's showcase.Riva, the oldest and one of the most esteemed shipyards in the world, is known for offering timeless yacht designs that incite the desire for adventure. With its sleek, racy profile, exceptional engineering, sophisticated interior style, and impressive performance, Riva 82 Diva promises modern yachtsmen an unparalleled experience on the high seas.Showcasing the unmistakable style of Mauro Micheli and Sergio Beretta, the masterminds behind Officina Italiana Design, the flybridge yacht features a series of design evolutions , such as the inclusion of high gunwales with painted composite elements instead of the typical steel handrails found on most vessels.Moreover, Riva says the new yacht marks the beginning of a new chapter for the company, offering a "revolutionary approach to the use of space." The designers focused on maximizing outdoor areas for al fresco living and creating indoor spaces that are well-delineated and designed according to their function. As such, the yacht 's flybridge, which offers no less than 40 square meters (430 square feet) of usable space and is said to be one of the largest in this size category, has designated zones for each living area. There is a lounge aft, another lounge with dinette and bar in the center, and a sunbathing area forward. The central area is protected by a carbon fiber hard top with glass panels.At the stern, a generous beach club is further expanded by means of fold-down terraces that increase the vessel's width by three meters. A 35-square-meter (377-square-foot) cockpit on the main deck is furnished with sofas that are strategically arranged to offer guests fantastic sea views. Each space exudes sophistication, creating the ideal setting for luxurious relaxation.Inside, guests are greeted by a welcoming ambiance, with generous spaces boasting a comfortable contemporary design. With an impressive 90 GT of interior volume, Riva 82 Diva offers a large main salon boasting a split-level configuration with a lounge area aft and a dining table for eight on the upper section. Though visually divided, these two areas are not completely separated, so there is a seamless transition between them. A compact galley on the port side is also part of the layout.The sleeping quarters are located on the lower deck and provide accommodation for up to eight guests in four en-suite cabins. The yacht's owner benefits from a full-beam master suite located aft that includes a spacious cabin, a large en suite bathroom, and an office area.Riva has built a reputation for developing stunning watercraft. But apart from comfort and eye-pleasing aesthetics, their yachts are also fast. Powered by two MAN V12 1800 engines, the Riva 82 Diva model is able to reach a top speed of 29 knots and a cruising speed of 26 knots. Those who like the thrill of high-speed sea adventures can opt for a pair of MAN V12 1900 engines instead to get a top speed of 31 knots and a cruising speed of 27 knots. EV SUV ICE The Americanand sustainable energy company has had a full year in 2023 with the initial launch of the refreshed Tesla Model 3 'Highland' in places like China or Europe, plus the start of deliveries at home of the highly anticipated Cybertruck EV full-size pickup that's designed to compete with the Ford F-150 Lightning, among others. Then, the first month of 2024 wasn't too shabby, either.For starters, Tesla also brought the updated Model 3 to America, and then we quickly found out that according to the latest estimates, its best-selling Model Y crossover is also the top-delivered nameplate worldwide. With those significant thresholds in mind, what comes next?Obviously, the most logical conclusion would be that Tesla is hard at work to upgrade the Model Y with the same goodies seen on the Model 3 Highland. But that's only in the real world. Meanwhile, across the imaginative realm of digital car content creators, sometimes fueled by the rumor mill, there are all sorts of wild theories.For example, some people think that Tesla could even bring a minivan to the market to spark the resurrection of the dying segment. Others want something smaller, more compact, and a lot cheaper from the automaker like the $25k Tesla Model 2 from Musk's prophecies. However, there's also one pixel master that would love to bring back our attention to the bonkers 1,020-hp Tesla Model S Plaid.Jim, the virtual artist known as jlord8 on social media, loves messing around with all things CGI from GM and Ford; he rarely derails into EVs. So, after presenting us with projects like a GMC Jimmy ATX4 HD two-door, a proper Ford Crown Victoria revival, or a Mercury Grand Marquis and Marauder, now it is time to witness the digital birth of an efficient yet fast Tesla Model S Plaid Wagon.This isn't your regular grocery getter that a grandma would drive unless she wanted to be sustainable and live life a quarter of a mile at a time, as a well-known action franchise character would say. With dragstrip times that make supercars weep and a trunk so big even your mother-in-law's vacation luggage would fit, this could be the perfect EV albeit only if it becomes a little more than a fantasy.Unfortunately, we don't think Tesla intends ever to build a station wagon, even if they're still fashionable in places like Europe. Also, if you're into-powered vehicles rather than EVs, the author also imagined the refreshed 2025 Ford Explorer as a family station wagon. So, which one is cooler? The Tesla Cybertruck is going to Europe, even though it might not even be homologated for the European market. The model will reportedly be displayed in Stuttgart this upcoming spring. Photo: Tesla kWh EV News: The Tesla Cybertruck will come to Germany. As a community and friends, we in Stuttgart are excited about the news that the Tesla Cybertruck will be presented as a showroom car in Holzgerlingen this spring. The largest Tesla Delivery Center in Europe, Holzgerlingen, is pic.twitter.com/Blm4CU643F Andre Fink (@andre4fink) February 4, 2024 The Cybertruck has been touring China , being on display in eight major cities, even though the regulations in the country will not allow it to go on sale there. Elon Musk himself explained that it would be "very hard to make it legal."Following the successful tour in China, Tesla has reportedly decided to take the electric pickup truck to Germany as well, in an attempt to spark interest in European customers. According to a post on former Twitter/current X, the model will be on display at the Stuttgart Holzgerlingen delivery center, the carmaker's largest delivery center in Europe.The date of the arrival has not been set yet. Another location considered was supposedly the Giga Berlin, the factory that has been operating since April 2022.It wouldn't come as a surprise if the Cybertruck went on tour in several European cities, considering that a Tesla was last year's bestseller on the Old Continent. 209,503 customers purchased a Model Y in 2023.The Tesla Cybertruck does not comply with the regulations in China and Europe. The first version rolled out at the Giga Texas, the Foundation Series, is set in motion by a tri-motor powertrain churning out 845 horsepower (857 metric horsepower) and 10,296 pound-feet (13,960 Newton meters) of torque.This version is capable of flashing from 0 to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds, can run the quarter mile in little under 11 seconds, and can reach a top speed of 130 mph (210 kph). There is also a large, heavy lithium-ion battery pack, with a capacity of 123, which adds to the gross weight.With all the supercar credentials, the model tips the scale at 6,843 pounds (3,104 kilograms) and goes over 3,500 kilograms when loaded. That makes the vehicle too heavy to be driven with a passenger car driving license.Furthermore, the vehicle is labeled as dangerous to pedestrians, considering its angular shape that defies the safety standards, an issue recently highlighted by Tesla's Vice President of Vehicle Engineering, Lars Moravy.He explained that the European regulations require a rounding of 3.2 millimeters on protruding parts. "Unfortunately, it is impossible to make a rounding of 3.2 millimeters on a 1.4-millimeter sheet of stainless steel," he said in December 2023.To make it profitable in China, Tesla should manufacture the Cybertruck in China or at least assemble it locally. The Giga Shanghai plant currently builds Model 3s and Model Ys and would need a completely different production line for the electric pickup truck.Until they sort it out, Tesla stopped taking orders from both Europe and China back in May 2022, so customers in these regions should not get their hopes up and settle for just seeing the Cybertruck displayed. Tesla is showing theeven where it can sell it in order to build up hype and draw in potential customers in case regulations change. They said the man not identified by them was first caught by Azerbaijani soldiers deployed along the border with Armenia. They did not specify the section of the border allegedly crossed by the man. A website close to the Azerbaijani military speculated that the Czech man may work for a Western intelligence service and be connected to the European Unions monitoring mission deployed along the Armenian side of the long and heavily militarized frontier. The Czech ambassador to Armenia, Petr Piruncik, categorically denied any such connection on Monday. I can only confirm that a Czech citizen was detained in Azerbaijan and remains in detention, Piruncik told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. Our embassy in Baku is trying to get in touch with him. The Armenian authorities did not comment on the alleged border crossing as of Monday evening. The reported arrest came three days after Czech parliament speaker Marketa Pekarova Adamovas visit to Yerevan during which she said her EU member country will press Baku to resume Western-mediated talks with Yerevan. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry responded by accusing her of spreading Armenian lies. A French citizen based in Baku was arrested in December amid Azerbaijans heightened tensions with France denounced by Baku for siding with Armenia in the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. The French Foreign Ministry accused Baku of holding the businessman, Martin Ryan, arbitrarily and demanded his immediate release. Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) - Gender discrimination, enshrined in mining laws, and disregard for health, safety, and social protection limit the rights and economic opportunities of women artisanal and small-scale miners, finds a new World Bank report 5 February 2024 15:54 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more Election is one of the most important symbols of democracy, sovereignty and human rights. If conditions are created for elections in a country, it is unnecessary to question the issue of democracy and human rights in that country. Elyar Kamrani, a political expert from South Azerbaijan, said these words in his comment to Azernews. He added that Azerbaijan is experiencing the most important historical moments among the post-Soviet countries in the last few years. For this reason, it is considered appropriate to hold early presidential elections. "First of all, I must mention that if an election is held in a country, democracy, that is, the right to vote, exists in that country, and people's voting is considered important. As for the holding of extraordinary elections, in my opinion, it is the right time for this in a country like Azerbaijan, which is distinguished with its political influence in the region and beyond, and where democracy is developing," Kamrani said. The expert added that interest and activity in elections is another example of the right to free suffrage. According to him, this kind of example has been continued as a tradition in Azerbaijan since the country's independence. "The level of democracy within a country can also be determined by the level of participation in elections. Azerbaijan has always been active in elections since its independence. We know that in recent days, a number of pressures from the West regarding democracy have been applied to Azerbaijan. However, I must emphasise that, in terms of democracy, one country cannot be compared with another. Each country has its own democratic values and principles." In addition, Elyar Kamrani said that he believes that the elections to be held on February 7 will be completely transparent. He noted that Azerbaijan invited the UN and other organizations as observers to ensure full transparency of the elections. "I can say with confidence that the elections in Azerbaijan will be held transparently. As far as I know, Azerbaijan appealed to several institutions to ensure the participation of the UN and other organizations as observers in the elections," he emphasised. The expert from South Azerbaijan expressed his opinion about the economic situation of the country. He emphasized both the political and economic progress of Azerbaijan in the past five years as a special achievement. "If we look at the innovations in Azerbaijan in the past 5 years, we can say that Azerbaijan is already among the countries that have confirmed themselves both economically and politically. The economic situation in the country is rather stable, even with a rapid trend towards development. In the last four years, even Azerbaijan has reached the level of a country that fully guarantees sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is no coincidence that the upcoming extraordinary presidential elections are the first to be held in Azerbaijan, which has secured its full sovereignty as well as its entire territorial integrity. --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews Deputy Editor-in-Chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2024 21:41 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more After the anti-terrorist measures in Garabagh, safe and comfortable conditions were created not only for the Azerbaijani army but also for Armenian residents who rationally decided to stay and live in Garabagh as citizens of Azerbaijan. Employees of the Red Crescent Society of Azerbaijan witnessed this once again when they visited the Armenian residents living in Garabagh. It became clear that not only livelihood and wealth but also safe conditions play an important role in human life. However, Armenia, together with its lobbyist supporters in foreign countries, do not think so. They believed that the stay of the separatist regime in Garabagh would promise something good for poor Armenian society. But six months have passed, and people feel what real state care and security are. People are always victims of terrible mistakes made by oppressors and regimes. This time again, Armenian society became a tool for the insidious policies of the separatist regime and lobbyists. In fact, as a normal citizen, it was possible to stay in Garabagh and get help from the state. However, it seems that Armenia has adapted to the scarce humanitarian aid sent by USAID and other organisations. For Azerbaijan, it makes no difference. Let everyone have a good life, but do not raise prejudices about the place they left voluntarily. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia has thanked the organisation of the United States for helping 19,300 Armenians who were allegedly "expelled" from Garabagh. "Thanks to this assistance, 19,300 people forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh will receive primary humanitarian assistance within the framework of the USAID-funded Social Protection, Inclusion and Empowerment program." It is noted in the information that USAID's list of humanitarian aid includes food and hygiene products. USAID Acting Deputy Mission Director in Armenia Matthew Laird noted that since the end of September 2023, USAID has allocated $9.27 million to Armenians who have left Garabagh on their own volition. Looking back, that is, at the current situation of the Armenians living in Garabagh, the current scene of a society that forced itself to be labelled as forcibly displaced people is extremely tragicomic. If USAID official Laird had compared the scene of Armenians returning to Yerevan in their comfortable private cars with the situation of the Azerbaijani refugees who fought for their lives in the cold and snowy desert with bare feet in the 1990s, he would not have called Armenians "a suffering society" in his statement to the Armenian media. Today, the Armenian society living in Garabagh is really happy with the care of the Red Crescent Society, which the Armenian side does not like. But the realities reflect the truth, though the mouthpieces that once blocked the Aghdam road to humanitarian aid and supported the separatists do not want to accept it. A society that stays in Yerevan and hopes for help from an unreliable regime that can't even help itself can only suffer from not distinguishing between good and evil. The Red Crescent held a joint meeting with the ICRC and discussed the welfare of the Armenian residents in the region, so no further comment is needed. Be sure that the life of no Armenian living in Azerbaijan can be as dangerous as the hazy future of Armenian society, which has become a tool of Armenian separatism. --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews Deputy Editor-in-Chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2024 19:31 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more I woke up, read local news sites... Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the Republic of Azerbaijan Ann Bouillon wrote the following words in her "X" account: "I woke up and read local news sites. It looks like there are elections in Corsica. And I didn't know about it." Armenian news sites reacted with a snide chuckle, as if it were written and voiced sarcastically. It depends on how to read it. Armenian minds read their inner voice this way. Anne Bouillon, the French Ambassador to Azerbaijan, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2022 to hand over a protest note addressed to the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. The protest note contained and expressed deep concern about the expansion and continuation of open slander and prejudice towards Azerbaijan by French political forces, which continues to this day. In this context, it was stated that in the letter sent to the French President on behalf of the leaders of the political forces represented in the French Parliament at that time (2022), it is unacceptable to make unfounded accusations against Azerbaijan and call for steps that represent an encroachment on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Unlike France, which acts based on the ideology of "Laws of the Jungle," Azerbaijan played smarter and undertook to defend and help promote important issues of freedom and the protection of human rights in the countries colonised by France. It should be reminded that the secretary of the party "Popular Unity for the Liberation of Guadeloupe," Jean-Jacob Bissep, made a statement on the occasion of the establishment of a national party in Corsica on the issue of decolonisation and the independence of Corsica. While France's policy and commitment to its depletion of colonised countries is waning with the example of Africa, most colonised unions have decided to take back their lives and freedoms of choice. Azerbaijan was the first to take the initiative to bring awareness to the globally significant problems of the peoples colonised by France. For 30 years, Azerbaijan has been seeking justice and raising questions on all international platforms about the military occupation of Azerbaijani lands and the genocide committed by Armenian separatists against the Azerbaijani people. Time has shown that no authorised institution has coped with the tasks, and during this period (32 years), nothing more than discussion has been solved. The French authorities were afraid to take responsibility and bear the consequences of the inhumane colonisation of the indigenous peoples and their inhabitants. Millions of people were killed and enslaved. People were sent to the mines for gold and precious crystals. If you think of Hitler's Germany, they acted in the same ways in Africa. Perhaps that is why the French ambassador to Azerbaijan was surprised that the Corsicans decided to oppose and seek justice for their independence from French neo-colonialism. France, with its former influence in the world, would probably not have allowed this initiative of the Corsicans, but to please her, proverbs exist for a reason: what you sow is what you reap. The Party of Popular Unity for the Liberation of Guadeloupe issued a statement saying that, despite the long struggle of the Corsican people, the French authorities continue repression and hostile policies. Thus, the French authorities do not recognise the reality of the existence of Corsica and its people, nor do they recognise the right of the Corsican people to self-determination. On Sunday, January 28, 2024, several Corsican parties and organisations united to form a new Corsican political party to achieve independence for their country. While the elected members of the Corsican Assembly have declared their support for the Corsican autonomy project and their willingness to enter into negotiations with the French government, the members of the new party, believing that this path leads to a dead end, oppose it. In this context, their decision coincides with the position of the Polynesians. "Having explored all avenues for a solution, France is doing everything it can to delay the process. The most determined sons of Corsica respond to this: "NO", "STOP". They do not accept the transformation of Corsica into a colony and the change in the composition of its population. At the same time, they demand the right to realize the right to self-determination. They call on the Corsican people to mobilize and use all means to secure their rights and independence. The People's Unity Party for the Liberation of Guadeloupe expresses its full support to the activists who have united to raise the issue of Corsica and solidarity in their struggle for sovereignty. As a reminder, the Baku Initiative Group strongly condemned the unlawful detention of pro-independence activists and their families by the French police after the successful holding of the founding meeting of the Nation movement. In a statement, the Baku Initiative Group said: "Around 700 people founded the Natsion movement in Corsica, bringing together pro-independence organizations and activists, reaffirming their current and future commitment to the struggle against colonial rule. Just two days after Corsicans freely expressed their aspirations, on January 30, two Nacion activists were detained at the Borgou military camp. Their families and another activist were summoned to the Bastia police station in the afternoon. The methods chosen by the French search and rescue team to detain the activists - kicking in doors, destroying homes, throwing parents to the ground right in front of their children - are shameful for a country that positions itself as the birthplace of human rights. Illegal police harassment continues and is aimed at terrorizing the Corsican people." The French authorities are already reaping the fruits of what they have sown. The question is why France, called a democratic power, with its strong economy and power of influence, has not achieved the liberation of the peoples it colonised in the past. And what prevents it from doing so now? Otherwise, with the help of Azerbaijan and its support, the overseas territories colonised by France and its countries will achieve justice and independence. --- Abbas Ganbay is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @Noend33 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2024 10:42 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more An exhibition has opened in Ganja as part of the 10th Voice of Youth Festival organized by the Culture Ministry in honor of Azerbaijan Youth Day. The exhibition "Youth of Ganja" opened its doors at the Urbanism Centre with the support of the Ganja State Philharmonic Hall and the Ganja-Dashkesan Regional Department of Culture, Azernews reports. The exhibition of works by young artists, sculptors, photographers, and masters of folk arts and crafts was met with great interest. Among the guests were the head of the Ganja Executive Power Niyazi Bayramov, public and cultural public figures, etc. The exposition was followed by a concert program and an award ceremony for the talented youth. The main goal of the Gncliyin Ssi festival is to increase the interest of young people in the creative field as well as identify talents. As part of the festival, a series of events were organised in Baku and in the regions of the country, covering such areas of art as music, theatre, painting, and decorative and applied arts. With the participation of young people, concerts, puppet shows, creative fairs, and thematic exhibitions are held in Baku, Ganja, Gakh, and Salyan. The festival's tenth edition covered such areas of art as music, theatre, painting, decorative arts, and applied arts. For the first time, a concert program dedicated to ashiq art was held within the festival. ---- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2024 12:01 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Azerbaijani Culture Minister Adil Karimli has received the President of the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, Aktoty Raimkulova. The minister congratulated her on her appointment and wished her success in her work, Azernews reports. During the meeting, the Culture Minister stressed that the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attaches special importance to the development of ties with fraternal Turkic states in all areas, in particular, strengthening cultural ties, and the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation, established on the initiative of the head of state and with the support of the Turkic states. Aktoty Raimkulova thanked for the congratulations and informed the minister about the directions of the funds activities. She said that the support of Turkic countries, in particular Azerbaijan, is the main factor in the successful implementation of the tasks facing the fund. Issues of mutual interest were discussed at the meeting, including proposals for improving the activities of the fund and the Action Plan for 2024, as well as initiatives related to the promotion of the cultural heritage of the Turkic world. Initiated in 2012, the Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation focuses on the preservation of the Turkic heritage in member countries as well as conducting projects in collaboration with partners in third nations. The foundation provides assistance in the protection, study, and promotion of Turkic culture and heritage through supporting and funding various activities, projects, and programs. The organisation carries out its activities in cooperation with TURKSOY and the Turkic Academy. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more The relations between Azerbaijan and PACE are deteriorating due to the latter's biased and too-pro-Armenian attitude. It has been so obvious that even the member states within the European Union do not believe in its sincerity. Turning a blind eye to thirty years of violations of the rights of Azerbaijanis, Kurds, and Meskhetian Turks and suddenly remembering human rights right after Azerbaijan's reclaiming its territorial integrity just causes irony. PACE claims that Azerbaijan supposedly violates human rights. However, Azerbaijan has been developing its institutions through reforms. However, until September last year, PACE had never had such a strict attitude and made such claims against Azerbaijan. Right after anti-terrorist measures conducted by Azerbaijan in September 2023, PACE started voicing the violation of human rights and speaking about the sanctions. Here poses a question: If Azerbaijan has violated human rights, why PACE waited so long? The constant and continued unfriendly and nonprofessional attitude of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) against Azerbaijans government and its people has now forced it to suspend its cooperation with it, which has deteriorated relations with Brussels. Speaking to Azernews, Dr. Mehmood ul Hassan Khan noted that unfortunately, the PACE has been supporting Armenia, the real culprit of humanity, genocide, and ethnic cleansing against Azerbaijan, for its justified, legitimate, and prudent diplomatic, political, and economic measures for its country and people alike. He pointed out that the comedy of error started with Germanys Frank Schwabe challenging the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation on the opening day of PACEs 2024 winter session. Schwabe intentionally raised concerns about so-called political prisoners in Azerbaijan and cited the violent displacement of people from Garabagh. To be honest, it is politically unrealistic, diplomatically untrue, legally false, and administratively fake propaganda of the PACE. It is indeed the whims and wishes of the PACE and some of its member countries, like Germany, France, Spain, etc., that have been targeting Azerbaijan and its policies to protect their own vested interests. On its part, the Azerbaijan delegation stated that the core principles of the PACE are exploited by certain biased groups to advance their narrow interests. It further charged that "political corruption, discrimination, ethnic and religious hatred, double standards, arrogance, and chauvinism have become prevailing practices in the PACE, which has been creating hype and smearing Azerbaijan, Mehmoud ul Hassan Khan said. The pundit noted that it seems to be a politically motivated move by the PACE, which is biased, prejudiced, and self-centric, promoting politics of isolation, discrimination, exploitation, and marginalisation. However, being a sovereign country, Azerbaijan has the right to defend its people, policies, and plans of self-reliance, national dignity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. He stressed that the delegation rightly accused the PACE of exhibiting Azerbaijanophobia and Islamophobia" and termed it an unbearable atmosphere.. Thus, Azerbaijans current decision to leave the PACE comes amid growing tensions with the European Union as Baku accuses Brussels of bias towards Yerevan, a wise decision. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on January 10 rejected a proposal by Armenia to use Soviet-era maps drawn in the 1970s to delineate borders, claiming that Azerbaijani territories had been handed to Armenia by the Soviet authorities. EU foreign policy Chief Josep Borrell criticised Aliyevs territorial claims on January 22 and warned that there would be severe consequences if Armenias territorial integrity was violated. Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry said Borrells comments amounted to a blatant misinterpretation of facts and accused the chief EU diplomat of engaging in threatening rhetoric, the pundit said. Mehmoud ul Hassan pointed out that it fears that PACE and its member countries will have to face energy insecurity after Azerbaijans decision to suspend relations with it. Most recently, the PACE did not ratify the credentials of the Azerbaijani delegation, citing concerns about the countrys failure to fulfill major commitments related to so-called democratic processes, human rights, and the Garabagh situation. Azerbaijan has subsequently suspended its cooperation with PACE. There is a possibility of strained relations between Baku and Brussels. Besides having significant consequences for the energy market, such a development may create an opening for Moscow to enhance its influence in Azerbaijan. Brussels designates Baku as a key strategic partner for natural gas imports following the onset of the Ukraine conflict. Azerbaijan is playing a pivotal role in the EU energy security framework. In the complex geopolitical dynamics between several European countries, Brussels and Baku, the significance of Ankara should not be overlooked. It is suggested that serious diplomatic efforts should be started to lead to a de-escalation of tensions between Azerbaijan and the European institution. Both parties resume cooperation, addressing concerns and working towards a mutually beneficial relationship, Dr. Mehmoud ul Hassan Khan concluded. --- Qabil Ashirov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @g_Ashirov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2024 12:46 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defence industry is participating in the International Defence Exhibition "World Defence Show-2024," which is organised for the second time in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Azernews reports. According to the ministry, a delegation headed by Defense Industry Minister Vugar Mustafayev is taking part in the event. It was reported that at the World Defense Show-2024 exhibition, which was attended by more than 750 participants from more than 45 countries and 115 foreign representatives, 107 defense products manufactured in Azerbaijan were presented at the stand organized by the Ministry of Defense. Industry. Participating in the opening ceremony, Mustafayev met with the Minister of Defence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Khalid bin Salman Al Saud, and conveyed his good wishes for the exhibition. The minister familiarised himself with the defence products and new technologies presented at the stands of the institutions of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and other countries. Within the framework of the visit, V. Mustafayev also met with the head of the Military-Industrial Organisation of Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Abdulaziz Al-Ohali. During the meeting, the two countries discussed opportunities for cooperation in the defence industry and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest. It should be noted that the World Defence Show-2024 exhibition, which presents the latest military technologies, equipment, and systems of defence industry enterprises, will end on February 8. Founded by Saudi Arabias General Authority for Military Industries, WDS serves as a global forum for innovation and technological discourse in the defense industry, covering five key domains: air, land, sea, space, and security. The second edition is scheduled for Feb. 4-8 and promises to provide a comprehensive international perspective of the defence industry while analysing needs at local, regional, and global levels. It will bring together military players, the Saudi leadership, and industry decision-makers with a key focus on the sectors future. As the Kingdom aims for a robust defence sector, a top priority remains localization, with Saudi Arabia aspiring to localise 50 percent of its defence spending by 2030. To align with this objective, the event will feature the Meet the KSA Government Program, an initiative connecting international companies with opportunities in the Kingdoms government and private sector, as emphasised by the WDS CEO, Andrew Pearcey. This program, a highlight since our inaugural show in 2022, offers a direct pathway to understanding and engaging with the Saudi defence industrys procurement, investment, and partnership processes, he told Arab News. Collaborating closely with our founder, the General Authority for Military Industries, and our National Strategic Partner, Saudi Arabian Military Industries, the World Defence Show serves as a platform for showcasing their latest innovations and technologies. We proudly feature a multitude of Saudi companies, each ready to engage with visitors at their stands, Pearcey added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2024 13:19 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more A resident of Tartar exploded on a mine in the village of Goyarkh, where previously there was a line of contact between the troops, Azernews reports, citing the press service of the General Prosecutor's Office. The Prosecutor's Office is conducting an investigation into the fact of blowing up Tartar resident Azer Mammadov (born 1966) on a landmine in the morning of February 5 while grazing animals in the territory of Goyarkh village, the agency said. It is reported that, as a result of the incident, the man received an injury to his left leg. Recall that on February 4, about 18:00, the police received information about the explosion of a mine in the village of Gyzyloba in Tarter district. According to the regional group of the MIA press service, a resident of Garadaghly village, Hasanly Shahin oglu Aliyev (born in 2001), who was herding cattle, was blown up by a mine. The victim was hospitalised. Azerbaijan is one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world. The contamination occurred due to the Karabakh wars that took place in the 1990s and 2020s. In addition, the Armenian armed forces invaded 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands and made some territories buffer zones by planting thousands of mines. Despite the liberation of the territories in 2020, the Armenian government has not provided a map of the mined areas. Every year, tens of thousands of people are either killed or maimed by mines. Today, the mine issue is one of the biggest challenges facing Azerbaijan. In addition, it also deals a serious blow to Azerbaijan's economy. The country cannot use more than 20 percent of its territories, which play a major role in agriculture, especially in livestock breeding. The threat of mines planted by Armenia is more relevant than ever; The inability of Armenian partners to address this threat leads to an increase in the number of casualties and injuries; A civilian was seriously injured in an explosion and his leg was amputated; 343 people have fallen victim to mines since November 2020. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2024 17:34 (UTC+04:00) The Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC), Mazahir Panahov, met with the delegation led by the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan, Nurlan Abdirov, who is visiting our country to monitor the extraordinary presidential elections of the Azerbaijan Republic to be held on February 7, 2024, Azernews reports, citing secki-2024.az. Panahov greeted the guests and expressed his pleasure to see them in Azerbaijan. He informed the guests about the preparations for the election process in the country. Panahov noted that the Central Election Commission has created all the opportunities for voters. He added that web cameras have been installed in 1,000 polling stations, and it will be possible to follow the process in those polling stations online on the day of the election. In his speech, Nurlan Abdirov, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan, pointed out that presidential elections are a great responsibility. He drew attention to the fact that his country attaches great importance to cooperation and friendship with Azerbaijan. The guest from Kazakhstan said that they will observe the elections in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. Wishing the elections to be held successfully and transparently, Abdirov emphasised that he believes that everything will be at a high level. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2024 23:17 (UTC+04:00) The person who attacked the embassy of Azerbaijan in Iran was sentenced to death. According to Azernews, this was reported on the website of the Iran's justice ministry. It should be noted that on January 27, a court hearing was held on the criminal case of the person who attacked the embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Iran. The court session was held with the participation of the accused person and his lawyers. A number of officials of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan also participated in the court session. At the beginning of the hearing, the judge gave an explanation to the accused and the representative of the prosecutor read the indictment. According to the published indictment, the person who attacked the embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan is accused of intentionally killing a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan by using a firearm inside the embassy, possessing and carrying illegal weapons and disrupting public order. After the prosecutor's representative read the indictment, the accused and his lawyer made a defense speech. It should be recalled that on January 27, 2023, at around 08:30 in the morning Baku time, there was an armed attack on the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The assailant destroyed the security post with a Kalashnikov automatic weapon and killed the head of the security service, Orkhan Askerov. Two employees of the embassy's security service - Vasif Taghiyev and Mahir Imanov - were injured while preventing the attack. Orkhan Asgarov was buried in Second Martyrs Alley. On February 3, 2023, by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Asgarov Orkhan Rizvan oglu (posthumously) was awarded the "For the Fatherland" medal. Taghiyev Vasif Natig oglu was awarded with the 1st class "Rashadat" order, and Imanov Mahir Kamil oglu was awarded with the "For the Fatherland" medal. Yasin Huseynzade, who committed the terrorist act, was detained. After the incident, the activities of the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran were suspended. Employees of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Iran were evacuated from Tehran to Baku on January 29, 2023. A total of 53 people, consisting of embassy employees and their family members, returned to their homeland. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Blog Archive: Mar 2024 (90) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (156) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) 5 February 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Turkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned of a potential regional escalation amid ongoing airstrikes by the United States on Iran-backed groups, Azernews reports, citing TRT. "When you play with fire, that fire can turn into a blaze at any moment, becoming uncontrollable. We are facing a risk here, and the issue of uncontrollability stands before us as a threat," Fidan said in an interview with a national television channel on Sunday. Expressing that Turkiye is in constant talks with the US and regional partners, Fidan added: "We need to avoid the spread (of confrontation) in the region. The situation is not good. We may face a bigger spread." Underlining that the issue of Israel's security is constantly brought up in the world's public opinion, Fidan said that Israel prioritises territorial expansion over security. Israel will feel secure after it stops "telling lies" to the international community and gives Palestinians their own state, stressed the foreign minister. Reminding that regional countries have repeatedly stated that they are ready to take responsibility, Fidan said: "When we brought up the two-state solution this time, the underlying factor was our proposal for a guarantor mechanism, making it distinct methodologically." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2024 22:00 (UTC+04:00) Geologists from the University of California in the USA have denied the existence of pyramids in the mountains of Antarctica and noted that these are pyramid-shaped mountains, Azernews reports, citing the news portal "LiveScience". Earlier, reports appeared in the media that pyramidal figures of unknown origin located in the Ellsworth massif in Antarctica were found on satellite images. According to scientists, this mountain was discovered in 1935 and is considered one of the peaks of the mountain range. The unusual shape of the mountain was formed as a result of erosion: when the glacier melts, water fills between the cracks of the mountain, freezes and turns into ice, expanding the cracks in the mountain. The process repeats many times over millions of years, the rocks gradually take the shape of a pyramid. "This is an ordinary mountain. Most mountains on Earth resemble pyramids, but usually have two or three sides. As it is now, the four sides are rare, but there is nothing unusual about this," the scientists noted. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2024 18:40 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva The Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) will lose over about 45 billion West African CFA francs (more than 68.6 million euros) each year due to the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from the union, Azernews reports, citing the Minister of Economy and Finance of Burkina Faso, Abubakar Nakanabo. "ECOWAS will also suffer because the transition from 15 to 12 countries [within the association] will inevitably lead to a loss of income," the minister said in an interview with the AIB news agency. According to him, the consequences of Burkina Faso's withdrawal from the association for the country's economy "will not be significant." The Minister stressed that the three West African states, having withdrawn from ECOWAS, stopped participating in the multilateral format of cooperation, which will not affect the bilateral relations of the countries of the region. "Relations between countries are largely based on interests. If countries have an interest in working on economic issues, I think it will work out," Nakanabo added. On January 28, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger announced a joint decision to withdraw from ECOWAS as soon as possible. The joint statement of the three countries stressed that ECOWAS "is under the influence of foreign powers, becoming a threat to the member states and their peoples." All three countries have submitted official notifications of withdrawal from the organization to ECOWAS. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2024 19:35 (UTC+04:00) By Alimat Aliyeva On February 5, large-scale exercises of the multinational air Force called "Cope North 2024" began in the western Pacific Ocean, headed by the United States, Azernews reports. According to the US Pacific Command, 85 different aircraft, including fighter jets and bombers belonging to the US Air Forces, Japan, South Korea and Australia, participate in the exercises covering six airfields of Guam and the Mariana Islands. In addition, the US Air Force sent four B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers to the exercises. Cope North 2024 is a multinational field exercise sponsored by the United States Air Force. The exercises, which will last until February 23, will involve 2,400 soldiers, including 1,700 Americans. France and Canada will participate in the maneuvers as observers. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A federal court hearing scheduled Tuesday morning in Asheville could help determine whether a former University of North Carolina student can continue to shield his real name while he sues the school. The student identified as Jacob Doe claims UNC Chapel Hill botched a sexual assault investigation before expelling him.US District Judge Max Cogburn is scheduled to hear arguments at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday related to Doe's new motions for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.Doe hopes to prevent UNC from responding to a public records request that could reveal his identity.Doe's lawyers wrote Friday.Doe's lawsuit focuses on the process UNC used to suspend and then expel him from the Chapel Hill campus.according to the latest court filing.Doe had filed similar requests for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in February. Both sides in the case agreed to drop the issue in March because the university had not received any requests for records that could reveal Doe's name.The UNC System alerted Doe's lawyers on Oct. 3Lawyers on both sides of the case contacted the federal court. Court staff advised the parties to refile the motions dropped in the spring.Doe's suit claims UNC violated Title IX, as well as his civil rights under a federal law known as 1983. He also claimsThe 192-page lawsuit alleges that Doe was a sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2021according to the complaint filed in US District Court in February.Doe alleges that four female UNC students engaged in acampaign against him. One of the accusersaccording to the complaint. Doe was a Morehead-Cain scholar at Chapel Hill.Doe's lawyers wrote.Doe says he was foundrelated to two of the complaining students. He was foundinvolving a third student. YetDoeaccording to the complaint. Doe blames university investigators, the school's Title IX Coordinator, the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office, the Emergency Evaluation and Action Committee, and hearing panel chairs and members. TheyThe university expelled Doe. It barred him permanently in spring 2022 from reapplying to the Chapel Hill campus or applying to any other UNC campus,according to Doe's lawsuit.according to Doe's complaint.The most recent legal sparring in the case has involved the venue. UNC officials have filed paperwork seeking to have the case moved from North Carolina's Western District to the Middle District.Doe lives in Burke County, located in the Western District. The university sits in Orange County, located in the Middle District. Under the cover of Covid, and now in the shadow of the infamous Election Irregularities of that fated 2020 presidential election, with current emerging alleged election fraud in Nevada and Pennsylvania inconveniently slipping into the public discourse, there is proved a colluded ongoing Election Interference in the nomination of the Republican candidate, the likes of which has never occurred in our Constitutional Republic's history, albeit, the question remains: Do you support the plain-sight Election Interference of the Democratic Socialist party, employing its minions in their Propagandistic Media, and their Two Tiered Justice System? 98.25% No, I do not support Election Interference; I am a patriot unto our Constitution.1.75% Yes, I do support Election Interference; the alternative, Donald Trump, to this mentally diminished president is far worse.0% "What, me worry" if elections are rigged? "China Mitch" McConnell's support of a much worse than expected Senate border bill has led Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) to issue a call for new GOP Senate leadership to replace McConnell. Senator Lee called McConnell's backing of the bill "a disqualifying betrayal." McConnell chose a supporter of illegal immigratioin, Sen. James Lankford to do a deal with the Democrats on the subject. The Oklahoma Republican Party has already voted to censure and withdraw all support to Lankford over his border sellout to Biden. The border bill legalizes an illegal procedure, Biden's "parole pipeline" that brought 1.1 million illegal aliens into the US last year, and it further grants amnesty and automatic work permits to many of the lawbreaking illegal aliens now in the country. Some are now dubbing it the "Invasion Authorization Act." House Speaker Johnson and Majority Leader Scalise have declared it "dead on arrivael" in the House, and redoubled their refusal to even give it a vote in the House. The bill also contains no meaningful controls on the border, and allows 5,000 illegal aliens a day, or over one and a half million a year, to enter. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/2838124/mcconnell-border-bill-foes-smell-blood/ https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/feb/5/mike-lee-accuses-republican-leadership-of-disquali/ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13047987/Knives-Mitch-McConnell-border-bill-Republicans-start-calls-kick-leadership-accuse-bromance-Democrats-package-thats-betrayal-American-people.html https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/02/05/mike-lee-senate-gop-needs-new-leadership-now-border-bill-disqualifying-betrayal/ https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/02/05/don-jr-calls-mcconnell-a-mentally-declining-pro-amnesty-turtle-after-border-bill-unveiled/ https://redstate.com/mike_miller/2024/02/04/wouldnt-it-be-more-orderly-mayorkas-says-america-needs-more-illegal-aliens-in-softball-interview-n2169633 https://redstate.com/beccalower/2024/02/04/senate-finally-releases-already-draft-of-already-doa-package-for-border-israel-and-ukraine-n2169650 UPDATE: Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina is one of twenty Republicans who have announced their opposition to this excrement sandwich of a bill. Most of the rest of the Republicans are officially, at least, unannounced, although it is known that McConnell, Lankford, Tillis, and Rounds support it. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/02/update-opposition-grows-20-senate-republicans-pledge-reject/ https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/2839410/john-barrasso-opposes-ukraine-border-bill/ With all the furor of betrayal from the Republican base, even Mitch McConnell has now backtracked and told Republican senators they should vote against the Lankford / Schumer bill, at least for now. https://redstate.com/streiff/2024/02/06/mitch-mcconnell-urges-gop-senators-to-vote-against-the-border-security-bill-n2169708 Chinese New Year celebrations kick off in Chicago Xinhua) 15:02, February 05, 2024 CHICAGO, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Dragon dances and drum beating attracted flocks of people to a square in Chinatown on the south side of Chicago on Sunday, kicking off Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of the Dragon. Chinese Consul General in Chicago Zhao Jian, representatives of Illinois senators and congressmen, representative of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago alderwomen, and Chinese community leaders gave their good wishes for a healthy and prosperous new year. The main streets of Chicago Chinatown are decorated with hundreds of red lanterns, with poles along the streets hanging Chinese knots. Four dragon statues of different colors crouch in the square where the lighting ceremony is held. In the coming two weeks, events including concerts, Chinese New Year story-telling, DIY dragon, dragon exhibition, dumpling making, performances, and parades will be held to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10. Citywide, the Field Museum and Navy Pier are hosting dance and music performances, as well as Chinese calligraphy demos to usher in the Year of the Dragon. Fashion outlets in Chicago will host a kick-off event on Feb. 10 to ring in the Chinese New Year, and shoppers will be able to enjoy Chinese cultural games and activities, along with special performances featuring Chinese dance, Kung Fu, Chinese yo-yo and a children's choir. Also, special Lunar New Year red envelopes with free Savings Pass will be handed out by participating retailers. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) A physician in St. Peters, Mo., pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to make false statements resulting in more than $1.4 million in Medicare and Medicaid fraud. Romel Izquierdo-Malon, MD, entered into a contract to provide a company's clients with telemedicine consultations and was paid $30 for each consultation, according to a Feb. 2 news release from the Justice Department. Dr. Izquierdo-Malon signed pre-printed patient forms that certified for genetic tests he claimed were "medically necessary," but he never received the reports or used them for patient treatments. The signed orders resulted in Medicare paying more than $1 million to laboratories billed for the tests between March 2017 and September 2019. Dr. Izquierdo-Malon also signed orders for testing from November 2018 to October 2019 that caused Medicaid to pay nearly $400,000. Under federal statutes, Dr. Izquierdo-Malon is subject to a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole. He also must pay $140,788 in restitution as part of his plea agreement, the release said. Stafford, Conn.-based Johnson Memorial Hospital is planning an upgrade of its Enfield, Conn., surgery center, according to a Feb. 5 report by Hartford Business Journal. The hospital hopes to switch its existing hospital-based outpatient department to a freestanding outpatient surgical facility, which would be located in a $17.8 million, 43,200-square-foot medical building that is already under construction. Ownership of the facility would be transferred to Enfield Surgery Center, a new joint venture. Trinity Health of New England, which owns Johnson Memorial, would hold 51% ownership while the remaining 49% would be held by physicians. Johnson Memorial projects the surgery center will perform more than 5,000 procedures in its first year of operation, offering gastroenterology, general surgery, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, podiatry surgery, urology, gynecology, obstetrics, colorectal procedures and neurosurgery services. The project and plans must be approved by the Connecticut Office of Health Strategy, the report said. Connecticut is looking to forgive medical debt for residents in the first half of the year, with many details yet to be finalized. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced the debt-clearing initiative Feb. 2 on ABCs "Good Morning America." The state plans to invest $6.5 million in funds from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act toward a partnership with RIP Medical Debt to abolish approximately $650 million in medical debt for eligible state residents. For every $100, RIP Medical Debt abolishes $10,000 of medical debt. The nonprofit noted to Becker's that it has "not yet begun the process of negotiating contract terms, nor signed a formal agreement" with the state. Connecticut residents would be eligible if their medical debt equals 5% or more of their annual income or if their household income is up to 400% of the federal poverty line. Connecticut residents affected by the initiative will simply be notified that their medical debt is eliminated. The timeline for completion is unclear since a contract has not been finalized. RIP Medical Debt clarified reported claims that the state was looking to prioritize single parents in the initiative: "The program will prioritize low-income patients, per RIP's income criteria above, but will not and cannot explicitly target or prioritize single parents," according to a statement shared with Becker's. "RIP hopes to work closely with Governor Lamont and his team as the contract is finalized and will provide further updates to the public as details become available," the debt clearing group said in its Feb. 5 statement. New Jersey is also engaged with RIP Medical Debt on a statewide relief initiative, the nonprofit told Becker's. U.S. cities and counties have pursued similar initiatives. Last month, New York City rolled out a program with RIP Medical Debt to clear more than $2 billion in healthcare debt for up to 500,000 New Yorkers. In a similar but smaller effort, Cook County in Illinois which encompasses Chicago partnered with RIP Medical Debt to acquire and erase $79.2 million in medical debt, benefitting 72,989 county residents. Medical debt is a widespread challenge for both uninsured and insured adults in the United States, with about 41% holding debt caused by their medical or dental bills, according to 2022 data from KFF. Renton, Wash.-based Providence will provide $157.8 million in refunds and debt relief to low-income patients as part of an agreement with the Washington State Office of the Attorney General stemming from a lawsuit filed against the system two years ago. Hospitals in Washington are required by law to provide charity care to low-income patients. A lawsuit filed in February 2022 alleged Providence pressured patients who could have received financial assistance to pay their medical bills. Providence plans to forgive $137.2 million in medical debt and refund about $20.6 million to 34,000 patients who qualified for charity care at the time of service, according to the report. Providence already forgave $125.8 million in medical charges and refunded about $230,000 to around 1,500 Medicaid beneficiaries, according to a news release from the attorney general's office. Providence will also pay the attorney general's office $4.5 million to cover the cost of the investigation. "Serving those in need, regardless of their ability to pay, is at the very heart of Providence's mission and values," Providence CFO Greg Hoffman said in a news release. "Todays agreement reaffirms our commitment to serving those who are most vulnerable by taking steps to proactively promote the availability of financial assistance and simplify the application process. We have already begun providing payments with interest to individuals and are continuing to review our files to ensure we have not missed anyone. Going forward, these steps will help ensure all patients can spend more time focusing on their health and less time worrying about medical bills or insurance coverage." Nearly 100,000 patients will either have their debt forgiven or receive refunds. Providence reviewed its financial assistance policies, billing-related communications to patients, financial aid applications and revenue cycle training materials in the last few years, and it implemented a process to write off Medicaid account balances. The system also noted in the release it has taken steps to make sure Medicaid beneficiaries are not incorrectly sent to collections going forward. Rockville Centre, N.Y.-based Catholic Health has selected Gary Havican, DHSc, as its next chief operating officer. Dr. Havican has more than 27 years of experience leading health systems, according to a Feb. 5 news release shared with Becker's. Most recently, he served as president of Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare's Central region. In his new role, Dr. Havican will oversee operations for Catholic Health's six hospitals, employed medical group, and home care and hospice services. Arcata, Calif.-based Mad River Community Hospital and management company Southwest Healthcare Services have ended sale discussions for the hospital. The hospital shared that it was set to be acquired by Southwest Healthcare last May, with a final agreement initially expected last fall. "While we know it is a challenging time for rural hospitals, we remain committed to doing what is best to support our employees, community, patients, and hospital," Doug Shaw, CEO of Mad River Community Hospital, said in a statement shared with Becker's. While Mr. Shaw's statement did not address the reason behind both parties not moving forward with the acquisition, he said the hospital will continue to make investments in its people, facilities and staff. A locally owned, independent hospital, Mad River Community Hospital comprises a five-bed emergency department and services including emergency medicine, physical therapy, OB, intensive care unit, radiological and medical/surgery. The hospital is also associated with additional clinics and programs, according to its website. Estee Lauder's Clinique cosmetic company has partnered with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City to establish a dermatology center to research skin health. The Mount Sinai-Clinique Healthy Skin Dermatology Center, announced Feb. 2, will be home to research on the biology of skin aging, allergies and inflammatory disorders, with findings informing Clinique in product development to offer more solutions for those with sensitive skin. Founded in 1946 in New York City, Clinique is the second largest cosmetics company in the world after L'Oreal. The company has made a philanthropic commitment of $5 million over seven years for the partnership and founding of the Mount Sinai-Clinique Healthy Skin Dermatology Center. The funds will be used to recruit physicians and scientists, advanced equipment, clinical and laboratory space, and key support staff, according to Mount Sinai. Clinique dermatologists Catherine Orentreich, MD, and David Orentreich, MD, are affiliated with Mount Sinai. Dr. David Orentreich is assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Icahn Mount Sinai, and both physicians are members of the Mount Sinai Dermatology Advisory Board. News of the dermatology institute came shortly before Estee Lauder announced it is cutting up to 3,000 jobs as part of a restructuring plan, Bloomberg reported Feb. 5. The Oregon Nurses Association has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that PeaceHealth executives threatened to terminate health insurance for home care nurses and their families after the union filed a strike notice. The health system, however, contends it was trying to prevent striking nurses from losing their benefits due to the timing of the strike. Nurses at Springfield, Ore.-based PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Home Care Services notified Vancouver, Wash.-based PeaceHealth of their intent to strike Jan. 19, with the strike to begin Feb. 1 and last two weeks. After receiving the notice, PeaceHealth executives told workers that the health system planned to terminate striking nurses' health insurance along with any covered family members, the ONA alleges. The union contends the move was retaliation for engaging in protected activities and violated federal labor law. The National Labor Relations Act prevents employers from "threaten[ing] employees with adverse consequences, such as closing the workplace, loss of benefits, or more onerous working conditions, if they support a union, engage in union activity, or select a union to represent them." "This is a direct attack on local healthcare professionals and their families," ONA President Tamie Cline, RN, said in a news release. "Shame on the executives running PeaceHealth for putting profits before patients and the nurses who care for them. "Why would anyone in this community trust PeaceHealth to provide healthcare for them when PeaceHealth refuses to provide healthcare for its own workers?" PeaceHealth shared a statement with Becker's, saying that after notifying the union that their initial strike date of Feb. 1 would cause a lapse in benefits for their members, the ONA pulled their initial notice and filed a new notice of a strike to begin Feb. 10. PeaceHealth said it notified the union of their error to prevent workers from unnecessarily losing their health benefits due to the timing of the strike. The health system's employment policy states that benefits expire on the last day of the month in which the individual works. For example, if an employee's last day of work is Jan. 31, their benefits expire at the end of January. If an employee's last day of work is Feb. 1, their benefits expire at the end of February. The union has also accused Peace Health of refusing to meet with nurses after a Jan. 23 negotiation session was canceled, but the health system said it is prioritizing preparing for the strike. "Once PeaceHealth received the strike notice from ONA, we immediately postponed our upcoming bargaining sessions to focus our full attention on ensuring the continued delivery of safe, high-quality patient care during the union's strike," PeaceHealth said. "We look forward to resuming negotiations at a later date, but right now our focus must be on our patients and providing uninterrupted care." The strike is currently set to begin at 7 a.m. Feb. 10 and end at 7 a.m. Feb. 24 outside PeaceHealth's Sacred Heart Home Care Services Springfield, Ore., office. PeaceHealth said it has contracted with an agency to provide temporary replacement workers during the strike. Pomona (California) Valley Hospital Medical Center agreed to pay more than $2 million to resolve allegations it overbilled the state's Medicaid program for prescription medications. From 2016 through September 2021, Pomona Valley improperly charged higher "usual and customary" costs, rather than lower "actual acquisition costs," as required under the 340B Drug Pricing Program, according to a Feb. 2 Justice Department news release. The overbilling resulted from Pomona Valley allegedly billing for its usual costs following a federal court's temporary stay of the implementation of the California law requiring 340B providers to bill Medi-Cal at actual acquisition cost rates, the release said. But once the ban was lifted, the hospital failed to implement actual acquisition cost pricing. The settlement agreement comes after voluntary disclosures made by Pomona Valley made in 2021 and 2023, according to the release. Pomona Valley cooperated with federal and state authorities following the self-disclosure, according to the release. The settled claims are allegations only and Pomona Valley has not admitted wrongdoing. Emergency crews were called to CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy in Omaha, Neb., Feb. 3 after healthcare staff noticed a strong smell and became light-headed while treating a critical patient, according to a report from ABC affiliate KETV. Omaha Fire Department officials told the news outlet HAZMAT crews responded after staff in the hospital's emergency department reported a strong smell while treating a patient who needed CPR. Some staff had a "physical reaction" to the smell, which raised concerns of a possible chemical exposure, according to the report. HAZMAT crews responded, shutting off ventilation systems and checking the emergency room. The patient and about 10 staff members who crews believed could have been exposed were confined to a single room, fire officials told the news outlet. Ambulances with critical patients were temporarily rerouted to Nebraska Medical Center during the incident. The fire department did not detect any chemical exposure and gave hospital staff the all-clear. Healthcare staff called fire crews back shortly after when the smell returned. They did not find an issue the second time, but said it may have been related to a mechanical issue in the hospital. In a statement to the news outlet, CHI Health said the room where the smell was detected will remain closed out of an abundance of caution. Becker's has reached out to CHI Health and will update the report if more information becomes available. Walgreens has formed a new advisory council with pharmacy school leaders to address staffing challenges and fortify the pipeline of future pharmacists. The council comprises 17 pharmacy school deans and several senior executives from the retail pharmacy chain. The group will meet quarterly to discuss strategies to rebuild the talent pipeline, address current staffing challenges, improve pharmacists' job satisfaction and make community pharmacies a practice setting of choice. John Colaizzi Jr., PharmD, vice president of pharmacy practice at Walgreens, and Angela Kashuba, PharmD, dean of UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy in Chapel Hill, N.C., will co-chair the council. The first meeting is scheduled for early March. Learn more here. Since Feb. 1, new measles cases have been reported in two new states Ohio and Maryland. The case in Ohio was evaluated and confirmed at Dayton Children's Hospital, according to Montgomery County health officials. It's the county's first reported case since 2005. The Maryland resident with a confirmed case had recently traveled internationally and acquired the infection abroad, according to the news release. Neither confirmed case is connected to the recent outbreak of nine measles cases in and around the Philadelphia area. "Measles is ten times more infectious than COVID. If you're exposed, there's a good chance you're going to get it if you're not vaccinated," Scott Krugman, MD, a pediatrician at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore told CBS News. Aside from the outbreak in Pennsylvania and these two most recent cases in Ohio and Maryland, exposure warnings and cases have also appeared in Missouri, Colorado, and Georgia in recent months. A security guard at University Health Hospital-Kansas City (Mo.) was shot while escorting a discharged patient out of the building to a parking lot on Feb. 2. During a confrontation between the two, the patient was able to wrestle the guard's gun away from him and fired the weapon, injuring the guard, the Kansas City Police Department confirmed to Becker's. A second security guard who was nearby and also involved was able to secure the weapon and take the patient into custody without additional incident. The guard's injuries are not life-threatening, a spokesperson for the hospital told Becker's. Initial reports claimed there was an active shooter at the hospital, but police confirmed it was not an active shooter, just an isolated incident. "University Health is grateful to our security team following an altercation this morning with a patient that resulted in one of our officers being shot with his own weapon" the hospital spokesperson said. "The entire incident lasted less than two minutes. Kansas City Police were notified immediately and were on the scene within minutes. The security teams fast actions created the best possible outcome, keeping our staff and patients safe." French orthopedic devicemaker Safe Medical saw another win against Neo Medical over patent infringement, according to a Feb. 5 news release. The Paris Judicial Court upheld its judgment from a May 2021 ruling that Neo Medical infringed one of Safe Medical's patents. Neo Medical was found to be guilty of infringing the patent for a pedicle screw kit. Neo Medical must pay $53,722 to Safe Medical, the release said. A former DUP minister who once held Stormonts purse-strings has said he has no doubts about the ability of the Sinn Fein politician now in charge of Northern Irelands finances to make tough decisions. Having served as minister for finance, the economy and health in previous Stormont administrations, Simon Hamilton is better placed than most to understand the challenges that lie ahead in both departments. And while he said Northern Ireland starts this week in a much better place than the last one, patience will be needed to allow new ministers to settle into their departments. Sinn Fein will now hold both the finance and economy departments following restoration of the institutions at Stormont. Read more PM Rishi Sunak in NI ahead of meeting with new leaders of Stormont Executive And while it was a surprise to many that Caoimhe Archibald landed the top job at the Department of Finance, Mr Hamilton who went on to serve as CEO of Belfast Chamber of Commerce and now runs a consultancy firm said he has no doubt she has the capabilities to quickly get to grips with what he called the engine room of government in Northern Ireland. It can be a very hard role to win friends in, he said. Its a ministry where the tough decisions on where priorities are going to be are made, and theres always going to someone disappointed with their budgets across the departments. But I have no doubts in her ability to run what is often an unglamorous, but in the end critically vital department. As with all new ministers taking up their posts this week, we all have to be patient and allow them time to settle. Weve been saying for so long that its important they get back to work at Stormont. Now its vital that they get down to that work. But all the problems will not be fixed overnight. We will have to have that patience. There was a brief period of confusion in the Assembly chamber on Saturday afternoon, with the DUP nomination of Paul Givan as Education Minister coming as a surprise to Sinn Fein, and the republican party calling a pause as the process wasnt going as they had expected. Caoimhe Archibald was then installed as Finance Minister, a position that seemed likely to be taken by the DUPs Gordon Lyons, who will now head up Communities instead. Mr Hamilton said Ms Archibalds first task will be to address where the 3.3bn promised by the UK Government on Stormonts restoration will be going. But it wont be as simple as sitting down and allocating that money, as a lot of it has all ready been ring-fenced for commitments already made, he said. Finding out whats left and deciding where it goes will be the job. While it may sound like a lot of money, there are always going to be disappointed ministers. Thats what you deal with in the Finance Department. Thats why it will be crucial to come up with a multi-year budget. First, that can relieve a little of the pressure of constantly juggling budgets year after year, but you can make sure that if one department doesnt get what it expects in year one, they can know its coming in year two or three. That way all departments can better plan in the long term. A three-year budget would be ideal. That would take the new Assembly up to the end of its current mandate. But there will be other decisions to make and not all of them are going to be popular. Finding ways to increase finances, through rate rises, are going to poses difficult questions. Other departments will always try to make a friend of the Finance Minister. Making friends in the other direction is not part of the job. A Co Fermanagh home bakery company that mislabelled a carrot cake by leaving out that it had peanuts in it, has been handed fines totalling 1,750. MM Home Bakery Ltd was also ordered to pay 362 towards the costs of Newry and Mourne District Council bringing the prosecution at Banbridge Magistrates Court, sitting in Newry. The company, with an address on Main Street in Lisnaskea, entered guilty pleas to two of the four charges against them admitting that on March 25, last year, at VivoXtra in Banbridge, it had placed unsafe food on the market in that the said food contained known allergens and you failed to provide this information to the consumer and also that they had sold or offered or displayed or exposed for sale food namely Melting Moments Home Bakery Frosted Carrot Cakes which falsely described the food or was likely to mislead as to the nature or substance or quality of the food. Opening the facts of the case prosecution counsel told the court how the victim suffers from a peanut allergy so having checked the label, she bought herself the frosted carrot cake but after she ate it, she immediately started to feel symptoms of an allergic reaction to such a degree that she had to go to A&E. Although she twice contacted the company to alert them to the incident, she noticed the same product was still on the shelves a week later so this time, she contacted the environmental health department at the council and arising from that, there was a product recall on April 14. Their investigation and a questionnaire sent to the defendant company established that the recipe for the carrot cake had been changed in 2021, replacing walnuts with peanuts but the labelling was not altered. The barrister told Deputy District Judge Alan White the council had asked him to highlight the carrot cake had been on the market without being properly labelled for two years which presented as a risk to the consumer and also that the lady who suffered an allergic reaction had alerted the bakery twice but nothing was done until the council became involved. The court heard that having been in business for more than 20 years, MM Home Bakery Limited has 151 different product lines, distributes 4,000 units a week and has three members of staff two full-time and one part-time. Defence counsel Kevin Magill told the court the part-time member of staff was in charge of the labelling and it appeared that when the recipe was changed, that particular member of staff was off work at the time. It had a generic may contain nuts [label] but unfortunately, peanuts are not nuts, theyre a legume, said the barrister. He said however that the company apologises to the victim and it was an indication of how serious the company take the charges that two out of the three staff members had attended court personally. Imposing the fines and court costs, DJ White said Im sure that many of us know somebody who has suffered very badly from an allergic reaction and revealed that sadly, he knew someone who had died as a result of an allergic reaction to peanuts. The 20m investment in the phase five development at The Quays Shopping Centre in Newry was completed in 2018 Cork businessman Tom Coughlans Urban Green Private (UGP) has swooped on a deal to buy the Quays Shopping Centre in Newry. The sale is understood to be for under 20m (17m) after a deal was struck with receivers who took control of the 375,000 sq ft development in 2022. The acquisition marks a significant development for UGP which bought the suburban Douglas Village Shopping Centre in Cork last year for 23m (20m). It also owns Castletroy Shopping Centre in Limerick, the Town Centre in Shannon and the large Bridgwater Shopping Centre in Arklow, Co Wicklow. It is believed that UGP sees Newry, is a key centre in the emerging Dublin-Belfast economic corridor, lying roughly 100km north of one and 60 km south of the other. The Quays is around the same size as Bridgwater in Arklow and is located close to the border, allowing it to benefit at times from significant demand from the Republic for some UK brands as well as when sterling weakens . Retail giant Sainsburys is the anchor tenant at the Quays, with Marks & Spencer, Ominiplex Cinemas, Superdry and Waterstones among the mix of shops. The Quays was originally owned by businessman Gerard OHares Parker Green International, who developed with loans backed by Anglo Irish Bank. It has been through a number of hands since the financial crisis, before most recent owner Garrison Earlsfort lost control when Andrew Dolliver and Luke Charleton of EY were appointed as joint receivers. Mr OHare left the business in 2018 part of an agreement with the company's funders, concluding just weeks after the Quays had unveiled a 20m extension anchored by Marks & Spencer. The sale of other major shopping centres in Northern Ireland buoyed up the commercial property market during 2023. The largest deal of 2023 was the purchase of Rushmere Shopping Centre in Craigavon for 46.5m by Killahoey Limited. Other substantial deals included the acquisition of Forestside Shopping Centre in Belfast for 42m by Mussenden Properties Limited, a company owned by Michael Herbert, and Foyleside Shopping Centre in Derry, which was purchased by a consortium of Northern Irish investors for 27m. Burrito business Boojum is opening a new restaurant in Leeds Irish burrito chain Boojum is opening its first store in GB amid plans to roll out more restaurants. The firm, which opened its first location on Botanic Avenue in Belfast back in 2007, has just unveiled its new restaurant at the Merrion Centre in Leeds. Its due to open its doors in April, the firm said, creating around 40 new jobs. The new store opening in Leeds Merrion Centre will create 40 new jobs including both full time and part time positions, it said. The chain was sold to the UK company which runs the Zizzi and Ask Italian restaurant chains. The business was bought by David and Andrew Maxwell in 2015 as part of a management buy-in, which was backed by investment firm Renatus. Azzurri Group said it had acquired a controlling interest in Boojum from Renatus Capital Partners. David Maxwell, the firms managing director, posting on LinkedIn, said: See you soon Leeds hopefully the first of many stores in mainland UK. It revealed last year that it would open its 15th location in Ireland at Dublins Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, with the creation of 30 new jobs. It said the opening was in response to the brands phenomenal success around Co Dublin. The unit will seat 50 people inside and another 16 outside, and will also offer take away, click and collect, and delivery services. Fans of rock legend Gary Moore are fundraising to erect a statue in his hometown of Belfast, ahead of the 13th anniversary of his death. The Wild Frontier Memorial Project, which has already raised over 7,000 through tribute gigs, has launched an online crowdfunding appeal to garner wider support to honour the former Thin Lizzy guitarist who died of a heart attack in 2011. The project has received backing from Moore's son Jack and sister Patricia, as well the Green Part and Alliance alongside musicians like former Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham. Moore was born and raised in Belfast in 1952 before moving to Dublin aged 16. He also had a celebrated career with bands like Skid Row and G-Force, and as a solo artist. He left Thin Lizzy in the early 1970s claiming he found the band's increasing drug use and the associated partying detrimental to his own wellbeing. He also said he felt he was "doing himself in" and needed a change. As a solo artist, his 1990 album "Still Got The Blues" became a global hit, selling millions of copies and solidifying his blues reputation. He also collaborated with artists such as BB King, Albert King, Peter Green, Glenn Hughes, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton. "This is an exciting time for the campaign to honour the legend Gary Moore with a statue in Belfast. We want to celebrate his memorable music, his remarkable talent, and with his legacy, inspire new generations of musicians, said Sron Quigley, co-founder of the project. Belfast is a city rich with music history and talent and we believe visitors to the city will warmly welcome a statue of Gary Moore as much as the people of Belfast. "We know Gary has a worldwide fanbase and our new online crowdfunding appeal will allow them to show their support and love for Gary Moore. The online crowdfunding campaign is hosted on iDonate.ie. Carl Frampton shared photographs of his encounter with Scottish actor Gerard Butler over the weekend (Photo: TheFrampton/Instagram) Carl Frampton shared photographs of his encounter with Scottish actor Gerard Butler over the weekend (Photo: TheFrampton/Instagram) World champion boxer Carl Frampton has taken to social media to share an encounter with Hollywood actor Gerard Butler during a night out in Belfast. Writing on the social media platform Instagram, Frampton shared two photos alongside the Scottish actor who has been spotted several times in Northern Ireland over the past month. "Not that often you bump into superstars in Belfast. (Gerard Butler) watched the rugby and posed for photos all night. What a guy, the Tigers Bay boxer captioned the photos with a hands raised emoji. Butler is currently in Northern Ireland filming the live action adaption of How to Train Your Dragon, which is shooting at Titanic Studios. The actor reprises his role from the animated version of the film as lead character Hiccups father Stoick the Vast. Carl Frampton shared photographs of his encounter with Scottish actor Gerard Butler over the weekend (Photo: TheFrampton/Instagram) The film also stars Nick Frost who will play Butlers fellow Viking joining leads Mason Thames and Nico Parker, who stars as Hiccups love interest Astrid. Julian Dennison and Harry Trevaldwyn also star in the film, with rumours Frosts frequent collaborator Simon Pegg has also joined the cast. Last weekend, Butler was spotted enjoying taking in the sights of Belfasts Cathedral Quarter, while he was also spotted at the Merchant Hotel. Frampton is coming off the release of his autobiography late last year which documented his fallout and subsequent legal battle with former manager Barry McGuigan. Butler is expected to be in Belfast until the summer, while filming continues ahead of How to Train Your Dragons cinema release in June 2025. Homes in Fremonts 28 Palms neighborhood increased faster than anywhere else in the San Francisco metro area from December 2019 to December 2023. Google Street View When a three-bedroom, two-bath home in a small Fremont neighborhood sold in 2016, it went for $821,000, or about $1.04 million in 2023 dollars. It resold in 2023 for almost $1.53 million, according to real estate listing site Zillow. That huge jump in price isnt uncommon for Fremonts 28 Palms neighborhood, a quiet locale of single-story houses and cul-de-sacs lined, fittingly, with palm trees. In fact, home values in the community saw the fastest growth of any in the San Francisco metropolitan area from 2019 to 2023, Zillow data shows. Real estate map: Home prices in every Bay Area city and ZIP code Advertisement Article continues below this ad The rise of 28 Palms and neighborhoods like it illustrates a trend of buyers competing for housing in suburban communities near major job centers and away from urban cores such as San Francisco. The trend has played out on a larger scale, too, with Fremont now one of the Bay Areas most expensive cities for homebuyers. Homes in 28 Palms have historically been valued somewhat modestly at least compared with the rest of the San Francisco metro area. But after the pandemic and record-low mortgage rates drove buyers into bidding wars, the dynamic shifted. The typical value in the neighborhood surged, rising 47% from $849,000 in December 2019 to $1.25 million in December 2023. Thats a lower value than the neighborhoods mid-2022 peak, before spiking mortgage rates chilled the market. But by then, the neighborhoods home values had already surpassed those of the overall San Francisco metro area, where they increased by just 21% to $1.01 million at the end of 2023. And home values in both 28 Palms and Fremont overall have climbed again over the past several months. The 28 Palms neighborhood doesnt have as large of a market as some areas, with fewer than 10 homes sold during most months, according to data from real estate brokerage site Redfin. But that itself could make homes there more valuable, as buyers enticed to the market by recent declines in mortgage rates compete for a notoriously limited housing inventory. The same factor, real estate agents previously told the Chronicle, will probably keep pushing Silicon Valley home values upward this year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Other features, such as quality schools and commercial areas 28 Palms is adjacent to a shopping center with a Costco and a movie theater may be drawing families to the neighborhood and similar areas. Its proximity to job centers in the South Bay is probably another major factor behind its growing home values, one shared by several other nearby cities. Several recent home listings have highlighted 28 Palms proximity to Interstate 880, which traces the neighborhoods southern edge, as a bonus for commuters. Places such as Fremont, San Jose and Dublin have seen big booms in values as more tech companies have required workers to return to the office. Fremont itself is home to a major Tesla factory. At the same time, those cities home values are probably also boosted by hybrid work policies. Some research suggests that because many office-based companies still allow employees to work from home for at least part of the week, homebuyers are continuing to look for larger homes in more suburban areas such as Fremont rather than in urban cities such as San Francisco. This phenomenon, dubbed the doughnut effect, probably also contributes to the rising home values in low-density neighborhoods such as Hayward Highland in Hayward or Woodlands in Walnut Creek. Both communities saw at least 40% increases in their typical home values from December 2019 to December 2023, Zillow data shows. Those were the only two of the top 10 neighborhoods outside of Fremont with the biggest jumps in home values, among those for which Zillow had data. Its 28 Palms neighborhood topped the list. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A robber emerged from a taxi brandishing a gun to steal a vulnerable young mans mobile phone in west Belfast , a court heard today. Police claim Michael Morgan pointed the weapon at the victim in John Street on Saturday and then ordered another cab to make his escape. The 32-year-old, of Kilwee Lane in Dunmurry, appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court charged with robbery, two counts of possessing a firearm or imitation firearm, and making off with payment. He was refused bail and remanded in custody until next month. The court heard that a taxi driver brought a man from Glenkeen in the Poleglass area to the scene of the robbery. Based on CCTV footage and a description of the perpetrator, police believe that customer was Morgan. A detective alleged: The defendant got out of the taxi armed with a firearm, held it to a young mans body and demanded his iPhone and passcode before making off from the area. The perpetrator attempted to get back into the same cab, but the driver left without him and alerted police. A second taxi was ordered and brought the man back to Glenkeen. It was claimed that Morgan got out of that vehicle without paying the fare and ran into a nearby house. He was arrested after officers arrived in the area and entered the property. A suspected gun was seized along with quantities of potential cocaine and diazepam. Morgan is not charged with any drugs offences and tests are being carried out to establish if the weapon is live or a replica. Opposing his application for bail, police claimed it would create a risk of harm to the public. A firearm (was pointed) at a young man classed as vulnerable, the detective added. The victim is extremely distressed, he does not know why he was targeted other than his vulnerability. Defence solicitor Adrian Harvey confirmed Morgan denies any involvement in the robbery. He told the court his client has not been identified by any witnesses and knew nothing about the items seized from a house where someone else lives. A gas powered pellet gun was recovered from the homeowners address, Mr Harvey contended. Mr Morgan makes the case that he never left that address in Poleglass, he simply was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Denying bail, however, District Judge Steven Keown said: Its a very worrying set of allegations. He remanded Morgan in custody to appear again via video link on March 4. This court does its best to assist personal litigants, but the defendant has been the worst example I have encountered This is the self-proclaimed supreme being anti-vaxxer who led a court on a merry dance costing us all tens of thousands of pounds and ended up losing spectacularly. Paul Kevin Canavan stood accused at Dungannon Magistrates Court on Wednesday of criminal damage to an electricity meter after he had one illegally removed from his home in August 2022. But the 41-year-old, from Millrace Avenue, Dungannon, has consistently said hes a supreme being and didnt consent to the charge, repeatedly telling the judge he was there to do business by special appearance. On Wednesday, after a futile three-hour court contest in which he kept staff until after 6pm, the Dungannon deity was fined 500 and ordered to pay compensation of 332 to NIE. District Judge Michael Ranaghan said at a previous hearing he was aware of incidents of people recording prosecutors leaving the building and I assume that is under police investigation. That has been confirmed, but when we confronted the supreme being outside court last Wednesday, he wasnt in the mood for having his picture taken or discussing why he ran such a ludicrous case. Paul Kevin Canavan (41) from Millrace Avenue, Dungannon I dont want to talk to you. Go and talk to that judge, hes one of the best judges in the country, he said sarcastically to a reporter. I dont want to be rude, but I just want to go home to my family. I have kids. I dont want any confrontation, I dont mean to be rude, I just want to go home. On Facebook, Canavan promotes conspiracy theories about Covid vaccines, Putin and Ukraine. One of his disciples was kicked out of court for taking notes, claiming it was his human right to take notes, with the judge saying: This court is not going to be used as a circus. Paul Kevin Canavan (41) from Millrace Avenue, Dungannon In previous hearings Canavan refused to enter the dock or be addressed by his surname, contending he is Paul Kevin making a special appearance. Following numerous and often dramatic stand-offs in court over several months, significantly delaying the matters and sometimes seeing Canavan held in custody for contempt, Judge Ranaghan issued a ruling two weeks ago around the plethora of nonsense that common men, sovereign men or indeed supreme beings use as a defence. He noted that these people put themselves either outside or above the law. To date the defendant has been dismissive, rude, obstructive, confrontational and generally misbehaves. This court does its best to assist personal litigants, but the defendant has been the worst example I have encountered. Canavan, said the judge, has people attending court with him who have also been disruptive, including his partner who behaved particularly badly when he was sent into custody for contempt. I am also advised of their rude, confrontational behaviour in dealings with court staff. There have also been incidents of these people recording prosecutors leaving the building and I assume that is under police investigation. As part of that ruling, Judge Ranaghan informed Canavan he is not above the law, nor does he attend by special appearance. He continued: The defendant calls himself a supreme being. I have never met one and would never be so arrogant to represent myself as one. I find this concept abhorrent. Nothing takes him outside the jurisdiction of this or any other court. It may be those using these tactics think they are being clever. They are not. Judge Ranaghan added: Rather than trawl the internet for mumbo jumbo, the defendant should seek legal advice, but I fear that will again fall on deliberately deaf ears. He claims acts and statutes are not law which is another example of pseudo-legal nonsense. And on Wednesday Canavan and his disciples had their moment in the sun when he ran his own legal defence in a bizarre three-hour court caper. NIE engineers and staff had to attend to give evidence, with Canavan asking the same questions of witnesses and repeatedly stating criminal damage was not caused to the meter, therefore he could not possibly be guilty of the charge. Initially, Canavan sought to have his friend assist him in the case but when the person was asked their name multiple terms and provided only his first name, Judge Ranaghan refused to allow this. Despite being told numerous times the decision to remove or interfere with the meter constituted criminal damage by NIE staff, Canavan refused to accept this. Canavan insisted the removed device was a smart meter which he claimed was very dangerous, but no matter how many times he was told it was not a smart meter, he refused to agree, adding: That has never been proved. Even when told NIE dont install smart meters, Canavan refused to accept this. He confirmed he paid a competent electrician 50 to remove the meter but could not say who this person was, only that hed found a number in the Yellow Pages phonebook. In summing up his defence, Canavan said: They (NIE) admitted in court no criminal damage was ever done. I proved this beyond reasonable doubt. After taking time to consider the evidence, Judge Ranaghan said: There is a clear misunderstanding by the defendant around the charge wording. That is ludicrous and is no doubt influenced by the nonsense many ascribe to and find available online. He states the meter was not damaged therefore he cannot be guilty of criminal damage. The defendant appears to have ignored the legal precedent he was guided to by the court on the actual meaning of criminal damage. From the moment the meter was removed by the competent electrician, it was not functioning as intended and was therefore damaged within the meaning of criminal damage. A man accused of stealing T-shirts priced at over 500 each from a luxury retailer in Belfast claims a brain injury has left him with no memory of one alleged theft, the High Court heard today. Peter McDonagh, 30, is also pinning all of the blame for a second raid on Flannels last month on his teenage female co-defendant. McDonagh, from the Republic of Ireland but with an address at Hillhead Cottages in Toomebridge, has been charged with two counts of theft. He allegedly stole a 575 Dolce & Gabbana T-shirt from the clothes store at Victoria Square on January 6. Prosecutors claimed McDonagh returned to the shop on January 26, selected another four T-shirts with a total value of 2,005 and put them in a bag carried by his accomplice. He was detained by security staff at the scene and taken to a nearby police station. Meanwhile, his alleged accomplice was contacted and agreed to hand back the four garments. The 19-year-old woman, who travelled up from Dublin to carry out the theft, pleaded guilty last week at Belfast Magistrates Court and received a conditional discharge. As McDonagh applied for bail today, the prosecution confirmed that the single 575 T-shirt stolen on January 6 has not been recovered. He stated that he couldnt remember anything (about it) as he has a bad memory due to a brain injury, Crown counsel said. The court heard McDonagh claims he was wrongly arrested for the second theft carried out by his female co-accused. Hes saying prove I had anything to do with it, Mr Justice OHara observed. Citing allegations that he was recognised on security cameras, the judge added: Its hardly surprising Flannels have CCTV given the cost of the T-shirts. McDonagh was granted bail to live at an agreed address in Co Down. Mr Justice OHara ordered him to lodge a 1,000 cash surety and banned him from being in Belfast except for court appearances. Robin Swann has returned as Minister for Health in the new Stormont powersharing executive (Liam McBurney/PA) An Ulster Unionist MLA has criticised his party leaders decision to nominate Robin Swann as Health Minister after announcing him as a Westminster candidate. Mr Swann was returned as minister following a meeting of the Assembly on Saturday. He said he intends to prioritise pay settlements for staff and to resolve industrial action. Mr Swann held the same ministry between 2020-22 during which time his profile soared as he led the health service through the Covid-19 pandemic. But the recent announcement that the respected North Antrim MLA would stand in South Antrim in the upcoming Westminster election has raised questions. Party leader Doug Beattie has not been definitive over whether Mr Swanns appointment was about raising his profile. After the decision was praised by one unionist on X, formerly Twitter, as a genius move, Ulster Unionist MLA Andy Allen said he opposed the move. The MLA for East Belfast and UUP communities spokesperson said: I would respectfully disagree. We need a health minister with their full focus on the task at hand, not one eye on WM (Westminster). UUP's Andy Allen In a surprise move, the UUP announced at the end of January that the former health minister is to shift from North Antrim to try to unseat DUP MP Paul Girvan in the neighbouring constituency. In a statement, Mr Beattie said Mr Swann was chosen primarily for his experience in the portfolio. The call I was receiving from the public and many health professionals was simple, we must hit the ground running. With two years of a five-year mandate already gone it was important we looked to experience to allow us to meet that challenge. This is the primary reason I looked towards Robin Swann to return to health. As the last health minister, Robin has an unrivalled understanding of the issues and is already well read into the department. Discussion in the medium to long term will of course take place. However, dealing with the here and now, public sector pay, workforce management, cancer care strategy as well as the elective care strategy needed a degree of experience. Robin Swann has that experience and I looked to him to hit the ground running which he has already done. Doug Beattie, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (Brian Lawless/PA) Mr Swann said yesterday that dealing with healthcare staff 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. He said he was honoured and humbled to return to the role, adding: 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. Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie might withdraw Robin Swann as a Westminster election candidate after the North Antrim MLA became Health Minister for a second time. It comes just hours after Mr Beattie said he wanted his party to go into opposition instead of the newly-restored Stormont Executive. Over the weekend, UUP MLA Andy Allen said he opposed the move to give the health ministry to his party colleague Mr Swann, who has already been ratified to run in the next General Election by the partys South Antrim branch. Mr Swann held the same ministry between 2020-22 during which time his profile soared as he led the health service through the Covid-19 pandemic. But the recent announcement that the respected North Antrim MLA would stand in South Antrim in the upcoming General Election has raised questions. After the decision to give Mr Swann the ministry was praised by one unionist on X, formerly Twitter, as a genius move, East Belfast MLA Mr Allen said he opposed the move. Read more Stormont needs a health minister focused on task, not with one eye on Westminster says UUP colleague Speaking on BBC Radio Ulsters Talkback, a flustered Mr Beattie said Mr Swann was chosen to run in the next Westminster election not knowing where we are now going into government. So I have to look at this and make a number of decisions and the first is to hit the ground running, he said. I chose to hit the ground running and that is with Robin Swann who knows the brief. That does not mean that doesnt give me the opportunity to start preparing somebody to step in if thats the case. The UUP leader then added he might withdraw Mr Swann from standing in the General Election but I dont know. Speaking on Radio Ulsters Nolan Show, Mr Beattie was questioned about Mr Allens tweet, which he described as an overspill of emotion as both he and Mr Allen both wanted the UUP to go into opposition with the SDLP. I dont think people realise the pressure that some people are under the passion, the frustration, the disappointment, said Mr Beattie. It just so happens in the Ulster Unionist Party, we have been kept out of all of the negotiations in regards to where we are now. All of this was thrust onto us on Wednesday and Thursday of this week for us to have to make a decision based on information coming in on the Friday. There was an awful lot of pressure on every single one of us. Heres where Im going to be honest with you Im telling you now that there were members of my party, elected members of my party, who thought that it would be better if we went into opposition. It just so happens, I was one of them, and that wasnt opposition for opposition sake. I think opposition creates good government so thats why I wanted to go into opposition. Andy Allen was also one of those people who thought we should go into opposition, but I lead a party and the consensus from the party elected and non-elected was that we go into government. So there was passion, there was frustration and sometimes that overspills. I think in this case, thats what happened. It overspilled in a tweet. Thats it. Nothing more than that. Mr Beattie added that Mr Allen is loyal to Mr Swann and said he was a valued member of the UUP. Andy is a valued member of my MLA group, hes a colleague who stood beside me in some of the most adverse situations and he is a friend, he added. He is a man of loyalty, he is a man of integrity and he is a man who will continue to serve his constituents. The Belfast Telegraph has attempted to contact Mr Beattie and Mr Allen. Meanwhile, the director of the Royal College of Nursing Rita Devlin, said no more time should be wasted to resolve the crisis in nursing and health and social care. Following two years of political stalemate which has decimated our health and social care services, nurses are now hopeful that people in Northern Ireland will have a brighter future, she said. Nursing staff have been fighting for months to get someone to listen to their concerns and act upon the deepening crisis in health which has been compounded by shortages of nursing staff and no pay award for 2023-24. There is no time to waste in getting this issue resolved quickly and we welcome the appointment of Robin Swann as Minister for Health. "Having worked closely with the Minister in the past, I am sure he is in no doubt that we need to resolve the pay crisis first and foremost before addressing the many other issues facing health and social care. With the decline in priests and Mass-goers, ex-editor of the Irish Catholic Michael Kelly paints a bleak picture for dioceses unless parishioners step up to the plate and fight for their faith The stark decline of the Catholic Church has pushed dioceses across Ireland to breaking point and the next five to 10 years could see parishioners having to preside over funerals and weddings in their own communities, it has been warned. Michael Kelly, who recently stepped down as editor of the Irish Catholic newspaper, believes the situation is down to a number of factors including the age profile of priests, the fact it takes seven years to train, and the number currently engaged in that process is very small. From Co Tyrone, he has now lived longer in the Republic than in Northern Ireland. Growing up in the village of Killyclogher, Catholicism always played a central role, with social life revolving around the parish in the shape of missions and concerts. Throughout good times and bad times it has served me my whole life and is a bedrock to fall back on and something Im very grateful to my parents for, he said. Ireland in that time has changed dramatically, moving from a culture that was instinctively Catholic to one which is in many ways post-Catholic. Mr Kelly explained: In many parts of Dublin now, Mass attendance is about 3%. That is such a dramatic change from my childhood. Although, where Im from in Tyrone, there would still be quite a healthy Mass attendance. But the same trends are there as well. The Catholic Church was once viewed by many as a spiritual bulwark against the worlds more destructive tendencies, but that puritanical image of Ireland has changed. The reasons for the decline of the church are complex, but he acknowledged scandals such as historical abuse by priests and nuns was a major factor. He said: Catholics are traditionally brought up to spontaneously trust that the church will always be right and the church will always do things correctly and behave in a moral fashion. Well, the scandals exposed show that wasnt the case. Not only did you have the abuse itself, which was a terrible betrayal by priests and nuns of the people put in their care, the people who they should be able to trust most in the world. But, actually, then you had church leaders who conspired and covered it up. To me, that really dealt a mortal blow to the credibility of the church. Because, its very, very hard to speak about justice if the church itself is not behaving justly. None of the churches have contributed any money towards compensation for victims of historical abuse in Northern Ireland. Victims campaigner Jon McCourt recently accused them of skimping on their responsibility by trying to avoid payments to those who suffered. Mr Kelly said redress was very important and he would like to see some prophetic leadership from the religious orders. While Mr McCourt suggested the Vatican could step up, Mr Kelly argued although it possessed many priceless artworks, it was cash poor. He added such decisions would have to be taken at a local level. Aside from the scandals, he believes secularisation is a factor in a country which has embraced modernity. Now that little value is placed on spirituality, it has led to a collapse in vocations. He added: When I was growing up, Killyclogher had five priests and the neighbouring parish in Omagh had four priests. Now they only have two each. That is a real marked drop, and many of the priests that are still serving are men in their 70s, still working hard at a time when many of their peers, brothers or sisters and friends have retired a long time since. That is a major challenge and major shift going into the future, because within 10-15 years were probably going to be left in a situation on this island where we have a couple of hundred priests. In terms of sustaining parishes, he painted a bleak picture. Thats going to mean the church cant be present in the way it was in the past, he explained, That wont just affect daily committed Mass-goers, this is really going to affect how we do weddings and funerals in future. Many people dont go to Mass but they still want a Catholic wedding or a Catholic funeral. The priests just wont be available to do that. Well either move to a situation like England, where people are not buried for two or three weeks after they die, or else were going to move to a situation where parishioners themselves local people in the parish are going to have to preside over the funeral ceremonies. I think the second of those scenarios would be better. Ive never liked the English tradition of people being dead for a few weeks before theyre buried. The challenge for the church and parishioners in all of that is to really take ownership of their own faith community. I think the question to put to parishioners is: if faith is important to you, if coming together as a community is important to you, then it will survive and youll step up to the plate. But if its not, then it will wither, it will die, and the next 10-20 will see many parishes on the island of Ireland close. For example, in Co Kerry there are many parishes without a resident priest, and rely on clergy from other areas. Mr Kelly added: Youre looking at a case in the next five to 10 years where it just wont be possible for everyone who wants a funeral to have it the way they have up to now, certainly not in the traditional three-day timeframe. Most dioceses are already at breaking point and could be forced to make radical changes. He is agnostic on the issue of allowing the ordination of married men to ease the pressure. Celibacy for some priests is a beautiful gift, and for others a life without a spouse or children is lonely a terrible burden. He accepts there are arguments for and against, but believes making celibacy optional is perhaps the answer. However, he does not see it as a silver bullet Protestant churches are experiencing the same vocational issues and their clergy are allowed to marry. He believes greater forces are at play as people are no longer spiritually attuned, and we are living in an increasingly materialistic world. In spite of the cost-of-living crisis, both jurisdictions on the island are much more prosperous than a couple of generations ago. Yet, he pointed to unhealthy trends, with more people suffering from poor mental health, surveys showing large numbers of young people who have no friends, and an increase in loneliness. As a journalist who has lived on both sides of the border, hes in a good position to compare. He described the two-year political stalemate at Stormont due to the DUP boycott as utterly depressing. He said the most valuable resource in any society was its young people, but we have been haemorrhaging them because they dont see hope there. Older people are maybe more fatalistic about it because they remember worse times and theres peace now, he added. But peace is more than the absence of war. Young people who grew up after the Good Friday Agreement dont know the Troubles and also know that not having a functioning government is not normal, along with all the unaddressed issues. There is no genius to the strong economy in the Republic, based around low corporation tax and prioritising foreign direct investment. He argued there was no reason it couldnt be replicated on this side of the border. Major companies have European headquarters in Dublin, but due to the housing crisis have nowhere for their workers to live. He suggested, with our cheaper housing market, it would be a more attractive prospect if the economy and Stormont was stable. As someone from west of the Bann who often travels on trains in the Republic, he sees the map of the rail network as illustrative of the failures in local politics. He expanded: Its like a barren wasteland. And thats just a sign of the long-term neglect that there has been in areas like the north west, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry the way those services have been run down. There is this problem with inward investment that all the talk is around Belfast. Northern Ireland is very, very small there is no reason to prioritise all of the development and growth around the Belfast area. Theres a failure from our politicians in the west where they dont seem to be able to break the stranglehold that the greater Belfast area has on economic investment and development. Having led pilgrimages to the Holy Land for the past 15 years, and had to be evacuated when Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, sparking the current round of bloodshed in the region. Since then Israel has killed over 25,000 people in Gaza, many of them children. If you look at an image of Gaza on television now, its almost apocalyptic, he said. Its a dreadful situation and it just perpetuates a cycle of mistrust and hatred between the two communities. It has been going on since about 1948. As someone with friends on all sides, he believes the root causes have to be addressed. Long-term peace will only be achieved when both communities have their dignity, and a safe and secure Israel can live alongside an independent and free Palestinian state. For him, religion and the Catholic Church still has an integral role to play moving forward. He points to research showing people who go to church regularly live happier, healthier and longer lives, giving them a sense of community, common purpose and something outside of themselves. The NI Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act was introduced in 2023. The Irish Government has taken inter-state legal action in relation to the Legacy legislation Former senior PSNI officer Peter Sheridan has been appointed as ICRIR Commissioner for Investigations The body created under the controversial Legacy Act to provide information to families, victims and survivors of the Troubles has begun recruiting investigators and other frontline roles. The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) was created under the UK Governments NI Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act, which became law last year. The legislation which would bring an end to Troubles-era cases and inquests and offer conditional amnesty to those accused of killings has been universally opposed by all parties in Northern Ireland. Established in December 2023, the ICRIR will provide information to victims, survivors and their families about Troubles-related deaths and serious injuries in an effort to promote reconciliation. Those accused of killings who co-operate with the ICRIR could receive a conditional amnesty. The organisation announced on Monday that recruitment for a number of investigating roles had been launched, with Senior Investigating Officers, a Case Support Team Leader and four Case Support Leads all being sought. The Case Support Team will report to the Commissioner for Investigations and be the first point of contact for those who want the Commission to carry out an investigation into their case. Every investigation, irrespective of its complexity or scope, will be allocated to a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO), who will be accountable for all decisions in how the investigation is pursued, ensuring it meets standards, including requirements under Article 2 of the European Convention of Human Rights. SIOs will lead investigations and advise the Commission on its approach towards cases. Retired judge Sir Declan Morgan is serving as Chief Commissioner, while former PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Peter Sheridan was appointed in December as Commissioner for Investigations. Mr Sheridan said anyone with the necessary skills should apply. "These are critical, and rewarding roles that provide the opportunity to really make a difference in Northern Ireland, he said. "Recruiting skilled and professional officers to provide dedicated support individuals and families, and to carry out independent, thorough investigations is an important part of our commitment to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights. The Irish Government has taken inter-state legal action in relation to the Legacy legislation The Irish Government announced in December it was launching inter-state legal action against the UK Government in relation to the the legislation. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said his government was left with no option and said there was strong legal advice that the Act breached the UN Convention on Human Rights. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald welcomed the decision and said the Act was a flagrant breach of international human rights law. It is a blatant attempt to shut the door on families efforts to achieve truth and justice through the courts and to give an amnesty to British state forces involved in the murder of, and serious human rights violations against, Irish citizens, she said. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson accused Dublin of double standards over the legal action and challenged them to deal with cases in their own jurisdiction. "I dont think the Irish Government are in a very strong position to point the finger at the UK Government because the Irish Government have no proposals to deal with the legacy issues, he said. It is understood the cancer was discovered during his recent treatment for an enlarged prostate. The King has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and has started a schedule of treatment, Buckingham Palace said. The statement said: "During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. "Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. "His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. "Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. "The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. "He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. "His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer." Northern Irelands First Minister, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill, has sent her best wishes to the King. "I am very sorry to hear of King Charles illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment and a full and speedy recovery, she said. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly wished the King all the very best for his treatment. "I, like many people throughout Northern Ireland, will keep him and his family in my prayers, she said. First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly have both sent wishes to the King following his diagnosis with cancer. Pic: Oliver McVeigh/PA Wire DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has also sent King Charles every good wish following the announcement. "We pray for a full and speedy recovery, he added. Alliance leader Naomi Long said her thoughts were with the Kings family. "Thoughts with King Charles and the Royal Family, as they begin to come to terms with his cancer diagnosis, she said. "Wishing him all the very best for the journey ahead and I hope and trust that his treatment is successful and he is soon restored to full health. Former First Minister Arlene Foster shared Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks message and added: God save the King - sending my best wishes and prayers like so many to our Sovereign. UUP leader Doug Beattie has offered his wishes on behalf of the party to the King. "I wish to offer our heart-felt wishes to His Majesty the King, on the shocking news of his cancer diagnosis, he said. This is unfortunately a reality many families, right across these islands, face day and daily. "I know that people across Northern Ireland, and indeed the world, will be holding him and the Royal family in their thoughts and prayers during this very worrying time for them all. TUV leader Jim Allister said his party was saddened by the diagnosis. "We trust His treatment will be successful and that He will know a full and speedy recovery. His Majesty will be in the thoughts and prayers of many across Northern Ireland this evening, he said. Sir Lindsay Hoyle announces King's cancer diagnosis to House of Commons Church of Ireland, Archbishop of Armagh John McDowell has asked his parishioners to pray for the King. I was saddened to learn of the Kings diagnosis of cancer and ask that the King and his family should be remembered in public prayer and in our private devotions at what will be an anxious time for many people. "The words Long live the King are no empty formula or weary cliche, but are an expression of the heartfelt desire of many people across these islands and far beyond. Former UTV political editor Ken Reid, who has previously spoken about his own lengthy battle with cancer, passed on his well wishes to the King. Those of us going through cancer journey know the stress and concern it causes to families. The fact he has made it public is a very positive move, If you are worried about yourself, get checked. The leader of the Ulster Unionists has raised the possibility that he may withdraw reappointed Stormont health minister Robin Swann from running in the general election. Doug Beattie selected Mr Swann as health minister on Saturday when powersharing returned to Northern Ireland. That move came days after the UUP announced that Mr Swann, a North Antrim MLA, would be a candidate in the South Antrim constituency in the general election. His reappointment as health minister has not been greeted with a universal welcome among his party colleagues. Robin Swann at Parliament Buildings at Stormont (Liam McBurney/PA) East Belfast MLA Andy Allen posted on X at the weekend that the party needed a minister with their full focus on the task at hand, not one eye on Westminster. Party leader Mr Beattie moved to explain his rationale on Monday. Describing Mr Allens tweet as an overspilling of passion, Mr Beattie went on to insist that he was not expecting the UUP to secure the health portfolio in the ministerial allocation among executive parties. The party ended up having health as an option under the dHondt allocation process after the DUP struck a deal with the UUP that saw it take on the education portfolio. Prior to that there had been speculation that UUP deputy leader Robbie Butler had been in line for the education brief. Mr Beattie said the situation developed quickly on Friday and he made the decision, once he knew health was an option, to select Mr Swann so he could use his prior experience to hit the ground running. I have to hit the ground running, he told BBC Radio Ulster. I choose to hit the ground running and that is with Robin Swann who knows the brief. That does not mean that it doesnt give me the opportunity to start preparing somebody to step in, if thats the case (of Mr Swann winning a Westminster seat). I have a decision to make in the medium term. I will make that decision. But we need to start hitting the ground running. Pressed further on the process of replacing Mr Swann if he won a Westminster seat in South Antrim, Mr Beattie added: Or I withdraw him from running these are the decisions I have. Known drug dealers who were left exposed by their expulsion have downed tools because of fears over their safety without the safety net of UVF membership A number of East Belfast UVF drug dealers have turned their back on the trade. A number of east Belfast UVF drug dealers have turned their back on the trade. The Sunday World understands several criminal figures have walked away from the lucrative racket and it is believed others are considering their futures. It comes three months after the terror groups Shankill Road leadership moved against the East Belfast organised crime gang. The eight-strong command structure was dismantled and the men dubbed The Hateful Eight, including alleged mob boss Stephen Matthews, were stood down. Read more Bumbling drug dealer dumb Mark Rainey a figure of fun in jail The bloodless coup came after Chief of Staff John Bunter Graham came under increasing pressure to sanction East Belfast. Known drug dealers who were left exposed by their expulsion have downed tools because of fears over their safety without the safety net of UVF membership. The Sunday World also understands the UVF brigadier in neighbouring North Down is considering stepping back from the drug trade despite speculation he had offered his support to the East Belfast renegades. Bunter and sidekick Harmless Harry Stockmans move against the East was the culmination of a long negotiation process, first highlighted by this newspaper in 2015. The process has been conducted with full consultation with British security and intelligence services. It sees the UVF finally stepping away from paramilitary activity after 30 years of undelivered promises. The terror groups leadership and other strands of loyalism, including the Orange Order and community initiative East Belfast ACT, have insisted there is no prospect of a feud. And so it has proved despite calls from within the organisation to have the Eight expelled from the area. At the time, ex-prisoners group East Belfast ACT, which is closely aligned with UVF thinking, hit out at speculation on social media and within elements of the mainstream media that a bloody feud is inevitable. There is no, and will be no, feud or violence contrary to misinformed and malicious rumours, they said in a statement. They said the commentary was being fed by social media commentators purporting to come from a position of knowledge, but who are, in fact, utter fantasists. The group said language around a potentially violent backlash was dangerous and inflammatory. Matthews, who has always denied membership or involvement in criminal activity, has been assured he will remain a member of the organisation and can rely on its protection. He is still facing criminal charges in relation to an alleged UVF show of strength in the Pitt Park area of the east in February 2021. The Sunday World first revealed plans to depose the East Belfast leadership in 2019. Bunter Graham had come under increasing pressure from the veteran membership frustrated at the organisations failure to distance itself from involvement in the drugs trade, and a British government becoming ever more frustrated at the UVFs continued and failed promises to transition away from paramilitary activity and criminality. The fear now is that the void could be filled with a new generation of drug dealers, with some predicting an influx of outside dealers. As previously revealed by this newspaper, Graham issued an edict that any UVF member found to be dealing drugs would be expelled. Bunter had previously showed his intentions when he stood down former South East Antrim Brigadier Den Elliott. Elliott was replaced by an anti-drugs veteran. A number of senior figures, including a commander in north Belfast, have been either subjected to punishment attacks or expelled. An aerial view of San Francisco City Hall in October 2023. City officials are recommending sweeping changes to the citys tax system to mitigate losses from remote work, simplify the code and help small businesses. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle San Francisco officials recommended sweeping changes to the citys tax system on Monday in an effort to mitigate losses from remote work, simplify the code and help small businesses. Proposals include shifting to taxes based more heavily on sales rather than the number of a companys employees physically based in San Francisco, cutting fees on small businesses and office rents, and consolidating multiple taxes. Most of the changes would require voter approval and could form the basis for a November ballot measure this year. The recommendations are expected to result in no changes to overall tax revenue, but policymakers could seek a package at the ballot that yields more or less tax revenue. Advertisement Article continues below this ad After a decade of boom, the city is now grappling with an annual budget deficit that could reach $1 billion by 2028, and Mayor London Breed has ordered multiple rounds of cuts. Much of the pain is tied to remote work and the citys dependence on tax revenue from big companies. Work from home cost the city $484 million in 2021, according to a previous analysis. Breed is also facing reelection this year as businesses large and small complain about public safety, street conditions, difficult permitting and high taxes. The proposals from outgoing Controller Ben Rosenfield, Treasurer Jose Cisneros and Chief Economist Ted Egan were developed after more than 30 group meetings over five months with local businesses to generate the ideas. Officials hope the changes make the tax code simpler and reduce conflicts with taxpayers, while lessening the burden on small businesses and making the city more attractive for job creation as it struggles to come back from the pandemic. Simplifying our business tax structure helps businesses and the City, said Cisneros in a statement. These reforms create a tax structure that is clear, fair, and promotes economic growth. Advertisement Article continues below this ad To mitigate the effects of remote work, a proposal calls for the gross receipts tax to be calculated using 75% of sales in the city and 25% of payroll apportionment, or the number of workers physically in the city, for all industries aside from real estate. Currently, non-real estate industries calculate gross receipts using either 50% or 100% of payroll, meaning the city loses out more when workers go remote. Officials also hope the change means companies wont be penalized for creating jobs in the city, continuing an earlier effort that resulted in voters abolishing the payroll tax in 2020. However, the shift to taxing sales more would lead to retailers bearing the highest tax increases, the report notes, as many are closing in downtown. Business groups said they strongly support reforming the tax code but oppose any tax increases. Now is the worst possible time to raise taxes on any San Francisco businesses. We need reforms that lower taxes on small businesses and major employers alike to help revive our economy, revitalize downtown, and grow neighborhood small businesses for the long term, said leaders of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, Golden Gate Restaurant Association, Bay Area Council, Advance SF, and Building Owners and Managers Association of San Francisco in a joint statement. Proposals include a 90% rate reduction for the Overpaid Executive Tax, a voter-approved tax that affects large companies with top executives that make 100 times more than the average employee. The tax generated $206 million over 18 months, but cutting it would help city goals of reducing volatility and dependence on major companies. The tax is volatile in part because its subject to swings in the stock market. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Other changes include cutting the commercial rent tax rate by 25% and merging the homelessness gross receipts tax another tax that only hits large companies with the general gross receipts tax, while preserving funding for homelessness services. The cuts would be offset by increases in the overall gross receipts tax. In another change, the city would cut $10 million in annual license fees mostly paid by small businesses, including restaurants and bars, lessening the burden as many operators struggle during a slow recovery. Tax reform is going to be a necessary part of navigating the economic and financial realities of the Citys post-pandemic recovery, Rosenfield said in a statement. Under all the changes, the nearly 11,000 small businesses making less than $25 million in annual gross receipts would see a 4%, or overall $10.4 million, annual decrease in tax liability. Midsize companies making $25 million-$100 million would see a 5% liability increase, or $14.1 million in total. The citys 173 biggest companies with over $100 million in gross receipts would see almost no change in liability. Weve long known regaining our competitive edge requires changes to how we structure our taxes. I look forward to working with everyone in City Hall as well as our labor partners and business community on how we move forward from here with reforms that will be in the best interest of San Francisco, and the people who live here, Breed said in a statement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Another recommended change would make it harder for future tax increases to get on the ballot, by increasing the voter signature threshold required and eliminating the ability of the mayor or a minority of the Board of Supervisors to place tax measures on the ballot. The report notes that other California cities have both higher signature thresholds and dont allow mayors or board minorities to place measures on the ballot. Writing exclusively for the Belfast Telegraph, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hails Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, with Northern Irelands place in UK secured The time for talking is over. Now its time for the real work to begin. Today, the Northern Ireland Executive will meet almost two years to the day since it last did so. On Saturday, the Assembly did the same. This is an important and historic moment when Northern Ireland once again takes charge of its own future. Politicians elected by you, accountable to you, will make decisions on the devolved issues that matter to you. That is how it should be. The agreement that made this happen took months of painstaking and patient work. But this was a moment worth waiting for. History tells us that nothing in Northern Ireland ever happens if one part of the community feels that their concerns are not being addressed, as was the case under the old protocol. Thats why, since the day I took office, I strove to address peoples concerns first through the Windsor Framework, then through last weeks breakthrough agreement. Today, that approach bears fruit: power-sharing returned, with all parts of the community represented. I want to pay tribute to those involved in negotiations that were tough and sometimes difficult, but conducted with professionalism, confidentiality and respect. I want to pay particular tribute to Sir Jeffrey Donaldson. Without his leadership and determination, this deal and the restoration of power-sharing could not have happened. Watch: PM Rishi Sunak arrives in Northern Ireland with visit to Air Ambulance HQ Equally, I also want to thank all the other parties for their patience and for giving us time and space to reach an agreement that will benefit everyone. It was their advocacy that delivered a strong package of support to enable the new Executive to get on with business. I was impressed by the conciliatory and ambitious language used by the First and Deputy First Ministers as the Assembly returned. The shape of Northern Irelands future is now clear: devolved government, within the United Kingdom, for as long as the majority wish it. Your place in the UK internal market secured, as an indivisible part of our economic union on which the vast majority of Northern Irelands trade, business and jobs depend. And while sharing the benefits of Brexit, you also have a unique economic opportunity to fully access the EU market for goods, too. When I spoke at Queens University last year for the 25th anniversary of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, I promised that we would use the full force of the UK Government to help make Northern Ireland one of the best places in the world for businesses and investment. Our new agreement delivers on this not least through more than 3bn to maximise economic opportunities, help fix public services like health and education, and give public sector workers a fair pay rise. And the agreement safeguards the Union. Far from being neutral on the Union, I passionately believe in it, consistent with the principles in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. Northern Ireland is stronger in the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom is far, far stronger for having Northern Ireland in it. So I was pleased that the House of Commons last week passed legislation to affirm Northern Irelands constitutional status as part of the UK. It was right to do so because without those new protections, we would have been unable to restore power-sharing. Of course, I recognise there are many people in Northern Ireland who do not share these views and have different political aspirations. The Government will always give full and equal respect to constitutional nationalism and the desire for a united Ireland, pursued through peaceful and democratic means just as we recognise that there are a growing number of people who do not define their aspirations by reference to one tradition or another. Parity of esteem remains an essential pillar of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. As does the existence of three strands of equal and interlocking importance. Maintaining that delicate balance is vital. Thats why we also want the strongest possible relationship with our neighbours in Ireland, and Northern Ireland is a far better place when we work together. Northern Ireland is changing too. When the Executive meets today, for the first time it will be with a Sinn Fein First Minister. I congratulate Michelle ONeill on her historic election and I look forward to working constructively with her, just as I know she will work well with Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and other Executive colleagues. Whoever is in power, we should feel very confident about the future of Northern Ireland. But for those of us who want to see the Union thrive, there is a particular responsibility to keep winning the argument for it and bringing others with us. And the best way to do that is to show that Northern Ireland works for everyone. That means devolved government functioning at maximum capacity. We need to show people through action not words that devolution delivers a strong economy, good jobs, excellent schools and healthcare, respect for everyone and a sense of hope for the future. Yes, the challenges ahead are significant. But with the Assembly and Executive back up and running, with new powers and more funding, we now have the opportunity, the means and the responsibility to deliver that vision of a better future for all the people of Northern Ireland. The time for talking is over. Now its time for the real work to begin. DUP Lagan Valley MLA was due to legally represent the 60-year-old loyalist at his Pitt Park show-of-strength trial Alleged East Belfast UVF boss Stephen Matthews has parted ways with his barrister Emma Little-Pengelly, who is the new deputy First Minister. The DUP Lagan Valley MLA was due to legally represent the 60-year-old loyalist at his Pitt Park show-of-strength trial which had been due to start on Monday. She had been representing Matthews shortly after he was charged with unlawful assembly, affray and intimidation in connection with a high-profile incident when dozens of masked men walked through an area off the Lower Newtownards Road three years ago. And as junior counsel to senior counsel John Larkin KC, she was due to help fight the charges on Matthews behalf. Masked gang in the Pitt Park area of east Belfast linked to UVF trouble Instead, the 44-year-old former DUP special adviser will be busy with the business of government. The former South Belfast MP started her career as a barrister, qualifying in 2003. When former First Minister Arlene Foster was ousted as party leader in June 2021, Ms Little-Pengelly quit the party and five months later announced she was returning to the Bar. At the time, she described herself as being deeply saddened over the in-party fighting after the election of former leader Edwin Poots. She said she was devastated and asked Mr Poots not to put her name forward for consideration for a special advisor or other post within the DUP. But on Saturday it emerged both she and Mr Poots will be working cheek-by-jowl in the newly-formed Executive. She will take up the role of deputy First Minister, while he is the Assembly Speaker. And because of her important new job, Ms Little-Pengelly had to pass the briefs of the Matthews case to another barrister on Thursday. Being appointed deputy First Minister is a proud moment for the co-opted MLA, whose father Noel Little was one of three men arrested in Paris in 1989 in connection with a plot to exchange a stolen missile for South African guns. Her father denied BBC claims he was a gunrunner for Ulster Resistance and said of the allegations: Its hard on Emma. Newly appointed First Minister Michelle ONeill, left, and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (NI Assembly/PA) Matthews trial was postponed until March 1 after it emerged witnesses at his trial were also witnesses in another trial which has taken precedent. Last year, as Matthews barrister, Ms Little-Pengelly put forward an impassioned no case to answer argument as to why the charges should be thrown out. Prosecutors have contended that a group of men associated with the East Belfast UVF went into the area with their faces covered by scarves and hoods. Disputed claims were made that up to 11 people living in the area fled their homes and sheltered for days in a nearby community centre. Matthews, of Pansy Street, and Derek Lammey, of Spring Place, allegedly played leadership roles in the gathering. The defendants deny being involved and are not accused of any paramilitary offences. Ms Little-Pengelly, representing Matthews, told the court that even if his alleged participation could be established, he did nothing unlawful. My client carried out no violence or threat of violence, no attack on anybody, no shouting or threats, no weapons, she submitted. He is seen simply, it is alleged, walking in a gathering. My client disputes that it is him identified. Judge Paul Ramsey KC threw out defence applications that Matthews and Lammey had no case to answer. In his ruling, Judge Ramsey said: The statements from civilians in my opinion convey an atmosphere of fear, dread and intimidation. Matthews has previously denied being a member of the UVF. A member of the Orange Orders Grand Lodge has said the Rev Mervyn Gibsons support for the deal to restore devolution was premature, totally wrong and may backfire on him. The Grand Secretary gave a strong thumbs-up to the deal, although he stressed he was speaking personally as the institution had yet to reach a collective decision on the agreement reached between Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and the Government. Writing in last Fridays Belfast Telegraph, Mr Gibson said while the 76-page deal wasnt perfect, it was a win for unionist determination and unity, and needs to be accepted as such. He added: Lets not turn a significant victory into a defeat. Had unionism not stood its ground there would be no changes. This deal will not only put a united Ireland out of touching distance, it will [also] knock it out of sight. However, a Grand Lodge member rounded on Mr Gibson for airing his views so quickly. It is unfortunate that Mervyn Gibson has jumped and backed Sir Jeffrey Donaldsons so-called deal. It almost looks as if it has been choreographed, he said. Silence would have been the better option, as Mr Gibson should have withheld his viewpoint until a meeting of Grand Lodge, which, as a body, has been, along with the senior management team, keeping itself abreast of events. Grand Lodge is democratic and it takes time to meet and discuss issues of importance. Jeffrey is jumping into bed with Sinn Fein less than one week after his party executive met and without key components of the deal being put in place by Westminster. The source, who wished to remain anonymous, added: The fact is that a border in the Irish Sea remains. Jeffrey Donaldsons deal includes two separate lanes established by the Windsor Framework. Article 6 of the Act of Union has not been restored. This is supported by John Larkin KCs legal paper commissioned by Baroness Kate Hoey, Ben Habib, Jamie Bryson and Jim Allister KC. The Grand Secretarys position may backfire on him. It appears that Jeffrey jumped, so he followed. Mr Gibson declined to comment on the Grand Lodge members claims. In its newspaper, the Orange Standard, Grand Lodge said it was dissecting the Safeguarding the Union deal which Sir Jeffrey Donaldson reached with the Government. Grand Master Edward Stevenson said: At this stage, we acknowledge publication of the Safeguarding the Union command paper and will now take the time necessary to carefully scrutinise its content. The paper and associated legislation is detailed in nature and runs to almost 80 pages. After careful consideration, it will be discussed at Grand Lodge where members will be able to give their views. In last weeks Belfast Telegraph, Mr Gibson said devolution was preferable to direct rule and that the agreement was the best way forward to protect the Union. He added: Is the deal perfect? Is everything dealt with? Of course not no negotiated deal ever delivers perfection. However, there are key checks and balances included that will see outstanding issues addressed and the rot caused by the protocol halted. 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. First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First minister Emma Little-Pengelly (Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye) An effective Executive and Assembly are the best-placed institutions to govern Northern Ireland but it cannot be more of the same. Thats according to political think tank Pivotal, which has already set out a list of priorities for the new Stormont Executive, saying now must be a time for real change. And it warned that without true changes in the way Northern Ireland has traditionally been governed, there will be little chance of addressing the problems that have damaged the country. Pivotals report said a period of stable government will be key one of eight key points made by the group as the Executive returns after two years of inaction. There is a need to recommit to the spirit of leadership and compromise that underpinned the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, the report said. Some 3.3bn of additional funding will now be on the table though with a lot of that already ring-fenced to deal with already existing deficits, a clear plan for the next three years of the Executive is needed. The Executive should agree a short-term stabilisation plan for public services and budgets, making the best use of the new financial package, the report continued. A longer-term Programme for Government and multi-year budget are needed to set out agreed priorities for the next three years. The Executive needs to front up to difficult decisions and strive for unity around these choices. There should be a sustained focus on improving public services so that people see the benefits in their day-to-day lives. Pivotal said that stop-go governance left little room for strategic planning or policy-making, and many pressing issues deteriorated further, and that there is a need to be up front about the hard choices that now need to be made. First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First minister Emma Little-Pengelly (Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye) The report added that it is essential that the Executive and Assembly remain in place for a prolonged period and that political divisions do not crowd out the business of providing good government. Previous Executives have avoided difficult decisions and also tough choices between different priorities, it continued. Avoiding such decisions has been to Northern Irelands long-term detriment. There is a need for honesty with the public that tough choices have to be made. Many policy needs cuts across several departments, but previous Executives often defaulted to silo-working rather than a collective approach. Jointly owned budgets and targets set out in a Programme for Government could help establish new ways of working. The report also called for greater collaboration with wider society: Northern Ireland has vibrant business and civic society sectors with valuable experience and ideas. Academics, business groups, the voluntary and community sector and the public should be involved in policy development and scrutiny. The Executive and civil service should enable this by providing information and opportunities. These connections can have the added benefit of promoting a better understanding of the transformational decisions that the Executive needs to make and building a supportive partnership around these changes. The Executive should adopt a pragmatic, economy-focussed approach to the Windsor Framework, seeking out opportunities to grow Northern Irelands export markets and inward investment. The UK and Irish Governments are also urged to maintain ongoing support. It is vital that the two governments do not disengage after devolution is restored, the report concluded. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hugs the new First Minister Michelle O'Neill as Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald looks on. Pic: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street Stormonts new leaders put on a united front as the Prime Minister and Taoiseach visited Belfast today to celebrate the restoration of devolved government after two years. Rishi Sunak met new First Minister Michelle ONeill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, and the entire Executive in Stormont Castle. The Prime Minister urged Stormonts leaders to focus on the day to day concerns of the public rather than a border poll. Those comments came amid a series of pro-unionist pronouncements which have annoyed many nationalists. However, there was no public hint of Sinn Fein displeasure today. In a surprising display of warmth, Ms ONeill hugged the Prime Minister just two days after telling the Assembly: The Tories have presided over more than a decade of shame and caused real suffering to the people we represent. As Ms ONeill had uttered those words on Saturday, veteran Conservative Lord Caine, now an NIO minister, smiled broadly in the public gallery above her. The First Minister today said the Executive needed more money from the Treasury and that with Mrs Little-Pengelly there had been a united front on that demand for more cash. Ms ONeill said of their request for money: We are not working on failure, we are working on the basis that we are going to be successful. We know weve a lot of work to do but we need the Treasury to be engaged with us because for many, many years we have been underfunded, we now are trying to fix that, we want to transform our health service. We have an in-tray as long as your arm in terms of the issues we need to deal with. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hugs the new First Minister Michelle O'Neill as Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald looks on. Pic: Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street Mrs Little-Pengelly emphasised her desire to work constructively with her Sinn Fein opposite number on issues of cross-community concern such as fixing struggling public services. She said: The key thing here is we are only going to find resolutions for those by working together and working constructively together. Thats what were up for, I think the rest of the Executive is up for that challenge. But her party leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, criticised Ms ONeill for focusing on the divisive issue of a border poll. She says she wants to be a first minister for all, well that means the unionist community, he told Sky News. He added: Lets move forward together. Lets focus on the issues that really matter to people. Theyre not interested in a divisive border poll. Mr Sunak said that he had very constructive meetings with Stormonts leaders, describing it as a historic and important day for the country, because Northern Irelands politicians are back in charge, making decisions on behalf of their people, which is exactly how it should be. Now, our new deal gives them more funding and more powers than they have ever had, so they can deliver for families and businesses across Northern Ireland. And thats what everyones priority is now. It is not constitutional change; it is delivering on the day-to-day things that matter to people. Leo Varadkar said he had been given a warm welcome by both the first and deputy first ministers. Both he and Mr Sunak played down suggestions of tensions between the two governments after they did not appear together in public today. Mr Sunak said Ireland would remain a close and valued partner of the UK while Mr Varadkar said he had had a very good meeting with Mr Sunak. Mrs Little-Pengelly said she looked forward to building a relationship Mr Varadkar based on mutual respect. She added: It makes sense for us to have a constructive relationship we havent always had in the past. Leo Varadkar leaves Stormont Castle. Photo: Jonathan Porter/Press Eye MLAs will meet in the Assembly chamber tomorrow for a brief session in which the chairs of Stormont committees will be appointed, along with a principal deputy speaker likely to be Sinn Feins Caral Ni Chuilin. The DUP has indicated that within a month it is likely to use the Stormont brake, the part of last years Windsor Framework which allows MLAs to raise an objection to a new EU goods rule. Once deployed, it then goes to London which negotiates with the EU and ultimately decides whether to veto the new law but if it does so, the EU is allowed to retaliate against the UK. When asked if the deal protected Northern Ireland from future trade divergence, Mr Sunak said: We have worked very hard and, I believe, succeeded in protecting Northern Irelands place in our Union and building on what we achieved with the Windsor Framework to ensure the smooth flow of trade within the United KingdomThats the deal that we struck, thats what the Windsor Framework delivers. He added: The most important thing is that the people of Northern Ireland are in charge of their own destiny, because of the Stormont brake in particular, an Executive up and running can use those powers. First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly during a press conference at Stormont Castle, Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) Stormonts new leaders have vowed to work in unity to press the UK Government for more funding to tackle the long list of problems facing public services in Northern Ireland. The regions first ever nationalist First Minister, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill, and her DUP counterpart, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, were commenting after meeting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Irish premier Leo Varadkar on a day when Stormonts new ministerial Executive got formally down to business. The powersharing institutions were restored on Saturday after a deal between the UK Government and the DUP to address unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements, which included passing new legislation at Westminster. Ms ONeill said she and Ms Little-Pengelly had put on a united front as they delivered a loud and clear message to Mr Sunak on Monday that a 3.3 billion Treasury package to accompany the return of devolution was not sufficient. Ms Little-Pengelly said securing enough money to meet the pay demands of striking public sector workers was a key ask of the Government. The ministers conducted their first joint press conference ahead of convening a meeting of the new Executive at Stormont Castle. Earlier in the day, all the Executive ministers gathered at the castle for separate meetings with Mr Sunak and then Mr Varadkar. While the Prime Minister has said the 3.3 billion offer represents a generous and fair settlement, Stormont ministers have collectively penned a letter to the Government insisting it is not enough to deliver sustainable public services and public finances. They say more money, along with further reform of the funding model for the region, is required if they are to get on top of a bulging in-tray following two years of political impasse in Northern Ireland. Earlier, Taoiseach Mr Varadkar insisted the Irish government was willing to help Northern Ireland with further financial support. Ms ONeill said the Executive needed more money to deliver good public services. The offer that has been put on the table sounds good on the face of it, but whenever you break it down into the details theres a lot more to be done here, she told reporters. If were going to be successful politically, we need to also have the resources to deliver good public services. I think the Prime Minister heard that very loudly and clearly from both Emma and I collectively, and from all Executive colleagues. She added: We are not working on failure, we are working on the basis that we are going to be successful. We know weve a lot of work to do but we need the Treasury to be engaged with us because for many, many years we have been underfunded, we now are trying to fix that, we want to transform our health service. We have an in-tray as long as your arm in terms of the issues we need to deal with. Ms Little-Pengelly said Executive ministers had to work together to meet Northern Irelands financial challenges. Within every department there are very important issues, she said. But the key thing here is we are only going to find resolutions for those by working together and working constructively together. Thats what were up for, I think the rest of the Executive is up for that challenge. The DUP MLA added: We know that theres a very clear expectation of delivery, we want to deliver, we need to fix our public services, we need to help those people who are struggling at the moment in terms of getting access to those necessary public services. So we took the opportunity this morning to raise that issue directly with the Prime Minister. I welcome the fact that the Prime Minister has indicated that he will continue with those conversations, that those will be detailed conversations around issues such as the fiscal floor and public sector pay. Prior to their meeting with Executive ministers, Mr Sunak and Mr Varadkar met for private discussions at Stormont. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited Glencraig Integrated Primary School in Holywood, Co Down, after his meeting at Stormont (Liam McBurney/PA) However, they did not conduct any joint meetings with local politicians or hold a joint press conference through the course of Monday. The lack of a side-by-side public appearance fuelled talk of tensions in the Anglo-Irish relationship following Irelands move to launch a legal challenge against the UK Governments contentious legislation to address the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Both sides moved to play down suggestions of a rift between them. During his individual press conference at Stormont, Mr Varadkar highlighted that the Irish government had already invested millions of euros in projects in Northern Ireland that had a cross-border element, and he said more funding pledges through its Shared Island Initiative would be forthcoming. The bulk of Irish investment in the region has focused on capital infrastructure projects. The Taoiseach, addressing reporters in Parliament Buildings in Belfast, said he was confident the new administration in Belfast would last. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar arrives for a press conference at Parliament Buildings, Stormont (Oliver McVeigh/PA) I want to thank people who made today possible, to congratulate the First Minister, the deputy First Minister, the new Executive on taking up their new roles, and really pledge to do everything that we can do to help this Executive to be successful, he said. Theres a lot of everyday issues that need attention here in Northern Ireland, and I know theyre going to work very hard on that. Were keen to get north-south co-operation going again and have a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in the next couple of weeks and focus on some of that practical co-operation that works well for everyone on the island. So, very keen to work with a new Executive and looking forward to doing that. Asked by reporters if his government was prepared to offer new money to the region, the Taoiseach said: Yes, we are. You know the Shared Island Fund is there and we would intend to make further allocations from that over the course of this year. But were also very keen to co-ordinate that with the Secretary of State (Chris Heaton-Harris) and also with the Executive, now it is up and running. Mr Sunak said his Governments funding deal for Northern Ireland was significant and generous and would focus on long-term sustainability as well as addressing the immediate issues. He added: I had very constructive meetings this morning with the Executive, with political leaders across Stormont, and it is a historic and important day for the country, because Northern Irelands politicians are back in charge, making decisions on behalf of their people, which is exactly how it should be. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, First Minister Michelle ONeill, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Stormont Castle (Oliver McVeigh/PA) Now, our new deal gives them more funding and more powers than they have ever had, so they can deliver for families and businesses across Northern Ireland. And thats what everyones priority is now. Mr Sunak also insisted that Stormonts leaders should focus on the day-to-day concerns of people in Northern Ireland, rather than the prospect of a poll on reunification. He made clear that constitutional change was not a priority in response to weekend comments from Ms ONeill in which she claimed a border referendum could be held in the next 10 years. It is not constitutional change, it is delivering on the day-to-day things that matter to people, the Prime Minister said. Mr Varadkar would not be drawn on the question of reunification when asked by reporters. Aside from the difference of opinion on the legacy laws, Mr Varadkar was asked to respond to the suggestion of disquiet in No 10 amid claims he had muscled in on the Prime Ministers visit to the region to mark the re-establishment of devolution. I had a very good welcome and very good meeting with the Prime Minister and then a very warm welcome from the First Minister, deputy First Minister and Executive, he replied. And theres a long-standing tradition since the Good Friday Agreement was signed that the Taoiseach would attend events like this. Almost 11 million of lottery funding has been annoucned to help make the Cairngorms the UKs first net zero national park (Jane Barlow/PA) Lottery funding of almost 11 million has been announced to help the Cairngorms become the UKs first net-zero national park. A total of 10.7 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund has been awarded to the Cairngorms National Park Authority to help it deliver its Cairngorms 2030 action plan. The five-year, 42.3 million initiative pledges to bring about transformational change in the Cairngorms the UKs largest national park with work to improve sustainable travel and to restore and enhance peatland and woodland areas key in the plan. The funding was announced as Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf visited the area on Monday. The Cairngorms 2030 project is workign to improve sustainable travel in the area. (Mark Hamblin/National Lottery Heritage Fund/PA) The First Minister said: Scotlands national parks are more important than ever in helping us tackle the biodiversity and climate crises and strengthening our rural communities. We are proud to support the Cairngorms to become the UKs first net-zero national park. The Cairngorms 2030 project is an excellent example of over 70 partners working together to deliver benefits for rural communities, businesses and the natural environment. Mr Yousaf continued: Our national parks create new employment opportunities and promote green skills and jobs. They also help to generate and channel investment into the areas natural resources. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Investing in protecting and enhancing Scotlands precious environment creates great opportunities that will benefit people and communities throughout the country, particularly in rural areas. Sandy Bremner, convener of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, said they were delighted to receive the lottery funding for the project. He added: This five-year, 42.3 million initiative will put the power to tackle the nature and climate crisis in the hands of the people in the park. It will benefit peoples health and wellbeing, develop sustainable transport solutions and help nature and we are ready to get going on delivering for all those who live, work and visit this very special place. As the gormless Private Pike of Dads Army, Ian Lavender was anything but officer material. Yet his bungling soldier routine in the Home Guard comedy brought him fanmail from all over Britain especially from women who wanted to mother him. I get letters from schoolgirls and middle-aged ladies who want to mother me. I miss out on ladies my own age, he joked once. Arthur Lowe (foreground) and (back, left to right) John Le Mesurier, Clive Dunn, James Beck, John Laurie, Ian Lavender and Arnold Ridley, in a scene from one of the famous episodes of the Dads Army (BBC) Lavender was the youngest member of Dads Army the much-loved BBC series (even the late Queen used to tune in) which ran for 10 years. He used to drive Captain Mainwaring mad with his whining and relied on his Uncle Arthur, played by John Le Mesurier, to keep an eye on him. With a scarf wrapped permanently around his neck his over-protective mum worried about his weak chest Private Pike was the last man in Britain to strike terror into the hearts of invading Germans. Birmingham-born Lavender once said it was the luckiest day of his life when he was plucked from obscurity to play 17-year-old Frank Pike. Ian Lavender, Clive Dunn, James Beck, Arthur Lowe and John Le Mesurier in Dads Army (BBC) He was earning 9 a week during a six-month stint at Canterbury Rep when someone came up to him and said he looked stupid enough to do Pike. I was a complete beginner and I suddenly joined what was probably Britains most experienced team of character actors, he said. I was in a state of shock finding myself suddenly among so many great actors. When the moment came for me to speak, that funny voice of Pike just came out in a moment of panic. Since then at the start of every new series it has been one hell of a job trying to conjure it up again. But Private Pike took me from obscurity into the TV big time. I could never have achieved that if I hadnt learned to say: Ooh Captain Mainwaring, my mum said even if the Germans come I mustnt catch cold.' He was generally referred to as stupid boy by the exasperated Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe), but the two actors built up a special relationship away from their screen roles, despite a 30-year difference in age. In the Dads Army episode The Deadly Attachment, Lavenders character was a key part of one of the most famous moments in British TV comedy, after Captain Mainwaring urges his young charge not to give his name to a German officer with the unforgettable line: Dont tell him, Pike! Ian Lavender in 2015 (Yui Mok/PA) Although once described by The Times as a masterpiece, Dads Army took four years to take off. The first reviews dismissed it and the series was almost ended three or four times. But it won the hearts of 12 million viewers and the BBC called it one of their biggest comedy successes. It became so popular it was turned into a West End stage show and film. His downtrodden character was the baby of the series but his hair started to go prematurely grey, a family trait, and he had to plaster it with cream to give it a dark oily look suitable for a teenager in wartime Britain. Lavender, a policemans son, was not even around during the Second World War he was born a year after the war ended in 1946. He handed in his Home Guard uniform after the last series in 1978 and went on to play soppy Ron in The Glums, a 1979 ITV series. And he was the youthful idiot in Mr Big, a BBC comedy about a small-time crook called Ginger. I just like making people laugh, said Lavender, who trained at Bristol Old Vic and did his share of Shakespeare, including The Merchant of Venice, starring Dustin Hoffman. The actor also played Derek Harkinson, a gay friend of Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard) from 2001 to 2005 in BBC One soap EastEnders. He returned to Walford from 2016 to 2017 but left after he became ill with sepsis. Ian Lavender had a prominent role in EastEnders (Jack Barnes/BBC) But his 10 years with Dads Army were one of the most important periods of his life. During this time he wed actress Sue Kerchiss they met in Canterbury Rep when he played a valet and she was the maid had they two sons, Daniel and Sam, before splitting up after seven years of marriage. In 1975, Lavender moved in with choreographer and stage director Michelle Hardy, who he married quietly in 1992 after tests revealed he had cancer. They told close friends about his illness and then invited them to a register office wedding near their home in Saffron Walden, Essex. Lavender was the last surviving member of the Dads Army cast. Clive Dunn, who played Lance Corporal Jones, died in 2012, while Bill Pertwee (air raid warden Hodges) died in 2013. Arthur Lowe died from a heart attack in 1982 and John Le Mesurier, the long-suffering Sergeant Wilson, died the following year. Lavender made a cameo appearance as Brigadier Pritchard in the 2016 Dads Army film, which starred Toby Jones and Bill Nighy. In the film, The Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison played Private Pike. The King and US President Joe Biden (Jane Barlow/PA) US President Joe Biden said he was concerned about the Kings cancer diagnosis, as foreign leaders wished him a swift recovery. Mr Biden, who is six years older than the 75-year-old King, was asked by reporters whether he had a message for Charles during a visit to Las Vegas. The President replied: Im concerned about him. Just heard about his diagnosis. Ill be talking to him, God willing. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Mr Biden later tweeted: Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship takes hope and absolute courage. Jill and I join the people of the United Kingdom in praying that His Majesty experiences a swift and full recovery. His predecessor in the White House, Donald Trump, described the King as a wonderful man. The frontrunner for the Republican party posted on his Truth Social platform: King Charles has cancer. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content He is a wonderful man, who I got to know well during my presidency, and we all pray that he has a fast and full recovery! Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also offered his best wishes. He tweeted: I, like Canadians across the country and people around the world, am thinking of His Majesty King Charles III as he undergoes treatment for cancer. Were sending him our very best wishes and hoping for a fast and full recovery. Canada is one of the 14 Commonwealth realms where the King is head of state. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The leader of Commonwealth member Australia said his countrys thoughts were with the King and his family. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: Australians know that His Majesty King Charles has always reached out to us in our countrys toughest moments, showing kindness and care for those doing it tough. All of us are thinking of him and his family in this very hard time. We wish him well for a speedy recovery. Mr Albanese, who has said he believes an Australian citizen should replace the British monarch as the countrys head of state, recently put on hold a plan to hold a referendum on becoming a republic. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted: Wishing His Majesty King Charles III a speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with the British people. Amities. President of Ireland Michael D Higgins is very sorry and concerned to hear todays statement regarding King Charles medical diagnosis, according to a statement on his behalf. The president has sent his best wishes on behalf of the people of Ireland to King Charles for his medical treatment and for his full recovery, as well as to Queen Camilla and his family. School board member Joe Ramos, right, speaks during a recent school board meeting as board President Peter Bufete listens. Hayward Unified School District A Hayward school board member is facing a formal investigation as well as public outrage over offensive comments he made to a staff member during a recent public meeting. Board member Joe Ramos was questioning the districts contract with an anti-racist program called Woke Kindergarten, saying he was alarmed at the expense, before he directed comments to a senior administrator. Some of the parents here should take a rope and string you up, Ramos said to Sandra Escobedo, director of supplemental and concentration services, who was answering board members questions about state funding and the districts budget. Ramos and Escobedo are both Hispanic. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The comments at the Jan. 24 meeting drew gasps from the audience and a reprimand from Ramos fellow board members. Youre not going to say things like that, said the board president, Peter Bufete, interrupting Ramos. Ramos said he was just trying to get Escobedos attention and then apologized before continuing his questioning of the program, which he said was run by socialists. Hayward Unified has an enrollment of just over 18,000 students two-thirds of whom are Hispanic/Latino and nearly 75% of whom are from low-income families and has now faced multiple controversies related to offensive comments within the past year. In the spring, a Mt. Eden High School teacher was investigated for allegedly peddling antisemitic conspiracy theories and performing the Nazi salute in class. He was placed on administrative leave while the district investigated the complaints, which included the use of The Hidden Tyranny, a pamphlet that falsely claims that Jewish people secretly control a brainwashing media monopoly as well as the economy and U.S. government. He is no longer with the district. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Over several days following Ramos comments, community members and district officials questioned whether Ramos was fit to serve. Ramos acknowledged Monday that he offended the community, but said the district offended him by spending $250,000 on the Woke Kindergarten program. He admitted that his comments to the staff member were provocative and unacceptable. I shouldnt have said it, but I said it, he said. Im sorry. District union leaders called for the board to censure him and remove him from all committees. This is not the first time Trustee Ramos has espoused hateful views, which members and allies have repeatedly denounced as incitements towards violence which put our students at risk, said the letter signed by Mercedes Faraj, president of the Hayward Education Association, Daisy Bates, president of the Association for Educational Office and Technical Employees, and Khadijah Abdulhaqq, president of SEIU 1021. At last Wednesdays board meeting, Trustee Ramos crossed the line and directly incited parents to execute an HUSD employee with whom he disagreed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The school board held a special closed session about the comments the following Monday, with Ramos barred from participating. Staff member Heather Figueroa, who works with Escobedo on the education services team, said during public comment that Ramos words were unconscionable. He clearly does not hold the same values as the rest of the district, she said in her defense of the effort to support students with anti-racist and anti-bias training. He should be removed from his seat so he is not able to cause more damage to staff, students and families. Later in the week, the four school board members serving with Ramos issued a statement saying the offensive and incendiary comment was under formal investigation and the district would take action if appropriate. Encouraging violence against members of our community, particularly using language that evokes racial violence, crosses every line of acceptable behavior, said the letter signed by board members Bufete, Sara Prada, April Oquenda and Ken Rawdon. We cannot allow anyone at our public Board meetings to be demeaned or attacked in this manner. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Bufete told the Chronicle on Monday that Ramos has a history of making offensive comments, using reckless language not conducive to a constructive, professional environment. That includes statements Ramos made in June, opposing LGBTQ support in schools. If youre homosexual or gay or something, thats your lifestyle, he said at the time. Our kids are being groomed. Those comments prompted outrage from the community then as well. Bufete said the board is working with legal partners and looking at all options in regard to Ramos. The school board cannot remove him from office, an action that can only be done via a recall or a regular election. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ramos comments to the staff member in late January prompted the Hayward-South Alameda County chapter of the NAACP to weigh in. The comment made by Trustee Ramos at the HUSD Board of Education meeting, while it may have been well intended, invokes memories of a time that Black Americans were lynched for fighting for educational equity, said Freddye Davis, president of the chapter. If we are to move past the shameful educational policies of the past, it must start with the accountability of our local policymakers. Davis said Ramos comments were completely unacceptable and that it calls into question his ability to effectively serve our community. Ramos raised the questions about Woke Kindergarten during a discussion on the districts budget. The district is paying $250,000 over three years for the program, using federal funds targeted to improve student performance. Yet, test scores dropped last spring, the end of the second year of the contract. Some teachers questioned whether the program was a good use of money and argued it was ineffective and confusing. District officials defended the program, which trains teachers to confront white supremacy and disrupt racism and oppression in an effort to remove barriers to learning. While Ramos was apologetic about his comments to the staff member, he was also defiant. El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele and his wife Gabriela Rodriguez wave to supporters from the balcony of the presidential palace in San Salvador, El Salvador, after polls closed (Salvador Melendez/AP) Voters in El Salvador appeared to give Nayib Bukele a second term as president, but a troubled vote tally delayed results in an election that for many hinged on the trade-off of curtailed civil liberties for security in a country once terrorised by gangs. Problems with the vote count stalled the effort late on Sunday with ballots from only 31% of polling places tallied, a percentage that remained stuck in place on the Supreme Electoral Tribunals preliminary results website on Monday morning. Early on Monday, the electoral authority released a statement referring to multiple actions that have hampered the development of the transmission activities of preliminary results and the lack of the paper used to print out the vote tallies at polling places. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and his wife Gabriela Rodriguez on the balcony of the presidential palace in San Salvador, El Salvador (Moises Castillo/AP) It called on the boards charged with tallying the votes at each polling place to switch to a contingency process that included tallying votes by hand, taking photographs or scans of those manual tallies and turning them into the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. When the Supreme Electoral Tribunals digital tallied stopped late on Sunday, Mr Bukele had 83% of the vote, far ahead of his nearest competitors 7% for the leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front. The electoral site updating the count crashed shortly before midnight. That did not stop a jubilant Mr Bukele from declaring a historic margin of victory before electoral authorities had released even the first preliminary figure on Sunday evening. Later, standing on the balcony of the National Palace, he said that the country had made history. Why are there so many eyes on a small (Latin) American country? he asked thousands of supporters. Theyre afraid of the power of example. Salvadorans have given the example to the entire world that any problem can be solved if there is the will to do it, he said. The self-described worlds coolest dictator appeared on his way to victory after enjoying soaring approval ratings and virtually no competition. That came despite concerns that Mr Bukeles government has slowly chipped away at checks and balances in his first term and accusations that he dodged a constitutional ban on re-election. After casting his vote, Mr Bukele made clear that he expects the newly elected Legislative Assembly to continue extending the special powers he has enjoyed since March 2022 to combat the gangs. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, centre, during his visit to Zaporizhzhia region on Sunday (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was weighing up a possible dismissal of the countrys top military officer, a prospect that has shocked the nation fighting Russias invasion and worried Kyivs Western allies. Asked whether he was considering the ousting of General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Mr Zelensky told Italian RAI TV in an interview released late on Sunday that he was thinking about it as part of a broader issue of setting the countrys path. He said that a reset, a new beginning is necessary and it is not about a single person but about the direction of the countrys leadership. Im thinking about this replacement, but you cant say here we replaced a single person, Mr Zelensky said. When we talk about this, I mean a replacement of a series of state leaders, not just in a single sector like the military. If we want to win we must all push in the same direction, convinced of victory, we cannot be discouraged, let our arms fall, we must have the right positive energy. Commander-in-chief of Ukraines Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) Mr Zelenskys comments marked his first confirmation that he was mulling replacing the widely popular general, a possibility that caused an uproar in Ukraine and delighted the Kremlin as the war approaches its second anniversary. Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko criticised the possibility of Gen Zaluzhnyis sacking, saying it was because of the generals leadership that many Ukrainians truly trust the armed forces. Today is a moment when politics might prevail over reason and countrys interests, Mr Klitschko said on social media. The mayor of Ukraines capital city has been a vocal critic of Mr Zelensky. The presidency in turn has accused Klitschkos office of inefficiencies. It is unclear who might replace Gen Zaluzhnyi and if his successor would command the same level of respect from Ukraines troops and foreign defence leaders. According to Ukrainian and Western media reports, Mr Zelensky last week offered for Gen Zaluzhnyi to resign, but he refused. Gen Zaluzhnyi has not commented on the issue. The tensions between the president and Gen Zaluznyi have been rising as the country grapples with dire ammunition and personnel shortages following a failed summer counteroffensive. The need for a broad mobilisation to fill the ranks has reportedly been one of the areas of disagreement. Mr Zelensky said at the end of last year that he had turned down the militarys request to mobilise up to 500,000 people, demanding more details about how it would be organised and paid for. President Zelensky poses for a photo with servicemen during his visit to Zaporizhzhia region, the site of fierce battles with the Russian troops, on Sunday (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) A rift between Gen Zaluzhnyi and Mr Zelensky first broke into the open last autumn when the general acknowledged in an interview with The Economist that the fighting with Russia had stalemated. The president strongly denied that was the case. For his part, Gen Zaluzhnyi has published two essays laying out his vision for how Ukraine can win the war. In his writings, he said it was critical for Ukraine to have air superiority, to extending its efficiency in countering enemy artillery, to build up reserves and to increase electronic warfare capabilities. Ukraine desperately needs more Western military assistance as the Russian forces are pressing in many directions of the 1,500-km (900-mile) frontline, but an aid package had been blocked in the US Congress. Gen Zaluzhnyis dismissal could fuel uncertainty among Western allies. Russia has rejoiced at the prospect, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that the talk about Gen Zaluzhnyis dismissal exposed rifts in the Ukrainian leadership. The Ukrainska Pravda newspaper reported on Monday that Mr Zelensky was also considering the removal of General Staff Chief Serhii Shaptala. Gen Zaluzhnyi on Monday congratulated Mr Shaptala on his birthday and posted a picture of them together on Facebook. It will still be very difficult for us, but we will definitely never be ashamed, Gen Zaluzhnyi wrote. Four people were killed and at least one was injured in a Monday afternoon strike over the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine, the head of the local military administration said. The parents here are all in same boat. If my son has a meltdown, no one bats an eyelid Then-Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte addresses his supporters during a thanksgiving concert held before he was to conclude his six-year term, in Manila, June 26, 2022. The Department of National Defense will rigorously protect the Philippines sovereignty, the defense chief said Monday in response to ex-leader Rodrigo Dutertes comments from last week backing the idea of independence for his home region of Mindanao. Duterte made the comments amid an escalating feud with his successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who, as the former leader suggested, was attempting to amend the constitution to remove presidential term limits. On Monday, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said that his departments mandate was to secure the sovereignty of the state and integrity of the national territory as enshrined in the constitution. We will strictly enforce this mandate whether externally or internally, he said in a statement. When BenarNews asked Teodoros office to clarify his remarks, it said his statement was made in the context of the calls for secession of Mindanao. The dispute threatens to break up a power alliance between the Duterte and Marcos families, the countrys two leading political dynasties. They joined forces in the 2022 election that brought Marcos, the namesake son of longtime Philippine dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, to office. Dutertes daughter, Sara, serves as his vice president and education secretary. Marcos nephew, who heads the House of Representatives, recently expressed interest in contesting the 2028 election, potentially pitting him against Sara Duterte. At a press conference last Tuesday, Duterte said he supported moves for a separate and independent Mindanao, referring to the main island in the southern Philippines. It had been home to a long-running separatist insurgency before the rebels agreed to a 2014 peace deal with Manila that gave them control of an autonomous Muslim region in Mindanao. When Duterte was president (2016-2022), he was a strong advocate of the peace process that brought about the autonomous region. In his comments on Jan. 30, Duterte said that a political ally had first pushed the desirability of Mindanao seceding from the Republic of the Philippines. He said he initially supported a signature campaign to get this done. The former president had claimed that the constitution could be changed by gathering enough signatures from all [over] Mindanao, verified under oath in the presence of so many people to decide [if] we want to separate. Duterte said that he had initially approved plans to push for charter change, during his presidential tenure, but only to allow his government to devolve powers away from the center in Manila to Mindanao. But he abandoned the idea, local media said, after experts advised him that the time wasnt right for a federal system back then. A devolution of powers for Mindanao or any other region towards a more federal system is a good move on paper, analysts have said, because it would give regional bodies the power to handle their own affairs. Leftist activists opposed to efforts at charter change or cha-cha, and the alleged use of public funds for a signature drive to push it, protest at the House of Representatives in Quezon City, in suburban Metro Manila, Jan. 22, 2023. [Gerard Carreon/BenarNews] But there have been widespread fears that politicians in the Southeast Asian nation could use the proposed changes to extend term limits. Under the charter, a president can only have a single six-year term. Responding to Dutertes threat, National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano on Sunday warned that the government will not hesitate to use its authority and forces to quell and stop any and all attempts to dismember the republic. In light of recent calls to separate Mindanao from the rest of the Philippines, we underscore the importance of national unity, security and stability, he said in a statement. Ano referred to the hard-won gains of the peace agreement with separatists in Mindanao, saying any talk of secession could undo those positive developments. The comprehensive peace process, which brought an end to decades of armed conflict in Mindanao, must be vigorously safeguarded and built upon, he said. The possibility of Marcos changing the constitution is one of a few reasons for the feud between the Marcoses and the Dutertes. Duterte, 78, firmly believes that a Marcos-backed campaign to amend the constitution, ostensibly to allow in more foreign investment, is actually a move to do away with presidential term limits. These limits were instituted after Marcos father was removed from power in a people-power revolt in 1986 after more than three decades in power. Duterte, in a speech late last month, warned Marcos against such a move, saying he could end up like his father. That Marcos in December had allowed into the country investigators from the International Criminal Court to gather evidence for its case against Dutertes deadly drug war, did not please the former presidents supporters either. They werent mollified by Marcos firmly saying that his administration would not lift a finger to help the ICC investigation because it was a threat to the countrys sovereignty. Meanwhile, Military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner, who visited military camps across the southern Philippines at the weekend, reminded soldiers to stay united and be wary of enemy efforts to infiltrate various sectors of society, following Dutertes call for independence. Let us focus on our duty, Brawner said. We have only one Philippines, only one country. Jojo Rinoza and Gerard Carreon in Manila contributed to this report. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet (left) together with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin at a welcome ceremony at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Sept. 28, 2023. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will on Wednesday make his first visit to neighboring Thailand since succeeding his strongman father Hun Sen six months ago. Hun Manet is scheduled to meet Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in Bangkok for talks on economic development of border areas, bilateral trade, closer transport connectivity and tourism, Thai officials said Monday. The two leaders may also discuss overlapping territorial claims in the Gulf of Thailand and a longstanding dispute over Preah Vihear, an ancient Hindu temple complex located between the two countries, according to analysts. Hun Manet, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was in command of Cambodian forces around the temples when the two countries clashed several times over ownership between 2008-11. Thousands of troops are still deployed along both sides of the border and access to the temple from the Thai province of Sisaket remains off limits. Pumin Leeteeraprasert, a lawmaker from Thailands ruling Pheu Thai party, said he hoped that Srettha would address the issue of the Preah Vihear and reopening the border gate to help promote tourism. The prime minister acknowledged our request. Its up to him to raise the matter with PM Hun Manet, Pumin told BenarNews. The Thai-Cambodian relationship is in good shape, but we have to wait and see the result. In 2013, a judgment by the International Court of Justice ordered Thailand to withdraw its forces in honor of a 1962 resolution that awarded the temple to Cambodia. Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Manet salutes during an inspection of troops at a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Cambodian Army in Phnom Penh on January 24, 2024. [AFP] The temple dispute is not the only source of tension between the Southeast Asian neighbors. Thailand and Cambodia both assert control over an area of ocean covering roughly 27,000 square meters in the Gulf of Thailand. The overlapping claims area could hold 11 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, large quantities of condensate and oil, according to CLC Asia, a government affairs and corporate advisory firm headquartered in Bangkok. The two new prime ministers may want to solve both land and maritime disputes, Panitan Wattanayagorn, an independent scholar on security and foreign affairs, told BenarNews. The two leaders could look to share resources in the gulf, possibly by creating a Joint Authority for exploration and exploitation such as the one agreed to by Thailand and Malaysia in 1979, said Panitan, who once served as a security advisor to former Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha. Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, center, walks in front of the National Assembly in Phnom Penh Aug. 21, 2023. [AP] Hun Manet took over leadership of Cambodia when his father, Hun Sen who built a decades-long reputation for corruption and repression stepped down in August last year. Last week, three exiled Cambodian activists were arrested by Thai immigration authorities for threatening to protest during Hun Manet's visit. They included Kong Raiya, who was jailed twice for his outspoken criticism of the Cambodian government; Lim Sokha, a senior member of the banned opposition Candlelight party; and opposition activist Phan Phana, who was arrested with his wife and two children, aged 2 and 4. The three activists had recently fled to Thailand to seek asylum and had been granted refugee status, Phan Phana told Radio Free Asia, a news service affiliated with BenarNews. A street vendor without a permit packs up items on Mission Street after questioning by San Francisco Public Works inspectors in March. The city will extend a temporary ban on street vending on Mission Street for six months in an effort to continue to improve safety along the commercial corridor. Adam Pardee/Special to the Chronicle 2023 San Francisco Public Works inspectors Jondelle Bretz and Alejandro del Calvo speak with people they suspect are selling goods without a vending permit in the Mission District in March. Adam Pardee/Special to the Chronicle 2023 A street vendor without a permit packs up items on Mission Street after questioning by San Francisco Public Works inspectors in March. Adam Pardee/Special to the Chronicle 2023 San Francisco will extend a temporary ban on street vending on Mission Street for six months in an effort to continue to improve safety and cleanliness along the commercial corridor, officials announced Monday. The city issued a 90-day ban Nov. 27, citing concerns about unpermitted vendors some of whom were selling stolen items, officials said and inaccessible sidewalks. During the bans first 60 days, street conditions improved, city leaders reported last month. The bans extension will allow the city to continue to assess how to ensure conditions on the sidewalks and around nearby BART plazas do not deteriorate again, Mayor London Breeds office said in a statement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The progress in the Mission is evident and a great relief to residents, merchants, and City workers, Breed said in a statement. She added that she is working with other mayors statewide to propose necessary changes to California law that would allow the city to better enforce against fencing of stolen goods and create a safe environment for all San Franciscans. San Francisco Public Works inspectors Alejandro del Calvo and Jondelle Bretz speak with two women about acquiring a legal vending permit in the Mission District in March. Adam Pardee/Special to the Chronicle 2023 Public Works inspectors, in partnership with police, will continue to enforce the ban around Mission Street between 14th and Cesar Chavez streets from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, Breeds office said. State law decriminalized street vending in 2018, but unpermitted vendors crowded BART plazas and sidewalks in the Mission District, leading to complaints. Among the safety concerns that led to the ban were reports that Public Works inspectors faced repeated verbal and physical threats as they tried to crack down on illegal vending in the area, with some wearing bulletproof vests because they feared for their safety. The city had placed fencing around the BART plaza at 24th and Mission streets in 2022 to keep vendors out, but scrapped the barricades after protesters repeatedly tore them down. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Vendors sell items around the BART plaza at 24th and Mission streets in 2022 outside a fence, which was placed by the city and repeatedly torn down by protesters. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle 2022 City leaders said the ban led to safer, cleaner and more accessible streets. During the bans first 60 days, calls to the citys 311 public service line for street cleaning in the area decreased 23%, Breeds office said last month, citing Public Works data. A survey of 192 brick-and-mortar merchants along the corridor showed support for the ban, with 76% saying they want the ban to continue and 56% reporting Mission Street is safer, the mayors office said. About 40% reported an increase in foot traffic at their shops. After the ban, the city connected with vendors to offer services such as workforce training and emergency relief funds for low-income households. The city also partnered with two organizations Clecha small business services and Calle 24 Latino Cultural District to open two community spaces where vendors can sell goods, El Tiangue and La Placita. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who represents the Mission District and initially proposed the ban, said that while the area is cleaner, the work is far from done. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle 2023 Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who represents the neighborhood and initially proposed the ban, said that while Mission Street is cleaner, safer and more accessible, the work is far from done. With a moratorium extension, we can continue to build on the progress weve made while supporting our legitimate street vendors with wraparound services, marketing and workforce training, she said. While city leaders noted progress, some vending resumes at night, once police and inspectors stop enforcement, the Chronicle reported last month. You are the owner of this article. Remember that trifold white postcard you got from the Massachusetts secretary of state asking if you wanted to vote by mail? If you tore it off and sent it back with boxes checked, you werent alone. No Massachusetts voter need leave the comfort of their home to apply for or cast a ballot in 2024 for a state or federal election, and voters are responding at a level that some county clerks are warning just isn't possible to keep up with. Its insane, said Pittsfield City Clerk Michele Benjamin, whose office has received 3,912 requests for vote-by-mail ballots as of Friday. The city has 31,296 voters. This year, with a minimum of four elections, some city and town clerks are turning their attention to processing vote-by-mail applications and little else all year long. Its completely changed the way we run elections and the election period, said Andrew Dowd, town clerk of Northborough, who is chair of the legislative committee of the Massachusetts Town Clerks Association. The challenge is the same whether you have 200 voters or whether you have a million voters. Dowd said clerks simply have to add staff in order to meet the requirements of the law. But thats not always easy. We are one of the poorest towns in Massachusetts, said Douglas Miner, town clerk of Sandisfield. Im a part-time clerk, and theres only so much work we can do. HOW THE PROCESS WORKS Mail arrives on a hand truck these days at the city clerks office in Pittsfield. In the registrar of voters office on Friday, three volunteers were slitting open and sorting local census responses. Local census forms have to be input prior to sending out primary ballots to those who have requested them by mail to ensure that voters names and addresses match registration information on file. Once the census has been handled and the ballot information is input into the states computerized system by a city worker, a fourth volunteer files white postcards into seven boxes, one for each of Pittsfields seven wards. Problem children get set aside, said Ashley Gangell, Pittsfields assistant clerk of voter registration and elections, referring to postcards that contain incomplete or inconsistent information. As of Friday, there were 139 of those postcards awaiting special attention and phone calls to make sure that every eligible voter who wants to has the right and ability to vote. On Wednesday at 3:45 p.m., ballots arrived for the presidential primary. So did the kits that will be used for vote-by-mail and ballots used for early, in-person voting along with their envelopes. The cases are being stored in a vault. For the first election of the year, Pittsfield has 21 different ballots. Multiply three parties Democratic, Republican and Libertarian by each of seven ward committee races. Not only are there the white postcards, theres also a completely separate system for registering for vote-by-mail online that requires a different process. Then there are absentee ballots, now used by a minuscule number of voters, and ballots for people who are in the military or overseas, which have two separate processing systems. On Monday, Gangell and Josh Munn, head clerk, will start printing two sets of labels per voter that will be affixed to the envelope of the ballot the voter chose and will pack one of those labels in the correct prepacked kit from the state. Volunteers will glue the outer envelopes. This would not be possible without the help of the dedicated volunteers, said Benjamin, Pittsfields city clerk. EARLY VOTING On Feb. 24, a Saturday and the last day voters can register, Pittsfields city clerks office, along with every other city and town in the commonwealth, will open for early, in-person voting, which continues until March 1. The whole process gets even more complicated when someone who got a mailed ballot decides they want to vote in person instead. Then a ballot has to be spoiled and an explanation made to the voter. How popular is early voting of any kind in Pittsfield? Now that its gotten easier, very. By way of comparison, in the March presidential primary of 2020 before vote-by-mail and early, in-person voting was an option 343 absentee ballots were cast in Pittsfield, 0.03 percent of the 9,925 ballots cast in that election. That was the year of the pandemic, and to protect public health the state tried early, in-person and vote-by-mail. In the presidential election, 58.3 percent, or 12,837 Pittsfield voters, cast their ballots early in some form, eclipsing the 9,189 people who came to the polls on Election Day. ABSENTEE BALLOT VS. VOTE-BY-MAIL While the absentee ballot originated with the Civil War to allow Union soldiers to cast ballots from the front lines, it has a catch. Voters must fill out a signed application specifying their reason for obtaining an absentee ballot: Theyll be out of town, have a religious belief or a disability. In vote-by-mail, that's not the case. Miner posed the rhetorical question: Why would you fill out a whole application and list a reason when you could just send a postcard back? While the absentee ballot may be obsolete, it is enshrined in the Massachusetts Constitution and isn't likely to go away. WHAT ABOUT LOCAL ELECTIONS? Early, in-person voting and vote-by-mail may or may not be options during local elections. The default for a local election is, there is vote-by-mail and there isnt early voting, said Debra OMalley, communications director for the Secretary of States Office. But you can switch it for either. Heres the procedure for municipalities wanting to opt in to early in-person voting for local election: At least two registrars must approach the governing legislative body the select board or city council which must then vote to opt in. On Monday, the Sandisfield Select Board opted out of vote-by-mail, immediately following a state-mandated public hearing. Voters who have checked the "All 2024 Elections" option on their postcard cant assume theyll receive a ballot ahead of their local election. They may need to register for an absentee ballot or walk in on Election Day. MAILING AND OTHER COSTS By mandate of the Votes Act, the state secretary must send out applications to every registered voter in Massachusetts no less than 60 days before every primary or general election at their home address. In 2022, when the state sent out two postcards, the postcard paper, printing and mailing cost an estimated $6 million, said OMalley at the secretary of states office. The mailing that went out in January cost an estimated $2.25 million to mail. That figure doesnt include paper and printing, because the invoices havent been received. Anyone who didnt send one back can expect to see at least one, and possibly two more this year prior to the state primary and general elections by state mandate. Mailing costs to send out individual ballot packets vary from about 80 cents to about a dollar. Ballots are printed on different types of paper depending on how theyre counted. Whereas New Ashford hand counts thin paper ballots, the city of Springfield uses machines to count heavier card ballots with both Spanish and English, requiring two thicker, heavier pages. Postage rates vary by weight but also can vary depending on whether metering or stamps are used. Cities and towns assume the cost of postage to mail out vote-by-mail ballots to voters and are eligible for reimbursement for postage. As to other expenses associated with early voting and vote-by-mail, it depends. It really is circumstance dependent, said Jana J. DiNatale, director of the division of local mandates in the office of the state auditor, who encourages city and town clerks to file expenses associated with early voting to her office. 'FRONTLINES OF DEMOCRACY' In Sandisfield, Miner is not allowed to work more than 19 hours. If he does, the town will be required to consider him a fulltime employee and offer him benefits, which Sandisfield cant afford to do. Hes still putting in hours on Fridays and Saturdays days he isnt paid to work processing vote-by-mail applications, which can take him as long as 12 minutes each to do properly. Hes placing calls to voters to double-check information and make sure every voter has a chance to exercise their right to vote, in accordance with his oath. He finally hired an assistant in mid-January, who will be able to work up to 16 hours a week until June 30. In the meantime, Miner plans to continue putting in the extra hours in order to fulfill his oath to the state and town. I'm not in this job for the money, he said. Im here to be on the frontlines of democracy and to help this town function. So I don't have a choice. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. Pork and shrimp siu mai at the now-closed Hong Kong Lounge 2 in San Francisco in 2014. One of the owners from the former restaurant has opened a new location in Millbrae. John Storey/Special to the Chronicle Recently opened Peninsula and South Bay restaurants serve as a reminder of the regions ever-evolving food scene. An acclaimed San Francisco dim sum restaurant opened a huge new Peninsula location. A new Vietnamese spot is putting Texas-style smoked brisket on top of pho. Other newcomers specialize in all-you-can-eat shabu shabu with premium meat; seafood cooked over a wood fire; and Middle Eastern sweets. Here are nine new Peninsula and South Bay restaurants to check out. Dim sum institution expands Advertisement Article continues below this ad The owners of San Francisco dim sum favorite Hong Kong Lounge opened their first Peninsula restaurant in January. Hong Kong Palace in Millbrae serves the same fresh dim sum people line up for at the San Francisco original, from pillowy baked pork buns to dumplings and rice rolls. The 400-seat dining room is open for lunch and dinner. Hong Kong Lounge first opened in San Francisco in 2008; the owners soon expanded with the nearby Hong Kong Lounge II, which closed after a fire in 2019, and Lai Hong Lounge in San Franciscos Chinatown. 300 El Camino Real, Millbrae. 650-697-7888 A new seafood spot with an unusual design A broiled scallop from Hurrica, a new seafood restaurant in Redwood City's harbor. Don Feria/Special to The Chronicle This huge new seafood restaurant, complete with a floor-to-ceiling, 1,700-gallon jellyfish tank, is newly open in Redwood Citys Westpoint Harbor Marina. Hurrica is the latest project from Parke Ulrich, chef-owner of Mersea on San Franciscos Treasure Island, and Mersea co-founder MeeSun Boice. Ulrich is also executive chef and partner at the Embarcaderos Epic Steak and Waterbar. Many dishes are cooked over a wood fire burning in a custom hearth, including seared yellowtail and potatoes for a fish chowder. The restaurant is named after a 100-year-old boat docked at the nearby harbor. Advertisement Article continues below this ad 150 Northpoint Court, Redwood City. hurrica.restaurant Where barbecue meets Vietnamese food The aptly named Cowboy Pho in San Jose melds Texas-style barbecue with pho. Here, hulking pieces of smoked brisket or bone-in short ribs are served over pho or a wonton soup. 221 E. San Fernando St., San Jose. cowboypho.com New Korean spot draws lines Advertisement Article continues below this ad The latest buzzy newcomer to Santa Claras rich Korean food scene is the Bapsang, which had to close temporarily in January after it was overwhelmed by social media-fueled demand. The menu includes many Korean classics, from bibimbap and bo ssam to aged pork ribs cooked in a sizzling-hot stone pot with rice cakes. 1484 Halford Ave., Santa Clara. instagram.com/thebapsang_official/ A new high-end sushi option on the Peninsula Theres a luxe new sushi restaurant in downtown Palo Alto: Iki Omakase, led by chef Jiabo Li, previously of San Francisco restaurants Sushi Hon and Sato Omakase. The $175, 16-course menu, which ranges from nigiri sourced from Japan to small dishes, is inspired by Edomae sushi, a style of preserving and marinating seafood. There are just two seatings a night in the dark, sleek dining room. 460 Ramona St., Palo Alto. ikiomakasepaloalto.com Advertisement Article continues below this ad All-you-can-eat shabu shabu, but make it fancy Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House, newly open in Santa Clara, is known for its shabu shabu with high-end meat. Courtesy Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House A5 Wagyu, the beef darling of many fine-dining restaurants, is the main selling point at this new all-you-can-eat shabu shabu restaurant in Santa Clara. The first Bay Area outpost of a Southern California chain, Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House offers various kinds of unlimited premium meats ($55, $78 or $98 per person for 90 minutes). Diners cook thin slices of marbled A5 chuck rib eye and brisket in their pick of bubbling broths at the tables. 3590 Homestead Road, Santa Clara. mikiyashabu.com A new Middle Eastern sweets shop Advertisement Article continues below this ad LeVant Dessert, a Middle Eastern sweets company, just opened a new cafe in downtown Menlo Park. Head there for owner Maya Fezzanis cream-filled knafeh and baklava as well as savory items like ka-ak, a ring-shaped bread covered in sesame seeds. 842 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park. levantdessert.com Vietnamese cafe debuts This new San Jose cafe specializes in Vietnamese drinks and dessert. Theres Vietnamese espresso with condensed milk and salted cream, plus sweets like che, a layered dessert with ingredients like house-made pandan jelly, boba, lychee and coconut milk. 3730 N. First St., Suite 110, San Jose. 408-708-7671 Check out Chinese barbecue A new Chinese barbecue restaurant is open in San Mateo. Dynasty BBQ serves grilled, spiced skewers of everything from meat and bacon-wrapped enoki mushrooms to whole cloves of garlic. Tucker Carlson has been in Moscow for the past three days, according to Russia's Mash outlet. He was spotted at the Bolshoi Theatre today. pic.twitter.com/3NvkYAR8tl Marc Bennetts (@marcbennetts1) February 3, 2024 As of Sunday morning, "Tucker" is trending on X with over 307,000 posts. The journalist previously relayed a story about trying to set up a Putin interview, until a Washington, DC source briefed him about how the NSA spied on him: "The NSA broke into my signal account, which I didn't know they could do," he previously said. '"I got a call from somebody in Washington. This person said: 'Are you gonna come to Washington anytime soon?' Yeah. Actually, I'm gonna be up in a week, meet me Sunday morning." "So I go, and this person's like: 'Are you planning a trip to go see Putin?' And I was like, 'how would you know that?' I haven't told anybody. I mean anybody. Not my brother. Not my wife, nobody." "How would you know that? 'Because NSA pulled your text with this other person you were texting.'" The U.S. government spied on Tucker Carlson to stop him from interviewing Vladamir Putin. pic.twitter.com/6VTQpJhBUf TaraBull (@TaraBull808) February 4, 2024 "Uncensored on X. The US deep state and the Biden administration must be in panic mode because Putin (the most censored man in the West) will expose their propaganda and lies," X user Kim Dotcom wrote in a post. Tucker Carlson is in Moscow to interview Vladimir Putin. Uncensored on X. The US deep state and the Biden administration must be in panic mode because Putin (the most censored man in the West) will expose their propaganda and lies. pic.twitter.com/OXq9j8O3GX Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) February 3, 2024 Neocons are going berserk: "Perhaps we need a total and complete shutdown of Tucker Carlson re-entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on," Bill Kristol said. Perhaps we need a total and complete shutdown of Tucker Carlson re-entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on. Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) February 4, 2024 X user The Redheaded Libertarian responded to Kristol: "Barring a journalist from coming home is some KGB shit, Bill." Barring a journalist from coming home is some KGB shit, Bill. The Redheaded libertarian (@TRHLofficial) February 4, 2024 "Tucker Carlson will interview Putin and the media is in panic mode. They're losing control of the narrative," another X user said. Tucker hasnt even chatted with Putin yet, and the first fights have already broken out on the Internet. Tucker Carlson will interview Putin and the media is in panic mode. They're losing control of the narrative. The interview will be aired exclusively on @elonmusk 's #X pic.twitter.com/jOtbst6VRT Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil (@ivan_8848) February 4, 2024 Recall last month, the editor-in-chief of WSJ warned elites at Davos: "We no longer own the news." At a discussion titled 'Defending Truth,' the WSJ editor-in-chief admitted to #Davos2024 #WorldEconomicForum elites that the legacy media no longer 'own the news', lamenting "We were the gatekeepers, and we very much owned the facts as well." Report here: https://t.co/FO3ASOIyuM pic.twitter.com/ukZKP4esNs m o d e r n i t y (@ModernityNews) January 19, 2024 This comes as Elon Musk has freed Twitter from corporate and government control while citizen journalists, armed with keyboards, report the news unbiasedly. In other words, the matrix has glitched. And this is true... If only NeoCons had the same energy when it comes to illegal immigrants entering the country as do over Tucker Carlson traveling to Russia. pic.twitter.com/DiuRbaqwih ALX (@alx) February 4, 2024 It's epic to see elites are in total meltdown this weekend, when they should be promoting conversations between nations. There Is No Jewish State 5. 2. 2024 / Joseph Grim Feinberg cas cteni 26 minut (Ceskou verzi tohoto clanku jsme vydali ZDE A Czech version of this article is HERE) In the Czech media I often hear about something called the Jewish State. But I know of no such state deserving of that name. Yes, I am aware that the Israeli Declaration of Independence announces the establishment of a Jewish State, and I know that since 1985 Israels Basic Law defines that state as Jewish and democratic. I also know that a new Basic Law from 2018 defines Israel as a nation state of the Jewish people. None of that makes Jewish State into an innocent synonym for Israel, a simple substitution to avoid repetition and spice up journalistic prose. The fact that Israel calls itself a Jewish state does not give it authority to fix the meaning of Jewish, or the relationship of Jewishness to states. The Israeli Declaration of Independence speaks of a natural right of the Jewish people to be masters of their own fate, like all other nations [sic!], in their own sovereign State. The document then declared its states national affiliation, announcing that it was a state for the members of a single, predefined nation. By doing so, it closed off the possibility of founding a state that could have been Jewish in a different senseby expressing the historically developed principles of Jewishness and deciding how best to bring these principles into a new age. Israel and the Jewish World Theres a lot in the Israeli Declaration of Independence about where the Jewish people lived long ago and where they dream of returning. Theres nothing in it about what these people, during their long wandering from their point of origin to their destination, have been. In the rhetoric of Israels founding document, Jewishness is about Israel, but Israel is not about Jewishness. The Jewish people are characterized solely by their relationship to the land they came from and head toward. The state born on this land is not characterized in relation to the people who for thousands of years lived elsewhere. And thanks to this programmatic overlooking of Jewish existence outside Israel, Israel has failed in its attempt to become a state for the worldwide population of Jews. Yes, several million Jews eventually moved to the new state, and many others maintain strong personal connections with Israeli society. But about half the worlds Jews maintain still stronger connections to other states. Over 75 years after the founding of the allegedly Jewish state, about half the worlds Jewish lifehalf the activity cultivating Jewish traditions and developing Jewish historystill takes place in the Diaspora. This does not have to be a problem for Israel. The Land of Israel could continue to be a symbolic center of Jewish thought, just as it has always been, without needing to become the geographical home of all Jews. The Jewish community in Israel could be one community among many, with political structures that support Jewish communities in the Diaspora, without needing to perpetually suggest their inferiority. Israeli society could be a refuge for Jews fleeing persecution, without the Israeli state apparatus claiming the right to speak for global Jewry. And in fact these ideas for the Jewish community in Israel were historically well represented in Zionism. Take Ber Borochov , for example, a central figure of labor Zionism, the leading tendency among the founders of modern Israelhe not only promoted the renewal of Hebrew as a language of Jewish unity, but also promoted Yiddish as a language of Diaspora, with a great legacy as a language of labor organizing that could continue in a new state (where, he imagined, the national question could be resolved, making national unity no longer necessary). Another Zionist tendency, known as territorialism , emphasized the practical need for a safe haven for Jewish refugees, wherever land for them might be found, and territorialists did not insist that Diaspora Jews living in safe conditions should feel morally obliged to emigrate to an eventual Jewish state. Or take the so-called cultural Zionists , who measured the success of their project not by the numbers of Jews who might emigrate, but by the cultural accomplishments of the new community that could inspire Jews around the world facing the pressures of assimilation. For Ahad Haam , the leading figure of cultural Zionissm, the idea of the Jewish State meant not a complete ingathering of the exiles, which could be promised only by the miraculous redemption of religion, but the settlement of a small part of our people in Palestine. He wrote: Truth is bitter, but with all its bitterness it is better than illusion. We must confess to ourselves that the ingathering of the exiles is unattainable by natural means. We may, by natural means, establish a Jewish State one day, and the Jews may increase and multiply in it until the country will hold no more: but even then the greater part of the people will remain scattered in strange lands. When, at last, the small part of our people in Palestine succeeds in raising the level of our national culture and spreading the spirit of Judaism, then we may be confident that it will produce men in the country who will be able, on a favourable opportunity, to establish a State And then this state can be a Jewish State, and not merely a State of Jews. Here lies the whole problem, in the difference between a Jewish State and a State of Jews. In Haams view, the state should be founded only on the condition that it contributes to the main goal, which was the cultivation of Jewish culture and society. And in those days, even Zionists of the more dominant tendencies imagined that their project would result in something more than some ordinary state that just happened to belong to Jews instead of another nation. Yet again and again the leading Zionists sacrificed this vision in the interest of establishing and maintaining the power of a state. And for this very reason the state they created could not be a state for all Jews. They devalued Israel as a symbolic center of Judaism; they insulted and alienated large segments of the Jewish population outside Israel; and in the end they compromised the possibility of establishing Israel as a safe place for Jews in need. What they created was not a state with which all Jews could identify, but a tendentious state for some Jews, a state for Israeli Jews, who directly participate in its functioning, and a state for that segment of non-Israeli Jews who accept Israels specific understanding of Jewishness, that is, for those who accept Jewishness as a national identity that hurries to its own state in its own land and regards tarrying in the Diaspora, among the other nations of the world, as a defect. Israel grew satisfied with its self-definition as the state of all Jews, and with the idea that all Jews should defend Israelnot because it might be a good state, but because it is a state of Jews, not because it showed what a Jewish state could be, but because it was supposed to be a priori Jewish. And by trying to be a State of Jews, it set out on a path that would soon take it away from the most important thing that could have justified its claim to preeminence in the Jewish world: cultivating Jewish life by continuing, rather than leaping over, Jewish history. While many earlier Zionists measured the success of their project by the cultural and social strength of the community forming in Palestine, the builders of the Israeli state began to measure their success by the numbers of Jews they could attract to the territory. This Zionism no longer saw itself as a source of strength to be added to global Jewish communities, but as competition with them. The Israeli community grew by subtracting from other Jewish communities, and while it decried the dangers of assimilation in the Diaspora, it placed enormous emphasis on assimilating immigrants into a new, specifically Israeli culture that sharply contrasted with the Jewish cultures of the Diaspora. Social pressures and institutional arrangements (schooling, immigrant immersion programs, population dispersion within the country, cases of children taken from their parents , a partial ban on the Yiddish language ) combined to disrupt the cultural life of Sephardic, Mizrahi, Ashkenazi, Yemenite, Ethiopian, Iranian, and so many other kinds of Jews, to ensure that they all lived as Israelis. The State of Israel cant bear the chief blame for the conditions that pressured many Jews to emigrate to Israeli (however much one might see post-1948 antisemitism in Arab countries as a response to Israeli practices), but it is clear that Israel did not become a place where Jewish refugees were given the means to preserve and develop the traditions they had chosen or been compelled to leave behind. Israels success became the Diasporas loss. Yiddish, Ladino, Judeo-Arabic, and the literatures and oral cultures that came with themit is as if they were invited to Israel only to be thrown to the winds upon arrival. And within the territory of Israel and Palestine, the politics of counting Jews became still more fraught. Because the state measured its Jewishness in numbers rather than content, Israel not only took from Diaspora communities, but felt the need to subtract from the non-Jewish communities in the land it claimed, to make room for immigrants and ensure their majority in the state. To accomplish the goal, Israel built an imposing army, a legendary spy outfit, and a frightening security apparatus; it won wars and increased its territory while being careful not to expand its offers of non-Jewish citizenship as quickly as it expanded its control over land. And the more powerful Israel grew as a state, the further it departed from the idea that progressive interpreters had given to Jewishness: the idea that Jewish life would develop by participating in global projects of all-human emancipation. As the Israeli state grew more inhumane toward the non-Jewish inhabitants of Israel and Palestine, Israeli leaders grew still more impatient toward those high-minded Jews in the Diaspora who still believed Israel should adhere to universal moral standardsor at least to the moral standards developed by Jewish tradition itself. For the new generations of Israeli leaders, such moral hand-wringing was ignorant and pitiable, and only Israelis themselves could really understand that the brutal necessities of Israeli life required them to contradict every grand humanistic ideal. And the more Israel turned the presumed necessity of violence into a virtue, the less it could be a state of those Jews who reject this necessity. The State of Jewishness Is Diaspora What if Israel tried to be not the state of a single, narrowly defined nation, but a state of all people who choose to participate in a certain history, developing principles drawn from a certain experience and a certain tradition of thought? What if Israel acknowledged not only the right of Jews to live in one land, but also the right of all people to live where they are and to return to the lands they consider to be their home? The Israeli Declaration of Independence writes that the Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Jewish people, but this is only half true. In the ancient kingdom whose capital was Jerusalem, there lived Judeans. It was only their descendants who became Jews after the Judean kingdom was conquered and its people scattered from the land. The Land of Israel was the birthplace of the Diaspora, and it was only the Diaspora that gave birth to Jews. When Israel claims that it is a state belonging exclusively to the Jewish nation, this very claim contradicts a key principle of Jewish tradition as it developed in the millennia of life among other, larger nations: the contestation of the exclusivity of nations on the territories to which they lay claim. A Jewish state that develops this principle would not be a state only for a Jews. Its founding principle would be respect for people who live without their own state, which is to say: respect for all people whose supposed states are not really fully theirs. Respect for everyone who lacks full protection of state machinery, for all who are exiled or excluded or exploited and only falsely integrated into the states and societies where they live. A state that fulfils the Diasporic meaning of being Jewish would, properly speaking, no longer be a state, at least not insofar as it is Jewish. The principle of Jewishness in the Diaspora is the principle of building life outside the state. Judean worship was a state religion. It was organized around a central Temple and run by high priests under the power and protection of kings. The specifically Jewish practice of worship emerged when the old Judean rituals became independent after their erstwhile state and Temple were destroyed. Judean politics had been monarchistic. Jewish politics emerged when the formerly Judean society reconstituted itself in exile and without its own kings, treating other kings as accidental rulers, secondary in authority to the voices of God and His prophets and, more importantly, to the local community scholars, who came to be known as rabbis, who interpreted those voices. Instead of dying out when removed from its land, the community grew as the emerging worldview was dispersed over land and sea, increasingly emphasizing the universality of the condition of exile and the search for paths of return. In the Babylonian and Assyrian Exiles (ca. 720520 BCE), which ended the Judean kingdom and its northern Israelite sister kingdom, the people who were becoming Jews began to edit a collection of texts that we know today as the Bible, celebrating above all the pre-monarchistic period of Israelite history, from the times before the Judean kings, with a narrative centered around a double exile: first from Eden, an exile that will not end before the end of time, and second from Egypt, an exile and ambivalent return that would provide the structure for thinking Jewish history in repeated waves thereafter. When the kings at last come into the Biblical story, they come as secondary figures, legitimate only when they follow the advice of prophets, whose authority outweighs theirs, and who sometimes decry the very institution of kingship . After the kings are swept away, the whole story is told from the perspective of exile, and even though parts of the book reflect the attitude of a later period, when the kingdom was reconstituted and the Temple was rebuilt, the book in its final form would be read with full knowledge that this moment of return was temporary, because the Temple was destroyed again (in 70 CE) and, like Eden, it remains out of reach to this day. After the Second Temple was destroyed, the community reevaluated its earlier practices. It gave up on the rituals connected to the Temple and the king, and its system of worship came to resemble the decentralized forms of worship that were denounced in the monarchist sections of the book (like the book of Kings): ritual life was spread far and wide among thousands of proxy temples, run by their own congregants instead of priests and kings. Jerusalem stopped being the political center Judeanism, becoming the symbolic center of Judaism. The dispersion of Jews around the world not only refer to one peoples geographical exile, but took on the existential significance that we are nowhere entirely at home, because the whole world has taken on the character of Exile. The destruction of one particular Temple became a symbol of universal destruction; it could be confronted not by erecting a new building at a single location, but by the right kind of activity anywhere in the world. And the fact that the Temple remained destroyed, despite great spiritual and material effort, was a reminder that the Messiah has not yet come, because in the post-Biblical period only the Messiah would be capable of adequately repairing all the worldly destruction that the Temple now symbolized. And the Messiah would not build a Temple for Jews alone. He would end the exile of all nationsand only then would the Jews truly come home. The Jerusalem hill known as Zion became a symbol of the desire for return, but return no longer meant primarily physical displacement to the territory of Israel, which was by now (since the times of Roman domination) better known to the world as Palestine. The idea of a physical return became a metaphor for a turn away from the conditions of existential hardship, a redemption of all people from all forms of debt and servitude that were entailed by life under foreign rule (that is, by life under all illegitimate rulers). Jews were expected to desire this return, but not to return prematurely. They were to remain wary of false Messiahs, who promise to save everyone, but who in practice save only a few. Life in Diaspora was meant to remind us not to be become too comfortable as long as we havent all returned home and the world remains unredeemed. Jewish life in the Diaspora was a product of this tension: the desire for return, and caution against premature returns. How to understand this in the secular society toward which most currents of Jewish life in recent centuries have been moving? Perhaps like this: We should struggle against oppression, but not declare victory before it has truly come. We should support the right of people to return to their homes, but we should not think that we ourselves are home before we have all arrived. We can dream of a society where we will all live in harmony, but we should remember that in our actual societies perfect harmony is illusory, because we are not all equally at home. Some of us are where we dont want to be, while others are in places where societies-hoping-for-harmony dont want us. And we just might choose to stay where we dont belong. Those are principles of Diasporic Jewish thought that Zionism could have developed. Zionists could have asked at every stage whether their own goals were compatible with the goals of all-human emancipation. They could have fought for the ingathering of Jews on the condition that they guard against prematurely feeling completely at home. They could have sought ways to link the safety of Jews in Palestine to the safety of all people who live there. But as long as Zionism failed to do this, it could not form a Jewish state, no matter what the states declarations and laws announced and no matter how it identified the people who became its citizens. normal. It stands as a warning against what modernity has made too normal. It is a legacy of impropriety in the face of unbearable normality. Zionism diverged from the principle of Diasporic Jewishness the moment it choseas Zionists often saidto make Jews into a normal nation that would behaveas the Declaration of Independence sayslike all other nations, in their own sovereign State. Jews in the Diaspora have experienced the result of this behavior of normal nations , which have the right to oppress other nations within their borders, and which have a tendency to look on the people of other nations as elements dangerous to their own state. The primary contribution of Jewish thought to the understanding of nations and states consists in its grappling with a national-cultural-political experience that not fit conveniently into the modern model of a nation seeking perfect accord with itself in its own state. Its legacy is not. It stands as a. It is a legacy of impropriety in the face of unbearable normality. This warning against normality does not make Diasporic Jewish thought unusual. It is unique only insofar as every tradition of thought is abnormal in its own way and deserves the chance to work through its own particular abnormalities in the search for something universal. This principle of Jewishness can join the many voices that remind us of an alternative path to modernity, one closed off by the normal nations of the worldwhich is to say, by the idea of normal nationhood, to which so few nations properly conform. That alternative is a path toward the forming of states that do not belong to one nation, and to the forming of nations that do not lay claim to the domination of any states. A state that reflected this principle of Jewishness would shatter unitary national identity, helping all people return to their lands by working to make all lands the potential home of all people. But Zionism abandoned this principle of Jewishness, in order to found a normal nation-state. A Jewish State or an Israeli State? Is it too much, on my part, to ask Israel to be better than normal nation-states? At this point, I would be glad if Israel were at least normal. I just wish it wouldnt confuse its nations. It would not be a Jewish state, but it could at least be consistently Israeli. States typically declare themselves to belong to entire, long-existing nations, when in practice they are above all specific, newly emerging projectsconcrete organizational structures that gather together the groups of people who participate in them. It is a misunderstanding, sometimes harmless and sometimes tragic, when this concrete group of participants is confused with an abstract nation born centuries or millennia before. Israel could be a state of the abstract Jewish nation, but only if its state project were the development of the manifold tendencies that come out of Jewish history. Or it could be a normal state of Israelisof the concrete participants in its projectif only it stopped insisting that it is the state of the abstract nation of all Jews. Israel should continue to be open to all Jews who choose to participate in its projectand to all non-Jews who choose to join them. It should try to create and preserve a space where Jews can be safewhich, practically speaking, would mean forming positive, non-violent relations between Jews and non-Jews. And so much the better if it also, finally, becomes a place where Jewish history can unfold as a project mediating between an abstract, generalized conception of exile and concrete attempts at redemption from exile. But to the extent that it is the state of a nation, that nation will not be Jewish. It will be Israeli. Many Israelis have indeed worked to continue the Jewish history that was begun in the Diaspora, but Zionism as a whole has been more interested in overcoming this history than in continuing it. Early Zionists spoke of negating the diaspora , in order to create a society entirely different from the existing, Diasporic societies of Jews. I understand. Life in Diaspora can be too easy and too hard. It can oppress and exterminate some Jews while offering others the cheap pleasures of assimilation and material plenty. I respect the attempt to seek something different. Let us only be aware that what results from such a project will not be Jewish, not in the sense given to Jewishness by Jewish history; it will be something new. Lets call it Israeli. This new category does not need to be limited to Jews, or even to Jewish Israelis. It could be open to all people who choose to be a part of Israeli society, whether as enthusiastic supporters of it in its current form, or as its harsh critics. The Israeli Declaration of Independence calls on Jewish people throughout the Diaspora to immigrate to the new state and participate in its upbuilding. Many of them answered the call. The Declaration also calls on the Arab inhabitants of the State of Israel to preserve peace and participate in the upbuilding of the State on the basis of full and equal citizenship and due representation in all its provisional and permanent institutions. Considering the fact that the same Declaration declared the state to be Jewish and, therefore, not theirs, and the fact that after its founding the state revised its offer and significantly limited the equality of its Arab citizens, while denying citizenship to many other Arabs under its eventual rule, its remarkable that not a few non-Jewish citizens of Israel also found various ways to answer this call. If only Israel admitted that it is an Israeli sate, and not a Jewish state, these citizens could feel that they are fully Israeli and not strangers in a strange land, even when it is land on which their ancestors lived long before. By bringing non-Jewish people into its community as full participants in its project, Israel would become more, not less Jewish. Jews, a nation born in Diaspora, are Jews only in heterogeneous societies, only where they can preserve consciousness of the fact that people still live in exile. Jews in Israel can remain Jews only as long as Israel remains a part of the Diaspora, which is to say, as long as the people of Israel continue to address the problems of exile, whether it be their own alienation from a society that is supposed to be theirs, or the expulsion of other people from lands on which they once lived and the exclusion of other people from lands on which they still live, but which are occupied or besieged by the State of Israel. Such a state could offer space where Jews and non-Jews, referring to their various pasts and various visions, could debate their shared future, without merging into a monolithic whole. Such a struggle among competing memories, tendencies, and hopes would be a negative dialectic, without a Messiah and without final resolution. Whether this state will have borders around all of Palestine, and will be compelled to bring in Palestinian history and experiencethe Palestinian idea of Diasporaas an equal part of its self-understanding, or whether it will exist alongside an independent Palestine, which finds its own path forward, I dont know. Whether it will be called Israel or Palestine or Palestine-Israel or something completely different, I dont know that either. I only know that without a political project of this type, there is little hope that this state, which has become stuck in a trap of self-negation through the negation of supposed foreigners, can ever move forward. Jewishness beyond the State Fortunately, Israel has not resolved all the questions of exile; it has not fully negated the Diaspora or overcome Jewish history in its millennia-long Diasporic sense. Thanks to this, Jews still exist as Jews, and not only as Jews transformed into Israelis. There are even Jews in the State of Israel, precisely because they have not become identical to the Israeli state, which is to say, because Israel is not a Jewish state, thanks be to the Lord. Since Jews can only be Jews where they do not merge with their states, Israeli society can be Jewish to the extent that it contradicts the homogenizing principle of the Israeli state, and Jewish history can continue even in Israeli, to the extent that people in Israel create something independent of the Israeli state. It is up to society, beyond the state, to move forward that history that the state was unable to end. Diasporic Jewishness finds its home only at the end of history, which probably (and perhaps hopefully) will never end. This does not mean that Jewish tradition ignores the principle of home. It means that it recognizes home not only for Jews. What happens to others who lose their homes happens also to us. The longings of other people for return our also our longings. This view of the world venerates homes, not borders, because it honors places that are open for return. And because existing states, founded on the principle of predefined state-making nations, do not offer homes to all people, this concept of Jewishness maintains a distance from all existing statesincluding that state that calls itself Jewish. 0 Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Power was out for more than 17 hours at Rosalind Bakery in Pacifica after a powerful storm hit the Bay Area on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. Courtesy Matt Kosoy On Sunday evening, as a bomb cyclone pummeled the Bay Area, owner Matt Kosoy recorded an Instagram video in the dark at Rosalind Bakery in Pacifica. Without power and unable to use his ovens, there might be no bread in the morning, Kosoy warned. Food businesses throughout the Bay Area lost power and money on Sunday as strong winds knocked over trees and downed power lines. More than 235,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers across the Bay Area remained without power Monday. The largest concentration of the outages is in the North Bay, with about 73,000 customers without power as of 8:15 a.m.; about 72,000 in the South Bay; 56,000 on the Peninsula; 29,000 in the East Bay; and 4,800 in San Francisco, according to PG&E spokesperson Jeff Smith. Advertisement Article continues below this ad With Rosalinds power in Pacifica still out late Sunday, Kosoy loaded his van with dough, drove into San Francisco and rushed to Rize Up Bakery, where owner Azikiwee Z Anderson had volunteered his kitchen to Kosoy. The loaves successfully rescued, Kosoy crawled into bed by 4 a.m., hoping to wake up to good news. But this morning, with power still out at Rosalind as of 9 a.m., the bakery couldnt open. Kosoy called off his delivery drivers and employees. The rescued bread may go to waste. Its just a triage situation, Kosoy said. Just before 7 p.m. Sunday, the colorful dining room full of customers at Shuggies in San Francisco was plunged into darkness. Power was out on the entire block of 23rd Street between Barlett and Mission streets, co-owner Kayla Abe said. The music was cut, the ovens went down just the floodlights went on, Abe said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Shuggies in San Francisco, pictured in 2022, closed early due to a power outage on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle Shuggies closed early for the night, at a loss of about $2,000 to $3,000 in sales, plus labor costs. Power was restored about an hour later, Abe said, saving the restaurants refrigerated ingredients, but they had already sent employees home and emailed cancellations to diners with reservations for the rest of the night. Power also went out in the middle of dinner at Jos Modern Thai in Oakland on Sunday at 7 p.m. Diners used their phones to light tables until the power was restored about 10 minutes later. But after another outage, the restaurant closed early, around 8 p.m., said chef Intu-On Kornnawong. It had been a slow night due to the storm, she said only 30 covers, a low the restaurant hasnt seen before on a Sunday night. Diners use their phones to light tables during a power outage at Jo's Modern Thai in Oakland on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. Elena Kadvany/The Chronicle After losing power at his deli and market in Potrero Hill, Alimentari Aurora owner Dario Barbone ordered dry ice on DoorDash as an emergency refrigeration stopgap, according to an Instagram post. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In Napa Valley, Oakville Grocery temporarily closed Monday. Power had been out since 1 p.m. Sunday, the business wrote on Instagram. Even businesses that werent open during the onset of the power outages are affected. Andytown Coffee Roasters cafe and roastery on Taraval Street in San Francisco lost power for 12 hours Sunday, shutting off its refrigeration, and then had to close Monday so the business could clean out milk, cream, eggs, ham and bacon from its fridges. They had been at unsafe temperatures for too long, owner Lauren Crabbe said. Andytown lost an estimated $1,000 from the thrown-out food, plus a day of lost sales. The coffee shops espresso machine sputtered and leaked water when staff turned it on; she said machines can often break after losing power for an extended period of time. Kosoy was facing the same prospect Monday morning, with Rosalind going on 17 hours without power. The bakerys regular flour and produce deliveries had already arrived, but anything requiring refrigeration may have to be thrown out. If the outage continues, Rosalind might not be able to mix dough for tomorrow. If I have to waste product, Kosoy said, thats going to be very disruptive to my operations. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. 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Cabanatuan worked at the Paradise Post (long before anyone heard of the town), the former West County Times (in Richmond) and the Modesto Bee before joining The Chronicle. He is a two-time graduate of UC Berkeley. He can be reached at mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com. Chinese shares gyrated on Monday, sinking to five-year lows after market regulators sought to reassure jittery investors with a promise to crack down on stock price manipulation and malicious short selling. Shares in Shanghai and the smaller market in Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, swung between big losses and small gains throughout the day. The markets have languished on heavy selling of property shares, which are enduring a slump in the property market. Advertisement The China Securities Regulatory Commission held a meeting on Sunday focused on stabilising the markets, state-run Chinese media reported. A notice on its website appeared designed to reassure individual investors who account for more than half of trading volume. Advertisement It vowed to crack down with harsh punishment for insider trading and other violations. We must sincerely listen to the voices of the broad numbers of investors, respond to their concerns and protect their rights as investors, the CSRC said in a notice. Advertisement Those promises followed comments by various top officials on the need to restore market stability. The head of the economic crimes unit of the Supreme Peoples Procuratorate, the countrys top public prosecutors office, was interviewed by the Securities Times, a publication of the ruling Communist Partys Peoples daily. Advertisement Protecting the rights of investors is the top priority, Zhang Xiaojin said. We will continue to increase the intensity of punishing financial crimes in key areas, and severely crack down on crimes that seriously disrupt the order of the capital market in accordance with the law. Market observers said there were signs on Monday that the authorities had, as is often the case, ordered big institutional investors to step up buying of state-owned banks and other heavyweights. Many of those shares saw strong gains. The Industrial & Commercial Bank of China gained 2.3 per cent, Bank of China rose 2.8 per cent and the Agricultural Bank of China rose 2 per cent. But overall, shares still mostly lost ground, and technology stocks were among the biggest decliners. Advertisement Chinese shares gyrated on Monday, after stock market regulators sought to reassure jittery investors with a promise to crack down on stock price manipulation (Andy Wong/AP) The Shenzhen Component index lost 1.1 per cent after dipping as much as 4.4 per cent. The Shanghai Composite index shed 1 per cent to 2,702.19, having lost 3.5 per cent earlier. Advertisement The situation in the Chinese equity market appears tumultuous, reflecting broader concerns about regulatory uncertainty and government intervention, Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a report. Despite attempts by state authorities to stabilise the market, investor sentiment remains fragile, reflecting deep-seated concerns about the reliability of government policies and the regulatory framework, Mr Innes said. Advertisement Wilder swings were seen in the CSI 1000 index, an exchange-traded fund that fell as much as 8.7 per cent on Monday before regaining some of the losses to close down 6.2 per cent. The CSI 1000 is often used to track so-called snowball derivatives, investment products that can pay big gains but also can result in exaggerated losses. Markets were calmer in Hong Kong. The benchmark Hang Seng index, which has also recently seen significant losses, edged 0.2 per cent lower, to 15,510.01. Chinese companies have lost billions of dollars worth of market value as investors shifted away from the markets in Hong Kong and the mainland in search of better returns. Tokyos benchmark, the Nikkei 225 index, is trading at near 35-year highs, though that is partly due to changes in investment rules that are drawing money into the market. Apart from the troubles in Chinas property market, where developers are struggling to repair their balance sheets after the government cracked down on excessive borrowing several years ago, a slowing of Chinas economy, the worlds second largest, has also taken a toll. Advertisement Uncertainty over tensions with Washington is not helping. Former US president Donald Trump has threatened to impose 60 per cent tariffs on imports of Chinese products at a time when the US is already curbing Beijings access to advanced computer chips and other strategically sensitive technologies. In 2018, Mr Trump started a trade war by vastly raising tariffs on Chinese imports. China retaliated with tariffs on US goods, and the tariffs on both sides remain to this day. Gardai in Cork investigating the murder of Kieran Quilligan have charged two men in connection with the case. The 47-year-old was reported missing from Cork city centre last September. Advertisement His remains were discovered in Rostellan last week. Gardai have not disclosed information in relation to the cause of death. They said two men arrested as part of their investigation in recent days have been charged in connection with the case. The men, one aged his 20s and the other in his 30s, are expected to appear before a sitting of Cork District Court at Anglesea Street Courthouse on Tuesday morning. Advertisement The Taoiseach has insisted the Irish Government is willing to help Northern Ireland with further financial support as ministers in the restored Stormont Executive pressed the UK for more cash. Leo Varadkars pledge came as he and UK prime minister Rishi Sunak visited Belfast to mark the return of devolution to the North. Advertisement The two met for private discussions at Stormont on Monday morning, but did not conduct any joint meetings with local politicians or joint press conferences. Advertisement The lack of a side-by-side public appearance fuelled talk of tensions in the Anglo-Irish relationship following Irelands move to launch a legal challenge against the UK governments contentious legislation to address the legacy of the Troubles. Later, Mr Sunak said the real work starts now as he met with Northern Irelands first ever nationalist First Minister, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill, and her DUP counterpart, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. Advertisement The institutions were restored on Saturday after a deal between the UK government and the DUP to address unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements, which included passing new legislation at Westminster. The Treasury has offered a 3.3 billion (3.8 billion) funding package to support the return to powersharing. Advertisement Taoiseach Leo Varadkar addressed reporters in Parliament Buildings in Belfast (Oliver McVeigh/PA) While Mr Sunak has said the offer represents a generous and fair settlement, Stormont ministers have written to the UK government insisting it is not enough to deliver sustainable public services and public finances. Mr Varadkar highlighted the Irish Government had already invested millions of euros in projects in Northern Ireland that had a cross-border element, and he said more funding pledges through its Shared Island Initiative would be forthcoming. Advertisement The bulk of Irish investment in the North has focused on capital infrastructure projects. The Taoiseach, addressing reporters in Parliament Buildings in Belfast, said he was confident the new administration in Belfast would last. Advertisement I want to thank people who made today possible, to congratulate the First Minister, the deputy First Minister, the new Executive on taking up their new roles, and really pledge to do everything that we can do to help this Executive to be successful, he said. There are a lot of everyday issues that need attention here in Northern Ireland, and I know theyre going to work very hard on that. Were keen to get north-south co-operation going again and have a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in the next couple of weeks and focus on some of that practical co-operation that works well for everyone on the island. Advertisement So, very keen to work with a new executive and looking forward to doing that. Asked by reporters if the Irish Government is prepared to offer new money to the North, the Taoiseach said: Yes, we are. You know the Shared Island fund is there, and we would intend to make further allocations from that over the course of this year. But were also very keen to co-ordinate that with the Secretary of State (Chris Heaton-Harris) and also with the Executive, now it is up and running. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, centre, met Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, left, and newly appointed speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly Edwin Poots (Oliver McVeigh/PA) Mr Sunak said the UK governments funding deal for Northern Ireland was significant and generous and would focus on long-term sustainability as well as addressing the immediate issues. He added: I had very constructive meetings this morning with the Executive, with political leaders across Stormont, and it is a historic and important day for the country, because Northern Irelands politicians are back in charge, making decisions on behalf of their people, which is exactly how it should be. Now, our new deal gives them more funding and more powers than they have ever had, so they can deliver for families and businesses across Northern Ireland. And thats what everyones priority is now. Advertisement Mr Sunak also insisted that Stormonts leaders should focus on the day-to-day concerns of people in Northern Ireland, rather than the prospect of a poll on reunification. He made clear that constitutional change was not a priority in response to weekend comments from Ms ONeill in which she claimed a border referendum could be held in the next 10 years. Mr Sunak and Mr Heaton-Harris met members of the newly formed Stormont Executive (Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA) It is not constitutional change, it is delivering on the day-to-day things that matter to people, the British Prime Minister said. Mr Varadkar would not be drawn on the question of reunification when asked by reporters. Both the UK and Irish sides also moved to play down suggestions of a rift between them on Monday. Aside from the difference of opinion on the legacy laws, Mr Varadkar was asked to respond to the suggestion of disquiet in No 10 amid claims Mr Varadkar had muscled in on the UK prime ministers visit to the North to mark the re-establishment of devolution. I had a very good welcome and very good meeting with the British Prime Minister and then a very warm welcome from the First Minister, deputy First Minister and Executive, he replied. And theres a long-standing tradition since the Good Friday Agreement was signed that the Taoiseach would attend events like this. British prime minister Rishi Sunak and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar have played down suggestions of tensions between the two governments after they did not appear together in public to mark the return of powersharing to Northern Ireland. While the two leaders did meet privately, they held separate engagements with Stormonts political leaders. Advertisement Mr Varadkar said the day was about progress in Northern Ireland, rather than the two premiers, while Mr Sunak said Ireland would remain a close and valued partner of the UK. British prime minister Rishi Sunak said he deeply regretted Irelands legal challenge over the Legacy Act (Liam McBurney/PA) Speculation over a rift in the Anglo-Irish relationship has increased since Dublin launched an interstate legal challenge against the UK Governments contentious legislation to address the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Advertisement Laws enacted by the UK Government strive to provide a limited form of immunity to those accused of Troubles-related offences. Advertisement The move has faced staunch criticism and is opposed by many victims groups in Northern Ireland and all the main Stormont parties. Last week, Mr Sunak used a call with the Taoiseach to confront his counterpart about the UKs disappointment over the legal challenge. He repeated those sentiments on Monday, saying he deeply regretted the move. Advertisement Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said focus should be on the return of the Stormont Executive (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Varadkar said he had had a very good meeting with Mr Sunak at Stormont. He said: Theres a long-standing tradition since the Good Friday Agreement was signed that the Taoiseach would attend events like this. Advertisement This isnt about us, this is about Northern Ireland. Its about the major political parties here coming together, forming an executive working together on the day-to-day issues that people across the province are concerned about. So it isnt really about me or the Prime Minister. Its about powersharing here in Northern Ireland, which is so important. Advertisement So I think the focus will be on them rather than us. Asked why he had not appeared in public alongside Mr Varadkar, the British prime minister said: Ireland is always going to be a close and valued partner and friend of the United Kingdom. Thats always been the case and will remain the case. Advertisement Whilst we deeply regret the decision that the Government made on legacy, we disagree with it, but it is important we continue to co-operate where we can. I met the Taoiseach today, I spoke to him last week. I was also the first prime minister to attend the British-Irish Council in over a decade. I regularly speak to him and I also have an enormous amount of respect for all strands of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. Mr Sunak added: I also congratulated him on Irelands rugby victory while I was at it. Following her meeting with the Taoiseach, the DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly said she looked forward to building a relationship Mr Varadkar based on mutual respect. She added: It makes sense for us to have a constructive relationship we havent always had in the past. Updated: 12.15pm Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he wants devolved government in Northern Ireland to last, adding the Irish Government will help in any way it can to make this Executive a success. Advertisement The Taoiseach was greeted by the Norths new First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Stormont Castle on Monday, and held a meeting before Mr Varadkar met with the rest of the newly-formed Executive. Welcoming the Taoiseach to the Executive table, Ms Little-Pengelly said she looked forward to building a constructive relationship based on mutual respect with the Irish Government. She added it makes sense for us to have a constructive relationship we havent always had in the past. Advertisement Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Norther Ireland's Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Stormont Castle. Photo: Oliver McVeigh/PA Wire Mr Varadkar said he was glad to be there on this very positive day, adding there were various times over the past year or two I didnt think this day would happen. Advertisement Its great that the institutions are back up and running again. We want the Executive to be a success and to last, and are keen to help in any way we can but not to interfere, but definitely to help, and keen to see the North-South Ministerial Council up and running again as soon as possible, and the British Irish Council as well, of course, he said. Well have the St Patricks Day visits, which I think will take on a much more positive feel, because in the US theyll be keen to see the Good Friday Agreement institutions working, and the main thing is to try and keep the lines of communication open. UK prime minister Rishi Sunak is also in the North to mark the restoration of powersharing, telling Stormonts leaders the real work starts now. Advertisement Mr Varadkar and Mr Sunak also met each other for a bilateral meeting at Parliament Buildings. Advertisement Mr Sunak then travelled the short distance to Stormont for a meeting with Ms ONeill and Ms Little-Pengelly. As the meeting got underway, Mr Sunak told the pair: It has taken a lot of hard work and indeed courage to get us sitting round this table. Advertisement Today isnt the end; its the beginning, and the real work starts now. Mr Sunak and the UKs Northern Ireland secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, also held talks with Ms ONeill and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald. Advertisement The Sinn Fein leaders are understood to have voiced their objection to elements of the deal between the DUP and UK government which prompted the unionist party to return to Stormont, following concerns that the agreement adopted a pro-Union approach to issues such as a border poll and the development of an all-island economy. Ms ONeill and Ms McDonald are believed to have made it clear that the party intends to drive an all-island economy through the finance and economy portfolios it now holds in the new Executive. They are also believed to have stressed the requirement for the UK government to remain impartial in relation to the calling of any future referendum on Northern Irelands constitutional future. UK Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and UK prime minister Rishi Sunak at Stormont Castle (Oliver McVeigh/PA) Earlier, Mr Heaton-Harris rejected claims by Stormont ministers that better funding is needed from the UK government as powersharing returns. He insisted the 3.3 billion package offered by the UK government is ample for the Executive to get on with the job. Advertisement The newly-formed Executive has already written to Mr Sunak calling for urgent discussions on long-term funding stability to deliver public services. Asked about claims that the current funding arrangement will not provide the basis for the Executive to deliver sustainable public services, Mr Heaton-Harris told BBC Breakfast: I dont believe that is the case. I think Stormont has fantastic, strong foundations now, and it will survive, it will be sustainable. He added: There is a thing, I think, about choices. Youre going into politics, you have to make choices on these sorts of things. It's great to be back in Northern Ireland - a special part of our United Kingdom. After two years, it's clear how important the Assembly's return is to local people - giving them a say in issues that matter. Now it's time to deliver a brighter future for Northern Ireland. pic.twitter.com/BEuh4B731C Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) February 4, 2024 Those choices havent been made for a long time out here, and I believe the new set of ministers are completely capable of running their public finances perfectly well with the fair and generous funding package weve given them. Theres a 3.3 billion package available to ministers on day one here to get on with the job of sorting out Northern Ireland public sector pay, health services and a whole host of other things, and Id say thats ample for the time being. The new powersharing Executive will also hold its first meeting on Monday as it begins the task of trying to manage Northern Irelands strained finances. Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he was weighing up a possible dismissal of the countrys top military officer, a prospect that has shocked the nation fighting Russias invasion and worried Kyivs Western allies. Asked whether he was considering the ousting of General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Mr Zelenskiy told Italian RAI TV in an interview released late on Sunday that he was thinking about it as part of a broader issue of setting the countrys path. Advertisement He said that a reset, a new beginning is necessary and it is not about a single person but about the direction of the countrys leadership. Im thinking about this replacement, but you cant say here we replaced a single person, Mr Zelenskiy said. When we talk about this, I mean a replacement of a series of state leaders, not just in a single sector like the military. Advertisement If we want to win we must all push in the same direction, convinced of victory, we cannot be discouraged, let our arms fall, we must have the right positive energy. Advertisement Commander-in-chief of Ukraines Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) Mr Zelenskiys comments marked his first confirmation that he was mulling replacing the widely popular general, a possibility that caused an uproar in Ukraine and delighted the Kremlin as the war approaches its second anniversary. Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko criticised the possibility of Gen Zaluzhnyis sacking, saying it was because of the generals leadership that many Ukrainians truly trust the armed forces. Today is a moment when politics might prevail over reason and countrys interests, Mr Klitschko said on social media. The mayor of Ukraines capital city has been a vocal critic of Mr Zelenskiy. The presidency in turn has accused Klitschkos office of inefficiencies. Advertisement It is unclear who might replace Gen Zaluzhnyi and if his successor would command the same level of respect from Ukraines troops and foreign defence leaders. According to Ukrainian and Western media reports, Mr Zelenskiy last week offered for Gen Zaluzhnyi to resign, but he refused. Gen Zaluzhnyi has not commented on the issue. The tensions between the president and Gen Zaluznyi have been rising as the country grapples with dire ammunition and personnel shortages following a failed summer counteroffensive. The need for a broad mobilisation to fill the ranks has reportedly been one of the areas of disagreement. Advertisement Mr Zelenskiy said at the end of last year that he had turned down the militarys request to mobilise up to 500,000 people, demanding more details about how it would be organised and paid for. Advertisement Volodymyr Zelenskiy poses for a photo with servicemen during his visit to Zaporizhzhia region, the site of fierce battles with the Russian troops, on Sunday (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) A rift between Gen Zaluzhnyi and Mr Zelenskiy first broke into the open last autumn when the general acknowledged in an interview with The Economist that the fighting with Russia had stalemated. The president strongly denied that was the case. For his part, Gen Zaluzhnyi has published two essays laying out his vision for how Ukraine can win the war. Advertisement In his writings, he said it was critical for Ukraine to have air superiority, to extending its efficiency in countering enemy artillery, to build up reserves and to increase electronic warfare capabilities. Ukraine desperately needs more Western military assistance as the Russian forces are pressing in many directions of the 1,500-km (900-mile) frontline, but an aid package had been blocked in the US Congress. Gen Zaluzhnyis dismissal could fuel uncertainty among Western allies. Russia has rejoiced at the prospect, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov saying that the talk about Gen Zaluzhnyis dismissal exposed rifts in the Ukrainian leadership. The Ukrainska Pravda newspaper reported on Monday that Mr Zelenskiy was also considering the removal of General Staff Chief Serhii Shaptala. Advertisement Gen Zaluzhnyi on Monday congratulated Mr Shaptala on his birthday and posted a picture of them together on Facebook. It will still be very difficult for us, but we will definitely never be ashamed, Gen Zaluzhnyi wrote. Four people were killed and at least one was injured in a Monday afternoon strike over the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine, the head of the local military administration said. Australia said on Monday it was appalled at Chinas suspended death sentence for writer and democracy blogger Yang Hengjun. Australian foreign minister Penny Wong said in a statement it was harrowing news for Dr Yang, his family and all who have supported him. Advertisement Dr Yang has been detained in China since January 19th, 2019, when he arrived in Guangzhou from New York with his wife and teenage stepdaughter. He received a closed-door trial on an espionage charge in Beijing in May 2021 and was awaiting a verdict. My statement on the sentencing of Australian citizen Dr Yang Jun. pic.twitter.com/u43qSOV3eI Advertisement Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) February 5, 2024 Yang Hengjun was found guilty of espionage and sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. Such sentences are often commuted to life in prison after the two years. Advertisement Advertisement Mr Wang said the court had protected Dr Yangs procedural rights and arranged for the Australian side to attend Mondays sentencing, likely referring to a diplomat or diplomats from the Australian Embassy. Dr Yang was born in China and was a diplomat and state security agent before moving to the private sector in Hong Kong and later Australia. He became an Australian citizen in 2002. In a letter to his sons in August last year, Dr Yang said he had not experienced direct sunlight for more than four years and told his family he fears he will die in detention after being diagnosed with a kidney cyst, prompting supporters to demand his release for medical treatment. Ms Wong said Australia will be communicating our response in the strongest terms and will continue to press for Dr Yangs interests and wellbeing, including appropriate medical care. Advertisement In October last year, Australian journalist Cheng Lei was freed after more than three years in detention in China for breaking an embargo with a television broadcast on a state-run TV network. The plights of Dr Yang and Ms Cheng had frequently been on the agendas of high-level meetings between the countries in recent years. US secretary of state Antony Blinken met Saudi Arabias crown prince on Monday at the start of his fifth visit to the Middle East since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, hoping to press ahead with a potential ceasefire deal and postwar planning while tamping down regional tensions. But on all three fronts he faces major challenges Hamas and Israel are publicly at odds over key elements of a potential truce. Israel has dismissed US calls for a path to a Palestinian state, and Irans militant allies in the region have shown little sign of being deterred by US strikes. Advertisement In Gaza, meanwhile, Hamas has begun to re-emerge in some of the most devastated areas after Israeli forces pulled back, an indication that Israels central goal of crushing the group remains elusive. Advertisement Video footage from the same areas shows vast destruction, with nearly every building damaged or destroyed. A house destroyed in an Israeli strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip (Hatem Ali/AP) Advertisement Mr Blinken met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shortly after arriving in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Saudi officials have said the kingdom is still interested in normalising relations with Israel in a potentially historic deal, but only if there is a credible plan to create a Palestinian state. Mr Blinken underscored the importance of addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza and preventing further spread of the conflict, and he and the crown prince discussed the importance of building a more integrated and prosperous region, the US state department said. But any such grand bargain appears a long way off as the war still rages in Gaza, where 113 bodies were taken to hospitals in the last 24 hours alone, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory. Advertisement It says another 205 people were wounded. The fatalities take the overall Palestinian death toll from nearly four months of war to 27,478. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count but says most of the dead were women and children. The war in Gaza has levelled vast swathes of the tiny enclave, displaced 85% of its population and pushed a quarter of residents to starvation. Advertisement Palestinians mourn their relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Deir al Balah (Adel Hana/AP) Advertisement A video circulating online on Monday showed masked gunmen leading a line of shirtless detainees past bombed-out buildings in northern Gaza, forcing them to shout out that they are thieves. It was the latest sign that Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since seizing power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007, is reasserting control in parts of the north. Residents say Hamas-led security forces, which numbered in the tens of thousands before the war, have begun to reappear in some areas where they focus on distributing civil salaries and cracking down on looters. Advertisement The Israeli military says it has launched targeted operations in northern Gaza over the last week to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its capabilities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Israel crushes Hamas military and governing abilities and wins the return of the 100-plus hostages still held by the militant group, after the October 7 cross-border raid that ignited the war. Hamas and other militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the attack and abducted around 250. More than 100 captives, mostly women and children, were released during a weeklong ceasefire in November in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Advertisement --- ! pic.twitter.com/EIcMy1OCGh Benjamin Netanyahu - (@netanyahu) February 5, 2024 Meeting troops on Monday, Mr Netanyahu said Israel had defeated 18 of Hamas 24 battalions, without providing evidence. We are on the way to absolute victory and I want to tell you that we are committed to it and we will not give it up. The United States, Qatar and Egypt have drawn up a proposal for a ceasefire of several weeks and the phased release of the remainder of the hostages. But Hamas, which has yet to publicly respond to the proposal, has said it will not release any more captives until Israel ends its offensive. The militants are expected to demand the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners in return, demands Netanyahu has publicly ruled out. The war has ignited tensions across the region, with a flurry of strikes and counterstrikes raising the risk of a wider conflict. Israel and Lebanons powerful Hezbollah militant group trade fire across the border on a daily basis, and in recent weeks apparent Israeli strikes have killed senior Hezbollah commanders. A drone attack launched by Iran-backed militants killed three US soldiers near the Jordan-Syria border last week, prompting a wave of retaliatory US strikes. The US and the UK have also carried out strikes on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen in response to their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. The manhunt in the UK for alkali attack suspect Abdul Ezedi has entered its fifth day with a 20,000 reward in place for anyone with information leading to his arrest. London's Metropolitan Police officers have been searching for the 35-year-old since Wednesday 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. Advertisement The woman, who was known to Ezedi, remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition. On Sunday, police said the suspect used a very strong concentrated corrosive substance in the attack. Police at the scene in Lessar Avenue near Clapham Common (James Weech/ PA) Advertisement Police investigators believe there are people who know Ezedis whereabouts and have not come forward. The Met has warned anyone found assisting him will face arrest. The force said the last sighting of Ezedi, who is from Newcastle, was at 9.33pm at Tower Hill Underground station in east London on January 31, shortly after the attack in Clapham. Advertisement It comes as questions have been raised 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. Advertisement (PA Graphics) Police said Ezedi left Newcastle in the early hours of Wednesday and travelled south to London and was in the Tooting area by around 6.30am. His vehicle was seen again in Croydon, south London, at around 4.30pm and by around 7pm he was in Streatham. Advertisement 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 train at Clapham South Underground station, and by 8pm he was at Kings Cross Tube station. Police say three members of the public who came to the aid of the family during Wednesdays attack, two aged in their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns. Berkeley City Council Member Kate Harrison said she would resign during a meeting on Tuesday. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle 2020 Regarding Resignation of Berkeley councilor draws criticism from some city leaders (East Bay, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 31): The Chronicles coverage of the resignation of Berkeley City Council Member Kate Harrison is somewhat one-sided. Her evident disgust with what is happening in our city is shared by many. Real estate development interests and UC Berkeley are now controlling the future of our city and its livability. Just drive down Shattuck Avenue, the main thoroughfare, to see how real estate developers have been enabled to put up Soviet-style apartment buildings without regard for the citys environmental, political or cultural history. I applaud Harrisons courageous, principled decision. We need more public servants like her who are willing to tell the truth and be a new form of whistleblower. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Donald Goldmacher, Berkeley Cut water to Big Ag Regarding Californias groundwater decline is scary but one area bucks the trend (Climate, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 29): As I read this article amid other coverage of the potential flooding due to the major storm, I wondered how long well have to see increasingly extreme cycles of drought and flooding before our leaders will step up to take on Big Ags water use. As the article conveys, the needs of agriculture have made the water situation in California dire. Quite simply, too much of Californias water, around 80%, is being diverted for Big Ag companies, leaving little water for the rest of us. Water has been designated a human right in California, yet it is still treated like a commodity to be extracted, bought and sold for profit. In many places in rural California, families are going without water because communities cant afford to drill deep wells the way big agribusiness can to extract groundwater. The solution is simple: Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gov. Gavin Newsom must address corporate water abuse and cut water allocations for thirsty nut crops. Chirag Bhakta, California director, Food & Water Watch, San Francisco Allow remote work The return-to-office mandate for California government workers in Sacramento will hurt the state. There are obvious drawbacks to this mandate: More traffic on roads increases emissions. Maintaining office buildings is costly. The return-to-office mandate also creates hardships for employees who are parents and would need to obtain childcare. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If the governor wants to revitalize downtown Sacramento, he needs to think bigger. We have a severe homelessness issue, and creating more affordable housing in the area will go a long way to solving it. With more housing, more people will live downtown, creating demand for businesses. This is how downtown Sacramento can flourish. And if the state supports telework, it allows for recruiting workers from all over California instead of just the Sacramento region, talent can truly benefit state agencies. James Fitz, Sacramento Sound the alarm in Oakland Regarding Another Oakland restaurant closes; safety of workers, guests cited as reason (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com, Jan. 31): Its astounding that yet another business finds it more profitable to terminate its Oakland presence than to operate. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Businesses are increasingly refusing cash in transacting business. Employers are hiring security guards to escort employees who walk on Oaklands streets. Oakland City Council Member Noel Gallo has called for a state of emergency declaration. If these events dont constitute a state of emergency, what does? Russian president Vladimir Putin will visit Turkey soon, the Turkish foreign minister has said. It would be Mr Putins first trip to a Nato country since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Advertisement Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the A Haber private TV channel that Mr Putins meeting with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan will focus on a new way to allow Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea. He did not mention a date for the visit, but Turkish media has reported that Mr Putin will come on February 12th. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan (centre) and Russian president Vladimir Putin (left) arrive for a photo with other world leaders during the G20 summit in Hamburg in 2017 (Matt Cardy/PA) Advertisement The International Criminal Court last year issued an arrest warrant against Mr Putin over the alleged deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia, greatly limiting his opportunity to travel abroad. Turkey, like Russia, is not a party to the court, allowing Mr Putin to visit without fear of arrest. Advertisement Turkey has sought to maintain good ties with both Russia and Ukraine, its Black Sea neighbours. While declining to join Western sanctions on Moscow, it has also backed Ukraines territorial integrity and provided arms to Kyiv. The previous grain deal worked within a certain mechanism. Now it has been seen that there is a possibility of going with a different mechanism, Mr Fidan said, referring to the previous deal that lasted a year before Russia withdrew in July. Advertisement At the time, Russia said the deal would be suspended until demands to get Russian food and fertilizer to the world are met. Turkey helped the United Nations broker that accord to provide safe passage from Ukrainian ports. Mr Fidan said Mr Erdogan would also discuss with Mr Putin security in Syria and energy co-operation. A drone attack on a base housing US troops in eastern Syria killed six allied Kurdish fighters late on Sunday, in the first significant attack in Syria or Iraq since the US launched retaliatory strikes over the weekend against Iran-backed militias. The US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Monday the attack hit a training ground at al-Omar base in Syrias eastern province of Deir el-Zour. It initially accused Syrian regime-backed mercenaries but in a second statement blamed Iran-backed militias after investigating the attack. Advertisement No casualties were reported among US troops. An umbrella group of Iran-backed Iraqi militias, dubbed the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, released a video claiming responsibility for the attack and showing them launching a drone from an unspecified location. An RAF Typhoon FGR4 aircraft returns to base following strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen (AS1 Jake Green/RAF via AP) Advertisement In late January, a drone attack by the same group killed three US troops and wounded dozens more at a desert base in Jordan. Advertisement The US military launched dozens of retaliatory strikes targeting Iran-backed militant groups in western Iraq and eastern Syria and also struck the Houthis in Yemen. The umbrella group has launched dozens of drone attacks on US military bases and troops in Iraq and Syria, and has called for the withdrawal of American soldiers from both countries. The attack comes as tensions flare across the Middle East amid the Israel-Hamas war, which was sparked by Hamass rampage in southern Israel on October 7th. Advertisement Meanwhile, UK-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least seven SDF fighters were killed in the attack on Sunday and at least 18 others wounded, some in critical condition. It did not say whether any US military personnel were among the casualties. The attack late on Sunday came two days after the US military carried out strikes against militant targets linked to Iran in Syria and Iraq. The SDF said it has the right to respond to the attack. Advertisement Video of launches from USS GRAVELY, USS CARNEY, and USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER supporting strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi targets pic.twitter.com/EMSkDANoeF U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 4, 2024 Advertisement The US military said it struck four anti-ship missiles on Sunday that were prepared to be fired at vessels in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel-controlled areas in Yemen. Advertisement In a statement early on Monday, the US Central Command said the strikes were in self-defence and came after forces determined the missiles presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region. Sundays strikes came a day after the US and UK launched a second wave of strikes against the Houthis, meant to degrade the Iranian-backed groups capabilities to attack vessels in the Red Sea. The US and UK said they hit 36 Houthi targets. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Its a scandal almost a quarter of a century in the making, described as Britains worst miscarriage of justice by The Economist. It has ignited a political firestorm, tarnished the reputation of one of the UKs most cherished institutions and galvanised a nation. It has been splashed across the front pages of tabloids and sober broadsheets alike for weeks. An overwhelming public outcry forced Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to announce emergency legislation that will overrule the courts, quash hundreds of criminal convictions and compensate victims with payments of up to 600,000 ($1.2 million) each. Fresh revelations are still coming to light and an ongoing public inquiry is due to conclude later this year. One extraordinary aspect of this saga is that it had effectively been hiding in plain sight until a four-part miniseries, titled Mr Bates vs The Post Office, debuted in the UK on New Years Day. It dramatises the true story of almost 1000 subpostmasters (the people who run local post office branches, including those outside of England) wrongly convicted of fraud, false accounting and theft. Many lost their livelihoods and homes, spiralling into depression and ill health after being forced to repay money they never stole. More than 230 were jailed, including one pregnant woman, and at least four took their own lives. These tragedies can be traced back to Horizon, a faulty accounting system operated by Fujitsu, that showed phantom financial shortfalls in branches throughout the UK. Instead of believing its own employees, the Post Offices management proffered an astonishing explanation: that hundreds of subpostmasters (whose duties include renewing locals pet insurance and helping pensioners pay their bills) were essentially crooks disguised in cardigans and sensible footwear. Advertisement Many were interrogated by internal investigators who threatened imprisonment to coerce them into pleading guilty or admitting to lesser charges. Hours before Mr Bates vs The Post Office premiered, executive producer Patrick Spence emailed his team, urging them not to be disheartened when their series, broadcast in Britain over four consecutive nights on commercial network ITV, would be thumped by strong competition in the overnight ratings. He assured them it would slowly find an audience on ITVs catch-up service. Toby Jones and Julie Hesmondhalgh play former subposter Alan Bates and his partner, Suzanne Sercombe. Credit: Seven/ITV Spence was wrong. Not only did Mr Bates win its timeslot; by early February it averaged 13.5 million viewers and its numbers are still climbing, placing it among the UKs top-rating dramas over the past 15 years. Its an astounding result for a story British media had already covered, placing special focus on the 2019 High Court battle involving 555 claimants who received a total settlement of 58 million ($112 million). Most of this money was chewed up by legal fees and to date, only 93 subpostmasters have had their convictions overturned. Those who have already received compensation or reached a settlement with the Post Office will now be eligible for further payouts. The title of the series is a catchier version of the court case Bates & Others v Post Office Ltd. At the heart of this case is Alan Bates, an unassuming subpostmaster who began reporting problems with Horizon shortly after it was rolled out in 1999. When he refused to repay his branchs alleged shortfalls, his contract was terminated and he and his partner, Suzanne Sercombe, lost the 65,000 ($125,000) they had invested in the business. With Sercombes support, Bates spent years tracking down others who had been wrongfully accused, eventually forming the Justice for Subpostmasters Alliance that secured the High Court win. He never stopped campaigning and is now pushing the government to swiftly enact its promises. Advertisement That so many UK citizens were only vaguely aware of this injustice before Mr Bates aired is partly due to the Post Offices once-cuddly reputation, bolstered by its famous red pillar boxes and the beloved childrens TV series Postman Pat. It involves a software accounting program and an organisation that delivers mail; at first glance, a deeply unsexy tale. And most people assume an innocent person would never admit to crimes they didnt commit. A national uproar ensued after Mr Bates vs The Post Office dramatised the victims stories. Credit: Seven/ITV This is why Spence decided to make a drama rather than a documentary. When you dramatise a story about people whose home lives and business lives are destroyed, it brings to life the pain and suffering these hundreds of people went through so our audience could properly feel the full horror of it, Spence says. A documentary cant touch the sides of that pain and suffering. It can only describe it retrospectively. He never considered offering the series to a subscription streaming service. To streamers, its a very British story about very ordinary people and its potential appeal internationally, until now, wouldve seemed minimal, Spence says. ITV was our first choice it made a country gather around a story and a group of people and get angry on their behalf. Streamers cant do that. Only broadcast television can. When I mention how the Post Office apparently lied to cover its tracks, Spence corrects me. Advertisement They were lying, he says, referring to damning evidence that emerged both before and after Mr Bates aired. Thats a fact they understood that the computer system on which they were basing this was flawed. After the second episode screened, current Post Office CEO Nick Read apologised for the devastating impact [on] the lives of so many; we are all doing all we can to provide redress. This drama tapped into a national rage about feeling unheard by politicians and the people who run our companies. Executive producer Patrick Spence A fortnight later, Paul Patterson, co-CEO of Fujitsu Europe, admitted, We were involved from the very start. We did have bugs and errors in the system and we did help the Post Office in their prosecutions of the subpostmasters. For that we are truly sorry. Spences team spent three years researching the scandal. Co-executive producer Joe Williams, for instance, sifted through thousands of documents and videos, giving writer Gwyneth Hughes a whopping 120,000-word synthesis. Hughes also spent considerable time with the victims, as did the cast members who portray them. Actor Monica Dolan even asked former subpostmaster Jo Hamilton to audio-record her life story. Dolan listened to it repeatedly, allowing her to perfect Hamiltons rhythm and cadence. Monica Dolan plays former subpostmaster Jo Hamilton, wrongly accused of stealing 36,000. Under intense pressure, Hamilton pleaded guilty to false accounting to avoid a prison sentence. Credit: Seven/ITV Advertisement Spence says that Bates, played by Toby Jones, was involved extensively but insisted to the writers, You are applying emotions to me that dont exist. I am not an angry man. Each character was told every beat of their story so they could respond in terms of how accurate it felt, Spence says. Toby is magnificent in that he doesnt get to have emotional outbursts and yet you still feel youre watching somebody who has been to hell and back. These are ordinary people; they really need to feel like we have honoured who they were. Paula Vennells, the Post Offices CEO from 2012 to 2019, had little interest in meeting the writers. Every line of her dialogue is taken from public statements and unearthed emails. While working as CEO, Vennells also practised part-time as an Anglican priest, presumably preaching the virtues of truth and compassion: a galling detail for her tormented subpostmasters. She stepped back from active ministry in 2021. Shaun Dooley (left) portrays former subpostmaster and union representative Michael Rudkin, who accidentally discovered the central fault with Horizon while visiting Fujitsus headquarters. Credit: Seven/ITV Less than a week after Mr Bates finished airing, a petition demanding Vennells be stripped of her CBE exceeded 1.2 million signatures before she agreed to hand it back, although only King Charles can make the final judgment on removing an honour. Spence emphasises that his teams first duty was to properly acknowledge the subpostmasters suffering. We werent aiming for this but it appears this drama tapped into a national rage about feeling unheard by politicians and the people who run our companies, he says, appalled but unsurprised when I inform him of Australias robo-debt disaster. Im talking to people in lots of different countries and theyre all saying, We feel the same way. Advertisement Advertisement Review Eating outArmadale Saddle up for this cult-worthy cheeseburger at Armadales sunny new wine bar At first glance, Pony might feel like any other Melbourne wine bar. But this one stands out from the crowd. Besha Rodell February 5, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share As featured in the Melbourne March hit list. See all stories . 1 / 7 The go-to dish: Burger, with molten raclette and caramelised onions. Paul Jeffers 2 / 7 Chargrilled chicken skewers topped with oregano and fermented chilli sauce. Paul Jeffers 3 / 7 Chickpeas in broth with tomatoes and harissa. Paul Jeffers 4 / 7 The interior of Pony in Armadale. Paul Jeffers 5 / 7 Pan-seared snapper served with harissa and lemon. Paul Jeffers 6 / 7 Ponys snapper crudo is exactly what youd expect from a wine bar. Paul Jeffers 7 / 7 Brown butter budino is like Italys version of pot de creme. Paul Jeffers Previous Slide Next Slide 14 / 20 How we score Contemporary$$$ Its hard to keep up with all the wine bars opening in Melbourne these days, and even harder to tell them apart. The wine bar is one of those genres in danger of becoming formulaic: cute shopfront, expensive bread, at least one dish that is basically just raw sliced fish with some acid added, a few glasses of Australian wine, a longer list with some European bottles thrown in. Do I sound jaded? If so, I recognise that its a privilege of the job. After all, we dont fault pubs for serving parmas and chips, for being reliable and predictable stalwarts. 11 of Melbournes best wine bars Advertisement The neighbourhood wine bar is now so ubiquitous that perhaps we ought to start thinking of them the same way as pubs: casual venues that deliver a familiar range of drinks and dishes for those nights where you know what you want and dont need to be surprised. (I proposed this wine-bar-as-pub theory to my son, who quipped, So, like a pub, only for annoying people? To which I replied, Yes, people like me. ) When I saw the news that Pony was opening in Armadale, I thought it was likely more of the same. But it turns out that there are quite a few things a wine bar can do to make itself stand out from the crowd. Behind the cute facade is a wine bar bursting with sunny good looks. Paul Jeffers One: Make that cute shopfront more than just a pleasing room behind vintage windows. Pony, which sits on Beatty Avenue amid a quaint little strip of cafes and other wine-focused venues, practically bursts with sunny good looks. The green-tiled facade gives way to mirrors and yellow walls in the front room; upstairs an intimate dining room gets an airy feel from high ceilings, burnished white and blue walls, and lush blue velvet banquettes. Its a lovely space, classic but fresh, and the trip through the kitchen to get upstairs is a fun peek behind the scenes. Advertisement It turns out that there are quite a few things a wine bar can do to make itself stand out from the crowd. Two: Hire staff who know whats what. In the bar, this means Dylan Field, who formerly worked at Gimlet, and is turning out drinks that would be at home in the citys best cocktail bars. My pick? The Aquarius ($21), a rum/passionfruit/vanilla concoction that finds balance in its use of brown butter. Fields creativity with tequila and mezcal is also impressive. The wine list has its crowd-pleasers, but also a few fun things for the nerds among us. And the service staff is both relaxed and knowledgeable, the kind of waiters who feel like friends at the end of the night. Ponys snapper crudo is a nice version of a ubiquitous wine bar staple. Paul Jeffers Advertisement Three: Its fine to do expensive bread and raw fish (here its an $11 flatbread and $22 snapper crudo, both of which are exactly what youd expect: nice! And predictable!) But you also need to do a few things that are just left of expected and do them very, very well. In Ponys case, that means a burger ($25) that is destined for cult status, its juicy beefy patties drenched in raclette and caramelised onions. The kitchen, led by chef Mark Jennings, is really good with all manner of meat: chicken skewers ($10 each) come charred from the grill and topped with a perky sauce made from oregano and fermented chilli; the 300g scotch fillet ($42) with chimichurri is honestly one of the better steaks Ive had in a while (and Ive eaten a lot of very expensive steaks in this town recently, as is the trend). Theres comfort on this menu, too, in the form of soupy chickpeas ($15) with tomatoes and harissa, or baked spinach and ricotta dumplings in red sauce ($40), that really only make sense for a group, since the serve easily feeds three people. I wasnt as convinced by the crispy rice pilaf ($26), not because its herb salad and yoghurt accompaniments werent lovely, but because it felt and cost more in line with a large side dish than a main course. Advertisement Brown butter budino: a perfect few bites of sticky decadence. Paul Jeffers But my faith was restored when dessert arrived, a brown butter budino ($15) basically the Italian version of a pot de creme. Layered with caramel sauce and a dollop of whipped cream that had a lovely sour edge, it was a perfect few bites of sticky decadence. Is Pony reinventing the Melbourne wine bar? Absolutely not. In fact, its following the playbook quite loyally. But it embodies a universal truth in this wily old business: as long as excellence is at the core of what you do, it will be better than good enough. The low-down Vibe: Sunny vintage elegance Go-to dish: Burger, $25 Drinks: Fantastic cocktails, short by-the-glass wine and beer list, eclectic bottle list Cost: About $120 for two, excluding drinks 14 / 20 Review Alberts is the neighbourhood wine bar everybody would love as their local Advertisement Review Eating outKirribilli Clever Aussie flavours make this sensationally good three-cheese toastie one to savour Cult cafe BTB Kirribilli marries old-school favourites with creative use of native produce. Lee Tran Lam February 5, 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 1 / 7 BTB Kirribilli was recently named one of the citys 20 best cafes. Dominic Lorrimer 2 / 7 Potato scallops. Dominic Lorrimer 3 / 7 Three-cheese toastie with warrigal greens, kimchi and tomato. Dominic Lorrimer 4 / 7 Summer salad. Dominic Lorrimer 5 / 7 Bacon and egg roll. Dominic Lorrimer 6 / 7 Lemon aspen squash. Dominic Lorrimer 7 / 7 Banana smoothie. Dominic Lorrimer Previous Slide Next Slide Modern Australian$$$ If you were after BTB Kirribillis history, you could thumb through property records and old floorplans or you could try the cafes excellent potato scallops. Theyre battered and fried until they resemble a geological wonder, the ridges and rocky surfaces catching crusty flakes of salt and hiding a welcome reserve of malt vinegar. The tart tang sharpens your tastebuds and electrifies each crunchy bite. And if this activates childhood memories of stepping into a fish and chip shop, then youve hit on this sites previous incarnation: selling the catch of the day and other seafood staples. It was formerly known as By the Bridge and BTB Kirribillis owners, Adam Brcic and Cameron Votano, kept part of the name when they took over in 2017 as tribute to the old space and their connection to it. Cams dad used to run a fish and chip shop in this location, says Brcic. The scallops are a sneaky shout-out to BTB Kirribillis past life by chef Daniel Backhouse (who previously worked at two-hat restaurant Berowra Waters Inn). Advertisement Potato scallops. Dominic Lorrimer This ultra-crunchy dish isnt the only thing that makes this spot by the Harbour Bridge and Milsons Point station noteworthy. The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide recently named BTB Kirribilli as one of the citys 20 best cafes, singling out the menus inspired use of native ingredients, which are mainly supplied by Indigenous social enterprise Bush to Bowl. Even the drinks taste like the countrys wide-ranging terrain: theres wattleseed syrup that sweetens the banana smoothie (in place of conventional cinnamon sprinkles and honey drizzles) and lively lemon aspen in the pub squash (this souring agent will reset the palate of anyone expecting the industrialised sugar hit of supermarket fizz). These ingredients are a reminder of what the landscape tastes like. The bubbly sarsaparilla, for instance, is flavoured with the plant of the same name. We grow a native form of it here, says Brcic. After a lifetime of throwing soft drinks into shopping trolleys, Id forgotten that this beverage like the kola nut that originally powered Coke actually came from something you could harvest. Bush to Bowl just sent it to us and said, Hey, we can grow this, is there anything for it? says Brcic. Advertisement After many experiments, the BTB Kirribilli team created fizzy sarsaparilla. When poured into your glass, the resulting drink has an earthy, medicinal flavour: like many native ingredients, its rich in vitamin C and its complexity takes a few sips to get used to. Its bold and reviving. Theres a strong Australian accent to everything on the menu: the char of red gum bark intensifies the tomato relish flavouring the bacon and egg roll, the summer salad is plated with cumin and lemon myrtle yoghurt and emu skewers are presented with macadamia satay sauce (light-hoofed native animals are softer on the environment than soil-damaging livestock herds, after all). Although Indigenous ingredients arent in every dish, theyre something BTB Kirribilli keenly showcase where possible. This direction was adopted in 2019, with support from Winsome Matthews, a cultural custodian and former chairperson of the NSW Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee. Theyve also collaborated with her on NAIDOC fundraising dinners at the cafe. Three-cheese toastie with warrigal greens, kimchi and tomato. Dominic Lorrimer Sustainability is a strong focus, too: the kimchi is fermented with warrigal greens instead of typical cabbage, because its fast growing, native and available all year round. Its a must in the three-cheese toastie (the sunny yellow mustard pickles and optional tomato slices are also welcome additions). Advertisement This sensationally good sandwich is also a telling snapshot of the Australian dining landscape and the many cultures that have contributed to it. Along with Binnorie cheddar from the Hunter Valley and Warrnambool cheese from down south, Marrickvilles Paesanella buffalo mozzarella also oozes from each slice. Paesanella was founded in the 1950s by Italian migrant Umberto Somma, whod hand-shape mozzarella in his Hawkesbury River shed at 7am and sell it door to door until 11pm. The other ingredients have long histories, too: kimchi has sustained Koreans for 3000 years, while Indigenous Australians appreciated warrigal greens long before Captain Cook used it to combat scurvy. You could enjoy the toastie without knowing any of this, but its another reason why BTB Kirribillis menu is worth savouring. The low-down Vibe: This cafe goes beyond the standard-issue menu items and celebrates Indigenous ingredients. Even the avocado is hit with wattleseed dukkah Cost (average cost for two): About: $40 for two, plus drinks Introducing Sandwich Watch a column dedicated to the essential Sydney sandwiches you need to try For a second day now, Queenslands LNP opposition has argued for swift changes to youth justice laws after the alleged murder of grandmother Vyleen White by a teen at a Redbank Plains shopping centre. Loading The party under David Crisafulli has for months now been calling for the Youth Justice Act to be rewritten to, in part, remove the UN-backed sentencing principle that detention be a last resort for young offenders. Legal experts and advocates have said recent changes by the Labor government have essentially done the former for serious repeat offenders, and largely argue against its wider removal as ineffective at deterring crime and likely to worsen it. Speaking from Rockhampton this morning, Crisafulli said the incident was all people are talking about and the reluctance of Premier Steven Miles to be drawn into an immediate response was a complete and utter abrogation of responsibility. On Monday, Miles had questioned Crisafullis promise that crime would be lower under the LNP and warned removing detention as a last resort would place more pressure on the states at-capacity detention system, be incredibly expensive, [and] it would not work. Decorated former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has fronted an appeal court in Sydney as he fights to overturn a damaging decision dismissing his multimillion-dollar defamation suit against The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Roberts-Smith appeared in the Full Court of the Federal Court on Monday on the first day of his appeal, which is slated to run for 10 days. He did not appear in court in June last year when Justice Anthony Besanko dismissed his case. Former soldier Ben Robert-Smith departs court in Sydney. Credit: Wolter Peeters The Victoria Cross recipient and former Special Air Service corporal wants the court to set aside Besankos decision and enter judgment in his favour, and to award damages or to send the matter to a different Federal Court judge to determine damages. His lawyers, led by high-profile Sydney silk Bret Walker, SC, argue Besanko fell into legal error by finding the newspapers had proven Roberts-Smith was complicit in the murder of four unarmed prisoners while on deployment in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. After almost 40 years of slinging cheap pizza, pasta and gelato to hordes of hungry families in Melbournes inner-north, the birthplace of one of Melbournes most recognisable restaurant chains will close its doors to the public this weekend for good. Taken over in 1985 by Rocco Rocky Pantaleo and fellow Italian migrant Felice Nania, the La Porchetta restaurant on Rathdowne Street spawned dozens of franchised outlets around the country over the following decades. After almost 40 years in business, the original La Porchetta pizza restaurant in Carlton North is closing down. Credit: Jason South But Pantaleo family members Natalina and Azzurra took to social media on Monday morning to announce the closure of the flagship restaurant. We would like to inform you all that the original family will be moving on and closing the doors, they said in the post, announcing February 11 would be the final day of trading. Rocky and his family have been serving delicious and affordable Italian pizza and pasta dishes with all their love and passion since the early 1980s, the post said. St. Marys Medical Center is part of an acquisition by UCSF that also brings St. Francis Memorial Hospital into the health care providers network. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle The St. Francis Memorial Hospital sign rests near an entrance to the hospital in San Francisco. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle UCSF Health has confirmed that its $100 million deal to acquire two struggling San Francisco community hospitals is just weeks away from closing. The citys preeminent medical research institution has signed an agreement to purchase St. Marys Medical Center at 450 Stanyan St. San Franciscos oldest Catholic hospital and St. Francis Memorial Hospital at 900 Hyde St. from Dignity Health by the end of March. S.F. Bay Area property map: Heres who owns every building in the region Advertisement Article continues below this ad The possibility of the deal first emerged in July, and some concerns from St. Marys doctors surfaced immediately over whether UCSF Health would eliminate important programs. The acquisition would mark a notable change in San Franciscos health care landscape, though the scale of the transaction is smaller than that of the large mergers that have led to the Bay Areas health care sector being dominated by a few larger providers. UCSF Health officials say the intent is to bring diversified care choices to consumers by investing in two underused hospitals that will augment UCSF Healths academic medical system with community-based services. The 167-year-old St. Marys joined several other hospitals in 1986 to form the medical network Catholic Healthcare West, a precursor to Dignity Health. The network acquired St. Francis in 1993, and in 2012 renamed itself Dignity Health. A pedestrian passes St. Marys Medical Center in San Francisco. The acquisition of St. Marys by UCSF means the hospital will no longer be limited by religious exemptions to health care. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle The deal, once closed, would bring the facilities and their thousands of workers under the UCSF banner, adding two emergency rooms and 500 beds to UCSFs existing single emergency room and 1,200 beds. It would also expand UCSFs sprawling real estate footprint in the city by nearly 1 million square feet. Advertisement Article continues below this ad UCSF officials told the Chronicle last week that existing programs and services at the former Dignity facilities will be preserved. And, yet, the pending acquisition will usher in at least one sweeping change at the two community hospitals: As part of UCSF Health, they would no longer operate under the religious and ethical directives of the Catholic Church, which prohibit abortion and contraception. There will no longer be any affiliation with the Catholic health systems or church thats critical and part of UCSFs values, and something that is important to us and understood by the team that will be joining us, said UCSF Health Affiliates Network President Shelby Decosta, who will oversee the hospitals transition. In 2019, UCSF called off its pursuit of an affiliation with Dignity Health in the Bay Area over concerns, at the time, that deepening ties with the Catholic system would compromise health care options for women and LGBTQ patients. But the hospitals worsening financial realities have created an opportunity for UCSF that was too good to pass up, said UCSF Health President and CEO Suresh Gunasekaran. St. Marys and St. Francis have a combined occupancy rate of 25%, he said, and each lose millions of dollars every year. St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco will be acquired by UCSF, which is purchasing it and St. Marys Medical Center for $100 million. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle Meanwhile, UCSF faces a growing need to address overcrowding at its facilities, where patients face increasingly long wait times for emergency care and other services. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Our hospital beds are completely full almost every evening. This is causing delays both in our operating rooms and for patients in the emergency room, Gunasekaran said. We thought that the best way to address this significant healthcare demand is to create another platform for health care in the city of San Francisco that allows us to meet patients health care needs at an earlier time, before it gets serious. By making investments in areas such as the equipment, infrastructure for instance, electronic medical records and the facilities at St. Marys and St. Francis hospitals, Gunasekaran said that the idea is to expand the scope of what those hospitals are able to deliver in 2024 and attract physicians to the hospitals. Their services will run complementary to UCSFs offerings, which are focused on complex care that is aligned with its research-based mission, he said. What we recognized is that St. Marys and St. Francis are run very differently, and we want them to remain different, Gunasekaran said. They are much more community-based and much more focused on the common conditions that many patients have, and we want to preserve that legacy. We really think that this will open up new options in the city. Advertisement Article continues below this ad For current patients at St. Marys and St. Francis, costs such as co-pays would not change, as the same contracts that the hospitals currently have with health insurers would remain in place subject to their approval, according to Gunasekaran. An emergency vehicle is parked outside St. Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle Health industry watchers say theyll monitor the impact on patients prices. UCSF is one of the regions largest health care providers after Kaiser and Sutter, and consolidation within the industry has contributed to higher prices for consumers, research shows. One 2018 analysis found that Northern California residents pay 20% to 30% more for health services than those in Southern California, where the industry is less consolidated, even after accounting for the Bay Areas higher cost of living. While we dont know the impact this particular acquisition is going to have, we have decades of research and experience here in California with various types of consolidation, said Kristof Stremikis of the California Health Care Foundation, which researches health care markets. From a patient perspective, consolidation leads to higher prices with no improvements in quality. UCSF leaders say they have a written agreement in the deal to keep all 1,800 employees from the two hospitals. UCSF Health is also maintaining the open medical staff models at both hospitals, meaning the 700 independent physicians could continue to practice there. UCSF currently has 14,000 employees. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Both medical centers will remain open during the transition and continue to offer the same services and programs after the acquisition is completed. That includes the Sister Mary Philippa clinic and Womens Health center at St. Marys and the Bothin Burn Center at St. Francis. Dr. Richard Podolin, chairman of the community board at St. Marys, said he is very enthusiastic about the acquisition. At St. Marys and St. Francis, there is a real commitment of the physicians for providing excellent care to the community, particularly the most vulnerable members, said Podolin, the hospitals former chief of staff and a cardiologist. This is a really great opportunity to expand our services, to ensure our future, to grow together. Now, instead of closing wards, which we had been doing, were talking about expanding and opening up 100 new beds in our hospital to handle the overflow from UCSF. How many of the two hospitals employees and medical staff will stay on once UCSF is at the helm is unclear. Theres no guarantee, but we will do everything we can to encourage them to stay and be part of the future hospitals, said Decosta, the UCSF Health Affiliates Network leader. There is some precedent for UCSF acquiring a religious hospital: In 1990, it bought Mount Zion, San Franciscos first Jewish hospital. Mount Zion also had a very rich history of serving patients in the community, and we preserved that rich history and tradition in a respectful way that honored the work that came before, but very much still integrated it completely into UCSF in terms of our systems and processes, Gunasekaran said. Each system is different St. Marys and St. Francis are already part of a very large health care system in CommonSpirit Health, and that was not the case with Mount Zion. In early 2019, Dignity Health merged with Catholic Health Initiatives, creating a new, $29 billion nonprofit health system that today is known as CommonSpirit Health. Based in Chicago, CommonSpirit reported steep operating losses in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, and reported a $441 million operating loss in the first quarter of the 2024 fiscal year on increased expenses. The CHI-Dignity Health merger required approval by Californias attorney general and from the Vatican Decosta said that the Catholic Church will also need to sign off on the sale of St. Marys and St. Francis hospitals, but added that this part of the transaction is managed by Dignity Health. For UCSF, the deal is an opportunity to expand not only its offerings, but also its already significant footprint in San Francisco, where it is among the largest landowners. UCSF owns more than 8.9 million square feet of space in the city across hundreds of buildings that make up its Parnassus Heights, Mount Zion and Mission Bay campuses, as well as in off-campus buildings of which about 30% is dedicated to UCSF Health. In San Francisco, UCSF is also affiliated with Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, the San Francisco VA Medical Center and the Gladstone Institutes, and it also owns the 61-acre Mount Sutro Open Space Reserve. According to figures provided by UCSF, St. Marys campus on the edge of San Franciscos Golden Gate Park spans roughly 403,000 square feet, while the St. Francis campus in Nob Hill stretches about 471,000 square feet. The properties are assessed at $121 million to $192 million. Gunasekaran described the negotiated price for the two campuses as fair market value when taking into account their continued health care uses. He said the pricing was validated by an independent third-party assessment. You have to factor in the use. The hospitals still need significant investment and seismic compliance as well as to break even, he said. Thats where we arrived at this price, which is reflective of that value. 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. A monster goldfish, believed to be the longest ever caught, has been reeled out of a suburban lake in Perth. Aquatic biologist Dr Dulana Herath fished the 52-centimetre feral specimen out of Blue Lake Park in Joondalup, one of more than 100 he caught as part of his work in restoring wetlands for various Perth councils. A feral fish caught in Blue Lake Park in Joondalup could be the worlds longest specimen ever captured. Credit: Dr Dulana Herath The current Guinness world record for goldfish length from snout to tail fin is 47.4 centimetres, a title claimed by a fish caught in the Netherlands in 2003. Herath, who manages wetlands and lakes through his company Pases Aqua, said goldfish and other ornamental species like koi and carp are choking waterways in Australia. Fewer West Australian teenagers are going to university, with year 12 completion rates their lowest in 10 years. The new education figures, released by the Productivity Commission on Monday, also showed only one in every 10 teens aged 15 to 19 were at university in 2023, compared to one in every seven in NSW and Victoria. Education expert Brad Gobby said the declining trend could suggest a growth in employment and training opportunities in the WA economy that young people were taking up. Dr Gobby, an Associate Professor at Edith Cowan University, also said for many, focusing on finding employment or going into a trade or apprenticeship and leaving school early would be of more benefit than staying in school. An uninhabitable, semi-detached Bondi house sold for $2,415,000 on Saturday after a hard-fought auction involving nine bidders. The two-bedroom house at 10 Stephen Street was guided at $1.8 million and drew 23 parties to register, though most kept their hands in their pockets. Many of the nine active bidders were either young families or builders. Bidding opened at the guide of $1.8 million and rose in $50,000, $25,000, $20,000 and $10,000 increments. A young couple who already lived in the area and were eager to renovate sealed the deal with a $5000 bid. The pair of brothers who sold the semi were emotional, given the home had been in their family for 60 years, but were ecstatic with the price. Wellington: Maori leaders have chastised the New Zealand government amid raucous scenes at the annual public meeting at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds on the eve of the countrys national day. In return, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters lashed out at the hostile crowd, telling one person to get an education and get some manners as he was heckled. Chris Luxons coalition government travelled to the fabled treaty grounds on Monday for a public meeting, or powhiri, with Maori leaders. Maori perform a welcome haka for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and officials at the Waitangi Treaty House. In a fiery exchange at the birthplace of modern New Zealand, Indigenous leaders strongly criticised the current governments approach to Maori. Credit: NZ Herald/AP After a summer of protest at his governments plans which many see as rolling back Maori rights, expectations of a tense atmosphere were realised. I have three daughters, all of whom thankfully are good academics, and I was contemplating what we would need to do as an industry to win them when they start looking for employment, said Steele. I don't think there is an obvious on-ramp. Prince Harry's Unexpected London Appearance Bolsters Coronation Attendance Speculation (Photo: REUTERS) Prince Harry is poised to return to the United Kingdom to stand by his father, King Charles III, following the recent revelation of the monarch's cancer diagnosis. The Duke of Sussex, who was informed of his father's health situation prior to the official announcement by Buckingham Palace, is expected to make the journey from the United States to London in the immediate future. A source close to Prince Harry shared with The Guardian, "The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. He will be traveling to the UK to see His Majesty in the coming days." This development underscores the gravity of the situation and the deep personal impact it has had on the royal family, particularly on Prince Harry, who has maintained a complex relationship with the royal establishment since stepping back from official duties in 2020. King Charles III's cancer diagnosis was publicly disclosed by Buckingham Palace in a statement that carefully avoided specifying the type of cancer the 75-year-old king is battling. The diagnosis emerged in the aftermath of a surgical procedure for a benign prostate condition, which the Palace was keen to clarify is unrelated to the cancer. The royal family's internal communications regarding the king's health status have been discreet, with key members, including Prince William, Princess Kate, and Prince Andrew, reportedly informed in person by King Charles. The disclosure of the king's illness has reignited public interest in the dynamics within the House of Windsor, particularly the strained relationship between Prince Harry and the rest of the royal family. Prince Harry's anticipated visit to the UK marks a significant moment, given the duke's sporadic returns to his homeland since relocating abroad. His last visit was in September of the previous year for the WellChild Awards in London, an event underscoring his ongoing commitment to charitable causes despite his altered royal status. Notably, during that visit, Prince Harry did not meet with King Charles or Prince William, highlighting the ongoing familial tensions. The complexities of Prince Harry's relationship with his father have been well-documented, not least in his candid memoir, "Spare," where he reflects on their emotional distance. Yet, in recent public statements, there have been hints of a desire for reconciliation, with Prince Harry expressing a wish to reconnect with his father and brother in an ITV interview with Tom Bradby. King Charles's health crisis comes at a delicate juncture for the royal family, presenting both a challenge and an opportunity for healing and unity. As Prince Harry prepares to return to the UK, the focus is on the personal rather than the procedural, highlighting the enduring bonds of family even amidst the most public of lives. The unfolding situation serves as a poignant reminder of the universal trials faced by families everywhere, royal or not. As the world watches, the narrative of the British monarchy continues to evolve, reflecting a blend of tradition, modernity, and the inherent complexities of familial relationships. The Enforcement Directorate and the Ministry of Finance, which oversees the agency, did not immediately respond to requests for comment | Photo: Bloomberg India's financial crime-fighting agency is investigating if platforms run by One 97 Communications, also known as Paytm, were involved in violations of foreign exchange rules, two senior government sources said. The sources did not indicate what specific provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), which covers individual and corporate transfers overseas, were the subject of the investigation by the Enforcement Directorate. One of the sources added that the investigators were not yet in contact with Paytm. The sources declined to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the media. The Enforcement Directorate and the Ministry of Finance, which oversees the agency, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Paytm said that allegations regarding FEMA violations were "unfounded and factually incorrect". The Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday ordered Paytm Payments Bank, an affiliate of Paytm, to wind down most of its businesses, including deposits, credit products and its popular digital wallets, by Feb. 29. There had previously been no reports, however, of a government investigation of possible foreign exchange rule violations involving the platforms of the bank or its parent company. The Paytm spokesperson said no overseas remittances of any kind could be initiated from bank accounts or wallet accounts at Paytm Payments Bank. "We vehemently deny any speculations on alleged FEMA violations by One 97 Communications or its associate Paytm Payments Bank," the spokesperson said via email. "The licence for payments banks restricts them from conducting operations related to outward remittances, which are exclusively permitted for large commercial banks in India." The US-based investment management firm Vanguard has adjusted the valuation of the mobility company Ola to $1.88 billion. This represents the third markdown in the valuation of the firm led by Bhavish Aggarwal by Vanguard since February 2023. According to regulatory filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Vanguard has revised Olas parent company, ANI Technologies, to $1.88 billion as of November 30, 2023. This is a 29 per cent decrease from its previous fair value of $2.65 billion as of August 31 last year. Click here to follow our WhatsApp channel Vanguards latest fair value of $1.88 billion is 74 per cent lower than the last valuation at which the company raised funds. In February last year, Vanguard marked down the valuation of ANI Technologies by about 34 per cent to $4.8 billion from $7.3 billion. Later, Vanguard further reduced its holding by another 52.7 per cent to $3.5 billion in its July disclosure. Vanguard holds about a 0.7 per cent stake in the ride-hailing firm. The company did not comment on the valuation slash by Vanguard. In December 2021, the mobility platform raised about $139 million from a few investors, including IIFL, Edelweiss, and Sunil Munjal-led Hero Enterprise. This information is based on regulatory documents sourced from the business intelligence platform Tofler. Ola had been valued at about $7.3 billion at that time. Ola recently announced that its India mobility business turned earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) positive in 2022-23 (FY23), making it one of the few Indian internet companies to achieve this feat. For the consolidated entity, revenue from operations and other income for FY23 stood at Rs 3,000 crore compared to Rs 2,120 crore in 2021-22 (FY22). The Ebitda loss for the consolidated entity, excluding discontinued business, was reduced to Rs 29 crore in FY23 from Rs 291 crore in FY22. ANI Technologies standalone (Olas India mobility business) total revenue has gone up by 48 per cent in FY23 to Rs 2,135 crore from Rs 1,350 crore in FY22. Total revenue includes revenue from operations and other income. It achieved segment-adjusted Ebitda of Rs 250 crore in FY23. This is not the first time Vanguard has marked down the valuation of the Bengaluru-based firm. In 2017, Vanguard marked down Olas valuation by 40 per cent, indicating a valuation of about $3 billion, down from the companys $5 billion when it last raised $500 million in November 2015. Vanguard later marked up the valuation in subsequent months. The firm reportedly cut the value of its investment by 45 per cent between December 2019 and June 2020 and 9.5 per cent in 2021, reducing Olas valuation from over $6 billion to around $3 billion. In 2022, Ola shut down its in-cab infotainment service. The same year, it also closed its used vehicles business Ola Cars and its quick-commerce unit Ola Dash, which promised 10-minute food delivery. It repurposed the infrastructure and capabilities of the Ola Cars business towards boosting the Ola Electric sales and service network. The company shut down Ola Cars within a year of its launch as it shifted focus to its electric two-wheeler and car verticals. Ola shut down Ola Cafe, Foodpanda, Ola Foods, and Ola Dash. Snap, the company that owns social media giant Snapchat, announced layoffs on Monday. The company, which is headquartered in Santa Monica, also has a San Francisco office at Levis plaza. Richard Drew/Associated Press Snap Inc., the parent company of social media giant Snapchat, is set to reduce its workforce by 10%, affecting around 530 employees globally. The company disclosed this information in a regulatory filing on Monday, saying that the layoffs are a strategic move for long-term growth. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In a statement, a spokesperson for Snap said that the restructuring is necessary to streamline operations. We are reorganizing our team to reduce hierarchy and promote in-person collaboration, the statement said. We are focused on supporting our departing team members and we are very grateful for their hard work and many contributions to Snap. Based in Santa Monica (Los Angeles County) with an office in San Franciscos Levis Plaza complex, Snap anticipates incurring costs between $55 million and $75 million related to the restructuring, primarily covering severance expenses. The company plans to address its fourth-quarter and full-year 2023 financial results during its quarterly conference call on Tuesday. The Snap Inc. logo is displayed above the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in 2020. The company announced hundreds of layoffs on Monday. Richard Drew/Associated Press In its third-quarter report from September, Snap celebrated a 5% year-over-year increase in revenue and boasted 406 million active daily users. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In August 2022, the company reduced its worldwide workforce by around 20%. During the third quarter of 2023, it initiated the phaseout of its AR Enterprise business by cutting its global employee head count by approximately 3%. Founded in 2011 by former Stanford University classmates Evan Spiegel, Bobby Murphy and Reggie Brown, Snapchat was among the first social media platforms to integrate augmented filters into photo and video messages. This month, Snaps technology helped introduce the first interactive augmented reality mirrors in a U.S. museum at the de Young as part of the groundbreaking Fashioning San Francisco: A Century of Style exhibition. India's crude oil imports from Russia fell for a second straight month in January to its lowest in 12 months but the nation's insatiable appetite for Russian crude remains for the long term, according to data from energy cargo tracker and industry officials. Russia supplied 1.2 million barrels per day of crude oil to India in January, down from 1.32 million barrels in December and 1.62 million barrels in November 2023, according to data from energy cargo tracker Vortexa. Russia however continues to remain India's top oil supplier, accounting for a little less than a quarter of 4.91 million barrels a day of oil that the world's third largest energy consumer imported in January. The decline in cargoes from Russia was made up by increased sourcing from Iraq, which supplied 1.1 million barrels per day (bpd) in January, up from 985,000 bpd in the previous month. Supplies from Saudi Arabia declined to 659,000 bpd from 668,000 bpd in December. India is more than 85 per cent dependent on imports for its needs of crude oil, which is converted into fuels such as petrol and diesel at refineries. Its appetite for Russian oil swelled ever since such oil started trading on discount as the West shunned it to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. According to Vortexa, an energy intelligence firm, India imported just 36,255 bpd of crude oil from Russia in December 2021 as compared to 1.05 million bpd from Iraq and 952,625 bpd from Saudi Arabia. There were no imports from Russia in the following two months but they resumed in March, soon after the Ukraine war broke out in late February. Imports from Russia soared to an all-time high of 2.1 million bpd in June last year, accounting for almost 40 per cent of all oil India imported. According to Serena Huang, Vortexa's head of APAC analysis, the reason for the fall in Russian crude oil import in last couple of months was the narrowing of Russian crude discounts versus Middle Eastern crude, recent US sanctions on shipowners carrying Russian crude above the price cap and rising tanker premiums as a result of the Red Sea attacks. Also, some state refiners rushed to fulfill term commitments with Middle Eastern suppliers, industry officials said adding the removal of sanctions on Venezuela has whetted the appetite of private Indian refiners to resume purchases from the South American supplier. Indian refiners started snapping up crude shipments from Venezuela after a three-year suspension in September 2020. These developments together have contributed to a slowdown in Russian purchases. Industry officials said the long-term demand for Russian crude oil remains intact. "A dip in one month and rise in another doesn't tell you the entire story. The fact remains that Indian companies will continue to buy Russian crude oil as long as they make economic sense," an official said. Indian state firms buy Russian crude oil on a delivered basis, meaning the supplier has to make arrangements for shipping and the buyer pays only when oil is delivered at the receiving port. This is unlike sourcing from the Middle East where the buyer pays for shipping and insurance. "Till such time that the delivered cost of Russian crude oil is less attractive as compared to alternate sources, Indian refiners will buy," another official said. Trade sources and analysts also said that refiners are currently expressing increasing concerns about rising shipping costs and insurance. The US in December imposed sanctions on ships and vessel operators carrying Russian oil sold above the USD 60 a barrel cap set by the Group of Seven nations. Several tankers had to divert as banks and service providers were asked to ensure cargoes do not breach the price limit. Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) chairman Pushp Kumar Joshi at an investor call last month said Russian oil made up for 30 per cent of all oil that the company imported and that the company has tied up supplies from Russia and other sources till mid-April. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) chairman G Krishnakumar at an earning call late last month stated that 40 per cent of all crude oil that the firm imported in December quarter came from Russia. By Sheridan Prasso US efforts to promote the expansion of Indias solar industry may have opened a back door to components made with forced labor in China. Indias largest solar producer, Waaree Energies Ltd., has sent millions of panels to the US with components from a Chinese company whose products were repeatedly denied entry to the US market over concerns about forced labor, a Bloomberg News examination of Indian and US import records shows. Those components, solar cells produced by Chinas Longi Green Energy Technology Co. at plants in Malaysia and Vietnam, are used in Waaree panels blanketing solar farms in Texas and other states. Imports of Waaree panels raise questions about how US Customs and Border Protection officials are enforcing a ban on products tied to the repression of Uyghur people in Chinas Xinjiang region. The agency has detained thousands of shipments of solar panels made by Chinese-owned companies since it began enforcing the ban in June 2022 interventions that companies can overturn by providing evidence their supply chains dont involve Xinjiang sources. That focus on China has created an opportunity for Indian solar producers, which exported almost $2 billion worth of panels to the US in the first 11 months of last year, a fivefold increase over all of 2022, according to data compiled by BloombergNEF. Even panels that say, Made in India are likely to be affected by Uyghur forced labor, Laura Murphy, co-author of an August 2023 report about the solar supply chain, said in October before being named a Customs enforcement adviser at the Department of Homeland Security. Her report said that because polysilicon from multiple sources in China is often blended together, theres a very high risk that panels made at Longi factories in Southeast Asia had used at least some materials from Xinjiang. Longi, the worlds largest solar producer, based in Xian, China, didnt respond to requests for comment. The company has said, in response to Murphys report, that it has created a separate supply chain for the US market that uses material only from non-Chinese sources. Sunil Rathi, Waarees sales director, said in an emailed statement that the Indian firm has been complying with the law of the land wherever we operate. He said its customers have stringent requirements, and they make sure we meet those for every shipment. Global concerns that Chinese officials were incarcerating or forcing members of the Uyghur minority to work in factories led Congress to enact the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, known as UFLPA, in December 2021. The Chinese government has denied any human rights violations in Xinjiang, saying its policies there are aimed at education, eradicating extremism and alleviating poverty. Some members of Congress and industry groups have criticized Customs for uneven enforcement of the law, which covers a range of products from tomatoes to shoes. The value of apparel and textiles detained for inspection by Customs in the first seven months of 2023 dropped 52% from the previous seven months, according to the National Council of Textile Organizations, which analyzed data from the agency. At the same time, the value of intercepted electronics shipments rose 6%. A spokesperson for Customs said the bureau employs a dynamic, risk-based approach to enforcement that prioritizes action against the highest-risk goods based on a dynamic data and intelligence environment. The bureaus website shows that since June 2022 Customs has detained $2 billion worth of products categorized as electronics, which industry analysts say are primarily solar panels. After reviewing supply-chain documents, officials barred about one-quarter of the total for violating the UFLPA. Customs doesnt identify the companies affected by these actions, which took place even as US imports of solar products reached a record high last year. The agencys data show that US officials have concentrated enforcement efforts on solar products from Southeast Asia, where Chinese companies including Longi shifted production a decade ago in part to avoid US tariffs. Longi has acknowledged the impact. In a September earnings call, Chairman Zhong Baoshen cited a massive impairment as a result of Customs officials denying US entry for its products. Since they cannot enter the United States, we need to process the returns of these products and resell them globally, he said. Since then, some Longi shipments have been getting through, Philip Shen, an analyst at investment bank Roth Capital Partners, wrote in an October note, suggesting that the company was making progress in its efforts to establish a US supply chain that doesnt rely on Chinese polysilicon. No shipments from Indian companies are known to have been detained, according to Pol Lezcano, a solar industry analyst at BloombergNEF. Its hypocritical, and its targeted at the big Chinese companies, Lezcano said of US enforcement. If you are a big, China-headquartered company, the likelihood your shipment gets detained at the border is higher. Indian products made up 9.3% of the volume of US solar imports in the first 11 months of last year, up from 1.9% in all of 2022, according to BNEF data. Imports jumped to 4.4 gigawatts or about 11 million panels in the first 11 months of 2023, up from 0.6 gigawatts in 2022, the data show. Most of that came from Waaree. China produces more than 80% of the worlds polysilicon, which is used to make solar panels, and Chinese companies make roughly 98% of all ingots and wafers. About one-third of Chinas polysilicon capacity is in Xinjiang, according to BNEF, compared with 54% of production before the ban. But there isnt enough non-Chinese polysilicon to meet the demand, meaning some producers need to source polysilicon from China, Lezcano said. CBP doesnt have the resources or capacity to fully implement the Xinjiang imports ban, said Shannon ONeil, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York who has written about global supply chains. It has had to pick and choose cases, and in the choosing of cases, it sure looks like geopolitics is in play. The Biden administration has been trying to foster alternative supply chains in countries considered allies, a policy it calls friendshoring, to counter Chinese manufacturing dominance. On a visit to India in 2022, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen spoke about US support for Indias solar manufacturing industry, including $500 million in debt financing for the largest US solar makers plans to open a plant there. She cited the need to diversify away from China, where solar materials like those from the Xinjiang region are known to be produced with forced labor. The US first banned polysilicon from Xinjiang in 2021, when it was placed on list of goods deemed to have been produced by forced labor. The US began enforcing the UFLPA the following year. Under that law, US officials apply whats called a rebuttable presumption that products linked to Xinjiang were made with forced labor. Importers can challenge that determination by supplying documentation showing their supply chains dont rely on polysilicon from Xinjiang. But polysilicon has been co-mingled with material from other parts of China, making such proof difficult. The polysilicon production process entails mining quartz, then crushing and heating it to produce metallurgical grade silicon, known as MGS. That material is refined into polysilicon, which is melted into ingots, then turned into wafers and ultimately solar cells that make up solar panels. MGS and polysilicon from different Chinese locations are often blended, which could introduce Xinjiang-sourced material into any batch made by a company sourcing any amount of it from the region, according to Over-Exposed, the report by Murphy, who is also a professor at Sheffield Hallam University in the UK, and solar consultant Alan Crawford. A 2021 US State Department advisory cited evidence of coercive labor practices at each stage in Chinas solar supply chain. The pervasiveness of forced labor programs in Xinjiang and co-mingling of solar-grade polysilicon supplies by downstream manufacturers raise concerns throughout the entire solar supply chain, the advisory said. As a result, its likely that the majority of global solar products may continue to have a connection to forced labor. Industry analysts draw similar conclusions. We believe, based on our ongoing industry research, that smaller solar module manufacturers outside of China, including in India and Southeast Asia, are using material inputs from China that are possibly, and in some cases likely, exposed to forced labor while continuing to export to the US, said Reginald Smith, a solar industry analyst at Eventide Asset Management in Boston. The Over-Exposed report compiled publicly available records, corporate annual reports, press releases, customs data, email exchanges with companies and other sources. The report included a supply-chain map showing links between Xinjiang-sourced polysilicon and Longis factories in Southeast Asia. But a rebuttal map provided by Longi and included in the report said the company had created a separate supply chain for the US that uses polysilicon only from non-Chinese sources. Neither that claim nor Murphys could be independently confirmed. But Longi modules containing polysilicon produced in China were among those that Customs officials denied entry to the US market, according to a July note by Roth Capitals Shen. Modules containing polysilicon from other sources may have been among Longi shipments that US authorities later released, Roth wrote in another note in September. Indian customs records compiled by trade data aggregator ImportGenius and reviewed by Bloomberg show that Waaree has received hundreds of shipments of solar cells, which convert light into electrical energy for solar panels, from Longi-owned plants in Malaysia and Vietnam since mid-2022. India, which has limited capacity to produce its own solar inputs, has ambitious plans to build a vertically integrated manufacturing industry to take advantage of opportunities in the US market and at home. Waaree has three plants in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and has announced plans to tap government incentives and expand production capacity over the next two years, as well as to develop its own solar cell and wafer manufacturing. It is planning to open a plant near Houston later this year and is seeking approval for an initial public offering to raise as much as 30 billion rupees ($362 million). Longi also has plans to manufacture in the US. It recently started module production at a facility in Ohio, a venture with Chicago-based renewables firm Invenergy. Waaree products have been shipped to residential and commercial solar providers in California, North Carolina and Texas, including the Red-Tailed Hawk and Danish Fields solar farms near Houston, US import records show. Neither project responded to requests for comment, and it couldnt be confirmed independently whether the components of those panels were made with materials from Xinjiang. India is poised to further expand its US solar market share this year, when anti-dumping and countervailing duty tariffs on solar products from Southeast Asia come into effect in June. Eric Choy, the top Customs official in charge of UFLPA enforcement, said at a June webinar organized by risk-intelligence firm Kharon that third-country risk is probably the highest risk thats out there. Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Monday appointed Mio Oka as its country director for India. He will succeed Takeo Konishi who has been promoted as ADB Director General for South Asia at the Manila headquarters. Oka will take charge of steering ADB operations in India and fostering relations with the government and the country's other development partners, ADB said in a statement. She will lead the implementation of ADB's country partnership strategy, 20232027 that is designed to catalyse robust, climate-resilient, and inclusive private sector-led growth in India, it said. This will be achieved through accelerated structural transformation and job creation, promotion of climate-resilient green growth, and enhanced social and economic inclusiveness, it added. Since the start of its country operations in 1986, ADB has been a steadfast partner in supporting India's development goals and economic growth. "ADB remains committed to bolster India's inclusive and green growth momentum through strategic investments to address critical challenges in infrastructure, human development, and climate risk vulnerability besides promoting private sector development," she said in a statement. A Japanese national, Oka has almost 3 decades of professional experience, including over 18 years with ADB, where she has served in various capacities since joining as a project specialist in the Mekong Department in 2005, it said. After serving as an advisor to the president for about 6 years, she held a managerial role as a director in the agriculture and natural resources sector and covered the South Asia region and Emerging Areas team for more than 7 years, it said. Prior to her tenure at ADB, Oka worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and Japan International Cooperation Agency Bangladesh Office, it added. India is currently ADB's fourth largest shareholder and one of its largest borrowers since 2010. In 2023, ADB committed $2.59 billion in sovereign lending to India in addition to $16.31 million in technical assistance and $5.25 million in grants under the sovereign portfolio. The current India sovereign portfolio comprises 73 projects worth a total of $15.7 billion. ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members -- 49 from the region. Muizzu highlighted that the nation's defence force is on the verge of achieving round-the-clock surveillance capabilities over the nation's 900,000-square-kilometre Exclusive Economic Zone, the release said Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Monday said the first group of Indian military personnel will be sent back from the island nation before March 10 and the remaining manning two aviation platforms will be withdrawn before May 10, as he articulated the need to bolster the Indian Ocean archipelagic nation's military capabilities. In his maiden address to Parliament, Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, said the support of a large majority of the Maldivian citizens for his administration was for the "pledges to withdraw foreign military troops from the country." Soon after taking oath as the President of Maldives on November 17, Muizzu formally requested India to withdraw 88 military personnel from his country by March 15, saying the Maldivian people have given him a "strong mandate" to make this request to New Delhi. In the presidential runoff held in September last year, Muizzu, 45, defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. His government is also reviewing more than 100 bilateral agreements signed with India by the previous government. The main opposition party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) which holds a majority in Parliament on Sunday announced that it would boycott Muizzu's address to Parliament, at this year's inaugural sitting. He also said that his administration would recover the lost area of the Maldivian territory, and terminate any agreements made by the state that might undermine the country's sovereignty, according to a press release issued by the President's Office. The President articulated the Maldives' need to augment its modern military capabilities for a comprehensive national defence strategy encompassing terrestrial, aerial, and maritime domains, it said. Muizzu told Parliament that "diplomatic negotiations were underway for the withdrawal of Indian troops," the release said. He detailed that, "as agreed in the latest negotiations, the military personnel on one of the three aviation platforms would be withdrawn before March 10, 2024, and the military personnel on the remaining two platforms would be withdrawn before May 10, 2024". The President said his government has officially communicated that it will not renew the agreement enabling foreign nations to measure and map the Maldivian oceans and coastlines. Muizzu underscored the necessity for the Maldives to fortify its military capabilities across terrestrial, aerial, and maritime domains as part of a comprehensive defence strategy. After the latest round of bilateral talks, India said on February 2 that a "set of mutually workable solutions" was agreed upon with the Maldives for continuing the operations of Indian aviation platforms in the island nation. Currently, Indian military personnel are in the Maldives primarily to operate two helicopters and an aircraft that have carried out hundreds of medical evacuations and humanitarian missions. The Indian platforms have been providing humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people of the Maldives for the last few years. Muizzu said his administration would not do anything that could in any way compromise the nation's sovereignty. He asserted that he would remain steadfast and not give in to any external pressures under any circumstances if it posed a risk to the country's independence and sovereignty. "...Is it a small blessing that we remain independent, under our own power? Even in the present times, there are people in much larger countries who are sacrificing limb and life to gain this right," the President was quoted as saying by The Edition newspaper. He, however, did not name any country. Muizzu highlighted that the nation's defence force is on the verge of achieving round-the-clock surveillance capabilities over the nation's 900,000-square-kilometre Exclusive Economic Zone, the release said. He emphasised that while safeguarding our nation's sovereignty, the primary commitment in governance will be to place the welfare of the people and the nation at the forefront, guided by the "Pro Maldives" principle. The Maldives' proximity to India, barely 70 nautical miles from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep and 300 nautical miles from the mainland's western coast, and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) gives it significant strategic importance. The Maldives is India's key maritime neighbour in the IOR and occupies a special place in its initiatives like SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Neighbourhood First Policy' of the Narendra Modi government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the India Energy Week 2023 in Bengaluru, with Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri | (File Photo: PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate on Tuesday the second edition of the India Energy Week (IEW), set to bring together 17 energy ministers from key oil producers such as Nigeria, Libya, Sudan, and Ghana. Modi will interact with chief executive officers of global oil and gas companies and experts, the petroleum and natural gas ministry, which organises the IEW, said on Monday. Top executives of major companies such as Russias Rosneft and Saudi Arabias Aramco will be there. At last years IEW, Modi had said even as India remained committed to green growth, the country would need major investment in the oil and gas sector. IEW 2024 will have speakers from regulatory bodies, renewable and alternative fuel associations and companies, policy researchers, and consultants, the ministry said. Haithan Al Ghais, secretary general of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, will attend the function. With sustainability as a prime focus, the conference will see global decision makers deliberate on the future of sustainable energy. The government hopes the event will cement India as a key policy driver on energy on the global stage, as distinct from being just a large buyer of energy. The countrys share in global oil demand is 5 per cent and is expected to rise to 11 per cent, whereas gas demand is expected to increase up to 500 per cent. The event is expected to draw over 35,000 attendees, 350 exhibitors, 400 speakers and 4,000 delegates, from more than 100 countries. Other announcements Modi will lay the foundation stones of projects worth over Rs 1,330 crore in the Viksit Bharat, Viksit Goa 2047 programme. He will inaugurate the new campus of the National Institute of Watersports. The institute, the first of its kind, is set to introduce 28 tailor-made courses aimed at fostering the development of water sport and water-rescue activities, catering to both the public and the armed forces. He may visit the new ONGC (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) Sea Survival Centre, which has been developed as a one-of-its-kind centre to elevate the training ecosystem on Indian sea survival to global standards, the company said. It is expected to train 10,000-15,000 people annually. Exercises in simulated and controlled harsh weather conditions will enhance the sea survival skills of trainees and thus increase the chances of safe escape from disasters. Shah said terrorism and insurgency have left many dead and injured, and the government has taken action not only on terrorism but its ecosystem too The government wants friendly relations with all countries but it will not compromise with India's border security and the safety of its people, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday. Shah also said that the Modi government has successfully tackled the three internal security hotspots -- 'Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast and the Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas'? -- in its 10 years of rule. "Our external and internal policy is clear. We want friendly relations with other countries. But there will be no compromise on the country's border security and the security of its people," he said while participating in a discussion on the subject 'Security Beyond Tomorrow: Forging India's Resilient Future' here. Shah said other countries have respected this policy of the government. He said due to the appeasement policy, the previous governments have created many internal security problems. The three internal security hotspots of the country 'Jammu and Kashmir, Northeast and LWE affected areas'? had come up due to the wrong policies of the previous government, he said. "These three hotspots were successfully brought under control by the Modi government and the areas were now part of India's development journey," he said. Shah said terrorism and insurgency have left many dead and injured, and the government has taken action not only on terrorism but its ecosystem too. Giving an example, the home minister said there were over 2,600 organised stone pelting incidents in Jammu and Kashmir prior to the Modi government came to power and over 110 people lost their lives and more than 6,000 people were injured due to these incidents. "Now there is not a single incident of stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir. There is zero stone pelting," he said. Shah also said that after the implementation of the newly enacted three criminal justice laws, these will be the most modern laws. As the political turmoil continues in the Maldives, the island nation's two main opposition parties--the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and The Democrats Party--have chosen not to attend the presidential statement scheduled for February 5, Maldives-based media outlet Mihaaru reported. The majority-holding MDP in parliament has not yet disclosed the purpose of the boycott. However, the Democrats released a statement explaining their decision to abstain from the meeting due to the re-appointment of the three ministers who had been rejected by parliament. It is the first session of Parliament this year. The presidential statement will be made on Monday at 9 a.m. by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, according to Mihaaru. According to the outlet, more than one member of the MDP parliamentary group has confirmed the decision. The President is required by the Constitution to address Parliament at the first session of the first term of the year, outlining the state of the nation and outlining his recommendations for how to bring improvements. Quite recently, two opposition parties in the Maldives came out against the current regime over its 'stark' anti-India pivot. The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and The Democrats jointly issued a joint press statement, labelling the shift in foreign policy as 'extremely detrimental' to the country's long-term development. The statement served to reassert and affirm the opposition's belief that "alienating any development partner, and especially the country's most long-standing ally will be extremely detrimental to the long-term development of the country". The opposition further underscored that "stability and security in the Indian Ocean is vital to the stability and security of the Maldives." Both the MDP and The Democrats emphasised the critical need for consecutive governments to maintain the ability "to work with all development partners for the benefit of the people of the Maldives, as the Maldives has traditionally done". Turkey said Vladimir Putin is expected to visit soon, in what would be the Russian leaders first trip to a NATO-member country since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine two years ago. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to meet with Putin primarily to discuss energy cooperation and security in Syria, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told AHaber television on Sunday. The war in Ukraine will likely be a central topic, Putins aide Yury Ushakov said last week, according to Interfax. Putin will visit Turkey on Feb. 12, Reuters reported last week. Putins trips abroad have been limited due to the risk of possible arrest on a warrant from the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes. Turkey Signals Preference to Retain Russian S-400s in F-35 Row The ICC issued the warrant against Putin on March 17 for war crimes related to the alleged abduction of children from Ukraine. Turkey isnt a signatory to the Rome Statute that established the tribunal and isnt bound by its decisions. Erdogan has sought to broker peace between the warring parties and to revive a UN-backed deal that he helped engineer in 2022 that had allowed Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea. Russia abandoned the deal in July 2023, and Erdogan has urged world leaders to meet some of Russias demands including facilitating insurance of Russian food and fertilizer exports by Lloyds of London and to reconnect Moscow to the SWIFT system for international payments to persuade Putin to return to the deal. Our president will definitely discuss this issue with Putin, Fidan said, signaling a new mechanism for Ukrainian grain exports. It is an issue that we are currently discussing with Russia. There are talks going especially between the UN, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey, he added. We can develop a new method for bringing grain to world markets. Turkeys Erdogan Rejects Negative Attitude Toward Putin Russia and Ukraine are both major producers of grain, and the war has increasingly threatened the safe passage of shipments. While Ukraine transported some of its grain via its Black Sea corridor since mid-September, strong shipments are still needed to clear last years larger-than-expected harvest. We want to formalize this de facto shipping from Ukraine with a new mechanism, Fidan said. Russians have some demands in return. Russia has worked to forge closer energy, political and economic ties with Turkey after relations with the European Union dramatically deteriorated following its war in Ukraine. For his part, Erdogan relied on his rapport with Putin to seek discounts and deferrals in payments for energy imports from Russia to alleviate pressure on the lira amid a deep cost-of-living crisis. While providing combat drones to Ukraines military, Turkey has refused to join sanctions against Russia which is a critical energy supplier for Turkey. Russia provided a quarter of Turkeys crude oil imports and around 40% of its natural gas purchases in 2022, giving Moscow a huge surplus in bilateral trade. The two countries are now seeking a deal on a planned natural gas hub in Turkey. Last year, Putin laid out plans to establish a gas-trading hub in Turkey, including the possibility of laying more undersea pipelines across the Black Sea. Erdogan is aspiring to use Turkeys proximity to Caspian Sea gas fields to eventually be a key route for Europe-bound supplies. Turkey and Russia are already cooperating on construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power station in southern Turkey, with a budget of some $20 billion. We are talking about a huge complex of almost 5 gigawatts, Fidan said of Akkuyu, which is designed to have a capacity of 4.8 gigawatts. Supplying cheap energy is a very strategic issue for a country like Turkey, which largely derives its national income from industry. A man walks his dog on the edge of the Los Angeles River, which is carrying stormwater downstream Sunday. The Los Angeles area is expected to see considerable rain and potential flooding into Monday afternoon. Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press The powerful atmospheric river-fueled storm that sent high winds and rain to the Bay Area on Sunday is squarely taking aim at Southern California with torrential rain and flood risks and the warnings are dire. Los Angeles County is going to be the epicenter of flood risk, higher than we have seen in many years, UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain said during a Sunday briefing. Rampant wildfire activity in the region in recent years, coupled with recent wet conditions, amplifies the risk of flooding problems, according to Swain. I dont think Ive ever seen a storm quite like this, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Heavy rainfall on Monday could bring one of the most dramatic weather days in recent memory in the greater Los Angeles region, the National Weather Services Los Angeles branch said Sunday evening. This is a DANGEROUS SYSTEM with major risks to life and property, the weather service said. Many roads and freeways will flood or shutdown. Canyon roads will experience significant rockslides. Low-lying neighborhoods will see waters over curbs with a foot or two of water into vulnerable homes and businesses. Many parked cars will be damaged. Mudslides will occur over vulnerable areas. The greatest flood risk is to the Los Angeles County area, including urban areas, the weather service said. Already on Sunday, the Santa Barbara Airport closed because of flooding and San Diego issued evacuation warnings to certain neighborhoods. Much of the states southern coastal area was under flash flood warnings, putting more than 11 million people or about 30% of the states population in areas that could experience flooding. In Los Angeles, Miley Cyrus almost didnt make it to the Grammys due to rain: Oh my God, I just got stuck in the rain and traffic and thought I was going to miss this moment, said Cyrus, who won the first Grammy of her career. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Swain said storm conditions would worsen overnight Sunday, with heavy rainfall making a recipe for big, big, big flood problems in Southern California. The storms were hovering over the ocean, intensifying and looked set to dump large amounts of rainfall as soon as they hit land in the greater Los Angeles region, Swain said. Jessica Flores is a reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. Before joining The Chronicle in 2021, she worked for USA Today, NPR affiliate KPCC and Curbed LA. Originally from L.A., she received her masters degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and a bachelors degree from Mount Saint Marys University in Los Angeles. She can be reached at Jessica.Flores@sfchronicle.com. TOKYO, February 5, 2024 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Mandy Cohen celebrated the opening of the new CDC East Asia and Pacific (EAP) regional office in Tokyo, Japan, at a ceremony that included U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, Japan Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare Keizo Takemi, diplomatic and health leaders from countries in the region, international organizations, and academic institutions. CDCs EAP regional office will further strengthen the United States Governments global health impact by working with Japan, partner countries and regional organizations to prevent, detect and respond to health threats. Americas safety and security is dependent on the strong linkages between countries around the world, said Mandy Cohen, M.D., M.P.H, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDCs East Asia and Pacific regional office will address health security globally and in the region by focusing on cooperation in advanced threat detection, laboratory networks, response capacities, and other platforms and systems for rapid response to ongoing and emerging public health threats. Priorities for the new regional office include: Expanding CDCs core global health security capacity by building stronger collaboration and partnerships in the East Asia and Pacific region, The ability to detect public health threats and respond quickly, and Knowledge and information exchange between CDC and the region. The COVID pandemic reminded us that viruses dont stop at borders, said Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Ambassador to Japan. International collaboration, transparency, and science, especially among partner countries like Japan, are key. The opening of CDCs regional office in Tokyo brings together American, Japanese, and regional expertise to track, respond to and defeat diseases. Through this office, CDC will focus on identification, response, and mitigation of health threats in international settings to rapidly respond to outbreaks at their source and prevent spread to and within the U.S. Expanding government and nongovernment partnerships will help CDC build the trust and transparency needed for the rapid exchange of data, and it will also strengthen core global health security capacities. Partnering to train a global workforce to prevent, detect, and respond, and sharing scientific expertise will strengthen programs and people to prevent emerging threats. Michelle McConnell, MD, has been named the new CDC EAP regional director, transitioning from her previous role as director for Asia and the Pacific in the Office of Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In her new position, Dr. McConnell will formulate a global health security strategy for the region, oversee global health security activities, collaborate on the implementation of headquarters programs through partnership with CDC country offices, and engage with other relevant stakeholders. In todays interconnected world, a disease threat anywhere can become a health threat in the U.S. Recognizing that disease knows no borders, CDC has setup regional offices worldwide to promote U.S. global health security objectives and establish a lasting global presence. In the past few years, CDC established regional offices in South America (Brazil), Eastern Europe/Central Asia (Georgia), the Middle East/North Africa (Oman), and Southeast Asia (Vietnam) and this year will add two new regional offices with the opening of the East Asia Pacific Office today and the opening of the Central America/Caribbean office in Panama later this year. Barriers and Facilitators to Program Sustainability Among State Tobacco Control Programs Karin Han, MPH1; Jessica Gannon, MSW1; Sarah Moreland-Russell, PhD1 (View author affiliations) Suggested citation for this article: Han K, Gannon J, Moreland-Russell S. Barriers and Facilitators to Program Sustainability Among State Tobacco Control Programs. Prev Chronic Dis 2024;21:230211. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd21.230211. PEER REVIEWED Summary What is already known on this topic? Public health programs, particularly tobacco control programs in state health departments, face numerous barriers and facilitators to sustainability, which affect the delivery and, consequently, the health outcomes achieved. What is added by this report? This study is the first to identify barriers and facilitators to increasing the capacity of program sustainability in tobacco control programs. What are the implications for public health practice? This work advances the understanding of program sustainability capacity and technical assistance for public health programs. Through addressing these barriers and cultivating these facilitators, state health departments can build stronger public health programs. Abstract Public health programs, particularly tobacco control programs (TCPs) in state health departments, face numerous barriers and facilitators to sustainability, which affect delivery and, consequently, health outcomes achieved. We used the Program Sustainability Framework to review and analyze qualitative interview data from states that received training and technical assistance during the Plans, Actions, and Capacity to Sustain Tobacco Control (PACT) study to better understand the barriers and facilitators to sustainability capacity that these public health programs face at the state level. The PACT study was a multiyear, randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of an action planning workshop and technical assistance in improving capacity for sustainability among 11 intervention and 12 control TCPs. Technical assistance calls focused on the progress and barriers of implementing the sustainability action plan created during the in-person workshops. Calls were audio recorded and professionally transcribed. Thematic analysis focused on the codes describing barriers and facilitators faced by TCPs in increasing their capacity for sustainability. Barriers were reported in the Organization Capacity, Environmental Support, Partnerships, Communication, and Funding Stability domains of the Program Sustainability Framework. Facilitators to action planning and building capacity for program sustainability were primarily in the Strategic Planning, Program Evaluation, Program Adaptation, and Partnership domains. Our study is the first to identify barriers and facilitators to increasing the capacity of program sustainability in TCPs. This work advances the understanding of program sustainability capacity and technical assistance for public health programs. Top Introduction Programs are able to continuously deliver benefits only if they can sustain their activities over time (1). Sustainability capacity is broadly defined as the existence of structures and processes that allow a program to leverage resources to effectively implement and maintain evidence-based policies and activities (2). Public health programs face numerous barriers and facilitators to sustainability, which affect delivery and, consequently, the health outcomes achieved. Program sustainability is an important factor to evaluate and improve on for successful public health program practice. Tobacco control programs (TCPs) in state health departments face many barriers in achieving program sustainability, such as low and fluctuating funding levels (3), scarce levels of legislative support (4), and lack of organizational capacity (5). One method to assess and understand program sustainability capacity is use of the Program Sustainability Framework (2). This framework structures programmatic factors into 8 sustainability domains: Environmental Support (having a supportive internal and external climate), Funding Stability (establishing a consistent financial base), Partnerships (cultivating connections between a program and its working partner), Organizational Capacity (having the internal support and resources needed to effectively manage a program), Program Evaluation (assessing a program to inform planning and document results), Program Adaptation (taking actions that adapt a program to ensure its ongoing effectiveness), Communications (strategic engagement with partners and the public), and Strategic Planning (using processes that guide a programs directions, goals, and strategies) (2). The framework can be used to develop program goals and assess growth over time toward achieving those goals (6). It has been used to understand capacity for sustainability across many different types of programs (eg, local and state-level health departments, nonprofit organizations) and among high-performing and low-performing programs, providing a better understanding of factors that affect performance and success (6). Top Purpose and Objectives This evaluation used the Program Sustainability Framework to review and analyze qualitative interview data from states that received training and technical assistance during the Plans, Actions, and Capacity to Sustain Tobacco Control (PACT) study (7) to better understand barriers and facilitators to sustainability capacity faced by these public health programs at the state level. Understanding these factors for TCPs will help programs in addressing barriers, cultivating facilitators, and providing technical assistance to achieve sustainability and ultimately achieve better health outcomes. Top Intervention Approach The PACT study team developed the Program Sustainability Action Planning Model and Training Curricula and tested its effectiveness in increasing capacity for sustainability among state-level TCPs, as defined by organizational outcomes and Program Sustainability Assessment Tool (PSAT) scores (1) through a multiyear, randomized controlled trial. At the beginning of the study, programs were randomized into control or intervention groups by stratifying the 50 US states into quadrants on the basis of need and tobacco control policy environment. Three programs with varying degrees of funding were selected from each quadrant and pair matched with programs on the basis of the same 3 characteristics. Each pair was then randomized into control (n = 12) or intervention (n = 12). One of the intervention programs dropped out of the study, leaving 11 programs in the intervention group. The intervention states received the training curricula through tailored, action-oriented in-person workshops at baseline. During these workshops, state level TCP staff and other concerned groups participated in learning about sustainability and strategies for developing an action plan. Participants then outlined 1 or 2 specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound (SMART) objectives (8) for 1 of the 8 Program Sustainability Framework domains and developed an action plan. These action plans included time-specific activities to be shared across the group and tracked over time (7). After the workshops took place, intervention states received ongoing, robust technical assistance throughout their 2-year participation period within the 20182022 time frame. Technical assistance included regularly scheduled calls to review action plan progress and access to sustainability resources. Top Evaluation Methods Technical assistance focused on progress and barriers to implementing the sustainability action plan created during the in-person workshops and consisted of 30- to 45-minute telephone or Zoom calls with the states TCP program manager. When program managers were unavailable, other qualified individuals recommended by the program manager substituted. The telephone and Zoom calls were audio recorded and professionally transcribed (rev.com) for coding in NVivo version 20 (QSR International). Three researchers (including J.G. and S.M.R) coded transcripts until they reached substantial interrater reliability ( = 0.72). For this study, inductive thematic analysis focused on codes for barriers and facilitators faced by TCPs in increasing their capacity for sustainability. We used the Program Sustainability Framework to structure the themes. The institutional review board at Washington University in St. Louis approved this study. Eleven states participated in technical assistance interviews during their 2-year study participation. A total of 46 telephone and Zoom calls occurred between January 2019 and January 2022, with each state receiving an average of 2 calls per year. Top Results Barriers Barriers were reported in the Organization Capacity, Environmental Support, Partnerships, Communication, and Funding Stability domains (Table 1). No barriers were reported in the Program Evaluation, Program Adaptation, or Strategic Planning domains. Organizational Capacity. In this domain, the main barrier for action plan implementation and capacity building was staffing problems. Interviewees reflected on how lack of personnel within their department affected their ability to execute their sustainability action plan. Another barrier to organizational capacity was competing priorities with vaping and e-cigarette prevention efforts. Additionally, interviewees noted their programs had decreased capacity because of the focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. Environmental Support. In this domain, the main barrier for action plan implementation and capacity building was low or uncertain levels of legislative support from state legislatures. This lack of support concerned resource allocation, funding, and legislation that supports TCPs. Partnerships. In this domain, the main barrier for action plan implementation and capacity building was lack of formalized commitment between TCPs and their partners. Another barrier was lack of engagement from partners, which created difficulties in achieving progress with initiatives, as partners prioritized other work or were unwilling to contribute to shared work. Finally, programs found that some partners such as the general public, state boards, and professional organizations were not represented during their in-person workshop. The lack of these additional perspectives prevented holistic partner-centric work from moving forward. Communications. In this domain, limitations to message content and message type were barriers to increasing capacity. Needing to reassign staff to COVID-19related communications prevented TCP communications for some states. Finally, lack of strong partner communication was thought to impede sustainability capacity in this domain. Funding Stability. In this domain, fluctuating and uncertain funding levels concerned states. Uncertain funding forced program managers to prioritize advocating for more funding over doing other program work and made it difficult to plan for upcoming program goals. Facilitators Facilitators to action planning and building capacity for program sustainability primarily were in the domains of Strategic Planning, Program Evaluation, Program Adaptation, and Partnerships (Table 2). Strategic Planning. In this domain, access to PACT resources, such as the sustainability action planning guide, facilitated program ability to develop sustainable goals. These resources were reported as helpful and a benefit of participating in the study. Program Evaluation. In this domain, states reported that using the Program Sustainability Framework and PSAT facilitated the development of a strategic plan for their grant application to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This evaluation allowed programs to better plan for future priority populations and needs. Program Adaptation. In this domain, programs expressed the idea that learning from other state programs to understand and potentially emulate their successes would facilitate sustainability. Some programs were evaluating available literature, meeting with other programs at conferences, and using resources from other states. Furthermore, there was strong interest in developing a conference or webinar where people from programs nationwide could meet each other, ask questions, and adapt their programs accordingly afterwards. Partnerships. In this domain, enthusiastic, communicative, and involved partnerships that were built with new and existing concerned groups facilitated program success. This success came from dedicated work toward improving relationships, creating working groups, building partnerships through improved relationships, coming together in workgroups, and strengthening communication about needs. Top Implications for Public Health This study identified barriers and facilitators to increasing capacity for sustainability among evidence-based TCPs. Organizational Capacity, Environmental Support, Partnerships, Communications, and Funding Stability domains impeded the ability of TCPs to increase their capacity for sustainability. Within Organizational Capacity, lack of sufficient staff, high rates of turnover, and difficulty hiring new staff made it challenging to cover workload and achieve goals. These barriers came from insufficient resources and resources being directed away from tobacco control work and aligns with prior research documenting that public health systems face critical barriers such as limited organizational capacity and financial resources that decrease their sustainability (9). The largest barrier to sustainability was lack of legislative support (Environmental Support). Lack of political support has played a key role in inequitable national distribution of public health resources (9). This inequitable distribution ties into Funding Stability barriers, where unstable funding of TCPs prevents sustainability capacity. These domains demand attention because they are most influenced by external factors such as legislative goodwill and state priorities, even though higher levels of public health spending are associated with better population health outcomes (10). Limitations and impediments of communications was cited as a barrier with partners and the public. Communication is an essential part of effectiveness in public health programs, with consistency, transparency, and frequency being valued by practitioners (11). Programs that create goals or plans that align with these values could improve their sustainability capacity in this domain. Our study also highlighted facilitators to increasing capacity for sustainability of evidence-based state TCPs within the following domains: Strategic Planning, Program Evaluation, Program Adaptation, and Partnerships. Within Strategic Planning, programs reported that resources from the sustainability workshop and ongoing technical assistance were helpful when planning for the future. Evaluation of the sustainability of programs, especially when preparing for CDC grant applications, helped TCPs to understand where programs lacked capacity, such as reaching priority populations or infrastructure gaps. Program evaluation is important to the sustainability of public health programs and health programs for long-term effectiveness and improving outcomes (12) and is a valuable way to increase sustainability capacity of public health programs. Furthermore, TCPs made program adaptations as a result of examining data and evidence (13). Therefore, the program adaptation process could be further improved through evaluation and also through collaboration with nationwide networks or working groups. Uniquely, partnerships experienced facilitators and barriers to increasing program capacity. Success or hindrance in this domain was dependent on factors such as partner enthusiasm, commitment, and relationship strength. Involvement of partners to incorporate evidence-based public health can improve community health improvement plans (14) and sustainability in this domain (15). Throughout public health, common facilitators of partnership sustainability are invested time in relationships, promotion of communication and trust, shared motivations, and reciprocity (15). Limitations Our study has several limitations. First, we included only 11 intervention states. Although programs that participated were diverse in terms of funding, adult smoking rates, and policy progress, they may not be generalizable across all states. Second, we had an unequal number of calls in each state, which resulted from factors such as inadequate availability of TCP program managers, limited participation by some states, and the effects of COVID-19. Third, the duration of the study may have been too brief. Although it was possible to assess changes to sustainability capacity, longer follow-up may have been needed to understand sustainability over time. Conclusion Our study was the first to identify barriers and facilitators to increasing program sustainability capacity of TCPs. Understanding how these factors affect sustainability capacity was accomplished by using the Program Sustainability Framework. Addressing known barriers and enhancing facilitators for programs increases the possibility of achieving program sustainability. Many of the barriers faced could be addressed through methods such as gaining stronger political support, increased funding, and increased staff. Furthermore, cultivating facilitators such as formalized sharing networks and greater technical assistance could assist programs in becoming more sustainable. Overall, our work advances the understanding of program sustainability capacity and technical assistance for public health programs. Future research should focus on interventions that address ways to overcome barriers to sustainability planning and ways to improve implementation of sustainability planning to better support public health programs. Top Acknowledgments This research was funded by the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01CA203844. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, or publication of this article. The findings and conclusions in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official positions of the National Institutes of Health. No copyrighted surveys, instruments, or tools were used in this work. Top Author Information Corresponding Author: Jessica Gannon, MSW, Prevention Research Center, Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, One Brookings Dr, MSC 1196-257-220, St. Louis, MO 63130 (Jessica.Gannon@wustl.edu). Author Affiliations: 1Prevention Research Center, Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri. Top References Luke DA, Calhoun A, Robichaux CB, Elliott MB, Moreland-Russell S. The Program Sustainability Assessment Tool: a new instrument for public health programs. Prev Chronic Dis. 2014;11:130184. PubMed doi:10.5888/pcd11.130184 Schell SF, Luke DA, Schooley MW, Elliott MB, Herbers SH, Mueller NB, et al. . Public health program capacity for sustainability: a new framework. Implement Sci. 2013;8(1):15. PubMed doi:10.1186/1748-5908-8-15 Rose Taylor S, Forrest R. Assessing the solutions to tobacco controls funding gap problem. Tob Control. 2022;31(2):335339. 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Implement Sci. 2018;13(1):126. PubMed doi:10.1186/s13012-018-0819-5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 7.3 SMART and SMARTER goals. Published November 23, 2020. Accessed June 3, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/surveillancemanual/chapters/chapter-7/chapter7.3.html McKillop M, Lieberman DA. The Impact of Chronic Underfunding on Americas Public Health System: Trends, Risks, and Recommendations, 2022. Trust for Americas Health; 2022. Accessed April 4, 2023. www.tfah.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022PublicHealthFundingFINAL.pdf McCartney G, Hearty W, Arnot J, Popham F, Cumbers A, McMaster R. Impact of political economy on population health: a systematic review of reviews. Am J Public Health. 2019;109(6):e1e12. PubMed doi:10.2105/AJPH.2019.305001 Padek MM, Mazzucca S, Allen P, Rodriguez Weno E, Tsai E, Luke DA, et al. . Patterns and correlates of mis-implementation in state chronic disease public health practice in the United States. BMC Public Health. 2021;21(1):101. PubMed doi:10.1186/s12889-020-10101-z Cancer Center Cessation Initiative Sustainability Working Group. Sustainability of tobacco treatment programs in the Cancer Center Cessation Initiative. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2021;19(Suppl 1):S16S20. PubMed doi:10.6004/jnccn.2021.7093 Farah Saliba L, Allen P, Mazzucca SL, Rodriguez Weno E, Moreland-Russell S, Padek M, et al. . Program adaptation by health departments. Front Public Health. 2022;10:892258. PubMed doi:10.3389/fpubh.2022.892258 Allen P, Parks RG, Kang SJ, Dekker D, Jacob RR, Mazzucca-Ragan S, et al. . Practices among local public health agencies to support evidence-based decision making: a qualitative study. J Public Health Manag Pract. 2023;29(2):213225. PubMed doi:10.1097/PHH.0000000000001653 Hall TL, Barrientos-Ortiz C, Pena-Jackson G, Fultineer C, Werner K, Sunshine J. Facilitators and barriers to patient-centered outcomes research partnership sustainability in the United States. J Patient Cent Res Rev. 2021;8(1):819. PubMed doi:10.17294/2330-0698.1770 Top Tables Table 1. Barriers to Increasing the Sustainability Capacity of Tobacco Control Programs: Results of Technical Assistance Interviews (n = 46) in 11 States, January 2019January 2022 Theme Direct quote CDC-defined region Domains chosen by state tobacco control programa Organizational Capacity Staffing problems So, we had years worth of work to put together when we once had what five or six staff and then it was just down to just [name] and myself. We were the ones responsible for covering prevention and secondhand smoke cessation and any of that kind of thing. South Partnerships We actually did the interviews, found somebody that we were going to hire, then before we could actually do the hiring, our reorg plan ended up not being approved, which affected that position. . . . In the meantime, our hiring for that partnership positions been put on hold until that new plan is approved by DOH [department of health] administration. South Partnerships, Communications Weve been trying to fill this position . . . for several months now and have just had what seems like a series of challenges. From a restructuring related to this position that we had proposed and thought it was going to be approved and then ended up not being approved, to this is our second round of interviews now. South Partnerships, Communications Honestly, I think our key challenge is just lack of person power or even lack of the ability of the people who own certain portions to make it their absolute priority to get it done. West Strategic Planning But when you constantly keep having vacancies . . . you gain a person, but then you lose another person, and then the process, in and of itself, becomes just daunting. Midwest Organizational Capacity, Partnerships Competing priorities with vaping and e-cigarettes I think there is definitely a need for more prevention around vaping. The schools really have been requesting a lot, whether its educational materials, presentations. But were all at capacity and then some. West Communications, Funding Stability E-cigarettes are a problem and thats where our focus is right now, with legislation. West Communications, Funding Stability Plus, we had that emergency ban on vapor products, flavored vapor products that kind of inundated our time. Midwest Organizational Capacity, Partnerships Competing priorities or reassignment to COVID-19 Definitely were stretched a little bit thin, for example, Im on the COVID communications task force. West Strategic Planning So, I think that it has been most detrimental to our program, the vacancies in COVID. I think COVID has really impacted our contractors and grantees locally, their ability to be able to perform for us, not us performing for anybody else. Midwest Organizational Capacity, Partnerships And we also were impacted with COVID and capacity, so we definitely had a plan, and we had a product to share with legislators, but one of our staff has been and remains full-time on COVID. Northeast Program Evaluation, Communications Environmental Support Legislative support It seemed like we were still, this is an extremely busy tobacco session for us. . . . The things that our partners were needing were not necessarily things that we anticipated that just was based on what showed up in the legislation and some of the things that showed up just werent things that we had anticipated showing up. South Partnerships, Communications How do we want to parse out the meager resources we have in that area? We are very short on lobbyists in this state that are pro-health, pro tobacco control. South Partnerships This isnt a bill that we shepherded all the way through the very end of session last year. So, its not as though this is the first time were trying to work on this initiative. But at the end of the day, you can do all the right things, and it doesnt mean the legislatures are going to do what you want them to do. West Communications, Funding Stability So, we had an election in November and in [state] we went from purple to red all the way down from top to bottom and so thats limiting messaging from us or to partners from us and things like that because we know that were trying to be in a defensive posture right now rather than offensive. Northeast Program Evaluation, Communications Partnerships Formalized commitments I think where we have really fallen short is not having written agreements with these partners. And thats been a challenge, I think, for both us at the department side and the partnering agencies, because its become such a legal issue to have a memorandum of understanding or a memorandum of agreement. South Partnerships, Communications Partner engagement Its just more of a challenge now, too, with COVID because I know everybody has their own priorities, to keep those new partners engaged and active, so were still working to do that. And somehow even in this COVID environment, revitalize the efforts of the tobacco control network and get people energized and interested in participating again. South Partnerships, Communications Trying to make sure that partners were continually engaged and that when they left the meeting, that they felt empowered enough to actually follow through on activities that have been discussed. Because sometimes we would have meetings, and everybody would leave with what they were supposed to do but when we met again there hadnt been any movement on anything. South Partnerships, Communications Its more like one of the frustrations that I always had was getting the people, the stakeholders in our work group engaged, getting them to reply to emails, getting them to take the survey again, it being different people. West Partnerships, Communications Partner representation We saw perhaps some gaps in some members that were not at the table. And some of the members talked about an outreach to those who we felt were not there. And then, I think after that, we also saw that there were too many representatives from certain agencies that were filling the room that could make room for other agencies. If that makes sense. Northeast Communications Communications Communication with partners We did the things we plan to do with the communications plan, but I dont know that weve met our overall goal of trying to be proactive in providing that information to our partners. South Partnerships, Communications Communication methods So, communications as a whole has been challenging, just because there are different issues with who we can contract with for maybe media or health communications work. Northeast Communications COVID-19related communications We had no communications plan, and then COVID came along and we werent allowed to put out any communications that didnt have to do with COVID. Midwest Communications Our media agency, we volunteered their time to create COVID messaging for the department because of obviously the pandemic and the need to get people vaccinated and tested. It was easier to use the existing contract than to try to contract with someone else. . . . And so it took them away from working with us for quite some time . . . for several months. West Partnerships, Communications Funding Stability Fluctuations in funding But when you ask about stability, were going to be nervous this coming session with the state looking like a deficit, figuring out where they want to take some money from. And so, its a major issue to always protect this. . . . Its there, but it could be totally taken away. West Communications, Funding Stability We got from a disputed master settlement fund agreement about 10 to 12 million dollars a year in addition to our federal funds, but that money has now run out in the middle of COVID. Were really going to be fighting to get that money out of our general revenue fund dedicated to our program. And so, weve had to do a lot of work and justifying and creating documents and working on the budget. Midwest Communications Table 2. Facilitators for Increasing the Sustainability Capacity of Tobacco Control Programs: Results of Technical Assistance Interviews (n = 46) in 11 States, January 2019January 2022 Theme Direct quote CDC-defined region Domains chosen by state tobacco control programa Strategic Planning Access to resources Well, thatd be really great because [name] was thinking some of these things we might not need immediately for whats on this action plan, but youve got a lot of experience in other states, so it would be really helpful to have something that when we get to that point of development, wed have something to guide us. South Partnerships What Ill do with them [action planning resource] is well do a team meeting, and well do it as a shared document together while were meeting and get it all done. Northeast Communications Program Evaluation Meeting CDC Grant Requirements Our CDC grant, I dont know if youre familiar with what the new grant is requiring, but you need to award a community partner, the reaches, kind of some of those priority populations. And so, we did do a lot of investigation into who those populations are. And were also, as I mentioned, were doing our strategic plan. And so, a lot of those populations are rising to the surface. West Partnerships, Communications Were in the process of working on finalizing our strategic plan for tobacco, and our sustainability plan is part of the infrastructure piece of the tobacco strategic plan. And so, well be considering some of these things as part of the plan. Im going to be sharing the information on the latest evaluation with them as well so we can take that into account. Midwest Communications Program Adaptation Learning from other state programs Would you be convening a conference call or a webinar or something with the states that youve worked with? Because its really helpful to compare notes and talk. I was at a western region policy for western states. And that was really helpful. But those are states that were just sort of automatically pulled together because were in the West. Youre working with states all around the country. West Communications, Funding Stability So, I have done a literature review, and I do look at other states to see what theyre doing. I think I downloaded most of them in some form or another, but if youve been working with other states and youre really impressed with the caliber of work that theyre doing, they have innovative ideas, I definitely think its a good idea to learn from the best so that we might be able to emulate. West Strategic Planning Okay, one of the strengths that you guys really brought were those resources from other states. And I know that [other state program staff] are really good at putting together communication plans. . . . If you have a great example of one you want to send, its great to just look and learn from others, too. West Partnerships, Communications Partnerships Partnership building Weve improved communications with the Department of Children and Families. Theyre the ones who are assigned to sign our compliance assessments. Again, youd think that we would have a good relationship with them, but we have reached out over the years and they just, in the past, have not been too interested. We have established a better relationship with them in recent months as well. There is definitely some additional partnership building thats happening. South Partnerships, Communications So, we developed a work group specifically that met when the network met, to work on just those partnerships and communication pieces, and actually we worked on those outside of our tobacco control network meetings. South Partnerships, Communications Pulling the partners together for the first time, prior to that, I think we all were accustomed to each other and working together in our own ways, but we just didnt make time to come together and talk about what our priorities were for sustainability and what our needs were. And to have that meeting and for some of our partners to be able to communicate what their needs were and for us to be able to say, Well, we have that. We could do that, you know what I mean? That was really beneficial. South Partnerships, Communications Top Sarah Feldberg is The San Francisco Chronicles deputy director of product and strategy. Previously, she worked as the Culture Desk editor, focused on the changing lifestyle of the Bay Area, and the assistant travel editor. Before joining the Chronicle, she was a contributing editor at Travel Weekly, editor-in-chief of media and events startup A Beautiful Perspective, and a freelance writer, contributing to Afar, National Geographic, Travel + Leisure, NPR and the BBC. Feldberg also lived in Las Vegas for seven years, where she worked as editor-in-chief of Las Vegas Weekly, covering the deserts odd corners and reminding readers that theres more to Las Vegas than four miles of casinos and neon. A Boston native, Feldberg misses the seasons, but not shoveling snow. Follow her on Twitter @sarahfeldberg. A man walks his dog in Los Angeles along the edge of the Los Angeles River, which is full of stormwater, on Sunday. An atmospheric river-fueled storm battered California, flooding roadways, causing mudslides and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands of people. Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press A atmospheric river-fueled storm continues to drench Southern California on Monday, with Los Angeles County facing the brunt of the destructive downpours. The rain comes on top of historic rainfall Sunday that produced widespread flooding and mudslides. Some areas near the base of the Santa Monica mountains have essentially seen 10 inches of rain, said UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain during a briefing Monday morning. That is a phenomenal amount and probably a record-breaking 24-hour total in those areas. Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Los Angeles office, said a combination of factors is contributing to the dramatic rain accumulation, including a long stretch of moisture over the Pacific Ocean, the topography of area mountains and the storm remaining stationary over Los Angeles. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The rain and the atmospheric river continues to be stalled, mainly over the same place it has been for the past 18 hours, Swain said. The storm is lingering over Southern California due to current atmospheric flow patterns, said John Monteverdi, emeritus professor of meteorology at San Francisco State University. The jet stream is curving such that a low-pressure system is holding in position and channeling moisture over the area, Monteverdi explained. Downtown Los Angeles logged 4.1 inches of rain Sunday, tying the sites 10th-wettest day since records began in 1877. But Swain said it actually could have seen heavier rains. The fuel for the clouds and precipitation comes courtesy of an atmospheric river, stretching from south of Hawaii to Southern California. All that moisture wasnt in sync with Sundays storm, or even more rain another 50%-100% could have fallen, Swain said. Its bad enough as it is, Swain added. It could have been worse. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Atmospheric moisture needs a mechanism to produce lift, transforming the moisture into clouds and rain. One source of lift with the ongoing storm is a boundary between cold and warm air thats been stationary over the area, Monteverdi said. Such fronts are often a focus for upward motion and the generation of clouds. A second source of lift comes from the land itself. The storm brought strong winds from the south, perpendicular to the Transverse Ranges, which run from west to east. The arrangement provides an efficient process for wringing out that moisture, Wofford explained. In addition, air heading northeast toward Los Angeles slows down as it meets the mountains. Think of it as a car moving towards the coast and slams on its brakes, Monteverdi said. Meanwhile, the cars that are off the coast slam into the back of that car. In the atmosphere that means air is forced upward, resulting in clouds and precipitation, Monteverdi said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Though the worst of the storm came Sunday night, according to National Weather Service Los Angeles meteorologist Ryan Kittell, rain is expected to continue in parts of Southern California through Tuesday night and possibly into Wednesday. And the downpours that soaked Southern California over the weekend have primed the area for additional impacts. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee on Sunday traveled to Eagle Pass, Texas, "to receive briefings on the most severe border crisis the United States has experienced in decades." Governor Lee joined Texas Governor Greg Abbott and 12 fellow governors "to discuss how states can restore security amid the federal governments failed leadership." Additionally, Governor Lee committed to deploying two waves of state active-duty Tennessee National Guard troops to support Texas ongoing efforts to improve border security. Governor Lee said, Republican governors have been sounding the alarm for a long time; the open border experiment has catastrophically failed America, and people across the nation are experiencing the devastating consequences of rising crime, drug trafficking and human trafficking. This crisis will only become worse if immediate action isnt taken. Thats why governors are working together to do what the federal government wont do, and that is secure our Nations southern border. He said, "The Tennessee Department of Military is coordinating with Texas to determine a timeline and areas of greatest need. The first wave of Tennessee National Guard members who volunteer are expected to deploy to the border within 60 days." Officials said, "Tennessee has a long history of supporting Texas in efforts to secure the border. While the current administration has attacked and sued Texas for stepping up to protect American citizens amid the continued spike in illegal crossings, human trafficking, and trafficking of deadly drugs like fentanyl, Tennessee has stood in the gap to provide resources. "In the last three years, the Volunteer State has sent hundreds of soldiers to the southern border. Currently, more than 125 soldiers from the Tennessee National Guards 1175th Transportation Company are completing a year-long deployment. Their mission is primarily to assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection by operating mobile surveillance sites for detecting illegal crossings and monitoring surveillance cameras." Along with Governor Lee and Governor Abbott, other governors who participated in the border crisis briefing include: Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Idaho Governor Brad Little, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, and Utah Governor Spencer Cox. Sunday night the Senate released its long-awaited bill on Ukraine and Israeli war funding along with the so-called border security provisions. This bill is 370 pages long and is largely incomprehensible to the average reader due to the legalese way such bills are written which reference changes to previous bills which the average reader would not be familiar with in the first place. Obviously, this bill will spend a lot of money although the total amount is not to be found in the bills language as it is parsed out on the various amounts to be spent in Ukraine and Israels defense and the border expense. Call me cynical but I suspect a lot of this money will be wasted. For example, the bill includes $390 million for non-profits to protect against and respond to acts of terrorism or other threats. I wasnt aware that non-profits were in a position to help protect us against acts of terrorism. There are other proposed expenditures that looked suspect that were not directly related to defending Ukraine and Israel. As for the border security part of the bill, there has been a lot of talk about the bill tightening up on asylum claims and, to be fair, there is a lot of language included in regard to asylum claims. However, it also appears to leave a lot of leeway to the asylum officers to determine whether or not an alien (that is the term used in the bill) has a legitimate case or not. Plus, there is a lot of language that appears to provide a drawn-out appeals process for those seeking asylum. On page 211 of the bill, you get to the part that has been widely reported on that would cause the southern border to be shut down in a so-called emergency. A mandatory emergency would be activated whenever an average of 5,000 or more people have crossed over in a seven-day period. Interestingly, the 5,000 number does not include people coming in from non-contiguous countries. There are also limitations on the number of days in the year in which such an emergency can be activated, starting with 275 days in the first year and going down after that. Also, there is language in the bill that allows the President to suspend the emergency border shutdown provision. Hmm? My initial take is this bill would likely do little to stem the flow of immigration across the Southern border if a Presidential Administration did not desire to stem the flow. I invite others to read the bill and to offer their comments. I dont believe we can leave it up to the politicians and pundits to tell us what this bill would do. Ron Owens Signal Mountain During my college days, listening to music was a favorite pastime. Each week Id march down to the campus record store and check out the latest releases. The Beatles and Rolling Stones were big then, and protest songs were popular. Everyone was into hard rock, but I often gravitated toward moody, pensive tunes. Simon and Garfunkel were among my favorites of that genre, a duo whose popularity peaked in the late 1960s. Their songs were the kind that tended to get stuck in your head. They included some lilting tunes like Feelin Groovy and Mrs. Robinson, but Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel also recorded their share of mournful songs. It wasnt until recently that I gave the meanings of their songs much thought. Maybe it was because of my own frame of mind in those days, but I hadnt realized how gloomy some of them were. Consider, for example, 1964s The Sound of Silence: Hello darkness, my old friend Ive come to talk with you again In restless dreams I walked alone, narrow streets of cobblestone neath the halo of a street lamp, I turned my collar to the cold and damp. Bridge Over Troubled Water, released in 1970, was a bit more hopeful: When youre weary, feeling small, when tears are in your eyes, Ill dry them all. Im on your side, oh, when times get rough and friends just cant be found. At least it offered a sense that in times of aloneness, there was someone available to offer comfort. Perhaps the most striking was one that was always a particular favorite of mine,1966s I Am a Rock: A winter's day In a deep and dark December I am alone I am a rock I am an island I've built walls A fortress deep and mighty That none may penetrate I have no need of friendship, friendship causes pain I am a rock I am an island. Hows that for the angst of youth? Maybe it appealed to me especially because of the words of another stanza: I have my books And my poetry to protect me I am shielded in my armor Hiding in my room safe within my womb I touch no one and no one touches me I am a rock I am an island Being an avid reader and an aspiring writer, those closing words resonated strongly with me. If youd asked me then, I might have proudly told you that, I am a rock. I am an island. Problem is, thats no way to live at least not a healthy way. Fast forward more than five decades and I have a very different perspective. Being an extroverted introvert, I value my space, but being alone, hiding in my room where no one touches me isnt part of my emotional menu. Having gone through a number of formidable challenges during my lifetime, Ive discovered Im not a rock, and being an island seems like a pretty miserable existence. Instead, my Rock is Jesus Christ. Psalm 62 expresses it so well. In verses 2 and 6 the psalmist writes, Truly He is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken. Another psalm also written by King David of Israel asks, For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God (Psalm 18:31-32). Ive also learned the value of spending time with others for support, encouragement, comfort and mutual exhortation. Just as human organs cant function properly apart from each other, people usually work best when theyre together. I often think of the challenge from Hebrews 10:24-25, And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching. That Day is the promised return of Jesus Christ, His second coming. No one knows when that day will be, but certainly were one day closer to it than we were yesterday. Perhaps, to paraphrase Simon and Garfunkels lyrics, when were weary, feeling small, when tears are in our eyes, Gods on our side. Even when times get rough and other friends cant be found. Hes our Rock, and we dont have to be an island. * * * The Tivoli Theatre Foundation will launch a Regional Awards Program called The Jewel Awards this year in connection with the National High School Musical Theatre Awards/Jimmy Awards, a program of the Broadway League Foundation.Nine area schools will gather on May 11 for a series of workshops with industry professionals in partnership with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, followed by performances from participating schools and an awards ceremony. This year, seven schools will participate in the pilot program: Boyd-Buchanan School, Chattanooga Christian School, Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts, Christian Heritage School, East Hamilton High School, Grace Academy and Signal Mountain High School.Girls Preparatory School/McCallie School and Silverdale Baptist Academy will also join as Community Level participants. The Foundation plans to open space for additional schools in the coming years.We hope that this program will not only celebrate, but advocate for theatre in our schools, said the Tivoli Theatre Foundations Director of Education Ellie Austin. As much as we honor the good things happening, we also want to make sure we are establishing a supportive theatre community and providing opportunities for learning and growth.The program will highlight excellent work in categories such as direction, music direction, choreography and design, as well as honor individual performers with categories such as best actor and actress. The best actor and best actress winners will move forward in the national program to compete in The Jimmy Awards in New York City in June. Each category's top three highest-scoring schools will be nominated for an award. Nominees will be announced on April 26. All nominees will receive a certificate regardless of final placement. During the awards ceremony, the Tivoli Theatre Foundation will present an area teacher with the Excellence in Theatre Education Award, including a $1,000 gift for the schools theatre program.The Tivoli Theatre Foundations affiliation with the Jimmy Awards presents a new and unique opportunity to connect us to the best and brightest that Broadway has to offer, and will help usher in a new era of performing arts education in Chattanooga, said Nick Wilkinson, CEO of the Tivoli Theatre Foundation. The Jewel Awards is a new and exciting addition to our education programs ability to serve our entire community and will undoubtedly transform many lives.Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the Jewel Awards and the workshop. To learn more, contact Amanda Fabrizio-Grzesik, director of development, at amanda@tivolichattanooga.com or at 423-757-5295. Global pet food brands starved of opportunities to manufacture in New Zealand will soon have access to a new state-of-the-art canning facility. Built by an experienced team of pet food entrepreneurs, the ultra-modern Canterbury factory will each year make 30 million cans of high-value cat and dog food, adding significantly to an industry generating over $NZ300 million in exports annually. Set to open next month, the plant established by Riverlands Foods Limited is a first for New Zealand. It will produce exclusively for their clients brands, removing a logjam that limited New Zealand as a go-to destination for third-party manufacturing. While other plants exist, theyre either very small, running at full capacity making their own brands, or in long-term contracts for a small number of large clients, meaning smaller and innovative brands cant make their pet food in New Zealand. Not producing our own brand gives us a real point of difference. All customers are treated equally. It also provides us with flexibility to meet the changing market demands such as different product textures and formulations, Michael Dance, General Manager of Riverland Foods, says. New Zealand is known for its high-class ingredients and strong country brand and reputation, leaving pet food companies frustrated they couldnt make product here. Dance and colleagues, all veterans of the pet food industry, spied the manufacturing gap in New Zealand, so in 2022 began developing plans for the Hornby facility. With global sales of cat and dog food at $US58 billion ($NZ95 billion) predicted to more than double by 2030, there is huge demand for access to modern manufacturing facilities which are both adaptable and innovative, Dance adds. Initial investment in the project exceeds $NZ30 million but further funds are committed for future staged development. Alongside Dance, the team driving Riverlands includes Head of Operations Tom Coughlan, Quality Assurance Officer Sarah Morris, and Site Manager Chris Gourlie. Coughlan, Dance and Gourlie are all former managers of New Zealand pet food company Ziwi. Coughlan, who ran a meat processing business before switching to pet nutrition, is looking forward to providing high-quality cat and dog food made from the best ingredients in the South Island. We chose Christchurch because of its proximity to processing plants and quality raw materials, Coughlan says, adding that mainly rural Canterbury is a strategic location for New Zealands top meat processors. Dance said that over 95 percent of the plants output will be sent overseas, boosting value-added exports and aligning with the coalition governments aim for New Zealand to become an export powerhouse by focusing on an economy that enables wealth creation and maximises added value before exporting. Petfood manufacturing has been identified by consecutive governments reports as a high emerging growth industry within the food and beverage sector[1]. Commissioned by MBIE, the 2021 Coriolis report concluded New Zealands pet industry had low production costs, high productivity people and farming systems, and was located close to growth markets in Australia and Asia. Riverland Foods is leveraging this growth, working alongside pet food technicians to create new recipes and textures for products while engaging with researchers and nutritionists to ensure all decisions are based on quality data and science, Dance said. A key point of difference is our in-house research and development kitchen for testing product concepts cost-effectively and quickly before scaling up to commercial production. Another Riverlands advantage is its ability to quickly adjust recipes as demand changes for cat food, with various cats preferring different textures such as mousse, pate or chunky-with-gravy styles. All of these textures have a different mouth feel and for cats thats really critical, Dance says. Because cats can whimsically change whether they like a texture or not, a cat will stop eating one texture in preference to another, forcing the pet food company to stock a range of textures - or they lose a customer. Riverlands ability to make many different textures gives brand owners the opportunity to hold on to their customers within their brand. Dance says Riverlands is attending global trade shows, in discussion with brand owners in North America, Asia and Australia to manufacture their products, and a member of the New Zealand Pet Food Association. Pet Food Association Executive Director Richard Brake said the addition of world-class production capacity is very welcome. Pet food exports have quadrupled in less than a decade, increasing from $75 million a year in 2014 to $320 million in 2023. Retail-ready petfood exports have been growing very strongly for some time. Growth is at 17.4% into North America and 25.3% into Asia. Brake says. A recent plateau in exports was caused by production capacity constraints and most recently the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle on East Coast manufacturers, but the addition of Riverlands factory will further boost New Zealand pet food exports. Ends For more information, contact: Michael Dance, General Manager, New Zealand Riverlands Foods Limited michael.dance@nzrlfoods.co.nz Caption 1: Riverlands Foods factory in Hornby is scheduled to open in February 2024. Caption 2: Michael Dance, Riverlands General Manager. Caption 3: Tom Coughlan, Riverlands Operations Manager. Caption 4: Tom Coughlan (left) and Michael Dance inside the factory. 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Related News: SKC - APPOINTMENT OF CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER NWF - Chief Executive Officer Warren Koia Resignation March 18th Morning Report Pacific Edge Directors Give Notice of Retirement Meridian Energy monthly operating report for February 2024 Another unworkable farming rule bites the dust March 14th Morning Report TRU - Truscreen Additional Placement Government's employment relations priorities a welcome step in the right direction says EMA New Synlait & Nestle co-investment partnership The Chattanooga Chapter of Tennessee Ornithological Society monthy meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church, 720 Germantown Road in Chattanooga. Laura Marsh will present the program on "Bird Banding: A Model for Research Tourism."Also, Tim Lenz will be presenting, "Birding Tech Evolution: eBird's Impact and Beyond."Mr. Lenz said, "I will be sharing a unique perspective on the development timeline of some of the most popular and less well-known eBird features.What was the impetus behind these features, and why did some never make the cut? We will also be exploring the impact they have made on conservation and on the birding community. You will learn some eBird best practices and secret tips you probably never knew existed! I will conclude the presentation with the motivation and ideas behind my new project, BirdingApp, a social platform made to fit the unique needs of birders in the field."Mr. Lenz, software developer and lifelong birder, is a recent co-founder of BirdingApp. He served as a key developer on the eBird project for 17 years at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. During that time, he was also a member of the famed Team Sapsucker, including a record-breaking ABA big day in Texas in 2013 with 294 species. He has birded extensively throughout North and Central America, Colombia, and Australia. Tim relocated to Chattanooga this past May, captivated by the people, the weather, and the abundant birding opportunities. Originally from Reno, Nv., Tim earned his B.S. and M.Eng. in computer science from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The Chattanooga Music Club will host a Chamber Concert of classical guitar music by members of Michael McCallies Studio this coming Sunday. The music will begin at 3 p.m. at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1505 North Moore Road in Chattanooga, and is open to the public."Mr. McCallie is a Chattanooga native who has distinguished himself as one of the most promising young performers and teachers within the classical guitar community today," organizers said. Here are the new marriage licenses from the County Clerk's office: SAMANTHA RAE BERCHMAN EVANGELOS NICHOLAS BAZIOTIS 8637 TRADEWIND CIR APT 202 8637 TRADEWIND CIR APT 202 OOLTEWAH, TN 373632928 OOLTEWAH, TN 373632928 SIELEI JULIET LEFEVRE JOSHUA SCOTT ARNOLD 2606 BANKS RD 300 SHAVER LOOP RD CHATTANOOGA, TN 374213429 DAYTON, TN 373215463 KRISTEN DANIELLE LOY JENNIFER MICHELLE JOHNSON 717 SHADY DR 1545 MOUNTAIN VIEW CT CHATTANOOGA, TN 374122969 CHATTANOOGA, TN 374091036 PAIGE NICOLE BRICE DARNELL WILLIE ROCHARD 514 KENSINGTON PARK DR 2258 BYRON CT Canton, Georgia 30114 Marietta, Georgia 30064 HANNAH GAIL WHITTENBARGER MATTHEW CAGE MCCONNELL 5128 ELEVATED VW APT 6303 5128 ELEVATED VW APT 6303 HIXSON, Tennessee 373433469 HIXSON, Tennessee 373433469 KENNETH HUGH SIMS JULIA ROSE CLEMENTE 7540 PASSPORT DR 7540 PASSPORT DR OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 ZACHARY RYAN AXLEY SELENA KESLEY OVERLY 5118 OLD DALTON CLEVELAND HWY 9347 GAMBLE RD COhutta, Georgia 30710 GEORGETOWN, Tennessee 37336 KAYLA JEWELL TROMATORE JOHN COLMAN ROWELL 465 MIKASA DR 702 CEDAR TRCE SW ALPHARETTA, GA 300227932 LILBURN, GA 300473118 ASHER MARTIN BODIE NICOLE MARIE DORING 531 W 151ST ST APT 2 531 W 151ST ST APT 2 NEW YORK, New York 10031 NEW YORK, New York 10031 GABRIELLA MCKENZIE MARIE MCPHAIL BROWN CODY RONALD DANA 621 MEMORIAL DR APT 2106 621 MEMORIAL DR APT 2106 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374155530 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374155530 KAYLA CENISE JOHNSON LUCAS BROCK SPARKS 1406 DUGDALE ST 1406 DUGDALE ST CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374054310 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374054310 EARL DRAYTON HOLMES ASHLEY NICOLE DAVIS 3618 MISSIONAIRE AVE 3618 MISSIONAIRE AVE CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374121452 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374121452 JASMINE MAURE SMITH DEONTE JAMAR CLARK 1011 DRY CREEK LN 1011 DRY CREEK LN HIXSON, TN 373432279 HIXSON, TN 373432279 KAYLEE EMILIA SMITH CLAY REID FISSEL 125 CHAD ST SE 7548 MAGNOLIA LEAF LN CALHOUN, GA 307014686 CHATTANOOGA, TN 374212715 PAUL EDWIN OSBORNE MARY CATHERYN STRIEBEL 5718 MOUNTAIN GROVE D 5718 MOUNTAIN GROVE D CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37421 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 374214 JONATHAN DEREK MEEKS JULIANNE CHRISTINE RAY 2125 MERLIN DR 2125 MERLIN DR CHATTANOOGA, TN 374212658 CHATTANOOGA, TN 374212658 CARTER ETHAN COOK OLIVIA ROSE GERBEN 2323 CRUTCHFIELD ST 2323 CRUTCHFIELD ST CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37406 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37406 CHRISTOPHER CARL ENTER ANNE HOKE FELLERS 3602 REDDING RD 700 TEXAS AVE APT B CHATTANOOGA, TN 374154120 SIGNAL MOUNTAIN, TN 373772475 PUSHTI UDAY PANDYA ABHI NILESHKUMAR PATEL 922 SUNNYBROOK DR 1447 US HWY 19 SOUTH APT 8C NORCROSS, GA 300934124 LEESBURG, Georgia 31763 CECIL DALTON FLOYD MCGATHA KERA DAWN WYNN 267 CASHTOWN RD 267 CASHTOWN RD ARagon, Georgia 30104 Aragon, Georgia 30104 JASON RAY PIGG TANESSA DELAINE FOSTER 6211 GIBBS LN 6211 GIBBS LN OOLTEWAH, TN 373635519 OOLTEWAH, TN 373635519 DAVID LEBRON SLIGH MERCEDES DEANN HOLLAND 204 EAST BEND CT 204 EAST BEND CT OLD HICKORY, Tennessee 37138 OLD HICKORY, Tennessee 37138 JOSE ROBERTO FLORES MATA ELSA MUNOZ HERNANDEZ 8236 SADDLEBACK CIR 8236 SADDLEBACK CIR OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 OOLTEWAH, Tennessee 37363 SAMANTHA MEKILA HUGHES SEAN SEBASTIAN SEBREE 704 MANSION CIR APT C 704 MANSION CIR APT C CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37405 CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee 37405 ZACHARY WILLIAM BROWN HEATHER BONNIE BROWN 1676 JAMESTOWN RD 1676 JAMESTOWN RD Menlo, Georgia 30731 Menlo, Georgia 30731 The mother of murder victim Jasmine Pace testified Monday that she went three different times into the apartment of Jason Chen, who is charged with criminal homicide in the case. Catrina Pace, at a suppression hearing before Criminal Court Judge Boyd Patterson, said she took some items belonging to Chen, including several electronic devices and a group of notebooks. She said the devices included phones, tablets, an Ipad and a video gaming system, and the notebooks held Chen's bank records and tax returns, among other information. Ms. Pace said she was desperate to find her missing daughter and felt she was not getting any help from police. She said, "It was all my desperate attempt to find my daughter whatever I had to do." On all the items taken, she said she was looking for clues on Jasmine's whereabouts. The defense is seeking to rule out certain evidence due to the actions of the mother and other family members. The body of Jasmine Pace was eventually found along Suck Creek Road stuffed in a suitcase. She had been stabbed 60 times. Ms. Pace said the disappearance of her daughter came around the same period that her grandmother had died around Thanksgiving 2022. She said she became concerned when she did not hear from her daughter and she was not responding to calls or texts. She said it was especially surprising because Jasmine was so close to the grandmother. Ms. Pace said she was aware that her daughter was "getting to know" Chen and had gone on a trip to Chicago with him. She said at the time she did not know where Chen lived. Ms. Pace said she had the idea to go to Verizon, buy a new phone, and have them transfer Jasmine's phone information to it. It showed that through the MyChevy ap that Jasmine's car was parked at Signal View Apartments on Mountain Creek Road. She said police were called from the parking lot and an officer took a report and said he would pass it along. But he said he could not go with her for further investigation. She said the officer "seemed uninterested." The witness said she also reviewed her own phone records and found she had a late night "pin drop" from her daughter from several days earlier that she had not noticed before. It led her to Chen's apartment at 110 Tremont St. Ms. Pace said she and other family members proceeded there "in the middle of the night" and were let in by a resident. She said they had no idea which unit was Chen's and they began knocking on doors to ask if anyone had seen Jasmine. The family members included her former husband, Travis Pace, and his girlfriend, daughter Gabby and friend Wayne Tubbs. She said on the second floor she found a resident who said he had heard next door the voice of a female in distress shouting. He said it was so remarkable that he wrote down a note about it happening at 2:18 a.m. Ms. Pace said she afterward noted that the "pin drop" from Jasmine came three minutes before the man said he heard the frantic shout. Ms. Pace said she then went to Chen's unit at #210 and the group got inside the locked door. She believes it was through the use of a credit card. When the door was open, the witness said she immediately spotted her daughter's travel bag. She said she searched further and, in a desk drawer, found Jasmine's driver's license and credit cards. She also told of seeing cleaning supplies in the apartment. Ms. Pace said as soon as the items were found that police were called. She said patrol officers responded and took a report, but "seemed uninterested." She said the officers briefly looked around the unit, saying they could do a "wellness check" but nothing further. She said after the officers left she went back inside the apartment "looking for evidence to find my daughter." She also went back the next morning. At that time she said at first she waited in the parking area, saying she wanted to confront Chen. She said he had lied to her when she called to ask about Jasmine's whereabouts. Scott Bean, step-father of the victim, said the family was "really worried and police weren't doing anything to find her." He said he did not go initially with the group to the Chen apartment, but he arrived after they were inside. He said, "I'm freaking out when I saw her license and credit cards. My mind was racing." The witness said it seemed like officers who came to the scene "didn't feel like it was a big deal." He said he and Jasmine's mother "were looking for answers. We were frantic. We were following every avenue." Travis Pace, father of Jasmine, said when he got a call from his other daughter saying that Jasmine was missing that he immediately got in his car. He said he went to the scene of where her vehicle was found on Mountain Creek Road. He said they talked to a security guard, but were not allowed to look at footage to see who had dropped off the car. He said they then went to a nearby Waffle House to regroup. He said while sitting there Ms. Pace said, "Oh, my God, I have a pin drop from her. He said they then headed for the pin drop address of 110 Tremont. Mr. Pace said the front door to the apartment building was locked, but he got in through the unlocked back door, then let the others in. He joined them in knocking on doors until they learned the location of Chen's unit. Mr. Pace said he lifted the handle and the door opened. He said he told the others to go down the hall while he went inside. He said he turned on the lights and carefully went through the apartment, not knowing if anyone was inside who might jump out at him. He said when he had gone in he first saw the travel bag. Then he found the license and the credit cards and put them on top of the desk. He then called 911 and stayed on the line until officers arrived. He said one of the officers "was rude and disrespectful and immediately began talking over me." He said he became so frustrated with the officer that he walked down the hall. Mr. Pace said that officer "will have to live with the fact that he could have made a difference" in the search for Jasmine. Gabby Pace said when she looked in Jasmine's car at the parking lot "it didn't look like Jasmine's car, it was so clean." She said the family was not aware of any times Jasmine had to where the car was found. The sister said they were told at the parking lot that "the detective would not come out. It was the weekend." The witness said when her mother found the pin drop "her face went white." Attorney Josh Weiss said police who later went to the Chen apartment found a knife on the bed. He said body cam footage from the first two officers at the unit showed the knife was not there at the time of their visit. Family witnesses denied "planting evidence" at the scene. They said they did not know at the time that Jasmine had been stabbed. The hearing will continue on March 15 when the officers who had contact with the family will be called to the witness stand. Couch is proud of her reign as Miss Rodeo Oklahoma Teen and being Cherokee Pixabay/Rudy and Peter Skitterians A wave of discontentment is surging through the American pastorate, with a new study revealing that more than half of all postoral leaders have seriously considered leaving ministry since the pandemic began in 2020. This alarming trend, driven by a complex web of factors, paints a stark picture of a profession in crisis. The statistics speak for themselves. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research's study, titled "I'm Exhausted All the Time - Exploring the Factors Contributing to Growing Clergy Discontentment," surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,700 religious leaders in the fall of 2023. The findings are unsettling: 53% of clergy have seriously considered leaving pastoral ministry at least once since 2020. This represents a significant jump from the 37% who reported similar thoughts in 2021. 44% of pastors have seriously considered leaving their current congregations at least once since 2020. This more than doubles the 21% who reported this sentiment in 2021. The average clergyperson, according to the study, is a 59-year-old leader with a median of seven years of service. The majority (80%) are white and male, serving primarily in full-time positions (75%). However, despite their dedication, many pastors find themselves facing challenging circumstances, leading to thoughts of departure. The tapestry of reasons behind this phenomenon is intricate. Researchers identified several key factors contributing to the growing discontent among pastors. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the ongoing transformation of the American religious landscape. Declining church attendance, membership numbers, and congregational vitality have made the pastor's job increasingly challenging. The pre-existing decline in church participation and vitality, especially among younger generations, worsened after the pandemic due to low rebound rates and resistance to further adaptation. Many congregations, despite initial flexibility during the crisis, have become even less willing to change, solidifying the trend of declining numbers and resources, particularly in smaller churches. This ongoing shift towards larger, more stable churches exacerbates the overall sense of stagnation and difficulty faced by pastors in a changing religious landscape. Many pastors face burnout due to the demanding nature of their work, which often involves long hours, emotional labor, and navigating interpersonal conflicts. An unwillingness to adapt, declining congregational vitality and dwindling attendance of 50 or fewer attendees further contribute to pastors' thoughts of departure. Researchers noted, "Unlike switching, where a few key factors accounted for much of the dynamic, increased thoughts of ministerial departure significantly relate to a good many different qualities of the clergy and their context. The combination of decreased attendance after the onset of the pandemic in addition to the long-term dynamics noted above such as decline and aging, conflict and a lack of new people all have demoralized many religious leaders in challenging contexts." Conflict within congregations, a lack of support from members, and an unwillingness to adapt to change can further exacerbate feelings of discontent among pastors. Age, sex, and race also play a role. Baby Boomers and Millennials are more likely to consider leaving ministry, while female pastors and those serving in smaller congregations face additional challenges. An interesting generational divide emerged around pastors considering leaving the ministry, with Baby Boomers and Millennials leading the pack, being much more likely to think frequently of quitting ministry. Boomers near retirement might see it as a natural transition, while Millennials could be reevaluating career paths. Gen X Pastors pondered it less, possibly due to limited career options, and the Silent Generation, nearing retirement, rarely considered it. Beyond age, factors like race and working conditions played a role. Black pastors were slightly more likely to switch congregations, and female pastors more likely to contemplate leaving altogether, potentially due to poorer work environments. Additionally, full-time pastors and those lacking teams harbored more frequent thoughts of abandoning ministry completely. The consequences of this exodus are far-reaching. A shortage of clergy can further weaken already struggling congregations, creating a vicious cycle of decline. Moreover, the loss of experienced and dedicated pastors can deprive communities of vital spiritual leadership and support. The Hartford Institute study encouraged the urgent need to address the challenges facing the American pastorate. This includes providing better support for clergy, fostering healthier congregational dynamics, and adapting to the changing religious landscape. By now, everyone knows Taylor Swift is a government psyop, wrote right-wing influencer Benny Johnson last week, summing up the buzzy new conspiracy theory that the pop stars relationship with Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce is a secret plot orchestrated by Democratic mega-donor George Soros to help President Joe Biden get re-elected. The theory has been touted by figures including erstwhile presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Fox News host Jesse Watters, and it has occasioned a rash of commentary exploring the increasing weirdness of the Right. American conservatism, in the words ofNew York Times columnist Ross Douthat, has a self-sabotaging inability to just be normal. The emerging consensus, even among some conservatives like Douthat, is that the Right generally, and the Christian Right specifically, harbors a cultish band of losers and freaks. And a movement that looks at a happy, traditional romance and starts hyperventilating about psyops is not attractive. It pushes educated, high-status moderates with generally conservative dispositions into the arms of the Left. Theres some truth here. In electoral terms, Republicans have indeed bled support among the educated and affluent, and the idolization of politicians like former president Donald Trump is both morally wrong and politically imprudent. The Rights culture of victimhood and baseless conspiracy theorizing have gone way too far. This is undeniably destructive and requires serious self-examination and reform. But for Christians, acknowledging that kind of weirdness shouldnt keep us from seeing that graver problems in our culture tend to come from elsewhere. We can reject bad, stupid weirdness while being defiantly weird for righteousness sake. This weirdness discourse has largely glossed over a key point of context: Many on the secular Left believe absurdities and, far more than the Christian Right, will not hesitate to jam them down peoples throats. Most obvious right now is the claim that men can become women and vice versa, an idea that would have been heralded as farce for most of human history. But in the span of a decade, adherents of gender ideology have come to control many consequential, culture-shaping institutions and so can easily normalize what is not normal. In fact, theyre able to quickly cast any opposition as weirdnessor bigotry. Issues like the reality of God-given sex have importance well beyond politics, of course, and other lies now widely accepted in our culture, like the morality of abortion, are more difficult to see through and more deeply engrained. It is vital for Christians to be strong and vigilant in resisting these liesto be willing to be weird in defense of truth. Article continues below That will require listening to conscience, even when the world threatens to crush us, as it has done to many Christian pharmacists, bakers, and others. It also means we must not prioritize the approval of elites over our principles. Like Paul, we must seek the approval of God, not people (Gal. 1:10), for no one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other (Matt. 6:24). Besides, elite approval is unlikely without complete capitulationjust ask actor Chris Pratt, who came under scrutiny for his churchs views on sexuality. Pratt is in the difficult position of being a Christian in Hollywood, and he is clearly struggling with how to stay in the good graces of both God and the Screen Actors Guild. However, we must also avoid a mindset that has become too common in some Christian circles: the habit of assuming that every critique is unfair or even proof that we are effective champions of truth. Jesus said that the world would oppose us no matter what (John 15:1825), but we should avoid making ourselves easy targets for allegations of hypocrisy, gullibility, or worse. We must remember that no politician can restore the world; only Christs return can do that (Rev. 21:5). And not all opposition is part of an elaborate conspiracyin fact, though our situation may be worse than at other points in American history, compared to Christians in the Roman Empire or many parts of the world today, we remain free and blessed. We should also be aware of how we are perceived by the world, not to conform to its lies but to better spread the truth. Taylor Swift is not our ally, but neither is she even close to the biggest problem in our culture, and attacking her is unlikely to yield good fruit. We can be more creative in crafting narratives too. Instead of going after Swift, for example, point out the conservative values that people of all stripes may find inspiring in her relationship with Kelce and his family. Instead of making ourselves victims of an imagined conspiracy, point out that Swift appears happy in a traditional relationship with a successful, masculine man. Article continues below These strategies will only do so much, and many in the world will cast us as outsiders and freaks, whether we pull away like John the Baptist or engage like Jesus (Matt. 11:1819). As Christians, we know that this is inevitable and that our ways must be different. We know that we will face scorn and mockery as we challenge dangerous lies with credible institutional backers. But we also know that we have the truth, and that the truth does not change, regardless of what is in style with our cultures elite. Matthew Malec is a research assistant at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Every winter as Lunar New Year (LNY) draws near, Andrea Lee assists her Southern Californian Chinese church, New Life Christian Center, in preparing red envelopes, a traditional Chinese way to give gifts during the holiday. But these arent just any hong bao (, red envelopes). While they do contain crisp one-dollar bills, they also include bookmarks inscribed with Bible verses designed and printed by the church. Throughout the LNY season, members of the congregation pass these out to newcomers and those attending church-hosted celebrations, which often include a communal meal and a sermon from the pastor. This is a way of honoring the Chinese tradition, spreading the feeling of warmth and goodwill to diaspora Chinese, said Lee, a content manager with ChinaSource. The elderly in the church are particularly delighted, and the children love it too. The joyful faces of the old, middle aged, and young, all ages, coupled with the pastors gospel message and encouragement, fosters a sense of home and belonging. In Chinese culture, the color red signifies celebration, and red envelopes symbolize happiness and prosperity. Thus, during the Spring Festival, Chinese individuals often jokingly say to each other, Gong xi fa cai, hong bao na lai (), which means, Congratulations on the good fortune, but give me the red packet first. Today, a digital version of this playful practice has also moved to the realm of the Chinese social media app WeChat, where people can virtually snatch red envelopes. Generally, red envelope gifting goes only in one direction: from elders to the (unmarried) younger generation, from adults to children, and from the employed to students. The actual sum placed in the red envelope varies. For those who are not particularly close, a nominal amount suffices as a token gesture. Only among relatives or at special occasions, such as company parties where bonuses might be paid to employees, is a substantial cash amount included. Christians have increasingly appropriated hong bao for gospel ends. In Singapore, a Christian art gift company partnered with local churches to design a series of gospel red envelopes (called ang paos in Singapore) showcasing the 37 miracles performed by Jesus. Another business, The Commandment Co., employed Gods creation as the theme for their red envelope series, portraying Gods abundant blessings through colorful designs. Article continues below To learn more about how Chinese Christians on the mainland and among the diaspora use red envelopes for their ministries, CT spoke with seven pastors and church and ministry leaders across five cities. Diaspora Chinese All the leaders of overseas Chinese churches and organizations interviewed by CT affirmed that distributing gospel red envelopes during the Spring Festival is a common practice in their congregations and felt positively toward it. Agnese Tan, editor-in-chief, Behold magazine, Los Angeles: Red envelopes are a helpful tool for evangelism, creating a sense of welcome and goodwill. We like to include a 25-cent coin, a one-dollar bill, or a chocolate gold coin inside, which symbolizes blessing and conveys a sense of friendliness. [As Christians], we know some will come to eat a meal and take advantage of the church. But we do this because we are genuinely happy to serve others voluntarily. We do so without expecting gratitude or anything in return and resist complaining that our guests are there just to eat. James Hwang, former director of the Far East Broadcasting Companys Chinese division, Los Angeles: Although my churchs red envelope contains only the symbolic gesture of a dollar, the recipient is still pleased to receive it. Its presence allows the pastor to elaborate on the symbolism of the renewal of all things (Rev. 21:5), making a specific Chinese pun (in Chinese, , one dollar, can mean beginning of all things). Coupled with the eight fu (blessings), that is, the Beatitudes, printed in Chinese on the red envelopes, in this context, it embodies the essence of a gospel tract. Nan Qiu, editor of the Australian edition of The Herald Monthly in Brisbane, Australia: As Christians, if we remain vigilant and not succumb to the love of money associated with the secular tradition of giving red envelopes, then the distribution of gospel red envelopes can serve as a way to join in the fun, making the Good News more down-to-earth. Its a practice that can conform to traditional customs as well as serve the purpose of glorifying God and benefiting others. Karen Wong, Christian writer, Hong Kong: Note: In Hong Kong, the money contained within the red envelope is referred to as "lai see (). At my church, we print lai see envelopes with Bible verses and place a small amount of money inside. Apart from the outer envelope, it is indistinguishable from the ordinary red envelopes distributed among friends and relatives. Article continues below I have also heard of non-believer friends who received red envelopes from churches, but when they saw Bible verses inside in addition to the money, they felt uncomfortable because they felt they were being proselytized. Another disadvantage of the gospel lai see envelope is that recipients may not read the verses or Christian messagesmost people discard the paper card or the envelope printed with such words quickly. Chen Daode, Southern Baptist pastor, Los Angeles: Red envelopes and the Spring Festival are cultural symbols of the Chinese. Christians express their love for their neighbors with specific items (such as red envelopes) at a specific time (during the Spring Festival), providing an opportunity to build relationships, just like sending out Christmas cards at Christmas. We shouldnt expect too much from the evangelistic efforts of the red envelope distribution process. The main purpose of distributing gospel red envelopes is to build relationships and convey goodwill. Therefore, we approach the results of distributing gospel red envelopes with realistic and relaxed expectations. Mainland China Pastors and church leaders of Chinese mainland house churches told CT that their churches did not distribute gospel red envelopes during the Spring Festival, and they had not heard of other Chinese house churches doing so. Some of them said they were not opposed to this practice, while others said they would not support it. These pastors believe that the difference in attitude toward distributing gospel red envelopes between overseas Chinese Christians and mainland Chinese Christians in house churches is primarily due to cultural differences caused by different environments. Note: CT interviewed a few pastors and leaders in China and two of them are quoted below. Han Jianshe (pseudonym for security reasons), pastor of a house church, Shanghai: Our ministries are the application of our theology in specific situations. I feel that overseas Chinese churches may be influenced by the gospel movement and attach more importance to evangelism. The culture of giving red envelopes can help achieve the goal of information reaching and of fulfilling evangelism KPIsthe rejection rate is very low, so I can see why this kind of ministry model would be adopted. However, for domestic churches in China, the general culture of giving red envelopes has declined. In todays urban culture, accepting red envelopes from strangers usually results in suspicion rather than [being perceived as] a friendly ice-breaker gesture. Article continues below From my personal pastoral perspective, we have so many ways to preach the gospel to people, whether from the Sunday pulpit or through daily conversations, charity and mercy ministries, or workplace testimony. Therefore, carrying out gospel outreach by means of a declining cultural phenomenon is not a good practice. Moreover, the custom of giving red envelopes has a folk religious background, so we are more cautious with this practice (Chinese Christians with a fundamentalist tendency usually oppose lucky money because the idea originated from bribing ghosts and gods). Sean Long, pastor of an urban house church in China currently studying for a doctorate in theology in the United States: We must be mindful in our approach to the relationship between the gospel, faith, and culture, rather than merely amalgamating them all together. One potential pitfall of disseminating gospel red envelopes is the risk of materializing the blessings God bestows upon people. Even from the standpoint of Chinese culture, the true beauty of the Lunar New Year celebration lies primarily in the reunion of family and the expression of affection, not in winning money from mahjong or receiving red envelopes. Moreover, from the perspective of Christian faith values, material blessings do not equate to the blessings of the gospel. The greatest blessing God provides us is found in Jesus Christ. In light of these potential drawbacks of churches distributing red envelopes, I would like to suggest a constructive and innovative idea for utilizing red envelopes in care ministry. When the church disseminates gospel red envelopes to more effectively embody the gospel spirit of it is more blessed to give than to receive, we could use actual money-filled red packets to support and assist those in need, such as refugees and the impoverished and vulnerable. However, the church would not directly insert money into the red envelopes. Instead, the church would provide the outer casing and include a gospel leaflet or blessing card with Scriptures inside and then distribute these money-less red envelopes to brothers and sisters, who, if moved by the Holy Spirit, would contribute a certain amount of money, and then distribute it to those in need, expressing Christian love. [ This article is also available in and . ] Home News Catholic clergy, scholars demand Pope Francis withdraw declaration authorizing gay couple blessings More than 90 Catholic clergymen, scholars and lay people are calling on Pope Francis to withdraw a controversial Vatican document authorizing priests to offer blessings to same-sex couples. In a letter published Friday, Catholic pastors, clergy, scholars, professors and doctors urged all Cardinals and Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church to forbid the application of Fiducia Supplicans in their dioceses and asked Francis to withdraw the document. Issued by the Vaticans Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith on Dec. 18, Fiducia Supplicans allows priests to bless-same sex couples while stressing that one should neither provide for nor promote a ritual for the blessings of couples in an irregular situation. While the Vatican has defended the document, many conservative Catholics insist it runs afoul of Catholic Church teaching on marriage and sexuality. In Fridays letter, the signatories wrote that despite its explicit reaffirmation of the traditional doctrine of the Church on Marriage, it turns out that the pastoral practice that the document allows is in direct opposition to it. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Expressing concern that the document has been very favorably received by those few episcopates and prelates that for decades have been openly advocating a change in the doctrine on sexual morality, the signatories concluded it is evident that the practical message that this new declaration transmits is much more in line with the program and ideas of those who want to change the doctrine, than with the doctrine itself that the document claims to keep intact. The document effectively attempts to introduce a separation between doctrine and liturgy on the one hand, and pastoral practice on the other. But this is impossible: in fact, pastoral care, like all action, always presupposes a theory and, therefore, if pastoral care performs something that does not correspond to the doctrine, what is actually being proposed is a different doctrine, the letter added. According to the letter, The fact is that a priest is imparting a blessing on two people who present themselves as a couple, in the sexual sense, and precisely a couple defined by its objectively sinful relationship. Therefore regardless of the intentions and interpretations of the document, or the explanations the priest may try to give this action will be the visible and tangible sign of a different doctrine, which contradicts traditional doctrine. Warning that the faithful will not even be aware of the subtle theoretical justifications introduced by the Declaration, the signatories predicted that the message that is effectively launched, and that the people of God, and the entire world, will inevitably register and are already registering is that: The Catholic Church has finally evolved, and now accepts homosexual unions, and, more generally, extramatiral unions. It is definitely not justifiable, especially for a cardinal or bishop, to remain silent, since the scandal that has already occurred is serious and public, and if it is not stopped, it is bound to be more and more amplified, the letter declared. The threat does not become smaller but more serious, since the error comes from the Roman See, and is destined to scandalize all the faithful, and above all the little ones, the simple faithful who have no way of orienting and defending themselves in this confusion. The signatories pointed to two passages from Scripture when making the case that bishops and cardinals had the opportunity to speak out forcefully against Fiducia Supplicans. They included a quote from the Sermon on the Mount declaring that whoever offends one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him if a donkeys millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea. The other Bible passage cited in the letter, taken from the book of the Prophet Ezekiel, proclaims that If the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the horn, so that the people are not warned, and when the sword comes he kills of one of them, he will perish because of him, but I will ask the watchman to account for his blood. Toward the end of the letter, the signatories implored the bishops to follow the brave example of so many brother bishops around the world by forbidding blessings of same-sex couples in their dioceses and asked the pope to withdraw Fiducia Supplicans, which they characterized as in contradiction with both Scripture and the universal and uninterrupted Tradition of the Church. In this difficult moment, a clear word of truth would be the best example of your faithful and courageous dedication to the people of God entrusted to you, a sign of fidelity to the true mission of the Papacy and at the same time the best help for the pope himself, an eloquent fraternal correction, which he urgently needs in this last and most critical period of his pontificate and probably of his life, they concluded. The signatories told the cardinals and bishops that if you act promptly, there is still some hope that he may rescue his pontificate and his own person from a stain that could otherwise weigh on him indelibly, not only in history, but in eternity. A total of 92 individuals signed onto the letter ahead of its initial publication. Notable signatories include former head of the American College of Pediatricians Dr. Michelle Cretella and Regis Martin, a professor at the Franciscan University of Steubenville who previously called on Francis to resign over Fiducia Supplicans. Those hoping to sign onto the letter still have time to do so. The end of the letter invites qualified individuals to provide their name, qualifications, position, and location by Feb. 15 in an email to filialappeal@gmail.com. An updated list of signatories will be released on Feb. 17. 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. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The 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. EQS-Ad-hoc: RENK Group AG / Key word(s): IPO RENK Group AG: Private Placement of shares of RENK Group AG from the holdings of the selling shareholder 05-Feb-2024 / 06:46 CET/CEST Disclosure of an inside information acc. to Article 17 MAR of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR ANNOUNCEMENT, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD BE UNLAWFUL Publication of inside information by way of ad hoc disclosure pursuant to Article 17 of the Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 Ad hoc Release of RENK Group AG Private Placement of shares of RENK Group AG from the holdings of the selling shareholder Rebecca BidCo S.a r.l. to institutional investors by way of an accelerated bookbuilding Trading of the shares of RENK Group AG on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange expected to commence on February 7, 2024 Augsburg, February 5, 2024 Today, RENK Group AG and its shareholder Rebecca BidCo S.a r.l., a holding company majority owned by the Triton V fund belonging to the investment firm Triton (the Selling Shareholder), have decided, together with the underwriting banks, to offer existing shares from the holdings of the Selling Shareholder to institutional investors by way of an accelerated bookbuilding. A total of up to 30,000,000 shares will be offered, thereof 26,956,522 existing ordinary bearer shares with no par value 3,043,478 additional ordinary bearer shares with no par value to cover potential over-allotments. The placement price per share has been set at EUR 15.00. The Selling Shareholder has granted the underwriting banks an option to acquire all or a portion of shares borrowed under a securities loan at the placement price less agreed fees and commissions (the Greenshoe Option). The Selling Shareholder expects to generate gross proceeds of approximately EUR 450 million, assuming full placement of the shares and full exercise of the Greenshoe Option (corresponding with net proceeds of approximately EUR 369.3 million). The RENK Group AG will not receive any proceeds from the private placement. Assuming full exercise of the Greenshoe Option, the free float is expected to be up to 30 percent of RENK Group AGs share capital. As part of the private placement, KNDS N.V., and Wellington Management Company LLP, on behalf of accounts for which Wellington Management and/or its affiliates acts as investment advisor, will subscribe to shares at the placement price in an amount of EUR 100 million and EUR 50 million, respectively as cornerstone investors. The bookbuilding process is expected to take place today and tomorrow (February 5/6, 2024). Trading of the shares of RENK Group AG on the regulated market (Prime Standard) of the Frankfurt Stock exchange is expected to commence on February 7, 2024 under the ticker symbol R3NK. IMPORTANT NOTICE The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities referred to herein in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any jurisdiction. This announcement is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States (including its territories and possessions, any State of the United States and the District of Columbia), Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or announcement would be unlawful. This announcement does not constitute or form a part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa or any other jurisdictions where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction. The securities mentioned herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act). The securities may be offered in the United States to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and outside the United States in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act. There currently is, and there will be no public offer of securities in the United States. The securities may not be offered or sold in Australia, Canada, Japan or South Africa, subject to certain exceptions. In any member state of the European Economic Area, this communication is only addressed to and is only directed at qualified investors in that Member State within the meaning of Article 2(e) of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the Prospectus Regulation). In the United Kingdom, this publication is being distributed only to and is directed only at persons who are qualified investors within the meaning of Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation as it forms part of retained EU law in the United Kingdom as defined in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (as amended) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within the definition of investment professionals in Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the Order), or (ii) are persons who are high net worth bodies corporate, unincorporated associations and partnerships and the trustees of high-value trusts, as described in Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order or (iii) persons to whom this communication may otherwise be lawfully communicated (all such persons together being referred to as Relevant Persons). The securities are available only to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such securities will be available only to or will be engaged in only with, Relevant Persons. Any person who is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents. Forward-looking Statements This announcement contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are sometimes, but not always, identified by their use of a date in the future or such words as will, anticipates, aims, could, may, should, expects, believes, intends, plans, prepares or targets (including in their negative form or other variations). By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently predictive, speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results, performance and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to RENK Group AG or their respective affiliates, or any persons acting on their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements in this document will be realized. Any forward-looking statements are made of the date of this announcement. Contact:Mr. Gunther HorbstHead of Group CommunicationsGogginger Strae 7386159 Augsburg+49(0)160 5347450 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. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The 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 'Generation Indoctrination' podcast reveals how California's policies sparked war over trans issues A groundbreaking podcast is exposing how California has become a battleground in the ongoing debate over gender medicalization and parental rights and why resistance is vital despite there being no clear end in sight. In episode two of the "Generation Indoctrination" podcast, Inside The U.S. Epicenter Of Transgender Ideology And Activism, host Brandon Showalter contends that California, often regarded as a trendsetter for social and political movements, is no exception when it comes to the trans movement. The state's progressive culture has embraced gender ideology, resulting in the enactment of numerous policies that impact medical care, parental rights, education and even the prison system. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Erin Friday, an activist with Our Duty USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting children from gender ideology, highlighted California's unique role in shaping the transgender movement due to its historically progressive mindset and financial interests tied to gender interventions and surrogacy. California is one of the biggest states, if not the biggest state, for surrogacy, and they're all tied together, because when you transition young people, you sterilize them, and then later in life, they want a baby, she said. And that's where the surrogacy piece comes in. So there's a lot of money to be made. California is also the porn capital of the United States and porn is tied to the transgender movement. Friday's journey into activism began when she realized the prevalence of gender interventions on children and the harm they can cause. Witnessing her daughter's struggle with trans identity, she went from disbelief and depression to anger, eventually channeling her emotions into activism. I wanted to believe that no one would cut off healthy body parts of a child and that it's the rarest of rare things that anybody would be able to find a surgeon to make these monstrosities and do these horrible things to a human body, she said. I was disavowed of that very quickly when I saw how prevalent it was. The podcast also features Joey Brite, a longtime leftist and lesbian activist who opposes trans ideology. She emphasized the fear that silences dissenting voices within the LGBT community, as many individuals fear being ostracized for questioning the movement. I have accepted that most people are afraid, she said. They live their lives afraid, afraid of being called names, afraid of being the one that's pointed at, afraid of being on the outside, and there are very few of us who are willing, when it comes down to it, to say, I will die on this hill. The episode also highlights the role California state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, has played in pushing gender ideology through various legislative bills. These bills include allowing men who identify as women to be transferred to women's prisons and increasing funding for so-called "gender-affirming care." The episode reveals that California has a long history of gradually eroding parental rights, dating back to changes in counseling confidentiality and the introduction of LGBT lessons in schools. This incremental approach has culminated in a state where parents might lose custody of their children if they refuse experimental and body mutilating trans procedures. Showalter discusses how the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded studies involving minors undergoing such experimental practices. Dr. Michael Laidlaw, an endocrinologist, has raised concerns about the ethics of these studies and the lack of safeguards. I think the Senate, ultimately, has to come down and say, Let's investigate this thoroughly. And let's put a halt to it. Let's investigate this and let's make sure this doesn't happen, he said. Jonathan Keller, from the California Family Council, stressed that the issue transcends political affiliations and should be seen as a matter of parental and family rights. If you're listening to this, you cannot say you did not know. You cannot say you don't know what is happening in California and in other states around the country. And just because you may not care about Gavin Newsom does not mean that Gavin Newsom does not care about you and about your kids. And that is why it is vital to continue fighting and continue pushing back, even in deep blue states like California, he emphasized. Friday agreed: If everyone stood up who was against this, even if 20% of the Americans who are against this did something, this would be over, she said. Sitting there silently makes you complicit. It makes you part of the problem. And I know this because I was that complicit person. But if we want this to end, we can't just sit around and shake our heads and have our glasses of wine and say, Wow, this is awful.' We actually have to do something. To learn more about the Gender Indoctrination podcast, click here. Home Opinion Are we as a nation out of time? Whether its children twerking on TikTok as adults applaud (its not cool; its sick and perverted), drag queens reading at libraries, pedophiles being protected, enemies entering our borders, musicians worshiping Satan while millions applaud or an array of other disasters whats it going to take to break us? If you truly care for America, its time to look in the mirror and own it. At this stage of spiritual cancer, the only remedy is deep repentance and brokenness over sin. Personally, Im still holding on to Gods words here: Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing (Joel 2:13-14). Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe A proud church is not a powerful church In these dire times, why do many Christians reflect the heart of the Laodecians rather than the power of the upper room? We have loud music but little worship, programs but no power, and big voices but little truth. Where are the weepers and the worshippers like the prophets who cried out to return to the Lord, and pleaded with the people to walk humbly with your God? Where are those who follow in the footsteps of Isaiah, who said, I am undone, or David, who thanked God for breaking the pride out of him? Those are the voices God hears. He is no respecter of persons, but He is a respecter of principles, and the principle of brokenness is profound. We are going nowhere fast Its extremely hard watching our nation crumble from within, but do we honestly think that God is pleased with arrogant memes, angry tweets, or bombastic tirades? I can assure you that He is not something needs to change. We are going nowhere fast. If we dont have love and humility, we have nothing (cf. 1 Cor. 13). Boldness without humility will get us nowhere as our nation continues to spiral out of control. As Victor Davis Hanson wisely said: Our descent is self-induced; it is not a symptom of a foreign attack or subterfuge. Our erosion is not the result of poverty and want, but of leisure and excess. In the same way that Israel grew fat with food and abandoned the God who made them and rejected the Rock their Savior (Deut. 32:15), America is making the same mistake. Our pride has made us fat and full of ourselves. This is why fasting is critical: it starves the flesh to be filled with the Spirit. (If you need help in this area, my fasting books are available as free downloads here.) Repentance, not Remington When God gets us alone through suffering, heartbreak, temptation, disappointment, sickness, or by thwarted desires when He gets us absolutely alone, and we are totally speechless, unable to ask even one question, then He begins to teach us (Oswald Chambers). I believe that this is exactly what God is doing today. Salvation is not coming on Air Force One. God is trying to wake us up so we draw closer to Him. When we are desperate, God finally has our attention. Most dont seek the Lord until there is pressure: Only when our hand is forced do we yield when our back is to the wall and our fleshly attempts at deliverance are all washed away (Michael Catt). But surprisingly, our nation's crisis is not driving us to our knees but to the gun store. Were not using heavenly ammunition (2 Cor. 10:4) but trusting in Smith & Wesson. The blessing of brokenness Ill never forget the day I read the following quote by A.W. Tozer over two decades ago: It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply. I was going through a very difficult season, and I soon realized that God was breaking me down to build me up. I was at a turning point: I could become bitter and resentful or humble myself and grow from the experience. And this is where the majority of Christians find themselves today: Instead of getting better, we become bitter. Instead of humbling ourselves, we become more arrogant. Instead of emptying ourselves to be filled with the Spirit, we are full of pride and selfish ambition. The shepherd of the shattered But be encouraged, broken crowns still color. God is the Shepherd of the shattered and the rebuilder of the broken. God breaks us to rebuild us but we must humble ourselves so the Potter can shape the clay, or an 11-day journey through the wilderness may take us 40 years (cf. Joshua 5:6). We must let our pain crucify our pride. He rebuilds the broken, elevates the humble, and restores the wounded. We can rebuild the breach and strengthen what remains, but we must pray this today: "O God, take me, break me, and make me." The clock is ticking being broken by God is our only hope! Home News Concerns raised over church leaders facilitating migrants fake Christian conversion claims to stay in UK Migrant with sexual assault offenses and suspect in chemical attack allowed asylum after conversion claim Concerns are escalating in the U.K. over the authenticity of asylum seekers claims of converting to Christianity, with a notable case involving migrants on the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland, Dorset. Reports indicate that a significant number of migrants housed on the barge are attending church services, sparking a debate on the credibility of such conversions for asylum claims. The issue gained attention following the case of Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, a migrant from Afghanistan linked to the Clapham chemical attack in southwest London last Wednesday, who was granted asylum after converting to Christianity despite prior convictions for sexual offenses. Nearly 40 out of 300 migrants on the Bibby Stockholm are participating in Christian practices, guided by local faith leaders, according to The Telegraph, adding that Home Secretary James Cleverly is set to review a report on Ezedis case, amid suggestions of tightening the scrutiny of conversion claims by asylum seekers. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Ezedi remains at large after the attack that resulted in severe injuries to a woman and her children. He had claimed his conversion to Christianity placed him at risk in Afghanistan. His claim was supported by a priest at his asylum appeal, despite the Home Offices initial refusal. The case has raised questions about the role of U.K. churches in endorsing migrants conversion stories, with some officials expressing skepticism about the genuineness of these conversions. However, David Rees, a church elder, told the BBC that the conversions on the Bibby Stockholm were sincere, emphasizing the rigorous process involving public testimony and baptism. Concerns still persist about the exploitation of religious conversion claims, with calls for more stringent verification processes. The Home Office asserts that its caseworkers are equipped to assess the credibility of religious conversion claims, with a comprehensive evaluation approach. Despite these measures, the tribunal favored Ezedis appeal, citing the risk of persecution he would face as a convert if returned to Afghanistan. The decision has sparked a debate on the effectiveness of current guidelines and the need for legal adjustments to prevent abuse of the asylum system. In an opinion piece for The Telegraph, Suella Braverman, who was Home Secretary until November 2023, criticizes the exploitation of the U.K.s asylum system, including the manipulation of religious conversion claims. For years, I defended the Home Office in immigration cases as a barrister and saw the reality of our broken asylum system. Then, it was sham marriages and bogus colleges that allowed migrants to game our system, she writes. But, as Home Secretary, I saw how the racketeering has continued, and expanded in myriad ways. She adds, 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. Braverman argues for a reevaluation of the U.K.s adherence to international human rights laws, suggesting that these frameworks hinder the governments ability to control immigration effectively. Her commentary reflects a frustration with the current state of the U.K.s border control and immigration policies, advocating for more decisive action to address these challenges. Home News Christian school bars mom from driving on campus because of OnlyFans decal Mom reportedly pulling down $20K monthly with OnlyFans A mother has reportedly been banned from parking at a private Christian school in Florida when she picks up her children because of a decal on her vehicle advertising her OnlyFans account. Michelle Cline, 35, raised the ire of other parents at Liberty Christian Preparatory School in Tavares, and some want her family expelled because she promotes her pornographic material on her SUV, according to the New York Post. "I dont think its right," Cline told the outlet. "People are going to be offended by all sorts of things, different bumper stickers, whatever. But at the end of the day, this is something that supports my family." Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Cline told the NY Post that before she started her OnlyFans account three years ago, she and her husband had a "little wild, you know, behind-closed-doors lifestyle that weve now decided to share." She acknowledged that the website she's advertising "definitely linked to explicit content, adult content, for sure." "Its only me and my husband," she said. "No one else is brought in, male or female. We always were into cameras in our bedroom, so we said, 'Hey, lets make some money off of this.'" Cline, who goes by the name "Piper Fawn" on OnlyFans and reportedly rakes in around $20,000 per month with it, was reportedly asked to either remove the sticker from her SUV or park across the street from campus when she drops off and picks up her children from the religious institution, which did not immediately respond to The Christian Post's request for comment. Lexy Thomas, a parent at the school who has a prominent TikTok account, told local WFTV-TV that Cline's OnlyFans decal takes up "the entire windshield" of her SUV and has proven to be "a distraction to my children." "And no matter how poorly or how good I parent, porn is there, and thats kind of the first thing theyre seeing when theyre going into a place that should be educating them," she said. Thomas wants Cline's family booted from the school for violating its Christian code of conduct, and a source who spoke to the NY Post claimed that a student was expelled last year for having accessed Cline's OnlyFans with his phone on campus. Another parent who spoke to the NY Post expressed consternation at the school administration's reaction to Cline's porn account. "We have enough things to worry about as parents, enough damaging things we do our best to shield our kids from," the anonymous mother said. "Now I have to look at it in the drop-off area and have my kids ask what this site is. At a Christian school." Cline has reportedly refused to take down the decal because she said she isn't doing anything illegal. "And that one seemed like an easy thing to say, for sure," she said. But for me, you know, it supports my family. This provides a very comfortable way of life for us. And its legal, you know, I pay taxes just like everyone else but Im not breaking the law. I just offended people." Cline also claimed to the NY Post that she believes she and her husband are teaching their children "a good lesson." "Not to stop doing something just because people are offended," she said. "Im teaching them to stand up for themselves." Home News Mark Zuckerberg addresses families of kids harmed by Facebook, Instagram Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressed families who say their children were harmed or killed themselves due to social media during a recent U.S. Senate hearing where lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle questioned Big Tech executives about how their platforms are protecting children online. On Wednesday, Zuckerberg joined TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, Discord CEO Jason Citron, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and X CEO Linda Yaccarino in testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee. During his opening statement, Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., referred to online child sexual exploitation in America as a "crisis," warning that messaging applications and social media have provided predators with "powerful new tools" to harm children. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The Democratic senator noted that daily cyber tips to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children regarding online child sexual abuse material reached 100,000 in 2023. "Today, we'll hear from the CEOs of those companies. They are not only tech companies that have contributed to this crisis; they are responsible for many of the dangers our children face online," Durbin said. "Their design choices, their failures to adequately invest in trust and safety, and their constant pursuit of engagement and profit over basic safety have all put our kids and grandkids at risk," he continued. At one point during the hearing, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., called on Zuckerberg to apologize to the families sitting in the room. As lawmakers questioned the chief executives of the social media companies, the families sat behind them, with some of them holding photos of their loved ones. Zuckerberg's company Meta includes the social media platforms Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The Meta CEO stood up during the hearing and turned to address the families behind him. "I'm sorry for everything you've been through," Zuckerberg, 39, said. "No one should have to go through the things that your families have suffered. And this is why we invest so much and are going to continue doing industry-leading efforts to make sure that no one has to go through the things your families have had to suffer." In March 2022, Nature Communications journal published a Cambridge University study suggesting a link between social media use and negative life satisfaction in certain adolescents. Another study published in April 2022 by Acta Psychologica reportedly found a "consistent and substantial association between mental health and social media use" among girls. A spokesperson for Meta told The Christian Post in June 2022 that the company was working to create new features to help those who may be struggling with "negative social comparison." The spokesperson argued, however, that the company's research didn't conclude that "Instagram is inherently bad for teens." One of the settings the spokesperson told CP that the company introduced was "Take a Break" to encourage teenagers to spend time away from Instagram. Regarding the issue of online child sex abuse material, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also questioned Zuckerberg about the promotion of these types of images on Instagram. Cruz said Instagram has a warning screen telling users, "These results may contain images of child sexual abuse" before asking if they'd like to proceed and see the images or "get resources." "Senator, the basic science behind that when people are searching for something that is problematic, it's often rather than just blocking it to help direct them toward something that could be helpful for them to get help," Zuckerberg responded after Cruz asked the CEO about the thought process behind this feature. The Republican senator continued to press Zuckerberg, asking why the platform allows users to select the option to see the images. Zuckerberg said it was because the platform could be "wrong," and there is a chance the results don't include child abuse material. Cruz followed up by asking how often the platform displays the wording on the screen. The Meta CEO said that he did not know the answer off the top of his head, and he promised the senator that he would "personally look into it." Home News Mom sues New York school district for treating daughter as a boy behind her back A mother is suing a school district in New York, alleging officials treated her 12-year-old daughter as though she was a trans-identified male and didn't disclose this attempted counseling to her. Jennifer Vitsaxaki filed a complaint last week against the Skaneateles Central School District in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, Syracuse Division. According to the complaint, school officials didn't inform Vitsaxaki that her daughter identified as "Jane" in court documents was experiencing bullying or that they were treating her daughter "as though she were a boy by referring to her with a boy's name" and using "they/them" pronouns. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "Not one School District employee notified Mrs. Vitsaxaki or sought her consent before socially transitioning her daughter. Worse, although those employees knew about the School District's actions, they told Mrs. Vitsaxaki nothing," the complaint argued. "School staff carefully used Jane's given name and female pronouns when speaking with Mrs. Vitsaxaki, and they repeatedly said everything was fine, all the while treating Jane as a boy and sending her resources for medical transition behind Mrs. Vitsaxaki's back." The lawsuit claims "Jane" continued to suffer from depression and anxiety during this time until her mother took her out of the public school and enrolled her in a private school in Syracuse, with her daughter's condition improving soon after. This improvement has included the daughter no longer wishing to identify as a boy or use plural pronouns and overall better mental health. The new school is 25 miles away from the Vitsaxaki home, according to the complaint, and currently costs $12,660 a year in tuition fees, with the lawsuit calling these "the financial harms that the School District's actions caused to Mrs. Vitsaxaki." Vitsaxaki is being represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group that has won multiple religious freedom cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. "Parents, not the government, have the right to direct the upbringing, education, and health care of their children," said ADF Senior Counsel Kate Anderson in a statement. "The Skaneateles Central School District policy in this lawsuit betrays the trust of parents like Mrs. Vitsaxaki and violates their fundamental rights. Not only that, it violates Mrs. Vitsaxaki's right to exercise her Christian faith by raising her daughter consistent with her sincerely held religious beliefs about human nature, gender, and identity, among other topics." In July 2015, the New York State Education Department issued guidance regarding the creation of "safe and supportive" schools for "transgender and gender nonconforming students." "The person best situated to determine a student's gender identity is the individual student," claimed the guidance. "In the case of very young students not yet able to advocate for themselves, the request to respect and affirm a student's identity will likely come from the student's parent or guardian." The guidance notes that while school officials "should work closely with the student and family" regarding a "transgender status," there are cases when "students do not want their parents to know about their transgender status." "These situations must be addressed on a case-by-case basis and will require schools to balance the goal of supporting the student with the requirement that parents be kept informed about their children," continued the 2015 document. "The paramount consideration in those situations is the health and safety of the student and making sure that the student's gender identity is affirmed in a manner in which the level of privacy and confidentiality is maintained necessary to protect the student's safety." According to an updated guidance released last year, a student is "not required to obtain parental/guardian consent or a court-ordered name and/or gender change before being addressed by their affirmed name and pronouns." Also, the state instructs schools only to involve parents if "given permission by the student." Home News 'Multiplied' doc gives intimate look at Christianity's growth amid persecution: 'It's exploding' "Multiplied," a groundbreaking film directed by Chris Worthington, offers a new perspective on the state of Christianity worldwide and the power of evangelism at a time when reports of Christianity's decline and persecution are rampant. The film, in theaters through Fathom Events May 20-21, follows the 24-year-old filmmaker and founder of Every Nation Will Bow as he travels across Brazil, Ghana and Nigeria, documenting the vibrant, multifaceted expressions of Christianity around the globe. I watched Billy Graham so much after I got saved that I felt like I knew him, Worthington told The Christian Post. So when he passed away, the power of his life and legacy really hit me. And then I thought to myself, Well, with him gone, what does the future of evangelism look like? Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The subsequent death of Reinhard Bonnke, a giant in African evangelism, prompted Worthington to explore the future of evangelism, leading him to Daniel Kolenda, Bonnke's successor, and the concept of "multiply" as the new era of evangelism. God doesn't change, but He does have a calendar. And I think that we hit a new date on God's calendar, Worthington said. Watch the exclusive "The Heart of "Multiplied" clip below This exploration took Worthington and his team on a journey to capture the essence of Christian gatherings across diverse cultures and settings. From the massive three-stadium event in Brazil to the harrowing experiences in Nigeria, where they faced a life-threatening encounter, the film showcases the growth and challenges of Christianity in vastly different parts of the world. While Christianity is popular in Brazil everybody wants to be on a massive stage, and preach to 80,000 people Worthington said, his experience in Nigeria was much different. "In Nigeria, it's the exact opposite ... we went from flying on private jets to actually getting shot at in Nigeria. My life flashed before my eyes. I didn't realize all that persecution over there. It was insane, he shared. One week before we got to Nigeria, we were informed that a terrorist organization killed a pastor and his entire family, and we were doing a 500,000-person Gospel event right there," he said. "On the way, we got trapped in a dust storm, so we couldn't fly and had to go on a really dangerous highway. We met a guy ... who pulled out a silver Glock. I'll never forget it. He knew who we were; he pointed straight at us, right at my head. I saw the evil in his eyes, and at that moment, I thought, I guess this is where it ends. Despite the dangers and challenges faced during filming, Worthington said he and his team were driven by a deeper purpose. The more the more you get attacked, the more things that try to go wrong, things that are obviously spiritual warfare, the better you're doing. So just keep pushing through it, because you're going to change the world that way, he said. Worthington said his goal with "Multiplied" is to impact viewers deeply, especially those skeptical about Christianity's vitality in an increasingly secularized culture. "Christianity is exploding, especially in Africa," he stressed. "I saw it for myself and got it all on camera. It's about showing the reality that it's not just about a few famous evangelists anymore but about an entire generation preaching the Gospel. It's about you and me; it's about the normal person. I think that's how Jesus wanted it from the beginning." The film also features exclusive in-theater performances by top artists like Alexander Pappas and Kim Walker-Smith and perspectives from Brian "Head" Welch of Korn and Scott McNamara. The director reflected on the transformative power of documentary filmmaking in evangelism, highlighting the potential to reach audiences in new and impactful ways. "Film is a huge tool for evangelism. The new crusade field is the living room," Worthington said, citing the success of films and shows like "The Chosen" and "Jesus Revolution" in reaching hearts and minds across America. I think that a Christian film Renaissance is happening right now, and I think that's how God wants to reach America because you are going to reach America with your phone, with your Smart TV, he said. The filmmaker shared how it was his personal journey of faith, marked by a radical encounter with Jesus at a Hillsong United concert in 2013, that profoundly influenced his approach to filmmaking. I didn't think Jesus was real; maybe as real as Santa Claus was, he said. I was tricked into going to a Hillsong concert and they started singing these worship songs, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I was home in an arena full of 20,000 people. And I was like, Why am I not depressed anymore? All this depression was gone. And I thought, Wait a second, theyre singing about this man named Jesus. I started putting two and two together. I was instantly delivered. This transformation from skepticism to a fervent belief in Jesus' power has fueled his passion for creating films that point people to Christ. "All of these films that I make, it's just an endeavor to point people to Jesus Christ. If it's not doing that, it's all in vain," he said. It has no meaning if it's not pointing people to Christ, if its not for that, itll be burned with the chaff, because the fire comes to everything, to every ministry, he said. The fire is going to come, and it's either going to just be burned or it's going to withstand the fire. And the ministries that are going to withstand the fire are the ones who have pure motives that are actually doing it to point people not to themselves, but to Jesus Christ. And that's why I make any film that I make, to point people to Jesus Christ. Home News Should Christians cancel Alistair Begg over his LGBT wedding response? Should Pastor Alistair Begg be canceled over his controversial comments about LGBT weddings and his subsequent refusal to repent? That's essentially the question at the center of ongoing debate over Begg's views on same-sex nuptials. Begg came under fire for comments made on his podcast last September, during which he responded to a grandmother whose grandchild was preparing to be wedded to a "transgender person." He said the grandma could attend and bring a gift so long as it was made clear she isn't in agreement biblically with the marriage. After debate broke out over Begg's position, the pastor who still clearly affirmed his biblical view of marriage delivered a sermon noting he was "concerned about the well-being" of the grandma's relationship with her grandchild. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "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," Begg said. Shane Idleman, pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in California, and a well-known commentator who routinely tackles hot-button political issues, recently tackled the complex debate over Begg's comments, offering his take on how believers should respond. Idleman is in a unique position as a faith leader and head of a California radio network that features Begg Monday through Friday. After another organization, American Family Radio, announced it would stop carrying Begg's "Truth for Life" program, Idleman also started receiving emails about what he would do, which he addressed here. Idleman said it's clear Begg was concerned with helping people love their enemies well, and explained why he thinks the reaction has been so swift. "I think everybody's on edge because of this ... gay marriage, LGBTQ agenda, and ... Alistair is very solid," he said. "He is solid on gay marriage. He's made that very clear before that it's not according to God's Word. So I think a lot of people were just kind of shocked." Listen to Idleman discuss whether he believes Begg should be canceled: Idleman said he listened to Begg's comments twice to be sure he understood them, and offered his own pastoral advice on the matter. While Idleman stressed the importance of reaching unbelievers, he also emphasized his belief that celebrating a same-sex wedding wouldn't be something he'd recommend. "My personal opinion, for me, is it would be hard to go and celebrate this union of marriage," he said. "To me, that wouldn't be necessarily loving my enemy." Still, Idleman said he was concerned by the legalistic and rigid ways in which some have addressed and dismissed Begg in the wake of the controversy. "It's OK to say, 'Wow, this kind of caught us off guard. Let me try to understand your heart. ... I don't agree with it,'" Idleman said. "But to completely write him off and one radio network removed his broadcast ... talk about throwing the baby out with the bathwater." Idleman said he very carefully offers advice when it comes to situations like the one in which Begg was responding. "I don't tell people, 'Here's what you should do,'" he said. "I say, 'You need to take it to the Lord. What is God telling you to do?'" But Idleman was definitively clear he wouldn't personally go and celebrate the same-sex wedding. If it were one of his own kids or family members, he would be sure they knew he loved and cared for them despite his opposition. "[I would say 'I'll] pray for you. I love you. I'm always here for you. You know where I stand, but I can't go and celebrate what God calls an abomination,'" Idleman said, expressing his desire in such a circumstance to speak "truth and love." The preacher said he has listened to Begg for 25 years and would be cautious not to simply cancel him after one statement, especially considering his other doctrines that have always been biblically sound. Idleman also responded to some of those definitively defending Begg on the matter people arguing Jesus "ate with sinners, the tax collectors, the harlots." While this is true, the pastor offered an important caveat sometimes lost in the mix of discussion. "I don't think he went into the harlot's den," he said. "I don't think he went to the harlot's home and sat around and saw that debauchery." Just the same, he said Christ certainly didn't go to the bars and get drunk with sinners. "There's some boundaries ... that have to be established," he said. Listen to the full conversation for more and subscribe to the podcast here. Home News Supreme Court allows West Point to continue considering race in admissions decisions The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a request to prevent the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, from using race as a factor in its admissions policy, even though the high court struck down similar policies at other institutions last year. In a miscellaneous order released last Friday, Justice Sonia Sotomayor rejected a request for an injunction pending appeal from the group Students for Fair Admissions against West Point. The record before this Court is underdeveloped, and this order should not be construed as expressing any view on the merits of the constitutional question, noted the brief order. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe In June 2023, the SFFA scored a victory when the high court ruled 6-3 in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College that Harvard and the University of North Carolina could not use race as a factor in student admissions. Last September, SFFA filed a lawsuit against West Point, accusing the military academy of violating the equal protection principle of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. They also filed a similar lawsuit against the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Over the years, courts have been mindful of the militarys unique role in our nations life and the distinctive considerations that come with it, said SFFA President Edward Blum in a statement last year. However, no level of deference justifies these polarizing and disliked racial classifications and preferences in admissions to West Point or any of our service academies. Blum contends that since the Supreme Courts recent opinion in the SFFA cases expressly forbids all institutions of higher education from using race in admissions decisions, it must follow that the U. S. military higher education institutions must end their race-based policies as well. In December, U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett in Baltimore, a George W. Bush appointee, rejected the groups request for an injunction against the Naval Academy because he believed it failed to show that the lawsuit was likely to succeed. In January, U.S. District Judge Philip M. Halpern, a Trump appointee, rejected the SFFAs petition for a preliminary injunction, arguing that such a measure could cause major issues at West Point. A full factual record is vital to answering this critical question whether the use of race in the admissions process at West Point furthers compelling governmental interests and whether the governments use of race is narrowly tailored to achieve that interest, Halpern wrote, as quoted by The Washington Post. SoftwareOne Holding AG / Key word(s): Miscellaneous/Miscellaneous SoftwareOne receives proposal for an Extraordinary General Assembly 05-Feb-2024 / 10:37 CET/CEST Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Media Release - ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR SoftwareOne receives proposal for an Extraordinary General Assembly Stans, Switzerland I 5 February 2024 SoftwareOne Holding AG, a leading global software and cloud solutions provider, today announces that the Board of Directors received a formal proposal for an Extraordinary General Assembly from the shareholder group of Daniel von Stockar, B. Curti Holding AG, and Rene Gilli, together holding approximately 29% of the companys share capital. The Group requires the full replacement of the Board of Directors with the exception of Daniel von Stockar. The Board of Directors will consider the proposal and provide a response and inform in due course. CONTACT Anna Engvall, Investor Relations Tel. +41 44 832 41 37, anna.engvall@softwareone.com FGS Global, Media Relations Tel. +41 44 562 14 99, press.softwareone@fgsglobal.com ABOUT SOFTWAREONE SoftwareOne is a leading global software and cloud solutions provider that is redefining how organizations build, buy and manage everything in the cloud. By helping clients to migrate and modernize their workloads and applications and in parallel, to navigate and optimize the resulting software and cloud changes SoftwareOne unlocks the value of technology. The companys 9,250 employees are driven to deliver a portfolio of 7,500 software brands with sales and delivery capabilities in 90 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, SoftwareOne is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SWON. Visit us at www.softwareone.com SoftwareOne Holding AG, Riedenmatt 4, CH-6370 Stans CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This media release may contain certain forward-looking statements relating to the groups future business, development and economic performance. Such statements may be subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, such as but not limited to force majeure, competitive pressures, legislative and regulatory developments, global, macroeconomic and political trends, the groups ability to attract and retain the employees that are necessary to generate revenues and to manage its businesses, fluctuations in currency exchange rates and general financial market conditions, changes in accounting standards or policies, delay or inability in obtaining approvals from authorities, technical developments, litigation or adverse publicity and news coverage, each of which could cause actual development and results to differ materially from the statements made in this media release. SoftwareOne assumes no obligation to update or alter forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Home News Christian teachers who sued over school's gender policy add Newsom, Calif. attorney general to lawsuit Attorney laid ultimate blame for gender policy at feet of Newsom Two Christian teachers in California who sued their San Diego-area school district for allegedly forcing them to deceive parents about students' gender dysphoria have added Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta to their lawsuit. Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori Ann West, who taught for decades at Rincon Middle School in Escondido, sued the school, the Escondido Unified School District (EUSD), and the California Board of Education last April over its gender policies, which they claimed required them to hide students' gender identity from parents in violation of their First Amendment rights and Christian faith. Last month, George W. Bush appointee Judge Roger Benitez of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California ruled that Mirabelli and West must be allowed to return to their jobs at Rincon Middle School, which West did on Jan. 16. The two had been placed on administrative leave after their whistleblowing became a national story. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The judge's ruling came after attorneys for the teachers pursued contempt sanctions against the defendants, alleging that their clients were not allowed to safely return to work in defiance of a court order Benitez issued in September. Benitez declined to grant the motion last month. The policy to which Mirabelli and West objected mandated that "any district employee to whom a student's transgender or gender-nonconforming status is disclosed shall keep the student's information confidential." The teachers were told to use students' preferred names and pronouns in school, but to use their given names when speaking with their parents, according to the suit. During an interview with Fox News Digital last year, Mirabelli said she was alarmed when she also discovered that school officials were altering the names and genders of students at the middle school on official records without their parents' knowledge or consent. Thomas More Society Special Counsel Paul Jonna, who is representing the women, laid ultimate blame for the school district's gender policies at the feet of Newsom, according to a statement provided to The Christian Post. "These previously named defendants are all operating under the supervision and control of the governor, who has ultimate responsibility for overseeing the states education system," Jonna said. "The Escondido Union School District has asserted that it is compelled by the state to adopt and enforce parental exclusion policies in which California dictates the deception requiring teachers to lie to a parent about their students," he continued. "That leads to the conclusion that the state, and therefore the governor, is the driving force behind the violation of Elizabeth Mirabelli and Lori Ann Wests constitutional rights." Jonna also penned an open letter last September in response to Bonta's guidance titled "Guidance Regarding Forced Disclosure Policies Concerning Gender Identity," which Jonna claimed was misleading and in direct conflict with Benitez's preliminary injunction that month ruling that EUSD cannot enforce its gender policy against the two women while their case is pending. Jonna went on to claim that the California Department of Education has "tried to have it both ways." "On the one hand, they tried to tell the court that their 'guidance' on gender identity policies is not mandatory, even though they used words like 'must' and 'required,'" he said. "Meanwhile, elsewhere in California, theyre working hand-in-hand with the California attorney general enforcing this supposedly non-binding 'guidance' with litigation and by withholding millions of dollars of state education funds." "Fortunately, the court saw though this last September and the injunction we obtained binds all of the applicable state actors," he added. "But because the California AG and the governor are so connected to this fight, were naming them as defendants to hold them fully accountable as well." CP has reached out to the California Department of Justice and will update this story if they respond. Biden Beating Trump In Latest Polls, Young Adults Are Financially Dependent On Parents, Increased Giving In 2024 link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:57 07:57 Top headlines for Monday, February 5, 2024 In this episode, President Biden leads former President Trump in a recent poll yet trails Republican challenger Nikki Haley. We also examine a startling trend from the Pew Research Center, illustrating the financial dependency of over half of young adults on their parents, despite increasing education levels and income. Further into the program, we discuss a shocking case out of Denver, where a pastor and his wife are being accused of swindling their followers with a worthless cryptocurrency venture. Lastly, we navigate the delicate and poignant story of a young Dutch book blogger, suffering from autism, chronic pain, and fatigue, who tragically ended her life through assisted suicide. Subscribe to this Podcast Follow Us on Social Media Get the Edifi App Subscribe to Our Newsletter Links to the News Top headlines for Monday, February 5, 2024 In this episode, President Biden leads former President Trump in a recent poll yet trails Republican challenger Nikki Haley. We also examine a startling trend from the Pew Research Center, illustrating the financial dependency of over half of young adults on their parents, despite increasing education levels and income. Further into the program, we discuss a shocking case out of Denver, where a pastor and his wife are being accused of swindling their followers with a worthless cryptocurrency venture. Lastly, we navigate the delicate and poignant story of a young Dutch book blogger, suffering from autism, chronic pain, and fatigue, who tragically ended her life through assisted suicide. Home Opinion Expanding physician assisted suicide is dangerous. Here's why. Colorado legislators recently introduced a bill titled Medical Aid-in-Dying a euphemism for Physician Assisted Suicide to greatly expand access to this procedure. Scripture, medical ethics, and the counseling profession have much to say about the value of life and the role of medical professionals in aiding individuals in their final moments. Life is a divine gift. Genesis 2:7 tells us, Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. This powerful proclamation underscores the intentional creation of human life by a higher power. Biblical teachings also consistently communicate to us that all human life is uniquely created by God bears the sacred image of God, possesses inherent worth in the eyes of God, and has been given purpose by God. Advocates of PAS often argue for the autonomy of an individual to make choices about their own life, yet the religious perspective suggests that life is a divine gift and tampering with the sacredness of that gift challenges the intentionality of God and diminishes human worth. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe One of the primary concerns with PAS is its potential to promote hopelessness. In the face of a life-threatening illness, individuals may feel overwhelmed and desperate. At a vulnerable time when an individual is already faced with profound difficulty, PAS could lead them to consider ending their lives prematurely. In contrast, fostering a culture that encourages hope, resilience, and connection is crucial in supporting those facing terminal conditions. PAS also denies the possibility or documented instances where improvement may occur, whether in physical, emotional, or spiritual quality of life while facing illness. Promoting better palliative care, mental health support, and compassionate companionship can offer alternatives to the perceived escape route that PAS presents. PAS devalues the preciousness of human life and creates inequity by implying that some lives are not worth living due to the presence of a serious illness. The renowned Mr. Rogers a steadfast believer once said, You are special. You're special to me. There's only one person in the world like you, and I like you just the way you are. Embracing a compassionate approach that acknowledges and cherishes the intrinsic worth of every person, regardless of any life condition, fosters a society that upholds the dignity of life until its natural end. Colorados SB24-0068 refers frequently to terminally ill patients. The blurred distinction between chronic and terminal illnesses raises concerns about a potential slippery slope. Defining the point at which a medical condition becomes terminal is a subjective and complex task. Furthermore, how do we define illness? Currently, six countries qualify mental illness as a PAS condition, and four allow minors with mental health challenges to sign for their own PAS. The ambiguity surrounding these terms means that PAS could be extended beyond cases of truly terminal illnesses, to include various forms of mental illness. Striking a balance between acknowledging the suffering of individuals with chronic illnesses and preserving the sanctity of life requires careful consideration and nuanced approaches, which PAS might not, by its very nature, be able to provide. Furthermore, the assumption that pain and suffering are inherently bad is a viewpoint that PAS proponents often hold. However, the experience of pain and suffering is a universal aspect of the human condition. It can be transformative, offering opportunities for personal growth, spiritual reflection, and connection with others. Equally, some individuals within their hardship experiences have accomplished historically significant contributions or feats. Embracing a perspective that recognizes the complexity of pain and suffering as part of the human experience encourages the development of coping mechanisms and support systems that contribute to a richer understanding of life's challenges. Preserving the sanctity of life is a moral imperative. By promoting hope and connection, cherishing the inherent value of each individual, maintaining a clear distinction on definitions and final determinations of illness, and embracing the complexity of pain and suffering, society can uphold the dignity of life without resorting to the morally challenging path of Physician-Assisted Suicide. Home Opinion Rape and abortion: How my life was saved I shouldve been aborted. Years ago a nationwide report determined 1% of abortions are due to rape-related pregnancies. Abortion advocates today use those tragedies to advocate for another travesty: violently ending the unborn childs life because of the biological fathers evil act. I am the 1% used to justify 100% of abortions. I was conceived in rape but adopted in love. Because of a courageous birth mom and loving adoptive parents (yes, my real parents), I am proof that triumph can rise from tragedy. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe But I wasnt a life worth saving. At least thats what Ive been told as a guest lecturer on college campuses, such as Harvard. I regularly read it in blatant abortion advocacy pieces that somehow pass for journalism today. Over the last week, major news media outlets unquestionably, and seemingly enthusiastically, published so-called research exploiting the tragedy of rape to promote the lethality of abortion. Rape-Related Pregnancies in the 14 US States with Total Abortion Bans is a research letter, published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (aka JAMA), riddled with conflicts of interest and wishful thinking. Its lead author Samuel L. Dickman is a Planned Parenthood abortionist who profits from killing those conceived in rape as well as in any other circumstance. The editorial falsely claims that an estimated 64,545 rape-related pregnancies resulted in states that have banned abortion. But, like Roes constitutional right to abortion, these numbers are literally made up. Dr. Michael New, an Assistant Professor of Social Research at The Catholic University of America with a doctorate in statistics, describes the JAMA article this way: To call those figures an exaggeration would be an understatement. The article is frankly one of the worst and most misleading pieces of advocacy research that I have ever encountered in my years as a social scientist. Furthermore, the fact that this article appeared in a prestigious peer-reviewed journal grants it legitimacy and credibility that it absolutely does not deserve. The acronym of JAMA would be better described as Just Aint Medical Anymore. The radically pro-abortion American Medical Association once banned black physicians from its organization. It once touted cigarette smoking as healthy. It once affirmed that hospital admitting privileges were a basic standard of care until its pro-abortion advocacy led it to dismiss the safety protocol (but just for abortionists). Now, the AMA demonizes pregnancy medical clinics (licensed by the state), which help victims of rape and millions of others, as unethical because they advocate for life. These are the clinics that provide over $350 million in free services and material support to women and families in need. In contrast, the AMA advocates killing the most vulnerable patients in the womb. Thats unethical. But history demonstrates that truth doesnt matter to those willing to advocate for legalized abortion on demand. It reminds me of when NARAL lied to legalize abortion. They claimed 10,000 women died each year before Roe. NARAL co-founder, Dr. Bernard Nathanson, admitted they just made it up: We fed the public a line of deceit, dishonesty, a fabrication of statistics and figures. I confess that I knew the figures were totally false. But in the morality of our revolution, it was a useful figure, widely accepted, so why go out of our way to correct it with honest statistics? The lie that children conceived in rape are not worthy of life is dehumanizing. Imagine reading article after article about how youre merely a statistic that shouldve been violently eliminated. My 12 siblings (black, white, mixed, Vietnamese, Native American, able and disabled) would disagree. My parents who adopted ten of their 13 children would disagree. The hundreds of teens Ive mentored over the years and the thousands of students Ive been able to inspire in colleges and universities around the world would disagree. Most importantly, my incredible wife, Bethany, and our four amazing children two of whom were adopted would passionately disagree. This isnt about how great I am. Im not. Its about how great Love is. Its about how great Truth is. My family wouldnt exist had I been snuffed out by the injustice of abortion. Contrary to what Ive been called by a pro-abortion politician, Im not the residue of the rapist; Im the resilience of my birth mom. Victims of sexual violence need authentic healing, not abortion huckstering. Why dont abortion advocates ever seem to talk about punishing the rapist? Nothing in Dickmans research letter mentions lessening rape by reporting it but deceptively implies that abortion bans increase it. According to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN): Perpetrators of rape are often serial criminals. So, why wouldnt we do everything we can to prevent other girls and women from being sexually assaulted? Dickman told NPR that his patients routinely tell him they became pregnant after rape. Did he report any of those crimes? Why has Planned Parenthood been sued repeatedly for failing to report rape? Because its good for business. They abort. They dont report. But abortion activists will use rape as a cover to justify the nearly one million induced deaths caused by abortion each year in America. Dont be fooled. Adding a rape exception to pro-life legislation never appeases those who want unlimited, taxpayer-funded, unaccountable abortion. They reject anything less. Theyll contort and distort their way to propagandize for Roe 2.0. Fear is bondage. Faith is freedom. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, even in cases of rape. Ill keep fighting for the most marginalized among the marginalized. Because that was once me. Home Opinion When the government comes for your children Its one of the ultimate nightmares. You find yourself living under a totalitarian regime which is militantly opposed to your personal beliefs and convictions. But you refuse to yield or cave in. To compromise is to lose your very soul. So, the government fights back. Go ahead, the authorities say, and be a hero. But it will cost you dearly. We are taking away your children. As a reader, your first thought might be, Thank God we live in America. Well, think again. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe What I described has now taken place right here in the USA, the land of the free and the home of the brave. Of course, things like this have happened under communism for years, where the state removes children from Christian homes and puts them in government schools to be indoctrinated and brainwashed. A 2009 report on a homeschooling website stated that The plight of German homeschoolers may have gotten worse. Despite rules regarding the freedom of movement in the European Union, German government officials appear to have taken an unprecedented step of persuading French authorities to take four children from a family who fled Germany to France in order to escape persecution aimed at homeschoolers. The headline itself was chilling: German Homeschooled Children Seized by French Social Workers. A few years ago, a distraught mother living in a progressive country outside the US told me her own horror story. Her 16-year-old daughter had begun to identify as transgender, quite out of the blue, and without the parents knowledge, the school informed her that if her parents were not supportive, the daughter could be removed from their home and raised in an affirming environment. This mom and dad were shocked beyond words when they learned this from school authorities. Who on earth gave them that right? But what about here in America, where homeschooling is widely practiced, where there is not a totalitarian communist regime, and where there is less infringement on our private lives? When is the government actually taking away anyones children, other than because of cases involving the real endangerment of the child? Back in 2022, the Washington Examiner shared the heartbreaking story of Abby Martinez, who tried to fight back when a Los Angeles school, county social workers, and an LGBT group sought to transition her confused 15-year-old daughter. But once Yaeli Martinez was moved into foster care and later injected with testosterone, the heartbroken mother could only watch helplessly as the girl spiraled into depression that ended when she stepped in front of an oncoming train. They killed my daughter, a tearful Martinez told the Washington Examiner. They had to pick pieces of her off of the track. You might say, But there were other factors involved in that story, and the government was looking out for the childs best interest. The grieving mother would beg to differ, with every fiber of her being. And again, who empowered the state to make these kinds of decisions? Thats why theres such grave concern over a growing number of states 11 as of June 2023 declaring themselves sanctuary states for trans-identified minors. Come here, they proclaim, and get the medical care that you need, the care that all those states that are withholding from you. Well help you here, even without your parents consent. And what happens to a trans-identified minor child who makes his or her way to one of these sanctuary states seeking trans-related care, against their parents wishes? Does the sanctuary state now have legal authority over that child? Do the parents have a way to get their child back? These are some of the very real, contemporary legal debates. But rather than speculate, we can ask a couple in Montana what happened to their daughter. As reported in the New York Post, The parents told Reduxx that their issues with the state agency started when officials received a call in August 2023 that Jennifer, whose name was changed for publication at their request, expressed suicidal thoughts at school. A CFS caseworker came to speak with the teen and inspect the house where Jennifer claimed she drank toilet bowl cleaner and took painkillers in an attempt to take her own life, the outlet reported. The teen reportedly showed no related symptoms, and a test at the hospital showed she didnt consume any toxins. But her hospital stay stretched to multiple days, in which staff there noted that Jennifer identified as male and wanted to be called Leo. The parents said they quickly but unsuccessfully objected. We were very clear to the emergency room staff as well as [CFS] that this goes against our values, morals and our religious beliefs, Krista Kolstad recalled to Reduxx, accusing the hospital of consistently undermining her and her husbands authority. And what happened next? Jennifer was eventually moved to a specialized residential care facility in Wyoming despite her parents concerns. Kolstad told Reduxx she and Todd were worried about Jennifer being cared for in the state, where minors can receive gender-affirming care without parental consent. They showed up at our home to serve us with papers to take Jennifer out of our care, Kolstad alleged. They told me the reason was that we were unable or refusing to provide medical care. Thats just not true. Jennifer returned in September to a Montana youth facility, where she remains. Earlier this month, a court put the teen in the custody of CFS, Reduxx reported. Need I say more, other than that weve been warning you that these days would come? Do you believe me now? Home Opinion You cant be holy and happy In the countless conversations Ive had with non-Christians, Ive heard just about every reason you can imagine as to why they rejected Christianity. That said, Ive found that if you can get past the superficial responses such as there being no evidence for God, etc., there are two primary justifications that rise to the top. The first is something Ive written about in the past and labeled the number one argument against Christianity: bad experiences with religion and in particular, professing Christians who look nothing like Christ in their behavior. The feeling is summed up by Gandhi who said, I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ. The next reason has to do with the Christian life and its expectations, primarily its moral demands. The feeling is that the day-in-and-day-out life of a Christian is not a fun one but rather a drudgery filled with denial of nearly every pleasure available. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe No fulfilling sex, no meaningful possessions, no nothing. And who wants that? The devils lie of you cant be holy and happy has likely run through the heads of everyone presented with the claims of Christianity including yours and mine if were to be honest. The tempter says that to be fulfilled, you have to cast off Gods moral framework, live how you want, and then youll be happy. Initially, it sounds good, but theres a problem. Were not happy. At least thats the conclusion of a Gallup poll taken a couple of years ago: Unhappiness is now at a record high. People feel more anger, sadness, pain, worry and stress than ever before. The study resulted in a book by Gallup called Blindspot, with the author saying: Global misery was rising well before the pandemic. In fact, unhappiness has been steadily climbing for a decade and its rise has been in the blind spot of almost every world leader. Heck, even Elmo found out the hard way that people are unhappy. The replies to his recent tweet Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing? boiled down to, as someone wrote, Everyone seems to be at their breaking point. Another persons reply/observation was, Our friends are out here venting their sadness to an emotionally attentive muppet. OK, thats pretty bad. So, people reject Christianity because they think it wont let them live in a way that will make them happy, but when they live how they want they still arent happy. Sounds like quite the mess; what are we to do? Ill reply with a game of, What If. What if, by our very nature, we have the wrong desires that cause us to love bad things that lead to rotten outcomes and result in us being ultimately unhappy? But what if God can change our nature so that we have the right desires that cause us to love good things in the right way that leads to positive outcomes and results in us being truly happy? If correct, that sounds like a winner to me. Well, guess what: thats the promise of Christianity. The man in the mirror Its tough to admit were flawed, make mistakes, and no ones to blame but ourselves. C. S. Lewis wrote, Believing in a real Right and Wrong means finding out that you are not very good. Instead of pointing fingers in every direction as most do today, except towards the person in the mirror, Lewis describes past generations of non-Christians as in many ways merrier than a modern, [but] with a deep sadness. When he asked himself what was wrong with the world he did not immediately reply, the social system, or our allies, or education. It occurred to him that he himself might be one of the things that was wrong with the world. When it comes to our human operating system, the Bible has an interesting way of describing our innate moral being: When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. Therefore, what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? (Rom. 6:2021). Did you catch that? Were originally free in regard to righteousness, which means we cant be good in and of ourselves, at least not how God defines it. We started out with another master (sin) about which Paul asks somewhat sarcastically what benefit came from obeying that master certainly not lasting happiness. The cure for this is a swap righteousness for sin and only accomplished by a supernatural rebirth from within (John 3). To Davids request, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Ps. 51:10), God responds I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (Ez. 36:26). Once accomplished, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come all these things are from God (2 Cor. 5:1718). And now were told, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit, and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth (Eph. 4:2224). The result? Real happiness, which is why Jesus said: Blessed (happy) are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled (Matt. 5:6). Does this kind of happiness mean you wont have real enjoyment in your life? Far from it. Do you want to have great sex? Go ahead and enjoy just do so within the marital covenant thats been designed for maximum intimacy and pleasure. Do you want to have a nice home (or homes) and other such material things? No problem just earn them from hard work, give back, and be free from the love of money. Lastly, lets not pretend the righteousness-for-sin swap that God does within us means we wont still struggle with pursuing the wrong things. In his book on holiness, J. C. Ryle writes: But I have yet to learn that there is a single passage in Scripture which teaches that a literal perfection, a complete and entire freedom from sin, in thought, or word, or deed, is attainable, or ever has been attained, by any child of Adam in this world. That said, at least now we have a fighting chance over choosing bad outcomes and a promised ultimate victory over sin in eternity. When he was challenged as to how the professions of faith being made during the Great Awakening could be verified, Jonathan Edwards responded with his work A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections where he argued that true saving faith is evident in the changed affections of the professor. True religion, in great part, consists in holy affections, wrote Edwards. If the great things of religion are rightly understood, they will affect the heart. Indeed. They will bring about new desires that will cause us to love the right things, which result in real pleasure. Or, put another way, only when youre holy are you truly happy. Whod a thunk it? Chinese cockle pickers who drowned in Morecambe Bay remembered 20 years on The Chinese victims of the Morecambe Bay cockle picking tragedy are being remembered at a service of remembrance 20 years on. Some 23 Chinese men and women drowned when rising tides cut them off from the shore on the evening of 5 February 2004. They were all victims of slave labour and had been illegally trafficked into the country from Fujian Province in southeastern China in search of a better life. Two years after the tragedy, their gangmaster Lin Liang Ren was jailed for 14 years for manslaughter. The service of remembrance will be held on Monday evening at the Cocklers' Memorial beside the Morecambe Bay RNLI station. It will be led by the Bishop of Blackburn, Philip North, and the rector of Morecambe Parish Church, Chris Krawiec. Bishop North said: "This will be a solemn moment for the community in Morecambe as we join together to remember the innocent lives lost to greed and slavery in the waters of Morecambe Bay. "We mourn with and pray for the families and loved ones of our Chinese brothers and sisters who died 20 years ago and for an end to the curse of modern slavery." Rev Krawiec added: "At times like these it's important to come together as a community, itself made up of different communities, to acknowledge and remember. "As we do so we also consider how, 20 years on, trafficking and modern slavery remains huge problem and we continue to call for change and action to bring the scourge of modern slavery to an end." The order of service expresses "deep sadness" over the deaths and adds, "We also long for the day when vulnerable people will not be targeted, groomed and humiliated." The names of the victims will be read out at the service and those attending will be offered a cockle shell to take away as a permanent reminder of the ongoing fight against modern slavery and of those who died that day. The Mayor, Councillor Roger Dennison, said: "Our thoughts at this sad time are with the families of those who died in this terrible incident 20 years ago and also all others who have lost their lives over the years in Morecambe Bay. "The tragedy was a stark reminder of the dangers posed by its treacherous tides. "It's also a time to thank all those who bravely put their own lives at risk in the rescue operation, particularly the unpaid volunteers of the RNLI." Christians reflect on conversion and asylum claims as Church continues to come under fire Christians have been weighing in on the question of whether churches are to blame for asylum seekers trying to game the system with claims of conversion and persecution. Questions have been raised in the aftermath of the acid attack in London's Clapham South area last week in which the main suspect is Abdul Ezedi, a 35-year-old man from Afghanistan who was granted asylum, despite a sexual assault conviction, after claiming to be a Christian convert. His conversion was vouched for by an unnamed priest. The Church has come under pressure because the suspect in the 2021 Liverpool terror attack was a failed asylum seeker who had also claimed conversion to Christianity. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman claimed in The Telegraph over the weekend that "too many churches are facilitating bogus asylum claims". "Many asylum seekers are genuine and it's right that we offer help when their cause is just. But far too many are bogus and using our laws against us," she wrote. "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. "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, you'll be signed off by a member of the 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. We must get wise to the problem." The Church of England said last week that it was the job of the Home Office to vet asylum seekers, not the Church. This position has been echoed by writer and Anglican priest, Giles Fraser. Writing in Unherd, he said he did not judge the priest who baptised Ezedi "one bit". "Baptism is not a certificate of good character. It is an outward expression of the desire to be saved. And that is available even to the very worst of us," he said. "But theology aside, it is important to emphasise that the church has nothing to do with assessing the validity of asylum claims." He continued, "So, was the priest naive? What was he supposed to look for? Eyes too close together? Evidence of past wrongdoing? Polygraph before baptism? There is no foolproof epistemological test for sincerity." He also rubbished Braverman's claims in The Telegraph as "desperate and pathetic stuff" and an attempt to blame the government's track record on immigration on churches. "She was one of the most senior members of government, responsible for making our laws and enforcing them. But yes, it's your local vicar that is to blame for mass immigration," he said. Steve Kneale, pastor of Oldham Bethel Church, responded on his blog to calls from broadcaster and trade unionist Paul Embery for a "public inquiry into the phenomenon of asylum seekers converting to Christianity". "Justin Welby and and other church leaders should be called to give evidence," Embery wrote. Responding to his comments, Kneale said "it is not churches who decide asylum cases". "Nor, it should be said, do churches determine whether asylum claims are genuine or not. The sole question put to churches is, as far as you judge it, does this person appear to be a credible Christian," he said. "We make no judgement, indeed can offer no judgement, on the legitimacy of asylum claims. We have no insight into the country of origin nor the need for asylum. We are only asked a narrow question: do you think this person is a believer and why?" He went on to say that in considering conversion claims in asylum applications, the courts look for "credible evidence" that churches have "robust" processes in place and do not simply "wave everyone through". "The courts typically do not accept the word of church leaders as gospel truth, but consider them do-gooder dupes who are desperate to think the best of people so they can increase their membership rolls," he said. "In many cases, I don't think the courts are entirely unjustified in that assumption and it means that the church must demonstrate the robustness of their processes and that they rely on credible evidence to make these judgements." Report highlights religious freedom violations against Christians in Western countries (CP) 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 Council's 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. 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 district's 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 report's author and director of FRC's 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 observatory's 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. The Christian Post 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. February 5, 2024: Rumors that Russia had sent their new T-14 Armata tank to Ukraine proved partially true. T-14s were seen in portions of Ukraine long occupied by the Russians but not anywhere there was combat or contact with Ukrainian troops. Apparently because of the heavy tank losses Russia suffered in the first few months of the war, they were unsure if the untested T-14 would do any better. The T-14 was the result of efforts by Russian tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod to create another breakthrough tank design and, after several false starts, they believed they finally had a winner in their new T-24 tank. The first prototypes of this vehicle began testing in 2013 and rapidly evolved into the T-14 tank, called Armata. This vehicle uses the engine and tracks of earlier tank models, but the heavily armored crew capsule was new. There was also an automated 125mm gun, along with 32 shells or missiles in a turret. There was a coaxial, with the 125mm gun, 7.62mm machine-gun as well as two RWS remote weapon stations on top of the turret for a 30mm autocannon and a 12.7mm machine-gun. In addition to the weapons the three man crew operated several sensor systems including thermal imaging scopes, video cameras and AESA radar. There was also an automatic defense system for protection against missiles and weapons like RPG shaped charge rockets used by the infantry. All this was in a 55-ton vehicle that would require the services of additional maintenance personnel nearby outside the combat zone who would help fix problems and assist the crew in maintaining all this complex equipment. Prototypes of the T-14 were available for field testing in 2014 and first displayed to the public in 2015. It was soon discovered that there were reliability problems with the engine as well as several electronic systems. Uralvagonzavod, like many defense manufacturers of high-tech vehicles, aircraft, ships, missiles, and electronics, had a difficult time staying in business and retaining its skilled workforce after the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. That meant orders for armored vehicles disappeared. That slowly improved until 2014 when the Russian economy and defense budget took major hits from lower oil prices plus Western sanctions resulting from the Ukraine invasion. The situation got desperate for Uralvagonzavod as it was surviving on loans and whatever commercial work it could get. The company gambled on developing and marketing the revolutionary T-14 tank and T-15 IFV or Infantry Fighting vehicles. Russian leaders were impressed but there was no money to place large orders and there were no export customers either. The government encouraged work on the T-14 because it was a prestige item that proved Russia was still a major defense developer and manufacturer. That was not true, but the government was willing to scrape up the cash to make it appear so. Rostec stepped in to buy UVZ and keep it going so work on the T-14 and T-15 IFV version could continue. That approach was used by Russia because of much reduced post-Cold War procurement budgets. For example, in early 2021 Russia announced that the army would receive over 400 upgraded tanks and IFVs in the coming year, but none would be the new T-14 tank or T-15 IFV. The T-15 was soon dropped. Upgraded tanks like the T-80BVM filled the gap for the missing T-14s. The Armata was a radical new design for tanks but cost twice as much as an upgraded T-80 or T-72. Since then, the Russian replacement program for elderly Cold War era gear has had to settle for more rebuilds than brand new systems. Russia did announce plans to start building more T-14s in 2022. As of 2023, Armata production was still stalled, but permanently this time because numerous unresolved problems with the T-14 were discovered. The T-14 did not work and never came close to working as an effective combat vehicle. The Ukraine War and production problems have led to a much smaller Russian tank force. By 2021 Russian forces consisted of about 3,000 tanks, with most of the T-72B3. This model was preferred by Russian tank crews because it was more reliable and effective in combat than more recent T-80s and T-90s. For the invasion of Ukraine Russia sent in 2,987 tanks, but only a thousand were the T-72B3. The rest were unimproved T-80s and T-90s as well as some older T-55s and T-62s. Nearly 60 percent of these tanks were destroyed or captured by the Ukrainian forces during the first few months of fighting. After 23 months of fighting Russia had lost 87 percent of the original tank force and were down to 368 tanks, far fewer than Ukraine had. One reason for that was because 40 percent of Russian tank losses were abandoned and then captured intact by the Ukrainians. A new paint job and a Ukrainian crew and suddenly Ukraine had more tanks than Russia. There was another important difference. The Russian tactics were reckless and costly. These used tanks for mass frontal assaults. These were destroyed, or damaged and abandoned, by entrenched or partially hidden Ukrainian tanks, many effective portable anti-tank weapons for the infantry, and armed UAVs that were very effective at destroying or disabling Russian tanks with attacks on the less well armored top of the tanks. The Ukrainians also used more conservative tactics that emphasized keeping Ukrainian losses low. Russia has a population more than three times larger and has openly declared that it will keep fighting until Ukraine runs out of troops and equipment. Then the Russians will be able to declare what is left of Ukraine as Russian, if only because there are so few Ukrainians left. This is a traditional Russian strategy employed against stubborn foes. The T-14 revelations were a minor footnote to the sad state of Russian tank production and usefulness in combat. In late 2023 Russia ordered mass production of its T-80VM tank to replace the many T-72B3M and T-90M tanks lost in Ukraine. While the T-80 was designed to be a successor to the T-72 the similar T-90, that did not happen because the T-80 was more expensive to build and operate. The latest version, the T-80VM, purportedly solves most of those problems, especially if it is mass produced. That is why Uralvagonzavod/UVZ, the largest Russian tank manufacturing plant, has been ordered to retool and start mass production of the T-80VM. This will not be easy because it is expensive and the Uralvagonzavod plant has its own problems. Russia had previously supplied production contracts as well as more loans, to keep Uralvagonzavod from going out of business. Uralvagonzavod, the firm that developed the T-14, has been bankrupt since 2016 and survived because of state-owned Rostec, a holding company that takes over failing, but essential defense firms, to keep them operating. Uralvagonzavod has produced tanks and other armored combat vehicles since World War II and continued after the war. After 1991, most of those military orders stopped but Russia has learned the hard way that, once a lot of these skilled workers are out of work, they use their skills to find new careers or even emigrate and are virtually impossible to get back later. UVZ obtained enough orders for new armored vehicles or upgrading existing ones to sort-of maintain a workforce that, once lost, is extremely difficult and time-consuming to rebuild. The current solution is to have UVZ produce up to 250 T-80VMs a year while also continuing to repair all models of damaged tanks. This is something a different facility of Omsktransmash specializes in but has been overwhelmed by the number of destroyed or damaged tanks resulting from the fighting in Ukraine. Primeste notificari pe email Nota bene: Adresele email cu extensia .ru nu sunt acceptate. Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele By wedninth, Adobe AVA (Against Violence & Abuse) is set to close, according to a letter seen by Civil Society. Charity Commission data for the financial year ending 31 March 2023 puts its total income at 1.20m and total expenditure at 1.28m. The total income includes 22,000 from one government contract and 560,377 from two government grants. The letter, from the board of trustees, states they have unavoidably resolved to place the organisation into liquidation and AVA is technically insolvent. We know that this may come as a shock to some and may be unsettling, it reads. The decision to close has been a difficult one, and comes following a period of operational and financial difficulty which the charity has tried to work through. Trustees have taken specialist insolvency advice in reaching the decision and are currently (and urgently) working with the nominated liquidator to devise an orderly wind-down of AVAs operations. It adds that AVAs operations will close with immediate effect and it is working with the liquidator to arrange a formal meeting of members and creditors to be held in the coming weeks. As ACA closes, we look back and reflect on our mission and the women the organisation was set up to support, directly and indirectly. Today, we look around and see a strong, passionate womens sector, voicing the needs of those they support, and recognised for their expertise. We are sorry AVA cannot continue to be part of this journey but expect many of the staff and trustees will continue to show their dedication to the sector in a variety of ways. We recognise many challenges still remain, not least financial. The trustees add that as AVA closes it will do so as gently as possible and minimise any adverse impact on everyone involved. AVA did not respond to Civil Societys request for comment to confirm the closure. Training events scheduled for the coming weeks remain on its website. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Phil Trexler got his start covering crime as a college student in 1989 working for the Daily Kent Stater. It kind of typecast me, Trexler recalled. He spent a quarter century on the police beat in Ohio, including sixteen years at the Akron Beacon Journal, where he covered police and the courts. For years, he would hit the station house and pore over police reports from the night before. While the police were not particularly friendly, Trexler recalled, Id see the sheriff every morning, and he got to know beat officers as well. Sometimes hed see cops at a crime scene, and theyd whisper about a suspect or point out a key witness. Other times theyd invite him to join them on a raid. Trexler would ring up dozens of stations each day and ask if they had any tips. All of these efforts paid off. After a robbery at an adult bookstore outside Cleveland in the mid-1990s in which a security guard was shot, a cop source invited me back to the station, where I was permitted access to the two suspects, who were openly bragging about the shooting, Trexler remembered. Turns out it was their last stop on a multistate robbery spree. Today, as editor in chief of the Marshall ProjectCleveland, Trexler says that reporters contact with police is much more limited. Police are so distrustful of the media that we dont get the access, Trexler told me. We dont get to know the squad leader, the young lieutenant, the captain. I think theres a wall. The wall has not stopped Marshall ProjectCleveland from doing the kind of accountability reporting that is at the heart of its mission. In November 2022 it published an investigation showing that police in a wealthy, predominantly white suburb outside Cleveland were disproportionately pulling over Black motorists. But Trexler wants more regular contact with the police, and he has not given up. I impress upon young reporters, Get out of the office, Trexler said. We have to work harder at building relationships. Across the country those relationships have broken down. While there are no hard numbers, there is a broad consensus that far fewer reporters cover the police beat. This is largely because there are far fewer news organizations, particularly in small and midsize cities. While local television stations continue to emphasize crime coverage, most of them do little accountability or investigative reporting. The police beat was once the training ground for young reporters, said Ted Gest, president of a national organization called Criminal Justice Journalists and publisher of a daily newsletter, Crime and Justice News. Young journalists entering the newsroom were often required to cover the cops. This was their first assignment, and a lot of them got it unwillingly, Gest told me. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Gest suggested four reasons that the relationship between journalists and the police had grown so fraught. The first is simply that there is less dialogue. The second is that police departments rely more on one-way communication, in which spokespeople post the information they want to share on social media. The third is the widespread perception, fueled by national politicians, that the media is biased and untrustworthy. The fourth is resentment over the way they are covered, with less local reporting and more national accountability reporting focused on police misconduct. Its a dynamic I observed while working on a report about police, protests, and press freedom in 2023 as a senior research fellow at Columbia Universitys Knight First Amendment Institute. Having spent much of my career overseas and as a press-freedom defender at the Committee to Protect Journalists, I had never covered police in the United States. I assumed that police officials would be willing to engage with me, even if I was asking uncomfortable questions. But that wasnt the case. Few police departments returned my calls, and when they did, it was to speak on background about how unfairly they were treated by the media. I found this disappointing, and wondered what stories we were missing as a result. One journalist featured in my Covering Democracy report is Cerise Castle, who made a name for herself as a relentless chronicler of violence and abuse committed by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. The limited interactions she has had with the police in Los Angeles have been hostile, including being hit with rubber bullets while covering a march in May 2020. While she sees herself as an investigative journalist, Castle believes the regular interactions with police that come with beat reporting serve a critical function, particularly if reporters come from more diverse backgrounds. She points to Los Angeles Times reporter Keri Blakinger, who was formerly incarcerated, as an example of how to break the mold. Christina Carrega is a national criminal-justice reporter for Capital B, a nonprofit newsroom that reports for Black communities across the country. She jokingly refers to herself as a criminal-injustice reporter, since she is focused on accountability. But she remembers with fondness her time as a court reporter in Queens, when she and a cadre of local journalists occupied the pressroom and regularly interacted with police and court officers. It was fun, recalled Carrega. Those hallways are littered with so many untold stories of possible injustice. Today, the courthouse reporters are gone, and the pressroom has closed. The lack of contact between police and the press also has implications for safety. In 2020, as protests swept the nation in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, police arrested and assaulted hundreds of journalists seeking to cover the events, according to the US Press Freedom Tracker. The most important factors were overly aggressive crowd control measures and a failure by the police to protect the rights of journalists, my report found. But the lack of personal relationships between police and local media may have also played a role. Kevin Johnson, a veteran criminal-justice reporter and now trainer for the National Press Foundation, told me that journalists need to do a better job of engaging with the police. We often show up when its a time of crisis, and they dont know who you are, and those relationships dont exist, Johnson noted. Of course, relationships that are too close can produce distorted coverage. My Newmark J-school colleague Cheryl Thompson-Morton, who directs the schools Black Media Initiative, argues that overreliance on law enforcement sources has produced the misleading impression that crime has spiked in the past few decades when its actually declined. Still, Thompson-Morton believes relationships between journalists and police built through beat reporting are critical. There is a way to strike the right balance, Thompson-Morton told me. Police are a source like any other. A healthy relationship between the police and the press requires both regular contact and close scrutiny. Thats why we need beat reporters. Their decline, ultimately, is bad for accountability, and bad for our democracy. Joel Simon is the founding director of the Journalism Protection Initiative at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. Last weekend, a militia backed by Iran launched a drone attack against a US military outpost close to Jordans borders with Iraq and Syria, killing three American service personnel. Quickly, media attention turned to howand when, and wherethe US might respond. On Tuesday, reporters shouted such questions at President Biden as he left the White House; he indicated that he had decided on a responseand insisted that he was not looking for a wider war in the Middle Eastbut was otherwise coy. Pressed for details, Biden stepped back, said well see, then walked to his waiting helicopter. As the week progressed, officials continued to make it clear that a military response was coming, without the response actually coming. Then, on Friday, the US hit eighty-five targets in Syria and Iraq that it said were connected to Iranian forces and proxy groups affiliated with that country. Biden put out a statement reiterating that while he doesnt seek conflict, if you harm an American, we will respondbut, as Politico noted, he did not appear in person to explain the strikes. (For a public perhaps bewildered about (1) the mission of the Americans who were killed in Jordan or (2) the ramifications of what is starting to look more like a multi-front war, Biden has had remarkably little to say, Politico continued.) Administration officials did conduct an on-the-record call with reporters, who pressed for operational specifics. Yesterday, Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, pulled (almost) a full Ginsburg to take questions from Sunday-show hosts. Asked repeatedly whether the administration was ruling out strikes inside Iran itself, Sullivan demurred. (Sitting on a national TV program, he told NBC, Im not going to rule in and rule out any activity anywhere.) If the administration was criticized, in some quarters, for a lack of transparency around the strikes, it was criticized in othersparticularly on the rightfor excessive transparency, at least ahead of time; the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal described the strikes, with more than a touch of hyperbole, as one of the most advertised military attacks against an enemy in history. This advertising, some analysts suggested, might have been the point, allowing Iran to move personnel out of harms way and thus dialing down the risk of further escalation; one observer told the BBC that the US seemed to be taking a Goldilocks approach that was neither too hard nor too soft. In any case, the strikes werent the end of the storyover the weekend, US forces twice hit targets associated with the Iran-linked Houthis in Yemen, and administration officials have suggested that further strikes are likely (even if, despite Sullivans refusal to be drawn, a direct attack on Iran looks highly unlikely, at least for now). The strikes come amid increasingly widespread fearsin the classic passive-voice media parlanceof an all-out war in the Middle East, sparked by Hamass attack on Israel in early October and Israels subsequent bombardment of the territory. As is often the case at such moments of tension, some observers have questioned not only the transparency of the US government in its military maneuvers, but the US medias own role in stoking war fever. Last week, the progressive news show Democracy Now! described the media as being partially behind a drumbeat demanding a military response to the Jordan attack. Spencer Ackerman, the author of the newsletter Forever Wars, wrote that major news organizations were even helpfully offering options for what to bomb. And such outlets, the media critic Dan Froomkin charged, seem enlivened by the possibility of a major regional conflagration, with reporters basically braying for military solutions, willfully forgetting the lesson of Iraq (and Afghanistan and Vietnam) that US military intervention pretty much always makes things worse. As Ive written on several occasions, leading voices within the US media industry have indeed beaten a martial rhythm in the past, be it helping an administration sell an overseas intervention (as in the case of Iraq) or scolding an administration for ending an overseas intervention (as in the case of Afghanistan). Even outside of such historic inflection points, hawkish punditry on cable news has been a routine sight over the years (who can forget Donald Trump becoming president by ordering a strike on Syria in 2017?), as have hawkish editorial stances from mainstream publications. (Last week, the editorial board of the Washington Post demanded devastating retaliation against the perpetrators of the attack in Jordan.) This is not to say that hawkishness has been the default setting of the entire US media landscape, or that hawkish punditry has always been instinctive or reckless. When Trump ordered the assassination of the senior Iranian general Qassem Suleimani, in 2020, citing flimsy claims of imminent attacks on Americans, various establishment media figures expressed skepticism; more broadly, ascendant voices within both the progressive and right-wing media spaces have challenged US military adventurism on ideological grounds. (When two Republican senators called on Biden to strike Iran last week, Tucker Carlson called them fucking lunatics.) This time around, too, the picture strikes me as at least somewhat nuanced. Asking questions about planned strikes isnt the same as advocating them. Some otherwise hawkish observers (including the Posts editorial board) have stopped short of calling for strikes inside Iran. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Indeed, generalizing about the coverageas with any heavily covered storyis perilous. Still, much of it has struck me as being at least subtly rooted in the long-standing assumption that US military intervention in the Middle East is the natural way of the world, rather than a contestable, ongoing policy choiceeven as the latter way of looking at things seems to be ascendant politically. At this pivotal moment for the region and Americas role within it, we need more big-picture coverage, grounded in historical context and willing to scrutinize the orthodoxy of the foreign-policy establishment. This would be difficult enough absent the fast-moving picture on the ground. But without shifting our perspective, that fast-moving picture wont make sense. Eventually, incremental escalations can reach a tipping point that forces fresh perspective on us. This is not to say, of course, that granular coverage of the incremental escalations isnt neededit very much isor that no one is currently doing the bigger-picture work. Ackerman, for instance, described the current moment in the Middle East as the Eighteenth Brumaire of the war on terror (a reference to the Marx adage that history repeats itself first as tragedy, then as farce) and situated it in recent historical context. The War on Terror shows that as the US meets military frustration, the same bellicose voices in both our political parties, our Security State, and our press will expand their war aims rather than acknowledge checkmate, he wrote. Today its a call to strike targets inside Iran. Tomorrow it will be a call for regime change. There has been some compelling coverage, too, of the domestic political dynamics of this moment, with reporters exploring, for instance, Arab American voters anger at Bidens approach toward Israels bombardment of Gaza and the (in my view underappreciated) role that aversion to forever wars is playing in boosting Trumps political appeal on the right. And yet in this arena, too, some of the coverage has been shallow: reduced to speculation about Bidens poll numbers, or he-said-she-said partisan blamecasting, or supposed contrasts between Trump and his last standing rival, Nikki Haley, that fail to dig particularly deep into the substance of Haleys hawkishness or the very hawkish aspectsnot least the Syria strikes and the assassination of Suleimaniof Trumps record, that belie the cliche of his isolationism. (Last week, some headlines uncritically echoed Trumps claims that the Jordan attack was attributable to Bidens weakness and surrender and would NEVER have happened on his watcheven though US positions in Iraq and Syria were attacked when Trump was president.) At its best, the coverage of the past week or so managed to tie the ultimate, very concrete stakes herethe actual and potential loss of human lifeto a more abstract opening of the imagination about the US role in the world; at its worst, it skated over the top of the former but below the latter, dwelling in a zone of abstraction but one tethered to conventional wisdom. There has, for sure, been some moving coverage of the soldiers killed in the Jordan attack. So far, at least, the possible civilian toll of the reprisal strikes has received comparatively little attention, at least that Ive seen. The Biden administration has said that its targets were carefully selected to avoid civilian casualties. Iraqi officials and sources have countered that civilians were among the casualties, though at least one such claim seemed to involve some discrepancies. The picture remains murky. It is to be hoped that, in the coming days, and as the strikes continue, reporters work to elucidate it. On Friday, toward the end of the press call that US officials organized to brief reporters on the Iraq and Syria strikes, a journalist from Al Jazeera asked about the US claims around civilian casualties, and whether the administration intended to share the clear, irrefutable evidence that it said linked the targets to the Jordan attack. A tense exchange ensued. When the reporter asked a lieutenant general on the call whether the government expected the American public to accept its word on the strikes, the lieutenant general replied, Yes. The reporter followed up: Do you feel that the American military has a good track record when it comes to. A spokesperson cut in. Were going to move on to the next question, he said. Other notable stories: New from CJR: How were failing to cover the cops Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. The Hollywood Hills and Santa Monica Mountains face life-threatening landslides and flash flooding on Monday as an intense atmospheric river blankets Southern California. We have an atmospheric firehose pointed right at Southern California, said Ryan Truchelut, president of commercial forecaster WeatherTiger LLC. Today is really the key day, Parts of Southern California are facing a high risk of excessive rainfall, a prediction the National Weather Service uses sparingly across the US, according to Truchelut. An extremely dangerous situation is unfolding in those areas, according to a Monday post from the agency on X. What weve seen in the past is destruction of roadways and people getting caught in cars and not able to get to a safe environment, he said. Historically, thats whats caused the casualties weve seen in flash flooding. Californias Coast to Be Battered by High Winds, Heavy Rain A woman walks through floodwater during a storm in Santa Barbara, California on Feb. 4. The Los Angeles Basin is bracing for further excessive rainfall Monday, according to the weather services Weather Prediction Center. That would worsen ground conditions in an area already hammered by the storm, which began over the weekend. The center forecasts an additional 5 and 8 inches (13 to 20 centimeters) of rain, meaning some communities could be facing as much as 14 inches total. Flooding in that part of the state is especially dangerous because much of the ground is impermeable, so water runs off almost immediately instead of soaking into the ground, which quickly leads to flash floods, Truchelut said. The likelihood of further flooding comes after Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday declared a state of emergency in eight counties. As of 9:50 a.m. in New York, more than 530,000 customers lacked power in California, according to PowerOutage.us. All schools in the Santa Barbara Unified School District were ordered closed Monday due to a severe storm. Los Angeles schools will remain open, except at least one located in the Sun Valley area, which is under an evacuation order because of recent fires. The worst of the rain and flash floods should be over by Tuesday morning, Truchelut said. Top photo: A man looks at floodwater during a storm in Santa Barbara, California on Feb. 4. Copyright 2024 Bloomberg. Completely driverless vehicles traveled nearly 3.3 million miles in California last year, over five times the previous years total, even as concerns rose in the wake of a Cruise robotaxi accident, state data on vehicle testing released on Friday showed. General Motors GM.N Cruise and Alphabets GOOGL.O Waymo accounted for the bulk of the miles 63% and 36% respectively recorded without a safety driver, according to the states department of motor vehicles (DMV). Taxis with empty drivers seats have become common in the San Francisco area. The Cruise accident, in which an autonomous vehicle hit and dragged a pedestrian 20 feet (6.1 meters), sparked a public outcry and prompted the company to halt operations across the country. Autonomous tests with a safety driver rose to 5.7 million miles from 5.1 million, DMV data from Dec. 1, 2022 to Nov. 30, 2023 showed. Supporters of self-driving technology have long claimed it can be safer than human drivers who may drive drunk, while texting, or fall asleep behind the wheel. San Francisco residents, city agencies and some labor unions complain that robotaxis disrupt traffic and put people at risk with their erratic driving and abrupt stops in the middle of busy roads. In October, the DMV suspended testing and deployment permits for Cruise, which is facing multiple investigations, including one by the Justice Department. On Friday, DMV said 38 companies had permits to test their autonomous vehicles with a safety driver. Six of them have been permitted for driverless testing: Waymo, Amazons AMZN.O Zoox unit, Chinese search giant Baidus 9888.HK Apollo, and startups Nuro, WeRide and AutoX. Concerns about Chinese companies testing autonomous vehicles have also grown, with some U.S. lawmakers calling for greater transparency over their collection and storage of sensitive data on citizens, infrastructure and technologies. (Reporting by Abhirup Roy in San Francisco; Editing by Peter Henderson and Richard Chang) COLUMBUS, Ohio A child in Montgomery County has been diagnosed with measles, the first confirmed case in Ohio this year. The Ohio Department of Health says its not aware of any additional current cases of the disease. The department is working with health officials in Dayton and Montgomery County to identify and notify anyone who might have been exposed, according to a news release. Health officials recommend that anyone exposed should get vaccinated. A vaccine administered within 72 hours after exposure might prevent or reduce the severity of disease, officials say. Ohio had only one confirmed case of measles in 2023, but had 90 in 2022. There were 121 cases nationally in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Eighty-five of the 2022 cases were the result of an outbreak in central Ohio. The 2022 cases were the first in the state since 2019. The CDC reported nine cases of measles nationally this year as of Jan. 25, in Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Just over 90% of the U.S. population is immunized for measles, the CDC reports. The agency blames recent outbreaks on misinformation about vaccines. Measles can be a very serious illness for anyone, Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff said in a statement. The key to preventing measles is vaccination. If you are not vaccinated, we strongly encourage you to get the vaccine. The Ohio Department of Health says measles is extremely contagious, and is spread through coughing and sneezing. About 90% of people exposed measles who are not immune will become infected, the agency says. The virus can live for up to two hours in the air. Health officials say measles symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a rash beginning three to five days after other symptoms occur. About 1 in 5 children who get measles will be hospitalized with complications such as pneumonia, dehydration, or brain swelling. February 5, 2024: As has been recently demonstrated in Ukraine, you cant teach experience. Its something that requires actually doing the deed or using training methods that accurately portray what you need experience in handling. This was evident during the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive in southern Ukraine. The nine new Ukrainian armored brigades involved were equipped with 230 tanks and 1,550 other armored vehicles. Some of the new tanks and IFVs were Western models but most were the Russian type tanks and IFVs (Infantry fighting vehicles) Ukraine had many of and had long used. There was also additional artillery ammunition, HIMARS missiles and long range Scalp guided bombs as well as short range anti-aircraft missiles. There were also specialized armored engineer vehicles for clearing paths through minefields. There were UAVs (Unmanned Aerial vehicles) for reconnaissance, surveillance and spotting targets for artillery, missiles or longer range weapons. But those nine new brigades werent very effective. Back in 1982 the U.S. Army came up with a solution to the problem the Ukrainians encountered. The Americans created a large National Training Center (NTC) where army combat brigades could confront a realistic Russian opponent. The NTC is a 147,000-hectare facility in the Mojave Desert at Ft Irwin, California. There the United States Army revolutionized the training of ground combat troops during the 1980s with the development of MILES laser-tag equipment for infantry and armored vehicles and the use of MILES in a large, wired to record all activities, combat training area. Other countries soon realized the importance of these innovations, and a few built their own NTC clones. NTC-type training centers are usually built to enable a combat brigade to go through several weeks of very realistic combat exercises. NTC training was not only very close to the experience troops encountered in combat, but it also stressed commanders the same way actual combat does. This enables commanders to test themselves and their subordinate commanders before they get into a real fight. You can also use NTC facilities to experiment with new tactics in addition to keeping troops well trained in whatever the current tactics are. This includes counter-terror operations as well as the kind of novel combat tactics that might be encountered in the future. Ukrainian troops had received several weeks of additional training before joining in their 2023 offensive. What was missing was enough additional training for the new brigades, as brigades, to learn how to operate effectively in a combined arms operation involving so many different types of equipment and capabilities. A few weeks of combined arms training for the brigades would have made a big difference by developing skills needed to integrate and operate all the new equipment effectively. That lack of training was evident after the offensive began and was slowed down by Russian defenders who were outnumbered and not as lavishly equipped. Defending does not require as much training or additional weapons to succeed. While the NTC is primarily for peacetime training, it can be used in wartime if there is time to send the brigades to an NTC for three weeks of additional training. During the 2003-2011 Iraq War, several national guard brigades, which were composed of reservists, were sent to the NTC before going to Iraq. NTC training was modified for Iraq War conditions and the troops who trained there found the training useful because many things later encountered in Iraq, they had already experienced at the NTC. Ukrainian military leaders have long been aware of the NTC concept, which has been adapted by many nations since the 1980s. Ukraine does not have one and none of its brigades have actually used one. Nevertheless, Ukraine supplies the United States and other NATO nations with advice on how to modify their current NTC training to represent the current state of the Russian forces. The NATO countries report back to Ukraine any NTC revelations that might help the Ukrainian forces. Ukraine has long been aware of how important NTC-type training is. For example, in 2014 Ukraine persuaded a German firm to cancel a signed $134 million contract to build a NTC-like military training facility for Russia. This cancellation was the result of the growing list of economic sanctions on Russia as a result of the 2014 Ukraine crisis. Many Russians feared the Ukrainian land-grab would cause major economic damage, but in the case of this German contract, the loss was meant to hinder Russian efforts to modernize and upgrade their armed forces. This training center contract was to enable Russia to join the United States, Germany, China, Israel, and many other major military powers who are benefitting from the use of instrumented combat training centers. Russia had hired Rheinmetall, a German firm that built such a training range in 2008 for Germany, to build a very similar training center in Russia. Since 2003 Israel has been using and expanding its own NTC. This is a 39,000 hectare TTC Tactical Training Center at Ze'elim in the Negev desert. In addition to wide-open areas for the training of armor, infantry, and artillery units, there are several villages and urban areas wired for training troops to fight in close quarters. Israel has now developed a portable version of this technology and many other innovations as well. China opened its own version of an NTC in 2010. The Chinese NTC was a big deal. It meant the Chinese were really serious about training their ground combat troops to the highest standards. This kind of training is serious business, in part because it's expensive to use an NTC. Not just the fuel and ammo the troops will use, but the expense of a staff to run the NTC and perform as the OPFOR opposing force. American intelligence officers identify and track which units go through the Chinese NTC and mark them as likely to be much more effective in combat. Ft Irwin itself has been expanded and since the 1980s the United States has established many similar training centers, all using lots of electronics to assist the trainees in having a realistic experience while also enabling them to see their mistakes and learn from them. Israeli and American manufacturers have individually, or through collaboration, developed new features for NTC-type facilities. These include portable equipment that can allow any area to be wired to provide the same effect by constant monitoring and recording of everything everyone does. There are also Vehicle Player Units (VPUs) that make Hummers appear as armored vehicles, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, or artillery as needed for the monitoring system. This saves a lot of money by not using the real thing. There is also a system that releases different colored smoke when a vehicle is hit, indicating if it is damaged or destroyed. Helicopters and warplanes, for example, were eventually modified so they could operate as part of NTC exercises. One of the critical aspects of this type of training is the playback. Instructors can edit the electronic record of who did what when and show commanders and troops where they made mistakes. This feedback made the troops and their commanders more effective in future combat operations. There will be fewer surprises. Blocked from buying an NTC from Germany, Russia considered turning to China, which has built modern military training centers. These were not as effective as the one Germany was offering Russia but were probably good enough. Russia never did get a training center able to train brigade-size units in a realistic and effective fashion. Russia subsequently built smaller, more tactical training centers using some of the concepts found effective in NTCs. This did not make up for the absence of a proper NTC and that proved to be the case when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. February 5, 2024: As Chinas merchant and submarine fleets increase, the government decided to protect their surface and underwater ships by mapping ocean bottoms of military interest. Special survey ships are used and the first area to be mapped is the Western Pacific, especially the South China Sea, which is relatively shallow and full of underwear obstacles that are close enough to the surface to be a danger to large ships. China is well aware of the experience Americans SSN crews have encountered with poorly prepared undersea charts and is seeking to avoid those problems with its new survey ships and their findings. American SSNs (nuclear powered submarines) have already encountered such problems in the Pacific Ocean twice times in the past 20 years. The first such collision occurred in 2006 and the reason was a lack of updated charts, the nautical maps showing underwater obstacles on all SSNs. The SSN San Francisco hit the top of an underwater mountain at a depth of over 500 feet and speed over 50 kilometers an hour, smashing the sonar equipment that fills the bow (front) of the sub as the boat careened off to one side. The sub's sudden change of speed and direction was unexpected by the crew. 90 percent of the 138-man crew were injured and one later died. Most of the injuries were minor, but a third of the crew had serious problems like broken bones, dislocated shoulders, concussions, and cuts. Fortunately, the two sailors with medical training were not injured, and were able to prevent all but one of the injuries, a bad concussion, from getting worse. The navy used its study of the San Francisco medical situation to make changes in how subs are equipped, and sailors trained, to deal with large scale injuries. The navy also noted that 15 percent of the crew still had psychological problems months after the accident. This is not unusual for sailors involved in a large-scale accident. But there were other reasons for poor morale among the San Francisco sailors. The sea mount the sub hit had been spotted by survey satellites in 1999 and 2004, but the intelligence agency responsible, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, said it didn't have the money to update naval charts. Neither did the navy, or anyone else. Because of this American submarines were allowed to continue moving around amidst all manner of uncharted hazards. Despite this problem, the sailors on duty when the San Francisco hit the seamount were punished for not having taken more frequent depth soundings, which would have indicated they might be approaching an obstacle, or consulting another map than the one originally used that showed a possible seamount five kilometers from where they actually collided with one. The navy held the crew responsible for the collision. Six members of the crew were given non-judicial, no court martial, punishment for their actions, or inactions, that caused the accident. The six sailors punished included officers, senior Petty Officers (NCOs) and lower ranking sailors. Punishment ranged from letters of reprimand to reduction in rank. The charges were hazarding a vessel and dereliction of duty. The investigators concluded that these six crewmen could have detected the approaching sea mount and taken evasive action if they had followed proper procedures. The captain of the sub was relieved earlier of command. At the same time, the navy also gave awards, for helping save the submarine after the collision, to eighteen NCOs and two officers. These included two Meritorious Service Medals, nine Commendation Medals, four Achievement Medals and five Letters Of Commendation. The lack of courts martial indicates that the navy didn't feel it had strong enough evidence for that approach, which is more like a jury trial, and demands more compelling evidence. The non-judicial punishment hurts, but does not destroy, the career of a submariner. This is because the navy has a hard time recruiting qualified people for this kind of work. The navy could have held one or more courts martial, but apparently were convinced that just using the non-judicial punishment would get the matter behind them with a minimum of fuss and penalty. The charges in the non-judicial hearings were of the you should have seen this coming and been a more cautious variety. Anyone who knows anything about nuclear submarines, and their crews, knows that these are the most cautious and deliberate sailors in the fleet. Eventually, more details of these proceedings, and the collision itself, came out and confirmed the facts of the case. The real reason for the San Francisco incident was the Navys failure to update its charts showing potential underwater hazards to submarines. That was thought to have been remedied after the 2005 incident and all ships were supposed to have the electronic charts that are part of the new VMS Voyage Management System that not only uses electronic copies of charts, but quickly updates charts when new underwater obstacles are detected. This is done via space satellites or various seagoing data collection systems. In 2016 the navy installed a new VMS system version 9.3 in American SSNs. Crews are given initial training on these new systems before they depart on a cruise, where the two senior officers, and especially the COB, are responsible for ensuring that all sailors involved with navigation are properly trained to handle the VMS and the new charts. The second American SSN underwater seamount collision occurred in October 2021 to the very advanced and expensive Seawolf class SSN Connecticut. The damage was so severe that the sub had to surface immediately, and some ballast tanks were damaged so the sub could not remain underwater. It was also feared that there might have been a radiation leak but none of the radiation monitoring sensors on the sub detected any. The navy relieved the captain of the Connecticut along with the second in command executive officer, and the COB, or Chief of the Boat, the senior NCO on the sub. These key personnel were relieved for poor navigation procedures and failure to train the crew to do it right. Now the submarine command wants to find out the extent of the problem by similarly scrutinizing the status of navigation training and capabilities on all SSNs. The navy also realized that its training of such key submarine officers might have been at fault. Soon the commander of all American subs and the commander of subs based in the Pacific agreed that an emergency halt in regular operations to assess the state of navigation training among SSN crews. The subsequent investigation found that one major problem was poor training and supervision of the officers and sailors who handle underwater navigation. MBABANE Prime Minister Russell Dlaminis heartwarming story of starting as a fuel attendant has struck a positive chord in other achievers, who were asked to share their life journeys. The achievers felt challenged to also motivate others to aim for the top, regardless of humble beginnings. Did you know that popular bus owner and Lobamba Member of Parliament (MP) Michael Masilela rose from being a bus conductor to being a millionaire? The Times roving journalist Mthunzi Mdluli spoke to him to find out his recipe for the monumental success. MP Masilela, who is also an astute businessman in the public transport industry, said he was once a herdboy. He said being raised by a stepmother was hard for him as that led to him running away from home to look for odd jobs. This was when he herded peoples livestock. The MP said he used to attend classes midweek and work on weekends to raise funds for school fees. I have learnt the lessons of life the hard way. In Form III, I had to work to pay school fees, he said. Eventually, he started selling ice cream on the streets and was later employed as a bus conductor. Masilela said he bought his first car with the money he earned from selling ice cream and doubling as a bus conductor. Despite the hard life, the MP said he was determined not to give up in life. He said he never blamed anyone for his humble upbringing. Even today, I am not pointing fingers at anyone, because no one chooses the family they are born in. You cannot even blame yourself for where you come from, but to succeed, you need to push hard. Blame yourself only if failure was your fault. Life is a journey that you need to walk, no matter the environment, he said. He recalls that he once looked after cattle in one of the homesteads at Esitjeni in 1989. He said when he got the chance to go back to school, he made a decision to be a better person in life, just like children who came from wealthy families. He said seeing others driving their own cars led him to desire to have his own. I had to push hard in life to be where I am today. Luckily, at that time, I chose to be a Christian, which helped to guide my morals such that I did not chase after girls, drugs and alcohol, he said. He then advised young people to be decisive on what they wanted in life and then pursue it. He said: Nobody will start anything for you, but it all starts with you. If you want to see change, start by changing yourself. The central difference in the new proposal is over $13 billion more in border security funding, which was a major point of contention in the months-long Senate talks. President Joe Biden initially proposed a more than $105 billion aid package in October. The Senate's new deal roughly matches the funding proportions Biden had requested for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The long-awaited bill requests $60.1 billion for Ukraine aid, $14.1 billion for Israel and $20.2 billion to improve security at the U.S. border . It also includes smaller pockets of funding for humanitarian assistance in war-torn regions, and defense operations in the Red Sea and Taiwan . Senators on Sunday released the details of a $118.2 billion bipartisan aid proposal for Ukraine, Israel and the southern U.S. border, after months of painstaking, closed-door negotiations. Republicans have criticized the Biden administration for its handling of the border, which has seen record numbers of migrant crossings in recent months. Democrats have countered that the president needs further executive authority to institute more aggressive border security. The president said Sunday that he supports the Senate's bipartisan proposal, including the term that gives him "new emergency authority to shut down the border when it becomes overwhelmed." "I urge Congress to come together and swiftly pass this bipartisan agreement. Get it to my desk so I can sign it into law immediately," Biden said. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said a vote is scheduled for the bill on Wednesday. The publication of the bill marks a small victory for Senate negotiators who have gone back and forth for months trying to strike a deal. "I know the overwhelming majority of Senators want to get this done, and it will take bipartisan cooperation to move quickly," Schumer said in a statement following the proposal's release. "Senators must shut out the noise from those who want this agreement to fail for their own political agendas." Just as soon as the Senate back-patting is over, the proposal will face its next major battle: House Republicans. Republican lawmakers have been preparing to greet the Senate bill with hostility. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Saturday announced a House proposal that would fund Israel alone, a blatant attempt to preempt the Senate's broader foreign aid bill. Johnson said the House would vote on the bill next week. The White House criticized the House's counterproposal, deeming it a political stunt. "We see it as a ploy that's being put forward on the House side right now, as not being a serious effort to deal with the national security challenges America faces," National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." "From our perspective, the security of Israel should be sacred. It shouldn't be part of any political game." Despite the White House's scolding, the funding package has increasingly grown into a political pawn over the past few weeks. As the election kicks into high gear, Republican lawmakers who once appeared ready to compromise have suddenly gone cold on the deal, aware that its passage would make a convenient victory for the Biden 2024 campaign. Johnson has been a prime example of the tone shift. In mid-January, he joined Biden and Schumer for what he called a "productive" meeting specifically about the border negotiations. After the meeting, in an expression of bipartisan hope, Johnson said the officials had reached a level of "consensus." But former president and GOP frontrunner Donald Trump has reportedly put pressure on Republicans to torpedo the deal so that he can continue using the border crisis as a line of attack in his campaign. In a Sunday interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," Johnson denied that Trump had any outside influence: "He's not calling the shots. I am calling the shots for the House." But a week after Johnson's optimistic meeting with Schumer and Biden, the speaker reversed course and expressed cynicism about the deal. "If rumors about the contents of the draft proposal are true, it would have been dead on arrival in the House anyway," Johnson wrote in a letter to his colleagues in late January. The White House has called out the mood swing. "Suddenly, we've heard a change of tune," Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a recent briefing. "Actually tackle the problem instead of playing politics with it." Chinese police patrol outside the Australian embassy in Beijing on Jan. 25, 2019. A Beijing court on Monday handed Australian writer Yang Hengjun a suspended death sentence, five years after he was first detained in China and three years after a closed-door trial on espionage charges. Yang, a pro-democracy blogger, is an Australian citizen born in China who was working in New York before his arrest at Guangzhou airport in 2019. He had been accused of spying for a country China has not publicly identified and the details of the case against him have not been made public. Sydney based scholar Feng Chongyi said a court on Monday delivered a suspended death sentence that would convert to life imprisonment after two years. It was a "serious case of injustice", he said, adding that Yang had denied the charges. He urged the Australian government to seek medical parole for Yang. Yang's sentence was confirmed by another human rights lawyer in Beijing who has been following his case. "He was found guilty of all charges," the lawyer said, asking to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the matter. Australia is "appalled" at the court's decision and has called in China's ambassador, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Monday. Wong said in a statement on Monday the Australian government understood the sentence can be commuted to life imprisonment after two years if the individual does not commit any serious crimes in that period. "This is harrowing news for Dr Yang, his family and all who have supported him," she said. Yang's family was "shocked and devastated by this news, which comes at the extreme end of worst expectations", said a family spokesman in Sydney. Australia had said it was troubled by repeated delays in Yang's case, and had advocated for his well-being, including access to medical treatment "at the highest levels". The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reutersrequest for comment. A Beijing court heard Yang's trial in secret in May 2021 and the case against him has never been publicly disclosed. He has denied working as a spy for Australia or the United States. Yang wrote about Chinese and U.S. politics as a high-profile blogger and also wrote a series of spy novels before his detention. A truck makes its way over the Victoria Falls bridge, spanning over the Zambezi River, linking Zambia and Zimbabwe, in Livingstone, Zambia, on Sunday, May 8, 2022. KoBold Metals, a California-based metals exploration company backed by billionaires including Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, said it has discovered a vast copper deposit in Zambia. The rare discovery of a large-scale copper deposit could help in the global race to secure a supply of materials critical to the energy transition. Copper is in high demand due to its use in renewable energy and electric vehicles. A spokesperson for KoBold Metals told CNBC on Monday that the company believes its Mingomba copper project in Zambia "will be one of the world's biggest high-grade large copper mines." "It is Kakula-scale in size and grade," KoBold Metals President Josh Goldman said in a statement shared on the firm's account on social media site X. The giant Kamoa-Kakula copper mine is situated just across Zambia's northern border in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ivanhoe Mines, a Canadian mining company founded by billionaire magnate Robert Friedland, owns nearly 40% of the Kamoa-Kakula copper mine. It has described the complex as "the world's fastest-growing, highest-grade [and] lowest carbon major copper mine." It produced nearly 400,000 metric tons of copper last year. Zambia is Africa's second-largest copper producer after the Democratic Republic of the Congo. KoBold Metals says it uses artificial intelligence to create "Google Maps" of the Earth's crust to help find new deposits of copper, lithium, cobalt and nickel. The Silicon Valley startup's investors include U.S. venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, Norwegian energy giant Equinor, the world's largest mining group BHP, and Breakthrough Energy, a climate and technology fund founded by Bill Gates in 2015. Some of Breakthrough Energy's backers are Bridgewater Associates' Ray Dalio, Virgin Group's Richard Branson, Alibaba's Jack Ma and Amazon's Jeff Bezos. Citi has updated its list of its top "high-conviction" stock picks from global markets including the United States, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Those are the "high conviction, differentiated stock recommendations to generate alpha" that its analysts have selected. "We identify catalysts that will trigger outperformance and chose liquid names in which investors can build positions," Citi said in its Feb. 1 report. The bank says it sees more gains for global stocks, giving the MSCI AC World a potential upside of 5% by end of this year. "This year, all major regions (ex-Australia) should see positive [earnings per share] growth, with most sectors contributing positively. We think this environment will ultimately favor Cyclical markets and sectors. Regions outside of the US should have more leverage to this theme," Citi analysts wrote. Here are four new buy-rated additions in Citi's list for the next 12 months. Mineral Resources Citi is bullish on Australian mining services company Mineral Resources , saying it offers diversified exposure to steady income streams, with earnings coming from lithium, iron ore and more. Positive factors supporting the company include earnings diversification and "clearly articulated" strategies. Citi's target price for Mineral Resources: 71 Australian dollars ($46.8), implying nearly 20% upside. Stockland Australian property development firm Stockland has a diversified business model with rental earnings from retail, industrial, office and landlease assets, Citi noted. "We believe the residential market may be bottoming near term, with house prices likely to recover later this year, which is typically a positive for the residential landlords," it said. The bank believes Stockland is trading at a "significant discount" to the sector and other listed residential REIT peers. Citi's target price for Stockland: AU$5.10, or around 12% potential upside. Intuitive Surgical U.S.-listed Intuitive Surgical , which develops robotic products for minimally invasive surgery, should benefit as Covid headwinds subside and the number of procedures return to more normal levels, said Citi. "General Surgery was the largest incremental driver of procedure growth prepandemic and we expect this to continue over the next several years, which combined with international expansion, should drive the next leg of revenue growth for Intuitive," the bank wrote. Citi's target price for Intuitive Surgical: $428, or around 11.5% potential upside. Prosus Citi says Amsterdam-listed investment group Prosus is one of the European stocks most exposed to China and is set to be a "beneficiary of improving sentiment" to China. "We believe Prosus will take a more active approach to portfolio management and disciplined approach to capital allocation going forward," said the bank. "Increased transparency here suggests the company will take more decisive actions to focus on (and improve) returns," it added. Citi's target price for Prosus: 42.50 euros ($46.2), implying 52.5% upside. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. The Docusign Inc. application for download in the Apple App Store on a smartphone arranged in Dobbs Ferry, New York, U.S., on Thursday, April 1, 2021. Bain Capital and Hellman & Friedman have cooled in their pursuit of DocuSign Inc over disagreements on how much they should pay to acquire the provider of online signature services, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. The private equity firms, which were competing to buy DocuSign, have not been able to agree a deal price with the company, which has a market value of $11 billion, after weeks of talks, the sources said. It remains, possible, however, that the deal talks will resume in the future, the sources added, requesting anonymity because the matter is confidential. DocuSign shares dropped more than 7% in New York on Monday on the news. A deal for DocuSign would have been one of the biggest leveraged buyouts of 2024. A spike in financing costs in the last two years has made financing leveraged buyouts more expensive and big deals harder to clinch. DocuSign allows customers to sign documents online from any electronic device. It counts large corporations such as T-Mobile , United Airlines and Thermo Fisher among its clients. Mark Cuban didn't want to invest in Genius Litter until a bidding war between his "Shark Tank" co-stars annoyed him into changing his mind. The Austin, Texas-based company sells color-changing cat litter can alert pet owners of potential illnesses. Founded in 2020, Genius Litter is already profitable, CEO and founder Ramon van Meer said on Friday's episode of the ABC show with $3.1 million in year-to-date sales and $456,000 in year-to-date profits at the time of filming. "It tests the urine. If it's a high pH or a low pH, it will tell you if there's a potential health issue," said van Meer. "For example, if it turns red, it could be a kidney problem. If it's blue or green, it could be a UTI." Van Meer had an entrepreneurial track record: In 2018, the Dutchman sold his first company, a soap opera blog, for $9 million, he said. That allowed him to put $1 million of his own cash, plus another $1 million already raised from other investors, into launching Genius Litter. He wanted the show's investor judges to help him do the same with his new company, he said, and asked them for $250,000 in exchange for 4% of Genius Litter. "I want to build and scale this business and then sell it [strategically]," said van Meer. "We have two new products coming out [including] a health-indicating topper [that you can sprinkle] on top of your existing cat litter and a health-indicating doggy pee pad." "Great idea," investor Robert Hervajec said. "You're really such an impressive man," guest investor Emma Grede added. "You're wonderful." People hold a banner and Ukrainian flags during a rally to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia. As part of the Western Balkans block waiting for EU-membership, Serbia is caught in a geostrategic rivalry between its Western allies and Russia. Davos, SWITZERLAND Russia's invasion of Ukraine gave fresh political momentum to the European Union and its plans for enlargement in the strategically important Western Balkans. But whether the neighboring region is ready and willing to finally make the steps needed to join the union remains unclear. The Western Balkans, comprised of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Serbia, represent a notable gap in the map of EU membership in southeastern Europe. Though each has applied for and been granted candidate or potential candidate member status over the past two decades following the fall of the socialist federation of Yugoslavia in 1992, progress on accession has been generally slow. "I see the European Union more ready for the Balkans than the Balkans for the European Union," Miroslav Lajcak, EU special representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and Western Balkans, told CNBC last month. Accession to the bloc is a rigorous and often lengthy process involving several phases of negotiations and reforms to ensure a candidate state meets the EU's judicial, administrative and economic standards. Lajcak said that countries in the Western Balkans, in the past, had been hesitant to truly engage in such reforms because they "did not believe in a true European future" or that they could realistically meet the requirements. But all that changed with the outbreak of war on Europe's doorstep in February 2022. People dit at McDonald's outdoor seating after going out on a Saturday night along Rothschild Street on June 11, 2022 in Tel Aviv, Israel. McDonald's and Starbucks , two of the biggest U.S. restaurant companies, both said the Israel-Hamas war hurt their sales at the end of last year. Shares of McDonald's fell nearly 4% on Monday, after it reported that a sales slowdown in the Middle East contributed to its fourth-quarter revenue miss. Starbucks' stock has fallen roughly 2% since Tuesday, when the company reported that the war dented its U.S. sales in the final three months of the year, too. The two restaurant giants became some of the largest U.S. companies to say the Middle East conflict hurt their sales and will likely hit demand in future quarters, as well. It is unclear whether other restaurant companies will see a similar downturn. Starbucks became a target of boycotts when Starbucks Workers United, which represents hundreds of the chain's unionized cafes, posted in support of Palestinians, leading to backlash from conservatives. Starbucks sought to distance itself from the tweet, which the union deleted, and sued Workers United for trademark infringement. Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan said Tuesday that the company's sales in the Middle East struggled, but boycotts also hurt its U.S. cafes. The chain's U.S. same-store sales rose 5% in its fiscal first quarter ended Dec. 31, but foot traffic fell. The lag in U.S. foot traffic largely came from customers who only visited occasionally, according to Narasimhan. Starbucks is looking to revive demand by offering more targeted promotions and introducing new drinks. For its part, McDonald's saw fourth-quarter sales slip in the Middle East after its Israeli licensee offered discounts to soldiers, prompting some boycotts from customers who oppose the country's offensive in Gaza. The Middle East typically accounts for about 2% of McDonald's global sales and 1% of its global earnings before interest and taxes, according to TD Cowen analyst Andrew Charles. McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said Monday that the company saw weaker sales in the Middle East and majority Muslim countries, like Malaysia and Indonesia, as a result. France, which has the largest Muslim population in Europe, also saw weaker sales, although executives said pricing backlash also contributed to softer demand. McDonald's doesn't expect its Middle Eastern sales to recover until the war ends. "The ongoing impact of the war on these franchisees' local business is disheartening and ill-founded," Kempczinski told analysts on the company's conference call. Unlike Starbucks, McDonald's did not note any effect on its U.S. sales. Besides McDonald's and Starbucks, some activists have also called for boycotts of Domino's Pizza , Papa John's , Restaurant Brands International's Burger King and Yum Brands' Pizza Hut. Yum Brands is scheduled to report its quarterly results on Wednesday, while Restaurant Brands is slated to share its earnings on Feb. 13. Domino's and Papa John's are not expected to release their fourth-quarter earnings until the end of the month. Don't miss these stories from CNBC PRO: GEGE - Do not ever think that Melika Jericho Church in Zion will be controlled by your gifts of healing. This was a warning directed to those with the gift of healing in the church. Addressing thousands of members of the church ahead of a cleansing ceremony held at Gege yesterday, Melika Jericho Church in Zion Bishop Khanyakwezwe Vilakati warned those with the gift of healing to keep it to themselves as opposed to bringing it to the church. The man of God said the church was not dependent on the gifts but was controlled in Heaven. Nine betiphiwo tekwelapha gcinani tiphiwo tenu kini ningatiletsi lapha esontfweni. Tiphiwo tenu tifanana nemashende, ngako ke angeke nihambe nitiveta sinoma kanjani noma kuphi. Konkhe kwalelisontfo leli kulawulwa ngemazulu, hhayi tiphiwo tekwelapha. Uma ngicabanga kutsi lelisontfo lisime etiphiweni tenu tekwelapha khohlwani, leli lilawulwa ngemazulu, the bishop said in vernacular to the silence in the church. Gifts What the man of God said is loosely translated to mean: Those with the gift of healing should keep it to themselves as opposed to bringing it to the church. If you think the church is dependent on your gifts, you are mistaken. This church is controlled in Heaven. He said bringing the gift of healing to the church would lure people into believing that the church believed in the gift, yet it believed in God in Heaven. It should be noted that some members of the church boast about snakes in their cars. The bishop said he had no relationship with snakes, stating that those with snakes should keep it to themselves. Warned He also warned the members of the church against misleading congregants in the name of prophecies. He urged the congregants to differentiate between prophecies directed to individuals and those directed to the church. If the angels direct you to put on a baboon skin, make sure you do it yourself as opposed to inviting the church to put on the skins, he said. Some members were heard saying; Yeyi, iyakhuluma lendvodza. The bishop said the rules and regulations of the church were not new. He said members needed to listen to the elders and adhere to the rules. He made an example about a special offering known as mandishana, stating that some churches had discarded the offerings, which were considered a source of blessings. He said one thing that kept bothering him was why God chose him to lead the church. I have taken it upon myself to fast and pray ahead of any event. The only solution is in Heaven, so mine is to connect to the angels so that God can give me guidance and solutions. As I prayed for this event, the founder of the church Melika Gadlasenyama lesagicika emcwembeni appeared to me in a dream. He said Gods blessings are reigning over the Manganganeni River. He said your life challenges will be solved through clean water from the river. We have prepared a pipe for the clean water. Yours is to bring containers and take the clean water home, he said. To those seeking jobs, the bishop urged them to wait patiently as they were being prepared for the best. The bishop then warned the congregants against shoving as they proceeded to the sacred dam. He said the church police were deployed to ensure safety. The bishop said elders of the church were prepared to cleanse them all. He said the elders would rather spend another night other than leaving the congregants uncleansed. We may even slaughter more cattle to ensure that you are all cleansed. We urge those who have been hired to transport the congregants not to rush them, he said. However, despite the bishops warning, the members of the church failed to control themselves shortly after they saw the bishop proceeding to the river. The elders and the police of the church tried in vain to stop the congregants as they rushed for the cleansing. The congregants got into the river even before the cleansing of the Vilakati family. Some congregants scrambled for the clean water while others opted for the water fetched from the river. They also scrambled for the braai meat from the cow that was slaughtered next to the river. Nadezhdin, a former Russian lawmaker and outspoken critic of Russia's war in Ukraine, submitted 105,000 signatures to the CEC last week that were in support of his candidacy. The supporters of anti-war presidential election hopeful Boris Nadezhdin said a working group from the Russian Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has recommended that Nadezhdin's candidacy for the Russian election be rejected because of signature defects on his nomination papers. Boris Nadezhdin, a representative of Civil Initiative political party who plans to run for Russian president in the March 2024 election, talks to journalists as he visits an office of the Central Election Commission to submit documents and signatures in support of his candidacy, in Moscow, Russia January 31, 2024. His campaign said the signatures were carefully chosen to avoid the possibility that the CEC would reject a significant proportion of them, meaning that he would be barred from running in the March vote. But according to Nadezhdin's campaign, the CEC concluded in a meeting held Monday that 15.4% of Nadezhdin's signatures are defective and, therefore, have recommended Nadezhdin should not be included on the ballot, NBC News reported. Nadezhdin's campaign say they will challenge the CEC working group's findings during a full meeting of the Electoral Commission on Wednesday Feb. 7. NBC has reached out to the CEC for comment. Nadezhdin's spokesman Pavel Burlakov said "we do not agree with the decision of the working group. The whole world saw that we honestly collected signatures. The campaign team is ready to prove the unfoundedness of the working group's decision." Political analysts said that in Russia's tightly controlled and orchestrated "democracy," it was extremely unlikely that the Kremlin would let Nadezhdin stand in the election and risk him garnering a lot of votes, a scenario that the Kremlin would like to avoid at all costs. For its part, the Kremlin told CNBC last week that it was "not inclined to exaggerate the level of support for Mr. Nadezhdin." Holly Ellyatt Apple is beginning to act on its generative AI (genAI) plans. Machine vision intelligence at scale generates huge quantities of data. Not all of that data should exist, so how does one ensure the information that is being used and conceivably stored is appropriate, of good quality, and legitimate? Not only this, but how can a company use public sourced video data to train machine intelligence models without breaching privacy law? Apple has an idea for this. Its allegedly preparing to acquire brighter AI, according to 9to5Mac. So, who is brighterAI? The German firm, recently called Europes hottest AI start-up, describes itself as generative AI for privacy." Based on deep learning tech, the companys solutions anonymize images and videos to help companies meet data protection regulations. This goes a little deeper than you think. Apple already has its own tech for tasks like deleting people and car registration data from images in Maps. Brighter AI was founded in 2017 as a spin-off from German automotive supplier, HELLA, itself acquired in 2021 by Faurecia. (Theres additional food for thought in that Faurecia is part of the Forvia Group, which also offers a mobile app store.) What the tech does The German start-ups tech goes further, identifying what is seen, anonymizing it, and then returning a natural seeming image. In other words, it may take a persons face and then anonymize it, returning what seems to be a natural face that does not look like the original. Or, in the case of a vehicle it might identify the registration plate and replace it with a fake one. The idea here is that the images created within the process seem as normal as any other image, but dont abuse privacy. This could enable companies to use recorded camera data for analytics and AI. With its proprietary Deep Natural Anonymization solution, brighter AI protects the identities of the people recorded," the company website says. "At the same time, companies from the automotive, healthcare, and the public sector can use anonymized data for analysis and machine learning without violating privacy. In this way, AI learning models and privacy go hand in hand." In brief, the solution secures privacy for people in both new and existing video data. Thats going to be important from the point of view of privacy legislation and for training machine learning models by widening the stack of available data. Why does the acquisition matter? To begin, we know Apple has a mission with visionOS, and that within that mission those cameras on those systems will be picking up a lot of information. These devices effectively become data centers. Apple doesnt want to become responsible for all that data. Not only would doing so be an abuse of user privacy, but it would also ignore other peoples data privacy needs. So, for Apple, it makes sense to ensure the systems it builds simply dont gather the information in the first place. (Thats essentially the mantra that drives Apples entire approach to privacy and machine intelligence). Implications for machine imaging and data management The other way this might be of use is data grading. When asked to do a task, even intelligent machines will analyze all the information they're given, so why not eliminate data that is irrelevant, personal, or otherwise cannot be used? There are at least three kinds of information you see each time you open your eyes irrelevant data, situational data, and essential data. When it comes to making decisions or augmenting environments using information picked up by on-device cameras, its just sensible to ignore the first category entirely. Thats obviously easier to do with still images, but Vision Pro shows that transient moving image data is also part of the future of computing. The same tech Apple is building for Vision Pro might eventually be used to empower semi-autonomous vehicles. The cameras on those vehicles must see the world around them and make good real-time driving decisions in challenging, life-critical environments. Vehicle manufacturers know they must apply data anonymization techniques to stay on the right side of international privacy law as they gather images for their autonomous systems. Brighter AI even blogged about this earlier this year. How it might be used Thats later down the road (literally), but for now I suspect there will be numerous ways in which this tech is deployed. Apple will probably use it as a form of privacy screen. Application developers will use the same tech for their apps. There might also be implications in later data lifecycle management. There could be implications in copyright. (Though copyright holders will argue that even if original footage is anonymized, it was still based on their work.) This is likely just one component that reflects Apples future plans for use of AI in its products, particularly within its machine vision intelligence teams. Apple CEO Tim Cook last week said of genAI, "We've got some things that we're incredibly excited about that we'll be talking about later this year. Analysts meanwhile are becoming excited. Wedbush analyst Daniel Ive predicted a major growth cycle for the company. Morgan Stanleys Apple analyst, Erik Woodring, put numbers around similar expectations, telling clients in a recent note: Ultimately, we believe that new LLM-enabled software features can help accelerate iPhone replacement cycles, especially given the component requirements to run AI in the cloud & on-device, with every 0.25 year decrease in iPhone replacement cycles driving ~6% upside to our FY25 iPhone unit and revenue forecasts. All in all, were certainly seeing Apple make the first steps in what will turn out to be 2024s Apple AI arms race. Please follow me on Mastodon, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe. When it comes to giant, vaguely eerie bits of architecture, Stonehenge is top dog. Druids! Astronomy! Heavy things that have been moved even though that seems hard! But I would argue that the famous circle of rough-hewn rock, though still very cool, has had plenty of time in the sun. Its time to give a little bit of our dropped jaws and whispered theories to some other spooky structures around the world. This article can also be read as, I assume, basically an episode guide for the show Ancient Aliens. Lets check out some big, weird stuff! 9 Newgrange Shadowgate If I were the strange, swirl-covered structure known as Newgrange, Id be a bit annoyed by Stonehenge stealing all my glory. Both are huge stone structures and both are thought to have been based around the movement of the sun, but Newgrange is actually 500 years older than Stonehenge, its more popular baby brother. Historians have dated its creation to 3200 BCE, and though theyre pretty sure it was a very religiously significant site, the exact purpose cant be known. One very cool detail that helped them arrive at this conclusion: Once a year, on the winter solstice, a ray of light comes shining through a hole and illuminates a specific chamber within. 8 Catalhoyuk Omar Hoftun Catalhoyuk, in Turkey, if you look at it simply in pictures, doesnt seem too shocking. Its an ancient dwelling place, packed tightly in a way that echoes modern urban planning. The fact that ancient people didnt all live in hollowed-out trees and huts is nothing new, though. Whats fascinating about Catalhoyuk is just how old it is. It was created and settled 9,000 years ago, which means that its residents had somehow figured out how to build something that could not inaccurately be described as a city while humans were still working out things like agriculture, animal domestication and fired pottery. Advertisement 7 Skara Brae Ymblanter When a storm ripped apart Orkney in Scotland in 1850, in addition to all the structures it had destroyed, there was one that it had revealed for the first time. Unbeknownst to modern occupants, under the grass near the Bay oSkaill were a series of ancient houses. Probably due to them being unintentionally sealed away for centuries, they were also remarkably intact. Notably, they seem to have been long-abandoned even during their native time, possibly because of the erosion that would ultimately bury them. Fascinating, but not exactly spooky. That energy was added later, with the discovery of ancient skeletons buried nearby. Advertisement 6 Goseck Circle Kenny Arne Lang Antonsen Advertisement Uh, the image says right there it was probably a solar observatory. Look, hold on just a second, okay? First of all, in the interest of being argumentative, solar observatory seems like scientists go-to for anything outside they dont understand. Yes, the gates and gaps in the two huge circles of wooden posts that make up the Goseck Circle do line up with solstices and such. The much juicier detail is that excavations have revealed the middle area to be full of cow and human skeletons, suggesting there might have been ritual sacrifice mixed in with the pretty sunsets. Advertisement 5 Olmec Heads Carptrash Pretty sure the Olmecs didnt go through all the trouble of carving these huge stones just for a cameo on Legends of the Hidden Temple. Unfortunately for them, thats probably the first thing the mention of their civilization inspires among the current generation. The giant carved heads that inspired the nemesis of agile children everywhere, though, are real and real unsettling, especially for the first farmer who accidentally dug them up. Who they actually portray is still unknown, though the generally accepted theory is that theyre tributes to the civilizations greatest rulers. Talk about a head honcho! (I sighed after I wrote that.) Advertisement 4 Pumapunku Brattarb Advertisement Pumapunku, or Puma Punku, depending on what nerd you ask, is located in Bolivia. From far away, it doesnt look particularly remarkable, as far as ruins go. A smattering of earth-colored stones, an arch or two, all pretty much par for the course. Its when you get close that you start to notice strange details, specifically in the carving of said stones. The ruins of Puma Punku are covered in incredibly precise geometric carvings, that look crafted more by a CNC machine than by a sweaty ancestor with a chisel. Naturally, a certain subset of people have taken this and linked it directly to alien space lasers. I would file that under unlikely, but even modern stonemasons have admitted theyd have a hard time replicating the carvings with a full 2024 toolbox. Advertisement 3 Serapeum of Saqqara Ovedc Speaking of incredible precision, lets take a look at the sarcophagi within the Egyptian Serapeum of Saqqara. In contrast to the ornate, outsized coffins the word usually inspires, these are much more geometric and modern. Sort of like if CB2 made mummy holders. Their material, too, was straight out of the Crate & Barrel catalog, since theyre made of solid granite, which isnt a particularly easy material to work with, especially when youre working with enough of it to make 11-foot-tall containers. Despite all those challenges, maybe the most impressive detail is that the lids close with a tolerance of a single micron, meaning they were effectively airtight. No ones sure exactly what they were made for, and guesses range from fermentation to burial sites for sacred bulls. Advertisement Advertisement 2 Moray Terraces gertrudis2010 The Moray Terraces in Peru are immediately, visually, a 10 out of 10. I mean, look at that thing. The sort of incredible landmark that probably made a pilot crash their plane at some point. Even beyond the visual details, theres some amazing engineering details as well: Its got spectacular drainage, preventing it from becoming a very cool puddle with heavy rainfall, and theres a 15-degree temperature difference between the bottom and top. Scientists' best guess as to its purpose was for agricultural research, allowing the Incas to monitor how crops grew at different temperatures. Advertisement MBABANE Government says it has not been allowed to present its case fully in court in the medical drugs and supplies procurement case. As a result, government applied for the recusal of Industrial Court Judge Muzikayise Motsa from presiding over the matter. The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Khanyakwezwe Mabuza, alleged that Judge Motsa was not regulating the proceedings in a fair manner. In this matter, Principal Procurement Officer in the Ministry of Health, Sincedile Magwaza, and Deputy Director-Pharmaceutical Services Fortunate Bhembe, took government to court in a bid to stop the forensic investigation against them into the issue of procurement of medical drugs. The investigation involved Nikilitha Consultancy, Clariscent Consulting and Funduzi Forensic Services (Pty) Ltd. Urgent When they approached the court on an urgent basis in June 2023, Magwaza and Bhembe divided their prayers into Part A and Part B. In Part A, they want Nikilitha to be interdicted from requiring them to appear before the investigation panel constituted by individuals who were previously part and/or associated with the entities known as Nikilitha and/or Claricent and Funduzi. In Part B, they want the court to declare that the forensic investigation is tainted with illegality, fraught with multiple irregularities and that its outcome had been pre-determined. The applicants (Magwaza and Bhembe) are also praying for an order declaring that the decision by the auditor general to appoint a forensic investigation team is tainted with illegality for want of compliance with the procurement laws of the Kingdom of Eswatini. They alleged that the forensic investigators failed to follow fair and lawful processes in the discharge of their functions and that the entire investigative process to the date of the applicant be declared unlawful and/or irrational and invalid. Part A was decided in some sort of piecemeal fashion in that the government consented to the relief sought and the other respondents (Nikilitha and/or Claricent and Funduzi) opposed the relief sought. The latter raised points of law on jurisdiction, which is still to be decided. Government argued that it was not receiving a fair trial. One of the reasons, according to the Health PS, for the recusal application, was that Judge Motsa had allegedly mero motu (of ones accord) revived the interim order granted in favour of Bhembe and Magwaza concerning Part A of their prayers. This, according to Mabuza, was unfair on the part of the judge. He said without the revival of the interim order, Part A would have been disposed of to the benefit of government and the other respondents. The PS said it was not unreasonable to harbour an apprehension of bias on the part of the judge. The impression created is that the decision to revive the rule nisi was intended to assist the applicants. On this ground alone, I submit that the learned judge ought to disqualify himself from hearing the matter, Mabuza submitted. The veracity of these allegations is still to be tested in court. Bhembe and Magwaza are yet to file their answering papers to the recusal application. The duo is represented by Zweli Jele of Robinson Bertram while Principal Crown Counsel Vikinduku Manana appears for government. Government has instructed a South African advocate for the recusal application. Funduzi is represented by Kwanele Magagula of Sithole and Magagula Attorneys. The PS also argued that from inception, the respondents have not been allowed to present their cases fully. He alleged that the court failed to regulate Part A in a fair manner. Mabuza told the court that the matter was set for hearing on June 16, 2023, if there was no opposition from the respondents. However, he said they filed notices to oppose, which meant that the matter would have to be heard on a different future date. It proceeded to hear the application without the answering affidavits of the respondents. The answering affidavits could not be filed due to the unreasonably truncated time periods set by the applicants. Interestingly, the matter ought not to have been heard on June 16, 2023, in the first place, because the applicants notice of motion had indicated that the matter will only be heard in June if there was no opposition, Mabuza said. Ventilation He stated that despite this, the court proceeded to hear the matter without a full set of papers for the proper ventilation of the issues between the parties. The PS said he was aware that the government had initially consented to Part A, but the decision could not have been properly taken considering the short period afforded to them to consider the matter. According to Mabuza, the court ought to have postponed the matter and issued directives for the filing of answering affidavits in relation to Part A. This would have been a fair ruling under the circumstances and it would have been in line with the notice of motion of the applicants which stated that the matter would only be heard on June 16, 2023, if there was no opposition. These submissions are made considering the principle that a court is not an umpire but must actively regulate proceedings in a fair manner to all the parties. The other ground for recusal is that the judge had allegedly consistently refused to hear the point on jurisdiction raised by the respondents. The point of jurisdiction, Mabuza submitted, was pertinently raised at the first hearing of the matter on June 16, 2023, by the private respondents (Nikilitha and/or Claricent and Funduzi). In his judgment on the Rule 30 application, at paragraph 13, the learned judge acknowledges that the point was raised. However, he does not mention what his ruling was on the point. That is because he never considered the point, further argued Mabuza. Paragraph 13 of the Rule 30 application read: A notice to raise points of law was filed from the bar on behalf of the 6th respondent (Funduzi) with the object of challenging the jurisdiction of this court in this matter and the grant of any order sought by the applicants was opposed until the point of law was heard and determined. Mabuza submitted that the point on jurisdiction ought to have been considered first because it was definitive and dispositive of the matter. He also stated that the court also had a duty to raise the question of jurisdiction even if none of the parties had raised it because a court must have jurisdiction for its judgment or order to be valid. He said if a court did not have jurisdiction, its judgment or order was a nullity. The matter is pending in court. MBABANE EmaSwati are among 700 000 people whose South African IDs were blocked by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) because their citizenship is under investigation. In reality, the total number of SA identity (ID) cards blocked for this purpose was 1.8 million, until more than half of this number was unblocked for varying reasons. The blocking of IDs in the neighbouring State had been a subject of litigation, as Lawyers for Human Rights and other organisations, have launched High Court applications to have the IDs blocking exercise declared unconstitutional and affront to basic human rights. In court, it was explained that on a practical level, ID blocking meant that when a person against whose ID a marker has been placed approached any office of the DHA, a bank, SASSA office, or any other institution that requires an ID, they would be denied the service they sought, and be informed that their ID had been blocked. The blocking of IDs prevents individuals from engaging with the world in any way that requires that person to use their ID. These individuals cannot obtain a travel document and they cant vote, access healthcare or education systems, or open bank accounts. In the most recent case, heard at the North Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, an Eswatini-born citizen, who was granted permanent residence in SA, Phindile Mazibuko, emerged victorious after applying for an order to unblock her ID. Applications The case was before High Court Judge J Van der Schyff. Supporting Mazibukos applications, as second and third applicants were lawyers for Human Rights and LegalWise South Africa, respectively. The minister of Home Affairs and the DHA were respondents in the matter. The court was informed that the exercise of ID blocking was so prevalent, that the respondents confirmed during the court proceedings that it recently unblocked more than 1.8 million IDs, with more than 700 000 still being blocked at the time the application was heard. Non-South African citizens who entered the republic unlawfully were said have often employed various means to obtain identity numbers, under the pretence that they were either born as South African citizens or awarded permanent resident statuses. This abuse of process allows for illegal foreigners to access benefits reserved for South African citizens and permanent residents. The use of fraudulently obtained identity documents creates a dilemma for the government and the country on different levels, reads the judgment. To address this dilemma, the Department of Home Affairs resorted to ID blocking, to block any suspiciously processed identity number while investigating whether a person registered in the national population register is a South African citizen or permanent resident. The application commenced when Mazibuko approached the court, seeking relief to interdict the DHA from threatening to take or taking any steps to revoke her status as a permanent resident of SA. She wanted them to also desist from confiscating her SA identity card, or deport her, pending a final decision to do so in terms of Section 8(3) of the Immigration Act 13 of 2002. She also wanted the court to review and set aside the DHAs decision to place markers and block her ID and substitute such a decision with a decision confirming her status as a lawful South African permanent resident, alternatively remitting the decision to the respondents for reconsideration within 30 days. The court identified Mazibuko as an adult citizen of the Kingdom of Eswatini. Permanent She is a permanent resident of South Africa. She holds a Swaziland (Eswatini) passport and a South African identity document. She has been a permanent resident of SA since 1998. Her permanent residency status has been updated as and when necessary. The court also said Mazibuko stated that she was born in Eswatini. She met her husband in 1993, while studying at the University of Eswatini. They got engaged and concluded a marriage by traditional rites in 1996. Her husband, thereafter, returned to South Africa to take up employment. She stayed behind to complete her degree. Upon completing her degree in August 1997, she travelled to South Africa using a valid visitors visa. She concluded a civil marriage with her husband in Pretoria on August 13, 1997. She was granted permanent residency in South Africa on March 12, 1998, and received her identity document on March 19, 1998. Two children were subsequently born of the marriage. During 2012, Mazibuko received a notification from her bank, that money had been fraudulently deducted from her account. She was informed that it appeared to the bank that someone had accessed her personal details, including her full name, fingerprints, and a photograph and was using this information to impersonate her. She was advised to approach the offices of the DHA for assistance in investigating a possible case of identity theft. Mzibuko attended the offices of the DHA in Centurion around November 28, 2012. She informed officials of her ordeal and asked them to assist her. She was informed that the DHAs records reflected two identity numbers linked to her name, the one she used and one unfamiliar to her. She was then requested to attend to her local police station to depose to an affidavit setting out the facts of her situation. She was to provide an affidavit accompanied by copies of her permanent residency permit, identity document, marriage certificate and her husbands identity book to the DHA in Pretoria Central to investigate the matter. She duly complied and provided the documents to the DHA in or around the period between November and December 2012. She received a case number and was advised that the DHA would investigate the situation. She was told to return in four to six months to ascertain the outcome of the investigation. Mazibuko returned to the Centurion offices of the DHA in March 2013 and was informed that the investigation was ongoing. The matter was assigned to a Mr. Msiza and a Mr. Baloyi of the DHA. Investigation The court heard that since March 2013, various attempts were made to ascertain the outcome of the investigation. On December 10, 2018, Mazibuko and her husband attended the DHA office in Centurion to apply for a new passport for one of their daughters. She approached Baloyi for an update on the investigation and was referred by him to the office manager, a man by the name of Bongani. She was informed that the investigation was completed. The investigation revealed that the unfamiliar identity number was obtained in 1997 by an unknown individual at the Mbunzini Immigration Office, in Mpumalanga. She was told that it appeared that her permanent residency and South African identity document were obtained unlawfully and the matter had been handed over to the legal department at the DHAs headquarters in Pretoria. She was informed that she would be contacted between February and March 2019, and in all likelihood, her permanent residency permit would be withdrawn and her identity document revoked, resulting in her being deported and criminally charged, the court heard. Despite numerous requests, Mazibuko was not furnished with reasons for the allegations that her permanent residency permit and South African identity document were unlawfully obtained. Last month, this newspaper also revealed how another liSwati had his SA ID blocked and a deportation order issued against him after it was revealed that the document had not been obtained legitimately. Located at 26 Henry Street in Saratoga Springs, Osteria Danny opened in 2016 under owners Danny and Patti Petrosino. The space at 26 Henry St. in downtown Saratoga Springs has a long history in the community. It was originally Cudneys Dry Cleaners, it was then owned by Freihofer's Bakery Outlet. The property was turned into a restaurant called Dine by Ronnie Farber and Steve Knopf in 2002. Danny Petrosino said the restaurant went through a few iterations before it was then bought by James Rua, the owner of Cafe Capriccio in Albany, who turned the space into Capriccio Saratoga in 2011. Danny Petrosino previously owned the nearby restaurant in downtown, Mio Posto. Petrosino said that Rua had made him an offer, and the Petrosinos are now in their seventh year of business at Osteria Danny. Petrosino said that osteria is an Italian word for the place where local people would come together and meet. Osteria Danny is family-oriented, Petrosino said. The walls are decorated with photos of family and friends. Petrosino said that when people come to his restaurant he wants them to feel like they are eating a home cooked meal, and that the most important part of the restaurant is the food. With homemade pastas, sauces and fresh ingredients, Petrosino says unlike most restaurants, he does not have a walk-in freezer, and gets everything fresh each day. Danny Petrosino opened his first restaurant in Schenectady, the Executive Suite, in the mid 1980s. He was the general manager and the original chef at the Glen Sanders Mansion, and has also spent time in Houston and Lake Placid, and owned a restaurant in Florida called Red Sauce before returning to upstate New York in 2015. Its taken on a life of its own, this place, he said. We try very hard to make it so when people come here it's like when they come to our house. My wife Patti, shes one-in-a-million. She works this floor, she talks to every table that comes in here, she knows them. Its like a circus in here in the summer. The Petrosinos have family in Italy whom they have visited regularly. Sicily is very multicultural, which Danny Petrosino said has created a diverse cuisine. At the end of the day, he cooks what he likes to eat. Some people get it, and some people dont get it, Danny Petrosino said. Some people have asked the restaurant to change the music, but he says whether it's Ted Nugent or Rolling Stones or Motown, the restaurant plays songs he had on his old iPod. Its the soundtrack of my life, he said. The Daily Gazette recently spoke with Danny Petrosino about the restaurant. Question: What are some of the most popular items you serve? Answer: The biggest selling item on the menu is our Veal Danny. It was on my menu way back at the Executive Suite in 1985. I like to change it up and do new things, but some people always come back for what they like. We sell a lot of pasta, we make all our own pasta, and I change the sauces up, we have some things other people dont have, like a pistachio pesto. We sell a lot of wine, I have a very large selection of Italian wine. I sell more wine than other places three times our size do. I dont gouge people on it like some places do on it. Q: Should customers make reservations? A: We start taking reservations for track season on Jan. 2, thats the rule. There is no phone in the restaurant, the phone is my wifes cell phone, so you have to go through Patti to get a reservation, she has 7,400 contacts in her phone. We have a lot of standing reservations, like someone who comes in every Thursday. So Jan. 2, at 7 a.m., the phone starts ringing. Monday nights are pretty busy for us because most places are closed. Things are a little quieter in the winter, but in the summer, its crazy. Q: How would you describe the atmosphere at Osteria Danny? A: We want it to feel like youre coming to eat dinner at our house. Patti talks to every table, she knows the regulars, their kids. Its all pictures of our family, and our friends on the walls. In the summer, its a circus. Q: As far as prices go, what are your customers typically spending? A: My pastas are what you might consider a little high, but pretty much lower than anyone else. Even though it doesnt say it on the menu, if someone wants to get a half portion, we can make them a half portion. A lot of people will come in and sit at the bar and get a salad, my salad serves two people, its $12 or $14 but two people can eat it. I would say 60-70% of the salads we sell people split, they share a salad and they each get a half portion of a pasta for $15 or $16. Theres things on there like a veal chop thats a little more expensive. Q:Why should someone who has never been to Osteria Danny before consider coming? A: Come for the food. Its all about the food. I like to change up the menu. They call me a dinosaur, I dont have things labeled GF for gluten free or V for vegetarian on the menu, if someone wants something made vegetarian or gluten free I can do that. Ill make anything on the menu gluten-free. I was like the weirdo who was like 10-years-old and said I want to be a buyer at Bloomingdales when I grow up, she said. A Fashion Institute of Technology graduate, Druckman worked at Bloomingdales in Manhattan for seven years before deciding to return home to Saratoga Springs to open her own retail store. I always dreamed of opening my own store, she said. In 2013, Druckman opened Lola Saratoga in a 300-square-foot space in the Saratoga Marketplace and began selling pre-owned luxury items from brands such as Gucci, Dior, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent and Hermes. Three years later, Druckman moved into a larger space almost 1,100 square feet on Broadway. Once we moved onto Broadway, our business really took off and we started expanding, she said. The pre-owned items in the store, which range from belts to bags, are certified by a third party, Druckman said. She said most items are in excellent to like-new condition with no rips, stains or tears and dont look worn. Most of them look brand new, she said. Druckman said her two favorite brands are Chanel and Hermes. Theyre both very classic brands, she said. Most of their pieces are timeless, they never go out of style and, most importantly, they hold their value. The pre-owned luxury items make up only one half of the store the other is new merchandise. Druckman said the store is the only retailer in the area to carry the Tory Burch line. The store also offers forever bracelets 14-carat gold bracelets that get welded on in the store. Druckman said clients should look for items that speak to them items that youre going to grab and get excited to wear every day. She can also try and find specific pieces for people, she said. The store has had its challenges over the years. In 2019, Druckman opened a second location in Stuyvesant Plaza but it closed only months later due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So, quite literally, the worst time to open a store, she said. During that time, Druckman worked to bolster her website. Capital Region small businesses: The Daily Gazettes Biz Beat (w/map) Our look at Capital Region businesses and the locals who run them. New features every Monday from our Shenandoah Briere. During that time period, we actually strategically ran ads in the states that were not shut down, she said. So, we ran ads in Texas and Florida and a lot of the southern states to help us move merchandise during that time period, because we knew people were still going out, shopping. Those actions helped her get new customers and keep the business going. And now, the website is continuing to grow. More recently, she began doing live selling events on TikTok. Thats really helped elevate our online presence, she said. One of her most recent hardships was when her Saratoga Springs location was burglarized in December. The assailants made off with over $120,000 in merchandise, Druckman said. They havent been caught yet. Its been a journey, she said. Its been challenging because this is my home and we all spend more time here than we all do in our own home some weeks, so its definitely like a violation to feel unsafe in your home, but were trying to move past it the best that we can. Druckman said she received overwhelming support from the community following the incident. I dont think we wouldve made it through without their support. Its the customers and community that make Druckman love her job. I have customers who I remember when we first opened coming in pushing a baby stroller and now their kids are going into middle school, she said. I think seeing our customers grow with us and just developing those relationships has been amazing. That is something you wont get in a corporate environment. Druckman said the business will have some new things happening this year but couldnt discuss details because they werent finalized yet. MANZINI - The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and senior government officials are accused of dragging their feet in an alleged fraud case involving an officer of the Ministry of Agriculture. The civil servant in question is employed under the Mushroom Development and Promotion Department, which is under the ministry and is based at Malkerns Agricultural Research Station in the Manzini Region. Back in 2019, the officer was accused of defrauding mushroom farmers and government. It was alleged that he was purportedly using government facilities and equipment to produce mushroom seedlings (spawn bags) and privately sold them to farmers. The allegations suggested that the officer would arrange private appointments with the mushroom farmers, collect their money and issue fraudulent receipts, which did not even have a government stamp. It was alleged that he used the money for his personal benefit. Receipts According to some of the receipts, which this publication managed to get hold of during its investigation, the officer was allegedly taking monies ranging between E300 and E1 500 from the mushroom farmers. It is alleged that at times, the officer would take the farmers monies then fail to deliver the seedlings. A source close to the matter and some of the aggrieved farmers revealed that this had been happening for over four years, as it was reported to the ACC in 2019. There is also information suggesting that towards the end of 2023, the officer supposedly took money from some farmers and failed to deliver the mushroom seedlings. They alleged that the officer was continuing with the unauthorised activities, as some of the aggrieved farmers were still waiting to receive mushroom seedlings, which they paid for last year. Stamp They alleged that the officer collected the money in cash and would produce a receipt, which was deemed fraudulent as it did not have a government stamp. However, some of the aggrieved farmers alleged that sometimes they would not get the receipts, especially if they paid him through MTN Eswatinis Mobile Money (MoMo). A farmer said in such cases, they used to produce the MoMo messages as proof of payment, when collecting their seedlings. According to a source close to the matter, some of the affected farmers reported their concerns to some officers, who are based at the Malkerns Research Station, who then referred them to the office of the director of agriculture. Subsequently, the alleged fraudulent activities by the officer were reported to the ACC, which launched an investigation. He said the investigation started in March 2019, whereby the ACC investigators interviewed various ministry officials, together with some of the complainants. During the interviews, the source highlighted that functions of the Mushroom Development Section were clearly stated to the ACC investigators. He said these included conducting research and development of appropriate production methods and technologies for increased production and productivity of mushrooms and building capacity, including training of farmers and other stakeholders in the mushroom production value chain. It was also tasked with promoting the production and consumption of mushrooms for improved health and nutrition. Again, the source said the Mushroom Development and Promotion Section, as a government entity, was required to observe and abide by the administrations procedures, practices and regulations as laid out in law. This, he said, included receiving or accepting cash payments for services that were authorised as qualifying to be charged or paid for. He added that the ACC was also informed that the office of the accountant general (AG) was responsible for providing the oversight guidance, with regard to the procedures and ways that government funds were to be received, recorded and handled, including where and how they could be received and by who. The source said the ACC investigators were informed that it was expected that any client of the ministry or the mushroom development section was given the approved Government General Receipt, as evidence that the client had paid for the services to be rendered by the government entity or official during the carrying out of the specific mandate or approved service. Follow-ups The source said, when the affected farmers made follow-ups with the ministry regarding the ACCs expected report on the matter, they were continuously told that the commission was not forthcoming with it. During that time, they said allegations emerged that some senior officials from the ministry purportedly interfered with the investigations and asked the ACC to stop the probe. Later on, in June 2022, he said the ministry, which was also concerned about the fact that the matter had been dragging for a long time, wrote a letter to the ACC and requested the commission to hand over all documents and other materials that related to the investigation of the officer in question. He said the ministry said the purpose of the request was to allow proper closure of the investigation and appropriate decision-making with regard to the issue, following the work that had been done by the team of investigators. According to the source, it was then that the ACC issued a report, saying the matter was un-prosecutable, something which did not sit well with the complainants. In fact, they had many questions regarding this statement. As such, some of the aggrieved mushroom farmers said they submitted the supposed fake receipts, which they were given by the officer in question when paying for the mushroom seedlings. They argued that if someone used government money for his own benefit, such a person was liable for a criminal offence. Also, they said forging any government documents was a criminal offence. During the previous Peoples Parliament (Sibaya), some emaSwati raised concerns about the ACC, in particular about its purported failure to conclude cases by sending them to the prosecution and subsequently getting culprits behind bars. Colonial history is no longer taught to young British officers at Sandhurst. And most American military planners might never have heard of the desperate battle to save an outpost called Rorke's Drift in the Zulu Empire. But that Victorian battle in 1879, and the 1964 movie Zulu that was based on it, have a crucial lesson for Allied forces now facing Islamist militias in flashpoints across the Middle East. In the film, the Zulu chief sends a wave of warriors on a suicidal assault on the British outpost at Rorke's Drift men armed with assegais or traditional spears, gunned down by volleys of rifle fire. The African losses are heavy. But they are not trying to win with this first assault: they are probing for weak points in the British defences, scoping out what weapons they have and how they use them. There are strong parallels this week with the situation in the Middle East. Rorke's Drift in 1879, and the 1964 movie Zulu (starring Michael Caine, right, and Stanley Baker, left) that was based on it, have a crucial lesson for Allied forces now facing Islamist militias in flashpoints across the Middle East The Iranian-backed drone attack on US army outpost Tower 22 in the Syrian desert - in which three marines were killed and 40 suffered horrific injuries - has echoes of long forgotten colonial conflicts which helped to lay the gunpowder trail to World War I, just as we could face another world war now. Our enemies, the Houthis in Yemen attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Hezbollah guerrillas backed by Iran, are testing the West's resolve and how we might fight back. After five days of dithering, America 'hit back' with B1 bombers and cruise missiles, blasting dusty and largely empty militia bases in the desert. Since then, a joint operation by the US and UK, backed by Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand, has struck 36 targets across 13 locations in Yemen. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps was at pains this weekend to emphasise that RAF strikes on Houthi targets were not intended as 'an escalation', rather a mission 'to protect innocent lives and preserve freedom of navigation'. Meanwhile, though the U.S. Air Force's high tech weapons have killed an estimated 37 militants, officials in Washington said they had no intention of striking Iran itself, repeatedly stressing they did not want war with Tehran. These statements signal to the Yemeni militias and their backers that we do not have the stomach for war, and recoil from killing our opponents - let alone risking the lives of our own forces. The Foreign Secretary, former PM David Cameron, echoed this yesterday: 'We need to send the strongest possible signal to Iran that what they're doing through their proxies is unacceptable. [They] will ultimately be held accountable for what they do.' Precision strikes that do nothing but destroy a few temporary bases are not 'the strongest possible signal'. Nor is the killing of a handful of Houthi rebels who treat death as martyrdom. Frankly, they are regarded by their puppet-masters in Tehran as expendable. The Tower 22 bombing was carried out by the terrorist militia group Kataeb Hezbollah which, as Turkish journalist Amberin Zaman revealed at the weekend, is not actually banned in the UK their supporters were able to march down Whitehall on Saturday chanting anti-West slogans. Britain is trying to play an international role, but this demonstrates we cannot even police our own streets effectively. If the Americans are oblivious to the lessons of Rorke's Drift, they should at least remember Vietnam. At the height of that gruelling war, U.S. Defence Secretary Robert McNamara gave an interview explaining that his policy was to inflict enough deaths and damage on the North Vietnamese to make their Communist leaders back off from fighting the U.S. Army. President Ho Chi Minh listened to that in such disbelief that he asked to have the tape replayed. Then he laughed. McNamara was revealing, he said, that lives mattered - to the Americans! All that mattered to North Vietnam's fanatics was victory. No price was too high. Ho Chi Minh's assessment was right. Far more of his soldiers and untold numbers of civilians were killed. But It was America that gave up paying the price of war. Today President Joe Biden dares not get drawn into an escalating Middle East conflict, with an election due this year. Democrat voters won't stand for it. Our PM Rishi Sunak faces the same stark truth. Precision strikes that do nothing but destroy a few temporary bases are not 'the strongest possible signal'. Nor is the killing of a handful of Houthi rebels (pictured) who treat death as martyrdom. Frankly, they are regarded by their puppet-masters in Tehran as expendable Britain herself is in no position to wage war against Iran or anyone else. Our military inadequacy is reflected in the fiasco of our two aircraft carriers: HMS Prince of Wales is being rapidly prepared to put to sea, after repairs to a crippled propellor shaft. The ship is needed to deputise for its 6 billion sister ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth II - currently out of commission because of an identical propellor shaft breakdown. Russia and China are watching on as Iran and her proxies test the West on their behalf. This is a spectator sport for Putin and Xi, but they are looking for signs that we have failed these tests. Instead of responding to their attacks with real military might, we have staged pin-prick reprisals, designed to demonstrate Western technological superiority. But our timid hesitancy is doing nothing to frighten our global rivals. Former president of North Vietnam Ho Chi Minh said that lives mattered - to the Americans! All that mattered to North Vietnam's fanatics was victory The battle of Rorke's Drift was won because we were prepared to fight with a ferocity that equalled the attacks of our numerous enemies. Now we no longer have the ships, the men or the resolve to do so. With a world in growing chaos, advertising this fact to China or Russia makes the risk of a wider global conflict worse. Mark Almond is director of the Crisis Research Institute, Oxford. Operation Steadfast Defender, the biggest Nato exercise in Europe since the Cold War, was a perfect opportunity to show off the modern face of British sea power. Instead, it has proved to be both a national embarrassment and depressing metaphor for the parlous state of our Armed Forces. HMS Queen Elizabeth, one of the Royal Navys two state-of-the-art aircraft carriers and flagship of the fleet, was to have taken pride of place in the British detachment. Humiliatingly, she has been consigned to dry dock, apparently because of a rusty propeller shaft. She will be replaced in the exercise by her sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, but thats hardly the point. Having shelled out 3.5billion to have her built, the taxpayer is surely entitled to expect the Queen Elizabeth to be maintained in working order. 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 Engineers found a 'significant issue with her starboard propeller shaft' on the HMS Queen Elizabeth (pictured in July 2023 in Portsmouth) 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 Shouldnt checking for rust be routine in all ships, given their intimate relationship with sea water? What would the MoD say if this werent an exercise but an attack on British interests requiring her to go into battle? Sorry, but shes failed her MoT? Across the military the sense of drift and complacency is almost palpable. A chronic recruitment crisis and stockpile shortages have led former defence chiefs to warn that our capabilities in an all-out war would be exhausted within two months. Some extra money has been put in but has been used to plug shortfalls rather than increase manpower and equipment. With the world growing more dangerous by the day, this is simply not good enough. Ships that dont work, a skeleton army and a culture of complacency in Whitehall imperil this country. Its time for the Government to wake up to the seriousness of the global threat and give us the protection we need. In denial over asylum Education Secretary Gillian Keegans insistence that the case of suspected chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi is not about asylum shows the gaping disconnect between the public and the political class. An Afghan smuggled here in the back of a lorry, Ezedis asylum claim was refused twice. After seemingly converting from Islam to Christianity a capital offence in his home country he was finally granted refugee status, despite having been convicted of sex offences while in Britain. But even if he had been refused again, he couldnt have been repatriated, because Afghanistan is not deemed a safe country. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed fugitive Abdul Ezedi (pictured) 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 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 The Rwanda scheme could solve this conundrum. If claimants were sent there for assessment, they would not automatically be allowed entry back into the UK. The liberal establishment naturally loathes this plan, but it has strong public support. Last week, Ezedi allegedly threw a corrosive substance over a woman and her young daughters. Had he been removed from Britain, these hideous crimes would never have been committed. So yes, this case is emphatically about asylum. To deny this is delusional, as anyone with an ounce of common sense can see. Tragic mothers plea No parent could fail to be moved by the dignity shown by the mother of Brianna Ghey, the 16-year-old transgender girl murdered in a chillingly premeditated attack. Brianna Grey was stabbed 28 times with a hunting knife on February 11, 2023 Esther Ghey (pictured) said she wants smartphones to be made available for under-16s without social media apps Despite her anguish, she spoke bravely about how her daughters death should be the catalyst for a genuine bid to keep children off dangerous websites. Troubled Brianna visited sinister self-harm and anorexia forums as her teenage murderers fuelled their homicidal tendencies scouring the dark web. How many more young minds must be damaged or twisted before the big tech companies take some responsibility? In Ms Gheys own words: Something needs to change now. I am not sure how Esther Ghey, mother of murdered teenager Brianna, gets out of bed each morning, or if she will ever smile again. But what I do know is that she is a selfless and forgiving hero despite living the nightmare that every parent dreads. Only days after her daughters brutal murderers, Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe just 15 when they lured Brianna to her death were sentenced, Esther somehow found the strength to give a powerful interview to the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg. She called on the Government to block under-16s having access to social media on smartphones and advocated special childrens phones without apps. She also wants to make it legal for parents to be flagged via built-in software on a linked phone if their children try to access inappropriate and harmful material. She was adamant that Brianna would still be alive if children were better protected from the Wild West of the web. Only days after her daughters brutal murderers were sentenced, Esther Ghey somehow found the strength to give a powerful interview to the BBCs Laura Kuenssberg Esther, pictured with Brianna, has called on the government to block under-16s having access to social media on smart phones the killers of James Bulger Jon Venables and Robert Thompson were also ten years old when they abducted, tortured and murdered the toddler. Both came from deeply troubled and chaotic homes.. Both came from deeply troubled and chaotic homes. Child murderers are thankfully rare. Mary Bell, who was just ten when she murdered the first of two pre-school age child victims in 1968, was diagnosed with a psychopathic personality disorder. The killers of James Bulger Jon Venables and Robert Thompson were also ten years old when they abducted, tortured and then murdered the toddler. Both came from deeply troubled and chaotic homes. From what we know following their trial, Jenkinson and Ratcliffe came from stable backgrounds but, according to their own testimony in court, had their minds altered by their use of social media content and the images theyd sought out. Jenkinson, in particular, was obsessed with horror films, serial killers and had searched for and watched gruesome murder and real-life torture videos on the dark web. As I watched Esther Ghey making her emotional plea and her impassioned warnings about the dangers lying in wait for our children on the internet, I thought of all the parents Id spoken to during the two years I was Minister for Mental Health. Some of them had lost sons and daughters children and young adults whod taken their own lives as a result of viewing legal but harmful content on the internet. She was adamant that Brianna would still be alive if children were better protected from the Wild West of the web Recent analysis showed that in 2021 suicide rates among 15 to 19-year-olds in England had reached their highest point in 30 years, while the number of children suffering from eating disorders has also exploded. Esther says she only found out after Briannas death that she had been viewing pro-anorexia and self-harm sites. Too many youngsters are being targeted by social media algorithms that lead them to dark places. These soon learn all about your child: how old he or she is; when they might be at home alone on a Friday night; whether they are lonely or sad. They know when, perhaps out of curiosity, a child clicks on a harmful video and can tempt them with more. Social media and the web are indeed a Wild West. And Esther Ghey and her family and too many others are paying a high price for it. But with all due respect to the courageous Esther, a new law to ban under-16s from owning phones with internet access, and which would allow parents to be alerted when children access harmful content, would be impossible to enforce. Instead, the Online Safety Bill, which I steered through Parliament as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and which is now law, allows the regulator Ofcom to hold Big Tech Google, Apple, Microsoft and Meta, which runs Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp to account. It can impose multi-million-pound fines if they fail to protect users, particularly children, from harmful and illegal content. Rather than phase it in as Ofcom is doing, we should enforce its provisions as soon as possible and explore every other avenue to protect our own children. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has taken the bold step to ban mobile phones in schools, but thats taking far too long to implement. With her brave words and whether she might want it or not Esther Ghey finds herself at the forefront of a campaign to keep our children safe online. Her experience is raw and real, and when faced with women like Esther, politicians will listen and try to help. She faces a hard road ahead but undoubtedly she will save lives in the process. Juliette Binoche's portrayal of Coco Chanel in Apple TV's The New Look defies the historic conception of the French fashion icon as a Nazi traitor. 'Her involvement with Nazis is a fact, but you have to know that she didn't kill anyone,' Binoche tells Radio Times. 'It would be easy to say Chanel was a collaborator, full stop, and you have to put her in the bin. But it's way more complex than that.' French actress Juliette Binoche who plays Coco Chanel in Apple TV's The New Look Coco Chanel was a French fashion icon who collaborated with the Nazis Omitting the fact that Chanel was a Nazi intelligence operative in Paris, Binoche also skirts the question of how Chanel, who slept with a German officer during the conflict, avoided post-war vilification. She offered free scent to US soldiers, with Malcolm Muggeridge noting: 'They queued up to get the bottles of Chanel No 5 and would have been outraged if the French police had touched a hair of her head.' Chanel was a Nazi intelligence operative in Paris, Binoche also skirts the question of how Chanel, who slept with a German officer during the conflict, avoided post-war vilification The Nazi flag flying from the Arc de Triomphe during the German occupation of France during World War II Royal writer Ingrid Seward claims that the late Queen was 'startled' by American bishop Michael Curry's impassioned sermon at Harry and Meghan's wedding. But she doesn't reveal why. Curry hit a raw nerve. Closing his sermon, he invoked the virtues of fire, saying it made human civilisation possible and shouting the word 15 times. Was he aware that the wedding reception was in St George's Hall which was ravaged by flames during the Queen's 1992 annus horribilis? Joanna Lumley attends the opening of the Burberry takeover of Harrods on February 1, 2024 Gyles Brandreth boasts that Joanna Lumley is one of three women he's been paired with on the Channel 4 series Celebrity Gogglebox who have been made Dames. Naming the other two as Sheila Hancock and Maureen Lipman, he adds: 'My wife says it's because the Queen was watching Celebrity Gogglebox and thought, "These poor women having to sit on his sofa watching unspeakable programmes like Naked Attraction, we've got to reward them in some way".' Why didn't she give fellow sufferer Gyles a gong? Irked by daft calls to ban rugby in schools after it was labelled 'child abuse', Boris Johnson fondly remembers a 1982 Eton Chronicle report of his exploits as Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson alias the Blond Behemoth, captain of the King's Scholars against rival team the Oppidans. Evoking the peaceniks' chants of 'LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?', the Chronicle asked: 'Hey, hey, ABJ, how many Oppidans did you kill today?' Ian Lavendar at the Dad's Army film premiere. He recently died at the age of 77 The final TV appearance of Dad's Army's last man standing, Ian Lavender, who has died aged 77, was in EastEnders in 2017. Having battled cancer, suffered a heart attack and been diagnosed with sepsis, Ian glumly suggested: 'I don't think they could get me insured now.' Rest easy Private Pike. Friends of Fairytale Of New York composer Shane MacGowan claim that his enthuasism for Lucky Jim writer Kingsley Amis inspired the song's lyrics, including: 'You're a bum/You're a punk/You're an old slut on junk'. Kingsley's ditty, sung by the book's hero Jim Dixon, includes the lines: 'You ignorant clod/you stupid old sod... You wordy old turdy old scum/you griping old piping old bum.' Discuss. Have you always wanted to know exactly how to dress for your astrology sign? Perhaps you dream of feeling bolder and really leaning into your sun sign, but aren't quite sure where to start. FEMAIL spoke to two celebrity astrologers to find out exactly how you can channel your truest self through fashion, by wearing the right colors and fabrics. From donning vibrant and daring ensembles to shining in whimsical patterns, these are the best ways to make sure you're dressing like your zodiac sign - with celebrities offering living proof. Sophie Won (left), who was the astrologer on Netflix's Indian Matchmaking, advised on dressing for your sun sign, as well as celebrity astrologer Kyle Thomas (right), based in LA Celebrity astrologer Kyle Thomas, based in Los Angeles, California, who's known for his cosmic guidance for A-listers, weighed in on fashion trends for every sign. He highlighted Aries who opt for 'vibrant and daring outfits' and Taurus who appreciate 'royal but comfortable' ensembles. Sophie Won, who was an astrologer on season two of Indian Matchmaker and founded the astrology app Reha, gave her own details on the sun signs' astrological fashion choices. She offered insights into 'hyper-feminine' Gemini and 'fluid and flowy' Cancer silhouettes. To learn more, take in Kyle and Sophie's advice below so you can look your best. Aries (March 21 - April 19) Kyle described Aries as 'bold, independent, and ready to lead the pack,' and said because of their 'fiery personalities,' they do best in 'vibrant and daring outfits.' 'Their statement pieces should be a jacket or hat, especially because Aries rules the head,' Kyle explained. Diana Ross, Reese Witherspoon, and Sarah Jessica Parker are a few example of bold Aries who certainly appreciate a statement-making accessory. Celebrity astrologer Kyle Thomas has broken down how people should dress for their star sign for FEMAIL - including how Aries should accessorize with a hat, like Sarah Jessica Parker Sophie agreed that Aries 'thrive in bold silhouettes.' 'Embracing the role of a risk-taker and daredevil, Aries individuals find confidence in pushing the boundaries with daring cuts that embody their independent energy,' Sophie explained. 'Ruled by the fiery planet Mars, Aries can enhance their passionate and confident nature by opting for colors like deep, rich reds, coral, and dark pinks, Sophie continued. 'These hues ignite and magnify the inherent energy that defines Aries.' Sophie also suggested that Aries add coral and dark pinks to their wardrobe to 'amplify their fiery essence,' as well as avoiding black, which can 'dampen their fire.' 'Aries is all about setting trends ablaze and doing things in their unique way. Embodying a spirit of independence and confidence, Aries individuals can truly ignite their personal style,' she added, which is certainly true for stars like Mariah Carey and Elton John. Kyle, who is based in Los Angeles, California, described Aries - like Diana Ross and Mariah Carey - as 'bold, independent, and ready to lead the pack.' They do best in daring outfits Reese Witherspoon is also an Aries - and the owner of preppy brand Draper James - and she shines in this bold red top Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Kyle described Taurus as 'elegant as Venus, the planet that rules them.' This natural elegance leads to lots of effortlessly chic outfits - think model-off-duty vibes. For Taurus, the go-to colors are pink, pale blue, and green, 'so if they can integrate them in, they will vibrate at their highest peak and keep eyes glued to them,' Kyle promised. 'They naturally have rich tastes with a sensual side, so theyll want to make sure their wardrobe is both royal but comfortable,' Kyle said. Gigi Hadid looks her best in effortlessly chic outfits in shades of blue and green 'They naturally have rich tastes with a sensual side, so they'll want to make sure their wardrobe is both royal but comfortable,' Kyle said of Taurus, which is true for Adele Just look at the multifaceted list of celebrity Tauruses as examples, like the always regal Queen Elizabeth II, as well as George Clooney, David Beckham, Adele, and Gigi Hadid. Sophie added: 'Taurus, with its emphasis on aesthetics, doesn't necessarily crave attention but values a style that exudes an underlying sensuality and luxurious, soft femininity. 'This earthy sign gravitates towards soft, natural, and wholesome fabrics, with a particular emphasis on softness to evoke a grounded and safe feeling, aligning with Taurus's desire for stability.' The love of soft fabrics makes sense for Gigi, who has her own cashmere brand, Guest in Residence. Gemini (May 21 - June 20) Heidi Klum is an example of a Gemini who always knows how to stand out in a crowd and shines in yellow Kyle said Geminis like Naomi Campbell should opt for yellow to feel powerful, adding: 'They are ruled by Mercury, so they like to bring attention to their fashion as a conversation piece' 'Geminis always knows how to stand out from the crowd, and they look fantastic in whimsical and fun patterns,' Kyle said, recommending a fun silhouette like a jumpsuit. Kyle said Gemini should opt for yellow to feel powerful, adding: 'They are ruled by Mercury, so they like to bring attention to their fashion as a conversation piece.' Heidi Klum, Naomi Campbell, Angelina Jolie, the Olsen Twins, and Kanye West are all examples. Sophie said 'achieving a well-balanced mix of hyper-feminine and hyper-masculine silhouettes is crucial, as Gemini is inherently linked to the concept of duality, resembling the yin and yang.' 'Embracing experimentation with fabrics and cuts is equally important for Geminis, as it keeps them intellectually engaged and in tune with their versatile nature,' she added. Cancer (June 21 - July 22) Lana Del Rey is a Leo who likes to show off her curves occasionally in shades of silvery blue Ariana Grande is a cozy Cancer but still loves to show off her curves occasionally in black - a shade astrologer Sophie Won suggested avoiding Cancers are all about their home life, so they love outfits that are especially cozy. Kyle advised Cancers to wear ensembles that are equal parts timeless and charming, as well as opting for silvery blue and smoky gray. 'They often like to feel modest enough, but they still tend to like to show off some their sensual curves,' Kyle explained. Fittingly, Khloe Kardashian, Selena Gomez, and Lana Del Rey are all emotional Cancers who often showcase sultry styles. Sophie said since Cancers were 'deeply attuned to emotions,' the 'key to dressing for this sign lies in aligning one's attire with their current emotional state,' which was ever-changing. 'Fluid and flowy silhouettes work exceptionally well for this intuitive and sensitive sign,' she proposed, adding that they should choose super soft fabrics and low-key patterns. Sophie agreed that Cancers should wear shades of blue since their elementally associated with water, also recommending sea green, white, and soft yellow, like the sea. 'On the contrary, black should be avoided, as it has the potential to dampen Cancer's sensitive mood and is not in harmony with their emotional wavelength,' Sophie warned, although Cancers like Ariana Grande love dressing in the dark color. Leo (July 23 August 22) 'No matter what they wear, it always needs to stir some gossip,' Kyle said about Leos, with Kylie Jenner being the ultimate example of dressing in shades of gold Leos love to be the center of attention, and they do that with outlandish outfits - just look at Jennifer Lopez for proof Meghan Markle is a Leo who loves her power colors, which are gold, yellow, and orange Leos like Demi Lovato love to be the center of attention in their power colors Leos love to be the center of attention, and they do that with outlandish outfits. 'The mighty and royal Leo always grabs the limelight and knows how to court the attention of everyone around them as if they are actors within a play,' Kyle said. 'They often love bedazzled jewelry and daring outfits, which will flash in the sunlight or sparkle at night.' 'No matter what they wear, it always needs to stir some gossip,' Kyle added. 'However, they should always make sure to pay some extra time on their hair, as it is their mane. Their power colors are gold, yellow, and orange, so they should always pepper them into their fashion,' Kyle explained. Meghan Markle, Kylie Jenner, Demi Lovato, Jennifer Lopez, and Madonna are all Leos. Sophie said Leos adored glamour and luxury, which was 'essential to amplify the innate star power within and fortify their natural leadership energy.' The astrologist suggests 'patterns and shapes that exude glamour is crucial to bring out their charismatic essence.' Virgo (August 23 September 22) Virgos might seem conservative on the outside, but they love to bare a little bit of skin - especially when it comes to celebrities hitting the red carpet, like Beyonce Kyle told FEMAIL 'their power colors are green and dark brown, so they should choose these shades,' like Zendaya did (above) Virgos might seem conservative on the outside, but they love to bare a little bit of skin - especially when it comes to celebrities hitting the red carpet. 'Virgos tend to have a polite and modest fashion sense, yet also know how to make a conservative outfit packed with sex appeal,' Kyle advised. 'That's because they are careful on every little detail, and while they can be perfectionists, this means that they will not have a hair out of place.' Kyle said Virgos 'like to look approachable, as well as feminine and soft, just like their symbol, which is the Virgin.' 'Their power colors are green and dark brown, so they should choose these shades or add them in with an accessory,' he added. 'They are ruled by Mercury, which is a versatile planet, so they can be versatile in their looks.' A few extremely glamorous celebrity Virgos are Zendaya, Salma Hayek, Blake Lively, and Beyonce. Libra (September 23 - October 22) Like most Libras, Cardi B loves a body-hugging ensemble in shades of blue that keeps things interesting According to Kyle, Libras, who are 'attracted to duality, should mix and match or pick something that hugs their form, but keeps everyone's eyes going up and down their bodies.' 'Ruled by Venus, planet of attraction, they like to keep things interesting and moving,' he said, naming pale green and shades of blue as their power colors. Just look at Cardi B, Hilary Duff, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Sophie called Libras the 'tastemakers of the zodiac,' and raved that they 'naturally embody fashion, elegance, and on-trend styles,' while making sure to strike just the right balance between trendy and timeless. 'Under the influence of Venus, Libras can enhance their sense of peace by embracing tasteful pastels,' she said, as 'these colors not only align with their aesthetic preferences but also contribute to the overall sense of balance they seek.' Scorpio (October 23 - November 21) Sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner are examples of dressing for their zodiac signs, with the model rocking a glittering red dress and her sister in gold Kyle said Scorpios tend to be quite chic as they 'like to soak up the attention, so they often flaunt their bodies,' opting for outfits that are 'risque, kinky, daring, or dominant' Gabrielle Union shines in rich colors like red and maroon, like her sultry minidress above Kendall Jenner, Drake, and Gabrielle Union are intense Scorpios who love daring ensembles and bold colors. Kyle said Scorpios tend to be quite chic as they 'like to soak up the attention, so they often flaunt their bodies,' opting for outfits that are 'risque, kinky, daring, or dominant.' Unsurprisingly, this mysterious water sign looks their best in sexy, rich colors like red, dark purple, black, and maroon. According to Sophie, these colors 'not only add depth to their psychic and intuitive nature but also amplify the intensity that defines Scorpio.' 'Scorpios possess an inherent allure, and infusing a touch of sexiness into their style is crucial to enhance their inherent magnetism,' she advised. Sagittarius (November 22 - December 21) According to Kyle, 'Sagittarians naturally have luck, beauty, and fire on their side, so theyre never afraid to get daring,' with Taylor Swift as a fitting examples If you're a Sagittarius, try a flirty and fun outfit to stand out in a crowd. According to Kyle, 'Sagittarian naturally have luck, beauty, and fire on their side, so they're never afraid to get daring,' with Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift as examples. 'They are always drawn to a little bit of controversy and adventure in their fashion, and their outfits often reflect this,' Kyle continued. 'They can mix and match easily, but often like to add in something a bit sassy or bold.' Kyle says this bold approach to fashion makes jaws drop as they stir the pot and push the envelope. 'Their power colors are rich purples and deep blues, so if they add them to their outfits, they'll vibrate at a higher frequency,' Kyle said, and Sophie agreed, saying golden yellows, rich blues and purples will accentuate their positive energy. Sophie described Sagittarius as 'epitomizing freedom, adventure, and exploration,' and thriving 'in a style that is cool and casual.' She also explained that the key to dressing well as a Sag is not trying too hard, and wearing playful silhouettes that 'enhance the sign's friendly and optimistic nature.' Sags are all about comfort while showing off their free-spirited personalities. Capricorn (December 22 - January 19) Kate Middleton is known for her conservative but chic outfits, like this royal blue number Dolly Parton looks fantastic in shades of dark green, black, and gray Kyle said: 'Capricorns, with their focus on success and strength, love to make a statement in their fashion, but often do so in more traditional, conservative, and grounded ways. 'When it comes to them, rather than going over-the-board, they're advised to dress in a way that draws respect.' 'Often, they love a bit of designer fashion thrown in too, such as a designer handbag,' Kyle added, which is true of Dolly Parton and her fabulous style. 'They can easily make a statement without having to be as flashy as some of the other zodiac signs, so if they keep it simple, they'll have everyone in the palm of their hands. 'Their power colors are dark green, black, and gray, so they should play to their strengths.' 'Capricorns, driven by the pursuit of achievement, ambition, and a strong work ethic, find resonance in the power suit,' Sophie added of this practical earth sign, which is surely true for Kate Middleton and Michelle Obama. Aquarius (January 20 - February 18) Harry Styles hit the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival to promote his 2022 movie Don't Worry Darling in a blue Gucci suit The famous Aquarius loves making a statement in his Gucci outfits, classic handbag included Harry Styles encapsulates statement-making Aquarius fashion with his funky meets suave Gucci outfits. 'They love to express their eccentric and individual style whenever they can, so they should consider ways to take a popular or nostalgic fashion trend and put their spin on it,' Kyle said, naming their power colors as electric blue and turquoise, which always stand out in a crowd. 'No matter what, though, they like to go a bit against the main fads and embrace something dramatic.' Sophie described Aquarius as 'embodying the spirit of rebellion and individualism,' as well as 'flourishing in a style that is completely unique, enhancing the progressive nature of this sign.' Unsurprisingly, Aquarius love funky patterns and prints that show that they're completely unique. And there's not just one silhouette they stick to - they adore having fun with fashion and experimenting with unconventional styles. Pisces (February 19 - March 20) 'Even consider jewelry that could harness this vibration for their natural Pisces roots - or a power gemstone to attract spiritual vibes,' Kyle said, which is true for Rihanna's jewelry outfit Olivia Rodrigo loves channeling her power in a soft sea green, which will make her feel 'in her element,' according to Kyle Kyle described this 'mystical and ethereal' sign as shining when they dress 'chic and relaxed,' in clothing that's 'fluid, flowy, and free.' 'Their power color is a soft sea green, which will make them feel in their element if they integrate it into their wardrobe,' he continued. 'Even consider jewelry that could harness this vibration for their natural Pisces roots - or a power gemstone to attract spiritual vibes.' Just look at Rihanna or Olivia Rodrigo for proof - both popstars are glamorous in green. 'Pisces embodies empathy, compassion, and big dreams,' Sophie said, suggesting 'silhouettes that allow for ease and soft flow enhance their innate ability to empathize, creating a harmonious connection.' 'Patterns and prints with a mystical, spiritual, and creative feel nourish the mystical and intuitive nature of Pisces. 'It's advisable to steer clear of colors and silhouettes that are overly dramatic and fussy, as they might amplify the emotional drama that Pisces is prone to experiencing.' The daughter of polygamous cult leader Ervil LeBaron - who was dubbed the Mormon Manson for orchestrating more than two dozens murders both inside and outside of the sect - has revealed what her life was like growing up. Celia LeBaron, now 57, was born into the Church of the Lamb of God - a fundamentalist Mormon breakaway group which continued to practice polygamy and even followed the 'Blood Atonement' teaching that stated the blood of sinners needed to be shed for them to ascend to heaven. Her father was ultimately sentenced to life in prison but continued to create hit lists from behind bars for his followers to carry out. Ervil, who died in a Utah state prison in 1981, is estimated to have had 25 people killed as a result of his orders - with deaths including that of his own pregnant daughter. Celia, who is now a mother of three, appeared on an episode of the Cults to Consciousness podcast to unravel her childhood memories. Celia LeBaron, now 57, appeared on an episode of the Cults to Consciousness podcast to unravel her childhood memories Celia, who featured on Hulu's recent Daughters of the Cult documentary alongside her sister, sat down with host Shelise Ann Sola to dish unaired details about her turbulent experience. She explained how she was born in a commune in Chihuahua, Mexico, in 'super impoverished circumstances' and was indoctrinated from a young age. 'I was fully indoctrinated I always knew God was watching every moment, every thought. 'I had this perfectionist tendency so I always wanted to please God and I wanted to just be as holy and pure and celestial as I could possibly be so that included always being cheerful and happy and never feeling sorry for myself... 'That brainwashing was deep. I wasn't allowed to have negative feelings or thoughts. I couldn't have anger, I couldn't have disappointment, I couldn't have complaints. Ervil LeBaron was ultimately sentenced to life in prison 'It just had to be obey, be compliant and just be content with whatever you're given.' Celia said that children were put to work full-time from a young age and were exposed to violent ideology as early as primary school. 'We were taught that if we were asked to take someone's life, if God told us to do that, we needed to be prepared. 'We were taught from an early age that it God's chosen men could get away with really bad behaviors and have all these wives that they wanted and even take other men's wives. 'Little did I know at the time that's where I came from - my father took my mom away from her original husband and took her for himself.' Celia's mother was wife number four to Ervil but he ended up having a total of 14 wives - all of whom had multiple children with the cult leader. 'Birth control was an absolute sin. You could not practice birth control and there's so much regulation in sexuality in these organizations. 'Everything is not real freedom they even try to control your sexual activity. I was definitely taught that women were supposed to bring as many children into the world as possible for God's glory.' Discussing the teachings within the LeBaron group, Celia said: 'One of the doctrines was the doctrine of Blood Atonement. '[It] taught that some sins are so egregious that they can't be covered by the blood of Christ and somebody must atone with their own blood. Celia (left), who featured on Hulu's recent Daughters of the Cult documentary alongside her sister, sat down with host Shelise Ann Sola (right) to dish unaired details about her turbulent experience Ervil wrote the 480-page commandment, titled The Book of the New Covenant, to kill disobedient church members who were included in a hit list which some his family members carried out. Pictured: Ervil's son Heber Lebron who was covincted of murder 'The way I learnt it as a child was their blood needed to hit the ground so that it could cry out to God for atonement so that they could be forgiven and not end up in eternal damnation. 'In a very twisted way it was a way you were helping people get to heaven who otherwise never would. 'That's how they could get good sincere people to do these horrible atrocities.' Ervil began his spree by having brother Joel killed in 1972 before targeting leaders of competing religious sects and cult members he believed were a threat. This included the murder Rulon Allred, the leader of a rival polygamist sect, for which he was ultimately tried and convicted. But, while in prison, Ervil wrote the 480-page commandment, titled The Book of the New Covenant, to kill disobedient church members who were included in a hit list. Celia's father died in prison in 1981 but six family members seemingly carried on his legacy after organizing 'The Four O'clock' murders which saw an eight-year-old child and three former members shot dead within minutes of each other in Texas in 1988. Ervil, who is said to have orchestrated 25 murders from his cell, even had his own pregnant daughter Rebecca killed. 'The first hint I got of foul play was about Rebecca,' Celia explained. 'Rebecca was a little bit scary to me because she would tell us really strange things - she would sit us down and get really serious and warn us about the color red and how it's from the devil... 'The sad thing is that Rebecca was not mentally well and she was creating problems in the organization. 'I remember how she would talk about these things that didn't really make sense and weren't true and other people noticed other things.' Rebecca had been expecting her second child but 'because of her mental illness she couldn't escape the way you should quietly get away.' Ervil, who died in prison in 1981, is estimated to have had 25 people killed as a result of his prison cell orders Celia continued: 'She was demanding and threatening. It wasn't her fault but in our cult you can't go get medical help because mental illness is equated with devil possession. 'Rebecca became problematic and a Blood Atonement was carried out on her. They had to silence her. 'They couldn't go get her help because she would tell people what the reality was that was happening in our organization. They couldn't just let her go to the police. 'It would have taken down the whole organization and dad was at risk of getting caught so that's the way they eliminated that problem. It's just sickening.' Celia, who ran away from the organization at 19 years old, said that she was initially ashamed of her lineage. 'I didn't want anybody to know that I was part of the LeBaron group ever. 'I lived my adult life just hiding behind my ex-husband's last name because I didn't want to be associated with my father and all the atrocities that he committed or caused to be committed.' She said: 'I am now embracing the name LeBaron we decided that Ervil LeBaron should not get to dirty that name and shouldn't be the deciding factor on what it means to be a LeBaron. 'We are proud of so much our family has accomplished since our dad passed away and people became unbrainwashed.' Celia, who now works as a licensed banker, concluded: 'There's so much goodness and kindness in the world - seek it out, it's there for us. Make your life as joyful and as great as you'd like it to be.' The real-life Wolf of Wall Street's ex-wife has revealed the very frank advice she gave Margot Robbie after the actress voiced her horror at having to strip down for a nude scene while making a hit movie about the disgraced financier. Nadine Macaluso, 56, who now works as a marriage counselor and family therapist in Florida, met Jordan Belfort, 61, when she was just 22 years old and working as a model. The two soon became engulfed in a whirlwind romance, tying the knot in 1991 and welcoming two children together, before they ultimately divorced in 2005 after 14 years of marriage, six years after Jordan ended up in jail for financial crimes. After they went their separate ways, Nadine accused the broker of physical and mental abuse, which she said was fueled by his rampant drug addiction and multiple infidelities. The real-life Wolf of Wall Street's ex-wife has revealed the very frank advice she gave to Margot Robbie after the actress voiced her horror over having to film a naked scene for the movie Nadine Macaluso, 56, who now works as a marriage counselor and family therapist in Florida, met Jordan Belfort, 61, when she was just 22 years old and working as a model The two soon became engulfed in a whirlwind romance, tying the knot in 1991 and welcoming two children together, before they ultimately divorced in 2005 after 14 years of marriage Their relationship was portrayed in the 2013 flick Wolf of Wall Street, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan and Margot as Nadine, who was renamed Naomi for the movie Now, Nadine told DailyMail.com that Margot shared her terror over having to get naked on camera for the flick, but she helped the actress use her fear to make her performance even stronger Nadine and Jordan's relationship - as well as Jordan's illicit stock market scheme, which saw him steal nearly $200 million from investors - was portrayed in the wildly popular 2013 flick Wolf of Wall Street, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan and Margot as Nadine, who was renamed Naomi for the movie. Now, the model-turned-therapist has spoken exclusively to DailyMail.com about the intimate conversation she had with Margot, 33, before filming kicked off. She explained that the actress shared her terror over having to get naked on camera for the flick, but Nadine helped her use her fear to make her performance even stronger. 'She was just lovely. She was sweet, and so young. She was only 22, which was the age I was [when I met Jordan],' Nadine reflected on meeting Margot, recalling the fear that the actress expressed at the idea of stripping down for the film. 'I took her to dinner and she said me, "Oh my God, I'm so afraid I gotta do a naked scene. I don't want to be naked but it's Martin Scorsese." 'And I said, "That right there, that fear of speaking your truth to more powerful men, that's how I felt every day [while I was married to Jordan]." 'I said, "If you could channel that, you'll understand really what was happening inside of me."' Margot previously spoke out about having to strip down for the movie, and she revealed that she did end up telling Martin about her disdain for taking her clothes off on camera. Nadine told DailyMail.com, 'I took her to dinner and she said me, "Oh my God, I'm so afraid I gotta do a naked scene. I don't want to be naked but it's Martin Scorsese [directing]"' But she said she told the young star, 'That right there, that fear of speaking your truth to more powerful men, that's how I felt every day' Margot (seen in the flick) previously spoke out about having to strip down for the movie, and she revealed that Martin told her could wear a robe if she preferred And she revealed that he offered she wear a robe during the scene instead - but in the end, she decided it would be better for the movie, as well as her character, if she was completely nude. 'I think nudity for the sake of nudity is shameful. If they've put it in just so that a girl gets her top off, then that's disgusting. And you can always tell,' she said in 2014. But in the end, she decided it would be better for the movie, as well as her character, if she was completely nude. She's seen in the film 'But I also think it's disgusting when someone would have gotten naked in real life, and in the film they conveniently leave their bra on or hold up the bed sheet. 'Seeing someone being choreographed into being covered up irritates me just as much. 'The whole point of Naomi is that her body is her only form of currency in this world. So when Martin was trying to help me out and said in the scene where she seduces Jordan perhaps I could have a robe on, I said she wouldn't. She has to be naked. She's laying her cards on the table.' While chatting with DailyMail.com, Nadine also dished on what it was like to have to relive the trauma that she endured during her relationship with Jordan thanks to the movie, as well as her initial reaction to finding out that her worst nightmares would be depicted on the big screen. 'I was so nervous as to how I was going to be portrayed because I don't think Martin Scorsese loves women,' she shared. 'I thought about how he sometimes portrays women. Jordan (portrayed left in the movie by Leo and right in real life) spent 22 months in prison after it was revealed he had scammed more than 1,500 people through an stockbroker scheme in 1999 While chatting with DailyMail.com, Nadine also dished on her initial reaction to finding out that her worst nightmares would be depicted on the big screen She said she was 'so nervous' about 'how she was going to be portrayed' because she 'doesn't think Martin loves women.' She's seen with Jordan and their two kids Nadine has become a viral TikTok star for spilling numerous secrets about their marriage and using her experience to give others who may be dealing with unhealthy relationships advice 'And I had no say or input. That's a very crazy situation to be in - you're going to get portrayed for the whole world to see, but you have no input on how they're gonna do it.' Nadine added that she did 'a lot of therapy' to prepare herself for it, and ultimately 'surrendered.' But there was one thing she held her ground on - she didn't want her real name used in the movie - and it was something she stayed strong on despite Jordan trying to 'convince her' otherwise. Earlier this month, she released a book entitled Run Like Hell: A Therapist's Guide To Recognizing, Escaping, And Healing from Trauma Bonds She shared: 'I said, "I make no money. I have no creative input. This movie is not about my narrative. So just on principle. I'm not letting you use my name."' Despite her nerves, Nadine recalled feeling relieved when she watched it for the first time. 'It's maybe not exactly the way I would [tell the story], that wasn't my narrative or the way I saw myself through that whole experience, but it was fine,' she added. 'I was totally OK with it. It wasn't that bad.' Nadine has become a viral TikTok star in a recent months for spilling numerous secrets about their marriage, revealing which scenes of the movie were accurate and which were exaggerated for the sake of views, and using her experience to give others who may be dealing with unhealthy relationships advice. Earlier this month, she released a book entitled Run Like Hell: A Therapist's Guide To Recognizing, Escaping, And Healing From Trauma Bonds as a bid to help survivors 'go on to have healthy, positive relationships and lives, armed with knowledge and awareness.' Jordan spent 22 months in prison after it was brought to light that he had scammed more than 1,500 people through an elaborate stockbroker scheme in 1999 - all while he was married to Nadine. Nadine has since remarried, and she has been with her new husband, John Macaluso, who has three kids from a past relationship, for 23 years now. A woman has been told she is being 'controlling' after revealing she is annoyed that her husband is going skydiving with another woman. The anonymous poster, took to the British parenting forum Mumsnet to ask others for their thoughts on her dilemma. And while it appeared she may have been seeking some sympathy, many fellow forum-users were quite harsh in response to her post. An anonymous woman, believed to be UK-based, has been chastised after revealing she doesn't want her husband to go skydiving with a female friend (stock image) The original post (pictured) asked people for their thoughts on the dilemma, and if she was being reasonable One wrote: 'Its quite hard to get jiggy in mid air in boiler suits In her original post, she wrote: 'Partner wanted to do a charity skydive with some of his friends/colleagues. I refused as it isn't something I'm interested in. 'He said fine. And now is doing the tandem skydive with one of his female friends? 'AIBU [Am I Being Unreasonable] to be concerned?' Many of the people who commented on the post felt that as the woman had refused to go skydiving, her husband had no other option. 'Dont be daft. Its fine,' one commented. Another agreed, adding: 'What exactly are your concerns?' A third wrote: 'I did a skydive with two work friends (one female, one male, and we were all single). It was just three colleagues jumping out of an aeroplane.' Meanwhile, a fourth pointed out: 'He asked you first, suggesting you were his first choice. She is his plan B. A lot of commentators criticised the woman, with one calling her 'controlling' and another branding her 'What could happen? They will dive with an instructor. It may become a bonding experience for them, maybe. 'Do you already have concerns about this specific person? Or is there history with your partner being unfaithful?' Another wrote: 'He has a right to do the activities he enjoys. You are being controlling.' And a further forum user added: 'You're being ridiculous. You said you weren't interested so your husband is doing the sky dive with someone else. Why the need for the drama?' However, some respondents were slightly more sympathetic to the poster and her worries. One wrote: 'He is with you, for you. 'Your insecurities are your own. Work on them.' However, a number of respondents were more sympathetic about the woman's insecurities and offered some report Another added: 'This thread has cheered me up. You have nothing to worry about.' A third added: 'Unless theres history with woman then YABU [You Are Being Unreasonable].' Meanwhile a further respondent added: 'Go along to watch and support, plenty of first time jumpers bring friends and family to spectate. He's no more likely to bond with her over this than any shared activity and you can't keep him from doing every thing you aren't up for!' And a fifth wrote: 'I can see why you dont like it. I wouldnt want my fella getting all excited about sharing and experience that hell remember for the rest of his life with another woman. 'Theres not much you can do though, its a charity thing and he did ask you first. Just be supportive and go to the airfield on the day to take pictures.' A man has sparked outrage after penning a letter pleading for skimpy bikinis to be banned from Aussie beaches because it makes him feel 'uncomfortable'. Community worker Ian Grace pleaded for Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate to ban skimpy G-string bikinis in a letter published in the Gold Coast Bulletin on Saturday. Mr Grace, who is the founder and president of local charity Youth Music Venture, said the reason for his concern was 'protection'. 'I don't believe that young teens want to be seen as sexy, it's just the fashion right now,' he wrote. 'And I absolutely believe that the real issue here is the men who might be ogling the girls.' The Gold Coast charity worker, who was a finalist in the 2023 Gold Coast Australian of the Year Local Hero category and was the 2022 Gold Coast Volunteer of the Year, admits the problem is unfair, but is still a problem. Community worker Ian Grace pleaded for Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate to ban skimpy G-string bikini's because they make him feel 'uncomfortable' The volunteer said 'bare bums' are just as erotic as bare breasts so they should be barred in the same way Mr Grace detailed an incident that left him feeling 'uncomfortable' when he recently walked past a woman in a G-string. 'One young lady in particular was walking on the footpath on the main road and had the tiniest triangle in front and was as close to naked as anyone could be,' he wrote. 'While any man would enjoy 'the view', I believe women are very much demeaning and cheapening themselves, portraying themselves as sex objects, then decrying it when men see them that way.' The volunteer said 'bare bums' are just as erotic as bare breasts so they should be barred in the same way. 'If not banned at the beach, very definitely banned the moment they are off the beach,' he wrote. 'This certainly should not be allowed in public pools or theme/water parks which are very much more family orientated. Young kids don't need to see women's bums.' Mr Grace said the flesh-flashing fashion was not just an issue at the beach. He said tight activewear and revealing blouses also made him 'uncomfortable'. G-strings have gained in popularity, with many calling Mr Grace as 'sexist and outdated' (pictured influencer Tammy Hembrow) 'When you look at the 'crevice filler' outfits women wear, whether exercising or just out and about,' he said. 'When walking behind women with these skin-tight outfits, you can see every single movement of each buttock a pleasant view, but is this not the wrong message? 'I attend numerous business networking meetings, often coming across ladies who are pointedly 'leading with their breasts' so to speak, but they have immediately lost business credibility.' Many social media users lashed out at Mr Grace claiming he was the 'issue' rather than the bikinis. 'Wow 2024, and still being shamed for our bodies,' one wrote. 'Can we ask men to wear shirts too then?' another said. 'This is so blatantly sexist and outdated. This wasn't the flex Ian thought it was,' one said. Many also thought the idea of banning G-string bikinis from the beach was 'stupid'. 'Can't people just get on with their life's (sic) without getting upset over the stupidest things?' one wrote. There were some other commentators who agreed with the charity worker's stance, saying the skimpy outfits were 'attention seeking'. Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate told the Courier Mail he had no plans on banning the bikinis from the area's famous beaches. 'Ian is a brave man messing with women's fashion,' he said. 'One thing I've learnt about fashion over the years is that if you try to ban something, or restrict it, that's a certain recipe to see it double in popularity.' Islamabad, Feb 5 (UNI) At least 10 policemen were killed and six others injured in a terrorist attack at a police station in the Dera Ismail Khan district of Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province early Monday morning, said police. A group of unknown terrorists attacked the Chaudhwan police station in the Dera Ismail Khan district by using sniper guns, automatic rifles and hand grenades, police sources told Xinhua. Following the attack, police and security forces rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to a nearby hospital. The deceased include six officers from the Elite Force of Police from the Swabi district, who were deployed in the area after an increase in attacks ahead of the general elections to be held on Thursday. Before the arrival of the police and security forces, the attackers managed to escape the site to an unknown location. Police added that all roads leading to the area have been sealed and a search operation has been launched. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. UNI/XINHUA ARN Corrine Armstrong, from Poole, met two of her half-siblings during the episode A woman who was conceived using a sperm donor was left in a state of shock after discovering the stigma her parents faced from her conception in the late 1950s. Corrine Armstrong, 62, from Poole, was raised by her mother after her father died from diabetes when she was seven years old. It was then that Corrine discovered her heritage. After fearing that she would inherit her father's condition, her mother revealed that it was unlikely because she is not biologically related to her father. Now, she is among several people searching for their long-lost relatives on a new ITV documentary, Born From the Same Stranger. At 62, Corrine is the oldest participant on the show, making it hard to locate information about how she was conceived. In a whirlwind episode, Corrine discovered the level of discrimination towards donor conception in the late '50s, with critics likening it to adultery, and that she has a staggering 11 half-siblings. Corrine Armstrong (pictured), 62, from Poole, was reduced to tears after discovering the stigma towards donor conception in the late 1950's 'It's important for me to do this now after all these years without knowing anything,' Corrine said. The four-part series follows a UK law change that took effect in 2023, which ended donor anonymity. It means that anyone conceived by donation after 2005 can apply to find out more details about their identity as soon as they turn 18. Corrine, who works as a hairdresser, was born in 1960, when the use of sperm donors was still very rare and unregulated, meaning that in some cases, donors created hundreds of children. 'I think my parents were very ahead of their time, I think they were very modern thinking. But because it was the late fifties, it was a big secret,' Corrine said. 'My mum told me it was at an Exeter hospital, and it was a lady gynaecologist, that's all I know really, but there must be something somewhere,' she said. In a bid to discover more, Corrine travelled to Bishopsgate Institute in London to meet with Dr Caroline Rusterholz, a Historian of Reproductive Health. 'At the time artificial insemination was very controversial, some say it was even like committing an adultery,' Caroline revealed. She added: 'There were only six practitioners doing artificial inseminations by donor in Britain. One was at Exeter and her name was Margaret Jackson.' With the support of her husband Sean (left), Corrine decided it was time to learn more about her past Corrine learned that Margret Jackson (pictured) was the gynecologist behind her conception in Exeter Corrine replied: 'So, it would've' been her, that's amazing.' But the news of discrimination towards donor conceived children came as a shock to Corrine, and she quickly became emotional. The pair later explored Corrine's heritage and delved into the work of Margaret Jackson, who has been considered a 'pioneer' in fertility treatment and completed more than 300 artificial inseminations. While the doctor is almost certain that details of Corrine's sperm donor would have been destroyed, she revealed that he did not receive money for his service. 'They just wanted to help,' Caroline said. She added: 'Margret Jackson used people that she knew very well, she had a very small number because it was quite difficult to find a donor.' Corrine recalled her mother telling her that Margaret was 'very kind and nice'. 'Sorry, it's just really weird,' she said before wiping away tears. The meeting with Caroline left Corrine keen to learn more. While the historian was unable to provide answers on her specific donor, it motivated her search to find half-siblings. 'I was blown away by the information I was given because there was only a small amount of donors, so there's definitely going to be siblings out there,' she said. Corrine met with Dr Caroline Rusterholz, a Historian of Reproductive Health, who revealed that donor conception was previously likened to adultery In the late 1950's, using a sperm donor was rare and unregulated, meaning that in some cases, a single donor would produce hundreds of children In a bid to locate paternal half-siblings, Corrine employed the use of a DNA ancestry website to find matches. 'I'm curious and a little bit anxious, I just hope there's something out there,' she said. After the first attempt, Corrine was left dumbfounded after discovering that she has nine half-siblings. 'Wow, that's a lot,' she said. 'I didn't think there would be that many to be honest with you,' she added. Corrine was pleased to discover some of her potential half-siblings mutually wanted to form a relationship, and she received messages from a number of them. After discussing the results with her husband, called Sean, she decided she wanted to reach out to her siblings and see what's next. Corrine travelled to Exeter to meet with her two paternal half-siblings, Scott and Rachel (pictured) Half-siblings Rachel (left) and Scott (right) travelled to Exeter to meet with Corrine, and the trio quickly connected Corrine arranged to meet two half siblings in person, Scott, and Rachel. The trio met in Exeter - the place where they were all conceived. While Scott lives in the UK like Corrine, Rachel travelled from New Zealand especially to meet with her half-siblings. Rachel and Scott had met last year and had previous experience in locating siblings, but for Corrine this was a first. The trio instantly hit it off and found similarities both physically and emotionally. After discussing the DNA websites, Scott revealed another two likely half-siblings for Corrine, which he found from a different website. They joked: 'It's madness'. Corrine concluded that meeting Rachel and Scott acted as a springboard to find more information and to form connections with her half-siblings. She concluded: 'I think this is the beginning, we will research more and more, and we might find a connection to our donor.' Miley Cyrus isn't one to shy away from controversy, and her shoe choice at last night's Grammy Awards proved just that. The Hannah Montana star, 31, stepped out onto the red carpet at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles last night donning a striking custom gold Maison Margiela look, and would it be Margiela without a pair of Tabi shoes? Miley donned a gold velvet pair of the divisive split-toe heels, as she posed for cameras before triumphing in the Best Pop Solo Performance category and Record of the Year for her song Flowers. Despite critics saying they look like hooves, the style is popular among celebs such as Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Dua Lipa. Miley Cyrus took to the Grammy's yesterday evening in a custom Maison Margiela look, including a pair of golden Tabi shoes Hailing from Japan in the 15th century, Tabi or Jika-tabi is a style of footwear that divides the toe to promote balance and extra stability. Today, they have become a status symbol in the world of fashion, meaning they cost a small fortune. At Masion Margiela, they come in a range of styles, from ballerina pumps priced at 620, to classic Mary-Janes costing 920. And that's if you can get your hands on them in the first place. Plenty of styles are currently out of stock on the Margiela website, forcing fashionistas to secondary sellers that charge even higher prices. Dua Lipa has styled Tabis for casual outings and has been snapped out in a pair of heeled Mary Janes with white socks. More recently, the shoes received approval from the Kardashian/ Jenner dynasty, and Kim, Kris, and Kylie, each donning a pair to the Maison Margiela spring/summer 2024 show at Paris fashion week. The shoes are so highly desirable that they recently caused scandal in the fashion community after a woman reported a traumatic Tinder encounter that saw her date allegedly swipe her designer shoes and hand them off to his girlfriend. The Tabi shoes originate from Japan, and feature a split-toe front to promote stability and flexibility. Pictured above are Maison Margiela's Silver sequined Tabi boots, that retail for 990 Kim Kardashian hopped on the Tabi bandwagon and donned a black pair during Paris fashion week And Kylie Jenner followed suit with a sparkling pair of jewel encrusted Tabi's also at Paris fashion week Pop sensation Dua Lipa styled the highly-coveted shoes in a more casual style, and matched them with white socks Lexus, known as @nextlevellexuss on TikTok, is a New York City-based creative who sells knitwear through her brand Maddi and Dannii. And the designer recently went viral after exposing her match from hell. In a TikTok posted September 2, Lexus explained how her date stole her coveted Tabi shoes which had been a birthday gift, and racked up over 850,000 views in a matter of days. Lexus welcomed the man to her apartment after a date. The following morning after he left the influencer noticed her pair of Tabis had disappeared. She headed to Tinder to message him and saw he'd unmatched her, preventing her from contacting him. Lexus combed through her call log and found he'd deleted all traces of his number. She eventually made contact with Joshua who denied that he'd stolen the shoes and offered hundreds of dollars to appease her. 'When you're offering money, that means you did it. An innocent person would not give $1000,' she said. She was shocked to learn that Joshua had a girlfriend and had gifted the shoes to her. 26-year-old Kylie Jenner stepped out in a sparkly pair of Maison Margiela Tabi shoes in Paris recently Social media users took to X to share their thoughts on Tabi shoes, and they caused controversy Elsewhere, social media users have taken to X to share their thoughts on the controversial footwear. One said: 'Tabi shoes are like shoes that are cosplaying as horse hooves.' A second agreed and said: 'I can't tell if the Margiela Tabi shoes are cute or just straight up look like cow hooves but then again cow hooves are cute, I guess? But do I want cow hooves for shoes?' A third added: 'The Tabi shoes look like humans with hooves as feet. Do us a favour, don't.' Another disagreed and said: 'Need to own Margiela Tabi shoes.' 'I love Tabi shoes', said another. Another agreed and said: 'I don't think people understand my genuine love for Tabi shoes. I've been in love with them since 2009.' The Lunar New Year starts on Saturday and kicks off the Year of the Dragon - said to be a very lucky year in Chinese astrology. In Chinese culture, the Dragon symbolises talent, power and excellence meaning 2024 is forecast to be a year for change, opportunity and challenges. The date of Lunar New Year varies slightly from year to year, this year kicking off on February 10. The dragon is the fifth of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac, which includes the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and the pig. The celebration happens throughout Asia, and is a national holiday in South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, North Korea and Taiwan. People taking photos near the decorations set for the Chinese New Year to honour Year of the Dragon, next to a Chinese restaurant in central Moscow, Russia, in 2024 (stock image) What is my Chinese zodiac sign? Unlike Western astrology, each sign of the Chinese zodiac lasts for a whole year and each year takes the name of an animal whose characteristics colour and influence everything that happens for the next 12 months. It is worth remembering that unlike the Roman calendar new year, the lunar new year changes, although it usually falls between January 21 and February 20. This means that those born in the early part of the calendar year are actually assigned the Chinese zodiac of the previous year. The Tiger: 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 The Rabbit: 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 The Dragon: 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 The Snake: 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 The Horse: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 The Sheep: 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 The Monkey: 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 The Rooster: 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 The Dog: 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 The Pig: 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019 The Rat: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 The Ox: 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 Advertisement What the Chinese New Year 2024 animal represents The 'Year of the Dragon' officially starts on February 10 and ends on January 28, 2025. The fifth animal in the Chinese zodiac, the dragon is believed to represent strength, health, good luck and yang - the universe's masculine energy in Taoist tradition. Out of the entire animal lineup, the dragon is the only mythical creature and it is revered. People born in this year are thought to be confident, charismatic, powerful, intelligent and naturally lucky. In ancient times the dragon was a symbol reserved for the Chinese emperor, and it is considered to be an extremely auspicious sign. The new year, which traditionally lasts for 15 days, is the longest and most important of the Chinese holidays. Much like New Year in Western cultures, the festival begins on the first day of the first month within the Chinese calendar. It ends on the date of the full moon. Often regarded as one of the most important signs in the zodiac, Chinese tradition dictates that those born in Dragon years tend to be brave, innovative and highly driven, regularly making it to the top of their profession. What are the traits of people born in the year of the Dragon? The Dragon is the true entrepreneur of the 12 animals and known for his acute ability to recognise an opportunity and to seize it. His mantra is opportunity, for he knows one rarely presents itself twice, so for him it is always a now or never approach. The Dragon only looks forward. Together with the Rabbit and the Tiger they are known as the Untouchables, as this teams drive and experience know no bounds in turning a hopeless situation round and rising from the ashes. Advertisement Famous people born in Dragon years include former U.S. president Bill Clinton, actress Reese Witherspoon and artist Salvador Dali. How is Chinese new year celebrated? Those celebrating Chinese New Year mark the occasion by buying presents, clothing, food and decorations embracing popular themes such as wealth, happiness and good fortune. Each of the 15 days has a particular role, and often those taking part in celebrations will abide by the traditional beliefs according to each day. The first day is often set aside for people to honour the elders within their families, whereas the third day is generally accepted as a bad day to socialise with relatives or friends. The final day of the Chinese New Year is traditionally marked by a Lantern Festival when people walk through the streets carrying lanterns and light candles outside their homes. It is tradition to cleanse a house of all ill-fortune and to try to reconcile with others, removing negativity from your life. Observers of Chinese New Year traditionally decorate with the colour red, as it is thought to be lucky. People often send red envelopes to their nears and dears and it is one of the most cultural significant celebrations for China. It has been estimated that over two billion people celebrate the festival, which is also called Lunar New Year, worldwide. London has the largest Chinese New Year festivities outside of Asia and thousands of revellers come to admire the colourful processions. The parade will start on Duncannon Street, before going to Charing Cross road where people will then walk through Shaftesbury Avenue, before entering the heart of London's Chinatown, situated in the West End. Plenty of stages are expected to pop up in Trafalgar Square - and lots of stalls will also be operating nearby, as well as an exciting show with lions dancing. Lady Amelia Windsor has stripped down to her underwear to promote a 100 pack of sustainable knickers. The model, 28, who is 43rd in line to the throne and lives in Notting Hill, shared a video of herself modelling Stripe and Stare's underwear earlier this week. On her Instagram, Lady Amelia - who is the granddaughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent - posted a video of herself stepping out of a front door wearing nothing but a black t-shirt, red underwear, scarf and trainers. The video opens with Amelia stepping out of a front door and shutting it behind her. She then tosses her scarf over her shoulder before walking down the steps to the camera. Pictured: Lady Amelia Windsor shared a video of herself walking out a front door wearing only a black t-shirt, red knickers, a scarf and shoes The pair of underwear of have 'Monday' written on the front - as Amelia promoted the brand's days of the week offerngs. Amelia captioned the playful promotion: 'Start the week off right [with] Stripe and Stare. 'The comfiest and softest undies made from Tencel Modal wood based fibres that are fully biodegradable' Amelia then ended the post by offering her 102,000 followers a personalised discount code. Stripe and Stare's 'Days of the Week' underwear - which is made of 95% biodegradable TENCEL - retail for 100 for a pack of eight. The post amassed hundreds of comments from Amelia's followers - with many praising the cheeky advert. One replied: 'Yesss Meels! Obsessed with my Stripe & Stare pantalons.' Another added: 'How very brave during these cold winter days. Looking stunning in these gorgeous undies.' After shutting the door, Amelia then tosses her scarf over her shoulder before walking down the steps to the camera Stripe and Stare's 'Days of the Week' underwear - which is made of 95% biodegradable TENCEL - retail for 100 for a pack of eight 'Try not to catch a gold,' a third concerned follower said. 'She is the moment,' a fourth gushed. However, this isn't the first time Lady Amelia has worked with a sustainable underwear brand. In 2021, she posed for polaroid-style snaps wearing environmentally sustainable baby pink bramade from seaweed and woodpulp for Alexander Clementine. On the books of Storm management, an agency which once represented Kate Moss, Lady Amelia has modelled for brands including Dolce & Gabbana. The agency writes: 'Most recently, Amelia collaborated with luxury knitwear brand Brora where she drew inspiration from her love of the sea and donated a portion of all sales to the Blue Marine Foundation. 'Amelia is hugely committed to supporting sustainable fashion and her Instagram features many of the sustainable brands she is passionate about. ' Amelia, who lives in Notting Hill with her sister, has also been making a name for herself with designer collaborations, including collections with SALOME and Pretty Ballerina. In 2001, Lady Amelia modelled an eco-friendly triangle bra made of woodpulp and seaweed for Alexander Clementine Amelia Windsor attends the Christian Dior show as part of the Paris Fashion Week Womenswear in September 2019 Left: Amelia promotes her SALOME charity earrings at an event in November 2022. Right: Amelia pictured at the launch of her Pretty Ballerinas x Amelia Windsor sustainable footwear collection Her modelling career was launched in 2016, when she graced the cover of Tatler, who dubbed her Britain's 'most beautiful' royal. In 2017, she walked for Dolce and Gabbana at Milan Fashion Week, and featured on the cover of Vogue Japan that same year. She walked for D&G again in 2019 when the fashion house presented its 2019 Spring collection. Since then, she has collaborated with Bulgari, Chanel and is a contributing fashion editor for Tatler magazine. The socialite and model is also a budding designer who has collaborated on several fashion collections over the years, focusing specifically on accessories. A glamorous model has become the new pretender to the Italian throne following the death of Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy. Vittoria di Savoia, 20, a political science and art history student at the University of London, is now sits on the defunct Italian throne after her grandfather died aged 86. The position would have passed to her father, Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, 51, but he stepped back last year saying she would 'do a better job'. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, the Italian prince described his daughter as a 'rock 'n' roll princess' and said it will bring him 'great pleasure' to step down because Vittoria will 'do better than [him].' The influencer, who boasts nearly 100,000 followers and model for Dior, is the daughter of Emanuele and the French actress Clotilde Courau, who starred in the 2007 film La Vie En Rose. Vittoria di Savoia, (pictured with her mother), 20, a political science and art history student at the University of Londo n, is now sits on the defunct Italian throne after her grandfather died aged 86 The position would have passed to her father, Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, 51, but he stepped back last year saying she would 'do a better job' In 2021, the Italian royals abolished male primogeniture, meaning Vittoria (pictured) could be Queen Vittoria shared this sweet picture with her late grandfather following his death She has been modelling since she was a teen and has appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair in France. The beauty, who attended the private Ecole Diagonale in Paris, has a passion for art and fashion and has also previously campaigned for educational changes. Ecole Diagonale is a school known for its excellent art and sport programmes, alongside a rigorous curriculum in the heart of the French capital. She also regularly poses at Fashion Week, recently attending shows for Dior and Valentino and has even modelled for Dior. Between her studies, she is often pictured at a fashion show or jetting off to a foreign city. In 2021, the Savoy family changed ancient customs, known as the Salic Law, to allow Vittoria to inherit the throne. The law previously stipulated that the royal line could only pass down to male heirs, Vittoria's grandfather Vittorio Emanuele changed the law. 'In a few years time there will be more queens than kings in Europe', Prince Emanuele said at the time. She has been modelling since she was a teen and has appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair in France The beauty, who attended the private Ecole Diagonale in Paris, has a passion for art and fashion and has also previously campaigned for educational changes Between her studies, she is often pictured at a fashion show or jetting off to a foreign city 'People are now understanding, even if it is a bit belated, that the intelligence and sensitivity of a woman makes them great leaders'. Speaking to the New York Times in May 2021, Vittoria said the change in the law 'was the best gift [my grandfather] could give me'. When asked if she felt Italy was ready to accept her as a queen, or the head of her family, she said: 'Italy is not really progressive, but they will learn.' During her free time, Vittoria travels between Geneva, where she was born in 2003, and Monte Carlo, where her father Emanuele lives, and an Italian farmhouse owned by her family in Umbertide, Umbria. Prince Emanuele added that his decision to step down avoids his daughter facing a long wait to inherit the throne, pointing to King Charles spending decades as the British heir. During her free time, Vittoria travels between Geneva, where she was born in 2003, and Monte Carlo, where her father Emanuele lives, and an Italian farmhouse owned by her family in Umbertide, Umbria The Franco-Italian royal loves to share glimpses of her life on Instagram, from trips to the beach to nights out with friends Vittoria's father, Prince Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, shared a series of cute pictures from her childhood to mark her 18th birthday When asked if she felt Italy was ready to accept her as a queen, or the head of her family, the Paris-based teenager said: 'Italy is not really progressive, but they will learn' 'He [Charles] is a wonderful King, but he did wait a long time,' he said. 'Maybe it would have been helped if he had become King 20 years ago.' Currently, Italy does not have its own royal family, having abolished the monarchy in a referendum in 1946. But the House of Savoy, which was the birth family of Italy's kings - from the country's unification in the 19th century until the point of abolition - has never given up hope that the monarchy could be restored. The House of Savoy, the family from which Emanuele and Vittoria descend, has existed since 1003. The family has long pointed to the example of Spain, where the monarchy was reinstated following the death of Franco in 1975. The country's King, Felipe VI, is the son of King Juan Carlos, who led Spain's transition to democracy. His heir presumptive is 17-year-old Leonor, Princess of Asturias. Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy insists his 19-year-old daughter Vittoria, a political science and history of art student at the University of London, will do a better job in the role than he would (the pair are pictured together) The prince also shared a candid snap of his daughter wearing a red hoodie and white slacks Vittoria's mother Clotilde, starred in several French films, including La Vie En Rose. Pictured, Vittoria Vittoria is an up-and-coming influencer with 35,400 followers on Instagram thanks to her jet-setting lifestlye and fashion prowess (pictured) The country's King, Felipe VI, is the son of King Juan Carlos, who led Spain's transition to democracy. His heir presumptive is 18-year-old Leonor, Princess of Asturias. Despite there being little support for reinstating the monarchy in Italy, Prince Emanuele feels that there is still a need for one, saying: 'I think in times of crisis people see a strong, almost spiritual presence in kings and queens.' Her family was exiled from the country for 50 years, only being allowed to return in 2002, after Umberto II, the last reigning king of Italy was deposed in 1946 when the nation became a republic. Prince Aimone di Savoia Aosta, a cousin and rival claimant, called the change 'illegitimate'. His two sons, Prince Umberto and Prince Amedeo Michele,would've been next in line after himself had the rule not been changed, since Vittoria's father has only two daughters. Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, the son of the last Italian King and heir to the defunct Italian throne, died this weekend. 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 William will soon be taking on more responsibility than ever after it was announced King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer. The Prince of Wales, 41, had recently postponed his royal engagements to be by his wife's side after the Princess of Wales underwent abdominal surgery. Kensington Palace announced earlier today, however, that he would resume public duties this week by conducting an investiture on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, followed by a gala fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance in the evening. William's return to work is expected to be a hectic one, with the heir to the British throne likely stepping up to support the Firm more by undertaking some duties on behalf of his father, while the King undergoes treatment. Buckingham Palace said the King personally called both the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales - as well as his siblings the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Duke of Edinburgh - to share news of his health. Prince William will likely soon be taking on more responsibility than ever after it was announced King Charles (pictured together in December) has been diagnosed with cancer Heir to the throne William is understood to be in regular contact with his father. The King's diagnosis will pose serious questions for the working of the monarchy, with fewer senior members of the royal family and the Princess of Wales out of action until after Easter as she recovers at home in Windsor. William had cleared his diary to be by his wife's side and keep life as normal as possible for their three children. King Charles, 75, meanwhile, has returned to London from Sandringham to begin treatment immediately, Buckingham Palace announced in a statement this evening. It is not connected with his recent surgery and is not prostate cancer, but medics spotted it when he underwent his medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. 'His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. 'The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. The Prince of Wales, 41, has postponed his royal duties until Wednesday while the Princess of Wales (pictured together in 2019) recovers at home in Windsor from her abdominal surgery People stand outside Buckingham Palace after it was announced King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer 'His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.' Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: 'Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. I have no doubt he'll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: 'On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery. We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health.' Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs: 'I know the whole House will wish to join me in expressing our sympathies with His Majesty the King following the news announcement this evening. 'Our thoughts are, of course, with His Majesty and his family, and we'd all wish to send him our very best wishes for the successful treatment and a speedy recovery following tonight's news.' The diagnosis is also likely to be professionally devastating for Charles, who was the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history before he became King on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, on September 8 2022. Since then he has hit the ground running with three state visits overseas, hosting two incoming state visits to the UK and undertaking hundreds of public engagements each year, taking on a punishing official workload well into his 70s. Aides have said he has relished the challenge and is hugely enjoying his royal role. While Queen Elizabeth suffered episodic periods of ill-health over the years and underwent surgery on a number of occasions, including on her knee and cataracts, there was no major health crisis of this magnitude until the very last months of her historic 70-year reign. That, however, would have a serious knock-on effect on the family life of the Prince and Princess of Wales. King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer , Buckingham Palace announced in a statement this evening. Above: Charles was last seen waving to well-wishers as he attended a service with his wife Queen Camilla at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Sunday Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer' They moved to Windsor 18-months ago in order to allow their children to enjoy a more carefree childhood, outside of the royal bubble, until absolutely necessary. Prince George, ten, who is second in line to the throne, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis all attend a local school. Lambrook, and have settled in well at their new home, Adelaide Cottage. William and Kate's team are still based at Kensington Palace in London, their official residence, and travel up to Windsor for meetings. Questions will inevitably be asked how practicable it will be for them to do so now. The King has largely enjoyed very good health throughout his life, apart from suffering from a cripplingly bad back. The first sign that anything was amiss with his health came on January 17 when Buckingham Palace made a surprise announcement that the King had 'sought treatment' for an enlarged prostate. The palace added that His Majesty's condition was 'benign' and that he would attend hospital the following week for a corrective procedure. They said he was personally keen to share details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get themselves check. The NHS subsequently reported an encouraging spike in people seeking more information on their website. When he was discharged from hospital last Monday, the King appeared steady on his feet as he walked out of the London Clinic in Marylebone with Queen Camilla by his side People stand outside Buckingham Palace in London after the King's diagnosis was announced His Majesty, who was in Scotland at the time, travelled back down to Sandringham afterwards and then on to London the night before his surgery. He was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone, central London, on January 26 with his wife, Queen Camilla, by his side. Buckingham Palace said he wanted to thank everyone for their good wishes and was delighted to learn that his diagnosis was having a positive impact on public health awareness. He was finally released on Monday last week after three nights in hospital and said to be 'doing well'. He initially resided at Clarence House, his London residence, in order to be close to his doctors, before returning to Sandringham with his wife. Queen Camilla has continued to undertake public engagements, telling members of the l public that her husband was 'doing fine' and looking forwards to getting back to work. Last Tuesday she told well-wishers he was 'getting on' and 'doing his best', adding: 'Thank goodness!' One in every three men over the age of 50 will have symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which include needing to visit the toilet more frequently, 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 that have not responded to medicine. Actor Colman Domingo has revealed the remarkable tale of how he connected with the love of his life and his now-husband through a Craigslist ad - after the two crossed paths outside of a Walgreens store in a fleeting encounter. The 54-year-old actor - who most recently starred in Oprah's new rendition of The Color Purple - recounted the heartwarming and unexpected way he first met his now-husband, Raul, on an episode of The Graham Norton Show. He revealed that he first spotted Raul in 2005 as he was walking into a Walgreens store in Berkeley, California - and was immediately struck by his good looks. Colman shared that although the two didn't get a chance to speak at the convenience store, they later found their way back to each other with the help of a 'Missed Connections' ad on Craigslist before admitting he knew he was in love with Raul on their first date. Colman Domingo has shared the jaw-dropping tale of how he connected with the love of his life and his now-husband through Craigslist ad The 54-year-old Rustin star recounted the heartwarming and unexpected way he first met his now-husband, Raul, on an episode of The Graham Norton Show (seen in 2024) While on the show, he described the magical moment he was taken aback when he saw the love of his life. 'You're in Berkeley, California in 2005 and you're minding your business going into a Walgreens. I'm just going there in Berkeley to get a mask for the night, you know, facial mask. 'So I'm walking in and I see someone walking out, has beautiful hair down to here, lip piercing, beautiful. I see this guy and we look at each other. 'I'm like, "Oh my God." And I'm on the phone and I come outside and we look at each other and he's talking to this young woman and she seemed to be angry about something,' he said. Then, he explained that although they didn't speak, Raul and him exchanged many looks. 'They walk off down the street but he keeps looking back and I wave, but he just keeps going and then I'm just dumbfounded,' Colman said. The actor then walked across the street to a Blockbuster and even revealed that when he was leaving did a quick scan of the parking lot to see if the mystery man was there. With no luck, Colman left and told himself he would come back at the same time next week with hopes of seeing the man again. He revealed that he first met Raul in 2005 as he was walking into a Walgreens store in Berkeley, California (Left to right: Sterling K Brown, Dakota Johnson, Colman, Domhnall Gleeson and host Graham Norton during the filming) Colman shared that although the two didn't get a chance to speak at the convenience store, they later found their way back to each other with the help of Craigslist Three days later, Colman decided he was going to place a Missed Connections ad on Craigslist. He said: 'I thought maybe I'll place one of those Missed Connections ads. I wondered if they work, because I would read them on the subway. I go to page two of them. As I'm reading and I see, "Saw you outside of Walgreens. Berkeley." 'He placed an ad for me two hours before. I jumped up, I was like, "Are you kidding me? That's me!" He described me with my fauxhawkit was 2005.' Colman and Raul went on their first date three days later. The actor added: 'I was trying to be a good boy and go home. He said, "Can you stay over?" I said, "Sure but let's just cuddle." 'We cuddled. I thought he was asleep4:00 in the morning. I couldn't sleep and I said, "I think I love you and you're about to change my life." And we've been together for almost 19 years.' Colman also noted that he is somebody who 'believes in magic' - adding that if he thinks something will happen, it will. Colman also noted that he is somebody who 'believes in magic' - adding that if he thinks something will happen, it will (seen in The Color Purple) Late on in the show, he also discussed playing the title role of the 1960s civil rights activist Bayard Rustin in Rustin Late on in the show, he also discussed playing the title role of the 1960s civil rights activist Bayard Rustin in Rustin. He said: 'He is not well known in the US as he'd been pretty much erased from history because he was openly gay... 'His story is great, and he was an awesome person in every way. I truly hope this film puts him back in the history books. I think that the more I am amplified, so is he and that is a beautiful thing.' Dakota Johnson and Sterling Brown also appeared on the episode. The Fifty Shades Of Grey actress, 34, revealed her unusual caliber of fandom when actor Sterling K. Brown divulged that he is lauded by fans for 'changing their lives'. The King could miss out on a number of upcoming royal engagements after being advised to postpone his public-facing duties following his cancer diagnosis. Charles, 75, will 'continue to 'undertake State business and official paperwork as usual' as well as having weekly audiences with the Prime Minister, a Buckingham Palace statement read. But the monarch has apologised after the decision was taken to postpone his forthcoming public duties after his cancer diagnosis. It means the King is unlikely to be at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 11, which is usually attended by senior members of the royal family. The annual Maundy Thursday Service and Easter engagements, including the Sunday service with other royal relatives, could also be out of the question for the monarch. The King (pictured at the Commonwealth Day Service in 2023) could miss out on a number of upcoming royal engagements after being advised to postpone his public-facing duties following his cancer diagnosis The King and Queen were expected to visit Canada in May, and Australia, New Zealand and Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October. Buckingham Palace has yet to confirm whether the tours will go ahead, with no date suggested for the King's return to full public duties. His cancer diagnosis raises the prospect of the high-profile overseas visits - his first to the countries as King - being postponed. No forthcoming state visits have officially been confirmed by the Palace. The palace said the King 'looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible', but it is not yet known whether it will affect his attendance at events such as those marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June. It is understood he will continue to receive red boxes and process state documents during treatment and there are no plans to appoint Counsellors of State. A palace spokesman said: 'Regrettably, a number of the King's forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed. 'His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.' Charles (pictured with Queen Camilla on Easter Sunday in 2023), 75, will 'continue to 'undertake State business and official paperwork as usual' as well as having weekly audiences with the Prime Minister, a Buckingham Palace statement read But the monarch (pictured with Queen Camilla in 2023 at the Royal Maundy Service) has apologised after the decision was taken to postpone his forthcoming public duties after his cancer diagnosis It is understood details of the King's diary are still being worked on and it is not yet known when a full programme of engagements will begin. The palace said the Queen will continue with a full programme of public duties. Other working members of the royal family could undertake additional duties on behalf of the King but it is understood planning for future state visits will continue where possible. The Prince of Wales could take on some of the King's work as he is expected to return to public duties on Wednesday after the Princess of Wales' major abdominal surgery last month. It is also understood that Charles will continue to be available for Privy Council meetings, but details of how they will take place are still being worked through. It is expected that alternative arrangements will be made for his weekly audience with the Prime Minister should doctors advise him to minimise any in-person contact. The King has already started a schedule of regular treatments and is said to be receiving expert medical care from a specialist team, but has been advised to postpone his public-facing duties. The Palace declined to confirm the type of cancer. Charles will carry on working behind the scenes on his red boxes - his state business and official papers, and returned from Sandringham to London on Monday to commence treatment as an out-patient. He remains at home, most likely in Clarence House, his favoured residence in the capital. Above: Charles was last seen waving to well-wishers as he attended a service with his wife Queen Camilla at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Sunday Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer' Buckingham Palace said in a statement: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. 'His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. 'Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. 'The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. 'He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. 'His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.' It is understood there are no current plans to appoint Counsellors of State - members of the royal family who step in when a monarch cannot fulfil their duties. The King has rearranged or postponed any forthcoming public engagements, but it is understood to be too early to say when Charles will return to full public duties, although he is said to be looking forward to doing so as soon as possible. A Palace spokesman added: 'His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.' When he was discharged from hospital last Monday, the King appeared steady on his feet as he walked out of the London Clinic in Marylebone with Queen Camilla by his side The Palace has called for the King's privacy to be respected, especially during his treatment, but said the monarch wanted to make his diagnosis public because of his long-running support for cancer charities. The spokesman said: 'No further details are being shared at this stage, except to confirm that His Majesty does not have prostate cancer.' He added: 'The King has elected to make his diagnosis public once the schedule of treatment had begun, noting that as Prince of Wales he was patron of a number of cancer-related charities. 'In this capacity, His Majesty has often spoken publicly in support of cancer patients, their loved ones and the wonderful health professionals who help care for them.' Charles, 75, was discharged from the London Clinic a week ago after undergoing treatment on an enlarged prostate. The shock news is the latest health scare to hit the royal family at the start of 2024, coming after the King's hospital stay, Kate's major abdominal surgery and Sarah, Duchess of York's diagnosis of skin cancer. Buckingham Palace announced on January 16 that the King was to have treatment for an enlarged prostate, but that the condition was benign. The Palace announced the King's cancer diagnosis at 6pm on Monday. Charles, who acceded to the throne just 17 months ago, was last seen on Sunday when he attended church in Sandringham, but looked cheery as he walked along and waved at well-wishers. Bijou Phillips, 43, has showed off her pert derriere in a sheer black gown as she partied at a Grammys 2024 viewing event in Los Angeles. The estranged wife of convicted rapist Danny Masterson, 47, shared a series of photos from Sunday night on her Instagram Stories, where she was seen having a good time with Kimberly Stewart, the 44-year-old daughter of famed rocker Rod. Bijou, who shares nine-year-old daughter Fianna with Masterson and is the daughter of Mamas And Papas frontman John Phillips, walked the red carpet for the first time on Sunday after her estranged husband was convicted of raping two women in May, and sentenced in September to serve 30 years to life in prison. She and socialite Kimberly appeared to be in good spirits at the 5th Jam For Janie event held at the Hollywood Palladium, with the pair posing up a storm under red lights and in the bathroom. Bijou Phillips, 43, has showed off her toned backside (pictured) while at a Grammys watch party in Los Angeles with socialite Kimberly Stewart The mother-of-one hit the red carpet for the first time since she quit Scientology at the 5th Jam for Janie Grammy viewing party In one saucy snap, mother-of-one Bijou proved she still had it as she displayed her toned backside that was seen through the sheer material of her gown that also featured a black plunging bodysuit to leave something to the imagination. Socialite Kimberly shared a similar photo on her Instagram Stories, with Bijou walking up the stairs as her gown flowed behind her. The 43-year-old actress and Kimberly also proved they knew their angles, with Bijou sharing a candid bathroom shot where the friends could be seen in the reflection of a mirror. A crouched Kimberly, who was wearing a dark furry coat, appeared to be applying a lip product to her pout as Bijou put on a sultry stare with her leather jacket casually slung off one shoulder and a drink in hand. In another image posted by Bijou, the youngest daughter of John and third wife Genevieve Waite, she smiled at the camera with actor Luka Sabbat and Kimberly. Off to the side of the photo, Anya Taylor-Joy and Malcolm McRae were seen chatting in the background with a third person. Bijou also gave her more than 57,000 Instagram followers a small glimpse into the annual party, hosted by Aerosmith's Steven Tyler, and shared an interior shot of the event with big screens showing Tracy Chapman's surprise Grammys performance. For her first solo red carpet appearance after quitting Scientology, Bijou styled her blonde curly locks in natural curls and finished off her look with a pair of strappy heels and a red lip. Bijou and Kimberly also proved they knew their angles, with Bijou sharing a candid bathroom shot where the friends could be seen in the reflection of a mirror Bijou also gave followers a small glimpse into the annual party, sharing an interior shot of the event with big screens showing Tracy Chapman's surprise Grammys performance In another image posted by Bijou, she smiled at the camera with actor Luka Sabbat and Kimberly with Anya Taylor-Joy and husband Malcolm McRae in the background Following Masterson's sentencing back in September last year, Bijou has been left to parent her child alone. Pictured at court in March last year The couple wed back in 2011 but she filed for divorce following Masterson's conviction in September last year. They're pictured in 2016 A delicate gold chain with a small pendant hung around her neck. Speaking to E! News at Sunday's Janie's Fund charity event, the 43-year-old actress shared: 'I'm doing good.' She added that she and Fianna, who turns age 10 on February 14, made a 'great little team.' Following Masterson's sentencing back in September last year, Bijou has been left to parent their child alone while her estranged husband serves out his time. Almost two weeks after his sentence was handed down, she filed for divorce from the That 70s Show star in a California court. The pair started dating in 2004 after meeting at a poker tournament in Las Vegas, and they got engaged in 2009 before saying 'I do' at a castle in Ireland in 2011. Last week, DailyMail.com reported Bijou has found Masterson's move to a maximum security prison 'very triggering', according to insiders. Sources say she is taking 'forever to heal' and is 'dreading' celebrating their daughter's birthday for the first time without him later this month. The 47-year-old was moved to Corcoran State Prison in Central California, the longtime holding place of Charles Manson, a move that has reportedly taken 'an emotional toll' on Bijou. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, an insider said: 'The move that Danny has made to his new prison was very triggering for Bijou and stirred up past emotions that she is still trying to deal with. 'She has been able to go out and also vacation which has been a stress relief to get back to a somewhat normal life, but it still hurts her inside that her life is forever changed.' The source continued: 'It is going to get better but also it will take forever to heal from it all. She has had a very stressful life dealing with this and what her father has been accused of. It has been an emotional toll that has taken her to places of extreme stress and heartache. That is going to continue for a long time.' A mum was furious after her in-laws betrayed her wishes as a parent A new mum is furious after her in-laws secretly got her six-month-old daughter's ears pierced - and she's considering completely cutting them out of her life. The 32-year-old mum recently banned her husband's parents from babysitting her daughter ever again after they betrayed her trust and went against her wishes. 'My husband is from a culture where it's not uncommon to pierce baby girls' ears and his mother started pestering me about getting my daughter's ears pierced a few days after she was born,' the mum shared in a Reddit post. 'I made it clear that I would not be doing that, and that I'd be waiting until she's old enough to ask for it herself. We live in my country where piercing a baby's ears isn't common at all.' A new mum is furious after her in-laws secretly got her six-month-old daughter's ears pierced But the new mum's world came crashing down after a weekend with her grandparents left the baby sobbing and red in the face. 'My mother-in-law was looking after her over the weekend and decided to pierce her ears without my knowledge or consent. 'When I saw this I threw a fit. My baby was crying in pain, and I actually took her to the doctor to get their advice on whether or not to take them out.' The doctor decided to remove the earrings as it seemed to bother the baby, but that was nowhere near the end of the issue. 'I decided at that moment that my mother-in-law and everyone else on that side of the family (except for my sister-in-law, who's on my side about this) is going to have no alone contact with my daughter ever again - or at least until she's a teenager. 'My worry is that she'll do the same thing again, and to be frank, she's lost my trust entirely. I told her that if she had a problem with that, I'd report what she did to the police.' The family doctor decided to remove the earrings as it seemed to bother the baby The mum's husband reluctantly sided with her, but claimed the issue 'wasn't a big deal' and that it would be best if everyone moved on. A few claimed that while it was a big deal, the mum should work towards re-building trust with her in-laws. Others, however, had the opposite opinion: 'Forget rebuilding trust, I'd be having them charged with assault.' A mum added: 'If anyone took my child and did anything with them I clearly said we as their parents are not okay with, then I absolutely would go to the police. 'The very least I'd report it to make it absolutely crystal clear do not think you can disrespect the choices we are making for our child. You are not the parent.' Another said: 'They mutilated a child and they knew it was against the parents wishes. These people have serious problems. Not that I'd press charges, but getting holes poked in someone else's kid is a huge thing.' Another new mum previously came under fire for piercing her newborn daughter's ears after just one day in the hospital. The mother, who posts under her daughter's name - Lara - on TikTok, shared an innocent video of her baby girl just hours after her birth compared to her now at three months old. The adorable tot had a tiny flower earring visible in the footage from her first 24 hours on earth, and it caused a raucous to explode in the comments section below. But others defended the decision saying that it's common in some cultures to pierce a young girls' ears early in life. 'Maybe it's just me but on the day my children were born getting their ears pierced was very far down my list of concerns,' one woman said. The adorable tot had a tiny flower earring visible in the footage from her first 24 hours on earth, and it caused a raucous to explode in the comments section below 'Wow, this is another level for me... I just can't understand. And it hurts the same as when they are older! Don't fool yourself,' said another. A third added: 'Why shouldn't they get a choice if they want their ears pierced or not? I am going to let my babies decide when they understand these things.' While it's not known where Lara and her mother live, it's presumably not Australia as she confirmed that it was the neonatologists within the hospital who 'pierced Lara's ears'. 'When they are 2-3 days old, they don't feel pain like a year or two!' she wrote. 'The holes are given to them by neonatologists (doctors specialising in the care of newborns) in the hospital at birth.' The mother claimed that babies' ear lobes are softer when they're really young and her daughter wouldn't have felt any major pain, in fact, she 'didn't even react'. New Delhi, Feb 5 (UNI) The Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) carried out four flight trials of the High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) ABHYAS. The trials were conducted with four different mission objectives in a revised robust configuration, using a single booster designed by Advanced Systems Laboratory, Hyderabad, to provide reduced launch acceleration. The objectives like safe release of the booster, launcher clearance, and attaining the required end-of-launch velocity were achieved. During the flight trials, various parameters like required endurance, speed, maneuverability, altitude, and range were successfully validated. The trials were carried out from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur, in Odisha, from January 30 to February 2, an official statement said here on Monday. Designed by DRDOs Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), ABHYAS offers a realistic threat scenario for the practice of weapon systems. It is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an autopilot indigenously made by the ADE. It has a radar cross-section and a visual and infrared augmentation system required for weapon practice. It has a laptop-based ground control system with which the aircraft can be integrated, and pre-flight checks, data recording during the flight, replays after the flight, and post-flight analysis can be carried out. ABHYAS requires minimum logistics and is cost-effective compared to imported equivalents. The systems tested recently were realized through production agencies Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Defense. With identified production agencies, ABHYAS is ready for production. The system has export potential and can be offered to friendly countries. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh also congratulated the DRDO, the Armed Forces, and the industry for the successful flight trial of ABHYAS. The development of this system will meet the requirements of aerial targets for the Armed Forces, he said. UNI RBE GNK Australian adventurers are flocking to a little-known swimming spot in the middle of a rainforest. Northbrook Gorges are just an hour away from Brisbane's city centre between Mount Glorious and Dundas. The magical pools with crystal clear waters sit between small rocky valleys at the end of a moderately challenging hike through the lush forest of ferns and towering trees. Those who have experienced the incredible hidden gem say it is the perfect day trip location for a hot day in Brisbane. To get to Northbrook Gorge there are two hiking trails. One is easy suitable for young families or inexperienced explorers while the other is slightly more treacherous for seasoned hikers. Aussie adventure seekers are flocking to the stunning Northbrook Gorge hidden in the middle of the rainforest which has stunning emerald green waters and sits just outside Brisbane Northbrook Gorges are just an hour away from Brisbane's city centre between Mount Glorious and Dundas The magical pools with often crystal clear waters sit between small rocky valleys are at the end of a moderately challenging hike through the lush forest of ferns and towering trees The shorter modified hike down Northbrook Creek takes just 30 minutes one-way along a track starting from a small parking area four minutes past Wivenhoe Lookout. Walkers will find the creek after just 350 metres and can follow that either along the path or though the gently flowing water to the gorge. The longer journey starts from Wivenhoe Lookout and takes three to four hours return to complete. Hikers will need to get wet with some spots requiring you to wade through waist-deep water. The shorter modified hike down Northbrook Creek takes 30 minutes one-way. Walkers will find the creek after just 350 metres and can follow that along the path or the gently flowing water The longer journey starts from Wivenhoe Lookout and takes three to four hours return. Hikers will need to get wet with some spots requiring you to wade through waist-deep water Each pool along the magnificent gorge has sparkling emerald green water with some deep enough to jump in from the gorges' walls and one has a trickling waterfall Visitors will be able to walk through each pool along the magnificent gorge which vary in depth. Each has sparkling emerald green water with some deep enough to jump in from the gorges' walls and one has a trickling waterfall. 'Well what can I say this place ticks all the boxes your immersed in nature and really not far from the city,' one traveller gushed. 'The water is crystal clean, clear and very inviting, trails to make the trip a little easier, spectacular scenery and is an absolute must do.' Other said the pools shaded the the gorge and forest canopy can be chilly but on a balmy day are a refreshing relief from the heat. Experts say dating apps, covid 'hangover' and falling condom use is to blame Cases of syphilis have surged to their highest level since the 1950s, data shows Leading sexual health experts have blamed record-high cases of sexually transmitted infections on the 'explosion' in popularity of dating apps like Hinge and Bumble. Last week, officials deemed the spiraling cases of conditions like chlamydia and syphilis striking the US an 'out of control' epidemic. The warning followed the release of the latest CDC data that showed 2.5 million cases of STIs were detected in 2022, marking a rise in chlamydia and, most worryingly, potentially deadly syphilis. Prevalence of the infection, which can damage the brain and heart, has shot up almost 80 percent in five years. The shocking figures have led to fierce debate among the medical community as to what is causing the alarming situation. Some, for instance, have pointed to the staggering drop in condom use among American men - almost 30 percent since 2011, according to some studies. This graph shows how syphilis cases are rising again in the US and are now at their highest level since the 1950s And doctors have intriguing theories as to why this is. Now, some of the US' leading sexual health experts have told DailyMail.com of their fascinating explanations for the leap in infections. The never-ending Covid 'hangover' and the digital dating revolution are just two of the many reasons... SYPHILIS USED TO MOSTLY AFFECT GAY MEN - THEN CAME DATING APPS... In 2000, syphilis was on the verge of eradication with a record-low of 5,979 cases per year in the US. In 2022, there were 207,000 diagnoses, according to official data. A decade a go, experts say infections - which spread via contact with a syphilitic sore, which usually forms on the genitals - were almost all among gay or bisexual men. But there was a sudden 'shift' in 2013, when cases began to rise among women and straight men. Experts say much of this can be explained by the increasingly popularity of dating apps among heterosexual people, like Tinder, which launched in 2012. Grindr - a dating app used by gay men - launched in 2009, when syphilis cases among men who have sex with men began to gradually rise. Experts suggest the apps expanded access to sexual partners, as Americans no longer had to rely on meeting potential suitors in person. Dr Joseph Cherabie, a sexual health expert in St Louis, Missouri, told DailyMail.com: 'The way we date, meet people, hook up, has been made a lot more easy with the advent of dating apps so that plays a role. 'All of a sudden, you have a bunch of potential mates at your fingertips, and so I think that could definitely play a role.' Writing in the Journal of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in 2018, researchers commented that apps have also been linked to an increase in fluid sexuality, meaning infections can pass on from different groups of partners. This chart shows 29 percent of total syphilis infections are now detected in gay men, compared to nearly 90 percent in the early 2000s The researchers, including Dr Elizabeth Torrone at the CDC, said: 'One hypothesis for the increasing rates among heterosexual populations is increased mixing between sexual networks. 'An increasing number of men who have sex with both men and women serve as 'bridges' between gay men and heterosexual networks.' Covid could also have played a role, experts said, with a surge in sexual activity after lockdowns leading to more transmission THE COVID 'HANGOVER' CONTINUES The sudden return to socializing after the pandemic has led to a spike in sexually promiscuous behavior, experts say. Americans are spending more intimate moments together to 'make up for lost time'. And the monkeypox outbreak hit the US in 2022, which was linked to sexual activity at LGBT events, with more than 30,000 cases now diagnosed in the US to date. Dr Monica Gandhi, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, told DailyMail.com: 'We initially did have reduced STD rates in this country after lockdowns. 'But there was also less testing and then there was a very clear rebound. 'Testing rates were down, treatment rates were down, and that then fueled an epidemic. 'Once Covid lockdowns were over, that led to a let's get back to normal attitude and some sort of celebratory atmosphere, maybe including having more sex.' She added: 'It is just not natural to tell people to stay away from each other and so I think a lot of that response was compensatory.' FIVE-FOLD INCREASE IN IV DRUG USE IN 7 YEARS America's opioid crisis has reached record levels, with an estimated 106,000 people now dying from overdoses every month. Since 2011, the number of people injecting drugs in the USA has risen to at least three million, according to Government data. Doctors say these individuals are more likely to engage in risky sexual activity which could be to secure food or drugs. They may also be reusing needles and other equipment which could have become contaminated with syphilis. The CDC reported a link between a spike in syphilis cases and meth use in 2019. Experts found between 2013 and 2017, the rate of syphilis cases in heterosexual men and women who also used methamphetamine or injectable drugs more than doubled. Drugs were also implicated in another increase in syphilis in the 1990s, which experts said was linked to surges in crack cocaine use. Falling condom use may also be behind the rise FEWER GAY MEN ARE USING CONDOMS Condoms have been around for decades in one form or another as a way to prevent pregnancy and, more recently, stop sexually transmitted diseases. But in recent years they have fallen out of favor among younger groups. CDC data shows between 2011 and 2021, condom use declined from 75 percent of men studied to 42 percent. Dr Cherabie says one possible reason for this could be the advent of highly effective HIV prevention treatments, such as PrEP, which dramatically reduces the chances of contracting HIV. The medications have led to a more 'relaxed' attitude to condom use among men who have sex with men, he adds. But doctors warn the removal of this barrier is making it easier for other sexually transmitted diseases, like syphilis, to spread. It is not entirely clear why condom use has fallen among heterosexual people. However, some experts have suggested a reduction in sexual education resources, and the increasing unpopularity of the method could be to blame. A diagnosis of Alzheimers brings upset, stress and worry. All too often, I have seen the fear in the eyes of patients when the news is delivered and, in an instant, the placid old age they once imagined is ripped from them. But it is enormously difficult for their family, too. Roles are suddenly changed: beloved spouses become full-time carers, while adult children foresee a future of worry for a parent who might even forget their names. How much more terrifying would it be if they thought they could catch Alzheimers from their loved one? Caring for a patient with dementia is hard enough. Add to that the extraordinary notion that they might be contagious, and the job so selflessly taken on by thousands of husbands, wives and other family members across the UK, often elderly themselves, becomes nightmarish. It conjures a terrible vision of Alzheimers patients under permanent lockdown, shunned and isolated even by their loved ones. And yet the idea that this most loathed and feared disease could spread between people is exactly what headlines seemed to suggest last week. Alzheimer's disease is a type of brain disorder that causes problems with memory, thinking and behaviour (File image) Reports of research at University College London, which showed a small group of patients had caught Alzheimers disease, caused alarm. Understandably panicked at the thought that they might be able to contract it from their loved one, or might even have done so already, several carers asked me what I knew about it. What I told them is what Ill tell you, and Ill be clear and hopefully reassuring from the outset. The cases discussed in the study are dreadfully sad, but we can categorically say that it is not possible to catch Alzheimers disease from caring for someone with the condition. So what did the study actually show? The research was conducted by neurologists at UCLs Institute of Prion Diseases and published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine. It involved a handful of patients who had been given human growth hormone many years ago, when it was extracted from the pituitary glands in the brains of people who had donated their body to medical science. Its purpose was to help children of short stature grow. Yet, tragically, more than 20 years ago, scientists discovered that 80 out of an estimated 1,848 children who received the jabs between 1959 and 1985 had gone on to develop a rare form of dementia known as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). This is caused by a type of protein called a prion the same protein that is involved in BSE (mad cow disease). Dr Max says 'it is not possible to "catch" Alzheimers disease from caring for someone with the condition' (File image) These proteins attach to proteins on the brain and cause them to change shape, resulting in brain cell death. Victims develop progressive problems with memory, thinking, movement and speech. Two decades ago, it became apparent from studies that some of the brain tissue from cadavers that had been used to make the growth hormone had been infected with prions. These had been transferred to the poor children who had been injected, leading them to develop CJD. It was an awful medical scandal where doctors who had tried to help inadvertently did harm to 80 youngsters whose lives were cut short. But it has now been consigned to the history books. We no longer use growth hormone from dead bodies it was banned in 1985 and instead use a synthetic form. And now comes this new study describing five poor souls who received growth hormone from a cadaver but developed early-onset Alzheimers disease rather than CJD. This puzzled researchers because Alzheimers isnt caused by prions. Exactly what does cause it is still hotly debated, but we do know two proteins are involved. One of these is called amyloid-beta, which forms plaques around brain cells, and the other is called tau, which forms tangles within brain cells. Incredibly, to try to understand what was happening, the researchers managed to track down the original growth hormone samples that were used in the five patients, as they were still stored by the Department of Health and Social Care. When they were analysed, they found that rather than being contaminated with prions, they contained amyloid-beta proteins. The suggestion is that these behaved like a prion and somehow triggered more amyloid-beta to form, resulting in the patients developing Alzheimers. Why have I gone into such detail? Because I wanted to show how specific the circumstances were and therefore how impossible it is to catch Alzheimers in normal life today. Its a shame so many people were stressed by the headlines, but the study itself might well help us understand more about Alzheimers, and anything that opens a window into its still-mysterious origins is valuable. Dementia is an umbrella term for any condition that affects memory and thinking, and Alzheimers is the most common form in the UK, responsible for six in ten cases. Yet, despite it being so common and affecting so many people, we still dont fully understand how it develops. Far from heralding a dystopian future in which we all avoid Alzheimers sufferers for fear of getting the disease ourselves, this study could help scientists come up with a treatment. If you have a loved one with the condition, dont stop visiting or caring. There is nothing at all to fear. With King Charless recent surgery, prostate problems are in the news. They affect many men, yet a study has shown we could cut our risk by more than a third if we improve fitness levels by just three per cent a year. Come on men, lets get moving! A bit of exercise can make a big difference. King Charles received treatment for an enlarged prostate at the London Clinic private hospital in Harley Street What Kates doctors will be thinking The doctors and nurses who cared for the Princess of Wales while she was in hospital must be breathing a sigh of relief that she is safely home. You might think that having a VIP patient is exciting. Surely youve made it in your career when the great and good come to you for sage advice on matters of their health? The Princess of Wales spent two weeks recovering in hospital after under going abdominal surgery last month But, actually, its not nearly as fun and exciting as youd imagine. Its incredibly stressful. While Ive never had a royal as a patient, over the years I have had a number of high-profile and famous ones. The level of scrutiny is intense. Your treatment plan can be pored over and criticised by colleagues around the world. Any mistake will be dissected and may even end up on the front page of a newspaper. Colleagues may feel jealous. Whats more, you cant discuss the case with anyone, not even in the vaguest terms. Im obviously glad Kate is well enough to have gone home and so, I am sure, are her doctors. More than 23million adults in the UK still dont know how to do CPR, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) revealed last week. CPR can literally save lives and is straightforward when youve been trained, but if you havent learned how to do it, you risk watching someone die in front of you. I have performed CPR many times on people in hospital and in a few emergencies in public. Following the basic rules means that you can give someone the best chance of survival. According to the BHF, each year more than 30,000 people have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK, with fewer than one in ten surviving. Giving CPR and using a defibrillator can more than double someones chance of survival. The BHF has simplified CPR to five basic steps: Check for a response. Firmly shake the persons shoulders and loudly ask if they are OK. Call 999. If the person is unconscious and not breathing, or not breathing normally, start CPR. If there is someone with you, ask them to find a defibrillator. Start chest compressions. With the heel of your hand in the centre of their chest, press down smoothly and firmly at a rate of two per second. Try pushing to the beat of Stayin Alive by the Bee Gees. Use a defibrillator as soon as you can. Follow its instructions carefully while you continue to give CPR. Id encourage everyone to visit bhf.org.uk for more information. Britain is 'betraying' children and creating an economic time-bomb by failing to give them a healthy start in life, a damning report claims today. The Academy of Medical Sciences says lives are being blighted by increasingly unhealthy childhoods. The body, which represents leading health scientists, urges politicians to act now to boost kids' wellbeing, with a focus on the period from conception to their fifth birthday. The report warns that failing to address their upbringing in this 'crucial' window risks creating a generation with more long-term illnesses which will place a huge economic strain on the country. The Academy's paper 'Prioritising early childhood to promote the nation's health, wellbeing and prosperity', estimates the cost of inaction to be at least 16billion a year. Britain is 'betraying' children by failing to give them a healthy start in life, a report has concluded The report highlighted a series of worrying health trends, including a decline in vaccination rates and increasing preventable tooth decay and obesity It highlights a series of worrying health trends, including 'stalling infant mortality', a decline in vaccine uptake, soaring obesity and preventable tooth decay. The report argues 'front-loading' investment in the earliest years delivers lifelong benefits by establishing healthy foundations. It says early childhood is a cost-effective time to intervene as physically and mentally healthy children are more likely to grow into healthy, productive adults. The Academy states: 'The messages of our report are urgent because health in the early years is under serious threat. The infant survival rate in the UK has stalled in recent years. Other metrics of child health point in a similar direction. 'The prevalence of obesity is increasing, demands on childhood mental health services are growing, breastfeeding rates are amongst the lowest of comparable high-income countries, the majority of vaccination rates have fallen below recommended levels and dental extractions due to preventable tooth decay remain a top reason for hospital admission of children. 'The decline in child health and wellbeing is further compounded by increases in the cost of living and the Covid-19 pandemic. 'Those most disadvantaged are impacted most strongly, widening health inequalities which persist throughout life and are often transmitted to subsequent generations.' The decline in child health was further exacerbated by Covid-19 and the cost of living crisis, the report said The report was co-chaired by Professor Helen Minnis from the University of Glasgow Report co-chair, Professor Helen Minnis of the University of Glasgow, said: 'Every child has the right to a healthy childhood. It is shameful the UK is failing to provide this. 'Child deaths are rising, infant survival lags behind comparable countries and preventable health issues plague our youngest citizens. 'The science is clear we are betraying our children. Unless the health of babies and young children is prioritised, we condemn many to a life of poorer health and lost potential. The time to act is now.' Fellow co-chair, Professor Sir Andrew Pollard from the University of Oxford, said: 'It is time for a clear strategy by government to protect the health and life chances of our children today and transform the future of our nation.' Dr Mike McKean, vice president of the Royal College of Paediatrics, said: 'We are presiding over a crisis in child health that demands urgent action. As paediatricians, we witness daily the devastating consequences of these systemic failures. 'The time for excuses is over government must act decisively to address this crisis.' Living near green space can prevent children from needing glasses, research has found. Children living near parks and fields are less likely to suffer from poor or worsening eyesight. Cases of short-sightedness are increasing particularly in urban areas. Possible causes include too much screen time, not enough time outdoors and air pollution. The scientists looked at data on 286,801 children aged seven to 12 in Guangzhou, a city in China with 18million inhabitants. Their eyesight was tested over three years as well as factors including proximity to green space and screen time. Greater access to green space was linked to stronger eyesight and slower eyesight decline. Cases of short-sightedness are increasing particularly in urban areas. Possible causes include too much screen time, not enough time outdoors and air pollution Greater access to green space was linked to stronger eyesight and slower eyesight decline Green space had a more protective effect on boys than girls The scientists looked at data on 286,801 children aged seven to 12 in Guangzhou (pictured), a city in China with 18million inhabitants Green space had a more protective effect on boys than girls. The authors noted the boys being more likely to engage with increased physical activity and spend less time on their screens when their neighbourhood had a greater area of green space. Researchers at Sun Yat-sen University, China, published in Environment International, wrote: Our findings suggest increasing green space exposure could benefit childrens visual development and reduce the risk of visual impairment by reducing air pollution and recreational screen time while increasing physical activity and outdoor time. A mental health epidemic is being fuelled by long waits for GP and hospital appointments, official figures suggest. In a survey of 12,000 Britons, a quarter reported poor mental health as a result of delays. Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said the Government's 'failure to tackle agonising waits for NHS treatment is creating a mental health epidemic'. 'Millions of people are struggling to see their GP or waiting months for hospital treatment because ministers have driven local health services into the ground,' he added. A further 18 per cent of those surveyed by the Office for National Statistics said hold-ups had affected their physical health. Last month, NHS England also revealed 7.61million treatments were waiting to be carried out in November 2023, relating to 6.39million patients. Figures suggest long waits for hospital and doctors appointments are contributing to a mental health epidemic A quarter of Britons in a survey of 12,000 reported mental health problems as a result of GP and hospital delays NHS England also revealed 7.61million treatments were waiting to be carried out in November 2023 Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey said the Government's 'failure to tackle agonising waits for NHS treatment was creating a 'mental health epidemic' A falling number of family doctors combined with a growing and ageing population means patients are scrambling for appointments, with many waiting weeks to be seen. Sir Ed added: 'People are being left worried sick because they and their loved ones simply can't access the healthcare they so desperately need.' But Conservative mental health minister Maria Caulfield accused the Lib Dems of 'sniping from the sidelines' without offering a better plan. She said the Pharmacy First scheme unveiled this week would 'help unlock 10million doctors' appointments' and that the Every Mind Matters campaign had 'helped 1.2million people to access NHS talking therapies'. Victoria Atkins today slammed an 'old boys network' running the NHS for holding the ailing health service back. The Health Secretary insisted the male-dominated hierarchies enforced when the NHS was established in 1948 had 'stayed entrenched in the system over the following decades'. Instead, she told The Times Health Commission it was vital to 'level the playing field' and ensure the barriers holding female staff back were removed. The Commission's wide-ranging report, published today, concluded that bullying, sexual assault and arrogance remain rife in the NHS 'to the detriment of patients'. Almost a third of female surgeons have been sexually assaulted by a colleague in the last five years. Health Secretary Victoria Atkins (pictured) insisted the male dominated hierarchies enforced when the NHS was established in 1948 had 'stayed entrenched in the system over the following decades'. Instead, she told The Times Health Commission, it was vital to 'level the playing field' and ensure the barriers holding female staff back were removed Your browser does not support iframes. Ms Atkins, who took over from Steve Barclay in November, said the reforms must guarantee the culture is respectful and dignified. She also called on the health service to ensure NHS facilities provide free hot meals to the workforce, as a mark of thanks. The year-long commission found hospital staff face a poor working environment which sees them often struggle to even make a cup of tea or eat a warm meal during their shifts. Ms Atkins said: 'Why aren't we providing hot meals? 'How can we thanks members of the workforce, not just doctors, but nurses, anesthetists, others who are working through the night, or at the end of a long shift? What is the plan put forwards by The Times Health Commission? Set up in January last year, The Times Health Commission spoke to more than 600 witnesses including senior doctors, hospital managers and politicians. Today the Commission outlined its 10-point plan to overhauling the health of the UK. It acknowledged that some proposals could be implemented immediately, but others would take longer to come into effect. The 10-point plan includes: 1. A digital health account for all 2. Weekend high intensity theatre lists to tackle the backlog 3. A new GP contract 4. Student loans to be written off for doctors, nurses and midwives who stay in the NHS 5. A no-blame compensation scheme 6. A National Care System, equal but different to the NHS 7. Mental health support for children guaranteed within four weeks 8. An expanded sugar tax, introduction of a salt tax and curbs on marketing of unhealthy food to children 9. A boost to research by giving senior clinicians protected time 10. A Healthy Lives Committee to improve healthy life expectancy by five years Advertisement 'How can we say to them "thank you, you're really valued." How can we help people juggle that work-life balance?' She also called on hospitals to 'try to find a better way of helping doctors with working conditions', especially when drawing up work rotas. NHS staff have long highlighted issues they face when trying to take annual leave. Some have told how hospitals refused to let doctors take time off for their own wedding. Others have revealed they were told to use holiday entitlement rather than compassionate leave to attend funerals of relatives. Ms Atkins urged wide-ranging reforms to 'ensure that the culture is respectful and dignified and caring, not just to patients but to colleagues as well'. The commission, led by a panel of experts from across health and social care, spoke to more than 600 witnesses including senior doctors, hospital managers and politicians. These included Sir John Bell of Oxford University, Sir Andrew Dilnott and Lord Rose. Under one of 10 recommendations proposed by the Commission, it called for every NHS patient to have a digital health account, allowing their full medical record to be stored in one place. By accessing them through the NHS App, it would allow patients to contact doctors, order prescriptions and book appointments all in one place. Similar systems are already live in Spain, Singapore and Denmark. Currently up to one in 10 UK hospitals are still entirely paper-based. There are also 'between 40 to 60' different types of electronic patient records, the commission said. Polling by YouGov, for the commission, found 81 per cent of the public backed the 'patient passport' recommendation, with just 10 per cent against. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Another proposal involved launching a national scheme of weekend high-intensity theatre (HIT) lists once a month in 50 hospitals, to record backlogs. It is hoped this would help get through a week's worth of planned operations in a day. Other recommendations include writing off student loans for doctors, nurses and midwives who stay in the NHS to improve retention, expanding the sugar tax and taxing salt, and adopting an NHS-style service for social care. Some proposals could be implemented immediately, others will take longer to come into effect, the commission acknowledged. Sir John Bell, Regius professor of medicine at Oxford University and Times Health commissioner, said: 'The NHS is entering a critical period. Demographic changes and other pressures on the NHS are a serious threat to maintaining a comprehensive health system in this country. 'We also urgently need a shift to preventing illness, a more personalised approach to healthcare, and an NHS where patients are active participants in maintaining their own health and these things can only be achieved using data and technologies such as artificial intelligence.' At less than 20 a pair, Simon Cowells orange-tinted sunglasses are likely to be one of the cheapest fashion accessories he has ever purchased. Yet the pop-industry icon has rarely been seen in public without them since they first made an appearance during a recording of Americas Got Talent last autumn. And with good reason Cowell insists the spectacles, which he is said to have bought online for just 19.98, help him combat the crippling migraines that have apparently affected him for many years. Although the TV personality last week missed a couple of auditions during filming of Britains Got Talent due to the sudden onset of a painful migraine he insists the spectacles are still a big help. One friend told reporters: He swears by them and says they make a huge difference. Simon Cowell insists the orange spectacles, which he is said to have bought online for just 19.98, help him combat the crippling migraines that have affected him for many years Cowell with fellow America's Got Talent judges Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum, Mel B and presenter Terry Crews But can a cheap pair of brightly-coloured shades really provide a simple solution for a condition that affects an estimated seven million people in the UK? Migraine is a complex neurological disorder which can run in families but is equally likely to affect people at random. The main symptom is an intense, often one-sided headache that can be so agonising it leaves those affected largely incapacitated. In around 80 per cent of cases, it also triggers nausea and increased sensitivity to light or sound. Such is the effect of light sensitivity (known as photophobia) that some patients have to take to a darkened room for hours sometimes days at a time until the attack passes. Women are three times as likely to get migraines as men, possibly as attacks are linked to the female hormone oestrogen, which is thought to increase brain cells sensitivity to pain. Most patients rely on painkillers, or prescription drugs called triptans which can shorten the length of attacks. And in the last few years, a new class of medicines the first big breakthrough in migraine treatment in around 30 years has emerged to prevent migraines in the first place. Called CGRP inhibitors, these drugs which can either be injected into the arm once a month or taken as a melt-in-the-mouth wafer every few days can halve the number of attacks. They work by blocking the effects of a chemical, called calcitonin gene-related peptide, responsible for triggering migraines (the main ones are erenumab, galcanezumab and fremanezumab). But the use of these new drugs on the NHS is strictly limited to the most severe cases mostly people who have at least four attacks a month and have failed to improve on at least three other drugs. Meanwhile avoiding triggers - light is one of the most common - can help prevent a migraine from occurring at all. So could tinted spectacles - which can range from a mere 20 up to 300 a pair - be a good investment for those affected by migraines and who find lights bothersome? I can remember doing some research on light exposure in migraine about 25 years ago, says Dr Andy Dowson, clinical lead for East Kent NHS headache service. The pop-industry icon has rarely been seen in public without them since they first made an appearance during a recording of Americas Got Talent last autumn Blocking red or blue light by wearing spectacles coated with chemicals that stop them reaching the eye has been shown to help sufferers of migraines Back then, we found migraine attacks were much more likely when sufferers were exposed to light in the red and blue wave-lengths than those in yellow or green, for example. All light is made up of a spectrum of colours, each with different wavelengths. At one end of the spectrum is blue and purple which have the shortest wavelengths and at the other is red and orange, which have the longest wavelengths. Several studies have found that light at either ends of the spectrum e.g. red and blue are more likely to trigger migraines than mid-spectrum colours such as green or yellow. Its not known why but certain wavelengths appear to heighten sensitivity to pain in migraine sufferers. Blocking red or blue light by wearing spectacles coated with chemicals that stop them reaching the eye has been shown to help. Some people in the research I did reported that the frequency of attacks was reduced by half to three-quarters when they regularly wore tinted glasses that blocked out much of the red and blue light, says Dr Dowson. But he says its not necessarily the colour of the lens that counts but the chemical coating that filters out the harmful light. The main coating, called FL-41, was first tested by scientists from Birmingham University back in the early nineties. In their study, 20 children with migraine (who were photosensitive) were given spectacles coated with the FL-41 for four months - the research showed that the average number of painful attacks they suffered dropped from 6.2 per month to just 1.6. Dr Dowson says tinted specs may be more in demand than ever before, and not because of the Cowell factor. Instead, some evidence suggests modern lighting is making migraines worse or at least more frequent for some people. In 2016, the European Union banned the public use of old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs due to their energy inefficiency. They have been replaced, mostly, by LED or light-emitting diode bulbs which run on a fraction of the energy. These now illuminate everything from offices and shops to computer screens, smartphones and vehicle headlights. But LED light tends to be much richer in blue light one of the more common migraine triggers than old-style incandescent bulbs, says Dr Dowson. In fact, the whiter the light the more blue light it contains. Older bulbs had a more even distribution of light across the whole spectrum of colours, he says. But the EU made them illegal in 2016 and they were eventually phased out [from public use] a few years later. Ten years ago, I was part of a group which lobbied the EU Commission to try and persuade it that some people were very sensitive to these lights and should be able to carry on buying incandescent bulbs for home use. One lady I knew was virtually housebound because everywhere she went there were LED lights that would trigger her migraines. The EU agreed incandescent bulbs could still be bought for private use, though they are much harder to get hold of now. However, blue light emission is not the only issue with LED lights. They also create a flicker effect unnoticeable to the human eye - which can trigger migraines and headaches in some people, says Dr Dowson. This effect is a well-recognised problem. Some migraine sufferers can be set off by light flickering through trees, or the invisible flickering of a computer screen. In both cases, the visual part of the brain becomes overexcited by this effect, paving the way for a migraine attack. Dr Dowson says: LED lights can also flicker, which may be a factor in migraine attacks. That might be one reason Simon Cowell was suddenly unwell. The music industry guru has spoken in the past about how spending hours at a time under bright studio lights can increase the chances of a migraine attack. Manufacturers of some tinted spectacles claim they also protect against the flicker effect, though there is little published research to back this up. So are Simon Cowell-like glasses worth the money? Dr Dowson says there is no harm in trying a cheap pair if light is a trigger and Dr Mark Weatherall, consultant neurologist at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Buckinghamshire agrees. The tinted spectacles can range from a mere 20 up to 300 a pair The main symptom of a migraine is an intense, often one-sided headache that can be so agonising it leaves those affected largely incapacitated Around 80 per cent of migraines are light sensitive, so wearing them during an attack can be especially helpful. And some people find wearing them all the time is beneficial as light can also be a trigger for a migraine. While there are no obvious reports of any adverse effects from the glasses, the charity Migraine Trust, however, is not convinced of their benefit. It states on its website: There are various types of glasses advertised to help with migraine and protect your eyes from certain types of light. But there is not enough high-quality scientific evidence for us to know whether these glasses help or not, so we cannot recommend them. A 31-year-old woman has shared how she suffers the same 'stiff person syndrome' that Celine Dion is fighting. Jomana Houssari, from Florida, developed the rare disorder in 2018, which triggers stiffness and spasms all over her body, turning her into a 'human statue'. The aspiring police officer said she will eventually be confined to a wheelchair but is determined to 'make the most of the time' she has left and raise awareness about her condition. Celine was forced to pause her world tour and step back from her singing career in December 2022 after revealing she was suffering from the same incurable condition, thought to affect one in a million people. She made a shock appearance yesterday at the 2024 Grammys, walking onstage with the support of eldest son Rene-Charles Angelil, 23, to cheers and a standing ovation and presented Album of the Year to Taylor Swift, who then came under fire on social media for supposedly 'blanking' Celine. Jomana Houssari, from Florida, developed the rare disorder in 2018, which triggers stiffness and spasms all over her body, turning her into a 'human statue' Celine made a shock appearance yesterday at the 2024 Grammys (pictured), walking onstage with the support of eldest son Rene-Charles Angelil, 23, to cheers and a standing ovation and presented Album of the Year to Taylor Swift, who then came under fire on social media for supposedly 'blanking' Celine Stiff person syndrome is a progressive and incurable neurological condition in which the body attacks nerve cells, causing spasms and rigidity. Early signs of the condition include painful muscle contractions in the legs and back. Spasms can also affect the abdomen, arms and face. This can lead to a stiff posture, difficulties walking and falls. More women are affected than men and symptoms most commonly develop in people aged 40 to 50. It is unclear what causes stiff person syndrome but it is believed to be an autoimmune disorder when the bodys immune system attacks healthy tissues. Most people with the condition have unique antibodies in their blood that interfere with neurotransmitters in the brain, which causes spasms and contractions. Ms Houssari told DailyMail.com that she was diagnosed with stiff person syndrome following 20 operations to repair damage caused by a car accident. It is unclear whether the surgeries are related to her diagnosis. She already suffered from multiple autoimmune and neurological conditions, including Guillain-Barre syndrome, which causes the immune system to attack the nerves, eventually paralysing the entire body. Ms Houssari has had medical issues since birth, but her SPS symptoms started after undergoing surgery to repair damage sustained in a major car accident. After the wreck, she had more than 20 surgeries Before her diagnosis, Ms Houssari was studying criminal justice and aspiring to be a police officer Ms Houssari asked her doctors to test her for stiff person syndrome after suffering from spasms. While the condition is difficult to diagnose, blood tests, scans and a lumbar puncture, which involves taking a sample of cerebrospinal fluid from the spin, can rule out other conditions and spot signs of the disorder. 'It was a month-long wait for the results, but eventually, it was confirmed that I indeed had stiff person syndrome,' Ms Houssari said. 'Getting the diagnosis was a relief, but thinking about the future is pretty scary,' Ms Houssari said. 'Right now, my symptoms include muscle spasms all over my body. When these episodes hit, I become a human statue, feeling stiffness in my chest, face, arms, legs and back. Ms Houssari is just one of 330 Americans with stiff person syndrome. When she was first diagnosed, her doctor had never encountered the condition Ms Houssari dreads the day her condition will put her in a wheelchair, but she said she is determined to make the most of the time she has left 'On top of that, I deal with slurred speech, memory problems, random bouts of laughter followed by fainting, overall weakness, tingling sensations in my head and body, and insomnia.' At times, her spasms have led to broken bones. The symptoms have forced her to put her criminal justice studies on hold and have robbed her of what most would consider a 'normal' life. Managing her condition requires a rigorous routine of infusions every three weeks, twice daily doses of baclofen (a muscle relaxant) to alleviate spasms. She also takes potassium pills and thyroid medication. 'I face challenges with almost every aspect of my life but I'm determined not to give up,' she said. 'Every small step forward fills me with an incredible sense of achievement. I've accomplished things I never thought possible when I first became disabled. 'I cherish every moment, whether sitting by the pool, enjoying scary movies on Netflix, or taking a walk along the beach on those days when I have the strength, collecting shells as I go.' Ms Houssari said she has been told by doctors that her condition will worsen, eventually putting her into a wheelchair. 'I dread the day when I'll be confined to a wheelchair,' she said. 'Until then, I'm determined to make the most of the time I have left and raise awareness about SPS by sharing my story.' People in Utah, meanwhile, were the least likely to be lonely Maine was deemed the loneliest state due to divorce rate and low population Silicon Valley may have just declared a public health emergency over its loneliness crisis, pledging to promote social interaction, but the tech epicenter isn't the place people feel most isolated. Americans are more likely to be lonely if they live in the state of Maine, a report suggests. Health experts at AginginPlace analyzed factors in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, including the amount of single-person households and the number of divorces - which both can raise the risk of loneliness - to determine where in the country people were lacking the most social connection. The researchers then scored each state and calculated an average figure for comparison. They found the Pine Tree state, which has one of the highest divorce rates in the country, was the loneliest - with a score of 7.6 out of 10. Maine was deemed the loneliest state, followed closely by Florida and Ohio. Meanwhile, Utah was the least lonely state, with Alaska and Hawaii close behind Loneliness is a silent killer that US health authorities have deemed an epidemic Florida and Ohio ranked closely behind, taking second and third place with scores of 7 and 6.68 out of 10, respectively, which experts suggest could be due to large retired populations and high searches for friendship apps like Bumble BFF. Utah, meanwhile, was dubbed the least lonely state, as its large Mormon population has led to a low percentage of divorces and single-person households. The findings come as San Mateo County in California's Silicon Valley became the first in the US to declare loneliness a public health emergency this week. The US surgeon general has warned America is facing a loneliness epidemic, which health authorities have said is as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. The AginginPlace researchers wrote: 'We are particularly concerned with the physical and mental wellbeing of those who are vulnerable, so we wanted to find out where in the US struggles the most with loneliness, and where people are maintaining social connections the best.' The team looked at US Census data and national surveys to determine where states ranked in the following categories: population, percentage of single-person households, number of people widowed, number of people divorced, and searches for dating and friendship apps. Each state was then given a score out of 10 based on how they ranked in each category, and the researchers took an average. Maine was deemed the loneliest state and was tied with Nevada for the highest divorce rate - 14 percent. The Pine Tree state also has one of the lowest state populations in the US, with just 1.3 million residents. And 31 percent of those live in single-person households, raising the risk of loneliness. Additionally, the state saw the third-highest number of searches for dating apps with 425,000 per year - equal to about 3,125 per 10,000 people. Being socially disconnected is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, US surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy said in 2022 when testifying before the Senate Finance Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington America's report on social isolation had worrying findings for the country of 340 million people Florida came in second place, scoring seven out of 10. The researchers stated because the Sunshine State has a large older retired community, this raises the likelihood residents are divorced or widowed. According to the findings, seven percent of Florida residents are widowed, which puts it in the top five most-widowed states. Additionally, 13 percent of residents are divorced, and 29 percent live alone. Ohio came in third place with an overall score of 6.68. Like Maine, about one-third of its residents live alone - but Ohioans are craving companionship. The state, home to 11.7 million people, saw more than three million dating app searches in 2021. New Mexico was dubbed the fourth loneliest state with a score of 6.60, while Vermont rounded out the top five at 6.28. Vermont has the second lowest overall state population, with 623,251 residents. It ranked third-highest for people living alone - 31.64 percent - and second highest for the number of dating app searches, at 3,167 per 10,000 people. Meanwhile, Utah was deemed the least-lonely state in the country, scoring just 0.72 out of 10. Utah had the lowest amount of single-person households - 19.2 percent - and was tied with several other states for the least amount of divorced residents - nine percent. 'The state has a huge Mormon community with more than half of Utahns identifying themselves as Mormons,' the researchers wrote. 'This may contribute to the low numbers of divorce and single-person households.' Alaska followed closely behind with a score of 2.32. Though the state has one of the lowest populations in the US, with 724,000 residents, the researchers found the Last Frontier state had the lowest amount of residents who had lost a spouse - 3.8 percent. Hawaii was deemed the third least-lonely state, scoring 2.56 out of 10. The researchers said its low score could be due to its 'spectacular beaches and weather to enjoy,' which can encourage people to get outdoors more and socialize. And despite San Mateo county declaring loneliness a public health emergency, the researchers found it is in the top five least-lonely states. California, the most populated US state with 39.6 million residents, ranked 48th loneliest, though its residents had the second highest number of searches for friendship apps. Last year, US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy declared loneliness the next big public health crisis, claiming social isolation was as bad as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Dr Murthy said social isolation had 'profound health and societal consequences,' including a 30 percent higher chance of suffering from heart disease. He said: 'We have an obligation to make the same investments in rebuilding the social fabric of society that we have made in addressing other global health concerns, such as tobacco use, obesity, and the addiction crisis.' Ministers Arias-Vasquez and Santos visit Bruces Farm Minister Santos & Minister Arias-Vasquez recently joined the Care Agency staff at Bruces Farm together with members of several charities to celebrate the progress of the Drugs, Alcohol and Rehabilitation services. The following Charities and Organisations were in attendance: The EV Foundation, Childline, Gibsams, Clubhouse, CAB, Walking Together, GADS and The Gibraltar Mental Welfare Society. The morning consisted of an awareness presentation providing fundamental and informative insight into the services that Drugs and Rehabilitation Services offers both at Bruces Farm and as importantly within the wider community. The significant services now offered in terms of professionally tailored inhouse therapeutically developed programmes and clinical sessions being given evidence the service growth currently reached and being provided. Following refreshments, a tour of the premises was offered to showcase the changes over the years and the dedication of staff and residents alike in an effort to improve positive and sustained outcomes for those suffering from what is now recognised as a disease, addiction. This service not only works with people with addictions but also family members via Group Support and 1-2-1 therapeutic support. Specific work can also help support younger children and teenagers whose parents are struggling with addiction. Minister Arias-Vasquez and Minister Santos praised the Care Agency staff involved for their vocation and dedication to the work being delivered. They are eager to continue working alongside relevant professionals to provide a continued growth for the service and help our society understand addiction and reduce the negative concepts that surround it. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available She previously revealed she suffers from the skin condition Morgellons disease The musician sang one of her famous songs at the Grammys on Sunday Music legend Joni Mitchell, 80, made her Grammys debut at the awards show Sunday, taking home a golden trophy for Best Folk Album. The album, recorded in 2022, was a surprise performance by the musician who had stepped away from the spotlight in 2015 after suffering a brain aneurysm. But Ms Mitchell, 80, has also revealed she suffers from a 'weird, incurable' illness called Morgellons disease. It causes 'fibers in a variety of colors [to] protrude out of my skin like mushrooms after a rainstorm,' she told The Los Angeles Times in 2010. However, despite similar patient reports, America's top health agencies fail to recognize the syndrome and medical professionals often refer to it as a 'delusional' disease. Joni Mitchell revealed in a 2017 biography she suffers from a mysterious illness called Morgellons disease Ms Mitchell made her Grammy's debut at the awards show Sunday, taking home a golden trophy for Best Folk Album Ms Mitchell said in 2010 that the disease causes 'fibers in a variety of colors [to] protrude out of my skin like mushrooms after a rainstorm' The condition doesn't have a known organic basis and is believed to instead to be a psychiatric condition. The disease, according to Mayo Clinic, is characterized by a belief that parasites or fibers are embedded under and emerging from a person's skin. People with Morgellons report feeling as if something is crawling on or stinging their skin and describe intense itching and sores. Some healthcare providers classify the condition as a delusional infestation and prescribe antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs to treat it, along with therapy and counseling. Other providers attribute symptoms to skin cell infections. The medical community at large says more research needs to be done regarding MD. Symptoms of MD include skin rashes and sores that are extremely itchy, the sensation of crawling on or under the skin, the belief fibers, threads or strings are underneath the skin, muscle and joint pain, depression and an inability to concentrate. More than 14,000 people are estimated to be affected by the disease, according to Medical News Today. A study in 2018 in the journal Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, said the skin condition is characterized by the presence of multi-colored filaments and fibers that are embedded in or project from the skin. The above magnified photo shows blue and white filaments embedded in the skin from a 2018 study The above magnified photo shows blue filaments embedded in the skin from a 2018 study A disease with these characteristics was first reported in the United States in 2002. Study authors wrote: 'Because individuals afflicted with the disease may have crawling or stinging sensations and sometimes believe they have an insect or parasite infestation, most medical practitioners consider MD a purely delusional disorder.' Research regarding the condition has resulted in mixed conclusions. Chronic fatigue IS 'a real and serious disease': Doctors draw up new guidelines on how to diagnose the condition It is a controversial illness that many believe to be a malady of the mind, but chronic fatigue syndrome is a 'real and serious disease' that needs proper diagnosis, doctors have said. Advertisement The 2018 study said some research ignores the fact some mental health disorders can result from an underlying illness. Additionally, other experimental investigations have shown the skin condition could be a physiological response to an underlying infection. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied 115 people with Morgellons, which the agency calls 'an explained dermatopathy.' The study showed most of the fibers and filaments in the skin could be explained by patients repeatedly scratching skin sores and fabric fibers entering those sores - as opposed to fibers emerging from the skin. Researchers also noted the condition is most often reported by middle-aged white women and the symptoms are very similar to the condition delusional infestation. This is a mental health disorder in which patients have false beliefs of being infested with parasites. The study also estimated a prevalence of 3.65 MD cases per 100,000 people in the US. No known cause of MD has been determined, but a 2015 study explored the link between the skin disorder and Lyme disease, finding that 24 out of the 25 MD patients had the tick-borne illness. A 2021 case report described a 27-year-old white woman with a previous history of anxiety, bipolar disorder and depression who was experiencing symptoms related to MD. The woman went to the emergency department with skin sores and ulcers after spending time in a heavily wooded area. The left photo shows a lesion on a patient's hand and the right photo shows a lesion on a patient's thigh from a 2021 case study The above shows skin scrapings that revealed fibers and debris collected from various lesions on the patient from a 2021 case study Doctors believed she was suffering from an allergic reaction and prescribed her Benadryl and steroid cream. However, three days later she visited her primary care doctor complaining of a rash and stating 'worms were coming out of my body.' She also reported she had seen a black insect that had 'crawled out of' one of her lesions. She later identified the insect as a tick. After several months of treatment, she continued to report multi-colored threads coming out of her sores, causing stinging and burning. Referred to a dermatologist, she was put on a two-week cycle of a powerful antibiotic, which led to significant improvement in her skin sores. This has led providers to believe antibiotics could be an effective treatment option for patient's with suspected Morgellons. However, because the disease is so misunderstood, there is no cure for it. They're universally loved by children. Yet slushy based ice drinks can be dangerous so much so that regulators advise they shouldn't be sold to children under the age of four. A fresh spotlight has been shone on the safety of the drinks following the news that two infants, one aged three and the other four, were hospitalised after consuming them. In both cases, doctors blamed glycerol, an additive lurking inside the child-friendly drinks sold at cinemas, shops and play parks. FSA chiefs based their recommendations on a 350ml-sized drink, similar to ones available in shops and cinemas across the UK Glycerol, or E422, gives the drink that desired slushy effect, stopping the iced drinks from freezing solid and acts as a sugar-free sweetener. While mildly toxic to humans, the amount typically contained in slushies is so small that regular consumption poses little danger to adults and older children. Their bodies can process it before glycerol levels build up and become a problem, causing intoxication. However, the same isn't true for younger children. Because of their much lower bodyweight, the amount of glycerol needed to spark a serious health emergency is much smaller. Just one 350ml drink with the highest levels of glycerol used could theoretically tip under-4s over the 'safe' threshold. But health authorities claim the more likely scenario of glycerol intoxication comes from younger kids consuming multiple E422-laden drinks quickly. Mild signs of glycerol intoxication include vomiting and headaches. However, it can send people into shock, where the circulatory system that pumps oxygen rich blood around the body starts to fail, depriving vital organs of what they need to function. Signs of shock include having pale, cold, clammy skin, as well as sweating, rapid or shallow breathing, weakness or dizziness, nausea and possible vomiting, extreme thirst, and yawning and sighing. Hypoglycaemia, or low blood sugar, is another effect of glycerol intoxication. Symptoms include, hunger, dizziness, feelings of anxious or irritability, sweating, shaking, tingling lips, heart palpations, fatigue and weakness, blurred vision and confusion. At its most serious stage, hypoglycaemia can lead to fits and a loss of consciousness. Beth Green, 24, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, has revealed her unconscious tot was hospitalised and feared he'd die an hour after downing an iced slushy drink Beth grew increasingly concerned when Albie started 'hallucinating' and 'clawing at his face' - prompting the mother to rush him to hospital Shock and hypoglycaemia can be life threatening and are considered medical emergencies requiring urgent medical care. Two recent cases have highlighted just how dangerous glycerol intoxication can be. Beth Green, 24, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, four-year-old son became unresponsive after drinking a strawberry-flavoured slushy at an after-school bowling trip in October last year. She grew increasingly worried after Albie started 'hallucinating' and 'clawing at his face' - prompting her to rush him to hospital. There medics had to start resuscitation as Albie's blood sugar levels had dropped to dangerously levels. At one stage his heartbeat became so slow his parents thought he would die. Medics later told the pair if they hadn't rushed Albie to hospital there and then he would have died. Beth's account came just days after Scottish mother Victoria Anderson shared how her three-year-old son Angus almost died in January after drinking a slushy just last month. The 29-year-old, from Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, had taken her youngest son, three-year-old Angus, and an elder sibling out shopping on January 4. Not long after the trio ventured out, Angus requested a raspberry-flavoured slushie after spotting the bright, pink-coloured ice drink while in a local corner shop. Unaware of the danger Victoria purchased the drink for her son, who had 'never had a slushie before'. Approximately 30 minutes later, while in another store, the three-year-old unexpectedly collapsed and fell unconscious. Victoria said Angus' body was limp and 'stone cold' as paramedics rushed to the scene and attempted to revive him after his blood sugars became dangerously low. Angus was sped to Glasgow Children's Hospital, where he remained unconscious for two hours. Both children thankfully got the medical care they needed. The cases come months after British food safety regulators issued guidance that slushy drinks should not be sold to children four years of age and under. A mother has issued an urgent warning over the sale of slushies to children after her toddler son suffered a 'fit' before falling unconscious after sipping on the iced beverage Mother Victoria Anderson, 29, with father Sean Donnelly, 29, and their sons Angus (left), 3, and Archie (right), 5 The Food Safety Agency (FSA) also advised that retailers shouldn't free refills on slushies to children under-10. It also asked manufactures of slushies to commit to only add the bare minimum of glycerol to their products. In that guidance, published in August, the FSA said it would be 'monitoring' how widely industry followed its advice and left the door open to taking more action in the future. Most slushies in the UK do not detail the levels of glycerol on their drink packaging but the British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) say all their members have followed the new guidance. The FSA advice was based on a slushy containing 50,000mg/l of glycerol. Its alert was sparked by two previous cases of glycerol intoxication in Scotland, one in 2021 and 2022. At the time the FSA added that mild cases of glycerol intoxication in children, which don't produce such dramatic life-threatening symptoms and instead result in just nausea and headaches, were likely going unreported. Glycerol is also added to the likes of precooked pasta, rice and breakfast cereal but in much lower quantities and therefore isn't considered a hazard to children. Researchers say this shows economic growth is not needed to be happy It turns out, the old adage 'Money can't buy happiness' is true. Economic growth and higher household incomes have historically be seen as a way to increase people's well-being - and global surveys have shown people in high-income countries tend to report higher levels of happiness than people in low-income countries. However, researchers from Barcelona and Canada argue the conclusion may not be universal and polls or surveys used only gather responses from people in industrialized cities - but fail to study people in small-scale societies where money does not play a central role in every day life and residents' livelihoods depend more on nature. Based on survey of 2,966 people from Indigenous and local communities in 19 locations across the globe, researchers have now found societies of Indigenous people and those in small, local communities report living very satisfying lives despite not having a lot of money. The researchers wrote: 'The striking aspect of our findings... is that reported life satisfaction in very low-income communities can meet and even exceed that reported at the highest average levels of material wealth provided by industrial ways of life.' Researchers concluded the findings are strong evidence that economic growth is not needed to be happy. Based on survey of 2,966 people from Indigenous and local communities in 19 locations across the globe, researchers have now found societies of Indigenous people and those in small, local communities report living very satisfying lives despite not having a lot of money Eric Galbraith, lead author of the study, said: 'Surprisingly, many populations with very low monetary incomes report very high average levels of life satisfaction, with scores similar to those in wealthy countries.' Only 64 percent of households included in the survey reported having any cash income. And researchers wrote high life satisfaction is shown 'despite many of these societies having suffered histories of marginalization and oppression.' The 19 communities were chosen for a study to assess local knowledge of climate change impacts. Within that study, was a life evaluation question. The researchers translated the question into the local languages of the communities they were surveying: 'Considering all aspects, how satisfied are you with your life on a scale from 0 to 10?' Ten represented the most satisfaction. While all of the societies were highly dependent on nature for their livelihoods, they varied widely when it came to societal, cultural and environmental features. Most of the communities had an estimated annual monetary income of less than $1,000 per person. The average life satisfaction score on a scale of zero to 10 among the studied societies was 6.8. The lowest score was 5.1, but five of the communities surveyed scored eight or higher on the scale, making them some of the happiest people in the world. The community of farmers in the Western Highlands of Guatemala ranked the happiest, with an average score of 8.6. The Western Highlands are a mountainous region in Guatemala that includes the Sierra Madre mountain range. Average household assets in the community were valued at $3,500. The lowest-scoring community was that of farmers in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe, a town in southeast Zimbabwe with a population of approximately 40,400. The average life satisfaction score there was 5.1 and average household assets were valued at $71. The five communities with happiness scores of eight or higher included: Western Highlands, Guatemala (8.6); Jurua River, Brazil (8.4); Amambay, Paraguay (8.2); Longuimay, Chile (8.1); and Puna, Argentina (8.0) The World Happiness Report, now in its 11th year, is based on people's own assessment of their happiness, as well as economic and social data. It assigns a happiness score on a scale of zero to ten, based on an average of data over a three-year period Based on the World Happiness Report, the highest scoring happiest countries were Finland, with a score of 7.8, Denmark at 7.6 and Iceland at 7.5. The 2023 World Happiness Report is based on people's own assessment of their happiness, as well as economic and social data. Similar to the question asked in the study of 19 communities, the World Happiness Report asks respondents to rate their lives on a scale of zero - the worst - to 10 - the best. In the most recent report, the UK dropped two places to 19th while the US jumped up one place to 15th. Inside the happiest city... in the world's happiest country Finland has been named the world's happiest country for the sixth year running, in an annual UN-sponsored index. Pictured, Helsinki Finland has been declared the happiest country in the world by the World Happiness Report - for the sixth year in a row Advertisement Victoria Reyes-Garcia, senior author of the recent study, said: 'The strong correlation frequently observed between income and life satisfaction is not universal and proves that wealth - as generated by industrialized economies - is not fundamentally required for humans to lead happy lives.' The researchers said this was good news for the environment and sustainability efforts around the globe because it suggests that resource-intensive economic growth isn't required for people to feel high levels of life satisfaction. While the findings indicate money doesn't buy a person happiness, the researchers were unable to hypothesize why Indigenous and fringe communities report high levels of satisfaction. Citing previous research into related matters, the researchers said it could be because of family and social support, close relationships, spirituality and connections to nature. Galbraith added: 'But it is possible that the important factors differ significantly between societies or, conversely, that a small subset of factors dominate everywhere. 'I would hope that, by learning more about what makes life satisfying in these diverse communities, it might help many others to lead more satisfying lives while addressing the sustainability crisis.' The study was published by researchers from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and McGill University in Canada in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Rogue Turkish cosmetic clinics are trying to cover up the dangers of cut-price operations abroad with an array of deceptions and hidden clauses including threatening patients with 10,000 bills and legal action if they criticise the results of their operations online. Thousands flock to Istanbul and Ankara every year to undergo cosmetic procedures at a fraction of the cost they would have to pay in the UK lured by flashy adverts on social media platforms including Instagram and TikTok. But as well as the risk of the procedure going wrong at least 25 Britons have died following cosmetic surgery abroad since 2019 hidden clauses in their contracts threaten nasty consequences for patients even if the procedure is a success. Some providers threaten legal action if patients who have experienced botched surgery share their ordeals on social media. The clinics say they will pursue unhappy patients through the UK court system under libel laws, while also billing them the 10,000 fine. Even if ultimately unenforceable, the stress of legal threats is enough to silence many patients, say experts. Demi Agoglia, 26, who died in January just days after going to Turkey for a Brazilian butt lift despite her family begging her not to go Leah Cambridge, 29, also died after having the Brazilian butt lift procedure in Turkey Shannon Bowe, 28 died after undergoing gastric band surgery in Turkey And in small print buried in their terms and conditions many Turkish clinics also claim the right to use intimate before and after photographs showing the results of their work. Many women have been shocked to see photos of their naked bodies on the internet after returning home. Such terms and conditions are often handed to patients in Turkey just hours before the procedure is due to begin, and after they have paid. The Mail has spoken to patients and the British surgeons left to pick up the pieces after surgical implements were left inside bodies, implants burst through skin or dangerous post operative infections arose. At least 324 people have required corrective surgery on the NHS after returning home at a cost to the taxpayer of anywhere between 15,000 to more than 100,000 per op. And while there are some reputable cosmetic surgeons in Turkey, experts insist it is impossible to identify them among the flood of Turkish government-subsidised advertising aimed at British customers. Turkish doctors who would never be allowed to operate in the UK are also able to offer consultations recommending procedures to be carried out in the UK. They do this at events held in British hotels that exploiting a loophole in this countrys medical regulations. One medical tourism agency offering surgery in Turkey, which offers all-inclusive care packages for procedures including boob jobs, bum lifts and mommy makeovers, also accuses British doctors of being not so experienced when it comes to cosmetic surgery. In leaflets given to patients explaining how their procedure will be handled, Medicci Aesthetics criticises NHS staff for treating anyone who confesses to having gone under the knife in Turkey as if they have the plague. Also buried inside the 39-page document is a notice that the agency, which describes itself as a medical concierge company, reserves the non-negotiable right to publish before and after photos of Britons who have had surgery for advertisement purposes, even if the patient is naked. The Turkish government is providing subsidies worth thousands of pounds to clinics so that they can advertise to Brits online. Campaigners said the Mail's string of discoveries were further examples of the depths that some predatory overseas clinics were willing to plunge to by silencing their former patients. For years, British surgeons and the NHS have tried to steer Brits seeking surgery away from destinations such as Turkey, even if many clinics in foreign surgical hotspots are reputable. Cheaper prices breast enlargements are available for as little as 3,000 abroad, compared to up to 8,000 on Harley Street can lure patients overseas, although experts warn of the potential dangers. This extract of a Medicci Aesthetics patient booklet says British GPs are not experienced or knowledgeable when it comes to would care management of cosmetic surgery Another section of the booklet promises dire legal consequences both in Turkey and the UK should a patient expose Medicci Aesthetics to negative reviews Surgical safety practices overseas are not always as stringent as they are in Britain. Most countries have lower training standards, while others dont require medics to be insured. In the UK, cosmetic surgeons offer at least a two-week cooling-off period to allow patients to reflect on their decision before actually going under the knife. This opportunity to opt out of surgery isnt always given abroad. Overseas operators, such as the clinics lining the streets of Istanbul and Ankara in Turkey, also have no enforced responsibility to fix things if complications occur, meaning the NHS and by extension the taxpayer can be left to pick up the pieces. In many cases of the patients the Mail spoke to, they were ineligible for surgery in the UK due to their health or the extent of the cosmetic surgery they wanted, but were welcomed with open arms by Turkish operators. Some of their procedures included so-called mega-liposuction or extreme Brazilian butt lifts (BBLs), neither of which are offered in Britain because of the associated dangers. Latest UK data shows that, since 2018, at least 324 Britons have needed medical treatment including corrective surgery after going under the knife abroad. The vast majority had their op in Turkey, where clinics actively target them via adverts on social media. Some offer combined holiday packages promising both surgery and sunbathing. While others feature all-inclusive hotel stays, VIP airport transfers and more. Overseas operators have no enforced responsibility to fix things if complications occur after surgery And the problem is growing, with the number of botched operations experienced by Britons abroad rising by 94 per cent in three years. Victims often need urgent NHS care to fix problems such as tissue infections. The total bill for corrective ops charged to the taxpayer since 2018 stands at nearly 5million. Government data also shows that at least 25 Britons have died in Turkey either during or shortly after their surgery since 2019. One patient told the Mail how upon returning to England after liposuction in Turkey the stitching on her thighs horrifically burst open leaving her two-inch deep wounds. NHS medics who treated her said she had been sown up too tight after the procedure with one surgeon saying he was disgusted she had been sent home so early This tally is likely to be an underestimate because it doesnt include the most recent public cases, such as that of British mother Demi Agoglia. The 26-year-old, from Salford, died in January just days after going to Turkey for a Brazilian bum lift, known as a BBL, despite her family begging her not to have the surgery because of the dangers. Thousands of young women hoping for a Kim Kardashian-esque posterior have had the op. Health tourism companies are able to offset up to 80 per cent of overseas advertisement and marketing fees. A government guide highlighting the export investments available from the state, updated in January, states that companies are also entitled to support for consultancy fees, foreign rent and translation costs. All health tourism firms in Turkey which have an authorisation certificate from the government can claim expenses for up to $400,000 annually for four years, according to slides produced by the Ministry of Trade. London-based NHS surgeon Mark Mikhail, who was the project lead for a British medical company when it was seeking to branch out to Turkey, said the marketing noise from unregulated companies can make it impossible for patients to find a good surgeon. He had hoped the project could make surgery in Turkey supremely safe and wanted to improve the whole industry but left after he disagreed with the direction it was taking. After he quit in 2022, the project continued and the company, which he did not wish to name, established a clinic in Turkey. While working there, he became aware that the Turkish Government was offsetting costs for firms to advertise abroad to lure customers and to subsidise their airplane tickets for patients. According to documentation he saw in 2022, clinics can get up to 70 per cent of their advertising abroad covered by President Recep Tayyip Erdogans administration. This includes ads on Google, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube worth up to 250,000 (9,104,805 TL) in the first few years of operation. Multiple Turkish consultancy agencies also advertise how clients could get the same incentives with 60 per cent of their marketing fees paid for. Clinics can also claim back substantial discounts on sending employees to exhibitions abroad as well as rent for overseas offices, all of which bring their costs down. However, there are a few hoops clinics need to jump through to get this cash. Another patient told the Mail how her nipple became necrotic in the UK after an all-inclusive combined surgery package deal in Turkey. The grandmother, who got a breast reduction and lift alongside a host of other procedures, was remotely reassured by her Turkish team that this was normal post-surgery reaction and discouraged her from seeking help from her GP. She would later need to have dead sections of the nipple cutaway by the NHS To be eligible, clinics must prove that they are a health tourism company, that they have a website in multiple languages and they must also pass an inspection by the ministry of health. Clinics are also required to pay an upfront licence fee of 102000TL (2,804) and a yearly cost of 6000TL (164), according to Dr Mikhails financial notes. But he said these costs pale in comparison to the thousands of pounds they can get in subsidies. This is why marketing is everywhere it is a no risk expenditure to flood social media, said Dr Mikhail. Turkey has totally changed its economy based on this. Their economy is massively struggling, but it really built this industry and a lot of that was how much the government was willing to put into it. Dr Mikhail said this money is partly responsible for the wave of adverts for Turkish surgery or dental work Brits see on public transport in the UK, floods of posts on Instagram and YouTube videos that encourage them to go abroad to get surgery. The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons found 324 cases of Britons needing medical treatment or corrective surgery after having gone under the knife overseas since 2018. READ MORE: These two British women died after having Kardashian butt lifts in Turkey - yet shockingly our reporter found that getting the same operation there is as easy as booking a manicure Advertisement He added: When you do have unregulated companies that can flood the advertising market, its impossible for the patient to filter through to find the people that are good. There are some excellent clinicians over there, some have fantastic facilities and fantastic surgeons. But it is impossible to filter through that because there is so much marketing noise. Dr Mikhail said warnings about the dangers of overseas cosmetic surgery, like those posted on the NHS website, were being drowned out by this promotional overload. He said: What are people going to do? Are they going to read the NHS website which does have guidance on it, or are they going to sit on Instagram and have these fantastic videos thrown at them from various different people with lots of enticing pictures? Im probably going to do that. Even for us it was difficult when we were going to Turkey to find good surgeons, it was supremely difficult. Everyone is saying they are the best surgeon there. Marc Pacifico, president of The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), a charity composed of surgeons aiming to advance excellence, education and safety in plastic surgery, said he was shocked to discover adverts were being heavily subsidised by the Turkish government because of how they trivialize the risks of surgery. Impressive glossy advertising will pull the wool over many peoples eyes, rather than being able to really understand whats important, he said. It still seems that many companies portray surgery as risk free, as almost as if people can pick a result out of a catalogue and packaging it up as if its some glamourous experience bolted into a summer holiday. Nothing could be further from the truth. And British advertising regulators are largely powerless to stop the flood of ads that no UK-based business would be allowed to run. UK cosmetic surgery clinics are forbidden from advertising surgery using terms such as mommy makeovers or phrases that could exploit body insecurities. Operators also face the prospect of fines and even imprisonment should they try to rush people through deciding to have procedures through limited time discounts. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) watchdog recently issued a wave of warnings against Turkish clinics inappropriately promoting life-changing surgery to Britons. TikTok influencer and rapper Millie B was rapped by the ASA in January over videos she made of her getting cosmetic surgery abroad, in partnership with Erdem Clinic in Istanbul. The regulator claimed the ads, which featured a testimonial from Millie herself about getting a breast augmentation, trivialised the decision to undergo cosmetic surgery and were directed at those aged under 18. Now the ASA has vowed to take further action on the overseas surgery sector, recently issuing an industry-wide notice that adverts attempting to lure Britons to go under the knife abroad need to follow UK advertising standards or be taken down. Some of these companies are also looking to silence former patients looking to warn others of the potential dangers with legal threats using British courts. Some threaten customers who criticise the business, or any of its surgeons, online with a fine of up to 10,000 in threats hidden inside the expansive T&Cs patients accept when sign up for a procedure. Medicci Aesthetics is one of those medical tourism companies which promises consequences for negative reviews. Patients upon signing of our contracts agree not expose Medicci Aesthetics to negative reviews or comments publicly or anonymously for any reason concerning their surgery or experience resulting in damage to brand reputation, without providing the opportunity of resolution of any complaints via mediatory routes, a patient booklet obtained by the Mail reads. It continues: Any defamatory false comments will also result in legal action in both your home country and Turkey. The booklet also states that Britons who sign up for surgery de-facto consent to images of their bodies being shared on the companys social media profiles. We hold full rights to the sharing of the before and after photos for use of advertisement of our work, it reads. While it seeks to reassure patients that they will take the utmost care in ensuring their genitals and identifying tattoos will be anonymised in these photos, it believes it has the right to share these images online. Melissa Kerr, 31, of Gorleston, Norfolk, died after having a BBL in Turkey We believe that you have chosen our work based on viewing the photos of other patients and it is only right that other patients are offered the same chance to be informed of our work in the same manner, it reads. The booklet adds that taking and sharing of such images is non-negotiable and objection could result in either cancellation of the procedure or an additional charge. Medicci Aesthetics, which promises a seamless treatment journey on its website, also criticises British GPs and warns patients who suffer post-surgery complications of potential risks of seeking help from your family doctor. Often we find general practitioners in the UK are not so experienced or knowledgeable when it comes to wound care management of cosmetic and plastic surgery patients, it reads. God forbid you mention you have been to Turkey, then they treat you as if you have the plague and decide to send you to the NHS A&E Department where you will wait for hours and most likely be told you need to take the implant out. While the company goes on to recommend visiting a GP if needed, they add you should also contact themselves about any post-surgical issues. The agency is not alone in threatening financial consequences for voicing any concerns or criticisms of their treatment. Other tourism companies offering Britons procedures in Turkey, Casas Care and Hermes Clinic, also threaten their customers with 10,000 fines if they bad name their services. While 10,000 penalties are on the upper scale of the threat agencies post, fines feature regularly across many agencies terms and conditions. For example, Clinic International, another Turkey-based medical tourism agency, warns those who criticise its services openly can face a penalty of 5,000. Lisa Webb, Which? consumer law expert, said: Its outrageous for patients to be threatened with financial penalties for posting negative reviews, particularly in instances where theyve had a terrible experience with a company and are trying to put out a genuine warning to other people about it. Terms and conditions that attempt to silence consumers in this way may well be in breach of UK consumer rights law, potentially making them unenforceable anyway. Review hosting platforms must take action against any business they find indulging in this type of behaviour. Failure to deal swiftly with these bad actors would result in the platforms knowingly hosting misleading reviews. Dawn Knight, who has campaigned tirelessly against poor practice cosmetic surgery since she herself suffered a botched eyelift in the UK in 2012, said the threats silence botched patients from warning others honestly and openly about their experience. She added that this, in turn, leaves many Britons with the false impression they were undergoing a risky procedure with an operator with a perfect track record. It absolutely skews it, Ms Knight told the Mail. Weve known for years that surgeons and directors leave their own five-star reviews. By them skewing the numbers in their favour it leaves patients absolutely baffled in retrospect when they look back. While Ms Knight knew overseas clinics had sent threats to pursue this kind of legal threat, she was unaware of any following through with actual court action. However, she added that for many victims dealing with a poor surgical outcome, alongside the associated impacts to both their physical and mental health, a threat of a massive fine was likely to be enough to get many to retract a negative review. Its a predatory practice, Ms Knight said. She also condemned the appalling practice of harvesting patients surgery photos for promotional purposes. Ms Knight said she knew of women who had unknowingly signed up to such agreements, having not taken the time to read the extensive agreements, only to then see photos of their naked bodies online at a later date. She added that it was standard practice in some Turkish clinics to only hand over the terms and conditions for signing when a patient is hours, sometimes minutes, away from going under the knife. In our experience its when theyre already in Turkey when theyve already paid for the procedures, she said. Abimbola Ajoke Bamgbose, 38, died after liposuction in Turkey Carol Keenan, 54, died after having a BBL and tummy tuck in Turkey Diarra Brown, 28, died after having liposuction in Turkey Ms Knight urged people thinking of going for surgery overseas to read the terms and conditions posted online forensically. If they spot anything like the examples that the Mail has highlighted, she advised them to stay far away from that operator. These are massive, massive, red flags, she said. A Medicci Aesthetics spokesman defended the notice about legal action to patients, also revealing they had successfully taken two ex-clients to court for defamation. Unfortunately, we have seen comments in groups which are not true and defamatory, they said. We are always open to patients sharing their experience but we have seen they share is not always true. Sometimes patients actually do it on purpose and later go on to blackmail us and ask for money to remove their comments. We have however successfully taken legal action over two clients in the past for defamation and received settlement and will not hesitate to do so if false information is shared about us. The spokesman added that the line in the leaflet seen by the Mail about the non-negotiable right to share surgery photos on social media is from an older version, and has been removed in the past few months, and the company was careful not to share unconsented photos. However, the line rubbishing British GPs remains, and the company defended its inclusion. I have chosen to include this in our booklet as it is unfortunately true and I have a long list of evidence recorded as proof, the spokesperson said. I think it is safe to say a plastic surgery clinic and its doctor see a more variety of different complications and wound issues relating specifically to cosmetic surgery than a GP who has an overall knowledge in general medicine. We have often seen patients being scared or pushed into removing their implants when it is unnecessary and no other opinion by any other doctor even the operating surgeon itself is considered solely because the surgeon is in turkey. Even though that same surgeon has extensive experience and training in the USA and other countries. The Medicci Aesthetics spokesman added that they accept that there many terrible clinics in Turkey with unethical practice but said we are not one of them. Alarm has also been raised over social media ads promoting medical consultations in Britain by Turkish practitioners. Turkish surgeons are running free consultations for life-changing cosmetic and weight loss ops out of British hotels, campaigners told Mail+. One such event promising to 'help you on your journey to a happier you' was held in Manchester in November out of a 200-a-night hotel. The procedure list for the event included mommy makeovers, liposuction, nose jobs, tummy tucks and gastric bypass as well options for dental veneers, also known as Turkey Teeth. BAAPS said it was alarmed about the event. Doctors working in the UK need to be registered with the medical regulator the General Medical Council (GMC), which holds those working in Britain to strict ethical and professional standards. However, as long as foreign medics running these roadshows don't diagnose a condition or prescribe drugs, they arent breaking any rules. None of the surgeons listed as attending the two-day event were on the GMCs register. Campaigners have previously raised the alarm about foreign surgeons using a crazy loophole to tour Britain and recommend women get major surgery abroad despite themselves not being allowed to carry out ops in the UK. The difference between the cheapest and dearest petrol prices at supermarket forecourts in January was a massive 14ppl Drivers who fill up with fuel at supermarket petrol stations face a postcode lottery with the cost of a litre of unleaded differing by up to 14p-a-litre depending on where you live. The cheapest litre of supermarket unleaded at the end of last month was at Sainsbury's filling stations in Wantage, Oxford and Cwmbran, Newport priced at 131.9p, while the most expensive was Morrisons forecourts in Budge, Exeter and around Ipswich - in Diss and Fakenham - charging 145.9p, analysis by the RAC revealed. The motoring group described the huge gulf in costs as 'blatantly wrong', especially after the competitions watchdog found evidence of supermarkets being the worst offenders for not giving drivers a fair deal at the pumps. The RAC's report confirms fuel prices stopped falling in January after three consecutive months of decline. This was despite the wholesale prices of both petrol and diesel increasing by 3p and 4p respectively in the month as oil rose above $80 a barrel for the first time since the end of November. Sainsbury's has the biggest price difference across the country. A litre of unleaded at its filling stations in Wantage, Oxford and Cwmbran, Newport priced at 131.9p while some of its other locations are charging up to 144.9p Your browser does not support iframes. Sourcing government data, the RAC said the average price of a litre of petrol stayed at 140.5p in January while diesel remained at 148.5p. Based on the average family car having a 55-litre tank, this translates to 77.24 and 81.73p to fill up with the respective fuels. In Northern Ireland, however, petrol was 4.2p cheaper than the UK average at 136.2p by the end of the month and diesel was 3.5p lower at 144.9p, showing drivers are still not being charged a fair price across the whole of the country. And supermarkets are putting motorists over a barrel based on where in the UK they live, the review found. Your browser does not support iframes. Tesco has the smallest price gap between its priciest and cheapest diesel prices - though the gulf is still a significant 9p. Sainsbury's again has the biggest difference of 14p for the fuel Analysing the prices charged by Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco - the big four supermarkets that dominate UK fuel retailing - via the Government's voluntary price reporting scheme, the RAC identified wildly varying prices from place to place. The largest gap in price between the cheapest and dearest was 14p - which works out at 7.70 when filling up. The average difference between a litre of petrol at the same supermarket chain was nearly 12p (11.6p). The report said Tesco had the smallest gap 8p between its lowest of 138.2p and highest of 142.9pm while Sainsbury's had the largest at 14p. For diesel, there was a spread of more than 14p between Sainsbury's forecourts in Banbury, Oxford and Cwmbran, Newport charging 139.9p, compared to Frome, Bath at 153.9p. The average spread between supermarkets' high and low diesel was just over 11p (11.3p). The RAC published the changing price of of petrol and diesel by region during the month of January The inflated cost of fuel at some supermarket forecourts in parts of the country is emphasised by far cheaper prices at Costco and a number of independent retailers. The wholesaler, which has 20 filling stations across Britain, is undercutting the rest of the market by an average of 10p a litre, offering Costco members petrol for just 130p and diesel for 139.6p. Meanwhile, an independently run forecourt in Grindley Brook in Whitchurch, Shropshire, is only charging 133.9p for petrol nearly 7p less than the UK average. This has forced three nearby retailers to compete by pricing their unleaded at 136.9p - again well below the average price across the country. Simon Williams, from RAC, said it was concerning to see supermarkets charging wildly different prices in parts of the country, especially following the recent Competition and Markets Authority investigation. The watchdog's probe into the fuel retail market found evidence of supermarkets not passing on savings to drivers at the pumps in 2022. This investigation sparked the Government to accelerate plans for a new 'Pumpwatch' scheme, which would legally require all fuel stations to share live information on their pricing within 30 minutes of any change. 'The data retailers are voluntarily providing to the CMA has shed a whole new light on the pump price postcode lottery,' Williams said. 'It seems blatantly wrong to us that the very same petrol or diesel can vary in price by as much as 14p a litre, depending on where drivers are filling up.' The millionth electric car entered Britain's roads last month, it has been confirmed by official industry figures. This 'major milestone' was reached in January, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders as all-time electric vehicle sales in Britain reached 1,001,677 units by the end of the month. It comes at a pivotal moment for the industry following a significant slowdown in consumer demand for EVs which saw just one in 11 private buyers opt for a battery-powered car last year. Industry figures show that one million electric cars have been purchased in the UK over the last two decades. But private buyer demand for EVs is on the decline The decline in driver appetite for EVs has been somewhat masked by sizeable fleet registrations as a result of low company car tax rates of just 2 per cent - and the availability of salary sacrifice schemes through employers. Businesses upgrading their fleets to EVs has also pushed registrations higher. But industry data shows that just 8.8 per cent of private buyers opted for an EV in 2023, with petrol the most in-demand new car fuel type among motorists. All-time electric vehicle sales in Britain reached 1,001,677 units by the end of January 2024, the SMMT confirmed on Monday Individuals bought 71,984 EVs in 2023 23 per cent of the total of 314,687 private purchases last year. But in 2022, they splashed out on 88,910 EVs 33 per cent of the total. In contrast, businesses purchased 242,703 electric cars last year, up from 178,294 in 2022. And it's a similar picture in the first month of 2024. SMMT figures published this morning show that 20,935 electric cars were registered in January - a rise of 21 per cent year on year. However, purchases by private buyers fell by a quarter (25.1 per cent). The trade body's chief executive Mike Hawes previously said the UK was now 'probably in the bottom half in Europe' for driver demand for EVs, falling below nations such as France, Germany, Ireland and Portugal. He attributed this to a lack of incentives in the UK. SMMT figures published this morning show that 20,935 electric cars were registered in January - a year-on-year rise of 21%. However, purchases by private buyers fell by a quarter Electric vehicles (BEV in this chart) accounted for 14.7% of the total new car market in January. The ZEV mandate requires manufacturers to increase this market share to 22%, else face big fines from the Government Yet, the SMMT expects pure battery electrics to account for more than one in five new cars registered this year. This is thanks to the introduction of the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which Hawes has described as the 'single most important mechanism to deliver the UK's net zero commitment'. Becoming law in last month, the mandate demands of 'mainstream' car makers - those that sell more than 1,000 vehicles per year - to sell an increasing share of zero emission models each year. For 2024, the requirement is 22 per cent of their sales being electric cars. The threshold increases to 28 per cent for 2025, rising to a third (33 per cent) the year after. By 2028, over half (52 per cent) of all sales in Britain need to be EVs, rising to four in five (80 per cent) by the end of the decade, rising each year after until the Government's outright ban on sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans in 2035. Failure to adhere to these targets will see manufacturers stung with fines of 15,000 per model below the threshold, though they will be able to get around this by purchasing ZEV credits from other makers well above the requirement - the likes of Tesla and Polestar. The data published this morning shows that EVs make up only 14.7 per cent - almost 8 percentage points below the ZEV mandate threshold for 2024. Electric future: The ZEV mandate will force car makers to sell an increasing volume of EVs between now and 2035 The trade body said the ongoing trend of falling consumer appetite for EVs will derail Britain's ability to deliver net zero. The warning comes just a day before The Environment and Climate Change Committee publishes its latest EV strategy report on Tuesday, which will outline how ministers need to intervene to boost demand for electric cars. 'It's taken just over 20 years to reach our million EV milestone but with the right policies, we can double down on that success in just another two,' Hawes said. Annual ZEV Mandate targets to 2030 2024: 22% (10% for vans) 2025: 28% (16% for vans) 2026: 33% (24% for vans) 2027: 38% (34% for vans) 2028: 52% (46% for vans) 2029: 66% (58% for vans) 2030: 80% (70% for vans) Source: DfT 'Market growth is currently dependent on businesses and fleets. 'Government must therefore use the upcoming Budget to support private EV buyers, temporarily halving VAT to cut carbon, drive economic growth and help everyone make the switch. Manufacturers have been asked to supply the vehicles, we now ask government to help consumers buy the vehicles on which net zero depends.' Ian Plummer, commercial director at Auto Trader described the arrival of the millionth EV as 'a real milestone moment for the market' but also called for more incentives to boost demand. He said: 'Considering the pressure on car manufacturers to meet a 22 per cent electric vehicle sales target under the ZEV mandate this year it's a good time to be an electric vehicle buyer with some manufacturers offering EV discounts as high as 40 per cent. 'Electric vehicles may account for one in five sales this year but there is still more ministers can do. 'Equalising the VAT on private and public charging points would boost running cost savings and encourage more people to make the switch to electric.' Last month, Toyota's chairman Akio Toyoda declared that electric cars will never dominate the automobile market. The boss at the world's second largest car maker said that battery-powered vehicles will only ever capture 30 per cent of the global market, with traditional combustion engine cars, hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles making up the remaining 70 per cent. However, his statement came in the wake of Tesla's Model Y being confirmed as Europe's best-selling new car in 2023. Electric cars will never dominate the automobile market, according to the chairman of the world's biggest car manufacturer Toyota Kia's Sportage SUV topped the model sales charts for January, ahead of 2023's most popular new car, Ford's Puma Industry figures for January published by the SMMT on Monday show the total number of new cars registered last month was 8.2 per cent more than in January 2023. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief exec, says the ZEV mandate is the 'single most important mechanism to deliver net zero commitments' The first month of the year saw 142,876 sales, an uplift of 10,882 units on January 2023. This is the best performance for the month since 2020 and the 18th consecutive month of growth. The Kia Sportage was the best-selling model in January with 4,239 registrations, marginally ahead of last-year's most popular motor, Ford's Puma. The Government announced this morning that schools in England will be able to apply for grants to buy and install electric vehicle chargers at their premises. State-funded schools and other learning institutions will have access to a grant providing up to 75 per cent of the cost to install chargers, with funding available for up to 2,500 per device. The chargers would be available for staff and visitors, but Department for Transport officials said the scheme could also help schools generate revenue by making the chargers accessible to the public. Belgian national revealed the pros and cons of the job She revealed what an average day in the mines is like A young FIFO worker has revealed how she can earn thousands every week working as a fly-in, fly-out cleaner at remote mining camps. Belgian national Janne D'Huyvetter, 29, says the job is helping her pay for her travels around Australia and earns up to $2,650 a week. Ms D'Huyvetter said it's easy for her to save money because she doesn't have to spend on things like a gym, housing, food, or going out since everything is provided at the camp. 'Every mine site has a recreation room with ping pong and pool table. Most of them also have a pool, gym, and a bar. Food is obviously for free, and the chefs make a feast of every day.' Belgian national Janne D'Huyvetter, 29, earns up to $2650 a week working in the Western Australian mines She said checking her bank account after just two weeks of work was' very satisfying'. Ms D'Huyvetter also pointed out that the government only taxes people on working holiday visas if they earn more than $45,000, making it easier to save money quickly. 'I don't say this to show off because the work can be freaking hard. But it gives me financial freedom. And this is what I was looking for,' she explained. 'Mining jobs often come with competitive wages, providing financial stability during your Working Holiday Visa experience.' She usually works 12 hours a day for 14 days straight before having one week off, which she uses to travel around Australia. 'Your work in the mines can coincide with exploring Australia's natural wonders during your free time. 'You will even have the time and money to travel outside Australia. In my opinion, it's he best combination there is for travellers on a WHV.' She said those working in utilities like catering or cleaning can earn between $34 and $39 an hour, meaning they take home $2,618 to $3,024 a week. Those working as trade assistants make slightly more and are paid between $39 and $55 an hour, amounting to a weekly salary of $3,024 to $4,620 a week. However, she admitted it wasn't easy at the start. 'I remember my reaction heading back to my room after the second day of my first swing: "Wtf, I want to go home now",' she wrote. 'I didn't really realise what I got myself into, but the only thing I could think about was: this is temporary; think about the money to travel and have your freedom. 'It's essential to weigh these cons against the potential benefits, such as higher wages and financial freedom often associated with FIFO roles,' she advised. She also said the job does have drawbacks 'and really asks a lot from your body, mentally and physically'. 'During the day it can go up until 48 degrees in some places, and literally no human is made to function properly for 12 hours in this kind of weather. 'You might end up in a place where people will not become your friends and working 14 days without too much social contact, feels horrible.' DAY IN THE LIFE OF A FIFO CLEANER 4AM: Kicking off with an early rise. 5AM: Its time to dive into the days tasks after a thorough pre-start meeting, setting the agenda for what lies ahead. 5.20AM: Coffee becomes the trusty companion while preparing the cleaning trolley and surveying the rooms that require attention. 5.30AM: Crafting a strategic plan paves the way for an efficient approach to housekeeping duties, ensuring everything is in order. 7AM: Breakfast time. Theres so much choice but I stick most days to eggs, mushrooms, raw veggies, yoghurt and watermelon. Not too heavy to start working again. I also pack my lunch to take to my room because the dry mess isnt open during lunchtime. 7.45AM: From there, its a focused sprint until noon, dedicating the morning to meticulous cleaning and organising. I try to do the majority of the rooms so I have more space to relax after lunch. 12PM: Lunch provides a welcomed break in my room before diving back in to wrap up any pending tasks. 1PM: Finish the rooms that have to be cleaned. 4.45PM: I restock the trolley and put it back where it belongs. 5PM: Return keys and list of rooms to be cleaned. The rest of the night youre free to do whatever you want. Go for dinner, go the gym, go swim or hang out with your mates at the bar. (Youre only allowed 4 beers per night. Cons of the job include long shifts, the work-life balance, health concerns and extreme heat JANNE'S TOP TIPS FOR GETTING A FIFO JOB Ms D'Huyvetter suggests that if you're seeking a job in mining, consider positions like trade assistant, catering, kitchenhand, housekeeping, and cleaning. 'Sure, other jobs in mining might pay higher, but they demand more qualifications. These roles, however, are easy to step into.' 1. CRAFT AN IRRESISTIBLE CV: List every relevant experience. 2. SEND CV TO AN AGENCY: Mines partner with agencies like Collar Group, Sodexo, and FMG. 3. TACKLE COUNTLESS QUESTIONNAIRES: About your work history, health, and more. 4. ARRANGE MEDICAL TESTS: Physical, drug, and alcohol tests. 5. GRAB YOUR UNIFORM. 6. COMPLETE ONLINE AND FACE-TO-FACE INDUCTIONS: Covering mine specifics, safety, chemicals, and food handling. 7. PATIENTLY AWAIT AGENCYS CALL: Confirming your first swing. 8. FLY TO YOUR MINE SITE AND DIVE IN! Janine shares tips for those looking for a FIFO job on Instagram. Click here to follow. Janne said the benefits include the high-earning potential, entry-level jobs, the working holiday visa community and appealing rosters (pictured, mining accomodation) She shocked the world by helping her husband fake his death in a canoe to cash in on life insurance - and made their weeping children believe it too. Anne Darwin was jailed after the fraudulent plot was uncovered in 2007, which later became subject of hit ITV drama The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe. But in an extraordinary book first published by The Mail in 2016, she pours out her guilt over her involvement in husband John's plot... From our vantage point at the end of the windswept pier we looked down into the choppy waters below. One by one the three of us cast our floral wreaths into the churning waves of the North Sea: Mark, our eldest, then Anthony, then me. I think my sons felt that this small, but significant, act of memorial would give them some closure, although their beloved fathers body had never been found. The three of us had often spoken about how best to commemorate the death of my husband, their father, two years before, and we had been naturally drawn to our local beach, near where he had so tragically lost his life in a canoeing accident. It was a sad place, yes, but one that also held so many poignant memories for our family. What my sons did not know was that the body of my husband, John Darwin, would never be found for one simple reason: that he was not dead. Anne Darwin's husband faked his own death so that the couple could benefit from a portfolio of life insurance policies worth more than 680,000 in March 2002 As the world now knows, my husband and I had inflicted the cruellest possible deception on those we loved by pretending he had drowned so we could claim the insurance money to pay off our debts. How could any mother sink so low? It is a question I ask myself daily. God knows what the boys would have thought of me had they known that their dad was alive and well inside the family home just a few yards behind us possibly even watching from a window, for all I knew. I live with the shame of it every moment of my life. To an outsider, we appeared to have it all as we celebrated the first Christmas of the new millennium. A huge, Victorian seafront home, a shiny blue Range Rover with personalised number plates my husbands pride and joy parked outside and an impressive portfolio of more than a dozen rental properties across County Durham. Both of us had steady jobs John as an officer at the local prison, and I as a receptionist at a busy GPs surgery. Our marriage had been through rocky times, but we were still together, and proud of our two handsome grown-up sons. But, sadly, things were not as they seemed on the surface. A couple of years into the new decade my husband and I were in deep financial trouble. John had overstretched himself with the purchase of our new home in the seaside town of Seaton Carew, and was struggling to pay the mortgage. To add to our worries, hed also bought the house adjoining ours equally large, and converted into 13 bedsits in the hope of making some serious money from the rental income. But hed been unable to find tenants to fill it, nor funds to keep up with the repairs. John and Anne Darwin with agent Mario in Panama in July 2006 when everyone thought he was dead We couldnt even sell any of our other properties to keep our creditors at bay, because John had rolled all our debts into one huge monthly payment, known as a global mortgage. John owed 64,000 on credit cards, and the car was costing him a crazy 650 every month out of his 1,300 take-home pay. I earned 750 a month but our mortgage payment was 1,735 a month, and on top of that John had taken out various high interest loans. Our total debts came to around 350,000, rising by the day. A tide of financial ruin was about to engulf us. I hated coming home from work, dreading what new bills or threatening letters were waiting on the doormat. I never knew what kind of a mood John would be in. He often used to ignore me and sulk. I never wanted the houses in the first place, and I didnt know how or why Johns plans had got so out of control. We kept this problem hidden from everyone, including our sons, but it was at the forefront of my mind all the time. The bank wasnt budging an inch. I had no idea how we could ever get ourselves out of this mess and knew bankruptcy was beating at our door. All I wanted was to go back to a time before the rental properties and live a simple life. Anne with her sons Anthony (left) and Mark (right), who were unaware of their parents' plot Johns ideas started to get extreme. One evening he said: I think I should crash the Range Rover on the way home from work. If its written off, we could claim the insurance money. Then he added: But I might actually kill myself doing it. I dont want to do that. I said, exasperated: John, dont be stupid. There has to be a better way to work things out. Bankruptcy might be painful and humiliating, but at least wed still have each other and could start again with our slate wiped clean. But John wouldnt even consider it. He said hed never be able to live with the shame. Maybe that was when John first started thinking of his plan. Sitting in front of the roaring fire one evening early in 2002, he dropped his bombshell. He had come up with an extraordinary, utterly outrageous scheme to solve all our problems. Im going to have to do a Reggie Perrin, Anne, he told me. He was, in all seriousness, planning to fake his own death like the TV character. He said if he could just vanish for a while, and then come back again, I could claim the life insurance money to pay off our debts and then we could start a whole new life somewhere else, probably abroad. Hed even worked out how hed carry out his insane idea. He was going to paddle his canoe out to sea near our home, then make it look as if hed had a terrible accident and drowned. But in reality he would come back ashore and push his canoe back out to sea to look as if it had capsized. Id meet him by the beach, transport him to somewhere safe, then report him missing to the police. To him it all sounded so simple. I was speechless I couldnt believe what I was hearing. What about the boys? I asked, horrified. Youre not seriously saying youd let them believe you are dead? And what about the police? Youll be found out and locked up we both will. For Gods sake, John, youll have to think of something else. You cant just disappear! I really thought John had lost his mind. Well its either that or I do it for real, he replied. I was so angry. Im the one who will have to do the lying. You cant honestly expect me to tell the boys you are dead? What sort of mother do you think I am? I stormed out of the room in frustration, in floods of tears, and locked myself in the bathroom. What the hell was he thinking? John knocked on the door but I was having none of it. Go away and leave me alone! OK, well, I will do it for real then, John said, and then youll be free of me and the debts. At that point I was thinking, Go ahead and do it! But I couldnt actually speak the words. And then I felt guilty for having such thoughts. I was confused. I no longer knew what I really wanted. I just didnt want to be in this mess. We had the same argument numerous times during the following weeks. I really couldnt believe he was going to go through with it. It was just too unreal to be true. But whenever I protested, he simply insisted there was no alternative. It was often the only topic of conversation. I would become so upset and emotional that some days, if we didnt talk about it, we barely spoke at all. Mark (left) and Anthony (right) on the beach where their father went missing The truth was, he simply could not contemplate the thought of losing everything and being seen as a failure. His mind was already made up. On the morning of March 21, 2002, after one last vain attempt to talk him out of it, I left for work hardly believing I had finally agreed to go through with Johns insane plan. Today was the day for his vanishing act, and I felt sick to the pit of my stomach. I left the surgery at around 6.20pm and set off for the car park at North Gare beach, just a five-minute car ride from our home, where Id promised to meet him at 7pm. There, under cover of darkness, was Johns outline, trudging towards me. He looked like a bedraggled Milk Tray man, wearing a thick black jacket, jeans and a woolly hat and carrying a rucksack. But he was euphoric as he climbed into the car. Several walkers had seen him going down to the sea with his canoe that morning, he said, and he hoped theyd be vital witnesses. He laughed as he told me how hed eventually caught a wave and paddled out to sea, about a mile along the coast. Anne on the plane back to the UK from Panama, where she and John had started a new life Conditions were quite rough, and both he and his belongings were soaked by the time hed drifted into the shore again. There hed hidden in the dunes for the rest of the day, waiting for the light to fade. When it did, he had thrown the paddle out to sea. Then hed filled the canoe with water by pressing it downwards, thrown in a few rocks for good measure to reduce its buoyancy, and shoved it out into the waves to await its fate. Finally, cock-a-hoop, hed set out to meet me. I could see he was still running on adrenaline. For Gods sake, John, you cant do this, I begged him. It still wasnt too late. But he was not going to change his mind. Our nightmare had well and truly begun. John told me to drive him to Durham railway station. From there hed go to Newcastle, then Carlisle, and onwards. Unfortunately, it will all be up to you then, he said. Im sorry. Still not really believing what I was doing, I did as he asked. In Durham I parked in an unlit side street and we had a last emotional hug. I think I cried all the way home I dont know if it was for John or for me, and what I was about to do; all the terrible lies I was about to tell, the lives I was about to destroy. Why did I do it? That is the question I still ask myself today. Why, when I got home, did I make that phone call to the police? I was never motivated by money. That wasnt the reason. Incredible though it may sound, the only reason I had was my loyalty to John. John hides under a dark coat in 2007 on his way to a Cleveland police station for questioning I felt I had a duty as his wife to do what he had asked. I went along with everything he asked of me, and I fully accept that I was, therefore, totally complicit in the crime. In the week running up to that fateful night, John had concocted the story I would tell the police. It was painfully easy to put it into action. I have to admit Im getting a bit worried, I told the operator after Id dialled 999. Ive called the prison where he works, and they said theyve been trying to contact him, with no luck. This isnt like John at all. When two officers arrived at my house I had my story ready. Hes a very experienced canoeist, I told them. But I am worried that something dreadful might have happened. I was shocked at how easily I perfectly repeated the concocted lie. A full-scale search-and-rescue operation was swiftly launched. Neither John nor I had had the slightest idea how big this would become. I told the police Id decided against telling our children as I didnt want to alarm them unduly. To be honest, though, I simply couldnt face the thought of speaking to them. Anne is escorted by police after being arrested in Manchester in 2007 It was my mother who eventually suggested ringing my brother Michael and asking him to break the news to my older son Mark at work in London. My younger son Anthony, meanwhile, was on holiday at Niagara Falls, where he planned to ask his girlfriend, Louise, to marry him. I simply couldnt believe I was about to ruin what was meant to be one of the happiest times of his life. Police officers were swarming all over my house for clues, looking under every bed and in all the cupboards while a detective gently pushed me for information I might have neglected to tell them. I really dont know what I expected but it was far, far worse than I ever dreamed possible. When Mark arrived from London later that afternoon I didnt have to pretend to be upset. I couldnt speak. We just held each other close, and while I sobbed, Mark tried hard to hold back his own tears. I loathed myself for what I was doing. What kind of a mother does this deliberately and totally unnecessarily? I felt helpless. Eventually Mark spoke. You know what hes like, Mum. Hell turn up and wonder what all the fuss is about. I dont think he will, I replied, hes been gone too long all the while knowing he wouldnt be returning and that if his escape plan was working properly, he wouldnt be found any time soon. When there was still no sign of John the next day we knew we had to tell Anthony. I sat with my head in my hands trying to shut out the conversation as my sister Christine broke the awful news to him. A mugshot photograph from Cleveland Police of John - who was later convicted of fraud along with Anne Poor Anthony and Louise immediately cancelled the rest of their holiday and flew back to the UK. All because of my unforgivable lies. I was in a terrible state, thats true, but not for the reason everyone thought. Four days after Johns disappearance, on Monday morning, March 25, the massive search-and-rescue operation, which had involved scores of courageous people in six lifeboats and three helicopters, was called off. The Coastguard admitted that the chances of him being found alive had passed. John was presumed dead, drowned at sea. IT WAS about a week after his disappearance that my husband called my mobile phone. I was truly shocked to hear his voice. Has everyone gone home yet? he asked. Are you mad? I said. Of course they havent! Ive got a house full of people and the police are in and out all day. Its all over the television and radio. I cant talk to you like this. He was camped out on a beach in the Cumbrian seaside town of Silloth, he told me, and using a public phone. Please come back and give yourself up, I pleaded, in tears. Let me at least tell Mark and Anthony. Its terrible watching them desperately hoping youre still alive, lying somewhere injured. No, you cant do that, said John. Theyll get over it. The police will stop looking and everyone will go home and get back to normal. Trust me. Before he rang off he told me: I love you. Dont abandon me now. Their story was was turned into an ITV drama starring Eddie Marsan as John and Monica Dolan as Anne respectively I couldnt say I love you back to John. I was devoid of all feeling except anger. The days seemed to pass in a blur. I wasnt eating, drinking or sleeping much not out of grief, but because of all the terrible lies I was telling. And now things were about to get even more complicated. Before disappearing, John had given a great deal of thought to the secretive life hed live on his return, when he was, to the rest of the world, dead. Hed quickly decided that the simplest and cheapest option would be to move back home or at least to one of the empty bedsits we owned next door. These could easily be used to hide in especially as there was a connecting door to every floor of our own house. Id been horrified when he told me of his latest outrageous plan. Dont be ridiculous, Id said. Someone will see you straight away, and well have the police at the door. But John wasnt about to let my doubts stand in his way. He never had, and he wasnt going to start now. Three weeks after hed left home, when the house had finally emptied of the kind, caring and concerned people who had tried so hard to help me, I drove to Cumbria and picked up the bedraggled, dishevelled figure of my husband. John had changed so much that I didnt even recognise him at first. He had lost a huge amount of weight, grown a long beard and was wearing baggy clothes hed bought in a charity shop. I was pleased to see he was alive and in one piece, but I was also very angry and told him it was time to put an end to the lies. But John said he couldnt and that the worst was now over. I knew that wasnt the case and there would be much worse to come if we carried on. We need to at least tell the boys, John, I begged him. They are grieving and suffering so much. But he said that was impossible. If we told them, they were likely to persuade me to tell the truth. He also said that if they agreed not to say anything, it would implicate them in the crimes, and that was the last thing either of us wanted. This wasnt something wed considered before because we hadnt expected things to go on for so long, but it was now clear that the lying had to continue. I felt totally trapped, powerless to do anything. The couple's house in Seaton Carew, County Durham - which included the bedsit next door where John would hide Back home, John needed a bath and I certainly wasnt going to disagree. I think I put his filthy clothes straight in the wash. As soon as he was out, he started quizzing me about how I was getting on with claiming the insurance. I couldnt believe what I was hearing. The stress of lying in such a terrible way to the boys and everyone else had taken its toll. I was a bag of nerves and furious with him for even bringing it up so soon after coming home. I havent done anything! I yelled at him, through tears. Nothing. Nothing at all. How the hell could I? John knew it would be unwise to push things further for now, anyway. In the days that followed we settled into a surreal, awkward routine. John spent most of his time in our house with me, but made regular forays to the bedsit in the basement of the house next door, which he had made his bolthole. The ground floor living room had vertical blinds fitted and, to make it easier for John to move around, I fixed net curtains to the bay window in the drawing room on the first floor. But we were by no means in the clear yet. Just three days after he returned home, I had a call from the police that sent me into a blind panic: officers would be arriving the next day, they said, to make a top-to-toe search of the house. Donald Trump is currently weighing an endorsement for one-time foe Nancy Mace in her contentious primary race, multiple sources have confirmed to DailyMail.com. Trump's public display of support would be a remarkable twist in the South Carolina Republican's on-again, off-again relationship with the former president and 2024 GOP frontrunner. In 2016, Mace was fired from his presidential campaign and banned from future campaign events, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. And in 2021 she emerged as one of the loudest Republican voices urging a break with Trump after the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Yet in a sign of Trump's transactional approach to endorsements, two sources who regularly speak with the former president say there is a 'high' chance he will endorse the embattled congresswoman. Mace worked on his 2016 primary team in South Carolina - and only months later she was blacklisted from Trump campaign events during the general election, according to three sources who were involved in Trump's campaign in South Carolina at the time. Rep. Nancy Mace pictured with Donald Trump when she worked on his campaign in 2016 - before being blacklisted 'She wasn't asked to stick around because everyone just thought she was a little out there - caused more drama than was valuable to have around,' said one source who worked on the Trump campaign in South Carolina in 2016. As another former senior Trump staffer said of the 2016 primary and campaign, 'in the early days, we didn't always hire the best, we hired who was willing to work for us.' The congresswoman was furious about not being asked back to help out with the general election in 2016, said the staffer. She was known to 'drive around to campaign fundraisers Trump was doing in the region, badger her way onto the photo line to tell [Trump] about how if he didn't hire her back, he was going to lose South Carolina in the general election to Hillary Clinton.' 'It got to a point where she literally had to be blacklisted from Trump campaign events across the country,' said the Trump campaign staffer. 'An email had to go out to finance and political staff saying: "Nancy Mace is not to be admitted to any future events.''' 'She absolutely was blacklisted from campaigns,' said a second source involved in Trump's campaign in South Carolina that year. The source confirmed the Trump campaign team had a 'list of people who could not get into events and had to be kept out of events because they cause problems.' Mace was banned from area events in August or September of 2016, the sources said. 'She was despised by most of the campaign staff that couldn't stand her. They didn't trust her. She undermined people. She lied,' said one source involved. But Trump world has apparently forgotten past grievances. One senior Trump ally had high praise for the South Carolina Republican, but said the former president is focused on winning the Palmetto State before he'll consider giving Mace a hand. 'The congresswoman is a tremendous asset for the team, a great messenger for President Trump's voice,' the source told DailyMail.com. 'And the focus right now is on getting President Trump to win in the South Carolina primary. So I would not expect any imminent announcements.' Neither Mace's campaign nor Trump's could be reached for comment. For Mace, she condemned Trump but now she needs him to be re-elected to Congress. For Trump, he seems to care little about Mace or the drama that trails her, so long as she is willing to bend the knee. And endorsing Mace could be another way for Trump to twist the knife into Nikki Haley's back. Mace appeared at a Team Trump press conference last Thursday focused on 'Nikki Haley's Failures' in South Carolina, where she called Haley 'China's favorite governor' and accused her of wanting to raise taxes while comparing her to Hillary Clinton. Haley had helped Mace get through her 2022 primary challenge, a Trump-backed candidate. 'She is a rockstar,' Mace said of Haley at the time. 'She's become a good friend, a good mentor, she's a great leader.' The congressman gushed over how she had texted Haley to get debate advice from her, revealing Haley took just five minutes to get back to her, despite being on the other side of the world. 'And I wish that everybody could see our texts ... and just see how hard she works. She's a great example for me, for my daughter, for everyone in the room today. Nikki I just want to say, thank you,' Mace said. Mace, who once said she wanted to get punched by January 6 rioters so she could be the face of 'anti-Trump,' did an about-face and endorsed the former president only weeks ago, calling on Republicans to unite behind him. 'His entire legacy, was wiped out yesterday,' she said on January 7, 2021. 'Trumps record in his first term should tell every American how vital it is he be returned to office,' she said on January 22, 2024. In a sign of Trump's transactional approach to endorsements, two sources who regularly speak with the former president say there is a 'high' chance he will endorse the embattled congresswoman And Trump, similarly, endorsed primary challenger Katie Arrington against Mace in the 2022 cycle. During a rally in South Carolina that year, Trump called Mace 'crazy' and a 'terrible person.' 'Nancy Mace has been with President Trump and the MAGA movement from day one. She's never wavered. She was one of the original people that was hired weeks after President Trump came down the escalator,' John Fredericks, radio host and Virginia chairman of the Trump 2016 and 2020 campaigns, told DailyMail.com. 'Mace was one of the key people in Trump winning the nomination as the biggest underdog in history in 2016. She's never wavered from that.' He went on to call her a 'fiscal hawk' and 'hopes' Trump recognizes her 'steadfast courage' and endorses her. More photos! Thank you Congresswoman @NancyMace, Congressman @RussellFrySC, and all of President Trumps rock star supporters who joined us in Horry County! pic.twitter.com/1v4agiKbfo Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) February 3, 2024 Over the past few months Mace's office has descended into chaos. The congresswoman has lost nine staffers since voting to oust Kevin McCarthy from the speakership last October and is now operating on a skeleton crew in her Capitol Hill office. Her former chief Dan Hanlon also launched a primary run against her and multiple former Mace staffers are advising Hanlon on his campaign. Another area Republican - Catherine Templeton - jumped into the heated race on Monday. 'South Carolina needs a conservative they can trust. Someone committed to service over celebrity and someone who isnt going to flip flop for fame,' she wrote on X. A bipartisan group of senators finally released the text of a sprawling immigration and security supplemental deal, but Republican intra-party warfare is likely to tank its passage. The $118 billion deal, backed by the White House, includes $14 billion in aid to Israel, $60 billion to Ukraine and also $20 billion for securing the southern border amid a massive increase in illegal migration. It also includes billions for critical partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan. President Biden said 'I strongly support it' in a statement out Sunday, saying it will give him the 'emergency authority' to shut down the border when 'overwhelmed.' Biden administration officials, including Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas, became involved in the Capitol Hill talks in mid-December - the month that saw the highest number of migrant arrests at the U.S.-Mexico border of all time at over 302,000. The bill would mandate that the border is completely shut down if there are 5,000 encounters over a week or 8,500 encountered in a single day. The 370-page text comes out as Senate Republicans have expressed frustrations and even accused their colleagues of opposing the border bill over election year politics and for moving too quickly. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and several other GOP hardliners in the Senate have said a 'single weekend' to review the massive bill 'doesn't count' and is demanding more time to interview witnesses and examine the text before a vote. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., called it the 'oldest game in town' bringing the major piece of legislation before a recess or holiday but 'hopes' Speaker Mike Johnson will give the bill a 'fair shake' if it passes the Senate. But Johnson said the bill is 'even worse than expected,' on Sunday and vowed it will be 'dead on arrival' in the House. Johnson announced Saturday that the House separately will be bringing a 'clean, standalone' $17 billion Israel aid to the floor next week as the Senate prepares to move forward its supplemental package. Speaker Johnson announced Saturday that the House separately will be bringing a 'clean, standalone' $17 billion Israel aide to the floor next week President Biden said 'I strongly support it' in a statement out Sunday Former President Donald Trump is urging Congress to abandon the deal before the text of the deal has even been released Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., a leader on the border talks, was censured by his home state GOP last month He previously threatened that the Senate border security deal would not be taken up in the House, saying that any bill that allows 'even one illegal crossing' is a 'non-starter.' The massive deal includes $6 billion to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for security enforcement and investigations relating to 'migration surges along the southwest border' and 'counter-fentanyl activities.' And over $40 billion will be allotted to 'respond to the situations' in Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. The bill also contains a provision that would deny funding to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after the controversy about many employees being involved in Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel. President Biden expressed support for the legislation, saying Sunday that he 'strongly' supports it. 'Now weve reached an agreement on a bipartisan national security deal that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. I strongly support it.' 'It will make our country safer, make our border more secure, treat people fairly and humanely while preserving legal immigration, consistent with our values as a nation.' He went on to say that he hopes Republicans stop 'playing politics' with the border. 'Ive made my decision. Im ready to solve the problem. Im ready to secure the border. And so are the American people. I know we have our divisions at home but we cannot let partisan politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation,' he added. Former President Donald Trump has also urged Congress to abandon the deal before the text of the deal has even been released. Trump lambasted the deal in post on Truth Social over recent weeks, saying the 'horrific' bill is being used by Democrats to put the 'border disaster' onto the 'shoulders of Republicans.' 'There is zero chance I will support this horrible open borders betrayal of America,' Trump also said of the deal at a rally last weekend. 'A lot of the senators, they're trying to blame it on me,' he went on. 'I say, 'that's okay, please blame it on me.' I'd rather have no bill than a bad bill.' Johnson pushed back on Trump's influence over Republicans in Congress, saying he's 'not calling the shots.' 'I am calling the shots for the House,' the speaker insisted on NBC's Meet the Press. But the White House insists the deal will institute 'the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border we've ever had in our country' and give Biden new executive authority to 'shut down the border.' White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during the daily briefing Monday that Speaker Mike Johnson must 'step up' and provide the 'authorities' needed to secure the border. But Johnson has said Biden could take executive action to 'immediately' reverse the 'catastrophe' at the border - and doesn't need Congress' help. He has said Biden 'falsely claimed' he needs Congress to pass a new law to allow him to close the southern border. 'He knows that is untrue,' Johnson said in a statement. Biden said in a written statement that the deal would allow him 'a new emergency authority' to close the border. He added: 'And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law.' But Trump insisted Congress did not need to pass legislation - that the executive branch already has the authority it needs to secure the border. 'I had the safest and most secure Border in U.S. History. I didn't need a 'Bill!' They are using this horrific Senate Bill as a way of being able to put the BORDER DISASTER onto the shoulders of the Republicans. The Democrats BROKE THE BORDER, they should fix it. NO LEGISLATION IS NEEDED, IT'S ALREADY THERE!!!' he wrote on Truth Social. Johnson said the House won't take up the legislation unless it ends catch-and-release and reinstates the Remain in Mexico program. Any border "shutdown" authority that ALLOWS even one illegal crossing is a non-starter. Thousands each day is outrageous. The number must be ZERO. Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) January 29, 2024 An aerial view of the area as migrants walking along razor wire after crossing the Rio Grande into the United States on January 28, 2024 '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. So we actually locked arms together and said, We're not going to give you money for this. We want to change the law,' Sen. James Lankford, Okla., said on Fox News over the weekend. 'A few months later, when we're finally going to the end, they're like, 'Oh, just kidding. I actually don't want to change in law because the presidential election year,'' he went on. Back home Lankford was censured over the weekend by the Oklahoma GOP, which threatened to withdraw support for him if he did not 'cease and desist jeopardizing the security and liberty of the people of Oklahoma.' 'The fact that [Trump] would communicate to Republican senatorsthat he doesn't want us to solve the border problem because he wants to blame Biden for it is really appalling,' Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, told reporters last week. 'If we fail to get this passed, I'm going to file exactly the same bill if Trump wins and we have a majority of the Senate. I'll guarantee you that everybody who's against it. It's all about politics and not having the courage to respectfully disagree with President Trump and tell him: 'This will help him.' He has requested it before,' Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said. 'I didn't come here to have a president as a boss or a candidate as a boss. I came here to pass good, solid policy that will help a president who is serious [about] securing the border.' Lankford avidly disputed Trump's assertion that the deal would lead to 'open borders' - and reports that it would allow up to 5,000 crossers per day before allowing immediate expulsion. 'It would be absolutely absurd for me to agree to 5,000 people a day. This bill focuses on getting us to zero illegal crossings a day,' he said. The Oklahoma Republican insisted the deal would increase the number of border agents and asylum officers, increase detention beds, end catch and release, up the number of deportation flights and speed up asylum screening. 'It is a shutdown of the border and everyone actually gets turned around. Okay, that's the focus that we have right now. Is how do we actually intervene in this administration, in turn people around not let people in,' he said. Minister Orfila meets Edinburgh Estate and Albert Risso House Tenants Associations The Minister with responsibility for Housing met separately with the Tenants Associations of Edinburgh Estate and Albert Risso House. Senior Officials from the Housing Department, representatives from the Housing Works Agency and staff members from the Ministry also attended both meetings. Minister Orfila first met with the Chairman of the Edinburgh Estate Tenants Association Mr Mario Serra, Secretary Mr Richard Pitaluga, and committee members Ms Debbie Borastero and Mr Eric Bossino to discuss refurbishment plans, allocation of parking spaces, estate lighting, and other key points. The Minister then met with the Chairperson of Albert Risso House, Ms Lillian Carroll and committee member Mr Emilio Perez, to gain a deeper understanding of their unique needs and the concerns of its residents. This meeting has allowed the Minister to continue to foster good relations and to maintain an open line of communication for the betterment of all tenants. The Minister for Housing, Pat Orfila MP stated: It has been a pleasure meeting up with representatives of the Edinburgh Estate and Albert Risso House Tenants Associations. I am looking forward to working with each of them to make lives so much happier, relaxed and to encourage good neighbourly relations. Prisoners might have to be freed early with no restrictions if overcrowding is not addressed as numbers reach 'tipping point', a chief has warned. There are currently 8,000 people behind bars in Scotland and the prison population is set to surge to 8,700 this year. And chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service Teresa Medhurst has issued a fresh plea to reduce the number of inmates in the country. 'If I have to say enough is enough then it is because we are at a tipping point,' Ms Medhurst told BBC Disclosure. 'We cannot take any more. Prisons become very unsafe. The atmosphere, the tension, the volatility increases. Levels of violence increase, levels of self-harm increase.' Chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service Teresa Medhurst has issued a fresh plea to reduce the number of inmates in the country and said that prisoners might have to be freed early and with no restrictions One prisoner at HMP Perth, Kieran Wallace (pictured), is locked for 19 hours every day in a cell that is smaller than seven square metres. The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture mandates that shared cells must be larger than eight square metres The prison boss added that, while prisons could stay afloat in early spring, projections for March and April were more concerning. Disclosure: Prisons On The Brink airs on BBC One Scotland on Monday and visits HMP Perth as part of its investigation into overcrowding in Scottish prisons. The prison, which is the oldest in Scotland having been used to house 7,000 prisoners of war during the Napoleonic Wars, currently has 662 inmates which exceeds its capacity of 630. The programme spoke to several prisoners who revealed the problems of cramming too many people in a prison. Ms Medhurst told BBC: 'We cannot take any more. Prisons become very unsafe. The atmosphere, the tension, the volatility increases. Levels of violence increase, levels of self-harm increase' Wallace added that living at HMP Perth, which is Scotland's oldest prison, is 'hard enough for one person, never mind two' The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture mandates that shared cells must be larger than eight square metres so that they are not degrading and inhuman. One prisoner at Perth, Kieran Wallace, is locked for 19 hours every day in a cell that is smaller than seven square metres and said that living there is 'hard enough for one person, never mind two'. The prison's governor Andy Hodge told the documentary that the increased population at Perth was forcing bosses to squeeze more inmates into each room. Mr Hodge added that prisoner-on-prisoner violence was increasing as a result of overcrowding. 'Two adult men into a room where you've got one TV, one kettle, tensions start to build, people start to fall out,' he said. Chris Martin, another prisoner, said he was hoping to make up for his previous crimes when he was freed, by getting a job and starting a family The programme also heard from prisoner Brian Kinloch who said that inmates were struggling to get mental health assistance and that a 24-year-old boy had recently killed himself at Perth. Chris Martin, another prisoner, told the show that he was hoping to atone for his previous crimes when he was released, by getting a job and starting a family. Justice Secretary Angela Constance said ministers were looking at new legislation, contingency measures and investing in community sentences to try to reduce the prison population. Scottish Justice Secretary Angela Constance said that overcrowding affected rehabilitation and that ministers were considering new legislation to tackle the soaring prison population, as well as investing in community sentences, which can include unpaid work and therapy programmes. A formal investigation into the Scottish Governments use of WhatsApp messages has been launched by Scotlands information commissioner. David Hamilton said last weeks UK Covid Inquiry raised significant practice concerns. Senior politicians and civil servants were found to have regularly deleted informal messages and used WhatsApp to make concerning comments. The most recent revelation found that Humza Yousaf admitted he plagiarised clinical director Jason Leitch to make it look like he knew what he was talking about. Posted missing: John Swinney, Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf did not retain messages Also among the messages handed to investigating lawyers were warnings from officials that communications were subject to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, with Mr Leitch responding that deletion was a pre-bed ritual. Heading up the team responsible for enforcing the transparency laws, Mr Hamilton admitted he was concerned about the deletions. Mr Hamilton said: The evidence disclosed during module 2A of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry hearings over the last few weeks raises significant practice concerns which warrant further investigation by my office. It is critical that public officials retain information which allows the public to understand how decisions are reached, for both record-keeping requirements and to maintain public confidence. He continued: It is evident from [last] weeks events that the use of informal communication channels presents risks to transparency and accountability within government. My intervention will review current practices as well as identifying actions to be taken to ensure improvements are made in relation to how officials and ministers use and retain informal communications in future. Mr Hamilton is former chairman of the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), an organisation whose leadership Humza Yousaf branded a disgrace in a frustrated message exchange from June 2020 which was shown to the inquiry. Mr Yousaf, who was justice secretary at the time, was exchanging WhatsApp messages with fellow minister John Swinney where he vented his anger about the SPFs approach to the pandemic, saying they have shown an arrogance and retrograde thinking. Also under scrutiny from Lady Halletts inquiry were the missing WhatsApp messages from former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Commenting on the investigation, Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said: The Covid inquiry has exposed how key SNP figures engaged in jokey exchanges as people died, used the pandemic to further independence and stoke constitutional grievances and even admitted they were winging it and those are just the messages that hadnt been deleted. Nicola Sturgeon promised grieving families that she would be completely transparent and assured journalists her messages would be handed over, yet despite that pledge she deleted them. Her actions denied the public of the answers and closure the families of those who died deserve. A Scottish Government spokesman said: We have not yet received the notice from the Scottish information commissioner. When we do so we will respond and, of course, co-operate with the commissioner as required. The First Minister has commissioned an externally led review into the use of mobile messaging apps and non-corporate technology in the Scottish Government. This will take particular account of government interaction with statutory public inquiries. Scotland has the most open and far-reaching FOI legislation in the UK and the Scottish Government remains committed to our statutory obligations to ensure openness and transparency. Humza Yousaf is facing criticism from within his own party over his decision to land Scots with increased taxes. Former finance secretary Kate Forbes has branded the First Ministers tax rises which are set to come into effect in April counter-productive. Rival politicians have even suggested Ms Forbes, who narrowly lost to Mr Yousaf in the SNP leadership battle, should take a stand on the issue. From April, anyone in Scotland who earns more than 28,850 will pay higher taxes than workers elsewhere in the UK. Kate Forbes has branded the First Ministers tax rises counter-productive In a triple whammy announced in Decembers Budget, a 45p income tax band will be introduced on earnings above 75,000, the top rate on earnings above 125,140 will rise by 1p to 48p, and the higher rate threshold will be frozen at 43,663. In a column for a Highland publication which is set to be published in the coming weeks but has been obtained by The Mail on Sunday Ms Forbes wrote: Continually increasing taxes is ultimately counter-productive over the long term, even if you agree with it ideologically, because it ultimately reduces public revenue. The forecasts for what the Scottish Government will raise through its latest changes to the top tax bands is just over 80million. That isnt to be sniffed at. But the forecasts also suggest theyll lose 118million that they could have raised because of behavioural change people leaving or reducing their hours or treating income differently. A Tory MSP has credited Ms Forbes with recognising the significant and damaging tax burdens Mr Yousafs government has foisted on Scots. Scottish Conservative finance and local government spokesman Liz Smith said: Independent experts, business groups and various professional associations have all criticised the SNPs tax plans, and now a senior member of his own party is the latest to attack Humza Yousafs dangerous tax and axe budget. Scotland is already the highest taxed part of the UK. The SNPs budget plans would only further widen that gap, creating serious problems in recruiting and retaining people working in Scotland and limiting the potential for Scotlands economic growth. It sounds like Kate Forbes is now recognising the significant and damaging tax burdens that her government has placed on hard-working Scots. She should therefore take a stand and vote down the SNPs dangerous budget plans. Tax rises await Scots in April with those earning more than 28,850 being forced to pay higher taxes than workers elsewhere in the UK and more tax bands in comparison to England. Holyroods independent budget watchdog, the Scottish Fiscal Commission, concluded most of the revenue collected from top earners would be lost to avoidance and the SNP-led finance committee last week called for a review into the economic impact. A Scottish Government spokesman said Scotlands tax system protects those who earn less and [asks] those who earn more to contribute more, while raising substantial additional revenue to invest in public services. They added: Those who call Scotland home enjoy the strongest social contract in the UK with support not available elsewhere, such as the Scottish Child Payment, free prescriptions and free access to higher education. Bosses could soon be fined for contacting their employees outside of normal work hours in a move that has sparked outrage among some business advocates. The Albanese Government is expected to introduce the second part of its Closing Loopholes industrial relations legislation to parliament this week, including a controversial amendment codifying the so-called 'right to disconnect' from work. Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke is negotiating changes with the Senate crossbench, whose support the government needs to pass the bill. 'It's a pretty light touch, but it also establishes a principle that shouldn't be a controversial principle, which is, in Australia, you're meant to be paid when you're working,' Mr Burke told Sky News on Sunday. Under such a rule, Mr Burke said workers would only be able to take their complaints to the Fair Work Commission banning out of work contact when requests had got 'completely out of hand'. Australian employer organisations have warned it would be 'devastating' if the Albanese government passed legislation that would fine bosses for contacting employees outside normal work hours. A woman looking unhappy at getting a phone call is pictured Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black warned of the huge difficulties such legislation could cause for employers with staff working in different time zones. 'This could be devastating for businesses across Australia and cause chaos for Western Australian businesses particularly if employees could only have communication with east coast colleagues in the narrow window between east coast business hours and those in the west,' Mr Black told the Australian Financial Review. 'Imagine if employees in Sydney or Melbourne were banned from emailing an employee in Perth until midday to align with WA time, or if a Perth manager would be breaching the law in providing an update to his or her east coast colleagues after 2pm.' Mr Burke, though, said the legislation was designed to protect workers from being 'constantly on call without being paid for it'. 'I do think there's a real problem for some workers, I'm interested in trying to fix it for them,' he said. 'We're also very much aware there are reasonable grounds for an employer to want to contact their workers outside of hours. We have to make sure that's protected as well.' Employee Matters workplace expert Natasha Hawker said the majority of workers aren't rallying behind the proposed legislation. 'I don't think it should be a one size fits all approach,' she told Sunrise on Monday morning. The Government is expected to introduce the second part of its Closing Loopholes legislation to parliament this week, including the controversial 'right to disconnect' amendment'. A call from work coming through after work hours is pictured Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke (pictured) is discussing industrial relations changes with the Senate crossbench, whose support the Government needs to pass the bill 'So many Australian workers at the moment are really happy about working from home and they realise that flexibility works both ways. And so therefore, they're quite happy to have that.' Ms Hawker said there is a 'double up' in that legislation already introduced last year forces every business to survey their employees. She said if out of work hours contact was a problem 'that would come out of the survey if this was an issue and then you would deal with it then and most employers haven't actually done that survey yet', which is already putting them 'at risk of fines'. The expert added that 'since Covid (the power in the workplace has) changed. We're in the tightest applicant market we've been in for many years. 'So employees that don't get what they want, actually vote with their feet and they leave and we are still finding it incredibly difficult to recruit at the moment for top talent.' Because of the tight hiring market, Ms Hawker said businesses that contact employees out of hours too often could find that 'it may work against them in the end'. Ultimately, she said 'this is just another piece of legislation that they're going to have to get their head around and comply with if it, if it passes'. Mr Burke, though said the law would not stop a boss from calling a worker after hours to, for instance, ask if they could fill a gap in the roster that just arose. 'We're also very much aware there are reasonable grounds for an employer to want to contact their workers outside of hours, including by email. 'We have to make sure that's protected as well,' he said. Matt 'Shirvo' Shirvington was visibly emotional while discussing the stabbing death of a woman who was killed in front of her six-year-old granddaughter. Tributes have flowed for Vyleen White, 70, after she was stabbed to death in a shopping centre's underground carpark on Saturday night. She had gone to the Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre, in southwest Brisbane, at about 6.10pm to get groceries when she was killed. Police have released CCTV of four persons of interest they wish to speak to over Ms White's death. The footage showed the four boys travelling in Ms White's blue 2009 Hyundai Getz, which is believed to have been stolen by the knifeman and later found abandoned in Springfield Lakes. Tributes have flowed for Vyleen White, 70, after she was stabbed to death in a shopping centre's underground carpark on Saturday night The group were seen exiting the vehicle and calmly walking down the street. Shirvington and co-host Natalie Barr were joined by Ipswich City Mayor Teresa Harding on Sunrise on Monday morning where they discussed the chilling nature of the CCTV. 'As you said, they nonchalantly walked out of that stolen car like nothing had happened. Vyleen White is dead after this moment,' Shirvington said, clearly distressed by what had unfolded. 'Look at these thugs - they're not even men. They're thugs. Like nothing's happened. They just walk out. Meanwhile, Vyleen is dead at a shopping centre. 'Like any other grandmother trying to help her family, she is looking after her granddaughter who is six years of age, doing the shopping at 6.00 at night, and she has been killed for her car! 'And look at them walking away like it's nothing! They need to catch these men. It's got to stop.' Shirvington and co-host Natalie Barr were joined by Ipswich City Mayor Teresa Harding on Sunrise on Monday morning where they discussed the chilling nature of the CCTV of the persons of interest A bystander, Ademola Afolabi, who is also an off-duty doctor, rushed over to Ms White after the attack but was unable to save the 70-year-old. 'I called triple-0 immediately, and not long after I did compressions for about a minute, but there was no response,' Afolabi told Seven News. 'For a little girl to witness that is painful, she won't forget that.' Ms Harding said the community was in a 'state of shock' with residents having since set up a petition to have regular police patrols in the shopping centre. The petition has so far received more than 2,300 signatures. 'We no longer feel safe going to the shops or simply enjoying the public spaces in our own neighbourhood,' Taylah Jefferson, who launched the petition, wrote. She said that crime in Redbank Plains had tripled in the last three years, according to the Queensland Government's Crime Map data. Police have released CCTV of four males they believe can assist with their inquiries 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 From February, 2023 to February, 2024, there has been 3,420 offences reported to police, including assault, theft and vandalism. 'The lack of a regular police presence at Town Square has left us feeling vulnerable and fearful for our safety,' Ms Jefferson said. One person commented on the petition and said locals should be able to feel safe when going to get their groceries. Another said they recently resigned from their job at the centre due to safety concerns. Ms Harding agreed there needed to be a greater police presence in the area. 'It is the biggest shopping precinct in the area. It is very popular. I shop here regularly. There is great eateries, great shops here,' she told Sunrise. 'It is a place for the community to come together as well. I hope the State Government listens and do establish a police beat here in Redbank Plains.' The mayor said the community had never been rocked by such a violent act, and described it as a 'punch in the guts'. 'They need to be caught. Not only the killer but the accomplices and they need to be put away for life,' Ms Harding said. 'There is no doubt about that. We need justice, our community needs justice.' It comes as 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 Ms White's allegedly stolen car. Vyleen White (pictured) was stabbed to death in the underground carpark of Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre on Saturday 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 are appealing to anyone who saw the group in the Redbank Plains and Springfield Lakes areas between 6pm and 7pm on Saturday to contact police. Forty refugees on the Bibby Stockholm have reportedly started attending local churches amid fears that Christianity conversion may be a new 'loophole' to remain in the country. Worshippers in Portland, Dorset where the barge is moored claim that a number of migrants are converting to Christianity through UK courses such as Christian Alpha, while others have converted in their home country. An estimated one in seven of the 300 migrants currently housed on the lighter are said to be attending churches under supervision of faith leaders. It comes as Clapham chemical attack suspect, Abdul Ezedi, was able to gain asylum in the UK after claiming he had converted to Christianity, despite being convicted of a sexual offence three years prior. Abdul Ezedi (pictured), was able to gain asylum in the UK after claiming he had converted to Christianity, despite having been convicted of a sexual offence three years prior The Bibby Stockholm barge (pictured) which is moored at Portland, Dorset The Church of England has since come under fire for allegedly 'facilitating industrial-scale bogus asylum claims', with former Home Secretaries Suella Braverman and Dame Priti Patel accusing church leaders of 'political activism'. 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'. The current Home Secretary, James Cleverly, is expected to receive an initial report detailing the full facts of the case on Monday. He will consider whether laws need to be changed to better scrutinize conversion claims, and he will examine whether to enable the automatic deportation of convicted foreign criminals such as Ezedi. An estimated one in seven of the 300 migrants currently housed on the lighter are said to be attending churches under supervision of faith leaders A handout CCTV image issued by the Metropolitan Police of Abdul Ezedi, the suspect in the Clapham alkaline substance attack, at King's Cross underground station Church elder David Rees told the BBC that a number of migrants were undergoing the process of becoming Christian through UK courses such as Christian Alpha, while others converted in their home country. 'Local faith leaders have visited the barge and work with the council and the barge management in looking after these guys,' he said. Ezedi is a former asylum seeker from Afghanistan who is thought to have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan on the back of a lorry in 2016. He was granted asylum after getting a priest to vouch that he had converted to Christianity from Islam, despite having been convicted of two sexual assault offences three years earlier. The Home Office had previously twice refused the 35-year-old's request to stay in the country. The Met Police released more images of Clapham chemical attack Abdul Ezedi strolling injured through King's Cross station following Wednesday's events Forensic police at the scene on Wednesday night near Clapham following the attack 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 Church support for Ezedi's conversion is understood to have been critical to persuading an immigration tribunal judge to back his third appeal for asylum, with a priest vouching that he was 'wholly committed' to the Christian faith. Former minister Tim Loughton said he was concerned that Christian conversion had become a scam, claiming there were some cases in which asylum seekers had even been tattooed with crucifixes 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 told the Telegraph. Mr Rees, meanwhile, said he was confident that all 40 Bibby Stockholm migrants were genuinely converting to Christianity. '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.' The Home Office said caseworkers are trained to only grant protection to those in genuine need by assessing claims 'in the round' and not taking priests' testimony as 'determinative'. Ezedi, 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. Donald Trump's attempt to be reinstated on the ballot in Colorado could hinge on interpretations of the Constitution made in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, legal experts believe. Trump was declared ineligible to appear on the Colorado ballot on December 19. The decision marked the first time in history that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment has been used to disqualify a presidential candidate, and the U.S. Supreme Court on January 5 agreed to hear Trump's appeal against the Colorado Supreme Court's decision. Oral arguments are set to be heard on February 8. Lawyers for both sides will reference arguments made 150 years ago by Salmon Chase, a member of Abraham Lincoln's Cabinet who Lincoln appointed to the Supreme Court in 1864. Donald Trump is seen on February 4, 2020, addressing Chief Justice John Roberts as he arrives to deliver his State of the Union speech. Roberts and the other Supreme Court justices will hear arguments Salmon Chase served as Republican governor of Ohio before being appointed to Lincoln's Cabinet. Lincoln then appointed him to the Supreme Court An illustration depicting the first reading of the Emancipation Proclamation before the cabinet of Lincoln. Chase is seen standing behind Lincoln Chase in December 1868 ruled on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment - which had only been enacted in July of that year. Section 3 was designed in the aftermath of the Civil War to prevent Confederates from being elected. 'No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, who ... shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof,' it states. Chase ruled that Jefferson Davis, the defeated Confederate president, should not face prosecution for treason. He argued that Section 3 - blocking Davis from holding office - was a form of punishment, and therefore barred any additional criminal prosecution. At the time Chase, formerly the Republican governor of Ohio, was toying with running for president as a Democrat, and hoping to appeal to Davis's Democrat colleagues. Rioters are seen scaling the walls of the Capitol on January 6 A year later, Chase issued an opposing decision, when faced again with the question of Section 3. He was asked to rule whether a black man, Caesar Griffin, should have his conviction for 'shooting with intent to kill' overturned because the judge who presided over his case was a Confederate. In the Griffin case, Chase ruled that Congress needed to weigh in - largely because he feared the precedent that would be set by voiding all Confederate made judgements. Trump's lawyers argue now that the Griffin case shows a state cannot use Section 3 as a means of disqualifying someone. In their brief, they argue that the Griffin case helps confirm 'congressional enforcement legislation as the exclusive means for enforcing Section 3.' The argument is one of several they present to say that Colorado's Supreme Court overstepped the mark. Justice Carlos Samour, who wrote a dissenting opinion in the Colorado ruling, wrote: 'I consider the holding in Griffin's Case compelling.' Josh Blackman, a professor at South Texas College of Law, who filed a brief backing Trump, agreed with Samour. The Supreme Court is set to hear hear arguments on February 8 as to whether Trump should be on the ballot in Colorado He said that relying on the Griffin case would give the U.S. Supreme Court a way of resolving the matter without having to decide whether January 6, was indeed an insurrection. 'I think Griffin's Case is one way of doing it,' he said. But other legal scholars have argued that neither of Chase's rulings can be relied upon, saying that Chase was too influenced by his own political leanings and desires. 'Chief Justice Chase was not shooting straight' wrote legal scholars William Baude and Michael Paulsen in an influential law review article, cited by NBC News. Lawmakers have slammed soaring rates of violent crime in the nation's capital after a Trump official was killed last week during a carjacking spree. 'Mike Gill's death from attack by a carjacker on 14th street in downtown Washington while picking his wife up from work is one more example of why Congress needs to take back control of our national capital,' wrote former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich on X Sunday. Last year was the city's deadliest in more than two decades with numbers going up even as violent crime dropped in nearly every other city in America. Nearby Baltimore, famous for its crime portrayed in 'The Wire,' saw its biggest drop in homicides on record last year. But 40 miles away in D.C., the numbers of shootings, homicides and carjackings all soared even spilling into neighborhoods that have typically been spared such violence. Lawmakers including former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, have slammed soaring rates of violent crime in the nation's capital after a Trump official was killed last week during a carjacking spree Gingrich has urged Congress to step in and attempt to help the problem Former Trump Administration official Mike Gill died after being shot during a carjacking in Washington, D.C . Crimes are becoming more frequent in the downtown area of the city where frequently making longtime residents feel unsafe for the first time. Former President Donald Trump has promised to send in federal troops to deal with the situation. 'I will send in the National Guard until law and order is restored. I wouldn't even call the mayor,' he told an audience last year. 'Washington has become a dirty, crime ridden death trap, that must be taken over and properly run by the Federal Government,' Trump said on his Truth Social. Last week, the topic of crime in Washington, D.C., came up again with Trump vowing to 'take over our horribly run capital' and renovate it so 'it's no longer a nightmare of murder and crime.' Last week, the topic came up again with Trump vowing to 'take over our horribly run capital' and renovate it so 'it's no longer a nightmare of murder and crime.' 'We're going to federalize it. We're gonna have the toughest law enforcement in the country. We're not going to have any more crime and it's going to look beautiful,' Trump stated. A former U.S. attorney appointed by George W. Bush, Brett Tolman, who is executive director of the conservative criminal justice reform group Right on Crime, has blamed Washington's chief prosecutor not prosecuting most cases. 'We do not need to change the law. We do not need a president coming in and using the National Guard to take over the city. All you need is a person on the job, whether Republican or Democrat, telling people they will enforce the law,' he told NBC News. Artell Cunningham, 28, was gunned down by police about 4.30am last Tuesday after he carjacked numerous vehicles and killed two people This weekend it was revealed how 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 around 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, D.C., about 5.45pm last Monday and died in hospital 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 late,r shot dead father-of-two Alberto Vasquez Jr, 35, in a separate carjacking nearby, then stole more cars at gunpoint, authorities said. He was killed by two New Carrollton Police officers who cornered him on the northeast outskirts of DC's Maryland suburbs. Former Trump Administration official Mike Gill died after being shot during a carjacking in Washington, D.C. 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 D.C. 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, D.C., 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 Surveillance 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 percent of homicides, armed carjackings, assaults with intent to kill, and first-degree sexual assault cases in 2022. This is the shocking moment an Amazon driver tried to steal a Georgia woman's puppy from her yard by smuggling the dog into his delivery truck. Terrika Currence, from Henry County, recorded the wild incident involving a delivery driver and her dog. The Amazon driver was dropping off a package at Currence's home when the dognapping attempt took place. 'As I open the door to put the package in the house, and the dog food, my daughter screams and says, "The Amazon guy stole our puppy,"' Currence recalled. Currence owns her own skincare company called Beyond Skin Deep, and says she immediately dropped the skincare products and hurried outside to rescue the dog. Terrika Currence from Henry County, Georgia, recorded the wild incident involving an Amazon delivery driver allegedly snatching her dog The Amazon driver was dropping off a package at Currence's home when the dognapping attempt took place In a video of the confrontation, which has since gone viral, Currence swings open the back door to the Amazon truck and screams at the driver. 'As soon as I opened the truck, he has the puppy inside of a bin. I had to grab the puppy and get him off the truck,' she told WSB-TV Atlanta. While the unnamed Amazon driver hasn't been charged, Currence is certain that he was about to take off with her dog. 'He was ready to pull off with our dog,' she said - adding that he didn't apologize or offer any explanation. Currence called the police, who are reportedly investigating. She also filed a complaint with Amazon. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to local news that the driver had been fired. 'Weve apologized to the customer and glad their dog was returned unharmed. The driver involved is no longer delivering for Amazon and weve reached out to the law enforcement to assist as they investigate,' the Amazon statement said. 'It gives me relief that hes fired but if hes doing things like that, Im sure, you know its in his character. Hell do it again,' Currence said. 'As I open the door to put the package in the house, and the dog food, my daughter screams and says, "The Amazon guy stole our puppy,"' Currence recalled 'He was ready to pull off with our dog,' Currence said - adding he didn't apologize or offer any explanation While the Amazon driver hasn't been charged, Currence is certain that he was about to take off with her dog Just last week, another Amazon driver from Florida was accused of abducting a French bulldog worth thousands of dollars, while making deliveries. Reinier Revilla, 34, reportedly stole a $4,000 dog named Kali from a home on Copper Hill Drive in Spring Hill on December 23, 2023. He has been charged with grand theft. According to the Hernando County Sheriffs Office, Kali's unidentified owner had left the bulldog in her fenced-in backyard at 9.15am on the day of the abduction. But she soon realized that her one-year-old dog had escaped from the backyard. After the owner began to frantically search for her pet, a neighbor told her they had seen Kali approach a Hispanic man, in his 20s, wearing an Amazon uniform and driving a old white Chevrolet Cruze. After being informed of the kidnapping, Kali's owner quickly contacted Amazon's customer service and was advised to contact the police. California residents will pay the price for a new law that raises fast-food workers minimum wage as mega-chains such as McDonalds and Chipotle said they will increase menu prices to off-set the liberal governors new bill. Fast food workers will be paid at least $20 per hour when the law signed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom goes into effect on April 1. In the Golden State, the average cost of a burger is already $7.02 and chicken sandwich costs an average of $6.02, according to Revenue Management Solutions. Now, both - which were already among the highest in the nation - will rise with the new law. For every dollar an hourly wage increases, a restaurant will need to increase prices by 2 percent to off-set the cost, said the industry consulting firm. Chipotle expects to increase their menu prices by 5 to 9 percent in California to cover the higher pay, reported The Wall Street Journal. According to Revenue Management Solutions, for every dollar an hourly wage increases, a restaurant will need to increase prices by two percent to off-set the cost Fast food workers will be paid at least $20 per hour when the law signed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom goes into effect on April 1 Jack Hartung, Chipotle's chief financial officer, told analysts on a company earnings call that the chain will likely raise prices by a 'mid-to-high single-digit' percentage as a result of the law change. McDonald's chief executive officer Chris Kempczinski said on an earnings call that the law will have 'a wage impact for our California franchisees' - and implied that price hikes would follow. 'Certainly, there's going to be some element of that that does need to be worked through with higher pricing,' he said. 'There's also going to be things that I know the franchisees and our teams there are going to be looking at around productivity.' 'How all of that plays out, there will certainly be a hit in the short term to franchisee cash flow in California, tough to know exactly what that hit will be because of some of the mitigation efforts.' Jack in the Box said it will increase prices anywhere from 6 to 8 percent companywide this year to cover the increased wages in California. Two Pizza Hut franchise owners with hundreds of stores across the Golden State laid off 1,200 delivery drivers in the new year in preparation for the minimum wage law to go into effect. The restaurants said they will rely solely on third-party apps like DoorDash and UberEats instead. The new law applies to workers at restaurants that have at least 60 locations nationwide - with an exception for restaurants that make and sell their own bread, like Panera Bread. The $20 per hour minimum wage is up from an average of $16.60 per hour, or just over $34,000 per year, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jack Hartung, Chipotle's chief financial officer, told analysts on a company earnings call that the chain will likely raise prices by a 'mid-to-high single-digit' percentage as a result of the law change Two Pizza Huts laid off 1,200 delivery drivers in California and will rely solely on third-party apps like DoorDash and UberEats instead That's below the California Poverty Measure for a family of four, a statistic calculated by the Public Policy Institute of California and the Stanford Center on Poverty and Equality that accounts for housing costs and publicly-funded benefits. In California, most fast-food workers are over 18 and the main providers for their family, according to Enrique Lopezlira, director of the University of California-Berkeley Labor Centers Low Wage Work Program. However, as fast food chains are set to increase menu prices, California is losing hundreds of thousands of residents with many citing the expensive cost of living pushing them out. According to US Census Bureau data, the Golden State lost a net total of 341,866 people in 2022. San Diego, Los Angeles and Santa Barbra are three of the most expensive cities in the nation according to the US News and World Report's 2023-2024 list. Minister Feetham Highlights Impressive Recruitment Success and Engagement with Younger Talent The Minister for Justice, Trade and Industry, the Hon Nigel Feetham KC MP, accepted an invitation to visit PwC. The first half of the visit saw Minister Feetham join the senior management team for a discussion around local developments and industry trends in the financial sectors. The second half of the visit was hosted by PwCs younger members of staff, many of whom sit on the firms people and digital committees. They each engaged with Minister Feetham on a one-to-one basis and recounted their academic and career paths into and with PwC. Minister Nigel Feetham commented: I was pleased to visit PwC at their offices. My work schedule is relentless but I nevertheless try to make time to keep up these important engagements. These visits allow me to feel the pulse directly from our financial sectors and understand how the measures that we have rolled out are received by the industry. I was delighted that the senior management team, who have a wealth of experience under their belt, expressed their candid support for our recent initiatives. These sessions also provide a superb opportunity to brainstorm around new initiatives that we are working on. One of the statistics that stuck with me was how PwC had taken on 17 new employees in the current financial year, taking their total headcount to about 100. The firms investment in new recruits was evidenced by the high quality engagement that I experienced with some of the youngsters working at the firm. They showed genuine interest in our recent initiatives and highlighted insights from a perspective that is not routinely available outside of these engagements. A little-known Centrelink rule that does not recognise twins as multiple births has been labelled 'absurd' by an Aussie mum. Rachel March, a mum of five-year-old twin girls, has revealed how only triplets or higher qualify for the government's Multiple Birth Allowance. The allowance is worth $4,800 annually to families with triplets and around $6,400 for parents of quadruplets or more. Families still have to qualify for Family Tax Benefit Part A to be eligible. Parents of twins miss out on the allowance, only qualifying for normal government assistance for each child. Rachel March, a mum of 5-year-old twin girls, has revealed how only triplets or higher qualify for the government's Multiple Birth Allowance The Australian government does not recognise twins as a multiple birth (pictured Ms March's twin girls who will be turning six this year) Uploading a video to TikTok in January, Ms March labelled the rule her 'Roman Empire', which is slang for something you can't stop thinking about. 'Centrelink treats twins as ONE child and are not recognised as "multiples",' she wrote. 'Even though you have to buy two car seats, two cots, a double pram, a bigger car and five million other things. One payment for two children.' Pregnant mothers and parents of multiple children were quick to agree with the sentiment. 'As someone having twins this year, its an absurd limitation,' one wrote. 'Blows my mind how its not recognised as multiples. Working full-time when I fell pregnant with twins and I was struggling buying double of everything,' another said. 'Yep, this bamboozled me when I had twins,' another wrote. A twin claimed there were also problems later in life with government allowances. 'They also cancel each other out for most benefits ie: the first child to go to uni if they go at the same time,' she wrote. Ms March told Daily Mail Australia there were many costs involved when she was carrying her twins Sunny and Nyah. 'Being high-risk I faced extra costs with my twins, scans and blood tests that werent bulk billed,' she said. 'I had to buy a back brace [and] tummy straps for support (my back and pelvis still hasnt recovered). 'Before they were even born I had to buy two cots, mattresses, two car seats, a double pram, bottles (just incase), two bouncers, double the clothing, bedding, nappies, wipes ETC.' Despite the costs of twins being almost five times higher than a single child up to the age of one, parents of twins aren't eligible for the Multiple Birth Allowance (pictured Ms March's twins when they were newborns) Ms March also said people assume her twins shouldn't cost too much extra. 'A common misconception I get is that it shouldnt cost double for clothing, toys and resources because they can share,' she said. 'That one cracks me up because my twins are so different, have completely different interests and are also different clothing and shoe sizes.' The Australian Multiple Birth Association's (AMBA) report stated the costs of twins were almost five times higher than a single child up to the age of one. Australian Multiple Birth Association's Julia McCarthy said the Australian government needs to change its definition of twins. 'According to Centrelink and the Australian Government, twins are still not considered a multiple birth and are entitled to the same support as parents with singletons,' she said. 'Parents of twins and multiples have long felt forgotten and unseen by the Australian Government and it is time to change this.' She was then allegedly stabbed in front of her granddaughter A six-year-old girl who screamed 'my grandma is dead' after watching her grandmother's alleged stabbing murder will be traumatised for life, says a close family friend. Vyleen White, 70, spent Saturday morning praying for people in need before she took her granddaughter to Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre, in south-west Brisbane, that evening. The pair were in the centre's underground carpark near Aldi, about three minutes from her family home, at about 6.10pm when the elderly woman was allegedly fatally stabbed. The young girl yelled for help as the alleged knifeman escaped in her grandmother's blue 2009 Hyundai Getz. A local doctor heard the commotion and saw Ms White laying on the ground in a pool of blood. He called triple-0 but she had lost too much blood by the time paramedics arrived and died on the scene. The Getz was then allegedly dumped on a street in nearby Springfield Lakes. A neighbour told Daily Mail Australia how she raised the alarm when she saw a group of 'kids' pull up in the vehicle at about 6.30pm on Saturday. Vyleen White is pictured celebrating her 70th birthday in June with her family Police have released CCTV of four males they believe can assist with their inquiries (pictured). One has been arrested The woman, who asked not to be identified, claimed the teenagers were laughing and joking as they climbed out of the car. She called police when she saw news reports saying detectives were looking for a car matching that description, and realised the Getz was still parked on the street. She said: 'On the Sunday morning, I noticed the car still there with the windows down and I thought it was a bit weird. 'Then I saw on the news that they were looking for a Hyundai Getz so we called the police.' Granddaughter likely to be affected 'for life' Katherine Lameree, a close family friend, told Daily Mail Australia on Monday the little girl who witnessed the incident will likely have to deal with the trauma for the rest of her life. 'She's doing as well as a six-year-old girl can be, given the circumstances, but children react differently to trauma than adults because they don't have coping mechanisms,' she said. 'It's probably going to impact her for life.' Ms Lameree said the grandmother was close with all her grandchildren and was very involved in their lives. 'I had someone who she taught religious education to reach out this morning - she was a big influence and would help anyone,' she said. 'She would often say a prayer for anyone in need, which is what she had done on the Saturday morning.' Ms White's family want her to be remembered as a kind and compassionate person who was an active member of her religious community, rather than for what allegedly happened to her. They have also called for justice. 'We're calling for action and repercussions,' Ms Lameree said. Vyleen White (pictured) was about to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary when she died Police (pictured at the scene) have asked members of the public to come forward if they know anything about Ms White's alleged murder 'We don't want to see lives lost due to [alleged] senseless violence ... [Allegedly] taking the life of someone's mother or grandmother, and for what? Why? It's senseless.' She set up a GoFundMe campaign to help for Ms White's family cover the funeral costs. 'Vyleen was such a selfless woman with so much care for her family and absolutely any one she came into contact with,' the fundraiser read. '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.' Daughter's desperate plea Ms White's daughter Cindy Micallef told Daily Mail Australia her mother struggled with her health over the last few years, but she still put others first. 'She was our guardian angel - she bought my sisters and I into this world and her prayers is what helped kept us alive,' she said. 'I personally have had quite a few serious medical issues and its only been the prayers of my mum, family and dedicated friends that have bought me thus far.' Ms Micallef said the only thing bringing her family peace was the knowledge that her mother is in heaven. 'Anyone reading this, please never miss an opportunity to tell people you love them,' she said. A local man is pictured leaving a floral tribute for Ms White at the shopping centre where she died Boy, 15, arrested as manhunt continues Queensland police released CCTV of four males who they believed could help with inquiries. The group was described as possibly a mix of adult and juvenile males who appear to be of African appearance. On Sunday night, a 15-year-old boy presented himself to Ipswich Police Station. He was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, in relation to the alleged stolen car. He will appear at Ipswich Children's Court on Monday. 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.' A candlelit vigil was held for Ms White on Sunday night, with more than 100 people in attendance. Locals also placed flowers at the shopping centre to pay tribute to Ms White. Its absolutely the biggest thing in health spas, darling and designed to care for mistreated elephants. One such beneficiary of the giant jet pool is Phoolkali, who looks at peace with the world as she is soothed by cooling water. The 67-year-old, whose name means flowerbud, is blind in one eye and weak in her legs after decades spent begging for her previous owners in the streets. She is among the hundreds of animal inpatients at Indias first elephant hospital in Agra, near the Taj Mahal. The complex boasts this large hydrotherapy pool to ease aches and pains, and the latest mobile X-ray equipment, ultrasound and laser therapy is put to good use by experienced vets to diagnose and treat fractures and wounds. One beneficiary of the giant jet pool is Phoolkali, who looks at peace with the world as she is soothed by cooling water The 67-year-old, whose name means flowerbud, is blind in one eye and weak in her legs after decades spent begging for her previous owners in the streets She is among the hundreds of animal inpatients at India s first elephant hospital in Agra, near the Taj Mahal The complex boasts this large hydrotherapy pool to ease aches and pains, and the latest mobile X-ray equipment, ultrasound and laser therapy is put to good use by experienced vets to diagnose and treat fractures and wounds The elephants love the pool so much. You can actually see tears of joy in their eyes after years of cruelty, said Kartick Satyanarayan, chief executive of the Wildlife SOS charity, which runs the hospital with the help of donations from the UK. The charity was formed in 1995, when group of individuals determined to conserve Indias rich natural heritage began operating a rescue centre out of a small garage in New Delhi. According to the charity's website, their goal was simple to aid wildlife in distress and expand Indias core value of the right to freedom and dignity to the realm of animals. Today, the charity has evolved into actively protecting Indias precious wildlife, conserving habitats, studying biodiversity, conducting research, and creating alternative and sustainable livelihoods for erstwhile poacher communities, or communities dependent on wildlife for sustenance. It is the largest wildlife rescue organisation in India and run 12 wildlife rescue centres all over the country. One of Australia's biggest construction companies has stopped work in three states and appointed administrators as higher interest rates cripple home builders. St Hilliers - an apartment, commercial and infrastructure building company that has operated for more than three decades - told sub-contractors not to come into work at 21 work sites as seven entities within the group plunged into administration. WLP Restructuring partners Glenn Livingstone and Alan Walker were appointed voluntary administrators of St Hilliers Contracting, the company's construction division on Sunday. So far, 22 staff have been retrenched with 80 still employed in uncertain circumstances at the company established in 1989. A spokesman for WPL Restructuring confirmed work had stopped at sites in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory. St Hilliers has offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Townsville and Perth, but its keynote projects are in south-east Queensland. A sub-contractor posted a message to the Subbies United website about receiving an SMS late on Sunday. 'All sites shut until further notice,' it said. One of Australia's biggest construction companies has stopped work and appointed administrators. A Brisbane sub-contractor revealed work had stopped on its Bernborough Ascot site (pictured) where a retirement village is under construction A Brisbane sub-contractor revealed work had stopped on a site in the city's north where a retirement village is under construction. 'Good Evening Subcontractor representatives. Please be advised that there will be no work on the Bernborough Ascot St Hilliers construction site tomorrow,' it said. Sub-contractors were told on Sunday they could retrieve their tools from the site from 6.15am on Monday. 'We will allow persons to collect their tools under escort by St Hilliers, and materials fixed/unfixed cannot leave site,' the text said. 'The St Hilliers site gate will remained locked. 'Tomorrow the subcontractor business owner will be contacted for steps moving forward by the appointed administrator.' The voluntary administration covers ST Holdings Pty Limited, St Hilliers Pty Limited, St Hilliers Contracting Pty Limited, STH Bonding Pty Limited, SHC Civil Pty Limited, St Hilliers Inventive Pty Limited, and SH Newstead Pty Limited. WPL Restructuring said worked had stopped across St Hilliers's 21 active construction sites. WLP Restructuring partners Glenn Livingstone and Alan Walker were appointed on Sunday as voluntary administrators of St Hilliers Contracting, the company's construction division (pictured are workers in Brisbane) 'As this assessment is completed, approximately 80 staff members will remain employed while 22 have unfortunately been made redundant,' it said. Mr Livingstone said WPL Restructuring aimed to allow work to resume as it worked out how St Hilliers could continue trading while debts were renegotiated. 'The administrators are working closely with all stakeholders and staff in order to recommence project works at the earliest opportunity,' he said. 'We are hopeful this can occur in the coming days and that the employment of as many people as possible is preserved.' The first meeting of creditors is being held on February 14 with the company's debt position unclear at this point. The company's property development and investment division, St Hilliers Property, is unaffected. St Hilliers, a 34-year-old residential, commercial and infrastructure building company has told sub-contractors not to come into work at 21 sites, with seven divisions within the group now in administration When St Hilliers was established in 1989, Reserve Bank interest rates were at 18 per cent. The latest development has occurred three months after the RBA in November raised interest rates for the 13th time in 18 months to a 12-year high of 4.35 per cent. This has marked the most aggressive pace of monetary policy tightening since 1989, with higher interest rates constraining what banks can lend, affecting off-the-plan apartment building projects. An aspiring martial arts fighter has suffered a devastating leg injury after being knocked off his scooter in Thailand with his medical bills expected to cost tens of thousands of dollars. Tommy Kirk, 23, was just three days into an intensive two-week Muay Thai training trip on Koh Samui with a friend when he was knocked off his scooter by a driver who was travelling on the wrong side of the road on January 30. They collided with such force Mr Kirk's bone pierced his skin and he suffered a clean break of the tibia and fibula on his right leg. Mr Kirk, a mine operator from Kitchener in NSW's Hunter region, was taken to hospital where doctors performed emergency surgery to save his leg. His medical bills are skyrocketing and he will need to fly home in business class after a further procedure to fix the bone. It's understood Mr Kirk had travel insurance but the company has declined to cover his medical bills because the insurance did not cover motorcycle injuries of this kind. It's another warning for Aussies travelling to South East Asia to ensure they add full motorbike cover to their travel insurance plan, as mopeds are the main mode of travel in the region. Tommy Kirk (pictured), 23, was just three days into an intensive two-week Muay Thai training trip to the island of Koh Samui with a friend when he was knocked off his scooter by another driver who was flying through an intersection on the wrong side of the road on 30 January Mr Kirk (pictured), a mine operator from Kitchener in NSW 's Hunter region, was taken to hospital where doctors performed emergency surgery to save his leg Nathan Jones, a friend who has set up a fundraiser to help fly Mr Kirk home, said Mr Kirk and his friend Blake had just finished dinner after a day's training when they got on separate scooters to return home. 'Tommy was only crawling along when another driver came flying through an intersection and wiped him out,' Mr Jones told Daily Mail Australia. 'He was trapped their on the side of the road and the ambos had to come and clean him up. Bad compound fracture. Clean break of the tib and fib in his lower leg.' Mr Jones, who is a professional Muay Thai fighter himself, said Mr Kirk had recently developed a passion for the martial art and had travelled to Thailand to train. 'He's only a young fella and he's gone over there to try do a good thing for himself, turned his life around for the better and then something like that happens,' Mr Jones said. 'It's heartbreaking.' Nathan Jones (pictured front right), an champion Muay Thai fighter said Mr Kirk (second from right, back row) had recently developed a passion for the martial art and had traveleld to thailand to improve his skills Mr Jones said his friend had not been drinking and it was clear the other driver was at fault. Doctors were due to insert an internal fixation rod last week to help stabilise the shattered bone but postponed the surgery until today because they discovered sepsis on his lungs. Even though he is not allowed to fly home without the procedure, it is still deemed elective, meaning that Mr Kirk's devastated family had to stump up around $35,000 before doctors would operate. 'Muay Thai has changed Tommy's life and given him a purpose to be healthy, for this to happen to someone on a holiday is nothing short of a tragedy and we hope we can assist his family to bringing him home safely to make a full recovery,' Mr Jones wrote on the fundraiser. It has so far raised almost $17,000. The second of back-to-back atmospheric rivers battered California on Sunday, prompting the first-ever warning for hurricane-force winds in the state's history. California is bracing for what could be days of heavy rains, flooding on roads and knocking out power to nearly 800,000 people, with 97 percent of the state's population under flood warning. The current '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 storm inundated streets and brought down trees and electrical lines across the San Francisco Bay Area, where winds topped 60 mph in some areas, blowing what looked like a white flag of tarpaulin off a building. Gusts exceeding 80 mph were recorded in the mountains. A video out of Los Angeles caught chilling images of planes flying into the city as they tried to navigate the terrible conditions. The second of back-to-back atmospheric rivers battered California Sunday, prompting the first-ever warning for hurricane-force winds in the state's history California is bracing for what could be days of heavy rains, flooding on roads and knocking out power to nearly 800,000 people, with 97 percent of the state's population under flood warnings The current '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 including San Francisco In Southern California, officials warned of potentially devastating flooding and ordered evacuations for canyons that burned in recent wildfires that are at high risk for mud and debris flows. The National Weather Service office for Los Angeles warned that 'all systems are go for one of the most dramatic weather days in recent memory.' One Home Depot in Santa Barbara, which saw some of the worst of the chaos in videos posted online, sold out on sandbags and was instead offering customers potting soil and fertilizer. '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 told reporters Saturday. Classes were canceled Monday for schools across the county, which was devastated by mudslides caused by powerful storms in 2018. Strong winds and heavy rain brought treacherous conditions to the coastal city of Ventura, west of Los Angeles. More than 790,000 customers were without electricity statewide by Sunday evening, with most of the outages concentrated in coastal regions, according to poweroutage.us. Six San Francisco Bay Area counties were at low risk of waterspouts coming ashore and becoming tornadoes, said the Storm Prediction Center. Search and rescue workers evacuate men from a homeless encampment that became surrounded by floodwater from the Guadalupe River A boater stands on the bow of an anchored sailboat as waves crash over a breakwater in Alameda Search and rescue workers investigate a car surrounded by floodwater A vehicle drives through water on a flooded street in Ventura The last time the center forecasted a tornado risk in the region was in February 2015, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Winds caused hours-long delays at San Francisco International Airport. By 2:30 p.m. Sunday, 155 departing flights were delayed and 69 had been canceled, according to the tracking website FlightAware. The visibly bad weather didn't stop droves of San Francisco 49ers fans from braving the storm to send their team off to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas Sunday. 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 snow was expected into Monday throughout the Sierra Nevada and motorists were urged to avoid mountain roads. Much of the state had been drying out from the system that blew in last week, causing flooding and dumping welcome snow in the mountains. The latest storm, also called a 'Pineapple Express' because its plume of moisture stretches back across the Pacific to near Hawaii, arrived offshore in Northern California on Saturday, when most of the state was under some sort of wind, surf or flood watch. The weather service on Sunday issued a rare 'hurricane force wind warning' for the Central Coast, with wind gusts of up to 92 mph possible from the Monterey Peninsula to the northern section of San Luis Obispo County. A man carrying an umbrella stands perched above a flooded street in Ventura Rescue workers assist a boater, left, after his sailboat drifted to a breakwater while dragging its anchor A man looks toward a fallen tree and power lines blocking a road in Pebble Beach San Francisco 49ers fans brave the treacherous weather to send their team off to the Super Bowl Sunday San Francisco firefighters posted this video of the waves coming in from the bay Sunday Please stay away from downed power lines! Call 9-1-1 to report the situation. Mantengase alejado de las lineas electricas caidas! Llame al 9-1-1 para reportar la situacion. pic.twitter.com/vOM4gZAlns Santa Barbara Police Department (@SB_Police) February 4, 2024 Down trees, power lines and rough waters on the Bay today. Keep safe and try to stay indoors if possible. pic.twitter.com/eEpa1aLo1v San Francisco Firefighters 798 (@SFFFLocal798) February 4, 2024 The rain forced organizers to postpone the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in Monterey County until Monday. Meanwhile, Southern California was at risk of substantial flooding beginning late Sunday because of how slow the system was moving, said Ryan Kittell, a meteorologist at the weather services Los Angeles-area office. 'The core of the low-pressure system is very deep, and its moving very slowly and it's very close to us. 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,' he said at a Sunday briefing. Evacuation orders and warnings were in effect for mountain and canyon areas of Monterey, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles counties. LA County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath urged residents near wildfire burn areas of Topanga and Soledad canyons to heed orders to get out ahead of possible mudslides. A drift boat washes ashore during a rainstorm in Santa Barbara People fill sandbags during a rainstorm in Santa Barbara Fallen trees and power lines block a road in Pebble Beach 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 This is what the storm of the year in Tahoe looks like today. (via @hannahteter/IG) pic.twitter.com/rhjcbhBtYv Active NorCal (@ActiveNorCal) February 4, 2024 '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. Governor Gavin Newsom on Sunday declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The Governors Office of Emergency Services activated its operations center and positioned personnel and equipment in areas most at risk. 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. Heavy to moderate rain is expected in Southern California until Tuesday. Britain should bolster its military presence in Northern Ireland to stop it being used by hostile states as a 'back door' to attack the UK, a report warns today. In a study backed by former Tory and Labour defence secretaries, the Policy Exchange think tank warns that the Irish Republic's 'chronically deficient' defences could leave this country vulnerable to attack. The report accuses Dublin of 'persistent freeloading' on the defence capabilities of the UK and Nato, which left this country open to a growing 'back-door threat'. The report calls on the Government to step up its naval and air presence in Northern Ireland to deter a growing Russian threat off Ireland's Atlantic coast where vital undersea cables arrive in the British Isles. In a foreword to today's report, former defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon and ex-Nato chief Lord Robertson warn it is time to 'reassert the strategic importance of Ireland, and especially Northern Ireland, to the UK's national security', adding: 'Russian intelligence ships have been identified off the Irish coast.' Northern Ireland should have a greater military presence to stop it being exploited by hostile states as a 'back door' to the UK, a report warned today A foreword to the report by Policy Exchange warned that Russian intelligence ships had been identified off the Irish coast The report urges the Government to take action to deter a growing Russian threat off Ireland's Atlantic coast where vital undersea cables arrive in the British Isles Former defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon ex-Nato chief Lord Robertson wrote that it is time to 'reassert the strategic importance of Ireland and Northern Ireland' to UK national security The Prime Minister arrived in Belfast on Sunday evening after power-sharing at Stormont was finally restored. He is expected to meet public service workers this evening before talks with leading politicians tomorrow. Northern Ireland's first republican First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said she will make the case for a referendum on Irish unification when she meets Mr Sunak. It comes after Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland Secretary, who would need to agree to a public vote for it to be held, said he did not expect to see a united Ireland in his lifetime. The Northern Ireland Assembly finally reconvened on Saturday after the DUP agreed to the recall of the political institutions after a deal with Westminster on post-Brexit trading rules. The NSW Treasurer has sounded the alarm that Sydney's housing may only be accessible for the very wealthy and experience homelessness like San Francisco - if changes are not made quickly. Daniel Mookhey said on Monday that the nation's most populous city has a window of five-to-10 years to fix its housing sector and prevent it from being dominated by intergenerational wealth. Without intervention, the city could fall into a state similar to the Californian city where skilled workers have to choose between food and high rent and businessmen in suits can be seen lining up at soup kitchens, Mr Mookhey said. Homelessness camps have started to pop up around Sydney, with one housing up to eight people every night underneath the awnings of the empty Metro Minerva Theatre Building in Potts Point. Sydney (pictured) has been given five-to-ten years to six its housing crisis before the market becomes dominated by those with generational wealth The price of a home in Sydney is currently increasing to a point where it's excluding those who achieve an education and independent wealth, according to Mr Mookhey. In the past, education has been the equaliser for a market built on egalitarianism, allowing those who put in the effort to afford a home and become part of the middle class. The treasurer said the issue will mostly trouble Aussies in Gen Z, who are on par to be the most educated in history but also have the hardest time in owning a home. 'Having parents and grandparents with a property portfolio is beginning to matter more than getting a degree,' Mr Mookhey said. 'The prospect of owning a home is now more remote for more young people than it has been in generations.' The treasurer likened the trend to that of San Francisco where the middle class are 'having their lives turned on their heads by housing insecurity and homelessness'. NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey (pictured) warned Sydney could fall into a state similar to San Francisco, California, where even the rich have to choose between food and exorbitant rent San Francisco has become known for the numerous homeless camps that litter its streets (pictured) While crediting the city for seeking solutions, he said 'their points of intervention are coming very late'. 'We still have a point in time in which we can make better choices,' he said. The state government's plan to fix the housing market involves reworking zoning laws to allow for up to six-storey complexes within 400m of 30 of the city's train stations. However, the rezoning plan hasn't been welcomed by locals on Sydney's North Shore who have criticised the government for not caring about their area's heritage or home values. Mr Mookhey hit back at the plan's detractors, saying a balance can be struck between protecting a neighbourhood's character and also allowing for people to break into the housing market. A senior BBC employee has been fired after sharing 'horrific' anti-Semitic social media posts. It comes as workers say it is a 'grim' and 'frightening' time to be Jewish at the BBC. Dawn Queva, a BBC scheduler, shared a string of hateful messages on Facebook. She described the Holocaust as a 'holohoax', prompting calls for the BBC to take action. The Daily Mail understands she was sacked on Friday. Dawn Queva, a BBC scheduler, has been fired after sharing 'horrific' anti-Semitic social media posts Ms Queva, 55, described the Holocaust as a 'holohoax', prompting calls for the BBC to take action Ms Queva posted under the name Dawn Las Quevas-Allen. She previously worked in scheduling for A+E Networks, UKTV and Disney One post by Dawn Queva claimed that 'being JewISH has zero to do with ethnicity' and suggested Jews were from the 'Synagogue of Satan' In the messages, she refers to 'AshkeNazis', a slur that is a play on 'Ashkenazi' Jews who descend from those who lived in central or eastern Europe. One message claims the Ashkenazi Jews are 'a bunch of subcontinental European melanin recessive CaucAsian japhetic AshkeNazi who have no None zero zilch blood connection to the land of Palestine or Israel historically'. Another brands Jewish people an 'invader coloniser species'. Ms Queva also allegedly described white people as 'barbaric' and 'bloodthirsty'. In other posts, she referred to the UK as the 'UKKK' a reference to the Ku Klux Klan. Ms Queva, 55, a senior scheduler and playout planner for BBC Three, posted under the name Dawn Las Quevas-Allen. She previously worked in scheduling for A+E Networks, UKTV and Disney. She doubled down on her remarks after they came to light, challenging her critics to 'come at me... my shoulders are broad'. Last night, BBC staff told the Daily Mail the corporation needed to take a stand. A Jewish worker said: 'Jewish colleagues are finding it really tough seeing everyone but our bosses condemning what we have seen.' They added: 'If the BBC is serious about standing up to anti-Semitism then it needs to practise what it keeps preaching and stand up to the hate crimes committed by one of its own staff.' Broadcaster, Mail columnist and former BBC presenter Andrew Neil said ex-colleagues had told him it was 'grim' and 'frightening' to be Jewish at the BBC at the moment Several Jewish members of BBC staff defied a ban on attending a march against anti-Semitism Another post featured University of Chicago political scientist Prof John Mearsheimer suggesting Hamas's terror attacks on Israel last October 7 included some deaths caused by the IDF Dawn Queva continued sharing anti-Israel videos including one comparing the country's first prime minister David Ben-Gurion with Adolf Hitler The BBC Three executive also shared a video suggesting Israel wanted a mosque to 'collapse' A second Jewish worker added: 'The BBC needs to take a lead on this and make it clear that racism is racism and it won't be tolerated.' Broadcaster, Mail columnist and former BBC presenter Andrew Neil said ex-colleagues had told him it was 'grim' and 'frightening' to be Jewish at the BBC at the moment. He wrote on X: 'Where's the director general and his army of BBC executives paid large salaries to get a grip of matters like this?' A spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitism 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. 'We are filing complaints with the BBC about this individual and reporting the posts to the police, but the time has come for the BBC step up and confront anti-Semitism in its organisation once and for all.' Ms Queva, who lives in south-east London, declined to comment last night. A BBC spokesman said: 'The individual concerned is no longer employed by the BBC.' NYPD's security robot has been pulled from its Times Square subway station post just months after Eric Adams described it as 'part of the fabric' of the future. New York Police Department unveiled its fleet of 'Big Brother' robocops that would patrol the city's streets and subways in April. In September, Mayor Eric Adams announced another robot would be joining the department - an almost 400-pound robot to roam the Times Square - 42nd Street subway station and patrol the mezzanine level of the station. The AI-driven security robots are no longer being deployed in New York City's transit system, officials confirmed on Sunday. The end of robot security at the Big Apple's most busy subway station comes after Adams called the tech part of the system's future. NYPD's security robot has been pulled from its Times Square subway station post just months after Eric Adams described it as 'part of the fabric' of the future In September, Mayor Eric Adams announced a robot would be joining the department - an almost 400-pound robot to roam the Times Square - 42nd Street subway station and patrol the mezzanine level of the station The AI-driven security robots are no longer being deployed in New York City 's transit system, officials confirmed on Sunday Adams pledged to bring more technology to the nation's largest police department as part of his promise to focus on combatting crime in the city. Crime has risen in virtually every category in New York City during recent years, statistics show, despite Adams repeatedly claiming his campaign to resolve the issue has been successful. 'This is below minimum wage,' Adams said when he introduced the robot. 'No bathroom breaks. No meal breaks. This is a good investment.' NYPD leased the 'fully autonomous' robot for six months for $12,500 and paid for it using forfeiture funds, officials reported last year. The K5 device, which is decorated with NYPD colors and complete with an unblinking camera lens, was part of this strategy. The robot, a product of California-based autonomous security robots developer Knightscope, has four cameras it can use to shoot video and moves at 3mph. The robot is able to capture video footage, but not audio, and features a button that allows members of the public to contact a member of the police department to report an emergency or ask questions 'It's very important that the public knows what this robot is, what its capabilities are,' NYPD Chief of Transit Michael Kemper said when the device was unveiled in September. The robot is able to capture video footage, but not audio, and features a button that allows members of the public to contact a member of the police department to report an emergency or ask questions. In 2015, the security robot knocked a 16-month-old to the ground at a California mall and ran over one of his feet. Knightscope, the company that manufactures the machine, said that the robot was trying to veer to the left to avoid the child when the accident happened. In another incident, the K5 model rolled itself fatally into a fountain in Washington, D.C. Members of the public are glad to see the back of the robot now that the K5's stint in the Times Square station is up, at least for now. Nick Linnear, who has worked as an MTA employee for the past five years, told The New York Post that he didn't think the robots were working. Adams pledged to bring more technology to the nation's largest police department as part of his promise to focus on crime in the city The end of the robot security at the Big Apple's most busy subway station comes after Adams described the new AI technology as 'part of the fabric of our subway system' The K5 device, which is decorated with NYPD colors and complete with an unblinking camera lens, was part of this strategy 'I don't think it's a good idea,' he told The Post. But Linnear hadn't seen the robots at work for himself. 'We need policenot robots,' he said. Joseph Williams, a resident of Harlem since 1994, said 'It's bullst. Straight bullst,' he said. 'It's a waste of taxpayer money.' Eric Adams is yet to speak on whether the pilot program was considered a success. DailyMail.com reached out to the Mayor's office to inquire about the robot's stint and future plans for robot/AI security technology. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken kicked off Monday a Middle East tour seeking a new truce and "an enduring end" to the Israel-Hamas war, as Gaza saw no let-up in fighting. On his fifth trip to the region since Hamas's October 7 attack that triggered the war, Blinken met Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler in Riyadh and was later expected to visit Israel and mediators Egypt and Qatar. Blinken and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed "regional coordination to achieve an enduring end to the crisis in Gaza", said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. They also spoke of "the urgent need to reduce regional tensions", Miller said, referring to a surge in attacks across the region by Iran-backed Hamas allies that triggered counterattacks by the United States and its partners. Ahead of the trip, Blinken stressed the need for "urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza", after aid groups have repeatedly sounded the alarm over the devastating impact nearly four months of war have had on the besieged territory. Palestinian man Said Hamouda, who fled his home to the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt, said "the situation is indescribable." Rafah now hosts more than half of the Gaza Strip's population, displaced due to the fighting. Over the weekend, Israel pressed further south towards the densely crowded border city, warning that its ground forces could advance on Rafah as part of the campaign to eradicate Hamas. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said "a complete victory will deal a fatal blow" to Hamas but also to other Iran-backed militant groups across the region. Witnesses reported shelling around Khan Yunis, where Israel believes high-ranking Hamas officials are hiding. The militant group's Gaza chief, Yahya Sinwar, was "moving from hideout to hideout", said Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, without elaborating on his presumed current location. - Hostage negotiations - "Sinwar does not lead the campaign, does not command the forces," Gallant told a televised briefing, claiming the top Hamas leader was strictly concerned with "his personal survival". As bombardment and battles keep raging across Gaza, Blinken is expected to discuss during his visit a truce framework not yet signed off on by either Hamas or 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. Militants also seized around 250 hostages. Israel says 132 remain in Gaza -- including 28 believed to have been killed, according to updated figures from the prime minister's office. Israel launched a massive military offensive that has killed at least 27,478 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory's health ministry. The proposed truce would pause fighting for an initial six weeks as Hamas frees hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and more aid enters Gaza, according to a Hamas source. Netanyahu, who has faced divisions within his cabinet and public fury over the fate of the remaining hostages, said Israel "will not accept" demands made by Hamas for an exchange. The premier's Likud party quoted him as saying the terms "should be similar to the previous agreement", which saw a ratio of captives exchanged for Palestinian prisoners during a November truce. - 'Tragic' conditions - As Gazans have suffered dire humanitarian conditions, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, is facing a major controversy after accusations that 12 staff members were involved in Hamas's attack. More than a dozen countries, led by top donor the United States, suspended their funding to the aid agency after the claims surfaced. Spain however said it would give an additional 3.5 million euros ($3.8 million) "so that UNRWA can maintain its activities in the short term", said Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres announced the creation of an independent panel to assess UNRWA and "whether the agency is doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality", a UN statement said. Jordan's King Abdullah II urged donors to maintain support for the agency "to allow it to provide its vital humanitarian services... particularly in light of the tragic humanitarian situation in Gaza", a royal statement said. In a meeting with Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Amman, the two leaders urged the protection of civilians in Gaza and called to intensify efforts towards a lasting ceasefire and a "political solution" to the conflict, the statement said. French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne, on his first visit to the region since taking office, said peace will only be achieved through diplomacy, urging the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks "without delay". German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a phone call told Netanyahu -- who had come under fire for rejecting Palestinian sovereignty -- that "only a negotiated two-state solution would open up the prospect of a sustainable solution to the Middle East conflict". In Riyadh, Blinken also discussed "building a more integrated and prosperous region", spokesman Miller said, alluding to negotiations cut off by the Gaza war for a landmark Saudi normalisation with Israel. burs-jd/ami/spm His Majesty King Charles has approved plans for a luxury glamping site to be installed on Sandringham Estate, with each 'safari tent' to include a private veranda and built-in BBQs. A total of 15 tents will be pitched in a woodland area on the estate, if council bosses approve the planning application, with 28 touring caravan pitches and 12 camping pitches added to the existing site. Royal sources say the King has to give approval for anything built on the 20,000-acre estate, which is set in a Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is home to the Grade-II listed Sandringham House. One royal source confirmed the tents would be 'ultra-luxurious' and 'nice enough for the royals themselves to stay in', according to The Sun. King Charles III (pictured) will have given his seal of approval for the plans to go ahead A general view of Sandringham House in Norfolk (pictured) Speaking to The Sun, the source said: 'The pitches will be about as far away from the Caravan Club on The Inbetweeners as it's possible to get.' The site has been occupied since the Elizabethan era, when a manor house was built, which was replaced in 1771 by the Hoste Henley family. In 1862, Sandringham and 8,000 acres of land was purchased for Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, later Edward VII, as a country home for him and his future wife Princess Alexandra of Denmark. It has remained in the Royal family ever since and upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the house passed to King Charles III. In 1977 Queen Elizabeth II opened the house up to members of the public to commemorate her Silver Jubilee. A jailed Palestinian terrorist serving life for five murders is said to be top of Hamas' list for any exchange of prisoners for Israeli hostages. Marwan Barghouti, a veteran West Bank leader who was jailed in 2002 for murder, is known as the 'Palestinian Nelson Mandela' to his supporters and is seen as the key to a ceasefire in Gaza. However, the Israeli government has not yet agreed to his release or confirmed that it is now inevitable, despite many negotiators believing it was close. A statement in Barghouti's name called for support for Hamas in the current war, something which his wife denies. Following this, his family say his was brutalised in prison, transferred to solitary confinement and held in the dark with loud music playing for days. The Israeli prison authorities have not commented on the specific allegations but say they 'operate strictly according to rules and procedures'. Marwan Barghouti, a veteran West Bank leader who was jailed in 2002, is known as the 'Palestinian Nelson Mandela' to his supporters and is seen as the key to a ceasefire in Gaza A statement in Barghouti's name called for support for Hamas in the current war, something which his wife denies Arab Barghouti, Marwan's son, told the Times: 'My father never made big promises, to build roads or schools or the best buildings. He is just someone from the Palestinian street who made the choice to dedicate his life to the struggle for the Palestinian cause.' Israelis see Barghouti as the man who abandoned the peace process to lead the second intifada, or uprising. In 2000, the second intifada saw bus stops, restaurants and night clubs were all bombed by suicide bombers as militants fought the Israeli army, leading to more than 3,000 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis died. READ MORE: Dramatic moment IDF takes out terrorists plotting deadly ambush on Israeli troops amid fierce fighting in Gaza Advertisement Barghouti did not offer a defence his murder trial following these attacks, making his political role in them ambiguous. He was certified top leader of Fatah, the largest secular political faction in the Palestinian territories, and in the Palestine Liberation Organisation, and he led and justified both intifadas. The first uprising involved much less violence, and largely consisted of strikes and protests. Fatah and Hamas say the second intifada was necessary because of the collapse of the peace process. Israel accused Barghouti and other Palestinian leaders of personally masterminding some of the hundreds of Israeli civilian deaths. Barghouti's chief of staff, Ahmed Ghuneim, said the former leader always argued against targeting civilians, claiming other factions and individual fighters had acted independently. Arab says the reason his father is so popular is that he has rare appeal to the different wings of Palestinian popular opinion, representing the traditional and secular wing of the Palestinian cause. He has accepted the existence of Israeli state, and is politically in line with western calls for a two-state solution, as shown by his accepting of the the peace process and Oslo accords negotiated by the PLO leader Yasser Arafat and the Israeli prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin. However, he has been granted legitimacy with the resistance, due to his role in the Second Intifada as leader of Fatahs military wing, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. His lengthy stay in prison means he has avoided the stigma attached to President Abbas, 88, who is accused of corruption in the day-to-day running of the territory and of having compromised with Israel for little return. An opinion poll conducted among Palestinians suggested Barghouti would receive 47 per cent of the vote in a ballot for the presidency, to 43 per cent for Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas, whose standing has risen since the war began, with Abbas receiving just 7 per cent. Barghouti was certified top leader of Fatah, the largest secular political faction in the Palestinian territories, and in the Palestine Liberation Organisation, and he led and justified both intifada Barghoutis appeal to both the West Bank and Gaza, Ghuneim says, is why Israel fears releasing him. Latest reports indicated Hamas was on the verge of responding to a ceasefire offer that would involve a gradual exchange of prisoners for hostages over a period of six weeks. The US and its allies in the Arab world want a deal to be followed by negotiations for a new government in Gaza, preferably with Hamas sidelined. Few diplomats believe Abbas can deliver the change demanded for different reasons by Israel, the Palestinians or negotiators, but there is no clear mechanism for him to be ousted and replaced. Exiled Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has said political censorship in the West today is 'exactly the same' as it was in his home country under Communist leader Mao Zedong. The 66-year-old spoke out after his exhibition at the Lisson gallery in London was cancelled in November following a social media post he made on the Israel-Gaza conflict. He warned there is now a 'cultural revolution' in the West - echoing the name of the great purge carried out by Chairman Mao in China in the 1960s - that means 'you cannot talk about the truth'. He told Sky's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that 'society becomes so timid, to really avoid any kind of questioning or argument'. He said: 'I grew up within this heavy political censorship. Exiled Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has said political censorship in the West today is 'exactly the same' as it was in his home country under Communist leader Mao Zedong He told Sky's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips (pictured, left) that 'society becomes so timid, to really avoid any kind of questioning or argument' 'I realise now, today in the West, you are doing exactly the same.' Criticising the suspension of two New York University professors for comments related to Gaza, he said: 'This is really like a cultural revolution, which is really trying to destroy anybody who has different attitudes, not even a clear opinion. 'So I think that this is such a pity, that it happened in the West, so broadly in universities, in media, in every location. 'In universities or political sector everywhere you cannot talk about the truth.' Weiwei - often through his art - has been an outspoken critic of the current Chinese regime's suppression of human rights and free speech. In 2011 he was arrested at Beijing International Airport and detained for 81 days. He left China later the same year and has not returned since. He warned there is now a 'cultural revolution' in the West - echoing the name of the great purge carried out by Chairman Mao in China in the 1960s - that means 'you cannot talk about the truth' (pictured: a portrait of Mao above Tiananmen Gate with Chinese President Xi Jinping waving above) His main residence is now in Portugal, but he also has a home in the UK and a studio in Berlin. An exhibition he was due to stage in London in November was cancelled after he made negative social media posts about the West's support of Israel. His post on X (formerly Twitter), which was in Mandarin and subsequently deleted, read: 'The sense of guilt around the persecution of the Jewish people has been, at times, transferred to offset the Arab world.' The post added: 'Financially, culturally, and in terms of media influence, the Jewish community has had a significant presence in the United States.' Weiwei said he was just offering opinions and explanations in response to a follower's questions. He told the Sky News programme: 'You know, society becomes so timid, to really avoid any kind of questioning or argument. 'So basically I was talking on Twitter, just answering someone's question. 'Normally you can talk, or whatever you like. In 2011 Weiwei was arrested at Beijing International Airport and detained for 81 days (pictured after his release). He left China later the same year and has not returned since 'You can joke, you can make fun, you can, you know, just give your opinions. 'But today I see so many people by giving their basic opinions, they get fired, they get censored. 'This has become very common.' A heroic bystander who rushed to the aid of a three-year-old victim from the Clapham chemical attack claims the attacker tried to 'crack the child's head open'. 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, aged 3 and 8, in a corrosive chemical. The female hero - who remained anonymous - told the BBC she thought the child she saved was going to 'die in her arms' after seeing her dragged from a car by Mr Ezedi and 'slammed to the floor' twice. She described how she found the child barely conscious and with her head 'red and swollen', before taking her into a nearby hotel whilst she waited for an ambulance. She said: 'I thought the youngest of the two girls was about to die in my arms. Luckily the three-year-old woke up and started to call for her mum. I took her to the waiting ambulance, she was clinging to me and didn't want to go, so I escorted her to hospital in the back of the ambulance, talking to her the entire way.' The woman was also one of the twelve people that had been sprayed with the chemical, which she described as 'looking like black paint', leaving her foot 'black and swollen'. The female says she has been left traumatised by the incident, adding that it 'gives her shivers' thinking about what Ezedi did. 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, aged 3 and 8, in a corrosive chemical Investigators believe there are people who know of Mr Ezedi's whereabouts but have not come forward warned that anyone assisting the Afghan asylum seeker faces arrest. Releasing the new information about Mr 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) 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. A woman who climbed one of Britain's highest mountains to scatter her father's ashes had to be rescued after falling on her descent, she told yesterday. Kitty Harrison bid an emotional farewell to her late father Steve Parry at the 3,000ft (917m) peak of Tryfan in Snowdonia before losing her footing on her way down. She plummeted down a sheer rock face and was left clinging to a tiny ledge, balanced precariously over a 300ft (91m) drop for three hours while she waited for rescue. Conditions got so grim that the trainee dental nurse feared she would fall before rescuers could reach her, she said. Mrs Harrison, 32, said the Welsh peak had been her father's favourite spot before his sudden death in 2021, aged 56. Kitty Harrison (pictured), 32, bid an emotional farewell to her late father Steve Parry at the 3,000ft (917m) peak of Tryfan in Snowdonia before losing her footing on her way down She plummeted down a sheer rock face and was left clinging to a tiny ledge, balanced precariously over a 300ft (91m) drop for three hours while she waited for rescue The nature conservation worker had spoken of wanting his ashes to be scattered there and the family, from Wolverhampton, had enjoyed frequent holidays to north Wales to enjoy the countryside and stunning mountain views. Mrs Harrison, an experienced climber, set out with her father's ashes in June 2022 and reached the peak safely. She told the BBC: 'I felt a real sense of achievement when getting to the top to fulfil his final request Then as I came down I slipped and carried on falling.' She said she did not know how far she fell, but said it was 'quite a way' before she landed on a ledge over a precipice. She told the BBC's SOS: Extreme Rescues programme: 'My foot slipped on the loose shingle and I slipped quite a way and I landed on a tiny ledge. 'If I hadn't gone down that side, I'd have gone straight down the mountain and I'm not sure I'd be here today.' Mountain rescuers eventually located her using her phone's GPS signal and spotters from a coastguard helicopter. But her precarious position meant they could not reach her until the rescuers climbed further above her and abseiled down. Mrs Harrison said she was terrified to move in case she slipped and fell again. She said: 'I was worried no-one had seen me You go from hope to proper doom, to fear that no-one is going to find me. BBC cameras were filming with the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team, one of the busiest in Britain Mountain rescuers eventually located her using her phone's GPS signal and spotters from a coastguard helicopter (Stock Photo) 'As time went on, I was shivering, cold and damp and couldn't move a muscle, but because of the exercise climbing up the mountain, my legs were tired and shaking. I thought I could fall off here before they find me.' BBC cameras were filming with the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team, one of the busiest in Britain. Mrs Harrison said: 'When the rescuers said, "There's BBC cameras with us," part of me thought I don't care who's with you just get me off this mountain. 'The other part thought, that's typical, I have one bad day and that's the day the BBC decided to come and see me. 'I'd also ripped my leggings when I fell and I was like "Please don't put my bum on the telly" - my Mum would've killed me.' SOS: Extreme Rescues is available on BBC iPlayer. Rapper Killer Mike has been taken away from the Grammys in handcuffs following a 'physical altercation' after winning three awards. The 48-year-old rapper, known for his work as a member of rap duo Run The Jewels, won Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for his solo song 'Scientists & Engineers,' and the Best Rap Album for Michael. A spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department told DailyMail.com that a man was being questioned, but they could not confirm his identity. TMZ reported he has been booked for battery on a citizen's arrest. 'At 4pm an adult male was taken into custody for a physical altercation that took place inside the arena,' the spokesman said, explaining that the 'altercation' happened moments before the person was arrested. TMZ reported that Killer Mike scuffled with a security guard. 'Right now, the preliminary investigation is: he is being investigated for battery,' the spokesman said. 'He will not be identified until he is arrested and charged, if he is.' Video obtained by TMZ showed the rapper appearing to get into an argument with security guards as he walked in the rain outside - with someone carrying an umbrella over his head. Killer Mike is seen being handcuffed and taken away by the LAPD at the Grammys The rapper is seen being taken away by LAPD on Sunday night The 48-year-old rapper, star of Run The Jewels, is pictured with his three Grammy's on Sunday night, moments before he was arrested TMZ reported that, moments before the clip was filmed, Killer Mike knocked a security guard down as he was trying to leave. In the footage, the rapper appears to be trying to get past the security team, and security seems to be attempting to block him. There appeared to be a fierce dispute, and the rapper shoved a security guard on the shoulder while trying to walk around him. A moment later, the rapper is seen being handcuffed. As the rapper, born Michael Santiago Render, was brought back into the arena for questioning, someone yelled: 'Free Mike!' The rapper has yet to comment on the arrest. Killer Mike is well known for his political activism. He was a vocal supporter of Bernie Sanders, and endorsed Democrat senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock for his home state of Georgia. Before he was handcuffed, the Atlanta-born star was backstage reminiscing on his path to Grammy stardom. 'The only thing that limits your age is not being truthful about your age or what you're doing,' he told the assembled media. 'At 20 years old, I thought it was cool to be a drug dealer. 'At 40, I started to live with the regrets and the things I've done. 'At 45, I started to rap about it. 'At 48, I stand here as a man full of empathy and sympathy for the things I've done.' A grandmother who was mauled to death by two 'unregistered XL Bullys' in front of her screaming grandson was trying to break up fighting puppies with a broom when she was attacked, it has been claimed. Esther Martin was visiting her 11-year-old grandson when she was attacked yesterday by the massive animals, reportedly named Beauty and Bear. Mrs Martin, 68 had previously warned her 'son-in-law' Ashley Warren, 39, about the dogs, it is claimed - but Mr Warren fired back with a foul-mouthed rant: 'No one tells me what to do with my f*****g dogs.' Mr Warren's mother Michelle Stotter, has revealed how Ester was attacked by two dogs called Beauty and Bear when she tried use a broom to stop their puppies fighting. Mrs Stotter, 55, said her son was trying to rehome the dogs and posted an advert on social media in November offering them for 500 each. 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) Warren's social media shows XL Bully-type dogs at his home Mrs Martin's daughter Sonia Martin, 47, was at the property this morning. She said Esther 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 officers from Essex Police arrived at the property in Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea at around 4pm yesterday, 'within minutes' of the attack - and shot dead both dogs inside the home. They battled to save Mrs Martin's life, but she was pronounced dead 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. One neighbour threw a brick at a window as he tried to break into the house to help, it was claimed Julie Coleman, 62, said: 'It's horrible. I heard them shoot the dogs. It's so upsetting. I was in tears. There was apparently blood everywhere. Her head was covered in blood.' 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 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 dogs were owned by Mr Warren, a heavily-tattooed wanna be drill rapper who goes by the name Wyless Man. He features in drill music videos online, posted a Facebook ad selling XL Bully puppies for 500 in November. Mr Warren is the father of Mrs Martin's grandson. Her daughter Clare Louise Hayes died two years ago. 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 Mrs 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 Your browser does not support iframes. 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. The Squad, which rose to prominence by challenging President Donald Trump and advocating for far-left policies, appears to be on the verge of imploding as it finds itself dealing with challenges of its own ahead of election season. The group consisting of progressive House Democrats including Minnesota's Ilhan Omar, New York's Jamaal Bowman, Missouri's Cori Bush and Pennsylvania's Summer Lee are each grappling with various obstacles including personal controversies, criminal investigations and competitive primaries. Their challengers are being funded by the deep pockets of the American-Israeli PAC whose Democratic members are unhappy over their anti-Israel stance and rhetoric coming from squad members. It has now led to the Squad members being aggressive in their own fundraising activities as they realize the seriousness of their Democratic challengers and now the fragility of their progressive positions. All of the Squad members, except Bowman, have so far managed to outraise their primary opponents. Rep. Rashida Tlaib is seen speaking during a pro-Palestinian rally in Washington in October 2023. Tlaib then faced censure for statements about the Israel-Hamas war Cori Bush is being investigated by the Justice Department for campaign spending on security services. She has denied any wrongdoing and has said she's cooperating Rep. Ilhan Omar has funneled campaign money to her spouse. In 2021, the Somali-American politician paid $2.9 million to a consulting firm run by her husband A challenger to Summer Lee is encouraging independents and Republicans to re-register as Democrats so that they can vote against her Even Rashida Tlaib, who has no declared challenger yet, has raised a massive $3.7 million. Bowman recently pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor related to a Capitol fire alarm while Bush is under federal investigation for campaign payments for security, possibly involving her husband. Bush is being investigated by the Justice Department for campaign spending on security services. She has denied any wrongdoing and has said she's cooperating with the investigation. The 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. Tlaib, right, the only Palestinian member of Congress, faced censure for statements about the Israel-Hamas war. She is seen speaking at a January vigil for journalists killed in Gaza 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. Omar has also funneled campaign money to her spouse. In 2021, the Somali-American politician paid $2.9 million to a consulting firm run by her husband, which amounted to 80 percent of the company's revenue. Meanwhile, Tlaib faced censure for statements about the Israel-Hamas war, while Omar was removed from a committee by the GOP due to past comments about Israel. The Squad, made up primarily lawmakers of color with a progressive agenda, now finds itself having to navigate a different landscape. With less influence in the House minority and the departure of former House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, they now deal with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is more inclined to listen to their perspectives. 'Without a doubt, it's a different terrain at least for some of them than the last go-round,' Rep. Chuy Garcia (D-Ill.) told Politico. While they have criticized the Biden administration's handling of the conflict in Gaza, their rhetoric has divided the party. There are also concerns from external influences, particularly from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which has managed to attract significant fundraising from big-dollar donors. The super PAC is said to have $40 million cash on hand at the end of last year. The group has specifically targeted Squad members for their criticism of the Israeli government and has endorsed a primary challenger to Rep. Jamaal Bowman. Thirteen Democrats, including Reps. Jamaal Bowman, N.Y., Cori Bush , Mo., Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , N.Y., and Rashida Tlaib , Mich., voted against a resolution to condemn anti-Semitism in the U.S. in a December vote In November Tlaib was slammed after she accused Joe Biden of supporting genocide and demanded a ceasefire as she threatened electoral consequences in 2024. Cori Bush is left Bush disputes allegations that she misused government funds meant for private security, even as she confirmed she's under criminal investigation by the DOJ 'Americans across the country are strongly supporting pro-Israel Democrats and Republicans and are working to defeat anti-Israel candidates. Our activists are deeply engaged and energized given the critical stakes in this election for the pro-Israel movement,' said AIPAC spokesperson Marshall Wittmann. Within the Democratic Party there is worry that spending on primaries against influential groups in what are otherwise safe blue seats could be diverting funds from swing-seat races. Despite the controversies and challenges, Squad members such as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bowman continue to maintain their nonconformist, activist-inspired approach to legislating - with the group remaining undeterred as they court re-election. 'I ran for Congress to serve the most marginalized people in my district to deal with the issue of concentrated poverty, to deal with the issue of climate justice, lack of access to affordable housing, all of the issues that the majority of Americans care about,' said Bowman. 'Whoever the challenge is, whether it's AIPAC or something else, I'm never going to be distracted from fighting for those issues.' Bowman has insisted the group are 'on the same page 99.9 percent of the time' adding that 'we talk every day ... we're really, really close.' Last month, the U.S. House Committee on Ethics said it was no longer pursuing an inquiry into Jamaal Bowman for pulling a fire alarm The congressman was charged with a misdemeanor in October and pleaded guilty one day later. Under an agreement with prosecutors Bowman has to write an apology to Capitol Police and pay a $1,000 fine Last month, the U.S. House Committee on Ethics said it was no longer pursuing an inquiry into Bowman for pulling a fire alarm while trying to use a locked exit in September as lawmakers prepared to vote on a measure to avert a government shutdown. The decision came a month after the House of Representatives voted 214 to 191 to censure the New York Democrat. He also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor offense, after being charged over the incident by the D.C. attorney general. Usamah Andrabi, a spokesperson for the Justice Democrats, a progressive group that aligns with the Squad says the group are still not overly concerned. 'While our opponents at AIPAC rely on Donald Trump's billionaire donors, our incumbents, who are Black and brown members of Congress from working class backgrounds, will continue to rely on the power of everyday people,' Andrabi said in a statement. The Squad also continues to garner support from other progressive allies such as Elizabeth Warren with their commitment to their progressive values and legislative approach positions them to influence the House if Democrats regain the majority in the upcoming elections. 'The strongest influence in Congress comes from having the strongest ideas,' Warren said. 'The underlying direction that these young, outspoken progressives are pulling our country is ultimately right. And that's what gives them their strength.' Hundreds of armed officers have deserted the Metropolitan Polices firearms unit in the past six months after a colleague was charged with the murder of Chris Kaba. The number carrying weapons dropped by more than 250 between April and December 2023 amid widespread anger within the force over resourcing and disciplinary procedures. Only 22 armed officers left in the 12-month period leading up to March 2023. In September, dozens handed in their weapons in protest over the decision to charge a colleague with murder. Chris Kaba, an unarmed black man, died after being shot in the head in Streatham Hill, south London, in September 2022. The officer charged with his murder is known only as NX121 but is expected to be named after a court hearing next month causing further discontent in the Mets specialist firearms unit. Chris Kaba, an unarmed black man, died after being shot in the head in Streatham Hill, south London, in September 2022 The number carrying weapons dropped by more than 250 between April and December 2023 amid widespread anger within the force over resourcing and disciplinary procedures After the slew of Autumn resignations led to the Army being put on standby, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley pledged to push for new safeguards including fewer and speedier investigations into alleged police wrongdoing. A Home Office review is ongoing. For others, promises to lessen scrutiny on police have caused alarm particularly given the number of scandals the Met has been embroiled in that involve officer abuses of power. The force began its ongoing purge of predators in 2021, after the murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard by firearms officer Wayne Couzens. Lord Macdonald KC, former director of public prosecutions, led warnings over police reactions to the charging of officer NX121 with Chris Kabas death. He argued that marksmen should not have a veto over charging decisions made by prosecutors. The headcount drop reflects wider issues plaguing the unit, including low morale, poor pastoral care and lengthy investigations by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). A source told The Times: Policing has changed over the past few years but the same issues exist internally and externally. The treatment of officers involved in police shootings and the lack of support from senior leadership, both publicly and privately, are some of the big issues. They dont support the officers its a token gesture now and again but on the whole its very poor. Figures show the number of officers carrying weapons was at a high of 2,862 in March 2020. As of December the most recently available data that number had dropped to 2,339. Houthis have been conducting almost daily missile attacks on ships in Red Sea US and UK forces also struck 36 Houthi targets across Yemen on Saturday Warplanes and missiles were launched at Houthi forces from Red Sea on Sunday Dramatic footage shows the moment the US launched fresh strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi targets in Yemen. Warplanes and missiles were launched at Houthi forces from the USS Gravely, USS Carney and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on Sunday morning. The attacks - launched in retaliation to almost daily blitzes on civilian and military ships in vital Red Sea shipping waters by Houthi forces - were intended to 'further disrupt' and 'degrade the capabilities' of the terrorist group, the Pentagon said. US Central Command, which shared video of the launches on X, said the 'self-defense strike' was conducted about 4am local time (8pm EST) before the ordinance was launched. An international coalition, led by US and UK forces, struck 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen on Saturday. American military crews also destroyed a Houthi cruise missile. On Monday, at least six allied Kurdish fighters were killed in a drone attack on a base housing US troops. An Iranian-backed militia in Syria says its fighters are responsible for a deadly attack which was launched in response to the American strikes. It comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is making a fifth trip to the Middle East in a bid to secure a new truce in the Israel-Hamas war. He is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Israel in the coming days. A senior official from the Iran-aligned Houthis also warned on Monday that Italy will become a target should it join in attacks against Yemen. A fleet of United States warships have joined forces to launch missiles and support strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi targets The USS Gravely, USS Carney and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower were amongst US warships to have launched missiles at Houthi forces on Sunday US Central Command uploaded a video of the launches on X (formerly known as Twitter ) showing the dramatic moments as the missiles are unleashed from the ships The strikes came after American military crews destroyed a Houthi cruise missile on Saturday The US and Britain on Saturday carried out a third wave of assaults meant to further disable Houthi groups that have relentlessly attacked American and international interests in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. But Washington once more did not directly target Iran as it tries to find a balance between a forceful response and intensifying the conflict. US Central Command said its forces conducted an additional strike on Sunday 'in self-defense against a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea,' according to a post on X. 'This action will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US Navy vessels and merchant vessels.' The strikes on Saturday against the Houthis were launched by US warships and American and British fighter jets. The strikes followed 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 on Saturday 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 UK Defense Ministry. The US warned 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. 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 on Sunday While there has been no suggestion the Houthis were directly responsible, they have been one of the prime US adversaries since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said that more than 26,000 people have been killed and more than 64,400 wounded in the Israeli military operation since the war began. 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, head of the Houthi's supreme revolutionary committee, 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.' Al-Houthi also told daily La Repubblica on Monday that Italy must be neutral in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and put pressure on Israel to stop attacks on Gaza, adding that would be the only way to achieve peace in the region. Italy said on Friday it would provide the admiral in command of a European Union Red Sea naval mission it has joined to protect ships from attacks by Yemen's Houthi militia. The mandate of the mission, which will be launched in mid-February, will be to protect commercial ships and intercept attacks, but not take part in strikes against the Houthis, the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said. Houthi tribesmen gather after US and UK air strikes on Houthi positions near Sanaa, Yemen on Sunday Houthi tribesmen gather to show defiance after US and UK air strikes on Sunday 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. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement that the joint military action with Britain - 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 world's 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 Yemen's capital, Sanaa, that has been used to control Houthi drones that have launched against vessels in the Red Sea. US Secretary of State Blinken headed to the Middle East for another crisis tour on Monday in a bid to secure a new truce in the Israel-Hamas war, as southern Gaza saw no let-up in fighting. The proposed truce would pause fighting for an initial six weeks as Hamas frees hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, according to a Hamas source. Hamas has said no agreement has yet been reached, while some Israeli officials have expressed opposition to any perceived concessions. The diplomatic push has become more urgent with the surge in attacks across the region by Iran-backed groups in solidarity with Hamas, triggering counterattacks by the United States. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken walks to board a plane at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on February 4, 2024, en route to Saudi Arabia as part of his fifth urgent trip to the Middle East since the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza erupted in October Antony Blinken exits a vehicle before boarding a plane, en route to Saudi Arabia, on February 4, 2024 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, pictured boarding a plane at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on Sunday, is making a fifth trip to the Middle East in a bid to secure a new truce in the Israel- Hamas war On January 11, the US and UK launched attacks against the Houthi in Yemen. The US military used more than 100 precision missiles to hit 60 targets at 16 locations. Super Hornets, Navy destroyers, and a submarine launched Tomahawk cruise missiles during the blitz. Sites including command and control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities and air defense radar systems were hit, according to officials. At least one submarine was deployed, the US would not confirm exactly which one but Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN-728) entered the Red Sea in November, USNI News reports. The vessel has capacity for 154 missiles. Super Hornets from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) were deployed, along with Air Force fighters originating from a base in the Middle East. 'These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world's most critical commercial routes,' President Joe Biden said after the attacks. 'I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.' An RAF Typhoon aircraft was seen taking off to conduct further strikes against Houthi targets on Staurday 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 on Saturday The strikes on Saturday 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 On Saturday, the UK said it had joined forces with the US to fight against the Houthi forces in Yemen as at least 36 targets were blasted in the third wave of attacks to 'protect innocent lives'. The UK 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. UK Defense Secretary Grant 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-defenses and in accordance with international law.' The strikes on Saturday against the Houthis were launched by US warships and American and British fighter jets. Houthi fighters are pictured riding vehicles at a rally in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and the recent Houthi strikes on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on February 4 Houthi fighters are pictured walking to attend a rally in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and the recent Houthi strikes on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on February 4 Yemen's Houthi fighter is pictured as he mans a heavy machine gun mounted on a vehicle at a rally in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip 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. 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 interview in Baghdad, he also struck a more conciliatory tone, telling reporters: 'We do not wish to escalate or widen regional tensions.' 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 American 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 coalition's presence, a process that will likely take years. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit A father was left shocked when not a single passenger on a packed tram gave up their seat for him and his newborn daughter. Duncan MacRae was travelling on a tram to the Midsumma Festival in Melbourne last weekend with his daughter Bella. The journey was about 20 minutes long and the tram was already full when Mr MacRae boarded. But despite it being common courtesy on public transport to give up a seat for the disabled, elderly, pregnant or parents with children, no other passengers offered up their spot. Mr MacRae filmed a video of himself on the packed tram while bouncing his newborn to sleep with the other hand. Duncan MacRae was travelling on a tram to the Midsumma Festival in Melbourne last weekend with his daughter Bella and said nobody offered their seat to him Around him, passengers were either buried in their phones or looking out the window. Poll Do you think someone should have offered the father their seat? Yes No Unsure Do you think someone should have offered the father their seat? Yes 1113 votes No 304 votes Unsure 65 votes Now share your opinion 'I aimed to capture a moment that many parents can relate to - trying to soothe a crying baby in a public space, whilst also being mindful of the comfort of those around us,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'The reaction of those in the priority seats, who saw me and put their heads back into their phones, highlights the societal issues of empathy and community support. 'It's not just about offering a seat, it's about recognising the needs of others and acting with kindness.' Mr MacRae said while physically he was able to carry Bella without needing a seat, he was 'shocked' nobody offered. Eventually when one passenger left his chair, the father said he had to tell another commuter who was trying to take the empty seat to 'get stuffed' just so he could sit down. His TikTok has received more than 1 million views with many shocked at the lack of courtesy on public transport, adding it was dangerous if Mr MacRae was to lose his balance. 'I was 37 weeks pregnant on a train and no one stood up. It's appalling! I'm sorry this happened,' one said. 'I had someone tell me recently it's my responsibility to ask. Like whoTF raised all you people. That was not how I was raised,' another said. 'That's appalling,' a third added. Mr MacRae (pictured with his partner Rob and daughter) said while physically he was able to carry Bella without needing a seat, he was 'shocked' nobody offered Meanwhile others said he wasn't entitled to the seat and shouldn't expect someone to give one up so easily. 'I generally offer but some days when you've walked over 20k steps it's difficult to give up. So there are two sides to the story always,' said another. 'All of those saying why should I give up my seat etc it honestly just goes to show how you were raised. It's called common courtesy & being respectful,' one said. 'Just because you have a child doesn't mean you deserve the seat more than anyone else. I can't stand when people think just because they have a kid, they deserve something,' another comment read. Australian writer Yang Hengjun has received a suspended death sentence in China, almost five years after he was initially arrested. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said the government was appalled at the news. 'This is harrowing news for Dr Yang, his family and all who have supported him,' she said in a statement. 'Our thoughts are with them. I acknowledge the acute distress they will all be feeling, after many years of uncertainty.' Australian academic Yang Hengjun (pictured with his wife) remains detained in a Chinese prison on espionage charges Dr Yang was first detained in 2019 over espionage charges, and was arrested in January 2019 at Guangzhou Airport, on his way to visit his sick brother. The case against him has never been publicly disclosed and his trial was held in secret in May 2021. His verdict had been plagued by continuous delays, having been postponed more than eight times since the conclusion of his trial. In August, Dr Yang expressed concerns he could die in a Chinese prison without proper medical attention after developing a 10-centimetre cyst on his kidney. He was subject to more than 300 interrogations over 18 months, the family spokesman said, including six months of intense torture. During his detention, he was deprived of sleep and had his wrists and ankles strapped and pinned to a chair for days at a time. Dr Yang was first detained in 2019 over espionage charges The government will continue to press for Dr Yang' interests and wellbeing. A spokesman for Dr Yang's family said they were shocked and devastated. 'We know our father has done nothing wrong,' they said in a statement on Monday. 'He is in jail because he represents truth, democracy, respectful exchange of rational ideas.' The writer still has avenues for appeal and the government will continue to advocate for him. Human rights organisation Amnesty International said it was horrified by the sentence. 'To this day, the Chinese authorities have failed to substantiate their allegations that Hengjun is a spy,' Amnesty said in a statement. 'Rather, this sentence and his prosecution appear to be purely motivated by Hengjun's advocacy for democracy and because of his writings critical of the Chinese government.' The Australian government hauled in Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian for a dressing down, with foreign affairs secretary Jan Adams voicing objections to the ruling. Mr Xiao remained silent as he left the department's offices after less than half an hour. Australia's ambassador in Beijing would not be recalled, Senator Wong said. 'Australia will not relent in our advocacy for justice for Dr Yang's interests and well-being, including appropriate medical treatment,' she said. Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham said all legal avenues needed to be explored. 'I'm sure Australians will be aghast and appalled at the decision of Chinese authorities to level a sentence of this nature against an Australian citizen,' he said. 'It must be the top priority for the Albanese government in their engagement with Chinese officials to continue to advocate on Hengjun's behalf.' Developers of yet another apartment block have been told to urgently fix a number of issues just weeks after a 900-unit complex was found to be at risk of collapsing. The five-storey building comprising of 31 apartments at 11-15 Mitchell Avenue in Jannali, in Sydney's south, was found to have a total of 47 defects during an inspection in 2023. Developers Mitchell Avenue Development were handed on Thursday a Building Work Rectification Order from the NSW Building Commission. Issues were found in the concrete and waterproofing at the complex while the fire safety was not up to code according to the report. Mitchell Avenue Development has 120 days, or until May 31, to complete works that rectify the flaws. A five-storey property with 31 apartments in Jannali, South Sydney (pictured), has been found to be riddled with defects to the concrete, waterproofing and fire safety Cracks were found in the concrete on the balcony of an apartment and in the building's fire stairs, while 'foreign objects' were found embedded in the material in 'various areas' of the underground carpark. The fire stair landing on the complex's fourth floor was found to have cracked concrete that exposed reinforcement, leading it to rust. Other sections of concrete were found to have not been properly vibrated or compacted leading to areas of 'segregation and honeycombing' and weakening it. Waterproofing issues accounted for 16 of the defects after the inspectors found numerous instances of water penetrating the property and damaging units. Another 17 defects were found to have stemmed form fire safety, one of which included a gap found in a fire door. All doors to service cupboards on residential floors were also found to not have any fire protection, non-combustible covering or smoke seals. The report stated that Mitchell Avenue Development are 'committed' to fixing the defects but questioned why the builder, Forte Sydney Construction P/L, weren't also 'being pursued'. The property on Mitchell Avenue (pictured) had numerous issues leaving the developers, Mitchell Avenue Development until May 31 to fix all of the defects Acting NSW Building Commissioner Elizabeth Stewart wrote in the report she had 'considered and accepted' the extensive works to fix the defects will likely be costly, but must meet industry standards. 'However, the cost to the developer must be balanced against the benefit to the occupiers at the development,' she wrote. 'Considering these potential consequences as outlined in this order, I give greater weight to the seriousness of the defects and failure to adhere to the Australian Standards and Building Code of Australia.' It comes just weeks after another Building Work Rectification Order was issued for Greenland Australia, the developers behind 23 Halifax Street at Macquarie Park. Serious damage and the deterioration of the concrete slabs at joint locations between the basement and ground floor, and levels six, 11, 17, 22, and 31 were identified. The issues, which the order says were caused 'by defective workmanship' could cause the entire 900-unit building, or parts of the building, to topple, the order stated. A Greens MP who has developed a reputation for being able to get under Anthony Albanese's skin has called for a drastic overhaul of the government's proposed Stage Three tax cut amendments. Max Chandler-Mather asked voters on Monday whether they'd prefer having Medicare covering dental - or give high income earners a tax cut as Mr Albanese's government is offering. Under Labor's new plan, high income earners who earn more than $200,000 will get a tax cut of $4,529 compared to what they pay currently - but $4,549 less than the $9,075 first proposed by the Morrison government. Mr Albanese will need the backing of the Greens and two independents to pass the policy through the Senate. Max Chandler-Mather posed a question to voters on Monday morning, asking whether they'd prefer having dental included in Medicare, or to give high income earners a tax cut Leader Adam Bandt suggested the government can secure his support by offering more assistance to low and middle income earners, and increases to welfare But the Greens have already indicated they'll try to play hardball with Labor in exchange for their support. Leader Adam Bandt suggested the government can secure his support by offering more assistance to low and middle income earners, plus welfare increases. And Mr Chandler-Mather - the young Greens housing representative who has developed a penchant for getting under the PM's skin - had a different idea altogether. 'What would you choose? 1) Bring dental into Medicare so everyone can go to the dentist for free or 2) Spend $84 billion giving ppl earning over $200k a $4,500 a year tax cut,' he asked. 'Labor chose tax cuts for politicians and billionaires. I reckon the public would prefer free dental.' Mr Chandler-Mather said he'd been doorknocking his local community in Brisbane and argued 'without a shadow of a doubt, even people earning over $200k choose dental into Medicare'. Mr Chandler-Mather - the young Greens housing representative who has developed a penchant for getting under the PM's skin - had a different idea altogether Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has tinkered with the legislated Morrison-era tax cuts, taking up to $4,000 from people earning over $200,000 to ensure all taxpayers get some reprieve 'Labor's changes to stage 3 tax cuts will still see the budget deprived of over $300 billion and makes things like free dental even harder to win,' he said. Any further changes to the tax cuts at the expense of high income earners woud likely not be well received from that demographic. The PM has already walked away from an election promise he made no less than 36 times to keep Scott Morrison's tax cuts. But Mr Albanese has balanced that by arguing that under his tweaked policy, every single taxpayer will now receive a tax cut. Taking what's left of high income earners' tax cuts would further harm his reputation as he attempts to restore the image of a trustworthy 'man of his word' in the eyes of voters. Just 3.4 per cent of voters earn over $180,000 - and they are the people who will suffer the most from Mr Albanese's backflip. A worker on $100,000 would have received an extra $1,375 come tax time under the original plan. Now, they'll take home almost double: $2,179. And people earning $45,000 - who would've taken home nothing under last month's policy - will now be $805 better off come July. The benefits start to tap out for voters who earn $150,000 or less. On that salary, a person would have received a $3,975 tax cut under the original legislation. Now, they'll instead take home $3,739. For people on $180,000, the refund is significantly less, dropping from $6,075 to $3,729. Burger giant Grill'd has waged war against a small cafe and demanded it change its logo over claims it looks too similar to their one. Mano's in Doncaster, Melbourne's north-east, received a legal letter from Grill'd in October which said the small cafe's logo looked deceptively similar. Owner Mano told 7News the letter came just after a Grilld franchise opened opposite his cafe. 'We were shocked to be honest, we didnt believe that this big company was coming after a small business and trying to claim were infringing their brand,' he said. Grill'd believes their logo and branding is similar because Mano's logo is a red circle with their name written inside at an angle, which is the same format as Grill'd's logo. Mano's in Doncaster, in Melbourne 's north-east, received a legal letter from Grill'd in October which said the small cafe's logo looked similar to theirs After a Grill'd franchise opened (not pictured) diagonally opposite Mano's, the owners of the small cafe received a letter from Grill'd demanding they change their logo and branding in store as well as their website The burger chain's letter demanded Mano's change their logo and all branding throughout their cafe, as well as on their website. 'Were just a small business and we definitely dont have the money or the legal team like they do,' Mano said. Knowing that court costs can be high, Mano's owners agreed to make their logo inverted - a white circle with red writing. Because Grill'd were the ones who asked for the change, the owners requested the burger giant to pay for them. However, the multi-million dollar company, which has an annual revenue of $298.8m, rejected the owners' offer. Owner Mano is asking for Grill'd to help pay for the rebranding, which was rejected by the burger giant Mano said he was just hoping for 'a little bit' of financial help towards the rebranding. A Grill'd spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia they had spent the last two decades building their brand's identity and reputation. '[Grilld] is entitled to protect those rights from others seeking to leverage off its brand.' 'Grilld was very disappointed to discover Manos had opened its business using the trademark owned by Grilld,' they said. 'These included the business logo, slogans and other elements. There were just too many similarities for us to let this go. 'In order to avoid customer confusion, we asked Manos to stop using the trademark - and have been working with them for months to make some amendments. 'At no stage did we ask Manos to stop operating, nor did we seek any financial recourse. 'Grilld is a local Australian owned business, not a large multi-national company seeking to push out the little guy.' Daily Mail Australia contacted Mano's for comment. Tellers at a series of Commonwealth Bank branches dubbed 'specialist centres' have been banned from handing out banknotes. But the bank furiously denies the outlets are 'cashless' - even though staff are banned from performing cash transactions over the counter. CBA has in recent years opened 13 'specialist' or 'service centres' in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, including a Bankwest outlet in Perth. CommBank said the centres were designed to help with customer inquiries, give advice with home loans and savings goals and support 'complex banking needs'. 'Specialist centres are designed to support personal and business customers with more complex banking needs,' a spokesman said. But what was once a given at bank branches - cash supplied by tellers over the counter - is no longer available. The Commonwealth Bank's cashless branches aren't called branches and are designed to help customers deal with technology (pictured is the Barangaroo 'specialist centre' in Sydney) All of these cashless branches are in Sydney , Melbourne and Brisbane , mainly in inner-city areas, with another Bankwest outlet in Perth (pictured are staff at the Penrith 'specialist centre' in outer western Sydney) Instead, a CBA spokesman argued that the centres aren't cashless, because each of them have an ATM. READ MORE: CBA customer confronts teller over cashless stores - and now NAB is going cashless Staff at a new Commonwealth Bank branch have told a Daily Mail Australia reporter that she could not withdraw cash inside, as the big banks continue to limit access to physical money. Daily Mail Australia visited one of Commonwealth Bank's Specialist Centres at Barangaroo in Sydney only to be told to go elsewhere Advertisement 'Customers are able to withdraw and deposit cash at all of our specialist centres and referring to them as cashless would be inaccurate,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'While specialist centres don't have traditions telling counters, cash remains available for withdrawal and deposit at each location via on-site ATMs.' In July, Daily Mail Australia visited a CBA 'specialist centre' at Barangaroo in Sydney, only to have the teller explain she could not do a cash transaction, with the exchange videoed. The Commonwealth Bank opened its first services centre in 2020 at South Everleigh, in Sydney, as the pandemic caused even more consumers to switch from using cash to tap-and-go payments. Other cashless services centres have since opened at Australia National University in Canberra, Barangaroo in Sydney, Chatswood Chase on Sydney's north shore, the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne's Parkville campus, Westfield Penrith in western Sydney, Commonwealth Bank Place at Sydney's Darling Harbour, Eagle Street in Brisbane, Collins Street in Melbourne, Burwood Village in Melbourne's south-east, and Melbourne Central. The Commonwealth Bank's annual report for 2022-23 listed 741 branches and 'services centres' - grouping them together to disguise the extent of bank closures. But chief executive Matt Comyn told a parliamentary inquiry into regional banking in September last year there were 728 branches - leaving 13 'services centres' which aren't classified as branches. He told that committee making cash available was expensive, arguing the vast majority of customers who no longer used cash were cross-subsidising those who did. 'Transporting and making cash available around our vast country involves considerable expense of logistics and security,' he said. 'We estimate that continuing to support distribution and availability of cash costs CBA approximately $400million each year, which works out to be roughly $40 for every one of our 10million customers. 'Many of our customers don't use cash, though, and these customers cross-subsidise those that do. 'As time goes on, it becomes unsustainable to invest substantial resources, keeping expensive services that fewer and fewer customers use.' The Commonwealth Bank has, over five years, closed 354 traditional branches that do cash transactions, down from 1,082 in June 2018. During that time, the proportion of Australia's in-person transactions done in cash dived to 16 per cent in 2022, down from 32 per cent in 2019 before the pandemic, a Reserve Bank of Australia report revealed. The Commonwealth Bank is now planning to close down its Rundle Mall branch in central Adelaide, along with outlets at Coolangatta on the Gold Coast and Coogee in Sydney on March 1. Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn (right) told a parliamentary inquiry into regional banking in September last year there were 728 branches - leaving 13 'services centres'. A steep decline in the use of cash also saw CBA remove 2,297 ATMs between 2018 and 2023, marking a 54 per cent plunge or a halving in the number of banknote dispensing machines to 1,956, down from 4,253. 'An ATM costs around $30,000 per year to operate. In the six years since fees were removed, the number of major banks with ATMs in Australia has more than halved,' Mr Comyn told that parliamentary committee. None of the Commonwealth Bank's specialist centres have opened in regional areas with CBA vowing to have no closures outside a capital city before 2026. CBA is far from the only major bank experimenting with cashless branches with National Australia Bank and ANZ running similar service centres that don't dispense banknotes. Four more teenage boys have been arrested in relation to the alleged stabbing murder of a 70-year-old grandmother. Vyleen White was in the car park at Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre, in south-west Brisbane, with her six-year-old granddaughter at 6.10pm on Saturday when she was allegedly killed by a stranger. The young girl screamed as the alleged knifeman escaped in Ms White's blue 2009 Hyundai Getz. Police released security footage of the alleged attackers standing by the vehicle on a street in nearby Springfield Lakes and asked members of the public to contact authorities if they saw them. A 15-year-old male from Ripley handed himself into Ipswich Police Station on Sunday night. He was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and was refused bail on Monday. During a press conference on Monday afternoon, Detective Superintendent Heath McQueen said two more boys had been arrested as a result of information provided to police by members of the community. Another two teenage boys have since been arrested in Ipswich late Monday afternoon. The four teens are currently assisting police with inquiries but are yet to be charged. They include three 16-year-old boys and another aged 15. No further information is available at this time and investigations are ongoing, Queensland Police said in its latest update. Vyleen White was in the underground carpark at Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre on Saturday, with her six-year-old granddaughter Police have released CCTV of four males they believe can assist with their inquiries (pictured). One has been arrested When asked what the motive was, Det Supt McQueen said: 'Sadly, the motive was to steal a Hyundai Getz.' 'We have identified two more people in that CCTV and they are in custody and assisting us with our inquiries,' he said. 'We do know who the fourth person in that car is.' The 15-year-old was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and was denied bail at Ipswich Children's Court on Monday. Supt McQueen said the teenager could be hit with more charges as the investigation continues. 'I am confident we will apprehend and we will ultimately charge someone with the murder of a 70-year-old grandmother,' he said. He said the alleged attack was not gang-related but that police would investigate whether they were involved with gangs. Supt McQueen also said there were more people of interest who may have been involved. Detective superintendent Heath McQueen (pictured on Monday) said two more arrested had been made Locals placed flowers at the scene where Ms White was allegedly murdered at the shopping centre (pictured) Earlier on Monday, a woman told Daily Mail Australia she saw 'kids' park the blue Hyundai Getz on a residential street at about 6.30pm on Saturday - 20 minutes after the alleged attack. They got out of the vehicle and starting laughing and joking. She said: 'On the Sunday morning, I noticed the car still there with the windows down and I thought it was a bit weird. 'Then I saw on the news that they were looking for a Hyundai Getz so we called the police.' Katherine Lameree, a close family friend, said Ms White's granddaughter will likely have to deal with the trauma for the rest of her life. 'She's doing as well as a six-year-old girl can be, given the circumstances, but children react differently to trauma than adults because they don't have coping mechanisms,' she said. 'It's probably going to impact her for life.' Ms Lameree said the grandmother was close with all her grandchildren and was very involved in their lives. She set up a GoFundMe campaign to help for Ms White's family cover the funeral costs. A community in Washington State is up in arms over the plans to convert a century-old church into affordable housing specifically for young adults. Amici House, run by Andrew and Julie Cain, bought The Rock Revival Center in Tacoma's North End neighborhood in April 2021 for $1million. The church, built in 1908, is now going to be converted by the Cains into what they hope will be 11 shared rooms that house 40 to 50 people, aged 18 to 26. People in the neighborhood are concerned with how the change in the facility could impact the area with dozens of new affordable housing units. 'I was looking for my death house, and now with Amici coming in, many of us are saying, '"Maybe we can't stay."' resident Jean Elliot said. 'This is a family neighborhood.' A community in Washington State is up in arms over the plans to convert a century-old church into affordable housing specifically for young adults Another resident expressed concerns how the influx of residents could impact street parking. 'For somebody like myself who has severe limitations on mobility, that's a concern for me that I wouldn't be able to park within 25 or 30 feet of my home,' said Sharyn Hinchcliffe, who lives one house away and says she's 'frustrated' by the proposal. She's worried that the children in the area might be put in danger by the types of people invited into the housing, as it's a largely family-centric neighborhood. 'So you got 18-to-26-year-old young adults that are trying to get on with their lives,' Hinchcliffe told KIRO7. 'There has to be a 100 percent guarantee to protect the children in this neighborhood and there's a lot.' Elliot, who moved into the area in 2015, believes that the traffic created by the conversion will be bad for local children. 'That traffic that's going to come in can't be good for kids on their bikes or walking or on their scooters,' she added. Julie Cain told The News Tribune the program is about 'helping young people to start their lives.' They add that the foundation of the church building itself will be kept in tact to go with the renovation. People in the neighborhood, like Jean Elliot, are concerned with how the influx of young people could impact the neighborhood Amici House, run by Andrew (pictured) and Julie Cain, bought The Rock Revival Center in Tacoma's North End neighborhood in April 2021 for $1million She says it can be an alternative to expensive leases and living in isolation. 'Your actual bedroom is smaller but then you could have so much more than a one-bedroom or two-bedroom apartment because we've got great common space,' she added. Andrew Cain claims the focus will be on what he calls 'communal living' and that drugs and alcohol are banned from the premises. 'One of the things we've 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 I'm about.' Tyler Kolbo, who said he married his wife in 1998 at the church, doesn't believe the policy will work. Julie Cain says that the program is about 'helping young people to start their lives.' 'I was looking for my death house, and now with Amici coming in, many of us are saying, 'Maybe we can't stay.' Jean Elliot said. 'This is a family neighborhood' 'They'll 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 can't,' he said. Andrew Cain has also promised tenants will need full background checks and be told to engage in a mentorship program and invest in the area. 'It's 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.' He added there will be a residential director who will set up the mentorship program to ensure the rules are followed and that tenants could be expelled for not following the rules. Julie Cain seemed to address some of the backlash when she said if the community 'embraces' the young people, it will set them up for success in the future. An outspoken pro-Palestine activist who runs a popular burger chain claims a 'pig's heart' was left outside one of his restaurants. Burgertory founder and CEO Hash Tayeh took to Instagram to share CCTV footage taken outside the North Coburg venue, in Melbourne's north, after 8am on Monday. The clip showed the moment one woman, who was wearing a black t-shirt and cow print trousers, ambled over to the front entrance of the restaurant where she leaned down and dropped something on the floor. Seconds later, another larger woman wearing a visor cap walked over with what appeared to be two small bottles in her hand. She left them on the floor before briefly rearranging what the first woman left. Hash Tayeh, the founder of burger chain Burgertory, later clarified that the disgusting item was actually a pig's heart (pictured) At first, Mr Tayeh believed the two women had left dog faeces. 'We will no longer be forgiving and idly stand by whilst hate crimes are perpetrated against us,' he said. 'These sweet old ladies thought it would be a good idea to leave their dogs faeces at the entrance of our store. 'Our staff abused, my family threatened, death threats against me, our billboards vandalised and now disgusting faeces being left at our doors. When will it stop?' Mr Tayeh later claimed that the disgusting item was actually a 'pig's heart'. He shared a picture which appeared to show blood leaking from it. 'Our lawyers have filed a complaint with Victoria Police about the two women that (sic) put the pig's heart at our door,' he wrote. 'Looking forward to seeing the outcome of this complaint.' Daily Mail Australia contacted Mr Tayeh for comment. Mr Tayeh is a very vocal and proud supporter of the Palestinian cause. The woman were caught on CCTV leaving something outside the restaurant in North Coburg in Melbourne's north Mr Tayeh (pictured) initially believed the two women had left dog poo outside the venue He sparked controversy when he appeared at a Melbourne rally last year and led chants of 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free', which some argue is antisemitic. A Burgerotry branch in Caulfield in Melbourne''s south east burned down in the early hours of November 10 last year. At the time, Mr Tayeh claimed the deliberately-lit fire was a 'hate crime'. Hours after he made the claim, two groups of around 200 people clashed near the eatery and a local synagogue. One man was pepper-sprayed by police and another reported receiving minor injuries after being hit by a rock. But police last week arrested two men over the fire and took the extraordinary step of saying the alleged arson was 'not a hate crime'. 'We know this incident was not a hate crime; it wasn't motivated by prejudice or politics,' Moorabbin Investigation and Response Inspector Scott Dwyer said. The two men have been charged with arson and car theft and are before the courts. Daily Mail Australia contacted Victoria Police for comment on the CCTV footage. A Minnesota couple who met on a dating app learned they were born on the same day at the same hospital - and even went to kindergarten together - got married 35 years later. Joshua and Elizabeth Colbert matched on the dating app Hinge in April 2023 and started asking questions to get to know each other, the couple told CBS News. Elizabeth had asked Joshua where he grew up and went to school, and when she realized they attended they same kindergarten, she dug out her old class picture and found Joshua in it. Then they learned they were both born on September 13, 1988. in the same hospital - Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, Minnesota - just six hours apart. However, after kindergarten they each went their own way and didn't speak again until matching on the app. 'This whole divine intervention, as we call it, has just really reaffirmed to me to continue to try and spread our story of hope and second chances,' Elizabeth said. Joshua and Elizabeth Colbert matched on the dating app Hinge in April 2023 and learned they share a birthday and went to kindergarten together Elizabeth had asked Joshua where he grew up and went to school, and when she realized they attended they same kindergarten, she dug out her old class picture and found Joshua was in it 'She asked where I had grown up and I said I grew up in Andover and went to Northside Christian School,' said Joshua. 'And she's like, "No kidding, I went there too in kindergarten." And then we put it together we graduated [1995] so we're like, "Maybe we were in the same kindergarten class.'" Elizabeth's mother dug up old home videos and found that she had zoomed in on Joshua during their kindergarten graduation. 'We did actually find our old kindergarten graduation video, so we're both in there,' Elizabeth said. Joshua said, 'And the crazy part is, her mom zoomed in on me in the video and then panned out and zoomed back on Elizabeth. So it was like, we saw that and were like, no way. A mother's intuition, I guess.' The two said they don't remember each other from their school days and lived separate lives until they matched. Elizabeth has two children, 8-year-old Chloe and 6-year-old Knox, and Joshua is an Iraq war veteran. The couple said they were both in dark places after going through their respective divorces and they believe it was God that brought them together as adults. 'We believe it was God. In spite of the fact we could have had all these similarities but been complete polar opposites. And that's not the case at all. So, I feel like it was just the perfect match. And yeah, I think it was divine for sure,' said Joshua. After one month of dating, Joshua asked Elizabeth to marry him. 'I'm old school, so I had asked her dad for her hand in marriage. Her family's very tight-knit. We meet for dinner every other weekend after church,' Joshua said. Five months after they reunited on Hinge, the couple wed at Pinewood Weddings & Events in Cambridge, Minnesota, on September 13, 2023 - both of their 35th birthdays. Joshua and Elizabeth were both born on September 13, 1988, in the same hospital - Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, Minnesota - just six hours apart At their wedding in September, their kindergarten teacher (center) was in attendance 'We were in the same room the day that we were born and it's just fitting that now, 35 years later, we're getting married on our birthdays. So, I think that's just pretty special,' Joshua told Fox 9. 'You couldn't make it up if you wanted to. I tell people our Hallmark movie comes out this fall.' At the wedding, Elizabeth's father, Alan Goracke, officiate the ceremony, her son Knox walked her down the aisle and they had a special guest appearance, reported USA Today. 'Our kindergarten teacher, we actually were able to hunt her down and we mailed her an invite and she showed up,' Elizabeth said. 'And not only did she show up, she found a photo of us on track and field day together.' The President also reportedly called Trump a 'sick f***' to aides and friends, it was recently revealed A Politico columnist claimed the president used the foul language in private conversations President Joe Biden's foul language continues after he allegedly called Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu a 'bad f***ing guy.' People who have spoken to President Joe Biden are claiming that the 81-year-old leader called Benjamin Netanyahu a 'bad f***ing guy' in private conversations, Politico revealed. Biden's alleged insults come as the U.S. is dragged further into war and conflict in the Middle East. Politico's Jonathan Martin wrote a column on Sunday explaining how Biden, 81, is losing millions of votes amongst young liberals for the United States' support of Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza with Hamas. Martin revealed that unnamed sources told him Biden is 'deeply suspicious' of Netanyahu. Biden's latest potty-mouth tirade comes after it was revealed he called Trump a 'sick f***' during conversations. People who have spoken to President Joe Biden are claiming that the 81-year-old leader called Benjamin Netanyahu a 'bad f***ing guy' in private conversations, Politico revealed Biden's alleged insults come as the U.S. is dragged further into war and conflict in the Middle East The White House vehemently denied the statements published in the column. 'The president did not say that, nor would he,' Biden spokesperson told Politico, adding Biden and Netanyahu have 'a decades-long relationship that is respectful in public and in private.' Martin further insinuated that Biden's recent behavior indicates efforts to gain support from Pro-Palestinian voters, citing the President's speech at the National Prayer Breakfast. Biden spoke out against hate crimes and discrimination against Arab-Americans at the event and said he sympathizes with those 'held hostage or under bombardment or displaced.' According to Martin, a House Democrat told him that it was 'unanimous that this Israel-Gaza war needed to end now and that Biden needed to stand up to Bibi,' adding the conflict in Gaza is 'a disaster politically.' 'Bibi is toxic among many Democratic voters and Biden must distance himself from him yesterday,' the lawmaker allegedly told Martin. These revelations come shortly after it was reported that Biden hadn't spoken to Netanyahu in a month as the President's patience had reportedly run out with the non-stop bombing of Gaza. The two reportedly last spoke on December 23, when Netanyahu rejected Biden's request that Israel release Palestinian tax revenues, and an angry Biden ended the phone call saying 'this conversation is over.' Senator Chris Van Hollen told Axios: 'At every juncture, Netanyahu has given Biden the finger. They are pleading with the Netanyahu coalition, but getting slapped in the face over and over again.' Politico's column revealed that unnamed sources told him Biden is 'deeply suspicious' of Netanyahu Politico's Jonathan Martin wrote a column on Sunday explaining how Biden is losing millions of votes amongst young liberals for the United States' support of Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza with Hamas The White House vehemently denied the statements published in the column after it was published on Sunday, insisting that Biden 'did not say that, nor would he' The long period of silence is unusual as the pair had previously spoken almost every other day since October. Rumors of Biden's foul language extended to his political opponent Donald Trump, who he allegedly referred to as a 'sick f***' in conversations with close aides and longtime friends. The fighting words came as Biden talked about Trump's reported comments that fallen American soldiers were 'suckers' and 'losers,' growing angry as he brought up his late son Beau, who served in the Delaware National Guard in Iraq, before he died in 2015. 'I have to hold my Irish temper. I'm glad I wasn't with him. I'm not sure what I would've done. He said they're all suckers and losers,' Biden said of Trump. Biden then raised his voice and sounded angry as he referred to his late son: 'My son was not a sucker nor were any of yours. Who does this guy think he is talking about Americans?' Biden repeated an abbreviated version of his fundraising talk during his rally in Las Vegas later that night, toning down his direct threats. 'This is a guy, when he was in France, they asked him to go to American Cemetery,' Biden noted, You know what he said? He said those folks were suckers and losers. Suckers and losers for God's sake. I'm glad I wasn't there. No I should say that.' Company is a franchise with hundreds of individual investors Bakers Delight boycott could do more harm than good A major problem with a plan to boycott Bakers Delight has been revealed as a growing number of Aussies refuse to follow 'woke' calls to avoid the chain. Calls for customers to steer clear of their local Bakers Delight store were sparked by a revelation that its founder Roger Gillespie was among the many wealthy people who have donated to the Advance Australia (AA) lobby group. The bakery boss told the Australian Financial Review he had donated $20,000 to AA and $14,000 to the Liberal Party in late 2022 because he 'backed the group due to its position on the (Voice) referendum'. Mr Gillespie's support of the No Vote sparked fury from left-leaning Aussies who called for a boycott of his company on X, formerly known as Twitter. Some have since pointed out that Bakers Delight consists of franchises with more than 500 stores across Australia. A major problem with a plan to boycott popular bakery chain Bakers Delight has been revealed READ MORE: Why this photo has Aussies accusing Woolworths of double standards after Australia Day boycott Why this photo has Aussies accusing Woolworths of double standards. Advertisement They argued individual franchisees shouldn't have to lose business over a boycott of the company's conservative founder. 'Bakers Delight stores are franchises. A boycott will achieve nothing. No one thought this through,' one user posted on X. 'Clearly, boycotts don't work in this country, as most major businesses are monopolies and alternative choices are limited,' another wrote. Others were vocal of their support for Mr Gillespie and the chain, with one X user posting a photo of a queue outside his local Bakers Delight on Tuesday. 'What is the opposite of go woke go broke?' he captioned the photo. 'Good luck to #BakersDelight for standing to woke leftists mob. Reward through increased patronage duly earned,' another wrote. Another user showed her support by buying a cake from her local store. 'Bakers Delight co-founder supported the Advance Australia campaign against 'The Voice'. The left are boycotting the bakery,' she wrote. 'Just went & bought this lovely iced walnut cake, bakery completely packed. Coles packed & Woolies pretty much desolate.' 'Hubby just got back with our daily Bakers Delight eats. I'm making us cuppa's,' another user commented. Former federal MP Craig Kelly said those backing the boycott were 'out-numbered' as he shared a haul of Bakers Delight items he had purchased. 'I must thank all the misguided leftists for reuniting me with the wonderful products from BAKERS DELIGHT and giving this great Australian company such publicity,' he captioned a photo of bread, rolls and scones. 'What the misguided left forget, with their counter-productive Bakers Delight boycott, is that they are out-numbered - as the referendum demonstrated 61% to 39%.' Im looking forward to breakfast this morning pic.twitter.com/Yb8PyA53oo Craig Kelly (@CraigKellyPHON) February 4, 2024 Others shared their support for Mr Gillespie and his company, with one X user posting a photo of a queue outside his local Bakers Delight on Tuesday afternoon (pictured) However, many left-leaning Aussies said they would take their business elsewhere. 'Bakers Delight, it turns out, are not delightful at all. Boycott,' one wrote on X. 'Will not be buying anything from Bakers Delight again,' said another. A third said: 'This guy must be super confident his political views won't affect sales'. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Bakers Delight for comment. The identities of two young men tragically killed when their car plunged over a cliff has been revealed as authorities shared an update on the sole survivor who's very lucky to be alive. Matthew Farr, 22, and Louis Eeles, also 22, were among six people camping in Little Bay, near Horrocks Beach in Western Australia's Midwest region, on Saturday night. All six were reportedly locals from Geraldton, about 77km south of Little Bay. It's understood that around midnight, the two men and another mate, 21, decided to take a Nissan Patrol 4WD out for an early morning drive. However, disaster struck less than four hours later when their car plummeted 20 to 30 metres down a cliff on a private property along White Cliffs Road. Matthew Farr (left) and Louis Eeles were tragically killed early Sunday morning Matthew Farr (above) was one of two young men killed after a Nissan Patrol plummeted off a cliff in the early hours of Sunday morning The three occupants were among six campers staying at the nearby Little Bay campsite (pictured, map location of the crash scene) READ MORE: Breakthrough in alleged fatal stabbing of retired gran at the shops Advertisement Mr Farr and Mr Eeles died at the scene. Their 21-year-old mate managed to climb up the cliff in search of help. Around the same time, one of the campers remaining at Little Bay noticed the trio hadn't returned and called emergency services. Police, paramedics and fire crews were deployed to the scene shortly before 4am and found the 21-year-old wandering along the road. He was taken to Geraldton Health Campus and airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital on Sunday night. He remains in a stable condition in the hospital's trauma unit, the WA Department of Health said on Monday. Police have hailed his survival as a miracle. It's understood he was wearing a seatbelt which saved his life. 'He is talking, however his recollection of events have been affected by the incident so we'll be waiting until he receives full treatment before we interview him and try to ascertain exactly what occurred on the night, tragically how this incident took place,' Mid West Gascoyne Police Superintendent Steve Post said. 'I'm told that he has significant seatbelt injuries which indicates to us he was wearing a seatbelt at the time of this incident took place.' Mr Farr (left) and two friends reportedly decided to go four-wheel driving around midnight but their friends raised the alarm with police after they failed to return to the campsite Police and fire crews were assisted by an RAC rescue helicopter to recover the bodies of the two men. The wreckage of the Nissan patrol remains on its roof at the bottom of the cliff with police waiting on permission from the property owner for a heavy-duty tow truck to access their private road. Horrocks Beachside Cottages owner Reg Reynolds told Radio 6PR it was a miracle the 21-year-old survived. 'To be driving around that time of night and not knowing the area, it's very difficult to distinguish the difference between the cliff face and the ocean,' he said. 'The cliff face would have come up on them without them even knowing.' The sole survivor of the crash managed to climb out of the wreckage (pictured), scale the cliff and walk to the road Mr Farr's death was confirmed by loved ones in an emotional post to his social media on Monday. 'Matthew Farr and one of his friends has passed away in a four wheel driving accident in the early hours of Sunday morning,' Amy Ahearn wrote. 'We would like to thank everyone who assisted in that critical time and thank you for all of the messages. 'We also want to extend our condolences to all the families involved. The boys will be deeply missed.' The post received more than 150 reactions and dozens of comments sharing tributes to the young men. 'Absolutely devastating for everyone who knew them. Such a tragic loss,' one said. 'Rest easy Matty, will miss ya heaps bro,' another wrote. His brother Phillip wrote: 'I love you my brother, I know you guys will still be kicking on up there.' A local property owner said driving conditions around Horrocks Beach (pictured) are dangerous, saying it's 'very difficult to distinguish the difference between the cliff face and the ocean' Premier Roger Cook also shared his condolences to the victims' families. 'Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those two four-wheel-drivers,' he said. 'It really reminds the community of just how important safety is when you're in the wilderness of Western Australia.' Officers from the major crash investigation unit are investigating the incident and a report will be prepared for the coroner. All factors will be examined, including speed, alcohol and whether the two men who died were wearing seatbelts. Family struggling to understand why she was allegedly knifed The family of a great-grandmother who was fatally stabbed during a carjacking are struggling to understand why she was attacked - because she handed the alleged knifeman her keys. Vyleen White, 70, was allegedly killed in front of her six-year-old granddaughter in the Aldi car park at Redbank Plains Town Square, in south-west Brisbane, at 6.10pm on Saturday. She was buying snacks for a bible study session later that evening. Police released CCTV of four teenagers dumping Ms White's blue Hyundai Getz on a street in nearby Springfield Lakes about 20 minutes after the alleged stabbing. Five teenage boys have been arrested so far - three 16-year-olds and two 15-year-olds. One has been charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and was refused bail on Monday. The other four are assisting police with inquiries. The South Sudanese Community Association of Queensland issued a statement condemning the 'unfortunate and shocking' incident and called for calm. Ms White's husband Victor, who is blind and relied heavily on her for support, broke his silence to Daily Mail Australia on Monday afternoon . He revealed his wife used to say, jokingly: 'If I go, no one is going to miss me.' Vyleen White is pictured celebrating her 70th birthday at her family home in June Pictured: Vyleen White's husband Victor with their daughter, Cindy, on Monday afternoon 'If only she knew what was going on now,' he said, referencing the deluge of love and support his family has received in the wake of his wife's tragic death. The grieving widower issued a demand for justice while speaking to A Current Affair. 'When this particular animal stabbed my wife he stabbed four of us in the heart,' he said. 'He didn't just kill her, he killed four of us with her. 'Justice has to be done, not for my sake, for the memory of Vyleen.' One of their three daughters, struggled to understand how anyone could hurt her mother, particularly because she co-operated when confronted by the alleged attacker. 'She was a small, frail woman,' she said. 'She handed over the keys. They didn't take her bag, wallet, nothing, so why did they need to [allegedly] kill her?' Resident Sarah Stanley wrote in an online petition calling for more security at the shopping centre that the little girl begged bystanders to save her grandmother. 'I was in that car park and I had my grandchild with me,' Ms Stanley wrote. 'This attack was disgusting, that poor little girl screaming 'my grandma' not fully understanding what had just happened. 'It's disgusting and cowardice. This community has had enough and it's time we fight back. My deepest condolences to all family and friends of this beautiful lady. We will not let this be in vain.' In a cruel twist of fate, she said her mother had only recently returned to the road after being unable to drive due to arthritis in her shoulders. Her journey to the shops on Saturday was the fourth time she had been back behind the wheel in weeks. Ms White's grandson, Joseph, said: 'She would have asked her [alleged] attacker: 'What do you need? Can I pray for you?' Her family remembered her as a loving mother who would go above and beyond to make people feel special. Vyleen White's family is devastated over the tragedy on Saturday. Her husband Victor is pictured, second left, with his daughter Cindy and three of her grandchildren Vyleen White is pictured with her husband Victor. They met while working in a broom factory in the 1970s One of Ms White's daughters said she was blown away when, for her most recent birthday, her mother presented her with a milkshake glass with Hawaiian motifs that matched the Hawaiian-themed party thrown for her. 'It just meant so much that she just went that far to find that thing because that was such a milestone birthday,' she said. 'And that's who she was - she'd just do stuff to go the extra mile.' Husband Victor said they met while working together at a broom factory in the 1970s. They got married and their raised three daughters. The couple were due to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in September. Police released CCTV of four young males with Ms White's Hyundai Getz (pictured) Shattered locals paid tribute to Ms White at the shopping centre on Monday While the family welcomed news of the arrests, they are nervous Ms White will not get the justice she deserves. They are calling on the government to act by imposing tougher deterrents and penalties for youth offenders. 'It doesn't matter what age you are. If you kill someone, you should pay the ultimate price,' Mr White said. The family hope Mrs White will not be remembered for her death, but for the impact she had on those around her. Her daughter Cindy Micallef said she hopes the community will honour her mother's legacy by continuing the kindness she spread during her life. 'You don't know when someone's having a bad day,' she said. 'A kind word could make their day.' The family are beginning to plan for Ms White's funeral. Firefighters in central Chile on Sunday battled to quell fierce forest fires that have killed 112 people so far and razed entire neighborhoods, while President Gabriel Boric warned the country faces a 'tragedy of very great magnitude.' Hundreds of people are still missing, authorities say, stoking fears the death toll will keep climbing as more bodies are found on hillsides and houses devastated by the wildfires. It's the South American country's worst disaster since the 2010 earthquake killed more than 500 people. The fires that gathered momentum on Friday now menaced 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 whole 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. A fire burns a building in an industrial area during the forest fires affecting Vina del Mar, Chile, on Sunday. The fires have killed 112 marking the country's worst disaster since 2010 A couple hug amid the rubble where their devastated home once stood following wildfires in Chile that have killed 112 Locals take a break as they clean the rubble of burnt-out houses after forest fires reached their neighborhood in Vina del Mar, Chile, on Sunday Houses are turned to burned out rubble after forest fires reached Vina del Mar, Chile A helicopter providing support to forest fires takes off in front of television cameras in Til Til, Chile Vehicles and homes burn during a fire in on Friday 'The wind was terrible, the heat scorching. There was no respite. People dispersed everywhere,' said Pedro Quezada, a local builder in the Valparaiso region, standing amid charred debris of his destroyed home. Videos shared on social media showed hillside fires burning close to apartment blocks in the Valparaiso area, spewing smoke into the air. Thick haze blanketed other urban zones, hobbling visibility. 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 112 people have died in the fires. The death toll stood at 51 on Saturday. President Gabriel Boric declared state of emergency as fires rage in the center and south of the country. It's Chile's worst disaster since 2010 when more than 500 were killed in Quakes A fire burns a hillside during the forest fires affecting Vina del Mar, Valparaiso, Chile, on Saturday An area burns from the forest fires affecting the Beagle Channel area in Vina del Mar The death toll could rise as rescue workers search through homes that have collapsed Chileans feared a rise in the death toll from wildfires blazing across the South American country Officials said 200 people were reported missing in Vina del Mar and the surrounding area A group of men look at a recently controlled forest fire in Til Til, Chile The fire has destroyed more than 6,000 homes and left 112 dead so far A woman carries her dog after a forest fire in Quilpue, Chile, on Sunday A volunteer delivers water, food and basic supplies to people who were affected by the fires at the El Olivar neighborhood in Vina del Mar, Chile 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.' Deputy Interior Minister Manuel Monsalve on Sunday said 165 fires raged across Chile and estimated about 14,000 homes have been damaged in the Vina del Mar and Quilpue areas alone. Those who returned to their ravaged homes found them almost unrecognizable, with many losing all their life's possession. This hillside has been transformed by the power of the fire with only the shells of burned out homes still standing A resident poses displays a Chilean flag from a burnt-out house A woman with her baby walks past burned vehicles after a forest fire in Quilpue amid a scene of utter devastation Sergio Espejo, 64, a welder, poked through the ashes of his soldering workshop and home in the Vina del Mar region with his wife, Maria Soledad Suarez. Suarez, 61, was able to retrieve a plate and part of a porcelain doll from the embers as she scoured the ground in search of jewelry. Espejo, lamenting the loss of all his tools scattered beneath mangled iron beans, gazed at the damage. 'Here is my workshop, it's totally destroyed,' he said. 'All the sacrifice, all in a lifetime.' 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(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. The grandmother killed in an attack by a drill rapper's reportedly unregistered XL Bully dogs was trying to calm their puppies with a broom before she was killed, it has been claimed. Esther Martin was visiting her 11-year-old grandson when she was attacked by the massive dogs on Saturday, named Beauty and Bear. The 68-year-old was mauled to death by the two suspected XL Bully dogs when she trying to break up their fighting puppies with a broom, her family claimed. But Ashley Warren, a drill rapper who owned the dogs and has today been released on bail, had insisted they were 'not aggressive'. It is understood the grandmother had warned her tattooed 'son-in-law' Warren, 39, about the dogs, but the East London wannabe rapper fired back with a foul-mouthed rant: 'No one tells me what to do with my f*****g dogs.' Ms Martin's daughter, Sonia, broke down in tears as she described how her young nephew had run screaming for help after the attack. Esther Martin, 68 (pictured) from Woodford Green, London, died from her injuries Sonia Martin, 47, (pictured) revealed that Ms Martin's grandson was in the house at the time The dogs were owned by Ashley Warren, a rapper by the name Wyless Man (pictured) The police said the breeds which attacked Ms Martin are yet to be determined Riot shields which were used by the police responding to reports of the dangerous dog attack are pictured being removed from the scene Police said the breeds which attacked Ms Martin are yet to be determined, but the family claimed they were XL Bully dogs. The breed became banned in England at the beginning of the month, but owners may apply for exemptions. Images on the owner's social media show how at least one appears to be an XL Bully-type, while another looks like a Rottweiler. Ms Martin's daughter Sonia, 47, revealed that Ms Martin's grandson was in the house at the time and ran out screaming for help. She told the BBC: 'My mum went down to spend time with her grandson who used to live with her. 'The puppies were fighting. The owner had left my mum and my nephew with the dogs and went off somewhere, although my mum had raised concerns about them. 'His directions to my mum was - as we understand it - was that if the puppies were fighting she should put a broom in there and distract the puppies - run it over the floor and shake it to get their attention so they would stop fighting. 'From our understanding it was at this point that our mum was attacked. My nephew then went running out into the road screaming for help.' Locals of Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea, claimed the dogs were aggressive and were always 'barking and trying to get through the gate'. They believed the owner was a breeder and would often walk them around menacingly. But relatives of Warren have now hit back at the claims, insisting the dogs were his pets and he was a loving owner. Warren's grandmother, Carol Stotter said the rapper was careful to keep the large dogs locked inside the house. The 76-year-old told The Sun: 'From what I've heard from Ashley, the dogs haven't been aggressive. I think with the puppies around it probably changed their behaviour. 'Those dogs were his pets. I think the female got pregnant which was not planned.' 'Ashley loved the dogs. They were not there for any other purpose but his pets.' She said Warren kept on top of maintaining the fence to keep the dogs in and she claimed 'they never attacked anybody' previously. Warren's mother, Michelle Stotter, told The Sun that Ms Martin and her grandson were very close and she was often at the house. She also described her shock when she heard of the tragic incident and said she feels 'sorry' for the 11-year-old boy who is in a 'nightmare situation'. His mother also said that the dog's puppies had been fighting and Ms Martin tried to break them up with a broom. The parents of the puppies, Beauty and Bear, saw this as an attack and 'went' for the grandmother, Ms Stotter claimed. The 55-year-old also said her son was trying to rehome the dogs. MailOnline found that Warren had posted an advert on social media in November offering the puppies for 500 each. The eleven-year-old ran out screaming for help, his aunt told the BBC Tattooed East London rapper Warren features in drill music videos online The large dogs also feature in his rap music videos posted online and on social media Sonia was at the scene yesterday 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. She 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. Officers were called to a property at Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea at around 4pm on Saturday, with neighbours hearing screams coming from the property for 10 minutes. They found a seriously wounded Ms Martin and 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 previously revealed that the dogs were owned by breeder Warren, who goes by the name Wyless Man. Pictured is Warren alongside grabs of his massive dogs in his music videos A music video created in memory of Ms Martin's late daughter - and Warren's partner - shows the grandmother alongside Warren and her other family members Warren, who features in drill music videos online, posted a Facebook ad selling XL Bully puppies for 500 in November, MailOnline also revealed yesterday. A 39-year-old man from Jaywick was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dogs offences and remains in custody. Retired Tesco worker Ms Martin, 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 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. Sonia told MailOnline that the family found out about their mother's death at 10pm on Saturday 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?' Today, Essex Police said a 39-year-old man they arrested for the attack has been bailed. Acting Detective Superintendent Stuart Truss said: 'We're making good progress in our investigation into Esther's death. 'It is an investigation with a number of complexities, but we are determined to give Esther's family the answers they need. 'We are working with experts to confirm the breed of the dogs. This may take some days but it's really important we get it right. 'I would ask people not to speculate about this element - we will establish the facts and we will keep the community in Jaywick updated.' In a press conference yesterday 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 Officers added that there was no wider threat to the community and the scene is now safe Police said a 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dogs offences Ashley Warren's social media shows XL Bully-type dogs at his home Warren is seen in his music video rapping in front of a cannon online Warren is a rapper who uses the name Wyless Man and posts music videos The two adult dogs feature in Warren's music videos (pictured) A helicopter joined several police cars and an ambulance following reports '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 Saturday evening as emergency services attended Emergency services were pictured at the scene Saturday as it was cordoned off Essex Police said it was trying to establish the circumstances which led to the incident. Pictured is the scene Saturday night Your browser does not support iframes. Essex Police officers were called to a property at Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea 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. Fresh details have emerged about why a scantily clad woman arrested for alleged drink driving in Sydney's east was wearing nothing but leather lingerie. Sex worker Cindy Pham, 26, allegedly collided with an e-bike rider while travelling along South Dowling Street at Moore Park about 3.45am on Sunday. She was arrested at the scene after allegedly returning a positive breath test and was later charged with mid-range drink driving. Pham allegedly told police she was travelling between jobs and was on her way to meet a client when the horror collision unfolded. Dashcam footage from a passing taxi reportedly shows the 29-year-old male bike driver allegedly riding into the path of Pham's Subaru sedan. Sex worker Cindy Pham (pictured) was arrested for alleged drink driving while on her way to meet a client, she allegedly told police Cindy Pham (pictured in the back of the police van) allegedly returned a positive breath test at the scene of the crash Paramedics were seen treating the 29-year-old e-bike rider READ MORE: Hospitality worker distraught after the van she had been living in disappears and turns up destroyed Advertisement The taxi driver stopped to render assistance to the critically injured rider until emergency responders arrived, The Daily Telegraph reported. The cabbie has since reportedly passed on dashcam footage of the collision to police. Other witnesses at the scene said the e-bike rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and had 'visible tyre marks on his chest and pelvis'. Paramedics spent an hour at the scene treating the e-bike rider before he was rushed to nearby St Vincent's Hospital. He remained in a critical condition on Monday. Following her arrest, Pham was taken to Surry Hills Police Station where a second breath test allegedly returned a positive reading of 0.095, almost two times the legal limit. The sex worker, from Liverpool in Sydney's south-west, was later taken to St Vincent's Hospital where she underwent mandatory blood and urine testing. She was 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 e-bike rider (pictured surrounded by paramedics) remains in a critical condition Pham has not been charged over the collision The police investigation into the crash continues. Anyone who witnessed or has dashcam footage of the incident has been urged to call Crime Stoppers. His girlfriend wrote: 'I never thought in a million years I'd find someone like you' The heartbroken girlfriend of a young jockey killed after he was thrown from his horse during a race yesterday has spoken of her devastation at losing him. Keagan Kirkby, 25, died during the final race at Charing racecourse in Kent yesterday afternoon, after he was flung to the ground in front of horrified spectators. Despite the best efforts of the on course medical team and an air ambulance, Mr Kirby sadly could not be saved. His girlfriend Emily Burge wrote online: 'I never thought in a million years I would find someone like you who cared and looked after me the way you did. 'I'm absolutely heartbroken and always will be. Keagan Kirkby, 25, pictured with his girlfriend Emily Burge, died during the final race at Charing racecourse in Kent yesterday afternoon, after he was flung to the ground in front of horrified spectators. His girlfriend Emily Burge wrote online: 'I never thought in a million years I would find someone like you who cared and looked after me the way you did. Ms Burge paid an emotional tribute to the young jockey, who was a popular and talented horseman with a promising career ahead of him 'You were the light at the end of a hard week at work. We had so many plans over the summer to go to the lakes and show you where I grew up in Exmoor. 'I know I will always be your doughnut and you will always be my princess. I'm so sorry and I will love you forever.' Kirkby worked for champion trainer Paul Nicholls who has been left 'mortified' by his death. He was a hugely popular figure in Nichollss Ditcheat Stables and a talented horseman, who looked after Afadil - a horse who won at Musselburgh on Saturday. His ability was such that last November he was nominated for a Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award in the category for best rider. Mr Nicholls wrote on X: 'Life is so hard sometimes, winners totally insignificant compared to what has happened today. 'Sadly Keagan Kirby one of our best, hardworking lads lost his life today riding in a point to point. 'All at team Ditcheat are mortified. Thoughts with all his friends and family. Keagan Kirkby, 25, (pictured right next to champion trainer Paul Nicholls) has died after being thrown from his horse in Kent in front of horrified spectators Kirkby worked for champion trainer Nicholls who has been left 'mortified' by his death 'He was passionate about his job and his riding and rode Afadil every day.' Kirkby was riding in a Point-to-Point meeting. Point-to-Point is a form of amateur racing with huge popularity across the country. But the day took an awful turn when Kirkby was thrown from horse he partnered in the final race. READ MORE: Legendary jockey dies - throwing the racing industry into mourning Advertisement He received immediate medical attention and an air ambulance was called but Kirkby could not be saved. The heartbreaking incident has been felt far and wide within racing. Last month the Bristol Rovers fan appeared on podcast Pointing Pointers and spoke about how he always wanted to be a jockey from a young age, but said 'it wasn't easy'. 'I was actually a young carer for my mum,' he said. 'It's kind of made me who I am, if I'm honest.' Nicholls had experienced a difficult weekend, with one of his stars Hermes Allen - co-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson - was fatally injured after falling during The Scilly Isles Novices Chase at Sandown. X, formerly Twitter, has been flooded with tributes in memory of Kirkby. One person described him as a 'gem of a lad' while others said their thoughts were with his friends and family. Governing body Horse Racing Ireland said on X: 'We are so sorry to hear that Keagan Kirkby passed away following a fall at Charing point-to-point in Kent today. We send our deepest condolences to his family and friends, especially all his colleagues.' British Horseracing Authority chief executive Julie Harrington released a statement saying they were 'devastated to hear the tragic news'. 'Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and everyone at the yard of Paul Nicholls. The entire Racing industry will be in mourning at the loss of someone so young and with such potential. Kirkby pictured with racing legend Sir AP McCoy in November 2013 Kirkby was thrown from his horse during the final race at Charing racecourse (Picture not from today's race) He was a hugely popular figure in Nichollss Ditcheat Stables and a talented horseman, who looked after Afadil His ability was such that last November he was nominated for a Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award in the category for best rider British Horseracing Authority chief executive Julie Harrington released a statement saying they were ' devastated to hear the tragic news' X. formerly Twitter, has been flooded in tributes in memory of Kirkby with people left heartbroken by his death 'The esteem in which he was held is clear from the fact that he was nominated for the Rider/Groom category of the 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, and made it through to the final 10 in his category. 'The nomination spoke of Keagan's qualities as a thoughtful rider who develops a personal bond with his horses, understands their characters and adapts his riding accordingly, as well as his affable, helpful nature and popularity on the yard. 'We call on everyone to respect the privacy of Keagan's family and the Paul Nicholls yard.' A statement from the Injured Jockeys' Fund said: 'It is with deep sadness that we have to report that West Country point-to-point rider, Keagan Kirkby, 25, has died following a fall at Charing point-to-point in Kent today. 'His horse, trained locally, ran out through the wing of a fence on the second circuit of the final race. 'The on course medical team attended immediately and despite additional support from a 999 Helicopter Emergency Services Crew, he could not be saved. 'Keagan was a respected member of the Paul Nicholls team, who joined in 2019 and who had been awarded employee of the month in December 2021. 'He was shortlisted for the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards in the Rider / Groom category 2024. 'We kindly ask that everyone respects the privacy of Keagan's family and the team at Paul Nicholls Racing at this tragic time.' The father of a young girl who was kidnapped by Hamas gunmen, taken into Gaza and later released has revealed his daughter was threatened by the terrorists. Thomas Hand's daughter Emily, who turned nine in captivity, was released by the terror group in a prisoner exchange on November 25. This was several weeks after she was dragged into Gaza by Hamas during their deadly October 7 terror attack on southern Israel that left 1,200 dead. Mr Hand, who at one point during the family's unimaginable ordeal believed his daughter to be dead, suffered an agonising weeks-long wait for his daughter to come home after learning that she was in fact still alive inside Gaza. Now, Mr Hand has recounted some of the details he learned from his daughter about her 50 days in captivity, telling Israel's KAN News that one of the Hamas terrorists threatened to kill her with a knife, and that she now has 'code words'. Thomas Hand's daughter Emily (pictured together on the day of her release), who turned nine in captivity, was released by the terror group in a prisoner exchange on November 25 Speaking to Israel's KAN News along-side his daughter Emily (left), Thomas Hand said of her recovery process: said: 'She's pretty good. Very very good, making progress, recovering. But the rest of us are broke now.' Speaking of Emily's recovery process, Mr Hand said: 'She's pretty good. Very very good, making progress, recovering. But the rest of us are broke now.' The youngster was taken by gunmen from Be'eri Kibbutz where she was staying at for a sleepover at her friend's home. In the aftermath the 62-year-old Irishman was initially told - incorrectly - that Emily's body had been found. In a heartbreaking comment at the time, he said he welcomed the news of her death because it was preferable to knowing she was suffering inside the Gaza Strip. But miraculously, little Emily survived and was one of 13 Israelis and four Thai nationals who were released on November 25 - one of a number of prisoner exchange deals between Israel and Hamas during a temporary ceasefire last year. During the pause in fighting, 105 hostages were released. Asked whether he could have imagined sitting with his daughter and smiling after she was kidnapped, he said he couldn't: 'At some point, she was gone completely. 'At that point there was no future with us.' He described her coming home as 'a miracle. An absolute miracle. 'It did come with a lot of guilt, that the rest of them... it's just something you have to get on with. You hope, you pray, that they'll come out as well.' Over the around 250 hostages who were kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, Israel says 132 remain unaccounted for. Of these, 25 are believed to be dead. Asked what he had to say to the families of the hostages still in Gaza, Mr Hand said: 'Stay strong. Stay positive. I know it's very, very hard, but this is proof that it's possible. It can come back. I'd given up all hope really, but it can happen.' An emotional Mr Hand said recovering from last year's ordeal remains 'difficult'. He explained that Emily 'doesn't say a lot' about her captivity and has 'code words' for things to do with her kidnapping, such as 'Gaza' and 'terrorist'. Emily was sitting with her father during the interview with KAN News, playing with the family's dogs. Turning to Emily, Mr Hand asked: 'What's Zeitim? [Hebrew for olives]?' Emily promptly responded: 'Terrorists.' The camera then panned to show a list of code words written on a whiteboard. 'Any food or item that she doesn't like, she transfers that word into code,' Mr Hand explained. Emily said: 'Sometimes it is uncomfortable for me to say these words.' The father described some of the conditions in which Emily was held hostage, saying that he had imagined she was held inside Gaza's vast tunnel network that runs for hundreds of miles under the strip, which Hamas uses to move undetected. But, he says, that was not the case. The youngster (pictured) was taken by gunmen from Be'eri Kibbutz where she was staying at for a sleepover at her friend's home, and was among those released in November when Israel and Hamas agreed a pause in fighting and an exchange of prisoners 'I believed she was down in the tunnels because that's the safest place, that's where they would treasure their hostages, but no, from the time she was kidnapped, they ran from one housenext morning, they ran to another house presumably taking one step ahead of the IDF,' he said. Emily has told her father that she was with three men for most of the time she was there, in the same pyjamas that she was kidnapped in. He also said that she was threatened by one of the terrorists, who he says told then-eight-year-old Emily: 'Uskut' [Arabic for be quiet] or I'll kill you with this knife.' Mr Hand gravely admitted that during his daughter's time in captivity, he knew that her death in an Israeli air strike was possible, as a price to 'destroy Hamas.' He said: 'I knew that the IDF had to do everything in its powers to destroy Hamas, primarily, and to do whatever that they could do to find and retrieve the hostages. 'Within that thought process, I realised that she could be bombed, could be shot by friendly fire, and that was a price that in my head, I could say: 'OK.' 'So long as we destroy Hamas, so long as the government and the military finish the job that they started out to do,' he continued in the interview. 'If not, everyone who's died, hostages, all the massacres, all the terrible things that happened, is pointless, pointless, a waste of time, effort and lives. 'We have to finish the job completely.' He added that he does not care about public opinion abroad, that that the only thing that matters is to eliminate Hamas. 'I really don't care what the world says, I really don't care - doesn't matter what I say, they'll think whatever they want. 'But now, we have to finish it. They started it and we will finish it.' Mr Hand also revealed that Emily had believed had had been among the people killed by Hamas, which he said was a relief, knowing she wasn't waiting for him. Mr Hand (pictured with his daughter) has recounted some of the details he learned from his daughter about her 50 days in captivity, telling Israel's KAN News that one of the Hamas terrorists threatened to kill her with a knife, and that she now has 'code words' 'Thankfully, that question in my head - that doubt that guilt in my head was quashed within a second of meeting at her,' he told the Israeli interviewer. 'She kept looking at me, and I said "what's the matter?" and she said "I thought you were dead. I thought you were kidnapped, one of the other." 'That's what she saw on the way out of the kibbutz. She saw people that she knew killed on the ground, murdered, and she saw other members of the kibbutz being taken away. So obviously, that's the conclusion that she came to. 'I thought that she was down deep in the dark tunnels going where is my dad? But she presumed I was killed or captive, so that was a great relief,' he added. Hamas's attack on Israel prompted the Jewish state to launch an air and ground assault on the coastal territory, which continues to this day. Over the weekend, Israel pressed further south towards the overflowing border city, warning its ground forces could advance on Rafah as part of its campaign to eradicate Hamas. On Monday morning, sources told AFP news agency they could hear artillery shelling in the areas of eastern Rafah and Khan Yunis, southern Gaza's main city. Dubbed a 'pressure cooker of despair' by the United Nations, Rafah now hosts more than half of Gaza's population, displaced due to Israel's assault. The Hamas government media office said Israeli bombardments have continued across the centre and southern end of the coastal Strip, including near hospitals. The Israeli army said troops continued to conduct 'targeted raids' in central and northern Gaza. In Khan Yunis, forces killed 'dozens of terrorists who ambushed the troops throughout the city', it added. A picture taken from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip shows smoke rising over buildings in Khan Yunis following Israeli bombardment on February 5, 2024 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to arrive in Israel on Monday for another tour of the region, in a bid to secure a new truce between Israel and Hamas. The diplomatic push has become more urgent with the surge in attacks across the region by Iran-backed groups in solidarity with Hamas, triggering counterattacks by the United States. The proposed truce would pause fighting for an initial six weeks as Hamas frees hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, according to a Hamas source. Hamas has said no agreement has yet been reached, while some Israeli officials have expressed opposition to any perceived concessions. Vowing to eliminate Hamas, Israel's 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. Heartbreaking footage shows eight-year-old Selena Lau beautifully playing the piano moments before she was killed when a 4x4 ploughed into an end of term party at her Wimbledon school. Selena, who was a pupil at The Study Prep, was performing at a concert before the 80,000 Land Rover crashed through the primary school's gates during an end of term picnic which followed last July. Shortly after she was given a warm round of applause and the concert finished, pupils and their families went outside for the picnic, where the car smashed through a fence. Selena and her friend Nuria Sajjad, also eight, were both killed in the incident while dozens of other children and parents were injured. Seven months on from the tragedy, a video of Selena skillfully playing Scott Joplin's ragtime classic The Entertainer has been released by the Times. It is the last video made of Selena before her death. Selena Lau playing piano at a school concert shortly before tragedy struck last July Selena Lau (left) and her classmate Nuria Sajjad (right) were killed when a Land Rover smashed when a car crashed through a fence and into a building at The Study Prep school in Wimbledon on July 6 last year Selena's parents Franky and Jessie Lau, both 45, treasure the clip of their daughter's faultless performance, but have spoken out about being desperate for answers and justice. They also revealed in a new, emotional interview with Talk TV that they suffer flashbacks and nightmares, saying they are 'suffering every day' and sharing their agonising frustration over the long-running police investigation. The couple broke down in tears as they spoke about their 'funny, cheeky daughter' and admitted they are haunted by guilt over not being with her when she died. A police update also confirms a 46-year-old woman from Wimbledon who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving is currently released under investigation. Jessie wept as she recalled seeing her daughter's body. 'I first saw her lying on a bed near the reception area. So alone with a tube in her mouth, blood stains and bruises on her face. It comes flashing back every day, every night, and I wish that was me lying there not her, I wish I could swap with her, I'd give anything I have to have her back.' Recounting the phone call from Selena's school receptionist, Selena's mother said: 'She was like, 'Just come, something really serious has happened at school. I thought it may be a broken arm, I didn't expect anything else. Her voice was shaking, and she was like, 'You have to come now.' An 80,000 Land Rover crashed through the primary school's gates during an end of term picnic Selena's parents broke down in tears as they spoke about their 'funny, cheeky daughter' and admitted they are haunted by guilt over not being with her when she died 'I was thinking why don't you take her to the hospital, it takes me an hour to get there. It doesn't make sense to wait for me to go to the hospital. And then I start crying.' Franky, who had been working from home, had already made his way to the school. He said: 'There was so much traffic at that point because the school was cordoned off. All the police were there...I caused a bit of a scene outside .. and they took me inside to the hall. And I saw my mum and a friend, the parents there, and they just came to me and said Selena's gone.' Video of Selena playing piano at a concert on the tragic day has also emerged. But shortly after she was given a warm round of applause and the concert finished, pupils and their families went outside for the picnic, where the car smashed through a fence. Selena's parents Franky and Jessie treasure the clip of their daughter's faultless performance, but have spoken out about being desperate for answers and justice. Jessie told the Times: 'It was the end of my world.' The parents of eight-year-old Selena Lau who was killed when a 4x4 ploughed into an end of term party at her Wimbledon school have revealed they suffer flashbacks and nightmares Franky added: 'Each day it drags on, we are replaying what happened. We just want answers and justice. We are owed answers to what happened to our daughter.' Selena's father Franky told Talk TV he will always regret not attending her final piano performance that fateful afternoon: 'We replay that day in our head every day. Was there anything we could have done to make that not happen? 'Should I have gone to see the performance? She would have been speaking to me for an extra few seconds, which would have made all the difference. 'If it rained, they wouldn't be having the picnic outside. All these different scenarios, every day.' The pain and uncertainty is also taking a heavy toll on Selena's twelve-year-old sister. 'They were best buddies since the day Selena was born, doing piano, netball, dancing and singing classes together,' said Jessie. 'Now she's withdrawn from all those activities. That's not fun anymore. She's been sobbing at night because they used to listen to songs together before going to sleep and chat. She's been crying on her own.' Flowers and toys placed outside the Study Preparatory School in Wimbledon, south-west London, after the incident Specialist officers at the scene of the incident in July Seven months on from the horror, Selena's parents Franky and Jessie Lau, both 45, have demanded 'justice for their daughter' saying they are 'suffering every day' Police said a 46-year-old woman from Wimbledon who was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving is currently released under investigation. Enquiries are ongoing. Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, in charge of policing for south west London, told MailOnline: 'Our thoughts remain with the families of Nuria and Selena who we know are greatly loved and missed. 'This was a tragic incident and we understand that the families want and need answers as to what happened. 'We are continuing to give them specialist support through our dedicated family liaison officers who are providing updates on the investigation where they can. 'Specialist detectives are working tirelessly to establish the circumstances of that day, including analysing CCTV and examining the expert report from forensic collision investigators. 'The incident involved the large scale deployment of joint resources from the Met, LAS and LFB and we are working closely with them, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service, as part of our investigation. 'We recognise that the time taken can cause further distress but it is only right and fair to all involved that we carry out a thorough and extensive investigation.' Heartbroken family members previously described Selena as a 'cheeky' young girl who was 'adored by everyone'. Selena's classmates said she was 'beautiful inside and out'. Tributes left alongside flowers outside the school described Selena as a 'star'. One said: 'You will always be our shining star. We will miss you so much.' Another note left for Selena from one of her friends read: 'I will never forget you.' * The full interview with Selena's parents can be seen on TalkTV on the Vanessa Feltz show. by Martin Butler My favourite lesson in secondary school played no part in my future career but nevertheless enriched my life immeasurably. Despite being a sleepy rural school very low down the pecking order it had fully equipped woodwork and metalwork workshops. Woodwork was my favourite subject by far. This was in the days when there was a gender split girls doing something called domestic science while the boys did woodwork and metalwork. Woodwork lessons were very straightforward. The teacher Mr Carpenter (can you believe!) would demonstrate standard joints, starting with a simple halving joint, and then we would each go to our benches and have a go at producing something as near as possible to what he had produced. By the end of the first year we were making half-blind dovetails which require considerable care and precision. All done with hand tools alone. Once we had mastered the basic joints, we were free to make whatever we wanted. Along with art and sport it was one of the few subjects in which it was possible to excel without having to write anything down, which for me was a blessing. Of course, we would sketch out plans, but these were always very provisional and often bore little resemblance to the final product. You were judged on the product alone, not on your workings. Mr Carpenter told us that in maths if you got 9 out of 10 it was pretty good, but in woodwork if 9 out of ten joints were good and the 10th bad, your creation was likely to fall to pieces. The laws of physics ruled. As with other crafts, woodwork requires patience and practice. Wood makes demands that have to be met if you are going to produce anything worthwhile, imposing a kind of natural discipline that comes not from some authority figure but from the physical world itself. The digital world is binary, you either know the right clicks to make, the right options to pick on a drop-down menu, or you dont. In contrast, hand-crafts are essentially qualitative. With practice you move along a spectrum from not very good to just about passable, then to precise and quite impressive. This goes hand-in-hand with the mastery of hand-tools: awkward and unwieldly at first, one reaches a state in which the tool becomes an extension of the body, almost invisible and completely taken for granted. I remember the deep sense of satisfaction, which I still get, after producing a tightly fitting, although not too tight, mortise and tenon joint. And of course unlike much of what you learn at school, physical skills are not forgotten like swimming or riding a bike consequently I still benefit from the woodwork skills learnt with Mr Carpenter. Feeling at home with a craft skill is surely as important as being numerate or literate. It can be a significant source of well-being for many children, as it was for me. These very practical subjects, however, went out of fashion and became the butt of jokes having a CSE in woodwork was regarded as the height of non-achievement at school. Woodwork became something called Design and Technology which intellectualised the subject so that design, planning and evaluation were what counted rather than the practical skills acquired. There was no place for the systematic learning of traditional skills. The act of making a physical object was downgraded in favour of what was written about it, and woodwork fell victim to the academic/non-academic divide. Everything had to be academic since the non-academic was infra dig, so even non-academic subjects had to be given an academic veneer. Of course, going back to Plato, as we shall see, western culture has always given a premium to the academic over the non-academic. But in modern state education (in the UK at least) this has become extreme, together with an obsession with so-called STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). The thinking here is that this is where all the well-paid jobs of the future will be. It might be thought reassuring that technology and engineering get included here, since these subjects at least suggest a practical dimension. But this is misleading since exam entries for Design and Technology mentioned earlier have dropped by between 70% and 80% in the last 13 years.[1] So the last vestige of a practical hands-on craft subject is in serious decline. STEM within the school curriculum seems to mean science and maths only. In a world where we recognise neurodiversity it is odd that in educational terms we only recognise a narrow way range of human excellence. It might be thought reasonable to argue that woodwork is no longer relevant to the world of work, where mass production and industrial processes are what matter. But the original reason for including practical skills like woodwork in the curriculum at schools like mine was not because it was envisaged that many of us would end up as professional carpenters school is not training for specific jobs it was simply because it was thought that a balanced curriculum should include both hands-on practical subjects as well as the traditional academic subjects, and this is surely right. Mastering the use of tools which allow you to alter the physical world in some controlled way is not some obscure niche activity but fundamental to human life. The beginning of human civilisation is marked by the production of stone tools. Matthew Crawford in his excellent book: The Case For Working With Your Hands, makes the point that the dominance of the digital world means that we are in danger of succumbing to what he calls virtualism a vision of the future in which we somehow take leave of material reality and glide about in a pure information economy.[2] In any case we certainly can make a vocational case (if that is a political imperative) for including craft skills beyond scrolling a screen in the school curriculum, quite apart from the fact that learning a craft fosters well-being in children and is a wonderful contrast to the online world in which they are now largely immersed, it also opens the possibility in a pupils mind that working with your hands might provide an option for a fulfilling career. The British politician Ed Miliband has recently made the point that Britains joiners, welders, engineers, technicians and construction workers are the people who are going to deliver a green future for this country.[3] In other words, people who work with their hands. Unfortunately, there is a dire shortage of workers in these areas, and looking at the school curriculum it is not hard to see why. Fortunately there is beginning to be some push back against this bias. A very recent report on the UK education system for 11- to 16-year-olds states that it is too focused on academic learning and written exams. It claims that Opportunities to experience more practical, applied forms of learning have become increasingly limited, even though many pupils enjoy, and excel in, this way of acquiring knowledge and skills.[4] Perhaps we will go full circle. Social class plays an important role in all this. Traditionally, working with your hands is associated with the working-class whereas working in an office (white collar work) is regarded as middle-class. (I understand that the way the expression middle-class is used in the US is rather different from in the UK.) Consequently, if education is to encourage upward mobility, then clearly the focus would be on academic subjects. Making assumptions early on in a childs education based on their social background about whether they are either academic or practical is to break a central tenet of the principle of equal opportunities. Clearly your career should not be defined by your parents social class. We usually think of this in terms of ensuring that a child from a working-class background is not automatically labelled as non-academic, but there are other assumptions which also fly in the face of equal opportunities that we seem less keen to guard against. One is that a career based on practical skills cannot be fulfilling and financially rewarding which is clearly ridiculous, as joiners, plumbers, builders and electricians are hardly poorly paid in western societies. The second is that middle-class children would simply not enjoy such a career, and that this would somehow mean downward mobility. This prejudice affected me to some extent. I came from a middle-class background (in educational terms at least) and, despite my practical bent, the idea of taking up a trade never seemed a real possibility. It is a prejudice that has, if anything, become more entrenched, everyone now it seems has to go to university otherwise they have somehow not made the grade in life. Meanwhile the resources and opportunities for following a trade or developing a craft skill have become more limited. As it turned out I have no regrets at all in studying philosophy and teaching but I can absolutely imagine that in another life I would have been completely happy as a joiner or carpenter. Here again I think (hope) the tide is turning. Crafts are very fashionable, a fashion driven by a middle-class taste for hand-made items. Ironically, it is often members of the middle class who are keen to preserve traditional skills such as pottery, jewellery making, leather crafts, wood turning and so on. Sadly, the opportunities I had for learning practical skills at my modest state school have all but disappeared from contemporary UK state schools, though they do still exist within exclusive fee-paying schools which are the preserve of the middle and upper classes. It is also worth reflecting on the philosophical history of this debate. Certainly the Greeks tended to value the purely intellectual as the highest form of human activity: knowledge of pure ideas (Forms) for Plato, and Aristotles notion of contemplation (Theoria). One of Aristotles arguments here is worth repeating since it has echoed down the ages. It is that the gods do not act in the physical world as we humans do and yet they must be the happiest of all beings. A god can have thoughts but not perform physical actions or have practical skills and so: If follows, then, that the activity of the gods, which is supremely happy, must be a form of contemplation; and therefore among human activities that which is most akin to the gods will be the happiest.[5] So there is something divine about purely intellectual pursuits such as contemplation which could never be found within the physical world. Despite this, Aristotle did develop a far more sophisticated account of action and craft skills than that which has dominated much of the modern era. To develop a practical skill is not simply to apply intellectual knowledge, which is the way skills are often conceived today; for example, the report quoted earlier refers to applied forms of learning. Aristotle, in contrast, identifies distinct areas of human excellence: Techne (art and technical/craft skills); Phronesis (practical wisdom with regards to action); Episteme (Scientific knowledge); Nous (intelligence or intuition); Sophia (wisdom). Interestingly, all of these are described as intellectual virtues in the sense that they are concerned with reason, although Techne and Phronesis, unlike the others, deal with what is variable, what could have been otherwise. In other words, they are concerned with the contingencies of engaging with the world around us. And, importantly, none are reducible to any of the others. In the modern era, however, Descartes dualism has taken us backwards. For Descartes, the body is essentially a dead physical machine that is animated by a thinking thing the mind, or the ghost in the machine. The mind is self-contained and separate but has control over the body. This suggests that if the intellect is right, then the right physical actions will automatically follow. Action, and indeed any physical skill, is simply the application of purely intellectual thought. To be fair to Descartes, he does at one point deny that the mind is in the body as a pilot is in a ship, and claims that the mind and body are intermingled. When he makes this analogy, however, it does seem very appropriate to the way he describes the mind-body relation, so its difficult to take his denial seriously. The advent of AI has to some extent reinforced Descartes model, as a computers algorithms can be regarded as the controlling intellect, although the development of connectionist models of AI have arguably muddied the waters somewhat. I think its fair to say that the introduction of design and technology to replace practical skills like woodwork described earlier was partly influenced by this crude Cartesian understanding of physical skills. The desire to intellectualize a skill is motivated by the belief that this is its essence and derives from a certain blindness to the value of the practical skill itself. It was not until the twentieth century that philosophy began to move away from this Cartesian model. Gilbert Ryle made a clear distinction between knowing that and knowing how, where the latter cannot be reduced to the former. Within so-called continental European philosophy, Martin Heidegger argued that our primary relation to the world is not one of disinterested knowledge but hinges on our ability to use tools. And like Ryle he denies that the skilled use of tools can be equated with intellectual knowledge. Perhaps the strongest case for the importance of craft skills in the digital age is that is a deeply human activity, and can act as a counter to the overly digitalised world with which we live. The modern school curriculum recognises sport and learning musical instrument as enriching activities. On the basis of this it seems reasonable to argue that the acquisition of craft skills should be given equal status. Its a pity that children today cannot experience the joy I felt on a Wednesday afternoon on entering the workshop. Just me, a set of tools and some bits of wood. Bliss! *** [1] https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/dec/12/peers-call-urgent-overhaul-secondary-education-england [2] https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/may/08/working-hands-happiness-burkeman [3] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/20/were-facing-a-critical-shortage-why-uks-green-revolution-urgently-needs-skilled-workers [4] https://www.theguardian.com/education/2023/dec/12/peers-call-urgent-overhaul-secondary-education-england [5] Aristotle, 2004, Translated by J.A.K Thomson, The Nichomachean Ethics, Penguin books, London p275 Rishi Sunak shook hands with Northern Ireland's republican First Minister today as he sealed the deal on a return to powersharing government amid a row over her demand for an Irish unity vote. The PM and Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill were all smiles as they met at Stormont this morning. But behind the scenes a row is brewing over the vow by Mrs O'Neil - the first nationalist to hold the post - to demand a referendum on uniting Ireland during their talks today. Speaking afterwards Mr Sunak insisted the priority now for leaders at Stormont should be delivering on the 'day-to-day' concerns of people in Northern Ireland, not 'constitutional change'. The Sinn Fein politician, the first republican to take the top job at Stormont, has vowed to demand a referendum on uniting Ireland when she meets the PM later. Rishi Sunak is facing a showdown with new Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill today as he visits Belfast (pictured talking to Air Ambulance staff in Lisburn last night) The DUP accused Ms O'Neill of focusing on 'divisive' issues rather than improving the lot of the people. Speaking to broadcasters he said: 'I had very constructive meetings this morning with the Executive, with political leaders across Stormont, and it is a historic and important day for the country, because Northern Ireland's politicians are back in charge, making decisions on behalf of their people, which is exactify how it should be. 'Now, our new deal gives them more funding and more powers than they have ever had, so they can deliver for families and businesses across Northern Ireland. And that's what everyone's priority is now. 'It is not constitutional change, it is delivering on the day-to-day things that matter to people.' Visiting a school, Mr Sunak said the 'future is undeniably brighter' for the children of Northern Ireland. Ministers have already dismissed the prospect, insisting the conditions for holding a poll in the province are 'definitely not met'. And the DUP accused Ms O'Neill of focusing on 'divisive' issues rather than improving the lot of the people. The row could mar celebrations after powersharing was finally restored at Stormont at the weekend, following a deal with the unionists on post-Brexit trading rules. Mr Sunak headed to Belfast last night and will also meet other NI party leaders and Irish premier Leo Varadkar this morning. During the talks, it is understood the Sinn Fein leaders objected to elements of the recent UK deal with the DUP amid concerns it adopted a pro-Union approach to issues such as a border poll and the development of an all-island economy. The republican party is understood to have made clear its intent to drive an all-island economy through the economy and finance departments it now holds in the newly-formed ministerial Executive in Belfast. They also are believed to have stressed the requirement for the UK Government to remain impartial in relation to the calling of any future referendum on Northern Ireland's constitutional future. The Israel-Hamas conflict was also spoken about, with Ms McDonald understood to have stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire and the need for international rule to be upheld in the region. With elections due in Ireland this year, there is a real possibility that republicans could run governments on both sides of the border. The Executive, headed by Ms O'Neill with the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly serving as deputy First Minister, will hold its first meeting today as it begins the task of trying to manage Northern Ireland's strained finances. The row could mar celebrations after powersharing was finally restored at Stormont at the weekend, following a deal with the unionists on post-Brexit trading rules The institutions were restored after a deal between Mr Sunak's Government and the DUP to address unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements, which included passing new legislation at Westminster. The UK Government's 3.3billion funding offer is aimed at stabilising finances in the region, and settling public sector pay claims. The Executive will press Mr Sunak for more funding but he has described the package as 'a generous and fair settlement'. Mr Heaton-Harris rejected claims by Stormont ministers that better funding is needed from the UK Government as powersharing returns. The Cabinet minister insisted the 3.3billion package offered by Westminster is 'ample' for the Executive to 'get on with the job'. On the calls for a referendum, Mr Heaton-Harris told LBC: 'I really don't think that's going to happen but as Secretary of State I am the person responsible in Government to check whether the conditions for that have been met. 'They're definitely not met at this point in time, and I would suggest that actually top of the in-tray for an incoming Executive has to be things like public sector pay, the health service, which needs massive transformation here, funding on education and a whole host of other things that actually all people in Northern Ireland from both communities truly care about.' He said he would have to be 'confident' that there was a potential majority of people in Northern Ireland 'who would like to depart from their current constitutional status' for the conditions to be met. Mr Heaton-Harris is joining Rishi Sunak and Irish premier Leo Varadkar in Belfast on Monday to mark the restoration of devolved government. But the newly-formed Executive has already written to the Prime Minister calling for urgent discussions on long-term funding stability to deliver public services. Asked about claims that the current funding arrangement will not provide the basis for the Executive to deliver sustainable public services, the Northern Ireland Secretary told BBC Breakfast: 'I don't believe that is the case. I think Stormont has fantastic, strong foundations now and it will survive, it will be sustainable.' He added: 'There is a thing, I think, about choices. You're going into politics, you have to make choices on these sorts of things. 'Those choices haven't been made for a long time out here, and I believe the new set of ministers are completely capable of running their public finances perfectly well with the fair and generous funding package we've given them. Ms O'Neill (left) has been installed as First Minister, while the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly (right) is deputy 'There's a 3.3billion package available to ministers on day one here to get on with the job of sorting out Northern Ireland public sector pay, health services and a whole host of other things, and I'd say that's ample for the time being.' Mr Sunak and Mr Varadkar will meet each other, as well as the leaders of the new powersharing Executive which was formed on Saturday, ending two years of political stalemate. Ms Little-Pengelly said Stormont ministers will be 'speaking with one voice' in their talks with the Prime Minister. She added: 'We will be saying that the people of Northern Ireland deserve better public services and that we need to work together the Executive and the Government to deliver long-term fiscal stability. 'We are ready to engage with the Government and get down to the work of putting our finances on a sound footing; however, we will also be seeking to ensure the UK Government provides sufficient funding in a package to fulfil its promises on public sector pay.' This is the moment a passenger jet carrying 179 passengers pulled off a terrifying landing on a muddy runway after touching down on ice in Lithuania. Startling video showed a massive Airbus A320 careering across the tarmac after making a daring landing at Vilnius airport after a two hour journey from the Italian city of Bergamo on Saturday. The jet, owned by Lithuanian company Avion Express, tried desperately to steady itself as an explosion of mud and water buffeted the plane, forcing birds to scatter in filmlike drama. Reacting quickly, the plane's hero pilot was able to taxi the aircraft safely off the runway and towards a safe zone where all passengers and six crew could get off without reporting any injuries. The plane sustained damage to its lower panels, Italian media reported, and the incident forced the airport to stop all incoming and outgoing flights for about two and a half hours on Saturday before reopening to air traffic. The plane careers across the runway during an attempted landing in Vilnius over the weekend A huge explosion of mud cakes the plane in dirt after skidding over ice at Lithuania airport Incredible composure from the pilot saw the plane get back on course and ride out the drama Photos of the aftermath showed the plane caked in mud from the front of the plane through to the tail against the backdrop of an icy forest landscape. Drifting right, the left side of the plane absorbs much of the dirt, but the other side is shown covered in a thick layer of brown. Cones were put out and emergency vehicles spotted around the runway after the plane had made its landing. The incident, occurring around 2:20pm on Saurday, forced the closure of runway 19 until 5:40pm and briefly shut the airport, aviation news outlet FL360aero reported. Incoming flights were diverted to Kaunas and Palanga airports instead, both in Lithuania. Avion Express confirmed to MailOnline today that Flight NVD8242 'slid off the landing runway after touchdown'. A spokesperson said an investigation by Avion Express and local authorities is 'currently underway' to work out the exact cause. 'The most important thing is that all the 179 passengers and our 6 crew members are safe and have not suffered any injuries during the incident. 'During the incident the passengers were calm and followed the instructions of our crew members. We extend our heartfelt apologies and sincere support to everyone who was on board.' Further updates regarding the situation will be made available on the company's website and social media channels. The incident caused quite a stir on social media, users turning out to comment on the shock footage. X user beerbaba wrote: 'One hell of a landing for the passengers.' Alvis Harding Jr said: 'I had no idea you could drift a 320.' Linda Kavinsky commented: 'What a great recovery.' Yves Constant said: 'Nice controlled sliding landing. Don't know how passengers were reacting on board [sickness emojis]. And [the] aircraft needs a plane wash.' In December, an easyJet flight from Gatwick also carrying 179 people came within 178ft of a plane waiting to take off at Bordeaux airport in France, shocking spectators. The Airbus A320 was preparing to land at the Bordeaux-Merignac airport on New Year's Eve when an error by air traffic control saw it authorised to land as another aircraft was preparing to take off. An investigative report into the incident cited several contributing factors, including a 'significant decrease in staffing levels' which left one controller running four stations at the same time 'potentially leading to the oversight'. The investigation concluded the 'awareness and proactive action' of the DR400 pilot, intercepting communications and warning ATC, prevented the mistake from becoming a potentially devastating accident. A shocking photo included in the BEA report showed the approach of the huge A320 airliner with the DR400 still on the runway. As traffic became 'very dense', the controller then authorised the A320 to land, 'forgetting the presence of the DR400 at the threshold'. 'The DR400 pilot, having understood that the A320 was authorised to land while still at threshold 23, reported to the controller who immediately ordered the A320 to abort the approach'. A bird flies away as the plane touches down on the icy runway in Vilnius on Saturday The plane finally got off the runway and all 179 passengers on board were able to disembark The controller reportedly looked 'lost' as the Airbus requested guidance. The airliner, at a height of just 232ft and 3280ft (1,000 metres) from the threshold of the runway, soared over the DR400 at a height of 178ft, according to the report. There were no reported injuries from either incident. MailOnline contacted Avion Express for comment. Have YOU been affected? Have YOU been affected? Email richard.percival@mailonline.co.uk Tens of thousands of rail passengers travelling to London Stansted Airport may have been slapped with 'unfair' 100 fines for mistakenly using contactless cards to pay for their journey. Travellers are able to tap in with contactless cards at Liverpool Street and Tottenham Hale stations and board a train to Stansted. However, upon arriving at the airport, passengers cannot tap with London Oyster cards or contactless bank cards - and are instead being handed penalty fares as high as 100. And with data from 2019 showing that around 16,000 people were fined, fears are growing that tens of thousands of people may have been handed punitive fares in the years since. Have YOU been affected? Email richard.percival@mailonline.co.uk London TravelWatch's boss Michael Roberts slammed the 'unfair' practice by train operator Greater Anglia, raging: 'It's plainly wrong that passengers continue to be unfairly penalised for not knowing that contactless payment isn't accepted at London Stansted Airport. 'With ''London'' in its name, people quite reasonably assume they'll 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.' Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch is now threatening to intervene in the matter, with a spokesman adding: '[She] making enquiries directly to Greater Anglia and the Department for Transport regarding contactless card readers at Stansted Airport station.' Greater Anglia has handed thousands of people 100 'penalty fares' for using contactless cards for travelling to Stansted from London Almost 10 million people travelled to Stansted Airport by train last year Passengers travelling from London Liverpool Street or Tottenham Hale are liable for the penalty fares Keith Prince, London Conservatives' transport spokesman, accused Greater Anglia of profiting from the penalty fares. The London Assembly member said: 'The train operator is making millions by imposing penalty fares on passengers arriving at Stansted without a valid ticket. 'While the train operator says it has signage warning passengers, clearly this signage isn't working. It's unfair.' If handed a penalty fare, the individual must pay 100 plus the cost of an applicable ticket. For example, an anytime fare from Liverpool Street to Stansted costs 21.40 which means passengers mistakenly using a contactless card would have to pay 121.40 in total. Passengers can arrive at Stansted Airport using Greater Anglia or Stansted Express services Kemi Badenoch has been urged to intervene in the Stansted Airport penalty fares matter Greater Anglia has urged the Department for Transport for funding to extend contactless ticketing to Stansted If paid within 21 days, penalty fares are normally discounted to 50 plus the ticket price. A spokesman for Greater Anglia said: 'We're 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.' In comparison, train journeys to other airports in the London area, such as London Heathrow and London Gatwick, can be paid for using contactless cards. It comes just weeks after Greater Anglia increased its Stansted Express service to four-trains-per-hour having previously been restricted to peak hours only. Typically, journeys now take an average 48 minutes, with most off-peak services scheduled for 47 minutes. Around 9.7 million people used London Stansted Airport train station last year, with the majority of passengers travelling from London. Have YOU been affected? Email richard.percival@mailonline.co.uk A popular gym has cracked down on influencers videoing their workouts, banning tripods and requiring patrons to buy 'media passes' if they wish to shoot content. Doherty's Gym, which has three locations in Melbourne and one in Perth, has told patrons filming on tripods will 'no longer be permitted', citing concerns about privacy and safety. 'It is our duty of care to provide safety protection and privacy for all our members. Tripods have become a trip hazard and a safety concern,' read the notice on Instagram. Doherty's said those wanting to still film their workouts to upload to social media could purchase a 'media pass' from the front desk, on the proviso that no one is filmed without their consent. From February 1, filming on tripods will no longer be permitted at Doherty's Gyms Doherty's said those wanting to film their workouts to upload to social media could purchase a 'media pass' from the front desk, on the proviso that no one is filmed without their consent 'If you must take a quick video with your phone while you are training, please be aware of anyone in the background and make sure you have their consent to post or share their image if they are,' gym owner Tony Doherty said. 'Better still, put your phone down and get on with training. This may not be popular with the tripod crew, but everyone else will appreciate not having to deal with them.' He said just because someone 'wants to film every aspect of their life, including their workouts, it doesn't mean that everyone else wants to be in the movie'. In an updated house rules sheet at the gym's front desk, members and casuals have also been cautioned against 'excessive grunting', and that 'photo shoots must be pre-booked'. In an updated house rules sheet at the gym's front desk, members and casuals have also been cautioned against 'excessive grunting', and that 'photo shoots must be pre-booked' 'If you must take a quick video with your phone while you are training, please be aware of anyone in the background and make sure you have their consent to post or share their image if they are,' gym owner Tony Doherty said Mr Doherty added that just because someone 'wants to film every aspect of their life, including their workouts, it doesn't mean that everyone else wants to be in the movie' Last month, Mr Doherty took to Instagram to pan 'entitled c***s who failed to follow gym etiquette like putting their weights away. He said the gym was 'a sacred place' and should be treated as such. In the post, he told gym-goers: 'Please put your weights away after you finish using them... I am not special. You are not special'. 'We are equals in the gym and entitled selfish behaviour should not be tolerated. No exceptions and no excuses,' he said. BBC journalists have been liking tweets spreading 'anti-Semitic' conspiracy theories about Israel - as insiders warned it was a 'frightening' time to be Jewish at the corporation. Sally Nabil, who works for BBC Arabic, reportedly liked a tweet in December which claimed without substantiation that large numbers of Jews from around the world were buying up land in Northern Cyprus with the aim of 'seizing' the territory for Israel. The story, which has circulated in some Turkish newspapers, has sparked alarm on the island despite officials disputing the numbers. Ms Nabil was previously criticised for liking a tweet posted on the day of the October 7 terror attacks on Israel that read: 'Here is Palestinian resistance taking the initiative and surprises the Israeli occupier with an operation of quality.' Another BBC Arabic journalist, Ahmed Rouaba, is said to have reposted a tweet describing aspects of Israel's blockade on Gaza as 'pure evil' and another that claimed the country was 'starving' Palestinians 'to save money bombing them'. Sally Nabil, who works for BBC Arabic, reportedly liked a tweet in December which claimed without substantiation that large numbers of Jews from around the world were buying up land in Northern Cyprus with the aim of 'seizing' the territory for Israel Rami Ruhayem, one of its correspondents based in Beirut, sent a letter to BBC director-general Tim Davie that accused organisation of complicity in 'genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid' Dawn Queva, a BBC scheduler, has been fired after sharing 'horrific' anti-Semitic social media posts He also shared a tweet suggesting that Israel had lied to the International Court of Justice in the recent genocide case brought against it by South Africa, the Telegraph reported. BBC guidelines oblige its journalists to achieve 'due impartiality' in all output, with news journalists having a 'particular responsibility' to uphold the principle on social media. Rami Ruhayem, one of its correspondents based in Beirut, has also made his opinions on the conflict known by sending a letter to BBC director-general Tim Davie that accused organisation of complicity in 'genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid'. Dawn Queva, a BBC scheduler, was recently fired for sharing a string of 'horrific' anti-Semitic social media posts, one of which described the Holocaust as a 'holohoax', prompting calls for the BBC to take action. The Mail understands she was sacked on Friday. In the messages, she refers to 'AshkeNazis', a slur that is a play on 'Ashkenazi' Jews who descend from those who lived in central or eastern Europe. One message claims the Ashkenazi Jews are 'a bunch of subcontinental European melanin recessive CaucAsian japhetic AshkeNazi who have no None zero zilch blood connection to the land of Palestine or Israel historically'. Another brands Jewish people an 'invader coloniser species'. Ms Queva also allegedly described white people as 'barbaric' and 'bloodthirsty'. In other posts, she referred to the UK as the 'UKKK' a reference to the Ku Klux Klan. Ms Queva, 55, a senior scheduler and playout planner for BBC Three, posted under the name Dawn Las Quevas-Allen. She previously worked in scheduling for A+E Networks, UKTV and Disney. She doubled down on her remarks after they came to light, challenging her critics to 'come at me... my shoulders are broad'. MailOnline can also reveal that Ms Queva once referred to her employer as the 'Bigoted Broadcasting Company' and said she refused to pay her TV licence. Ms Queva, 55, described the Holocaust as a 'holohoax', prompting calls for the BBC to take action Ms Queva posted under the name Dawn Las Quevas-Allen. She previously worked in scheduling for A+E Networks, UKTV and Disney One post by Dawn Queva claimed that 'being JewISH has zero to do with ethnicity' and suggested Jews were from the 'Synagogue of Satan' It is unclear when the comment on Facebook was made or what it was in response to, however, it appears to have been made before she was employed by the company. In the post, which has been shared widely on X, Ms Queva wrote: 'This amongst other reasons is why I refused to contract with the Bigoted Broadcasting Company. How dare they treat the black community like this. 'This [sic] exactly the same thing they did with black music on the radio in the 60's and 70's. They only started playing it when the white northern soul brigade started listening to Radio Caroline and leaving the BBC in their droves. 'Fifty and sixty years on and nothing has changed within this racist British institution and I for one refuse to fund their bigotry through a licence.' Last night, BBC staff told the Mail the corporation needed to take a stand. A Jewish worker said: 'Jewish colleagues are finding it really tough seeing everyone but our bosses condemning what we have seen.' They added: 'If the BBC is serious about standing up to anti-Semitism then it needs to practise what it keeps preaching and stand up to the hate crimes committed by one of its own staff.' Broadcaster, Mail columnist and former BBC presenter Andrew Neil said ex-colleagues had told him it was 'grim' and 'frightening' to be Jewish at the BBC at the moment Several Jewish members of BBC staff defied a ban on attending a march against anti-Semitism Another post featured University of Chicago political scientist Prof John Mearsheimer suggesting Hamas's terror attacks on Israel last October 7 included some deaths caused by the IDF Dawn Queva continued sharing anti-Israel videos including one comparing the country's first prime minister David Ben-Gurion with Adolf Hitler The BBC Three executive also shared a video suggesting Israel wanted a mosque to 'collapse' A second Jewish worker added: 'The BBC needs to take a lead on this and make it clear that racism is racism and it won't be tolerated.' Broadcaster, Mail columnist and former BBC presenter Andrew Neil said ex-colleagues had told him it was 'grim' and 'frightening' to be Jewish at the BBC at the moment. He wrote on X: 'Where's the director general and his army of BBC executives paid large salaries to get a grip of matters like this?' A spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitism 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. 'We are filing complaints with the BBC about this individual and reporting the posts to the police, but the time has come for the BBC step up and confront anti-Semitism in its organisation once and for all.' Ms Queva, who lives in south-east London, declined to comment last night. A BBC spokesman said: 'The individual concerned is no longer employed by the BBC.' Asked about its journalists liking anti-Israel tweets, the corporation 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.' Parisians voted on Sunday to muscle SUVs off the French capital's streets by making them three times more expensive to park, while calling on London to follow suit. It is the latest move 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. On the face of it, the result appears fairly resounding. More than 54% of the votes cast in the election supported the measure to triple parking fees for large SUV drivers from out of town to 18 euros (15.30) per hour in the city's centre. But the election saw a low turnout. Only 5.7 percent of the 1.3 million eligible voters cast ballots at the 39 voting stations around the city. This suggests that of the roughly 75,000 people who voted in the referendum, 40,000 voted in favour of the move - meaning roughly just 3.25 percent of the Paris electorate actually cast a vote siding with the decision. Nevertheless, the vote gives Paris council to implement the new charges by September. Meanwhile, Hidalgo called on London and other cities to follow Paris's lead. Parisians voted on Sunday to muscle SUVs off the French capital's streets by making them three times more expensive to park, and called on London to follow suit The vote is the latest move 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 The Mayor of the ferociously anti-car French capital said she was delighted by the result of a referendum, aimed at tackling air pollution and road safety problems. Hidalgo said: 'Parisians have made a clear choice other cities will follow,' adding that higher prices for large, heavy, and very expensive vehicles was 'a form of social justice'. 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 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 policy was previously backed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who labelled it 'innovative'. Mr Khan, who can sometimes be seen being ferried around the capital in his 300,000 taxpayer-funded armour-plated Range Rover, said heavier vehicles 'take up more space' and create 'issues around carbon emissions and so forth. When quizzed on Ms Higaldo's policy, he told The Guardian: 'We always examine policies around the globe. I'm a firm believer in stealing good policies. 'Rather than inventing [new policies] badly, if other cities are doing stuff that works, we will copy them.' The policy was previously backed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who labelled it 'innovative' The Mayor of the ferociously anti-car French capital - Anne Hidalgo (picture casting her vote on Sunday) - said she was delighted by the result of a referendum, aimed at tackling air pollution and road safety problems by cutting down the number of SUVs on Paris's streets Mr Khan, who has been heavily scrutinised for his hated Ulez scheme, added: 'We know some councils in London are taking bold policies in relation to parking fees, in relation to your tickets and so forth.' In north London, Islington council charges parked cars depending on the weight of a motor, while Lambeth is looking at similar measures. Parking charges across London's boroughs vary. Taking Westminster as an example, per-hour charges range from 1.94 to 5.80, or from 2.91 to 8.70 for Pre-2015 Diesel vehicles, depending on the parking zone. Should London implement a similar measure to Paris that would see parking charges for SUVs triple, then the per-hour charge for many drivers will rise over 15 per hour. In the case of pre-2015 Diesel SUV owners, parking could cost 26 per hour. A spokesman for Mr Khan said that the mayor had 'no plans' to introduce an SUV parking charge in the capital, adding: 'The Mayor was making the point that leaders across the world are exploring innovative ways of tackling air pollution and improving road safety, and the Mayor continues to monitor these.' Calls in London to restrict or even ban large SUVs in London have grown in recent years for the same reasons as they have in Paris. These calls were amplified in July 2023 after a Land Rover Defender crashed through a Wimbledon school fence, killing two children and injuring several more. 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 Despite a low turnout, the the vote still gives Paris council to implement the new charges by September, while the city's mayor called on London and other cities to follow its lead Pictured: An SUV is seen driving through Paris on February 4 as the vote took place Paris is the home of the global climate change agreement of 2015, and is at the forefront of the campaign to reduce dangerous emissions. It has already closed major roads to cars, and there will be many more restrictions by the time the 2024 Paris Olympics starts in July. The new SUV prices will apply to vehicles weighing more than 1.6 tonnes with a combustion engine or hybrid vehicles, and more than 2 tonnes for electric vehicles. Tony Renucci, of the air quality pressure group Respire, said: 'The result of the vote is a victory for Paris residents' quality of life.' Mr Renucci added: 'These monsters on wheels are no longer wanted on our streets'. And Emmanuel Gregoire, the deputy mayor of Paris, said 'SUVs are an environmental disaster'. 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 L'Orlendu, 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. It's about freedom.' A person votes during a referendum on higher parking fees for SUVs, at a polling station in Paris, France, 04 February 2024 There was a referendum to ban rented electric scooters in Paris last August, and it led to Paris becoming the first European city to do so. 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. It's 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, and the city has also reduced the number of on-street parking spaces in order to make drivers use underground parking. There was a 70 percent rise in the use of bikes between the end of the Covid lockdowns and 2023. A mother-of-two helping run a refuge for women has been jailed for driving her long-suffering wife to the brink of suicide following a five-year campaign of belittling and bullying domestic abuse. Chester Crown Court heard Rita Araujo, 31, subjected Rose Garnock-Jones, 30, to regular beatings during their relationship then guilt-tripped her by threatening to kill herself if she went to police. The court heard the pair had began dating in 2017, married and had two children together. However, the relationship soon turned sour. The first incident of abuse occurred in April 2021 after Araujo, who was a team leader for a domestic violence charity, had herself had suffered a miscarriage. Ms Garnock-Jones had been attempting to talk to her when Araujo barricaded herself in the bedroom, repeatedly threatened to kill herself and smashed a tower fan against the foot of the bed in front of their baby son. The court heard Rita Araujo (pictured right) started dating Rose Garnock-Jones (left) in 2017 The pair (pictured in happier times) later married and had two children together Prosecutor Myles Wlison explained: 'Ms Garnock-Jones picked up the son trying to shield the baby from the defendant as she tried to take the baby. 'She then struck out and scratched Miss Garnock-Jones down her back. The couple tried marriage counselling however, the defendant would become verbally abusive, calling her wife 'lazy' and 'pathetic.' 'By December 2021, the relationship was in a poor state. The defendant stated she no longer wanted to be in a relationship and had made threats to kill herself and the threats were repeated. 'On New Year's Eve, Ms Garnock-Jones was working when the defendant messaged her to say that she was going to kill herself. She had to leave work in response to that and she described her own mental health as being very poor due to the defendant's abusive behaviour.' During one assault in April 2022, Araujo, who was pregnant at the time with the couple's youngest child, used her forearm to throttle Ms Garnock-Jones until she could barely breathe. Afterwards, she would not allow the 30-year-old to go to hospital for treatment for her injuries, saying she would lose her job and they would both lose their children. Ms Garnock-Jones refused to fightback for fear of hurting the unborn child and reported suffering severe pain. Rita Araujo subjected Rose Garnock-Jones to regular beatings during their relationship, the court heard By December 2021, the relationship was in a poor state, prosecutor Myles Wlison explained Mr Wilson explained: 'On April 4, 2022, the couple were in bed together when there was an argument and without warning the defendant reacted violently and got on top of Ms Garnock-Jones. 'She punched her a number of times to the ribs and arms but then pressed her forearm into Ms Garnock-Jones's throat, pushing downwards and preventing her from being able to breathe. 'The victim recalls thinking that she was going to die but was reluctant to fight back as the defendant was pregnant at the time and she was worried about hurting the unborn child. The defendant continued to hit her victim whilst her forearm was pressed into her throat. At one stage she attempted to bite her before the attack ended. 'The next day the victim asked the defendant if she could go to hospital as her ribs were hurting but the defendant replied that she should not go even though there were numerous bruises, scratch marks to her ribs, shoulders and back. Just months later in September, another incident took place with Mr Wilson, adding: 'There was another incident in September 2022 sparked by Ms Garnock-Jones being worried about their son having swallowed a toy and wanted to take him to hospital. 'The defendant reacted by calling her a psycho. When she started to ring 999, she grabbed the phone and pulled the victim's hair. 'The victim picked their son up who was present and left. She tried to contact domestic abuse support and returned home later that night in the knowledge that her mother would be visiting.' Police first got involved a month later when Ms Garnock-Jones threatened to jump off a canal bridge in Chester. Police first got involved in late 2022 when Rose Garnock-Jones (pictured left) threatened to jump off a canal bridge Rita Araujo had been in custody for seven months at Styal prison awaiting sentence Mr Wilson added: 'In autumn 2022 on the night she was found on the bridge, Ms Garnock-Jones had been to a baby shower with friends in Chester and had disclosed the defendant's behaviour and felt unable to go home. 'She made her rather bland statement to police at that stage saying there had been no violence. 'Later the defendant had told her that if she did complain the social services would take the children away and the defendant would lose her job. 'Days later the defendant gave birth to their daughter who was born prematurely. 'The defendant tried to blame that on Rose Garnock-Jones, blaming her for the stress. By this stage Ms Garnock-Jones was at the end of her tether and she recorded a lengthy phone conversation they had in which she was confronting the defendant about her behaviour. 'Although the defendant was making certain admissions, she played down her behaviour. Eventually in December 2022 when Ms Garnock-Jones made full disclosure to police about what had been going on. 'While the defendant was on bail there were conditions not to contact Ms Garnock-Jones but she was in daily contact with her and visited the home on at least ten occasions. 'She was making constant threats to harm and kill herself if sent to prison and it made Ms Garnock-Jones feel guilty. The defendant said she wanted the relationship to resume and she wanted to return to the family home. Rita Araujo (pictured right) was jailed for 28 months after she admitted controlling and coercive behaviour 'The defendant instructed the victim to tell the court what to say, namely that she did not want a restraining order and to express that she did not want the defendant to be sent to prison. 'She also asked her to change the victim's statement to make it more sympathetic. The victim sent the amended victim statement to police. 'The defendant even told her that she would have to attend court in person to read the statement and eventually the pressure for Ms Garnock-Jones became too great and she reported it. 'She described never having felt more ill in her entire life. She was mentally and physically drained to the point of having no hope.'' In a statement, Ms Garnock-Jones from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, told how after working 12 and a half hour-shifts she would go home to help Araujo look after the children only to met by 'negative comments' including 'how rubbish their life was.'' She also lived in fear of Araujo beating her up again and drank heavily to cope. She added: 'I had thought of taking my own life to end the trauma which culminated in going to the wrong side of the bridge. Police pulled me back from the edge and I finally talked about what I had been through. 'Life has not been the same and I think it never will be again. After one assault I struggled every day to cope and I was too scared to sleep at first. In order to cope with the months since Rita has left, I have had the support for many professionals and I'm not sure how I would have coped without those as the mental and physical impact is so severe.' Ms Garnock-Jones from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, told how she worked 12 and a half hour-shifts before going home to look after the kids Araujo gave no comment in the police interview. She has been in custody for seven months at Styal prison awaiting sentence. Her counsel Justin Smith said his client was 'genuinely remorseful' and added: 'She was a positive member of society and working in an area of stress. She did that diligently and she was proud of what she did. 'We then have this period which was an aberration and she was taken away from her children, one of whom was nothing but a newborn baby. The impact of this has been significant, and it has been very difficult for her to cope. 'She now has the fear and dread of being deported back to Portugal following her sentence. 'That is something that is very much preying on her mind and may result in her having to lose contact with her children. Sentencing, Recorder judge Ciaran Rankin told Araujo: 'You are clearly an intelligent woman highly thought of by those who know you and you have been for a great deal of time a positive member of society working in a very difficult and stressed environment. 'But your offending is aggravated with the issue that you used to be a team leader at a domestic abuse charity. These offences represent a violation of trust which exists between people of an intimate and family relationship. 'They are aggravated in their totality because of the steps you have taken to prevent the reporting of incidents, the presence of children on a number of events, and the domestic violence situation.'' Araujo who has since moved to Preston, Lancs was jailed for 28 months after she admitted controlling and coercive behaviour, assault and trying to pervert the course of justice. For help, call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org This video is no longer available This video is no longer available Rishi Sunak has admitted failing on his pledge to cut NHS waiting lists - but insisted that strike action is to blame. The PM made cutting the number of patients waiting for treatment one of his five key priorities last year. Although he did not put a specific timeframe on the goal, he conceded in an interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV that he had missed it. 'We have not made enough progress,' Mr Sunak said. Rishi Sunak has admitted failing on his pledge to cut NHS waiting lists - but insisted that strike action is to blame Although he did not put a specific timeframe on the goal, he conceded in an interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV that he had missed it Your browser does not support iframes. Asked whether he had failed on the pledge, the premier replied: 'Yes, we have.' A pay deal with striking nurses and Agenda for Change staff was agreed last year, but junior doctors and consultants have continued with walkouts. The list stood at 7.21 million treatments waiting to be carried out in January 2023. In November a month when there was no industrial action some 7.61 million treatments were waiting to be carried out. When the increase was put to the PM by Morgan, he replied: 'Yes, and we all know the reasons for that. 'And what I would say to people is, look, we have invested record amounts in the NHS, more doctors, more nurses, more scanners. 'All these things mean that the NHS is doing more today than it ever has been. 'But industrial action has had an impact.' Morgan went on to tell Mr Sunak about his 79-year-old mother's experience three months ago after having a heart attack. The broadcaster said she waited on a trolley in an A&E corridor for nearly seven hours to be seen, in a 'war zone' scene. The PM said the account was 'shocking' and that performance in A&E and with ambulance waiting times were 'not good enough'. Morgan went on to tell Mr Sunak about his 79-year-old mother's experience three months ago after having a heart attack But he denied that the Tories had failed the NHS since 2010, citing the backlog created by the coronavirus pandemic. 'We can't escape that,' he added. 'When you shut down the country in the NHS for the best part of two years, that has had an impact on everything since then. And we just have to recognise that reality.' Also during the interview, Mr Sunak appeared to accept a 1,000 bet with Morgan, a former Daily Mirror editor, that deportation flights to Rwanda will take place before the next general election, which is expected in the autumn. He has previously set the target of sending asylum seekers who arrive in the UK via unauthorised routes, including those crossing the English Channel in small boats, to the east African country by the spring. The UK has paid Rwanda 240 million under the Prime Minister's plan to 'stop the boats' another of his five key pledges and ministers expect to pay an additional 50 million next year. But no migrants have yet been removed due to legal challenges that resulted in the Supreme Court last year finding the scheme unlawful. The Confederation of British Industry said it has settled a legal case brought by its former director-general, Tony Danker, after he was dismissed last year following complaints about his behaviour. A spokesman for the group said: 'The CBI has today settled legal action brought against the organisation by Tony Danker after his dismissal in April 2023. 'The CBI board has agreed an undisclosed settlement with Mr Danker. 'The CBI board also reiterates that Mr Danker is not associated in any way with the historical allegations reported in the media concerning matters which pre-date his tenure at the CBI and rejects any such association.' His departure last year emerged as separate serious allegations of misconduct were uncovered at the business lobby group. The Confederation of British Industry said it has settled a legal case brought by its former director-general, Tony Danker, after he was sacked for his behavior The director general was accused by a female CBI employee of making unwanted contact with her and considered this unwanted conduct to be sexual harassment When dismissing Mr Danker from his post, the CBI said his conduct 'fell short of that expected' of its boss. It was not clear from the trade body's statement what Mr Danker had included in his legal action. The director general was accused by a female CBI employee of making unwanted contact with her and considered this unwanted conduct to be sexual harassment. Mr Danker continued in his role even after the formal complaint was made and continued to represent the organisation at public events including a CBI conference where the keynote speaker was Education Secretary Gillian Keegan. Mr Danker was sacked with immediate effect amid the claims about a karaoke party where he mixed with young female staff and looked up colleagues Instagram. At the time of its decision to fire Mr Danker, CBI said: 'The board wishes to make clear he is not the subject of any of the more recent allegations in The Guardian but has determined that his own conduct fell short of that expected of the director general.' In a BBC interview last year Mr Danker apologised for making staff feel uncomfortable but did not believe his immediate sacking was appropriate. At the time of his sacking he also wrote on X, (formerly Twitter): 'I recognise that I unintentionally made a number of colleagues feel uncomfortable and I am truly sorry about that. I want to wish my former CBI colleagues every success.' Other allegations against staff at CBI included two accusations of rape which were unconnected to Mr Danker and first reported in The Guardian. Within hours of reports of allegations of sexual harassment and rape, CBI was plunged into crisis with thousands of its high profile members including John Lewis and BMW, withdrawing their membership. Meetings with ministers were also cancelled and the company said it was suspending all membership activities. The effects of the allegations have had a lasting impact on the group whose membership has fallen from 190,000 last years to 170,000. Nigel Farage is 'open-minded' about joining the Conservatives after the general election with an ex-Cabinet minister urging him to return to the Tory fold. As he eyes a 'major realignment' on the Right of British politics, Mr Farage encouraged further speculation about his political future. The ex-UKIP leader said he would have to 'wait to see' what happens after voters go to the polls this year, but added he was 'open-minded about anything'. Mr Farage's comments come ahead of his expected appearance at the launch of the new 'Popular Conservatives' group tomorrow. Ex-PM Liz Truss, former business secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and leading 'Red Wall' MP Lee Anderson are all due to speak at the 'PopCon' event. Sir Jacob last night reiterated his support for Mr Farage to join the Tories as he acknowledged he was in 'broad agreement with Nigel on most big issues'. Ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage is 'open-minded' about joining the Conservatives after the general election Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg reiterated his support for Mr Farage to join the Tories as he acknowledged he was in 'broad agreement with Nigel on most big issues' Former PM Liz Truss, Sir Jacob and leading 'Red Wall' MP Lee Anderson are all due to speak at the launch of the new 'Popular Conservatives' group tomorrow Last year's Conservative conference in Manchester saw Mr Farage feted by Tory members as he mingled with some of the party's leading figures. It fuelled speculation that Mr Farage could rejoin the party he quit more than 30 years ago - before going on to lead UKIP and then the Brexit Party - following the signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992. Mr Farage has also left open the possibility of returning to the political frontline as leader of Reform UK - the rebranded Brexit Party - ahead of the general election. Many within Conservative ranks are fearful Mr Farage's return as leader of Reform UK - of which he is currently honorary president - would split the political Right at the general election and hand Labour a huge margin of victory over Rishi Sunak's Tories. Speaking about his longer-term political future in an interview with the Telegraph, Mr Farage did not rule out joining the Tories - but stressed it would not happen before the general election. 'I think we just have to wait to see,' he told the newspaper. 'I'm open-minded about anything that happens after the election.' He added: 'Let's see. But for me the thought that the official Conservative Party is ever going to move, it doesn't look very likely. But who knows?' Mr Farage is due to attend Tuesday's 'PopCon' event in his capacity as a presenter on GB News. He suggested the launch of the group could be a step towards a 'realignment' on the Right between the Tories and Reform UK. 'If you look at what I anticipate Truss is going to say and what (current Reform UK leader) Richard Tice is saying, then you have to think that at some point in time these people will all be together,' Mr Farage said. '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.' Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour last night, ahead of the 'PopCon' event, Sir Jacob stressed the importance of ensuring unity on the political Right. 'To the point of divided parties don't win, the truth is that divided wings of politics don't win,' he said. 'It is important to try and ensure that the Right in British politics is as united as possible. Asked if he would welcome Mr Farage into the Tory fold, Sir Jacob replied: 'Of course I would. I've said that many times. I find I'm in broad agreement with Nigel on most big issues.' by Joseph Shieber Suppose that youre sitting at a pristine, white desk and are presented with the following scene (graciously rendered by Google Bard from a description by me): How would you describe what you see? Maybe something like, On the desk in front of me theres a medium-sized, shiny green sphere in front of a large, matte red cube. The process by which you see, however, doesnt involve the wholesale transmission of information about discrete objects from the environment to your consciousness. Rather, that process involves the decomposition of information into constituent components. Very roughly, the rods and cones in your eyes encode light reflectances from surfaces in your immediate environment into biochemical signals and communicate them, by way of your optic nerve, to your visual cortex, where those signals undergo further processing. Some parts of this process involve distinguishing between light and dark, other parts involve the detection of edges, lines, and orientations, while still other parts involve encoding for color, motion, depth, and object-hood. The way that this process occurs seems to present a problem. How is it that the discrete pieces of information shiny, matte, red, green, sphere, cube, in front, behind, etc. get put back together in the right way when that information eventually makes its way to your consciousness? Given the scene on your desk and the process by which your sense organs and brain process that visual information of the scene, why do you become aware of the right collection of properties the green, shininess, and spherical shape belonging to the object in front, and the red, matte surface, and cubic shape belonging to the object behind? In fact, why are the properties even connected at all in your consciousness, rather than appearing as separate impressions of color, shape, surface, etc.? This puzzle of how it is that the visual properties that we sense are bound together into experiences of objects is one version of the binding problem in neuroscience. Merely one version, because we can easily imagine others. To take just one further example, when you then reach out your hand to grasp the object in front on your desk, why do you register your tactile experiences as belonging to the same green, spherical object that you see? Though the binding problem is still a live problem in 21st century neuroscience, it was actually anticipated more than 2000 years ago, in the Nyaya Sutras (Sutras 3.3.1-14). There, the author of the Sutras uses what is basically the binding problem to argue against the idea that the self might consist in nothing more than a collection of all of the component parts of the living human body. This latter, materialist, view was defended by the Carvaka school, one of the rival schools of the Nyaya. According to the Carvaka school, consciousness is nothing more than a product of certain physical structures interacting together in a particular way. Though much of our knowledge of the Carvaka school comes from critiques of the school by their critics, one of the analogies that the Carvaka themselves apparently employed to explain the production of consciousness from interactions of matter is that of wines intoxicating property emerging from the mixture of material elements during fermentation. One statement of this comes from the Sarva-darsana-samgraha of Madhava Acharya, a 14th century Advaita Vedanta philosopher. In critiquing the Carvaka position, Madhava attributed the fermentation analogy to them, describing them as believing that, from [the four elements] alone, when transformed into the body, intelligence is produced, just as the inebriating power is developed from the mixture of certain ingredients In other words, the elements of the body give rise to consciousness, according to the Carvaka, much as yeasts convert carbohydrate into ethanol. There is no need for anything extra like an immaterial soul. Philosophers of the Nyaya school rejected materialism, believing there to be an immaterial soul that was the substrate of consciousness. Their main reason for this was, essentially, the binding problem: they didnt see how disparate sense organs could produce the unified experiences that characterize our consciousness. For example, in 3.1.1 of the Nyaya Sutra, we see the argument that consciousness cannot simply be the produce of a sense organ, because we can apprehend [one and the same] object through both sight and touch. In other words, if consciousness were nothing more than the result of an aggregation of body parts, then perception could not occur as a unified event. When I perceive an object like a pot, it is experienced as a single, unified pot. But if my self were really just an assemblage of body parts like hands, feet, eyes, etc., then each body part would perceive only a fragment or aspect of the pot. Further, at 3.1.7, the text argues that consciousness must be over and above the sense organs, because what is seen by the left eye is recognized by the right. The idea seems to be that if there were nothing over and above my conscious perception that the action of my sense organs then my two eyes, being two distinct organs, would each perceive at best distinct pots. There would be no unification or coordination of these fragmented perceptions into the experience of a whole pot. So given that in reality, perception does occur as a unified event with objects appearing as integrated wholes, the Nyaya argue that there must be an underlying perceiver a self that accounts for this unity. This self which unifies diverse sensory experiences cannot itself just be a random bundle of body parts and sensory organs. There must be a distinct, unitary entity that oversees and combines the sensory impressions coming from different parts of the body to generate a meaningful, coherent experience of objects. This is why the Nyaya take the Carvaka view to be incorrect the self is not the same thing as the body or its parts. There must, on the Nyaya view, be an independent, non-physical self that organizes and unifies bodily perceptions into a single, seamless experience of reality. My point here isnt to endorse the Nyaya rejection of materialism in favor of an immaterial soul, nor to endorse the Nyaya implication that the binding problem entails that materialism is unworkable indeed, I reject both of these claims. Rather, its simply to marvel at the fact that around 200 B.C.E. more than 2000 years ago! these thinkers anticipated a problem that still plagues contemporary neuroscience and indeed discussed that problem with an impressively high level of sophistication. (Some of these ideas might have been floating around even earlier than the Nyaya discussion. Fragment 88 of Empedocles, One vision is produced by both the eyes, suggests that Empedocles, who lived in the 400s B.C.E., might also have had the binding problem in mind. However, the discussion in the Nyaya Sutras is a far more explicit and sophisticated treatment of the problem than what we find in Empedocles.) Actually, my goal is not merely to marvel at the richness of the Nyaya discussion. Its also to lament that so few students even philosophy students receive any introduction to that richness. Until about a decade ago, even my introductory philosophy courses only drew from the so-called western philosophical tradition, with no mention of India, China, the Arabic tradition, or Africa this despite the fact that, during my grad school years at Brown, I taught a continuing education course on philosophical traditions in classical India. About a decade ago I redesigned my introductory course in philosophy so that it includes at least a smattering of the traditions of India, China, Arabic philosophy, and African philosophy. Now, when I revisit so many of these marvelous texts, I cant help but feel that students who only encounter the classics of Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Locke, Hume, and Kant - wonderful as those philosophers are! are missing out on a whole world of philosophical debate. The Nyaya anticipation of the binding problem is only one example, the merest glimpse of that wider world. Trader Joe's shoppers are warned to 'stay vigilant' as authorities in the San Francisco Bay area struggle to contain soaring crime. Thieves are snatching wallets from unattended shopping carts and open purses while customers shop, the Livermore Police Department warned on Facebook. The force has advised that shoppers 'stay vigilant,' 'minimize distractions,' and 'avoid leaving items unattended' as high crime continues to impact stores across neighboring California cities. Officers issued the warning just one day after diner chain Denny's and popular burger spot In-N-Out closed stores in nearby Oakland due to surging crime. Robbery in the city is up by 37 per cent year-on-year, burglary up 24 per cent and motor vehicle theft rising 45 per cent to reach an all-time record. Other local businesses have reportedly taken extra measures to protect employees, including encouraging them to dine inside the office building and hiring 'security escorts' to walk staff to public transit, parking garages and restaurants. Trader Joe's shoppers are warned to 'stay vigilant' as authorities in the San Francisco Bay area struggle to contain soaring crime This Denny's - the only one in Oakland, CA - closed its doors on Wednesday after 54 years The Denny's closure follows that of Subway, Starbucks and In-N-Out Burger - all of which have become magnets for car burglars Livermore police on Thursday warned of a new 'crime trend' that has apparently been hitting Trader Joe's stores in the Tri-Valley. 'In these crimes, wallets were taken from unattended shopping carts or open purses while victims were shopping in the store,' the force said. In a bid to keep the shopping experience 'safe and secure', police advised that customers should follow five simple steps: Stay vigilant. Shoppers should watch their surroundings and be aware of who is nearby, 'especially in crowded areas or during peak hours', the force said. Secure your belongings. Police say shoppers should keep their wallets in a 'secure location', such as a front pocket or zipped bag that is kept close to your body. Minimize distractions. Customers should avoid checking their phones or getting lost in store aisles. Officers encouraged customers to instead 'stay focused' on their shopping to avoid becoming an 'easy target' for thieves. Avoid leaving items unattended. Livermore police said that shoppers should 'never leave your wallet or valuables unattended' in the cart or on a counter, even if it is 'just for a moment'. Trust your instincts. Shoppers should notify store staff or security immediately if they notice any suspicious behavior of if 'something feels off'. 'Remember, staying alert and taking proactive measures can go a long way in protecting your belongings and ensuring a worry-free shopping experience,' the force added. 'Let's work together to keep all stores a safe haven for shoppers!' Nearby Danville Police Department also warned of the trend on their Facebook page. telling locals: 'Dont assume your belongings are safe in a shopping cart without taking precautions. 'Always be mindful of your surroundings.' Livermore police's warning came just one day after a 54-year-old branch of Denny's permanently closed its doors in Oakland on Wednesday amid threats to 'the safety and wellbeing' of staff and customers. Employees were only told of the closure on Tuesday and several were seen in tears on their last day, FOX 2 reported. The restaurant, like many other businesses in the area, had seen its fair share of break-ins, robberies and violent crime. Denny's officials declined to speak to FOX 2 on camera, but a sign posted on the diner's front door reiterated that 'the safety and well-being of Denny's team members and valued guests is our top priority'. Locals said closure of the beloved spot was 'overwhelming' and 'terrible', but also was seen as indicative of the malaise in the area. According to Fox Business, other local businesses have ramped up security measures in a bid to keep workers safe. Health insurance provider Blue Shield and cleaning supply company Clorox reported hired security to escort staff from the building to 'BART, parking garages and restaurants'. Similarly, Kaiser Permanente - a healthcare company headquartered in Oakland - is understood to have told employees to eat inside as crime continues to target business in the area. Signs outside Denny's warned of theft, amid a surge in robberies The Denny's closure follows that of Subway, Starbucks and In-N-Out Burger - all of which have become magnets for car burglars. A spokesperson for In-N-Out previously told SFGATE that customers and employees experienced regular car break-ins, property damage and armed robberies. A Shell gas station about a mile from the Denny's had also become a hotspot for vehicle break-ins. The Oakland Police Department previously said 271 auto burglaries, 15 robberies and five instances of vehicle theft occurred at the Shell station in 2023. Police say the criminals, who operate in well-organized groups, follow the same playbook: a spotter keeps watch for targets, usually rentals headed to or from the airport, as they pull up at the gas stations. They then alert accomplices, who pull up in a vehicle when the targets start to pump fuel. Often, they smash a rear window or pop the trunk of unlocked vehicles before making off with luggage and valuables. The thefts take just seconds. The spike has earned the Shell the nickname 'America's most dangerous gas station'. The two Chevron sites are also top contenders for the unwanted title. Online reviews for these gas stations and the In-N-Out are flooded with dozens of complaints from customers who were hit by the crooks. One shocking video from the In-N-Out parking lot shows a thief smash into a black SUV in broad daylight. The crook leans, feet off the ground, through the vehicle's rear window and snatches up several items before escaping into a waiting getaway car as more than a dozen onlookers watch. Another clip from outside the Shell shows a thief deploy exactly the same method to steal a backpack from the trunk. Feet of the ground, he leans into a smashed rear window to scoop up loot before making an escape. The victim said he was parked for less than two minutes. 'Stay away from this place at all costs,' the review said. 'The thieves were bold enough to use my credit cards at this exact gas station later in the day.' A police patrol car is stationed at the Shell gas station on Hegenberger Road in Oakland, California, in an attempt to deter thieves behind a spike in vehicle thefts Police have also stepped up patrols at a nearby Chevron garage which is also a notorious hotspot. Police say they are powerless to pursue the criminals because smash-and-grab thefts are not considered 'violent crime' A police officer who was patrolling outside the Shell last Thursday told DailyMail.com: 'This has always gone on, but not to the extent it is now.' The officer's assessment is backed up by official crime stats for Oakland which reveal car theft has risen nearly 50 percent across the past year. There were 8,675 car theft cases in the city in 2022, compared with 12,956 last year. The officer said they often see repeat offenders. 'We see someone and they're arrested, then a week later they are back out,' the cop said. Tories sounded the alarm today amid claims 40 asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm have converted to Christianity. Around a seventh of the 300 people housed on the barge on the coast of Dorset are said to be changing their religion. The striking figures fuelled concerns that conversion is being used as a tactic to boost chances of being allowed to stay in the UK. Human rights rules prevent the government deporting individuals to a country where they would be persecuted on the grounds of their religion. Former home secretary Suella Braverman is among those warning that churches seem to be 'rubber stamping' conversions to Christianity. Conservative MP Lee Anderson said this morning that the apparent 40 converts on the Bibby Stockholm was 'great news for the congregation, but not great news for the taxpayer'. However, he also pointed out that Rwanda, where the government is hoping to send some Channel arrivals, has a majority Christian population. 'So actually the Church is preparing the illegal migrants for a Christian life in Rwanda,' he posted on social media. The row comes after it emerged that the Clapham chemical attack suspect, Abdul Ezedi, was able to gain asylum in the UK after claiming he had converted to Christianity - despite being convicted of a sexual offence three years prior. Tories sounded the alarm today amid claims 40 asylum seekers on the Bibby Stockholm (pictured) have converted to Christianity Conservative MP Lee Anderson said this morning that the apparent 40 converts on the Bibby Stockholm was 'great news for the congregation, but not great news for the taxpayer' Abdul Ezedi (pictured), was able to gain asylum in the UK after claiming he had converted to Christianity, despite having been convicted of a sexual offence three years prior The Church of England has since come under fire for allegedly 'facilitating industrial-scale bogus asylum claims', with Ms Braverman and Dame Priti Patel accusing church leaders of 'political activism'. But the Church of England said it is currently not aware of any links between the case and its churches. A Church spokesman 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'. The current Home Secretary, James Cleverly, is expected to receive an initial report detailing the full facts of the case later. He will consider whether laws need to be changed to better scrutinize conversion claims, and he will examine whether to enable the automatic deportation of convicted foreign criminals such as Ezedi. Church elder David Rees told the BBC that a number of asylum seekers housed on the barge were undergoing the process of becoming Christian through UK courses such as Christian Alpha, while others converted in their home country. 'Local faith leaders have visited the barge and work with the council and the barge management in looking after these guys,' he said. Mr Rees said he was confident that all 40 Bibby Stockholm migrants were genuinely converting to Christianity. '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.' The Home Office said caseworkers are trained to only grant protection to those in genuine need by assessing claims 'in the round' and not taking priests' testimony as 'determinative'. Tory former minister Tim Loughton said he was concerned that Christian conversion had become a scam, claiming there were some cases in which asylum seekers had even been tattooed with crucifixes 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 told the Telegraph. Ms Braverman told GB News 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.' Ezedi is a former asylum seeker from Afghanistan who is thought to have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan on the back of a lorry in 2016. He was granted asylum after getting a priest to vouch that he had converted to Christianity from Islam, despite having been convicted of two sexual assault offences three years earlier. The Home Office had previously twice refused the 35-year-old's request to stay in the country. Former home secretary Suella Braverman is among those warning that churches seem to be 'rubber stamping' conversions to Christianity The current Home Secretary, James Cleverly , is expected to receive an initial report detailing the full facts of the case later Church support for Ezedi's conversion is understood to have been critical to persuading an immigration tribunal judge to back his third appeal for asylum, with a priest vouching that he was 'wholly committed' to the Christian faith. Ezedi, 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. An Italian teenage girl was dragged into a public toilet and gang-raped in front of her boyfriend. The girl, 13, was sexually assaulted in the Villa Bellini park in Catania, Sicily, around 7.30pm on January 30 while on a walk with her 17-year-old boyfriend. A group of young men forced the girl and her boyfriend into a public bathroom, where some of them held the boyfriend back while two others gang-raped the girl. There are seven male suspects - three of them minors- who allegedly entered Italy illegally between November 2021 and March 2023 as 'unaccompanied minors', La Repubblica reports. The suspects are reportedly from Egypt and aged 15 to 19. 'Two grabbed me and others grabbed my boyfriend. And they took us to the bathrooms of the villa. It was a nightmare, there was no one there at that time,' she told the outlet. The girl, 13, was sexually assaulted in the Villa Bellini park in Catania, Sicily, around 7.30pm on January 30 while on a walk with her 17-year-old boyfriend (pictured: the public bathroom where she was raped) A group of young men forced the girl and her boyfriend into a public bathroom (pictured), where some of them held the boyfriend back while two others gang-raped the girl She said she was trying to free herself, as was her boyfriend, but they couldn't overpower the seven teenagers. Two of them allegedly raped her while the others watched. She said: 'And they forced my boyfriend to watch too.' 'He was screaming, he was desperate. I said: "I beg you, I beg you, don't hurt me, let me go."' The rape went on for 30 minutes until the couple could finally break free and escape. They immediately alerted the Carabinieri, who managed to catch the group within 24 hours. The victim has identified the two underage alleged perpetrators of the rape, police said yesterday. One of them is said to be one of the rapists while the other was one of the boys who watched and held back the girl's boyfriend. DNA evidence successfully linked one of the three minors to the rape, the prosecutor confirmed. The rape in the public toilet (pictured) went on for 30 minutes until the couple could finally break free and escape. They immediately alerted the Carabinieri, who managed to catch the group within 24 hours The girl was raped around 7.30pm on January 30 in the Villa Bellini park in Catania, Sicily (pictured) While the girl could reportedly only identify two of the attackers out of fear of accusing an innocent person, her boyfriend identified the other five, Corriere reports. According to the Catania prosecutor's office, the seven suspects are accused of gang sexual violence. Two of the suspects - one of them the group's oldest at 19 - have reportedly been helping with the investigation. Both say they were watching the attack but claim they did not rape the girl. Four adults have been arrested, while the three minors are detained at the Precautionary First Reception Center in Catania. One of the minors tried to escape, but was caught when he returned home to grab some clothes, according to La Repubblica. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who was in Catania on a pre-arranged visit said she was shocked about the rape. She expressed her sympathies for the victim and promised that 'justice will be done'. A delivery driver who inherited 100,000 has revealed how he chose 12 strangers random to give the money away, because he already had enough to live on. David Clarke, 34, said he handed out the cash to 'do his bit' to help out in his local Liverpool neighbourhood of Toxteth and nearby Dingle. Mr Clarke, a researcher who also works as a delivery driver, insisted he did not need the money because he already had enough to live on. He wrote to 600 households in the city's L8 district last July though only 40 replied, prompting him to say: 'I think most people thought it was a scam.' But he has praised the 12 he chose at random to decide how to distribute the money, finally settling on four different local community charity schemes to back. Researcher and delivery driver David Clarke, 34, inherited 100,000 but decide to donate it all to local causes to help out in the deprived Liverpool district of Toxteth David Clarke, pictured right, chose 12 strangers at random to meet and discuss how to distribute the 100,000 windfall - with the rule they could not reward themselves The L8 district in Liverpool, including Toxteth, has been rated as one of the UK's most deprived HOW DOES POVERTY AFFECT HEALTH? Poverty raises a person's risk of poor health. One in five people in the UK live in poverty, which is often defined as having a household income of 60 per cent less than average. People in the most deprived parts of the UK live on average 19 years less than those in the most affluent areas. And in the US, 12.3 per cent of people lived in poverty in 2017, according to the Center for Poverty Research at the University of California, Davis. Experiencing poverty in early childhood is thought to cause stress that can lead to lasting damage. A lack of money also makes it difficult to adopt healthy behaviours. For instance, it costs three times more to get the energy we need from healthy food than from less nutritious options. Not having a financial safety net can also affect a person's self-esteem, which makes them less motivated to better their circumstances by studying or retraining. The stress of having to worry about money can also lead to unhealthy behaviours, such as smoking. Source: The Health Foundation Advertisement They had been given a rule stipulating they were unable to grant themselves any of the windfall. Mr Clarke said: 'I just feel there is too much inequality so I wanted to do my bit to try to address that.' He described the group discussions as 'gripping to watch', adding: 'People really embraced it and took it seriously and there was a lot of passion and energy in the space. Lindsay Challoner-Eke, one of the 12 strangers taking part, said: 'The money is so needed here - we felt it was important that everyone from children to pensioners could benefit from the money. 'Once we decided who we were giving the money to we had to give it to them with no conditions - we trusted them to know what its needed to be spent on.' Four organisations have now been handed 25,000 apiece. The group decided to support the Florrie community centre, as well as the Dingle, Granby and Toxteth Collaborative schools network, the Team Oasis children's charity and the Granby and Toxteth Development Trust. Ms Challoner-Eke described Mr Clarke as a 'wonderful, humble, genuine' person, going on to say: 'To do that for people you don't know is amazing. David Clarke praised the group's discussions where people were willing to 'speak frankly' He picked 12 people at random from about 40 households who responded to his initial letters The group settled on supporting four different initiatives in the L8 postcode of Liverpool 'I feel so proud normal people have been given the power to decide what the money gets spent on. 'The power to be able to help so directly is amazing.' Meanwhile, he praised the people of Liverpool for being 'willing to challenge each other and speak frankly in their discussions'. He added: 'They have a strong set of values and community solidarity. 'They are always looking out for each other.' Mr Clarke, who has shared information about the project on his website Wealth Shared, urged others to take similar action. He said: 'To anyone who is lucky to have more money than they need, and is wondering what to do with it, I recommend this as a solution. 'The money will have more benefit now than it did when it was sitting in my account.' David Clarke has urged others to take similar action to help local communities in need The groups now being given 125,000 each are the Florrie community centre, as well as the Dingle, Granby and Toxteth Collaborative schools network, the Team Oasis children's charity and the Granby and Toxteth Development Trust Toxteth was the birthplace of The Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr and a mural celebrating him and the band was unveiled at the former Empress pub in March 2022 Toxteth - the birthplace of The Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr, whose former local pub has just gone on sale - was rated the most deprived area in Britain in 2012, with 62 per cent of children and 52 per cent of pensioners living in poverty. In 2013 Liverpool City Council launched its 'Homes For A Pound' scheme in the area, to sell off 20 dilapidated, terraced housing stock and regenerate the Toxteth estate. The 20 run-down houses there were snapped up for just 1 each within minutes and the local authority later held further waves of similar sales, aimed at bringing about 6,000 empty houses in the city back into use. Property prices in Toxteth did rise by 20 per cent in a year, although the 2021 census still put the area as the third most deprived in Liverpool. A British tourist has been handed a four-year prison sentence after confessing to raping his son's female friend in a Magaluf hotel room. Spanish state prosecutors said before the trial today in Majorca they wanted him jailed for nine years if convicted of the May 9, 2023, sex attack. The 43-year-old Briton, named in court documents as David McPaul Wigging, struck a plea bargain deal through his lawyer ahead of the full trial at the Audiencia Court in the island capital Palma this morning. It was confirmed he would receive a four-year prison sentence during a subsequent brief public hearing. The fact he was very drunk when he attacked his victim - also believed to be British - was taken into account as a mitigating factor. Spanish state prosecutors said before the trial today in Majorca they wanted the man (pictured left) jailed for nine years if convicted of the May 9, 2023, sex attack The 43-year-old Briton (centre) struck a plea bargain deal through his lawyer ahead of the full trial at the Audiencia Court in the island capital Palma this morning He will be expelled from Spain once he has completed half of his sentence. Prosecutors outlined in a pre-trial indictment how the British man agreed to let the woman he went on to rape stay in their room after his son got chatting to her around their holiday hotel pool. They said in the two-page indictment: 'In the early hours of May 9, 2023, the accused, with the intention of satisfying his sexual desire, and taking advantage of the fact his victim had consumed a large amount of alcohol and was in a deep sleep on a sofa bed, got alongside her and penetrated her without her realising. 'As she woke up and began shouting at him to stop, he grabbed her by the arm [...]. 'The woman subsequently went to a medical centre and was very emotionally affected and in a depressed state. 'Medical experts who examined her recorded she had three small bruises compatible with being grabbed as well as marks on her breast.' Spanish state prosecutors said before David McPaul Wigging's trial today in Majorca they wanted him jailed for nine years if convicted of the May 9 2023 sex attack (file image of Magaluf) The man was arrested at Palma Airport after 'packing his bags and trying to return to the UK' hours after the rape. He has been in prison since. As well as serving a four-year prison sentence he is also paying his victim 6,400 in compensation as part of the plea bargain deal. Local reports at the time of his arrest said police took a statement from the rape victim before going to the unnamed Magaluf hotel where the sex attack took place and finding the man they were looking for had already checked out of the hotel. He was arrested at his flight boarding gate, having allegedly brought his holiday to a premature end by rescheduling his return days before he was originally due to leave by buying a new ticket home. An investigating magistrate ordered his remand in jail after he was hauled to court for questioning during a closed session in which the woman, said to be British and aged around 20, gave her version of events. It is not yet clear where the self-confessed rapist will serve his time in jail. The time he has already spent behind bars will be taken into account in determining when he will become a free man again. A British adventure firm has been investigated for fraud after 30 British trekkers arrived at Mount Kilimanjaro to find the trip had not been paid for 'due to cash flow problems' - even though they had forked out a combined 100,000. The group of charity climbers set off from Britain on their 'exciting and worthy' 6,000-mile trip to Tanzania to raise money for refugees. But they were left shocked when they arrived in Africa to find that their expected hotel along with other parts of the trip hadn't been paid for. North Wales Police has confirmed it is investigating Aspire Adventures, run by Jason Rawles, 49, over possible wrongdoing. The group received an email from organiser Mr Rawles as soon as they arrived to say he 'cannot make payment for what is needed for your Kilimanjaro trip'. The group of charity climbers (pictured) set off from Britain on their 'exciting and worthy' 6,000-mile trip to Tanzania to raise money for refugees But they were left shocked when they arrived in Africa to find that their expected hotel along with other parts of the trip hadn't been paid for (pictured: Mount Kilimanjaro) North Wales Police has confirmed it is investigating Aspire Adventures, run by Jason Rawles (pictured), 49, over possible wrongdoing Mr Rawles set up Aspire Adventures in Eryri, also known as Snowdonia, North Wales, in 2013 which organises local mountain trips as well as treks around the globe. He was contacted by Hope4 - an organisation that supports refugees in Ukraine, Moldova and Romania - for help to organise a trek up the highest mountain in Africa. The group spent around 100,000 with the company to run the trip to Kilimanjaro and they raised around 43,000 for the charity. But the email from Mr Rawles' account read: 'Over the past week we have been hit by a series of events outside of our control with cash in the bank and payments needed. 'I have tried everything, and I do mean everything. We have now just run out of options and cash flow is just one of many things that have happened all at the same time. I have no personal funds or assets. 'Covid and business let-downs have seen to that. I have made some heartfelt calls to continue with the business including not paying myself since 2019. Mr Rawles (pictured) set up Aspire Adventures in Eryri, also known as Snowdonia, North Wales, in 2013 which organises local mountain trips as well as treks around the globe 'When I say I've explored everything, I do mean everything. The reality is we cannot make payment for what is needed for your Kilimanjaro trip and Aspire Adventures along with myself must have a health break effective immediately and I'll be seeking support from professional care teams.' He added that he was 'desperately sorry, deeply humiliated' and over time 'no one would be left out of pocket'. The company has since announced it is going into liquidation. A spokesperson for North Wales Police said: 'We are investigating allegations of potential fraud made regarding the trading practices of Anglesey-based company, Aspire Adventures. 'Our enquiries into these reports are ongoing, and we encourage anyone with information that could assist to contact us via our website or by calling 101, quoting reference 24000093487.' One of Melbourne's top restaurants will close by the end of week after its owners decided to 'move on to new beginnings' following more than 40 years of service. La Porchetta, known for its affordable and high-quality Italian cuisine, will close its original Carlton store on Rathdowne Street on Sunday. The store was taken over by Rocco 'Rocky' Pantaleo and fellow Italian immigrant Felice Nania in 1985 and became a hotspot, especially with students. La Porchetta has since grown into an international franchise with dozens of stores across Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. The Carlton restaurant has remained the jewel in the company's crown with a large sign near its entrance declaring it 'The Original'. The original La Porchetta Italian restaurant in Carlton (pictured) will close its doors on Sunday La Porchetta, famous for its affordable and high-quality Italian, was a hotspot for Melbourne students However, Pantaleo family members Natalina and Azzurra on Monday shared a 'bittersweet farewell' to the iconic location on Monday. 'Rocky and his family have been serving delicious and affordable Italian pizza and pasta dishes with all their love and passion since the early 1980s,' they said. 'Their dedication created an institution in the hospitality sector and a standard for Italian restaurant franchising in Australia.' The women said the family had made the difficult decision to 'pursue new ventures'. On a more personal note, the family thanked their loyal customers who loved the Carlton restaurant and left them with 'no regrets'. 'Your unwavering support has kept us going strong ... we have grown so fond of serving all of you each and every day,' they said. 'We hope you feel comfort in the fact that you helped contribute to the legacy that is La Porchetta Carlton and we are unequivocally grateful for that. 'It is the end of an era but the legacy will live on forever through the memories!' La Porchetta's owners, the Pantaleo family, shared a post (pictured) on Monday announcing the store's closure Dozens of La Porchetta restaurants in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland will continue trading. The enormous Rathdowne Street restaurant features hand-painted signs on its exterior boasting it's 'Pizza No. 1 in Australia' while its walls inside are plastered with photos of the owners, customers and celebrities. However, the restaurant drew negative attention in 1996 after Calabrian-born Rocky Pantaleo shot and killed the uncle of a waitress he sexually assaulted. There were also allegations the store was tied to local crime figures. Mr Pantaleo died in a traffic accident at the age of 53 in 2010. There is no suggestion Natalina Pantaleo or Azzurra Pantaleo have connections to organised crime. While food critics were massive fans of the family-friendly eatery, La Porchetta Carlton was often overlooked by the suburb's new wave of trendy 'foodies'. Nevertheless, dozens of upset La Porchetta fans said they'd be sad to see the original store close and commented the shop should be 'heritage listed'. Dozens of La Porchetta restaurants will continue to trade in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales 'Thanks for so many memories of great food, service and prices - all in a place with a friendly atmosphere,' wrote a customer who frequented the store since 1987. 'So sad to see you go! My first meal in Australia was at La Porchetta when I moved from overseas 37 years ago. Rocky used to speak French to me when I was coming to pick up pizzas,' another said. 'We celebrated my daughter's christening here when she was only eight months young. She is now 20,' another wrote. Antony Blinken is making a fifth trip to the Middle East in a bid to secure a new truce in the Israel-Hamas war as the US revealed it intends to unleash further strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. The US Secretary of State is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Israel in the coming days on his fifth trip to the region since Hamas's October 7 attack that triggered the war. Blinken departed for the Middle East from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sunday after stressing the need for 'urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza'. His trip will focus on advancing talks on the return of hostages taken from Israel by Hamas in exchange for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza. He will also make a push on a US-brokered mega deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel to normalize ties, which hinges on bringing an end to other Gaza conflict and steps toward a future Palestinian state. Blinken's diplomacy tour also comes as at least six Kurdish fighters were killed in a drone attack late Sunday night on a base in Syria housing US troops. The US on Sunday also launched fresh strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi targets in Yemen in retaliation to almost daily blitzes on civilian and military ships in vital Red Sea shipping waters by the terrorist group. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, pictured boarding a plane at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on Sunday, is making a fifth trip to the Middle East in a bid to secure a new truce in the Israel- Hamas war Israeli troops are seen operating in Khan Yunis, on the southern Gaza Strip, amid ongoing battles between Israel and Hamas on Sunday, February 4 Palestinians carry out a search and rescue operation around the rubble and inspect the building demolished belonging to the Abdulhadi family after 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 following Israeli bombardment on February 5, 2024, as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas Blinken is headed to the Middle East for his first trip since Washington brokered an offer with Israeli input for the first extended ceasefire of the war. Upon arriving in the region, he is expected to discuss a proposed truce thrashed out in a Paris meeting in January of top US, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials. The proposed truce would pause fighting for an initial six weeks as Hamas frees hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, according to a Hamas source. The offer, delivered to Hamas last week by Qatari and Egyptian mediators, still awaits a reply from the terrorists who say they want more guarantees that it will bring an end to the four-month-old war in the Gaza Strip. Hamas has said no agreement has yet been reached, while some Israeli officials have expressed opposition to any perceived concessions. The diplomatic push has become more urgent with the surge in attacks across the region by Iran-backed groups in solidarity with Hamas, triggering counterattacks by the United States. Meanwhile, Israel has pressed on with its offensive in some of the war's most intense combat, and threatened a new ground assault on Rafah, a small city where more than half of Gaza's people are now penned against the enclave's southern border abutting Egypt, mainly sleeping rough in makeshift tents. The UN has called the southern border city of Rafah a 'pressure cooker of despair' as more than half of the Gaza Strip's population is displaced there. Locals are pictured checking the damage following Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on February 3, 2024 Palestinians watch a car burn after it was hit by an Israeli in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on Sunday A boy carries gas canisters in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on February 4, 2024, as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas READ MORE: Drone attack on US base in Syria kills six allied Kurdish fighters as Iran-backed militias respond to American strikes and Islamic Resistance in Iraq claims responsibility Advertisement The ceasefire proposal, described by sources close to the talks, would see a truce for at least 40 days, while militants would free remaining hostages from among the 253 they captured in the deadly October 7 raid into Israel that precipitated the war. Israel says 132 hostages remain in Gaza including at least 27 believed to have been killed. It would let in aid to alleviate Gaza's humanitarian crisis and let Gaza's 2.3 million people return to homes abandoned during a war that has laid waste to much of the enclave. The only previous truce so far lasted one week. 'We want the war to end and we want to go back home, this is all that we want at this stage,' said Yamen Hamad, 35, a father of four reached by messaging app at a United Nations (UN) school in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza. The area is one of the few where Israeli tanks have yet to advance and is now jammed with tens of thousands of displaced families. 'All we do is listen to the news through small radios and view the internet looking for hope. We hope that Blinken will tell (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu enough is enough, and we hope our factions decide in the best interest of our people.' The war - sparked by Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel - resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. Vowing to eliminate the terrorist group, 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. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken walks to board a plane at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on February 4, 2024, en route to Saudi Arabia as part of his fifth urgent trip to the Middle East since the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza erupted in October Antony Blinken exits a vehicle before boarding a plane, en route to Saudi Arabia, on February 4, 2024 Blinken departed for the Middle East on Sunday after stressing the need for 'urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza'. Pictured are Palestinians searching for missing people under the rubble of a destroyed residential building in Rafah refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, on Sunday, February 4, 2024 Palestinian children wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen amid shortages of food supplies, as the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas continues, in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, February 5, 2024 Palestinians, trying to live in makeshift tents they set up on the sidewalks are viewed in Rafah, Gaza on February 4, 2024 Thousands of Palestinians who fled the Israeli army attacks and took refuge in Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip are struggling to survive with limited means. A woman is pictured doing her washing in Rafah on Sunday, February 4, 2024 Before departing for the region, Blinken said that the humanitarian crisis would be one of his focuses. 'Urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza and advancing stability in the Middle East are priorities we share with Saudi Arabia,' Blinken said he told Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan. The Gulf state had been mulling establishing formal relations with Israel before the war. After talks in January with de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Blinken said he still saw a 'clear interest' in pursuing normalization. It comes as aid groups have repeatedly sounded the alarm over the devastating impact on the besieged territory of nearly four months of war. 'The situation is indescribable,' said Said Hamouda, a Palestinian who fled his home in the Gaza Strip to the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt. Dubbed a 'pressure cooker of despair' by the UN, Rafah now hosts more than half of Gaza's population, displaced due to Israel's assault. 'Whether you have a million dollars or a hundred you are in the same situation,' Hamouda said. Gazans have faced dire humanitarian conditions, and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said on X that 'there is very limited access to clean water and sanitation amid relentless bombardment'. UNRWA itself is facing a major controversy after accusations that 12 staff members were involved in Hamas's October 7 attack. More than a dozen countries, led by the United States, suspended their funding to the agency after the claims surfaced. On Sunday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned that nations suspending funding to UNRWA were threatening the existence of an agency providing 'vital aid to more than 1.1 million people in Gaza suffering from catastrophic hunger and the outbreak of diseases'. The UN has announced an audit into the agency's operations. Israeli troops are pictured in an underground tunnel on February 4, 2024, which Israel's army said they found during a raid in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip Israel's army said on February 4 its forces had raided a Hamas training facility in Gaza where militants prepared for the October 7 attack on Israel. Pictured is a structure in Khan Yunis with a ladder leading underground Blinken's latest Middle East visit comes as Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told the Wall Street Journal that its key ally has not shown sufficient support. 'Instead of giving us his full backing, (US President Joe) Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel (to Gaza), which goes to Hamas,' he said in an article published Sunday. His outburst followed Washington imposing sanctions on four settlers amid rising violence against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit back, saying: 'I don't need help to know how to navigate our relations with the US and the international community, while standing firm on our national interests.' As well as divisions within his cabinet, Netanyahu is also facing public fury over the fate of the remaining hostages. Hundreds of people rallied Saturday in Tel Aviv to demand early elections. Over the weekend, Israel pressed further south towards the overflowing border city, warning its ground forces could advance on Rafah as part of its campaign to eradicate Hamas. On Monday morning, sources told reporters they could hear artillery shelling in the areas of eastern Rafah and Khan Yunis, southern Gaza's main city. Israel says Khan Yunis is where militants prepared for the October 7 attack, and that high-ranking Hamas officials are hiding there. At least 128 people, mostly women and children, were killed in Israeli strikes overnight Sunday to Monday in the besieged territory, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory. The Hamas government media office said Israeli bombardments have continued across the centre and southern end of the coastal Strip, including near hospitals. The Israeli army said troops continued to conduct 'targeted raids' in central and northern Gaza. In Khan Yunis, forces killed 'dozens of terrorists who ambushed the troops throughout the city', it added. A fleet of United States warships have joined forces to launch missiles and support strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi targets in Yemen on Sunday The USS Gravely, USS Carney and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower were amongst US warships to have launched missiles at Houthi forces on Sunday US Central Command uploaded a video of the launches on X (formerly known as Twitter ) showing the dramatic moments as the missiles are unleashed from the ships The strikes came after American military crews destroyed a Houthi cruise missile on Saturday READ MORE: How Iran props up a network of terror proxies across the Middle East from Hamas to the Houthis to exert its power and attack western targets across the region Advertisement The White House national security adviser also revealed on Sunday that the US intends to launch further strikes at Iran-backed groups in the Middle East, after hitting Tehran-aligned factions in Iraq, Syria and Yemen over the last two days. The US and Britain unleashed attacks against 36 Houthi targets in Yemen, a day after the US military hit Tehran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for a deadly attack on US troops in Jordan. '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, when our people are killed,' White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told NBC's Meet the Press program on Sunday. Tehran-backed groups declaring support for the Palestinians have entered the fray across the region: Hezbollah has fired at Israeli targets at the Lebanese-Israeli border, Iraqi militias have fired on US forces in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthis have fired on shipping in the Red Sea and at Israel itself. Iran has so far avoided any direct role in the conflict, even as it backs those groups. The Pentagon has said it does not want war with Iran and does not believe Tehran wants war either. Sullivan declined to be drawn on whether the United States might attack sites inside Iran, something the US military has been very careful to avoid. Speaking to CBS Face the Nation program moments earlier, he said Friday's strikes were 'the beginning, not the end, of our response, and there will be more steps - some seen, some perhaps unseen'. 'I would not describe it as some open-ended military campaign,' he said. Houthi tribesmen gather after US and UK air strikes on Houthi positions near Sanaa, Yemen on Sunday The strikes on Saturday were meant to further disable Iran-backed groups that have relentlessly attacked American and international interests Houthi fighters are pictured riding vehicles at a rally in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and the recent Houthi strikes on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on February 4 Saturday's strikes in Yemen hit buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems, launchers and other capabilities the Houthis have used to attack Red Sea shipping, the Pentagon said, adding it targeted 13 locations. The Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the strikes 'will not pass without a response and consequences'. Another Houthi spokesperson, Mohammed Abdulsalam, indicated the group would not be deterred, saying Yemen's decision to support Gaza would not be affected by any attack. Residents described being shaken by powerful blasts. 'The building I live in shook,' said Fatimah, a resident of Houthi-controlled Sanaa, adding that it had been years since she had felt such blasts in a country that has suffered years of war. The Houthis did not announce any casualties. Labour's support among muslim voters has dropped by around a third amid anger at Keir Starmer's Israel stance, according to a poll. Research by Survation found that the party was backed by around 86 per cent of muslims at the last election in 2019. However, that has seemingly dropped to 60 per cent in a new survey. The findings will raise fresh concerns in Labour circles about the impact of the raging war in Gaza. Sir Keir repeatedly refused to call for an immediate ceasefire as Israel responded to the Hamas massacre of civilians on October 7. The Opposition is facing a crucial test in the Rochdale by-election on February 29, with George Galloway running against their candidate on a pro-Palestinian platform. Simon Danczuk, who previously held the seat for Labour, is also standing for Reform UK. Labour 's support among muslim voters has dropped by around a third amid anger at Keir Starmer 's Israel stance, according to a poll Survation highlighted that their poll was carried out using a 'probability based, telephone-led approach'. Owing to the difficulty of polling such groups it was a relatively small sample. The research found that Labour had 60 per cent support, the Tories 8 per cent and other parties 32 per cent. That compared to a study from 2021, when people were asked to say how they voted in the 2019 general election. That showed support for Labour at 86 per cent, the Tories on 10 per cent and other parties on 4 per cent. The Rochdale by-election is due to take place on 29 February, having been triggered by the death of veteran Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd last month. Sir Tony had a majority of nearly 10,000 at the 2019 election, and Labour is widely expected to retain the seat after selecting local councillor Azhar Ali as their candidate. However, Mr Galloway has form for causing upsets in constituencies with large muslim communities, and has been urging voters to 'boycott Labour' over its Gaza stance. In a sign of the strength of feeling among activists more widely, deputy leader Angela Rayner was barracked at a fundraiser recently and was driven away by a police escort. Mr Danczuk has been arguing that Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak 'don't care about our town'. He was first elected to the Commons as Rochdale MP at the 2010 general election and retained the seat for Labour at the 2015 general election. But, in December 2015, he was suspended by Labour following newspaper allegations he had exchanged explicit messages with a 17-year-old girl who had been seeking a job in his constituency office. Mr Danczuk apologised for 'inappropriate' behaviour, adding: 'I was stupid and there's no fool like an old fool.' He was later barred from standing as Labour's candidate in Rochdale at the 2017 general election. Mr Danczuk subsequently quit the party and chopped up his membership card as he launched an outspoken attack on then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Advertisement Russia's military for many years has been considered to be the second most powerful in the world, behind only the might of the United States. However, Vladimir Putin's disastrous invasion of Ukraine led to a reevaluation of this perception, with many questioning whether Moscow's vast armies are truly as formidable as they were once thought to be. In the two years since the Russian president ordered the invasion, hundreds of thousands of his soldiers have been killed or injured, thousands of armoured vehicles have been destroyed and several battleships have been sunk - all by a country whose military was considered to be inferior. What's more, after being turned back at the gates of Kyiv, Russia's armies in the north and south of Ukraine were pushed even further back in the second half of 2022 when Volodymyr Zelensky's forces launched lightning counter offensives. But despite its military weaknesses being exposed to the world, Russia has since halted Ukraine's eastward march and ground the war to a standstill across hundreds of miles - fortifying the frontlines with mines, trenches and artillery. Moscow has also called up more conscripts and replenished its forces on the battlefield. It has more troops, new armoured vehicles and a new supply of artillery from its allies North Korea and Iran. Is also making extensive use of drones. With time now working in Putin's favour, there are concerns among Western military figures that he could next set his sights on NATO's eastern flank and to countries which - like Ukraine - were once behind the Soviet Union's Iron Curtain. If he does, it is feared that NATO could be powerless to stop a first wave of attacks against its smaller members in the immediate Russian warpath. Ukraine's forces have put up a heroic fight against Vladimir Putin's invading forces, despite being seen as the inferior military. Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen of the Skala battalion take part in a field military exercise in the Donetsk region on February 3, 2024 Vladimir Putin 's disastrous invasion of Ukraine led to a reevaluation of the perception that Russia commanded the world's second strongest military, with many questioning whether Moscow 's vast armies are truly as formidable as they were once thought to be The fear of a Russian assault has been expressed by NATO officials. Last month, NATO defence chiefs met in Brussels where several emphasised the importance of countries in Europe increasing their readiness for a Russian attack. Admiral Rob Bauer, the chairman of NATO's Military Committee, warned the alliance must brace itself for an all-out war with Russia in the next two decades, while Norway's defence minister said it should be ready in two or three years. This came after secret plans were leaked revealing that Germany is preparing for Putin's forces to attack NATO as early as 2025, and after a senior NATO general said the alliance was preparing for such a scenario to happen within 20 years. When comparing the size and strength of the forces commanded by individual NATO nations to those at Putin's disposal, it is easy to understand the concern. Taken as a whole, NATO is by far the world's most formidable military force. The alliance's 31 countries have a combined military budget of over $1.1 trillion, over three million active personnel, 2.7 million reserve personnel and more than 700,000 troops in paramilitary forces. On top of that, in the event of an all-out war, the alliance's members could collectively call up more than 206 million people for military service (based on their populations of military-aged civilians). NATO countries also have over 14,000 tanks in their arsenals and tens of thousands more combat vehicles, 21,000 military aircraft and almost 2,000 naval vessels. Three nuclear armed nations are also members: the US, the UK and France. As for Russia, before the invasion of Ukraine, the country was reported to have more than one million active personnel and two million in reserve. In its war in Ukraine, estimates suggest Moscow has lost hundreds of thousands of troops. The US estimates 120,000 Russian troops have been killed while a further 170,000-180,000 have been wounded. Ukraine's estimate of Russian losses is even higher. Ukrainian servicemen of the Skala battalion take part in a field military exercise in the Donetsk region on February 3, 2024, amid Russia's on-going invasion of Ukraine Meanwhile, the Oryx project - which counts losses based on photo evidence - says Russia has lost more than 14,000 pieces of military equipment on the battlefield, including more than 2,700 tanks to destruction, damage or capture. But Russia also has the world's largest stockpile of nuclear weapons, and has shifted its economy onto a war footing, meaning it is pouring vast resources into replacing its astonishing losses. Even so, on paper, NATO outstrips Russia's military in every department, while also having - at least based on the evidence seen in Ukraine - more advanced weaponry than Moscow has at its disposal. However, wars are not fought on paper, and the bulk of NATO's formidable strength comes from having the United States as a member. With a presidential election looming in the United States with Donald Trump expected to be on the ballot at the end of the year, some fear US support for NATO in the future is not guaranteed. Without the US and Canada, the playing field between Russia and NATO's European members becomes more level. Ben Hodges, the former Commanding General of US Army Europe, went as far to tell MailOnline last month that European nations would be 'sitting ducks' if Trump was to be elected in November. Again taken as a whole, European NATO states still lead Russia in almost all categories, aside from the number of armoured land vehicles. But with Putin's invasion of Ukraine, Russia has demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice tens of thousands of soldiers for its imperialistic ambitions. NATO has never been tested against such aggression, and doubts remain over whether its member nations would be willing or capable to do the same and replicate the Ukrainians' heroic and dogged defence of their homeland. While not a huge country, Ukraine still had a pre-war population of around 40 million people, and the existential nature of Putin's invasion meant thousands of Ukrainians rushed to serve their country's army. Having already experienced a partial Russian-backed invasion in 2014, Ukraine has also bolstered its military into what turned out to be a formidable force. Other countries that border Russia do not have the same numbers. The Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) - which all border either Russia or its Kaliningrad enclave and were all once under the Soviet Union's iron fist - have populations of 2.7 million, 1.8 million and 1.2 million respectively. Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, also known as 'The Poachers', gather for a group photo during a media visit to Kendrew Barracks on January 26, 2024 A drone shot shows Britain's 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, also known as 'The Poachers', gathering for a photo during exercises in their role as the infantry core of NATO's Spearhead Battlegroup They have similarly small military budgets ($2.23bn, 1.09bn and 1.44bn) and active personnel (23,000, 17,250 and 7,700), and have no main battle tanks between them. The three nations also have a small air force and navy. None have nuclear weapons. Relative to their size, the Baltic states do boast an impressive military reserve, with Lithuania having 104,000 people in reserve - more than the UK and Germany. Estonia, too, has more than 78,000 people in reserve, while Latvia has 36,000. But even if they called on their reserves, all three would be heavily reliant on their NATO allies to come to their aid in the event of a Russian assault into the Baltics. Speaking to MailOnline last month, retired US General Ben Hodges said it would be 'foolish' to assume Putin could not invade a Baltic country and wreak havoc on civilians across Europe. In one scenario, Gen. Hodges says Moscow could first attack the narrow strip of land known as Suwalki Gap, sandwiched between Poland, Lithuania and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Even a small attack on this weak point - the only land border between mainland Europe and the Baltic States - could cause huge problems for NATO. Gen. Hodges said if Putin was successful in blocking the Suwalki gap, Russian forces would use that strip of land and Belarus as a launchpad for the second phase of their offensive. And that second phase would involve sending thousands of Russian soldiers, tanks and special forces, to attack one of the Baltic states on NATO's eastern flank - most likely either Lithuania or Estonia - or even Poland. So after the Baltic states, how does Poland's military shape up? With 38 million people, Poland is similar to Ukraine in terms of size, and like Kyiv, Warsaw has a longstanding distrust of Moscow. Since Russia's invasion of its neighbour, Poland has ramped up its military spending. A British Challenger tank is engaged in a major drill as part of NATO's 'enhanced forward presence' (EFP) deployment in Poland and the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, at the Tapa estonian army camp near Rakvere in 2022 A German soldier is seen carrying an anti-tank launcher during military training last year French soldiers take part in a major drill as part of NATO's 'enhanced forward presence' (EFP) deployment in Poland and the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in 2022 It said it will raise its target defence spending from 2.4 percent of gross domestic product to 5 percent (significantly above NATO's 2 percent requirement). Former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in 2022: 'The Polish army must be so powerful that it does not have to fight due to its strength alone.' Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Baszczak pledged that his country would have 'the most powerful land forces in Europe' and aim to build up its army to 300,000 troops by 2035, from the 150,000 it had in 2022. Poland also has a large reserve force of 240,000, as well as a stockpile of tanks and aircraft - even after sending hundreds to Ukraine. For some officials in the US, Poland is viewed as its key partner in the region, although there are some hurt feelings over the fact that the eastern European nation has struck deals with South Korea to purchase weaponry. Were Poland to enhance its military as it is planning, and if Putin did set his sites further west past the Baltic States, his forces could well find a similarly dogged enemy in the form of Poland as they have done in Ukraine. Another key border that Russia now shares with NATO is Finland's eastern boundary. Finland joined NATO in April 2023, almost doubling the length of NATO's eastern flank with Russia, in response to Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Sweden is set to do the same once its application is approved. As with the other countries that border Russia, Finland has also held a deep distrust of its neighbour to the east. It is one of few European countries to have retained a conscription army through decades of peace, wary of its eastern neighbour Russia after the former Soviet Union tried to invade Finland during World War Two. Finland's ground, naval and air forces are all trained and equipped with one primary aim - to repel any Russian invasion. Finland trains some 21,000 new conscripts every year, who then become part of its war-time reserve of 280,000 soldiers of whom some 10,000 a year are called up rotationally to refresher courses. Polish soldiers seen before a high-intensity training session using M1A2 Abrams tanks at Nowa Deba training ground, on May 6, 2023 Some 870,000 Finns aged between 17 and 60 are liable for service in case of need. The contract staff consist of 12,000 people, 8,000 of them military personnel. The Ground Force is equipped with some 650 tanks, around 200 of them being the powerful German-made Leopards types 2A6 and 2A4. Finland also has what it calls 'Western Europe's strongest artillery' that includes some 1,500 weapons: about 700 howitzers and cannon, 700 mortars and about 100 heavy and light rocket launchers. Last year, as it joined NATO, it was also in the process of introducing an Israeli-made ELTA counter-battery radar system which provides it with the ability to locate and track incoming rockets, artillery shells and mortar fire. Finland's anti-aircraft equipment consists of at least 650 missiles but it is in the process of buying more from Saab and Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. Its most important anti-aircraft system is the NATO-compatible Norwegian-American NASAMS 2. It also has anti-aircraft cannon and tanks designed for the same purpose. Finland also has an undisclosed number of unarmed Orbiter drones and is in the process of purchasing 1,000-2,000 more, including hundreds of Parrot Anafi USA drones, similar to those used by the US army. The infantry holds enough firearms - assault rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers and anti-tank weapons - for the entire reserve, but also all necessary gear for fighting in harsh winter conditions as well as night vision systems and gas masks. Finland destroyed some 1.3 million anti-personnel mines after it joined the Ottawa mine ban convention back in 2012 but has since replaced that capability with remote-controlled smart mines and area denial systems. On top of that, the military holds an extensive range of transport vehicles, with wheels and caterpillar bands, both for men and equipment. Meanwhile, the Finnish Air Force has a fleet of 61 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets, which are being replaced by 64 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II jets, the delivery of which will begin in 2026. In addition to the jet fleet, the Air Force has dozens of training aircraft and surveillance radars, including ones that have a range of almost 500 km (300 miles). As for the Finnish Navy, the country boasts four command vessels, five minelayers, eight missile craft, three mine countermeasure vessels, 13 mine sweepers, in addition to smaller landing craft. Swedish soldier sits on a military boat with a machine gun during the Baltic Operations NATO military drills (Baltops 22) on June 11, 2022 It is also acquiring three new multi-role corvettes for surface combat which are currently under construction in Finland to enter service by 2029. For these reasons, an assault across the Finnish border seems like a tall order for a Russian army that has already been beaten and bruised in Ukraine. But what about even further West? Like Poland, the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 kicked Germany into gear, with the government vowing to inject 100 billion Euros into its military to rebuild it. It was set to make the country the world's third biggest military spender. However, this was largely done to keep up with NATO's 2 percent of GDP spending requirement, and since the announcement, Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the government have been accused of falling short on its promise to modernise. Before the war, Germany had around 183,000 active military personnel and 29,000 in reserve, more than 300 tanks, 662 aircraft and a sizeable navy. The country would be one of the major powers in Europe expected to help repel any invasion along NATO's eastern flank, along with the likes of the UK and France. Of the three, France has the largest active arm, with over 200,000 personnel, and 141,000 in reserve. It also has the most tanks (more than 400) and more than 1,200 aircraft, as well as the largest navy. Like Germany, French MPs approved a boost in military spending in the wake of the Ukraine war, approving a budget that would spend 413 billion euros on defence between 2024 and 2030 - also with an aim to modernise. As for the UK, recent weeks have seen discussions over whether Britain would be able to fight effectively in a significant European conflict. Michael Clarke, the former director-general of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), told MailOnline last month that the army must be better at driving recruitment and at least 'get over the 100,000 mark'. British Army Challenger 2 tanks are seen at the training ground in Nowa Deba on September 21, 2022, in Nowa Deba, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Poland The British Army is currently made up of around 74,000 soldiers, plummeting from 102,000 in 2006. General Sanders said boosting Army numbers in preparation for a potential conflict would need to be a 'whole-of-nation undertaking'. MPs were told over the weekend that the UK's ability to fight an all-out war has been marred by shortages and a recruitment crisis. The Commons Defence Committee said the military is 'consistently overstretched', with the demands of operations personnel leaving little time for training in warfighting. The committee's inquiry heard that the 'hollowing out' of the Armed Forces since 2010 had undermined the UK's 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. The warning came after Defence Secretary Grant Shapps last month said the world is 'moving from a post-war to pre-war world' and the UK must ensure its 'entire defence ecosystem is ready' to defend its homeland. He insisted the size of the Army will not dip below 73,000 under the Conservatives, amid growing concerns about further cuts to troop numbers. Fortunately for Britain, any kind of invasion is highly unlikely given that the UK is protected by oceans, but were the UK called to help defend its NATO allies, analysts say it needs to be able to send more than it could currently. Gen. Hodges said for NATO to be able to respond effectively, the military alliance needs to move more troops to the eastern flank along with equipment and arsenal. If the alliance does this now, in 2024, it could stop Putin from ever invading one of the countries on NATO's eastern flank as the despot will know he couldn't take the West by surprise, Gen. Hodges says. Norway's defence minister Eirik Kristoffersen said last week that Europe has a matter of years - maybe as little as three - to prepare for a war against Russia. A Germany army Leopard 2A6 tank takes part in the NATO military exercise 'Iron Wolf 2022-II' at a training range in Pabrade, Lithuania on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 Kristoffersen pointed out that Moscow has built up its military stockpiles far quicker than expected. 'Russia has increased production significantly,' Kristoffersen told NTB. 'They have also collaborated with countries such as Iran and North Korea, which means that we can get a faster build-up of the Russian defence than what we envisioned just last year,' he added. 'So we must use the time well now to strengthen our own defence.' by Derek Neal 1. Three men walk across a desolate landscape. They are dressed in robes, but they might as well be rags. One is barefoot, and the ground is muddy. Who are they? Where are they going? There must be lots of painters in Moscow, the one called Daniil says. No matter, well find some work, the one called Kirill replies. They are monks, they paint icons. It is 1400. We understand that they have been together many years. It begins to rain, and the one called Andrei, the youngest one and the most talented, seeks shelter under a tree. Come on, the others say, well be alright. They move on into the storm. From this point on, their unity will begin to break. 2. Some years later Kirill wanders into a workshop. He thinks he is alone, but he comes across another man reclining on a bench. This man is called Theophanes the Greek. Outside, a heretic is being tortured; inside, all is cool and calm. Kirill begins to admire the paintings he sees, and Theophanes realizes he is in the presence of a man of a certain intelligence. Where do you come from? asks Theophanes. The Andronikov Monastery, replies Kirill. Andronikov? says Theophanes, his interest piqued. Then you must be Andrei Rublev. Kirill looks down, blinks repeatedly. We see his face when Theophanes talks; we see his pride has been hurt. No, he tells Theophanes, regaining his composure. Ive heard of him Theophanes continues. Everybody praises him. The camera remains on Kirills face, showing the effect these words have on him. He is a master, Kirill admits. But he could never do this. Kirill goes on to praise Theophanes work, and Theophanes responds by offering Kirill the chance to be his assistant. Kirill, for some reason, declines. Theophanes insists, but Kirill declines again. Finally, after being asked a third time, Kirill agrees, but on one condition: Ill work for free. Only you come for me in Andronikov, and in front of the whole community and our bishop ask me to come and help you. With all our brethren present, and Andrei Rublev, too. Then Ill be like your slave, Ill serve you like a dog until I die. Kirills face, which has been downcast throughout the scene, is now lit up, illuminated. He seems possessed by a spirit, imagining the honor he will receive and the glory that will be his. He is even willing to become like a dog to have this special moment. We dont see Theophanes face, but it seems he agrees to Kirills conditions. The scene then cuts back to the outside of the workshop as a man is tortured on a wheel. Fate seems to have smiled on Kirill, but the message is clear: his time will come, too. 3. The Prince commands you to come to Moscow to decorate the Annunciation Cathedral with Theophanes the Greek. These words are spoken to a crowd of people outside the Andronikov Monastery, but we dont see any recognizable faces. Then Andrei Rublev is approached. Is he really Andrei Rublev? the man asks. Kirill appears from behind a mass of bodies. Yes, he is Rublev. And Im Kirill, he says, searching the mans face. The man ignores Kirill and places his hands on Andreis waist. Theophanes the Greek wants you in Moscow, he says. Andrei is surprised by the request, but we dont see his reaction. Instead, Kirills face, the weight of realization on it, is the one facing the camera. Finally Andrei responds: Tell himwellIll be there. The man leaves and we see Daniil stacking logs. Kirill is next to him, crestfallen. Andrei approaches and, for the first time, we see the pride he feels at being called upon. He ignores Kirill, who leaves, and approaches Daniil. Why not start out today, Daniil? Just pack up and set off! He wipes the snow from Daniils back. Then, as a joke: Before Theophanes has changed his mind! Daniil continues to stack logs; he cannot look at Andrei. Im not going. Now Andreis face changes. Hows that? I cant do it without you. Thats your problem, Daniil says, looking at Andrei for the first time. I thought wed go together, Andrei says, tension entering his voice. Why think for me? I wasnt asked. Andrei turns away. I cant go without you. Yes, you can. You said yes without asking me. Theophanes had only to beckon. Daniil walks off. Doubt crosses Andreis face. Yet he must recover, and he does after a moment, calling on his younger apprentices to prepare themselves for the trip to Moscow. 4. The scene switches to Kirill in his room, the morning of Andreis departure. He is looking at a painting, perhaps one of his own, but we are not allowed to see it. Instead we see Kirill seeing the painting. In voiceover, Kirill narrates Ecclesiastes: Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Kirill, we imagine, is reflecting on his own youth, and the success that Andrei is having which Kirill never had. A dog barks, breaking Kirills attention. He puts the painting away and sits down. Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Now Kirill sits up, moving towards the basin in his room. While the silver cord be not loosed, nor the golden bowl be broken, nor the pitcher be broken at the fountain. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity. Kirills reflections are interrupted by a young boy, who he then throws out of his room. I first watched Andrei Rublev as a 21-year-old exchange student in France. I did not like it. I couldnt follow the story and became confused trying to keep track of the characters. We watched it in a film class, and the subtitles being in French probably did not help, either. Why was the story interrupted to show characters who would never appear again, or to show a horse, or a man in a hot air balloon? What did it all mean? I couldnt make much sense of it. And the ending with the iconswhy was I being forced to look at still shots of paintings in a movie? I felt like Pauline Kael in her review of Therese, which Paul Schrader mentions as a criticism of her film taste: Watching Therese is like looking at a book of photographs of respectfully staged tableaux and not being allowed to flip the pages at your own speed. You have to sit there while Cavalier turns them for you, evenly, monotonously, allowing their full morbid beauty to sink in. Youre trapped inside his glass bubble. Referring to this description, Schrader writes Exactly. What is a flaw to Kael is the pinnacle of style to Schrader. In that film class, we kept watching Andrei Rublev. What I mean is, wed come to class, and the professor would show us an hour-long sequence, and then hed talk to us about it, and then he might show the same scene again. Class was three hours long. Then wed do it all over again the next week. In total, I probably saw Andrei Rublev three or four times that semester if you added up all the viewings of repeated scenes. The other film we did this with was Fellinis Satyricon, and that was it. A whole semester for two films. When I went back to the states the following year, I signed up for a film class thinking it would be like this. It wasnt. We barely watched any movies in class, were expected to view the movie outside of class on our own time, and covered three or four movies a week. There wasnt much discussion of the movies in class or close viewings, but there was a lot of talk about what the movies could tell us about history, or colonialism, or gender roles, or pretty much anything other than the film itself. In this case, movies were simply cultural products that could teach us about the society that produced them. In the Rublev class, I didnt know what we were learning, but I do now: we were learning to see. After all those viewings, I couldnt say I really liked Andrei Rublev, but I did feel connected to it in some way, like it had made an imprint on me and I wouldnt be able to forget it. Last month, I had the opportunity to go see the movie again. Ten years had passed since my film class, and I thought it would be interesting to see the impression the movie made on me. I went to the theater by myself and was stunned to see that it was practically full. In line, someone ahead of me said hed driven in from an hour away. The parking lot of the theater, usually with a few spots available, was overflowing. I circled the block multiple times until I found street parking, and others must have done the same because the movie started late. I bought a coffee to focus my attention, put my phone on airplane mode, and settled in. The movie was not as Id remembered it at all. Of course I recognized scenes and images, but the feeling and the weight of the movie was completely different to what had lodged in my memory. This time, I was floored by how much emotion and humanity were conveyed in a look, a glance, or a pause. In the scenes Ive summarized abovereally just a 10-minute section early in the movielife is captured in a clear and pure way that says: this is what it is to be a human on this earth. No matter that these are monks in 15th century Russiawhen Kirill lets pride get the best of him; when Daniil spurns Andrei; when, later on, Andrei and Daniil tearfully reconcile before his departure; and when Kirill leaves the monastery, blinded by rage and envyI know this, we all know this. Every spectator in the audience has been there, and will be there again. I left the theater and found my car, but I didnt want to leave the world of the film. I drove home in silence without taking my phone off airplane mode. I looked up at the moon and saw the breath in front of my face. I felt like I was seeing the world the way Tarkovsky saw the world, because Id just been inside his mind for three hours. I climbed into bed and the next morning, I was myself again. In ten years, Ill watch Andrei Rublev again. Prince William will return to official duties after his wife Kate Middleton's abdominal surgery as he attends two events on Wednesday, Kensington Palace revealed today. The Prince of Wales will conduct an investiture at Windsor Castle before attending the London Air Ambulance annual fundraising gala in Central London that evening. William - a former air ambulance pilot, who is the charity's patron - was last seen nearly three weeks ago leaving The London Clinic on January 18 after visiting Kate. It comes after King Charles III was seen in Norfolk at a Sunday church service yesterday for the first time since his treatment in hospital for an enlarged prostate. Kate was admitted to The London Clinic - the same private hospital in Marylebone where the King underwent treatment - for a planned operation on January 16. The future Queen left and returned to home in Windsor almost two weeks later on January 29, and is not expected to get back to official duties until after Easter. The Prince had temporarily stepped back from his royal role to juggle caring for his wife and their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Prince William leaves The London Clinic after visiting his wife Kate on January 18, 2024 This meant Queen Camilla had been the most senior member of the Royal Family carrying out public engagements while both the King and Kate were recovering. READ MORE King Charles appears in high spirits as he steps out for the first time since leaving hospital to attend Sunday service with Queen Camilla in Sandringham Advertisement It is understood that 42-year-old Kate's return to official duties will depend on medical advice nearer the time. Royal sources said last week that heir to the throne William planned to resume public engagements once Kate's care and recovery had settled. And Kensington Palace said last Monday that Kate was 'making good progress'. Charles, 75, visited his daughter-in-law's bedside after being admitted himself on January 26, on the 11th day of Kate's stay. The exact details of the Princess's condition have not been revealed but the Palace said previously it was not cancer-related and that Kate wished her personal medical information to remain private. News of Kate's surgery was announced by Kensington Palace on January 17, with Buckingham Palace triggering a double royal health scare 90 minutes later when it revealed the King was to be treated in hospital for an enlarged prostate. A royal source told the Sunday Times last month that the Waleses had switched to '100 per cent family first, day job second'. Kate is now under the careful watch of royal doctors and is also benefiting from the London Clinic's aftercare, with dedicated physiotherapists on hand with a personalised plan and a video check-up at home with a nurse specialist on offer. NHS advice about recovering from abdominal surgery says that, after a major operation with a large incision, it takes two to three months to be able to move around comfortably. But this will be quicker if the procedure was keyhole surgery. Kate, Charlotte, George, William and Louis at the Sandringham Christmas Day 2023 service Patients who have major abdominal surgery are urged to avoid lifting anything heavier than the weight of a full kettle - around 4.4lb (2kg) to 6.6lb (3kg). It can also take two years for the strength of the abdominal wall to return to its previous condition. Sitting and standing exercises are recommended to build strength, with an aim of walking gradually each day, increasing distance to reach 30 minutes daily within two to three months. The family live in Adelaide Cottage in Windsor's Home Park and are being supported by their staff, including loyal, long-standing nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo. Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and siblings, Pippa Matthews and James Middleton, are also thought to be hands-on in helping the Waleses navigate the next few months as the Princess recovers. Among the engagements Kate will miss over the coming weeks are the Baftas this month, the annual Commonwealth Day service in Westminster Abbey, and the St David's Day Parade at the start of March, as well as the St Patrick's Day parade with the military later the same month. Aides insist the Princess will be out of sight over the next few months but is likely to be working behind the scenes on her early years projects. Official overseas tours for William and Kate are also off the table for the time being. Kate chose the London Clinic for her care, rather than King Edward VII's Hospital which is usually the go-to institution for the royal family. Police officers at The London Clinic on January 29 - the day Kate and Charles were released Royal aides at Kensington Palace said last Monday that Kate was 'making good progress' The exclusive, state-of-the art clinic in Marylebone, which was opened in 1932 by a group of Harley Street doctors, is one of the UK's largest private hospitals. Past patients have included Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, as well as Princess Margaret, US president John F Kennedy, and actress Elizabeth Taylor after she fell on a film set in the 1960s. Philip was treated at the clinic for exploratory abdominal surgery in 2013. Yesterday, Charles smiled and waved to the public as he and the Queen walked to St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, accompanied by a member of the clergy. Like Kate, the King was also discharged from The London Clinic on Monday last week. He had spent three nights receiving medical care at the hospital where Kate had also been recovering from abdominal surgery, before being allowed home the same day. Charles underwent a corrective procedure for the benign condition last week and it has been reported that he could take up to a month off from public duties as he recuperates. Last week, Camilla said her husband was 'doing his best' following his release from hospital as she opened a cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London. Charles is understood to have wanted to share the news to encourage other men to get themselves checked. NHS England said the 'enlarged prostate' page on the NHS website received one visit every five seconds on the day the King's diagnosis was announced, with further huge boosts in visits in the days that followed. An Iranian-backed militia in Syria says its fighters are responsible for a deadly attack on a base that houses US troops in the eastern part of the country, the first since Biden approved a plan to target groups that are supported by Tehran in the Middle East. The U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Monday the attack hit a training ground at al-Omar base in Syrias eastern province of Deir el-Zour, where the forces' commando units are trained. No casualties were reported among U.S. troops. This new escalation of hostilities comes as Secretary of State Antony Blinken is en route to the region, his fifth visit since Hamas' brutal assault on Israel on October 7. An umbrella group of Iran-backed Iraqi militias, dubbed the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, released a video claiming responsibility for the attack and showing them launching a drone from an unspecified location. In late January, a drone attack by the same group killed three U.S. troops and wounded dozens more at a desert base in Jordan. The U.S. military launched dozens of retaliatory strikes targeting Iran-backed militant groups in western Iraq and eastern Syria and also struck the Houthis in Yemen. There are around 900 US military personnel in Syria where they continued to fight the Islamic State A Tomahawk land attack missile (TLAM) is launched from the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Gravely US Secretary of State Antony Blinken waves as he boards a plane at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on February 4, 2024, en route to Saudi Arabia Fighters of Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) take part in a search operation inside the al-Hol camp for refugees in al-Hasakah governorate, northeastern Syria, 27 January 2024 A communique from an Iran-backed militia in Iraq claiming credit for the brutal attack The SDF initially accused 'Syrian regime-backed mercenaries' of carrying out Sunday's attack but in a second statement blamed 'Iran-backed militias' after investigating the attack. The U.S. has approximately 900 troops in Syria focused on countering the remnants of IS, which had held a wide swath of the country until 2019. IS declared a self-styled caliphate across the territory in Syria and Iraq that it seized in 2014. It was declared defeated in Iraq in 2017, following a three-year battle that left tens of thousands of people dead and cities in ruins. U.N. experts said last month that IS still commands between 5,000 and 7,000 members across its former stronghold in Syria and Iraq and that its fighters pose the most serious threat in Afghanistan today. The umbrella group has launched dozens of drone attacks on U.S. military bases and troops in Iraq and Syria, and has called for the withdrawal of American soldiers from both countries. Rights said at least seven SDF fighters were killed in the attack on Sunday and at least 18 others wounded, some in critical condition. The attack late Sunday came two days after the U.S. military carried out strikes against militant targets linked to Iran in Syria and Iraq. The SDF said it has the right to respond to the attack. The U.S. military said it struck four anti-ship missiles on Sunday that were prepared to be fired at vessels in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel-controlled areas in Yemen. In a statement early Monday, the U.S. Central Command said the strikes were in self-defense and came after forces determined the missiles 'presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region.' Sundays strikes came a day after the U.S. and Britain launched a second wave of strikes against the Houthis, meant to degrade the Iranian-backed group capabilities to attack vessels in the Red Sea. The U.S. and Britain said they hit 36 Houthi targets. For exactly a century the 'pips' have been broadcast to millions on BBC radio stations across Britain. Since February 5, 1924, the beeps have been heard at the top of each hour, bar the occasional hiccup. But after a hundred years, questions are now being asked over whether we should finally ditch them for good, with the widespread take-up of digital radio rendering them inaccurate by several seconds. Now the BBC has dedicated an entire BBC Radio 4 show to discuss their future, asking 'Do We Still Need the Pips?' And unsurprisingly, the answer from presenter Paddy O'Connell and several contributors to the show is a resounding yes. Popular scientist Brian Cox, who co-presents Radio 4's Infinite Monkey Cage series, called the six short tones a 'wonderful century-old tradition'. Mohit Bakaya, the controller of Radio 4, added: 'We absolutely do still need the pips. The pips are the heartbeat of the Radio 4 schedule. They are one of the many things that makes Radio 4 unique and I Love them.' And John Humphrys, who presented Radio 4's flagship Today Programme for more than three decades, said it is 'inconceivable' that the BBC would scrap the time signal. For exactly a century they have provided reassurance to millions. Since February 5, 1924, the 'pips' that form the Greenwich Time Signal have been played at the end of each hour on every BBC radio station across the world - bar the occasional hiccup. Above: The machine that was used to generate the pips in the 1970s A graph showing the six pips, with the longer final tone clearly standing out The 'pips' were invented by the BBC's first director general, John Reith, along with Astronomer Royal Sir Frank Watson Dyson. For more than sixty years, the time signal was generated by two clocks at the Royal Greenwich Observatory. But in 1990, the BBC became responsible for it. The modern delay for users tuning in on digital is caused by the time it takes to encode and decode the signal. However, for listeners who still tune in on analogue radios, the pips remain very accurate. They are timed using an atomic clock that is housed in the basement of Broadcasting House. But over the decades, there have been rare technical glitches. On one occasion, a BBC World Service announcer was forced to improvise when the pips failed to play. Instead, he tapped his pen against a metal angle-poise lamp to imitate the sound of the pips. In 2011, there was widespread surprise when the pips failed to sound for three hours. The computer that operates the time signal crashed just before 5pm, when on Radio 4 they were set to mark the start of the PM programme. The tones were not resurrected until 8pm. BBC broadcast engineer John-Paul Dunkley was invited to fill listeners in on what caused the bewildering silence. He said: 'The box that creates the audio of the pips has died unfortunately in the basement of Broadcasting House. We do have a reserve but unfortunately that has not been picked up.' Humphrys, who retired from the Today programme in 2019, said: 'The pips are the one and only certainty in the three hours the programme is on the air'. Above: Humphrys on his final presenting shift in September 2019 At the start of the PM programme, the continuity announcer had said: 'Time for PM with Eddie Mair' - and nothing but silence followed. A surprised Mr Mair then said: 'It is five o'clock. Well, there were no pips in essence. 'We've been making checks. We've been told it is a computer error.' In 2019, Radio 4 listeners were left confused when the pips failed to play at 9am but then suddenly appeared 15 minutes later. The BBC put the mishap down to a 'minor technical glitch' that was 'down to human error'. Presenters have also ended up talking over the pips - known as 'crashing' them -on occasion. Radio 4 newsreader Jane Steele says in tonight's Radio 4 programme: 'Crashing the pips is almost painful. Because of course the noise interrupts you so it almost hurts. 'And sometimes one kisses the pips, that's not so bad because it is just a tiny bit, and you think "that's fine i can get away with that." Today Programme presenter Mishal Husain says that the 'safe' moment to stop before the pips start is '59.54' - six seconds before the end of the hour. 'It is like a speeding car. And often I feel you are in that speeding car with a road block in front of you, which is the pips,' she says. 'So there is a kind of horror, and also a challenge in trying to slam the brakes on the car just before.' Writing for the Telegraph, Humphrys, who retired from the Today programme in 2019, said: 'The pips are the one and only certainty in the three hours the programme is on the air. 'Their timing never fluctuates. Ever. They begin five seconds before the hour, with the sixth and final pip on the hour itself. 'So it follows, as night follows day, that the presenter must shut up and make sure their interviewee shuts up, too. 'If they don't, the pips will sound anyway and wipe them off the air, even in mid-sentence.' Footage has emerged of suspected Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi grinning as he buys groceries in Newcastle just a day before dousing a mother and her children with a corrosive substance. Abdul Ezedi, 35, was caught on CCTV buying 30 eggs from a Middle Eastern food store near to his home on Tuesday lunchtime. He is seen smiling at staff behind the counter before paying in cash. Ezedi, who lives near to the store on Byker Road, is thought to have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan on the back of a lorry in 2016. He was found guilty of sexual assault in 2018 but granted asylum after claiming to have converted to Christianity. Staff at the food store, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Telegraph they were 'horrified' that Ezedi had been connected to the attack because he was known as a 'good Muslim'. The day after the CCTV was filmed the pizza takeaway chef drove to Clapham, south-west London, where he is believed to have thrown an alkaline substance at a 31-year-old woman and her daughters, eight and three. Abdul Ezedi, 35, was caught on CCTV buying 30 eggs from a Middle Eastern food store near to his home on Tuesday lunchtime Ezedi was last seen leaving Tower Hill underground station in east London at 9.33pm on Wednesday (he is pictured leaving the tube station) The suspect, who lives in Newcastle, has been named by police as the suspect in a corrosive alkaline substance attack in Clapham, south London Police around the UK have been chasing the 35-year-old Afghan asylum seeker since Wednesday as part of a major manhunt. The woman, who suffered potentially life-changing injuries, was known to Ezedi and remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition. The hunt entered its fifth day today with a 20,000 reward in place for anyone with information leading to his arrest. But Nick Aldworth, a former national counter-terrorism co-ordinator, warned that Ezedi could already be dead. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think if we've not seen or heard from him in the the last couple of days, which appears to be the case, he's gone to ground, possibly supported by somebody... or it's not unlikely or improbable that he may have taken his own life. There is therefore a body to be found somewhere.' Mr Aldworth said the Met would be tracking Ezedi's movements through public cameras, which had been a 'very effective' method in previous cases. The force said the last sighting of Ezedi, who is from Newcastle, was at 9.33pm at Tower Hill Underground station in east London on January 31, shortly after the attack in Clapham. Asked if the Met Police would now have a precise location for his whereabouts, he said: 'I think they'll have a very good sense of what area he's in. 'What you can't discount of course is that he has been picked up by an ally and moved somewhere else, perhaps in a vehicle. 'The reason they've offered a 20,000 reward is usually because there's a sense that somebody inside the community might well be harbouring this individual.' Nick Aldworth, who has 36 years' experience in the police and military, says it is 'not unlikely' Ezedi could have taken his own life On Sunday, police said the suspect used a 'very strong concentrated corrosive substance' in the attack. Police investigators believe there are people who know Ezedi's whereabouts and have not come forward. The Met has warned anyone found assisting him will face arrest. It comes as questions have been raised 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. Police said Ezedi left Newcastle in the early hours of Wednesday and travelled south to London and was in the Tooting area by around 6.30am. 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 train at Clapham South Underground station, and by 8pm he was at King's Cross Tube station. Police say three members of the public who came to the aid of the family during Wednesday's attack, two aged in their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns. BBC Radio 4 also interviewed a woman who suffered third degree burns to her foot while rescuing the three-year-old girl in the attack. Sue Sim, former Chief Constable of Northumbria Police who led the manhunt for killer Raoul Moat, said: 'What you do have to remember is it's very easy to vanish in a city. People walk with their heads down, people don't like to acknowledge other people' The woman, who lives nearby, rang police and went with the girl to hospital. She took action after she saw the little girl being pulled out of the car and thrown to the ground 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 She said: 'I think everyone just froze because they didn't realise what had just happened. In the spacxe of a second, he did it again and that's when everyone tried to grab him, because if no one grabbed him, he would have done it a third time.' Sue Sim, the former Chief Constable of Northumbria Police - who led the manhunt for killer Raoul Moat, shared her thoughts on the hunt to find Abdul Azedi. She told Good Morning Britain: 'What you do have to remember is, it's very easy to vanish in a city. People walk with their heads down, people don't like to acknowledge other people. 'A city is far easier to vanish into than the wilds of Northumberland where Moat went missing in 2010. 'But yes, if somebody is hiding him, hand him in immediately.' Moat, who had a hatred of police, notoriously gunned down his ex-partner's new boyfriend Chris Brown before shooting PC David Rathband in Newcastle city centre. He was caught after seven days hiding in woodland near Rothbury, Northumberland, when a woman watched him walk past her front door and phoned police. Moat later shot himself in the head in a showdown with police. Ms Sim added: 'The public are the best support to the police in instances when people go missing. Yes, police will be using all their investigative and intelligence techniques. But the public - they're the ones who will bring this man to justice. 'Please call the police immediately if you know where he is.' Asked by host Richard Madeley, she said she had 'no doubt' Ezedi would be found. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. A computer scientist's claim that he founded Bitcoin is a 'lie' based on 'forged documents on an industrial scale', the High Court has been told. Craig Wright, 53, who is originally from Australia, says he is Bitcoin's pseudonymous cryptocurrency inventor Satoshi Nakamoto. Wright claimed in 2016 he was the author of a 2008 white paper, the foundational text of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, published in the name 'Satoshi Nakamoto'. He argues this means he owns the copyright in the white paper and has intellectual property rights over the Bitcoin blockchain. But the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA) whose members include Twitter founder Dorsey's payments firm is asking the High Court to rule that Wright is not Satoshi. Craig Wright has said he is Bitcoin's pseudonymous cryptocurrency inventor Satoshi Nakamoto. The five-week hearing is the culmination of years of speculation about the true identity of Satoshi. Since 2016, Wright has taken legal action against cryptocurrency developers and exchanges. COPA, however, says Wright has never provided any genuine proof, accusing him of repeatedly forging documents to support his claim, which Wright denies. At the start of a six-week trial today, Jonathan Hough KC, for COPA, said in written submissions: 'COPA's case is, simply, that Dr Wright's claim to be Satoshi is a lie, founded on an elaborate false narrative and backed by forgery of documents on an industrial scale. He is currently being sued by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (Copa) over the identity of Satoshi 'As his false documents and inconsistencies have been exposed, he has resorted to further forgery and ever more implausible excuses.' He continued: 'Dr Wright has consistently failed to supply genuine proof of his claim to be Satoshi: instead, he has repeatedly proffered documents which bear clear signs of having been doctored.' The barrister added: 'Once one aspect of Dr Wright's story is discredited, he supplements it with yet further forgeries, moves his story in a different direction and casts blame on others, often casting lawyers and experts as his scapegoats, to take advantage of legal professional privilege.' Wright's lawyer Anthony Grabiner, however, argued in court filings that he has produced 'clear evidence demonstrating his authorship of the white paper and creation of bitcoin'. Grabiner added that it was 'striking' that no one else had publicly claimed to be Satoshi. 'If Dr Wright were not Satoshi, the real Satoshi would have been expected to come forward to counter the claim,' he said. Wright denies COPA's allegations. Bragg claimed that his office will present evidence on Tuesday to a grand jury Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has now claimed he wants to track down the migrants who allegedly attacked two NYPD officers before a judge released them with no bail. Bragg claimed that his office will present evidence on Tuesday to a grand jury on the 12 suspects they believe were involved in the melee against police outside a shelter in Times Square on January 27. 'Our office continues to work with law enforcement to bring everyone responsible for these heinous attacks to justice. It is clear from video and other evidence that some of the most culpable individuals have not yet been identified or arrested, and we are working hand in hand with the NYPD to find and hold them accountable for their despicable acts,' Bragg said in a statement on Saturday. 'We will not rest until every person who assaulted a police officer in this awful attack is held accountable.' But Bragg's effort to track them down comes after four of the suspects are believed to have absconded to California by using fake names to obtain bus tickets from a Catholic charity based in New York. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has now claimed he wants to track down the migrants who allegedly attacked two NYPD officers before a judge released them with no bail When confronted by reporters about his decision on Friday, Bragg refused to engage and walked away without answering questions Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg ignores questions about why he RELEASED the illegal immigrants who attacked NYPD officers without bail. pic.twitter.com/JvtYydE2bO The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) February 3, 2024 Six suspects were arrested and charged with Robbery and Felony Assault following a vicious attack on NYPD officers in Times Square last Saturday. A seventh was arrested but released with no charge over a lack of evidence, according to police. Police have not released the identities of five other suspects in the attack against the NYPD officers. On Friday Bragg defended the decision to release a group of migrants suspected in the assault. He said: 'While the video is shocking and disturbing, in order to secure convictions in the court of law, it is essential that we conclusively identify each defendant. 'In Manhattan, we dont tolerate or accept assaults on police officers. I watched the tape this week. Despicable behavior. It sickened me and outraged me.' Venezuelan national Yohenry Brito, 24, was arraigned in Manhattan criminal court on Thursday and is the only one of the suspects being held on bail at Rikers Island. The Manhattan District Attorney's Office said the $15,000 cash bail or a $50,000 bond was warranted because Brito had been positively identified in video of the attack through a 'distinct tattoo.' The brutal attack occurred around 8:30 pm when officers attempted to disperse a disorderly group in front of 220 West 42 Street. A fight broke out between a suspect in a yellow sweatshirt and the police officers. The sixth suspect, Yohenry Brito, 24, was arraigned in Manhattan criminal court on Thursday and is the only one of the suspects being held on bail Darwin Andres Gomez (left) and Kelvin Servita Arocha were also released without bail Wilson Juarez (lef) and Yorman Reveron are charged with ganging up on two cops in Times Square Jhoan Boada (pictured), 22, was arrested Monday night and charged with Attempted Assault on a Police Officer and Gang Assault According to the NYPD, the migrants then started to attack the officers, kicking them in the head and body while the two officers tried to pin down one of the other men, tearing off his sweatshirt. The migrants then ran away, making their getaway east on 42nd Street toward Seventh Avenue. At around 10:44 p.m. that night, four of them - Darwin Andres Gomez Izquiel, 19, Kelvin Servat Arocha, 19, Juarez Wilson, 21, and Yorman Reveron, 24 - were arrested. They were all charged with Assault on a Police Officer, Gang Assault, Obstructing Governmental Administration and Disorderly Conduct but were released without monetary bail. Gomez, Arocha, Juarez and Reveron are believed to have given fake names to a church-affiliated nonprofit group that helps migrants get rides out of the city, law enforcement sources told the Post. Suspect Jhoan Boada, 22, was also released after being charged and was seen flipping the bird at the press waiting outside court. Brito was already known to police over a series of past offences, including charges of petty larceny for stealing $275 worth of goods from Bergdorf Goodman in October and $139 of clothing from Macys. Jandry Barros, 21, a seventh suspect who was arrested but let go without charges for lack of evidence, also has a previous record with authorities. As he left the courthouse, the 22-year-old raised his middle fingers up at reporters and smirked The gang are said to have struck after being asked to keep moving without cops. The suspected attackers were later arrested...and subsequently freed without bail Police sources confirmed the men's migrant status to the New York Post. Several addresses of the men provided by the police are homeless and migrant shelters Since taking office in 2022, Bragg has came under fire not seeking prison time for certain charges, and downgrading felony charges in a slew of cases, including armed robbery and some drug offenses. Actor Michael Rapaport shared his comments on the group of migrants who allegedly attacked police officers in Times Square He said that is open to voting for Donald Trump in the 2024 election due to outrage over the Times Square migrant beating of an NYPD police officer. Rapaport took to X on Friday to slam the decision and the deterioration of law enforcement in the Big Apple. 'Let me tell you something, what the f*** is the world coming to?' he said. 'If you could be from another country, beat up a cop in New York City , and walk out with no f****ing bail?' 'Released without bail. Came out of the courtroom on some Tupac raising the middle finger with the Detroit Redwings jersey.' He added: 'Youve got nothing to say about motherf****** beating up cops in New York City? The greatest city on earth?' While Elon Musk claimed Biden's plan is to let as many migrants in the country as possible. 'Biden's strategy is very simple,' he said. '1. Get as many illegals in the country as possible. '2. Legalize them to create a permanent majority- a one-party state. That is why they are encouraging so much illegal immigration. Simple yet effective.' He added: 'Here is the full text of the bill. It sounds so reasonable at first, just like "The Committee of Public Safety" actually meant "The Cutting Off Heads Committee" in revolutionary France.' In another post, Musk said: '[It] explains why there are so few deportations, as every deportation is a lost vote. '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!! Outrageous.' The migrant crisis previously affected southern states near the border like Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. But the issue has increasingly impacted cities including New York, Boston and Chicago as buses filled with thousands of migrants are sent to Democratic-led area across the US. The humanitarian crisis has put Democrats including President Joe Biden under increased pressure as the numbers crossing the border reaches unprecedented levels. A record 300,000 migrants crossed the U.S. southern border in December, according to a new report, topping the highest amount ever recorded. New York City in particular has struggled under the weight of tens of thousands of migrants arriving at its borders in need of places to stay and other accommodations. In 2023 alone, the city dealt with the arrival of more than 100,000 migrants. Adams has repeatedly asked for federal aid to help house and feed the migrants in the city but has been denied. New York is a Right to Shelter state and is required to house the asylum seekers but shelters have filled up at an astronomical rate. In Manhattan, a number of landmark hotels have been turned into makeshift shelters and temporary housing. Back in September, Hochul said: 'We have to get the word out, that when you come to New York, you're not going to have more hotel rooms, we don't have capacity. 'So we have to also message properly that we're at a limit - if you're going to leave your country, go somewhere else.' A Deloitte consultant who accused her boss of flirting with her by comparing her to Pocahontas has lost a race discrimination case after her colleague claimed he had been discussing his wife's 'ancestors'. Shivali Patel told an employment judge in London that Ben Combes made the 'uncomfortable' remark while talking about his wife during a work drinks event. Ms Patel said she felt there was a 'sexual tone' to his comment which insinuated he found her attractive due to her 'similarities to his wife' and the 'Disneyfied' character. But Mr Combes denied the allegation and instead told the tribunal the conversation related to a discussion over the BBC show Who Do you Think You Are?, with his wife's family believing they are descendants of Pocahontas. Now an employment judge has dismissed Ms Patel's claims of discrimination and harassment, saying she had 'unconsciously embroidered the discussion'. Global accounting firm Deloitte's UK base is in London's New Street Square Native American princess Pocohontas was portrayed in a 1995 Disney animated film Shivali Patel, who has lost an employment tribunal case, worked in Deloitte's digital division The hearing in central London was told Ms Patel was working as a 63,000-a-year senior consultant in Deloitte's digital division in March 2019. Deloitte employs around 26,000 people in the UK and places second in the 'Big Four' global accounting firms. In September 2021, 'team drinks' - attended by both Mr Combes, a company director, and Ms Patel - was held at a local BrewDog pub. A conversation between the two employees arose in which Ms Patel alleged the director made a remark about his wife in which he said she looked like Pocahontas. Giving evidence to the tribunal, Ms Patel said she felt there was both a 'racial' and 'sexual' element to this remark in which he was comparing herself to his wife and subsequently Pocahontas. She told the tribunal: 'I am an Indian female - the insinuation was that his wife looked similar to Pocahontas, the insinuation was that I had similarities to his wife and that he was in some way interested in me. 'If his wife is a Caucasian female and Pocahontas in the Disneyfied version is tanned and somewhat looks like me, the insinuation is that I look like his wife who is tanned. 'It felt like he was implying he found me attractive - it had a sexual tone to it I felt uncomfortable about.' However, Mr Combes denied saying his wife looked like the Native American princess as he 'does not think that'. The tribunal heard the director recalled discussing the BBC programme Who Do you Think You Are? and mentioning the fact that his wife's family believe they are descendants of Pocahontas. Mr Combes told the panel he was not insinuating any connection between his wife and Ms Patel and that he did not comment on her appearance. Employment Judge Natasha Joffe said: 'Our conclusions were that the conversation about Pocahontas related to genealogy and that [Ms Patel] had misremembered/misheard and/or unconsciously embroidered the discussion. 'We could see nothing in the context or in any other behaviour of Mr Combes which supported an inference that any of these remarks were intended to be flirtatious or arose from an attraction to the claimant which would make them inherently sexual. 'Nor could we see any evidence that Mr Combes would not have made similar conversation with a new (to him) male employee - ie. enquiring about his domestic situation and discussing genealogy. 'It seemed to us that the inferences subsequently drawn by the claimant were a result of overthinking what appeared to us to have been some inconsequential small talk remarks made over drinks on a single occasion. '[Ms Patel] did not suggest that Mr Combes ever indicated that he was attracted to her or did anything she perceived as flirtatious on any other occasion. Ms Patel quit the firm in June 2022, the hearing was told. The tribunal heard Ms Patel was denied a promotion after feedback gathered from colleagues said her attitude could 'wildly vary' which made some staff feel like they had to 'walk on eggshells as one slight comment could derail a conversation'. The senior consultant sued her employees over several incidents which she perceived amounted to sex discrimination, race discrimination, harassment and constructive unfair dismissal - but all these claims were dismissed by the panel. Rishi Sunak warned new Sinn Fein First Minister Michelle O'Neill to concentrate on 'day-to-day issues in Northern Ireland as he welcomed her to her historic post. The PM was all smiles as he met the republican leader as powersharing government returned to Stormont this morning. But he later faced down a demand from the nationalists for a vote on Irish unity, after Ms O'Neill suggested one would happen within the next decade. Speaking to broadcasters he said: 'It is not constitutional change, it is delivering on the day-to-day things that matter to people.' The call for a referendum sparked a political row as the government in Northern Ireland returned after more than two years away, after the unionist DUP lifted its boycott. The PM was all smiles as he met the republican leader as powersharing government returned to Stormont this morning. But he later faced down a demand from the nationalists for a vote on Irish unity, after Ms O'Neill suggested one would happen within the next decade. The DUP accused Ms O'Neill of focusing on 'divisive' issues rather than improving the lot of the people. Irish premier Leo Varadkar refused to get involved on the side of Sinn Fein - his political rivals in Dublin. Asked about the prospect of a reunification vote at a press conference in Stormont, he said: 'I think today is really about marking the fact that the Good Friday Agreement, which we voted for in big numbers north and south, is now functioning again.' He added: 'I think today really should be about that rather than consitutional change.' Ministers have already dismissed the prospect, insisting the conditions for holding a poll in the province are 'definitely not met'. And the DUP accused Ms O'Neill of focusing on 'divisive' issues rather than improving the lot of the people. The row overshadowed celebrations after powersharing was finally restored at Stormont at the weekend, following a deal with the unionists on post-Brexit trading rules. Mr Sunak headed to Belfast last night and also met other NI party leaders and Irish premier Leo Varadkar this morning. During the talks, it is understood the Sinn Fein leaders objected to elements of the recent UK deal with the DUP amid concerns it adopted a pro-Union approach to issues such as a border poll and the development of an all-island economy. The republican party is understood to have made clear its intent to drive an all-island economy through the economy and finance departments it now holds in the newly-formed ministerial Executive in Belfast. They also are believed to have stressed the requirement for the UK Government to remain impartial in relation to the calling of any future referendum on Northern Ireland's constitutional future. The Israel-Hamas conflict was also spoken about, with Ms McDonald understood to have stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire and the need for international rule to be upheld in the region. With elections due in Ireland this year, there is a real possibility that republicans could run governments on both sides of the border. The Executive, headed by Ms O'Neill with the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly serving as deputy First Minister, will hold its first meeting today as it begins the task of trying to manage Northern Ireland's strained finances. The row could mar celebrations after powersharing was finally restored at Stormont at the weekend, following a deal with the unionists on post-Brexit trading rules The institutions were restored after a deal between Mr Sunak's Government and the DUP to address unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements, which included passing new legislation at Westminster. The UK Government's 3.3billion funding offer is aimed at stabilising finances in the region, and settling public sector pay claims. The Executive will press Mr Sunak for more funding but he has described the package as 'a generous and fair settlement'. Mr Heaton-Harris rejected claims by Stormont ministers that better funding is needed from the UK Government as powersharing returns. The Cabinet minister insisted the 3.3billion package offered by Westminster is 'ample' for the Executive to 'get on with the job'. On the calls for a referendum, Mr Heaton-Harris told LBC: 'I really don't think that's going to happen but as Secretary of State I am the person responsible in Government to check whether the conditions for that have been met. 'They're definitely not met at this point in time, and I would suggest that actually top of the in-tray for an incoming Executive has to be things like public sector pay, the health service, which needs massive transformation here, funding on education and a whole host of other things that actually all people in Northern Ireland from both communities truly care about.' He said he would have to be 'confident' that there was a potential majority of people in Northern Ireland 'who would like to depart from their current constitutional status' for the conditions to be met. Mr Heaton-Harris is joining Rishi Sunak and Irish premier Leo Varadkar in Belfast on Monday to mark the restoration of devolved government. But the newly-formed Executive has already written to the Prime Minister calling for urgent discussions on long-term funding stability to deliver public services. Asked about claims that the current funding arrangement will not provide the basis for the Executive to deliver sustainable public services, the Northern Ireland Secretary told BBC Breakfast: 'I don't believe that is the case. I think Stormont has fantastic, strong foundations now and it will survive, it will be sustainable.' He added: 'There is a thing, I think, about choices. You're going into politics, you have to make choices on these sorts of things. 'Those choices haven't been made for a long time out here, and I believe the new set of ministers are completely capable of running their public finances perfectly well with the fair and generous funding package we've given them. Ms O'Neill (left) has been installed as First Minister, while the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly (right) is deputy 'There's a 3.3billion package available to ministers on day one here to get on with the job of sorting out Northern Ireland public sector pay, health services and a whole host of other things, and I'd say that's ample for the time being.' Mr Sunak and Mr Varadkar will meet each other, as well as the leaders of the new powersharing Executive which was formed on Saturday, ending two years of political stalemate. Ms Little-Pengelly said Stormont ministers will be 'speaking with one voice' in their talks with the Prime Minister. She added: 'We will be saying that the people of Northern Ireland deserve better public services and that we need to work together the Executive and the Government to deliver long-term fiscal stability. 'We are ready to engage with the Government and get down to the work of putting our finances on a sound footing; however, we will also be seeking to ensure the UK Government provides sufficient funding in a package to fulfil its promises on public sector pay.' Four of the Royal Navy's smallest ships are preparing to head to the Arctic to represent Britain in a major NATO exercise after the fleet's largest ship, the 3bn HMS Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier, was forced to pull out due to a 'propeller issue'. Four tiny P2000s, which normally patrol coastlines with crews of five, were seen making final preparations before heading to Norway for NATO's largest joint exercise since the Cold War amid fears of escalating tensions on Europe's eastern border. Notably absent from today's preparations was the 65,000-ton aircraft carrier, usually manned by a team of 780, which experts say could be docked for 'a couple of months' as engineers scramble to fix it. The four 'plastic patrol craft' - HMS Biter, Blazer, Exploit and Trumpeter - will instead join allies from 14 countries for the Joint Viking and Nordic Response in March, exercises aimed at 'demonstrating that NATO has a clear capability' and that 'the alliance can operate effectively and unitedly to maintain our collective security'. The departure of the fleet flagship from Portsmouth Naval Base at the weekend was cancelled at the last minute after final inspections revealed a problem with the starboard propeller coupling. The embarrassing limitations of Britain's once mighty Royal Navy have been exposed in a string of alarming revelations in recent weeks. Last month, sources revealed HMS Queen Elizabeth would be unable to back up the Prime Minister's promises to resist Houthi aggression in the Red Sea as its support ship was reportedly understaffed and stuck in a Liverpool shipyard. A damning 'Ready For War' report has now urged leaders and ministers to be more transparent about shortcomings across the military so they can be addressed urgently. Despite spending about 50bn a year on defence, the report has warned Britain will need 'sustained ongoing investment' to fight a 'high intensity war'. HMS Exploit, HMS Trumpeter, HMS Blazer and HMS Biter sail from Portsmouth on February 5, 2024 as they make final preparations for joining allies in Norway in March HMS Queen Elizabeth had been heading out to Norway before an inspection revealed an embarrassing issue. Pictured: HMS Exploit and HMS Trumpeter prepare for the joint event Archer-class patrol ship, HMS Exploit sails from Portsmouth on February 5, 2024 The Royal Navy aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth (left) and HMS Prince of Wales alongside at HMNB Portsmouth, February 4, 2024 During the deployment to Norway next month the Archer-class craft will have to cope with temperatures averaging at minus 6C, dropping to around minus 30C in the High North when they sail above the 70th parallel. Commander Richard Skelton, the Coastal Forces' Squadron's commanding officer, said: 'It's no small feat to take a 20-metre long plastic patrol boat, with an open bridge 1,500 miles north into the Arctic Circle and not only survive there but operate. 'The ship's companies have worked hard to prepare and will be challenged by not only the environment but also the tasking. Ultimately it's the sort of adventure you join the Royal Navy for.' A Royal Navy spokesman said: 'While away the fast patrol boats, each crewed by just five sailors, will go further north than any of their class - above the 70th Parallel - as they work with the Norwegian Navy and Norwegian Coastal Ranger Commandos and support key international exercises. 'In the past few years, the Coastal Forces Squadron has evolved from a unit of 14 boats which was mostly used to give university students a sample of life in the Royal Navy to a force returning to its First and Second World War roots, specialising in small, fast boat operations, supporting front-line RN and Nato training and missions around the UK and northwest Europe.' HMS Queen Elizabeth had been heading out to lead Exercise Steadfast Defender in March before an inspection revealed yet another embarrassing shortcoming, first reported over the weekend. Its sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, is now being 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. HMS Queen Elizabeth (pictured on her maiden voyage to Gibraltar) reportedly cannot be deployed to support the Navy in the Red Sea due to a staffing crisis Archer-class patrol ships, HMS Exploit and HMS Trumpeter sail from Portsmouth ahead of sailing to take part in major Nato exercise off Norway, on February 5, 2024 During the deployment the Archer-class craft will have to cope with temperatures averaging at minus 6C, dropping to around minus 30C in the High North The pair comprise the Navy's elite most ambitious projects to project power around the world, each with a range of more than 10,000 nautical miles and capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft. The pair each displace around 65,000 tons and measure some 932ft (284m). The ambitious project has cost the British taxpayer some 7.6bn since inception - but the carriers have seen little use, with Britain backing down from ambitious projects to invest in upgrades due to spiraling costs. MPs have now 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'. The damning Ready For War report suggested the Army was the 'weakest' branch of the military, suffering from sustained cuts and a lack of innovation. It revealed drastic shortages of vehicles, tanks and ammunition. Costing 5.5bn, the Ajax armoured fighting vehicle is indicative of some of the problems across the army. The programme was the biggest single order for a UK armoured vehicle in more than 20 years, tasked with replacing Britain's ageing fleet of reconnaissance vehicles. The army had hoped to retire its outdated vehicles by 2014 but was pressed to extend their service until 2023 amid concerns over delays to the Ajax programme and fears of flaws inherent to the design. In 2022, the Public Accounts Committee judged that the MOD's management of the Ajax programme was 'flawed from the outside' and said the MOD had 'not managed the programme effecitvely', warning the programme still 'faces significant challenges'. Despite weaknesses rife across the military, the Ministry of Defence last year announced plans to cut troop numbers from 82,000 to 73,000 by 2025 - drawing opposition from parts of the armed forces and the Labour party. The army employed 102,000 troops in 2010 but been forced to scale back on sheers numbers and technology over 13 years of cuts under the Conservative government. The Mirror revealed late last year defence spending had fallen by as much as 90bn under the Tories. Labour Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey told POLITICO last year the government risked putting 'cost above all else'. Then-Defence Secretary Ben Wallace speaks to the crew of an Ajax Ares Armoured Fighting Vehicle, on the training range at Bovington Camp, on February 22, 2023 An Ajax Ares armoured vehicle takes part in the tanks and armoured fighting vehicle trials and development tests at Bovington Camp, near Wool in southwestern Britain, February 22, 2023 The UK has taken part in a number of exercises against Houthi rebels in Yemen (pictured) but may struggle to deploy a sizeable force in the region due to staff shortages and faulty parts This January, it was reported a US General had privately told Defence Secretary Ben Wallace the British Army was no longer considered a top fighting force and likely would not be able to defend itself if needed. 'Bottom line... it's an entire service unable to protect the UK and our allies for a decade,' one of the defence sources said. Wallace, who was replaced by Grant Shapps in the latest Cabinet reshuffle, had argued Ukraine had shown a small army could be effective if properly equipped and trained - though Ukraine continued to struggle with supplies and the organisation of its military leadership. President Joe Biden says he supports the deal, which also includes aid to Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine House Speaker Mike Johnson has joined other Republicans who have already deemed the bipartisan Senate border deal 'dead on arrival' and dubbed the proposal 'worse than expected.' Three chief negotiators for the border security package, Sens. James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), unveiled the text of the sprawling deal on Sunday. But Republican infighting is likely to tank the compromise as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to bring the first procedural vote to the floor on Wednesday. Knives are out for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is facing much of the fury from Republicans opposing the bill after he insisted last year that border policy changes be included in the funding package for embattled countries. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said the Republican Party 'NEEDS NEW LEADERSHIP NOW.' 'This feels like an elaborate practical joke. But it's not funny. Not one bit,' Lee posted to X, formerly Twitter. I cannot understand how any Republican would think this was a good ideaor anything other than an unmitigated disaster. The $118 billion deal, backed by the White House, includes $14 billion in aid to Israel, $60 billion to Ukraine and also $20 billion for securing the southern border amid a massive increase in illegal migration. It also includes billions for critical partnerships in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is facing much of the fury from Republicans opposing the border and foreign aid package House Speaker Mike Johnson said the $118 billion Senate border package is 'dead on arrival' as he announced over the weekend that the lower chamber will bring a 'clean, standalone' $17 billion Israel aid bill to the floor next week Speaker Johnson said the 370-page bill unveiled on Sunday is 'even worse than we expected' Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Sen. Steve Daines was the first among the upper chamber's leadership to oppose the bill on Monday, writing: 'I can't support a bill that doesn't secure the border, provides taxpayer funded lawyers to illegal immigrants and gives billions to radical open borders groups. I'm a no.' Instead, Daines said the bill should reinstate pandemic-era Title 42, Remain in Mexico policies and border wall construction. When the bill's text was released on Sunday, President Joe Biden said in a statement: 'I strongly support it.' Donald Trump insisted that only a 'fool or a radical left Democrat' would actually vote for the 'horrendous' border package. 'This Bill is a great gift to the Democrats, and a Death Wish for The Republican Party,' Trump posted to his Truth Social account on Monday. 'It takes the HORRIBLE JOB the Democrats have done on Immigration and the Border, absolves them, and puts it all squarely on the shoulders of Republicans.' 'Don't be STUPID!!!' the former president continued. 'We need a separate Border and Immigration Bill. It should not be tied to foreign aid in any way, shape, or form! The Democrats broke Immigration and the Border. They should fix it.' House Republicans are especially not on board with the deal and could sink it when it goes to the lower chamber for reconciliation. 'Any Republican voting for this Senate America last open border amnesty bill must be paid off by foreign interests and is acting as a foreign agent,' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted to X, formerly Twitter. 'What an embarrassment! Shame on them!!' Former Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry (R-Pa.) called the deal a 'dumpster fire.' Sen. J.D. Vance posted: 'The House is impeaching Mayorkas next week while the Senate will be voting to give him massive discretion to ...not enforce the border. Why would any Republican vote for this?' The bill would mandate the border be shut if there are 5,000 encounters over the course of a week or 8,500 migrants encountered in a single day. But many Republicans don't think this goes far enough. And House Republican leadership made it clear over the weekend that the package doesn't have backing in the lower chamber. 'I've seen enough,' Speaker Johnson (R-La.) wrote on X. 'This bill is even worse than we expected, and won't come close to ending the border catastrophe the President has created.' 'As the lead Democrat negotiator proclaimed: Under this legislation, 'the border never closes,' Johnson added. 'If this bill reaches the House, it will be dead on arrival.' Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) wrote, 'Let me be clear: The Senate Border Bill will NOT receive a vote in the House.' 'Here's what the people pushing this 'deal' aren't telling you: It accepts 5,000 illegal immigrants a day and gives automatic work permits to asylum recipientsa magnet for more illegal immigration,' he added. Donald Trump's eldest son ranted on X against the 'insanity' of the deal in a couple of posts. 'Mitch McConnell and James Lankford are selling out America with their Mass Amnesty/Ukraine Bailout deal,' he wrote on Sunday, adding: 'Pass it on.' 'We know that Mitch McConnell is clearly not mentally there after his numerous glitches this fall, but to watch him get rolled this way and still be in 'Republican leadership' is truly embarrassing for our party,' he said in a Monday post. 'Was there any GOP opposition to a Dem dream bill?' Donald Trump Jr. questioned. Additionally, several progressives are also expected to oppose the plan like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who said Sunday that he is against the package due to the funding for Israel. And pro-immigration and Hispanic lawmakers are taking aim at overhauls made to the immigration policy. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) called the bill a 'new version of Trump-era policies that will cause more chaos at the border.' The White House intervened with border negotiations in the Senate, with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas going to Capitol Hill for discussions despite the House launching an impeachment inquiry against him at the same time. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said the Senate border bill won't be voted on in the lower chamber as the Senate chugs ahead with a vote on Wednesday Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene said the bill is an 'embarrassment' and slammed any Republican colleagues who will vote for its passage as 'foreign agents' In December, the U.S. saw the highest number of migrants arrested at the U.S. border with Mexico as more than 302,000 were apprehended by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). When broken down by day, approximately 10,000 migrants crossed every day from Mexico into the U.S. in December, which is 5,000 more than the cutoff the new bill would establish. Former President Donald Trump urged Congress to abandon the deal even before the text was released over the weekend. He lambasted the deal in posts on Truth Social over recent weeks, saying the 'horrific' bill is being used by Democrats to put the 'border disaster' onto the 'shoulders of Republicans.' 'There is zero chance I will support this horrible open borders betrayal of America,' Trump said at a rally last weekend. 'A lot of the senators, they're trying to blame it on me. I say, 'that's okay, please blame it on me.' I'd rather have no bill than a bad bill.' Republican colleagues argue that Democrats are pushing to move too quickly to get something passed during an election year when one of Biden's biggest pitfalls has been dealing with the ongoing southern border crisis. Republican Sen. James Lankford, independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy led negotiations on the package and they kept the text close to chest until unveiling it on Sunday. Lankford (pictured) was censured by his home state's Republican Party last month President Joe Biden said in a Sunday statement that he 'strongly supports' the sweeping bill Sen. Lee and several other GOP hardliners in the Senate have said a 'single weekend' to review the massive bill 'doesn't count' and is demanding more time to interview witnesses and examine the text before a vote. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called it the 'oldest game in town' bringing the major piece of legislation before a recess or holiday but 'hopes' Speaker Johnson will give the bill a 'fair shake' if it passes the Senate. But Johnson announced Saturday the House separately will bring a 'clean, standalone' $17 billion Israel aid bill to the floor next week as the Senate prepares to move forward its supplemental package. The Senate's massive package includes $6 billion to CBP for security enforcement and investigations relating to 'migration surges along the southwest border' and 'counter-fentanyl activities.' But over $40 billion will be allotted to 'respond to the situations' in Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. It also contains a provision that would deny funding to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after controversy over many employees' involvement in Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel. Biden supports the legislation. 'Now we've reached an agreement on a bipartisan national security deal that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. I strongly support it,' he wrote in a Sunday statement. The president added: 'It will make our country safer, make our border more secure, treat people fairly and humanely while preserving legal immigration, consistent with our values as a nation.' He went on to say that he hopes Republicans stop 'playing politics' with the border. 'I've made my decision. I'm ready to solve the problem. I'm ready to secure the border. And so are the American people. I know we have our divisions at home but we cannot let partisan politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation,' he added. The White House insists the deal will institute 'the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border we've ever had in our country' and give Biden new executive authority to 'shut down the border.' Biden's press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during the daily briefing Monday that Speaker Mike Johnson must 'step up' and provide the 'authorities' needed to secure the border. But Johnson has said Biden could take executive action to 'immediately' reverse the 'catastrophe' at the border - and doesn't need Congress' help. He has said Biden 'falsely claimed' he needs Congress to pass a new law to allow him to close the southern border. 'He knows that is untrue,' Johnson said in a statement. Biden said in a written statement that the deal would allow him 'a new emergency authority' to close the border. He added: 'And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law.' Trump also insisted Congress did not need to pass legislation and that the executive branch already has the authority it needs to secure the border. 'I had the safest and most secure Border in U.S. History. I didn't need a 'Bill!' They are using this horrific Senate Bill as a way of being able to put the BORDER DISASTER onto the shoulders of the Republicans. The Democrats BROKE THE BORDER, they should fix it. NO LEGISLATION IS NEEDED, IT'S ALREADY THERE!!!' he wrote on Truth Social. Johnson said the House won't take up the legislation unless it ends catch-and-release and reinstates the Remain in Mexico program. Former President Donald Trump is urging Congress to abandon the deal before the text of the deal has even been released An aerial view of the area as migrants walking along razor wire after crossing the Rio Grande into the United States on January 28, 2024 '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. So we actually locked arms together and said, We're not going to give you money for this. We want to change the law,' Sen. James Lankford, Okla., said on Fox News over the weekend. 'A few months later, when we're finally going to the end, they're like, 'Oh, just kidding. I actually don't want to change in law because the presidential election year,'' he went on. Back home Lankford was censured over the weekend by the Oklahoma GOP, which threatened to withdraw support for him if he did not 'cease and desist jeopardizing the security and liberty of the people of Oklahoma.' 'The fact that [Trump] would communicate to Republican senatorsthat he doesn't want us to solve the border problem because he wants to blame Biden for it is really appalling,' Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), an anti-Trump senator, told reporters last week. 'If we fail to get this passed, I'm going to file exactly the same bill if Trump wins and we have a majority of the Senate. I'll guarantee you that everybody who's against it. It's all about politics and not having the courage to respectfully disagree with President Trump and tell him: 'This will help him.' He has requested it before,' Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said. 'I didn't come here to have a president as a boss or a candidate as a boss. I came here to pass good, solid policy that will help a president who is serious [about] securing the border.' Lankford avidly disputed Trump's assertion that the deal would lead to 'open borders' - and reports that it would allow up to 5,000 crossers per day before allowing immediate expulsion. 'It would be absolutely absurd for me to agree to 5,000 people a day. This bill focuses on getting us to zero illegal crossings a day,' he said. The Oklahoma Republican insisted the deal would increase the number of border agents and asylum officers, increase detention beds, end catch and release, up the number of deportation flights and speed up asylum screening. 'It is a shutdown of the border and everyone actually gets turned around. Okay, that's the focus that we have right now. Is how do we actually intervene in this administration, in turn people around not let people in,' he said. House Freedom Caucus members are enraged by the deal, claiming it doesn't do enough to curb illegal immigration and surging migration and asylum claims at the southern border. 'It's clear why Democrats waited until the last minute to drop this dumpster fire of a bill, it's far worse than we could have expected,' former Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Scott Perry told Fox News Digital. 'The Senate must reject this American sellout,' he added. Fellow Freedom Caucus member Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) said: 'At first glance, this 'deal' is a wolf in sheep's clothing. This is a Ukraine border deal, not a U.S. border deal.' And another Freedom Caucus member, Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), is critical of Democrats' attachment to the supplemental aid proposal that would also allocate $60 billion toward Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan to defend against Russia, Hamas and China, respectively. 'Instead of fighting for a serious bill that combats the invasion we face, weak-kneed Senate Republicans got rolled by Democrats, letting their obsession with Ukraine get in the way of their duty to America,' Crane said to Fox. 'This pathetic excuse for [a] border security deal gives Ukraine three times as much as it allocates to the U.S. border.' by Barry Goldman Reading about corporate greed and depredation over the past f ew years, I keep getting stuck on the same question: Dont these people have grandchildren? How can corporate decision-makers spend their days actively working to destroy the environment, pollute the water, kill off the animals, melt the glaciers, and incinerate the biosphere? Even if what they care about the most is making more money no matter how much money they already have, dont they care at all about the world theyre leaving for their kids? Ive arrived at a theory. But first I need to back up a few steps. Readers of 3QD may be familiar with the brain fungus that causes zombie ants to leave the safety of the forest floor and climb up the stalks of plants to die. Or the parasite that causes mice to lose their fear of cats. In both cases, the parasite has evolved to hijack the brain of the host and cause it to behave in ways that are suicidal to the host but beneficial to the parasite. The behaviors the parasite causes are often exquisitely complex and particular. It seems impossible that something as primitive as a fungus could be the explanation. But evolution has come up with lots of similar strategies. She is very clever. She doesnt have a sense of fair play or sportsmanship. If a behavior increases the chances of getting the genes of one generation reproduced in the next, it succeeds. Nothing else matters. And she has lots and lots of time to experiment. So thats the first idea we need the fungus that hijacks the brain of one species to improve the reproductive success of another. Then we need the idea of cultural evolution. Human beings dont have to wait for genetic evolution. We have evolved the ability to get information from one generation to the next without having to wait for it first to be encoded in the DNA. We dont have to start from scratch with each generation, and we dont have to proceed by trial and error. We have culture, language, and traditional practices. In the modern world, I dont have to know how anything works. I dont have to know how cars or computers work, for example, or how to build them. Its enough for me to know how to drive and how to type. As long as somewhere in my culture there are people who know how cars and computers work and how to build them, I can off-load that responsibility to them and spend my time on other things. One more idea and we will be ready for my theory. Thats the idea of a meme. A meme is to cultural evolution what a gene is to the biological kind. Its the unit of transfer, the basic building block. Cooking is a meme. When the idea of cooking enters into a culture, lots of things change. People live longer because cooking releases more nutritional value from food. People get bigger and stronger. Their teeth get smaller. Jaw muscles get weaker and on and on. The corporation is a meme. It is a legal invention, a legal fiction, if you like. Corporations dont exist in the way that tables and chairs exist. They dont have weight or take up space. They have no natural life span. Some of them are much older and vastly richer than any person. They can own property, enter into contracts, sue and be sued. And, since the US Supreme Court decision in Citizens United and related cases, they can donate unlimited amounts of money to the political causes of their choice. I quote here from The Handover: How We Gave Control of Our Lives to Corporations, States and AIs , by David Runciman: The 18th century jurist Edward Thurlow famously complained: Corporations have neither bodies to be kicked, nor souls to be damned; they therefore do as they like. Sentient beings with bodies and souls disappear inside the group once it has acquired its own identity. They can shrug their shoulders as the victims of the groups decisions come looking for justice. Meanwhile, the group has no shoulders to shrug. Mitt Romney famously said, Corporations are people, my friend. But he was profoundly wrong. They are not people. Corporations are a brain fungus. They act to benefit themselves. And they hijack the brains of the people who work for them and cause them to do things no sane person would do. Thats the answer to my question. Corporations can act the way they do because they dont have grandchildren. The people who make corporate decisions to poison the earth do so because their brains have been hijacked by the virus. Partly this is accomplished with simple bribery. Corporate CEOs are awarded vast salaries and ridiculous compensation packages in order to blind them to their human responsibilities. But that alone is not sufficient. The brain fungus also works at a more subtle level. It convinces the corporate decision maker that he is part of a larger system, and that it is the system that is responsible for ethics. In this view, he (it is almost inevitably a he) doesnt have to know anything about the ethics and morality of his decisions. He can offload that responsibility. His job is to increase shareholder value. It is the job of the political system, the law, or the market to impose restraints. The mechanism is a little fuzzy, but whats important is that there is a division of labor. You just concentrate on producing revenue, the fungus whispers to the CEO. Other parts of the system will worry about protecting the biosphere. This is a corollary to Upton Sinclairs famous dictum. It is easy to get a man to believe something when his stock options depend on his believing it. Lawyers are embedded in a system with a similar architecture. This is the adversarial system I discussed in an earlier 3QD post. Under the adversarial system a lawyers duty is to his client. If the client is a greedhead scumbag, well, hes a greedhead scumbag. The lawyers duty doesnt change. His job is to provide zealous advocacy. The job of seeing to it that the scumbag gets whats coming to him is off-loaded to the larger system. I dont think thats a good idea in the legal context, and I dont think its a good idea in the context of the corporation. Quoting from Runciman again: How, for example could multinational oil corporations have spent years suppressing and distorting the evidence that fossil fuels were responsible for dangerous levels of climate change? We might choose to believe that the people working for these companies are especially bad, reckless, irresponsible, selfish. But they are not: they are, on the whole, just people like the rest of us. It is the corporation that chose to pursue this path and the people involved, because they are like the rest of us, followed, because following a corporate decision is the path of least resistance. It is more than likely that many of the people involved knew that what they were doing was wrong. But the corporation didnt because the corporation isnt sentient. This suggests there may be a sliver of hope. We all have multiple roles. In his corporate role, the CEO of a fracking concern is a zombie host mindlessly obeying the dictates of a parasitic brain fungus. But he has other roles. He is also a human being and, likely, a grandfather. The planet might have a future if something or someone could shake him from his zombie trance and remind him of that. It is not sufficient to leave the future of the world to the workings of the political system, the law or the market. The responsibility to act morally cannot be off-loaded. Wake up and think of your grandchildren! A former primary school teacher who says she was beaten and kicked by a violent pupil when she was trying to protect another child is suing her ex-bosses for 25,000 in compensation. Jacqui Overfield was attacked by a Year 5 student when she was working at Francis Askew Primary School in Hull, part of a wider trust of academies, in 2019. She is now retired and is suing the The Constellation Trust, which runs the primary academy, for up to 25,000 compensation. Lawyers for the trust deny liability. Jacqui Overfield (pictured) was attacked by a Year 5 student when she was working at Hull 's Francis Askew Primary School, part of a wider trust of academies, in 2019 She is now retired and is suing the The Constellation Trust, which runs the primary academy, for up to 25,000 compensation. Pictured: Francis Askew Primary School, Hull The former teacher, from Hull, attempted to stop the older child from 'trying to get' a reception-age child in the school toilets. She says she suffered a 'sustained' attack by the Year 5 pupil which left her injured and traumatised. According to documents filed at Central London County Court, Mrs Overfield was set upon around lunchtime in July, 2019. Her lawyers said: 'During the course of her employment as a teacher at Francis Askew Primary, the claimant was in her classroom when a pupil rushed into the room, saying that 'a year 5 pupil was trying to get a reception kid by climbing over the toilet booth. 'Whilst going to the aid of the younger pupil, the claimant was repeatedly kicked and punched by the Year 5 pupil in a sustained attack lasting several minutes. 'As a result, the claimant sustained injuries and losses. The incident was caused as a result of the negligence and/or breach of statutory duty of the defendant and/or the defendants employees or agents.' Mrs Oldfield had only been working at the school for a few months before the incident. The former teacher sustained orthopaedic and psychiatric injuries and has been traumatised by the assault, the pre-trial hearing revealed last week. No date has been set for a full trial of Mrs Overfield's compensation claim. Prior to the assault, she had been a veteran primary school teacher of almost 20 years. She describes herself online as a 'passionate and creative primary-based teacher'. The Constellation Trust includes 10 primary and secondary schools in the Hull area, as well as alternative provision for more troubled young people. The former teacher, from Hull, attempted to stop the older child from 'trying to get' a reception-age child in the school toilets. She says she suffered a 'sustained' attack by the Year 5 pupil which left her injured and traumatised Writing on its website, Dr Cathy Taylor, CEO, says: 'Our focus is on continual school improvement to ensure that all children are afforded the best possible opportunities to achieve and exceed their potential. 'Our trust prides itself on providing a friendly, caring, family of schools where everything we do is for the benefit of the children and families that we serve. 'We encourage pupils to have a 'love of learning' so that they become lifelong learners and achieve to the very best of their abilities. 'The Constellation Trust is a forward thinking and innovative organisation where a passionate and dynamic team work together to maximise opportunities in the best interest of our pupils.' Rapper Killer Mike managed to successfully win three Grammy Awards before being taken away in handcuffs and charged with battery. The 48-year-old musician was an Outkast protege before becoming a successful solo rapper and later a member of the popular hip-hop duo Run the Jewels. Before the citizen's arrest, Killer Mike won Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for his solo song 'Scientists & Engineers,' and the Best Rap Album for Michael. However, he's also famous for his activism and even accepted the Change Maker Award at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards. So, Killer Mike is a successfully rapper and activist, but what else do we know about him? 48-year-old musician Killer Mike was an Outkast protege before becoming a successful solo rapper and later a member of the popular hip-hop duo Run the Jewels Before the citizen's arrest, Killer Mike won Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for his solo song 'Scientists & Engineers,' and the Best Rap Album for Michael Who was Killer Mike before he broke into the music industry? Born Michael Render on April 20, 1975, Killer Mike grew up in the west side of Atlanta. He and two of his five sisters were primarily raised by their grandparents as the rapper's mother became pregnant with him when she was 16. 'I had to realize that this is what my mother did for me and for us,' he told Billboard in 2023. 'But what that said, we never as children understood the sacrifice.' Killer Mike's grandparents taught him and his sisters to develop 'a good work ethic' and they eventually forced the rapper to cut grass for free. He and two of his five sisters were primarily raised by their grandparents as the rapper's mother became pregnant with him when she was 16 The artist married his wife Shana Render in 2006. She supported him throughout his entire rap career and the pair share four children 'It was an honorarium to the people that had made a place for us to grow up and have a rich life. We were never taught to believe as free,' he stated in an interview last November. Killer Mike attended church on a regular basis growing up and always watched musicians perform at each place of worship he went to. By the time he was 9-years-old, Killer Mike aspired to be a rapper and even dropped out of Morehouse college to purse a music career when he was 19. 'I remember my father saying to me, Big Mike, he said, 'You know they call it 'starving artist' for a reason.' And I used that, I put that like a chip on my shoulder, like, 'I'm gonna show my dad.' And I showed him,' he stated in an interview last year. He has managed to continue being a family man, and currently shares four children with his wife of nearly 20 years Shana Render. How did Killer Mike land his big break? Killer Mike was lucky to meet a man known as Daddy Phat Sacks in the mid 1990s. Daddy Phat Sacks introduced Killer Mike to Big Boi - a rapper who rose to fame as being one half of the hip-hop duo Outkast. Big Boi had already been familiar with Killer Mike's music prior to meeting him and had even given Killer Mike phone numbers for label A&Rs. Eventually, Killer Mike got his big break after recording a verse in Outkast's song Snappin' & Trappin' off their 2000 album Stankonia. He released his debut album Monster in 2003 after signing with Columbia Records and won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group the same year. Killer Mike met Daddy Phat Sacks in the mid 1990s. Daddy Phat Sacks introduced Killer Mike to Big Boi - a rapper who rose to fame as being one half of the hip-hop duo Outkast Killer Mike left Columbia Records later that year, and opted to be an independent artist instead of signing a deal with Virgin Records. 'I got tired of being told corporately what to do and how to do it, and 'your name can't be Killer Mike' and 'you got to do this kind of single,'' he told CNBC in 2019. In the years following his debut album, he and his friend and rapper EL-P became a critically acclaimed hip hop duo Run the Jewels and released their first of four studio albums in 2013. The pair managed to find themselves performing in several music festivals, and even toured with Rage Against the Machine in 2022. What kind of activist is Killer Mike? Killer Mike has been a successful social and political activist that has focused on social inequality, police brutality, and systematic racism. Once incident he spoke highly of back in 2021 was a shooting that damaged his barber shop in Atlanta. However, he also rose to prominence for his speeches about the Atlanta protests during the Black Lives Matter movement and his urging for them to be peaceful. Killer Mike has been a successful social and political activist that has focused on social inequality, police brutality, and systematic racism 'I got a lot of love and respect for police officers... [but] I watched a white officer assassinate a black man, and I know that tore your heart out.' 'I know it's crippling, and I have nothing positive to say in this moment because I don't want to be here. But, I'm responsible to be here because it wasn't just Doctor King and people dressed nicely who marched and protested to progress this city and so many other cities,' he stated in 2020. 'We don't want to see Targets burning. We want to see the system that sets up for systemic racism burnt to the ground,' he added. Killer Mike then urged people to 'sit in your homes tonight instead of burning your home to the ground, [so] you will have time to properly plot, plan, strategize, and organize and mobilize in an effective way' 'We have to be better than this moment. We have to be better than burning down our own homes, because if we lose Atlanta, what else we got?' 'I want you to go home. I want you to talk to 10 of your friends. I want you guys to come up with real solutions'. A Washington therapist has revealed how she was told to 'throw out' all of her medical training and give 'gender affirming care' to an abused, autistic, and suicidal 13-year-old. Tamara Pietzke, 36, quit the profession after she was reprimanded by her superiors for not immediately signing off on children's requests for puberty blockers and sex change surgeries. Some of the kids who wanted to be transgender had a multitude of issues - including physical and mental abuse, raging anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Despite this, she was shunned into quickly signing papers to give them life-changing medication - and when she brought up her concerns, she was accused of being prejudiced against trans kids, reports The Free Press. Tamara Pietzke, 36, is pictured with her own children. She quit her job after agonizing, frustrating cases where she was reprimanded by her superiors for not immediately signing off on children's requests for puberty blockers and sex change surgeries Mom-of-three Pietzke decided to become a therapist in her 20s, and she graduated from the University of Washington with a master's in social work in 2012. Pietzke has worked with hundreds of clients in Puget Sound, Washington, over the last decade - but she quit her job in January because she was told to 'throw out' her training if a young person had gender dysphoria. Instead of assessing them properly, she was told to just approve their medical transition. Writing in The Free Press, the therapist revealed: 'I was getting the message from my supervisors that when a young person I was seeing expressed discomfort with their genderthe diagnostic term is gender dysphoriaI should throw out all my training. 'No matter the patient's history or other mental health conditions that could be complicating the situation, I was simply to affirm that the patient was transgender, and even approve the start of a medical transition.' Pietzke admitted that she was terrified to speak out - 'but that fear pales in comparison to my strong belief that we can no longer medicalize youth and cause them potentially irreversible harm.' She explained that one of her clients, an 13-year-old girl, had a litany of mental health problems. She was abused by her bipolar mother, sexually abused by her cousin, her mom's boyfriend, and by a classmate. The child had depression, PTSD, anxiety, intermittent explosive disorder, and autism - and had previously been admitted to hospital for talking about suicide. Pietzke started working with her as a therapist after she expressed ideas of gender dysphoria - and the Mary Bridge Children's Gender Health Clinic in Washington needed a therapist signing off before they gave the 13-year-old medicine to suppress her periods and take testosterone. The therapist recalled in the Free Press how the autistic child was unable to communicate properly with her, and started showing Pietzke 'extremely sadistic and graphic pornographic videos on her phone' during her first visit. She said the troubled girl was 'hyper-fixated' on the porn videos and said that they were one of the only genre available to her when she was growing up with her abusive mother. The girl, who despite being a teen would suck on pacifiers and watch Teletubbies, recalled how her mom nearly killed her sister. She had also just been expelled from school for threatening to blow up the building. Pictured: Mary Bridge Children's Gender Health Clinic in Washington Pietzke said the girl always looked downtrodden in their therapy sessions - and never spoke about her gender dysphoria with her. She wrote: 'When I asked her how she felt about an upcoming appointment at the gender clinic, she told me she didn't know she had one.' Pietzke felt she'd made some progress with getting the child to open up in their first three sessions, but when she went to schedule the fourth with her guardian - her mom's boyfriend - they did not want to. Instead, they demanded Pietzke write her a letter of recommendation for cross-sex hormone treatment. That is, at age 13, she was to start taking testosterone. Such a letter from me begins the process of medical transition for a patient. Immediately, the therapist thought this was a bad idea because of the deep, multiple issues the child had. She said: 'It seemed like malpractice to abruptly begin her on a medical gender transition that could quickly produce permanent changes.' But Pietzke was reprimanded by her superiors for the concerns she raised. Her manager even took the child out of her care and gave her a new therapist. The therapist was accused of having 'personal biases about trans kids' for simply asking questions and proceeding with life-changing drugs with caution. She said: 'I emailed a program manager in my department at MultiCare and outlined my concerns. She wrote back that my client's trauma history has no bearing on whether or not she should receive hormone treatment.' Pietzke has worked with hundreds of clients in Puget Sound, Washington, over the last decade - but she quit her job in January because she was being told by her bosses to 'simply affirm' young trans children's genders. She was told to 'throw out' her training if a young person had gender dysphoria - and instead of assessing them properly, she should approve their medical transition The email stated: ''There is not valid, evidenced-based, peer-reviewed research that would indicate that gender dysphoria arises from anything other than gender (including trauma, autism, other mental health conditions, etc.)' 'There is the potential in causing harm to a client's mental health when restricting access to gender-affirming care. Examine [your] personal beliefs and biases about trans kids.' Months earlier, Pietzke said she had to attend mandatory training on gender-affirming care, where she asked the leader 'why 70 to 80 percent of female adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria have prior mental health diagnoses.' She was again reprimanded by her colleagues for spreading 'misinformation on trans kids' and 'demonstrating a hostility toward trans folks, which is a direct violation of the Hippocratic Oath.' Pietzke had another 16-year-old girl as a client who started saying she didn't feel like a girl anymore during the pandemic. She also had a plethora of mental health issues. The girl started using they/he pronouns and identified as pansexual, and using a gender neutral name. Her father refused to let her take testosterone, so she didn't. All that Mary Bridge Children's Gender Health Clinic could do in the meantime was give her birth control to stop her period due to her 'menstrual dysphoria.' In early 2023, the girl had decided she was no longer gender neutral - but instead she identified as a 'wounded male dog.' She was 'xenogender,' a concept that goes 'beyond the human understanding of gender.' She wanted to start wearing ears and a tail. The therapist asked her colleagues if there was ever a time when being so freely affirming was not necessary - and the answer was no. One colleague said: 'It sounds like this isn't something that's 'broken,' so let's not try to 'fix' it. 'If someone told me they use a litterbox instead of a toilet and they were happy with it and it's part of their life that brings them fulfillment, then great!' Pietzke wrote in the Free Press: 'I am speaking out because nothing will change unless people like mewho know the risks of medicalizing troubled young peopleblow the whistle. 'I am desperate to help my patients. And I believe, if I don't speak out, I will have betrayed them.' A colonel who switched sides to join Putin has been killed in an alleged Ukrainian missile strike on a bakery. Colonel Alexey Poteleshchenko, 47, Minister of Emergencies in the Russia-annexed Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) died in a missile strike. He was seen as a 'traitor' by Ukraine after switching sides following the annexation of Luhansk in 2014. At least 28 people were reported killed in Lysychansk in the missile strike on the building housing the Adriatic restaurant. Reports suggest that troops used the restaurant - which was also a bakery - and may have been killed in the blast reportedly caused by Western-supplied HIMARS missiles. Colonel Alexey Poteleshchenko (pictured), 47, Minister of Emergencies in the Russia-annexed Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) died in a missile strike Poteleshchenko was attending a birthday party at the venue, according to reports today. The party was for Luhansk MP Ivan Zhushma, but there is currently no information available on what happened to the MP after the strike At least 28 people were reported killed in Lysychansk in the missile strike on the building housing the Adriatic restaurant (pictured) Poteleshchenko was attending a birthday party at the venue, according to reports today. The party was for Luhansk MP Ivan Zhushma, but there is currently no information available on what happened to the MP after the strike. Putin-appointed governor of invaded Luhansk region, Leonid Pasechnik, said Poteleshchenko - who was married to Oksana, 47, with one son, aged 25 - was 'a courageous man with an iron character and enormous fortitude'. He was 'a model of masculinity and dedication' and a 'decisive and strong-willed commander who could be completely trusted'. He vowed: 'We will definitely take revenge on the enemy for his death and for the deaths of all those who became victims of the inhumane strike on 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 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 Moscow's occupation forces Saturday said Kyiv struck a building (pictured) that housed a bakery popular with locals on weekends 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 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 Reports suggest that troops used the restaurant - which was also a bakery - and may have been killed in the blast reportedly caused by Western-supplied HIMARS missiles Earlier the Moscow-appointed administration in the annexed region said the dead included 18 men, nine women and one child. Ten more were seriously wounded, four seriously. Independent media outlet Astra reported that the bombed restaurant was where Russian forces dined. Russian officials called the attack a 'war crime' claiming that civilians including one child had died. The authorities have not named other victims of the missile strike. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed a bakery was hit. 'At a time when there were dozens of civilians in the bakery, the Ukrainian Armed Forces ordered a strike on the building,' she said. 'As a result of the shelling, the building was completely destroyed.' HIMARS missiles - mostly supplied by the US - are usually used by Ukraine for pinpoint strikes, suggesting, if confirmed, that the restaurant was the target possibly because it was used by Russian officers. Do you know more? Email tita.smith@mailonline.com Vyleen White, 70, was stabbed in front of her granddaughter Police are investigating whether the group of five teenagers arrested over the stabbing death of a Queensland grandmother stole alcohol in the hours before she was attacked. CCTV appears to show a group of teenage boys leaving a bottle shop in Redbank with several bottles of alcohol just before 5pm on Saturday. Detectives are looking into whether the group then drank the booze in a nearby abandoned house shortly before Vyleen White, 70, was stabbed to death. Ms White, 70, died in front of her six-year-old granddaughter in the Aldi car park at Redbank Plains Town Square, in south-west Brisbane, at 6.10pm on Saturday. Police later released CCTV of four teenagers dumping Ms White's blue Hyundai Getz on a street in nearby Springfield Lakes about 20 minutes after the alleged stabbing. Five teenage boys have been arrested so far - three 16-year-olds and two 15-year-olds. One has been charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and was refused bail on Monday. The other four are assisting police with inquiries. Police are also following fresh leads as they investigate the accused youths' movements prior to Ms White's death. CCTV footage shows youths at the shopping centre shortly before 5pm on Saturday- an hour before Vyleen White died Vyleen White is pictured celebrating her 70th birthday at her family home last June, eight months before her tragic death Footage obtained by The Courier Mail shows two teens dressed in black leaving a bottle-0 with multiple bottles of alcohol. The CCTV is time-stamped 4.55pm Saturday - 75 minutes before Ms White died. Detectives are investigating whether the teens stole the alcohol and will allege officers found partly drunk bottles in a nearby abandoned house. As Ms White's shattered family broke their silence to Daily Mail Australia on Monday afternoon, police vowed to 'hunt down' anyone else allegedly involved in the horror attack. More than 40 detectives are currently working to resolve the murder case. 'If anyone thinks they are going to escape this they will not escape this we will hunt these people down until we bring them to justice to be held to account for what they have done,' Commissioner Katarina Carroll said. 'This is an innocent woman loved by family and loved by community, coming here with her granddaughter, the most abhorrent thing (has happened). And even the truest and hardest detectives find it very difficult, very difficult, to deal with a situation like this. The South Sudanese Community Association of Queensland issued a statement condemning the 'unfortunate and shocking' incident and called for calm on Monday night. 'SSCAQ Leadership in the strongest terms possible condemns the homicide committed,' a statement read. 'The incident is an isolated and the action of individual/s DO NOT represent the South Sudanese as a community and as people. 'The leadership urge the victims family to discourage any individuals who may capitalise on the unfortunate and shocking incident which occurred over the weekend.' Ms White's husband of almost 50 years, Victor, who is blind and relied heavily on her for support, broke his silence to Daily Mail Australia on Monday afternoon . He revealed his wife used to say, jokingly: 'If I go, no one is going to miss me.' Pictured: Vyleen White's husband Victor with their daughter, Cindy, on Monday afternoon 'If only she knew what was going on now,' he said, referencing the deluge of love and support his family has received in the wake of his wife's tragic death. The grieving widower issued a demand for justice while speaking to A Current Affair. 'When this particular animal stabbed my wife he stabbed four of us in the heart,' he said. 'He didn't just kill her, he killed four of us with her. 'Justice has to be done, not for my sake, for the memory of Vyleen.' One of their three daughters, struggled to understand how anyone could hurt her mother, particularly because she co-operated when confronted by the alleged attacker. 'She was a small, frail woman,' she said. 'She handed over the keys. They didn't take her bag, wallet, nothing, so why did they need to [allegedly] kill her?' Resident Sarah Stanley wrote in an online petition calling for more security at the shopping centre that the little girl begged bystanders to save her grandmother. 'I was in that car park and I had my grandchild with me,' Ms Stanley wrote. 'This attack was disgusting, that poor little girl screaming 'my grandma' not fully understanding what had just happened. 'It's disgusting and cowardice. This community has had enough and it's time we fight back. My deepest condolences to all family and friends of this beautiful lady. We will not let this be in vain.' In a cruel twist of fate, she said her mother had only recently returned to the road after being unable to drive due to arthritis in her shoulders. Her journey to the shops on Saturday was the fourth time she had been back behind the wheel in weeks. Ms White's grandson, Joseph, said: 'She would have asked her [alleged] attacker: 'What do you need? Can I pray for you?' Her family remembered her as a loving mother who would go above and beyond to make people feel special. Vyleen White's family is devastated over the tragedy on Saturday. Her husband Victor is pictured, second left, with his daughter Cindy and three of her grandchildren Vyleen White is pictured with her husband Victor. They met while working in a broom factory in the 1970s One of Ms White's daughters said she was blown away when, for her most recent birthday, her mother presented her with a milkshake glass with Hawaiian motifs that matched the Hawaiian-themed party thrown for her. 'It just meant so much that she just went that far to find that thing because that was such a milestone birthday,' she said. 'And that's who she was - she'd just do stuff to go the extra mile.' Husband Victor said they met while working together at a broom factory in the 1970s. They got married and raised their three daughters. The couple were due to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in September. Police released CCTV of four young males with Ms White's Hyundai Getz (pictured) Shattered locals paid tribute to Ms White at the shopping centre on Monday While the family welcomed news of the arrests, they are nervous Ms White will not get the justice she deserves. They are calling on the government to act by imposing tougher deterrents and penalties for youth offenders. 'It doesn't matter what age you are. If you kill someone, you should pay the ultimate price,' Mr White said. The family hope Mrs White will not be remembered for her death, but for the impact she had on those around her. Her daughter Cindy Micallef said she hopes the community will honour her mother's legacy by continuing the kindness she spread during her life. 'You don't know when someone's having a bad day,' she said. 'A kind word could make their day.' The family are beginning to plan for Ms White's funeral. Two women have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was found dead in a house in Merseyside. Police received a report of a 46-year-old man unresponsive in a property in Newton Le Willows at 2pm yesterday. He was taken to hospital where he was sadly pronounced dead later in the afternoon. His next of kin have been informed and a post-mortem will take place to establish the cause of death. Merseyside Police say a 52-year-old woman and a 27-year-old woman, both from Newton le Willows, were later arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody. Detective Inspector Jimmy Rotheram said: 'Our thoughts first and foremost are with the man's family following this unexpected tragic incident. 'An investigation remains underway in the area and our officers are in the early stages of establishing exactly what happened. 'While we have already made two arrests, our specialist officers remain at the scene as we carry out forensic examinations and review any CCTV footage in the area. 'If you live on Barnett Avenue and have any doorbell or CCTV footage from around 2pm on Sunday 4 February that may have captured what happened or heard anything suspicious, then please get in touch with us so we can continue our enquiries.' Anyone who has any information on this incident is asked to contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook or call 101 with the reference 24000145442. You can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111, or their online form at https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/forms/give-information-anonymously. More follows. Michelle O'Neill is the former teen mum from the IRA's Tyrone heartland who has made history as the first republican to lead the government of Northern Ireland. The 47-year-old grandmother and mother-of-two has taken over as First Minister in the powersharing Stormont Executive as the leader of Sinn Fein in the UK. It is a far cry from her up-bringing as the daughter and cousin of republican terrorists - one of whom was shot dead by the police. Her politician journey has seen her rise to the top in a party that wanted to ditch its old image of grey-haired hardliners who were accused of being only a hair's breadth removed from the provos. Instead she injected glamour into the top of the party, coupled with a publicly moderate position that wooed many softer nationalists. But she is still a republican - and within days of the agreement to restart powersharing after a two-year hiatus has ruffled feathers by predicting a border poll within a decade. And the grey-hairs are still around - Gerry Adams was at Stormont to see her take her post on Saturday. The 47-year-old grandmother and mother-of-two has taken over as First Minister in the powersharing Stormont Executive as the leader of Sinn Fein in the UK. Her politician journey has seen her rise to the top in a party that wanted to ditch its old image of grey-haired hardliners who were accused of being only a hair's breadth removed from the provos. O'Neill (front left), Mary Lou McDonald (middle left) and Gerry Adams, carry the coffin of Northern Ireland's former deputy first minister and ex-IRA commander Martin McGuinness in 2017 Michelle O'Neill tweeted a photograph of herself as a child in 2021 Gerry Adams was at Stormont to see her take her post on Saturday. As Mr Adams has previously said, she represents a 'new generation' for the party. She is supposedly free, in other words, of the IRA baggage that tarnished Sinn Fein under her predecessor. Ms O'Neill was not born until five years after Bloody Sunday and was only 17 at the time of the IRA ceasefire in 1994. And yet there is no getting away from the fact that she grew up in an IRA family. She was brought up in rural County Tyrone and became pregnant with daughter Saoirse at 16 before marrying a local man, Paddy O'Neill, when she was 18. The couple separated in 2014 but are reportedly still friends. Together they had two children, Saoirse and then Ryan five years later. Her own mother gave up work when she had Saoirse was born so she could continue her education. The kids were also present on Saturday, along with her grandchild, who was boirn last year. Ms O'Neill has previously spoken about how being a young mum turned her into a 'stronger person' who learned to be responsible from a young age. In a 2021 interview, she said.'Certainly I had some very, very negative experiences when I was pregnant. 'The school that I went to weren't particularly supportive at times. Certainly not all of them, but some in the school. 'I went to a Catholic grammar. You were nearly made to feel girls like you can't be at school, that kind of a thing.' One cousin, Tony Doris, was one of three IRA men killed in an SAS ambush in 1991, when O'Neill was 14. A second, Gareth Doris, was involved in a high explosives attack on a police base in Coalisland in 1997, only a year before the Good Friday Agreement which was to bring peace was signed. He was shot by police but survived. He was sentenced to 10 years in jail but, because of the GFA, he was released in less than three. Her late father Brendan and uncle were IRA prisoners. She had previously described her dad - who later became a Sinn Fein councillor in Dungannon- as 'a brilliant man' and 'the one involved in politics he was the one I followed'. He was interned at the notorious Maze Prison at the height of the Troubles, and spent time in other jails, including Crumlin Road in Belfast, Armagh and Magilligan. She attracted criticism from allies and opponents when she attended both the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of Charles III, the later alongside Irish president Michael D Higgins. Brendan Doris (left), Ms O'Neill's late father, was a Sinn Fein councillor and played a role in the IRA's East Tyrone Brigade in the Seventies. Tony Doris (right), Ms O'Neill's cousin, was part of a brigade 'death squad' preparing to assassinate a high-ranking member of the security forces in 1991, but they were ambushed by the SAS and he was killed She joined Sinn Fein only after the Good Friday Agreement was signed at the time, she was 21 and married with a child and worked for the SF MP Francie Molloy for seven years until 2005. In in 2010 she became the first woman mayor of Dungannon and South Tyrone and served as deputy First Minister under the DUP's Arlene Foster and Paul Givan from 2020. And after the 2022 election she should have become First Minister, but for the DUP collapsing power-sharing. And she has attempted to foster an image of moderation in the interregnum. She attracted criticism from allies and opponents when she attended both the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the coronation of Charles III, the later alongside Irish president Michael D Higgins. However, Ms O'Neill has also faced criticism in the past for her attendance at events commemorating IRA members. In 2020, she faced calls to resign as deputy first minister after attending the funeral of republican Bobby Storey in Belfast in 2020 at a time when strict limits on such events were in place due to the pandemic. In 2022, O'Neill said in an interview there was 'no alternative' to the IRA's armed campaign during the Troubles. She said: '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. '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.' Ms O'Neill and party president Mary Lou McDonald have forged a formidable partnership. Ms McDonald leads Sinn Fein's electoral charge in the Republic of Ireland, where the party holds a lead in the opinion polls, while Ms O'Neill has grown in prominence as the Stormont leader. Together, their public appearances are often cheerful and personable, a departure from the men in grey suits image of politics in past years. Also, both women come from a generation of Irish republicanism which had no direct role in IRA activities, unlike previous leaders such as Martin McGuinness. While the symbolism of having a republican first minister at Stormont will not go unnoticed, the political reality is that the first and deputy first minster posts hold equal authority. It is often cited in Northern Ireland that one cannot send a letter without the signature of the other. Ms O'Neill knows this better than most, having previously served as deputy first minister alongside the DUP's Arlene Foster and Paul Givan when they occupied the office of first minister. During that time, however, Stormont's overwhelming priority was dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. When devolved government returns to Northern Ireland on Saturday, Ms O'Neill and her new team of ministerial colleagues will be tasked with dealing with a budget crisis and crumbling public services. A tatty Mickey Mouse teddy bear which was the lucky mascot for a British army officer during WWII is among items tipped to fetch 500 at auction. The stuffed toy accompanied Lieutenant Guy Roussel throughout the war, including at the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy in early 1944. The Mickey Mouse was photographed in a dugout on the frontline during a battle. Lt Roussel, of the Motor Transport section in the Royal Army Service Corps, also kept hold of his battle-scarred officers' cap. The peaked cap was repaired after it was damaged at Monte Cassino. He took dozens of photos of his wartime service in Northern Africa and Europe. A tatty Mickey Mouse teddy bear which was a lucky mascot for a British army officer during WWII is among items tipped to fetch 500 at auction The stuffed toy accompanied Lieutenant Guy Roussel (pictured) throughout the war, including at the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy in early 1944 The Mickey Mouse was photographed in a dugout on the frontline during a battle Next to one photo of the teddy is written 'Love to Minnie from Mickey xxxxx'. The peaked cap has been repaired but it still has holes and tears in it. Now Lt Roussel's archive has emerged for sale from a private collector who acquired it from the officer's family. It is tipped to fetch 500 at C&T Auctions, in Ashford, Kent on February 14. A C&T Auctions spokesperson said: 'The archive features a very tired lucky mascot which Lt Roussel carried with him throughout World War Two. The collection is tipped to fetch 500 at C&T Auctions, in Ashford, Kent on February 14 Lt Roussel also kept hold of his battle-scarred officer's cap which is part of the collection He took dozens of photos of his wartime service in Northern Africa and Europe 'The cloth covered figure of Mickey Mouse is a charming but well worn item, and a set of photographs shows it in the front lines on a pile of foxhole earth.' The Battle of Monte Cassino, which lasted from January to May 1944, saw the Allies launch four assaults against the Gustav Line in Italy as to clear the path to Rome. But the route was blocked by the rugged Monte Cassino massif with its hilltop medieval monastery. The Allies were confronted by barren, rocky slopes and inaccessible mountains where German soldiers with machine guns laid in wait. The capture of Monte Cassino resulted in 55,000 Allied casualties, with German losses estimated at 20,000 killed and wounded. A couple in their 60s died of catastrophic head injuries after they were struck by a BMW SUV while walking a dog on a remote country lane, an inquest opening has heard. Accountant Thomas Corkery and retired nurse Susan were pronounced dead at the scene in Bearsted, Kent despite the best efforts of paramedics. The dog they were walking also died. Emergency crews were called to reports of the collision at around 1.40pm on January 20. Officers attended Thurnham Lane, where a black BMW X5 had collided with two pedestrians. Police launched an investigation following the crash. The driver, a man, remained at the scene and no arrests have been made. At an inquest opening at Oakwood House in Maidstone in Kent today, Assistant Coroner for the Mid Kent and Medway region Sarah Clarke said Thomas, 61, and Susan, 68, were each 'one of two pedestrians involved in a one-vehicle road traffic collision'. The two pedestrians were out for a walk with their dog in the Kent village when they struck by the BMW SUV Kent Police confirmed that no arrests have been made in their investigation so far She gave the medical cause of death for Irish-born Thomas as 'catastrophic head injuries and multiple internal and external blunt and sharp force injuries'. While the medical cause of death for Susan, who was born in Malta, was given as 'catastrophic head injuries' and 'suspected multiple internal and external blunt and sharp force injuries'. An additional cause of death for both of the victims was recorded as 'fatal road traffic collision'. Ms Clarke said the couple, who were living at The Orchard in Bearsted at the time of their deaths, were identified by police. She suspended the full inquest while police continue to probe the crash, with no date given for the next hearing. Kent Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident, or who has any other information or dashcam footage prior to, or at the time of the collision, to call its Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798538 or email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk, quoting reference RY/HG/008/24. The furious family of a beloved grandmother who was mauled to death by suspected XL Bully dogs have hit out at the conditions the massive dogs were kept in. Esther Martin was visiting her 11-year-old grandson when she was killed in an attack by a drill rapper's reportedly unregistered XL Bully dogs. The 68-year-old was trying to calm their puppies with a broom before she was killed by the dogs - named Beauty and Bear- it has been claimed. But Ashley Warren, the rapper who owned the dogs and has today been released on bail, had insisted they were 'not aggressive'. Ms Martin's daughter, Sonia, has now claimed the two adult dogs and the six puppies were kept 'penned in a small chalet'. It is understood the grandmother had warned her tattooed 'son-in-law' Warren, 39, about the dogs, but 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 Martin, 68 (pictured) from Woodford Green, London, died from her injuries Sonia Martin, 47, (pictured) revealed that Ms Martin's grandson was in the house at the time The dogs were owned by Ashley Warren, a rapper by the name Wyless Man (pictured) Ashley Warren, the rapper who owned the dogs and has today been released on bail, had insisted they were 'not aggressive' It is understood the grandmother had warned her tattooed 'son-in-law' Warren, 39, about the dogs, but the East London wannabe rapper fired back with a foul-mouthed rant The police said the breeds which attacked Ms Martin are yet to be determined Riot shields which were used by the police responding to reports of the dangerous dog attack are pictured being removed from the scene Police said the breeds which attacked Ms Martin are yet to be determined, but the family claimed they were XL Bully dogs. The breed became banned in England at the beginning of the month, but owners may apply for exemptions. Images on the owner's social media show how at least one appears to be an XL Bully-type, while another looks like a Rottweiler. Ms Martin's daughter Sonia, 47, told the BBC: 'We're very angry. People complain about the dogs - it's not the dogs.' Speaking about the conditions they were kept in, she asked: 'How the hell can that be any good for an animal?' She also revealed that her nephew was in the house at the time and ran out screaming for help when Ms Martin was attacked. She told the BBC: 'My mum went down to spend time with her grandson who used to live with her. 'The puppies were fighting. The owner had left my mum and my nephew with the dogs and went off somewhere, although my mum had raised concerns about them. 'His directions to my mum was - as we understand it - was that if the puppies were fighting she should put a broom in there and distract the puppies - run it over the floor and shake it to get their attention so they would stop fighting.' Locals of Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea, claimed the dogs were aggressive and were always 'barking and trying to get through the gate'. They believed the owner was a breeder and would often walk them around menacingly. But relatives of Warren have now hit back at the claims, insisting the dogs were his pets and he was a loving owner. Warren's grandmother, Carol Stotter said the rapper was careful to keep the large dogs locked inside the house. The 76-year-old told The Sun: 'From what I've heard from Ashley, the dogs haven't been aggressive. I think with the puppies around it probably changed their behaviour. 'Those dogs were his pets. I think the female got pregnant which was not planned.' 'Ashley loved the dogs. They were not there for any other purpose but his pets.' She said Warren kept on top of maintaining the fence to keep the dogs in and she claimed 'they never attacked anybody' previously. Warren's mother, Michelle Stotter, told The Sun that Ms Martin and her grandson were very close and she was often at the house. She also described her shock when she heard of the tragic incident and said she feels 'sorry' for the 11-year-old boy who is in a 'nightmare situation'. His mother also said that the dog's puppies had been fighting and Ms Martin tried to break them up with a broom. The parents of the puppies, Beauty and Bear, saw this as an attack and 'went' for the grandmother, Ms Stotter claimed. The 55-year-old also said her son was trying to rehome the dogs. MailOnline found that Warren had posted an advert on social media in November offering the puppies for 500 each. The eleven-year-old ran out screaming for help, his aunt told the BBC The police cordon in Hillman Avenue, Jaywick, Essex, following the attack Tattooed East London rapper Warren features in drill music videos online The large dogs also feature in his rap music videos posted online and on social media Sonia was at the scene yesterday 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. She 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. Officers were called to a property at Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea at around 4pm on Saturday, with neighbours hearing screams coming from the property for 10 minutes. They found a seriously wounded Ms Martin and 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 previously revealed that the dogs were owned by breeder Warren, who goes by the name Wyless Man. Pictured is Warren alongside grabs of his massive dogs in his music videos A music video created in memory of Ms Martin's late daughter - and Warren's partner - shows the grandmother alongside Warren and her other family members Warren, who features in drill music videos online, posted a Facebook ad selling XL Bully puppies for 500 in November, MailOnline also revealed yesterday. A 39-year-old man from Jaywick was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dogs offences and remains in custody. Retired Tesco worker Ms Martin, 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 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. Sonia told MailOnline that the family found out about their mother's death at 10pm on Saturday 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?' Today, Essex Police said a 39-year-old man they arrested for the attack has been bailed. Acting Detective Superintendent Stuart Truss said: 'We're making good progress in our investigation into Esther's death. 'It is an investigation with a number of complexities, but we are determined to give Esther's family the answers they need. 'We are working with experts to confirm the breed of the dogs. This may take some days but it's really important we get it right. 'I would ask people not to speculate about this element - we will establish the facts and we will keep the community in Jaywick updated.' In a press conference yesterday 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 Officers added that there was no wider threat to the community and the scene is now safe Police said a 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dogs offences Ashley Warren's social media shows XL Bully-type dogs at his home Warren is seen in his music video rapping in front of a cannon online Warren is a rapper who uses the name Wyless Man and posts music videos The two adult dogs feature in Warren's music videos (pictured) A helicopter joined several police cars and an ambulance following reports '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 Saturday evening as emergency services attended Emergency services were pictured at the scene Saturday as it was cordoned off Essex Police said it was trying to establish the circumstances which led to the incident. Pictured is the scene Saturday night Your browser does not support iframes. Essex Police officers were called to a property at Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea 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. by Mike OBrien We are fast approaching that special day midway through February, when we are called to reflect upon the joys and sorrows of sharing our lives with certain special others. An occasion for celebration by some, and for lamentation by others. I am, of course, referring to the second anniversary of Justin Trudeaus invocation of the Emergencies Act to quell the Freedom Convoy that had seized downtown Ottawa as well as Canadas three most important border crossings. Last years anniversary was marked by the release of the Rouleau report, summarizing the results of a public inquiry into the Acts use, such inquiry being automatically triggered whenever the Act in invoked. That report, finding that the government was justified in its decision and correct in its assessment of the situation to be addressed, angered people who already disagreed with the decision and pleased people who already agreed with it. A new review of the governments invocation of the Act was released this January, finding that the governments decision was not reasonable and violated the rights of people affected by the measures enacted pursuant to the declaration of emergency. This new finding (the Mosley decision, or more formally 2024 FC 42), conversely angered people who already agreed with the decision and pleased people who already disagreed with it. There are two reasons why it elicited such reactions (neither being people read it). Firstly, the fact that it exists at all suggests that the wisdom of using the Emergencies Act, and the measures enabled thereby, was still an open question. And secondly, the fact that it (partially) faulted the government suggests that the convoy was not as dangerous or noxious as its detractors claimed it to be. But these suggestions are misleading. Unlike the public inquiry and joint legislative committee that had already investigated the use of the Act, this new review was a legal decision by a federal court judge. Since the convoy crisis was the first use of the Emergency Act since its adoption, this court decision is the first judicial review of its use. Whatever one may think of the governments wisdom and effectiveness in employing the legislation, it is quite useful for a constitutional democracy (technically a constitutional monarchy, but lets not get distracted) to clarify legal details after the fact. This is not to impugn the authors of the law or those who wield it; unforeseen circumstances may create problems for even the most judicious application of the most sagely crafted laws. In the case of the Emergencies Act, it is a creation of the mid-80s and that eras security concerns, replacing the War Measures Act following that laws contentious use during the October Crisis of 1970 (during which multiple incidents of terrorism shook Quebec). The details of the case are as follows: five citizens sought relief for what they considered breaches of their rights under Canadas Charter of Rights and Freedoms and our Bill of Rights (but not the Peoples Voices and Choices Act, as this piece of legislation only exists in the mind of Ricky from Trailer Park Boys). Two civil society groups, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Canadian Constitution Foundation, joined and were granted standing on public interest grounds. The provincial government of Alberta was also granted intervenor status. One citizen, claiming to represent an anti-vaccine nurses group, was denied standing and her nurses group was determined to represent nobody but herself. Her main claim, that she was exposed to liabilities of future prosecution because the convoy activities in which she had taken part were declared prohibited, was rejected as vague and hypothetical. Two other citizens were denied standing because they did not suffer any particular infringement, having not been arrested or had their financial assets seized. That left two remaining citizens who had had their financial accounts temporarily frozen following orders from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to various financial institutions. As Justice Mosley hints throughout the decision, these two applicants were not better versed in Canadian law than their disqualified comrades, and the assistance of the CCLA and CCF counsel was essential in shaping their case into something the court could work with. After the question of standing, the question of mootness had to be resolved. The measures giving rise to the applicants complaints had long since been revoked, and so it could be asked what additional relief is needed. The applicants argued that if such reasoning was followed, emergency measures might never to subjected to judicial review because the measures would be revoked by the time a legal case was presented. The judge granted this, and also accepted that an adversarial context still existed between the applicants and the government, in which legal questions were still live and pertinent. With the questions of should the applicants be here? and should anyone be here? answered in the affirmative, the main task remaining was to determine if the government acted reasonably in its invocation of the Act. (There were also decisions on the constitutionality of specific measures implemented under the Act, but I will omit these for space. The short version is that the RCMP was sloppy, which is a recurring problem and the main reason why CSIS exists). Reasonableness in this context requires justification, transparency and intelligibility in the reasons given for a decision, and as such the determination turns not on whether the decision could be justified by the best possible case, but rather on whether it is justified by the case that is in fact given. So a determination that the governments decision was unreasonable does not necessarily mean that they acted incorrectly; it may merely mean that they failed to articulate a sufficiently reasonable case for their correct decision. The government had to meet three main criteria to justify the use of the Act. First, that there exists a threat to national security, which is defined by reference to the definition used in the CSIS Act (being the legislation defining the powers and responsibilities of Canadas equivalent of MI5 or the CIA). Second, that this threat exceeds the authority or capability of provincial governments to address it (and is thus a national emergency, although Quebec would likely quibble about the meaning of national, and then leave in a huff, and then later complain that the discussion continued without them). And third, that this situation cannot be handled with any other existing law. Each of these points is messy. The CSIS Act lays out four situations constituting a threat to national security, of which Justice Mosley selects only the third as relevant to this case. It reads activities within or relating to Canada directed toward or in support of the threat or use of acts of serious violence against persons or property for the purpose of achieving a political, religious or ideological objective within Canada or a foreign state. Mosley decides that this definition was not met by the situation obtaining at the time of the Acts invocation. Like many observers, I find this strange, given that the blockades forcible occupation of public infrastructure seemed to constitute violence against property, and the Ottawa occupiers constant blowing of deafening horns could easily meet the standard of physical violence when continued for weeks, as could the emission of diesel exhaust in densely populated areas. Even if we grant Mosleys decision that this definition was not met, I would argue that he erred in excluding the three other definitions of national security threat. The first is espionage or sabotage that is against Canada or is detrimental to the interests of Canada or activities directed toward or in support of such espionage or sabotage. The second is foreign influenced activities within or relating to Canada that are detrimental to the interests of Canada and are clandestine or deceptive or involve a threat to any person. The fourth is activities directed toward undermining by covert unlawful acts, or directed toward or intended ultimately to lead to the destruction or overthrow by violence of, the constitutionally established system of government in Canada. The occupation of Ottawa, and especially the blockading of Canadas three most economically important border crossings, would seem to qualify as sabotage detrimental to the interests of Canada. As would the deliberate flooding of Ottawas 911 emergency phone system to hinder the work of first responders. The fact that a significant amount of funds (over 50%, in the case of the crowdfunding platform GiveSendGo) came from the US, and that the Americas corporate right-wing media-sphere propagated falsehoods and calls to action in support of the convoy, would seem to qualify as foreign influenced, deceptive activities detrimental to the interests of Canada. (Note that many of the malicious calls flooding Ottawas 911 system were also made by persons from outside Canada). And lastly, the convoy organizers stated objective of forcibly overthrowing the constitutionally established system of government in Canada would seem to qualify as, well, that. In Justice Rouleaus report last year, he recommended ending the reliance on the CSIS Act definitions altogether. Justice Mosley notes that those definitions were intended to rein in the powers of an intelligence agency and not to guide a government navigating a national emergency. But he is bound to decide on what the law says, not what it should say. Still, there remains the requirement that the threat exceed the provinces authority and capacity to address it. In Alberta, the Coutts border crossing blockade was managed by the RCMP under existing provincial laws, as were the arrests and seizures relating to the weapons cache discovered there. (Maybe all the other seditious Albertans were honking horns in Ottawa). In Quebec the provincial police nipped local convoy movements in the bud, making it clear than the disruptions experienced in Ottawa and at Ontarios key border crossings would not be tolerated. In Ontario, the question of whether the provincial government could handle the situation was moot, because it did not try to handle the situation. The Ottawa police allowed the occupation to grow to unmanageable scale, and the Premier of Ontario failed to direct the provincial police to intervene in a timely manner. Every review of the events leading to the Emergency Acts use is scathing in it criticism of the Ontario premiers inaction. The Act simply did not envision that a Premier would choose to allow such a situation to continue and worsen, and as such there is no provision dealing with such malingerers. (Ontarians punished Premier Doug Ford by re-electing him in June 2022 with an even larger majority. Or, more accurately, a plurality of the 43% of Ontarios eligible voters who bothered showing up did.) While the actual measures implemented pursuant to the Act were quite locally restricted (except for financial measures like asset freezes and compulsion of disclosures), the scope of the emergency was Canada-wide in anticipation of what Justice Mosley called a whack-a-mole situation, where disruptive activities are displaced from a prohibited area only to take hold somewhere else. It might be determined in the years to come that the requirement to exhaust provincial powers, and all ordinary federal legal tools, before invoking the Emergencies Act may be overly burdensome in the context of time-sensitive and developing emergencies. Mosley himself noted this, writing It may be considered unrealistic to expect the Federal Government to wait when the country is threatened by serious and dangerous situations, as the Respondent characterizes the events of January and February 2022, while the Provinces or Territories determine whether they have the capacity or authority to deal with the threat or, if not, could enact what is lacking in their respective legislative or regulatory tool boxes. However, that is what the Emergencies Act appears to require. And there is the rub; the legal standard set for the government a generation ago by legislators may be flawed in ways not apparent until the legislation is needed. Faced with a choice between (1) acting effectively to address a pressing threat to national interests, by appeal to legitimate legal mechanisms such as the Emergencies Act, or (2) addressing the threat by more ad hoc means and appeals to more general prerogatives of governing, or (3) failing to address the threat for want of legitimate means to do so, the government did well to choose (1). The governments most important responsibility is to govern, after all. It has lawyers to deal with mistakes in its reason-giving. One curious lacuna in this debate is the role of Covid in the calculus of public interest. By the time the convoy started rolling towards Ottawa, the virus had already killed 30,000 Canadians by official counts (and no doubt thousands more by various routes of excess mortality). It has killed (at least) another 27,000 since then. The fact that the convoy movement sought to eliminate all public health measures related to Covid does not seem to factor into the governments stated reasons, nor subsequent review of those decisions. The only mention of Covid in the governments invocation of the Emergencies Act, and in the text of Justice Mosleys decision, is in reference to Canadas economic vulnerability following two years of Covid-related disruptions. Perhaps this was a strategic decision, not wanting to mix evidently contentious questions of medicine and public health with separately contentious questions of public order. Given the monstrous death toll under US Republicans handling of Covid, it seems fair to construe MAGA-adjacent forces in Canada seeking to influence public health policy as a threat to life and safety. (Again, such matters are largely provincial, but the federal government still has many levers of influence at its disposal). The government has indicated that it plans to appeal Mosleys decision, likely along some of the lines I have highlighted, and others that I lack the legal competence to recognize. It may yet be vindicated in its stated reasons for invoking the Emergencies Act, but still move to amend the Act to better prepare for the next time it is needed. Mosley himself muses that it may be needed again to deal with a similar situation, or worse, given the rise of extremist anti-government elements exploiting the reach of social media. I fear that the reasons given by the government in defending its use of the Act are insufficiently attentive to the pervasive, amorphous and stochastic nature of far-right terrorism, although they might simply be keeping their intelligence cards close to their vest, or steering away from too-specific justifications in order to maintain broad discretion for future decisions. I hope to have clarified the significance of the Mosley decision somewhat, given its peculiar role alongside other (non-judicial) findings. My reason for attempting this is mostly to push back against the attempts in Canadian and American right-wing media to vilify and delegitimize the Trudeau government. A headline of Judge rules use of Emergencies Act unjustified is too easily spun into Tyrant Trudeau illegally erases freedoms without appropriate context. When Canadian MAGA-ites engage in such anti-incumbent hyperbole, it is generally to bolster their electoral hopes. But when American MAGA-ites push anti-Trudeau vitriol, it is in service to a more dangerous agenda. The delegitimization of Canadas government is a preamble to attacks on our political and territorial sovereignty, and we should not expect our long and mutually respectful relationship with the United States to count for anything under a Republican regime. American energy interests cannot abide a progressive, global-warming-acknowledging leader in charge of a country with as much petroleum as we have (nor can Albertan energy interests). As if the threat beyond our southern border werent trouble enough, many Canadians are now so ignorant of the political differences between our countries, and so immersed in the worst of American political discourse, that they see the proper functioning of this country as some kind of aberration in need of correction, to bring us in line with the ordained perfection of the American Way. That is Canadas long emergency, manifesting more acutely every day. Two New York City teenagers have been arrested after they were filmed stomping on a classmate's head in a 'vicious attack'. The two suspects, both 17, were also stabbed during the brawl at Martin van Buren High School in Queens on Thursday. The suspects had non life-threatening injuries, and both are in a stable condition. In shocking footage of the brawl, released by the District Attorney, the victim is pushed down the stairs and slammed into a door before a group of boys descend on him. 'The brutality was chilling under any circumstance, but that it occurred in what parents should be able to assume is a safe place for their children is as unsettling as the violence captured on video,' District Attorney Melinda Katz said. The two defendants face up to 15 years in prison if convicted. There were at least four other attackers seen on the video who have not yet been arrested. Two New York City teenagers have been arrested after they were filmed stomping on a classmate's head in a 'vicious attack' In the video of the assault, a boy bodytackles the victim down the stairs in the school corridor, slamming him into a metal door. The pair crash through the door and more students descend on the victim who lies prone on the floor while they kick him and try to stamp on his head. Someone briefly appears to try to help him to his feet before another attacker kicks him in the head. He is then pulled over to the stairs where at least four other boys jump on him in a pile and start punching. The group of boys then appears to disperse and the victim and one remaining attacker start punching each other in the stairwell. The District Attorney's office said: 'Both defendants, along with four others who have not yet been apprehended, kicked, stomped and punched the victim multiple times in the head and body while the victim was in a prone position on the floor.' They added that both defendants were stabbed during the fight. One of them was stabbed in the stomach and the other in the shoulder, with neither suffering life threatening injuries. After the brawl one of the attackers was found to be carrying a loaded pistol The attackers piled on top of the victim on the stairs before dispersing. Two 17 year olds, who were stabbed, have been charged with 'gang assault'. Another four involved have not yet been arrested Both of them were taken to Long Island Jewish Medical Center and are said to be in a stable condition. When police officers arrived at the school they grabbed the victim, who was suspected of stabbing the two boys, and took him to the 105th Precinct, according to New York Daily News. But the victim claimed self-defense and showed authorities the social media video of the attack that supported his claim. New York Daily News said the Queens District Attorneys Office then told police to void his arrest. The victim suffered 'bruising to his face and eye'. A fellow student told the outlet on Thursday: 'I was trying to walk my girlfriend to her class and as we got to the staircase we saw them get in an altercation. 'These two boys had an altercation. One of them was losing bad and he pulled out a knife and stabbed [the other one].' The incident happened at Martin Van Buren High School in the Queens borough of the city just before 2pm on Thursday One student was stabbed in the stomach and the other in the shoulder, with neither suffering life threatening injuries After the fight, the first alleged attacker was searched in the principal's office and was found carrying a 9mm semi-automatic Smith & Wesson pistol 'loaded with a round in the chamber and seven rounds in the magazine'. The school was placed into a 'soft lockdown' where teachers lock classroom doors and turn of lights, but it was lifted by 3pm. The first alleged attacker is charged with attempted gang assault in the first degree, attempted assault in the first degree, assault in the second degree, two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds. The second is charged with attempted gang assault in the first degree, attempted assault in the first degree and assault in the second degree. They are due to appear in court on February 8. A British Airways flight from Rome came close to hitting an illegally flown drone before landing at Heathrow for the second time in five months, a report has revealed. In the latest incident, the A320 jet flying at more than 280mph came within 30ft of hitting a drone around ten miles south of the London airport. The plane carrying up to 160 passengers landed safely after the close call at a height of 7,000ft at around 12.40pm on September 2 last year. The drone was said to be around 3ft wide, making it far larger than devices usually flown by hobby flyers. The same flight from Rome, operated by Finnair on behalf of BA, missed a drone by 3ft at a height of 3,000ft while approaching Heathrow at a similar time on April 8 last year. Finnair were operating flight on behalf of British Airways from Heathrow to Rome The plane carrying up to 160 passengers landed safely after the close call at a height of 7,000ft The earlier close call, which was revealed exclusively by MailOnline last July, happened around three miles south of Maidenhead, Berkshire, and led to the temporary closure of the main runway at the airport. The UK Airprox Board which assesses near misses rated both near misses as Category A incidents where there was a serious risk of collision. The fact that the same flight reported two near misses within five months has highlighted the risk of drones interfering with air traffic. Aviation experts have repeatedly warned of the dangers posed by the devices if they are sucked into a jet engine or smash into a cockpit, particularly during critical times like take off or landing. Drones are normally restricted to flying below 400ft, meaning the device in the second incident was potentially more than 17 times higher than the legal limit. The A320 jet flying at more than 280mph came within 30ft of hitting a drone Operators can over-ride the height-limiting software with patches bought online. Some enthusiasts are thought to load their devices up with extra batteries so they can soar high into the sky in a bid to get dramatic videos of airliners flying past. It is believed that the drone operator or operators in the incidents were never traced, but if they had been caught they could have potentially been jailed for up to five years for endangering an aircraft. The UKAB report into the second incident said: 'It was a very close call, distance to the drone was less than 10m. 'It passed down the right side of the aircraft, just below. The drone was a white quadcopter with diameter of about 3ft.' The report described the risk of a collision as 'high' and said that 'the reported altitude and/or description of the object were sufficient to indicate that it could have been a drone'. It added: 'The Board considered that the pilot's overall account of the incident portrayed a situation where providence had played a major part in the incident and/or a definite risk of collision had existed.' Finnair was unable to confirm if the same pilots were on both planes. A spokesperson for the airline said: 'Finnair can confirm British Airways flight from Rome Fiumicino to London Heathrow on 2 September 2023, which was operated by Finnair, witnessed a drone on final approach to London. Finnair did not say if the same pilots were on both planes 'Our pilots are trained to handle such incidents and acted in accordance with Finnair's standard operating procedures to ensure the safety of the flight was not compromised and could land as normal. 'The safety, security and wellbeing of passengers and crew is Finnair's highest priority. READ MORE: Heathrow runway had to be closed after illegally flown drone was 3ft away from smashing into Finnair plane flying at nearly 200mph, report reveals Advertisement The alarm in the first incident was raised when a drone was spotted 'in the vicinity' by the pilots of two passenger jets on their final approach to Heathrow. The pilots of the British Airways flight from Rome, also operated by Finnair and following behind, were warned by air traffic controllers about the reported drone. The UK Airprox Board said they elected to continue as the drone was reportedly 'staying to the right of the centreline' of their flight path. But as they neared the drone it 'flew under the left wing, only a few metres from the engine' of their A320 aircraft. The Finnair pilots rated the risk of a collision as 'high', and estimated that the drone was between 3ft and 10ft directly below their aircraft ten miles west of Heathrow. The incident is believed to have been one of the closest ever near misses between a drone and an airliner to be recorded in UK airspace. The device was said to be 'round shaped' and a 'purple/turquoise colour' was being flown at more than seven times the normal legal maximum height. The report said that air traffic control was informed and the Finnair plane landed safely on Heathrow's northern runway. Both flights were flying to London Heathrow Airport from Rome But the runway known as RW09L was immediately closed to flights following behind the Finnair plane. Other planes were directed to land instead on the southern runway known as RW09R so they did not come into conflict with the drone. The Heathrow Approach controller considered the move necessary due to the 'immediate risk' posed to other aircraft. The report said that a safety investigation by NATS (formerly National Air Traffic Services) had found no trace of the drone on radar records at the time of the sightings. A spokesperson for Finnair, confirming the near miss in July, said: 'Getting accurate estimates of distance is challenging at high speed, so 3 to 10ft is only an estimation of the distance from the drone. 'Flying drones in areas where it is strictly forbidden shows that some drone enthusiasts have ignored safety regulations. 'We want to express our concern about this irresponsible activity. These cases endanger air traffic safety and can cause flight operations disruptions. 'Safety is the cornerstone of aviation, and we also expect a strong safety culture from drone enthusiasts.' This is the moment Israeli police shot dead a Palestinian boy in West Bank after he tried to stab an officer. Footage shows a 14-year-old boy - identified by local media as Wadia Shadi Sa'ad Alian - cross a busy road and approach an armed Border Police officer stationed at a checkpoint near the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim in West Bank. As the officer frisked to check him for weapons, the teenager drew what appeared to be a knife from his coat pockets and attempted to stab the policeman several times. When he was unsuccessful in harming the officer, the boy ran away, but was gunned down from behind by the officer and his two colleagues. The student living in the mostly-Palestinian Jabel Mukaber neighbourhood in east Jerusalem died from his injuries, local media reports. Footage shows a 14-year-old boy - identified by local media as Wadia Shadi Sa'ad Alian - cross a busy road and approach an armed Border Police officer stationed at a checkpoint near the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim in West Bank (pictured above) As the officer padded him down to check him for weapons, the teenager drew what appeared to be a knife from his coat pockets and attempted to stab the policeman several times When he was unsuccessful in harming the officer, the boy ran away, but was gunned down from behind by the officer and his two colleagues A photo of a kitchen knife was later released by police. It was allegedly used in the attempted stabbing. Police said the paramilitary border police were carrying out a routine security check in an area east of Jerusalem when the 14-year-old tried to stab the officers who were uninjured. Border Police commander Itzhak Brik praised the officers for gunning down the teen. 'He came here with the goal of carrying out a terror attack against civilians, and in the end you prevented this - and as I said this is exactly what I expect of our fighters,' he told Israel National News at the scene 'Good for you - you did beautiful work.' Critics of Israel say its security services use excessive force against Palestinian suspects, allegations that have intensified during the country's war against Hamas in Gaza. Israel has carried out nightly raids in the West Bank to crack down on suspected militants there. Palestinians have staged several attacks against Israeli security forces and civilians in the West Bank and Israel since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7. Last month, an Israeli woman was killed and 13 injured in a ramming and stabbing attack in a suburb north of Tel Aviv. Ian Lavender, the last surviving star of beloved British sitcom Dad's Army, has died aged 77. He was best known for playing hapless Private Pike and went on to bag a role in EastEnders in which he starred in more than 200 episodes as Pauline Fowler's friend Derek Harkinson. Lavender's agent confirmed his death in an announcement today on social media. The post read that it 'marks the end of an era'. Clive Dunn, who played Lance Corporal Jones, died in 2012, while Bill Pertwee (air raid warden Hodges) died in 2013. Arthur Lowe, who played Captain George Mainwaring, died from a heart attack in 1982. Dad's Army became a household name and its characters and catchphrases have continued to make the nation laugh long after the first episode aired in 1968. With the death of the sitcom's last surviving main character, read below to take a look at the real lives of Britain's favourite sitcom cast - from real life war heroes performing with Hollywood heavyweights and becoming soap royalty. Arthur Lowe: Captain George Mainwaring Arthur Lowe had a career spanning 37 years and was one of the most recognisable faces on British TV The actor suffered from narcolepsy which often meant he fell asleep on set and even in the middle of sentences Arthur Lowe had a career spanning 37 years and was one of the most recognisable faces on British TV. Although he was known as Captain Mainwaring, Lowe only began acting professionally in 1945, after the end of WWII where he had been one of the first to be called up in 1939. After the end of the war, the actor took part in productions with local troupes before finding fame as the Home Guard platoon leader. When not acting the pompous and bumbling Captain, Lowe was in productions with Sir Laurence Olivier at the National theatre and worked on shows including the ITV comedy Doctor at Large and an adaptation of David Copperfield in 1974. The actor suffered from narcolepsy which often meant he fell asleep on set and even in the middle of sentences. He died at the age of 66 in Birmingham in 1982. John Le Mesurier: Sergeant Arthur Wilson John Le Mesurier appeared in more than 120 films across his career As well as Dad's Army he also appeared in a Coronation Street spin-off series, Pardon the Expression, opposite his Dad's Army co-star Arthur Lowe. John Le Mesurier appeared in more than 120 films across his career which was slow to start after his flat and the theatre he was working in in Brixton, South London were bombed during the Blitz. After serving with the Royal Tank Regiment where he was posted to India, he struggled to find work, often accepting smaller supporting roles. He took small roles in films including the 1956 Second World War film, Private's Progress and the 1969 classic The Italian Job with Michael Caine and was a self confessed 'jobbing actor' He also appeared in a Coronation Street spin-off series, Pardon the Expression, opposite his Dad's Army co-star Arthur Lowe. He was married three times, most notably to Carry On actress Hattie Jacques but after their relationship broke down his health took a turn and he died in 1983. James Beck: Private Walker James Beck who was known as the cheeky cockney spiv on Dad's Army Beck, a heavy drinker, died three weeks after wrapping up on the sixth series of the hit sit-com Beck who was known as the cheeky cockney spiv was rarely out of work, with roles in Coronation Street and A Family At War. Despite the success of the BBC sitcom, the actor from North London yearned for greater challenges. Just as the recording of the sixth series of Dad's Army was wrapping up, Beck suddenly became ill and was rushed to hospital. Beck, a heavy drinker, died three weeks later due to a combination of heart failure, renal failure and pancreatitis, aged 44. Arnold Ridley: Private Godfrey Arnold Ridley who played the elderly bumbling Private Godfrey was much less bumbling in real life - surviving the Battle of the Somme His acting credits also include Doughy Hood, the village baker, in the radio soap opera The Archers Arnold Ridley who played the elderly bumbling Private Godfrey was much less bumbling in real life. A brave soldier who survived the Somme, he was blighted by his wounds which included an almost useless left hand, shrapnel in his legs and he was prone to blackouts after receiving a German rifle butt to the head. He was honourably discharged from the army due to his wounds and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service. Despite have served in WWI, Ridley volunteered for WWII in 1939 and after serving joined the Home Guard, much like his Dad's Army character. In between serving as a soldier, Ridley toured with theatre groups and adapted novels into plays such as Agatha Christie's novel Peril at End House which debuted on the West End play in 1940 His acting credits also include Doughy Hood, the village baker, in the radio soap opera The Archers. His great- niece is Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley. John Laurie: Private Frazer John Laurie starting out his career in Shakespeare and went on to work with Alfred Hitchcock, David Lean and Laurence Olivier The Dumfries native starred in classic such as The 39 Steps, Hobson's Choice and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp Laurie was a thespian through and through, starting out his career in Shakespeare, he went on to work with Alfred Hitchcock, David Lean and Laurence Olivier. The Dumfries native starred in classic such as The 39 Steps, Hobson's Choice and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. The dad's Army favourite worked all the way up to his death and starred in The Prisoner of Zelda just one year before he died. His niece is Star Wars actress Daisy. He died aged 83 in 1980. Ian lavender: Private Pike ian Lavender was only 22 when he got his first big break as Private Pike on the hit show After his television success, he starred alongside Hollywood royalty in films like The Merchant of Venice with Dustin Hoffman Ian Lavender was the youngest of the cast, getting the part of Private pike at the age of 22. The job was only supposed to last for a week but almost 10 years later, he was still playing the part of the lovable Pike. While he later revealed that the part of the 'idiot boy' cost him other big film roles, he also said he had no regrets about taking the part. As well as staring alongside comedic greats, he starred alongside Hollywood heavyweights like Dustin Hoffman in The Merchant of Venice. the actor also took on more tv work including Eastenders as well as theatre - one of his later roles was in Sister Act: The Musical. He died aged 77. Clive Dunn: Lance Corporal Jones Despite only being 48 when he took on the role of Lance Corporal Jones, Clive Dunn made a name for himself playing the doddery Jones Dunn continued to play grumpy older characters, taking on Charlie Quick, in the slapstick children's TV series Grandad, from 1979 to 1984 Despite only being 48 when he took on the role of Lance Corporal Jones, he made a name for himself playing the doddery Jones, a type he would lean into throughout his career. Starting off in touring theatre companies a made his first television appearance in Surprise Attack before taking on a starring role in The Tony Hancock Show. After playing the old Jones in Dad's Army, Dunn continued to play grumpy older characters, taking on Charlie Quick, in the slapstick children's TV series Grandad, from 1979 to 1984. Despite a a glittering career on tv, Dunn retired to the Algarve where he died in 2012, leaving behind two daughters and a his wife Priscilla, also an actress. People born in 1970 could have to wait until they are in their seventies to get the state pension, according to a shock report. Estimates from the International Longevity Centre have highlighted the huge increase in the burden of costs on the country. Between 2000 and 2050 the dependency ratio - the proportion of the population aged 65 or over compared to those of working age - is projected to rise from 21.2 per cent to 51.1 per cent. As a result the report suggested the state pension age might need to be over 70 by 2040 in order to maintain the current ratio of workers per state pensioner. That is based on people staying in education or training until age 20, rather than joining the workforce at 16. Previously even gloomy analysts had mooted the age hitting 70 by around 2050. If the latest scenario came to pass 10million more people could have their benefits pushed back. Estimates from the International Longevity Centre have highlighted the huge increase in the burden of costs on the country A government review published last March indicated that if life expectancy returned to the trajectory expected in 2014 the state pension age could be 71 by the late 2050s Previously even gloomy analysts had mooted the age hitting 70 by around 2050. If the latest scenario came to pass 10million more people could have their benefits pushed back State pension-related expenditure will continue to increase at an alarming rate, according to the review last year The report said: 'The recent stalling in life expectancy during the austerity years and COVID has temporarily eased the pressure for increases in state pension age beyond 67 after 2027 but longer-term the pressure will be on to increase it to 68 or 69 before that.' Currently the legal position is that the state pension age will reach 68 from 2044-47, but that is widely expected to be brought forward. Last March Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride delayed a final decision until after the general election. Downing Street said today there is a 'set process' for determining state pension age and no plans to change it. However, the official review of the retirement age published last spring painted a stark picture of the massive burden on the public finances - and what might need to happen to keep the books under control. Former Tesco director Baroness Neville-Rolfe suggested setting a rule that Britons receive pensions for 31 per cent of the average life expectancy. There should also be a ceiling of 6 per cent of GDP spent on state pension. Those principles would have big implications for younger workers, with the Tory peer saying that the retirement age should reach 68 between 2041 and 2043. It could then reach 69 between 2046 and 2048 - with those projections indicating that it would need to hit 70 in the early 2050s. That would be when people born in the 1980s would be looking to bow out of the workplace. The review stressed that slowing improvements in life expectancy and the fallout from Covid have made the figures highly uncertain. However, the International Longevity Centre report painted an even bleaker picture, stressing that developed countries around the world are grappling with the same problems. A full new state pension typically offered to those who reached state pension age after April 2016 is due to rise from 203.85 per week to 221.20in April 'While we are facing ill health earlier in our long lives, the problem becomes even more pressing because of the exit of workers from the workforce long before they reach state pension age as it reduces the tax base to pay for pensions,' the report said. 'Poor health is one of the key reasons for this and is one of the greatest barriers to economic prosperity faced by the UK today because it lowers economic output and increases taxes. 'Additionally. a smaller working population and a large economically inactive population create huge labour shortages which must be filled by migrant labour which creates additional problems. 'One solution is enabling people to work for longer but this is challenging for example, research shows that by age 70, only 50 per cent of adults are disability-free and able to work. 'If the proportion of the economically active population were to increase from current levels of around 78 per cent to 85 per cent then it may be possible to hold the state pension age at below 70 from 2040 at least for a few years.' Downing Street today tried to cool a confrontation with the Archbishop of Canterbury over the Prime Minister's flagship Rwanda Bill. No10 attempted to simmer down a row after Home Secretary James Cleverly suggested the Most Rev Justin Welby was helping 'evil' people-smuggling gangs. The Archbishop and other senior members of the clergy have been among the most vocal critics of the Rwanda plan in the House of Lords. Peers are next week due to continue their scrutiny of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, which aims to finally get Rishi Sunak's migrant deportation scheme up and running. The PM is braced for a huge fight with peers over the asylum legislation with many - including Mr Welby - having already expressed their opposition to the proposed laws. The Archbishop last month claimed Mr Sunak was 'leading the nation down a damaging path' with his plans and accused ministers of outsourcing Britain's 'legal and moral responsibilities'. He has also previously suggested the Rwanda scheme is the 'opposite of the nature of God'. But, despite his unhappiness with the Bill, MailOnline understands Mr Welby won't try and block the legislation completely and won't vote against its upcoming Third Reading in the Lords. Home Secretary James Cleverly suggested the Most Rev Justin Welby was helping 'evil' people-smuggling gangs The Archbishop of Canterbury has been among the most vocal of critics of the Government's Rwanda scheme The PM is braced for a huge fight with peers over the Rwanda Bill with many - including Mr Welby - having already expressed their opposition to the proposed asylum laws In a newspaper interview this weekend, Mr Cleverly pushed back at criticism of the Bill from among those bishops who sit in the Lords. 'This is evil being done. I'm trying to do something about it,' the Home Secretary told the Sun on Sunday. '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. 'Bishops talk about good and evil. We've got to do something about it.' The Home Secretary is expected to soon receive an initial report on the case of Abdul Shokoor Ezedi, the suspected Clapham chemical attacker. Ezedi is thought to have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan on the back of a lorry in 2016, and since claimed to have converted to Christianity, which would have put him at risk following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. He was granted asylum in the UK after two failed attempts and was able to stay in the country despite being convicted of a sex offence in 2018. It has been claimed Ezedi got a priest to vouch for his conversion - although local church leaders have reportedly found no trace of the referee. Asked today about Mr Cleverly's newspaper remarks, the PM's official spokesman tried to cool tensions between the Government and the clergy. 'I'm not going to get into commenting on individuals,' the spokesman said. 'We obviously have in this country a proud history of welcoming people who are genuinely fleeing religious persecution. 'But the point of the legislation we've introduced and legislation that's also going through the House of Lords is to ensure peole can't take advantage of this and try and game the system. 'And to ensure that people who come here illegally cannot claim asylum here.' Pressed on whether Mr Sunak supported Mr Cleverly's remarks about the Archbishop, the spokesman replied: 'I actually haven't seen those words but, as I say, I'm not going to get drawn on comments on individuals.' And, asked if Downing Street had pre-approved the Home Secretary's comments, the PM's official spokesman added: 'I've not seen those words, that's the first I've heard of them.' During a House of Lords debate on the Rwanda Bill last month, Mr Welby suggested he would support efforts by fellow peers to try and alter the legislation before it returns to the House of Commons. He also hinted he could vote against the Bill's Third Reading in the unelected chamber. But a Lambeth Palace source told MailOnline that Mr Welby would not be voting to block the Bill completely because 'the job of the Lords is to revise not destroy'. RAF Typhoon jets were sent to help a passenger plane land at Manchester Airport after it 'lost contact'. The Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) plane was travelling from Oslo, Norway, to Manchester when it lost communications - but the airline says there was never any danger to passengers. Two RAF planes were sent from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, to assist. A spokesperson for Manchester Airport confirmed to MailOnline the plane had been escorted in after it lost contact. 'We understand that to have been a technical fault and comms has now been restored. 'The flight was destined for Manchester so passengers haven't been displaced but we have put on extra staff to support any passengers that may need it.' RAF Typhoon jets were sent to help a passenger plane land at Manchester Airport after it 'lost contact' A flight radar map which tracks the flight path of the RAF Typhoon Two RAF planes were sent from RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, to assist Fire crews and a paramedics have also met the plane on landing as part of the procedure. One who tweeted a video of an RAF aircraft in the sky amid the incident said: 'Not something you see everyday, @RoyalAirForce Typhoon zig zagging across the skies of South Manchester.' Another commented: 'I wondered what that racket was!' An MoD spokesperson said: 'Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft were launched this afternoon from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian aircraft that had lost communications; subsequently, communications were re-established, the aircraft was intercepted and safely escorted to Manchester.' The airline confirmed that Flight SK4609 from Oslo to Manchester had an escorted landing this afternoon in response to a 'brief and temporary loss of communication'. It told MailOnline a standard procedure was initiated but insisted there was never any danger to the flight or its passengers. 'The flight landed safely in Manchester and the departing passengers are about to take off to Oslo. 'An investigation has been launched and the matter is being handled by relevant authorities as per standard procedures and we cannot comment any further.' *Did YOU see the incident? Email danya.bazaraa@mailonline.co.uk The girlfriend of tragic jockey Keagan Kirby was able to tell him she loved him as paramedics battled to save his life. Emily Burge, 21, was at the point-to-point meeting and ran on to the course after Keagan, 25, fell from his horse in the last race of the day. She said: 'They thought he was winded but when I got there they had put green screens around him. 'He was not conscious but I told him I loved him before he was declared dead. 'He died doing something he loved.' His girlfriend Emily Burge was able to tell him she loved him as paramedics battled to save him Kirkby is pictured with racing legend Sir AP McCoy in November 2013 British Horseracing Authority released a statement saying they were 'devastated' Ms Burge paid an emotional tribute to the young jockey online Keagan Kirkby, 25, pictured with his girlfriend Emily Burge before his death Keagan's horse ran through the wing of a fence during the second circuit of the race at the Charing point-to-point in Kent. Emily said: 'One of the other jockeys spoke to me afterwards and said the horse ran right through the wing. 'He said there was nothing any rider could have done to avoid what happened - it was no one's fault. 'There were two ambulances, the course doctor and an air ambulance, everyone did all they could to save him. They were so good.' Professional groom Emily and Keagan met on a blind date last August and had made plans for their future together. They were due to go on holiday together to the Lake District for Emily's birthday in May before house-hunting for their first home together. She went to the point-to-point with Keagan's grandfather David Young who had guided him through his equestrian career. Keagan had raced twice already at the Sunday meeting, coming fourth and second before riding in the final event of the meeting. The talented young jockey was looking forward to riding at Newbury later this month, his first at a recognised racecourse. He was also due to ride at Cheltenham in May. Keagan Kirkby, 25, (pictured right next to champion trainer Paul Nicholls) has died Kirkby worked for champion trainer Nicholls who was left 'mortified' by his death His ability was such that he was nominated for a Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award Emily, from Taunton, Somerset, said that away from the racecourse Keagan was a gentleman Tearful Emily said: 'He was doing his Amateur License next week, he loved everything about the sport and had a great future ahead of him. 'He would talk about horses and racing all the time, you couldn't keep him quiet about it. 'People would say he was like the walking Racing Post.' READ MORE - Heartbroken girlfriend of jockey Keagan Kirkby remembers him in emotional tribute after he died when he was thrown from his horse during his final race in Kent over the weekend Advertisement Emily, from Taunton, Somerset, said that away from the racecourse Keagan was a gentleman who was loved by everybody. She said: 'He was so understanding, you never heard him raise his voice. 'He never had a bad word to say about anyone, everybody loved him.' Emily, who was a trainee jockey in Ireland before being injured in a serious fall, is meeting with Keagan's distraught family tonight to start making arrangements for his funeral. She told MailOnline that they had never talked about the dangers of the sport during their six months together. Emily said: 'Most of the horses he rode were good, it's not something we discussed. 'He was very unlucky - no one thinks it's going to happen to them.' Emily wrote a moving tribute online saying: 'I never thought in a million years I would find someone like you who cared and looked after me the way you did. 'I'm absolutely heartbroken and always will be. 'You were the light at the end of a hard week at work. We had so many plans over the summer to go to the lakes and show you where I grew up in Exmoor. 'I know I will always be your doughnut and you will always be my princess. I'm so sorry and I will love you forever.' Kirkby worked for champion trainer Paul Nicholls who has been left 'mortified' by his death. He was a hugely popular figure in Nicholls's Ditcheat Stables and a talented horseman, who looked after Afadil - a horse who won at Musselburgh on Saturday. His ability was such that last November he was nominated for a Thoroughbred Industry Employee Award in the category for best rider. Kirkby was riding in a Point-to-Point meeting. Point-to-Point is a form of amateur racing with huge popularity across the country. But the day took an awful turn when Kirkby was thrown from horse he partnered in the final race. He received immediate medical attention and an air ambulance was called but Kirkby could not be saved. The heartbreaking incident has been felt far and wide within racing. The House is expected to vote on whether or not to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar for her alleged 'Somali first' remarks. The privileged resolution was pushed to the House floor by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and will come up for a vote either Monday or Tuesday. If the resolution passes, the Minnesota Democrat would be the fourth member of Congress to be censured this term, following Democratic Reps. Jamaal Bowman, N.Y., Rashida Tlaib, Mich., and Adam Schiff, Calif. According to one translation of a now-viral clip of remarks Omar made in Somalian, she said her allegiances lie with Somalia over the U.S. 'We are an organized society, brothers and sisters, people of the same blood, people who know they are Somalis first, Muslims second, who protect one another,' Omar allegedly said. The House is expected to vote on whether or not to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar for her alleged 'Somali first' remarks 'I urge my colleagues to vote to censure, but I wish I had the votes to expel and deport her,' Greene wrote on X. Last week Whip Tom Emmer asked the Ethics Committee to investigate Omar over the remarks, DailyMail.com exclusively reported. Omar claims that translation is not accurate and that 'propagandists' are twisting her words. The clip was first shared by Somaliland Ambassador Rhoda Elmi, who called them 'unbecoming' and 'lacking in common decency.' Somaliland is an unrecognized state that Somalia views as its own territory. Omar, the first Somali-American in Congress, said in the clip she would do everything in her power to prevent the disputed, breakaway territory from entering a sea-access deal with Ethiopia. 'Sleep in comfort knowing I am here to protect the interest of Somalia from inside the U.S. system,' Omar said, according to the widely-shared, translated version of the video. Omar reportedly said in her speech that 'the U.S. government will only do what Somalians in the U.S. tell them to do. They will do what we want and nothing else.' 'They must follow our orders and that is how we will safeguard the interest of Somalia,' she adds. 'We Somalians must have the confidence in ourselves that we call the shots in the U.S.' 'Together we will protect the interests of Somalia,' she added. 'It's not only slanted but completely off,' Omar said of the subtitles in the clip the Somaliland ambassador shared. 'But I wouldn't expect more from these propagandists.' The privileged resolution was pushed to the House floor by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene , R-Ga., and will come up for a vote either Monday or Tuesday 'The translation in the clip is accurate, with the addition of a words added for clarity and historical context,' Elmi told DailyMail.com in response to Omar's criticisms. In a translation Omar claims to be more accurate, she says she told her Somali constituents who were worried about the Somaliland-Ethiopia deal: 'The U.S. government will do what we ask it to do. We should have this confidence in ourselves as Somalis. We live in this country. We are taxpayers in this country. This country is one where one of your daughters sits in Congress.' 'While I am in Congress, no one will take Somalia's sea.' 'The United States will not back others to rob us. So, do not lose sleep over that, O Minnesotans. The lady you sent to Congress is on this, and she is as cognizant of this interest as you are,' Omar went on according to her preferred translation. 'Somalia belongs to all Somalis. Somalia is one. We are brothers and sisters, and our land will not be balkanized. Our lands were taken from us before, and God willing, we may one day seek them.' Omar has railed against U.S. lawmakers' so-called allegiance to a foreign country before. 'I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country,' the congresswoman said in 2019, suggesting pro-Israel groups were demanding fea flty from U.S. lawmakers. In a post on X, she said of U.S. lawmakers' staunch support for Israel: 'It's all about the Benjamins baby.' Holmes could be seen playing with her children in the prison yard and being doted on by husband Billy Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show her husband Billy Evans, kids William, two, and Invicta, 11 months, parents and friends came to visit as she serves her 11-year sentence Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes celebrated her 40th birthday this weekend behind bars at Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas Advertisement Elizabeth Holmes has reunited with her family to celebrate her 40th birthday behind bars. DailyMail.com spotted the disgraced Theranos founder playing in the prison yard with her husband Billy Evans and children William, two, and daughter Invicta, who turns one this month, at FPC Bryan in Texas. Dressed in her prison-issued khakis, Holmes couldn't contain her joy and was seen smiling as she held her son and was visited by her parents and friends. Holmes - aka Inmate 24965-111 - is nine months into her 11-year sentence after she was convicted on four counts of fraud and conspiracy following a high-profile trial in 2022. Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes celebrated her 40th birthday this weekend behind bars at Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas with her family and friends Holmes was all smiles as she walked with her husband Billy Evans in the prison yard where she is serving her 11-year sentence for fraud Billy could be seen lovingly coming up behind Holmes and put his arms around her waist. Holmes - aka Inmate 24965-111 - is nine months into her 11-year sentence after she was convicted on four counts of fraud and conspiracy following a high-profile trial in 2022 Dressed in her prison-issued khakis, Holmes couldn't contain her joy and was seen smiling as she held her son and walked with her husband Holmes left her blond locks down and wore her wedding ring proudly, along with a gold chain necklace and glasses. The family were seen arriving to the prison both Saturday and Sunday to get the most time with the locked-up mother-of-two. Holmes' parents and husband were joined by friends who sat around a red outdoor table and had lunch. Two of the friends were seen embracing the fraudster in a group hug. Holmes and her husband didn't hold back to share their affection and at one point Billy, dressed in jeans and a leather jacket, could be seen putting his head down and leaning into his wife as she kissed his hair. She and Billy were seen running around with their toddler son and he later lovingly came up behind Holmes and put his arms around her waist. This isn't the first time the family has made the trip from their $9million San Diego mansion to the low security Texas prison to visit Holmes. They were last pictured at the federal lock-up in July. When she first reported to prison last spring, sources told DailyMail.com that Holmes appeared 'twitchy' from nerves, looking 'around from side to side'. But nine months later, all nerves seem to have dissipated as she was seen chatting animatedly with other inmates - and has even made some friends. At one point Billy could be seen putting his head down and leaning into his wife, as she kissed his hair Billy could be seen playing near a tree with two-year-old son William. The family traveled from their $9million home in San Diego to the Texas prison Elizabeth Holmes' mother Noel is seen in the prison yard with her daughter and grandson. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons currently projects that Holmes will be released on December 29, 2032 - 115 months, or slightly more than 9.5years, after she began her prison sentence The family has made several trips from their $9million San Diego mansion to the low security Texas prison to visit Holmes Billy was seen arriving to the prison both Saturday and Sunday to get the most time with his locked-up wife. He's pictured holding daughter Invicta, who will turn one this month Holmes' parents Noel and Christian are seen walking with their grandson William into the prison complex on Saturday to celebrate their daughter's birthday Holmes' son William and daughter Invicta will have to spend much of their childhood without their mother. Six weeks into her sentence, federal officials confirmed that Holmes is eligible for release nearly two years ahead of schedule When she first reported to prison last spring, sources told DailyMail.com that she appeared 'twitchy' from nerves, looking 'around from side to side'. But nine months later, all nerves seem to have dissipated as she was seen chatting animatedly with other inmates - and has even made some friends Two friends embraced Holmes in a group hug in the prison yard. Holmes turned 40 on Saturday February 3 The multi-million dollar pharmaceutical scammer has allegedly been doing workout classes and spending time with her fellow high-profile inmate, Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah. Holmes has been taking maternal advice from Shah - and the pair of convicts have been help each other 'get through' their incarcerations, sources claim. Reality star Shah started her six and a half year sentence in February 2023 after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Bryan prisoners share four-person rooms with bunk beds in a dormitory-style set-up - and are even allowed to buy hobby items including crochet needles from the commissary at $1.30 a piece. Six weeks into her sentence, federal officials confirmed that Holmes is eligible for release nearly two years ahead of schedule for good behavior. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons currently projects that Holmes will be released on December 29, 2032 - 115 months, or slightly more than 9.5years, after she began her prison sentence. Holmes, then 29, is photographed holding a nanotainer of blood at Theranos headquarters in Palo Alto, California, in 2014 The federal prison in Bryan Texas is a women's only minimum-security prison. Among her possible 'dorm' mates is fellow fraudster and one-time Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah Holmes had once modeled herself as the next Bill Gates or Steve Jobs and won widespread acclaim including from Harvard University and Time magazine for a phony technology which she claimed would revolutionize blood-testing methods by using miraculously tiny volumes of blood, such as from a finger prick. She started Theranos when she dropped out of Stanford University at the age of 19. She had scooped in nearly $1 billion in funding from some of the world's biggest pockets: Venture capitalist titans including Tim Draper, Donald Lucas and Dixon Doll; wealthy heirs to the founders of Amway, Walmart and Cox Communications; and heavyweights of tech and media such as Larry Ellison and Rupert Murdoch. Before those lies were uncovered in a series of explosive articles in The Wall Street Journal beginning in October 2015, Holmes had raised a staggering amount of money from some of the biggest names in business and tech. Holmes' stake in Theranos at one point catapulted her paper wealth to $4.5 billion. She never sold any of her stock in the company, though trial evidence left no doubt she reveled in the trappings of fame and fortune so much so that she and Evans, the father of her children, lived on a palatial Silicon Valley estate during the trial. But it has sparked fury among locals who say they are a huge tourist boost there Theodore Roosevelt National Park has looked to slash the wild horses on the site Up to 200 wild horses in North Dakota's Theodore Roosevelt National Park could be removed under a new National Park Service scheme - sparking fury among locals. The agency seeks to remove the entire 200 strong population or reduce numbers to between 35 and 60 under a 1978 environmental assessment's population objective. The Park Service has chalked the proposal up to purely environmental reasons, stressing its goal to 'maintain the native prairie ecosystem.' But advocates argue that horses are a key feature of the park, and doing away with them would mean losing part of history. 'We have one chance to save these horses and that's it,' Chris Kman, president of Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates, told DailyMail.com. The National Park Service has levied a proposal to remove wild horses from North Dakota's Theodore Roosevelt National Park Horses have long been a fixture in the park, with possible ties to Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitting Bull The agency seeks to reduce the population of roughly 200 horses to between 35 and 60 In addition to her activism work, Kman and her husband are small business owners in Medora, selling horse-themed merchandise - which proves popular with tourists - down the street from the park. 'The entire state of North Dakota' is in favor of keeping the animals, Kman said. The NPS has proposed culling numbers through removal in addition to using contraception. One idea on the table is selling the animals first to tribes before auctioning the others off. Kman favors a minimum of 150 to 200 reproductive horses for genetic viability, but says we don't know how many horses in park are genetically viable 'As far as the contraception goes, they've been experimenting on the horses in the park since 2009,' she explained. 'Colorado State University came in and their experiment was highly funded by the Bureau of Land Management and the National Park Service went along with it. 'So they've been treating the mares in the park with GonaCon, which is a pesticide, to get a result. This was supposed to be a four-year experiment that went on for 11 years, and we know that there are a lot of mares that still haven't reproduced.' Kman added that mares in the park are still being treated with GonaCon, despite the inadequate research on its side effects. The NPS has suggested three approaches: reduce the horse population quickly, reduce it gradually or take no immediate action Under one proposal, approach would be removal, giving some of the animals first to tribes before auctioning the others off Another approach would entail using contraception to prevent the park's herd from reproducing further The horses have a long history in the park starting when a few bands were accidentally fenced after its founding in 1947. Officials' efforts to remove them at the start were well-documented, including shooting them on sight and hiring cowboys to round them up. But they ultimately decided to keep the animals, in part due to history - the park's namesake himself even wrote about them. 'They're like cultural artifacts, almost, because they reflect several generations of western North Dakota ranchers and Native people,' said researcher Castle McLaughlin, adding that the herd might have ties to Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitting Bull. Citing McLaughlin's research, Kman said: 'There's been a push constantly to get rid of the horses and there's no real reason why. I don't know if it's like a National Park Service mentality of only wanting native species. 'When you say the horses aren't native and you fence them into the park, but had to bring in bison, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep to the area, then who's native and who's not?' Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates has repeatedly asked the NPS to prove that the horses were properly reclassified as livestock. However, the agency has failed to provide documentation to the organization or its lawyers. 'Now they're saying that there are National Park Service policies that say that livestock are not allowed on National Park Service lands, so essentially they've been breaking their own rules,' she said. The cause has drummed up significant support from state representatives. In February 2023, Senator John Hoeven met with National Park Service Director Charles Sams and North Dakota state leaders to highlight concerns about the removal plan. In the previous public comment period on the proposals, the vast majority of North Dakotans opposed 'complete livestock removal' The historic herd is thought to have ties to Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitting Bull 'We have heard an outpouring of concerns from North Dakotans regarding the Park Service's plan to remove the wild horses at Theodore Roosevelt National Park,' Hoeven said in a press release. 'We convened this meeting to directly relay these concerns to the Park Service leadership and to press them to work with us to maintain a herd of wild horses at the park.' He pledged to continue working with Governor Doug Burgum and state leaders 'to find a solution to keep a herd of wild horses now and into the future.' Hoeven added language to the Interior Departments NPS Appropriations Bill strongly suggesting that a genetically viable herd of horses be allowed to remain in the park. An environmental review of each proposal's impact on the park is under way. During the previous public comment period, the vast majority of respondents opposed 'complete livestock removal.' Speaking to the Bismarck Tribune, Mary Griffin, owner of Medora's Custer's Cottage, said she could lose at least one-fifth of her income if horses were removed from the park. 'I have customers that come in the spring and the fall, solely because of the horses,' Griffin explained. 'That's the only reason they are here. I'm a small lodging business, so I personally visit with people and know why they're here.' Kman personally knows Griffin and says her concerns are within reason. 'All the businesses in town would be impacted because we believe there would be less people coming,' Kman explained, describing Medora as a 'tourist town.' One advocate with Wild Lands Wild Horses said in a campaign video that the community felt a 'sense of dread about what's going on' The animals serve as a major tourist attraction - one business owner estimated she would lose at least one-fifth of her income if they were removed from the park Wild Lands Wild Horses, an advocacy group, released a call to action video in October. 'This herd is an intangible cultural heritage to this region,' one activist said in the campaign. 'You feel in the community a sense of dread about what's going on.' Another man said that if horses are removed from the park, 'everyone will suffer.' 'Visitation will go down. People won't be as excited about it. They are the single most important element in the park,' he added. 'I mean if I tell you there are 750,000 people in North Dakota who want to keep the horses and about five people working for the government who want to get rid of them, I'm only exaggerating a very little bit.' Efforts are underway in other regions to curtail the wild horse population or remove it altogether. Speaking to DailyMail.com, Laura Leigh, president and founder of Wild Horse Education, blasted the Bureau of Land Management's efforts to remove horses from Nevada public lands. Videos surfaced showing contractors divebombing the animals with helicopters during the East Pershing Wild Horse Gather, an initiative launched by the BLM on December 28. The agency seeks to remove 2,875 wild horses to 'prevent undue or unnecessary degradation' and 'restore a thriving natural ecological balance and multiple-use relationship.' But Leigh criticized the BLM for failing to create a welfare policy. Rather, she explained, the agency created an internal standard 'where they literally police themselves.' As of January 29, the BLM reported that 24 wild horses died and 2,048 had been captured in just a month. For now, advocates continue to hold the line. 'When do we, as a nation, give wild horses a green card and say hey, America was built on the back of a horse, you can stay?' Kman said. 'When do we stop this total elimination of wild horses in America? That's what's happening.' The new bipartisan Senate deal that would allow the administration to 'close' the border when crossings spike is already being labeled 'horrendous' by Donald Trump and hailed as a compromise achievement by Democrat Charles Schumer. It emerged after months-long negotiations between key Senate players with a blessing from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is facing calls for 'new leadership' over the compromise. The $118 billion measure would provide the first major change to immigration law in years, while funding President Biden's priorities in Ukraine, where fighters are dug in while still trying to repel Russia after its 2022 invasion. It also includes billions in additional U.S. aid for Israel amid its war on Hamas with the key national security priorities designed to act in part as an engine for Democrats who might otherwise stay away from a deal that can be described as a border crackdown. Republicans trashed the deal Sunday as its first details emerged, and House Speaker Mike Johnson already branded it 'even worse than we expected.' Trump, who has been communicating with Johnson and who has been centering his campaign around border chaos, fired off an angry post Monday calling it 'a great gift to the Democrats, and a Death Wish for The Republican Party.' The new bipartisan Senate deal has creates new authority for the president to close the border when daily arrivals hit 5,000. It also includes billions for Ukraine and Israel The bill would also provide funding for allies in the Asia-Pacific and humanitarian aid for refugees fleeing Gaza. A key provision would allow the administration to shut down the border if daily crossings surpassed 5,000 but Republican opponents are already bashing it as insufficient. Echoing opposition from their House counterparts, Republican senators have said the border policy doesn't go far enough and questioned additional aid to Ukraine. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., called it 'an easy NO.' Some Democrats are also expected to oppose the deal. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said he opposes changes that it would make to the asylum process. 'This border deal misses the mark,' Padilla said in a statement. Here's what to know about the package that is dividing Congress and already becoming a talking point for the November elections: Biden's $60 billion aid package for Ukraine and $14B for Israel's war on Hamas The package contains $60 billion in aid for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel. It would invest in domestic defense manufacturing, bolster humanitarian assistance and manage the influx of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. In addition, $10 billion would aid humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza and other places. Biden proposed the aid package for Ukraine before the new year, but Congress left town without acting on it, amid opposition among House Republicans and turmoil in the House leadership. The administration began announcing smaller and smaller 'drawdown' package of military weaponry and ammunition, and now says it needs new authority from Congress to keep supplying its ally. Over the weekend, House Speaker Johnson announced a $17 billion 'standalone' bill to fund Israel, which continues to blast at targets in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attack. The U.S. military carried out a wave of strikes Friday night and through the weekend after suffering repeated attacks on U.S. bases and as international shipping targets have come under fire. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., answers questions on the border security talks as he meets reporters following a Democratic caucus meeting, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Gives the president authority to expel migrants when daily crossings his 5,000 or average weekly crossings hit 4,000 The bill provides new expulsion authority if the number of migrant encounters tallied by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reaches 4,000 a day over a five-day average across the southern border. The Homeland Security secretary would have the authority to close the border at that point. It comes after waves of crossings have overwhelmed facilities and caused authorities to scramble to house and accommodate them. Crossings repeatedly crossed 10,000 per day in December, meaning the president would have the authority to act under current conditions as soon as he signed it into law if it were passed. Once the average number of daily number of encounters hits 5,000, expulsions would automatically take effect. They would also be kick in on a mandatory basis when crossings his 8,500 on a single day. It wouldn't open until control of the border is reestablished. House Republicans called the provision 'dead on arrival' and complained that it would legitimate crossings that were below the new threshold. Under the proposal, which is similar to the expired Title 42 authority that began under Trump and that Biden ended months ago after a court fight, migrants could still apply at ports of entry. And once the average of illegal crossings dropped by 75%, the administration would have two weeks to end the use of the emergency authority. Supporters of Title 42's use say it was a necessary tool that allowed border officials to expel migrants quickly and freed them up to patrol the territory they were supposed to protect. But critics have questioned how effective Title 42 really was. They say it's hard to get an accurate picture because migrants ejected under Title 42 would try repeatedly to cross the border. Critics also say it empowered cartels that preyed on the buildup of migrants south of the border. If migrants facing expulsion raise concerns with border patrol officers that they could be persecuted if returned specifically to Mexico, they could still be allowed to apply for asylum. The package has $20 billion for security at the border, amid a running spat between federal and State authority in Texas $20 billion for border enforcement with changes to asylum laws amid historic jump in claims The package would also send $20 billion to immigration enforcement, providing money to hire thousands more officers to evaluate asylum claims, add hundreds of more Border Patrol agents and help stop the flow of fentanyl. The bill would overhaul the asylum system with tougher standards and faster enforcement. Asylum offers protection to people fleeing persecution for race, religion, political affiliation or membership in a discriminated group. It is part of international law and helps the U.S. protect human rights, but the system has become overwhelmed in recent years with historic numbers of people seeking asylum at the border with Mexico. Under the proposal, migrants would have to show during initial screenings that they have a reasonable possibility of being granted asylum. Migrants would also be barred from making an asylum claim if they are found to have a criminal history, resettled in another country or could have found safety if they had resettled in their home country. Migrants who cross the border illegally between a port of entry would be detained and receive a screening within 10 to 15 days. Migrants who pass the new screening would then receive a work permit, be placed in a supervision program and have their asylum case decided within 90 days. And migrants who seek asylum in between ports of entry would be put into detention while they await the initial screening for an asylum claim. The proposal calls for a large growth in detention capacity. The proposal also calls for a large expansion of a Biden administration program that tracks families who arrive at the border while they await the screenings for their asylum claim. The program was developed as an alternative to detention for families. Immigration advocates have raised concerns about the asylum changes, saying the current standard is deliberately low because migrants are often fleeing desperate conditions, don't have legal representation and are still shaken by their journeys. Under the proposal, migrants would not be able to apply for asylum at all if illegal border crossings reach certain numbers. The policy is similar to one first used by President Donald Trump. Known as Title 42, it justified the quick expulsion of migrants from the country in the name of stopping the spread of COVID-19. The bill seeks to cut down on a historic spike in asylum claims Limits on humanitarian 'parole' The legislation would place limits on how presidential administrations can use 'parole' to allow migrants into the country at the border. It would eliminate parole as it is used when migrants cross the border illegally or show up at ports of entry, and instead place them into the new system for evaluating asylum claims. The Biden administration would still be able to schedule asylum screenings through an app. Also, the administration's authority to allow people into the country when they are fleeing unrest or war would be preserved. The authority, known as humanitarian parole, had been a sticking point in the negotiations. While progressive and Hispanic Democrats have raised concerns that the package will harm migrants seeking asylum, the legislation offers some measures aimed at helping migrants already in the U.S. and the cities and states where they've gone. It would send $1.4 billion to local programs like shelters that have seen large influxes of migrants and speed work permits for migrants awaiting an asylum claim. Sanctions for fentanyl traffickers The legislation would also authorize sanctions and anti-money laundering tools against criminal enterprises that traffic fentanyl into the U.S. And it would provide 50,000 visas for employment and family-based immigration each year for the next five years. However, the bill does not contain broad immigration reforms or deportation protections for unauthorized immigrants that were foundational to previous Senate deals. The legislation would also have a pathway to residency for Afghans who worked alongside U.S. soldiers in Americas longest war. Nearly 76,000 Afghans who worked with American soldiers since 2001 as translators, interpreters and partners arrived in the U.S. on military planes after American troops were removed from Afghanistan in August 2021. The provision would eventually enable qualified Afghans to apply for U.S. citizenship and adjust the status of eligible evacuees to provide them with lawful permanent resident status after vetting and screening procedures. The package establishes new sanctions for fentanyl traffickers amid a flood of dangerous drugs crossing through the southern border Some Republicans are already hammering Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., for negotiating with Democrats on the deal The deal pairs border changes and funds to funding for the war in Ukraine. It has military aid for Israel as well as humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in Gaza, where buildings and structures are seen after an Israeli attack $2.6 billion to counter China The deal has $2.6 billion meant to 'deter China' and bolster allies in the Indo-Pacific. This includes funds to replenish weaponry provided to Taiwan amid fears of a potential cross-channel invasion, funds for cruise missiles, and funds for the commander of Indo-Pacific Command. The Biden administration has been seeking to get U.S.-China relations back on track following the Chinese spy balloon incident and continued saber-rattling over the status of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of China, and which the U.S. has pledged to defend. $1.4 billion for nonprofits to assist migrants The deal includes $1.4 billion to assist migrants amid influxes that have overwhelmed many community resources. The impact has spread far beyond border states, in part due to efforts by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and others to bus migrants to 'sanctuary cities' and other northern enclaves. Funds could go to non-governmental organizations and charities who provide relief and housing accommodations to migrants. Sen. James Lanford (R-Okla.), defended the provisions on Fox News and highlighted requirements placed on the Biden administration. 'Before that assistance goes out [at] the end of it, that means they have got add more deportation flights. they have got to add more detention beds, they have got to add more ICE officers. They have to add more border patrol officers,' he said. The deal also provides $350 million for HHS to provide legal counsel to unaccompanied children 13 and under who are in removal proceedings. Fugitive Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi may be using an organised crime network to help hide from police, a former undercover detective has told MailOnline. Peter Bleksley believes the 35-year-old Afghan asylum seeker could be relying on the same gang who smuggled him into the UK to keep him hidden as the manhunt intensifies. Police launched a huge manhunt on Wednesday after Ezedi allegedly hurled a corrosive alkaline substance over a 31-year-old woman and her two daughters in Clapham, south London. The woman, who suffered potentially life-changing injuries, was known to him and remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition. Thankfully, the injuries to the youngsters are less severe. The Metropolitan Police say the last sighting of Ezedi, who is from Newcastle, was at 9.33pm at Tower Hill Underground station in east London, shortly after the attack. But five days on, he remains at large. Abdul Ezedi, 35, was caught on CCTV buying 30 eggs from a Middle Eastern food store near to his home on Tuesday lunchtime Ezedi was last seen leaving Tower Hill underground station in east London at 9.33pm on Wednesday (he is pictured leaving the tube station) Peter Bleksley believes the 35-year-old Afghan asylum seeker could be relying on the same gang who smuggled him into the UK to keep him hidden as the manhunt intensifies Mr Bleksley believes that if he dares to break cover, the suspect may be using a disguise to conceal the serious burns to the right side of his face. He said that another possibility is that Ezedi may also have killed himself and officers are yet to discover his body. Mr Bleksley, who helped set up Scotland Yard's undercover unit, said: 'What I find unusual with this investigation - where you have a critically injured woman and injuries to two young children - is that we don't have any information about Ezedi's whereabouts beyond Wednesday evening last week. 'The trail goes cold from just after 9.30pm when he's seen leaving Tower Hill tube station. Now, is that because the Met have more information than they are letting on? Or, is he dead in a ditch or canal or river somewhere? All possibilities. 'But what you have to remember and not many police officers like to admit this fugitives do sometimes go on the run and never get caught. 'Don't forget that Ezedi is a man who has a history of evading detection by the authorities, having smuggled himself into the UK from Afghanistan. READ MORE - Brave have-a-go hero tackled Abdul Ezedi as he tried to injure young girl but was left with 'burnt' eyeballs Advertisement 'Does he have a criminal network assisting him and providing him with food, water and shelter? That is a distinct possibility given the police have admitted they've carried out searches on five different addresses. 'He has already smuggled himself into the country, could he do the same in leaving the UK? He'll want to wait until the injury to his face is less severe and noticeable, however long that will take.' Mr Bleksley said that if Ezedi breaks cover he would likely wear a disguise to cover up the injury to his face. 'He may be using something like a burqa or niqab to hide it - it's a tactic that's been used before,' he said. 'It's unusual for someone who is the most wanted man in Britain to have avoided capture for this long. 'If he was surviving on his own on the street, I'd have expected him to have at least been spotted by someone sleeping out somewhere or rummaging around for any food he can find. 'That's why I think he's being given help. It's either that or the reason he hasn't been seen is that he has taken his own life and police are yet to recover the body.' Mr Bleksley said it was possible that a rogue medic or someone with a decent knowledge of treating burns was helping Ezedi with his injuries. He said: 'There are thousands of medics out there, one easily could be providing assistance to Ezedi on the sly. I know of incidents where even corrupt vets would secretly treat criminals when they needed stitching up. 'If he is alive, then he will doubtless be lying low, waiting for the heat to die down and waiting for a new passport to get to somewhere where he isn't being hunted. 'Those who are harbouring him are going to be facing arrest further down the line. 'The police have tried to cover all bases, they've put out footage of his last known whereabouts, appealed to him personally to fall on his own sword and now offered a 20,000 reward for information. But they still haven't found him five days on. 'One thing for sure is that with every passing minute, passing hour, passing day, this is getting more and more serious for the Met, who have trumpeted the fact that they have a big team of experienced detectives working on the case. 'They'll have to be careful that police endeavour doesn't turn to police embarrassment if it hasn't already.' The suspect, who lives in Newcastle, has been named by police as the suspect in a corrosive alkaline substance attack in Clapham, south London Another retired detective, John Bateman, who worked for Hertfordshire Police and now runs P&D Investigations Ltd, agreed that Ezedi, if alive, is most likely receiving help from someone. 'They would be likely going out and buying him food, drink, cigarettes while he lays low until the moment is right for him to probably try and leave Britain for a country where he is not as recognisable,' he said. Footage emerged today of Ezedi buying groceries in Newcastle just a day before the alleged attack. He was filmed on CCTV buying 30 eggs from a Middle Eastern food store near to his home on Tuesday lunchtime. Ezedi, who lives near to the store on Byker Road, is thought to have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan on the back of a lorry in 2016. He was found guilty of sexual assault in 2018 but granted asylum after claiming to have converted to Christianity. Staff at the food store, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Telegraph they were 'horrified' that Ezedi had been connected to the attack because he was known as a 'good Muslim'. The day after the CCTV was filmed the pizza takeaway chef drove to Clapham, south-west London, where he is believed to have thrown an alkaline substance at a 31-year-old woman and her daughters, eight and three. Police around the UK have been chasing the 35-year-old Afghan asylum seeker since Wednesday as part of a major manhunt. The woman, who suffered potentially life-changing injuries, was known to Ezedi and remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition. The hunt entered its fifth day today with a 20,000 reward in place for anyone with information leading to his arrest. But Nick Aldworth, a former national counter-terrorism co-ordinator, warned that Ezedi could already be dead. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think if we've not seen or heard from him in the the last couple of days, which appears to be the case, he's gone to ground, possibly supported by somebody... or it's not unlikely or improbable that he may have taken his own life. There is therefore a body to be found somewhere.' Mr Aldworth said the Met would be tracking Ezedi's movements through public cameras, which had been a 'very effective' method in previous cases. The force said the last sighting of Ezedi, who is from Newcastle, was at 9.33pm at Tower Hill Underground station in east London on January 31, shortly after the attack in Clapham. Asked if the Met Police would now have a precise location for his whereabouts, he said: 'I think they'll have a very good sense of what area he's in. 'What you can't discount of course is that he has been picked up by an ally and moved somewhere else, perhaps in a vehicle. 'The reason they've offered a 20,000 reward is usually because there's a sense that somebody inside the community might well be harbouring this individual.' Nick Aldworth, who has 36 years' experience in the police and military, says it is 'not unlikely' Ezedi could have taken his own life On Sunday, police said the suspect used a 'very strong concentrated corrosive substance' in the attack. Police investigators believe there are people who know Ezedi's whereabouts and have not come forward. The Met has warned anyone found assisting him will face arrest. It comes as questions have been raised 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. Police said Ezedi left Newcastle in the early hours of Wednesday and travelled south to London and was in the Tooting area by around 6.30am. 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 train at Clapham South Underground station, and by 8pm he was at King's Cross Tube station. Police say three members of the public who came to the aid of the family during Wednesday's attack, two aged in their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns. BBC Radio 4 also interviewed a woman who suffered third degree burns to her foot while rescuing the three-year-old girl in the attack. Sue Sim, former Chief Constable of Northumbria Police who led the manhunt for killer Raoul Moat, said: 'What you do have to remember is it's very easy to vanish in a city. People walk with their heads down, people don't like to acknowledge other people' The woman, who lives nearby, rang police and went with the girl to hospital. She took action after she saw the little girl being pulled out of the car and thrown to the ground 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 She said: 'I think everyone just froze because they didn't realise what had just happened. In the spacxe of a second, he did it again and that's when everyone tried to grab him, because if no one grabbed him, he would have done it a third time.' Sue Sim, the former Chief Constable of Northumbria Police - who led the manhunt for killer Raoul Moat, shared her thoughts on the hunt to find Abdul Azedi. She told Good Morning Britain: 'What you do have to remember is, it's very easy to vanish in a city. People walk with their heads down, people don't like to acknowledge other people. 'A city is far easier to vanish into than the wilds of Northumberland where Moat went missing in 2010. 'But yes, if somebody is hiding him, hand him in immediately.' Moat, who had a hatred of police, notoriously gunned down his ex-partner's new boyfriend Chris Brown before shooting PC David Rathband in Newcastle city centre. He was caught after seven days hiding in woodland near Rothbury, Northumberland, when a woman watched him walk past her front door and phoned police. Moat later shot himself in the head in a showdown with police. Ms Sim added: 'The public are the best support to the police in instances when people go missing. Yes, police will be using all their investigative and intelligence techniques. But the public - they're the ones who will bring this man to justice. 'Please call the police immediately if you know where he is.' Asked by host Richard Madeley, she said she had 'no doubt' Ezedi would be found. 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 at 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. A truck driver is on trial this week for double murder after a woman stole a memory card containing with horrific footage of a killing from the cab of his vehicle. Brian Steven Smith has been charged 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. Prosecutors allege that Smith lured Henry into a hotel room in Anchorage, Alaska in September 2019 and then filmed her torture and murder. Her body was later discovered along a highway. Smith, now 52, became a suspect in Henry's murder after a digital memory card was stolen from the center console of his cab and turned over to police. The card featured gruesome photos and videos of the killing and a voice saying, 'in my movies, everybody always dies.' The card was turned over police, who recognized the voice as that of Smith, a South Africa native who now lives in Alaska. They knew of Smith from a prior investigation, court documents say. Smith was arrested in October 2019 and allegedly admitted to shooting another woman in 2017 or 2018. The second victim was identified as Abouchuk, whose remains had been found along a highway earlier in 2019. He has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges, including first and second-degree murder, sexual assault and tampering with evidence. Brian Steven Smith (pictured in court in October 2019) has been charged in the deaths of Kathleen Henry, 30, and Veronica Abouchuk, who was 52 when her family reported her missing in February 2019 Prosecutors allege that Smith lured Kathleen Henry (pictured) into a hotel room in Anchorage, Alaska in September 2019 and then filmed her torture and murder. Her body was later discovered along a highway Smith was arrested in October 2019 and allegedly admitted to shooting Veronica Abouchuk (pictured) in 2017 or 2018. Her remains had been found along a highway earlier in 2019 The woman who found the SD card got into a truck with Smith when he picked her up for a 'date' near downtown Anchorage. When he left her alone in the vehicle, the woman - who had a lengthy criminal history including theft, assault and prostitution - stole the digital memory card from the center console. The card contained photos and videos of a woman being beaten and strangled at a Marriott hotel, according to court documents. Her attacker was heard speaking in a strong accent as he urged her to die. '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.' There was also footage of her blanket-covered body being taken outside on a luggage cart. About a week after she took the SD card, the woman turned it over to police, who identified the suspect as Smith. Authorities say Henry's death was recorded at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a hotel in midtown Anchorage. Smith was registered to stay there from September 2 to September 4, 2019. The first images showing Henry's body were time-stamped at about 1am on September 4, police said. The last images on the card were taken early on September 6 and showed Henry's body in the back of a black pickup, according to charging documents. Brian Steven Smith is pictured with his wife His wife, Stephanie Bissland of Anchorage. Bissland and a sister acting as a family spokesperson in South Africa, both declined to comment until after the trial Authorities say Kathleen Henry's (pictured) death was recorded at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott, a hotel in midtown Anchorage. The first images showing Henry's body were time-stamped at about 1am on September 4, police said. The last images on the card were taken early on September 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 allegedly admitted to having killed another woman and 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, "I'm 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. Rena Sapp (pictured outside a courtroom in Anchorage, Alaska in October 2019) shows a photo of her sister, Veronica Abouchuk, taken during a day out shopping in 2013. Brian Steven Smith allegedly admitted to fatally shooting Abouchuk in 2017 or 2018 Smith, (pictured in October 2016) who is in custody at the Anchorage Correctional Facility, came to Alaska in 2014 and became a naturalized US citizen the same month Henry was killed 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. Henry and Abouchuk were both Alaska Native women and had experienced homelessness. They were from small villages in western Alaska; Henry from Eek and Abouchuk from Stebbins. Henry's family has not spoken publicly about her death and efforts to reach relatives have not been successful. Abouchuk's family has not returned messages from AP. '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 we're 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 US citizen the same month Henry was killed. Brian Steven Smith (pictured in court in October 2019) has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges, including first and second-degree murder, sexual assault and tampering with evidence. In a 2019 letter to the AP, Brian Smith (pictured with his wife Stephanie Bissland) 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' 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, Alaska's 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. This month, millions of people around the globe will come together to ring in the Lunar New Year, welcoming in the year of the Dragon. According to Chinese tradition, 2024 will be the year of the Wood Dragon, which is said to foster progress, growth and abundance. Chinese New Year - also known as the Lunar New Year - will reel in thousands of revellers to the streets of London on Sunday 11 February as they commemorate the festival. From colourful decorations to traditional performances and celebratory feasts, London's West End will become a sea of crimson and gold enchantment which will see both spectators and entertainers paint the town red. As well as an impressive itinerary of activities for all of the family to enjoy, a captivating parade across the city will take centre stage, making its way past Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and more. Check our map below to view the parade's pitstops and secure yourself a great viewpoint along the way. The parade will start on the corner of Trafalgar Square - next to Charing Cross station - and will end in Chinatown A Chinese lion dance is performed in Chinatown during Lunar New Year celebrations in London, Britain, January 21, 2023 When is Chinese New Year celebrated in London? Chinese New Year falls between late January and mid-February each year. In 2024, the traditional festival falls on 10 February. READ MORE: Lunar New Year lights up Asia: Year of the Rabbit kicks off with a bang Advertisement Organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association (LCCA), the 2024 Chinese New Year festival in central London takes place the day after Chinese New Year on 11 February. What time does the Chinese New Year parade start? London's annual parade will feature more than 50 different groups of participants and the largest gathering of Chinese lions and dragons in Europe. The parade will start at 10.15am on Sunday 11 February and is expected to finish at noon. After the parade wraps up, dozens of activities can be enjoyed throughout various areas in the West End, including performances on the Main Stage at Trafalgar Square and a smaller stage in Leicester Square. Delicious street food, calligraphy and crafts stalls, family games, dragon dance demonstrations and a zodiac display will be on offer, with festivities wrapping up at around 5.30pm. Visit one of the endless number of top restaurants in Chinatown and enjoy a delicious portion of dumplings, crispy Peking duck or - if you're particularly hungry - a whole chicken Lights shine up into the sky during a night display of light illustration celebrating the Lunar new year at the Old Royal Naval College at Greenwich in London, United Kingdom on January 21, 2023. The Chinese New Year parade route The parade will start on the corner of Trafalgar Square - next to Charing Cross station - before making its way up Charing Cross Road to Shaftesbury Avenue, stopping at the bottom of Wardour Street. Once the parade ends, a lion dance will take place around Chinatown, and will travel around including Gerrard Street, Macclesfield Street, a part of Wardour Street, Leicester Street, Leicester Place and Lisle Street. Chinese lanterns hang over Chinatown in London, Britain, 25 January 2024 King Charles watches Chinese dancers during an official visit to Chinatown to mark Chinese New Year at Chinatown on February 19, 2015 in London Where are the best places to watch the Chinese New Year parade? READ MORE: Aussies slam Woolworths over double standards after promoting Chinese New Year following Australia Day boycott Advertisement To avoid most of the more crowded areas at Charing Cross Station and Leicester Square station, it is advisable to walk up the parade route to sections further away from the two stations. For those who intend on bringing children, you may prefer to head to the Family Zone towards the end of the parade route at the top of Shaftesbury Avenue, where Chinatown merges into Soho. This is a great idea if you want to catch the lion dances after the parade, as you can easily venture into Chinatown where the performances take place. What else can I do to celebrate Chinese New Year on the day? Red is the key colour of Chinese New Year - you can dress up with a red coat, scarf or jumper as this is said to bring good luck for the coming year. To bring even more luck to your year, Chinese tradition dictates that you should buy something red for yourself or your house. Visit one of the endless number of top restaurants in Chinatown and enjoy a delicious portion of dumplings, crispy Peking duck or - if you're particularly hungry - a whole chicken. You could even go the extra mile and learn some common greetings exchanged during Chinese New Year, such as: Say "Xin Nian Kuai Le" (Happy New Year in Mandarin) or "Sun Nin Faai Lok" (Happy New Year in Cantonese). Gov. Kristi Noem slammed a native American tribe in South Dakota for 'bringing politics' into the mix by banning her from the reservation for remarks made about the southern border. Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out accused the South Dakota governor of using the border crisis to get former President Donald Trump reelected and therefor banished her from the tribe's lands. 'I've worked with our state's Native American tribes for 6 years as Governor and for 8 years in Congress,' Gov. Noem posted to X along with a link to her full statement on the tribe's action. 'I stand ready to continue building relationships, but you can't build relationships if you don't spend time together.' Noem, 52, said she wanted to send razor wire and security personnel to Texas in efforts to help deter migrants crossing from Mexico into the U.s. Republican Noem, 52, slammed Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out for brining 'politics' into the mix by barred her from the Pine Ridge Reservation after she said she wanted to send razor wire and security personnel to Texas to help deter migrants Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out (pictured) accused Noem of trying to help get former President Donald Trump reelected with her actions and remarks about the southern border crisis Frank Star Comes Out said Friday to Noem that 'due to the safety of the Oyate, effective immediately, you are hereby Banished from the homelands of the Oglala Sioux Tribe,' which sits on Pine ridge Reservation in South Dakota. 'It is unfortunate that President Star 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,' Noem lamented in her statement released Saturday. She added: 'My focus continues to be on working together to solve those problems.' Noem is on the shortlist to become former President Donald Trump's vice presidential candidate in 2024. During an interview with Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures, Trump named Noem as one of the two people he is really considering adding to his ticket. Speaking about the migrants coming into the U.S., 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.' 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 governor 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. Noem is on the shortlist among those Donald Trump is considering tapping to join his 2024 ticket as vice president. Pictured: Trump and Noem appear at a rally in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on September 7, 2018 '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 Comes Out 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 banned Gov. Noem from going on 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 a statement: 'It is unfortunate that President Star 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' 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.' Ian Lavender left a legacy of laughter for many generations to look back on with his hapless Private Pike Dad's Army character. He starred in the classic wartime BBC sitcom, Dad's Army, and died last Friday, February 2. The actor was the last remaining cast member and played the memorable Private Pike, a young Home Guard private. Lavender, as Private Pike, was often referred to as 'stupid boy' by Captain Mainwaring, played by Arthur Lowe. Ian Lavender left a legacy of laughter for many generations to look back on with his hapless Private Pike Dad's Army character. Pictured: Clive Dunn (left), Ian Lavender (middle) and John Laurie (right) Lavender, as Private Pike, was often referred to as 'stupid boy' by Captain Mainwaring, played by Arthur Lowe The actor was the last remaining cast member and played the memorable Private Pike, a young Home Guard private One humorous episode was Turkey Dinner, where the young private stains the captain's dinner jacket with gravy. Captain Mainwaring angrily burst out his catchphrase: 'Stupid boy.' Another iconic and hilarious moment that Lavender blessed the audience with is in The Deadly Attachment episode where Private Pike sings an alternative version of Whistle While You Work. In the episode, Captain Mainwaring debated with a German captain over who will win World War Two. Private Pike piped up with, 'Whistle while you work, Hitler is a twerp, he's half-barmy, so's his army, whistle while you work.' The German captain reacted by saying Private Pike's name will be added to a list of people who 'will be brought to account' if Hitler won. Captain Mainwaring then said: 'Don't tell him, Pike.' The A Man of Action episode was another great moment with Lavender as Private Pike. He got his head stuck in a gate during a patrol and the platoon end up taking the young private to a church hall where they are stationed with his head still inside the gate. The captain asked Pike to pass his helmet through the bars 'sideways' to which he replied: 'How can I see which is sideways? I don't have eyes in the back of my head, you know.' Dad's Army cast members left to right: Clive Dunn, James Beck, John Le Mesurier, Arthur Lowe, John Laurie, Ian Lavender and Arnold Ridley Pictured: (Left - right) Clive Dunn, Ian Lavender, Unknown, Arthur Lowe, Unknown, Arnold Ridley and John Laurie in a scene from episode 'The Godiva Affair' Pictured: John Laurie (back left), Arthur Lowe (front left), Ian Lavender (front right) and Clive Dunn (right) in a scene from the 'Things That Go Bump in the Night' episode of Dad's Army Captain Mainwaring then said: 'Don't you use that tone of voice to me, Pike.' Another comical moment was in When You've Got To Go, where Pike signed up to join the RAF. Captain Mainwaring organised a farewell meal during which Pike announced that 'he likes fish and chips' and tells the platoon he has a 'funny story'. He then goes on to tell them he cannot join the RAF due to having a rare blood type but that he delayed saying anything because of the dinner. A smiling Prince Andrew was seen riding his horse in Windsor today - as the first images emerged from a new Netflix film about his disastrous Newsnight interview. The Duke of York, 63, was joined by two female companions for the ride of Windsor Great Park - not far from his seven-bedroom home, Royal Lodge. Andrew appeared at ease as he chatted to the pair during an overcast day in Berkshire. The Holiday's Rufus Sewell will soon play Andrew in a movie that tells the story of his infamous 2019 interview with the BBC's Emily Maitlis, who is being played by Sex Education star Gillian Anderson. 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 for the role of Maitlis. 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. Prince Andrew was seen riding in Windsor Great Park today with two female companions Andrew appeared at ease as he chatted to the pair during an overcast day in Berkshire This weekend it emerged Andrew will also be the subject of yet another film which will tell his fall from grace. 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. By contrast, the upcoming Netflix show 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. 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. 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 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. San Francisco's Democrat Mayor is pushing for single adults to be screened for drug addiction before receiving welfare benefits amid the city's spiraling fentanyl crisis. Mayor London Breed is backing a pair of 'aggressive' public safety proposals that would require roughly 9,000 single adults on welfare to be screened and treated for illegal drug addiction or else lose their cash assistance. She is also pushing to give police more crime-fighting powers, such as the use of drones and surveillance cameras. The policies are a response to the city's ongoing homelessness, drugs and property crime crisis, which saw a record 806 'accidental' drug overdose deaths last year. But opponents have slammed the policies, saying 'there are more ethical ways to address the issue aside from punitive measures'. The Democratic mayor of San Francisco, London Breed, is pushing two new public safety proposals on the March 5 ballot - one of which includes a drug addiction screening requirement for adults on welfare Mayor Breed was speaking at a store, Footprint, which was recently robbed of $20,000 in merchandise and damages Speaking at a January campaign event at a recently-robbed shoe store that lost $20,000 in merchandise and damage, Breed said residents are crying out for more police. 'They said San Francisco makes it too easy for people to access and to use drugs on the streets of the city and we need to do something a lot more aggressive,' she said. The two proposed policies are an attempt to show she has a strong plan to tackle the city's problems ahead of the city's November Mayoral election. If approved by voters, Proposition F would allow the city to screen single adults on local welfare for substance abuse and compel them to get treatment before being given their cash assistance - which maxes out at just over $700 a month. The welfare program for single adults - which serves about 9,000 people per year - currently asks applicants about substance abuse, with about 20 percent self-reporting an issue. The new policy would replace that question with a more rigorous screening test that would be verified by an addiction specialist. If substance abuse is found then the specialist and applicant would agree on treatment options that include residential care, a 12-step program, individual counseling and replacement medication. There is no requirement that the person be sober, only that they make good-faith efforts to attend their program. Homeless camps and open-air drug taking have become common sights in the city A homeless camp is pictured in San Francisco's Tenderloin district in December 2023 A homeless person outside the Westfield mall in San Francisco The city would still have to pay the rent of those accepted into the program for 30 days or longer to avoid eviction and prevent a rise in homelessness. But opponents say coercion doesn't work and homelessness may even increase if the measure passes. They say that drug addicts are not criminals and there are not enough treatment beds and counseling services as it is. Chris Ballard, co-executive director of Coleman Advocates, which pushes for improvements for black and Latino youth in San Francisco, says the proposal is reminiscent of the failed war on drugs that disproportionately harmed black families. 'There are more ethical ways to address the issue aside from punitive measures, and thats the proper way to take care of a community, to show true support,' he said. But Trent Rhorer, executive director of the San Francisco Human Services Agency, which provides cash assistance and employment services to low-income residents without dependent children, said the measures are necessary. He said: 'To give someone who's addicted to fentanyl $700 a month, I dont think it helps improve their lives. In fact, I think it does the opposite.' Local officials across Democratic California are taking stronger measures as visible signs of homelessness and mental illness, fentanyl addiction, and unsafe street behavior surge. Businesses and residents have deserted San Francisco's center and its Westfield mall, with five businesses having closed or announced they plan to this month and occupancy is at a measly 25 percent. Footfall has plunged by half since last year and, as shops and customers have departed, the homeless have moved in and drug-taking and crime have risen. Breed's second policy, Proposition E, would enhance police powers and reduce paperwork so they have more time to patrol. San Francisco Mayor London Breed, left, listens to store owner Mike Hsu speak about a recent burglary Critics say the measures are out of step with San Francisco's liberal politics and will hurt already marginalized communities It would also allow police to pursue more suspects by vehicle, and not just in cases of a violent felony or immediate threat to public safety. Footprint store owner, Michael Hsu, is supportive of the measure. He has had his Footprint store broken into multiple times since he took over in 2020, most recently on Jan. 1. Police arrived as the suspects were leaving but could not pursue them because no lives were at risk. Hsu, who lost about $20,000 in merchandise and damage, called that discouraging. He said: 'Youre sending the wrong message to these criminals.' Right-wing conservatives have already called Speaker Mike Johnson's $17 billion Israel aid bill 'extremely disappointing,' threatening to tank the package to assist the United States' key ally. Unlike a previous $14.3 billion Israel bill that passed the House in November, the new legislation Johnson announced Saturday costs more and does not have any provisions to offset those costs, they say. 'The most principled action taken to date by Speaker Johnson was the decision to pass a standalone, fully paid-for Israel funding bill in November,' the 50-member House Freedom Caucus said in a statement. Johnson can likely pass the legislation even with defection from the rightward flank - Democrats are expected to be largely supportive of the bill. It is likely to come up under suspension, which means it'll need two-thirds majority to pass the House but Republicans won't be responsible for advancing the rule that allows for final passage. 'It is extremely disappointing that the Speaker is now surrendering to perceived pressure to move an even larger but now unpaid for Israel aid package reversing course on his stance to require new supplemental spending to be offset,' the Freedom Caucus went on. Right-wing conservatives have already called Speaker Mike Johnson's $17 billion Israel aid bill 'extremely disappointing' The caucus recommended a number of possible pay-fors: 'cutting funding for the United Nations, repealing the IRS expansion, rescinding the Department of Commerce 'slush fund,' or ending leftist climate change tax credits.' Every year the U.S. appropriates some $3.8 billion in aid to Israel. But all of those would likely hold up the aid package in the Democratic-led Senate. The last $14 billion House Israel bill was paid for by cutting funding to the IRS and died in the Senate due to the offsets. 'When our nation is running $200 billion monthly deficits and $34 trillion in national debt, America should not, and does not have to, borrow to support Israel,' the Freedom Caucus, led by Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., said in a statement. On the other side of the party, House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner is concerned for the bill's lack of Ukraine aid. Palestinians look at a residential house destroyed in an Israeli strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Monday, Feb. 5, 2024 'I'm concerned about the strategy,' he said on CBS's Face the Nation Sunday. 'I think we have four significant national security threats. We have Ukraine, we have Israel, and what's going on in the Middle East and we have our border. right now, we've been proceeding on negotiations on those four. Ukraine has to be funded.' Aid for the U.S.'s top ally has remained at an impasse since the October 7 Hamas attack that prompted Israel to launch a bloody offensive in an effort to eradicate the terror group. Some 1,200 Israelis were killed in Hamas' attack, and around 27,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel in response, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. It comes just as the Senate has put forth a $118 billion package with aid for Ukraine and Israel and border security provisions that House GOP leaders have insisted they will not bring to the floor in the lower chamber. Even some Democrats have sounded off against the standalone bill, which seemingly undercuts the Senate's efforts, and accused Republicans of not wanting to solve immigration to use it as an election issue. 'It's an act of staggering bad faith,' top Intel Democrat Rep. Jim Himes told CBS' Face the Nation. 'I think whats happening here is that the speaker is taking a move to get Israel aid done, which we all support, most of us support, I shouldnt 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. A 15 year old British Muslim convert who plotted a knife terror attack at the Isle of Wight music festival was convicted today. The teenager planned to target the music event in 2022 after he 'adopted an Islamic extremist mindset', jurors were told, and became a supporter of ISIS. As part of his plot, the 16-year-old, who was 15 at the time and cannot be named due to his age, also looked up weapons, vehicles, and stab vests on the internet, and obtained a knife by July 2022. The white British boy - who had a photo of Osama Bin Laden as his phone's background - searched the internet for a 'fast lorry', before eventually dropping his plan to target the festival because he did not have a vehicle. Instead, the youth hatched a new plan to stab people who worked with him at a specialist education provider on the Isle of Wight, his trial heard. The rucksack which contained the knife, with stab marks, was seized by police after the teenager's plan for the atrocity was foiled The teenager's plans were eventually foiled by the FBI, who alerted UK counter-terror police to a user of the messaging app Discord who was plotting an attack on July 11 2022. When he was arrested, he was found with a handwritten note titled 'To My Family' in the event anything happened to him, which said whatever he did would be 'driven by hatred of the 'kuffar', an Islamic term for someone who doesn't believe in God, jurors were told. The youth wrote to his mother saying: 'Please know that anything which happens did not be caused by you and what you limited me from doing. Rather if anything does happen then it was fueled (sic) by my hatred to the kuffar.' To his grandmother, he penned a note asking her to become a Muslim. He has now been convicted of one count of preparing acts of terrorism, three counts of disseminating terrorist publications and one count of possessing a knife in public, Kingston Crown Court confirmed. A search of the teenager's internet history showed that in the months before the festival, he had searched for 'Jihadi John,' ISIS Paris attacks' and 'Charlie Hebdo', the court heard. Days before the event, he researched the festival's entry points and searched online for a 'fast lorry', it was alleged. The festival was attended by a total of 90,000 people and featured performances from the likes of Lewis Capaldi, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Madness, Kasabian and Happy Mondays. Police examination of the 15 year old's online activity showed he made searches for 'how many people are going to Isle of Wight Festival?', 'Isle of Wight Festival gate names', and 'Isle of Wight Festival entrances'. The by wrote to his mother saying that 'anything which happens did not be caused by you and what you limited me from doing' The youth was found with a handwritten note titled 'To My Family' in the event anything happened to him, which said whatever he did would be 'driven by hatred of the 'kuffar' The boy used the internet to search 'fast lorry' and 'terror threat level UK'. Kingston Crown Court, London, also heard he conducted research on how to acquire weapons - including searching for 'Waitrose knife'. On social media, under an Arabic name that translates to 'God over disbelief', he shared Islamic State propaganda videos and clips of beheadings and executions. Serena Gates, prosecuting, told jurors: 'It is alleged that the defendant, has over time, adopted an Islamic extremist mindset. 'By July 2022, the prosecution allege this culminated in him taking preliminary steps, which amounted to 'engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts.' The festival was attended by a total of 90,000 people and featured performances from the likes of Lewis Capaldi, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Madness, Kasabian and Happy Mondays After changing his plan to attack Isle of Wight Festival in June 2022, the boy allegedly drew up 'alternative targets for a knife attack'. The targets were individuals who worked at an education institute on the Isle of Wight. Sketches and notes appeared to show guns and threats of violence towards the individuals, Ms Gates said. Ms Gates described the videos that the boy shared online. He used social media sites Discord, Reddit, and Instagram. 'The videos that the defendant sent out concerns terrorist activity, predominantly relating to the group known as Islamic State', she said. 'Parts of the videos contained graphic images of violence and executions. After changing his plan to attack Isle of Wight Festival in June 2022, the boy allegedly drew up 'alternative targets for a knife attack' 'The videos and documents were largely propaganda, designed to promote the ideological cause of the terrorist group and encourage the killing and revenge attacks of 'disbelievers' or non-Muslims.' The boy, who can't be named for legal reasons, was described as a 'generally isolated figure' who gradually showed concerning behaviour. The teenager decided in 2022 he could 'no longer work with women due to his faith' and people that knew him said he 'looked unkempt and spoiling for a fight'. They added that 'something was changing in him, that he was more self-aware and confident but definitely tussling with change'. The teen stated he 'couldn't support paying taxes in the UK as in his view, it was supporting Syrian children being bombed'. It was also heard he thought the Charlie Hebdo shootings were 'justified'. The targets of the planned knife attack were individuals who worked at an education institute on the Isle of Wight After the festival, the teen told Instagram users 'It wasn't practical to launch an operation there except with a car which I don't have'. When asked why, the boy quoted a verse from the Quran which said 'kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush'. Ms Gates said: 'It is clear therefore that at the time the defendant conducted his initial searches about the Isle of Wight Festival, he did so for the purposes of planning an attack, intending at the time of the searches that is what he would do and, it seems, told others about it.' The boy converted to Islam in August and September 2021, the court heard. Ms Gates said: 'His views become more extreme as time goes on. 'There are some changes in his views, as he is initially anti-ISIS, accusing them of being American agents. 'However, he subsequently becomes supportive of them as the messages go on.' The youth was found with a rucksack that had several stab marks and a knife inside it The teenager converted to Islam in late 2021, and five tutors who worked with him became concerned about his developing beliefs. One tutor noticed the defendant had a picture of Osama bin Laden as his phone screen picture around a year-and-a-half before his arrest, but was not too concerned as he 'was often trying to shock people with what he said'. The same tutor also said the defendant told him he had become involved in an online anti-gay group 'with Muslims in it' before his conversion. Staff had considered referring him to the Government's Prevent anti-radicalisation programme but the teenager became angry when he heard about this, jurors were told. The boy accessed a chat group on Discord called 'Caliphate Revivalists' by using his Xbox. As well as communicating on Discord through his games console, the boy had two Instagram accounts and two Reddit accounts. A search of the teenager's internet history showed that in the months before the festival, he had searched for 'Jihadi John,' ISIS Paris attacks' and 'Charlie Hebdo' (Pictured: French firefighters load one of the three people injured into a waiting ambulance near the former offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo) Cherif Kouachi (L), aged 32, and his brother Said Kouachi (R), aged 34, were responsible for the attack at the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo in the French capital that killed at least 12 people It was heard he sent Islamic State propaganda videos to people on Instagram. Prosecutor Ms Gates said: 'From October 2021, messages indicate the defendant is locating and sending out videos showing beheadings by ISIS on Instagram.' In messages, said he 'wants to travel to Syria' and 'wants to kill every single American soldier'. Examination of his internet history showed between February and May 2022 he searched 'ISIS Paris attacks', 'Charlie Hebdo attack', and 'ISIS shooting Christians'. He also searched 'Jihadi John', the Islamic State executioner. In messages on Instagram, he was warned about being 'careful' because 'the authorities will track your IP'. The teenager also searched the internet for 'Jihadi John', the Islamic State executioner He replied that he will be 'fine', adding: 'Even if I do get caught I'm 15 they will just tell me off and put me on some prevention course trust me.' Messaging a police account on Instagram, the boy asked if it was illegal to watch Islamic State videos as he is a 'Muslim' trying to learn about the culture. Three charges he faced were dissemination of terrorist publications relating to his sharing in June 2022 of videos 'My Vengeance (My Revenge)' and 'All Disbelievers of the World'. The fourth terror charge is preparation of terrorist acts on July 11, 2022 - his online research of a location to commit an attack; his research on weapons, firearms, and stab vests; him obtaining a knife; and his note to his family titled 'To My Family'. The teen faces a fifth charge - having a knife in a public place on July 11, 2022. The boy - who denied all charges - has autism, but was described as 'bright, articulate and capable of exchanging ideas with others' and 'perfectly intelligent'. Detective Chief Superintendent Olly Wright, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing South East, said: 'Today is not a day for celebration. There can never be satisfaction when a child so young is convicted of such serious offences. 'Our primary objective is always to protect our communities from those who wish to do them harm. 'In this case, unfortunately we found someone who had been radicalised by Daesh propaganda into believing it was acceptable to hurt innocent people. 'CTPSE had to act quickly, with the help of our local police partners, to arrest and detain him. This was to protect the public and establish fully what his plans were. 'We hope he can get the help he needs to learn how wrong and dangerous these views are, and that he can become a functioning member of society in future.' Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary's Area Commander for the Isle of Wight, Superintendent Rob Mitchell said: 'This is a really tragic case of a young boy who found himself exploited by Daesh propaganda. 'The most vulnerable people in our communities across Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight are at the greatest risk of being drawn towards terrorist activity, and potentially causing harm to themselves and others. 'We have excellent working relationships and information sharing agreements with our partners that allow us to quickly identify those at risk and protect people from harm. 'Cases of this nature are, thankfully, relatively rare, but I do understand this investigation will have had a significant impact on the people of Cowes and the Isle of Wight. 'No one is exempt from the risk of extremism and terrorism, but together Action Counters Terrorism and if you have any concerns that someone you know has been, or is being, radicalised, you can Act Early to get them the help they need and deserve'. The boy is due to be sentenced on 15 April at Kingston Crown Court. A Government minister lost responsibility for overseeing the national rollout of new electricity pylons - after he expressed worries about new pylons in his local area. Andrew Bowie, a minister in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), had been in charge of the UK's energy networks until December last year. But it has now been revealed how he quietly lost that role after sharing concerns about 'controversial' powerlines planned for his West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine constituency. The brief has since been passed to his fellow DESNZ minister Graham Stuart. According to Politico, a freedom of information request saw DESNZ confirm Mr Bowie had raised potential conflicts of interest under ministerial rules. Mr Bowie's register of ministerial interests points to 'a large number of energy companies and organisations working in or on behalf of the energy sector within the minister's constituency and surrounding constituencies'. Andrew Bowie, a minister in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), had been in charge of the UK's energy networks until December last year It has been revealed how Mr Bowie lost the role after sharing concerns about 'controversial' powerlines planned for his West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine constituency Mr Bowie was appointed a DESNZ minister in February last year, when his ministerial reponsibilities were listed as including 'energy systems and networks (grid)'. In July last year, the West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP wrote on his website about 'controversial' plans to build a new substation and associated powerlines in part of his constituency. He added the 'concerns of residents' had been a 'priority' of his and pointed to local fears about the importance of 'special, historical and prime agricultural land... being respected'. Mr Bowie argued that Britain 'sorely needs new energy infrastructure' but stressed 'new infrastructure projects must always be completed with the consent of local residents'. He also shared pictures of himself meeting with local residents concerned about new pylons on social media. It is reported that Mr Bowie lost responsibility for overseeing national plans to build more electricity pylons in December, as part of a mini job swap with Mr Stuart. Mr Bowie's list of ministerial responsibilities on the Government website no longer states he is in charge of energy networks, but Mr Stuart's now does. The Government has recently made efforts to tackle planning objections and speed up the approval of new energy infrastructure. At the Autumn Statement last November, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced that Britons who live closest to new pylons and electricity substations could receive up to 10,000 off their bills over a decade. Mr Bowie won his West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine seat at the 2019 general election with a majority of just 843 votes. A DESNZ spokesman refused to comment on changes to ministerial portfolios. The boss of a Michigan cryonics lab that's freezing bodies until 'science can bring them back to life' has defended the practice claiming he's 'fighting the good fight.' President of Cryonics Institute Dennis Kowalski froze over 100 bodies - including a 14-year-old British girl who died of cancer and at least 125 pets - who are sitting in tanks at -196C. Kowalski - who signed up for the service himself - said patients have nothing to lose and everything to gain from the questionable practice. 'You get can buried or cremated and we know what happens to the though those people, they won't ever be repaired, rejuvenated, or reversed, back into a healthy age,' he told the Sun. But many scientists warn cryonics offers 'false hope.' Dennis Kowalski, President of Cryonics Institute, has frozen over 100 hundreds - including a 14-year-old British girl and at least 125 pets - who are sitting in tanks that are kept at -196 C, in the hope that one day they can be 'woken up' Patients are stored at 321F in chambers used to maintain low deep-freeze temperatures The longest-running patient at Cryonics Institute, named Rhea Ettinger, has been there since 1977 Kowalski himself previously admitted that even if the frozen people eventually come back to life - they can potentially wake up as 'zombie-like clones' of their former selves. Nonetheless, Kowalski pushes the method of Cryonics as the most viable option for those hoping to be revived after death. 'The grave is your only real alternative and that's complete oblivion. So we want to defeat man's greatest enemy - death itself,' he said to the Sun. Preserving your body at Cryonics Institute in Clinton Township, Michigan, will cost you over $28,000. The institute was established in 1976, by Robert Ettinger, the 'father of Cryonics,' and is currently the world's biggest cryogenics lab. 'I would give everything I had to bring back family friends and loved ones, even if the chance is small. So I think what I'm doing is fighting the good fight,' he added. 'I think it's it's born out of love, compassion, and a desire to to do good. and if it works, it works. If it doesn't, it doesn't.' Chefs, students, secretaries, professors and pets are among those being stored in liquid nitrogen at the Cryonics Institute 'I think it's at least worth an attempt to see if it's possible to bring these people back someday and I would hope scientists can put us out of business. If you're already dead there's not much harm in trying - and you might as well take a risk.' In 2016, an extraordinary case sparked a fierce debate over the ethics of cryo-freezing - and about the lack of regulation surrounding the cryonics industry A 13-year-old from London who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer announced her wish to be cryo-preserved after all treatment options failed. She researched the process online and told relatives in the months before her death: 'I'm dying but I'm going to come back in 200 years.' Her case was heard by the High Court after her estranged father opposed the plan, saying he could not fund the 37,000 procedure at a facility in the US. The girl's maternal grandparents agreed to pay all costs but the father still questioned what kind of future the procedure offered to his daughter. The girl's father told the Mail in 2016: 'We came to the end of the road after my child passed away, what is there left to say? It's all ended, it's finished. Her mother didn't allow me to have contact with her.' 'I've ended up in court on ten occasions in an effort to see her. I've been trying very hard to have contact with her though courts. I was able to see her in 2005 for about a year and a half.' A growing number of people - and pets - are being frozen in cryogenic labs, with the hopes of one day being brought back to life when science catches up. Out of the total 1,975 patients stored at the Michigan facility, 1,374 are American and 128 are British, according to member statistics released by the institute The number of patients at the Cryonics Institute in Michigan has grown from around 600 in 2006 to close to 1,900 in 2021 Business is booming at the Cryonics Institute lab in Michigan, leaving it at capacity and forced to store patients at a new center nearby. Between 10 and 20 places have been taken up in the expanded storage facility. What was once the kooky idea of Walt Disney and the ultra rich elites is becoming more accessible to ordinary people. In the Michigan facility, chefs, students, secretaries, professors and pets are among those being stored in liquid nitrogen. The center prides itself on being affordable to the average person with full-body preservation starting at $28,000, which is usually paid through life insurance. Cryonics - the practice of deep-freezing the bodies of dead people - is a worldwide phenomenon. Another famous freezing site in America is Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Arizona. From the outside, it looks like any other warehouse. But inside it contains the frozen dead bodies of hundreds of patients. It is on the pricier side, costing $200,000 for people to get their whole body stored in a high-tech freezer, but there is an option to put just the brain on ice for discounted price of $80,000. So far 199 deceased remains are stored there, kept fresh thanks to liquid nitrogen keeping the bodies at -275 degrees Fahrenheit - a temperature so cold it stops all cellular function and preserves their state until defrost. The longest-running patient in Michigan is named Rhea Ettinger, and has been there since 1977. Her son, Robert Ettinger, a World War Two veteran and the founder of the Cryonics Institute, is also in the arctic limbo, along with his first and second wives. 'Let's say you have a heart attack right now, well 100-years-ago you would have been dead so by using that logic what's the point of pounding on your chest or using a little electricity to try to shock your heart back to life?' Kowalski said to the Sun. 'Yet today we routinely use cardiac defibrillation and CPR to bring back people who have died so we've moved the goalpost. We've changed the the definition of what dead means. 'So now we're not really bringing back the dead. You're just restarting their heart and I would argue that bringing back people who were in liquid nitrogen for a hundred years is a similar thing.' Clapham chemical attacker Abdul Ezedi was last seen at Southwark Bridge two hours after he allegedly attacked a woman and her two young daughters, which may have left the mother partially blind. Scotland Yard detectives hunting for the fugitive have been tracking his movements and revealed he was last seen near the Thames at around 9.50pm on Wednesday. Officers are not searching the river, the Met Police said, and the motive behind the attack is still not known. Ezedi is not the father of the young girls. He has been using a bank card to move around London's Tube network with it last being used late on Wednesday. Investigators are trawling through hundreds of hours of CCTV to discover his whereabouts. Police today arrested a 22-year-old man on suspicion of assisting Ezedi. He has since been released on bail. It is feared the mother, 31, may lose sight in her right eye in the 'targeted' assault in which she and her daughters, aged eight and three, were doused with a corrosive alkaline substance at around 7.30pm on Wednesday. Officers have recovered Ezedi's mobile phone from the car involved in the incident and are analysing it to establish the relationship between him and the victim, who may lose the use of her right eye. Abdul Ezedi was last seen in Southwark Bridge area at around 9.50pm on Wednesday Abdul Ezedi, 35, was caught on CCTV buying 30 eggs from a Middle Eastern food store near to his home on Tuesday lunchtime Ezedi was last seen leaving Tower Hill underground station in east London at 9.33pm on Wednesday (he is pictured leaving the tube station) The suspect, who lives in Newcastle, has been named by police as the suspect in a corrosive alkaline substance attack in Clapham, south London Former detectives have speculated Ezedi could be receiving help and support from people smugglers or may even be dead. Peter Bleksley said he may also have killed himself and officers are yet to discover his body. Mr Bleksley, who helped set up Scotland Yard's undercover unit, said: 'What I find unusual with this investigation - where you have a critically injured woman and injuries to two young children - is that we don't have any information about Ezedi's whereabouts beyond Wednesday evening last week. 'The trail goes cold from just after 9.30pm when he's seen leaving Tower Hill tube station. Now, is that because the Met have more information than they are letting on? Or, is he dead in a ditch or canal or river somewhere? All possibilities. 'But what you have to remember and not many police officers like to admit this fugitives do sometimes go on the run and never get caught. 'Don't forget that Ezedi is a man who has a history of evading detection by the authorities, having smuggled himself into the UK from Afghanistan. 'Does he have a criminal network assisting him and providing him with food, water and shelter? That is a distinct possibility given the police have admitted they've carried out searches on five different addresses. 'He has already smuggled himself into the country, could he do the same in leaving the UK? He'll want to wait until the injury to his face is less severe and noticeable, however long that will take.' CCTV emerged earlier today of the former asylum seeker buying groceries from a shop in Newcastle. Ezedi was caught on CCTV buying 30 eggs from a Middle Eastern food store near to his home on Tuesday lunchtime. He is seen smiling at staff behind the counter before paying in cash. The fugitive, who lives near to the store on Byker Road, is thought to have arrived in the UK from Afghanistan on the back of a lorry in 2016. He was found guilty of sexual assault in 2018 but granted asylum after claiming to have converted to Christianity. Staff at the food store, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Telegraph they were 'horrified' that Ezedi had been connected to the attack because he was known as a 'good Muslim'. The day after the CCTV was filmed the pizza takeaway chef drove to Clapham, south-west London, where he is believed to have thrown an alkaline substance at a 31-year-old woman and her daughters, eight and three. Police around the UK have been chasing the 35-year-old Afghan asylum seeker since Wednesday as part of a major manhunt. The woman, who suffered potentially life-changing injuries, was known to Ezedi and remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition. The hunt entered its fifth day today with a 20,000 reward in place for anyone with information leading to his arrest. But Nick Aldworth, a former national counter-terrorism co-ordinator, warned that Ezedi could already be dead. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think if we've not seen or heard from him in the the last couple of days, which appears to be the case, he's gone to ground, possibly supported by somebody... or it's not unlikely or improbable that he may have taken his own life. There is therefore a body to be found somewhere.' Mr Aldworth said the Met would be tracking Ezedi's movements through public cameras, which had been a 'very effective' method in previous cases. The force said the last sighting of Ezedi, who is from Newcastle, was at 9.33pm at Tower Hill Underground station in east London on January 31, shortly after the attack in Clapham. Asked if the Met Police would now have a precise location for his whereabouts, he said: 'I think they'll have a very good sense of what area he's in. 'What you can't discount of course is that he has been picked up by an ally and moved somewhere else, perhaps in a vehicle. 'The reason they've offered a 20,000 reward is usually because there's a sense that somebody inside the community might well be harbouring this individual.' Nick Aldworth, who has 36 years' experience in the police and military, says it is 'not unlikely' Ezedi could have taken his own life On Sunday, police said the suspect used a 'very strong concentrated corrosive substance' in the attack. Police investigators believe there are people who know Ezedi's whereabouts and have not come forward. The Met has warned anyone found assisting him will face arrest. It comes as questions have been raised 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. Police said Ezedi left Newcastle in the early hours of Wednesday and travelled south to London and was in the Tooting area by around 6.30am. 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 train at Clapham South Underground station, and by 8pm he was at King's Cross Tube station. Police say three members of the public who came to the aid of the family during Wednesday's attack, two aged in their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns. BBC Radio 4 also interviewed a woman who suffered third degree burns to her foot while rescuing the three-year-old girl in the attack. Sue Sim, former Chief Constable of Northumbria Police who led the manhunt for killer Raoul Moat, said: 'What you do have to remember is it's very easy to vanish in a city. People walk with their heads down, people don't like to acknowledge other people' The woman, who lives nearby, rang police and went with the girl to hospital. She took action after she saw the little girl being pulled out of the car and thrown to the ground 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 She said: 'I think everyone just froze because they didn't realise what had just happened. In the spacxe of a second, he did it again and that's when everyone tried to grab him, because if no one grabbed him, he would have done it a third time.' Sue Sim, the former Chief Constable of Northumbria Police - who led the manhunt for killer Raoul Moat, shared her thoughts on the hunt to find Abdul Azedi. She told Good Morning Britain: 'What you do have to remember is, it's very easy to vanish in a city. People walk with their heads down, people don't like to acknowledge other people. 'A city is far easier to vanish into than the wilds of Northumberland where Moat went missing in 2010. 'But yes, if somebody is hiding him, hand him in immediately.' Moat, who had a hatred of police, notoriously gunned down his ex-partner's new boyfriend Chris Brown before shooting PC David Rathband in Newcastle city centre. He was caught after seven days hiding in woodland near Rothbury, Northumberland, when a woman watched him walk past her front door and phoned police. Moat later shot himself in the head in a showdown with police. Ms Sim added: 'The public are the best support to the police in instances when people go missing. Yes, police will be using all their investigative and intelligence techniques. But the public - they're the ones who will bring this man to justice. 'Please call the police immediately if you know where he is.' Asked by host Richard Madeley, she said she had 'no doubt' Ezedi would be found. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The sole survivor of a horror hot air balloon crash in Arizona is fighting for her life, her parents have said, as they reveal her only sibling was senselessly murdered in 2022. Valerie Stutterheim, 23, suffered multiple broken bones and a traumatic brain injury during the crash last month, her family revealed in a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for her care. Four others were killed in the January 14 tragedy in Eloy: Chayton Wiescholek, 28, Kaitlynn Bartrom, 28, Atahan Kiliccote, 24, and pilot Cornelius Van Der Walt, 37. 'Unfortunately, we know all too well the grief those families are feeling,' wrote Valerie's parents on the fundraising page. 'For those who don't know our family, it was less than two years ago when our family endured another tragedythe loss of our son, Valerie's brother Ian,' they added. Valerie Stutterheim, 23, suffered multiple broken bones and a traumatic brain injury during the crash last month, of which she was the sole survivor Her brother Ian Sutterheim was just 25 when he was shot dead by his friend's estranged husband in an apparent domestic-related murder in Flagstaff, Arizona in June 2022 Ian Sutterheim was just 25 when he was shot dead in an apparent domestic violence murder in Flagstaff, Arizona in June 2022. The killer, Kevin McManis, broke into the home of his his own estranged wife Tianna Guglielmo, shooting and injuring the woman and killing Ian before taking his own life, police said at the time. Ian was good friends with Guglielmo, who worked with him at a Flagstaff bookstore, and he appears to have lost his own life protecting her from her from McManis. 'In those dark times, even in her own grief, Valerie's resilience and wisdom kept our tight little family on a path of healing,' her parents recalled on the GoFundMe page. The family said that Valerie's injuries are 'extensive' and that she remains unable to speak. 'Her bones will eventually heal, but her ability to walk and otherwise move is uncertain,' the said. 'Perhaps the greatest challenge she faces, though, is the traumatic brain injury she suffered, the full long-term effects of which also remain uncertain,' the family added. The GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for Valerie's long-term care and rehabilitation had raised more than $86,000 toward a goal of $100,000 as of Monday. Hot air balloon pilot Cornelius van der Walt (left) has been hailed as an 'adventurer' and 'good man' by loved ones on social media. Chayton Wiescholek, 28, also died in the accident in Eloy Atahan Kiliccote, 24, (left) and Katie Bartrom, 28 (right) were among those killed in the hot air balloon crash in Arizona Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate the fatal balloon crash, and hopes to interview Valerie when she is well enough to speak. The NTSB's preliminary report on the crash said that the hot air balloon flight started at about 6.30am, just after sunrise, with 13 people onboard, including eight skydivers who planned to jump from the balloon. The skydivers all departed the balloon in small groups as planned after the balloon had ascended to about 10,000 feet. The Kubicek BB 85 Z balloon was then observed from the ground descending with a deflated envelope trailing from above, and the burner flame still visible at times. The report said the basket landed upright, and the envelope remained attached to the basket, with thermal damage near the mouth of the envelope. The sewn rim tape material near the top of the envelope was frayed and several of the panels were damaged, the report said. An electronic device containing flight information and a video camera have been sent to NTSB headquarters in Washington for further analysis, the NTSB said. 'It is important to clarify that the skydiving was intentional and was successfully completed by all skydivers before any issues with the hot air balloon were evident,' the Eloy Police Department said in a statement. The skydivers on board planned to leap from the balloon and land in Eloy Municipal Airport, according to Eloy Police Chief Byron Gwaltney Thirteen people had been in the balloon - eight skydivers, four passengers and a pilot - according to Eloy Mayor Micah Powell According to a witness, the balloon was 'shapeless' and 'deflated' before it came crashing down The balloon pilot Van der Walt, originally from South Africa, was described by friends as an 'adventurer' and 'good man'. The family and friends of Bartrom, a nurse from Indiana, also mourned her loss. Wiescholek was from Union City, Michigan while Kiliccote was from from Cupertino, California. The company operating the flight, Droplyne Hot Air Balloon Rides, had a perfect safety record, according to its website. Droplyne said it conducts daily flights that rise up to 10,000 feet elevation from either the Eloy area of Arizona or Moab, Utah, depending on the time of year. Following the crash, the company said in a statement: 'Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of those who lost loved ones in that accident, and we hope and pray for a full recovery for the surviving member of that group.' A Sudanese people smuggler, who was involved in the death of an asylum seeker on a French beach, has been jailed for 18 months after his boat was intercepted off the Kent coast. Howmalow Mawum-Duop was carrying 70 migrants in an inflatable dinghy last September when Border Force officials, who had been alerted that the vessel had left the coast of Sangatte, northern France, stopped him just miles away from British land. Earlier that day, a female migrant had died while trying to board the packed rigid hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) on a French beach. Now the 22-year-old people smuggler faces 18 months in jail after he pleaded guilty to facilitating illegal immigration. Mawum-Duop was spotted by officials driving the dinghy and wearing a bright green hoodie. Howmalow Mawum-Duop (pictured), 22, had 70 migrants in his inflatable dinghy last September when Border Force officials, who had been told the vessel had left the coast of Sangatte, northern France, stopped him just miles away from the Kent coast Earlier that day, a female migrant had died while trying to get onto the crammed rigid hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) on a French beach (pictured: migrants attempting to cross the English Channel near the Dover Strait) This comes just days after Home Office figures showed that the number of migrants crossing the Channel is up 13% compared with this time last year (Stock Photo) The people smuggler then switched off the engine and tried to move away from the tiller as a Border Force boat came towards him. Due to his distinctive clothing, the individual was later identified. The Sudanese man was arrested by National Crime Agency officials, who had been in contact with the Border Force as well as French authorities, and charged with immigration offences. Mawum-Duop told officials that he had passed through Chad, Libya, Tunisia and Italy on his way to France having left Sudan in February 2021. The people smuggler initially claimed that he had neither been in control of the boat filled with migrants nor had he asked for payment from anyone on board but later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a year and a half in prison at Canterbury Crown Court in Kent on Friday. The investigation into the death of the female migrant before Mawum-Duop's arrest continues and is being conducted by French authorities. NCA Senior Investigating Officer Kathryn Philpott said: 'Tackling people smuggling is one of the highest priorities for the National Crime Agency, and we are determined that individuals who put other people's lives at risk in pursuit of profit are held accountable. 'Working closely with our partners in France, we were able to stop this boat off the coast of England, safeguard those aboard and ensure that Mawum-Duop was brought to justice.' This comes just days after Home Office figures showed that the number of migrants crossing the Channel is up 13% compared with this time last year. Your browser does not support iframes. During the first 31 days of 2024, a total of 1,335 migrants successfully crossed the Channel, despite almost constant storms and poor weather conditions - a 13 per cent increase over the same period last year. This is the equivalent of 52 people making the journey every day. Back in 2018, only 299 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats all year. Last month saw a 13 per cent increase in the number of migrants crossing in small boats compared with 2023 (pictured: group of people thought to be migrants brought in to Dover on January 31) Some 1,335 migrants have successfully crossed the Channel so far in 2024, the Home Office have confirmed (pictured: group of people thought to be migrants brought in to Dover on January 31) A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Our priority is to stop the boats, which is why we have taken robust action to crackdown on vile people smuggling gangs, deter migrants from making dangerous crossings and, alongside our French counterparts, intercept vessels. 'This relentless action reduced crossings by 36 per cent last year, which saw similar weather conditions to 2022, and more than 26,000 attempts were prevented. 'The fact we have seen three devastating fatal incidents in three months highlights the unacceptable risks that migrants and criminal gangs are running in pursuing these dangerous, illegal and unnecessary crossing attempts.' A police department accused of robbing a veteran K-9 of retirement with his former handler has claimed it was saving the dog from a life of neglect. Dunn Police Department in North Carolina has been deluged with angry comments since German Shepherd Pac-Man was taken from former officer Nathan Ingram. The pair worked together for three years before Ingram was forced to take medical retirement in October, just days before Pac-Man was temporarily sent to a shelter. But Dunn Police Captain Matt Smith told Dailymail.com Ingram had kept Pac-Man in an outside pen and they were worried he would not be able to look after it. 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. 'His (medical) restrictions were stringent so the chief said she was concerned that Pac-Man wouldn't be exercised and the Animal Control Director was taking him with her so he didn't have to just lie in his pen. 'The chief made the decision to have our Animal Control Director go check on him and when she did she ended up keeping him because she had to carry him to the vet.' More than 15,000 people have signed a change.org petition demanding the seven-year-old dog be allowed to stay with his former handler. Ingram says the dog suffers from anxiety and arthritis and insists he is able to look after him. '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.' He has offered to buy Pac-Man and claims he was removed in revenge for his non-participation in a department photo shoot, a claim the office has denied. '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. Footage of the dog in a cage at Dunn Animal Shelter infuriated viewers and prompted hundreds of angry comments on the department's Facebook page. Dunn Police Chief Cary Jackson insists the dog should return to front-line duties 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 The heartbroken former officer mentioned that his companion is known to have leg issues, suffer from anxiety, and has been in poor medical condition 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 Police claimed they had to carry Pac-Man from his pen in Ingram's yard and were worried the former officer would be unable to care for the dog 'Do you guys not let your officers retire?' demanded Scott Schmude. 'Do you put them in shelters when they no longer have the health to keep working for the department? Honestly sick and disgusting.' 'Give the freaking dog back to the original handler or a retired one instead of where you put him,' added Brian Dewan. But the department said Pac-Man is now four weeks into his training with another officer. 'We feel like he's fully capable based on our consultation with our veterinarian and police trainers, canine trainers,' Jackson told a council meeting. '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. But former Dunn Police dog handler Johnnie Jackson said it was too old to be sent back onto the streets. 'The way K-9 Pac-Man has been treated by Chief Cary Jackson infuriates me,' he told a council meeting last week. Capt Smith said Pac-Man was 'responding really well' to the training which is 'more about training the handler'. 'I've lost all respect for the Leadership of Dunn Police department and its council. 'The moves being allowed with this seven-year-old dog lack 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. '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.' Capt Smith said Pac-Man was 'responding really well' to the training which is 'more about training the handler'. 'We're trying to relearn some things and change the way he's done things in the past,' he added. The new handler, Sergeant Adam Sikorski, said it was time to move forward. 'This is what he lives for - working, finding drugs, finding bad guys,' he told WARL. But Ingram has promised not to give up on his former partner. '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,' he added. Robert F Kennedy has expressed his support of a potential sit-down between Tucker Carlson and Vladimir Putin. 'The legacy media is in shambles because weve caught onto their lies and propaganda. Tucker Carlson has every right to interview Putin,' the third-Party presidential candidate said on Sunday. 'We need more transparency instead of less. It used to be understood journalists would interview world leaders, even those with whom we were at war.' Kennedy's post on X comes amid ongoing speculation that Carlson may become the first Westerner to interview the Russian despot during the war in Ukraine. Russian state media fueled the rumors on Monday, posting a video they claimed showed Carlson leaving the Russian Presidential Administration. The outlet, however, would still not confirm the interview took place. Robert F Kennedy has expressed his support of a potential sit-down between Tucker Carlson and Vladimir Putin 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 Carlson star kept his cards close to the chest on Monday, after Russian media showed pictures of him at several spots around Moscow, including at a box at the Bolshoi Theatre and eating at a hotel. 'It is beautiful,' Carlson said of Moscow in an interview aired by the Izvestia newspaper. 'I just wanted to see it because, you know, I have read so much about it but I have never seen it before.' When asked if he was in Moscow to interview Putin, Carlson said: 'We'll see' and smiled. The former Fox News host, 54, reportedly arrived in the capital on February 1 and was spotted at a Spartacus performance in Bolshoi Theatre. Back in 2021, Carlson claimed the National Security Agency began 'spying' on him after he said he was trying to interview Putin. Carlson said that his communications were intercepted by the NSA, and that his identity - which should by law have been kept a secret - was 'unmasked' by senior intelligence officials. Carlson claimed that the content of his emails and texts was then disseminated, in a bid to discredit him. 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 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 His claims have not been confirmed. The Kremlin has also refused to confirm it Putin would be sitting down with the American podcaster. In a statement, it said: 'We can hardly be expected to provide information on the movement of foreign journalists... Many foreign journalists come to Russia every day, many continue to work here, and we welcome this,. 'We have nothing to announce in terms of the presidents interviews to foreign media.' Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has also 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. 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. A picture of Carlson appears to show him at a Spartacus performance at the Bolshoi Theatre '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, 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. 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.' DailyMail.com has contacted Tucker Carlson for comment. The son of a grandmother mauled to death by 'two unregistered XL Bullies' has paid tribute. Esther Martin, 68, was killed while visiting her 11-year-old grandson at the weekend with neighbours hearing piercing screams coming from the home. It is claimed she was trying to calm the savage beasts - named Beauty and Bear - with a broom before she was maimed. The dogs were shot dead by police officers who raced to the home in Jaywick, Essex, and arrived within minutes of the 999 call. A man was earlier seen smashing a window with a brick in a desperate attempt to save her. Ms Martin's son, Paul Martin, today left a heartfelt tribute to his mother in a post on Facebook. He wrote: 'Love you lots mum. Sleep tight and give Clare Louise a big hug from me love you both lots. 'Until we meet again. Your memory will live forever.' Esther Martin, 68 (pictured) from Woodford Green, London, died from her injuries Her son, Paul Martin, posted a heartfelt tribute on Facebook in which he said her memory will live forever The dogs were owned by Ashley Warren, a rapper by the name Wyless Man (pictured) Her wannabe rapper 'son-in-law' Ashley Warren, 39, owned the dogs and was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dogs offences. He was today released on bail, and had insisted the dogs were 'not aggressive'. Ms Martin's furious family have hit out at the conditions the massive dogs were kept in. Her daughter, Sonia, has now claimed the two adult dogs and the six puppies were kept 'penned in a small chalet'. Police said the breeds which attacked Ms Martin are yet to be determined, but the family claimed they were XL Bully dogs. The breed became banned in England at the beginning of the month, but owners may apply for exemptions. Images on the owner's social media show how at least one appears to be an XL Bully-type, while another looks like a Rottweiler. Ms Martin's daughter Sonia, 47, told the BBC: 'We're very angry. People complain about the dogs - it's not the dogs.' Speaking about the conditions they were kept in, she asked: 'How the hell can that be any good for an animal?' She also revealed that her nephew was in the house at the time and ran out screaming for help when Ms Martin was attacked. Ashley Warren, the rapper who owned the dogs and has today been released on bail, had insisted they were 'not aggressive' It is understood the grandmother had warned her tattooed 'son-in-law' Warren, 39, about the dogs, but the East London wannabe rapper fired back with a foul-mouthed rant The police said the breeds which attacked Ms Martin are yet to be determined The large dogs also feature in his rap music videos posted online and on social media Police said a 39-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dogs offences Sonia Martin, 47, (pictured) revealed that Ms Martin's grandson was in the house at the time She told the BBC: 'My mum went down to spend time with her grandson who used to live with her. 'The puppies were fighting. The owner had left my mum and my nephew with the dogs and went off somewhere, although my mum had raised concerns about them. 'His directions to my mum was - as we understand it - was that if the puppies were fighting she should put a broom in there and distract the puppies - run it over the floor and shake it to get their attention so they would stop fighting.' Locals of Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea, claimed the dogs were aggressive and were always 'barking and trying to get through the gate'. They believed the owner was a breeder and would often walk them around menacingly. But relatives of Warren have now hit back at the claims, insisting the dogs were his pets and he was a loving owner. Warren's grandmother, Carol Stotter said the rapper was careful to keep the large dogs locked inside the house. The 76-year-old told The Sun: 'From what I've heard from Ashley, the dogs haven't been aggressive. I think with the puppies around it probably changed their behaviour. 'Those dogs were his pets. I think the female got pregnant which was not planned.' 'Ashley loved the dogs. They were not there for any other purpose but his pets.' She said Warren kept on top of maintaining the fence to keep the dogs in and she claimed 'they never attacked anybody' previously. Warren's mother, Michelle Stotter, told The Sun that Ms Martin and her grandson were very close and she was often at the house. A music 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 added that there was no wider threat to the community and the scene is now safe Riot shields which were used by the police responding to reports of the dangerous dog attack are pictured being removed from the scene Tattooed East London rapper Warren features in drill music videos online Your browser does not support iframes. She also described her shock when she heard of the tragic incident and said she feels 'sorry' for the 11-year-old boy who is in a 'nightmare situation'. His mother also said that the dog's puppies had been fighting and Ms Martin tried to break them up with a broom. The parents of the puppies, Beauty and Bear, saw this as an attack and 'went' for the grandmother, Ms Stotter claimed. The 55-year-old also said her son was trying to rehome the dogs. MailOnline found that Warren had posted an advert on social media in November offering the puppies for 500 each. Sonia was at the scene yesterday morning along with siblings Paul, 45, and Kelly Fretwell, 46. She said her mother - from Woodford Green, London - had previously told the dogs' owner that they were dangerous. She 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. Officers were called to a property at Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea at around 4pm on Saturday, with neighbours hearing screams coming from the property for 10 minutes. They found a seriously wounded Ms Martin and 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 previously revealed that the dogs were owned by breeder Warren, who goes by the name Wyless Man. The headteacher of Brianna Ghey's school has backed her mother's calls for greater safeguards on children's mobile phones. Emma Mills said 'urgent regulation' was needed to protect them from 'sinister horrors' online. Brianna and her killers, dark web-obsessed Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe, were all pupils at Birchwood Community High School, Warrington, Cheshire. Ms Mills said she agreed with Esther Ghey that mobile phone firms and tech companies needed to back parents' demands to make the internet a safer place for their children. 'In the real world and at school we have policies, laws and regulations to protect children,' she said. 'Outside of school, however, they are now routinely being exposed to this online world, where some of them are spending the majority of their day, where there is nothing no laws or systems in place. Esther Ghey (left) and Emma Mills speaking on Good Morning Britain on January 24 Brianna Ghey (pictured) was stabbed to death 28 times with a hunting knife on February 11, suffering 'unsurvivable injuries' 'This needs to change urgently. The digital world, used correctly, opens countless opportunities, and builds knowledge but I don't think anyone could have ever imagined the sinister horrors that the internet and social media would develop or blow up the way it has. Mis-used, the online world has become a dark place and poses a real threat, especially to vulnerable young people.' Ms Ghey has launched a petition calling for new legislation to help parents control what their children can access online through smartphones. In an emotional interview with the BBC, she said she wanted mobile phone companies to be more responsible and only provide under-16s with phones without social media apps. Ms Ghey also called for all children's phones to have software that links to their parents' phones and alerts them if their children are searching for harmful or questionable content online. Brianna, 16, was killed in February last year by Ratcliffe and Jenkinson, who was moved to Birchwood after being excluded from nearby Culcheth High School for giving a younger pupil drugs. The pair, then 15, plotted Brianna's murder over vile messages they shared on WhatsApp and SnapChat. Jenkinson, who binged on horror films during the pandemic, had also downloaded a special browser onto her device to watch real-life torture and murder on the dark web. Ms Ghey, a food technologist, said she carries no hate for her daughter's killers and has even offered to meet Jenkinson's mother, saying she understands how hard it is to monitor what teenagers consume online. Yesterday the Prime Minister praised Ms Ghey's humanity and compassion, which he described as 'frankly extraordinary'. But Rishi Sunak stopped short of backing her campaign, saying the Government's new Online Safety Act was the 'priority'. Scarlett Jenkinson (left) and Eddie Ratcliffe, who were convicted last year in the killing of Brianna Ghey, and sentenced and named on February 02 'Timid' Brianna's body was found face-down in the mud in a Cheshire village on February 11 Speaking to broadcasters on a visit to Northern Ireland, Mr Sunak was asked if Ms Ghey's proposals were practical. 'My thoughts are with Brianna's family,' he said, after what he called the 'unspeakable, unspeakable, awful act'. Mr Sunak added: 'Hopefully, the recent sentencing provides some sense of justice. 'The other thing to say is actually how Brianna's mother has responded in the face of this tragedy, with empathy and compassion, I think is quite frankly extraordinary.' The Prime Minister praised Ms Ghey's 'enormous amount of humanity in the face of something that is the worst of humanity' before adding: 'As a parent, I am always worried about social media and what my young girls are exposed to. 'That's why I'm pleased we have passed the Online Safety Act over the last year and that means the regulator now has tough new powers to control what is exposed to children online. 'And if the big social media companies do not comply with that, the regulator is able to levy very significant fines on them and the priority now is making sure that Act is up and running.' But Ms Mills said 'blocks and filters' stop pupils from accessing inappropriate content when they are in school and these should be extended for under-16s when they are at home. 'We have strict guidelines at our school regarding social media and mobile phone use,' she added. 'We have blocks and filters to prevent access and also our SENSO system raises alarm bells if certain words or phrases are typed into phones. 'I am a headteacher and a parent so I know the difficulties on both sides. We must find a solution together and, as Esther said, that is where we need the support of the digital monopolies to help keep our young people safe. 'I honestly don't believe there is a teacher or parent in the country who wouldn't support better regulation of the internet and social media. Brianna's tragic death is just another example of what needs to change urgently to protect the lives of young people and future generations.' To support Ms Ghey's petition go to https://www.change.org/p/change-the-law-to-make-phone-companies-more-responsible-for-children-s-online-welfare Italy's Deputy Prime Minister has demanded chemical castration for the attackers who allegedly gang-raped a teenage girl in public toilets. Matteo Salvini said the girl was 'raped by a gang of seven Egyptians' and that there can 'only be one cure: chemical castration', for which his Lega party will soon present a proposal. Another member of his party, MEP Annalisa Tardino, added: 'We remain firm in the idea that chemical castration is needed for rapists and paedophiles, life imprisonment for similar episodes, as well as greater security in our cities.' The girl, 13, was sexually assaulted in the Villa Bellini park in Catania, Sicily, around 7.30pm on January 30 while on a walk with her 17-year-old boyfriend. A group of young Egyptian men aged 15 to 19 forced the girl and her boyfriend into a public bathroom, where some of them held the boyfriend back while two others allegedly gang-raped the girl. The seven male suspects - three of them still minors - allegedly entered Italy illegally between November 2021 and March 2023 as 'unaccompanied minors', La Repubblica reports. Tardino called for the suspects to be 'repatriated immediately'. 'In Egypt they would never have allowed such behaviour. The safety of our children must be a priority throughout,' she added. The girl, 13, was sexually assaulted in the Villa Bellini park in Catania, Sicily, around 7.30pm on January 30 while on a walk with her 17-year-old boyfriend (pictured: the public bathroom where she was raped) A group of young men forced the girl and her boyfriend into a public bathroom (pictured), where some of them held the boyfriend back while two others gang-raped the girl Matteo Salvini (pictured) said the girl was 'raped by a gang of seven Egyptians' and that there can 'only be one cure: chemical castration', the Sun reports Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni - who was in Catania on a pre-arranged visit on the weekend - said she was shocked about the rape. She expressed her sympathies for the victim and her family and promised that 'justice will be done'. The girl said that two of the accused grabbed her while the others grabbed her boyfriend. 'And they took us to the bathrooms of the villa. It was a nightmare, there was no one there at that time,' the girl told La Repubblica. She said she was trying to free herself, as was her boyfriend, but they couldn't overpower the seven teenagers. Two of them allegedly raped her while the others watched. She said: 'And they forced my boyfriend to watch too.' 'He was screaming, he was desperate. I said: "I beg you, I beg you, don't hurt me, let me go.' The rape went on for 30 minutes until the couple could finally break free and escape. They immediately alerted the Carabinieri, who managed to catch the group within 24 hours. The victim has identified the two underage alleged perpetrators of the rape, police said yesterday. The rape in the public toilet (pictured) went on for 30 minutes until the couple could finally break free and escape. They immediately alerted the Carabinieri, who managed to catch the group within 24 hours The girl was raped around 7.30pm on January 30 in the Villa Bellini park in Catania, Sicily (pictured) One of them is said to be one of the rapists while the other was one of the boys who watched and held back the girl's boyfriend. DNA evidence successfully linked one of the three minors to the rape, the prosecutor confirmed. While the girl could reportedly only identify two of the attackers out of fear of accusing an innocent person, her boyfriend identified the other five, Corriere reports. According to the Catania prosecutor's office, the seven suspects are accused of gang sexual violence. Two of the suspects - one of them the group's oldest at 19 - have reportedly been helping with the investigation. Both say they were watching the attack but claim they did not rape the girl. Four adults have been arrested, while the three minors are detained at the Precautionary First Reception Center in Catania. One of the minors tried to escape, but was caught when he returned home to grab some clothes, according to La Repubblica. A mother who fled war-torn Ukraine with her son has tragically died in a car crash in South Wales, as tributes flood in for the 'remarkable young woman'. Tetiana Martynova, from Kharkiv, died in a collision on the A4067 Neath Road, in the Morriston area of Swansea. The 40-year-old, known locally as Tania, was in the UK with her 13-year-old son, Illia, after escaping Ukraine when Russia invaded in February 2022. She arrived in South Wales in July 2022. Her hosts who supported her in the UK have paid tribute to her following the horrific crash, describing her as being like a daughter to them both. They said she was a 'stalwart of the Ukrainian community in Swansea' with a warm and pleasant personality 'that permeated every gathering'. Tetiana Martynova (pictured) arrived in South Wales in July 2022 after fleeing Ukraine following Russia's invasion In a statement shared by South Wales Police, Ms Martynova's hosts, who have not been named, said: 'Tetiana fled her native city, Kharkiv, in Ukraine due to the ongoing war, along with her 13-year-old son, and arrived in Swansea in July 2022. 'Tania was an impressive woman, multilingual, intelligent, high-flying, hard-working, committed and diligent in her tender care of Illia. 'She was driven to scholastic achievement here in Swansea, building on her Ukrainian excellence in accountancy with further qualifications and working so hard for a local Swansea company utilising her impressive range of skills. on her Ukrainian excellence in accountancy with further qualifications and working so hard for a local Swansea company utilising her impressive range of skills. 'She was a stalwart of the Ukrainian community in Swansea, playing her full part in all their social and cultural activities, marking the continued defiance of her nation. 'Her warm and pleasant personality permeated every gathering.' South Wales Police are still investigating after Ms Martynova was struck by a Chevrolet Captiva as walked on Neath Road at around 6.20pm last Wednesday, January 31. Ms Martynova's hosts also commended the emergency services who responded to the tragic accident as well as the staff at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. She had many friends in her new home and they are all 'devastated' by her sudden passing. Her hosts continued: 'Lives here in Wales were hugely enriched by knowing Tania. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with Illia here in Wales, and Tania's family back in Ukraine. South Wales Police are still investigating after Ms Martynova was struck by a Chevrolet Captiva as walked on Neath Road (pictured, Google streetview) 'Tania's dream of returning to Ukraine this summer will sadly now not be realised. 'We are all grateful to the emergency services at the scene of this terrible accident for their diligence and care, and also for the supreme professionalism of the medical and nursing care on the critical care unit at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. 'Huge thanks to all. We are devastated. Our hearts are broken. 'Tania became like a daughter to us both. Our tears flow for a remarkable young woman. Ukraine has lost one of its finest.' Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash or anyone with dashcam footage who may have seen the collision or events leading up to it to contact them via 101 quoting reference 2400036408. A photograph of him standing with President Bush in the rubble was shared around the world He was one of many retired emergency workers who 'suited back up' to help Bob Beckwith rushed to Ground Zero to help with the search and rescue effort in the aftermath of the terror attacks Retired firefighter Bob Beckwith, who rushed to help with the rescue effort at the Twin Towers after 9/11 and was pictured with President Bush, has died aged 91. Beckwith, from Baldwin, New York, had retired seven years before the 2001 attacks but rushed to Ground Zero to help with the search and rescue efforts. An iconic photograph of him standing with President Bush on a destroyed fire truck in front of the still smoking site, was splashed across newspapers around the world. Sharing the news of his death, the George W. Bush Presidential Center wrote: 'When the terrorists attacked, Bob suited back up and, like so many brave first responders, raced toward the danger to save and search for others. 'His courage represented the defiant, resilient spirit of New Yorkers and Americans after 9/11.' Beckwith had retired seven years before the attacks but still raced to ground zero to help with the search and rescue efforts He tried to move to make room for the then-president, but Bush put his arm around his shoulders and told him to stay where he was Bush gave a speech and told listening rescue workers 'I can hear you' Bush added: 'I was proud to have Bob by my side at Ground Zero days later and privileged to stay in touch with this patriot over the years. 'Laura and I send our condolences to Barbara and the Beckwith family as they remember this decent, humble man.' The cause of his death was not immediately shared but last year he told Focus on the Family that he had malignant skin cancer, along with other health problems. Beckwith was a 69-year-old retired grandparent when he heard about the terror attacks on the news. He had worked for the FDNY for three decades, and immediately told his wife he was going down to the site. His family tried to stop him but when he found out three days later that one of his friend's sons was trapped in the rubble, he put on his old uniform, strapped on his helmet and walked out the door. He drove downtown to the site and convinced police officers to let him in, saying he was late for duty. He told CNN in 2005: 'I go start digging with the guys in the North Tower, and we come across a pumper with a 76 Engine. 'And were working because were looking for survivors and were looking for people, and were hoping they found an air pocket or something.' The photos were splashed on front pages around the world and even featured on the front of TIME magazine Beckwith 'represented the defiant, resilient spirit of New Yorkers and Americans' During the first week, as rubble was removed and hopes of finding survivors dwindled, a rumor went around the President Bush was coming to visit. Beckwith climbed on top of a burned out fire truck to try and get a better look, when he was approached by a stranger that turned out to be Bush's deputy chief of staff, Karl Rove. Beckwith said: 'He comes over and he dusts off (the spot) next to my foot and he says, "Is this safe?".' Rove said that someone important was coming and asked Beckwith to help him up to where he was standing and then climb down. The next think Beckwith knew, Bush appeared and he reached out an arm to help him up. He said: 'And the president came, and he is shaking hands with all the ironworkers and all the cops and all the firemen that were down there and I figure hes going over to the microphones, but he makes a quick right, and he puts his arm up and I said, "Oh my God!"' Beckwith started to climb down out of the way, but the president stopped him, saying 'Where are you going?' and then put his arm around his shoulders. Beckwith stayed in touch with Bush and visited him in the Oval Office years after the attacks He continued to campaign for firefighters until his death A few firefighters called out 'we can't hear you', to which Bush famously replied: 'I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.' Beckwith said after: 'That was so uplifting. That was a big speech. That was something. Then I helped the President down' Photos of President Bush standing with his arm around Beckwith were shared around the world and Beckwith was even featured on the cover of TIME magazine. Years after the attacks, Beckwith visited Bush at the White House and continued to advocate for firefighters around the world. He said in 2005: 'A fireman is a fireman, you're in a family of great people.' The FDNY Union shared a tribute on X, writing: 'It is with deep sorrow the UFA announces the passing of FF Bob Beckwith of L164. 'Bob is one of the heroes of 9/11 who stood tall for America, New York City and all New Yorkers, he spent many hours searching for the members we lost on that fateful day in 2001. Bush praised his resilience and said he was one of many retired emergency workers who suited back up in the aftermath of the terror attacks President Bush shared a tribute to Beckwith on X 'A man of true dignity and is beloved by the UFA and the department for all of his sacrifice. Bob was 90 years old. 'God bless Bob, his family, and all the members who worked with him at Ladder 164 and Engine 313. May his memory never be forgotten.' Meanwhile former Long Island Representative, Pete King wrote: 'Bob Beckwith, the true American icon who stood with President Bush at Ground Zero just days after the attacks of 9/11, has passed away. 'Bob Beckwith was a man of dignity and class who personified the very best of the FDNY, New York and America at our most perilous moment. 'I was proud to call Bob my friend and extend my prayers and deepest sympathy to his wife Barbara and all his family members. Bob Beckwith R.I.P.' A number of violent incidents involving 'far-right thugs' have been reported at RAF Scampton, former base of the legendary Dambusters. The violence is said to have taken place between January 30 and February 4 outside the disused airbase, which could be used to house up to 2,000 male asylum seekers by April 14. The plan to house the migrants at the base near Lincoln has sparked controversy among locals, historians and politicians. There have been a number of protests in the area with different camps set up around different entrances of the site. But there have also been reports of violence including assaults, demonstrators being forced to leave by masked men and a Dambusters flag being burnt, Lincolnshire Police said. View of RAF Scampton, in Lincoln. It could be used to house up to 2,000 male asylum seekers Plans to house asylum seekers at the base has sparked a number of protests at the site. Pictured, activist Carol Farmer, 72, outside Former RAF Scampton Violence reportedly broke out in the early hours of Sunday, February 4, and campaigners claim they were attacked by around 12 men. Leader of the Save Our Scrampton campaign group, Sarah Carter, claims she and her husband were ambushed by the 'far-right' group after the pair set up camp at the main gate. Speaking to Lincolnshire Live, she said: 'On Monday (January 29) I went down to visit camp because I'd heard there had been so much friction and people arguing. Activists have been camping outside of former RAF base at Scampton for months with placards that read 'Stop the boats' The violent incidents are said to have been sparked by 'far-right thugs'. Pictured, a campsite next to the base 'On the Tuesday, so many people walked away and said they're not doing it anymore. 'Those left who support me wanted me to come in and get the site tidied up and get its reputation tidied up so people could come and protest somewhere safe. 'We spent a few days tidying up, taking down flags and signs. 'At 2.20am on Sunday morning, some far-right thugs turned up to boot us out. 'I was pushed around and I did hit the floor. 'My legs had gone to jelly, I was trying to run away and ring the police because my husband was being attacked. 'We got off lightly because they went down to gate eight and beat up four guys down there. 'One of them was still in a sleeping bag when they were attacked. It was nasty. 'We didn't know how far they were prepared to go so we feared the worst.' Police said a Dambusters flag was set alight between noon and 1pm last Tuesday and there were also reports of masked people arriving at the protest camps and forcing those there to leave without their belongings in the early hours of last Saturday. Officers have appealed to anyone driving on any of the nearby roads or those who captured any footage of the reported incidents to get in touch. On Sunday, Lincoln's Labour MP candidate Hamish Falconer said: 'I heard this morning that late last night far-right thugs assaulted Scampton residents including a grandmother with a heart condition to try and get control of a camp at one of the gates. 'These people have been hanging around the gates drinking, wearing camouflage, arguing in public about who has stolen from each other, and trying to push their racism on Lincoln. 'They know who they are and so do we. So let me say it plainly to them: you arent patriots or soldiers youre racist thugs. 'Hand yourself in to the police, take down your banners, hang your heads in shame and get out of town." Lincolnshire Police said in a statement: 'It is unclear the exact times and locations these incidents are reported to have taken place or who may have been involved, so we are issuing a broad appeal asking for anyone who may have been driving along any of the roads which border the former RAF base and may have captured any footage of people at the site to get in touch. 'We are asking anyone who drove past the site over the weekend to check any footage available to establish if anything untoward is shown and whether it has captured any offences which might help our investigations. 'We will continue to patrol the area and respond to incidents called in by concerned members of the public as they rightly expect us to do. The airfield closed in 2022 and is the former home of the Red Arrows team 'Incidents reported to us which have required a larger policing presence are suspected to have involved a minority of protestors, many of whom are believed to be from outside of the county. 'We would encourage everyone who wishes to voice their opinions through protest which is a right we help uphold when done within the law to do so peacefully. 'There are a number of different protesting groups at the site, and we would ask that they be respectful towards each other, including respecting personal belongings and space.' The airfield closed in 2022 and is the former home of the Red Arrows team. It was also the base for the squadron for the Dambusters who carried out one of the Second World War's most famous air raids. The officer's mess was given listed building status by Historic England in October. But the Home Office stressed that 'heritage assets' at the former base site would be safeguarded. Anyone with information is asked to email NSKCID@lincs.police.uk with reference to the incidents at former RAF Scampton between January 30 and February 4. Norfolk police has delayed introducing a controversial plan to not respond to most mental health 999 calls following a suspected triple murder and suicide. The force had been due to start its Right Care Right Person initiative this week to cut the time that officers spend dealing with people having mental health issues. But the launch was suspended after Bartlomiej Kuczynski, 45, stabbed to death his daughters Jasmin, 12, and Natasha, eight, and his sister-in-law Kanticha Sukpengpanao, 36, before killing himself. All four bodies were found at 7.15am on January 19 after officers broke into Mr Kuczynski's house in Allan Bedford Crescent, Costessey near Norwich. Norfolk Police referred itself to the Independent Office of Police Conduct after revealing that they had initially failed to respond after a man at the house had dialled 999 at around 6am on January 19 to express concern for his mental state. Bartlomiej Kuczynski, 45, stabbed to death his daughters Jasmin, 12, and Natasha, eight, and his sister-in-law Kanticha Sukpengpanao, 36, before killing himself The IOPC confirmed details of the call, saying that the man had told a call handler that he was 'confused', but no police resources were sent and he was instead advised to seek 'medical advice' for himself. Norfolk Police only responded after receiving a second 999 call at 7am from a dog walker who expressed concerns for the people in the modern semi-detached house. Campaign group Healthwatch Norfolk said it feared that the new policy would only lead to calls with a mental health element being dealt with properly if a crime was being committed or if there was judged to be an 'immediate threat to life'. It said in a statement: 'This new approach could mean some people could fall through the cracks when it comes to care.' Norfolk Police said the new RCRP policy which is similar to ones already operated by some other forces had been 'paused' following the four deaths. Assistant Chief Constable Nick Davison, the Local Policing Lead at Norfolk Police, said: 'RCRP has always been about getting people in crisis the right care, from the right professional. 'We still believe it is right to implement RCRP and following ten months of closely working with our partners in health and social care, we are ready to go live. 'However, we are acutely aware of the commentary and concerns the incident in Costessey has generated, which is why we took time to review our position. Kantiicha Noon died in a house in Costessey, Norfolk after her brother in-law stabbed her and her two nieces to death, before killing himself 'Given some of the concerns, it is only right we postpone the roll-out to allow for a short period of consolidation to give us extra time to provide additional information and reassurance to the public and the wider health and social care system.' The statement said that the RCRP policy was aimed at reducing the force's 'involvement in certain types of demand, with the overall aim of making sure people in crisis get the right care and support they need, from the right qualified professional'. It added: 'However, RCRP is not a fundamental withdrawal from policing certain calls for service; policing will always have a role where a danger, risk of harm or crime is identified. 'The RCRP initiative is supported by central government including the Home Office and Department of Health and Social Care and the policy has been recognised by the College of Policing and the National Police Chief's Council (NPCC) as good practice.' ACC Davison added: 'We've carefully considered our approach to this and sought learning from other force areas. All four bodies were found at 7.15am on January 19 after officers broke into Mr Kuczynski's house in Allan Bedford Crescent, Costessey near Norwich 'We believe this is the right thing to do to make sure people in mental health crisis get the right support, which all too often, can be better handled by another agency, and not a police officer. As we move forward we will keep the public and partners updated on our plans.' Norfolk Area Coroner Samantha Goward choked back tears at Norfolk Coroner's Court last week as she opened and adjourned inquests into the four people who died. Home Office post mortems confirmed that Natasha Kuczynska had died from 'sharp force injuries to the neck' and Jasmin Kuczynska had died from an 'incised wound to the neck'. Ms Sukpengpanao, a businesswoman, who was visiting from her home in Thailand died of stab wounds to the neck while Polish-born structural engineer Mr Kuczynskied died from a single stab wound to the neck. Mr Kuczynski's Thai-born wife Nanthaka who was the mother of the girls had reportedly left on an early shift to work at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital before the killings took place. Norfolk Police have confirmed that the deaths of Jasmin, Natasha and Konticha were being treated as murder and the death of Mr Kuczynski was not being treated as suspicious, suggesting that he killed them before turning a knife on himself. Detectives said they are treating the deaths as 'isolated' and were not looking for anyone else. The IOPC is also investigating an earlier referral from Norfolk Police made when the force disclosed that it had investigated reports of a missing person at the house in Costessey on December 14 last year. Neighbours have said that multiple police cars had attended the house on that day when Mr Kuczynski was reported missing, and a search of nearby woodland was launched using a drone. But the search was cancelled after he was found walking in a nearby road, and he was reportedly taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for a mental health assessment. An initial clinical assessment of him was done, but he left hospital unescorted before a review could be carried out. A spokesman for the NNUH said: 'We can confirm that the patient was taken to the emergency department by police on December 14. 'Following a comprehensive clinical assessment, the patient was assessed as having mental capacity and he left the unit before being reviewed again by the team.' The Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed that Mr Kuczynski had been one of its patients. The trust which has been under fire over patient care in recent years said it was conducting an externally-led serious incident review into its contacts with him. New York City's Mayor Eric Adams wore a $700 Fendi scarf underneath a bulletproof police vest during a press briefing about migrant crime in the city. Adams, who is no stranger to lavish tailor-made suits and designer labels on his $258,000 salary, wore the flashy item on Monday morning. The beige wool and silk scarf, fit with Fendi's iconic monogram, retails for a cool $690 from the designer's website. Adams was criticized for wearing the Italian-made Fendi scarf under his flak vest. Adams, who is no stranger to a lavish tailor-made suits and designer label on his $258,000 salary, wore the flashy designer item on Monday morning Adams was criticised for wearing the Italian-made Fendi scarf under his flak vest One person online wrote: 'New York citizens are under financial duress & Mayor Eric Adams comes out rocking a $700 Fendi scarf under a bulletproof vest. Incredible. He's like in your face suckas.' Another said: 'Just a bit of fun here. At a news conference self-congratulating himself about an arrest of Venezuela immigrant thieves, Mayor Eric Adams wears a $700 Fendi scarf under his bullet proof vest.' And a third joked: 'Eric Adams executing search warrants in his $700 Fendi scarf.' Another person online added: 'Is Adams wearing a Fendi scarf under his bulletproof vest? That's a lot of imagery to unpack....' Others tried to focus on what the mayor was there for - talking about the arrest of migrants - but got distracted by the bizarre scarf. They said: 'Not sure what their immigration status has to do with the case, but curious that other info besides that was left outwhat was stolen? 'And how did police discover the theft? Also, is Mayor Adams wearing a Fendi scarf while cops are making arrests on migrants?' Mayor Eric Adams had just been at a sting operation to arrest a group of migrants who were caught stealing phones across the city. He later appeared at a press conference with police. Adams said: 'This isn't about the migrants and asylum seekers, this is about those who break the law. It doesn't matter where you're from and where you came from.' He added: 'Those who think they're gonna come to our country, break our laws, assault our cops that was not only an assault on an individual that was an assault on our system of public safety. The beige wool and silk scarf, fit with Fendi's iconic monogram, retails for a cool $690 from the designer's website 'They're gonna use an organized method to commit crimes? This can't happen.' NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said: 'Most migrants come to NYC in search of a better life. Sadly, some come to commit crime. Today we made tremendous progress in the largest robbery pattern plaguing our city. 'Our message is simple - commit a crime in our city and we will find you and bring you to justice!' Officer Nicholas Fiore said police are still looking for the leader of the crime ring, which has allegedly been looking for migrants to do 'his dirty work.' 'He's the big target. [He] has caused a lot of problems in New York City,' Fiore added. Monday's arrests come after another video showed about a dozen migrants assaulting two police officers in Times Square late last month. A Manhattan judge let at least five asylum seekers go free without bail after they were charged with the assault. Only one of the suspects remains in jail. Four of the suspects are believed to have fled the city after being charged and released after giving fake names to a charity that helps migrants get bus tickets. Many of the migrants were already known to police over charges of petty larceny and shoplifting. The migrants charged in the assault are also part of a phone-snatching scheme. A Brazilian teenager has confessed to orchestrating the murder of his father because he was frustrated with being treated as a 'mere employee' in the family business. Matheus Melo, 18, plotted the killing for two months and hired a friend to carry out the January 29 attack that left his dad Marcio Melo, 45, dead, and his mother Patrianne Melo, 39, hospitalized with a stab wound, the Civil Police in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina said. Police said that Matheus Melo offered his friend $10,000 and the family car to commit the hit job, but that he also wanted to participate in the crime. The friend, 18, has not been identified. Both were arrested Thursday. A 17-year-old girl, identified as the accomplice's girlfriend, was apprehended Monday. Civil Police chief Felipe Martins said Matheus Melo planned the killing due to a friction with his parents at the metals company owned by his father. 'He didn't like working, studying. He said that his father was quite strict,' Martins said. 'According to him, his parents didn't treat him like a son, but like a mere employee. To him, they weren't his parents. This created a revolt. It was from there that he decided, in his words, to 'eliminate them.' Matheus Melo (center) told police in Santa Catarina, Brazil that he wanted both of his parents dead because he was tired of being treated by them as a 'mere employee' at the metal's company his father owned. On January 29, he and his friend entered the family home where Melo and his accomplice stabbed his mother Patrianne Melo, who survived. Melo's hired killer stabbed his father Marcio Melo, who died Matheus Melo was captured by a surveillance camera at his home carrying a knife before he entered the bedroom of his parents, where his father was stabbed dead and his mother was wounded Matheus Melo left his home around 1am and went to his friend's home to change clothes. The pair returned to Melo's residence, sneaking in through a window in the guest room that was not under the surveillance of the home's security system. Martins said the plot included murdering the parents while they were sleeping, but Matheus Melo dropped his knife on the floor while walking to their bedroom. 'He goes into the living room. There's a camera in that room. He goes through the living room, through the kitchen, picks up a knife and goes back to his parents' room,' Martins explained. Matheus Melo's friend stabbed Marcio Melo before the teenager attacked his mother, who was also stabbed by the accomplice. Civil Police investigators in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina are still reviewing information regarding the death of Marcio Melo, the owner of a metals company, whose murder was plotted by his son with the help of a friend he hired with the promise of paying him $10,000 and gifting him the family car. Melo's wife was stabbed and survived Matheus Melo and his accomplice stabbed his mother Patrianne Melo in an attack that left his father dead at the family home in Santa Catarina, Brazil during the early morning of January 29 Patrianne Melo with her late husband Marcio Melo The pair abandoned the home believing that Marcio Melo and Patrianne Melo were dead. They then went to the home of Matheus Melo's friend, where they set their clothes and knives on fire to get rid of the evidence. According to Martins, the teenage killer and his friend were going to use each other as alibis. 'The friend would say that the son was at his house, and not at his parents' residence, at the time of the murders and vice versa. The friend's girlfriend would also say that her son was at his house,' Martins said. The friend was interrogated and confirmed to the police that he was offered money and a car, but claimed he was not at the home when the attack took place. A surveillance camera video showed a masked suspect, who according to the police is Matheus Melo, pacing around the home and holding a knife before he walked into a bedroom. King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer, Buckingham Palace announced in a statement this evening. The 75-year-old monarch has returned to London from Sandringham to begin treatment immediately. It is not connected with his recent surgery and is not prostate cancer, but medics spotted it when he underwent his medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. The King is understood to have personally informed his sons Prince William and Prince Harry about his condition. The Duke of Sussex will travel to the UK to see him in the coming days, a source close to Harry said. Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. 'His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer , Buckingham Palace announced in a statement this evening. Above: Charles was last seen waving to well-wishers as he attended a service with his wife Queen Camilla at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Sunday Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer' 'The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. 'He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. 'His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.' The King also apologised for having to postpone his upcoming engagements. A spokesman added: 'Regrettably, a number of the King's forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed. 'His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.' Announcing that Prince Harry will come and see his father, the Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: 'The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. 'He will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days.' All of the King's siblings, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Duke of Edinburgh were told personally by Charles, royal aides said. The recent diagnosis means the King is unlikely to be at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 11, which is usually attended by senior members of the royal family. It is understood he will continue to receive red boxes and process state documents during treatment and there are no plans to appoint Counsellors of State. It is understood details of the King's diary are still being worked on and it is not yet known when a full programme of engagements will begin. The palace said the Queen will continue with a full programme of public duties. Other working members of the royal family could undertake additional duties on behalf of the King but it is understood planning for future state visits will continue where possible. It is also understood that Charles will continue to be available for Privy Council meetings, but details of how they will take place are still being worked through. It is expected that alternative arrangements will be made for his weekly audience with the Prime Minister should doctors advise him to minimise any in-person contact. Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: 'Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. 'I have no doubt he'll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: 'On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery. 'We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health.' Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs: 'I know the whole House will wish to join me in expressing our sympathies with His Majesty the King following the news announcement this evening. 'Our thoughts are, of course, with His Majesty and his family, and we'd all wish to send him our very best wishes for the successful treatment and a speedy recovery following tonight's news.' The monarch, 75, received treatment for an enlarged prostate last week, spending three nights at the London Clinic private hospital When he was discharged from hospital last Monday, the King appeared steady on his feet as he walked out of the London Clinic in Marylebone with Queen Camilla by his side Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: 'Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. I have no doubt he'll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: 'On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery. We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health' KING'S CANCER DIAGNOSIS: THE ROYAL FAMILY'S RECENT HEALTH SCARES The King's cancer diagnosis is the latest shock health news to hit the royal family. - Tuesday January 16 Kate, 42, is secretly admitted to the London Clinic and undergoes abdominal surgery. - Wednesday January 17 2pm - Kensington Palace announces the princess' operation and says she will remain in the private hospital for 10-14 days. She is not expected to return to duties until after Easter, taking up to three months to recover. The Prince of Wales steps back from his official duties temporarily to care of his wife and children. The exact nature of Kate's condition is kept private, but it is not cancerous and Kensington Palace says the planned procedure was successful. 3.25pm - Buckingham Palace announces the King, 75, is to have treatment for a benign enlarged prostate and will be admitted to hospital in a few days. A source later says the princess is "doing well". - Thursday January 18 The Prince of Wales spends time at his wife's bedside, driving himself away from the back entrance during the low-key, private visit. The Queen says the King is "fine" and "looking forward to getting back to work" during a visit to the Aberdeen Art Gallery. - Friday January 19 The King flies back from Scotland with the Queen and heads to his Sandringham estate in Norfolk to rest ahead of the procedure. - Sunday January 21 It is announced that the King's former sister-in-law, Sarah, Duchess of York, has malignant melanoma, a form skin cancer. It is less than a year since the duchess, 64, was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. - Monday January 22 The Queen tells 86-year-old well-wisher Jessie Jackson that the King is 'fine', and thanks her for asking, while she carries out engagements in Swindon. Sarah, Duchess of York, meanwhile, describes her shock at having skin cancer but says she is in "good spirits" and "grateful for the many messages of love and support", in a post on Instagram. - Tuesday January 23 Kate's hospital stay passes the one-week mark. Camilla urges the King to take it easy. An insider told The Sun: "The Queen has told him he needs to slow down a bit." - Thursday January 25 The King carried out behind the scenes official duties, meeting academics from Cambridge University at Sandringham House. The King arrives back in London from Norfolk ready for his treatment. - Friday January 26 The King, with the Queen at his side, is admitted to the London Clinic for treatment for an enlarged prostate and also visits the Princess of Wales, who is recovering in the same hospital. - Monday January 29 The King is discharged from hospital and waves at well-wishers. Kate leaves the clinic the same day to continue her recovery at home. - Wednesday January 31 Camilla says the King is "getting on, doing his best" as she opened a Maggie's cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London. - Sunday February 4 The King and Queen attend church in Sandringham, with Charles waving at well-wishers. - Monday February 5 Kensington Palace confirms the Prince of Wales is returning to official duties this week, beginning with an investiture. 6pm - Buckingham Palace announces the King has a form of cancer - but not prostate cancer - and has started treatment as an outpatient. He will not carry out public-facing duties, but will carry on with behind the scenes state business and official papers. Advertisement The diagnosis is also likely to be professionally devastating for Charles, who was the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history before he became King on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, on September 8 2022. Since then he has hit the ground running with three state visits overseas, hosting two incoming state visits to the UK and undertaking hundreds of public engagements each year, taking on a punishing official workload well into his 70s. Aides have said he has relished the challenge and is hugely enjoying his royal role. The King's diagnosis will pose serious questions for the working of the monarchy, with fewer working members of the royal family and the Princess of Wales out of action due to what has only been described as 'abdominal surgery' until after Easter. The Prince of Wales, who is heir to the throne, had cleared his diary to be by his wife's side and keep life as normal as possible for their three children. Kensington Palace announced earlier today, however, that he would resume public duties this week by conducting an investiture on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, followed by a gala fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance in the evening. While Queen Elizabeth suffered episodic periods of ill-health over the years and underwent surgery on a number of occasions, including on her knee and cataracts, there was no major health crisis of this magnitude until the very last months of her historic 70-year reign. That, however, would have a serious knock-on effect on the family life of the Prince and Princess of Wales. They moved to Windsor 18-months ago in order to allow their children to enjoy a more carefree childhood, outside of the royal bubble, until absolutely necessary. Prince George, ten, who is second in line to the throne, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis all attend a local school. Lambrook, and have settled in well at their new home, Adelaide Cottage. William and Kate's team are still based at Kensington Palace in London, their official residence, and travel up to Windsor for meetings. Questions will inevitably be asked how practicable it will be for them to do so now. The King has largely enjoyed very good health throughout his life, apart from suffering from a cripplingly bad back. The first sign that anything was amiss with his health came on January 17 when Buckingham Palace made a surprise announcement that the King had 'sought treatment' for an enlarged prostate. The palace added that His Majesty's condition was 'benign' and that he would attend hospital the following week for a corrective procedure. They said he was personally keen to share details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get themselves check. The NHS subsequently reported an encouraging spike in people seeking more information on their website. His Majesty, who was in Scotland at the time, travelled back down to Sandringham afterwards and then on to London the night before his surgery. He was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone, central London, on January 26 with his wife, Queen Camilla, by his side. Buckingham Palace said he wanted to thank everyone for their good wishes and was delighted to learn that his diagnosis was having a positive impact on public health awareness. He was finally released on Monday last week after three nights in hospital and said to be 'doing well'. He initially resided at Clarence House, his London residence, in order to be close to his doctors, before returning to Sandringham with his wife. Queen Camilla has continued to undertake public engagements, telling members of the l public that her husband was 'doing fine' and looking forwards to getting back to work. Last Tuesday she told well-wishers he was 'getting on' and 'doing his best', adding: 'Thank goodness!' One in every three men over the age of 50 will have symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which include needing to visit the toilet more frequently, 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 that have not responded to medicine. Following today's news, former Prime Minister and Mail columnist Boris Johnson wrote on X: 'The whole country will be rooting for the King today. Best wishes to Charles III for a full and speedy recovery.' Liz Truss, Mr Sunak's short-lived predecessor as PM, said: 'Sending every best wish to His Majesty The King and the Royal Family as he undergoes his treatment for cancer. He will be in our thoughts and prayers. God Save The King!' Vedant Patel, a spokesman for the US State Department, said it is 'incredibly sad news' and added: 'I'm very sorry for the King and his family'. He told a briefing of reporters that the Biden administration's thoughts are with the King and the Royal Family. Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, wished the King a 'full and swift recovery' following his cancer diagnosis. The 75-year-old monarch left the London Clinic last monday with Queen Camilla by his side The King waved to a large crowd of wellwishers when he left the London Clinic last Monday The King was visited by Queen Camilla four times when he was in hospital In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: 'I'm saddened to hear the news that HM King Charles III is facing further health challenges. 'My thoughts and those of people across Wales will be with him and his family this evening. 'I send my very best wishes as he starts treatment for a full and swift recovery. Gwellhad buan.' Northern Ireland's new republican First Minister Michelle O'Neill wished the King a full and speedy recovery. 'I am very sorry to hear of King Charles' illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment, and a full and speedy recovery,' she posted on X. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said she was praying for the King. 'I would like to wish His Majesty, King Charles all the the very best for his treatment,' she said. 'I, like many people throughout Northern Ireland, will keep him and his family in my prayers.' Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said: 'I am saddened to have heard about His Majesty The King's diagnosis. 'I know that the Jewish communities of Great Britain and the Commonwealth will join me in wishing him a Refuah Sheleima - a complete and swift recovery.' Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins wrote on X: 'My thoughts are with King Charles and the whole Royal Family. 'His decision to share his diagnosis to assist public understanding for all those affected by cancer is commendable. 'Wishing His Majesty the very best and look forward to seeing him resume his public duties.' Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who received treatment for kidney cancer in 2021, said: 'One in two of us will develop cancer during our lives, but millions more are affected when someone they love is diagnosed with cancer. King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the Sunday service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate on February 4, 2024 'Sending best wishes to His Majesty for his treatment and to his family as they support him throughout.' Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, said: 'I am saddened to learn that King Charles is now facing a time of treatment for cancer. 'On behalf of the entire Catholic Community in England and Wales, I offer His Majesty our warmest wishes and assurance of steadfast prayers for his full and speedy recovery. God bless the King.' A statement from Macmillan Cancer Support said everyone at the charity was sending their best wishes. The statement on X said: 'Our thoughts are with His Majesty the King and his family. We are sending our best wishes at what we know must be an incredibly challenging time. The King has been a long-standing supporter of Macmillan, becoming patron of the charity in 1997. The bipartisan border deal that is dividing congressional Republicans is already leading to angry calls to shake up the Senate leadership and furious claims by Donald Trump that it represents a 'death wish' for the party in 2024. The fury came in the hours since negotiators put out details on their new bipartisan deal to provide new authority for the administration to 'close' the border when crossings spike, while sending billions to support allies Ukraine and Israel. Among those to heap the most scorn on the agreement was Utah Sen. Mike Lee who even appeared to demand a change in his party's leadership after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell helped oversee the deal with Majority Leader Sen. Charles Schumer. McConnell, the longest serving Republican leader in Senate history, survived a leadership challenge in November 2022 on a 37-10 vote. 'This feels like an elaborate practical joke. But its not funny. Not one bit. I cannot understand how any Republican would think this was a good ideaor anything other than an unmitigated disaster. WE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP NOW,' he wrote on X. 'Senate leadership screwed this up and screwed us,' he wrote in another post. Even while refusing to let us see the bill they claimed to be negotiating on our behalf for MONTHS they were never in doubt, insisting wed be dumb and even unpatriotic NOT to support it. This is a disqualifying betrayal.' Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) helped negotiate a bipartisan immigration package that also includes U.S. support for Ukraine and Israel Former President Donald Trump, who has already been publicly seeking to tank the deal, blasted it after negotiators announced the details. Trump called it a 'ridiculous' border bill, and said it was 'nothing more than a highly sophisticated trap for Republicans to assume the blame on what the Radical Left Democrats have done to our Border, just in time for our most important EVER Election. Dont fall for it!!!' Trump teed off on a provision allowing the administration to shut down the border when daily crossings hit 5,000. 'Only a fool, or a Radical Left Democrat, would vote for this horrendous Border Bill, which only gives Shutdown Authority after 5000 Encounters a day, when we already have the right to CLOSE THE BORDER NOW, which must be done. This Bill is a great gift to the Democrats, and a Death Wish for The Republican Party,' Trump said. Utah Sen. Mike Lee used the bipartisan immigration bill to issue a call for 'new leadership' Lee called the deal 'even worse than we thought' Sen. Mike Lee is just one of the Senate conservative Republicans who have hammered the compromise in the hours after it was released Former President Donald Trump railed against the deal online That attack came amid criticism that House Speaker Mike Johnson and allies were killing the deal at the behest of Trump to avoid giving a political win to President Joe Biden. Among those making that case was Majority Leader Charles Schumer, 73 who worked closely with McConnell, 81, on the deal, as each leaders tries to advance funding for Ukraine and Israel. 'It took a long time - four months of arduous negotiations. They fell off the tracks a whole bunch of times. I had to be on the phone, even at midnight,' said Schumer, who had earlier predicted success following a White House meeting last month. 'The majority of Republican senators know it's the right thing to do. I'ts a compromise. I don't like everything in it - neither does McConnell. It's a compromise. it's the only way you get important things done in the Senate,' he said, urging senators to 'drown out the political noise from Trump and his minions and do the right thing for America ... History is looking down on every one of us.' In one sign of the volatility of the issues, Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a longtime Schumer ally and former party whip, announced his own opposition Monday afternoon. Also dogging it were Sens. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.). The number of Republicans opposing the deal was approaching 20 Monday afternoon, nearly halfway to the 41 it would take to filibuster the agreement. 'The crisis has literally never been worse,' McConnell said on the Senate floor Monday, urging action. He said the 'gaping hole' in the nation's borders 'is not going to heal itself.' 'This is a humanitarian and security crisis of historic proportions. And Senate Republicans have insisted not just for months but for years that this urgent crisis demanded action,' he said. The UK's largest alcohol-free beer brand saw a surge in sales over Christmas ahead of Dry January, reflecting the surging popularity of alcohol-free products. Lucky Saint, which exclusively manufacture alcohol-free beer, saw a rise in sales by as much as 158 per cent during the week running up to Christmas compared to Christmas 2022. The brand said this was Lucky Saint's largest sales month on record amid a steady rise in demand for the brand. Emma Heal, managing director of Lucky Saint, said it traded 'particularly well' over December, as many drinkers have moderated their alcohol consumption throughout the year and not only for Dry January. She said the brand has benefited from customers choosing to drink beer on more occasions amid the growth of non-alcoholic options. Ms Heal said: 'We are growing as the whole market is growing.' A bottle of Lucky Saint lager being poured. Emma Heal, chief executive of Lucky Saint, said it traded 'particularly well' over December, as many drinkers have moderated their alcohol consumption throughout the year and not only for Dry January New research from Lucky Saint highlighted a change in the habits of alcohol consumption in the UK, particularly in hospitality venues. It found that almost two-thirds, 62%, of Britons said they feel comfortable to go to the pub without drinking alcohol She said: 'We've found it's not been as simply as beer drinkers, swapping for non-alcoholic versions - people are finding new occasions to drink and sometimes switching between alcohol free and alcohol. 'I think that's why we had a strong December. 'People were happy to drink an alcoholic beer one moment while with friends but have one of ours the next.' She said the company has benefited from an increase in people choosing to drink non-alcoholic beer on weeknights and during the daytime. This has seen its cans of Lucky Saint lager included in supermarket meal deal offers as a result. Ms Heal said that the business feels there is still plenty of room for the market to grow. 'In the UK, the amount of non-alcoholic beer being bought is still significantly below levels elsewhere in Europe,' she said. 'Currently in supermarkets it represents about 6 per cent of beer packs sold and we can see that growing towards 10%. 'And we are seeing a lot of growth potential in pubs too. 'We have particularly found real momentum there where we have been able to bring our draught beers to pubs.' New research from the company highlighted a change in the habits of alcohol consumption in the UK, particularly in hospitality venues. It found that almost two-thirds, 62%, of Britons said they feel comfortable to go to the pub without drinking alcohol. However, this found that women were particularly more comfortable without alcohol, at 69%, compared to only 56% of men. On February 2, a Mail Online exclusive revealed that a Hertfordshire-based lab had created a spirit that mimics the effects of alcohol but doesn't contain any alcohol. Meaning hangovers could soon be a thing of the past. Lankford, R-Okla., went after his GOP colleagues who are furious with the deal, saying they're nitpicking 'crazy details' and just want to 'attack' the proposal President Joe Biden says he supports the deal, which also includes aid to Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine Top border deal negotiator Sen. James Lankford is clapping back at Republicans for criticizing the $118 billion border security package, accusing them of wanting to leave the border open. On Sunday, the Senate released the text of the White House-backed deal including $14 billion in aid to Israel, $60 billion to Ukraine and also $20 billion for securing the southern border amid a massive increase in illegal migration. The bill mandates that the southern border will be shut down if there are 5,000 illegal migrant encounters over the course of a week or 8,500 migrants encountered in a single day. But many Republicans don't think this goes far enough. Speaker Mike Johnson and his GOP leadership team immediately deemed it 'dead on arrival' in the House. Lankford, R-Okla., went after his GOP colleagues who are furious with the deal, saying on Fox & Friends Monday that they're nitpicking 'crazy details' and just want to 'attack' the proposal - which he says closes the border down. He specifically explained that crossers have exceeded 5,000 almost every single day over the past four months and called Republican criticism of the provision 'ridiculous' because the bill 'completely closes the border down' and 'deports everyone.' But Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, blasted the deal, calling it a 'crap-sandwich of a border bill,' and said 'a single weekend' isn't long enough to fully review the 370-page law. 'He needs three weeks to be able to read it, but he's already opposed to it,' Lankford fired back. 'So again, people have to be able to read it and go through it themselves. Don't just go off of Facebook post somewhere on what the bill says,' Lankford said. The bill would mandate the border be shut if there are 5,000 encounters over the course of a week or 8,500 migrants encountered in a single day Top border deal negotiator Sen. James Lankford is clapping back at Republicans for criticizing the $118 billion border security package Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is facing much of the fury from Republicans opposing the border and foreign aid package But Republican infighting is likely to tank the compromise as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to bring the first procedural vote to the floor on Wednesday. 'The key aspect of this, again, is are we, as Republicans, going to have press conferences and complain the border is bad and then intentionally leave it open after the worst month in American history in December?' Lankford argued during the Fox & Friends hit. December saw a record-breaking over 302,000 illegal migrant apprehensions, the most ever in a single month. And that doesn't include 'gotaways' who were not intercepted by border officials. Lankford slammed his GOP colleagues for continuing to 'complain' about the massive number of migrants without action. Don't we want to 'actually change as many things as we can, if we have the shot?' he asked. The Oklahoma senator also slammed 'weeks of false rumors and speculation' leading to the release of the text in an op-ed published by Fox News on Monday. 'I encourage you to read the bill to get the facts. It is the strongest and most conservative border security policy to come out of the Senate in decades, and it has the potential to transform our border from catch and release to detain and deport,' he states. 'It builds more wall, hires more officers, increases deportation flights, adds more detention beds, and multiplies the technology at the border. It does not include amnesty of any kind. Period,' the senator added. The fired up senator also told reporters that some lawmakers 'point blank' told him that since its a presidential election year, 'don't do anything that helps Biden,' including by passing the border deal. Knives are also out for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who is facing much of the fury from Republicans opposing the bill after he insisted last year that border policy changes be included in the funding package for embattled countries. Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Sen. Steve Daines was the first among the upper chamber's leadership to oppose the bill on Monday, writing: 'I can't support a bill that doesn't secure the border, provides taxpayer funded lawyers to illegal immigrants and gives billions to radical open borders groups. I'm a no.' Instead, Daines said the bill should reinstate pandemic-era Title 42, Remain in Mexico policies and border wall construction. When the bill's text was released on Sunday, President Joe Biden said in a statement: 'I strongly support it.' Donald Trump insisted that only a 'fool or a radical left Democrat' would actually vote for the 'horrendous' border package. 'This Bill is a great gift to the Democrats, and a Death Wish for The Republican Party,' Trump posted to his Truth Social account on Monday. 'It takes the HORRIBLE JOB the Democrats have done on Immigration and the Border, absolves them, and puts it all squarely on the shoulders of Republicans.' 'Don't be STUPID!!!' the former president continued. 'We need a separate Border and Immigration Bill. It should not be tied to foreign aid in any way, shape, or form! The Democrats broke Immigration and the Border. They should fix it.' House Republicans are especially not on board with the deal and could sink it when it goes to the lower chamber for reconciliation. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the $118 billion Senate border package is 'dead on arrival' as he announced over the weekend that the lower chamber will bring a 'clean, standalone' $17 billion Israel aid bill to the floor next week Speaker Johnson said the 370-page bill unveiled on Sunday is 'even worse than we expected' 'Any Republican voting for this Senate America last open border amnesty bill must be paid off by foreign interests and is acting as a foreign agent,' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted to X, formerly Twitter. 'What an embarrassment! Shame on them!!' Former Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry (R-Pa.) called the deal a 'dumpster fire.' Sen. J.D. Vance posted: 'The House is impeaching Mayorkas next week while the Senate will be voting to give him massive discretion to ...not enforce the border. Why would any Republican vote for this?' And House Republican leadership made it clear over the weekend that the package doesn't have backing in the lower chamber. 'I've seen enough,' Speaker Johnson (R-La.) wrote on X. 'This bill is even worse than we expected, and won't come close to ending the border catastrophe the President has created.' 'As the lead Democrat negotiator proclaimed: Under this legislation, 'the border never closes,' Johnson added. 'If this bill reaches the House, it will be dead on arrival.' Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) wrote, 'Let me be clear: The Senate Border Bill will NOT receive a vote in the House.' 'Here's what the people pushing this 'deal' aren't telling you: It accepts 5,000 illegal immigrants a day and gives automatic work permits to asylum recipientsa magnet for more illegal immigration,' he added. Donald Trump's eldest son ranted on X against the 'insanity' of the deal in a couple of posts. 'Mitch McConnell and James Lankford are selling out America with their Mass Amnesty/Ukraine Bailout deal,' he wrote on Sunday, adding: 'Pass it on.' 'We know that Mitch McConnell is clearly not mentally there after his numerous glitches this fall, but to watch him get rolled this way and still be in 'Republican leadership' is truly embarrassing for our party,' he said in a Monday post. 'Was there any GOP opposition to a Dem dream bill?' Donald Trump Jr. questioned. Additionally, several progressives are also expected to oppose the plan like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who said Sunday that he is against the package due to the funding for Israel. And pro-immigration and Hispanic lawmakers are taking aim at overhauls made to the immigration policy. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) called the bill a 'new version of Trump-era policies that will cause more chaos at the border.' The White House intervened with border negotiations in the Senate, with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas going to Capitol Hill for discussions despite the House launching an impeachment inquiry against him at the same time. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said the Senate border bill won't be voted on in the lower chamber as the Senate chugs ahead with a vote on Wednesday Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene said the bill is an 'embarrassment' and slammed any Republican colleagues who will vote for its passage as 'foreign agents' In December, the U.S. saw the highest number of migrants arrested at the U.S. border with Mexico as more than 302,000 were apprehended by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). When broken down by day, approximately 10,000 migrants crossed every day from Mexico into the U.S. in December, which is 5,000 more than the cutoff the new bill would establish. Former President Donald Trump urged Congress to abandon the deal even before the text was released over the weekend. He lambasted the deal in posts on Truth Social over recent weeks, saying the 'horrific' bill is being used by Democrats to put the 'border disaster' onto the 'shoulders of Republicans.' 'There is zero chance I will support this horrible open borders betrayal of America,' Trump said at a rally last weekend. 'A lot of the senators, they're trying to blame it on me. I say, 'that's okay, please blame it on me.' I'd rather have no bill than a bad bill.' Republican colleagues argue that Democrats are pushing to move too quickly to get something passed during an election year when one of Biden's biggest pitfalls has been dealing with the ongoing southern border crisis. Republican Sen. James Lankford, independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy led negotiations on the package and they kept the text close to chest until unveiling it on Sunday. Lankford (pictured) was censured by his home state's Republican Party last month President Joe Biden said in a Sunday statement that he 'strongly supports' the sweeping bill Sen. Lee and several other GOP hardliners in the Senate have said a 'single weekend' to review the massive bill 'doesn't count' and is demanding more time to interview witnesses and examine the text before a vote. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called it the 'oldest game in town' bringing the major piece of legislation before a recess or holiday but 'hopes' Speaker Johnson will give the bill a 'fair shake' if it passes the Senate. But Johnson announced Saturday the House separately will bring a 'clean, standalone' $17 billion Israel aid bill to the floor next week as the Senate prepares to move forward its supplemental package. The Senate's massive package includes $6 billion to CBP for security enforcement and investigations relating to 'migration surges along the southwest border' and 'counter-fentanyl activities.' But over $40 billion will be allotted to 'respond to the situations' in Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan. It also contains a provision that would deny funding to United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after controversy over many employees' involvement in Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel. Biden supports the legislation. 'Now we've reached an agreement on a bipartisan national security deal that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. I strongly support it,' he wrote in a Sunday statement. The president added: 'It will make our country safer, make our border more secure, treat people fairly and humanely while preserving legal immigration, consistent with our values as a nation.' He went on to say that he hopes Republicans stop 'playing politics' with the border. 'I've made my decision. I'm ready to solve the problem. I'm ready to secure the border. And so are the American people. I know we have our divisions at home but we cannot let partisan politics get in the way of our responsibilities as a great nation,' he added. The White House insists the deal will institute 'the toughest and fairest set of reforms to secure the border we've ever had in our country' and give Biden new executive authority to 'shut down the border.' Biden's press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during the daily briefing last Monday that Speaker Mike Johnson must 'step up' and provide the 'authorities' needed to secure the border. But Johnson has said Biden could take executive action to 'immediately' reverse the 'catastrophe' at the border - and doesn't need Congress' help. He has said Biden 'falsely claimed' he needs Congress to pass a new law to allow him to close the southern border. 'He knows that is untrue,' Johnson said in a statement. Biden said in a written statement that the deal would allow him 'a new emergency authority' to close the border. He added: 'And if given that authority, I would use it the day I sign the bill into law.' Trump also insisted Congress did not need to pass legislation and that the executive branch already has the authority it needs to secure the border. 'I had the safest and most secure Border in U.S. History. I didn't need a 'Bill!' They are using this horrific Senate Bill as a way of being able to put the BORDER DISASTER onto the shoulders of the Republicans. The Democrats BROKE THE BORDER, they should fix it. NO LEGISLATION IS NEEDED, IT'S ALREADY THERE!!!' he wrote on Truth Social. Johnson said the House won't take up the legislation unless it ends catch-and-release and reinstates the Remain in Mexico program. Former President Donald Trump is urging Congress to abandon the deal before the text of the deal has even been released An aerial view of the area as migrants walking along razor wire after crossing the Rio Grande into the United States on January 28, 2024 '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. So we actually locked arms together and said, We're not going to give you money for this. We want to change the law,' Sen. James Lankford, Okla., said on Fox News over the weekend. 'A few months later, when we're finally going to the end, they're like, 'Oh, just kidding. I actually don't want to change in law because the presidential election year,'' he went on. Back home Lankford was censured over the weekend by the Oklahoma GOP, which threatened to withdraw support for him if he did not 'cease and desist jeopardizing the security and liberty of the people of Oklahoma.' 'The fact that [Trump] would communicate to Republican senatorsthat he doesn't want us to solve the border problem because he wants to blame Biden for it is really appalling,' Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), an anti-Trump senator, told reporters last week. 'If we fail to get this passed, I'm going to file exactly the same bill if Trump wins and we have a majority of the Senate. I'll guarantee you that everybody who's against it. It's all about politics and not having the courage to respectfully disagree with President Trump and tell him: 'This will help him.' He has requested it before,' Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said. 'I didn't come here to have a president as a boss or a candidate as a boss. I came here to pass good, solid policy that will help a president who is serious [about] securing the border.' Lankford avidly disputed Trump's assertion that the deal would lead to 'open borders' - and reports that it would allow up to 5,000 crossers per day before allowing immediate expulsion. 'It would be absolutely absurd for me to agree to 5,000 people a day. This bill focuses on getting us to zero illegal crossings a day,' he said. The Oklahoma Republican insisted the deal would increase the number of border agents and asylum officers, increase detention beds, end catch and release, up the number of deportation flights and speed up asylum screening. 'It is a shutdown of the border and everyone actually gets turned around. Okay, that's the focus that we have right now. Is how do we actually intervene in this administration, in turn people around not let people in,' he said. House Freedom Caucus members are enraged by the deal, claiming it doesn't do enough to curb illegal immigration and surging migration and asylum claims at the southern border. 'It's clear why Democrats waited until the last minute to drop this dumpster fire of a bill, it's far worse than we could have expected,' former Freedom Caucus Chairman Rep. Scott Perry told Fox News Digital. 'The Senate must reject this American sellout,' he added. Fellow Freedom Caucus member Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) said: 'At first glance, this 'deal' is a wolf in sheep's clothing. This is a Ukraine border deal, not a U.S. border deal.' And another Freedom Caucus member, Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), is critical of Democrats' attachment to the supplemental aid proposal that would also allocate $60 billion toward Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan to defend against Russia, Hamas and China, respectively. 'Instead of fighting for a serious bill that combats the invasion we face, weak-kneed Senate Republicans got rolled by Democrats, letting their obsession with Ukraine get in the way of their duty to America,' Crane said to Fox. 'This pathetic excuse for [a] border security deal gives Ukraine three times as much as it allocates to the U.S. border.' Two years ago when Queen Mary of Denmark marked her 50th birthday she took her husband and children to the unveiling of her new official portrait. As the blue cloth was pulled away to reveal the beautiful painting by Spanish-born artist Jesus Herrera, Mary's husband Frederik gasped. 'Wow,' he said, as he took in the artwork which showed the then princess looking serene and regal in front of a eucalyptus tree, a botanical nod to her native Australia. But it was another element that likely drew her husband's attention. Mary had chosen to wear an aquamarine cocktail ring, reportedly given to her by Frederik to mark their engagement. Two years later there are none of those love tokens or signals of marital harmony in the image Mary has chosen to mark her 52nd birthday. Instead, as she celebrates her first birthday as Denmark's new Queen, Mary has snubbed her husband and featured a photograph of herself with her father, John. The image, which shows the Queen with her hair in a plait and her sunglasses perched on her head, was taken by her younger son, Prince Vincent. As she celebrates her first birthday as Denmark's new Queen, Mary has snubbed her husband and featured a photograph of herself with her father, John Three months ago, Frederik was photographed leaving Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova's (pictured) Madrid apartment in the early hours of the morning Frederik, who three months ago was photographed leaving Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova's Madrid apartment in the early hours of the morning, is nowhere to be seen, featuring in neither the image nor the caption. 'On this occasion, the Queen has chosen an image of a special moment with her father from her recent trip to Australia in December,' reads the post on the royal family's official website. While Mary's 82-year-old father has been unwell and was unable to attend her proclamation last month in Copenhagen, the new Queen knows her choice of image will prompt speculation. She is a polished and intuitive woman sufficiently aware to know what message the picture transmits. Of course, you could read her selection as the choice of a devoted daughter sharing a cherished image of the father who lives oceans away and who she misses deeply. Or coming after last month's proclamation where observers noted Mary and Frederik kissed awkwardly, you could interpret it as a deeply hurt woman cleaving close to those she genuinely trusts: namely her father and her 13-year-old son who took the image. The palace has not commented on allegations that King Frederik was having an affair. However the photographs published in the Spanish magazine Lecturas showing him walking in the park and heading out to dinner with Casanova last October will have caused pain and embarrassment for Mary who will celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary in May. Although Casanova released a statement denying she and the then Prince were in a romantic relationship, Queen Margrethe's shock decision to abdicate in January fuelled suggestions that she wanted to secure her son's marriage by fast-tracking the couple's ascension to the throne. Denmark's King Frederik X kisses Queen Mary on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, in January 2024 Beloved in Australia where there is admiration for how she wears a crown and her beloved Birkenstocks with equal ease, Mary is equally adored in her adopted nation where she speaks fluent Danish and champions causes that are both modern and meaningful. If Australians regard the Tasmanian-born former real estate agent and advertising executive as a shining example of Antipodean spirit and resourcefulness, the Danes appreciate the mother-of-four for cheerfully steering the once reluctant prince more assuredly towards his destiny. Five years ago when she gave a 13-minute speech in front of a who's who of European royals to mark her husband's 50th birthday, party-goers were astonished by her wit, warmth and confident delivery particularly since she was speaking in her second language. She ribbed her husband for being a MAMIL (middle-aged man in lycra) and cheekily pointed out that their children regarded him as a sore loser. But what was most clear was how deeply she loved and adored her husband. 'I am so happy that you swept me off my feet and that we dared to fall for each other not for a moment, but for life,' she said. She even recounted to guests how, early in their relationship when she visited Denmark for the first time, her boyfriend told her he had to attend an official dinner. She couldn't believe her eyes when her casual, sports-loving boyfriend returned in full princely regalia. 'If I had known Danish at the time,' she told the audience, 'I would probably have thought to myself aij, hvor har jeg scoret over evne.' The meaning of the popular idiom? 'Wow, I've really scored above my league.' But that was long ago. The fun-loving Aussie girl who met a boy in a bar during the Sydney Olympics is now Queen with all the self-possession the title brings. For her 52nd birthday Mary has notably chosen to celebrate being a daughter rather than a wife. Whether it's pointed or not, one thing is clear: the new Queen has her own agenda. Her errant husband would do well to take note. An injured Navy veteran and his wife battling breast cancer burst into tears as they saw their once dilapidated home transformed into a beautiful retreat by a group of Good Samaritans Wayne and Teresa Stacey Frankfort were living in their family's Kentucky home, but after Wayne suffered a work-related injury and Teresa was diagnosed with breast cancer, they no longer had the time or the funds to make the needed repairs. The couple lived with no heating or air-conditioning and for two years they 'lived with a Porta John,' sitting outside their front yard because they 'couldn't replace the plumbing,' as per local WMYT News. Keith Roark learned about the Stacey's hardship and decided to help the two U.S. Navy veterans. 'So I started making some calls and just quickly put a team together,' Roark told the news outlet. 'Got the materials donated and we were just able to completely gut and renovate the house for them.' Wayne and Teresa's Frankfort were living in their family's Kentucky home for decades, but after Wayne suffered a work-related injury, and his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer they no longer had the time or the funds to make the needed repairs Wayne Frankfort said that he was unable to fix the plumbing in his house and he and his wife had to use a porta potty for two years that were placed outside their home A group of Good Samaritans made of carpenters, electricians and vocational students have showed up to help repair the Stacey's home located in Frankfort, Kentucky On Saturday, the couple stepped into their newly renovated home for the first time in four months and they were overcome by emotion. 'I didnt have words. All I could do was cry,' Teresa said as she walked around the home looking at the beautiful new walls, floors and cabinetry. The veteran explained after taking a tour of the updated property that he and his wife were full of gratitude. 'We've always been the people that have been doing,' he said. 'I never expected things like this to be done for us.' For months a group of volunteers gathered to work on the home that is located in Frankfort, the capital of Kentucky. Roark said the team consisted of 'carpenters, electricians and even vocational students who showed up to help.' He added they all helped 'free of charge.' Keith Roark learned about Wayne and Teresa Stacey's hardship and decided to help the two U.S. Navy veterans The couple served in the United States Navy and are pictured in a framed photo in uniform The couple take a photo with Roark and the entired team of volunteers who helped make Wayne's Frankfort, Kentucky home that has been in his family for three generations into a beautiful abode 'Work has gone on, friendships have been built,' Roark told the news outlet. We've done counseling with one another. Its been great just to be apart of that.' Wayne said the home has been in his family for three generations. Aside from having a proper bathroom they are looking forward to making more happy memories in Wayne's childhood home. The couple will be moving in next week. Before they left their renovated property the Stacey's took a photo with Roark and all the volunteers who helped make their house a home again - for the couple to enjoy all the days, thereafter. A mother whose partner murdered their two children has suffered further heartache after her baby daughter died. Jordan Monaghan killed three-week-old Ruby as she lay in her Moses basket in 2013. Eight months later, the monster smothered 21-month-old Logan in a changing room cubicle after going swimming at a leisure centre. The murderer's ex-partner Laura Gray, 30, has since met Andrew Chambers and she gave birth to little Hallie in August. But their joy turned to anguish when the tot was diagnosed with Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome a rare kidney disorder, which causes protein to leak into the urine. Laura and Andrew regularly travelled to Alder Hey Children's Hospital intensive care unit, in Liverpool, where Hallie spent most of her short life after undergoing an operation to help control the condition. Dad Andrew described their 'precious daughter' as a 'little warrior princess' in a series of updates to family and friends on social media. Last month, the devastated parents announced that four-month-old Hallie lost her battle. Jordon Monaghan (pictured) was found guilty of three counts of murder and two of attempted murder of a child, who cannot be named for legal reasons, in December 2021 Laura Gray, 30, left Monaghan and has since started dating Andrew Chambers. Laura gave birth to little Hallie in August. But their joy turned to anguish when the tot was diagnosed with Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome a rare kidney disorder, which causes protein to leak into the urine Monaghan killed three-week-old Ruby (left) as she lay in her Moses basket in 2013. Eight months later, he smothered 21-month-old Logan (right) in a changing room cubicle after going swimming at a leisure centre In an emotional post, they wrote: 'Our warrior princess sadly lost her battle on 15/1/2024 peacefully in mummy and daddies (sic) arms, and surrounded by her loved ones. 'Anybody that knows Hallie knows she lit up any room with her bright smile, so we want to make her final day as bright as possible.' Andrew also added: 'Cant believe I'll never see your beautiful smile (boo) I miss u so much my heart is broken I love you so much princess until we meet again R.I.P HALLIE BOO BEAR XX' (SIC). Distraught Laura had already endured a parent's worst nightmare of losing a child. For five years she believed that her beloved son and daughter had died in two unconnected tragedies. In 2018, police launched an investigation into Ruby and Logan's deaths with Monaghan being their prime suspect. Officers discovered that Monaghan would deliberately make the children sick to force Laura to stay in the crumbling relationship. Ruby was just 24 days old when she was murdered. Doctors ruled she died from pneumonia, while her brother Logan's cause of death eight months later was inconclusive. Police arrested construction worker Monaghan on suspicion of murder after another child collapsed while in his care. Ruby's grave. For five years Laura believed that her beloved son and daughter had died in two unconnected tragedies in 2018, police launched an investigation into the deaths and discovered that Monaghan would deliberately make the children sick to force Laura to stay in the crumbling relationship Laura and Monaghan in 2014. In 2018, police launched an investigation into the deaths and discovered that Monaghan would deliberately make the children sick to force Laura to stay in the crumbling relationship In October 2019, Monaghan while on police bail murdered his new partner Evie Adams, 23, with a deadly cocktail of illegally-purchased tramadol and diazepam. He later told police she took her own life after writing a fake suicide note. Following a 10-week trial at Preston Crown Court, Lancs., in December 2021, he was found guilty of three counts of murder and two of attempted murder of a child, who cannot be named for legal reasons. Monaghan, of Blackburn, was jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 48 years before being considered for release. Laura speaking after the sentencing told how she will be forever haunted that she was unable to save her children from her evil ex. She said: 'I always feel guilty, every day I feel guilt, and it runs through my head all the time what I could have done differently. 'I carry that with me every day. I will carry that with me for the rest of my life.' Laura suffered a breakdown and was admitted to hospital following her children's deaths. Monaghan revisited her everyday and the pair rekindled their relationship. She said: 'He was really supportive. 'He was the link to my two children, the only one who knew how I truly felt.' The couple finally parted after Monaghan's gambling spiralled out of control. Laura said Monaghan killed Ruby and Logan to force her to stay with him knowing she would not leave after losing a child. She added: 'He knew that we were having problems and I think he did it to bring us closer together, knowing that I would lean on him for support. 'And I did. I leaned on him, and he knew that I needed him. It was a control thing.' The headstone on Ruby's grave pays tribute to the 'little princess', with 'All our love, Mummy and Daddy.' 'I visit the graves every week and it is extremely painful for me to see. I am now looking into ways of having 'Daddy' taken off,' she said. Hallie's funeral is expected to take place on February 14. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with the costs: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Help-funeral-cost-for-warrior-princess Beer prices have shot up by almost 100% after the supply chain disruption Tourists have been left in horror as popular African holiday destination, Zanzibar faces an alcohol shortage which would threaten their entire tourism sector. The Spice Islands of Zanzibar are one of the continent's top travel destinations with tourism racking in a remarkable 90% of the Tanzanian archipelago's foreign revenue. The beer prices have shot up by almost 100% after the supply chain they use was disrupted by a sudden change of importers. At the same time, the island's tourism minister, Simai Mohammed resigned recently citing poor work conditions for his departure. However, many have linked his sudden resignation to the issues relating to the alcohol supplies. The Spice Islands of Zanzibar are one of the continent's top travel destinations with tourism racking in a remarkable 90% of the Tanzanian archipelago's foreign revenue Official data by the UK's Foreign Travel Office indicates that around 75,000 British tourists visit Tanzania annually Last year, Zanzibar, which is located just 22 miles off the coast of east-central Africa was ranked among the 10 best travel destinations in Africa by several tour magazines mainly due to its stunning sandy beaches and rich cultural heritage. But, hoteliers now warn that the problems over alcohol supply might take the shine off of the holiday destination. Several tourist hotels along the Matemwa beaches in the north of Zanzibar's main island are now forced to only serve soft drinks leaving people in the area to commute to the main city, Stone Town simply to get a drop of alcohol. Mr Mshenga's has a business which sells beer and sea food has been badly hit by the supply shortage. 'We are running short of beer at my bar, and I just have a stock of soft drinks. 'The government has to take action. It is the high season now, it is very hot and these tourists need joy, they need cold beer on these beaches.' he told the BBC. An American tourist, who wished to remain anonymous said: 'I love Zanzibar and its beaches. The people are amazing and the only challenge I feel now is I can't get hard liquor. 'I want to have spirits or even whisky but nothing is found in the hotel - they instead advised me to order it from Stone Town.' The supply shortage has left people in the area to commute to the main city, Stone Town simply to get a drop of alcohol The beer prices have shot up by almost 100% after the supply chain they use was disrupted by a sudden change of importers The local manufacture of alcohol is banned in Zanzibar, whose 1.3 million population is estimated to be 99% Muslim. This means that the majority of the alcohol sold on the islands comes from mainland Tanzania, while some are imported from South Africa. Initially, the shortage began earlier this year when the Zanzibar Liquor Control Board (ZLCB) delayed renewed permits for the three established importers - One Stop, Scotch Store, and ZMMI. However, it remains unclear why the licences of the three firms, which had supplied alcohol to the island for more than two decades, were not renewed. For alcohol importers to receive their licenses, they must be Zanzibari-born residents with a clean tax record, a warehouse, and a delivery vehicle. To add to this, importers must also pay a $12,000 (10,000) annual fee to the regulatory board. Last month, ZLCB granted licences to three new companies - Kifaru, Bevko and Zanzi Imports - but hoteliers say they are still struggling to meet the demand. The new firms are reportedly entangled in a lengthy vetting process amid reports that some non-Zanzibaris are involved in the operations of the companies despite the requirements set out in the law. The situation has been further complicated after the three previous licence holders filed appeals, asking the government to renew their liquor import permits. This has even left Zanzibar's liquor stores struggling to keep shelves stocked as well as the tourism industry. Rahim Mbarouk, chairman of the Zanzibar Tourism Investment Association said: 'There is an alcohol shortage in Zanzibar and we've already informed authorities about the tourism sector's situation.' The price of beer has shot up from 2,500 shillings ($1; 0.80) to 5,000 shillings, according to Neema Meena, a frequent traveller to Zanzibar from mainland Tanzania. Some popular alcohol brands, such as Safari, are believed to be completely unavailable as a result. 'This shortage hits hard,' Frank John Kahamu, secretary at the Amani Alcohol Merchants Union, told privately-owned The Citizen website. Mr Kahamu predicted that more than 3,000 workers could lose their jobs if the situation is not quickly resolved, adding: 'We can't keep paying wages with empty shelves.' Issa Mahfoudh Haji, a senior official in the Ministry of State responsible for the ZLCB, told state media: 'We have heard about the complaints and we need to find details about the controversy.' Simai Mohammed Said simultaneously resigned as tourism minister last week, citing 'unfavourable and disruptive working conditions'. The island's tourism minister, Simai Mohammed (pictured) resigned recently citing poor work conditions for his departure However, his resignation has been linked to a recent press conference where he publicly accused the ZLCB of mismanaging the liquor industry. 'If we fail to plan, including having enough stock of alcoholic beverages, we frustrate our visitors,' he said, according to state media. But while swearing in the new tourism minister, Mudrick Ramadhan Soraga on Thursday, Zanzibar President Hussein Mwinyi suggested Mr Said had a conflict of interest whilst in the role. Reports have linked one of Mr Said's relatives to one company whose licence was not renewed. 'If you have a bar, and you find out authorities have not given access to alcohol to your bar, then be transparent and tell the public that there is a conflict of interest,' President Mwinyi said, referring to Mr Said. This crisis has hit just as the semi-autonomous Tanzanian islands have seen a surge in tourism arrivals with a 16% rise in international visitors last year. Figures show that over 630,000 tourists visited the islands last year alone mainly due to significant increases in arrivals from India and Russia, according to the annual tourism report. Official data by the UK's Foreign Travel Office indicates that around 75,000 British tourists visit Tanzania annually. This means that Brits have become the second-largest annual source of visitors after the US. Stormy Daniels will appear in a new Peacock documentary six years after she filed her first lawsuit against Donald Trump. The documentary, called Stormy, will feature the 44-year-old porn star discussing the 2018 lawsuits and what her life has been like since. Sarah Gibson, producer and co-director of Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste, will be directing the documentary. The documentary trailer features clips of Daniels evading photographers during the 2018 trials. Stormy will be available to stream on the platform starting on March 18. Daniels first gained media attention after a story broke in 2018 confirming that Michael Cohen paid her $130,000 to keep quiet about her affair with Trump Stormy Daniels will appear in a new Peacock documentary six years after she filed her first lawsuit against Donald Trump Daniels gained media attention after a story broke in 2018 that Michael Cohen allegedly paid her $130,000 to keep quiet about her alleged affair with Trump. She later filed a lawsuit against Trump in March of that year and claimed the non-disclosure agreement she signed was invalid. A tweet Trump wrote regarding her accusations led to Daniels to file a defamation lawsuit just one month later. Daniels lost her defamation suit and was ordered to pay nearly $300,000 to Trump in legal fees. The adult film star went on to lose an appeal, and will now face Trump again in the 'hush money' criminal trial on March 25. The documentary Stormy will feature the 44-year-old adult film star discussing the 2018 lawsuits and what her life has been like since then Gibson's 2022 Netflix documentary Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste discusses the sexual health business' controversies and its alleged orgasm cult. Trump has denied having an affair with pornstar Stormy Daniels. He is charged with facilitating $130,000 in hush money payments to keep her quiet about their alleged relationship Daniels lost her defamation suit against Trump. She also lost an appeal and will now face Trump again in the 'hush money' criminal trial on March 25 She has continued to stay active on social media and recently expressed an interest in partying with Hunter Biden. Gibson's 2022 Netflix documentary Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste discusses the sexual health business' controversies and its alleged orgasm cult. The documentary received positive reviews from critics. Although Daniels' documentary not discuss anything involving possible orgasm cults, it will include the 'account of events that have become part of American history.' Prince Harry will be flying to London in the coming days after King Charles III personally told him he has cancer, it was revealed today. The Duke of Sussex will soon be leaving California for Britain but it is not yet clear if his wife Meghan Markle or their children Archie, four, and Lilibet, two, will come with him. The King contacted both the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales personally to tell them of his cancer diagnosis before it was announced by Buckingham Palace. A source close to Harry said that he had immediately decided to come to the UK as soon as possible to be by his father's side. Experts have claimed that Harry's dash to Britain 'indicates the seriousness' of the King's condition. Announcing that Prince Harry will come and see his father, the Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: 'The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. He will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days.' Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said she hoped that King Charles III's cancer diagnosis 'will bring a reconciliation' with Prince Harry. Harry estranged brother William is also in close contact with his father but neither brother has made a public statement yet. The heir to the throne, who returns to public duties this week after helping to settle his wife, the Princess of Wales, at home as she recovers from abdominal surgery. He may also undertake some duties on behalf of his father, in addition to his own diary of engagements, while the King undergoes treatment. Prince Harry will be flying to London in the coming days after King Charles' cancer diagnosis was made public. It is not known if Meghan and his children will come with them King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer , Buckingham Palace announced in a statement this evening. Above: Charles was last seen waving to well-wishers as he attended a service with his wife Queen Camilla at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Sunday Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer' Experts hope that the diagnosis will bring some kind of reconciliation between Harry and his father and brother As the King's cancer shocked Britain, the Commonwealth and the world, it also emerged: Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that doctors discovered the cancer during a medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. Sources have suggested that the cancer is in a different part of the King's body but was discovered during the surgery last week. Prince Harry was last in the UK over the summer, when he attended an event for a children's charity. However, he did not meet with the Royal family during that visit before heading to Germany for his Invictus Games where he met up with Meghan. The Duke of Sussex attended his father's coronation last May, but left London just hours after the ceremony to return to Montecito. Harry is believed to be in contact with his father but sources have claimed that there has been no rapprochement with William, who is said to have been left upset by the Sussexes' attacks on the Royal Family since Megxit. Harry's visit will raise hopes that there could be some thawing in the relations, which have been rocky since he and Meghan emigrated in 2020. King Charles' cancer diagnosis has shocked the world. The 75-year-old monarch has returned to London from Sandringham to begin treatment immediately. It is not connected with his recent surgery and is not prostate cancer, but medics spotted it when he underwent his medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. The Duke of Sussex has spoken with the King about his cancer diagnosis and will travel to the UK to see him in the coming days, a source close to Harry said. Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. 'His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. 'The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. 'His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.' The palace said the King 'looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible', but it is not yet known whether it will affect his attendance at events such as those marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June. It is understood he will continue to receive red boxes and process state documents during treatment and there are no plans to appoint Counsellors of State. A palace spokesman said: 'Regrettably, a number of the King's forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed. 'His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.' It is understood details of the King's diary are still being worked on and it is not yet known when a full programme of engagements will begin. Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: 'Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. 'I have no doubt he'll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: 'On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery. 'We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health.' Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs: 'I know the whole House will wish to join me in expressing our sympathies with His Majesty the King following the news announcement this evening. 'Our thoughts are, of course, with His Majesty and his family, and we'd all wish to send him our very best wishes for the successful treatment and a speedy recovery following tonight's news.' The monarch, 75, received treatment for an enlarged prostate last week, spending three nights at the London Clinic private hospital When he was discharged from hospital last Monday, the King appeared steady on his feet as he walked out of the London Clinic in Marylebone with Queen Camilla by his side KING'S CANCER DIAGNOSIS: THE ROYAL FAMILY'S RECENT HEALTH SCARES The King's cancer diagnosis is the latest shock health news to hit the royal family. - Tuesday January 16 Kate, 42, is secretly admitted to the London Clinic and undergoes abdominal surgery. - Wednesday January 17 2pm - Kensington Palace announces the princess' operation and says she will remain in the private hospital for 10-14 days. She is not expected to return to duties until after Easter, taking up to three months to recover. The Prince of Wales steps back from his official duties temporarily to care of his wife and children. The exact nature of Kate's condition is kept private, but it is not cancerous and Kensington Palace says the planned procedure was successful. 3.25pm - Buckingham Palace announces the King, 75, is to have treatment for a benign enlarged prostate and will be admitted to hospital in a few days. A source later says the princess is 'doing well'. - Thursday January 18 The Prince of Wales spends time at his wife's bedside, driving himself away from the back entrance during the low-key, private visit. The Queen says the King is 'fine' and 'looking forward to getting back to work' during a visit to the Aberdeen Art Gallery. - Friday January 19 The King flies back from Scotland with the Queen and heads to his Sandringham estate in Norfolk to rest ahead of the procedure. - Sunday January 21 It is announced that the King's former sister-in-law, Sarah, Duchess of York, has malignant melanoma, a form skin cancer. It is less than a year since the duchess, 64, was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. - Monday January 22 The Queen tells 86-year-old well-wisher Jessie Jackson that the King is 'fine', and thanks her for asking, while she carries out engagements in Swindon. Sarah, Duchess of York, meanwhile, describes her shock at having skin cancer but says she is in 'good spirits' and 'grateful for the many messages of love and support', in a post on Instagram. - Tuesday January 23 Kate's hospital stay passes the one-week mark. Camilla urges the King to take it easy. An insider told The Sun: 'The Queen has told him he needs to slow down a bit.' - Thursday January 25 The King carried out behind the scenes official duties, meeting academics from Cambridge University at Sandringham House. The King arrives back in London from Norfolk ready for his treatment. - Friday January 26 The King, with the Queen at his side, is admitted to the London Clinic for treatment for an enlarged prostate and also visits the Princess of Wales, who is recovering in the same hospital. - Monday January 29 The King is discharged from hospital and waves at well-wishers. Kate leaves the clinic the same day to continue her recovery at home. - Wednesday January 31 Camilla says the King is 'getting on, doing his best' as she opened a Maggie's cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London. - Sunday February 4 The King and Queen attend church in Sandringham, with Charles waving at well-wishers. - Monday February 5 Kensington Palace confirms the Prince of Wales is returning to official duties this week, beginning with an investiture. 6pm - Buckingham Palace announces the King has a form of cancer - but not prostate cancer - and has started treatment as an outpatient. He will not carry out public-facing duties, but will carry on with behind the scenes state business and official papers. Advertisement The diagnosis is also likely to be professionally devastating for Charles, who was the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history before he became King on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, on September 8 2022. Since then he has hit the ground running with three state visits overseas, hosting two incoming state visits to the UK and undertaking hundreds of public engagements each year, taking on a punishing official workload well into his 70s. Aides have said he has relished the challenge and is hugely enjoying his royal role. The King's diagnosis will pose serious questions for the working of the monarchy, with fewer working members of the royal family and the Princess of Wales out of action due to what has only been described as 'abdominal surgery' until after Easter. The Prince of Wales, who is heir to the throne, had cleared his diary to be by his wife's side and keep life as normal as possible for their three children. Kensington Palace announced earlier today, however, that he would resume public duties this week by conducting an investiture on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, followed by a gala fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance in the evening. While Queen Elizabeth suffered episodic periods of ill-health over the years and underwent surgery on a number of occasions, including on her knee and cataracts, there was no major health crisis of this magnitude until the very last months of her historic 70-year reign. That, however, would have a serious knock-on effect on the family life of the Prince and Princess of Wales. They moved to Windsor 18-months ago in order to allow their children to enjoy a more carefree childhood, outside of the royal bubble, until absolutely necessary. Prince George, ten, who is second in line to the throne, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis all attend a local school. Lambrook, and have settled in well at their new home, Adelaide Cottage. William and Kate's team are still based at Kensington Palace in London, their official residence, and travel up to Windsor for meetings. Questions will inevitably be asked how practicable it will be for them to do so now. The King has largely enjoyed very good health throughout his life, apart from suffering from a cripplingly bad back. The first sign that anything was amiss with his health came on January 17 when Buckingham Palace made a surprise announcement that the King had 'sought treatment' for an enlarged prostate. The palace added that His Majesty's condition was 'benign' and that he would attend hospital the following week for a corrective procedure. They said he was personally keen to share details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get themselves check. The NHS subsequently reported an encouraging spike in people seeking more information on their website. His Majesty, who was in Scotland at the time, travelled back down to Sandringham afterwards and then on to London the night before his surgery. He was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone, central London, on January 26 with his wife, Queen Camilla, by his side. Buckingham Palace said he wanted to thank everyone for their good wishes and was delighted to learn that his diagnosis was having a positive impact on public health awareness. He was finally released on Monday last week after three nights in hospital and said to be 'doing well'. He initially resided at Clarence House, his London residence, in order to be close to his doctors, before returning to Sandringham with his wife. Queen Camilla has continued to undertake public engagements, telling members of the l public that her husband was 'doing fine' and looking forwards to getting back to work. Last Tuesday she told well-wishers he was 'getting on' and 'doing his best', adding: 'Thank goodness!' One in every three men over the age of 50 will have symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which include needing to visit the toilet more frequently, 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 that have not responded to medicine. Mark Drakeford , the First Minister of Wales, wished the King a 'full and swift recovery' following his cancer diagnosis. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: 'I'm saddened to hear the news that HM King Charles III is facing further health challenges. 'My thoughts and those of people across Wales will be with him and his family this evening. 'I send my very best wishes as he starts treatment for a full and swift recovery. 'Gwellhad buan.' Northern Ireland's new First Minister Michelle O'Neill, who as leader of Sinn Fein is a republican, wished the King a full and speedy recovery. 'I am very sorry to hear of King Charles' illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment, and a full and speedy recovery,' she posted on X. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said after the shocking news today: 'I am saddened to have heard about His Majesty The King's diagnosis. 'I know that the Jewish communities of Great Britain and the Commonwealth will join me in wishing him a Refuah Sheleima - a complete and swift recovery.' The 75-year-old monarch left the London Clinic last monday with Queen Camilla by his side The King waved to a large crowd of wellwishers when he left the London Clinic last Monday The King was visited by Queen Camilla four times when he was in hospital Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins wrote on X: 'My thoughts are with King Charles and the whole Royal Family. 'His decision to share his diagnosis to assist public understanding for all those affected by cancer is commendable. 'Wishing His Majesty the very best and look forward to seeing him resume his public duties.' Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who received treatment for kidney cancer in 2021, said: 'One in two of us will develop cancer during our lives, but millions more are affected when someone they love is diagnosed with cancer. 'Sending best wishes to His Majesty for his treatment and to his family as they support him throughout.' Prince Andrew was spotted riding his horse in Windsor today just hours before it was revealed his brother the King has cancer. Buckingham Palace tonight revealed in a bombshell statement that Charless has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. It is not believed to be prostate. Earlier today, a smiling Prince Andrew was seen riding his horse in Windsor. The Duke of York, 63, was joined by two female companions for the ride of Windsor Great Park - not far from his seven-bedroom home, Royal Lodge. Andrew appeared at ease as he chatted to the pair during an overcast day in Berkshire. It is not connected with his recent surgery and is not prostate cancer, but medics spotted it when he underwent his medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. 'His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. Prince Andrew was seen riding in Windsor Great Park today with two female companions Andrew appeared at ease as he chatted to the pair during an overcast day in Berkshire. Just hours before it was announced his brother had cancer Just yesterday, King Charles was last seen waving to well-wishers as he attended a service with his wife Queen Camilla at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer , Buckingham Palace announced in a statement this evening. Above: Charles was last seen waving to well-wishers as he attended a service with his wife Queen Camilla at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Sunday Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer' 'The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. 'His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.' All of the King's siblings, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Duke of Edinburgh were told personally by Charles, royal aides said. The King is understood to have personally informed his sons Prince William and Prince Harry about his condition. The Duke of Sussex will travel to the UK to see him in the coming days, a source close to Harry said. Announcing that Prince Harry will come and see his father, a source close to the Duke said: 'The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. 'He will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days.' Meghan Markle, Princess Lilibet, and Prince Archie will NOT be travelling with Prince Harry to London, it has been reported. The New York Post reports they will be staying in Los Angeles as the Duke of Sussex rushes to be with his father. Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: 'Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. 'I have no doubt he'll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: 'On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery. 'We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health.' Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs: 'I know the whole House will wish to join me in expressing our sympathies with His Majesty the King following the news announcement this evening. 'Our thoughts are, of course, with His Majesty and his family, and we'd all wish to send him our very best wishes for the successful treatment and a speedy recovery following tonight's news.' The diagnosis is also likely to be professionally devastating for Charles, who was the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history before he became King on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, on September 8 2022. Since then he has hit the ground running with three state visits overseas, hosting two incoming state visits to the UK and undertaking hundreds of public engagements each year, taking on a punishing official workload well into his 70s. Aides have said he has relished the challenge and is hugely enjoying his royal role. The King's diagnosis will pose serious questions for the working of the monarchy, with fewer working members of the royal family and the Princess of Wales out of action due to what has only been described as 'abdominal surgery' until after Easter. The leaders of the devolved nations have also reacted to the news of the King's cancer diagnosis. Mark Drakeford , the First Minister of Wales, has wished the King a 'full and swift recovery' following his cancer diagnosis. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: 'I'm saddened to hear the news that HM King Charles III is facing further health challenges. 'My thoughts and those of people across Wales will be with him and his family this evening. 'I send my very best wishes as he starts treatment for a full and swift recovery. 'Gwellhad buan.' Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill wished the King a full and speedy recovery. Posting on X she said: 'I am very sorry to hear of King Charles' illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment, and a full and speedy recovery.' Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf said he wished the King a 'speedy recovery' following his cancer diagnosis. He said: 'My thoughts and prayers are with His Majesty The King and I hope for a speedy recovery and return to public life. 'My thoughts are also with Her Majesty The Queen and other members of the royal family at what I know will be a worrying time.' Former prime ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss sent their best wishes to the King. Mr Johnson wrote on X: 'The whole country will be rooting for the King today. Best wishes to Charles III for a full and speedy recovery.' Ms Truss said: 'Sending every best wish to His Majesty The King and the Royal Family as he undergoes his treatment for cancer. He will be in our thoughts and prayers. 'God Save The King!' US President Joe Biden told reporters: 'I'm concerned about him. Just heard about his diagnosis. I'll be talking to him, God willing.' Meanwhile, former president Trump and the likely Republican nominee for president this November reacted to the news on his social media site Truth Social. He said King Charles was 'a wonderful man;' and that 'we all pray that he has a fast and full recovery!' On January 26, while King Charles was preparing for surgery, Prince Andrew was spotted for the first time since his ex wife Sarah Ferguson was diagnosed with cancer. Last month, the Duchess of York revealed she had malignant melanoma. A previously unreleased image of King Charles during state visit to France in September 2023. Aides have said he has relished the challenge and is hugely enjoying his royal role King Charles pictured leaving Clarence house and heading to hospital on January 26 Prince Andrew was spotted driving on the same day that King Charles went into hospital King Charles III and Queen Camilla departing The London Clinic in central London, where King Charles had undergone a procedure for an enlarged prostate Prince Andrew spotted driving on Windsor Castle for the first time since the Duchess of York had her cancer diagnosis The Duchess of York's first post on Instagram since her own cancer diagnosis The Queen will be key to helping her husband through his health scare and maintaining the public presence of the monarchy, according to a royal expert. Camilla was described as a 'massive support' to Charles by Joe Little of Majesty Magazine, who highlighted how she carried out a string of public events last week following his treatment for an enlarged prostate. The woman often referred to by the King as my 'darling wife' visited London's Royal Free hospital last Wednesday to open a 6 million centre run by the charity Maggie's in her role as its patron. The organisation provides welcoming spaces for cancer patients, and their families, to process the news of a diagnosis and to meet and bond with others receiving treatment. Mr Little said: 'Camilla has shown for a long time, and we're very aware now, that she is famed as the power behind the throne. 'She is a massive support in so many ways to her husband the King, only last week we saw that she was holding the fort while he was recuperating at Sandringham.'I think only now are people appreciating the true worth of Queen Camilla and that will very much be the case in the coming weeks.' The King has apologised after the decision was taken to postpone his forthcoming public duties after his cancer diagnosis. In the statement, Buckingham Palace said Charles would continue to 'undertake State business and official paperwork as usual' and he will continue having weekly audiences with the Prime Minister. The recent diagnosis means the King is unlikely to be at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 11, which is usually attended by senior members of the royal family. The palace said the King 'looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible', but it is not yet known whether it will affect his attendance at events such as those marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June. It is understood he will continue to receive red boxes and process state documents during treatment and there are no plans to appoint Counsellors of State. A palace spokesman said: 'Regrettably, a number of the King's forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed. 'His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.' It is understood details of the King's diary are still being worked on and it is not yet known when a full programme of engagements will begin. The palace said the Queen will continue with a full programme of public duties. Other working members of the royal family could undertake additional duties on behalf of the King but it is understood planning for future state visits will continue where possible. The Prince of Wales could take on some of the King's work as he is expected to return to public duties on Wednesday after the Princess of Wales' major abdominal surgery last month. It is also understood that Charles will continue to be available for Privy Council meetings, but details of how they will take place are still being worked through. It is expected that alternative arrangements will be made for his weekly audience with the Prime Minister should doctors advise him to minimise any in-person contact. Queen Camilla at the Royal Free Hospital in London on Wednesday January 31. The Queenhas been described as a 'massive support' to Charles Queen Camilla with Viscountess Marcia Blakenham after opening 'Maggie's Royal Free', a new cancer support centre, at the Royal Free Hospital in east London King Charles attends the 2023 Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 13, 2023. The recent diagnosis means the King is unlikely to be at the Commonwealth Day service this year The Holiday's Rufus Sewell will soon play Andrew in a movie that tells the story of his infamous 2019 interview with the BBC's Emily Maitlis, who is being played by Sex Education star Gillian Anderson. 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 for the role of Maitlis. 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. This weekend it emerged Andrew will also be the subject of another film. 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 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. By contrast, the upcoming Netflix show 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. 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. 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 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. A Florida woman stole a patrol vehicle and led officers on a high-speed chase that ended in the deaths of three people including herself. Kendra Dalyn Boone, 33, hopped into the deputy's patrol car on February 1 at a Silver Springs shopping center. Bodycam footage shows Deputy Christopher Witte of the Marion County Sheriff's Office fumbling at the driver's side door of his vehicle upon realizing that Boone had entered through the passenger side. He managed to wrench the door open, but not in time to pull her out, as Boone stepped on the gas and sped off. 'Stop, stop!' Witte shouted as the vehicle tore away. 'She just got in my car and took off.' Kendra Dalyn Boone, 33, stole a deputy's police car in Silver Springs, Florida and sped off before colliding with another vehicle on the highway (pictured in most recent mugshot from 2021) Bodycam footage captured the moment Boone entered Deputy Christopher Witte's patrol car through the passenger side door and slid into the driver's seat Witte was responding to reports of a suspect - later identified as Boone - attempting to take an elderly woman's keys According to a press release from the sheriff's office, Witte was responding to reports of a suspect - later identified as Boone - attempting to take an elderly woman's keys. When Witte arrived at Forest Shopping Center, he made contact with Boone and instructed her to step behind his patrol car. Shortly after he climbed out, Boone entered the vehicle through the passenger side and slid into the driver's seat. Witte tried to remove her, but the 33-year-old fled 'at a high rate of speed,' the office said. Another deputy arrived as Boone sped off and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. Boone headed eastbound on East Highway 40 for several miles before making a U-turn near the weigh station just west of Highway 19. As she sped westbound, other deputies positioned themselves ahead of the pursuit to cut her off. However, before reaching the area where they laid out stop sticks, Boone made another U-turn and began to head eastbound again. Boone fled 'at a high rate of speed,' according to the Marion County Sheriff's Office Video showed Witte wrenching open the driver's side door before the 33-year-old stepped on the gas Deputies embarked on a high-speed chase in a desperate attempt to stop her, with Boone travelling at speeds upward of 100 mph Boone drove into incoming traffic and collided with a black pickup truck. She was pronounced dead on scene The sheriff's office described Boone as 'traveling well over 100 mph and driving erratically,' which caused deputies to lose 'visual contact' with the patrol car several times. Boone left the roadway and crossed onto the right shoulder in an attempt to pass a semi-truck. As she attempted to reenter the roadway, she lost control of the patrol car and careened into oncoming traffic, colliding with a black GMC pickup. After they caught up with her, deputies discovered that Boone and the three occupants of the pickup truck were unresponsive. The 33-year-old and two others were pronounced dead at the scene, while a third person was taken to a Ocala hospital in critical condition. Among the dead were a 73-year-old man and 72-year-old woman hailing from Waterloo, South Carolina. The Florida Highway Patrol declined to share any details about the survivor's identity, other than that he was male. The other two people killed were a 73-year-old man and 72-year-old woman, both from South Carolina. A third person was taken to a local hospital in critical condition Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods characterized Boone as a 'moron' at a press conference The Florida woman had an extensive criminal record. She was charged with fleeing police and trespassing in 2021 and arrested twice in 2020 for trespassing and burglary At a press conference, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods shared that none of the deputies involved in the chase were injured. 'Two individuals were killed because of that moron,' Woods said, referring to Boone. 'Now, I want to make something right off the bat abundantly clear,' he continued. 'My deputy did absolutely nothing wrong.' Records show Boone had a checkered criminal past before her death. She was charged with fleeing from or eluding police, a felony; and trespassing, a misdemeanor, in 2021. Boone was booked into the county jail twice in 2020. One, a misdemeanor charge for trespassing, a felony charge for burglary of an occupied structure in 2020. Florida Highway Patrol is leading a fatal traffic crash investigation into the accident. Loyal Queen Camilla is expected to step up on her royal engagements and support her husband following the King's cancer diagnosis. Camilla has been the most senior member of the Royal Family carrying out engagements and it is understood that all will continue with a full programme of public engagements whilst the King takes some time off. Queen Camilla and Prince William are two senior royals who are expected to take on more royal duties if necessary - though Prince William had recently scaled back to care for his wife Princess Kate following her abdominal surgery. Camilla 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. King Charles and Queen Camilla wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace Queen Camilla visiting a cancer support centre in London on January 31 Queen Camilla at a royal engagement in Cambridge on February 2 Queen Camilla at a royal engagement in Bath on February 1 Buckingham Palace announced in a statement this evening that King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer. They said that the 75-year-old monarch has returned to London from Sandringham to begin treatment immediately. It is not connected with his recent surgery and is not prostate cancer, but medics spotted it when he underwent his medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. Queen Camilla had since continued to undertake public engagements, telling members of the public that her husband was 'doing fine' and looking forwards to getting back to work. She has previously been described as the King's 'rock' by her sister, Annabel Elliot, who gave her view of their marriage for a BBC documentary - Charles III: The Coronation Year. Mrs Elliot, Camilla's younger sister, said: 'She is his rock, and I can't actually emphasise that enough. She is somebody who is completely loyal, and she isn't somebody who has huge highs and lows.' The Queen's close friend Fiona, the Marchioness of Lansdowne, also spoke in the documentary about the close bond between Charles and Camilla, who have known each other for more than 50 years, saying they were an 'extraordinary team'. Elsewhere, royal expert Joe Little, of Majesty Magazine, said of the Queen following the latest health announcement: 'She is a massive support in so many ways to her husband the King, only last week we saw that she was holding the fort while he was recuperating at Sandringham. I think only now are people appreciating the true worth of Queen Camilla and that will very much be the case in the coming weeks.' Queen Camilla speaks to guests during a reception at Windsor Castle on January 30 Queen Camilla meeting residents of St John's Foundation in Bath on February 1 Queen Camilla meets frontline staff on a visit to Refuge's Gaia Centre in Lambeth, south London, on January 23 Camilla has been supporting the King over the course of his recent hospital stay for an enlarged prostate. She accompanied Charles to The London Clinic in central London on January 26, where he underwent treatment. The Queen visited her husband every day over his three-night stay in the private hospital, before appearing at his side again on January 29 as he left having been discharged. The day after the King was discharged from hospital, Camilla was all smiles at a Windsor Castle reception to thank those involved in a book project to celebrate the centenary of Queen Mary's Doll's House. The following day she launched a charity's centre supporting cancer patients - Maggie's centre - at the Royal Free Hospital in London. When asked during the visit about her husband's health, the Queen replied: 'He's getting on, doing his best.' On February 1, the Queen visited a charity celebrating 850 years of supporting the elderly. Camilla travelled to Bath to mark the anniversary of the St John's Foundation, established in 1174 to tackle poverty and poor living conditions in Bath. For the second day in succession, the Queen gave an update about her husband's recuperation, saying: 'He's recovering well, thank you', when asked about his health. The following day, Camilla joked with Strictly Come Dancing star Johannes Radebe who was coaching a class for Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) staff and volunteers at the Meadows Community Centre in Cambridge. And on Sunday, she accompanied the King as he attended church for the first time since his hospital stay. The pair walked to St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, accompanied by a member of the clergy. Camilla views a selection of carriage clocks during a visit to Deacon & Son, one of the oldest family businesses in Swindon on January 22 Queen Camilla receives get well cards for her husband King Charles in Wiltshire on January 22 Queen Camilla opens the new 'Safe Space' during a visit to Aberdeen Art Gallery on January 18 Queen Camilla alongside King Charles as they leave The London Clinic on January 29 King Charles and Queen Camilla looked in high spirits as they walked to St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. 'His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. 'The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. 'His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.' Following his diagnosis other senior members of the Royal Family including Queen Camilla and heir to the throne Prince William are expected to take on more royal duties if necessary. Prince William had originally scaled back his royal duties to look after Princess Kate whilst she recovers from her abdominal surgery. Buckingham Palace has said that the King is pleased that being open about his recent prostate surgery has helped boost awareness. While the Palace has said that the King has not been diagnosed with prostate cancer, NHS England said they saw a surge in visits to their prostate enlargement pages following the King's visit to The London Clinic earlier this year. The King's diagnosis will pose serious questions for the working of the monarchy, with fewer working members of the royal family and the Princess of Wales out of action due to what has only been described as 'abdominal surgery' until after Easter. The Prince of Wales, who is heir to the throne, had cleared his diary to be by his wife's side and keep life as normal as possible for their three children. Kensington Palace announced earlier today, however, that he would resume public duties this week by conducting an investiture on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, followed by a gala fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance in the evening. The White House is denying a report that President Joe Biden referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a 'bad f***ing guy.' On Sunday Politico's Jonathan Martin penned a column about the dangers a hot war in Gaza poses to Biden's reelection prospects, with those on the political left, including younger voters, adamently against Israel's campaign against Hamas, which has left thousands of Palestinian civilians dead. Martin revealed that unnamed sources told him that Biden is 'deeply suspicious' of Netanyahu and used the expletive behind the Israeli leader's back. 'This is false. President Biden did not say that, nor would he,' White House spokesperson Andrew Bates told DailyMail.com in a statement. 'The president has been clear where he disagrees with Prime Minister Netanyahu, but this is a decades-long relationship that is respectful in public and in private.' The alleged Netanyahu dig comes as the U.S. is further dragged into conflict in the Middle East. The White House is denying a report that President Joe Biden (left) referred to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) as a 'bad f***ing guy.' Biden's alleged insults come as the U.S. is dragged further into war and conflict in the Middle East Biden has been taking action to shore up support from pro-Palestinian voters, including at last week's National Prayer Breakfast. Biden spoke out against hate crimes and discrimination against Arab-Americans at the event and said he sympathizes with those 'held hostage or under bombardment or displaced.' According to Martin, a House Democrat told him that it was 'unanimous that this Israel-Gaza war needed to end now and that Biden needed to stand up to Bibi,' adding the conflict in Gaza is 'a disaster politically.' 'Bibi is toxic among many Democratic voters and Biden must distance himself from him - yesterday,' the lawmaker allegedly told Martin. These revelations come shortly after it was reported that Biden hadn't spoken to Netanyahu in a month as the president's patience had reportedly run out with the nonstop bombing of Gaza. The two reportedly last spoke on December 23, when Netanyahu rejected Biden's request that Israel release Palestinian tax revenues, and an angry Biden ended the phone call saying 'this conversation is over.' Sen. Chris Van Hollen told Axios: 'At every juncture, Netanyahu has given Biden the finger. They are pleading with the Netanyahu coalition, but getting slapped in the face over and over again.' Politico's column revealed that unnamed sources said President Joe Biden is 'deeply suspicious' of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) The long period of silence is unusual as the pair had previously spoken almost every other day since October. Last week Politico's West Wing Playbook also reported that Biden used the same four-letter word to describe former President Donald Trump, his likely 2024 general election rival, calling the ex-president a 'sick f***.' The fighting words came as Biden talked about Trump's reported comments that fallen American soldiers were 'suckers' and 'losers,' growing angry as he brought up his late son Beau, who served in the Delaware National Guard in Iraq, before he died in 2015. 'I have to hold my Irish temper. I'm glad I wasn't with him. I'm not sure what I would've done. He said they're all suckers and losers,' Biden said of Trump. Biden then raised his voice and sounded angry as he referred to his late son: 'My son was not a sucker nor were any of yours. Who does this guy think he is talking about Americans?' Biden repeated an abbreviated version of his fundraising talk during his rally in Las Vegas later that night, toning down his direct threats. 'This is a guy, when he was in France, they asked him to go to American Cemetery,' Biden noted, 'You know what he said? He said those folks were suckers and losers. Suckers and losers for God's sake. I'm glad I wasn't there.' Friendship, love and respect. Thats what makes them tick, a close friend of the King and Queen told me recently. They are quite different people in many ways, but at the heart of it you have two people who just really love and respect each other and still laugh an awful lot. Its genuinely sweet. Its a verdict emphasised by Annabel Elliot, Camillas sister, who described them in a BBC interview last month as yin and yang, but an utterly brilliant team. And its why I have no doubt that Queen Camilla will be more of a rock than ever to the King over the difficult months to come. Of course the distressing news that her husband has been diagnosed with cancer will come as a huge blow to Her Majesty. Rebecca English says 'Queen Camilla will be more of a rock than ever to the King over the difficult months to come,' following news of Charles' cancer diagnosis The King's cancer diagnosis comes after he left hospital last week following a 'corrective procedure' for an enlarged prostate - further tests went on to find a separate issue of cancer From the moment they first fell in love in their early 20s, Charles and Camillas lives have been inextricably entwined. While theirs has not been a conventional love story - indeed at one point the late Queen Elizabeth feared the couples passion could prove the downfall of the monarchy - it is one which, ultimately, may be considered one of the most enduring of our times. Indeed, Their Majesties are due to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary next year, a landmark which many would have thought utterly impossible once upon a time. But the Queen is also stoic the very definition of the British stiff upper lip - and someone who takes things very much in her stride. Her approach to this devastating news will, I am sure, be typically calm and pragmatic, and she will insist on being there by her husbands side, supporting him every step of the way. Indeed last night, I can reveal, she was with him at Clarence House as he returned to London to begin out-patient hospital treatment. And I am told that while she is understandably concerned and preparing to play an important role in supporting The King throughout his period of treatment, she plans to continue with a full programme of public duties at the same time. That British stiff upper lip again. Shes a bloody brick, a friend says. Ironically, in the early days of their marriage it was Charles who was more protective of Camilla, knowing the enormity of what she had taken on to be by his side. The King appeared in good spirits as he arrived with Queen Camilla for a service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Sunday Queen Camilla is preparing to play an important role in supporting The King throughout his period of treatment During their first official tour to the US following their 2005 wedding, I watched as the future king instinctively reached out across the aisle of our plane and squeezed his wifes shaking hand as we took off as he knew how terrified she was of flying (although I also subsequently heard him yelp during one particularly bumpy flight: Darling, please dont hold me QUITE so hard!) But over the years Camilla has bloomed, growing in confidence under the often deeply cruel public spotlight and earning admiration for her work ethic and confidence in taking on unfashionable causes. Its not always been plain sailing, of course. Camillas relationship with William and Harry has always been particularly complex. But, privately, William does acknowledge how happy Camilla has made their father and is appreciative of the fact she has never tried to interfere in their lives. Theres also admiration for the way she has diligently embraced royal duties at a time of life when most would be slowing down - without a squeak of complaint. The King and Queen know what their roles are, why they are doing it and what they want to achieve. She has become increasingly bold in the work she does, seizing on difficult issues such as domestic violence, but doesnt tread on his toes. They work well together and theres a lot of mutual trust, the friend said. That same bond is evident in private as well. They get on, they share the same sense of humour and make each other laugh. They have the same interests - the countryside, walking, their dogs..... and, yes, the Queen knows when to beat a hasty retreat too. She knows when to give him his space, another source adds. While she is fiercely supportive of her husbands devotion to the causes he holds dear, Camilla is also not above affectionately pricking that earnestness every now and again. On more than one occasion over the years Ive caught her eye as her husband waxes lyrical over a cause close to his heart, a knowing smile flickering on her lips and a mischievous glint in her eye. Rebecca English says: She (Camilla) is his fiercest champion and no-one should ever underestimate her loyalty to him. They come as a team. Disrespect him at your peril' King Charles wears the Robe of Estate and Imperial State Crown - and holds the Sovereign's Orb and Sceptre in Buckingham's Palace's Throne Room during his Coronation last year During an official visit to Egypt several years ago, the entire royal entourage were forced to somewhat rough it in modest mud brick houses because Charles was so keen to visit an eco-friendly, electricity free village. His wife confided in me later, amid much jokey eye-rolling, that the lack of plug sockets was all well and good if you dont need to use a blooming hair dryer. But dont mistake her ability to sometimes laugh at the absurdities of the position she has found herself in as a sign of casual distain. Queen Camilla is fiercely loyal to her man - and woe betide anyone who disrespects him. It sounds so horribly cliched but she genuinely respects her husband, his drive, his passion to change the world for the better, says another confidante. She is his fiercest champion and no-one should ever underestimate her loyalty to him. They come as a team. Disrespect him at your peril. Indeed, I have never, in all my years working with her, heard Camilla ever refer to her husband as anything less than His Royal Highness, the Prince, the King or His Majesty, even in private. She has huge respect for her husband as a King, as well as a man, and the institution of the monarchy, another source adds. Thats something Queen Elizabeth came to admire too. And one friend tells me that if Camilla is seen to be tolerant of her husbands quirks, then he is equally patient with hers. He has brought, how shall I put it, a little discipline to her, um, somewhat disorganised routine, they remarked wryly, with a nod to Camillas notorious untidiness and previously rather relaxed attitude to life. Of course there is occasionally friction. The King can get tetchy when his wife chats too much. She wishes he would slow down, just a touch. But they are minor, run-of-the-mill marital squabbles in the scheme of things and the King is clearly grateful to have someone to share this rather strange and sometimes lonely life with. One only had to see the smile of undisguised pride that lit up his face when he saw his wife walk out in her coronation finery at Buckingham Palace last May to understand just how much she means to him. They still own separate homes: Camilla has Raymill in Wiltshire, bought as a single woman, where she enjoys an informal existence away from the rigorous of palace life, while Charles still adores the formal/informality of Highgrove in nearby Gloucestershire. But they are still limpet-close, confident enough in their relationship that they can simply sit in a room, reading, without saying a word just the occasional smile. Charles has also embraced Camillas family like his own. He is hugely close to her sister, Annabel, who will provide a shoulder to cry on for her sister having lost her husband to a long-term illness just days before the coronation last year. And he adores her children, Tom and Laura, as well as her five grandchildren. During an interview five years ago, Camilla told me how her husband was a brilliant story-teller, regularly reading the children bedtime stories, particularly Harry Potter, and doing all the different voices for them. They were always mesmerised, she said. It is a side to the King that few get to hear about. Above all there is laughter. The kind of painful, gut-wrenching laughter that leaves you weak in the knees. On royal engagements you will often see the couple literally crying at a shared joke, corpsing again and again as they catch each other's eye no mean feat after 18 years of marriage especially when things dont quite go to plan. Laughter is something that they will, as a couple, need more than ever as they face the Kings current health crisis. And like everything in life, it is something they will approach together, united. King and Queen, but, more importantly, husband and wife. An 'evil' people smuggler who carried a group of migrants across the North Sea in a 'dangerously overcrowded and badly equipped' yacht has been jailed for more than two years. Eduard Mucaj spent two days at sea with 12 Albanian migrants, including an eight-year-old child, the Home Office said. The yacht was carrying more than three times its capacity and was fitted with a faulty engine. Border Force officers found a dozen migrants 'crammed' below deck. Eduard Mucaj, who has been jailed for two years and eight months, for attempting to smuggle 12 Albanian migrants to the UK The yacht used by Eduard Mucaj to bring migrants to the UK, pictured beside a Border Force cutter None of them had life jackets or harnesses, apart from Mucaj, who was seen at the helm wearing a life jacket, waterproofs and boots. Two of the migrants on board had previously been handed deportation orders and were banned from entering the UK and have since been removed from the country. Mucaj, 51, was arrested for facilitating illegal entry to the UK and attempting to arrive in the UK himself without valid entry clearance. He pleaded guilty to both charges and, at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday, was jailed for two years and eight months. The Home Office said: 'Eduard Mucaj piloted a dangerously overcrowded and badly equipped yacht across the North Sea from the Netherlands, despite having no safety equipment or navigational devices.' Minister for Illegal Migration, Michael Tomlinson, said: 'Evil people smugglers will go to any length to profit from people seeking to reach our shores illegally. 'This shocking case saw lives recklessly endangered, with people crammed on board a death trap with no regard for their safety or the law. 'I'd like to thank our officers and Dutch counterparts for their co-operation and hard work that has taken place to swiftly put this criminal behind bars. 'We are working relentlessly to stop the boats and ensure those responsible for dangerous smuggling attempts not only face the full weight of the law, but have their entire business model dismantled.' The yacht was carrying more than three times its capacity and was fitted with a faulty engine Border Force officers found a dozen migrants 'crammed' below deck, including an eight-year old Mucaj set sail from Den Oever in the Netherlands in the early hours of August 9 last year. He was tracked by Dutch authorities who monitored the yacht's movement as it sailed 'erratically' towards Lowestoft, Suffolk. The Dutch coastguard alerted the Home Office when Mucaj failed to respond to their attempts to make contact with the vessel, and the yacht was intercepted two days later by a Border Force patrol vessel as it entered UK territorial waters. The Home Office's criminal and financial investigation team worked with their Dutch counterparts to gather evidence for the case. Chris Foster, deputy director of the Home Office team, said: 'People smugglers are going to increasingly extreme lengths to bring people into the UK illegally. 'Today's sentence reflects the severity of this brazen smuggling attempt that spanned over 120 nautical miles of open seas. 'I want to thank my teams who work tirelessly to investigate those responsible for these crimes and ensure they are brought to justice.' President Joe Biden plans to speak to King Charles III after Buckingham Palace revealed he has been diagnosed with cancer. In his first comments on the 75-year-old British monarch's health, Biden told DailyMail.com that 'God willing' he will speak to him soon. 'I'm about to call him,' Biden said during the outpouring of support from around the world: 'Im concerned about him. Just heard about his diagnosis.' The president learned about Charles' shock news before meeting with culinary workers in Las Vegas, Nevada. He answered questions less than two hours after the Palace announced in a statement on Monday night that The King has cancer. Scroll down for video President Joe Biden said he is 'concerned' about King Charles III after Buckingham Palace revealed he has been diagnosed with cancer. They are pictured together at Windsor Castle in July last year US President Joe Biden told Dailymail.com in Las Vegas that 'God willing' he would speak to King Charles III soon and was 'about to call him' Biden spoke with Dailymail.com while visiting the No. 1 Boba Tea shop in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 5, 2024; The president said he is 'concerned' about King Charles III The monarch has returned to London from Sandringham to begin treatment immediately. His condition is not connected with his recent medical procedure for an enlarged prostate, and is not prostate cancer. The palace did not say what form of cancer he has. The King is understood to have personally informed his sons Prince William and Prince Harry about his condition. Harry will be flying to London from the U.S. in the 'coming days' to be by his father's side as he begins treatment. Biden last met King Charles at Windsor Castle in July. It was their first time holding talks since the Coronation in May. The pair shared a handshake and smiles in the historic quadrangle before holding a discussion on climate change. Biden did not attend the Coronation but had a 30-minute phone call with Charles which led to an invite for a UK state visit. In his first comments on the 75-year-old British monarch's health, Biden told DailyMail.com that 'god willing' he was hoping to speak to him soon Biden last met King Charles at Windsor Castle in July. It was the first time holding talks since the coronation in May First Lady Jill Biden and her granddaughter Finnegan went to the ceremony instead as representatives of the U.S. Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Monday: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. 'His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. 'The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. 'He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. 'His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.' Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer' King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer , Buckingham Palace announced in a statement this evening. Above: Charles was last seen waving to well-wishers as he attended a service with his wife Queen Camilla at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Sunday The King also apologized for having to postpone his upcoming engagements. A spokesman added: 'Regrettably, a number of the King's forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed. 'His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.' Announcing that Prince Harry will come and see his father, a source close to the Duke said: 'The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. 'He will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days.' All of the King's siblings, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Duke of Edinburgh were told personally by Charles, royal aides said. Fears of an Indianapolis serial killer rise as the bodies of two women were found stabbed to death just days apart and within blocks of each other. Shannon Lessere, 58, was found on Saturday, January 27. Just five days later and 150 yards away, Marianne Weis, 52, was discovered. The police said the two deaths are not officially connected at this time - but they did highlight similarities. 'Both victims either lived in or had strong connections to this area on the far east side,' Capt. Roger Spurgeon said at a press briefing Friday. 'Both victims were killed in a similar manner. Both victims were white females in their 50s.' 'We're here out of an abundance of caution to share information with the community that we can share and ask for information that will help move these investigations forward,' Police Chief Christopher Bailey said at the briefing. The body of Shannon Lessere, 58, was found on Saturday, January 27 Just five days later and 150 yards away, the body of the second victim - Marianne Weis, 52, was discovered The body of Weis was found near a strip mall Thursday - less than 500 feet from where Lassere was discovered, stabbed to death in a dental office parking lot. It's unclear exactly how Weis died but police said they both were 'killed in a similar manner' and had 'signs of trauma' on their bodies. Officer were called to the 2200 block of N Mitthoeffer Rd. just between I-70 and 21st St. for a report of a dead body last Saturday morning. That's where they found the body of Lassere, who was deaf, stabbed to death. Although police say there is no official connection, the grieving families of the victims believe otherwise. 'For my mom to be found and then for someone else to be found in the same area later, something is definitely going on, Lessere's daughter Cecilia told 13 News. 'I had a bad feeling in the morning. Got ahold of my sister and the rest of my siblings and then we got the news,' Lassere's son, Justin Smith said to 13News The call was made by an employee of a nearby business who told FOX59/CBS4 that she saw Lassere's body lying in a parking lot as she was driving to work around 9 am. 'She had left the house about ten thirty, eleven, Friday night,' Lassere's son, Justin Smith told the oulet. 'I had a bad feeling in the morning. Got ahold of my sister and the rest of my siblings and then we got the news.' 'Funny. Beautiful. She was handicapped. She was deaf. The most amazing woman ever,' Smith added. 'There's been another woman. There's been another case very similar to my mother's. So, somebody's out here, somebody's out here doing something.' Officer were called to the 2200 block of N Mitthoeffer Rd. just between I-70 and 21st St. for a report of a dead body last Saturday morning That's where they found the body of Lassere, who was deaf, stabbed to death The body of Weis was found near a strip mall Thursday - less than 500 feet from where Lassere was discovered, stabbed to death in a dental office parking lot Although police say there is no official connection, the grieving families of the victims believe otherwise. 'For my mom to be found and then for someone else to be found in the same area later, something is definitely going on, and I hope they find justice, and I hope God definitely does that person for what that person's done,' Lessere's daughter Cecilia told 13 News. 'If you ever met her or you ran across her, you'd be itching to come back and be in her presence,' Lassere's son, Justin Smith, told the oulet. 'She was just beautiful, in and out.' A shocked globe has rallied around King Charles tonight after he revealed that he is battling cancer and is stepping back from public duties during his treatment. The 75-year-old monarch has said he hopes that his diagnosis 'may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.' With Prince Harry set to board a plane back to Britain to be with his father as early as tonight and Prince William to take on some of the King's duties as the Princess of Wales recovers from abdominal surgery, world statesmen and religious leaders sent their love and support to the King and the Royal Family at this difficult time. And as crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace to send best wishes to His Majesty, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared: 'Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. I have no doubt he'll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.' US President Joe Biden said tonight that he is 'concerned' about the King and plans to call him later. He told reporters: 'I'm concerned about him. Just heard about his diagnosis. I'll be talking to him, God willing'. He later tweeted: 'Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship takes hope and absolute courage. Jill and I join the people of the United Kingdom in praying that His Majesty experiences a swift and full recovery'. Former President Donald Trump, the likely Republican nominee in November US elections, wrote on his Truth Social network that the king was 'a wonderful man' and that 'we all pray that he has a fast and full recovery'. Cardinal Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, said: 'I am saddened to learn that King Charles is now facing a time of treatment for cancer. On behalf of the entire Catholic Community in England and Wales, I offer His Majesty our warmest wishes and assurance of steadfast prayers for his full and speedy recovery. God bless the King'. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has yet to comment having just returned from Kyiv. Chief Rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, said: 'I am saddened to have heard about His Majesty The King's diagnosis. I know that the Jewish communities of Great Britain and the Commonwealth will join me in wishing him a Refuah Sheleima - a complete and swift recovery'. The King is understood to have personally informed his sons Prince William and Prince Harry about his condition. The Duke of Sussex will travel to the UK to see him in the coming days, a source close to Harry said. It is not yet clear if Meghan, Archie and Lilibet will head to the UK but there are claims in the US that they will remain in Montecito. Queen Camilla will continue with a full programme of public duties following the shock health announcement. Well-wishers headed to Buckingham Palace tonight, after it was announced Britain's King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer The King, pictured in France last September, will continue working behind the scenes on red boxes and constitutional duties, but public duties have been paused and will be shared amongst his family King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer , Buckingham Palace announced in a statement this evening. Above: Charles was last seen waving to well-wishers as he attended a service with his wife Queen Camilla at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Sunday Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer' Joe Biden and Jill Biden sent prayers to the King and said he hoped to speak to the monarch later As the King's cancer shocked Britain, the Commonwealth and the world, it also emerged: The world is wishing the King well tonight after he revealed his cancer. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. 'His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. 'The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. 'He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. 'His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.' The King also apologised for having to postpone his upcoming engagements. A spokesman added: 'Regrettably, a number of the King's forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed. 'His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.' Announcing that Prince Harry will come and see his father, a source close to the Duke said: 'The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. 'He will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days.' All of the King's siblings, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Duke of Edinburgh were told personally by Charles, royal aides said. The recent diagnosis means the King is unlikely to be at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 11, which is usually attended by senior members of the royal family. It is understood he will continue to receive red boxes and process state documents during treatment and there are no plans to appoint Counsellors of State. It is understood details of the King's diary are still being worked on and it is not yet known when a full programme of engagements will begin. The palace said the Queen will continue with a full programme of public duties. Other working members of the royal family could undertake additional duties on behalf of the King but it is understood planning for future state visits will continue where possible. It is also understood that Charles will continue to be available for Privy Council meetings, but details of how they will take place are still being worked through. It is expected that alternative arrangements will be made for his weekly audience with the Prime Minister should doctors advise him to minimise any in-person contact. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also offered his best wishes. He tweeted: 'I, like Canadians across the country and people around the world, am thinking of His Majesty King Charles III as he undergoes treatment for cancer. 'We're sending him our very best wishes - and hoping for a fast and full recovery.' Canada is one of the 14 Commonwealth realms where the King is head of state. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: 'On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery. 'We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health.' Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs: 'I know the whole House will wish to join me in expressing our sympathies with His Majesty the King following the news announcement this evening. 'Our thoughts are, of course, with His Majesty and his family, and we'd all wish to send him our very best wishes for the successful treatment and a speedy recovery following tonight's news.' The monarch, 75, received treatment for an enlarged prostate last week, spending three nights at the London Clinic private hospital When he was discharged from hospital last Monday, the King appeared steady on his feet as he walked out of the London Clinic in Marylebone with Queen Camilla by his side Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: 'Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. I have no doubt he'll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: 'On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery. We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health' KING'S CANCER DIAGNOSIS: THE ROYAL FAMILY'S RECENT HEALTH SCARES The King's cancer diagnosis is the latest shock health news to hit the royal family. - Tuesday January 16 Kate, 42, is secretly admitted to the London Clinic and undergoes abdominal surgery. - Wednesday January 17 2pm - Kensington Palace announces the princess' operation and says she will remain in the private hospital for 10-14 days. She is not expected to return to duties until after Easter, taking up to three months to recover. The Prince of Wales steps back from his official duties temporarily to care of his wife and children. The exact nature of Kate's condition is kept private, but it is not cancerous and Kensington Palace says the planned procedure was successful. 3.25pm - Buckingham Palace announces the King, 75, is to have treatment for a benign enlarged prostate and will be admitted to hospital in a few days. A source later says the princess is 'doing well'. - Thursday January 18 The Prince of Wales spends time at his wife's bedside, driving himself away from the back entrance during the low-key, private visit. The Queen says the King is 'fine' and 'looking forward to getting back to work' during a visit to the Aberdeen Art Gallery. - Friday January 19 The King flies back from Scotland with the Queen and heads to his Sandringham estate in Norfolk to rest ahead of the procedure. - Sunday January 21 It is announced that the King's former sister-in-law, Sarah, Duchess of York, has malignant melanoma, a form skin cancer. It is less than a year since the duchess, 64, was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. - Monday January 22 The Queen tells 86-year-old well-wisher Jessie Jackson that the King is 'fine', and thanks her for asking, while she carries out engagements in Swindon. Sarah, Duchess of York, meanwhile, describes her shock at having skin cancer but says she is in 'good spirits' and 'grateful for the many messages of love and support', in a post on Instagram. - Tuesday January 23 Kate's hospital stay passes the one-week mark. Camilla urges the King to take it easy. An insider told The Sun: 'The Queen has told him he needs to slow down a bit.' - Thursday January 25 The King carried out behind the scenes official duties, meeting academics from Cambridge University at Sandringham House. The King arrives back in London from Norfolk ready for his treatment. - Friday January 26 The King, with the Queen at his side, is admitted to the London Clinic for treatment for an enlarged prostate and also visits the Princess of Wales, who is recovering in the same hospital. - Monday January 29 The King is discharged from hospital and waves at well-wishers. Kate leaves the clinic the same day to continue her recovery at home. - Wednesday January 31 Camilla says the King is 'getting on, doing his best' as she opened a Maggie's cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London. - Sunday February 4 The King and Queen attend church in Sandringham, with Charles waving at well-wishers. - Monday February 5 Kensington Palace confirms the Prince of Wales is returning to official duties this week, beginning with an investiture. 6pm - Buckingham Palace announces the King has a form of cancer - but not prostate cancer - and has started treatment as an outpatient. He will not carry out public-facing duties, but will carry on with behind the scenes state business and official papers. Advertisement The diagnosis is also likely to be professionally devastating for Charles, who was the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history before he became King on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, on September 8 2022. Since then he has hit the ground running with three state visits overseas, hosting two incoming state visits to the UK and undertaking hundreds of public engagements each year, taking on a punishing official workload well into his 70s. Aides have said he has relished the challenge and is hugely enjoying his royal role. The King's diagnosis will pose serious questions for the working of the monarchy, with fewer working members of the royal family and the Princess of Wales out of action due to what has only been described as 'abdominal surgery' until after Easter. The Prince of Wales, who is heir to the throne, had cleared his diary to be by his wife's side and keep life as normal as possible for their three children. Kensington Palace announced earlier today, however, that he would resume public duties this week by conducting an investiture on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, followed by a gala fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance in the evening. While Queen Elizabeth suffered episodic periods of ill-health over the years and underwent surgery on a number of occasions, including on her knee and cataracts, there was no major health crisis of this magnitude until the very last months of her historic 70-year reign. That, however, would have a serious knock-on effect on the family life of the Prince and Princess of Wales. They moved to Windsor 18-months ago in order to allow their children to enjoy a more carefree childhood, outside of the royal bubble, until absolutely necessary. Prince George, ten, who is second in line to the throne, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis all attend a local school. Lambrook, and have settled in well at their new home, Adelaide Cottage. William and Kate's team are still based at Kensington Palace in London, their official residence, and travel up to Windsor for meetings. Questions will inevitably be asked how practicable it will be for them to do so now. The King has largely enjoyed very good health throughout his life, apart from suffering from a cripplingly bad back. The first sign that anything was amiss with his health came on January 17 when Buckingham Palace made a surprise announcement that the King had 'sought treatment' for an enlarged prostate. The palace added that His Majesty's condition was 'benign' and that he would attend hospital the following week for a corrective procedure. They said he was personally keen to share details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get themselves check. The NHS subsequently reported an encouraging spike in people seeking more information on their website. His Majesty, who was in Scotland at the time, travelled back down to Sandringham afterwards and then on to London the night before his surgery. He was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone, central London, on January 26 with his wife, Queen Camilla, by his side. Buckingham Palace said he wanted to thank everyone for their good wishes and was delighted to learn that his diagnosis was having a positive impact on public health awareness. He was finally released on Monday last week after three nights in hospital and said to be 'doing well'. He initially resided at Clarence House, his London residence, in order to be close to his doctors, before returning to Sandringham with his wife. Queen Camilla has continued to undertake public engagements, telling members of the l public that her husband was 'doing fine' and looking forwards to getting back to work. Last Tuesday she told well-wishers he was 'getting on' and 'doing his best', adding: 'Thank goodness!' One in every three men over the age of 50 will have symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which include needing to visit the toilet more frequently, 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 that have not responded to medicine. Following today's news, former Prime Minister and Mail columnist Boris Johnson wrote on X: 'The whole country will be rooting for the King today. Best wishes to Charles III for a full and speedy recovery.' Liz Truss, Mr Sunak's short-lived predecessor as PM, said: 'Sending every best wish to His Majesty The King and the Royal Family as he undergoes his treatment for cancer. He will be in our thoughts and prayers. God Save The King!' Vedant Patel, a spokesman for the US State Department, said it is 'incredibly sad news' and added: 'I'm very sorry for the King and his family'. He told a briefing of reporters that the Biden administration's thoughts are with the King and the Royal Family. Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, wished the King a 'full and swift recovery' following his cancer diagnosis. The 75-year-old monarch left the London Clinic last monday with Queen Camilla by his side The King waved to a large crowd of wellwishers when he left the London Clinic last Monday The King was visited by Queen Camilla four times when he was in hospital In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: 'I'm saddened to hear the news that HM King Charles III is facing further health challenges. 'My thoughts and those of people across Wales will be with him and his family this evening. 'I send my very best wishes as he starts treatment for a full and swift recovery. Gwellhad buan.' Northern Ireland's new republican First Minister Michelle O'Neill wished the King a full and speedy recovery. 'I am very sorry to hear of King Charles' illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment, and a full and speedy recovery,' she posted on X. Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said she was praying for the King. 'I would like to wish His Majesty, King Charles all the the very best for his treatment,' she said. 'I, like many people throughout Northern Ireland, will keep him and his family in my prayers.' Former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said: 'This is bound to be a profoundly unsettling piece of news at a time when symbols of stability and dependability are so vital for our well-being. 'In addition to the deep shared concern for King Charles at a personal level, we may well reflect on the importance of such symbols in giving us a focus for our life together as a family of national communities in the UK, a life together that goes beyond partisan rhetoric and mutual suspicion.' Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said: 'I am saddened to have heard about His Majesty The King's diagnosis. 'I know that the Jewish communities of Great Britain and the Commonwealth will join me in wishing him a Refuah Sheleima - a complete and swift recovery.' Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins wrote on X: 'My thoughts are with King Charles and the whole Royal Family. 'His decision to share his diagnosis to assist public understanding for all those affected by cancer is commendable. 'Wishing His Majesty the very best and look forward to seeing him resume his public duties.' Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who received treatment for kidney cancer in 2021, said: 'One in two of us will develop cancer during our lives, but millions more are affected when someone they love is diagnosed with cancer. King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the Sunday service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate on February 4, 2024 'Sending best wishes to His Majesty for his treatment and to his family as they support him throughout.' Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, said: 'I am saddened to learn that King Charles is now facing a time of treatment for cancer. 'On behalf of the entire Catholic Community in England and Wales, I offer His Majesty our warmest wishes and assurance of steadfast prayers for his full and speedy recovery. God bless the King.' A statement from Macmillan Cancer Support said everyone at the charity was sending their best wishes. The statement on X said: 'Our thoughts are with His Majesty the King and his family. We are sending our best wishes at what we know must be an incredibly challenging time. The King has been a long-standing supporter of Macmillan, becoming patron of the charity in 1997. Meghan Markle's estranged father Thomas wished King Charles 'all the good wishes in the world' after the monarch's cancer diagnosis was revealed on Monday. Thomas, 79, who has had his own health woes and is still recovering from a major stroke he suffered in 2002, said: 'I want to send my best wishes to King Charles and hope he gets well very soon. I wish him all the good wishes in the world.' Charles, 75, was diagnosed with cancer that was discovered during treatment for an enlarged prostate more than a week ago, Buckingham Palace announced on Monday. The Palace confirmed that it was not prostate cancer but did not reveal any other details about the disease. The King walked Meghan Markle down the aisle at her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry after Thomas suffered two heart attacks on the eve of the wedding and was ordered by doctors not to fly. He has spoken in the past of his disappointment at not being able to walk his daughter down the aisle of St. George's Chapel at Windsor, but said he would be 'eternally grateful' to the King for stepping in at the last minute. Meghan Markle's estranged father Thomas wished King Charles 'all the good wishes in the world' for a speedy recovery from cancer. He said: 'I want to send my best wishes to King Charles and hope he gets well very soon. I wish him all the good wishes in the world' Meghan Markle (left) pictured with her father in earlier years. The King walked her down the aisle at her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry after Thomas suffered two heart attacks Thomas and his daughter Meghan have had a fraught relationship in recent years. Mr Markle begged the Duchess of Sussex to let him see his grandchildren last September, adding that he has not seen her for five years. At the time, Meghan's father compared himself to King Charles, saying both of them have been deprived of contact with their grandchildren. 'King Charles has done nothing wrong too and he is denied the kids as well as I am,' he said. Mr Markle last spoke out in May 2023 after Harry made a whistlestop visit to the UK for King Charles's coronation. The 79-year-old, said he had stayed up all night to watch the ceremony on TV at his home in Rosarito, Mexico. He told the Mail on Sunday he believed 'it was for the best' that the Duchess stayed at home. He continued: 'There are too many disagreements between Meghan, Harry and the Royals. It was wonderful to watch the good people of Britain welcome their new King and Queen.' The 75-year-old monarch returned to London from Sandringham to begin his cancer treatment on Monday, Buckingham Palace confirmed. It is not connected with his recent surgery and is not prostate cancer, but medics spotted it when he underwent his medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. The 75-year-old monarch returned to London from Sandringham to begin his cancer treatment on Monday, Buckingham Palace confirmed Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped down from their royal duties in 2020 Thomas Markle with his daughter Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. She married into the British royal family in 2018, but stepped down from her duties for a life in Montecito, California The King is understood to have personally informed his sons Prince William and Prince Harry about his condition. The Duke of Sussex will travel to the UK from his home in Montecito, California, to see him in the coming days, a source close to Harry said. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. 'His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. 'The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. The King is understood to have personally informed his sons Prince William and Prince Harry about his condition 'He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. 'His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.' The King also apologised for having to postpone his upcoming engagements. A spokesman added: 'Regrettably, a number of the King's forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed. 'His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.' Announcing that Prince Harry will come and see his father, a source close to the Duke said: 'The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. 'He will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days.' A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder and four other boys have been arrested after a 70-year-old woman was fatally stabbed outside a Queensland shopping centre. Three 16-year-olds and two 15-year-olds have now been arrested and charged in relation to the death and carjacking of Vyleen White. Ms White had been shopping with her six-year-old granddaughter at Redbank Plains Town Square Shopping Centre, west of Brisbane, when she was stabbed in the chest in the centre's car park on Saturday night. A 15-year-old boy first handed himself into police on Sunday and was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle in relation to Ms White's allegedly stolen blue Hyundai Getz. One 16-year-old has now been charged with murder, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing offences after being arrested at a unit in Bellbird Park on Monday afternoon. He will face the Ipswich Children's Court on Tuesday. The remaining teenagers have been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and are due to appear in separate courts on Tuesday. The second 15-year-old is also facing a charge of possessing tainted property. Vyleen White is pictured celebrating her 70th birthday at her family home last June, eight months before her tragic death CCTV footage shows youths at the shopping centre shortly before 5pm on Saturday- an hour before Vyleen White died Ms White died at the scene, while her granddaughter, who watched the horror unfold, was unharmed. Detectives had earlier released CCTV footage of four youths in a Hyundai Getz, allegedly stolen from Ms White. 'Sadly the motive was to steal a Hyundai Getz,' Queensland Police Detective Acting Superintendent Heath McQueen said of the fatal stabbing. 'I stand before you today talking to you about a murder of a grandmother in front of a six-year-old ... and the result was a stolen Hyundai Getz - that is the motive.' He described it as a 'callous, cowardly, violent crime'. 'She was a loving, family woman,' he said. 'She was taking her granddaughter to the shops. This is senseless violence.' Pictured: Vyleen White's husband Victor with their daughter, Cindy, on Monday afternoon Vyleen White's family is devastated over the tragedy on Saturday. Her husband Victor is pictured, second left, with his daughter Cindy and three of her grandchildren The South Sudanese Community Association of Queensland issued a statement condemning the 'unfortunate and shocking' incident and called for calm on Monday night. 'SSCAQ Leadership in the strongest terms possible condemns the homicide committed,' a statement read. 'The incident is an isolated and the action of individual/s DO NOT represent the South Sudanese as a community and as people. 'The leadership urge the victims family to discourage any individuals who may capitalise on the unfortunate and shocking incident which occurred over the weekend.' Ms White's husband of almost 50 years, Victor, who is blind and relied heavily on her for support, broke his silence to Daily Mail Australia on Monday afternoon. He revealed his wife used to say, jokingly: 'If I go, no one is going to miss me.' 'If only she knew what was going on now,' he said, referencing the deluge of love and support his family has received in the wake of his wife's tragic death. The grieving widower issued a demand for justice while speaking to A Current Affair. Ms White's daughter Cindy Micallef is seen being consoled by a family friend 'When this particular animal stabbed my wife he stabbed four of us in the heart,' he said. 'He didn't just kill her, he killed four of us with her. 'Justice has to be done, not for my sake, for the memory of Vyleen.' One of their three daughters, struggled to understand how anyone could hurt her mother, particularly because she co-operated when confronted by the alleged attacker. 'She was a small, frail woman,' she said. 'She handed over the keys. They didn't take her bag, wallet, nothing, so why did they need to [allegedly] kill her?' Resident Sarah Stanley wrote in an online petition calling for more security at the shopping centre that the little girl begged bystanders to save her grandmother. 'I was in that car park and I had my grandchild with me,' Ms Stanley wrote. 'This attack was disgusting, that poor little girl screaming ''my grandma'' not fully understanding what had just happened. Vyleen White (pictured) was stabbed to death in the underground carpark of Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre on Saturday Flowers have been left behind at the shopping centre where Ms White was killed 'It's disgusting and cowardice. This community has had enough and it's time we fight back. My deepest condolences to all family and friends of this beautiful lady. We will not let this be in vain.' In a cruel twist of fate, she said her mother had only recently returned to the road after being unable to drive due to arthritis in her shoulders. Her journey to the shops on Saturday was the fourth time she had been back behind the wheel in weeks. Ms White's grandson, Joseph, said: 'She would have asked her [alleged] attacker: ''What do you need? Can I pray for you?'' Her family remembered her as a loving mother who would go above and beyond to make people feel special. One of Ms White's daughters said she was blown away when, for her most recent birthday, her mother presented her with a milkshake glass with Hawaiian motifs that matched the Hawaiian-themed party thrown for her. 'It just meant so much that she just went that far to find that thing because that was such a milestone birthday,' she said. 'And that's who she was - she'd just do stuff to go the extra mile.' Husband Victor said they met while working together at a broom factory in the 1970s. They got married and their raised three daughters. The couple were due to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in September. Shattered locals paid tribute to Ms White at the shopping centre on Monday While the family welcomed news of the arrests, they are nervous Ms White will not get the justice she deserves. They are calling on the government to act by imposing tougher deterrents and penalties for youth offenders. 'It doesn't matter what age you are. If you kill someone, you should pay the ultimate price,' Mr White said. The family hope Ms White will not be remembered for her death, but for the impact she had on those around her. Her daughter Cindy Micallef said she hopes the community will honour her mother's legacy by continuing the kindness she spread during her life. 'You don't know when someone's having a bad day,' she said. 'A kind word could make their day.' The family are beginning to plan for Ms White's funeral. Is Scotland condemned to high taxes for eternity and is any political party brave enough to make a stand against them? Its a complete fiction to suppose that Scots are wedded to punitive taxation and that were all desperate to have our pockets picked. That appears to be the lazy Left-wing narrative peddled by the SNP and anti-capitalist Greens who seek to justify tax raids as progressive and part of a social contract. The subtext is that we should be grateful to haemorrhage ever-larger sums from our fast-diminishing bank balances for the greater good. Yet all the signs are that public services are in a state of chronic disrepair and decline despite the tax-grabs, so that argument begins to look increasingly threadbare. Former finance secretary Kate Forbes described continually hiking taxes as counter-productive in the long term As stand-in finance secretary, John Swinney promised in 2022 that the 1p increase in higher rate tax was a penny for patient care. But the IFS economic think tank has revealed that funding for NHS recovery and social care is set to fall by 0.7 per cent in real terms in 202425 compared with this financial year, despite official Budget documentation showing a 1.3 per cent real-terms year-on-year increase. Were paying more for a health service which were told to cherish even though its plainly not fit for purpose and it seems the extra cash isnt even finding its way to the NHS. Against that backdrop, and given that Scotland is the most heavily taxed part of the United Kingdom, its not just odd but downright bizarre that theres no meaningful debate about cutting taxes to kick-start the economy, with the proceeds of growth ploughed into the NHS and state education. There are 130 mentions of tax cuts on the Scottish parliaments website, which archives debate transcripts and committee reports since 1999, compared with nearly 36,000 for independence (progressive weighs in with nearly 50,000 hits). The Scottish Tories speak out to condemn SNP tax rises but thats about as far as it goes. Theres rarely any attempt at an argument for cuts that goes beyond bringing our regime into line with the rest of the UK, though that would be a start. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has said tax cuts could be considered once the economy starts to grow. Growth in Scotland has been running at roughly half the UK level since Nicola Sturgeon came to office in 2014, so it may be some time before Mr Sarwar gets round to cutting taxes if he were to win the Holyrood election in 2026 and its hard to believe that ideologically he would cut them anyway. Yet the case for urgent action is inarguable. The brightest and best are either packing up and heading for the exit or have already gone. In a triple whammy announced in Decembers Budget, a 45p income tax band will be introduced on earnings above 75,000, the top rate on earnings above 125,140 will rise by 1p to 48p, and the higher rate threshold will be frozen at 43,663. Someone earning a 35,000 salary will pay 61 more in Scotland than the rest of the UK, rising to 442 at 45,000, 1,696 at 55,000 and 2,096 at 75,000. One reader, who preferred not to be named, contacted me to say that hes lucky enough to be in the top income tax band (48p) and agrees that those with the broadest shoulders should contribute proportionately more. But he already does contribute more as his income tax bill runs to around 200,000 a year and at that level he says there is a 15-20,000 differential between Scotland and England. He wrote: My office is in London, I own a flat in London and I divide my time between Scotland and England. Unsurprisingly, I am giving serious consideration to switching my tax registration to England where, due to the demands of work, I already spend a larger proportion of my time. How many more will follow in his footsteps remains to be seen, but the damage could be profound. According to economic forecasting group the EY ITEM Club, the Scottish economy is being held back by a smaller and slower growing private sector than the rest of the UK, while it also warns that higher taxes hamper growth and investment. The SNP pays lip service to the need for expanding the economy but can never be taken seriously while its in government with the Greens, who oppose the very concept of growth. Yet the SNPs tax changes dont affect just the rich, they also hit a significant number of NHS professionals and senior teachers. It is an election year and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is under pressure to come up with more tax cuts after his welcome reduction to National Insurance last month. Theyre the only realistic prospect of the Tories holding on to power or limiting the scale of their defeat. In Scotland, there is a semblance of a debate about taxes taking place within the SNP, sparked by former finance secretary Kate Forbes. As The Scottish Mail on Sunday revealed at the weekend, Ms Forbes wrote in a yet-to-be-published column for a Highland publication that continually increasing taxes is ultimately counter-productive over the long term. Ms Forbes, whose heretical views on tax are a breath of fresh air and certainly unusual, or unheard of, in the SNPs ranks, narrowly lost to Humza Yousaf in the race to replace Ms Sturgeon. Mr Yousaf is widely regarded as a weak and incompetent leader, looking down the barrel of heavy losses in this years general election making Ms Forbes a realistic contender to replace him. Is our best hope of escaping the yoke of higher taxes the return of Ms Forbes to government, this time as First Minister? Well, bear in mind that shes still a separatist and when she was in office as finance secretary she wasnt exactly well-known for her tax-cutting agenda. Political machinations aside, the time for tinkering around the edges is over and as a country we cant afford to hang around. In 1961, John F. Kennedy inherited a top rate of income tax of 91 per cent and faced Republican opposition in reducing it to 70 per cent. But his policy change resulted in the US moving from deficit to a 2.3billion surplus by 1965. Former UK chancellor Lord Lawson, who died last year, oversaw a booming economy that caught up with its European counterparts after major tax reform and cuts which meant that by the time he resigned in 1989, the country was running a balanced budget. There are plenty of respectable arguments for cutting taxes but north of the Border we rarely hear them. The social contract is being stretched to breaking point and unless there is some respite soon from relentless SNP tax raids, Scotland will continue on a path leading directly to economic ruin. Prince Harry will be flying to London to visit his father following his cancer diagnosis, but his wife Meghan and their two children will not be joining him, a source has revealed. The Duke of Sussex will soon be leaving California for Britain to be reunited with his father, after King Charles contacted both of his sons personally to tell them of his cancer diagnosis, before it was announced by Buckingham Palace. But Harry's wife Meghan Markle and their children Archie, four, and Lilibet, two, will stay in LA, a source close to the duke has revealed. A source close to Harry said that he had immediately decided to come to the UK as soon as possible to be by his father's side. Experts have claimed that Harry's dash to Britain 'indicates the seriousness' of the King's condition. Announcing that Prince Harry will come and see his father, the Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: 'The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. He will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days.' The decision will also raise hopes of a reconciliation within the royal family. Prince Harry will be flying to London in the coming days after King Charles' cancer diagnosis was made public, but Meghan and their two children will not be joining him A source close to the duke revealed Meghan and their two children will remain in LA Harry has a troubled relationship with his father, although they are still in contact, but his long-running rift with the Prince of Wales remains ongoing. Charles, according to Harry, pleaded with his sons during a tense meeting after the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral: 'Please, boys. Don't make my final years a misery.' Harry and the Duchess of Sussex wanted a half in-half out approach to royal life, but in the end quit as senior working royals amid the Megxit crisis in 2020. In their primetime Oprah interview in 2021, they went on to accuse an unnamed royal - later claimed to be two royals - of making a racist comment about what skin colour their son Prince Archie would have before he was born. Harry also said Charles stopped taking his calls when he was trying to discuss stepping down as a working royal. 'My father and my brother, they are trapped. They don't get to leave. And I have huge compassion for that,' Harry told Winfrey. Allegations continued in the Sussexes' Netflix documentary and Harry's memoir Spare - both released in the months that followed the late Queen's death and at the start of Charles's reign. Harry claimed his brother William physically attacked him and that the King put his own interests above Harry's, and was jealous of Meghan and the Princess of Wales. He also said Charles did not hug him when he told him his mother Diana, Princess of Wales had died, and that he believed the King was 'never made' for single parenthood, but 'to be fair, he tried'. Harry also attacked the reputation of his stepmother the Queen, saying Camilla's willingness to forge relationships with the British press made her 'dangerous' and he criticised her attempts to rehabilitate her 'image' at his cost, during a series of interviews to promote his book. Harry was last seen alongside the royal family at the King's coronation in May, but the trip was a whirlwind one with the duke leaving immediately after to return to the US on what was Archie's fourth birthday. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said she hoped that King Charles III's cancer diagnosis 'will bring a reconciliation' with Prince Harry. Harry's estranged brother William is also in close contact with his father but neither brother has made a public statement yet. The heir to the throne, who returns to public duties this week after helping to settle his wife, the Princess of Wales, at home as she recovers from abdominal surgery. He may also undertake some duties on behalf of his father, in addition to his own diary of engagements, while the King undergoes treatment. King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer , Buckingham Palace announced in a statement this evening. Above: Charles was last seen waving to well-wishers as he attended a service with his wife Queen Camilla at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Sunday Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer' Experts hope that the diagnosis will bring some kind of reconciliation between Harry and his father and brother As the King's cancer shocked Britain, the Commonwealth and the world, it also emerged: Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that doctors discovered the cancer during a medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. Sources have suggested that the cancer is in a different part of the King's body but was discovered during the surgery last week. Prince Harry was last in the UK over the summer, when he attended an event for a children's charity. However, he did not meet with the Royal family during that visit before heading to Germany for his Invictus Games where he met up with Meghan. The Duke of Sussex attended his father's coronation last May, but left London just hours after the ceremony to return to Montecito. Harry is believed to be in contact with his father but sources have claimed that there has been no rapprochement with William, who is said to have been left upset by the Sussexes' attacks on the Royal Family since Megxit. Harry's visit will raise hopes that there could be some thawing in the relations, which have been rocky since he and Meghan emigrated in 2020. King Charles' cancer diagnosis has shocked the world. The 75-year-old monarch has returned to London from Sandringham to begin treatment immediately. It is not connected with his recent surgery and is not prostate cancer, but medics spotted it when he underwent his medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. The Duke of Sussex has spoken with the King about his cancer diagnosis and will travel to the UK to see him in the coming days, a source close to Harry said. Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. 'His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. 'The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. 'His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.' The palace said the King 'looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible', but it is not yet known whether it will affect his attendance at events such as those marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June. It is understood he will continue to receive red boxes and process state documents during treatment and there are no plans to appoint Counsellors of State. A palace spokesman said: 'Regrettably, a number of the King's forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed. 'His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.' It is understood details of the King's diary are still being worked on and it is not yet known when a full programme of engagements will begin. Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: 'Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. 'I have no doubt he'll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.' Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: 'On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery. 'We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health.' Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs: 'I know the whole House will wish to join me in expressing our sympathies with His Majesty the King following the news announcement this evening. 'Our thoughts are, of course, with His Majesty and his family, and we'd all wish to send him our very best wishes for the successful treatment and a speedy recovery following tonight's news.' The monarch, 75, received treatment for an enlarged prostate last week, spending three nights at the London Clinic private hospital When he was discharged from hospital last Monday, the King appeared steady on his feet as he walked out of the London Clinic in Marylebone with Queen Camilla by his side KING'S CANCER DIAGNOSIS: THE ROYAL FAMILY'S RECENT HEALTH SCARES The King's cancer diagnosis is the latest shock health news to hit the royal family. - Tuesday January 16 Kate, 42, is secretly admitted to the London Clinic and undergoes abdominal surgery. - Wednesday January 17 2pm - Kensington Palace announces the princess' operation and says she will remain in the private hospital for 10-14 days. She is not expected to return to duties until after Easter, taking up to three months to recover. The Prince of Wales steps back from his official duties temporarily to care of his wife and children. The exact nature of Kate's condition is kept private, but it is not cancerous and Kensington Palace says the planned procedure was successful. 3.25pm - Buckingham Palace announces the King, 75, is to have treatment for a benign enlarged prostate and will be admitted to hospital in a few days. A source later says the princess is 'doing well'. - Thursday January 18 The Prince of Wales spends time at his wife's bedside, driving himself away from the back entrance during the low-key, private visit. The Queen says the King is 'fine' and 'looking forward to getting back to work' during a visit to the Aberdeen Art Gallery. - Friday January 19 The King flies back from Scotland with the Queen and heads to his Sandringham estate in Norfolk to rest ahead of the procedure. - Sunday January 21 It is announced that the King's former sister-in-law, Sarah, Duchess of York, has malignant melanoma, a form skin cancer. It is less than a year since the duchess, 64, was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. - Monday January 22 The Queen tells 86-year-old well-wisher Jessie Jackson that the King is 'fine', and thanks her for asking, while she carries out engagements in Swindon. Sarah, Duchess of York, meanwhile, describes her shock at having skin cancer but says she is in 'good spirits' and 'grateful for the many messages of love and support', in a post on Instagram. - Tuesday January 23 Kate's hospital stay passes the one-week mark. Camilla urges the King to take it easy. An insider told The Sun: 'The Queen has told him he needs to slow down a bit.' - Thursday January 25 The King carried out behind the scenes official duties, meeting academics from Cambridge University at Sandringham House. The King arrives back in London from Norfolk ready for his treatment. - Friday January 26 The King, with the Queen at his side, is admitted to the London Clinic for treatment for an enlarged prostate and also visits the Princess of Wales, who is recovering in the same hospital. - Monday January 29 The King is discharged from hospital and waves at well-wishers. Kate leaves the clinic the same day to continue her recovery at home. - Wednesday January 31 Camilla says the King is 'getting on, doing his best' as she opened a Maggie's cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London. - Sunday February 4 The King and Queen attend church in Sandringham, with Charles waving at well-wishers. - Monday February 5 Kensington Palace confirms the Prince of Wales is returning to official duties this week, beginning with an investiture. 6pm - Buckingham Palace announces the King has a form of cancer - but not prostate cancer - and has started treatment as an outpatient. He will not carry out public-facing duties, but will carry on with behind the scenes state business and official papers. Advertisement The diagnosis is also likely to be professionally devastating for Charles, who was the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history before he became King on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, on September 8 2022. Since then he has hit the ground running with three state visits overseas, hosting two incoming state visits to the UK and undertaking hundreds of public engagements each year, taking on a punishing official workload well into his 70s. Aides have said he has relished the challenge and is hugely enjoying his royal role. The King's diagnosis will pose serious questions for the working of the monarchy, with fewer working members of the royal family and the Princess of Wales out of action due to what has only been described as 'abdominal surgery' until after Easter. The Prince of Wales, who is heir to the throne, had cleared his diary to be by his wife's side and keep life as normal as possible for their three children. Kensington Palace announced earlier today, however, that he would resume public duties this week by conducting an investiture on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, followed by a gala fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance in the evening. While Queen Elizabeth suffered episodic periods of ill-health over the years and underwent surgery on a number of occasions, including on her knee and cataracts, there was no major health crisis of this magnitude until the very last months of her historic 70-year reign. That, however, would have a serious knock-on effect on the family life of the Prince and Princess of Wales. They moved to Windsor 18-months ago in order to allow their children to enjoy a more carefree childhood, outside of the royal bubble, until absolutely necessary. Prince George, ten, who is second in line to the throne, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis all attend a local school. Lambrook, and have settled in well at their new home, Adelaide Cottage. William and Kate's team are still based at Kensington Palace in London, their official residence, and travel up to Windsor for meetings. Questions will inevitably be asked how practicable it will be for them to do so now. The King has largely enjoyed very good health throughout his life, apart from suffering from a cripplingly bad back. The first sign that anything was amiss with his health came on January 17 when Buckingham Palace made a surprise announcement that the King had 'sought treatment' for an enlarged prostate. The palace added that His Majesty's condition was 'benign' and that he would attend hospital the following week for a corrective procedure. They said he was personally keen to share details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get themselves check. The NHS subsequently reported an encouraging spike in people seeking more information on their website. His Majesty, who was in Scotland at the time, travelled back down to Sandringham afterwards and then on to London the night before his surgery. He was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone, central London, on January 26 with his wife, Queen Camilla, by his side. Buckingham Palace said he wanted to thank everyone for their good wishes and was delighted to learn that his diagnosis was having a positive impact on public health awareness. He was finally released on Monday last week after three nights in hospital and said to be 'doing well'. He initially resided at Clarence House, his London residence, in order to be close to his doctors, before returning to Sandringham with his wife. Queen Camilla has continued to undertake public engagements, telling members of the l public that her husband was 'doing fine' and looking forwards to getting back to work. Last Tuesday she told well-wishers he was 'getting on' and 'doing his best', adding: 'Thank goodness!' One in every three men over the age of 50 will have symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which include needing to visit the toilet more frequently, 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 that have not responded to medicine. Mark Drakeford , the First Minister of Wales, wished the King a 'full and swift recovery' following his cancer diagnosis. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: 'I'm saddened to hear the news that HM King Charles III is facing further health challenges. 'My thoughts and those of people across Wales will be with him and his family this evening. 'I send my very best wishes as he starts treatment for a full and swift recovery. 'Gwellhad buan.' Northern Ireland's new First Minister Michelle O'Neill, who as leader of Sinn Fein is a republican, wished the King a full and speedy recovery. 'I am very sorry to hear of King Charles' illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment, and a full and speedy recovery,' she posted on X. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said after the shocking news today: 'I am saddened to have heard about His Majesty The King's diagnosis. 'I know that the Jewish communities of Great Britain and the Commonwealth will join me in wishing him a Refuah Sheleima - a complete and swift recovery.' The 75-year-old monarch left the London Clinic last monday with Queen Camilla by his side The King waved to a large crowd of wellwishers when he left the London Clinic last Monday The King was visited by Queen Camilla four times when he was in hospital Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins wrote on X: 'My thoughts are with King Charles and the whole Royal Family. 'His decision to share his diagnosis to assist public understanding for all those affected by cancer is commendable. 'Wishing His Majesty the very best and look forward to seeing him resume his public duties.' Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who received treatment for kidney cancer in 2021, said: 'One in two of us will develop cancer during our lives, but millions more are affected when someone they love is diagnosed with cancer. 'Sending best wishes to His Majesty for his treatment and to his family as they support him throughout.' A Texas mother, who saved her two older children during a house fire, tragically died when she ran back into the burning building to save her one-year-old son, but both mother and son perished. Giovanna Cabrera, 31, and her infant son, Gabriel were inside their home at 218 Heaney Street on Houston's north side early Saturday morning when the fire broke out. After rescuing her two older children, aged six and nine, Cabrera ran back into the burning building, but never came back out, firefighters said. The blaze was so intense that firefighters had to wait before they entered. Once inside they saw Cabrera holding her son Gabriel amid the smoke and flames. 'She had him in her arms like the baby, so I know she tried. I know if she could've. She would have made it out,' her distraught sister, Giselle Bueno told local affiliate ABC13 News, said. The origin and cause of the fire remains unknown and is being investigated, fire officials said. Pictured: Giovanna Cabrera and her one-year-old son Gabriel Cabrera died tragically in a house fire on Saturday. The hero mother rescued her two older children, ages 6 and 9, when she ran into the home to save her baby, she never made it out, firefighters said The early morning fire broke out on Saturday at the family's home on 218 Heaney Street on Houston's north side Cabrera pictured with her two other children, ages six and 9, (left) who she rescued from the burning structure, as she is pictured (right) with her son, who also perished The home was so badly damaged fire crews were unsure whether the structure had one or two stories. Hours after the tragedy, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena posted the catastrophic fire on X, formerly Twitter with the caption: 'Heartbreaking incident.' Utterly devastated by the tragedy, Giselle Bueno stood outside the home that was covered in black ash after firefighters extinguished the flames. She wept as she called her sister, Giovanna a 'wonderful, courageous mom.' 'I can't believe I am not going to see her anymore and the baby,' Bueno said. 'She had to save her babies that is her first thing. I couldn't imagine how scared she was.' As family members, friend and neighbors comforted Bueno, a memorial with a photo of Giovanna and Gabriel, sat near a tree outside the burnt out structure. Bethel Baptist Church Pastor Jaime Garcia was at the scene accompanied by church members who were there to support the family during this unimaginable loss. 'The church is here, family and friends, and that is for one reason to encourage this family during this very tragic time in their life that none of us can understand,' Garcia said, as per the news outlet. Bueno said that in the end, she had comfort knowing that her sister and her baby son died together. 'I don't think my sister could have bared the pain of losing a child,' she added. A fire in north Houston claims a mothers life and her infant son. @FireChiefofHFD says the mother got two older kids out of the house first. A neighbor shared this video. Ill have more tonight with that neighbor and the victims sister. @KHOU pic.twitter.com/axg8bzzg1u Katiera Winfrey (@Katiera_Winfrey) February 3, 2024 The cause and origin of the fire is unknown and an investigation is ongonig Utterly devastated by the tragedy, Giselle Bueno (pictured in the maroon sweatshirt) is seen outside the ravaged home hugging a friend who was there to show her support Firefighters from the Houston Fire Department stand outside the burnt out structure that was completely demolished during Saturday's house fire The two surviving children are now with their father, ABC13 reported. A GoFundMe has been created to help pay for their funerals. Any remaining donations will bo towads Cabrera's two other children, and her parents who lost all that they owned in the fire. As of Monday afternoon, more than $22,000 has been raised towards their goal of $35,000. If ever there was a chance for royal reconciliation, now is the time. For all of Prince Harrys publicly expressed doubts that there is no need for him in the royal family, that he is but a spare the deeply concerning news about King Charles IIIs cancer diagnosis proves nothing is further from the truth. Prince Harry is essential to his family, now as never before. King Charles has said that the door is always open to his youngest son. Now is the perfect time for him to take this opportunity. It was only a few weeks ago that his sister-in-law, the Princess of Wales, was hospitalized for a two-week stay following abdominal surgery. This came in tandem with news that Charles would undergo an operation for an enlarged prostate. The Kings surgery, we now know, revealed cancer in another, unspecified area. The Palace has declined to give further details, but the hope is that it has been caught early. For all of Prince Harry s publicly expressed doubts that there is no need for him in the royal family , that he is but a spare - the deeply concerning news about King Charles IIIs cancer diagnosis proves nothing is further from the truth. Prince Harry is essential to his family, now as never before. King Charles has said that the door is always open to his youngest son. Now is the perfect time for him to take this opportunity. Yet this newly streamlined monarchy has suffered two major blows, with its most popular royals a King who has spent a little over a year on the throne and the future Queen, the most glittering star in its constellation out of commission. William has cancelled all his engagements to be with Kate as she recovers. Charles, who began treatment on Monday, has cleared his calendar. Surely Camilla will be by his side in the days and weeks to come. Its a dark hour for the monarchy and doubtless a darker one for Harry. How difficult it must have been for him to hear this sad news while so far away. How keenly his absence, and that of little Archie and Lilibet, must be felt back home. Charles has only met Lilibet once, during the late Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations the only time she met her namesake, too. It was wonderful to have [the grandchildren] back in Britain, a royal source said at the time, adding that Charles and Camilla were absolutely thrilled to see them. The Palace has confirmed that Charles told each of his sons about his diagnosis personally. Harry announced that he is flying home to London immediately. Will his children soon join him, as the King and Queen would surely hope? One senses that even Meghan might be cautiously welcomed. Charles did, after all, walk her down the aisle. William, as we know, is less forgiving than his father. But with Kate recuperating, with three small children who need his constant presence, with a sick father and the weight of the Crown suddenly heavier than ever, the absence of his only sibling must be freshly painful. Could this window, long shut to Harry, be slightly ajar? What an opportunity this might be. What a comforting presence Harry and his children could provide to the King as he undergoes treatment. What a gift he and William could give their ailing father if they could find their way to some rapprochement. Their relationship might never be the same again, of course, but that could be a good thing or at least, a more honest one. Its a dark hour for the monarchy - and doubtless a darker one for Harry. How difficult it must have been for him to hear this sad news while so far away. What an opportunity this might be. What a comforting presence Harry and his children could provide to the King as he undergoes treatment. A reconciliation doesn't mean they have to go deep. If they can find a way to come back together, it would be greater than any title or castle or inheritance especially for their children, who have no relationship as cousins. And specifically for Harry's children, who have little relationship to their most incredible and historic lineage. A brotherly reconciliation would ensure the future of the monarchy itself. Will Harry now re-find an appreciation for his blood ties to a wounded father who continues to protect him, a brother who shared with him the very public loss of a beloved mother, and, indeed, a sister-in-law he once so openly adored? Harry failed to make good with the Queen before she died. At the end, he missed his chance to fly to her bedside with William and other family members after reportedly demanding that Meghan accompany him. One imagines he regrets that. Harry's demand left the royals shocked by his behavior, as Robert Jobson reported in his well-sourced biography, Our King: Charles III. Jobson also claimed that stripping Harry of his title had been discussed at the highest level with Charles refusing to consider it out of 'enduring love for his son. There has never been a more auspicious moment for a royal reconciliation than right now. Prince Harry isnt just needed at this moment. Its quite clear he is very much wanted. Lets hope the self-proclaimed spare recognizes just how important he is and all that he can be, to his family and his country, if he allows. A sleek London restaurant has become the ninth three Michelin star dining outlet to be awarded the prestigious honour. The Notting Hill eatery was awarded the top honour at this year's Michelin Guide Ceremony for Great Britain & Ireland, which took place at The Midland Hotel in Manchester. Brett Graham's restaurant was the only new establishment to be awarded three stars as part of the 2024 guide. The Ledbury's eight-course tasting menu, designed by head chef Tom Spenceley, costs punters 210-per-person, with an extra 135 for the wine pairings with each course. The businesses most expensive wine comes at 41 for a 175ml glass and guests are charged a corkage fee of 75 per bottle. The Ledbury (pictured), in Notting Hill, was awarded the top honour at this year's Michelin Guide Ceremony for Great Britain & Ireland Brett Graham's restaurant was the only new establishment to be awarded three stars as part of the 2024 guide The Ledbury's eight-course tasting menu, designed by head chef Tom Spenceley, costs punters 210-per-person According to the guide, the inspectors found the dishes were 'everything they expected of a restaurant with the highest gastronomic honours' Speaking at tonight's ceremony, Australian-born Brett Graham, who opened The Ledbury in 2005, said: 'Tonight we won't get much sleep, I don't think. We'll have to draw straws [to decide] who runs the service tomorrow.' The Ledbury seemly closed for good during the Covid-19 pandemic, after Graham announced its indefinite closure in June 2020, citing one-metre social distancing measures in place as impractical to keep staff and customers safe. Three Michelin Star Restaurants 2024 Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, London CORE by Clare Smyth, London Fat Duck, Bray Helene Darroze at The Connaught, London L'Enclume, Cartmel Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London Sketch (The Lecture Room & Library), London The Ledbury, London New Waterside Inn, Bray Advertisement During its closure, the restaurant lost the two Michelin stars it had won in 2010. However, following its reopening in February 2022, it regained both by March 2023. Dishes on the tasting menu include Veal Sweetbread with Parsnip, Vin Jaune and Jus Noisette and Woburn Abbey Chinese Water Deer with Kuri Squash, Rosehip and Sea Buckthorn. According to the guide, the inspectors found the dishes were 'everything they expected of a restaurant with the highest gastronomic honours'. It read: 'Super produce has always been the bedrock of what they do here, including the mushroom grown in-house and deer from their own small estate. 'Led by Brett Graham, the kitchen team display a technical mastery across dishes that deliver sublime flavours using ingredients of unsurpassable quality. 'Each mouthful provides considerable depth of flavour, with the consistently harmonious combinations showcasing a streak of originality.' 'From its refined combinations to exemplary depth of flavour, the Ledbury has it all.' It was an overall successful night for London restaurants. Three eateries in the capital were given two stars, including Trivet in Bermondsey, and Brooklands, chef Claude Bosi's latest venture which sits atop the new Peninsula Hotel in Knightsbridge. Gymkhana, found in Mayfair, became the first Indian restaurant in London to hold a pair of Michelin stars. The capital also boasted 11 new one star restaurants, while Birmingham has welcomed its first ever Two star restaurant. Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of The Michelin Guide, commented: 'It is a joy to see 20 restaurants newly awarded the Bib Gourmand in the 2024 edition of The MICHELIN Guide Great Britain & Ireland. 'These are establishments that deserve recognition for their continued commitment to offering affordable, delicious cooking. 'The generosity and value for money they offer is wonderful to see during these challenging economic times for the restaurant industry.' The vote to impeach Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas will come down to a razor-thin margin on Tuesday, with Colorado GOP Rep. Ken Buck dug in on opposing the effort. Speaker Mike Johnson said on Friday he would talk to Buck over the weekend about his opposition to the impeachment effort, but a source close to Buck told DailyMail.com the congressman had not heard from him all weekend. 'He's a good friend, a colleague. I'll talk with him this weekend,' the speaker said on Fox Business. Buck is the only openly 'no' vote on impeaching the Homeland Security secretary. But Republicans can only afford to lose a small handful of votes and pass the impeachment articles. Buck has been opposed to all impeachment efforts during his time in Congress - he has called the movement to impeach President Biden 'theater' and voted against impeaching former President Donald Trump twice. 'The Constitution is clear. I will be voting no on the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas,' congressman went on. The vote to impeach Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas will come down to a razor-thin margin on Tuesday, with Colorado GOP Rep. Ken Buck dug in on opposing the effort Buck said Mayorkas has 'completely failed at his job' but 'maladministration or incompetence does not rise to what our founders considered an impeachable offense. The congressman, who will retire after this congressional term, warned 'partisan impeachments' will 'boomerang back and hurt Republicans in the future.' If the vote is successful, Mayorkas will be the first Cabinet secretary impeached since Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876. 'If Mayorkas were to be removed from office, its likely that President Biden would appoint another incompetent individual who would carry out this same failed approach,' Buck reasoned. Other Republicans could possibly oppose the measure. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Calif., has said he not decided how he'll vote. The impeachment articles passed out of the Homeland Security Committee last week on party lines. If the vote is successful, Mayorkas will be the first Cabinet secretary impeached since Secretary of War William Belknap in 1876 Republicans moved forward two articles of impeachment against Biden's border chief Mayorkas - one accusing him of willfully subverting immigration laws through catch-and-release and another accusing him of obstructing and lying to Congress. Republicans cite Mayorkas' 'willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law' as hundreds of migrants continue to flood into the U.S. every day. They contend Mayorkas is guilty of 'high crimes and misdemeanors' that amount to a 'refusal to comply with the law' on immigration and a 'breach of the public trust.' The impeachment resolution stated: 'Alejandro N. Mayorkas willfully and systemically refused to comply with the immigration laws, failed to control the border to the detriment of national security, compromised public safety, and violated the rule of law and separation of powers in the Constitution, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States. Passage requires only a House majority. The Senate would hold a trial, and a two-thirds vote is required for conviction, an exceedingly unlikely outcome in the Democratic-run Senate. A group of migrants has been working as a 'ghost' criminal enterprise in New York City - led by a Venezuelan ringleader who was let free by authorities in December. At least five migrants were arrested Monday morning in a sting operation by the NYPD looking into a gang of criminals who use stolen mopeds and scooters to violently snatch phones and wallets from pedestrians, mainly women. Police are still on the hunt for the ringleader - Venezuelan national Victor Parra, 30, who was not home when police served a search warrant in his alleged lair in the Bronx. Officials believe he entered the country sometime in 2023 and was freed on bail in December after being charged with grand larceny. Parra led an elaborate scheme where he would put out calls for stolen phones using a group on the messaging platform What's App, police said on Monday. Once migrants brought the iPhones to the home in the Bronx, a suspect would hack into them to access the victim's Apple Pay feature. Once they emptied out the accounts, the phones were shipped to Miami or Colombia to be reprogrammed, per the NYPD. A group of migrants has been working as a 'ghost' criminal enterprise in New York City Police are still on the hunt for the ringleader - Venezuelan national Victor Parra, 30, who was not home when police served a search warrant in his home in the Bronx NYPD Inspector Nicholas Fiore said Parra had convinced others to 'go do his dirty work.' 'Hes caused a lot of problems in New York City. And hopefully well grab him, we get some headway on this,' Fiore added. One of the phone snatchings was caught in a horrifying video shared by police on Monday. NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry said: 'Most migrants come to NYC in search of a better life. Sadly, some come to commit crime. Today we made tremendous progress in the largest robbery pattern plaguing our city. 'Our message is simple - commit a crime in our city and we will find you and bring you to justice!' Mayor Eric Adams went along for the sting operation and later appeared at a press conference with police, explaining that he went along because he is a 'general who leads from the front.' 'This isn't about the migrants and asylum seekers, this is about those who break the law. It doesn't matter where you're from and where you came from,' the Democrat said. Police have so far named a total of nine suspects, from Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia, in the case - Cleyber Andrade, 19, and Juan Uzcatgui, 23, Yan Jimenez, 25, Anthony Ramos, 21, Richard Saledo, 21, Beike Jimenez, 21, Maria Manaura, 32, and Samuel Castro, 27. They all have previous theft records and listed their residences as migrant shelters around the city. Police said catching these criminals is particularly hard because they often change their aliases and swap identities and birthdays, making them 'ghost criminals.' The moment a migrant on a moped dragged a woman along a New York City street to steal her phone was caught in horrifying footage shared by police The suspects were allegedly stealing the iPhones to use the Apple Pay feature and use the owners' credit cards to buy items Monday's arrests come after another video showed about a dozen migrants assaulting two police officers in Times Square late last month. A Manhattan judge let at least five asylum seekers go free without bail after they were charged with the assault. Only one of the suspects remains in jail. Four of the suspects are believed to have fled the city after being charged and released after giving fake names to a charity that helps migrants get bus tickets. Many of the migrants were already known to police over charges of petty larceny and shoplifting. According to the New York Post, the migrants charged in the assault are also part of a phone-snatching scheme. 'Theyre buying cars back in Ecuador and Venezuela' a police source told the Post. 'Theyre putting pools in their homes there. All this money is going back and forth. Thats why the larcenies are going out of control. Its unbelievable what theyre doing.' Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs has defended the decision to release the suspects, but on Saturday claimed he will present evidence against them to a grand jury. New York City is buckling under the weight of a massive influx of asylum seekers, with over 170,000 arriving since the spring of 2022. Mayor Eric Adams went along for the sting operation and later appeared at a press conference with police Officer Nicholas Fiore said police are still looking for the leader of the crime ring, which has allegedly been looking for migrants to do 'his dirty work' Adams was welcoming of the migrants at first, but has since warned the situation will 'destroy' the city as we know it. Meanwhile his requests for aid from the federal government have been ignored. In the city's latest controversial move to deal with the migrants, Adams announced a $53million program to give pre-paid credit cards to migrant families with children. It was revealed yesterday that migrants housed in one of the city's hotels will receive pre-paid cards to buy food and baby supplies, instead of the city providing meals the migrants often did not want. Adams estimated the $53 million scheme will save the city $600,000 a month, or $7.2 million annually, drawing outrage from many across the country, including native New Yorkers like rapper 50 Cent. Migrants must sign an affidavit promising to only use the cards for food and baby supplies, or else have them cut off. Cops are still on the lookout for at least eight other men involved in the Times Square melee It is unclear how the City of New York will know if they're just being used in bodegas as intended. The amount on each card will depend on individual circumstances. It is unclear how city officials will check if cards are being abused - and if the scheme will worsen the crisis by encouraging other migrants to head to the Big Apple in the hopes of receiving free money. A family of four could be provided nearly $1,000 each month, which is $35 per day for food for the four. At present, each migrant meal costs $11, so feeding a family of four for a day could cost up to $132. Cards will get refilled every 28 days. President Joe Biden on Monday laughed off former President Donald Trump's challenge to immediately have presidential debates. Biden was asked about Trump's fresh comments after making a stop at No. 1 Boba Tea in Las Vegas, wrapping up a two-state trip to California and Nevada. The president snarked that Trump should want to debate him because 'he's got nothing else to do.' 'If I were him I would want to debate me too,' Biden said. Trump appeared earlier Monday on the Dan Bongino Show and told the podcaster and former Fox News host that he was 'officially' calling for there to be presidential debates and for them to start sooner than later. President Joe Biden told reporters Monday as he concluded his trip to Las Vegas that former President Donald Trump wanted to debate him because 'he's got nothing else to do.' 'If I were him I would want to debate me too,' the president said Former President Donald Trump said Monday on the Dan Bongino Show that he was 'officially' calling for there to be general election debates - despite still competing in the primary against Nikki Haley 'But I'd like to call for immediately debates, I'd like to debate him now because we should debate,' the ex-president and 2024 hopeful said. Trump's comments come as he's still engaged in a Republican primary race against rival Nikki Haley. Haley has repeatedly called on Trump to face her on the debate stage, including during a high-profile appearance this weekend on Saturday Night Live. Her campaign set up a website www.MakeTrumpDebate.com for supporters to sign a petition. The ex-president and frontrunner did not participate in any of the Republican debates, which kicked off in August in Milwaukee. Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis participated in the most recent debate, which happened in January ahead of the Iowa caucuses, but the former U.N. ambassador declined to go head-to-head again with just DeSantis, prompting two planned debates in New Hampshire to be scrapped. DeSantis dropped out of the presidential race two days before the New Hampshire primary, endorsing Trump on his way out and leaving only Haley standing. Then President Donald Trump (left) debates now President Joe Biden (right) on October 22, 2020 after an earlier general election debate was cancelled when the Commission on Presidential Debates tried to make it virtual as Trump was recovering from COVID-19 'We're thrilled to see that Donald Trump has finally acknowledged the importance of debates,' Haley's spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cuba said Monday in a statement. 'Now it's time for Trump to man up and agree to debate Nikki Haley.' General election debates typically don't happen until the fall, after both parties hold their nominating conventions over the summer. In November, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced dates and venues for the three planned general election debates, which are expected to kick off on September 16 at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. The second debate is planned for October 1 at Virginia State University in Petersburg, Virginia and a third is expected to take place on October 9 at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. But those dates might not stick. That's because members of the Republican National Committee voted to withdraw from the Commission on Presidential Debates suggesting the group had partisan leanings. RNC Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel called the bipartisan group 'biased' and blasted it for refusing to enact 'simple and commonsense reforms.' The moderator of the first debate, CNN's Chris Wallace, who long hosted Fox News Sunday, was criticized for letting Trump steamroll Biden during the Cleveland affair, however Trump complained about his treatment during that debate too, as Wallace tried to control him. The second planned debate in 2020 was scrapped after the Commission on Presidential Debates called for it to be held virtually as Trump recovered from a case of COVID-19. The then-president, who almost died of the disease, refused to participate in the debate if it wasn't held in-person. A third general election debate did occur on October 22 in Nashville. Lauren Boebert was granted a temporary restraining order against her 'unfaithful' ex-husband Jayson after she accused him of threatening to harm her and entering her home. It's the latest in a series of flare-ups between the couple who share three boys. Lauren, 37, and Jayson, 43, married in 2005 and split in 2023, but the couple have still made the headlines during what appears to be a rocky separation. Last month, Jayson was arrested and charged just days after the couple were involved in a domestic violence incident at a Colorado restaurant. He allegedly assaulted the couple's eldest son, Tyler, during an altercation over laundry at their home in Silt, Colorado, an arrest warrant revealed. Jayson was charged with misdemeanor assault, disorderly conduct, obstructing a police officer and aiming a firearm, and he was let out on $2,500 bond, according to court records. Lauren Boebert was granted a temporary restraining order against her ex-husband Jayson Lauren and Jayson wed in 2005. They met while she was working at McDonald's at the age of 16. He was 22 at the time This booking photo provided by the Garfield County, Colo., Sheriff's Office shows Jayson Boebert A Colorado judge issued the order on Friday, and it also included protections for the couple's three younger sons. In her request for the restraining order, she mentioned their January 6 argument in a restaurant where he claimed she had hit him - a claim he later recanted and that police eventually said was unfounded. Jayson was uncooperative when police responded to the restaurant, which led to charges of disorderly conduct, third-degree criminal trespass and obstructing a peace officer, according to court documents. Jayson said he's just learning of the restraining order and told The Associated Press that he was the 'victim' in the incident. 'I would never harm Lauren I just want to move on and be in peace,' the told the outlet in a text message, He also accused his ex-wife of using the restraining order to 'justify' her move to a new congressional district. The congresswoman announced earlier this year that she plans to run for outgoing Rep. Ken Buck's seat in 2024. Boebert also cited a physical fight between her ex-husband and their 18-year-old son on January 9. Jayson also accused his ex-wife of using the restraining order to 'justify' her move to a new congressional district Lauren and Jayson married in 2005 and share four sons together (pictured). They filed for divorce in May 2023 As their son called authorities, Jayson allegedly grabbed a rifle and left, according to court documents. He was charged with harassment, prohibited use of a weapon and third-degree assault, court documents show. Lauren Boebert was not present during that altercation. Lauren and Jayson wed in 2005. They met while she was working at McDonald's at the age of 16 and he was 22 at the time. But in May 2023, after nearly two decades of marriage, Boebert announced she had filed for divorce, citing 'irreconcilable differences.' She said at the time: 'It is with a heavy weight on my heart that I have filed for divorce from my husband. 'I am grateful for our years of marriage together and for our beautiful children, all of whom deserve privacy and love as we work through this process. 'I've always been faithful in my marriage, and I believe strongly in marriage, which makes this announcement that much more difficult.' Former President Donald Trump issued an all-caps message praising King Charles after his shock cancer diagnosis, sending prayers for a speedy recovery to someone he 'got to know well.' Trump's was just one of the many acknowledgements that came in following the news that the King, 75, has begun treatment for an unidentified former of cancer, with President Biden saying he plans to call the King soon. King Charles, whose whose coronation was in May, was receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate when physicians identified an issue of concern that turned out to be cancer, according to Buckingham Palace 'KING CHARLES HAS CANCER. HE IS A WONDERFUL MAN, WHO I GOT TO KNOW WELL DURING MY PRESIDENCY, AND WE ALL PRAY THAT HE HAS A FAST AND FULL RECOVERY!' Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Former President Donald Trump called King Charles a 'wonderful man' and sent wishes for a speedy recovery following the King's cancer diagnosis. The two had tea with then first lady Melania Trump and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall in 2019 It came on a day when Trump gave a podcast interview, railed against 'Crooked Joe Biden' for not doing a Super Bowl interview, crowed about paying off loans for his commercial properties, and said the civil business fraud case against him in New York should be dismissed. Trump while in office had occasion to interact with Charles multiple times before he ascended to the throne. During one encounter, Tea at Clarence House, Trump kept Charles waiting for an hour. Four biographies identified Trump as the source of reported rumors that members of the Royal Family were planning to purchase units in Trump properties. Trump in his 1987 book Art of the Deal admitted benefiting from the reports that were denied by the Palace at the time. 'It certainly didnt hurt us, but I had to laugh to myself,' he wrote. Trump's well wishes came on a day President Joe Biden said he plans to speak to King Charles III after Buckingham Palace revealed he has been diagnosed with cancer. Trump and Charles met on Trump's state visit to Britain in 2019, which featured a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace Trump issued his statement after it was revealed Charles is undergoing treatment for cancer Trump met with Charles on his state visit in 2019 In his first comments on the 75-year-old British monarch's health, Biden told DailyMail.com that 'God willing' he will speak to him soon. 'I'm about to call him,' Biden said during the outpouring of support from around the world: 'Im concerned about him. Just heard about his diagnosis.' The president learned about Charles' shock news before meeting with culinary workers in Las Vegas, Nevada. He answered questions less than two hours after the Palace announced in a statement on Monday night that The King has cancer. Scroll down for video President Joe Biden said he is 'concerned' about King Charles III after Buckingham Palace revealed he has been diagnosed with cancer. They are pictured together at Windsor Castle in July last year US President Joe Biden told Dailymail.com in Las Vegas that 'God willing' he would speak to King Charles III soon and was 'about to call him' Biden spoke with Dailymail.com while visiting the No. 1 Boba Tea shop in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 5, 2024; The president said he is 'concerned' about King Charles III The monarch has returned to London from Sandringham to begin treatment immediately. His condition is not connected with his recent medical procedure for an enlarged prostate, and is not prostate cancer. The palace did not say what form of cancer he has. The King is understood to have personally informed his sons Prince William and Prince Harry about his condition. Harry will be flying to London from the U.S. in the 'coming days' to be by his father's side as he begins treatment. Biden last met King Charles at Windsor Castle in July. It was their first time holding talks since the Coronation in May. The pair shared a handshake and smiles in the historic quadrangle before holding a discussion on climate change. Biden did not attend the Coronation but had a 30-minute phone call with Charles which led to an invite for a UK state visit. In his first comments on the 75-year-old British monarch's health, Biden told DailyMail.com that 'god willing' he was hoping to speak to him soon Biden last met King Charles at Windsor Castle in July. It was the first time holding talks since the coronation in May First Lady Jill Biden and her granddaughter Finnegan went to the ceremony instead as representatives of the U.S. Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Monday: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. 'His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. 'The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. 'He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. 'His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.' Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer' King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer , Buckingham Palace announced in a statement this evening. Above: Charles was last seen waving to well-wishers as he attended a service with his wife Queen Camilla at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Sunday The King also apologized for having to postpone his upcoming engagements. A spokesman added: 'Regrettably, a number of the King's forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed. 'His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.' Announcing that Prince Harry will come and see his father, a source close to the Duke said: 'The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. 'He will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days.' All of the King's siblings, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Duke of Edinburgh were told personally by Charles, royal aides said. An Indiana man was arrested on February 3 after a Bartholomew County Sheriff's Deputy witnessed him aiming a laser at his patrol car. Christopher Clem, 49, of Columbus was arrested after a deputy spotted a green laser emitting from a black passenger car. The deputy also discovered methamphetamine, crushed prescription painkillers, and a firearm in Clem's vehicle. The arrest comes one week after the department received reports about someone aiming a laser at an aircraft. Clem was transported to the Bartholomew County Jail where he is currently being held on multiple preliminary charges. Christopher Clem, 49, of Columbus was arrested after a deputy spotted a green laser emitting from a black passenger car The deputy also discovered methamphetamine, crushed prescription painkillers, and a firearm in Clem's vehicle The arrest comes one week after the department received reports about someone aiming a laser at an aircraft Deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff's Department were called out to the Columbus Municipal Airport a few times last week on reports of a green laser being aimed at an aircraft. Deputies had been searching for the culprit when one of them found Clem on US 31 near I-65. The area where Clem was spotted is approximately 20 minutes from the airport. The deputy who stopped Clem discovered two green lasers and a handgun. Clem told the deputies that he was the one who pointed the lasers at the aircraft shortly afterward. Deputies from the Bartholomew County Sheriff's Department were called out to the Columbus Municipal Airport a few times last week on reports of a green laser being aimed at aircrafts Clem was arrested on preliminary charges of pointing a laser at a public safety official, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, and dealing in a controlled substance. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) via Fox 59, pointing a laser at an aircraft can lead to the perpetrator being fined up to $11,000 per violation. The perpetrator could also receive a fine of up to $30,800 for multiple violations. The FAA and the United States Air Marshalls are investigating. King Charles will have an expert team of doctors to shepherd him through treatment for his unknown cancer battle. The Palace made the shock announcement this evening, only days after the King was released from the London Clinic where he had been undergoing 'routine treatment' for an enlarged prostate. Buckingham Palace said it was a 'separate issue of concern' noted during his recent procedure and confirmed it is not prostate cancer. The exact type of cancer has not been specified, however. The King remains 'wholly positive' about his treatment, they added, saying he is looking forward to returning to full public duties. Indeed, the man who is likely overseeing the King's treatment at large is Dr Michael Dixon, who has been head of the Royal Medical Household since 2022. The 71-year-old GP, who has an OBE for services to primary care, has previously been the subject of discussion in the media over his support for homeopathy. The man who is likely overseeing the King's treatment at large is Dr Michael Dixon, who has been head of the Royal Medical Household since 2022 The Palace made the shock announcement this evening, only days after the King was released from the London Clinic where he had been undergoing 'routine treatment' for an enlarged prostate The 71-year-old GP, who has an OBE for services to primary care, has previously been the subject of discussion in the media over his support for homeopathy He has railed against those who call the practice 'quackery' and thrown his support behind offering treatments such as aromatherapy and reflexology on the NHS. In one paper he authored, he referenced an experiment suggesting Indian herbal remedies which had been 'ultra-diluted' with alcohol might be able to cure cancer, although Buckingham Palace has staunchly denied Dr Dixon himself believes this can work. A statement from the palace at the time of his appointment read: 'Dr Dixon does not believe homeopathy can cure cancer. 'His position is that complementary therapies can sit alongside conventional treatments, provided they are safe, appropriate and evidence based.' Dr Dixon, who has reportedly prescribed plants to patients such as devil's claw and horny goat weed, has also written papers suggesting Christian healers may be able to help people who are chronically ill. He has a kindred spirit and staunch supporter in the shape of King Charles, who has himself been outspoken on how he believes alternative medicine can help people with illnesses, and was appointed patron of the Faculty of Homeopathy in 2017. His previous roles include a practising GP, a fellow of the Royal College of GPs, a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians; former chair of NHS Alliance; and the chair of the College of Medicine. In his role he manages the team looking after the King and his family, while other responsibilities include being present at family births and deaths should any occur in the course of his tenure. The medic, who is often seen wearing a suit and bow tie at public appearances and continues to work part-time at a GP surgery in Devon, was given the position in late 2022. King Charles and Queen Camilla looked in high spirits as they walked to St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate Queen Camilla alongside King Charles as they leave The London Clinic on January 29 Another key member of the King's expert team is Ranan Dasgupta, who was the Kings Serjeant Surgeon when he received treatment for an enlarged prostate last month. The Cambridge University graduate is a urological surgeon who specialises in specific forms of treatment for an enlarged prostate and is based at the London Clinic. The Daily Telegraph said Mr Dasgupta was appointed to the Royal Medical Household in March last year. According to the London Clinics website, he has interests in comprehensive treatments for prostatic enlargement, renal stone management and prevention, neuropathic voiding conditions, and urothelial malignancy. Buckingham Palace announced in a statement this evening that King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer. They said that the 75-year-old monarch has returned to London from Sandringham to begin treatment immediately. It is not connected with his recent surgery and is not prostate cancer, but medics spotted it when he underwent his medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. Buckingham Palace said in a statement tonight: 'During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. 'His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. 'The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. 'His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.' Buckingham Palace announced the King had begun a schedule of regular treatments and was postponing his public-facing duties Following his diagnosis other senior members of the Royal Family including Queen Camilla and heir to the throne Prince William are expected to take on more royal duties if necessary. Prince William had originally scaled back his royal duties to look after Princess Kate whilst she recovers from her abdominal surgery. Buckingham Palace has said that the King is pleased that being open about his recent prostate surgery has helped boost awareness. While the Palace has said that the King has not been diagnosed with prostate cancer, NHS England said they saw a surge in visits to their prostate enlargement pages following the King's visit to The London Clinic earlier this year. The King's diagnosis will pose serious questions for the working of the monarchy, with fewer working members of the royal family and the Princess of Wales out of action due to what has only been described as 'abdominal surgery' until after Easter. The Prince of Wales, who is heir to the throne, had cleared his diary to be by his wife's side and keep life as normal as possible for their three children. Kensington Palace announced earlier today, however, that he would resume public duties this week by conducting an investiture on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, followed by a gala fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance in the evening. Hundreds of protesters entered the Pennsylvania Capitol building to demand the state divest $56 million from Israel before up to 200 were arrested for failing to disperse. The protestors descended on the Capitol on Monday and marched inside the main rotunda wearing masks and black t-shirts emblazoned with the words 'Divest from Genocide'. Holding banners and leading chants, they blocked the main staircase until state police arrived and told them they needed to 'leave now or get arrested'. Organizers Jewish Voice for Peace told local news outlet, WGAL, that 186 protesters were arrested or received citations, many of them for failure to disperse. Writing on Facebook, Jewish Voice for Peace, said: 'Over 200 PA residents from across the state disrupt the first day of session of the PA Senate calling for the state to DIVEST the $56 million in Israeli Bonds that the state treasury purchased.' Protesters blocked the stairs in the main rotunda of the Capitol, holding banners calling on the state to 'divest from genocide' .@PATreasurer unilaterally made the decision to invest an additional $20 million in genocide and war via Israel Bonds, shortly after joining a financial advisory board for the Israel Bonds corporationbringing the total amount invested to $56 million. pic.twitter.com/ZcCvi3XxIO Jewish Voice for Peace Philly (@JVPPhilly) February 5, 2024 Police arrived and told protesters to 'leave now or be arrested' before securing their hands with zipties and leading them away They added: 'As Pennsylvanians, we work hard every day to invest in our communities and improve the lives of our families and neighborsand our government should do the same. 'But instead of investing in improving our communities, Pennsylvania elected officials are giving into special interests by investing our tax dollars in genocide and war by irresponsibly investing millions in Israel Bonds. Videos from inside the Capitol showed the protesters chanting 'Free, free, free Palestine'. State police arrived and declared an unlawful assembly and told protesters they must leave immediately. When the crowd remained and continued to cheer and chant, officers began leading protesters away, securing their hands with zipties. The protesters seemed to remain calm as many continued chanting even as they were led away. In one video, Representative Christopher Rabb could be seen intervening with the police, telling officers to stop making arrests, saying, 'this is a public place' and asking 'who has the authority to do this?' One officer pleaded with him to 'help me get them out of here. You have to go.' The officer then says on his radio: 'I need all available officers to the Rotunda, mass arrest, mass arrest'. He then shouts to the crowd 'Leave now, or be arrested.' The crowd begins to cheer and doesn't seem to fear being arrested. Surrounded by hundreds of PA residents inside the state capital, @RepRabb from Germantown attempts to persuade the police to refrain from making arrests. pic.twitter.com/7G5iV41JPs Jewish Voice for Peace Philly (@JVPPhilly) February 5, 2024 Local news reported 186 protesters were arrested or received citations, mostly for failing to disperse This money directly enables the Israeli military and government to commit genocide of Palestinians and oppress Palestinians by upholding a brutal, separate-and-unequal apartheid system. pic.twitter.com/h8HMScvvdq Jewish Voice for Peace Philly (@JVPPhilly) February 5, 2024 Rep. Rick Krajewski also joined the protesters, leading a chant of 'ceasefire now'. He wrote on X after: 'We should be directing our public funds towards schools, housing and mass transit not war and genocide.' The protest came after Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity announced in October that her department was investing $20 million more in Israeli bonds - bringing the total held by the state to $56 million. She said at the time: 'Israel is our greatest ally in the Middle East, and I will always stand with them. 'Israel bonds are a smart, dependable investment with a proven track record and its especially important to show our support at a time when the people of Israel are facing horrific terrorism.' The protesters called on the state to divest from the Israel bonds and invest in housing, schools and the climate Protesters were led away by police with their hands secured by zipties Police yelled at protesters to 'leave now or get arrested' She added after the rally on Monday: 'Put simply: If Hamas stopped fighting today, there would be no more war. 'If Israel stopped fighting today, there would be no more Israel.' After the protest was over, Jewish Voice for Peace wrote: 'This money directly enables the Israeli military and government to commit genocide of Palestinians and oppress Palestinians by upholding a brutal, separate-and-unequal apartheid system. 'Pennsylvanians want our government to invest in our communitiesnot genocide and war. 'While hundreds were inside the state capital in Harrisburg, a crowd of over 200 additional PA residents, led by Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian community and faith leaders, demonstrated outside of the capitol building.' DailyMail.com contacted Pennsylvania state police and Jewish Voice for Peace for comment. A Metropolitan Police officer charged with multiple rapes tied up one alleged victim and threatened to slit her with a knife, a court heard yesterday. Cliff Mitchell, 24, came under investigation by colleagues after his alleged victim was seen trying to escape from his car, her wrists bound with cable ties, it is claimed. His fellow officers were summoned, and after that harrowing incident, in September last year, an investigation began, Croydon Crown Court was told, leading to a series of allegations against the policeman. Yesterday Mitchell, who is no longer in the force, faced 13 counts of rape against two alleged victims. Six charges relate to one female including one when she was aged just 12. Three of those counts state there were at least 30 other occasions where the girl may have been similarly assaulted. Cliff Mitchell, 24, came under investigation by colleagues after his alleged victim was seen trying to escape from his car, her wrists bound with cable ties, it is claimed Croydon Crown Court (pictured) was told Mitchell faced 13 counts of rape against two alleged victims All of these alleged offences took place between January 2014 and April 2017. The other seven charges relate to the alleged victim who was threatened in the car with a knife and are said to have taken place between April 2020 and September 2023. Mitchell, of Wandsworth, south-west London, denies all the charges, claiming that they have been fabricated. Prosecutor Catherine Farrelly yesterday told the jury that the woman in the car had got into the vehicle before Mitchell warned her that if she tried to run away he would stab her and another person who was in the vehicle. He is said to have told her: I dont care about my life any more, youve met the devil. When she said she felt sick, the prosecutor continued: The defendant told her, If you throw up in the car, Im gonna slit your belly for every second you throw up. The woman, whose hands were bound by cable ties, got out of the car to be sick and took the chance to run away, the court heard. She was seen by motorists looking distraught and scared, as she dodged among traffic, and was said to have been screaming: He held a knife up to me, Im so scared. Ms Farrelly said the alleged victim was helped by a driver who allowed her to hide in her car and who saw the cable ties. The prosecution claim Mitchell sexually abused his first victim from 2014 to 2017 and the second between 2020 and 2023, when he was a serving officer with the Metropolitan Police Ms Farrelly noted the woman driver had said: They were so tight that the surrounding skin had turned very red and they looked as though they were digging in. The prosecution claim Mitchell sexually abused his first victim from 2014 to 2017 and the second between 2020 and 2023, when he was a serving officer with the Metropolitan Police. Ms Farrelly said of the alleged victims: Despite their clearest protestations, he forced his sexual will upon them both, time and time again. Mitchell also denies breaching a non-molestation order and two counts of kidnapping. The case continues. The fugitive being hunted over the horrific chemical attack on a mother and her young daughters may be dead, police say. Abdul Ezedi, 35, was last seen near a railway bridge over the Thames in London last Wednesday just hours after he allegedly targeted the victims. Hundreds of specialist officers are searching for the convicted sex offender who threw a corrosive alkaline chemical at the woman, 31, and her children, aged eight and three, in Clapham, south London. Detectives believe he may have killed himself after suffering agonising facial injuries when the chemical hit his face. Another theory is that he is being harboured by criminal associates. Yesterday, police arrested a 22-year-old man on suspicion of assisting an offender. He was later released on bail. Abdul Ezedi, 35, was last seen near a railway bridge over the Thames in London last Wednesday just hours after he allegedly targeted the victims The manhunt entered its fifth day on Monday with a 20,000 reward in place for anyone with information leading to his arrest. Nick Aldworth, a former national counter-terrorism co-ordinator, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think if we've not seen or heard from him in the the last couple of days, which appears to be the case, he's gone to ground, possibly supported by somebody... or it's not unlikely or improbable that he may have taken his own life. There is therefore a body to be found somewhere.' Mr Aldworth said the Met would be tracking Ezedi's movements through public cameras, which had been a 'very effective' method in previous cases. The force said the last sighting of Ezedi, who is from Newcastle, was at 9.33pm at Tower Hill Underground station in east London on January 31, shortly after the attack in Clapham. Asked if the Met Police would now have a precise location for his whereabouts, he said: 'I think they'll have a very good sense of what area he's in. 'What you can't discount of course is that he has been picked up by an ally and moved somewhere else, perhaps in a vehicle. The reason they've offered a 20,000 reward is usually because there's a sense that somebody inside the community might well be harbouring this individual.' On Sunday, police said the suspect used a 'very strong concentrated corrosive substance' in the attack. Met Commander Jon Savell said investigators are keeping an open mind, but added: 'I think that it's realistic to understand that the fact that no one has seen him recently...would mean that he has either come to harm and he's lying somewhere... or someone is looking after him.' Detectives believe Ezedi may have killed himself after suffering agonising facial injuries when the chemical hit his face 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 The development came as police revealed that the mother, who is critically ill in hospital, may lose the sight in her right eye after suffering severe facial injuries. Her daughters were also hurt but have since been discharged from hospital. Police investigators believe there are people who know Ezedi's whereabouts and have not come forward. The Met has warned anyone found assisting him will face arrest. It comes as questions have been raised 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. Police said Ezedi left Newcastle in the early hours of Wednesday and travelled south to London and was in the Tooting area by around 6.30am. 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 train at Clapham South Underground station, and by 8pm he was at King's Cross Tube station. Police say three members of the public who came to the aid of the family during Wednesday's attack, two aged in their 30s and one in her 50s, have all been discharged from hospital with minor burns. A previously defiant XL Bully owner whose dogs mauled a grandmother to death in front of his son has admitted he's 'learnt the hard way' as he rallied his support behind the ban of the breed. Rapper Ashley Warren was released on bail today after being arrested on suspicion of dangerous dog offences. His dogs - named Beauty and Bear - killed Esther Martin, 68. Grandmother Esther was visiting her 11-year-old grandson, Warren's son, at the weekend, when neighbours heard piercing screams coming from the home. Warren revealed she was trying to calm the savage beasts - named Beauty and Bear - with a broom before she was maimed. Breaking down in tears, Warren opened up to The Sun, revealing he has been left heartbroken by the tragic attack. He insisted he was a 'good father' who just wanted the best for his son, including for him to have a relationship with his grandmother. Rapper Ashley Warren has admitted he's 'learnt the hard way' as he rallied his support behind the ban of XL Bully's Grandmother Esther was visiting her 11-year-old grandson, Warren's son, at the weekend, when neighbours heard piercing screams coming from the home Warren revealed she was trying to calm the savage beasts - named Beauty and Bear - with a broom before she was maimed As for the attack, he said he 'never knew' something like this could happen or that bully's were aggressive. He explained: 'I thought it was all lies and people just trying to kill off the breed of dog. But now I've learnt the hard way.' Ashley, whose rapper name is Wyless Man, was previously defiant, describing the rules as 'a joke'. Now he says: 'I couldn't support them enough.' 'Now I think they need to be wiped out. Esther meant everything to my son and she meant everything to me. 'I'm sorry for everyone's loss, from the bottom of my heart.' The dogs were shot dead by police officers who raced to the home in Jaywick, Essex, and arrived within minutes of the 999 call. A man was earlier seen smashing a window with a brick in a desperate attempt to save her. It comes after Ms Martin's son, Paul Martin, today left a heartfelt tribute to his mother in a post on Facebook. He wrote: 'Love you lots mum. Sleep tight and give Clare Louise a big hug from me love you both lots. 'Until we meet again. Your memory will live forever.' Her wannabe rapper 'son-in-law' Ashley Warren, 39, owned the dogs and was arrested on suspicion of dangerous dogs offences. He was today released on bail, and had insisted the dogs were 'not aggressive'. Her son, Paul Martin, posted a heartfelt tribute on Facebook in which he said her memory will live forever Ms Martin's furious family have hit out at the conditions the massive dogs were kept in. Her daughter, Sonia, has now claimed the two adult dogs and the six puppies were kept 'penned in a small chalet'. Police said the breeds which attacked Ms Martin are yet to be determined, but the family claimed they were XL Bully dogs. The breed became banned in England at the beginning of the month, but owners may apply for exemptions. Images on the owner's social media show how at least one appears to be an XL Bully-type, while another looks like a Rottweiler. Ms Martin's daughter Sonia, 47, told the BBC: 'We're very angry. People complain about the dogs - it's not the dogs.' Speaking about the conditions they were kept in, she asked: 'How the hell can that be any good for an animal?' She also revealed that her nephew was in the house at the time and ran out screaming for help when Ms Martin was attacked. She told the BBC: 'My mum went down to spend time with her grandson who used to live with her. 'The puppies were fighting. The owner had left my mum and my nephew with the dogs and went off somewhere, although my mum had raised concerns about them. 'His directions to my mum was - as we understand it - was that if the puppies were fighting she should put a broom in there and distract the puppies - run it over the floor and shake it to get their attention so they would stop fighting.' Ashley Warren, the rapper who owned the dogs and has today been released on bail, had insisted they were 'not aggressive' It is understood the grandmother had warned her tattooed 'son-in-law' Warren, 39, about the dogs, but the East London wannabe rapper fired back with a foul-mouthed rant The police said the breeds which attacked Ms Martin are yet to be determined The large dogs also feature in his rap music videos posted online and on social media Sonia Martin, 47, (pictured) revealed that Ms Martin's grandson was in the house at the time Locals of Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea, claimed the dogs were aggressive and were always 'barking and trying to get through the gate'. They believed the owner was a breeder and would often walk them around menacingly. But relatives of Warren have now hit back at the claims, insisting the dogs were his pets and he was a loving owner. Warren's grandmother, Carol Stotter said the rapper was careful to keep the large dogs locked inside the house. The 76-year-old told The Sun: 'From what I've heard from Ashley, the dogs haven't been aggressive. I think with the puppies around it probably changed their behaviour. 'Those dogs were his pets. I think the female got pregnant which was not planned.' 'Ashley loved the dogs. They were not there for any other purpose but his pets.' She said Warren kept on top of maintaining the fence to keep the dogs in and she claimed 'they never attacked anybody' previously. Warren's mother, Michelle Stotter, told The Sun that Ms Martin and her grandson were very close and she was often at the house. She also described her shock when she heard of the tragic incident and said she feels 'sorry' for the 11-year-old boy who is in a 'nightmare situation'. His mother also said that the dog's puppies had been fighting and Ms Martin tried to break them up with a broom. A music 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 added that there was no wider threat to the community and the scene is now safe Riot shields which were used by the police responding to reports of the dangerous dog attack are pictured being removed from the scene Tattooed East London rapper Warren features in drill music videos online Your browser does not support iframes. The parents of the puppies, Beauty and Bear, saw this as an attack and 'went' for the grandmother, Ms Stotter claimed. The 55-year-old also said her son was trying to rehome the dogs. MailOnline found that Warren had posted an advert on social media in November offering the puppies for 500 each. Sonia was at the scene yesterday morning along with siblings Paul, 45, and Kelly Fretwell, 46. She said her mother - from Woodford Green, London - had previously told the dogs' owner that they were dangerous. She 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. Officers were called to a property at Jaywick Sands, near Clacton-on-Sea at around 4pm on Saturday, with neighbours hearing screams coming from the property for 10 minutes. They found a seriously wounded Ms Martin and 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 previously revealed that the dogs were owned by breeder Warren, who goes by the name Wyless Man. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has put in a formal request for Secret Service protection, and says she has experienced threats amid her primary battle against Donald Trump. Haley, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the UN under Trump and who has taken her run beyond Iowa and New Hampshire, has spoken about receiving threats, and experienced a 'swatting' attack at her home when she was not present. 'When you do something like this, you get threats,' she said 'It's just the reality.' She confirmed to the Wall Street Journal she had applied for protection. 'We've had multiple issues,' she said. 'It's not going to stop me from doing what I need to do.' Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has requested Secret Service protection as she continues her primary campaign against Donald Trump Haley, 52, who is Indian American, has been keeping up her political attacks on Trump, going after his age and mental capacity and vowing to keep up her effort despite suffering losses. She has been continuing to hold events in her home state even while trailing Trump, and dinging her rival by saying he was avoiding appearances because he needs to conserve money for legal fees, after reports said pro-Trump entities had spent $50 million on lawyers defending him. Haley maintains a private security detail that tackled a protester who tried to get on stage at her event in Columbia last week. Dallas County police (R) removes a climate protester (C) who was shouting at Republican candidate for President and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley following a campaign rally at Mickey's Irish Pub in Waukee, Iowa,January 9 A police officer tries to direct supporters of former US President Donald Trump off the property before Republican presidential hopeful and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign event at Forest Fire BBQ in Hilton Head, South Carolina, on February 1, 2024 Haley posed with law enforcement at an event in South Carolina. She has private security but is seeking Secret Service protection Protesters against her backing U.S. support for Israel have have gone to some of her events. A Secret Service spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In late January she experienced a second swatting incident when a caller gave out the address of her Kiawah Island, home and falsely told cops a woman had killed her daughter and was threatening to kill herself. The request is the latest indication that Haley is in the campaing for the long haul, or at least sending signals that she is. Her campaign said it raised $16 million in January, its best yet. And she is looking at the primary map heading into Super Tuesday next month, with a planned trip to California Wednesday. Trailing Trump by more than 20 points in pre-election polls in her home state, Haley is vowing to try to out hustle him on the stump. She is vowing to 'touch every hand' and ''answer every question' as she keeps up her events. A tribunal has made a landmark ruling that anti-Zionism is a legally protected characteristic as it found in favour of a sacked university professor. David Miller was 'unfairly dismissed' from his post at Bristol University following remarks he made about Israel, it said. The 108-page ruling found that expressing anti-Zionist views is a 'philosophical belief and a protected characteristic' under the 2010 Equality Act. This sets a legal precedent that anyone expressing anti-Zionist beliefs is legally protected and cannot be sacked from their jobs. The Union of Jewish Students said it was 'disappointed' by the decision which 'may set a dangerous precedent about what can be lawfully said on campus'. It warned the ruling would 'make Jewish students less safe'. David Miller was 'unfairly dismissed' from his post at Bristol University following remarks he made about Israel, a tribunal ruling has said On the Electronic Intifada website, Mr Miller wrote: 'There is a real question of abuse here, of Jewish students on British campuses being used as political pawns by a violent, racist foreign regime engaged in ethnic cleansing' Professor Miller was sacked in 2021 after it was found his comments did not meet the 'standards of behaviour' expected from staff. This followed complaints by Jewish students who claimed he made them feel 'uncomfortable and intimidated'. The first was made in 2019 after he gave a lecture describing the 'Zionist movement' as one of the 'five pillars of Islamophobia'. On the Electronic Intifada website, he also wrote: 'There is a real question of abuse here, of Jewish students on British campuses being used as political pawns by a violent, racist foreign regime engaged in ethnic cleansing.' In an 'on the record' email to Ben Bloch, a student and news editor of The Bristol Tab university newspaper, the professor said: 'Zionism is and always has been a racist, violent, imperialist ideology premised on ethnic cleansing. It is an endemically anti-Arab and Islamophobic ideology. It has no place in any society.' Since being dismissed, the professor, who works for Iranian state-owned television channel Press TV, has described Israel as 'the enemy of world peace'. He has also claimed that 'Jews are not discriminated against' and described the Bristol University Jewish Society as an 'Israel lobby group'. Professor Miller said he felt 'vindicated' and 'very proud' at the employment tribunal's ruling from Judge Rohan Pirani. He added: 'This is not just a victory for me, but also a victory for pro-Palestine campaigners across Britain.' Zillur Rahman, of Rahman Lowe Solicitors which represented the academic, praised him for 'fighting against the vicious campaign waged against him by Zionists'. In an 'on the record' email to Ben Bloch, a student and news editor of The Bristol Tab university newspaper, the professor said that Zionism was 'an endemically anti-Arab and Islamophobic ideology. It has no place in any society' (pictured: the Wills Memorial Building at Bristol University) Professor David Miller is facing calls to quit his academic role after accusing Jewish students at Bristol University of 'being used as political pawns' by Israel which he described as 'a violent, racist foreign regime engaged in ethnic cleansing' The Campaign Against Antisemitism said it was 'deeply concerned' at the way the university handled the case and hoped it would appeal against the ruling Last night the Community Security Trust, a Jewish charity, said it was 'extremely concerned about what the tribunal considers is acceptable for a university professor to say publicly about Jewish students and Jewish societies who raised legitimate complaints about him'. The Campaign Against Antisemitism said it was 'deeply concerned' at the way the university handled the case and hoped it would appeal against the ruling. A spokesman added that Professor Miller 'has continued to express his obnoxious opinions on Iranian State TV, which is exactly where he belongs'. The suspect in the Clapham chemical attack persuaded churches to support his asylum claim in Britain, it is claimed. Abdul Ezedi, who allegedly threw a caustic liquid at a mother and her two children last week, was given a written testimonial by a Baptist minister as well as additional backing from the Catholic church, sources told the Mail. The Afghan suspect secured the churches support despite being a convicted sex attacker. A reference from a Baptist chapel in the North East, where Ezedi was living, was crucial in persuading an immigration tribunal that he had converted from Islam to Christianity. This led to him being allowed to stay in Britain on the grounds of human rights. The one that really made a difference was from the Baptist church, a government source said. One personal written submission talked of knowing Ezedi for four years, he had been attending church and they thought he was a genuine convert. Further backing was provided by the Catholic Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle, the source claimed. Ezedi arrived in Britain in the back of a lorry in 2016 and had twice been refused asylum by 2018 The Afghan suspect secured the churches support despite being a convicted sex attacker. Pictured: In CCTV after the attack A reference from a Baptist chapel in the North East, where Ezedi was living, was crucial in persuading an immigration tribunal that he had converted from Islam to Christianity. Pictured while shopping Yesterday, asked whether the Government would review how asylum seekers were allowed to stay in Britain after converting to Christianity, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: Ive been very clear that, when it comes to illegal migrants, we need to have a system where someone who comes here illegally should not be able to stay. Asked whether there was a loophole that needed to be closed, he said: More generally Ive tightened up the system every which way I can, but fundamentally this is just about fairness. People coming here illegally at that point shouldnt be able to stay. No 10 later said the Government had already taken action to stop people trying to game the system. Home Secretary James Cleverly is understood to be awaiting a full report from officials after asking for the facts about Ezedis case. He is expected to scrutinise whether there are flaws in the asylum system which could prompt rule changes. Ezedi arrived in Britain in the back of a lorry in 2016 and had twice been refused asylum by 2018. Then he was handed a suspended sentence for sex crimes. He was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court in January 2018 and given a nine-week jail term suspended for two years for a charge of sexual assault. He was also given 36 weeks imprisonment to be served consecutively for a charge of indecent exposure. This was also suspended for two years. Ezedi claimed he had converted to Christianity and would be in danger if he was returned to his homeland. Pictured: File photo The allegations about Ezedi come amid claims that as many as 40 small boat migrants being housed on the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset are converting to Christianity. Pictured: File photo Ezedi was added to the sex offenders register for 10 years. He was discharged from probation supervision in 2020 Ezedi then made a third attempt to gain asylum, taking his case to an immigration tribunal. He claimed he had converted to Christianity and would be in danger if he was returned to his homeland. He was granted leave to remain in Britain. A spokesman for the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle said: 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 allegations about Ezedi come amid claims that as many as 40 small boat migrants being housed on the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset are converting to Christianity. David Rees, a church elder and education consultant, told BBC Radio 4 that faith leaders had visited the barge and aided conversions which had begun before they had arrived in Britain or during evangelistic courses. Mr Rees said he was confident that all were genuine conversions. With an interior measuring just 7.2 by 7.2 feet-wide, most of us would feel pretty claustrophobic after a few hours on the International Space Station (ISS). But one Russian cosmonaut has made the ISS his second home, having spent more than 878 days on board. Oleg Kononenko has set a new world record for total time spent in space, surpassing his compatriot Gennady Padalka who logged more than 878 days in orbit. And he's not stopping there. 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. Oleg Kononenko has set a new world record for total time spent in space, surpassing his compatriot Gennady Padalka who logged more than 878 days in orbit With an interior measuring just 7.2 by 7.2 feet-wide, most of us would feel pretty claustrophobic after a few hours on the International Space Station (ISS) 'I fly into space to do my favourite thing, not to set records,' Kononenko told TASS in an interview from the ISS, where he is orbiting about 263 miles (423 km) above 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. 'I fly into space to do my favourite thing, not to set records,' Kononenko told TASS in an interview from the ISS, where he is orbiting about 263 miles (423 km) above the Earth WHICH ASTRONAUT HOLDS THE RECORD FOR THE LONGEST CONTINUOUS SPACE FLIGHT? That distinction belongs to Valeri Polyakov, who lived aboard the Mir space station between January 8th 1994 and March 22nd 1995. When Polyakov landed back on Earth 437 days, 17 hours and 38 minutes later, he had travelled nearly 187 million miles and made 7,075 orbits of the Earth. Upon landing on Earth, he reportedly refused to be carried out of the capsule as is the case with most, to prove that humans would be able to work on Mars even after a long journey. According to space historian Philip Barker, Polyakov climbed out himself, walked to a nearby chair, and smoked a cigarette stolen from a friend. Advertisement 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. 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. You might think that tackling flat-packed furniture is a uniquely modern problem. But now archaeologists have found the first Roman funerary bed in Britain - and it was 'flat-packed for the next life'. Archaeologists from Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA) made this important discovery in a Roman cemetery near Holborn Viaduct in central London. The nearly 2,000-year-old bed was found alongside five Roman oak coffins. Heather Knight, Project Officer at MOLA: 'The levels of preservation we've encountered and particularly uncovering such a vast array of wooden finds has really blown us away.' Archaeologists have excavated the remains of Britain's very first funerary bed (artist's impression top right) in a Roman cemetery near Holborn Viaduct, London Researchers from Museum of London Archaeology (pictured) discovered that the funerary bed had been deconstructed and placed in the grave of an adult man in his late 20s or early 30s READ MORE: From remains of ancient wall to bath house in Billingsgate, the architecture of Roman London still here today Advertisement The bed is made from high-quality oak, with carved feet and joints that are fixed together with wooden pegs. However, archaeologists believe that it was probably taken apart before being placed in the grave of an adult male in his late 20s or early 30s. Other gravestones found across the Roman Empire show scenes of the dead sitting or reclining on couches, often eating as if they were alive. This indicates that the bed may have been a 'grave good' intended to be used in the afterlife. Michael Marshall, an artefacts specialist with MOLA, says: 'It's been quite carefully taken apart and stashed, almost like flat-packed furniture for the next life. 'The bed was a complete surprise, because we've never seen anything like it before,' Mr Marshall told The Guardian. Archaeologists excavate the remains of a Roman coffin at the site. In total, the researchers discovered five oak coffins in the cemetery. Before this only three had ever been found in the UK Experts believe that the bed, which would have looked like this before it was disassembled, was a 'grave good' to be used by the deceased in the afterlife Archaeologists also discovered personal artefacts like this lamp bearing the image of a dying gladiator The practice of being buried on beds is believed to have been popularised with the introduction of Christianity. Accounts exist of high-status individuals being carried on beds in funeral processions, but until now there was no evidence that Romans in Britain were buried with beds. One of the only other pieces of evidence for this practice is the 'Trumpington Bed Burial' which has been dated back to the seventh century, long after the departure of the Romans. This lack of evidence could be partly due to the fact that wooden artefacts do not usually survive as long as metal or glass. The oak bed and coffin were found alongside personal possessions including several glass beads, a vial, and a decorated lamp believed to date to AD 48-80. That would mean the cemetery was created right at the start of the Roman occupation of Britain almost 2,000 years ago. Normally, wood would naturally decay over this time but in the damp mud of the River Fleet, one of London's underground rivers, the artefacts have been remarkably well preserved. The Roman Cemetery is located six meters (19.7ft) beneath the modern street near Holborn viaduct. Researchers are excavating the site before it is converted into a set of luxury offices While it is now at the heart of the City of London, this site was once outside the city walls. Romans buried their dead outside the city and alongside roads, meaning this spot (circled in red) was the ideal location for a cemetery The other goods found in the grave included a lamp, glass beads, and a glass vial. Archaeologists date these back to the beginning of the Roman occupation in AD 48-80 READ MORE: Roman mausoleum that is believed to have been a burial ground for the wealthy is discovered by archaeologists in London Advertisement The site, which lies 19.7ft (six metres) beneath the modern street, now sits near the centre of the City of London. But during Roman rule, this site would have actually been outside the wall of the ancient city. Ms Knight says: 'We know the Romans buried their dead alongside roads, outside of urban centres. 'So, it was no great surprise to discover burials at this site, which during the Roman period would have been located 170m west of the city walls and next to the major Roman road of Watling Street.' Parts of the Roman city of Londinium are still visible today beneath the modern city. Fragments of the Roman perimeter are visible everywhere from underground car parks to basements of office buildings, On the grounds of the Barbican, on the former site of the Museum of London, you can even find the remains of a huge Roman fort. Archaeologists also found the remains of timber-lined wells (pictured) dating back to the 13th century which they believe were used in a medieval tannery On the site there is also evidence of thousands of years of use including the foundations of several different houses (pictured) and the remains of a 16th-century cemetery built over the Roman graveyard The researchers uncovered the remains of a 16th-century water pipe built beneath the modern city Since the Roman period, the archaeologists who have been excavating the cemetery believe that the site has been used for a number of purposes. The researchers found chalk floors and timber-lined wells which they believe are the remains of a 13th-century tannery. They also discovered a large wooden pump from the 15th or 16th century, believed to have once been used to pump water on a large ship. Excavations show that another cemetery was even constructed on top of the Roman site in the 16th century, before becoming houses, shops, a pub, and eventually Victorian warehouses. Archaeologists from MOLA will continue to excavate the site ahead of its conversion into a luxury office building. Scientists have revealed there was an 'unnerving' rise in fatal shark attacks in 2023 worldwide. Researchers at the University of Florida found deaths due to apex predators doubled, with 10 reported fatalities - up five from the previous year. Data showed the US had the most unprovoked attacks with 36 that accounted for 52 percent of the worldwide total, but only two were fatal. The number of global fatalities from shark attacks doubled in 2023, according to a new survey The U.S. reported the most shark attacks last year, with the majority occurring in Florida. Surfers are attacked more than swimmers and waders, making up 42 percent of the number of unprovoked shark attacks The team determined that great whites, tiger and bull sharks killed the majority of swimmers in 2023, but the increased deaths are due to more people being in the ocean each year and a stronger emphasis placed on reporting bites and fatalities. An unprovoked attack is when a shark attacks a human without provocation, such as the individual unintentionally approaching the shark or swimming or surfing in an area where the shark is preying on fish. Approximately 16 people endured shark bites in Florida and two were killed in California and Hawaii, according to a report by the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File (ISAF) There was also one confirmed death each in the Bahamas, Egypt, Mexico, and New Caledonia, and additional attacks in Brazil, the Bahamas and South Africa, in addition to five others. 'This is within the range of the normal number of bites, though the fatalities are a bit unnerving this year,' said Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Museum of Natural History's shark research program. Bull, tiger, and white shark attacks cause the most fatalities, but biologists say it's because they're larger than other sharks While the three sharks - great whites, tigers and bulls - are know as viscous predators of the sea, the researchers said that their size is why their bites are deadly. Typically, when a shark misidentifies a human as its prey, it will swim away after a single bite, but because they are larger than other sharks, a single bite can be fatal. Although the number of fatalities did increase in 2023, marine biologists said the rise in shark attacks is more likely due to population density, and as more people enter the water, the likelihood of someone being attacked by a shark increases. In Australia, four people were killed in unprovoked shark attacks, and the ISAF noted that the country is known for having a higher population of white and bull sharks. 'Beach safety in Australia is second to none. They're fantastic,' said Joe Miguez, a doctoral student in the Florida Program for Shark Research. 'However, if you go to remote regions where beach safety isn't in place, there is a higher risk of a fatal shark attack. 'This is because when an attack happens and there is beach safety, you can get a tourniquet on sooner and save the person's life. 'So, the solution isn't to not surf. It's to surf in areas where there's a good beach safety program in place,' he said. Surfers made up the majority of shark attack victims, experiencing 42 percent of bites worldwide, while swimmers and waders accounted for 39 percent of attacks. Swimmers should take precautions to avoid being bitten including swimming with a buddy and staying close to the shore The ISAF said there are certain steps swimmers and surfers can take to avoid being bitten, including swimming with a buddy, staying close to the shore, not swimming where people are fishing, and avoiding excess splashing. Sharks might be drawn to excess splashing, particularly if it's in a single spot, and will want to investigate if there is prey in distress. It also advises not to swim at dawn or dusk when sharks are most active and feeding and to avoid wearing shiny jewelry because the reflected light may resemble the sheen of fish scales. Climate scientists are developing an umbrella-like shade the size of Argentina that would block the sun's rays to mitigate the effects of global warming on Earth. The wild idea comes from Israeli researchers who believe the one-million-square-mile shade could reduce the Earth's temperature by 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit within two years. The team at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology is seeking up to $20 million for a prototype of 100 square feet, which they said could be achieved by 2027. The 'sail' would sit more than nine million miles from Earth and move through space by opening and closing the shading layer. While researchers are pushing forward with the proposal, critics said the cost of the 'megastructure' would be incredible - the Israeli design is expected to reach trillions. The 'sail' would sit more than nine million miles from Earth and move through space by opening and closing the shading layer The umbrella would consists of lightweight solar sails fixed to a solar-powered craft. The team has not shared details about the materials set to be used for the innovation Harvard physicist Avi Loeb commented on the project: 'Erecting any of these 'megastructures' in space would be very expensive and require a major international collaboration through reallocation of funds from military budgets to peaceful purposes.' Dimming or blocking the sun to cool the Earth has been a plan among many scientists. In 2021, a $3 million initiative back by Bill Gates revealed it aimed to spray millions of tons of chalk into the stratosphere. And last year, the White House announced it was open to plans to block sunlight from hitting the surface of the Earth in a bid to halt global warming. While none of these plans have fully matured, the team in Israel expects to have a prototype in the next three years. Yoram Rozen, who is leading the plan, told The New York Times: 'We at the Technion are not going to save the planet. The team said it would design a special rocket to take their sunshade into space. The device would sit folded inside the craft and open once it reaches the targeted position L1 is a position in space where the gravitational forces of a two-body system like the sun and the Earth produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion. That position, according to the team, will allow for a constant shading over a giant portion of our planet 'But we're going to show that it can be done.' The project, called Cool Earth, would need a 2.5-million-on shade, but due to its size, the team said it would have to launch a series of smaller shades. The umbrella would consists of lightweight solar sails fixed to a solar-powered craft. The team has not shared details about the materials set to be used for the innovation. The massive shade appears to be flexible, allowing the team to fold it inside a craft that will take it to the first Lagrange point (L1). L1 is a position in space where the gravitational forces of a two-body system like the sun and the Earth produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion. That position, according to the team, will allow for a constant shading over a giant portion of our planet. '[The demonstrator satellite] will perform a variable movement towards the sun and back to the earth, by controlling the shading sail,' the team shared on its website. 'In this way, the satellite will be able to maintain its position in space for a significant duration and without dependence on complex propulsion systems.' '[The demonstrator satellite] will perform a variable movement towards the sun and back to the earth, by controlling the shading sail,' the team shared on its website While the sunshade could reduce warming while other strategies to combat climate change are pursued, some experts believe the venture is a waste of time. Susanne Baur, a doctoral candidate at the European Center for Research and Advanced Training in Scientific Computation in France, told The New York Times that the massive umbrella would be 'astronomically expensive and could not be implemented in time.' On top of costs, solar storms or asteroids could damage the shield, 'resulting in sudden, rapid warming with disastrous consequences.' Baur continued to explain that the trillions of dollars needed for the sunshade could be better spent on reducing emissions on Earth and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Morgan Goodwin, executive director of the Planetary Sunshade Foundation, a nonprofit organization, said that the shade is a possibility in the future due to falling costs of space travel. 'We think as the idea of sunshades become more understood by climate folks, it's going to be a pretty obvious part of the discussion,' said Goodwin, who is also the senior director at the Angeles chapter of the Sierra Club. Many people, myself included, have been completely wrong about Rouen. I used to think, coming off the ferry, it was a useful stop while rushing down to the south of France. All too often the irritating phrase seen it, done it has been applied to what is actually one of the most interesting and enchanting French cities. My first brief visit, many years ago, did not go well, mainly due to an absurd attempt by the French authorities to be more welcoming to foreigners. We were issued with tokens called cheques-sourire (smile checks) to give to those who provided a friendly service, which would enter them into a prize draw. I can still remember the looks of horror after handing them to shop owners... I had never heard merde pronounced so bitterly. This time, all was forgiven. The smiles were genuine and, despite being January, the weather was mild, almost all the restaurants were open and Rouen was settling down to its year-round status as a major tourist hub. My wife, Mary, and I were in high spirits. We were celebrating our 55th wedding anniversary and wondering yet again why we had decided to get married in January. Nostalgia decided that we would travel on the ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe, as we had on our honeymoon all those years ago. Eurostar was then no more than a twinkle in the eye of those who dreamt of a Channel Tunnel. On a visit to Rouen, John Sergeant visits the city's impressive cathedral (pictured) The four-hour crossing, in high winds, did not dampen our mood, and a smiling taxi driver with a grand car took us in no time to Rouen. Our hotel, the four-star Hotel De Bourgtheroulde, like so much of the old town, can trace its origins back several hundred years. It was badly damaged by bombing in the Second World War but has been cleverly restored, with parts of the ancient building incorporated into the modern structure. On our first night, we found ourselves in the old market square, enjoying the impression of Rouen as it was in medieval times. Narrow, twisting streets provide vistas of half-timbered houses looking like a Hollywood set for a Robin Hood film. Real history in this capital of Normandy is never far away. We visited a traditional restaurant conveniently placed on a street named after William the Conqueror. He died here, as King of England, 21 years after the Battle of Hastings. John and his wife Mary pictured in Rouen, celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary Above, the couple in Paris in 1969 on their honeymoon And that is not the end of the British connection. As I unashamedly tucked into the traditional dish of calfs head, I was reminded that long after the Norman Conquest it was in this square that the fair maid of France, the great Joan of Arc, was burnt at the stake by English forces. But it would have been a terrible mistake to let history ruin a good dinner. And Rouen is one of the great foodie centres of France. I always want to savour the local dishes and cannot resist steak tartare or kidneys in mustard sauce. Mary is more restrained but can easily be tempted by escargots in cream sauce or garlic butter. We are also both keen on architecture and art, in which this city abounds. So the next day we walked to Rouen Cathedral a Gothic masterpiece. Defying gravity, its soaring nave reminds us that it was French architects who first gave the world these tall, sharp, pointed windows showing off the light through painted glass. John says that Rouen's half-timbered houses (pictured) look like a 'Hollywood set for a Robin Hood film' John stays at Hotel De Bourgtheroulde, which can trace its origins back several hundred years Rouen also has another firm place in the history of art. When trains first started to run the fairly short distance from Paris, artists with their new portable equipment, easels and tubes of paint quickly followed the River Seine to Rouen. Claude Monet was one who made the biggest impact with his famous series depicting the West Door of the cathedral. One of these is on display in the Musee des Beaux Arts alongside a fine collection of Impressionist paintings. On the last day, we walked along the Seine. Upriver is Paris and Rouen is the last deep port before the capital. It is here that during many a summer, the great sailing ships from around Europe are moored for the Armada festival. And as we left the next day, we glanced back at our nearest bridge, and who is it named after? Oh yes, of course, William the Conqueror. Theres a sudden commotion on the beach. People are waving their arms and shouting as if theyve seen something alarming in the water. Perhaps a swimmer is in distress although the lifeguards dont seem the slightest bit concerned. On closer inspection, the gathering swell is all smiles. Whats more, theres plenty of jewellery on display, plunging necklines and expensive hair-dos and thats just the men. This is a wedding reception Cannes-style, and the bride and groom are about to arrive on a sleek, polished speedboat. Theyre in for some party. Its business as usual in the Cote dAzur, this fabled, recession-proof honeypot. Were talking high-octane wealth, grandiose glamour and a salutary lesson, if needed, that the divide between the super-rich and those who, as Teresa May once put it, are just about getting by, has never been wider. Ive always wanted to visit Hotel Martinez, the oldest five-star on La Croisette, where a seaview room starts at about 1,800 and the four-bedroom suite on the seventh floor, with its own terrace the width of the whole building, costs 50,000 a night. On a tour of Provence, Mark Palmer visits the St Paul de Vence commune (pictured), which has been home to its fair share of famous artists There are Ferraris on the forecourt, Damien Hirst art on the walls in the atrium (or suspended from the ceiling) and much of the luggage coming and going has a whiff of LAs Rodeo Drive about it. The cantilever staircase is a marvel. How on earth it supports itself is baffling, but its here that the movie gods and goddesses practice walking down the red carpeted steps during the Cannes Film Festival. Ive persuaded the management to let our disparate bunch (ranging in age from two to 62) have lunch across the road at the hotels beach club. Full disclosure Im not paying the full whack. If I were, it would be 60-90 per day for a sunbed (prices rise the closer you are to the sea) or 800 for a cabana on the pier, with a bottle of bubbly thrown in. In Cannes, Mark dines at Hotel Martinez's 'deliciously informal' beach club restaurant And, yet, the beach club restaurant (The best lunch of my life, says one of our group) is deliciously informal light on pretension, heavy on irony, with the names of film stars on the back of the director-style chairs. Mine belongs to Grace Kelly and Im next to Paul Newman and Yul Brynner. The next day, the juxtaposition could not be more stark though just as rewarding as we take the 20-minute shuttle from the old port of Cannes to Saint Honorat, the smaller of the two Iles de Lerins. No Ferraris here. No cars of any kind in fact, although we spot a tractor and trailer in among the vines which produce half-decent wines and help sustain the 20 Cistercian monks who live a life of solitude and prayer, perhaps putting a word in on behalf of the hedonistic crowd back on the mainland. Theres been a monastery here since about 405, though the French Revolution interrupted matters. This was until Saint Honorat was bought in 1869 by the Bishop of Frejus, who oversaw its rebirth. Cool spot: Marks stays at Villa Jasmina (pictured) near the hilltop hamlet of Opio Mark enjoys a 'celestial day out' on Ile Saint-Honorat (above) It makes for a celestial day out. Theres no beach but you just pick your spot and clamber over rocks into the water. Then treat yourself to a long, lazy lunch at the Torraine restaurant also owned by the monks. Villa Jasmina, our rented CV Villas house, about 40 minutes inland near the hilltop hamlet of Opio, is the colour of honey and surrounded by cypress, eucalyptus, pine, olive and fir trees, all of which defer to the big old oak on the terrace. Sitting under it for dinner at the stone table is a joy. There are three bedrooms in the main house, plus an annexe with two more. The swimming pool is long and thin and alarmed in case little ones should tumble into it. Its the ideal base for exploring this gilded region of Provence, which over the years has attracted the superstars of art. They came (including Winston Churchill) and continue to come for the light a brilliant, bright light, whereas in Tuscany its softer, less sharp, more pink. The commune of St Paul de Vence basks in its artistic associations. Marc Chagall bought a house here in 1949. As a Jew born in Belarus, he had been granted French citizenship in 1937 but was forced to flee German occupied France during the war. He was later made an honorary citizen of Vence. Matisse, Picasso and Leger, among others, took up temporary residence in this 16th Century town perched on a hill, with its one main, narrow street, appropriately called Rue Grande, where Parisian-style galleries are happy for you to saunter in, take one look at the prices and hurry out. The arty crowd used to gather at the Colombe dOr at the entrance to the town. It was a humble inn in those days. Now its a five-star hotel, with two beefy, suited security men standing outside to deter people like me from wandering in for a snoop. Mark travels to Grasse, the perfume capital of the world, where he is greeted by hundreds of pink umbrellas (pictured) TRAVEL FACTS Seven nights at Villa Jasmina, sleeping ten, costs from 3,751 including a welcome pack and maid service two days per week (cvvillas.com). EasyJet flies from London to Nice about 40 minutes from Cannes from 102 return (easyjet.com). Car hire can be arranged via Holiday Extras, picking up and dropping off at Nice airport (holidayextras.com). More information about Provence at France.fr. Advertisement Valbonne is terrific, too. Here, its the art of French living which is on display in a village built beside the Chalaisienne Abbey in 1199 on a Roman, rectangular, grid-system. At its heart is the Place des Arcades, a fabulous little square with restaurants on three sides. A man in a bright yellow shirt seems to be acting as a maitre d for rival establishments, only for us to realise later that three of them are owned and run by the same family. There are no cars here either so children scamper around while their parents tuck into escargots and steak tartare. Then theres Grasse, the so-called perfume capital of the world. When we arrive its raining so hard that traffic is brought to a standstill. The good news is that we are greeted by hundreds of pink umbrellas the bad news is that they are all out of reach, hanging from wires attached to lampposts. The sophistication of the South of France is hard to beat, but what I also like is the way old men with faces lined like a London Underground map still spend hours sitting at cafe tables, smoking and, hallelujah, reading newspapers. In the evening, they might adjourn to the nearest dusty boules track and then back to the cafe for a pichet of red wine and a moan about President Macron. But, my goodness, the French can be surly. On one of our Carrefour supermarket runs I ask a member of staff as gently as possible if she could direct me to les oeufs (eggs), where upon, without looking up, she stabs out an aggressive finger and barks: au fin [at the end]. And their road manners are appalling. By the end of the week we ditch games of I-Spy with the younger children in favour of Spot The Smile as we drive around, offering grateful waves if, on the rarest of occasions, we are given right of way. We find they are seldom reciprocated. The French can be belligerent, chippy and aloof. They are our nearest neighbours and yet forever distant. But to have this fascinating, infuriating and captivating country on our doorstep is one of our great privileges. Australian travellers are being warned to exercise a high degree of caution as close neighbour Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, heads to the polls next week in a high-stakes election. Smart Traveller, the Australian government's advisory service, stated on Monday 'frequent political rallies and possible protests' were likely to occur in the lead-up to polling day, which will see more than 200 million Indonesians vote for their next president. 'Expect traffic delays and restricted access to locations if protests occur. Avoid protests and demonstrations and monitor local media for the latest updates,' the advice states. Australian travellers are being warned to exercise a high degree of caution as close neighbour Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, heads to the polls next week in a high-stakes election. People are seen on Kuta Beach in Bali The election, a three-way race between former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, former military general Prabowo Subianto and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo, takes place next Wednesday, February 14. Boisterous political rallies are a common feature of life in Indonesia, a nation of about 270 million people, and tens of thousands of supporters can gather at stadiums to cheer on their preferred candidate. The new warning adds to the overall 'exercise a high degree of caution' risk assessment for the country, which counts Bali, one of Australia's most popular travel destinations, as its star tourist draw. Alongside the election, the government advises Australian travellers to be mindful of possible of terror attacks and the country's many active volcanoes, which can erupt without warning. Presidential Candidate Ganjar Pranowo Campaigns In Jakarta Soldiers from the Iskandar Muda military command take part in a roll call ceremony in Banda Aceh on February 1 ahead of Indonesia's presidential and legislative polls. AFP The government also advises Australians to reconsider their need to travel to the provinces of Papua due to ongoing separatist activity. 'There's been tension, including demonstrations and violence, in certain towns in the provinces of Papua, Papua Pegunungan, Papua Tengah and Papua Selatan in recent years,' the government states. 'Armed groups have stated that they're targeting foreigners, including Australians.' But Indonesia continues to attract millions of Australian travellers each year with its intoxicating mix of cultural power, natural beauty and affordability. The tropical getaway was the number one travel spot for Australians in 2023, according to data from Bupa Travel Insurance, followed by the United States and New Zealand. Amy Dowden has shared a series of photos from through out her time battling cancer as she marked World Cancer Day on Instagram on Sunday. The Strictly Come Dancing professional, 33, was told she had breast cancer in May 2023 and underwent a mastectomy before doctors discovered she was also battling another form of cancer and would need further treatment. Amy shared a candid post to social media, including pictures of herself in hospital during the gruelling cancer treatment. She penned: 'Today is World Cancer day! Let's keep raising awareness and hopefully one day help find a cure. The day I heard the words sorry Amy, it's cancer, my life changed forever. 'I'm grateful for the care I receive, the NHS and incredible staff, my friends and family and that I'm still here and have a different look on life. Amy Dowden has shared a series of photos from through out her time battling cancer as she marked World Cancer Day on Instagram on Sunday The Strictly Come Dancing professional, 33, was told she had breast cancer in May 2023 and underwent a mastectomy before doctors discovered she was also battling another form of cancer and would need further treatment 'Make the most of every day, everyone, every opportunity and live life to the full or as I learnt on my journey, 'go grab life'. Amy signed off by saying: 'Please help raise awareness and one day help find a cure to help those suffering. I'm sending all my Welsh love to all affected by cancer.' It comes after Amy gave a health update as she revealed her hair has started to regrow after she lost it during chemotherapy. The dancer said she is feeling 'happy' with her hair growth as she looked back at the difference from when she was having treatment. Beaming for the selfie while sat in her car, Amy held up a thumb to the camera and said: 'It's been a little while so I thought I'd show you my hair growth. 'Makes me happy to see the difference and looking back. It's coming.' She also revealed she was at the hospital on Sunday for an MRI, and she hoped the scan would be her last 'for awhile'. Amy shared a candid post to social media, including pictures of herself in hospital during the gruelling cancer treatment She penned: 'Today is World Cancer day! Let's keep raising awareness and hopefully one day help find a cure. The day I heard the words sorry Amy, it's cancer, my life changed forever.' Amy signed off by saying: 'Please help raise awareness and one day help find a cure to help those suffering. I'm sending all my Welsh love to all affected by cancer.' The dancer announced she had been diagnosed with breast cancer in an Instagram post shared in May 2023 and underwent a mastectomy in July. Since then Amy has shared regular health updates on Instagram. She battled sepsis at one point during her chemo treatment as well as a blood clot on her lung. She also broke her foot toward the end of the year and her chemotherapy and then the injury meant Amy was forced to sit out most of the 2023 series of Strictly and was not partnered with a celeb. She did make a number of appearances during the series though, including an emotional moment in the finale group dance. It comes after Amy jetted off on h oliday to Grenada with her husband Ben' , marking her trip away since she was diagnosed with cancer in 2023. Amy, who tied the knot with Ben in 2022, found a lump in her breast the day before she flew to the Maldives for a belated honeymoon in April 2023 . Amy admitted she felt 'bitter' seeing other people's 2023 highlights on New Year's Eve amid her breast cancer battle. Amy Dowden showed off her hair growth on Instagram on Sunday as she revealed it has started to regrow after chemotherapy Amy broke down in tears last year when she had to shave her head The dancer said she is feeling 'happy' with her hair growth as she looked back at the difference from when she was having treatment Amy celebrated her final round of chemotherapy In November, ringing the traditional end of treatment bell to celebrate (seen with husband Ben) She appeared on Lorraine as she spoke about how she felt entering 2024 and her 'jealousy' over seeing posts. Speaking on Lorraine in an update at the start of January she candidly said: 'After New Year's Eve when you wake up and see everyone's posts - I was actually quite bitter. 'My life changed on the day of the diagnosis but cancer changes you forever, it's changed me as a person. 'I've lost a boob and my hair, I've had sepsis, been into shock, blood clots, I've broken my foot. I saw everyone doing these nice reels and I was quite jealous to be honest.' All in the Family alum Sally Struthers said that many fans of the show believed she was actually married to Rob Reiner, who played her husband on the iconic series, even decades after it went off the air. The Portland, Oregon-born actress, 76, spoke with Page Six on Tuesday about the series, weeks after she and Reiner, 76, reunited in an Emmys tribute to the late creator of the series, Norman Lear. Struthers portrayed the role of Gloria Bunker-Stivic on 184 episodes of the show from 19711978, later appearing in the spinoffs Gloria and Archie Bunker's Place. The two-time Emmy winner had been married to psychiatrist William Rader from 1977-1983. She said that fans of the iconic CBS franchise would approach her while she was out with her then-spouse asking about Reiner, who played the role of Michael 'Meathead' Stivic on the series. All in the Family alum Sally Struthers, 76, said that many fans of the show believed she was actually married to Rob Reiner, who played her husband on the iconic series, even decades after it went off the air. Pictured at the Emmys January 15 in LA Struthers portrayed the role of Gloria Bunker-Stivic on 184 episodes of the show from 19711978 opposite Reiner, who played the role of Michael 'Meathead' Stivic on the series 'When they saw me with my real-life husband, they go, "Where's your husband?"' she told the outlet. Struthers said that fans would have a difficult time digesting the information when she would inform them that she was married to Rader, and not Reiner. 'People are so funny,' Struthers said. 'They get an idea in their head, they're like an old dog with a bone.' Even decades after the series ended, people continued to think she and Reiner were married. She said that she and Reiner at one point began meeting regularly for lunch at the Los Angeles shopping center The Grove (which opened in 2002). 'Within two months, we couldn't do that anymore,' Struthers explained of the attention from fans. Struthers told the outlet that the success of the TV series was life-changing for her: 'It became apparent rather quickly that my life had completely turned upside down.' Struthers explained why she felt the characters on the landmark show, which starred the late Jean Stapleton and Carroll O'Connor as Edith and Archie Bunker, resonated so strongly with fans. Struthers said of the misconception from fans, 'People are so funny. They get an idea in their head, they're like an old dog with a bone' Last month, Struthers and Reiner, 76, reunited in an Emmys tribute to the late creator of the series, Norman Lear The landmark show starred the late Jean Stapleton and Carroll O'Connor as Edith and Archie Bunker opposite Reiner and Struthers 'The Bunkers came along and they flushed toilets,' Struthers said. 'They didn't have good manners at the table. They reached over one another for food and they talked about real things.' She continued: 'They peeled off the veneer. And you saw the less-than-perfect side of human beings. You saw the arguing and the vehemence and the bigotry. You can't put the genie back in the bottle now. Everything got more honest after that.' Struthers said she continues to be 'grateful' for the impact the show had on her life and career. 'Over the years the gratitude has grown because it continues to open doors,' she told Page Six. 'It sounds like I'm bragging. I'm not bragging.' She added, 'I'm always dumbfounded. I don't have to audition for theater. I get offered parts. I get people who call and say, "We want Sally to do this for us this year." 'And that's because they know that my name sells tickets and fills the seats. That wouldn't have happened without the renown of All in the Family. So, I'm grateful every day.' Struthers has been busy in recent years working in theater, and is slated to star with Ted Danson on a forthcoming Netflix comedy titled A Classic Spy. 'That's what I do,' she said. 'I keep moving, and I think that my favorite adage is, "You rest, You rust!"' Paris Jackson wowed in a sexy black gown, featuring a racy cutout, across her toned midriff, at the Grammys 2024 in Los Angeles, California on Sunday. For the occasion, the 25-year-old daughter of the late superstar Michael Jackson turned heads in her daring ensemble, designed by Celine, as she strutted down the red carpet in a pair of strappy black pumps. She completed her edgy look with a pair of dangly hoop earrings and clutch bag, carrying her essentials. Her expansive ink collection was noticeably covered up for the evening. Paris Jackson wowed in a sexy black gown, featuring a racy cutout, across her toned midriff, at the Grammys 2024 in Los Angeles, California on Sunday Jackson teamed up with makeup brand Cover FX to cover up her expansive ink collection for the night In order to hide all her tattoos, including the abundant body art adorning her arms and chakras design running down her chest, she teamed up with makeup brand Cover FX, and beauty pros Tyson Fountaine - who hid the inkings on her body - and Paul Blanch, who was responsible for her makeup look for the evening. Her makeup artist used the brand's Total Cover Cream Foundation to conceal all 80 of her tats. '#CoverFX meant business when they said total cover cream foundation would have me covered,' she captioned the footage. Ahead of the ceremony, she shared a time-lapse video on Instagram of the process to cover up all her tattoos, which saw Fountaine applying the Cover FX Gripping Primer to her body to ensure that the makeup stuck to the skin. To keep the makeup there all night long, Fountaine added a layer of Pressed Mineral Foundation, then finished it off with the High Performance Setting Spray 'to prevent the makeup from transferring and [ensure it] lasted all night'. However Paris' decision to conceal her body art sparked a debate among her Instagram followers. 'I'm confused, Why cover them?! You look amazing as YOU ,' one follower wrote under the video. Another suggested: 'This is obviously just to promote how good the product works, guys. And it's a pretty good marketing technique to use a canvas with that much ink. If it can over all that, there's nothing it can't cover on your face, get it?' For the occasion, the 25-year-old daughter of the late superstar Michael Jackson turned heads in her daring ensemble as she strutted down the red carpet in a pair of strappy black pumps She completed her edgy look with a pair of dangly hoop earrings and clutch bag, carrying her essentials Her expansive ink collection was noticeably covered up for the evening Her fans expressed shocked by her choice to hide her tats, with many asking 'why cover them up?' Speaking about the shock decision, the singer's glam team explained: 'Paris chose a chic and elegant Celine 2024 dress with cutouts for the Grammys, and we felt it would be more dramatic to cover her tattoos and really let the dress be the center of her look.' Others said she looked 'stunning' and 'so beautiful.' Over the years, Paris has spoken about using tattoos and piercings to express herself, even though she got 'a lot of them' for no reason. Her first tat was an alien on one of her breasts, which she told People was a spontaneous decision. 'I just wanted it it's kind of how they all are,' she said of her tat collection. 'I've done a few of my own.' The 2024 Grammy Awards will be honoring music's brightest stars in a celebration held at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown on February 4. Hosted by Trevor Noah, this year's celebration will air live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBS and its streaming service Paramount+. Her makeup artist used cover cream foundation to conceal all 80 of her tats The 2024 Grammy Awards will be honoring music's brightest stars in a celebration held at the Crypto.com Arena in downtown on February 4 This year SZA tops the nominations with a total of nine nods, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song Of The Year. Taylor Swift follows close behind with six nominations, and will also be competing against SZA in the three aforementioned categories. The majority of Swift's nominations were for her acclaimed album Midnights and its single Anti-Hero, which earned some of the best reviews of her career. That track is up for Record of the Year, a category that honors the artists who recorded the song and its producers and engineers, as well as for the Song of the Year category, which honors songwriters. SZA's track Kill Bill has also been nominated in both categories. Swift has already made history in the Album of the Year category, currently tied for three previous wins with music legends Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder. However, she is now poised to become the first-ever person to win the category four times if Midnights ends up victorious this year. Billie Eilish and Miley Cyrus are also both up for six awards. Eilish's nominations include Song and Record of the Year for her hit single from the Barbie soundtrack, What Was I Made For? Cyrus has the chance to win her first ever Grammy this year with her nominations. Ahead of the ceremony, she shared a time-lapse video on Instagram of the process to cover up all her tattoos '#CoverFX meant business when they said total cover cream foundation would have me covered,' she captioned the footage 'I'm confused, Why cover them?! You look amazing as YOU ,' one follower wrote under the video Her track Flowers is up for Record and Song of the Year, while her album Endless Summer Vacation has been nominated for Album of the Year. Olivia Rodrigo is another major name in competition for a trophy. Olivia - who has already won three Grammys - has been nominated for six awards this year, including Album Of The Year, Record Of The Year, and Song Of The Year. Other major nominees include jazz crossover artist Jon Batiste, the trio Boygenius (made up of Phoebe Bridges, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker), Lana Del Rey, Janelle Monae and Victoria Monet, who was nominated for Best New Artist and multiple awards for her album Jaguar II and its singles. In addition to the big names celebrating career achievements, a host of celebrities are set to be presenting at the show. Christina Aguilera, Lenny Kravitz, Lionel Richie, Mark Ronson, Maluma, Meryl Steep, Samara Joy, Taylor Tomlinson, and Oprah Winfrey have all been announced as presenters. Audience members and viewers alike will also be treated to an array of incredible performances, with Billie Eilish, Billy Joel, Burna Boy, Dua Lipa, Luke Combs, Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, Travis Scott, and U2 slated to perform. Folk music icon Joni Mitchell will also be performing for the first time ever at the Grammy awards this year. She too is up for an award for Best Folk Album Category for Joni Mitchel AT Newport [Live]. Married At First Sight viewers were left shocked on Sunday night after bride Lauren Dunn got married in one of the most unique gowns ever featured on the show. The Perth bride, 32, rocked up to her wedding in a plunging gown featuring a high thigh split which almost exposed her crotch. From the outset, it was clear it was going to be no ordinary wedding as Lauren left her groom Jonathan McCullough and a venue full of guests waiting for hours. Shocked fans were divided over Lauren's bold choice of wedding day attire and quickly took to social media to debate it the merits of her barely there gown. Several fans were quick to criticise Lauren's outfit. Married At First Sight viewers were left shocked on Sunday night after bride Lauren Dunn got married in one of the most unique gowns ever featured on the show 'It's a nice dress Lauren almost has on,' one person joked. 'Lauren's dress is a bit "interesting",' a second added. 'At least Lauren can't tan the wrong arm in this dress,' a third chipped in. The Perth bride, 32, rocked up to her wedding in a plunging gown featuring a high thigh split which almost exposed her crotch However, others were fans of her jaw-dropping dress and were quick to praise her bold fashion sense. 'Am I the only one who thought Lauren's dress looked unique and amazing?' one person asked, as another added: 'Have to admit I love Lauren's dress'. Lauren's chaotic wedding day saw her oversleep and then make a last-minute decision to apply fake tan. Fans were divided over Lauren's bold choice of wedding day attire and quickly took to social media to debate it the merits of her barely-there gown Her journey to the altar was full of slapstick comedy. First, her limousine found itself trapped in the driveway of her accommodation, a predicament straight out of a sitcom. Then, in a move that redefines 'flower girl', Lauren stopped by the roadside to gather wildflowers and weeds as a makeshift bouquet. Once she arrived at the wedding, she forgot her flowers in the car and was forced to run back and pick them up. Lauren's chaotic wedding day saw her oversleep and then made a last-minute decision to apply fake tan Victoria Beckham famously fell out with her daughter-in-law Nicola Peltz after she refused to wear a wedding dress designed by the ex-Spice Girl and chose Valentino instead. But it appears the fashion feud is over after Nicola was wearing head-to-toe Victoria Beckham at the premiere of her new film Lola on Saturday while hugging the former Spice Girl on the red carpet. Victoria, 49, stepped out to support her daughter-in-law at the premiere hosted at the Regency Bruin Theatre in Los Angeles and wrote on her Instagram: We could not be more proud of you! Congratulations on your incredible film, Lola. officially in theatres on February 9th! Nicola in custom Victoria Beckham tailoring, Im wearing my tux suit coming soon. Victoria Beckham stepped out to support her daughter-in-law Nicola Peltz at the premiere of her new film Lola on Saturday Nicola, 29, was also joined by husband Brooklyn (far right) The 29-year-old actress, who was also joined by her husband Brooklyn and her actress pal Selena Gomez, donned a white corset top and a pair of low-waist trousers from Beckhams upcoming spring-summer collection. She draped an arm over the shoulders of her mother-in-law, who in turn held her hand. Meanwhile, Victoria looked stylish in a dark navy oversized tuxedo-style jacket complete with satin navy strips on her ankle-cut pencil trousers. The Daily Mail revealed the pair had recently resolved their issues over vodka, cocktails and card games. Brooklyn, 24, who married Peltz in April 2022, said: We love Sunday roasts. Me and my dad share a bottle of wine. My mum and Nicola share vodka Snapple. We dont really watch TV - we just talk and just have fun. Its just about being in the moment, having a drink, eating food and enjoying each others company. We sometimes play games. My wife introduced my family to this game called Fish Bowl which we love to play at gatherings. My mum and dad really like it, we played it a couple of weeks ago when we were together. Brooklyn, 24 married Peltz in April 2022 Victoria looked stylish in a dark navy oversized tuxedo-style jacket complete with satin navy strips on her ankle-cut pencil trousers The disagreement between the two women was said to have been a result of Nicola choosing to wear a custom-made Valentino wedding dress and not one designed by her mother-in-law for her and Brooklyns 2.3 million Miami wedding. The daughter of the American billionaire businessman Nelson Peltz was due to wear a dress made by Victoria but at the eleventh hour reportedly picked the Valentino one instead. She also snubbed the Beckhams by not placing them at the top table during the reception. A source told the Mail: There was a feeling that the wedding was all about the Peltz family, as you can imagine, as it was their house and their daughter and their son making the speeches. Jane Danson was left too frightened to leave her home after rising to fame on Coronation Street. The actress, 45, first joined the soap as Leanne Battersby in 1997, with Leanne arriving in Weatherfield with her mother Janice (Vicky Entwistle), father Les (Bruce Jones) and sister Toyah (Georgia Taylor). They were billed as a working class 'family from hell' and their presence on the cobbles left many viewers unimpressed. Recalling her first days on the ITV serial, Jane said she was written to and accosted by viewers while out who would scold her for her character's on-screen behaviour. Jane explained to the Mirror: 'The Street was in a very different place back then, with a small cast and long-established characters, then this rough family came in behaving terribly and everyone hated them. Jane Danson, 45, was left too frightened to leave her home after rising to fame on Coronation Street (Jane pictured as her character Leanne Battersby on the soap in 2022) Jane joined the soap as Leanne Battersby in 1997, with Leanne arriving in Weatherfield with mother Janice (Vicky Entwistle), father Les (Bruce Jones) and sister Toyah (Georgia Taylor) (Jane, right, pictured as Leanne with Georgia, left, as Toyah in 1997) 'People wrote to me all the time saying, "We hate you. Leave our street!" I was just a girl from Bury whod done a few bits of acting so as an 18 year old that was a big shock. 'One day I was out at my local shops when an old woman hit me with her handbag and told me to "turn that bloody music down" because Leanne had been shaking the cobbles with her big boom box!' Jane said she became too scared to leave her house and took extra care if she ever did. However, the star understands who fans of the soap acted the way they did, saying Coronation Street seemed like a real place to them at the time and her character Leanne was simply too 'gobby' for their liking. Meanwhile, Coronation Street favourite Helen Worth has signed a new one-year contract worth a whopping 250,000, according to reports. The soap legend, 73, who has played Gail Platt in the show since 1974, has been at the centre of many explosive storylines. Corrie 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. The Battersby family was billed as a working class 'family from hell' and their presence on the cobbles left many viewers unimpressed (L-R: Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor), Les Battersby (Bruce Jones), Janice Battersby (Vicky Entwistle) and Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson)) Recalling her first days on the ITV serial, Jane, who is still on Corrie, said she was written to and accosted by viewers while out who would scold her for her character's on-screen behaviour (pictured in 2019) 'Helen is dedicated to the soap and is determined to help steer it through a rocky patch,' the source said. 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 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. Coronation Street favourite Helen Worth has signed a new one-year contract worth a whopping 250,000, according to reports (Helen, right, seen as Gail Platt with Gail's daughter Sarah Louise Platt (Tina O'Brien)) 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. '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.' The Ossett-born actress who has played Gail Platt on the soap since 1974, collected her honour from The Prince Of Wales last year 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). 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. 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 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. A Taylor Swift fan was left fuming on the weekend when her VIP ticket to the Eras Tour in March was 'stolen' from her account just a few weeks before the concert. Becca, a 21-year-old Swiftie, snapped up the coveted $659 ticket for the February 18 Melbourne show from Ticketek Marketplace in December last year. The ticket later 'glitched out' of her account and was resold to another buyer in a freak incident, but it has since been returned to her. Becca first became concerned when she didn't receive her VIP package at the same time as other ticket-buyers, and checked her account only to find the ticket had 'disappeared'. Taking to TikTok and the Today breakfast show, Becca put out a call for help when the ticket was 'stolen' from her account, revealing she even had an email confirmation of her purchase to prove she bought the ticket. A Taylor Swift (pictured) fan was left fuming this week when her VIP ticket to the Eras Tour in March was 'stolen' from her account just a few weeks before the concert A Ticketek spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Monday: 'Ticketek apologises to Rebecca for any confusion.' 'We can assure Rebecca that she now has tickets in her account. We have now reached out to Rebecca to confirm.' Becca said she spent weeks trying to secure a seat to one of the pop star's sold out shows, and was grateful to find a VIP package so close to the concert dates. Becca became concerned when she didn't receive her VIP package at the same time as other ticket-buyers, and checked her account only to find the ticket had 'disappeared'. A Ticketek employee told her it had 'glitched out' of her account and been re-sold to someone else But she added: 'When everyone had started receiving their VIP packages and I hadn't, I was starting to get a little bit worried.' 'I checked my Ticketek account and the ticket was gone.' Becca went on to say her mother went into a Ticketek office in the city after she spent days failing to get a staff member on the phone. Becca has since appeared on Today breakfast show to tell hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo (both pictured) that she now has her VIP Ticket to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour back in her account An employee then told her mother that Becca's ticket had seemingly 'glitched out' of her account and been relisted for sale on Ticketek Marketplace. '[The employee said] someone else has it, we don't know who, we can't check or track who has your ticket,' Becca said. 'I have essentially had my ticket stolen from me. It's scary to know our accounts aren't secure enough to hold our tickets once they've been purchased.' Becca has since appeared on Today breakfast show to tell hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo that she now has her VIP Ticket to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour back in her account. Mia Thornton and her husband Gordon Thornton discussed splitting up scenarios during a lunch date on Sunday's episode of The Real Housewives Of Potomac. The 39-year-old reality star and Gordon, 71, went on a 'day date' at the suggestion of their therapist after Mia earlier admitted that she had consulted a divorce attorney. 'The family business, that's obviously impacting our relationship,' said Mia, referencing Gordon losing his job with his family business. 'Okay, agree. 'Cause you cut me deep and hard pretty often,' Gordon said. 'Well, it's a lot, babe. It's a lot,' said Mia, who announced her separation from Gordon last September after 11 years of marriage. Mia Thornton and her husband Gordon Thornton discussed splitting up scenarios during a lunch date on Sunday's episode of The Real Housewives Of Potomac Mia, who recently revealed on social media that she's engaged, told Gordon that he needed take 'self-accountability' for his actions. 'I'm not blaming him, but I am concerned that he doesn't see the role that he played that caused the sequence of events for him to get kicked out that then caused me to not continue to be in my role, which then caused us to have to move, and then I don't have a nanny,' Mia said in a confessional. 'It's like, hello, like, we didn't just wake up one day, and the family said, 'Hey, we no longer want you guys sitting in these seats'',' she added. Gordon said he was only told that he was being forced out the family business because he wasn't listening. 'We did get to a point where I was ready to divorce you,' Mia said. She told Gordon that her reasoning was not financial, but she found herself in a 'hostile environment'. Gordon interjected that she needed to clarify that statement and pointed out that he never physically touched her and wanted to be clear about that. 'Yeah, no, of course not,' Mia said. Gordon said he was only told that he was being forced out the family business because he wasn't listening Mia, who recently revealed on social media that she's engaged, told Gordon that he needed take 'self-accountability' for his actions Gordon and Mia went on a 'day date' at the suggestion of their therapist 'I'm not blaming him, but I am concerned that he doesn't see the role that he played that caused the sequence of events for him to get kicked out that then caused me to not continue to be in my role, which then caused us to have to move, and then I don't have a nanny,' Mia said in a confessional 'My thing is, you know, it was so emotionally draining to just be in the same habitat with you. You know what I mean?,' Mia said. Mia and Gordon then talked about Ashley Darby, 35, and her estranged husband Michael Darby, 64. Ashley helped Michael after he had back surgery and Mia said she would not do the same for a cheating ex. She asked Gordon if he thought Ashley and Michael were actually getting a divorce. 'I never thought so from the beginning,' Gordon said. 'Really? Why didn't you ever tell me this?,' Mia said. 'Why give up the sugar daddy?,' Gordon said. 'I mean, s***. It's a good gig, if you can get it.' Mia asked Gordon if he thought Ashley and Michael were actually getting a divorce 'Why give up the sugar daddy?,' Gordon said. 'I mean, s***. It's a good gig, if you can get it' Gordon asked Mia how she thought they would handle getting divorced. 'Oh, you woulda gave me some type of settlement,' Mia said. 'No, it wouldn't have gotten that far,' Gordon said. 'Why?,' Mia asked. 'We would have come to an arrangement. Probably still stayed together. Now, I want you to think about this for a minute. I get what I want because I'm near a beautiful woman. You get what you want by still having me around. We're still co-parenting the kids, and we would probably work out some kind of arrangement that's mutually beneficial,' Gordon said. Gordon said he mentioned it before and Mia got mad at him. 'Uh, I don't really know how to comment on that. I don't know. I don't know how to comment on that,' Mia said in a confessional. Gordon asked why would they split up if they could work out a deal that makes sense. 'I don't think that there's no amount of money that would keep a person in captivity. I know, at least for me, I know that,' Mia said. The episode opened with Ashley and Gizelle Bryant, 53, shopping for fabric for their new leisure wear line. The episode opened with Ashley and Gizelle Bryant, 53, shopping for fabric for their new leisure wear line Wendy Osefo, 39, also supported her husband Eddie as they hosted a joint rolling party to promote his new cannabis company. Cannabis was not yet legal in Maryland, so they rolled joints filled with oregano instead. Show newcomer Nneka Ihim hosted an unpacking party, but Wendy declined to attend as she continued her feuding with Nneka. The Real Housewives Of Potomac will return next week on Bravo. He retired as host of Sunrise eight months ago to spend more time with family and pursue other interests. But now it's been reported David Koch is set to have a new career in reality TV. Woman's Day claims the veteran presenter, 67, has signed up for the upcoming series of Channel Seven's hit show Dancing With The Stars. 'Koch is one big name the network is trying to keep quiet. We almost locked in Kochie last year,' a Seven insider told the publication. 'He was signed up and ready to go but his exit from Sunrise threw a few spanners in the works. He said "can we hold off a year?"' Ex-Sunrise star David Koch's (pictured) has reportedly signed up for the upcoming series of Channel Seven 's hit show Dancing With The Stars They added that Kochie's appearance on the reality show is expected to be a huge drawcard for the network, with fans eager to tune in to see his dance moves. Last year, Kochie was reportedly forced to pull out of Dancing With The Stars due to a schedule clash. And this is not the only project in the works for Kochie. He is also set to release a memoir, lifting the lid on his 21-years as host of Sunrise, according to New Idea magazine. Kochie has already been presented with a $1million contract offer as publishers fight to win the rights to his book. The veteran presenter, 67, retired as host of Sunrise eight months ago after 21 years to spend more time with family and pursue other interests 'This will no doubt turn into a fierce bidding war among the country's top publishers chequebooks will be open for whatever advance he asks for,' an insider said back in June. In July, Kochie yet another business venture. He revealed he had teamed up with Australian sugar-free drink brand Nexba and its parent company Goodness Group Global as a shareholder and advisor. Roxy Jacenko's children are no strangers to living an incredibly lavish lifestyle, and now her son Hunter Curtis has a list of luxury demands for his upcoming birthday. The nine-year-old, who will celebrate entering double digits in just a few months, shared his 'birthday wish list' to Instagram on Monday, and the total cost of the gifts coming to a shocking $12,795. Posting photos of himself window shopping at several designer stores including Dior and Louis Vuitton, he snapped pictures of the expensive items he wants his mother to buy him for his birthday. 'Birthday wish list shopping has commenced. @roxyjacenko this is simply a GUIDE. More to come,' he wrote in the caption, alongside his shocking reel of images. Wearing a $1,608 Amiri denim jacket and $2,350 Gucci trackpants during his window shopping outing, Hunter and his mother Roxy made their first stop at the designer store Louis Vuitton. Roxy Jacenko's, 44, (left) children are no strangers to living an incredibly lavish lifestyle, and now her son Hunter Curtis, nine, (right) has a list of luxury demands for his upcoming birthday The most expensive item on his wish list so far is a pair of $4,100 Louis Vuitton boot slippers, which was quickly followed by a $3450 Louis Vuitton wearable wallet. Next, Hunter took a look at the sunglasses Louis Vuitton had on offer, picking two for his list worth an eye-watering $1,550 and $1,090. Dior was the next designer store Hunter stopped at, where he picked a pair of sneakers and a white hoody worth $1,400 and $850 respectively. The nine-year-old, who will celebrate entering double digits in just a few months, shared his 'birthday wish list' to Instagram on Monday, with the total coming to a shocking $12,795 Posting photos of himself window shopping at several designer stores such as Dior and Louis Vuitton, he snapped pictures of the expensive items he wants his PR Queen mother to buy him for his birthday Wearing a $1,608 Amiri denim jacket and $2,350 Gucci track pants during his window shopping outing, Hunter and his mother Roxy made their first stop at the designer store Louis Vuitton The most expensive item on his wish list so far is a pair of $4,100 Louis Vuitton boot slippers, which was quickly followed by a $3450 Louis Vuitton wearable wallet Finally, Hunter toned things down a little with a bottle of Replica perfume and Adidas sneakers, which ended up being the cheapest items on his wish list at $215 and $140 respectively. Roxy, 44, is known for spoiling her children Hunter and Pixie, who she shares with husband Oliver, with incredibly expensive gifts and lavish birthday parties. Just last year, the PR maven splashed a rumoured $50,000 on Hunter's extravagant ninth birthday party on a superyacht. Next, Hunter took a look at the sunglasses Louis Vuitton had on offer, picking two for his list worth an eye-watering $1,550 and $1,090 Dior was the next designer store Hunter stopped at, where he picked a pair of sneakers and a white hoody worth $1,400 and $850 respectively Pictured: the $850 Dior hoody Hunter put on his birthday wish list Finally, Hunter toned things down a little with a bottle of Replica perfume and Adidas sneakers which ended up being the cheapest items on his wish list at $215 and $140 Roxy threw a no-expense-spared Hawaiian-themed party aboard the 122ft charter yacht, Ghost II, which is rented out at $2800 per hour. The youngsters were treated to custom-made slippers and danced away to a DJ on the cruise around Sydney Harbour. The three-hour event took a month to plan, and Hunter even got a personalised cake with a topper of himself on a surfboard wearing Hawaiian shorts. Roxy told The Sunday Telegraph her son chose the theme after looking at albums from a family trip. Chris Hemsworth was enjoying a spot of surfing among Sydney's huge waves on Sunday. The actor was joined by his brother Luke Hemsworth with the pair towed out to sea on jet skis before enjoying a surf in the rough conditions. The 40-year-old Thor star stripped down his wet suit to show off his famously ripped physique. Chris' rippling muscles were clearly on show as he headed back to his car after his time fighting the waves. Luke, 43, also stripped down at one stage, baring his muscles as he stood alongside his brother on the shore. Chris Hemsworth was enjoying a spot of surfing among Sydney 's huge waves on Sunday. The actor was joined by his brother Luke Hemsworth. Both pictured The 40-year-old Thor star stripped down his wet suit He showed off his famously ripped physique The siblings shared a high five when they returned to the shore, clearly exhilarated by their surf. Both brothers had on a wet suit and rash vests and carried bright surfboards as they got a workout. It comes after Luke recently joined his brothers Chris and Liam on a family trip to Dubai. The whirlwind trip to the Middle Eastern metropolis came in November, with the brothers uniting in a series of fun snaps. Luke, 43, also stripped down at one stage, baring his muscles Chris' rippling muscles were clearly on show as stood by his car He looked in great spirits as he prepared to fight the waves Chris emerged from the water soaked Luke walked along the shore holding his phone after his surf He waded through the shallows looking in a great mood Chris thrilled Instagram fans by sharing a glimpse inside their adventures in the United Arab Emirates capital. The Thor star uploaded several photos of himself posing with his genetically-blessed brothers, and their parents Craig and Leonie, as they frolicked through the desert and swam in the Persian Gulf. 'A few snaps from an epic family trip to Abu Dhabi,' Chris captioned the photos, tagging his brothers and a friend named Luke Munro. Luke is known for trolling his little brother on Instagram. The pair weeere towed out to sea on a jet ski They were joined by a camera man who appeared to be filming them Luke gave his brother a hand getting out of his rashie After the tow they were seen enjoying a surf in the rough conditions Both brothers are very keen surfers They showed off their skills in the ocean When Chris shared an adorable photo from the Sydney set of Thor: Love and Thunder, Luke was distracted by one element of the snap. In the image, the actor was holding hands with his little boy, who was wearing a Superman cape however his Luke could not help ribbing his sibling. But Luke was quick to publicly pointed out Chris' slim legs. 'Bro?! You've been skipping leg days again?!' he wrote, before mocking his personal trainer Luke Zocchi. Married At First Sight's Natalie Parham and Collins Christian have sensationally quit the experiment after they failed to connect on their honeymoon. Natalie, a Melbourne-based physiotherapist, called time on her marriage to account assistant Collins at the first dinner party. They made the announcement halfway into the night, sparking a wave of reactions among the cast. 'It just doesn't feel real and right. I'd rather him be honest than just put this mask on,' Natalie explained before they both agreed to leave. 'I really wanted this to work. I wanted this just to be my happily ever after. I wanted to show us off to everybody, but I need a relationship with honesty and communication,' she continued. Married At First Sight's Natalie Parham (pictured) and Collins Christian have sensationally quit the experiment after they failed to connect on their honeymoon. Natalie, a Melbourne-based physiotherapist, called time on her marriage to account assistant Collins at the first dinner party Natalie, visibly distressed and far from her usual 'happy bubbly self,' addressed the group with a heartfelt goodbye. 'Being here has been a big challenge for me,' she confessed, signalling the end of her journey on the show. Collins, echoing her sentiment, acknowledged the difficulty of their decision. 'I just want to say, before you guys come up, um it's really tough, but look, we're all here for love, right?' he said. 'It just doesn't feel real and right. I'd rather him be honest than just put this mask on,' Natalie explained before they both agreed to leave Natalie, visibly distressed and far from her usual 'happy bubbly self,' addressed the group with a heartfelt goodbye Collins, echoing her sentiment, acknowledged the difficulty of their decision After sharing the news with his co-stars, Collins could be seen breaking down behind the scenes. 'It's over. Oh my God. I cancelled everything. I have to go back to work tomorrow,' he said. The reactions from their fellow contestants were mixed, with some expressing skepticism over Collins' display of emotion. Lauren Dunn openly criticised him for what she perceived as an act, suggesting he was seeking an Academy Award for his performance. Fellow groom Jayden Eynaud also weighed in, hinting at a disingenuous display from Collins, contrasting it with Natalie's genuine distress. After sharing the news with his co-stars Collins could be seen breaking down Lauren Dunn openly criticised him for what she perceived as an act Megan Fox set jaws dropping as she donned an extremely risque chainmetal dress for an outing at Sunday's star-studded Jam for Janie GRAMMY Awards Viewing Party. The actress, 37, who is engaged to Machine Gun Kelly, 33, bared all as she went topless beneath the barely-there garment - flashing her underwear as she confidenly posed. The star paired her ensemble with platform silver heels and a black furry jacket - which she opened to reveal the outfit. Her tresses were styled in soft waves and she sported a lip charm as she posed, while also donning Simon G rings to complete the look. The star joined celebrities including Carmen Electra, Zooey Deschanel, Bijou Phillips, Steven Tyler and Ashlee Simpson at the bash. Megan Fox set jaws dropping as she donned an extremely risque chainmetal dress for an outing at Sunday's star-studded Jam for Janie GRAMMY Awards Viewing Party The Jennifer's Body star - who recently released a book of poetry - told WWD that the feeling to bare all at events. 'That's like, "No, I need to be naked this day,"' the 37-year-old told the outlet. Fox is nearly as famous for her revealing red carpet looks as she is for her acting career, often covering up just the bare minimum when she hits the red carpet with or without fiance Machine Gun Kelly, 33. At the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards she wore a beige sheer dress over a bra and undies that left little to the imagination. And over the summer she posted a pic of herself in a sheer, skin-tight Jean Paul Gaultier dress that appeared to expose her nipples. While the Transformers actress may show off her perfect figure in nearly naked looks on the red carpet, the truth is she is very introverted. 'I think a lot of people are under the impression that I like attention, which is hilarious because I'm so tragically introverted,' she said. 'I wish I loved attention. I would have the best life. I would have so much fun. I have so many opportunities,' the mom of three said. 'I could be doing so many things, but instead, I have crippling anxiety and I never want to leave my house.' The actress, 37, who is engaged to Machine Gun Kelly, 33, bared all as she went topless beneath the barely-there garment - flashing her underwear as she confidently posed The star covered up as she strolled during the even Carmen Electra looked sensational in a thigh-split gown at the party Malcolm McRae and Anya Taylor Joy posed up at the event Steven Tyler posed up with Kari Karte, Sammy Hagar and Aimee Preston Tyler joined a glamorous Zooey Deschanel at the awards Tyler posed with Frasier star Kelsey Grammer at the event Bijou Phillips was seen for the first time since dropping Scientology amid her ex Danny Masterson's rape conviction Tyler showed off his drum skills on the night Emile Hirsch and Carmella Rose looked stunning at the event Zooey posed with fiance Jonathan Scott at the event : Mark Wilkerson and Melissa Joan Hart posed at the bash To underscore her point, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles star, just released her first book of poetry and the attention that came with that caused her first-ever panic attack. Her new book, Pretty Boys Are Poisonous, is a New York Times bestseller and writing it was a form of therapy for Megan. Her therapist told her if she kept holding onto her pain it would create illness. Her poems are how she let it all go. 'I knew that I always had to put it out. I feel like one of my strengths is my spiritual foundation, or the way that I process things and my mindset, and I feel like of all the things I could offer people through the platform that is celebrity, that would be my best offering,' she said. 'And so something like this I felt had to go into the public because it's hopefully going to be much more impactful than a movie I've done or anything I'm going to post on f**king Instagram.' She added: 'I've only ever dated musicians or actors or people who would fall into that pretty boy category, so it just represented my specific experience so well.' The Jennifer's Body star told WWD that she's in a new phase of wearing things that are more covered up - but her days of being nearly naked on the red carpet are far from over 'I've had a weird relationship with fashion because for so long I was rejecting being famous and rejecting whatever this image was that was sort of hung on me, this person I was supposed to be,' she explained While the Transformers actress may show off her perfect figure in nearly naked looks on the red carpet, the truth is she is very introverted. 'I think a lot of people are under the impression that I like attention, which is hilarious because I'm so tragically introverted,' she said Megan has three sons with her ex-husband, 90210 alum Brian Austin Green, 50, - Noah, 11, Bodhi, nine, and Journey, seven, and she knows one day they will pick up the book and have questions. 'I think because I have sons, it's very important to me to raise boys who are not like these men that I've been with,' she said. 'It's very important for me to raise boys who are able to have a very deep emotional intimacy with their partner. 'It's very important to me that they are not liars, that they are able to be fully transparent and honest and respectful and experience at some point in their life, I don't expect them when they're 16 to have a sacred love, but I do expect them at some point to get to that place, because I am their first introduction into women and the way that I love them is going to influence the way they are allowed to love others when they go out into a relationship,' she continued. 'And so I hope that just through my transparency in the way that I engage with them, in the way that I am demonstrative and affectionate with them, that allows them to love in a really healthy way.' Keanu Reeves added another impressive award to his collection, taking home the first annual Lance Reddick Legacy Award at the 2024 Saturn Awards. The 59-year-old actor was announced in January to receive the award, which, 'symbolizes and celebrates not only a performers talent, but their character.' The actor was close friends with Reddick, starring in the John Wick movies together before Reddick passed away at 60 in March. Academy president Robert Holguin and Saturn producers Bradley and Kevin Marcus said in a January statement, 'This award symbolizes and celebrates not only a performers talent, but their character; someone whos a true goodwill ambassador in the industry.' 'From science fiction (The Matrix Trilogy), fantasy (Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure/Constantine) and horror (Francis Ford Coppolas Dracula/The Devils Advocate) Keanu has done it all not to mention Speed and Point Break,' they added. Keanu Reeves added another impressive award to his collection, taking home the first annual Lance Reddick Legacy Award at the 2024 Saturn Awards Keanu Reeves poses with his Lance Reddick Legacy Award Keanu Reeves is honored with the first annual Lance Reddick Legacy Award at the Saturn Awards The actor was close friends with Reddick, starring in the John Wick movies together before Reddick passed away at 60 in March 'Keanu is not just a Hollywood icon but also a shining example of humility and gratitude,' the statemnent continued. 'Throughout his incredible career, he has never forgotten the support of his fans and the filmmakers whove supported him all these years,' they said. The statement concluded, 'Were thrilled to celebrate Lances memory with a dear friend and a genre icon.' Reeves began his speech by sending out his 'gratitude and appreciation to the Saturn Awards for recognizing and honoring the warm, beautiful spirit of an exceptional artist that is Lance Reddick.' He added, 'And for honoring me with the inaugural Lance Reddick Legacy Award. For over 25 years, Lance made an imprint and raised the bar in every work of art and genre he was in.' 'Not only with his performance, but with the man he was. He was kind, generous, creative, insightful, authentic,' Reeves continued. 'He had a special grace, strength, along with a vulnerability that drew us in, supported us, inspired us,' Reeves added. The actor continued that Reddick, 'had a fire, a creative fire, a light from within him that could not be denied. James Cameron was also at the Saturn Awards, where he took home Best Film and Best Screenplay for Avatar: The Way of Water. Nicolas Cage and wife Riko Shibata were also in attendance, with Cage winning Best Supporting Actor for Renfield Heather Graham rocks a blue dress with a slit at the 2024 Saturn Awards Jodie Foster took home the Life Career Award at the 2024 Saturn Awards James Cameron was also at the Saturn Awards, where he took home Best Film and Best Screenplay for Avatar: The Way of Water. Nicolas Cage and wife Riko Shibata were also in attendance, with Cage winning Best Supporting Actor for Renfield, as were Heather Graham and Jodie Foster, who took home the Life Career Award. On the TV side, Star Trek: Picard picked up for awards, while another Star Trek show, Strange New Worlds, picked up one. Picard won Best Science Fiction Television Series, with Patrick Stewart winning Best Actor in a Television Series, Jonathan Frakes winning Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series and Jeri Ryan winning Best Supporting Actress in a Television Series, while Strange New Worlds took home Best Guest Star in a Television Series for Paul Wesley. Bijou Phillips hit the red carpet for the first time since she quit Scientology at the 5th Jam for Janie Grammy viewing party. The 43-year-old actress was all smiles on the red carpet for Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler's annual event, held at the Hollywood Palladium. The outing comes just days after a Daily Mail exclusive report revealed that she was 'triggered' by her ex-husband Danny Masterson's move to a maximum security prison. Phillips stepped out in a black top with a plunging neckline and a small gold necklace dangling from her neck. Bijou Phillips hit the red carpet for the first time since she quit Scientology at the 5th Jam for Janie Grammy viewing party The 43-year-old actress was all smiles on the red carpet for Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler's annual event, held at the Hollywood Palladium Her long blonde wavy locks flowed down her shoulders with a black leather coat over her top. She completed her look with a flowing sheer dress and a pair of black heels for the annual event. Phillips tied the knot with actor Danny Masterson in 2011, sharing daughter Fianna Francis Masterson with him, who turns 10 later this month. Masterson was convicted of raping two women in May 2023, and sentenced in September 2023 to serve 30 years to life in prison. Phillips filed for divorce from Masterson later in September 2023, with Masterson originally serving his time at North Kern State Prison. However he was recently moved to the Corcoran State Prison in Central California, which is said to have taken, 'an emotional toll' on Bijou, as she prepares for their daughter Fianna's 10th birthday on February 14. 'The move that Danny has made to his new prison was very triggering for Bijou and stirred up past emotions that she is still trying to deal with,' an insider said. 'She has been able to go out and also vacation which has been a stress relief to get back to a somewhat normal life, but it still hurts her inside that her life is forever changed.' Her long blonde wavy locks flowed down her shoulders with a black leather coat over her top She completed her look with a flowing sheer dress and a pair of black heels for the annual event Phillips tied the knot with actor Danny Masterson in 2011, sharing daughter Fianna Francis Masterson with him, who turns 10 later this month Masterson was convicted of raping two women in May 2023, and sentenced in September 2023 to serve 30 years to life in prison Phillips filed for divorce from Masterson later in September 2023, with Masterson originally serving his time at North Kern State Prison The source continued: 'It is going to get better but also it will take forever to heal from it all.' 'She has had a very stressful life dealing with this and what her father has been accused of. It has been an emotional toll that has taken her to places of extreme stress and heartache. That is going to continue for a long time,' she said. In September 2009, Bijou's sister Mackenzie revealed that she and their father, John Phillips, had an incestuous sexual relationship for 10 years from the time she was 19. Bijou defended her father, who died in March 2001, and said in an interview at the time: 'I'm 29 now, I've talked to everyone who was around during that time, I've asked the hard questions. I do not believe my sister. Our father [was] many things. This is not one of them.' Married At First Sight took a sharp turn on Monday night when Jack Dunkley was confronted about his relationship status outside the experiment. During a heated dinner party, fellow groom Jayden Eynaud decided to broach the subject. 'Obviously everyone has seen the article about Jack,' he began, setting the stage for a confrontation that left Jack rolling his eyes in anticipation. The article in question stemmed from allegations by a woman named Courtney Jade, who claimed back in August that Jack had ended their relationship under false pretences to join MAFS. Courtney's Instagram post accused Jack of breaking up with her right after she met his family. Married At First Sight took a sharp turn on Monday night when Jack Dunkley (right) was confronted about his relationship status outside the experiment During a heated dinner party, fellow groom Jayden Eynaud (pictured) decided to broach the subject She went on to allege he fabricated a 'work opportunity in America' to cover up his participation in the show. As the group tried to digest the news, Lucinda comically questioned, 'Who's Jack?' Jack then defended himself by downplaying his previous relationship as 'casual yet exclusive' before dismissing Courtney as a 'disgruntled ex'. However, fellow contestants Sara Mesa and Richard Sauerman weren't ready to let the matter slide. They both highlighted inconsistencies in Jack's story. 'Obviously everyone has seen the article about Jack,' he said The plot thickened when Jack inadvertently revealed the timing of their breakup, which coincided with his involvement in MAFS. Lauren Dunn, speaking to the cameras, expressed her frustration with Jack's evasiveness. 'I feel like I'm going to have a bee in my bonnet over this situation if he continues to just be full of it,' she said. Married At First Sight continues Tuesday at 7.30pm on Channel Nine Lauren Dunn, speaking to the cameras, expressed her frustration with Jack's evasiveness MARCH 2020 Kate revealed she and Prince Charles had got 'relatively close' at the Prince's Trust Awards on March 11 - Charles was diagnosed with coronavirus in mid-March. She said: 'Around the 29/30 March, I came home came in and said [to Derek] 'god you look ill.' 'He said he had a headache, numbness in his right hand, and was struggling to breathe, 'I rang Dr Hilary (Jones) and tried to get through, he talked to Derek. He said put me back on, I think you need to call an ambulance' Derek, 52, was taken into hospital on March 30 and remained in an unresponsive condition. APRIL Kate and her children isolated at home after she displayed 'mild symptoms'. Kate said: 'Derek remains in intensive care and is still very ill. I'm afraid it remains an excruciatingly worrying time. 'I'm afraid he is still in a deeply critical condition, but he is still here, which means there is hope.' MAY Kate said: 'The journey for me and my family seems to be far from over as every day my heart sinks as I learn new and devastating ways this virus has more battles for Derek to fight. 'But he is still HERE & so there is still hope.' That month, Kate and her family took part in the final clap for carers She said: 'I'll never give up on that because Derek's the love of my life but at the same time I have absolute uncertainty' JUNE On June 5, Kate revealed Derek is now free from coronavirus but continues to fight against the damage inflicted on his body JULY On July 5, Kate revealed Derek has woken from his coma but he remains in a serious yet critical condition. On July 8, she announced she would be returning to GMB, after being urged by doctors to 'get on with life' during Derek's recovery. She added that Derek had 'opened his eyes' after waking from his coma, but has been told his recovery could take years. On July 13, Kate returned to GMB for the first time since Derek was hospitalised. On July 28, Kate revealed she'd paid an 'extra emotional' first visit to Derek, and admitted she's 'frustrated' by his slow progress. AUGUST On August 14, Kate reassured GMB viewers that Derek was 'still with us,' but it was 'a waiting game.' On August 19, Kate revealed she celebrated Derek's birthday with their two children, and described the day as 'challenging' for her family. SEPTEMBER At the end of September, Derek reportedly becomes the longest surviving patient with coronavirus after spending 184 days in and out of intensive care. Kate reveals Derek has lost eight stone during his battle. The presenter announces she is returning to her Smooth Radio show so Derek can hear her voice. OCTOBER On October 30 Kate reveals that Derek has spoken for the first time in seven months, saying the word 'pain' to his wife, who watched on 'in tears' over FaceTime. Kate says a day later that her husband no longer needs a ventilator to breathe. NOVEMBER Kate reveals her family car has been stolen in latest 'body blow' to her family life, as kind-hearted fans offer their cars to help. She says she feels 'physically sick' at the prospect of facing her first Christmas without Derek. DECEMBER The GMB star tells viewers it is her dream to visit Derek on Christmas Day. She also reveals she missed two weeks on GMB after her children were exposed to the virus, but thankfully she and the kids tested negative. On December 17, Kate has an emotional conversation live on GMB with two nurses who treated Derek when he was first admitted to Whittington Hospital in North London. On New Year's Eve she reflects on a 'calamitous' Christmas without Derek, as her house was flooded and she struggled to get a food delivery slot until her pal Emma Willis stepped in to help. JANUARY 2021 Kate reveals she and her children got to visit Derek in hospital over the Christmas period, and it was the first time her family had seen him since he was hospitalised. She also says she's banned from seeing him due to new restrictions introduced during the government's third lockdown. FEBRUARY Kate reveals she is unsure how much Derek will 'ever be able to recover' following warning from doctors that he may never wake from his coma MARCH Kate revealed that was in the process of adapting her home to suit Derek's needs when he is finally released from hospital, in the ITV documentary Finding Derek. The programmed was praised by viewers for offering a heartbreaking look at the long-term effects of coronavirus. Kate also revealed that Derek has 'no muscle left' since battling Covid APRIL Kate revealed that Derek was finally allowed to leave hospital, but would require round-the-clock care once he was returned home. MAY Kate revealed that despite now being home with his family, his communication abilities were 'minimal' and he 'couldn't really move' DECEMBER During an appearance on Piers Morgan's Life Stories, Kate revealed that Derek had said 'I love you' for the first time. After celebrating Christmas, Derek was also pictured in a wheelchair during a trip to the pantomime with his family JANUARY 2022 Kate revealed that Derek was 'very fatigued' and 'very weak' following the family outing, adding: 'I don't know what this year is going to bring.' FEBRUARY Kate offered a glimpse into the daily struggles of looking after her husband amid his battle with long Covid in the documentary Caring For Derek She also revealed that Derek would die within three days if he was left alone to care for himself. JULY On July 6, Kate revealed that Derek had been re-admitted to hospital after suffering a 'downturn,' and in a later interview said she takes things 'day by day.' On July 20, it was reported that Kate had pulled out of hosting Good Morning Britain to be at Derek's bedside after he took a 'very serious' turn for the worse. Recalling the day, the presenter told The Sun: 'At one point Derek said to me, "This is it, this time. I am gone." It was just terrifying. 'His sepsis was gut-wrenching for all of us because it had gone undiagnosed until the point where it was about to take his life away again.' JANUARY 2023 Kate became overwhelmed as she confronted former health secretary Matt Hancock over his handling of the pandemic and his decision to go on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here. She then became tearful and looked up as she spoke about Derek, who has been unwell for approaching three years. Describing public anger towards him, Kate added of his decision: 'This gives the impression you still don't get why they are cross. You still don't get why people are upset. They want to hold you to more account.' APRIL Kate revealed that Derek was once again receiving care in hospital, as she shared the emotional moment Sir Elton John dedicated a song to the 'inspiring' couple. She shared the emotional moment Sir Elton John dedicated a song to the 'inspiring' couple, writing on Instagram: 'Yes Derek has been back in hospital this week & yes there's such a long road ahead but #eltonjohn & @davidfurnish you gave the kids & Derek a moment that we will never forget and has lifted their spirits again to feel anything is possible.' It was also reported that Kate was planning a trip across the world for pioneering treatment in a 'final hope' to help her husband. MAY Kate reportedly faced a huge 716,000 tax bill after she was forced to close her husband's business two years after he became stricken with Covid-19. The final total will be settled within the coming weeks, with friends insisting she will pay whatever is owed. A friend told The Sun: 'The figures are terrifying and Kate is of course worried about all the financial pressures, but she has to trust the process. 'When it comes to an end, she is determined to pay back anything that's owed. 'It's no secret that Kate has been battling to keep her husband alive and working through some heartbreaking situations in her personal life in recent years. 'Sadly as well as the emotional stress of Derek's terrible illnesses the financial burden has also been crippling.' DECEMBER Derek was left fighting for his life after suffering a heart attack. Kate held a 24/7 vigil by his bedside and cancelled all work commitments while the family 'prayed for a miracle'. A source said: 'It was sudden and a shock as he had been doing so well and was in great spirits, looking forward to Christmas at home with the family. 'This setback has been a huge blow for his family and all the people caring for him. Kate is by his side 24 hours a day and is willing him on to win this latest battle for his life. 'Derek has fought so many times, and always, against all odds, come out the other side.' JANUARY 2024 Kate announced on January 5 that Derek had passed away. She said: 'Derek was surrounded by his family in his final days and I was by his side holding his hand throughout the last long hours and when he passed. 'I have so much more to say, and of course I will do so in due course, but for now I just want to thank all the medical teams who fought so hard to save him and to make his final moments as comfortable and dignified as possible'. MailOnline understands he passed away on January 3 in a North London hospital. He is survived by wife Kate and their children Darcey, 17, and son William, 14. Bob Sagets widow Kelly Rizzo is in a new relationship with actor Breckin Meyer and they made their debut as a couple at a Grammys party on Sunday. The 44-year-old and Breckin, 49, arrived at the Jam For Janie GRAMMY Awards Viewing Party held at Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. It was clear they are very much in love because they arrived holding hands at the event. Breckin is best known for his roles in Clueless, The Craft and Road Trip and was previously married to Deborah Kaplan, with whom he has two daughters. And Kelly - who married Bob in 2018 - was more than happy to talk about dating again and revealed she had the blessing of her late husbands daughters. 'It took a while,' she told E! News about dating again, 'to the point where Im like, "OK, I think hed be happy with it".' Bob Sagets widow Kelly Rizzo confirmed her new relationship with Clueless star Breckin Meyer at the Jam For Janie GRAMMY Awards Viewing Party held at Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on Sunday Kelly has said she felt 'guilty' for a 'long period of time' whenever she thought about moving on from Bob - the couple were married from 2018 until his death in 2022 (pictured in 2018) Kelly has said she has the support of Bobs daughters Aubrey, Lara and Jennifer Saget, she said: 'Its wonderful, it just meant so much to have their blessing' And talking about having the support of Aubrey, Lara and Jennifer Saget, she said: 'Its wonderful, it just meant so much to have their blessing. 'Theyre just angels. And to have them support is so meaningful.' In December, Kelly said that having the girls support and blessing means the world to her. She told Fox News: 'Id love to think that Bob would want me to be happy too, but to hear it from them is just a totally different level. And it meant the world just to hear, Hey, we trust you. We love you.' Bob died in his sleep aged 65 on January 2022 at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, after accidentally sustaining blunt head trauma. He became a star playing opposite John on Full House, the smash hit sitcom that ran for eight seasons on NBC from 1987 to 1995. Bob was found dead in his hotel room bed in Orlando around 4pm EST on January 9, 2022 after performing a stand-up gig in Jacksonville the previous night, sources close to the investigation informed TMZ. The police saw no sign of drugs or foul play and it was initially suspected that he succumbed to either a stroke or a heart attack. Breckin famously played Travis in iconic movie Clueless Kelly, 44, became a widow when Full House actor Bob died in January 2022 However, the following month, his family announced that medical examiners had ruled head trauma to be the cause of death. 'They have concluded that he accidentally hit the back of his head on something, thought nothing of it and went to sleep,' said the family's statement. Florida medical examiner Joshua Stephany, MD confirmed to People magazine that Bob's death was 'the result of blunt head trauma.' Blunt head trauma can cause death via brain bleed, bruising to the brain or asphyxiation while unconscious. Former Love Island Australia star Isabelle Green has announced her engagement. In a post shared to Instagram, the 31-year-old from Brisbane showed off her diamond ring alongside other images of her gorgeous country proposal. Fiercely private Isabelle did not reveal the name of her new fiance, but explained she had been offline a while because she was busy with her life. 'So this happened yesterday. I've been a bit quieter online of late & just really enjoying life!!! Obviously I said yes,' she wrote. In the accompanying images, the former reality star shared images of the special moment which happened during a hillside picnic in Queensland. Former Love Island Australia star Isabelle Green has announced her engagement. Pictured In a post to Instagram this week, the 31-year-old from Brisbane showed off her diamond ring Fiercely private Isabelle did not reveal the name of her new fiance, but explained she had been offline a while because she was busy with her life The bride-to-be enjoyed champagne and chocolates before her man got down on one knee. She also shared a video from the day, writing: 'Just over here soaking in that I have a fiance now. 'Thank you again to everyone for all the beautiful messages, comments & calls - we're feeling super loved'. Isabelle ensured her massive sparkler, created by Morgan & Co who are known for their custom rings, was front and centre. 'So this happened yesterday. I've been a bit quieter online of late & just really enjoying life!!! Obviously I said yes,' she wrote In the accompanying images, the former reality star shared images of the special moment which happened during a hillside picnic in Queensland The bride-to-be enjoyed champagne and chocolates before her man got down on one knee It comes after Isabelle joined a long line of reality stars to join adult site OnlyFans back in 2022. The mother-of-one wrote: 'Super excited to bring you heaps of bts [better than sex] content. My channel is going to be all about self love & empowerment. 'I'll be bringing you a ton of inspiration, motivation, at home workouts, bts of my sexy photoshoots & lots more,' Isabelle added. Isabelle appeared on season two of Love Island Australia, before launching a career as a social media influencer. She memorably got a '12 out of 10' from co-star Eoghan Murphy following a kissing competition in the Spanish villa. The influencer is the mother of two-year-old daughter Dakota Sage, who she shares with Queensland-based fitness guru Dean Tahana. Richard Madeley had to apologise for awkwardly interrupting Kate Garaway as she discussed the death of her husband Derek Draper on Monday. TV presenter Kate, 56, appeared on Good Morning Britain for the first time since the loss of Derek, who died aged 56 last month after a long battle with his health. Kate appeared on the breakfast show to speak about Derek's death in an interview, ahead of her return to work on the programme later this week. The mother of two, who said she wants to be open about her grief, spoke to Richard, 67, and Susanna Reid, 53, from her London home. Kate told viewers how her daughter Darcey, 17, helped to carry her father's coffin as a pall bearer, before going on to mention her eulogy at the funeral. Richard Madeley had to apologise for awkwardly interrupting Kate Garaway as she discussed the death of her husband Derek Draper on Monday TV presenter Kate, 56, appeared on Good Morning Britain for the first time since the loss of Derek, who died aged 56 last month after a long battle with his health The GMB host said: 'Those who will be facing the worst today I am thinking of them really, because I know how they feel...' However, things took a slightly awkward turn, when Richard interjected and said: 'Kate I wanted ...' before she said: '....sorry, I interrupted you.' Richard then waved his hands - to signal an apology - and said: 'No, I interrupted you, on a live link.' There can often be a delay when the presenters in the studio are interviewing guests at home, which may have been the reason for the interruption. But viewers at home were annoyed by the moment, as they claimed Richard - who is often likened to comedy character Alan Partridge - should have 'let Kate talk'. They said: 'Once again Richard keeps interrupting. Let Kate talk #GMB.' 'Richard Madeley interrupting and talking over a lady describing burying her husband.' 'Richard Madeley really is Alan Partridge.' But viewers at home were annoyed by the moment, as they claimed Richard - who is often likened to comedy character Alan Partridge - should have 'let Kate talk' Despite the awkward gaffe, Richard is a close friend of Kate's and attended Derek's funeral, which took place on Friday Despite the awkward gaffe, Richard is a close friend of Kate's and attended Derek's funeral, which took place on Friday. Derek had been suffering from long term complications after contracting coronavirus during the pandemic in 2020. The former political lobbyist was able to leave hospital after a year to recover at home but tragically suffered a heart attack last year. During the interview, Kate revealed how her brave daughter Darcey asked to carry her father's coffin and wrote an emotional eulogy for the funeral. Kate, who spent four years caring for Derek, praised Darcey for being 'extraordinarily brave' during the tough time. Darcey acted as a pall bearer when the coffin, covered with purple and white flowers, made its way out of the church. Talking about Derek's funeral, host Susanna Reid said: 'The funeral was beautiful and you did him proud. The children were there and had such strength and Darcy was one of the bearers.' Kate then discussed her daughter Darcey's role as a pallbearer at the service, saying: 'Darcey came into the room when we were talking about it [funeral plans] and said please will you let me carry the coffin. During the interview, Kate revealed how her brave daughter Darcey asked to carry her father's coffin and wrote an emotional eulogy for the funeral Kate, who spent four years caring for Derek after he suffered serious health complications from Covid, praised Darcey for being 'extraordinarily brave' during the tough time 'And I thought, crikey, that's a practical challenge, anybody who's ever done it, it's a heavy thing. And she said I want to do it and basically insisted on doing it and I thought that was a beautiful thing that she carried her dad.' Kate went on to reveal the final words her Darcey told her father. She revealed Darcey said: 'We will be OK. Don't worry about mum. We will be fine. You don't have to worry about looking after us all. You will live on through us.' Speaking on Darcey and son Billy, she added: 'For their grieving, we are in the foothills, we know there is a long way to go.' She continued: 'They didn't want to pressure him to keep going. I don't think he did feel that, I think he kept going because he wanted to be here.' The presenter, whose husband Derek Draper died on January 3, took a break from her presenting role last December after he had a cardiac arrest. Kate is said to be 'keen to keep busy and get back to work', and is also hoping to return to her show on Smooth Radio. She is provisionally scheduled to return full-time, but ITV have offered her the option to take time off as and when she needs. Kate Garraway and her children - Darcey, 17, and Billy, 14 - leave Derek Derek's funeral at the Church Of St Mary The Virgin in Primrose Hill, North West London Kate, who spent four years caring for Derek after he suffered serious health complications from Covid, praised Darcey, 17, for being 'extraordinarily brave' during the tough time The funeral of Draper - which was attended by figures including ex-prime minister Sir Tony Blair , musician Sir Elton John and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer - was held last Friday at the Church Of St Mary The Virgin in Primrose Hill, North West London. Meanwhile Kate confirmed she will return to the desk on GMB on Thursday and joked: 'I'm going to be looking forward to a blow dry.' She said she will also be cracking out the fake eyelashes and fake tan, adding: 'Don't worry - I am going to be looking a lot more respectable.' Kate went on: 'I am looking forward to coming into the world and connecting with everyone again. 'Thank you for having me back but have a little patience, I might be a bit rusty. I think there is a new king. Have I caught up with that?' Kate also said she has received 'extraordinary' messages of condolence from unexpected places. She told GMB: 'I had the most beautiful letter from David and Victoria Beckham - handwritten, very good handwriting... that was Darcey's observation. 'And from the Royal Family - Catherine and William sent a beautiful letter, and I know Catherine has been in hospital herself. 'Even the King, because there is somebody knows about grief, that anticipatory grief where you know something has a risk of happening and how different it is when it does happen.' DJ Mallorca Lee has died just weeks after revealing his cancer battle. The frontman of iconic Scottish 90s dance group Ultra Sonic passed away on Sunday aged 51. His bandmate DJ KID took to social media on Monday to share the sad news. He wrote: 'It is with tremendous sadness that I announce the sad passing on Sunday afternoon of legendary Scottish DJ, producer and long-time friend Mallorca Lee, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer just four weeks ago. He was 51. 'During this incredibly upsetting time, my deepest sympathy goes out to Maria, Mallorca's wife his children Angel and Oceano and his extended family and friends. 'You will be deeply missed, brother, but your energy and legacy will live on.' Ultra Sonic DJ Mallorca Lee, 51, has died: Frontman passed away on Sunday just four weeks after revealing hus terminal cancer battle His bandmate DJ KID took to social media on Monday to share the sad news He shared this fun-loving picture alongside his poignant tribute Fans wrote: 'Such sad news, fly high legend #ultrasonic #publicdomain #mallorcalee #us.' 'RIP to the legend that is Mallorca Lee from Ultra Sonic. Many a good night in my youth spent bouncing to them, or in a gaff watching their VHS.' 'Rest in Peace you legend of Rave.' '#MallorcaLee very sad to hear he's passed away #Ultrasonic no one could match the energy when they were on stage. Ultrasonic make up a huge part of my Spotify techno playlist and sounds as good today as it it did in the 90s. He'll always be #AnnihilatingRhythm.' Mallorca had taken to Facebook just weeks ago to share his health status with his loved ones and fans just weeks ago. He apologised for not telling all of his family and friends individually as he admitted he is still 'processing' and that his 'heart is broken a thousand times'. He wrote: 'I've been diagnosed with terminal cancer, the doctor said it could be a matter of months. 'I apologise for not telling all of my family and friends individually, it just breaks my heart a thousand times and I don't have the strength to go through it all over and over again. The frontman and founder of 90s electronic band Ultra Sonic, 51, took to Facebook weeks ago to reveal his tragic diagnosis 'I love you all, the last 10 years have been the best of them all, it really has been wonderful. 'Forgive me if I don't answer your calls and messages, I'm still processing, even this post feels like someone else is writing it 'Love, that's all we ever really have, our one true currency, so tell the ones around you what they mean to you, every day. LOVE LOVE LOVE Mall.' Messages of support have flooded in for him including from close friend and Radio Clyde host George Bowie, who said: 'This is absolutely devastating news. Can't begin to say how broken I am by this.' Ben Nicky commented: 'Mall, it was an absolute pleasure to work with you back in the day, your energy and smile is truly infectious. I'm so sorry to hear this and am sure it is a confusing and scary time. 'We've all got your back and if you need anything just let us know. Stay strong mate, keep family close and keep smiling you legend.' Gary Beck wrote: 'So sad to read this. You're an absolute legend man.' The techno DJ, known as Mall, established Ayrshire dance group UltraSonic and has worked alongside some of the industry's biggest names Someone else replied: 'One of the best. I am heartbroken by this.' Another added: 'Oh Mall, this is unbearable news. I've followed you since Ultra Sonic established in the early 90s. My heart breaks.' 'While a fourth wrote: 'Gutted big man. Take it easy and sending you and your family all my love.' The techno DJ, known as Mall, established Ayrshire dance group UltraSonic and has worked alongside some of the industry's biggest names. Prue Leith and her husband John Playfair shared the details of the start of their relationship in a sweet moment on Monday's episode of Loose Women. The Bake Off star, 83, who was married to her first husband nearly 30 years before his death in 2002, reveals she bolted from their first meeting at a dinner party. Prue told how she was invited to a dinner party at a friend's house, but when she got there were two men and two women there, leaving her feeling like a gooseberry. The TV personality said she made her excuses to leave her friend's dinner as quickly as she could and didn't anticipate what would happen next. Prue revealed that the following day, John, 77, turned up on her doorstep as he admitted he instantly 'knew she was the one'. Prue Leith and her husband John Playfair shared the details of the start of their relationship in a sweet moment on Monday's episode of Loose Women The Bake Off star, 83, who was married to her first husband nearly 30 years before his death in 2002, reveals she bolted from their first meeting at a dinner party The couple were quizzed on how they met by the panel and John playfully joked it was on the dating app, Tinder. Revealing the real story, Prue said: 'No it was boring we met in a friend's house. I was coming back from Yorkshire and she said I need to get to this dinner party so I went with her and there were two guys and two girls there with champagne... 'It was an obvious set up and he was there and it was obvious what it was, I just wanted to leave. And then the next day John turned up on my doorstep. John sweetly added: 'I new she was the one straight away', while Prue quipped:' 'I paid him to say that.' Prue, who married John in 2016, also said that her husband is the inspiration for some of her eye-catching outfits. She said: 'Colour is influenced by you, we've been together for 12 years. I ask for John's advice and he always says no it's not enough bigger earrings or more colour. 'He [John] pushes me further. It's great because most women who hit 50 thing they have to wear grey and I think you need colour.' When asked about their Valentine's Day plans, John coyly said he 'couldn't tell them about it'. Prue told how she was invited to a dinner party at a friend's house, but when she got there were two men and two women there, leaving her feeling like a gooseberry The TV personality said she made her excuses to leave her friend's dinner as quickly as she could and didn't anticipate what would happen next Prue revealed that the following day, John, 77, turned up on her doorstep as he admitted he instantly 'knew she was the one' In May last year, Prue spoke out about the 13-year affair she had with her late ex-husband, Rayne Kruger. Prue revealed how their long marriage started out as an affair, after she fell for her mother's best friend's husband. Speaking about the decision to speak out in her memoir, the TV star said she had no desire to be 'discreet' about her personal life, adding: 'If there are things in your life you're not exactly proud of, but they would be interesting to the reader, you should try to tackle them. Speaking to Kate Thornton on the White Wine Question Time podcast, Prue said: 'I thought, 'You know, to skip it, when Rayne was the most important person in my life... how could I not tell his whole story?' So I did.' Prue worked with Rayne while he was married to the late South African actress Nan Munro - Prue's mother's best friend. 'I never asked him to leave his wife because I was very happy,' she explained of their affair. 'I had none of the duties of life and all of the pleasures of somebody who loved me. I wasn't pressing for marriage. We did have 13 secret years and nobody ever guessed because we were discreet.' In May last year, Prue spoke out about the 13-year affair she had with her late ex-husband, Rayne Kruger 'But it was easier in a way because he was a family friend, chairman of my company, and he had helped me enormously and everyone knew we were great friends.' Eventually Rayne left his wife, who was 17 years his senior, to start a life and a family with Prue. They have a son Danny and daughter, Li-Da. The couple remained good friends with Nan who forgave them for the affair, with Prue calling her 'an extraordinary woman.' Writing in her book about the affair in 2017, Prue recalled that she had 'hero-worshipped Rayne since the age of seven. But it wasn't until I'd become an adult that we fell in love.' She explained how in 1961, when she had left home in South Africa to study at the Sorbonne in Paris, her mother sent her to England for the summer to stay with Nan and Rayne. 'They were a fascinating, intelligent, generous and loving family,' she wrote, adding that 'Nan, a successful actress, was usually at the theatre. So I saw more of Rayne than any of the others.' 'Soon there was nothing I would rather do than be with Rayne. I told myself I was not falling in love with him, that he was out of bounds. And anyway, he loved Nan. 'Then, one evening when we were in the kitchen, he kissed me. I wish I could say I objected, but I didn't. Guilt about Nan would creep in later, but what I felt at that moment apart from a leaping desire was surprise and delight that he considered me kissable; a woman, not a child.' Revelation: Prue, pictured at the age of 29, worked with Rayne while he was married to the late South African actress Nan Munro - Prue's mother's best friend Family affair: Eventually Rayne left his wife to start a life, and a family, with Prue. They have a son Danny and daughter, Li-Da 'So began a 13-year affair. I was utterly infatuated.' After Rayne's death, Prue, who was 62 when he died, married retired English fashion designer John Playfair in 2016. Prue has previously spoken about her relationship with John and candidly discussed their sex life. During a Loose Women interview, the cook shared details while discussing the recent finding that millennials are having less sex. She was asked by Saira Khan about the recent finding, and replied with a giggle: 'Try it, it's quite nice.' She told The Sun: 'Older people think that's rather romantic and charming. Younger people think, 'Good Lord, are they really still at it?' 'It will sound a rather pompous thing to say but it's quite healthy that older women like me are not just expected to sit in a corner and knit.' Prue started her career at the Cordon Bleu Cookery School in 1960 and went on to open her Michelin-starred restaurant Leith's nine years later. After becoming a food columnist she began writing cookery books and novels, and now judges The Great British Bake Off. Lily James oozed elegance in a chic black suit as she joined Stranger Things star Joe Keery at Finally Dawn photocall in Rome, Italy on Monday. The actress, 34, stars in the upcoming Italian movie alongside the actor, 31, which is set to release on Valentine's Day. And ahead of its anticipated premiere, the duo met up once again - just a day after they dined at a luxurious Italian restaurant Dal Bolognese. Lily cut a stylish figure as she slipped into a tailored black suit jacket tucked into high-waisted trousers. She teamed her look with a pair of polished patent court heels, while opting for minimal accessorises with just simple silver earrings. Lily James, 34, oozed elegance in a chic black suit as she joined Stranger Things star Joe Keery (below) at Finally Dawn photo call in Rome, Italy on Monday The actress stars in the upcoming Italian movie alongside the actor, 31, (right) which is set to release on Valentine's Day Meanwhile, Joe looked incredibly dapper as he arrived to the shoot in a sophisticated navy suit. The actor was all smiles as he stood posing against a post in his trendy ensemble - which he paired with a vibrant sweatshirt underneath. Saverio Costanzo, the director of the movie, was also in attendance as he smiled for a photo with Lily. The movie tells the story of a young Roman during the 1950s is on the verge of becoming engaged to a man. She goes to Cinecitta to do an audition as an extra and is thrust into this almost infinite night during which she discovers herself. Joe, plays love interest Sean Lockwood. According to Collider.com. the origins of the film are both of the glamorous and ever-changing scene of old Hollywood following World War II. This is a time when classic films like 1953's Roman Holiday, starring Audrey Hepburn, as well as many 'sword and sandal' films like Elizabeth Taylor's big-budget Cleopatra were filmed. The director revealed that Antonaci's character is actually inspired by a real-life young woman by the name of Wilma Montesi. Meanwhile, Joe looked incredibly dapper as he arrived to the shoot in a sophisticated navy suit Lily cut a stylish figure as she slipped into a tailored black suit jacket tucked into high-waisted trousers She teamed her look with a pair of polished patent court heels, while opting for minimal accessorises with just simple silver earrings Saverio Costanzo, the director of the movie, was also in attendance as he smiled for a photo with Lily In Finally Dawn, Lily plays Josephine Esperanto - the movie tells the story of a woman during the 1950s is on the verge of becoming engaged to a man She goes to Cinecitta to do an audition as an extra and is thrust into this almost infinite night during which she discovers herself. Joe, plays love interest Sean Lockwood Her outing comes after she was spotted without a ring on her finger last year, just weeks after sparking engagement rumours with her on-off boyfriend Michael Schuman (pictured together in 2022) Lily is currently in an on-off relationship with musician Michael Shuman, while Joe has been romancing Chase Sui. At the start of November 2023, The Daily Mail revealed Lily appeared to have rekindled her romance with her rockstar boyfriend Michael. She even prompted questions over whether they were engaged by wearing a gold band on her wedding finger. Lily and Michael split in February 2023 after they were rumoured to have grown apart but were then seen together at Glastonbury - despite their alleged split. Taylor Swift seems to have forgiven Canadian musician after he had some salty words for her last year. The blonde beauty - who won big at the Grammy Awards on Sunday - was seen puckering up to the artist after the awards show. Taylor puckered up as Rufus stared blankly into the camera for the social media photos. In November, the 50-year-old Across The Universe crooner said his daughter like Swift's music, but he didn't really get her. Wainwright told Kyle Meredith for a live taping of Kyle Meredith With in November that he was on the fence on T-Swift. Taylor Swift seems to have forgiven Canadian musician after he had some salty words for her last year. The blonde beauty - who won big at the Grammy Awards on Sunday - was seen puckering up to the artist after the awards show. Taylor puckered up as Rufus stared blankly into the camera for the social media photos In November, the 50-year-old Across The Universe crooner said his daughter like Swift's music, but he didn't really get her. Wainwright told Kyle Meredith for a live taping of Kyle Meredith With in November that he was on the fence on T-Swift Her name came up when he said the music industry was 'vapid and predictable.' Wainwright said he did not understand Taylor or why his daughter was such a big fan of her music. 'My daughter is really into Taylor Swift right now so I've really been going through the education of that,' he said of Swift's music. 'It's fascinating. I wanna remain open-minded and I think it's very impressive what she does, and there's a lot of stuff I could never even dream of accomplishing. 'On the way to school it's a constant thing and there's certain songs I like more than others It hasn't happened for me yet with Taylor, but I'm not saying it won't.' Swift not only took home a Grammy on Sunday, she also thrilled fans when she announced a new album coming out in April. Meanwhile, Swift will take a 'brutal flight' to make sure she can attend the Super Bowl amid her hectic concert schedule. He wore an eye-catching suit with sparkly shoes on the red carpet. Swift at the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 4, 2024 in Los Angeles The 34-year-old pop superstar is currently dating Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, 34, and after his team made it through to the major sporting event set to take place on February 11, the 'Anti-Hero' songstress is reportedly determined to be at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to support him even though she will have just finished a performance of her 'Eras' tour at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. A source told Page Six: 'It's a brutal flight, but she'll get on her plane right after the concert.' The flight time from Tokyo to Las Vegas is 13 hours and if Taylor manages to leave Japan no later than an hour after her concert finishes at 11pm local time on Saturday 10 February, with the 17-hour time difference, she could land back in the U.S at 5:30pm local time, ready for the match to kick off at 3:30pm the next day. The 'Cruel Summer' hitmaker was first linked to the sportsman in September 2023 when she was seen attending one of his matches for the Kansas City Chiefs but recently admitted they were already a couple by the time the world found out about their romance. She told Time magazine: 'This all started when Travis very adorably put me on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell. 'We started hanging out right after that. So we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I'm grateful for, because we got to get to know each other. 'By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple. I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game? We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date.' Hugh Jackman sipped on a pint of Guinness in an Irish pub during a trip around Dublin on Monday. The Australian actor, 55, learnt the Irish ropes as he enjoyed some well-needed downtime. The Greatest Showman star cut a casual figure in a black graphic T-shirt and flexed his muscles in the video. As he indulged in the pint of beer, Hugh repeatedly said 'so good' to the camera as he told fans he was back in Dublin - but didn't specify what for. Captioning his post, he teased: 'Back in Dublin. Part 1.' Hugh Jackman, 55, sipped on a pint of Guinness in an Irish pub during a trip around Dublin on Monday The Australian actor learnt the Irish ropes as he enjoyed some well-needed downtime away from Aus Last year, Hugh announced he had split from long-time wife Deborra-Lee Furness in September - after 27 years of marriage. The former couple revealed to fans that they had separated 'to pursue our individual growth'. 'We have been blessed to share almost three decades together in a wonderful, loving marriage. Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth,' the couple said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. 'Our family has been and always will be our highest priority. We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love, and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition.' The former couple signed the statement as 'Deb and Hugh Jackman,' adding: 'This is the sole statement either of us will make.' The pair had tied the knot in 1996 after crossing paths on set of Correlli in 1995. During the course of their marriage, they adopted two children: son Oscar, 23, and daughter Ava, 18. Last month, rumours swirled that Deborra-Lee could be leaving her New York home to return to Australia - where Hugh hails from. The Greatest Showman star cut a casual figure in a black graphic T-shirt and flexed his muscles in the video As he indulged in the pint of beer, Hugh repeatedly said 'so good' to the camera as he told fans he was back in Dublin - but didn't specify what for Captioning his post, he teased: 'Back in Dublin. Part 1.' Last year, Hugh announced he had split from long-time wife Deborra-Lee Furness in September - after 27 years of marriage (pictured together in 2018) Speculation has been growing that Deborra-Lee (pictured) could move back to Australia soon following her split from Hugh According to Woman's Day, Deb's friends have 'been in her ear' about relocating Down Under now that her marriage is over. It's unclear if Furness is listening to her pals, but she has been spending time in Sydney in recent weeks to promote her new film Force of Nature: The Dry 2 and to attend the Australian Open. Hugh and Deborra-Lee purchased a USD$21million New York City home before their shock split last year. The X-Men actor and actress splashed the cash for a penthouse in New York City's Chelsea district on August 2022. The purchase had come just weeks after the thespian couple listed their incredible three-story condo in New York City for sale. The pair had lived in the swanky downtown Manhattan apartment since 2008 and they listed it in June 2022 for the whopping price of USD$38.9million. Pregnant Lucy Watson showed off her bare baby bump in a white underwear set as she posed for an Instagram Story selfie on Monday. The former Made In Chelsea star, 32, who is expecting her first child with husband James Dunmore, 34, displayed her changing shape in the bra and matching pants from her own brand, Renue The Label. While holding her phone in front of her face for the black and white snap, Lucy revealed she is 'nearly' at the end of her pregnancy and preparing to welcome her first child any day now. The TV personality penned: 'Safe to say we're nearly there! Can't gatekeep this @renuethelabel crop top bra, so comfy to sleep in.' Lucy also revealed she has 'started to pack her hospital bag' as she shared a picture of baby clothes neatly folded inside. Pregnant Lucy Watson showed off her bare baby bump in a white underwear set as she posed for an Instagram Story selfie on Monday The former Made In Chelsea star, 32, revealed she is 'nearly' at the end of her pregnancy and has even packed her hospital bag Lucy is expecting her first child, a baby boy, with her former Made In Chelsea co-star James after a difficult fertility journey. It comes weeks after she revealed that she and James have picked an 'uncommon but traditional name'. In a Q and A hosted on her Instagram, she also revealed that she is 'terrified' about giving birth and battled terrible morning sickness in the first trimester. Lucy said they are '90 per cent sure' of the name, which is 'very uncommon but traditional at the same time'. She added: 'I'm sure, but James isn't 100 per cent, but I'm the decisive one, and he hates making decisions'. Another follower asked: 'When did your pregnancy sickness ease? ' Lucy replied: 'I did get prescribed anti-sickness medication from my doctor, which helped a lot, but I didn't love taking it unless it was really bad. 'I basically did nothing for the first few months and ate whatever I could stomach... Mine eased off around 14 weeks.' When asked if she is nervous about giving birth, Lucy replied: 'Yes!! The bigger he grows the more excited I get, but there's always that voice in the back of my head "he's going to have to come out of there at some point' and it does terrify me.' Lucy is expecting her first child with husband James Dunmore, 34, after a three-year battle to conceive Lucy added they have decided to have private hospital birth which is 'costly' and would love a natural birth. The vegan author has spoken openly about her difficulties in trying to conceive and three-year journey to falling pregnant with her first child. Lucy recently was overcome with emotion as she addressed her followers with a detailed video describing her fertility journey. She revealed the couple 'had their struggles' over 'the past few years' and were faced with 'bad news after bad news'. Lucy began her fertility journey three years ago when she was 30 and saw four different specialists within that time. She said: 'I am basically so grateful for where I am today. 'I'm pregnant with my son. Obviously, I know this journey could end tomorrow, or the next day like I don't know how long this is going to last or if it if we'll make it to the end or get to the point of having a baby in arms. 'But I'm just joying enjoying every moment and just living for every day because we've fought to get here and we are so grateful to be here. 'I'm just choosing to love every moment really and it's surreal, still to this day it is surreal but it is the most amazing feeling and I really hope that anyone out there who is struggling gets to experience it too and I hope that this video has helped.' Lucy announced her engagement to James in September 2020, after meeting on the E4 set of Made In Chelsea in 2015. The former reality stars tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in Kefalonia, Greece, in the summer of 2021. Viewers were in tears as Escape To The Country paid tribute to show host Jonnie Irwin with his final episode. Jonnie passed away on Friday aged 50 after a three year battle with cancer. The TV host revealed in November 2022 his cancer had spread to his brain after first being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2020. BBC bosses created a moving video montage filled with his best bits at the end of the show to remember his 13 years as host. Emotional fans took to X, formerly Twitter, as they remembered the presenter and said watching his last episode was 'heartbreaking'. Viewers were in tears as Escape To The Country paid tribute to show host Jonnie Irwin after his tragic death They wrote: 'Going to be a sad watch but a nice tribute. I hope one day a cure is found for cancer so we dont have to say goodbye too earlier R.I.P'. 'This is heartbreaking to watch. Hes so diminished but still the same lovely Jonnie.' 'Lovely tribute to Jonnie Irwin' and 'So very sad seeing Jonnie like this'. 'Lovely tribute showing #JohnnieIrwin being lovely and silly over the years at the end of #EscapetotheCountry - hope #aplaceinthesun does the same.' The show followed Jonnie helping out retired couple Janet and Brian looking for a rural home in Somerset with a budget of 625,000. The couple fell in love with the 600,000 mystery house. A Place In The Sun and Escape To The Country paid tribute to the presenter on Friday following his death. The property expert started off presenting what was then called A Place In The Sun: Home Or Away? with Jasmine Harman in 2004, while he also featured on other property shows, such as I Escaped To The Country and Escape To The Country on the BBC. Bosses of Jonnie's television show A Place In The Sun shared a tribute on Instagram after his passing. Escape To The Country remembered Jonnie with a video montage at the end of the show BBC bosses put together the 45-minute programme of Jonnie's highlights to remember his 13 years as host with the show airing on Monday The show followed Jonnie helping out retired couple Janet and Brian looking for a rural home in Somerset with a budget of 625,000 Highlights included when the presenter tried his hand at surfing Viewers were emotional as they watched happy moments over the years with Jonnie Emotional fans took to X, formerly Twitter , as they remembered the presenter A Place In The Sun paid tribute to the presenter on Friday following his death The property expert started off presenting what was then called A Place In The Sun: Home Or Away? with Jasmine Harman in 2004 Jonnie also featured on other property shows, such as I Escaped To The Country and Escape To The Country on the BBC Under a picture of the broadcaster, a message read: 'Jonnie Irwin 1973 - 2024. We are heartbroken. Jonnie was a much-loved part of the A Place in the Sun family for more than 18 years - he brought joy, wit and bundles of energy to the show. 'We will miss him terribly. Our thoughts are with Jess and the boys ad the rest of the family.' Separately, Rob Unsworth, Head of BBC Daytime and Early Peak Commissioning said in a statement: 'Jonnie Irwin was an extraordinary man and wonderful presenter. He brought such warmth and fun to Escape to the Country, where he was a firm favourite with not just viewers, but the production team too. 'More recently, he did some truly inspirational reports for Morning Live about his illness, tackling taboos around end of life care, and wonderfully demonstrating the limitless positivity that he brought to everything he did. 'His kindness will be hugely missed by everyone he worked with, and we are sending all of our thoughts to his family and friends at this sad time.' John Comerford, Head of Naked West and Executive Producer, Escape to the Country said: 'We are incredibly saddened to hear the news about Jonnie. 'He has been at the very heart of Escape to the Country for 14 years and will be a huge loss to our production team and all the viewers who have loved watching him on the show. 'Jonnie was clever, warm and funny, never short of a mischievous and insightful line and always put the programmes contributors at ease. All the teams he worked with loved him. Jonnie's wife Jessica Holmes announced his death in a heartbreaking tribute on Friday Taking to Instagram she described her beloved partner as a 'truly remarkable husband' 'He is an unimaginable loss to the Escape family. We send our love and heartfelt condolences to Jess and his beautiful boys.' Jonnie's wife Jessica announced the sad news of his death on social media on Friday. Sharing a picture of her and Jonnie, Jessica wrote on Instagram: 'It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of Jonnies passing. A truly remarkable soul, he fought bravely against cancer with unwavering strength and courage 'Jonnie touched the lives of so many with his kindness, warmth, and infectious spirit. 'At this time, we kindly ask for the privacy of Jonnies family as they navigate through this profound loss. Their grief is immeasurable, and your thoughts, prayers, and support are deeply appreciated. 'As we remember the beautiful moments shared with Jonnie, let us celebrate a life well-lived and a legacy that will forever be etched in our hearts. Jonnie may be gone from our sight, but his love, laughter, and memories will live on.' 'Rest in peace, dear Jonnie. You will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.' Emily Ratajkowski kept it casual while going for a walk in New York City on Monday morning. The 32-year-old supermodel layered up in a $98 Vitality Puffer Vest that was worn on top of a black long-sleeve t-shirt while she made her way through the city's streets. The fashion industry personality - who recently opened up about her negative inner voice - also wore a pair of slightly loose-fitting light gray pants, as well as white slip-on Vans sneakers. Ratajkowski accessorized with a pair of gold hoop earrings, as well as a navy blue cap. The social media figure's voluminous brunette hair fell onto her shoulders and chest. Emily Ratajkowski kept it casual while going for a walk in New York City on Monday morning The 32-year-old supermodel layered up in a $98 Vitality Puffer Vest that was worn on top of a black long-sleeve t-shirt while she made her way through the city's streets The fashion industry personality - who recently opened up about her negative inner voice - also wore a pair of slightly loose-fitting light gray pants, as well as white slip-on Vans sneakers The runway regular gave her Instagram followers a look into her recent 36-hour trip to Mexico City by sharing several images on her account on Sunday. In one of her snaps, Ratajkowski showed off her sculpted stomach while wearing a cropped t-shirt after she picked up a coffee. The supermodel later donned a patterned bikini top and a matching bottom, which showcased much of her physique. The fashion industry figure also kept a patterned bag slung over her left shoulder, and her gorgeous brunette hair fell onto her upper chest. Ratajkowksi was also joined by her son Sylvester, three, on her trip, and she referred to her child as 'my tiny world traveler' in her post's caption. The influencer was seen while hugging her son on a helipad after they finished up a helicopter ride through the city. She also included a shot of her child enjoying what appeared to be a quesadilla as they made their way through Mexico City. Ratajkowski shares Sylvester with her estranged husband, Sebastian Bear-McClard. Ratajkowski accessorized with a pair of gold hoop earrings, as well as a navy blue cap The social media figure's voluminous brunette hair fell onto her shoulders and chest The runway regular gave her Instagram followers a look into her recent 36-hour trip to Mexico City by sharing several images on her account on Sunday The supermodel later donned a patterned bikini top and a matching bottom, which showcased much of her physique Ratajkowksi was also joined by her son Sylvester, three, on her trip, and she referred to her child as 'my tiny world traveler' in her post's caption She also included a shot of her child enjoying what appeared to be a quesadilla as they made their way through Mexico City The former couple had been acquaintances for years before they started seeing each other in 2018, and they tied the knot after just a few weeks of dating. The fashion industry personality went on to reveal her pregnancy to the public in October of 2020. The supermodel subsequently gave birth to Sylvester in March of 2021, and she has since shared numerous photos featuring her child on her Instagram account. Ratajkowski and Bear-McClard remained together until July of 2022, when they separated after the producer was accused of various forms of misconduct. After the Awful Emmys, Crock of Choice Awards and Gruesome Globes, the Grammys swooped in to re-start the music. Sheltered from a storm-soaked LA in the Crypto.com Arena, it was a welcome night of cathartic crescendo bliss, sizzling senoritas, bad hair and bombshell secret poetry clubs. Heck, it was the best awards ceremony I've seen in years! I was braced for tiresome Trevor Noah to suck the oxygen out the room with his pneumatic self-focus, but first shock reveal of the night he was actually an effortlessly hilarious host, breathing life into an event which surely started with one of the worst red carpets in history. (What WAS Doja Cat in that nipple peekaboo, forehead tattoo monstrosity thinking?) Second shock reveal: Meryl Streep is musky Mark Ronson's mother-in-law Who knew?! Unlike the dismal torture of Jo Koy's Globes catastrophe, Noah didn't succumb to buttsuckery, roasting celebrity and sucker alike, even highlighting Queen Taylor's late arrival ('as she moves through the room, the local economy improves') and lobbing a solid one at disaster-struck Boeing: 'This show is live anything could happen. It's like flying in a Boeing airplane. One minute there's a door there, the next you're outside.' After the Awful Emmys, Crock of Choice Awards and Gruesome Globes, the Grammys swooped in to re-start the music. Sheltered from a storm-sodden LA in the Crypto.com Arena, it was a welcome night of cathartic crescendo bliss, sizzling senoritas, bad hair and bombshell secret poetry clubs. (Pictured: Taylor Swift and Celine Dion backstage). I was braced for tiresome Trevor Noah (pictured with Beyonce) to suck the oxygen out the room with his pneumatic self-focus, but first shock reveal of the night he was actually an effortlessly hilarious host. What WAS Doja Cat in that nipple peekaboo, forehead tattoo monstrosity thinking? A star-stuffed music medley kicked off with delicious Dua Lipa, dressed like a dominatrix Peloton instructor, dancing (yes, she finally can!) amid a bondagey jungle gym a leather-clad appetizer for the even bigger night to come. Then it was Mariah C's turn to shake her assets, sauntering in to a standing O, out from the fashion faux-pas wilderness and awarding a shocked and veritably lioness-coiffed Miley Cyrus her Best Pop Solo Performance gong. It was Miley's first win (of two); first Swift snub (of two); and second outfit (of four!). Did she ride to the event on the hood of her car? Perhaps Ed Sheeran rode shotgun; we were told he'd flown specially from Taiwan to make it presumably there was no time to shower. Talking of back from the wilderness, marching out from cancellation quietude was Lizzo clearly, this gal's too big to fail. The first emotional zenith of the night the musical equivalent of Elmo tweeting, 'How is everyone doing?' was a spine-tingling 'Fast Car' duet. At first all we saw was a hand strumming those familiar chords but when the crowd realized it was Tracy Chapman herself next to Luke Combs, boy was it on. If Tracy had been the only blast from icons past it would have been more than enough but we were jampacked with Billy Joel, Annie 'Ceasefire' Lennox (more on her later), Stevie Wonder with holographic Tony Bennett from beyond the grave, Joni Mitchell, Celine Dion! Headscarfed and pseudo-humble Billie Eilish bagged Song of the Year with foxy brother Finneas for their beautiful Barbie ditty 'What Was I Made For'. Finneas and Ferb more than deserved it, so why Billie felt the need to insist now on her eighth Grammy 'I'm not supposed to be here' came off a bit plastic. A star-stuffed music medley kicked off with delicious Dua Lipa, dressed like a dominatrix Peloton instructor, dancing (yes, she finally can!) amid a bondagey jungle gym - a leather-clad appetizer for the even bigger night to come. Then it was Mariah C's turn to shake her assets, sauntering in to a standing O, out of the fashion faux-pas wilderness and awarding a shocked and veritably lioness-coiffed Miley Cyrus her Best Pop Solo Performance gong. I much preferred Best New Artist winner Victoria Monet's speech, first thanking the real champions of the night: the champagne servers, who had apparently spent much of their time circling Taylor's table (Was it an on-stage Celine snub? Was it the tequila?). Despite the bubbles, Taylor whose night was suitably historic knew every lyric to every song and enjoyed a karaoke concert for one, even singing along to Olivia Rodrigo's 'Vampire' which may or may not be about her and who may or may not enjoy plundering Swift's songbook. Hey, what does Taylor care: she's got her sights trained on a Super Bowl engagement, her new album and probably the White House. Illness-struck Celine's surprise appearance to hand Taylor her Album of The Year award was the lipstick cherry on the most sugary of cakes. 'Those who have been blessed enough to be here at the Grammy Awards must never take it for granted,' Celine said. 'The tremendous love and joy that music brings to people all over the world.' I'm not ugly crying you are! Truly, we don't deserve her. It was a shame that Lennox chose to hijack the In Memoriam segment with her 'Artists for Ceasefire, peace in the world' pro-Palestine stunt. Really though, we should expect nothing less from this tired creeker. Talking of back from the wilderness, marching out from cancellation quietude was Lizzo clearly, this gal's too big to fail. Other shout-outs must go to: Oprah, who put the 'O' in Ozempic and gave a touching tribute to Tina Turner even if she couldn't help reminding viewers that she regarded the late hit-maker as a 'friend'. And Chrissy Teigen's cosmetic dermatologist. Was Chrissy enjoying the night or hating it? Impossible to know but it was the perfect poker face for when Jay-Z won the GOAT award (Gross, Obnoxious And Truculent), taking a jab at the nominees ('some of you don't deserve to be in the category') and attacking the recording academy for failing to give the wife he cheated on a 33rd Grammy. We could all have done without Travis Scott's needless chair smashing. And yes, at nearly four hours the night was half too long. But, for all the terrible ups and tawdry downs we've had to suffer in politics and culture of late and even though my couch didn't come with Champagne servers the Grammys was a refreshing shot of steaming star-power. Waiter, I want what Taylor's having! Joanna Page has revealed she has just got her ears pierced aged 46 as she shared new pictures of her new jewellery to her Instagram page. The Gavin and Stacey actress, 46, looked delighted with her new piercings as she revealed she had them done on Saturday after plucking up the courage. Joanna shared three selfies of her smiling face with the piercings in view, alongside the caption: 'Never too late to get a piercing. What a way to start the weekend.' The photographs revealed Joanna was wearing two sets of earrings, a dangly pair as well as a set of diamond studs. It is unclear whether Joanna got both piercings done at the same time, but it seems most likely that only the second studs were new. Joanna Page has revealed she has just got her ears pierced aged 46 as she shared new pictures of her new jewellery to her Instagram page Joanna shared three selfies of her smiling face with the piercings in view, alongside the caption: 'Never too late to get a piercing. What a way to start the weekend' Joanna had made the trip to the Rook Piercing Studio, in Henley On Thames, Oxon, to treat herself to the new piercings. Joanna's friends and fans applauded her decision, with one person writing: 'I got my nose pierced a few weeks ago and I'm 63. You go girl.' Others said: 'Looks tidy', and 'I don't think Bryn would approve and I tell you for why. One other person urged her to film another Gavin and Stacey series, writing: 'Never mind that, get back to Barry and start filming our much needed new series.' Her famous friend, Katie Piper gushed: 'Love it.' The telly star has previously been seen with earrings but it's unknown if they were real or clip-ons. It comes shortly after Joanna crushed fans' hopes of a Gavin and Stacey comeback, saying the legendary sitcom is unlikely to ever return. Fans hoped co-writer and star James Corden moving back to the UK following his eight-year stint hosting The Late Late Show in the US would increase the chances of making another Christmas special. The Gavin and Stacey actress, 46, looked delighted with her new piercings as she revealed she had them done on Saturday after plucking up the courage And after James, 45, was spotted meeting co-creator Ruth Jones, 57, in London's Soho earlier this month, speculation went into overdrive. But Joanna, who played Stacey in the sitcom, says the odds of the comedy returning are low because it was left on the ultimate cliffhanger on its last outing in 2019, when Nessa, played by Ruth, proposed to James's character Smithy, who never gave her an answer. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Joanna said: 'I can see them never doing any more because it was nice to leave it on a cliffhanger because it's up to the viewer to imagine what would have happened. So I can imagine them ending it like that.' Despite her doubts, Joanna still harbours hope of reprising her character once again, alongside her co-stars including on-screen husband Mathew Horne, plus Larry Lamb, Alison Steadman, Rob Brydon, as well as James and Ruth. She said: 'I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't get the call, and I wouldn't be surprised if I did. 'But all I can say is, if they were going to do another one I hope it's soon because we're all getting so old, I don't particularly want to see Stacey get that much older. It comes shortly after Joanna crushed fans' hopes of a Gavin and Stacey comeback, saying the legendary sitcom is unlikely to ever return James was spotted meeting co-creator Ruth Jones in London's Soho sending speculation into overdrive (November 2023) Joanna, who played Stacey in the sitcom, says the odds of the comedy returning are low because it was left on the ultimate cliffhanger on its last outing in 2019 'And if there is a comeback, I'll find out at the same time as the public because I don't get told anything.' She added: 'Gavin and Stacey kids would be teenagers now, so that would be quite funny to see.' Reflecting on her time in the sitcom, which first aired in 2007, Joanna describes how much life has changed since the debut episode, when Gavin and Stacey met on a blind date having never set eyes on each other before. She said: 'If you were going to do it these days, it would be totally different. 'It all started with a phone call between Gavin and Stacey, but now everything would have been done by email or a Zoom call, you certainly wouldn't be sitting there chatting on the phone. 'There was smoking in nightclubs as well. It's so funny as it wasn't that long ago, but life has changed so much.' Joanna, pictured with daughter Boe following her birth in December 2021, is a mum to four children including Eva, Kit, and Noah Bijou Phillips shared insight on how she's coping following her ex-husband Danny Masterson's rape conviction and prison sentencing last year. Speaking to E! News at Sunday's Janie's Fund charity event, the 43-year-old actress shared, 'I'm doing good.' She added that she and their daughter Fianna, who turns age 10 on February 14, make a 'great little team.' This comes after news Masterson has been sent to the same California state prison Charlie Manson stayed in: Corcoran State Prison. Danny was convicted of raping two women in May 2023, and sentenced in September 2023 to serve 30 years to life in prison. Following the sentencing, Phillips filed for divorce from the former That 70s Show star, and he agreed to give her full custody of their child. Bijou Phillips shared insight on how she's coping following her ex-husband Danny Masterson 's rape conviction and prison sentencing last year as she told E! News she is 'doing good'; seen in LA on Sunday She added that she and their daughter Fianna, who turns ten on February 14, make a 'great little team'; pictured with Masterson in 2015 The public appearance marked Bijou's first return to the red carpet following her tumultuous year. She was in great spirits as she attended Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler's annual event, held at the Hollywood Palladium. It came days after a Daily Mail exclusive report revealed that she was 'triggered' by her ex-husband's move to a maximum security prison. For the star-studded occasion, she wore a plunging black dress with a sheer, softly pleated skirt. The look was topped with a black leather motorcycle jacket and her curly dirty-blonde was worn loose. The mother-of-one completed the ensemble with a bold red lip stain. Phillips tied the knot with Masterson in 2011, and filed for divorce in September 2023 as he began his sentence at North Kern State Prison. He was recently moved to the Corcoran State Prison in Central California, which is said to have taken 'an emotional toll' on Bijou. Masterson was convicted of raping two women in May 2023, and sentenced in September 2023 to serve 30 years to life in prison The former couple pictured together at a Golden Globes afterparty in 2005 'The move that Danny has made to his new prison was very triggering for Bijou and stirred up past emotions that she is still trying to deal with,' an insider said. 'She has been able to go out and also vacation which has been a stress relief to get back to a somewhat normal life, but it still hurts her inside that her life is forever changed.' The source continued: 'It is going to get better but also it will take forever to heal from it all.' 'She has had a very stressful life dealing with this and what her father has been accused of. It has been an emotional toll that has taken her to places of extreme stress and heartache. That is going to continue for a long time,' the person said. In September 2009, Bijou's sister Mackenzie alleged that she and their father John Phillips had an incestuous sexual relationship for 10 years from the time she was 19. Bijou defended their dad, who died in March 2001, and said in an interview at the time: 'I'm 29 now. I've talked to everyone who was around during that time, I've asked the hard questions. I do not believe my sister. Our father [was] many things. This is not one of them.' She held her mother's hand throughout her father's funeral last Friday and courageously shouldered his coffin as a pallbearer despite being just 17 years old. And now it can be revealed that Darcey Draper has remained a 'constant pillar of strength' for her mother Kate Garraway, 56, throughout Derek Draper's fatal four-year battle with Covid. A close friend told the Daily Mail: 'All of the family are staying close to support one another through such a difficult time, especially the children who have been a constant huge pillar of strength for Kate.' It comes after Ms Garraway's tearful interview on Good Morning Britain today in her first television appearance since her husband died - just three days after his funeral on Friday. Mr Draper passed away on January 3 from a cardiac arrest - four years after a serious bout of Covid in 2020 led his health to heavily deteriorate. Darcey Draper has remained a 'constant pillar of strength' for her mother Kate Garraway , 56, throughout Derek Draper's fatal four-year battle with Covid (pictured at Derek Draper's funeral on Friday) She held her mother's hand throughout her father's funeral last Friday and courageously shouldered his coffin as a pallbearer despite being just 17 years old (pictured) During the interview with her ITV co-stars, Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley, Ms Garraway praised her daughter's 'extraordinary bravery' throughout Mr Draper's final months. The teenager, who is known to be popular among her school friends, was a solid and brave figure during the funeral and in the weeks before her father's death. She revealed the last words Darcey said to her father were, 'Dad if you can't do this we'll be OK. You release yourself if you need to go, don't worry about us, don't worry about mum. 'We'll be fine because you live on through us.' Shocked, Ms Reid, 53, said the story of Darcey's strength throughout the devastating ordeal of losing her father is sure to 'open a mature conversation' about how we approach children about death. Ms Garraway agreed and recalled her children's maturity when she told them their father had suffered a cardiac arrest. She said: 'First thing Darcey said was, 'How are you mum?' It took my breath away. I said, 'That's a lovely question, thank you for asking.' 'They've taken on board a caring role and I'm so proud of them. 'They didn't want to pressure him to keep going for us - I don't think he did. 'It's lovely that they saw his perspective in that way. I think it's extraordinary.' During the interview with her ITV co-stars, Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley , Ms Garraway praised her daughter's 'extraordinary bravery' throughout Mr Draper's final months (pictured Kate, Billy, Derek and Darcey together in 2019) The teenager, who is known to be popular among her school friends, was a solid and brave figure during the funeral and in the weeks before her father's death But added: 'We are just in the foothills of our grief'. Mr Draper's funeral was held last Friday in London's Primrose Hill and was attended by the likes of Tony Blair and Keir Starmer while Elton John 'sweetly' sang Skyline Pigeon. An emotional Ms Garraway wore a 349 black overcoat from Hobbs accompanied by her son Billy, 14, and Darcey who wore a similar 150 faux fur-trimmed coat from the British brand, De La Creme. Later Darcey was seen carrying her father's coffin and Ms Garraway said she had done it to quell her mother's fears that the significance of the day would be lost behind her ITV profile. She said: 'It was her idea. I wanted the funeral to represent everything about him and not be about me. 'Darcey came into the room while we were talking about it and said, 'Please can I carry the coffin?' 'I thought 'Crikey, that's a practical challenge, anybody who's ever done it, it's a heavy thing.' But she said, 'I want to do it' and basically insisted and I thought that was a beautiful thing.' It comes after Ms Garraway's tearful interview on Good Morning Britain today in her first television appearance since her husband died - just three days after his funeral on Friday Darcey and Kate pictured together at the National Television Awards in 2022 Richard Madeley, who attended the funeral, recalled in the interview how Ms Garraway had read out a eulogy written by Darcey, which was 'beautiful and also very funny at times'. He said: 'It made everybody laugh but it also finished with what her final words to her late father. 'I thought this was so mature as you read it out, that she basically whispered to him that he could stop worrying about taking care of you all.' Before Mr Draper's death, Ms Garraway took an extended period of leave from the ITV programme to be with her husband after he suffered a cardiac arrest in December which left him in a vegetative state. She revealed it came as a 'stop all the clocks' moment because her late husband had seemed the 'furthest' from death before he died, after progressing into a 'positive place'. Doctors said that he only had 24 hours left to live, which extended to over a month with his passing in January, but said her heart broke for the children who had 'heard it many times before'. Jackie 'O' Henderson has been left stunned by radio co-host Kyle Sandilands' eerily accurate prediction about her love life. In resurfaced audio from a 2015 Kyle and Jackie O Show episode, Kyle predicted Jackie would one day be divorced from then-husband Lee Henderson and spending her time in Coogee while dating younger men. 'All you're doing, every night, is banging 20-year-old blokes on Tinder,' the shock jock guessed in the throwback audio. Jackie was left shocked by the accuracy of Kyle's predictions, admitting 'it all happened,' during Tuesday morning's show. 'Can you believe [I correctly guessed] Coogee, 20-year-old blokes, divorced... dating apps?' Kyle asked proudly. Jackie 'O' Henderson has been left stunned by radio co-host Kyle Sandilands' eerily accurate prediction about her love life. Both pictured Henderson did indeed divorce her ex-husband Lee Henderson in 2018. She has also been photographed multiple times entertaining younger men at her home in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. One of the men has been identified as 29-year-old male model Jack Tyerman who is represented by top modelling agency IMG Models. Jackie was posted spending time with the part-time tradie in August last year. Later that year she was spotted entertaining another hunky young man on her balcony. Jackie was left shocked by the accuracy of Kyle's predictions, admitting 'it all happened,' during Tuesday morning's show 'All you're doing, every night, is banging 20-year-old blokes on Tinder ,' the shock jock guessed in the throwback audio. Pictured with a mystery man last year Earlier this week, the radio queen opened up about the struggles she's faced with loneliness on the dating scene. Speaking with fans at Luke McLeod's book launch for Everyday Enlightenment on Thursday night, the radio titan admitted she is 'desperate' to find love and companionship once more. She explained she had lunch with McLeod last year when they got onto the topic of her love life and how she felt she was 'missing something'. 'I just really want to find someone. I can't find him and I'm sort of a bit lost at the moment,' she told him during their catch up. Henderson did indeed divorce her ex-husband Lee Henderson in 2018. Pictured earlier this month When Luke asked why she was so desperate to get into a relationship, Jackie said she couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it felt like 'a piece' of her was 'missing'. 'I have a lot of love to give or I want that affection, that company. It just feels like there's something missing in my life,' she added. Jackie went on to tell her fans that Luke gave her a piece of advice in that moment which 'changed my life'. He said she was giving off too much 'desperate energy', and if she really wanted to attract love in her life, then she needed to be grateful for what she already has. 'I said to him, "How am I meant to change what I want and need? I feel like I need that in my life and I really want that. I can't just switch that off,"' she admitted. Nevertheless, Jackie said she tried Luke's method and began spending 15 minutes a day thinking about the things she was already grateful for having in her life. Speaking with fans at Luke McLeod's book launch for Everyday Enlightenment on Thursday night, the radio titan admitted she is 'desperate' to find love and companionship once more. Pictured with Luke McLeod 'Now I'm at a place where I've almost gone the other way. I'm so happy being single and not looking for someone because I'm genuinely happy with my life,' she said. She revealed that after a year of meditating on what makes her happy now, she finds it much easier to be 'present' rather than 'thinking about what's missing in my life'. Jackie has been married twice in the past, with her first husband being DJ 'Ugly' Phil O'Neil in the late '90s. She was wed to ex Lee from 2003 to 2018 and the couple co-parent their only daughter, Kitty. Bachelor Nation's Nick Viall and his fiancee Natalie Joy have welcomed their first child - a daughter together - just days after she was seen with a massive bump out in Los Angeles. The 43-year-old star of The Bachelor and his significantly younger ladylove, 25, took to Instagram on Monday morning to announce the arrival of their new bundle of joy just months after revealing her pregnancy back in August. The happy couple shared several sweet snaps of the baby girl who was born on Friday, February 2 including her laying in her crib and on Nick's bare chest. Nick and Natalie also unveiled the name of the child which has a draw to Mother Nature as she is called River Rose. In the caption the happy couple revealed where the name comes from as they wrote: 'River Rose Viall [white heart emoji] 2-2-2024 named after Natalies great grandmother and niecethe best part of life starts now[swan dove cloud and red heart emojis]' Bachelor Nation's Nick Viall and his fiancee Natalie Joy have welcomed their first child; a daughter The 43-year-old star of The Bachelor and his significantly younger ladylove, 25, are seen in Los Angeles back in June 2022 According to The Bump, the name River is a gender-neutral name of British origin that means 'a flowing body of water' and is more frequently used for boys but has been gaining popularity for girls. It also notes that 'Symbolically, rivers represent growth, tranquility, and life. If you want to celebrate nature or encourage baby to go with the flow, River is a choice worth considering.' Last week Natalie looked ready to pop as she gave fans a closer look at her bump as while showing off her outfit. As she gave fans a side view of her bump, she wrote, 'Side view goes crazy.' She continued sharing bump snaps in a post promoting her partnership with Brilliant Earth jewelry. 'staying in for Valentines day and staying stacked with jewelry with @brilliantearth #brilliantearthpartner,' she captioned the post. The post included a tender photo of Nick embracing Natalie from behind in a sweet silhouette snap. The happy couple first connected on social media after Natalie slid into his DMs. The couple took to Instagram on Monday morning to announce the arrival of their new bundle of joy just months after revealing her pregnancy back in August Nick and Natalie also unveiled the name of the child which has a draw to Mother Nature as she is called River Rose In the caption the happy couple revealed where the name comes from as they wrote: 'River Rose Viall [white heart emoji] 2-2-2024 named after Natalies great grandmother and niecethe best part of life starts now[swan dove cloud and red heart emojis]' The happy couple shared several sweet snaps of the baby girl who was born on Friday, February 2 including her laying in her crib and on Nick's bare chest According to The Bump , the name River is a gender-neutral name of British origin that means 'a flowing body of water' and is more frequently used for boys but has been gaining popularity for girls It also notes that 'Symbolically, rivers represent growth, tranquility, and life. If you want to celebrate nature or encourage baby to go with the flow, River is a choice worth considering' Nick told E! News' Down in the DMs in June 2022 about what his now-fiancee had written in her message. 'I think DMs are a great place to meet people,' he said at the time. 'My current girlfriend slid in my DMs. 'Real clever, it said, "You're unreal." I guess it was funny,' he continued. 'I was more curious, wondering why I was unreal.' After linking up online, the pair started dating and went public with their romance shortly after in July 2020. Three years into their relationship, the couple got engaged in January 2023. In August, they made the exciting announcement that they were expecting their first child together. Last week Natalie looked ready to pop as she gave fans a closer look at her bump as while showing off her outfit Natalie wore the same look she was seen during her lunch outing as she posed in a dimly-lit space She displayed her bump again as she promoted her partnership with Brilliant Earth The post included a tender photo of Nick embracing Natalie from behind in a sweet silhouette snap Viall and Joy posted photos on Instagram of themselves posing in a field with both of their hands caressing Joy's baby bump. They also shared a snap of an ultrasound, and in the following month, the pair revealed they would be welcoming a baby girl. Nick most notably rose to fame after starring in the 21st season of ABC's The Bachelor and participating in three prior seasons of the franchise. He has also appeared on Dancing with the Stars and completed guest appearances on TV series such as Insecure, Teachers, Speechless, and Family Guy. Noel Fielding once again showcased his unique sense of style while promoting his new Apple TV+ series The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin in California on Monday. The Great British Bake Off host, 50, commanded attention on stage in a pink spotted faux fur jacket which he layered over a Looney Tunes shirt. He completed the look with his trademark skinny jeans and cuban heels for the Q&A session during the TCA Winter Press Tour. The new comedy series sees Noel play the infamous highwayman who lived from 1705 to 1739, in a fictional take on his life. Along with his gang of loveable rogues, Dick experiences the highs and lows of celebrity, and does what he can to escape the clutches of the Thief Taker General. Noel Fielding , 50, once again showcased his unique sense of style while promoting his new Apple TV+ series The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin in California on Monday. The new comedy series sees Noel play the infamous highwayman who lived from 1705 to 1739, in a fictional take on his life It's written and created by Claire Downes, Stuart Lane, Ian Jarvis of The Outlaws and The Job Lot, with Noel and Jeremy Dyson of League Of Gentleman as script consultants. The cast also includes Tamsin Greig, Hugh Bonneville and Greg Davies, and will begin streaming on the service March 1. It comes after Prue Leith has broken her silence on her future as a judge on The Great British Bake Off. The star, 83, judges the Channel 4 cooking show which airs every autumn alongside Paul Hollywood. It comes after claims emerged that the show may be forced to move to Netflix due to Channel 4's 'money woes'. The channel axed several shows in 2023, reportedly to keep costs under control, and now it has been said that GBBO could be the next show to go. The broadcaster's contract to air the hit baking competition reportedly ends after the 2024 series, and it has been claimed there have not yet been talks to extend it. But a confident Prue has now told The Mirror: 'Oh my God, I hope to stick with Bake Off wherever it goes. But I don't think it will move. The Great British Bake Off host commanded attention on stage in a pink spotted faux fur jacket which he layered over a Looney Tunes shirt (pictured with producer Kenton Allen) He completed the look with his trademark skinny jeans and cuban heels for the Q&A session during the TCA Winter Press Tour The new comedy series sees Noel play the infamous highwayman who lived from 1705 to 1739, in a fictional take on his life Noel (R) is joined in the show alongside Tamsin Greig, Hugh Bonneville (L) and Greg Davies, and will begin streaming on the service March 1 'I know a lot of people are having a hard time of it and Channel 4 has lost a lot of shows. 'But I am quite sure while Channel 4 is there, they will hang on to Bake Off. It is certainly one of their best shows. I think it has found its natural home at Channel 4.' Channel 4 also allegedly plans to cut up to 200 jobs following a huge decline in television advertising, according to The Sun. The reports have sparked speculation that the series could be ripe for a takeover by rival channels and streaming sites, including the likes of Netflix. An insider told The Sun: 'Bosses have a dilemma break the bank to keep Bake Off, or lose it to a rival. 'It's no secret that Channel 4 is facing cash problems so do they really have the money to secure another deal? They've been making cutbacks and this could well be to fund a new deal. It comes after Prue Leith has broken her silence on her future as a judge on The Great British Bake Off (seen with Paul Hollywood) Claims emerged that the show may be forced to move to Netflix due to Channel 4's 'money woes' (pictured: Paul, Prue and hosts Noel and Alison Hammond) 'But if they can't match the pay demands, there's not much they can do, and that opens the door for rivals like ITV and Netflix to swoop in, the fact is, this year is crunch time for the future of the Bake Off.' The show, judged by Paul and Prue and presented by Noel and Alison Hammond, launched on the BBC in 2010. However, it was bought by Channel 4 in 2016 for 25million in a shock move that saw its original presenters sensationally quit. Netflix currently has the rights to air Bake Off in America, while ITV was close to bidding for the British rights during the last round of negotiations but decided against it. Channel 4 said: 'Any speculation around contracts is just that and we look forward to bringing many more soggy bottoms to our viewers in future.' Netflix and ITV declined to comment. Rishi Sunak announced plans amid great fanfare last year to keep children studying maths until the age of 18, claiming the 'anti-maths mindset' was undermining the efforts to improve numeracy in Britain. The Prime Minister may not, though, have reckoned on facing opposition from one of the country's most prominent dames. Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Dame Darcey Bussell believes children need to study less mathematics, not more. Asked what she thinks should change within the education system, she replies: 'Less maths, more dance there, I said it.' Once principal dancer at the Royal Ballet, she now runs her educational charity, DDMix. Standing for Diverse Dance Mix, it delivers a dance and fitness programme for primary school children as well as offering adult dance classes. 'Technology is all there at our fingertips, but what we don't have is proper movement available to all, and people understanding how it can help break up those long classroom hours,' she explains. Former Strictly Come Dancing judge Dame Darcey Bussell believes children need to study less mathematics, not more Darcey, who has two children with her businessman husband Angus Forbes (pictured), retired from the world of ballet in 2007 Rishi Sunak announced plans amid great fanfare last year to keep children studying maths until the age of 18, claiming the 'anti-maths mindset' was undermining the efforts to improve numeracy in Britain 'A small movement class could help children to focus and get their attention back, which can really facilitate their learning. Dance, and picking up steps, are really very good for sharpening the brain as well as promoting a sense of wellbeing.' Dame Darcey, 54, says use of new technology is making children less active. 'We're very good at getting kids involved in technology, and they're very savvy about that, but they're not so brilliant at moving any more. 'Time spent on screens means that they are potentially becoming more sedentary.' Darcey, who has two children with her businessman husband Angus Forbes, retired from the world of ballet in 2007. She later quit as a Strictly judge in 2019. Royal flash: Lady Amelia poses in just her smalls! Lady Amelia Windsor made history last year when she became the first member of the Royal Family to carry out jury service. Now, the Duke and Duchess of Kent's 28-year-old granddaughter has notched up another first. Lady Amelia, who was once described as 'the most beautiful member of the Royal Family' by Tatler magazine, is the first royal to show off her knickers. Lady Amelia, who was once described as 'the most beautiful member of the Royal Family' by Tatler magazine, is the first royal to show off her knickers. She assures her social media followers that the pants are made of 'wood-based fibres that are fully biodegradable' She is pictured modelling the red pants, by underwear brand Stripe & Stare, in a photograph she shared online yesterday. Appropriately, the undies were emblazoned with the word 'Monday'. An environmentalist who serves as ambassador for conservation charity the Blue Marine Foundation, she assures her social media followers that the pants are made of 'wood-based fibres that are fully biodegradable'. As I reported last year, Lady Amelia had become eligible to perform jury service because of a change in the law in 2003. Until then, all royals were exempt from a civic duty that might well have seen them consign a fellow citizen to a custodial sentence at His Majestys Pleasure. She undertook her courtroom stint in Cambridge, where she grew up and where her parents, the Earl and Countess of St Andrews, still live. Goga enjoys a wickedly fun birthday Goga Ashkenazi cast a spell over the buyer of Prince Andrew's house, arranging the sale of Sunninghill Park in 2007 for 15million 3 million more than its asking price. So how fitting that the Kazakh businesswoman and socialite should attend her birthday party dressed as a witch. Goga Ashkenazi cast a spell over the buyer of Prince Andrew's house, arranging the sale of Sunninghill Park in 2007 for 15million 3 million more than its asking price. So how fitting that she should attend her birthday party dressed as a witch Oxford-educated Goga, who turned 44 earlier this month, dressed up in the Maleficent-style headdress made famous by actress Angelina Jolie in the 2014 film about the Sleeping Beauty villain, known as 'the mistress of evil'. Goga, who runs the fashion label Vionnet, jokes: 'It's my party. I can fly if I want to.' Esther's forbidden childhood romance Dame Esther Rantzen has revealed that senior figures in the Church of England prevented her from going out with the first boy she was smitten by because she was Jewish. 'There was someone I thought was attractive and he had a lovely, outgoing personality,' the former That's Life! presenter says. 'He was very funny, and he took to me. But his family were very high up in the Church of England you couldn't be much higher. Dame Esther Rantzen has revealed that senior figures in the Church of England prevented her from going out with the first boy she was smitten by because she was Jewish 'They did not like the idea of him taking a Jewish girl out. He was forbidden.' Former Top Gear star Paddy McGuinness announced in 2022 that he had split from his wife, Christine, an ex-model, after 11 years of marriage. It followed reports that he had been spotted kissing a TV presenter and had sent messages to a different TV host on social media. It now appears that McGuinness feels he may have spoiled Christine. 'I bought my Mrs a Range Rover Sport,' he says. 'And she got in it and she went: 'There's no heated steering wheel.' 'So I said: 'With the money you've not spent on that car, buy a pair of f***ing gloves.'' What a charmer. With the Garrick Club in ceaseless turmoil over admitting women, another gentlemen's club, the Savile, is going to ask its members what they think of the issue. The Mayfair-based Savile is best known for its cigar evenings and a snuff box which can be passed round the dining table. The Savile's chairman is Gareth Neame, who produced Downton Abbey, in which Dame Maggie Smith (pictured) starred as a dowager countess. Gareth has a soft spot for old dragons Sounds just the place for the likes of Harriet Harman and Baroness Hale. The Savile's chairman is Gareth Neame, who produced Downton Abbey, in which Dame Maggie Smith starred as a dowager countess. Gareth has a soft spot for old dragons. Comedians Miles Jupp and Josh Widdicombe have revealed Scrooge producers of BBC game show Mock The Week would film a Christmas special free of charge. Jupp refused to play ball when he found out that bosses were encouraging contestants to discuss Christmas-themed topics. They would then piece those clips together to create a festive special. On a podcast with Jupp, Widdicombe says: 'We never got paid for the Christmas special. Miles would refuse to speak during the Christmas story.' Jupp says: 'I did think it was cheeky.' Kirsty Gallacher has joked that she would move in with the husband of her best friend, Gabby Logan, if fellow TV presenter Logan died first. Gallacher, 48, divorced rugby player Paul Sampson, 46, in 2015, while Logan, 50, is happily married to another former rugby player, Kenny Logan, 51. In a pretend eulogy to Gabby Logan, on the podcast Where There's A Will, There's A Wake, Kirsty Gallacher teases: 'I was thinking, Kenny's going to be quite lonely in that big house, isn't he?' Gabby responds: 'I didn't see that ending coming. Lucky Kenny she's gorgeous.' In a pretend eulogy to Gabby, on the podcast Where There's A Will, There's A Wake, Gallacher teases: 'I was thinking, Kenny's going to be quite lonely in that big house, isn't he? 'I know that you'd want me to maybe move in and look after the animals, and your wine cellar, and your wardrobe. I know you wouldn't mind, would you?' Gabby responds: 'I didn't see that ending coming. Lucky Kenny she's gorgeous.' Phillip Schofield looked happy and relaxed as he was seen out for the first time since his and former co-host Holly Willoughby's permanent replacements on This Morning were reportedly revealed. Phillip, 61, and Holly, 42, both left the ITV daytime show last year and since there has been a rotating group of stars at the helm. But now a new report suggests that Cat Deeley - who guest presented last November - and Good Morning Britain 's Ben Shephard will take over for the Monday to Thursday slot. And during his outing in London on Sunday, Phillip was laughing and grinning wildly while out with a group of pals. He cut a casual figure in a blue denim shirt and jeans, teamed with a matching navy blazer and Converse. Phillip Schofield looked happy and relaxed as he was seen out for the first time since his and former co-host Holly Willoughby 's permanent replacements on This Morning were reportedly revealed During his outing on Sunday, Phillip was laughing and grinning wildly while out with a group of pals Phillip and Holly Willoughby, 61 and 42, both left the ITV daytime show last year and since there has been a rotating group of stars at the helm Phillip has bowed out of the spotlight in recent months following an affair with a much younger man who worked with him on This Morning, which led to his departure from This Morning in May, after over 20 years on the show. After much speculation about his private life, his affair finally went public and he admitted he had been left 'broken and ashamed' but insisted he was not a groomer. He said the affair 'never came across' as an abuse of power because he and his lover were 'mates'. He told The Sun: 'I was unprofessional, one time, in a 41-year career. There is no excuse. No one did anything wrong apart from me.' In his first interview since leaving the broadcaster and This Morning, the presenter said: 'I did not, I did not [groom him]. 'There are accusations of all sorts of things. It never came across that way because we'd become mates. I don't know about that. But of course I understand that there will be a massive judgment, but bearing in mind, I have never exercised that.' At the time, Phillip offered a number of apologies, including to his co-presenter of 14 years Holly and his wife of 30 years, Stephanie Lowe. It comes after it was reported Cat and Ben's launch pictures ahead of the official announcement will be shot later this month along with new promotions for the show. A source told The Mirror: 'The cat's out of the bag - they are the new dream team. ITV is planning to announce Cat and Ben as their new star pairing in March. 'Obviously Ben is well known and loved by the ITV daytime audience thanks to his many years on the breakfast sofa. Cat is also a very recognisable face, thanks to her long stint of working on kids' TV, although she's been over in the US for a long time. 'People were very impressed with her guest presenting stint last year alongside Rylan and thankfully the timing has all come together. Everyone is delighted.' It comes after it was reported late last year that Cat had 'turned down' the job offer. He cut a casual figure in a blue denim shirt and jeans, teamed with a matching navy blazer and converse He was out in Borough Markets with pals Scott Brown and Josh Sharman Phillip bowed out of the spotlight in recent months since his affair scandal in May, which led to his departure from This Morning after over 20 years on the show After much speculation about his private life, his affair finally went public and he admitted he had been left 'broken and ashamed' but insisted he was not a groomer, (pictured with his pal) He said the affair 'never came across' as an abuse of power because he and his lover were 'mates'. He told The Sun: 'I was unprofessional, one time, in a 41-year career. There is no excuse. No one did anything wrong apart from me.' At the time, Phillip offered a number of apologies, including to his co-presenter of 14 years Holly and his wife of 30 years, Stephanie Lowe Elsewhere, co-presenter Holly recently returned to hosting Dancing On Ice without Phillip It's possible the reason for the sudden U-turn is financial, with Cat set to nab a bumper payday as the new host. When reports of her joining the show first emerged last year it was claimed she and Ben would receive an annual salary of 555,000. While hefty, the salary still paled in comparison to former hosts Holly and Phil, who were said to have been paid 700,000 annually for their role. However, Cat isn't short of cash as she currently earns at least 344,000 a season hosting So You Think You Can Dance in the States, where she is said to be paid 43,000 an episode. The new series is set to air in March and Cat has been dividing her time between the States and the UK for filming. Therefore it stands to reason that if Cat has changed her mind about appearing on This Morning her contract would either allow her to continue juggling her LA gig. If she does decide to keep both jobs it won't be for financial reasons, however, as brand and culture expert Nick Ede revealed she could double her This Morning salary with brand deals online. Nick told MailOnline: 'Cat is popular in the style stakes and I can see her making a lot of money partnering with brands like John Lewis and M&S who will be vying for her to wear their items. 'She could earn over 200,000 from fashion collabs and she also has her own fragrance which I am sure will fly off the shelves. 'I can also see her potentially collaborating with a brand like Charlotte Tilbury or L'Oreal and for these she could earn a cool 250,000. 'Cat is the perfect presenter for This Morning. She has a big fanbase of people who grew up with her on a Saturday morning and she's always been a safe pair of hands. 'She has a great reputation for being lots of fun but she can also balance difficult discussion points too which is why she will make a winning pairing with Ben. 'What's also really great for a brand about Cat is that she has a big appeal in the USA as the host of the hit show So You Think You Dance so if they are looking to expand or create brand deals in the UK and US she's the perfect person to do it.' After much speculation about his private life, his affair finally went public and he admitted he had been left 'broken and ashamed' but insisted he was not a groomer A new report suggests that Cat Deeley (left) - who guest presented last November - and Good Morning Britain's Ben Shephard (right) will take over for the Monday to Thursday slot It has been reported that their launch pictures ahead of the official announcement will be shot later this month along with new promotions for the show (Cat with Craig Doyle guest presenting on Nov 15 2023) Cat, Ben and ITV have been contacted by MailOnline for further comment. Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond look set to continue as the show's regular Friday and school holiday presenters. It comes after Holly left the show last October 'for the sake of her family' after discovering she was the target of a foiled kidnap and murder plot and has since not been replaced permanently. It came five months after Phillip's departure after his affair with a young male showrunner was made public, followed by claims of an increasingly strained relationship with his co-host. Cat, 47, - who is married to fellow presenter Patrick Kielty - began her career as a co-presenter for the ITV children's show SMTV Live, for which she won a BAFTA Children's Award, and its spin-off chart show CD:UK. Meanwhile Ben, 49, joined GMB in 2014 and has been with them ever since and is one of their most loved stars. It comes after earlier this week it was claimed that This Morning staff are 'livid' that a regular presenting team has not been put in place yet since Holly and Phillip 's departure from the show last year. Alison and Dermot, and Josie Gibson and Craig Doyle have stepped in to front the show for now, while Sian Welby and Rochelle Humes have also appeared. It was previously claimed Alison was a front-runner for the regular spot but she declined to focus on other projects and is said to be backing Josie for the job. It comes after Holly left the show last October 'for the sake of her family' after discovering she was the target of a foiled kidnap and murder plot and has since not been replaced permanently It comes after Sian Welby impressed viewers as she took the helm with Dermot last week from Monday to Thursday It comes after Sian Welby impressed viewers as she took the helm with Dermot last week. A source told the Mail: 'Sian has done a fantastic job and everyone totally loves her. 'She is a massive breath of fresh air, she has come along and just wowed everyone. She has been a joy to watch for the viewers but also editor Martin Frizell and other executives on the show and they think she has the ability to grow and grow on the show and become the next Holly. 'It mustn't be forgotten that Holly was like her once and look what happened to her, she was the host for 14 years. 'Martin and Emma are both agreed that she has got what it takes to be a star, it is really exciting and she is very much in a pole position for the job now. 'Sian is seen to be by far better than some of the presenters who have hosted the show in recent months.' Meanwhile, Holly is reportedly being eyed-up for presenting roles in the US after making her way back on to UK screens. The TV host 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: '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. 'She has true star pulling power and as well as being glamorous she is a polished professional in front of the camera. It's 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 contacted a representative for Holly for comment. It comes amidst a series of layoff announcements from brands including Macy's, Microsoft and Snap Brand's stocks soared by nearly 16 percent following the news Estee Lauder Companies is slashing around 3,100 jobs amid plummeting sales at duty-free shops and lagging business in China. The cosmetics giant announced the lay-offs Monday morning, causing stocks to soar by nearly 16 percent in pre-market trading - their highest since November 2011. By Monday afternoon they were up 12 percent. It comes as part of a mass-restructuring at the company whose brands include Bobbi Brown, Clinique and The Ordinary among others. The firm said it expects the restructure to cost between $500 million and $700 million consisting of contract terminations, asset write-offs and other charges. Estee Lauder Companies has struggled to compete with French rival L'Oreal which owns popular mass-market skincare brands CeraVe and LaRoche-Posay. Estee Lauder Companies is slashing around 3,100 jobs amid plummeting sales at duty-free shops and lagging business in China. Pictured: Kendall Jenner in an Estee Lauder lipstick campaign in 2015 Estee Lauder Companies has struggled to compete with French rival L'Oreal which owns popular mass-market skincare brands CeraVe and LaRoche-Posay. Pictured: Elizabeth Hurley with a bottle of Estee Lauder fragrance at an event in New York in 2001 The cosmetics giant announced the lay-offs Monday morning, causing stocks to soar by nearly 16 percent in pre-market trading - their highest since November 2011. By Monday afternoon they were up 12 percent In an earnings report released today, Estee Lauder Companies said it made $4.28 billion in its second financial quarter ending December 31. It marked a 7 percent decline on its earning in the same period last year. Officials said this was largely to do with sluggish international sales. A statement from Chief Executive Officer Fabrizio Freda read: 'While mainland China and Asia travel retail declined, these businesses are poised to return to organic sales growth in the second half.' Estee Lauder was launched in 1946 by its eponymous founder with just four skincare products sold to local salons and hotels. Today it has over 1,600 stores across 150 countries. Over the years it has had a host of celebrity ambassadors including Kendall Jenner, Karlie Kloss and Gigi Hadid. But experts pointed out that the brand has lacked the innovation of its competitors in recent years. Telsey Advisory Group's Dana Telsey wrote in a research note Monday: 'Efforts to maintain innovation and brand heat across the expansive brand portfolio remain a concern.' In its most recent quarter, Estee Lauder's fragrance sales were stronger than those in other categories such as skin care. Estee Lauder was launched in 1946 by its eponymous founder (pictured with model Paulina Purizkova) In an earnings report released today, Estee Lauder Companies said it made $4.28 billion in its second financial quarter ending December 31. It marked a 7 percent decline on its earning in the same period last year The company owns a host of brands include Bobbi Brown, Clinique and The Ordinary among others The business is the latest in a long line to announce job cuts this year. In January, Macy's announced it would lay off 2,350 workers - around 3.5 percent of its overall workforce - and shutter five stores. And today Snapchat owner Snap announced it would cut around 528 employees - or 10 percent of its global workforce. Google, Amazon and Microsoft have all also announced layoffs to cut costs in 2024. Tracking website Layoffs.fyi estimates almost 32,000 workers have been let go from 122 tech companies since the start of the year. The tech sector also shed 168,032 jobs in 2023 and accounted for the highest number of layoffs across industries, according to a report by Challenger, Gray and Christmas earlier this month. Do YOU feel you overpaid on realtor commissions? Email: money@dailymail.com Austin-based agency will soon inform buyers who may be in line for a payout One of the nation's biggest real estate brokerages has agreed to pay $70 million to resolve a lawsuit over inflated agent commissions. Keller Williams Realty will pay the sum and also take several steps to provide homebuyers and sellers with more transparency over real estate commissions. The Austin-based agency will add the money to a settlement fund which will be distributed by the courts. Home sellers who sold a property from a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) between 2015 and 2019 may be eligible for a slice of the fund. The bumper settlement resolves more than a dozen lawsuits across the country over commissions that US real estate agents charge. In some cases, they can be as high as 6 percent - around double the global average. Attorney Michael Ketchmark, who is representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, hailed the development as a 'tremendous victory for homeowners and homebuyers across the country.' Keller Williams Realty will pay the sum and also take several steps to provide homebuyers and sellers with more transparency over real estate commissions The bumper settlement resolves more than a dozen lawsuits across the country over commissions that US real estate agents charge. In some cases, they can be as high as 6 percent - more than double the global average The central claim put forth in the litigation is that the countrys biggest real estate brokerages engage in practices that unfairly force homeowners to pay artificially inflated agent commissions when they sell their home. In October, a federal jury in Missouri found that trade body National Association of Realtors and several large real estate brokerages, including Keller Williams, conspired to require that home sellers pay homebuyers' agent commission in violation of federal antitrust law. The jury ordered the defendants to pay almost $1.8 billion in damages. If treble damages - which allows plaintiffs to potentially receive up to three times actual or compensatory damages - are awarded, then the defendants may have to pay more than $5 billion. More than a dozen similar lawsuits are pending against the real estate brokerage industry. The suit has provoked controversy from the industry, with one report estimating up to 80 percent of realtors would lose their jobs. Real estate agent Desirae Wykoff, 36, told DailyMail.com last year: 'I feel like realtors are getting an unfair reputation from this. 'I could see a lot of these people hanging up their license.' Keller Williams' executive chairman Gary Keller said the firm had 'full confidence in the strength of an appeal' but that a settlement would remove extended uncertainty for its agents and franchisees. The ruling also means the firm cannot be roped into copycat lawsuits. 'We came to the decision to settle with careful consideration for the immediate and long-term well-being of our agents, our franchisees and the business models they depend on,' Keller said in a company-wide email. Real estate agent Desirae Wykoff (pictured) told DailyMail.com last year: 'I feel like realtors are getting an unfair reputation from this' Keller Williams said the firm had 'full confidence in the strength of an appeal' but that a settlement would remove extended uncertainty for its agents and franchisees. Pictured: CEO Mark Willis 'It was a decision to bring stability, relief and the freedom for us all to focus on our mission without distractions.' The company based operates more than 1,100 offices with some 180,000 agents. Among the terms of its proposed settlement, Keller Williams agreed to make clear that its agents let clients know that commissions are negotiable, and that there isnt a set minimum that clients are required to pay, nor one set by law. The company also agreed to make certain that agents who work with prospective homebuyers disclose their compensation structure, including any "cooperative compensation,' which is when a sellers agent offers to compensate the agent that represents a buyer for their services. As part of the settlement, which must be approved by the court, Keller Williams agents will no longer be required to be members of the National Association of Realtors or follow the trade associations guidelines. Two other large real estate brokerages agreed to similar settlement terms last year. In their respective pacts, Anywhere Real Estate Inc. agreed to pay $83.5 million, while Re/Max agreed to pay $55 million. In recent years, acquiring a real estate license has become a popular side hustle for Americans. In 2020 and 2021 - when the pandemic forced many out of work - a record 156,000 people became Realtors, according to the NAR. DailyMail.com reached out to the NAR and Keller Williams for comment. Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) has recorded the highest growth rate in terms of deposit mobilisation among public sector lenders at a time when most lenders are facing difficulty in achieving double-digit growth. Out of 12 public sector banks, only BoM and State Bank of India (SBI) could log a double-digit growth in deposits in the third quarter ended December 2023. The Pune-based lender BoM reported a 17.89 per cent growth in deposits followed by SBI at 12.84 per cent during the quarter, according to published quarterly numbers of the public sector banks (PSBs). However, SBI's total deposits were about 18.5 times higher at Rs 45,67,927 crore, as compared to Rs 2,45,734 crore of BoM in absolute terms. Central Bank of India was the third by clocking a 9.53 per cent growth in deposits while Punjab National Bank recorded a 9.10 per cent increase. In terms of low-cost CASA deposits, BoM continued to top the chart with 50.19 per cent followed by Central Bank of India with 48.98 per cent. Higher level of Current Account and Savings Accounts (CASA) helps banks to keep their cost of funds low. On the asset quality side, BoM and SBI reported the lowest gross Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) with 2.04 per cent and 2.42 per cent respectively as of December 31, 2023. In terms of Net NPAs, BoM and Indian Bank reported the lowest net NPA with 0.22 per cent and 0.53 per cent respectively. Bhavnagar based BSE SME listed company Dev Labtech Ventures Ltd has signed agreement with Government of India in Gujarat Vibrant Summit 2024. It has plans to invest Rs 1020 millions for expansion in manufacturing of eco-friendly lab grown diamonds having wide range of applications in semi-conductors plates, cutting tools blades and lazer machines. This expansion also provides further employment opportunities for more than 500 peoples. The Hindu Kush Himalaya region, a biosphere which is arguably the world's most important 'water tower', is on the brink of collapse, scientists have sounded alarm bells amid calls for bold action and urgent finance to prevent nature loss in the region. Around 241 million people live in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, of whom 31 per cent are food insecure. The issue was deliberated at a global meet where more than 130 global experts convened in Kathmandu, Nepal. The occasion was the Third Lead Authors meeting of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) nexus assessment to examine the linkages between food and water security, health, biodiversity and climate change. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) issued the call as they described the speed and scale of losses in nature and habitat in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region, which stretches 3,500 kilometres and spans eight countries -- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan -- as catastrophic. It harbours the highest mountain ranges in the world. "It is almost too late," ICIMOD Deputy Director General Izabella Koziell told delegates to the IPBES meeting. "Four of the world's 36 global biodiversity hotspots are in this region. Twelve of the global 200 ecoregions, 575 protected areas, 335 important bird areas -- those figures speak for themselves. Yet we are in an accelerating crisis, despite the efforts of everyone here and many in the international community. Seventy per cent of the original biodiversity has been lost over the last century," she said. "The declines in nature across this region are so advanced and accelerating so fast they now pose a threat to the lives of not just animal and plant life, but also human societies," said IPBES author and ICIMOD Ecosystems Specialist Sunita Chaudhary. "This is a region that must be urgently prioritised for investment -- to fund the fight to reverse nature loss and species extinction. Worldwide we are seeing a huge uptick in investments in ecosystem restoration and a growing recognition of the role that nature plays in human survival. We must ensure that funding to the Hindu Kush Himalaya (region) rises at an exponential rate before these fragile and crucial ecosystems collapse," she said according to reports. As per experts, consequences of the loss of Hindu Kush Range are huge such as the river system including those in eastern and north-eastern India which are set to suffer. Also, water availability in the Ganges, Indus and other river basins in the Hindu Kush region is set to increase in the short term and decrease in the long term while natural hazards like floods and landslides are projected to increase over the coming decades and cascade the impacts on the ecosystem The Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested an Indian national working at the countrys embassy in Moscow for allegedly spying for Pakistans ISI, an official statement on Sunday said. The Meerut field unit of UPs Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) called Satendra Siwal, who was working as the IBSA (India Based Security Assistant) in the Indian Embassy in Moscow from 2021, for interrogation, the statement said. Siwal, a resident of Shahmahiuddinpur village in Hapur, could not give satisfactory answers and confessed to his crime during questioning, it said. Meanwhile, sources said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is aware of Siwals arrest and working with the investigative authorities in this case. MEA continues to work with the investigative authorities in the matter, said a source. Siwal was employed as a Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) at the MEA. He was arrested after an FIR was registered against him 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. 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, it said. The ATS said that he was 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. Continuing his attack on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed on Sunday 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 no country can progress by erasing its past. He had slammed the Congress at a rally in Bhubaneswar a day earlier. Regarding the Kamakhya temple corridor project, which is to be developed by the Centre at a cost of Rs 498 crore, Modi said that once completed, a large number of devotees would visit the Shakti Peeth, boosting the tourism sector of the entire Northeast. It will serve as the gateway to the North-East. Despite facing challenges over thousands of years, these symbols of our culture showcase how we have preserved our heritage. Unfortunately, many of these culturally significant symbols now lie in ruins, Modi expressed. He mentioned that the Kamakhya Divyalok Pariyojana would bring about a significant transformation in the pilgrimage experience to the Shakti shrine. The Prime Minister asserted that those who governed the country for an extended period after Independence failed to comprehend the value and significance of places of belief, neglecting them. He pointed out that, driven by political gains, there was a trend of distancing themselves from their own culture and history. Stressing the importance of preserving the past and maintaining roots for national development, he said, However, the situation has changed in the last 10 years. Modi added that the BJP-led double-engine government is committed to a policy of both development and protection of heritage. He cited Assam as an example, saying that it is a place where beliefs, spirituality, and history are intertwined with modernity. Modi mentioned that the projects he unveiled will enhance connectivity not only in the North-East but also throughout the rest of South Asia. Today, the youth aspire to witness the development of Assam and the North-East on par with South Asia. Your dream is Modis commitment. Modi will spare no effort to fulfill your dream. This is Modis guarantee, the Prime Minister added. Modi also highlighted that peace has returned to Assam in the last decade, with over 7,000 individuals laying down their arms and reintegrating into the mainstream. More than 10 major peace accords have been signed. At one point, I worked in Assam for the party. I witnessed incidents such as road blockades and bomb blasts in Guwahati with my own eyes. Those are matters of the past now, he said. Modi mentioned 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 North-East in the past decade. We are launching a new scheme to uplift historical places, which is why we have focused on tourism in this years budget. There is a significant opportunity in Assam and the Northeast for that, he said. The Prime Minister claimed that expenditure for developmental activities in the region has quadrupled in the last 10 years. This was not done earlier, even when the prime minister was elected from Assam, Modi stated without explicitly mentioning former PM Manmohan Singh, who was a Rajya Sabha member from the State. After serving notice on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi Police Crime Branch issued a notice to PWD and Finance Minister Atishi on Sunday, asking her to respond to charges of poaching attempts by the BJP with evidence. A team from the crime branch also visited Atishis residence at Mathura Road and served her the notice. The police waited outside her home as she was not present. Meanwhile, Atishi, who holds the portfolios of education, PWD, culture, and tourism, instructed members of her camp office to receive any notices from the police on her behalf. Later, it was revealed that Atishi, along with AAP leader and Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chaddha and spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar, were at Chief Minister Kejriwals residence. A video showed the crime branch and the media outside Atishis home in Delhi. Atishi asserted that these were the same individuals from the BJP who had engaged in MLA poaching in Uttarakhand, Goa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra over the last 8 years. The AAP leader expressed concern, saying, The political masters of police officers, who have a passion to serve the country and protect women, have turned them into a prime-time gimmick. The BJP has created an image of Delhi Police as cowards; even criminals might be contemplating why they should fear those who are scared of mere cameras. Sources have reported that the staff of the Delhi minister received the notice after the Crime Branch team visited the AAP leaders residence for a second time at 12:55 pm on Sunday. Earlier in the day, police officials had arrived at the ministers residence, but she was not present. The team visited again to serve the notice to Atishi. They initially visited her house in the morning when she was not at her residence, explained a senior police officer from the Crime Branch. Later, addressing a press conference, Atishi said that the notice served to her by the police in connection with the MLA poaching allegation she made does not mention an FIR or include penal provisions. Expressing sympathy for the Crime Branch officers, she asserted that they were being compelled by their political bosses to engage in what she referred to as theatrics. At present, the Delhi Polices Crime Branch has served notices to both Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and me. However, its crucial to note that the notice lacks any reference to an FIR and does not cite any sections from the IPC (Indian Penal Code), CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure), PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act), or Prevention of Corruption Act, Atishi said. In response to the notice, AAP leader Jasmine Shah stated that the notice lacks information about a summons, an FIR, or any section of the IPC or CrPC. This is just a letter on white paper, Shah remarked. He continued, 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 Delhi ministers always stay at their homes to personally receive each and every delivery? Shah added that police officers had waited five hours before delivering the notice to an official of the Chief Ministers Office (CMO). According to the notice, the Crime Branch has asked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi to provide information on the allegations of poaching leveled against the BJP. The statements by them suggest they were privy to certain information regarding the commission of a cognizable offence. They have been instructed to respond to the notice by February 5. An inquiry is being conducted by the Crime Branch, Delhi Police, based on a complaint received regarding the allegations made by you that the BJP has offered Rs 25 crore each to sitting MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party to leave AAP and 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 the commission of a cognizable offence. Therefore, you are hereby requested to provide answers to the questionnaire enclosed herewith by February 5, the notice continued. Any additional or supplementary information that you may wish to share, or which may be deemed by you to be of any assistance for the inquiry, may either be tendered in writing or can be recorded by the undersigned on the date and venue mentioned above, it added. This notice 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. 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 years assembly poll to topple the AAP government. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Shantishree Dhulipudi Pandit on Sunday met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Naveen Niwas here. She was in the city for an MoU-signing event with the JNU for establishment of a Biju Patnaik Special Centre for Odia Studies. She said this centre would create favourable conditions for promotion of Odia language, literature and culture. The centre will start a master's programme for Odia Studies, study Biju Patnaik's leadership and governance, study Jagannath culture and pursue manuscriptology of ancient Odia literature. The State Government will provide onetime assistance of Rs 10 crore fpr establishment of the centre. She also appreciated the Odisha Governments efforts to promote Odia language and culture and expand its scope beyond the State. Praising Biju Patnaik's role in the Indonesian freedom struggle, she said Bijubabu single-handedly raised the glory of Odisha to the global level. Prof Pandit described Naveen Patnaik as the finest example of cooperative federalism. Senior BJP leader and Supreme Court advocate Ajay Agarwal has filed a police complaint against Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyars daughterSuranya Aiyar for her post on social media in which she allegedly condemned Ayodhya Ram Temple consecration ceremony. The complaint was filed at Delhis Cyber Crime Police station. In his complaint, Agarwal alleged that Suranya Aiyar made "objectionable remarks" on different social media platforms on January 20, against the consecration ceremony. Suryanya Aiyar has posted a seriously objectionable statement on Facebook, YouTube and other social media platforms on January 20 and other dates. 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 other acts as you deem appropriate after watching the 36-minute video, Agarwal said in his complaint. In his complaint, Agarwal alleged that Suranya Aiyar made "objectionable remarks" on different social media platforms on January 20, against the consecration ceremony. Ms Suryanya Aiyar has posted a seriously objectionable statement on Facebook, YouTube and other social media platforms on January 20 and other dates. 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 other acts as you deem appropriate after watching the 36-minute video, Agarwal said in his complaint. On January 19, Suranya Aiyar had written on Facebook that she would be observing a fast for three days, starting from January 22, in support for the "Muslims of India" against what she called was being done in the name of Hinduism and nationalism in Ayodhya. Suranya Aiyars post triggered a controversy which led the Resident Welfare Association (RWA) of Delhis Jangpura. RWA wrote a letter to Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, and his daughter asking them to move out of the colony, for disturbing peace and harmony. Urging Suranya to move out of the society if she thinks what she did was right, the notice read, In case you still think what you have done in protesting against the consecration of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya [was right], we would suggest you to kindly move out to another colony where people and RWAs can turn a blind eye to such hatred. The Chhattisgarh's Swasthya Mitanin Sangh on Saturday penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauding the inclusion of ASHA workers in the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. This decision extends health insurance coverage to Mitanins, Block Coordinators, Health Panchayat Coordinators, Trainers and Area Coordinators. The budget also outlined plans for upgrading Anganwadi centres. These decisions have boosted the enthusiasm and morale of Mitanins, they wrote. In the letter, they also praised the contributions of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Mansukh Mandaviya. In response to recent regulatory developments, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has issued a cautionary advisory to traders across the Country who are Paytm users to switch from Paytm to other payment options. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed certain restrictions, prompting CAIT to recommend that users take proactive measures to protect their funds and ensure uninterrupted financial transactions. Large number of small traders, vendors, Hawkers and women are making payments through Paytm and as such RBI restrictions on Paytm could lead financial disruption to these people-said CAIT. CAIT National Secretary Suresh Sonthalia said that the recent restrictions imposed by RBI on Paytm have raised concerns about the security and continuity of financial services provided by the platform. Sonthalia said that one of the major reasons for the ban on Paytm Payment Bank was the creation of millions of accounts without proper identification. The process of Know Your Customer (KYC) was not completed for these accounts. Moreover, transactions involving millions of rupees were conducted without proper identification, raising concerns about money laundering. As per media reports, the RBI) imposed the ban primarily because Paytm Payment Bank had linked over a thousand users to a single PAN (Permanent Account Number). Additionally, both the RBI and auditors found that Paytm Payment Bank was not adhering to regulatory rules. CAIT believes that if there is any evidence of fund irregularities, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) should investigate Paytm Payment Bank. Sonthalia underscores the importance of risk mitigation for traders, urging them to explore alternative payment applications that are compliant with regulatory guidelines. To ensure the seamless functioning of transactions and safeguard financial assets, both trade leaders advises Paytm users to transition to other payment apps or consider direct UPI transactions. They further suggested that several Banks do have their payment applications as well and those could be a good alternative to secure money of the people. Cait emphasizes the urgency of this advisory, urging traders to act promptly and make informed decisions to mitigate any potential adverse effects on their financial operations. trade leaders said that our advisory is a precautionary measure to protect the financial interests of traders in light of recent developments. We encourage users to stay informed and take proactive steps to ensure the security of their funds." CAIT remains committed to keeping the trading community informed and empowered during such regulatory changes. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav asked the departments to focus on good governance practices under the able leadership of Prime Minister Modi. Good governance will earn a new identity for the state. Chief Minister Yadav was addressing the concluding session of the two-day Leadership Summit: Government of Madhya Pradesh at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis. Yadav said that the philosophy of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay has been manifested in this summit. The development of the state would be founded on the ideals of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay. He said that effective coordination will help implement schemes and programmes. He said that the State is continuously marching forward practicing good governance. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath emphasised the importance of addressing public issues with utmost seriousness, sensitivity and attention during the Janata Darshan in Gorakhpur. He listened to the problems of about 350 people at the Janata Darshan held in Mahant Digvijaynath Smriti Bhawan on Gorakhnath temple premises on Sunday morning. Chief Minister Yogi was visibly moved after seeing two polio-affected brothers who had come to the Janata Darshan from Deoria with their grandmother. Witnessing the challenges faced by the family, Chief Minister Yogi enquired about the treatment of the two boys, Ayush and Piyush aged 10 and 8, respectively, from their grandmother, Bhagirathi Devi, and assured her that there would be no compromise in the healthcare provided to the children. Learning about the condition of the boys, Yogi queried about their ability to walk. The grandmother shared that they could manage 10 to 20 steps. Ayush also demonstrated, taking a few steps with a limp, prompting a compassionate response from Chief Minister Yogi. Subsequently, the chief minister sought details about the ongoing treatment at Sanjay Gandhi Post-graduate Institute of Medical Sciences PGI in Lucknow and directed officials to ensure that the children receive the necessary care, and instructed them to issue Ayushman cards if not already available. Bhagirathi Devi also raised a complaint regarding the investigation into the death of her son Aditya Chauhan, the father of the polio-affected children, in August 2023. She said that she was receiving threats for demanding an inquiry into the incident. Chief Minister Yogi promptly directed police officers to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, emphasising the need for appropriate action. Having listened patiently to the grievances, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath gave necessary directions to officials, pledging full support for those seeking financial assistance from the government for treatment. He emphasised the importance of expediting estimates related to medical expenses and urged transparency and impartiality in matters related to revenue and police affairs. Additionally, Chief Minister Yogi underscored his commitment to justice by stating that land mafia encroaching on land and exploiting the vulnerable should not be spared under any circumstances. During his visit to the Gorakhnath temple, Chief Minister and Gorakshapeethadheeshwar Yogi Adityanath actively participated in cow service (gauseva) at the temples gaushala. He personally attended to the well-being of the cows, feeding them jaggery and chapati. Engaging with the gaushala workers, he gathered information about the health and nutrition of each cow, highlighting his dedication to the welfare of animals. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar organised the 10th Edition of E-Summit from February 2 to 4 with a display of innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial zeal. The mega annual event marked a decade of fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The theme of E-Summit24 was "Digital Renaissance: Entrepreneurial Resurgence". In the inaugural ceremony, Dr Tapan Kumar Chand, president, Odisha & Chhattisgarh, Vedanta Limited, was chief guest. Being an Indian mining veteran, executive and author, he also addressed the audience emphasising the importance of entrepreneurship. During the next two days, the summit featured keynote speakers sharing insights on entrepreneurship, various workshops, competitions and panel discussions. The participants showcased their potential in events like Startup Expo and Innovation Expo. The investors' drive aimed to connect budding entrepreneurs with mentors, investors and likeminded individuals. One of the highlights of the three-day event, a dummy IPL Auction, was also set in full swing. During this event, budding entrepreneurs connected with mentors, investors and likeminded individuals. This edition hosted a special event for school children to instil the entrepreneurial spirit in them. Coordinated by Dr Venugopal Arumuru and student volunteers, the event was sponsored by the Design and Innovation Centre of IIT Bhubaneswar. The event was coordinated by a team of students mentored by chairperson Dr Sreetama Misra. S Rutvij Ahlaad, chief coordinator of E-Summit24, delivered a vote of thanks. Dean Students Affairs Prof Rajesh Roshan Dash, president Student Gymkhana, faculty and staff members of IIT Bhubaneswar also attended this event. The E-Summit24 witnessed more than 2,500 footfall, making it a grand event. The event was endorsed by various corporations such as Rinex, Vedanta, Mahanadi Coal Fields Limited, Design and Innovation Centre of IIT Bhubaneswar, Starup Centre, IIT Bhubaneswar, Odisha Computer Application Centre, Unacademy and Odisha Hydro Power Corporation. The 10th edition of the Entrepreneurship Fest showcased the celebration of resilience, creativity and the power of entrepreneurship. Before the final publication of the voter list for the Lok Sabha elections, on the instructions of the Election Commission, the work of adding the names of those employees (government) in the voter list, who were deprived of voting in the elections due to different reasons is yet to be concluded. Regarding this, in view of the problems faced during the assembly elections, the Election Commission has instructed the collectors to add their names to the voter list in the assembly constituency where the employees live, so that when they are put on duty in the elections, the election duty certificate can be issued and there should be no problem in getting them to vote. Apart from this, on the instructions of the Commission itself, the work of First Level Checking (FLC) of EVMs has started in all the districts of the state. In this, FLC work is being done in the presence of political parties. Now following the instructions of the Election Commission, the final publication of the voter list will be done on February 8, then any time after February 20, the Election Commission can declare the election schedule and make the code of conduct effective. FLC work of EVMs is being done by District Election Officers and Collectors in the districts from 9 am to 7 pm. There are instructions to do this work even on holidays. In view of this, collectors have been asked to invite representatives of all recognized political parties while conducting FLC in the district. Public representatives themselves or authorized representatives can reach the EVM warehouse at the scheduled time and place during FLC work and know and see all the activities. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Anupam Rajan had reached Sehore and Dewas on Wednesday to check the work of First Level Checking (FLC) of EVMs. Here he reached the EVM warehouse (godown) and observed the FLC (First Level Checking) process. Also discussed EVM, VPAT with the engineers of Bharat Electronics Limited, Bengaluru, who are doing FLC. During this, Chief Electoral Officer Rajan conducted a mock poll and saw the process of operating EVMs. He inspected the ballot unit, control unit and other rooms and saw the arrangements. Rajan also looked after the security of the EVM warehouse as well as the arrangement of CCTV cameras. Rajan asked the concerned officials to follow the Election Commission of India guidelines for FLC. On the instructions of the Chief Electoral Officer, demonstration and training of EVMs has also been started in the districts. It is being told that any voter or person can see how the voter votes through EVM by pressing the button of the ballot unit. Whatever button the voter presses on the ballot unit, the election symbol slip will be printed by the VVPAT machine and will fall into the box of the machine. This slip with the election symbol will be visible on the screen of the VPAT machine for 7 seconds and after that it will fall in the box. By looking at the VVPAT slip, the voter accepts that the same slip for the election symbol he pressed has been printed in the VVPAT machine. A Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agent was arrested by the sleuths of Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) in Meerut on Sunday. The man, identified as Satyendra Siwal, has also worked at the Indian Embassy in Moscow. According to an official communique, the ATS was receiving information that handlers of Pakistani intelligence agency ISI were luring employees of the Ministry of External Affairs with money to get confidential information of the Indian Army. Working on the intelligence inputs, UP ATS found Satyendra Siwal to be an ISI agent. Siwal, the son of Jaiveer Singh, is a resident of Shahmahiuddinpur village in Kotwali Dehat police station area of Hapur district, a statement said. The ATS recovered two mobile phones, one Aadhaar card, a PAN card, identity card and Rs 600 in cash from his person. The ATS, in its probe through electronic and physical surveillance, found that Siwal was involved in anti-India activities with the network of the ISI handlers and was providing important confidential information regarding the strategic activities of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian military establishments to them for money, the statement added. Siwal was called to the ATS field unit in Meerut and interrogated as per rules, the statement said, adding that he could not give satisfactory answers and confessed to his crime. During interrogation by the ATS, Siwal revealed that he used to bribe Indian government officials with money to extract information about the Indian Army and its day-to-day functioning. He has also been accused of passing important and confidential information about the Indian Embassy, Defense Ministry and foreign affairs to the ISI handlers. An FIR has been registered against Siwal, who is working as the India-based security assistant (IBSA) in the Indian Embassy in Moscow, Russia from 2021, at the ATS police station, Lucknow, under Section 121A of the Indian Penal Code (waging war against the country) and the Official Secrets Act, 1923, the statement said. Ministers should fulfill the assurances given by them in the Legislative Assembly with. Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar said this while addressing the first session of Leadership Summit Day 2 at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Good Governance and Policy Analysis. Legislative Assembly Speaker Tomar speaking on administrative coordination and assembly functioning said that ministers should fully understand the functioning and procedures of their respective departments. Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, Deputy Chief Ministers Jagdish Deora and Rajendra Shukla and members of the Cabinet were present.Legislative Assembly Speaker Tomar, while explaining the administrative system and functioning, advised to to homework for effective implementation and review of policies. Ministers should also pay attention to innovation in their respective departments. Along with review, administrative reforms should be made in the department as per need of the hour. He said that training, communication and cooperation is important. Government and administration are complementary to each other. Legislative Assembly Speaker Tomar also shared information on receiving funds from the Central Government for the schemes and programmes of the department.Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, while expressing his views on the budget, ministerial working system, work allocation rules, Legislative Assembly Constituency Development Plan Manual, gave detailed information on the budget process. Minister Patel said that the goal of development has to be achieved with financial discipline. Financial self-sufficiency should be the goal. He gave detailed information regarding budget management.Under Secretary Sudhir Kochhar gave information on the state level administrative structure. He also told about administrative procedure and administrative terminology. Dushyant Singh discussed social media management, coordination with print and electronic media and Y. K. Pathak gave information about the importance of technology in good governance, e-office, store order process, e-tendering rules and GeM.Second sessionIn the second session of the Leadership Summit, Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe told about the successful schemes of other BJP led state governments. He shared information about the Jan Vishwas Bus Yojana launched in Vadodara, Gujarat, Canal Top Solar Project, Shala Pravesh Utsav, BRTS of Ahmedabad, Nakalmukt Pradesh Abhiyan of Uttar Pradesh, One District-One Product Scheme, Parivar Pehchan Patra Scheme of Haryana, Maharashtras Jalyukt Shivar Yojana, Swayam Purna Yojana of Goa and Antyodaya Yojana of Rajasthan. He also discussed Govardhan Yojana.Swachh Indore has now become part of our civic valuesUrban Development and Housing Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, while highlighting the Indores journey of emerging as a clean and developed city, said that Swachh Indore has now become part of our civic values. Every person of Indore is a Safai Mitra. The Municipal Corporation is also generating income through CNG gas and fertilizer from waste. He told that the cleanliness campaign was started in Indore by forming a resident association. After discussing with all the concerned people including citizens and social organizations, it was decided that garbage should not be seen anywhere in the city. Besides, punishments and rewards were also planned. Night cleaning was started and arrangements for in-house segregation of wet and dry waste were made. GPS was installed in garbage vehicles.Associate Manager Capacity Building Commission Shweta Singh gave information about Sustainable Development Goals and Mission Karmayogi. She said that the objective of the mission is that civil servants should become karmayogi and vetanbhogi (not salaried). Singh said that instead of rule based system, role based system should be developed. Shealso told about I-GOT special purpose vehicle. At the end of the session, Dr. Mahendra Singh gave comprehensive and knowledgeable information on election management. Chhattisgarh Health and Family Welfare Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal on Saturday asked officials to ensure continuous monitoring of hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme across the state. To facilitate this, Jaiswal stressed the need to promptly fill vacant administrative and technical posts at the State Nodal Agency level. He was addressing a departmental review meeting here, an official statement said. The Minister asked officials to investigate complaints against hospitals charging extra fees from patients or engaging in other irregularities. He urged strict enforcement of regulations and swift action against any misconduct to ensure that patients receive treatment under the scheme without difficulties. Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Renu G Pillay, Commissioner cum Director Health Services Rituraj Raghuvanshi, MD NHM Dr Jagdish Sonkar and MD CGMSC Padmini Bhoi Sahu attended the meeting. A murder case was registered against unidentified people in connection with the death of a civil judge of Budaun district whose body was found hanging in her residence, following a complaint filed by her father, a police officer said on Sunday. The body of Civil Judge (Junior Division) Jyotsna Rai, 27, was recovered on Saturday. It was suspected that she had killed herself and a suicide note was also found. However, her father, who reached Budaun on Saturday evening, claimed that unidentified persons killed her daughter and hung the body from the ceiling fan in her bedroom, the police officer said. Ashok Kumar Rai said his daughter was very brave and delivered justice to people, adding that she could not commit suicide. Based on the complaint filed by him, a case under Indian Penal Code Section 302 (murder) was registered, the police said. Senior Superintendent of Police Alok Priyadarshi said a panel of three doctors conducted the post-mortem and the report showed that it was a case of ante-mortem hanging. A detailed probe into the matter is underway, the SSP added. Jyotsna Rai, who hailed from Mau district, was posted as civil judge (junior division) in Budaun from April 29 last year. Earlier, she was working as a judicial magistrate in Ayodhya. Meanwhile, an 11-year-old girl was choked to death in a village in Firozabad district on Saturday evening, police officials confirmed on Sunday. 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 pronounced her dead. Mishra said Ruby had been booked and taken into custody. The girls body was sent for post-mortem. n The change in wind direction due to snowfall in the mountains has once again made the weather shivering cold and foggy in more than half of the state including Bhopal. The night temperature in Bhopal dropped by 3 degrees to 11.6 degrees in 24 hours. There was dense fog in the central part of the capital in the morning. Visibility at Raja Bhoj International Airport was 200 meters. Datia was the coldest in the entire state. There the night temperature dropped by 5.5 degrees to 5.9 degrees in 24 hours. Fog prevailed in 14 districts of the state including Bhopal. In the forecast released on Saturday, the weather center has predicted hailstorm, rain and strong wind in Gwalior, Chambal and adjoining areas on Sunday. Meteorologist said that the wind direction in Bhopal had changed to north-eastern at 5:30 pm on Friday evening. This trend of cold air continued till 7:30 am on Saturday also. The weather suddenly changed in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh on Sunday and it started raining. Water fell for about 10 minutes. There has also been drizzle in Guna and Shivpuri districts. Due to which the cold has increased further in the Gwalior-Chambal region, due to snowfall in the mountains, cold has once again affected more than half of the state. The temperature has dropped during the day and night in many districts including Bhopal and Indore. The Meteorological Department has predicted similar weather conditions for the next one or two days. There are chances of light drizzle and wind speed of 30 to 40 Km in Neemuch, Ashoknagar, Datia, Niwari, Tikamgarh, Panna and Chhatarpur. Senior meteorologist said, 'At present Western Disturbance is active. The clouds are going to affect the entire northern India through south-west and central parts of Rajasthan. Cyclonic circulation system is also being seen, which is bringing moisture from the Arabian Sea. This will affect many parts of Madhya Pradesh. After the passing of the Western Disturbance, there will be a drop in the night temperature. A mild period of cold will come again. The weather will change again after February 6. The lowest night temperature in Datia in the state on Saturday night was 8.5 degrees. It was recorded at 9.4 degrees in Pachmarhi. The highest night temperature was 16.5 degrees in Tikamgarh. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, called upon technical institutions such as industrial training institutes and polytechnics to understand the demands of the industry and design courses accordingly. He pointed out that Uttar Pradesh had received investment proposals worth Rs 40 lakh crore during the Global Investors Summit held last year and the upcoming industries would provide employment to 1.10 crore youths. Youth should be guaranteed both jobs and security, the chief minister said while addressing a mega Rozgar Mela and appointment letter distribution function organised at Madan Mohan Malviya University of Technology (MMMUT) campus by Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission. The chief minister said, It is essential to connect the youth with training for their empowerment. There is also a need to include them in the CM Internship Programme, wherein the government and the industry jointly fund their stipends with each contributing 50 per cent of the amount, allowing them to be self-reliant during their education. Expressing satisfaction over the Rozgar Mela being organised at MMMUT for the second time in a year, benefitting nearly 15,000 young individuals, Chief Minister Yogi encouraged those still seeking placements to persist in their efforts. He assured them of the governments active commitment to creating ample employment opportunities. Chief Minister Yogi pointed out that the state governments top priority was to provide employment to every hand. He remarked: Its a new Uttar Pradesh of new India, witnessing success in various fields. The Vocational Education department, in collaboration with data technology, is working on developing new courses following global standards. To provide international employment opportunities, the chief minister mentioned collaborations with Israel, Russia and Germany. Youths selected for employment in Israel will receive free meals, accommodation and a monthly salary of Rs 1.5 lakh after completing their ITI, he informed. He emphasised the high demand for skilled nursing professionals in Germany and advocated for career counseling, language training and global employment awareness through placement cells. He said that there was great demand for skilled youths of Uttar Pradesh in West Asia and South East Asian countries. Chief Minister Yogi announced the establishment of 150 world-class ITIs in collaboration with Tata Technology to meet the global demand for skilled youth. The chief minister pointed out that there were 96 lakh micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) units in the state, emphasising the importance of connecting these units with markets and technology to enhance product distribution for exports, leading to better job opportunities with attractive packages for young individuals. Underlining the success of initiatives like the Vishwakarma Yojana under which youths are provided training and toolkits, Chief Minister Yogi highlighted ongoing efforts, including providing interest-free loans to entrepreneurs and a new incentive package for young entrepreneurs. He acknowledged the positive impact of these initiatives in making UP the second-largest economy in the country. Chief Minister Yogi further stated that owing to the efforts made in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision in the past few years, presently the people of UP are spending their money in UP itself. The CD (credit-deposit) ratio here has increased from 42 per cent to 56 per cent today. This is making a significant contribution to development, he added. The chief minister called upon educational institutions to conduct skill mapping, identifying and guiding the youth based on their abilities. He emphasised the significance of the new National Education Policy, incorporating both traditional curriculum and skills, to address unemployment. The unemployment rate in the state has reduced from 19 per cent to 2 per cent, a testament to the effectiveness of these efforts aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision, he added. During the Rozgar Mela, Chief Minister Yogi personally inspected various stalls, gaining insights into the work being done by different departments, livelihood missions and innovations. On this occasion, Member of Parliament Ravi Kishan Shukla also addressed the programme. Moreover, Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Vocational Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Department Kapildev Agarwal, District Panchayat Chairperson Sadhna Singh, MLC Dr Dharmendra Singh, MLAs Vipin Singh and Pradeep Shukla, Bharatiya Janata Party district president Yudhishthir Singh, metropolitan president Rajesh Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Vocational Education and Skill Development, M Devraj and others were present. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said the Delhi Police Crime Branch's notice to him over his allegations that the BJP was attempting to "poach" AAP MLAs has no mention of any FIR and asserted that the country will not progress by such "theatrics". Talking to reporters on the sidelines of an event, Kejriwal said that the Delhi Police officers were made to indulge in "theatrics" by their "political bosses", which was quite "insulting" for them. "I pity those officers. Young officers join police with a lot of idealism that they will protect women and reduce crime. They never think that they will be made to indulge in theatrics. Is that why they joined the police? The officer must have been feeling bad. This insult was caused by their political bosses," he said. A team of Delhi Police's Crime Branch also visited Delhi minister Atishi's home over the MLA poaching allegations and served her a notice on Sunday. Kejriwal received the notice on Saturday. "They are asking who tried to poach AAP MLAs. The very people who are sending Crime Branch officers are those who tried to poach our MLAs," he added. Speaking about the political situation in Jharkhand, Kejriwal said that the arrest of a sitting chief minister "was not right". Former Jharkhand Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last week in an alleged money-laundering case. "Arresting a sitting chief minister was wrong. They waited for 48 hours to see whether the Jharkhand government would topple but JMM MLAs did not break. Whatever is happening in the country is not good for democracy," he added. Jharkhand's JMM-led coalition government headed by Hemant Soren's successor Chief Minister Champai Soren won the vote of confidence in the assembly on Monday. An inebriated man crashed his car into an integrated police booth and collided with an electricity pole near Delhi's Jantar Mantar area, police said on Monday. On February 1, Constable Ramveer Singh, posted at Parliament Street police station, was on patrolling duty on Tolstoy Road when around 6.30 am saw a recklessly-driven car hit a footpath, then an electricity pole and later crashed into the integrated police booth, an FIR lodged into the matter said. The impact caused the footpath to break, the electricity pole to collapse, and a part of the police booth was damaged, it said. The car driver was taken to the hospital for a medical examination, where he refused for a blood test, the FIR said. According to a senior police officer, a breath test of the man was conducted. An FIR was registered under relevant sections of the IPC and the Motor Vehicle Act. We have started further investigation into the matter. Jharkhand's JMM-led coalition government headed by Chief Minister Champai Soren won the vote of confidence in the assembly on Monday. While 47 MLAs voted in favour of the confidence motion, 29 legislators opposed it in the 81-member assembly. Independent legislator Saryu Roy abstained. Seventy-seven MLAs were present in the assembly during the voting. The ruling alliance comprises the JMM, Congress and the RJD while it is supported from outside by the lone CPIML(L) legislator. The BJP-led opposition has 26 legislators of the saffron party and three of the AJSU Party. JMM legislature party leader Champai Soren took oath as the chief minister of Jharkhand on February 2, after his predecessor Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last week in a money laundering case. Champai Soren was given 10 days to prove his government's majority on the floor of the house. He decided that the trust vote will be held on February 5. Hemant Soren, who is in ED custody now, took part in the trust vote following permission granted by a special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court. About 38 legislators of the ruling alliance had gone to Hyderabad, the capital of Congress-ruled Telangana, in two flights on February 2, amid the coalition's fears that the BJP might attempt to "poach" them in the run-up to the trust vote. They returned to Ranchi on Sunday evening ahead of the trust vote. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Monday said the first group of Indian military personnel will be sent back from the island nation before March 10, while the remaining Indians manning two aviation platforms will be withdrawn by May 10. In his maiden address to Parliament, Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, said he believes a large majority of Maldivians support his administration with the expectation that they will remove foreign military presence from the country, and recover the lost oceanic territory. He said his administration will not allow any State agreements that may compromise the country's sovereignty, The Edition newspaper reported. Soon after taking oath as the President of Maldives on November 17, Muizzu formally requested India to withdraw 88 military personnel from his country by March 15, saying the Maldivian people have given him a "strong mandate" to make this request to New Delhi. "Diplomatic discussions with other nations that the President can conduct are ongoing. We have officially requested India to remove its troops stationed in the Maldives. Deliberations on this issue are ongoing. "As per the most recent discussions, military personnel on one of the three aviation platforms will be recalled before March 10, 2024. The military personnel on the remaining two platforms will also be recalled by May 10, 2024," Muizzu told Parliament. After the latest round of bilateral talks, India said on February 2 that a "set of mutually workable solutions" was agreed upon with the Maldives for continuing the operations of Indian aviation platforms in the island nation. Currently, Indian military personnel are in the Maldives primarily to operate two helicopters and an aircraft that have carried out hundreds of medical evacuations and humanitarian missions. The Indian platforms have been providing humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people of the Maldives for the last few years. The president said his administration would not do anything that could in any way compromise the nation's sovereignty. He asserted that he would remain steadfast and not give in to any external pressures under any circumstances if it posed a risk to the country's independence and sovereignty. At least 14 members of Myanmars paramilitary Border Guard Police (BGP) have sought refuge in Bangladesh after escaping the junta-run country 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 and sought shelter from the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB). The 14 members of their BGP fled their country. They are now in our custody, an official of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) told reporters on Sunday at the southeastern Coxs Bazar, bordering Burma. Asked about the matter, Minister of Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan said, There are about 14 of them. They are called BGP or Border Guard Police. As you know, they have been fighting with the Arakan Army. At one point, they came here and took shelter. We are speaking to the Myanmar government about the matter, bdnews24.com quoted Khan as saying. Residents in several frontier Bangladesh villages moved to safety amid skirmishes between the Myanmar government troops and the rebel Arakan Army. Several mortar shells and bullets landed inside Bangladesh in the past several days though no casualty was reported. Bangladesh ordered an intensified security vigil on its border with Myanmar amid skirmishes. 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). Bangladesh played a critical role in sheltering over a million Muslim minority Rohingyas who fled their home in Rakhine state to evade persecution, particularly after a 2017 army crackdown but the current crisis has little to do with the Rohingyas. 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 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, 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. 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 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. 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 countrys opposition slammed Geingob last year for endorsing disputed elections in Zimbabwe. Condolences from various African leaders poured in on Sunday. Zimbabwes President Emmerson Mnanawa 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. Kenyas 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. 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. The US and the UK have conducted joint strikes on 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen, in another wave of assaults intended to degrade the capabilities of the Iran-backed militia that has targeted international shipping vessels in the Red Sea in response to the Israel-Hamas war. The Pentagon said the UK, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand were involved in Saturdays strikes against Houthi targets. The latest strikes, executed with fighter jets and ships, come after the US launched strikes on 85 targets in Syria and Iraq on Friday in response to a deadly drone attack on a US military base in Jordan last Sunday that killed three of its service members. Militaries from the United States and the United Kingdom conducted additional strikes against the Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement. 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, Austin said. We will not hesitate to defend lives and the free flow of commerce in one of the worlds most critical waterways, Austin said. 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. 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. 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 added. Todays 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, the statement said. 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, it 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 worlds most critical waterways in the face of continued threats, said the statement issued by these countries. Two US destroyers fired Tomahawk missiles as part of the strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, a US official told CNN. The USS Gravely and USS Carney, both of which are Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers, fired the land-attack cruise missiles during the operation. F/A-18 fighter jets from the USS Dwight D Eisenhower aircraft carrier also took part in the strikes, officials said. Earlier Saturday, the US struck six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles before they were launched toward the Red Sea, US Central Command said. US Central Command forces also conducted a strike in self-defence against a Houthi anti-ship cruise missile prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. The strikes on consecutive days come as the Biden administration has adopted a multi-tiered response to a drone attack that killed three US service members and wounded scores more last weekend. Saturdays strikes are the third time in recent weeks that the US and UK attacked Houthi targets as part of a joint operation. On January 11, the two militaries struck approximately 30 Houthi sites. Less than two weeks later, the US and UK struck another eight sites. The previous strikes targeted Houthi weapons storage facilities and radar sites in an attempt to disrupt the ability of the Iran-backed rebel group to attack international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, some of the worlds most critical waterways. But the Houthis have remained defiant, vowing after the last round of US-led strikes they are more determined to confront what they called the US and the UK aggressors. Iran-backed militias have mounted more than 165 drone, missile and rocket attacks on US troops in Iraq and Syria since the Israel-Hamas war began in October. Aaron G. Tapp Named Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's San Antonio Field Office Director Christopher Wray has named Aaron G. Tapp as the special agent in charge of the San Antonio Field Office. Mr. Tapp most recently served as the deputy assistant director in the FBIs Criminal Investigative Division. Mr. Tapp joined the FBI as a special agent in 2003 and was assigned to the Albany Field Office. While in Albany, Mr. Tapp investigated cases involving fraud and public corruption. In 2007, he was transferred to the San Antonio Field Office, where he was assigned to work cases involving complex financial fraud. Mr. Tapp served as a member of the FBIs Albany and San Antonio SWAT teams. In 2011, Mr. Tapp was promoted to the Counterterrorism Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington D.C., where he worked with agents and analysts around the world to detect, disrupt, and prosecute those who fund terrorism. In 2013, Mr. Tapp was named as a supervisory senior resident agent in the Kansas City Field Office, where he led agents and analysts involved in every FBI program across 36 counties in the northern half of Kansas. In 2017, he was promoted to the position of assistant special agent in charge of the Dallas Field Office, where he led the Resident Agency Branch from 2017 to 2018 and the National Security Branch until August of 2021. In August of 2021, Mr. Tapp was named section chief of the Financial Crimes Section at FBI Headquarters. In this role, he oversaw the FBIs Complex Financial Crimes programs to include money laundering, corporate and securities fraud, financial institution fraud, intellectual property crimes, and health care fraud. He also led a strategic initiative to unify and expand the FBIs cryptocurrency capabilities, which resulted in the creation of the FBI Virtual Assets Unit. In August of 2022, Mr. Tapp was selected to be the deputy assistant director of the FBIs Criminal Investigative Division, where he oversaw the FBIs Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, the National Covert Operations Section, and the Financial Crimes Section. Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Tapp worked in the financial services industry in several roles, including as a systems development manager for a large credit card brand. He earned a bachelors degree in accounting from the University of Utah and a masters in business administration from Utah State University. This story has been published on: 2024-02-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. British army regiments used to number approximately 600 soldiers, but because of the recruitment crisis and underfunding, each regiment will only have one soldier, the Ministry of Defence has announced. Charge of the Really Light Brigade If we went to war tomorrow, we could maybe find one or two tanks and have three old reconditioned jets from the 1980s in the air. Because of the lack of recruitment and personnel leaving the army as well as severe lack of governmental funding, each regiment will be reduced to a single soldier. This could cause a bit of a problem on the battlefield, but alas, we have no other choice in the matter, Major General Humphrey Sandwich told The Sunday Times. There was no mention of Britains Navy, which is down to one ship, HMS Turgid, which breaks down every few days and is currently out of service due to the propellers falling off whilst on manoeuvres in the Atlantic Ocean last week. Sunak Government Responds PM Rishi Sunak has vowed to add more funding to the military, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt this week promised to give the army 6.54 funding to help the shortfall. I am confident that an additional 6.54 to the 4.31 added earlier in the year will help bolster Britains defences, especially as the augurs for global conflict are increasing daily. Britain has no means of manufacturing anything any more, but thats okay, we can always make projectiles out of pebbles and little stones. In the event that the Russians or Chinese invade, I have put in place provisions for the manufacturing of white surrender flags made from used bedsheets, the Chancellor announced on Sunday. Registered nurses looking to gain advanced skills and education in mental health and addictions care now have the opportunity to do so in Nova Scotia through a new Dalhousie program. The Faculty of Healths School of Nursing will offer Atlantic Canadas first master of nursing, mental health and addictions program starting in fall 2024. There are 22 spots available and an entrance award equal to the first terms tuition is available to qualifying full-time students. Nova Scotia nurses currently working in mental health and addictions can apply for this new masters program, which will deepen their clinical and leadership expertise, provide valuable advanced credentials and prepare them for rewarding career opportunities in advanced nursing practice, leadership, education and management/administration, says Dr. Ruth Martin-Misener, director of Dal's School of Nursing. New opportunities for nurses The new degree program is open to nurses with two years of clinical experience in the mental health and addictions field within the past five years. This graduate program can be completed in two years as a full-time student or in three years as a part-time student. Graduates of the program will have career opportunities in advanced nursing practice, leadership, administration, management and education. Applications for the program close on April 1. Learn more about the program and how to apply. The new master of nursing, mental health and addictions is another way we are growing our healthcare teams right here in Nova Scotia, said Brian Comer, minister of addictions and mental health. The new program will help nurses grow their clinical expertise to help Nova Scotians, as well as pass their knowledge to their fellow nurses who are building careers in mental health and addictions. The Office of Addictions and Mental Health and the Department of Advanced Education provided Dalhousie $306,000 to support the program, with additional funds committed in future years. Were so proud to work with Dalhousie University and support this new masters program for nurses who want to help people dealing with mental health issues or addiction," says Brian Wong, minister of advanced education. "Time and time again, post-secondary institutions in Nova Scotia have stepped up to develop new programs or add seats to create additional training opportunities that will help transform the provinces healthcare system. This is innovation in action. Recommended reading: Dal students support doctors offering urgent care to those in need around the world The Dalhousie community packed the LeMarchant Place atrium on Studley Campus Thursday (Feb. 1) to launch a month-long celebration of African heritage. This year, Dalhousies theme is Reflect, Rest, and Revive, to promote reflection, relaxation, and rejuvenation within the context of African heritage. The event featured an opening by Drummers from Home, remarks from Dalhousie leaders, a singing of the Black National Anthem, a libation ceremony and shared prayer, student and alumni guest speakers, an awards ceremony, and concluded with a raising of the pan-African flag in Halifax. The African Nova Scotian flag was raised on the Truro campus and the two will switch mid-February. The LeMarchant Place atrium was packed for the 2024 African Heritage Month launch event. On reflection Nova Scotia has 52 historic African Nova Scotian communities with a long, deep, and complex history that stretches back hundreds of years, with many firsts along the way. One such first was the official opening night for Black History Month that took place at the Halifax North Branch Library in 1985. The month was later designated by province in 1988 and renamed to African Heritage Month in 1996. Many of Dals current students were born after these dates, further cementing the importance of the months reflection pillar. While we celebrate all year, this time and this month take the time to go to something an event at the [Halifax] Libraries, at Dalhousie, the Dal Art Gallery, encouraged Dr. Barb Hamilton-Hinch, Dal's assistant viceprovost equity and inclusion, in remarks at the kick-off event. Dr. Barb Hamilton-Hinch, Dal's assistant viceprovost equity and inclusion. Recommended reading: New Dal major uncovers longhidden Black experience in Canada and beyond On relaxation The theme of relaxation shone through in a libation ceremony led by Wayn Hamilton and a prayer led by Matthew Thomas, an advisor in Dals Black Student Advising Centre. The libation ceremony included a series of affirmations. As I read these affirmations, I want us to take away those things that give us the mental strength that we need to deal with the realities in North America, said Hamilton, including such phrases as I am creative. I am a powerful figure. My thoughts can change the world. The shared prayer was a reminder and invitation to embark on a journey of self-discovery. [We pray] that this month and this year, we prioritize self-care, grow in self-awareness, and grow each day in the face of adversity, encouraged Thomas. Matthew Thomas, an advisor in Dals Black Student Advising Centre. On rejuvenation Dalhousie faculty, staff and students were joined at the launch event by students from St. Josephs-Alexander McKay Elementary and Clayton Park Junior High schools. Trevor Silver, Dal alum and entrepreneur, spoke about revival and empowering our future you young folks, gesturing to these students in the front rows. Revival is more than survival its thriving with a sense of purpose, belonging and contributing to a legacy bigger than ourselves. Silver founded tREv Clothing, which stands for trust, Respect, Education and value. The company uses these key principles to inspire success by embodying its message through fashion and accessories. Trevor Silver, Dal alumni and entrepreneur Contributing to community Dal President Dr. Kim Brooks brought a message of gratitude to all those involved in the "radical act of inclusion" at Dal. "It's amazing to be in a room filled with so many extraordinary people connected to Dalhousie, and I want to thank those who are actively involved in combatting anti-racism on campus," she said. Dr. Kim Brooks, Dal's president and vice-chancellor. Six awards were presented to groups and individuals from the African Nova Scotian community during the ceremony Thursday in recognition of their contributions at Dal and beyond. Recipients included photographer Allen D. Crooks, the Dalhousie African Students Association, the Black Wellness Co-operative. Anthony Jones, Percy Loppie and Raymond Bundy, three recently retired Facilities Management staff, received awards as well. (Look out for a separate article on award recipients next week on Dal News). The awards were presented by Dr. Theresa Rajack-Talley, Dals vice-provost of equity and inclusion, and Grace Jefferies-Aldridge, vice-president people and culture. African Heritage Month event organizers and award recipients. The launch event emphasized the importance of self-care, self-awareness and renewal while exploring and celebrating the history, culture and contributions of African diaspora communities this month and beyond. Events and activities Visit the Human Rights & Equity Services website for a detailed event schedule including panel discussions, art exhibits and performances, galas and more. 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But so are tiny altcoins that could be so profitable They're like tiny crypto retirement funds. Click here and see how to get a copy. 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. Deckers Brands has demonstrated strong financial performance in recent years, reflecting its successful brand strategies and customer demand for its products. Deckers Brands has demonstrated impressive financial performance, showcasing its ability to attract customers and drive sales growth. The company's earnings metrics have shown positive trends, highlighting its effective management of costs and ability to generate profitability. Deckers Brands maintains a healthy net profit margin, reflecting its efficient operations and competitive pricing strategies. Furthermore, the company manages its financial position prudently, ensuring stability and flexibility. Deckers Brands remains well-positioned in the footwear industry with a focus on sustainable financial growth. 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. Deckers Brands has experienced notable stock performance, reflecting its ability to meet market expectations and deliver value to shareholders. While past performance does not guarantee future results, analyzing historical trends can provide insights into the company's stock performance. 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. Deckers Brands possesses several growth opportunities that can propel its future success. The company can further leverage its strong brand portfolio and expand its presence in existing and new markets. Deckers Brands has an opportunity to capitalize on the growing demand for athleisure and performance footwear. Through its Hoka One One brand, the company can target an increasing number of consumers seeking comfortable and versatile footwear options for sports and outdoor activities. The company can also focus on international expansion to tap into new markets and reach a broader customer base. Deckers Brands can leverage its well-known brands to strengthen its presence in regions with untapped potential. 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. Additionally, the company's dependence on key brands, such as UGG, poses a risk if consumer preferences shift away from those products. Effective brand management and continuous innovation are crucial to mitigate these risks. Deckers Brands also faces risks associated with global supply chains and sourcing. Disruptions in the supply chain, such as raw material shortages or transportation challenges, can impact the company's ability to meet customer demand and maintain profitability. Deckers Brands employs risk management strategies, including diversified brand offerings, market research, and supply chain optimization, to mitigate these risks. In a significant move that affects the global defense sector, Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) announced the signing of 11 pivotal agreements at a premier defense show. This maneuver underscores a calculated stride towards the kingdoms ambitious vision of self-reliance and technological sovereignty in defense capabilities. Against a backdrop of regional tensions and global defense realignments, SAMIs latest decisions signal a deeper strategic intent to position Saudi Arabia as a key player in the international defense industry. Get alerts: Strategic signings and sovereign solutions At the heart of SAMIs announcements lies a dual-focused objective: to enhance defense technologys localization and bolster the kingdoms defense manufacturing base. These agreements are cornerstone initiatives to build a sustainable, self-sufficient defense ecosystem within Saudi Arabia. By establishing local production lines and fostering the training and qualification of the national workforce, SAMI is laying down the infrastructural and human capital groundwork necessary for future defense endeavors. The timing of SAMIs agreements is as strategic as their content. Saudi Arabias move to strengthen its defense infrastructure speaks volumes in a region where geopolitical currents are ever-shifting. Recent military engagements in Yemen and Syria and maritime security concerns in the Red Sea have heightened the importance of robust defense capabilities. The coalition of capability Vision 2030s vanguard A notable aspect of SAMIs strategy is its inclusive approach to building defense capabilities. By partnering with global defense industry leaders such as Lockheed Martin, SAMI is acquiring technology and integrating Saudi Arabia into the global defense manufacturing network. This collaborative approach extends beyond borders, with preliminary agreements signed with entities like Qatars Barzan Holdings, marking a new era of Gulf cooperation in defense manufacturing. These partnerships reflect a broader vision of collective security and shared technological advancement within the region and beyond. SAMIs recent moves are in lockstep with Saudi Arabias Vision 2030, a blueprint for economic diversification and modernization. The defense sectors development, aimed at reducing the kingdoms dependency on oil revenues and foreign defense equipment, is a critical pillar of this vision. By fostering a domestic defense industry, SAMI is contributing to national security and driving technological innovation, economic diversification, and job creation. This strategic sector is poised to become a key engine of growth and a symbol of Saudi Arabias forward-looking aspirations. Future frontlines Looking ahead, the path charted by SAMI is both ambitious and essential. As regional dynamics evolve and global defense priorities shift, Saudi Arabias commitment to developing its defense capabilities will have far-reaching implications. From enhancing regional security architectures to contributing to global defense innovation, SAMIs initiatives are laying the groundwork for a future where Saudi Arabia is a pivotal defense player on the world stage. The journey towards technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy in defense is long and complex, but SAMIs recent agreements mark significant milestones. SAMIs strategic signings at the defense show are transformative steps towards realizing Saudi Arabias ambitious defense and technological aspirations. Through these agreements, SAMI is enhancing the kingdoms defense capabilities and positioning Saudi Arabia as a key node in the global defense network. As the kingdom navigates through the complexities of regional politics and international security challenges, its focus on building a resilient, self-reliant defense sector is a testament to its strategic foresight and commitment to safeguarding its future. Ad Behind the Markets Troubles brewing in the South China Sea President Biden warned "Any attack on the Filipino aircraft, vessels, or armed forces will invoke our Mutual Defense Treaty." Which is why you need to prepare... Here's how to keep your assets safe >>> Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) is a multinational food processing and commodities trading company with a mission to unlock the potential of nature to improve the quality of life. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, ADM operates across six continents and offers a diverse range of products and services in the agricultural industry. The company's primary operations include oilseed processing, corn processing, agricultural services, and wheat milling. ADM's products are essential ingredients used in various consumer goods, including food, beverages, animal feed, and industrial products. ADM serves many customers, including food manufacturers, livestock producers, energy companies, and traders. With a global network of over 450 crop procurement locations, ADM has established strong relationships with farmers and suppliers worldwide. The company's commitment to sustainability is evident through its efforts to promote responsible sourcing, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the efficiency of its operations. ADM's leadership team comprises seasoned professionals with extensive industry experience. Juan R. Luciano serves as ADM's Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. Luciano has been with the company since 2011 and has been pivotal in driving ADM's growth and diversification. His background in agricultural commodities and his strategic vision has been instrumental in shaping the company's success. ADM has consistently demonstrated strong financial performance over the past few years. The company reported revenues growing yearly, and net earnings for the same period also increased, indicating a stable net profit margin of approximately 3%. ADM's ability to generate solid revenues has been supported by its efficient operations, diversified product portfolio, and strong market presence. ADM's valuation metrics indicate a reasonable valuation compared to industry peers. The company's price-to-earnings is below the industry average. This suggests that the market is pricing ADM's shares at a relatively attractive level based on its earnings. Factors driving the company's valuation include its diversified revenue streams, global footprint, and focus on sustainable practices. Recent investor sentiment has been positive, driven by ADM's solid financial performance and growth prospects. In addition to positive market performance, ADM has experienced notable price movements and changes in trading volume due to various news and events. For instance, announcing strategic acquisitions or partnerships often generates investor enthusiasm and can lead to significant stock price increases. Conversely, adverse weather conditions affecting crop yields or changes in government policies related to trade and agriculture can impact ADM's stock negatively. ADM operates in the global agricultural industry, which is crucial in feeding the world's population and meeting the growing demand for food, feed, and biofuels. Weather patterns, commodity prices, and global trade policies influence the industry. ADM enjoys a competitive advantage through its integrated supply chain, an extensive network of processing facilities, and strong relationships with farmers and suppliers. The company's global reach enables it to access diverse sources of raw materials, manage risk effectively and provide customers with a reliable supply of high-quality products. Additionally, ADM's focus on sustainability and commitment to responsible sourcing aligns with changing consumer preferences and regulatory trends, positioning the company well for future growth. ADM has identified several growth opportunities to drive future success. One such opportunity lies in expanding its specialty ingredients and nutrition business. The increasing consumer demand for healthy and sustainable food products presents an avenue for ADM to leverage its expertise in plant-based proteins, natural flavors, and functional ingredients. The company's recent investments in research and development have resulted in innovative product offerings that cater to evolving consumer preferences. ADM aims to capitalize on the growing demand for renewable energy by expanding its biofuels and bio-based products portfolio. As governments worldwide implement policies to reduce carbon emissions, ADM's expertise in biofuel production positions it favorably to benefit from this transition. Acquisitions and partnerships also represent growth avenues for ADM. By strategically acquiring complementary businesses or forming alliances with technology-driven startups, ADM can enhance its capabilities, expand its product offerings and access new markets. Despite ADM's strong market position, several risks and challenges must be considered. One significant risk is the volatility of commodity prices, which can impact the company's profitability and earnings. Fluctuations in crop yields due to weather conditions, changes in global trade policies, and geopolitical tensions can influence agricultural commodities' supply-demand dynamics and pricing. Regulatory and political factors also pose risks to ADM's operations. Changes in trade, food safety, and environmental standards and regulations can impact the company's ability to conduct business in certain regions. ADM must navigate these complexities while maintaining compliance and managing associated costs. ADM faces competition from traditional agricultural players and emerging technologies in the plant-based protein and alternative ingredients space. The rapid pace of technological advancements and shifting consumer preferences require ADM to remain innovative and agile to stay ahead of the competition. Exxon Mobil Corporation is the largest direct descendent of John D. Rockefellers Standard Oil and one of the worlds largest companies. Its earliest roots lie with Vacuum Oil which got its start in the 1860s. Vacuum Oils primary product was kerosene, an important advancement for heating and lighting in rural America. Vacuum Oil was later merged with Standard Oil of New Jersey which was the parent operation of the Standard Oil empire prior to its breakup. Standard Oil of New Jersey would merge with other independent operators over the next few years until settling on the brand Exxon for most of its operations. Meanwhile, Standard Oil of New York was operating under much the same impetus, merging and growing, until it became known as Mobil. Then, in 1999, the two giants became one with a merger of equals that on paper had Exxon buying Mobil. Now, the combined company operates under the Exxon, Mobil, and Esso brands as an international vertically integrated energy and petrochemical business. Today, the company explores and produces crude oil and natural gas and their derivative products globally. As of 2022, it was ranked 6th on Forbes Fortune 500 list and 12th on the Global 500 list but it has held positions from #1 to #10 over the years. In terms of its operations, it is the worlds second-largest oil refiner and the largest refiner outside of China. In terms of reserves, ExxonMobil claimed about 18.5 million barrels of oil and oil equivalents at the end of 2021 and was ranked 15th globally. ExxonMobil operates through three segments that are the Upstream, Downstream, and Chemical segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces oil and oil equivalents and represents roughly 70% of the income. The Downstream segment gathers, receives, stores, transports and refines oil and equivalents and their derivatives. The Downstream segment also markets and delivers fuel products to consumers and businesses. The Chemicals segment produces the full range of petrochemicals including plastics, resins and synthetic rubber. ExxonMobil is committed to advancing sustainable and carbon-free energy solutions. The company is targeting 2050 for net-zero emissions and its 2030 interim targets are in alignment with the Paris Accord, the EU's Global Methane Pledge, and US Methane Emissions Reduction Action Plan. The companys plans include investing $15 billion into reducing greenhouse emissions by 2028. Ad Advantage Gold REAL PORTFOLIO PROTECTION Mark Levin: Guard your money NOW Mark Levin has seen it all as Americas #1 political commentator. But hes warning Americans that hes never seen things this bad. Government spending threatens to destroy our economy. Reckless policies continue to fuel inflation and threaten the US Dollar. And its your retirement savings that could ultimately pay the price. Join this 100% free Wealth Summit to see how to protect yourself now. Register For The Free Summit Now The following companies are subsidiares of AES: 25 Ashdown Road Solar LLC, AES (India) Private Limited, AES (NI) Limited, AES Abigail S.a.r.l., AES Accabonac Solar LLC, AES Africa Power Company B.V., AES AgriVerde Holdings B.V., AES AgriVerde Services (Ukraine) Limited Liability Company, AES Alamitos Development Inc., AES Alamitos Energy LLC, AES Alamitos L.L.C., AES Alicura Holdings S.C.A., AES Americas International Holdings Limited, AES Andres (BVI) Ltd., AES Andres BV, AES Andres DR S.A., AES Andres Holdings I Ltd, AES Aramtermelo Holdings B.V., AES Argentina Generation S.A. 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Right now is a very important time to pay attention to what we are doing and what is happening. If you wait... it will be too late. This week we are holding several workshops and if you attend and pay attention my special guest is going to send you $10 in Bitcoin. >> Register right here Derry and Strabane are to twin with the town of Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank of Palestine. The move follows a Motion brought before Januarys full meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council by Cllr Catherine McDaid (SDLP). The Motion read: This Council notes with grave concern the ongoing loss of life in the tragic war in Palestine. It notes that the ongoing genocide in Gaza is completely abhorrent and that the impact of the Israeli occupation is being felt right across the region, including in the West Bank. This Council commits to contacting the local authorities within Bethlehem and to start the process of twinning Derry and Strabane with Bethlehem city, to show our support to the people of the region and to develop our relationship with Bethlehem in order to develop links for education, culture and economy. Opening the discussion, Cllr McDaid branded as completely unacceptable the murder of more than 26,000 innocent civilians in Palestine since October 7, 2023. She added: But, this war didnt start on October 7 last year. It started 76 years ago when Israel accelerated its expansive occupation of Palestine. Israel has been systematically invading Palestinian land since 1948 and this recent genocide we are witnessing, in real time, on TV and on social media, is just the most recent element of the Israeli ambition to wipe out Palestine and settle on all Palestinian land. Political and military leaders in Israel have confirmed this is their goal. This is ethnic cleansing. In this city, we understand and empathise with the people of Palestine. We know what it is like to live under occupation and we know only too well the devastating impact of violence committed by an occupying army. Although all eyes are on Gaza at the minute, the Israeli army continues to carry out raids, drop bombs and force more and more people from their homes in the West Bank. Church leaders and the City Council in Bethlehem decided in November to abandon festive celebrations as a mark of solidarity with the people of Gaza. Many people living in Bethlehem have links to Gaza through family, whether they are Muslim or Palestinian Christian. This was a huge decision and will have impacted every aspect of the religious practices, economy, livelihoods and tourism, but the Council knew it needed to happen, said Cllr McDaid. Praising Bethlehem Council, Cllr McDaid said she admired its strength, solidarity and selflessness. I think there are people in this country that need to take a leaf from their book, put their heads above the parapet and call out this genocide for what it is and call for a ceasefire, said Cllr McDaid. She added: If we pass this Motion, it will demonstrate on a global stage that Derry and Strabane and indeed Ireland recognise the plight of the Palestinian people. It sets an example of moral standing to the world, said Cllr McDaid. Seconding the Motion, Cllr Aisling Hutton (Sinn Fein) said this was a good time to be twinning with Bethlehem. We would be building a relationship with the people of Bethlehem and them having the confidence to know that the world is listening, and our Council making them aware we are listening. The people of Gaza and Palestine are showing resilience. This will also build on their resilience. We have so much in common with the people of Palestine. This really strong message of solidarity is welcomed and thanks to Cllr McDaid for bringing it forward, concluded Cllr Hutton. Cllr Shaun Harkin said in the West Bank, before October 7, the number of illegal settlers went from 200,000 to 700,000. This was making it very clear to Palestinians that they were going to be deprived of their land. They were being ethnically transferred. I think it is right to broaden out the focus to what is happening in the West Bank. Opposing the twinning of Derry and Strabane with Bethlehem, Ald Niree McMorris (DUP) asked if it would require councillors to ignore the lack of basic freedoms endured by the population of Bethlehem living under the Palestinian Authority? She added: According to the Global Monitor, Freedom House, the territory governed by the Palestinian Authority, of which Bethlehem is a part, is classed as Not Free. The Palestinian Authority governs Bethlehem in an authoritarian manner, engaging in acts of repression against journalists and political opponents. In contrast, Israel is classed as a Free Country by Freedom House. A country which grants political rights and civil liberties to its citizens. Voicing support for the Motion, Cllr Gary Donnelly (Independent) said: We in Ireland know what it is like to have that solidarity and how appreciated it is. Challenging Ald McMorris, Cllr McDaid said she would question the formers sources. I would encourage everyone to look up Freedom House and see what they are related to and see what they stand for. The Motion to twin Derry and Strabane with Bethlehem was subsequently passed. Derry City and Strabane District Council is to send letters of congratulations to local people included on the British New Year Honours List. The proposal by Ald Niree McMorris (DUP) was seconded by Ald Darren Guy (UUP) at Januarys full council meeting on Wednesday. Ald McMorris said she wanted to congratulate the recipients of His Majestys New Year Honours within the Londonderry and Strabane area. She added: I have listed down the recipients. Mr Neil Guckian, chief executive of the Western Health and Social Care Trust, received an OBE for services to Health and Social Care and to the community in Northern Ireland. Many of us would know Neil and know the sterling work he has done. We also had Michael Allen, principal of Lisneal College, who received an MBE for services to Education. The achievements he has made within Lisneal College have been astronomical. The school is an absolute credit and it is all on the back of his achievements. Then we have Dr Manav Bhavsar, the clinical lead for critical care at Altnagelvin Hospital, who received an MBE for services to Healthcare, particularly during Covid-19. We also have four recipients of the BEM: Robert Buchanan, chair of the Londonderry branch of the Royal Naval Association, for voluntary services to Veterans; Bronagh Hegarty, the Western Health and Social Cares principal pharmacist for patient services and procurement, for services to Healthcare and Pharmacy; Donald Hill, for services to the community in County Londonderry; and Lesley Porter who was the Principals personal assistant at Oakgrove Integrated College, for services to reconciliation in Northern Ireland, said Ald McMorris. Ald Mc Morris said she would like to pass on her personal congratulations to all of the recipients and requested the Council send letters of congratulation. Ald Guy said all of the awards were well deserved by their recipients. Cllr Paul Gallagher (Independent) then said he would like to abstain from the proposal as he didnt agree with such accolades. Agreeing with Cllr Gallagher, Cllr Gary Donnelly said: As a socialist and a republican I will not be supporting it. I will be abstaining. In the subsequent vote on the issue of letters of congratulations was passed by 18 votes in favour, none against and 20 abstentions. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) decision to re-enter the Assembly received a mixed reception by Derry City and Strabane District councillors. The DUP re-entered the Assembly on Saturday having agreed a package of measures with the British Government, which leader, Jeffery Donaldson said effectively removed the 'Irish Sea border' for goods moving from Britain and staying in the North. Speaking at Januarys full council meeting, Cllr Christopher Jackson (Sinn Fein) said the North had gone too long without devolved institutions functioning. Following the Assembly recall on Saturday (February 3) Michelle ONeill, Sinn Fein vice president assumed the role of First Minister in the new Executive. Emma Little-Pengelly assumed the role of Deputy First Minister. Cllr Jackson added: Hopefully, as we move forward now, we can start working together to address the many challenges that citizens in this city and district and much further afield have been facing due to a lack of government. Cllr Shaun Harkin acknowledged a lot of people would be eager to see a return of a government in the North. He said: I think that the last few years have been a disaster for the vast majority of people, with rising levels of poverty, with workers not getting basic pay awards, with our health service, our transport system, our schools, all under massive pressure - on the verge of being decimated in some ways. I think it is disgraceful we dont have a government and I think whether the government is good, bad or other, people are right to expect to have a government. Anger has built up for two years at the failure of government. What it has meant is we have had a Tory Secretary of State who has put through cut after cut after cut, really making peoples lives a misery. Those proposals now go further where he wants water chargers, he wants prescription charges, he wants tuition hikes. If there is going to be a restored executive, it has to be on the basis they are going to reverse Tory cuts; they are going to block these regressive revenue raising measures the Tories want to introduce, said Cllr Harkin. Cllr Harkin cautioned: We cant go back to the way Stormont has been acting over the past 20 years, pushing through public sector cuts, pushing through massive cuts for our public sector institutions; voting down trade union rights in the Assembly; failing to implement an anti-poverty strategy. There are a lot of expectations on a returned Stormont. Unfortunately Stormont when it has functioned has never delivered for the vast majority of people here and many people believe it will continue to do that. If anybody needs thanks, its the public sector workers who had a general strike. I think that was the tipping point for the DUP to go back into government and also put pressure on the Secretary of State, said Cllr Harkin. Cllr Gary Donnelly (Independent) called it ironic the restoration of the Assembly had nearly been forgotten in Chairpersons Business. For the last few years, people in here have been blaming Stormont or the absence of Stormont for every ill in society and maybe there is a point to some of it, he said. But, when Stormont was up and running, it wasnt the answer to the problems in this part of the island. A number of years ago, when Stormont was up and running, there would have been many, many Republicans who would have been horrified at it. But I think now, speaking for myself, it is irrelevant for me if Stormont is up and running because it is not going to work. For almost a century, it has lurched from crisis to crisis and it reinforces that the two state solution in Ireland doesnt work and it is irrelevant who is in Stormont because, if you imagine it like a train track, you can only drive it from A to B, you cant veer off. You can only operate within the parameters of Westminster. It is a counter democratic programme that is being implemented in this country and that is a new-liberal agenda. So, I look forward to the sun coming out and no more illnesses and all our problems being sorted because that was the impression a lot of people in this chamber have been giving over the last couple of years, said Cllr Donnelly. The imminent restoration of the Assembly was also welcomed by Cllr Brian Tierney (SDLP), who added it should not be celebrated, however. In reality, the DUP should have taken that decision two years ago. MLAs should have been in the Assembly two years ago, he said. Cllr Tierney added: The mandate that was received at the last Assembly election should have been respected but it wasnt. Throwing all this great praise on the DUP is sickening for public sector workers. I have spoken to some over this last number of days who are now looking at Stormont to say, When are we getting our money?. That is the big question people are asking. It is not about whether Jamie Bryson was right or wrong about everything that was going on in the DUP meeting the other night. It is about how this is impacting people's lives, that is what people are interested in. The reality is, that money was held back because we had no functioning Assembly. If you create a problem, you should not be celebrating the fact you have realised, We created this problem and we are now going to try and repair it. You just get on with repairing it, said Cllr Tierney. Cllr Tierney referenced the fact Council had a number of key projects in the system with permanent secretaries in Belfast. We need answers on these as a matter of urgency, he said. Mayor Patricia Logue (Sinn Fein) said the public sector workers would welcome the restored Assembly. She added: It will make a difference to those workers when they get their well-deserved pay rise. I know all the ministers who will be going in, will be lobbying the British Government for more money to try and reinstate all those cuts that had to be made because of their lack of investment or budget cuts. A scathing Ald Niree McMorris said Jeffery Donaldson was not looking for pats on the back. She added: Jeffery has fought hard over the past two years in order to secure the changes he has secured within the last few days. I want to remind everybody the changes he has secured will benefit everybody in Northern Ireland, not just Unionists, not just one particular sector. They will benefit everybody in Northern Ireland. Regarding the councillors comments that they believed Jeffery Donaldson went back into government because of the strike, Jeffery has been fighting for the changes for the last two years. I dont think that was the principal reason he went back in. I am sure he was delighted to go back in because he has fought hard to secure the additional funding that was earmarked for Northern Ireland to give the pay increases. We welcome the fact they are going back into government and that money will be released, said Ald McMorris. Cllr Paul Gallagher (Independent) said workers were entitled to their pay rise, independent of whether Stormont was up or not. He added: Saying workers will get their pay rise because Stormont is up and running is incorrect. Workers were entitled, are entitled and should be entitled, not because they were put as a pawn by the British government. We should not fall into the trap of saying, Its great. Stormont is back up again. Look what we are doing for workers. Workers should not have been put in that position in the first place. The Society of Radiographers (SoR) has welcomed the return of the Assembly to Stormont. Cora Regan, Northern Ireland national officer for the Society of Radiographers, said: "The Society of Radiographers welcomes the return of the Northern Ireland assembly to Stormont. "We are relieved that this will mean that the UK Treasury releases funding to increase public-sector pay in Northern Ireland. Implementing a fair deal for all public-sector workers must be a priority for the new assembly. "However, this years pay is not a long-term measure. Radiography in Northern Ireland is a workforce in crisis, and this crisis needs to be addressed urgently and fully. "Radiography professionals support nine out of 10 patients in Health and Social Care Northern Ireland. They work in diagnostic services, carrying out X-rays, MRI and CT scans, and in therapeutic services, planning and delivering radiotherapy to cancer patients. But levels of pay that have fallen behind other parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland mean that too few radiographers are being recruited and many are leaving to work elsewhere," said Ms Regan. In January, the SoR went on strike to highlight the fact that radiographers in the North were paid less than those in all other parts of Britain - including in England, where members have also been striking for salary increases. According to Cora Regan, in Scotland, radiographers are now paid 12 per cent more than in the North. She added: "The pressure to increase working hours, coupled with low pay, means that many radiography professionals are leaving Northern Ireland or the profession itself and they are not being replaced in adequate numbers. "As a result, 188,850 people in Northern Ireland nearly 10 per cent of the population are now waiting for a diagnostic test. This wait means that treatment such as radiotherapy is delayed and cases become more complex and, for some patients, even a two-week delay can mean the difference between life and death. "However, we now hope we will have a functioning assembly that will stabilise our health and social-care services and deliver a fair pay offer that enables recruitment and retention of our vital staff. "The Society of Radiographers looks forward to working with incoming ministers to address the current issues and to establish a programme for government that delivers for our members and for their patients. Our members deserve better. Our patients deserve better. A man who has been 'effectively on the run since August' has been remanded in custody at Derry Magistrate's Court. The man who cannot be named after he was granted anonymity on another matter before the Crown Court appeared on a series of charges including three assaults on police. He was charged with assaulting three police officers on February 2, resisting and obstructing police and disorderly behaviour in the Dungiven Road area as well as a charge of criminal damage all on the same date. He was further charged with criminal damage and the theft of a tag on August 11 last year. Defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott said that his client also had warrants from Derry Crown Court and Laganside and he accepted that his bail application was 'probably hopeless'. A police officer told the court that at 5pm on February 2 police were on duty in the Waterside area and observed a car that had failed to stop for them on January 6. They saw the car was stopped in traffic and approached when the defendant was said to have got out and kicked an officer in the stomach. He was then said to have punched another officer in the face and struggled with police causing them to hit their emergency response buttons. A female who was said to be driving the vehicle fled the scene. After being arrested the man said he had got out of one side of the vehicle because the officer there appeared to be smaller. He was said to have been abusive towards police and the interview had to be terminated. Bail was opposed due to fact that the man had been avoiding police since last August and the officer said that they had no confidence the man would keep any bail conditions. Mr MacDermott said that his bail application was 'hopeless' due to the warrants. District Judge Barney McElholm said that the man was 'totally unsuitable' for bail and remanded him in custody to appear again on February 22. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has rejected claims by Stormont ministers that better funding is needed from the UK Government as powersharing returns. The Cabinet minister insisted the 3.3 billion package offered by Westminster is ample for the Executive to get on with the job. Mr Heaton-Harris is joining Rishi Sunak and Irish premier Leo Varadkar in Belfast on Monday to mark the restoration of devolved government. But the newly-formed Executive has already written to the Prime Minister calling for urgent discussions on long-term funding stability to deliver public services. Asked about claims that the current funding arrangement will not provide the basis for the Executive to deliver sustainable public services, the Northern Ireland Secretary told BBC Breakfast: I dont believe that is the case. I think Stormont has fantastic, strong foundations now and it will survive, it will be sustainable. He added: There is a thing, I think, about choices. Youre going into politics, you have to make choices on these sorts of things. Those choices havent been made for a long time out here, and I believe the new set of ministers are completely capable of running their public finances perfectly well with the fair and generous funding package weve given them. Theres a 3.3 billion package available to ministers on day one here to get on with the job of sorting out Northern Ireland public sector pay, health services and a whole host of other things, and Id say thats ample for the time being. Mr Sunak and Mr Varadkar will meet each other, as well as the leaders of the new powersharing Executive which was formed on Saturday, ending two years of political stalemate. The Executive, headed by Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill with the DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly serving as deputy First Minister, will also hold its first meeting on Monday as it begins the task of trying to manage Northern Irelands strained finances. Delighted to be at Parliament Buildings today to witness democracy being restored through the nomination of ministers. A great day for the people of Northern Ireland and I look forward to working with all parties in the Executive. pic.twitter.com/GgQRxP3SyN Chris Heaton-Harris MP (@chhcalling) February 3, 2024 The institutions were restored after a deal between Mr Sunaks Government and the DUP to address unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements, which included passing new legislation at Westminster. The UK Governments 3.3 billion funding offer is aimed at stabilising finances in the region, and settling public sector pay claims. The Executive will press Mr Sunak for more funding but he has described the package as a generous and fair settlement. Ms Little-Pengelly said Stormont ministers will be speaking with one voice in their talks with the Prime Minister. She added: We will be saying that the people of Northern Ireland deserve better public services and that we need to work together the Executive and the Government to deliver long-term fiscal stability. We are ready to engage with the Government and get down to the work of putting our finances on a sound footing; however, we will also be seeking to ensure the UK Government provides sufficient funding in a package to fulfil its promises on public sector pay. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar have played down suggestions of tensions between the two governments after they did not appear together in public to mark the return of powersharing to Northern Ireland. While the two leaders did meet privately, they held separate engagements with Stormonts political leaders. Mr Varadkar said the day was about progress in Northern Ireland, rather than the two premiers, while Mr Sunak said Ireland would remain a close and valued partner of the UK. Speculation over a rift in the Anglo-Irish relationship has increased since Dublin launched an interstate legal challenge against the UK Governments contentious legislation to address the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Laws enacted by the UK Government strive to provide a limited form of immunity to those accused of Troubles-related offences. The move has faced staunch criticism and is opposed by many victims groups in Northern Ireland and all the main Stormont parties. Last week, Mr Sunak used a call with the Irish premier to confront his counterpart about the UKs disappointment over the legal challenge. He repeated those sentiments on Monday, saying he deeply regretted the move. Mr Varadkar said he had had a very good meeting with Mr Sunak at Stormont. He said: Theres a long standing tradition since the Good Friday Agreement was signed that the Taoiseach would attend events like this. This isnt about us, this is about Northern Ireland. Its about the major political parties here coming together, forming an executive working together on the day to day issues that people across the province are concerned about. So it isnt really about me or the Prime Minister. Its about powersharing here in Northern Ireland, which is so important. So I think the focus will be on them rather than us. Asked why he had not appeared in public alongside Mr Varadkar, the Prime Minister said: Ireland is always going to be a close and valued partner and friend of the United Kingdom. Thats always been the case and will remain the case. Whilst we deeply regret the decision that the Irish Government made on legacy, we disagree with it, but it is important we continue to co-operate where we can. I met the Taoiseach today, I spoke to him last week. I also was the first prime minister to attend the British-Irish Council in over a decade. I regularly speak to him and I also have an enormous amount of respect for all strands of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. Mr Sunak added: I also congratulated him on Irelands rugby victory while I was at it. Following her meeting with the Taoiseach, the DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly said she looked forward to building a relationship Mr Varadkar based on mutual respect. She added: It makes sense for us to have a constructive relationship we havent always had in the past. India surprised the manufacturing industry by not extending concessional tax rate to startups According to the latest Interim Budget, India did not extend the concessional tax for manufacturing startups as the industry had previously expected, a decision not beneficial to the make-in-India initiative that Narendra Modi had been proposing. The Finance Ministry of India unveiled the Interim Budget for fiscal 2025 (April 2024 to March 2025), which remained a tax rate of 22% for existing domestic companies and a concessional rate of 15% for certain new manufacturing companies. According to a pre-budget memorandum circulated around the net, India is expected to extend the concessional rate for manufacturing startups beyond March 2024 to March 2026. MoneyControl quoted Deloitte India saying that while the extension of a lower tax rate for manufacturing was expected, the budget does not spell such an extension, which may impact manufacturing plans for companies looking to invest in manufacturing in India. India will unveil the full Union Budget in July 2024. According to the Income-tax Act 1961 of India, manufacturers set up and registered on or after October 1, 2019, and commenced manufacturing or production before March 31, 2024, can avail of the concessional tax of 15%. The tax rate was provided to promote "Make in India," an initiative Modi had proposed since he took office. Rohit Jain, the partner of India-based law firm Economic Laws Practice, told the Economic Times that the decision might impede the government's flagship "Make in India" program as the lower corporate tax regime was a catalyst for attracting investment in new manufacturing facilities. Some believe the impact would be limited. Aravind Srivatsan, tax leader and partner at Nangia Andersen LLP, said that the lower tax rate of 15% for manufacturing startups was seen as a move to provide room for COVID-related delays in commencing the manufacturing activity. Meanwhile, in the Interim Budget, the Finance Ministry of India increased the budget allocation for the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes for 14 sectors from INR46.45 billion in fiscal 2024 to INR62 billion in fiscal 2025. Tata, Tower Semiconductor, TI reportedly apply for Indian semiconductor lab modernization As part of the revival roadmap in semiconductors, India invited bids to modernize its Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL), with Tata, Tower Semiconductor, and Texas Instruments reportedly applying for participation. The Economic Times quoted sources saying that nine companies, including the Tata Group, Tower Semiconductor, and Texas Instruments, applied to modernize SCL, a government-owned chip fabrication lab. Under the Semicon India Program announced at the end of 2021, the Indian government is looking to modernize SCL, which can make chips on the 180nm process node or above for strategic and defense applications and lags behind most chipmakers around the world technologically. Established in 1976, SCL, called Semiconductor Complex Limited at the time, was India's sole commercial chip foundry in the 1980s until it was destroyed by a fire in 1989. SCL was converted into a government-owned laboratory under the Department of Space in 2006 and handed over to India's Ministry of Electronics and IT. In February 2023, India announced a plan to find a commercial joint venture partner with SCL to modernize SCL's existing facility. In September, Business Standard reported the Indian government formed a committee and issued an expression of interest to look for commercial and technology partners with the necessary technological and operational expertise to modernize SCL. The Economic Times quoted an unnamed official saying that financial bids will be invited from these applicants once the government decides on the exact nodes to make. An unnamed source told the report that India prefers local companies as SCL is engaged in making strategic and defense chips and does not need to get into commercial production in the sector. Still, the report quoted Satya Gupta, CEO of Epic Foundation, saying that both commercial and strategic goals are required for SCL to modernize and target US$50 million in revenue in five years, most of which come from commercial operations. The comment from the unnamed official may signal that Tata is likely to lead the SCL modernization, though Tower Semiconductor has been keen to capitalize on India's market potential. SCL upgraded its facility to make 180nm chips with the help of Tower Semiconductor. WT Group gets US$1.9 billion syndicated loan for acquisition WT Group, the fourth-largest semiconductor component distributor in the world, has signed a contract with banks to obtain half of the capital needed to acquire its Canadian counterpart, Future Electronics. DBS Bank (Taiwan) and First Commercial Bank jointly announced to co-organize a five-year syndicated loan project for a total of NT$60 billion (US$1.9 billion) for WT Microelectronics and its subsidiary, Morrihan International (hereinafter referred to as "WT Group"), and have completed the signing of the contract recently. According to the press release, This syndicated loan case is the largest for semiconductor component distributors in Taiwan in years, and a total of 14 financial institutions have responded enthusiastically to it, which is highly indicative of the industry and the loan market. The WT Group announced in September 2023 that it would acquire Future Electronics Inc., which is the world's seventh-largest semiconductor component distributor headquartered in Canada, for US$3.8 billion in cash to accelerate its entrance to the semiconductor distribution market in Europe and the United States, and to deepen its global distribution. The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2024 after obtaining approval from the competent authorities in each country. The amount raised from this loan facility will mainly be used to Raytheon collaborates with AMD to build next-gen multi-chip package Raytheon, an RTX company, has received a $20 million contract from the Strategic and Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S2MARTS) consortium to develop a next-generation multi-chip package for use in ground, maritime, and airborne sensors, according to the major US defense contractor. Under the contract, Raytheon will package state-of-the-art commercial devices from industry partners like AMD to create a compact microelectronics package that will convert radio frequency energy to digital information with more bandwidth and higher data rates. The integration will result in new system capabilities designed with higher performance, lower power consumption, and reduced weight. This multi-chip package will be built utilizing the most recent industry-standard die-level interconnect technology, allowing individual chiplets to achieve peak performance and new system capabilities in a cost-effective and high-performance manner. It is designed to meet Raytheon's scalable sensor processing requirements. "By teaming with commercial industry, we can incorporate cutting-edge technology into Department of Defense applications on a much faster timescale," said Colin Whelan, president of advanced technology at Raytheon. "Together, we will deliver the first multi-chip package that features the latest in interconnect ability - which will provide new system capabilities to our warfighters." Raytheon indicated that the chiplets from commercial partners will be integrated into a Raytheon-designed and fabricated interposer by its 3D universal packaging (3DUP) domestic silicon manufacturing process in Lompoc, California. Subscriber content preview By REBECCA BOONE Associated Press BOISE, Idaho Federal investigators were working late last week to try to determine what caused a steel airplane hangar that was under construction in Idaho to collapse on Wednesday evening, killing three people and leaving several others badly injured. The Boise Fire Department said in the morning that the scene was turned over to OSHA investigators. Though the hangar is at the Boise Airport, it is privately owned by Jackson Jet Center, a charter flight and maintenance company. . . . National Finalist: Platinum Award Structural Systems Photo by Brian Miller The site for Perelman Performing Arts Center straddles a below-grade maze of operating infrastructure, including subway lines and delivery docks. Magnusson Klemencic Associates Project: Perelman Performing Arts Center Client: PAC NYC/Davis Brody Bond The Perelman Performing Arts Center (or PAC NYC) at the World Trade Center site in New York City is a remarkable feat of engineering and design. While its exterior appears simple and elegant, the building houses an immensely complex structural system that enables it to transform into almost limitless configurations. One of the key challenges was the site itself, which straddled a below-grade maze of operating infrastructure, including subway lines and delivery docks. The challenges PAC NYCs site, program, and design imposed on its structure were extraordinary and demanded an equally extraordinary structural engineer, said Joshua Rasmus, founding partner of REX, the projects architecture firm. The buildings construction had to thread through four subterranean levels of operating infrastructure, including P.A.T.H. train tracks, MTA subway lines, delivery truck circulation and loading docks, and massive air shafts serving below-grade program and vehicular traffic. It had to respond to the existing foundations of a previous design by another architect that provided minimal bearing capacity under the new designs location. And it had to accommodate stringent blast and acoustic isolation requirements, both of which could not rely on mass due to the limited bearing capacity. I often say, If the site were not the absolute right place to build PAC NYC, it would be the absolute wrong place to build a performing arts center. Despite these challenges, PAC NYC successfully repurposed an existing foundation originally designed for a different-sized building through innovative load-path mapping to match the primary structure to the existing foundations, using only seven super columns some as big as 5 feet wide and weighing as much as 2,400 pounds per foot as support points for its 6,300-ton primary steel structure. Magnusson Klemencic Associates used an upside-down engineering approach, designing the structure from the bottom-up to utilize the existing foundation. The three theaters inside the building float independently, providing acoustical isolation from each other and the surrounding infrastructure. This flexibility allows PAC NYC to offer 11 different theater volumes and over 60 configurations, ranging from intimate black-box venues to large auditoriums. The project also addressed rigorous anti-terrorism blast resistance requirements without compromising architectural beauty. In fact, it was described by the New York Times as the most glamorous civic building to land in New York in years. The buildings innovative structural solutions, kinetic auditoria, and blast resistance measures set a new benchmark for transformable, flexible performance spaces. PAC NYCs successful completion contributes to the revitalization of the 9/11 memorial site, bringing celebration and creativity back to the neighborhood. With its opening night performance on Sept. 14, 2023, NYC welcomed a fitting complement to the neighboring WTC Memorial Plaza, a beacon of hope, wonder, and celebration, said David K. Williams, partner at Davis Brody Bond. If anyone deserves this award, it is MKA for their expertise in creating a highly creative and unique structural solution that enabled this iconic project to be realized. Other Stories: National Finalist: Gold Award Environmental Photo from ACEC Washington The realigned channel and estuary addresses sea level rise and allows fish easier migration to Lunds Gulch Creek. Anchor QEA Project: Meadowdale Beach Park and estuary Client: Snohomish County Parks and Recreation Meadowdale Beach Park and estuary restoration is a groundbreaking project along Puget Sound the first stream mouth restoration project in the area, addressing the loss of barrier embayments along the Central Puget Sounds eastern shore over the past century. The project, spearheaded by Anchor QEA, involved removing a 20-foot rock-armored embankment, replacing a 6-foot box culvert with a five-span railroad bridge, restoring the estuary, and reconnecting Lunds Gulch Creek with Puget Sound. The bridge was constructed in two adjacent sections to allow rail access during construction. Key technical accomplishments include the use of diamond piers to support a timber-framed boardwalk over the wetland, a soldier pile retaining wall with lightweight foamed glass aggregate backfill, and the repurposing of the park area from passive recreation to a habitat focus. These approaches addressed complex challenges such as landslide hazards, narrow access roads and live-track construction requirements. The project has garnered positive reception and community support, aligning with social, economic and sustainable development considerations. The project presented considerable complexities, expertly navigated by Anchor QEA LLCs project management. Their efforts ensured that timelines were met, resources were allocated efficiently, all stakeholders were kept in the loop, and the successful delivery of this award-winning project $1 million under budget, said Tom Teigan, director of Snohomish County Conservation and Natural Resources. The positive attitude, problem-solving skills, and unwavering work ethic of the Anchor QEA project manager, coupled with their ability to inspire and motivate the project team, played a pivotal role in overcoming challenges during construction. This project would not have been possible without them, Teigan said. Other Stories: Best in State: Gold Award Complexity Photo from ACEC Washington Declined rakers and a large mat footing supported this 80-foot wall below Pine Street during excavation. GeoEngineers; KPFF Engineering; DBM Contractors Project: Seattle Convention Center Summit Building Client: Seattle Convention Center The Seattle Convention Centers new addition has transformed a former transit center and automotive dealership into a nearly 8-acre urban high-rise convention space with co-developed residential and office towers. The project doubles the capacity of the Seattle Convention Center and will have a profound economic impact on the Seattle region. GeoEngineers, DBM Contractors and KPFF Consulting Engineers collaborated on the design and construction of the temporary excavation support for the Seattle Convention Center Summit building. The project faced unique challenges in the crowded downtown core. Its location, adjacent to the busy Pine Street and Boren Avenue bridges over Interstate 5, required a creative shoring design to support the bridge foundation while allowing the construction of the building envelope. The project team collaborated on an innovative solution involving a pre-stressed internally braced raker assembly, combined with a steel collar and waler system. This design provided temporary and permanent support to the bridge foundation, enabling construction to proceed as planned. The project also made efficient use of existing cylinder piles, saving on construction and demolition costs by incorporating them into the excavation-support system. High-capacity tieback anchors and internal rakers were added to include the cylinder piles in the support system. The collaboration between GeoEngineers, DBM and KPFF showcased problem-solving skills and creativity in addressing complex shoring challenges. Their innovative solutions and multidisciplinary approach ensured the projects success, providing Seattle with an impressive urban high-rise convention space and co-developed residential and office towers that will have a lasting impact on the citys economy and community. Other Stories: Subscriber content preview BOSTON (AP) Microsoft says state-backed Russian hackers broke into its corporate email system and accessed accounts of members of the company's leadership team, as well as those of cybersecurity and legal employees. In a blog post Friday, Microsoft said the intrusion began in late November and was discovered Jan. 12. The company says a very small percentage of Microsoft corporate accounts were accessed and some emails and documents were stolen. A Microsoft spokesperson had no immediate comment on which or how many members of the company's senior leadership had their email accounts breached. . . . Subscriber content preview OLYMPIA The Washington State Department of Commerce will award over $85 million in grants to fund nearly 5,000 new electric vehicle charging stations in communities throughout the state. The funds are going to nonprofits, electric utilities, tribes and public agencies. . . . Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. IF, behind every great man is a great woman, then the life of Kevin Collins has been blessed indeed. A veritable sisterhood stretches all the way back to his great grandmother, Catherine McCarthy Collins, an enthusiastic beekeeper who established what would become Molaga Honey. Theres a strong thread in the Collins family history of farming women, says Kevin. Ive been surrounded by women my whole life who have driven the business over the years, between my mother, my grandmother, my great grandmother, my sisters, and, I hope, one of my daughters will one day want to come into the business. Kevin Collins, 4th generation producing Molaga honey in Timoleague in West Cork. Picture; Eddie O'Hare Molaga Honey are producers and bottlers of Irish honey, importers of EU honey, and Irelands only commercial producer of comb honey. The farm is located at Gurranes just outside the coastal West Cork town of Timoleague. There has been a farm here in the Collins family since the 1770s: Nine generations raising cows, pigs, sheep, tillage and even turkeys over the years and now, honey. In the 1860s, as a young child returning home from mass, Kevins great grandmother, Catherine McCarthy Collins, spotted a swarm of bees and asked her father to gather them up. So began a lifelong passion for beekeeping and honey production. Catherine had a talent with bees, selling her Collins Family Honey locally. She passed on her talent to a son, Timothy, who passed it onto his son, Jerry, Kevins father. Imbued with an entrepreneurial streak and a greater interest in engineering than farming, Jerry kept the bees while his wife was regarded as the real farmer! It was a dynamic that worked and enabled expansion of the business when Jerry saw a niche in the market for importing quality honey from the EU to complement their wild West Cork produced honey. Soon after, Collins Family Honey become Molaga Honey. Kevin Collins with his children Mira and Daragh. Picture; Eddie O'Hare Timoleague has ancient connections with bees and honey. Coming from the Irish, Tigh Molaige, or House of Molaga, Saint Molaga is believed to have first brought bees to Ireland and established the famous Franciscan friary that rises from the shores of the village, and Molaga Honey made the most of this connection to honey folklore. By focusing on honey, Jerry grew the business steadily, making in-roads with national retailers. Kevin was always on hand but often busy establishing a new dairying enterprise. With 240 head of cattle and 300 of their own hives, each producing around 50 pounds of liquid gold a year from 100,000 bees per hive, Jerry and Kevin turned their farm into a veritable land of milk and honey. In addition to the honey farm in Timoleague, a network of apiarists stretch from Kinsale to Ballydehob, supplying a golden hued honey redolent of the Cork countryside. When Jerry passed away in 2022, Kevin took over both dairy and honey farms full time and has gained a nationwide listing with Tesco Ireland for their EU sourced honey in all 166 stores. They are also listed with Musgraves who carry their West Cork and EU honey jars and squeezy bottles. Kevin Collins, with Sharon Pamment, staff and Beth O'Regan, marketing at Molaga honey in Timoleague in West Cork. Picture; Eddie O'Hare Molaga Honey is unique in that it is a single estate honey. This means every single jar is traceable to the farm from where it came. There are three honey lines: single estate EU honey sourced from farms in Bulgaria, single estate West Cork honey from their own bees and their carefully selected network of local apiaries, and a single estate natural Irish honeycomb sold in sections. Beth ORegan is the Business Development Manager for Molaga Honey. She joined in 2022, working closely with Kevin on their exciting expansion plans. We are one brand, but these are two different products, explains Beth. There is a significant difference in flavour. Some people love the single estate EU honey, others prefer the single estate Irish honey for its richer flavour. It hugely depends on someones taste buds. My father saw a niche in the market for a good quality honey at a good price, says Kevin, thats why we started importing and meant we could expand our business. Were selling 15% Irish honey to 85% of the EU honey. Although both are remarkably close in colour a light, golden-hued honey that suits the Irish palate - they are very different when it comes to tasting. The West Cork honey has a complex taste, deeply floral with a nutty and rich honey flavour bordering on nostalgic. The EU honey is a clean shot of straightforward sweetness with a hint of citrus. The West Cork honey is one to savour, while the EU honey would be excellent in baking, sauce-making, marinades and general cooking. Products of Molaga honey in Timoleague in West Cork . Picture; Eddie O'Hare Beth confirms this is how many of their restaurant, hotel and bakery customers use the honey. I focus on hotels, says Beth, and we are extremely delighted that some of our local hotels now stock Molaga Honey. They use the comb honey on their breakfast bar, the EU honey in their baking and the Irish honey in ramekins for breakfast, porridge, scones, etc. Kevin had successfully gained major contracts with two national retailers and some local shops, so I was brought on board to grow and scale the business, which are his hopes for the long term. First on Beths to-do list was a major rebranding project with a new modern logo and website. Beth recognised the value of Molaga Honeys storied past and the long-standing commitment to single estate sourcing for full traceability from hive to jar. Its the kind of authenticity thats the stuff of dreams for a marketeer like Beth, and at a time when honey fraud is an increasingly worrying problem on the international stage, being able to stand over every jar of honey and know exactly which farm it came from is vitally important for creating trust and loyalty with customers. A lot of people will want to buy Molaga Honey because of the story behind it, says Beth. Its a fourth-generation brand, from the Collins Family Honey to being rebranded in 1993 to Molaga Honey. People buy things that have a good reputation and Molaga Honey has a great reputation, locally and nationally. People buy from brands they trust - we are that brand, renowned for its single estate honey with full traceability. When it comes to flavour, that cant be compromised. "The attention to detail to ensure we have that premium flavour in our honey is paramount for us, because first and foremost we are about taste. Once you blend a honey it dilutes the flavour and no longer tastes of honey - it might as well be a syrup. We produce premium unblended honey. Were not competing against a honey thats less than 2 a jar because its not the same product as ours. Bee hives to produce Molaga honey in Timoleague in West Cork . Picture; Eddie O'Hare We make a high-end honey in Ireland and replicate that by importing a honey thats on par with what we can produce ourselves here. As a farmer of both cows and bees, Kevins job is as much about land management as it is about food production, and everything is done with an eye to sustainability. The farm is signed up to a scheme to bolster on-farm biodiversity with more clover in pasture and a no-grazing boundary that flourishes during summer, providing additional forage for bees. The bees feed on mainly clover and bramble, says Kevin, slipping in the dynamite fact there are 365 different varieties of blackberry in Ireland one for every day of the year! Theres a little bit of whitethorn, sycamore, dandelion, and the effect of the salt air. The vision for the year ahead is not shy on ambition, as Beth explains. This year, theres a real focus on growing and scaling the brand. We have massive ambitions to go outside the Republic of Ireland and start exporting first to Northern Ireland then into the EU. Kevin Collins, of Molaga honey . Picture; Eddie O'Hare The Local Enterprise Office in Cork have been an amazing resource for us with mentorship and consultancy to help us prepare, but when you have a really good product, the prospect is much more exciting! Brexit is a complication, but we are hoping our existing relationship with Tesco Ireland will act as a gateway to trading in Northern Ireland via Tesco GB, says Beth. Beth and Kevin are close to sealing a deal with a third national retailer which will push them even further toward their goal of being Irelands most accessible and available honey producer. Inside Molaga honey in Timoleague in West Cork . Picture; Eddie O'Hare Our ambition is for Molaga Honey to be available everywhere, so wed be delighted if someone wanted to stock our honey, says Beth. Aside from Kevin and his farm manager, John Crowley, who takes care of the dairy herd, the team is made up of hard-working women, keeping up the businesses long-standing tradition. With Beth in Business Development, Kay Oats handles administration and Sharon Pamment works on production line and generally keeps the honey houses ship-shape. Theres another Collins woman right beside Kevin, too. His sister Kay, who married and moved away to a farm of her own, is one of the apiarists supplying West Cork honey to Kevin, and is often found at the farm assisting with the bees because, ironically, Kevin is allergic to bee stings and has to carry an epi-pen with him constantly. I have to suit up very well, he says. My sister helps me out quite a bit when Im stuck! Blessed amongst women, indeed Molaga Honey starts at 4.49 per 350g jar, Single Estate EU Honey to 8.99 per 350g jar, Single Estate Irish Honey. Squeeze Bottle, Comb Honey and Commercial Buckets are also available. www.molagahoney.ie A NEW report has found that 56% of peak time taxi requests are unfulfilled in Cork, as a newly formed coalition demands changes to how the industry is regulated. Fine Gael senator Tim Lombard has called for an overhaul of current taxi regulations to address the lack of taxis in rural Ireland. There is an unequal distribution between urban and rural areas 60% of the countrys taxis serve 28% of the population, who live in Dublin, which is ludicrous. Whether youre out in Kinsale, Castletownbere or any town in Ireland, chances are you wont be able to get a taxi home on a weekend night people are increasingly worried about their ability to get home safely after a night out, Mr Lombard added. Cork taxi driver and sector spokesman Bobby Lynch said that there is no taxi shortage, that the issue is instead tied to the negative impact of the taxi apps on drivers earnings, saying that they prefer to pick passengers up. At peak times, he said it is utterly impossible to accommodate such a high volume of people at the one time, so at that hour of chaos, taxi apps are turned off, meaning the taxi driver can save the percentage of each fare due to apps for each app job accepted. It is easy for other business chiefs to complain when they dont have to deal with the issues the last bastion taxi driver has to when the night out is over, putting their own safety at risk in a 24/7 service, which incidentally is the only 24/7 public service available 365 days/nights a year, Mr Lynch said. COALITION It comes as a coalition of hospitality lobby groups and taxi-app companies met last week with members of the Government to address the chronic shortage of taxis across Ireland. The Taxis for Ireland Coalition was established last year in response to a dwindling taxi supply, with Restaurants Association of Ireland, Vintners Federation of Ireland, Licensed Vintners Association, Irish Tourism Industry Confederation, and mobility firms Bolt and Uber among its members. Mr Lombard said: The National Transport Agency has admitted that there has been a very poor uptake on the local hackney pilot grant aided programme, which was launched in January 2023 with the aim of improving and increasing services in rural Ireland. I believe it was only taken up by one taxi operator. There is clearly something wrong with this programme so a workable solution must be arrived upon. He called for the NTA to change prohibitive taxi regulations, such as the need to be wheelchair accessible and the fact that drivers must also take a geography test. Most of us driving in 2024 utilise Google Maps or Satnav aids to arrive at our destination this is standard practice nowadays for all drivers on the road, he added. The coalition meeting heard the negative impact the availability of taxis was having on businesses, and significant barriers to more drivers entering the industry were discussed. A report published in advance of the meeting by Steer, using extensive industry-wide trip data made available by Bolt, shows the state of the taxi industry in Dublin and Cork, highlighting stark gaps between customer demand and actual taxi supply. The report shows that in Dublin 43% of requested trips by customers can go unfulfilled at peak times (between 12pm on Friday and Sunday morning), and even the least constrained period of the week, Monday afternoon to Thursday afternoon, has a 16% shortfall. The problem is more pronounced in Cork, where 56% of peak time requests are unfulfilled and 40% of off peak. A 35-year-old man accused of breaking into a pub and a shop in Cork city was remanded in custody until February 15. Judge Mary Dorgan remanded Tony Coffey, of no fixed address in Cork and originally from Tralee, in custody, on the application of Sergeant Pat Lyons at Cork District Court. Sgt Lyons said the alleged offences are the subject of an ongoing investigation. Mr Coffey is accused of breaking into the Wetherspoons Linen Weaver pub in Cork city at 3am to steal drink and then forcing his way into a nearby store to steal beer. Garda David Murphy originally arrested and brought him before Cork District Court where there was an objection to bail. The two burglary charges relate to the early hours of Thursday, November 30, 2023. Garda Murphy said in his initial bail objection in the case that it was alleged that after 3am on November 30 the accused went to a side door of the Linen Weaver pub on Paul Street, Cork, that he entered and stole three bottles of spirts valued 150. It was alleged that after 5am on the same date at Herlihys Centra on Patricks Street there was a burglary by a man seen prising open the front door with is hands. The premises was closed to the public at the time but there was a member of staff upstairs getting ready for the day ahead. He stole eight cans of beer. Defence solicitor, Eddie Burke, said the defendant was anxious for the case to progress as quickly as possible as he is in custody on the charges. There was a net increase of 53 new jobs or 8% in employment figures in firms located in the Cork Gaeltacht during 2023, according to the end of year report issued by Gaeltacht development agency Udaras na Gaeltachta. According to the report, a total of an additional 79 jobs were created in the Cork Gaeltacht, which includes the inland region of Muscrai west of Macroom as well as Oilean Cleire/Cape Clear, but there were some losses during the year. The new jobs were created mostly in the food and drink sector, companies like Macroom Buffalo Mozzarella and Follain, as well as in engineering and renewable energy. The jobs created during 2023 bring the total number of jobs in the Cork Gaeltacht supported by Udaras to 758, up from 703 in 2022. According to the agencys end of year statement, there was a net increase of employment in six of the countrys seven Gaeltacht areas; Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Galway, Mayo and Meath. There was a marginal 1% decrease in Donegal during 2023. The overall net increase in employment in the Gaeltacht regions was 303 during 2023 and this means that there are 9,526 employed in Udaras na Gaeltachta companies which in turn is generating more than 1 billion in annual sales during the year. While enterprise and employment are key responsibilities of the Udaras, they are also charged with supporting the use of Irish in Gaeltacht areas. According to Census 2022, there was a decline in the number of daily speakers of Irish in Gaeltacht areas, down 1.6% from the 2016 figures to 20,261 in 2022, but the Udaras reported that language plans are in place in 28 language planning areas and two Gaeltacht Service Towns. Language plans Last year, 3.9m in grant aid was provided for the implementation of language plans which are aimed at increasing the number of Irish speakers across the Gaeltacht communities. New research across nearly 800 employees in client companies carried out by Udaras during the year showed that 58% are Irish speakers. A pilot scheme is being developed based on the findings which will be rolled out in 2024. Community development is also a key role of the Udaras and it distributed 4.3m to 35 community organisations across the different Gaeltacht areas during 2023. Udaras na Gaeltachta chief executive Tomas O Siochain said the 2023 results showed the influence of the agency in Gaeltacht areas and across the country. A capital investment of 35.48m in upgrading and developing infrastructure will provide a platform for future development in Gaeltacht areas, where Irish will continue to be spoken as a community language, said Mr O Siochain. 2024 will see an emphasis on young people to support language acquisition, creating opportunities in digital creativity, training and education. Elections to the board of Udaras na Gaeltachta, which were abandoned in 2012 due to austerity measures, are now due to be resumed later this year. A Dublin woman who confessed to money-laundering of 5,800 at a bank account in Clonakilty will be sentenced later this month. 26-year-old Lynn Knowles of Earlsfort Road, Lucan, Dublin, was arraigned at Cork Circuit Criminal Court where she pleaded guilty to the single count of money-laundering. The particulars of the charge are that that between October 28 and 29 at AIB bank, Pearse Street, Clonakilty, County Cork, she engaged in handling the proceeds of criminal conduct, 5,800. Donal OSullivan defence barrister said the accused had no previous convictions. No report was sought from the defence. Judge Helen Boyle adjourned sentencing until February 19. FIANNA Fail leader and Tanaiste Micheal Martin has appointed Cork South West TD Christopher OSullivan as the party spokesperson on Coastal Communities. The position will see Deputy OSullivan covering areas such as coastal tourism, coastal infrastructure and fishing. Speaking on the announcement, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said: Christopher, since his election to the Dail has been one of the most vocal promoters of all things coastal and its clear that he has a passion for tourism as well as the fishing sector. This will complement his role as spokesperson on Climate Action and Biodiversity. In accepting the role Deputy OSullivan said: This is a huge honour for me, even during my years as a councillor, coastal infrastructure was something that was always on the agenda. We have some of the most terrific harbours and inlets as well as coastal villages and towns in west Cork, and we need to protect our marine infrastructure. "I see this role as an opportunity to highlight the fact that our coastal communities need investment. They need more investment on improving piers, slipways and pontoons which I feel would greatly benefit coastal tourism, marine tourism activities as well as facilities for both the inshore sector and larger fishing boats". Deputy OSullivan concluded by saying: Ireland has an opportunity to become a world super power in terms of renewable energy for example, and much of that will be offshore. Its important when we have large companies investing millions in Ireland that coastal communities see the benefits. RESEARCHERS at APC Microbiome Ireland (APC), a Science Foundation Ireland research centre based at University College Cork, have made a discovery in the role the human virome plays in stress management. The findings may help to develop treatments to reduce stress and stress-related disorders by targeting the virome, the vast community of viruses hosted by every human body. One in eight people has a mental disorder, according to the World Health Organization, and stress-related psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, are prevalent and are significant societal burdens. Although most people think of viruses as harmful (covid, influenza, the common cold), there are other viruses, known as bacteriophages, that infect bacteria, including pathogenic bacteria, and which can play a role in maintaining our health and well-being. Over the past decade, a burgeoning field of research, studying the human microbiome, has demonstrated that the microbes in a persons gut play a pivotal role in physical and mental health. The composition of bacteria in the gut changes with stress and targeting these bacteria may alleviate stress, but, up to now, all the focus has been on bacteria. As part of this new research, Professor John Cryan and colleagues teamed up with the bacteriophage laboratory of Professor Colin Hill, at APC, to decode the contribution of these gut viruses to stress. Changes in virome composition The study, published in Nature Microbiology, found that chronic stress led to changes in virome composition that were associated with behavioural, immune, and bacteriome alterations, supporting increasing evidence that brain-gut interactions play a key role in how stress is regulated. An understanding of the biological consequences of chronic stress offers the potential to develop alternative, new therapies. Next, a faecal virome transplant (FVT) they harvested viruses from healthy animals prior to stress and returned then to the stressed gut was able to exert remarkable outcomes in preventing stress-associated behavioural and physiological issues. The research provides strong causal evidence that the viral component of the microbiome can be used to restore the microbiota-gut-brain axis during stress and a potential treatment strategy for stress-related psychopathologies. Dr Nathaniel Ritz, first author on the study, said: Although bacteria in the gut has been the subject of growing research, the way the virome interacts with bacteria, and how they affect stress-related health and disease status, is largely unexplored. Our research focuses on this and highlights a link between stress-related behaviours and the gut bacteriome and virome, which opens up the potential to target the virome to treat and reduce the effects of stress. Validation now needed in human studies Prof Cryan said: This important research is a step advancement in developing targeted virome therapies that reduce the effects of stress with safer therapeutic interventions, and points to the potential of further research on the dynamics of the microbiota-gut-brain axis to promote gut and brain health. He cautioned that these are mice studies and validation in humans is now required to assess the potential of the FVT approach. The research may open the door for personalised-medicine approaches for stress-related disorders. APC director Professor Paul Ross said: Id like to congratulate the APC teams involved. The virome is a nascent research area and we are excited at the huge potential there to develop therapeutics. To have established a tangible link with chronic stress, at this early stage, is a huge advancement and we look forward to deepening this research area. Pat Flynn Flights have resumed at Shannon Airport after the runway was blocked for over two hours by an aircraft that had made an emergency landing on Monday morning. The crew of the transatlantic cargo flight evacuated their jet on the runway after earlier declaring a Mayday situation, reporting a possible fire on board. The Cargolux Boeing 747-400 (ER) jet was travelling from Miami, Florida to Amsterdam in the Netherlands at the time. Flight CLX-94K was about an hour west of Shannon when the crew declared an emergency at around 6am and requested clearance from air traffic controllers to descend from 37,000ft to 25,000ft. The crew confirmed there was a crew of three on board, and they were carrying a consignment of flowers. The crew also advised controllers they had an indication in the cockpit suggesting a possible fire on the main deck. The crew confirmed they wished to divert and land at Shannon Airport, where authorities were notified of the situation and a multi-agency emergency plan was put into action. Response Shannon Airports Fire and Rescue Service was alerted and crews deployed to holding points adjacent to the runway ahead of the aircrafts arrival. Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Shannon and Ennis stations were mobilised, along with National Ambulance Service paramedics and gardai. The crew advised controllers shortly before landing that they believed the fire alarm was a false activation but said they would evacuate the aircraft on the runway as a precaution. The flight landed safely at 6.51am and came to a stop on the runway, where the three-person crew evacuated the aircraft using an emergency slide. Operations were brought to a standstill at the airport while the runway was blocked by the aircraft. Airport fire crews used thermal imaging cameras to scan the jets fuselage externally for any hotspots, however, no indication of a fire was found. After the crew had evacuated, firefighters wearing breathing apparatus boarded the aircraft to carry out a more detailed inspection, finding no evidence of a fire. Delays The early morning Ryanair flight from Stansted to Shannon was placed in a holding pattern southeast of the airport for over an hour, but later diverted to Cork. A second Ryanair flight from Krakow circled north of the airport for a time until the crew also opted to divert to Cork. An Aer Lingus flight from Shannon to London was also delayed from departing, while the outbound legs of the diverted flights also face delays. Operations resumed at 9.20am after the emergency slide was disconnected from the aircraft and the jet was towed clear of the runway. It is now understood there was no fire on board the aircraft and the indication was a false alarm. A spokesperson for the Shannon Airport Group confirmed the incident and the impact on other flights: The aircraft was met on arrival by emergency service and Shannon Airport personnel. All crew members safely evacuated the plane. As a result, FR093 from Stansted to Shannon and FR3326 from Krakow to Shannon has diverted to Cork. Intending passengers are being asked to contact their airlines. By David Hughes, Nina Lloyd and Dominic McGrath, PA Political Staff Stormont leaders should focus on the day-to-day concerns of people in Northern Ireland rather than the prospect of a ballot on reunification, the British Prime Minister has suggested. Rishi Sunak said constitutional change was not a priority after First Minister Michelle ONeill claimed a border poll could be held in the next 10 years. Mr Sunak joined Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris in Belfast on Monday to mark the return of a powersharing Executive following two years of political stalemate. Speaking to broadcasters on the visit, the British Prime Minister said: I had very constructive meetings this morning with the Executive, with political leaders across Stormont, and it is a historic and important day for the country, because Northern Irelands politicians are back in charge, making decisions on behalf of their people, which is exactly how it should be. Now, our new deal gives them more funding and more powers than they have ever had, so they can deliver for families and businesses across Northern Ireland. And thats what everyones priority is now. It is not constitutional change, it is delivering on the day-to-day things that matter to people. Earlier on Monday, Mr Heaton-Harris also dismissed the prospect of a border poll when asked about Ms ONeills suggestion. First Minister Michelle ONeill, left, has spoken of a decade of opportunity (Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA) I really dont think thats going to happen but as Secretary of State I am the person responsible in Government to check whether the conditions for that have been met, he told LBC. Theyre definitely not met at this point in time, and I would suggest that actually top of the in tray for an incoming Executive has to be things like public sector pay, the health service, which needs massive transformation here, funding on education and a whole host of other things that actually all people in Northern Ireland from both communities truly care about. He said he would have to be confident that there was a potential majority of people in Northern Ireland who would like to depart from their current constitutional status for the conditions to be met. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson criticised the Sinn Fein First Minister for focusing on the divisive issue. She says she wants to be a First Minister for all, well that means the unionist community, he told Sky News. He said the Executive must work on the basis that a majority of people in Northern Ireland support the union. Lets move forward together. Lets focus on the issues that really matter to people. Theyre not interested in a divisive border poll, Sir Jeffrey said. On Sunday, Ms ONeill the first nationalist to assume the post of First Minister said: 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. FEELING increasingly anxious? Experiencing night sweats, or reduced libido? Fluctuations of weight, fatigue or a change to your periods? Symptoms like these would prompt you to consider your hormonal health, and what could be going on in that regard. Menopause is a natural part of ageing, when a woman stops having periods. It comes with a wide range of symptoms, both physical and mental. Peri-menopause is the time leading up to menopause when hormones in the body start to shift, and symptoms begin to present. Its the time before periods stop completely. Unfortunately, a 2021 report by Athone Institute of Technology showed that a huge proportion of women (77%) were not prepared for the menopause. Knowing what to expect and making adjustments to lifestyle and/or medications as necessary can really help with the transition, which for the majority happens over a number of years. It can be difficult to know where to go for evidence-based information and support however, and the subject of menopause still carries a lot of shame or embarrassment in Ireland, although progress is certainly being made. If you want to know more about current symptoms or what you may experience in the future, as well as its management, below is a list of some of the best places to seek out that support. Pharmacist your local pharmacy is the provider of HRT and medications to support mental health in menopause, and therefore have a wealth of knowledge in this area. They are also well placed to signpost you to appropriate information or services. Ask to use the consultation room for a quiet, private conversation, and know that you can pop in any time, without an appointment required. If prescribed something for your symptoms, the advice will be further tailored to you, and will include lifestyle changes that you can make to naturally support your hormone balance. GP your GP is an excellent point of contact if you have any concerns about how symptoms are affecting your daily life. Full bloods can be carried out to gain a clearer picture of the situation, although these results change very frequently according to the time in your cycle. They can help however to rule out any red-flag issues. Some GPs specialise in womens health, and others may advise referral onwards to a consultant or womens health specialist practice where deemed necessary. Mental Health Ireland the mental health impact of peri-menopause and menopause should not be underestimated, and MHI have co-produced an information booklet with tips and signposting, as well as the experiences of others who have gone through this challenging time. As one person said in their recent report, there can be a double stigma of having mental health challenges and menopause which is important to tackle. They also provide an excellent checklist for advocating for yourself in appointments with healthcare professionals. Womens health clinics these are excellent settings where all the resources required for holistic womens health are housed. In particular, things like GP, physiotherapy for pelvic issues, and CBT for the mental health challenges encountered can be helpful to avail of. Its worth checking whether any are located in your area, if youd like specialised care in this regard. Menopause cafe a really helpful initiative, run by a charity organisation that arrange for local volunteers to host pop-up, not-for-profit gatherings where people can meet to discuss their experiences and connect with others in similar situations to them. This really helps to boost mood and morale, and reassures people that theyre not alone in their symptoms and challenges. Peri-menopause and menopause are significant life events, that often occur during other challenging life events, such as looking after a family (young kids and/or ageing parents), and work pressures. Making sure that you arm yourself with information will ensure that you take appropriate action if symptoms ever become too much. Theres plenty that can be done, once we reach out for help. About the author Dr Michelle ODriscoll is a pharmacist, re searcher and founder of InTuition, a health and wellness education company. Her research lies in the area of mental health education, and through InTuition she delivers health promotion workshops to corporate and academic organi sations nationally. See intuition.ie Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. A street billboard informs the public about the February 4 referendum on parking fees for SUVs in Paris, France, on Nov. 22, 2023. Mohamad Salaheldin Abdelg Alsayed / Anadolu via Getty Images Voters in Paris approved an increase in parking fees for SUVs In a referendum on February 4. Vehicles weighing over 1.6 metric tons will have hourly parking fees tripled as the city seeks to become a more bikeable and pedestrian-friendly. The passed proposal also comes ahead of the 2024 Olympics to be held in Paris. As BBC reported, 54.55% of voters agreed to the proposal to increase parking rates for SUVs, but there was only about a 5.7% voter turnout. The approved proposal means that parking fees for SUVs will now total 18 euros (about $19), Reuters reported. This rate applies per hour for the first two hours, then increases. Non-residents parking in central Paris could pay 225 euros (about $243) for parking for 6 hours; by comparison, cars under 1.6 metric tons pay about 6 euros per hour, totalling $75 for a 6-hour park, as reported by The Associated Press. Outside of central Paris, the rates will increase to a starting fee of 12 an hour. With the passed referendum, the increased parking rates will take effect starting in September. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo proposed the increased parking rates, noting that these larger vehicles threaten our health and our planet as well as take up too much space, The Associated Press reported. The new parking rules do offer full exemptions, including for people with disabilities, taxis, healthcare workers and tradespeople. EVs have some exemptions; fully electric vehicles under 2 metric tons are exempt from the increased parking rates, according to Le Monde. According to David Belliard, deputy mayor of transport in Paris, the increased parking rates will impact about 10% of vehicles in the city. The fees could bring up to 35 million per year for Paris, Le Monde reported. Automotive groups, including 40 Millions dAutomobilistes and Mobilite Club France, have protested the SUV parking rates, arguing that these increases will negatively impact families and that newer SUVs are not any more polluting than older, smaller vehicles. The passed referendum follows a proposal to ban e-scooters in the city that voters passed last year. Mayor Hidalgo noted the high rates of accidents with e-scooters and the failure to dock them properly, leaving them blocking pathways throughout Paris. The measures are part of larger goals for Paris to become a more environmentally friendly city. In December, the city reported plans to convert a busy roundabout into an urban forest, and last summer, officials announced the final phase of a Seine restoration project that would make the famous river swimmable again for the first time in a century. The citys Plan Velo: Act 2 further plans to make Paris entirely cyclable by 2026. The increased SUV parking rate could influence other cities to follow suit; The Connexion reported that Mayor Gregory Doucet of Lyon, France would implement a tiered parking fee structure, which is expected to take effect before summer 2024. Microsoft is teaming up with media website Semafor on a new project that uses ChatGPT to aid in the creation of news stories, The Financial Times has reported. It's one of several journalistic collaborations Microsoft is set to announce today, and follows a New York Times lawsuit filed against the software giant and its partner, OpenAI, for copyright infringement. Semafor, co-founded by former Buzzfeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith, will create a feed called "Signals" that will be sponsored by Microsoft for an undisclosed but "substantial" sum, the report states. It will highlight breaking news and analysis, offering a dozen or so posts per day. All stories will be written entirely by journalists, with the AI effectively acting as a research tool. Signals responds to the deep and continuing shifts in the digital media landscape and the post-social news moment, and to the risks and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence, Semafor wrote. Specifically, Semafor's team will use AI tools to rapidly find breaking event reporting from other news sources around the world in multiple languages, while providing translation tools. An article might therefore include Chinese, Indian or other sources, with reporters adding context and summarizing the different viewpoints. "Journalists need to adopt these tools in order to survive and thrive for another generation," former AP journalist Noreen Gillespie, now with Microsoft, told The Financial Times. The use of ChatGPT and other AI chatbots has been controversial in newsrooms, with sites like CNET recently using them to generate entire feature-length articles (albeit with the help of human editors). This despite the fact that AI can "hallucinate" (make up untrue content) and exhibit other kinds of bizarre behavior. Newsrooms are trying to figure out how to use them to improve reporting and potentially compete against chatbots churning out reams of SEO-friendly content. Late last year, The New York Times announced that it was suing OpenAI and Microsoft for using published news articles to train its chatbots without providing compensation. The lawsuit, which potentially seeks billions in statutory and actual damages, marks the first time a major news organization has pursued ChatGPT's developers for copyright infringement. Microsoft also announced collaborations today with the Craig Newmark School of Journalism, the GroundTruth Project, the Online News Association and other journalism organizations. This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Samsung chairman Jay Y. Lee's legal troubles may be in the rearview mirror as a Korean court acquitted him of stock manipulation and accounting fraud charges over a 2015 merger, The Financial Times has reported. The ruling allows Lee to continue leading Samsung, which saw a sharp decline in revenue last year. Seeking a five year jail term, prosecutors accused Lee of manipulating the share price of two Samsung subsidiaries to smooth the way for a merger that allowed him to consolidate his power. However, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that the prosecutors failed to prove that. "It is hard to say that Lee Jae-yong [aka Jay Y. Lee] . . . spearheaded the merger, and that the merger was done just for the sake of Lees succession," the judge stated in the ruling. The verdict will allow Lee and Samsung to focus on its declining smartphone and memory chip businesses. Samsung recently lost its smartphone sales crown to Apple, and is now behind SK Hynix in the new and hot market of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) used by NVIDIA and others to create artificial intelligence (AI) models. The decision was heralded by business groups including the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, but not everyone in the country agreed. "The ruling will free Lee of legal risks, but I am at a loss for words in terms of the countrys economic justice," Park Ju-geun, head of corporate thinktank Leaders Index, told the FT. "This goes totally against all previous court rulings on the merger." Lee was originally sentenced to five years in prison in 2017 after being found guilty of bribing public officials over the same merger. He walked free after a year in detention, but the South Korean Supreme Court overturned that decision and ordered the case to be retried. While Lee was sentenced with two-and-a-half years of prison time in early 2021 in that retrial, he was paroled half a year later in a development that civic groups had described as another example of the justice system being lenient towards the country's elite. (Korea's former president Park Geun-hye also went to jail for her role in the same affair.) In 2022, Lee was given a pardon by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, ostensibly so he could help the country overcome its economic crisis. Ironically, Yoon is the country's former chief prosecutor and oversaw the original convictions of Lee and Park. Bad actors keep using deepfakes for everything from impersonating celebrities to scamming people out of money. The latest instance is out of Hong Kong, where a finance worker for an undisclosed multinational company was tricked into remitting $200 million Hong Kong dollars ($25.6 million). According to Hong Kong police, scammers contacted the employee posing as the company's United Kingdom-based chief financial officer. He was initially suspicious, as the email called for secret transactions, but that's where the deepfakes came in. The worker attended a video call with the "CFO" and other recognizable members of the company. In reality, each "person" he interacted with was a deepfake likely created using public video clips of the actual individuals. The deepfakes asked the employee to introduce himself and then quickly instructed him to make 15 transfers comprising the $25.6 million to five local bank accounts. They created a sense of urgency for the task, and then the call abruptly ended. A week later, the employee checked up on the request within the company, discovering the truth. Hong Kong police have arrested six people so far in connection with such scams, according to CNN. The individuals involved stole eight identification cards and had filed 54 bank account registrations and 90 loan applications in 2023. They had also used deepfakes to trick facial recognition software in at least 20 cases. The widespread use of deepfakes is one of the growing concerns of evolving AI technology. In January, Taylor Swift and President Joe Biden were among those whose identities were forged with deepfakes. In Swift's case, it was nonconsensual pornographic images of her and a financial scam targeting potential Le Creuset shoppers. President Biden's voice could be heard in some robocalls to New Hampshire constituents, imploring them not to vote in their state's primary. Update, February 6 2024, 10:34AM ET: The Hong Kong police said in their press conference that they had arrested six people in connection with such scams, not necessarily this scam. It could be worth $250 million and also allows him to stream on other platforms. The biggest podcast in the world makes many people furious, but its still the biggest podcast in the world. Now, Joe Rogan has signed another deal with Spotify for his eponymous The Joe Rogan Experience show, this one worth an estimated $250 million. The deal allows the streamer to distribute Rogans podcasts on additional platforms, including a video version for YouTube, but it also includes a revenue-sharing agreement based on ad sales, in case Rogan burns through those hundreds of millions too quickly. Rogan has been a regular source of controversy since signing up, in particular with uninformed COVID opinions, which prompted doctors and scientists to demand Spotify update its misinformation policy. Spotify claimed it wasnt responsible for Rogan, that it was a platform, not a publisher. Now Spotify will be publishing Rogans projects elsewhere, what will be its defense next time? Mat Smith The biggest stories you might have missed You wont be able to use a Bluetooth mouse with Apple Vision Pro Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24+ review: A taste of generative AI in everyday use 20 years later, Facebook is a supporting character in the Mark Zuckerberg universe You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! Its lenticular optics make ghostly 3D avatars. iFixit Apple uses a stereoscopic 3D effect to make your virtual eyes look more lifelike on the Vision Pros EyeSight outer display. It has a widening optical layer and a lenticular lens layer over the OLED screen, so exposing the panel shows some very oddly pinched eyes. The optical nature of the added layers also explains the EyeSight displays dim output. iFixit is unraveling the headset to figure out how Apple does it all. Continue reading. And there may be a dedicated app soon. According to a leak, Google may change the name of its AI chatbot from Bard to Gemini. It would make sense for Google to do so the company introduced its new multimodal AI model, Gemini, at the end of 2023. The changelog, shared by Android app developer Dylan Roussel and dated February 7, notes a paid Gemini Advanced tier will be available. It also mentions a Gemini app for Android. Continue reading. The SLIM lander has since gone dormant. JAXA Japans SLIM lander managed to turn back on more than a week after it plopped upside down onto the surface of the Moon but now, its gone dormant for the duration of the lunar night, and it may not wake up again. Lunar night lasts the equivalent of two Earth weeks and can get colder than -200 degrees Fahrenheit. Its chances of resuming operations arent great, but then again, its already surprised us once. Continue reading. Yandex struck a $5.2 billion deal to sell what has been dubbed 'Russia's Google' to a group of Russian investors, marking the biggest corporate exit from the country since Moscow invaded Ukraine almost two years ago. Monday, February 5, 2024 In the 1964 U.S. Supreme Court case Jacobellis v. Ohio, the justices attempted to classify the kinds of materials that could broadly be considered obscene or pornographic. In trying to define what constituted hard-core pornography, Justice Potter Stewart partly wrote: I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it. Justice Stewarts wise principle should be applied to speech in todays America. Over the last decade or so, America has tied itself in knots trying to decide what constitutes offensive or harmful speech. That discussion has unfortunately been hijacked by people on the extreme wings of the nations two major political parties. There is an extensive catalogue of issues that are seemingly no longer open for debate for people on the far left, while those on the far right want to limit the teaching of certain historical facts and access to some literary works. I was always fascinated by the conversations I had with taxi drivers in the Soviet Union during my time there as a student in the 1980s. Back then, there were few avenues for ordinary Soviet citizens to express their opinions, especially on political matters. Living for so long under totalitarian regimes seemed to have cowed the vast majority of average Soviets into silence, but within the confines of their taxi cabs, drivers were often animatedly vocal. I particularly enjoyed the many long rides I took from city centers to airports. They offered me opportunities to get a detailed sense of what people really felt about their society. Knowing that it was unlikely a foreigner like me would have the means to reveal thoughts they shared with me to some government authorities, drivers freely expressed their views about their rulers in Moscow and provincial capitals. American society is becoming eerily similar to the one that I observed in the Soviet Union nearly four decades ago. There are no state agencies that intimidate Americans into silence, but increasing numbers of people in this country say they are afraid to express their views openly on a long list of subjects, for fear of losing their jobs or being ostracized in their communities. Just like the Soviet taxi drivers, nowadays, many Americans freely say what is on their minds only when they are in safe company. In her recent essay in The New Yorker Daily, Jeannie Suk Gerson, a professor at Harvard Law School, wrote: Students across the political spectrum, but largely liberals, have told me that they felt it would be foolish to volunteer their opinions in class discussions, or even that they routinely lied about their views when asked. She listed several examples of taboo subjects that students actively avoid talking about. Gerson went on to say that In this climate, it [has become] increasingly difficult to elicit robust discussions because students [are] so scared of one another. Those are rather shocking revelations by someone who teaches at the nations leading research university. Americas global economic dominance largely derives from the countrys preeminent innovative powers. Clearly, innovation cannot occur without rigorous inquiry and robust exchange of ideas. And with the inextricable link between the academic and business worlds, this limitation of speech on college campuses should be extremely worrisome for every American. The innovative workforce that makes American corporations world-beaters emanates primarily from the nations institutions of higher learning, which are considered the very best in the world. America will lose its competitive edge over time, if its future workers are hesitant to engage in inquiry on university campuses. If these students appetite for fierce debate is killed at this stage of their lives, there is no on-switch that could revive it after they enter the workforce. In societies without feedback loops, mistakes are compounded over time, until problems get so big that they become unmanageable. In part, the Soviet Union collapsed due to the absence of social debate. A small group of peoplemostly menruled by fiat for decades. Because humans have limited knowledge, restricting the number of people who participate in decision-making necessarily shrinks the supply of good ideas that make societies flourish. America should be careful not to fall into that trap. We dont have to have tyrants in Washington to make this country look, feel, and function like a dictatorship. Due to extreme political polarization, Americans now seem unable to agree even on some very basic facts. Appealing to reason anywhere in America nowadays would therefore appear to be a fools errand. Nonetheless, it is the only way that this nation can steer itself away from the destructive path that it is on. We should use Justice Stewarts I-know-it-when-I-see-it principle as guidance to get out of this national quandary. It shouldnt be difficult for anyone to agree that incitement to violence is speech that should not be tolerated. Broadly speaking, speech should be considered harmful, and thus curtailed, only when it carries threat of bodily injury to others, or, is so outrageous that any reasonable person would know it when they hear it. It is never pleasant to be the target of offensive speech. But people should not be ostracized or severely punished for simply using an inappropriate word. Unless someone willfully makes a complete fool of themselves by repeatedly directing offensive language at another person, we should all be a bit more tolerant than we are now. Given the enormous benefits of free speech to society, allowance of some less-than-pleasant language occasionally is, in my view, a relatively small price to pay for the chance to live in a prosperous country. We should also keep in mind that in a multicultural society like Americas, it is quite easy for anyone to say something that others might find offensive. Because I am a non-native American, in the three decades that I have lived in this country, I have sometimes done or said culturally inappropriate things. Perhaps I unwittingly continue to. I always regret making those mistakes when I become aware of them, and learn not to repeat them. Sometimes, what we find offensive could very well be innocent mistakes by others. Degrading Americas capacity for innovation will have profoundly negative implications for everyone. It will limit not only Americas economic growth, but also vital scientific and medical discoveries. As a nation, we should be championing free speech and rigorous debate, not silencing people. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Frank Victoria Phone: 708-645-4216 Cell: 708-218-3144 Email: fvquiller@gmail.com Website: FrankVictoriaAuthor.com SUBURBAN AUTHOR PUBLISHES CONTROVERSIAL NOVEL Amazon Bestseller in Three Fiction Categories Orland Park Il. February 5, 2024. Illegal immigration, government intrigue and constitutional interpretation are as timely as today's headlines. And they are the core of Orland Park writer Frank Victoria's award-winning novel The Founders' Plot. The storyline involves the newly-elected California governor, Michael J. DiGrasso, who pushes through a tough immigration law that's declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. But the decorated Afghan War veteran ignores the ruling, igniting a clash between federal, state, and judicial power. And leaves the governor's longtime friend, President Martin W. Ballard, to decide whether to nationalize the state's National Guard to enforce the court's ruling. Battling the governor is Senate Minority Leader Elizabeth Stern, a cunning member of the opposition party. She'll go to any lengths to force DiGrasso to obey the Court decision. She plots an impeachment and even blackmails the governor over an affair he had years earlier. As these forces clash, tragedy befalls two Mexican families in the country illegally. Carlos and Marisol Castellano and their friends Julio and Carmella Perez struggle to survive in the hypertensive environment created by DiGrasso's immigration law. Victoria weaves a multitude of events around that narrative. "There's all kinds of good stuff," he says, "extramarital affairs, bloody fights, blackmail, killings, family strife, an assassination attempt, suicide. You name it. "And there's plenty of historical and legal information presented. I like books, even fiction, from which I learn something, and I think many other people feel the same." It took Victoria years to write the novel, but it was a dream come true. "It's something I've always wanted to do. But there were times when I thought I'd never finish it. I was forever editing and rewriting and reorganizing. It was a long process and what started as a labor of love became just plain labor." Victoria is also the author of The Ultimate Bet. He will soon be publishing two novellas, two Fantasies and a Romantic Comedy this year. He'd welcome an interview for an article about the book and/or a review in your newspaper. About the author: Frank Victoria grew up in Chicago and now lives in Orland Park. He served in the Marine Corps and holds a B.A. in Journalism. He was a professional business writer and editor for more than twenty years before making a career change into education where he taught American history and government for sixteen years in the Chicago Public Schools. Accompanied by the sound of a steam whistle, a returning China-Europe freight train (Hefei) slowly entered Hefeibei Station. This was Hefei's first returning China-Europe freight train of 2024. The train carried 80 TEUs loaded with coffee roasters, hinges, sound-absorbing cotton, cigarette paper, glass fiber hoses, polytetrafluoroethylene, and other goods. Departing from Germany, it successfully arrived after a 22-day journey. With the strong support of Luzhou Customs, this returning China-Europe freight train adopted a port transshipment model, avoiding the congestion risks associated with port inspections. This significantly promoted the efficiency of customs clearance for imported goods at the port, reduced logistics costs for businesses, and further optimized the business environment at the port. Data indicates that many shippers are shifting from maritime transport to rail transport, and as an important route, the demand for freight volume on the China-Europe freight train has significantly increased. The stable operation of the returning China-Europe freight train (Hefei) service has made a significant contribution to supporting trade between China and Europe, demonstrating the vital value of the China-Europe freight train in stabilizing international industrial and supply chains. Moving forward, the China-Europe freight train (Hefei) will continuously strengthen the sourcing of overseas goods, introduce more high-quality products to the domestic market, and play a solid role in ensuring smooth transportation. Source: anhuinews.com HELENA, Mont. - In an effort to guarantee safe drinking water to students throughout Montana, the Office of Public Instruction recently allocated new funds to cover the costs of testing water for lead. According to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, 71 percent of schools that have already been tested exceeded the amount of lead that can safely be in the water. Schools with unsafe lead levels will be refunded for the costs of upgrading their water systems. "About 71 percent of schools have had at least one exceedance of lead in drinking water. This funding will help schools cover remediation costs to lower the risk of lead exposure and protect children's health," said DEQ Water Quality Division Administrator Lindsey Krywaruchka. This funding will go to schools participating in the Lead Reduction in School Drinking Water program which provides schools with support and funding for the water testing. Schools across the treasure state have participated in the water testing. Many of those tests identified unsafe levels in schools in Missoula, Kalispell, Bozeman and Billings, with lead amounts exceeding five micrograms per liter. The reimbursement program is first come first serve with the maximum amount of funding for each school capped at $50,000, but that amount may be adjusted in the future based on need. The money for this reimbursement comes from the last legislative session in which 3.7 million dollars was provided in state-wide funding. Qualified schools can apply for reimbursement through an online form on DEQs Lead in Schools website here. A 'disruptive' dairy brand has pledged 1 percent of all revenues to farming charity RABI to help the sector with financial, emotional and practical help. Organic dairy brand All Things Butter, which produces butter from a Somerset farm, have chosen RABI as its charity partner for this year. Created to 'disrupt the dairy industry', the farm will be donating 1% of all its revenues to aid farming families in times of need. All Things Butter offers a chef-led approach for its flavours, with Salted, Unsalted, Garlic & Herb, and Chilli varieties. On the partnership, Toby Hopkinson, co-founder, said: All Things Butter relies upon the farming community to create its products, and is proud to have developed a range that is made from a British farm, using organic British cream. "We believe in the power of giving back to the communities that sustain us, and are proud to partner with RABI, contributing to its mission to support farming families at a time when they are facing monumental challenges. All Things Butter, launched in November 2023 by Toby Hopkinson and chef Thomas Straker, is manufactured by Brue Valley Farm in Somerset. The farm's production process still uses traditional batching and hand-salting methods, including twice churning the butter to achieve the perfect texture and creaminess. More than just purchasing their produce, All Things Butter says it wants to form deeper relationships with the community, especially during hard times. Thomas Straker, chef and the brand's other co-founder said: Growing up on a smallholding in Herefordshire, I have always valued being in touch with where food comes from and developed a passion for hunting and foraging. "I am delighted to announce that All Things Butter and RABI are joining forces, with the aim to make a meaningful difference to the lives of farming people, creating a better future for the community. Paul Pirie, head of fundraising at RABI added: We are thrilled to be partnering with All Things Butter and applaud the value they place on farming people as vital to the success of their venture. "As RABI rolls out more programmes and initiatives to support farming communities, this exciting collaboration will allow us to sustain our efforts in empowering the worth and wellbeing of farming people. The All Things Butter product range is available on Ocado and other stockists including Planet Organic, Milk & More and The Modern Milkman. A Herefordshire mixed farmer who was sent to prison last year after he dredged a mile-long stretch of the River Lugg has been sentenced again. John Price, 69, who farms near Leominster, pleaded guilty on Wednesday 31 January to illegally felling a large area of woodland, including some trees that were around 50 years old. Forestry Commission agents attended the site in February 2022 following a report than men with heavy machinery were clearing an area in woodland around Ryelands Farm in Ludlow. The men said they were working on behalf of Mr Price and denied knowing they needed a licence to fell the trees. The farmer failed to respond to letters from the Forestry Commission and they discovered he was actually in prison for illegally clearing a large tract of land next to the back of the River Lugg in Hereford. In April 2023 he was jailed for 10 months for that offence and heavily fined. The sentence was later reduced on appeal. He was brought back before magistrates in Hereford on 31 January 2024. He was fined 1,750 and must pay costs to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of 135 and a victim surcharge of 175. He told the magistrates that he had merely told the workmen to coppice the trees - a legal process where tress are cut back to ground level to stimulate growth. The court rejected this. The case was prosecuted by a unit at CPS Mersey Cheshire that conducts cases of illegal tree felling investigated by the Forestry Commission. Senior Crown Prosecutor George Ward said: John Price earns a living from the land as a farmer but clearly has no real regard for it. He has broken the law on two occasions in quick succession and has been sentenced for further offending after a jail term for similar criminality. In this latest case, the Crown Prosecution Service successfully argued in court that coppicing wouldnt require the heavy machinery that was on site." He went on to say: What John Price had ordered the men to do was deforestation. When faced with the evidence Price remained silent and entered a guilty plea. The care of both agricultural and recreational land is controlled by the law and the CPS works with the Forestry Commission, the police and other statutory agencies to uphold that law. NFU Mutual has announced it will fund a new officer to help tackle one of the costliest crimes to farming, livestock theft. The new officer, Martin Beck, joins the ranks of the National Rural Crime Unit (NRCU) to tackle the crime, which cost an estimated 2.7 million in 2022. Mr Beck, who has 30 years of policing experience in the field, will gather livestock theft-related intelligence across the UK. He will work to spot and share trends, work with local police forces to build cases and help build prosecutions and secure convictions against criminals. The appointment comes as UK livestock theft cost an estimated 2.7 million in 2022, according to the latest figures from NFU Mutual. Matthew Screech, the insurer's lead on livestock theft, said it was one of the costliest crimes impacting farmers, with claims often involving over 50 sheep taken in a single raid. These thefts can have a devastating impact on farming businesses, as well as causing huge worry to farmers about the welfare of the stolen stock," he said. We are proud to be the sole funder of the new livestock theft officer role at the NRCU." Superintendent Andrew Huddleston, who heads the NRCU, added that the impact of livestock theft must not be under estimated. "It is a crime that is more than just the stealing of a commodity. These animals are the livelihood of many farmers and often the result of several generations of dedicated animal husbandry. Martin Beck, who has an outstanding history in this specialist field of work, will join the NRCU in February and I would encourage anyone with information about livestock thefts to contact our team. To deter thieves, farmers are being advised by the police and NFU Mutual to ensure stock is clearly marked and records are up-to-date. Farmers should also vary times of feeding and consider relocating stock to fields away from roads, or house them indoors if possible. How else do I prevent livestock theft? NFU Mutual says there are a number of steps farmers can take to reduce the risk and technology is now providing effective ways of tracing stolen livestock. To deter livestock thieves, the insurer advises farmers to: Ensure stock is clearly marked and records are up to date When possible, graze livestock in fields away from roads or consider housing them inside Check stock regularly - and vary times of feeding/check ups Consider a high-tech marking system Join a Farm or Rural Watch scheme to share information about rural crime in your area Ask neighbours to report any suspicious sightings to the police Dial 999 immediately if an incident is taking place - do not approach criminals Bijou Phillips insists she is doing well amid Danny Masterson's jail time. Bijou Phillips gave a rare update on her life amid the difficult time The 'Almost Famous' actress filed for divorce from the former 'That '70s Show' star after he was sentenced last September to 30 years to life behind bars after being found guilty of raping two women 20 years ago. As well as going through her divorce, Bijou recently left the Church of Scientology. And giving a rare update on her life to E! News at the Janie's Fund Grammys Viewing Party on Sunday (04.02.24), she said: "I'm doing good." Bijou added that she and the pair's daughter, Fianna, nine, are a "great little team." Despite their divorce, the 43-year-old star gave a character statement for Masterson and said he's still in touch with their little girl every night. She said: "Danny is an amazing father. "Our daughter and I are heartbroken that he is not home with us. It has been very difficult without him here. Even though he is now in jail, he calls her every day. He helps her with homework every night." Last week, Masterson moved to the maximum-security prison that once housed notorious cult leader Charles Manson. He was transferred from North Kern State Prison to Corcoran State Prison in California on January 29. Sources told Deadline the 47-year-old actor is being held at the men-only jail's highest security level unit partly for his own protection. His online file states he will be unable to seek parole until 2042, subject to staying out of trouble. It reads: Parole eligible dates may also change based on a variety of other reasons, including court orders, changes in law, and routine audits." The prison - which also previously housed Sirhan Sirhan, Robert F. Kennedy's killer - is currently over capacity with 3,700 inmates, 42 of whom are on death row, and includes a Protective Housing Unit which accommodates 47 men who require extraordinary protection from other prisoners. The week prior, Masterson was denied bail when he appealed his case over concerns he had "every incentive to flee". Los Angeles Superior Court judge Charlaine F. Olmedo wrote: If the defendants conviction and sentence are upheld on appeal, he will likely remain in custody for decades and perhaps the rest of his life. In light of the fact that the defendant has no wife to go home to, the defendant now has every incentive to flee and little reason to return to state prison to serve out the remainder of his lengthy sentence should his appeal be unsuccessful." His attorneys had said: "Defendant requests that this Court grant bail on appeal, and offers to comply with any relevant terms and conditions imposed by the Court that enable him to be an at-home parent and financial provider for his family, including house arrest and/or participation in an electronic monitoring program administered by the probation department." They argued that he possessed a "lack of dangerousness" and wouldn't be a flight risk, claiming they now had "extensive exculpatory evidence that was not presented to the jury." Donald Glover has learned to go slow filming sex scenes. Donald Glover has learned to go slow while filming sex scenes The actor, 40, said he picked up the lesson while shooting the Mr and Mrs Smith series for Amazon Prime Video alongside 36-year-old PEN15 actress Maya Erskine. He told Page Six about his biggest advice on shooting sex scenes: Go slow. Donald, who has sons Legend, Drake and Donald III with his wife Michelle White, added: Go slow. I dont even mean in just foreplay. I mean in everything, it will make everything a lot more romantic, and youll appreciate it a lot more when you get there. Youll really understand it. Mr and Mrs Smith is a reboot of the 2005 film that starred Brad Pitt, 60, and Angelina Jolie, 48. The movie saw the former couple who famously fell in love on its set play married assassins who find out they been assigned to kill each other. The Amazon series sees Donald and Maya play two lonely strangers who were separately recruited by the same spy agency, who then agree to ditch their old lives and enter into an arranged marriage. Co-created by Donald, he says the show delves into the subject of loneliness that he said was widespread during Covid. He added: I think there is a deep loneliness that everyone felt during the pandemic. Donald said about how the lockdowns gave him time to ponder relationships: I was like, Why do people even get together? Oh, Because life is hard. We need each other. Mr and Mrs Smith started streaming on Friday (02.02.24) and features a host of guest stars, including John Turturro, Alexander Skarsgard and Sharon Horgan. Jacob Elordi is being accused of pushing an influencer against a wall and grabbing his throat. Jacob Elordi is being accused of pushing an influencer against a wall and grabbing his throat The Saltburn actor, 26, allegedly grabbed KIIS FMs Joshua Fox, 32 who is renowned for posting videos of him crashing Married at First Sight weddings on Instagram after he apparently asked him to give out a sample of his bathwater. Their alleged bust-up is said to have happened outside the Clovelly Hotel in Sydneys eastern suburbs in Jacobs native Australia around 3.30pm on Saturday (03.02.24) after the actor travelled back to his homeland following a nomination for the AACTA Awards on the Gold Coast. New South Wales Police said an investigation had been launched after a 32-year-old was allegedly assaulted by a 26-year-old, and Joshua has now broken his silence on the alleged incident. He told The Kyle And Jackie O Show on Monday (05.02.24) Priscilla actor Jacob grabbed him by the throat and pushed him against a wall, adding he got up in his face and backed him against a wall as two of Jacobs friends allegedly surrounded him on either side. He said: I was feeling quite intimidated that and Im thinking somethings gonna happen here because I cant move. Theyre all surrounding me against this wall. Accusing Jacob of then asking him to delete footage of their alleged row including a record of it from his deleted files Joshua went on: Im thinking if I delete this footage, theres no evidence that this encounter happened. He said Jacob was acting aggressively and said he was left feeling intimidated and then said the actor flipped, shoved him against a wall and grabbed his throat. Joshua added one of Jacobs friends pulled him away, but said one of the actors pals then approached him. He said: (Jacobs friend told me), Make sure that video goes nowhere. make sure you tell no one about this. Audio of the incident was played on the Monday show that showed Joshua had approached Jacob with an empty jar and asked the actor if he could fill it with his bathwater so he could send it to the studio for host Jackie O Henderson. The stunt was a reference to a now-infamous bath scene in Jacobs Netflix film Saltburn. Jacob is heard on the audio saying: Youre kidding, before asking: Are you filming? and saying: Can you not man, please? A NSW Police spokesperson said: 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. The spokesperson added inquiries into the incident were ongoing. Paris Hilton "hates going out" since she became a mum. Paris Hilton hates going out now she's mum to two kids The 42-year-old hotel heiress had her son Phoenix in January 2023 and a daughter named London in November both via surrogate with her husband Carter Reum, 43, and has now revealed she's given up her party lifestyle because she would rather stay at home with her young family. During an outing to the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night (04.02.24), she told Access Hollywood: "Just every day waking up and seeing them smile, it just makes my life feel so complete, so full. I miss them so much right now. "I hate going out now because I just want to be with them every second." It comes after Paris confessed she's been struggling to juggle her work commitments with her new role as a parent and is "learning to say no" to work offers so she can spend more time with the kids. She told CNN: "The one thing is being a working mom and balancing it all. I have a crazy schedule. So I am learning to say no and trying to spend as much time as possible with my little ones." Paris added of her new baby daughter: "She is doing amazing, my little princess. I feel over the moon. We are so in love with her." The socialite previously revealed one of the reasons behind her decision not to carry the babies herself is because she worried being pregnant would bring back bad memories of her time as a student at Provo Canyon - a psychiatric youth residential facility - in Utah. Paris also admitted her busy schedule contributed to her decision to use a surrogate, telling Romper: "My schedule is out of control. There never wouldve been the right time to do it because theres literally no time to do anything in my life." Twinkle Khanna is back with her latest offering to her fans. She talks about the pressures that come with being Mrs Funnybones, about going back to college at almost 50, and unlearning things Its very difficult for someone my age to say that Im relevant because all the things that we grew up with are obsolete today! says Twinkle Khanna. Her Instagram account, however, is testimony to the fact that she is, in fact, as relevant as she is witty. Her secret? Chatting with her children (21 and 12) and their friends enables her to learn things. She learned the word heteronormative from her son, and it took her a little while to figure that out, because that is the world we live in. The most important enabler, however, is the nerd within her, who loves learning things! I dont think that I am relevant, she reveals. I am just someone whos very curious about the world, and that keeps me going. I am catching up with the author on her fourth book, Welcome To Paradise (Juggernaut), just short of her fiftieth birthday. The book, a collection of five stories, has created waves upon release, much expected from a best-selling author such as her. The minute Twinkle says, I love editing, I find it very therapeutic, my lips curl upwards. Any person who works in publishing will know why. Why is she good at it? Because she has no love lost for words that need to be chopped off. And she does not waste anything, Not in life, not in books. She simply tucks it away in her stash of notes and lets the show at hand go on! A self-confessed lover of coffee (she called it her elixir in our last interview), Twinkle knows that her younger self could have a cup of black coffee and go to sleep. Now? She will see how she feels. And move on, much like she tends to do in life, and within her books. I am just someone who gets on with it. My kids complain that, whenever they fell or they got hurt, or they were emotionally wrecked, I just said, come on, move on. Get on with it. Which might not have always been the right approach, but she moves on. Her inherent nature also helped her when she went to Goldsmiths, University of London, to pursue her Masters a couple of years ago. The pandemic, while it brought a lot of devastation, was also a wake-up call for many people, Twinkle feels. We all woke up and wondered: what is our purpose? I thought this is it. I mean, if I dont do it now, Im never going to. And so I applied to five universities, was rejected by one, but Goldsmiths was my first choice, and I was in! The logistics of moving countries for a year and taking her then 10-year-old daughter with her were being worked out, but she had to defer for a year, and she did. Moved on. A year later, she was there, going to class, making new friends, and stressing over writing critical essays and dissertations as opposed to fiction things she had never done before. On a lazy Mumbai afternoon, she talks about going back to college, easing the pressure off herself, and her to-do lists, among many other things. Excerpts from the interview In Welcome To Paradise, you evoke certain emotions but you do not mull over them with the reader. You move on and let the reader move on. Is that something you have developed? It is an amalgamation of two things. One is definitely the person I am. I dont look at every day in singularity. People have wish lists, I have to-do lists. There is certainly a difference between the two. I already mentioned that I am someone who gets on with it. So, partly it is the person I am and, secondly, I am a columnist by nature. I have been writing columns for 10 years now even though I don't know where those 10 years went! so I have 850 to 900 words to dissect an issue and then put it back together again. That has trained me to be very succinct in the way I write. And that has carried over into spaces such as short stories and novels. Where did the idea for Welcome To Paradise come from? Its difficult for any author to tell you a definitive time when a book began. The closest answer I can give you is Jelly Sweets (the last story of the book). I had all the notes about eight years ago and narrated the story to my then-editor and she was like, Why arent you writing it? Its a beautiful story. And I went, No, its just taking time to kind of build in my head. And it was the last story I finished in this collection. It is difficult to say where it all started, but it has been a process. Are you always observing people? Do you jot things down immediately or write copious notes when you go back home? I always make notes. If something interesting happens, I will come back and make notes and I am so shameless, I go back and tell people that, you know, you are so crazy that I have a page full of notes about you. Then I will use them in some book in a way that they dont recognise themselves. (Laughs) I dont think I have ever based a story on one person, but I have taken traits from multiple people real life and my imaginary people and made one person. My process also is that, before I start writing, I do character sketches of the people the protagonist as well as the other complex characters. All of these things then come into play when writing. For instance, in Nearly Departed (a part of Welcome To Paradise), Madhura Desais physical appearance was directly lifted from my character sketch; I didnt really have to work on it separately. Certain things that you describe are very acute and relatable because either a person has gone through them or seen someone who is dealing with them or have overcome them. It seems like you have seen life I really believe that the truth is the truth. It is how you present it in your writing that makes the difference. Fiction is just a way of presenting the truth; that is our job. I am close to 50, so I can say I have seen lots in my life already. I used to complain to my mother that you first told me to become an actor, but I did not want to, and I could have been writing then. Shes like, You could have only done that at that point of time, and then you had the time to do whatever else you want. I am grateful because, maybe if I had started writing when I was very young, I would not have these experiences to bring into my books. In contrast, in my 20s or 30s, I was quite oblivious to the world around me; I could not read body language, I could not know what the other person was thinking. As I got older, the entire universe started coming into perspective; I think its a little bit of age, its a little bit of easing down of your own boundaries. This book has come after five years. Was there any internal pressure to publish? No, actually, I had no pressure because I have been so busy in the last five years. I set up Tweak India so that took me about two years of my life, especially in the beginning. Then I went and I did six months of studying at Oxford online. I did that, then I did one year of my Masters. I had so much in between that I didnt have time to feel like, oh, Im stagnating, Im not moving forward. I felt like I was doing so many things. I used to feel a certain amount of pressure with regard to my Mrs Funnybones column, which has satire as its main premise. There was always the pressure to be funny in my stories. Ive had multiple arguments with my editors about it! Finally, in this book, I did not let myself feel that pressure. I only wrote what serviced the story. If there is humour in it, and there is dark humour, it is only if it serviced the story. It isnt that I added lines in between to make it funny. I let go of that pressure. In fact, its pretty much the opposite of feeling pressure. Is there anything you had to unlearn? No, it wasnt about unlearning. It was about tweaking things. There wasnt anything that l needed to unlearn in that manner, but I had to tweak my process and learn to be more unsympathetic towards my words. And I had to learn about taking the pressure off. Fast Five Your current favourite book: Its not my current favourite; its my all-time favourite The God of Small Things. A new age author who has left an impression on you: Ted Chiang, and, I think, all his stories. A quote or a saying that you often use or use as an example while talking to people: I have my own quotes, which I use. And I think the new one that I have been using is that human beings are the only ones who can take their pain and turn it into a punchline. What you are currently reading: Send Nudes by Saba Sams. If you could be in an alternate universe, what do you think you would be there? I would be a tortoise. So that Id go slowly along the path and see everything. Or maybe an owl, because I wear an owl ring, to remind me that either I am really wise or Im a total ullu. Im not sure which one. Photographs: Prasad Naik Welcome To Paradise By Twinkle Khanna Juggernaut 224 pages E-book available Also Read: Dr Abraham Verghese On The Ethos Of His Latest Book The Covenant Of Water Germany's exports and imports witnessed notable declines in December 2023, according to the latest figures from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). Exports fell by 4.6 per cent while imports saw a steeper decrease of 6.7 per cent on a calendar and seasonally adjusted basis compared with November 2023. The year-on-year data also revealed a downturn, with exports and imports decreasing by 4.6 per cent and 12.4 per cent respectively from December 2022. The annual figures for 2023 painted a bleak picture of Germany's foreign trade, with exports down 1.4 per cent and imports declining sharply by 9.7 per cent compared with 2022, after adjustments for calendar and seasonal variations. December 2023 ended with a trade surplus of 22.2 billion, up from November's adjusted surplus of 20.8 billion and significantly higher than December 2022's surplus of 13.7 billion. Germany's exports and imports fell by 4.6 per cent and 6.7 per cent respectively in December 2023. Yearly, exports dipped 1.4 per cent and imports by 9.7 per cent compared to 2022. The trade surplus increased to 22.2 billion in December, with a notable decline in trade with the EU and third countries. The 2023 surplus reached 209.4 billion. Trade within the European Union (EU) also contracted, with exports to EU member states dropping by 5.5 per cent and imports falling by 7.4 per cent from November 2023. The euro area countries alone saw a 6.0 per cent decline in exports and a 7.5 per cent decrease in imports. Non-euro area EU countries experienced a lesser impact, with exports and imports declining by 4.1 per cent and 7.2 per cent, respectively, as per Destatis. Germany's trade with countries outside the EU (third countries) followed a similar trend, with exports decreasing by 3.5 per cent and imports by 5.9 per cent from the previous month. The US remained the top destination for German exports despite a 5.5 per cent decrease in December 2023, while the most imports came from the People's Republic of China, despite an 8.5 per cent decline. Notably, trade with Russia showed a mixed picture. Exports to Russia slightly increased by 0.4 per cent from November 2023 but plummeted by 26.7 per cent from December 2022. Imports from Russia, though marginally up by 2.8 per cent from November, were down a staggering 89.0 per cent year-on-year. On a nominal basis (not adjusted for calendar or seasonal effects), December 2023 saw Germany exporting goods worth 113.1 billion and importing goods worth 96.4 billion, marking a decrease of 10.7 per cent in exports and 16.2 per cent in imports compared with December 2022. This resulted in an unadjusted trade surplus of 16.6 billion for December 2023, an increase from the previous year's surplus of 11.6 billion. For the entire year of 2023, Germany's foreign trade results further underscored the challenges faced by the economy. The country exported goods worth 1,562 billion and imported goods worth 1,352.6 billion, with exports decreasing by 2 per cent and imports by 10.2 per cent compared with 2022. The pronounced drop in imports relative to exports widened the trade surplus to 209.4 billion in 2023, more than doubling from the previous year's surplus and marking a significant recovery from the lowest surplus recorded since 2000, largely attributed to the sharp rise in energy import prices. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP) To read the full story, become a PRIME member today. PRIME Unlimited Access to Insightful Industry Information All Corporate Members and TexPro Subscribers are eligible to access F2F PRIME CONTENT using the same login credentials. Over the weekend, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt were seen at the airport, accompanied by their daughter Raha, heading to an undisclosed destination. However, a viral video now suggests that the couple, known for their close friendship with the Ambanis, may be gearing up for a special performance at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's pre-wedding celebration. Anant and Radhika, who got engaged in a private ceremony in Nathdwara, Rajasthan last year, had previously hosted a lavish party in Mumbai attended by several industry personalities. The upcoming wedding festivities are scheduled to take place from March 1-3 in Jamnagar, Gujarat. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Isha Ambani Piramal (@_ishaambanipiramal) A fan club shared a video featuring Ranbir and Alia at the Ambani residence in Jamnagar, walking casually with Akash Ambani. The speculation is that the couple might be preparing for a performance at Anant and Radhika's sangeet ceremony. On the professional front, Alia is currently busy shooting for Jigra, a film she is also co-producing. Additionally, the couple is set to share the screen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming project Love and War alongside Vicky Kaushal. Bhansali is expected to commence filming in November, with the shoot concluding by January next year. Before diving into Animal Park, Ranbir is slated to shoot for Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana. Reports suggest that Animal Park will only kick off after the completion of both Ramayana and Bhansali's film. Grammy Awards 2024 winners list: It's difficult to keep calm as the winner names of the 66th Annual Grammy Awards have been announced on Sunday (February 4). The Grammys turned out to be a star-studded event as leading celebrities attended the function in Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena. Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish and other leading stars graced the awards night that honoured the best recordings, songs, artists and compositions from October 1, 2022 to September 15, 2023. MILEY CYRUS WINS FIRST GRAMMY AWARD It was a special night for our favourite Miley Cyrus as she bagged her first ever Grammy Award. Mariah Carey presented Miley with the award for the best pop solo performance for"Flowers. As she expressed her gratitude for winning the Grammy, Cyrus mentioned she almost missed the start of the ceremony due to the rain in Los Angeles. SHANKAR MAHADEVAN, ZAKIR HUSSAIN BAG GRAMMY It's time to send congratulatory messages to Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain as their fusion music group Shakti has bagged the Grammy Award 2024 for Best Global Music Album for 'This Moment'. Recording Academy announced the same on their X page and tweeted, "Congrats Best Global Music Album winner - 'This Moment' Shakti. #GRAMMYs." GRAMMY AWARDS 2024 FULL WINNERS LIST Album Of The Year- Midnights, Taylor Swift (WINNER) Record Of The Year- Flowers, Miley Cyrus (WINNER) Song Of The Year- What Was I Made For?, Barbie], Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell Best New Artist- Victoria Monet Producer of the Year, Non-classical- Jack Antonoff Songwriter of the Year, Non-classical- Theron Thomas Best Pop Solo performance- "Flowers," Miley Cyrus Best Pop Duo/Group performance- "Ghost in the Machine," SZA Best Pop Vocal Album- Midnights, Taylor Swift Best Dance/Electronic Recording- "Rumble," Skrillex, Fred again.. and Flowdan Best Pop Dance Recording- Padam Padam, Kylie Minogue Best Rock Performance- "Not Strong Enough," boygenius Best Metal Performance- "72 Seasons," Metallica Best Rock Song- "Not Strong Enough," Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus Best Rock Album- "This Is Why," Paramore Best Alternative Music Performance- This Is Why Paramore Best Progressive R&B Album- "SOS," SZA BEST RAP ALBUM- "Michael," Killer Mike BEST SPOKEN WORD POETRY ALBUM- "The Light Inside," J. Ivy BEST JAZZ PERFORMANCE- "Tight," Samara Joy BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM- "How Love Begins," Nicole Zuraitis BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM- "The Winds of Change," Billy Childs BEST LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE ALBUM- "Basie Swings the Blues," The Count Basie Orchestra BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM- "El Arte Del Bolero Vol. 2," Miguel Zenon and Luis Perdomo Ankita Lokhande-Vicky Jain Divorce Rumours: After captivating audiences for three months, the seventeenth season of India's renowned reality show, Bigg Boss, hosted by Salman Khan, reached its climax with its longest-ever grand finale last week. After a journey filled with twists and turns, Munawar Faruqui emerged as the winner and Abhishek Kumar as the first runner-up in the Bigg Boss 17 grand finale. The other finalists of Bigg Boss 17, Mannara Chopra, Ankita Lokhande, and Arun Srikanth Mashettey, were eliminated, securing the third, fourth, and fifth positions respectively. With the show's conclusion, fans of Bigg Boss are missing the daily appearances of their favorite contestants on TV. ARE ANKITA LOKHANDE-VICKY JAIN GETTING SEPARATED? In Bigg Boss 17, Pavitra Rishta actress participated with her businessman-husband Vicky Jain. While everyone expected that they'll make viewers aww with their lovey-dovey moments, things turned out to be totally opposite as the couple indulged in many fights with each other leaving even their family members disturbed. Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya First Review: Shahid-Kriti Film Conveys Heartbreak So Well; Ultimate Climax Crushed Season 4 Release Date & Platform: Trailer Out; Here's When & Where To Watch Final Season Since then, there are rumours going on that Ankita and Vicky might decide for a divorce as they doesn't seem compatible in Bigg Boss 17. In a recent interview, Vicky Jain finally reacted to their separation rumours and revealed that the duo has come out stronger and will work on their issues. VICKY JAIN ON DIVORCE RUMOURS WITH ANKITA LOKHANDE Talking to ETimes about the ongoing divorce rumours, he said, "A relationship is beautiful and lasts long when you have the liberty to express, have fun with each other, can be friends. Ankita and I've been so strong in our relationship that we know that no matter what happens we are going to stay together. Ye itni Ek adverse situation thi which we saw in the early stages of our relationship and now how we come out of it and repair the problems, will be our main focus." Well, this is indeed a great piece of news for AnVi fans. Salaar: Part 1: Ceasefire, produced by Hombale Films, has achieved roaring success across the globe. The film, offered the masses never-before-seen action sequences, strong storytelling, emotional quotient, and performances of Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran. While the film enjoyed a blockbuster run in the theatrical release, the digital version of the actioner also got massive response from every corner. It is well known that Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire was recently streamed on the leading digital platform in Tamil , Telugu Kannada and Malayalam and it got roaring response from the audiences with the film dominating the global charts in Top 10 positions. The film is truly an international success as besides the domestic market, the audiences across the globe also showered love and praises on Prabhas starrer action drama directed by Prashanth Neel. After the monstrous success of the film in the the overseas region in Spanish and Japanese languages , the fans are demanding to release the film in English language too. The makers has taken massive demand from the fans to release the biggie in English languages into consideration the and has announced the English release for the digital platform Netflix. Sharing the exciting news with the fans and the audiences, the makers wrote on social media, "On MASSive demand, we are delighted to bring the epic action saga of #Salaar, now in on @Netflix for audiences across the globe! #SalaarEnglishOnNetflix" Ever since it's release, the film has solidified it's position as the international standards film among the global audiences and it left everyone impressed with the scale , vision, craft and the action sequences. The world of Khansaar has fascinated global audiences and they are all raving about it the film leaves the masses with a surprise that sets the stage right for the sequel 'Salaar Part 2: Shouryanga Parvam'. Hombale Films Salaar Part 1: Ceasefire starring Prabhas, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Jagapathi Babu, and Shruti Haasan is directed by Prashanth Neel and the film is enjoying its blockbuster run in worldwide cinemas. Voting for the resolutions is a vote for meaningful change to maximise value for ALL shareholders . DUBLIN, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Vision Capital Corporation, together with its affiliates, (collectively referred to as "Vision") a significant shareholder of Irish Residential Properties REIT plc (ISE: IRES) - ("IRES," the "REIT", or the "Company"), owning over 26 million ordinary shares representing approximately 5.01% of IRES' ordinary shares, is disappointed and concerned with the ISS Analysis1 utilised in the Institutional Shareholder Services' ("ISS") report released on February 1st, 2024, pertaining to the upcoming IRES extraordinary general meeting (the "ISS Report") and hence objects to the conclusions ISS has reached. Notwithstanding the lack of support from ISS for the resolutions at the extraordinary general meeting scheduled for February 16th, 2024, (the "EGM"), Vision has received the support of several independent institutional and individual shareholders. This includes the support of Canadian Apartment Properties REIT, which is both the founding and largest shareholder of IRES. ______________________________ 1 ISS Report Analysis sections on pages 11-14 and page 16. Vision reminds IRES' shareholders that if they wish to see meaningful change at IRES to maximise value for all of IRES' shareholders, they should vote "FOR" all the resolutions put forth by Vision. After three years of active and constructive engagement by Vision with the IRES Board of Directors (the "Current Board"), which was extensively documented in the public realm, ISS summarised the ISS Report in two brief conclusions: Within the limitations imposed of international comparisons, the Company has mostly performed in line with peers or even outperformed in some aspects; and The Board appears to have adequate skills to run the strategic review, and it has made a commitment to a full review of strategic alternatives. Unfortunately, the conclusions drawn by ISS overlook the three fundamental issues that are integral to the important matters forming the basis of and reflected in the resolutions on the agenda for the EGM: Irrespective of the views of Vision, IRES, or ISS, it is clear that the marketplace has concluded that the REIT structure in Ireland has not been an effective or viable structure for shareholders for years. Accordingly, and with the sole exception of IRES' misaligned and entrenched Current Board, the boards of all Irish REITs have recognised this reality and have taken expeditious action to advance transactions which resulted in valuations at or exceeding their IFRS valuations. Neither IRES nor ISS, as discussed in the ISS Analysis, recognise this fact. Importantly, IRES has not committed to ending the status quo and ceasing operations as an Irish-listed REIT - which is a significant differentiating factor between Vision's recommendations proposed for the EGM agenda and the approach advocated by IRES. This lack of commitment exposes IRES and its shareholders to continued value erosion. The Current Board and management team are empowered to continue enriching themselves at the expense of IRES and its shareholders without commitment to a resolution of this most critical issue. In this specific context, and more generally, the difference between real estate and other asset classes lies in the significantly larger scale and breadth of investors and capital in the private property market compared to the publicly listed sector. There exists an arbitrage opportunity between these two markets. Consequently, the comparisons of operating and financial metrics, often restricted to arbitrary three to five-year periods and extended to publicly listed REITs in other jurisdictions with different property fundamentals, hold little relevance. Instead, the primary focus should be on assessing the value of IRES' multifamily apartments within the private property market in Dublin. This fundamental and paramount consideration forms the crux of the current opportunity for shareholders at the EGM, which is completely overlooked in the ISS Analysis and its related recommendations. In the ISS Analysis, and the recommendations highlighted therein, ISS comments on the Current Board appearing to have adequate skills. However, the report does not address the complete misalignment of interest, which is a fact reflected by the combined di minimis share ownership by the Remaining Non-Executive Current Directors of approximately 228,000 ordinary shares, or 0.04% of the shares outstanding, and the Current Board's demonstrated entrenchment2. The lack of alignment coupled with continuing entrenchment which Vision and other independent institutional and individual shareholders who have been actively engaged over the past three years have encountered, and has been outlined in detail by Vision, has resulted in significant support for Vision's recommendations, all of which is ignored in the ISS Analysis and recommendations. This disregard undermines the significant support for Vision's recommendations. ______________________________ 2 As defined and documented extensively in Vision's press releases dated 12 April 2023, 24 April 2023, 18 January 2024, and 29 January 2024. Please click here to find downloadable PDF versions of these press releases. The ISS Analysis has also overlooked or misstated other issues of relevance to this matter including for example: The failure to recognise that the director nominees proposed by Vision are independent, including pursuant to the UK Corporate Governance Code. The inclusion of the reference to a distressed sale, which is an inflammatory term utilised by IRES and repeated by ISS in the ISS Analysis is a completely misleading reference to the specific resolution on the EGM agenda recommended by Vision. Contrary to the inflammatory language used, as clarified several times in our various publications since the misleading IRES Circular dated January 8th, 2024, Resolution 4 of Vision's EGM requisition letter specifies that the IRES Board should use its "reasonable" and "best endeavours" to advance a transaction either en-bloc, or over two years. Therefore, the ISS Analysis, which forms the basis for their recommendations, not only lacks accuracy but is also misleading. For the benefit of all shareholders collectively, we strongly encourage IRES shareholders to act now by voting "FOR" each of the resolutions advanced by Vision at the EGM well in advance of the voting deadline of 11:00 a.m. on 14 February 2024 . Vision has retained the services of shareholder-advisory firm Morrow Sodali. While Vision is not soliciting proxies for the February 16th, 2024, EGM, Vision encourages any IRES shareholder who shares its concerns or has any questions, to contact Morrow Sodali at +44 208 089 3286, or 1.888.777.2092 toll-free in North America (+1.289.695.3075 collect), or by e-mail at assistance@morrowsodali.com for further assistance. No Offer or Solicitation This press release is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer, invitation, request to cooperate or solicitation in respect of any securities or the solicitation of any vote, approval or cooperation in any jurisdiction. The release, distribution or publication of this announcement in jurisdictions outside of Ireland may be restricted by laws of the relevant jurisdictions, and therefore persons into whose possession this announcement comes should inform themselves about, and observe any such restrictions. Any failure to comply with the restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities law of any such jurisdiction. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2333801/Vision_Capital_Corporation_VISION_OUTLINES_ITS_OBJECTIONS_TO_THE.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vision-outlines-its-objections-to-the-iss-report-regarding-the-upcoming-ires-egm-and-strongly-encourages-investors-to-vote-for-the-resolutions-put-forth-by-vision-302052706.html Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 4, 2024) - me88, an online casino Malaysia that recognized by more than 50 countries, is named Malaysian influencer Gatita Yan (Tong Lee Yan) as its newest global brand ambassador. That being said, me88 will now have two brand ambassadors at the moment, namely Conor McGregor, the UFC Champion, and Gatita Yan, both will work together to be the public face of me88. Figure 1 me88 online casino malaysia To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10004/196484_385ff8b6c4824bfe_001full.jpg Gatita Yan is a Malaysian model, Instagram star, and social media influencer. Many may not know that the Malaysian influencer is also actively engaging in business where she owns a feminine care products company called Lass. When asked what makes her decide to take on the role of being me88's brand ambassador, Gatita said that it's because she and her friends have confirmed that me88 is the most trusted online casino Malaysia for being recognized by the Government of Curacao (also known as Gaming Curacao) and acquired licenses from the prior mentioned gambling regulators. me88 is one of the few online casino Malaysia to be recognized by more than 50 countries and international gambling regulators, these include but not limited to Gaming Curacao, PAGCOR, UK Gaming Commission, BMM Testlabs, Iovation, and TST Global. About me88 Online Casino Malaysia me88 has operated in Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam since 2015 and today serve more than 100,000 online gambling enthusiasts around the globe. The online casino Malaysia is best known for acquired licenses from more than 50 countries, including but not limited to Gaming Curacao, PAGCOR, UK Gaming Commission, BMM Testlabs, Iovation, and TST Global, making it the most trusted and reliable online casino in Asia. With Conor McGregor and Gatita Yan standing as me88's brand ambassadors, the future of me88 promises to be as exciting as its past, and its slogan "play safe play me" will continue to echo through the ages. Official Website: https://me88.com/ Instagram: instagram.com/me88.official/ Facebook: facebook.com/me88official/ Name: Eric Tan Email: marketing@me88.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196484 SOURCE: OKE Distributor SDN BHD Stevensville, Michigan--(Newsfile Corp. - February 4, 2024) - LoveNspire, an ethnic brand in the USA, has announced the launch of its new housewarming collection, designed to meet the growing demand for traditional and ethnic decor in American homes. (Photo credit: LoveNSpire) The collection features a selection of housewarming decorations and gift ideas that blend cultural richness with modern aesthetics. LoveNSpire offers diverse decorations, Pooja Items, and return gifts for housewarming parties, infusing the essence of traditional Indian decor into modern living spaces. From Rangoli patterns to Om and Swastik symbols for wall adornment, each piece in the collection showcases artistic tradition and modern elegance. Nidhi Sood Ruperee, Director of LoveNTouch, the parent company of LoveNSpire, states, "Our collection is curated to bring the warmth and richness of Indian culture into American homes. We believe in celebrating new beginnings with decor that resonates with one's heritage and creates lasting memories." This initiative taps into the trend of incorporating ethnic elements into home decor, a market that has seen significant growth. Market research indicates a heightened preference among US consumers for cultural decor, mainly through online and e-commerce platforms. Expanding on the collection's impact, Nidhi explains, "Each product in our range narrates a unique story, weaving traditions from India into the fabric of American homes. We're thrilled to present our customers with distinct housewarming decoration ideas that embody aesthetic beauty and deep cultural resonance." The collection also focuses on return gifts, a traditional practice in many cultures. LoveNSpire offers various handcrafted gifts. Ruperee highlights: "These are tokens of gratitude and a way to share our cultural heritage with loved ones." The collection caters to various tastes and budgets, offering convenience through online shopping and delivery across the USA. While the primary focus is on Indian ethnic decor, Jewellery, and gifts, the collection provides options for those looking to add a distinctive touch to their housewarming celebrations. With LoveNSpire's new housewarming collection, customers have the opportunity to celebrate their special moments with ethnic decor that's visually appealing and culturally meaningful. The collection reflects LoveNSpire's commitment to bringing diverse cultural experiences into American homes, enriching celebrations with the beauty of Indian traditions. To learn more about LoveNSpire's new collection and other products, visit its website at https://www.lovenspire.com/. About LoveNSpire: LoveNSpire is an online Indian ethnic brand based in the USA, specialising in Indian handicrafts, home decor, and traditional gifts. Founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has grown to offer a diverse range of over 2,500 culturally rich products, catering to a broad customer base in America with more than 2,900 5-Star Reviews. Contact Information: Contact Person's Name: Nidhi Soon Ruperee Company/Organization Name: LoveNTouch Handicraft LLC Company website: https://www.lovenspire.com/ Contact Email Address: contactus@lovenspire.com Phone Number: +1-866-696-6688 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196321 SOURCE: Baden Bower MADRID (dpa-AFX) - Foreign trade from Germany and investor confidence from the euro area are the top economic news due on Monday, headlining a busy day for the European economic news. At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's foreign trade data for December. The trade surplus is forecast to fall to EUR 19.8 billion from EUR 20.4 billion in November. At 3.15 am ET, Spain's services PMI survey data is due. Economists expect the index to rise to 52.2 in January from 51.5 in the previous month. At 3.45 am ET, Italy's HCOB services PMI data is due. The services index is expected to rise to 50.7 in January from 49.8 in December. Final composite PMI survey results are due from France and Germany at 3.50 am and 3.55 am ET, respectively. At 4.00 am ET, S&P Global publishes euro area final composite PMI survey results. The final composite reading is seen at 47.9 in January, in line with flash estimate. At 4.30 am ET, Eurozone Sentix investor confidence survey results are due. Economists forecast the investor sentiment index to rise to -15.0 in February from -15.8 in January. In the meantime, UK S&P/CIPS final services PMI survey data is due. The index is forecast to rise to 53.8 in January from 53.4 a month ago. At 5.00 am ET, Eurostat publishes euro area producer prices for December. Economists forecast producer prices to drop 10.5 percent on a yearly basis after easing 8.8 percent in November. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Amidst huge logistical challenges, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) continues its mission to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. The singular mission of KSrelief is to preserve life and ensure this extends to the victims of humanitarian crises, wherever they are in the world. Since the beginning of hostilities, KSrelief's operations in Gaza have included the delivery of food and essential supplies at the Rafah Crossing. Much-needed aid has trickled across the border into Gaza to help those desperately in need of clean water, basic food items and medical supplies. Thus far, KSrelief has dispatched well over 5,795 tons of aid across land, sea, and air. These efforts have in mind over two million Gazans facing the imminent threat of famine and food insecurity. His Excellency, Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of KSrelief, said, "The complexity of delivering aid to Gaza is significant, but not impossible. Through immediate solutions such as implementing advanced security checks and bolstering critical infrastructure, we can ensure that aid reaches the Gaza Strip and is expedited to those in desperate need. Saudi Arabia, through KSrelief, is determined to uphold the dignity of every innocent person by providing not just aid, but hope." Confronted with logistical hurdles, especially at border crossings, KSrelief has consistently advocated on global platforms for effective solutions to enhance the efficiency of aid delivery. Recognizing that land-based aid trucks are the most efficient and secure means of transport, KSrelief has increased the supply of aid from Egypt into Gaza. KSrelief's activities in Gaza have been enhanced by its global partnerships, notably with organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), United Mission for Concepts and Human Rights (UMCHR), World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). These joint collaborations have been crucial in increasing the flow of aid and healthcare support to Gaza, further cementing Saudi Arabia's role as a leading global humanitarian aid and relief donor. In partnership with other aid organizations, it is of critical importance to consider the equipment used to carry out security checks on trucks and other aid vehicles, particularly x- ray machines. With this vital equipment in place, the speed of checks can be significantly improved. As each day passes in Gaza, the situation deteriorates further. The number of innocent victims of the conflict continues to increase, exacerbated by the inability for humanitarian aid to be delivered in sufficient quantities. Ensuring that humanitarian aid gets to the people of Gaza is a critical need but does not lessen the urgency for an immediate and lasting ceasefire. Until a ceasefire is delivered, KSrelief's calls for facilitating the increased supply of aid from Egypt into Gaza as an immediate priority. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2333931/KSrelief_distributes_food_baskets.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/from-riyadh-to-rafah-ksrelief-brings-hope-to-gaza-302052932.html Apollon Formularies Plc - Issue of Equity PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, February 05 5 February 2024 Apollon Formularies Plc ("Apollon" or the "Company") Issue of Equity Apollon Formularies plc (AQSE: APOL), a UK based international pharmaceutical company trading on the Aquis Growth Market Stock Exchange, is pleased to announce that the Company has issued 18,000,000 Ordinary Shares in, in lieu of cash, in settlement of fees at a deemed price of 0.001 per share for a total value of 18,000. Application will be made for the new Ordinary Shares to be admitted to trading on the Aquis Growth Market and admission to trading is expected in the new Ordinary Shares on or about 8 February 2024. Following this issue, the Company has 789,191,266 Ordinary Shares in issue, each share carrying the right to one vote. The figure of 789,191,266 should be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the Company under the Financial Conduct Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. ENDS For additional information, please visit www.apollon.org.uk or contact: Apollon Formularies Tel: +44 771 198 0221 Stene Jacobs stene@apollon.org.uk Peterhouse Capital Limited (Corporate Adviser) Tel: +44 207 220 9795 Guy Miller gm@peterhousecapital.com About Apollon and Apollon Jamaica Apollon Formularies plc is an international medical cannabis and medicinal mushroom pharmaceutical company headquartered in the United Kingdom. Apollon Formularies Jamaica Limited is a pharmaceutical company incorporated and operating in the Commonwealth of Jamaica since 2016. Apollon Jamaica is licensed by the Jamaican government's Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA) to cultivate (R&D), perform research and development, process, and sell medical cannabis therapeutic products that include legal medical cannabis to treat various illnesses under medical supervision. Press release Paris, 5 February 2024 Societe Generale has announced a plan to implement organisational changes in its head office in France to simplify its operations and structurally improve its operational efficiency. During the presentation of the Group's strategic roadmap in September 2023, Societe Generale announced a goal of gradually and significantly improving its cost/income ratio, with the achievement of approximately 1.7 billion in gross savings in 2026 compared with 2022. This amount includes synergies expected from initiatives already underway such as the creation of the new retail bank in France, the digitalisation of activities at Komerczni Banka or the integration of LeasePlan into Ayvens. It also includes additional savings of around 700 million from new projects launched in all Group entities to streamline information systems, optimise purchasing processes, or simplify the organisation. In this context, several French head office entities are considering organisational changes that require specific social support measures. The objective is to group and pool certain activities and functions, remove hierarchical layers to streamline decision-making, and resize certain teams due to reviews of projects or processes. This reorganisation project, which would represent a major step in achieving the additional savings envisaged, is being submitted today for consultation with the staff representative bodies. Following the completion of the consultation scheduled for the second quarter of 2024, the implementation of these organisational changes would result in approximately 900 job cuts at head office without forced departures (i.e. approximately 5% of head office staff). As a responsible employer, Societe Generale would deploy all the support measures as part of its social pact through internal transfers, end-of-year support or voluntary departures. Press contacts: Jean-Baptiste Froville_+33 1 58 98 68 00_ jean-baptiste.froville@socgen.com Amandine Grison_+33 1 41 45 92 40_amandine.grison@socgen.com Societe Generale Societe Generale is a top tier European Bank with 117,000 employees serving 25 million clients in more than 60 countries across the world. We have been supporting the development of our economies for nearly 160 years, providing our corporate, institutional, and individual clients with a wide array of value-added advisory and financial solutions. Our long-lasting and trusted relationships with the clients, our cutting-edge expertise, our unique innovation, our ESG capabilities and leading franchises are part of our DNA and serve our most essential objective - to deliver sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders. The Group runs three complementary sets of businesses, embedding ESG offerings for all its clients: French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance , with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank. , with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank. Global Banking and Investor Solutions , a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG. , a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG. International Retail, Mobility & Leasing Services, comprising well-established universal banks (in Czech Republic, Romania and several African countries), Ayvens (the new ALD I LeasePlan brand), a global player in sustainable mobility, as well as specialized financing activities. Committed to building together with its clients a better and sustainable future, Societe Generale aims to be a leading partner in the environmental transition and sustainability overall. The Group is included in the principal socially responsible investment indices: DJSI (Europe), FTSE4Good (Global and Europe), Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index, Euronext Vigeo (Europe and Eurozone), STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes, and the MSCI Low Carbon Leaders Index (World and Europe). For more information, you can follow us on Twitter/X @societegeneraleor visit our website societegenerale.com. Attachment GURUGRAM, India, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a groundbreaking development, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) dental equipment market is projected to reach an impressive USD 821.8 million by 2028. This represents a significant compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.1% from 2022 to 2028, indicating a period of rapid expansion and innovation in the dental sector, primarily driven by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A Landscape of Innovation and Expansion The dental equipment market in the GCC is undergoing a transformation, driven by groundbreaking technological advancements and strong government initiatives. Key strategies like the UAE's Dubai Health Strategy 2021 and Kuwait's innovative healthcare financing mechanisms are laying a robust foundation for the sector's growth, demonstrating a strong commitment to enhancing dental healthcare services in the region. Interested to Know More about this Report, Request a Free Sample Report Emerging Trends in Dental Healthcare The GCC's focus on upgrading its healthcare facilities has led to the adoption of the latest technologies in dental care. This includes digital imaging systems, laser dentistry, and advanced diagnostic equipment, which are revolutionizing the way dental care is provided. The integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in dental diagnostics and treatment is also a significant trend, paving the way for more precise and efficient dental care. The Ecosystem: Clinics, Hospitals, and Distributors A vibrant ecosystem comprising over 2,000 dental clinics, 200 hospitals, and 150 distributors in the GCC is driving the demand for advanced dental equipment. This robust infrastructure is supported by global manufacturers who are keen on introducing state-of-the-art products to meet the growing needs of the region's healthcare sector. Competitive Dynamics: Key Players and Market Strategies The market features key players such as Abdulrehman Algosaibi Co L.L.C., Aden Medical Equipment Trading, and Advanced Technologies Company Limited. These companies are at the forefront of providing cutting-edge dental solutions and are instrumental in the growth and development of the GCC dental equipment market. Their focus on innovation, quality, and customer service has set a high standard in the industry. Visit this Link :- Request for custom report Technological and Cosmetic Advancements Technological advancements are at the heart of the transformation in the GCC dental sector. Innovations in 3D printing, CAD/CAM technology, and robotics are redefining dental procedures. Furthermore, the growth in cosmetic dentistry, fueled by increasing awareness and demand for aesthetic dental treatments, is contributing significantly to the market's expansion. Market Opportunities and Challenges The GCC dental equipment market presents numerous opportunities, including the expansion of dental tourism, increased investment in healthcare infrastructure, and the rising prevalence of dental disorders. However, the market also faces challenges such as regulatory hurdles, competitive pricing, and the need for skilled professionals. Ken Research: A Trusted Source for Market Insights Ken Research is your gateway to comprehensive insights into the GCC dental equipment market. Our research reports provide an in-depth analysis of market trends, competitive landscapes, and future growth prospects. By accessing our extensive collection of market research reports at Ken Research, stakeholders can leverage expert insights for informed decision-making. Our tailored research solutions and detailed reports are designed to guide businesses in navigating the complexities of the market. Explore In-Depth Market Analysis with Ken Research For a deeper understanding of the GCC dental equipment market, Ken Research's GCC Dental Equipment Market Analysis is an invaluable resource. Our expert analysis covers various aspects of the market, including consumer preferences, technological advancements, and strategic developments by key players. By exploring our market analysis, businesses can identify growth opportunities and formulate effective strategies to capitalize on them. Request free 30 minutes analyst call Taxonomy By Country UAE Kuwait Qatar KSA Oman Bahrain By Type of Equipment Consumables Equipment For More Insights On Market Intelligence, Refer To The Link Below: - GCC Dental Equipment Market Related Reports by Ken Research: - US Breast Pumps Market outlook to 2028 Segmented by Technology Type (Manual Breast Pump, Battery Powered Breast Pump, and Electric Breast Pump) by End-User Industry (Parenting and Maternity, Healthcare Institutions, Lactation Consultants and Support Groups and others), by Region into North, West, East and South US Breast Pumps Market is expected to show increasing and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10% from 2022 to 2028 with rise in birth rate, increased employment opportunities for women, growing awareness about breastfeeding benefits, and increasing online retail and e-commerce spending. Technological innovations, such as smart breast pumps offering connectivity features and improved efficiency, will reshape the market landscape. Wearable and hands-free options will gain traction, catering to the on-the-go lifestyle of modern mothers. UAE Patient Care Monitoring Equipment Market Outlook to 2028 By Type - (Hemodynamic Monitoring, Neuromonitoring, Cardiac Monitoring, Multi-parameter Monitors, Respiratory Monitoring), By Application (Home Healthcare, Hospitals & Clinics, Other End users & By Geography (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Rest of UAE) UAE Patient Care Monitoring Industry is expected to show increasing and is expected to grow at a CAGR of ~1% from 2022 to 2028 with Government initiatives for patient care monitoring are expected to enhance the healthcare within UAE. The patient care monitoring system market will likely experience significant technological advancements. It can involve seamless integration of AI & machine learning algorithms to enable predictive analysis, early detection of deteriorating health conditions & more accurate patient risk assessments. US Medical Devices Market Outlook to 2027 by type (Orthopaedic, Cardiovascular, Diagnostic Imaging devices, IVD Devices, MIS Devices, Nephrology Devices, Wound Care, Diabetes Care), by End-User (Hospital, ambulatory service centres, clinics & others) According to Ken Research estimates, the US Medical Devices Market which grew at a robust CAGR from 2017-2022 & is forecasted to grow steadily from 2022-2027 driven by rising technological implementation, cosmetic procedure market impacting the trends & increasing chronic lifestyle diseases. Competition Benchmarking - POC Immunoassay Analyzers in Brazil Driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and infectious illnesses, prompting a growing demand for rapid and accessible diagnostic solutions. The future outlook for the POC Immunoassay Analyzer market in Brazil is highly promising and poised for significant growth. Several key factors contribute to this positive outlook: The rising prevalence of chronic diseases, infectious illnesses, and the need for rapid and accurate diagnostic solutions continue to drive the demand for POC immunoassay analyzers in Brazil. These analyzers enable real-time testing, facilitating prompt treatment decisions and improved patient outcomes. Follow Us - LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube Contact Us:- Ken Research Private Limited Ankur Gupta, Director Strategy and Growth Ankur@kenresearch.com +91-9015378249 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1954972/3782349/Ken_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/gcc-dental-equipment-sector-poised-for-robust-growth-market-to-reach-821-8m-by-2028--ken-research-302053085.html TOKYO, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Flextech Inc., a Tokyo-based technology powerhouse, announces a major brand upgrade for its globally acclaimed cloud storage app, TeraBox, on the eve of its upcoming four-year milestone. Simultaneously, the company is delighted to announce its recent international accolades, including the Silver Award for Best Mobile App, and design awards like the Red Dot Design Award, the American Muse Design Award, and the French Design Award. Since its global launch in May 2020, TeraBox has established itself as a reliable and secure cloud storage provider. As of December 2023, TeraBox has proudly served over 250 million registered users, with more than 20 million active users daily across 231 countries and regions. TeraBox's commitment to security is unparalleled, employing advanced measures like TLS/SSL protocols, encryption algorithms, and access control. The company's client-end encryption and large-scale distributed systems offer the highest level of security and privacy for sensitive information and personal data. TeraBox is accredited with ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27701, and ISO 27018 certifications, ensuring secure transmission and storage of information. Reflecting on the past year, TeraBox has garnered international recognition, receiving acclaim, awards, and prestigious design accolades. This recognition reaffirms its commitment to excellence and innovation in the cloud storage industry. The core philosophy of TeraBox's brand upgrade revolves around "Intelligence, Cloud Storage, Efficiency, and Security." This streamlined form symbolizes both reliability and stability, offering users security and a wealth of imagination. The new logo draws inspiration from the box shape, reflecting the product's storage function. Integrating the letter 'T' from TeraBox into the design enhances its association with the product name. This redesign aims to establish a unique and memorable brand identity in the minds of users. For 2024, the company also welcomes Terara, the new brand mascot of TeraBox. Inspired by the character of WALL-E from the Toy Story, Terara, a personified box closely linked with the logo, symbolizes the careful protection and care TeraBox offers for user data. Its friendly appearance represents warmth and closeness, conveying TeraBox's commitment and care for user data security. "The evolution of TeraBox is not just a change in aesthetics, but a reflection of our commitment to delivering top-notch, secure cloud storage solutions," said Yu Furuya, Product Lead at TeraBox. "Our new logo and the introduction of Terara, our brand mascot, are symbolic of our promise to provide a user-friendly, and secure digital environment. With over a quarter of a billion users trusting us, we're not just redesigning a brand; we're redefining the way the world interacts with their most precious digital assets." In 2024, TeraBox remains committed to providing users with a free 1024GB of extensive cloud storage space while striving to optimize service quality. The brand also aims to launch a significant upgrade of the PC version to enable a seamless collaborative experience between smartphones and computers. Additionally, TeraBox has introduced client versions compatible with various operating systems, including Mac and Linux, extending a warm welcome to a diverse user base. About TeraBox TeraBox, developed by Flextech Inc., is a globally trusted cloud storage app headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. With a focus on intelligent, efficient, and secure cloud storage, TeraBox is dedicated to providing users with innovative and user-friendly solutions for their data storage needs. Download the TeraBox App on Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, and Windows devices, or visit www.terabox.com for online access. For more updates, follow TeraBox on YouTube. To learn more about the TeraBox Referral Program for additional income, please visit https://terabox.onelink.me/yqcq/ij4vgrdg. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2333777/image_5016964_30720342.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2333778/image_5016964_30720815.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/terabox-unveils-new-logo-introduces-brand-mascot-terara-and-celebrates-prestigious-awards-302053098.html Celebrations begin on World Nutella Day 2024 - now in its 17 th year - and will come to life throughout the year through the brand's global GiveANutellaSmile campaign Milestone anniversary marks Nutella's sixth decade of spreading positivity, feeding togetherness, and bringing unbeatable taste and enjoyment to tables around the world With its unique taste, the iconic global brand has now created a range of Nutella products to be enjoyed at different occasions, and will continue to find new ways to delight its fans for decades to come. LUXEMBOURG, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, as fans around the world unite once again to celebrate World Nutella Day, Nutella is marking another major milestone as it kicks off celebrations for its 60th anniversary. Over the past six decades, millions of people have been starting their day with Nutella to spread positivity, feed togetherness, and bring unbeatable taste and enjoyment to their table. From humble beginnings in Italy, the brand is now spreading smiles in over 170 countries worldwide. During this time, Nutella has evolved into an iconic global brand. However, it started with an inspirational story of invention and passion. The product that would eventually become Nutella was developed by the founder of Ferrero Group, Pietro Ferrero. In response to cocoa supply shortages after WW2, the original recipe used just a little hint of cocoa - which was rare at the time - and added hazelnuts, a local delicacy in Piedmont, Italy. Then, in 1964, while many were still making solid chocolate, Pietro's son, Michele Ferrero, evolved the product and created the Nutella spread known and loved today. This spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship remains alive 60 years later and has helped Nutella evolve and innovate to deliver a range of new product experiences, offering people even more ways to enjoy Nutella. From launching its first on-the-go snack with Nutella &GO! in 2005, the ready-to-enjoy crispy Nutella B-ready in 2015, Nutella Biscuits - the first and only biscuit with a creamy Nutella heart in 2019. More recently, the brand expanded its range with fresh bakery products such as Nutella Muffin launched in 2020 and Nutella Croissant in 2023. Without forgetting that, in 2017, the Nutella Cafe opened in Chicago, drawing visitors from around the world and creating a destination for Nutella fans. Giovanni Ferrero, Executive Chairman of Ferrero Group, said: "As we mark this milestone anniversary, we celebrate Nutella - a beloved global brand driven by an innovative spirit and decades of expertise. Through the unbeatable taste of Nutella, we have now created a range of new product experiences: Nutella B-ready, Nutella Biscuits, Nutella Muffin and Croissant. Looking ahead, we remain committed to building on this legacy, finding even more ways to offer fans positivity and choice. We have been spreading smiles across the globe for 60 years and through passion, creativity, and innovation, Nutella will keep the world smiling for years to come." Nutella is a brand with positivity at its heart, believing that an optimistic attitude impacts our days and the days of those around us. Nutella's vision is to use positivity as a force for good - starting by spreading smiles. That's why on the 60th anniversary, Nutella will celebrate this historic moment by spreading the power of positivity with its GiveANutellaSmile campaign - creating occasions to smile across geographies, because smiles are contagious - the more we smile the more they spread. At celebration events around the world, people will be encouraged to feed togetherness and smile with Nutella. The brand will also launch a series of new limited-edition Nutella jars, each featuring characters that we all recognize in the people that makes us smile - from the chef to the rockstar, from the dreamer to the romantic. Alongside the jars, Nutella will also launch a special digital activation for consumers via a special jar configurator only available on Nutella website, inviting everyone to celebrate their 'smile givers' by creating personalized stickers and a message for their jar. To help celebrate the anniversary, people are encouraged to visit Nutella website for more information on GiveANutellaSmile events in their area and how they can help Nutella spread smiles. For media enquiries, please contact group.communications@ferrero.com About NUTELLA Nutella was born in 1964. The unique hazelnut spread with cocoa that millions of people around the world love, is made by Ferrero with a meticulous selection of quality ingredients, care and passion into every step of its production. Today, Nutella is available in around 170 countries worldwide and with its unique taste has created a range of products that you can enjoy across different occasions, from Nutella B-ready to Nutella Biscuits, from Nutella Muffin to Nutella Croissant. In 2024, it is celebrating 60 years of spreading smiles though passion, creativity, and innovation. For more information visit nutella.com About FERRERO GROUP Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in 1946. Today, it is one of the world's largest sweet-packaged food companies, with over 35 iconic brands sold in more than 170 countries. The Ferrero Group brings joy to people around the world with much-loved treats and snacks including Nutella, Kinder, Tic Tac, and Ferrero Rocher. More than 40,000 employees are passionate about helping people celebrate life's special moments. The Ferrero Group's family culture, now in its third generation, is based on dedication to quality and excellence, heritage and a commitment to the planet and communities in which we operate. For more information visit Ferrero.com? Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2333327/Giovanni_Ferrero_Executive_Chairman_Ferrero.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2333328/Nutella_60Y_Anniversary.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2333330/Nutella_60Y_Jar_The_Birthday_Star.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2333331/Product_Range_Nutella_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2333332/Product_Range_Nutella_3.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2333333/World_Nutella_Day.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nutella-celebrates-60-years-of-spreading-smiles-302053109.html BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - U.K. stocks were seeing marginal gains on Monday after ONS figures suggested that Britain's unemployment rate was much lower than initial estimates at the end of last year. The benchmark FTSE 100 was up 10 points, or 0.1 percent, at 7,625 after ending with a negative bias on Friday. In corporate news, Porvair, a filtration and environmental technology company, added 1.6 percent after reporting improved FY23 earnings and lifting dividend. CMC Markets soared 13 percent after an announcement that the online trading platform is cutting 200 jobs to save on costs. Vodafone fell about 1 percent despite the telecommunications company surpassing sales expectations in the third fiscal quarter. Lloyds Bank fell 2.2 percent after the Financial Times reported that Iran evaded sanctions and was able to covertly move money around the world using accounts at two of the U.K.'s biggest banks. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Val-d'Or, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - February 5, 2024) - Bonterra Resources Inc. (TSXV: BTR) (OTCQX: BONXF) (FSE: 9BR2) ("Bonterra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the latest results from its 15,000 meters ("m") drill program at its 100% owned Desmaraisville South project. The purpose of the program was to test several new geological and geophysical targets along with historical near surface gold mineralization along the edges of the O'Brien Syenite Intrusion ("O'Brien Intrusive") and to identify the location of two regional corridors of deformation located further to the North of the project. The diamond drilling was conducted within seven kilometers ("km") of the Bachelor Mill Complex. To date, Bonterra has received the assay results from 10,631 samples including QA-QC samples from the 57 diamond drill holes completed between August 23 and December 22, 2023. Assay results from 3,708 drill core samples are still pending. Please refer to press releases dated December 4 and December 14, 2023, for exploration updates on the Desmaraisville South project and the surrounding area. Highlights Include: 2.23 g/t Au over 8.2 m, including 9.26 g/t Au over 1.7 m in hole BRDS-23-021 15.30 g/t Au over 1.0 m in hole BRDS-23-030 0.80 g/t Au over 11.7 m, including 2.84 g/t Au over 1.4 m in hole BRDS-23-013 3.66 g/t Au over 1.5 m in hole BRDS-23-004A Marc-Andre Pelletier, President and CEO commented: "With the launch of the $10 million in exploration drilling as part of the Option Agreement with Osisko Mining on the Phoenix JV and positive results from the 2023 campaign at our 100%-owned Desmaraisville property, this year holds transformative potential for Bonterra. Notably, all drill hole mineralized intersections at Desmaraisville fall within 4 km of the Bachelor Mill Complex. The discovery of a new mineralization type on the east side of the O'Brien Intrusive in hole BRDS 23-021, distinct from the mineralization typically found at the Bachelor-Moroy deposits, underscores the possibility of new findings on the Desmaraisville property. Compilation work is ongoing, and the final interpretation of the 2023 geophysical surveys are expected soon. These findings will contribute to generating highly prospective drill targets for exploration later this year." Highlights of the Diamond Drilling Results: The diamond drilling program at the Desmaraisville South project had several objectives. The main objectives were to intersect gold mineralization; (1) on the eastern side of the O'Brien Intrusive ("East Area"), (2) along the extensions of various gold zones discovered in 2015 south of the O'Brien Intrusive ("South Area"), (3) related to geophysical targets on the west of the Bachelor Lake felsic intrusion ("Bachelor Lake Intrusive") enhanced by the presence of gold showings at surface and finally, (4) to test the deep southwest plunge of a zinc, lead, and silver mineralized body of the former Coniagas Mine (Figures 1 and 2). In addition, drill holes were positioned to improve the understanding of the stratigraphy on the property and to better position the boundaries of the various formations within it. The Company is also seeking to better locate two major structures that affect these formations: the Opawica-Guercheville deformation corridor, which hosts numerous gold showings and deposits that have been the subject of historical resource calculations, and the Lamarck-Wedding Fault, host to the former Shortt Lake Gold Mine. Recent geophysical surveys on the Desmaraisville property should help Bonterra to properly position these two major structures. Figure 1- Desmaraisville South Property - Surface plan view with drilling locations To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1528/196651_1aa03b71d428c8e9_001full.jpg The gold mineralized zone containing 2.23 g/t Au over 8.2 m, including 9.26 g/t Au over 1.7 m in hole BRDS-23-021 (Figures 2 and 3) is located at the contact between a tuff and a massive basalt rock unit. The contact zone is moderately silicified and contains 2-3% pyrite in clusters. This type of gold-bearing environment is different from the Bachelor and Moroy gold-bearing environment. This new mineralized zone appears to be related to a structural lineament trending N080 to N070 and this lineament is more than one km in length. Borehole BRDS-23-030 (Figure 2) is more than 275 m deep and has intersected an atypical gold mineralization characterized by a strong epidote alteration with a low sulphide content. The best mineralized interval returned a value of 15.30 g/t Au over 1.0m. Figure 2 - Plan View of the South Area of the O'Brien Intrusive with Best Results To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1528/196651_1aa03b71d428c8e9_002full.jpg Figure 3 - Plan View of the East Area of the O'Brien Intrusive: Drill Hole BRDS-23-021 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1528/196651_1aa03b71d428c8e9_003full.jpg Drill hole BRDS-23-013 (Figure 4) intersected a gold enriched zone (0.80 g/t Au over 11.7 m, including 2.84 g/t Au over 1.4 m) associated with a strongly altered felsic dike west of the Bachelor Lake Intrusive. The host rocks directly in contact with the dike are strongly silicified. It remains to be determined whether the IP geophysical anomaly is related to this mineralized zone and if so, the mineralized zone could extend for several hundred metres. Figure 4 - Plan View of the Bachelor Lake Intrusive - Drilling of IP Geophysical and Surface Gold Anomalies To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1528/196651_1aa03b71d428c8e9_004full.jpg Table 1: Drill Hole Locations - Desmaraisville South project, Quebec Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation (m) Azimuth Dip Length (m) BRDS-23-004A 418340 5484338 341 15 -45 366 BRDS-23-013 418391 5485945 318 180 -50 330 BRDS-23-021 418092 5483268 343 160 -45 414 BRDS-23-029 417278 5483836 324 360 -48 309 BRDS-23-030 416942 5482609 333 128 -63 309 BRDS-23-043 417114 5482877 331 165 -45 318 BRDS-23-051 417734 5483601 340 360 -50 309 UTM Coordinates, System: NAD83 Zone 18N Table 2: Significant Mineralized Intersections from Drilling on the Desmaraisville South project Hole ID Including From (m) To (m) Length (m) Grade (Au g/t) Metal Factor (length x grade) BRDS-23-004A 112.2 113.7 1.5 3.66 5.5 BRDS-23-013 178.1 189.8 11.7 0.80 9.3 Including 178.1 179.5 1.4 2.84 4.0 BRDS-23-021 130.3 138.5 8.2 2.23 18.3 Including 130.3 132 1.7 9.26 15.7 BRDS-23-029 157 158 1.0 5.39 5.4 BRDS-23-030 302 303 1.0 15.30 15.3 BRDS-23-043 24 26 2.0 1.48 3.0 BRDS-23-043 257.3 259.5 2.2 1.49 3.3 BRDS-23-051 253.5 256 2.5 1.44 3.6 Including 254 255.3 1.3 2.48 3.2 1) The meterage represents the drilled lengths. More drilling will be required to estimate true widths. 2) All of the above mineralized intersections are uncut. 3) All of the above results have an Au grade greater than 0.5 g/t Au and a Metal Factor greater than 3.0. Quality Control and Reporting Protocols The Desmaraisville project's drill core gold analyses are performed at Activation Laboratories ("Actlabs") located in Ste-Germaine-Boule, Quebec, and at the Agat Laboratory ("Agat") located in Val d'Or, Quebec. The external laboratories employ a rigorous QA-QC analysis program that meets industry standards. The analyses are carried out by fire assay (A.A.) with atomic absorption finish and with gravimetric finish for assay above 10 g/t Au at both Actlabs and Agat. Blanks, duplicates, and certified reference standards are inserted into the sample stream to monitor the Laboratory's performance. The Company's QA-QC program requires that at least 5 to 10% of the samples be analyzed by an independent laboratory. These verification samples are sent to ALS Minerals laboratory facility located in Val-d'Or, Quebec. The verifications show a high degree of correlation with the laboratory's results. For the drilling program a total of 12,179 drill core samples and 2,160 QA-QC samples, have been sent to Actlabs and Agat. Qualified Person M. Donald Trudel, P.Geo. (OGQ # 813), Director Geology for the Company, oversees all exploration activities on the Desmaraisville Property and has compiled and approved the information contained in this press release. Mr. Trudel is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 on standards of disclosure for mineral projects. About Bonterra Resources Inc. Bonterra is a Canadian gold exploration company with a portfolio of advanced exploration assets anchored by a central milling facility in Quebec, Canada. The Company's assets include the Gladiator, Barry, Moroy, and Bachelor gold deposits, which collectively hold 1.24 million ounces in Measured and Indicated categories and 1.78 million ounces in the Inferred category. In November 2023, the Company entered into a earn-in and joint venture agreement with Osisko Mining Inc. for the Urban-Barry properties, which include the Gladiator and Barry deposits. Over the next three years, Osisko can earn a 70% interest by incurring $30 million in work expenditures. This strategic transaction highlights Bonterra's dedication to advancing its exploration assets, marking a significant step towards development. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Marc-Andre Pelletier, President & CEO ir@btrgold.com 2872 Sullivan Road, Suite 2, Val d'Or, Quebec J9P 0B9 819-279-9304 | Website: www.btrgold.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Caution regarding forward-looking statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" that is based on Bonterra's current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections. This forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements with respect to the earn-in and joint venture agreement with Osisko Mining announced on November 28, 2023. The words "will", "anticipated", "plans" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. This forward-looking information includes namely information with respect to the planned exploration programs and the potential growth in mineral resources. Exploration results that include drill results on wide spacings may not be indicative of the occurrence of a mineral deposit and such results do not provide assurance that further work will establish sufficient grade, continuity, metallurgical characteristics, and economic potential to be classed as a category of mineral resource. The potential quantities and grades of drilling targets are conceptual in nature and, there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource, and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the targets being delineated as mineral resources. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Bonterra's actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include but are not limited to: uncertainties related exploration and development; the ability to raise sufficient capital to fund exploration and development; changes in economic conditions or financial markets, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political, and competitive developments; technological or operational difficulties or inability to obtain permits encountered in connection with exploration activities; and labour relations matters. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect our forward-looking information. These and other factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196651 SOURCE: Bonterra Resources Inc. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 5, 2024) - Compass Gold Corp. (TSXV: CVB) (Compass or the Company) is pleased to report to shareholders on the progress the Company has made since announcing the encouraging assay results from the initial trenches completed at Massala in September, which intercepted 20 m at 4.13 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au), including 4 m @ 19.19 g/t Au in Trench MATR001 (see Figure 2). HIGHLIGHTS: Technical Work: Nine new trenches completed at Massala (11 total to date). More than 2,000 new samples being collected for assaying. Developed a comprehensive model that validates the robust economics of a Small Mine scenario at Massala and Tarabala. Planning further assaying, metallurgy and resource estimate work. Corporate Development: Key partners have been identified to build, deliver, and commission a processing facility of up to 50-tonnes-per-hour and to procure, install, and operate all additional facilities and infrastructure. Discussions with potential financing partners are ongoing. A Small Mine Exploitation Permit application is being prepared for submission under the new Malian Mining Code and the pending Decree regarding Small Mining operations. Compass CEO, Larry Phillips, said, "Our team has made excellent progress in providing the specific data required to plan and develop a small mining operation commencing at the near-surface high-grade gold mineralization zone identified at Massala. The completion of assaying the latest trench samples and preparation of an initial National Instrument 43-101 resource at Massala are critical next steps in the application process, which is anticipated to be completed within the next three months. In the meantime, our discussions and reviews of the small mine model with construction and operating partners having extensive African small mining experience have supported our proposed small mine scenario and the economic potential of the Massala and Tarabala gold resource areas. "With this data in hand, we are in a position to advance our discussions regarding the financing required to complete this development and commence profitable gold production. As I've previously noted, this opportunity to generate annual reoccurring cash flow from such near-surface mines will provide the necessary funding for ongoing operating expenses as well for exploration expenditures for the future deeper drilling needed to achieve our long-standing goal of developing a much larger, open-pittable gold resource." Dr. Madani Diallo, Director and Country Manager, added, "Our trenching and assay results reported in September confirmed and exceeded our objectives of returning grades of at least 0.8 grams per tonne gold over widths that we consider to be mineable in a near-surface mining operation. Our recent trenching at Massala continues to be extremely encouraging, with higher-grade intersections indicating that the first small mining operation could be located at the northern end of the Tarabala trend. We are confident that a small mining facility in this area could profitably produce gold through simple excavation down to a depth of 20 metres while retaining the full potential for a large open pit mine as indicated by our positive deeper drilling results." Field Work: Nine new trenches have been excavated at 25-metre intervals at Massala, which is part of a 14- km long zone of mineralization that follows the Tarabala Fault (Figures 1, 2 and 3), including three trenches to the north of MATR001 and six to the south. More than 2,000 channel samples are being collected from these new trenches and are being prepared for assaying in accordance with the protocols established by an independent Canadian resource geologist who would be responsible for performing an NI 43-101-compliant resource estimation. This initial resource estimation and accompanying technical report is required for the formal application for a Small Mine Exploitation Permit under the pending new Malian Mining Code Decree. The cost to complete the sample collection, assay results, and resource estimate, inclusive of overhead costs, is approximately CDN$300,000. Compass is planning to complete these tasks by the end of April 2024. Once these tasks are completed, subject to financing, Compass will finalize the mining equipment to be purchased and activate the related civil work and planning for the development of the small mine operations. As previously reported (see Compass news release dated September 13, 2023), four earlier trenches were dug along a total trend length of more than 3.5 kilometres to show that near-surface mineralization is consistent with the previous drilling results along the Tarabala Trend at the Tarabala and Massala prospects, and extend to depths of at least 80 to 100 metres. To identify the strongest mineralized zones, these initial four trenches were dug more than 400 metres apart. To improve confidence in the continuity of the mineralization for the resource estimation, additional trenches at 25-metre spacings are required. The high-grade results from trench MATR001, averaging 4.13 g/t Au over a length of 20 metres, led to a focus on a strike length of 200 metres adjacent to this trench as the target of an initial resource. Figure 1: Location of Tarabala and Massala prospects where trenching was completed. Additional artisanal workings along the Tarabala and Moribala faults are also displayed. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1861/196735_84d52f8674bc6a26_001full.jpg Figure 2: Map showing the location of the completed trenches at the Tarabala and Massala prospects. To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1861/196735_84d52f8674bc6a26_002full.jpg Figure 3: Sampling at a depth of 4 m at Massala. To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1861/196735_84d52f8674bc6a26_003full.jpg Economic Modelling: In addition to the trenching and sampling work completed and ongoing in the field, the Company's technical team is incorporating data and third-party estimates into a comprehensive model, which validates the robust economics of a Small Mine scenario at Massala and Tarabala. Preliminary modelling indicates: Modest all-in capital cost of approximately US$4.5M. Repayment of capital expected to be completed in less than one year. Accelerated time for building, delivering and commissioning all plant and mine site facilities within approximately eight months of initial capital advances. Operating costs on a cash basis range from US$725 (worst case) to US$400 (best case) per ounce, depending on production cost assumptions. Free cash flow in year one after repayment of all capital and interest. Total projected after-tax cash flow from the first four years of operation=US$19.5M, which includes repayment of capita costs. Favourable tax deductions and exemptions (e.g. exploration expenses, accelerated depreciation on capital). New Malian Mining Code: Following the formation of a new government in Mali in 2020, a new Mining Code was adopted in August 2023, replacing the previous regulations, which had been in effect since 2019. An amendment is being proposed to the recently adopted code, which is expected to delineate the precise terms and provisions applicable to a Small Mining permit in Mali and publicly issued as an official Decree. The terms of the Small Mining Decree are being finalized by the Mines Ministry in consultation with representatives of the Mining Industry. A final Decree is expected to be issued in the coming months, which will allow for formal applications, including by the Company, to be submitted. The remaining assay work and other materials for submitting the Company's Small Mine Exploitation permit application are scheduled to be completed over the next three months and costs to completeit are projected to be approximately Cdn$300,000, which covers corporate and Malian overhead over this period. Corporate Development: While awaiting the Malian Mining Ministry's decision to confirm the applicable terms, the Company is continuing discussions with various parties regarding the financing of the remaining costs of obtaining a Small Mine Exploitation Permit and the capital costs required to construct and commission all the facilities needed to commence gold production at Massala and Tarabala. In the meantime, the Company has identified APT of South Africa as the best partner to design, construct and deliver a processing facility at a reasonable price. This would consist of proven technology that can meet the through-put objectives of up to 200k-tonnes per year with a modular portable plant. Also, as part of that process, the Company has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with South African-based Stelo Group, which has extensive experience in developing, commissioning, and operating small open pit mines in Mali and other regions of Africa. About Compass Gold Corp. Compass, a public company having been incorporated into Ontario, is a Tier 2 issuer on the TSX- V. Through the 2017 acquisition of MGE and Malian subsidiaries, Compass holds gold exploration permits located in Mali that comprise the Sikasso Property. The exploration permits are located in three sites in southern Mali with a combined land holding of 1,173 sq. km. The Sikasso Property is located in the same region as several multi-million-ounce gold projects, including Morila, Syama, Kalana and Komana. The Company's Mali-based technical team, led in the field by Dr. Madani Diallo and under the supervision of Dr. Sandy Archibald, P.Geo, is conducting the current exploration program. They are examining numerous anomalies first noted in Dr. Archibald's August 2017 "National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report on the Sikasso Property, Southern Mali." Qualified Person This news release has been reviewed and approved by EurGeol. Dr. Sandy Archibald, P.Geo, Compass's Technical Director, the Qualified Person for the technical information in this news release under National Instrument 43-101 standards. Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding: details concerning the construction of a processing facility to commence Small Mine operations at Massala and the procurement, installation, and operation of additional related facilities and infrastructure; discussions with potential financing partners with respect to the development and commencement of gold production under the Company's proposed Small Mine scenario; details concerning the comprehensive model prepared by the Company, which validates the economics of a Small Mine scenario at Massala and Tarabala; changes to the Malian Mining Code adopted in August 2023 and the issuance of necessary permits required for the commencement of Small Mine operations; costs associated with obtaining necessary permits for proposed Small Mine operations and the capital costs required to construct and commission all the facilities needed to commence gold production at Massala and Tarabala; and the Company's ultimate goal of developing a much larger, open-pittable gold resource. Words such as "may", "would", "could", "should", "will", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "potential" and similar expressions may be used to identify these forward-looking statements although not all forward-looking statements contain such words. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including those risk factors set forth in the Company's management's discussion and analysis and other filings available via the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from those expressed or implied by this press release. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and, other than as required by law, the Company does not intend to or assume any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information, please contact: Compass Gold Corporation Larry Phillips - Pres. & CEO lphillips@compassgoldcorp.com T: +1 416-596-0996 X 302 Compass Gold Corporation Greg Taylor - Dir. Investor Relations & Corporate Communications gtaylor@compassgoldcorp.com T: +1 416-596-0996 X 301 Website: www.compassgoldcorp.com NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196735 SOURCE: Compass Gold Corporation TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / Adcore Inc. (the "Company" or "Adcore") (TSX:ADCO)(OTCQX:ADCOF)(FSE:ADQ), a leading e-commerce advertising management and automation platform to leverage digital marketing in an effortless and accessible way ("Effortless Marketing"), today announced the renewal of its channel partner agreement with Microsoft Advertising for 2024, further cementing its position as a key player in digital marketing. This renewal comes on the heels of the company being honored as the Global Partner of the Year for 2023 by Microsoft Advertising, a testament to its exceptional performance and innovation in the field. Since joining the Microsoft Advertising Partner Program in September 2019, Adcore has consistently demonstrated excellence, earning the esteemed Microsoft Elite Partner status in February 2022. This accolade recognizes the Company's superior technological solutions and its effective strategies in attracting unique advertisers to Microsoft Advertising. Omri Brill, CEO of Adcore, commented, "The renewal of our partnership with Microsoft for 2024 isn't just a continuation; it's a pivotal moment that aligns with our focus for the year ahead. Following our accolade as Microsoft's 2023 Advertising Global Channel Partner of the Year and building upon our 2022 recognition for the EMEA region, we are setting our sights even higher for 2024. Our strategy is laser-focused on driving new business towards Microsoft and growing top-of-funnel activities on the Microsoft Audience Network and Connected TV, including leveraging exclusive assets that Microsoft offers, such as Netflix advertising. This partnership has consistently empowered us to enhance our offerings and deliver substantial value to our clients, helping them to broaden their digital advertising horizons." Nigel Leggatt, Director of Partner Sales - EMEA at Microsoft, "I'm delighted with the continued success of our channel partnership with Adcore. Their international growth and diverse client base across multiple industries have been remarkable, benefiting greatly from the integration of Microsoft Advertising products into Adcore's Marketing Cloud solutions. The synergy between our companies has been a driving force, creating substantial value. As we enter the fifth year of our collaboration, the positive feedback from Adcore's clients highlights the tangible results and future growth opportunities of this partnership. Adcore has become a key partner, and we're excited about the potential our future collaboration holds." ABOUT ADCORE Adcore is a leading AI-powered marketing and online learning technology company. By combining extensive industry knowledge and experience with its proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) powered technology, Adcore offers a unique digital marketing solution that empowers entrepreneurs and advertisers by managing and automating their e-commerce store advertising and monitoring and analyzing the performance of their advertising budget to ensure maximum Return on Investment. Adcore is a certified Google Premier Partner, Elite Tier Microsoft Partner, Facebook Partner and TikTok Partner. Adcore also runs Amphy, the world's most diverse 24/7 live online learning marketplace. Learners can choose from thousands of classes across hundreds of categories to grow their passions, skills and expand their children's learning opportunities. Instructors on the Amphy platform join a vibrant virtual teacher community that promotes and supports their success through enrichment seminars, marketing and advertising, and a suite of tools that allow them to run their classes hassle-free and focus on their students. Amphy students gain access to high-quality, personalized classes that are accessible 24/7, while joining a growing community of lifelong learners. Established in 2006, the Company employs over fifty people in its headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel and satellite offices in Toronto, Canada, Melbourne, Australia, Hong Kong and Shanghai, China. For more information about Adcore, please visit?https://www.adcore.com/investors/ , https://www.adcore.com/blog or follow us on LinkedIn. For more information about Amphy please visit ?https://www.amphy.com/ and https://blog.amphy.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn,?Facebook,?Instagram and ?YouTube. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains or may contain certain forward-looking statements, including statements about the Company. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties, and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. For further information please contact: ADCORE INC. https://www.adcore.com/investors/ Martijn van den Bemd Chief Partnerships Officer Telephone: 647-497-5337 Email: martijn@adcore.com Investor Relations Glen Akselrod Bristol Capital Telephone: 905-326-1888 ext 1 Email: info@bristolir.com Investor Relations Europe Dr. Eva Reuter Bristol Capital Dr. Reuter Investor Relations Telephone: +49 (0) 69 1532 5857 Email: e.reuter@dr-reuter.eu SOURCE: Adcore Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 5, 2024) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") announces drill core assay results from its fully-funded 2024 drill program at the Antino Gold Project in southeastern Suriname. The Company reports results for a further two holes from the Froyo Gold Zone with highlight down hole intervals of 15.0 metres (m) of 8.18 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) and 26.0 m of 5.52 g/t Au. Drill holes 048 and 049 intercept gold mineralization over multiple zones starting from surface with 297.2 and 190.2 total gram-metres per tonne (gm/t), respectively. Highlights Drill hole 23FR048 intercepts gold over five zones starting from surface (Fig 1; Table 1): 6.6 m of 2.07 g/t Au from 0.0 m down hole 12.0 m of 3.92 g/t Au from 12.6 m 18.0 m of 2.68 g/t Au from 33.0 m 15.0 m of 8.18 g/t Au from 63.0 m 6.0 m of 10.94 g/t Au from 145.0 m (Fig 1; Table 1): Drill hole 23FR049 intercepts gold over four zones starting from surface including 26.0 m of 5.52 g/t Au from 44 m down hole (Fig 1; Table 1) Table 1 - Highlight diamond drill intervals*. Hole ID From (m) To (m) Core length (m) Au (g/t) 24FR048 0.0 6.6 6.6 2.07 12.6 24.6 12.0 3.92 Hole 48 - Total gram*metre per tonne 33.0 51.0 18.0 2.68 63.0 78.0 15.0 8.18 297.2 145.0 151.0 6.0 10.94 24FR049 0.6 8.6 8.0 2.49 44.0 70.0 26.0 5.52 Hole 49 - Total gram*metre per tonne 88.0 91.0 3.0 7.02 140.0 143.0 3.0 1.87 190.2 *Intervals are core length and estimated to represent 85% or more of true width based on current drill data Figure 1. Upper Antino area plan map. Interval highlights from this release are labelled and upcoming/pending drill holes are marked in bold. Shaded box around A-A' line shows drilling extent included in Figure 2 cross section (+/- 25 m). To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/196833_9ef80c7ad4c44bc1_002full.jpg Colin Padget, Founders' CEO, commented, "We continue to define and expand the impressive gold mineralization at Froyo, and these two holes are further evidence of a much broader gold system than previously recognized by earlier explorers on the property. We are adding ounces with every drill hole and as we continue drilling at Froyo, our focus is expansion and efficient resource definition work. We are also set to begin drill testing some new Upper Antino targets as part of our larger 2024 exploration plans." Drill hole 048 and 049 intercepted multiple zones of intense silicification and local sericitization. Tourmaline and Fe-carbonate are commonly associated with elevated gold grades. Pyrrhotite and pyrite content ranges from 5 - 20% within the gold zones. The apparent orientation and overall character of these intervals is similar to the main Froyo Gold Zone. Figure 2. Cross section A-A' (see Figure 1 for location). To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/196833_9ef80c7ad4c44bc1_003full.jpg About Founders Metals Inc. Founders Metals is a Canadian exploration company with properties in North and South America. The Company focuses on acquiring and advancing gold projects in the Guiana Shield. Its flagship asset is the 20,000 ha Antino Gold Project in Suriname, where artisanal surface/alluvial mining has produced over 500,000 gold ounces to date1. Using its diamond drilling equipment, the Company drilled over 10,000 m in 2023 and is fully financed for up to 30,000 m in 2024. 1 2022 Technical Report - Antino Project; Suriname, South America. K. Raffle, BSc, P. Geo & Rock Lefrancois, BSc, P.Geo. Map of the Antino Gold Project concession area showing gold concentrations from historical auger sampling. Most of the property remains unexplored. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/7574/196833_9ef80c7ad4c44bc1_004full.jpg Quality Assurance and Control Results from samples were analyzed at FILAB Suriname, a Bureau Veritas Certified Laboratory in Paramaribo, Suriname (a commercial certified laboratory under ISO 9001:2015). Samples are crushed to 75% passing 2.35 mm screen, riffle split (700 g) and pulverized to 85% passing 88 m. Samples were analyzed using a 50 g fire assay (50 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that return assay values over 10.0 grams per tonne (g/t), another cut was taken from the original pulp and fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Founders Metals inserts blanks and certified reference standards in the sample sequence for quality control. External QA-QC checks are performed at ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Vancouver, Canada (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility). A secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples. Drill intervals with visible gold are assayed using metallic screening. Rock chip samples from outcrop/bedrock are selective by nature and may not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the project. Qualified Persons The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Per: "Colin Padget" Colin Padget President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director Founders Metals Contact Information Dave Burwell, Corporate Development Manager Tel: 403 410 7907 | daveb@fdrmetals.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the future or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect ", "is expected ", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All material information on Founders Metals can be found at www.sedarplus.ca. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196833 SOURCE: Founders Metals Inc. Security Compass, the Security by Design Company, today announces the acquisition of application security training software provider Kontra from ThriveDX. The acquisition marks a pivotal step forward in Security Compass's ongoing mission to empower businesses with application security solutions centered on a Security by Design approach. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205842201/en/ "The acquisition of Kontra marks a significant milestone in our journey towards creating a world where we can trust technology. Kontra's unique approach to Application Security Training, combined with our existing solutions, greatly enhances our ability to deliver comprehensive and engaging application security training. This acquisition is aligned with our focus on relevant application security training for developers. It enriches our portfolio of just-in-time, contextual training and our Secure Software Practitioner suites, co-branded with ISC2," said Rohit Sethi, CEO of Security Compass. Gyan Chawdhary, founder of Kontra, also expressed his enthusiasm for this new chapter of the product. "When I started Kontra, it was about developing a new way for developers to learn about application security," said Chawdhary. "Joining forces with Security Compass accelerates our vision, combining our interactive training expertise with their global reach, marquee customers, and application security solutions. It's a perfect synergy for advancing developer cybersecurity education." This acquisition strengthens Security Compass's ongoing commitment to providing top-tier cybersecurity training solutions. Kontra, known for hands-on training labs and a best-in-class developer experience, complements Security Compass's existing offerings, including Application Security Training, SD Elements, and Just-In-Time Training. Customers of both Security Compass and Kontra can look forward to an expanded suite of training options tailored to a diverse range of learning preferences and needs. About Security Compass Security Compass, the Security by Design Company, is a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, enabling organizations to shift left and build secure applications by design, integrated directly with existing DevSecOps tools and workflows. Its threat modeling, compliance, and automated security requirements solution, SD Elements, and Application Security Training solutions help organizations release secure and compliant software to market quickly at enterprise scale. Security Compass is a pioneer in the application security market and the trusted solution provider to leading financial and technology organizations, the U.S. Department of Defense, government agencies, and renowned global brands across multiple industries. The company is headquartered in Toronto, with offices in the U.S. and UK. For more information, please visit www.securitycompass.com. About ThriveDX ThriveDX is the global leader in cybersecurity training and workforce development, solving the cyber talent shortage and skills gap, by reskilling the workforce and upskilling the industry. We provide end-to-end human factor security solutions, including professional cybersecurity bootcamps, phishing and awareness simulations, application security training, and beyond. We collaborate with top-tier academic institutions, enterprises, and government agencies to serve millions of learners and thousands of organizations globally. The ThriveDX team is composed of military-trained cyber experts, industry veterans, and seasoned educators united in the mission to close the worldwide skills and talent gap in cybersecurity, and encourage diversity, equity, and inclusion across industries. For more information, visit https://thrivedx.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205842201/en/ Contacts: Bruce Warren CMO, Security Compass press@securitycompass.com Taking place in Bengaluru - the "Silicon Valley of India" - the GBF will focus on investment opportunities in the state of Karnataka and position India as an investment destination NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) - an international trade organization connecting more than 300 World Trade Center (WTC) locations in nearly 100 countries - and World Trade Center Bengaluru will host the 54th annual WTCA Global Business Forum (GBF) in Bengaluru, India from March 3-6. This will be the first time WTCA presents its newly rebranded Global Business Forum (formerly called the "General Assembly") in India to focus on the B2B aspect of the event. The rebrand further accentuates WTCA's core mission, "Connecting Businesses Globally," by shifting focus to the expansion of Members' international trade presence and integration into various global supply chains. The association's premier annual event will bring together WTCA Members and their global networks consisting of leaders in business, government, academia, media and international organizations - reflecting WTCA's diverse global footprint. Over 80 WTC businesses from 30 countries/territories have already confirmed their participation with more to follow. This includes representations from: Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China Mainland, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Guyana, Iraq, Ireland, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Palestine, Panama, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Syria, Taiwan, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam and Yemen, with several WTC businesses bringing delegations to participate in the B2B matchmaking aspect of the event. With the theme of "EPIC: Empowering Progress through Innovation & Collaboration," the Forum will feature an engaging keynote address and panel discussions, including a special address from the Honorable Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri. Siddaramaiah and felicitations from the Honorable Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri. D.K. Shivakumar on Monday, March 4. Romal Shetty, CEO of Deloitte South Asia, will provide the keynote address to set the theme of this year's GBF and unveil the new Deloitte research report 'India as an Investment Destination.' Other notable speakers include M.R. Jaishankar, Executive Chairman, Brigade Enterprises Limited who will provide the opening address alongside John E. Drew, Chair, WTCA Board of Directors. A robust agenda of panel discussions on AI & tech start-ups, exporting overseas, agritech, and real estate will include moderators and panelists: Nirupa Shankar, Joint Managing Director, Brigade Enterprises Limited and Brigade REAP; Remy Swaab, Vice-Chair, WTCA (WTC Panama); Uma Reddy, Vice President, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI); Prashanth Gokhale, President, Buhler Group India Private Limited; Pavitra Shankar, Managing Director, Brigade Enterprises Limited; Mr. Naresh V. Narasimhan, Managing Partner & Principal Architect, Venkataramanan and Associates (VA); Dr. R. Srinivas, Subject Matter Expert on Smart Cities; and Dr. Tuan Anh, CIO/CXO, Becamex (WTC Binh Duong New City). "This year's GBF will not only showcase India, specifically Karnataka, as a rising investment destination of the world, but also serve to strengthen relationships between industry leaders," said Vineet Verma, Managing Director of World Trade Center Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi; and newly-appointed WTCA Board Member. "This will be an invaluable opportunity to interact with leading innovators and invest in India's growing economy - backed by our dynamic and skilled workforce." The Forum will demonstrate the strength of the global WTCA network, facilitate business relationships and focus on investment opportunities in Karnataka across 12 diverse industry sectors including: Agriculture & Food Processing; Automotive; Aviation & Aerospace; Biotech; Education; Heavy Engineering; IT, ITeS & Electronics; Manufacturing; Real Estate & Construction; Tech Startups; Textile & Garments; and Travel & Tourism. In partnership with the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC), the event will offer onsite B2B matchmaking services, connecting international delegates with business opportunities in the state of Karnataka. The full GBF program agenda is available here. India stands as the world's fifth largest economy by nominal GDP, and the third largest by purchasing power parity. Bengaluru, often referred to as the "Silicon Valley of India," is renowned for its cutting-edge advancements and innovation hub status. The GBF's strategic location in Bengaluru will afford WTCA Members and attending delegates with the opportunity to tap into the region's dynamic and rapidly growing business landscape. "India is experiencing rapid economic growth, coupled with a surging demand for commercial infrastructure and global business connectivity. As a result, our network has grown phenomenally in the country during the past decade. Today, we have our second largest membership cluster here with 40 Members representing most of India's major cities and contributing to India's sustainable development," said John E. Drew, Chair, WTCA Board of Directors. "Bengaluru's entrepreneurial spirit makes it an ideal setting for fostering synergies and exploring lucrative business opportunities in one of the world's most promising economic regions." For more information about the 2024 WTCA Global Business Forum, please visit https://wtca.swoogo.com/2024gbf/4132448. Also, follow along on social media via WTCAEvents. MEDIA CONTACTS: World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) Chanelle Dimalanta Phone: +1 212 432 2644 Email: cdimalanta@wtca.org Violet PR Kate Traina Phone: +1 908 967 2117 Email: kate@violetpr.com About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 300 highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in 91 countries. As the owner of the "World Trade Center" and "WTC" trademarks, WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for Members to use in conjunction with their independently owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its Members, the goal of WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe through Member engagement. To learn more, visit www.wtca.org. About World Trade Center (WTC) Bengaluru World Trade Center (WTC) Bengaluru is a licensed member of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), headquartered in New York. Promoted by the Brigade Group, it was set up in 2010 to help develop an international business platform specific to the region of Bengaluru and Karnataka as a whole. WTC Bengaluru meets specific needs of its clients & partner organizations by providing international market research, business matchmaking and connections to valuable public and private resources, as well as through the planning of strategic trade missions, trade educational programs and networking events. In addition to Bengaluru, the Brigade Group has operational WTC businesses in Chennai & Kochi along with upcoming locations in Hyderabad, Devanahalli and Thiruvananthapuram. To learn more, visit www.wtcbengaluru.org. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/704442/WTCA_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/world-trade-centers-association-and-world-trade-center-bengaluru-to-bring-newly-rebranded-global-business-forum-to-india-for-the-first-time-302052696.html The energy drink brand unveils a new and distinctive visual identity system in key markets across the world. The vibrant design is tailored for those who live in the moment, doing the things they love, and it marks the first move of the year for the Press Play platform. NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rockstar Energy kicks off the new year with a dynamic new look and feel as the brand unveils the latest refresh of its visual identity across the full product range. Infused with a burst of bold colours and flavours, Rockstar's new visual identity comes as part of the wider 'Press Play' platform launched last year, fuelling fans to say yes to the things they love to do. Injected with a boost of energy, the new visual identity, designed in-house by PepsiCo Design + Innovation, aims for greater accessibility and inclusivity by differentiating from traditional energy drink norms. Rockstar seeks to resonate with a broader audience of energy drink consumers by adopting a new flavour-forward look and feel. Departing from the previous design, the new look maintains the iconic star logo while introducing simplicity and a universal appeal, catering to a broader, more modern audience of energy drink enthusiasts across the portfolio. Marie-Therese Cassidy, Vice President of Design, Europe, commented: "Through our newly crafted visual identity system for Rockstar, we've infused the brand with confidence and distinctiveness. Each touchpoint of the brand now revolves around the bold 'Press Play' platform, urging Rockstar enthusiasts to embrace new experiences and press play on the things they love. By seamlessly merging our iconic gold star with the refreshed Rockstar wordmark, we've made a lasting impact both on and off the shelf. Additionally, our team has introduced a vibrant repeating star shape, providing a visual gateway into Rockstar's diverse world of flavours and experiences." The revamped look and feel signify Rockstar's first visual refresh in over four years. Since its acquisition by PepsiCo in 2020, the brand has transitioned and progressed into a lively, vibrant, and refreshing aesthetic. This evolution mirrors Rockstar Energy's progressive approach to continuously evolve the brand to appeal to more diverse and modern energy drink fans. Bart LaCount, Vice President of International Beverages Marketing at PepsiCo added: "Since acquiring the brand, we've stayed committed to adopting a forward-thinking, innovative approach - evolving our appeal for a wider, and more modern audience. The launch of the "Press Play" platform in 2023 was just the start in a series of initiatives aimed at encouraging our fans and many more across the world to "Press Play" throughout the year. We're excited for what 2024 has in store and we can't wait to host more incredible events and activities under the "Press Play" platform". Rockstar Energy's new visual identity debuts in the UK, Poland and Germany this January 2024, with subsequent launches throughout the year. The fresh look will extend across all international Rockstar Energy flavours in multi-touchpoint campaigns, and anywhere else you find Rockstar from January 2024 onwards. For further information, please contact: pepsicomediarelations@pepsico.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2334138/Rockstar_Press_Play_New_Visual_Identity.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/rockstar-energy-press-play-on-2024-with-bold-new-visual-identity-302053365.html FAIRFAX, VA / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / WidePoint Corporation (NYSE American:WYY), the innovative technology Managed Solution Provider (MSP) specializing in Identity & Access Management (IAM), Telecommunications and Managed Mobility Services (MMS), Analytics & Billing as a Service (ABaaS), and IT as a Service (ITaaS), announced that its subsidiary IT Authorities has been awarded a new three-year contract valued at more than $1.4 million from a major Florida attraction and research center. Jason Caras, CEO of IT Authorities, stated: "This contract award expands IT Authorities' reputation as a leading MSP. I am proud of the IT Authorities team for their dedication and expertise which allowed us to win this contract. We will be providing a full scope of managed IT services, including cyber security services, to one of Florida's most popular attractions and research centers." The contract encompasses: Managed IT Services (24x7x365 Management and Support) Monitoring and management of technology End user support Disaster recovery planning Strategy & Consulting Managed Cyber Security Services (24x7x365 Management and Support) Security Operations Center as a Service (SOC-as-a-Service) Security Information Event Management (SIEM) Jin Kang, WidePoint's CEO, added: "This award is a prime example of successful cross-sell efforts by our organization. By incorporating cyber security services, IT Authorities is combining WidePoint's strengths to win and elevate WidePoint's position in the MSP arena." About WidePoint WidePoint Corporation (NYSE American:WYY) is a leading technology Managed Solution Provider (MSP) dedicated to securing and protecting the mobile workforce and enterprise landscape. WidePoint is recognized for pioneering technology solutions that include Identity and Access Management (IAM), Mobility Managed Services (MMS), Telecom Management, Information Technology as a Service (ITaaS), Cloud Security, and Analytics & Billing as a Service (ABaaS). For more information, visit widepoint.com. WidePoint Investor Relations: Gateway Group, Inc. Matt Glover or John Yi 949-574-3860 WYY@gateway-grp.com SOURCE: WidePoint Corporation View the original press release on accesswire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 5, 2024) - Fremont Gold Ltd. (TSXV: FRE) (OTCQB: FRERF) (FSE: FR20) ("Fremont" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of the geochemical soil sample survey undertaken at its Urasar property in northern Armenia. Urasar geochemical soil sample results The Company collected a total of 744 C-horizon soil samples across the Urasar Mineral District in November and December 2023. Urasar was last worked by Soviet government teams in the 1950s and 1960s, resulting in the identification of three mineralized zones and four geochemically anomalous zones along a 14 km strike length. Gold fire assay and multi-element geochemical results from Fremont's recent soil sampling survey display continuous gold-copper/base metal anomalies hosted in an east-west structure 1.2km wide over a 15 km strike length, as shown in the figures presented below. Gold values ranged up to 449 ppb with a mean of 142 ppb. Gold in C-horizon soil samples at Urasar To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/196825_c4a064dec4ae0ad0_002full.jpg Copper soil geochemistry at Urasar To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/196825_c4a064dec4ae0ad0_003full.jpg The copper anomalies generally mimic the gold anomalies but display a tighter distribution comprising three distinct populations, consistent with the earlier Soviet work. A continuous, robust copper anomaly greater than 5 km in length is evident in the western portion of the project area, congruent with the largest and strongest gold anomaly. At the far eastern end of the license, the gold geochemistry is comparatively weak while the copper anomaly is quite coherent and robust. Copper values ranged up to 497ppm with a mean of 233 ppm. Arsenic Soil Geochemistry at Urasar To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/196825_c4a064dec4ae0ad0_004full.jpg Anomalous arsenic soil geochemistry generally reflects the same distribution as the gold geochemistry but is well developed on the eastern end of the 5-km long Cu-Au anomaly in the western part of the project. Initial spatial analysis of the anomalies suggests a continuous mineralized structure over 1 km wide, offset by post-mineral north or northeast-trending faults in step-wise fashion. The disposition of the anomalies suggests a southward displacement of about 1 km between the first and second anomalies, and approximately 2 kms displacement between the second and third anomalies. This distribution is most easily observed in the copper geochemistry image above. Fremont's President and CEO, Dennis Moore states, "These soil geochemical results support management's belief that Urasar is a well-endowed mineral district with at least three en echelon mineralized zones. These east-west striking zones are six, four and three kilometers in length with minimum widths of approximately 1.2 kilometers. Detailed geological mapping and trenching are planned for the spring, with diamond drilling following in the summer. We are very excited about these results and believe we are on the cusp of a significant new discovery." About Fremont Gold Fremont's mine-finding management team has assembled a portfolio of potential world-class copper-gold mineral opportunities within the central Tethyan belt of Armenia, and controls two advanced gold exploration projects in Nevada. Qualified person The content of this news release was reviewed by Dennis Moore, Fremont's President, CEO and interim Chairman, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Dennis Moore President and CEO, interim Chairman For further information, contact: Telephone: +351 9250 62196 www.fremontgold.net https://twitter.com/GoldFremont https://www.linkedin.com/company/fremont-gold/ Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements including, without limitation, statements regarding future exploration programs at Urasar. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations including the risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Forward-Looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only as expressly required by Canadian securities law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196825 SOURCE: Fremont Gold Ltd. A request for proposals is now open for local grassroots organizations with MetLife employees reviewing and selecting organizations to receive funding NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / MetLife Foundation today announced an additional $1 million commitment to its Community Impact Grant Program, which it launched in June of 2023. The program's success resulted from the dedication and passion of MetLife employees whose efforts expanded the Foundation's impact and involvement in communities where MetLife has a presence. MetLife employees will continue to lead the effort as the Foundation issues request for proposal (RFP) opportunities in 2024 to provide immediate assistance to communities across the U.S. A selection committee of MetLife employee volunteers will award grants to local grassroots organizations who are addressing emergency needs of people with low- to moderate-incomes and communities impacted by the growing income and wealth divide. For this funding round, MetLife Foundation grants will go to organizations who serve one of the seven eligible cities and plan to implement their program in one of the following counties: Cary, NC (Chatham, Durham, Wake Counties), New York, NY (Bronx, New York, Queens, Kings, Richmond Counties), Omaha, NE (Douglas County), Philadelphia, PA (Philadelphia County), San Francisco, CA (Alameda, San Francisco Counties), St. Louis, MO (St. Louis County) and Tampa, FL (Hillsborough County) "We launched this program to demonstrate employee care and create connectivity and vitality across our communities. Last year's success resulted from MetLife employees coming together to live our purpose and drive change in our communities," said Mike Zarcone, Head of Corporate Affairs for MetLife and Chairman of MetLife Foundation. "Our employees continue to be at the center of our effort to reach those in need and provide a source of immediate assistance." The grant program will support four focus areas to address acute needs disproportionately impacting people with low- to moderate-incomes. Selected recipients will receive programmatic support through grants between $5,000 - $50,000 in the following focus areas: Hunger Relief and Nutrition to provide access to healthy food options that address food insecurity, nutrition and healthy eating. to provide access to healthy food options that address food insecurity, nutrition and healthy eating. Physical and Mental Well-Being to provide access to shelters and affordable housing, social services, mental health and well-being services. to provide access to shelters and affordable housing, social services, mental health and well-being services. Environmental Sustainability to mitigate the impact of changing weather patterns and improve the environment in local communities. to mitigate the impact of changing weather patterns and improve the environment in local communities. Quality of Life to improve access to transportation to increase the accessibility of support for critical needs and services; emergency supplies, clothing and financial support; and access to recreation, arts and cultural experiences. The RFP for this latest round of funding is now open and available on MetLife Foundation's website, with another request for proposal opportunity to be issued later in 2024. The Foundation will accept applications to the Community Impact Grant Program until Friday, March 15 at 8:00 p.m. EDT. All organizations who apply will receive a decision on their proposal in May 2024. For more information on the program, visit www.Metlife.org About MetLife Foundation At MetLife Foundation, we are committed to driving inclusive economic mobility for underserved and low-income communities around the world. We collaborate with nonprofit organizations and provide grants aligned to three strategic focus areas - economic inclusion, financial health and resilient communities - while engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help drive impact. MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLife's long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since its inception, MetLife Foundation has contributed over $1 billion to strengthen communities where MetLife has a presence. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit www.metlife.org. Contact: MetLife Olivia Janicelli (212) 578-3547 olivia.janicelli@metlife.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from MetLife, Inc. on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: MetLife, Inc. Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/metlife-inc Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: MetLife, Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com Robotics and AI company expands into the North American market to drive disruption through a robotics and AI-powered analysis solution, DexoryView Dexory, a leading provider of cutting-edge AI and robotics solutions, has announced its strategic expansion into the North American market. Dexory is set to disrupt the market through its autonomous robotics and AI-powered analysis solution, DexoryView. The company is already working with global partners with a significant US presence such as DB Schenker, Menzies Aviation, Maersk and ID Logistics. To lead the expansion, Todd Boone has joined the team as its Head of North American business. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240202267246/en/ Dexory's autonomous robot and DexoryView platform (Graphic: Business Wire) The driving force behind the expansion is the rapidly evolving landscape of logistics and warehousing. End customers continue to demand quicker turnaround times while warehouses address the urgent needs for improved space utilization and increased efficiencies while wrestling with ongoing labor scarcity. Dexory combines powerful analytics with autonomous robots capable of capturing rich image and sensor data from across a warehouse. This powerful combination provides comprehensive visibility across warehouses of any size, as well as connecting warehouses across the global supply chain through Dexory's digital platform, DexoryView. One customer that has recently deployed Dexory's solutions in its warehouses is the international contract logistics group, ID Logistics. The collaboration aims to increase warehouse operation accuracy and enhance overall efficiency to improve the service provided to their customers. Benoit Boiron, Group Innovation Manager at ID Logistics commented, "This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the evolution of inventory management and warehouse data acquisition. The precision and real-time monitoring capabilities have transformed our day-to-day operations, bringing accuracy to new heights." "Following successful customer deployments in Europe, we have seen an increased demand from the North American market," said Andrei Danescu, CEO and Co-Founder of Dexory. "We are excited to be expanding our offering and see that there is tremendous opportunity in the region. Organizations across the globe are getting to grips with the challenging demands of modern supply chains, and DexoryView allows businesses to gain rapid insights into their operations and make informed decisions that drive better efficiencies across their businesses." Dexory's groundbreaking technology allows businesses to understand, in real-time, what happens in their warehousing operations, which is imperative to closing the Visibility Gap that occurs when there is a misalignment between expectations and reality. The ever-increasing pace within warehouses is causing the visibility gap to grow, and so worldwide, companies are embracing Dexory's solution to unlock real-time visibility and insights that minimize the visibility gap while maximizing warehouse performance and reducing costs. As part of the expansion, Dexory has appointed Todd Boone to lead its North American business. Boone joins Dexory from Zebra Technologies, where he served as Director of product management in robotics and automation. With Zebra Technologies he held several leadership roles and worked closely with Fetch, an established AMR provider in North America. Along with his experience in large organizations such as Motorola Solutions and Psion Teklogix, Boone has also acted as an independent advisor for technology companies, providing advice on go-to-market strategies. "Having an industry veteran such as Todd Boone lead our expansion in the North American region is paramount to our success," adds Danescu. "Boone has in-depth knowledge of the landscape and the challenges our customers are facing. In addition to this, he is a proven leader and has a track record of delivering value to customers as well as devising strategies that are disruptive and value-driven for our industry. We are pleased to have him on board to spearhead our growth in the region." "Many businesses across the globe are struggling with a visibility gap, where they do not have the necessary insight into their warehouse and supply chain operations," comments Todd Boone, Head of North America at Dexory. "The opportunity to lead Dexory's expansion into the North American market comes at an exciting time for the industry. The technology is truly innovative and disruptive. The combination of robots and DexoryView has already delivered significant benefits to customers in Europe, and North American businesses can expect a transformative effect on the everyday efficiency, productivity and accuracy of their warehouses." As part of its North American launch, Dexory will be showcasing its autonomous robot and AI-powered digital twin technology at Manifest in Las Vegas from February 5th 7th at booth #1011 and at MODEX in Atlanta from March 11th- 14th at booth B708. About Dexory Dexory captures real-time insights into warehouse operations using fully autonomous robots and Artificial Intelligence. Using autonomous technology to unlock data and drive insights through all levels of business operations, helping companies boost their performance and unlock their full potential. Instant access to real-time data helps optimise the present, de-risk the future and discover the intractable in each location and at every stage of the product journey through the warehouse and onto dispatch. Founded in 2015, by three founders, Andrei, Oana and Adrian, Dexory is based in the UK. The founders are school friends from Romania, who moved to the UK a decade ago with experience accumulated across engineering and tech roles at Formula 1, Google, and IBM. Combining commercial nous with deep technical expertise, the three founders are now working together to help transform warehouse management practices worldwide. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240202267246/en/ Contacts: Janne Virtanen, PR Manager, Dexory janne.virtanen@dexory.com Felix Leach, Thinking Hat PR dexorypr@thinkinghatpr.com WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / St. Martinus University, Willemstad in Curacao has attained a significant milestone by receiving full 5 years Institutional Accreditation and full 5 years program accreditation for Doctor of Medicine - 5 years (regular) and Doctor of Medicine - 4 years (accelerated) from the Agency for Accreditation of Educational Programs and Organizations (AAEPO). This accreditation, valid from December 4th, 2023, to December 4th, 2028, underscores the institution's commitment to maintaining high standards in medical education. AAEPO, recognized as a World Federation for Medical Education (WFME) Accredited Body, plays a crucial role in accrediting medical schools globally. The accreditation process involves rigorous evaluation and adherence to established standards. In this case, St. Martinus University has demonstrated its dedication to excellence in medical education. The accreditation journey involved a tripartite agreement between St. Martinus University, AAEPO officials from Kyrgyzstan, and representatives from the Government of Curacao in May 2023.The involvement of the government officials, including Minister of Education Mr.Sithree van Heydoorn and Minister of Health and Finance Mr. Javier Silvania, reflects a collaborative effort to ensure the highest educational standards in the country. Dr. Serving Keli, Inspector General of Public Health, also played a crucial role in this process. In September 2023, AAEPO officials visited Curacao to conduct the accreditation process. The comprehensive evaluation covered various aspects of the institution, ensuring it met the stringent criteria set by AAEPO. The results of this evaluation were released on December 4th, 2023, confirming St. Martinus University's compliance with international standards. Acknowledging the significance of this achievement, Dr. Murali Ginjupalli visited the AAEPO headquarters in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on December 27th, 2023. There, he received the official certification from Dr. Ismailov Baktybek, Director of AAEPO, in the presence of key AAEPO officials and Mr. Kamendra Dahat, the founder CEO of Interedwise Education Pvt Ltd from India. This accreditation not only brings pride to St. Martinus University but also strengthens the confidence of students and staff. By adhering to international standards, the institution contributes to the enhancement of the overall quality of education in Curacao. The recognition by AAEPO signifies that students graduating from St. Martinus University are among the best-prepared healthcare professionals globally. In conclusion, the accreditation from AAEPO marks a significant achievement for St. Martinus University reflecting its dedication to excellence in medical education and positioning itself as a key player in shaping the future of healthcare professionals in Curacao and beyond. Contact: Hemawati Sharada +59995111570 SOURCE: St. Martinus University View the original press release on accesswire.com DALLAS, GA / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / Bemax Inc. (OTCPK:BMXC) a private label development company with a focus on disposable diapers and women's hygienic sanitary products, is pleased to announce that its innovative design of the private label brand of Mother's Touch disposable baby diapers will be available for sales starting June 25, 2024. The new design brand of Mother's Touch disposable diapers will be available on Walmart.com and on bemaxinc.com/webstore. Bemax's new packaging and product design of Mother's Touch private label disposable diapers will be distributed to grocery and convenience stores across the United States and Canada. Bemax will extend sales of its new design private label brand to other online selling platforms, including Amazon.com, to support and expand online sales. Bemax will continue to increase its distribution and marketing network and provide competitive pricing for our customers. The new product design and packaging will be unveiled prior to the launch date of June 25, 2024. Bemax Inc. CEO Taiwo Aimasiko expressed her confidence in the increased exposure and retailer's interest this new design will bring to Mother's Touch. Taiwo Aimasiko stated, "This new design of Mother's Touch disposable diapers covers both the product and packaging and is a new milestone for us in private label development." About Bemax Inc. Bemax Inc. exports and distribute private label household products to the global emerging markets. www.bemaxinc.com Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as "believes," "expects," "potential," "plans," "suggests," "may," "should," "could," "intends," or similar expressions. Many forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results or implied by such statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, our ability to continue to enhance our products and systems to address industry changes, our ability to expand our customer base and retain existing customers, our ability to effectively compete in our market segment, the lack of public information on our company, our ability to raise sufficient capital to fund our business, operations, our ability to continue as a going concern, and a limited public market for our common stock, among other risks. Many factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond the company's control. Forward-looking statements speak only as to the date they are made and we do not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made. CONTACT INFORMATION Bemax Inc. Dallas, GA USA Email: admin@bemaxinc.com Tel: 4044808372 SOURCE: Bemax Inc. View the original press release on accesswire.com BOSTON, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TraceLink, the world's largest digital network platform for healthcare and life sciences, expanded its digitalization capabilities in 2023, leading to an annual increase of more than 300 new customers. Utilizing the industry's largest integrated digital network of over 290,000 entities, TraceLink is working to revolutionize the way businesses orchestrate the digital journeys of products, processes, and partners that span the end-to-end supply chain, resulting in the following 2023 achievements: Customer Growth: Surpassing 1,600 total customers, an increase of 23%, a testament to the market's confidence in TraceLink's unique supply chain digitalization model. These 1,600+ customers' supply chain activities operate in over 100 countries globally. Solution Adoption: 50+ new clients in 2023 selected TraceLink's cutting-edge solutions in orchestration intelligence, partner orchestration, and process orchestration, demonstrating broad industry demand for end-to-end supply chain digitalization capabilities. Successful Implementations: 510 customer implementation projects were deployed on the TraceLink network in 2023, demonstrating the effectiveness of TraceLink's unique Integrate-Once partner integration and solution delivery model. "Our team's relentless focus on customer enablement and success, and our ability to meet rapidly changing supply chain demands through our proven network integration capabilities, have been key drivers of our growth this year. Eclipsing more than 1,600 total customers in 2023 is a clear indication that our vision and maturing set of product, partner, and process orchestration capabilities is resonating with the market," said Shabbir Dahod, President & CEO, TraceLink. The growth was fueled by the introduction of a range of new solutions aimed at tackling the industry's most intricate multienterprise challenges: Product Availability Intelligence (PAI): Designed to enhance product availability and minimize shortages by leveraging advanced analytics and real-time data to predict them 90 days in advance. Designed to enhance product availability and minimize shortages by leveraging advanced analytics and real-time data to predict them 90 days in advance. Multienterprise Information Network Tower (MINT): Enabling 100% partner integration, at an affordable cost, to provide a comprehensive view across the supply chain, facilitating better decision-making through increased visibility and collaboration. Enabling 100% partner integration, at an affordable cost, to provide a comprehensive view across the supply chain, facilitating better decision-making through increased visibility and collaboration. Supply Chain Work Management for Compliance Exceptions (SCWM): Facilitating the management and resolution of compliance exceptions efficiently, ensuring regulatory adherence while maintaining supply chain integrity. Facilitating the management and resolution of compliance exceptions efficiently, ensuring regulatory adherence while maintaining supply chain integrity. Compliance Solutions for Emerging Markets: Supporting regulatory requirements in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and other emerging markets, aiding businesses in navigating complex compliance landscapes. Supporting regulatory requirements in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and other emerging markets, aiding businesses in navigating complex compliance landscapes. Expanded DSCSA Capabilities: Streamlining compliance with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), improving traceability and security in pharmaceutical supply chains while providing operational efficiency. These new offerings underscore TraceLink's unwavering commitment to solving the most pressing challenges of supply chain orchestration. TraceLink's efforts in digitalizing the supply chain continue to set the industry standard, demonstrating how strategic innovation can lead to tangible improvements in efficiency, compliance, and collaboration across the global healthcare and life sciences sector. For more information, please visit www.tracelink.com . About TraceLink Inc.: TraceLink Inc. is the leading digital network platform company, enabling end-to-end product orchestration by connecting more than 291,000 healthcare and life sciences entities through its B2N Integrate-Once network. Leading businesses trust TraceLink to deliver complete global connectivity, visibility, and traceability of pharmaceuticals, ensuring that every patient gets the medicines they need when needed, safely and securely. For more information, visit www.tracelink.com . Contact: Erica Burns edurham@tracelink.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1004729/TraceLink_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tracelinks-2023-success-expanded-digitalization-capabilities-and-growing-adoption-of-new-supply-chain-solutions-302053726.html ESPOO (dpa-AFX) - Finland-based telecommunications company, Nokia (NOK) on Monday announced that it has entered into a multi-year 5G patent agreement with China's Vivo, after signing similar deals with Apple, Samsung, OPPO, Honor, and Huawei in the past 13 months. Under the agreement, Nokia would receive royalty payments and catch-up payments from Vivo. Jenni Lukander, President of Nokia Technologies, said, 'We have now almost completed our smartphone license renewal cycle. We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Vivo, which reflects mutual respect for each other's intellectual property rights'. Nokia anticipates generating around 1.4 billion euros, equivalent to $1.51 billion, through its intellectual property licensing business. On the other side, Vivo also stands to gain from this agreement, since it can return to the German market after losing the lawsuit to Nokia. Earlier, the license agreement between Nokia and Vivo had expired in 2021 and was not renewed, which led to a legal battle between the companies in Germany. 'The agreement resolves all pending patent litigation between the parties, in all jurisdictions. The terms of the agreement remain confidential as agreed between the parties,' Nokia confirmed. Xianwen Xu, General Manager of Legal Affairs Department at Vivo, stated, 'We are pleased to have reached a global cross-license agreement with Nokia. Signing the agreement reflects the mutual recognition and respect for each other's patent value in cellular technology and it also plays a significant role in fostering a positive development environment within the industry. We are dedicated to investing in R&D of smart devices and intelligent services, providing extraordinary hi-tech products and services for users worldwide'. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. OAK BROOK (dpa-AFX) - McDonald's Co. (MCD) recently released its financial results for the quarter, and they were mixed. The fast-food giant faced a decline in sales in the Middle East following boycotts that were initiated by an announcement from McDonald's Israel, a local franchisee, about providing complimentary meals to Israeli soldiers. The boycotts, which led to customer protests, affected sales in nations with sizable Muslim communities like France, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Some franchisees, like McDonald's Oman, pledged donations to Gaza relief efforts in response to the boycotts. To ensure employee safety, McDonald's had to adjust store hours or close certain outlets temporarily due to protests. The impact of the boycotts on the company's finances in the quarter was not clarified by McDonald's, but CEO Chris Kempczinski highlighted their significant impact in the Middle East and Muslim-majority countries. During the earnings call, McDonald's CFO Ian Borden stated, 'We do not expect to see meaningful improvement until there is a resolution in the Middle East.' McDonald's disclosed providing minimal financial aid to franchisees affected by the Middle East conflict. However, sales in its licensed markets business, which predominantly includes Middle Eastern entities, grew only by 0.7% in the previous quarter due to the tensions - far below the over 4% growth in the United States and other global markets. The company's stance against violence and hate speech, emphasizing inclusivity, was also expressed by Kempczinski in a LinkedIn post. It's worth noting that McDonald's was not the only U.S. company to face repercussions from the Middle East conflict. Starbucks revealed last week that it also faced boycotts in the region and other areas due to perceived support for Israel. Copyright(c) 2024 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Video-Workshop: Das kleine Einmaleins der Charttechnik In diesem kostenlosen Video-Workshop von Stefan Klotter lernen Sie alles uber Charttechnik. Lassen Sie sich diesen kostenfreien Workshop nicht entgehen! Hier klicken HERZLIYA, Israel and CALGARY, AB, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Innocan Pharma Corporation (CSE: INNO) (FSE: IP4) (the "Company" or "Innocan"), is pleased to announce that it will provide a corporate update to the investment community and its shareholders through a Zoom livestream on February 12, 2024, at 4:00pm EST. The update will include a presentation by Innocan's CEO Iris Bincovich describing the key research milestones achieved by the Company to date. Registration for the Zoom livestream is available here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIlf-2hrzItEtD86WAjjfbFPmtLP_Mq52iJ About Innocan Innocan is a pharmaceutical tech company that operates under two main segments: Pharmaceuticals and Consumer Wellness. In the Pharmaceuticals segment, Innocan focuses on developing innovative drug delivery platform technologies comprises with cannabinoids science, to treat various conditions to improve patients' quality of life. This segment involves two drug delivery technologies: (i) LPT CBD-loaded liposome platform facilitating exact dosing and the prolonged and controlled release of CBD into the blood stream. The LPT delivery platform research is in the preclinical trial phase for Pain Management. In the Consumer Wellness segment, Innocan develops and markets a wide portfolio of innovative and high-performance self-care products to promote a healthier lifestyle. Under this segment Innocan has established a Joint Venture by the name of BI Sky Global Ltd. that focuses developing on advanced targeted online sales. https://innocanpharma.com/ For further information, please contact: Iris Bincovich, CEO +1 5162104025 +972-54-3012842 +442037699377 info@innocanpharma.com NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAVE REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2046271/3968398/Innocan_Pharma_Corporation_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/innocan-pharma-to-provide-a-corporate-update-via-zoom-livestream-on-february-12-2024-at-400pm-est-302053780.html PORT HUENEME, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / The Port of Hueneme welcomed two distinguished visitors, Dee Dee Myers, the Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), and Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson, Chair of the Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement. The two California officials toured The Port of Hueneme's onsite facilities and learned about its unique Hueneme Way of supporting logistics and trade through its collaboration and utilization of offsite facilities to create more job opportunities for local residents and maximize the throughput and efficiency of California bound cargo. As the only deep-water Port between Los Angeles and San Francisco, The Port of Hueneme serves as a vital link in the supply chain, handling over $15.8 billion worth of cargo annually. Director Myers visited The Port of Hueneme on her way to keynote a local Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) event honoring port CEO Kristin Decas as the new board chair. The very next day, as part of his tour of all ports along the California Coast Assemblymember Gipson met with port officials, stakeholders, and workers to learn about The Port of Hueneme's operations, challenges, and achievements. His goal is to gather insights, best practices, and opportunities from each of the ports to inform a comprehensive white paper that will guide the state's policies and investments in this vital industry. Both Director Myers and Assemblymember Gipson were instrumental in establishing a $27 million Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create a partnership among five California container ports to help build greater cooperation and standardization when it comes to the collection, transformation, of supply chain data amongst California ports and the state. (Center) Kristin Decas, CEO & Port Director, Port of Hueneme; Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor and Director, Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz); Celina Zacarias, Oxnard Harbor District President; are joined by Port of Hueneme staff, members of ILWU l-46, Operations Manager of Del Monte, and Martin Erickson, Executive Director, Ventura County Transportation Commission for a boat tour of The Port. "We are honored to have had Director Myers and Assemblymember Gipson visit our Port and witness our logistics and trade excellence," said Celina Zacarias, President of the Oxnard Harbor District Board of Commissioners. "The Hueneme Way is the result of our collaborative efforts with our customers, our community, and our state. We are proud to be a model of innovation and efficiency for the maritime industry." (Center) Celina Zacarias, Board President, Oxnard Harbor District; Jason T. Hodge, Secretary, Oxnard Harbor District, Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson, Chair of Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement; Kristin Decas, CEO & Port Director, Port of Hueneme; Jess J. Ramirez, Vice President, Oxnard Harbor District; Laura E. Lane, Platinum Advisors; are joined by members of the Pacific Maritime Association, the Office of Senator Monique Limon, the Office of Assemblymember Steve Bennett, at Anacapa Fresh Logistics in Oxnard. The Port is a leader in logistics and trade, having established strategic partnerships with several companies. Offsite facilities such as BMW North America and Anacapa Fresh Logistics, which Director Myers and Assemblymember Gipson toured, increase the speed and quality of service and further reduce emissions because of their close proximity to the Port of Hueneme. Together, the Port and its partners utilize state-of-the-art technology and equipment to ensure the safe and smooth movement of cargo, such as automobiles, and produce such as bananas, blueberries, and pineapples. Scott Fitzpatrick of BMW North America gives Director Myers a tour of his facility on Arcturus Rd. in Oxnard. "The Port of Hueneme is a shining example of how ports can be both engines of growth and champions of sustainability," said Director Myers. "The Port's logistics and trade support is impressive and commendable as it enhances the competitiveness and resilience of our supply chain and reduces our environmental impact. This is a win-win for our economy and our planet." Assemblymember Gipson echoed Director Myers' sentiments and added: "As the Chair of the Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement, I am impressed by the Port of Hueneme's achievements and aspirations. The Port is a vital asset for our state - supporting thousands of jobs and generating millions of dollars in tax revenue. The Port's logistics and trade support is exemplary and inspiring as it showcases the power of partnership and technology to optimize our supply chain and serve our customers. This is a great example of how California leads the way in innovation and collaboration." Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson, Chair of Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement tours The Port of Hueneme Harbor with port staff, Laura E. Lane, Platinum Advisors; members of the Pacific Maritime Association, and the Office of Senator Monique Limon, the Office of Assemblymember Steve Bennett. Both Director Myers and Assemblymember Gipson were welcomed by Kristin Decas, CEO and Port Director of The Port of Hueneme, representatives from Naval Base Ventura County, the Economic Development Collaborative of Ventura County, and the FATHOMWERX facility located at The Port of Hueneme. Director Myers tours FATHOMWERX at The Port of Hueneme. FATHOMWERX is a technology-based collaborative that fuses academia, civilian and DoD partners to work on the most challenging problems in the Port and maritime domains. It serves as a public-private laboratory, community, and resource for technological innovation, leveraging the unique assets and capabilities of The Port of Hueneme and the surrounding ecosystem. During the tour, Director Myers and Assemblymember Gipson learned about the various projects and programs that FATHOMWERX supports, such as unmanned systems, environmental monitoring, Port security, and workforce development. They also interacted with some of the entrepreneurs, researchers, and student leaders who are part of the FATHOMWERX network and witnessed demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies and prototypes. Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson tours FATHOMWERX located at The Port of Hueneme. Director Myers praised FATHOMWERX for its role in fostering economic development and innovation in the region. "Ports are the lifeline of California, connecting us to the rest of the world and generating billions of dollars in revenue and taxes," she said - "FATHOMWERX is helping our Ports to become more efficient, resilient, and competitive in the global market, while also addressing the environmental and social challenges that they face. I commend The Port of Hueneme and its partners for their vision and leadership in establishing this innovative hub." Director Myers and Assemblymember Gipson expressed their appreciation for the Port's leadership and vision and praised the Port for its economic and environmental contributions to the region and the state. "The Port of Hueneme is proud to be a gateway for international trade and a source of jobs and economic prosperity for our region. We thank Director Myers and Assemblymember Gipson for their time and commitment to helping us continue to Make Cargo Move! Their leadership and support for California ports, like ours, is vital for our region's economic resilience and development." - Kristin Decas, CEO and Port Director of The Port of Hueneme. About the Port of Hueneme The Port of Hueneme is one of the most productive and efficient commercial trade gateways for niche cargo on the West Coast. Five locally elected Port Commissioners govern the Port. The Port consistently ranks among the top ten U.S. Ports for automobiles and fresh produce. Port operations support the community by bringing $2.8 billion in economic activity and creating 24,997 trade-related jobs. Trade through the Port of Hueneme generates more than $236 million in direct and related state and local taxes, which fund vital community services. In 2017, the Port of Hueneme became the first Port in California to become Green Marine certified and was voted the Greenest Port in the U.S. at the Green Shipping Summit. www.Portofh.org. Press Contact Letitia Austin Public & Government Relations Manager laustin@portofh.org (805) 816-8324 SOURCE: Port of Hueneme View the original press release on accesswire.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 5, 2024) - American Aires Inc. (CSE: WIFI) (OTC Pink: AAIRD) ("Aires" or the "Company"), a company focused on scientifically-proven EMF modulation technology, announces its intention to complete a non-brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") of up to 16,666,667 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.15 per Unit (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $2,500,000. The Company will have the option to increase the Offering to 20,000,000 Units for aggregate gross proceeds of $3,000,000 depending on market conditions. Each Unit will be comprised of one common share in the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one common share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant") being exercisable into one Common Share at a price of $0.25 per share for a period of 24 months from closing of the Offering, provided that, in the event that the volume weighted average trading price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") exceeds $0.40 for a period of 10 consecutive trading days, the Company will have the right to accelerate the expiry date to 30 days following the date on which the Company provides notice thereof to the holders of the Warrants. In connection with the Offering, the Company may (i) pay to certain finders a cash fee equal to 7% of the gross proceeds from subscribers that are introduced to the Company by such finders, and (ii) issue to certain finders such number of Units (each, a "Finder's Unit") equal to 7% of the number of Units that are sold to subscribers introduced to the Company by such finders. Each Finder's Unit shall be on the same terms as the Units sold in the Offering. The Offering is subject to the approval of the CSE. The Common Shares and Warrants will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day pursuant to CSE policies and applicable securities laws. The Offering Price was reserved via price protection filed with the CSE on January 15, 2024. The Offering is expected to close on or about February 12, 2024, or such earlier or later date as the Company may designate. About American Aires Inc. American Aires Inc. is a Canadian-based nanotechnology company committed to enhancing personal well-being and environmental safety through science-led innovation, education, and advocacy. The company has developed, proved and commercialized proprietary silicon-based microchips that neutralize the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). Aires' Lifetune products target EMR emitted by consumer electronic devices such as smartphones, computers, EVs, and Wi-Fi modems, including the more powerful and rapidly expanding high-speed 5G networks. Aires is listed on the CSE under the ticker 'WIFI' and on the OTC QB under the symbol 'AAIRF'. Learn more at www.airestech.com. On behalf of the board of directors Company Contact: Josh Bruni, CEO Website: www.airestech.com Email: wifi@airestech.com Telephone: (415) 707-0102 Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the expected Offering size, closing of the Offering and the expected closing date, CSE approval of the Offering, issuance of Common Shares underlying the Warrants, future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The Common Shares, RSUs and Options have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of any person in the United States, absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any common shares in the United States, or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. We seek safe harbour. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196912 SOURCE: American Aires Inc. Future Market Insights, Inc. (FMI) predicts a bright future for the automotive interior market, fueled by trends such as Tech Takes the Wheel, Safety First, Style Follows, and Customization Craving. Explore the complex trends and drivers of this growing market and discover attractive opportunities for stakeholders in our detailed FMI report. NEWARK, Del., Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Automotive Interior Market is estimated to be worth US$ 166.7 billion in 2024 and is projected to be valued at US$ 270 billion in 2034. Between 2024 and 2034, the industry is expected to register a CAGR of 4.9%. The growth of the automotive interior market is driven by the increasing demand for connected features in vehicles, including in-car Wi-Fi, smartphone integration, and advanced navigation systems. Request Exclusive Sample Report: Automotive Interior Industry Strategic Insights, https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-18896 Increasing incorporation of advanced technologies, such as touchscreen infotainment systems, digital instrument clusters, and voice-activated controls, to enhance the overall driving experience to boost the market demand. The seamless integration of these technologies necessitates sophisticated interior design to ensure a seamless and harmonious incorporation of connected features within the overall vehicle experience. The automotive interior market is experiencing growth propelled by a heightened awareness and emphasis on safety features within vehicles. The integration of crucial safety technologies like airbags, collision avoidance systems, and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) is a fundamental aspect of interior design, enhancing both safety and the overall driving experience. Economic factors, such as the upswing in disposable income across various regions, play a pivotal role. This economic trend leads to an increased willingness among consumers to invest in vehicles that boast upgraded and feature-rich interiors, contributing to the expansion of the automotive interior market. Increasing demand for customizable interiors, allowing consumers to personalize their vehicles with options for materials, colors, and features to match individual preferences are expected to propel the market growth during the forecast period. Automotive Interior Market Research Report Coverage Attributes Details Estimated Market Size in 2024 US$ 166.7 billion Projected Market Valuation in 2034 US$ 270 billion Value-based CAGR 2024 to 2034 4.9 % Forecast Period 2024 to 2034 Historical Data Available for 2019 to 2023 Market Analysis Value in US$ billion Key Market Segments Covered Automotive Interior Market - Key Segments By Component: Cockpit Module Flooring Door Panel Automotive Seat Interior Lighting Other By Vehicle Type: Passenger Car Commercial Vehicle By Region: North America Latin America Western Europe Eastern Europe South Asia and Pacific East Asia Middle East and Africa Key Countries Profiled The United States Canada Brazil Mexico Germany The United Kingdom France Spain Italy Russia Poland Czech Republic Romania India Bangladesh Australia New Zealand China Japan South Korea GCC countries South Africa Israel Key Takeaways From 2019 to 2023, the automotive interior market expanded at a CAGR of 6.6%. Based on vehicle type, the passenger car segment is expected to rise at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2024 to 2034. The automotive interior demand in China is predicted to grow at a CAGR of 5.7% through 2034. In the United States, the automotive interior industry is estimated to register a CAGR of 5.3% from 2024 to 2034. The United Kingdom is projected to expand by a value CAGR of 6.0% between 2024 and 2034. The automotive interior market in Japan is anticipated to record a CAGR of 6.6% during 2034. "The automotive interior market is being propelled by increasing awareness of safety features in vehicles and growing trend of personalized interior solutions." says Nikhil Kaitwade (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.). Top of Form Competitive Landscape The market players in the automotive interior market are offering a wide range of customization options for consumers to choose materials, colors, and interior configurations. Market players are forming strategic collaborations with technology companies for joint development projects and partnerships with other automotive manufacturers or suppliers to expand market reach. In January 2022, Visteon a prominent global technology company in the mobility industry, presented its cutting-edge display technology at CES 2022. The showcase will feature a range of innovations designed to deliver a superior user experience, specifically focusing on driver information and in-vehicle infotainment. Key Manufacturing Companies in Automotive Interior Industry, 2024-2034: Hyundai Mobis Company International Automotive Components Group S.A Adient Lear Corporation Grupo Antolin Visteon Corporation Faurecia S.A Calsonic Kansei Corporation Robert Bosch Yanfeng Automotive Interiors Purchase this report now to get key companies with their Revenue Forecast, Volume Forecast, Company Ranking, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, Trends, and Pricing Analysis. Top of FormMore Valuable Insights Available Future Market Insights offers an unbiased global automotive interior market analysis, providing historical data from 2019 to 2023 and forecast statistics from 2024 to 2034 To understand opportunities in the automotive interior industry, the industry is segmented based on components (Cockpit Module, Flooring, Door Panel, Automotive Seat, Interior Lighting, Other) by Vehicle type (Passenger Car, Commercial vehicle ) and Region (North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, South Asia and Pacific, East Asia, Middle East and Africa). Request to Access the Detail Research Methodology from here! About the Automotive Division at Future Market Insights The automotive team at Future Market Insights offers expert analysis, time-efficient research, and strategic recommendations to provide authentic insights and accurate results to help clients worldwide. With over 100+ reports and one million+ data points, the team has analyzed the industry lucidly in 50+ countries for over a decade. The team briefly analyzes key trends, including competitive landscape, profit margin, and research development efforts. About the Author: Nikhil Kaitwade (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.) has over a decade of experience in market research and business consulting. He has successfully delivered 1500+ client assignments, predominantly in Automotive, Chemicals, Industrial Equipment, Oil & Gas, and Service industries. His core competency circles around developing research methodology, creating a unique analysis framework, statistical data models for pricing analysis, competition mapping, and market feasibility analysis. His expertise also extends wide and beyond analysis, advising clients on identifying growth potential in established and niche market segments, investment/divestment decisions, and market entry decision-making. Nikhil holds an MBA degree in Marketing and IT and a Graduate in Mechanical Engineering. Nikhil has authored several publications and quoted in journals like EMS Now, EPR Magazine, and EE Times. Explore FMI's Extensive Coverage in the Automotive Domain: Automotive Seating Market by Seat Type, Vehicle Type, Distribution Channel & Region | Forecast 2022 to 2032. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. by Seat Type, Vehicle Type, Distribution Channel & Region | Forecast 2022 to 2032. - Automotive Interior Ambient Lighting System Market by Centre Console and Dashboard, Doors, Roof, Floor, and Others. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. by Centre Console and Dashboard, Doors, Roof, Floor, and Others. - Commercial Vehicle Demand Outlook in MENASA by Light Duty and Heavy Duty Class Type, 2023 to 2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. by Light Duty and Heavy Duty Class Type, 2023 to 2033. - Axial Piston Motor Market Forecast by High Speed, Low Speed, and Others from 2024 to 2034. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. Forecast by High Speed, Low Speed, and Others from 2024 to 2034. - Wiper Blade Demand Outlook in APAC by Flat and Hybrid Product Types, 2023 to 2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF. by Flat and Hybrid Product Types, 2023 to 2033. - United States Automotive Lightweight Body Panel Industry Analysis by Bonnet and Trunk Lid, 2023 to 2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF Analysis by Bonnet and Trunk Lid, 2023 to 2033. - Automotive Glass Film Market by Ceramic Films and Metalized Films, 2023 to 2033. - Review and Request to Access the Sample PDF About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in Dubai, and has delivery centers in the UK, U.S. and India. FMI's latest market research reports and market analysis help businesses navigate challenges and make critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. A team of expert led analysts at FMI continuously tracks emerging trends and events in a broad range of industries to ensure that our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers. Contact Us Nandini Singh Sawlani Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-845-579-5705 For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1197648/3531122/FMI_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/automotive-interior-market-a-comprehensive-analysis-of-the-trends-drivers-and-opportunities-2024-to-2034-302053231.html The multi-award-winning chef and media personality will be honoured at the live awards ceremony on 26 March 2024 LONDON, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bangkok-based Pichaya 'Pam' Soontornyanakij of Potong wins Asia's Best Female Chef Award for 2024. This coveted award is voted for by the 318 members of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Academy and provides an opportunity to celebrate women in gastronomy who persist in pushing the limits of excellence. Chef Pam will be honoured at the live awards ceremony on 26 March 2024. The 2024 edition of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna, marks the first time the awards will be held in Seoul, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) and the Seoul Metropolitan Government. William Drew, Director of Content for Asia's 50 Best Restaurants, says: "Chef Pam has been serving up truly innovative cuisine and her tasting menu is a masterclass in paying heed to heritage as well as cultural storytelling. For her inspirational gastronomy and her commanding presence on Thailand's culinary scene, Pam is truly deserving of the honour." Potong, which translates as 'simple', offers a culinary reflection of Chef Pam's Thai-Chinese heritage and is a nod to her family's Chinese herbal medicines business. Housed in the ancestral building that served as a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy, Potong blends tradition with avant-garde culinary techniques, offering 20 inspiring dishes in a tasting menu that embodies her 5-Element philosophy of 'Salt, Acid, Spice, Texture, and Maillard Reaction'. Potong is one of Bangkok's most lauded restaurants and has ranked No.35 on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2023 and No.88 on the extended list of The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2023. Chef Pam's commitment to empowering female chefs is evident in her role with Gastronauts Asia and Women in Gastronomy. She recently started her own scholarship programme WFW (Women for Women) together with American Women's Club of Thailand, a non-profit organisation, to support female students in rural areas of Thailand to achieve their dream of becoming chefs. Chef Pam says, "This award goes beyond personal achievement - it celebrates my beliefs, respect for heritage, and a relentless pursuit to better myself. May this accolade inspire young female chefs to break barriers and ignite grand culinary dreams. I believe that with passion and dedication, anyone can carve their path to success." Media Centre: https://mediacentre.theworlds50best.com/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2333148/50_Best.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2321642/50_Best_Logo.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bangkoks-pichaya-pam-soontornyanakij-is-the-winner-of-asias-best-female-chef-award-2024-302053275.html Procyrion, a Houston, TX-based medical device company, raised $57.7M in Series E funding, including the conversion of $10.0M of interim financing. The round was led by Fannin Partners in partnership with new and existing family/multi-family office investors with participation from returning investors including Bluebird Ventures and an undisclosed strategic investor. Series E funding to support the DRAIN-HF pivotal IDE trial evaluating the companys Aortix percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (pMCS) device, internal R&D programs to improve manufacturability, and commercialization preparation. The company intends to use the funds to support the ongoing DRAIN-HF pivotal IDE trial evaluating the Aortix percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (pMCS) device in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) who remain congested despite standard medical therapy (cardiorenal syndrome or CRS). In addition, funds will support internal programs to improve product manufacturability and to prepare for commercialization. Led by CEO Eric S. Fain, Procyrion is a medical device company dedicated to providing effective treatment options for patients with cardiac and renal impairment. It is developing the Aortix percutaneous mechanical circulatory support device, a catheter-deployed pump technology that harnesses fluid entrainment to pump blood to address multiple conditions with unmet needs. Aortix is limited by Federal law to investigational use only and is not approved for sale in any geography. FinSMEs 05/02/2024 Hyundai, Indias second-largest manufacturer with a 15% market share, is soliciting funds that may value its Indian operations at up to $30 billion. The companys shares rose 5% on Monday, reaching their highest level in over three years Hyundai Motor plans to float its Indian subsidiary to raise at least $3 billion in what would be the countrys largest IPO, according to two sources, as the South Korean company doubles down in the important growth market ahead of Teslas widely anticipated debut. Hyundai Motor India is in early stages of planning an initial public offering (IPO) and has initiated negotiations with various banks, according to two individuals briefed on the topic, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the talks are not yet public. Advertisement Hyundai, Indias second-largest manufacturer with a 15% market share, is soliciting funds that may value its Indian operations at up to $30 billion, more than half of its $42 billion market capitalization in Seoul. The companys shares rose 5% on Monday, reaching their highest level in over three years. A valuation of up to $30 billion would place Hyundais India operation below rivals such as Tata Motors (new tab $41.43 billion) and Maruti Suzuki India (new tab $40.11 billion). A spokesman for Hyundai India declined to comment. The company is looking into value unlocking for its India business through the IPO, according to the two persons. They want to make use of Indias IPO boom. Indias capital markets have hardly stood out like this before compared to other countries, one of the two people added. Advertisement Boosted by billions of dollars of domestic and foreign money, Indias $4 trillion stock market has emerged as a fast-growing alternative to China, recently overtaking Hong Kong as the fourth-largest in the world. Indias benchmark Nifty 50 index opens new tab rose 20% in 2023 and has extended its record run into 2024. Advertisement IPOs in India boomed in the second half of 2023 and bankers expect this to continue in 2024 amid hopes of policy stability. SoftBank-backed Ola Electric and food delivery firm Swiggy, among others, are expected to list this year. In 2023, 239 companies raised $6.78 billion via IPOs in India, according to LSEG data. Advertisement Indias biggest IPO was the 2022 listing of its largest insurer, Life Insurance Corporation opens new tab, in which it raised up to $2.7 billion. For its India IPO, Hyundai has held talks with investment banks JP Morgan opens new tab, Morgan Stanley opens new tab, Citi opens new tab and Bank of America opens new tab though no formal appointments have been made, the two people said. Advertisement Bank of America declined to comment, while the other three did not respond to a request for comment. Indias Economic Times newspaper first reported Hyundais plans for an India IPO. Hyundais India push Hyundai, Indias second-largest car maker by sales, is now doubling down in the South Asian nation and the United States after scaling back its production in China after years of losses there and exiting Russia after selling its two Russian plants. Advertisement It entered India more than two decades ago and is the only foreign player to have become dominant alongside market leader Maruti Suzuki, while companies like Ford Motor opens new tab and General Motors opens new tab have folded their India business. Hyundais share of the Indian market reached a peak of nearly 20% mainly due to its wide portfolio of small cars and a grasp of what buyers want, but it is seeing growing competition from domestic players like Tata Motors opens new tab which has launched a slew of new SUVs and electric cars. Advertisement Hyundai now has about a 15% share of the Indian car market where it sold 567,000 vehicles in the last fiscal year. Analysts noted that Hyundais India unit IPO talks come amid Teslas plan to enter India and if Hyundais unit manages to go public in the country, it might help Hyundai better compete with Tesla in the Indian EV market in the future. Advertisement Hyundai has said it plans to invest close to $4 billion in the Indian market in parts over the next decade to launch new EVs, charging stations and a battery pack assembly unit. Part of the money is being invested in buying a former GM plant to help Hyundai expand its production. Advertisement Hyundai currently manufactures cars at its plant in the southern Indian city of Chennai which is dubbed the Detroit of Asia. Cervical cancer can be dangerous because it often progresses without noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Here is what you need to do to prevent the disease and too raise awareness. There was a lot of buzz in the last few days regarding Poonam Pandeys cervical cancer and her death which she faked it. Rather I would call it a publicity stunt. Always an attention seeker, this was definitely done in really bad taste. Firstpost after talking to a few doctors explains what cervical cancer actually means, how it can be dangerous and the preventive measures. Advertisement Cervical cancer can be dangerous because it often progresses without noticeable symptoms in the early stages, making late detection more challenging. If left untreated, it can spread to nearby tissues and other organs, impacting overall health. Reports say that cervical cancer is the second-leading cause of deaths among women in India, the central government had announced plans to encourage vaccinations against the human papillomavirus (HPV) through its immunisation programme, is exploring options to cap prices so that the vaccines to treat cervical cancer become more affordable. Preventive measures Preventive measures include regular Pap smears and HPV vaccinations. Safe sexual practices, limiting sexual partners, and avoiding smoking also contribute to reducing the risk. Women and cervical cancer Women are more prone to cervical cancer due to the association with persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, a common sexually transmitted virus. Regular screenings are essential for early detection and intervention. Advertisement Dr. Preethika Shetty, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital, Pune, says**, **While cervical cancer can affect women of any age, those between 30 and 60 years old are more susceptible. Routine screenings become increasingly important during this period. Dangers of cervical cancer Dr Tirathram Kaushik consultant Oncosurgeon, Wockhardt Hospital explains that cervical cancer can be dangerous because it often develops silently in its early stages, showing minimal symptoms. It can progress, spreading to surrounding tissues and potentially metastasizing to other parts of the body. Having an illustrious career spanning over four records, dubbed as Bollywoods first female superstar, actress Sridevi passed away shockingly in February 2018. While initial reports suggested that Sridevi died due to a cardiac arrest, her autopsy report confirmed that the actress passed away due to a case of accidental drowning in the tub. Advertisement However, as fans couldnt wrap their heads around the actress death, numerous reports and theories have come floating around time and again. That being said, in a fresh development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against Deepti R Pinniti, a self-styled investigator, for claiming a coverup between India and the UAE government over Sridevis death based on forged documents from Indian dignitaries. YouTubers shocking claims in Sridevi death case Deepti Pinniti, who continues to remain an active participant in social media discussions revolving around the death of Bollywood actors, was seen commenting on the legendary actress death and also produced evidence- including letters from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. She also claimed that the documents were produced by the UAE government. Advertisement CBI files case against YouTuber in Sridevi death case However, now, a case has been registered against the investigator and her lawyer Bharath Suresh Kamath after receiving a complaint from lawyer Chandni Shah, which was referred to the agency by the PMO. Besides claiming that documents including the letters from the Prime Minister and Defence Minister were forged, the CBI also carried out searches at her house in December last year and seized all her phones and laptops. Advertisement 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, Shah said as reported by the PTI. In its report submitted to a special court, CBI divulged details of the entire seizure. In reaction to the chargesheet, Deepti further claimed that the CBI did not record her statement regarding the case. The Uniform Civil Code bill will be tabled in the Uttarakhand Assembly today (6 February). The draft submitted to CM Pushkar Singh Dhami recommends a ban on practices like polygamy and iddat. It also suggests a fixed age for marriage for men and women, and seeks to legalise live-in relationships Uttarakhand is all set for what could be a historic moment. The Assembly will take up the final draft of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) today, days after it was approved by the Pushkar Singh Dhami Cabinet. The legislation, which seeks at establishing uniformity in civil laws across religions, was passed by the state Cabinet on 4 February and today it will be tabled in the Assembly. If the UCC is passed in the Assembly, the 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. Advertisement Prior to the start of the session, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be for the good of all sections and there is no need to worry. It will help realise Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of Sab ka Saath, Sab ka Vikas, Sab ka Prayas, Sab ka Vishwas and Ek Bharat, Sreshtha Bharat, he told reporters. Not only Uttarakhand but the entire country was waiting for the UCC. The wait is coming to an end on Tuesday when it will be tabled in the state Assembly. The whole country will be watching how the bill is brought in the House here and passed, Dhami said. And ahead of the big moment, the police presence has also been increased with officials being asked to maintain peace and ensure flawless security in their respective districts. Advertisement But what are the features of this UCC? What do we know about it? And who are the brains behind it? Heres all we know about the proposed legislation. Whats in the UCC draft? The final draft of the UCC, submitted to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, is 740 pages long and separated into four different volumes. Moreover, it is written in full Hindi and does not have a single word of Urdu or any other language. Advertisement The lengthy UCC bill has put its focus on all sections of society, having around 400 sections. However, sources who have access to the bill say that the tribal communities in the state, who make up 2.9 per cent of the population, could be exempted from the purview of the legislation. Advertisement The UCC draft has made practices like iddat a period a woman must observe after the death of her husband or after a divorce, during which she may not marry another man halala and triple talaq, that governs marriage and divorce in Muslim personal law, as punishable offences. Additionally, the practices of polygamy and polyandry have also been banned. A report by The Hindu had a member of the draft team saying that the bill is not to hurt any community but to ensure equal rights of women in marriages and property. Advertisement The UCC bill also ensures equal rights in property for both sons and daughters, regardless of their category. It has been stated that women, irrespective of their religion will have equal rights to their fathers property. On the matter of marriage, the UCC recommends a fixed age of 18 and 21 for girls and boys, cut across all communities. The draft has also recommended for uniform use of the existing laws under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act to ensure same adoption laws for all communities. Advertisement The draft UCC has also proposed that live-in relationships are made legal but ensure mandatory registration of such couples. However, some have voiced their dissent on the matter of live-in relationships. Liaqat Ali, a Roorkee resident, told CNBCTV18: The proposal for registration of live-in couples is wrong. The government should do away with this system fully. Why are they giving it legal backing? Advertisement Whos behind Uttarakhands UCC legislation? In May 2022, the Dhami government appointed a five-member committee to work on the legislation. While the committee is headed by Justice (retired) Ranjana Prakash Desai, it also comprises Justice (retired) Permod Kohli, agriculturalist and social worker Manu Gaur, 1983-batch IAS officer Shatrughan Singh and Dr Surekha Dangwal. Advertisement According to reports, they took suggestions from 2.3 lakh people, equivalent to 10 per cent families in Uttarakhand and held 72 meetings to discuss and finalise what points would go into the UCC draft. Advertisement It is only after much deliberation and discussion that the final draft was made and sent to the Cabinet late last week for its approval, before being tabled in the Assembly. Advertisement Why was there a demand for UCC in Uttarakhand? The UCC envisages a common law for marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance laws for all citizens irrespective of their religion in the state. A demand for this was first made by Pushkar Singh Dhami in February 2022 before the state went to the polls. At the time, Dhami had said that the UCC will provide for the same laws governing marriage, divorce, property, and inheritance for all people, regardless of faith. Advertisement And after returning to power in the state, Dhami accorded top priority to the issue and announcing the constitution of a committee to prepare the draft of the UCC at the first meeting of the state Cabinet. Taking this forward, in September, a portal was launched on the same, asking for feedback and suggestions from people. We want everyones cooperation to draft the UCC. People of the state must log into our portal and share their suggestions, grievances and complaints with us, retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, who heads the committee, had then said. The committee also sought four extensions in 20 months in order to prepare their final UCC draft. And it was only on Saturday (3 February) that the committee handed over the draft UCC report to the chief minister. Finally, this auspicious day has come. After Ram temple consecration, this promise has also been fulfilled. I also want to thank PM Modi. Finally, work has started on UCC for which the people of this country had been waiting for a long time, Dhami said after receiving the report. It is being reported that once the UCC is passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly, it will serve as a model for other states to adopt. According to an Indian Express report, the Bill will immediately go to the Gujarat and Assam Assemblies for them to adopt their own bills. Sources in the Assam government said the State would adopt more or less the same Bill. With inputs from agencies Two cases of couples from Uttar Pradesh and Kerala wanting to return their adopted children have hit the headlines recently. Lets look at the rules, what the courts said and why experts say returned children are seemingly becoming a bigger problem Two unusual cases have hit the headlines recently. The first saw a couple from Uttar Pradesh seeking to return an adopted child. The adoptive parents approached the Mumbai High Court in December saying they have not bonded with the child and complaining of the childs bad behaviour. The second witnessed a couple from Kerala in November also seeking to return a girl they had adopted in 2018 after their son passed away in a car accident. Advertisement But can parents return an adopted child? What do the rules say? And what verdict did the courts render? Lets take a closer look: A brief look at adoption Adoption is a process through which adopted child becomes the lawful child of the adoptive parents, as per the Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare website. In essence, the parents gain over the child all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that would be otherwise attached to their biological child Only those children who have been designated Legally Free for Adoption by the Child Welfare Committee can be adopted. Single men cannot adopt. Advertisement However, a number of others can do so including Childless Couple Single woman parent A widow/divorcee. Couple who have children. Prospective adoptive parents should be Physically, mentally and emotionally stable. Financially capable and highly motivated to adopt They should have no life-threatening medical issues. Process of adopting child Prospective Adoptive Parents (PAP) must register online for adoption on the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) website: www.cara.nic.in. They must then upload the documents and choose a Specialised Adoption Agency (SAA) a Child Care Institution recognised by the Government near their home. After a social worker determines that the PAP are suitable, they can then choose a child to adopt from the portal. Advertisement The PAP can list three states in order of preference and can adopt children from any state/UT barring Jammu and Kashmir. After that, the PAP can go to the agency and pre-adoption foster care can begin. The SAA then files a petition for final adoption within seven days of the PAP accepting the child in pre-adoption foster care. However, if a PAP wants to return a child for any reason, they can do so even if the SAA has filed a petition for final adoption. Advertisement However, if the final adoption order has been passed, the court must then decide whether or not the child can be returned. The growing problem of returned children Unfortunately, this seems to be a growing problem in India. As per Drishti IAS website, CARA noted that more than 1,100 adopted children were returned by their parents in the 2014-2019 period. Advertisement The Economic Times quoted a CARA official as noting that children mainly over the age of eight were returned. Most of the children were returned due to adjustment issues, the official added. Advertisement At child care institutions, children are groomed in a different way. They have to be prepared and counselled to stay and adjust with families, the official said. The newspaper quoted data from an RTI plea as showing that the most children were returned in 2014-2015. In 2014-2015, 387 of 4,362 adopted children were returned. In 2015-2016, 236 of 3,677 adopted children were returned. As per The Print, another RTI response by CARA revealed that 278 of 6,650 children adopted across India between 2017 to 2019 had been returned Advertisement While some thought families were returning differently-abled children, the facts didnt bear it out. Then CARAs member secretary and CEO Deepak Kumar told the outlet, Of the 3,200 children adopted by Indian families in one year, hardly 50 are those with special needs. For inter-country adoptions 400 of the 700 adopted are specially-abled. Its the older children who comprise a majority of children returned." Advertisement The CARA official said parents too need to be prepared. The parents think that as soon as they bring a child they would put him in an age specific class and the child should start putting in effort due to which the child feels he was better off there at the CCI with his or her friends and he expresses a desire to come back to the institution, the official added added. Advertisement Kumar agreed. Many Indian parents tried to adopt older children, but they realised that they werent prepared and couldnt adjust with them, Kumar said. A lot of times, institutions dont prepare the children well either they arent well-groomed or counselled about what it would be like to live with a family, Kumar said. Advertisement Kumar also said sometimes such a return is for the better. Advertisement Whatever the issue, its better if the child returns in such a case. Its better than the child struggling there. Kumar added. What did the courts say? As per The Times of India, the Bombay High Court voided the adoption of a child by the couple from Uttar Pradesh. The counsellor found the adoptive parents do not have emotional bondingwith the child, though the boy is fond of the adoptive parents and their 7-year biological daughter who is an elder sibling, Bombay High Courts Justice Riyaz Chagla noted in the 25 January order. Justice Chagla said the adoption order is recalled and adoption is accordingly annulled. He further directed the adoption authority to re-register the child as free for adoption for identifying suitable prospective adoptive parents at the earliest. When it comes to the case of the Kerala couple, the Kerala High Court in November appointed an amicus curiae to help it decide on a plea, as per Bar and Bench. According to New Indian Express, Justice Devan Ramachandran, hearing the case, asked the petitioner: Where do I send her? She is a woman now. Even kids aged four and five are at risk, how can an 18-year-old live peacefully. The court, perusing the report by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), said the child is not against her adopted parents. With inputs from agencies After much work, the draft Uniform Civil Code for Uttarakhand will be tabled in the Assembly today. In Jharkhand, the newly-appointed Chief Minister Champai Soren will have to prove his governments majority. Heres the guide to the headline-making news today Its the first Monday of February and theres a lot waiting to happen. From the Uniform Civil Code bill to be tabled in Uttarakhand Assembly to the floor test in Jharkhand, heres a guide to all the big events that are likely to take place and make headlines. Uniform Civil Code bill to be tabled in Uttarakhand Advertisement The Uttarakhand Assembly session will be held from 5 to 8 February, and in this session, the Pushkar Singh Dhami government will present the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill in the House. Speaking on the same, the chief minister said, It is a special session of the state Assembly convened particularly for the passage of a bill on the UCC. Apart from this, the government will also present a bill in the House for a 10 per cent horizontal reservation in government services for the state agitators and their dependents. Uttarakhand will be the first state in the country to implement the UCC. It was a major poll promise made by Dhami for the state Assembly polls in 2022. Advertisement Champai Sorens floor test in Jharkhand Newly appointed Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren will have to prove his governments majority today when the state Assembly opens. The Jharkhand Assembly has 81 seats, and so the majority mark is 41. Former Jharkhand chief minister, Hemant Soren, who is currently serving a jail term after being arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on 31 January in connection with an alleged land scam, will also take part in the trust vote. He was granted permission by the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) Court on Saturday (3 February) for the same. Advertisement Soren, whose custody was extended until 7 February, filed a petition before the special PMLA Court, seeking permission to participate in the trust vote sought by the new Chief Minister Champai Soren-headed Jharkhand government. Hemant Soren had named Champai Soren as his successor, the leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislative party hours before his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on 31 January. A veteran and one of the founding members of the JMM, Champai Soren took oath on Friday at the Raj Bhavan. Advertisement AAPs Sanjay Singh to take oath as Rajya Sabha MP Aam Aadmi Partys Sanjay Singh will take the oath as Rajya Sabha MP today after the Rouse Avenue Court allowed for it. Singh has been arrested in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. Singh, one of Delhis three Rajya Sabha MPs, was re-nominated by the AAP for another term in January of this year. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on 4 October 2023. Special judge M K Nagpal directed jail authorities to take Singh to Parliament at 10 am on 5 February to take the oath. Advertisement Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, and deputy CMs to visit Ram Mandir Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, his two deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar along with the entire Cabinet will visit the Ram Temple in Ayodhya today. Shinde was formally invited to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ram temple in Ayodhya on 22 January, which he declined and said that he would visit the temple along with his two deputies in February. All eyes are on the floor test in the Jharkhand Assembly today, as newly sworn-in Chief Minister Champai Soren will try to prove his majority. The MLAs from the JMM-led ruling coalition have exuded confidence before the big vote. However, do they have the numbers? In a few hours from now, the fate of newly appointed Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren will be realised. His government will have to prove its majority today (5 February) during a floor test, which has been scheduled to begin at 11 am. The floor test comes just days after Soren was sworn in on 2 February following the arrest of previous Chief Minister Hemant Sorens resignation and subsequent arrest. Currently in jail, Hemant Soren will also take part in the voting process today. Advertisement The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led alliance MLAs have exuded confidence ahead of the vote, even as they made their way back to Ranchi from Hyderabad where they were holed up. Landing at Birsa Munda Airport, one of them said, Our MLAs are united We have the support of 48 to 50 legislators. Another one also asserted that the coalition would sail through. As we prepare for the trust vote, heres a better look the numbers and whats happened so far. Return of resort politics Last Friday, Champai Soren , the veteran leader of the JMM, was sworn in by Governor CP Radhakrishnan and was given until Monday (5 February) to prove his governments majority on the floor of the House. Advertisement It was after this that 39 MLAs of the ruling coalition, led by the JMM, headed to Hyderabad and camped out at a secretive place in an attempt to thwart poaching bids by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Among the many who went to Hyderabad were Hemant Sorens brother and MLA Basant Soren. Advertisement It was later reported that the MLAs had been taken to Leonia Holistic Destination at Shamirpet in Hyderabad and were kept under the watchful eyes of AICC secretary and in charge of Telangana Deepa Das Munshi. In fact, at the resort itself, the Congress, which is in alliance with the JMM, made extensive arrangements to protect the legislators from poaching efforts. For instance, entry into the rooms of the lawmakers was restricted. Moreover, only one elevator was allowed on the floors where they were staying and could only be used by authorised personnel. Additionally, police officers were guarding the lifts 24x7. Advertisement MLAs at the resort were also provided with separate dining arrangements and that was out of bounds for other guests of the resort. The dining hall too had tight police security. News agency PTI quoting sources said the MLAs still had their phones. Additionally, the entire resort was teeming with police personnel dressed in plain clothes. Advertisement It was only on Sunday night that the MLAs in the coalition returned to Ranchi and were moved to Circuit House after efforts to bring them back on Saturday night failed owing to inclement weather. #WATCH | Jharkhand: JMM and Congress MLAs arrive at the Ranchi airport. Floor Test of the new government of Jharkhand is likely to be held in the Assembly tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/dhNrXVBXAT ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2024 Advertisement On their return, JMM lawmaker Mithilesh Thakur asserted that the coalition would sail through the trust vote. Many BJP legislators are also in support of the alliance in the state, he claimed. BJP speaks However, while the ruling coalition lawmakers exuded confidence of a victory in todays trust vote, the BJP expressed its doubts. 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. Advertisement BJP leader Amar Bauri was also quoted as saying that the move to relocate the MLAs to Hyderabad showed their weakness. The JMM-led alliance doesnt have any threat from the BJP, but they are trying to hide their internal differences, he was quoted as saying. Numbers game The Congress, despite claims of differences within the coalition, has continued to maintain that it has the majority numbers. But how do the numbers really stack up? Advertisement #WATCH | Jharkhand: On the Jharkhand floor test today, JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya says, "Floor test will be done. (We have) not less than 47." pic.twitter.com/h5vhCimMPs ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024 Advertisement In the 81-member Assembly one of the seats is vacant, so its a 40-member Assembly for now the majority mark is 41. Currently, the JMM-led alliance is in power, with the JMM holding 29 seats, the Congress having 17 seats, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) having one seat and the CPI (ML) having one more seat. This results in a total of 47 seats. Advertisement Earlier this week, a video of the MLAs conducting a headcount and claiming the support of 43 legislators emerged, indicating that the Champai Soren-led government would sail through the trust vote. On the other side, the BJP and its allies the All Jharkhand Students Union, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP have 29 seats. Advertisement There is a buzz, however, that two JMM MLAs can skip the voting, with NDTV reporting that this would skew the majority numbers. However, both the JMM and Congress are firm in their stance that they will win this vote. 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 Enforcement Directorate. 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 was quoted as saying earlier. The Jharkhand political crisis The state of Jharkhand was plunged into crisis after Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate following a nearly seven-hour long interrogation in a land scam related money laundering case on Wednesday (31 January). However, Soren before his arrest, tendered his resignation, paving the way for a new CM in the form of Champai Soren. The MLA from Saraikela-Kharsawan was then sworn in as the 12th chief minister last Friday and given 10 days to prove his majority. With inputs from agencies Hage Geingob, who passed away while receiving treatment for cancer, was Namibias third president since it gained independence in 1990 following more than a century of German and then apartheid South African rule Hage Geingob, Namibias president and founding prime minister, died early on Sunday in a hospital in the capital, Windhoek, while receiving treatment for cancer. He was 82. Geingob revealed his cancer diagnosis last month. Geingob underwent brain surgery in 2013 and an aortic operation in neighbouring South Africa in 2023. He had been treated at Lady Pohamba Hospital in Windhoek until his death. Advertisement Hours after his death, Nangolo Mbumba, Namibias former vice president, took the oath of office on Sunday, becoming the countrys fourth president after Hage Geingob. The nation had lost a liberation icon, Mbumba said after assuming the office, as reported by BBC. He stated that he has been sworn in as Geingobs replacement and will hold the position until the elections later this year. But what we know about Namibian president Hage Geingob, who played a modernising role in Africa. Why is his death is such a big loss? The rise and rise of Hage Geingob Hage Geingob played a central role in what has become one of Africas most stable democracies after returning from a long exile in Botswana and the United States as an anti-apartheid activist. 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. Advertisement Geingob, born in a village in northern Namibia in 1941, was the countrys first president who was not from the Ovambo ethnic group, which accounts for more than half of the population. He began his activism against South Africas apartheid regime, which ruled Namibia at the time, when he was in elementary school, before being forced into exile. Advertisement He spent nearly three decades in Botswana before moving to the United States in 1964. While in the United States, as per a Guardian report, he continued to advocate for Namibias independence, representing the local liberation movement, Swapo, which is now the ruling party, at the UN and throughout the Americas. When Swapo won the first elections in 1990, Geingob was appointed prime minister, a position he held for 12 years before resuming in 2012. Advertisement Geingob was elected president in 2014, after the party easily won another election on the strength of its legacy in the liberation struggle. However, his first term as president was marred by a recession, high unemployment, and corruption charges. In 2019, Wikileaks documents revealed that government officials accepted bribes from an Icelandic firm in exchange for continued access to Namibias fishing grounds, reports The Guardian. Advertisement The fish rot scandal jeopardised Geingobs chances for a second term, and the president was also chastised for pouring money into an overburdened administration and awarding contracts to foreign companies rather than local ones. His vote share fell significantly in 2019 from 87 per cent in 2014, but he still cruised to victory with 56 per cent of the vote. Advertisement He had a few health scares in his later years, including brain surgery in 2013 and heart valve surgery in South Africa in June 2023. Great loss Elections are set for November. A government statement said Mbumba will lead Namibia until 21 March of next year, when the winner takes office. The presidential office said Geingob died in a local hospital with his family by his side. He had returned to Namibia last month from the United States, 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. Advertisement Soft-spoken but firm on advancing Africas agenda as an important stakeholder in world affairs the exclusion of Africa from the Security Council is an injustice, he once said in a United Nations address Geingob maintained close relations with the US and other Western countries but also, like many African leaders, forged a warm relationship with China and other powers. Advertisement Russian president Vladimir Putin was among the leaders who sent condolences Sunday, saying 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," a statement said. Geingob hosted US first lady Jill Biden last year as she visited ahead of what had been an expected trip to Africa by her husband in 2023. That didnt take place. Advertisement Namibia, with 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. The nation on the southwestern coast of Africa enjoys political and economic stability in a region that has long seen conflict and disputed elections. Namibias Opposition criticised Geingob last year for endorsing disputed elections in Zimbabwe. Advertisement But Opposition leader McHenry Venaani paid tribute on Sunday. Indeed, President Geingobs passing is a great loss not only to Namibia, but to the African continent as a whole," Venaani said. Such was the calibre of this master negotiator and statesman, a lighthouse of steadfast leadership in turbulent times. Geingob, who was Namibias first prime minister from 1990 to 2002 and served in the same capacity from 2008 to 2012, could be outspoken on issues at home and abroad. In January, he criticised former colonial master Germany for supporting Israel after South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice accusing it of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Advertisement Germany cannot morally express commitment to the United Nations convention against genocide, including atonement for the genocide in Namibia, whilst supporting the equivalent of a holocaust and genocide in Gaza, Geingob said. He was referring to events between 1904 and 1908 when colonial security forces in Namibia killed tens of thousands of people while putting down an uprising. Germany in 2021 acknowledged that the actions amounted to genocide and pledged more than $1 billion (Rs 8,300 crore) for infrastructure projects in the country. Condolences from African leaders poured in on Sunday. South African president Cyril Ramaphosa described Geingob as a towering veteran of Namibias liberation from colonialism and apartheid. Kenyan president William Ruto said Geingob strongly promoted the continents voice and visibility at the global arena. Zimbabwes president Emmerson Mnangagwa posted on X that Geingobs leadership and resilience will be remembered. With inputs from AP The US-led coalition is using the FA18 Super Hornet, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower carrier USS Carney, USS Gravely and USS Laboon destroyers in the battle against the Houthis in the Red Sea. Lets take a closer look The US in December announced it was putting together a coalition to fight the Houthis in the Red Sea. The Iran-backed militant group has been launching attacks on commercial shipping vessels almost every day in solidarity with the Palestinian people in the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war. The US and UK have responded by foiling Houthi attacks and taking aim at the groups strongholds in Yemen. Advertisement But what weapons are the US-led coalition using in the battle against the Houthis? Lets take a closer look: F/A18-E/F Super Hornets The F/A18 Super Hornet is manufactured by Boeing. As per the Boeing website, the plane is the US Navys latest tactical aircraft. It is described as the backbone of the US Navy carrier air wing. The combat-proven Super Hornet delivers cutting-edge, next-generation multi-role strike fighter capability, outdistancing current and emerging threats well into the future. The Super Hornet has the capability, flexibility and performance necessary to modernize the air or naval aviation forces of any country, the website states. The Super Hornet has two versions the E and F model. The former is a single seat model, while the latter has twin seats. The website says the jet is able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. Advertisement As per Popular Mechanics, the F/A designation denotes that the jet is both a fighter and an attack aircraft. According to CNBC, the jet has been devised for high-loading, high stress operations on carrier jets. The fighter planes require minimal support equipment. The planes are said to have the lowest cost per flight hour to operate as well as high mission readiness rates. Advertisement It comes with a General Electric GE-414 engine. As per CNN, it can hit a speed of Mach 1.8 Each engine has a thrust of up to 17,000 pounds. The aircrafts empty weight is 14,552 kilograms, while its maximum take-off weight is 29,937 kilograms. As per CNN, the Super Hornet can be refuelled in the air. Advertisement It has precision-guided missiles, a 20mm cannon and can handle a slew of weapons including laser-guided bombs. It can be used both for combat air patrols and ground atttacks. A brief history of the Hornet As per CNBC, the fourth-generation Hornet was designed in the 1970s. As per Popular Mechanics, it first took to the sky in 1978. Advertisement The first Block I Hornet entered into service in 1984. It performed spectacularly during the Gulf War with just three such planes going down, as per Popular Mechanics. It also flew missions in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. The Super Hornet, nicknamed Rhino, first took to the skies in 1995. As per the Boeing website, the first operational F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet squadron was formed in June 2001. Advertisement The squadron was sent into combat aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in July 2002. Rhinos flew close air support, strike, and aerial refueling sorties during the Iraq War and have flown combat missions over Afghanistan continuously. Theyve been involved in the fight against ISIS, striking the groups strongholds, providing reconnaissance and forward air control, the Popular Mechanics website states. Advertisement Boeing delivered the first Block II Super Hornet in April 2005. Advertisement The craft, complete with the worlds first tactical multi-mode AESA radar, became fully operational at the end of 2007. Boeing delivered the first of 78 contracted Block III F/A-18 Super Hornets to the US Navy in August 2021. Block III gives the Navy the most networked and survivable F/A-18 built with a technology insertion plan that will outpace future threats, the website states. More than 700 such aircraft are currently operational worldwide. Advertisement Other than the United States, Australia and Kuwait currently use these fighter planes. An Indian official in February 2023 said the Indian Navy was interested in acquiring the Hornet craft. According to CNBC, the Super Hornet is fully compliant with INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant aircraft carriers. The fighter jets will be able to operate on the carriers deck, in the hangar and on the lifts. Advertisement USS Dwight D Eisenhower USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) is the flagship for Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CCSG) 2. Named after the former US president, the US Navy website describes it as its finest 5-star aircraft carrier. As per the US Navy website, it provides a wide range of flexible mission capabilities, to include maritime security operations, expeditionary power projection, forward naval presence, crisis response, sea control, deterrence, counter-terrorism, information operations, security cooperation and counter-proliferation. Advertisement As per Indian Express, the vessel is a Nimitz class carrier. This is a category of US navy carriers named after Chester Nimitz the Commander in Chief of the US Pacific Fleet during World War II. The vessel, along with the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers, is one of the worlds largest warships. It has a 50-year life span. As per NDTV, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier can carry up to 5,000 soldiers. The US Congress authorised the building of the ship in 1970. The ship was christened by the presidents widow Mamie Doud-Eisenhower on 11 October, 1975. It was commissioned on 18 October, 1977, under the command of Captain William E. Ramsey. The ship was first deployed in 1978. As per Indian Express, a carrier strike group comprises a cruiser, at least two destroyers, and a supply ship. The US Destroyers USS Carney (DDG-64) As per Navyrecognition.com, the USS Carney is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. Part of the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, it is the 14th destroyer of its class in the US Navy. It was named after Admiral Robert B Carney. It was built by Maines Bath Iron Works. The destroyer has a total displacement of approximately 8,900 tonnes when fully loaded. It is 505 feet long, is 59 feet wide and has a draft of 31 feet. The ship can hit speeds in excess of 30 knots. The Carney was commissioned on 13 April, 1996. Equipped with advanced sensors and processing systems, the USS Carney features the AN/SPY-1D PESA 3D and AN/SPY-6(V)1 AESA 3D radars. Its armament includes missile launchers (e.g., the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System for various missiles, including anti-ship and anti-ballistic missiles), guns (5-inch Mk 45 Mod 1/2 lightweight gun, Phalanx CIWS, Mk 38 Machine Gun System), and torpedo tubes, the website states. USS Gravely (DDG-107) As per the US Navy website, the USS Gravely is also an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The ship is named after late Vice Admiral Samuel L Gravely Jr. He was the first African-American in the US Navy to be commissioned an officer, the first African-American to command a warship, the first African-American to command a major warship, to achieve flag rank and eventually vice admiral, and to command a numbered fleet. It was built jointly by Bath Iron Works of Maine and Huntington Ingalls Industries It was first deployed on 4 July, 1991. Its propulsion system comprises four General Electric LM 2500-30 gas turbines and two shafts. It has 100,000 total shaft horsepower It has a displacement of around 8,230 ltons. It can touch speeds in excess of 30 knots. Its weapon systems comprise Standard Missile (SM-2MR); Vertical Launch ASROC (VLA) missiles; Tomahawk; six MK-46 torpedoes (from two triple tube mounts); Close In Weapon System (CIWS), 5-in. MK 45 Gun, Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM). It also holds two LAMPS MK III MH-60 B/R helicopters with Penguin/Hellfire missiles and MK 46/MK 50 torpedoes. USS Laboon (DDG-58). The USS Laboon is named for Father John Francis Laboon. Laboon was a Captain in the Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy. He was awarded the Silver Star during World War II while serving on USS Peto (SS 265). It is a Guided Missile Destroyer of the Arleigh Burke-class. The ships keel was laid down on 23 March, 1992, at the Bath Iron Works shipyard in Bath, Maine. It was christened and launched on 20 February, 1993. The ship is 154 metres long and has a 20 metre beam. 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, reads the statement. Todays strike specifically targeted sites associated with the Houthis deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems and radars. The Houthis have vowed to retaliate. Houthi spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree wrote on X: 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. With inputs from agencies The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 mandates a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore. The proposed law, which does not target students, takes aim at organised gangs, mafia and those indulging in malpractices including government officials India on Monday introduced a stringent anti-cheating bill in Parliament. Union minister Jitendra Singh introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 in the Lok Sabha. The bill mandates a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 1 crore for malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations. Advertisement It comes in the backdrop of a cancellation of a series of competitive tests such as the teacher recruitment exam in Rajasthan, Common Eligibility Test (CET) for Group-D posts in Haryana, recruitment exam for junior clerks in Gujarat and constable recruitment examination in Bihar following question paper leaks. But what do we know about this bill? Lets take a closer look: First, it is important to note that the bill does not target students. Government in no way intends to penalise the examinees, an official told The Times of India. Advertisement A candidate, as defined in the Bill, shall not be liable for action within the purview of the bill and shall continue to be covered under the extant administrative provisions of the public examination authority concerned," a source told Indian Express. Rather, the bill takes aim at organised gangs, mafia elements and those indulging in malpractices including government officials. Indian Express reported that the bill is being piloted by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. It will cover the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Railways, and banking recruitment exams, Common University Entrance Test (CUET), National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET), and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). Advertisement All computer-based examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) will also come under the bills ambit. As per Times Now, the bill mandates a three to five year prison term for involvement in paper leak cases. However, in cases where a link to organised crime is proven it calls for a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Advertisement It imposes a fine of Rs 1 crore and recovering the cost of conducting examinations from firms. It says a firm also may be barred from conducting public exams for for years in case of a conviction. It also proposes that officers not under the rank of deputy superintendent of police or assistant commissioner of police must head up such matters. Advertisement The government under the bill also holds the power to send the probe to a Central agency. It proposes 20 offences and unfair means including impersonation, manipulation of answer sheets and tampering with documents, as per Times Now. As per NDTV, offences under the bill will be cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable. Advertisement In essence, this frees up to the police to act on its own and arrest suspects without a warrant. The accused will also not be eligible for bail. Any exam wants to test the real level, the knowledge and mental capability, of all candidates. If there is an unfair advantage to any one person, or group of people, this is not good for the growth of the nation, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, the junior Union Education Minister, told NDTV. Advertisement He, or she, may pass with a high score but he, or she, may not be able to contribute anything to the growth of the country. So, in the long run, we want capable citizens by 2047, he said. So we have to have this bill to prohibit unfair advantage for some in competitive exams. Advertisement It also proposes the formation of a high-level national technical committee on public examinations that will make recommendations to make the computerised examination process more secure. The committee shall look into developing protocols for insulating digital platforms, devising ways and means for developing foolproof IT security systems, ensuring electronic surveillance of examination centres and formulating national standards and services for both IT and physical infrastructure to be deployed for conduct of such examinations. Advertisement In many instances, it has been observed that organised groups and mafia elements involved in malpractices deploy solver gangs, use impersonation methods and indulge in paper leaks. The bill primarily aims to deter such nefarious elements. The objective of the bill is to bring in greater transparency, fairness and credibility to the public examination systems and to reassure the youth that their sincere and genuine efforts will be fairly rewarded and their future is safe. Advertisement These unfair practices if not effectively prevented and deterred, will continue to jeopardise the future and careers of millions of aspiring youths of this country. In many instances, it has been observed that organised groups and mafia elements are involved. They deploy solver gangs, impersonation methods, and indulge in paper leaks. The Bill primarily aims to deter such kind of nefarious elements, a source told Indian Express. Advertisement Addressing a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament at the beginning of the Budget session on 31 January, President Droupadi Murmu had said the government is aware of the concerns of the youth regarding irregularities in examinations. Therefore, it has been decided to enact a new law to deal sternly with such malpractices, she had said. Paper leak nation As per News18, more than 1.5 crore students have been affected by paper leaks from 2016 to 2023. More than 70 cases of question paper leaks have occurred in the same period. Still, Rajasthan appears to be a hotbed of paper leaks. At least a dozen recruitment drives have been cancelled owing to paper leaks in the state between 2018 and February 2023. Since 2014, 615 accused have been arrested in connection with 33 cases of government recruitment paper leaks. Between 2018 and February 2023, at least 12 recruitment drives were cancelled in Rajasthan owing to paper leaks. As per The Print, since 2019, the state witnessed an average of three paper leaks every year. Nearly 40 lakh students have been affected by paper leaks. As per The Times of India, paper leaks in Rajasthan also became a high-profile political issue. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had slammed the former Ashok Gehlot government while campaigning in Rajasthan. Modi said the paper leak mafia had ruined thousands of lives and that the young people were demanding justice. The then Gehlot government under pressure amended the the Rajasthan Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act to make the maximum penalty for the offence life imprisonment. Lax action has emboldened the paper leak mafia. Theyve become more brazen. In almost all cases since 2019, a majority of those arrested are out on bail, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Kirodi Lal Meena told the outlet last year. Who is the kingpin in these cases? Has the police found out? Such frequent paper leaks cant happen without the complicity of administration and officials, Meena told The Print. Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Ashok Rathore, told the outlet the printing presses remain safe. The leaks have not happened at the level of the printing press, but mainly at the level of examination centres. There are well-knit gangs that are involved. Our investigation has shown that the gang has 3-4 layers. The first comprises one or two persons who procure the paper from the exam centre, the second comprises another one or two persons who solve the paper. The solved papers are then handed over to another set of persons who leak them to students before they reach the exam centres, Rathore added. Meanwhile, a slew of other states including UP, Haryana, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have passed anti-paper leak laws. While some laws cover just recruitment examinations, others also include entrance tests to state educational institutions. With inputs from agencies External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he and Swiss foreign minister discussed further strengthening of bilateral ties after celebrations of the 75th year of the India-Switzerland friendship treaty last year Switzerland Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis met Indias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi on Monday. Both the leaders discussed further strengthening of bilateral ties and exchanged perspectives on regional and international issues, including the conflict in Ukraine. #WATCH | Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis meets EAM Dr S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/sTNE6P9gRE ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024 Advertisement Discussed further strengthening of our bilateral ties after celebrations of the 75th year of the India-Switzerland friendship treaty last year. Exchanged perspectives on regional and international issues, including the conflict in Ukraine, EAM Jaishankar said in a post on X. The External Affairs Minister also thanked his Swiss counterpart for the Mission to the Sun Swatch gift. Through Aditya L1 Mission, India is living up to it, Jaishankar added. Pleased to welcome Foreign Minister @ignaziocassis of Switzerland this afternoon. Discussed further strengthening of our bilateral ties after celebrations of the 75th year of the India-Switzerland friendship treaty last year. Exchanged perspectives on regional and pic.twitter.com/hwlLCJ9UlZ Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 5, 2024 Advertisement Taking to X, Cassis said he held productive talks with Jaishankar and explored economic ties and geopolitical challenges, focusing on the situation in Ukraine and the possible paths to peace. Advertisement Productive talks with Indian FM @DrSJaishankar in New Delhi Explored economic ties and geopolitical challenges, focusing on the situation in #Ukraine and the possible paths to peace. A shared commitment to strengthening multilateralism pic.twitter.com/nZPnqLQ3YD Ignazio Cassis (@ignaziocassis) February 5, 2024 Advertisement Cassis began a four-day visit, from 5 to 8 February, to the Asia-Pacific region with India. He would also be travelling to China, South Korea and the Philippines. According to Switzerlands Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Cassis visit aims to strengthen ties with these countries and to discuss peace initiatives in Ukraine. Advertisement As per FDFA, In India, Cassis would also be discussing economic relations and bilateral cooperation in the fields of education, research and innovation. In January, Swiss President Viola Amherd announced Switzerlands plans to support the reconstruction of Ukraine by organising a future peace conference and by helping to de-mine the country. Amherd asserts that the initiative will be successful if a wide range of countries including India, South Africa, Brazil and Saudi Arabia take part. China, which has maintained links with Russia, is also seen as a key ally. Advertisement With inputs from agencies The locals perceive Chinese investments in Nepal that promised to bring respite to Nepals weak economy with doubt Nepal-China relations, a relatively recent development, have grown economically since 2015. In 2016, Nepal called China an all-weather friend and became a signatory of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) the following year. Chinese influence on Nepal has gained momentum since 2018, with Beijing having a significant role in forming the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) and its subsequent impact on the NCP government. Advertisement Chinas influence in Nepals economy reached new traction as it quickly became the largest source of foreign direct investment and ousted New Delhi as Kathmandus largest investor because of the infrastructural projects undertaken under the BRI. One can trace Beijings subtle and slow influence (and interference) in Kathmandus politics even before 2015. In 2010, a leaked audio tape revealed that Krishna Bahadur Mahara was negotiating an NRS 500 million deal from a Chinese person to secure 50 MP votes for Maoist leader Prachanda. Mahara was then the second highest-ranking leader among the Maoists and faced a rape allegation in 2019. However, the visible Chinese influence surfaced when a new alliance was formed by Nepals two biggest leftist parties, namely, CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre, ahead of Kathmandus provincial and federal election in 2017 and was said to be Chinese-backed to establish a political system in the Himalayan nation that would be in its favour. Advertisement Later in 2019, the party-to-party alliance between Beijing and Kathmandu further deepened Beijings role in Nepals politics when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Nepal Communist Party (NCP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on establishing fraternal relations between both parties. A report in Global Watch Analysis in 2020 suggested China use corrupt leaders in economically weak countries to make inroads in those nations, Nepal being a case in point. Advertisement Therefore, the penetration of Chinese companies in these countries manifests their business interests and enables the Chinese state to intrude into the nations polity to ensure its long-term interests. The report further mentioned the increase of personal wealth of the then Nepalese prime minister KP Sharma Oli over the years, who is known to be behind the close ties between China and Nepal. Advertisement Further, Oli is said to have circumvented government regulations during his tenure to ensure that Chinese companies were awarded critical projects, which entrenched corruption in the Himalayan nation. Last year, it was reported that a close relative of former Nepalese prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was involved with Beijing in an arms deal conducted in violation of due process and alleged to have inflated the price of items by 30 per cent. Notwithstanding the party affiliation, Chinese influence, thus, is seen to be widely present. Advertisement The municipal election in the Kathmandu valley saw an independent candidate named Balendra Sah winning the election in 2022. Sah was often seen with staff of the Chinese embassy and Chinese journalists in several restaurants during his election campaign and it is believed that heavy Chinese funding led him to win the mayoral race. Advertisement The target on street vendors in Kathmandu, which forms part of Nepals informal economy (about 62 per cent), is also frowned upon by citizens as part of his agenda of making space for Chinese outlets in the valley. Thus, one can decipher that Chinese influence has not been limited to just the upper echelons of Kathmandus politics but has also penetrated much deeper into the local level. Advertisement Chinese influence in Nepal cuts across economic, social, economic, and political aspects and aims to increase its footprints through a soft power approach. Nepal is aligning with Chinas One-China policy, and journalists in Nepal are discouraged from reporting on news critical of China, for instance, the Tibetan issue. This affected the countrys free and fair journalism. For instance, a state-run Rashtriya Samachar Samiti journalist was investigated for reporting on the Dalai Lamas discharge from a New Delhi hospital for the issue being claimed too sensitive. Advertisement The mysterious death of Balaram Baniya, Assistant Editor at Nepali newspaper Kantipur Daily, caught peoples attention as the death happened only a month after his breaking news on Chinas border encroachment in Rui village, which falls under Nepals Gorkha district. Baniya, along with Kantipur Daily, had to issue an apology. Baniya faced brief suspension for covering this news, which other media then took upon for their investigation, questioning the then-prime minister. Advertisement Earlier, the Chinese embassys interference caused 17 editors of Nepali media to issue a public statement condemning the Chinese embassy for threatening Nepali journalists and interfering in their work, creating obstacles in the smooth conduct of free press. On Chinas part, it conducted a three-month-long training of journalists from Nepal on Chinese language and culture in January 2020, jointly organised by the Nepal-China Media Forum and Confucius Institute of the Kathmandu University, to develop bilateral relations with newer dimensions. Advertisement Beijing intends to ensure Nepali journalists promote Chinese opinion and awareness in Nepal and avoid covering news that views China negatively. This is a standard diplomacy practiced by China the world over. Not just for Nepali journalists, promoting the Chinese language in Nepal also entered its educational institutes, a somewhat concerning factor of Chinese influence. It was reported in 2019 that many Nepali schools had made Mandarin mandatory, whereby the Chinese embassy covers Chinese language teachers salaries. Advertisement Nepals Ministry of Education also signed an MoU with the Chinese Embassy in 2019, aiming to expand Mandarin in public schools. However, on the ground, it has not drawn appreciation from many parents of these school-going children. Nevertheless, Chinas soft power in Nepal can be deciphered from the fact that as of 2023, Kathmandu Universitys Confucius Institute has trained nearly 50,000 Chinese-language professionals for Nepal since its inception 16 years ago. Even though China has been maintaining its grip in Nepal through soft power, as highlighted above, it has side-by-side indulged in border encroachment, especially in Nepals northern border, engaging in a series of violations like drug and human trafficking, gold, and wildlife smuggling fraud and abuse of trade practices. According to the UKs Telegraph investigation, Beijings salami-slice strategy has resulted in the Chinese encroachment of 150 hectares of land in Nepal in five districts, including Humla. About nine buildings in Humla were also alleged to have been constructed by Beijing as part of its encroachment. The border violations continued as encroachments of 36 hectares of land at ten places in Nepals northern border that it shares with China were reported in 2022. These encroachments covered more than seven of Nepals 15 districts bordering China, which include Dolakha, Gorkha, Darchula, Humla, Sindhupalchok, Sankhuwasa and Rasuwa. Chinas land encroachments were coupled with its surveillance activities. However, the silence maintained by Nepals officials explains the intention not to trouble the close ties with its giant neighbour, even if it violates its sovereignty. Not just land encroachments, the two international borders Nepal shares with China, namely, Kerung-Rauwagadhi and Tatopani-Zhangmu (also known as Khasa) have been grappled with cross-border transit issues with China. The closure of the Tatapani border, the mainland trade route between the two countries since 1967, following the 2015 earthquake in Nepal, made the Kerung-Rauwagadhi border, the official Nepal-China border recognized in 1961, as the alternate trade route for Nepali traders to import Chinese goods. However, Beijings strict Zero-Covid Policy and complete border closing severely impacted Nepali traders livelihoods and incurred massive losses for the landlocked countrys economy. Even though the Kerung border was re-opened in December 2022, it did not impact any improvement for Nepali traders. Chinese imported goods were entering Nepal fortnightly, essentially creating a trade embargo. The border was closed by China less than a month after trade reassumption. The re-opening of the Tatopani border in May last year failed to improve Nepali traders freight movement as China stopped exports from Nepal. The border again witnessed a random closure by China, reducing trade on this border on various excuses, much to Nepali traders displeasure. Beijings upper hand in terms of its trade relations with Kathmandu has contributed to trade problems for the country and paved the way for a high trade deficit with Beijing. Moreover, Chinas BRI document, the MoU on Free Trade Connectivity signed in 2017, which was never made public, recently revealed that Beijing is attempting to impose its economic hegemony on Kathmandu, use its currency in Nepal, and sell Chinese goods through zero customs. Nepals tourism sector, much affected by Chinas zero-Covid policy and border closure, faced further disappointment when Chinese tourists who visited Nepal following the ease of border restrictions were found to book Chinese-owned hotels and shop at Chinese-owned shops. The Department of Industry (DoI) shows that 63 Chinese companies have registered with the DoI to operate hotels and restaurants in Nepal. Chinese tourists are in no way helping to boost Nepals tourism sector, a significant sector affecting the countrys economy. The locals perceive Chinese investments in Nepal that promised to bring respite to Nepals weak economy with doubt. A series of projects signed between the two countries, significant being the Nepal-China trans-Himalayan multidimensional connectivity system, that aimed to transform Nepal from a landlocked to a land-linked country, has yet to fructify and is endlessly delayed. However, a Nepali online magazine reported that these Chinese projects and trade agreements are mainly aimed at Beijing to assert its influence in the country, whereas the local Nepali population is facing the risk of increasing unemployment due to the deepening Chinese influx. This influx also pushes Kathmandu into further corruption, coupled with Beijings surveillance. Chinese telecom giant Huawei, infamous in Nepal for its bribery and covert operations, including lack of transparency worldwide, recently conducted 5G testing in Nepal, raising concerns about national security breaches in the country. The Pokhara International Airport, built with a $215.96 million loan from Chinas Exim Bank, inaugurated last year and claimed as a flagship project of the BRI by China, soon faced a range of problems that brought the airport under scrutiny. The crash of a Yeti Airlines flight as it attempted to land at the airport, an unfortunate incident soon after its inauguration, revealed the airports ability to accommodate only smaller aircraft, raising concerns about its inability to attract traffic and regular international flights. According to a New York Times report, the Pokhara airport construction given to Chinas CAMC Engineering failed to meet international standards. The CAMC inflated the projects cost to further its business interest, undermining Nepals effort at quality control. There is a growing apprehension that because of the airports poor functioning, it will face a similar fate to Sri Lankas Hambantota because the airport must pay $3.2 million in annual interest to Beijing. Beijing did not reciprocate Kathmandus request to convert the loans into grants to ease the financial burden. Chinas foothold in Nepal seems like a clear example of how quickly and in a short time, the dragons embrace can turn into a curse in disguise of investment. Given these host of issues facing Nepal, the think tanks in Nepal have continuously voiced concerns concerning accountability, intent, culpability, and interference by China in Nepal. The author is the chairman of Law and Society Alliance, a New Delhi-based think tank. 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 . Palestinian terrorists had infiltrated the UN relief and humanitarian agency decades ago and formed a support base, with several of them graduating from its schools, whose textbooks propagate jihad and violence against Israel Antonio Guterres wasnt apathetic and lackadaisical this time. Unlike his 53 days of indifference to the gang rapes, mutilation and murder of Israeli women by Hamas brutes on October 7, 2023, the UN secretary general promised criminal prosecution against any employee involved in the massacre. Within days of Israel providing a dossier to the US alleging the involvement of 12 United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) employees in the attacks, Guterres vowed on January 28, Any UN employee involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution. Advertisement The contracts of nine employees were terminated, one was confirmed dead and the identities of the remaining were being clarified, he said. Two days before his comments, the UNRWA swiftly started a probe into the employees. The Israeli authorities have provided the UNRWA with information about the alleged involvement of several UNRWA employees in the horrific attacks on Israel on October 7, said UNRWA commissioner general Philippe Lazzarini. Since January 27, as many as 11 countries have frozen funding to the UNRWAthe US, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Finland, France and Japan. Alleging that the UNRWA shelters terrorists and perpetuates their rule, Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz called for more nations to freeze funding, the dismissal of the agencys leadership and its replacement in rebuilding Gaza. Advertisement The U.S., Canada, Finland, Australia, Italy, and the UK have stopped funding @UNRWA due to staff involvement in the October 7 massacre. I call for more nations to join in. @UNRWA's ties with Hamas, providing refuge for terrorists, and perpetuating its rule are undeniable. The Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) January 27, 2024 Advertisement The UNRWA was established after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War with the mission to provide education, health services and financial aid to Palestinian refugees. Advertisement In more than seven decades, the number of refugees registered with the agency in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon has jumped from 700,000 to 5.9 million. According to 2022 UNRWA data, of the 1.6 refugees in Gaza, 1.2 million receive emergency food and monetary aid. The organisation gets more than $1 billion in annual donations to operate its 58 refugee camps. The massive relief and humanitarian operation wouldnt have been possible without the sustained funding by the West, which provided almost 95 per cent of the funds in 2022. Advertisement In 2022, the US gave $344 million, Germany $202 million, the European Union (EU) $114 million, Sweden $61 million and Norway $34 million. In 2021, the US provided $338 million, Germany $177 million, the EU $118 million, Sweden $54 million and Japan $50 million. In 2020, Germany gave $210 million, the EU $157 million, the UK $64 million, Sweden $60 million and Japan $33 million. Advertisement Tip of iceberg The agency is a lifeline for Palestinian refugees, especially during wars. According to Guterres, 87 per cent of Gazas population depends on UNRWAs aid. In the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, the agency provided medicines and medical supplies worth $ 6.2 million, 19 million litres of water, 2.7 million units of biscuits, 4.7 million cans of protein-based food, 6.5 million units of dairy items, 12,987 metric tonnes of flour, 100,000 mattresses, 80,000 family hygiene kits, 3.1 million diapers, 144,000 blankets and 1.9 million cleaning supply items to Gaza between October 21, 2023, and January 24. Advertisement Sinister side of UNRWA The agency had been infiltrated by Hamas sympathisers, supporters and even operatives decades ago and its school textbooks have been fuelling anti-Israeli sentiments and violence. However, the UNRWA always denied Israeli allegations of Hamas infiltration and support until the Israel dossier. The six-page dossier was compiled by Shin Bet and Aman after identifying the UNRWA employees in the attack footage, including taken by the terrorists, examining Hamas computers and documents seized during the war and interrogating detained terrorists. Advertisement While some of them admitted to working for the UNRWA, some of the terrorists killed or detained had agency IDs on them, Israel claimed. The New York Times, which reviewed the dossier, reported the following findings : 1. Seven were teachers at UNRWA schools and two others employed in other capacities. The remaining were a clerk, a social worker and a storeroom manager who was wearing UN-branded clothes Advertisement 2. Ten of them belong to Hamas and another is affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) 3. The social worker distributed ammunition, coordinated vehicles on October 7 and helped bring the dead body of an Israeli soldier to Gaza 4. One schoolteacher and his son abducted an Israel woman 5. The locations of six of them inside Israel on October 7 were traced by monitoring their cell phones Advertisement 6. Others discussed their involvement in the attacks during calls made inside Gaza 7. Three others were instructed in text messages to report to evacuation points and one was ordered to bring RPGs stored at his home The dossier also alleges that 190 UNRWA employees are Hamas and PIJ operatives after assessing intelligence information, and documents and identity cards seized during the fighting. Advertisement Hamas has methodically and deliberately deployed its terrorist infrastructure in a wide range of UN facilities and assets, it says. Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahus senior adviser Mark Regev told Sky News that the UNRWAs staff involvement was not an aberration and the investigation was just the tip of the iceberg. In a post on X on January 29, Regev said that its not just a few bad apples involved in the October 7 attacks; UNRWA as a whole is a haven for Hamas extremist ideology and is inundated with Hamas operatives. UNRWAs problem is not just "a few bad apples" involved in the October 7 massacre. The institution as a whole is a haven for Hamas' extremist ideology and is inundated with Hamas operatives. Watch me on @SkyNews pic.twitter.com/luQKgxBHsi Mark Regev (@MarkRegev) January 29, 2024 The participation of these employees is not surprising considering the dangerous level of indoctrination of several agency teachers and other staff. The radicalism was exposed when they celebrated the October 7 rampage as a glorious day. According to Sky News Australia host and The Daily Telegraph editor James Murrow, UNRWA teachers, officials, doctors and nurses celebrated the attacks on their social media accounts. During a Sky News Australia discussion on January 28, he said, Back in November, I reported on this at The Daily Telegraph [UNRWA staff> said, Oh! Glorious day. How wonderful the rape and murder of all these Israeli citizens couldnt come soon enoughthank Allah for that. I first wrote about UNRWA employees' support for Hamas's terrorist attacks back in November ... very glad to hear that Penny Wong has finally decided to cut funding to the agency.https://t.co/KIH6RgGwJM James Morrow (@pwafork) January 27, 2024 Shockingly, the Westincluding the UNRWAs largest donor Americathe UN and human rights organisations and Leftists advocating the Palestinian cause were mum despite being aware of the celebration. In its November report titled UNRWA Education: Textbooks and Terror, Israeli non-profit organisation Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) mentioned the names of 14 UNRWA staff members who praised, celebrated or expressed support for the attacks on their social media accounts. Abu Adhm, who identifies himself as a UNRWA employee on Facebook, posted: I have never before seen such joy in peoples hearts. Sarah Alderawy, a UNRWA teacher, posted a video clip and images of the terrorists. The Nablus Elementary School for Boys posted a video from a rally in its courtyard showing a young boy requesting God to support Gaza Jihadist warriors against the enemies of religion [Israel>. Ranoosh Salah, who identifies herself as a UNRWA worker on Facebook, praised the attacks as an unforgettable glorious morning in a post. A UNRWA nurse, Halima M Sharbain, posted on Facebook calling to keep Gaza and its Jihad warriors safe. Another UNRWA teacher, Bilal Ahmed, in a post praised the kibbutzim attacks: We sent against you servants of Oursthose of great military might, and they probed [even> into the homes, and it was a promise fulfilled. Ebrahim Al Azaiza, a UNRWA English teacher, celebrated the Hamas rocket attacks by sharing a video on Facebook showing a rocket strike causing severe damage in Israel with the caption, What a splendid sight! Breeding ground for terrorists The radicalisation of students at UNRWA schools has triggered an avalanche of anti-Israeli sentiment and violence in the last four decades. Several students, including graduates and diploma holders, participated in the two Intifadas and terror attacks and joined the military wings of Hamas (Izz ad-Din Al-Qassam Brigades) and the PIJ (Al-Quds Brigade). The IMPACT-se report lists the names of 118 such students who turned into terrorists with several of them posing with weapons on the websites of Al-Qassam and Al-Quds brigades. Last December, Haaretz reported that several members of the Al-Nukhba Force, the naval commando unit of the al-Qassam Brigades, and other Hamas terrorists involved in the October 7 attacks are either graduates or other staff of UNRWA schools. Research institutes tracking UNRWA for many years revealed that many members of Hamas' Nukhba Force who perpetrated the October 7 massacre are graduates of UNRWA schools or its employees https://t.co/ngF0ZeD7Mw Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) December 13, 2023 Former Hamas PM and its current political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh and its co-founder Abd al-Aziz Rantisi, killed in an Israeli airstrike in April 2004, graduated from UNRWA schools. Hamas interior and civil minister Said Sayyam, eliminated in an Israeli airstrike in the 2008-09 Gaza War, taught at UNRWA schools from 1980 to 2003 and became a member of UNRWAs Arab Employees Union. Hamas economy minister Jawad Abu Shamala, killed by an Israeli drone last October, was a teacher at a UNRWA school. According to the IMPACT-se report, more than 100 UNRWA graduates became terrorists by Hamass admission. Maoz Saad Al-Masry and Hassan Suleiman Qatnani, who murdered an Israeli woman named Lucy Dee and her two daughters on April 7, 2023, are Al-Qassam Brigades members who attended UNRWA schools. Mahmoud Zuhayr Salem, a graduate of UNRWAs Abu Hussein Elementary School, was only 18 when he and others executed the 2004 Ashdod Port bombings, killing 16 Israelis. Ibrahim Nizar Rayan, who also attended the Abu Hussein Elementary School, was killed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) after killing two Israelis in the now-demolished Israeli settlement of Gazas Elei Sinai in 2001. Yahya Rais Abu Taha, an Al-Quds member educated at UNRWA schools, killed two Israelis in Gaza in 2005. The Al-Quds website describes him wishing to kill the highest number possible of the people of Zion. The profile of Shadi Zakari Tubasi, another Al-Qassam member and former UNRWA school student, mentions his wish to ultimately carry out a suicide attack in which the body parts of tens of Zionists were scattered. Wael Abd al-Karim Issa, killed in an Israeli airstrike in 2021, graduated from a UNRWA school and commanded a unit of terrorists during the Second Intifada. Hamas appointed him a senior intelligence officer after taking over Gaza. Ibrahim Hussein Abu Naja, who attended UNRWA primary and secondary schools, participated in both Intifadas and was a leading Hamas explosives expert. He made bombs used in a series of terrorist attacks in the 2000s. Promotion of anti-Semitism IMPACT-se monitors school textbooks and examines school curricula worldwide to determine whether the material conforms to international standards derived from UNESCO declarations and resolutions. The report found that some educational material at UNRWA schools either promotes anti-Semitism or encourages violence and hatred against Israel. The disturbing trend has either been ignored or gone unnoticed considering that 58 per cent of the massive annual donation to the UNRWA is spent on 286,000 students in its 183 schools. Whats more concerning is that the UNRWA doesnt have curricula and its schools teach from textbooks of the host country. For example, its schools in Gaza, West Bank and East Jerusalem teach the Palestinian National Authority (PA) curriculum. A 2016 revision of the textbooks showed their brazen anti-Semitic content and encouragement to violence and jihad. Dalal Mughrabi, an 18-year-old Palestinian refugee from Lebanon who was part of the Fatah fedayeen squad that killed 38 Israeli bus passengers, including 13 children, on March 11, 1978, is glorified in PA textbooks. For instance, fifth graders of UNRWAs Al-Zaytun Elementary School (Gaza) were taught to glorify Mughrabi as a role model for children. A March 2023 joint report by IMPACT-se and UN Watch found that 133 UNRWA teachers and staff promoted and glorified terrorism and called for the murder of Jews on social media. Another 82 teachers and other staff in around 30 schools drafted, supervised, printed and distributed hateful content to students. On September 1, 2021, Lazzarini acknowledged issues related to incitement to violence and discrimination before the European Parliament after reviewing 150 UNRWA textbooks. In written testimony to the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs on January 30 this year, IMPACT-se CEO Marcus Sheff said, Time and again, we have warned that todays Palestinian textbooks are producing the terrorists of tomorrow. Sadly and tragically, on October 7, our worst fears came true. During a hearing on UNRWA Exposed: Examining the Agencys Mission and Failures, he said, For Hamas, the manual for the hatred and incitement which they crave has been conveniently provided for many years by UNRWA schools and the textbooks that they use. The UNRWA has made the deliberate and conscious decision to teach the Palestinian National Authority curriculum in the UNRWA-run schools across the Gaza Strip, West Bank, and Jerusalem, he added. In January, the German daily Die Welt reported that a Telegram chat group of 3,000 UNRWA teachers discovered and analysed by UN Watch found them glorifying Hamas terrorism. UN Watch has exposed more than 150 UNRWA staff members who have sympathised with Hamas on social media since 2015. When UN teachers praise Hamas terror Germany's Die @Welt | January 19, 2024 By @clemenswergin Chief Foreign Policy Correspondent Wasim Ula is a teacher employed by UNRWA. In a Telegram chat he runs for the UN refugee agency's teachers, Ula celebrates the terrorist organization pic.twitter.com/VTEoKfdVQ9 UN Watch (@UNWatch) January 20, 2024 When UN Watch submitted its analysis to the UN, it didnt respond. UNRWA representative Adnan Hasna told an Israeli TV channel that the agency doesnt know who is in this Telegram group. Some of the posts published by UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer show UNRWA teachers calling Jews monkeys and praising the Hamas terrorists as holy warriors after the October 7 massacre. Hamas uses UNRWA buildings for attacks The most alarming aspect of UNRWAs infiltration by Hamas is the use of its buildings to launch attacks on Israel. Despite repeated denials by the agency, evidence shows the outfits dominance. Last October, the UNRWA tweeted about Hamas stealing 24,000 litres of fuel and medical supplies from its premises only to delete it later. UNRWA deleted this tweet thread, but UN sources and Israeli officials tell me the incident did happen pic.twitter.com/U130PAWZWp Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) October 16, 2023 The UNRWA denied its tweet later and posted: UNRWA would like to confirm that no looting has taken place in any of its warehouses in the Gaza Strip. The images circulating on social media were of a movement of basic medical supplies from the UNRWA warehouse to health partners. One month later, the IDF shared images with CBS News of Hamas rocket launch sites in a UNRWA warehouse in southern Gaza and a nearby agency school. The IDF claimed to have rocket launchers and ammunition next to childrens playgrounds and within school compounds. UNRWA communications director Juliette Touma claimed to have no specific information about the rocket launchers in or near its facilities. However, a UN official requesting anonymity told CBS News that calling out Hamas for using its building or schools would put our staff in jeopardy. In December 2022, the IDF tweeted satellite photos showing rocket launch sites next to three UNRWA schools in Gaza. EXPOSED: This is how Hamas exploits children, teachers and school buildings for its terrorist agenda. We can reveal that Hamas is deliberately using these 3 schools in Gaza as a shield for its terrorist activities. Schools are meant for childrennot rockets, it tweeted. EXPOSED: This is how Hamas exploits children, teachers and school buildings for its terrorist agenda. We can reveal that Hamas is deliberately using these 3 schools in Gaza as a shield for its terrorist activities. Schools are meant for childrennot rockets. pic.twitter.com/WAUq68tjZd Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) December 14, 2022 In November 2022, the UNRWA located an underground tunnel below an elementary school in Gaza. It has been a decade since Palestinian terrorists have been using UNRWA schools to either hide rockets or fire them at Israel. During the 2014 Gaza War, the agency found 20 rockets hidden in one of its Gaza schools in July, according to its press release . UNs then-secretary general Ban Ki-moon was dismayed at the discovery of weapons at three UNRWA schools during the war. In a letter dated to the UNSC president on April 27, 2015, he wrote: the fact that they were used by those involved in the fighting to store their weaponry and, in two cases, probably to fire from is unacceptable. Considering the foolproof evidence provided by Israel and the barbarity of the October 7 bloodlust and high death toll, the UN had no option but to immediately take action against the UNRWA employees involved in the attacks. The West has been jolted out of its deep slumber and ignorance about the use of UNRWA schools and other buildings and the radicalisation of its students by terrorists in the name of Islamic resistance. The UNRWAs proximity to terrorists and the indoctrination of its students calls for an elaborate investigation. On the other hand, funding shouldnt be frozen to prevent a full-scale famine in Gaza. Its residents are deprived of food, medical care and housing with families hardly able to afford one meal as Israel continues to carpet-bomb the besieged enclave. The writer is a freelance journalist with two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. 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 . Following Google and Samsung adding some major AI features to their latest flagships, OnePlus is also planning to add at least three new AI features to its latest devices, the OnePlus 12 series. However, that will only be available in China for the time being Following the trend set by tech giants like Google and Samsung adding AI features in their latest flagships, OnePlus is also gearing up to introduce AI-powered features to its smartphones, with the latest ColorOS update in China making strides in this direction. While the initial release of the OnePlus 12, the companys most powerful phone to date did not showcase any AI capabilities, the ColorOS 14 version PHB110_14.0.0.403(CN01) update is set to change that narrative. Advertisement A recent post on X by Android enthusiast Mishaal Rehman revealed that a Reddit user made an intriguing discovery about the ColorOS update. The update, which is applicable to both the recently launched OnePlus 12 and the year-old OnePlus 11, introduces several AI-powered features aimed at enhancing user experience. Among the noteworthy additions is the AI Summariser, a tool designed to generate summaries by extracting relevant information such as places, times, and action items from phone calls. Additionally, OnePlus has introduced the AIGC Remover, a functionality reminiscent of Googles Magic Eraser, allowing users to eliminate unwanted objects or people from images. The update further includes an Article Summariser feature, enabling users to obtain quick summaries of articles at the touch of a button. Another notable addition is Breeno Touch, a functionality geared towards recognizing onscreen content and providing swift access to relevant services. Advertisement Its important to note that these AI-powered functionalities are currently limited to the Chinese variants of the OnePlus 11 and OnePlus 12. The global availability of these features for the phones remains uncertain, leaving enthusiasts worldwide eagerly awaiting updates from OnePlus regarding the expansion of these advanced capabilities to a broader audience. Advertisement As the smartphone industry continues its relentless pursuit of innovation, the integration of artificial intelligence into daily device functionalities emerges as a prominent trend. (With input from agencies) Googles Bard AI Chatbot is getting a rebrand and a fresh new public release. Google is going to relaunch its Bard AI bot as Gemini, the LLM that powers Bard, and will also launch an app for it, with some resource hungry features, locked behind a paywall In a move set to redefine its generative AI-powered chatbot landscape, Google is reportedly gearing up to rebrand its existing chatbot, Bard, to the new moniker, Gemini. Over the past few months, the tech behemoth has been diligently enhancing its Gemini-powered AI chatbot, unveiling a string of new features. A recent update notably introduced the capability for image generation, marking a significant stride in the chatbots capabilities. Advertisement The information about the impending rebranding was brought to light through a recent post by Dylan Roussel, an Android app developer, on X. This revelation aligns with earlier reports from 9to5Google, further solidifying the likelihood of Google Bard undergoing a nomenclature shift to Gemini. A leaked photo accompanying the post displays a changelog dated February 7, 2024, hinting at the name change and offering a sneak peek into forthcoming features. The leaked changelog not only suggests the rebranding but also hints at the introduction of an Advanced tier, powered by Gemini Ultra. This represents Googles most advanced large language model to date, potentially surpassing the capabilities of OpenAIs GPT-4, which powers ChatGPT Plus and Microsoft Copilot. What captures attention in the changelog is the indication that access to Gemini Advanced will be restricted behind a paywall. Google asserts that this formidable large language model is adept at performing complex tasks like logical reasoning, coding, following nuanced instructions, and creative collaboration. Advertisement Additionally, the company plans to enhance Gemini Ultras capabilities in the coming months, focusing on its capacity to deeply analyze files, data, documents, and more. Notably, the unveiling of the Gemini app for Android devices stands out as a pivotal aspect of Googles strategy. The company asserts that the new app will revolutionize learning methods, aid in writing thank-you notes, planning events, and more, all powered by Google AI on mobile devices. Advertisement The integration of Gemini with various Google services such as Gmail, Maps, and YouTube is anticipated. While Android users are set to receive a dedicated app, iOS users may access Gemini through the existing Google app. The imminent changes signal Googles commitment to advancing AI capabilities and integrating them seamlessly into users daily interactions. Advertisement (With inputs from agencies) NASA has a found a new super Earth planet, named TOI-715b. The planet is located 137 light-years, is about 1.5 times larger than Earth and can possibly host life NASA has made a significant discovery of a super-Earth planet named TOI-715b, located 137 light-years away in the habitable zone, suggesting it could be a potential candidate for hosting life. The exoplanet is 1.5 times larger than Earth and orbits a small, reddish star that emits temperatures suitable for liquid water to exist on the surface a crucial component for supporting life. Advertisement Scientists, led by the University of Birmingham, utilized Earth-based telescopes in conjunction with NASAs Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which launched six years ago. TESS observed transiting planets, and once it hinted at TOI-715bs existence, telescopes were employed to pinpoint its location. The super-Earth has a tighter orbit than Earth, completing one orbit every 19 days, and always presents the same side to its star. This unique orbital position may result in extreme temperature differences between day and night sides, influencing the exoplanets climate and weather patterns. The same stellar system might also host a second, Earth-sized planet, making it the smallest habitable zone planet discovered by TESS if confirmed. NASA expressed the significance of TOI-715b joining the list of habitable-zone planets, potentially becoming a subject for detailed examination by the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope. Advertisement The characteristics of TOI-715b, including its mass and potential status as a water world, will influence the ability to detect its atmosphere. While TOI-715bs findings are unique, the discovery of exoplanets is not uncommon for NASA, which has identified over 5,000 of these planets. The likelihood of trillions of exoplanets in the Milky Way alone has been confirmed. Advertisement Exoplanets continue to capture astronomers interest, offering hope that other planets might sustain life. However, not all super-Earths are considered potential candidates for life, with varying conditions such as extreme temperatures or complete coverage in water or active lava flows. Chris Impey, a professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona, emphasized the excitement surrounding super-Earths, acknowledging the limited knowledge about them due to the absence of such planets in our solar system. Advertisement Renyu Hu, an exoplanet researcher at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the excitement surrounding these intriguing planets. (With inputs from agencies) The Realme 12 Pro+ has some of the best hardware options to offer at its price point, including a segment first 64MP Periscope camera. Plus, it has one of the best displays under Rs 30,000. But is that enough in a market segment that cutthroat and almost saturated? Pros - Impressive, premium styling - Solid performance form the SoC - Stunning display - Only smartphone in its segment to have a Periscope camera - Solid battery life and quick charging Cons - Significantly fewer bloatware and ads, but still has room for improvement - Photos taken under scant artificial lighting can be a hit or a miss - Periscope camera needs to be optimised Advertisement Price: Rs 33,999 for the tested 12GB+256GB variant (starts at Rs 29,999) Rating: 4/5 Despite its visual resemblance to its predecessor, the Realme 12 Pro+ brings substantial upgrades over the the11 Pro+, particularly on the hardware front. The Realme 12 Pro+ follows up with notable improvements, especially in the camera department where it introduces a periscope telephoto lens. This camera setup is notably unique within its segment, multi focal-length lossless zoom capabilities in the mid-range category. Priced at an initial Rs 30,000 in India, the Realme 12 Pro+ positions itself as a device that has a premium feel beyond its cost. With a range of features, impressive specifications, and a really attractive design, the Realme 12 Pro+ surely does stands out among its competitors Advertisement However, every device has its weaknesses. The question remains: How does the Realme 12 Pro+ 5G perform overall, and is it a prudent choice for those seeking a new smartphone? Realme 12 Pro+ 5G review: The design Realmes latest smartphone maintains the previous design but introduces some cosmetic enhancements for a more appealing look. Advertisement The Realme 12 Pro+ features a vegan leather back that not only exudes a premium feel but also provides a secure grip. The phone showcases a sizable round camera module with three camera sensors and an LED flash, set within a golden sunburst dial. In collaboration with luxury watch designer Ollivier Saveo, renowned for his work with prestigious Swiss watch brands, Realme has incorporated several elements of luxury watches into the smartphones design. The fluted bezels around the camera island for example, is a very common design choice that we see in luxury watches from Rolex, Omega and several other luxury watches. Advertisement The available colours are Submarine Blue, Navigator Beige, and Explorer Red. We got Submarine Blue variant to review. The Submarine Blue model impresses with its elegant and premium appearance, boasting a thin and light build at 8.75mm thickness and 196 grams weight. The golden aluminium frame seamlessly blends the organic leather back with the curved front display. Advertisement On the right edge, youll find the volume rockers and power button, while the bottom edge houses the SIM tray, speaker grille, and USB Type-C port. The top side features an IR blaster and another speaker. With an IP65 rating, the Realme 12 Pro+ offers protection against dust, water, and low-pressure liquid sprays, making it suitable for various weather conditions. Despite its lightweight and slim profile, the phone maintains a sturdy build, providing a solid feel when held. Overall, the Realme 12 Pro+ is designed to catch attention and initiate conversations with its aesthetically pleasing features. Advertisement Despite being lightweight and slim, the Realme 12 Pro+ has a sturdy build and feels solid when held. Overall, in terms of aesthetics, the device is surely going to turn heads and be a great conversation starter. Realme 12 Pro+ 5G review: The display The Realme 12 Pro+ may not showcase drastic changes in its display, but subtle adjustments enhance its visual appeal. Advertisement Featuring a slightly curved 6.7-inch FHD+ ProXDR AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1080X2412 pixels, a 20:9 aspect ratio, and a local peak brightness of 950 nits, the device delivers a captivating visual experience. The screens refresh rate of up to 120Hz and touch sampling response of 360Hz ensure smooth and responsive interactions, complemented by full P3 colour gamut coverage for vibrant and precise colours. Advertisement The device incorporates a 2160Hz PWM dimming mode, elevating colour accuracy at low brightness levels. Boasting HDR10+ certification, the display guarantees clear and vivid visuals even under direct sunlight. With an impressive contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1 and support for 10-bit color depth, the screen presents a crisp and vibrant appearance. Prioritizing user comfort, the display holds hardware-level low blue light certification, reducing eye strain, and is TUV Rheinland eye-protection certified for flicker-free performance. The in-display fingerprint sensor, known for its exceptional speed and accuracy, is accompanied by stylish animations. The 61-degree curvature of the curved glass design minimizes false touch issues, thanks to Realmes implementation of the updated X-touch Anti-mistouch Algorithm. Advertisement While some people may complain that Realme is using a display panel that was seen last year and the year before that as well, it still holds up as one of the best offerings in the budget segment. It still is, one of the best displays on the market, and certainly the best in its class. Advertisement Realme 12 Pro+ 5G review: The camera The Realme 12 Pro+ 5G boasts a triple-camera setup on its rear, featuring a Sony IMX890 50MP sensor with OIS as the primary camera. This lens has a native focal length of 24mm. The device also includes an 8MP ultrawide camera with a focal length of 16mm and a 64MP sensor with a periscope lens for a focal length of 71mm, replacing the previous 200MP Samsung ISOCELL sensor. The periscope lens provides 6X in-sensor zoom and 3X optical zoom. Advertisement The primary camera of the Realme 12 Pro+ excels in capturing daylight photos with precision and vivid colours, offering a dynamic range comparable to high-end flagship devices. By default, it captures 12.5MP pixel-binned shots for exceptional detail. The phone features a Street mode for portrait-style images at various focal lengths, with an auto-zoom toggle to bring subjects closer without physical movement. Low-light images without Night mode showcase impressive detail and balanced exposure. Activating Night mode enhances quality with noise reduction and oversharpening. The camera demonstrates commendable shutter and focus speeds in challenging lighting conditions. Realme has improved the clarity and stability of night shots by using a specially designed prism tilt OIS (Optical Image Stabilization), along with Sub-Wavelength Structure Coating and a Wave-Shaped lens hood. This special combination helps reduce flare and ghosting, ensuring users get outstanding image clarity even in low-light situations. The ultrawide shooters performance falls short in dynamic range and colour accuracy compared to the primary camera. The macro sensor works well in close-up photography but struggles in moderately low light. The OV64B sensor, with a 1/2-inch64MP Periscope sensor camera shines with 3X optical zoom, delivering solid images at a distance. However, beyond 140mm, when it starts getting into the Digital Zoom, things start falling apart, quickly. Image quality becomes inconsistent, lacking details even with a steady tripod. Realme needs to take a leaf out of Samsungs playbook with their Periscope camera, and tune the software to process the images in a better way. We also found the OIS in the Periscope camera to struggle at times. The 32MP front-facing camera captures selfies with decent facial details but may suffer from oversharpening, a recurring issue in Realme devices. Click here for some camera samples from the Realme 12 Pro+. Realme 12 Pro+ 5G review: The performance, software experience and UI The Realme 12 Pro+ 5G is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 chipset, which is based on the 4nm process. You also get the Adreno 710 GPU, which ensures fast and efficient graphics performance. The combination allows for quick loading and opening of apps, with the GPU contributing to decent gaming performance. The device offers up to 12GB of RAM, facilitating rapid data retrieval, and up to 256GB of onboard storage, providing ample space for apps, photos, videos, audio, documents, and more. In a gaming test using Asphalt 9, the Realme 12 Pro+ demonstrated seamless performance with HD graphics and high frame rates for over half an hour, showing no lags or drops in frame rates. The 60Hz refresh rate was maintained, and while the device did warm up after 15-20 minutes, overall performance remained satisfactory. Benchmark results further attest to the devices capabilities. Regarding software, the Realme 12 Pro+ 5G runs on Realme UI 5.0 based on Android 14. Realme has customized the Android 14 OS to offer additional customisation and personalisation options.RealmeUI continues to be very intuitive, customisable, and overall easy and friendly to use. Features include Omoji for creating avatars, File Dock for quick access to essentials, and smart image matting for extracting objects from images. The device also introduces heart rate monitoring, although its accuracy may vary. The user interface has a lot of vivid colors, is very user-friendliness, and gives users an enjoyable browsing experience. Some other noteworthy features include Phonelink for a seamless connection with Windows laptops/PCs and Flash Capsule. Realme is also committing to two years of major software updates and three years of security updates for the Realme 12 Pro+. You will still find some bloatware, but Realme has indeed toned them down a lot. There are some annoying habits still, like the Hot Apps and Hot Games folders. Luckily, the app recommendations this time, are far better and wont embarrass you. You also have the option to turn it off completely. Another plus point would be the ease with which Realme lets you opt out of Glance, even if you keep it enabled while setting the device up. Coming back to the performance of the device, the Realme 12 Pro+ 5G comes with WiFi 6, BlueTooth 5.2 and a USB Type-C 2.0 port for connectivity. In terms of device connectivity, the Realme 12 Pro+ 5G is equipped with WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and a USB Type-C 2.0 port. Additionally, during our prolonged testing, which involved watching a ton of videos and playing a short gaming session of BGMI we observed only a slight decrease in battery level. This indicates that the device has efficient power management. Realme 12 Pro+ 5G review: The battery life The Realme 12 Pro+ is powered by a 5,000mAh battery, maintaining the same capacity as the previous model. During regular usage with the display brightness set at 70 per cent, we easily achieved over 8 hours of screen-on time and more than 16 hours of overall usage time. Throughout this period, we engaged in various activities, such as watching videos and shows, browsing the web and social media, light gaming, sending numerous emails, and participating in a couple of video calls. Notably, on the PCMarks battery test, the Realme 12 Pro+ achieved an impressive score of just under 20 hours. Additionally, the phone comes with a 67W fast charger in the box. This charger charges the devices battery level to 50 per cent in approximately 20 minutes and fully charges the phone in less than an hour, easily. Realme 12 Pro+ 5G review: The verdict The Realme 12 Pro+ stands out as a versatile 5G smartphone, handling everyday tasks smoothly and swiftly. It supports heavy gaming titles, boasts solid battery life under moderate use, and features a vibrant display with impressive colour reproduction. The daylight camera performs well, providing good image quality. While the Realme 12 Pro+ is a solid all-around choice, those prioritizing gaming performance might explore alternatives from Poco and OnePlus. Its also worth noting that the Realme 12 Pro+ has a maximum storage capacity of 256GB, which could be a drawback for some users. Moreover, Motorola and Redmi smartphones offer superior water and dust resistance with an IP68 rating, compared to Realmes IP65 rating. However, the Realme 12 Pro+ is a standout in its price range. With an attractive design featuring a leather finish, a sharp display, and reliable performance, its complemented by an improved Realme UI. The primary and telephoto cameras deliver impressive results in various scenarios, and the battery life is commendable. If these features are something you look for in a device, the Realme 12 Pro+ would be a worthwhile investment. Samsung Electronics head Jay Lee was declared not guilty of accounting fraud and stock manipulation in a 2015 merger. The ruling could grant Lee more flexibility in steering South Koreas largest conglomerate In a major relief for Samsung Electronics, former Chairman Jay Y. Lee was declared not guilty of accounting fraud and stock manipulation by a Seoul court on Monday. The case revolved around a 2015 merger aimed at solidifying Lees control over the technology giant. Contrary to expectations of a suspended sentence, the ruling could grant Lee more flexibility in steering South Koreas largest conglomerate. Advertisement The unexpected verdict could potentially liberate Lee from legal constraints that have hindered Samsung Electronics innovative and job creation efforts for nearly a decade, according to Kim Ki-chan, a business professor at the Catholic University of Korea. Lees legal troubles had led to a bureaucratic and risk-averse environment within the company. The charges against Lee and other former executives centred on allegations of orchestrating a merger between two Samsung affiliates, Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries, disregarding the interests of minority shareholders. Before the merger, the Lee family controlled Cheil, but not Samsung C&T, a significant shareholder in Samsung Electronics. Prosecutors had sought a five-year jail term for Lee, but he denied wrongdoing, asserting that the merger was in the shareholders best interest. The panel of three judges at the Seoul Central District Court ruled that the merger decision was made after careful consideration and review by the boards of the two companies, dismissing claims of the sole purpose of strengthening Lees management rights. Advertisement The acquittal extends to all 14 defendants and prevents Lee from returning to jail. Previously convicted in 2017 for bribing a friend of former President Park Geun-hye, Lee served 18 months of a 30-month sentence before being pardoned in 2022. If prosecutors choose not to appeal, the ruling would mark the resolution of Lees legal issues dating back to 2016. Lees lawyer, Kim You-jin, expressed gratitude for the courts wise decision. Advertisement While some criticize the ruling as unfair, emphasizing the protection of conglomerate heads, it signals a potential shift for Samsung and Lee, who have played a crucial role in the conglomerates trajectory. The Lee family and related entities currently own 20.7 per cent of Samsung Electronics. In a related case, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ordered the South Korean government to pay U.S. hedge fund Elliott $108.5 million for the National Pension Services role in approving the $8 billion merger. South Koreas conglomerates, primarily family-owned, have faced public scrutiny over scandals, but recent efforts by business leaders to engage with the public have led to a more favourable perception. Following the court ruling, shares in Samsung C&T, the groups de facto holding company, experienced a brief increase before settling mostly flat. While for the rest of the world, Samsung has partnered with Google for its Galaxy AI, in China, the South Korean giant has partnered with Baidu, because of how the country regulates AI. Galaxy AIs features in China are not even remotely comparable to that of its Google-powered counterpart Samsungs recent collaboration with Chinese search giant Baidu to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) technology into its latest flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S24 series, has generated tepid interest among consumers in mainland China. The strategic partnership between Samsungs China division and Baidu AI Cloud, announced in late January, entails deploying Baidus Ernie large language model (LLM) and search engine to enhance the AI search functions of the Galaxy S24 series released in China on January 25. Advertisement These AI features, tailored for the Chinese market, resemble those offered by Googles Gemini AI in the global version of the Galaxy S24 series, which is unavailable in China. However, Chinese consumers have expressed concerns on social media that the local versions search features may not match the quality of the international variant. Weibo user Sun Weilun noted differences after testing various models in a Samsung store in Hong Kong, stating that the Circle to Search feature powered by Baidu provided fewer results compared to the overseas version supported by Google. Some consumers, like Beijing resident Richard Zhang, are considering purchasing the international version of the Galaxy S24 for superior AI services, citing issues with the mainland system recognizing Samsung phones incorrectly. Advertisement Baidu, recognized as a leading AI player in China, initiated its own ChatGPT alternative with Ernie Bot in March 2023. Despite its standing, the Baidu-Samsung partnership is not anticipated to significantly impact Samsungs position in the Chinese smartphone market, where its market share has plummeted from 20 per cent to less than 1 per cent over the past decade. Advertisement Samsung faces challenges from rising Chinese vendors such as Huawei Technologies, Oppo, and Vivo, which are developing their own large language models (LLMs) or integrating generative AI features into their latest handsets. Ivan Lam, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, believes that within the Chinese market, AI alone is unlikely to bring immediate changes but sees the partnership with Baidu as a sign of Samsungs commitment to long-term operations in China. Advertisement In terms of pricing, Samsung has set higher prices for the Galaxy S24 and S24+ in China compared to the previous S23 models, a strategy differing from its pricing approach in the US and Europe. Analysts, such as Peng Peng from TechInsights, observe that Samsung may not be aggressively competing with domestic vendors on value for money in the worlds largest smartphone market. As many as 10 policemen were killed and six injured in an attack on a police station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Dera Ismail Khan district, according to a report, citing Pakistan police on Monday As many as 10 policemen were killed and six injured in an attack on a police station in Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Dera Ismail Khan district, according to Geo News, citing Pakistan police on Monday. As per the police, terrorists attacked the police station with heavy weapons at 3 am in the Daraban tehsil. Advertisement The injured have been shifted to DHQ Hospital, added the report, citing police. Police said the terrorists attacked the police station from all sides with grenades and heavy gunfire. The police retaliated but the terrorists escaped in the darkness of the night, they added. Police forces have now cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to hunt down the fleeing militants, while the quick response force has reached with additional force, the Geo News report added. Meanwhile, The News International newspaper recently reported that Pakistan has seen a surge in terror attacks with at least 93 militant attacks taking place in the country in January this year, in which 90 people were killed and 135 injured. Moreover, 15 individuals have been reportedly abducted in January 2024. The data was released by an Islamabad-based think tank, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). Advertisement With inputs from agencies Aid agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said its medics in Coxs Bazar had on Feb 4 received 17 patients following fighting at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border According to the police, mortar rounds launched from Myanmar during fighting there landed in a village across the border on February 5, killing at least two persons in Bangladesh. Since November 2023, when rebel forces from the Arakan Army broke a ceasefire that had mainly held since a coup in 2021, there have been numerous skirmishes in parts of Myanmar near the 270 km border with Bangladesh. Advertisement Hosne Ara, a 48-year-old Bangladeshi woman, and an unidentified ethnic Rohingya man were killed, according to the police. Aid agency Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said its medics in Coxs Bazar had on Feb 4 received 17 patients following fighting at the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. All the patients had gunshot wounds. Two were in life-threatening condition, and five were seriously injured, MSF said in a statement. Important trade hubs on the Chinese border were taken over by an alliance comprising rebels from ethnic minorities and AA insurgents, who together launched an offensive in northern Myanmar in October. The alliance declared in January that hostilities would end in certain areas, including those close to the border between India and Bangladesh, although this truce was negotiated by China. Advertisement (With agency inputs) Since taking office ten years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping has launched an extensive battle against pervasive government corruption; yet, detractors claim that this strategy has assisted him in eliminating political competitors The former head of a sizable Chinese bank with government support received a suspended death sentence on Monday for bribery, marking the latest development in a campaign against financial sector misconduct. Since taking office ten years ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping has launched an extensive battle against pervasive government corruption; yet, detractors claim that this strategy has assisted him in eliminating political competitors. Advertisement According to official media, Tian Huiyu, the former president of China Merchants Bank, was sentenced to death on Monday, with a two-year reprieve that could result in a life sentence. According to state broadcaster CCTV, Tian was found guilty of decades of abusing state-owned company staff power, trading on undisclosed information, insider trading, and leaking inside information in addition to accepting bribes. When the anti-graft movement shifted its attention to some of the nations top financiers, Tian was the subject of a public inquiry for the first time in April 2022. Former vice president of the China Development Bank Zhou Qingyu was detained in December on bribery charges. The state-owned Chinese banking behemoth Everbright Groups former chairman was detained in January on charges of bribery and misconduct. Advertisement He Xingxiang, a former senior officer at the China Development Bank, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for bribery earlier this month. (With agency inputs) Geingob, 82, died during the wee hours of Sunday while he was receiving treatment at a hospital in the capital city of Windhoek. An icon of the independence struggle, Geingob was diagnosed with cancer, the details of which were made public last month Namibias Vice President Nangolo Mbumba has taken over the countrys presidency hours after he announced the death of President Hage Geingob on Sunday. Mbumba is expected to hold office until the Namibian elections due later this year. I am not going to be around for the elections so dont panic, he said at the swearing-in ceremony. Advertisement Geingob, 82, died during the wee hours of Sunday while he was receiving treatment at a hospital in the capital city of Windhoek. An icon of the independence struggle, Geingob was diagnosed with cancer, the details of which were made public last month. Mbumba added, Our nation remains calm and stable owing to the leadership of President Geingob who was the chief architect of the constitution, as he paid tribute to the late leader. I take on this heavy mantle cognisant of the weight of responsibility, he said. The exact cause of the former presidents death has not been revealed yet but according to his office, Geingob flew to the US to receive a two-day novel treatment for cancerous cells. A peoples leader, Geingob was first sworn in as the countrys president in 2015, before which he held many senior political positions. Advertisement Since the news of his death, Namibian citizens have shared their memories of Geingob, with many describing him as a visionary and jovial man. The 82-year-old former president played a pivotal role in Namibias independence struggle after he returned home from a long exile in Botswana and the US as an anti-apartheid activist. Advertisement He was the countrys third president since it gained independence in 1990. Geingob was set to finish his second and last term this year. Condolences poured in from all across the world with leaders like Cyril Ramaphosa (South African President) describing him as a towering veteran of Namibias liberation from colonialism and apartheid. Bukele, 42, claimed to have received more than 85% of the presidential vote and his party, Nuevas Ideas, 58 of the 60 seats in parliament Fireworks exploded in El Salvadors capital Sunday as President Nayib Bukele claimed a landslide first-round reelection win on the basis of a war on gangs, which is credited with lowering homicide rates in the violence-plagued country. Bukele, 42, claimed to have received more than 85% of the presidential vote and his party, Nuevas Ideas, 58 of the 60 seats in parliament. Advertisement In a victory speech delivered to applauding, flag-waving crowds from a balcony of the National Palace before the final official results were released, Bukele claimed his victory marked the biggest difference between first and second place in the history of democratic presidential elections anywhere. He also stated that El Salvador will be the first country with a one-party system in a democracy. Partial results released by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal late Sunday, as Bukele was speaking, showed that nearly 83 percent of votes cast were for the president, streaks ahead of five competitors. Bukele had already claimed a record victory on X, formerly Twitter, hours before, as supporters set off fireworks in several areas of the capital, and hundreds gathered on a central square chanted Nayib! Nayib! Advertisement We are more than happy with this victory: we will have Bukele for five more years, Lorena Escobar, a 38-year-old nurse, told AFP. Bukele polls as Latin Americas most popular leader, mainly for his roundup of more than 75,000 presumed gangsters under a state of emergency that entered into force nearly two years ago. Advertisement El Salvadors fearsome gangs had taken some 120,000 civilian lives in three decades, according to the government, which says criminal groups controlled 80 percent of the country when Bukele took power in 2019. Last year, the country that was once one of the most dangerous in the world, saw the murder rate plummet to its lowest level in three decades far below the global average. Advertisement Cancer of gangs Shortly after voting Sunday, Bukele batted away criticism of his rights record and boasted he had cured the Central American country of a cancer of gangs. Why do we have the biggest incarceration rate in the world? Because we changed the murder capital of the world, the worlds most dangerous country, into the safest country in the Western Hemisphere, he told reporters in English. Advertisement The only way to do that is to arrest all the murderers. Activists say many innocents including minors have been caught up in the dragnet, locked up in inhumane conditions and even subjected to torture. Thousands are held in a brand-new prison plugged as the largest in the Americas which the president had built in a matter of months. Advertisement We did surgery, we are in radiotherapy, and we will leave healthy without the cancer of gangs, insisted Bukele, who has ironically adopted the monicker dictator sometimes used to describe him. The president added that: our police made a couple of mistakes, of course they did, thats why our judicial system has been freeing innocent people some 7,000 to date. Advertisement State violence In December, an Amnesty International report raised alarm over the gradual replacement of gang violence with state violence, pointing to arbitrary arrests. But for most Salvadorans, this seems to be a not-too-pressing issue. Things were ugly before, Sandra Burgos, 68, told AFP in La Campanera a once notoriously violent neighborhood of San Salvador which in the time of gang rule was divided into numerous no-go areas. Advertisement Now we are fine. We can move around before it was not possible. Bukeles very candidacy was controversial, having been made possible by a loyalist Supreme Court ruling allowing him to bypass a constitutional ban on successive terms. This came after the Bukele-aligned legislature replaced top judges and the attorney general both institutions he had clashed with. Advertisement There are also worries about worsening antagonism towards critics and independent media, and of opaque public accounting. El Salvadors ailing economy will be a major challenge for Bukeles second term, with high public debt and the presidents investment of taxpayer money in bitcoin widely seen as a failed gambit. Nearly 30 percent of Salvadorans lived in poverty in 2022, according to the UNs Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. Advertisement Voting in El Salvador is not compulsory, and turnout was just over 50 percent in 2019, when Bukele also won in the first round with 53 percent of the vote. China, Guatemala and Panama have sent messages of congratulations. Chinese warships have been observed in the vicinity of the Diaoyu Islands and near the boundaries of Japans Air Defence Identification Zone, according to a report, citing Japanese newspaper Yomiuri. Japan has deployed airborne early warning aircraft and at least one marine destroyer in response Japan is growing increasingly concerned about the frequent presence of Chinese vessels near the Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea with Tokyo fearing that tensions in the region could escalate, drawing parallels to recent maritime disputes between Beijing and Manila in the South China Sea. According to a South China Moring Post report, citing Japanese newspaper Yomiuri, Chinese warships have been observed in the vicinity of the Diaoyu Islands and near the boundaries of Japans Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). However, the Japanese defence ministry did not specify the duration of their presence, added the report. Advertisement In response, Japan has deployed an airborne early warning and control system aircraft, a patrol plane, and a helicopter to the area near Okinawa. Additionally, at least one marine destroyer has been dispatched. The East China Sea has been a point of contention since 2013 when China unilaterally declared an ADIZ that overlaps with Japans long-established ADIZ in the same region. As per analysts cited in the report, Japan anticipates facing confrontations akin to those experienced by the Philippines in the South China Sea, as Beijing intensifies its assertions over land, sea, and airspace in the East China Sea. Recent incidents include Philippine supply vessels being targeted by the Chinese coastguards water cannons, alongside harassment of Filipino fishing boats. Advertisement Analysts believe that Chinas ultimate aim is to undermine the international perception of Japanese sovereignty over the Diaoyus, known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan, with the intention to eventually seize them. Japan has maintained control over the uninhabited archipelago since 1972. These islands fall within Chinas self-proclaimed ADIZ, which Chinese warships are increasingly patrolling. Advertisement Photos published in the Yomiuri newspaper on January 28 depict a Jiangkai II-class guided missile frigate near the islands. While Japan is more capable of resisting Chinese aggression compared to the Philippines, Tokyo remains extremely concerned about the potential escalation to the point of employing water cannons or other weaponry, as stated by an analyst at the National Institute of Defence Studies (NIDS). Advertisement Recently, Chinese coastguard vessels have been frequently chasing Japanese fishing boats in waters around the Senkakus, South China Morning Post quoted Masafumi Iida, a China expert at NIDS, as saying to This Week in Asia. That is just one of the escalatory actions that China has been taking as it attempts to assume jurisdiction. Japan cannot accept that claim against its waters and this is a clear violation of Japanese territoriality over the Senkakus, he said. Advertisement Beijing has, for more than a decade, been stepping up its claims of sovereignty over the islands. It has undertaken actions such as repeated coastguard intrusions into the waters around the islands as well as drone flights. Chinas air and maritime presence in the area is becoming larger and more frequent, Iida said. Advertisement On Monday, a Japanese coastguard vessel discovered a large Chinese buoy drifting inside Japans exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea. The buoy, around 5 metres in diameter, bore the words China ocean observation and was found 170km north of the disputed islands. In July last year, a larger Chinese buoy was discovered tethered some 80km northwest of the islands, prompting a diplomatic protest from China. The Japanese coastguard has warned shipping lines to be aware of additional buoys and the government has requested that they be removed by China but Beijing has yet to respond, added the report, citing Yomiuri. Advertisement With inputs from agencies Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Monday said that India and Maldives have agreed to send back the first group of Indian troops deployed in Maldives before March 10 this year and the personnel of remaining two platforms will leave by May 10, according to a report Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Monday said that India and Maldives have agreed to send back the first group of Indian troops deployed in Maldives before March 10 this year and the personnel of remaining two platforms will leave by May 10, according to a report. According to a Maldives-based Sun Online report, Muizzu made these comments during his first presidential statement at the opening of the last session of the 19th Parliament, adding that talks are ongoing with India to send back their troops. Advertisement Muizzu emphasized his foremost presidential commitment: safeguarding the freedom and sovereignty of the Maldivian people. He underscored the overwhelming support for his administration as a mandate to remove foreign troops, reclaim lost maritime territories, and revoke any agreements jeopardizing Maldives sovereignty. Addressing the Parliament, Muizzu declared plans to bolster the Maldives militarys capacity to patrol the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) round-the-clock, as per a report by Sun Online. He stressed his governments guiding principle of prioritising the welfare of the people and the nation, encapsulated in the policy of Pro Maldives, added the report. Only 24 Maldives Members of Parliament (MPs) attended the opening sitting of the Peoples Majlis where Muizzu delivered his first presidential address, Maldives-based online news outlet Adhadhu reported. Advertisement The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Democrats decided to boycott the sitting due to the undemocratic ways of the government. A total of 56 MPs boycotted the opening sitting including 13 MPs from the Democrats and 44 MPs from the MDP. Notably, the removal of Indian troops in the Maldives was the main campaign of Muizzus party. Currently, there are around 70 Indian troops, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, stationed in the Maldives. Advertisement On the second day of assuming office, Muizzu officially requested the Indian government to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives. In December last year, Muizzu claimed that, after talks with the Indian government, an agreement was reached to withdraw Indian military personnel. Last week, the second meeting of the high-level core group between the Maldives and India took place in New Delhi. Advertisement Both sides agreed that the Government of India will replace the military personnel in one of the three aviation platform by 10 March 2024, and will complete replacing military personnel in the other two platforms by 10 May 2024, the Maldives Foreign Ministry stated. The Maldives said that both sides reviewed the existing bilateral cooperation to improve and enhance the partnership in the fields of defence and security cooperation, economic, and development partnership. Advertisement It was also agreed that the third meeting of the high-level core group will be held in Male on a mutually agreeable date during the last week of February. Notably, the Ministry of External Affairs stated in its statement that both India and Maldives have agreed on a set of mutually workable solutions to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac services to the people of the Maldives. Advertisement It said that the two sides continued their discussions on wide-ranging issues related to bilateral cooperation towards identifying steps to enhance the partnership, including expediting the implementation of ongoing development cooperation projects. With inputs from agencies The Australian government announced that writer Yang Jun received a suspended death sentence in China, labeling it as harrowing news. Yang was arrested in 2019 at Guangzhou airport, accused of spying for an undisclosed foreign country The Australian government announced that writer Yang Jun received a suspended death sentence in China, labeling it as harrowing news. Yang was arrested in 2019 at Guangzhou airport, accused of spying for an undisclosed foreign country. The 57-year-old pro-democracy blogger is an Australian citizen who was born in China. He was tried in a one-day, closed-door hearing in Beijing in May 2021, with a verdict not publicly disclosed. Advertisement The Australian government is appalled at this outcome, AFP quoted Foreign Minister Penny Wong as saying at a news conference. Canberra understood that the death sentence could be commuted to life in jail after a period of two years, Wong said. We will be communicating our response in the strongest terms, the Australian minister said. The sentence was the most harrowing news, she told reporters. Wong said the Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, would be summoned to hear the governments objection. I want to acknowledge the acute distress that Dr. Yang and his family will be feeling today, coming after years of uncertainty, she said. Yangs verdict and sentence had been repeatedly delayed since his closed-door trial on national security charges in May 2021, she said. Advertisement Australia had consistently called for basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment, she said. Australia will not relent in advocacy for justice for Dr. Yangs interests and wellbeing including appropriate medical treatment, the minister said. All Australians want to see Dr. Yang reunited with his family, Wong said. Who can speak for me? Advertisement The suspended death sentence will be seen as a setback in Australia-China relations, which had appeared to be warming. Australian journalist Cheng Lei was released in October 2023 after more than three years detention on espionage charges widely seen as politically motivated. Yangs friends said last year that he feared he would die in jail without proper medical treatement because of cyst growing on his kidney. Advertisement If something happens with my health and I die in here, people outside wont know the truth, he said in a note shared with friends and supporters. If something happens to me, who can speak for me? Yang, who denies the spying claims, was arrested on a rare trip back to China in January 2019. Advertisement The writer who also goes by his pen name Yang Hengjun - has previously told supporters he was tortured at a secret detention site and feared forced confessions may be used against him. Tensions between Canberra and Beijing mounted in 2018 when Australia excluded the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei from its 5G network. Advertisement Then in 2020, Australia called for an international investigation into the origins of Covid-19 an action China saw as politically motivated. In response, Beijing slapped high tariffs on key Australian exports, including barley, beef and wine, while halting its coal imports. Most of those tariffs have been lifted during the centre-left government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who made a breakthrough trip to Beijing in November 2023, hailing progress as unquestionably very positive. Advertisement Tensions remain however when it comes to security, as Australia draws closer to the United States in an effort to blunt Chinas expanding influence in the South Pacific region. With inputs from agencies On February 3, a FIR was filed against Siwal under sections 3,5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act and section 121A of the IPC (waging war against the country). The complaint was made at the ATS police station in Gomtinagar An Indian embassy employee who was detained on suspicion of espionage for Pakistans ISI intelligence agency was placed in judicial detention till February 7 by a Lucknow court on Monday. After questioning, Satendra Siwal, a resident of Shahmahiuddinpur village in the states Hapur district, was taken into custody by the Uttar Pradesh Polices Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Sunday. Since 2021, Siwal has been employed by the Indian embassy in Moscow as an IBSA (India-Based Security Assistant). Advertisement On February 3, a FIR was filed against Siwal under sections 3,5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act and section 121A of the IPC (waging war against the country). The complaint was made at the ATS police station in Gomtinagar. The defendant was brought before Additional Session Judge VS Tripathi, who had earlier in the day placed him under judicial custody. According to the ATS on Sunday, Siwal admitted his crime during questioning since he was unable to provide adequate explanations. It said that in exchange for money, Siwal gave the ISI access to sensitive information on the strategic operations of the Indian military establishments, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Ministry of Defence. Advertisement (With agency inputs) The state-controlled Petrochemical Commercial Company (PCC) and its UK subsidiary, PCC UK, have been under US sanctions since November 2018 Iran discreetly employed two of the largest banks in the UK to clandestinely transfer funds globally, playing a crucial role in an extensive sanctions-evasion operation supported by Tehrans intelligence services. A report by Financial Times revealed based on documents obtained by them that Iran utilised two major UK banks - Lloyds and Santander UK - to make the transfer globally. Advertisement Petrochemical Commercial Companys Secret Operations The state-controlled Petrochemical Commercial Company (PCC) and its UK subsidiary, PCC UK, have been under US sanctions since November 2018. Despite the sanctions, the documents show that PCCs UK division continued its operations through a network of front entities in Britain and other countries. Lloyds and Santander UK Involved Lloyds and Santander UK provided accounts to British front companies secretly owned by a sanctioned Iranian petrochemicals company near Buckingham Palace. The US accuses PCC of raising funds for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Force and collaborating with Russian intelligence agencies to support Iranian proxy militias. Complex Network of Front Entities The documents, emails, and accounting records reveal that PCCs UK division used a complex web of front entities in the UK and other countries to receive funds from Iranian front entities in China. The scheme involved concealing the real ownership through trustee agreements and nominee directors. Advertisement Santanders Involvement with Pisco UK One of the companies involved, Pisco UK, registered to a house in Surrey, used a business account with Santander UK. Internal documents indicate that Pisco is fully controlled by PCC, contradicting official ownership records. The US Treasury has previously accused Iranian petrochemical companies of using multiple front entities to evade sanctions. Advertisement Lloyds Tied to Aria Associates Another PCC front company in the UK, Aria Associates, held an account with Lloyds. Internal emails show that Aria Associates account was used for payment from China, with explicit instructions to avoid any indication of PCC or PCC (UK). Banks Respond Santander mentioned being highly focused on sanctions compliance and stated that it could not comment on specific client relationships. However, a source confirmed that the bank has closed Piscos account. Lloyds Banking Group revealed compliance with sanctions laws and legal restrictions regarding commenting on suspicious activity reports. Advertisement UK Authorities Urged to Take Action Alicia Kearns, Tory chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee, expressed concerns about the need to address entities connected to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards operating in the UK. Liam Byrne, Labour chair of the Commons Business and Trade Committee, criticised the failure to align with allies in shutting down the financing of a hostile regime. Advertisement London as a Financial Center for IRGC David Asher, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, highlighted the risk and inconsistency of UK banks continuing business with Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) - connected entities, stating that they continue to use London as a financial center. Historical Precedents The article notes that European banks found breaching US sanctions on Iran faced significant penalties in the past, with Standard Chartered paying over $1 billion and UniCredit $1.3 billion in 2019. Advertisement PCCs Ongoing Operations in the UK Despite being under US sanctions, PCC continued to operate in the UK, entering contracts for equipment procurement with a Turkish company, ASB, which was also sanctioned by the US government. Audit reports for PCC UK from 2021 revealed large trading balances with PCC in Iran, allowing it to operate despite Western banks being blocked from conducting business with the company. Advertisement UK Office Linked to Iranian National Oil Company PCC UKs Belgravia office also serves as the registered address for NIOC International Affairs (London) Ltd, a division of Irans US-sanctioned national oil company, accused of directly financing the IRGC and Iranian military activity. The revelations come amid heightened tensions, with the Royal Air Force recently joining US airstrikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the UK and US imposing sanctions on an assassinations network overseen by Iranian intelligence. The US is committed to supporting Bangladeshs ambitious economic goals and partnering with Bangladesh on our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, Biden said The United States is committed to partnering with Bangladesh on a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, said President Joe Biden in a letter to Sheikh Hasina. The US President expressed his willingness to work together to achieve Bangladeshs economic goals. In the letter, shared by the US embassy in Bangladesh with the countrys foreign ministry, Biden said, The United States is committed to supporting Bangladeshs ambitious economic goals and partnering with Bangladesh on our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Advertisement Biden, whose administration has repeatedly criticised the Hasina government before her re-election, said he wants to convey the sincere desire of his administration to continue their 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, Biden wrote in a letter to Bangladesh PM. What did Biden tell Sheikh Hasina? 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. Advertisement In January, the US and the UK said Bangladesh elections 2024 that extended Hasinas rule were not credible, free and fair. The US and the UK, which shared trade and development ties with Bangladesh, also condemned political violence in Bangladesh that preceded the election in which Hasinas party won more than two-thirds of the parliamentary seats. Advertisement Biden and Hasina met at the G20 Summit in September 2023 in New Delhi, where they shared a candid moment, taking a selfie at Bharat Mandapam. With inputs from agencies The two main opposition parties - the Maldivian Democratic Party and The Democrats Party - will skip President Mohamed Muizzus address in the parliament on 5 February around 9 am Two principal opposition parties in the Maldives, who slammed the countrys President Mohamed Muizzus anti-India pivot, will boycott his statement in the parliament on Monday. As per reports in the Maldives media, the two main opposition parties - the Maldivian Democratic Party and The Democrats Party - will skip the presidential statement that will be made by Muizzu around 9 am. Advertisement The move by the key opposition parties to boycott the Presidential address underscores a deeping rift in political situation in the island nation. Reason for boycott The Democrats said they would abstain from Muizzus address Monday because of the re-appointment of three ministers who had been rejected by the parliament. While, the majority-holding Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has not yet clarified publicly its reason for boycotting Muizzus presidential address in the parliament on 5 February. According to the media outlet Mihaaru, the inaugural session of the Maldivian parliament for the year is said to begin on Monday with presidential statement at 9 am (local time). In Maldives, the president is required by the Constitution to address the parliament at the first session of the first term of the year, outlining the state of the nation and outlining his recommendations for how to bring improvements. Advertisement It was anticipated that Muizzus speech would feature delineating the nations status quo and proposing strategies for progress. However, the confirmed absence of the main opposition members signals a stark discord. Recently, the two opposition parties have openly criticised the Muizzu-led governments apparent transition in foreign policy, especially its distancing from India. It was described as extremely detrimental to the Maldives long-term growth. Advertisement Amid Maldives-India diplomatic row, the two parties, in January, had described India as the countrys most long-standing ally. Both the parties also accused the current administration led by Muizzu of making a stark pivot towards an anti-India stance. The joint statement was issued days after the Maldivian governments recent announcement permitting a Chinese spy ship, equipped for research and surveys, to dock at a port in Male. Advertisement Muizzus administration, perceived as leaning towards China, has also asked India for the withdrawal of 80 Indian military personnel by 15 March, a proposition that has seemingly strained bilateral relations between the two nations. In response, India and the Maldives have reached a mutually workable solution, agreeing to replace Indian military soldiers on three aviation platforms by 10 May, with the initial phase concluding by 10 March. Advertisement Tensions between the Maldives and India aggravated last month after ministers in the island nations government made disparaging comments against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. New Delhi registered a formal protest against the ministers over the remarks made over PM Modis visit to Lakshadweep. The remark by the ministers of Maldives created a massive uproar on social media with Indian celebrities among others made calls to boycott visiting the country. Advertisement For decades, India was the closest ally of the Maldives. However, the ties between the two nations have started getting bitter since Mohamed Muizzu was elected president of the country last year. With inputs from agencies Of the 5,028 polling stations across Balochistan, only 961, roughly 19 per cent, have been categorised as normal, according to a report, citing Balochistans Interior Minister Zubair Jamali The authorities have deemed approximately 80 per cent of the polling stations arranged for Thursdays general elections in Pakistans troubled province Balochistan as either sensitive or highly sensitive. According to a PTI report, citing Balochistans Interior Minister Zubair Jamali, of the 5,028 polling stations across Balochistan, only 961, roughly 19 per cent, have been categorised as normal. Advertisement Jamali voiced grave apprehensions regarding the security risks that may arise in the province during the elections. While 2,337 polling stations have been declared sensitive, 1,730 are classified as highly sensitive, he told PTI. Jamali said given the recent terror incidents in Balochistan with attempted strikes on security forces, installations, government servants and civilians, security on the polling day would be very tight. Balochistans caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai on Sunday declared the temporary suspension of internet services in regions housing sensitive polling stations during the provincial election. The minister highlighted the potential misuse of social media platforms by terrorists for communication during the polling day. In response to this security concern, internet access will be limited in several areas, such as Turbat, Macch, and Chaman. Advertisement In a statement, the minister said social media platforms could be utilised by terrorists for communication purposes on polling day. To mitigate this risk, access to the internet would be restricted in various areas, including Turbat, Macch, and Chaman. Jamali said the government, establishment and security forces carried out an extensive survey of all polling stations to categorise them for the elections. Advertisement We have taken into account past incidents of terrorism, the presence of militant groups in different areas and their ability to create violence during polls, he told PTI. Last week, terrorists belonging to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) tried to storm the towns of Mach and Kolpur apparently to free inmates in the Mach jail but the attempt was foiled by the security forces. Advertisement However, four security personnel, two civilians and at least 24 terrorists were killed during the operation. There have been several incidents of poll violence in Balochistan. In January, four people were killed and six others injured in a bomb blast at a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party rally in Balochistans Sibi city. The provincial government has already implemented a ban on political rallies and corner meetings in view of poll-related violence incidents. Advertisement Jamali said there would be increased deployment of security forces at polling stations, particularly in sensitive and highly sensitive ones. Since last year there has been a spike in terror incidents in Balochistan, especially after the ceasefire between the federal government and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) outfit ended in November 2022. With inputs from agencies Muizzu emphasized the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between China and the Maldives in his speech at the Invest Maldives Forum in China on January 9. He stated that the FTA would increase bilateral trade and investments, especially by increasing the export of fish products to China President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives backed a free trade agreement between Male and Beijing on Monday, three weeks after returning from a state visit to China. He claimed the agreement will boost the economy of his nation. The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between China and the Maldives was not implemented by Muizzus predecessor, pro-Indian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, under the government of pro-China President Abdulla Yameen in December 2014. Advertisement In his first speech as president on Monday, Muizzu stated, The implementation of the FTA signed by Maldives with Peoples Republic of China will provide a myriad number of benefits to Maldivian businesses and to the economy. Therefore, I am confident that this Parliament will support the completion of the legal procedure for the entry into force of this Agreement. My hope is that free trade agreements with several other countries will be signed and implemented during this period, he added. Earlier in January, Muizzu stated during his official state visit to China that his administration is dedicated to implementing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with China as soon as possible, viewing it as a representation of the close commercial connections that exist between the two nations. Advertisement Muizzu emphasized the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between China and the Maldives in his speech at the Invest Maldives Forum in China on January 9. He stated that the FTA would increase bilateral trade and investments, especially by increasing the export of fish products to China, indicating that this is a major priority investigated within the FTA. Advertisement Muizzu, who is regarded as a pro-China politician, said the Forum that his administration is concentrated on expanding the Maldives economic basis, guaranteeing economic security, and bolstering exports from Maldives. China has supported the Maldives ever since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1972. Following a high-level meeting to assess the status of the Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP), also known as the Male to Thilafushi link project, which India is funding, India stated on January 29 that it is dedicated to collaborating closely with the Maldivian government to expedite the projects implementation. This is the largest infrastructure project in the island nation. Advertisement The goal of this USD 530 million infrastructure project is to provide a direct route between Thilafushi, an island in the southern Indian Ocean, and the capital city of the Maldives. Officials in Bangladesh on Monday said that over the past few days, a minimum of 95 Myanmar border guards, some of whom sustained injuries, have sought refuge in Bangladesh amid escalating conflict between rebel factions in Myanmar and the ruling junta regime Officials in Bangladesh on Monday said that over the past few days, a minimum of 95 Myanmar border guards, some of whom sustained injuries, have sought refuge in Bangladesh amid escalating conflict between rebel factions in Myanmar and the ruling junta regime. Since orchestrating a coup against the democratically elected government in 2021, the junta has encountered its most formidable opposition yet as it grapples with containing a violent uprising. Allied anti-junta factions, supported by a parallel pro-democracy administration, have successfully seized control of numerous military installations and towns. Advertisement The echoes of gunfire reverberate across the border into Bangladeshs southeastern tourist hub of Coxs Bazar, where nearly one million Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar reside in makeshift camps constructed from bamboo and plastic. These Rohingya refugees fled Myanmar in 2017 to escape a military crackdown. According to Shariful Islam, a spokesperson for Border Guard Bangladesh, members of the Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) entered Bangladesh while carrying their firearms. Fifteen of these guards sustained gunshot wounds during their border crossing and were subsequently treated at various hospitals. The BGP troops could be accommodated in the nearby district of Bandarban before they are sent back to Myanmar, said Mohammed Mizanur Rahman, Bangladeshs refugee relief and repatriation commissioner based in Coxs Bazar. I have been asked if the BGP can be sheltered safely in transit camps that were built in Bandarban for repatriating Rohingya refugees. The camps are empty, Reuters quoted Rahman as saying. Advertisement Bullets and mortar shells from across the Myanmar border landed on Bangladesh territory on Monday, killing at least two people, a government official in Coxs Bazar said. A Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya were killed and a child injured near the border by a mortar shell fired from Myanmar, Reuters quoted Mohammad Shamsud Douza, the deputy Bangladesh government official in charge of refugees, as saying. Advertisement Many residents on the Bangladeshi side of the border have fled to the houses of relatives further away from violence out of fear, he said. Panic has gripped the refugee camps in Myanmar with many waiting to cross over to Bangladesh as supply chains have been cut off due to the ongoing conflict, according to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Advertisement Now and then we hear the sound of gunshots from Myanmar. Some of the Rohingya Muslims want to flee here as they are living in constant fear without basic needs, Rohingya refugee Oli Hossain told Reuters. Even we are living in fear because of the sound of gunshots. With inputs from agencies Pakistans election commission sent a letter to the cabinet secretary, reminding the caretaker government of its limitations. It also sought all relevant documentation on the privatisation of PIA Pakistans election commission has halted the governments plan to privatise Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). According to a report by Dawn, the countrys poll body sent a letter to the cabinet secretary, reminding the caretaker government of its limitations. It also sought all relevant documentation on the privatisation of PIA. The panel has also asked the government to refrain from taking any further steps including the signing of an agreement about the privatisation of the PIA or its entities. Advertisement Last year, the cash-strapped nation decided to overhaul all of its loss-making state-owned enterprises under a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $3 billion bailout. The decision to privatise PIA was taken just weeks after the government signed the deal with IMF. The caretaker administration, which took office in August to oversee the Feb. 8 election, was empowered by the outgoing parliament to take any steps needed to meet the budgetary targets agreed with the IMF. Previously, Pakistans Privatisation Minister Fawad Hasan Fawad told Reuters, Our job is 98% done. The remaining 2% is just to bring it on an Excel sheet after the cabinet approves it. With inputs from Reuters The plan may present President Joe Biden with his greatest opportunity to replenish wartime aid to Ukraine, a significant foreign policy objective that he shares with Senate Majority Leaders Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer On Sunday, senators unveiled a much-anticipated $118 billion plan that combines help for Israel, Ukraine, and other US friends during warfare with border enforcement measures. However, Speaker Mike Johnson and other prominent House Republicans swiftly opposed the idea. The plan may present President Joe Biden with his greatest opportunity to replenish wartime aid to Ukraine, a significant foreign policy objective that he shares with Senate Majority Leaders Sens. Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. This week, the Senate was scheduled to take a crucial test vote on the measure; but, just hours after the text was made public, Johnson said on social media that the proposal would be dead on arrival if it made it to the House. Advertisement With Congress stalled on approving $60 billion in Ukraine aid, the U.S. has halted shipments of ammunition and missiles to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian soldiers outgunned as they try to beat back Russias invasion. Senators have been working for months on the carefully negotiated compromise intended to overcome opposition from conservatives who have tired of funding Ukraines fight. But the coming days will be a crucial test of whether congressional leaders can once again muscle their members to support a package designed to assert American strength and commitment around the world. They will also be weighing whether to continue pressing on one of the most fraught issues in American politics border and immigration legislation. Biden said in a statement that the Senate proposal allows the United States to continue our vital work, together with partners all around the world, to stand up for Ukraines freedom and support its ability to defend itself against Russias aggression. Advertisement And on the border, Biden said that the immigration system has been broken for too long, and its time to fix it. It will make our country safer, make our border more secure, treat people fairly and humanely while preserving legal immigration, consistent with our values as a nation, the Democratic president said. Advertisement The proposal would overhaul the asylum system 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. The new bill would also invest in U.S. defense manufacturing, send $14 billion in military aid to Israel, steer nearly $5 billion to allies in the Asia-Pacific, and provide humanitarian assistance to civilians caught in conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Advertisement In a call with reporters after releasing the legislation, Schumer said he has never worked so closely with McConnell. He called the bill a monumental step toward strengthening national security at home and abroad. Without the Ukraine aid, Schumer said, he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin could be rolling over Ukraine and even into Eastern Europe. Advertisement McConnell said in a statement that the Senate must be prepared to act. Americas sovereignty is being tested here at home, and our credibility is being tested by emboldened adversaries around the world, McConnell said. The challenges we face will not resolve themselves, nor will our adversaries wait for America to muster the resolve to meet them. Advertisement 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. 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 criticized the proposed measures as insufficient. Advertisement Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said on social media, Ive seen enough. This bill is even worse than we expected, and wont come close to ending the border catastrophe the President has created. Republicans have been reluctant to give Biden a political win on an issue they see as one of his biggest vulnerabilities and argue 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. Yet at the same time, House Republicans have also pushed for their own, stricter version of border security legislation. Advertisement That bill, which passed the House last year without a single Democratic vote, currently has no chance of gaining the Democratic support it would need in the Senate. GOP senators also attempted to add it on to other legislation last year, but that effort only gained 46 votes. Johnson also indicated Saturday that the House will vote on a separate package of $17.6 billion of military aid for Israel a move that allows House Republicans to show support for Israel apart from the Senate deal. Advertisement It is also unclear if the bill will pass in the Senate. Senate Republicans have been divided on the bill, with several in McConnells ranks arguing that it isnt strong enough. Some quickly said they would vote against it. The border deal is an easy NO. It reads like a parody of an actual border security bill, Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, posted on social media. Advertisement The bipartisan proposal is aimed at gaining control of an asylum system that has been overwhelmed by historic numbers of migrants coming to the border. 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 would be raised, and many would receive those interviews within days of arriving at the border. Advertisement Final decisions on their asylum claims would happen within months, rather than the often years-long wait that happens now. They would also be given work permits if they pass the initial screenings. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent who negotiated the border proposal, told reporters that the legislation would immediately reassert control of our border, end catch and release policies, and strengthen our broken asylum system, and solve the border crisis. America is and continues to be a bastion of hope for true asylum seekers, she added. But it is not an open door for economic migrants. It has been, as we know, exploited dramatically by cartels in the last four to five years. 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 who cross illegally are expelled without an opportunity to make an asylum claim. If the number reaches 4,000, presidential administrations would have the option of using the new authority. Under the proposal, migrants could still apply at ports of entry. 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 $20 billion to immigration enforcement, including the hiring of thousands of new officers to evaluate asylum claims and hundreds of Border Patrol agents, as well as funding local governments that have seen influxes of migrants. Among Democrats, the tougher asylum standards have raised concern, especially from progressive and Hispanic lawmakers. Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat of California, said in a statement that the proposal would cause more chaos at the border, not less. Immigration advocates were highly critical of new limits on asylum, with some urging that the bill be rejected in its current form. The $14 billion in the package intended for military support for Israel could also splinter Democratic votes. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent of Vermont, is pushing to strip $10 billion for offensive weaponry for Israel from the package while maintaining money for defensive systems. Schumer said he would schedule a key test vote on the legislation Wednesday. According to the new rule, criminals who have served their sentences in prison will now require the home affairs minister to declare them no longer a threat to the public before they can be freed from custody Singapore enacted legislation on Monday that permits the detention of dangerous offenders long after their jail terms are up. The law is applicable to adults over 21 who have been found guilty of crimes like rape, culpable homicide, and having sex with minors and who are thought to be at risk of reoffending after their release. Advertisement In a speech in parliament, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said: An offender who continues to pose a real danger to others should not be released. He used the case of a guy convicted of raping his 6-year-old stepdaughter as an example. The man was released from prison and went on to sexually abuse his sisters 10-year-old granddaughter in 2015. He molested the girls nine-year-old younger sister in 2017. We have to deal with these kinds of menace and protect our society, said Shanmugam. According to the new rule, criminals who have served their sentences in prison will now require the home affairs minister to declare them no longer a threat to the public before they can be freed from custody. Advertisement A review board including retired judges, attorneys, psychologists, and psychiatrists would provide advice to the minister. The offender and his attorneys might present their case to the board. Every year, the cases of those deemed unfit for release will be reexamined. According to Singapore, less than thirty offenders will be impacted by this law annually. Advertisement For sexual offenders who are deemed likely to commit new crimes, the federal government, 20 states, and the District of Columbia have similar laws. Despite some cautionary advice, the bill in Singapore was passed with broad support, including from the opposition party. Legislator Sylvia Lim of the Workers Party, an opposition party, stated that it was difficult to forecast future acts of violence and that there was a chance of over-detaining someone based on a wrong prediction of dangerousness. Advertisement According to Lim, judges already have the authority to impose consecutive terms, which can keep criminals incarcerated for the majority of their lifetimes. This is a better alternative than leaving it to the executive to determine when an offender should be released. Human Rights Watch, an NGO, stated that it is against policies that prolong detention because they infringe on the right to due process. Advertisement (With agency inputs) The airplane manufacturing company has been under scanner by regulators since the door plug blowout incident of January 5. However, Boeing has maintained that its safety was unaffected adding that the existing 737s could keep flying The deliveries of about 50 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes might face delays as the airplane manufacturing company notified that its supplier Spirit AeroSystems found two mis-drilled holes in some fuselages. Boeing confirmed the findings after Reuters posted a query related to information provided by its industry sources revealing that an edge margin, or spacing problem, had been found in holes drilled on a window frame on some jets. Advertisement The airplane manufacturing company has been under scanner by regulators since the door plug blowout incident of January 5. However, Boeing has maintained that its safety was unaffected adding that the existing 737s could keep flying. This past Thursday, a supplier notified us of a non-conformance in some 737 fuselages. I want to thank an employee at the supplier who flagged to his manager that two holes may not have been drilled exactly to our requirements, Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal said in a letter to staff referring to Spirit, which is the sole 737 fuselage supplier. Deal added, While this potential condition is not an immediate flight safety issue and all 737s can continue operating safely, we currently believe we will have to perform rework on about 50 undelivered airplanes. Meanwhile, Spirit AeroSystems told Reuters that the issue was raised during one of its 360-degree quality management programs during which a member of its team flagged the problem that did not conform to its engineering standards. Advertisement Deal said Boeing plans to devote several factory days this week at the Renton 737 plant outside Seattle to work on the misaligned holes and finish other outstanding work. Such days allow teams to pause work without shutting the entire line. It is the latest effort by Boeing to tighten its operations after the blowout on Alaska Airlines, opening a new tab jet threw the spotlight on quality controls. Advertisement Investigators, who have been examining whether the Alaska Airlines door plug bolts were missing or badly fitted, are expected to issue an interim report this week. At the same time, Boeing has asked a major supplier, which it did not identify, to halt all shipments until all jobs have been completed, Deal said. Advertisement While this delay in shipment will affect our production schedule, it will improve overall quality and stability. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had no immediate comment. With inputs from Reuters INS Karanj docked at the Colombo Port ahead of the arrival of the Chinas People Liberation Army (PLA) Navys research vessel, Xiang Yang Hong 3, in Male on 8 February In a strong message to China and the Maldives, Sri Lanka, which expelled a Chinese spy vessel that is now heading to Male, has accorded a ceremonial welcome to Indian Navy submarine INS Karanj at the Colombo Port before its Independence Day. Sri Lanka celebrated its Independence Day on 4 February and INS Karanj, a diesel-electric submarine of the Indian Navy, will depart from Colombo Port on 5 February. Advertisement Diplomatic Win For India INS Karanj docked at the Colombo Port ahead of the arrival of Chinas People Liberation Army (PLA) Navys research vessel, Xiang Yang Hong 3, in Male on 8 February. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzus government on 23 January accepted Chinas diplomatic request to allow the research vessel to dock at the main port in Male, disregarding Indias security concerns. The Sri Lankan government by President Ranil Wickremesinghe has recently decided not to allow Chinas research vessels to dock at Sri Lankan ports or operate in the exclusive economic zone of the country for a year. Allowing INS Karanj to dock in Sri Lanka aims at signifying Indias role as the primary security provider in the Indian Ocean region (IOR) as well as sending a strong message to the Chinese PLA Navy which has recently increased its activities in the maritime neighborhood of India. Advertisement INS Karanj welcomed in Colombo by @srilanka_navy on its 1st foreign port call for operational turn around. High Commissioner visited the Kalveri-class submarine yesterday & interacted with the crew. 100 @srilanka_navy personnel visited onboard for familiarisation briefing. pic.twitter.com/cvXNnPyZWs India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) February 4, 2024 Advertisement Why is INS Karanj Docking in Sri Lanka the News? INS Karanjs port call to Colombo comes at a time when Sri Lanka is sitting on the tip of IOR, putting a year-long moratorium on foreign research vessels from operating in its waters. Advertisement The moratorium, which began on 1 January, is seen as a major diplomatic and strategic win for India that warned about the Chinese spy vessels surveying the vast regions of the IOR under the pretext of carrying out scientific tests. Chinese submarines, navigating in the shallow waters of Malacca Strait and through the East IOR, have been gathering data that is invaluable for them, and this has been causing a lot of amazement for India. Advertisement Through its research vessels, the Chinese PLA Navy carried out hydrographic surveys, charted underwater paths for its submarines as well as monitored missiles or satellites test-fired from the locations in the vicinity. It also keeps a watch on military installations in nearby countries. INS Karanj a submarine belonging to the @indiannavy arrived at the port of Colombo on a formal visit 03 February. @srilanka_navy @IndiainSL #Defence Read more : https://t.co/WjxpR2NaY8 pic.twitter.com/lH9rdk398S The Sri Lanka Navy (@srilanka_navy) February 3, 2024 Advertisement Sri Lanka has been under pressure from China since Beijing acquired the lease of Hambantota Port for 99 years. The island nation gave Beijing a port right under Indias nose after it failed to pay the Chinese firms. Advertisement The situation in the IOR is getting tricky, as the Maldives new President Mohamed Muizzu has been opposing India and his government allowing the same Chinese spy vessel, denied permission by Sri Lanka, to dock at Male. India has been wary that China could use its ballistic missile trackers and research surveillance ships, allowed by Sri Lanka or Maldives, for spying in the name of marine exploration. Advertisement India is also concerned over the possibility of China building an ocean observatory at Makunudhoo in the Maldives. What Indian Navy Submarine is Doing in Sri Lanka? In Sri Lanka, INS Karanj participated in a submarine awareness program. According to the announcement by the Sri Lankan Navy, the Indian Navy Submarine crew also were expected to explore tourist attractions in the country. Advertisement INS Karanj is a Kalvari-class diesel-electric submarine based on the French Scorpene class submarines. It is designed by the French naval group DCNS and manufactured by Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai. As per reports, around 100 nominated personnel of the Sri Lankan Navy were briefed about the submarine onboard. The commanding officer called on Rear Admiral Saman Perera, the Commander of the Western Naval Area of the Sri Lankan Navy. Advertisement Indias envoy to Colombo, Santosh Jha, also visited the submarine and interacted with the commanding officer, Commander Arunabh, and his crew. With inputs from agencies In reaction to Israels military actions in Gaza, the Houthi group in Yemen, which is backed by Iran, has been attacking ships with rockets and drones since November. As a result, several shipping firms have stopped travelling via the Red Sea route According to Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua on Monday, interruptions to the vital Red Sea shipping channel are not having a significant impact on Taiwanese businesses since they have coincided with the customary slow season for export demand. In reaction to Israels military actions in Gaza, the Houthi group in Yemen, which is backed by Iran, has been attacking ships with rockets and drones since November. As a result, several shipping firms have stopped travelling via the Red Sea route. Advertisement The strikes by the Houthis have mostly targeted Red Sea-bound container ships. In December, the Taiwanese container shipping company Evergreen Marine said that ships that were supposed to go through the Red Sea will instead be detoured around the Cape of Good Hope in Africa. Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Wang said her ministry had spoken with 14 industry groups as well as companies to gauge the impact of the Red Sea disruptions. The winter is the low season for Europe. So our shipping to Europe in the winter is rather less. Before the Spring Festival its even less, she said, referring to the week-long Lunar New Year holiday which starts this week. Of course shipping costs have gone up, she said, but added it was not nearly as bad as in the aftermath of Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Advertisement Taiwan has a trade dependent economy and is a major producer of semiconductors used in everything from cars and microwaves to smartphones and artificial intelligence servers. The second half of the year is when Taiwanese exporters are traditionally busiest as they ramp up output for the year-end holiday season in Western markets. Advertisement Taiwans economy grew by a preliminary 1.4% in 2023, its slowest pace in 14 years, but is forecast to bounce back strongly this year to expand more than 3% given strong demand for AI applications, many of which are powered by made-in-Taiwan chips. The lawsuits add to the opposition Move Forward Partys legal woes after the countrys Constitutional Court found that the party damaged the monarchy and national security during its campaign to change a provision that protects the king from criticism A Thai court on Monday sentenced Pita Limjaroenrat, a previous contender for prime minister, and seven other political personalities to suspended sentences for organising an illegal demonstration in 2019. The lawsuits add to the opposition Move Forward Partys legal woes after the countrys Constitutional Court found that the party damaged the monarchy and national security during its campaign to change a provision that protects the king from criticism. Advertisement The Pathumwan district court in Bangkok sentenced six key officials of the now-defunct Future Forward Party, the Move Forwards party forerunner, and two other activists to four months in prison, suspended for two years, and a fine of 11,200 baht ($313.81), according to their lawyer Krisadang Nutcharus. The allegations stemmed from a rally they organised in the Thai capital in December 2019, which drew hundreds of supporters. The eight defendants condemned, including Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a business executive, and Piyabutr Saengkanokkul, a member of parliament, want to appeal the conviction, according to their counsel. Pita could be disqualified from parliament if his appeal fails and courts uphold the verdict. Thai law does not allow people convicted of serious crimes to hold parliamentary seats. Advertisement The party now faces potential dissolution and its executives banned from politics after lawyers and opponents launched more legal challenges in the wake of the constitutional court ruling. Move Forward is the biggest party in parliament after its surprise win in last years election on an anti-establishment platform, which included undoing business monopolies and curbing the militarys entrenched political influence. Advertisement The partys liberal agenda and huge appeal among young and urban voters represents a threat to the status quo in Thailand, and its attempts to form a government last year were blocked by the appointed senate, aligned with the royalist conservative pro-military establishment. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Monday said time is running out for attaining a diplomatic resolution in south Lebanon as tensions surge between the two nations, marked by daily cross-border exchanges of fire Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Monday said time is running out for attaining a diplomatic resolution in south Lebanon as tensions surge between the two nations, marked by daily cross-border exchanges of fire. Israel will act militarily to return the evacuated citizens to its northern border area if no diplomatic solution is reached to end the violence, AFP quoted Katz as saying to his visiting French counterpart Stephane Sejourne. More than a dozen nations, including the US, Germany, the UK, and Sweden, have cut off financing to UNRWA in response to Israels allegations that 12 of its employees were complicit in the October 7 Hamas attack Today, the UN announced that it has designated an impartial committee to evaluate the impartiality of UNRWA, the troubled organization entrusted with providing aid to Palestinian refugees. More than a dozen nations, including the US, Germany, the UK, and Sweden, have cut off financing to UNRWA in response to Israels allegations that 12 of its employees were complicit in the October 7 Hamas attack. Advertisement Following Israels charges, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres convened an impartial commission headed by French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to examine the organizations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA). More than a dozen nations, including the US, Germany, the UK, and Sweden, stopped providing funding to UNRWA after Israel asserted that 12 employees were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack. Only one day had passed since Tel Aviv was urged by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to stop the slaughter in Gaza before Israel leveled these accusations. The court ordered Israel to take steps to alleviate the humanitarian situation and make sure its forces do not commit genocide. Within a month, Israel is to report to the court on its efforts to enforce the ruling. Advertisement The UNRWA, which has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Norway, has issued a warning that if financing is severely reduced, it will have to shut down by the end of the month. Josep Borrell, the head of EU foreign policy, issued a dire warning on Sunday regarding the extreme unwiseness of the defunding efforts for UNRWA. Advertisement (With agency inputs) Notably, Rodriguez participated in a panel discussion at CUNY for Palestine, where some have accused her of making antisemitic sentiments. Additionally, she altered a flier she uploaded on Instagram to make it appear as though it was covered in cockroaches and promoted an event in support of Israel Due to his anti-Israel tirades, a New York City professor who was seen on camera putting a machete to a reporters neck was fired. In an email, Shellyne Rodriguez, 47, stated, I was fired by Cooper Union due to a social media post I made about Zionists. The following day, on January 23, the Cooper Union Students for Justice in Palestine posted her email on Instagram. Advertisement This is fascism, she wrote. Yall are learning about it in real-time. Rodriguez said in an Instagram post that she was let go due to public comments about Zionists. Although Rodriguez is no longer listed as an adjunct on Cooper Unions faculty page, a spokesman for the college informed the media that it does not comment on personnel concerns. Its unclear, though, which posts or remarks ultimately resulted in her termination. Notably, Rodriguez participated in a panel discussion at CUNY for Palestine, where some have accused her of making antisemitic sentiments. Additionally, she altered a flier she uploaded on Instagram to make it appear as though it was covered in cockroaches and promoted an event in support of Israel. Advertisement Former Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr was one of the events participants. Look at this dirty f-ing roach former Bronx borough president Ruben Diaz Jr. a Zionist lapdog, Rodriguez wrote in the caption. (With agency inputs) In response to the drone strike that killed three US servicemen in Jordan last weekend, an airstrike was launched in Iraq and Syria on Friday against additional Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Following a weekend of retaliatory strikes, the US warned Iran and the militias it equips and funds that if American personnel in the Middle East are targeted again, it will launch additional operations, but it does not seek a open-ended military campaign in the area. We are prepared to deal with anything that any group or any country tries to come at us with, said Jake Sullivan, President Joe Bidens national security adviser. Sullivan said Iran should expect a swift and forceful response if it and not one of its proxies chose to respond directly against the US Advertisement Sullivan issued the warnings during a series of appearances with television news networks following the US and British strikes on 36 Houthi sites in Yemen on Saturday. Following the Israel-Hamas war, Iranian-backed terrorists have frequently targeted American and foreign objectives. In response to the drone strike that killed three US servicemen in Jordan last weekend, an airstrike was launched in Iraq and Syria on Friday against additional Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. On Sunday, the US launched another attack on Houthi targets. We cannot rule out that there will be future attacks from Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria or from the Houthis, Sullivan said. He said the president has told his commanders that they need to be positioned to respond to further attacks as well. The US has blamed the attack at the Tower 22 base in Jordan on Jan. 28 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. Advertisement Biden is not looking for a wider war, Sullivan said, when questioned about the potential for strikes inside Iran that would expand the conflict in the volatile region. But when asked about the possibility of direct escalation by the Iranians, he said: If they chose to respond directly to the United States, they would be met with a swift and forceful response from us. Advertisement While pledging to respond in a sustained way to new assaults on Americans, Sullivan said he would not describe it as some open-ended military campaign. Still, he said, 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. Advertisement There will be more steps taken, he said. Some of those steps will be seen. Some may not be seen. The US attack on dozens of sites in Iraq and Syria hit more than 85 targets at seven locations. These included command and control headquarters, intelligence centers, rockets and missiles, drone and ammunition storage sites and other facilities that were connected to the militias or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, the expeditionary unit that handles Tehrans relationship with, and arming of, regional militias. Advertisement The Biden administration has so far appeared to stop short of directly targeting Iran or senior leaders of the Quds Force within its borders. The US military does not have any confirmation at this time of civilian casualties from those strikes, Sullivan 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. Advertisement Some of the militias have been a threat to US bases for years, but the groups intensified their assaults in the wake of Israels war with Hamas following the Oct. 7 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage. More than 27,000 people have been killed by Israels offensive against Hamas in Gaza, the territorys Health Ministry has said, Advertisement The Houthis have conducted 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 a new international force to protect vessels in the vital waterway. US 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 US described hitting underground missile arsenals, launch sites and helicopters used by the rebels. Advertisement 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. Meanwhile, Iran warned the US over potentially targeting two cargo ships in the Mideast long suspected of serving as forwarding operating bases for Iranian commandos. The statement from Iran on the Behshad and Saviz ships appeared to signal Tehrans growing unease over the US strikes across the region. Advertisement The ships 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 Revolutionary Guard. Advertisement In the video statement by Irans regular army, a narrator 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. But 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. Advertisement Just before the new campaign of US 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 US 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 US Navys Mideast-based 5th Fleet declined to comment over the threat. The Saviz is now in the Indian Ocean near where the US alleges Iranian drone attacks recently have targeted shipping. Sullivan appeared on NBCs Meet the Press, ABCs This Week, CNNs State of the Union and CBS Face the Nation. NEW YORK -- China's initiative to invite 50,000 US students on exchange and study programs in the next five years will create "new and exciting" opportunities for American youth to explore the Asian country, US scholars have said. Highlighting "the importance of people-to-people exchange" in higher education, John Smagula, assistant dean of graduate and international programs at Temple University, said, "Please take advantage of these opportunities to study abroad in China." "I did so as a junior in college in 1991. And it was transformative," Smagula said during a recent event at the Chinese Consulate General in New York in commemoration of the 45th anniversary of Temple University's conferment of an honorary Doctorate of Law to then Chinese Vice-Premier Deng Xiaoping. Students from both countries should take inspiration from their predecessors and make the most of the opportunities to connect, deepen their understanding of each other, and build a successful future together, said Smagula, echoing Chinese Consul General Huang Ping's encouragement for young Americans to go and see China with their own eyes. "I am delighted these opportunities are there... it is a great time and a great opportunity to do so to become a part of this people-to-people exchange," said Smagula, who taught at law schools of a few prestigious Chinese universities prior to his work with Temple. Noting that the university is at the forefront of Sino-American educational connections and engagement, Gregory Mandel, Temple's senior vice president and provost, said "We're eager to work with the consulate and our partners in China to continue to strengthen and create new and exciting initiatives as we look into the future." "Our strong collaborations in China remain a fundamental part of our university mission," Mandel said, citing the Chinese idiom "Tao Li Man Tian Xia" to describe Temple's fruitful cooperation with its Chinese partners. Mandel said it is often by experiencing another culture and getting educated in another country can people better understand their own culture and make insightful decisions. "As educators, we take great pride in developing connections, building those relationships... It's an important part of our commitment to developing relationship between our countries," he said. Emilia Zankina, vice provost for global engagement, said the university has over 400 students and 55 scholars from China across its 17 schools and colleges, over 60 partnerships with China's higher education institutions and tens of thousands of Chinese alumni. "We only hope that our mutual understanding will increase, and we will see even more Chinese students in America and American students in China," she said. "By educating our students to like each other, to understand each other, to be together, we are building this common future of peace, understanding and mutual growth." Nokia has announced that it has signed a new patent cross-license agreement with vivo, covering both parties fundamental inventions in cellular technologies. This also ends the long dispute between Nokia and vivo in all jurisdictions over patent payments. Nokia said that it will receive payments from vivo for a multi-year period, along with catch-up payments to cover the dispute period. However, the terms of the agreement remain confidential between the parties, said the company, so there are no details yet on how much the deal is worth. Nokia signed a multi-year 5G patent deal with OPPO last month, ending disputes. This is the sixth major smartphone agreement that Nokia has concluded in the past 12 months. vivo said that it has filed patent applications in over 70 countries and regions, owning a patent portfolio of 25,000 families, as of December 31, 2023. This includes over 6,000 families of 5G standard-essential patents, with over 2,500 families declared to ETSI and approximately 13,500 standard document submissions to 3GPP. Jenni Lukander, President of Nokia Technologies, said: We are delighted to have reached an agreement with vivo, which reflects mutual respect for each others intellectual property rights. vivo is one of the leading players in the global smartphone industry. We look forward to bringing more innovation to their users around the world through our collaboration. By concluding the licensing agreement with vivo, it demonstrates Nokias significant contribution to key technologies in smartphone industry and it will provide long-term stability to our licensing business for years to come. Xianwen Xu, General Manager of Legal Affairs Department at vivo, stated: vivo has dedicated significant resources to R&D in the field of 5G technology and established a comprehensive IP portfolio globally, creating an industry-leading patent portfolio. Up to now, vivo has successfully filed over 6,000 families of 5G standard-essential patents. We are pleased to have reached a global cross-license agreement with Nokia. Signing the agreement reflects the mutual recognition and respect for each others patent value in cellular technology, and also plays a significant role in fostering a positive development environment within the industry. vivo consistently places a high value on building and accumulating intellectual property. We are dedicated to investing in R&D of smart devices and intelligent services, providing extraordinary hi-tech products and services for users worldwide. Ryan Lee Reid, "The Piano Cowboy", and Janet Sue Reid, "The Culinary Cowgirl", are artists and creators. They transform space and time to move and heal people through art. They live in Sugar Land with their children. Find their full bios and contact them through ReidFeed.com. 24h Operational Update: IDF Troops Continue to Eliminate Terrorist Infrastructure in Khan Yunis IDF Press Release February 1, 2024 01.02.24 IDF , Media Center IDF troops are continuing operational activities in the northern and central Gaza Strip and in the center of Gaza City. Over the past day, the troops eliminated dozens of terrorists. Following the identification of a terrorist cell in central Gaza, IDF troops directed an aircraft that struck and eliminated a number of terrorists in the area. In the northern Gaza Strip, IDF troops are continuing to enter Hamas military compounds and eliminate terrorists. IDF troops are continuing extensive activities in western Khan Yunis. Over the past day, IDF troops eliminated terrorists in the area in close-quarters combat. In addition, IDF troops directed several aircraft that struck and eliminated a number of terrorists in different areas. During activities in Khan Yunis, IDF troops identified a long-range missile launcher. The troops directed an IDF fighter jet, that struck the launcher. IDF troops in Khan Yunis identified a number of terrorists in the area. In cooperation with the IAF, the troops directed an aircraft that struck and eliminated the terrorists. Attached is a video of the IDF strikes in Gaza over the past day: https://bit.ly/3SixuKh NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 24h Operational Update: Dozens of Terrorists Eliminated and Numerous Weapons Located in Khan Yunis IDF Press Release February 2, 2024 02.02.24 IDF , Media Center IDF ground troops continue to operate in western Khan Yunis. Over the past day, over 20 terrorists were eliminated primarily during close-quarters combat and the troops conducted targeted operations inside several terrorist targets and found AK-47 rifles, explosive devices, military equipment, and ammunition. In a separate operation, IDF troops directed an aircraft to strike military compounds where terrorists were operating. Later on, an armed terrorist cell launched several anti-tank missiles at the troops. A few minutes later, in coordination with the IAF, the terrorist cell was thwarted. Following that, several armed terrorists who were operating near IDF troops were eliminated and several RPG launchers and other weapons were seized. Additionally, IDF troops continue to thwart armed terrorist cells and conduct targeted operations on terrorist infrastructure sites in the central and northern Gaza Strip. The troops eliminated approximately ten terrorists in the area of Shati over the past 24 hours. Attached is a video of IDF strikes in Gaza: https://bit.ly/3UmZcrO Attached are photos of IDF activity in Gaza: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/anc0202202468531246 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 24h Operational Update: A Terrorist Cell Transferring Weapons in Northern Gaza was Eliminated IDF Press Release February 3, 2024 03.02.24 IDF , Media Center During targeted operations in northern and central Gaza over the last day, IDF troops eliminated dozens of terrorists and destroyed numerous anti-tank missile launchers. During a targeted operation on an office belonging to a Hamas terrorist, the troops located military equipment, weapons, and Hamas documents. In the area of Shati, IDF troops identified several terrorists who attempted to transfer weapons in sacks. In response, the troops directed an aircraft to the scene of the incident, which struck and eliminated the terrorist cell. In addition, IDF troops eliminated approximately 20 terrorists in Khan Yunis and conducted a targeted operation inside the city where weapons, RPGs, grenades, military equipment, and scuba diving equipment belonging to Hamas were found. IDF fighter jets struck a Hamas compound used to conduct combat in Khan Yunis, inside which a tunnel shaft and weapons storage facility belonging to Hamas was located. Additionally, IDF troops found AK-47 rifles, explosive devices, and additional weapons. Attached are photos of the IDF activity in the Gaza Strip: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/ANC03022024498576 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address February 4, 2024 By Jim Garamone , DOD News U.S., U.K. Launch Strikes Against Houthi Targets in Yemen to Protect Red Sea Shipping U.S. and British forces launched a series of proportionate strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to continuing attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. "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," Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a statement released by the Pentagon. While U.S. and U.K. aircraft hit the targets, they were supported by an international coalition. Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and United States issued a joint statement announcing the strikes. The international group struck 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen in response to the Houthis' 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," the communique said. The strikes targeted sites associated with the Houthis' deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems and radars, officials said. The Houthis have launched more than 30 attacks on commercial vessels and naval vessels since mid-November. These actions constitute an international challenge, and the coalition that is protecting the sea lines of communication through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden continues to grow. "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," the coalition members said in a statement. The Houthis continue to threaten vessels in the Red Sea. Officials at U.S. Central Command noted that aircraft conducted a strike in self-defense against a Houthi, anti-ship cruise missile that was prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. "U.S. forces identified the cruise missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined it presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region," the Centcom release said. "This action will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy vessels and merchant vessels." In addition, the destroyer USS Carney engaged and shot down one unmanned aerial vehicle over the Gulf of Aden on Friday, Centcom officials said. Later that day, U.S. Central Command forces struck four Houthi UAVs that were prepared to launch. Later, the destroyer USS Laboon and F/A-18 Super Hornets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group engaged and shot down seven UAVs over the Red Sea. The Houthis receive equipment, training, intelligence and money from Iran. All these strikes seek 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 el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden," Centcom officials said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippines courts Europe to back its illegal moves in South China Sea Global Times 'External involvement only exacerbates the already complex confrontation' By Liu Caiyu Published: Feb 04, 2024 08:48 PM Updated: Feb 04, 2024 09:46 PM While the Philippines has been provoking tensions in the South China Sea, Enrique Manalo, the country's foreign sffairs secretary, has presented himself as a proponent of peace during an international forum, aiming to garner support from European nations to further its illegal objectives in the region. Chinese observers cautioned against the Philippines' attempts to get external parties involved in the South China Sea, saying it will only serve to internationalize the issue and exacerbate the already complex confrontation. They criticized the Philippines for instigating conflict and called for a return to a more cooperative approach to solve the disputes. "If the Indo-Pacific is to remain as an engine of global growth and human flourishing, especially in the midst of the global uncertainties we face and sharpening geopolitical conflicts, we need to firstly keep to the path of peace and secondly build resilience," Manalo told the 3rd EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum held in Brussels, Philippine News Agency reported on Saturday. Ignoring its recent proactive moves in the South China Sea, Manalo cited the rising militarization and pattern of aggression of others in the region to back up his theory. The real picture is that since last year, the Philippines has been continuously taking actions on the South China Sea despite repeated warnings from China. The Philippines has repeatedly intruded into the waters near Huangyan Dao (Huangyan Island) and Ren'ai Jiao (also known as Ren'ai Reef), and has illegally transported construction materials to Ren'ai Jiao in an attempt to achieve permanent occupation. Most recently, the China Coast Guard (CCG) said on Saturday that it 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. The CCG stressed that China unequivocally holds sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and its adjacent waters, including Ren'ai Jiao. By emphasizing the importance of peace-keeping and advocating for stronger collaboration, the Philippines has strategically positioned itself, the actual tension provoker, as a victim, aiming to sway European countries, Zhu Feng, director of the Institute of International Studies at Nanjing University, told the Global Times on Sunday. Zhu believes that the Philippine foreign minister's statements are aimed at garnering more attention from European countries and encouraging NATO members to intervene in the dispute. Zhu said that the intention behind this is to use the strength of Europe or NATO to sustain the confrontation with China regarding the sovereignty dispute over the islands and reefs in the South China Sea. The recent developments involving China and the Philippines in the South China Sea are caused by the Philippines' change in policy and position, refusing to honor its commitments, violations of international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and deliberate infringement of China's sovereignty and provocations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press conference on December 26, 2023. "The responsibility lies with the Philippines," she said. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has repeatedly warned that relevant countries should halt their irresponsible moves and respect regional countries' effort to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea. EU countries have not only increased their diplomatic efforts and addressed South China Sea issues in bilateral agreements with regional countries, but have also bolstered their military presence in the region over the past two years. This includes participating in joint military exercises with relevant countries and considering the establishment or restoration of the so-called military bases in the Asia-Pacific region, Cui Hongjian, a professor with the Academy of Regional and Global Governance with Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times. These EU countries lack substantial reasons to engage in the South China Sea confrontations in the region, aside from using the excuse of protecting their economic interests. Instead, they are more focused on positioning themselves as a "balancing role" in regional issues, allowing themselves to alleviate pressure from the US while at the same time avoiding direct confrontation with China, Cui noted. China welcomes the EU to play a "constructive role" in promoting regional economic prosperity in the Asia-Pacific. However, China firmly opposes any actions that provoke regional tension and instability, Cui stressed. Matters between the Philippines and China should ideally be resolved through bilateral discussions between the two countries, and external countries should avoid interference, Chinese observers noted. In the speech, Manalo also laid stress on the "rules-based order" saying it is beneficial to guarantee equity and stability in the global commons. When Manalo mentioned the "rules-based order," he was referring to the rules that are unilaterally interpreted by the US and the Philippines. These rules are based on the South China Sea Arbitration, a result that China does not accept nor recognize as it violated the principle of state consent and exercised its jurisdiction ultra vires and rendered an award in disregard of law, Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 24h Operational Update: IDF Conducts Operation on a Compound Used by Commander of Hamas Khan Yunis Brigade IDF Press Release February 4, 2024 04.02.24 IDF , Media Center In western Khan Yunis, IDF troops conducted a targeted operation on a compound used by the commander of Hamas' Khan Yunis Brigade to direct operations and located AK-47 rifles, ammunition, military equipment, and technological assets there. IDF troops also located RPGs inside terrorist's residences. In northern Gaza, IDF troops eliminated seven Hamas terrorists. During targeted operations on several compounds, IDF troops located seven AK-47 rifles, three pistols, military equipment, ammunition, and grenades. Over the past day, IDF fighter jets struck several Hamas terrorist targets, including terror infrastructure and launch posts. Naval forces also struck Hamas targets and continued to assist ground troops with fire cover and observation activities. Attached are photos of IDF activity in the Gaza Strip: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/ANC04022024948 Attached is a video of IDF strikes in the Gaza Strip: https://bit.ly/3HM01CV Attached is a video of IDF activity in the Gaza Strip: https://bit.ly/3ujkOLa NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah launches fresh attacks on Israeli regime targets IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement says it has targeted an Israeli military base and settlement in northern occupied Palestine. In a statement on Sunday, Hezbollah said that its forces conducted fresh attacks on the Al-Marj base of the Zionist regime with appropriate weapons, in support of the Palestinian people and resistance in the Gaza Strip. In another statement, Hezbollah added that it directly targeted two buildings in the Al-Manara settlement with appropriate weapons. Earlier in the day, the Lebanese resistance movement said that it had targeted the bases of Roysat al-Alam and Zabdin in the occupied Shebaa Farms. Israel waged its war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, carried out a surprise operation into the occupied territories in retaliation for the regime's ceaseless atrocities against the Palestinian people over the past seven decades. With the Israeli war and the killing of Palestinian civilians continuing unabated, resistance movements and groups in the region, including Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Ansarullah, and Iraq's fighters launched military operations against US and Israeli interests in an effort to exert pressure on the regime to end its genocidal war. 3266**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US attacks on Iraq, Syria make situation more complex: Oman IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister of Oman Sayyid Badr Bin Hamad Bin Hamood Al-Busaidi says that the American attacks against Iraq and Syria have made the situation more complicated. The strikes launched by the US against some positions in Iraq and Syria is fruitless, Al-Busaidi has told Aljazeera, according to a Sunday report by IRNA. He went on to say that the attacks pose a threat to regional stability. Such attacks make it more convoluted to find a solution to the root cause of the region's current challenges, including violence and extremism, he noted. He also voiced deep concern over the continuation of the Zionist regime's brutal attacks on Gaza, noting that the only way out of this situation is to recognize an independent Palestinian state and the withdrawal of the Zionist occupiers from this region. 7129**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kata'ib Hezbollah: US attacks on Iraq show brutality of Washington's leaders IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Kata'ib Hezbollah has described the US attacks on Iraq as a sign of the brutality of Washington's leaders. Regarding the US military attack on Iraq, Kata'ib Hezbollah of Iraq said on Saturday that the US military attacks and crimes are rooted in the brutality of the American politicians. To achieve their desires and interests, they resort to occupying countries, looting their resources, humiliating their people, it added. The attack on our forces in Al-Qa'im and the brutality of the US is not surprising because this is the same country that destroyed cities in Japan and continues to sponsor atrocities in Gaza, Kata'ib Hezbollah noted. United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Saturday morning that American warplanes had targeted 85 positions in Syria and Iraq using more than 125 precision munitions in response to the killing of three soldiers in the northeast of Jordan. Iraqi resistance groups condemned the US airstrikes, with the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known as Hashd al-Sha'abi said in a statement that the US bombardment constituted a flagrant violation of the Iraqi sovereignty, as it targeted sites belonging to state security institutions. "These attacks violated the sovereignty and aimed to weaken the Baghdad government to establish stability in the country, " Yahya Rasool, the spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces said. The Iraqi government also denounced the act of aggression, emphasizing that the US-led coalition has exceeded the mandate and powers assigned to it and has become a threat to the security and stability of Iraq. Baghdad also summoned the charge d'affaires of the Washington embassy to lodge an official protest against the US aggression. Syria also condemned the attacks on its soil, saying the US targeted areas where the country's military and its allies have been fighting with the remnants of the Daesh terror group. Damascus said the attacks showed that the US, which itself maintains its illegal military presence, is colluding with terrorists in Syria. 9376**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen vows to respond to fresh US-UK attacks IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Yemeni Armed Forces spokesman Yahya Saree' says that recent attacks launched by Britain and the US against the Arab country will not go unanswered. Elaborating on the strikes launched against Yemen early on Sunday, Saree said that the American and British aggressors had carried out a total of 48 attacks on areas in the provinces of Sana'a, including in the capital Sana'a as well as areas in Al-Hudaydah, Sa'dah, Al Bayda, Taizz, and Lahij provinces, Aljazeera has reported. He said, however, that such attacks will not deter the Yemeni forces and nation from continuing their support for Palestine's struggle against the occupation and crimes of the Zionist regime of Israel. The US and Britain said in a joint statement early on Sunday that their forces had attacked 36 positions controlled by Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah movement in 13 locations across Yemen. Yemeni officials have already warned the US and the UK that they would face the consequences of their aggression against the Yemeni nation which they says is meant to support the Zionist regime. The Yemeni army says it will continue to target Israeli-linked ships until the Israeli regime stop its attacks on Gaza. It has also pledged to attack American and British vessels in retaliations for their aggression against the country. 7129**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah fully prepared for potential Israeli aggression on Lebanon: Qassem IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Deputy Secretary General of Hezbollah Sheikh Naim Qassem has said that the Lebanese resistance movement is fully prepared for a possible large-scale Israeli attack on Lebanon, and will give an appropriate response to any such act of aggression. "Israeli officials should not have the illusion of conducting a large-scale attack or ground operation against Lebanon, because Hezbollah will continue to support the Lebanese people as well as Palestinians and their resistance [groups] in Gaza", Sheikh Qassem said at a ceremony in Beirut, according to report by the Iraq-based Alahad TV. The senior Hezbollah official made the remarks in reaction to different Israeli officials who have recently spoken of a potential full-scale war with Lebanon. Sheikh Qassem said that the Israeli officials are well-aware that Hezbollah is always ready for fighting even if it uses a little amount of its military capabilities, adding that the resistance movement will give an appropriate response to any act of aggression against Lebanon. Hezbollah and the Israeli regime have been engaged in trading of fire across the border between southern Lebanon and the northern occupied territories. The fighting has been ongoing since early October when the Gaza war began. Hezbollah says the fighting with Israel on its northern front is aimed at supporting Palestinian resistance fighters battling Israeli forces on the regime's southern front in Gaza. 4194**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli bombs rain down on southern Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Israeli warplanes and artillery have carried out more attacks on areas in the southern Gaza city of Rafah which was earlier declared by the Zionist regime as safe for those displaced in nearly four months of genocidal war on the besieged Palestinian territory. According to Palestinian Sama news agency, 2 children were martyred and 2 others injured in the bombardment of a kindergarten located in a refugee camp in the southeast of Rafah. Reports say that many killed and wounded in other Israeli artillery and airstrikes around the southern city, including the Salam neighborhood. During the past hours, the Zionist regime's warplanes also bombed areas in Khan Yunis, another southern city, resulting in death and injury of a number of people there. On Saturday, the Gaza health ministry reported the killing of 15 Palestinians in a single Israeli attack. Israeli launched its war on Gaza on October 7. That's after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out a surprise operation dubbed "Al-Aqsa Storm" over the regime's decades of atrocities and bloodshed across the Palestinians territories. The Israeli war has killed some 28,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, with the UN and international aid agencies declaring Gaza to be the uninhabitable place in the world. The Palestinian territory has so far been known as the world's largest open prison due to years of crippling blockade there by the Zionist regime. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US military bases in Syria on hit list of resistance groups IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- A US military base in eastern Syria has come under second missile attack since Saturday hours after American warplanes hit the war-torn Arab country in what Washington claimed was in reaction to last weekend's deadly drone attack on its military base in Jordan. Al-Mayadeen news channel has reported that at least eight rockets were fired overnight on Sunday toward the US military base at the Koniko gas field in eastern Syria. A few hours ago, the same American base was targeted by a missile. There was no immediate report of damage or casualties from both the attacks. Since early Saturday, the Islamic Resistance of Iraq has targeted four US bases in Syria namely Ain al-Asad, Harir, Kharab Al-Jeer and Koniko, in response to the US aggression against areas in the two countries under the pretext of the Jordan base attack. United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Saturday morning the American warplanes had targeted 85 positions in Syria and Iraq using more than 125 precision munitions in response to the killing of three soldiers in the northeast of Jordan. Iraqi resistance groups condemned the US airstrikes , with the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), better known as Hashd al-Sha'abi isaid in a statement that the US bombardment constituted a flagrant violation of the Iraqi sovereignty, as it targeted sites belonging to state security institutions. "These attacks violated the sovereignty and aimed to weaken the Baghdad government in order to establish stability in the country, " Yahya Rasool, the spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces said. The Iraqi government also denounced the act of aggression, emphasizing that the US-led coalition has exceeded the mandate and powers assigned to it and has become a threat to the security and stability of Iraq. Baghdad also summoned the charge d'affaires of the Washington embassy to lodge official protest against the US aggression. Syria also condemned the attacks on its soil, saying the US targeted areas where the country's military and its allies have been fighting with the remnants of the Daesh terror group. Damascus said the attacks showed that the US, which itself maintains its illegal military presence, is colluding with terrorists in Syria. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-UK aggression against Yemen goes on IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The United States and Britain have launched fresh round of attacks on Yemen, targeting several areas of the Arab country with warplanes and missiles, including the capital Sana'a overnight on Sunday. Yemen's Al-Masirah news channel reported that several explosions were heard in Sana'a as American and British warplanes spotted flying in the skies over the city. According to this report, areas in Hajjah, Dhamar and Bayda provinces were also targeted by aerial raids and missiles. Warplanes reportedly bombed an area in Hayfan District of Taiz province 11 times. The CNN news channel, citing American officials, claimed that the US and the UK targeted 10 points in Yemen on 30 occasions on Sunday morning. There were no immediate report of casualties or damage from the latest aggression against Yemen. A few hours ago, the Russian news agency Sputnik also reported about the US attacks on areas in the western Yemeni province of Hodeidah province. More details have not been reported so far. Yemeni media or officials have also not commented on any attack in the port city Hodeidah. Meanwhile, news sources quoted the British maritime security company Embry on Sunday morning saying that there was the occurrence of a security incident in the Bab Al-Mandab Strait. Some local media reported the explosion near Yemen's Mokha port in the south of the Red Sea, but this news has not been confirmed by any official body. Details of the incident have also not been released. Following a UN Security Council resolution on the Red Sea last month, the United States and Britain began pounding the positions of the Yemeni army and the Ansarullah Movement inside Yemen despite criticism that such attacks are in violation of international laws and the UN charter The US and the UK, however keep targeting areas inside Yemen in breach of the security council resolution and in order to protect Israeli maritime interests since the Yemeni army has maintain its siege on Israeli-owned or Israeli-bound vessels through the Red and Arabia Seas. Yemeni officials have already warned the US and the UK that they would face the consequences of their aggression against the Yemeni nation and the support for the Zionist regime. The Yemeni army says it will continue to target Israeli ships until the Israeli regime stop its attacks on Gaza. It has also pledged to attack American and British vessels in retaliations for their aggression against the country. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah targets Zionist military positions IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Lebanese resistance movement, Hezbollah, reportedly launched yet another missile attack on Israeli positions in the occupied Palestinian territories as tensions remain high between the two sides over the Zionist regime's genocidal war on Gaza. Lebanon's Al-Mayadeen news channel reported late on Saturday that Hezbollah fighters targeted a gathering place of Zionist soldiers with missiles at Al-Cobra Hill, along the country's southern border. Hezbollah also announced targeting the Zionist settlement of Avon Menachem in the north of occupied Palestine with a missile that caused some casualties among the settlers. According to the report, Hezbollah missiles also struck a groups of the regime's soldiers in the town of Yaron, also located in the north of occupied Palestine. The attack was said to have inflicted casualties on them. Lebanese fighters and the Zionist forces exchange artillery and rocket fire along Lebanon's southern border almost on a daily basis. The Lebanese resistance group has targeted several Israeli military positions and surveillance outposts in recent weeks as part of its support for the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip, where Israel's relentless bombing and shelling campaign has killed nearly 27,500 people, mostly women and children. The Israeli regime started its the genocidal war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out a historic Al-Aqsa Storm Operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its decades-long atrocities against the Palestinian people. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah can launch about 1,000 missiles at Tel Aviv on first day ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sun / 4 February 2024 / 12:58 Israeli media reports that Hezbollah can launch approximately 1,000 missiles at 'Tel Aviv' within a span of just two hours. Among these missiles, some are expected to be precision targets, while others may target skyscrapers within the city. Tehran-ISNA- Israeli media has reported that Hezbollah possesses the capability to launch approximately a thousand missiles at 'Tel Aviv' within a two-hour operational window. The report suggests that some of these missiles will be precision-guided, while others will be directed toward the skyscrapers in 'Tel Aviv'. However, the report refrained from discussing potential targets adjacent to these towers, which Hezbollah has identified as "targets in the next war," according to their statement. Yesterday, Israeli officials admitted that the Lebanese resistance, Hezbollah, has succeeded in emptying the settlements in northern occupied Palestine without the use of any force. According to the officials, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) commander of the northern region has received instructions not to escalate confrontations with the Lebanese resistance. Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that several heavy missiles were launched from Lebanon in the late hours of Friday, hitting at least five Israeli occupation military sites, including barracks and gathering, in the occupied Western al-Jalil in Palestine in less than two hours. In a related context, a former Shin Bet official Dvir Karev told Israeli Channel 13 that "Israel" is currently in its third war with Lebanon and that Hezbollah has much more power than Hamas, both in weapons and in force. He questioned whether the IOF's power could be sufficient against Hezbollah and expressed hope that the confrontations would remain at a low level, acknowledging the many Israeli casualties. As for the Chairman of the Israeli pilots union, Meidan Barr, he pointed out that there was a "developed military industry in the Middle East," adding "Who would have believed that they would develop missiles in Gaza and the West Bank?" Barr described the published footage by Hezbollah as frightening, considering Hezbollah has missiles "like Burkan." End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-UK aggression on Yemen will not go unanswered: Yemeni Army ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sun / 4 February 2024 / 12:55 Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, emphasized that recent US-UK attacks against Yemen would not go unanswered, as vowing that "there will be consequences." Tehran - ISNA - Yahya Saree affirmed on Sunday at dawn, that, over the past hours, US-UK aggression aircraft launched 48 airstrikes across various areas in multiple Yemeni governorates. In a statement posted on X, Saree explained that the air raids by the American-British aggression targeted the governorates of Sanaa, Hodeidah, Taiz, al-Bayda, Hajjah, and Saada. The 48 air raids carried out by the aggression were distributed, as outlined in a brief statement, as follows: Thirteen raids targeted Amanat Al-Asimah (Sanaa capital) and Sanaa Governorate, nine raids on Hodeidah Governorate, and eleven raids on Taiz Governorate. Additionally, Al-Bayda and Hajjah governorates were each targeted with seven raids, and the aggression's aircraft launched one raid on Saada Governorate. The spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces emphasized that these attacks "will not go unanswered," vowing that "there will be consequences." Meanwhile, he again reaffirmed Yemen's commitment by stating that the airstrikes "will not dissuade us from our moral, religious, and humanitarian stance in solidarity with the resilient Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip." It has been reported that a recent American-British aggression targeted the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and multiple governorates. This occurred with heightened aircraft activity in the airspace. According to Al Mayadeen's correspondent, the American and British airstrikes focused on the regions of Attan, al-Nahdin, and Al-Hafa within the capital, Sanaa. Additionally, he reported that aircraft involved in the US-British aggression conducted over 11 airstrikes on the districts of Maqbanah and Haifan situated in the western and southern outskirts of Taiz Governorate, in the southwest of Yemen. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-UK aggression against Yemen is an open war: Ansar Allah ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sun / 4 February 2024 / 12:55 Regarding the recent US-UK aggression against Yemen, Ali Al-Qahoum, a member of the political bureau of the Yemeni Ansar Allah, commented that it is "an open war, and they must bear the Yemeni strikes and responses." Tehran - ISNA - Al-Qahoum wrote on X that "Yemen has the upper hand, possessing advanced defense military capabilities and production that enable it to defend and protect Yemen's sovereignty, independence, and security." He emphasized, "Yemen will persist in supporting Palestine and Gaza until the Israeli-American-British aggression ceases and the siege on Gaza is lifted." Al-Qahoum issued a warning to Yemen's enemies, stating, "Days and hours are filled with surprises, and what is yet to come is even greater. And surely, you shall reap what you sow." In the same context, another member of the Ansar Allah movement's political bureau, Mohammad Al-Bukhaiti, declared, "Our military operations against the Zionist entity will persist until the aggression against Gaza halts, regardless of the sacrifices it requires. We will respond to any escalation with further escalation." It has been reported that a recent American-British aggression targeted the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and multiple governorates. This occurred with heightened aircraft activity in the airspace. According to Al Mayadeen's correspondent, the American and British airstrikes focused on the regions of Attan, al-Nahdin, and Al-Hafa within the capital, Sanaa. Additionally, he reported that aircraft involved in the US-British aggression conducted over 11 airstrikes on the districts of Maqbanah and Haifan situated in the western and southern outskirts of Taiz Governorate, in the southwest of Yemen. Furthermore, he mentioned that the American-British aggression conducted three airstrikes targeting the districts of Al-Lahiya and Al-Salif, situated to the north of the coastal city of Hodeidah on the Red Sea. Additionally, seven raids were reported on al-Jar area in Abs District within Hajjah Governorate, located northwest of Yemen. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen kicks off drills simulating liberation of Palestine ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sun / 4 February 2024 / 12:54 The Yemeni Armed Forces conduct drills that simulate raiding and taking control of Israeli settlements as Sanaa prepares for war against Israel. Tehran - ISNA - The Central Reserve Forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces conducted military drills in Sanaa under the slogan "Yemen is the Pillar Support of Palestine," targeting supposed Israeli occupation sites and settlements in readiness and preparation for a battle against it. The maneuver began with artillery and missile reconnaissance on Israeli military sites and settlements, followed by raids into these locations from three different routes. Infantry units seized control of the command and control center of the supposed enemy through a flanking operation on a fourth route. The maneuver also included setting up ambushes for the vehicles and leadership of the Zionist occupation forces, detonating their vehicles, and capturing their leaders. On the sidelines of the maneuver, Deputy Chief of the General Staff in the Sanaa government, Major General Ali Al-Mushki said the ongoing battle "is not for political or material gains, as some are accustomed to," indicating that the Yemeni people were ready to make sacrifices to support the people of Gaza. "The Yemeni Armed Forces are fully prepared, determined, and committed to carrying out the directives of the revolution's leader in support of Gaza," Major General Al-Mushki. He emphasized that "Yemen's stand with Gaza stems from our religious, moral, and cultural duty, dictated by our traditions and dignity as Yemenis," adding that "the armed forces, in all their branches, are ready to undertake any operations they are assigned." "The great Yemeni people are a pillar of support for the Yemeni Armed Forces in all their tasks and operations," the senior military official added. Yemen has for months been attacking Israeli military sites in occupied Palestine while pledging to always support Gaza through all means possible. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas, Islamic Jihad slam US-UK aggression against Yemen Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 4:35 PM Palestinian resistance movements based in the Gaza Strip have condemned the recent US and British airstrikes on Yemen, saying the aggression is a violation of the Yemeni sovereignty and fuels tensions across West Asia. The United States and Britain carried out dozens of air raids on the provinces of Sana'a, Hudaydah and Sa'ada, among several others late on Saturday. The Pentagon claimed the strikes targeted 13 locations across Yemen and hit weapons storage facilities, missile systems, and launchers the Yemeni Armed Forces and the popular Ansarullah movement used to attack Israeli-tied shipping in the Red Sea in support of the Palestinians in Gaza. "We strongly condemn the American-British bombing of Yemen, and we consider it a blatant attack on the sovereignty of a sister Arab country," Hamas said in a press statement cited by Palestine's Safa News Agency on Sunday. "The aggression is an escalation that will drag the region into more turmoil and instability, for the repercussions of which Washington and the Israeli occupation bear full responsibility," the resistance movement said. Praising the Yemeni position on supporting the Palestinians, Hamas called on the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to take a decisive stance against the US and British aggression that violates the sovereignty of Arab countries. Hamas also demanded "practical measures" aimed at stopping more than 120 days of brutal Israeli onslaught on Gaza. Arab states urged to follow Yemen's example In a separate statement on Sunday, the Islamic Jihad resistance movement condemned the continuation of the US-British aggression against Yemen. "These attacks seek to ignite the region and expand the circle of fire, contrary to what the American administration is promoting, and therefore it bears full responsibility for the repercussions of this ongoing piracy," the Islamic Jihad said. "Washington and Western capitals are still managing the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, and providing it with political and economic cover and military and intelligence support, and therefore they are involved in genocidal crimes targeting the Palestinian presence." The resistance movement also commended the Yemeni stance on supporting Gaza. "We hope that all the free people of our Arab and Islamic nation will follow this authentic position." Yemeni Army spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said on Sunday the aggressor countries conducted 48 airstrikes across the Arab country, warning that their assault will not go unanswered. In solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, Yemeni forces have targeted ships going to and coming from ports in the occupied territories, or those vessels whose owners are linked to Israel, in the southern Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Gulf of Aden, and even in the Arabian Sea. In response to the pro-Palestine maritime campaign, the US and its allies have on several occasions bombed Yemen in violation of international law. The Israeli regime launched its hostilities in the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, after the territory's Hamas-led Palestinian resistance groups launched surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupiers. Israel has killed more than 27,300 people, most of them children and women, in Gaza since early October. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel destroying Gaza homes to create 'buffer zone': Experts Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 2:35 PM Several rights experts have warned that Israel is working to create a buffer zone along the borders of the Gaza Strip, warning that the move would amount to a war crime. The experts made the remarks on Sunday, saying the Israeli regime has systematically destroyed buildings in the besieged enclave amid its ongoing aggression. They also stressed that displacement of Gazans including from the border area could breach the laws of war. Adi Ben Nun, a professor at the Hebrew University of al-Quds who has carried out an analysis of satellite imagery, said since the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out a surprise attack against the occupying entity in early October, Israeli forces have targeted structures in Gaza within a kilometer (0.6 miles) of the border. He went on to say that more than 30 percent of all buildings in that area had been damaged or destroyed during the war. Nadia Hardman, a refugee rights expert at Human Rights Watch, also noted that there is "mounting evidence that Israel appears to be rendering large parts of Gaza unlivable," adding that "One very clear example of that may be the buffer zone this may amount to a war crime." Cecilie Hellestveit, of the Norwegian Academy of International Law, also 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." Hellestveit further stated that although Israel decided against installing a buffer zone in the early 2000s, the plan was revived two decades later with the war on Gaza. Human rights expert Ken Roth, a professor at Princeton University, also noted on social media that the Israeli regime has no right to seize land in Gaza to create a buffer zone. The latest development comes as the Israeli media reported on Wednesday that the regime is aiming to create an informal buffer around Gaza to prevent "attackers" from reaching Israeli communities near the Strip. However, critics warned at the time that the move was an attempt to occupy Gaza. The Israeli regime waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's atrocities against Palestinians. Since the start of the aggression, Israel has killed more than 27,300 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the latest count by the Gaza Health Ministry. The Tel Aviv regime has imposed a "complete siege" on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-UK aggression against Yemen 'alarming threat' to international peace, security: Tehran Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 11:22 AM Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani has censured the recent US and British aerial aggression against Yemen as an alarming threat to international peace and security. In yet another act of onslaught against Yemeni soil, the United States and Britain carried out late on Saturday dozens of air raids on the Arab country's provinces of Sana'a, Hudaydah and Sa'ada, among several others. The Pentagon claimed that the strikes targeted 13 locations across Yemen and hit weapons storage facilities, missile systems, launchers and other capabilities of the country's Armed Forces and the popular Ansarullah movement used to attack Israeli-tied shipping in the Red Sea in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Kan'ani condemned the attacks as a repeated violation of Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and said the aggression constitutes a flagrant violation of international law by the United States and Britain. He stressed that the continuation of such arbitrary actions is "open adventurism" and an "alarming threat to international peace and security." "The military adventurism of the United States and the United Kingdom in attacks on the regional countries are the continuation of the policy and the wrong approach of these two countries in using militarism to advance their illegitimate goals in the region, which is in clear conflict with the repeated claims of Washington and London that they do not want to expand the war in the region," the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said. Kan'ani underlined that the US and UK, by supporting the Israeli war crimes in Gaza, are "fueling chaos, disorder, insecurity and instability with the aim of creating a breathing space for this criminal regime." "They are responsible for the genocide of the Palestinians, and the international community is undoubtedly responsible for holding the US and Britain accountable," he added. Yemeni Army spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said on Sunday that the aggressor countries conducted 48 air raids across the Arab country, warning that their assault will not go unanswered. In solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, Yemeni forces have targeted ships going to and from ports in the occupied territories, or whose owners are linked to Israel, in the southern Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Gulf of Aden, and even in the Arabian Sea. In response to the pro-Palestine maritime campaign, the US and its allies have on several occasions bombed Yemen in violation of the country's sovereignty and international law. The Israeli regime launched its hostilities in the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, after the territory's Hamas-led Palestinian resistance groups launched surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupiers. Israel has killed more than 27,000 people, most of them children and women, in Gaza since early October. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Feb. 3: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 10:58 AM By Press TV Website Staff Resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against Israel and its Western backers amid the regime's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 28,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women. The operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Saturday, February 3, are as follows: Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on Feb. 3: Targeted a Merkava tank with Yassin-105 shells west of Khan Younis city in southern Gaza. Shelled Israeli military gatherings west of Gaza City with a barrage of mortars. Al-Quds Brigades' operations on Feb. 3: Downed and seized an Israeli quadcopter drone while it was performing spying tasks in the southwestern axis of Khan Younis city. Shelled a gathering of Israeli forces around the 'Abu Safiya' military site east of central Gaza. Targeted an Israeli military D9-bulldozer, followed by clashes. The resistance forces inflicted casualties on the enemy force and seized a cache of ammunition. Al-Aqsa Brigades' operations on Feb. 3: Engaged in clashes with Israeli forces using machine guns and appropriate weapons west of Khan Younis city in southern Gaza. Shelled the 'Ra'im' military base, east of central Gaza, with a barrage of rockets. Shelled Israeli forces' gatherings and vehicles with mortars in the western axes of Gaza City. Blew up an Israeli military vehicle, west of Gaza City, with 'Asif' explosives and RPGs, causing its instant destruction and casualties of the crew. Mujahideen Brigades' operations on Feb. 3: Shelled Israeli forces in Arafat with a barrage of medium-caliber mortars. Targeted an Israeli military vehicle with an anti-tank rocket in the western axis of Gaza City. Targeted Israeli forces in the eastern Jabalia axis with heavy machine guns. Engaged in clashes with Israeli soldiers and vehicles in the axes of Al-Rimal around the Al-Jawazat area with appropriate weapons. Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on Feb. 3: Engaged in clashes with Israeli forces using appropriate weapons in the axes of the universities area, industry and Jawazat west of Gaza City. Targeted an Israeli military gathering of vehicles northeast of Khan Younis city with several heavy-caliber mortars. Destroyed an Israeli military vehicle and shelled their positions with heavy-caliber mortars. Al-Asifah Forces' operations on Feb. 3: Shelled Israeli military gatherings in the vicinity of the "Kissufim" military site with a barrage of mortars. Hezbollah's operations on Feb. 3: Eastern sector: At around 17:10 local time, the Al-Sammaqa site in Shebaa was targeted with missiles. At around 17:15 local time, the Ramta site in Shebaa was targeted with missiles. At around 18:10 local time, the Al-Sammaqa site in Shebaa was targeted for the second time with missiles. Western sector: At around 10:50 local time, the Khirbet Maar base was targeted with appropriate weapons. At around 17:35 local time, the settlement of Evin Menachem was targeted with appropriate weapons, causing casualties. At around 17:35 local time, Israeli soldiers in the Yaroun settlement were targeted with appropriate weapons, resulting in casualties. At around 18:40 local time, Israeli soldiers on Cobra Hill were targeted with missiles. At around 21:50 local time, the Beranit Barracks was targeted by two Falaq 1 missiles. Iraqi resistance's operations on Feb. 3: Attacked the US occupation Kharab Al-Jir base deep inside Syria with kamikaze drones. Attacked the US occupation Al-Harir base near Erbil in northern Iraq with kamikaze drones. Attacked the US occupation base in Conoco (Syria) with rockets, hitting targets, according to reports. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran sends third shipment of humanitarian aid to Gaza Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 10:03 AM Iran has sent a third shipment of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) said as a massive humanitarian crisis is unfolding in the besieged territory amid Israel's devastating war. Pir-Hossein Kolivand said on Sunday that a ship filled with humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza had recently left Iran's port and passed through the Strait of Hormuz "The aid consignment includes food, medical equipment and medications, tents, blankets, and other critically needed items based on the list provided to the IRCS by the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and the Gaza Red Crescent Society," Kolivand said. Kolivand said that Iranians have so far provided IRCS more than 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza, which he said is "unprecedented." He added that the Iranian Foreign Ministry is working to facilitate the delivery of more aid to Gaza. Since the war erupted in the Strip on October 7, Kolivand said, Iran has sent two ships and one aircraft carrying aid to Gaza. The first ship sent last month, provided by Iranian public donations, left for Gaza after Iran's first humanitarian aid cargo sent in October was stopped to be transferred by Israeli forces in Egypt. In November, Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network, citing political sources speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that Egyptian officials have extended apologies to Iranians that they cannot receive any Iranian aid destined for the strip due to the Israeli regime's refusal to allow it to pass through the Rafah border crossing. The 60 tons of humanitarian aid including food, medical supplies, and medicines, was also sent from the Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA) to Egypt in coordination with the IRCS. The heads of humanitarian organizations have time and again reiterated that the closing of entry routes to Gaza, which limit the number of trucks loaded with aid, entering the besieged territory and restrictions on the movement of humanitarian workers have worsened the "catastrophic" humanitarian condition. World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that the death toll from starvation and sickness in coming months could eclipse the number of people killed in Israeli bombardment so far more than 27,000, according to the Gaza health ministry, the majority of them women and children. The World Food Program (WFP) estimates that 93 percent of the population faces crisis levels of hunger in Gaza. To make matters worse, last week, more than a dozen Western countries announced the suspension of their aid to the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) after Israel alleged that UNRWA employees were involved in Hamas's October 7 operation into the occupied territories. UNRWA has been the principal agency overseeing the distribution of aid to Gazans amid the dire humanitarian crisis in the territory that has deteriorated through almost four months of Israel's genocidal war. The UN says cutting the "lifeline" 2 million people in Gaza depend on is a "collective punishment." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kata'ib Hezbollah: Iraq strikes stem from US statesmen's criminal mindset Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 9:49 AM Iraqi anti-terror group Kata'ib Hezbollah has roundly denounced the latest US military airstrikes against several sites used by resistance groups in the country, stating that the attacks emanate from the US administration's criminal mindset and its craving for more bloodshed. "We extend our condolences to our proud and steadfast nation for the martyrdom of several compatriots, who were targeted while protecting the homeland against the evils of American forces and the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group," it said in a statement. It added that criminality is deeply ingrained in the mindset of American politicians, and they long for relentless bloodletting as well as starvation and massacre of ordinary people in pursuit of their interests and advancement of their malicious agendas. "US officials do not shy away from the occupation of other countries, plundering others' national assets, influencing their decision-making and their humiliation. "Under the American mindset, the first solution is murder. Such an attitude has historically been responsible for the extensive destruction of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is now behind the deadly attacks against sites in al-Qa'im," Kata'ib Hezbollah pointed out. Separately, the Yemeni Ansarullah resistance movement censured the US aggression against areas in Iraq and neighboring Syria, terming them as barbaric, in breach of international law, and a serious violation of the two countries' sovereignty. "The aggression falls within the context of US support for the Zionist enemy as it continues its crimes against the Palestinian population of Gaza," it added. Ansarullah warned that US moves will drag the entire region into a more complex conflict, and will jeopardize international peace and security. "Washington could have compelled the Tel Aviv regime to halt its aggression on Palestinians and lift the siege on Gaza. It, however, decided to target the countries and nations of the region. "We reiterate that Muslim nations reserve the right to defend themselves and protect their security and sovereignty against repeated US acts of aggression," the Yemeni movement underscored. 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 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 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, Venezuela discuss 'boosting energy alliance': Minister Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 9:15 AM Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yvan Gil says he has discussed with Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji ways to bolster the "energy alliance" between the two countries. In an X post on Saturday, Gil said that his meeting with Owji "was held with the aim of strengthening the energy alliance through mutual cooperation and interests." "Unity and friendship between our nations will always be fundamental," he added. The Iranian oil minister has traveled to Venezuela to discuss exporting technical-engineering services and follow up the issues such as repair and maintenance of refineries and opening up markets for the private sector in the areas of petrochemicals and oil investment. In addition to Gil, Owji has met with his Venezuelan counterpart Pedro Tellechea and other officials from the Latin American country. The meetings have focused on the development of Iran-Venezuela energy ties and the review of refining, petrochemical, infrastructure and gas transmission projects. Iran and Venezuela, both subject to illegal US sanctions, signed a 20-year cooperation deal in June 2022 during a state visit by President Nicolas Maduro to Tehran. The document covered the energy sector, among other areas of cooperation. Over the past 20 months, the volume of oil exchanges between Tehran and Caracas has jumped to between $3.5 billion and $4 billion. Iran rushed to Venezuela's aid in 2020, when the South American country struggled to produce enough gasoline and diesel due to refinery outages caused by US bans and a US-instigated political turmoil. Tehran provided crude and condensate as well as parts and feedstock for Venezuela's aging refining network. It also oversaw a project to modernize the largest refining complex in Venezuela. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lebanon's Hezbollah dismisses Israeli threats, says 'ready' to confront aggression Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 9:01 AM A senior official of Lebanon's Hezbollah has brushed off the Israeli threats of a widespread attack against the country, warning that the resistance movement is "ready" to respond appropriately to any aggression by Tel Aviv. Sheikh Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's deputy secretary-general, made the remarks at a Saturday commemoration ceremony in the capital Beirut. The Lebanese resistance movement has since early October been conducting retaliatory strikes against the Israeli-occupied territories in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The Tel Aviv regime has recently ramped up its aggression on several localities in southern Lebanon, bragging about attempts to expand the brutal war in the besieged Palestinian territory to other fronts in the region, including on Lebanese soil. "Hezbollah supported Gaza, the people of Gaza and the people of Palestine during 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 regime about the desire in the attack on Lebanon or the widespread attack on Lebanon," Sheikh Qassem was quoted as saying by Lebanon's al-Ahed news website. "They know that Hezbollah is always ready," he added, stressing that the resistance movement reserves its capabilities for the "due time." The deputy secretary general of Hezbollah further said, "The due time is when the Israeli expands its aggression so that we can confront this expansion with something greater than it and more instrumental." Praising Hezbollah fighters' courage and combat readiness, Sheikh Qassem said, "No one bets that threats or aggression can discourage us. Rather, we are stricter in confrontation and resistance, and we prove that we are superior. If Israel's aggression continues, we will respond appropriately." The senior Hezbollah official added, "We hear some Israeli authorities saying that they will not stop the war even if it stops in Gaza! Slow down, who says we are waiting for you to stop or continue?! We are in the field, if you attack, we will respond to you, and if you stand aside, we will deal with you with an appropriate method." The Israeli regime launched its hostilities in the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, after the territory's Hamas-led Palestinian resistance groups launched surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupiers. The Israeli military has also been conducting attacks against the Lebanese territory since then, prompting retaliatory strikes from Hezbollah in condemnation of the regime's bombardment of Gaza. The movement has vowed to keep up its retaliatory operations as long as the Tel Aviv regime continues its onslaught on Gaza. Israel has killed more than 27,000 people, most of them children and women, in Gaza since early October. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni Army: US-UK aerial assaults 'won't go unanswered' Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 6:42 AM Yemen's Army says the latest wave of airstrikes by the United States and Britain on the Arab country will not go unanswered. Speaking on Sunday, Yemeni Army spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree said that the aggressor countries conducted 48 air raids on the Yemeni provinces of Sana'a, Hudaydah, Sa'ada, al-Bayda, Ta'izz and Lahij. "Such attacks will not deter the Yemeni forces and nation from keeping up their support for Palestinians in the face of the Zionists' occupation and crimes," he added. "The raids by the aggressors will not go unanswered." Late on Saturday, the US and UK carried out fresh strikes on Yemen from air and surface platforms, including fighter jets, with the support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. In a statement, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) claimed that the aerial assaults had targeted "multiple underground storage facilities, command and control, missile systems, UAV storage and operations sites, radars, and helicopters." It also alleged that the strikes are intended to "degrade" Yemen's capabilities to conduct naval pro-Palestine operations. Israel waged a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on October 7 following a historic operation by the Palestinian Hamas resistance group against the occupying regime. The US has offered untrammeled support for Israel during the aggression that has so far killed at least 27,238 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 66,452 others. In solidarity with the Palestinians in besieged Gaza, Yemeni forces have targeted ships going to and from ports in the occupied territories, or whose owners are linked to Israel, in the southern Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Gulf of Aden, and even in the Arabian Sea. In response to the pro-Palestine maritime campaign, the US and its allies have bombed Yemen in violation of the country's sovereignty and international law. The illegal attacks prompted Yemen to declare American and British vessels as legitimate targets for its armed forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, British forces conduct fresh airstrikes against capital Sana'a, several regions in Yemen Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 5:21 AM The United States and Britain have carried out a fresh round of strikes in the Yemeni capital Sana'a and other regions in the country, as Yemeni forces launch retaliatory attacks in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israeli onslaught against Gaza. Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network, citing local sources speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that US and British military aircraft hit at least 35 targets across Yemen late on Saturday. The sources added that the joint strikes mainly targeted Faj Attan, al-Nahdin and al-Hafa neighborhoods in Sana'a. Witnesses reported major explosions in the city. More than 11 air raids were conducted against areas in the Maqbanah and Hayfan districts of Yemen's southwestern province of Ta'izz. There were no immediate reports about possible casualties and the extent of damage caused. US and British forces also conducted three strikes on al-Lahiya and As Salif districts in the strategic western province of Hudaydah, with no quick reports about victims and damage available. Additionally, seven raids were reported in the al-Jar area in the Abs district of the northwestern province of Hajjah. Al-Mayadeen TV went on to report that US and British warplanes also launched several airstrikes against a number of sites in Yemen's western province of Dhamar, and the central province of al-Bayda as well. Yemenis have declared their open support for Palestine's struggle against the Israeli occupation since the regime launched a devastating war on Gaza on October 7 after the territory's Palestinian resistance movements carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity. The United States and United Kingdom have been carrying out strikes against Yemen after the Biden administration and its allies offered the Tel Aviv regime unqualified support and said that Yemeni forces bear the consequences of their attacks against Israeli-owned ships or merchant vessels heading to the occupied territories. Yemeni Armed Forces have said that they won't stop their attacks until unrelenting Israeli ground and aerial offensives in Gaza, which have killed at least 27,131 people and wounded another 66,287 individuals, come to an end. Leader of the Ansarullah resistance movement, Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, has said that it is "a great honor and blessing to be confronting America directly." The attacks have forced some of the world's biggest shipping and oil companies to suspend transit through one of the world's most important maritime trade routes. Tankers are instead adding thousands of miles to international shipping routes by sailing around the continent of Africa rather than going through the Suez Canal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas official: Any ceasefire in Gaza must entail full withdrawal of Israeli forces, end of siege Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 1:26 AM A senior official of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas says any ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip must entail complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and lifting of the regime's blockade of the territory. Osama Hamdan, the movement's representative in Lebanon, made the remarks at a press conference in Beirut on Saturday. "Since the beginning of the aggression, the movement has stated that it is open to discussing any initiatives or ideas that can stop the barbaric aggression on our people and restrain this criminal enemy that has murdered civilians, including children, women, and the elderly, and destroyed civilian infrastructure and human life in the Gaza Strip," he said. Hamdan added that the movement has received the general framework proposal discussed at the Paris Quartet meeting, adding, "The [Hamas] leadership's discussions and consultations on are based on the premise that negotiations would lead to a total end of the terrorist aggression against our people and a complete withdrawal of the occupation army from Gaza." He noted that Hamas also seeks lifting of the siege "that has been imposed on Gaza for 17 years, reconstruction of what the occupation has destroyed, a serious prisoner exchange deal, and practical international recognition of our people's right to self-determination and the establishment of their fully independent state with al-Quds as its capital." "For 120 days, this Nazi occupation [regime] has not stopped committing the most heinous crimes and massacres against unarmed civilians, mostly children, women, the elderly, and displaced people who lack the most basic human necessities, in addition to the brutal destruction of [their] homes, properties, and infrastructure," Hamdan said. "This Nazi war will remain a testament to the brutality of the occupation and a stain on the forehead of all those involved in it, and those who falter in criminalizing and stopping it," the Hamas official added. He also slammed the global inaction in the face of Israel's crimes in Gaza, saying, "The crimes of genocide and ethnic cleansing are being committed in plain sight of the whole world, which stands by watching, [and] procrastinating, and [is] unable to stop the Zionist crimes that are supported by the US administration." Hamdan reiterated that the United States "is complicit in [Israel's crimes in Gaza] and responsible for the continued aggression against more than two million Palestinians there." The Hamas representative also warned about false news and reports circulated "by hostile entities about the course of the ceasefire negotiations," which he said were aimed at undermining and weakening "unity, steadfastness, and resilience" of the people of Gaza. "The failed criminal [Israeli prime minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and his criminal extremist warlords continue their campaign of lies and deception. They have not been and will not be able to achieve any of their aggressive objectives as failure is surrounding them at all stages of their Nazi war against our people," Hamdan said. He asserted that at the end, Netanyahu and his criminal regime will "have no choice but to submit and comply with the terms of our people and our victorious resistance." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting on US strikes in Iraq, Syria Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 12:41 AM The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is to hold an emergency meeting on the United States' airstrikes in Iraq and Syria that caused fatalities and considerable material damage across the Arab countries. On early Saturday, 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 attacked the cities of al-Qa'im and Akashat near the Syrian border in Iraq's western province of al-Anbar. In addition to leaving many people dead, the strikes also caused damage to private and public property. The US claims that the strikes were directed against those who were responsible for a recent deadly attack on the American forces in Jordan. According to the US Central Command, the American military deployed "more than 125 precision munitions" during the attacks. The emergency meeting of the Security Council to discuss the US aggression was requested by permanent member Russia and is scheduled to take place at 4:00 pm local time (2100 GMT) on Monday. Russia's first deputy permanent representative to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, said on social media that his country has "called for an urgent UN Security Council meeting to discuss threats to international peace and security from the US strikes against Iraq and Syria." Earlier on Saturday, Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said the airstrikes had been deliberately designed to inflame tensions in the region. The attacks once again demonstrated the aggressive nature of Washington's foreign policy, she said, noting that the US "is purposefully trying to drive the largest countries in the region into conflict." The strikes have also drawn fiery criticism from the targeted countries. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's office said sixteen people had been killed, among them civilians, and 25 others injured in the aerial assaults. He denounced the attacks as a "new aggression against Iraq's sovereignty," denying that they had been coordinated with the Baghdad government beforehand. Syria has also strongly condemned the aggression, saying the strikes were deliberately aimed at weakening Damascus' fight against Takfiri terrorist groups. Syria said those regions that were targeted by the US strikes "are the same regions where the Syrian army fights remnants of the Daesh terrorist group, and this confirms that the US is in cahoots and allied with this group." Iran, for its part, strongly condemned US airstrikes on Iraq and Syria, calling them a "strategic mistake" and a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the two countries, international law and the UN Charter. "Last night's attacks on Syria and Iraq are an adventurous act and another strategic mistake by the American government, which will have no result other than the escalation of tension and instability in the region," Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nasser Kan'ani, said on Saturday. Kan'ani also reiterated Iran's warning about possible expansion of the scope and geography of the conflict across the region, calling the "continuation of such adventures a threat to regional and international peace and security." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Vows Additional Steps -- 'Some Perhaps Unseen' -- In Attacks Against Iran-Linked Sites By RFE/RL February 04, 2024 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-strikes-huthi-yemen-iran-red- sea/32804759.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kyrgyz Leader Eyeing A Second Term With The Political Landscape Transformed By Chris Rickleton February 04, 2024 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 country's 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/RL's 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. Baisalov's words were quickly confirmed by Japarov's official spokesman, who said the Kyrgyz leader will take part in the next presidential election, which would officially be held in 2026. Japarov's 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 Kyrgyzstan's 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 Tashiev's 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 didn't 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 country's 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 Kyrgyzstan's style of political economy. "Political power and economic wealth are intimately connected in Kyrgyzstan, but the country's 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 duo's 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 country's largest vodka producer, Ayu. The company's 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/RL's 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 Japarov's 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 Tashiev's 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 official's 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 pair's 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, Kyrgyzstan's 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-japarov- tashiev-president-political-second-term/32802961.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, UK Conduct New Strikes on Yemen's Al Hudaydah, Saada Governorates - Local Officials Sputnik News 20240204 CAIRO (Sputnik) - The United States and the United Kingdom carried out 15 strikes on positions of Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, in the Yemeni governorates of Al Hudaydah and Saada on Sunday night, officials told Sputnik. "The American and British aircraft carried out 11 strikes on the governorate, including eight strikes on the Ras Issa area in Al-Salif District in the north of the city of Al Hudaydah, and three strikes targeted Az Zaydiyah District in the northeast of Al Hudaydah," a local source in the Al Hudaydah governorate said. He added that the airspace of the governorate, located on the coast of the Red Sea, has witnessed intense fights of jets. "Four strikes targeted Ansar Allah's military camp on the eastern outskirts of the city of Saada, which is a stronghold of the group," a government source in the Saada governorate said. Yahya Saria, a spokesman for the Houthi armed forces, said Sunday that the US and UK militaries launched 48 airstrikes at six Yemeni governorates the previous night, adding that retaliation would follow. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Central African Army Aided by Russian Forces Repels Sudanese Militant Attack - Reports Sputnik News 20240204 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - With the support of Russian forces, the army of the Central African Republic has repelled an attack by Sudanese militants near a mining site in the village of Mamoun in the Vakaga prefecture in northern CAR, local radio station Lengo Songo reported. Central African Republic's media reported on Friday that Sudanese militants crossed into the northern Vakaga prefecture, near the Sudanese border, on Wednesday morning to attack a mining site near the village of Mamoun but were pushed back. According to the reports, the CAR army with assistance of Russian forces managed to eliminate Mohamed Ali, nicknamed B-13, one of the leaders of the Coalition of Patriots for Change rebel group. "The CAR armed forces and their Russian allies repelled... an attack by armed bandits... at a mining site in the village of Mamoun..." the radio station said. "The place was the target of an attack by a group of bandits who came from Sudan." Later in the day, the Russian embassy in the Central African Republic confirmed reports that the country's army, backed by Russian support, had repelled an attack by militants from Sudan. In early 2018, Russia sent its first military instructors to the CAR at the request of the government. As of February 2022, a total of 1,135 Russian instructors were operating in the country, training military personnel of the CAR army. Moscow says Russian representatives were deployed in the CAR with the notification of the UN Security Council. In late June 2023, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the work of Russian instructors in the CAR would continue. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli Military Destroys 17 Out of 24 Hamas Battalions During Gaza Operation - Netanyahu Sputnik News 20240204 TEL AVIV, (Sputnik) - 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. "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. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza Crisis May Have Long-Term Negative Impact on Entire Middle East - Egyptian Presidency Sputnik News 20240204 CAIRO, (Sputnik) - The ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip could have not only direct, but also long-term negative consequences for Egypt and the entire Middle East, Egyptian presidential spokesman Ahmed Fahmy told Sputnik on Sunday. "Egypt has viewed the events in the Gaza Strip as a very dangerous development that could have long-term consequences in addition to serious and direct negative consequences for the national security of Egypt and the region," Fahmy said. Cairo has been working on two tracks since the first day of the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict, he added. "The first [direction] is the political part, and its clear goal is to achieve a ceasefire. The second direction is providing assistance since the very beginning of a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip," the spokesman explained. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Strikes Houthi Missiles in Yemen By VOA News February 04, 2024 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 CNN's "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 Iran's 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 it's 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, "I'm 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No Iranians killed in attacks on Iraq, Syria: US officials IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 5, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Some American officials, after evaluating the recent aerial raids on Iraq and Syria, have announced that they could not find any indication of the killing of members of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps in the two Arab countries. CNN quoted 2 US defense officials as claiming that 84 of the 85 target of attacks in Iraq and Syria were destroyed or damaged. They said the full assessment of the damage caused by strikes is still ongoing, but there is no indication that any Iranian military personnel were among those killed in the attacks. America attacked Syria and Iraq on Saturday morning under the pretext of the killing of three soldiers in the American military base in Jordan. In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) had claimed that the American military launched airstrikes against the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and its affiliated resistance groups. But Iranian sources quickly dismissed the claim. The Al Jazeera network quoted informed sources as saying that the IRGC or the Quds Force did not have any bases in the areas hit by the US warplanes. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US coalition jets violated Syrian airspace: Russia IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 5, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- A senior Russia official accused the US-led coalition on Sunday of violating the Syrian airspace twice last day and posing a risk to international airlines flying into the skies. According to the Russian News Agency TASS, Vadim Kolit, the deputy of the Russian Center for the Reconciliation of the Conflicting Parties in Syria, said the actions by the US and its partners could cause an air accident or escalate the situation in the Syrian airspace "Two F-15 fighter jets violated Syrian airspace twice in the Al-Tanf area, where international airlines pass through", he warned. The Russian official had issued a similar warning in November when American warplanes and drones violated Syrian airspace 6 times in 24 hours. The latest remarks followed the United States confirmation that it launched new attacks against Syria and Iraq in response to the killing of three soldiers in a recent drone strike on an American military base in Jordan. The US military targeted more than 85 positions with multiple aircraft, including long-range bombers, CENTCOM claimed. Iraq condemned the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty while Syria said the attack targeted the same region where its forces are battling the remnants of Daesh group and this proves US collusion with terrorists. Iran called the US military adventurism a threat to regional and international peace and security, adding that aggression against Iraq and Syria to suffice the interest and goals of the Zionist regime Tehran also warned that US move risks expanding the dimensions and geography of war and conflict in the region. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi resistance drone targets US base in Syria again IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 5, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iraqi resistance forces have carried out yet another attack on an illegal US military base located in eastern Syria. The Islamic Resistance, an umbrella group of several resistance factions, in a statement, took responsibility for targeting the American base with drone in the al-Omar oil field in Syria's Deir ez-Zour province in the early hours of Monday. There was no immediate word on possible casualties or damage from the attack that was the second resistance strike on the base in a week. Resistance groups in Iraq have repeatedly hit US military bases and facilities inside Iraqi and cross the brooder in Syria with missiles and drones in recent months in retaliation for the Israeli regime's genocide in Gaza. On Saturday, the Islamic Resistance targeted four US bases in Syria namely Ain al-Asad, Harir, Kharab Al-Jeer and Koniko, in response to the US airstrikes on the two countries under the pretext of a deadly attack on an American base in Jordan just days ago. Both Iraqi and Syrian governments condemned the US aggression against their territories. Resistance groups in Iraq and elsewhere are also outraged at the US military presence in the region, which they say is a source of instability, as well as Washington's support for the Israeli regime in its ongoing war on Gaza. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yet to respond to Paris proposals on Gaza ceasefire: Hamas IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 5, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- A senior official of the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas says a final decision has not been taken yet in response to proposals put forth during the Paris meeting on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The Hamas official, whose name and position were not mentioned, told Al-Aqsa Network that consultation with other Palestinian groups is underway on the issues including stopping the war, rebuilding the Gaza Strip, and freeing Palestinian held in Israeli jails. According to Al Jazeera, another Hamas official rejected the reports that the resistance movement has refused the ceasefire proposal. "We deny the truth of the news published about the rejection of the ceasefire proposals", he said, adding that the media should be careful and not fall into the trap of the Israeli media, whose aim is to confuse the Palestinians. The statements come just days after Ali Baraka, the head of the Hamas National Relations Department outside Palestine announced conditions for accepting a Gaza ceasefire proposal. "Our determining factors for [the exchange of captives] are the cessation of the conflict, the establishment of a ceasefire, the reopening of the Rafah crossing, and the commitment of Arab countries and the international community to rebuild the Gaza Strip", Baraka was quoted by the Al-Mayadeen network on last Wednesday. Negotiators from the United States, Egypt and Qatar reached an agreement in Paris last weekend on a framework to stop the war. The meeting was also attended by the heads of the Israeli regime's spy agencies, Mossad and Shin Bet. Hamas has not taken the decision yet its political bureau chief ismail Haniyeh said that the movement would welcome any serious and practical plan and initiative on the condition that leads to the complete cessation of war, reconstruction of Gaza and lifting of the siege and the release of Palestinian prisoners. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canada to impose sanctions on extremist Zionist settlers IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 5, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Canadian Foreign Minister, Melanie Joly, said on Sunday that her country would impose sanctions on Zionist settlers who incite violence against Palestinians in the occupied territories. Joly was cited by Reuters as saying that some settlers will be sanctioned but she refrained from making any remarks about the Zionist regime for its ongoing genocidal war on the Gaza Strip and deadly raids on the occupied West Bank. The top Canadian diplomat, however, was quick to mention the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas, and said Ottawa would come up with new sanctions against Hamas leaders, without mentioning their names. Assaults by extremist Zionist settlers across the occupied Palestinian territories have seen a rapid increase over the past couple of years "under the political cover" of the Israeli regime. A report released by Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor showed the number of settlers' attacks in the first half of 2023 reached 1,148, nearly equaling the total number of attacks recorded in the entire previous year. Last Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also announced that Canada is considering imposing sanctions on extremist Zionist settlers in the West Bank. "We have been investigating the perpetrators of extreme violence or the extreme settlers in the West Bank", he said. The Canadian plan followed an announcement on Thursday by the US Treasury Department that it imposed sanctioned on four Israeli settlers after Joe Biden issued an executive order targeting "those who undermine peace, security and stability in the West Bank." According to the US Treasury, sanctions freeze the assets of these people and prohibit them from entering the US. Recently, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also called on the Israeli regime to take more measures to stop settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. This is while, Israel keep widening settlements on occupied Palestinian land with the green light from the United States. Israel often bulldozes Palestinian homes and structures to grab more land to expand settler units in the West Bank All Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian territories are illegal under international law and the Geneva Convention. 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 04 February 2024 - Day 710 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 it is highly likely that fewer than 1,000 Russian Wagner mercenaries remain in Belarus. They have been present in the country since June 2023, at which point there were 8,000 Wagner mercenaries. Wagner almost certainly continues to provide training to Belarusian military and security forces. It is unlikely that Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko would use the Wagner mercenaries beyond their current remit. They are involved in the training of Ministry of Interior troops but are highly unlikely to participate directly in maintaining domestic or border security in Belarus. The continued presence of Wagner mercenaries in Belarus almost certainly also benefits Russia's war effort by compelling Ukraine to maintain defensive positions and personnel along its northern border with Belarus to protect from potential future incursions. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of February 4, there were 59x combat engagements. Russian forces launched 32x air strikes and carried out 37x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have resulted in civilian injuries. Residential 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 Mala Vovcha, Ustynivka, Vil'khuvatka, Kolodyazne (Kharkiv oblast). More than 35x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy, Baranivka, Hrem'yach, Bohdanove (Chernihiv oblast), Volodymyrivka, Stepok, Pokrovka, Hrabovs'ke (Sumy oblast), Vesele, Hatyshche, Budarky (Kharkiv oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The Russian occupiers launched air strikes near Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Kucherivka, Ivanivka, Kyslivka, Kotlyarivka, Krokhmal'ne and Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Tabaivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x assaults in the vicinity of Terny (Donetsk oblast). In that area Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka and Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation. More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Hryhorivka, Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 21x attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka and 10x more attacks near Tonen'ke, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian occupiers, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars more than 15x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Stepove, Avdiivka, Sjeverne, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Heorhiivka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the adversary, with air support, made 5x unsuccessful attempts to improve its tactical situation. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Kurakhove, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, Katerynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. The Russian occupiers launched an air strike in the vicinity of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast). Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x attacks north of Pryyutne and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). In that area, Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense, to no success. 30x settlements, including Poltavka, Chervone, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, Kam'yans'ke (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 2x unsuccessful assaults on positions of Ukrainian troops. Russian forces fired artillery at the city of Kherson, the settlements of Tokarivka, Dar'ivka, Dniprovs'ke (Kherson oblast). On top of that, the invaders launched MLRS strikes at the settlements of Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Krynky (Kherson oblast). During the day of February 4, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 5x concentrations of Russian troops. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled four attacks launched by assault groups of AFU 30th, 32nd mechanised, 25th airborne brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Terni (Donetsk People's Republic). Up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-made M777 artillery system have been eliminated. In Krasny Liman direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces improved thier positions along the front line. Aviation and artillery repelled three attacks launched by AFU 60th mechanised and 12th Azov Special Operations brigades near Yampolovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic). In addition, strikes were delivered at AFU manpower near Torskoye (Donestk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry. The AFU losses amounted to up to 120 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery repelled two attacks of AFU 112th territorial defence, 24th mechanised brigades' units near Krasnoye and Leninskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of AFU 22nd, 93rd mechanised, 80th air assault brigades close to Bogdanovka, Noviy, Kleshcheyevka, and Shumy (Donetsk People's Republic). Up to 380 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, three Kozak armoured vehicles, and six pickup trucks have been neutralised. In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, one D-20, and one D-30 howitzers were hit. One ammunition depot of the AFU 47th Mechanised Brigade has been destroyed close to Pokrovsk (Donetsk People's Republic). In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces, helicoptes, and artillery inflicted loses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade and the 1st National Guard Brigade close to Ugledar and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic). Up to 115 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, two Akatsiya self-propelled artillery systems, and one D-30 howitzer have been eliminated. In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of AFU 33rd, 65th, 118th mechanised, 128th mountain assault brigades close to Rabotino, Verbovoye, Nesteryanka, and Sherbaki(Zaporozhye region). The enemy lost up to 45 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and one Grad MLRS. In Kherson direction, coordinated efforts of the Russian Group of Forces in coordination with aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems defeated clusters of AFU manpower near Ivanovka, Tyaginka, Kazatskoye, and Zolotaya Balks (Zaporozhye region). The enemy has lost up to 30 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one M777 artillery system, and one D-20 howitzer. Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have destroyed one AFU fuel depot, and have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 124 areas during the day. Air defence systems shot down 97 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Velikiy Vyselok (Kharkov region), Golikovo, Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Tokmak, Novoye, Ocheretovatoye, and Chistopolye (Zaporozhye region). In total, 568 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 11,775 unmanned aerial vehicles, 462 air defence missile systems, 14,904 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,216 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,963 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 18,230 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement from Secretary Mayorkas on the Bipartisan National Security Agreement in the U.S. Senate Release Date: February 4, 2024 WASHINGTON -- Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas issued the following statement on the bipartisan national security agreement in the U.S. Senate: "The bipartisan agreement in the Senate is tough, fair, and takes meaningful steps to address the challenges our country faces after decades of Congressional inaction. "It would allow DHS to remove more quickly those who do not establish a legal basis to remain in the United States, reducing the time from years to months. It would expedite protection and work authorization for those with legitimate claims. It would provide flexibility to respond to changing dynamics at the border, including temporarily prohibiting border entries for certain individuals when encounters are extremely high. It also delivers much-needed resources to support and expand the DHS workforce after decades of chronic underfunding, and it further invests in technology to help prevent fentanyl from entering our country at ports of entry. "This agreement builds on this Administration's approach of strengthened consequences for those who cross the border unlawfully, without curtailing the development of lawful, safe, and orderly pathways for those who qualify. While it will take time to fully implement these new measures, the new enforcement tools and resources this proposal offers will further strengthen our ability to enforce the law in the months and years ahead, and we will begin implementing them as soon as it becomes law. "I thank the bipartisan group of senators who came together over the past several months to craft this legislation. These proposals are the product of extensive negotiations and conversations. I and my DHS colleagues were privileged to provide technical and operational expertise to the Senators to ensure that these solutions are workable and effective. While the proposed legislation does not fix everything in our immigration system, these reforms are essential for making our border more secure, orderly, fair, and humane. I call on Congress to pass this bipartisan legislation, give the DHS workforce the tools and resources we need, and provide solutions that increase our border security." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address COVID-19 epidemic at low level but may rise during Spring Festival: National Health Commission Global Times By Xu Keyue and Du Qiongfang Published: Feb 04, 2024 08:35 PM The National Health Commission (NHC) on Sunday said that at present, the COVID-19 epidemic is at a low level in China, but recent surveillance data showed positive case reports have increased slightly, suggesting that the epidemic is on the rise. Due to factors such as the inter-regional movement of people and the increase of crowd gathering around the Spring Festival, the number of COVID-19 cases is expected to rise, according to the health authority. Currently, the JN.1 variant of the COVID-19 virus has become the dominant strain in local cases in China, with mainly mild infections, Chen Cao, a researcher at the Institute of Viral Diseases of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), said at a press conference on Sunday. Influenza shows a downward trend, but it is still the most important pathogen of respiratory disease infection, and other respiratory diseases are at a low level, according to the press conference. The press conference revealed that in February, epidemics of multiple respiratory diseases will continue to spread in China. The flu is expected to fall to a low level around the Spring Festival holiday (February 10-17). Data shows that the situation of acute respiratory diseases in China has declined for two consecutive weeks after reaching a peak in early December 2023. Cases picked up slightly at the end of December, continued to fluctuate at a high level and declined in the past three weeks. Mi Feng, spokesperson for the NHC, stated that the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases in outpatient and emergency departments of level II medical institutions and above continued to remain stable. According to Mi, the current situation is due to travel before the Spring Festival, and the domestic North-South cross tourism boom, as well as increasing overseas sightseeing tours. The mass movement and gathering of people makes it easy to accelerate the spread of respiratory diseases, and respiratory diseases will still maintain a certain epidemic level before and after the Spring Festival. Li Tongzeng, the chief physician of the infection department at Beijing You'an Hospital, told the Global Times on Sunday that in his hospital, influenza B cases still rank as the highest, with COVID-19 ranking second. Influenza B is still the main type of flu, with a decrease in cases, while the proportion of COVID-19 cases has increased recently, Li noted. There are also some cases of mycoplasma, adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus infections. However, there are still patients with fever or other respiratory symptoms who have not tested positive. During the Spring Festival holiday, many people will be reunited with their families and visit their elderly relatives, which means the infection rate among the elderly may increase, Li warned, calling for the public to look after their families. He added that currently, a few elderly people still experience more severe symptoms of COVID-19 infections, and there are also individuals who are experiencing their first infection, which increases the risk of developing a moderate to severe illness. According to the Sunday press conference, the NHC has made special arrangements for epidemic prevention and control work around the Spring Festival. All localities should strengthen duty, maintain emergency preparedness, and coordinate and dispatch medical and health resources and professional forces, the health authority said. It added that localities should ensure the "120" emergency hotline runs smooth 24 hours a day and all medical institutions should do a good first aid transfer. During the holiday, hospitals and grassroots medical and health institutions should be fully open, with fever clinics, consulting rooms and strong medical forces. Key departments such as emergency, pediatrics and respiratory departments should have smooth green channels and arrange for medical service guarantee during the festival. Also, the NHC stressed the significance to protect the elderly, children, pregnant women, patients with chronic basic diseases and other vulnerable groups and meet the needs of the people in need of medical treatment and emergency care. Li told the Global Times that during the Spring Festival, if people experience symptoms such as a fever, cough or sore throat, they should not visit relatives or attend gatherings. Instead, they should immediately rest and avoid long-distance travel. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China advances in satellite technology and autonomous driving with Geespace's latest launch Global Times By Feng Fan Published: Feb 04, 2024 06:21 PM Geespace, a satellite technology company under Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, launched eleven satellites from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, using Long March-2C carrier rocket on Saturday. This launch expands the company's satellite system and is expected to advance its autonomous driving technology, highlighting China's commitment to integrating satellite technology in advancing future mobility solutions. Chinese auto maker Geely aims to build the world's first commercial satellite network that combines communication, navigation, and remote sensing, supporting a wide array of applications including autonomous driving. China's satellite launch technology remains a global leader, with lower launch costs compared to other countries. This gives Chinese automakers the financial capability to push the development of satellite communication, Zhang Xiang, director of the Digital Automotive International Cooperation Research Center of the World Digital Economy Forum, told the Global Times on Sunday. This recent expansion signifies China's growing capabilities in space technology, uniquely positioning Geespace as a pioneer in developing and managing a comprehensive satellite business model. The initiative underscores China's innovation in leveraging satellite communication to enhance various sectors, notably in supporting the development of autonomous and smart driving technologies. Geely's satellite launch represented a shift of Chinese satellite launch, from industrial to civilian applications. The satellite is expected to provide satellite communications and high-precision satellite-assisted autonomous driving for vehicles under Geely's brand, Feng Shiming, a senior auto analyst based in Shanghai, told Global Times on Sunday. By 2025, Geespace anticipates the full deployment of 72 satellites, aiming to establish a global real-time data communication network. This network will further expand to 168 satellites, offering high precision in positioning services, which is crucial for the development of autonomous driving systems. The initiative promises to enhance connectivity and reliability for autonomous vehicles, facilitating safer and more efficient transportation solutions. Currently, there are two main approaches in achieving autonomous driving: one is a vision-based approach that relies on vision algorithms and sensors like LiDAR, and the other relies on high-precision maps. Geely's satellite system claims to offer centimeter-level precision positioning, which greatly aids in achieving autonomous driving, Feng explained. China's advancement in satellite technology plays a critical role in supporting the nation's autonomous driving ambitions. As satellite communications offer a new dimension of data transmission, experts believe this technology will significantly contribute to the real-time responsiveness required for autonomous vehicles. This development is part of a broader push within China to lead in autonomous driving technology, with various companies making strides in intelligent driving services. Vehicle-road collaboration, which demands high quality real-time communication, can help to achieve autonomous driving, and satellite systems could provide great communication link, Zhang noted. Recent achievements in the autonomous driving sector, including the launch of unmanned taxi services by Chinese autonomous mobility company Pony.ai and the development of navigation technologies that do not rely on high-precision maps, announced by Chinese auto company Avatr using HUAWEI intelligent vehicle solution, reflect China's commitment to innovation in the car industry. Currently, Chinese automakers are at the forefront of this technology internationally, with few companies offering satellite communication functionalities, Zhang said. The integration of satellite technology into autonomous driving represents a significant leap forward, offering new opportunities for enhancing safety, efficiency, and connectivity, according to Geely. As China continues to invest in these cutting-edge technologies, it sets the stage for a new era in transportation, positioning itself as a leader in the global push towards autonomous and intelligent driving solutions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Senior Hong Kong officials further clarify on Article 23 legislation, saying 'foreign interference offense' conviction has at least 3 elements Global Times By Chen Qingqing Published: Feb 04, 2024 09:24 PM Senior local officials from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) made further clarifications on Sunday on the Article 23 legislation including public's criticism of local governance but rejecting deliberately provoking hatred, major conditions for the conviction of foreign interference offense, and materials related to the critical infrastructure falling into the scope of state secret. When he was asked on a television program about whether criticizing Legislative Council (LegCo) members or district councilors would be illegal under the Article 23 legislation, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said it is difficult for him to comment on this matter without knowing the intent and consequences of the behavior. He mentioned that providing feedback on the performance of public officials is entirely reasonable. Still, if such comments are delivered in a provocative, biased, or factually incorrect manner with the intent to incite hatred, there is a chance of violating the law. Tang emphasized that the offense of "incitement to hatred" mentioned in the consultation paper of the Article 23 legislation is not a new concept, as related offenses are already covered in the existing Criminal Offenses Ordinance. There have been relevant cases in court, including after the 2019 anti-extradition bill protests, where individuals were convicted of such offenses. He emphasized that the Article 23 aims to improve the legislation and address potential risks. The Article 23 legislative proposal also suggests the addition of a new offense called "foreign interference offense," aimed at prohibiting cooperation with foreign forces to unlawfully interfere with government administration. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam Ting-kwok clarified on Sunday that the cooperation can be interpreted as obeying the instructions of foreign powers, accepting financial support, and acting as a proxy. However, if, when commenting on HKSAR government concerning foreign affairs, individuals express their opinions and communicate within the boundaries of the law, without exaggeration, incitement, or threats, it should not be considered a violation of the law, Lam said. A local Hong Kong scholar Johannes Chan Man-mun recently raised a question about COVID-19 origins investigation, providing an example involving cooperation between local universities and overseas institutions. If the government believes a certain report to be erroneous or false, affecting public safety, or constituting a threat to national security, it might be considered a criminal offense, Chan said, noting that what the HKSAR government previously referred to as "malicious intent" often stems from differing viewpoints and perspectives, which are distinct from the accusation of falsehood. In response, Lam said criminal offenses are related to objective facts, not expressions of opinions. Therefore, citizens should not be deemed criminals for expressing personal opinions. He explained that, legally, a false statement pertains to factual issues, not opinions. He emphasized that he is discussing objective facts and further stressed that exaggerated examples should not be used to cause unnecessary societal concerns. In reality, to convict someone of "foreign interference offense," at least three elements need to be satisfied, including clear means, cooperation with foreign powers' instructions or funding, and whether the behavior ultimately achieves the effect of interference, Lam said. "Therefore, normal communication activities typically should not pose any problems." Lam explicitly stated that Article 23 does not prohibit communication, and its meaning should not be misconstrued. What the law prohibits is cooperation with foreign forces using improper means and with a specific intent, such as influencing elections or interfering with the LegCo's work. Normal communication should not be encompassed within criminal offenses, he said. Foreign forces encompass foreign governments or political organizations, but academic institutions do not fall under the category of foreign forces, Tang further clarified. When asked if environmental groups or labor organizations, after communicating with foreign entities, initiate further protest actions such as sit-in, whether it will be seen as a means of pressuring the government inappropriately, Tang said that if it's just a sit-in and a way to express opinions, he does not see it affect the functions of the LegCo. Regarding the offense of theft of state secrets and espionage, when asked whether disclosing that steel bars were cut in the Hong Kong MTR project should be classified as revealing state secrets, Tang believes this is not a typical case. If someone were to disclose the location and design plans of power facilities, allowing others the potential to attack these facilities, it could pose a threat to public safety. Therefore, information related to critical infrastructure could potentially fall within the category of state secrets, he said. He also pointed out that matters affecting government reputation do not necessarily equate to threats to national security, for example, information in a research report about cutting steel bars and the location of control points in the railway system are separate issues. Tang further emphasized that the consultation document suggests that Article 23 should also regulate "seemingly confidential information" to prevent legal gaps and to prevent individuals from using their positions as public officials or contractors to leak information, leading people to mistakenly believe that the content in question is confidential, thereby causing panic and potentially harming national security. The HKSAR government is considering introducing measures in Article 23 of the Basic Law to ensure that law enforcement agencies have sufficient time to investigate national security cases, including extending the current 48-hour detention limit, while also preventing arrested individuals from having the opportunity to communicate with lawyers. In the proposal for Article 23 legislation, there is no mention of penalties. Lam said that this consultation aims to discuss the elements of the offense and defense arguments. Currently, the basis for the scope of charges, defense arguments, and other aspects of the offense remains unclear, so there is no proposed penalty at this time. However, reference to penalties in other jurisdictions suggests that the highest and most severe penalty would be life imprisonment, the official said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India has little room for maneuver to delay withdrawing its troops from Maldives: experts Global Times By Xu Yelu Published: Feb 04, 2024 09:18 PM India will withdraw its troops from Maldives by March 10, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives said after the second high-level meeting between the two sides in New Delhi. Experts said on Sunday that Indian military presence in Maldives is a matter of sovereignty, and India has little room for maneuver in withdrawing its troops. India's foreign ministry said the two countries "agreed on a set of mutually workable solutions to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms" that provide humanitarian services to Maldives. However, the ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from media on the troop pullout, and its statement did not mention a timeframe, Indian media outlet The Hindu reported on Saturday. India has about 70 soldiers who operate and maintain radars, helicopters and aircraft in the Maldives, some of which are used for medical evacuations. Its navy also patrols surrounding waters. Last month, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu asked New Delhi to pull out its troops by March 15. Experts believe that India has little room for maneuver in withdrawing its troops. From India's perspective, terms like "withdrawal" are seen as losing face. Additionally, with the upcoming elections for the Modi administration, India is trying to provide vague statements to minimize diplomatic setbacks, Lin Minwang, deputy director at the Center for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Sunday. From an international moral perspective, India does not have sufficient reasons to refuse the request, Lin pointed out. After all, Maldives is a sovereign country, and if a sovereign country does not welcome Indian troops, India needs to respect the Maldives' sovereignty. "Let alone that the so-called previous presence of troops did not exist in the form of a national commitment," Lin noted. However, even as the issue of Indian military personnel drags on, a new controversy began on Maldivian social media over a video purportedly showing Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel boarding Maldivian fishing vessels within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Maldives. The Maldives government says it has asked for clarification of why Indian coast guard personnel boarded three Maldivian fishing vessels operating within its own economic zone earlier this week without consultation, AP reported on Saturday. The Maldives defense ministry said in a statement Friday night that its military was informed on Wednesday that personnel from a foreign military had boarded a Maldives fishing vessel, and on reaching the location it was found that they were from the Indian coast guard. The Maldives military also found that Indian coast guard personnel had boarded two more boats, the statement said without explaining what they did on the boats. At present, some opposition forces in India are looking for reasons to create difficulties in Maldives-India relations. If the Indian side clearly violates the Maldives' sovereignty, the Maldives side has the right to demand an explanation, which is also a necessary act to safeguard its sovereignty, Lin said. Essentially, the conflict between India and Maldives stems from India's desire to maintain its hegemony in the South Asian region, experts said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran FM warns US, UK not to test 'wrath of region' IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian has called on the United States and the United Kingdom to avoid escalating the security situation in the Western Asia region by launching recurring attacks on regional countries amid a conflict in Palestine. In a post on the X on Sunday, Amirabdollahian said he had warned his British counterpart David Cameron in a meeting last month in Switzerland that the current crisis in the region has no military solution. "[You] do not [want to] test the wrath of the region. We consider the security of Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Palestine (Gaza and the West Bank) to be the security of the region," said the minister. The message came after the US and Britain launched dozens of attacks on Yemen in a renewed attempt to force the Arab country to stop targeting Israeli-linked ships sailing in regional waters in support of Palestine and its struggle against the Israeli regime. It also came two days after the US launched numerous attacks on targets inside Iraq and Syria in retaliation for a fatal attack last month on one its military outposts in Jordan. In his message on the X, Amirabdollahian once again voiced Iran's strong condemnation of the US attacks on Iraq and Syria as well as attacks by the US and UK on Yemen. 4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, UK fomenting insecurity in region through military activities: Iran IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has strongly condemned fresh US-UK strikes on Yemen, saying that the two Western states are fomenting chaos and insecurity in the West Asia region through their military activities which are aimed at supporting the Israeli regime in its ongoing war on Gaza. The spokesman made the comment on Sunday hours after London and Washington hit Yemen in the latest round of airstrikes that began on January 11 to confront the ongoing attacks which Yemen has been launching against Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea in support of Palestinians in war-hit Gaza. Kanaani said that the US-UK attacks violate Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as international law. He described the continuation of such "arbitrary measures" as a clear example of adventurism and a threat to international peace and security. The military adventurism by the US and the UK is in line with these countries' wrong policies to use a military approach to progress their "illegal" goals in West Asia, which is in total contrast with their claims of opposing the spread of war in the region, the Iranian diplomat noted. The two Western states are fomenting chaos, disorder, insecurity and instability across the region through their military activities, which the spokesman said, are aimed at keeping up support for the war crimes committed by the Israeli regime. "The US and the UK aim to create a breathing space for this criminal regime which is accused of committing genocide against Palestinians. Undoubtedly, the international community bears the responsibility to hold the US and the UK to account", Kanaani concluded. 4194**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, Saudi Arabia committed to expanding bilateral ties IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Head of Iran's Strategic Council on Foreign Relations Kamal Kharrazi has met with Saudi Ambassador to Tehran Abdullah bin Saud al-Anzi, with the two sides stressing the need to expand bilateral relations. Kharrazi and al-Anzi, the first Saudi ambassador in Iran since the resumption of diplomatic relations between Tehran and Riyadh in March last year, met on Sunday in the Iranian capital. They highlighted the will of senior officials of Iran and Saudi Arabia to tap into the immense potential of their respective countries to promote bilateral relations. They also expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, where the Israeli regime has been waging a genocidal war for nearly four months, and stressed the need for cessation of hostilities against the Palestinians. Kharrazi and al-Anzi agreed that Muslim countries must do more to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian territory. 4353**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Court hears lawsuit over 1988 US attack on Iranian frigates IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- An Iranian court has convened to address the grievances of the families of martyrs of a US attack on Iranian naval vessels in the Persian Gulf in 1988 that resulted in the tragic loss of 56 service members. On Sunday, Branch 55 of the Tehran Court of Justice, specialized in international litigations, heard a lawsuit filed by families of the victims of the unprovoked attack by the United States on Iranian frigates Sahand, Sabalan, and Joshan. The court session focused on the events of April 18, 1988, during Operation Praying Mantis, where US forces targeted Iranian naval assets in the Persian Gulf, in line with Washington's support for then-Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's regime in its war against Iran. The presiding judge disclosed that 98 individuals are seeking justice in this case, comprising 45 family members of martyrs from the Sahand frigate, 7 family members of martyrs from Sabalan, and 22 individuals who were injured in the US terrorist attack. The judge emphasized that the Tehran Court of Justice has the authority to hear the lawsuit, citing Iranian law that empowers the country's courts to seek justice for Iranian nationals affected by the hostile actions of foreign governments. Addressing the court, the defense attorney representing the plaintiffs asserted that the US attack aimed to exert pressure on Iran to end the war with Iraq and preserve the Saddam regime. 4353**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Don't put wrath of West Asia to test, Iran warns US, UK Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 5:52 PM Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has condemned the recent acts of aggression against the countries in West Asia, warning the United States and Britain not to test the wrath of the regional nations. In a post on his X account on Sunday, Amir-Abdollahian said Iran denounces the latest wave of airstrikes by the United States and Britain on Yemen and the deadly strikes by the US occupation forces against a number of sites in Iraq and Syria. He said that in a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, he explicitly announced that the "continuation of war is not a solution," referring to the two sides' talks on the sidelines of the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss city of Davos in January. "Do not test the anger of the region. We consider the security of Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Palestine (Gaza and the West Bank) to be the security of the region," the top Iranian diplomat stated. 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 the eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr and the city of 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. In yet another act of onslaught on the Yemeni soil, the United States and Britain late on Saturday carried out dozens of air raids on the provinces of Sana'a, Hudaydah and Sa'ada, among several others. The Pentagon claimed the strikes targeted 13 locations across Yemen and hit weapons storage facilities, missile systems, and launchers the Yemeni Armed Forces and the popular Ansarullah movement used to attack Israeli-tied shipping in the Red Sea in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US forces should be expelled from Iraq: PMF IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The chairman of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), known in Arabic as Hashd al-Sha'abi, says that the US forces must be expelled from the Iraqi soil. In remarks on Sunday, Falih al-Fayyadh voiced his strong condemnation of US attacks on areas in western Iraq which led to the martyrdom of a number of PMF fighters. Fayyadh said the US attack on Al-Qa'im and Akashat is a direct strike on the PMF, adding that the incident will not go unanswered. He said that the PMF fighters are a source of pride for the Iraqis, adding that it is time for the occupiers to leave Iraq. Iraqis held funerals for the martyrs of the US attacks areas in the west of the country on Sunday in the capital Baghdad. 7129**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraq urged gov't to expel US forces IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Hadi Al-Ameri, the chief of the Nabni Coalition, has urged the government of Iraq to hurry to expel the US military forces. Al-Ameri, who is the chief of Nabni (We Build) alliance and one of the senior commanders of the resistance groups, said so while his remarks were cited by IRNA on Sunday. Speaking at a ceremony in Iraq, the resistance chief said that the United States is the Zionist regime's accomplice in killing the elderly, women, and children in Gaza. He also referred to presence of the US-led multi-national coalition in Iraq as pure evil because what it has left behind is nothing but massacre and destruction. Pointing to the Saturday attack carried out by the American occupiers against Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) - known as the Hashd al-Shaabi, Al-Ameri, he noted, "Undoubtedly, Washington is against the Iraqi people after it targeted Hashd al-Shaabi's bases because the Units are doing their duties to preserve the Iraqi borders." Following the Saturday attack of the US on Akashat and Al-Qa'im, western Iraq, three Iraqis were killed and 11 others were wounded. Also, its previous attack on Albu Kamal and al Mayadeen in eastern Syria, 10 were killed and 18 were injured. The United States claims that its attacks were a retaliatory measure to the killing of its three servicemen in its base in northeastern Jordan. 1483**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu's Remarks at the Start of the Government Meeting Israel - Prime Minister's Office The 37th Government 04.02.2024 Following are Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's remarks , today , at the start of the Government meeting, at the Kirya in Tel Aviv: "Israel is a sovereign state. We greatly appreciate the support that we have received from the Biden administration since the outbreak of the war: In weaponry, at international institutions, in sending forces to the region, and more. This is not to say that there are no disagreements among us but as of today we have succeeded in overcoming them with determined and balanced decisions. I would like to tell you something, from my own experience: There are those who say 'Yes' to everything, even when one must say 'No.' While they are applauded by the international community, they endanger our national security. And there are those who say 'No' to everything. While they are applauded at home, they also endanger vital interests. I would like to tell you something from my experience: Wisdom is knowing how to navigate - to say 'Yes' when it is possible and to say 'No' when it is necessary. I am not in need of any assistance in navigating our relations with the US and the international community while steadfastly upholding our national interests. Thank G-d, I have been doing this for a few years. As a sovereign state that is fighting for its existence and its future, we make our own decisions, even in those instances where there is no agreement with our American friends. I would like to clarify our policy: The essential goal is - first of all - to eliminate Hamas. In order to achieve this goal, three things are necessary: First, Hamas's battalions must be destroyed. So far we have destroyed 17 of 24 battalions. Most of the remaining battalions are in the southern Strip and in Rafiah, and we will deal with them. Second, there must be demilitarization after the battalions are destroyed, as our forces are doing with determination by mounting very aggressive raids in the northern and central Strip. Third, underground neutralization actions are required, as our forces are methodically doing in Khan Yunis and throughout the Strip, and this will yet take time. The efforts to free the hostages are continuing at all times. As I also emphasized in the Security Cabinet - we will not agree to every deal, and not at any price. Many things that are being said in the media, as if we had agreed to them, such as regarding the release of terrorists, we will simply not agree to them. We have recently exposed to the world that UNRWA is collaborating with Hamas and that some of its people even participated in the atrocities and abductions of October 7. This only strengthens what we have known for a long time - that UNRWA is not part of the solution, it is part of the problem. The time has come to begin the process of replacing UNRWA with other bodies that are not tainted by support for terrorism." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US House panel proposes $17.6bn in military aid for Israel Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 9:22 AM The US House Appropriations panel has recommended allocating billions of dollars worth of weapons and munitions to strengthen the Israeli regime amid calls on US President Joe Biden's administration to defuse tensions in West Asia. On Saturday, the US House of Representatives Appropriations Committee unveiled a $17.6 billion bill, including billions for upgrading Israeli air defense, the production of artillery and other munitions. "The need to support our closest ally and our own forces in the region has never been more pressing," said House Speaker Mike Johnson. According to Johnson, the funding bill could come to a vote in the full House sometime next week. The Republican-controlled House had previously approved $14.3 billion in new military aid to Israel, but with the requirement that it be paid for by clawing back a chunk of money already targeted for the US Internal Revenue Service. The Democratic-controlled Senate balked at that provision and is expected to unveil a legislative package that would aid Israel as well as provide more military assistance for Ukraine in its war against Russia. According to the House Appropriations Committee, the $17.6 billion would include funds to help replenish Israel's missile defense systems, procure additional advanced weapons systems, and produce artillery and other munitions. Some of the funding would also be used to replenish US arms provided to Israel following the October 7 Hamas operation into the occupied territories. However, the Biden administration quickly dismissed the proposal as a "cynical political maneuver," accusing the House Republicans of treating military aid to Israel as "a political game." In the meantime, various groups including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) have called on the Biden administration to end the Israeli regime's genocide in the Gaza Strip instead of waging war across West Asia, citing the latest strikes in Iraq and Syria as proof of "the total failure" of US foreign policy in the region. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces had struck multiple targets in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen in the past few days. Following CENTCOM's announcement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said, "President Biden should change course to protect both American soldiers and people of the region from more violence." "Justice and freedom for the Palestinian people, not more bombs, is what can build a more peaceful future for the region," Awad said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korea raps Japan plan to buy US cruise missiles IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Feb 4, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- North Korea has criticized Tokyo for its intentions to purchase Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States, describing Japan the worst threatening country in the region. North Korea's Central News Agency said that Japan is determined to acquire long-range missiles regardless of the dangerous consequences of this action. "Japan has become the worst threatening country in the region", KCNA was quoted by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, also known as NHK. The report also severely criticized the United States for providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to Japan, calling it part of Washington's hegemonic strategy against North Korea, China, and Russia. The Japanese Ministry of Defense signed a contract last month for the purchase of 400 American Tomahawk cruise missiles. Tokyo has described the deal as part of the country's efforts to boost counterattack capabilities against hostile forces, an indirect reference to North Korea and China. Pyongyang remain at odd over Tokyo's growing nexus with Washington and Seoul and their joint wargames on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has recently launched a number of cruise missiles after test-firing ballistic missiles, including IBMs late last year in a show of strength against UK policies in the region, which Pyongyang says, is making war "inevitable". 4399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Charges Self-Exiled Ex-Duma Deputy Who Opposed War With 'High Treason' By RFE/RL's Russian Service and, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service February 04, 2024 Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has charged Kyiv-based Russian opposition politician Ilya Ponomaryov, a former State Duma deputy who opposed President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, with high treason and participation in a terrorist organization. Ponomaryov confirmed the charges in a Facebook post on February 4, saying the FSB has "opened several criminal cases, including treason in the form of defection to the side of the enemy [and] participation in calls for terror, all combined into one proceeding." "By the way, I have also combined all forms of struggle against Putinism in one proceeding. And something tells me that my efficiency will be higher," he said in mocking the Kremlin. A year ago, Ponomaryov, was added to the Interior Ministry's list of alleged terrorists and extremists, a move often used to crack down on political opponents. Ponomaryov, 48, was the lone lawmaker at the State Duma who voted against Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. He fled Russia for the United States in 2014 and later moved to Ukraine, where he has lived after obtaining citizenship. His current whereabouts are unclear, but the Facebook post indicated that he was in Berlin. In August 2022, a court in Moscow issued an arrest warrant for Ponomaryov on a charge of discrediting Russia's armed forces. The charge stemmed from his interview to the Forum of a Free Russia YouTube channel, in which he condemned the war in Ukraine. The FSB, in its statement, said that "the Investigative Directorate opened and consolidated into a single criminal case" the charges of "high treason in the form of siding with an enemy," "participation in the activities of an organization recognized as terrorist under Russian laws," and "public Internet calls for activities aimed against Russia's security." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ponomaryov-ukraine- opposition-treason-charges/32804943.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address TPP's Ko slammed for remarks on voters' education levels ROC Central News Agency 02/04/2024 05:28 PM Taipei, Feb. 4 (CNA) Taiwan People's Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (Ya) drew criticism from across Taiwan's political spectrum after saying that his party would have won the election if ballot access was limited to college-educated voters. At an event for party supporters in Hsinchu on Saturday, Ko said that aside from his own unsuccessful presidential run, the TPP won 22 percent of votes on the at-large legislator ballot, showing that it has become a serious political force that is unlikely to fizzle out. "The TPP has one major strategic advantage: If you're someone who doesn't support the Kuomintang (KMT) or the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), there's no one else to choose from except the TPP," Ko said. Analyzing the Jan. 13 election results, Ko noted that the TPP had received its highest vote share at polling stations located near universities and science parks. Citing an unspecified analysis from the U.S., he said the TPP is a party of "elites" similar to the ruling People's Action Party in Singapore, with a voter base that is disproportionately young, well-educated and politically centrist. Ko acknowledged that, by definition, it is hard for a party of elites to win a majority. Nevertheless, "if there was a rule stating that only college-educated people can vote," the TPP would have won the election, he said. After making the remarks, Ko quickly clarified that he values democracy and the principle of one person, one vote, which guarantees a voice to disadvantaged groups in society. For that reason, he said, it would be wrong to"complain" that the TPP would have won if only well-educated people under 40 were casting a ballot. In a response on Sunday, DPP Legislator Lin Chu-yin (zse) said the comments were just the latest of many by Ko showing an "arrogant bias" against less educated people. For example, Ko has previously argued that people who don't attend high school account for the vast majority of drug users, and that students graduating from certain university departments are economically "worthless," Lin said. On the other side of the aisle, KMT lawmaker Wang Hung-wei (cZee) dismissed the remarks as "yet another gaffe" by the TPP chair. In addition to discriminating on the basis of education, Ko's comments are an example of a politician trying to choose his own voters, in a way that is not compatible with democratic norms, Wang said. Ko, a former physician, founded the TPP in 2019 while serving as Taipei mayor, and finished in third place, with 26.5 percent of the vote, as the party's 2024 presidential candidate. The TPP also won eight seats in Taiwan's 113-seat Legislature, and will hold an important swing vote over the next four years as neither the DPP nor the KMT won an absolute majority in the lawmaking body. (By Wang Cheng-chung and Matthew Mazzetta) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US officials' reported Taiwan trip aims to make island 'a complete pawn' of containment strategy Global Times By GT staff reporters Published: Feb 04, 2024 09:00 PM US officials will travel to the island of Taiwan in March for a briefing on semiconductor export controls on the Chinese mainland, a Taiwan-based news portal reported over the weekend, a trip that mainland industry insiders believe is aimed at ramping up pressure to make the island "a complete pawn" to serve Washington's containment strategy against the Chinese mainland. While the Biden administration is pinning high hopes on the trip for winning more points in the upcoming US presidential election, analysts pointed out that Taiwan chipmakers would show certain levels of resistance to meekly following US orders, as they have realized that the cost of "decoupling" from the Chinese mainland is increasingly unaffordable and the strategy itself is putting Taiwan's high-end manufacturers at risk. Representatives from Taiwan's semiconductor suppliers based in science parks, including chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC), have been invited to the briefing, according to the report. The briefing will provide clarification on tightened advanced chip export control rules the Biden administration slapped on the Chinese mainland in October. For example, specifications on a chip's computational performance density will be provided, the report said. "It is de facto a trip to exert pressure rather than merely a briefing. Washington wants to coerce the island of Taiwan into further serving its malicious crackdown on the Chinese mainland's tech industry, where chips are seen as a key battlefield," Ma Jihua, a veteran telecom observer, told the Global Times on Sunday. Ma explained that the US has stepped up its so-called alliance approach in recent months, attempting to get more semiconductor makers from Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands and the island of Taiwan on board, amid US chipmakers' growing objections to the China shipment ban that has eaten up their revenues. "Biden's tech containment strategy against China did not work out as successfully as planned. Yet as the US presidential election draws near, Biden needs to show proof to convince the US business elites that his China strategy was not a failure," Ma noted. The visit to the island of Taiwan is likely to seek such political points." He predicted that US officials may also meet Taiwan regional leaders during the trip for the purpose of political manipulation. It is reported that US chip giant Nvidia has launched artificial intelligence chips tailor-made for the Chinese mainland market, as part of a move to bypass US restrictions on the country, and the chipset can now be ordered, news website jiemian.com reported. Analysts pointed out that the relentless US sanctions have driven the cost of compliance to an unacceptable level, which makes Taiwan-based semiconductor makers more unhappy with the ban. "They don't want to be forced to take sides. The integrated circuit industry in the Chinese mainland is rising rapidly, with palpable results in more advanced processes. The chip industry in the island of Taiwan, which is heavily reliant on the Chinese mainland market, might stagger if Chinese mainland chipmakers further boost their self-sufficiency," Ma said. In response to the US moves to ratchet up export controls in the guise of maintaining "national security," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on January 8 that the move is an "out-and-out economic bullying." "The US behavior is taking a serious toll on the stability of the global industrial and supply chains. It poisons the atmosphere for international cooperation and fuels division and confrontation. This selfish move will inevitably backfire," said Mao. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Traditional Chinese cuisine, lion and dragon dances, concerts and exhibitions are staged in many European countries to welcome the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Dragon, bringing blessings to residents and visitors. LONDON/BUDAPEST/SOFIA/MADRID, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, is a week away. Still, people across Europe have felt the festive ambiance by savoring traditional Chinese cuisine and enjoying various celebratory activities. This Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Year of the Dragon, falls on Feb. 10. From Jan. 29 to Feb. 12, 50 iconic red London buses featuring the "Nihao China" national tourism image, the Happy Chinese New Year logo, and the auspicious Chinese dragon image, pass through London landmarks such as Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, and St. Paul's Cathedral, bringing Spring Festival blessings to residents and visitors around the world. On Saturday, the National Maritime Museum in London staged wonderful Lunar New Year celebrations, including lion dances, a tea-tasting ceremony, Lunar New Year storytelling and mahjong playing. A similar celebration was held at the British Science Museum Thursday night. During a Chinese cuisine tasting event held at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel in London on Friday, four master chefs from Shenzhen Culinary Association introduced the characteristics of Cantonese Cuisine, explained the cooking methods, and invited guests to prepare and taste the traditional Chinese Year's Eve dinner. In Budapest's Chinatown, a delegation from China's southwest province of Chengdu treated Hungarian audience to a diverse range of traditional Chinese arts, including the meticulous craft of painting the inside of glass bottles and the culinary artistry behind Szechuan-styled stuffed buns. "We had lived in China for four years and my son was born in Beijing, so we have a deep connection to the tradition," said a man from Kecskemet, Central Hungary. "It is our first time to this quarter, and we're eager to keep the culture we experienced in China a part of our lives here." In Sofia, Bulgaria's capital, a folklore event titled "Dancing Dragon Welcomes Spring" kicked off on Saturday at the China Cultural Center. The event featured artistic performances, traditional Chinese games and a tasting session of Chinese cuisine. Wang Min, charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, said that the Chinese New Year, was the oldest and most important traditional holiday in Chinese culture and the dragon is a symbol of prosperity, strength, nobility and luck. A concert featuring Chinese songs and world classic opera excerpts was held in Madrid on Saturday as part of celebrations of the Chinese Lunar New Year. At the National Music Auditorium, the Choir of the Shenzhen Dance and Opera Theater performed folk songs from China, such as "Jasmine Flower" and "Hymn of Eight Horses," as well as well-known opera excerpts "Les voici!" by George Bizet and "Libiamo ne'lieti calici" by Giuseppe Verdi. "I love music, so I love listening to sounds from other cultures, which are very different from ours. They are very melodious sounds," Marta Gonzalez, an attendee, told Xinhua after the concert. Jose Lorenzo, another attendee from the Spanish city of Cordoba welcomed the initiative to strengthen cultural ties between China and Spain. He expressed his appreciation for the visa exemption policy by the Chinese government for Spain. "I work in the tourism sector and the visa exemption is a magnificent measure to me, but I hope there is also reciprocity for Chinese tourists who want to come to Spain. I have known several Spaniards who have thought about China as a destination for their vacations in August. It is a real incentive," he said. Turkiye Denies Media Reports About 'Joint Patrols' With Greece in Aegean Sea Sputnik News 20240204 ANKARA, (Sputnik) - 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. "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. "It was not decided during the talks that Turkiye and Greece would carry out joint patrols in the Aegean Sea and the Evros River," the statement said. 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. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK flagship deploys on historic NATO mission 02 February 2024 UK flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth sails on Sunday to lead an international task group for an historic NATO exercise a the largest in Europe since the Cold War. The aircraft carrier will be at the heart of combined exercises involving the alliance forces, building up to Steadfast Defender a a huge demonstration of NATO's resolve, unity and capability involving more than 20,000 UK military personnel alone deployed across Scandinavia and northern Europe. HMS Queen Elizabeth will lead a carrier strike group of eight ships a four of them British, including frigate HMS Somerset and two Tide-class tankers from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary a supported by US, Spanish and Danish vessels. They form one of the most potent naval forces of the exercise a an allied fleet of 40 vessels, drawn from more than two dozen nations, is committed to the seagoing element of Steadfast Defender, which will take place off Norway's Arctic coast in March. Britain's flagship brings the awesome capability of her 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. Before heading for Norwegian waters and the High North, the Carrier Strike Group will hone its collective skills in northern Scotland courtesy of the UK's regular Joint Warrior exercise. From there the force moves to the High North and Exercise Nordic Response a the maritime element of Steadfast Defender a with the emphasis on protecting northern Norway, Sweden and Finland to defend the Nordic nations from 'attack'. "Steadfast Defender demonstrates the unity of the alliance, our commitment to it a and that the UK continues to play a leading role in NATO," said Commodore James Blackmore, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group, who is in overall charge of HMS Queen Elizabeth, her air power and escorts. "The exercise allows us to train with our neighbours in a truly challenging environment, especially at this time of year a but that is why we have to operate up there; the weather cannot put us off." For the UK flagship and many of her 780 crew (the number will rise to 1,350 when her F-35s and helicopters join her) this is a return to the same waters they sailed in just a few months ago on their autumn deployment. "These are going to be 40-plus intense days for my ship's company, there's a lot of excitement on board and people are ready to go," said Captain Will King, HMS Queen Elizabeth's Commanding Officer. "Many people focus on the kit and capability of HMS Queen Elizabeth, but the human element is a key factor. For those out on the deck, conditions will be extremely harsh at times: strong winds, wind chill of minus 20 or more, heavy seas and a deck moving around, sleet, snow. Then add in darkness for operations at night. "We do our utmost to protect our people out on deck, while maintaining operations." Among the younger members of the crew looking forward to the Arctic mission is 23-year-old Leading Survival Engineering Technician Jack Rutherford from Fife. It's his task to ensure the survival equipment aboard the ship and its aircraft a life rafts, life jackets, helmets and the like a is in full working order to save life if necessary in the harshest of environments. "Operating in a cold weather environment makes things much more challenging. Our equipment is very good, designed for the changes in temperature and extremes you face," he said. "This deployment offers some great sights a the chance to see the fjords in the winter, hopefully the Northern Lights a but for me, what is always a special moment is simply sailing up the Clyde. It's absolutely stunning." HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to sail from Portsmouth Naval Base early on Sunday evening at 6pm. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Hallowed out': UK left red-faced after faulty warship pulls out of historic NATO drill Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 6:47 PM A faulty British Navy flagship has pulled out of NATO military drills at the last minute due to a mechanical fault, as lawmakers warn the UK's "hollowed out army is unfit for war." British media reports said on Sunday that the UK's A3.5 billion HMS Queen Elizabeth was stopped from taking part in a major NATO operation due to a mechanical fault. The vessel broke down as it was heading to carry out exercises with the US Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and the US Marine Corps. The Royal Navy is now sending the recently repaired HMS Prince of Wales to join up with other states' vessels for a drill in Middle Eastern waters. The departure of the aircraft carrier to lead the largest NATO exercise since the Cold War was canceled after an "issue" with a propeller shaft was spotted during final checks. 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 Prince of Wales will take her place on NATO duties and will set sail for exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible." UK's 'hollowed out army unfit for war' The setback came as ministers were warned Britain is not sufficiently prepared to fight an all-out war due to stockpile shortages and an armed forces recruitment crisis The House of Commons defense 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 UK's military has been "hollowed out", leaving Britain unprepared for war at a time of worsening global instability. Readiness "is essential to effective deterrence to our adversaries" at a time of heightened geopolitical instability, they said. The latest developments could affect the ability of the Royal Navy to deploy an anti-Yemen aircraft carrier to the Red Sea. Yemeni armed forces have vowed a response to the US and British airstrikes on the country, saying it will continue to target Israeli-linked ships in solidarity with the Palestinians. The latest round of American and British airstrikes on Yemen has drawn strong condemnations in the region. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani noted that the attacks aim to give Israel some breathing space amid its war crimes against Palestinians. Kan'ani added that the international community has a responsibility to hold the US and the UK to account. Meanwhile, the Palestinian resistance movement, Hamas, warned that the attacks would plunge the region into further turmoil. And the Islamic Jihad movement holds the US responsible for the repercussions of its attacks on Yemen. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK Aircraft Carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth to Skip NATO's Steadfast Defender Exercise Sputnik News 20240204 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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. 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. Earlier Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia "has no reason, no geopolitical interest, neither economic, political nor military - to fight with NATO countries." Russia will keep an eye on the drills using diverse tool of military intelligence. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Call with UK Foreign Secretary Cameron US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson February 4, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron. Foreign Secretary Cameron briefed Secretary Blinken on his meetings in Israel and the West Bank, and they discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of all hostages and achieve a humanitarian pause that would allow for increased humanitarian aid delivery to civilians in Gaza. In addition, the two discussed the situation in the Red Sea and international action to hold the Houthis accountable for their illegal and reckless attacks on vessels. The leaders reaffirmed the U.S.-UK joint commitment to support Ukraine. The Secretary also congratulated the Foreign Secretary on the successful restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The head of President's Office met with a French delegation led by the diplomatic advisor to the President of France President of Ukraine 3 February 2024 - 19:21 Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak met with a delegation from the French Republic, including the diplomatic advisor to the President of France, Emmanuel Bonne, the head of the military staff of the President of France, Fabien Mandon, and advisors to the President of France, Xavier Chatel and Bertrand Buchwalter. As part of the visit of the French delegation, Andriy Yermak and Emmanuel Bonne laid flowers at the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine on Mykhailivska Square in Kyiv. During the meeting, the parties extensively discussed a wide range of current international and bilateral agenda issues. They focused on the security situation and the urgent needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to counter Russian aggression. The head of the President's Office expressed gratitude to France for its substantial defense assistance to Ukraine during the Russian aggression. "France shows unwavering support for Ukraine, bringing us closer to our common victory and strengthening security in Europe. Our strategic partnership continues to strengthen," Andriy Yermak said. The parties confirmed their interest in enhancing cooperation between defense enterprises of the two countries. Additionally, the participants exchanged views on the implementation of the Peace Formula and preparations for the upcoming Peace Summit. "The Ukrainian Peace Formula is a tangible algorithm for ensuring a just peace, overcoming the consequences of war, and preventing new aggression. We appreciate France's support in implementing the Formula and promoting it among Global South countries," the Head of the President's Office said. As part of the visit of the French delegation, another round of negotiations with France on concluding a bilateral agreement on the provision of security commitments to Ukraine took place. The parties discussed the reviewed draft of the relevant agreement and aligned positions on specific elements of the document. "Our negotiating teams today demonstrated tangible progress and approached the finalization of the bilateral agreement," Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva said. The negotiating parties expressed hope for the possibility of signing the agreement soon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia says death toll from Ukrainian attack in Lysychansk rises to 28 Iran Press TV Sunday, 04 February 2024 7:36 AM The death toll from a Ukrainian attack on Lysychansk - a city in the Moscow-controlled Ukrainian region of Luhansk - has risen to 28, including a child, according to Russia's emergencies ministry. The ministry said on Sunday that rescue workers had retrieved the bodies of 20 people from the rubble following the Ukrainian shelling on a building housing a bakery in Lysychansk on Saturday. "The search and rescue operation continues," it said on the Telegram messaging app. According to the Luhansk Information Center, Ukraine shelled the bakery using the US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. On Saturday, the ministry shared a video of emergency workers lifting two bloodied people onto stretchers and carrying them out of the ruins of a building. It said previously that its workers rescued 10 people and handed them to doctors. The governor of Lugansk, Leonid Pasechnik, said earlier that the bakery, targeted by Kiev, was known to have fresh bread on weekends. RIA Novosti published a video of a heavily damaged building, with emergency workers pulling out an entirely crushed car. The one-story building had a large sign that read "Restaurant Adriatic" and appeared destroyed and covered in rubble. An official in operational services was quoted as saying by TASS news agency that the average age of the victims was "35 years, plus or minus five years." Maria Zakharova, the Russian foreign ministry spokesperson, said "dozens of civilians" were in the building at the time of the attack and that Western weapons were used. Lysychansk had a population of about 111,000 people before Russia began its special military operation in February 2022. Russia took control of it and its twin city of Sievierodonetsk in the summer of 2022. The attack came as Kiev said Russia had attacked it with a new barrage of missiles that targeted energy facilities in the central Dnipropetrovsk region on Friday. Ukraine, meanwhile, said its air force had downed nine Russian drones that Russia launched at central and southern regions Saturday. The new development came after frequent announcements by Ukraine that it is preparing for a counteroffensive against Russian forces to take back part of the territories it has lost throughout the war. Analysts believe that after receiving tens of billions of dollars of Western weapons to fight Russian forces, the success or failure of any such counteroffensive would shape the future course of the West's diplomatic and military support for Kiev. Moscow has frequently warned that a continued supply of Western arms and military equipment for the Ukrainian military would only prolong the war and add to the suffering of the Ukrainian people. After experiencing several months of tension with NATO, Russia started its special military with the mission of demilitarization and de-Nazification of the country following the request for help from the republics of the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelenskiy Meets Soldiers On Frontline Visit; Russia Says Rescue Effort Over In Lysychansk Attack By RFE/RL February 04, 2024 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visited a frontline village on February 4, hailing the "warriors" who are fighting there amid reports he is preparing to fire his popular military commander, while Moscow-installed officials said the search-and-rescue effort at the site of a building attack in Russia-occupied Lysychansk has ended, with the death toll set at 28. "I have the great honor 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," Zelenskiy told soldiers on February 4 following his visit to Robotyne, a southern village in the Zaporizhzhya region that was one of the few successes by Ukrainian forces during last year's counteroffensive. The presidential office released video of Zelenskiy handing out medals to troops of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade, which led the advance on Robotyne, a village with a prewar population of about 450 people. While there, Zelenskiy appointed Ivan Federov -- mayor of now-occupied Melitopol who was once abducted by Russia -- as head of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya region. Fedorov was abducted in March 2022 when he refused to cooperate with Russians troops, triggering local protests and calls by Zelenskiy for his immediate release. He was released five days later. Zelenskiy faces a growing political storm amid reports he is poised to push out the country's top military commander, General Valeriy Zaluzhniy. Polls show that Zaluzhniy is as popular, if not more so, than Zelenskiy, and some experts fear that, were Zelenskiy to oust Zaluzhniy, it would demoralize some of Ukraine's troops and undermine national unity. There has been no official word from Zelenskiy's office about his intentions in regard to Zaluzhniy's position, although numerous media reports have said the president has informed his U.S. allies of an impending move. In remarks to Italian TV late on February 4, Zelenskiy said, without being specific, that he is considering "replacing a number of state leaders," not only in the military. "It is a question of the people who are to lead Ukraine," He told told RAI television when asked about reports he is about to fire Zaluzhniy. "A reset is necessary. I am talking about a replacement of a number of state leaders, not only in the army sector. I am reflecting on this replacement. It's a question for the entire leadership of the country." "I have in mind something serious that does not concern a single person but the direction of the country's leadership." Meanwhile, a spokesman for Russia's Emergency Situations Ministry said the search-and-rescue operation at the site of a deadly building attack in the Russian-occupied city of Lysychansk has been completed. Rescuers early on February 4 recovered more bodies from the rubble of the building in eastern Ukraine that was hit by apparent artillery fire, bringing the death toll to 28. The Emergency Situations Ministry said in a post to Telegram that a child was among the bodies recovered from the rubble of the building, which it said housed a bakery and a restaurant. Another 10 people were rescued. Moscow-imposed officials in the Luhansk region, which is nearly entirely controlled by Russia, initially blamed a Ukrainian drone strike for the attack, but later shifted explanations, asserting it was actually Ukrainian artillery. The claim could not be independently verified. Ukrainian officials have made no comment on the incident. Russia took control of Lysychansk in July 2022 after months of fierce fighting. Nearly two years into Russia's mass invasion of Ukraine, the battlefield along the nearly 1,200-kilometer front line stretching from northeast Ukraine to the south-central region of Kherson has largely frozen. After an unsuccessful counteroffensive last fall, Ukrainian troops have turned to rebuilding their forces, and shoring up defenses. Russia, for its part, has continued to push forward in several, localized offensives: near Kupyansk in the north, and around the industrial city of Avdiyivka, to the south. Both sides have also launched longer-range attacks this winter, using long-distance precision artillery, drones, and air-launched cruise missiles. Ukraine has increasingly used its drone arsenal to target industrial sites within Russia itself. On February 3, an apparent Ukrainian drone strike hit one of the largest oil refineries in Volgograd, about 400 kilometers east of the Ukrainian border. Firefighters put out the blaze after several hours, and it was unclear the extent of the damage at the refinery, which is owned by Lukoil, and is one of the largest in Russia. It produces gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel, and fuel for ships. In Ukraine's Sumy region, the military administration there said Russian forces had shelled the region in 16 separate attacks the previous day. With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian and Ukrainian services, Reuters, and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-lysychansk-bakery- death-toll-rubble-russia/32804676.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Air Defenses Down 4 Ukrainian Drones Over Bryansk Region Sputnik News 20240204 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian air defenses shot down four Ukrainian drones over the Bryansk region on Sunday night, the Russian Defense Ministry said. "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. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelensky Confirms Thinking About Replacing Armed Forces Commander-In-Chief Zaluzhny Sputnik News 20240204 ROME (Sputnik) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Sunday that he is thinking about replacing Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valery Zaluzhny. "This is a question that concerns the people who should lead Ukraine. Of course, a restart and a new beginning are needed," Zelensky said in an interview with Italian broadcaster Rai1 when asked about the dispute with Zaluzhny. "When we talk about this, I mean the replacement of several senior state officials, not only in the military. I am thinking about this replacement [of Zaluzhny], it is true," Zelensky said, adding that replacing "one person does not mean that we can move forward." "The issue concerns the entire management team that leads the country," he said on Sunday night in an appearance on the TG1 television newscast. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Troops Take More Advantageous Position in Donetsk Direction Sputnik News 20240204 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - 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. "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. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President held a meeting on energy security of Dnipropetrovsk region and familiarized himself with the construction of the water supply project for Kryvyi Rih President of Ukraine 4 February 2024 - 19:24 During a working trip to Dnipropetrovsk region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on the protection of energy infrastructure and ensuring sustainable electricity supply in the region. The Head of State was briefed on the current situation in the region, especially in Nikopol and Kryvyi Rih areas, given the intensification of massive enemy shelling of energy facilities, and on the measures taken to protect them. The parties discussed the current situation with electricity supply in the region, which has now been restored to all consumers. Particular attention was paid to passive protection systems for power facilities, including intensification of relevant work, and critical infrastructure facilities using air defense. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also familiarized himself with the construction of a pilot project to supply water to Kryvyi Rih and neighboring communities. In particular, he inspected the construction of the largest pumping station of the new Inhulets-Kryvyi Rih water main, which is 145 km long. Once launched, it will provide water to 1.5 million residents of the region who were left without access to water after the Russians blew up the Kakhovka HPP dam. Residents of Marhanets, Nikopol, Tomakivka, Pokrov, Maryansk and other nearby towns will have a stable water supply. In August 2023, the first line of the water supply system was launched. In January of this year, the diversion branch through the Dnipro-Kryvyi Rih canal became operational. As reported to the President, despite the shelling and unfavorable weather conditions, the work was 95% complete. Construction is underway around the clock. The equipment for pumping stations, which are one of the most important elements of the water main, is being installed. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We are working to enhance the ability to shoot down missiles and drones - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 4 February 2024 - 18:34 I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians! It's a very active Sunday today. In the morning, I visited Robotyne, one of the toughest areas of the frontline, Zaporizhzhia sector. I personally thanked the warriors and awarded five of the best directly on the front line - those who have distinguished themselves in combat over the past weeks: Senior Soldiers Ihor Honcharuk, Ivan Taran, Yaroslav Polishchuk, Sergeant Mykhailo Blashkiv, and Senior Lieutenant Andriy Olshanskyi - Andriy was awarded the Cross of Military Merit. All of them are exactly the kind of guys whose bravery and endurance preserve our positions and our country. I thank you, warriors, and all your brothers-in-arms! I held a security meeting in Zaporizhzhia related not only to the region and the city. There were reports from military commanders, including on the situation in Avdiivka. Of course, we had a separate conversation about Zaporizhzhia, this whole direction. I am grateful to everyone involved in the construction of fortifications. Protection from Russian air strikes. Ensuring social life. The state is ready to take further action to ensure employment and social harmony in the region. Today I also introduced the new head of the regional military administration, Ivan Fedorov. In the afternoon, I visited the East Air Force Command. A report and a detailed discussion on the protection of the skies over the Dnipropetrovsk region. The threat remains constant and severe, as Russia views the region as one of its primary targets for terrorist attacks, specifically targeting our enterprises and our economic potential. We are working to enhance the ability to shoot down missiles and drones. And 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. Now I am in Kryvyi Rih, focusing on the entire district and other communities in the region. We held a meeting on energy and water supply for the cities and villages in the Dnipropetrovsk region, including Kryvyi Rih. Protection of energy facilities. Reinforcement of mobile firing groups, air defense, and electronic warfare. Restoration of power facilities. I am grateful to all those who have been working to restore power supply after the recent strikes - every repair crew. I am also grateful to those who are currently working on the construction of a new water supply infrastructure. This is a strategic task. Hundreds of thousands of people depend on it. Nikopol, Marhanets, Pokrov, part of Kryvyi Rih and Kryvyi Rih district. There was a separate report on protection against saboteurs and collaborators. The law enforcement officials have achieved good results. Maximum respect and gratitude to everyone who fights for the sake of the state, works for Ukraine and its people, and to everyone who helps - every volunteer, every volunteer community. To everyone who is in the state and with the state. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid a visit to the East Air Force Command in Dnipropetrovsk region and awarded combat pilots President of Ukraine 4 February 2024 - 16:44 As part of the working trip to Dnipropetrovsk region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the location of the East Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and presented state awards to pilots. The Head of State listened to the report of the commander of the East Air Force Command Ivan Terebukha on the air defense of cities, communities, critical infrastructure facilities and the front line. The President was briefed on a series of Russian attacks on targets in Dnipropetrovsk region using UAVs and measures to enhance the effectiveness of Ukrainian mobile firing groups and electronic warfare to repel enemy drone strikes. The parties also discussed the specifics of using Western and hybrid air defense systems and the prospects for bolstering the capabilities of the East Air Force Command, taking into account future arms supplies. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also spoke with the military and awarded combat pilots. The defenders of the sky received the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, I-II class, and the Orders "For Courage", I class, from the President. "I see powerful warriors who protect our skies and defend Ukraine, our homes, our people - children and adults - in the sky. Thank you for your accuracy, for the destruction of the enemy. I wish you all health and victory. Please convey our gratitude to your brothers-in-arms as well," the Head of State said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President held a meeting on the security situation in Zaporizhzhia region President of Ukraine 4 February 2024 - 14:45 During a working trip to Zaporizhzhia region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the military command and heads of law enforcement agencies of the region on the security situation in Zaporizhzhia. At the beginning of the meeting, the Head of State introduced the newly appointed Head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration Ivan Fedorov, who had been the mayor of the currently temporarily occupied Melitopol since December 2020 and had been held in Russian captivity for some time after the outbreak of full-scale war. The President emphasized the importance of the regional leadership working directly on the ground and having a good understanding of the region's specifics. "We need to do everything to ensure that Ukraine returns to your native Melitopol. Ukraine is fighting for this today. It will definitely happen," he said, addressing the new Head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need to complete the construction of fortifications to achieve the desired outcome. According to him, one of the most important tasks is to bring the number of jobs to pre-war levels, and the central government is ready to assist with appropriate state orders from its side. It is also necessary to focus on solving urgent issues for the residents of the region, such as the organization of the educational process and the restoration of destroyed or damaged housing. Ivan Fedorov thanked for the trust and noted that it is an honor and responsibility for him to lead his native Zaporizhzhia region in such a difficult time for our country. "My primary goal is to ensure that all people who are eager to return home are able to do so as soon as possible. But life must go on even in frontline Zaporizhzhia. People should believe in Zaporizhzhia and our state of Ukraine," he said. During the meeting, Volodymyr Zelenskyy listened to the reports from the commander of the Tavria operational and strategic grouping of troops Oleksandr Tarnavskyi and the commander of the Zaporizhzhia operational grouping of troops Volodymyr Horbatiuk on the situation on the battlefield. In particular, he was briefed on defensive operations in the Avdiivka sector, the situation in the area of Robotyne and other parts of the front, and the construction of fortifications. The heads of regional departments of the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police reported to the President on the protection of critical infrastructure and the defense industry in the region from enemy reconnaissance and sabotage activities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President visited the frontline positions of Ukrainian defenders in Zaporizhzhia region President of Ukraine 4 February 2024 - 14:06 During a working trip to Zaporizhzhia region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the frontline positions of the Ukrainian military near the village of Robotyne. In particular, the Head of State visited the location of the 65th separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy was briefed on the operational situation by the commander of the Zaporizhzhia operational grouping of troops Volodymyr Horbatiuk. The President talked to the defenders of Ukraine and presented them with state awards. In particular, he handed over the Presidential award "Cross of Military Merit" to the commander of a reconnaissance platoon, Senior Lieutenant Andriy Olshanskyi. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also awarded the warriors with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky and "For Courage". "It is a great honor to be here today. To support you and present awards. You are facing a difficult and crucial mission - to repel the enemy and win this war. I wish you this victory. I wish you to do everything to speed up this victory. I wish you to be supported by your family, friends and all citizens of Ukraine. All sane people in the world understand that you have the most difficult job, and all Ukrainians are proud of you," the Head of State emphasized. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine's Zelenskyy Considers Replacing Several Senior Officials By VOA News February 04, 2024 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 Ukraine's skies. In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy praised the country's 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, Russia's 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 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 is 15 kilometers (9 miles) from Ukrainian-controlled territory. Also Saturday, Ukraine's air force said 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, Zelenskyy's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Madrid and Bogota, COLOMBIA, February 5th - The Spanish listed company Lleida.net (OTC.US) (ALLLN.PA) (LLN.MA) has signed a multi-year contract with the Colombian insurance company Seguros Mundial for the management of its certified electronic notifications. The technology will provide legal and evidentiary value to Seguros Mundial's communications in the areas of claims, payments, objections, complaints, injunctions and personal accidents. Under the terms of the contract, Seguros Mundial will use Lleida.net's certified email service for all its certified communications, including interactions with customers and counterparties. The contract, which covers the management of more than 70,000 monthly communications, is automatically renewed annually. Seguros Mundial, one of the leading insurers in Colombia, was founded in 1973 and is one of the leaders in the insurance industry in the country. Lleida.net, founded in 1995, is one of the leaders in the certified electronic signature, notification and contracting industry. The company has accumulated a total of 305 patents in more than 60 countries for its innovations in the field of certified electronic signature, notification and contracting. It has been operating in Colombia since 2014, with a portfolio of more than 200 clients in the country. Its growth approach is characterised by a strong focus on intellectual property and R&D, together with a solid internationalisation policy. Its company is listed on several stock exchanges, including BME Growth in Madrid since 2015, Euronext Growth in Paris since 2018 and OTCQX in New York since 2020. DISCLAIMER This press release contains statements regarding the future of the Lleida.net company and its innovations. Statements regarding the future may be accompanied by words such as "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "wait", "anticipate", "pretend", "power", "plan", "potential", the use of future time and other terms of similar meaning. No undue reliance should be placed on these claims. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in such statements, including uncertainty of the company's commercial success, ability to protect our intellectual property rights, and other risks. These statements are based on current beliefs and forecasts and refer only to the date of this press release. The company assumes no obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements, regardless of whether new information, future events or any other circumstance arise. Dublin, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Dental Bone Graft & Substitute Market is segmented into Type, Product, Mechanism, Application, End-Users, and Geography, Competitive Analysis, Impact of Covid-19, Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The latest analysis on the Global Dental Bone Graft & Substitute Market provides a comprehensive overview, highlighting significant growth and penetrating insights into emerging trends shaping the industry's future. According to the report, the market, valued at USD 598.05 million in 2023, is forecasted to grow steadily, reaching an estimated USD 870.63 million by 2028. This growth trajectory indicates a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.80% over the forecast period. The study delves deep into key market dynamics including drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges. These dynamics are paramount in influencing strategic decisions for businesses looking to either consolidate or expand their market presence. Within the well-segmented market structure, the report explores synthetic bone grafts, xenografts, and allografts, each with their distinct application and contribution to the market's expansion. Synthetic bone grafts are identified for their standardized composition and the advantages they bring to dental procedures in terms of biocompatibility and predictable results. The dynamic research activities aimed at enhancing their bioactivity and expediting the healing process mark a burgeoning trend in the industry. Researchers are thoroughly assessing the potential and safety of xenografts, primarily derived from bovine sources, for their resemblance to human bone structure and the natural scaffolding they provide for bone regeneration. The report identifies a surge in the industry's confidence in utilizing these grafts owing to ongoing advancements in biocompatibility processing techniques. Allografts: A Versatile and Safe Option Allografts have garnered significant attention, thanks to their compatibility and versatility. Processed to ensure safety, these grafts harvested from human donors are finding widening applications across various dental restorative procedures. The report underscores the industry's commitment to safety through rigorous screening and quality protocols. Recent Market Developments The strategic partnership between Straumann and Modern Dental Group Limited to serve dental communities demonstrates the market's dynamism and its constant evolution influenced by strategic collaborations. Segment Analysis and Geographical Insights The comprehensive market segmentation in the report provides an analytical framework to assess market potential across different geographies including America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia-Pacific, with a focus on identifying the specific needs and growth opportunities in these regions. Competitive Insights The Competitive Quadrant included in the report provides a strategic tool to evaluate the position of companies based on their market performance and industry position. A detailed analysis of financial performances and strategic growth endeavors of key players like ACE Surgical Supply Company and Dentsply Sirona has been elaborated upon, giving a bird's eye view of the competitive landscape. Ansoff Analysis The implementation of Ansoff Matrix Analysis in the report forms a cornerstone for enterprises seeking growth strategies in this market. By offering an incisive analysis of risk and strategic orientation, the report aids stakeholders in making informed decisions toward market development, penetration, diversification, and product development. Offering a blend of qualitative insights and quantitative data, the report serves as a comprehensive industry guide. It incorporates Porter's 5 forces model, PESTLE Analysis, and the impact of COVID-19 to provide a multi-dimensional understanding of the market space. Market segmentation is a fundamental part of the report, further dissecting the market to furnish stakeholders with precise information which is critical when making informed business decisions. Moreover, it encompasses a holistic view of the regulatory landscape, emphasizing major regulatory bodies and significant rulings in different global regions. Conclusion The Global Dental Bone Graft & Substitute Market report is a nexus of information, offering an exhaustive study capable of providing industry stakeholders with the leverage they need to maintain a competitive edge. With historical, current, and projected market data, the industry's trajectory has been clearly charted, empowering informed decision-making and strategic planning for future growth. Key Attributes Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 220 Forecast Period 2023 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2023 $598.05 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $870.63 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.8% Regions Covered Global Companies Mentioned Agri-Tech Producers, LLC Biochar Now Black Owl Biochar Carbon Gold Cool Planet Earth Systems Green Charcoal International Pacific Biochar Phoenix Energy The Biochar Company Vega Biofuels 3R ENVIROCARB Key Topics Covered Market Dynamics: Drivers: Increasing Usage of Medical Imaging Techniques. Rising Adoption of AI in Healthcare. Restraints: Complex Nature of Healthcare Information Systems. Opportunities: High Government Investment to Develop Innovative Data Collection and Labelling Software. Challenges: Data and Privacy Concerns. Market Analysis: Regulatory Scenario. Porter's Five Forces Analysis. PESTEL Analysis. SWOT Analysis. Impact of Covid-19. Ansoff Matrix Analysis. Global Healthcare Data Collection and Labelling Market: By Data Type: Image/Video. Audio. Text. Others. By End-Users: Biotechnology. Diagnostic Centers. Hospitals. Medical Devices Manufacturers. Pharmaceuticals. R&D Centers. Americas' Healthcare Data Collection and Labelling Market: Key countries: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, United States, Rest of Americas. Europe's Healthcare Data Collection and Labelling Market: Key countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Rest of Europe. Middle East and Africa's Healthcare Data Collection and Labelling Market: Key countries: Egypt, Israel, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates. APAC's Healthcare Data Collection and Labelling Market: Key countries: Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Taiwan, Rest of Asia-Pacific. Competitive Landscape: Competitive Quadrant. Market Share Analysis. Strategic Initiatives: M&A and Investments. Partnerships and Collaborations. Product Developments and Improvements. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/kqzr3n About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment Through 2023 Vista witnessed record flight hours, a 20% growth in subscription hours and Member base, and enhanced its service offering with an extensive fleet refurbishment; 17% growth in on-fleet hours globally, double digit growth in all territories Program membership being the largest driver, with live flight hours up 30% despite a challenging economic backdrop; Over 50% of Vistas flight hours today come from outside of the U.S., emphasizing the global diversity of the Groups business model and the benefit of its floating fleet; Integrations to be completed in Q1/2024; 93 aircraft refurbished throughout 2023 50% more than initially planned bringing the total number of iconic silver and red aircraft to 230; Only operator to guarantee availability on every continent around the world for Global 7500 Members; Concluded investment into global infrastructure and created a network of seven dedicated maintenance hubs across the U.S. and Europe. Dubai, February 5, 2024 Vista, the worlds leading global private aviation group, provides a market update and overview into its robust performance for 2023, highlighting continued growth and progress across all areas of the business. Innovating the industry for 20 years through continuous investment in people, technology and infrastructure, the company has continued to expand its global footprint, enhanced its services and achieved record on-fleet flight hours. Robust growth across all geographies In 2023, Vista captured more market share in the private aviation sector, now with over 5% of total market share thanks to two decades of strong and consistent performance. In the last year alone, the company has grown its on-fleet hours globally by 17% to 200,000 hours through double-digit growth across all geographies. With an addressable market of over 24,000 business jets there is significantly more scope and opportunity for the Group to capture further market share. Vista has increased its proportion of flight hours coming from Program subscription clients following three years of record momentum of new subscribers, making up around 60% of total on-fleet revenue for the Group. Program clients commit to a 3-year agreement, providing the company with long-term visibility on services required and revenue flow. During the year, the Group operated around 87,000 flights 18% more YOY and 80% up against pre-pandemic levels with the numbers expected to keep increasing in 2024. Vistas global presence continues to rise, with more than 50% of total flight hours coming from outside of the U.S.. In 2023 the company made the decision to expand its service area in Africa with dedicated aircraft to support demand in the region. The company also increased the number of aircraft serving Asia and the Middle East, and extended the offering for its Global 7500 Members, granting guaranteed availability of this game-changing aircraft on every major continent around the world. Vista is the only company that is capable of offering this industry-leading aircraft on a global scale and providing such guarantees. Thomas Flohr, Founder and Chairman of Vista, said: 2023 was another year of successful performance in our business. Despite having to react to deep economic shifts and complex geopolitical uncertainty, we produced double digit growth across all markets achieved whilst refurbishing and upgrading our fleet ahead of schedule, further improving our service standards and significantly increasing aircraft availability. Today, Vista is a truly global and recognizable brand all around the world thanks to the 20 years in which we have delivered an unmatched service to our clients, and we are well placed to further increase our market share over the next two decades. The trust of our Program Members is driving our steady growth trajectory, with ever more remaining loyal to Vista than ever before. This provides us with consistent, visible, revenue streams and a strong client base. Our long tenure in this industry means we can anticipate and understand what global business leaders want when it comes to global travel. Beyond the impressive commitment from our Members, I am equally proud of our team of 4,400 experts around the world who are fully committed in delivering the best service to our clients. Fleet optimization and refurbishment The addressable market of over 24,000 underutilized jets highlights an opportunity to change the inefficiencies of the entire industry. By increasing the utilization rates of each aircraft, the Vista Members fleet of over 300 aircraft, is instead optimized to deliver the best service at the best possible rates. After its recent acquisitions, Vista has strategically deployed some of its free cash flow to accelerate the delivery of the most ambitious refurbishment program in business aviation delivering it at scale and ahead of plan. In 2023, 93 aircraft refurbishments were completed 50% more than initially planned meaning more than 230 aircraft now offer the iconic silver and red service and feature the same onboard products customers are used to. In 2023 the Group successfully completed the integration of its recent acquisitions in the U.S. and Europe, to give clients even more access and ensure Vista standards of service across all Group operators. The domestic Members fleet in the United States is now operating as Vista America (DBA) and the international fleet as VistaJet. Charlotte Colhoun, Group Chief Financial Officer of Vista, added: Strong growth across all regions demonstrates the global diversity of our business which in turn supports resiliency to external market dynamics. Despite a contraction in the global aviation market in 2023, Vista increased its hours flown by 17%, far outpacing the wider sector trend. Through 2023 our focus has been on optimizing across all aspects of the business to drive efficiencies and reinvesting cash generated to uplift our fleet globally. With a CAPEX phase behind us and no near-term debt maturities, we go into 2024 in a position of strength and will focus on maximizing revenues from our existing assets and infrastructure. Investment in global infrastructure driving higher quality of service Further steps have been taken to execute the integration strategy by investing into the Groups global infrastructure, including seven dedicated maintenance hubs across the U.S. and Europe. These facilities will bolster in-house maintenance capabilities, increasing speed, agility, and aircraft delivery levels. During the year, the VistaJet Wellness program was launched, the only service of its kind in the industry, allowing clients to continue living well on the ground and in the air. Vista has also worked with more partners to create memorable experiences through its flights across the world and has refined onboard services from heightened Wi-Fi to extended private dining benchmarks globally. Continued investment in Vistas people To uphold its consistently high level of service on every flight, Vista is continuing its investment in the best people. In 2023, the Group developed an in-house management of maintenance, pilot and cabin training, and flying services, giving the company even greater control over safety, quality and availability of the fleet and crew. To strengthen the sectors future and support upcoming industry generations, Vista also introduced its pilot mentored program with the Atlantic Flight Training Academy. As part of the integrations, all cabin training for Vista colleagues from acquired companies is also complete. They join a global team of over 4,400 colleagues who are ready to assist customers on every flight. Ends Contacts press@vistaglobal.com About Vista Vista Global Holdings (Vista) subsidiaries provide worldwide business flight services. A global group headquartered at the DIFC in Dubai, Vista integrates a unique portfolio of companies offering asset free services to cover all key aspects of business aviation: guaranteed and on demand global flight coverage; subscription and membership solutions; trading and management services; and cutting-edge mobility technology. Innovating the industry for 20 years through continuous investment in people, technology and infrastructure, the Groups mission is to lead the change to provide clients with the most advanced flying services at the very best value, anytime, anywhere around the world. Vistas knowledge and understanding of all facets of the industry deliver the best end-to-end offering and technology to all business aviation clients, through its VistaJet and XO branded services and duly licensed carriers. Vista is not a direct air carrier and does not operate or charter flights. More Vista information and news at www.vistaglobal.com Attachments MONTREAL, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Troilus Gold Corp. (TSX: TLG; OTCQX: CHXMF; FRA: CM5R) (Troilus or the Company), announces the retirement of Denis C. Arsenault, CPA, CA, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective February 1, 2024, capping an illustrious 45-year career. Susanna Milne, the Companys Corporate Controller since its inception, will step into the CFO role, bringing her extensive experience and deep understanding of Troilus' financial landscape to the forefront. Justin Reid, CEO & Director of Troilus commented, Denis has been the cornerstone of our finance team from the very beginning, instrumental in laying the financial groundwork for Troilus' future endeavours. Under his guidance and leadership, Susanna has demonstrated herself to be a dedicated and proven leader and over the last year has been fully prepared for her new responsibilities to ensure a seamless transition. We are excited to welcome Susanna to her new role as CFO. On behalf of the Board and our entire team, I extend our heartfelt thanks to Denis for his exemplary service and wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement. Reflecting on his tenure, Mr. Arsenault commented, My journey as Troilus' CFO has been immensely rewarding, contributing to a team that has transformed a dormant site into one of North America's largest undeveloped gold-copper deposits. I am confident in passing the baton to Susanna Milne, a proficient and dedicated professional whose financial expertise and company knowledge position her excellently for this role. Having worked closely with Susanna for over a decade, I am assured of her capabilities to lead Troilus financial future. As I transition to retirement, I look forward to watching Troilus' continued success as a committed shareholder. Ms. Susanna Milne, a Chartered Professional Accountant, brings nearly two decades of experience in the mining sector, specializing in financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and strategic financial planning. Her career includes significant roles at QMX Gold Corporation and Avion Gold Corporation, where her financial leadership greatly contributed to their growth and success. Since joining Troilus in 2017, Ms. Milne has been integral to the company's strategic achievements, combining her comprehensive financial expertise with a profound understanding of the mining industry. Her appointment as CFO is a testament to her unwavering commitment and proven ability to drive financial excellence and corporate success. About Troilus Gold Corp. Troilus Gold Corp. is a Canadian-based junior mining company focused on the systematic advancement and de-risking of the former gold and copper Troilus Mine towards production. From 1996 to 2010, the Troilus Mine produced +2 million ounces of gold and nearly 70,000 tonnes of copper. Troilus claims cover 435 km in the top-rated mining jurisdiction of Quebec, Canada, within the Frotet-Evans Greenstone Belt. Since acquiring the project in 2017, ongoing exploration success has demonstrated the tremendous scale potential of the gold system on the property with significant mineral resource growth. Led by an experienced team with a track record of successful mine development, Troilus is positioned to become a cornerstone project in North America. For more information: Justin Reid Chief Executive Officer +1 (647) 276-0050 x 1305 justin.reid@troilusgold.com Caroline Arsenault VP Corporate Communications +1 (647) 407-7123 info@troilusgold.com Cautionary statements This press release contains forwardlooking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forwardlooking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding, the impact of the retirement and appointment on the Company. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, continue, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, will, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are made based upon certain assumptions and other important facts that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances or achievements of Troilus to be materially different from future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which Troilus will operate in the future. Certain important factors that could cause actual results, performances or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, amongst others, currency fluctuations, the global economic climate, dilution, share price volatility and competition. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Troilus to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: there being no assurance that the exploration program or programs of the Company will result in expanded mineral resources; risks and uncertainties inherent to mineral resource estimates; the high degree of uncertainties inherent to preliminary economic assessments and other mining and economic studies which are based to a significant extent on various assumptions; variations in gold prices and other precious metals, exchange rate fluctuations; variations in cost of supplies and labour; receipt of necessary approvals; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; future gold and other metal prices; accidents, labour disputes and shortages; environmental and other risks of the mining industry, including without limitation, risks and uncertainties discussed in the Technical Report and in other continuous disclosure documents of the Company available under the Companys profile at www.sedar.com. Although Troilus has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Troilus does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. OTTAWA, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Its no secret that primary producers who adopt farm business management practices enjoy increased profitability, confidence, peace of mind and family and farm team harmony. But, what are the best practices when it comes to farm business management? And, where do you begin? Farm Management Canada has launched the Seeding Success: Farm Business Practices Assessment Workshop to help producers improve their business practices by combining self-assessment and action plan development with access to support resources to achieve results: Assess, Act, Achieve! The one-day workshop is free, and open to all Canadian producers new and established. Farm families and management teams are encouraged to attend the workshop together. Participants will work their way through a series of self-assessment questions to identify their current practices under key management areas: Production Management Marketing Financial Management Human Resources Succession Planning Social Responsibility Business Goals Based on their self-assessment, participants will identify their top priority areas for improvement to start creating action plans. Participants will not be asked to share personal or financial details of their operations, but rather assess their practices against industry best practices. Participants will also learn about additional support and resources including advisory services, training and cost-share funding opportunities to help achieve their business goals. The workshop is being offered FREE to producers in multiple locations across Canada thanks to funding from the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council. Plan to attend a Seeding Success farm business practices assessment workshop near you! For more information and to register, visit www.fmc-gac.com/seedingsuccess. This project is funded in part by the Government of Canadas Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program. About Farm Management Canada A national umbrella for Canadian farm business management activity, Farm Management Canada is the only organization devoted exclusively to the development and delivery of advanced business management information, tools and resources to position Canada's farmers for success. As a non-profit organization, Farm Management Canada's programs and activities are made possible through support from our generous sponsors and supporters. About the Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) is a national, non-profit organization focused on addressing human resource issues facing agricultural businesses across Canada. CAHRC works with industry associations, educators, and all levels of government to examine agriculture human resource issues and build meaningful research-based solutions. About the Government of Canadas Sectoral Workforce Program Employment and Social Development Canadas Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP) helps key sectors of the economy implement solutions to address their current and emerging workforce needs. The Program supports projects that focus on a range of industry-driven activities such as training and reskilling workers, helping employers retain and attract a skilled and diverse workforce and other creative solutions to help sectors address labour market needs. For more information contact: Colleen Acres, Project Manager Farm Management Canada Ottawa, Ontario Email: info@fmc-gac.com www.FMC-GAC.com An image accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ac98b9a2-0f39-4077-a266-703ef84d8886 COLUMBIA FALLS, Me., and ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- February 5, 2024 Wreaths Across America proudly welcomes Noreen ONeil as the newest addition to its team, serving as the Corporate Development Specialist with a primary focus on raising awareness and partnerships in the Washington D.C., Arlington, Va., region. With a distinguished background in nonprofit leadership and military family advocacy, ONeil brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to serving the mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach. In her new role as Corporate Development Specialist, ONeil will play a critical role in advancing Wreaths Across Americas year-round mission. Her strategic vision and passion for serving military communities will drive impactful partnerships and initiatives in the Beltway and beyond. We are thrilled to have Noreen join our team at Wreaths Across America, said Renee Worcester, Director of Development and Partnerships at Wreaths Across America. Her expertise and unwavering dedication to military families will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts to Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach the next generation the value of freedom. Before joining Wreaths Across America, ONeil served as Senior Advisor and Chief Development Officer at Operation Deploy Your Dress, where she spearheaded strategic initiatives resulting in significant organizational growth over her six-year tenure. Her dedication to supporting military communities was accomplished previously in her roles as Senior Director of Development and Partnerships at the Military Family Advisory Network and as Senior Advisor to the President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundations Hiring Our Heroes initiative, where she played a pivotal role in advancing veteran and military spouse employment initiatives and fostering collaborations between the private sector and military organizations. In addition to her extensive professional achievements, ONeil holds certifications in fundraising and development, exemplifying her commitment to excellence in her field. She has received several prestigious awards, including the Outstanding Civilian Service Award from General Raymond Odierno, the Marine Corps Commendation, the Yellow Rose of Texas Award from Governor Rick Perry, and the Order of St. Joan DArc Award. I am honored to embark on this meaningful journey with the team at Wreaths Across America, said ONeil. Together, we will ensure that our shared commitment to honoring and remembering our nations heroes goes beyond the deceased. We honor those who serve and teach the next generation to understand the meaning of duty, honor, and country. With dedication and purpose, we will create a tapestry of support that honors the sacrifices of those who have served. ONeil and her husband, retired U.S. Army LTC Dennis ONeil, reside in Arlington, VA. They have four grown children, two of whom are active-duty military spouses, and the entire family dedicates time and resources to finding ways to serve their communities, including volunteering with Wreaths Across America. # # # About Wreaths Across America Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, which was begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992 . The organizations yearlong mission Remember, Honor, Teach is carried out in part by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at thousands of veterans cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. NOTES TO MEDIA AND PRESS MATERIALS: Please visit our Media Resources Page to download background, photos, logos, or other items to help you file your story. Interview opportunities are available upon request. Attachment Minuteman Press International is Entrepreneur Magazines 2024 #1 rated printing & marketing franchise, marking an impressive 33 years and 21 years in a row at #1 in category. FARMINGDALE, N.Y., Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Minuteman Press International, the worlds largest design, marketing, and printing franchise, has been awarded the 2024 #1 printing and marketing franchise ranking by Entrepreneur Magazine. The Minuteman Press franchise team has now achieved this #1 rating for an impressive 33 years and 21 years in a row. Nick Titus, President, Minuteman Press International, says, 2023 was an incredible year for Minuteman Press International as we celebrated 50 years in business and continued to grow our systemwide sales. We are proud to kick off 2024 by receiving the #1 Printing and Marketing Services franchise ranking from Entrepreneur once again. Nick continues, To earn this #1 rating 33 times and 21 years in a row takes a team effort all the way around. From our franchise owners who follow the system and serve their business communities to our dedicated regional support teams and World HQ staff, this award is a testament to working hard and achieving success together. In 2023, Minuteman Press International celebrated 50 years in business; the franchisor remains family-owned and operated today with nearly 1,000 locations in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and South Africa. Nick says, While our industry has certainly evolved, the core principles of providing high quality products with outstanding customer service remain the same today. Minuteman Press franchises continue to serve their communities in 2024 with high-demand design, printing, marketing, mailing, signage, apparel, and promotional products and services. Nick says, Our owners provide essential products and services to support local businesses and organizations in their daily operations and marketing campaigns. We are proud to support our owners with continued innovations to minuteman.com, upgrades to our proprietary FLEX business management software, offering marketing and internet marketing programs including our recurring Deal of the Month campaign, research and development, and of course, providing ongoing local support. Nick concludes, I am very excited for 2024 as we continue to build on the tremendous momentum we achieved in 2023. Our entire staff, from our team at World HQ to the over 25 regional support teams, will continue to work hard and work together to support our owners. To find your local Minuteman Press, visit https://minuteman.com. For more information about #1 rated Minuteman Press printing franchise opportunities and to read Minuteman Press franchise reviews, visit https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Media Contact: Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti, 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a4ad810-c49a-4c83-8d23-f8219294c735 MONSEY, N.Y., Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Wohl & Fruchter LLP is investigating the fairness of the price of $63.50 per share in cash for which Catalent, Inc. (NYSE: CTLT) (Catalent) has agreed to be sold to Novo Holdings. Notably, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of the Novo Group companies (including Novo Nordisk), and Catalent is one of Novo Nordisks main manufacturing partners for its popular weight-loss drug Wegovy. If you remain a Catalent shareholder and question the fairness of the price, you may contact our firm at the following link to discuss your legal rights at no charge: https://wohlfruchter.com/cases/catalent/ Alternatively, you may contact us by phone at 866-833-6245, or via email at alerts@wohlfruchter.com. Why is there an investigation? On February 5, 2024, Catalent announced that it had agreed to be sold to Novo Holdings for $63.50 per share in cash. We are investigating whether the Catalent Board of Directors acted in the best interests of Catalent shareholders in approving the sale, explained Joshua Fruchter, a founding partner of Wohl & Fruchter. This includes whether the price agreed upon is fair to Catalent shareholders, as well as whether all material information regarding the transaction has been fully disclosed. Notably, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of the Novo Group companies (including Novo Nordisk), and Catalent is one of Novo Nordisks main manufacturing partners for its popular weight-loss drug Wegovy. This fact is significant because, on August 28, 2023, Catalent entered into a cooperation agreement with activist investor Elliott Management to, among other things, add four new independent directors to the Catalent Board, including Steven Barg, global head of corporate engagement at Elliott. Now, six months later, Catalent has agreed to sell itself to Novo Holdings. On SeekingAlpha, at least one Catalent shareholder claims there is a connection, writing that Novo [is] getting this on the cheap, thanks Elliot! Another good deal for you at the expense of retail. About Wohl & Fruchter Wohl & Fruchter LLP has for over a decade been representing investors in litigation arising from fraud and other corporate misconduct, and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for investors. Please visit our website, www.wohlfruchter.com, to learn more about our Firm, or contact one of our partners. Contact: Wohl & Fruchter LLP Joshua E. Fruchter Toll Free 866.833.6245 alerts@wohlfruchter.com www.wohlfruchter.com Houston, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Audrey F. Momanaee has joined the firms Houston office as partner in the Commercial Litigation group. As an accomplished litigator, Audrey focuses her practice on matters involving business disputes, commercial and contract claims, catastrophic property claims, construction defects and delays, and matters involving trade secret protection and litigation. She joins Blank Rome from Balch & Bingham where she led the firms litigation practice in Texas. As part of Blank Romes commitment to expanding in Texas, the Houston office recently welcomed private equity veteran Kelly Williams as senior counsel in the Corporate, M&A, and Securities group. In July 2023, the firm opened a Dallas office with the addition of seven leading corporate, real estate, and finance attorneys with national practices, and has since added partners Jason C. Ray and Barrett R. Howell, and of counsel Donald G. Ainscow. We are excited to welcome Audrey to the firm and our nationally recognized litigation practice, said Grant S. Palmer, Blank Romes Chair and Managing Partner. Audrey has handled a wide range of complex business disputes and litigation, including counseling clients through arbitration in the United States and internationally. We are pleased to have another talented litigator like Audrey on our team of seasoned trial attorneys. Audrey handles commercial litigation matters for clients across various industries including those in energy, chemical refining, and manufacturing. She practices primarily in Texas state and federal courts, as well as domestic and international arbitrations. Outside of the courtroom, Audrey has handled a number of internal investigations and regularly provides pre-litigation counseling for clients. In addition to her experience handling disputes and investigations, Audrey has counseled clients about allocating risk in agreements and is a regular speaker on the issue of contractual risk allocation and indemnities. I am thrilled to welcome Audrey to our Houston office, said Susan L. Bickley, partner and co-chair of the firms Houston office. The energy sector is critical to the Houston market and Audreys experience representing oilfield service, pipeline, chemical, and solar and renewable energy companies will provide value to our energy clients navigating business disputes and managing risk. Her addition will also be advantageous to the broad swath of litigators and transactional lawyers that make up our energy industry team. I was impressed by Blank Romes collegial, collaborative culture, as well as the firms prominent litigation bench, noted Audrey. I am excited to join this fantastic group of trial attorneys and draw upon the firms wide range of industry teams and practice areas to serve my clients. I also strongly believe that as lawyers we have an obligation to help underrepresented members of our communities and look forward to supporting Blank Romes pro bono and community service initiatives. Audrey dedicates significant time to pro bono representation. She is passionate about helping families and she has devoted hundreds of hours to guardianship cases. She has also handled immigration matters and lease agreements for nonprofits and has helped create partnerships with in-house legal teams to expand interest in pro bono opportunities. Audrey is a member of the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Board of Directors, the largest provider of pro bono legal services in Harris County. The State Bar of Texas celebrated Audrey for her pro bono work by naming her a 2022 Pro Bono Excellence Award Winner. Audrey is also president of the Houston Independent School District School Board and is a member of the Community Family Centers Board of Directors and the Houston Association of Women Attorneys Board of Directors. She is also a member of the Houston Association of Corporate Counsel and the Womens Energy Network. Audrey earned her J.D. with honors from the University of Texas School of Law and her B.S., summa cum laude, from Texas A&M University. About Blank Rome Blank Rome is an Am Law 100 firm with 15 offices and 700 attorneys and principals who provide comprehensive legal and advocacy services to clients operating in the United States and around the world. Our professionals have built a reputation for their leading knowledge and experience across a spectrum of industries and are recognized for their commitment to pro bono work in their communities. Since our inception in 1946, Blank Romes culture has been dedicated to providing top-level service to all of our clients and has been rooted in the strength of our diversity and inclusion initiatives. For more information, please visit blankrome.com. ### Attachment SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BHP and Carlton Trail College are pleased to announce the recipients of the BHP Jansen Scholarship Program for 2023. The scholarship provides combined support of over $82,000 to 26 youth pursuing post-secondary education and training opportunities in a field of their choosing. Carlton Trail College is a partner in this initiative, administering the program on BHPs behalf. Access to post-secondary education and skills training is proven to bring several benefits to individuals and their families and is often a first step on a path to a fulfilling career, said Karina Gistelinck, Asset President Potash, BHP. We are thrilled to partner again with Carlton Trail College to help support 26 youth from our community in reaching their educational goals. Congratulations and best wishes to all of this years recipients. We appreciate the strong partnership we have with BHP, said Amy Yeager, Carlton Trail College President and CEO. Working together, were able to support important educational and training opportunities for Saskatchewan students. The program provides scholarships to students from eligible schools and communities located in proximity to the Jansen Potash Project. Scholarships are available to Indigenous students, high school students graduating in the current year, and recent high school graduates under the age of 30 who are attending a recognized post-secondary program for the first time. Since the programs establishment, BHP has awarded over $729,000 in scholarships to 275 students. We are pleased to announce the 2023 recipients: Recipient Community or First Nation Madison Junk Annaheim Jacelyn Gamble Beardys and Okemasis Cree Nation Shanna Yahyahkeekoot Beardys and Okemasis Cree Nation Kayden Buffalo Day Star First Nation Sydney Kinequon Day Star First Nation Zakary Sweet Englefeld Katlynn Henderson Fishing Lake First Nation Cheyenne Kayseas Fishing Lake First Nation Dezerae Blind George Gordon First Nation Janiesha Papequash George Gordon First Nation Chase Hall Humboldt Amber McDougall Humboldt Joshua Mendoza Humboldt Taryn Stock Humboldt April Dustyhorn Kawacatoose First Nation Riane Sewap Kawacatoose First Nation Bayli Focht Lanigan Ethan Kirzinger LeRoy Avery Berezowski Muenster Kaden Hintz Muskowekwan First Nation Brianna Sayer Muskowekwan First Nation Karys Harcourt Quill Lake Presley Saul Raymore Nickolas Lawrence Watrous Hailey Chegus Watson Hayley Bodnar Wynyard The 2024 application period will open in the spring. Details and application forms will be available on Carlton Trail Colleges website at www.carltontrailcollege.com About BHP BHP is a global resources company with its Canadian operational headquarters in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and global business development headquarters in Toronto. BHP has a global workforce of approximately 80,000 people working in locations across Canada, Australia, Asia, the UK, US and the Americas. BHP produces commodities essential for global decarbonization, economic development and food security including copper, nickel, iron ore, metallurgical coal and is developing the Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan, Canada. Further information on BHP can be found at: bhp.com About Carlton Trail College Established in 1973, Carlton Trail College offers in-depth, applied learning to provide post-secondary education and skills training, academic upgrading and essential skills courses, English Language Training, as well as industry and workforce development to individuals, businesses and organizations across east-central Saskatchewan. Further information about Carlton Trail College can be found at www.carltontrailcollege.com. For more media inquiries, contact: Megan Hjulfors, BHP Media Relations Tel (403) 605-2314 Email megan.hjulfors@bhp.com For scholarship and application inquiries, contact: Jennifer Brooks, Carlton Trail College Advancement and External Affairs Tel (306) 682-6851 Email brooksj@carltontrailcollege.com SAN DIEGO, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fuse Integration, a warfighter-focused engineering and design firm, today announced the company will demonstrate its tactical edge networking solutions at WEST 2024 February 13 15 at the San Diego Convention Center. Considered the premier naval conference and exposition on the West Coast, WEST is now in its 34th year of bringing military and industry leaders together. With a Fuse theme of Secure and Resilient Networking, the company will demonstrate its proven networking products at its Booth #1042. Joint force connectivity and visibility is essential to gaining an edge in todays great power competition, said Sumner Lee, CEO of Fuse. At WEST 2024, were looking forward to showcasing some of our warfighter-focused products that enable voice, video and data connectivity across the battlefield, interconnecting sensors, weapons, and commanders. Co-sponsored by AFCEA International and the U.S. Naval Institute, WEST is the only event in which the makers of platforms and the designers of technologies can network, discuss and demonstrate their solutions in a single locale. FUSE BOOTH Booth Booth #: 1042 (directly across from the Navy Information Warfare Theater) Demonstration Tactical Technologies Toolset (T3) remote network monitoring and management solution Models DARE airborne networking gateway (1/3 model) CORE virtualized network systems Resources JADC2: Tactical Edge Networking to Win in Great Power Competition [white paper] Change the Defense innovation game: Use a virtual network test bed from day one [article] For more information about Fuses participation in WEST 2024, visit: http://tinyurl.com/y8rehcks. About Fuse Integration Fuse is a warfighter-focused engineering and design firm providing innovative communications, networking and computing solutions for defense customers. The companys virtualized network systems, tactical edge network and airborne networking gateway products improve the sharing of information, video, text and voice among warfighters throughout airborne, maritime and ground environments. Founded in 2010, Fuse is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business with headquarters in San Diego and a corporate office in Washington, D.C. www.fuseintegration.com Contact: Joyce Bosc 301-717-9529 jbosc@boscobel.com NEWARK, Del, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The aircraft hydraulic system market is projected to reach US$ 12.6 billion by 2024. The sales of aircraft hydraulic systems are expected to witness a strong CAGR of 11.8% from 2024 to 2034. By 2034, the demand for aircraft hydraulic systems is anticipated to reach a valuation of US$ 25.9 billion. The aircraft hydraulic system market is driven primarily by increased air traffic and a rise in new aircraft deliveries. The demand for improved aviation hydraulic systems on new aircraft encourages the adoption of aircraft hydraulic systems, which reduce weight and lower end-user operating and maintenance costs. Gain expert insights and supercharge your growth strategies. Request our market overview sample: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-18874 Growth Stimulators Rising interest in using commercial airplanes Increasing global air traffic OEM aircraft deliveries are increasing The expansion of low-cost airlines and the rise in passenger volume Hydraulic systems technological developments Market Constraints for Aircraft Hydraulic Systems The aviation hydraulic system market struggles with obstacles like stricter regulations, a greater emphasis on fuel efficiency, and an increasing adoption of electric power systems. Market obstacles include the necessity for constant innovation to satisfy changing safety regulations, the possibility of system malfunctions, and the need for lightweight substitutes. Defense budget changes are influenced by the economy and market growth of aviation hydraulic systems, leading to a dynamic environment that challenges long-term growth. Regional Outlook Asia Pacific is a prominent contributor to the global aircraft hydraulic system market due to extensive aerospace production centers in nations like China and Japan. As airlines in the region increase their fleets to accommodate the expanding passenger numbers, Asia Pacific's robust economic expansion and rising demand for air travel are boosting the market. Defense contractors are looking for dependable and high-performing solutions for various aircraft platforms, which boosts demand for modern aircraft hydraulic systems. The region's concentration on military aviation and defense applications stimulates the demand for aircraft hydraulic systems. Europe's focus on environmental sustainability impacts the market, as there is an increasing need for fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly hydraulic systems that comply with strict aviation requirements. Due to the growing need for air travel, the airplane hydraulic system market is expected to rise steadily. There are opportunities for aircraft hydraulic system market expansion as the increasing focus on safety regulations and fuel economy spurs innovations. - Nikhil Kaitwade (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.) Elevate Your Business Strategy! Purchase the Report for Market-Driven Insights: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/18874 Key Takeaways The reservoirs segment in the product category is likely to accelerate at a CAGR of 11.6% from 2024 to 2034. In the fluid type category, the vegetable-based segment is expected to develop at a CAGR of 12.1% between 2024 and 2034. The United States aircraft hydraulic system market is projected to surge at a CAGR of 12.1% by 2034. The United Kingdom airplane hydraulic system market is likely to develop at a CAGR of 13% through 2024. China sales of aircraft hydraulic systems are expected to surge at a CAGR of 12.6% until 2034. South Korea aircraft hydraulic system industry is anticipated to boost at a CAGR of 14.0% by 2034. Japan aircraft hydraulic system market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 13.3 by 2034. Competitive Landscape Due to the growing need for dependable and effective aircraft hydraulic systems, several aircraft hydraulic system vendors are competing intensely. Moreover, leading aircraft hydraulic system companies consistently prioritize technological innovations, research and development, and strategic alliances to attain a competitive advantage. Global economic conditions, regulatory changes, and advancements in aeronautical engineering are some of the factors that impact the competitive dynamics of the aircraft hydraulic system industry. Request Report Methodology: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/request-report-methodology/rep-gb-18874 Vital Aircraft Hydraulic System Manufacturers Arkwin Industries, Inc. Eaton Corporation plc HYCOM Liebherr-International Deutschland GmbH Moog Inc. PARKER HANNIFIN CORP Safran S.A. Senior plc Triumph Group Woodward, Inc. Recent Developments AMETEK, Inc. finalized a deal of about US$ 1.9 billion in December 2023 to acquire Paragon Medical, a prominent supplier of highly designed medical components and devices, from affiliates of American Securities LLC. Certified Aviation Services, LLC (CAS) declared in February 2021 to acquire a brand-new Series 920 Universal Independent Dual System Hydraulic Test Stand. Key Segments By Product: Reservoirs Pumps Valves Hydraulic fuses Accumulators Actuators Others By Fluid Type: Vegetable-based Mineral-based Synthetic-based By Wing Type: Fixed Wing Rotary Wing By End User: Airforce General Aviation Commercial Aviation By Region: North America Europe Asia Pacific The Middle East Asia Latin America Authored by: Nikhil Kaitwade (Associate Vice President at Future Market Insights, Inc.) has over a decade of experience in market research and business consulting. He has successfully delivered 1500+ client assignments, predominantly in Automotive, Chemicals, Industrial Equipment, Oil & Gas, and Service industries. His core competency circles around developing research methodology, creating a unique analysis framework, statistical data models for pricing analysis, competition mapping, and market feasibility analysis. His expertise also extends wide and beyond analysis, advising clients on identifying growth potential in established and niche market segments, investment/divestment decisions, and market entry decision-making. Nikhil holds an MBA degree in Marketing and IT and a Graduate in Mechanical Engineering. Nikhil has authored several publications and quoted in journals like EMS Now, EPR Magazine, and EE Times. Explore FMIs Extensive Ongoing Coverage on the Automotive Domain Aircraft Generators Market Demand is estimated to register a CAGR of 7.5% by the year 2033. Aircraft Sensors Market Size is anticipated to surpass a market valuation of US$ 13,211.0 million by 2033. Aircraft Cabin Interior Market Share is projected to reach US$ 37.6 billion by 2033. Aircraft Refurbishing Market Outlook is to reach US$ 5.4 billion by 2033. Aircraft Pushback Tugs Market Growth is to worth US$ 6.5 Billion by 2032. About Future Market Insights (FMI) Future Market Insights, Inc. (ESOMAR certified, recipient of the Stevie Award, and a member of the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce) offers profound insights into the driving factors that are boosting demand in the market. FMI stands as the leading global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, consulting, and events for the Packaging, Food and Beverage, Consumer, Technology, Healthcare, Industrial, and Chemicals markets. With a vast team of over 5000 analysts worldwide, FMI provides global, regional, and local expertise on diverse domains and industry trends across more than 110 countries. Contact Us: Nandini Singh Sawlani Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-845-579-5705 For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Website: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube Staunton, VA, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Secure Solar Futures, a provider of on-site clean energy to schools, hospitals, and businesses, has opened an office in Huntington, West Virginia. Representing the next phase of the companys expansion into the state, the office will be headed by Matthew Anderson, a West Virginia native and military veteran with more than 20 years' experience as an entrepreneur in multiple fields including information technology, construction, and manufacturing. Anderson will oversee outreach to K-12 schools and community colleges that are eligible for solar incentive grants from the Coalfield Solar Fund. A partnership of Secure Solar Futures, global financial technology company Intuit, and the National Energy Education Development Project, the Coalfield Solar Fund offers incentive grants to encourage Virginia and West Virginia K-12 public schools and community colleges to go solar at no upfront cost. Anderson will also help develop Secure Solar Futuress initiative to establish Solar Regional Clusters of educational institutions in coalfield regions of the state to share resources for clean energy workforce development. For more than a century, the people of West Virginia have provided energy to keep the lights on for American families and run industries ranging from steel to software, said Anderson. Now we have the chance to transition to the 21st century energy economy by adding solar to West Virginias portfolio. With Secure Solar Futures, I look forward to finding ways to save clients money while developing career opportunities in regions where they did not exist before. Secure Solar Futures specializes in providing solar power, electric vehicle charging, and other clean energy offerings with no upfront cost at commercial scale through a Power Purchase Agreement. In 2021, West Virginia became the 29th state to allow solar PPAs, a type of financing that allows customers to install a solar power system on site without any upfront capital cost by contracting with a solar provider to operate solar equipment on the customers behalf. With 35 megawatts of solar power capacity installed as of the third quarter of 2023, West Virginia currently draws less than one percent of its energy from the sun and ranks 49th among US states for solar generation, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. The state is projected to develop solar capacity of 517 megawatts and rise in rank to 45th in the next five years, boosted by a 42 percent decline in costs for solar power systems in West Virginia over the last decade. About Secure Solar Futures As a market and policy leader, Secure Solar Futures builds, owns, manages, and funds affordable Resilient Solar Solutions for schools, hospitals, and businesses. The company combines stateoftheart solar technology with an innovative business model to make commercial-scale solar readily affordable in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, helping customers realize solar energy's economic, environmental, and community benefits. In 2017, Secure Solar Futures became a Certified B Corporation. Find the company online at www.securesolarfutures.com. Attachment MONROE, Mich., Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- La-Z-Boy Incorporated (NYSE: LZB), a global leader in the manufacture and retail of residential furniture, announced its investment and ongoing support of key industry furniture markets. La-Z-Boy Incorporated is formally extending the lease for its portfolio of showrooms at High Point Market in Furniture Plaza, High Point, NC and Las Vegas Market, B555 at World Market Center Las Vegas, NV. La-Z-Boy is also committing to major renovations of its showrooms in High Point, including showrooms for the La-Z-Boy brand, La-Z-Boy International, and England Furniture. These investments will allow La-Z-Boy Incorporated to better serve its customers, partners, and all stakeholders. Our commitment today is wholly enabled by the continued market success and financial stability of La-Z-Boy Incorporated even in the face of challenging industry and economic conditions, said Melinda D. Whittington, President and Chief Executive Officer of La-Z-Boy Incorporated. These investments demonstrate our commitment to the industry furniture markets, while reimagining the showrooms where our brands come to life, as we meet our customers and demonstrate our product quality, comfort, and style. La-Z-Boy continues to make disciplined investments in the face of a challenging industry environment, reflecting the La-Z-Boy brands global strength. These showroom investments also build on and celebrate the successful launch of our Long Live the Lazy brand campaign, said Robert Sundy, President, La-Z-Boy Brand and Chief Commercial Officer of La-Z-Boy Incorporated. The company expects renovations on the La-Z-Boy brand showroom in High Point to commence following April 2024 Market; the showroom will be reimagined and will prepare to carry the La-Z-Boy brand into its next one hundred years. We are looking forward to delivering a modern, spacious, high-tech showroom for our customers to experience the innovative, high quality and uniquely comfortable offerings La-Z-Boy manufactures and sells, Sundy added. The England showroom in Plaza Suites at High Point is also being updated throughout with current finishes and styles that will accentuate the high-quality product manufactured and reliably delivered under the England brand. This remodel is already underway, with completion planned in time for the April 2024 High Point Market and the celebration of 60 years of business for England Furniture. England Furniture provides fast, custom upholstered furniture made here in the United States, and our investment in our showroom enables us to continue serving our customers for decades to come, added Tj Linz, President, Portfolio Brands of La-Z-Boy Incorporated. James Chickini, La-Z-Boy Incorporated Vice President, Real Estate Development and Construction, noted, Finally, we want to thank, ANDMORE (formerly IMC), owner and operator of Plaza Suites at High Point and World Market Center Las Vegas, for their continued partnership. We also want to share our appreciation to our design partners, Barbour Spangle Design and Ryan Kronbetter Architect (RKA, PLLC), the High Point Market Authority, and the City of High Point on this exciting project that will benefit our company and the local economy. Media Contact : Mark Becks, CFA, (734) 457-9538 mark.becks@la-z-boy.com About La-Z-Boy : La-Z-Boy Incorporated is a global leader in the manufacture and retail of residential furniture, marketing furniture for every room of the home. The Wholesale segment includes La-Z-Boy, England, American Drew, Hammary, Kincaid and the company's international wholesale and manufacturing businesses. The company-owned Retail segment includes 177 of the 353 La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries stores. The Corporate and Other segment includes Joybird, an e-commerce retailer and manufacturer of upholstered furniture that also has 11 stores in the U.S. The corporations branded distribution network is dedicated to selling La-Z-Boy Incorporated products and brands, and includes 353 stand-alone La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries stores and 521 independent Comfort Studio locations, in addition to in-store gallery programs for the companys Kincaid and England operating units. Additional information is available at https://www.la-z-boy.com/. LOS ANGELES, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Feit Electric Company, Inc. (Feit Electric), a leading global lighting and smart home brand headquartered in California, today announced that on February 2, 2024 it commenced a patent infringement action against Ledvance, LLC (Ledvance) in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. Despite being warned by Feit Electric, Ledvance imported and then sold white LED filament light bulbs marketed under the brand name Sylvania. Feit Electric introduced light bulbs with white LED filaments in August 2022 and the fresh alternative to the traditional yellow filament quickly appealed to retailers and consumers. Anticipating that other light bulb suppliers might copy the Feit Electric white LED filament bulbs, Feit Electric announced to the industry that it owns a set of patents directed to covering the yellow material used on LED filaments. Not only did we widely announce to the industry that Feit Electric owns a set of patents directed to covering the yellow material used on LED filaments, but we also specifically and directly informed Ledvance as well as retailers and other manufacturers, said Alan Feit, President of Feit Electric. Despite those warnings, Ledvance went forward with infringing products. Feit Electric is seeking an injunction to bar the further importation and sale of infringing white LED filament light bulbs, for damages, and for enhanced damages and attorney fees for willful infringement. While we would prefer that our competitors respect our patents, we are committed to enforcing our patents against infringers if they do not. We also hope that retailers look to us for light bulbs with visible white filaments, rather than infringers, said Mr. Feit. Feit Electrics new line of white filament decorative lighting is available at The Home Depot and Ace Hardware stores. For more information on Feit Electrics white filament product line visit feit.com. About Feit Electric Founded and headquartered in California, Feit Electric is celebrating over 45 years as a leading global lighting and smart home brand. Through innovative design, supply chain expertise, and industry-leading technology, Feit Electric offers its customers a full portfolio of reliable lighting products including home decor lighting collections, light fixtures, smart and feature-rich high-performance lighting solutions as well as a full line of general household, specialty light bulbs in all shapes, sizes, and configurations. For more information, visit feit.com, and follow us on X , Facebook , Instagram , TikTok and YouTube . Media Contact: press@feit.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e202fe30-661e-499c-9ce7-630bf9c23061 New York, NY, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CTERA, the leader in edge-to-cloud file services today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Michael Amselem, Chief Revenue Officer to the prestigious 2024 CRN Channel Chiefs list, which recognizes IT vendor and distribution executives who are driving strategy and setting the channel agenda for their companies. Amselem has over 20 years of experience in enterprise and channel sales and holds a BA in Economy from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. These channel evangelists are dedicated to supporting solution providers and achieving growth by implementing robust partner programs and unique business strategies, said Jennifer Follett, VP, US Content, and Executive Editor, CRN, at The Channel Company. Their efforts are instrumental in helping partners bring essential solutions to market. The Channel Company is pleased to acknowledge these prominent channel leaders and looks forward to chronicling their achievements throughout the year. CTERA appointed Amselem to the CRO post in March 2023. As a company, CTERA revamped its partner program under his guidance, to provide a more streamlined approach for engaging with partners. The CTERA Partner Program rewards channel partners based on their level of activity and guarantees that partners have access to a full set of resources, tools, and support during and after the sales cycle. Congratulations to Michael on making the 2024 CRN Channel Chiefs list, said Oded Nagel, CEO of CTERA. In under a year as our Chief Revenue Office, Michael's leadership has been pivotal, notably in the successful launch of our revamped partner program. This program, a testament to Michael's strategic vision, has streamlined partner engagement and contributed significantly to our recent successes. As we celebrate this CRN recognition, we're excited to announce our continued investment in the partner ecosystem throughout 2024. We're committed to providing our partners with the tools, resources, and support needed for success in the dynamic edge-to-cloud file services landscape. This acknowledgment by CRN highlights not only Michael's achievements but also CTERA's ongoing excellence in channel leadership. CRNs 2024 Channel Chiefs list is featured in the February 2024 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs. # # # CTERAs social media resources include: About CTERA CTERA is the leader in cyber-resilient file services from edge-to-cloud, powering more than 50,000 sites and millions of corporate users. CTERA delivers a cloud-native global file system over public or private object storage, with a rich data services ecosystem that enables enterprises to gain full control of their data environment for optimal edge performance, granular security, data insight, and governance. For more information, visit www.ctera.com. Westwood, KS., Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In 2023, Midwest Transplant Network set a new level of achievement for the number of organs recovered for transplantation, organ donors, eye and tissue donors, and laboratory tests performed as part of organ, eye and tissue donation. MTN, a not-for-profit organ procurement organization (OPO), achieved 988 lifesaving organs for transplantation. The gifts came from 363 donor heroes. MTN also recovered gifts of eye and tissue from 1,399 donors. What we achieved at Midwest Transplant Network in 2023 reflects the commitment of the staff who do the work every day to support organ donation and transplantation. The work is hard, and happens in countless ways, but we are all dedicated to the mission of enhancing and saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation said Jan Finn, RN, MSN, President & CEO, Midwest Transplant Network. 2023: A Significant Year for Saving Lives Through MTN, the generosity of donor heroes and their families touched the lives of people in need: 363 donor heroes shared the gift of life, resulting in 988* lifesaving organ transplants. (*Excluding organs donated for research) 1,399 cornea and tissue donor heroes saved and enhanced lives. cornea and tissue donor heroes saved and enhanced lives. MTNs lab performed 36,224 transplant-supporting tests ranging from blood counts, urinalysis, basic chemistry panels and more. transplant-supporting tests ranging from blood counts, urinalysis, basic chemistry panels and more. In its first full year of service, MTNs Donor Recovery and Surgical Unit (DCU) cared for 114 donor hero patients resulting in 364 lifesaving transplants. MTNs award-winning histocompatibility lab performed 36,224 tests assessing blood work for potential matches for organ, tissue and bone marrow transplantation, as well as post-transplant monitoring. MTNs professional laboratory staff performs thousands of tests in support of organ transplants for patients in our community, as well as patients across the country. Each year, the laboratorys service grows as we continue to provide exceptional quality and expert consultation services 24/7 to transplant centers, said Christina Bishop, MT(ASCP), Ph.D., F(ACHI), Chief of Laboratory Services. The DCU allows us to continue specialized care for donor hero patients while maximizing their gifts of donation. The DCU also enables us to support our hospital partners by freeing up resources such as intensive care unit beds, operating rooms and medical staff needed to care for donor patients, said Lori Markham, RN, MSN, CCRN, Vice President & Chief Clinical Officer. An Upward Trend MTNs performance metric increases reflect a national upward trend for the organ transplant system. The United Network for Organ Sharing reported that across the country, clinical workers performed more than 46,000 lifesaving transplants in 2023. Although organ transplants are increasing nationally and locally, the waiting list grows. More than 100,000 people around the country need a lifesaving organ transplant with approximately 460 of those people living in Kansas and 2,000 in Missouri. Incorporated in 1973, Midwest Transplant Network facilitates organ, eye and tissue donation in partnership with hospitals and other professional partners to give hope and share life. MTNs service area is the state of Kansas and western two-thirds of Missouri, with its central office located in Westwood, Kansas, and satellite offices in Wichita, Kansas, and Columbia and Joplin, Missouri. MTN commemorated 50 years of service in 2023. ### Attachment RIMOUSKI, Feb. 05, 2024 - Puma Exploration Inc. (TSX-V: PUMA, OTCQB: PUMXF) (the "Company" or "Puma") is pleased to report that Canadian Copper (CSE: CCI) has completed the acquisition of the Murray Brook Deposit and surrounding property as outlined in CCI's news release dated February 1, 2024 (click here to read the release). The Murray Brook Deposit is the largest advanced-stage polymetallic asset in New Brunswick. The undeveloped 21 Mt (Measured + Indicated) volcanogenic massive sulphide ("VMS") deposit contains 2.73% Zn, 0.47% Cu, 1.0% Pb, 41 g/t Ag, 0.65 g/t (Technical Report and Updated Mineral Resource Estimate of the Murray Brook Zn-Pb-Cu-Ag Project, New Brunswick, Canada, P&E Mining Consultants, effective October 3, 2023). Marcel Robillard, President and CEO of Puma and Director of CCI, stated, "Two years ago when we decided to spin off our base metal properties to continue to advance our Williams Brook Gold Project, we were confident that Canadian Copper with Simon Quick at the helm, would successfully bring value to the assets. With 100% ownership of the Murray Brook deposit, CCI has established itself as the most important base metals explorer with significant mineral resources in the Bathurst Camp. This transaction has secured CCI's path to substantial growth. Our 11% equity stake in the company ensures that we benefit from its ongoing success. I want to congratulate Simon on this remarkable achievement, and I look forward to what lies ahead as he and his team fast-track the development of the Murray Brook Project." The Murray Brook Deposit and associated property package butts up against the Murray Brook West property optioned to CCI in 2021 and is contiguous to Puma's JonPol and Portage properties (Figure 1). With this consolidation, CCI firmly establishes itself as a major player in the critical minerals exploration and mining in New Brunswick. Following Puma's "DEAR" (Development, Exploration, Acquisition and Royalties) business strategy to generate maximum value for shareholders with low share dilution, all of the Company's copper assets were optioned to a new copper-focused company (later Canadian Copper) in 2021 to give the projects the visibility and attention they deserved (see July 6, 2021 News Release). The transaction allows Puma to monetize the copper assets, unlock their value, and, as an equity holder, benefit from CCI's valuation growth. At the same time, Puma continues to develop the Williams Brook Gold Project. Figure 1: Puma's assets and landholdings in Northern New Brunswick About Canadian Copper Inc. Canadian Copper is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company with a copper and base metals portfolio of historical resources and grassroots projects. The Company is focused on the prolific Bathurst Mining Camp ("BMC") of New Brunswick, Canada. There are currently 90,044,760 shares issued and outstanding in the Company. Visit www.canadiancopper.com for more information. About Puma Exploration Puma Exploration is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company with precious metals projects in Northern New Brunswick. Puma's flagship Williams Brook Gold Project comprises four properties covering more than 49,000 ha near paved roads and with excellent infrastructure nearby. The land package is located near the Rocky Brook Millstream Fault ("RBMF"), a major regional structure formed during the Appalachian Orogeny and a significant control for gold deposition in the region. Since 2021 and with less than C$12.5M of exploration investment. Puma has made multiple gold discoveries at the Williams Brook property and believes that the property hosts an extensive orogenic gold system. Dr. Gregg Morrison, a leading expert on intrusion-related, porphyry and epithermal gold systems, stated: "I believe Williams Brook is part of the same family of gold systems as Fosterville and Sunday Creek in Australia and Valentine Lake in Newfoundland. These other deposits are known for their structure-controlled mineralization, metal zoning, free gold in bonanza shoots and kilometre scale depth extent. The similarities to these more comprehensively explored deposits gives real confidence to deeper drilling in the Lynx Zone and continued exploration around the feeder structures in the Williams Brook District.'' Figure 2. Main gold showings and occurrences at the Williams Brook Gold Project Qualified Person Dominique Gagne, P.Geo., a Puma consultant and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, reviewed and approved this release's technical information. Connect with us on Facebook / X / LinkedIn. Visit www.explorationpuma.com for more information or contact: Marcel Robillard, President and CEO, (418) 750-8510; president@explorationpuma.com Mia Boiridy, Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Development, (250) 575-3305; mboiridy@explorationpuma.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve several known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Puma to be materially different from actual future results and achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made, except as required by law. Puma undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. The quarterly and annual reports and the documents submitted to the securities administration describe these risks and uncertainties. Images accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7b811a7a-60a1-4608-9dbf-4a6d73fc6f12 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c61f3eaf-8b4c-4cad-8208-c9eee0226668 SASKATOON, Feb. 05, 2024 - BHP and Carlton Trail College are pleased to announce the recipients of the BHP Jansen Scholarship Program for 2023. The scholarship provides combined support of over $82,000 to 26 youth pursuing post-secondary education and training opportunities in a field of their choosing. Carlton Trail College is a partner in this initiative, administering the program on BHP's behalf. "Access to post-secondary education and skills training is proven to bring several benefits to individuals and their families and is often a first step on a path to a fulfilling career," said Karina Gistelinck, Asset President Potash, BHP. "We are thrilled to partner again with Carlton Trail College to help support 26 youth from our community in reaching their educational goals. Congratulations and best wishes to all of this year's recipients." "We appreciate the strong partnership we have with BHP," said Amy Yeager, Carlton Trail College President and CEO. "Working together, we're able to support important educational and training opportunities for Saskatchewan students." The program provides scholarships to students from eligible schools and communities located in proximity to the Jansen Potash Project. Scholarships are available to Indigenous students, high school students graduating in the current year, and recent high school graduates under the age of 30 who are attending a recognized post-secondary program for the first time. Since the program's establishment, BHP has awarded over $729,000 in scholarships to 275 students. We are pleased to announce the 2023 recipients: Recipient Community or First Nation Madison Junk Annaheim Jacelyn Gamble Beardy's and Okemasis' Cree Nation Shanna Yahyahkeekoot Beardy's and Okemasis' Cree Nation Kayden Buffalo Day Star First Nation Sydney Kinequon Day Star First Nation Zakary Sweet Englefeld Katlynn Henderson Fishing Lake First Nation Cheyenne Kayseas Fishing Lake First Nation Dezerae Blind George Gordon First Nation Janiesha Papequash George Gordon First Nation Chase Hall Humboldt Amber McDougall Humboldt Joshua Mendoza Humboldt Taryn Stock Humboldt April Dustyhorn Kawacatoose First Nation Riane Sewap Kawacatoose First Nation Bayli Focht Lanigan Ethan Kirzinger LeRoy Avery Berezowski Muenster Kaden Hintz Muskowekwan First Nation Brianna Sayer Muskowekwan First Nation Karys Harcourt Quill Lake Presley Saul Raymore Nickolas Lawrence Watrous Hailey Chegus Watson Hayley Bodnar Wynyard The 2024 application period will open in the spring. Details and application forms will be available on Carlton Trail College's website at www.carltontrailcollege.com About BHP BHP is a global resources company with its Canadian operational headquarters in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and global business development headquarters in Toronto. BHP has a global workforce of approximately 80,000 people working in locations across Canada, Australia, Asia, the UK, US and the Americas. BHP produces commodities essential for global decarbonization, economic development and food security including copper, nickel, iron ore, metallurgical coal and is developing the Jansen potash project in Saskatchewan, Canada. Further information on BHP can be found at: bhp.com? About Carlton Trail College Established in 1973, Carlton Trail College offers in-depth, applied learning to provide post-secondary education and skills training, academic upgrading and essential skills courses, English Language Training, as well as industry and workforce development to individuals, businesses and organizations across east-central Saskatchewan. Further information about Carlton Trail College can be found at www.carltontrailcollege.com. For more media inquiries, contact: Megan Hjulfors, BHP Media Relations Tel (403) 605-2314 Email megan.hjulfors@bhp.com For scholarship and application inquiries, contact: Jennifer Brooks, Carlton Trail College Advancement and External Affairs Tel (306) 682-6851 Email brooksj@carltontrailcollege.com Haas owner didn't want to spend more on F1 says Steiner Gunther Steiner admits he was fired by Gene Haas because he wanted the billionaire team owner to spend more money on Formula 1. Kevin Magnussen, Abu Dhabi GP 2023 Haas F1 Team / LAT Haas may have finished dead last in 2023, but the small American outfit is first out of the ranks with its new car launch for 2024. New team boss Ayao Komatsu, however, admits Haas may once again be last this season. When we get to Bahrain, we will probably be towards the back of the field, if not completely in last place, he said. "The reason for this is not the quality of our people, it's the late start and a two-month break in development to build the Austin upgrade. We had to divert resources and we lost time. But Komatsu's axed predecessor, Steiner, thinks Haas' slump is because the team didn't adapt well enough to the start of the new budget cap era. I wanted to invest in the team, he didn't, he said, referring to Gene Haas. We simply had different views on how things should proceed. Steiner said the team was established with its uniquely lean structure long before the budget cap era, leaving more powerful rivals able to adapt in a way that Haas could not. This is not a criticism of the team, Steiner told Auto Motor und Sport, "but the reality. The budget cap has completely changed Formula 1. Old structures no longer work, he explained. "McLaren, Williams, Alpha Tauri have been investing for two years in infrastructure so that they have more budget for the operational business. If you don't follow suit, you can't expect to be able to keep up. Every bit of new software, for example, reduces the expenses on the personnel side, Steiner added. Every new machine helps you produce more cheaply. Then you have money left over for developing the car. He said his plan was for a grand new team factory. If you want to attract new people, you have to offer them a pleasant environment. Otherwise no one will come anymore, said Steiner. Management of the team has now passed into the hands of experienced engineer Komatsu - and he disagrees with Steiner that Haas has hit a dead end without further investment. Even within our limited resources, we can do a better job, he said. "I approach things differently and can already see several areas in which we can improve. If I didn't believe in that, I wouldn't have taken this job. As for Steiner, he already has his own company - North Carolina-based Nascar carbon fibre supplier Fibreworks Composites - and has become highly popular thanks to the F1 Netflix series Drive To Survive. I'm taking it easy and seeing what happens, he says. There are of course a few offers, including from television. But I won't rush into anything. (GMM) Wolff plays down 2025 Vettel comeback rumours Toto Wolff is already fending off the early and wild rumours about who will replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2025. Sebastian Vettel, Hungarian GP 2022 Aston Martin Racing One of the wildest is that it may be the perfect opportunity for quadruple world champion Sebastian Vettel to mount a Formula 1 comeback. We talked yesterday, team boss Wolff told journalists including one for the German broadcaster RTL. "But it wasn't about him driving again. I think Sebastian has made the decision that he doesn't want to do that anymore. Wolff insists that he currently as no romantic thoughts about a high profile replacement for Hamilton, given that he was just as surprised as the rest of the world about the seven time world champion's Maranello move. There are reports Hamilton, 39, was finally lured into red on the promise of an incredible $100 million per year deal. I think Lewis already has a lot of money, former Ferrari driver Mika Salo smiled to Ilta Sanomat newspaper. What is clear is that the impending move to Italy will ensure an awkward 2024 season not only for Hamilton, but also the man he will replace in 2025 - Carlos Sainz. It's going to be difficult for everyone, another former Ferrari driver, Jean Alesi, told RMC Sport. As soon as Lewis enters the paddock, all the questions will be about Ferrari when he has 24 grands prix to do for Mercedes. 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve agrees: "It will be very interesting to see how Mercedes manages the fight between George Russell and Hamilton now. It is clear that something is not working at Mercedes, he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Lewis no longer believes in the engineers and he no longer believes in Toto. After all the space and the freedom they gave him, I really didn't expect this. It was Mercedes who created Hamilton's image, Villeneuve added. They believed he would remain an ambassador for life. As for Villeneuve's 2025 pick for Mercedes, he admitted: It would be great if Mercedes signed Fernando Alonso. Also because you can't put another young guy with Russell. Wolff, meanwhile, is clearly upset that Hamilton kept his Ferrari talks completely secret until last week - after Charles Leclerc re-committed to Maranello and Lando Norris inked a new long-term deal at McLaren. What was surprising wasn't that it happened, Wolff admitted, but rather the timing. When we said goodbye for the Christmas vacation, we were still on the same wavelength. Nonetheless, Wolff's claim about not being surprised may be wide of the truth. Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren were all recently on the same technical level. Nobody stood out, he insisted. If Lewis had gone to Red Bull, the motive would have been clearer. However, Wolff insists that he can relax about its 2025 lineup because Russell has already proved he can lead from the cockpit. (GMM) Nokia announced today it signed a multi-year cross-license agreement with vivo. The Chinese company has agreed to pay royalties to the Finns as well as catch-up payments for the dispute period. The agreement resolves all pending patent litigation between both parties. Terms between Nokia and vivo will remain confidential, as agreed between the two companies. The agreement is one of the final steps of the smartphone licensing renewal cycle for Nokia. It should open the doors for vivo back to the European market after the company was banned from selling its new phones due to the pending lawsuit. This is the sixth major smartphone patent license agreement Nokia signed in the past thirteen months, revealed Jenni Lukander, President of Nokia Technologies. The deal will provide long-term stability to the company's licensing business for years to come. vivo, for its part, said the agreement reflected the mutual recognition and respect for each other's patent value in cellular technology, and the deal will play a significant role in fostering a positive development environment within the industry. Source Inarajan Middle Schools 6th to 8th grade students are back on campus starting Feb. 5, the Guam Department of Education said. It was a different time in Guam. Between 1898 and 1941, CHamoru people afflicted with leprosy were banished from Guam and sent to a leprosarium in the Philippines. University of Guam professor, Anne Hattori, Ph.D., authored a book about this period when the U.S. Naval Administration controlled Guam. The Navys health care regime in Guam at the time was a vehicle through which U.S. colonial power and moral authority over CHamorus were introduced and entrenched, said Hattori, a native CHamoru and author of the 264-page book, Colonial Dis-Ease: US Navy Health Policies and the Chamorros of Guam, 18981941. Hattori is a professor of History, CHamoru Studies, and Micronesian Studies at UOG. First published in 2004, the book got new traction when the University of Hawaii Press recently reprinted Colonial Dis-Ease in paperback. The first print was hardcover. The story of Guams Hansens Disease patients was not well published at the time I did my research, and it was an important topic to look at, Hattori added. She said medical experts, Navy doctors, and health care workers asserted their scientific knowledge, as well as their administrative might and, in the process, became active participants in the colonization of Guam. Changes to Guams traditional systems of health and hygiene placed demands not only on CHamoru bodies, but also on their cultural values, social relationships, political controls, and economic expectations, according to Hattori. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero recently signed a proclamation commemorating January 2024 as Leprosy Awareness Month. The book is available on uhpress.hawaii.edu. The search for people who are at least 100 years old begins once again. The Department of Public Health and Social Services Division of Senior Citizens will celebrate the islands centenarians in May as part of Senior Citizens Month, so its seeking out families of centenarians. A centenarian is any senior citizen who is or will be 100 years of age or older between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31. In addition, for the purpose of this program, and to be eligible, the centenarians primary residence must be in Guam. To assist the Division of Senior Citizens in recognizing Guams centenarians, the public is encouraged to inform a centenarian or the centenarians family or caregiver about this hallmark event and how to obtain the information to submit to DSC. Biographical and consent for release of information forms must be filled out for the centenarian. The biographical and consent for release of information forms can be found via the DPHSS website at www.dphss.guam.gov or requested via email to be sent directly to Biba.SeniorCitizens@dphss.guam.gov. The deadline to submit all biographical forms is 3 p.m. on Feb. 29. For more information, contact DeAnndra Chargualaf, program coordinator III, at deanndra.chargualaf@dphss.guam.gov or Connie Borja, program coordinator III, at connie.borja@dphss.guam.gov. Individuals can also contact DSC by calling (671) 735-7415 or (671) 735-7421 for more information. The decision over where to have a new hospital built remains at a stalemate in the Legislature. Gov. Lou Leon Guerreros proposal to negotiate for land for the hospital in the Mangilao-Barrigada area and Sen. Chris Barnetts proposal to mandate the hospital be built in Tamuning both failed to pass at a vote held Friday afternoon. Sens. Tom Fisher, Will Parkinson, Roy Quinata, Joe San Agustin, Dwayne San Nicolas, Amanda Shelton, and Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes voted for the governors bill. Sens. Chris Barnett, Joanne Brown, Chris Duenas, Jesse Lujan, Sabina Perez, Telo Taitague, and Speaker Therese Terlaje voted for Barnetts bill. Republican Minority Leader Sen. Frank Blas Jr., who has questioned the need for a new hospital when the Guam Memorial Hospital is now in a bad state, voted no on both proposals. Motions to come back on Monday morning and reconsider the vote on both bills, made by Speaker Terlaje and Sen. Perez at two different points during the session, both failed. Barnett at one point apologized to the people of Guam for the indecision. He said the matter was potentially the biggest vote that the lawmakers had to make this legislative term. The senator said there was a lack of decorum and civility in the administration and in politics. We can say we want to solve the issue of the hospital, but if the wrong person says they want to solve it, oh, we would rather drive the whole effort into the ditch when the politics is like that there are no winners, he said. Shortly after session ended Friday evening, Adelup issued a statement saying that the governor remained committed to a new medical complex. Every time a radical faction of the Legislatures leadership fights progress, what they are really fighting is the people of Guam, Leon Guerrero said in a statement. Saying no is easy. It might get headlines or make you look stronger than you are, but it isnt a plan, and it will never rebuild our hospital, she said. Today, the Legislature proved that while it can debate the alleged failure of others, it consistently fails to deliver solutions of its own. Reconsider Speaker Terlaje asked senators to continue debating both measures and come to a decision. I want us to do our job, she said. Besides the now failed Eagles Field site, Ypao Point in Tamuning and the governors preferred site in Mangilao-Barrigada area were the only two locations for a new hospital identified by the $1.48 million hospital study the administration selected. She said she preferred the Ypao Point site, which ranked higher in the study and which had cheaper infrastructure costs, but if people in here know better than that, lets hear it. Sen. Perez made a similar request. I think our job is not done until we have made this decision on the location of the hospital, she said. Stick to it Some senators who could have swayed the vote told the PDN they did not plan to change their minds. Minority leader Blas, who voted no on both measures, said his opinion would not change until there was some action taken to fix up the current GMH, our people deserve better health care now. GMH was faced with a shortage of medication and supplies, a lack of air conditioning units, mold, poor finances, and vendors that didnt want to do business with them. Meanwhile, there was over $200 million in federal American Rescue Plan money held by the governor. How to fix the hospital, thats the decision that needs to be made. Where to put it? Thats easy. Thats easy. How its going to work. Thats the hard question, Blas said. Sen. Parkinson, who earlier this week said he would be voting for both bills on the agenda, but ultimately voted only for the governors bill, said his vote would not change, either. I had said that Id preferred the Mangilao location, but I would vote for both, Parkinson said. The overwhelming response from the body was, we have a responsibility to vote and choose only one. And so I took the comments of my colleagues to heart, he said. Positive stalemate Some did not see the deadlock as an issue. Sen. Tom Fisher said the stalemate that resulted it was messy, it was democracy. I didnt get everything I wanted out of this session and nobody else did either, and that is a good thing if one side is always getting what they want, that means the wheels have come off the wagon, he said. Guam Medical Association President Dr. Tom Shieh was quick to remark, calling the failure of both bills a silver lining. Shieh, who has long supported the Ypao Point site, said he believed the governor would have vetoed Barnetts bill anyways, Shieh said. Now this really means we can and should update GMH. We must update GMH now! he told the PDN, even if that meant a federal receivership. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero joined 21 other governors from across the nation in filing with the U.S. Supreme Court an amicus curiae brief in support of abortion rights. Guam is a member of the Reproductive Freedom Alliance which filed the brief on Jan. 30 with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Food and Drug Administration, et al., v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, et al. The alliance, formed a year ago, is a non-partisan coalition of 22 governors who are committed to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom in their respective jurisdictions, the brief states. States, territories and reproductive health care providers have all been forced to adapt their practices to comply with a shifting legal landscape, documents state. Last August, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision restricting the abortion drug mifepristone, which the FDA approved more than 20 years ago following a determination that the drug was safe and effective. More recently, the U.S. Supreme Court in December granted the U.S. Department of Justices request to review the case since overruling the long-standing constitutional right to an abortion with Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. Pending the U.S. Supreme Courts decision, mifepristone is still available in those states where medication abortion is legal. The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration continues to advocate for reproductive freedom for the people in Guam. Guam, as part of the RFA, argues in its brief that if the court allows the Fifth Circuits decision to stand, it could undermine governors ability to provide adequate healthcare services to the people in their jurisdictions and have far-reaching implications beyond reproductive healthcare. A personal decision With such an unprecedented decision invalidating the FDAs approval of a drug, the RFA argues that the Fifth Circuits decision impacts governors reliance on safety and efficacy decisions by the FDA. Our administration has consistently maintained the stance that the choice to end a pregnancy is a private healthcare matter exclusively between a woman, her physician, and anyone else she wishes to include in the decision, the governor said in a statement on Monday. Neither the government nor any other entity should dictate such a personal decision for an individual. She said access to reproductive choice is part of the full range of reproductive health care that should be available to all, including access to birth control, access to prenatal care, to mammograms and pap smears, and yesaccess to abortion. Abortion is part of reproductive health care, she said. Given its mandate, the Reproductive Freedom Alliance has a significant interest in ensuring that litigants in one judicial district who are morally opposed to a particular type of prescription-drug product are not permitted to dismantle patient access nationwide, the brief states. In the U.S., medication abortion accounts for more than half of all abortions and has been repeatedly proven to be a safe and effective method for abortion and miscarriage management, the brief states. The availability of safe, effective, and FDA-approved medication abortion is a critical component of the reductive health care regime in states in which abortion is legal. Physician shortages, insufficient resources, and rural communities without enough clinics to serve the local populations all create enormous challenges for governors when confronting one of their most important roles protecting public health, the brief states. No abortion provider on Guam It also said telehealth has become a critical part of reproductive health care and has helped states cope with the surge in demand for abortion care and lack of access in health care deserts. Currently, as Guam has no abortion provider on the island, medication abortion via telemedicine is the only option for women needing to terminate a pregnancy here, Bureau of Womens Affairs Director Jayne Flores said in a release. Flores said work is being done to expand access to birth control and prenatal care, severely limiting or banning the option of medication abortion altogether could put women, girls, and persons with a uterus on Guam in danger if they no longer have that option. To view the full amicus brief, visit supremecourt.gov. Parents and taxpayers are sending their children and patients to public schools and the Guam Memorial Hospital that have mold conditions that most people elected officials included would not tolerate in their own homes, at Adelup, or the Guam Congress building. Its unconscionable that the mold conditions at Guam Department of Education schools and GMH which can lead to illnesses and in some rare instances kill have been allowed to persist for several months now without massive mitigation. This GovGuam has not treated the mold issue at the hospital and schools as emergency enough to warrant a swift and massive response. Its been eight months since Typhoon Mawar hit, which caused or worsened the mold problems in schools and in the public hospital. Federal funds have been pumped into GovGuam to deal with Mawar response and recovery so addressing the mold problem has not been a question about funding source, but about management and leadership, or lack of it. GDOE has expressed its frustration with procurement or some other processes beyond the departments control, and may not even see mold mitigation until March. GMH, meanwhile, has just publicly released a taxpayer-paid mold assessment report, about a month after its board received it though it said it started addressing the matter within weeks of Mawar. The statements that have been coming out from GMH about what it has done so far while waiting for long-term mitigation do not inspire much confidence. A private clinic, American Medical Center, said it has been seeing more GMH staff with respiratory issues in the months since Mawar damaged GMH. The recently released mold inspection report said airborne mold concentrations in a dozen areas of GMH were found high enough to be detrimental to human health over long periods of time. More than 10,000 square feet of gypsum board and concrete walls were affected, mostly on the first and fourth floor, along with all the ventilation ducts and air conditioning units on every floor of the hospital, the report said. If GMH and GDOE schools were private entities that get inspected by GovGuam for health and sanitation, such as a restaurant or a daycare center, theyd probably be shut down for mold issues immediately. But because they are GovGuam entities, the standard and level of expectation seem to be much lower or nonexistent. GovGuam can do much better in protecting children and their teachers, and hospital patients and staff. The normal expectation is that sick patients get better after staying at the government hospital, not sicker. This isnt about people refusing to do their jobs or deliberately endangering students and patients, or about a massive public health threat. Its about immediately implementing corrective action plans and raising awareness about mold impacts and what can be done quickly while long-term solutions are still being planned or yet to be implemented. Those mold assessment reports and plans, we hope, wont gather dust, if not mold. An average of 32 babies on Guam died before their first birthday each year between 2017 and 2021, according to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Infant mortality rates for the island during that five-year-period were nearly twice as high as the national average across the same period, based on numbers from the report and data from the National Vital Statistics System. Guam had a higher rate of infant mortality than any other state in four of those five years. In 2017, the island ranked only sixth highest, between Tennessee and Alabama. Worst year In 2021, the worst year for infant mortality on the island, Guam saw 41 infant deaths. Thats just four deaths less than what the state of Rhode Island recorded that year, with a population of over 1 million people and four times the number of births as Guam in 2021. And babies of certain ethnicities and income brackets are at even higher risk, the report found. Chuukese infants on Guam had a mortality rate nearly three times the national average, while CHamoru infants were nearly five times as likely to die before turning one, compared to the average infant in the nation. If a mother was covering medical bills using either Medicaid or the local Medically Indigent Program, their child has a 90% greater chance of dying before their first birthday, according to the HSS report. Its all about prenatal care, said Dr. Hoa Nguyen of American Medical Center, when asked about the high infant mortality rate. Getting expectant mothers to a doctor early for regular checkups is key to preventing infant mortality, according to Nguyen, who first sounded the alarm about a shortage of local obstetrician-gynecologists back in 2022. Since then, the Sagua Managu birthing center closed its doors, and Guam Memorial Hospital obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Jeffrey Gabel, died. Shortage of doctors Getting an appointment for an early checkup remained a difficulty, Nguyen said. We have a severe shortage of OB-GYNs and on island, theres absolutely minimal prenatal care, said Nguyen, adding that he feared the situation would worsen as some of the OB-GYNs on island are nearing retirement. Nguyens analysis matches up with the report from HSS, which identifies a lack of access to timely prenatal care as a continued challenge on Guam, along with a lack of services for a mother after a child is born. Attempts to fill in the gap in prenatal care with midwives and nurse practitioners did not account for high-risk patientsthose were most likely to see their infant die, according to Nguyen. Moms with diabetes were among those of most concern. Nguyen said he believed more could be done to recruit OB-GYNS for Guam, as Saipan had recently been successful in recruiting three doctors. The Guam Memorial Hospital Authority has pointed to a nationwide shortage of OB-GYNs as a cause of the shortage, though the hospital has asserted it is well covered with doctors once its time for a woman to actually give birth. Guams challenges in recruitment seem to be unusually hard, GMH head of pediatrics Dr. Akua Agyeman told the Pacific Daily News. Ive done a lot of recruitment for doctors in my past and Ive done the same thing here. Ive never struggled so much to find doctors as Ive done in Guam, said the doctor, who has worked on Guam for three years and was previously trained in rural and remote medicine in Australia. In the past year, GMH had made job offers to five neonatologists, doctors trained in handling sickly or premature newborn babies, according to Agyeman. All five refused, and GMH continues to have to fill in the gap using the services of a telemedicine neonatologist, the next best option, according to the pediatrics head. She estimated that about 10% of the births that occur at GMH are high risk, but said the percentage of those births that result in a newborns death at the hospital was relatively low. Working with doctors ahead of time could optimize safety for newborn mothers, and help doctors to plan for any complications. That only time that preparation doesnt take place is if the mother just walks in, no prenatal care. Nobody knows shes coming, in which case we are scrambling, Agyeman said. The last review of infant deaths at the hospital found six babies had died there over the course of one year, Agyeman told the PDN. Four of those babies developed respiratory distress and couldnt be resuscitated, while the other two had congenital problems that Agyeman believed may have seen them die even if they could be quickly taken off island for treatment. Under-resourced She stressed that while Guam was not a big city hospital, with a multitude of specialists on hand to deal with any situation, GMH could still get mothers to deliver safely. No, our care is not the absolute tip top, what is being done in big hospitals in the U.S., but were never gonna have that in Guam. We are forever and ever going to be an under-resourced place, Agyeman said. Using telemedicine, and getting expectant mothers to work with the resources available to them to plan for their births are ways to address those shortfalls, according to the doctor. What we work to do is fill in the gaps that are dangerous to patients because we are under-resourced, she said. Thats the part where the patient will die, thats what weve got to fill in. Every morning, school bus shelters vandalized with all sorts of graffiti and with trash strewn around them greet students, residents and visitors. On Monday morning, some military personnel cleaned up and repainted some of those problem bus shelters in the north. But there are still many others that are waiting for volunteers to give them some care. I think graffiti-laced bus stops are a problem because this is one of the first things the young impressionable minds see most mornings. How do they learn to respect the villages, or the island for that matter, if they see no one respects them? concerned Dededo resident Gary Kuper told the Pacific Daily News. On Monday morning, while driving around Yigo, the Pacific Daily News chanced upon a group of Marines cleaning up and painting over some bus shelters outside the main gate of Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz in Dededo. The painting was done to cover the markings left behind by vandals, community liaison coordinator Uriah Perez said, while Marine Lance Cpl. Ryan Little, Marine Lance Cpl. Garrett Gillespie and others were adding fresh coats of paint to two bus stations. These newly cleaned and repainted bus stops are in stark contrast to the heavily vandalized and trash-stricken ones blocks away. Kuper, the concerned resident, linked vandalized bus stops to a growing sense of detachment within the community. Ever (wonder) why (it is) so relaxing going to a few beaches? I think its mainly because of the pristine surroundings. Well, its completely opposite when you pass a tagged bus stop or a trash riddled park, said Kuper. The longer we are exposed to such conditions, the less connected we become to the world around us. Kuper said he requested the Guam Environmental Protection Agency for resources to be able to paint several school bus stops in Liguan Terrace, Dededo that have been covered with graffiti. Im trying to get a hold of some paint to paint several bus stops in Liguan Terrace This might turn out to be a battle of wills between those who graffiti the shelters and my attempt to keep them respectable, so I might be coming to you often, his email to GEPA read. Kuper noted that some people even dump their yard waste next to the bus shelter. Despite reaching out to various authorities, Kuper said he has not received any responses from them. Ive personally called or emailed the (governors) office, Guam Clearing House, Guam Beautification Task Force, DPW (Department of Public Works) directors office, DPW bus ops, Guam Contractors Association, Guam EPA with no luck, Kuper said. Currently, Im waiting for a response from GSWA (Guam Solid Waste Authority). Senator Barnett and Mayor Gogue have reached out with advice and offers to help. Supplies needed Kuper shared efforts that are being made by a nonprofit organization, Lions Clubs International District 204, in painting bus stops, but he stressed the need for government assistance in providing supplies. In the (Facebook) post, Ms. Yagitaret asked where she could get supplies to paint a bus stop in her village, but she received no responses ... I know of a second Lions Club that is also seeking information on how they can also paint a bus stop, he said. So, I know there are people out there willing to help, if only the government could help them with a few supplies. Kuper suggested installing night vision cameras to know when the last time someone was caught tagging bus stops. I would like to know what the penalty will be if they ever do get caught. Everything else is going up in price, the financial punishment should as well, he said. In the recent years, several bills have been proposed regarding the installation of surveillance cameras in public areas. In 2022, the Mayors Council of Guam opposed a similar bill due to its uncertainties related to cost, bandwidth, and logistics. According to Guam laws, vandalism is often considered as a misdemeanor, although it may be elevated to a criminal charge depending on the extent of property damage and associated costs. (With reports from Rick Cruz/Pacific Daily News) Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero is proposing another record high $1.26 billion budget for the government of Guam in fiscal 2025, as military construction spending ramps up and the island continues recovery from Typhoon Mawar and a COVID-19-spurred tourism slump. If enacted, the governors budget proposal would be the third GovGuam budget north of $1 billion. It would also be the third consecutive increase in annual government spending since local tax revenue dipped during the pandemic. All told, the proposed fiscal 2025 budget is about $96 million more than the already record high budget for the current fiscal year. Guams economy is expected to continue expanding, in the wake of the pandemic and Mawar, the governor wrote in her budget submission to the Legislature. Economic activity will continue to expand as a result of the federal construction, notably the Camp Blaz Marine Corps Base, missile defense construction along with private and government construction projects, she stated. The opening of the Village of Donki in Tamuning, a new McDonalds in Mangilao, a Jollibee in Hagatna, and a new School of Engineering building at the University of Guam are among positive developments that the governor cited. We note that as we transmit the (executive budget request), Cope North 2024 is currently underway and this lengthy multi-national military exercise is filling our hotel rooms and restaurants. As a result of this expansion in our private sector we may see unemployment remain, or potentially further fall below the latest report of 4.1%, Leon Guerrero stated. Revenue in the General Fund, which includes taxes from businesses, individuals, and Section 30 taxes collected from federal employees on island, is projected to top $860 million after various government obligations are accounted for. Thats $48 million more than the revenue level adopted in the current fiscal year budget. Overall General Fund revenue would be 24% higher than collections in fiscal 2016, should the proposed budget pass as is. Special funds, which collect money from specific sources like hotel room bookings and tobacco sales, are projected at $214 million in the governors proposal, $3 million more than that of fiscal 2024. Finally, federal revenue from matching grants-in-aid are projected to go up to $190 million, $44.9 million more than fiscal 2024 level. Senators, we are making significant progress and must stay the course. We have a new hospital to build and schools to repair or replace and we, together, can accomplish these needed and truly necessary improvements in education and health care if we work together, the governor wrote in her budget request. The budget also takes into account a continued suspension of liquid fuel taxes, which saves residents about 19 cents per gallon at the pump. According to the administration, the proposed budget also accounts for the following: LETTER: We could all learn something from the young folks You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) The New Mexico Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that tribal courts have jurisdiction over personal injury and property damage cases brought against Native American casinos, ending a long battle that saw pueblos and other tribes advocate for protecting sovereignty when such legal claims arise. The decision stemmed from a 2016 lawsuit in which an employee of an electrical company claimed he was severely injured while making a delivery at Pojoaque Pueblos casino. The state Court of Appeals had reversed a lower court ruling that initially called for the case to be dismissed. The tribe then asked the state Supreme Court to settle the question over jurisdiction. In its ruling, the court pointed to previous decisions in two federal cases that effectively terminated a provision in tribal-state gambling compacts that waived sovereign immunity to allow jurisdiction to be moved from tribal court to state court for some damage claims. One of those federal cases involved a personal injury claim involving the over-serving of alcohol at Santa Ana Pueblos casino. The other was a slip-and-fall lawsuit brought in state court by a visitor to the Navajo Nations casino in northwestern New Mexico. Attorney Richard Hughes had filed a brief on behalf of Santa Ana and Santa Clara pueblos, with seven other pueblos signing on. He told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the ruling was significant and long overdue. Weve been fighting state court jurisdiction over these cases for 20 years and so its the end of a long struggle to keep state courts out of determining tribal affairs, he said. He and others have argued that nowhere in the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act did Congress authorize state courts to exercise jurisdiction over personal injury claims. The New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the ruling. Those who have advocated to have state courts hear personal injury cases contend that the people suing tribal gambling operations could face an unfair disadvantage in tribal court. Some experts expect personal injury lawyers to opt for arbitration before heading to tribal court, but Hughes said tribal courts are perfectly competent to handle cases like this in a very fair and equitable fashion. __ By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press A company that paid a $1.75 million settlement for allegedly selling COVID-19 vaccines to the wealthy, instead of administering them to the senior home residents in its care, was recently awarded $2 million by the state of Florida to develop an educational program for the states public schools. It is unclear why the state is doing business with MorseLife Health System after it, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, purportedly targeted ineligible people for donations of $25,000 and more in exchange for vaccines meant for the most vulnerable in December 2020. This specific vaccination program was designed to protect some of the nations most vulnerable individuals at a critical time when the COVID-19 pandemic was devastating that population, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Departments Civil Division, said in 2022 after the settlement was reached. The department will hold accountable those who misused vital pandemic relief programs for their own financial gain. In a news release late last month, a nonprofit program developed by MorseLife Health System, a not-for-profit company that provides senior living residences and services in Palm Beach County, declared it was entrusted by Florida with a budget of just over $2 million for statewide Holocaust education across 67 districts. The program was created in partnership with Next Generations of Holocaust Survivors, a nonprofit organization founded in 2004. But Barbara Goldstein, the executive director of the Holocaust Education Resource Council, is concerned and says the announcement is misleading. First, as a long-standing member of the Holocaust Education Task Force, whose core mission to promote Holocaust education in the state of Florida, Goldstein wanted to know why the task force wasnt consulted or included in any decision to enlist MorseLife. According to documentation obtained by GulfLive.com, The Holocaust Learning Experience developed by MorseLife Health System submitted a project proposal to provide the service on Nov. 17, 2023, in paperwork signed by MorseLife CEO Keith A. Myers. It was approved less than one month later on Dec. 13, 2023, with an allotted budget of $2,050,000. This is the same organization that, in June 2022, agreed to pay the U.S. government $1.75 million as part of a settlement to resolve its potential liabilities under the False Claims Act for purportedly diverting a portion of its vaccine allotment, intended for vulnerable populations, to billionaires and millionaires for donations. The $1.75 million settlement In December 2020, 40% of COVID-19 related deaths occurred in long-term health care facilities. With a limited vaccine supply, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched a program prioritizing vaccines for residents and staff of these facilities, through on-site clinics. MorseLife signed up for the program and scheduled a clinic at its senior living facility in West Palm Beach for Dec. 31, 2020. In text messages obtained by the Justice Department, in anticipation of the upcoming vaccination clinic, the CEO of MorseLife Health Systems told the organizations fundraising arm, the MorseLife Foundation, Go after the billionaires first, adding, Hell, were taking care of their life. While the DOJ did not name the CEO, he is identified on the organizations website as Keith A. Myers. Myers stated he was disappointed with foundation members for not asking for bigger donations referring to them in the text message as, little boys and girls in the foundation only asking for $25,000. Go for the 25,000 Ill go for the billions; Im a little disappointed in the foundations mentality; I have delivered you 350 of the richest people in the country and youre still thinking $25,000 gift, he wrote. Do not be weak be strong you have the opportunity to take advantage of everyone who needs the shot. In all, the DOJ alleged that 567 of the 976 people vaccinated at MorseLifes clinic on Dec. 31, 2020, were ineligible to participate in the program. The settlement today exemplifies my office and its law enforcement partners strong commitment to combatting all forms of health care fraud-related schemes, especially those that exploit government resources designed to assist individuals who were acutely affected by the COVID-19 global pandemic, U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez for the Southern District of Florida, said in a news release issued at the time of the settlement. We will not relent in holding accountable those in South Florida who exploit health care programs intended to assist vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Holocaust education in Florida The integration of Holocaust lessons into K-12 public schools has been mandated since the passage of the Holocaust Education Bill by the Florida Legislature in 1994. In the 2023-2024 legislative session, Florida allotted funding of about $27 million across approximately 47 Jewish community organizations to provide a variety of services, and Goldstein said there are dozens of Holocaust organizations throughout the state that provide teachers with free resources for their Holocaust curriculum, including books, downloadable lesson plans, videos and speakers. In 1998, the Florida Department of Education commissioned the Holocaust Documentation & Education Center to write the first statewide resource manuals on Holocaust studies for grades K-12. In addition to being available for download online, they also were distributed to all private, public and parochial schools in the state of Florida. Theyre not the only Holocaust educators in Florida, Goldstein said, referring to MorseLife. And, she said, its been a joint effort with all the various organizations collaborating and communicating, except she says, for one outlier: MorseLifes Holocaust Learning Experience. Despite Goldsteins request for the organization to share its lesson plan, she claims she was denied on the grounds that it was private. Everybody is alarmed about this, Goldstein said. Because all of the other Holocaust education centers share everything; we work together. Gulf Live reached out to Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. and MorseLife Health Systems CEO Myers for comment, but they did not immediately respond. Florida Holocaust Education Task Force Chair Michael Igel declined to comment. Haiti - Insecurity : At least 170,000 children displaced by armed violence The rise in armed violence across Haiti has triggered a profound humanitarian crisis, with at least 170,000 children internally displaced. This alarming figure, twice as high as last year, highlights the rapid deterioration of the situation and its profound impact on the country's most vulnerable children and families. In January 2024, the latest figures reveal that nearly 314,000 people had to flee their homes across the country, mainly in Port-au-Prince and the Artibonite department, half of whom were children. In less than two weeks, nearly 2,500 people, mostly women and children, have been newly displaced following clashes in the Solino and Gabelliste regions. The current situation places enormous pressure on the already limited resources of host communities and existing social services. "In Haiti, children and families are experiencing unrelenting waves of brutal violence, with each day bringing new horrors, the loss of loved ones, homes destroyed by fire and an ever-present shadow of fear," said Bruno Maes, UNICEF Representative in Haiti who visited three displaced sites in downtown Port-au-Prince. "Deprived of essential products such as food, health care and education, they are mired in a crisis that deprives the very essence of childhood. It is a humanitarian catastrophe that is unfolding before our eyes." Preliminary reports received by UNICEF paint a harrowing picture of the current crisis, revealing serious violations of children's rights. Tragically, children are caught in the crossfire, sustain injuries or lose their lives, with some incidents occurring on the way to school. In addition, cases of children being forcibly recruited are increasing, while others join armed groups driven by desperation. "We cannot stand idly by while the future of Haiti's children is eroded by endless suffering. Every moment of inaction deepens the crisis consuming their lives. The global community has a duty to bring hope and change to these young lives, ensuring a better, more secure future for them," said Maes. In 2024, UNICEF estimates that 3 million children across Haiti will need humanitarian assistance due to escalating violence, malnutrition, resurgence of cholera and basic services on the brink. the collapse. More than a third of them are in urgent need of protection, and this number is expected to rise if conditions deteriorate. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - USA : The Support Mission in Haiti encounters American political obstacles The United States has pledged up to $200 million to support the Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MMSS) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40603-haiti-news-zapping.html More precisely 100 million dollars in monetary support for the mission (a fraction of the cost estimated between 400 and 600 million) and an additional 100 million from the Pentagon in kind (intelligence services, air transport, communications and medical support.) Of the amount of 100 million, the Biden administration made an initial request for 50 million from Congress which released only 10 million. Subsequently, the Biden administration asked Congress (controlled by the Republicans) for another $17 million to start the process, according to sources familiar with the matter... In addition to the obstacle of justice in Kenya which is currently blocking the Mission https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41519-haiti-flash-the-high-court-of-nairobi-blocks-the-deployment-of-the-mission-in-haiti.html and https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41561-haiti-flash-president-ruto-affirms-that-the-kenyan-mission-in-haiti-will-take-place.html , American funding for MMSS in Haiti faces other obstacles in the United States. Members of the US Congress are demanding more information from the Biden administration, including a plan B in case Kenya is unable to lead the MMSS, to approve the requested funds. In the meantime, the funds have not been released As for the promises of international financial participation in this mission, no information is available on the progress or otherwise of this financing. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41561-haiti-flash-president-ruto-affirms-that-the-kenyan-mission-in-haiti-will-take-place.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40603-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41561-haiti-flash-president-ruto-affirms-that-the-kenyan-mission-in-haiti-will-take-place.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41519-haiti-flash-the-high-court-of-nairobi-blocks-the-deployment-of-the-mission-in-haiti.html SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Security : 2023 report, summary in figures from the PNH A summary report of the actions of the Haitian National Police (PNH) in 2023 reveals that during the numerous operations carried out as part of the fight against gangs, 268 bandits were fatally injured. 421 weapons including assault rifles and several thousand rounds of ammunition were seized, among other things During 2003, the PNH made 10,386 arrests, 654 of which were members of armed gangs. Furthermore, the PNH released 147 hostages. The operations carried out by PNH units prevented the establishment of gangs in certain areas, but also made it possible to consolidate other areas such as : Belvil, Vivy Mitchel, Bellevue, Les Collines, Meyotte, Diegue, Peguy-Ville among others. In addition, the PNH regained control of several areas which were under the control of armed gangs including among others: Laboule 12/Thomassin, Saint-Louis du Nord, Saut-D'eau, Monchil (South-East), Metivier, Gros-Jean, Fort-Jacques, Verrettes, Desarmes. However, despite its efforts the PNH was not able to prevent entire parts of certain departments such as Artibonite and the West from being in the hands of armed bands. In terms of improving police conditions, the risk premium for agents of specialized units increased from 7,500 gourdes to 30,000 gourdes. For police officers from the Intervention Brigade, this bonus increased from 5,000 to 20,000 gourdes. For police officers on secondment, this bonus increased from 5,000 to 10,000 gourdes. Concerning the staffing situation, the report reveals that 3,286 police officers (over 2 years) left the institution (2022 and 2023) of which 2,948 were dismissed for "abandonment" of post. SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Unprecedented peasant initiative Following the control of the main roads by armed individuals, notably in Mariani and Martissant, at the southern entrance to Port-au-Prince, peasants from the South-East with their makeshift means decided to transform their problems into solutions in order to provide services to the population who face serious traffic difficulties. These farmers took the initiative to carry out improvement work themselves on the section of road linking Kenscoff to Jacmel via Seguin in order to facilitate access to the Great South. Education : Thousands of children deprived of their rights 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 in various departments, particularly in Grand'Anse and the North-East. Other establishments are closed to serve as temporary shelters for displaced families. The number of internally displaced people increased to around 314,000 in January 2024... USA : Statement from Matthew Miller Statement by Matthew Miller, Spokesperson for the US Department of State on the situation in Haiti "It is urgent that the international community respond to the unprecedented levels of gang violence and destabilizing forces targeting the Haitian people. At the same time, we call for the restoration of democratic order through an inclusive political process in Haiti." Cap-Haitien : Winners of the Young Painters competition The Museum of Fine Arts of Cap-Haitien organized the first edition of the Young Painters Competition during the month of January 2024. The jurors designated Edlyn Jean-Louis, Viterson Destin and Genenrich Pierre respectively as first, second and third winner of the competition. 80/20 : Delivery of books to the Lycee national de Petion-ville The Ministry of National Education and its partner Editions Pedagogie Nouvelle S.A. delivered a first batch of 334 books to strengthen the library-media library of the national high school of Petion-ville, as part of the 80/20 initiative with the houses publishing https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41489-haiti-education-the-strengthening-of-school-libraries-across-the-country-continues.html U-17 Football : Congratulations from the Embassy of Haiti in Canada "The Embassy of Haiti in Canada welcomes the victory on Saturday of the Haitian U-17 women's football team against its Salvadoran counterpart hhttps://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41588-haiti-u-17-women-s-championship-victory-for-haiti-[5-3]-against-el-salvador-qualifies-for-the-semi-finals-video.html at the CONCACAF-U17 championship 2024. She congratulates the player Lourdjina Etienne for his extraordinary performance, with a quadruplet, two of which are the expression of a mixture of technical prowess, combativeness and determination. Alasso Grenadieres !" HL/ HaitiLibre Ordered to jail for 25 days, given 6-year deferred sentence Devon Nelson, who plead guilty last year to destroying about half a million dollars worth of farming equipment in a drunken vandalism spree in 2022, was sentenced to pay $526,000 and spend 25 days in jail in Blaine County District Court Friday, along with a six-year deferred sentence on felony criminal mischief, and 6-months in county jail for a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief, all suspended. If Nelson abides by all conditions of his release for the six years, the felony will be struck from his record. Judge Yvonne Laird said the court has attempted to balance its duty to see just... Riku Aalto , the chairperson of the Industrial Union, argued in a press release that the trade union has no choice but to ramp up its actions because the government continues to show no readiness whatsoever to lend an ear to employees as it pursues changes to employee rights and unemployment security. THE FINNISH Industrial Union and Trade Union Pro on Friday issued a warning of a series of work stoppages in several industrial sectors on 1416 February. The union said around 60,000 of its members would take part in the three-day work stoppages at production sites of companies including ABB, Kone, Konecranes, Metso, Meyer Turku, Nokian Tyres, Ponsse, SSAB, Stora Enso, Terrafame, Valmet and Versowood. The Industrial Union will continue to tighten the strike screw, he declared. We wont tolerate the demolition of structures that were built to protect employees. The negative changes outlined by the government have nothing to do with employment. They are simply a manifestation of an ideology that industries have dictated to the ruling parties. Currently, a key concern for the union is related to the changes local bargaining would impose on the terms and conditions of employment, their monitoring and the representation of employees. The proposal on local bargaining is the taxi reform of labour markets, he argued, pointing to the widely berated reform carried out by the government of Prime Minister Juha Sipila (Centre). Its losers will be local business owners who dont want to compete with weak terms of employment. Its winners will be shady sub-contractors and companies employing a lot of foreigners. Trade Union Pro on Friday announced some 7,000 of its members would take part in the three-day stoppages in the chemicals, technology and textile and fashion industries, including at workplaces of Fiskars, Isku, Marimekko, Martela, Outokumpu, Tikkurila and Wartsila. Also it pointed to the lack of genuine negotiations between the central administration and trade unions, as evidenced by recent remarks by Minister of Employment Arto Satonen (NCP). Satonen on Thursday stated to Helsingin Sanomat that the expansion of local bargaining would have an impact on employment, even though ministry officials have been unable to produce calculations to substantiate it. The problem isnt that these measures wouldnt really have effects, but that officials at the Ministry of Finance havent been able to calculate them with their methods. For example, expanding local bargaining to unorganised workplaces would have an impact according to a survey by Suomen Yrittajat, but there are no studies that could prove it beyond doubt, stated Satonen. The tripartite task forces mentioned in comments by the minister have so far been about theatrics without a genuine opportunity to influence [the outcome], and so we have no choice but to carry on with the work stoppages, countered Jorma Malinen, the chairperson of Trade Union Pro. The Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) on Friday warned that the industrial actions are beginning to pose a real risk to jobs in Finland. Wage earners are jeopardising the economic sustainability of their own employers and, as a result, their own jobs, Ilkka Oksala, the head of labour market affairs at EK, said to Helsingin Sanomat. Companies that arent exactly on solid ground may have to make temporary and permanent lay-offs. While Oksala declined to estimate the economic impact of the newly announced stoppages, EK has estimated that the political strikes and other industrial actions staged last week could dent gross domestic product by 360 million euros. Altogether around 300,000 employees participated in the almost unprecedented actions organised between last Wednesday and Friday. The costs will depend on which unions ultimately participate in the stoppages. We arent concealing this information, but well announce it as soon as we have it, said Oksala. Aleksi Teivainen HT 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. 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. The government programme stipulates that foreign employees must leave the country if they fail to re-employ themselves within three months of the end of their previous employment. PRIME MINISTER Petteri Orpo (NCP) stated on YLE Ykkosaamu on Saturday that the government will revise the government programme in regards to the much-debated re-employment obligation of foreign employees. Orpo on Saturday stated in an interview with the public broadcasting company that the government will revise the section to state that employees defined as specialises will be allowed to look for a new job for six months. Weve negotiated an agreement within the government, he revealed. The [proposal] had caused significant concern among industries and the scientific community. Specialists are especially important for many companies. They can be key employees and key researchers in the scientific community. In an interview published earlier on Saturday by Helsingin Sanomat, Minister of Education Anna-Maja Henriksson (SFP) stated that she hopes the government will revisit the section of the government programme. Itd be wise for the government to evaluate how we can attract talent [to Finland]. The three-month rule does stand out in that context, and Id like it if we mulled over it together in the government, she said. People moving to Finland must feel welcome, that they can lead a good life here and that its safe to come here without any fear of having to move out immediately. Orpo told YLE that he does not know when the interview was made but added that the government has had discussions about the issue and made the decision to revise the section unanimously. The ruling parties definitely had very different starting points to begin with. We do have a common understanding that skilled employees are welcome in Finland, he said. The government, he argued, is not seeking to make employment-based immigration more difficult. We simply want to emphasise the work-based nature of immigration. For example, a couple of sections in the government programme reduce bureaucracy and make coming here easier, he commented. We need foreign labour. Because of our age structure. Aleksi Teivainen HT Alexander Stubb, who emerged as the frontrunner in the first round with 27.2% of the votes, has been favoured heavily by bettors on no registration betting sites. As Finland's presidential race enters its critical second round, the spotlight intensifies not just on the candidates but also on the intriguing world of political betting. The initial round's tight finish between Alexander Stubb and Pekka Haavisto has set the stage for a closely watched finale, with betting odds offering a unique perspective on the candidates' chances. The odds reflect a strong confidence in Stubb's victory, with betting companies offering a low multiplier of 1.10 for his win. This means that a bet of ten euros on Stubb would yield a return of just one euro in profit, indicating the perceived high probability of his success. On the other hand, Pekka Haavisto, trailing closely behind with 25.8% of the votes, is seen as the underdog in this electoral contest. Betting odds for a Haavisto victory stand at a more lucrative 5.75, suggesting that a ten euro bet on him would bring in a return of 57.5 euros if he were to win. These odds illustrate the betting market's view of Haavisto as a less likely, though potentially more rewarding, candidate to back. The betting odds have remained relatively stable since the close of the first round, indicating a consensus among bettors and oddsmakers about the likely outcome of the election. However, the dynamics of political betting are complex, influenced by a myriad of factors including campaign developments, media coverage, and public sentiment. The visibility and media mentions of the candidates, as analyzed by Retriever, play a significant role in shaping these perceptions, with the volume of media coverage often correlating with public interest and betting trends. Political betting in Finland has seen a surge in activity compared to previous elections, reflecting a growing interest in political wagering as a form of engagement with the democratic process. This trend is not isolated to Finland but is part of a broader increase in political betting worldwide, as bettors seek to capitalize on their insights into political outcomes. As the second round approaches, the betting odds serve as a fascinating barometer of public expectation and sentiment. Whether these odds will align with the final electoral outcome remains to be seen, but they undoubtedly add an extra layer of excitement to the electoral process, offering a speculative glimpse into the future of Finland's leadership. In the the first round of Finland's presidential election, the media spotlight was intensely focused on the candidates, with Jussi Halla-aho leading in media mentions during the crucial pre-election period of January 1-27, 2024. Despite finishing third in the initial round of voting, Halla-aho was the most mentioned candidate in Finnish editorial media, featuring in nearly 4,000 articles. The leading vote-getter, Alexander Stubb, was not far behind with close to 3,800 mentions, while Pekka Haavisto received approximately 3,700 mentions. This detailed analysis of media attention on presidential candidates was conducted by Retriever, a media monitoring company. Henje Huotari, the head of media analysis at Retriever, highlighted the surge in visibility for all candidates as the early voting period began. "Halla-aho garnered the most visibility in January, both in overall publicity and specifically in the context of the presidential election. The visibility for all candidates started to increase significantly with the start of early voting," Huotari explained. The order of candidates by media mentions largely mirrored the election results, with the notable exception of Jutta Urpilainen, who managed to surpass Li Andersson in media visibility thanks to a strong finish in the pre-election month. "Urpilainen started her campaign later than others but made a significant final push. She collected 73% of her mentions in the December-January period, compared to 66% for both Haavisto and Stubb," said Huotari. HT Amnesty International has highlighted an alarming increase in violence by Israeli forces against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank over the last four months. The human rights organization has documented numerous instances of what it describes as unlawful killings and excessive use of force during protests and raids. Moreover, it accuses Israeli forces of preventing injured Palestinians from receiving critical medical care. This surge in violence includes deadly raids and disproportionate force, raising tensions in the region. A notable tactic reported was a raid carried out by Israeli forces disguised as medical personnel. The year 2023 witnessed the killing of at least 507 Palestinians in the West Bank, including a minimum of 81 children, marking a significant rise in fatalities post-October 7 and the highest death toll since 2005. As of January 29, 2024, at least 61 Palestinians, with 13 children among them, have been killed. Amnesty International's investigation into four specific cases of lethal force resulted in the execution of 20 Palestinians, seven of whom were children. The organization's researchers conducted interviews with witnesses, including first responders and local residents, and analyzed related images and videos, revealing a grim picture of the situation. The research also found instances where Israeli forces attacked individuals and paramedics trying to assist injured Palestinians and used excessive force to disperse Gaza-related solidarity protests. Erika Guevara-Rosas, the director of Amnesty International's research and advocacy, criticized Israel's actions as a blatant disregard for Palestinian lives, labeling the killings as violations of human rights agreements and part of an oppressive system against Palestinians. Amnesty calls for international legal intervention, noting the reluctance of Israeli authorities and their legal system to hold perpetrators accountable. It suggests that the International Criminal Court should investigate these actions as potential war crimes, stressing the importance of upholding international justice standards. The report details a specific raid on the Nur Shams refugee camp in Tulkarem, where Israeli forces killed 13 people and arrested 15, highlighting the use of disproportionate force. The case of 15-year-old Taha Mahamid, shot dead by Israeli forces, is mentioned as a stark example of unnecessary lethal force. Furthermore, Amnesty addresses the issue of Palestinian protesters facing undue violence, emphasizing the regular occurrence of Gaza-related solidarity protests and the lethal response of Israeli forces. The organization also criticizes the blockade of medical care to injured protesters, sharing eyewitness accounts of attacks on ambulances and medical personnel. This detailed report from Amnesty International sheds light on the dire human rights situation in the occupied West Bank, calling for immediate international action to address the violence and uphold the rights of Palestinians. HT In Finland, the existential threat of Russia looms and U.S. rescue is far from certain Here is a selection of what the international press has published about Finland in the last week: highlighting its historical relationship with Russia, and the recent tensions amidst fears of Russian aggression, was published in The Guardian on February 2. The article sees the recent presidential elections with the same lens, particularly on its foreign policy regarding Russia. The article explores the background of Finlands independence, its accession to NATO, and the implications for its foreign policy. Throughout the piece, the author emphasizes the uncertainty surrounding Finlands security landscape and the role of international alliances in safeguarding its interests amid Finlands heightened concerns about Russian aggression. The article also analyses upcoming presidential elections and the candidates' stance on national security, especially in relation to Russia. Despite their differences on domestic issues, particularly economic and social policies, all candidates, including those from different political backgrounds, adopted hawkish positions towards Russia, during their presidential campaigns. The article also underscores the concern over the potential return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency and its impact on NATO's commitment to European security. It points out Trump's previous skepticism about NATO and his unpredictable foreign policy decisions, that have raised apprehensions about the reliability of the U.S. as a security partner for European allies, including Finland. Additionally, it addresses the challenges posed by the influx of asylum seekers along Finland's border with Russia and the broader implications for regional stability. The author, John Kampfner is a commentator and broadcaster. He is the author of In Search of Berlin and Why the Germans Do It Better. Original story was published by The Guardian on 02.02.2024 and can be found here. After Putin vowed problems, Russia ends cross-border deal with Finland Russia terminating a cross-border agreement with Finland was covered in an article by Politico on January 25. The article explores the development following accusations from Helsinki that Moscow has been exacerbating a migrant crisis on their mutual border. The agreement, established In 2012 to promote cross-border cooperation, aimed to foster friendly relations between the two countries and develop long-term collaboration. The article mentions that Moscows foreign ministry had earlier in October 2023 stated that Moscow was quitting the deal due to the confrontational actions of Finland against Russia and discrimination against Russians on the basis of national origin in the issuance of entry visas. Tensions between Russia and Finland have heightened since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Finland accused Moscow of guiding asylum-seekers to the frontier, which Russia denied. President Vladimir Putin warned of problems with Finland and accused NATO of drawing Helsinki into the alliance. Original story was published by Politico on 25.01.2024 and can be found here. Mafia strikes bring Finland to a standstill as unions face down government This article on the widespread strikes in Finland led by unions protesting government proposals on labor law reforms, was published in Euronews on February 1. The article underscores deep divisions between the government and labor unions, sparking heated rhetoric and political tensions in Finland. Hundreds of thousands of workers have joined the strikes, as Helsinki saw a notable rally attended by around 10,000 workers. The governments proposed reforms aim to make the Finnish economy more competitive but have faced criticism from unions, who argue that the changes would adversely affect low-wage earners and shift power towards employers in salary negotiations. The rhetoric surrounding the dispute has become increasingly divisive, with government ministers referring to the unions as mafia and accusing them of engaging in politically motivated strikes. On the other hand, union leaders argue that the strikes are necessary to protect workers interests and ensure fair labor practices. One of the key points of contention is the proposed changes to collective bargaining rules, which unions fear would weaken the bargaining power of workers. Finland traditionally followed a tripartite model for labor negotiations involving the government, trade unions, and employers. However, recent changes have led to the erosion of this model, causing concern among unions about the potential for further weakening workers rights. The strikes coincide with the presidential election campaign, intensifying the political atmosphere. The government defends its reforms as necessary for economic competitiveness and has accused unions of engaging in political strikes. The need to reform our social security system and increase employment is urgent because of our public debt level. We need to get more people to work, decrease public spending and improve the operating environment to attract investments, Arto Satonen, Finlands Minister for Employment told Euronews. Original story was published by Euronews on 01.02.2024 and can be found here. Finland Follows the Money: Tracing Monero to Catch Hacker Finlands National Bureau of Investigation effectively tracking Monero (XMR) transactions to identify a ransomware hacker, despite the privacy coins anonymous features was covered in an article by The Crypto Times on January 29. The article highlights the underscores the increasing sophistication of cryptocurrency tracking methods employed by law enforcement agency of Finland. The article states that Julius Aleksanteri Kivimaki stands trial for allegedly hacking a mental health firm's database in Oct 2022, demanding a 40 Bitcoin (BTC) ransom. Unpaid, he targeted individual patients, receiving crypto payments converted into Monero. The hacker utilized exchanges without KYC, converting funds into Monero, then to Binance, and back to BTC across diverse wallets. This case shows the effectiveness of crypto forensics in tracing transactions, challenging assumptions of Moneros complete anonymity and urging re-evaluation of privacy coins. It also demonstrates that while certain cryptocurrencies offer enhanced privacy features, they are not immune to investigation and detection by authorities. Original story was published by The Crypto Times on 29.01.2024 and can be found here. U.S. troops stationed in Finland interferes with the freedom of other countries This opinion article providing a critical outlook on the Finlands recent defense cooperation agreement with the United States, was published in The Cable on January 29. The agreement permits the U.S. military to utilize 15 military bases within Finlands borders. The article argues that while the US sees the presence of troops in Finland as essential for regional security and strategic interests, it could have detrimental effects on Finnish sovereignty, peace, and stability, as well as the broader implications for international relations in Europe and beyond. Finlands NATO membership and the subsequent decision to station 5,000 U.S. troops have raised international concerns and heightened tensions between the U.S. and Russia. The U.S. aims to bolster NATOs presence in Eastern Europe, monitor Russian military activities, and protect strategic interests in the Arctic and Baltic Sea regions. However, critics argue that U.S. troop presence in Finland undermines Finnish neutrality, threatens peace and stability, and may lead to ecological, social, and political unrest. The move is seen as advancing US interests at the expense of other countries sovereignty and autonomy, as it may limit Finlands ability to pursue independent foreign policy goals and participate effectively in international organizations like the European Union. The article also contends that Finland risks becoming a pawn in U.S.-Russia tensions and losing its autonomy in international affairs. The article raises concerns over the potential adverse environmental impacts, including habitat destruction, pollution, and disruption of local ecosystems, arising from the establishment of military bases and infrastructure in Finland. Moreover, it highlights that increased military activity may contribute to social and political unrest within Finnish society, as communities react to the presence of foreign forces and potential security threats. The author, Adebayo Balogun, is a public affairs analyst based in Lagos. Original story was published by The Cable on 29.01.2024 and can be found here. HT Shopkeeper sent to prison for indecent exposure Michael Anthony Ford Three habitual offenders were sent to prison last week after pleading guilty to multiple offenses, District Attorney R. Andrew Murray announced. Called to stand trial as a two-week criminal court session got under way, all three defendants reversed course, withdrew their not guilty pleas and pleaded guilty. All were sentenced to significant active prison terms. Superior Court Judge William Bill Stetzer handed down active habitual felon sentences for each defendant. To qualify as a habitual offender, the defendant must have three separate and distinct prior felony convictions before committing the felony theyre currently on trial for. Michael Anthony Ford, 58, of Hendersonville, owner of the Gypsy Heart shop on Main Street, on the date of his offense in 2020, was charged with exposing his genitals to a 10-year-old girl, along with the habitual offender charge. The brazen crime occurred in Fords shop while the girls mother had briefly stepped outside to take a phone call. When his case was called for trial on Jan. 30, Ford did not appear in court and could not be located by his defense attorney. As a result of Ford absconding, Judge Stetzer issued an order for his immediate arrest and placed him under a $200,000 bond. Henderson County sheriffs deputies found Ford and placed him under arrest by midnight the same day. Two days later, Ford pleaded guilty to both charges and was sentenced to at least four years, 11 months and up to seven years, five months in prison. The negotiated plea prevented the child victim from being re-traumatized by having to confront the defendant and testify in open court, Murray said. Ford's shop is now closed. Carroll Owens, 47, of Hendersonville, was charged with more than 25 felony and misdemeanor offenses. Owens had multiple larceny charges, multiple breaking and entering a vehicle charges, multiple financial card theft charges, a possession of a stolen vehicle charge, a larceny of a firearm charge, a felon in possession of a firearm charge, a felony fleeing to elude charge, a common law robbery charge, and multiple habitual offender charges. Owens previously waived his right to an appointed attorney and chose to represent himself. On the second day of the trial calendar, after all the pretrial motions filed by Owens were handled on Jan. 29, the trial was set to begin. However, prior to the jury being selected and impaneled, Owens withdrew his not guilty plea and pleaded guilty to all charges. Stetzer accepted his plea of guilty, consolidated all the charges under the common law robbery felony charge, along with the accompanying habitual offender status charge, and sentenced Owens to an active prison sentence of 117 to 153 months. Donnie Ray Estes, 37, a resident of Flat Rock, was charged with over 20 felony and misdemeanor offenses. Estes had multiple possession of methamphetamine charges, a larceny of motor vehicle charge, a possession of a motor vehicle charge, a possession with intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine charge, and multiple habitual offender charges. When Estes failed to appear for court on Jan. 29, Judge Stetzer ordered his arrest and substantially increased his bond. Deputies located Estes within 48 hours. On Feb. 1 he agreed to plead guilty to all charges and was sentenced to a prison term of at least 160 months up to and 216 months. Murray commended the Henderson County Sheriffs Office, Hendersonville Police Department and the Fletcher Police Department for their steadfast commitment to protecting our streets and eradicating these habitual offenders. It is because of their hard work, dedication, and thorough investigations, that my office was able to get these cases across the finish line, he said. He also praised the work of assistant district attorneys Lily Ferry, Clifton Neal and David Lampert for their prosecution of the cases. U.S. 64 span over I-26 becomes Deputy Ryan P. Hendrix Bridge The North Carolina Board of Transportation made it official last week: The Four Seasons Boulevard span over I-26 will be named the Deputy Ryan P. Hendrix Bridge. The boards action on Thursday came after both the Hendersonville City Council and Henderson County Board of Commissioners adopted resolutions urging the state to honor Deputy Hendrix, who was killed in the line of duty on Sept. 10, 2020, at the age of 34. The son of Heidi and Don Hendrix and a Henderson County native, Hendrix graduated from Hendersonville Christian School in 2004 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps the next year. Discharged from active duty as a lance corporal, he remained in the Marine Corps Reserves for five years and volunteered to serve a tour of duty in Iraq in 2006. He joined the Sheriffs Office as a detention officer in 2012 and rose through the ranks to become a patrol deputy. Even in death, Hendrix continued to exemplify a servants heart, as an organ donor helping countless strangers, the Board of Transportation resolution said. Frente al trafico ilicito de drogas! Como parte de su visita, los alcaldes de Amberes y Rotterdam y la Comisionada Nacional de Drogas ????, junto con los sectores ???? involucrados, establecieron mesas de trabajo sobre asuntos aduaneros, legales, fiscales, policiales y portuarios. pic.twitter.com/Mf0JWpWKMH The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led ruling grand alliance won the trust vote with a clear majority in the state assembly on February 5, five days after its chief and Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren resigned, after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The JMM will consider this a moral victory for the alliance before the Lok Sabha polls, where the ruling alliance will be pitted against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Jharkhand is the only state in the Hindi heartland other than Himachal Pradesh, which is ruled by a non-BJP party from the Opposition alliance, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). So was Bihar till January 29, when chief minister Nitish Kumar returned to NDA. Had the JMM-led alliance failed to win the trust vote, it could have further weakened the INDIA bloc, which is yet to strike a seat-sharing pact in any state. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has already expressed disinterest in a seat-sharing agreement with the Congress and the Left Parties, two important components of the bloc. There is no clarity on Congresss seat sharing with Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 MPs to Lok Sabha the SP recently announced 11 seats that the Congress will contest on, but the latters response, or rather the lack of it, was telling. Read more: Is all well in INDIA seat-sharing talks in UP? Political instability in Jharkhand would have helped the BJP and the NDA. However, a comfortable majority (of 47 votes including a nominated member) for the JMM-led alliance, as against the oppositions 29 votes, shows that the former CM still holds sway in the alliance. In the House, 77 members, including the nominated member were present; three MLAs did not turn up. Saryu Roy, an independent MLA from Jamshedpur, remained neutral during the voting. Hemant Soren resigned on January 31 after he was arrested on the charge of possessing 12 adjacent parcels of land measuring 8.5 acres in Ranchi using falsified deeds and tampered revenue records. Champai Soren, a senior JMM senior leader, took over as the leader of the legislative party, and was sworn in as CM on February 2 it was his government that won the trust vote on Monday. [Jharkhand police constable Bhanu Pratap] Prasad was actively involved in hatching conspiracies with other persons to acquire and conceal various properties in an illegal manner including the properties which are illegally acquired and possessed by Hemant Soren, the ED said in the documents it submitted in a Ranchi court February 1 to seek Hemants remand. The EDs claims were based on details allegedly recovered from Prasads phone in June 2023, when he was arrested. Hemant Soren refuted the ED charges saying that he would quit politics if the ED showed any evidence of the charges against him. I challenge BJP to prove corruption charges against me. If proven, I will resign from politics. I was targeted because I am a tribal, Hemant said on the floor of the Jharkhand assembly. He also claimed that the state governor CP Radhakrishnan was involved in his arrest. The Raj Bhavan did not respond to his accusations. He was granted special permission from the court to attend the floor test of the Champai Soren government. Hemant Soren has been facing the danger of losing his post for almost two years now. In February 2022, the BJP moved a petition before the then governor Ramesh Bias to disqualify Soren as CM for renewing a mining lease in his own name, while he was in charge, terming it as a clear conflict of interest. Soren refuted the claim and after the hearing, the Election Commission of India submitted its recommendation to Bias in a sealed cover in August 2022. The former governor had not acted on the recommendation, but the EC refused to share its recommendation with Soren even through a Right to Information application. The ED also began probing two cases against Soren. The first pertained to an illegal stone quarry in Sahibganj Sorens constituency representative Pankaj Mishra was arrested in this matter on July 19 that year. Soren was questioned in November 2022, and the ED registered a case that month. The second pertained to the land parcel case in which Soren was finally arrested last week. Even as the ED probed Hemant Soren, he reached out to the voters, particularly the tribal population (JMMs core voter base) through the Sarkar Aapke Dwar (government at your doorstep) programme of the Jharkhand government to speak about how the BJP was using Central agencies to target him. In almost every programme, he spoke about how the BJP, through Central government investigating agencies, was targeting and harassing him because he was a tribal, who was working for peoples welfare, said Ranchi-based political and tribal expert Hemant Hembrom, adding that the former CM tried to garner sympathy from tribals for his alleged witch-hunt. The tribal population constitutes about 30% of Jharkhands population and includes 4% Christian tribals. Another important vote bank in Jharkhand is Muslims, who constitute about 14.5% of the population, as per the 2011 census. Experts say the two communities were the reason for the JMM-led alliance winning the 2019 assembly election despite the pull of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The JMM victory forced the BJP to dump its former CM and non-tribal leader Raghubar Das, who is now Odisha's governor. The BJP got Babulal Marandi, the states first CM, to merge his Jharkhand Vikas Morcha with the BJP and made him state party president. According to Hembrom, the BJP learnt from its loss that it would not be possible to defeat the JMM with a non-tribal leader. To counter the BJP, Hemant Soren played his tribal card smartly. He reinforced tribal identity in the state by making the 1931 domicile certificate a must for getting government jobs. He repeatedly called the BJP a party of Hindi-speaking people but described himself as a Ho-speaking Santali tribal. By not selecting his wife Kalpana Soren to replace him and opting for Champai, an old JMM leader, who championed the cause of a separate state from Bihar, Hemant Soren aimed to keep the partys tribal vote bank intact and prevent the BJP from targeting him for nepotism. Political experts say half of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in Jharkhand have a considerable influence on tribal and Muslim voters. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, most of the tribals had voted for BJP, enabling it to win 12 seats with one seat each for JMM and Congress. Whether the tribal voters will vote for Hemant Soren or opt for PM Modis appeal will be known only after the Lok Sabha 2024 polls. Experts say JMM would be trying to earn maximum political mileage from Hemant Sorens arrest and his Monday speech in the state assembly was also aimed at it. Chetan Chauhan is National Affairs Editor. A journalist for over two decades, he has written extensively on the social sector and politics with a special focus on the environment and political economy. Few politicians of the post-Emergency era can match LK Advanis impact on Indian politics. The Bharat Ratna recognises his long and remarkable years in public affairs. Arriving in Delhi in the wake of Partition, he started his political career in the rough and tumble of the citys municipal politics and worked his way up to become the deputy PM and the principal ideologue of Right-wing politics in India. The Bharat Ratna, coming in the wake of the pran pratishtha of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, is also an acknowledgement of Advani's seminal role in the making of the temple. While he was active in the resistance against the Emergency and became a minister in the Janata Party cabinet, Advani emerged as a leader on his own in the 1980s when he succeeded AB Vajpayee as the president of a young BJP. He pitchforked the BJP from the margins of Indian politics to centre stage by introducing ideological rigour and adding mobilisational capabilities. The Ayodhya Movement gained national traction because of his rath yatra. Though deeply polarising, it gave a new focus to the BJP and led to the making of a pan-Indian Hindu vote. He abandoned the Gandhian socialism of Vajpayee and turned the BJP into a Savarkarite outfit by making the latters ideological vision, Hindutva, central to the BJPs idea of nationhood. The partys powerful cadre base and ideological appeal stand on the foundation he laid. However, Advanis attempt to reconcile his party with the idea of Pakistan and his description of Jinnah as a secular leader saw him lose ground within the BJP. The Bharat Ratna moment is a time to revisit the unfinished debate, whose origins are in the troubling relationship Hindutva has with the idea of secular nationalism. Fifteen persons were recently sentenced to death by an additional district and sessions court in Kerala for murdering Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ranjith Sreenivasan in 2021. This is the first time in Kerala a place known for political murders that so many people were awarded the maximum penalty in a single case. The accused who belong to the now-banned extremist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) and its political wing Secular Democratic Party of India (SDPI), were found guilty of murdering Sreenivasan, the state secretary of the BJP OBC Morcha. They were convicted of hacking him to death at his residence in Vellakinar in Alappuzha town on December 19, 2021. The verdict of the trial court brought into the spotlight the menace of political murders, often retaliatory, in Kerala. Between 2006 and 2021, 125 political murders were committed in the state; most victims belonged to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological fount of the Bharatiya Janata Party. At least 30 of those murders occurred between 2016 and 2021, the first term of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Heres a look at some murder cases that had a significant impact on state politics. TP Chandrasekharan An influential and articulate leader, TP Chandrasekharan, had risen to the post of district secretary of the DYFI (Democratic Youth Federation of India), an affiliate youth outfit of the CPI(M) before he left the party in 2009 due to a difference of opinion with the leadership. Months later, he founded the Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) and led it to victory in the local body polls in Onchiyam, his hometown and considered a stronghold of the CPI(M). On May 4, 2012, Chandrasekharan, who was riding home on his two-wheeler, was attacked by a gang of men who threw country bombs at him and then slashed him with machetes, severely injuring him. He succumbed at a hospital the same night with doctors counting 51 deep wounds on his body. In January 2014, a special additional sessions court in Kozhikode convicted 12 of the 36 accused in the case including a CPI(M) area committee member and a few local workers of the party. The court termed the murder 'politically motivated' and confirmed suspicions of the CPI(M) having harboured resentment against Chandrasekharan for working against the party. In the 2021 Assembly elections, Chandrasekharan's widow and RMP leader KK Rema won from Vadakara Assembly seat with the help of Congress and defeated the CPI(M). SP Shuhaib A block secretary of the Youth Congress in Mattannur in Kannur district, 29-year-old SP Shuhaib was hacked to death by a gang of assailants on the night of February 12, 2018, at Edayannur. He was eating at a roadside stall along with his colleagues Riyad and Naushad when the attackers slashed him with swords, inflicting deep injuries; he died at the Kozhikode Medical College hospital. In the hours following the attack, the Congress blamed the ruling CPI(M), claiming that Shuhaib was killed in retaliation for his earlier tiff with a few workers of the Students Federation of India (SFI), CPI(M)s student wing. His colleagues, who were injured, also reportedly identified the attackers as local CPI(M) workers. The trial in the murder case began in February 2020 in the additional district sessions court in Thalassery. All the 17 accused have close links with the CPI(M). Former DYFI member Akash Thillankeri is the prime accused in the case. While the trial is ongoing, the family of the victim has demanded that the investigation be handed over from local police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). KV Sudheesh As India celebrated Republic Day on January 26, 1994, a gruesome political killing was reported in Koothuparambu in Kannur district. KV Sudheesh, joint secretary of the SFI Kerala committee and member of the outfit's central committee, was stabbed to death by a gang of assailants who killed him after barging into his home. Sudheesh's elderly parents looked on helplessly as their son was brutally murdered in front of them by the gang. Investigators later said he was stabbed a total of 36 times and that pieces of his body were strewn all over the victims home. Several RSS workers were arrested by the police in the case. Police suspected that Sudheesh was murdered in retaliation for the alleged CPI(M) attack on RSS worker and school teacher Sadanandan Master a few months before in which the latter's legs were chopped off. Pramuk Sanjith A major flashpoint in hostilities between the RSS and the BJP and the PFI and the SDPI in Kerala was the murder of Pramuk Sanjith, a 27-year-old RSS mandal karyavah, on November 15, 2021. A resident of Eduppukulam in Palakkad district, Sanjith was waylaid by a gang while he was taking his wife to work. The assailants, who were in a car, hit Sanjith on his two-wheeler and when he fell, they attacked him with sharp weapons in front of his wife who, incidentally, did not suffer any injuries. The RSS worker was ferried to a nearby hospital but the grave injuries led to his death. K Surendran, the state BJP chief, blamed the SDPI, the political arm of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI), and accused the ruling Left government of protecting the extremist outfit. By May 2022, the state police, which investigated the case, had arrested at least 10 persons, including a prominent PFI leader named Bava. The murder of Sanjith was followed by retaliatory killings of Subair, a PFI leader, allegedly by RSS workers, and Sreenivasan, an RSS worker allegedly by PFI-SDPI workers. While the trial in the Sanjith murder case is going on in a lower court, the High Court in May 2022 rejected a petition filed by Sanjith's widow for a CBI probe into the case. The state government opposed the plea stating that the local police had arrested all the accused in the case and that if a new agency comes, the probe will have to be restarted and the accused may slip off on bail. Sharath Lal and Kripesh Periya, a small village in Kasaragod district, hogged national headlines on February 17, 2019, when two Youth Congress activists named Kripesh (19) and Sharath Lal (24) were stabbed to death by assailants on motorcycles while the duo were returning after attending a temple event on a bike. Both Youth Congress activists succumbed to injuries sustained in the attack at two different hospitals. The shocking murders of the two young activists heightened political tensions in the state and were used by the Opposition Congress and the BJP to target the CPI(M) government headed by Vijayan. They alleged that the number of political murders had gone up after Vijayan came to power and that the state police looked helplessly as party goons ruled the roost. Though the case was first investigated by the Crime Branch of the state police, the Kerala High Court in September 2019 handed over the inquiry to the CBI responding to the victims families who alleged political interference in the local police probe. In December 2021, the CBI filed the chargesheet in the case listing 24 persons as accused including CPI(M) local committee member A Peethambaran, former CPI(M) MLA KV Kunhiraman and several local workers of the party. The trial began in a CBI special court in Kochi in 2023 and is currently underway. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a veiled jibe at Rahul Gandhi family, saying that the Congress is trying to relaunch only one product again and again. Ek hi product baar-baar launch karne ke chakkar mein, Congress ki dukaan tala lagne ki naubat aa gayi hai(Congress' shop is on verge of closure in its attempt to launch same product again and again), the prime minister said in his Motion of Thanks reply to President's address in the Lok Sabha. PM Modi's Motion of Thanks reply in Lok Sabha. LIVE updates Congress is trapped in 'cancel culture', it seeks to cancel every achievement and success of country, Modi said. During his address, the prime minister lashed out at the Congress on development. We built 4 crore houses for the poor. For the urban poor, we built 80 lakh pucca houses. Had these been built at the speed of Congress...it would have taken 100 years to do this work. Five generations would have passed by then, he said. ALSO READ: Congress's shop on verge of closure: PM Modi addresses Lok Sabha. Top quotes India was the 11th largest economy in 2014. Today, India is the 5th largest economy and yet they (Congress) are silent...They had even lost the ability to dream...It is Modis guarantee that in our third term, India will be the third largest economic power, Modi said. In his last Motion of Thanks' reply in the second term, PM Modi taunted the opposition, saying,"I see that many of you (Opposition) have even lost the courage to contest elections. Some seats were changed last time too, I have heard that many people are looking to change their seats this time as well. I have also heard that many people now want to go to Rajya Sabha instead of Lok Sabha. They are looking for their paths by assessing the situation." Prime Minister Narendra Modi replies to the 'Motion of Thanks' on the President's address in Lok Sabha during the Budget session of Parliament, in New Delhi, Monday(PTI) Hemant Soren highlights: With the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led coalition MLAs returning to Ranchi from Hyderabad, attention has now turned to the floor test that chief minister Champai Soren won with 47 votes in the Jharkhand assembly on Monday. Champai Soren assumed the role of chief minister following Hemant Soren's arrest. Former chief minister Hemant Soren was released from jail to participate in voting....Read More The Jharkhand Assembly, comprising 81 seats, has a majority mark of 41. The JMM-led coalition holds a comfortable majority with 48 MLAs, including 29 from JMM, 17 from Congress, and one each from RJD and CPI(ML). However, not all MLAs may participate in the floor test. The NDA has 29 MLAs, with BJP holding 26 seats and AJSU having 3. The remaining 3 seats belong to Independents and others. The coalition MLAs were taken to Hyderabad to prevent any potential poaching attempts by the BJP. They spent the weekend at Leonia Resort under tight security, inaccessible to outsiders and other guests of the resort. Feb 5, 2024 11:05 PM IST Life-threatening landslides and flash flooding were predicted by the weather service on Monday, indicating a "extremely dangerous situation unfolding" in the Hollywood Hills. A gas leak triggered by a mudslide forced several people to flee. A landslide in Studio City badly destroyed several homes, forcing the evacuation of the neighborhood. Three homes in the suburban Tarzana area were completely submerged in rubble, and firefighters had to help the occupants escape. There have also been reports of minor mudslides and flooding in Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Malibu, and Beverly Hills. The weather service stated that "life-threatening flash flooding is ongoing and will continue into the morning hours of Monday." YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan has vowed to support the families affected in the February 5 explosion in the citys Erebuni district. In a statement released on social media, Mayor Avinyan expressed condolences to the families of those who died in the blast. I express deep condolences to the families of the victims and I wish speedy recovery to those injured, he said. I hope that the investigation will give answers to all questions. I assure you that the city, within its powers, will stand by these families. Two houses collapsed in an explosion at 34 Nor Aresh Street in Erebuni district on Monday morning. As of 17:00, rescuers pulled from the rubble two bodies and two survivors. The two survivors are hospitalized. A criminal investigation is underway. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Military forces from Iran, Russia and China are going to stage a joint naval war game in the coming weeks, Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani said, Tasnim reports. It is noted that speaking at a naval base in Irans northern city of Manjil on Monday, Rear Admiral Irani said the joint exercise will be held before the end of the current Iranian year (March 19). The commander noted that a number of other countries have also been invited to attend the joint drill. The war game will be held with the purpose of ensuring regional security and fulfilling common interests, Tasnim quoted Shahram Irani as saying. Red Sea Global (RSG), the developer behind the regenerative tourism destinations The Red Sea and AMAALA, has announced the appointment of Sebastien Carre as Group Head of Hospitality. In this key role, Mr. Carre will lead the hospitality function for all RSG destinations and self-operated properties to elevate Saudi Arabia's position in global tourism. Mr. Carre brings more than 30 years of experience in luxury hospitality to RSG. A graduate of VATEL Hospitality & Tourism Business School in Lyon, France, his impressive background includes notable leadership roles in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific Islands. This experience demonstrates his ability to lead in diverse and dynamic markets. His addition to the RSG team reflects the company's commitment to bringing in top-tier talent to drive innovation and success in the hospitality sector. RSG is planning to hire over 700 hospitality professionals in the next 12 months. Before joining RSG, Mr. Carre served as Regional Vice President at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts. He oversaw properties in the Seychelles, Abu Dhabi, Tanzania, Azerbaijan, and South Africa. In addition, he led a comprehensive reinvention of the brand's presence in Mauritius, where under his leadership, the resort achieved record-breaking results. He has also held leadership roles at Four Seasons in Johannesburg, Sharm El Sheikh, Bora Bora, Provence, and Washington DC, among others. The Red Sea welcomed its first guests in 2023, with Six Senses Southern Dunes and The St Regis Red Sea Resort now available for booking. The Red Sea International Airport (RSI) has been receiving a regular schedule of domestic and regional flights since September 2023. Desert Rock, Thuwal Private Retreat and Shebara will all welcome guests later this year. AMAALA remains on track to welcome its first guests in 2025, when the first resorts complete as part of Triple Bay phase one, along with Corallium and the iconic Yacht Club. Palma de Mallorca - RIU has presented its new Proudly Committed sustainability strategy. This change comes after a deep internal reflection on the future of the hotel industry and its impact on the community, the environment and employees. As a result of this process, RIU decided to transform the company and place sustainability at the centre of all the organisation's decisions to ensure that the impact of the company's activity on both the local community and the surrounding ecosystems is always as positive as possible. Proudly Committed represents a turning point for RIU. The company has always been very proud of its commitment to providing customers with an excellent service and achieving good results, but now, the challenge is to maintain what it has already achieved while also increasing its commitment to people and the environment. The strategy, which has been developed with RIU's typical wisdom and moderation, marks the path that the company will follow over the next three years from 2024 to 2026 and establishes ambitious, specific and measurable goals in each of the four pillars, which are Community and Sustainable Destinations, Environment, People and Transparency. Proudly Committed is not just the name of the strategy, but also the title of the communication campaign that reflects the companys pride and enthusiasm for this project and represents RIU's commitment to doing things properly and making good on its promises. Full details of the campaign can be found here. One of the keys to ensuring the success of this new strategy is the involvement of RIU Hotels & Resorts' highest governing body, the Board of Directors, in the decision-making process, as well as the creation of a multidisciplinary Sustainability Committee including professionals from different areas of the company. This Committee will define the projects carried out under each pillar and monitor them to ensure they fulfil their intended purpose. The aim of the first pillar Community and Sustainable Destinations is to continue contributing to the prosperity of the communities where RIU operates and the goal for 2026 is to have a major project in all destinations. Social investment decisions will continue to be based on the RIU Method, a system that applies an academic methodology to analyse a destinations current situation, needs and problems in order to allocate resources where they are most needed and will have the clearest and most positive impact on the community. Guided by the Riu familys concerns, this pillar will continue to focus on protecting children and their health. The second pillar is Environment, which aims to minimise the companys environmental footprint. The goal is to move towards an increasingly circular business model and have a flagship biodiversity project in each destination. One of the most important parts of this pillar is RIUs decarbonisation plan to make the company carbon-neutral. Thanks to projects that are already underway, CO2 emissions fell by 27% in 2023. In addition, RIU supports projects that protect native species such as turtles and corals, as well as initiatives related to circularity and waste reduction. People is the third pillar of this new strategy and seeks to promote talent and training by putting people at the centre of the company. RIU wants to continue providing its teams with career opportunities so they are motivated to work towards a more satisfying professional and personal life. The fourth and last pillar Transparency will check compliance and focus on the certification of hotels. The goal is for all of RIUs hotels to hold a sustainability certification. For more information or bookings: www.riu.com. About RIU Hotels & Resorts The international RIU hotel chain was started in Mallorca, Spain, in 1953 as a small holiday business run by the Riu family, the founders and current owners, now in its third generation. The company specialises in holiday accommodation and over 75% of its establishments offer its renowned All Inclusive by RIU service. With the opening of its first city hotel in 2010, RIU expanded its product line with its own range of RIU Plaza urban hotels. RIU Hotels & Resorts has 96 hotels in 20 countries, with a total of 34,215 employees that welcomed 6 million customers in 2022. RIU is currently the 32nd largest chain in the world, and is second in Spain by turnover and fourth by number of rooms. For further information please visit: www.riu.com. RIU Press Department +34 971 743 030 RIU To thrive in the hospitality industry, businesses must continuously improve their offer to adapt to industry trends and guests' evolving preferences. Achieving this requires a highly adaptive organization with a culture of continuous improvement that fosters adaptability, innovation and an openness to transformation. While building an improvement culture isnt easy, organizations can achieve it through commitment, effective leadership and robust management practices that focus on transforming mindsets, evaluating measurable, data-driven results, and implementing processes that continually drive the organization toward excellence. The ten steps provided here are designed to help you introduce, develop and maintain a culture of continuous improvement in the hospitality industry. Prepare for change To successfully build a culture of continuous improvement in the hospitality industry, it's vital to first prepare for change. This step involves assessing your organization's current culture, defining your vision for the optimal culture, and finally, developing a plan to achieve it. 1. Assess your current culture Building a culture of continuous improvement begins with assessing your hospitality business current culture. The success of this step hinges on effective communication and transparency across your organization. To achieve a complete picture of your current culture, seek views from employees across all levels of seniority and all business units. Take time to observe your colleagues' behaviors and discover how they interpret your organizations current values. You can approach this with a combination of online questionnaires and personal interviews. To encourage honest responses, consider providing employees with the means to provide anonymous feedback. 2. Define your vision Next, defining what you are trying to achieve with the proposed culture change is essential. Look at your organisation's current culture and assess how you currently work toward continuous improvement well and how you don't. These insights will enable you to conduct a culture gap analysis to identify discrepancies between your actual and optimal culture. This analysis will inform you of areas in your current culture that require development This could be cultural weaknesses in staff retention, collaborating across teams or even how you learn from guest feedback. 3. Develop a plan for continuous improvement Once you've identified your business cultural strengths and weaknesses, it's time to develop a plan to build a culture of continuous improvement. Start by outlining the actions required to achieve the cultural changes you're seeking to foster. This could involve changes to processes or even management structures. Once initial strategies are outlined, develop a timeline for implementing the changes. For this timeline to be effective, you should consult every team in your hotel or hospitality business. This will allow you to identify actions with interdependencies and effectively mitigate potential risks that could impact your day-to-day operations. During this process, it's crucial to ensure that a named senior manager is accountable for each workstream. You should also establish clearly defined review points for every action. Engage for change After developing your plan, engaging with all levels of your organisation is vital. Employees will often need to adopt new values and behaviours to effectively build a culture of continuous improvement in the hospitality industry. Yet, with the highest rate of turnover, staff in the leisure and hospitality sector are very versatile and tend to flee if they dont appreciate their workplace conditions. Hence, it's also crucial to demonstrate to all employees why the identified changes are important and to ensure everyone is involved and invested in working towards better results for all stakeholders, including employees. 4. Effectively communicate the change to your staff Before putting your plan into action, everyone in your organization must understand why building a culture of continuous improvement is essential. Unless there is clarity within the organization around the need for change, you may encounter resistance from some employees. To achieve this clarity, focus on these elements first: Outline the reasons for change, such as adding value for the customer, optimizing workflows, improving operational work sites and conditions, and empowering teams. Illustrate the optimal results: giving concrete examples of how the cultural change will improve the work environment and business results for win-win results is essential. Clearly explain how each person or department will contribute to, and benefit from, the process. 5. Secure high-level endorsement early You must attain early endorsement from your leadership team to increase the likelihood of successfully building a culture of continuous improvement. This will create a united front from management and ensure that team objectives are aligned and resources are allocated to support the transformation. A high-level endorsement also empowers you to identify influential employees in teams across the hotel or hospitality business to support implementation. 6. Engage employees and make collaborative decisions Changing your business culture often requires all employees to change their mindset and behaviours in some shape or form. Such a fundamental operational change needs to work for everyone, so as you start to drive changes in culture, everyone must be involved in the decision-making process. This gives employees a sense of ownership of the new culture, which can be fostered further with training and development. Sustain the positive movement Once you have established a set of processes and instilled employee behaviours to promote a culture of continuous improvement, it is crucial that you continue to monitor and sustain the new culture. Given McKinsey's finding that only three out of ten change management programs succeed, maintaining and nurturing the desired culture change should be treated as one of the most critical steps in establishing a new improvement culture. 7. Monitor progress After implementing a change in culture, it is vital to continue to monitor progress against the objectives set out in the initial plan and to adapt these objectives to new challenges in the hospitality sector as they emerge. It is essential to address progress and challenges with a data-driven, scientific approach. Continuous improvement requires long-term vision and planning aimed at sustainable results. Presenting data, analyzing results, and sharing objective information to support decision-making is crucial. The PDCA and SDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act/Standardize-Do-Check-Act) frameworks can be employed to plan and implement actions. Mistakes and challenges should be treated as opportunities for improvement and growth. During this post-implementation stage, focus on identifying and addressing barriers to change as they emerge. This is a good time to identify employee training and growth opportunities to help them further advance the new culture. 8. Support and recognize success To ensure continued engagement and to foster your business's new culture, it is essential to celebrate individual and team success and to recognize achievements as you overcome new milestones and challenges. 9. Sustain the change To achieve an enduring culture change, it is vital to work to embed the new culture into your organization's processes and systems. It is also essential to ensure that new employees are trained in desired behaviours. Taking a page from the lean manufacturing playbook, you can anaylze the sustainability of your continuous improvement culture by looking at the 4Ms of Basic Stability, which reinforces basic organization stability. The 4Ms refer to: Manpower: Good work habits, necessary skills, punctuality, low absenteeism Materials: Fewer shortages, more accessibility at point of use Machines: No breakdowns, defects, or unplanned stoppages Methods: Standardized processes, maintenance, and management. Maintaining consistency throughout your hotel or hospitality business is vital, so it remains important to ensure that these basic foundations of funtionality and standards remain robust. 10. Provide on-going training Maintaining a culture of continual improvement in the hospitality sector can be particularly challenging, as maintaining the culture relies on staff retention. Yet, alarmingly, an estimated 6% of hospitality workers resign from their positions every month. An effective method to increase the retention of high-turnover staff is to provide a comprehensive range of training programs that promote continued staff development. This is supported by Udemy's Workplace Boredom Survey, which found that 46% of employees who expressed that they were bored felt that it was due to a lack of opportunities to learn new skills within their organization. For business leaders, investing in punctual upskilling courses and lifelong learning opportunities offers many benefits. Graduate-level courses for managers relating to hospitality innovation, performance, and strategy are good long-term investments that contribute to the pursuit of excellence. Building a culture of continuous improvement for your hotel or hospitality business will help you meet the hospitality sector's biggest challenges head-on. However, this cultural change also presents a significant opportunity for individuals to grow and improve and for teams to collaborate more effectively. Fostering a culture that is geared towards perpetual improvement delivers a more prepared workforce but, more importantly, a more engaged and collaborative work environment.For more ideas related to continuous improvement, check out these articles about service excellence in the hospitality industry. About EHL Group EHL Group is the global reference in education, innovation and consulting for the hospitality and service sector. With expertise dating back to 1893, EHL Group now offers a wide range of leading educational programs from apprenticeships to master's degrees, as well as professional and executive education, on three campuses in Switzerland and Singapore. EHL Group also offers consulting and certification services to companies and learning centers around the world. True to its values and committed to building a sustainable world, EHL Group's purpose is to provide education, services and working environments that are people-centered and open to the world. www.ehlgroup.com EHL Hospitality Business School Communications Department +41 21 785 1354 EHL View source From left to right: Tariq Bsharat, Director of Strategy & Business Development; Abdulla Al Abdooli, Chief Executive Office of Marjan; Mohammed Asaria, Managing Director, Member of the Board of Range Developments; Riaz Sharif, Managing Director, Member of the Board of Range Developments Marjan, the master developer of freehold properties in Ras Al Khaimah, has signed an agreement with Range Developments to launch three new exclusive properties on Al Marjan Island, the Northern Emirate's premium tourism, business and investment destination. The offerings comprising The Beach House, The Beach Residences and Beach Vista will fuel the growth on Al Marjan Island. The project marks Range Developments' debut in the UAE market bringing its exceptional expertise in developing 5-star hotels in Dominica, St. Kitts and Grenada. The upscale beachside residential buildings, each with its own distinctive design and offerings, will further add to the allure of Ras Al Khaimah as a sought-after destination for residents, tourists and investors. The Beach House is a collection of 88 apartments with a mix of studios and 3-bedroom simplex and duplex apartments set in prime beachfront location boasting stunning sea views. With striking floor to ceiling windows that frame the panoramic beach views, it is the perfect space for individuals and families seeking to find the ultimate retreat for mind, body and soul cocooned by the serenity of the Arabian Gulf. With 412 apartments and 11 townhouses, The Beach Residences is a masterpiece of modern design and comfort. The project is set to redefine the concept of waterfront living with custom built high-quality features combining style and functionality offering up an unparalleled living experience. The Beach Vista similarly is positioned on prime beachfront real estate, showcasing the perfect space for end users as well as discerning investors seeking to buy into the booming lifestyle destination. Arch. Abdulla Al Abdouli, Chief Executive Officer, Marjan, said: "Our agreement with Range Developments to build three new luxury properties, furthers our goal to redefine the high-end real estate sector at Al Marjan Island. With its stunning waterfront locale, Al Marjan Island offers the perfect venue for those seeking to set up elevated residences that boast world-class amenities in the heart of a thriving eco-system like Ras Al Khaimah. Range Developments' industry expertise and leadership will no doubt elevate this space into a truly sought-after destination that will only add to the emirate's vibrant allure among homeowners and investors alike." Mohammed Asaria, Joint Managing Director and Member of the Board of Range Developments, Range Developments, added: "We are harnessing our wealth of beachfront development across the world to Ras Al Khaimah and Al Marjan Islands. We pride ourselves on our vision to present distinct offerings to fuel the growth of Ras Al Khaimah's expanding luxury real estate sector. All the three luxury properties are set to elevate the lifestyle at Al Marjan Island adding to Ras Al Khaimah's draw as a premium tourist and real estate destination. The strategic combination of our seasoned expertise in this sector with our focus on innovative projects, positions Range Developments as a driving force in shaping the landscape of high-end real estate in the region." The addition of three new luxury properties to the burgeoning skyline of Al Marjan Island, further showcases the international appeal of Ras Al Khaimah among property developers and real estate magnates. Riaz Shariff, Joint Managing Director and Member of the Board of Range Developments, said: "With its economic stability, rising property prices, booming tourism sector, tax benefits, and high rental yields, Ras Al Khaimah offers the perfect investment destination. Range Developments' site selection, building design and interior aesthetic have been carefully curated to cater to end-users and investors alike." Chicago, IL (60637) Today Some flurries this morning. Then cloudy skies through the afternoon. High around 40F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 29F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Hudson, NY (12534) Today A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High around 45F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A few flurries are possible. Low 31F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Dewey Hall's Celestial Ball SHEFFIELD, Mass. Dewey Hall is Celebrating the final night of its Reaching for the Stars annual fundraising campaign with a Celestial Ball on Lunar New Year. The ball will be held on Feb. 10 from 7 pm to 10 pm. It will be held at Dewey Memorial Hall located on 91 Main St in Sheffield. This event is a fundraiser for Dewey Memorial Hall. According to a press release: Attendees are encouraged to dress to shimmer, shimmy, and shine in sequins, sparkles, and glitter and come prepared to dance the night away to DJ BFG (or sip sparkling beverages and munch on treats) in a magical, shining hall. There will be music for dancing, hors d'oeuvres by Wall Street Journal featured chef Leah Guadagnoli, event tarot card readings by Emily Schuhmann of GettinIntuit, a cash bar, an otherworldly photo station, glittery face painting, and a silent auction of extra special items. Advance ticket purchase is encouraged. There may not be tickets available at the door the day of the event. Jupiter Ticket - $75 Entrance for 1 plus two drink tickets included Neptune Ticket - $50 Standard Ticket. This ticket does not include drinks Mercury Ticket - $25 This is an accessible price ticket. There are a very limited number of them. This ticket does not include drinks. The snow date in case of cancelation is Feb. 11 from 6 to 9 pm. Berkshire Family YMCA Announces Search for New Chief Executive Officer PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Berkshire Family YMCA announced the commencement of a national search for a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This executive search is conducted in partnership with the YMCA of the USA. According to a press release, the YMCA is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to helm the Berkshire Family YMCA, with a budget of $4.8M and a legacy in the Berkshire area. The incoming CEO will guide the organization through strategic initiatives, foster valuable community partnerships, and uphold our mission of inclusivity, health, and empowerment. The role promises a significant opportunity for impact, shaping the lives of children, families, and individuals from diverse backgrounds. The deadline for resumes is February 12, 2024; Noon CST. Interested applicants can apply online at http://tinyurl.com/berkshire-family-ymca-ceo Search Process Target Dates: Application Deadline: February 12, Noon CST Preliminary Interviews: March 19-20 In-Person Interviews: April 10-11 CEO Selection: Week of April 15 Anticipated Start Date: June 1 or earlier A national debate has been ignited by one man after he publicised strong opinions about what he believes women should not wear if they have any "respect" for themselves, with many in agreement but others branding him "sexist". Ian Grace is the founder of a youth charity and penned a letter to Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate to ban G-string bikinis after noticing many females both teens and adults attending his charity events in a bikini with their "bums out". "Two family events away from the beach, you've got these almost naked young ladies there with their bare bum [out] completely. Enough is enough," he told Yahoo News Australia on Monday. Aussie women have been told to 'cover up' by Gold Coast man Ian Grace who called for a G-string bikini ban. Source: Getty When Yahoo News questioned whether he held these opinions specifically for minors, he responded by saying it was "not a particular age group" he was referring to, believing all females should be banned from wearing G-string bikinis. Speaking on 2GB radio, Grace said men in Budgy Smugglers tight fitting bathing briefs which have become popular with young Aussie men in recent years are not "particularly erotic" but women who wear small bikini bottoms were "demeaning" and "cheapening" themselves. "A lot of people would say that their [women's] bums are as erotic, if not more so, than their breasts but they're not allowed [to be on display]," he told Yahoo News, questioning why "bare bums" were allowed. 'Have the decency to cover up', Grace says His proposal to ban G-string bikinis was first shared in the Gold Coast Bulletin, but Grace has since admitted to Yahoo News it "will never happen". Instead he believes anyone who chooses to have their bare bum exposed at the beach should "cover up" when leaving. Ian Grace wrote to the Gold Coast mayor to propose a G-string bikini ban believing women have no 'respect' for themselves while wearing them. Source: Gold Coast Bulletin "Literally on the beach is fine, but off the beach, just have the decency to cover up," he said. "I just don't think it engenders respect from either side when you literally show everything. Its respect for others as well as yourself," he continued. "I think anyone who does that decides to do it psychologists call this sort of stuff 'signalling'. It's like, 'What are you doing that for?'". Story continues When reasons such as comfort or even a sense of empowerment was suggested why females may choose to wear this style of bikini with women shamed for years if not dressed modestly Grace doubled down on the belief that "blokes don't walk around wearing thongs up their bum" and therefore women shouldn't either. Aussies divided over G-string bikini trend Many said online they were thankful to Grace for calling out the latest "bizarre" fashion trend, calling it "embarrassing" and "gross". "I am in complete agreement that we dont want to see it at all, and they are advertising themselves," one person wrote online, while another claimed "class has left the beach". However many pushed back against his opinions, deeming them indicative of a larger issue at play in society. One online commentator sarcastically called it "great" that a man was telling "women what they want them to wear". "We were born naked, why does nakedness bother so many people?" another asked. G-string ban dismissed by mayor Mayor Tate has since dismissed the ban on G-strings, suggesting it is not sensible for men to dictate what women should or shouldn't wear. "Ian is a brave man messing with womens fashion, Mayor Tate said, according to Channel 10's The Project. "One thing Ive learnt about fashion over the years is that if you try to ban something, or restrict it, thats a certain recipe to see it double in popularity." Grace stands by his opinions and believes advocating for appropriate clothing in public shouldn't be a controversial topic. "I have now become infamous which is not what I really want. I'm not a crusader with this. It's just that's my opinion," he said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Sunday 4 February 2024, 16:06 - Last updated: 5 February, 09:35 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED This article is automatically translated A 22-year-old from Ghana was found dead this morning at the migrant center of Ponte Galeria, in Cesare Chiodi street in Rome. The suicide, by hanging, was confirmed by several center-left parliamentarians who are in contact with associations operating in the migrant reception circuit and in the control of detention facilities. The young man had been held since October at the Cpr in Rome, where he had arrived following a transfer from a center in Trapani. Before dying, the boy left a portrait of himself on the wall accompanied by a text in which he stated that he could no longer resist and expressed the hope that his body would be taken to Africa where his soul would rest in peace. The incident sparked riots in the Repatriation Detention Center. Some guests tried to break down an iron door, threw stones at the staff and tried to set a car on fire. The police had to launch tear gas to quell the protest. During the riots, some guests threw stones at the staff and tried to set a car on fire. Now the situation has returned to normal. To restore the situation to normal, the police launched some tear gas during the riots that broke out in the Cpr of Ponte Galeria in Rome where a 22-year-old boy, a guest of the facility, committed suicide. Some guests knocked down two grates, trying to break down an iron door and set a car on fire. At that point, a stone was thrown at the staff with the guests about to leave the facility and so some tear gas was launched. Two carabinieri and a soldier of the Army were injured in the riots at the Cpr of Ponte Galeria in Rome. The carabinieri were treated on the spot while the army soldier was taken to hospital in yellow code. According to what is learned, about sixty guests of the facility took part in the protests that broke out after the suicide of a 22-year-old boy from Guinea. In 2023, web threats targeting the Philippines were about two percent less (48%) than in 2022 (49.8%), according to the latest Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) report. With this new data, the country moved two spots down to fourth place worldwide among countries most targeted by malicious files from the internet and phishing websites. It looks like a positive development but Kaspersky is strongly advising against dropping the armor. There are two things that could explain the drop in web threats, albeit slightly. First is that we see the country is slowly making headway in cybersecurity. We classify the Philippines to be in the intermediate group of countries that are identifying cyberattacks and making efforts to implement rules. The second one and this we have to seriously take note, is that cybercriminals are continuously taking other attack routes that might be off the radar. One trend that we consistently have been seeing lately is their preference for targeted attacks instead of the spray and pray method, said Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky. Complacency, however, is still not an option. Cybercriminals continue to develop their tools and techniques. They actually surprise cybersecurity experts all the time. Our mindset should be how to be able to hunt threats before they could cause harm and damage. At this point, I recommend that we should be talking more about threats as we proactively learn to detect and respond to them. This is where threat intelligence comes in handy, added Yeo. Web or online threats are attacks through browsers which are also cybercriminals' tried and tested way to spread malware. It can easily be done with or without the involvement of the victim. A web attack with victim participation is done through social engineering. The victim is tricked into doing something that jeopardizes their personal security or the security of the organization they work for. The objective is to get the victim to respond by clicking an infected email attachment, a compromised website, or responding to a fake unsubscribe notice, among others. Last year's data breaches involving a government agency and an e-wallet company, which were each reportedly traced to phishing, are examples of this type of web threat. An attack requiring no victim involvement is through drive-by downloads. By simply visiting a compromised website, their device gets infected automatically (and silently) particularly if they failed to apply a security update to one of their apps. This method is used in most web attacks. In the recent global ranking, the Philippines came behind Mongolia (51.8%), Moldova (48.9%) and Greece (48.8%). Since 2019, the country has consistently been in the top 10 ranking countries. Among Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines is trailed by Malaysia with the overall percentage of users attacked by web-borne threats from January to December 2023. To stay protected, Kaspersky recommends users the following: Do not download and install applications from untrusted sources Do not click on any links from unknown sources or suspicious online advertisements Create strong and unique passwords, including a mix of lower case and upper case letters, numbers, and punctuation, as well as activating two-factor authentication Always install updates Ignore messages asking to disable security systems for office or cybersecurity solution Use a robust cybersecurity solution appropriate to your system type and devices For organizations, Kaspersky recommends the following: When traveling out of the country for business or leisure, data connectivity is one of the main necessities every traveler must have for many reasons. First is to keep safe and secure, allowing one to stay in contact with traveling companions, business associates or their loved ones back home. Second, seamless connectivity means having access to information on the internet whether for navigation, language, or staying up to date with emails and social media. For many, though, the cost of international roaming might be limiting. With this in mind, all-Filipino tech company Advanced Abilities recently launched Advanced eSIM, a digital version of the SIM card, which provides travelers with cost-effective, secure, hassle-free and seamless connectivity while traveling out of the country. This digital sim is an embedded chip built directly into smartphones with this feature that will allow travelers to avail a data plan from anywhere in the world without requiring a physical SIM card or additional pocket-wifi devices at a fraction of the cost of traditional roaming. We at Advanced Abilities strive to bring more affordable seamless connectivity to each individual that uses our Advanced eSIM around the world. It is important to us that Filipinos, whether travelers or expatriates, have a way to connect to one another and access information that is affordable, navigable, and secure, said Angelo Antonio AA Buendia, CEO and President of Advanced Abilities. With the Advanced eSIM, users can enjoy reliable connectivity in over 150 countries, including the United States, France, Japan, and many more. In just three easy steps, users can access available plans that range between 1 GB to 20 GB, starting at USD 3.00 for seven days, depending on the selected plan. Some regions also have tailor-fit data bundles that are inclusive of coverage for multiple countries at once. For frequent travelers flying from one country to another, Advanced eSIM also allows users to utilize multiple eSIMs by purchasing additional bundles which will remain in queue until arrival at the identified destination where it holds validity. This set-up provides travelers with a seamless transition between regions by securely switching between eSIMs without any worries. eSIMs are compatible with most available smartphones in the market provided that they are not network-locked. Established in 2018, Advanced Abilities aims to harness the potential of innovative technology to empower businesses and organizations with modern solutions to enhance the lives of Filipinos. The company provides products and services in the realms of healthcare, insurance, migrant welfare and IT. We have the capability to be able to develop technology that can enhance the lives of Filipinos. With our expertise and passion, we commit to creating new solutions with pioneering technology that is accessible to almost everyone, shared Buendia. To browse the Advanced eSIM data plans or purchase a bundle, visit https://advancedesim.com/. For more information on Advanced Abilities and further updates, check out https://advabilities.com/ and follow their Facebook Page. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} 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. An Aussie tradie has filmed the incredible moment an eerie, apocalyptic-looking dust storm rolled in over his worksite, sending staff "running" for shelter as thick black clouds barrelled toward them. Dylan Barlow, 31, was working at the Moomba oil and gas fields, in South Australia's Far North on Sunday when he managed to capture the "insane" and "freaky" weather event unfold. The storm is believed to be a result of ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily, which despite making landfall last week, has seen a number of weather warnings in place as its effects continue to be felt around the country. Eerie dust storm sends tradies running indoors Barlow told Yahoo News Australia how he was mid-shift at the Santos plant, about 100 kilometres north of Adelaide, when he saw the intense clouds approach. The intense dust storm barrelled across a gas field in SA's Far North on Sunday, sending employees running. Source: Dylan Barlow "As we were working out in the field, we saw it coming in from afar as it started rolling in, picking up as a dust storm with high winds," he explained. "Shortly followed was a torrential downpour of rain and lightning, and [we] ran back to the safety of our crib rooms and smoko shacks." The storm is understood to have lasted for about an hour, with heavy rainfall bucketing down and extreme wind gusts lashing the area. But before he retreated indoors with his fellow workers, Barlow took a short yet eye-popping clip of the moment. Wild weather batters Australia The wild weather in South Australia comes as residents in other parts of the country continue to face erratic conditions, ranging from heatwaves in some parts to flooding in others. People in outback Queensland are facing isolation as floodwaters cut them off, while Melbourne is sizzling through its hottest day of the year so far prompting some ingenious ways for locals to beat the heat. Ex-Tropic Cyclone Kirrily is continuing to drench northern Queensland, despite crossing the coast more than a week ago. Meanwhile, authorities are watching another tropical low which is gaining strength in the Coral Sea. Meanwhile Victoria has been put on bushfire alert as the mercury soars. Story continues West Australia has been suffering through a sweltering heatwave, while in NSW temperatures soared to well above 30 degrees on Monday, with conditions even reaching the low 40s in some parts of the state's west. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Leonardo DiCaprio was found paging through a Victorias Secret catalogue on the set of Blood Diamond, his director has claimed in a new memoir. The funny anecdote was recalled by filmmaker Edward Zwick, who has written the story of his life in a new book titled Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood. Zwick is best known for directing films including the Tom Cruise hit The Last Samurai and Glory, which won Denzel Washington his first Oscar. Shared in a photo of the book taken by film critic Bilge Ebiri on Twitter/X, Zwick mentioned his DiCaprio memory while recalling the making of Blood Diamond, his 2006 thriller set during the Sierra Leone civil war. Zwick heaped praise on the terrific DiCaprio and his two co-stars, Jennifer Connelly and Djimon Hounsou, and said he remembered only one instance of even the mildest misbehaviour between them, adding: Its more a testament to their camaraderie than anything else. It seems Leo was currently between gorgeous girlfriends, Zwick wrote. One morning I walked into the makeup trailer as I often did to discuss the days work with him. I found him in the chair waiting for his turn and noticed he was paging through a Victorias Secret catalogue. What are you doing? I asked. [Connelly] was in the chair beside him. Without even looking over, she said, Shopping. DiCaprio is well known for his illustrious love life, and has been romantically linked to a number of supermodels whove worked with the famed lingerie brand. They include Eva Herzigova, Helena Christensen, Erin Heatherton, Gisele Bundchen and Bar Refaeli. Leonardo DiCaprio, and model Gisele Bundchen during a 2006 Victorias Secret show the pair were formerly an item (Getty Images) The 49-year-old was most recently linked to the Daisy Jones and the Six actor Camila Morrone, 26, who he dated from 2018 until 2022. DiCaprio, who last year starred in Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon, was also recently praised by his Oscar-nominated co-star Lily Gladstone, who revealed the somewhat surprising performance she believes to be his best. Zwicks book Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood is released on 29 February. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Cara Delevingne will be making her stage debut in the West Ends award-winning revival of Cabaret. The British model and actor will join the cast in the role of Sally Bowles from 11 March until 1 June 2024, along with Luke Treadaway who will take over as the Emcee. The parts are currently played by musician Self Esteem full name Rebecca Lucy Taylor and Jake Shears in Rebecca Frecknalls intimate production, which opened in 2021 with Jessie Buckley and Eddie Redmayne leading the cast. Taylor and Shears will conclude their current run on 9 March. In a statement, Delevingne said there are no words that can explain her excitement for her stage debut. She added that the role would mean she would be returning home to London since she currently lives in Los Angeles. I am so inspired by the brilliant actors who have played Sally in past productions around the world and in this one in the West End, her message reads. I cannot wait to be a part of this brilliant cast and production. The British model and actor rose to fame in the 2010s through her modelling career and became known for her unmistakable, signature eyebrows, as she became the face of Burberry, Jimmy Choo and Topshop. She then moved into an acting career and starred in films such as Suicide Squad and Paper Towns, and the comedy-mystery series Only Murders in the Building. Delevingne has also dabbled in singing and songwriting, and released a single titled I Feel Everything in 2017, which was produced by Pharrell Williams. Delevingne said she could not explain her excitement for her stage debut (Emilio Madrid) In 2022, she presented the BBC series Planet Sex with Cara Delevingne, in which she explored the orgasm gap and taboo ideas surrounding female sexual pleasure. Delevingne and Treadaway will begin performances at the Playhouse Theatre, which has been remodelled as Berlins debauched Kit Kat Club, where Cabaret takes place. Treadway said of his forthcoming appearance in Cabaret: I cant wait to become a member of the Kit Kat Club and join this extraordinary production. Its a huge thrill to be asked to take this on and Im very excited to get started. Luke Treadway will be joining Cabaret as the Emcee (Jay Brooks ) Treadway won the Olivier Award for Best Leading Actor for his performance of Christopher in the National Theatres production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. He has also appeared as Nick in Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Karl in Over There at the Royal Court and Albert Narracott in War Horse and Saint Joan, both at the National Theatre. The revised production of Cabaret opened in December 2021 and won seven Olivier Awards the following year. The Broadway production of Cabaret starring Redmayne and Gayle Rankin will open at the Kit Kat Club at the August Wilston Theatre in April. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} True Detective: Night Country star Kali Reis has hit back at misogynistic bros whom showrunner Issa Lopez accused of review bombing the series. Review bombing is a term used to describe when people post negative reviews of a film, TV series or video game en masse, in a coordinated effort to lower its rating on aggregator websites like Rotten Tomatoes. While the first three seasons of the HBO anthology series were led by male actors, its latest iteration is fronted by Reis and Oscar-winner Jodie Foster. After the first episode of Night Country arrived last month, Lopez tweeted: So, if you liked last nights [episode] of [True Detective: Night Country], and have a Rotten Tomatoes account, maybe head over there and leave an audience review? The bros and hardcore fanboys of [season one] have made it a mission to drag the rating down, and its kind of sad, considering all the five star ones. Lopez has since deleted the tweet. Reis who plays Alaska State Trooper Evangeline Navarro was asked about her directors comments in a recent interview with The Independent. Kali Reis, left, and Jodie Foster in a scene from True Detective: Night Country (HBO) Everyone loved the first season, including myself, she said. Issa did not attempt to rewrite the first season or do better than the first season. There are connections to the first season, theres a homage, theres a love letter to the first season. But you're not going to duplicate the first season. So, if they could get their head out of season ones ass that would be great. If they could just take it for what it is and if you don't like it, fine. But its kind of unfortunate because you have people who count on fanboys and these true fans and are like, Oh, well if theyre saying that then I don't even want to watch it. Elsewhere in the interview, Reis said some trolls had accused her character of raping her boyfriend, Eddie Qavvik (Joel D Montgrand). In one scene, Navarro has sex with Qavvik while grabbing his throat. I got accused of my character being a raper! she said. Im like: what century do you live in? Other shows to have been affected by review-bombing in recent years include The Last of Us, which drew the ire of homophobic trolls for its LGBT+ storylines. Episode three of the hit post-apocalyptic series, titled Long, Long Time, focused on the same-sex love affair between Bill (Nick Offerman) and Frank (Murray Bartlett). The episode received widespread acclaim, and was praised by critics and viewers alike for its touching narrative. However, on IMDB, it was among the lowest-rated instalments of the series. True Detective: Night Country is available to watch on Max in the US and on Sky Atlantic and NOW in the UK. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} It seems an odd way for the producers of Death in Paradise to celebrate the 100th episode of their steadily successful series, trying to kill off the police commissioner, but it does make for a change. One minute the much-loved character is enjoying a quiet rum on the quayside after a boozy lunch at the yacht club with friends and colleagues, to mark his 50 years as a copper; the next a shot rings out and the man in charge of law enforcement on the Caribbean isle of Saint Marie is fighting for his life. Thats unexpected. For one thing, it means that dear old Don Warrington, who plays Commissioner Selwyn Patterson, has even less to do than he normally does, as he spends almost the entire episode flat on his back in a hospital bed being no more than a bit grumpy about having had a bullet pumped into his back. Not quite dead in paradise, then, but quite poorly, and laid-back in a more literal manner than usual. For the earnest and unprepossessing Detective Neville Parker (Ralf Little), the absence of his sometimes intimidating boss is a mixed blessing; he misses the guy, but at least he can get on with the job of solving yet another homicide. Even so, hes such a nervy type he can almost bully himself. Little portrays Parker with a sort of Columbo-style humanity to him, and just the right side of Clouseau to prevent him from being farcical and pathetic. Helpfully for DI Parker, the incompetence of the commissioners apparent would-be assassin turns the usual whodunnit storyline into a whydunnit, and more about a manhunt. This is because very early in the proceedings, the man suspected of firing the gun is identified. He flees the scene, drunk, only to crash his getaway jalopy, and leave the pistol, his driving licence, mobile phone and an empty of bottle of rum behind. The gun matches the bullet that nearly finished the commissioner off and the ID checks out, so they set about finding him. When they do apprehend him, an intense, confused old chap by the name of Alton Garvey (Mensah Bediako), even confesses to the crime, his only plea being that he doesnt know why he did it. He seems merely deranged. And very obviously guilty. Yet it is less straightforward than that, as you might expect. So, as is the way with Death in Paradise, we have an overly complicated and extraordinarily convoluted tale that stretches credulity way beyond breaking point, but the details of the scripts narrative failures are all rather too tedious to go into and quite pointless too. Thats because the point of watching Death in Paradise is that youre not really supposed to watch it in the sense of paying much attention to whats going on. If you thought too much about it, youd get really quite irritated at all the flaws and inconsistencies in the story. Littles detective is reminiscent of Columbo and Clouseau (BBC/Red Planet Pictures/Denis Guyenon) Its just a pleasant way to pass a cold wintry evening, vicariously enjoying the charming customs and enchanting beauty of the idyllic fictional Saint Marie (its filmed in Guadeloupe), and in the company of some familiar two-dimensional characters. The vista is tourist-brochure perfect, and the incidental calypso-inspired music catchy enough not to be dismissed as cliche. It would be nice if one day the St Mariean characters, aside from Patterson, were a bit more central to the detective work. At the moment, theyre treated as part of the scenery, confined to supplying occasional light romantic interludes. You might even be tempted to treat yourself to a nice drop of rum as you savour it all and reach for the iPad to research booking yourself a week out there. Death in Paradise is thus what you might call one-eyed TV, best enjoyed with only partial focus on the leisurely paced action. As a rather less demanding alternative to tackling a Wordle puzzle or a game of Cluedo, an hour spent with the crew on St Marie is nice enough for the casual viewer, but even more for the assorted tourist boards of the Caribbean islands and the local rum industry. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu announced that Indian troops will leave the island nation by mid-May amid diplomatic tension between the two south Asian nations. He told parliament on Tuesday that Male and New Delhi have come to an agreement that the Indian troops will pull out of Maldives by 10 May. Mr Muizzu said: Maldives will not renew the agreement with India to chart the countrys inner and underwater charts. We will not allow any country to interfere with or undermine our sovereignty. According to a report by Sun Online, Mr Muizzu said the Indian Army will relocate its military personnel from one of the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by 10 March this year. The military personnel of the remaining two platforms will leave by May 10, he was quoted as saying. He stated that the support from a vast majority of the Maldivian population for his administration represented a pledge to withdraw foreign troops from Maldives, recover the lost part of Maldives seas and cancel any agreement made by the state that could undermine Maldives sovereignty. At least 88 Indian soldiers are reportedly posted in Maldives, along with 12 medical personnel from the Indian armed forces. The Indian troops have been deployed in the archipelago for maintaining and operating two rescue and reconnaissance helicopters, and a donated Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft. Removing Indias small contingent of military personnel, as well as medical staff from the Indian armed forces, was a key campaign pledge for Mr Muizzu who has called for the country to pursue closer ties with China instead. Mr Muizzu requested the troops removal shortly after entering office two months ago, and set the 15 March deadline after returning from a state visit to Beijing. Last week, the Maldivian foreign ministry said both Male and New Delhi agreed that the Indian government would replace the military personnel in one of the three aviation platforms by 10 March and complete replacing military personnel in the other two platforms by 10 May. Amid the tensions between the two countries, it was reported that the Indian Navy will monitor a Chinese surveillance ship Xiang Yang Hong 3 in the Indian Ocean region to ensure that it does not carry out any exploration activity in the Maldivian Exclusive Economic Zone. In a statement, the Male government said: Concerning the media reports regarding the port call of the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 3 at Male, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to inform that a diplomatic request was made by the Government of China to the Government of Maldives, for the necessary clearances to make a port call, for rotation of personnel and replenishment. The vessel would not be conducting any research while in the Maldivian waters. The Maldives has always been a welcoming destination for vessels of friendly countries, and continues to host both civilian and military vessels making port calls for peaceful purposes. Such port calls not only enhance bilateral ties between the Maldives and its partner countries, but also demonstrate the centuries old tradition of the Maldivian people welcoming vessels from friendly countries, the government added. But India worries that the vessel may be on a mission to gather intelligence that the Chinese military could eventually use for submarine manoeuvers. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} At least 10 personnel were killed in an early morning militant attack in northwest Pakistan after a police station came under fire, officials said. Six others were injured in the attack that took place just days ahead of the critical general assembly elections in the country to pick the next prime minister. More than 30 militants targeted a police station in northwestern Pakistans Draban region in the already volatile Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa at around 3am on Monday and launched sniper fire to enter the premises, police officials said. After entering the building, the terrorists used hand grenades which caused more casualties to the police," said Malik Anees ul Hassan, the deputy superintendent of police in Draban. The exchange of fire lasted more than two and a half hours, Khyper Pakhtunkhwas provincial police chief Akhtar Hayat Gandapur said, confirming that the attack on the police station came from three directions. The attackers briefly took control of the police station, he said. With merely days to go for an explosive round of federal elections, Pakistans two provinces Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have seen a sharp surge in attacks. A national assembly candidate was shot dead in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday, and another political leader was shot dead in his partys election office in Balochistan province on the same day. At least four people were killed in Balochistan on Tuesday in a bomb attack carried out by the Islamic State. Officials at the Election Commission of Pakistan initially said the security situation in the two regions could force delay in conducting the elections. They later said they will proceed with the scheduled time after reviewing the law and order situation. Draban lies in an area considered a stronghold of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party. The conservative religious partys leader, Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman, travelled last month to Afghanistan to meet the Talibans supreme spiritual leader, local media reported, one of his few known meetings with foreign dignitaries. The party has also called for a delay in Pakistans polls due to security concerns. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Three people have been killed by falling trees amid dangerous storms in California. Police were called to a home in Yuba City on Sunday evening in response to reports that a tree had fallen on a person, the Yuba City Police Department said in a Facebook post. Officers who arrived at the address found a man lying underneath a very large redwood tree in his backyard. Emergency responders attempted lifesaving measures, but were unable to revive him. Law enforcement officials identified the deceased man to ABC 10 as David Gomes, 82. Mr Gomes is believed to have been using a ladder and attempting to clear the tree away from his home when it fell. A neighbor who reported the incident last saw him around 3pm that day, and heard the tree fall around 5pm. This was an unfortunate accident and our condolences are with the males family and friends, police said. Three people have now been confirmed killed as the storms continue to rage (AP) Elsewhere on Sunday a 41-year-old man was killed in Sacramento County. The man, named as Chad Ensey of Carmichael, died at his home due to blunt force injuries, a spokesperson for the county said, per ABC10. A tree also fell onto a home in Boulder Creek, California, and killed one of the residents inside. Police were also called to a home in Yuba City on Sunday evening in response to reports that a tree had fallen on a person, the Yuba City Police Department said in a Facebook post. Since Sunday, California has been experiencing severe storms, including heavy rain, snow, and wind. Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a state of emergency for eight counties, which include Los Angeles and San Diego. Roadways all across the state are flooded, and hundreds of thousands of people are without power. Notoriously covert, theres something mischievous about the way Michelin operates. At the end of January, the guide made an announcement that it had awarded 20 new restaurants with Bib Gourmands a ranking that recognises good food at moderate prices. Wales and Scotland received nominations for the Touring Club and Tipo respectively. Ireland received five, Northern Ireland one (Belfasts Home regained its status) and 10 more were awarded to restaurants in Lewes, Manchester, Bury St Edmunds, Hove, Charlbury, Bristol, Old Windsor, Falmouth, Hoveringham and Fordham. Of the 20 accolades handed out, just two were in London Empire Empire, a disco-themed Indian restaurant in Notting Hill, and Les 2 Garcons, a French bistro in Crouch End. London still holds the most (35), but with half the number of Bibs awarded this year compared to last, down from seven in 2021, and with places like Bristol, Brighton and Manchester on the up, the downward trend for the capital has been branded a snub. Sign up to IndyEat's free newsletter for weekly recipes, foodie features and cookbook releases Get our food and drink newsletter for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyEats email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Oh God not another milk Im not allowed to drink! A friend uttered these exasperated words earlier this week, followed by the deepest of sighs. She, like so many people trying to do the right thing only to come up short, is exhausted. She was responding to a viral video thats probably the best takedown of oat milk to grace the internet. Others have tried; all have failed. But actor Drea Vallss video, Cows milk when she hears youve quit oat, in which she anthropomorphises the former as a spurned woman, has confirmed what some had already seen coming: the inevitable fall from grace of the trendiest dairy alternative on the block. Well, well, well, Valls says, like an EastEnders villainess complete with fur coat and fake cigarette. Look whos come crawling back Had enough of her spiking your glucose, have you? I should have known what you were up to from the start, all them years ago. Stopped ordering me in your Costa; started ordering her instead. The inspired monologue, which has racked up more than 300,000 views on Instagram at the time of writing, contains the immortal lines: So whats changed, hmm? You sick of her being the toxic one now, yeah? Shes the one thats bad for the environment. I feel sorry for her. Poor b***h. It neatly encapsulates the increasing criticism levelled at oat milk, previously the alt-milk darling that could do no wrong. Historically advertised as a healthy drink, its recently come under fire from some nutritionists. In a high-profile interview with American entrepreneur Marie Forleo thats garnered 4.3 million views on TikTok, Jessie Inchauspe the French biochemist and New York Times bestselling author also known as the Glucose Goddess gave the following damning assessment: Oat milk comes from oats, and oats are a grain, and grains are starch. When youre [drinking] oat milk, youre [drinking] starch juice. Youre [drinking] juice with a lot of glucose in it. So it leads to a big glucose spike. Oatly is the leading brand of oat milk (AP) If you have milk that comes from a cow, thats mostly protein and fat, she continues. If you have milk that comes from a nut, thats also very, very low in starch. Those are better options in terms of glucose-balancing properties. If youre having oat milk because you think its healthier, just switch. Go back to whole milk or have some unsweetened nut milk. Ill hold my hands up as a committed cows milk drinker (to the extent that Ill happily chug a half-pint of the white stuff as a treat), part of me is revelling in the schadenfreude of it all. After years of one colleague double checking I wanted my coffee with cruelty juice every time he made me a drink, the holier-than-thou, halo-topped oat milk is finally, finally having its day of reckoning. But is it really worse for our health than cows milk or its vegan rivals? Its pretty much all carbohydrates, functional medicine and nutrition specialist Sarah Carolides tells me. There are 15-20g of carbs per glass compared to around 8g of carbs in a glass of cows milk. It also has 2.5g of protein per glass, about 4g of unsaturated fat, and about 2g of fibre. Cows milk has a lot more protein between 8 and 10g per glass and its a source of complete protein. Nutrition-wise, problems with oat milk can arise for three main reasons, she says: the fibre; the amount of sugar/fast-releasing carbohydrates; and the additives, emulsifiers, sugars and flavourings that some commercial brands add. Bloating is likely to happen because of both the fibre and sugary carbohydrates in the oat milk, she warns. If someone has an imbalance with the bacteria in their gut, the harmful bacteria can enjoy feasting on the soluble fibre and oligosaccharides that the oat milk provides. This is a type of fermentation that produces gas and causes bloating. FDA Says Plant-Based Beverage Producers Can Refer to Products as Milk Unsurprisingly, Oatly, the leading brand of oat milk which currently has a net worth over $675m (529m) is clapping back against claims its not good for glucose intake. In line with the scientific community, we analyse glycaemic load (GL), which considers both the blood sugar level response and the effect of an average serving size, says Caroline Orfila-Jenkins, VP science and technology at Oatly. One large glass of Oatly Barista Edition (240ml) or a dash in your coffee (100ml) is considered in the low category for glycaemic load and on a par with cows milk. A 240ml glass of Oatly Barista Edition has a GL of nine, says Orfila-Jenkins. By way of comparison, a typical fizzy soda drink (240 ml) has a GL of around 17, which is medium, she adds. Dr Federica Amati, head nutritionist at Zoe, the personalised nutrition company and author of Every Body Should Know This and Recipes for a Better Menopause, says that, while many plant milks, including oat milk, can be heavily processed and may include a wide range of ingredients you wouldnt find in a kitchen, most people only drink them in small quantities, and the fortified versions offer vegans and children beneficial nutrients. Unsweetened oat milk does contain more sugar than some alternatives, like soy and almond milk, she says. However, when comparing products, its important to consider the full range of nutrients and the level of processing. If you are drinking occasionally in your tea or coffee, go for the one you like the taste of the most and if you dont have diabetes dont worry too much about sugar spikes; your body will likely be able to handle it. If you dont have diabetes, dont worry too much about sugar spikes; your body will likely be able to handle it Dr Federica Amati, ZOE Research conducted by her colleague Dr Sarah Berry shows that when we consume oats that have been finely ground as they are in oat milk they do cause a larger blood sugar response than after eating large whole oats. This is normal as the food matrix has been destroyed, making the sugars easier to absorb, says Dr Amati. However, everyone responds differently to food; something that causes a large rise in one persons blood sugar might not for someone else. If you do drink oat milk, try to choose products that dont contain too many other ingredients, like sweeteners, thickening agents and emulsifiers. But what of oat milks claim to have one of the lowest environmental impacts? Generally speaking, its accepted that oat milk has a smaller carbon footprint than most of the alternatives. Cows milk uses significantly more land and water than oat and other plant milks per litre of milk, says not-for-profit co-operative, The Ethical Consumer. It also creates significantly more greenhouse gas emissions per litre of milk than oat or other plant milks. Figures from Our World in Data indicate oat milk uses 13 times less water, and 11 times less land to produce one litre of milk compared with cows milk. But the Ethical Consumer adds that to consider environmental impacts holistically requires an understanding of production methods, which often is ignored. Its complex, and videos like [Vallss] just make the discussion binary. And binary is undoubtedly bad, whichever way you slice it. Just as almond milk came under fire for its high water footprint and consequent depletion of Californias groundwater sources, oat milks story also has more layers to it. Its not the cow, its the how... if you buy milk from an organic or regenerative dairy farm, this can be beneficial for the environment and biodiversity Lizzie Rivera, Live Frankly We need to consider the full environmental impact as well as nutrition, Lizzie Rivera, founder of ethical and sustainable lifestyle guide Live Frankly, tells me. It depends on how the oats are grown if they are not organic, there is a good chance they have been farmed with [herbicide] glyphosate, which is devastating for the environment and our health. Oatly says its product is glyphosate-free. Two out of 13 popular brands of oat milk in the US had detectable levels of glyphosate, according to a 2023 report from Mamavation: Malk Organic Oat Milk and Silk Extra Creamy Oatmilk. When it comes to dairy milk, its not the cow, its the how, says Rivera. If youre buying dairy milk from an industrial farm then the environment and animal welfare are huge issues. But if you buy milk from an organic or regenerative dairy farm, this can be beneficial for the environment and biodiversity and the cows can even be part of a system that helps to draw carbon from the atmosphere and store it in the soil. Organic dairy farming could have environmental benefits (Reuters) The Soil Association also extols the virtues of cows milk, provided its organic. Organic dairy farming uses practices which are mindful towards the environment, such as rotational grazing to make sure fields arent overgrazed by the herd, keeping soils healthy and as a result more effective at sequestering carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, helping reduce the effects of climate change, it says. Meanwhile, the majority of oats in oak milk are produced in intensive farming systems, often overseas, where they are a single crop with significantly reduced levels of biodiversity, adds the Soil Association. This issue of highly industrialised farming and the subsequent creation of a monoculture where vast tranches of land are used to grow one singular crop, stripping out biodiversity and having a detrimental effect on pollinators is an issue with nearly all vegan milk alternatives, including soy and nut-based varieties. But, to quote the old adage, dont let perfect be the enemy of good: plant-based milks are still better, across most environmental criteria, than the vast majority of cows milk thats produced from highly industrialised farms. Viral videos are all well and good, but whether its a woman swathed in fur channelling her inner dairy drama queen or a French biochemist talking in TikTok-friendly soundbites, anything that strips issues down to a binary good/bad debate is probably misleading. Like the classic Facebook relationship status of circa 2006, when it comes to milk: its complicated. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Meryl Streep has made a surprise appearance at the 2024 Grammys. The Oscar winner, 74, was spotted at the awards show on Sunday 4 February in Los Angeles, California. During host Trevor Noahs opening monologue, cameras panned over to Streeps empty chair, which was at a table with music producer Mark Ronson and her daughter, Grace Gummer. After a few moments, Streep then returned to the chair in question and took a seat to cheers. For those who were unaware of Streeps surprising connection to the Dance The Night producer, Noah informed viewers that the Mammia Mia actor is actually his mother-in-law. Look at this, Mark Ronson, one of the greatest producers of all time, the comedian said. Get this, his mother-in-law is going to be sitting right here. You know who she is? Meryl Streep, thats right. Meryl Streep, one of the greatest Meryl Streeps of all time. Shes going to be in this chair. I cant believe that Meryl Streep is here. As Noah continued his monologue, the Devil Wears Prada star suddenly appeared in the audience and ran over to her chair. You thought I was lying! Noah yelled into the microphone, while both Ronson and the crowd erupted in applause. The 48-year-old songwriter has been married to Streeps second eldest daughter for more than two years. In fact, the couple welcomed their first child together last year. Ronson and Gummer, 37, tied the knot in August 2021 during an intimate backyard ceremony. The following month, the musician revealed the two were married when he shared a black and white social media post celebrating his 45th birthday. To my truest love, he captioned the image, which showed the smiling couple on their wedding day. Out of nowhere, you made 45 hands down the greatest year of my life. And Im sure it took me 45 years to become the man worthy of your love. I hope I spend every one of these birthdays by your side til my last day. And beyond. Forever and ever yours, he wrote. (And yes, we got married). The pair announced they were expecting a baby in October 2022, when they stepped out in New York for W Magazines 50th anniversary party, where the Mr Robot star sported a baby bump. Speaking to People in March 2023, Ronsons fashion designer sister Annabelle Dexter-Jones confirmed the couple recently welcomed a daughter. [Gummer] just had the baby. Shes two and a half months now, Dexter-Jones told the outlet at the time. Shes stunning. Meryl Streep, Grace Gummer, and Mark Ronson attend Clooney Foundation For Justice Inaugural Albie Awards at New York Public Library in September 2022 in New York City (Getty Images for Albie Awards) Meanwhile, Ronson told People on the 66th annual Grammys red carpet that his daughter has inspired a lot of his music. Ive always just been like someone whos stayed in the studio all the time, he said on Sunday. And now its like, theres no song or idea more important than bath time and getting home. That I love. He added: We have a one-year-old daughter, me and my wife, so maybe well party a little tonight. While Streep may be supporting her son-in-law at Sunday nights Grammys, where hes nominated for producing multiple songs off the hit Barbie movie soundtrack, the actor is also nominated this year. Streep scored a nod for her narration of the audiobook version of Big Tree, by Brian Selznick - marking her sixth Grammy nomination. If she wins the category, Streep will be one Tony Award away from becoming an EGOT winner. Find the full list of 2024 Grammys winners here. Australian travellers are being warned to exercise a high degree of caution as close neighbour Indonesia, the worlds third-largest democracy, heads to the polls next week in a high-stakes election. Australian travellers are being warned to exercise a high degree of caution as close neighbour Indonesia, the worlds third-largest democracy, heads to the polls next week in a high-stakes election. Smart Traveller, the governments advisory service, stated on Monday frequent political rallies and possible protests were likely to occur in the lead-up to voting day, which will see more than 200 million Indonesians vote for their next president across the massive archipelago nation that stretches from Sumatra island in the west to the province of Papua immediately north of Darwin and Far North Queensland. Expect traffic delays and restricted access to locations if protests occur. Avoid protests and demonstrations and monitor local media for the latest updates, the advice states. Supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Ganjar Pranowo attend a campaign event on February 3 in Jakarta. Indonesia will go to the polls on February 14. Picture: Oscar Siagian/Getty Images The election, a three-way race between former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, former military general Prabowo Subianto and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo, takes place next Wednesday, February 14. Boisterous political rallies are a common feature of life in Indonesia, a nation of about 270 million people, and tens of thousands of supporters can gather at stadiums to cheer on their preferred candidate. The new warning adds to the overall exercise a high degree of caution risk assessment for the country, which counts Bali, one of Australias most popular travel destinations, as its star tourist draw. Alongside the election, the government advises Australian travellers to be mindful of possible of terror attacks and the countrys many active volcanoes, which can erupt without warning. Soldiers from the Iskandar Muda military command take part in a roll call ceremony in Banda Aceh on February 1 ahead of Indonesia's presidential and legislative polls scheduled to be held on February 14. Picture: Chaideer Mahyuddin / AFP The government also advises Australians to reconsider their need to travel to the provinces of Papua due to ongoing separatist activity. Theres been tension, including demonstrations and violence, in certain towns in the provinces of Papua, Papua Pegunungan, Papua Tengah and Papua Selatan in recent years, the government states. Armed groups have stated that theyre targeting foreigners, including Australians. But Indonesia continues to attract millions of Australian travellers each year with its intoxicating mix of cultural power, natural beauty and affordability. The tropical getaway was the number one travel spot for Australians in 2023, according to data from Bupa Travel Insurance, followed by the United States and New Zealand. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A weekend cyberattack on the website of Pennsylvania's state courts agency disabled some online systems but did not appear to compromise any data and didn't stop the courts from opening Monday, officials said. Various county court clerks said their offices were operating smoothly, despite the disruptions to some online portals and services. The federal government's lead cybersecurity agency, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the F.B.I. were investigating the attack on the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Todd said in a statement. Todd called it a denial of service cyberattack, using the federal governments description for when attackers flood the targeted host or network with traffic until the target cannot respond or simply crashes, preventing access for legitimate users. The attack comes a few months after Kansas' judicial branch was the victim of what it called a " sophisticated cyberattack," from which it took months and millions of dollars to recover. That attack was blamed on a Russia-based group. Major tech companies Google Cloud, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services have been hit by such attacks in recent years, as have financial institutions. In 2022, some U.S. airport sites were hit. Some of the biggest attacks have been attributed to Russian or Chinese hackers. Neither the courts agency nor the federal cybersecurity agency, called the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, immediately identified the attackers or a motive. The agencies also did not say whether the courts' cybersecurity measures had worked as designed or whether the attackers demanded money or a ransom. In a statement, CISA's executive assistant director, Eric Goldstein, said the cybersecurity agency is in touch with Pennsylvania court officials and will provide assistance. Among the disabled systems were online docket sheets and an electronic case document filing portal. Court officials said they were still taking paper court filings by paper and by mail. Jack Danahy, of cybersecurity firm NuHarbor Security in Vermont, said denial of service hackers are typically seeking money, although such attacks are harder to profit from because networking experts have ways of defusing it by diverting the flood of internet traffic. Such attacks are often traced back to state-backed actors, but they are also relatively easy for smaller hackers to mount, Danahy said. The attackers can find ways of hiding their identity, and can use the denial of service attack to mask an underlying attack, such as a ransomware attack, Danahy said. In Kansas, the states court system started bringing its computerized case management system back online two months after the October cyberattack that forced it to shut it down, along with public access to documents and other systems. Last month, Kansas' top judicial official told lawmakers that the state's court system needed at least $2.6 million in additional money to cover the costs of bringing multiple computer systems back online, pay vendors, improve cybersecurity and hire three additional cybersecurity officials. The hackers stole data and threatened to post it on a dark website if its demands were not met, officials said. Judicial branch officials have not spelled out the attackers demands, but said that no ransom was paid. ___ Follow Marc Levy at www.twitter.com/timelywriter. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Marilyn Manson, who was sentenced to community service for blowing his nose on a videographer at a 2019 concert in New Hampshire, recently completed his time at an organization that provides meeting space for Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, according to court paperwork. The shock rocker, 55, spent 20 hours last month at the Windsor Club of Glendale, a California nonprofit that provides meeting locations for Alcoholics Anonymous and families of alcoholics to achieve a more meaningful life through recovery, according to the group's website. A certificate of completion was filed by the Assistance League of Los Angeles with a New Hampshire court on Jan. 30. Manson had to file proof of his service by Feb. 4. Manson, whose legal name is Brian Warner, pleaded no contest in September to the misdemeanor charge in Laconia, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of Concord, the state capital. A no contest plea means Manson did not contest the charge and did not admit guilt. Marilyn Manson (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) He initially was charged with two misdemeanor counts of simple assault stemming from the encounter with the videographer at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion in Gilford on Aug. 19, 2019. The second charge, alleging that he spit on the videographer, was dropped. Manson also was fined. He needs to remain arrest-free and notify local police of any New Hampshire performances for two years. Prosecutor Andrew Livernois had said it was his first offense and he had no prior record. Manson initially pleaded not guilty to both charges in 2021. His lawyer had said that the type of filming the videographer was doing commonly exposes videographers to incidental contact with bodily fluids. Manson emerged as a musical star in the mid-1990s, known as much for courting public controversy as for hit songs like The Beautiful People and hit albums like 1996s Antichrist Superstar and 1998s Mechanical Animals. Marilyn Manson arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Feb. 9, 2020 (2020 Invision) Last year, a California judge threw out key sections of Mansons lawsuit against his former fiancee, Westworld actor Evan Rachel Wood, claiming she fabricated public allegations that he sexually and physically abused her during their relationship and encouraged other women to do the same. He is appealing the ruling. The judge recently ruled that Manson cover Wood's legal fees, according to Rolling Stone. Mansons lawsuit, filed last year, alleges that Wood and another woman named as a defendant, Illma Gore, defamed Manson, intentionally caused him emotional distress and derailed his career in music, TV and film. Several women have sued Manson in recent years with allegations of sexual and other abuse. Most have been dismissed or settled, including a suit filed by Game of Thrones actor Esme Bianco. The Associated Press does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} 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. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A man has been arrested on suspicion of assisting the Clapham chemical attacker, who is still at large five days after the horror attack which left a woman fighting for her life. A massive manhunt continues for suspect Abdul Ezedi after the 31-year-old woman and her two daughters, aged three and eight, were hurt in south London last Wednesday. The woman remains in a critical condition in hospital and may lose the sight in her right eye, police said on Monday. She has so far been unable to talk to officers because she is too unwell. In a new update on Monday, detectives said they had spent hundreds of hours looking for the fugitive, who they described as a dangerous offender, but warned the search could take weeks. He was last seen near Southwark Bridge, which crosses the Thames, but there is no suggestion that he jumped into the river. Commander Jon Savell said investigators are keeping an open mind as to where he may be or what may have happened to him, but suggested he could have come to harm or that somewhere is protecting him. The manhunt for Abdul Ezedi continues, five days after he was last seen (Metropolitan Police/PA) They added that Ezedi is not the father of the children injured in the attack but was believed to be in the capital visiting the victim. They still do not yet know why he carried out the attack. "We are taking it incredibly seriously. Describing the womans injuries, he said: He is very dangerous offender who has caused some horrendous injuries to a mother. The mother remains sedated. She is very critical but stable. She had very significant facial injuries that undoubtedly will be there for the rest of her life unfortunately." He warned that anyone hiding Ezedi that it is a criminal offence, adding: "We will take action". Ezedi, described as dangerous, is injured (Metropolitan Police/ PA) (PA Wire) The most recent sighting of Ezedi, who is from Newcastle, was at about 9.50pm on Wednesday, near the bridge in south London. Officers said they had arrested a man, who was questionned in a south London police station and later bailed. Police, including counter-terror officers, have scoured hundreds of hours of CCTV. Officers revealed he was using a bank card to travel the tube network but that card has not been used since Wednesday. They have recovered the suspects vehicle from the crime scene which has been difficult to examine because of the dangerous corrosive substance found within the vehicle. They believe they have it narrowed down to one or two very strong Alkalines. Forensics have also recovered his mobile phone which has helped understand how suspect and victim knew each other. But the fact that the suspect does not have a phone makes the manhunt more difficult, they added. Commander Jon Savell gave an update on Monday (PA) Commander Savell added: "He may have come to some harm is obviously one hypothesis. Its realistic to understand the fact that no-one has seen him recently, hes not been spotted by anybody would mean he has either come to harm and hes lying somewhere yet to be found. Or someones looking after him and hes not been outside in some time. That are the obvious two hypotheses. "We havent ruled either out but our main focus is to try and find him alive." Asked by The Independent if they have begun searching the River Thames, Det Supt Rick Sewart said: "Not at this stage but we are continuing our inquiries in that particular area so that we can understand more about where he went next. "If we have any information to suggest he may be in the Thames then we will move to that line of inquiry." Police have offered a 20,000 reward in place for anyone with information leading to Ezedis arrest. More than 200 calls have been received from members of the public with potential sightings, but they have since been discounted. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A computer expert committed forgery on an industrial scale by telling a brazen lie that he is the inventor of Bitcoin, the High Court has heard. Dr Craig Wright has claimed he is Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonym of the person widely credited with founding the cryptocurrency, the court was told. He is being sued by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (Copa), a non-profit group including cryptocurrency firms, who say that he created an elaborate false narrative and forged documents to suggest he was Satoshi and had terrorised those who questioned him. The Australian computer scientist, who attended the start of the five-week trial over whether he was the pseudonymised inventor, has denied the allegations. On Monday, Jonathan Hough KC, representing the non-profit group, said Dr Wrights claim is a brazen lie and elaborate false narrative supported by forgery on an industrial scale. He continued in written submissions: Copas case is, simply, that Dr Wrights claim to be Satoshi is a lie, founded on an elaborate false narrative As his false documents and inconsistencies have been exposed, he has resorted to further forgery and ever more implausible excuses. Mr Hough added: Dr Wright has consistently failed to supply genuine proof of his claim to be Satoshi: instead, he has repeatedly proffered documents which bear clear signs of having been doctored. The original Bitcoin founding document, a white paper named Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System, was released in 2008, and was authored under Satoshis name. The barrister told the court that despite various efforts by Dr Wright to prove his identity, he had singularly failed to give that proof, and that some aspects of his story entered the realm of farce. He also accused Dr Wright of using the artificial intelligence software ChatGPT to forge documents due to the pressure of time needed to substantiate his claims. Dr Craig Wright arrives at the Rolls Building in London (Lucy North/PA Wire) A key piece of evidence, the court heard, was that experts on both sides agreed that the original white paper was written on OpenOffice software. But the version provided by Dr Wright as evidence had been found to have been created on software called LaTeX, which did not exist when the white paper was written, Mr Hough said. Dr Wright first claimed to be Satoshi in 2016 and has been involved in several legal claims against those who have questioned his identity. His barrister Lord Grabiner KC said Dr Wright had released the white paper after having spent many years devoted to studying and working on concepts underpinning Bitcoin and there was clear evidence demonstrating his creation of the digital currency. In written submissions, he added: This issue has been the subject of extensive media comment since early 2016, as well as multiple sets of legal proceedings in this jurisdiction and elsewhere. If Dr Wright were not Satoshi, the real Satoshi would have been expected to come forward to counter the claim. Dr Wrights use of the Satoshi pseudonym has its roots in his deep admiration for Japanese culture and a desire to maintain a certain level of privacy while developing and ultimately creating Bitcoin, Lord Grabiner added. The trial before Mr Justice Mellor, in which Dr Wright is expected to begin giving evidence on Tuesday, is set to conclude next month with a decision in writing at a later date. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A review into the death of a British spy, whose naked, decomposing body was found padlocked in a bag in his bathtub, has finished, London police said on Monday. The announcement brings an end to one of the citys greatest mysteries of recent years. Gareth Williams, 31, was working for Britains external intelligence service MI6 when he was found dead at his home (Getty/PA) Gareth Williams, 31, was working for Britains external intelligence service MI6 when he was found dead at his home in August 2010, and the nature of his job and his death provoked a wide range of what police later called weird and wonderful conspiracy theories. Although a coroner concluded in 2012 that Williams was probably killed unlawfully by another person, a police investigation found he had probably died accidentally on his own, rejecting suspicions that the unusual death had involved foreign spies. The holdall in which Gareth Williams was found curled in a foetal position (PA) A further forensic review was commissioned in 2021 and its findings, delivered last November, had not thrown further light on the case, Detective Chief Inspector Neil John, the senior investigating officer. No new DNA evidence was found and no further lines of enquiry were identified, John said in a statement. Williams, worked as a code breaker at the Government Communications Headquarters in western England but was on a three-year secondment to MI6, which deals with foreign espionage matters at the time of his death. The remains of the maths prodigy were found curled up inside a zipped and padlocked red hold-all at the London flat - an intelligence service safe house - close to MI6s headquarters. Gareth Williams (Supplied) His body was badly decomposed after remaining in the bag in the August heat for a full week until he was discovered. Tests found no traces of alcohol, drugs or poison in his body. Police disclosed at the time of Williams death that he owned 15,000 worth of womens designer clothing, a wig and make up. It had been suggested that Williams dressed as a woman outside of work, though a forensics expert has since said they believe the spy likely worked undercover as a woman. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a passenger was pushed on to the tracks of a busy central London Tube station. Passengers on the platform helped the man to safety before the train arrived at the station, British Transport Police said. Witnesses are being sought after the incident, which happened at about 3pm on Saturday at Oxford Circus Station. A 25-year-old man is being questioned in police custody. The victim was not injured. Anyone with information is asked to contact BTP by text on 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting 379 of February 3. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Two women have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was found dead at a property on Merseyside. Police were called to a report that a male had been found unresponsive at a house on Barnett Avenue, Newton Le Willows, at around 2pm on Sunday. He was taken to hospital but pronounced dead later in the afternoon. His next of kin have been informed and a post-mortem will take place to establish the cause of death. A 52-year-old woman and a 27-year-old woman both from Newton le Willows were later arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody. A police cordon remains in place on Barnett Avenue while forensic examinations are carried out as part of the polices investigation. Jimmy Rotheram, Merseyside Police detective inspector, said: Our thoughts first and foremost are with the mans family following this unexpected tragic incident. An investigation remains underway in the area and our officers are in the early stages of establishing exactly what happened. While we have already made two arrests, our specialist officers remain at the scene as we carry out forensic examinations and review any CCTV footage in the area. He added: If you live on Barnett Avenue and have any doorbell or CCTV footage from around 2pm on Sunday 4 February that may have captured what happened or heard anything suspicious, then please get in touch with us so we can continue our enquiries. Anyone who has any information on this incident is asked to contact police through the usual channels, quoting reference number 24000145442. Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through its website. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The heartbroken family of an eight-year-old girl killed when a Land Rover ploughed into her school playground have said they have little confidence in the police as they await answers seven months on from the tragedy. Selena Lau was filmed playing Scott Joplins ragtime classic The Entertainer on the piano at an end-of-term concert at The Study preparatory school in Wimbledon, just moments before the tragic incident last summer. Ending the piece to a round of applause, she and her grandmother Lai Lin Lau moved into the grounds for a tea party to celebrate the start of the summer holidays. As she was standing by her friend Nuria Sajjad, also eight, a gold 4x4 crashed through the school gates and killed them both, while dozens of other children and parents were also injured. The gold Land Rover crashed through the school gates and killed two pupils (PA) Speaking to the Times, her parents Franky and Jessie Lau, both 45, have spoken of their desperation for answers as the investigation by the Metropolitan Police continues into its eighth month. It has been a long time, Ms Lau said. We want to try to understand what happened. We lost our daughter. We expected her to be with us all our lives. This happened to her and to us. It was the end of my world. It has been seven months and we are still waiting. A 46-year-old woman from Wimbledon was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has since been released under investigation. In an emotional interview with Vanessa Feltz on TalkTV, Mr Lau said: We still havent had any answers. Theres no update. We just dont understand why its taking so long for an incident that everyone has seen. Selena friend Nuria Sajjad was also killed in the incident at The Study Prep school in Wimbledon (Metropolitan Police/PA) (PA Media) We just want answers, we want justice for our daughter. Were very close to the other family, thats how they feel as well, he continued. Its no closure, no information or confirmation about whatever happened to our girls. We are frustrated. Theyre suffering every day, like us. Selenas mother had been at her desk in the City, where she worked as a chartered accountant, when she received the call telling her to urgently make her way to the school. Upon arriving, she and her husband were told that Selena had died, with Ms Lau making her way to St Georges Hospital in Tooting with her daughters body. Her husband returned home with Selenas 12-year-old sister Isabella, for them to collect her favourite teddy bears and toys. Since the incident, their older daughter has withdrawn from activities that she used to enjoy with her younger sister and sobs at night. A tribute note dedicated to Selena at the crash site (Getty Images) They were best buddies since the day Selena was born, doing piano, netball, dancing and singing classes together, she said. Now shes withdrawn from all those activities. Thats not fun any more. Shes been sobbing at night because they used to listen to songs together before going to sleep and chat. Shes been crying on her own. We just want to have understanding, justice for what happened. We owe this answer to ourselves and to the girls. Because you cant have two innocent children lose their lives and all the questions not answered. Detective Chief Superintendent Clair Kelland, who is in charge of policing southwest London, said: Our thoughts remain with the families of Nuria and Selena who we know are greatly loved and missed. This was a tragic incident and we understand that the families want and need answers as to what happened. We are continuing to give them specialist support through our dedicated family liaison officers who are providing updates on the investigation where they can. We recognise that the time taken can cause further distress but it is only right and fair to all involved that we carry out a thorough and extensive investigation. Close XL bully owner tears up discussing ban: 'It is cruel' For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The son of a woman killed in a suspected XL bully attack has paid tribute to his mother who died while visiting her 11-year-old grandson over the weekend. Police were called to an address in Jaywick, Essex, after 4pm on Saturday where officers found the victim, named by her family as Esther Martin, seriously injured. The 68-year-old, from Woodford Green, London, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Her son Paul Martin posted on Facebook: Love you lots mum. Sleep tight and give Clare Louise a big hug from me love you both lots. Until we meet again. Your memory will live forever. It comes just days after it became a criminal offence to own an XL Bully, with all existing dogs required to wear a muzzle and be kept on a lead. The National Police Chiefs Council said they had been informed that around 40,000 dog owners had registered their pets since the ban was announced by Rishi Sunak in September. But the Met also warned as many as 10,000 of the animals could be without a certificate of exemption, which is now required under law. Virgin has launched a massive sale on airfares to tropical locations such as Bali, Fiji and Soma for Aussies looking for a getaway in 2024. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles Virgin Australia has slashed airfare prices to some of Australias favourite tropical locations, with thousands of sale fares on offer for a short time only. Aussies can swap city views for the sands of tropical destinations like Bali, Fiji, Samoa and Vanuatu as the Australian carrier offers 50,000 sale fares for travel between February 13 and November 30, 2024. Tickets for as low as $449 return are available, with flights from Sydney to Fiji just $479 and Brisbane to Samoa just $559 return. Virgin has announced a mega sale on airfares to some of Australias favourite tropical destinations. NCA NewsWire / Sarah Matray Sale fares are available now until midnight AEST on February 9 or unless sold out prior. Full sale details are available at Virgin.com. The mega sale comes as Jetstar announced a massive sale on Thailand holiday packages for travel dates between late April and early December 2024. The packages include return starter fares, accommodation, checked luggage, standard seat selection and inclusions such as daily buffet breakfasts, welcome cocktails and daily kids club access. Jetstar has announced a major sale on packages to Thailand. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images Aussies looking for a short getaway could enjoy a five-night stay at the Kata Sea Breeze Resort in Phuket for as low as $529 per adult or a relaxing five-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Phuket resort for just $1379 per adult. The sale ends at 11.59pm AEDT on February 10 or unless sold out prior. To see the full range of fares and accommodation on offer visit Jetstar.com. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Houthis ability to carry out attacks in the Red Sea has been reduced but not fully degraded, Grant Shapps has said. The Defence Secretary told the Commons the UK will, if necessary, not hesitate to respond again in self-defence. He was updating MPs after the UK and the US took part in joint airstrikes against Houthi rebel sites in Yemen on Saturday. Mr Shapps said the attacks were in line with international law and in self-defence, and had targeted three military facilities hitting 11 separate targets, identified following very careful analysis. He said: We do not believe that there were any civilian casualties on Saturday night. He said the attacks were effective and hit all the targets. We are still carrying out the surveillance to find out exactly what the impact will have been but I think we can be very confident that all of the relevant objectives were reached, he said. Mr Shapps said he believes the clock is running down for the Houthis, but warned MPs that while the rebel groups capabilities have been degraded, they have not been fully degraded. Mr Shapps said in his statement: On two previous occasions we have been required to use force, and these attacks have had a significant effect on degrading Houthi capabilities. But the Houthis intent to continue disrupting the Red Sea has not been fully diminished. He added: We would much rather the Houthis simply stopped attacking international shipping, stopped damaging global trade and stop harming the prospects of their own people. At the same time, appeasing the Houthis today will not lead to a more stable Red Sea, indeed a more stable region. We are not seeking confrontation and we urge the Houthis and all those who enable them to stop these illegal and unacceptable attacks. But, if necessary, the UK will not hesitate to respond again in self-defence. None of us know how long this will need to continue, but we do want to see this come to a conclusion as quickly as possible Grant Shapps Speaking later in the session, he said: It is clear that the Houthis are perhaps no longer able to act as they once were. But they are not fully degraded. There must surely come a time where they understand that this is no longer in their interests because we are working actively to make sure we intercept new supplies as far as possible, and they will continue to be degraded if they continue to act as they have done. He also told MPs: We want to bring it to a close. But this remains open-ended, and we will have to go back if they do no stop. Labours shadow defence secretary John Healey said: This is the third UK/US strike in the last three weeks, at what stage do three one-off strikes become a sustained campaign? And if this does develop into continuing military action, at what stage will the Government give Parliament a say? Mr Shapps said: None of us know how long this will need to continue, but we do want to see this come to a conclusion as quickly as possible. Labour MP Apsana Begum (Poplar and Limehouse) asked if the Government intends to commit to sustained military action, adding: If so, surely it is only right for Parliament to have its say in the appropriate way. Mr Shapps said it was the third statement given in the Commons on the issue, adding: We do feel that Parliament is being fully engaged in this process. We are not looking to make this a sustained long-term military action. Houthi leaders said over the weekend that the latest allied air strikes would not deter them from targeting commercial ships in an operation they say is backing Palestinians in Gaza. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} 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. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A 25-year-old jockey died in Kent after a fall during a horse race on Sunday. Keagan Kirkby was riding in the Charing point-to-point when his horse went off course through the wing of a fence. Although he was treated by an on-course medical team as well as the air ambulance, he succumbed to his injuries. Injured Jockeys Fund issued a statement confirming his death. "It is with deep sadness that we have to report that West Country point-to-point rider, Keagan Kirkby, 25, has died following a fall at Charing point-to-point in Kent today, read the statement. "His horse, trained locally, ran out through the wing of a fence on the second circuit of the final race. The on-course medical team attended immediately and despite additional support from a 999 Helicopter Emergency Services crew, he could not be saved. "Keagan was a respected member of the Paul Nicholls team, who joined in 2019 and who had been awarded employee of the month in December 2021. He was shortlisted for the 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards in the Rider/Groom category. "We kindly ask that everyone respects the privacy of Keagans family and the team at Paul Nicholls Racing at this tragic time." In a post on X, champion trainer Mr Nicholls paid tribute to Kirkby describing him as "one of our best, hard-working lads". "All at team Ditcheat are mortified," he said. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the regulatory body for horse racing in Great Britain, also issued a statement condoling Kirkbys death. Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and everyone at the yard of Paul Nicholls. The entire Racing industry will be in mourning at the loss of someone so young and with such potential. The esteem in which he was held is clear from the fact that he was nominated for the Rider/Groom category of the 2024 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards, and made it through to the final 10 in his category. The nomination spoke of Keagans qualities as a thoughtful rider who develops a personal bond with his horses, understands their characters and adapts his riding accordingly, as well as his affable, helpful nature and popularity on the yard. We call on everyone to respect the privacy of Keagans family and the Paul Nicholls yard. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer have led well wishes for King Charles III after Buckingham Palace announced that the monarch has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. Charles has begun a schedule of regular treatments and has been advised to postpone his public-facing duties, with Prince Harry rushing back from the US to see his father. Mr Sunak said he was wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery in a message on X, formerly Twitter. The Conservative leader added: I have no doubt hell be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well. The Labour leader tweeted: On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery. Sir Keir added: We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said his party joins the rest of the nation in wishing a full and quick recovery to His Majesty. Commenting on the news in the Commons, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs: I know the whole House will wish to join me in expressing our sympathies with His Majesty the King following the news announcement this evening. Our thoughts are, of course, with His Majesty and his family, and wed all wish to send him our very best wishes for the successful treatment and a speedy recovery following tonights news. Prince William could take on some of the Kings work as he is expected to return to public duties on Wednesday after the Princess of Wales major abdominal surgery last month. It is also understood that Charles will continue to be available for Privy Council meetings, but details of how they will take place are still being worked through. It is expected that alternative arrangements will be made for his weekly audience with Mr Sunak should doctors advise him to minimise any in-person contact. Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer (Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Former Tory PM Boris Johnson said the whole country will be rooting for the King today, adding on X: Best wishes to Charles III for a full and speedy recovery. And ex-PM Liz Truss also tweeted: Sending every best wish to His Majesty The King and the Royal Family as he undergoes his treatment for cancer. He will be in our thoughts and prayers. God Save The King! The former Labour prime minister Tony Blair said he was wishing His Majesty the King a full, swift recovery and return to excellent good health. Senior political figures also praised the King for making his diagnosis public. Health secretary Victoria Atkins wrote on X: His decision to share his diagnosis to assist public understanding for all those affected by cancer is commendable. The cabinet minister added: Wishing His Majesty the very best and look forward to seeing him resume his public duties. And Labours shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who received treatment for kidney cancer in 2021, said: One in two of us will develop cancer during our lives, but millions more are affected when someone they love is diagnosed with cancer. Mr Streeting added: Sending best wishes to His Majesty for his treatment and to his family as they support him throughout. King Charles diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment Scotlands first minister and SNP leader Humza Yousaf said his thoughts and prayers were with the King. I wish him the very best for a speedy recovery and return to public life. He said he was thinking of the Queen Camilla and other royal family members at what I know will be a worrying time for them all. Mark Drakeford, the Labour first minister of Wales, said he was saddened to hear the news of the cancer diagnoses and wished the King a full and swift recovery. Northern Irelands new first minister, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill, also said she was very sorry to hear of King Charles illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment, and a full and speedy recovery. Deputy first minister, the DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly added: I, like many people throughout Northern Ireland, will keep him and his family in my prayers. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Prince Harry has been spotted in the UK after he made a transatlantic dash to be reunited with his father, following the Kings shocking cancer diagnosis. The Duke of Sussex arrived at Clarence House on Tuesday afternoon after boarding an urgent flight from his home in the US to see Charles, despite the pairs troubled relationship. Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that the king, who has been resting at the royal residence after postponing all his public duties, began treatment for an undisclosed cancer discovered while he underwent surgery for a benign enlarged prostate last month. Prince Harry has been spotted as he arrived in the UK to be reunited with his father following the Kings shocking cancer diagnosis (Peter Macdiarmid/LNP) The Office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed Harry had spoken with the monarch, 75, who had called both his sons to share news of the development. The duke cleared his diary and rushed to London alone, with the Duchess of Sussex and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet remaining at home in California. Two black SUVs, which were earlier seen leaving Heathrow Airports VIP Windsor Suite, were pictured arriving at Clarence House at around 2.42pm, after Harry touched down in the UK just after midday, less than 24 hours after the shock news was announced to the nation. The Palace has said Charles remains wholly positive about his treatment, after having already begun his medical care as an outpatient under the supervision of his specialist team of doctors. King Charles leaving Clarence House on Tuesday following the announcement of his shock cancer diagnosis (REUTERS) Harrys arrival has led to renewed hopes father and son will be reconciled, with suggestions from royal watchers the duke could also make attempts to try to heal his long-running rift with his brother, the Prince of Wales. Later on Tuesday afternoon, the King was seen in public for the first time since his diagnosis, as he and the Queen were driven away from their London residence to Buckingham Palace, where they were believed to have been flown to Sandringham in Norfolk. Earlier, the Prime Minister said he was thankful the Kings cancer had been caught early and wished him a full recovery and said his thoughts are with the family. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Rishi Sunak said he was left shocked and sad when he was told about the Kings diagnosis. On Tuesday afternoon, the King was seen in public for the first time since his diagnosis, as he and the Queen were driven away from their London residence (PA Wire) But asked what it meant for the day-to-day running of the country, Mr Sunak said he would continue to be in regular contact with the monarch and added: Well crack on with everything. The King is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers. Buckingham Palace confirmed the King, who only acceded to the throne 17 months ago, does not have prostate cancer, saying only that it was a form of cancer. Charles niece Princess Beatrice, who has a home in St Jamess Palace next to Clarence House, was seen leaving the grounds on Tuesday morning, driving away from the back entrance. The Princess Royal held the fort on the royal engagements front, carrying out an investiture on behalf of the King at Windsor Castle. Harrys black Range Rover was pictured arriving at a private terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) early on Tuesday to catch his flight to the UK. Harrys wife Meghan has stayed behind in the US with their children (PA) He last appeared alongside the Windsors at the Kings coronation but hurried home immediately afterward to mark his son Prince Archies fourth birthday. The dukes allegations against his family appeared unrelenting in the aftermath of Megxit with his Oprah interview, and, in the months following the Queens death, his Netflix documentary and memoir Spare. There were accusations of racism in relation to Archies skin tone before he was born with the remarks in the end alleged to have come from two senior royals and claims Kensington Palace lied to protect William over reports he allegedly bullied Harry out of the royal family. Harry claimed Charles was jealous of Meghan and Kate, did not hug him when he told him his mother Diana, Princess of Wales had died, and said he believed the King was never made for single parenthood, but to be fair, he tried. The duke also accused William of physically attacking him and throwing him into a dog bowl in a row over Meghan, teasing him about his panic attacks, and, along with Kate, encouraging him to wear a Nazi uniform at a fancy dress party. Harry and Williams relationship has been strained in recent years (Getty Images) Charles, according to Harry, pleaded with his sons during a tense meeting after the Duke of Edinburghs funeral: Please, boys. Dont make my final years a misery. While Charles and Harry were said to still speak, William has reportedly not been in contact with his brother for an extended period of time. William is returning to official duties this week beginning with an investiture on Wednesday the same day the King usually holds his weekly audience with the PM. The heir to the throne is expected to also be undertaking some duties on his fathers behalf, but Counsellors of State, who are appointed temporarily when a monarch cannot fulfill their duties as head of state, are not expected to be needed. The King will still be dealing with his red boxes of state business and official papers, and holding Privy Council meetings, which can be held via video, and audiences with the Prime Minister, which can take place over the phone. Charles personally called both Harry and William, as well as his siblings Anne, the Duke of York and the Duke of Edinburgh, to give them the news before it was publicly announced to the nation by the Palace at 6pm on Monday. The Palace has called for the Kings privacy to be respected, especially during his treatment, but said he wanted to make his diagnosis public because of his long-running support for cancer charities. This is the latest major royal health scare to hit the monarchy at the start of 2024, coming after the Kings hospital stay, Kates major surgery, keeping her away from official duties until after Easter, and Sarah, Duchess of Yorks skin cancer diagnosis. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and is stepping back from royal duties, Buckingham Palace said on Monday days after he underwent surgery for an enlarged prostate. The illness is unconnected with his recent treatment and is not prostate cancer, but it was spotted by doctors at The London Clinic, a private healthcare facility where he spent three nights before being discharged on 29 January. His surgery coincided with a hospital stay for daughter-in-law Kate Middleton, who spent 11 nights in the same clinic following abdominal surgery, and came two weeks after Sarah Ferguson was diagnosed with skin cancer in what has been a difficult start to the year for the royal family. Follow our live blog here The 75-year-old monarch remains in high spirits but will step back from public-facing duties while he has treatment. The cancer was discovered while the King was undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate last month (AP) A statement from the palace read: During the Kings recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake state business and official paperwork as usual. The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer. Prince Harry, who is based in California, is expected to return to the UK to visit his father this week (Reuters) A source close to Prince Harry confirmed he will fly from his home in California to visit his father in light of the news but it is not known if wife Meghan Markle, and children Archie, four, and Lilibet, two, will join him. The family relocated to the United States after leaving royal duties in 2020 and have only returned on a handful occasions, such as the Queens funeral in September 2022. Well-wishes for the King came from across the political spectrum, with prime minister Rishi Sunak tweeting: Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. I have no doubt hell be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well. The monarch, who was last seen on Sunday at Sandringham, has taken on hundreds of public engagements since becoming King (PA) Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer posted on X, formerly Twitter: On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery. We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health. Similar messages were also issued by leaders of each of the devolved governments and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, while former prime minister Boris Johnson wrote: The whole country will be rooting for the King today. Best wishes to Charles III for a full and speedy recovery. Meanwhile, US president Joe Biden told reporters: Im concerned about him. Just heard about his diagnosis. Ill be talking to him, God willing. Prior to his coronation, Charles was the longest-serving heir to the throne in history, and the cancer diagnosis is likely to be a painful professional setback. Since becoming King, he has hit the ground running with a trio of overseas state visits, before hosting two incoming state visits as well as undertaking hundreds of public engagements highlighting the fitness and vigour of a man in his 70s managing a challenging workload. Kate Middleton is not expected to return to public duties until after Easter following recent abdominal surgery (Getty Images) Prince William is due to return to official duties this week, beginning with an investiture, while his wife continues to recuperate at home following her abdominal surgery. She is not expected to return to public duties until after Easter, but is said to be in good spirits at Adelaide Cottage, near Windsor Castle. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Crowned sovereign at the age of 73, King Charles III ascended to the throne on 6 May 2023 following the death of his mother. The late Queen Elizabeth II was buried in George VI Memorial Chapel in Windsor, 11 days after her death on 8 September. The death of a monarch is so significant that it requires a great deal of planning to ensure a smooth transition of power. King Charles became monarch when his mother the Queen passed away in 2023 (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) For the Queen, this plan was named Operation London Bridge, and set out everything from how the public would be informed, her lying-in-state and her funeral. Hundreds of thousands of mourners queued for hours to pay their final respects to the Queen while millions tuned in to watch her final farewell attended at Westminster Abbey by world leaders and heads of state. Operation London Bridge included full details on what would happen during the 10 days following the Queens death, including where her coffin would go, how the prime minister would publicly address the news, and how Charles would spend his first few days as King. And when the Queen passed away, it meant a new plan had to be put in place, for the eventual passing of the new King, Charles. What is Operation Menai Bridge? Plans for Queen Elizabeth IIs death started in the 1960s (PA Wire) Operation London Bridge was created as early as the 1960s, just a few years after the Queens coronation, and revised many times in the years before her death in 2022. The codename for the eventual death of King Charles III is Operation Menai Bridge, named after the world's first iron suspension bridge in Anglesey, Wales. According to royal protection officer, Simon Morgan, preparations for Menai Bridge began shortly after the late Queens death. In an interview with Today, he said at the time: Even the King said in his acceptance that he will take this role for as long as life allows him to. He is 73 years of age, it's got to be in the back of your mind, and from the police, we've got to start planning again for the future. How were people informed of the Queens death? The Menai Bridge in Anglesey, North Wales (PA) The day that the Queen died was referred to as D-Day, while every day after was referred to as D+1 and D+2 and so forth. According to unveiled documents, a call cascade would have taken place hours after the monarchs death to inform the prime minister, the cabinet secretary, and several senior ministers and government officials. In tribute to her 70 years on the throne, the monarchs coffin was paraded through Scotland from Balmoral to Edinburgh before it lay in Westminster Hall for four days prior to her funeral on 19 September. More than 250,000 people poured out across the streets of London forming a somewhat orderly queue before they filed through the ancient hall in the Palace of Westminster to pay their respects. The late Queens coffin was then taken to its final resting place in the King George VI Memorial Chapel in Windsor. How would Operation Menai Bridge unfold? The announcement of Operation Menai Bridge is expected to have many similarities to that of Operation London Bridge. As soon as Menai Bridge is underway, next in line for the throne, William, Prince of Wales, would become king alongside his wife Kate Middleton, who is expected to become Queen Consort. Charles would be succeeded by his eldest son William (Getty Images) The new king would then address the nation, as Charles did on 9 September, and the public would enter a period of national mourning ahead of the funeral. Similar to the Queen, the prime minister would be informed by the Kings private secretary, as would the Kings Privy Council Office. Departmental permanent secretaries would be given a script to inform government ministers, while the cabinet secretary would send an email to senior civil servants. After this email is received, flags across Whitehall would be lowered to half-mast. Why do we have codenames for a royal's death? Code names for royal deaths were initially introduced to prevent the news of the death leaking to the press before the official announcement. Using codenames prevented switchboard operators at Buckingham Palace from learning of the news before it was made public. The royal family follows the Queen Mother's coffin out of Westminster Abbey after her funeral service (AFP/Getty) Now though, the codenames have become common knowledge. Funeral arrangements for the Queen Mother and Princess Diana shared the codename Operation Tay Bridge and the plans were 22 years-old by the time the late monarchs mother passed at the age of 101 in 2002. Operation Forth Bridge was the codename for the death of the late Duke of Edinburgh, which saw his funeral take place at St George's Chapel in Windsor and his coffin placed in the Royal Vault. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} 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. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Tesco has recalled a batch of its own brand cupcakes after an allergy labelling error that could pose a risk to some customers. The supermarket chain said it was removing Tesco 18 Cupcakes from its shelves because some of the packs contained 12 Party Cupcakes, which have soya in them. The affected product, on sale for 6, did not include soya as an ingredient that poses a risk to those who are allergic to the bean, which is used in various food products. A soya allergy can cause various symptoms, including vomiting, stomach cramps, indigestion and diarrhoea and, in severe cases, anaphylaxis - when a persons throat and tongue swell and they have difficulty breathing. Tesco is recalling the product from customers and has been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall, the Food Standards Agency said in a s statement. The company has also issued a recall notice to its customers. These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. Tesco said the affected cupcakes have a best before date of 27 February and the batch code is 240026. Anyone who has bought a packet of the cupcakes is urged not to eat them and advised to return them to a store where a full refund will be given. Tesco apologises to our customers for any inconvenience caused, the supermarket said. BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- A meeting was held Sunday in Beijing to summarize a Party-wide education campaign on the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. A speech made by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on consolidating and expanding the gains from the campaign was conveyed at the meeting. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered the speech at a previous meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, where attendees reviewed a summary report on the education campaign and a guideline on consolidating and expanding what has been achieved in the campaign. In his speech, Xi said the education campaign has helped solve problems that hinder high-quality development, and address those that the people are concerned about the most, as well as prominent problems in Party building. The campaign has thus achieved the desired goals and significant results, he said. Xi stressed that the results of the education campaign should be consolidated and expanded, opinions regarding the campaign should be turned into actions, and a long-term mechanism should be established. Party members should better arm themselves with theories and consolidate the theoretical foundation for Party solidarity and unity, Xi said. Xi called for concrete actions to solve problems and deliver good results, so that the people can feel that their concerns are being addressed. He stressed the need for Party members and officials to improve their conduct, tackle pointless formalities and bureaucratism, and reduce the burdens at the primary level. He also urged efforts to carry out an education campaign on discipline within the Party. He underscored the importance of further consolidating Party work at the grassroots, and promoting progress in modernizing the system and the capacity for governance at the grassroots. Xi called on officials to have a correct understanding of what it means to perform well, so as to better turn what has been achieved from the education campaign into the outcomes of high-quality development. Party committees and leading Party members groups at all levels should undertake the important political task of consolidating the gains from the education campaign, Xi said. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the central leading group for the education campaign on the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, attended the meeting and delivered a speech. Cai said the campaign has provided fresh experience for carrying out education programs within the Party in the new era, such as conducting theoretical study throughout the program, and following a problem-oriented approach. He emphasized the need to continuously consolidate and further expand the campaign's results, and unswervingly exercise full and rigorous Party self-governance. It is imperative to keep on pushing hard on the study and implementation of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and strive tirelessly for the cause of building China into a stronger country and rejuvenate the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization, said Cai. The campaign, launched in April 2023, was conducted in a top-down manner within the CPC. As many parts of the country sizzle during our hot summer days an apparent oversight by a Woolworths worker left two Aussies with an unsightly and foul smelling clean-up on their hands. Real estate agents David Galloway-Penney and Andrew Thornton were visiting a vacant property in Cairns when they found almost 10 paper bags full of groceries on the front porch on Friday. The groceries which included dairy products and raw meat had been untouched for days and had perished in the heat, attracting a swarm of flies and a stench which made them audibly groan. '[It was] definitely delivered in error but we don't know why or by who," Thornton told Yahoo News Australia. "This is what happens when you get deliveries to a house that doesn't have anyone in it... rotten food." Real estate agent David Galloway-Penney shows his disgust at finding bags of Woolworths groceries decomposing outside a property in Cairns on Friday. Source: TikTok The two agents rushed into the home, dodging the pile of decomposing food and the sticky mess it had caused on the tiles, quickly closing the door behind him. However, they later had to clean up the curious mess, complaining of the terrible smell. Aussies urged to seek shade as temperatures soar Queenslanders on the Tropical North Coast and Tablelands endured a heatwave last week and despite it tapering off on Friday, the temperatures remained steadily in the 30s throughout the weekend. However every other state except from Tasmania has been lashed with heatwaves over recent days with the majority of Western Australia baking in temperatures above 40 degrees. Perth Airport climbed to 42 degrees before midday on Friday and the city reached 40.4 degrees, the Bureau of Meteorology said. Aussies have been urged to remain indoors and seek shade as temperatures continue to reach the high 30s in many parts of the country. Source: AAP Doctors are encouraging Aussies to be alert to the signs of heat-related illness. "The best way to prevent heat-related illness is to drink plenty of water and to stay as cool as possible," Healthdirect chief medical officer Dr Nirvana Luckraj said. "Heat-related illnesses include dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, a worsening of existing medical conditions and in the worst cases, heatstroke." Story continues People are encouraged to use sunscreen, wear a hat, stay hydrated and avoid going out during the hottest part of the day between 10 am and 4 pm. with AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Scottish Labours former leader Kezia Dugdale admitted that she voted for the SNP because she was mad about Brexit. The ex-Labour MSP said she backed the nationalist rivals in 2019 when she was still a leading figure in the party in the Scottish parliament. Ms Dugdale, who is married to SNPs education secretary Jenny Gilruth, said she had voted Labour ever since she left Holyrood two months after the May 2019 vote. I voted SNP once in my life and that was in the European Union elections immediately after Brexit, where I was so mad about Brexit, she told the BBC. She said she felt she could vote for the SNP in the May 2019 European Parliament election because that in no way could be construed as a vote for [Scottish] independence. Ms Dugdale added: I felt that that was a safe thing to do. I voted Labour in every election since then, from the council to the Scottish parliament, to the general election, I have used a vote for Labour. Kezia Dugdale was Scottish Labour leader between 2015 and 2017 (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) The eyebrow-raising admission comes in a Radio 4 documentary Labours Scottish Challenge which looks at the struggle the party has had north of the border, and the chances of a resurgence at this years general election. While Scottish Labour has targeted around 20 seats in Scotland, party sources told the broadcaster that it believes as many as 28 seats could be in play. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar told the documentary: I think the tipping point in Scotland is around 35% - if we get around 35% in the polls then we are in competition to beat the SNP. He added: If I said that to anybody two and a bit years ago, they would have thought I was deluded. But I have always believed thats what we can do. The most recent Survation poll puts the SNP on 36 per cent and Scottish Labour on 34 per cent. Analysis by top pollster Prof John Curtice put the two parties on 23 seats. A YouGov megapoll last month forecast that SNP would be reduced from 48 seats in Scotland to just 25, while Labour would grow from two seats to 24. SNP leader Humza Yousaf said he remained optimistic ahead of the election expected later in 2024. I dont fear a general election at all. I see its a huge opportunity, he said. The first minister added: Theres no getting away from the fact that 2023 was a difficult year. Im not going to treat you or your listeners as fools but the general election presents an opportunity because ultimately a general election will be and should be a battle of ideas. Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Labour support amongst British Muslims has plummeted, a bombshell opinion poll has revealed amid major concerns about Sir Keir Starmers handling of the Gaza war. Backing for Labour from the Muslim community has fallen from 86 per cent to 60 per cent since the 2019 election, according to a new Survation survey. Labour Muslim Network, which commissioned the poll, said it showed a crisis point for the partys usually strong popularity among Muslim voters. If undecided voters are included although they were not in the comparable 2019 poll then current support for Labour from British Muslims drops further to just 43 per cent. It comes at a time of heightened tension over the partys response to the war in Gaza, with 38 per cent of British Muslims saying their views of the party had become more unfavourable over the last 12 months. Muslim voters have been watching and are now sending a clear message they will not support any political party that does not fervently oppose the crimes committed against the people of Gaza, the Labours Muslim Network said in a statement on Monday. Keir Starmer visits South Wales Islamic Centre mosque in October (Labour Party) The group added: The Labour leadership must change paths now or risk losing the support of the Muslim community for a generation. Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said the partys position on a Gaza ceasefire had caused a lot of angry among his constituents. Ive never seen this quantity of emails coming through my inbox, he told ITV News. Sir Keir has faced huge pressure from the partys grassroots left and pro-Palestine campaigners over his initial refusal to back an immediate ceasefire in the wake of the eruption of violence in October. Ten frontbenchers also quit over his handling of the Gaza invasion which followed the Hamas terror attack which saw around 1,200 Israelis killed and 240 taken hostage. In December, Sir Keir began calling for a sustainable ceasefire, as he and other leaders among Israels western allies began to move away from unqualified support for strikes on Gaza. Mish Rahman, a left-wing Labour NEC member, told The Independent that there were other, wider factors at play for the loss of support. These findings are deeply worrying but unsurprising. For months I have been alarmed by the Labour leaderships willingness to turn a blind eye to Islamophobia within the party. Whether its the sheer disregard for Palestinian lives, the mistreatment of Muslim MPs like Apsana Begum and Zarah Sultana, or the refusal to take on bigots within their own ranks, its clear that the leadership is not taking this issue seriously. He added: This poll should be a wake-up call to change course before its too late. Apsana Begum MP at the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign stand at the Labour conference (Palestinian Solidarity Campaign) Last week, Apsana Begum, the UKs first and only hijab-wearing MP, criticised the Labour partys leadership over severe delays with its internal probe into alleged harassment she experienced at the hands of her ex-husband, a fellow Labour politician. The MP for Poplar and Limehouse, who is a Muslim, has accused her party of failing in its duty of care to her as she continues to await the outcome of the investigation almost three years later. Ms Begum also noted what she described as unresolved issues regarding the treatment of Black and Asian people within the Labour Party as highlighted in the damning Forde Report. The MP also said she has faced heightened Islamophobic abuse, death threats and risks to her safety. The Labours Muslim Network said: The treatment of Apsana Begum is nothing short of a scandal. This comes as Kate Osamor, MP for Edmonton, was suspended from Labour earlier this week after referring to Israels attacks on Palestine as a genocide, language echoed in a recent assessment of the situation by the International Court of Justice. Other Black and Asian Labour MPs have publicly criticised the party in recent times. Last year, Diane Abbott said in a statement posted on X/Twitter: As a Black woman, and someone on the left of the Labour Party, I have unfortunately been forced to reach the conclusion that I will not get a fair hearing from this Labour leadership. Ms Abbott, Britains first Black woman MP, now sits as an independent MP following her suspension from Labour pending an investigation into a letter she wrote about racism to the Observer last year. Zarah Sultana, the MP for Coventry South, called for an Islamophobia probe within the party in November after slamming Sir Keirs attack ads against Rishi Sunak for playing on racist tropes of Asian men. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak was accused of taking politics to a new low after betting 1,000 on being able to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda before the next election. The crude and depraved came as the PM used an interview with Piers Morgan to double down on his support for the asylum policy, insisting he will get flights off the ground this year. During the chat, he accepted bet offered by the TalkTV broadcaster, that asylum seekers will be sent on one-way flights to Kigali before voters hit the polls, with an election expected this autumn. Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP all pounced on his hand-shake bet with the TV host with the Scottish national party reporting Mr Sunak over a potential breach of the ministerial code. Green MP Caroline Lucas told The Independent Mr Sunak had plunged to a new low. She said: Words fail me that the prime minister and Piers Morgan can be so callous about the awful Rwanda policy that they place a bet on it. These are peoples lives theyre gambling over. Yet Sunak thinks nothing of casually agreeing to a 1k bet. Hes supposed to be the head of government, not a punter in a casino. She added: This is a new low in our politics. Rishi Sunak and Piers Morgan bet 1,000 on Rwanda flights leaving before next election. (Piers Morgan Uncensored/TalkTV) Labour said the bet was deeply distasteful and showed Mr Sunak is totally out of touch with working people. Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock added that it was the least prime ministerial thing I've seen in nine years in parliament. Mr Kinnock said: A prime minister splashing his cash around like it's monopoly money - betting on a policy that he has lost control over. Cost of Rwanda policy may now end up at 400,001,000. And Labour frontbencher Jonathan Ashworth said: Not a lot of people facing rising mortgages, bills and food prices are casually dropping 1,000 bets. It just shows that Rishi Sunak is totally out of touch with working people. And the SNPs Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said: The lives of some of the most vulnerable people on the planet reduced to a crude bet. Its just a game to these people. The SNP reported Mr Sunak to his own adviser on ministers interests, and the cabinet secretary, over what the party claimed was a potential breach of the ministerial code. In a letter to Sir Laurie Magnus and Simon Case, SNP Cabinet Office spokesperson Kirsty Blackman said the bet falls below the high standards people should expect of those in public life and may breach ministerial code rules on avoiding conflicts with private interests. In the interview, Mr Morgan told Mr Sunak: Ill bet you 1,000 to a refugee charity, you dont get anybody on those planes before the election. Will you take that bet? Mr Sunak shook hands with the TV host to seal the deal and stressed he is working incredibly hard to get the people on the planes. He also said Rwanda is part of an overall plan to bring down the number of migrants crossing the English Channel that is working. The bet comes as Mr Sunaks plan B Rwanda bill, developed after the original was ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court, is making its way through the Lords. Even if the bill passes both houses with no amendments, question marks remain over whether flights will be able to take off for Rwanda by the election. It is likely deportations will still face legal challenges as individual migrants are prepared for removal from Britain. Sunak was interviewed by Piers Morgan on TalkTV (TalkTV) The government has also agreed a legally-binding treaty with Kigali in December arguing that it addressed concerns raised by the Supreme Court about the possibility of asylum seekers deported to Rwanda being transferred to a country where they could be at risk Campaign group Reunite Families UK, who support families affected by the spousal visa threshold, reacted to the clip saying they were literally gambling over desperate people. And Steve Smith of the Care4Calais campaign group said it was disgraceful for a PM with extreme wealth to reduce the Rwanda issue to a 1,000 bet. We expect gravitas and careful consideration in our leaders. Not amorality and lack of concern for others, said the chief executive. The Liberal Democrats said the 1,000 bet may represent chump change for Mr Sunak, but the rest of the country cannot throw their money around so easily. Home affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael said: Instead of placing a trashy bet on the Rwanda scheme, the prime minister should put his money where his mouth is on the soaring NHS backlog. Treating vulnerable people as pawns in a game tells you everything you need to know about Rishi Sunak and his Tory government. If the prime minister believes in gambling then perhaps he should throw the dice and call a general election. The PMs official spokesman said: I think what the prime ministers saying, and obviously what is clear coming through from that interview, is the prime ministers absolute confidence that well get flights off the ground. The official pointed to the timetable previously set out by Mr Sunak, which is by the spring. The spokesman batted off questions on whether Mr Sunak is setting a good example when the government is taking a hard line on gambling. I think hes focused on doing what is needed to deliver on the priorities for the British people, he said. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} SNP leader Humza Yousaf has told how he was almost in a state of breakdown when his first marriage ended and he turned to professional help. The first minister said a lack of boundaries between work and his personal life contributed to his divorce to SNP activist Gail Lythgoe, with whom he split in 2016. Mr Yousaf said he never spoke to Nicola [Sturgeon] or any of my colleagues, and that stigma 100% existed around men talking about their mental health struggles at the time. The senior SNP figure said he feared if he opened up to colleagues about the breakdown that it would impact on his career but described seeking professional help as the best thing I ever did. Scotlands first minister told the Rest is Politics podcast: For a whole 24 hours I did not move didnt get up to drink water, didnt get up to go to the toilet, didnt eat anything. On the turmoil of 2016, Mr Yousaf said: I remember the day that I knew I needed help. I was transport minister, my first marriage had broken down I remember actually just a whole day passing where I literally did not move from the right-hand side of my settee. I remember almost being in a state of breakdown, crying and upset and not really understanding what I was upset at. But then at that point, 24 hours later, knowing I needed help, he said. Humza Yousaf took over from Nicola Sturgeon in 2023 (AFP/Getty) Mr Yousaf added: I actually thought if they knew about it Ill not be in a job. Now, I dont think that would have been the case and Nicola would have been perfectly understanding But you didnt hear about ministers with mental health challenges. If they had mental health challenges, they left the job. Mr Yousaf was married to SNP activist Gail Lythgoe from 2010 to 2016. He remarried in 2019 to Nadia El-Nakla, and said he is now really strict with boundaries and ringfences Monday evenings to spend time with his daughter Amal, and stepdaughter Maya. He also told podcast hosts Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart that he had a conversation with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer at the Cop28 about life-work issues advising him to draw your boundaries early on around family life. He also revealed that he felt sad and worried about his predecessor, Nicola Sturgeon, amid an ongoing police investigation into party finances and criticism over the deletion of Covid-era WhatsApp messages. He said: Ill always have that deep affection for Nicola. I worry about her to an extent as well. Shes dealing with a lot, as we know, and I found it really sad about the certain elements who are seeking to try to tarnish her reputation. Asked if her marriage to the partys chief executive Peter Murrell was a recipe waiting to go wrong, he said: In hindsight, you could absolutely reflect on that. I think nobody really questioned it because we didnt see any red flags. Mr Yousaf also shared the hurt and regret he feels at the breakdown of his relationship with the SNPs former leader Alex Salmond crediting the former first minister as the reason he joined the party. He said: I feel, if Im honest with you, the breakdown in the relationship with Alex is a matter of not just regret, but I feel quite hurt about it all and how it has all transpired. The SNP boss said someone he admired now spends a fair bit of his time laying the boot into the SNP and trying to damage me, adding: It feels difficult to think that [his motivations] are anything other than to try and replace the SNP which is never going to happen. Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak has told Sinn Fein to focus on the day to day concerns of people in Northern Ireland rather than a referendum on Irish reunification. The PM said constitutional change should not be a priority for the Irish nationalist party, after newly appointed first minister Michelle ONeill claimed a border poll could be held in the next 10 years. Mr Sunak met Stormonts party leaders and the Republic of Irelands premier Leo Varadkar on Monday after the Northern Ireland Executive reformed on Saturday to end a two-year stalemate. Mr Sunak said the 3bn funding boost would deliver for Northern Irelands families and businesses. Thats what everyones priority is now it is not constitutional change, it is delivering on the day-to-day things that matter to people. The devolved government headed by Sinn Feins Ms ONeill and the DUPs Emma Little-Pengelly as deputy first minister held its first meeting on Monday to start dealing with the provinces strained finances. The meetings came as Mr Sunaks Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris told Ms ONeill that she should focus on improving public services rather than the issue of Irish reunification. The Tory cabinet minister dismissed the prospect of a border poll after Ms ONeill claimed one could be held in the next decade. Mr Heaton-Harris said the conditions for a referendum were definitely not met at this time. NI secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, first minister Michelle ONeill, deputy first minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Rishi Sunak at Stormont Castle (PA) He told LBC that he would have to be confident that there was a potential majority of people in Northern Ireland who would like to depart from their current constitutional status. Mr Heaton-Harris added: I would suggest that actually, top of the in-tray for an incoming executive has to be things like public sector pay, the health service funding on education and a whole host of other things that actually all people in Northern Ireland from both communities truly care about. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson criticised the new Sinn Fein first minister for focusing on the divisive issue of reunification. She says she wants to be a first minister for all, well that means the unionist community, he told Sky News. Lets focus on the issues that really matter to people. Theyre not interested in a divisive border poll. On Sunday, Ms ONeill, the very first nationalist to assume the post of first minister at Stormont, said: 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, she said. Mr Sunak and Mr Heaton-Harris met leaders Ms ONeill and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald at Stormont on Monday. It is understood the Sinn Fein leaders objected to elements of the recent UK deal with the DUP and expressed concerns it adopted a pro-union approach to issues such as a border poll. They also are believed to have stressed the requirement for the UK government to remain impartial over the calling of any future referendum on Northern Irelands constitutional future. The institutions were restored following a deal between Mr Sunaks government and the DUP to allay unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements. Mr Heaton-Harris suggested post-Brexit problems related to Northern Ireland were not over when he was grilled on BBCs Breakfast as to whether Brexit was actually done after eight years of uncertainty. The cabinet minister said: This is a problem that will never be solved This is a land border with the European single market that we have here in Northern Ireland. Rishi Sunak, assembly speaker Edwin Poots and NI secretary Chris Heaton-Harris at Stormont (PA) But Mr Heaton-Harris insisted the updated deal with the DUP to ease checks was an opportunity that gives the province smooth access to both the UK and EUs single market. The PM also met with Ms ONeill and deputy Ms Little-Pengelly at Stormont Castle, telling the executives Sinn Fein and DUP leaders: Today isnt the end, its the beginning and the real work starts now. Ms ONeill said the meeting with Mr Sunak focused on Stormonts finances. We very much majored today on the issue of the finances, public services needing to be properly resourced, she told reporters during a joint press appearance with Ms Pengelly. Mr Sunaks government has offered a 3.3bn package to stabilise finances in the region. However, the executive has pressed Mr Sunak for more funding. A letter from all Stormont ministers to No 10 states that the current financial package on offer does not provide the basis for the executive to deliver sustainable public services and public finances. The PM said the offer represents a generous and fair settlement. He added: 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 also met Irish premier Leo Varadkar at Stormont, as both leaders visited Belfast to mark the restoration of devolved government. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Tory rising star and ally of Liz Truss described US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump as incredibly refreshing. Mhairi Fraser, the Conservative candidate to replace Chris Grayling in the safe seat of Epsom & Ewell, went to see the former US president win the 2016 election and said she had never been as excited" about a politician. Ms Fraser is a City lawyer and is among the figures set to speak at the launch of Ms Trusss new Popular Conservatism Tory pressure group. Other speakers at the event include Ms Truss and former business secretary Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, while the group is supported by former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson and ex-ministers in the Truss government Simon Clarke and Ranil Jayawardena. Mhairi Fraser is the Conservative candidate for Epsom & Ewell, where Chris Grayling is standing down at the general election this year (Supplied) Ms Fraser told STV in 2016 that she found Mr Trump "incredibly refreshing" and that she agreed with his analysis that America was "sleepwalking into a politically correct driven decline". Her comments, rediscovered by The Times, show that she did "not see Russia as a natural enemy" and was more concerned about Islamic terrorism. Ms Fraser also defended a series of controversial comments made by Mr Trump, saying: I dont think hes a sexist and I dont think hes a racist." The Tory candidate to replace Chris Grayling described Donald Trump as refreshing (Getty Images) A friend of the Tory candidate told The Times: These views were expressed eight years ago. A lot has changed since then and so, naturally, have her views." Senior Tories have thrown their weight behind Mr Trumps campaign to return to the White House, including Sir Jacob. He has said Joe Biden dislikes Britain and that his tenure so far has been very bad for UK-US relations. Meanwhile right-wing Tory Andrea Jenkyns said the world would be a safer place if Mr Trump was returned to the White House, adding that she would like to see the dynamic duo of Boris Johnson and Mr Trump reunited. The Popular Conservatism group, dubbed the PopCons, will set out its stall in London on Tuesday. It is a platform for right-wing MPs to push Rishi Sunak to adopt hardline policies on immigration and tax before this years general election. And it represents Ms Trusss latest project since she was forced out of Downing Street. Ms Fraser was last month confirmed as the candidate to replace Mr Grayling, who said in October that he would not stand at this years general election. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump are reacting to the news about King Charles IIIs cancer diagnosis. Its not clear what type of cancer the King, 75, has but officials for Buckingham Palace said it is not prostate cancer, though concerns were raised when the royal underwent a hospital procedure for a benign prostate enlargement. He has since started regular treatments related to his diagnosis. The King last met Mr Biden, 81, at Windsor Castle in July for the first time since his coronation. The pair reportedly discussed their efforts to address climate change. While speaking to reporters in Las Vegas, Nevada on Monday at a union event following news of the kings diagnosis, Mr Biden said, Im concerned about him just heard his diagnosis. But Ill be talking to him God willing. Meanwhile, Mr Trump, who reportedly had a good working relationship with the King during parts of his administration, said, King Charles has cancer. He is a wonderful man, who I got to know well during my presidency, and we all pray that he has a fast and full recovery. The former president posted the message to his social media platform Truth Social. King Charles III, right, and Joe Biden arrive to meet participants of the Climate Finance Mobilisation forum in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, England, in July 2023 (AP) The King has postponed public-facing duties but will continue to undertake state business and official paperwork. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible, a statement from Buckingham Palace read. His majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding of all those around the world who are affected by cancer. Vedant Patel, a spokesperson for the US Department of State, said the announcement of the Kings diagnosis was incredibly sad news during a daily briefing on Monday. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined the chorus of well wishes on Monday. I, like Canadians across the country and people around the world, am thinking of His Majesty King Charles III as he undergoes treatment for cancer, Mr Trudeau wrote on social media. Were sending him our very best wishes and hoping for a fast and full recovery. Mr Netanyahu said: Sara and I send our heartfelt well wishes to King Charles III and our prayers for his good health. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} One month ago, Alaska Airlines flight 1282 made an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon after a doorplug, a panel of the fuselage near the rear of the aircraft, blew out midair as the plane reached 16,000 feet. Several passengers on board were injured but later cleared by medical professionals, the airline said. Debris from the aircraft, including iPhones and the doorplug, were found on the side of the streets and in a school teachers yard intact. The 5 January 2024 incident forced the grounding of all Boeing 737 Max 9s and prompted investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), into the aircraft manufacturer and Spirit AeroSystems, which made the doorplug. The grounding led to hundreds of flight cancellations. A preliminary report for the NTSB investigation revealed that four critical bolts keeping the door plug in place were missing from the plane. Boeing CEO David Calhoun addressed the company in a town hall after the emergency, saying that the corporation would address the incident acknowledging our mistake. Its now believed that the plane did not have the critical bolts it needed to keep the doorplug in place when it left the factory, according to reports. Following the incident, Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, which operates 79 of the planes, said they, too, found loose bolts on some of their aircrafts. Models of the planes only began flying again at the end of January, once they underwent extensive inspections overseen by the FAA. However, Boeing officials also discovered a problem with their planes that will require the rework of 50 undelivered aircrafts. Heres everything we know about the saga: Ongoing investigations The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board launched investigations into the flight almost immediately after the emergency. Jennifer Homendy, chair of the NTSB, called the event terrifying while the FAA said this incident should have never happened and it cannot happen again. A preliminary report for the NTSB investigation published on Tuesday (6 February) revealed that four critical bolts were missing from the airplane keeping the door plug intact. The bolts that appeared to be missing prevent the plugs upward movement, the NTSB said. The damage to the aircraft was consistent with the door plug moving upward, outward and being ejected during the separation. The NTSB previously said that all 12 stop fittings disengaged on the part. Mr Calhoun addressed the report in a written statement. Whatever final conclusions are reached, Boeing is accountable for what happened, he said. An event like this must not happen on an airplane that leaves our factory. We simply must do better for our customers and their passengers. The company said it is implementing a comprehensive plan to strengthen quality and the confidence of our stakeholders. The FAA has halted the production of 737 Max planes. It said it is also investigating the companys manufacturing practices and production lines. We will not agree to any request from Boeing for an expansion in production or approve additional production lines for the 737 Max until we are satisfied that the quality control issues uncovered during this process are resolved, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said. What exactly happened on board During a news conference following the incident, NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said that the auto depressurisation light for the airplane, which was on its way to Ontario, California, lit up shortly after takeoff. The doorplug later blew out, resulting in rapid decompression. The cockpit door subsequently flew open, to the surprise of the two captains on board. There was a lot of damage to panelling, trim and windows, Ms Homendy said. At some point, the oxygen masks on the plane dropped down. Four minors were on board and four flight attendants immediately went to check if they were ok. Passengers reported being scared for their lives and calling their loved ones. The plane then returned to Portland International Airport. History of Boeing 737 Max series safety problems The January incident wasnt the first time the quality of Boeings planes was called into question. In October 2018, a faulty sensor on a Max 8 jet activated an anti-stall system causing a commercial plane to crash near Jakarta, Indonesia, resulting in the deaths of all 189 people on board. The following year, a Max 8 plane operating for Ethiopian Airlines and heading toward Nairobi crashed in a field six minutes after takeoff. In that incident, all 157 people on board lost their lives. Two days following the Alaska Airlines incident, the US Department of Justice entered into a settlement with Boeing in relation to the accidents and the Max series. The company had previously been charged with one count of conspiracy. The settlement totaled $2.5bn, with sums of the money to be split into compensation for Boeing customers, a crash-victim beneficiary fund and a criminal monetary payment. Late last month, Boeing was back in the spotlight over safety concerns after one of its planes experienced an engine malfunction and another Boeing aircraft had its nose wheel fall off as the plane was on the runway. On Sunday, Boeing officials said the company discovered that Spirit Aerosystems had misdrilled some of the holes on about 50 of Boeings 737 Max jets. A member of our team identified an issue that does not conform to engineering standards, Spirit AeroSystems spokesman Joe Buccino told CNN. Once notified, we began immediate actions to identify and implement appropriate repair solutions. We are in close communication with Boeing on this matter. How are airlines responding? Both United Airlines and Alaska Airlines have alluded to potentially turning to Airbus for future orders of airplanes. During a CNBC appearance in January, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby expressed frustration over how manufacturing challenges do keep happening at Boeing. He added: This isnt new. Im disappointed in that. When asked if hes looking at Airbus, Boeings biggest competitor, he said, Ill wait and see. Obviously, theres only one other manufacturer thats really an option for us. Speaking to NBC News, Alaska Airlines CEO Ben Minicucci said the company will do whats best for Alaska long term, in terms of fleet mix for us, while confirming that Hawaiian Airlines, which the company is in the process of buying, uses Airbus planes. What happened to the passengers on flight 1282 Alaska Airlines paid the 171 passengers on the 5 January flight $1,500 as an immediate gesture of care and refunded them for their flights. Additionally, the company provided mental health resources. Some passengers, however, took matters into their own hands and sued Boeing. In a suit filed in the Superior Court of Washington for King Country, where part of the emergency occurred, last month, seven plaintiffs alleged that those on board suffered bleeding ears, bruises and headaches. Daniel Laurence, an attorney representing the plaintiffs said, This nightmare has caused economic, physical and ongoing emotional consequences that have understandably deeply affected our clients. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is facing mounting criticism over his handling of an attack on NYPD officers after four of the suspects in the case were released without bond and reportedly fled the state. Seven individuals were arrested in New York City last week in connection with the shocking incident on 27 January that was captured in surveillance video. The men, whose legal status in the US is unknown but are all considered migrants, were recorded kicking and punching the officers as they were making an arrest. Charges of assault and disorderly conduct were filed against six suspects, while a seventh was not charged due to insufficient evidence, according to the Manhattan District Attorneys Office. Four of those charged, 19-year-olds Darwin Andres Gomez and Kelvin Servita Arocha, Wilson Juarez, 21, and 24-year-old Yorman Reveron, were released without bail. Only one suspect, 24-year-old Yohenry Brito, was held on $15,000 cash bail after he was identified on the video thanks to a distinct tattoo. Six additional suspects are being sought. A senior law enforcement official told CNN that the four suspects who were released without bail have already left New York state, and are believed to be heading to the border with Mexico through California. The official, who spoke under condition of anonymity, told the network that New York authorities cant legally pursue the suspects until after they fail to appear in court later this month. We have to assume they intend to return to court, which, given the circumstances around their departure, seems unlikely, the official said. Suspects punch and kick police in head during New York City arrest (NYPD) Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James have led criticism over DA Alvin Braggs failure to seek bail last week. Because of a state bill introduced by Mr Bragg in 2020, judges are barred from seeking bail in determined cases, leaving prosecutors to request it in cases determined appropriate. A coalition of bodega owners also decried Mr Braggs response during a press conference in city hall on Monday. I dont understand how the DA could let them go without putting any bail or hold them there when they attack the NYPD, president of the Bodega and Small Business Group Francisco Marte said, per CBS. We need to bring public safety back to New York. We, all New York, need public safety. We need to go to work. Mr Bragg previously defended his stance and argued that the evidence available at the time of the suspects arrests was insufficient to secure bail. He is expected to present the case before a grand jury on Tuesday. Only one suspect, 24-year-old Yohenry Brito, was held on $15,000 cash bail after he was identified on the video thanks to a distinct tattoo (NYPD) While the video is shocking and disturbing, in order to secure convictions in a court of law it is essential that we conclusively identify each defendant and specify each persons participation in the incident, Mr Bragg said last week. Authorities said last week that the suspects had been staying at a migrant shelter in front of where the attack unfolded near Times Square. The officers were making an arrest when several people intervened and became physically aggressive, leaving the officers with minor injuries. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A former criminal justice professor pleaded guilty to federal arson charges for starting multiple fires in northern California. Gary Maynard, 49, admitted setting multiple fires in the Shasta Trinity National Forest in 2021, as well as in the Lassen National Forest, during a massive wildfire, according to federal prosecutors. On Thursday, he pleaded guilty to three counts of arson on federal property. Maynard set some of his fires behind firefighters who were actively fighting the Dixie Fire, effectively surrounding these firefighters as they responded to one of the largest wildfires in California history, prosecutors said. The Dixie Fire, which blazed in northern California during the summer and fall of 2021, was one of the worst wildfires the state has ever seen. Maynard, who previously taught at Santa Clara University and Sonoma State University, is believed to have been exhibiting symptoms of a mental health crisis. According to court documents obtained by Courthouse News, an unnamed witness who crossed paths with him around the time of the fires said he was mumbling a lot and having bipolar-like behavior. He was arrested after investigators attached a tracking device to his car, the court documents state. Maynard faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each arson count. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9. In a show of bipartisanship amid debates over federal spending and border security, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a tax relief package that aims to provide support to businesses and families. The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act passed 357-70. Although there was some opposition from both parties 47 Republicans and 23 Democrats voted against the bill the 357 supporters included 188 Democrats and 169 Republicans. The GOP votes included U.S. Reps. Claudia Tenney and Brandon Williams, both of whom represent central New York districts. Tenney, R-Cleveland, is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which is tasked with writing tax policy. In a statement explaining her vote, Tenney described the legislation as a "pro-growth, pro-worker bill." She added that it would provide economic relief to hardworking Americans, farms and small businesses. "Not only does passing this bill work to preserve over 7,300 jobs in New York, it would also retain $622 million per year in (research and development-related) wages for our state," Tenney said. The main provisions include expanding the child tax credit and allowing businesses to expense research and development costs. It also encourages the development of affordable housing with a tax credit and provides tax relief for communities affected by disasters. Despite the bipartisan support in the House, the bill faces a rocky path to passage in the Democratic-controlled Senate. The Hill reported that Senate Republicans are upset they weren't included in negotiations between U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, and U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. GOP senators are hoping to make amendments to the bill before a final vote in the Senate. Other votes in the House last week: The Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act passed 274-150, with Tenney and Williams supporting its passage. The legislation would allow a non-U.S. national to be deported or barred from being admitted into the country if they have been convicted of driving while intoxicated. A bill to rename a post office in honor of three servicemembers who were killed in Afghanistan and Iraq passed 420-0. Tenney and Williams voted for the legislation. The post office in Laredo, Texas, will be named in honor of Lance Cpl. David Lee Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Juan Rodrigo Rodriguez and Sgt. Roberto Arizola, Jr. Arizola and Rodriguez were killed in action while serving in Iraq. Espinoza was one of 13 servicemembers killed by a suicide bombing in Afghanistan in 2021. The No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act passed 422-2. Tenney and Williams were among the 215 Republicans and 207 Democrats who voted for the bill, which prevents members of terrorist groups that carried out the attack against Israel from entering the U.S. By a 272-155 vote, the House passed the Consequences for Social Security Fraud Act. Tenney and Williams joined 217 Republicans and 55 Democrats in support of the measure. According to the legislative summary, the bill would allow for non-U.S. nationals to be barred from admission or deported if they are convicted of "knowingly and without lawful authority producing a false identification document" and "making a false statement of material fact in an application for Social Security disability benefits." The Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act passed 271-154, with Tenney and Williams joining the Republican majority and some Democrats in voting for its passage. Most Democrats (154) voted against the bill. The legislation would make it a federal crime to flee from a U.S. Border Patrol officer while operating a motor vehicle within 100 miles of the border. The proposed crime would also apply if an individual is fleeing from another law enforcement officer who is assisting the Border Patrol. The bill is named in honor of a Border Patrol agent who was killed during a high-speed chase in 2022. The Overtime Pay for Protective Services Act passed 379-20. Tenney and Williams supported the bill's passage. The legislation would extend overtime pay authority for the U.S. Secret Service's protective services employees through 2028. The bill also requires the agency to report on how it is addressing the need for additional Secret Service protection personnel to lower overtime usage. The Safe and Smart Federal Purchasing Act passed 397-0. Tenney and Williams voted for the legislation. The bill would require the Office of Management and Budget to evaluate federal agency procurement practices, specifically to determine if "provisions of the Federal Acquisition Regulation related to the lowest price technically acceptable source selection process have created any national security risk," according to the legislative summary. Close Moment Jennifer Crumbley found guilty of manslaughter The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Michigan jury found Jennifer Crumbley, the mother of the Oxford High School shooter, guilty of four counts of involuntary manslaughter. The jury reached its unanimous verdict after 10 hours of deliberation. Ms Crumbley sat in court, unemotionally, as the verdict was read. She had pleaded not guilty. The 45-year-olds husband, James Crumbley, is being tried separately in March. In December, Ethan Crumbley was convicted of killing four of his classmates and injuring seven others on 30 November 2021. The prosecution has accused her of neglecting her sons downward spiral and making a gun accessible in their home. The defence rested its case on Friday after the defendant took the stand. Ms Crumbleys attorney delivered strange closing arguments, in which she compared herself to Ms Crumbley as messy working moms. The prosecution argued that Ms Crumbley could have taken tragically small steps that could have prevented her son from shooting up his school. The prosecutors mentioned that the mother bought her son a gun days before the shooting, recognized that he was acting depressed and spent a lot of time alone. The trial has been chock-full of revelations: an extramarital affair, a shocking admission, and a Taylor Swift reference. She will be sentenced on 9 April. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An escaped Louisiana inmate has been captured after his own parents turned him in, authorities said on Sunday. Kimmy Dauntain Jr, 17, 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 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. Officials from the Office of Juvenile Justice said the teenager, who is from Orleans Parish, was captured by police after his parents turned him into Louisiana State Police custody on Sunday morning. His capture brought a three-day manhunt to an end. The 17-year-olds escape from authorities is not the only time inmates have fled police custody in recent weeks. Kimmy Dauntain Jr, who escaped from prison in Louisiana (St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office) In Arkansas, Noah Roush, 22, and Jatonia Bryant, 23, were discovered missing 36 hours after their escape from the Dub Brassell Adult Detention Center on 22 January. 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 later, while Bryant, who was being held on probable cause for capital murder, was captured on 29 January. Jefferson County authorities said the two men were able to escape as a result of failed head counts by the jail staff. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, 17-year-old Shane Pryor escaped from custody during a medical transport on 24 January. Philadelphia police and the United States Marshals Service said Pryor, who is a suspect in a 2020 killing, was captured on a bus in Philadelphia four days later. Pryor was being taken to a hospital for a hand injury when he escaped, police previously said. An 18-year-old was arrested on 26 January for allegedly helping Pryor escape. Last year, convicted killer Danelo Cavalcante was on the run for two weeks after escaping from a prison in Pennsylvania days after he was sentenced to life for fatally stabbing his ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandao. He reportedly told investigators he evaded capture by staying in the woods where he survived by eating watermelon. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Its been two years since Adam Montgomery was charged with the murder of his five-year-old daughter Harmony. Now, hes been convicted in the shocking case that sparked uproar across America over the horrific abuse the little girl suffered and the mounting questions around how she fell through the cracks of the systems meant to protect her. Harmony was last seen in the fall of 2019 in Manchester, New Hampshire, but for two whole years, nobody reported her missing. At the time of Harmonys disappearance, she lived with her father, stepmother and the couples two children. Harmonys mother, Crystal Sorey, had lost custody of her daughter due to substance abuse problems. When authorities finally began looking for the missing child in December 2021, they were two years behind the search. Then, just six months into the missing persons investigation, the little girls father was arrested. He was later charged with second-degree murder, tampering with witnesses, falsifying evidence and abuse of a corpse. Authorities secured his arrest after his estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, came forward, alleging her husband fatally struck Harmony in the head when she had a bathroom accident in the car. Montgomery then placed Harmonys body in a cooler, which he then snuck into his workplace freezer, before disposing of her remains at an unknown location in March 2020. His attorneys had claimed during the trial that Harmony died under Kaylas care and that Montgomery only went along with plans to hide the body to protect his and Kaylas two infant sons. On 22 February, Montgomery, 34, was found guilty on charges of second-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and falsifying information. With his sentencing expected to take place this spring, heres everything we know about the disturbing case: Who was Harmony Montgomery? Harmony was born in June 2014. At the time, her father was in prison before his release in 2015. The little girl was removed from her mothers care at least three times in the first four years of her life. In July 2018, the Department of Child Services removed her from her mothers custody, due to her drug addiction, and placed Harmony in a foster home. Then, in February 2019, Montgomery was granted custody of Harmony before a review of his home was completed by the New Hampshire Division of Children, Youth and Families. While Ms Sorey lived in Massachusetts, Montgomery lived in New Hampshire so Harmony was moved to a new state to live with her father. The prosecution argued that Harmony had met all the milestones for a girl her age, and only began soiling herself when she was sent to live in an abusive environment with her father. Harmonys foster mother Michelle Raftery told jurors that Harmony was potty trained by the time she was two and a half years old. We had the privilege of being Harmonys foster parents... At two and a half, going on three, she was potty trained, Ms Raftery said. She wanted to be like the bigger kids in our house. So she would tell us, she pretty much potty trained herself. Ms Raftery said that Harmony would call her momma, and say dadda to her husband. Meanwhile, Ms Sorey described her daughter to jurors as a rambunctious little girl who would tell her whole life story to anyone she met. When was Harmony last seen? The last confirmed sighting of Harmony was on 11 September 2019 when Manchester police officers were called to her fathers home on 77 Gilford Street in Manchester. Harmony was living with her father as well as his wife, Kayla Montgomery, and their children at the property at the time. Law enforcement said the last police callout to the property was in October 2019 but later confirmed they had muddled the dates and it was actually September. Police interviews and statements from various family members also offered a timeline for her last known sighting. Ms Sorey told police she had not been able to contact her daughter since they spoke on a video call in April 2019. After that, she said Montgomery cut off all contact between her and her daughter. Missing posters of Harmony Montgomery (AP) Montgomery first claimed to investigators that he last saw his daughter around Thanksgiving 2019, claiming that Ms Sorey had picked her up from Manchester to take her to live with her. According to the criminal complaint, Montgomery claimed to believe his daughter was living with his ex when officers contacted him in December 2021. He also did not show much emotion or reaction when officers said they were concerned whether Harmony was alive, the complaint alleges. His story was also contradicted by Ms Montgomery, who told police she last saw Harmony the day after Thanksgiving when her husband said he was driving her to see Ms Sorey. Montgomerys uncle Kevin Montgomery told investigators he had not seen Harmony or his nephew since late 2019 when she was five years old. When was the alarm raised? Police interviews with other family members revealed that Montgomery was abusive towards his daughter, including giving her a black eye, forcing her to clean the toilet with her own toothbrush and making her stand in a corner for hours as a punishment. Adam Montgomerys brother, Michael Montgomery, told investigators he had concerns that Adam was physically abusive to the child and was super short with her. His uncle Kevin Montgomery, who briefly lived in the same home along with Adam, his wife and kids, said while on the stand that he did not want to be in court but was subpoenaed to testify. Kevin told jurors he took a trip to Florida in July 2019 to visit family. When he returned on 22 July 2019, he noticed Harmony had a black eye. Looked full all the way around, like a racoons eye, he told jurors as he became emotional. I said something along the lines of, Oh my f***ing God, what did you do, Harmony? Harmony did not answer the question, but Adam Montgomery did, Kevin said. She didnt do anything, I bashed her around the f***ing house, he claimed his nephew answered. Kevin told several relatives about the incident, including Harmonys mother and foster mother, and also called the Department of Child and Family Services (DCYF). When a DCYF employer pulled up to Adam Montgomerys driveway to follow up on the report, he drove away with Harmony in the car. By the time the employer checked on Harmony weeks later, she only had a red mark on her undereye that her father blamed on an accident she supposedly had while playing with her siblings. Kevin Montgomery tried to get ahold of his nephew in 2020, to no avail. He later realised that Adam Montgomery had blocked him on Facebook. Under cross-examination, the defence tried to argue that Adam Montgomery hit his daughter by accident after he walked in on her trying to suffocate her baby brother. However, Kevin said he only recalled Adam saying Harmony had her fingers on the babys mouth. During redirect, Kevin Montgomery clarified that he didnt think Adam Montgomery was just jerking Harmony away from her brother, or that his comment about bashing Harmony around the f***ing house was sarcasm. Who was charged over her murder? In January 2019, Harmonys father and his wife were both arrested and charged on counts related to the missing child. Montgomery was initially charged with second-degree felony assault, two misdemeanour counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and one misdemeanour count of interference with custody. The day after her husbands arrest, Kayla Montgomery was arrested on one felony charge of welfare fraud for allegedly fraudulently collecting welfare benefits for the missing child between December 2019 and June 2021. Ms Montgomery, who has three children with her estranged husband, fraudulently obtained $1,500 in food stamp benefits meant for Harmony between December 2019 and June 2021 even though the girl was not living with them. Prosecutors later dropped that welfare fraud charge and added three new charges one count of theft by deception and two misdemeanour charges of welfare fraud. She pleaded guilty to two of those charges in November 2022 and reached a plea deal with the prosecution in exchange for her testimony against her husband. Then in October 2022, attorney general John Formella announced new charges of second-degree murder against Montgomery in the death of Harmony. Court documents also show that Ms Montgomery, who was charged with unrelated theft charges, came forward with information that led to her estranged husbands arrest. Montgomery was charged with one count of second-degree murder for recklessly causing the death of Harmony; falsifying physical evidence for altering, destroying, concealing or removing the girls body; abuse of a corpse for unlawfully removing, concealing or destroying Harmonys body; and tampering with witnesses or informants, which he did by attempting to coerce Ms Montgomery to lie to investigators. I do want to again express my deepest sympathies to Harmonys family, friends and loved ones, Mr Formella said at a news conference announcing the murder charges. We understand that todays news, while significant for purposes of this investigation, is yet another difficult moment for those who loved Harmony and those who have followed this case. Kayla Montgomery was sentenced last year to 18 months in prison over perjury charges for lying under oath about Harmonys whereabouts at the beginning of the investigation. Adam Montgomery conceded to two charges of abuse of a corpse and falsifying information. How did Harmony die? During an interview with detectives, Ms Montgomery said that Montgomery had repeatedly punched Harmony in the face on 7 December 2019, after becoming upset with her for having bathroom accidents in the car their family was living in after they were evicted from their home that November. The 48-page probable cause affidavit detailed how Ms Montgomery told investigators her husband had delivered sets of three-to-four blows with a closed fist to Harmonys face/head on three separate occasions over the course of a few minutes that morning. After the final blow, Montgomery said: I think I really hurt her this time. I think I did something. Harmony made a moaning type noise for approximately five minutes and then stopped, Ms Montgomery told investigators. No one checked on Harmony or stopped to get her medical attention, Ms Montgomery told investigating officers. Instead, the family continued their ride to a Burger King before returning to the apartment complex, where they usually parked their car. They remained in the parking lot for 20 minutes before driving off again. In a second interview, Ms Montgomery admitted that she and Montgomery used heroin and fentanyl during this period. It was only when their car, a Chrysler Sebring, broke down that she claimed the couple discovered Harmony was not breathing and had died. Montgomery then placed Harmonys lifeless body in a red duffel bag. While living in the parking lot, Ms Montgomery claimed her husband would occasionally leave Harmonys body out in the snow to slow the rate of decomposition. When the family moved in with Ms Montgomerys mother and her boyfriend, Montgomery placed the duffel bag containing Harmonys body in a red cooler in the common hallway of their apartment building. After that, the Montgomerys moved into a shelter house, where the bag began to leak. Montgomery reportedly put the duffel bag into a trash bag, and stored it inside a vent shaft in the ceiling of their room. The state said that when investigators returned to the room two years later, they saw deep blood stains in the ceiling vent and smelled decomposition. And surrounding Harmonys blood, all that was left of her... the defendants fingerprints and palm prints, froze in there for a time, the prosecution said. After neighbours at the shelter began to complain about the smell, Montgomery reportedly brought the bag with Harmonys remains to work with him every day. At the time, he worked as a cook and dishwasher at the since-closed Portland Pie Company. [The bag] stood out to people, because he placed it in the freezer during his shifts, a prosecutor said. He brought it with him regularly to work and he stored it in a freezer where the company kept food, and ingredients. People saw him bringing that in and out. They couldnt have imagined what that bag contained. The Montgomerys then moved to an apartment on Union Street. Jurors heard about a February 2020 $400 purchase of limestone, a metal-cutting diamond blade, a lithium-ion battery and a power grinder. The purchase was made at a Home Depot located just a mile away from Citizens Bank, where Kayla Montgomery, reportedly withdrew $500 the same day. Prosecutors suggested that Montgomery may have used the power tools to destroy Harmonys body in the bathroom of his Union Street apartment. He discussed using a saw to cut her up. He discussed using lime to further decompose her so she couldnt be found, the prosecution said during opening statements. Remember, he believed that if there was no body there could be no evidence and he could get away with this. The state said that he compressed the sealed bag with Harmonys remains and added quicklime to the bag. Thinking that it would eat away anything left of her, the prosecution said. He spent most of the day in that bathroom compressing Harmony. According to the prosecution, Montgomery took Harmonys frozen remains and put them in the tub, running hot water to further manipulate what was left of the body. Kayla Montgomery then walked inside the bathroom and saw Montgomery. She saw that Harmony was largely skin, bones and fluid and that Montgomery was trying to dispose of her remains down the drain, the prosecution said. Kayla also alleged that Montgomery discussed using a handsaw and a Nutribullet to destroy Harmonys rotting remains. Montgomery spent hours inside the bathroom dethawing Harmonys frozen remains, cutting the clothes off the body, and running hot water onto what remained of the little girl, she said. He wanted to use a handsaw and a Nutribullet, Kayla told the court. He said thatd be good to use to help get rid of her... I saw Harmony folded together the same way she was when we took her out of the car. She looked like she had barely any skin, just skin and bones and was very bruised. He had the hot water running... in the tub. Harmonys father, Adam Montgomery in his booking photo (AP) In spring 2020, Kayla said Montgomery rented a U-Haul truck to dispose of Harmonys body during the middle of the night. When he returned the next morning, he allegedly said words to the effect of its done. Why was Harmony not reported missing for two years? Questions arose over how a little girl could not be seen for more than two years without any action being taken by authorities. Multiple family members have said they raised concerns for Harmonys safety with New Hampshires Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) in the two years that authorities werent searching for her. Ms Sorey accused authorities of failing her daughter. She said she made multiple attempts to report concerns to child services. On 18 November 2021, she contacted Manchester police saying she believed her daughter was missing. Police officers contacted the DCYF about the location of the missing child. Then, on 27 December of that year, the DCYF reported that it was also unable to locate Harmony. Manchester Police announced a search was launched on 31 December 2021. Harmony Montgomerys mother, Crystal Sorey, speaks out at a vigil for her daughter (NBC Boston) Ms Sorey was so convinced that her daughter was in trouble that she sent emails to the Manchester mayors office, begging for help in finding the girl. Please, Im begging for help in finding my daughter, she wrote on 29 December 2021. Ms Sorey said Montgomery had never enrolled their daughter in school and that she has missed important doctors appointments shes had since a baby due to a disability in her eye. The emails were sent just two days before police finally reported Harmony missing. As well as the repeated attempts to raise the alarm, the family was well-known to child services. Records released showed that police officers were called to the Gilford Street home at least 10 times between February 2019 when Montgomery got custody of Harmony and October 2019. Reports ranged from claims of domestic disturbances to animal welfare and concerns about the living conditions in the home. The DCYF was notified about some of the incidents. A neighbour told The Independent in 2022 that it was a bad situation at the property, describing lots of people living there at different times, adults seen arguing in the street, junk left piled up in the yard, and the electricity being switched off at one point. Police chief on Harmony Montgomery case We didnt intermingle with them as it was a bad situation, she said. There was lots of different people living there, piles of junk in the driveway, junk outside. The electricity was turned off and they ran the generator all summer with the wiring running through the window. The neighbour said the Montgomerys were basically squatting at the home when it had fallen into foreclosure and were refusing to leave. She said she went away for the Thanksgiving holidays in 2019 and returned to find the family had finally packed up and moved out. This coincides with when Mr and Ms Montgomery claimed they last saw the little girl. An independent investigation was launched by the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate after Harmony was moved from Massachusetts into the custody of Montgomery in New Hampshire in February 2019. After the case came to light, officials in New Hampshire and Massachusetts passed the blame between each other. The New Hampshire governor sent a letter to Massachusetts court officials slamming a judge for placing Harmony in the care of her monster father, given his violent past and long rap sheet. Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker responded to the criticism, saying he felt his pain but said he wanted to wait to see the results of the independent review by the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate. The report later placed the blame on state agencies for failing to consider Harmonys needs above her parents rights to her custody. The central and most important finding in this investigation and report is that Harmonys individual needs, well-being, and safety were not prioritized or considered on an equal footing with the assertion of her parents rights to care for her in any aspect of the decision making by any state entity, Maria Mossaides, from the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate, said in the report. When children are not at the centre of every aspect of the child protection system, then the system cannot truly protect them. This report describes the ripple effect of miscalculations of risk and an unequal weight placed on parents rights versus a childs wellbeing. Kayla Montgomery arrives for her plea and sentencing hearing at Hillsborough County Superior Court (AP) Mr Baker responded to the report a day later by saying everybody failed in this case, and pushed a bill that included $50m to recruit, train and pay guardian ad litems within the Massachusetts court system. There are a lot of lawyers who are in the room on this case, and none of them at the end of the day had just Harmony Montgomerys interest as a primary concern, Mr Baker said. Montgomerys past criminal history Prior to the murder of his daughter, Montgomery has a history of violence and a long criminal record, including convictions for shooting a man in the head in a drug deal just six months before Harmony was born. He was also convicted in 2010 for attacking two women at gunpoint. It has also emerged that he is a suspect in the cold case murder of a 28-year-old man in Lynn, New Hampshire, back in February 2008. Darlin Guzman was found shot in the chest in the parking lot of the former White Hen Pantry convenience store in Lynns Austin Square on the night of 10 February 2008. He was pronounced dead in hospital. A law enforcement source told Boston 25 News that Montgomery, who was 18 at the time, and two members of his family, who were not named, have been the focus of the murder investigation since day one. The three family members had been in contact with the victim earlier that day and planned to meet with him at the convenience store, before the meeting culminated in gunfire, according to the source. The victims car was later found abandoned in the direction of Bedford, New Hampshire, where Montgomery lived at the time. Harmony Montgomery was last seen in October 2019 (Manchester Police Department) No one has ever been charged with Guzmans murder but the source said Montgomery remains the focus of the investigation to this day. In June 2023, Montgomery was found guilty of all counts in his trial relating to stolen weapons in 2019. He was sentenced to 32-and-a-half to 75 years in prison. Montgomery found guilty of daughters murder Montgomery did not attend the trial and wasnt present when jurors returned their verdict on 22 February. He had proclaimed his innocence, saying in court last year in an unrelated case that he loves Harmony Montgomery unconditionally. His attorneys earlier acknowledged his guilt on two lesser charges, that he purposely and unlawfully removed, concealed or destroyed her corpse and falsified physical evidence, but said he didnt kill Harmony. Harmonys mother Crystal Sorey, and her foster parents Michelle and Timothy Raftery were in the courtroom when Judge Messer read the guilty verdict. After the verdict was read Ms Sorey remarked on Montgomerys absence: Hes a coward. She said, I hope he never falls asleep without seeing her beautiful face and that he will constantly replay this verdict in his mind. She added that its all about control for him and that Harmony wasnt anything to him. Where is Harmony? The girls remains have never been found. The Gilford Street property was the focus of much of the search, with investigators seen in the home and the backyard for multiple days. The reward for information about Harmonys disappearance has topped $150,000. During the trial, attorney Caroline Smith brought up a tip made by an unknown individual. Senior Assistant Attorney General Ben Agati later explained that the call was placed by a woman after she had spent several days watching the trial. Manchester Police only notified the prosecution the following day. She came into the station to be interviewed and provided a statement, Mr Agati said. Mr Agati said that a written report and the taped interview were sent to his office and then forwarded to the defence. Judge Messer asked Ms Smith to expeditiously file a motion seeking to have the mystery called on her witness list if the defence wished to call her to the stand. At a press conference following Montgomerys guilty verdict, Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg noted that the departments determination to find Harmony would not be impacted by the ending of the trial. Were still going to find her, Chief Aldenberg told reporters as he choked back tears. This girl deserves better than the life that she had. This is never about winning or losing, this is about a five-year-old girl who was killed by her father. And I cant think of a worse crime. Prosecutor Ben Agati said the Rumney Marsh Reservation and the Chelsea Creek area are still the biggest areas of interest. Mr Agati encouraged the public to come forward with any information they think could lead to finding Harmony. Theres a part of her body that we havent recovered, Mr Agati said. Were still hoping that we can do that and she gets a proper burial ... Its what she deserves. And so the search for her will continue until we find her. Ms Sorey also addressed reporters outside the courtroom, saying she didnt want her daughter to be remembered by her fathers name. Shes no longer Harmony Mongtomery, shes Harmony Renee, she said, explaining that both she and Harmony shared the same middle name. Shes no longer a Montgomery. Anyone with information is asked to call or text 603-932-8997 The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The McDonalds just off I-70 looms nearly as large in small-town Rifle life as it does in Rep. Lauren Boeberts origin story. The Republican provocateur quit high school for a shift manager position here to her mothers horror, she writes in her memoir and its also where at 16 she met her now-ex-husband, Jayson, then 22. But on this sunny Friday, as diners flit in and out just before noon, the teen behind the cash register has no idea a congresswoman ever worked here. Less than a mile away, past two roundabouts and across the Colorado River, not a single constituent turns up at the mobile office hours held by Boeberts staff at the library. And Shooters Grill, her former restaurant around the corner famed for gun-strapped waitresses and a food poisoning scandal has been replaced by a swankier Mexican eatery. The long shadow cast by Boebert over Western Colorado is beginning to vanish in her backyard. And many within her constituency say that it cant happen fast enough. Shes always in drama here in Rifle and Silt, one 66-year-old, born and raised in the 3rd congressional district, tells The Independent as she lunches with her two young grandchildren in the McDonalds play area. Shes not the most popular person anymore, says the grandmother who, like most people in the area, refers to Boebert just as Lauren and asks to remain anonymous while speaking about her. That, it seems, is an understatement. Rep. Lauren Boebert, who represents Colorados Third congressional district, has frequently made headlines for her personal life and not politics; the mother of four boys is pictured holding her new grandson as she arrived for a meeting at the US Capitol last year (Getty Images) There are people I know that are Trump supporters that dont support her, and they started out, like, Yeah, ra, ra, ra, and now, theyre just embarrassed because she just makes a fool out of herself, one 40-year-old unaffiliated voter tells The Independent in New Castle, the next town over from Silt. When she comes to public places around here, its just not professional. She says the congresswoman causes all this ruckus for no reason and doesnt actually do anything in her position. I cant think of anything that shes actually done. Its a common refrain from constituents represented by the 37-year-old new grandmother, who has endured a spectacular rise and fall between her home turf and DC. A Democrat briefly until 2008, she first came to power in a shock 2020 upset, riding a MAGA wave of rural Colorado libertarianism and covid restriction backlash to victory over five-term incumbent Republican Scott Tipton. Boebert tapped into the fringe elements of the right, weaving Christian nationalism and conspiracy theory bait into her unique brand of Trump-tinted braggadocio, and it played well for a time before she seems to have taken it too far. That much was evident when Adam Frisch, a former Independent running as a moderate Democrat, nearly beat her in 2022. Boebert scraped by with just 546 more votes after a mandated recount, a mortifying wakeup call for the congresswoman and her party but her expected 2024 rematch with Frisch was shaping up to be yet another epic contest. Boebert had Republican challengers for the primary but almost surely would have taken the nomination; Frisch was better bankrolled, ultra-determined and bolstered by a hell of a lot more name recognition than hed enjoyed the first time around. Then came the Beetlejuice bonanza of September, when Boebert was thrown out of a musical performance in Denver for vaping, groping her date and other bad behaviour. She blamed it on her divorce and apologised, but the hardline conservative and Christian voters she courted were horrified, and they were just about the last holdouts in her corner. Moment Lauren Boebert removed from Denver theatre production of Beetlejuice She embraced a very religious, conservative perspective, but then her Beetlejuice night basically made her appear to be very hypocritical and thats where a lot of people began really, really questioning not just her judgement, but who she really was, Republican State Rep. Matt Soper tells The Independent. And, as a politician, the last thing you want to be questioned on is who you are. Less than three months later, in a social media announcement just after Christmas, Boebert announced she was dropping out of the CD3 race and switching to CD4, an even more heavily Republican district on the opposite side of Colorado. Boebert previously ran a restaurant in downtown Rifle, Shooters Grill, which has closed and been replaced by a Mexican eatery (AFP via Getty Images) Shes not exactly being welcomed there, but her shock departure from CD3 has certainly changed the energy among her constituents and those now vying for the seat. It really shook foundations and the dynamics in the race, Justin Gollob, a political science professor at Colorado Mesa University, tells The Independent. Her exit really changed the message, he continues. This was an election largely based on a referendum of Lauren Boebert and now its become a much more meat-and-potatoes issue, where Republicans gain an advantage within the district and Democrats have to figure a way how to chip away at that advantage through retail politics and focusing on issues that resonate with voters. Frisch, for one, gleefully released a statement immediately after Boeberts district swap announcement, gloating that she was running scared. He told The Independent last weekend, as he campaigned across CD3s massive land area, that hed only learned of her exit about an hour before it became public. One of many reasons why I ran was to see her pack her bags out of the district, and so we are proud of doing that, and were excited about that, he said. That whole circus of her own personal stuff has now left the building, left the district, and one of the things Ive been trying to do from Day One is try to tell why people should be voting for us, not against anyone specifically that, again, this is not Team Red or Team Blue, this is Team CD3 and focus on Colorado water, Colorado jobs, Colorado domestic energy. Such a return to more locally-focused issues, however, also presents a massive opportunity for Republicans on the Western Slope (the part of the state west of the Continental Divide, where bodies of water flow to the Pacific, not southeast towards the Gulf of Mexico) where voters tend to lean conservative, with many eager and willing to vote for the right just not for Boebert. People on the Western Slope, they want a rugged, individual member of Congress, but they also have respect for the office and respect for the job, Republican State Rep. Matt Soper, who considered throwing his hat into the CD3 race, tells The Independent. He says the Beetlejuice incident deeply rattled her base, but CD3 Republicans tend to be forgiving though her district switch announcement shattered what was left of that. Democrat Adam Frisch lost to Boebert by just 546 in the last election after a mandated recount and was waging a behemoth campaign to unseat her before the Republican announced in December that she was dropping her CD3 campaign to run for a seat on the other side of Colorado (Getty Images) They were so offended by the fact that she just basically bailed from the ship, he says. She abandoned her duties. When the going got tough, she just left, and she behaved like a carpetbagger, moving from one district to another. And I will tell you that, on the Western Slope, that is one thing thats not tolerated. He adds: I have yet to run into any Republican whos like, Yeah, she did it for the good of the party, shes going to allow us to retain the Third and, if were lucky, well get her elected to the Fourth. Another Republican, a CD3 campaign operative, echoes him almost word-for-word. I have not heard a single person whos said shes done it for the good of the party, he tells The Independent. I have not heard that from the furthest-right, conspiracy theory, crazy MAGA person to the furthest-left, crazy left-wing person. Nobody believes that thats why she did it. The Republicans now running for the party nomination before the June primary range across the spectrum of GOP beliefs. The seeming frontrunner at the minute, whose fundraising had been nipping at Boeberts heels, is a lawyer from Grand Junction whose image is the opposite of inflammatory. Jeff Hurds campaign site describes him rather unexcitingly as a Colorado native, a husband, a father of five, and an attorney committed to serving his community and improving life in Colorado. Hurd has a long list of dyed-in-the-wool CD3 Republicans endorsing him on the site; hes more the establishment candidate, as Soper puts it. Supporting that, Hurds campaign site takes a pointed swipe at Boebert and the taste she left in voters mouths, adding that the district needs a representative who will focus more on doing something than being someone. Boeberts CD3 voter base is conservative and initially embraced her gun-toting, brash image; a sign in Rifle showcases those local values (Sheila Flynn) On the other hand, however, Boeberts initial rise to power proved that some CD3 constituents do have an appetite for an in-your-face, gun-toting firebrand just one wholl back that up with legislative action. A veritable Boebert 2.0 has popped up to fill that slot, with Jan. 6 attendee Ron Hanks announcing days after the incumbents district swap that he would join the race for the GOP nomination. The Air Force veteran, who unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2022 with an ad depicting him blowing up a fake voting machine, calls himself a pro-Trump warrior and issued a written statement announcing his CD3 candidacy that could have been ripped out of Boeberts playbook, the rhetoric railing against RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) and quips like the danger is real and I cannot stand idly by. Hanks shares another new trait with Boebert, however, and its one thats unlikely to help either of them: he came from Fremont County, which is not in CD3, and told Colorado Politics hes recently started renting a room from the GOP treasurer in Grand Junction. Hanks is carpetbagging in a district thats turned on its carpetbagging incumbent, an attack point that his fellow GOP candidates will surely zero in on. Even that, though, is a welcome return to a normal primary race. As the campaign operative sums it up, Boeberts departure resets it to being back to just an electable Republican district. But the overarching feeling throughout CD3 is relief that Boeberts angertainment, as Frisch likes to label it, will no longer rule the district and the unwelcome international spotlight shone on the Western Slope, for not ideal reasons, has also been lifted. Theres a desire for normalcy and tranquillity but a more urgent appeal for action, particularly on the border and cost of living. Frisch has been leaning into that. I realised that both parties were leaving Western and Southern Colorado behind, and both parties were not focusing on a lot of what rural America was talking about, he tells The Independent, adding that the regions Democrats, Independents and Republicans just feel as completely underappreciated, if not disrespected, from Denver and from DC. Boeberts antics following the split from her husband last year pictured campaigning for her in a cowboy hat in 2022 brought unwelcome attention to her re-election campaign (Copyright - 2022 The Denver Post, MediaNews Group.) There are indeed some voters left disaffected altogether. Back at the Rifle McDonalds, the unaffiliated grandmother says many within the constituency dont know whos running for Congress, feel indifferent and may not vote. I just think everyone who lives in a normal world just feels like weve been abandoned, she says, adding: What difference does it make? Either you get one who gets in and doesnt do anything at all, or you get one that throws enough tantrums that thats all you see. The challenge is for Frisch and whoever may be his Republican opponent to woo those disenchanted Coloradoans and tap the vast, impactful unaffiliated bloc. If you want to win an election in the Third, you have to resonate with unaffiliated voters, Prof Gollob tells The Independent. With Boebert gone, then, its open season for that unaffiliated vote on the Western Slope and beyond. Now we dont have a complete bozo in there, says unaffiliated Pueblo resident Curtis Urban, a retired engineer whos voted for both parties but has leaned heavily left in recent years. (Hes a prolific writer of letters to the editor, resulting in a barrage of far-right hate mail, he tells The Independent.) Everybody, I think, is kind of tired of all the shenanigans of the Republican Party. So theyll vote for a moderate Democrat to go in there. Thats certainly what Frisch is aiming for, and hes got the name recognition, funds and dedication on the ground to do it. During his first campaign, the former Aspen city councilman made a point of being visible throughout the constituency, meeting with interest groups and voters, shaking hands and delving into the intricacies of what makes CD3 tick; hes continued that this time, even after Boeberts departure. Boebert announced after Christmas that she was abandoning her campaign for reelection in CD3, instead running for the seat across the state in CD4 (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) If you ask people, in my mind, what the number one concern is, or what I hear that remains how expensive everything costs, he tells The Independent, listing everything from the price of gasoline to eggs. I think a lot of people in DC, from both parties, have missed what the daily struggles are access to health care, mental and physical, he says. We have some of the most remote counties in the country and some of the least well-off counties in the country, and a lot of people are one doctor leaving away from going from a 45-minute drive to a three-hour drive [for health care]. These are the conversations Im hearing in the backroads of CD3. The issues are complex, multiplying and, inarguably, in need of action as the west and south of Colorado cry out for a representative who will fight to better their lives. But the seat remains for the taking. I dont think theres a default candidate at this point, Prof Gollob tells The Independent. As voters go shopping for candidates, its going to be interesting to see where they settle. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The story of Maura Murrays mysterious disappearance has been told countless times in the two decades shes been missing but now, her sister is telling it in her own words. In a new podcast Media Pressurelaunched on Monday, Julie Murray teams up with Sarah Turney, whose sister Alissa is also missing, to tell the untold story of Maura through the voices of those who knew her best. Maura, a University of Massachusetts nursing student, was only 21 years old when she vanished on 9 February 2004 in New Hampshire. Her family has never given up their mission to find Maura, and are hoping the new podcast will lead to answers and resolution in her case. Ms Murray told The Independent this podcast is unique because it gives families a chance to tell their own stories, which she said is something that is missing from the true crime space. I was dependent on other people to get Mauras story out there, but I had no control in how they portrayed it, Ms Murray said. And thats difficult. To listen to a stranger give details about your sister and family whom theyve never met. So, to be able to tell the story in my own words gave me that sense of control that I felt was missing. Ms Murray said she always comes back to the same question. Whose story is it to tell anyway? Maura is not here. She is voiceless. So who better to tell it than me, and my family. We have to be her voice. Julie Murray and her sister Maura Murray before she vanished in 2004 (Supplied) The new podcast that launched on Monday is part of Voices for Justice network, which was created by Sarah Turney years after her own sisters 2001 disappearance, in which she explored the case and posted regular updates on TikTok, garnering millions of views. In 2020, her father Michael Turney was arrested on second degree murder charges in the case, but as of July 2023, the charges were dropped. Alissas body has never been found. It was so healing to finally put everything out there, and kind of get it straight in your mind, and tell the story from start to finish in your own words, she said regarding Alissas story. Theres something really beautiful, and of course its sad, but at the same time its this cathartic experience that I really wanted to pass on to others. The podcast transitioned over to helping other families of missing people, which eventually spurred the idea for a new podcast that focuses on putting pressure on those who may know something to come forward. Maura Murrays sister launches new podcast 20 years after disappearance And whats unique about the Media Pressure podcast, is that each season will feature a different case and will be told by those close to the story. Ms Turney told The Independent that the whole goal of the network Voices for Justice Media is to carve out space for families like me and Julie... Its time we had some space in true crime. She explained that there are many families who have gone through the same things begging for media pressure, attention on their loved ones case, traveling to events such as CrimeCon to spread the word, and countless interviews. Its something were not used to seeing in true crime Were so used to being interviewed. And having our stories cut and edited to fit the algorithm, Ms Turney said. At some point, when do you start creating the content yourself? Maura Murray has been missing since 9 February 2004 (Supplied) The first season of Media Pressure is solely focused on Mauras case with exclusive interviews, an in-depth look into the investigation, and an exploration of the impact on those left behind. She said Mauras case has been shrouded in so many theories and misinformation on the internet and it was almost like they were being silenced. It was very intentional to make her the first season, she added. Mauras sister told The Independent that the idea of a podcast seemed overwhelming but when she saw what Ms Turney did for her own sisters case, she wanted to find it in herself to be a voice for Maura. In the end, she also found healing. It was very therapeutic to sit down with my family and talk about these intricate details, said Ms Murray. It wasnt easy, obviously it hurt, but at the end of it, there was this collective sigh of relief like OK we did it, we told the story, we did right by Maura and thats huge for a family like mine. She said it wasnt only a platform for herself, but for those close to the story. Sarah Turneys podcast featured her own missing sister Alissa Turney. Now, she aims to help others (Supplied) One person said, youre the only one I could trust, the only one I will talk to, Ms Murray revealed, adding that these people have been working hard behind the scenes of Mauras case. So were giving these people a platform too to share what they know. Her hope is that by having Mauras story retold through trusted voices, it could lead to new tips and leads in the case. One listener could hold the key to unlocking this mystery, she said. As of now, Mauras case is considered to be an open active suspicious missing person case. She was last seen on 9 February 2004. Investigators said she told professors she had a death in the family, which was not true, packed a bag, took money out of her bank account and drove her 1996 Saturn north out of Massachusetts and toward New Hampshire. Maura crashed her car in Woodsville, New Hampshire, which was found by a nearby resident who called police. But when police arrived, she was not there. There have been searches all over the area in recent years, but there are still no answers about where Maura could be (Supplied) A bus driver named Butch Atwood drove by and spoke to Maura, according to the family. He offered her help and asked if she needed him to call police but she declined both offers and said she had already called AAA. Her interaction with the bus driver is the last known sighting of Maura. There has been no activity on her cell phone or bank accounts. There have been searches all over the area in recent years, but there are still no answers about where Maura could be. In the past, the relationship between her family and law enforcement has been tense as they continued to push for answers while getting few results. But Ms Murray said she has seen a much better collaborative relationship with officials who she says have been much more empathetic. On Friday, the 20th anniversary of Mauras disappearance, the Murray family will hold a candlelight vigil at Mountain Lakes Lodge in Woodsville, New Hampshire. And for the first time in 20 years, the assistant Attorney General and the head of the New Hampshire cold case unit will be attending, Ms Murray said. On Friday, the 20th anniversary of Mauras disappearance, the Murray family will hold a candlelight vigil at Mountain Lakes Lodge in Woodsville, New Hampshire (Supplied) Its a huge step forward, she said. I want to show the public that you can have a collaborative relationship with those charged with bringing the case to a resolution. I feel good with the way this is trending. The podcasts, along with newly released photographs, documents, and other files, will also be available on the familys website. Media Pressure Season 1: The Untold Story of Maura Murraylaunched on 9 February on Apple podcasts. The first two episodes are available now. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A missing sailor has finally been found, more than one month after going missing at sea. The US Coast Guard launched a search for Noel Rubio, 60, who disappeared after he was due to travel to Hawaii but never arrived. Officials said he departed from Long Beach, California, on 28 December in his sailboat, Malulani, and was expected to arrive in Oahu, Hawaii, on 18 January. However, Mr Rubio never arrived in the area on the scheduled date, and his family grew worried about him after he failed to make any contact with them for at least 37 days. In a post on Facebook on Sunday, Coast Guard officials confirmed Mr Rubio and his vessel had been located, was safe and had arrived in Hawaii. Initial indications are a slow voyage, the official added. He is now believed to have made contact with his family, according to reports. The Coast Guard previously said the 60-year-old has a marine band radio on board, which is believed to be his only means of communication. Search and rescue (SAR) mission coordinator in the Rescue Coordination Center Alameda, Douglas Samp, advised that anyone attempting an open-ocean crossing should have multiple forms of communication at hand. Mariners intending to conduct an open ocean passage are highly encouraged to have multiple layers of communication, including a VHF-FM DSC radio, HF DSC radio, satellite communications, and a 406Mhz emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) as the notification of last resort to help SAR authorities locate your position in a time of need, he said. Following Mr Rubios disappearance, maritime authorities launched search efforts to determine his boats location, including urgent mariner information broadcasts (UMIB) and harbour checks in California, Hawaii, and Mexico. They also received advice from other sailors about possible routes that Mr Rubio may have taken and had experts consult on how weather patterns might have impacted his trip, according to Mr Samp. The Coast Guard is greatly appreciative of the expert consult advice on weather and routes provided by experienced trans-Pacific sailors, Mr Samp said. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Tucker Carlson has apparently been spotted at Moscows Bolshoi Theatre, sparking speculation about whether he could be in the city to interview Vladimir Putin. However, there was no official confirmation of the visit from Carlsons office, or from the US and Russian authorities. On Sunday, a Telegram channel named Mash believed to be close to Russian law enforcement authorities published purported photos of Carlson in Moscow. It also said that he flew in from Istanbul and he has been in Moscow for three days. The post included two photos supposedly showing Mr Carlson at an airport and another at Moscows Bolshoi Theatre, where he was said to have attended ballet performance on Sunday. Without exaggerating, it is safe to say that we are in for an epochal event, the pro-Kremlin Bezgranichny Analitik Telegram channel wrote. The Kremlin declined to say whether or not Russian President Vladimir Putin would grant an interview to U.S. journalist Tucker Carlson - or whether he was in Moscow. "We can hardly be expected to provide information on the movement of foreign journalists," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked about speculation that Mr Carlson was in Russia to interview Putin. "Many foreign journalists come to Russia every day, many continue to work here, and we welcome this," Mr Peskov said. "We have nothing to announce in terms of the president's interviews to foreign media." The Russian president has faced increasing international isolation since his nation invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Carlson is a former Fox News host, who is sympathetic to Putin, launched a subscription-based streaming video service in December. Mr Carlson has previously attacked the Joe Biden administration while parroting Russian propaganda. On X, former advisor to the internal affairs ministry in Ukraine, Anton Gerashchenko wrote: Putin doesnt sit down with journalists one on one too often. The last time it happened in 2021, when Putin talked to NBCs Keir Simmons. The goals that the Kremlin pursues are obvious. We will see what comes out of this. Will new narratives be voiced loud and clear? I doubt it. Putin has ramped up the propaganda machine to full speed before the elections. Russia faces the prospect of Mr Putin extending his two-decade stranglehold on power until at least 2030, with an election in March. Another Telegram channel belonging to the RIA state news agency in Russia posted that it is said the TV host, who openly sympathizes with Russia, has come here in the hope of talking to Putin. 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. Meanwhile, Mr Peskov, Putins spokesperson, mentioned that the Kremlin gets dozens of interview requests from Western media daily but doesnt see the value in an interview, because [Western] society has been stupefied by Russophobic propaganda. He added: Whether or not Carlson will be among the potential candidates, well have to wait and see. The Independent has reached out to Mr Carlson for comment. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Conservative commentator Ann Coulter did not 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. Ms Coulter was previously one of Mr Trumps most prominent supporters. In 2016, she endorsed the former president and authored a book, In Trump We Trust: E Pluribus Awesome! However, she turned against the former president after accusing him of betraying his voters by failing to complete the much-touted wall along the US-Mexico border to stop the flow of undocumented migrants. She has since been an outspoken critic of Mr Trump, describing him as the biggest wimp ever to serve and a gigantic baby who can barely speak English. The only reason he crushed in 2016 is because of immigration the wall, deport illegal immigrants, the [Muslim] travel ban, Ms Coulter said in August of Mr Trump. Conservative commentator Ann Coulter (Jason Kempin/Getty for Politicon) She went on to praise his former GOP presidential nominee rival, Florida governor Ron DeSantis. That is DeSantis this time without the total lack of interest in carrying it out. Mr DeSantis ultimately dropped out of the presidential race last month after a distant second-place finish against Trump in the Iowa caucuses, meaning South Carolina governor Nikki Haley is now Mr Trumps only contender. Despite her praise of Mr DeSantis, Ms Coulter has opted not to officially pick a side in the GOP primaries, instead putting her energy into attacking anyone who doesnt support a complete border overhaul. Last year, she told Nikki Haley: Go back to your own country. Ms Haley was born in the United States. Meanwhile, on Saturday, she once again criticised Donald Trump for his stance on immigration. Trump wont close the border, she claimed. 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 added on X, misspelling the name of the investment giant, Goldman Sachs. The presidential election is worthless. Concentrate on the House & Senate. Mr Trump has pledged to build miles of more border wall and impose dramatic limits on asylum, and says he will revive a policy his administration used to require migrants to await their asylum hearings in Mexico. The former president previously described Ms Coulter as a has-been and a stone cold loser. The Independent has contacted Ms Coulter and Mr Trump for comment. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} President Joe Biden told a group of donors to his re-election bid on Sunday that the mere thought of his predecessors callous attitude towards the nations military veterans and honoured war dead forces him to expend extra energy to keep his anger in check. Speaking to guests whod assembled to hear him speak at a Henderson, Nevada fundraiser, Mr Biden was working through what has become a standard recitation of his record since taking office in 2021 when he turned to the matter of former president Donald Trumps attitude towards men and women whove made the ultimate sacrifice in service of the United States. He told attendees: I have to hold my Irish temper when it comes to that subject. The matter that so evokes Mr Bidens anger is a series of comments first reported by The Atlantic regarding Mr Trumps attitude towards American war dead. In an October 2020 article, the magazine revealed that the then-president had infamously told his staff that he did not want to make a visit to an American military cemetery outside Paris in 2018 because rain would have caused damage to the byzantine combover he uses to hide his baldness. He reportedly asked senior staff members: Why should I go to that cemetery? and remarked that it was full of losers. He also later disparaged US Marines who lost their lives during the battle that stopped Imperial Germanys movement towards Paris in the First World War as losers. Mr Biden, whose late son and namesake, Joseph Robinette Biden III better known as Beau Biden served overseas during the Iraq war and later died from a brain tumour thought to have come from exposure to toxic burn pits there, told the crowd that he was glad he wasnt with Mr Trump during that 2018 trip because he was not sure what hed have done had he heard those comments, effectively implying that he might have turned violent. Im glad I wasnt with him. Im not sure what I wouldve done. He said theyre all suckers and losers, he said. Turning to the subject of his late son, who also served as Delawares attorney general until his death in 2015, Mr Biden raised his voice as he continued. My son was not a sucker nor were any of yours. Who does this guy think he is talking about Americans? he said. The president also hit out at his predecessors expressed desire for an economic catastrophe to befall the US in the run-up to this years election, and referring to the previous presidents dismal economic record, called him Donald Hoover Trump a reference to Great Depression-era president Herbert Hoover. It sounds unbelievable, un-American, that a sitting that a former president seeking the office is hoping for a recession, he said. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The bipartisan group of Senators that have negotiated since late last year released the text of their legislation that would restrict immigration in exchange for aid to Ukraine and Israel on Sunday evening. The groupcomprised of Republican Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Democratic Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticutreleased the text of the legislation on Sunday after months of back-and-forth. The bills total price tag is approximately $118bn. President Joe Biden praised the bill on Sunday evening, calling it the toughest and fairest border reform legislation in decades and urged Congress to pass it. Now, House Republicans have to decide, Mr Biden added. Do they want to solve the problem? Or do they want to keep playing politics with the border? Ive made my decision. Im ready to solve the problem. Mr Murphy said the bill fixes our broken asylum system but doesnt deviate from our nations core values. We are a nation that rescues people from terror and violence, he said on X. We are a nation that is stronger because of our tradition of immigration. Period. Stop. Immigration restrictions take centre stage in bipartisan bill The senators introduced several provisions that further restrict immigration to the US. The bipartisan bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to shut down the US-Mexico border when it records an average of 5,000 migrants crossing per day over seven days. The legislation also provides $650m to build and reinforce several miles of the border wall, Mr Lankford said in a statement. Furthermore, it would also further curb the practice of catch and release, in which border officials release migrants into the US as they await their court dates. What we are doing is detaining folks upon their entrance to the country and then using a higher initial standard so that we can better determine who was an economic migrant and who may have a valid claim at asylum, Ms Sinema told reporters Sunday night. If they can prove that theyre fleeing violence and persecution, they will be released into the country with a work permit, and they will also be under supervision for an additional 90 days until their final asylum determination occurs, she continued. A senior Biden administration official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity late on Sunday said that the administration would anticipate that the president and Department of Homeland Security would trigger the authority immediately based on current trends of border encounters. Individuals who are encountered will not be generally eligible for asylum. the official said. Legislation will require a manifestation of fear standard and individuals who manifest a fear would be assessed for a past interview to determine whether they have a fear of persecution or torture, such that they cannot be removed. The bill also includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security to hire more personnel, which Ms Sinema said will reduce the immigration asylum backlog and help officials adjudicate asylum claims faster. The bill also includes major provisions of the Afghan Adjustment Act. The bipartisan law that failed to pass last Congress would build a pathway to permanent residence for Afghans who helped US troops before Mr Biden pulled Americans out of Afghanistan in 2021. Most Afghans who came to the US following the withdrawal arrived on humanitarian parole, wherein people who may be otherwise ineligible for admission into the United States are allowed to enter for humanitarian reasons. If passed, the bill would allow the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant conditional lawful permanent resident status to Afghan refugees following a vetting process. These immigration policies come in exchange for aid to Ukraine and Israel, which both Mr Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised in Sunday evening statements. Numerous Republicans have expressed scepticism about supporting Ukraine and argued that migration to the southern border was a national security policy. [The bill] provides billions in vital investments in Americas national security to address growing threats in the Middle East and Red Sea, equips Ukraine to fight off Putin, helps Israel defend itself against forces that wish to wipe a Jewish state off the map while also providing humanitarian assistance to innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza, answers the call for humanitarian assistance around the world, and bolsters Taiwan and other allies in the Indo-Pacific region against China, Mr Schumer said. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, also praised Mr Lankfords work on the bill while attacking the Biden administration. President Bidens campaign promise to welcome illegal aliens at the border overwhelmed a broken asylum system that unified Republican government had tried desperately to fix in the face of Democrat obstruction, Mr McConnell said in a statement. GOP hardliners oppose the bill as Mr Trumps presence looms But several conservatives and immigration hawks voiced their opposition as soon as the bipartisan group released the text. Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican senator and ally to Mr McConnell, came out in stark opposition to the bill. I will never vote to make illegal immigration legal, and I will not support this deal, she wrote on X. Meanwhile Congressman Eli Crane of Arizona, who has criticised the negotiations in the past, unsurprisingly opposed the bill. As expected, the Senates border bill is another spineless sellout by the establishment that does nothing to protect Americans and instead, legitimizes an invasion, he said in a statement on X. Many Republicans in the Senate opposed the agreement before negotiations ended. Last month, House Speaker Mike Johnson has previously said the agreement is dead on arrival in the lower chamber. Conservatives in the House have said the legislation is insufficient and they have pushed their own legislation, known as the Secure the Border Act. Just days before Sunday nights text came out, members of the GOP voted to advance articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The articles, which will likely land on the House floor in coming days, accuse Mr Mayorkas of willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law by allowing the release of migrants awaiting legal proceedings and a breach of public trust when he told lawmakers the US-Mexico border was secure. Former president and presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump has shown that he is willing to accept blame for the legislations demise. Last month, in the middle of the negotiations, Mr Trump posted on Truth Social that Republicans should oppose any agreement unless we get EVERYTHING needed to secure the US-Mexico border. Last week, Mr Trump also told supporters in Las Vegas he wanted lawmakers to blame him if the bipartisan bill fails. Ill fight it all the way, Mr Trump said. A lot of the senators are trying to say respectfully, theyre blaming it on me. I say, thats OK. Please blame it on me. Please. Mr McConnell raised alarms for many Republicans who want to curb the flow of migrants when during a Senate luncheon he seemed to indicate that Mr Trump would want to run on criticising Mr Biden on immigration. I listened to what he had to say. He said the campaign politics have changed and that the former presidents campaign would prefer not having a border deal, Senator Mitt Romney of Utah, a supporter of Ukraine and additional restrictions on immigration, told The Independent at the time. Senator JD Vance of Ohio, a staunch ally to Mr Trump, declared the bill an atrocious proposal. Congressman Matt Gaetz, a Republican from Florida and supporter of Mr Trump, railed against the bill on X. The Senate Amnesty Bill literally would force President Trump to let in illegals well into his term, he said. Any Republican who votes for this is no better than a Democrat! Ms Sinema literally laughed off accusations that the legislation could be an amnesty, which would mean giving a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, when asked about it during a call with reporters. Let me be very clear, individuals should not be coming into our country between ports of entry, she said. That is an unlawful form of entry into our country. In addition, Senator Alex Padilla, a Democrat from California, criticised the legislation late Sunday evening, saying the legislation misses the mark. It is critical that we support our allies in their fight to defend democracy and provide humanitarian relief, but not at the expense of dismantling our asylum system while ultimately failing to alleviate the challenges at our border, Mr Padilla, who represents a border state, said on X. Republicans control only 219 seats in the House, meaning the legislation would require a majority of Democrats to pass. Mr Johnson has faced criticism from many in his conference, with Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene threatening to file a motion to vacate should there be a vote to pass aid to Ukraine. The bill would also require 60 votes to overcome a filibuster and pass the Senate. DEWITT Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday gave three Cayuga County villages 10 million reasons to be excited about the future. Hochul, who visited PPC Broadband in DeWitt, announced Aurora, Cayuga and Union Springs are the winners of a $10 million state grant through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative the same contest the city of Auburn won in 2018. The funding will support projects that will be determined through a planning process in the coming months. The villages, according to Hochul, represent a "unique consortium." "A group of communities that came together and said we can be extraordinary by pooling our resources together," Hochul said. When the Downtown Revitalization Initiative launched in 2016, cities, towns and villages could vie for $10 million awards in each of the state's 10 economic development regions. Central New York is comprised of Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga and Oswego counties. A change to the contest rules in 2022 allowed for joint applicants. Aurora, Cayuga and Union Springs considered submitting a joint application that year, but it was too late in the process. In the latest round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative, the villages decided to collaborate on a joint application. With the assistance of the Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development, the municipalities submitted their application in September. The proposal sought funding for 44 projects, including a mixed-use retail development in Cayuga, the construction of a three-story building with retail space and apartments in Union Springs, and a new waterfront park in Aurora. There was a mix of public and private projects in the application. Kari Terwilliger, associate planner with the Cayuga County Department of Planning and Economic Development, previously told The Citizen that adding more private projects was based on feedback they received from the state when the villages applied for a different program, NY Forward, in 2022. The villages did not win grants through NY Forward, which focuses on downtown areas in rural communities. (The village of Moravia was one of the winners last year.) Through community outreach and public events, the villages gathered project ideas to include in the application. In the final submission, 28 of the 44 proposed projects were from private entities. As the leaders of the villages learned Monday, the months-long effort was a success. "It's surreal," Cayuga Mayor Don Wilson Jr. said. "We deserve it. The people of Cayuga deserve it. Union Springs and Aurora are no different. It's a long time coming, in my opinion, for our region ... It's going to change the face of the village of Cayuga and our future forever." Union Springs Mayor Rob Thurston Jr. described it as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" for his village. He's eager to see the plan move forward. "To have this opportunity to drive so much change for our community, it's going to be amazing," Thurston said. Aurora Mayor Jim Orman added, "It demonstrated a collaboration among three villages, which no one else has done. We're proud of it and we hope to use it to jumpstart our affordable housing and our private sector (investments) in Aurora." The state will assist the communities with developing a strategic plan and identifying projects that will be supported by the $10 million grant. A local planning committee will be created to oversee the process. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said he would impose more tariffs on Chinese goods if he wins the presidential elections in November. The tariff could exceed 60 per cent, said the former president in an interview with Fox News aired on Sunday. "We have to do it," said Mr Trump, amid high economic and regional tensions between the US and China. "I mean, look, the stock market almost crashed when it was announced that I won the Iowa primary (sic) in a record. And then when I won New Hampshire, the stock market went down like crazy," he said, referring to the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary nominating contests in January. Shares of Digital World Acquisition, the blank check firm set to take former president Trumps social media platform public, rose following his victory in the first Republican contest in Iowa for 2024 presidential race, Reuters reported. Asked about a report that he is considering imposing 60 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods if elected, Trump said, "No, I would say maybe its going to be more than that". A frontrunner for his partys nomination to challenge Democratic president Joe Biden in the 5 November election, he imposed tariffs of more than 25 per cent on $50bn of Chinese goods in 2018 amid a bitter trade war with the Asian giant, reported CNN. Beijing also responded by levying heavy tariffs on US imports including soybeans, wheat and poultry, according to BBC News. The Biden administration retained the tariffs and added new restrictions prohibiting the export of advanced semiconductors and the equipment to make them, citing security concerns. The US trade representative is conducting a review of the tariffs. Mr Trump, however dismissed that he would begin another trade war with China. "Its not a trade war. I did great with China with everything," he insisted. "I want China to do great, I do. And I like President Xi a lot. He was a very good friend of mine during my term." Additional reporting by agencies Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has finally revealed who he is eyeing as his potential vice president. In an interview with Fox News, airing on Sunday, the former president revealed that South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott are currently on the short list to become his running mate in the 2024 election. We have some many good people in the Republican Party, Mr Trump told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo. I called Tim Scott and I told him youre a much better candidate for me than you are for yourself, he added. Mr Scott endorsed Mr Trump last month after the senator ditched his own presidential bid, dropping out of the Republican primaries in early November. Mr Trump went on to say he is also considering Ms Noem who endorsed Mr Trump in early September as his potential running mate. Kristi Noem has been incredible fighting for me, he said of the South Dakota governor. She said Id never run against him because I cant beat him. That was a very nice thing to say. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has revealed who he is considering for his pick for vice president (Getty Images) In an interview with Ms Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures, Ms Noem denied that Mr Trump has contacted her about being his running mate. We talk all the time, but weve never had that conservation, she said. Last month, Mr Trump hinted during a Fox News town hall that he had already chosen his pick for vice president but refused to reveal who it might be. Many names have been floated as potential options, including Vivek Ramaswamy, Rep Elise Stefanik, and his only remaining Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley. Nikki Haley and Tim Scott (AP) However, Mr Trump told Fox News he wont announce who he plans to run with on the 2024 ticket for a while. He also dispelled rumours that he is considering Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his vice presidential pick, insisting his team has never reached out to the independent candidate. For Mr Trump, he said that the most important trait he is seeking in a vice presidential nominee is that they are able to step up and handle the presidency in the case of an emergency. President Donald Trump appears with South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (AP) Always, its got to be who is going to be a good president. Obviously, you always have to think that because in case of emergency. Things happen, right? No matter who you are, things happen. Thats got to be number one, Mr Trump said. Mr Trump, who is currently embroiled in several lawsuits including one over whether he is eligible to run in the 2024 election and four criminal cases which could land him with significant jail time remains the frontrunner in the Republican race, having so far claimed decisive victories over his rivals in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Republican senator JD Vance who is reportedly being considered for Donald Trumps potential administration repeated baseless claims about the 2020 presidential election and falsely asserted that Mr Trump as president could defy the US Supreme Court. The Ohio senator told ABC News on Sunday that unlike then-vice-president Mike Pence, he would not have certified the results of the 2020 election, which he falsely claimed is the legitimate way to handle contested results from states that Mr Trump lost. There is no provision in the US Constitution to do so, nor is there any evidence of widespread election fraud that manipulated 2020s outcome against Mr Trump. If I had been vice-president, I would have told the states, like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and so many others, that we needed to have multiple slates of electors, and I think the US Congress should have fought over it from there, he added. That is the legitimate way to deal with an election that a lot of folks, including me, think had a lot of problems in 2020. Last year, the Supreme Court flatly rejected the so-called independent state legislature theory that animated a bogus idea that states could send competing slates of electors to Congress, and the scheme is central to federal and state criminal charges against Mr Trump and others in the plot to overturn his election loss, culminating in his failure to stop a mob that aimed to do it by force. But Mr Vances if I had been vice-president plan would go even further in an autocratic direction than what the Trump-allied architects of that theory had proposed. No states even sent those alternate electors in 2020, yet Mr Vance says Congress needed them. ABCs This Week host George Stephanopoulos also grilled Mr Vance about statements he made in 2021, when he stated that he would advise Mr Trump in 2024 to fire every single mid-level bureaucrat, every civil servant in the administrative state, replace them with our people and that if he was blocked from doing so, that he should stand before the country like Andrew Jackson did, and say, The chief justice has made his ruling. Now let him enforce it. Fire everyone in the government, then defy the Supreme Court? You think its OK for the president to defy the Supreme Court? Mr Stephanopoulos asked. Mr Vance defended his remarks and said that every civil servant in the administrative state should be fired, a central component of a scheme among Mr Trumps allies to gut the federal workforce and replace non-partisan administrative staff with Trump loyalists. The constitution says that the Supreme Court can make rulings... but if the Supreme Court said the president of the United States cant fire a general, that would be an illegitimate ruling, said Mr Vance. He claimed there is a major problem among administrative staff who dont respond to the elected branches. The president has to be able to run the government as he thinks he should. Thats the way the Constitution works, he added. The Constitution also says the president must abide by legitimate Supreme Court rulings, doesnt it? Mr Stephanopoulos replied. If the Supreme Court said the president of the United States cant fire a general, that would be an illegitimate ruling, Mr Vance said. Mr Stephanopoulos later cut off the senator before cutting to a commercial break. JD Vance shakes hands with Donald Trump in East Palestine, Ohio in 2023 (AP) Mr Vance, a venture capitalist and close ally of GOP megadonor Peter Thiel, rose to prominence as the author of Hillbilly Elegy before launching his senate campaign in 2022. He previously labelled Mr Trump Americas Hitler, a disaster, and total fraud, but went on to endorse him and serve as a chief ally in the Senate. In his remarks to ABC News, Mr Vance defended Mr Trump against an $83m defamation judgement against the former president, after federal juries found he repeatedly defamed and sexually abused E Jean Carroll. Mr Vance baselessly alleged that the case was politically motivated. Mr Stephanopoulos suggested Mr Vance was arguing that juries in New York City are not legitimate when they find someone liable for... defamation and assault. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The White House has refused to rule out US action inside Iran following a wave of retaliatory airstrikes across the Middle East. This weekend saw the US hit dozens of Iran-backed militia sites in Iraq, Syria and Yemen in response to a deadly attack at a military base in Jordan which left three US service members dead last month. On Sunday, president Joe Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan told US news networks that further military action was likely, and would not rule out the possibility of strikes inside Irans borders. Im not going to get into whats on the table and off the table when it comes to the American response, he told CBS. Mr Sullivan called the airstrikes the beginning, not the end of our response. However, the US has insisted that it does not want a wider conflict across the Middle East. Iraqs government condemned the US strikes. This aggressive strike will put security in Iraq and the region on the brink of the abyss, and it also contradicts efforts to establish the required stability, wrote Bassem Al-Awadi on X, formerly Twitter. A spokesman for Irans government called the US action a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria, international law and a clear violation of the United Nations Charter. In January, Sgt William Jerome Rivers, Sgt Kennedy Ladon Sanders and Sgt Breonna Alexsondria Moffett were killed in an aerial attack at their base by Iran-backed militants. President Biden faces a growing problem within his Democratic party over Israels intensive military campaign in Gaza following the deadly Hamas terrorist attacks on 7 October. Some are frustrated with what they see as Mr Bidens failure to stand up to Israels right-wing leader, Benjamin Netanyahu. Some of those grievances were reported by Politico on Sunday. This is a disaster politically, one House Democrat told the news outlet. The base is really p***** and its not just the leftists. I have never seen such a depth of anguish as Ive seen over this Gaza issue. Bibi is toxic among many Democratic voters and Biden must distance himself from him yesterday. The president has sent more weapons to the Israeli military even as some Democrats have demanded that the US call for restraint in the Gaza response. Mr Biden appeared to hear some of those concerns this past week. He signed an executive order authorising the US Treasury Department to issue sanctions against individuals involved in the illegal (and often violent) Israeli settlement movement that targets Palestinians and their land in the West Bank and other regions. Mr Sullivan told NBC on Sunday that the Biden administration does not have an accurate picture of the number, or status, of American hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza. Weve learned over the course of this conflict that at least two American citizens passed away on 7 October, who we previously thought were hostages, he said. So we cannot with any clear sense say the exact number of hostages, but we know that there are many, and we know that its our job, day in, day out, to try to bring them home. Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, hawkish conservatives have been urging direct strikes against Iran following the attack in Jordan. Hit Iran now. Hit them hard, said Republican senator Lindsey Graham after the Jordan attack. The only thing the Iranian regime understands is force. Until they pay a price with their infrastructure and their personnel, the attacks on US troops will continue. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} As if election season werent complicated enough already, Nevada Republicans are holding both a primary and a caucus this year effectively giving registered conservative voters two chances to declare their preferred candidate for the partys presidential nomination. The situation is the result of a dispute between the state and the local branch of the Republican Party over a bipartisan bill passed by Nevadas state legislature in 2021. That bill stipulated that the Silver State must hold political primaries if more than one candidate is in contention for a given race, doing away with the old party-run caucus system traditionally employed. As a result, a mandatory state-run Republican primary will be held on Tuesday 6 February. However, the local GOP pushed back against the new rule and organised its own caucus for Thursday 8 February, banning candidates from appearing in both events. This odd state of play has divided the remaining contenders into two camps and means that Nikki Haley and Donald Trump will not go head-to-head this time around, as they did in Iowa and New Hampshire. Ms Haley will instead face three lesser-known candidates John Anthony Castro, Heath V Fulkerson and Donald Kjornes in Tuesdays primary while Mr Trump is only up against Texas pastor Ryan Binkey in the caucus on Thursday, with all other challengers having long since dropped out of the running. As a result, Ms Haley and Mr Trump are both expected to win their parallel contests with ease. But the states 26 delegates will only be assigned to the winner of the caucus, making any victory in the primary for the former UN ambassador almost entirely symbolic. Donald Trump and Nikki Haley (AFP/Getty) That said, a big performance from Ms Haley revealing a groundswell of conservative support could provide her campaign with some much-needed momentum ahead of the next, much-more-significant primary taking place later this month in her native South Carolina, which threatens to decide the future of her bid for the nomination even before we arrive at Super Tuesday on 5 March. Despite Mr Trumps name not appearing on the ballot in the primary, his supporters could nevertheless find it worthwhile to attempt to derail Ms Haleys inevitable win to stop any such surge in popularity from registering. Instead of casting their vote for one of her rivals listed on the ballot, they could simply choose to tick the box marked None of these candidates instead. Such a step would stand as both an explicit protest vote against her candidacy and an implicit endorsement of Mr Trump. This tactic would actually have something in common with the massive write-in campaign that unofficially swept Joe Biden to victory in the Democratic Partys New Hampshire primary last month, at which the presidents name had also been left off the ballot over another local-level dispute. A grassroots campaign effort responded by urging Democratic voters to add his name in manually so that his challengers Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson could not pick up a shock win by default, which would have only served to set off an unhelpful media narrative about his re-election campaign starting out in a state of crisis. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} 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. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona had not even finished her call with reporters about the immigration-Ukraine bill when Republicans began to react. Representative Matt Gaetz, the right-wing gadfly from Florida who ousted Kevin McCarthy, called it the Senate Amnesty Bill and said that it would force a future president Donald Trump administration to let in illegals well into his term. House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, who is currently auditioning to be Trumps running mate, called it an absolute non-starter. In the Senate, Ohios JD Vance, perhaps the Trumpiest senator, said he cannot imagine why any Republican supports this atrocious proposal. But this is far from an amnesty bill, to borrow from Gaetzs words. Rather, it ends the process of catch-and-release, wherein border officials release previously arrested migrants into the United States while they await their court dates. It also moves the process for migrants who claim asylum from the court system to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Some fear that move could lead to fewer people being able to claim asylum. Furthermore, it also gives the executive branch the power to shut down the US-Mexico border when more than 5,000 migrants seek to cross into the US in a week. And remember Donald Trumps big, beautiful wall? Not only does the new legislation allocate $650m for such a barrier, but a one-pager by Oklahoma Senator James Lankford, the Republican negotiator, noted that it withholds the majority of the wall money to be used during the next administration. If Trump were to win the White House in nine months (and polling right now shows he has a good shot of doing so), it would give him sweeping authority to implement draconian immigration policies that he otherwise never would have been able to do. The bill does not contain a path to citizenship for Dreamers who came to the United States as children by their parents . The closest aspect it has to something resembling immigrant relief is issuing 50,000 new employment and family-based visas for five years. It also includes parts of the Afghan Adjustment Act, a bill that helps Afghans who aided US servicemembers in Americas longest war achieve permanent resident status. Only one of the three Senators who negotiated this bill Sinema, the Democrat-turned-independent represents a border state and all of the negotiators were white. This is why Alex Padilla, the senior Democratic senator from California, said the deal misses the mark. This legislation would essentially give Trump the authority to act on his most severe anti-immigration rhetoric. This is why Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who was initially part of the bipartisan negotiations but pulled out, told me last month: Imagine the additional resources that he could put on an interior enforcement. When people look at the bill when it gets filed, judge it on that basis. Much like how Trump tried to hold up money for Ukraine in exchange for then-newly-elected President Volodymyr Zelensky investigating Hunter Biden in 2019, Republicans said they would not provide additional aid to Ukraine unless Democrats attached immigration restrictions. And now, they plan to sink the whole bill. But doing so might bite them in the long run, even if Trump wins. Even if Republicans somehow keep the House which is highly unlikely, even in the event of a Trump victory and flip every contested Senate seat, they will not be able to overcome a filibuster. And the remaining Democrats will lean liberal enough to want to block such legislation. Conservatives seem stuck on the fact that migrants would likely still cross the border. Lankford tried to defend it on Twitter/X by saying: The emergency authority is not designed to let 5,000 people in, it is designed to close the border and turn 5,000 people around. Ironically, Padilla and other immigrant advocates agree with the Gaetz and Stefanik when they say completely cutting off the flow of migrants is virtually impossible. And limiting the ways to enter legally will likely increase illegal crossings. If Republicans were serious about actually restricting immigration, they would jam this bill through the Senate and the House, say they owned the libs by moving the Overton window on immigration so far that even sympathetic migrants have no relief, and talk about the powers they can now give a future Trump administration. But as I have said frequently, these are not serious people; they are, instead, cosplaying as legislators. It would be more understandable if they had torpedoed negotiations last year and told the world that the United States would abandon its allies and international obligations. Instead, the GOP wasted everyones time with fruitless negotiations. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An American porn star who has advocated for Palestinians during Israel's war on Hamas traveled to Iran and visited the former US Embassy in Tehran, which was abandoned after the 1979 hostage crisis. The visit by Whitney Wright as Iran imprisons Nobel Peace Prize laureate and womens rights activist Narges Mohammadi sparked heated criticism of the country's crackdown on women since the 2022 death in police custody of Mahsa Amini and the nationwide protests it sparked. Wright filmed herself throughout Tehran despite her work in pornography exposing her in theory to criminal charges that carry the death penalty. Wright did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press. But in remarks on social media, she described the US Embassy as a place she HAD to visit. Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard now runs it as a museum. Iranian students backing Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini overran the compound after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Embassy staff members taken hostage were held for 444 days. A direct line can be drawn between that crisis and the tensions between Iran and the U.S. today. I'm sharing exhibits from a museum that are never seen," Wright wrote on Instagram. "It's not an endorsement of the government. As a US citizen born in Oklahoma City, Wright would need a visa for her visit. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to questions about the actor's trip. A man walks through the former US Embassy, which has been turned into an anti-American museum in Tehran (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani was asked about Wright during a Monday briefing and said he had no information about her. Wright has shared pro-Palestinian information online, including material supporting armed militancy against Israel. Her trip immediately drew attention. Iranian actor Setareh Pesiani criticized Iran's hard-line government for its mandatory headscarf policy, which led to the 22-year-old Amini's arrest and death. You punish people of this country in various methods for removal of hijab but you allow a porn actress to come here for tourism!?" Pesiani wrote on Instagram. Masih Alinejad, a US-based activist who has faced assassination and kidnapping attempts by Iran, also denounced Wright's visit. "We the women of Iran want be like Rosa Parks and not Whitney Wright," Alinejad wrote, referencing the U.S. civil rights icon. The true warmongers are the agents of the Islamic Republic who will execute you if you be true to yourself. In 2016, a British porn actor known as Candy Charms traveled to Iran, prompting immediate criticism. But there's been no media coverage of Wright's visit inside Iran, likely a sign of how tightly controlled journalists are after the 2022 demonstrations. Tehran (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Then there's Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Iranian state media have seized on the U.S. support of Israel to criticize the US and opponents of its theocracy. Abdolreza Davari, a media adviser to former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has as well. Israel is absolute evil and filth, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, in October. We will stand by anyone who fights against Israel, even if that person is Mia Khalifa, a former porn star who has cleared her record of cruelty and corruption by openly supporting the oppressed Palestinian nation and fighting Zionist crimes. Asked about Wright's visit, the US State Department told the AP in a statement that it has warned Americans to avoid travel to Iran and exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detention. Americans and those with Western ties can find themselves detained and convicted in secret trials to later be used as bargaining chips in negotiations with Washington. The Islamic Republic of Iran is a primary driver of instability across the Middle East region, and it has been since 1979, the State Department said. If Iran actually cared about peace and stability in the Middle East region or the welfare of the people there, it would cease its support for terrorist organizations. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Revered aboriginal rights activist Lowitja ODonoghue described as one of the most remarkable leaders Australia has ever seen has died in Adelaide. She was 91. In a statement, her family said: Our Aunty and Nana was the Matriarch of our family, whom we have loved and looked up to our entire lives. We adored and admired her when we were young and have grown up full of never-ending pride as she became one of the most respected and influential Aboriginal leaders this country has ever known, Deb Edwards, ODonoghues niece, said in the statement. Her family said that she died in the Kaurna Country in Adelaide. A Yankunytjatjara leader and activist, ODonoghue was much loved for her remarkable contributions to the rights and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. Prime minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to her lifelong dedication to advocating for indigenous rights. He said ODonoghue was one of the most remarkable leaders this country has ever known. From the earliest days of her life, Dr ODonoghue endured discrimination that would have given her every reason to lose faith in her country. Yet she never did, he said. With an unwavering instinct for justice and a profound desire to bring the country she loved closer together, Dr ODonoghue was at the heart of some of the moments that carried Australia closer to the better future she knew was possible for us, among them the Apology to the Stolen Generation and the 1967 referendum, he added. She provided courageous leadership during the Mabo debates and as chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. Former Senator Pat Dodson also remembered her and noted that her leadership in the battle for justice was legendary. Her intelligent navigation for our rightful place in a resistant society resulted in many of the privileges we enjoy today. ODonoghues family said her legacy would continue through the Lowitja ODonoghue Foundation, which was created on her 90th birthday. Aunty Lowitja dedicated her entire lifetime of work to the rights, health, and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, they 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. Lowitja Institutes patron Pat Anderson AO described her as an outstanding leader and visionary whose story is one of great courage, integrity and determination. Lowitja was a national treasure, Ms Anderson said. She lived a remarkable life and made an enormous contribution to public life in pursuit of justice and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Indigenous people across the globe. Courageous and fearless in leading change, Lowitja was continually striving for better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. She will remain in my heart as a true friend and an inspiration to Australians for years to come. ODonoghue was the founding chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and played a key role in drafting the Native Title legislation that arose from the High Courts historic Mabo decision, according to the foundation website. She was named 1984 Australian of the Year and was the rst Aboriginal person to address the United Nations General Assembly and the rst Aboriginal woman to be appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM). Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney also paid tribute to her remarkable legacy, and described her as a fearless and passionate advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. 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 minister said. My thoughts and sincere condolences to her family. ODonoghue, born to an Indigenous mother and a pastoralist father in South Australia, faced early childhood trauma when she and her sisters were removed from their mother at age two, growing up in Colebrook Childrens Home without reuniting with their mother for thirty years. She became the first Aboriginal trainee nurse at Royal Adelaide Hospital, and later a pioneering leader as the first Aboriginal woman to hold significant positions including a regional director in an Australian federal department, the founding chairperson of the National Aboriginal Conference, and the first Aboriginal woman awarded the Order of Australia in 1977. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Australian-Chinese writer Yang Hengjun has been sentenced to death in China five years after he was accused of spying, foreign minister Penny Wong confirmed. It is a suspended sentence that can be commuted to life imprisonment after two years. Yang, a pro-democracy blogger, was arrested at the Guangzhou airport in 2019 and booked for spying on an undisclosed foreign country. He received a closed-door trial in Beijing in May 2021. Yang has maintained innocence since his arrest. I will never confess to something I havent done, he said in 2020. Yangs sentence was confirmed by another human rights lawyer in Beijing who has been following his case. He was found guilty of all charges, the lawyer said, asking to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the matter. Calling his sentencing harrowing and appalling, senator Wong summoned Chinas ambassador for an explanation. The government has also petitioned for his release. We have consistently called for basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment for Dr Yang, in accordance with international norms and Chinas legal obligations, Ms Wong said. All Australians want to see Dr Yang reunited with his family. We will not relent in our advocacy. This undated, file photo released by Chongyi Feng shows Yang Hengjun and his wife Yuan Xiaoliang. (AP) His family said they were shocked and devastated by the court order, calling it at extreme end of worst expectations. Calling it a serious case of injustice, Sydney-based scholar Feng Chongyi said Yang is punished by the Chinese government for his criticism of human rights abuses in China and his advocacy for universal values such as human rights, democracy and rule of law. He urged the Australian government to seek medical parole for Yang, saying five years of detention had taken a heavy toll on his health. Yang was born in China and was a diplomat and state security agent before moving to the private sector in Hong Kong and later Australia. He became an Australian citizen in 2002. Yang wrote about Chinese and US politics as a high-profile blogger and also wrote a series of spy novels before his detention. His two sons, who live in Australia, wrote to prime minister Anthony Albanese in October on the eve of his visit to Beijing, urging him to seek Yangs release on medical grounds. In August last year, Yang had told his family he fears he will die in detention after being diagnosed with a kidney cyst, prompting supporters to demand his release for medical treatment. Ms Wong said Australia will be communicating our response in the strongest terms and will continue to press for Dr Yang interests and wellbeing, including appropriate medical care. Yang had been detained in China for a short period once before, in 2011, on suspicion of links to online democracy activists. He was released after a few days following interventions by the Australian government. At the time, he wrote to Mr Feng to say he had worked for Chinas Ministry of State Security for a decade starting in 1989, including in Hong Kong and Washington, before quitting and moving to Australia, Mr Feng had told Reuters. Yang migrated to Australia in 1999 and became an Australian citizen in 2002, undertaking PhD studies at Sydneys University of Technology in 2006, where Mr Feng was his supervisor. Yang spent the next four years writing spy novels, published in Taiwan, about a double agent, also surnamed Yang. He was detained as Australia-China ties deteriorated in 2019. But hopes of his release had been raised by the release of Australian broadcaster Cheng Lei shortly before Albanese visited China last year. The verdict casts a shadow over bilateral ties and will for some time, as it acts as a potent reminder of the opacity of the Chinese system and its imperviousness to reasonable foreign complaints, said Richard McGregor, senior fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney. James Laurenceson, director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney, said that Beijing had said it wanted to move beyond the stabilisation of ties with Australia, but that the sentence would make a thaw harder. This decision makes it extremely difficult for the Albanese government to do so in terms of managing the domestic politics. The strong language already used by foreign minister makes plain their disappointment, he said. Elaine Pearson, who heads Human Rights Watch in Asia, said the sentence was outrageous, and called on the Australian government to work with other governments that also have their citizens arbitrarily detained including Canada, Japan and the United States. Additional reporting by agencies Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024 was recently held in New Delhi with vehicle as well as component manufacturers showcasing both products as well as emerging technologies here. At the event, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said that the event will henceforth be held annually. According to Goyal, the response to this year's expo demonstrates the growing importance of India's mobility sector. The inaugural Bharat Mobility Global Expo, held from February 1st to February 3rd, attracted an attendance of almost 800 exhibitors displaying cutting-edge solutions. The event received good support with 150,000 registered attendees, including business visitors. Furthermore, the widespread international involvement from countries like Japan, Germany, Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand demonstrated the expo's worldwide reach. The comprehensive expo featured the whole mobility ecosystem, including India's progress toward sustainable transportation. The event was organised by the Indian government in collaboration with major industry bodies, including the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the Automotive Component Manufacturers' Association (ACMA), the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers' Association (ATMA), the Indian Steel Association, and Nasscom, and was supported by the Ministries of Commerce and Industry and Heavy Industries. Goyal said that the expo acted as a facilitator for business interactions, promoting technological advancements, and fostering collaborations among industry leaders. It has emerged as a key catalyst for driving innovation, showcasing the latest technologies, and shaping the future of mobility, he added. Bharat Mobility Global Expo saw over 800 participants Is this the end for Auto Expo? The government feels that the participation of various industry associations provided depth and credibility to the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024, establishing it as a global convergence point for excellence in mobility. Previously, each body organised its own event, such as SIAM organising the Auto Expo. With Bharat Mobility in place, it appears that the road to independent automobile expos may have been shut. It must be noted that OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) participating in such expos have to spend a sizeable amount to get their stalls set up and to display their products. This comes from a portion of their marketing expenditure. While companies were previously eager to participate in and spend money on such events, recent advances in marketing methods have enabled OEMs to gain traction by organising their own events. A testament to that was the 2023 Auto Expo where majority of the Indian OEMs didnt participate stating that they dont see a value in the event anymore. It is clear that interest in the Expo has declined over the years, owing mostly to the fact that it is a costly event for companies. However, one of the reasons for the strong participation in the Bharat Mobility Expo was that it was a government-organised event. While the newly formed event becomes an annual event, it appears that the long-running Auto Expo is on the verge of ending. While OEMs will continue to showcase new and innovative technologies at Bharat Mobility, the location (now Pragati Maidan rather than Noida) and essence of the event will change with new organisers. In fact, Vinod Aggarwal, President, SIAM, appeared noncommittal during a recent conference, stating that SIAM will examine the future of Auto Expo internally. While it remains to be seen how Bharat Mobility Expo evolves, one thing is certain: India's Auto Expo will have a new look and name starting with the next edition, with new organisers in place. First Published Date: For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Hundreds of angry farmers took to the streets in Bulgarias capital, Sofia, on Monday to complain of what they called the total failure of the government to meet the mounting challenges of the agricultural sector. The protest is just one of many across Europe that has seen tractors blocking roads and cattle walking through busy streets as farmers continue the protests. In Bulgaria workers called on Agriculture Minister Kiril Vatev to step down for not keeping his promises to ease the administrative burden on the farming sector, to seek state compensation for high costs and falling incomes. Like their colleagues elsewhere in Europe, Bulgarian farmers are frustrated with domineering European Union regulations, the hardships stemming from the surge in fertilizer and energy costs because of Russias war in Ukraine, the increasing imports of farm products that are flooding local markets and the undercutting of prices. Apples are made available next to a poster reading Let us produce as farmers block highways in France (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Ventsislav Varbanov, who chairs the Association of Agricultural Producers, complained that the government is adding more undue burdens, instead of seeking some relief for the farmers. Let me remind you that our interests were not protected neither as the Ukrainian goods flooded us, he said, referring to cheaper products exported from Ukraine, nor had we budget guarantees for the losses we suffered because of the war in Ukraine. Varbanov pleaded for a long-term government policy: We want to know what will be in tomorrow, in the next year, in the next five years. Meanwhile in Italy, farmers protesting about red tape and cheap imports from outside the EU headed towards Rome in convoys of tractors on Monday, while their colleagues in the north led a cow through the streets of Milan. Farmers gather with their tractors at the Agrotica agricultural fair in Thessaloniki Greece (AFP via Getty Images) Farmers from agricultural regions such as Tuscany headed south towards the capital, flying the Italian flag and carrying hand-written signs with slogans including No farmer, No food. They were expected to congregate on the outskirts of Rome pending further protests later in the week. We are going to Rome to seek a confrontation with our politicians to resolve our problems, said Tuscan farmer Davide Rosati. A protester blows a horn during farmers protest in front of the Agriculture Ministry in Sofia (Valentina Petrova) The Italian farmers share many of the grievances expressed by their counterparts in other parts of Europe during a wave of protests over the past few weeks. And in Belgian angry farmers, continuing a protest that started last week, blocked the Dutch-Belgian motorway border crossing between Maastricht and Liege, Dutch traffic information site ANWB said. ANWB said the traffic on the A2 motorway was blocked in the direction of Maastricht to Liege. Dutch media showed pictures of dozens of tractors blocking the border crossing. On Friday, Dutch and Belgian farmers blocked several motorway border crossings on the west side of the border, closer to Antwerp. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} France will summon its Russian ambassador after two French humanitarian aid workers were killed in a drone strike by Russias troops in Ukraine in the continuing invasion by Moscow. Two French volunteers working in the aid sector were killed and three others wounded in southern Ukraines Kherson region on 1 February, foreign minister Stephane Sejourne confirmed on Friday. "Russian barbarity has targeted civilians in Ukraine. Two French aid workers have paid with their lives for their engagement with Ukrainian people, three are injured," Mr Sejourne said on social media. The Russian ambassador will be summoned by France on Monday after the death of the two French humanitarian workers and what Paris said was an upsurge in Russian disinformation, a French diplomatic source said. Now, France will reiterate its condemnation of the Russian strikes. It will also denounce an upsurge in disinformation targeting France, the diplomatic source said. The foreign minister on Friday warned Russia will have to answer for its crimes. Ukraines governor in Kherson Oleksandr Prokudin confirmed the death of the two French nationals in a Russian attack on the town of Beryslav on the western bank of the Dnipro river. French president Emmanuel Macron called the killings a "cowardly and disgraceful act", and expressed his support for all volunteers engaged in helping other nations. Bilateral ties between France and Russia have suffered a setback in recent weeks as Paris increased its support to Ukraine, including promising to send more long-range cruise missiles. France has also accused Russia of habitually spreading misinformation. Paris was also forced to dismiss any notion that it had mercenaries operating in Ukraine a day after Russian lawmakers adopted a resolution condemning French mercenaries in Ukraine in late January. Officials in France, a staunch ally of Ukraine in military aid against the Russian invasion, has also accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of relaying false information after suggesting missiles that had downed a Russian plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war could have been from a French air defence system. The foreign ministry has warned of further Russian disinformation ahead of Mr Macrons visit to Ukraine later this month. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Paris has voted in favour of a huge increase in parking prices for SUVs in the city. A referendum was held on Sunday that saw sweeping changes to parking prices in the French capital presses on with long-term plans to become a fully bikeable city. Some 54.5% of Parisians voted in favour of the measure, while 45.5% rejected it. Only 5.7% of voters turned out in the consultation decided by the municipality, according to official results. The referendum, less than a year after city residents voted to ban e-scooters, aims to triple parking fees for cars of 1.6 tonnes and more to 18 euros ($19) an hour in order to discourage bulky, polluting cars, City Hall said. The new tariff would also apply to electric cars of 2 tonnes and more. Were proud of having posed an eminently environmental question at a time the environment is presented as the source of all evil, Mayor Anne Hidalgo said after the results were published. Its a form of resistance here in Paris to this very concerning movement. Under Hidalgo, a Socialist, the streets of Paris have been transformed, with 84 km of cycle lanes created since 2020 and a 71% jump in bike usage between the end of the COVID-19 lockdowns and 2023, according to City Hall. How much will it cost to park in Paris now? Up to 12 euros an hour 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. After that, parking would become increasingly punitive. A six-hour stay with a 4x4 - 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 4x4 driver would pay 12 euros (10) per hour for the first two hours, progressively rising to 150 euros (128) for six hours. Do you really need a SUV in Paris? said Juliette Bruley, 27, at a voting station near Montmartre. I carry my son on a bike, we found solutions. The changes have infuriated car drivers, however. SUVs have become increasingly popular in France, favoured by families in particular. Its going to be about 200 euros a day. Thats extremely expensive. Life is expensive, children are expensive, said Laure Picard, 37. The goal is that we stop using our car, but we need our car to leave Paris during holidays and weekends. The motorists lobby group 40 millions dautomobilistes launched a petition to support drivers freedom to use whichever vehicle they want. We must firmly oppose these attacks on freedom pursued under false green pretexts, the group said. If we dont stop it now, this unjustified rebellion led by an ultra-urban and anti-car minority will spread like gangrene to other cities. A Renault Clio III and a Twizy electric car drive past the Arc de Triomphe in Paris (Charles Platiau/Reuters) 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 were asked was For or against the creation of a specific rate for the parking of heavy, bulky, polluting individual cars? For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Kremlin has declined to say whether or not Russian President Vladimir Putin would grant an interview to Tucker Carlson. The news comes after Russian media published photos appearing to show Tucker Carlson in Moscow amid claims he will interview Vladimir Putin on his X (formerly Twitter) hosted show. The former Fox News host, 54, reportedly arrived in Russia on February 1. Many foreign journalists come to Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday when asked about reports that Carlson was in Russia. We have nothing to announce in terms of the presidents interviews to foreign media. On X, former advisor to the internal affairs ministry in Ukraine, Anton Gerashchenko wrote: Putin doesnt sit down with journalists one on one too often. The last time it happened in 2021, when Putin talked to NBCs Keir Simmons. The goals that the Kremlin pursues are obvious. We will see what comes out of this. Will new narratives be voiced loud and clear? I doubt it. Putin has ramped up the propaganda machine to full speed before the elections. Russia faces the prospect of Mr Putin extending his two-decade stranglehold on power until at least 2030, with an election in March. Another Telegram channel belonging to the RIA state news agency in Russia posted that it is said the TV host, who openly sympathizes with Russia, has come here in the hope of talking to Putin. It is not the first time Carlson has been linked to Russian media. In April 2023, within hours of Fox News announcing that the network agreed to part ways with the pundit, Russian state media personalities and propaganda outlets opened their doors. RT the Russian state broadcaster formerly known as Russia Today, which is banned in dozens of countries offered him a platform. Hey @TuckerCarlson, you can always question more with @RT_com, the outlet wrote on Twitter. Vladimir Solovyov, a propagandist whose channels were blocked by YouTube last year for violating the platforms policies against inciting violence, said he sent an email to Carlson, calling him the last remaining voice of reason. Close Moment Russian plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war appears to crash For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} At least seven people, including three children, have been killed overnight after a Russian drone hit a petrol station in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv. The strike caused a massive fire that burned down 15 private houses, while 50 people were evacuated as emergency workers tackled the blaze. It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sacked army chief Valeriy Zaluzhny and replaced him with Oleksandr Syrsky. It follows days of speculation that Zelensky was considering dismissing Zaluzhny, who is seen by many Ukrainians as a national hero for overseeing the war effort since February 2022. We discussed what renewal the Armed Forces of Ukraine need. We also discussed who could be in the renewed leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The time for this renewal is now, Zelenskys statement said on Telegram. In other developments, Ukrainian troops have shot down a Russian attack helicopter in eastern Ukraine near the city of Avdiivka as soldiers step up street fighting, Kyiv claimed. Meanwhile, Russian forces launched the second largest combined drone and missile strike on Ukraine this year with around 64 munitions hitting the country, according to a US think tank. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said a broad reset of the countrys military and leadership is needed suggesting his plans go beyond removing his armys top commander, Valery Zaluzhny. Definitely a reset, a new beginning is necessary, he said, when asked about rumours of General Zaluzhnys dismissal by Italian outlet Rai News. I have something serious in mind, which is not about a single person but about the direction of the countrys leadership. Mr Zelensky said he had some serious decisions on his mind. His comments come days after it was rumoured that Mr Zelensky had called General Zaluzhny into his office and told the military commander-in-chief that he intended to fire him. I mean a replacement of a series of state leaders, not just in a single sector like the military, Mr Zelensky said. If we want to win we must all push in the same direction, convinced of victory, we cannot be discouraged, let our arms fall, we must have the right positive energy, he added. The interview amounts to the first public acknowledgement by the Ukrainian president of his plans to remove senior officials. Valery Zaluzhny, commander of the Ukraines armed forces, is said to be popular among his peers (Getty) The Ukrainska Pravda newspaper reported on Monday that Mr Zelensky also was considering the removal of the chief of the general staff, Serhii Shaptala. General Zaluzhny congratulated Lieutenant General Shaptala on his birthday this week, and posted a picture of them together on Facebook. It will still be very difficult for us, but we will definitely never be ashamed, General Zaluzhny wrote. Sources told the Financial Times that Mr Zelensky offered the military chief two alternative roles last Monday, including ambassador to the UK, a position that has been unfilled since last year, but that General Zaluzhny refused them. The Ukrainian commander-in-chief, 50, is a four-star general and a career military man, dubbed the iron general by admirers. Zaluzhny has his reputation as an iron general, the embodiment of the Ukrainian armed forces that saved this country against an enemy as fearsome as Russia. Zaluzhny personally has the support of 88 per cent of Ukrainians. 97 per cent of Ukrainians trust the armed forces under his command, said Ukrainian journalist Illia Ponomarenko on Twitter/X. He was appointed by Mr Zelensky in July 2021 and has overseen Ukraines military operations since the start of Russias full-scale invasion. He was credited with orchestrating Ukraines short-notice defence of the capital, Kyiv, at the start of the war, as well as counteroffensives in Kharkiv, northeast Ukraine, in September 2023, followed by the successful liberation of Kherson two months later. A December 2023 poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found 72 per cent of Ukrainians would view the dismissal of General Zaluzhny negatively, with only 2 per cent seeing it positively. Mr Zelenskys popularity, meanwhile, had dropped from 84 per cent in December 2022 to 62 per cent a year later. Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko, who has had his own disagreements with President Zelensky, criticised the possibility of General Zaluzhnys firing, saying it was due to the generals leadership that many Ukrainians truly trust the armed forces. Mr Klitschko said on social media: Today is a moment when politics might prevail over reason and [the] countrys interests. Ukrainian soldiers on the front line said they were also uncomfortable about the rumours that General Zaluzhny would be fired. I think this dismissal would not be appropriate now, because on the field of battle you do not change commanders, said a 31-year-old anti-tank unit commander who asked to be introduced by his call sign, Tiger. Tigers brigade, the 59th, is fighting on a section of the front in the eastern Donetsk region near Avdiivka, a town built around a vast coking plant which has borne the brunt of Russias assaults in the area. Veteran Ukrainian war journalist Andriy Tsaplienko wrote on Telegram on Sunday that Russian forces had recently entered the city from the northeast. The situation in the city has become critical, he said. Tiger said that whoever was in charge should ensure the arrival of fresh replacement troops and a larger supply of drones both things that General Zaluzhny has pushed for in order to shore up Avdiivkas defence. The issue of mobilisation has been central to Mr Zelensky and General Zaluzhnys recent disagreements. In December last year, Mr Zelensky claimed General Zaluzhny had requested the president mobilise an additional half a million Ukrainian civilians to counter Russias manpower advantage. Gen Zaluzhny denied that figure, but he has stated the need to mobilise more troops since. Local news reports that month said Mr Zelensky was bypassing his top commander in communications with the military. In an op-ed for CNN last week, General Zaluzhny wrote: We must acknowledge the significant advantage enjoyed by the enemy in mobilising 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. Mr Zelensky had previously criticised General Zaluzhny for describing the front line as a stalemate in an op-ed for The Economist. The word had become taboo after a much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive last summer failed to make serious territorial gains. During his interview with Rai News, however, Mr Zelensky admitted that the front line had, in fact, reached a stalemate. As far as the war on the ground is concerned there is a stalemate, its a fact, Mr Zelensky said, adding: That is because there have been delays in equipment and delays mean mistakes. Dutch defence minister Kajsa Ollongren announced on Monday that the Netherlands was preparing six additional F-16 fighter jets to give Ukraine on top of 18 the country previously pledged. Ukraines aerial superiority is essential for countering Russian aggression, Ms Ollongren said in a message on Twitter/X. Denmark has promised to give 19 F-16s to Ukraine. General Zaluzhny has often spoken about his belief that air superiority would be critical for Ukraine if it were to push Russias forces back. Lieutenant General Serheii Nayev, the commander of the Ukrainian militarys joint forces, said that the country was set to receive missiles with a range of 180 to 300 miles along with the F-16s, as part of upcoming defence aid packages from its allies, according to Ukrainian news agency RBK-Ukraine. Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report Close Related: US launches missiles towards Houthi targets in Yemen from warship For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen fired six ballistic missiles at two ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, with one ship reporting minor damage. A Greek-owned bulked carrier was struck by three of the projectiles fired by the Houthis on Tuesday afternoon. Earlier in the day, the militants struck a British-owned cargo ship in the Red Sea. The USS Laboon operating near the Greek ship intercepted and shot down a third anti-ship ballistic missile fired by the Houthis, the US Central Command said. The Greek-owned Star Nasia was damaged by an explosion at 11.15am GMT, a Greek shipping ministry official said. The fresh attacks come just two days after the US and the UK conducted joint airstrikes targeting Houthi bases in Yemen. Meanwhile, the US has walked back its previous claims that it informed the Iraqi government it would be conducting airstrikes, saying that information was relayed incorrectly. Vedant Patel, the state department spokesperson, clarified there was not a pre-notification but that they notified the Iraqi government immediately after the strikes occurred. The US conducted retaliatory strikes on more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria on Friday, resulting in at least 39 casualties. Following the strikes, the White House refused to rule out US action inside Iran. On Sunday, president Joe Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan told US news networks that further military action was likely, and would not rule out the possibility of strikes inside Irans borders. Im not going to get into whats on the table and off the table when it comes to the American response, he told CBS. Mr Sullivan called the airstrikes the beginning, not the end of our response. However, the US has insisted that it does not want a wider conflict across the Middle East. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A passenger at Bristol Airport shared his shock at a listed short-haul flight departing the south west aviation hub for Exeter Airport in the neighbouring county. Sheemek Said Mesabih posted a picture of the departures board to the Facebook group Dull Mens Club with the caption: I am at Bristol airport waiting for my delayed as always flight to Amsterdam, however looking at the departure screen I came across this flight to Exeter. This must certainly be the shortest inland flight within UK? Prove me wrong. Bristol Exeter is about 56 miles apart in straight line. How long does the flight take? The Aurigny flight has an air time of 35 minutes on a traffic-free day, it would take around 1 hour and 10 minutes to drive the same distance. The half-hour West Country flight actually functions as the second leg of a two-hour indirect flight between Guernsey and Exeter that regularly stops in Bristol on the way to and from the Channel Islands and it is not possible to book as an individual journey. A spokesperson for Aurigny Air Service said: We operate our Guernsey, Exeter and Bristol on a triangular basis, so passengers remain on the aircraft between Bristol/Exeter. We do not sell the sector between Exeter and Bristol. Currently, Scottish airline Loganair operates the shortest scheduled flight route in the world with a 1.7-mile journey from Westray to Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands, clocking in at just 90 seconds. Listed with holiday hotspots including Tenerife, Paris and Rome, the short-haul flight path left social media users baffled, with over 1,000 comments on the post since Friday (2 February). One shocked user wrote: It is a classic example of stupidity in flight scheduling. By the time youve traveled out of Bristol to the airport then waited to fly, flown to Exeter, then found your way out of the airport and driven to the city ..... you could halvep got the train direct into Exeter, had a meal, done your meeting and start your journey home. Bristol to Exeter just shows how pathetic short-haul flights have got. This is completely unacceptable when you consider the rail and road network between the two, said another. Others familiar with the area countered: With the state of the roads down that way, 56 miles will take you 8 months to drive. A short 30 mins flight is well worth it. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} British Airways has announced a major shake-up to its Executive Club loyalty scheme by switching all customers over to a fixed membership year from 2025. It removes one of the major complexities of the programme by aligning the collection year for tier points which determine status such as gold, silver or bronze into a common calendar year, to run from April 1 to March 31. At the moment, tier point collection years vary according to the date of first joining the scheme and run for 12 months from that date e.g. February-February or October-October. British Airways is changing the way members earn tier points, which determine access to lounges such as the Concorde Room at London Heathrow (Alastair Jamieson) It means couples and households often have different collection years, making it difficult to keep track of how many flights are needed to maintain the status needed for access to benefits such as lounges, priority check-in and free seat selection. Does this mean a change to earning Avios? No, this has nothing to do with the way Avios points are earned or spent. British Airways last year announced changes to this, with members earning Avios based on the amount spent on the base fare of each ticket (excluding taxes, surcharges and seat selection fees). How is British Airways changing Executive Club membership years? British Airways is moving into line with other schemes, such as American Airlines AAdvantage and Iberias Iberia Plus, by having a universal status-earning year for all members. Presently, Executive Club membership years are based on the original joining date and are fixed on the 8th of each month, making a maths puzzle out of tracking how many tier points are needed to obtain or retain the necessary status levels. It also means a family of four could have four different membership years, and creates further headaches for members nominating friends or family for partner cards. From 2025, all British Airways Executive Club members will be aligned, and will have from April 1 to March 31 in every future year to earn the necessary tier points. British Airways is changing its membership earning years from 2025 (Alastair Jamieson) Why is British Airways making this change? British Airways says the main reason is greater simplicity, making it easier to manage travel plans for yourself, colleagues and family. Travel blog Head for Points speculates that it could also make it easier for British Airways to make wider cost-saving changes, such as a shared IT platform with Iberia (both airlines are owned by IAG) or the introduction of spend-based tier points to match the recent move to spend-based Avios. How will the transition to new Executive Club tier point collection years work? This is where it gets complicated. In the coming months, members not already on an April-March year will find their tier point collection year shortened for one time only, to end on 31 March 2025. However, they will have any tier points earned after 1 April 2024 added to the curtailed collection year as a one-off adjustment. For example, if your current tier point year is due to end on 8 July 2024, your next year will be curtailed to end on 31 March 2025 instead of 8 July 2025. However, any tier points earned between April 1 and July 8 2024 will be applied to the shorter year as a one-off tier adjustment. British Airways has published an FAQ explaining how the changes will affect each of the 12 different membership years. Who are the winners and losers in these Executive Club changes? Winners will be everyone no longer needing to use a mental spreadsheet to work out if they will be able to access a lounge on next years holiday. Losers will be anyone earning significant tier points between now and 31 March 2024; although these will still count for the existing earning and status cycle, they wont count towards the new post-April 2025 status. For example, if a member whose current year began on 9 January 2024 will have a one-off curtailed membership year from 9 January 2025 to 31 March 2025; tier points earned between 1 April 2024 and 8 January 2025 will be added as a one-off adjustment, but any earned prior to 1 April 2024 will not count. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An easyJet passenger who was among a planeload of people delayed for a full day by an Icelandic snowstorm has described the experience as a fiasco. Robert Stephens, 79, was one of the passengers booked on easyJet flight 8846 from Keflavik International Airport, near Reykjavik, to London Gatwick. It was due to depart at 7.30pm on Friday evening, 2 February. The incoming plane flew a holding pattern over the Reykjanes peninsula location of Icelands latest major volcanic action before landing safely around 40 minutes behind schedule. But foul weather and delays with de-icing led to the homebound flight eventually being delayed overnight. Mr Stephens was returning from Iceland with his wife after a Northern Lights trip. He said: Due to serious wind and snow conditions the incoming flight was prevented from offloading the passengers for a couple of hours. The UK-bound passengers were ready to go, but could not board the plane until the arriving travellers had disembarked. The outgoing passengers were shunted from gate to gate with a minimum of information, Mr Stephens said. Eventually we were put on buses to the aircraft. We boarded in appalling conditions of wind and snow at around midnight. The plane was still unable to depart due initially to the weather forecast. When the storm had passed the plane had received a coating of snow and the pilot had to call for de-icing. Unfortunately the weather conditions exceeded those in which the de-icing crew could operate so further delay ensued. When the weather abated sufficiently for the pre-flight procedure to clear snow and ice from the wings and other surfaces, the first de-icing vehicle to attend the aircraft broke down. Finally the plane was de-iced. But as the pilots prepared to depart, easyJets operations HQ cancelled the flight because the crew would be out of hours due to the long delays. The delay was not of easyJets making, Mr Stephens said. The pilot was exemplary in keeping the passengers informed including the risk of reaching the limit of working hours. After it was cancelled, we were taken off the aircraft at 2.30am. At this point, the incompetence started. Mr Stephens said he and the other passengers spent 12 hours between checking in at Keflavik international airport on Friday night and being taken to a hotel at 6am on Saturday for what turned out to be a stay of just a couple of hours. The passengers were told on arrival at the hotel that the replacement flight would depart at 6pm on Saturday. Flight-time limitations meant that the crew would not be able to operate the trip to the UK until early evening, after a suitable period of rest. As breakfast was imminent my wife and I decided to shower and breakfast first, then get some sleep, thinking that we would return to the airport around 2 or 4pm, said Mr Stephens. Instead, he said: It really went from bad to worse. The passengers were awoken to be told to join buses at 9.30am to return to the airport. We were deprived of six hours sleep. When they reached the airport at around 10.45am, the passengers learnt they would not be leaving any earlier than 6pm. Passengers with hold baggage were informed that it could only be deposited at 4pm, Mr Stephens said. They had to wait landside before the security checkpoint for a further five hours. Mr Stephens said: The airport departures hall was noisy [and] has very limited capacity for waiting and getting a little sleep. The only choice for eating was a snack shop and a general store dispensing hot dogs and pizza slices. The rescheduled departure was delayed for a further hour to 7pm due to bad weather. The passengers arrived at Gatwick almost 24 hours late. A spokesperson for the airline said: easyJet can confirm that flight EZY8846 from Keflavik to London Gatwick on Friday 2 February was delayed overnight due to delays caused by adverse weather conditions in Keflavik leading to the crew reaching their safety regulated operating hours. The safety and wellbeing of our customers and crew is easyJets highest priority and we did all possible to minimise the impact of the weather disruption for customers providing hotel rooms and meals for all passengers. The flight to London Gatwick was scheduled to depart the following day. Our transport provider arranged for the transfers to the airport to be earlier due to concerns over the impact of the storm and so to avoid delays and road closures. We are sorry for the inconvenience this caused for customers who were at the airport for longer than usual. We work hard to try and ensure our customers are supported in times of disruption. We would like to thank passengers for their understanding and apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of the weather. Mr Stephens disputed the easyJet assertion that concerns over road conditions led to the early departure from the hotel, saying: The afternoon weather was positively balmy by Icelandic standards. He added: I had always regarded easyJet as being a step above Ryanair but that opinion has been severely dented. A British Airways departure from Keflavik to London Heathrow shortly before the easyJet flight was cancelled quickly, with passengers and crew flying out on Saturday afternoon after the crew had rested. Travellers are not entitled to claim cash compensation because extreme weather is counted as an extraordinary circumstance beyond airlines control. Beijing (Gasgoo)- KargoBot, the autonomous driving truck solution provider backed by DiDi, officially commenced autonomous freight operations in Xinjiang, China. Photo credit: KargoBot In a strategic partnership with Xinjiang Guohe Energy under the Xinjiang Business and Trade Logistics Group, both entities aim to leverage their strengths for collaborative development and market application of highway autonomous freight scenarios. This collaboration seeks to expedite the widespread adoption of efficient and secure Level 4 autonomous freight marshalling technology in Xinjiang. As a crucial hub for comprehensive energy resources in China, Xinjiang possesses vast coal and resource-rich areas, making it a key demand center for long-haul transportation. With multiple highways carrying annual volumes in the tens of millions of tonnes, the application prospects for Level 4 autonomous driving technology in Xinjiang are immense. To address the unique challenges of Xinjiang's main transport routes, characterized by high altitudes, significant temperature variations, unstable signals, and complex terrains, the KargoBot team conducted in-depth research. They innovatively developed a hybrid intelligent marshalling solution designed to enhance the efficiency and safety of coal transportation. Currently, KargoBot has normalized operations on multiple routes in Xinjiang, accumulating tens of thousands of kilometers in operational experience. Since 2021, KargoBot has been actively advancing Level 4 autonomous driving technology for long-haul freight and commercializing operations for bulk commodities. With routine testing and operations in regions such as North China and Northwest China, KargoBot provides end-to-end intelligent transportation solutions for complex scenarios, including short, medium, and long distances. Presently, KargoBot transports over 2.5 million tonnes of goods annually, with a total operational distance exceeding 4.4 million kilometers. Behind-the-scenes footage shows how All of Us Strangers was filmed on the London Underground. Andrew Haighs film follows Adam (Andrew Scott), who develops a relationship with Harry, a neighbour played by Paul Mescal. Footage posted by Transport for London shows the film crew setting up a Waterloo and City line train at Bank station, with Scott and Mescal sitting in the carriage together. The Irish actor, 27, described the script as one of the most beautiful he had ever read as he spoke to reporters on the red carpet at the films London gala screening. King Charles praised the NHS as he opened a facility providing ground-breaking cancer treatment back in 2022. Resurfaced footage shows Charles opening the University College Hospitals flagship cancer and surgery building. He paid tribute to the professionalism and resilience of medical staff as he formally opened the site in London, which provides cutting-edge proton beam therapy, and is home to one of the largest treatment centres for blood disorders. It is a remarkable achievement, he told workers back in March 2022, also praising genius physicists who understand how proton beam therapy works. Buckingham Palace announced on Monday 5 February that the King has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. A Ukrainian TV presenter ended his broadcast by telling viewers he is swapping the studio to join the army and fight against Putins Russia. At the end of his news programme Window and Facts, Orest Drymalovsky told ICTV viewers: Thats all for now. And for me, its a personal finish today. The 29-year-old continued: This was my last broadcast before I am mobilised to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He later said that military-age men should sign up to the army, saying: There is no other way to victory. The daughter of a woman who was killed after being attacked by two suspected XL bully dogs cried as she paid tribute to her. Police were called to an address in Jaywick, Essex, after 4pm on Saturday (3 February) where officers found the victim, named by her family as Esther Martin, seriously injured. The 68-year-old, from Woodford Green, London, was pronounced dead at the scene. The attack is thought to have involved two XL bully-type dogs. Ms Martins daughter Sonia Martin broke down in tears during a live interview with the BBC on Monday (5 February), as she paid tribute to her mother. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} In November and December of 2021, I spent five weeks as one of only four reporters allowed in the main courtroom for the federal sex-trafficking trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, the one-time girlfriend and later assistant to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. That means I sat within a foot or two of her every day for five weeks. One day, she started sketching me on her legal notepad, alongside my press gallery colleague from The Times. On 30 December, she was convicted on five out of six sex-trafficking charges, which resulted in her being sent to jail for 20 years. On 12 March, Maxwell will appeal over her conviction and the high-profile case will once again hang in the balance. And one of the bases for the appeal is me. An interview I published here in The Independent revealed that a juror had failed to disclose, when asked on a written questionnaire, if he had any experience of sexual abuse. As a result of this interview, it was revealed that two other jurors also failed to disclose similar information to the court, which may, in certain circumstances, have disqualified them depending on the outcome of further questioning by the court and Maxwells lawyers. The question Maxwells team wanted to know was: did they deceive the court? Its a pivotal question and it means that the trial result could be overturned. My journalism could be the trigger for that. I am of course extremely torn up over this. So let me explain how it came about that my reporting may be the evidence that contributes to a retrial for Ghislaine Maxwell. This has been a trial that has obsessed me for years, and I will explain why. This photo of Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein was entered into evidence during her trial in December 2021 (VIA REUTERS) In order to be reporting inside the courtroom, I had to queue from around 1am because only the first four in line were permitted entry. On the first day, I arrived at 3am. This was too late, and the one day of the entire trial that I was not inside. From that day onwards, my latest arrival time was 2am. The earliest I arrived was 11pm the night before, deciding to spend the entire night sitting on cold cement in the depths of the New York City winter, shivering to my bones. The reason I decided to get up in the middle of the night every night for several weeks to cover this trial is because I believed it would shed light on some of the concepts that we, as a society, still deeply struggle to understand: grooming, child sexual abuse, delayed disclosure and traumatic memory. And I was right. In many ways, this trial and I hope, if Ive done my job, my forthcoming book about the trial, The Lasting Harm will help contribute to a better, truer and more scientific understanding of how grooming, abuse, disclosure and memory work, and importantly, the damage done to victims of abuse not only the harm caused by their abusers, but also by the way they are treated by society in its aftermath. This is true for all traumatic memories but particularly for those of us who have endured organised child abuse, the term used to describe becoming trapped in the grips of a manipulative predator who has a playbook playbook here means a carefully-devised strategy that is repeated and known to work on selected victims for access to children, and who enacts a repeated pattern of abuse on a number of victims. In the interests of full disclosure about why I covered the trial, I, myself, am a victim of organised child sexual abuse in a setting that is alarmingly similar although certainly not involving the same degree of wealth and power to the trap Jeffrey Epstein and his associates developed over multiple decades. I was then violently sexually assaulted by a stranger in my later teens. I have been accused many times of being biased because of my history of abuse. To that I say: yes, I am biased. Everybody is, whether we own it or not. On 12 March, Maxwell will appeal against her conviction and the high-profile case will once again hang in the balance (VIA REUTERS) I did not choose to be sexually abused beginning at nine years old, or raped at 15, and the only way I could approach a story with complete neutrality would be by writing about subjects that dont touch on any of my life experiences. But all journalists have had a great deal of life experiences, and so this is a tall order. The idea of bias is exactly what I want to write about today, which is why I led with my own. I firmly believe that my experience of abuse should not exclude me from reporting on it. But this question became much more real and much more upsetting when I found myself not only an investigative reporter covering the Maxwell trial, but a key player in its final outcome. This is how: A chance call. A midnight request. A night or two after the trial, I was back in England and was sent a link on Instagram for the contact details of one of the jurors. In the US it is allowed and encouraged for journalists to interview jurors about their decisions because it is in the public interest for the justice system to be open and transparent. I believe in this wholeheartedly, and so I asked this juror Juror 50, Scotty David, who I recognised immediately from the jury box for an interview. He agreed. Later that night, we ended up speaking for the better part of five hours most of the night, London time, and most of the afternoon and evening for him in New York. I expected that we would discuss his interpretation of the evidence, which we did in great detail. But what I didnt know is that he would share with me that he, himself, is a victim of child sexual abuse, and that this lived experience helped him understand, and explain to the jury, the nature of traumatic memory. Scotty David said he at first believed Maxwell was innocent. But after hearing the evidence, his belief, and his vote in the jury room changed (REUTERS) The insinuation in the interview that his experience helped other jurors understand traumatic memory caused a question to be asked about whether there could be a question of legal bias, if he had intentionally misled the court and tried to get on the jury so he could sway their opinion. I spoke to Juror 50 for hours. Ive met him many times. He told me that he walked into that trial believing wholly in the American justice systems founding principle that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. He told me he believed Maxwell was innocent. But after hearing the evidence, his belief, and his vote in the jury room, was that she was guilty on all but one of the counts she was charged with. He was also adamant that there was not enough evidence to convict her on the one charge that the jury ultimately dismissed. As is their right, when my interview was published, Maxwells team immediately called for a retrial over the potential issues of bias. I was quickly aware that my interview had resounding consequences. The court was immediately asked to find Juror 50s confidential court questionnaire and determine whether he had answered yes or no to the following question: Have you or a friend or family member ever been the victim of sexual harassment, sexual abuse or sexual assault? (This includes actual or attempted sexual assault or other unwanted sexual advance, including by a stranger, acquaintance, supervisor, teacher or family member.) It transpired that he had ticked no to this question, leading to more allegations of bias. However, as someone who knew the legal precedent, I was aware that there is a very strict three-part test for bias in a situation like this. The first is whether the person intentionally lied on the questionnaire, which, as I said, Juror 50 swore he did not. But even if a person did intentionally lie, to prove bias a judge must also find that the person did so for the main purpose of getting seated on that particular jury. The third test is whether the person was unable to put their experiences aside and impartially decide the case. An appellate judge can order a new trial. It is not open to them to vacate the conviction altogether that is, to set Maxwell free but only to order that the trial start afresh with a new jury (VIA REUTERS) Judge Nathan questioned Juror 50 fiercely under oath to determine these issues. She needed to find out, by questioning him, whether the lie was intentional or a mistake and whether he was in fact biased because of his personal experience. She wrote a resounding judgment saying that she believed his testimony that it was an honest mistake and she said it was clear on the evidence that he examined the case fairly and impartially. Judge Nathan wrote: To imply or infer that Juror 50 was biased simply because he was himself a victim of sexual abuse in a trial related to sexual abuse and sex trafficking, and despite his own credible testimony under the penalty of perjury, establishing that he could be an even-handed and impartial juror would be tantamount to concluding that an individual with a history of sexual abuse can never serve as a fair and impartial juror in such a trial. That is not the law, nor should it be. This is the precedent that is now being challenged on appeal by Maxwells team. Of course, appellate judges have the right to overturn the trial judges decision if the three appeal judges decide that Judge Nathan misinterpreted the law on juror bias. They can overturn her ruling and order a new trial. It is not open to them to vacate the conviction altogether that is, to set Maxwell free but only to order that the trial start afresh with a new jury. Thats whats at stake: can Ghislaine Maxwell find a legal path to freedom? I felt conflicted. I wanted to get to the truth. I was unprepared for the consequences of my interview. Juror 50 wanted his story of abuse to be told. Once he disclosed it to me on the record and said he wanted his story told, it was my duty as a journalist to report the truth. However, of course it was incredibly distressing as an abuse survivor to feel that my reporting of the truth may lead to a retrial. On the other hand, once again, I always intend to uphold the principles of the law seen through the prism of journalism and so if something that I report does involve the ordering of a new trial, I respect and honour that decision. If I had spiked this story out of fear of its consequences, that would have been wrong. As part of the appeal, I have been asked to testify to the truth of my interview with Juror 50 and its contents. Again, I am happy to do this as I know it is my solemn duty to the court. After hearing every single day of the evidence, I believe beyond any reasonable doubt that Ghislaine Maxwell committed the sex trafficking crimes for which she has been convicted. A prosecutor points to a photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell during a news conference prior to Maxwells trial in 2021 (AP) But I also believe, after my own four-year investigation, that it is unjust that she is the only person who has been punished by the law for a sex-trafficking ring that involved countless perpetrators and enablers who continue to walk free. I accept the jurys decision that the evidence proves the crimes she herself committed, but justice has not been served if she continues to be the only person punished for a decades-long organised crime ring. After poring over decades of case law on juror bias, it is my personal view that it is unlikely that any appellate judge could find an error of law in Judge Nathans ruling. If the decision is overturned which the appellate judges are entitled to do then I will have to accept that outcome with equanimity and grace because that is the consequence and value of journalism. You must be willing to report the truth when you cannot control the outcome, and even if one possible outcome is distressing and turns the present truth on its head. I believe the jury reached a just verdict. I also believe firmly in every defendants right to an appeal, and I am happy to take responsibility for the role I will play in that appeal based on the journalism I published in The Independent. Justice is never an easy or straightforward path and I never expected to end up in its crosshairs. But appeals are part of how the justice system works, and so what is currently transpiring is what justice looks like. 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. Capital Credit Union CEO Pat Byrne said they will be conducting a full review into the matter The Central Bank is probing an IT outage at one of the States largest credit unions that left members unable to access their online accounts for days. The 50,000 members of Capital Credit Union in Dublin were locked out of their online accounts after the lender moved to a new banking system. There are fears that the credit union could now be fined by the Central Bank, which in the past has sanctioned banks that suffered IT outages. The Dundrum-headquartered credit union, which has several branches across south Dublin, has contacted its members to apologise for issues that have impacted its services. Today's News in 90 seconds - 6th February 2024 Chief executive Pat Byrne said in a statement: During a planned change to our banking system, the credit union encountered unforeseen technical difficulties that impacted our services for a number of days. The outage occurred at the end of last month, forcing the credit union to revert to its original banking system. The online services had now been fully restored, he said, and regulators were now probing the service outage. We endeavoured to keep those members who were impacted fully informed during the disruption, he said. Asked whether there was a likelihood of a fine from the Central Bank over the service disruption, Mr Byrne said: The matter is currently under review, so we cant say any more at the moment. Once the review is complete, we will be in touch with members. He said Capital Credit Union was engaging with the Central Bank on the issue. The Central Bank said it was aware of the situation. Operational resilience is of paramount importance to the Central Bank and we expect all firms to have adequate systems and controls in place to ensure operational resilience, a spokesperson said in a statement. The statement added that where issues that affect members arose, they should be addressed and rectified as soon as possible, with clear and timely communications. Our supervisory engagement with the credit union continues in relation to this matter, the Central Bank said. In an email to members, Mr Byrne apologised. As a credit union, your experience with us, as a member, is our absolute priority. We know that recent events have resulted in a reduced service to our members that fell far short, and we will be conducting a full review into the matter, members were told. He said that in future, Capital would work with its system-provider to offer a range of new services to its members. Capital Credit Union was created following the merger of Capital, Francis Street and St Kevins credit unions. The tie-up in 2018 meant that the combined entity has around 50,000 members. Before this, Capital had already taken over a string of other credit unions, including the UCD staff operation, along with Knocklyon, Sandymount and Drimnagh. The enlarged Capital is one of the largest community credit unions in the State with assets of close to 300m. It offers loans, insurance, mortgages and financial planning, among other services. Data centre development has become highly specialised in the construction industry. Photo: Getty Images Private equity giant Blackstone is reported to be in the hunt to buy some or all of Ireland's 1bn turnover data centre developer Winthrop Technologies. A Sky News report said the US firm is in talks to buy some or all of the Irish business, which was founded in the 1990s by UCD trained engineer Barry English and could be valued at 700m (816m). Blackstone is best known on Ireland for buying businesses including Eir and the former Burlington Hotel at knock down prices after the global financial crisis. Such distressed investing is only one part of its business and a Winthrop deal would help build scale in a market where it paid $10bn three years ago for QTS, another data centre business. Winthrop Technologies was founded by UCD trained engineer Barry English, who remains a director and advisor as well as majority shareholder in the business. He worked with the Tipperary based global engineering business MF Kents in the late 1980s mostly abroad before returning to Ireland established Winthrop in 1995. The business in recent years it has shifted to specialise fully in construction of data centres across Europe, producing so called turn-key projects for multinational clients, and was previously involved in projects in areas like life sciences and pharmaceutics. Winthrop operates across nine Europe countries and last year commenced operations in Belgium. The business employs around 750 people and has been in expansion mode, announcing hundreds of new roles last year. As well as Barry English, senior executives CEO Anne Dooley and MD Bernard Keane are also shareholders. Former Ryanair deputy CEO Michael Cawley is chairman of the board. Winthrop's most recently filed financial accounts show pre-tax profits at data centre builder Winthrop Technologies of 86.17m. The consolidated accounts for the Dublin-headquartered business show revenues topped 1bn for the first time in the 12 months to April 2023. The group recorded post-tax profits of 73.32m after paying corporation tax of 12.84m. Blackshore: ** How many dark, brooding Sunday night crime dramas can television stand? More to the point, how many dark, brooding Sunday night crime dramas can Irish television stand? Its only a matter of time before we all start screaming: I want to see some light, some hope bring back Dermot Bannon and his huge windows. Sometimes it feels like theyre the only kind of drama RTE makes anymore. As with anything else, you grow a little weary of them after a while. Slipping grimly into the slot recently vacated for another year by Irelands only architect, the six-part Blackshore (RTE1, Sunday, February 4) is the latest one to be tossed onto the misery pile. Of all the tropes of dark, brooding crime dramas, the one that recurs most frequently is the detective with a troubled past whos compelled by a grisly murder case to return to the site of their past troubles, stirring up old ghosts. At this stage, its been worn so smooth and shiny you could use it as a shaving mirror. The protagonist of Blackshore is Detective Inspector Fia Lucey, played by Lisa Dwan from Top Boy. Fia is the kind of take-no-s**t operator you dont want to mess with. This is established in the opening minutes when she breaks a creeps nose in the ladies toilet of a Dublin pub, earning herself a shunting off to rural parts. After a fashionably foreboding opening title sequence (fuzzy landscapes, glimpsed faces, a wafty song), Fia arrives in her old hometown town of Blackwater (a fictional one), having fled the place years before to make a career in the big smoke as the gardais toughest badass. Having racked up three undue force complaints on her record (wonder why that was?), shes been sent to investigate a missing person case that quickly turns into something more serious before the first ad break when the missing person a woman called Roisin Hurley, who owned a half-share in the local hotel becomes a murdered person. Hurley, whos found floating in a lake, had a history of heavy drinking, depression and suicide attempts, but the possibility that she may have taken her own life is ruled out when it becomes apparent she was already dead before she hit the water. To say Fia rubs people up the wrong way would be an understatement. Shes so abrasive she makes Saga Noren from The Bridge seem like Julie Andrews. Why arent you ahead are you lazy or just incompetent? she asks her reluctant new partner, DI Cian Furlong (Rory Keenan), who knows her from the old days. Are you just arrogant or plain rude? he replies. If Fia is less than pleased to be back in Blackwater, the people of the town arent exactly ecstatic about her return either. Twenty years earlier, her father wiped out her entire family in a murder-suicide. On top of that, the townsfolk believe he was also responsible for the murder of a local child. Given these circumstances, youd imagine poor Fia who was left without parents and siblings as a kid, and is tormented by survivors guilt as an adult would draw pity and compassion rather than loathing. Not a bit of it. Furlongs spiky wife is outraged by the idea of the daughter of a suspected killer investigating a different killing. The dead girls parents, who still light candles on a cake on her birthday, resent Fia swanning around the town. To be fair, with her studiedly cool leather jackets, she does do a fair bit of swanning alright. Suspects for Hurleys murder abound. Stanley Townsend is the towns boorish business bigshot. He owns a whiskey distillery and was her equal partner in the hotel, so he has inherited her half. Dara Devaney plays a creepy bloke who seems to be keeping a woman covered in bruises and who may hold a clue to what happened to Hurley captive in a caravan in the woods. Other stalwarts in the cast include Barry McGovern and Aidan McArdle. Blackshore comes from the people who gave us the overheated Smother, which might account for why it feels less like a murder mystery and more like a glorified soap with a murder attached. Its always good to see a new Irish drama. It would be nicer if it wasnt one so mired in mouldy cliche. IFA Telecom, a subsidiary of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) that brokers phone and broadband deals for farmers, made a trading loss of 98,525 in the year ending March 2023, its first loss in 20 years. The company made a profit the previous year of 425,649, while it made a profit of 652,629 in the year before that, its financial statements show. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On February 2nd, Chinese new energy vehicle maker BYD and Raizen Power, a subsidiary of Shell, forged a strategic partnership with plans to construct BYD-Shell electric vehicle (EV) charging centers across eight major cities in Brazil over the next three years. This collaboration aims to provide convenient and efficient charging services for local users. Photo credit: BYD The cities covered in this venture include Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Curitiba, Florianopolis, Salvador, and Belem. The cooperation holds significant strategic importance to the development and implementation of BYD charging equipment and battery solutions, said BYD. BYD and Raizen Power will jointly expand Brazil's public charging network by establishing 600 new DC charging piles, adding a capacity of 18 megawatts to meet the growing demand for recharging new energy vehicles in the region. Furthermore, this partnership extends exclusive benefits to BYD vehicle owners in Brazil, allowing them to access services at BYD-Shell EV charging centers at preferential rates. We believe having a robust and widely distributed charging infrastructure is crucial. As we embark on our ambitious sales expansion plan, investing in charging infrastructure is essential. This not only ensures convenience for our customers but also accelerates the transition to a sustainable and electrified future, driving the growth of clean energy transportation, commented Stella Li, Executive Vice President of BYD and CEO of BYD Americas. BYD and Shell previously signed a strategic cooperation agreement in 2022. In September 2023, the two entities inaugurated the world's largest electric vehicle charging station in Shenzhen, China, featuring 258 fast-charging piles to meet the demands of users. The collaboration has now extended to Brazil, with both companies exploring opportunities to develop and enhance the electric vehicle charging network locally, continuously improving the charging experience for users. Barry Cowen has been chosen to represent Fianna Fail in the Midlands North West constituency for the upcoming European elections. Senator Niall Blaney, Senator Lisa Chambers and Pat The Cope Gallagher were also nominated for selection. However, on close of nominations Pat The Cope Gallagher had withdrawn. The vote took place at a party convention in Co Westmeath on Monday evening where the Laois-Offaly TD was chosen by party members to run in the June election. It is a great honour and privilege, and Im most delighted, to be endorsed by this organisation to fight to win back a seat that has been out of this constituency for too long, Mr Cowen said after his selection. We will work as hard as we possibly can to ensure Fianna Fail wins back a seat in the Midlands-North-West. Im delighted that party members have seen fit to endorse me, he added. Cork MEP Billy Kelleher and Dublin MEP Barry Andrews were last month selected to run for Fianna Fail in the European elections in the Ireland South and Dublin constituencies respectively. At the convention, Mr Cowen said the European election could be a precursor to a general election later this year or early next year. In the coming weeks and months we will make a huge effort to take the seat. It will be the precursor possibly for a general election in the autumn or next spring. It is imperative we create the sort of momentum that will allow us to be in a position to make an impact, to make a mark, locally, nationally and in Europe, Mr Cowen said. Housing minister Darragh OBrien who is also Fianna Fail Director of the European Elections said if elected, Mr Cowen would represent the party as a strongly pro-European candidate. Fianna Fail members have tonight voted to select Barry Cowen as their candidate for the European Elections in the Midlands-North-West constituency. Deputy Cowen has a proven track record as a dedicated and committed Parliamentarian and will, if elected, represent Fianna Fail as a strongly pro-European candidate in the Parliament, Mr OBrien said. I look forward to canvassing with Deputy Cowen over the coming weeks and months. I also want to pay tribute to both Senator Niall Blaney and Senator Lisa Chambers who put themselves forward for convention and ran excellent campaigns, Mr OBrien added. Latest | Crooksling fire: Brazen arsonists strike at HSE building despite private security, as Justice Minister condemns attack Protesters are left devastated after latest blaze at a vacant property as fears grow for safety of refugees and firefighters in such acts of vandalism Firefighters battling major blaze at HSE site earmarked as possible refugee accommodation Robin Schiller and Gabija Gataveckaite Mon 5 Feb 2024 at 03:30 A security guard alerted emergency services to arsonists who targeted a vacant HSE building in Dublin that was being considered for refugee accommodation. Crime New victim comes forward with claims against Bill Kenneally and says detective advised him to drop allegations Advances in technology mean more and more children with heart defects are progressing to adulthood. However, managing an appropriate transition to adult care settings is pivotal say medics Members of the Heart Children Youth Council (left to right) Siofra Thomas, Ailbhe Canavan, Sinead Burke and Amy Poyntonan. A teenager who was born with five congenital heart defects has told how she had to undergo two gruelling surgeries as a child. Siofra Thomas (18) from Boyle in Roscommon was diagnosed with congenital heart disease three days after her birth in 2005. I was diagnosed with five congenital heart defects, including hypoplastic right-heart syndrome, which is when the right side of the heart is underdeveloped, and dextrocardia which is when the heart is towards the right side of the body, rather than the left, and turned from back to front. It meant me undergoing two 12-hour open-heart surgeries as a child, which were incredibly tough. Congenital heart disease is a general term to describe conditions or problems with the hearts structure that are present at birth. It affects around one in every 100 babies born in Ireland a year, with 500-600 born with the condition annually. Half of the children will require open-heart surgery, and more than 450 surgeries are performed on children up to 16 years of age at Crumlin Hospital each year. It is estimated that almost 19,000 people are living with the condition in Ireland. I experience constant fatigue and tiredness, as well as frequent shortness of breath, which can impact time spent with friends and family as well as my schooling. I will most likely require surgeries in the future and I will forever have to manage my heart health with check-ups and other doctor appointments. Although my life has not been easy, I have reached a point now where I am the healthiest I have ever been, said Thomas, who is chair of the Heart Children Youth Council. She was speaking in advance of a major conference organised by the Heart Children called The Beat Goes On. It is aimed at young people aged 16 to 25 and their parents and takes place on Saturday, February 24, at Chartered Accountants House, Pearse Street, Dublin. The focus of the conference is on the transition from child to adult services. Dr Rachel Power, a board member of Heart Children and a paediatrician with expertise in cardiology at University Hospital Limerick, said, thanks to tremendous progress in diagnosis, treatment and care, including advances in paediatric cardiothoracic surgery, we now have more adults living with congenital heart disease in Ireland, than children. That means that more and more young people are progressing into adulthood and getting to live their normal lives. As a result, teenagers with congenital heart disease present a unique clinical challenge in transitioning from a childrens hospital environment to adult hospital care. It really is a pivotal time. We know from a Canadian study that children who are transitioned appropriately are three times more likely to engage with adult services. There is now a well-established transition team in place at Crumlin, which aims to address the clinical challenges in ensuring a smooth transition to the Mater Hospital, Dr Power said. Registration is free and now open at www.heartchildren.ie Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand, who was abducted by Hamas gunmen, is reunited with her father Thomas Hand. The father of nine-year-old Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand has said his daughter was threatened with a knife and still has the odd panic attack months on from being released from Hamas captivity. Emily was among the hostages taken by Hamas after war broke out in Gaza on October 7 last year and was released on November 26. In an interview with Channel 12 in Israel, Thomas Hand said Emily talks very little about her time as a hostage and uses code words when she does. She refers to terrorists as olives, calls Gaza a box, says cheese instead of hostages and watermelon instead of blood. Mr Hand showed the Channel 12 cameras a whiteboard explaining the code that hangs in their home. Though she talks normally most of the time now, he said Emily still whispers at night and in the morning because she was threatened if she made any noise while trapped in Gaza. "She told me that they were threatened with a knife to be quiet. That's an awful vision in your head as a parent, that she lived through that terror, Mr Hand said. One of Emilys panic attacks came on the day of the interview, causing Emily to initially refuse to speak to the camera crew. She said the code words help her because sometimes it is unpleasant for me to say those words. However, Mr Hand said Emily is recovering from her time in captivity much faster than the rest of the family. "Emily is pretty good, making progress, recovering. But the rest of us are broken now, he said. He said his daughter, who turned nine during her captivity, has healed extremely fast, but for the rest of us it is much slower. The mother of his two adult children Narkis was killed by Hamas on October 7 and Mr Hand said they are still grieving her and all this that is going on. With reports of a potential hostage release deal being stuck between Israel and Hamas, Mr Hand said the number of Palestinian prisoners released by Israel should be within reason. He said Israel have to finish the job before the war comes to an end and we have to completely destroy Hamas. His hope for Emily is that she completely recovers from her experience. No more panic attacks. No more whispering. To feel secure mentally, emotionally. I hope she has a healthy, happy, normal life like any parent wants for their kids, he said. Mr Hand said he hopes the family can return to their home in Kibbutz Beeri where the Hamas attack took place, however Emily is reluctant because of how close it is to Gaza. "On the one hand, it's really, really close to the box. On the other hand, all the friends are there. So I don't know," she said. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris and new appointed speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly Edwin Poots arrived at Parliament Buildings at Stormont (Oliver McVeigh/PA) Taoiseach Leo Varadkar meets Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Stormont Castle in Belfast, Northern Ireland, February 5, 2024. REUTERS/Carrie Davenport UK prime minister Rishi Sunak has told Stormonts leaders the real work starts now as he held talks in Belfast after powersharing returned to Northern Ireland. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who is also at Stormont to mark the restoration of devolution, said it was a very positive day. The two leaders, whose governments are co-guarantors of the landmark Good Friday peace agreement, also met each other for a bilateral meeting at Parliament Buildings. Later, Mr Sunak travelled the short distance to Stormont Castle for a meeting with Northern Irelands first ever nationalist First Minister, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill, and her DUP counterpart, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. As the meeting got under way inside the castle, Mr Sunak told the joint heads of the ministerial executive: It has taken a lot of hard work and indeed courage to get us sitting round this table. Today isnt the end; its the beginning, and the real work starts now. Earlier, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, who accompanied Mr Sunak on his visit to Stormont, rejected claims by Stormont ministers that better funding is needed from the UK Government as powersharing returns. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, First Minister Michelle ONeill, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Stormont Castle (Oliver McVeigh/PA) The Cabinet minister insisted the 3.3 billion package offered by Westminster is ample for the Executive to get on with the job. The newly-formed Executive has already written to the prime minister calling for urgent discussions on long-term funding stability to deliver public services. Asked about claims that the current funding arrangement will not provide the basis for the Executive to deliver sustainable public services, the Northern Ireland Secretary told BBC Breakfast: I dont believe that is the case. I think Stormont has fantastic, strong foundations now and it will survive, it will be sustainable. He added: There is a thing, I think, about choices. Youre going into politics, you have to make choices on these sorts of things. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Those choices havent been made for a long time out here, and I believe the new set of ministers are completely capable of running their public finances perfectly well with the fair and generous funding package weve given them. Theres a 3.3 billion package available to ministers on day one here to get on with the job of sorting out Northern Ireland public sector pay, health services and a whole host of other things, and Id say thats ample for the time being. The new powersharing Executive will also hold its first meeting on Monday as it begins the task of trying to manage Northern Irelands strained finances. The institutions were restored after a deal between Mr Sunaks Government and the DUP to address unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements, which included passing new legislation at Westminster. The UK Governments 3.3 billion funding offer is aimed at stabilising finances in the region, and settling public sector pay claims. Mr Sunak said the real work starts now (Sinn Fein/PA) The prime minister has said the offer represents a generous and fair settlement. However, the letter from all Stormont ministers to the prime minister states that the current financial package on offer does not provide the basis for the Executive to deliver sustainable public services and public finances. Ahead of Mondays meeting with Mr Sunak, Ms ONeill said: If we are to tackle the serious problems across public services in our hospitals and our schools then how we are funded needs to change and I will be strongly pressing that point at todays meeting. It is critical that the Executive has the right resources to deliver effective public services for all our citizens and we will engage with the Prime Minister to achieve our shared objective. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Ms Little-Pengelly said the Executive would be speaking with one voice in its meeting with the prime minister. She added: We will be saying that the people of Northern Ireland deserve better public services and that we need to work together the Executive and the government to deliver long-term fiscal stability. We are ready to engage with the government and get down to the work of putting our finances on a sound footing. However, we will also be seeking to ensure the UK government provides sufficient funding in a package to fulfil its promises on public sector pay. There are a total of 14,000 members in An Garda Siochana. Stock image More gardai left the force last year than were recruited, new figures show. A total of 388 gardai were recruited while 520 left the force, the highest number in at least five years, according to figures from Justice Minister Helen McEntee. The numbers of gardai leaving the force soared last year, with 476 leaving in 2022, 405 in 2021, 337 in 2020 and 333 in 2019. However, a total of 388 were recruited in 2023; 370 in 2022; and 148 in 2021 during the height of the pandemic. Last years figures are still lower than the 522 gardai recruited in 2020 and 615 in 2019. While 2,071 left the force in the past five years, 2,043 were recruited, showing it is still shrinking. Gardai can leave the force for any number of reasons, including voluntary and compulsory retirements, cost-neutral early retirements, resignations, dismissals, deaths in service and members being discharged for medical reasons. The rate of resignations in An Garda Siochana stands at around 1pc and there are a total of 14,000 members in the force. While there were 319 retirements and 169 resignations in 2023, 746 trainees entered Templemore last year, Ms McEntee said. This is the highest intake into Templemore since 2018. She said 2.3bn was allocated in the last Budget to An Garda Siochana, which is a 23pc increase since 2020. This will allow for 800 to 1,000 new garda recruits. Aontu leader Peadar Toibin said: If the Government do not tackle pay, pensions, terms and conditions this trend will continue. If the Government do not tackle the increased threat to garda welfare, the corrosion in garda numbers will continue a pace. Meanwhile, a British recruitment company is to play a crucial role in recruiting staff for An Garda Siochana this year, after winning a tender advertised with a total value of 4m. Staffline, which has its headquarters in Nottingham, will support garda management in recruiting staff for so-called unsworn roles. These include positions in finance, human resources, legal, engineering, data and technology, strategy, communications and administration. A garda spokeswoman said: Through a public procurement process, Staffline has been awarded a contract to offer end-to-end recruitment solutions across a number of garda staff grades within the organisation. While the tender was advertised with an estimated total value of 4m, the spokeswoman said that it was part of a framework agreement and not a contract. This means expenditure is not committed until a specific contract is established under the overall partnership. Staffline revealed the importance to the company of the link-up with An Garda Siochana during an announcement accompanying financial results. In a call with shareholders, Albert Ellis, the companys CEO, described the award as a key win. He said the agreement would initially run for two years and was the firms first of real scale in the Irish market. I cant emphasise how important this is for us, he said. Weve been investing in the Republic of Ireland for some time, and this is a landmark win, our first win of real scale in the market. Mr Ellis said Staffline was expecting to earn over 1m worth of fees. We would expect a healthy flow through from that, he said. On the companys website, Tina McKenzie, CEO of Staffline Ireland, said: We are thrilled to have been chosen by An Garda Siochana as its trusted recruitment partner. This partnership underscores our dedication to providing the highest quality workforce solutions and will allow us to contribute to the important work that An Garda Siochana does in keeping people safe. Staffline Ireland is a diversified recruitment agency that operates across Northern Ireland and the Republic, with 10 offices directly employing over 200 staff. By contrast with the Republic, Stafflines results described the market in Northern Ireland as challenging. Last autumn the gardai launched a recruitment campaign to fill 400 clerical jobs in the force. Garda management has been endeavouring to hire more civilian workers for desk jobs in order to free up officers for frontline policing duties. Addressing concerns about a shortage of garda personnel, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar recently told the Dail there was a shortage of gardai all over the country, a situation not helped by the enforced closure of Templemore Garda Training College during the pandemic. He said but for that unforeseen complication, the State would have 1,000 more frontline officers at its disposal. We are recruiting again and we will see garda numbers increase, he said. Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew is to stand in the European elections in June (Dominic Lipinski/PA) A Sinn Fein MEP hopeful got a 10,000 payout after breaking her leg in Leinster House in 2012. Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew sought damages from the Houses of the Oireachtas after falling down stairs while attending a committee meeting. She was paid a 10,000 settlement through the State Claims Agency in 2019. This relates to an injury I suffered more than a decade ago whilst attending a meeting of the Oireachtas Good Friday Agreement Committee in Leinster House, she said when contacted. The Sinn Fein politician is seeking a nomination from the party to contest the Midlands-North West constituency in the European elections. She has received support from party TD Matt Carthy as well as MEP Chris MacManus and it is expected she will get the formal party nod shortly. Mr MacManus is also expected to run in the same constituency. Ms Gildernew is a former Stormont minister and says that, if elected, she would resign from the British House of Commons, where she is MP for Fermanagh-South Tyrone. She was elected to that seat Tyrone in 2001. She was the first female candidate elected from Sinn Fein to the House of Commons since Countess Markievicz in 1918. Ms Gildernew also served as a Stormont MLA for Fermanagh-South Tyrone, and was agriculture minister from 2007 to 2011. In February 2012, Ms Gildernew told the Impartial Reporter newspaper that she fell down a set of stairs in Leinster House while wearing knee-high boots. I got my heel caught in a metal grate and tripped and fell all the way down the stairs in a very undignified manner. I was absolutely mortified, she said. She said she fell down in front of TDs, loyalists, republicans, senators, you name it. She drove home, but noticed her foot was badly swollen when she took off her shoe. I was so embarrassed. I was wearing knee-high boots; I have good country womans calves and the boots are hard to get on me anyway so they were giving me great support, and I drove home. When I took the boots off later I noticed the foot was badly swollen, she said. Ms Gildernew said she then visited her local hospital that evening and had her leg X-rayed. She was later told her leg was broken. I walked in and didnt make a big fuss. They thought it was an old injury because I had broken my ankle before. They put me in a strap, on a pair of crutches and sent me on my way. Then they phoned me on the Friday and said, Your leg is broken, will you please come back? I tramped about a week before I got the plaster on, she said. The former minister said that, if elected as an MEP, her priorities would include ensuring the EU gets back to focusing on what matters to workers and families, including the cost of living, regional development and climate change, and ensuring that the EU is proactive in support of Irish unity. Do Irish people have notions now? Because Irelands 5 new Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants all have small plates There was success for Irish restaurants tonight at The Michelin Guide Great Britain and Ireland awards 2024. DOlier Street restaurant in Dublin, Homestead Cottage in Doolin and The Bishops Buttery in Cashel all received One Michelin Star for the first time. While Terre Restaurant at Castlemartyr Hotel in Cork was awarded its second Michelin Star. County Cork has another Two Star restaurant to add to its collection in the form of Terre, said the Michelin Guide. Gaining One Star last year and now a second, Vincent Crepel and his kitchen team have made impressively quick work of crafting a bold, assuredly two Stars experience. Chef Patron Vincent Crepel of Terre Restaurant said: Being awarded the second Michelin star is the realisation of a lifelong dream and a wonderful elevation to receive from the inspectors. "I am so proud of the team and what we have achieved. We have had a fantastic year and are looking forward to welcoming guests again in 2024. We aim to make a visit to Terre accessible to diners and we are fortunate to work with great local and international suppliers who help inspire and shape our menus. "Receiving the second star is a tribute to the creativity and standards we aim to reach and maintain," he added. Chef Patron Vincent Crepel of Terre Restaurant DOlier Street in Dublin 2 was awarded its first Michelin Star and inspectors said the dishes are as beautiful as the building. DOlier Street boosts Dublins dining scene with visually striking and technically accomplished dishes, said The Michelin Guide. Read more A more fun way to dine trendy sharing plates are the order of the day as Ireland celebrates five new Bib Gourmands The Bishops Buttery at Cashel Palace in Co Tipperary, which opened in 2022, was awarded One Michelin Star. The restaurant offers contemporary Irish cuisine with produce sourced from local Tipperary farmers. The Bishops Buttery offers top-quality produce and great natural flavours to Cashel Palace Hotel, said The Michelin Guide. Stephen Hayes, director of culinary at Cashel Palace Hotel, said: We are really delighted with todays news. Gaining a Michelin Star so soon after opening is a fantastic achievement. It has always been my hope to receive the Star and now, along with Stefan and the team, we have achieved it. I honestly couldnt be any happier. This is an important recognition of our hard work and is wonderful for team morale, reflecting our ambitions front and back of house. Homestead Cottage in Doolin, Co Clare was also awarded its first Michelin Star. Inspectors said the terrific cooking brings the One Michelin Star to Irelands rural west coast. Homestead Cottage, with its delicious cooking, makes a visit to the rural west coast all the more appealing, it said. Meanwhile The Ledbury in London became the ninth Three Michelin Star restaurant. A further six restaurants were newly awarded Two Michelin Stars and there were 18 new One Star establishments. Six restaurants have been recognised with a Michelin Green Star for their commitment to sustainable gastronomy and 20 restaurants were announced to have received a Bib Gourmand on 29th January, one week prior to the Ceremony. Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of The Michelin Guide said: The dining scene in Great Britain & Ireland continues to be both innovative and impressive. With a new Three Michelin Star and six new Two Star restaurants, the selections global standing has grown even further. "Among all of the newly awarded Stars, both the quality and variety of the dining experiences are wonderful to see. There are enormously talented chefs turning their hands to anything from wood-fired sharing plates to finely tuned sushi. "To have so much positive news to share with the industry, at a time when restaurants are facing so many challenges, gives me great pride and is proof of the continued vitality within British and Irish dining, she said. This year marks the 50th anniversary of The Michelin Guide in Great Britain and Ireland. The stars were unveiled during a ceremony held at The Midland Hotel in Manchester tonight. 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. NIO Capital raises over 3 billion yuan in second-phase RMB funding NIO Capital has completed the second phase for its RMB funding, amassing a total capital of over 3 billion yuan. The fund will continue its focused investments in areas such as the new energy vehicle industry ecosystem, energy technology, energy transition, and technological innovation. Photo credit: NIO Capital Chery EXEED's first batch of supercharging stations come on line On February 5, Chery Holding's EXEED announced the official launch of its first batch of supercharging stations in China, boasting a claimed "peak charging power of nearly 300kW" and "5-minute supercharging for an additional 218 km of range." The initial charging stations under EXEED are located in three cities: Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Hefei, with a total of seven stations. Ganfeng Lithium anticipates 69.76% to 79.52% YoY decline in net profit for 2023 On January 30, Ganfeng Lithium released its financial forecast for the year 2023, projecting a net profit attributable to shareholders ranging from 4.2 billion to 6.2 billion yuan, indicating a significant year-on-year decrease between 69.76% and 79.52%. The adjusted net profit, after deduction of non-recurring profit and loss, is estimated to be between 2.3 billion and 3.4 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year plunge within the range of 82.96% to 88.47%. Pony.ai's 6th-gen Robotaxi cleared for unmanned passenger-carrying trial in Beijing On January 2, the Toyota Sienna-based Robotaxi, equipped with Pony.ai's sixth-generation L4 autonomous driving software and hardware, has been granted permission to conduct unmanned passenger-carrying demonstration in Beijing with remote monitoring. Yueda Kia scores 86% YoY surge in Jan. 2024 auto sales In January 2024, Yueda Kia, the joint venture between Kia Corporation and China's Yueda Automobile Group, sold 16,323 vehicles in the domestic and overseas markets, representing a remarkable year-on-year surge of 86%, according to a post on the WeChat account of Yueda Automobile Group. XPENG to develop global XNGP intelligent assisted driving system in 2025 Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer XPENG announced during the XPENG X9 launch event that its XNGP (XPENG Navigation Guided Pilot) intelligent assisted driving system's urban smart driving capabilities, initially available in 52 cities, will now extend to cover a total of 243 cities in China, marking a substantial expansion. EXEED's Yaoguang C-DM to start presale on February 21 Chery's EXEED brand recently announced that the hybrid electric Yaoguang C-DM model is set to begin presales on February 21, with the official market launch slated within the first quarter of this year. DiDi-backed KargoBot launches autonomous freight operations in Xinjiang KargoBot, the autonomous driving truck solution provider backed by DiDi, officially commenced autonomous freight operations in Xinjiang, China. BYD releases interior images of small-sized SUV Yuan UP BYD recently revealed the interior design of its upcoming model, the Yuan UP, the first small-sized full-electric SUV to ride on BYD's e-Platform 3.0. It is slated for market launch in March this year. BYD, Shell's Raizen Power team up on building EV charging centers in Brazil On February 2nd, Chinese new energy vehicle maker BYD and Raizen Power, a subsidiary of Shell, forged a strategic partnership with plans to construct BYD-Shell electric vehicle (EV) charging centers across eight major cities in Brazil over the next three years. This collaboration aims to provide convenient and efficient charging services for local users. AVATR 12 rolls out HD map-free urban NCA intelligent driving function nationwide AVATR, the premium new energy vehicle brand jointly backed by Changan Automobile, Huawei, and CATL, announced the AVATR 12 models full-scale activation of urban NCA (Navigation Cruise Assistance) intelligent driving function, which operates independently of high-precision maps. Again and again, Nikki Haley makes the same argument: Donald Trump cant beat Joe Biden. I will. A Trump nomination is a Biden win, she said at her primary-night rally in New Hampshire, after finishing double digits behind the front-runner. The first party to retire its 80-year-old candidate will be the party that wins this election. In recent weeks, the Government has made a series of announcements designed to assuage growing unease over the level of immigration to Ireland, which so far seem to have had little impact on the public. In todays Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks opinion poll, immigration has overtaken the cost-of-living to join housing as one of the two main issues of concern across the country. But there is also an opportunity contained in the poll which offers the Government the chance to calm people on this most contentious and potentially destabilising of issues. This opportunity should be taken, when you consider another disquieting finding in the poll, which is a growth in the number of people who say they would consider voting for a party or candidate holding strong anti-immigration views. The poll finds the country is evenly divided in support for and opposition to locals in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, which recently found itself the focus of national attention over residents opposition to the location of proposed asylum-seeker accommodation. The strongly articulated view of Roscrea residents at the time was that the town did not have facilities or amenities to accommodate a large number of additional people, a sentiment expressed across the country in locations earmarked for such centres. In todays poll, we find that a majority of people would accept a refugee centre in their area if it came with additional funding for amenities and services for the area, with a resolute one-third (35pc) still opposed even if the Government were to meet such local demands. However, the finding that 54pc would accept such centres where resources matched potentially offers the Government a path out of this most troublesome of issues. It is heartening, also, that an even wider majority (57pc) believes that people who come to live here are generally good for the economy and society, with a proportionally small 18pc of the opposite view. In recent weeks, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that the Government, while not clamping down on immigration here, was stepping up efforts to tackle those who travel to Ireland illegally. He accused certain immigrants of trying to abuse the generosity of the system, pointing out that the number of people seeking international protection has increased tenfold, which he said needed a government response. The Government has curbed social welfare payments for some newly arrived immigrants on one hand, and has vowed to step up deportation of immigrants found to have come here illegally on the other. Rightly, he has said, the Government will continue to meet its international obligations, and has advised that he could not guarantee immigration numbers would decline. The Government can only do what is within its competence and authority to do, and in that regard, far better management of the immigration issue is required. In some instances, a view has taken hold that claims by locals of a lack of amenities and services are merely contrivances to oppose the location of asylum applicants and refugees in their area, and there is reason to suspect there is some truth to those claims. However, todays poll finding on investing in local amenities and services, offers a potentially positive way forward for the Government which it should examine and implement as a means of drawing poison from a developing, and occasionally ugly, issue. We have all seen the vengeance-filled attacks by Israel on the residents of the Gaza Strip, which have extracted a terrible human cost. But there is another cost the financial one. A rough estimate of the cost of the munition expended to date is between $1bn-$2bn. Each rocket fired by the Israeli, UK, and US air forces, whether in Gaza or the Red Sea, costs US$1m its hard to believe. Iran is arming militias in neighbouring countries and using what they consider cheap drones, costing between $10,000-$160,000. But the cost of downing even one of these drones, using multiple weapons aboard navy ships, can be as high as $1m. Add in the Ukraine/Russian expenditure, the small wars, the drug wars and so on around the world today, and we arrive at an astronomical figure when it comes to the cost of war. And of course the sole winner is the armaments industry. Alas, in the minds of warmongers, there is no price on the loss of humanity. At this stage of the Israeli war on Gaza, the only people who can settle this are the Arab nations in conjunction with Israel. Preferably with no input from Western politicians. Their predecessors laid the foundation for the deep divisions in the Middle East for which the entire world pays today. Declan Foley, Melbourne You can march for peace all you want, but where is condemnation of Hamas? We await a judgement from the International Court of Justice regarding possible genocide being enacted by Israeli in Gaza. There are calls to review and suspend EU-Israeli economic agreements as punishment. It seems reasonable but something rotten is at the heart of these actions. Was it mere rough and tumble on the part of Hamas, with Palestinian support, to murder 1,200 people on October 7? If Gaza was a bastion of peace and inclusivity, would Hamas exist? Where is the call for sanctions against Iran, Qatar and Turkey, where the welcome mat for Hamas lies? March for peace, if you like, but to demonise Israel is sinister, selective, and morally bankrupt until you serve the same criticism (and actions) to all involved. Eugene Tannam, Firhouse, Dublin 24 Ireland must send out a clear message and take action against Israeli state Since Hamass attack on Israel, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) has so far killed at least 27,000 Palestinians in Gaza, of which even the most conservative reports claim over 61pc are civilians, including thousands of children. According to Professor Yagil Levy of the Open University of Israel, this figure represents a significantly higher ratio of civilian to military deaths than in all wars around the world from World War II to the 1990s. The Israeli-Palestine publication +972 Magazine and the Hebrew outlet Local Call found that Israel was deliberately targeting residential areas to cause mass civilian casualties in the hope that people will turn on their Hamas rulers. What is actually happening on the ground in Gaza is that the Palestinian people are becoming even more determined in their resolve to resist the IDF. Israels onslaught in Gaza continues despite the country facing overwhelming opposition to it policies by the UN. It is long past time that the Irish Government asserted the sovereignty of the State by backing South Africas case at the International Court of Justice declaring the actions of the IDF as genocide. The Israeli ambassador should be expelled and we should impose an economic and cultural boycott of Israel. Kieran McNulty, Tralee, Co Kerry Michelle ONeill should be allowed to honour Irish who fought British rule Martina Devlin suggests Michelle ONeill can be a First Minister for all, but also says that is so only if she desists from attending republican funerals and commemorations (ONeill can be First Minister for all, but not by attending republican funerals Irish Independent, February 2). It seems to me that what Ms Devlin is arguing for is a First Minister for all except republicans. Whether unionists like it or not, the republican community honours its dead and is aware of their sacrifice for their community. If its right that a First Minister for all should attend commemorations of those who died in Britains wars, then equally it should be right to commemorate those who died fighting British rule in Ireland. Eoin O Murchu, Cluain Dolcain, Dublin 22 Lets ditch the word bank when it comes to talking about public holidays In the Irish Independent last Saturday, February 3, I noted that Ellen Coyne talked of bank holidays while Anne-Marie Walsh referred to them correctly as public holidays. The term bank holiday belong to the past. The banks took days off that are now public holidays as well as some church holidays (days to honour either saints or special liturgical events). The impact of bank closures was such that some businesses also closed. We should never associate the banks with days off. These same institutions cost us more than many a public holiday. If we were to enjoy a bank holiday it would be a day when interest was not charged on loans. So its public holidays from now on, please. We dont want to make anyone think we owe the banks anything least of all the time off for our workforce. Paddy Murray, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath We can reduce emissions by arranging airport shuttle buses off M50 If Dublin Airport Authority was serious about reducing emissions, it would arrange express shuttle buses from various destinations off the M50. An obvious location would be Bray Dart station where travellers could also use the Dart to get to the shuttle instead of driving. Presently, all buses to the airport travel through Dublin and stop at each hotel along the route. This results not only in long delays but uncertainty over the journey time. In Boston, the most commonly used transport to the airport is to drive to or be dropped off at the nearest bus shuttle station which then drives direct along the expressway which also has a bus lane for peak traffic times. The result is that it takes no more than 30 minutes going to or from the airport. Desmond Rooney, Bray, Co Wicklow 16th century property was outer defence for nearby Castlemartyr Estate The castle is gently tucked away down an avenue lined with native trees. Located just two miles west of the famous Castlemartyr Estate lies a fine, well preserved late medieval Irish Tower House, richly steeped in Irish history and tradition dating from the 1500's. Main bedroom with grand four post bed. The castle was constructed by the Imokilly Fitzgeralds and later passed onto the Boyle Family branch, whose main house was at the Castlemartyr Estate. The property underwent an extensive renovation back in 2008 under the management of the present owner. This is Cork Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Cork newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details The makeover included repointing the walls; installation of pyramid glass and a leaded roof; window repairs with bronze encasement and slim frame profiles; the floor replaced in oak; new plumbing and electrical installation; new doors; installation of a septic tank and an overhaul outdoors with a driveway, lawns, and native trees planted at the site. Glass roofed kitchenette with a wood burning stove. As you enter the castle via an arched door you will encounter a lintelled passage that leads straight through to the main ground floor chamber. There is an entrance to a straight flight of stairs on the south side and spiral stairs providing access to the upper floors. Located on the first floor is a large elegant bedroom that resembles a set piece from Game of Thrones. A grand four-post bed is the highlight of the room, which also features a bath and a closeted toilet. Renovated toilet located in the existing mural passage. Up on the second floor is a glass roofed kitchenette with a wood burning stove, dining area, study area, single bed, a bath and a toilet located in the existing mural passage. A unique feature of the property is access to the battlements that provide breath-taking 360 degrees views, perfect for watching the sun rise or set over east Cork. Single bed located in dining area. The majority of windows in the castle are small and splayed with narrow openings that are wider on the inside this originally enabled archers to fire arrows out at the enemy when the castle was under attack. Situated on half an acre of land, the property boasts full privacy as it is gently tucked away down an avenue lined with native trees. The renovations made to the castle were carried out in a manner that has retained the building's historic character, integrity and charm. Full access to the battlements. Ballintotis Castle is on the market with Premier Properties Ireland at a listed price of 425,000. The castle is located 30km from Cork city and a 10 minute drive from Midleton. The junction is scheduled to close from February 19. Local access will be maintained throughout the duration of the Baile Bhuirne junction closure. A junction leading to and from the Macroom bypass is due to close for over a week later this month. The Baile Bhuirne junction at Slievereagh (north and south) will be subject to a 24-hour closure from 9am on Monday, February 19. The junction allows traffic to travel to and from the R-618 leading to Baile Bhuirne as well as the L-92208 local road. It will remain closed until 6pm on Friday, March 1, to facilitate the resurfacing of its roundabouts. This is Cork Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Cork newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details Cork County Council has detailed alternative routes for road users that will be affected by the closure of the junction. Eastbound traffic travelling on the N22 going to Baile Bhuirne are instructed to continue to Toon Lane junction and exit for Baile Bhuirne. Westbound traffic travelling in Baile Bhuirne village are advised to travel along the R-618 to Toon Lane junction and head westbound along the N22 Bypass. Local access will be maintained throughout the duration of the junctions closure. A senior member of An Garda Siochana in the Cork North Division has acknowledged that sometimes property can be damaged when members of the gardai are carrying out drug searches on properties Superintendent Michael Corbett from the Fermoy Garda District made the comments at a recent Cork County Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting following a query from Fianna Fail councillor Deirdre OBrien. Cllr OBrien wondered if the approach to drug searches had changed after she received reports of doors being damaged during a recent drug search. Supt Michael Corbett said the policy from An Garda Siochana has always been the same. In relation to drug searches, the policy has always been the same. In order to enter somebodys property to carry out a search under the Misuse of Drugs Act, you are required to have a search warrant. A search warrant is normally issued by a district court judge based on information supplied by a member of An Garda Siochana, he said. Supt Corbett continued: The warrant does entitle them to enter the property and to use force if necessary. A lot of the searches that I would be aware of and would have been involved in over the years involved protocols and policies around it in relation to entering properties under a warrant. You have to balance the urgency of getting into the house if there are drugs being destroyed, said Supt Corbett. We had a search recently where drugs were being destroyed and thrown into the fire while the gardai were trying to get in the front door. In that instance, if you are knocking on the door saying gardai with a warrant, everything was going to be destroyed inside. You have to take it on a case by case basis. There is a risk assessment carried out on every search on what the approach is going to be as regards how you are going to get into the property quickly ultimately to obtain evidence and secure evidence in relation to a criminal prosecution, he added. Supt Corbett acknowledged that depending on the circumstances property can get damaged during a drug search. One of the unfortunate sides of carrying out searches is that sometimes there is property damaged. Doors can be damaged and windows can be damaged depending on how entry is gained into the property. That is covered under the warrant. Members of An Garda Siochana and the drugs unit are acting on legal authority to go into the property. It depends on the circumstances but unfortunately property does get damaged in those incidents. Independent councillor Frank Roche fully endorsed the campaign against drugs. I have zero tolerance on drugs. It is frightening what is happening out there. Any force that you have to use, you should have to use it. Dublin students designs worn by the likes of CMAT and The Last Dinner Party The Last Dinner Party dressed in full Oran Aurelio while supporting Hozier in 3Arena. Pic: @elenora.nishevci A Dublin student who purchased his first sewing machine a couple of years ago, has now become a stylist for pop stars. Oran OReilly (21), from Rathfarnham, initially began studying set design in IADT in Dun Laoghaire, but soon developed a passion for costume design. Inspired by his mother, his journey in sewing is entirely self-taught, specialising in one-size knit dresses and corsets. Well known actress Natasha Lyonne, from the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, has shared Orans designs on her Instagram. The young designer has also had the opportunity to dress pop stars CMAT and The Last Dinner Party, who opened for Hozier at a recent gig, showcasing OReillys creations under his designer name, Oral Aurelio. Recalling the moment CMAT approached him for her second album debut, Oran described it as absolutely insane. I think the last dinner party found me through CMAT and a couple of their singles were in my top songs. I couldnt believe it, he said. Oran now has a wish list of people he would kill to dress, including Ethel Cain and Florence and the Machine. When I get these ideas in my head, I try to capture them by drawing if I can. If not, Ill start working on an idea straight away, as the inspiration will be gone within the day if I dont, he said. CMAT wearing bespoke Oran Aurelio at the Olympia. Pic: @darrenhillfilms Currently, he is working on a collection inspired by his experience with type one diabetes, diagnosed in his first year of secondary school. Before the diagnosis he became quite sick, and it was a life changing moment. I hated needles and that was my worst fear, he said. It was psychologically such a blow to my life, and I really resented my own body for giving it to me. The idea behind the collection comes from his own idea to try and glamourize diabetes for himself. Its not as if I want to change everyones perception of diabetes, although I think that would be lovely to do, he said. First and foremost, the collection is about grasping and acknowledging everything I have gone through up until now and it was really hard. It still challenges me in everyday life. Oran manages to balance college with commissioned designs and his stock at Om Diva on Drury Street. Last year, he had the privilege of featuring in Vogue. He said the piece he wore for the shoot was crafted on the number 75 Dublin Bus on the way to college. Hardy Eustace (right) on his way to winning the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle in 2005. The breeders of star hurdler Hardy Eustace have said it was a privilege to produce such a wonderful horse who gave them so many special memories. The dual Cheltenham Hurdler winner won three straight years at the Cheltenham Festival and was put to sleep at the age of 27 on Sunday at the Irish National Stud where he was retired in 2015. Patrick and Louise Joyce bred Hardy Eustace at their Kilbrennal Stud in County Tipperary in 1997. Louise has strong Kerry links through her father, Brian, who is from the famous Cooper racing family in Tralee. She paid tribute to the horse saying he would never be forgotten by them. This is Kerry Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Kerry newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details He was a magnificent looking foal from the minute he arrived. He just had that something. He was very laid back and he was with us until he was four. In the mornings, you would have to muck out around him as he was so laid back. He was so gentle you could put a baby in with him, she said. Hardy Eustace is by the sire Archway out of the mare Sterna Star, who won her only career race over a mile and a half in 1988 in Tralee. It was Patrick who saw the potential in sending Sterna Star to be covered by Archway a sire who wasnt overly popular at the time. Related to the 1992 Epsom Derby winner Doctor Devious, Patrick liked the speed in the Archways pedigree and felt the combination of speed and stamina could be reproduced. It took a while for Hardy Eustace to catch the eye of buyers as a foal, with one prominent Irish trainer telling Louise at the sales to put Hardy back in the truck and take him home once he discovered his sire was Archway. Everybody loved him but they all knocked him because he was by Archway, explains Louise. The late Dessie Hughes saw something in Hardy Eustace that many at the time overlooked. He was bought and trained for Lar Byrne and the rest is history. Hardy Eustace won the 2003 Royal & Sun Alliance Hurdle and returned to Cheltenham in 2004 and 2005 to win two of the most memorable Champion Hurdles in recent history. Along with his trio of Cheltenham victories, Hardy Eustace had 14 career wins in a 48-race career that included such high-profile wins as the Irish Champion Hurdle in 2007, a Punchestown Champion Hurdle in 2004, the Ascot Hurdle in 2006 & 2006, and a Morgina Hurdle in 2008. Hardy had loads of class. All you could do was cry when he won at Cheltenham in 2003 when ridden by the late Kieran Kelly. The night before that race I couldnt sleep. I knew he was going to win and people were laughing at me. But I was very confident as Hardy had loads of ability and plenty of toe. As for when he won his champion hurdles, I mean where do you go from there? It was just unreal. Hardy will never be forgotten by us, Louise said. The Irish National Stud issued a statement on Sunday evening to say the era of two-mile hurdlers like Hardy Eustace, Brave Inca, Harchibald, and Macs Joy will live long in the memory and coincided with an upturn in Irish fortunes at Cheltenham. "Hardy Eustace was a lovely, gentle horse who lived out his days receiving the greatest of care from all the team here. He will be deeply missed by everyone at the Irish National Stud," said Irish National Stud CEO Cathal Beale. At The Social Democrats local election launch in Killarney over the weekend were (from left) leader of the Social Democrats Holly Cairns TD; Mistura Oyebanji (Candidate Tralee MD); Tim Clifford (Candidate Kenmare MD) and Conor Murphy (Chair Social Democrats Kerry). Photo by Michael G Keny The two candidates running in Kerry for the upcoming local elections for The Social Democrats Tim Clifford(Kenmare MD) Mistura Oyebanji(Candidate Tralee MD) Leader of the Social Democrats Holly Cairns TD (Cork South West) Tim Clifford (Kenmare MD) at the launch of the party's local election campaign in The Plaza Hotel Killarney over the weekend. Leader of the Social Democrats Holly Cairns TD (Cork South West) Mistura Oyebanji(Candidate Tralee MD) at the launch of the party's local election campaign in The Plaza Hotel Killarney over the weekend. Leader of the Social Democrats Holly Cairns TD (Cork South West) at the launch of the party's local election campaign in Killarney over the weekend. For the first time the party will run two candidates in Kerry in the upcoming elections, Mistura Oyebanji (Tralee MD) Tim Clifford (Kenmare MD) All photography by Michael G Kenny The leader of the social democrats Holly Cairns has said she is confident the party will increase their representation on local authorities across the county in the forthcoming local elections. She was speaking on a visit to Kerry this weekend as the party launch their first-ever candidates for the party. Two candidates have been selected to run for the Social Democrats in Kerry - Tim Clifford has been selected to run in Kenmare LEA, while Mistura Oyebanji will stand in Tralee LEA. I am delighted to be here today to support Tim and Mistura, who have the distinction of being the first candidates to contest an election in Kerry for the Social Democrats, said Ms Cairns at the campaign launch in the Killarney Plaza Hotel. The fact we are running two strong candidates in the county is a sign of the growing momentum behind the party and a testament to the hard work put in by the Kerry branch of the Social Democrats. It is so exciting to have candidates like Tim and Mistura on board, who, like me, are interested in seeing the kind of change that people around the country are ready for. By standing candidates who share the Social Democrats vision for a fairer, more equal society, I am optimistic that we will significantly increase our representation on local authorities including Kerry County Council in June. Tim Clifford, who is based in Killorglin, said housing is his number one priority. The main area of concern in my Local Election Area is the lack of housing and accommodation, both social and private. I have two daughters still living at home with me, one of whom is 27 years old. At the moment, she has little hope of finding anywhere affordable to live. The supply and demand imbalance has driven rents so high and added to the cost of living crisis. People's quality of life has been eroded and local businesses feel the knock-on effect with less disposable cash in circulation. Mistura Oyebanji, who is a dual Irish-Nigerian citizen, added: "I believe that 21st century Ireland is just beginning to see the potential that multiculturalism can bring to local communities around the country. In standing as a candidate for the Social Democrats in Tralee LEA, I look forward to engaging with the people of Kerry and lending my voice to that process. As a person in my 20s, I see the appetite for change amongst my generation and look forward to advocating for those voices. Senator Byrne stated that he has been advocating for this matter for the past three years and would like to start a campaign as soon as possible to explain to the public what is involved with joining this system. 17 of the 27 European Union member states are already taking part in the unified patent system which ensures that the rights of businesses and inventors can be protected and vindicated right across the European Union. Senator Byrne said it is critical that Ireland is apart of this system and in order for that to happen, a strong political campaign must be carried out. A referendum is required in Ireland because members will join a unified patent court, which requires an amendment to Article 29 of the Constitution. Senator Byrne stated that it is critical that the referendum will take place in June along with the local and European elections. If we have a stand-alone referendum, it will be difficult to get sufficient enthusiasm around this issue, so holding it on that date is crucial, said Senator Byrne at the Senate. Senator Byrne was able to clearly see the benefits that this system will bring to Ireland while at the inauguration of the Unified Patent Court in Luxembourg in May. Put simply, this system will allow businesses to avail of a single patent that will take effect across 17 EU member states, rather than purchasing a patent in each of these countries. The savings for businesses speak for themselves. If a company holds a patent for ten years, the average lifetime, it will cost it less than 4,700. If the company were to buy these patents in these individual countries, it would cost it over 30,000. This is an incredible opportunity for Irish businesses, said Senator Byrne. In response, Minister Neale Richmond stated that this is a very important issue for Irish businesses and inventors. He was also able to confirm that Minister Simon Coveney was bringing a proposal to Cabinet on January 24 to agree a date for the referendum as well as the local and European elections, which are due to take place on the first weekend of June. The Minister will seek approval for the priority drafting of a Bill to give effect to the proposed constitutional amendment. Minister Richmond went on to highlight the benefits of this system such as the cost savings to Irish businesses and the potential investments. "We are attractive to multinationals and for investment in this light, membership of the UPC would certainly add to this. Should Ireland not join the UPC, we risk reputational damage. We do not want to see investment go elsewhere due to our non-participation in the court. "The protection of international intellectual property is vital if we are to encourage innovation and invention in Ireland. If we want people to spend many years at the cutting edge of their field, they must know that their work is protected. Membership of the UPC is another string to our bow to protect this, said Minister Richmond. The talented teenage blues guitarist garnered widespread acclaim, including a standing ovation on the Jools Holland Hootenanny Show on New Years Eve. Following this triumph, Muireann recently took the stage and was interviewed on RTEs Late Late Show. Her stunning performance of When the Levee Breaks captivated viewers, and she joined Patrick Kielty, Paul Mescal, and Andrew Scott for a chat about her Jools Holland experience and meeting stars like Rod Stewart, all with her proud dad watching. At just 17 years old, Muireann is capturing the hearts and imaginations of audiences in Ireland and the UK with her mesmerising fingerpicking guitar and soulful vocals. Having grown up surrounded by guitars and the soulful tunes of old blues in the hills overlooking the Finn Valley in County Donegal, her musical journey began at the age of nine when she convinced her father to buy her first guitar and teach her. This father-daughter bond laid the foundation for Muireanns deep connection with the blues, a passion that has taken her to remarkable heights. Drawing inspiration from the music of the 1920s and 30s, her highly anticipated album, I Kept These Old Blues, was released in December 2023. Cllr Bridin Murphy of New Ross County Council expressed the towns excitement with seeing her perform in July. Its an honour for New Ross to have up-and-coming guitar prodigy Muireann as the opening act of the festival. Muireann Bradley is a truly sensational act that is capturing the imagination of audiences in a big way. Sean Reidy of the festival committee, said: This opening act promises to be a historical moment for New Ross, as Muireann Bradley follows in the footsteps of legendary Irish guitarist Rory Gallagher as an ambassador for blues music in Ireland. International guitar icons have praised her talent, with Arlen Roth describing her as a natural! and Jorma Kaukonen emphasising, Kid is really good, and I dont mean really good for a kid, I mean really good. Festival organiser, David Creevy, expressed excitement about Muireanns inclusion in the line-up for the festival, stating, We are thrilled to welcome Irelands new guitar hero to the guitar festival. Muireanns soulful playing and hauntingly beautiful voice transports us to the roots of the blues. We anticipate high demand for her concert, and tickets will be available soon. In addition to Muireann, the festival proudly features the return of flamenco maestro John Walsh for its opening night salvo. Recognized as Irelands leading Flamenco guitarist, Walshs spellbinding compositions and virtuosity have captivated audiences globally. Creevy remarked: John Walshs performance at last years festival left a lasting impression. We are delighted to have him back, on the same bill as with Muireann Bradley. Their combined artistry promises an unforgettable evening of diverse guitar styles. Further details regarding performers and venues will be released over the coming days and weeks. The festival runs from Thursday, July 18, to Sunday, July 21. Ticket are on sale from Wednesday, January 31, from St Michaels Theatre, stmichaelsnewross.com, phone 051 421255. Wicklow-based filmmaker, Alan Gilsenan features on RTE lyric fms spring special, Where Life Sounds Greener, which introduces listeners to some extraordinary people who are driven by their love of nature. Where Life Sounds Greener launched on Thursday, February 1, and consists of greetings from creators across the country, who share their connection with the natural world and impart a piece of music that inspires this connection to listeners. The segments will be heard throughout the day on all programmes on lyric fm and will run for one week. Multi-award-winning filmmaker, Alan has an almost spiritual connection with the natural world and rejoices in the renewed life that spring delivers. His festival in Glencree, near Enniskerry, The Shaking Bog, celebrates the environment in all its beauty and the constant inspiration to be found there for everyone to enjoy. This is Wicklow Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wicklow newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details The Shaking Bog Festival takes place at indoor and outdoor locations throughout the valley including; in fields and forests; on riverbanks and hillsides; in tents, churches and schools. The accompanying podcast remains rooted in the local landscape whilst reaching out to a wider vision of Irish landscape through a broad canvas of contributing artists. Alan Gilsenan is an award-winning Irish writer, film-maker and theatre director. His diverse body of film work extends across documentary, feature films and experimental work and his productions include the feature film Unless, his adaptation of Carol Shields final novel; The Meeting, a drama based on a real meeting between a woman and her rapist; Meetings with Ivor, a cinema documentary about the late psychiatrist Ivor Browne; an experimental life of WB Yeats called A Vision: A Life of WB Yeats; the documentary series Daniel OConnell: Forgotten King of Ireland, and a film installation inspired by Joyces Ulysses for Dublins new MOLI (Museum of Literature Ireland) entitled ULYSSES | FILM. Where Life Sounds Greener was launched to coincide with St Brigids Day, which marks the first day of spring. Each contributor values the power of music and the arts to motivate, encourage and inspire connection with the natural world at a time when we need it most. Other contributors include Cathy Davey who sings songs to her rescued horses and pigs, photographer Tina Claffey who captures minute bog universes through her lens, and Sam Lee who sings with the nightingales. Where Life Sounds Greener, on RTE lyric fm, will feature on programmes throughout the day and will run until Thursday, February 8. You can also hear the segments for yourself on rte.ie/radio/lyricfm/where-life-sounds-greener. A new Netflix documentary titled Two Mothers focuses on the unusual bond which compelled Wicklow mother Cathy Wheatley to travel to war torn Ukraine in order to bring her former surrogate Ivana Holub and her family to safety. Two Mothers is one of five documentaries created through the Netflix Documentary Talent Fund, whereby each documentary film-maker received 30,000 to create a documentary short film based on the theme of connection. Anna Rodgers and Zlata Filipovic are the two film-makers behind Two Mothers which documents Cathy Wheatleys journey as she travelled to the boarder of Ukraine and Romania in 2022 in order to bring Ivana Holub and her three children to safety from Ukraine to Ireland. Meet the Irish woman who rescued the woman who was her surrogate from war-torn Ukraine The synopsis for Two Mothers reads: "After losing a baby late in pregnancy, Cathy turned to surrogate Ivana in Ukraine who safely carried her twins in 2019. The two mothers developed an unusual bond. When the war broke out, Cathy felt compelled to cross the border into a warzone and carry out the family of the woman who had carried hers. "Knowing Ireland only recognised the birth mother, in law, Cathy chose to risk bringing Ivana and her three children to live together in their small cottage in rural Wicklow and forge a life together as an unusual family. This is a film about their relationship." Throughout the year, the five teams took part in Netflix hosted workshops covering all aspects of production including legal, creative, HR, production and finance. They were supported by a mentorship programme that gave each team a strong network of industry figures to guide them throughout the filmmaking process. Kate Townsend, Director, Documentary Film said: Its been an absolute pleasure to work with such talented filmmakers and watch each teams ideas blossom into fully formed documentaries. We are immensely proud of the tenacity, grit and creativity demonstrated to get the films made and presented to this final standard of excellence. Each film is an exciting glimpse into the future talent of UK and Irish documentarians. Ian Lavender had many stand-out moments as the Private Frank Pike in classic sitcom Dads Army (BBC/PA) Ian Lavender had many stand-out moments as the Private Frank Pike in classic sitcom Dads Army. The actor, who was the last remaining main cast member from the wartime-set BBC show, died at the age of 77 on Friday morning. His antics as Pike, the youngest member of the Home Guard platoon, would often get him in trouble with its commander, Captain George Mainwaring (Arthur Lowe), who frequently referred to him as a stupid boy. Here is a round-up of his catchphrase and funniest scenes: Hitler Is A Twerp! In the episode The Deadly Attachment, Captain Mainwaring is competing with a German U-boat captain over who will win the Second World War. Pike chimes in with a reworked version of Whistle While You Work, rhyming about the Nazi leader: Whistle while you work, Hitler is a twerp, hes half-barmy, sos his army, whistle while you work. When the German, played by Philip Madoc, then demands his name to add to a list of those who will be brought to account if Hitler is victorious, Captain Mainwaring says: Dont tell him, Pike. Stupid boy During the episode Turkey Dinner, Pike ends up staining Captain Mainwarings dinner jacket with gravy. Reacting angrily, Captain Mainwaring deploys his catchphrase: Stupid boy. Ian Lavender has died at the age of 77 (Yui Mok/PA) Pike signs up for the RAF In the episode titled When Youve Got To Go, after passing some tests, Pike tells his over-protective mother Mavis (Janet Davies) and her lover Sergeant Arthur Wilson (John Le Mesurier) that he will be joining the Royal Air Force. Captain Mainwaring organises a farewell during which Pike says he likes fish and chips and tells the platoon he has a funny story. He tells them he cannot join the RAF due to having a rare blood type but that he delayed saying anything because of the dinner. Pike gets his head stuck in a gate In the episode A Man of Action, during a routine patrol Pike gets his head stuck in a gate and, due to difficulties getting him out of the predicament, the platoon take him to the church hall where they are stationed. Captain Mainwaring asks Pike to pass his helmet through the bars sideways, to which he replies: How can I see which is sideways? I dont have eyes in the back of my head, you know. Captain Mainwaring replies: Dont you use that tone of voice to me, Pike. Weve forgotten the pole Often seen as the idiotic character in the series, occasionally Pike would land on what had gone wrong for the platoon. When they had to set up a tarpaulin during an exercise, Pike realises they have forgotten the pole and are unable to set it up. A London grandmother was savaged to death by two dogs as she attempted to intervene between fighting puppies, according to her daughter. Esther Martin, 68, from Woodford Green, was attacked at a property in Hillman Avenue in Jaywick on Saturday afternoon by what have been described as the XL bully breed of banned dogs. Locals clean the rubble of burnt-out houses after forest fires reached their neighbourhood in Vina del Mar, Chile. (AP Photo/Cristobal Basaure) Raging forest fires in Chile have claimed the lives of 112 people and left entire neighbourhoods in ruins in what is being seen as the countrys worst blaze on record. Photo courtesy: UNI Ranchi/UNI: Describing his arrest as a black chapter in Indian democracy, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday alleged in the state Assembly that the Raj Bhavan was "involved some way or the other" in the "well-planned script". "I would like to say that the night of January 31 is a black night, a black chapter in Indian democracy. This is the first time in the country that an incumbent Chief Minister was arrested. I don't know of any precedent," Soren told the House during the discussion of the trust vote sought by Chief Minister Champai Soren. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 after over seven hours of grilling in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam, arrived in the House on Monday to participate in the floor test. Hemant Soren had stepped down as the Chief Minister soon after his arrest on Wednesday last, and the JMM and the ruling coalition MLAs elected Champai Soren as their legislature party leader within hours. Champai Soren was sworn in as Chief Minister last Friday by Governor C P Radhakrishnan, who asked the new CM to prove his majority on the floor of the Assembly within ten days. Terming his arrest as the latest example of the "tortures" inflicted on the scheduled cases, tribes and minorities in the country, Hemant Soren said without naming any party or group, "I don't understand how they manage to nurse so much hatred against these sections". Targeting the Governor, he said: "I have a feeling that in making it (his arrest) happen, Raj Bhavan was also involved in some way or the other." Soren, however, declared that he had not accepted "defeat". "I have not accepted defeat. If they think they can fulfil their designs by keeping me behind bars, they should know that Jharkhand is a state where in every nook and corner people of scheduled castes and tribes had fought for India's independence." Soren said coming from a tribal background, he was not completely abreast of the rules, regulations and laws. "The way things have turned out, has left me puzzled. I come from a tribal background, and there are some gaps in my understanding of rules and regulations and the law." Soren alleged that the script culminating in his arrest on January 31 was being written in a well-planned manner for a long time, since 2022. "They have taken me in their custody in a planned way." Soren referred to Dr B R Ambedkar and said he had to convert to Buddhism. "The way things are panning out in the country, the tribals and scheduled castes may be forced to think along similar lines". Photo Courtesy: PIB Rebutting the charges of the Congress party over the devolution of funds to the states, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said this apprehension that some states are discriminated against "politically vitiates narrative". The Finance Minister stated this while replying to supplementaries in Lok Sabha during the Question Hours on Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury' remarks that injustice has been done to Karnataka and other non-BJP ruled states by the Central government with reduction in tax devolution. The Minister underlined that the system of tax devolution is well placed and she does not have any discretion to play around with Finance Commission recommendations. The Finance Minister further said, "I have no role in choosing based on my choice, there is no favour involved. No Finance Minister can intervene and stop distribution." "There is no way political interests would come on the way of the states getting the funds. Its a charge that vested interests would like to go around. I dont have the discretion, its the finance commission that takes the decision," she said. The Finance Minister said the Commission meets different stakeholders and then submits its recommendations. Sitharaman added that the GST, particularly the SGST goes 100 per cent to States, while the IGST is collected because it involves a lot of interstate payments and it is periodically reviewed. This comes days after the Congress MP from Karnataka, D K Suresh, stated, after the interim Union Budget on February 1 that states in South India may be forced to seek a separate country if injustice prevails in fund allotments. In the Lok Sabha , Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also presented statements of estimated receipts and expenditures of Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2024-25, and the Supplementary Demands for Grants in respect of the Union Territory for the year 2023-24. (With UNI inputs) Photo Courtesy: Randhir Jaiswal X page Fiji Deputy PM Biman Prasad has arrived in India for his week-long trip to the nation during which he is scheduled to visit Ayodhya. He was welcomed to the country by the Ministry of External Affairs JS Indo Pacific, Paramita Tripathi. After his arrival, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X: "Advancing - ties!A warm welcome to Deputy PM @bimanprasad of Fiji as he arrives in New Delhi on an official visit. " He will be the first foreign minister to visit Ayodhya since the consecration ceremony of the newly built Ram Temple was held on January 22. As per the MEA website, he is scheduled to visit Ayodhya on February 8. He is scheduled to attend several events in New Delhi, Goa and Gujarat. Image Credit:: Facebook/Sanjay Singh New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: The Supreme Court Monday adjourned the plea of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh challenging his arrest in the Delhi excise scam case to March 5. A double bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta after hearing Singh's plea against a Delhi High Court order, refused to set aside his arrest and issued notice to the investigating agency. Singh was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and has been in custody since October. He was arrested by the ED on charges of money laundering over alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of a now-scrapped liquor policy in Delhi. The SC bench had earlier advised Singh to apply for regular bail. The court pointed out that a bail application would not preclude him from pursuing a legal remedy in the Supreme Court for a purported violation of Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act or Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Sanjay Singh, had in the previous hearing questioned the arrest made by the Enforcement Directorate, arguing that Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, lays down the requirements for a valid and lawful arrest, and provides for inbuilt safeguards against the arbitrary use of the power. These include the mandate to inform the party about the reasons in writing for the belief regarding the involvement of the person in an offence of money laundering and to inform the person of the grounds of arrest, Singhvi said. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju informed the apex court that Singh had applied for regular bail in the Delhi High Court in which the oral arguments have also been concluded and the verdict is reserved. The ASG said the order of the Delhi High Court may come out in a couple of days. So the hearing of this petition should be adjourned for a week. Taking note of the submission, Justice Khanna listed the matter for March 5. The Aam Aadmi Party MP had moved the Delhi High Court last month seeking bail in the money laundering case. A bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate and sought its reply. The High Court had, after the conclusion of arguments on the bail application, reserved its verdict. Sanjay Singh was arrested after the controversy on the framing of a new excise policy by the Delhi government arose. The policy was said to have been framed to boost revenue and reform the liquor trade in 2021, which was later withdrawn after allegations of irregularities in implementation were made. Lieutenant-Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena had ordered a CBI probe into the matter. The policy which sought to completely privatise liquor trade in the national capital, was allegedly used to grant undue advantage to private entities at the cost of the public exchequer, the ED and the CBI alleged. The investigating agencies also alleged that there was a coordinated conspiracy to provide extraordinary profit margins to wholesalers, led by individuals including Vijay Nair acting on behalf of Manish Sisodia, former deputy chief minister of Delhi, a prominent leader of the Aam Aadmi Party. The investigation is currently on and has led to the arrest of Sisodia and others. Sanjay Singh, currently in judicial custody, was arrested by the ED on Oct 4 last year following searches at his residence in Delhi. The CBI alleged that an employee of businessman Dinesh Arora delivered Rs. 2 crores to Singh's house on two occasions. Singh's arrest followed accusations made by Arora, who later turned approver in both the ED and CBI cases. Last month, the Delhi High Court rejected the petition challenging his arrest and remand in connection with the money laundering case linked to the liquor policy scam. Despite Singh's claim that the case was politically motivated, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the High Court emphasised that the court cannot interfere with the work of the Enforcement Directorate, a premier investigative agency, in the absence of substantial evidence supporting such allegations. However, the order on Singhs regular bail application was reserved in the Delhi High Court. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong was acquitted on Monday of financial crimes during the merger of two Samsung affiliates in 2015, the media reported. Lee was accused of fraud for engaging in market irregularities during the merger of Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T in order to strengthen the group's control at a lower cost. Prosecutors suspected the businessman of stock price rigging, breach of trust, and accounting fraud, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported. The businessman reportedly resorted to disseminating false market information, buying up the affiliates' stocks, and illegally lobbying for a deal to reduce the prices of Samsung C&T and increase Cheil Industries' prices. Lee was the largest shareholder of Cheil Industries with a 23.2% stake, while Samsung C&T was the parent company of the Samsung Group holding company, the news agency reported. The merger was reportedly seen as critical to Lee's succession in the family business after his father suffered a heart attack in 2014. Prosecutors had sought a five-year prison sentence for Lee and a fine of 500 million won ($373,500). The court also acquitted a number of former Samsung employees who were charged in the merger case, Yonhap reported. (With UNI inputs) Photo Courtesy: twitter.com/@IRIMFA_SPOX Tehran: Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani Monday said that direct talks with the United States on regional issues were unnecessary. He spoke at a weekly press conference in Tehran, where he answered a question about the need for negotiations between Iran and the United States to ease tensions in West Asia. Kanaani said Iran's position was clear, and it had conveyed its message to Washington through mediators. The solution to the crisis and the tension in the region was clear, and so was the source of the crisis, which was the Palestinian issue. He added that the U.S. government was not part of the solution but the problem, and it was escalating tensions in the region. He said this was not only Iran's view but also that of many nations and governments. Furthermore, he criticised the U.S. and British strikes on the Houthi targets in Yemen, slamming it as a "crude move, in violation of international law and regulations, and aimed at diverting global public opinion from the source of the crisis in the region." "What is taking place in the Red Sea is the effect, not the cause," said Kanaani, accusing the U.S. of trying to expand the conflicts in the region, which would endanger international security and peace. The U.S. and Britain have launched several rounds of strikes on the Houthi targets in Yemen since January in response to the group's attacks on ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea. The Houthis said their attacks were to stop the Israeli strikes on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, and to show solidarity with Palestinians. (With UNI/Xinhua inputs) Support Our Journalism We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news. Support objective journalism for a small contribution. Australian writer Yang Hengjun handed suspended death sentence in China. Photo Courtesy: Unsplash A Chinese court on Monday (February 5, 2024) gave a suspended death sentence to Australian writer Yang Hengjun, five years after he was arrested on spying charges. The sentence may be commuted to life imprisonment after two years, according to Australian officials as quoted by BBC. The Australian writer has denied the charges levelled against him. Australia reacts Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her government will be communicating its response to China in 'strongest terms'. "Dr Yang has been detained since January 2019 on national security charges. His verdict and sentence have been subject to repeated delays since his closed trial on 27 May 2021," Wong said in a statement. She said: "The Australian Government will be communicating our response in the strongest terms." "The Australian Government has advocated for Dr Yang with China at every opportunity, and at the highest levels. We have consistently called for basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment for Dr Yang, in accordance with international norms and China's legal obligations," she said. "We will continue to press for Dr Yang's interests and wellbeing, including appropriate medical treatment, and provide consular assistance to him and his family," she said. One of the supporters of Yang Hengjun described his detention as "political persecution". "He is punished by the Chinese government for his criticism of human rights abuses in China and his advocacy for universal values such as human rights, democracy and the rule of law," his friend, Sydney academic Feng Chongyi, told the BBC. Reacting to the development, Human Rights Watch Asia Director Elaine Pearson told BBC: "He has had delayed and limited access to legal representation, a closed door trial - and Yang himself has alleged torture and forced confessions during his interrogations." Tourists from India visiting Paris can now use UPI to buy tickets for the iconic Eiffel Tower, marking the first instance in France. The service may expand to other merchants soon. Poonam Pandey's death hoax has created a massive uproar. While people were sending out condolences after the actress posted about her death on Instagram, turned out the death was a publicity stunt to spread awareness of cervical cancer. This has angered a lot of people. While the digital agency that was the mastermind behind the move apologised, it also tried to defend its actions by revealing how "Cervical Cancer" and related terms ended up becoming one of the most searched topics on Google. Twitter Do you this wasn't the first time that someone faked their death? In 1994, Mahesh Bhatt faked Manisha Koirala's death to promote his film Criminal, starring Nagarjuna, Ramya Krishna, and Manisha Koirala. When Mahesh Bhatt faked Manisha Koirala's death for movie promotions As part of movie promotions, Bhatt got "Manisha Koirala is Dead" published in a newspaper along with the poster of the movie, which was inspired by 1993 American film The Fugitive. For the unversed, Koirala played the role of Dr Swetha who was killed by a doctor. Twitter While it remains unclear whether the actress who will next be seen in Heeramandi was aware of this in advance, it is reported that this death hoax angered a lot of people at that time as well. Despite this promotional gimmick, the film which had melodious songs by MM Keeravani turned out to be a massive hit. Digital Agency apologises for Poonam Pandey's death hoax Meanwhile, the digital agency behind this stunt Schbang has apologises for their activity. "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", it wrote on Instagram. "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," it added. Instagram Furthermore, the statement added how the campaign resulted in making the topic one of the most searched topics on Google. " There was no change in people's 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." What's your take on Poonam Pandey's death stunt and Manisha Koirala's death hoax created by Mahesh Bhatt? Let us know your opinion on both these cases in the comments section below. Shoaib Malik, the ex-husband of Sania Mirza, disclosed his third marriage a few days ago. Social media users praised Sania for her bravery and expressed gratitude for handling both her divorce and her ex-husband's marriage when the images from his wedding went viral. Is Sania Mirza's Son Being Bullied After Shoaib's Marriage? Izhaan, the son of Sania Mirza and her ex-husband Shoaib Malik, is allegedly being bullied at school as a result of his father's third marriage, according to claims from Pakistani media. Sania Mirza/Instagram Following Malik's announcement of his marriage to Pakistani actress and model Sana Javed last month, Samaa TV journalist Naeem Hanif reportedly spoke with Sania Mirza in a video posted on Farah Iqrar's YouTube channel. Hanif claims that because of the way he is being treated at school, Izhaan Malik Mirza is going through emotional hardship. It's said that his peers are making fun of and interrogating him on Malik's most recent declaration. She added that Izhaan has stopped going to school, which worries Mirza a great deal about his "mental well-being." Shoaib/Instagram Anam Mirza Addresses Shoaibs Marriage Anam Mirza, Sania's sister, confirmed Sania and Shoaib's divorce on Instagram after the news of their marriage broke. Anam wrote, Sania has always kept her personal life away from the public eyes. However, today the need has arisen for her to share that Shoaib and she have been divorced for a few months now. She wishes Shoaib well for his new journey ahead! During this delicate time in her life, we prefer not to engage in any guesswork and to honor her request for privacy. For the unversed, Two days before Shoaib got married for the third time, she posted a quote story on instagram that read, "Marriage is hard, Divorce is hard. Choose your hard. Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard, Choose your hard. being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard. Communication is hard. No communicating is hard. Life will never be easy. I will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely." For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. 1. India At Grammys 2024: Zakir Hussain Creates History As He Grabs 3 Awards; Shankar Mahadevan, Rakesh Chaurasia Win Big X Indian performers brought pride to our nation in the 2024 Grammy Awards. The 66th Grammy Awards took place on February 4. Indian musicians Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain's fusion duo "Shakti" took home the "Best Global Music Album" Grammy on Monday. They won it for their most recent album, "This Moment." Taking to X, Grammys shared the post and wrote, "Congrats Best Global Music Album winner - 'This Moment' Shakti. #GRAMMYs." 2. Did Sania Mirzas Son Face Bullying After Shoaib Maliks Third Wedding? Pak Journalist Says So Sania/Instagram A few days ago, Sania Mirza's ex-husband Shoaib Malik revealed that he is getting married again. When photos from her ex-husband's wedding went viral, social media fans thanked Sania for her bravery and offered gratitude for weathering both her divorce and his marriage. Pakistani media has now reported that Izhaan, the son of Sania Mirza and her ex-husband Shoaib Malik, is being bullied at school because of his father's third marriage. 3. All You Need To Know About 'Club You To Death', Book That Inspired Sara Ali Khan-Vijay Varma's Murder Mubarak Netflix Under the direction of Homi Adajania a new movie called Murder Mubarak!, based on Anuja Chauhan's book "Club You To Death" starring Sara Ali Khan, Vijay Varma, Dimple Kapadia, Karisma Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor, Tisca Chopra, and Suhail Nayyar is on its way to Netflix. 4. Before Poonam Pandey, Mahesh Bhatt Faked Manisha Koirala's Death To Promote His Movie In 1995 Poonam/Instagram The hoax of Poonam Pandey's death has caused a huge uproar. Following the actress's Instagram post regarding her passing, many expressed their sympathies; however, it soon became apparent that the actress had staged her death as a PR hoax to raise awareness of cervical cancer. Many individuals are enraged by this. The digital agency responsible for the activity apologized, but it also attempted to justify its conduct by pointing out how "Cervical Cancer" and related terms became some of the most searched terms on Google. Do you think that this wasn't the first time someone pretended to be dead? To promote his 1994 film Criminal, which starred Nagarjuna, Ramya Krishna, and Manisha Koirala, Mahesh Bhatt staged Manisha Koirala's death. 5. Miley Cyrus Finally Won A Grammy! Fans Tear Up After Her Emotional Speech On Double Award Win X With the song "Flowers," Miley Cyrus just received her first Grammy Award. The actress took up the Best Pop Solo Performance trophy at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards. Cyrus said she nearly missed this moment as she was stuck in traffic. "I could have missed the award, that's fine, but not Mariah Carey!" Cyrus said as she stood on stage. She went on to share a story about a little boy to share how happy she felt in the moment. She said, "So there was a little boy that all he wanted for his birthday was a butterfly. And so his parents gave him a butterfly net and he was so excited. He just went outside, out in the sun, and started swinging and swinging. But with no luck. He sat down on the ground he finally let go and he surrendered and he was okay that he wasn't gonna capture this beautiful butterfly. And right when he did is when the butterfly came and landed right on the tip of his nose." She added, "This song Flowers is my butterfly. Thank you". For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. People have been curious to find out if Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani are getting married this year ever since pictures from their alleged engagement ceremony went viral. The couple appears to be getting married this year, and the celebrations have already begun, if small clues are to be believed! Let's examine their love story, wedding date, current celebrations, and everything else before their Big Day! Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnanis Love Story Rakul Preet Singh had talked candidly about how her relationship with renowned producer Jackky Bhagnani began in an interview with Bollywood Bubble. The actress also talked about their romantic beginnings, acknowledging that it was "ordinary" and devoid of anything unique or elaborate. Rakul Preet also acknowledged that lockdown had helped them become closer because, despite living next door for a very long time, they had never really gotten to know one another. Therefore, following a number of meetings between Jackky and Rakul, the couple started to get closer. Rakul Preet Singh/Instagram She had said, "I think it was very organic. We started hanging together and then a couple of months down the line like 2-3 months, 4 months we were just hanging and without any facade of who we are. And the coincidence was we were almost neighbors and we didn't even knew. We were not even friends for so many years you know. Till the lockdown happened and then we started hanging with our friends and it just very organically grew into comfort." When Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani Made Their Relationship Insta-Official On October 10, 2021, the 31-year-old actress revealed her partner to the public on the eve of her birthday. She had written while sharing a photo, Thankyouuuu my love ! You have been my biggest gift this year ! Thankyou for adding colour to my life , thankyou for making me laugh non stop , thankyou for being you !! here is to making more memories together Jacky Bhagnani (sic). Rakul Preet Singh-Jackky Bhagnani's Wedding Festivities It appears that their wedding celebrations have gotten underway. Recently, the actress posted a selfie to her Instagram account. Rakul said that she is taking part in an Akhand Paath as well. The wedding festivities have reportedly begun. She wrote, #AkhandPaath #Waheguru while sharing the photo. Rakul Preet Singh/Instagram When Are Rakul Preet And Jackky Getting Married? As per Republicworld, Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani have decided to get married in an intimate two-day celebration in Goa that will end on February 21. However there is no official confirmation about the same. The Bachelorette? As seen in some photos, the two are also enjoying an amazing bachelorette in Thailand along with their friends days before their wedding. Are you excited to see Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani tie the knot? Tell us in the comments below! For more news and updates from the world of OTT, and celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Total Solar Eclipse 2024: A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely covers the sun, casting a shadow on Earth and briefly turning day into night. This rare celestial event unfolds as the moon aligns perfectly with the sun, blocking its entire disk. Witnessing a total solar eclipse reveals the sun's corona, a halo of plasma, creating a breathtaking and awe-inspiring celestial spectacle for observers within the eclipse path. The total solar eclipse on April 8 is expected to be the most significant astronomical event of the year. It will be visible as it moves across North America, passing through Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Will a Total Solar Eclipse 2024 be visible In India? Unfortunately, Indians won't be able to see this eclipse, but it's important to note that scientists consider this type of eclipse to be extremely uncommon. Even though it's not visible in India, there's excitement in the scientific community about this rare celestial occurrence. Total Solar Eclipse 2024: When and where to watch? Total Solar Eclipse | Photo: BCCL/Representational Image NASA predicts that a special event called a total eclipse is set to occur over the South Pacific Ocean. If you are in the right spot, you'll get to see the sun completely covered by the moon's shadow. The total eclipse will last for about three to four minutes for those lucky enough to be directly in its path. This cosmic spectacle kicks off around 11:07 a.m. PDT along the Pacific coast of Mexico, making it the first place in continental North America to witness totality, as stated by NASA. Later, at 1:27 p.m. CDT in the United States, Texas will join the historic moment as the moon's shadow travels northeast. The eclipse's journey continues through states like Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire, cutting diagonally across the country. The eclipse is expected to reach Maine at 3:35 p.m. EDT in the United States before moving into the Maritime Provinces of Canada. Here's an interesting tidbit: The Great American Eclipse predicts that the longest duration of this celestial event will be an impressive 4 minutes and 27 seconds near Torreon, Mexico that's almost twice as long as the 2017 eclipse. So, keep an eye on the sky for this fantastic show of nature, and consider yourself lucky if you're in the right place at the right time! Why total Eclipse 2024 is rare? Roughly every 18 months, we get to witness a special event in the sky a total solar eclipse. This happens when the moon moves between the sun and Earth, blocking out the sun's light for a short period. Picture this: it's like the moon momentarily playing hide-and-seek with the sun. Now, given that more than 70% of our planet is covered by oceans, finding a good spot on land to watch this eclipse is quite a task. Imagine searching for the perfect spot to view this celestial spectacle! Living close to where a solar eclipse happens is even rarer, making it unnecessary to embark on long journeys, maybe even crossing continents. According to NASA, waiting for two total eclipses to occur in the same spot takes an average of about 375 years. That's a long time! Sometimes, though, the gap between these occurrences can be even wider. So, catching a solar eclipse in your backyard is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Total Solar Eclipse 2024: How to watch Rare Celestial Event? People watch the solar eclipse on the lawn of Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California, U.S., August 21, 2017 | Photo: Reuters The most important thing to remember when watching a total solar eclipse is to ensure your safety. It's crucial to be aware of when you should wear special eye protection specifically designed for looking at the sun. It's unsafe to gaze directly at the sun without this protection, except for the short total phase of a total solar eclipse when the moon completely covers the sun. If you use a telescope, binoculars, or a camera to observe any part of the bright sun without a special solar filter attached to the front, it can cause serious damage to your eyes quickly. Before and after the total phase, always use safe solar viewing glasses, also known as 'eclipse glasses,' or a secure hand-held solar viewer to directly see the partial phases of the eclipse with your eyes. Another safe option is to use an indirect viewing method, like a pinhole projector. Remember, protecting your eyes is the key to enjoying the spectacle of a total solar eclipse safely. Types of Solar Eclipses Total Solar Eclipse: Occurs when the Moon completely blocks the Sun from Earth. People in the Moon's shadow experience total darkness, similar to dawn or dusk. The Sun's corona becomes visible, and viewers can briefly remove eclipse glasses. The next total solar eclipse in the U.S. is on April 8, 2024. Annular Solar Eclipse: Occurs when the Moon is at or near its farthest point from Earth. The Moon appears smaller, creating a ring-like effect around the Sun. The last annular eclipse in the U.S. was on Oct. 14, 2023. Partial Solar Eclipse: Occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not perfectly aligned. Only a part of the Sun appears covered, forming a crescent shape. Visible to observers outside the Moon's inner shadow during total or annular eclipses. Hybrid Solar Eclipse: Occurs when an eclipse shifts between annular and total as the Moon's shadow moves across Earth's curved surface. For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events. Illustration: Liu Rui/GT According to some US media outlet, during her visit to Nepal a few days ago, Sun Haiyan, deputy head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, publicly said for the first time that some countries are trying to sabotage China-Nepal relations. She did not single out any particular country, but the media report cited an Indian scholar saying that the statement was directed at India and the US to some extent. Strictly speaking, this isn't news. Regardless of whether Sun said this, it is a reality that has occurred in Nepal and other South Asian countries in recent years. The US, which considers itself as the world's hegemon, competes with China for influence globally. India, which sees itself as the hegemon of South Asia, views South Asia as a forbidden area and fortifies against China in every aspect. The approaches and means employed by Washington and New Delhi to maintain their self-proclaimed hegemony are nothing more than to sow discord between China and smaller countries, coercing and inducing them, and creating gaps and obstacles in their mutually beneficial relations with China. We won't talk about the US here. But the model of coexistence between China and India does not have to be like this at all. We have always said that the dragon and the elephant should and can coexist. The worst outcome is to fall into the "dragon-elephant dispute" that has long been preset by US and Western public opinion. However, India does not share the same viewpoint, and the nature and mentality reflected in its foreign policy are highly competitive and even confrontational. This can be clearly seen in India's recent handling of relations with neighboring countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Even India's deployment of naval power in the Red Sea has been interpreted by US and Western public opinion as a result of "the growing competition with China. On many issues, New Delhi demands and pressures its South Asian neighbors to "choose sides" between China and India. This shows, first of all, disrespect for the sovereignty of these countries, and secondly, a distortion of China-India relations. The American media reported an interesting incident in recent days. Because a pigeon's legs were found tied with rings carrying words that looked like Chinese characters, Indian police suspected it of spying for China. The pigeon was detained for over eight months until it was discovered that it was actually a racing bird from China's Taiwan region. This incident reflects India's overly suspicious and paranoid attitude toward China. In the past decade, India has not only detained pigeons suspected of being spies on multiple occasions, but also eagles, monkeys, and other animals, most of which were suspected to be spies from Pakistan, India's "archenemy." This "Chinese spy pigeon" incident is indeed very rare. This dramatic incident is not a coincidence and, to some extent, reflects the shift in New Delhi's strategic focus and the deep vigilance some Indians have toward China, accompanied by a certain degree of hostility. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar said on January 30 during an interaction with students at the Indian Institute of Management Mumbai that India shouldn't "be scared of" China. He noted that India has the capability and confidence to compete with China and is in a very advantageous position in many aspects. Obviously, this is said for the domestic audience in India, but it immediately raises questions from Chinese people. Why used the term "be scared of"? What is India "scared" of China? Are Jaishankar's remarks meant to encourage India? Does this encouragement convey positive energy in China-Indian relations? In a world that is currently seeing declining fertility rates, there are some women who actively seek to expand their families, desiring to have more and more children. While most might consider having three, four, or even five children, this Colombian woman defies expectations by birthing 19 children and is currently expecting her 20th, with each child having a different father. Her motive? Business. Jam Press/ dailymail.co.uk Birth after birth after birth, till her body can't take it anymore 39-year-old Martha belongs to Medellin, Colombia. 17 of her children are under 18 years of age. Martha has revealed that she intends on continuing to give birth to children until her body physically cannot conceive anymore. Martha does not know the father of each kid, and that has never stopped her from having more children. Motherhood: A business opportunity "I view motherhood almost like a business, practically," states Martha, as reported by the Daily Mail. Martha receives a total financial assistance of $510 from the Colombian government every month to care for her children, which equals to 42,359.27 INR. This includes the equivalent of $76 for her eldest children and around $30.50 for the youngest ones. Additionally, she gets assistance from the nearby church and her neighbors. Unsplash Nevertheless, the busy mother contends that due to her extensive number of children, the financial support she receives scarcely meets the expenses associated with their upbringing and care. Modest Home, Limited Budget, and Aspirations for a Growing Family Martha acknowledges that life in their modest three-bedroom house poses considerable challenges, evident in the eldest child having to sleep on the sofa. Jam Press/ dailymail.co.uk She openly shares the difficulties of ensuring everyone receives sufficient meals within their constrained budget. Despite these challenges, she expresses her determination to continue expanding her family until her body no longer permits it, with her current children eventually leaving home as they grow up. As for the absentee fathers, she accused them of being 'irresponsible.' Martha's story offers a unique perspective on motherhood, financial constraints, and a steadfast determination to continue expanding her family. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. In Bihar, where they say 'Bihar is not for beginners,' a recent incident provided fresh evidence of the state's unique quirks. In a video that quickly went viral, four accused individuals demonstrated their strength and solidarity in an unexpected situation. ANI Video shows accused men pushing van that ran out of fuel The incident unfolded on a Sunday when the four individuals, arrested for violating alcohol laws in the dry state of Bihar, were being taken to court. However, fate intervened as the police van they were in ran out of fuel near Kachahari Chowk in Bhagalpur, bringing the journey to an abrupt halt. Rather than seizing the opportunity to escape, the accused were seen lending a helping hand. With ropes tied around their waists, they joined forces with the police officers and began pushing the vehicle to the side of the road. The bizarre sight of prisoners and police officers working together to move the van was captured on video and quickly spread across social media platforms, captivating viewers and leaving them thoroughly entertained. Memes take over internet Unsurprisingly, this triggered a memefest online, with Desis struggling to believe what they had just witnessed. This is like dad asking me to bring his belt on the day of results, quipped one user on X (formerly Twitter). Another suggested, Bihar is not for beginners, while a third humourously added, Court should consider this act of kindness before judgment. This is like dad asking me to bring his belt on the day of results https://t.co/i2mgs46kHO Sagar (@sagarcasm) February 4, 2024 Bihar is not for beginners pic.twitter.com/5xc2jBogpy Civil Learning (@CivilLearning1) February 4, 2024 Court should consider this act of kindness before judgement Pablo (@SanghiPablo1) February 4, 2024 My bihar never fails to amaze me.... Amit Ray (@AmitRay16646651) February 4, 2024 It is like teachers asking students to prepare the question paper. isHaHaHa (@hajarkagalwa) February 4, 2024 Just Bihar things mowgli (@mowgli_meister) February 4, 2024 Or, in our days, the teacher asking the student to bring him the thick wooden scale rakesh dahiya (@rakeshkdahiya40) February 4, 2024 Meanwhile, in response to the embarrassing incident, a senior police official acknowledged the need for action. He emphasised that strict action would be taken against any officer found guilty, and the internal probe is currently underway. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. 'Life mimics art' is a phrase commonly heard - but a duo from Hyderabad have taken it quite literally. Taking inspiration from the recently released web series 'Farzi', the Hyderabad duo printed fake currency worth Rs 4 lakh and circulated them in the market. However, they were soon caught and are now in Hyderabad police's custody. ANI How the duo managed to pull off the crime Two individuals, influenced by the web series 'Farzi,' have been apprehended in Hyderabad for producing and distributing fake currency. But, how did they make the fake currency? A screen printer, green foil paper, JK Excel bond papers, cutters and a lamination machine were all it took to manufacture the counterfeit currency. The prime accused, Vanam Laxminaryana, has computer expertise and managed to pull off the crime, according to police inspector Anjaneyulu. Fake money was being tested at markets It was Laxminaryana's alleged accomplice, Erukala Pranay Kumar, who was caught testing fake money (a total of Rs 20,000!) at a fruit and vegetable market. "We have seized 810 fake currency notes in the Rs 500 denomination that were intended to be circulated. Printers, Scanner and other things were also seized," police said. In the course of the investigation, it came to light that Laxminarayana, who had a history of engaging in mortgage fraud, roped in Kumar for the criminal activity, offering him a portion of the anticipated profits. Farzi web series Farzi In the web series Farzi, Sunny, a talented yet lesser-known artist, finds himself thrust into the high-stakes realm of counterfeiting after crafting an impeccably forged currency note. However, he still remains at large, and has not been caught by the police. Well, looks like life doesn't replicate art entirely. How to spot fake Indian currency notes? RBI HDFC Bank lists down the following ways to check a fake Indian currency: Authentic watermark of Gandhiji Perpetrators who create counterfeit currency use heavy oil or grease to make the watermark, i.e. outline of Gandhijis image which makes it look thicker than usual. Formatting If you look closely at the numerical figures on notes and notice poor alignment, chances are that the note is fake. Ink A fake note may have smudged ink or broken lines. Security thread In a fake note, the security thread - which is a line of squares running across the middle - will look like it has been drawn or printed on the currency. Typography The typography of the words 'Reserve Bank of India will appear thicker on a fake note compared to a real one where it is much smoother. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. A unique problem has struck the elephants of Amer Fort, which could hamper their ability to cater to tourists. Strange as it sounds, pigs are the problem! Holidify Squealing pigs in Hathi gaon have been messing with the sleep schedules of the jumbos, and mahouts and tourist operators fear this will impact their livelihood. A plenty big pig problem at Hathi Gaon Hathi gaon has a problem of plenty - plenty pigs, that is. Hathi gaon is a natural park-like shelter spread over 88 acres and run by the forest department which is home to over 80 elephants along with their mahouts (caretakers). However, the boundary wall has gaps at different locations, providing easy access for the pigs. BCCL Further, the area is littered with elephant dung which has not been cleaned for much of last year. This also attracts the pigs. But, where are the pigs being bred? Apparently, the pigs are reared by some people who live outside the elephant village. Pigs give birth twice annually, yielding 8-12 piglets in each litter, and they commence breeding as early as 8-9 months old. Stray pigs are also widespread in the area. Pitiable condition of elephants at Hathi Gaon Facebook "While elephants are showcased as regal symbols, they live in a pitiable state in Hathi Gaon. Senior officials and ministers should intervene as it affects tourism," Fahreen Khan, a mahout said, as quoted by TOI. The mahouts worry that the squealing pigs will disturb the sleep pattern of elephants and lead to behavioral changes, which in turn could lead to issues with tourists. "Sleep is crucial for elephants. For several decades, thousands of tourists have visited Amer Fort to see the elephants, a source of pride for Rajasthan. Any untoward incident due to changes in the animals behaviour could damage the regions image. The issue has been brought to the attention of the forest department but no action has been taken so far," TOI quoted Ballu Khan, president of the Hathi Gaon Vikas Samiti as saying. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. Connie the Container Dog owes her life to the keen ears and quick actions of a group of Coast Guard inspectors at a Texas port last week. Discovered by marine science technicians Bryan Wainscott, Lucas Loe, Ryan McMahon, and Jose Reyes at Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston, the pup was found trapped in a shipping container. The inspectors were conducting routine container inspections when they were alerted by the sound of barking and scratching emanating from one of the containers in a stack, according to a post by USCG Heartland on Facebook. How was the dog found? The container was stacked about 25 feet in the air and had to be lowered by crane. "When they lowered the container and opened the door, a dog popped out!" according to USCG Heartland. USCG Heartland said the "sweet girl" was "tired, hungry, and very happy to see her rescuers." A heartwarming video shared on Facebook by USCG Heartland captured Connie's joyful demeanor after her rescue. Wagging her tail, exploring her surroundings, and eagerly lapping up water provided by her rescuers, Connie seemed relieved and grateful to be free. After being trapped for at least eight days without food or water, Connie was understandably dirty and emaciated when discovered. How did the dog end up in the shipping container? Coast Guard officials speculated that she may have been inadvertently sealed inside the container while seeking refuge in a car at a junkyard. The container, filled with discarded vehicles destined for overseas sales, likely provided an unwitting and perilous transport for the unsuspecting pup. If that was the case, McMahon said, it would have most likely been another week before Connie got where she was going by cargo ship, meaning she would have been without food for two weeks. Connie was then transferred to Forever Changed Animal Rescue, or FCAR, on Friday, the rescue agency said on Facebook, after its founder and veterinarian, Dr. Andrea Deoudes, saw Connie's story while scrolling Facebook. US Coast Guard Heartland "In just a few short hours, we experienced the joyful moment that Pasadena Animal Shelter chose us to become the rescue that gives Connie her new shot at life," the agency said on Facebook. "Without hesitation and not knowing Connies health, we knew that our medical fund would be well spent on her." "We cant thank all of the amazing people involved in this rescue and saving Connies life," FCAR said. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. Gobi Manchurian, a vegetarian alternative to chicken manchurian, has sparked culinary battles in Goa. The fusion dish has been the source of a cultural conflict between local eating tastes and its widespread popularity. Why did the Municipal Council ban Gobi Manchurian in Goa? The Mapusa Municipal Council in Goa prohibited the meal from stalls and feasts due to worries about synthetic colors and hygiene | Image: Pexels The Mapusa Municipal Council in Goa prohibited the meal from stalls and feasts due to worries about synthetic colors and hygiene. The situation occurred after Mapusa councillor Tarak Arolkar proposed in late January that the meal be prohibited, to which the council promptly agreed and relegated the popular dish to the culinary garbage. While gobi manchurian is a popular dish in India, Goans despise it. Their disdain for the food stems from a variety of factors, including poor cleanliness, synthetic colours, questionable sauces, and even the usage of a laundry powder. What does the council have to say? Gobi manchurian is now banned in Goa | Image: Pexels Priya Mishra, chairperson of the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC), stated that the meal was banned due to unsanitary circumstances and the usage of synthetic colours. "The councillors opined that such vendors operate in unhygienic conditions and use synthetic colours for making gobi manchurian and that is what has prompted us to ban the sale of this dish," Mishra was quoted as saying by the Times of India. She added that traders were warned not to offer gobi manchurian. How is Gobi Manchurian prepared in Goa leading to its ban? While the MMC chairperson stated that the meal was in culinary purgatory owing to unsanitary methods and the use of synthetic colors, a food safety officer at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that the vendors used poor sauces that are considered detrimental to eating. Sellers maintain high-quality sauce on display but use low-quality sauce for dish preparation | Image: Flickr He stated that sellers maintain high-quality sauce on display but use low-quality sauce for dish preparation, and that they also use a powder in the batter in addition to flour and cornstarch to keep the cauliflower florets crunchy for longer periods of time. The officer explained that this powder is a type of reetha that is used to wash garments. "Have you ever pondered why you pay Rs 70-100 each dish in restaurants and Rs 30-40 at zatras? It's because of this," the officer explained. What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Anand Mahindra, chairman of the Mahindra Group, captured the attention of the internet by publishing a post about the difficulty level of entrance tests in the country, including the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and the Union Public Service Commission Civil Service Exam (UPSC CSE). What made Anand Mahindra question which exam is tougher - IIT JEE or UPSC CSE? 12th Fail movie made Anand Mahindra question which exam is tougher to crack? | Image: YouTube Screengrab The 12th Fail Bollywood film, directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra, encouraged him to learn more about the exam's difficulties and preparation methods. Mahindra re-shared the list of the world's "top toughest exams" on his X page, with the UPSC exam ranked third, following IIT JEE in second place. What's the verdict according to an IIT graduate who also took UPSC CSE? After seeing #12thFail I checked around and spoke to a number of young people about the relative difficulty of our entrance exams. One of them was a graduate of IIT who is involved in a business startup but who has also taken the UPSC exam. He stated EMPHATICALLY that UPSC is https://t.co/NvGTIHWkrz anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) February 4, 2024 While diving into the difficulty level, the chairman met an IIT graduate who had also done the UPSC exams and informed him that the latter was more tough. The chairman went on to say that if this is the case, the world ranking should be revised. Mahindra re-shared last year's X article by The World Ranking, writing, "After seeing 12th Fail, I searched around and chatted with a number of young people about the relative difficulty of our entrance tests. One of them was an IIT graduate who was working on a business initiative but had also taken the UPSC examination. He claimed unequivocally that UPSC is far more difficult than the IIT JEE. I wonder if this is a general perspective, in which case this ranking should be changed!" How are these exams placed in the world ranking? The World Ranking platform publishes and compares multiple rankings of countries, corporations, and individuals. According to them, these are the top ten most difficult tests in the world. Which exam is the toughest? Top Toughest Exams in the World 1. China Gaokao Exam 2. India IIT JEE Exam 3. India UPSC Exam 4. England Mensa 5. US/Canada GRE 6. US/Canada CFA 7. US CCIE 8. India GATE 9. US USMLE 10. The World Ranking (@worldranking_) October 26, 2023 1. China's Gaokao Exam 2. India's IIT JEE Exam 3. India's UPSC Exam 4. England's Mensa 5. US/Canada's GRE 6. US/Canada's CFA 7. US' CCIE 8. India's GATE 9. US's USMLE 10. US's California Bar Exam What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Edelweiss Mutual Fund CEO and MD Radhika Gupta is the latest entrant to the Shark Tank India judges panel. While she has appeared only in a handful of episodes till now, people across generations have started recognising her as a mentor and guide. She witnessed this first-hand at the Mumbai airport recently when she was approached by two random people while she was on her way to board her flight. sonyliv She took to her LinkedIn page to share the incident. Radhika Gupta Shared That Shark Tank India Is Making India Dream Big As An Elderly Security Guard And A Young Techie Shared Business Proposals With Her At The Airport She wrote, Flew out of Mumbai today, and was furiously walking to catch a flight post gate change. In the walk, two people approached me because of Shark Tank India. One was a young SaaS techie, who was looking to eventually start a business. Another was an elderly security guard at the airport. As both walked with me, the elderly gentleman told me about a quick pitch about a business he wanted to start in his hometown in Karnataka. The appeal of the show amazes me. It cuts across age, gender, income levels, and education. And this is new India - where regardless of where you come from and who you are, you dream of building!" Who Is Radhika Gupta? For the unversed, Gupta is the Managing Director and CEO of Edelweiss Mutual Fund. She took over this position in February 2017 after serving as the Business head of Edelweiss Multi-Strategy Funds for almost three years. Not just this, Gupta is also an accomplished author and is recognized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a young global leader. As per her LinkedIn bio, she describes herself as, "Asset management professional, who enjoys leading teams and building businesses. Proud daughter of an Indian diplomat, global citizen, and child of change. Writer, storyteller, TEDx and Josh Talks speaker, finding magic in words. radhika gupta shark tank india new judge season 3/edelweiss I'm a girl on a mission, with wings of fire! And I share my little stories along this journey on LinkedIn." As for her education background, Gupta has a BSc in Economics from The Wharton School and a B.S.E in Computer Science Engineering. She also pursued the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology from the University of Pennsylvania. Shark Tank India is available for streaming on SonyLiv India. For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here Barely a week after the French President Emmanuel Macron visited our country as the chief guest at Republic Day, France and India have revealed a big announcement. Indian tourists visiting the iconic Eiffel Tower in Frances capital city of Paris can now purchase tickets by paying through UPI. While the Eiffel Tower is the first place in France to offer UPI payments, this service is expected to soon be extended to other merchants in the tourism and retail space. While its a no-brainer that this big move will give a global touch to Indias very own UPI, which in itself has been a digital payment revolution ever since it was launched in the demonetization hit year of 2016, do you know that many other countries have already adopted UPI? Let us look at the list of countries where Indians can currently pay conveniently via UPI, plus the countries in which UPI will soon be launched: List Of 40+ Countries Adopting Indias UPI eiffel tower upi france list of other countries using upi/getty 1.Bhutan 2.Oman 3.France 4.Nepal 5.UK 6.UAE 7.Singapore 8.Malaysia 9.Thailand 10.Hong Kong 11.Philippines 12.South Korea 13. Japan 14.Indonesia 15.Vietnam 16.Sri Lanka 17.Egypt 18.USA 19.Mauritius 20.Australia 21.Saudi Arabia 22.Qatar 23.Austria 24.Belgium 25.Croatia 26.Cyprus 27.Estonia 28.Finland 29.Germany 30.Greece 31.Ireland 32.Italy 33.Latvia 34.Lithuania 35.Luxembourg 36.Malta 37.Netherlands 38.Portugal 39.Slovakia 40.Slovenia 41.Spain Also Read: The Untold Story Of Dilip Asbe & His Team, Who Are The Brains Behind UPI Indians Are The Second Highest Visitors At Eiffel Tower eiffel tower upi /Pixels Coming back to the recent big announcement of UPI introduction in the iconic Eiffel Tower, heres how you can book tickets through UPI. The process is simple. To book tickets, Indian tourists can use their UPI apps to scan the QR code generated on the merchants website and initiate a payment. "While the Eiffel Tower is the first merchant to offer UPI payments in France, this service will soon be extended to other merchants in the tourism and retail space. This will make it significantly easier for touring Indians to remotely book hotels, museum visits, etc. for their stay in France," NPCI International said in a release this month. "This announcement is of particular significance considering that Indian tourists rank as the second largest group of international visitors to the Eiffel Tower," it added. For the unversed, the NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) owns and operates UPI. The organization prescribes rules, regulations, guidelines, and the respective roles, responsibilities and liabilities with respect to UPI. Bhutan Was The First Country To Adopt India's UPI upi bhutan first country/exoticmiles About three years ago in July 2021, Bhutan had become the first country to adopt UPI standards for its QR deployment, and also the first country in India's immediate neighbourhood to accept mobile-based payments through the BHIM App. Also Read: Answered: All Your FAQs & Queries Regarding UPI For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here The final contractor for the construction of the Chania-Chersonissos section of the 'North Road Axis of Crete' (BOAK) highway will have been found by early summer , Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christossaid in Chania on Monday, noting that the concession contract will be signed by the end of the year. BEIJING, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Since the introduction of Xi Jinping Thought on Culture in October 2023, "culture" has become a buzzword throughout China. In January, a key policy meeting on public communication hailed Xi's cultural thought, stating that it "provides solid ideological guarantees, powerful inspiration, and favorable cultural conditions to make China a stronger country and rejuvenate the Chinese nation on all fronts." Under Xi's leadership, the Communist Party of China is drawing on culture to enhance its governance and drive China's modernization. A U.S.-based research institute observed that President Xi is no longer considered merely an inheritor or protector of a great civilization but the creator of one, too. China's cultural traditions and national conditions determine that Chinese modernization, a new form of human civilization led by Xi, will take a path distinct from the West. Covering nearly 20 percent of the world's population, it aims to reduce the wealth gap, achieve harmony between material and spiritual aspects, pursue development without sacrificing the environment, and never seek expansion or dominance abroad. In his youth, Xi read "One-Dimensional Man" by Herbert Marcuse. Seeing the drawbacks of a "one-dimensional" human existence caused by the encroachment of capital in Western modernization, Xi has always hoped to address the imbalances between material and spiritual needs, and between humans and nature. China is committed to the coordinated development of material, political, spiritual, social, and ecological civilizations. Xi refers to this as the distinctive characteristic of the "modern civilization of the Chinese nation." Xi metaphorically describes the uniqueness of Chinese modernization using physics terminology: Developed Western countries followed a "series" development process. China, seeking to recover the "lost 200 years," must take a development path comparable to a "parallel" process involving the simultaneous development of industrialization, informatization, urbanization, and agricultural modernization. He designated Shenzhen as the Pilot Demonstration Area of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. Adjacent to Hong Kong, Shenzhen is a special economic zone established over 40 years ago by Deng Xiaoping. Often referred to as the "city of innovation," Shenzhen, with a population twice that of New York City, offers a glimpse into the future of China's modernization. Upon arrival in the city, visitors are greeted at the airport by a welcoming quote from Jules Verne: "Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real." Another prominent slogan stands tall in the city's landmark area, Shekou, proclaiming the traditional Chinese wisdom, "Empty talk will do nothing for our country; only solid work will make it flourish." From electric cars to cutting-edge drones, from low-carbon initiatives to smart-city projects, the city continues to nurture innovation. Parks and libraries can be found every few hundred meters. With a convenient public service system, various social organizations, and a people-serving and business-friendly official team, Shenzhen is a model of the future. Far north, the Xiong'an New Area near Beijing is a new city of socialist modernization planned by Xi. In May last year, Xi visited this "city of the future" under construction, paying particular attention to the ecological conditions of Baiyangdian Lake. Highlighting water source conservation and green development, its construction embodies the ancient ecological wisdom of "using what nature has to offer and taking it in moderation." Xi designated Zhejiang as a demonstration area of common prosperity. During his visit to Lizu Village last year, he witnessed the transformation of this once dirty, chaotic, and impoverished village into a clean and beautiful demonstration village of common prosperity. The villagers' income has exceeded the national rural average, and the village is renowned for its rich cultural atmosphere. Xi has engaged in discussions with young entrepreneurs who returned from cities across the country and expressed satisfaction with the part they have played in rural development. The new type of modern socialist country led by Xi has effectively debunked the linear historical view that all nations should converge toward a Western model. On the world stage, Xi has proposed a series of new concepts regarding civilizational exchange and international relations, demonstrating China's commitment to being a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. Xi's proposition of building a community with a shared future for humanity reflects the country's commitment to peace and stability. Introduced in 2013, this idea resonates with the Chinese nation's time-honored vision that "the whole world is one big family," envisioning a world where universal harmony prevails. It marks a fresh trajectory for advancing global civilizations, and paves the way for the ultimate realization of the full and free development of every individual, as envisioned by Karl Marx. Nevertheless, concerns exist that an assertive China could challenge the existing world order. But Xi is optimistic that Chinese civilization's inclusive nature can foster coexistence with other nations marked by "harmony in diversity." When speaking about "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu with foreign guests, Xi emphasizes that the fundamental message of this classic ancient Chinese military book is the importance of exerting all efforts to avoid war and exercising great caution if conflict becomes inevitable. In line with the Chinese nation's deep-rooted commitment to peace, Xi proposed the Global Security Initiative in a call for joint efforts to maintain world peace and stability. Since last October, the escalation of the Palestine-Israel conflict has led to a humanitarian disaster. During his interaction with foreign leaders and participation in multilateral events, Xi has repeatedly called for a ceasefire, emphasizing that the fundamental solution to the conflict lies in implementing the two-state solution. In efforts to de-escalate conflicts and restore peace in the region, China convened and chaired a high-level UN Security Council meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue, facilitating the adoption of the first UN Security Council resolution since the outbreak of the conflict. China has sent its special envoy to promote peace talks, increased humanitarian assistance, and extended a helping hand to the people in Gaza at a difficult time. China also served as a mediator, successfully facilitating the restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran last year. Daniel A. Bell, chair professor of political theory at the University of Hong Kong, commended China's efforts, describing it as "an inspiring example." Large and influential countries can play the role of peacemakers as they have more power and influence to bring warring sides to the table, he said. One Chinese maxim that Xi frequently mentions during his overseas trips is, "Building people-to-people friendships is crucial for fostering positive state-to-state relations." Under his leadership, China has strengthened and broadened its global partnerships based on principles of equality, openness, and cooperation. A champion of humanity's shared values, Xi launched the Global Civilization Initiative, urging collaborative efforts to respect the diversity of civilizations and tap into the profound significance of their histories and cultures in the contemporary world. This initiative stands as a robust response to concepts supporting the estrangement, clash, or superiority of civilizations. Xi's Global Development Initiative emphasizes the importance of prioritizing development and adopting a people-centered philosophy to ensure that "no country is left behind in the process of global modernization." To explain the values and sentiments that underpin the Chinese people's dedication to win-win cooperation, Xi draws on ancient Chinese sayings promoting actions for the greater good. The Belt and Road Initiative is a prime example. Sometimes referred to as the modern Silk Road, the initiative has garnered collaboration from more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations, with nearly a trillion U.S. dollars in investment. When he was young, Xi once expounded on the Confucian idea of "Ping Tian Xia," or bringing peace and order to the world, which represents the ultimate stage of one's four-level personal pursuit. The other three are cultivating the moral self, managing the family, and governing the state. Xi said, "Ping Tian Xia" doesn't involve conquering or ruling the world. Instead, it aims to uplift ordinary people from poverty, enabling them to live peacefully with sufficient food and clothing. He said that if all countries pursue peaceful development and strive for unity and harmony, it will bring the world closer to the goal. When leading his colleagues in paying respects to Mao Zedong's remains to mark the 130th anniversary of Mao's birth last December, Xi underscored that the best way to commemorate the late Chinese leader is to continue to advance the cause he pioneered. Xi cited Mao's words: "We must always strive! We must always forge ahead! Our golden world, bright and splendid, lies ahead!" "The best inheritance of history is to create a new history, and the greatest tribute to human civilization is to create a new form of human civilization," Xi said. Cartoon: Carlos Latuff (Global Times) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg recently visited the US, with the aim of discussing continuing the support for Ukraine and ensuring a continuous supply of weaponry for Ukraine amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This includes the approval of an additional $60 billion aid package and a four-year budget of $54.5 billion to support Ukraine. During Stoltenberg's interviews or speeches in the US, he repeatedly mentioned China, explicitly positioning it as a "challenge" for NATO. It appears that the leader of the world's largest military organization no longer restricts the definition of the Russia-Ukraine conflict to Europe, but instead sees it as indicative of a broader global geopolitical conflict. As a result, he is seeking legitimacy for NATO's global expansion. Expansion is the internal need of NATO, while war is the external need. Without war, this military organization would lose its raison d'etre. NATO must have a clear target. If it doesn't, then it must create one. After the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact following the end of the Cold War, NATO has been exploring its future direction. In December 1998, then US secretary of state Madeleine Albright outlined Washington's views on the strategic adjustment of NATO at a meeting. She believed that the principle of "collective defense" should be given a new interpretation as "defending alliance interests," in order to enable NATO to respond rapidly to crises beyond its defense zone. As Russia continues to react to NATO's eastward expansion, the focus is more directly directed toward Russia. The outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has strengthened NATO's cohesion, at least leading its leaders to believe that the organization should reinforce and broaden its reach, with Asia being the next target. During his visit, Stoltenberg consistently associated China with the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In a speech at the Heritage Foundation, he asserted that a victory for Russia would empower other countries such as North Korea, Iran, and China to use force. ministers of the government are expected to visit Athens in mid-February, accompanied by a large business delegation. Theembassy and the Hellenic-Chamber of Commerce and Industry Three ministers of the French government expected to visit Athens in mid-February - Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chryssochoidis, who was reappointed to his old portfolio in a mini-cabinet reshuffle in January Keywords The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, has reportedly nominated his daughter, Justice Victoria Oluwakemi, as a judge to the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. According to Peoples Gazette, the nomination of Justice Oluwakemi by the CJN was revealed through an internal memo. The news platform reports that the CJN began lobbying to seat his daughter on the bench after he was notified in a January 18, 2024, letter from the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, that 12 new positions had opened up in the court. Baba-Yusuf reportedly urged Ariwoola, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, and the President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, to send candidates drawn from a dozen states. READ MORE: Number Of Supreme Court Justices Lowest In History CJN Ariwoola Baba-Yusuf said: In line with the National Judicial Council Guidelines and Procedural Rules for Appointment of Judicial Officers to Superior Courts, I hereby invite your lordships, the honourable attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice and the president of the Nigerian Bar Association to kindly nominate suitably qualified persons from the aforementioned states for appointment to the Federal Capital Territory High Court. A judiciary source told the news platform that: The CJN personally asked the FCT CJ to do this exercise to employ his daughter-in-law before his retirement in August, adding, When is he going to realise that the Nigerian judiciary is not his personal asset? The chief judge has been trying to avoid any controversy for now, adding, His hands may be tied right now with the nomination of the chief justices daughter, but he might call his colleagues to a meeting and let them see things from his own point of view. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the General Overseer of Faith On The Rock Ministry International, identified as Apostle Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi, for allegedly defrauding his church members. The EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, who made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja, said that the pastor was arrested for allegedly using fake grants from the Ford Foundation to the tune of N1.3 Billion. The statement read, Ebonyi was arrested for defrauding his victims, comprising non-governmental organisations and individuals by advertising an intervention project through his NGO, Theobarth Global Foundation, claiming that the Ford Foundation was offering a grant of $20 billion to assist the less-privileged in the society. He allegedly beguiled his victims to subscribe as beneficiaries of the phoney grant by asking them to pay for registration forms and clusters. Each subscriber was made to pay N1,800,000. READ MORE: EFCC Recovers N70billion In Four Months Through this arrangement, Ebonyi allegedly raked in N1,391,040, 274.31. His subscribers are innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians and NGOs across the country. The Foundation pointedly disclaimed him and his NGO, stressing that it had no link whatsoever with them. The commission has also traced five properties he acquired as proceeds of his criminal dealings. Ebonyi is still reportedly reaching his subscribers on some social media platforms to market his spurious grant from Ford Foundation. He would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded. The Presidency, on Sunday, reacted to former Vice President Atiku Abubakars criticism of President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, claimed that Tinubu is focused on solving our economic and security challenges, admitting that his reforms would cause immediate pains, but will usher in an era of prosperity in the medium and long terms. Onanuga made these assertions in a statement titled Atiku Abubakar and his new hobby. Recall that Atiku said Tinubus economic policies were dashing hopes, creating pain, and causing despair among Nigerians. Atiku argued that President Tinubus poor response to the nations challenges was setting the stage for a prolonged and deeper economic crisis. But the Presidency faulted Atikus assertions about the rising cost of living saying, His claim that the governments policies have created intense cost of living pressures are also not grounded on facts as recent comparative cost of living indices show that Nigerians still enjoy the lowest cost of living in Africa. Atikus claims that the private sector is shrinking and that multinational companies are leaving our companies in droves are not grounded on facts, Onanuga added. His words: Nigerians can easily see through the hypocrisy of Alhaji Atiku, who in accusing President Tinubu of poor response to the nations challenges and causing pains and despair, didnt offer any better policy options in his run for the Presidency different from the economic reform agenda being pursued by President Tinubu. However, we notice that the former Vice-President, just like in his political contests, is also doing a poor job of it, offering pedestrian and uninformed interventions on our economy and other matters of public concerns. READ ALSO: Students Loan Will End Incidents Of Drop Outs Tinubu Atikus latest diatribe was another uncharitable commentary on the state of the economy and the efforts of the President Bola Tinubu administration in remoulding it for sustained prosperity. Nigerians can easily see through the hypocrisy of Alhaji Atiku, who in accusing President Tinubu of poor response to the nations challenges and causing pains and despair, didnt offer any better policy options in his run for the Presidency different from the economic reform agenda being pursued by President Tinubu. All the major candidates agreed that the fuel subsidy regime, which had become an albatross on the economy, must end. They all agreed that the multiple exchange rates must be fixed. Where President Tinubu and Atiku differed was in selling NNPC Limited and other national assets. Atiku went for this so he could sell these important national assets to his friends and cronies. President Tinubu removed the subsidy from Day One and announced moves to harmonise the exchange rates. Since then, he and his economic team have been working vigorously to harmonise the rates and also end the rampant and criminal arbitrage that the multiple windows allowed. Onanuga furthered that: Instead of mouthing platitudes every time in a bid to earn cheap political mileage, Alhaji Atiku who presumes himself as the leader of opposition should tell Nigerians what he would have done better if he had been elected President. The economy was plagued by decades of significant fiscal deficits, a low revenue base, high external and domestic debts, and huge debt service burden. The national budget Tinubu met in 2023 showed that 97 percent of revenue was to be spent on debt servicing, with little reserved for capital, thereby foreclosing growth and jobs. Confronted with this grim economic reality, President Tinubu faced a difficult choice of balancing the political and economic costs of reforms against the risks of economic recession. His government chose the former, to keep the economy afloat and set it back on the path of growth and prosperity. Founder of Adoration Ministries in Enugu, Rev Fr Ejike Camillus Anthony Ebenezer Mbaka, on Sunday, tackled the President Bola Tinubu administration over the level of insecurity and hardship in the country. Mbaka, who said there were many obstacles on Tinubus way to becoming the President, including the Naira redesign policy, said he succeeded by an act of providence. According to him, Tinubu is yet to exhibit political will towards solving the countrys problems. Speaking while delivering a homily at his Adoration Ministry in Emene, Enugu State, he asked the President to wake up, stressing that God was watching him. Mr President, you can do it; to fix Nigeria is not difficult if the leader has the will power. I know that this one will make national news but let it be. What is happening in the oil sector? How many barrels are being produced and how many dollars are in the Nigerian account? A country like Nigeria that exports millions of barrels of oil per month, how much are we saving? Why is it difficult up till now to fix other refineries? Who are the cabals? Cant they be de-canibalized? Cabals can be de-canibalized if the president has the will power; hell will not fall, heaven will not fall. These people can go to jail; after all, many of them did not support you; so why are you protecting them? Mr President, wake up, God is watching you to see what you can do, Mbaka said. Our hearts are broken; go to our schools, see how messy the government schools are; are we taking care of our teachers and our doctors? Look at how they are- when they travel abroad, they begin to mine money in pounds and dollars. Teachers once they retire, no gratuity, no pension; the hearts of the retirees are broken; let there be a law that will bring solution to all these maladies. Heartbreak everywhere, look at our police and military, their hearts are also broken; what kind of guns are the policemen using? When the senior squad passes, they will kill the policemen on the watchpost and carry their guns and run away. What happens to their families when their husbands die on the duty post? READ ALSO: If I Have A Message For Tinubu, Nobody Can Stop It Fr. Mbaka No compensation; the next one minute, they chase them out of the barrack; those who are in Borno forest fighting Boko Haram, what is happening to their families at home? Who is taking care of them? The hearts of their family members are broken, shattered; they are fighting those with bombs with catapult; those people they are fighting are carrying launchers; How many young men have we buried and still burying; insecurity everywhere, he lamented. The Catholic priest also warned that a higher wave of hunger was underway in the country if insecurity was not dealt with. His words: We are asking people to go to the farm and produce; but if you enter the farm, herdsmen with AK-47 will enter the farm and kill the farmers, who will go to the farm anymore? Hunger, as I told you last two years, has not even started; I wont tell you lies; everybody should be meaningfully engaged, start something. In Nkerefi last time, about six women who were farming were killed and their stomachs brought out; who will go to the farm there again? The fear is there. Even politicians who think they are safe in their comfort zone, you are not safe because the level of insecurity will come to your doorstep one day. The cleric furthered that, I know that this man that has come to be the president of the country if he submits himself to God, with enough will power, God has blessed him in wealth, he has not come as a beggar, like many politicians who failed election and they almost committed suicide because they used all they have to do election. Jagaban is not a poor man; so he can do something extraordinary; do it the other way round; shock all these people who are criminals; devise a policy that will bring security, bring joy to the Nigerian people and you will see there will begin to be a meaningful transformation. Look at the bank of today giving people loans with interest of 25 per cent, some 26, some 27, how can you pay back? With which collateral? So, whats the hope of the youths? All they need is encouragement, empowerment and support. Nigeria will be better than China; we can Dubanize Nigeria; The youths are waiting for the healing of their broken hearts. The Nigerian Armys troops of 114 Battalion, 6 Brigade, in conjunction with other security agencies, have destroyed multiple bandits hideouts and rescued four kidnap victims in Yorro Local Government Area (LGA) of Taraba State. Olabodunde Oni, acting Assistant Director, 6 Brigade army public relations, announced the development in a statement on Sunday. According to Oni, the swift and decisive operation to flush out bandits and kidnappers disturbing the peace in Yorro LGA and its environs commenced on February 2. He said the troops met the bandits at Gampu hills and Ban Yorro area and engaged them in a gun battle. Thereafter, the superior fire power from the troops made the bandits to flee the location, leaving behind four abducted victims. READ ALSO: NAF Airstrikes Neutralise Terrorists, Destroys Hideouts in Katsina 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 January 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, News Agency of Nigeria quoted Oni as saying. The Peoples Democratic Partys 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has again taken a swipe at President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration over the tough state of the nation. Atiku had recently slammed the Tinubu administration, saying that the President owe Nigerians an explanation over a $3.3 billion emergency crude repayment loan secured by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, on August 16, 2023. However, in a Sunday statement via X, he said the raft of policies introduced by Tinubus government only aggravated the sorry state of the nation and further impoverished the parlous citizens. The socio-economic state of Nigeria, he noted, has in recent months, been a subject of intense discourse among Nigerian citizens at home and abroad. The former Vice President noted that Nigerians are gravely concerned that Tinubus poor response to Nigerias economic challenges is setting the stage for a prolonged and deeper domestic economic crisis. His economic policies, drawn from a so-called renewed hope agenda, are ironically dashing hopes, creating pain and causing despair. The private sector is shrinking by the day as small businesses are emasculated and as Multi-National Companies, confused and weary of the economy, leave Nigeria in droves. The intense cost of living pressures has created more misery for the poor in towns and villages. There is HUNGER IN THE LAND as basic commodities, including BREAD, are becoming out of reach for average Nigerians. READ ALSO: Hardship: Bear With Tinubus Govt For Two Years Kogi Lawmaker Begs Nigerians His 2024 budget is a business-as-usual exercise, bereft of concrete ideas and actions that would support Nigerias journey toward economic transformationconsisting mainly of wasteful expenditures to cater to a bloated Federal Government. Budget 2024 will not facilitate growth and cannot empower our citizens to earn a living and live a decent life. BAT has shown no capacity to deal with the adverse and disastrous impact of the new subsidy regime on the people and businesses and the new foreign exchange policy, which provides for a free-floating exchange rate. His initiatives are literally uninformed, arbitrary, and chaotic. BATs palliatives are too mean, pitiable, and contemptuous of the poor. He seems genuinely lost, bewildered, and overwhelmed. To mask their failures, BAT and his political appointees are busy blaming his predecessor in office for bequeathing a dead economy. This is a familiar game popularised by former President Buhari while in office. It reinforces what we already know: that BAT came into office unprepared. Tinubu and his economic management team must swallow their pride, admit their missteps and failures, and follow those who know the terrain. They must act fast before the economy sinks deeper into the abyss. The question is, will they? Atiku queried Real-life South Philly couple Rob McClure and Maggie Lakis star in the "Mrs. Doubtfire" musical. The production is playing at the Academy of Music from Feb. 6-18. Read more Actors Rob McClure and Maggie Lakis like to joke that they met in Greece. But in reality, the South Philly couple met during a local production of Grease at the former Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center in Marlton. McClure, who was fresh off of his Broadway debut in Im Not Rappaport, knew by the second week they worked together that there was magic beyond the lines of dialogue. She was a die-hard Phillies fan who was taking kung-fu in Chinatown, doing lion dances outside of businesses for Chinese New Year, and working at a video game store on South Street, McClure said of Lakis. I was like, Youre the coolest person Ive ever met. I fell in love with Philly and [Lakis] at the same time. Starting Feb. 6, the happily married couple will get divorced eight times a week on stage as stars of the Mrs. Doubtfire musical. The Broadway production of the 1993 comedy-drama is coming to the Academy of Music, with McClure leading as Daniel Hillard and the famed Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire. Lakis takes on the role of ex-wife Miranda, who gets sole custody of their children, played by actors Giselle Gutierrez (Lydia), Cody Braverman and Axel Bernard Rimmele (Christopher), and Emerson Mae Chan and Kennedy Pitney (Natalie), after Daniel loses his job as a voice actor. To spend more time with his children, Daniel puts his acting skills to the test. Advertisement In their 18 years as a couple , McClure and Lakis have worked on seven major productions together, starting with the musical comedy Avenue Q. Its really a lot of fun, Lakis said. Still, McClure said, theres never a shortage of surprises between him and Lakis. She sings a song in the shows second act that leaves him in awe on a nightly basis. Its an amazing thing to watch your partner do something so extraordinary in front of so many people, McClure said. You have eight reminders a week that your partner is a superhero. Its the same for Lakis, who sees McClures change from Daniel to Mrs. Doubtfire and back a total of 31 times during the show, including one in 18 seconds. Despite his heroic effort, she said, the most important part of my job is I cant find this amusing at all ...Its an honor to see what hes been doing all night, but I cant laugh at the moments. McClure, whos been playing Mrs. Doubtfire since the shows debut in Seattle five years ago, wanted to avoid imitating Robin Williams, who played the iconic character in the movie version. Lakis took the same approach. You dont want to be comparing things, she said. McClure said the musicals writers and Tony Award-winning director Jerry Zaks looked back at the movies deleted scenes to flesh out the stories of Miranda and the three children even further. The fact the costume changes are seen in real-time, he says, raises the stakes. It makes [the musical] thrilling and the comedy richer. Instead of the 1990s backdrop, the musical is set in the present day. The modernization of the production, McClure said, will warm people up to the material and expand the message of the movie and musical. While neither version ends with Miranda and Daniel getting back together, they both point to the idea that as long as theres love, your family can look like anything. As the show makes its way to Philadelphia, McClure said hes excited to see some familiar faces from the breathtaking stage at the Academy of Music. We can go into our local bakery and be like, Come check us out, well be here for two weeks, and get all of the people that make art lovely in Philly to come check it out. It feels good to bring it to them. Mrs. Doubtfire will play at the Academy of Music from Feb. 6 through Feb. 18. For more information and tickets, visit ensembleartsphilly.org. The students in Jennifer LaSures African American history class listened intently to stories about the countrys racist past during the Jim Crow era. LaSure also challenged the group of underclassmen at Cherry Hill High School East to explore how that legacy may have impacted Black Americans today in the fight for social justice. She used the high-profile case of five Black and Latino men exonerated in 2002 in the rape and beating of a white jogger in Central Park in 1989. Students watched a clip about the case from filmmaker Ava DuVernays When They See Us. Do you think racial bias played a role in that case? LaSure asked, referring to the case known as the Central Park Five. The students typed their responses in a group chat and she displayed some of their answers on a screen. Malcolm Calderon wrote: Had these men been white and the victim had been Black, this would have gone down way differently. Public opinion would be crazily different, as well. Cherry Hill, the first district in New Jersey to mandate the course as a graduation requirement for its more than 11,000 students, has taken a different approach to how it teaches Black history in the United States. In addition to teaching about Jim Crow laws that enforced segregation and marginalized Black people in the post-Civil War era, the class includes units on early African culture, arts, systemic oppression of today, antiracism, activism, and Black Lives Matter. Advertisement We have made this course a priority, said Farrah Mahan, an assistant superintendent who helped craft the course. We did not want students to view African Americans from the oppressed state that is currently taught (elsewhere). Students who organized Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020 by a white officer asked for the class. They said Black history was mostly taught in February and focused too much on slavery with only token reference to civil rights figures such as Rosa Parks and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Its great that it began with students, said Chanelle N. Rose, an associate history professor at Rowan University. The history of Black people doesnt begin with slavery in this country. READ MORE: Black History Month is every month at this New Jersey school After vigorous debate, the school board overwhelmingly approved the requirement in February 2021. The district spent about 18 months developing the curriculum and training teachers, and rolled out the course for the 2021-22 school year. The semester course is now in its third year at East and the districts other comprehensive high school, Cherry Hill West. Members of the class of 2025 will be the first to need the course in order to graduate. Its definitely something that should be required, said freshman Gabriella Pizzo, 14. It fills in a lot of gaps. When you dont know your history, youre bound to repeat it. Yohan Cho, 18, an exchange student from Korea, said learning about the Central Park case was disturbing but informative. Cho, a junior, said he hoped the class would make students more caring. If I was in that situation, I would be scared, said Cho. It didnt look good. READ MORE: https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/african-american-black-history-high-school-bans-20230720.html Cherry Hill made national headlines when it became the first New Jersey district with the graduation requirement, and remains the only one, according to the state Department of Education. Philadelphia requires a course in African American history, including the civil rights movement, as a graduation requirement. Recent discussions about critical race theory, an academic framework analyzing racism as embedded in institutions that had become a national flashpoint, fueled debate in education, and political circles raised questions about whether Black history should be taught in schools and colleges. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis banned the teaching of Advanced Placement African American Studies in public schools. Gov. Phil Murphy responded by expanding New Jerseys Advanced Placement African American history offerings to 26 schools, including Camden for the 2023-24 school year. Mahan said the graduation course was desperately needed in Cherry Hill, a predominantly white district, to address systemic racism and implicit bias by staff and students. Cherry Hill, the 11th-largest public school district in the state, is 53% white, 17% Asian, 14.6% Hispanic, and 9% Black. If you only hear from a marginalized perspective, that becomes your perspective, Mahan said. READ MORE: LGBTQ education is now mandatory in N.J. schools. Heres how teachers are preparing. Mostly freshmen and sophomores enroll in the course, with a few juniors. Students earn 2.5 credits. Previously, Cherry Hill had two elective African American studies courses. The district added an elective course this month to expose students to the history and experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. The AAPI class is open to all high school students. Rose, of Rowans Africana Studies program, would also like to see districts better implement New Jerseys Amistad law, a 2002 mandate that requires all public schools to infuse African American history in subjects year-round. The law was modeled off previous New Jersey legislation that requires public schools to teach about the Holocaust. READ MORE: AP course offerings vary widely depending on where you live in New Jersey and where you go to school There has to be something put in place to make sure teachers are teaching it, said Rose, who is planning an Amistad conference in the fall. Bradley Philbert, an adjunct professor at University of the Arts, wears a union pin while he teaches a virtual summer class. Read more Faculty and the administration at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia have reached a tentative agreement after more than three years of negotiation on the first contract in the schools nearly 150-year history. The agreement comes after an eight-hour negotiating session Sunday and as faculty prepared to take a strike authorization vote on Monday. I commend both negotiating teams for their dedicated work, day in and day out, that brought us to a tentative agreement, said university president Kerry Walk, who has made reaching an agreement a priority since arriving on the job six months ago. It is heartening to see the two sides come together to uphold UArts academic excellence across the visual, performing, and creative arts. READ MORE: How summer class is different for a UArts adjunct, who is also helping negotiate his unions first contract Advertisement If ratified, the new agreement would be retroactive until Jan. 1 and expire in August 2026. Members voted in November 2020 to unionize, and over the next few years held multiple demonstrations and informational pickets, calling to attention the lengthy negotiations. On average, a first union contract takes about 15 months to reach, while UArts pact took more than twice that amount of time. Job security, wages, and health care were among the main issues. Daniel Pieczkolon, president of United Academics of Philadelphia, said some of the issues of pay disparity among the unions 300 members the majority of them adjuncts were difficult to work through and it wasnt until Walk arrived that there was support from the presidents office to really get a deal done. READ MORE: University of the Arts faculty in Philadelphia have voted to unionize Kerry was more willing to work with us, said Pieczkolon, an adjunct professor at Arcadia University. Pieczkolon said the union is pleased with the result. Were feeling really good about where the faculty are at right now, he said. Contract negotiations for a separate 100-member staff union at the University of the Arts continue. The new agreement increases compensation for faculty, and institutes a step system for pay. There were wide-ranging salary differences among professors teaching studio and lecture courses, among disciplines and programs, according to the union. Under the new pact, on average, full-time faculty would see 11% increases in the first year, and part-time faculty would get 13%. The new minimum for part-time faculty would be $1,275 per credit, while some had been getting as little as $450, the union said. Close to 40% of part-time faculty would make at least $5,000 per three-credit course, up from about $3,500 in the past. Adjuncts who taught in the fall also would receive a $250 signing bonus. The new minimum for full-time faculty would be $57,850, up from $51,000, with the average pay for full-time faculty at $70,000, the union said. Among other highlights were a $200 health-care stipend for part-time faculty with seniority, and the addition of three nonvoting faculty representatives to the board of trustees and one to the presidents council. Also, the university said the new agreement would improve the promotion process for assistant professors and the reappointment process for full-time faculty. The agreement is subject to ratification by faculty, which is expected to occur in the next week, and a vote by the schools board of trustees around the same time. Every detail in this contract was negotiated diligently and meticulously and is a reflection of our institutions commitment to meeting the needs of our faculty and community at large, board chair Judson Aaron said in a statement. Yannick Nezet-Seguin, indie band boygenius, and gospel bandleader Tye Tribbett were among the Philadelphia and Philly-connected acts who won Grammys on Sunday in Los Angeles in a ceremony that was streamed on YouTube and grammy.com before the network TV telecast. Terence Blanchards Champion, conducted by Philadelphia Orchestra music and artistic director Nezet-Seguin, won in the best opera recording category, in which the award goes to the composer and librettist, conductor, producers, and principal soloists. It takes more than a village in opera, said Nezet-Seguin, who attended the ceremony recognizing the recording with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus, and which also featured Philadelphia bass-baritone Eric Owens. But this goes to Terence Blanchard and all the voices of our time, the great musicians that we keep honoring and are now getting their right place that they deserve to be in our big stages, said Nezet-Seguin. Advertisement And can I still also dedicate this to my own husband, Pierre [Tourville]. I wish everyone to have a husband or a wife like this in their lives. Pierre this is for you, and this is for you, Terence. Seguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra were also nominated in the orchestral performance category but lost out to Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The big rock winners were boygenius the trio of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus, the latter of whom lived in Philadelphia from 2019 through last year. The indie trio took home trophies for rock performance and rock song for Not Strong Enough, beating out the Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters and Metallica, among others. They also won best alternative music album, for The Record. Bridgers won a fourth Grammy for pop duo/group performance with SZA for Ghost In The Machine. All I ever wanted to do was be in a band since I was a kid, Baker said in accepting the rock song award. I want to thank these guys for touring in a van and a Prius. Tribbett, the Camden-born and Orlando, Fla.-based gospel bandleader won for best gospel album for All Things New: Live In Orlando. We all have a gift to spread love and to bring joy and we need it now more than ever before, Tribbett said in accepting his award. So use your God-given gift to bless somebody. God bless, yall! Imani Winds, the quintet in residence at the Curtis Institute of Music, won in the classical compendium category for Passion for Bach and Coltrane with the Harlem Quartet. Two Philly rappers were nominated for Grammys: Black Thought of the Roots for rap performance, and Lil Uzi Vert for rap song. Both lost out to Atlanta rapper Killer Mike, who swept the rap categories with his song Scientist & Engineers and album Michael. Philly bassist and bandleader Adam Blackstone lost out in the two jazz categories, but as he led a jam session on the awards show that featured luminaries Bob James, Robert Glasper, and Terrace Martin, he told the audience he was representing Jersey and Philly to the fullest. Philly visual artist Perry Shall, who was nominated for his design of The Arcs Electrophonic Chronic in the recording package category, lost out to Luke Brooks and James Theseus Buck for Dry Cleanings Stumpwork. University of Pennsylvania graduate and It Came From Memphis author Robert Gordon won an award for liner notes with Deanie Parker, for Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos, and another with Parker and others for best historical album for the same project. Crozer-Chester Medical Center, shown here Saturday, is in danger of losing the physician trainees in its general surgery residency program. Read more Editors note: Crozer dropped its lawsuit in Delaware County Court on Tuesday, but said it will continue its appeal at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in a bid to save its general surgery residency program. Doctors in training are fleeing Crozer-Chester Medical Centers general surgery residency program because they fear their work from January through June might not count toward educational requirements, according to a lawsuit filed last week. The programs accreditation has been in limbo since last month. Prospect Medical Holdings Inc., the California-based for-profit that owns Crozer, warned in its lawsuit against the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education that the loss of the residents services will undermine the viability of Delaware Countys largest health system and its potential sale. The lawsuit in the Delaware County Court came in response to the decision last month by the council, known as ACGME, to withdraw accreditation for Crozers general surgery training program, which has 15 residents. Advertisement Lack of surgical volume was among the reasons for the decision, according to court documents. Crozer has already cut back on services at the Upland hospital, prompting a reduction last month in the level of stroke care it provides. It is relying on Jefferson Health and Temple University Health System to provide certain services in neurosurgery and cardiac surgery. Crozer has struggled to regain its financial footing since the pandemic. The system has closed two of its four hospitals, fallen behind on its bills, and had at least two rounds of layoffs. Last week, Prospect reached an agreement to pause litigation over the closure of Delaware County Memorial Hospital while Prospect tries to find a nonprofit willing to acquire Crozer. Crozers appeal Crozer prevented the immediate closure by appealing the ACGME decision, a 12-page notice that details 31 issues for which the hospitals program was cited. The document was not included in court filings, so details are not widely known, but Crozers lawsuit noted the citations include allegations that the case logs for residents were fraudulent. If Crozer loses the appeal in June, the ACGME says the loss of accreditation will be retroactive to Jan. 30. That has caused a rush to the exits, according to Prospects complaint. Nine of 15 residents were planning to leave as of Wednesday, the day Prospect filed its complaint. In an emergency motion last week, Crozer asked for a preliminary injunction to block ACGME from retroactively rescinding the accreditation if Crozer loses its appeal. Left unchecked, the cloud that ACGME has put over the surgical residencies at Crozer Health may force the trauma center to divert patients to other hospitals, and otherwise disrupt normal hospital services, including emergency services, Luke P. McLoughlin, of Duane Morris LLP, wrote in Crozers complaint. The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General weighed in on Crozers behalf, asking ACGME in a Jan. 26 letter to reverse its stance on retroactively withdrawing the accreditation. ACGME said it does not comment on pending litigation. Crozer issued a statement last week: We took action to protect our trauma center and essential services in the face of an abrupt and unwarranted action by ACGME that seeks to put a cloud over our surgical residencies. The plight of residents An anonymous complaint that surgical volumes were insufficient for the residents training needs triggered the ACGMEs investigation of the Crozer program. The complaint led to an ACGME site visit on Nov. 8, then the Jan. 8 notice that accreditation would be withdrawn four days later. Normally, when a training program losses its accreditation, the change occurs June 30, the end of the residency year. A medical education expert said he wasnt surprised by the ACGME action. These are the very kinds of situations in which the ACGME is obligated to act because if they dont, these residents will be out in practice operating on patients independently without the necessary experience and training, said Bryan Carmody, an associate professor of pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School. The ACGME notice was not included in the public court filing, but letters and emails appended to Crozers complaint contain insights on the unusual nature of the ACGMEs action. Most accreditation withdrawal notices do not have the extreme urgency issues expressed in the Crozer notification letter, an ACGME attorney, Douglas Carlson wrote, without giving reasons for the urgency in Crozers case. In response to the allegations that case logs for residents were fraudulent, Crozer is reviewing every resident case since November 2021, when Crozer adopted electronic medical records, said Kirsten McAuliffe Raleigh, who works in the King of Prussia office of Stevens & Lee, in court filings. A hurdle for surgical residents trying to leave Crozer is the Medicare payments that help defray the costs of training would stay with Crozer until the residency program closes. It is likely harder for residents to find placements that will accept them unfunded, Raleigh wrote. Sara Walker, 45, hugs her youngest daughter, Scarlett, 9, at their home in Jenkintown, Pa. Read more Sara Walker was a healthy 39-year-old when she had both her breasts and her fallopian tubes removed to guard against the hereditary cancer that killed her mother and grandmother. Since then, she has gone roughly every six months for an invasive ultrasound to screen her ovaries, and she will have them removed this year. She follows every recommendation for women like her, who carry a gene mutation associated with a 70% chance of developing breast or ovarian cancer. The mutation prevents the BRCA gene from performing its watchdog role to keep cell growth in check. Now Walker is volunteering to test a vaccine developed by the University of Pennsylvania and Plymouth Meeting-based Inovio Pharmaceuticals that could spare thousands with the gene mutation from cancer. Penn researchers believe it is possible to protect people with a BRCA gene mutation from cancer with the prick of a needle, instead of aggressive surgeries and stressful screening regimens that arent guaranteed to prevent disease. Walker is one of the first 15 healthy individuals to receive the vaccine as part of a new phase of a clinical trial that began last year. Advertisement The vaccine may not dramatically reduce Walkers risk of cancer, since shes already had preventive surgeries. Grateful for her current good health, she wanted to help advance science. Walker, 45, hopes to spare others what she experienced in a whirlwind two years: She learned she was a carrier, had the preventive surgeries, and mourned the death her mother, who had been diagnosed with her third, terminal cancer. Her chest felt tight, thinking of how empty the dinner table would feel without her mother, and how she might miss seeing her own children grow up. I felt like our world just collapsed, said Walker, a child psychologist who lives in Jenkintown. Most of the emerging cancer vaccines are not truly preventive; they are given to people who have cancer and underwent treatment with the goal of preventing the disease from returning. For instance, Modernas new melanoma vaccine made waves last year when studies showed it could reduce the risk of death or recurrence among people who had already been diagnosed with the common skin cancer. Penns vaccine is different: It aims to arm the body to recognize the earliest signs of cancer and stop the disease before it develops. The vaccine uses a jolt of electricity to propel DNA deep into the bodys disease-fighting white blood cells. Once inside, the DNA trains them to attack abnormal cells if they begin dividing too rapidly. Even if the concept works, the vaccine is still seven to 10 years away from becoming widely available to the public, and still must clear many rigorous trials and receive regulatory approval. Penn researchers are cautious, given that dozens of previous attempts to develop cancer-thwarting vaccines have failed. But the potential is already drawing interest: At least 100 people are on a waitlist for the Penn trial. If successful, the vaccine could change the course of history for families with a deadly genetic code that gives women and men a high chance of developing cancer of the breast, ovaries, prostate, or pancreas. Many have no idea theyre carriers until theyre diagnosed with cancer, sometimes years before routine screening is recommended. And they have a 50% chance of passing on the BRCA gene mutation to their children. If theres a word beyond breakthrough, thats what it would be, said Robert H. Vonderheide, director of Penns Abramson Cancer Center. The race to develop a cancer vaccine Penns vaccine aims to trick the bodys immune system into fighting the earliest stages of cancer at the cellular level, delivered with a jolt of electricity at lightning speed. Researchers call the approach sciences version of a Trojan horse, the mythological wooden decoy Greek invaders are said to have used to penetrate enemy defenses. Penn researchers seized on the BRCA gene mutations because they are among the known genetic links to cancer and therefore clear targets for vaccines, said Susan Domchek, executive director of the Basser Center for BRCA at Penn, who is leading Penns trial. Penns vaccine would solve for the out-of-control cell growth that can result from the BRCA mutation by targeting an enzyme called telomerase. Telomerase helps cells multiply as people age from infants to adults. But when telomerase is too active, cells divide rapidly and grow into tumors. Researchers discovered that they could teach the bodys immune system to recognize and attack the enzyme when it becomes overactive, but before it has time to spur tumor growth. The vaccine accomplishes this by blasting bits of DNA into white blood cells that are the immune systems soldiers, leading the charge against infections and diseases. The DNA, manufactured by Inovio, gives the white blood cells new marching orders: Seek out and attack the enzyme. For patients, the process involves four shots, each followed by three zaps with a wand-like device that delivers a small electric shock over the injection site. As DNA is electrically charged, this sends the vaccine deeper into the body, through the muscle and into cells. Trial participants say the experience feels like a hard punch in the arm. It leaves a ring of pinprick punctures around the vaccine injection site. Penns vaccine is one of several in early trials nationally that attempt to prevent cancer. Vaccines in development at Johns Hopkins University, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and elsewhere use different techniques such as creating an immune response with deactivated cancer cells, instead of reprogramming white blood cells with DNA. But they share a common philosophy: The bodys immune system is so powerful that it can protect against cancer, just as it protects against viruses. I dont want to oversell it, said Elizabeth Jaffee, the deputy director of Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center. But she feels scientists are closer than ever. We will get there. READ MORE: UPenn scientists among those developing vaccines that arm the immune system to fight cancer A family history Families with hereditary breast cancer are eager for better options than preventive surgeries, ongoing testing, and wishing for luck. There has to be a less barbaric way, said Adrienne Fox-Miniman, of Glen Mills. She was 40 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990. While not part of the clinical trial, she hopes it will help her family. Fox-Miniman, now 75, has a BRCA gene mutation. So do at least seven other relatives. Her family is Ashkenazi Jewish, which means they have a 1 in 40 chance of carrying the gene mutation, compared to the general populations 1 in 200 risk. A niece learned she was a carrier too late; she died of breast cancer at age 34. Fox-Miniman doesnt speak to the nieces father, her brother, in part because she cant forgive him for not getting tested. Fox-Minimans cancer was caught early enough that she decided against a mastectomy to remove her breasts. She opted instead for more screening. Shes long lost track of how many times doctors have grown concerned enough to inject a long needle into her chest to biopsy a lump. Most times the results are negative, but waiting for the phone to ring remains a near-constant anxiety decades later. Last fall, doctors found her cancer had returned, and she completed radiation earlier this month. She tries to keep her mind off cancer by focusing on her grandchildren, who visit often for play dates and sleepovers in a living room plastered with family snapshots. Her two sons with children do not have the BRCA mutation, so Fox-Miniman doesnt worry about passing it on to the grandkids. But she tears up reflecting on her familys painful cancer experience and contemplating a future when a family history of cancer wont mean a lifetime of forebodings. It gives me goosebumps, she said. Penns next steps Domchek was surprised by the outpouring of interest in the trial, which requires a significant time commitment. Participants must have lab work done every two weeks between each of the four shots, all of which must be done at Penns Basser Center in West Philadelphia. The lab will monitor them for two years after they are fully vaccinated. Were trying to advance science, but we cant do that unless the first person steps up and holds out their arm, she said. Penn began its clinical trial in 2021, with a group of 16 people who had previously been treated for cancer. Researchers began testing the vaccine on the first group of healthy individuals last year. They will all be fully vaccinated by June. Penn is already enrolling the next group of 12 healthy individuals. Filko Prugo, a PhD candidate and father of three living in New York City, didnt think twice about enrolling. He quit his job at an international law firm to study cancer research after his brother, also a carrier, died of breast cancer at age 48. I think my first and strongest reaction was just hoping that my kids dont have it, Prugo said. BRCA genetic testing is not recommended for children, but many get tested in their 20s or 30s, when their risk becomes greater. Sara Walker, the Jenkintown woman who had a preventive mastectomy, thinks her mother would be proud of her for volunteering for Penns trial and doing what she can to limit the risks of cancer in their family. Walker has three children under age 14. She hasnt talked to them about the possibility that they share a genetic mutation with a high risk of cancer. Shes hopeful theyll never have to worry about it. I worry about accidents and heartbreak, she said, but I dont think Im going to worry that my kids will have to go through the same things I did. From left, Bob Taylor, 52, Mario Maldonado, 66, and Louis Zulli, 67, are co-owners of A Mans Image clothing store in South Philadelphia. The store is closing its doors at the end of March. Read more The owners of A Mans Image, the long-beloved menswear shop on Passyunk Avenue, remember the days when the store was so packed that they sometimes threw dress shirts across the room amid the flurry of sales. It hasnt been like that for a while. Younger generations dont care much about dressing up, and people can buy anything they want online. Over the decades, the avenue around the shop has changed dramatically, the owners said, with restaurants and bars replacing old retail shops. The long tail of COVID-19 tanked business, as well after the pandemic, customers just didnt return. They cant see a way forward. So after nearly 60 years, A Mans Image will close its doors at the end of March. Advertisement Its a dying trade, said Mario Maldonado, 66, who has worked at the shop for 30 years. Compared to his co-owners, Bob Taylor, 52, who has worked there for 38 years, and Louis Zulli, 67, who just celebrated his 40th year, Maldonado jokes hes the baby. All three have seen mens suit styles go out and come back into fashion; theyre once again selling double-breasted jackets and wide-legged pants, just like they did back in the 80s. A Mans Image never managed to get an online business off the ground. Maybe we should have changed more with the times, online, but thats not how we do things. Thats not how we were trained, Zulli said. He grew up two blocks away and still lives in the neighborhood. Each customer who enters the shop is greeted personally, often by first name. The owners have dressed fathers and sons and grandsons, for graduations and weddings and funerals. Now everything must go, and the fire sale feels almost like a wake, with devoted customers visiting the shop to pay their respects, say goodbye, and stock up on one or three leather jackets. Eighty percent of the clientele is African American; many longtime customers are now in the 60s and 70s, still dressed to the nines. Lou White, 77, dropped in on a recent Thursday to buy new outfits for an upcoming cruise to Bermuda with his family. White, who lives in Delaware, has shopped at A Mans Image for more than 40 years. They take care of you. They dont let you buy something you dont look good in, White said. He used to come once a week when he still worked in Philadelphia; he had nine lockers at the electric company where he worked, filled with clothes. Thats nice, said Whites friend, James Mooty, 81, who has also been a customer for decades, examining a shearling coat White was trying on. Thats like the black one that you didnt get. You want it? Zulli said. The one you liked. He brought the coat to Mooty and helped him try it on. By the end of their leisurely visit, Mooty and White had each selected half a dozen sweaters and jackets and pants and coats. Who wants the bad news first? Zulli joked as he rang them up, throwing in a few shirts and scarves for free. The three owners took the store over from its founder, Abe Mandel, when he semiretired in 2016. They kept the sign Mandel displayed outside their previous storefront down the block: Dr. Abe & Associates Will Cure the Uglies GUARANTEED. Mandel, now 83, lives half the year in Florida. When hes back in New Jersey, he comes into the store, visits with customers, and consults with the owners, whom he refers to as the boys. He sold them the business for $1 and gave them half the store inventory, wanting only to maintain a place to go and something to do for himself. Mandel opened his first mens clothing store at Seventh and Dudley in 1968. Believe me, its a sad day for myself, he said. Theres a little bit of sadness with the guys after so many years. When the shop closes, Taylor will work full-time at a vintage toy company he runs on the side; Maldonado will do the same with a side tax business. Zulli isnt sure whats next. While Zulli fitted customers, Michael Patterson, 30, examined the stores basement. Pattersons father always shopped at A Mans Image; his closet is filled with suits, Patterson said. But today Patterson had come for a different purpose. You looking at the building? Zulli asked him after shaking his hand. Yeah, said Patterson, who works in commercial real estate. We want to put a restaurant in. OK, Zulli said. Cool. I cant believe you guys are closing though, Patterson said. Im very upset. Rochelle Bilal is sworn is as Sheriff Jan. 2 on the stage of the Met Philadelphia on North Broad Street. Read more Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter Today should be a cloudless day in the 40s. Maybe the rodent prophet was right after all. Were looking at positive headlines on Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilals campaign website attributed to local news outlets, including The Inquirer, that no one can find. On a happier note, its almost Valentines Day. With that in mind, do we have two morning newsletter readers with a uniquely Philly love story to share with Paola and me? Email us for a chance to be featured in this newsletter. Inevitably, the indie band boygenius, and also gospel bandleader Tye Tribbett and orchestra music director Yannick Nezet-Seguin, were among the Philly-associated Grammy winners last night. Advertisement Editors note: Sundays edition of this newsletter used inaccurate terminology to characterize the extent of the lack of pharmacies available in some Philadelphia neighborhoods. We should have described the stories as delving into the impact of local pharmacy closures. Ashley Hoffman (@_AshleyHoffman, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. Were looking into potentially false content masquerading as news on Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilals campaign website. Users who visited the site before Friday encountered dozens of positive headlines with logos like The Inquirer, NBC10, CBS3, and WHYY to stories no one can seem to locate. Her first term has received criticism, but you wouldnt know it from these apparent headlines. Lets take a look at a swatch from reporter William Benders story: NBC10 spokesperson Diana Torralvo, for instance, said her digital team could not locate any of the dozen stories that Bilals team claims that it ran about her November 2019 election, police reform initiatives, distribution of free gun locks, suspension of evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, or tips for domestic abuse survivors. Our request for comment we sent last Thursday to the campaigns email address was not returned, and the links to the headlines are gone. One of the apparent stories was a dated article headlined Philly sheriffs office to digitize sheriff sale process, reduce confusion and fraud. Meanwhile, no such article could be located. We had communications ethicists and experts weigh in. Heres what we know for sure. What you should know today Trivia time What celeb is connected to the LOVE statue? A) Kevin Bacon B) M. Night Shyamalan C) Will Smith D) David Lynch Think you know? Check your answer. Pop quiz Heres where I quiz you on recent morning newsletters to see if youre one of our super readers. Paola passed the mic to the ingenious Aseem Shukla about his analysis of how Phillys food scene awards stack up against other cities. What recently reopened restaurant captured the Bon Appetit best new restaurant award in 2015? Hint: sounds like + (zen) + Find out if you know the answer. Unscramble the anagram Who performs the traditional lion dance in honor of Lunar New Year every year? Hint: DELP LAIPH SNAIUS Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Mike Vaupel who correctly guessed Sundays answer: Carl Weathers. If youd like to make your own, let us know. GIF of the day This lastingly relevant moment captured by Olivia Reiner continues to live rent-free in my mind. Jason represents me and Travis represents a message from Paola with her story recommendations for this newsletter. Ill be in the Greek isles in May, so Im taking your recommendations for local Greek restaurants. Kanellas my favorite. Email me your faves. By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10. Commuters getting off and on the 27 SEPTA bus at 15th and Market Streets on a snowy morning in Center City Philadelphia on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. Read more On Jan. 25, SEPTAs board once again delayed the needed approval for Bus Revolution, a plan that would rework the transit authoritys bus services by allocating more buses to its busiest routes and tweaking or eliminating its most inefficient routes. On Thursday, the SEPTA board will have another chance to approve Bus Revolution. It is imperative that it green-lights the project and stops delaying the rollout of transformative bus service across the region. Bus Revolution marks a sea change in the way SEPTA looks at its network. For the first time since its 1963 formation, SEPTA is proactively working to adapt its bus routes and service patterns to meet the specific ridership demands of the region. By the end of 2024, Bus Revolution could offer much-needed improvements in transit service to the two-thirds of all SEPTA trips that are taken on buses. If approved by the board, SEPTAs adjusted bus network will provide more service on its most used routes and simplify inefficient routes to improve travel speed and reliability. It will also spread more service to weekends and evenings to help serve non-rush hour trips. In total, the adjusted network will add 30% more frequent bus routes to the system (resulting in service at least every 15 minutes) and bring an additional 1.1 million people within a 10-minute walk of a frequent bus route. These changes will dramatically expand the entire regions access to cost-effective, sustainable travel options. Gov. Josh Shapiros proposal of $282.8 million in new state money for SEPTA and other transit agencies may avert SEPTAs fiscal cliff, but projects like Bus Revolution are key to ensuring SEPTAs operating budget is spent efficiently. Bus Revolution is designed as a cost-neutral process, so SEPTAs adjusted network will use the same number of vehicles and operators as its current network. Letting fear of a fiscal cliff derail Bus Revolution would unnecessarily worsen the already tough situation SEPTA finds itself in. Advertisement Shapiro and our state representatives should do everything they can to avoid SEPTAs fiscal cliff, but Bus Revolution does not need to be its first casualty. In her recent opposition to Bus Revolution, Councilmember Kathrine Gilmore Richardson testified that perfect is the enemy of done when it comes to planning processes, but still urged SEPTA to delay Bus Revolution until new City Council members could conduct outreach on the plan. After three years of planning, over 200 community meetings and outreach sessions, 20,000 community responses through online surveys, and a further 50,000 riders reached through the Transit app, SEPTA should not delay any further. If all planning processes were halted for political transitions, then SEPTA would never be able to make large-scale improvements in its services. Bus Revolution may not be perfect, but it represents a proactive, optimistic step toward improving transit service for all riders and prospective riders across Southeastern Pennsylvania. As Bus Revolution moves forward, advocates should continue to demand that the process be carried out transparently, with robust communications, translation of materials into multiple languages, and availability of materials on accessible platforms for riders with impairments. Just as SEPTA responded to feedback from a variety of neighborhoods in shaping its proposed network, including concerns in Northwest and West Philly, SEPTA should continue to incorporate rider feedback into the rollout of route changes. Similar bus network redesigns have increased ridership and customer satisfaction across the country, including in Houston and Richmond, Va. SEPTAs pursuit of Bus Revolution shows that the agency aspires to keep up with the most innovative and effective transportation planning strategies in the country. Its efforts should be welcomed with social and political support. After implementing Bus Revolution, SEPTA will have a new relationship with the layout of its bus network. Instead of a string of lines inherited from its precursor agencies, SEPTA will be operating a network that it planned for itself and for its riders in the 21st century. Approving Bus Revolution doesnt set the new network in stone. Instead, it is the first step in SEPTA becoming a more proactive operator and evaluator of its services that is serious about using its limited resources to produce the greatest benefit for its riders. Jonathan Zisk is a student in the master of city planning program at the University of Pennsylvanias Weitzman School of Design. His research focuses on the effects of bus network redesigns on the performance of American transit agencies. In the last two years, tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians have fled the state. This trend is not new. For 12 of the past 13 years, more residents have moved out of the commonwealth than have moved in. We now have the ignominy of having the fourth-highest population loss in the country. At this rate, analysts anticipate Pennsylvania losing another congressional seat by 2030. Were losing the people, the communities, and the businesses that define us. Things have been going so badly that the then-governor of Arkansas roasted Pennsylvania when his state landed a $3 billion, 900-job economic expansion project from U.S. Steel in 2022. Asa Hutchinson crowed hed have that plant built and operational before you could ever get a permit to even start construction in Pennsylvania. Galling? Yes. But Hutchinson was right. Advertisement U.S. Steel is a heritage business and product for us a proud legacy that we essentially gave away to Arkansas thanks to our excessive and stifling regulatory environment. We rarely think about the role of Pennsylvanias crippling economic policies when people decide to give up on our state and relocate. Pennsylvanias economics just arent working for too many people. Bad policy is hurting all of us, and its contributing to an epidemic of loneliness. This makes the refusal by Democrats in the states House of Representatives to resume their legislative work until March a shameful dereliction of duty that adds another layer of burden to suffering people waiting on them to act. Taxpayers pony up an awful lot to make sure our lawmakers are incentivized to do their jobs. Pennsylvania is one of but a few states with a full-time legislature. Our lawmakers are the second-highest paid in the nation (six-plus figures, which counting salaries and benefits puts Pennsylvania just behind New York). Not that there was much to show for it: House Democrats only convened for 48 voting sessions in 2023. Thats 48 more days than the Democratic House has come to work so far this year. You may recall before the ball had dropped on 2023, Democratic House Speaker Joanna McClinton was declaring the House closed for business for the winter because the chamber roof had sprung a leak. You could hear the eye-rolling everywhere at the House Democrats anemic excuse that generated scorching critique and skepticism. House Democrats are work-shy and moisture-adverse this year for the same reason they were last year: Another vacancy in the House Democratic caucus has imperiled their one-seat control of the chamber. Pennsylvania cannot afford to lose another legacy business deal to a better-run state. During his campaign for governor, Josh Shapiro promised to reduce the corporate net income tax from 9.99% to 4% by 2025 and create a tax environment that is going to be among the best in the nation. But he has been unable to get his Democratic-led House to get it done. House Democrats should be doing their jobs, and not just on economic issues. Shapiro has been promising to expand telehealth services and increase access to providers in underserved areas. Philadelphia has 14 of those areas locations that do not have enough providers to meet the intense demand. Shapiros budget agreement with Senate Republicans cutting the corporate tax to bring businesses and jobs back to the state and expanding access to health care enjoys strong bipartisan support in the legislature and broad popular support among Pennsylvanians. Polling by my colleagues at the Commonwealth Foundation shows that 83% of Pennsylvanians support expanding access to telehealth, and 77% support lowering the corporate tax rate. Lawmakers should remember their duty under the state constitution, that government is, or ought to be, instituted for the common benefit, protection and security of the people, nation or community; and not for the particular emolument or advantage of any single man, family, or soft of men, who are a part only of that community. McClinton and the Democrats should put people before their own power. Dealing with a leaky roof is certainly an inconvenience. It would be good for House Democrats to remember that many Pennsylvanians are dealing with far worse. 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. Seniors in these Nebraska counties have the highest Alzheimer's rates Alzheimer's rates by state #50. Platte County #48. Thayer County (tie) #48. Webster County (tie) #45. Antelope County (tie) #45. Colfax County (tie) #45. Jefferson County (tie) #44. Madison County #43. Wheeler County #39. Boyd County (tie) #39. Franklin County (tie) #39. Johnson County (tie) #39. Morrill County (tie) #35. Garden County (tie) #35. Nance County (tie) #35. Perkins County (tie) #35. Sherman County (tie) #34. Pierce County #33. Custer County #32. Gage County #30. Dodge County (tie) #30. Scotts Bluff County (tie) #29. McPherson County #28. Gosper County #26. Cherry County (tie) #26. Fillmore County (tie) #25. York County #24. Otoe County #22. Frontier County (tie) #22. Kimball County (tie) #21. Sheridan County #20. Hayes County #19. Nuckolls County #18. Red Willow County #17. Brown County #14. Burt County (tie) #14. Dawes County (tie) #14. Richardson County (tie) #13. Garfield County #12. Wayne County #11. Knox County #10. Sioux County #9. Cedar County #8. Keya Paha County #7. Pawnee County #6. Chase County #4. Boone County (tie) #4. Phelps County (tie) #3. Cuming County #2. Greeley County #1. Hooker County When Michael Redstone heard her relative Christine Redstone was buried at Carlisle Indian Industrial School, she felt an immediate connection to her. She mourned Christines early death. She felt angry Christine had been robbed of her future. And she felt helpless, knowing Christine didnt have a choice in going to Carlisle. Michael discovered that Christine was about five generations removed from her and the daughter of Chief Redstone, who was the Assiniboine signator of the treaty that established the Fort Peck Reservation. Christine was an Assiniboine child, who, like many Indigenous children, left the reservation in the late 1800s to attend Carlisle Indian Industrial School and never returned home. Until now. Earlier this week in an emotional ceremony, Michael joined tribal leaders in signing documents to bring Christine and another tribal member named Peter Howe home from Carlisle. What happened at Carlisle? Located in Pennsylvania, Carlisle Indian Industrial School opened in 1879 and was the first government-run boarding school for Native Americans and later served as a model for other schools. The explicit mission at Carlisle was cultural genocide, and Richard Henry Pratt, who spearheaded the boarding school effort, would often say the schools were meant to Kill the Indian, save the man. At these schools, Indigenous children were emotionally, physically and sexually abused. They were punished for speaking their Native languages and practicing culture. Their hair was forcibly cut and they were made to wear Western clothes. Those who survived suffered language and culture loss, and experienced significant trauma, which has been passed down through generations. But many children, like Christine and Peter, did not survive. These children were often buried in unmarked graves. The U.S. Army War College now occupies the original site of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School which, at the urging of tribal members nationwide, has exhumed and returned the remains of more than two dozen children to their living relatives. The Blackfeet Tribe brought a relative home from Carlisle in September in the colleges sixth disinterment operation since 2017. A Blackfeet leader who helped retrieve the boys remains said there were pig, cow and deer bones inside his casket. He was told the childrens cemetery was also a dump for animal scraps used in the kitchen. Who were Christine Redstone and Peter Howe? School records indicate that Christine arrived at Carlisle in 1890 and died nine years later of consumption, or tuberculosis. In an 1899 issue of The Indian Helper newspaper, a Mrs. John Russell, who said Christine was like a daughter to her, wrote, We were indeed greatly shocked to hear of her death. We had not realized that her end was so near. The intelligence has cast a deep gloom over our family. Michael heard Christine was 6 years old when she arrived at the school, and some records state she was 15. While experts say its not uncommon for boarding school records to be inaccurate, Dyan Youpee, director of the Fort Peck Cultural Resource Department, said discrepancies can also be attributed to cultural differences. In the late 1800s, Youpee said Fort Peck tribal members would likely measure time in moon cycles, migration phases or seasonal changes. When I read the documents, I also hear Michael and her grandma telling stories of Christine being 6 years old, Youpee said. I dont need to pick one side or the other. She was young. Peter Howe attended Carlisle around the same time as Christine. Records show he arrived in 1890 and died six years later of tuberculosis. He was 22 years old. 'We are fighting processes': Repatriation process is long Earlier this week Michael, Youpee and other tribal leaders gathered to sign an affidavit proposing the disinterment of Christine and Peter. Jeff Berger, director of the Fort Peck Tribes disaster and emergency services, likened language and culture loss to his work with natural disasters. Our identity was taken from us, he said. When I see things in a museum that they shouldnt have, like the remains of little children, to me, thats a disaster. We need to get these remains, these artifacts back to our people. Tribal Chairman Justin Gray Hawk said people often dont understand the significance of returning remains and cultural items to tribes. I try my best to explain that when we put our people to rest, thats where theyre supposed to be, he said. I explain to them that when you take our people, they arent resting. Theyre wandering. When you take these items, when you take our people from their resting places, youre not only disturbing them but youre disturbing their families. Its hard not to be upset. Its hard to hold my composure. Youpee announced at the event that signing the affidavit was one step in a long process ahead. Representatives at Carlisle will work with the tribes to schedule the disinterment, which Youpee said is expected to take place in 2026. It can take a week to excavate ancestral remains, and Youpee said due to weather, remains are only extracted in the fall. Sometimes, repatriation is not up to us, she said. Its not on our timeline. We say we fight people to get the remains back, but in reality, we are fighting processes in land, in law, in policy, in regulation. Until now, Youpee said the Cultural Resource Department has only ever repatriated remains of unknown relatives. They may receive a skull or a finger bone. Sometimes, the remains are abused, having been dissected for research. For Youpee, Christine and Peters repatriation feels different. This repatriation process has a name and has known living descendants that I can shake hands with and talk to, she said. This repatriation story is emotionally powerful to witness. It brings relief and hope that we can do more like this. Michael said the return of Christine and Peter will promote healing, not just within individual families but within the community as a whole. (Christine) wants to come home, she said. She needs to be home. Insurance Business cares deeply about the planet and giving back to nature, so in partnership with One Tree Planted, a tree will be planted for every response to the survey. He said his constituent and her lawyer (working pro bono, he said) didnt think the building quote of $66,000 from the NRMAs building firm would cover the repairs. It was lower, he said, than other quotes. However, they accepted the quote anyway but when the construction firm refused to guarantee the work, Gee said, this deal fell though. Theres no doubt the floods of 2022 were very challenging, and they tested insurers systems, processes and people like never before, said Hall. Insurers and their staff worked day and night to meet the needs of their customers, the majority of whom had their claim resolved in a satisfactory way. Manfred joined Monument Re Group in February 2017, when the company was a relatively new venture, Jonathan Yates, the firms chair, noted in a statement from October. Over six years of dedicated service, Manfred has played an integral role in creating the market-leading business that it is today. RGA responded to our risk and capital management needs with a strong solution, Kinnet said, highlighting RGAs adeptness in navigating the intricacies of the transaction and its commitment to addressing various complexities. I am delighted to welcome our four new board members for the 2024/25 term, he said. Their varied expertise and commitment to our mission will undoubtedly strengthen CIWAs impact within the California E&S insurance landscape. Donahue also extended gratitude to departing board member Emil Moskowitz, acknowledging his exceptional leadership spanning 15 years, describing his tenure as having left an indelible mark on CIWAs legacy. Its been a very fun and exciting first few weeks, Lawrence said. We look to growing not only organically, but we are also talking to additional producers in the marketplace that are intrigued by the flat hierarchy that we are going for and maybe disillusioned with their current situation and relationships in the marketplace. If the old adage As California goes, so goes the nation is true, then 2024 will be another year of industry retooling as insurers and regulators set a path for the future of the U.S. P/C property insurance market. Homeowners in the nations most populous state will likely be waiting until 2025 to start seeing rate relief as regulatory modernization takes shape, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara told state lawmakers at an Assembly Insurance Committee hearing in mid-December, reiterating a December 2024 target date for completing the regulatory reforms set forth in the departments Sustainable Insurance Strategy, announced in September 2023. Im not going to lie. Its going to still be expensive, Lara told Assemblymember Avelino Valencia, D-Anaheim, one of several lawmakers concerned with what he should tell constituents in wildfire-prone areas of the state facing skyrocketing insurance property insurance premiums. What is to be expected in this transition? In your assessment, do you think that the rates will increase? Do you think the situation will worsen moving forward? And if so, have we discussed or planned any potential softening for consumers payment plan systems or a tiered implementation of these new rates? Valencia asked Lara directly after the commissioner outlined plans to have insurers increase market share in wildfire-distressed areas and depopulate the FAIR plan in exchange for the ability to include reinsurance costs and indications from catastrophe models in insurance pricing. Lara responded: Were never going to get to affordability, Assemblymember, if we dont have availability. If insurance companies keep exiting the market or contracting their footprint, were never going to get to affordability. The first action of this plan is to get insurers to write back to write in these communities themselves. Its going to be tough, I want to say, for the next couple of months. But hopefully youre going to start seeing the market start stabilizing itself. I know its not what you want to hear, but I also dont want to sugarcoat that. We are living in unprecedented times, Lara said. Offering some reasons for optimism, the commissioner stated that the signals CDI is sending to insurers about its understanding of the need for massive changes and about putting those changes on the 2024 agenda are already having positive impacts. They are spurring changes in the outlook of insurance companies looking at us again. He added: Youre going to see next year, hopefully some balancing out of the market, and praised CDI staff for opening up a dialogue with insurers an activity that he said has not happened in the past. We continue to be vilified because were actually having conversations with the entity that we regulate, which makes no sense to me. We should be talking to the entity that we regulate, he asserted. What do we tell our constituents? Assemblymember Jim Wood, D-Healdsburg, asked Lara at a later point during the hearing. People that are being canceled now, being forced onto the FAIR plan They want to know when are we potentially going to see some relief a range, a period. Is it a year? Two years? Is it five years, because they have to plan their lives out. Lara used the word hopeful multiple times in responding about milestones possible in 2024 and 2025. Hopefully by the beginning of next year, some of these insurance companies, hopefully, are starting to write new business as were expediting and really working hard to finish [reviewing] rate applications, Lara said, referring to a backlog of 95 rate and rule filings that CDI needs to work through apart from working on the modernization effort. He also reiterated his idea that allowing California-only reinsurance costs and catastrophic model results to boost rate indications is already sending the signal that California is going to modernize, finally, to insurers poised to expand or return to write business they have been shunning in 2023. Nobody wants to leave California; were the largest market. But its come to the point that because were so archaic with these rules, insurers were forced to exit. Staying put was an option back in the day, when there was one catastrophe Now, [there are] multiple catastrophes, particularly since 2017. And then you have an increasing amount of reinsurance to cover the catastrophic losses happening around the world, Lara said. Coming back to address the question, he said, Id tell your constituents that hopefully we start seeing some relief by next year as we look at these rates. And [then] I would say by hopefully 2025 we start seeing some sort of the market fixing itself. Thats definitely my hope. Wood worried aloud that things will get worse for his constituents before they get better. I will tell you that my biggest fear is that we have another 2017 or 2018 that unravels this agreement, Lara said, referring to years of significant wildfire losses. Still, putting that prospect aside, he added, I dont think its going to get worse, suggesting that insurance businesses, like homeowners, need certainty. They need to know that were moving in the right direction, he said. Now, they have some sense of that direction. Even the conversations were having have improved our opportunity to be able to keep and maintain insurance growing. You can ask the insurance companies yourselves, he suggested. Why Is This Taking So Long? Echoing a repeated refrain from insurers, who routinely list extensive delays in getting rate filings approved in California among the reasons theyre abandoning distressed parts of the states homeowners market, 2023 Assembly Insurance Committee Vice Chair Bill Essayli, R-Corona, asked Lara why it would take so long to get all the components of the Sustainable Insurance Strategy completed. I agree with the strategy. It is just more on the timeline, Essayli said. Just so I understand better why you said you hope to have these elements in place by December of 2024, can you just walk me through why does it take that long? Are we talking about issuing rules? Regulations? Lara pointed to a talent shortage in the department and explained the need for three branches of the department a legal team, rate regulation team and a climate team to be involved with different facets of the modernization process before everything comes together. Weve had record amounts of folks, since the pandemic, retire, Lara said, thanking the lawmakers for giving CDI the budget to hire analysts and actuaries needed to plow through 95 outstanding filings. He also walked lawmakers through the steps involved with making reforms a reality. I recognize that time is of the essence but this is not something that can happen overnight, referring specifically to the intricacies of incorporating cat model output into rates. The process is really a complicated one, as Im quickly finding out, and involves multiple branches of my department to work together on a solution, he said, reporting that the CDI legal team needs to examine how the introduction of models to the rate approval process will meet the public inspection requirement set forth in Insurance Code Section 1861.07. It is important to consider Californias public inspection requirement and the extent to which the inner workings of catastrophic models can be publicly disclosed. The CDI climate team, he said, is working on how the department will engage with experts to strengthen its understanding of wildfire modeling factors, and is also using a data-driven process to define what will constitute a distressed area for the purpose of meeting an insurance companys commitment to increasing their market share in these areas. We cant operate under outdated regulations that no longer reflect the risk that were living in, Commissioner Lara said at a Dec. 13 hearing before Californias Assembly Insurance committee, stressing the need to incorporate catastrophe modeling and reinsurance costs in rate determinations going forward. In addition, the rate regulation team is working on the regulatory text, which will set forth how the models are going to be used in rate applications. The current rulemaking process formula is not structurally set up to accept the modeled losses, Lara said, noting that once all the regulations are finished, before year-end 2024, the Office of Administrative Law must approve them and then insurance companies can come in with their new rate filings. No More Games At other points during the hearing, Lara suggested that insurers themselves delayed approvals with incomplete rate filings in the past, and also made reference to delays caused by intervenors empowered to represent the interests of the public by a decades-old law, Proposition 103. CDI will demand that both tighten their processes to improve timelines, the commissioner said. For insurance companies, we intend to enforce the requirements that a complete rate application must be submitted to the department before the clock on reviewing the application begins. Let me tell you in the past we have allowed insurance companies to submit their application without the complete data needed, Lara said. Going forward, CDI will provide insurers with the right reconciliation tool to assist them in providing complete filings, he said. Similarly, we will allow third-party intervenors in a rate application to only raise issues that are relevant in the application. Raising unrelated or irrelevant issues only serves to slow down the process, which has a direct impact on consumers and insurance availability, he said. Wait. What? Wood requested more specifics on the baffling idea that an insurance company would submit an incomplete rate filing application. What we discovered when I came in was that this was just par for the course, Lara insisted. Submit an incomplete application, have it start with the analyst, and then youre working back and forth, which also creates this backlog and really just exacerbates the time that you need. Carriers would ask, Whats happening with my rate application? I can tell you, 80% of the time, according to CDI analysts, we still havent received information. Were waiting on them [carriers] to respond [with] the information that we need. Recalling his early days as a new insurance commissioner back in 2019, Lara said he was as mystified as Wood when CDI approved a rate, and the insurance company getting the rubber stamp on its rate filing immediately submitted another. More often than not, the new filing was incomplete, creating this animosity once again with our department, which really has no time to start second-guessing these numbers, Lara said. (Editors Note: On earnings conference calls, carrier executives often note that their companies typically file for multiple 6.9% rate increases in California, even though they need higher jumps. The 6.9% requests escape the lengthy intervenor process, which kicks in for reviews of rate filings with indications higher than that threshold.) As part of the negotiations to allow carriers to include cat model output and reinsurance costs in ratemaking going forward, both parties came together and said were no longer playing this game, Lara said, referring to a domino effect that past practices had on Wood and his constituents. You cant find insurance. You cant sell your home. It lowers property values. Then guess what? The local government doesnt have the resources to actually pay for firefighters, right? It is just this evil cycle that happens By the time were finishing this back-and-forth, the risk is going up. But the rate is still staying flat because were still negotiating a complete application. So, were never going to close that protection gap and were never going to get to be able to have the adequate risk being reflected in these rates unless the process is tightened up, Lara said. Diverse Intervenors At several points during the session, Lara also described intervenor routines that have delayed rate filing approvals, reporting that intervenors arent always ready on Day 1, as required by Proposition 103 the law that allows public participation in the rate review process and often just cut and paste objections raised by CDI experts. Referring to the most active intervenor group, Consumer Watchdog, Essayli insisted that Lara should support elimination of the intervenor process. You are the consumer watchdog. You are elected by the majority of voters in the state. You look out for the consumer, the assemblymember said. In Laras view, intervenors, which are unique to California, play a pivotal role working with CDI. What we need to do is make sure that its not just one organization thats doing the intervening that we actually allow for diverse intervenors, people that come from the communities that are suffering, that want to understand the rate process, he said. Thats a tall order, admitted Chief Deputy Commissioner Michael Martinez, who noted that nonprofits that CDI has encouraged to take intervenor roles in the past are hampered by the costs involved with engaging analytic staff, and by the fact that compensation for intervenors (ultimately paid by insurers) comes after the fact, requiring approval of an administrative law judge. Urgent and Deliberate Actions Lawmakers also asked for some specifics on how CDI could come up with a workable formula for California-only reinsurance costs and cut down the complexity involved with greenlighting cat models. On the cat model front, Lara disclosed some news that CDI is examining the use of both private and public cat models. We are going to be pursuing both tracks, he reported, noting that creating a public model is a goal because such a model can be used as a benchmark. One thing is clear we can no longer rely on historical data to determine the risk, right? So, we eliminated that immediately. Now were looking and working with our counterparts throughout other states, in particular, the western half of the country How are they protecting consumers? As for reinsurance, Lara said he has stressed to reinsurers that California is the largest market in the country and fourth in the world and has asked them whether a Californias-only reinsurance formula can be developed. Theyve all come back and said theres absolutely something we can do, he said, noting that the process of introducing this needs to be done through a public forum. I guarantee that will be one of the toughest things that we do, and were committed to getting it done by 2024 in December. Its all hands-on deck for us, Lara said. During his opening remarks, Lara reported that seven of the top 12 property insurance groups had paused or restricted new business in California in the past year. For many people who cannot obtain insurance at any price except from the California FAIR plan, this is truly an insurance emergency, he stated, asserting a rising number of policyholders in the FAIR plan threatens the solvency of insurance companies in the voluntary market. If the FAIR plan experiences a massive loss and cannot pay its claims by law, insurance companies are the ones on the hook for the unpaid FAIR plan losses. While this assessment on insurance companies hasnt happened in nearly 30 years, its the uncertainty that is driving insurance companies to further limit coverage to at-risk Californians, Lara said. We are moving with urgency and deliberately based on facts, and we wont be pressured by entrenched groups seeking to defend a broken status quo that puts their interest ahead of the public, he said. Topics California The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in mid-January that Southwest Airlines can continue to seek reimbursement under its Liberty Mutual cyber risk policy for costs incurred during a 2016 massive computer failure. The appeals court panel disagreed with the district courts conclusion in Southwest Airlines Company v. Liberty Insurance Underwriter Inc. that the costs incurred by Southwest were purely discretionary. The costs in question arose from a July 2016 computer failure that caused a three-day disruption of Southwests flight schedule. More than 475,000 Southwest customers experienced either a flight cancellation or a delay of two hours or more. Southwest calculated that it sustained more than $77 million in losses from the computer failure. Weeks before the computer crash, Southwest secured a cyber risk insurance policy from AIG for system failure coverage and a series of excess policies. Under the Liberty policy, the insurer provided excess coverage under the terms of AIGs cyber risk policy for up to $10 million in losses. Libertys policy was above three other excess insurers and AIG, and was only implicated if Southwests system-failure-related losses exceeded $50 million. By March 2018, Southwest had collected $50 million from AIG and other insurers on the first three excess tiers. Liberty, however, denied Southwests claim by disputing five categories of the airlines claimed losses. Without those claimed losses, Southwests covered losses would total less than $50 million and would therefore fail to trigger Libertys policy. Liberty argued that Southwests claimed losses in the form of promo codes, travel vouchers, cover refunds, Rapid Rewards points and advertising costs were a result of the airlines subsequent business decisions and thus not covered. Southwest sued Liberty for breach of contract and bad faith. The district court ruled in favor of Liberty, concluding that Southwests costs were not caused by the computer failure but rather were the result of various and purely discretionary customer-related rewards programs, practices and market promotions. The district court also ruled that coverage was barred under two policy exclusions. Southwest appealed. In reviewing Southwests appeal, the 5th Circuit said the district court erred in concluding that Southwests five categories of costs were all precluded as a matter of law because they were discretionary. The court found the categories met the causation standard for the policys system failure coverage provision. The court, however, avoided answering whether the system failure was the sole cause for each of the costs Southwest claims. The court said Southwest would need to explain, for example, how its claims for a week of advertising for a single-day interruption of its ad campaign would not grant the company a windfall. [Costs] that Southwest incurred for mitigation may be recoverable, but recovery that would put Southwest in a better position than it would have occupied without the interruption would seem to be beyond the scope, wrote circuit judge James E. Graves Jr. Liberty argued that even if Southwests claimed costs are covered, they are barred under a policy exclusion that says the insurer is not liable for any loss arising out of consequential damages. The appeals court found Libertys interpretation of consequential damages too narrow in practice, stating that it may not cover much beyond the cost of technical repairs to Southwests computer systems. Libertys interpretation would effectively wipe out entire portions of the policy, Graves Jr. wrote, pointing out that it would not cover the cost of fines and penalties assessed against Southwest by civil authorities. Liberty presented a second exclusion stating the insurer will not pay for any loss arising out of liability to any third party, interpreting third party to include Southwest customers. The court disagreed with Libertys broad definition of third party, arguing that it would wipe out financial obligations to other third parties, including payroll obligations to Southwest employees and fines owed to regulators. The term third parties therefore does not apply to Southwests customers and, in turn, does not preclude costs related to Southwests payments to its customers, the panel said. The appeals court remanded the case back to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas for further proceedings consistent with its opinion. Topics Cyber Excess Surplus Pennsylvania workers compensation rates will be going down for employers beginning April 1. Insurance Commissioner Mike Humphreys on January 23 approved an overall decrease in loss costs of -7.88%, more than doubling last years decrease of -3.33%. Humphreys approved the Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureaus (PCRB)s annual loss cost filing. The primary driver of the downward trend is the continued decrease in claim frequency at -6.1%, closely mirroring last years -6.2% figure and maintaining a consistent descending trajectory over the past few years, according to PCRB. PCRB said another factor contributing to the decrease is fewer large claims in the most recent policy years. While the economic impacts from the pandemic have caused some disruption, the Pennsylvania workers compensation system has fared well, and remains strong, said Brent Otto, PCRBs chief actuary, in announcing the commissioners approval of the filing. The loss costs and related rating values will take effect on new and renewal policies effective April 1, 2024. Workers compensation insurance costs in the state have declined by 54% decrease since 2013, according to PCRB. During this period, lost time claim frequency has plummeted by 42%. The average payment per claim has dropped from about $1,500 in 2015 to around $1,100 in 2022. Additionally, prescription costs per claim are down 60% since 2015, while average units per prescription are down 25%. Opioid prescriptions have declined 75% since 2015. This latest PCRBs loss cost filing incorporates its recently approved experience rating plan update, the first in two decades, which also has an effective date of April 1. The updated experience rating plan is revenue neutral. Topics Workers' Compensation Talent Pennsylvania A moratorium on new self-storage buildings in Mandan is set to go into effect in a couple of weeks as the city continues studying its planning codes. The study to review Mandans zoning and land development ordinances has been underway since July. The City Commission recently voted unanimously to approve the moratorium, with an effective date of Feb. 15. That allows building permit applications nearing submission to continue going through the process. The moratorium is for one year but could be lifted sooner if new regulations are approved. City Planner Andrew Stromme told the Tribune the moratorium will give the city time to adjust policies relating to where self-storage centers fit in the city. Current ordinance guidelines are relatively weak in terms of deciding where self-storage would go, amongst other things, he said. Potential changes are intended to provide clearer frameworks for future development, according to city documents. Some of these corridors might not feel busy until 10 years from now, Stromme said. We know in the future there will be people living in those areas that will be able to benefit from (businesses) being more neighborhood commercial. An alternative moratorium version included multiuse shops -- which encompasses shop condos -- but the commission decided against that version, citing potential impacts to small businesses. Mandan has been and continues to be a very pro-business community in terms of its regulatory policies and business assistance programs, Bismarck Mandan Chamber EDC President and CEO Brenda Nagel told the Tribune. We are confident that they have weighed the outcome of this (moratorium) with their pro-business plans and understand any impact on the business community. Additional moratoriums may be proposed as planning ordinances continue to be reviewed, according to city documents. The study is expected to be completed late this year or early 2025. The Aconcagua refinery, Chiles second-largest with a capacity to process 102,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude, has been shut down since Friday following a power outage caused by forest fires raging in the country, its owner said on Sunday. The wildfires have left at least 51 people dead and burned tens of thousands of hectares of land in the center and south of the country, mostly in the coastal region of Valparaiso, home to nearly one million people. Authorities have called the catastrophe the deadliest since the powerful 2010 earthquake that left about 500 people dead. They also estimate that the death toll will continue to rise in the coming hours. All the units and plants of the Aconcagua refinery are halted after the power outage that affected part of the region as a result of the fires, Chilean state oil firm National Petroleum Company (ENAP), owner of the refinery, told Reuters in a statement. ENAP said that it had reinforced preventive and safety controls in order to minimize risks in view of the complex situation in our region. It added that the fire has not reached the plant. The Aconcagua refinery is located at the mouth of the Aconcagua river, some nine miles (15 km) north of the epicenter of the fires, in the Valparaiso region. Chile is a net importer of crude oil. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire FLINT, Mich. (AP) A second contractor said last Thursday that it has reached a $25 million settlement over its role in Flint, Michigans lead-contaminated water scandal. The class-action litigation agreement includes payments of $1,500 for individual minors, according to Boston-based Veolia North America. The company says the agreement will resolve claims made on behalf of more than 45,000 Flint residents. In July, the engineering firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newman said in a court filing that a confidential deal was reached with residents in federal court. Like Veolia North America, Lockwood, Andrews & Newman had been accused of being partially responsible for the water crisis in the city about 60 miles (95 kilometers) northwest of Detroit. Flint, which was under state-appointed managers, used the Flint River for water in 2014-15, but the water wasnt treated the same as water previously supplied by a Detroit-area provider. As a result, lead leached throughout the vast pipe system. The state was sued because environmental regulators and other officials missed opportunities to fix Flints water problems during the lead crisis. Flint returned to a regional water supplier in the fall of 2015. Officials have said the tainted water caused learning disabilities in scores of children and other medical problems among adults in the majority Black city. Flint families sued Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & Newman, accusing both firms of not doing enough to get Flint to treat the highly corrosive water or to urge a return to a regional water supplier. Veolia North America had faced a trial this month in federal court, but that has been suspended pending final approval of its settlement agreement, the company said. The issues for a jury would have included whether Veolia North America breached care and, if so, whether that breach prolonged the crisis. The company has said it was hired by the city to conduct a one-week assessment 10 months after Flint switched to Flint River water. VNA made good recommendations, including a crucial one on corrosion control, that would have helped the city had those recommendations not been almost entirely ignored by the responsible government officials, the company said Thursday in a release. VNA had no power over these decisions. VNA never operated the Flint Water Plant. During closing arguments in a 2022 case that ended in a mistrial, attorneys for the children argued that Veolia North America should be held 50% responsible for lead contamination and that Lockwood, Andrews & Newman should be held 25% responsible, with public officials making up the balance. The mistrial was declared on claims made on behalf of four Flint children. Another trial is scheduled in October on behalf of seven other Flint children, according to their attorney, Corey Stern. The settlement announced Thursday by Veolia North America does not affect the October trial, Stern said. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Michigan Contractors Fintech firm EquiLend said on Friday some services, including trading and post-trading solutions, had been restored, more than a week after it suffered an outage due to unauthorized access to its systems. EquiLend, a company at the heart of securities lending on Wall Street, disclosed in late January it had identified unauthorized access to its systems and a portion of them had to be taken offline. The companys securities lending platform, Next Generation Trading, manages more than $2.4 trillion in transactions each month, according to its website. Its client base includes nearly 200 asset owners, agency lending banks, broker-dealers and hedge funds. EquiLend is partly owned by some of Wall Streets biggest heavyweights, including Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, J.P. Morgan and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. The recent hack of EquiLend left market participants resorting to manually process with limited impact, a spokesperson at the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC) told Reuters last week. Clients were also at risk of missing crucial regulatory reporting obligations, said Josh Galper, managing principal at capital markets consultancy Finadium. If data were not available from EquiLend, then youve got risk managers and liquidity managers who may not know what they have, which impacts their risk ratios and capital ratios, and impacts their ability to both manage internally and to report to regulators, Galper said. But with services being restored, he added that the data will get sorted out in time. The reports will get filed. They might be late. Topics Cyber TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) A year after Florida enacted a law making it more difficult for employers to hire immigrants illegally, a move that has reportedly exacerbated a labor shortage and has added to property insurance repair costs, the state House passed a bill Thursday to let 16- and 17-year-olds work longer and later hours. Supporters said teenagers and their parents know how to best manage their time and activities and lifting employment restrictions will help them build careers and earn money, especially with the current labor shortage. Opponents said the changes would make it easier for employers to exploit children and longer hours could negatively affect schoolwork. Nearly 1 million searches have been performed for How can I get a job as a teen. They want to work. This bill gets government out of their way to choose a path thats best for them, said Republican Rep. Linda Chaney, who sponsored the bill. The bill would remove restrictions prohibiting 16- and 17-year-olds from working more than eight hours when they have classes the next day and from working more than 30 hours a week when school is in session. The House passed it on an 80-35 vote. Democrats opposing the bill argued that current law allows students plenty of time to work and attend school. Rep. Anna Eskamani questioned whether the measure was being proposed because the states immigrant employment restrictions are making it more difficult to fill some jobs. The elephant in the room is that we see a labor shortage in different parts of the economy and part of that is tied to decisions this Legislature has made when it comes to immigration, she said. She also said employers should pay adults more for less desirable jobs rather than relying on children. I have concerns with saturating the workplace with cheap labor, which will make it harder for every person to be paid a wage they can live on, Eskamani said. The Senate has a similar bill that doesnt go as far as the House. Republican Senate President Kathleen Passidomo said shes heard too many concerns from parents about young people working all hours of the day and night and not sleeping and not getting an education. The Senate bill needs approval from two more committees before reaching the full chamber. We want to allow students or kids that want to work to do that, but our number one priority is to make sure that they dont sacrifice their education, Passidomo said. Photo: Floridas Historic Capitol building in Tallahassee. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File) Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida HOMEWOOD, Ala. (AP) A man fleeing police caused the Alabama car crash that injured Gayle Manchin, head of an economic development partnership of the federal government and 13 state governments and the wife of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, along with a colleague of hers, authorities said Wednesday. Police in Homewood, a Birmingham suburb, said the man faces charges of assault in connection to the crash. Gayle Manchin, 76, was injured in the Monday wreck as she and a colleague, Guy Land, were headed to an event in Birmingham for the Appalachian Regional Commission, her husband said in a statement. Gayle Manchin is the co-chair of the commission. She was admitted to a hospital and discharged last week, the ARC said in a statement. She is now in West Virginia continuing to recover with support from her family. She is grateful for the outpouring of well wishes from partners throughout Appalachia and beyond, as well as the outstanding care provided by the UAB medical team, the statement said. Land, ARCs congressional liaison, also was injured and remained hospitalized, the agency said. His injuries were not disclosed. Homewood Police Sgt. John Carr said a seven-minute police chase began Monday when officers tried to stop a car in connection with a felony warrant and a traffic offense. The chase wound through Homewood and surrounding areas and ended when the fleeing car struck the SUV carrying Gayle Manchin and Land, al.com reported. Tradarryl Rishad Boykins, 31, of Birmingham, is charged with two counts of felony assault, attempting to elude police and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm - also a felony. Homewood police said he is being held on $2 million bond. Court records were not immediately available to show if Boykins has a lawyer to speak on his behalf. Gayle Manchin, a former educator, served as president of the West Virginia Board of Education and as the states secretary of education and the arts under Republican Gov. Jim Justice. She was sworn in as the Appalachian Regional Commission s 13th federal co-chair in 2021 after being nominated by President Joe Biden. Joe Manchin was the governor of West Virginia from 2005 until 2010, when he was elected to the Senate. The couple have been married since 1967 and have three children. Photo: U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and his wife, Gayle Manchin, at the White House in June. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Law Enforcement Virginia Alabama West Virginia ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) The cone of uncertainty produced by the National Hurricane Center to forecast the location and ferocity of a tropical storm is getting an update this year to include predictions for inland areas, where wind and flooding are sometimes more treacherous than damage to the coasts. The Miami-based hurricane center said Thursday on the X social media platform that the new, experimental forecast tool will be ready around Aug. 15, just before the traditional peak of the hurricane season that begins June 1. This experimental graphic will help better convey wind hazard risk inland in addition to coastal wind hazards, the center said in the post. The traditional cone in use for years generally shows the forecast track of a hurricane or tropical storm but is focused on wind and storm surge along the coasts and forecasters always warn not to focus on the center line alone. Heavy rains and strong winds can be deadly and cause significant damage inland, which happened in 2022 with Hurricane Ian, when 149 people died in Florida. The goal of the expanded forecast cone is to make sure people who dont live along a coast are aware of the dangers they could still face, said Jamie Rhome, deputy director of the hurricane center. The new cone features colors to show which places face threats in a much broader way than before. If someone lives in one of those areas, you are under risk, Rhome said. Theres growing evidence that the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, are making the most severe hurricanes even more intense and increasing the likelihood that a developing hurricane will rapidly intensify, leading to more flooding and more powerful storm surges battering coastlines, experts say. After Ian blasted across the Fort Myers area where the most people died and the worst damage was caused the storm kept dumping rain and toppling trees across a wide swath of the state. Floods were reported around Orlando and its theme parks, south to Kissimmee, east to Daytona Beach, and in central Floridas cattle and citrus country. Ian produced between 10 and 20 inches (51 centimeters) of rain across much of central Florida, the hurricane center reported. People near rivers were deeply and possibly unexpectedly affected. After Ian slogged through inland DeSoto County and the Peace River flooded the community, Fire Chief Chad Jorgensen urged residents to flee, saying the river was unpredictable and dangerous. The first named storm of 2024 will be Alberto. The 2023 season saw 20 named storms, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including seven hurricanes. Only Hurricane Idalia struck the U.S., coming ashore in the lightly-populated Big Bend region of Floridas Gulf Coast but also causing significant inland flooding. Photo: This GOES-East GeoColor satellite image taken at 9:56 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, and provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows Hurricane Ian passing over western Cuba. The familiar cone of uncertainty produced by the National Hurricane Center to forecast the location and ferocity of a tropical storm is getting an update this year to include predicted impacts in inland areas, where wind and flooding are sometimes more treacherous than damage to the coasts. (NOAA via AP, File) Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida Windstorm The California Insurance Wholesalers Association (CIWA), a professional trade association focused on California E&S insurance wholesalers, carriers and supporting entities, named four new members to its board of directors. New directors include: Mark Kaufman , regional executive vice president, XPT Specialty , regional executive vice president, XPT Specialty Jeff Case , wholesale broker, Bridge Specialty/Hull & Company , wholesale broker, Bridge Specialty/Hull & Company Aimee Bernadicou , lead broker, M.J. Hall & Company Insurance Brokers , lead broker, M.J. Hall & Company Insurance Brokers Peter Schifrin, president, Schifrin, Gagnon & Dickey, Inc. Kaufman is returning to serve on the CIWA Board of Directors. This is the first term for Case, Schifrin and Bernadicou. February 5, 2024 (Investorideas.com Newswire) The most attractive gold juniors are those with assets in established mining jurisdictions, preferably in close proximity, and on trend, to mines operated by the majors. One that perfectly fits the profile is Vancouver-based EGR Exploration Ltd. (TSXV:EGR), which is exploring for gold on its monster claim package contiguous, and on trend, to the country's largest gold operation, Detour Lake, within a region already hosting multiple multi-million-ounce deposits. Its flagship Detour West property is located approximately 300 km north of Timmins, Ontario. The property covers 40,255 hectares of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt, one of the most prospective regions for gold on the planet. Many gold deposits found in the Abitibi area in the past have been considered world class; the average gold deposit grade is higher than the global average. The Abitibi region now hosts several key players in the gold mining and exploration space, including Canada's Kirkland Lake Gold and Agnico Eagle, which merged into one company in 2022, as well as Newmont Mining, the world's leading gold miner. The newly consolidated Agnico portfolio includes Detour Lake, which has a mine life of approximately 22 years with expected average gold production of 659,000 ounces per year. In addition to Detour Lake, Agnico owns the Canadian Malartic mine in northwestern Quebec, which had been the largest open-pit gold operation in Canada prior to 2022. The company is also developing the Macassa and Goldex projects and the LaRonde complex within the Abitibi belt. Newmont maintains a significant presence in this prolific greenstone belt with three projects: Eleonore, Porcupine and Musselwhite. The success many have had in the Abitibi is a big reason why many up-and-coming gold explorers continue to gather in the region to this day. Worth noting: there are an estimated 100 million ounces still contained in the ground, so the idea of making new discoveries is quite plausible. Located in the northern part of the Abitibi, the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend spans over 200 km of prospective strike length potential along the Sunday Lake and Lower Detour deformation zones. EGR's property is located 20 km west of the Detour Lake open-pit (hence the name "Detour West"), and also directly adjoins Agnico Eagle's holdings along the trend. The eastern portion of the trend is being explored by Wallbridge Mining in Quebec. The trend continues to deliver new gold ounces with the recent Chebistuan discovery east of Fenelon and resource expansion at Detour Lake, Fenelon and Martiniere. In July 2020, EGR - under its previous name Gambier Gold - entered the Detour West project after signing an option agreement on the property, which at the time was less than half the current size. To maximize its chance of success, EGR has since increased its landholding and consolidated the entire 40,255-hectare Detour West project area, which is now 35 km long by 15 km wide. It then carried out an airborne magnetic survey covering approximately two-thirds of the property to investigate the extensions of various deformation zones known to be associated with gold mineralization along the Detour-Fenelon trend. Geology Gold mineralization is associated with the structural contact between mafic and ultramafic volcanic rocks of the Deloro Assemblage and younger Caopatina Assemblage sediments. This structural contact is a regional-scale thrust zone, the Sunday Lake Deformation Zone (SLDZ). A key task for EGR, as it goes about exploring Detour West, is testing the extension of the SLDZ, trying to prove that Detour West is on trend with Agnico-Eagle's Detour Lake mine and its 20.7Moz of reserves. "We see the east-west structures on our property, we know that the Sunday Lake and the Lower Detour and the Detour-Fenelon trend is an E-W structure and that's where people are having success and gold can be hosted in a variety of different types of rocks, so we have the potential to make a discovery," said CEO Daniel Rodriguez in a recent interview with Ahead of the Herd. A regional geology map from Agnico Eagle shows three deformation zones running east-west, right to the edge of Agnico's Detour Lake property. The deformation zones are labeled Sunday Lake, Massicote and Lower Detour. Notice the Sunday Lake Deformation Zone runs through the Detour Lake mine's Main Pit, West Pit, and the West Pit Extension. About a year ago, Agnico-Eagle was conducting exploration 12 kilometers away from EGR's Detour West, drilling out the West Pit in an effort to go underground to add resources. The pit itself is 25 kilometers away from Detour West. This below image reflects an important change to Agnico Eagle's interpretation of the geological structures crossing its Detour Lake property. If the Detour Lake Regional Geology Map is correct in its interpretation, it would mean that, rather than ending abruptly at the western edge of the Detour Lake property, the Sunday Lake Deformation Zone, and potentially the other two deformation zones, Massicote and Lower Detour, continue in a westerly direction, possibly right onto EGR's Detour West. As we ponder that thought, let's back up a few million years. About 70% of the world's gold is contained in orogenic lode deposits, similar to what EGR has in its Detour West project. These deposits begin their journey deep down in the Earth's mantle. It's a familiar geological narrative. Where continental plates collide, heat and pressure causes water trapped in the minerals to be released. The boiling-hot water makes its way up through the crust in cracks and fissures. As it does so, it carries metals up towards the surface, including gold and arsenic. As the water moves from deep to shallow environments, chemical changes cause the gold to precipitate out, forming lode deposits. These lode deposits can occur over a huge vertical profile, up to 20 kilometers deep. In the Mesazonal (mid-zone) environment of the Canadian Shield, gold deposits are hosted by structures that occurred at a reasonably deep level, from 5-10 kilometers down in the crust. They tend to deliver big gold systems and the grades once you get into a system tend to be reasonably predictable. The red box on the map below shows EGR's Detour West property; it's just west of the Detour Lake open pit, which used to be operated by Kirkland Lake Gold but is now merged with Agnico Eagle. While the property looks small on the map, it's actually large - 35 km long by 15 km wide. As explained above, there are three deformation zones running east-west, right to the edge of Agnico's Detour Lake property, possibly extending onto EGR's Detour West. Taking a closer look at the map below, notice the shaded-gray east-west trending feature, that is the zone - actually a collection of zones - of faulting and mineral deposition. The red dots are gold deposits. What makes EGR's ground depicted in yellow so intriguing? According to respected geologist Quinton Hennigh, it's when deformation belts like the Sunday Lake Deformation Zone become constricted, or "squeezed". The map shows a narrowing of the gray, snake-shaped band at the east end, and a similar narrowing at the west end. "One of the things I like to see is where you get into these deformational belts you see them become constricted or compacted," Hennigh said in a 2021 video presentation. "There's a lot of granites that were coming up out of the ground at the time of this deformation and they start to squeeze the rocks around them called greenstones and when they do that you can get higher grades." "As you go westward, Detour Lake is where the structural zone is wider and in those areas you can still form gold deposits, but they tend to be bigger, low-grade deposits and that's exactly what Detour is, but guess what? As we go further west over onto [EGR]'s ground, notice that deformational zone starts to grow skinnier and skinnier, tighter and tighter. What that tells me is that there's good potential for high-grade discovery in that region." Like any good geologist, Hennigh has facts to prove his theory. The slide below shows a geologic map of the western end of the deformation zone. Notice there is a lot of detail drawn on the right, surrounding the Detour Lake mine. That's because a lot of exploration has occurred there. To the left there is much less detail, as indicated by the red question marks and a few green blobs. Why is this area devoid of geologic information? Because it's covered with glacial till. During the last ice age, glaciers scoured the Canadian Shield and dug into the surface, breaking free small rock particles that included quartz veins. The gold became concentrated in the basal (base) till, forming deposits that can sometimes be buried under 10, 20, 30 meters of glacial till overburden. Importantly, the fact that Detour West is covered in a thick layer of glacial sediment, explains why it has never been explored before. The magnetics survey's below are interpreted to show that the structures start in the east, continue west to Detour Lake, and onto ground held by EGR. "You can see a number of very discreet, very crisp structural corridors through that area, those are the kind of things that host gold deposits," said Hennigh. Further evidence of connectivity is shown in the image below. "You can see right away that the magnetics over at Detour Lake, as they progress those major structural zones that are deep-rooted and brought up those fluids, they carry straight over, they kind of get squeezy in the middle and then they start blowing out into a series of horsetail structures as you go westward," Hennigh said. "I love that environment, that means you've got multiple structural breaks all tapping probably a deeper structure that goes way down in the ground, and those are the kind of things that allow a lot of gold-bearing fluids up in many cases. So this is good hunting ground." Analogs While the Detour West property is unique, it certainly isn't without comparisons. The map below shows an overlay of the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone, located further south. This is a large goldfield associated with a big deformation zone. On the left, notice the Timmins gold camp. Moving east, you see the Kirkland Lake gold mine and then, crossing into Quebec, the Rouyn-Noranda and Val d'Or mines. The area hosts well over 200 million ounces. According to Hennigh, "size-wise the deformation belt which is called the Sunday Lake and Detour Lake deformation zone, up in this country, is comparable in scale to that of the well-known, well-established Destor-Porcupine Zone." Onyx Gold's Golden Mile project is analogous to Detour West because both are under glacial till. It also happens to be on trend with the Timmins camp seen on the map above. The 94-square-kilometer property is located 9 km northeast of Newmont-Goldcorp's multi-million-ounce Hoyle Pond deposit in the Timmins gold camp of northeastern Ontario. It is situated on a major flexure (bend) of the Pipestone Fault System, where it crosses the "Porcupine Giant Mine Corridor" that has produced more than 55 million ounces of gold. Neighboring gold deposits on the north sediment contact/Pipestone Fault include Fenn-Gib (3.4Moz), Clavos (+300Koz 6 km to the east), Bradshaw (+1Moz) and Lake Shore's (Tahoe) Timmins West deposit (+1.9 Moz). Timmins camp gold endowment and Onyx properties A five-hole (1,182 meter) drill program was completed in 2014; two holes intersected a graphitic shear zone at the deformed unconformity between carbonate altered komatiites and Porcupine sediments (Timmins West mine setting) along the interpreted Pipestone Fault. A four-hole (1,179 meter) drill program in 2020 successfully intersected the Pipestone Fault, yielding anomalous gold values, associated gold pathfinder geochemistry and veining in permissive rock units known to be important hosts for gold mineralization within the Timmins camp. The known strike length of the Pipestone Fault on the project has now increased from 600 meters to over 2,000 meters. Airborne magnetic/electromagnetic surveys have identified prominent structural breaks and multiple areas for drill targeting. An 85-kilometer overwater seismic survey was completed in 2022 on Frederickhouse Lake to map the depth of the sediment and bedrock to aid drill planning and interpretation of bedrock geology and structures. Frederickhouse Lake is a large, shallow (2-4 meters deep on average) man-made lake covering the interpreted structural intersection of the Pipestone Fault and the Porcupine Giant Mine Corridor. On-trend properties Now let's take a look at some of the other properties on-trend with Detour West. Grasset nickel project Archer Exploration's Grasset nickel-copper-cobalt-platinum group elements (PGM) project, located on the eastern end of the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend, has an indicated resource of 5.5 million tonnes grading 1.53% nickel-equivalent. Archer acquired the project from Wallbridge Mining in July 2022. According to Archer, the Grasset deposit is one of the largest nickel sulfide deposits in Canada's Abitibi region, and the only North American nickel sulfide deposit with >50,000 contained tonnes of nickel and an average nickel grade of over 1.5% that is not controlled by a major mining company. The deposit comprises two sub-parallel, sub-vertically dipping zones (H1 and H3 horizons) of disseminated to locally semi-massive sulfides mineralization. The H1 and H3 horizons each remain open at depth and along strike to the northwest. The vast majority of the Grasset Ultramafic Complex is underexplored, and limited exploration prior to 2016 resulted in the discovery of several significant nickel sulfide showings along the entire 23-kilometer-long belt. Most notable is the GUC Central discovery, 7 kilometres northwest of the Grasset deposit, which hosts a 950-meter-thick ultramafic sequence, with several mineralized horizons of nickel sulfides and a best mineralized intercept of 4.14% Ni over 0.65 meters, within 7.58m of 1.05% Ni. Archer recently started its 2024 winter exploration program at Grasset involving three to four diamond drill holes and up to 2,000m of drilling. The first drill hole will test the newly identified N9 electromagnetic conductor, about 2 kilometers to the northeast. Downhole surveys on two other holes will be conducted, providing a higher resolution of the underground conductive anomalies and refining current exploration targets. Last year, three holes defined a high-grade extension of the H1 Horizon, up to a depth of 450 meters below surface. The drill program will further explore the high-grade H1 Discovery Zone. Chebistuan gold project Kenorland Minerals' Chebistuan gold project is located east of Detour West in the province of Quebec. Chief geoscientist Dave Stevenson is an EGR director. The property covers approximately 100 kilometers of a major east-west trending deformation zone. Like EGR, Kenorland is trying to determine whether Chebistuan may be an extension of the Sunday Lake Deformation Zone. Chebistuan and Detour West also have glacial till in common. The project is under joint venture with Newmont Mining, which can earn a 51% stake within three years if it completes certain exploration expenditures and cash payments to Kenorland. The Chibougamau and Chapais mining camps, which have produced over 6.5Moz of gold and 1.6 billion pounds of copper historically, are located directly to the east of the Chebistuan property. Kenorland recently announced the grassroots discovery of an intrusion-related gold system at Chebistuan. Last June, the company reported the results of 2,170 meters of drilling in seven drill holes. Seven shallow holes up to 358m long were drilled along two fences to test across a structural and magnetic corridor within the Deux Orignaux target area. Along the eastern drill fence, hole 23DODD005 intersected a mineralized porphyritic syenite intrusion over 157.20m averaging 0.41 g/t Au from 84.41m to 241.61m downhole, including 20.61m at 0.97 g/t Au, with individual samples returning up to 7.14 g/t Au over 0.31m along the northern contact zone. Plan map of Deux Orignaux drilling (currently reported assays) Alkaline, intrusive-hosted disseminated sulfide gold systems represent a significant deposit type across the Abitibi Greenstone Belt including the Young-Davidson deposit along the Larder Lake-Cadillac fault zone, and the Duparquet deposit along the Destor-Porcupine fault zone. Many of these systems have potential for higher-grade mineralization such as the Lac Bachelor-Moroy deposit, located approximately 75 km to the southwest of the Deux Orignaux discovery. Cross section of Deux Orignaux drilling (geology and currently reported assays, looking east) The Deux Orignaux target area was identified during property-wide systematic geochemical sampling in 2020, with subsequent infill sampling leading to an area of anomalous gold geochemistry and gold grains in glacial overburden. Chebistuan project geology and gold-in-till geochemistry Grasset Gold project Wallbridge Mining's Grasset Gold project is part of Wallbridge's 830 square-kilometer Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend land package. It is located adjacent to the Fenelon Gold property 100% owned by Wallbridge, and Archer Exploration's Grasset nickel project, of which Wallbridge owns 19.9%. Agnico Eagle has a joint venture with Wallbridge on Detour East. Wallbridge's Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend land package. The Grasset Gold project is on the far right The Grasset Gold project covers about 20 kilometers of the Sunday Lake Deformation Zone (SLDZ), and to the east covers a portion of the Lower Detour Deformation Zone (LDDZ). Gold mineralization was intersected both within the regional-scale SLDZ, which transects the project, and within secondary structures marginal to the Grasset Ultramafic Complex. Significant discoveries include the Grasset Gold Zone with an intercept of 1.6 g/t Au over 33.0m, including 6.15 g/t Au over 4.04m. In recent news, Wallbridge reported final assay results of the inaugural 2023 drill program which expanded the known gold mineralization discovered in the first holes reported on Nov. 13, 2023. The program was designed to define the geological framework of the Grasset East Flexure target area. The program focused on the intersection of a large fold structure with a flexure (bend) in the SLDZ, the main structure controlling gold mineralization along the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend. It was also designed to test structures interpreted from recently collected high-resolution airborne magnetic data. The program identified multiple grassroots gold occurrences under glacial overburden cover. Drilling along the northern contact of the SLDZ intersected gold mineralization in 12 of 20 holes over a 5-kilometer strike length (Hinge Zone and Targets G5 & G11) in a similar geologic setting to Agnico Eagle's Detour Lake mine. New assays received from the 2023 drill program expanded upon the gold mineralization previously reported within the Hinge Zone (targets G1 & G2) with intervals including 12.11 g/t Au over 0.50 meter and 4.99 g/t Au over 1.20 meters. "Grasset Gold covers approximately 20 kilometers of strike length with favorable geology along the northern contact of the SLDZ, a similar setting to the Company's Fenelon and Martiniere Gold deposits and Agnico Eagle's Detour Lake mine," said Attila Pentek, Wallbridge's vice president, exploration. Grasset Gold property, 2023 exploration drill program, plan view Probe Gold and Midland Exploration also have properties within the Sunday Lake Deformation Zone, with Probe announcing a 7,500-meter drill program last July on its Detour Quebec project, as well as the Midland La Peltrie option property. The program continued testing the large mineralized copper-gold-silver-molybdenum system discovered in 2022, which remains open along strike and at depth. The drilling also focused on two new gold targets along the Lower Detour Deformation Zone, as well as follow-up drilling on one gold target along strike of Agnico Eagle's 58N high-grade gold discovery, which is approximately 10 km to the west. In January Probe announced that 2023 drilling at La Peltrie was successful in demonstrating both continuity of the Cu-Au-Ag-Mo system, and the presence of higher-grade mineralization. In 2014, Midland signed a letter of intent with SOQUEM to acquire a 50% undivided interest in its Casault and Jouvex gold properties, then wholly owned by Midland, and to create a joint venture once the option has been exercised. SOQUEM, a subsidiary of Investissement Quebec, has a mission to promote the exploration, discovery and development of the province's mineral resources. The Casault property covers the Sunday Lake Fault over more than 20 kilometers of strike length, and is located about 40 km east of the Detour Lake gold deposit, which currently hosts 15.8 million ounces of gold in near-surface proven and probable mineral reserves. A recap The trend is your friend In gold exploration the trend truly can be your friend. Have a second look at the below map, the first thing you'll have noticed is the east/ west string of gold mines strung out along the Sunday Lake Deformation Zone (SLDZ). After reading this article you know there are a lot of companies still working along this east/west trending deformation zone. And still making discoveries. You can also see there have been more than a few gold mines built along the SLDZ from previous discoveries. It has always been thought the SLDZ, and the other zones like the Lower Detour, had known eastern/ western limits. It wasn't that the western end was tested, no one bothered, it was under glacial till. The magnetics survey below are interpreted to show that the structures continue west to Detour Lake, and onto ground held by EGR. "You can see right away that the magnetics over at Detour Lake, as they progress those major structural zones that are deep-rooted and brought up those fluids, they carry straight over, they kind of get squeezy in the middle and then they start blowing out into a series of horsetail structures as you go westward," Hennigh said. "I love that environment, that means you've got multiple structural breaks all tapping probably a deeper structure that goes way down in the ground, and those are the kind of things that allow a lot of gold-bearing fluids up in many cases. So this is good hunting ground." Is Quinton Hennigh's interpretation, a potential prescience vision, that EGR's CEO Daniel Rodriquez and CFO Mark Brown bought into correct? Is this where the trend becomes our friend? Exploration EGR's exploration plan is clear and simple: replicate the same methods that have been successful for Agnico Eagle at the Detour Lake mine. As mentioned, the company wants to test the extension of the Sunday Lake Deformation Zone, trying to prove that Detour West is on trend with Agnico Eagle's Detour Lake mine and its 20.7Moz of reserves. An airborne magnetic survey has been flown on the property, located 20 km west of the Detour Lake pit. That survey, plus historical data, a Lidar interpretation, and limited outcrop prospecting, indicate there are possible gold-bearing structures running onto Detour West. The next step is to drill it. The mag survey findings will guide the implementation of a comprehensive till and top-of-bedrock reverse circulation drill program, which EGR expects to start this quarter. The drill sites are currently being permitted, including consultation with local First Nations, and in late December a crew was on site examining the stream crossings by snowmobile. The drill program envisions a regional approach to investigating prospective structural environments across the sprawling 40,000-ha property. To do that, 85 reverse-circulation (RC) holes will be sited on fences spaced roughly 3 km apart, with the holes on each fence spaced every 400m. "That will give us a giant picture of the property and then be able to narrow down our targets further," said Rodriguez. "We've created our plan for drilling, and we have fences running across two of the major structures that we see." Rodriguez said the idea is to test several targets and not just home in on one or two because it's possible a discovery could be missed that way. "I'd rather scratch a majority of the area to know where we need to, or not, scratch later," he said, adding "I want to make sure that we're covering this whole thing." Once EGR can show enough gold-in-till from the fenced RC holes it can vector into the source of the mineralization. "I see the potential of this Detour West project as being very, very interesting," said geologist Quintin Hennigh. "It's very early stage, there's no question, but it is the kind of play that I see can catalyze a company and generate huge returns if they make a discovery." EGR has everything AOTH likes to see in a greenfield exploration project; it checks all my boxes: it's got power, roads and even cell phone service. It's located in a geopolitically safe jurisdiction, in one of the most famous gold belts in the world, the Abitibi. Most importantly, it's possibly on trend with Detour Lake's 20-million-ounce deposit. EGR's current geological theory is that the Detour-Fenelon Gold Trend continues onto Detour West, and the anticipated 2024 drill program intends to prove (or disprove) whether Detour West is on trend with Detour Lake. EGR Exploration Ltd. TSXV:EGR Cdn$0.04, 2024.02.05 Shares Outstanding 40.2m Market cap Cdn$1.6m EGR website More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. 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That's all it takes to get an article published on Investor Ideas - Learn More A business representative group has urged Irish candidates running in the European Parliament election to pay attention to the needs of businesses after a series of difficult years. Chambers Ireland has suggested that successful Irish candidates elected should propose energy and industrial policy for Europe that taps into the resources off Irelands coasts. "Ireland will not only become energy self-sufficient, we will become a vital part of the wider EU energy system, said Chambers Ireland chief executive Ian Talbot. But this will require investments at a level that we are not institutionally prepared for, and we will need EU knowledge and assistance if we are to deliver for the other 26 member states. The organisation made its recommendations in the Chambers Ireland Manifesto for Europe, which launched today. Chambers Ireland also called for more supports to help small firms engage in trade within the single market. This suggestions comes as Brexit border controls were officially implemented for Irish exporters after five delays due to concerns voiced by businesses. Most of the growth in our exports over recent years has been within the single market," said Mr Talbot. SMEs, and Irish businesses in general, need more help if they are to begin trading with other EU members." The organisation said small- and medium-sized enterprises have become entangled in regulations following increased delivery of EU legislation in the last five years which has put further pressure on firms amid a volatile economic environment. Everyone understands the necessity of delivering on the big issues like sustainability, said Mr Talbot. Mr Talbot added that many policies being introduced are having a negative impact on SMEs like the potential late-payments directive, which will increase costs for many businesses, such as the retail sector. The lobby group has urged the next EU parliament to introduce measures that will help SMEs to grow after navigating challenges in recent years including Brexit, covid, inflation, soaring energy prices, and successive supply shocks. Chambers Ireland represents 39 member Chambers across every major city, town, and region of the island of Ireland. 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. The stars of The Social Network (Ian West/PA) 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 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. 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. Julie Refsdal, 20, tries out the Oculus Rift (Frantzesco Kangaris/PA) 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 (585,000) 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. Metas headquarters in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) 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. 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. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg appears before the Senate Judiciary Committees hearing (Jose Luis Magana/AP) 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. Crews will be working on traffic signals at intersections between Burlington Drive and Washington Street in Bismarck beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday. Crews will start at Burlington Drive and work their way west, then come back east from Washington back to Burlington. The work will require the closure of a lane at each intersection. The work should wrap up late Wednesday afternoon. The city is urging drivers in the area to reduce speed and use caution. In the Midland Hotel, in Manchester this Monday, a certain rotund man will be creating joy and breaking hearts. I speak of course of Bibendum, the Michelin Man, as the 2024 Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland will be announcing who is in and who is out. Mere inclusion in the Michelin Guide is meant to be an honour in itself, but the ultimate accolade is to be awarded a Michelin star (or two or three). Ireland currently has four two-star restaurants including dede, in West Cork and 12 one-star restaurants, and Michelin are utterly inscrutable as to what lies ahead on Monday. For a chef, Michelin star recognition has been compared to Oscar success or an athlete winning an Olympic medal. The difference, however, is that unlike an Oscar or a medal, nobody can take back the accolade after its been awarded (barring an athletes failed drugs tests, of course). The Michelin Guide was initially given away free to drivers, to help promote Michelin tyres. But by 1920, it was in a format not unlike todays version with a team of inspectors visiting restaurants and grading them. Stars were first awarded in the 1926 edition. The guides once paid for themselves through sales, but these days new regional guides are usually created in partnership with tourism departments of regional or national governments. For example, the New York Times reported that Visit California paid Michelin $600,000 (553,000) to create a guide for Los Angeles in 2019. As the New York Times puts it: You cant buy stars, but you can buy the possibility. Ahmet Dede holds 2 Michelin stars, at The Customs House in Baltimore, Cork The Michelin Guide Great Britain & Ireland was launched in 1974. In that first guide, Arbutus Lodge in Cork was awarded a star. Ballymaloe House went on to win one in 1975. Achieving a Michelin star is a really nice endorsement for a chef and also for the staff and the restaurant in general, Derry Clarke says, whose restaurant LEcrivain on Baggot St, Dublin, was first awarded a star in 2003. Keeping the star is the really hard part. We held it for something like 18 years [until closing the business] and we really benefited. It brought in a different demographic, notably British and international diners at weekends diners will seek you out, he adds. Derry and his wife Sallyanne are the team behind The Club Hotel at Goffs restaurant, in Kildare, and are no longer chasing stars. Instead, theyre focused on good quality food and happy diners. Clarke says: I love how [Michelin] have opened up to new cuisines and atmospheres in recent years, while still demanding a very high standard of cooking. While stars are the most prestigious awards Michelin gives, they have also developed awards for sustainability, service and mentorship and have a separate award for less expensive restaurants called the Bib Gourmand named for Bibendum himself. Takashi Miyazaki, of Ichigo Ichie restaurant at Fenns Quay. Cork. Picture: Eddie O'Hare Last week, six new Bib Gourmand awards were announced for Ireland, denoting good food at moderate prices. Winners included Solas Tapas in Dingle, Dublins La Gordita, and Corks Ichigo Ichie. The award for Ichigo Ichie is particularly noteworthy as, in the 2023 guide, that restaurant held a Michelin star. Last autumn, chef Takashi Miyazaki decided to change the focus of Ichigo Ichie from fine dining to bistro. We had seen a drop off in business, mainly because our costs had shot up, Miyazaki says. We had to make a change. We didnt contact Michelin or anything, but they must have heard. On our second day open [January 10, 2024] we had a visit from an inspector Im not sure it was him, but he asked so many questions! I was so shocked, but also so happy to hear we had received a Bib Gourmand. We are now fully booked. We held the star for six years, but I really tried not to think about it and just concentrate on my cooking. As costs soared for local ingredients and Brexit made sourcing Japanese ingredients more difficult, something had to change, he says. My advice to chefs is to focus on standards, on your customers, and your staff. Our focus is now more casual, but I will continue to make my soba buckwheat noodles fresh every day and my signature dashi broth. Derry Clarke, whose restaurant LEcrivain on Baggot St, Dublin, was first awarded a star in 2003. So is pursuing a star worth it? The awarding of a star will lead to a notable increase in bookings and can help build international profile but standards need to be kept impeccable. In theory, the awards are for the food alone and Michelin do occasionally award stars to humble restaurants, but this is still rare. Two- and three-star restaurants have significantly more staff on hand to fold your napkin and remove crumbs after each course. While the two chefs have had positive experiences with Michelin, it is important to remember that one of Irelands greatest chefs, Kevin Thornton, was demoted from two stars to one and then had that star removed leading to the closure of his restaurant. In 2019, one of Frances most lauded chefs, Marc Veyrat, was demoted from three to two stars and admitted he contemplated suicide. Among the reasons given was that he had used English Cheddar in a souffle ( quelle horreur), something he vehemently denied. Later Veyrat sued Michelin to obtain the inspectors notes, but lost. In 2003, chef Bernard Loiseau died by suicide not long after the downgrading of his restaurant by the Gault-Milau Guide with rumours that Michelin were considering doing the same. Loiseau was reportedly suffering from depression and heavily in debt, so it would be unfair to blame a food guide for his death. However, it illustrates the seriousness with which these awards are taken. So what can we expect on Monday? I honestly have no idea, so take all predictions with a pinch of salt. My instinct is that there will be little or no changes to the current roster of stars, but Irelands first three-star restaurant has to come sometime so why not in 2024? I leave you with the words of Derry Clarke: Remember that losing a star is not the worst thing. You will likely get more publicity than you received when you gained the star and that doesnt have to be a bad thing. A Limerick man who suffered years of sexual abuse at the hands of his older brother has said he no longer has to listen to his lies after a seven-year legal battle to hold his sibling to account finally ended this week. School teacher Graham Daly was found guilty of seven offences on December 21, 2021, by a jury, but his legal team told the court he did not accept the verdicts. On January 24, 2022, trial judge Karen OConnor handed him down an eight-and-a-half-year prison term at the Dublin Centre Criminal Court. However, on the same day, the school teacher lodged an appeal against both his conviction and the severity of his sentence. His conviction appeal was dismissed in November 2023, and his sentencing appeal was rejected last Tuesday. The court of appeals judgement noted how the legal process had been before the courts since July 2017 when Graham Daly, now 40, was first charged with abusing his brother. Speaking to the Irish Examiner this week, Thomas Daly, 35, said: I was really upset when I heard he was appealing everything. But I am glad it is all over. I just want to get on with my life. He refused to admit what he did to me and that has caused more pain for me. I suffered with nightmares and trauma for years and still do. Ill never forget the distress he caused but, in the end, I am vindicated. Evidence Thomas was just ten years old when the abuse began in his family home in Limerick in 1998 and went on until 2002. The court heard that several incidents took place at various locations across two counties in Munster, but mostly in the family home in Raheen Co Limerick. During his evidence in December 2021 Thomas, who was cross-examined for three and a half days, said the sexual abuse he was subjected to included sexual touching, oral rape, and an anal rape. I didnt realise until I was a teenager when we were having sex education classes that this was wrong, Thomas said. But I couldnt tell anyone. I was very ashamed and confused, this was my brother. By the time he disclosed the assaults to his parents, Thomas was 28 years old, and Graham Daly had left the family home to pursue his career in teaching. A few weeks after making the disclosure to his family on Christmas Eve 2015, Thomas reported the abuse to the gardai in Limerick while accompanied by his father, Gerard. However, the relationship between him and his parents ended soon afterward. 'One of the hardest things I ever had to do' In court, Thomas broke down and sobbed audibly several times during his testimony, while Gerard, and Thomas' mother Patricia, who gave evidence against him, sat in the gallery listening. During cross-examination, Thomas Daly said he felt tortured by some of the questions, but bravely told his story. His brother Graham Daly also took the stand and denied the abuse. He claimed Thomas was jealous of his success as a teacher and that his younger brother had vowed to get revenge because Graham had outed him for being gay. Being in that stand was one of the hardest things I ever had to do, said Thomas. It is so hard, nobody knows unless theyve been in that seat." Throughout the hearing, Graham Daly was clean-shaven and smartly dressed in a suit and took notes in the dock. However, on December 21, 2021, the jury found him guilty of seven charges of rape and sexual abuse and he was taken into custody ahead of his sentence hearing. When he returned to court on January 17, 2022, he was dressed in a tracksuit and was unshaven with tossed hair. His barrister, Colman Cody SC, said Graham Daly had been diagnosed with stress and trauma and had an emotionally unstable personality disorder. His client also told him he has schizophrenia, but there was no report before him to show the court. Victim impact statement Before Judge Karen OConnor retired to consider her decision, Thomas Daly delivered a powerful victim impact statement and said he felt shame and confusion over the abuse. Despite assurances of family support, he described how his relationship with his parents deteriorated following his complaint to the gardai. He said he was forced out of the family home and that his father had told him, with you gone, all our troubles are over. Speaking directly to his brother, he said: I sometimes wish you had killed me rather than abuse and rape me, because no matter what happens here today, Im the one left with the life sentence for what you did to me, not you. Throughout his victim impact statement, his mother Patricia spoke loudly at the back of the court. She then shouted We love you Graham when the prison officers led her older son away. Sentencing Sentencing was adjourned to January 24, 2022, when Judge OConnor jailed Graham Daly for eight and a half years but said had he been an adult at the time of the offences, the headline sentence would have been 13 years. She said he had shown no remorse for his actions and never apologised to his victim. You were a big brother who should have protected his younger brother, she said. On Tuesday morning at the Court of Appeal, Justice John Edwards, Justice Patrick J McCarthy, and Justice Una Ni Raifeartaigh said they were dismissing Graham Daly's second application against the severity of the sentence. Their judgment read to the court said: This was not one-off offending. Rather, it was persistent and repeat offending over a considerable amount of time, escalating all the while in seriousness and culminating in both oral and anal rape at a point when the appellant was on the threshold of attiring his majority (he was almost 18). The victim was vulnerable. The age differential between offender and victim was exploited." 'I just want my life back' Tuesday marked the end of a seven-year process for Thomas. Thomas said he sees no future where he can rebuild a relationship with his parents, but he says he can recall good childhood memories prior to the abuse. My father used to throw me up in the air and pretend I was Superman when I was little. My mother and I used to watch Gladiator and Stars in Their Eyes together. We did get along but they took Grahams side and I have to move on from that now. It was easier to go against me than believe their eldest son is a rapist paedophile. Some days I regret coming forward and some days I dont. It took seven years to finish, and I often felt like I got lost in the case. I just want my life back without any more stress. The gym keeps up my mood and I want to give some hope to others in my position. I had nobody, but I still succeeded in the end." Thomas was supported by his fiance Dean Tier along with Deans grandmother, Anne O Brien, throughout the case and thanked them both in his victim impact statement. The pair now hope to get married later in the year and move on with their lives. Mr Tier told the Irish Examiner: The whole experience is emotionally traumatising for anyone. Its a constant battle for the right reasons. I hope anyone suffering speaks out because they are a lot stronger than they think, they are already survivors they just dont know it yet. Dublin Rape Crisis Centre CEO Rachel Morrogh said: We know from our support of survivors in the legal system that there are several issues involved that negatively impact victims and survivors. Many try to prepare by seeking therapy and counselling or get support from organisations around attending court. It is very common for people to experience trauma symptoms stress, flashbacks, problems with sleeping, problems with concentrating, and anxiety around the trial process. The thought of being in the same room as the accused and giving evidence is very daunting for survivors. - If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services. A Dublin building has become at least the 17th in a year to be set on fire because the property was linked to accommodating asylum seekers, yet no arrests have been made in connection with the incidents. Some 40 firefighters attached to seven units from the Dublin Fire Brigade battled a major blaze at the former St Brigids Nursing Home at Crooksling, close to the village of Brittas, on Sunday. Protesters had been near the site in recent weeks, but this intensified on Friday when a 24-hour protest began. Gardai and members of Wicklow Fire Service outside the entrance to a HSE site which was formally Crooksling Nursing Home, Co Dublin, where a major fire took place. Picture: Damien Eagers While Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said gardai will relentlessly chase down those responsible for the latest attack, there have been no arrests relating to the other fires recorded at similar properties across the country over the past year. A spokesperson for the Department of Integration said an assessment of the property to potentially house international protection applicants (IPAs) had begun with the agreement of the HSE. However, the building had not yet been deemed suitable nor has been contracted by the department. #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 Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said arson attacks on buildings can carry up to 10 years in prison, and added that it is deeply ironic that those who try to link immigration with crime are themselves engaging in criminal activity. It comes as the Irish Examiner has learned that the number of asylum seekers who arrived in Ireland in January was a new monthly record not seen in over 20 years. A total of 1,774 people seeking international protection came to the country last month with officials within the Department of Justice confirming it is the highest monthly figure since 2001 and 2002. This compares to 1,464 people in November and 1,427 in December last year. The Government has moved to crackdown on the use of Irelands asylum system as a route for economic migration. Ms McEntee added Algeria and Botswana to the safe countries list. She has also confirmed the Government is to begin chartering deportation flights and will aim to begin flying people back to their country of origin later this year. However, last night a senior Government source said no matter how many measures are introduced, it is unlikely that it will reduce the number of people seeking asylum here. The source said: The latest increase in asylum seekers last month is likely going to continue due to the global situation, there is a global migration movement that we cant really control. Accelerating the processing of applicants from people coming from safe countries isnt going to decrease the number of people who will arrive here, end of. Its not just Ireland dealing with this situation, but there is apprehension within Government that the increased arrival numbers will be used as a narrative that the Government has no control on the matter. At a meeting of Government officials on Friday, sources said those attending were informed there was a record number of IPAs that arrived in the State last month. The number of Ukrainians coming here had dropped, but have now surged again, ahead of the new rules which will see a cut to social welfare and a 90-day limit on State accommodation. Ms McEntee also revealed during the week that the Government considered adding Nigeria and Pakistan to the 'safe countries' list too, but concluded they did not meet all the criteria. It is understood that the Green Party was keen to add Nigeria to the safe countries list, with suggestions within Government that the justice department pushed back on adding the African country due to concerns that application processing targets would not be met due to the high volume of people arriving from the country. However, sources within Ms McEntees department moved to dismiss this as a deciding factor. A senior investigating officer has been appointed by gardai after a building complex was set alight in Co Dublin. It comes as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he is very concerned following the blaze. Demonstrations have been staged in the area recently by people who believed the buildings at Crooksling off the Blessington Rd were to be used to accommodate refugees. The Dublin Fire Brigade was alerted to a fire at St Brigid's Nursing Home in Crooksling in Tallaght at approximately 7am on Sunday. In a statement, gardai said they assisted the fire brigade in "managing the extensive fire, with the fire brigade retaining primacy at the scene throughout Sunday". The control of the scene was transferred to gardai on Sunday evening. Vacant buildings on fire at Crooksling off the Blessington Road. Picture: Dublin Fire Brigade via Twitter Gardai said: "A senior investigating officer (SIO) has been appointed, based at Tallaght Garda Station, to investigate all the circumstances of the fire. "Tomorrow morning, Monday, February 5, 2024, 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." Earlier, Mr Varadkar 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 themselves engaging in criminal activity. 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 under way 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. Gardai have appealed to anyone with information about the fire to contact them at Tallaght Garda Station on 01 6666000, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. The Taoiseach has insisted the Irish government is willing to help Northern Ireland with further financial support as ministers in the restored Stormont Executive pressed the British government for more cash. Leo Varadkars pledge came as he and British prime minister Rishi Sunak visited Belfast to mark the return of devolution to the region. The two leaders met for private discussions at Stormont on Monday morning, but did not conduct any joint meetings with local politicians or joint press conferences. The lack of a side-by-side public appearance fuelled talk of tensions in the Anglo-Irish relationship following Irelands move to launch a legal challenge against the British governments contentious legislation to address the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Later, Mr Sunak said the real work starts now as he met with Northern Irelands first ever nationalist First Minister, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill, and her DUP counterpart, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. The institutions were restored on Saturday after a deal between the British government and the DUP to address unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements, which included passing new legislation at Westminster. The Treasury has offered a 3.3bn (3.85bn) funding package to support the return to powersharing. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar addressed reporters in Parliament Buildings in Belfast (Oliver McVeigh/PA) While Mr Sunak has said the offer represents a generous and fair settlement, Stormont ministers have written to the Government insisting it is not enough to deliver sustainable public services and public finances. Mr Varadkar highlighted that the Irish government had already invested millions of euros in projects in Northern Ireland that had a cross-border element, and he said more funding pledges through its Shared Island Initiative would be forthcoming. The bulk of Irish investment in the region has focused on capital infrastructure projects. The Taoiseach, addressing reporters in Parliament Buildings in Belfast, said he was confident the new administration in Belfast would last. I want to thank people who made today possible, to congratulate the First Minister, the deputy First Minister, the new Executive on taking up their new roles, and really pledge to do everything that we can do to help this Executive to be successful, he said. Theres a lot of everyday issues that need attention here in Northern Ireland, and I know theyre going to work very hard on that. Were keen to get north-south co-operation going again and have a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in the next couple of weeks and focus on some of that practical co-operation that works well for everyone on the island. So, very keen to work with a new executive and looking forward to doing that. Asked by reporters if his government was prepared to offer new money to the region, the Taoiseach said: Yes, we are. You know the Shared Island fund is there and we would intend to make further allocations from that over the course of this year. But were also very keen to co-ordinate that with the Secretary of State (Chris Heaton-Harris) and also with the Executive, now it is up and running. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, centre, met Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, left, and newly appointed speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly Edwin Poots (Oliver McVeigh/PA) Mr Sunak said his governments funding deal for Northern Ireland was significant and generous and would focus on long-term sustainability as well as addressing the immediate issues. He added: I had very constructive meetings this morning with the Executive, with political leaders across Stormont, and it is a historic and important day for the country, because Northern Irelands politicians are back in charge, making decisions on behalf of their people, which is exactly how it should be. Now, our new deal gives them more funding and more powers than they have ever had, so they can deliver for families and businesses across Northern Ireland. And thats what everyones priority is now. Mr Sunak also insisted that Stormonts leaders should focus on the day-to-day concerns of people in Northern Ireland, rather than the prospect of a poll on reunification. He made clear that constitutional change was not a priority in response to weekend comments from Ms ONeill in which she claimed a border referendum could be held in the next 10 years. Mr Sunak and Mr Heaton-Harris met members of the newly formed Stormont Executive (Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA) It is not constitutional change, it is delivering on the day-to-day things that matter to people, the Prime Minister said. Mr Varadkar would not be drawn on the question of reunification when asked by reporters. Both the British and Irish sides also moved to play down suggestions of a rift between them on Monday. Aside from the difference of opinion on the legacy laws, Mr Varadkar was asked to respond to the suggestion of disquiet in No 10 amid claims Mr Varadkar had muscled in on Mr Sunak's visit to the region to mark the re-establishment of devolution. I had a very good welcome and very good meeting with the Prime Minister and then a very warm welcome from the First Minister, deputy First Minister and Executive, he replied. And theres a long-standing tradition since the Good Friday Agreement was signed that the Taoiseach would attend events like this. Restaurants in Cork, Clare, Dublin and Tipperary have added to Ireland's haul of Michelin star establishments at a ceremony in England this evening. Terre in Cork's Castlemartyr Resort has been awarded a second Michelin Star, having been given its first in 2023, with the Michelin Guide commending chef Vincent Crepel for his powerful and sophisticated cooking. Speaking after the announcement, Mr Crepel said it had been a "lifelong dream" to win a second star. "Being awarded the second Michelin star is wonderful elevation to receive from the inspectors. I am so proud of the team and what we have achieved. "We have had a fantastic year and are looking forward to welcoming guests again in 2024. We aim to make a visit to Terre accessible to diners and we are fortunate to work with great local and international suppliers who help inspire and shape our menus. Receiving the second star is a tribute to the creativity and standards we aim to reach and maintain." Chef Vincent Crepel at Terre Terre has joined dede at the Customs House in Baltimore as one of Ireland's five two-star restaurants, while three further businesses were awarded their first Michelin Star during Monday's announcements. The Bishop's Buttery in Cashel, Homestead Cottage in Doolin and D'Olier Street at D'Olier Chambers in Dublin all received nods at the awards in Manchester. Last week, six new Bib Gourmand awards were announced for Ireland, denoting good food at moderate prices. Winners included Solas Tapas in Dingle, Dublins La Gordita, and Corks Ichigo Ichie. Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of The MICHELIN Guide commented: "The dining scene in Great Britain & Ireland continues to be both innovative and impressive. "There are enormously talented chefs turning their hands to anything from wood-fired sharing plates to finely tuned sushi. To have so much positive news to share with the industry, at a time when restaurants are facing so many challenges, gives me great pride and is proof of the continued vitality within British and Irish dining. That this has happened in the 50th year of the Great Britain & Ireland Guide is proof of how much gastronomy has grown and evolved in that time. Flight operations have resumed at Shannonafter the airports only operational runway was blocked for over two hours by an aircraft that had made an emergency landing. The crew of the transatlantic cargo flight evacuated their jet on the runway after earlier declaring a Mayday reporting a possible fire on board. The Cargolux Boeing 747-400(ER) jet was travelling from Miami to Amsterdam at the time. Flight CLX-94K was about an hour west of Shannon when the crew declared an emergency at around 6am and requested clearance from air traffic controllers to descend from 37,000ft to 25,000ft initially. There was a crew of three on board and they were carrying a consignment of flowers. The crew also advised controllers they had an indication in the cockpit suggesting a possible fire on the main deck. The crew confirmed they wished to divert and land at Shannon where authorities were notified of the situation and a multi-agency emergency plan was promptly put into action. Shannon Airports Fire and Rescue Service was alerted and crews deployed to holding points adjacent to the runway ahead of the aircrafts arrival. Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Shannon and Ennis stations were mobilised along with National Ambulance Service paramedics and gardai. The crew advised controllers shortly before landing that they believed the fire alarm was a false activation but that they would evacuate the aircraft on the runway as a precaution. The flight landed safely at 6.51am and came to a stop on the runway where the three-person crew evacuated using an emergency slide. Operations were brought to a standstill at Shannon while the runway was blocked by the incident aircraft. Airport fire crews used thermal imaging cameras to scan the jets fuselage externally for any hotspots, however no indication of a fire was found. After the crew had evacuated, firefighters wearing breathing apparatus boarded the aircraft to carry out a more detailed inspection. However, no evidence of a fire was found. Delays The early morning Ryanair flight from Stansted Airport to Shannon was placed in a holding pattern southeast of the airport for over an hour but later diverted to Cork. A second Ryanair flight from Krakow circled north of the airport for a time until the crew also opted to divert to Cork. An Aer Lingus flight from Shannon to London was also delayed from departing while the outbound legs of the diverted aircraft are expected to be delayed. Operations resumed at Shannon at 9.20am after the emergency slide was disconnected from the aircraft and the jet was towed clear of the runway. Its now understood that there was no fire on board and that the indication was a false alarm. A spokesperson for the Shannon Airport Group confirmed that a cargo flight routing from Miami to Amsterdam landed safely at Shannon Airport this morning. Sometimes a disaster is so large it obscures its own details. Behind the number of dead and displaced in Gaza, for women and girls the conflict has been disproportionately grinding. In a cruel inversion of the history of this conflict, the head of UN Women told the Associated Press, women and children have borne the brunt of the war. The details are unfathomable. There are about 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza and 40% of those pregnancies have been classed as high risk 180 give birth daily. The healthcare infrastructure has been all but obliterated. According to the charity Care: There is no doctor, midwife or nurse to support women during labour. There is no pain medication, anaesthesia or hygiene material when women give birth. Babies are born on the ground in the wilderness, umbilical cords cut with whatever sharp object there is to hand, and tins filled with hot water keep the newborn warm. C-sections, painful in the aftermath even when drugs are plentiful, are being performed without any anaesthesia at all, by surgeons who do not have any water to wash their hands, let alone sterilise them, and no antibiotics for any resulting infections. In some cases, according to Washington Post reporting, C-sections were performed on women postmortem. When mother and child prevail in these impossible circumstances, they are then faced with displacement and hunger while nursing painful tears, wounds and malnourished babies. Pregnant women have had to make the 20-mile journey from the north to the south in Gaza. They arrive in circumstances that Unicef says breach famine thresholds, and which are particularly concerning when it comes to the fate of tens of thousands of pregnant and breastfeeding women, the majority of whom consume only one or two types of food. Mothers cannot access sufficient food and clean water to produce milk for their babies, and when formula is available in the camps of the displaced, finding the clean water to boil and mix with it is a daily challenge. In December, month-old babies born in the camps of the displaced had never been washed. So many aspects of motherhood, said a CNN report in November, once routine, are now a matter of life or death. Those who make it to those painful unsupported births and the precariousness that follows are the lucky ones. Only weeks after the war started, there were reports of miscarriages and stillbirths having risen by 20%. With something like 85% of Gazas population now displaced, and large numbers settling in camps, the true scale of the maternal mortality, infant mortality and pregnancy loss crisis is certainly larger than even aid and news organisation reports suggest. But what girls and women have to go through doesnt end there. At a 5sq km tent encampment in Rafah, no aid is allowed to enter, starving the inhabitants of food, medical supplies, hygiene and sanitary products. Due to the lack of period products, those bleeding postpartum and from miscarriages, as well as women and girls who are menstruating, have to use parts of tent fabric, clothes and cutoff pieces of towels, increasing the risk of infection and toxic shock. There is one shower for every 2,000 people and one toilet for every 500. It has been jarring to be in the slipstream of mainstream feminist discourse over the past few weeks, as all this unfolds. Surreal to watch it swirl around Barbies ostensibly not sufficiently feminist Oscar nominations, which drew a contribution from Hillary Clinton herself, after she stated her objection to calls for a ceasefire. Wounded Palestinians arrive to al-Shifa hospital, following Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City. Picture: AP /Abed Khaled Some of this is just human nature our own contexts and cultures dictate our immediate priorities. But there are other impulses, uncomfortable to contemplate but hard to ignore, that de-emphasise the particularly inhumane and urgent situation when it comes to Gazas women and girls. Palestinian women are seen as not sharing the sort of values that are called upon to come to their rescue. The fact Gaza voted for Hamas 18 years ago has been deployed to prove there is collective responsibility for the groups actions on October 7 and there are no innocents. In another impulse, the entire value system in Gaza is brought into question by raising features such as the lack of LGBTQ+ rights. In addition to reports of sexual violence during Hamass attack, these are seen as factors that should void sympathy for those in Gaza and render them suspect and aligned with Hamas, with Israel as the party that shares liberal progressive values. The argument may as well simply say: they are not like us, and they started it. It is an argument that is a race to the bottom of humanity, giving licence to smear a whole population with the crimes of its worst, and abdicate the responsibility to think critically and empathetically about cultures and politics shaped by years of occupation, crisis and siege. In the US, a voter on the news programme Face the Nation said she was concerned about her reproductive rights, but it would be hypocritical to use those concerns to justify voting for Joe Biden when he is supporting strikes and blockades on a population that have led to calamitous maternal experiences and outcomes. That sort of clarity feels like a lot to ask at the moment, among competing influences of parochialism, tribalism and propaganda. But the details coming out of Gaza are so graphic, so relentless, that now may be the time to think about what progressive values, feminist or otherwise, really mean if they stop at the threshold of what is familiar. Nesrine Malik is a Guardian columnist Australia said on Monday it was appalled at Chinas suspended death sentence for writer and democracy blogger Yang Hengjun. Australian foreign minister Penny Wong said in a statement it was harrowing news for Dr Yang, his family and all who have supported him. Dr Yang has been detained in China since January 19, 2019, when he arrived in Guangzhou from New York with his wife and teenage stepdaughter. He received a closed-door trial on an espionage charge in Beijing in May 2021 and was awaiting a verdict. Yang Hengjun was found guilty of espionage and sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. Such sentences are often commuted to life in prison after the two years. Mr Wang said the court had protected Dr Yangs procedural rights and arranged for the Australian side to attend Mondays sentencing, likely referring to a diplomat or diplomats from the Australian Embassy. Dr Yang was born in China and was a diplomat and state security agent before moving to the private sector in Hong Kong and later Australia. He became an Australian citizen in 2002. In a letter to his sons in August last year, Dr Yang said he had not experienced direct sunlight for more than four years and told his family he fears he will die in detention after being diagnosed with a kidney cyst, prompting supporters to demand his release for medical treatment. Ms Wong said Australia will be communicating our response in the strongest terms and will continue to press for Dr Yangs interests and wellbeing, including appropriate medical care. In October last year, Australian journalist Cheng Lei was freed after more than three years in detention in China for breaking an embargo with a television broadcast on a state-run TV network. The plights of Dr Yang and Ms Cheng had frequently been on the agendas of high-level meetings between the countries in recent years. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was weighing up a possible dismissal of the countrys top military officer, a prospect that has shocked the nation fighting Russias invasion and worried Kyivs Western allies. Asked whether he was considering the ousting of General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Mr Zelenskyy told Italian RAI TV in an interview released late on Sunday that he was thinking about it as part of a broader issue of setting the countrys path. He said that a reset, a new beginning is necessary and it is not about a single person but about the direction of the countrys leadership. Im thinking about this replacement, but you cant say here we replaced a single person, Mr Zelenskyy said. When we talk about this, I mean a replacement of a series of state leaders, not just in a single sector like the military. If we want to win we must all push in the same direction, convinced of victory, we cannot be discouraged, let our arms fall, we must have the right positive energy. Commander-in-chief of Ukraines Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) Mr Zelenskyys comments marked his first confirmation that he was mulling replacing the widely popular general, a possibility that caused an uproar in Ukraine and delighted the Kremlin as the war approaches its second anniversary. According to Ukrainian and Western media reports, Mr Zelenskyy last week offered for Gen Zaluzhnyi to resign, but he refused. Gen Zaluzhnyi has not commented on the issue. The tensions between the president and Gen Zaluznyi have been rising as the country grapples with dire ammunition and personnel shortages following a failed summer counteroffensive. The need for a broad mobilisation to fill the ranks has reportedly been one of the areas of disagreement. Me Zelenskyy said at the end of last year that he had turned down the militarys request to mobilise up to 500,000 people, demanding more details about how it would be organised and paid for. A rift between Gen Zaluzhnyi and Mr Zelenskyy first broke into the open last autumn when the general acknowledged in an interview with The Economist that the fighting with Russia had stalemated. The president strongly denied that was the case. Ukraine desperately needs more Western military assistance as the Russian forces are pressing in many directions of the 1,500-km (900-mile) frontline, but an aid package had been blocked in the US Congress. Gen Zaluzhnyis dismissal could fuel uncertainty among Western allies. Russia has rejoiced at the prospect, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that the talk about Gen Zaluzhnyis dismissal exposed rifts in the Ukrainian leadership. The nonprofit North Dakota Community Foundation will host the 56th annual North Dakota Picnic at Red Mountain Park in Mesa, Arizona, on Sunday, March 3. The event is a gathering of anyone with North Dakota ties living either permanently or part time in Arizona. Last years picnic drew about 3,000 people. This year's event will be from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the park at 7745 E. Brown Road in Mesa. It will feature music, vendor booths and socializing. There will be food available for purchase. The cost to attend is $5 per person. For more information, go to www.NDCF.net/Picnic, www.facebook.com/ndpicnic, or contact the Community Foundation at 701-222-8349 or Deb@NDCF.net. A drone attack on a base housing US troops in eastern Syria killed six allied Kurdish fighters late on Sunday, in the first significant attack in Syria or Iraq since the US launched retaliatory strikes over the weekendagainst Iran-backed militias. The US-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said on Monday the attack hit a training ground at al-Omar base in Syrias eastern province of Deir el-Zour and accused Syrian regime-backed mercenaries of carrying out the attack. No casualties were reported among US troops. An umbrella group of Iran-backed Iraqi militias, dubbed the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, released a video claiming responsibility for the attack and showing them launching a drone from an unspecified location. An RAF Typhoon FGR4 aircraft returns to base following strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen (AS1 Jake Green/RAF via AP) In late January, a drone attack by the same group killed three US troops and wounded dozens more at a desert base in Jordan. The US military launched dozens of retaliatory strikes targeting Iran-backed militant groups in western Iraq and eastern Syria and also struck the Houthis in Yemen. The umbrella group has launched dozens of drone attacks on US military bases and troops in Iraq and Syria and has called for the withdrawal of American soldiers from both countries. The attack comes as tensions flare across the Middle East amid the Israel-Hamas war, which was sparked by Hamass rampage in southern Israel on October 7. Meanwhile, Britain-based opposition war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least seven SDF fighters were killed in the attack on Sunday and at least 18 others wounded, some in critical condition. It did not say whether any US military personnel were among the casualties. The attack late on Sunday came two days after the US military carried out strikes against militant targets linked to Iran in Syria and Iraq. The SDF said it has the right to respond to the attack. The US military said it struck four anti-ship missiles on Sunday that were prepared to be fired at vessels in the Red Sea from Houthi rebel-controlled areas in Yemen. In a statement early on Monday, the US Central Command said the strikes were in self-defence and came after forces determined the missiles presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region. Sundays strikes came a day after the US and UK launched a second wave of strikes against the Houthis, meant to degrade the Iranian-backed groups capabilities to attack vessels in the Red Sea. The US and UK said they hit 36 Houthi targets. The leaders of Japan and Italy said on Monday they will bolster their co-operation in security and defence, including their joint next-generation fighter jet development with the UK, as Tokyo welcomed the European nations shift toward playing a greater role in the Indo-Pacific. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, after meeting his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, welcomed Italys move to increase its presence in the Indo-Pacific region, where several visits by Italys warships, including its strike group, and joint exercises are planned this year. US secretary of state Antony Blinken met Saudi Arabias crown prince on Monday at the start of his fifth visit to the Middle East since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, hoping to press ahead with a potential ceasefire deal and postwar planning while tamping down regional tensions. But on all three fronts he faces major challenges Hamas and Israel are publicly at odds over key elements of a potential truce. Israel has dismissed US calls for a path to a Palestinian state, and Irans militant allies in the region have shown little sign of being deterred by U.S. strikes. In Gaza, meanwhile, Hamas has begun to re-emerge in some of the most devastated areas after Israeli forces pulled back, an indication that Israels central goal of crushing the group remains elusive. Video footage from the same areas shows vast destruction, with nearly every building damaged or destroyed. Palestinians look at a house destroyed in an Israeli strike in Rafah (Hatem Ali/AP) Mr Blinken met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shortly after arriving in the Saudi capital, Riyadh. Saudi officials have said the kingdom is still interested in normalising relations with Israel in a potentially historic deal, but only if there is a credible plan to create a Palestinian state. But any such grand bargain appears a long way off as the war still rages in Gaza, where 113 bodies were taken to hospitals in the last 24 hours alone, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory. It says another 205 people were wounded. The fatalities take the overall Palestinian death toll from nearly four months of war to 27,478. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count but says most of the dead were women and children. The war in Gaza has levelled vast swathes of the tiny enclave, displaced 85% of its population and pushed a quarter of residents to starvation. Palestinians mourn their relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Deir al Balah (Adel Hana/AP) A video circulating online on Monday showed masked gunmen leading a line of shirtless detainees past bombed-out buildings in northern Gaza, forcing them to shout out that they are thieves. It was the latest sign that Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since seizing power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007, is reasserting control in parts of the north. Residents say Hamas-led security forces, which numbered in the tens of thousands before the war, have begun to reappear in some areas where they focus on distributing civil salaries and cracking down on looters. The Israeli military says it has launched targeted operations in northern Gaza over the last week to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its capabilities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Israel crushes Hamas military and governing abilities and wins the return of the 100-plus hostages still held by the militant group, after the October 7 cross-border raid that ignited the war. Hamas and other militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the attack and abducted around 250. More than 100 captives, mostly women and children, were released during a weeklong ceasefire in November in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. --- ! pic.twitter.com/EIcMy1OCGh Benjamin Netanyahu - (@netanyahu) February 5, 2024 Meeting troops on Monday, Mr Netanyahu said Israel had defeated 18 of Hamas 24 battalions, without providing evidence. We are on the way to absolute victory and I want to tell you that we are committed to it and we will not give it up. The United States, Qatar and Egypt have drawn up a proposal for a ceasefire of several weeks and the phased release of the remainder of the hostages. But Hamas, which has yet to publicly respond to the proposal, has said it will not release any more captives until Israel ends its offensive. The militants are expected to demand the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners in return, demands Netanyahu has publicly ruled out. The war has ignited tensions across the region, with a flurry of strikes and counterstrikes raising the risk of a wider conflict. Israel and Lebanons powerful Hezbollah militant group trade fire across the border on a daily basis, and in recent weeks apparent Israeli strikes have killed senior Hezbollah commanders. A drone attack launched by Iran-backed militants killed three US soldiers near the Jordan-Syria border last week, prompting a wave of retaliatory US strikes. The US and the UK have also carried out strikes on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen in response to their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. About 125 Bismarck-based North Dakota National Guard soldiers are back home after helping with security on the U.S.-Mexico border for more than a year. The members of the 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment were welcomed at a Sunday ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Bismarck, according to U.S. Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven and Rep. Kelly Armstrong, all R-N.D. The unit known as the "Rough Riders" deployed in September 2022, on federal status in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. They followed 125 members of the Bismarck-based 957th Engineer Companys Multi-Role Bridge Company who returned that month after assisting Customs and Border Protection for about a year. The U.S. is facing an unprecedented crisis at the southern border, and we deeply appreciate the members of the 1-112th battalion, as well as their families, for their sacrifices over the past year to support CBPs operations," Hoeven said. "Border security is national security, and our Guard members have our thanks for their ongoing contributions to this critical mission. The 112th soldiers fly and maintain the UH-72A Lakota helicopter. They served under the direction of U.S. Northern Command and Texas-based Joint Task Force North. Members of the battalion previously served overseas in Bosnia and Kosovo, and they also had previously served on the southern border. Thank you soldiers, spouses, families and employers for your selfless sacrifices on our behalf," Cramer said. "I believe the children make the greatest sacrifice when a parent is far from home for so long. Enthusiasts have given these equine influencers names such as Grizz, Arrowhead, Flax and Little Bear. Theyre neither pets nor traditional livestock, and they roam free in North Dakotas only national park. That may change pending an anticipated 2024 management decision by Theodore Roosevelt National Park staff to remove the nearly 200 horses, or cull to a greatly reduced number. The decision is being closely watched by many who have followed and named the horses on social media posts over the years and by owners of businesses in and around Medora, the gateway town synonymous with the park. Everyone has their favorites, said Christine Kman, owner of a shop called Chasing Horses in Medora. She sells horse- and Badlands-themed merchandise, and she and her husband, Gary, host tours so visitors can see horses, bison and other wildlife in the park. Kman, like other merchants in Medora, is concerned about the economic impact of the National Park Services plans, which the agency has said is rooted in its priority to maintain the native prairie ecosystem. While the business would survive the hit if horses were removed or their numbers reduced, theyre definitely a draw, she said. On top of the economic impact is one without a price tag. It saddens her and others that horses theyve come to know and love may soon disappear. There were a lot of people who came last year because they were afraid maybe there wouldnt be any horses after this year, said Kman, who also co-founded Chasing Horses Wild Horse Advocates, a nonprofit fighting to keep the parks horses. Mary Griffin, owner of Medoras Custers Cottage, has a better idea of the impact on her business. She estimates she could lose at least one-fifth of her income if the horses are removed from the park. I have customers that come in the spring and the fall, solely because of the horses, Griffin said. Thats the only reason they are here. Im a small lodging business, so I personally visit with people and know why theyre here. Hard to quantify Most businesses, whether in Medora, Dickinson or Watford City, find it hard to tally income specifically related to the iconic horses. Statewide tourism impacts from the horses are equally tough to parse out. Its intangible, but its also grounded in visitor experience. Business owners I've spoken to almost always talk about how the customers that come into their businesses talk about the joy of having horses in the park and how much they enjoy seeing them along with the rest of the wildlife, said Clarence Sitter, current president of the Medora Chamber of Commerce. I think as a community, we certainly would like to see the National Park Service do everything they can to keep them, he said. Former Mayor Doug Ellison, who operates the Amble Inn & Western Edge Books in town, said that over the years Medora has become synonymous with the national park and the park so synonymous with the horses that changing the status quo could be detrimental all around. If you take that away, its really going to have a negative impact, he said. Ellison said he continues to hear from people who say they wont return to the park or visit nearly as often if the horses are removed. If theyre gone, a lot of people arent going to return, which translates obviously into an economic impact, and thats a very important part of this, Ellison said. Kaelee Wallace is marketing and communications director at the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, which facilitates the Medora Musical and other properties in the area. She said that although it is hard to gauge the economic value of the horses to the community, their value to the visitor experience is definitely felt every day in our conversations with them. What is known is that an average of 700,000 visitors come to the park each year. Park Service data from 2021 estimated that 796,000 visitors spent over $56 million visiting the park, directly supporting at least 675 jobs through tourism in Medora and communities closest to the park. An additional $62 million in economic activity is generated in nearby communities directly from those visits, either though hotel, restaurant or other activity, the Park Service estimated. State Department of Commerce Tourism Director Sara Otte Coleman said the state has tried to calculate visitor spending directly related to the wild horses but hasnt come up with good numbers since so many factors are involved in a decision to visit the park. We do know that our visitors enjoy the uniqueness of the horses in our national park and it improves their experience, she said. That said, it also is the sole motivator for some; we just cant measure that efficiently. Nearly 90% of park visitors surveyed from 2016 to 2018 supported maintaining wild horses at the South Unit, according to the Park Service. The North Unit is a separate section of the park and does not host horses. An environmental assessment released by the park in September outlining options for maintaining, reducing or removing the horses stated that only 49% of those surveyed favored maintaining the herd but was citing the same survey. That assessment stated that the phased removal of horses from the South Unit would have little to no incremental impact on regional economic conditions given the other visitor opportunities available at the park. Park Superintendent Angie Richman declined an interview for this story, but did comment that park staff are reviewing comments from the public received last November and will be producing a comment analysis report after the review. We are also separately and concurrently assessing the applicability of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, Richman said in an e-mailed response, adding that decisions will not be made until all those processes are complete. Under Section 106, federal agencies must in part consider public views and concerns about historic preservation issues when making final project decisions, according to the U.S. General Services Administration. Jenny Powers, a wildlife veterinarian who leads the Park Service's wildlife health program, told The Associated Press last November that evaluating whether the horses belong in the park has been a long time in coming, and it realigns us with our overarching policies to remove non-native species from parks whenever they pose a potential risk to resources. Last April, North Dakota legislators passed a resolution urging the secretary of the interior and the director of the Park Service to modify the plan related to the removal and continue to allow for interpretative, cultural, and historical purposes both the wild horse herds in the South Unit and longhorn steers in the North Unit. Higher powers Besides potentially utilizing the National Historic Preservation Act, the possibility of emulating actions at other federally administered lands with wild horses surfaced repeatedly in interviews. Examples are protections placed on herds on coastal islands in Maryland and North Carolina. I'm thinking that unless Congress gets involved with the National Park Service's plan, the Park Service will do what they decide they want to do, Griffin of Custers Cottage said. I think it's going to take those higher powers to enter into the conversation. A statement from the office of U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said discussions with the Park Service about maintaining the horses at the park are ongoing. Spokesman Mike Nowatzki said that Gov. Doug Burgum has made it clear that he is willing to support the parks horse management program if necessary. Relocating the horses is not a viable option since the horses are such a draw for visitors to the park, and the office is in ongoing discussions with the park superintendent about specific areas of support, Nowatzki said. We agree that the economic impact of the wild horses to the region is hard to quantify. However, based on the tremendous outpouring of support from across the nation for keeping the horses, its clear that they are a significant attraction and play an important role in generating economic activity for Medora and the surrounding area, Nowatzki said. (Photo : Unsplash/Pawel Czerwinski) A hidden path to America's dinner tables is a former Southern slave plantation, now the largest maximum-security prison in the country, the Louisiana State Penitentiary, according to The Associated Press' comprehensive two-year investigation. Prison workers are some of the most vulnerable in America who may risk parole or face punishments like solitary confinement if they refuse to work and are frequently denied protections that most other full-time workers receive, even in cases of serious injury or death on the job. Hidden Workforce Linked to the World's Largest Food Companies Unmarked trucks transport cattle raised in prison, where men, predominantly people of color, are sentenced to hard labor for minimal pay or sometimes nothing. A local rancher then buys these cattle, and, following a journey of 600 miles, they reach a Texas slaughterhouse and enter the supply chains of major companies like McDonald's, Walmart, and Cargill. The Associated Press revealed intricate connections between some of the world's largest food companies and popular brands to jobs performed by U.S. prisoners, tying hundreds of millions of dollars worth of agricultural products to goods sold on the open market, including Kroger, Target, Aldi, and Whole Foods. Some of these goods are also exported to countries with restrictions for using forced or prison labor. The products made by these prisoners end up in the supply chains of various items commonly found in American kitchens, such as Frosted Flakes cereal, Ball Park hot dogs, Gold Medal flour, Coca-Cola, and Riceland rice. READ MORE: Starbucks Anti-Union Tactics Not True, Calling It Pure Propaganda Amidst Employee Relations Controversy Legality of Forced Labor as a Punishment for a Crime Numerous companies that purchase directly from prisons are breaking their rules against using this type of labor. However, it is entirely legal, rooted mainly in the necessity for labor to aid in reconstructing the South's economy after the Civil War. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for a crime. This clause is currently being challenged on the federal level, and efforts to eliminate similar language from state constitutions are expected to reach the ballot in multiple states this year. Certain prisoners work on the same plantation soil where cotton, tobacco, and sugarcane were harvested more than 150 years ago, with some present-day scenes resembling the historical past, with men in Louisiana, a state with one of the highest incarceration rates, working on the "farm line," bending over crops that extend far into the distance. Brutality on Prison Laborers Willie Ingram spent 51 years in the state penitentiary known as Angola, where he worked on various crops like cotton and okra. He recounted being supervised by armed guards on horseback, witnessing fellow workers passing out in triple-digit heat while having little or no water. Workers would protest by throwing their tools in the air, fully aware of the potential consequences, and describing instances of punishment as, "They'd come, maybe four in the truck, shields over their face, and they'd beat you right there in the field. They beat you, handcuff you, and beat you again." Ingram, who pleaded guilty to a crime he claims he didn't commit, received a life sentence but was released in 2021 by a sympathetic judge at the age of 73. The number of people behind bars in the U.S. started to increase in the 1970s when Willie Ingram entered the prison system. Today, with approximately 2 million people in prison, U.S. prison labor has evolved into a multibillion-dollar industry that goes beyond traditional images of prisoners making license plates, working on road crews, or fighting wildfires. Correction Official's Stance on Forced Labor According to officials and supporters, prison jobs are not always mandatory, arguing that these jobs benefit taxpayers by saving money. For instance, the food produced can be used in prison kitchens or donated to those in need. Supporters claim inmates learn valuable skills for their post-release life, fostering a sense of purpose and potentially reducing repeat offenses by repaying their debt to society. Some places even allow prisoners to shorten their sentences through work. While many critics acknowledge that not all jobs should be eliminated, they emphasize the importance of fair pay, humane treatment, and voluntary work for incarcerated individuals, highlighting challenges faced by those with criminal records, even when they receive specialized training. Law professor Andrea Armstrong, an expert on prison labor at Loyola University New Orleans, points out concerns about forcing incarcerated people to work in an unsafe field, saying, "They also aren't learning skills that will help them when they are released." Companies Responses on Incorporating Prison Labor in Their Supply Chains Some companies unknowingly incorporate prison labor into their supply chains through third-party suppliers, while others directly purchase from prisons. Major commodity traders like Cargill, Bunge, Louis Dreyfus, Archer Daniels Midland, and Consolidated Grain and Barge, which together post annual revenues exceeding $400 billion, have acquired millions of dollars worth of soy, corn, and wheat directly from prisons, which competes with local farmers. The AP contacted the companies associated with prison labor for comments, but most did not respond. Cargill admitted to purchasing goods from prison farms in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Ohio, emphasizing that this makes up only a tiny part of their total volume, adding, "We are now in the process of determining the appropriate remedial action." McDonald's pledged to investigate any connections to such labor, while Archer Daniels Midland and General Mills, the producer of Gold Medal flour, referred to their existing policies prohibiting suppliers from using forced labor. Whole Foods stated directly that they do not allow the use of prison labor in products sold at their stores. Bunge mentioned that in 2021, they sold all facilities sourcing from correction departments, and they are no longer part of Bunge's footprint. Dairy Farmers of America, a cooperative claiming to be the leading global raw milk supplier, stated that although it has purchased from correctional facilities, it currently only has one "member dairy" at a prison, and most of that milk is used internally. RELATED ARTICLE: Fashion Brand Shein Issue: Stories Reveal Child Labor Practices, Bad Working Conditions 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Unsplash/ Manish Tulaskar) New York officials are considering the creation of "transitional" titles to enable migrants with federal work authorization to join the state workforce, as per a memo circulated by the state Civil Service Commission obtained by The Post. Once in these roles, the workers would receive training and assistance to acquire the necessary skills for permanent positions. Hard-to-Recruit Entry-Level Jobs for Migrants According to a memo initially covered by Bloomberg News, state agencies have found 4,000 state jobs that could potentially be filled by migrants, described as "hard-to-recruit" entry-level titles. The plan would enable migrants to bypass requirements such as English proficiency, proof of education, and past employment, as per the memo. READ ALSO: Work Permit Strife: Rising Tensions Between Newcomers and Immigrants with Longtime US Residents State Providing Temporary Opportunities for Legal Migrants To support the over 170,000 migrants who have arrived in the city since April 2022, Governor Kathy Hochul has put forward a $2.4 billion plan. Hochul urged the Biden administration to expedite work permits and boost federal aid for migrants, as allowing migrants to work would positively impact the state's economy and address the humanitarian crisis. Avi Small, a spokesperson for Hochul, verified the accuracy of the memo and mentioned that the state is still deciding whether to alter the job requirements, saying that the initiative, which has not been implemented yet, aims to provide temporary job opportunities for anyone legally eligible to work in the United States. Small added that Governor Hochul has prioritized modernizing the state workforce and eliminating red tape and has instituted a series of reforms to achieve that goal. Civil Service Commissioner Timothy Hogues highlighted that the suggested requirements for migrants mirror those of current apprenticeship programs, which, when adopted, relaxed rules would apply to all New Yorkers. Reduction of Employment Barriers in the United States Hogues expressed excitement when questioned about the memo by Long Island Assemblyman Ed Ra during a budget hearing on Tuesday, noting that it's part of a broader approach to making government jobs more accessible and reducing barriers, which is no different from traineeships and apprenticeships that allow individuals to up-skill or gain on-the-job experience to meet qualifications. The suggested temporary transitional jobs include caring for intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals, custodial work, food service, facilities repair, and clerical positions. The memo concludes that creating these transitional titles benefits the state and its agencies. It aims to connect qualified and motivated individuals with meaningful job opportunities, address the migrant crisis, and contribute to rebuilding the state workforce. Governor Kathy Hochul has touted the identification of over 40,000 open positions from state employers willing to hire migrants. However, the federal process for approving work authorization has been slow. As of November, only 2,850 out of nearly 47,000 migrants sheltered statewide had received approval for work. State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon mentioned last month that "it is a bottleneck, but it is beginning to break." RELATED ARTICLE: Starbucks To The Rescue: Coffee Retailer Vows To Hire Thousands Of Refugees In Defiance To Trump 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Unsplash/Josefa nDiaz) Changes in how we communicate and solve problems at work during the pandemic require critical thinking and strong communication skills. However, 39% of employees express frustration with their employers not offering effective soft skills training, based on research commissioned by the CFA Institute. As a result, many of us have to develop these skills independently. According to Barbara Petitt, the managing director of professional learning at CFA Institute, here are the top five soft skills you should focus on today: 1. Curiosity Curious employees question the norm that broadens the outlook of an idea or project. The most curious individuals can uncover new possibilities often obscured by daily work and life routines. Developing your curiosity skills will aid you in generating innovative solutions more quickly and creatively. How to develop curiosity skills: Learn about an unfamiliar topic. Petitt explored how the brain works by reading two neuroscience books and gaining a profound understanding of how people absorb new information. 2. Innovation Curiosity sparks new ideas, but innovation fuels the teamwork and creativity needed to turn an idea into reality. During Petitt's consulting tenure, she noticed that those who found inventive solutions to client problems were the driving force that inspired colleagues to work together. Furthermore, these innovative individuals were frequently recognized and financially rewarded for their creative approach. How to develop innovation skills: Engage with your coworkers and customers to generate unique and actionable ideas. Prioritize networking and have discussions about your work that extend beyond completing daily tasks. 3. Speed Speed is about swiftly acquiring, applying, and communicating knowledge. Due to technology giving us access to a pool of information, decisions that once took weeks are now made within days, if not hours. When Petitt interviews someone, she requests an example of a challenging professional situation where the candidate had to meet a hard deadline. If the candidate can provide specific details about how they accomplished the task under time pressure, Petitt feels more confident considering them for the job. READ ALSO: Are You Bad At Your Job? What to Do When You Feel Incompetent How to develop speed: Volunteer for tasks that interest you and observe how you handle your time. If you find yourself wasting time recovering information due to inadequate note-taking or experiencing productivity loss in the afternoon from over-scheduling your mornings, see these as chances to enhance and adjust your approach. 4. Communication Our ability to communicate and connect emotionally sets us apart from robots. We can reflect on the past and envision the future. In the past, effective communication relied on a firm handshake, eye contact, and attentive listening. Nowadays, the skill and intentionality needed to compose a compelling Slack message or initiate a Zoom conversation are crucial investments for success in any job. How to develop communication skills: Enroll in a course or join a public speaking club like Toastmasters International. According to Petitt, she took a communication course led by a former TV presenter when she had a job that involved a significant amount of public speaking. Confronting her fears and honing her speech structure skills made her a more confident and effective communicator. 5. Vulnerability In her book "Braving the Wilderness," Brene Brown states, "Courage is built on vulnerability - the skill to handle uncertainty, risk, and emotional exposure." It might seem counterintuitive, but this soft skill is especially important now with the trend of job switching. Think about the common job interview scenario where you're asked to describe dealing with a challenging situation or mistake. The best candidates will discuss the mistake and its resolution and illustrate what they learned, how they applied that knowledge moving forward, and how it positively impacted the organization. How to develop vulnerability: Be transparent about your weaknesses. Petitt shares that she readily acknowledges her mistakes for personal development and to set an example for those who work for her. RELATED ARTICLE: Ultimate Guide to Supporting Mental Health in the Workplace 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Unsplash/Lenny Kuhne) According to a Human Rights Watch report released on Thursday, forced labor is not part of the supply chains of automakers Tesla, General Motors, Volkswagen, and Toyota in China. The U.S.-based nonprofit connected aluminum to major car manufacturers, being allegedly produced with forced labor by Uyghurs, a mainly Muslim ethnic minority of around 10 million people in the western region of Xinjiang and other ethnic minorities in other areas of the country. READ ALSO: Fashion Brand Shein Issue: Stories Reveal Child Labor Practices, Bad Working Conditions Accusation on China's Labor Transfer Programs China is being accused of implementing labor transfer programs where Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities are compelled to work in factories as part of a longstanding assimilation and mass detention campaign, where China might have detained over 1 million Uyghurs as part of terrorism and separatism measures, according to a 2022 United Nations report. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not respond immediately to questions about the report sent by fax from The Associated Press. A Report Connecting Aluminum to the Labor Transfer The Human Rights Watch report connects aluminum, a material used in many car parts, to the labor transfer programs where workers allegedly undergo ideological indoctrination and have restricted freedom of movement, drawn from company statements, Chinese government documents, and previous research by Human Rights Watch and other organizations. Since 2022, the United States has mandated importers of goods from Xinjiang to provide evidence that the products were not manufactured using forced labor to avoid penalties. However, the Human Rights Watch report argues that tracing the origin of aluminum from Xinjiang is challenging, mainly when it is transported to other parts of China and processed into alloys. China Being the Top Car Exporter Globally Over 15% of China's aluminum supply and around 9% of the global supply come from Xinjiang, as per industry reports, which the global automotive industry utilizes for various parts, including vehicle frames, wheels, and battery foils. China, the largest producer of battery-powered electric cars, also became the top car exporter globally last year. The companies mentioned in the new report include Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD. The International Aluminum Institute, a UK-based industry group, forecasts a doubling global demand for aluminum between 2019 and 205 due to the increasing popularity of electric vehicles. Human Rights Calling the Attention of the Government Jim Wormington, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, emphasized that China is a dominant player in the global car industry. Governments need to ensure that companies involved in car manufacturing or sourcing parts in China are not linked to the government's repression in Xinjiang, adding that conducting business in China should not entail using or benefiting from forced labor. The report claims that international car manufacturers, under pressure from the Chinese government, have relaxed control over their operations in China compared to other countries, which increases the risk of forced labor in their supply chains. Many foreign carmakers in China function as joint ventures with Chinese companies, compelled by government restrictions in key sectors. Carmakers' Stance on the Issue Toyota announced in a statement that it will carefully examine the Human Rights Watch report, emphasizing that "respect for human rights" is a fundamental part of its core values. It expects its suppliers to adhere to its commitment to respect and not violate human rights. Volkswagen mentioned having a risk management system for due diligence in raw material procurement, directly commissioning its China suppliers. The company promptly investigates any forced labor allegations and actively seeks new solutions to prevent them in its supply chains. Volkswagen has a joint venture with Chinese state-owned carmaker SAIC Motor, operating a plant in Xinjiang. An audit conducted by the German carmaker last year found no evidence of forced labor at the Xinjiang plant. RELATED ARTICLE: Industrial Companies Take Bold Steps on Labor Issues, Extending Onsite Childcare to Ease "Tough Choices" for Workers 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Unsplash/Omid Armin) Spotify has signed a new blockbuster deal with comedian Joe Rogan, making his shows no longer exclusive to Spotify, as announced in a press release on Friday. A Multiyear Spotify Partnership with Joe Rogan "The Joe Rogan Experience," debuted in 2009, has been exclusive for Spotify over a $100 million deal since 2020. Spotify did not provide details on the multiyear deal's terms, but it was said to be valued at $250 million, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Spotify is extending collaboration to make the show accessible on other platforms where Joe Rogan will get a portion of the revenue generated by his program, as per sources mentioned in the newspaper. According to the company, the show continues to be consistently ranked as the top and most-listened-to podcast globally, where users have also ranked it as Spotify's wrapped top podcast each year since 2020. Rogan created an exclusive Green Room playlist for fans, featuring the iconic neon sign from the Comedy Mothership as the cover art to set the right mood. Joe Rogan's Podcast Heated Controversies The podcast, known for its controversial style and guests, featured Tesla CEO Elon Musk last year, where he mentioned buying the social media site X to protect it from what he called the "woke mind virus." READ ALSO: Elon Musk's Drug Use Concerns Executives in Businesses He Runs; Denied in Random Testing Results Rogan also received backlash in 2022 when videos of him using the N-word and misinformation and conspiracy theories related to COVID-19 surfaced, where medical professionals chastised him. Rogan publicly apologized, regretting that his critics felt upset, and clarified that it wasn't his intention to cause distress or spread misinformation. Rogan mentioned his preference for conversations with diverse perspectives and noted that certain things once considered misinformation, like the effectiveness of cloth masks against COVID, are now widely accepted. Rogan acknowledged that he could improve by featuring individuals with opposing views, like Malone's, so his audience could hear diverse perspectives. Spotify stated it would include a warning before all podcasts discussing COVID-19 and guide listeners to factual information from scientists and public health experts. The announcement did not specifically mention Rogan. Removal of Several Episodes and Music from the Platform Spotify came under fire for hosting the controversial videos, leading to the removal of several Joe Rogan episodes, including the withdrawal of Neil Young and Joni Mitchell music from the platform in protest. Rogan has hosted approximately 2,200 episodes featuring notable figures like scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson and Senator Bernie Sanders, each lasting two to three hours on average. In a Spotify blog post, Rogan mentioned, "I only have people on the show that I'm genuinely interested in talking to. I never do a podcast just because a person is popular." Spotify has over 574 million users. Following overall market trends, the company's shares recently increased by 1.3% at $221.81. RELATED ARTICLE: 1,500 Job Cuts As Spotify Streamlines Operations, Market Responds with Share Price Jump 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. FARGO Partners including North Dakota State University and Grand Farm secured a grant of up to $160 million to spur the next generation of agricultural technology innovation. The 10-year grant from the National Science Foundation supports a partnership that also includes the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corp. The funding is for a massive collaboration called FARMS -- Food systems Adapted for Resiliency and Maximized Security -- that leaders said will put North Dakota at the forefront of global agricultural innovation. "This is a significant vision, very exciting," NDSU President David Cook said. "FARMS is going to set North Dakota apart in ag tech." The initiative will accelerate agricultural innovation and enhance food security while creating career opportunities for students in fields including agriculture, information technology, engineering, artificial intelligence and data science, he said. U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., who announced the grant on Jan. 29, called it a "major investment in NDSU and Grand Farm's efforts to transform the future of ag production." Through the grant, which Hoeven helped to obtain through his seat on the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, "We are empowering this collaboration to give farmers and ranchers tools that will strengthen their operations, reduce costs and improve yields," he said. Hoeven added: Thats good not only for the production of food, fuel and fiber, but it will spur growth for a variety of industries, including our states dynamic tech sector and manufacturers. That means North Dakota and our nation will continue to have a competitive edge in the global marketplace while ensuring a high-quality and low-cost food supply for American consumers. Ryan Aasheim, chief business development officer of Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corp., said the FARMS collaboration also will spur significant investment in the region. "It's just going to supercharge and shine a great big light on this region," he said at the announcement in Richard H. Barry Hall at NDSU's downtown campus. "We're talking about a proposition of billions of dollars" in private investment from corporations, venture capital firms and others. "We've got companies that are already coming here" to commercialize technology, including some from Silicon Valley, Aasheim said. "You're going to see a lot of those innovators decide to stay here." Colleen Fitzgerald, NDSU's vice president of research, innovation and creative activity, said the grant award is the culmination of a statewide coalition that started work in May 2022. "We have amazing things that are going to be happening in FARMS," she said. Efforts will be ramping up over the first two years. The project will accelerate genomic studies of crops, including dry beans, to identify resilient varieties quickly in a collaboration combining plant science and artificial intelligence, she said in an interview. The project also will further sensor development, such as soil sensors that transmit data into the cloud, as well as "last acre" connectivity to ensure farmers have real-time access to the information in the field, Fitzgerald said. "This is an opportunity in a lifetime for North Dakota because it's about economic development," she said. "This is the spark, the catalyst for us to make sure everyone worldwide knows about North Dakota ag tech." Twyla Baker, president of Nueta Hidatsa Sanish College in New Town, another core partner in the FARMS collaboration, said the tribes of Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation have "ancestral knowledge" about agriculture. "I see this as a continuation of that legacy," she said, adding that members say no nation can truly be sovereign if it cannot feed its people. "We are excited to dive into the work ahead of us," Baker said. Leander McDonald, president of United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, said the project builds on a base of experience. "What can happen from here?" he said. "We have a strong foundation for more good things to happen." Brian Carroll, chief innovation officer of Emerging Prairie, which leads Grand Farm, said the FARMS partnership will bring together growers, industry leaders, startups and educational institutions. With help from the federal grant, "We are building an ecosystem accelerating innovation at the speed of trust," he said. "This support not only energizes our work but also moves us closer to a future of sustainable and pioneering advances in ag tech." Grand Farm, which has a 140-acre innovation campus just west of Casselton, is a collaboration of growers, corporations, startups, educators, researchers, government and investors working to solve problems in agriculture through technology and innovation. The grant, one of 10 given around the country, provides $15 million for the first two years and was awarded under the National Science Foundation's regional innovation engines program. Construction of a 25,000-square-foot Grand Farm Innovation Shop is underway. In 2022, the North Dakota Legislature awarded Grand Farm a $10 million matching grant. Holding two sacks and a shovel, traffic police officers Cao Chun and Wu Yulei helped more than 50 cars trapped on a bridge in Wuhan, Hubei province, survive a sweeping blizzard on Saturday night. They pushed cars for over three hours in the freezing weather, sometimes choking on the exhaust fumes or falling down on the slippery road, but thanks to their efforts, the traffic returned to normal on the bridge by early Sunday morning. Like Cao and Wu, all traffic police officers in Wuhan have been on duty amid freezing rain and snow. More than 900 patrolling units and 54 police stations have helped maintain traffic movement on major roads and bridges, train services at railway stations and flights at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport, as part of the city government's comprehensive measures to ensure people's safety amid the holiday travel rush. Freezing rain and snow have battered the city, as well as China's vast central and eastern regions, including Henan, Hunan and Jiangxi provinces, since Thursday. The harsh weather is expected to last for days, according to the National Meteorological Center, which on Sunday issued another orange alert for blizzard. Orange is the second-highest level of alert in the country's four-tier, color-coded weather warning system. The inclement weather has coincided with the 40-day Spring Festival travel rush, which started on Jan 26, posing serious challenges for both travelers and service providers. To brace for the harsh weather and potential disasters during the holiday, the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council issued a notice on Thursday, urging authorities nationwide to ensure safe and smooth transportation services. Transportation regulators and service providers, on their part, have adopted a slew of measures to ensure emergency response and guarantee the safety of travelers. China State Railway Group, the national railway operator, has made efforts to mitigate safety risks by suspending operations or reducing train speeds in several regions, including Hunan, Hubei and Guangdong provinces and Shanghai, the company said on Saturday. Passengers affected by the suspension of train services are eligible to apply for full refunds of tickets, with additional counters opened at railway stations to facilitate the refunds and also process any requests for change in travel dates. Meanwhile, inspections of key routes, bridges, tunnels and other critical infrastructure are being conducted by railway departments. Continuous monitoring of track switches, overhead lines and electric multiple units are also being carried out to ensure good condition of railway equipment and facilities. Additional staff and equipment have been deployed for snow removal and de-icing operations. Backup diesel locomotives and rescue staff have been deployed at major railway lines and hubs to deal with potential emergencies. In Henan, where some areas have been badly hit by the weather, all railway stations will stay open around the clock until Monday to offer continuous services for passengers. The Zhengzhou East Railway Station has activated an emergency response plan, placing mats at the entrances and platforms to prevent passengers from slipping, and deploying additional staff at the inquiry center, Zhao Jingfei, duty head of the station, told China Central Television. As a result of the adverse weather, many travelers are facing trip delays or cancellations. According to the Hubei Airports Group, as of noon on Sunday, 315 flights had been canceled at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport. In the neighboring Anhui province, more than 95 highway toll stations have refused entry to vehicles as of Sunday morning, due to snow and freezing temperatures. The extreme weather has also led to accidents in some places. On Saturday night, 22 people were injured, including one critically, after a rain shelter at a tea house in Zhangjiajie, Hunan, collapsed. A Beijing resident, surnamed Peng, who took a high-speed train on Friday from the Chinese capital to Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, experienced a delay of two hours, which dragged the travel time to more than 13 hours. "This is the first time that I experienced a delay when traveling by a high-speed train," the 40-year-old said, adding that the long journey was exhausting. Another Beijing resident, surnamed Liu, canceled her trip to Xi'an, Shaanxi province, in the last minute because of bad weather. "I'd rather avoid waiting at the station with two children," said Liu, who flew to Guangzhou, Guangdong province, instead. Tang Yong, who drove from Hangzhou in Zhejiang province to Chongqing for the Spring Festival holiday, met with a minor car accident on a highway in Yiyang, Hunan, on Sunday morning. "Traffic police officers offered us food and hot drinks, which helped us keep warm amid the freezing weather." Despite the challenges, efforts are being made to accommodate travelers during this year's travel rush period, which is expected to handle approximately 9 billion trips. No Rest For The Wicked (Or the Good) - HDD's 4K UHD & Blu-ray Shopping Guide, Mar 17, 2024 remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo 02/02/2024 Some of the JSU film crew behind the scenes with Barbara Shores, daughter of legendary civil rights attorney Arthur Shores. Arthur D. Shores played a pivotal role in shaping the course of civil rights in the American South. From his early days challenging segregation laws to his courageous defense of individuals targeted for their activism, he stood as a beacon of justice during some of the nation's most tumultuous times.The documentary seamlessly integrates historical footage and photographs sourced from the Shores' family archive and insightful interviews with individuals who shared a close connection with Shores, including key political figures. This collective material provides viewers with a deeply immersive experience, allowing them to witness the challenges and triumphs that defined Shores' life.Producing 'Defending Freedom has been a profound experience, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Alabama Public Television for the invaluable opportunities it has created for our students, said Seth Johnson, director of Longleaf Studios and associate dean of the JSU College of Arts, Humanities, and Sciences. A special acknowledgment goes to the influential politicians and community officials who generously shared their time, emphasizing the significance of Mr. Shores to Alabama's enduring legacy.JSUs Longleaf Studios is an experiential learning unit that provides film and communication students with hands-on learning opportunities to work on real-world projects with professional filmmakers. Eleven students worked with professionals from Illuminate Films on the production, including Riley Abston, Nicolas Guimaraes Vieira, Adrian Langston, Noah Lockette, Noah McCord, Samuel Musgrove, Laney O'Neal, Leslie Pearce, Esther Shull, Benjamin Willis and Daylan Wright."The partnership between APT and JSU has proven to be a continued success, said Pete Conroy, director of strategic partnerships and projects at JSU. We've already collected four Emmys but, more importantly, we have been able to tell significant stories that highlight the strength and diversity of Alabama. Of course, the Arthur Shores story is a perfect example."After the documentary airs on Feb. 15, it will be available on-demand for free on the APT website , along with all previously aired programs ( Michigan Advance ) Reaction to a Wall Street Journal opinion piece about Dearborn intensified through the weekend, as President Joe Biden and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joined the chorus of condemnation. The WSJ op-ed, Welcome to Dearborn, Americas Jihad Capital, alleged thousands of residents in the predominantly Muslim city, including imams and politicians are siding with Hamas against Israel and Iran against the U.S. The op-ed was written by Steven Salinsky, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a group critics say often produces selective or inaccurate translations to negatively portray Muslims and Arabs. By Saturday morning, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, a former House member, took to social media to lambast the piece. Its 2024 and the @WSJ still pushes out this type of garbage. Reckless. Bigoted. Islamophobic, said Hammoud, who called Dearborn one of the greatest American cities in our nation, noting that not only was it the home of the Ford Motor Co., but the fastest-growing city in Michigan, as well as among the most diverse. But within about two hours, he came back to X to note the negative impact the WSJ piece was having. Effective immediately Dearborn police will ramp up its presence across all places of worship and major infrastructure points, said Hammoud. 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. Requests for comment on the nature of those threats were sent by the Michigan Advance to both Dearborn Police and Michigan State Police, but have yet to be returned. Click On Detroit | Local 4 | WDIV | Video | Dearborn police on high alert after WSJ opinion article CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid said the group welcomes 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. The Washington, D.C.-based CAIR reports that the groups received 3,578 complaints during the last three months of 2023 a 178% increase compared to a similar period in 2022. Almost exactly 24 hours after Hammouds post, Biden also posted to social media his criticism of the WSJ op-ed. Americans know that blaming a group of people based on the words of a small few is wrong, said Biden. 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. State Rep. Alabas Farhat (D-Dearborn) said hell be introducing a resolution in the House on Tuesday condemning vile rhetoric. Glad to see the President condemning the hateful bigoted piece published by @WSJ, he wrote. Lets not forget that dehumanizing words and policies lead to the rise in hate crimes were seeing. Whitmer also issued a post on Sunday. 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, she said. Residents in Dearborn have organized and held multiple protests of the war against Hamas by Israel, jointly condemning the administration, and Biden specifically, for not embracing a cease-fire in Gaza, where more than 27,000 Palestinians have died since the Oct. 7 surprise attack by Hamas that killed as many as 1,400 Israelis, most of them civilians. Most recently, groups held a rally last Wednesday at Fordson High School in Dearborn, protesting the ongoing Israeli military action. It took place on the eve of Bidens campaign visit to Michigan which also drew protesters, as the Advance previously reported and about a week after several Arab American leaders, including Hammoud, declined to meet with Bidens campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez. While Biden administration officials have affirmed Israels right to respond to the attack, they have increasingly demanded more attention to minimizing civilian casualties. Israel must do more to stop violence against civilians in the West Bank and hold accountable those responsible for it, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last Thursday on sanctions levied by Biden against four Israeli settlers in the West Bank, part of an effort to curb civilian casualties in the region as the Israel-Hamas war continues. Negotiations on a ceasefire continued Sunday. Critics of the WSJ op-ed said that protesting against American foreign policy, and even an American president, should not be used to indict an entire community, especially on ethnic or religious lines. Bigotry. Hatred. Anti-Arab and Anti-Muslim. If the headline was about any other minority with the worst stereotype of that group it would have never gotten through the editors at the WSJ, said U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly), who is Jewish. Fellow Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor), who lived in Dearborn for nearly 40 years, called it another example of hate directed at a community that is already hurting, resulting in fear, vitriol, and threats of violence. Dingell said her neighborhood and friends were supportive, caring, and dedicated, and concluded by stating that We cannot let hatred of any kind, Islamophobia, antisemitism, destroy people. We must stand up to hate everywhere and anywhere we see it. Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) Calling people animals is a way to dehumanize them, and probably helps convince individuals that the other people around them approve of treating the animals badly. In ways that arent entirely clear, this way of speaking is certainly wrought up with violence and even genocide. Israels Defense Minister called the Palestinians of Gaza human animals when he announced a complete siege of Gaza after the horrid Hamas terrorist attack of October 7. Galants willingness to destroy most of the homes in northern Gaza and to displace over a million people, leaving them cold, hungry, thirsty and increasingly victims of disease, surely was enhanced by his conviction that he is dealing with animals rather than human beings. Some might defend him, saying that he only called Hamas human animals. But if that were true, why is he treating all Palestinians in Gaza worse than dogs? The Nazi dehumanization of Jews is notorious. They called them rats, lice, cockroaches, foxes, vultures Such language proliferates in times of tension and war. The impulse to it should be resisted by ethical persons, and even just by normal non-psychopathic human beings. Prominent New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman, alas, fell victim to the seductions of such language in his Friday column. He openly said that he approaches the Middle East at times from the perspective of the Warner Brothers Animal Planet channel. Friedman actually wants a two-state solution and so wants something for Palestinians more than what they now have, and he is hated by the Israeli far right (which is increasingly the Israeli mainstream) for these stances. So it is unfortunate that he deployed the language of insects for Iran and Hamas members. He might defend himself by pointing out that he called the United States an old lion of which no one in the region is afraid any more, or that he caricatured Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as a lemur. But in his column, the old lion and the lemur are not depicted as vicious or disgusting. The Majority Report with Sam Seder Video: Journalist Gives Heartbreaking Report From Gaza As Explosions Ring Out Around Her The three-time Pulitzer prize-winner compares Iran to a parasitoid wasp that lays its eggs in caterpillars. He says that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps is like the wasp, and the caterpillars are Lebanons Hezbollah, the Iraqi Shiite militias, and Yemens Helpers of God (Houthis). How does this language add to understanding? If he is saying that Iran has fostered Shiite militias in nearby countries on the model of its Revolutionary Guards, this is true. But why would Lebanese be interested in Iranian training, weapons and monetary support? In 1947-1948 Zionist militias ethnically cleansed over half of Palestinians, expelling them from their homes and farms and forcing some of them to Lebanon, where they dwelled in camps. As a liberal Zionist, I presume that Friedman applauds this ethnic cleansing, though the liberal part of the equation makes him sympathetic to Palestinians getting a state on 22% of the land of the British Mandate of Palestine, all of which was promised to the Palestinians by the British White Paper of 1939. By the 1970s some of the younger generation were radicalized and formed armed bands to strike across the border into Israel. Many lived in south Lebanon among the Shiite population there. In 1982, Israel invaded Lebanon, ostensibly to deal with the Palestinian attacks but actually to reshape Lebanese politics and install a far right wing Christian puppet government. The 1982 invasion left about 50,000 Lebanese and Palestinian civilians dead. Then the Israelis occupied about 10% of Lebanese soil for 18 years, subjecting the southern, largely Shiite population to their military rule in alliance with an artificially created Christian militia. Some Shiites, determined to resist the latest Israeli land-grab, formed Hezbollah in 1984 and began a long struggle to get the Israelis back out of their country. By 2000, they had succeeded. No one in Lebanon, however, trusted the Israelis to cease attempting to dominate Lebanon, and so the rest of the Lebanese appointed Hezbollah as the border guards of the south. Israel created Hezbollah by its occupation of Lebanon and its attempt to control it. So Iranian influence in southern Lebanon is not a natural phenomenon of injecting eggs. It is a political alliance by the poor and the weak seeking a patron to help protect them from a serial predator. If the Israelis had permitted a Palestinian state to emerge in the West Bank and Gaza, the Palestinians in Lebanon would have moved there. They told me so enthusiastically when I interviewed them in 2008. Then the whole history of Israel interventions in Lebanon would have been obviated and perhaps Hezbollah would never have been formed. Likewise, several of the Iraqi Shiite militias were formed in response to the US occupation of that country for which Friedman was among the foremost cheerleaders. When the US occupation led to the formation of ISIL (ISIS, Daesh), the Shiite militias were the only force that could take it on in 2014-2015, and the US gave them air support at Amerli and Tikrit. Had Bush, with Friedman cheering him on, not invaded Iraq, any Shiite militias in that country would be small and covert, as they were in the 1990s. Then the Houthis in Yemen are rural Zaydi Shiites who reacted against Saudi dominance of their country and their region. The Saudis were trying to convert them to Wahhabism and were buying the Yemeni government to allow them to extend their influence. The Zaydis minded, and some in the north rebelled. Mr. Friedman told us that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who bombed Yemen for seven years, further radicalizing the Houthis and driving them into Irans arms, is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Then he compared Hamas to a trap-door spider because it took hostages. But we all know how the Palestinians in Gaza turned to Hamas and in what conditions the Israelis have kept the Palestinians of Gaza virtually as prisoners in a concentration camp. 70% of the families in Gaza are refugees from southern Israel, from which the Zionists expelled them. So the biggest problem with Friedmans glib column isnt even its racism. It is the illusion of explanation created by the use of insects as metaphors for human beings. By sidestepping imperialism, settler colonialism, and capitalist exploitation, by ignoring social class and history, Friedman can skate away with his facile sociobiology, having elucidated nothing, having understood nothing . . . and having sidestepped the ways in which his own commitments, to liberal Zionism, exploitative forms of leveling capitalism, and to American imperialism in places like Iraq, created the mess he now dismisses as a nature documentary. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 5, 2024) - Atomic Minerals Corporation (TSXV: ATOM) ("ATOMIC MINERALS" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has signed an LOI on February 2, 2024, with an arm's length vendor to acquire an extensive uranium land package, consisting of 9 properties totaling just under 6,500 hectares, within and very close proximity to the Athabasca Basin in Northern Saskatchewan. Two of the projects lie proximally or close to known deposits and a third hosts a 1957 historic resource. Highlights from the property package include: Bleasdell Lake - host to a 1957 historic resource of 620,700 pounds of U 3 O 8 contained within two zones. Parks Lake - 3 km to SE of historic Rabbit Lake Mine and 2 km to 4km E to NE of Uranium Energy Corp.'s Horseshoe and Raven deposits. Pistol Lake - completely surrounded by Cameco and 600 metres north of their Sand Lake deposit. The 1957 Bleasdell Lake historic resource was disclosed in a Shareholder Report for Columbia Metals Exploration Co. Ltd. dated November 9, 1957. There is no technical report. The historic resource is relevant to the potential of the Bleasdell Lake property and is reliable as it was calculated to the standards of the day. The estimate was based on closely spaced shallow drill holes and more widely spaced deeper drill holes. The calculations, methods or parameters were not disclosed in the Shareholder Report. The resource would be comparable to a current inferred resource. There are no more recent estimates though subsequent geologists visited the property in the 1960's and 1970's, confirming the showings and the drilling was completed. The Company will need to twin a significant number of the historic drill holes to upgrade or verify the historical estimate as current mineral resources. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. Therefore, Atomic Minerals is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. "With this Saskatchewan acquisition, Atomic Minerals now holds significant land positions in the two largest producing North American uranium districts, the Athabasca Basin and the Colorado Plateau," commented Atomic Minerals CEO Clive Massey. "While the Bleasdell Lake historic resource may turn out to be the jewel, both Parks Lake and Pistol Lake hold significant exploration potential given Pistol Lake is mere meters away from Cameco's 5,000,000 pound *Sand Lake discovery," he continued. "Our technical team is currently reviewing the data rooms for the various projects with the objective of generating drill targets for near term diamond drilling," he concluded. *Source for Sand Lake Resource is Saskatchewan Mineral Mineral Deposit Index: https://applications.saskatchewan.ca/Apps/ECON_Apps/dbsearch/MinDepositQuery/default.aspx?ID=2144 Figure 1. The Saskatchewan Project Locations Table 1. The Saskatchewan Project Tenures Title Number Claim Name Effective Date Good To Date Area (ha) MC00017797 Carswell 10/26/2023 1/24/2026 556.60 MC00017923 Baby Loon 11/21/2023 2/19/2026 859.67 MC00017924 Astleford 11/21/2023 2/19/2026 579.14 MC00017989 Tuma 12/4/2023 3/4/2026 705.48 MC00018301 Archie 1/11/2024 4/11/2026 263.55 MC00018463 Big Sardine 1/17/2024 4/17/2026 2760.27 MC00018466 Horn 1/17/2024 4/17/2026 515.93 S-111700 Pistol 11/25/2010 2/22/2024 225.00 S-112000 Parks 12/3/2010 3/1/2024 33.00 Total nine tenures 6498.65 Terms of the Acquisition The Company purchased the 9-property package from an arm's length vendor in exchange for the following: A payment of $100,000 within five days of TSX Venture Exchange approval Issuance of 6 million shares of the Company within five days of TSX Venture Exchange approval A second payment of $100,000 on the 6-month anniversary of TSX Venture Exchange approval There is no Net Smelter Return Royalty associated with any of the 9 properties. A brief summary of each of the 9 properties is as follows: Bleasdell Lake lies to the east of the Athabasca Basin, 95 kilometres southwest of Lynn Lake, Manitoba. Exploration in the late 1950's discovered two uranium bearing pegmatite dykes on the west shore of Bleasdell Lake. The 400 metre Horn Zone hosted zones of 90 metres of 0.12% U3O8 over 2.56 metres and 0.062% U 3 O 8 over 1.21 metres, while drill width intersections over the entire 400 metre ranged from 0.091% U 3 O 8 over 1.86 metres to 0.2025% U 3 O 8 over 2.99 metres. There is little information on the Jackpine Zone located 450 metres along strike to the northwest. The sampling, trenching and diamond drilling defined a 1957 historic resource of 620,700 pounds of U 3 O 8 contained within two zones. The 1957 Bleasdell Lake historic resource was disclosed in a Shareholder Report for Columbia Metals Exploration Co. Ltd. dated November 9, 1957. There is no techncial report. The historic resource is relevant to the potential of the Bleasdell Lake property and is reliable as it was calculated to the standards of the day. The estimate was based on closely spaced shallow drill holes and more widely spaced deeper drill holes. The calculations, methods or parameters were not disclosed in the Shareholder Report. The resource would be comparable to a current inferred resource. There are no more recent estimates though subsequent geologists visited the property in the 1960's and 1970's, confirming the showings and the drilling was completed. The Company will need to twin a significant number of the historic drill holes to upgrade or verify the historical estimate as current mineral resources. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. Therefore, Atomic Minerals is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. Figure 2. Bleasdell Lake Project Parks Lake lies in a highly prospective area on the eastern side of the Athabasca Basin, 3 km to SE of historic Rabbit Lake Mine and 2 km to 4km E to NE of Uranium Energy Corp.'s Horseshoe and Raven deposits. Parks Lake is completely surrounded by majors, with Uranium Energy bordering to the west and south and Cameco bordering to the east and north. Conductors appear to trend from Uranium Energy's land onto the Parks Lake property, suggesting a high priority target. Figure 3. Parks Lake Project Pistol Lake also lies in a highly prospective area on the eastern side of the Athabasca Basin and is completely surrounded by Cameco. The Cameco Sand Lake Uranium Deposit lies 600 metres from the southern claim boundary. Recent drilling has been undertaken on most of the nearby claims according to the property vendor, suggesting conductors that appear to trend onto the Pistol Lake property are high priority targets. Figure 4. Pistol Lake Project Carswell Lake lies in the Cluff Meteorie Crater approximately 15 kilometres to the north of the Cluff Lake Mine. Carswell Lake hosts an historic showing and three historic drill holes and is completed surrounded by Uranium Energy Corp. Four historic showings have been documented in the provincial mineral inventory database. Two other clams lie in the same area as Carswell Lake. Tuma Lake covers an aeromagnetic anomaly approximately 10 kilometres to the northeast of Carswell Lake. Big Sardine is contiguous to Tuma Lake and lies along a significant fault system. Baby Loon Lake lies to the south of the eastern side of the Athabasca Basin and covers two historic uranium showings near the Needle Falls Shear Zone. Astleford Lake is contiguous to the south and covers the potential strike extension of the zone. Archie Lake lies contiguous to north, east and west to NexGen Energy, in the southwest edge of the Athabasca Basin. The assessment records need to be reviewed for conductors within the property, prior to the initiation of 2024 exploration. Atomic Minerals is committed to responsibly advancing these projects with a focused exploration strategy aimed at uncovering the full potential of these assets. The Company's dedication to sustainable practices, community engagement, and ethical exploration will drive the development of these projects, reinforcing Atomic Minerals' position as a leader in the uranium exploration sector. The data disclosed in this news release are related to historical exploration and drilling results. Atomic has not undertaken any independent investigation of the sampling, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the historical exploration work in order to verify the results. Atomic considers these historical exploration and drill results relevant as the company is using these data as a guide to plan exploration programs. The Company's current and future exploration work includes verification of the historical data through sampling and drilling. Qualified Person Mr. R. Tim Henneberry, P.Geo. (BC), an advisor to the Company, is the "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and is responsible for the technical contents of this news release and has approved the disclosure of the technical information contained herein. About the Company Atomic Minerals Corp. is a publicly listed exploration company on the TSX Venture Exchange, trading under the symbol ATOM, led by a highly skilled management and technical team with a proven track record in the junior mining sector. Atomic Minerals' objective is to identify exploration opportunities in regions that have been previously overlooked but are geologically similar to those with previous uranium discoveries. These underexplored areas hold immense potential and are in stable geopolitical and economic environments. Atomic Minerals' property portfolio contains uranium projects in three locations within North America, all of which have significant technical merit and or are known for hosting uranium production in the past. Three of the properties are located on the Colorado Plateau, an area which has previously produced 597 million pounds of U3O8; Three others are in the prolific Athabasca Basin region and nine uranium projects are located Northern Saskatchewan, encompassing a total exploration area of 6,495 hectares. For additional information about the Company and its projects, please visit our website at www.atomicminerals.ca. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS "Clive Massey" Clive H. Massey President & CEO For further information, please contact: Dave Langlais (778) 316-5105 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor their Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking" statements. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although Atomic Minerals Corporation believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Atomic Minerals Corporation management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Atomic Minerals Corporation undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. HALIFAX, NS, Feb. 5, 2024 /CNW/ - Fortune Bay Corp. (TSXV: FOR) (FWB: 5QN) (OTCQB: FTBYF) ("Fortune Bay" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Aspen Uranium Project ("Aspen" or the "Project"). The Project is located within the north-central margin of the Athabasca Basin, proximal to the Company's recently announced Spruce Uranium Project and Pine Uranium Project. Aspen Uranium Project Highlights: Large-scale land package covering 9,869 hectares located in proximity to the northern rim of the Athabasca Basin (Figure 1). Includes extensive anomalous uranium results from historical surface sampling, including; The highest regional lake sediment uranium anomaly in Saskatchewan of 989 ppm U, within the Geological Survey of Canada data compilation. Historical exploration samples collected during the late 1970's identified extensive lake sediment anomalies within the Property, with values averaging 302 ppm U from 439 samples collected, including seven samples with values exceeding 1,000 ppm U (maximum 1,870 ppm U). Historical muskeg samples within the Property averaged 2,007 ppm U from 24 samples collected, including a maximum value of 10,400 ppm U. Historical surface prospecting, limited to areas of outcrop, failed to identify a bedrock source of this uranium anomalism and no drilling has been completed on the Project to date despite compelling support for the possible presence of a uranium deposit/s within the Project area. The application of modern exploration methods, including high-resolution airborne electromagnetic ("EM") survey, presents an opportunity for discovery in an area where overburden and small lakes cover prospective graphitic lithologies (softer) and structural corridors. "The surface endowment of uranium across the Aspen Project is extraordinary with values in surface sample media equivalent to, or greater than, uranium ore grades elsewhere in the world. We are excited to apply our team's extensive uranium skill set, together with a modern, systematic exploration approach to unravel the nature, extent and cause of this exceptionally high anomalism with the potential to deliver a near-surface uranium discovery." commented Dale Verran, CEO for Fortune Bay. Mr. Verran further added, "The acquisition of the Aspen Project reflects our continued efforts since 2021 to seek-out, and acquire, highly prospective uranium projects in the world's premier district for high-grade uranium. Adding a fifth project to our growing uranium portfolio provides the Company with additional discovery opportunity and the potential to create value for our stakeholders." The Aspen Uranium Project The Project comprises seven mineral claims covering an area of 9,869 hectares, located approximately 30 kilometres north of the Athabasca Basin, and approximately 35 kilometres northwest of the town of Stony Rapids. The Company's Pine and Spruce Uranium Projects are located approximately 10 kilometres and 25 kilometres to the southwest, respectively. The three newly acquired projects cover approximately 35,000 hectares including 25 kilometres of strike length along the Grease River Shear Zone ("GRSZ"), a major underexplored structural corridor with potential for Athabasca-style basement-hosted deposits. The Aspen claims were acquired through staking, apart from a single claim of 595 hectares that was acquired from a third-party, arms-length vendor for a small cash payment and a 2% Net Smelter Returns ("NSR") royalty. One-half of the NSR royalty can be purchased from the vendor at any time for C$500,000. Historical Exploration and Uranium Endowment This section provides a summary of relevant results from historical exploration. The reader is referred to the Technical Disclosure section at the end of this news release for appropriate cautionary language and details on the sources of this information. During the late 1970's historical operators undertook surface sampling campaigns and airborne geophysical survey as follow-up to an initial, highly anomalous, regional lake sediment result of 989 ppm U in Perron Lake. Surface sampling and follow up of radiometric anomalism included lake sediment sampling, muskeg sampling, and rock chip sampling. A statistical summary of the surface sampling results (as compiled from historical assessment reporting) is provided in Table 1, and sample locations and results are shown in Figure 1. These surface sampling campaigns identified exceptionally high uranium anomalism within organic-rich sample media (lake sediments and muskeg). Table 1: Statistical Summary of Historical Surface Sampling Results. Lake Sediment Samples Muskeg Samples Rock Chip Samples Number of Samples 439 24 291 Average (U ppm) 302 2,007 7 Max (U ppm) 1,870 10,400 140 Min (U ppm) 1 345 0 Standard Deviation (U ppm) 238 2,225 10 More detailed investigation of the lake sediment anomalies was conducted at Perron Lake during the late 1970's, where the initial regional sample yielding 989 ppm U was collected. Perron Lake is located in the south-central area of the Project and has a surface area of approximately 122 hectares. Work included the collection of 53 lake sediment samples on a rough grid that yielded an average of 533 ppm U (maximum 1,870 U ppm, minimum 19 ppm U), as shown in Figure 1. In addition, three pipe core holes were completed within Perron Lake, with an additional hole completed within a smaller neighbouring lake to the west. The objectives of the pipe core holes were to investigate the nature of the lake sediment profile and to define the distribution of uranium, and other uranium pathfinder elements (copper and nickel). Overall, this coring revealed a lake sediment profile consisting of upper organic material transitioning to lower clay-rich sediments. In three of the four holes completed the uranium contents increased with depth (up to a maximum concentration of 900 ppm U). These anomalies remain open at depth, as shown in Figure 2, potentially indicating bedrock sources beneath the lakes. Rock chip sampling, restricted to available outcrop, was completed along select traverses and near lakes with uranium sediment anomalies to identify potential bedrock sources. While one encouraging value of 140 ppm U was received, the remainder of the values were relatively low with an overall average of 7 ppm U (Table 1). These values are within the typical ranges of average abundances within granitic rocks of 3 to 5 ppm U (Levinson, 1974). Unable to locate a bedrock source (i.e. a uranium deposit) from surface prospecting, historical operators postulated that the uranium anomalism in lake sediments could derive from leaching of uranium from a regional background of rocks with above average concentrations in uranium, however no such rocks were discovered within the catchment areas of the anomalous lakes. More recent exploration work was completed by historical operators between 2007 and 2015. Work comprised airborne geophysical surveying, including radiometrics, magnetics and electromagnetics (XDS-VLF-EM). These surveys identified numerous radioactively elevated (uranium) zones, significant structural lineaments, and shallow conductive features possibly representing faults and/or graphitic units. Very limited follow-up field work was completed, including reconnaissance rock chip sampling (total of 15 samples) and localized scintillometer prospecting. Results were highlighted by a rock chip sample of sheared granitic outcrop containing 1,870 ppm U collected along a northwesterly trending fault/pegmatite zone, which extends beneath Perron Lake. The remainder of the rock chip samples uranium values were typically low and broadly consistent with samples collected during the late 1970's, again failing to locate a source for the exceptionally high uranium anomalism. Geology The Project is located approximately 30 kilometres north of the present-day margin of the Athabasca Basin sandstones. Basement geology comprises Precambrian pelitic schists and gneiss that have been intruded by post-tectonic granites, granodiorites and pegmatitic granites. Outcrop exposure is common, but significant areas are covered by thin glacial deposits, muskeg/swamps or small lakes. Historical prospecting work during the late 1970's identified graphite-rich lithological units, which are typically soft and weather preferentially, occurring in valleys with surficial cover. These graphite-rich units would therefore not have been properly mapped/prospected and would form prime exploration targets for Athabasca Basin-style, high-grade, basement-hosted uranium in accordance with more recent exploration models. At the southern extent of the Project, six kilometres of prospective strike length is present along the Grease River Shear Zone ("GRSZ"), a crustal-scale structural corridor, including major structural splays that trend northeastward through the Project area for up to 10 kilometres. Numerous other prospective structural zones have been identified throughout the Project area, trending northeast and northwest, all of which could provide suitable settings for Athabasca Basin-style basement-hosted mineralization or Rossing-style mineralization. Prospective structural zones typically manifest as low-lying areas (negatively weathered) and are covered by glacial deposits, muskeg/swamps or small lakes, thus masking potential mineralization from historical radiometric survey and surface prospecting. Next Steps The source of the exceptionally high uranium anomalism in lake sediments and muskeg remains unresolved and a modern, systematic exploration approach is warranted to develop targets for ground follow-up and drill testing. Next steps are planned to include: Desk-top Prioritization of Target Areas: Detailed integrated interpretation of existing historical datasets, regional government data, and satellite imagery to delineate potential target areas, including the identification of favorable lithological and structural settings for Athabasca Basin-style basement-hosted mineralization or Rossing-style mineralization. Detailed integrated interpretation of existing historical datasets, regional government data, and satellite imagery to delineate potential target areas, including the identification of favorable lithological and structural settings for Basin-style basement-hosted mineralization or Rossing-style mineralization. Field Data Verification and Investigation: Verification of historical datasets is planned, to include ground-truthing of uranium anomalies. Scope of work to include scintillometer surveying and geochemical sampling. Verification of historical datasets is planned, to include ground-truthing of uranium anomalies. Scope of work to include scintillometer surveying and geochemical sampling. Drill Target Definition: Drill targets are expected to be defined through high-resolution airborne EM surveying (e.g. VTEMTM), followed by geological mapping and systematic ground geochemical and geophysical survey, as applicable. Similar to other recently announced uranium projects, Fortune Bay may seek to find a suitable partner to advance the Project through an earn-in, or similar agreement, that provides Fortune Bay with upside in future discovery. Technical Disclosure The historical results contained within this news release have not been verified and there is a risk that any future confirmation work and exploration may produce results that substantially differ from the historical results. These results have been captured from Saskatchewan Mineral Assessment Database ("SMAD") reporting as available and may be incomplete or subject to minor location inaccuracies. The Company considers these historical results relevant to assess the mineralization and economic potential of the property. Details on the sources of information contained within this News Release: Work completed during the late 1970's was undertaken by the Saskatchewan Mining Development Corp. (SMAD reference 74O07-0032) and by Uranerz Exploration and Mining Limited (SMAD references 74O09-0003, 74O09-0004, 74O09-0019 and 74O09-0020). Work completed between 2007 and 2015 was undertaken by CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (SMAD references 74O09-0023,74O09-0024, 74O08-0076) and by Fission 3.0 Corp. (SMAD reference MAW01857). Regional lake sediment data is derived from the Geological Survey of Canada ("GSC") digital compilation dataset, published 20 November, 2019 and most recently modified 9 November, 2023 , available at the following link: https://open.canada.ca/data/dataset/0199fc8a-75bc-16cc-189d-4d88af556030 , which contains information licensed under the Government of Saskatchewan Standard Unrestricted Use Data Licence (Version 2.0). ("GSC") digital compilation dataset, published and most recently modified , available at the following link: , which contains information licensed under the Government of Saskatchewan Standard Unrestricted Use Data Licence (Version 2.0). Levinson A.A. (1974), Introduction to Exploration Geochemistry. ISBN 10: 0915834014 / ISBN 13: 9780915834013. Published by Applied Publishing Ltd., Wilmette. Qualified Person The technical and scientific information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Gareth Garlick, P.Geo., Technical Director of the Company, who is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Garlick is an employee of Fortune Bay and is not independent of the Company under NI 43-101. About Fortune Bay Corp. Fortune Bay Corp. (TSXV:FOR, FWB:5QN, OTCQB:FTBYF) is an exploration and development company with 100% ownership in two advanced gold exploration projects in Canada, Saskatchewan (Goldfields Project) and Mexico, Chiapas (Ixhuatan Project), both with exploration and development potential. The Company is also advancing the Strike, Murmac, Spruce and Pine uranium exploration projects, in northern Saskatchewan, which have high-grade potential typical of the Athabasca Basin. The Company has a goal of building a mid-tier exploration and development Company through the advancement of its existing projects and the strategic acquisition of new projects to create a pipeline of growth opportunities. The Company's corporate strategy is driven by a Board and Management team with a proven track record of discovery, project development and value creation. Further information on Fortune Bay and its assets can be found on the Company's website at www.fortunebaycorp.com or by contacting us as This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephone at 902-334-1919. On behalf of Fortune Bay Corp. "Dale Verran" Chief Executive Officer Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions, and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Words such as "expects", "aims", "anticipates", "targets", "goals", "projects", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", "continues", "may", variations of such words, and similar expressions and references to future periods, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Company's objectives, goals, intentions or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to failure to identify targets or mineralization, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, inability to fulfill the duty to accommodate First Nations and other indigenous peoples, inability to reach access agreements with other Project communities, amendments to applicable mining laws, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing or partnerships needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR+. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. For more information on Fortune Bay, readers should refer to Fortune Bay's website at www.fortunebaycorp.com. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Exploration Drill Hole HHD-007 Intersects 348 Meters Containing 0.43 g/t Gold, 40.48 g/t Silver, 0.22% Lead, and 0.12% Zinc, from 141 to 489 Meters High-Grade Vein Within HHD-007 Returns One Meter Containing 2,180 g/t Silver, 5.16 g/t Gold, 6.00% Lead, 6.14% Zinc and 0.63% Copper from 147.8 to 148.8 Meters Results of Ongoing Exploration Drilling Provide Further Evidence for the Existence of a Porphyry Deposit Hog Heaven Drill Program has Completed 10,905 Meters in 12 Drill Holes Since June 2023 PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / Ivanhoe Electric Inc. ("Ivanhoe Electric") (NYSE American:IE)(TSX:IE) Executive Chairman, Robert Friedland and President and Chief Executive Officer, Taylor Melvin are pleased to report recent drill results from the ongoing exploration program at the Hog Heaven Project located on private land approximately 50 miles southwest of Kalispell, Montana. Mr. Melvin commented: "We are encouraged by the recent drill results at our Hog Heaven Project in Montana. Our team continues to find widespread mineralization, which appears to remain open in several directions. We believe the data obtained from recent drilling provides evidence of a nearby porphyry source. Additionally, we recently completed a TyphoonTM geophysical survey over parts of the district. The results of the survey, which we will receive in late February, will assist our team in targeting future exploration efforts." Hog Heaven exploration drilling continues to intersect broad zones of precious and base metal mineralization The Hog Heaven district consists of several high-sulfidation epithermal mineral deposits and prospects, as well as several historical mines, including the Flathead Mine. The ongoing drill program, which began in June 2023, is designed to search for additional silver, gold, and copper-rich high-sulfidation epithermal mineralization, which was the focus of historical mining activities. Our program is also intended to search for porphyry copper mineralization at depth. Ivanhoe Electric's current exploration drill program at Hog Heaven, as first reported in our October 2023 news release, has now completed twelve drill holes totaling 10,905 meters. Exploration drilling has stepped out to the west and southwest, where mineralization remains open. One diamond drill rig is currently on site and will operate through the winter as weather permits. Assays have been received for nine holes, with assays pending for three holes in addition to HHD-013, which is currently being drilled. In November 2023, we conducted a TyphoonTM geophysical survey covering approximately 10 km2 of land, which was designed to cover the core areas of known prospectivity. We will receive our TyphoonTM survey results in February. Figure 1. Hog Heaven plan map showing Ivanhoe Electric drill hole locations, historical mine workings, and historical drilling. Drilling results to date expand high-sulfidation mineralization and provide evidence to support the existence of a porphyry deposit Ivanhoe Electric's drilling around the Flathead Mine has intersected precious and base metal-bearing high-sulfidation epithermal mineralization over broad zones, generally as intersected in HHD-005, through to HHD-009 (see assay results in Table 1). These results are punctuated by narrow veins and massive sulfides, often with exceptional silver and gold grades, including in hole HHD-007, which returned a one-meter vein containing 2,180 g/t silver and 5.16 g/t gold. High-sulfidation mineralization is generally strongest along the permeable margin of a diatreme pipe that cuts the belt supergroup sediments but is also influenced by latite porphyry intrusions. Our drilling efforts continue to intersect the geological features commonly associated with porphyry deposits. In addition to observations previously reported in drill holes HHD-003 and HHD-004 (see October 2023 news release), recent drill hole HHD-010 (assays pending), completed in early December 2023, intersected an intrusive with numerous fragments of various compositions containing porphyry vein stockwork. At shallower levels, the intrusion itself is altered and mineralized by the high-sulfidation assemblage as seen at the Flathead Mine, but at depth the alteration gives way to higher temperature white micas, providing an important vector towards higher temperature, potentially copper-rich mineralization below or laterally. Below are examples of fragments of stockwork quartz veining cutting a variety of rock types, which have been entrained in a high-temperature white mica-altered late intrusion in drill hole HHD-010. Figure 2. Thick slice cross section showing mineralization, geology, historical drilling, historical workings, and Ivanhoe Electric drill hole locations. Figure 3. Drill section through HHD-006 showing downhole assay results for key metals, historical workings, drilling, and geology. HHD-006 was drilled approximately perpendicular to the margin of the diatreme pipe, which is a key control on mineralization. Figure 4. Drill section through HHD-007 showing downhole assay results for key metals, historical workings, drilling, and geology. HHD-007 was drilled from the same pad as HHD-005, but along a more westerly orientation, to test whether HHD-005 narrowly missed a feeder zone. Figure 5. Drill section through HHD-009 showing downhole assay results for key metals, historical workings, drilling, and geology. HHD-009 was collared as a step back from HHD-005 and HHD-007 to test from west to east and cut the contacts of latite porphyry intrusions, which generally run north-south and help localize mineralization. Table 1. Recent drill hole intercepts for the Hog Heaven Project (refer to Hog Heaven Drill Results on Ivanhoe Electric's website for complete details of all reported drill holes.) DRILL HOLE FROM (M) TO (M) INTERVAL LENGTH (M) AuEq* (g/t) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Cu (%) Pb (%) Zn (%) HHD-006 490.00 521.00 31.00 1.14 0.25 17.27 0.02 0.86 0.66 And 591.40 614.00 22.60 1.03 0.26 23.48 0.30 0.04 0.01 Including 593.00 595.90 2.90 5.35 0.78 125.17 1.75 0.70 0.30 HHD-007 141.00 489.00 348.00 1.08 0.43 40.48 0.08 0.22 0.12 Including 147.80 148.80 1.00 36.94 5.16 2180.00 0.63 6.00 6.14 And 512.00 579.00 67.00 0.49 0.26 6.46 0.09 0.15 0.03 And 669.00 695.00 26.00 1.35 0.23 17.02 0.51 0.07 0.02 HHD-008 406.00 478.00 72.00 1.02 0.32 30.62 0.12 0.20 0.23 And 543.00 634.10 91.10 0.59 0.22 14.73 0.11 0.11 0.06 And 654.00 678.00 24.00 0.91 0.19 49.89 0.09 0.02 0.01 HHD-009 322.00 396.00 58.00 0.72 0.11 16.04 0.03 0.32 0.49 And 410.00 555.00 145.00 0.91 0.26 27.47 0.20 0.07 0.01 Including 437.05 438.00 0.95 24.96 5.39 524.00 7.99 0.15 0.05 *The following long term metal prices were used: 3.80$/lb Cu, 1,707$/oz Au, 22.42$/oz Ag, 0.93$/lb Pb, and 1.19$/lb Zn. *The specific formula used to report AuEq(g/t) is Au(g/t)*(0.65) + ((1.87875425724906) * Cu (%)) ((0.0121238339867514) * Ag(g/t)) + ((0.431062860010269) * Pb (%)) + ((0.551575057432494) * Zn (%)) *Recoveries are informed by historical preliminary metallurgical flotation tests and are considered conservative: 80% Cu; 65% Au; 60% Ag; 75% Pb, 75% Zn. *Intervals were derived on a AuEq basis with a cutoff of 0.25g/t AuEq* Maximum internal dilution of 5m was applied. High-grade silver assays were capped at 2000ppm Ag for the purposes of inclusion into broader intercepts. Only intervals exhibiting linear grade lengths of greater than 20 meter*grams-per-tonne are reported herein. *These are not true widths, and the system is interpreted to be plunging sub-parallel to the trace of the drill holes HHD-005 and HHD-007. Ivanhoe Electric is earning into a 75% interest in the Hog Heaven Project Ivanhoe Electric and Brixton Metals Corporation ("Brixton") entered into an earn-in agreement in 2021 covering an area of approximately 24 km2 of the Hog Heaven Project. Under the earn-in agreement, Ivanhoe Electric may earn up to a 75% interest in the Brixton land constituting the Hog Heaven Project by making cash payments totaling $4.5 million and incurring an aggregate of $40 million in exploration expenditures by 2032. Ivanhoe Electric will earn an initial 51% interest by making a total of $4.5 million in cash payments and incurring $15 million in exploration expenditures. Geologist Emalyn Glastetter (left) and Project Manager Wes Hall (right) logging core at the Hog Heaven Project, Montana Qualified Persons Disclosures of a scientific or technical nature included in this news release, including the sampling, analytical and technical data underlying the information, have been reviewed, verified and approved by Shawn Vandekerkhove, P.Geo, who is a Qualified Person as defined by Regulation S-K, Subpart 1300 promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and by Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Vandekerkhove is an employee of Ivanhoe Electric. Other Technical Information Ivanhoe Electric employs industry standard QA/QC and data verification protocols. The diamond drill holes were completed using PQ and HQ diameters. The drill core was cut lengthwise into halves using a diamond-bladed saw, with one-half used for the assay sample and the other half retained in core boxes and archived at site. Pulps and rejects are also stored on site for archival purposes. Mineralized zones were generally sampled on 2m intervals. Each core sample was placed into a bag with a unique numbered sample identification tag. Quality control samples were inserted between core samples using the same numbering sequence. Then samples were grouped into batches for shipping and laboratory submissions. Chain of custody records are maintained for sample shipments and the custody is transferred from Ivanhoe Electric expeditor to the laboratory upon delivery. Samples were shipped to ALS Laboratories in Twin Falls, Idaho, for sample preparation and analysis. Samples were analyzed using customary four acid digestion and ICP-MS finish. A standard gold fire assay package was used to analyze for gold. Silver content was assessed using either HCl leach and ICP-AES finish or fire assay with gravimetric finish depending on silver concentrations. ALS Minerals Twin Falls is an independent laboratory certified under ISO 9001:2008 and accredited under ISO/IEC 17025:2005 by the Standards Council of Canada. About Ivanhoe Electric We are a U.S. company that combines advanced mineral exploration technologies with electric metals exploration projects predominantly located in the United States. We use our accurate and powerful TyphoonTM geophysical surveying system, together with advanced data analytics provided by our subsidiary, Computational Geosciences Inc., to accelerate and de-risk the mineral exploration process as we seek to discover new deposits of critical metals that may otherwise be undetectable by traditional exploration technologies. We believe the United States is significantly underexplored and has the potential to yield major new discoveries of critical metals. Our mineral exploration efforts focus on copper as well as other metals including nickel, vanadium, cobalt, platinum group elements, gold and silver. Through the advancement of our portfolio of electric metals exploration projects, headlined by the Santa Cruz Copper Project in Arizona and the Tintic Copper-Gold Project in Utah, as well as other exploration projects in the United States, we intend to support United States supply chain independence by finding and delivering the critical metals necessary for the electrification of the economy. We also operate a 50/50 joint venture with Saudi Arabian Mining Company Ma'aden to explore for minerals on ~48,500 km2 of underexplored Arabian Shield in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Website: www.ivanhoeelectric.com. Contact Information Investors: Valerie Kimball, Director, Investor Relations 720-933-1150 Follow us on Twitter Ivanhoe Electric's Executive Chairman Robert Friedland: @robert_ivanhoe Ivanhoe Electric: @ivanhoeelectric Ivanhoe Electric's investor relations website located at www.ivanhoeelectric.com should be considered Ivanhoe Electric's recognized distribution channel for purposes of the Securities and Exchange Commission's Regulation FD. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable US and Canadian securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Ivanhoe Electric, its projects, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "expect", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "forecast", "predict" and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the Ivanhoe Electric's current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this news release. Such statements in this news release include, without limitation, timing and results of drilling activities, the receipt of assay results, the potential existence of a porphyry deposit at the Hog Heaven Project, the potential to find additional mineralization, the number of drill rigs operating at the project, and other planned or potential developments in the businesses of Ivanhoe Electric. Forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management. Such statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to various factors, including changes in the prices of copper or other metals Ivanhoe Electric is exploring for; the results of exploration and drilling activities and/or the failure of exploration programs or studies to deliver anticipated results or results that would justify and support continued exploration, studies, development or operations; the final assessment of exploration results and information that is preliminary; the significant risk and hazards associated with any future mining operations, extensive regulation by the US government as well as local governments; changes in laws, rules or regulations, or their enforcement by applicable authorities; the failure of parties to contracts with Ivanhoe Electric to perform as agreed; and the impact of political, economic and other uncertainties associated with operating in foreign countries, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economy. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements and risk factors described in Ivanhoe Electric's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. No assurance can be given that such future results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Ivanhoe Electric cautions you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Subject to applicable securities laws, Ivanhoe Electric does not assume any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this news release, and Ivanhoe Electric expressly disclaims any requirement to do so. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 5, 2024) - Mink Ventures Corporation (TSXV: MINK) ("MINK" or the "Company") today announced it has commenced an initial 500 meter drill program on the A Zone at its Warren Copper Nickel Project. The Warren property covers 1,010 hectares of land, located in Whitesides Township, approximately 35 km west of Timmins, Ontario. (See Figure 1.) The first phase of drilling will consist of a series of short holes on the A Zone to determine the extent of the mineralization down plunge, down dip and along strike prior to evaluating the other mineralized zones and numerous untested priority geophysical targets. The "A" Zone (See Figure 2) was selected as a high-priority target for drill testing as a result of an extensive geological review of data, a field examination and a confirmation sampling program conducted this summer (2023) by Company geologists. Results from this sampling program on the "A" Zone along with other targets zones on the property are presented in the accompanying Table 1. "We are excited to begin drill testing these underexplored patented mining claims following their recent acquisition in July 2023. With the geology, geophysics, and the extensive surface mineralization observed, we think there is significant opportunity for new discoveries to be made on the patents and across the expanded Warren project, which includes additional staked claims (Warren East) and acquired claims (Warren North). Mink's work commitment to earn a 100% interest in the patents is $300,000. We will make a significant dent in that obligation with this initial drill program which is expected to run for about two weeks. Further, we are grateful that half of the costs of our drill program will be offset with the non-dilutive capital provided through the OJEP grant, which enables us to conduct additional exploration while keeping our share structure intact at 18.8 M shares outstanding," said Natasha Dixon, President & CEO. PROPERTY HIGHLIGHTS: Prospecting, sampling, and a geological evaluation of known mineralized zones A, B, and C was completed in the summer of 2023 in order to locate the most prospective zones of mineralization for drill testing. A total of 20 reference grab samples were taken. Sampling efforts confirmed the presence of extensive zones of mineralization; recent sampling demonstrated excellent copper grades and significant nickel, cobalt and silver grades associated with some of the best copper grades. (See Table 1 and Figure 2.) The sampling efforts confirmed that the highest priority target at this time is the A Zone where approximately 120 meters of the zone is exposed in a series of trenches in outcrop. Excellent copper values ranging from 1.075% to 2.08% were noted in the A Zone trenches. Nickel values from the A Zone ranged from 0.313% to 0.348% Ni. Cobalt values ranged from 0.0389% to 0.0498% Co. Some interesting silver values ranging from 10.3 ppm to 23.8 ppm were also associated with some of the better copper values on the A Zone. To date, the Warren patents host three known zones with copper, nickel, and cobalt mineralization; these have been designated A, B, and C. Two historical bulk samples were completed on the Warren patents; the first bulk sample returned 0.21% Cu, 0.96% Ni, 0.11% Co and 0.10% Zn, and a second bulk sample returned 2.83% Cu, 0.58% Ni, 0.10 Co and 0.13 Zn. The combined A-B zones and the C zone have projected strike lengths of 800 and 1,000 meters of strike length respectively from geophysical data. In the 1950's a resource* calculation of 385,000 tons of 1% Cu + Ni was outlined by Jade Oil & Gas on the Warren patents. Jade Oil and Gas drilled 23 holes to test Zones A and B in the mid 1950's. Highlights include 2.5% Cu+Ni over 7.6 m and 2.8% Cu+Ni over 8.2 meters. *The resource calculation is historical in nature and is not NI43-101 compliant; it is not to be relied upon and is reported as a historical statement only. Note: Certain historical information pertaining to a historical resource estimate, is disclosed in this press release. The methods and parameters used to prepare this estimate and the category of the estimate is unknown. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as current mineral resources or mineral reserves, and the issuer is not treating the historical estimate as current mineral resources or reserves. References: Technical Report for Western Troy Capital Resources on the Warren Property (W. Hawkins P. Eng, 2021) and Maxmin, Magnetometer and VLF Surveys Evaluation Report, Whitesides and Massey Twp. Claims (C. Mackenzie Consulting Geologist, 1990) Despite fairly significant historical work on both the A and B zones in the past, the bulk of the exploration efforts were limited to fairly shallow drilling and/or surface work. Consequently, there is limited understanding of the geometry of these mineralized zones at depth. The first phase of drilling by MINK will consist of a series of short holes on the A Zone to determine the extent of the mineralization down plunge, down dip and along strike prior to evaluating the other mineralized zones and numerous untested priority geophysical targets in a second phase program. Table 1: Assay Sample Table for Warren Mineralized Zones A, B, and C Zone Trench # Cu ppm Cu % Ni ppm Ni % Co ppm Co % Ag ppm B 3 8530 0.853 3010 0.301 379 0.0379 6.6 B 3 13150 1.315 3650 0.365 401 0.0401 5.3 B Pop 1 9200 0.92 838 0.0838 98 0.0098 2.5 B 4 7310 0.731 4390 0.439 264 0.0264 2.7 B 4 3600 0.36 4010 0.401 246 0.0246 1.4 B 5 1290 0.129 1385 0.1385 106 0.0106 0.9 B 6 4650 0.465 3270 0.327 206 0.0206 2.8 C 1 159 0.0159 32 0.0032 8 0.0008 0.4 C 2 191 0.0191 190 0.019 112 0.0112 1 C 8 289 0.0289 61 0.0061 12 0.0012 0.3 Shaft 688 0.0688 994 0.0994 123 0.0123 0.4 A 7 20000 2.00 3130 0.313 448 0.0448 17.6 A 1 12800 1.28 2910 0.291 392 0.0392 10.3 A 1 11300 1.13 2340 0.234 310 0.031 8.7 A 1 1715 0.1715 2830 0.283 389 0.0389 3.2 A 5 6700 0.67 1080 0.108 179 0.0179 2.3 A 7 10750 1.075 3480 0.348 498 0.0498 10.7 A 7 19400 1.94 3280 0.328 458 0.0458 17.8 A 7 20800 2.08 3350 0.335 473 0.0473 23.8 A 7 2770 0.277 961 0.0961 125 0.0125 2.3 Note: The reader is cautioned that samples shown in table 1 above are "select grab samples" and are not necessarily indicative the average grade or extent of the mineralized zones sampled. WARREN PROPERTY GEOLOGICAL DISCUSSION Mink's expanded Warren Project is hosted within the Kamiskotia Gabbro Complex (KGC) and it is thought to be broadly equivalent to the Montcalm Gabbro Complex (MGC) but separated by a granitic arch. The MGC hosts the former Montcalm Mine which produced approximately 3.93 million tonnes grading 1.25% Ni, 0.67% Cu and 0.05% Co (OGS, Atkinson, B., 2010) (See Figure 2). Gabbro complexes such as MGC and KGC are known to be prospective for magmatic nickel copper sulphide deposition as demonstrated by the Montcalm Mine located within the MGC. The Warren property complements Mink's Montcalm property due to the distinctly similar prospective geological environments found in the MGC and the KGC, as well as the presence of significant Cu Ni zones on the Warren Property. As highlighted above, the Warren patents have had a sporadic exploration history since the late 1920's to present day and a number of promising historical mineralized Cu Ni zones were outlined. The majority of the exploration completed to date on the property was completed in an area representing a very minimal portion of the property and completed well over 60 years ago. More recent geophysical surveys from the early 1990's and 2008-2009 outlined a series of untested targets along strike from known mineralization and/or new targets proximal to known mineralization. These targets are particularly evident in the accompanying magnetic and IP compilation map shown in Figure 3. Quality Assurance / Quality Control Program: Field samples were collected by a qualified professional geologist and experienced field assistant. Samples were transported in sealed bags to the ALS Canada Ltd. facility in Timmins for preparation. Pulps were transported to Vancouver, B.C., for 35-element MEICP41 aqua regia inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy analysis, PGM ICP23 analysis for gold-platinum-palladium analysis, Cu OG46 analysis for over 10,000 ppm Cu and NiOG46 analysis for over 10,000 ppm Ni. A single Oreas standard number 681 and a blank sample were submitted by the Company as an external check and numerous quality control samples and duplicates were completed as an internal check by ALS Canada. Qualified Person: Mr. Kevin Filo, P. Geo. (Ontario), is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Filo approved the technical data disclosed in this release. About Mink Ventures Corporation: Mink Ventures Corporation (TSXV: MINK) is a Canadian mineral exploration company exploring for critical minerals (nickel, copper, cobalt) at its Warren and Montcalm projects, in the Timmins, Ontario area. Mink's flagship Montcalm Project, covers 40 km2 adjacent to Glencore's former Montcalm Mine which had historical production of 3.93 million tonnes of ore grading 1.25% Ni, 0.67% Cu and 0.051% Co (Ontario Geological Survey, Atkinson, 2010). Its Warren Ni Cu Co Project is located 35 km away. Both projects have excellent access and infrastructure with an all-weather access road and power as well as its proximity to the skilled labour and facilities of the Timmins Mining Camp. The Company has 18,810,534 shares outstanding. For further information about Mink Ventures Corporation please contact: Natasha Dixon, President & CEO, T: 250-882-5620 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Kevin Filo, Director, T: 705-266-6818 or visit www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain "forward-looking information", including, but not limited to, statements with respect to the Warren Project, the exploration work required to exercise the option, and the prospectivity of the Warren Project and the Montcalm Project. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of MINK to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could affect the outcome include, among others: future prices and the supply of metals; the results of exploration work; inability to raise the money necessary to incur the expenditures required to retain and advance the Warren Project and Montcalm Project; environmental liabilities (known and unknown); general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; political instability, or delays in obtaining governmental and stock exchange approvals. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, refer to MINK's filings with Canadian securities regulators available on SEDAR+. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and MINK disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or ac curacy of this release. Figure 1: Detailed Location Map Figure 2: Trench Location Map Figure 3: Warren Project- Compilation Map Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 5, 2024) - Showcase Minerals Inc. (CSE: SHOW) ("Showcase") is pleased to announce it has identified two promising broad targets that can be investigated with drilling at its Dixie Flats-North Star Project located in Nevada. These targets incorporate geologic information from 53 drillholes, localized geologic mapping, Controlled Source Audio Magnetotelluric (CSAMT) surveys, GTI NuSeis 2D active seismic, gravity surveys with over 828 gravity stations, and surface sampling. The two broad targets are situated along two major geologic structures and the interface of the Webb Mudstone and Devils Gate limestone, which is the primary source of mineralization at Dixie Flats. Historic mineralization at this contact within the project boundary has been favorable. With the combination of new geophysical work and synthesis of historic work, confidence has increased around the location of drill exploration targets. Expected program milestones are expanding known mineralization along trend with Orla Mining Ltd.'s Dark Star Gold Deposit, consistent with the newly identified CSAMT resistivity anomaly, as shown in Figure 1. The drill program will also better define the location of the mineralized ore bearing structures, which can be incorporated into future lithologic and structural models. The CSAMT anomaly splits into a potentially second mineralized bearing cross-cutting structure, and drill targets are planned to expand this zone of potential mineralization laterally along this newly identified local cross-cutting structure, as shown in Figure 2. About the Dixie Flats- North Star Gold Project: The Dixie Flats-North Star Property (the "Property" or "Dixie Flats") is located on the east side of the Pinon Mountains, 21 air-miles south of the City of Elko in northeast Nevada. It is a combination of two claim blocks, the Dixie Flats group of claims and the North Star group of claims. The Property is comprised of a total of 236 total unpatented mineral claims on Federal land administered by the US Bureau of Land Management ("BLM"). The Property lies on the southern margin of the Carlin Trend, a northwest-trending belt of sediment-hosted gold deposits that makes up the greatest geographic concentration of gold deposits in North America, with reported production of more than 92.5 million ounces of gold since 1961 (Muntean, 2019). The Dixie Flats-North Star Property is underlain by rocks known to host gold mineralization on the Carlin Trend, and surface sampling has shown anomalous gold, silver, arsenic, antimony, and mercury levels in rock, soil, and biogeochemical samples from the Property, which is a characteristic geochemical signature of Carlin-Type gold deposits. Dixie -North Star is approximately three miles south of Newmont Mining Company's Emigrant Springs Mine, which finished open pit production in 2018, and approximately 4.5 miles southeast of the past producing Rain Mine. Both of these deposits are hosted in dissolution breccia zones at the contact between the Webb mudstone, the basal unit of the overlying assemblage, and the underlying Devils Gate limestone. Prior exploration on the Dixie -North Star Property has been focused on delineating this contact at depth and discovering possible extensions to the regional structures controlling mineralization at the Rain and Emigrant Mines and their demonstrated extension to the Dixie - North Star Property. The information on the adjacent projects is taken from publicly available sources and is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Dixie Flats - North Star Property. Additional information on the Dixie -North Star Gold Project can be found in the National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report entitled "Technical Report on the Dixie Flats-Northstar Gold Exploration Property", Elko, Nevada, dated September 21, 2022, which has been filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Qualified Person: Mr. Seth Cude, P.G., R.M., M.Sc., C.P.G. is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information in this news release. About Showcase Minerals Inc. Showcase is a Canadian mineral exploration company with an exclusive option to acquire a 100% interest in Dixie Flats-North Star Gold Project and the Woodruff Gold-Vanadium Project (subject to various net smelter returns royalties ranging from 2.25% to 4.25%), which collectively consist of unpatented 254 lode mining claims covering approximately 1,818 hectares located in Elko County, Nevada For further information, please contact: Kirk Reed, President Showcase Minerals Inc. Telephone: 1-800-982-0670 Figure 1: Plan view of NNE-SSW structural corridor on trend with the Dark Star Gold deposit from combined gravity surveys, newly identified CSAMT anomaly and interpreted Emigrant Springs fault. Figure 2: Isometric view of CSAMT anomaly crossing the intersection of the interpreted Emigrant Springs and Friday Faults with historic gold intercepts plotted. Strong agreement between historic gold intercepts and the CSAMT anomaly was observed. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. Vancouver, Canada TheNewswire -- February 5, 2024 Electrum Discovery Corp. ("Electrum" or the "Company") (TSXV:ELY) (FRA:R8N) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. R. Michael Jones, to the Companys Board of Directors. Mr. Jones is an experienced executive and director, with a history of finding, developing, permitting, and adding significant value to mining companies. He has taken multiple large mines, with values of up to $1 billion, from the discovery stages, through to feasibility studies and construction decisions. He is a well-known promoter of mining projects from discovery to construction and production. He is a finance specialist with a successful background in undertaking fundraises, take overs and mergers and acquisitions. A qualified mining engineer, Mr. Jones received his Bachelors Degree in Applied Science, Geological Engineering from the University of Toronto. Mr. Jones is a Fellow of the Geological Society of South Africa, as well as the winner of multiple discovery awards, including the Des Pretorius Medal. Additionally, Mr. Jones was previously appointed by the Minister of Finance to the BC Securities Policy Advisory Committee for the British Columbia Securities Commission. From 1997 to 2000, Mr. Jones was the Vice President Corporate Development for Aber Diamonds, joint venture partner in the $1.3 billion Diavik Diamond Mine. Mr. Jones co-founded the Toronto and Vancouver listed, West Timmins Mining (WTM) and the Toronto and New York listed, MAG Silver (MAG), where he served as a Director. He was part of the team that completed discovery, joint venture (JV), and takeover work for both companies. WTM went on to successfully finalise a $440 million takeover, and MAG is now valued at over $1.0 billion. From 2000 to 2021, Mr. Jones was, co-founder, CEO and Director at Platinum Group Metals Ltd. Along with a team he assembled, the company discovered 19 million ounces of platinum group metals, drilled a 250 million tonne deposit, completed a definitive feasibility study, and secured mining right permits. Most recently Mr. Jones was CEO and President of TSX-V listed Los Andes Copper Ltd. a development company with a 100% interest in the Vizcachitas copper project located in Chiles most prolific copper belt. His copper experience in this work is important for the target types at Electrum. At present Mr. Jones is CEO and Director of privately held Next Step Power Corporation, a specialised capital provider and leasing company set to facilitate energy transition to electric. Dr. Elena Clarici, Chief Executive Officer, commented: We are delighted to welcome Mr. Jones to the Board of Directors. His experience, spanning over decades, in taking exploration assets all the way though to permitting and mine development, combined with his, energy, leadership and management skills adds an enormous value to the Company. His experience and business acumen complements well with our existing directors, and we feel fortunate to have a Board of such a calibre and seniority. I look forward to working with Michael and the rest of the Board as we advance our various projects to a higher level. R. Michael Jones, commented: I am very pleased to join Electrums Board. The Company has assembled what I have built my career on; a large land position, adjacent to world class deposits, with the right setting, assembled expertise and little previous exploration. I look forward to assisting in the work ahead and communication of the results to all the stakeholders as well as gaining the interest of new investors. About Electrum Discovery Corp. Electrum Discovery Corp. is an emerging, Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company focused on the Western Tethyan Belt with activities in the Republic of Serbia. The current focus of the Company is its flagship copper-gold Timok East Project adjacent to the Bor copper gold Mining Complex. Electrum's management team has been focused on maximizing shareholder value through the acquisition and advancement of a large portfolio of copper-gold assets, while fostering sustainability, governance and knowledge transfer in the region. Additional information on Electrum can be found by reviewing the Company's page on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. For more information contact: Dr Elena Clarici, Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director T: +1 604 801 5432 | E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | W: electrumdiscovery.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction. Any securities referred to herein have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. Person absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information. Such statements include disclosure relating to the Companys expected achievement of specified milestones, results of operations, and expected financial results of the Company. Often, but not always, this forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "estimate", "estimates", "estimated", "potential", "open", "future", "assumed", "projected", "used", "detailed", "has been", "gain", "upgraded", "offset", "limited", "contained", "reflecting", "containing", "remaining", "to be", "periodically", or statements that events, "could" or "should" occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Electrum, to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking information. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, risk related to the failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; risks associated with the results of exploration and development activities, and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; unanticipated costs and expenses; and such other risks detailed from time to time in Electrum's quarterly and annual filings with securities regulators and available under Electrum's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Although Electrum has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking information contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management. Forward-looking information has been made as of the date hereof and Electrum disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Ottawa, ON TheNewswire - February 05, 2024 - Stria Lithium Inc. (TSXV:SRA) (Stria or the Company) is pleased to announce that it has successfully optioned 12 titles totalling 683 hectares in the lithium rich Abitibi region. Strias successful 100% optioning of the property is an exciting opportunity to follow up on a recently discovered spodumene-bearing pegmatite, considered a genuine lithium-cesium-tantalum-bearing (LCT) pegmatite, exposed in the center of the property, which returned 0.54% Li2O (2500 ppm Li) from a grab sample. Project Jeremiah titles are strategically located at the periphery of the Archean-aged La Motte Batholith, straddling its northern contact with the Deguisier mafic volcanic formation and the sediments of the Caste Formation. The La Corne Batholith, believed to be similar in age to the La Motte Batholith, is considered to be the source of the lithium pegmatite currently mined by Sayona Mining at their North American Lithium Complex Mine, 22 km east of Jeremiah, as well as their Authier project, 11 km to the southwest. All the numerous lithium occurrences in this area are located at the fringe of this intrusive, where the last differentiated magmas, such as lithium pegmatite, are injected. The property acquisition is made up of 12 titles of which 3 titles are between 5-8 km west of the main claims. In total the titles make up for 683 hectares that are conveniently located near the village of St-Mathieu d'Harricana, and easily accessible through private forestry roads. Fortunately, all the title holders surface rights are controlled by private landholders and the local Abitibi Regional County Municipality. Stria is planning to excavate the occurrence and to do channel sampling to evaluate the potential as early as this March once agreements with landowner are completed and permits are granted. Dean Hanisch, CEO of Stria Lithium, said: "We are very pleased to have the opportunity of acquiring this property which is strategically located in a prolific area near the first and only lithium producing mine in Quebec. The area is mining-friendly and conveniently located in regard to access and infrastructure. Stria intends to aggressively pursue its evaluation in the near term." After rising quickly and exponentially, the world market price of lithium has pulled back as it looks to find its long-term value. Current market conditions present us with a good opportunity to evaluate and acquire compelling projects at reasonable terms in North America. The governments of Canada and the USA have spent billions of dollars attracting the biggest car and battery players in the world to set up here on order to gain autonomy and reduce their dependence on foreign owned supply. These companies receive highly attractive subsidies for using local critical minerals like lithium, so naturally there will be great demand and thus a decoupling of lithium prices geographically. I think this will become abundantly clear to both investors and the public so we will push forward as the key is always to buy low and maximize value at higher prices. Transaction Details The latest mineral property acquisitions named Project Jeremiah are being financed entirely from Strias cash reserves. Stria has purchased the following claims as follows ($CAD): Claims (Private Stakeholder) Phase I: 12 mineral claims totalling 683 hectares Payment of $35,000 on closing Strias investment of at least $250,000 in work on the property within 14 months of closing. On or before 14 months, at Strias option to proceed Phase II: Payment of $110,000 worth of common shares of Stria Register a 2% NSR with a 1% buy back of 1 million dollars About Stria Lithium Stria Lithium (TSX-V: SRA) is an emerging resource exploration company developing Canadian lithium reserves to meet legislated demand for electric vehicles and their rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Strias Central Pontax Lithium Project covers 36 square kilometres, including 8 km of strike along the prospective Chambois Greenstone Belt. The region, known as the Canadian Lithium Triangle, is one of only a few known sources of lithium available for hard rock mining in North America. Strias Pontax Central Project Joint Venture with Cygnus Metals now has a maiden JORC-compliant inferred mineral resource estimate (MRE) of 10.1Mt at 1.04% Li2O based on the central area of the known mineralisation. This JORC estimate establishes Pontax Central as a significant occurrence in the emerging James Bay lithium region. Cygnus Metals, being an ASX issuer, adhered to Australian JORC Code 2012 guidelines, meaning that such mineral resource estimate is not necessarily compliant with CIM and National Instrument NI 43-101 standards and the Company is not considering them as such at this time. Cygnus Metals is committed to fully funding and managing the current two-stage exploration and drilling program to a maximum of $10 million at Strias Pontax property and will also pay Stria up to $6 million in cash. In return, Cygnus may acquire up to a 70% interest in the property. Cygnus has fulfilled its stage 1 requirements within the agreement and has now earned its 51% interest in the property. Strias other significant project, Pontax II covers 55 square kilometres, approximately 25 km to the west-south-west of Pontax Central and is located adjacent to the Billy-Diamond paved highway. Stria has added to this project by recently acquiring 24 claims, for 1276.5 hectares that are strategically located northeast of Strias Pontax II claims. Stria Lithium previously reported highly anomalous tantalum oxide grain counts in till samples up to 797 grains, the highest count ever recorded by the laboratory. The Pontax II grain counts stand at the 97.6 centile of the regional population with an average of 156 grains per sample as a comparative basis, a regional survey in the same area conducted by the Ministere de lEnergie et des Ressources Naturelles du Quebec, processed a total of 5950 tantalum oxide grains yielding an average count of 36 grains per samples. The conclusion being the grain counts are suggestive of the proximity of lithium bearing pegmatites. Pontax II claims are in highly active prospective zones, situated to the west southwest of Stria/Cygnus lithium discovery and situated to the west of the Patriot Battery Metals (PMET.V) Pontax project, and south of Brunswick Exploration (BRW.V). Strias Pontax properties are both situated close to an industrial powerline and a major paved highway, about 310 km north of the North American rail network that leads to the industrial heartland. Strias newest project resides within the Abitibi region of Quebec and is called Project Jeremiah. The Jeremiah project consists of 12 titles for a total 683 hectares. Strias successful 100% optioning of the property was acquired because of a recently discovered spodumene-bearing pegmatite, considered a genuine LCT pegmatite reported in the outcrop in the center of the property, which returned 0.54% Li2O (2500 ppm Li) from a grab sample. The property is conveniently located near the village of St-Mathieu d'Harricana, and easily accessible through private forestry roads. Three more claims, isolated between 5 and 8 km to the west are also included in the land package. Project Jeremiah is strategically located at the periphery of the LaMotte Batholith, straddling its northern contact with the Deguisier mafic volcanic formation and the sediments of the Caste Formation. The La Corne Batholith is considered as related to the source of the lithium pegmatite currently mined by Sayona Mining at their North American Lithium Mine, 22 km east of Jeremiah, as well as their Authier project, 11 km to the southwest. All the numerous lithium occurrences in this area are located at the fringe of this intrusive, where the last differentiated magmas, such as lithium pegmatite, are injected. The Project Jeremiah properties surface rights are fortunately held with private landholders and a municipality. As momentum builds for the green energy revolution and the shift to electric vehicles, governments in Canada and the U.S. are aggressively supporting the North American lithium industry, presenting the industry and its investors with a rare, if not unprecedented, opportunity for growth and prosperity well into the next decade and beyond. Stria is committed to exceeding the industrys environmental, social and governance standards. A critical part of that commitment is forging meaningful, enduring and mutually beneficial relationships with the James Bay Cree Nation (Eeyouch), and engaging openly and respectfully as neighbours and collaborators in this exciting project that has the potential to create lasting jobs and prosperity for Eeyou Istchee and its people. The scientific and technical content disclosed herein was reviewed and approved by Rejean Girard, P.Geo and president of IOS Services Geoscientifiques Inc, a qualified person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. For more information about Stria Lithium and the Pontax Lithium project, please visit https://strialithium.com For more information on Stria Lithium Inc., please contact: Dean Hanisch CEO Stria Lithium This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +1(613) 612-6060 Investors Relations, Stria Lithium Inc. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as plan, expect, project, intend, believe, anticipate, estimate and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions may or will occur. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Please refer to the risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / Avino Silver & Gold Mines Ltd. (TSX:ASM) (NYSE American:ASM) (FSE:GV6) is pleased to report the results of the Preliminary Feasibility Study (the "PFS") prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards for Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") for its Oxide Tailings Project (the "OTP" or the "Project") at the Company's Avino Mine Operations located near Durango in west-central Mexico (the "Property"). The work that was completed as the basis for the PFS was managed by Tetra Tech Canada Inc. of Vancouver, BC. Highlights include: NPV US$98 million (pre-tax) and US$61 million (post-tax) at a 5% discount rate. IRR 35% (pre-tax) and 26% (post-tax). Payback Period 2.9 years (pre-tax) and 3.5 years (post-tax). Initial Capital Cost: US$49.1 million, including a complete on-site tailing leaching plant for silver and gold extraction and a contingency provision in the amount of US$5.3 million. The ongoing sustaining capital cost is US$5.1 million. LOM Average Production Unit Cost: On-site Operating Costs (OOC) and All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) of US$9.71 and US $10.23 per tr oz silver equivalent, respectively. Proven and probable mineral reserves of 6.70 Million tonnes at a silver and gold grade of 55 g/t and 0.47 g/t respectively. Nominal Processing Rate over a 9-year LOM: 2,250 tonnes per day or 821,250 tonnes per year, with a 92% plant availability. Metal Recoveries: 77.2% Ag and 74.9% Au. Dore Production: Total 9,073,000 oz Ag and 76,000 oz Au, life-of-project (averaging 1,008,000 oz Ag and 8,445 oz Au per year). Direct Employment: 121 employees, with additional job positions related to indirect employment and contracted services. Ease of Construction and Operation: The Project is located within the existing Avino Mine operations. Site infrastructure such as power, water, and road network are well established. Elimination of risks associated with the conventional tailings design: A secondary Dry Stack Tailings Management Facility will comprise dewatered tailings being stored in a geotechnically stable impoundment. Elimination of risks associated with the heap leach design, which is replaced with a conventional tank leach design with a compact footprint. The process plant containment areas and berms on site will provide an additional layer of safety. The Project will generate US$52.4 million in tax contributions to the local economy and government. The PFS will be filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's profile and filed on Form 6-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission within 45 days of this release. All currency values are presented in US$ unless otherwise specified. "The completion of the PFS is a key milestone in Avino's path to transformational growth, said David Wolfin, President & CEO of Avino. "The economics of our oxide tailings project combined with the relatively low capital requirements has the potential to significantly enhance the current Avino operation and grow cashflow." Peter Latta, VP Technical Services of Avino commented, "For the first time in Avino's lengthy history, we are proud to demonstrate Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves. We have taken a dynamic leaching approach to the tailings reprocessing to improve overall recoveries and mitigate the potential recovery variability compared with heap leaching. We have selected, in this design, a simple, conventional flowsheet to keep capital costs low and allow for a faster and simpler build if and when a construction decision is made." The most notable improvement in the PFS financial results compared to the 2017 PEA is the 100% increase in Net Present Value (NPV) to US$98 million from US$49 million on a pre-tax basis. Other PFS highlights of significance include strong project economics, long mine life, minimal payback period, and exceptional ESG and tax contributions to the local economy. Table 1 -Comparison to Previous Study Financials Unit 2024 PFS 2017 PEA NPV (pre-tax) US$ million 98 49 NPV (post-tax) US$ million 61 28 IRR (pre-tax) % 35 48 IRR (post-tax) % 26 32 Payback (pre-tax) Years 2.9 2.0 Payback (post-tax) Years 3.5 2.6 Project Life Years 9 7 LOM Mill Feed Million Tonnes 6.7 3.1 LOM Silver Production tr oz 9,073,000 6,173,000 LOM Gold Production tr oz 76,000 33,000 Processing Rate Tpd 2,250 1,370 LOM Silver Recovery % 77 79 LOM Gold Recovery % 75 73 Initial CapEx US$ million 49.1 24.4 Sustaining CapEx US$ million 5.1 4.4 Onsite Operating Cost US$/tr oz AgEq 9.71 5.56 All-In Sustaining Cost US$/tr oz AgEq 10.41 6.08 The 2024 PFS features improvements in comparison to the PEA that was completed in 2017. The life of the project has increased by 2 years, the silver production has increased almost 3 million ounces, and the gold production has more than doubled. The PFS includes processing rates of 2,250 tpd and an increase of 880 tpd. Economic Analysis and Sensitivity Analysis The economic analysis is based on the PFS mineral reserve estimate totalling 6.7 million tonnes of Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves at an average grade of 54.46 g/t Ag and 0.47 g/t Au. This reserve is adequate to allow for a 9-year project life, based on current tailings recovery assumptions including a processing rate of 2,250 tonnes per day. Metal recoveries are expected to average 77.2% and 74.9% for silver and gold, respectively. The gold and silver prices for the financial analysis are based on 3-year trailing averages on Nov 7, 2023, as below: Silver price: US23.45/tr. oz Gold Price: US$1,839.51/tr. oz. The exchange rate for US$ to MXN$ used for the project is 1.00:18.15. These assumptions, together with capital cost and operating cost estimates noted above, result in a pre- tax NPV, at a 5% discount rate of $98M ($61M post-tax). The pre-tax payback period for the project is 2.9 years from the start of production (3.5 years post-tax). The project generates a pre-tax IRR of 35% (26% post-tax). Figure 1: LOM Production and All In Sustaining Cost A sensitivity analysis was performed to test the impact of changes to several key assumptions included in the economic model, with the results shown in following Figures and Table: Figure 2: NPV (5%) Sensitivity (Post-Tax) Figure 3: IRR Sensitivity (Post-Tax) Table 2: Post-Tax Financial Result Summary Metrics Gold Price Silver Price Undiscounted Cashflow NPV @ 5% IRR Payback Years Unit US$/tr. oz US$/tr. oz M US$ M US$ % Year Base Case 1,839.51 23.45 100.3 60.6 25.6 3.5 +30% Case - Silver Price 1,839.51 30.49 141.5 90.0 33.7 2.8 +30% Case - Gold Price 2,391.36 23.45 126.7 79.8 31.4 3.0 -30% Case - Silver Price 1,839.51 16.42 59.3 31.3 16.7 4.3 -30% Case - Gold Price 1,287.66 23.45 74.2 41.7 19.8 4.1 Spot Price* 2,055.65 23.06 108.4 66.5 27.5 3.3 * PM Trading on Date of January 12, 2024 Avino Oxide Tailings Project Mineral Reserves The Mineral Reserves were estimated using both oxide and sulphide tailings and are based on Measured and Indicated Resources only. The pit design used for the estimation was at the PFS level. The ultimate pit limit was determined by the Lerchs-Grossman optimizer in Datamine, with consideration of economic parameters and physical constraints such as pit road widths, mining bench width, and face angles for the recommended mining equipment. The Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves are given below. Table 3: Mineral Reserve Statement of the Avino Oxide Tailings Project (Effective Date: January 16, 2024) Category Quantity (million tonnes) Average Ag Grade (g/t) Average Au Grade (g/t) Contained Ag Metal (million tr. oz) Contained Au Metal (thousand tr. oz) Proven 4.27 61 0.47 8.37 65.01 Probable 2.43 43 0.47 3.38 36.53 Total 6.70 55 0.47 11.75 101.54 Notes: The effective date of the Mineral Reserve estimate is January 16, 2024. The QP for the estimate is Mr. Jay Li, P.Eng. of Tetra Tech. The Mineral Reserve estimates were prepared with reference to the 2014 Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards (2014 CIM Definition Standards) and the 2019 CIM Best Practice Guidelines. Reserves estimated assuming open pit mining methods. Reserves are reported on a dry in-situ basis. Reserves are based on a gold price of US $1850/tr oz., and silver price of US $22/tr oz, mining cost of US$1.00/t mined, milling costs of US$18.00/t feed, and G&A cost of US$3.00/t feed. Mineral Reserves include consideration for 1% mining dilution and 99% mining recovery. Ore-waste cut-off was based on US$21.00/t of NSR. Mineral Resources The PFS uses the latest updated mineral resource estimate that is based on US$1,800 per ounce gold, US$21.00 per ounce silver, and US$3.50 per pound copper. In addition, the resources are constrained by conceptual mining shapes. Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources at the Property are estimated at 34.7 million tonnes grading 63 grams per tonne silver, 0.54 grams per tonne gold, and 0.39% copper (70 million ounces of silver, 597 thousand ounces of gold, and 301 million pounds of copper). An additional 19.3 million tonnes are estimated in the Inferred Mineral Resource category grading 46 grams per tonne silver, 0.34 grams per tonne gold, and 0.37% copper (28.4 million ounces of silver, 213 thousand ounces of gold, and 159 million pounds of copper). The mineral resources of the tailings deposit have been updated during 2023 in accordance with revised topographic data. For information, the inclusive mineral resources (inclusive of mineral reserves) for the Avino Mine area (not including La Preciosa) are summarized in Table 2. Table 4: Avino Mine Area - Mineral Resources (inclusive of Mineral Reserves, Effective Date: October 16, 2023) Area/ Zone Category Mass (Mt) Average Grade Metal Content AgEQ (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Cu (%) AgEQ Ag Au Cu (million tr oz) (million tr oz) (thousand tr oz) (million lb) ET Avino MEA 3.88 171 69 0.53 0.57 21.39 8.58 67 48.91 IND 23.92 146 58 0.53 0.44 112.41 44.59 409 234.08 M&I 27.80 150 60 0.53 0.46 133.8 53.17 476 283 INF 17.59 106 37 0.34 0.4 59.76 20.72 191 154.18 San Gonzalo MEA 0.33 332 244 1.17 0 3.53 2.59 12.42 0 IND 0.30 293 230 0.84 0 2.85 2.23 8.14 0 M&I 0.63 313 237 1.01 0 6.38 4.83 20.56 0 INF 0.25 297 271 0.35 0 2.35 2.14 2.74 0 Guadalupe MEA 0.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IND 0.40 169 70 0.79 0.37 2.17 0.9 10.24 3.27 M&I 0.40 169 70 0.79 0.37 2.17 0.9 10.24 3.27 INF 0.35 159 82 0.62 0.3 1.81 0.93 7 2.3 La Potosina MEA 0.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 IND 0.14 220 186 0.41 0.04 1 0.85 1.85 0.13 M&I 0.14 220 186 0.41 0.04 1 0.85 1.85 0.13 INF 0.84 176 149 0.29 0.05 4.79 4.05 7.9 1.01 Tailings Deposit MEA 4.25 101 61 0.47 0.12 13.83 8.35 64.84 11.33 IND 2.44 83 43 0.47 0.12 6.51 3.40 36.67 6.21 M&I 6.70 94 55 0.47 0.12 20.34 11.75 101.50 17.55 INF 0.34 97 65 0.36 0.11 1.06 0.70 3.95 0.82 TOTALS MEA 8.47 142.35 71.72 0.53 0.32 38.75 19.52 144.26 60.24 IND 27.20 142.85 59.42 0.53 0.41 124.94 51.97 465.90 243.69 M&I 35.67 142.73 62.35 0.53 0.39 163.69 71.50 610.15 303.95 INF 19.37 112.02 45.83 0.34 0.37 69.77 28.54 212.59 158.31 Notes: Figures may not add to totals shown due to rounding. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Mineral Resource estimate is classified in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves incorporated by reference into NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mineral Resources are stated inclusive of Mineral Reserves. Based on recent mining costs provided by Tetra Tech, Mineral Resources are reported at cut-off grades 60 g/t, 130 g/t, and 50 g/t AgEQ grade for ET, San Gonzalo, and oxide tailings, respectively. AgEQ or silver equivalent ounces are notational, based on the combined value of metals expressed as silver ounces. Metal price assumptions are US$21/tr.oz. Ag; US$1800/tr.oz. Au. Metal recovery is based on operational results and column testing, 82% Ag and 78% Au, respectively. The silver equivalent for the mineral resources was back-calculated using the following formulae: ET, Guadalupe, La Potosina: AgEq = Ag (g/t) + 71.43 * Au (g/t) + 113.04 * Cu (%) San Gonzalo: Ag Eq = Ag (g/t) + 75.39 * Au (g/t) Oxide Tailings: Ag Eq = Ag (g/t) + 81.53 * Au (g/t) The current mineral resources for the entire Property (Avino and La Preciosa areas) are summarized below. Table 5: Avino Property (including La Preciosa area) - Mineral Resources (inclusive of Oxide Tailings Mineral Reserves, Effective Date: October 16, 2023) Area Category Mass (Mt) Average Grade Metal Content AgEQ (g/t) Ag (g/t) Au (g/t) Cu (%) AgEQ Ag Au Cu (million tr oz) (million tr oz) (thousand tr oz) (million lb) Avino Mine MEA 8.466 142.35 71.72 0.53 0.32 38.75 19.52 144.26 60.24 IND 27.204 142.85 59.42 0.53 0.41 124.94 51.97 465.90 243.69 M&I 35.671 142.73 62.35 0.53 0.39 163.69 71.50 610.15 303.95 INF 19.373 112.02 45.83 0.34 0.37 69.77 28.54 212.59 158.31 La Preciosa MEA - - - - - - - - - IND 17.441 202 176 0.34 - 113.14 98.59 189.19 - M&I 17.441 202 176 0.34 - 113.14 98.59 189.19 - INF 4.397 170 151 0.25 - 24.1 21.33 35.48 - TOTALS MEA 8.466 142.35 71.72 0.53 0.32 38.75 19.52 144.26 60.24 IND 44.645 165.87 104.89 0.46 0.25 238.08 150.56 655.09 243.69 M&I 53.111 162.12 99.61 0.47 0.26 276.83 170.08 799.34 303.95 INF 23.770 122.83 65.26 0.32 0.30 93.87 49.87 248.07 158.31 Notes: As per Table 4 Avino Oxide Tailings Project Mine Plan The Avino oxide tailings deposit will be extracted using conventional surface mining techniques with excavator, wheel loader, and existing contractor truck fleet on site. Five cashflow-positive mining pushbacks or phases were designed to allow for operational flexibility while stripping the overburden and targeting high-grade material. The rate of mining (total material) by pushback is shown in the figure below. Figure 4 and 4A: Avino Oxide Tailings Deposit Mine Plan (Tetra Tech, 2024) Note: PB = Pushback Figure 4A The mine life of the tailings deposit is expected to be approximately 9 years. The mining rate will ramp up to 1.4Mt in years 2 to 5 to accommodate a high strip ratio to remove most of the overburden and will start to ramp down in later years as the strip ratio decreases. Over the life of the mine, saturated ground condition is expected as the mining benches are advanced deeper. Numerous practical approaches were considered to address mining equipment trafficability challenges and reduce risks from geotechnical stability. Waste material or overburden material will be placed in dedicated facilities located near the mine. Existing Infrastructure at Avino Mine The Avino mine is currently in operation. A well-established network of internal access roads exists at the Property. The primary internal access roads are used for hauling supplies and heavy equipment access while the secondary internal access roads are used by lighter vehicles for other operational activities. The OTP only requires minor extension of the existing road network. The existing power supply infrastructure has a 3MW capacity which is sufficient to provide the power source required for OTP. Other utilities such as water and waste management are available at the Avino mine and can be provided to OTP by extending the existing utility systems to OTP area. General Arrangement The OTP process equipment and buildings, dry stack TMF, and utilities are located within proximity of the existing Avino Mine operation. Most utilities such as power and water pipelines can be extended from the current operations to the OTP area. The OTP process plant and infrastructure will be located on an existing terrace currently occupied by a core storage and guest houses. The site preparation and earthworks required to prepare the OTP site will be minimal. The OTP process plant is conveniently located above the dry stack TMF. The tailings discharge conveyors from the OTP process plant to dry stack TMF follow the downhill terrain can potentially generate supplemental electricity for the OTP operation. The Proposed Processing Plan The proposed processing flow sheet consists of: Leach feed preparation by trommel screen repulping and thickening, 2 stage cyanide leaching of the repulped tailings, Countercurrent decantation (CCD) washing and pre-clarification of the pregnant leach solution (PLS), De-aeration and gold and silver precipitation using the zinc powder (Merrill-Crowe process), Gold and silver precipitate melting to produce dore, Cyanide destruction of leach residual tailings, Leach residue filtration and deposition to the lined dry stack tailings facility. Based on the test results, the proposed process and mine plan, the LOM average gold and silver recoveries to dore were projected to be 77.2% for silver and 74.9% for gold. Capital Cost Estimate Initial capital cost (including contingency of US$5.3 million) is estimated at US$49.1 million. Initial capital costs include all costs required to bring the facility to production. The ongoing sustaining capital costs are estimated to be US$5.1 million over the 9-year project life. Table 6: Project Initial Capital Cost Summary Description Cost (Million $) Site Preparation, Excavations & Demolition 0.2 Mining (Oxide Tailings Reclaim) 0.5 Processing Plant 26.8 TMF and Water Management 3.3 Site Services and Utilities 4.6 Total Direct Initial Capital Cost 35.3 Indirect Initial Capital Costs 7.8 Owner's Cost 0.7 Contingency 5.3 Total Initial Capital Cost 49.1 *Sum may not add due to rounding Operating Cost Estimate Average mine, process and G&A operating costs over the project's life (including waste mining and on-site power, excluding off-site shipping and smelting costs) are estimated at US$21.34 per tonne processed, including a 5% contingency. Table 7: Project Operating Cost Summary Category US$/t Processed Mining 2.41 Processing 15.31 G&A - Onsite (including Site Services) 3.31 Tailings Management 0.32 Total Operating Cost (Per Tonne Processed)* 21.34 *Sum may not add due to rounding Qualified Person(s) The Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101, who are responsible for the technical content of this news release are: Hassan Ghaffari, P.Eng., M.A.Sc., Director of Metallurgy, Tetra Tech Canada Inc. Michael F. O'Brien, P.Geo., M.Sc., Pr.Scit.Nat., FAusIMM, FSAIMM, Principal Consultant, Red Pennant Communications Corp. Jianhui (John) Huang, P.Eng., PhD, Senior Process Engineer, Tetra Tech Canada Inc. Jay Li, P.Eng., Senior Mining Engineer, Tetra Tech Canada Inc. Peter Latta, P.Eng, MBA, VP Technical Services, Avino who is a qualified person within the context of National Instrument 43-101 has reviewed and approved the technical data in this news release. C-Suite Webinar In addition, the Company will be holding a C-Suite Webinar to discuss the Prefeasibility Study for its Oxide Tailings Project on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 09:00 am PST (12:00 pm EST). Shareholders, analysts, investors, and media are invited to join the Webinar. To participate in the webinar, register using the meeting link below: Avino Reports Oxide Tailings Project Prefeasibility Study When prompted, please allow the application access to use your speakers and microphone. You will be joined to the meeting with your microphone muted. Alternatively, if you wish to connect by telephone, dial Canada/USA Toll Free: 1-844-763-8274 or International Toll: +1-647-484-8814 and ask to be joined to the Avino conference call. About Avino Avino is a silver producer from its wholly owned Avino Mine near Durango, Mexico. The Company's silver, gold and copper production remains unhedged. The Company's mission and strategy is to create shareholder value through its focus on profitable organic growth at the historic Avino Property and the strategic acquisition of the adjacent La Preciosa which was finalized in Q1 2022. Avino currently controls mineral resources, as per NI 43-101, with a total mineral content of 368 million silver equivalent ounces, within our district-scale land package. We are committed to managing all business activities in a safe, environmentally responsible, and cost-effective manner, while contributing to the well-being of the communities in which we operate. We encourage you to connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) at @Avino_ASM and on LinkedIn at Avino Silver & Gold Mines. To view the Avino Mine VRIFY tour, please click here. For Further Information, Please Contact: Investor Relations Tel: 604-682-3701 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Cautionary note to U.S. Investors concerning estimates of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources All reserve and resource estimates reported by Avino were estimated in accordance with the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources," "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources" and uses new definitions of "proven mineral reserves" and "probable mineral reserves" that are substantially similar to the corresponding CIM Definition Standards. However, the CIM Definition Standards differ from the requirements applicable to US domestic issuers. US investors are cautioned not to assume that any "measured mineral resources," "indicated mineral resources," or "inferred mineral resources" that the Issuer reports are or will be economically or legally mineable. Further, "inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade are estimated on the basis of limited geologic evidence and sampling. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (together, the "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including the mineral resource estimate for the Company's Avino Property, including La Preciosa, located near Durango in west-central Mexico (the "Avino Property") with an effective date of November 30, 2022, prepared for the Company, and references to Measured, Indicated, Inferred Resources dated October 16, 2023 as well as the Prefeasibility Study dated January 16, 2024 and references to Measured, Indicated Resources, and Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves referred to in this press release. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements" are made as of the date of this document. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the estimated amount and grade of mineral reserves and mineral resources, including the cut-off grade; (ii) estimates of the capital costs of constructing mine facilities and bringing a mine into production, of operating the mine, of sustaining capital, of strip ratios and the duration of financing payback periods; (iii) the estimated amount of future production, both ore processed and metal recovered and recovery rates; (iv) estimates of operating costs, life of mine costs, net cash flow, net present value (NPV) and economic returns from an operating mine; and (v) the completion of the full Technical Report, including a Preliminary Economic Assessment, and its timing. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "envisages", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and the dates of technical reports, as applicable. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the future circumstances, outcomes or results anticipated in or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur or that plans, intentions or expectations upon which the forward-looking statements are based will occur. While we have based these forward-looking statements on our expectations about future events as at the date that such statements were prepared, the statements are not a guarantee that such future events will occur and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which could cause events or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that the Company's Avino Property, the La Preciosa Property, or the Oxide Tailings Project has the amount of mineral resources or mineral reserves indicated in their reports or that such mineral resources and mineral reserves may be economically extracted. Such factors and assumptions include, among others, the effects of general economic conditions, the price of gold, silver and copper, changing foreign exchange rates and actions by government authorities, uncertainties associated with legal proceedings and negotiations and misjudgments in the course of preparing forward-looking information. In addition, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Known risk factors include risks associated with project development; the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mining and mineral processing; volatility in the global financial markets; fluctuations in metal prices; title matters; uncertainties and risks related to carrying on business in foreign countries; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain of our officers, directors or promoters with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; currency fluctuations; competition; dilution; the volatility of the our common share price and volume; tax consequences to U.S. investors; and other risks and uncertainties. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We are under no obligation to update or alter any forward-looking statements except as required under applicable securities laws. For more detailed information regarding the Company including its risk factors, investors are directed to the Company's Annual Report on Form 40-F and other periodic reports that it files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Suspected M23 rebels fired on a UN helicopter Friday wounding two South African peacekeepers in DR Congo's volatile east while an explosive device went off in a major city injuring two others. The head of the UN's MONUSCO peacekeeping mission Bintou Keita strongly condemned the attack saying such strikes can constitute "a war crime". The helicopter was attacked in the Karuba region of the restive Nord Kivu province, the UN said, adding that one of the peacekeepers was seriously injured. It was able to land in the provincial capital Goma and the injured soldiers were admitted to hospital. In New York, the UN Secretary General's spokesman Stephane Dujarric, said the two wounded were South African. On Friday, an explosive device went off in Goma wounding two people, with authorities blaming the M23 militia. Some Goma residents said a bomb had landed near a school in the Mugunga district on the city's edge while others said it was a mortar shell. "We don't know if it came from the enemy or if it was friendly fire," said a security source, speaking on condition of anonymity. The army spokesman in North Kivu, Guillaume Ndjike, said the M23 had opened fire from a hillock 20 kilometres (10 miles) from Goma which landed in Mugunga. Medics reported two people injured while a local resident said a house was destroyed. After years of dormancy, the M23 (March 23 Movement) took up arms again in late 2021 and has since seized vast swathes of Nord Kivu. The territories of Rutshuru and Masisi in the province have borne the brunt of the fighting between M23 and Democratic Republic of Congo armed forces. After a lull during the December 20 election which returned President Felix Tshisekedi for a second term, fighting has resumed around Goma. bur-at/ach/bp X France's President Emmanuel Macron confirmed on Friday that two French aid workers had been killed in a Russian strike in Ukraine, condemning the attack as "outrageous". Ukrainian officials said the two men had died in a recent drone attack in southern Ukraine. "Two French aid workers have been killed in Ukraine by a Russian strike. A cowardly and outrageous act," Macron said on X, formerly Twitter. "My solidarity goes out to all the volunteers who are committed to helping people," he added. Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne added: "Russia will have to answer for its crimes." Ukrainian officials had said two French nationals were killed and three other foreigners wounded on Thursday in Beryslav, near the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. Ukrainian police said they had died as a result of a drone attack. Beryslav, which sits on the Dnipro River close to the front line, has regularly been targeted by Russian drones and artillery. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky voiced gratitude for the Frenchmen's work in his war-torn country. "Russian terror knows no boundaries or victims' nationalities. "The brave French aid workers assisted people and we will always be grateful for their humanity. "My condolences go out to their loved ones," Zelensky wrote on social media. In Paris, the prosecutors' anti-terrorist office announced on Friday that it had opened a war crimes investigation, specifically for an attack on an aid worker, non-combatants under international law. bur-jj/imm X A French Holocaust denier arrested in Scotland was handed over to France on Friday after losing his extradition battle, a source close to the case told AFP. Vincent Reynouard was arrested in November 2022 in Scotland, where he had been living in a fishing village under a false identity. The 54-year-old private tutor was wanted by authorities in France, where he had been convicted in absentia for offences related to holocaust denial. A French warrant for his arrest cited videos posted to the internet in which he denied Nazi crimes. Ruling on his extradition at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Judge Christopher Dickson characterised Reynouard's statements in the videos as "beyond the pale of what is tolerable in our society". Reynouard was presented to an investigating magistrate in Paris, who charged him with denial of war crimes, denial of crimes against humanity and incitement to hatred. He was then placed under judicial supervision, according to the source, since the penalties for those offences do not include detention. Although British law does not criminalise Holocaust denial, the judge ruled that the charges against Reynouard -- namely "public trivialisation of a war crime" and "public challenge to the existence of crimes against humanity" -- amounted to a breach of the Communications Act. "In such circumstances I order the respondent to be extradited to France," he wrote in his ruling. Holocaust denial has been a criminal offence in France since 1990, and Reynouard has been convicted on numerous occasions. In 2001, he was suspended as a school maths teacher for printing and distributing Holocaust-denying pamphlets and setting homework involving counting concentration camp victims. In 2007, while working as a chemical engineer, Reynouard was sentenced to one year in prison and fined 10,000 euros for Holocaust denial after writing a pamphlet claiming the death of six million Jews during World War II was "impossible". He was handed a four-month prison sentence in France in November 2020 and a further six-month term in January 2021 for a series of anti-Semitic posts on social media. In August 2020, a memorial in the village of Oradour-sur-Glane, whose residents were massacred by the Nazis, was defaced with slogans including the phrase "Reynouard is right". He had questioned the massacre there in several videos posted online. Israeli forces in Gaza have systematically destroyed buildings in an attempt to create a buffer zone inside the Palestinian territory, experts and rights groups told AFP, raising fears over the civilian cost. The plan, not publicly confirmed by Israel, appears to entail taking a significant chunk of territory out of the already tiny Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, something experts as well as Israel's foreign allies have warned against. Since Hamas militants stormed across the border on October 7, Israeli forces have targeted structures in Gaza within a kilometre (0.6 miles) of the border, said Adi Ben Nun, a professor at Hebrew University of Jerusalem who has carried out an analysis of satellite imagery. More than 30 percent of all buildings in that area have been damaged or destroyed during the war, he said. Last month, the Israeli army's 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". 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. "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". Scrutiny of Israel's actions in Gaza is likely to be heightened by last month's International Court of Justice ruling asking Israel to prevent any acts of genocide. The United States, Israel's top ally and provider of military aid, has repeatedly said Gaza's territory should not change and that a buffer zone would breach that principle. "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. 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. Like many Israelis who lived along the border before the attack, nearly all of the kibbutz's 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." - 'Back' after two decades - Hamas's 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. 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 territory's 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. 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. "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. Battles raged in Gaza's south Sunday ahead of another visit to the region by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a bid to secure a new truce as the Israel-Hamas war approaches its fifth month. Blinken set off Sunday on what is his fifth Mideast trip since the October 7 attack by Hamas that set off the crisis. He is expected to begin his trip on Monday in Saudi Arabia before visits to Israel, Egypt and Qatar. The health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said at least 127 people were killed in Israeli strikes in the previous 24 hours in the territory. 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 man Mohammed Kloub told AFP in Rafah, which according to UN figures now hosts more than half of Gaza's population. Israel has warned its ground forces could advance on Rafah as part of its campaign to eliminate Hamas. An AFP journalist reported strikes and tank fire on Khan Yunis, southern Gaza's main city, with some air raids also hitting nearby Rafah. Israel's army said its forces had raided a Hamas training facility in Khan Yunis where militants prepared for the October 7 attack. The Al-Qadisiya compound contained models of Israeli military bases, armoured vehicles, as well as entry points to kibbutzim, the army said in a statement. During the raid, the army "neutralised" several militants, it said. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said that at the nearby Al-Amal hospital there were "alarming signs (of) a humanitarian disaster... after 14 days of continuous siege". - 'Hitting them hard' - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the army had "destroyed 17 of 24 (Hamas) battalions. Most of the remaining battalions are in the southern Strip and in Rafah, and we will deal with them." Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant meanwhile said: "The pressure on Hamas is working, they are in a very difficult situation and we are hitting them hard." 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. French foreign minister Stephane Sejourne, on his first Middle East tour, met his counterparts in Egypt and Jordan, with Amman's foreign minister Ayman Safadi saying "immediate international action" was needed "to stop the war in Gaza". Sejourne said he had told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi 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" on the truce deal. 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. - Gaza rendered 'unlivable' - 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. 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 27,365 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 told AFP 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. Sejourne told his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry that he understood Cairo's concerns over "forced displacement" of Palestinians into Egypt from the Gaza Strip. - 'Turmoil' across region - 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 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". 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. burs/spm/jsa/des X Kim Ji Hoon addressed his most controversial sex scene in the highly rated Netflix series "Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area." In an interview, he reflected on his performance and shared his honest thoughts about the work. Keep on reading to know more. Kim Ji Hoon Dishes On Infamous Sex Scene In 'Money Heist Korea' Earlier this month, Kim Ji Hoon made a special appearance in the web show "Don't Forget Your Breakfast" which is hosted by Jang Sung Kyu. Kim Ji Hoon is among the most popular actors in Hallyu, thanks to his flawless performances in every work he does. In 2023, he starred in a slew of works including "Ballerina," "Love to Hate You" and "Death's Game." Apart from that, he's popularly known for his jaw-dropping transformation into Denver in the South Korean remake of the global Netflix show "Money Heist." In the program, the actor recalled his infamous sex scene in the series where he shot a fully nude shot together with Lee Joo Bin. During its premiere, it was a huge topic in various online communities. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Kim Ji Hoon Expresses Regrets In 'Death's Game' Role: 'I wanted to...' "My partner and I had to mentally prepare ourselves before filming," Kim Ji Hoon revealed. "It went well so I was thankful." Kim Ji Hoon Reveals How He Filmed 'Money Heist Korea' Sex Scene According to the actor, he and Lee Joo Bin used pads to cover their bodies to film their nude scenes in the drama. He described it as a "diaper," which became their only clothing during the filming process. When asked if he's ever gotten an erection, Kim Ji Hoon truthfully answered no. The actor said that it was "impossible" to feel aroused due to the level of stress and focus they had to endure to perfect their scenes in the Netflix show. Because of this, Kim Ji Hoon shared that it will be his first and last sex scene as an actor, sending Jang Sung Kyu into laughter. On the other hand, Kim Ji Hoon portrayed a drug dealer and sex offender in the Netflix film "Ballerina" with Jeon Jong Seo. He also had a bed scene in the work, which was "beautifully" directed, according to the viewers. ALSO READ: Kim Ji Hoon Humiliated By Fan Due To 'Fading Handsomeness' - Here's How He Handled It "The Netflix film "Ballerina" was an art itself despite its sensitive themes," one viewer said. "Kim Ji Hoon really did well." The director of the film, Lee Chung Hyun, described Kim Ji Hoon as a "sexy danger," which was the reason why he cast the actor. In case you missed it, check out Kim Ji Hoon's "Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area" and "Ballerina" on Netflix now. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Following their brief hiatus due to pregnancy, first-time moms Honey Lee and Park Shin Hye officially return to K-drama with a soaring comeback. From their dreamy wedding to doing wife and mother duties, these beauties are ready for their new roles in K-dramaland. Park Shin Hye In January 2022, Park Shin Hye walked down the aisle as she married her longtime boyfriend, actor Choi Tae Joon. Months later, the actress gave birth to their first child, a healthy baby boy, at a hospital in Seoul on March 31. In 2023, Park Shin Hye surprised the public with her delightful announcement as the actress confirmed her return to K-drama. Apart from that, she will reunite with Park Hyung Sik after 11 years since they worked together in the iconic series "The Heirs." For their second project together, the duo stars in the rom-com medical drama "Doctor Slump," which focuses on two doctors who met while experiencing the darkest moments of their lives. Fans looked forward to their highly anticipated reunion and the chemistry between these veterans. READ MORE: 'Doctor Slump' Achieves New All-Time High + Park Shin Hye, Park Hyung Sik Receive Positive Reviews Interestingly, as "Doctor Slump" aired their first episode on January 27, the rom-com medical K-drama kicked off with a decent start but managed to increase their rating to 6.7 in episode 4, marking their highest viewership ratings yet. On top of that, the series lands at 6th place in Most Buzzworthy Drama, while Park Shin Hye and Park Hyung Sik got 9th and 10th place in the actor rankings, respectively. Honey Lee Another first-time mom who successfully returned to K-drama is Honey Lee. The former beauty queen married her non-celebrity boyfriend in December 2021 and gave birth in June 2022, at the age of 39. During her interview with Vogue Korea, Honey Lee revealed that she was pregnant while filming her action comedy drama "One the Woman," and surprisingly, she did it without a stunt double. Now that she is a certified mom, the actress headlines her first K-drama after giving birth. Honey Lee stars in the historical comedy K-dramna "Knight Flower" with Lee Jong Won, Lee Ki Woo, and Kim Sang Joong. The actress takes on the character of Cho Yeo Hwa, who has been widowed for 15 years. Interestingly, she is living a secret life. devoted widow during the day and a hero who saves helpless people at night. Released on January 12, 2024, viewers get to watch Honey Lee's drama every Friday and Saturday via MBC, while international audiences can stream it through Viki, Prime Video, and Kocowa. As for viewership, the series scored its first double-digit rating after three episodes. On top of that, "Knight Flower" ranked 4th in Most Buzzworthy Drama, while Honey Lee landed 5th in the actor rankings. IN CASE YOU MISSED: Honey Lee Shares How BTS' Songs Helped Her With Childbirth For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills A mining claim boom is on in Quebec, as prospectors anticipate growing demand for minerals used in batteries, but in the province's south it has spooked residents and municipalities who are now looking for reform. A container of lithium carbonate sits in a shipping warehouse at a lithium facility, in Silver Peak, Nev., Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-John Locher Monday, February 5, 2024 A senior BBC employee has been fired after sharing 'horrific' anti-Semitic social media posts. Dawn Queva, a BBC scheduler, shared a string of hateful messages on Facebook. She described the Holocaust as a 'holohoax', prompting calls for the BBC to take action. According to Daily Mail, Dawn Queva was sacked on Friday. In the messages, she refers to 'AshkeNazis', a slur that is a play on 'Ashkenazi' Jews who descend from those who lived in central or eastern Europe. One message claims the Ashkenazi Jews are 'a bunch of subcontinental European melanin recessive CaucAsian japhetic AshkeNazi who have no None zero zilch blood connection to the land of Palestine or Israel historically'. Another brands Jewish people an 'invader coloniser species'. Ms Queva also allegedly described white people as 'barbaric' and 'bloodthirsty'. In other posts, she referred to the UK as the 'UKKK' a reference to the Ku Klux Klan. Ms Queva, 55, a senior scheduler and playout planner for BBC Three, posted under the name Dawn Las Quevas-Allen. She previously worked in scheduling for A+E Networks, UKTV, and Disney. She doubled down on her remarks after they came to light, challenging her critics to 'come at me... my shoulders are broad'. Last night, BBC staff told the Daily Mail the corporation needed to take a stand. A Jewish worker said: 'Jewish colleagues are finding it really tough seeing everyone but our bosses condemning what we have seen.' They added: 'If the BBC is serious about standing up to anti-Semitism then it needs to practise what it keeps preaching and stand up to the hate crimes committed by one of its own staff.' A second Jewish worker added: 'The BBC needs to take a lead on this and make it clear that racism is racism and it won't be tolerated.' Broadcaster, Mail columnist and former BBC presenter Andrew Neil said ex-colleagues had told him it was 'grim' and 'frightening' to be Jewish at the BBC at the moment. He wrote on X: 'Where's the director general and his army of BBC executives paid large salaries to get a grip of matters like this?' A spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitism 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. 'We are filing complaints with the BBC about this individual and reporting the posts to the police, but the time has come for the BBC step up and confront anti-Semitism in its organisation once and for all.' A BBC spokesman said: 'The individual concerned is no longer employed by the BBC.' Monday, February 5, 2024 - The Kenya Tissue and Transplant Authority (KTTA) has been forced to come clean regarding President William Rutos daughter, Charlene, after she allegedly refused to lead a blood donation drive for Embakasi gas explosion victims despite being the blood ambassador. In a bid to explain the absence of Charlene Ruto from the limelight after landing a blood ambassadorial role last month, KTTA remarked the First Daughter was still executing her mandate behind the scenes. The explanation was made after Kenyans raised concerns that the First Daughter was not at the forefront in mobilising Kenyans to donate blood following a gas explosion in Embakasi that left over 300 people injured. While many leaders from the government and opposition had called for Kenyans to donate blood, Charlene Ruto had remained conspicuously silent. A lot happens behind the curtains for effective service delivery and a healthier nation aligned with Universal Health Coverage, the Authority stated. While not all efforts are publicised, we are actively on the ground with our blood ambassadors for the Embakasi tragedy. A few hours after the Authoritys statement, Charlene Ruto revealed that she had mobilized Kenyans towards a successful blood drive. According to President William Rutos daughter, the blood will go a long in improving health and saving lives in emergencies for many of those in need. The first daughter had been appointed to the position by Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha. As a blood ambassador, she was requested to partner with KTTA in blood donation drives, including public education and resource mobilization. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, February 5, 2024 - Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has hinted at an imminent handshake between President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga. Speaking in Kakamega County, Musalia, who also acts as the CS for Foreign Affairs, remarked that he was sent on a special assignment to Bondo, Railas backyard, last week by President Ruto. He told Kenya Kwanza supporters who had congregated at Approved School Grounds in Kakamega not to be surprised should the political landscape shift. Last week I was in China meeting my counterpart in the Foreign Affairs docket. Immediately after landing in Kenya, I was given a special assignment to Bondo, he explained. Additionally, Musalia remarked that were it not for international obligations, the Head of State would have gone to Bondo in Siaya County for a political charm offensive, which he claimed would have resulted in political realignments. The President was heading to Italy and he tasked me with representing him in Bondo. "I told the people of Bondo to embrace Rutos government since they never know what will happen, he explained. Musalia was accompanied by Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka during his trip to Bondo. While in Bondo on January 28, Musalia told local residents to expect to receive good news from Kenyas top political leadership. Mark this date and the place where I have said this, Musalia remarked then, noting that he would not delve into the issue. Ruto and Raila are yet to issue an official statement on whether Kenya Kwanza and Azimio would forge a working relationship. Despite the two leaders remaining non-committal, Azimio has opposed most of the government's policies and hinted at calling for protests this year. In the meantime, the opposition and the government have been engaging in dialogue regarding pertinent issues affecting the country. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Monday, February 5, 2024 - Lang'ata MP Phelix Odiwuor, popularly known as Jalang'o, may actually lose his seat if the pronouncement by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is anything to go by. This is after Raila challenged Jalango and other ODM rebels to seek re-election if they want to work with President William Rutos United Democratic Alliance (UDA). Speaking during an ODM recruitment drive in Nairobi on Sunday, Raila revealed that he had reached out to the rebel MPs informing them to seek re-election before collaborating with the ruling party. "We have agreed that all those elected as MPs in our parties have a term of five years. If you want to leave ODM and join UDA, then leave Parliament and return to the people to be re-elected under UDA," He sternly stated. "In Nairobi, we have Lang'ata MP and you know the rest. We have told them that we are returning to the ground and if you get re-elected on UDA, that is fine but we must go back to the election." Since last year, the party has been embroiled in a tussle with the lawmakers who it accused of jumping ship to UDA. The other lawmakers include Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda, Suba MP Caroli Omondi, Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda, and Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo. All five MPs were expelled by ODM's National Executive Committee after the party determined that their actions went against the official party position. Soon after, a battle ensued between the parties as the lawmakers fought to keep their seats, a plea that was granted by the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal chairperson Desma Nungo. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, February 5, 2024 - Police have launched investigations after the remains of a newborn baby were found dumped in carrier bags at Cheptongei, Elgeyo Marakwet County. Preliminary investigations indicate that a lady gave birth and dismembered the baby, before putting the body parts in carrier bags. The dismembered body was found without a head. Cases of body parts being found dumped with the heads missing are common nowadays. See photo from the crime scene. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Monday, February 5, 2024 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has termed Moses Wetangula as an incompetent Speaker of the National Assembly following his decision to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling against the Housing Levy. Raila said on Sunday that Wetang'ula's decision to move to the Supreme Court to appeal President William Rutos pet project is irregular as he oversaw the passage of the Housing Levy as speaker of the National Assembly. Speaking when he led an ODM membership recruitment drive in Nairobi's Kamkunji Grounds, Raila said the move by Wetang'ula was unfortunate. ''Moses Wetang'ula does not deserve to be speaker of the National Assembly," Raila said. "The law emanated from Parliament and President Ruto signed it into law, now that some people have gone to court, the Speaker, all over the world has no authority to move to court," Raila added. According to the former Premier, the speaker can only move to court after consulting MPs who have employed him. "If you are the speaker and have passed a law, your work ends there, whatever that is remaining is for the executive and the judiciary,'' Raila said. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, February 4, 2024 Namibia's President Hage Geingob has died while receiving medical treatment for cancer at a hospital in the country's capital, Windhoek. Geingob died on Sunday, February 4, at Lady Pohamba Hospital in the capital Windhoek with his wife and his children at his side. Acting President Nangolo Mbumba said in a statement; 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. 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. Further announcements in this regard will be made. Geingobs office announced last month that the African leader had begun treatment following the discovery of cancerous cells during a routine colonoscopy and a gastroscopy. His office said a few days later that he would be travelling to the United States for medical care and would return to Namibia in February. Geingob had a history of health problems that preceded his election as Namibias third president in 2014. He underwent an aortic operation last year in neighbouring South Africa, and in 2014 he revealed that he had survived prostate cancer. Geingob had served as president since 2015 and was currently on his second term. He also served as the countrys first prime minister, a position he held from 1990 to 2002 under former President Sam Nujoma, after Namibia gained independence from South Africa. Namibia, a former German colony which achieved independence from South Africa in 1990, is scheduled to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in November. Sunday, February 4, 2024 An African man has taken to TikTok to advice those coming to the U.K to plan very well before moving. In his video, he stated that those migrating should know it's not a bed of roses but that things get better as time goes by. He went on to show the empty rooms of his African roommates who moved back to their countries because things got worse for them. Monday, February 5, 2024 - President William Ruto has kept his promise of looking for employment for Kenyans abroad. This is after he exported the first batch of Kenyans abroad on Saturday in line with his vision. Ruto, through the Ministry of Labour, flagged off the first cohort of 500 workers to work in various developed economies. This comes even as Opposition Leader Raila Odinga has vehemently opposed Rutos idea export workers abroad, especially in the Middle East, saying the Kenyans workers were being treated as slaves. In a statement, Labour Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore revealed that the 500 migrant workers will work in several countries including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Germany, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm as the workers eagerly gathered at the National Employment Agency offices in Kasarani, Nairobi, awaiting their departure, Bore stated. It is truly heartwarming to witness these opportunities opening up for these individuals, providing them with a chance to explore new horizons and make a positive impact in their chosen fields. Among those exported include spa therapist, lifeguard, plumber, engineer, housemaid, cleaner, truck driver and construction labourers. The 500 migrant workers were flagged off the same day President William Ruto promised to accelerate the absorption of Kenya workers abroad. Speaking in Western Kenya, Ruto remarked that his administration had negotiated competitive salaries for Kenyans going abroad under the human capital exportation program. The Head of State added that Kenya already had a contract to export 2,500 nurses and that number would gradually be increased to 500,000. Ruto explained that this was part of his vision to ensure that every Kenyan had a decent job. Those who will not get a chance to travel abroad will be absorbed in digital jobs and take part in the Affordable Housing Project, according to the President. How to Apply to Work Abroad Kenyans willing to work abroad are encouraged to log onto the National Employment Authority Integrated Management System by clicking www.neaims.co.ke. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, February 6, 2024 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has, for once, admitted that President William Ruto played him when he agreed to form the National Delegates Committee (NADCO). NADCO was formed in March last year after Ruto and Raila met and agreed to end the political tension in the country. Among the recommendations of the NADCO report was that political parties be involved in the selection of the commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). However, last week, High Court Judge Justice Mugure Thande trashed the NADCO report and urged the IEBC selection panel to immediately begin the process of hiring IEBC commissioners without the involvement of politicians. Justice Thandes ruling has angered Raila Odinga, who accused President William Ruto of not being honest with the NADCO report. According to Raila, he will push for the adoption of the NADCO report even if it means going back to the streets. Raila further alleged that President William Ruto is walking the same path walked by one of his predecessors, Mwai Kibaki, which led to the 2007 Post-election violence that left many people dead. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, February 5, 2024 - Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga seems to have changed a lot after he donated a staggering Sh 1 million to the victims of the Embakasi gas inferno, which claimed the lives of 6 people and left over 300 injured. Raila has been known to be one of the stingiest politicians in the country but on Saturday, he donated Sh 1 million to the victims. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino announced that Raila had sent the amount to him as part of his donation to the victims. At the same time, Babu said he had also committed a personal donation of Sh1 million to help all those affected by the Thursday night explosion. "Today morning H.E Baba Raila Amolo Odinga sent me 1 million Kenya Shillings to help the fire victims,'' Babu said on his official X account. The MP in whose constituency the tragedy happened said more politicians allied to the Azimio coalition are also contributing to the kitty. ''In addition, I have donated an extra Sh1 million towards this noble cause totaling Sh2 million. Other Azimio Leaders are also contributing towards this,'' said Babu. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, February 5, 2024 Killer Mike was taken away from the Grammys in handcuffs, after winning three awards. The 48-year-old American rapper won Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for 'Scientists & Engineers,' and the Best Rap Album for Michael. However, shortly after he posed with his awards, the police arrived and led him out of the venue. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) have not said why he was arrested, but The Hollywood Reporter said it was for a misdemeanor and was not related to the awards. Killer Mike is well known for his political activism. He was a vocal supporter of Bernie Sanders, and endorsed Democrat Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock for his home state of Georgia. Watch the video below. Monday, February 5, 2024 - A prominent Wiper Democratic Movement Member of Parliament has faulted the High Court ruling that approved the recruitment of new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioners. High Court Judge Mugure Thande ordered the selection panel to proceed with the process, saying the political truce by the bipartisan talks committee does not override the Constitution. In a Monday panel discussion on Citizen TV, Kathiani Member of Parliament, Robert Mbui, challenged the court decision, saying it would give the Kenya Kwanza coalition party more of a say than the other parties. For a judge to make a decision and say that 'proceed' it means that already the 2027 election is predetermined. That is what we are fearing, said Mbui. The MP emphasized the need for respect among the three arms of government, in that the court should not give rulings on matters that are being discussed in parliament. One of the deliberations from the NADCO report was to tell the selection panel to stop and await the outcome of the process that brought all these players together, he said. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Monday, February 5, 2024 Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has urged Kenyans to be patient with President William Ruto and his government and continue supporting him to ensure he achieves his objective. This is after it emerged that the Kenya Kwanza government is losing support among Kenyans at an alarming rate due to bad policies. Speaking in Kakamega yesterday, Mudavadi noted that the Kenya Kwanza government is working on strategic, comprehensive, and deliberate efforts to ensure the economy bounces back to positive growth. As such, he reiterated that Kenyans should accord Ruto support for the country to realize economic prosperity. Mudavadi affirmed that the government is pragmatic while engaging in foreign diplomacy, saying the aim is to ensure Kenya gains back her international reputation and subsequently ease negotiations for business and investment. "The economic partnerships and agreements we are signing with most of the countries are aimed at ensuring we create a ready market for our exports once we achieve stable production levels," said Mudavadi. "When the President sends his foot soldiers in foreign countries, he is aiming at ensuring we get avenues for jobs and trade for our people. We want in the near future to see Kenya exporting even sugar from our Mumias and Nzoia companies to China, the Gulf nations among other key partners we are engaging," he added. According to Mudavadi, Ruto has realised that Kenya has a huge agricultural potential and challenged Western Kenya to emulate their peers in other regions and embrace agriculture. "In Africa, Kenya is now at the forefront in terms of negotiating with countries that will help us get out of the economic quagmire that has made our youth lack jobs. "What we need to focus on is production and value addition since the public debt menace will soon be a thing of the past," Mudavadi assured. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Monday, February 5, 2024 - President William Ruto was not a happy man yesterday after his security detail manhandled a man who just wanted to speak to him in Kakamega. The Head of State was at the dais in Kakamega concluding his speech when the unidentified youth approached, his right hand hoisted in the air while holding a framed Kenyan government emblem. Immediately, the presidential detail consisting of 5 officers rushed and lifted the man off the ground, taking him away from the dais. Due to the forceful way the security officers lifted him, the sandals worn by the youthful man came off while he was resisting. Reacting to the demeaning incident, Ruto directed the security not to manhandle the poor hustler but to escort him to the VIP tent where he would engage him in a conversation once he concluded his speech. "Haya, wacha aketi hapa. Wewe mlete hapa. Leta yeye hapa. Mlete hapa aketi nitamuongelesha baadaye. Asante sana," he told the team (Alright, let him sit here (stated Ruto while pointing towards the VIP tent where his chair was). Bring him here. Let him sit (in the tent) I will talk to him later. Thank you.) Ruto also rushed through his speech, revealing to the crowd that he would be hosting Polish President Andrzej Duda at State House in Nairobi. The two leaders were expected to hold talks centering on a Ksh8 billion project to boost the fortunes of local dairy farmers. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Monday, February 5, 2024 - Renowned social media commentator, Cyprian Nyakundi, has shared a message he received from one of the survivors of last week's gas explosion in Embakasi, which claimed the lives of 6 people and injured over 300. According to government spokesman Isaac Mwaura, the gas depot was operating illegally. Four people died immediately after the explosion, and the remaining two passed away while receiving treatment at various hospitals in Nairobi County. Already, the police are searching for the owner of the gas depot identified as Derrick Kimathi, and four officials from the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) have been suspended. They will face prosecution for issuing licenses to the illegal firm. However, one of the survivors has informed Cyprian that the government is not accurately reporting the fatalities resulting from the explosion. The survivor stated that immediately after the explosion, over 10 people died, and subsequently, there have been dozens more who have died at various hospitals in Nairobi. Here is what Cyprian Nyakundi wrote on X on Monday. Monday, February 5, 2024 - Renowned activist Njeri Wa Migwi rescued a pregnant lady who was almost killed by her doctor boyfriend in Ruiru. He wanted her to get rid of the pregnancy and when she refused, he hatched an evil plan. She almost lost her life but luckily, Njeri came to her rescue. Below is a post by the activist revealing what exactly happened? The Kenyan DAILY POST. Monday, February 5, 2024 - Fans of the local film industry have been reeling in shock following the sudden demise of veteran actor Charles Charlie Ouda. Charlie is renowned for his roles in popular shows like Makutano Junction, Junction Junior, Second Family and Salem. Charlies family announced his sudden demise through a statement, leaving Kenyans speculating. It is now emerging that he took his own life. According to well-placed sources, he has been silently battling alcoholism. He seemed okay on the last day he was seen alive but deep down, he was suffering in silence. He attended a party held for the casts of Maisha Magics Salem Show before he took his own life. One of the stars of the show, Jackie Matubia, took to Instagram to express her profound grief, sharing memories of happier times spent with Charles. In a series of videos from the previous day, they were seen laughing and enjoying each others company, oblivious to the tragedy that would soon unfold. In her posts, Jackie conveyed her disbelief and sorrow at Charless sudden departure. She reminisced about his vibrant spirit and zest for life, unable to come to terms with the fact that he was gone. My heart is broken, Someone wake me up, with a candle, Jackie wrote. Charles was 38 years old at the time of his untimely death. His family issued a statement and appealed to everyone to respect the privacy of the grieving fiancee Ciku Muriuki and the Ouda family during this difficult time. It is with deep sorrow that the family of Charles Charlie J. Ouda and Ciru Muriuki inform you of his passing on the night of 3rd February 2024. "He was a beloved son, brother, and friend. Charlie was 38 years old, the statement read. We appeal to all to give his fiancee Ciru, and the Oudas space to grieve this unfathomable loss. "More details will be given in due course, the statement continued. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Monday, February 5, 2024 - National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula, has responded to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who had termed him as an incompetent Speaker. On Sunday, Raila Odinga said Wetangula is not fit to serve as a speaker after he moved to the Supreme Court to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling that declared the housing levy as unconstitutional. The former Premier said the decision by Wetang'ula to move to the apex court was irregular as he oversaw the passage of the Housing Levy as speaker of the National Assembly. "Moses Wetang'ula does not deserve to be speaker of the National Assembly," Raila said. However, in a rejoinder, Wetang'ula said Raila Odinga should get his facts right, before displaying such public outbursts. "Get the facts right before such outbursts! Misplaced, misdirected & unhelpful anger Mr Raila Odinga," Wetang'ula said on X. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Sunday, February 4, 2024 Former US President, Donald Trump has previewed his criteria for selecting a vice president and acknowledged some personnel mishaps during his first administration. Its gotta be who is going to be a good president. You always have to think that, Trump told Fox Business Networks Sunday Morning Futures. I have a lot of good people. We have a lot of really good people. he said I have a lot of good ideas, but I havent and theres no reason to do that quickly, he added, before calling Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) a real tiger and lauding South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem for not running against him. Trump said he wont announce his VP pick for a while and also admitted to making personnel mistakes in his first term. Of course, but everybody does. Obama had. What about Biden? Look at the people running this Biden thing. The difference is, I fire people, Trump said when pressed by host Maria Bartiromo. I fired Comey. I got rid of him. The 77-year-old former US leader explained that he had been an outsider before taking office in 2016 and now has more familiarity with political talent. I also know people that I didnt know before. I know now the smart ones. I know the dumb ones. I know the weak ones and the strong ones. Trump revealed he intends to bring some old Cabinet members back in a hypothetical second term. At another point in the interview, while stressing that Chinese leader Xi Jinping was a very good friend of mine during my term, Trump predicted that China would meddle in the 2024 election against him. 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, he said. When asked about how he was going to bring the anti-Trumpers back on board, Trump highlighted his record on domestic policy. I dont know if theyre really anti-Trumpers. They want they want security. They want safety. They want a great economy. They want a strong border, he said. Ahead of the Nov. 5 election, Trump has been slapped with 91 criminal counts.Trump has pleaded not guilty to all of those counts against him and denied wrongdoing.Last week in Manhattan federal court the former president was hit with an $83.3 million jury verdict for defaming advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. Its all about courage. You have to have courage for the country, he said. If I didnt run or if I was in fifth place, I wouldnt have any indictments. Anytime I get indicted, its an honor, because Im doing it for you and the people agree with it. Monday, February 5, 2024 - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reached out to former President Uhuru Kenyatta for help. Blinken called Uhuru and the conversation centered around the escalating conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In a statement issued by the Department of State, it was revealed that Blinken emphasized the importance of the Nairobi Process in providing a pathway to reconciliation with armed groups. America's top diplomat remarked that Uhuru and other regional leaders were playing a valuable role in assisting DRC and Rwanda in implementing the confidence-building measures. Uhuru has been leading the peacekeeping mission alongside other leaders in his capacity as East Africa Facilitator at DRC and Kenyas peace envoy to the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region. Part of his mandate includes; mediating between the DRC government and local armed groups terrorising the citizens. The former Head of State has been lauded by regional leaders including President William Ruto who has previously noted that Uhuru was doing commendable work in restoring peace. In 2023, Uhuru received financial backing from foreign powers to aid his mission in DRC. Despite the funding, Uhuru noted that one of the challenges he was facing was a lack of trust from the fighting groups. Due to his efforts, Uhuru was awarded the National Order of the Republic of Burundi award (the highest award of honour in Burundi). The United States has been championing the end of the war in DRC. In 2022, the US Department of State called upon the M23 armed group to cease fire. The Kenyan DAILY POST Monday, February 5, 2024 President William Rutos controversial Haiti mission may be dead on arrival. This is after the US Government stopped funding the mission until further notice. Republican politicians opposed to US President Joe Biden's policies have raised questions over the foreign power's pledge to fund Kenya's peace restoration mission in Haiti, insisting on being furnished with more details before green-lighting the operation. According to reports from McClatchy, an American publication, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member James Risch have blocked the release of the funds, over questions on how the entire deal has been structured. "The administration has yet to deliver on specific commitments it promised to Congress as part of the review process," stated a Spokesperson from McCaul's office. According to the politicians, the US government has already released Ksh2.7 billion towards the operation but the executive has requested for more funding to support the mission. However, Republican politicians have requested more supporting documents before releasing the rest of the amount of the entire Ksh8 billion (USD50 million) requested. Another concern raised by the lawmakers was what would be the next course of action if Kenya failed to proceed with the peacekeeping mission. Meanwhile, Mario Diaz-Balart, the Florida Republican Representative noted that the recent court ruling barring Kenya's mission was a major concern. "There needs to be more information, along with further explanation to how much of a cost burden the Joe Biden administration wants to assume," Diaz-Balart told the publication. The US was among the various countries that have pledged support for the multinational mission. The UN was set to disburse funds towards this goal. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki last year, revealed that the whole operation would cost Ksh90.9 billion. However, the mission was halted by the High Court, with judges terming it as unconstitutional. Nevertheless, President William Ruto has insisted that the mission will go on as planned despite the court ruling. The Kenyan DAILY POST. By AFP US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday for another Middle East crisis tour, hoping to secure a new truce in the Israel-Hamas war as Gaza saw no let-up in fighting. On his fifth trip to the region since Hamass October 7 attack that triggered the war, Blinken landed in Riyadh and was later expected to visit Israel, Egypt and Qatar. Ahead of the trip he stressed the need for urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza, after aid groups have repeatedly sounded the alarm over the devastating impact nearly four months of war have had on the besieged territory. The situation is indescribable, said Said Hamouda, a Palestinian who fled his home in the Gaza Strip to the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt. Over the weekend, Israel pressed further south towards the densely-crowded border city, warning that its ground forces could advance on Rafah as part of the campaign to eradicate Hamas. On Monday morning, sources told AFP they could hear artillery shelling in the areas of eastern Rafah and Khan Yunis, where Israel believes high-ranking Hamas officials are hiding. At least 128 people, mostly women and children, were killed in Israeli strikes overnight to Monday, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory. The Hamas government media office said Israeli bombardment had continued across the centre and south of the coastal Strip, including near hospitals. The Israeli military said troops operating in the northern and central Gaza Strip had killed dozens of terrorists, and were engaging with Hamas militants in the Khan Yunis area. Hamass armed wing said its militants attacked Israeli troops southwest of Gaza City. No agreement yet Blinken is expected to discuss a proposed truce thrashed out in a Paris meeting in January of top US, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials. The Israeli military said troops operating in the northern and central Gaza Strip had killed dozens of terrorists, and were engaging with Hamas militants in the Khan Yunis area. Hamass armed wing said its militants attacked Israeli troops southwest of Gaza City. No agreement yet Blinken is expected to discuss a proposed truce thrashed out in a Paris meeting in January of top US, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials. Vowing to eliminate Hamas, Israel launched a massive military offensive that has killed at least 27,478 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-ruled territorys 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. UNRWA itself is facing a major controversy after accusations that 12 staff members were involved in Hamass October 7 attack. More than a dozen countries, led by the United States, suspended their funding to the agency after the claims surfaced. On Sunday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned that nations suspending funding to UNRWA were threatening the existence of an agency providing vital aid to more than 1.1 million people in Gaza suffering from catastrophic hunger and the outbreak of diseases. Humanitarian crisis Before departing for the region, Blinken said the humanitarian crisis would be one of his focuses. Urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza and advancing stability in the Middle East are priorities we share with Saudi Arabia, Blinken said he told Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan. The Gulf state had been mulling establishing formal relations with Israel before the war. After talks in January with de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Blinken said he still saw a clear interest in pursuing normalisation. Blinkens latest Middle East visit comes as Israels National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told the Wall Street Journal that its key ally had not shown sufficient support. The National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) has urged the Ugandan government to conduct a mandatory audit of all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) before proceeding with the proposed merger. The plan involves streamlining the functions of 33 agencies back into their respective ministries, merging 63 agencies, and retaining only 61 across different sectors. NEED Secretary-General Asuman Odaka expressed concern about potential mismanagement of taxpayer funds within various agencies and called for accountability before the merger takes place. He acknowledged President Musevenis claim that merging agencies with similar functions would save over Shs1 trillion, but argued that this amount pales in comparison to the money lost due to corruption within these agencies. Odaka warned that the merger is unlikely to achieve its intended results unless the government addresses the rampant corruption within MDAs. By Peter Sserugo The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Parliamentary Caucus has unanimously resolved to back the earlier rejected omnibus Bill on the rationalisation of government agencies. According to the resolution from the Friday caucus meeting with President Museveni, who also doubles as the party chairman at State House,Entebbe,it was agreed that the ruling party MPs should support the enactment of the legislation in Parliament. In November last year, Parliament rejected the Rationalisation of Government Agencies (Repeals and Amendments), Bill, 2023, and Speaker Anita Among advised the government to table separate bills. However, the government Chief Whip, Mr Hamson Obua, noted that after an interaction with the President and the Minister of Public Service,the ruling party MPs reached a unanimous consensus to support the re-enactment of the Bill. We the members of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus, conscious of the strategic subject of rationalisation of government agencies, having received, in Read more in todays copy of the Daily Monitor. Police in Mayuge District have rescued 83 children from suspected traffickers who reportedly picked them from different parts of Busoga sub-region. Police say the children, aged between five and 16 years, were found confined in a house in Wabulungu village, Magamaga town council, Mayuge District, after reportedly being picked from Bugiri, Iganga, Mayuge and Kamuli Districts. The Mayuge District Police Commander, Ms Agnes Aanyu, said the children, most of whom she described as emaciated, were on Monday (today) set to be transported to an ungazetted area under the guise of being enrolled in different schools. Ms Aanyu said concerned residents tipped Police after noticing that the children were living in deplorable conditions. We got there with my team, including the chief administrative officer (CAO), resident district commissioner (RDC), and found boys sharing the same shelter with girls in bad living conditions, Ms Aanyu said on Monday. Ms Aanyu further revealed that 40-year-old Justine Namugere, who was informing the childrens parents that she had secured bursaries for them, was arrested and is being detained at Mayuge Central Police Station. According to Ms Aanyu, Ms Namugere is said to have been using her organisation identified as NAMU Mission-Uganda to convince parents to give her their children with a promise to offer them scholarships. We were not aware of this organisations existence, work and have preferred charges of child trafficking against the suspect. I urge all parents whose children had been taken under an arrangement with NAMU-Uganda to crosscheck with Police and pick them, Ms Aanyu added. Ms Namugere, however, says her organisation is legally recognised and blamed sabotage for her woes and eventual arrest. My organisation is legally known all over the country and I even have certificates allowing me to operate in Mayuge and Iganga (districts), she said. Ms Namugere also confessed to picking up the children from different parts of Busoga with an aim of enrolling them in schools for cheaper education, but not human trafficking as it is being alleged. The Mayuge deputy RDC, Mr Hamis Kiganira, described Ms Namugeres narrative as a scapegoat, saying there are cheap private and government-aided (universal primary education) schools in the area. Mr Kiganira said sub-counties in Mayuge District, especially those bordering water bodies like Malongo, are prone to child trafficking, with some of the children reportedly being trafficked for rebel activities. He, however, says the problem is being minimised by the intensified work of security through the office of the RDC. Police in Greater Masaka and Kyotera have arrested a suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) collaborator after close monitoring by the joint border team based in Mutukula. Addressing journalists on Monday, police spokesperson, Mr Fred Enanga, revealed that Mr Ssekayiba Ishak was profiled and that the security teams monitored his movements as he crossed the border in a vehicle with a South African registration number plate. He has always crossed from Uganda to South Africa and the countries in between. He was found in possession of an assortment of electric wires, and security lamps, and arrangements are in place to have them handed to the country terrorism headquarters here in Kampala, Enanga told journalists. Abdul Rashid Kyoto alias Njovu, the alleged commander of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel unit in Mwalika in eastern DR Congo was last year arraigned before court and charged with nine counts, including terrorism, murder, and aggravated robbery in connection to the October 17, 2023 killing of two British tourists and their Ugandan guide at Queen Elizabeth National Park in Kasese district. An Amherst nail salon has learned the hard way that it cannot have a blanket no dogs allowed policy. The U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday that it has reached a settlement with Le Petit Nails & Spa on Transit Road to resolve a complaint that the business refused to cater to a person with a service dog, which is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, according to the Western District U.S. Attorneys Office. Under the settlement agreement, the salon has agreed to refrain from discriminating against anyone on the basis of having a disability, including those who require the use of a service animal. Le Petit has also agreed to post signs at its business that clearly state: Notice: Service Animals Welcome, according to the agreement. The DOJ is responsible for enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act. The complaint was filed with the DOJ by an unidentified U.S. Marine Corps veteran who has a military service-connected, post-traumatic stress disorder for which he receives psychiatric treatment and requires the use of a service dog. According to the complaint, the man also suffers from depression and anxiety, for which he also receives treatment. The man who initiated the complaint said he tried to enter Le Petit last year with his wife to obtain a pedicure. He said he was stopped at the door by an employee of the establishment who informed him that dogs were not allowed inside the business. After some discussion, he was told the same thing by the business owner. The incident left him feeling isolated and invalidated, the complaint said. A person who answered the telephone at Le Petit Nails & Spa on Monday said the owner of the salon was not available to comment. As part of its agreement with the DOJ, the business has agreed to post signs in conspicuous locations on the front door and at the front desk of the establishment that announce service animals are welcome. In addition, Le Petit Nails & Spa has agreed to pay $1,000 to the man who filed the complaint; adopt a policy that states it does not discriminate; and provide services to those with disabilities, including people who use service animals. The settlement agreement is the sixth of its kind that the DOJ has reached with a nail salon through its U.S. Attorney Program for ADA Enforcement, and the first such settlement in the Western District of New York. A TV series which shines a light on the effect that fatal crimes have on society, local communities and on the victims families as they are left without answers will feature local woman, Lisa Doyle later this month. Episode 2 of Maru Inar Measc, airing on February 7, features the family of 24-year-old former model Lisa Doyle who was strangled to death with a shoelace by her fiancee Gerard OHara in Leighlinbridge, Co. Carlow, on September 20, 2009. Lisas murder sent shockwaves through the community as her family grappled to make sense of what had happened. On the morning of September 20, Gerard OHara walked into Carlow Garda Station with a note in his hand, stating that he had done a terrible thing to Lisa. What OHara, previously unknown to the Gardai, had done came to light with the most devastating impact on the local community and Lisas family. Lisas family now understand that their sister had been living under coercive control and they hope that no one will ever have to suffer like their sister did. In this documentary we learn what support can be given to families who have to navigate sudden and traumatic death. This documentary features interviews with Lisas sister Anglea Doyle Stuart, who hopes that she can support others experiencing similar tragedies, former detective Brendan Murphy who was first on the scene and spokesperson for Support After Homicide Rita OQuigley, alongside interviews with local journalist Eimear Ni Bhraonain and Lisas former school principal George DArcy. This is a new documentary series byMidas Productions on TG4 Midas Productions and TG4 have produced a podcast, Maru Inar Measc, which runs alongside the TV edition and explores the societal impact of each case and is available to listen to across all the major podcast platforms. Helpline Information If you are affected by any of the content in either the podcast or documentary please contact: Women's Aid - 24hr National Freephone Helpline 1800 341 900 www.womensaid.ie Samaritans Ireland Freephone: 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.ie 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. Over 300 Gardai were out policing two Dublin-based protests this Monday, making 11 arrests over the course of the day. Two separate gatherings took place, one which assembled on O'Connell Street and one which assembled on Parnell Square and marched to the Custom House Quay. United Against Racism organised a protest on O'Connell Street, as a counter to an Ireland Says No anti-refugee gathering outside Custom House Quay. On Sunday, Dublin Fire Brigade battled a blaze in a vacant building in South Dublin, after it was reported to have been earmarked to accommodate international protection applicants. Speaking about todays operation, Strategic Commander Chief Superintendent McMenamin said: "Today a significant policing operation was deployed in Dublin City Centre. "Gardai had to police a challenging environment with a number of public gatherings organised and attended by persons with divergent and opposing views whilst also managing the rights of citizens to enjoy the amenity that is Dublin City Centre. "Despite the challenging environment and the intensity of opposing interactions, particularly on OConnell street, the events passed off primarily peacefully. "I want to thank the business community and public transport companies in Dublin City Centre for their support throughout the afternoon." 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. 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. 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. 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. Principals and deputy principals from across Irelands Education & Training Boards (ETBs), including Kilkenny & Carlow ETB, have called for an increase in the allocation of deputy principals in ETB post primary schools with DEIS designation, at their national conference this week. Over 300 delegates were joined by Dr Katriona OSullivan, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science in Maynooth University, and bestselling author of Poor, who challenged them to expect and support excellence from all their students. Education is all about relationships, Dr OSullivan told the ETB Principals and Deputy Principals, and relationships require time and space. The allocation of more Deputy Principals can transform a school, freeing up school leaders to support students and teachers develop relationships where talent can shine. Paddy Lavelle, General Secretary of Education and Training Boards Ireland agrees: ETBs have the highest proportion of DEIS post-primary schools in the country, 129 in total, and their young people need and deserve adequate supports. The deputy principal role is a crucial one: the high administrative burden placed on principals means the deputy principal is, typically, the staff-member available to identify challenges or risks for the student body or individual students; to provide support to students experiencing difficulties; to keep a watching eye on at-risk students and to liaise with other support services to ensure all students get the care and attention they need. We are appealing to the Department to increase the allocation by and believe this will make a significant impact on outcomes for our learners, some of whom are the most vulnerable young people in society. From the feedback weve received from our principals, this increase will help relieve the administrative burden and free them up for a greater focus on teaching and learning, providing increased support for student support and wellbeing, and professional support for their teachers," he said. This years ETBI Principals and Deputy Principals Conference was also addressed by Dr Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children and Prof Selina McCoy, Associate Research Professor ESRI. Delegates also attended workshops on meeting the challenges of vaping, hidden bullying and the new Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum. More than 2,400 photo booth-sized faces from Robert Hirschs Ghosts: French Holocaust Children inhabit one of CEPA Gallerys two downstairs gallery spaces. In CEPAs second-floor space, 600 more of the haunting images are shown in Ghosts Boxcar #3, in a replica wooden box car used to take Jews to the concentration camps. Peek inside, out of public view, and there are yet more faces, bringing memory to those otherwise forgotten. It took Hirsch, co-curator with Ruby Merritt of CEPAs ambitious new art exhibition, The Power of Resilience and Hope Photography and the Holocaust: Then & Now, decades to decide how to respond meaningfully as a Jewish artist to that period, and many years after that to bring his powerful photomontage to completion. Ninety percent of his family members from that time were murdered in the Holocaust. These pictures came from passports, I.D. pictures made by the Nazis and family snapshots, and I wanted to do something to express my feelings of loss, said the 74-year-old Hirsch, CEPAs executive director from 1993 to 1999. This was about absence, and I wanted to make the absence present. To do that, Hirsch re-photographed all of the images using an extreme close-up lens, with limited depth of field, to bring the essence of each picture into sharp focus, he said. The rest of the image intentionally fades into the background, representing the curtailing of their lives. The box car was accurately re-created. Hirsch is one of 30 contemporary, regional and international artists, some of whom are not Jewish, represented in the two-part show at the downtown Market Arcade Complex, 617 Main St. The second installation will begin March 23 and close May 31. Small exhibits are also in satellite locations: Western New York Book Arts Center, 468 Washington St., as well as by appointment only at Mirabo Press, 11 Botsford Place (email mirabopress@gmail.com). A 122-page exhibition catalog accompanies the exhibition. Learn more at cepagallery.org. We couldnt believe we found so many artists making work about the Holocaust, Merritt said. Claire Leggett, CEPAs executive director, said the exhibition is rooted in the Holocaust but its reach extends beyond it. I think this show is an incredibly powerful study of how transgenerational trauma effects individuals and communities as a whole, Leggett said. We still have a lot of grappling to do with our past, and this offers perspective of persecution as a whole, using the experience of the Holocaust as a microcosm. The loss of family members stalks the exhibition. In The Weeping Scroll, Douglas Busch employs an interactive, 88-foot-long Torah-like scroll of Jewish families, many of whom died at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators. A large installation from Tatana Kellners Holocaust series, in CEPAs basement gallery, presents 35 of her family members who perished, memorializing them among barbed wire and and other ghetto images they were corralled in before being transported to their deaths. Tom Carpenters backlit installation of porcelain lithophanes, Transcending Darkness with Light, is emblazoned with the faces of Jewish children murdered in the Holocaust. Rebecca Schwarzberg uses nesting dolls to represent familial lineage, including those who didnt survive the camps. Other approaches are taken to represent the murder of 6 million Jews from 1941 to 1945. Modern Martyrs, by Phillip Schwartz, uses iconography to interpret some of the most disturbing images the Nazis photographed. Jonas Kulikauskas I Often Forget uses gelatin silver contact prints paired with excerpts from historical diaries in manila folders for people to hold and read. Jeffrey Wolins Written in Memory, from the series Portraits of the Holocaust, presents poignant portraits of survivors with text in the background that recounts their experiences. Photographs on large canvasses by Debbie Morag, born in a Displaced Persons camp, show other daughters of survivors clutching objects of value to their parents. Many artworks deal with the Holocausts aftermath. Jason Langers black-and-white Berlin: A Jewish Ode to the Metropolis series features portraiture and architecture, including a snowy photo of a toppled dinosaur in an abandoned German amusement park. Stephen Berkman uses photographic and optical processes to present 19th-century Jewish Eastern European culture, including puppetry, to provide a broader context for what came later. Some images are controversial. Stanley Burns digitized and colorized Holocaust photographs in Without Guilt, Without Shame include titles juxtaposed with horrific images that some will find flippant and offensive. Burns happens to have one of the largest collections of Holocaust images in private hands anywhere in the world, and that was his response to it, Hirsch said. A lot of work is not in my style, and as a curator I felt my job was to present as many different approaches as I came across in researching this over the years. The rise of antisemitism in the U.S. and worldwide in recent years has made the project more important, the curators said. We said many times how unfortunately timely our exhibit is, Merritt said, because there has been over the past four years that we have worked on this a rise in antisemitism and racist hate in general. The project was conceived before Hamas murderous assault Oct. 7 that killed 1,139 Israelis, and Israels response, which has killed more than 26,000 Palestinians and made much of the Gaza Strip uninhabitable. Hirsch said that when he grew up, it was rare in Jewish families to talk about the Holocaust, just as soldiers who fought in World War II rarely discussed their wartime experiences. Thats another reason why I think this is so important, Hirsch said. This project, in a sense, is the culmination of a lifetime of thinking about the incomprehensiveness of the Holocaust. We are appalled and stunned. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Democrat of California and the former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, on Jan. 28, called for the FBI to investigate the pro-Palestinian protesters who are calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. She suggested that some activists may have ties to Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin. These unfounded accusations were made without providing any evidence whatsoever. She made the incendiary remarks during an interview on CNNs State of the Union. saying, Make no mistake, this is directly connected to what he would like to see. Same thing with Ukraine. Its about Putins message. I think some of these protesters are spontaneous and organic and sincere. Some, I think, are connected to Russia. And I say that having looked at this for a long time now, as you know. She was asked for clarification on whether she thought some anti-war protesters were planted by Russia, she said: I dont think theyre plants. I think some financing should be investigated. And I want to ask the FBI to investigate that. This coming from one of the most senior and influential Democratic leaders of our country who was elected as the Speaker of the House in 2005 and 2019 before she relinquished her leadership position to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Rep. Pelosis accusations are a smear campaign against millions of peace-loving and patriotic Americans who are incensed with the genocidal practices of the apartheid Israeli state. Such unsubstantiated statements are despicable and fraught with the danger of inflaming an already combustible situation. This is not what Americans expect from responsible leadership. As representatives and advocates for the Muslim community, as well as proud Americans, we are utterly dismayed by Rep. Pelosis ill-conceived remarks. Implying that even one person who has exercised the right to freedom of speech by demanding a ceasefire in Palestine has been influenced by Putin is outrageous and preposterous. Millions of Americans are demanding action from their elected leaders and voicing their disgust with the ongoing massacre of children, women, and unarmed and defenseless civilians in Palestine. The time is now for Rep. Pelosi to work for a complete and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, redouble her efforts for peace and justice for Palestinians, and ask for release of all the hostages in Gaza and the prisoners held by Israel without any charges or trials. Muslim Public Affairs Council of Western New York would urge Rep. Pelosi to speak to the radical leadership in Israel to stop this carnage and the evil deeds of the Netanyahu government. That is the need of the hour. Khalid J. Qazi and Carolynn B. Sozen are on the Executive Board, Muslim Public Affairs Council-WNY. 1 News reports: Lonely Planet's revealed its top beaches to visit in its new travel guide book, Best Beaches. Among the list is Te Whanganui-A-Hei/Cathedral Cove in the Coromandel Peninsula. The beach boasts a naturally formed rock archway, perfect for taking in the picturesque surrounds of the peninsula. Cathedral Cove and Awaroa Beach joined the likes of The Pass in Cape Byron, Australia; Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro, brazil; and Sugar Beach in St Lucia on the list. At least 28 killed in strike on Russian-occupied town in eastern Ukraine Nine out of ten South Koreans are skeptical about the possibility of North Korea abandoning its nuclear program, a survey showed Monday, as the reclusive country continues to advance its nuclear weapons and missile programs. According to the Gallup Korea poll of 1,043 adults, commissioned by the Chey Institute for Advanced Studies, 91 percent replied that the North's denuclearization was "impossible." Of them, 41.4 percent considered denuclearization to be "not possible at all," while 49.7 percent said it was not possible. In last year's poll, 77.6 percent of the respondents said they believed North's denuclearization was impossible. In the latest survey, 60.8 percent said it was unlikely for the United States to demonstrate nuclear deterrence on the Korean Peninsula in the event of a contingency at the risk of its own mainland being attacked by missiles, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles or submarine-launched ballistic missiles. Some 39.3 percent of the respondents said it was likely for Washington to exercise extended deterrence to defend Seoul despite the risk. The survey was conducted from Dec. 15 last year to Jan. 10 through one-on-one in-person interviews. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points. (Yonhap) Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Snow showers. High 34F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A few flurries are possible. Low 27F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Angola, IN (46703) Today Snow this morning will transition to snow showers this afternoon. High 36F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. A few flurries are possible. Low 26F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Dobrinka Gueorguieva pores over bank and pension information at her home in Ottawa's Hunt Club neighbourhood. (Stu Mills/CBC - image credit) A recently widowed Ottawa woman has had to fight her bank to get the pension funds she worked for returned to her after the financial institution deposited the money into someone else's account. Dobrinka Gueorguieva's husband Gintcho died suddenly last March. Earlier that same month, Gueorguieva, a former hospital cleaner, provided a void cheque to the private pension fund that would begin making payments to her upon her planned retirement last June. Gueorguieva believed the account number on the cheque was current, but told CBC her husband had done all the couple's banking when he was alive. In spite of her husband's death, Gueorguieva pressed on with the couple's lifelong dream of taking their grandchildren on a tour of Bulgaria, the country they left in 1990. It was there, where she sprinkled her husband's ashes on the soil of their homeland, that Gueorguieva discovered she was running out of money. A photograph of Dobrinka Gueorguieva's late husband Gintcho stands in her dining room. A photograph of Gueorguieva's late husband Gintcho sits in her dining room. (Stu Mills/CBC) Bank 'recycled' account When she returned home to Ottawa, Gueorguieva made the first of many visits to her CIBC branch in the Train Yards shopping district where she received some baffling news about the void cheque she'd provided. "They tell me this account does not exist anymore," she recalled. Gueorguieva was shocked to learn that the account number on the void cheque she'd provided to set up her pension deposits had been "recycled" by the bank around the time CIBC moved its branch from a plaza at the corner of Conroy Road and Lorry Greenberg Drive to the new location at Train Yards. A partly-vacant building is the former home of Dobrinka Gueorguieva's CIBC branch at Conroy Road and Lorry Greenberg. Gueorguieva's former CIBC branch at Conroy Road and Lorry Greenberg Drive. (Stu Mills/CBC) There was more startling news. CIBC told Gueorguieva that five cheques from her pension income had been deposited into a stranger's account, and that customer had chosen not to return the money. Story continues The bank told her it was able to recover the three most recent deposits because she'd caught the mistake within a 90-day complaint period. But two months' worth of payments totalling $1139.71 money paid out while she was mourning her husband in Bulgaria could not be recovered, and Gueorguieva was told she'd need to take the other customer to court to get it back. "It's very strange for me, and confusing," she said. Had to borrow money Gueorguieva said she defaulted on credit cards and borrowed from close friends and family to buy groceries and pay bills. CIBC staff at the Train Yards branch declined to answer CBC's questions about Gueorguieva's predicament. Michel Thellend, a paralegal working on Gueorguieva's behalf, filed a complaint with the bank using its internal complaint process. Thellend said the CIBC branch manager explained to him that it normally checks account numbers for "conflicts" before they're assigned to new customers. "It appears one eluded them," Thellend said. Photographs from a long-planned return to Bulgaria are treasured memories in Dobrinka Gueorguieva's phone. Photographs from a long-planned return to Bulgaria are treasured memories in Gueorguieva's phone. (Stu Mills/CBC) After CBC inquired with CIBC's head office about why the major bank wouldn't recognize its own role in the blunder and simply compensate Gueorguieva for the missing money, the retiree was reimbursed. Last month she moved all of her banking to RBC. Thellend said CIBC had been in contact with him about possible further compensation for Gueorguieva. In a recent fashion week, THIS 2nd-gen K-pop icon made headlines for her unrelenting visuals and physique in her 40s with two kids. After School Kahi attended the opening show of the 2024 F/W Seoul Fashion Week (SFW) which was held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul on the afternoon of February 1st. The event was participated by numerous fashion celebrities, idols and actors, including NewJeans, the global promotional ambassador of SFW. After School Kahi Makes Fans' Jaws Drop With Her Youthful Appearance On this day, Kahi became the main attraction as she appeared boldly despite the cold weather. In particular, she showed up wearing a knitted white cropped T-shirt and shorts under a long trench coat. She then completed her #OOTD with a knee-length, black, high boots. Upon her entry into the photo op wall, she received a rain of flashing lights as Korean media journalists continued to take numerous photos of her. When her real-time photos were uploaded to media outlets, it wasn't long before Kahi drew attention to her perfect visuals that are comparable to fourth and fifth-gen artists. ALSO READ: Kahi Gets 'Fab Abs' Back Just 5 Months After Giving Birth! Even without fancy makeup and hairstyle, the K-pop icon managed to steal the spotlight with her contagious smile and youthful era. Her physique also attracted massive praise from K-pop fans and internet users, due to her solid abs and ant waist, you wouldn't even think she had already given birth to two sons. Lastly, her long, smooth legs also drew admiration, showing that even a 44-year-old idol can slay trendy outfits through proper self-care! Meanwhile, the 2024 F/W Seoul Fashion Week will be held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and Seongsu S-factory until May 5. It will consist of a trade show featuring 68 brands with 21 brands (15 DDP and 6 Seongsu S-factory) and more than 300 domestic and foreign buyers (100 people from 14 foreign countries). Where Is Kahi Now? Idol's Self-Care to Maintain Healthy Body, Visuals RELATED ARTICLE: Where is After School Now? A Look into a K-pop Group With Only 1 Active Member After Kahi married her businessman husband in 2016, they moved to Bali, Indonesia with her two children there. Her last activity in the K-pop scene was in 2022, when she re-debuted in the project girl group, MAMADOL as its main dancer. Other than that, she's managing her personal YouTube channel as a vlogger and influencer, releasing content focused on idol dance choreographies, dance covers and health-related videos. In her videos, she also helped moms how to stay fit despite being in their 40s at their homes by giving tips such as playing sports, doing home training and doing dance workout routines. READ MORE: Former After School Kahi Gives Honest Opinion on aespa and 'Next Level' + See Dance Cover For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dawson. TWICE's Jeongyeon continues to dominate online discussions following her recent appearances at the group's electrifying shows in Mexico. The culmination of their fifth world tour brought in massive crowds, and as expected, Jeongyeon's performances not only captured the hearts of the ONCEs present in the stadium but also resonated widely through clips shared on various social media platforms. Jeongyeon's Bold Red Ensemble Steals the Spotlight at Concert, Igniting Fan Conversations In the midst of her consistently stellar performances, one particular ensemble worn by Jeongyeon during a segment of the concert has become a focal point of spirited fan conversations. The attention-grabbing outfit featured a bold and vibrant red color palette, showcasing a ruffled corset top elegantly paired with black shorts. The striking combination sparked diverse reactions, with fans expressing both admiration and critique. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: TWICE Jeongyeon's 'Beauty' Under Siege As THIS Celebrity Claims Unmatched Gorgeousness: 'I'm prettier...' Fan's Critique Sparks Fashion Controversy Surrounding Jeongyeon's Wardrobe Choices The controversy ensued when a fan openly expressed dissatisfaction with the stylistic choice, contending that the outfit did not "flatter" Jeongyeon. Im so mad at twices stylists for putting jeongyeon in shit that does not flatter her shape like you know damn well u should emphasize her hips better pic.twitter.com/vFbJyHg9Y8 popstar (@metroflora) February 4, 2024 NETIZENS React yk damn well it's not about the outfit bc put this same fit on any of the other members and you guys would eat it up. i wish for jeongyeon stans to stop obsessing over the idea that the stylist should "flatter her figure" (which is just another way to say you want her to look hourglass shape), she looks absolutely beautiful here, there's nothing wrong with how this outfit shapes her Mind you there is nothing wrong with her outfit and she looks beautiful. "the clothes they give her make her look too bulky" or maybe it's just her body type and yall are fatphobic? she looks great here Yall don't see how similar you are to those body shaming her. And that's the really sad part. She looks good what's the problem You just hate her body. That outfit is cute, y'all are just obsessed with body checking idols bro what??? she looks so good. y'all just don't like it because she's a thicker woman. if this was on any idol that's smaller, this fit would be everybody's favorite look. come on now. this literally looks amazing on her? yall have this discussion EVERY TIME shes on stage, let it go PLEASE. Theres nothing wrong with her outfit. She looks good Tee (@HER_PERS0NA) February 4, 2024 This singular critique, however, ignited a myriad of responses from fans with varying opinions. Social media platforms became a battleground of contrasting perspectives, with netizens fervently praising the outfit's boldness, applauding the intricate balance of colors, textures, and the thoughtful addition of accessories. The discourse expanded beyond the specific outfit, delving into the broader discussion of critics dissecting Jeongyeon's entire wardrobe. Some fans vehemently defended her stylistic choices, asserting that her outfits consistently complement her unique beauty. In doing so, they shed light on the prejudice and unwarranted comments faced by the idol, emphasizing that regardless of her attire, unnecessary criticisms persist. Netizens Celebrate Jeongyeon's Fashion Choices Amid Wardrobe Debate Netizens countered the ongoing wardrobe debate by actively sharing images of Jeongyeon in outfits they personally adore, celebrating the idol's fashion choices that, in their view, perfectly enhance her natural beauty. jeongyeon in red is so dangerous pic.twitter.com/pGRQeYK4Yl February 3, 2024 However, an interesting facet of the conversation emerged as fans argued that the excessive focus on Jeongyeon's wardrobe detracts from her exceptional stage presence. Since her debut, Jeongyeon has consistently exuded a natural charisma on stage, endearing her to fans who appreciate not only her visual appeal but also her genuine personality. Beyond the controversies, many admirers see the red outfit as a standout moment during the tour, elevating Jeongyeon's overall performance and solidifying its status as a fan-favorite look. I think Jeongyeon has been getting pretty outfits for this tour that suit her really well but we all know its the not the outfits that yall have a problem with https://t.co/N8aXEC81Kh pic.twitter.com/4jKb3k1oSm Princilla (@_princilla_) February 4, 2024 READ ALSO: TWICE Jeongyeon, ITZY Yeji Send Stans Into Frenzy With Their Cute Interaction on Instagram Live For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Cassidy Jones. Environmental groups in Canada are calling for stronger measures to oppose greenwashing, a blanket term for misleading or unsupported statements about a product or company's environmental record (Alastair Grant/The Associated Press - image credit) "Eco-friendly." "Carbon neutral." "Net-zero." These kinds of claims are a near-constant in advertising campaigns and promotions. But it can be difficult to know if they are true. The federal government wants to strengthen how the Competition Bureau handles complaints about "greenwashing" a blanket term for misleading or unsupported statements about a product or company's environmental record. Even with those changes, though, advocates say Canada will still be far behind the European Union and other jurisdictions when it comes to making sure a company's statements are accurate. "We are lagging," said Matt Hulse, a lawyer with the Canadian environmental group Ecojustice. "We're seeing decisions by competition bureaus or the equivalent in other countries that we're not making here in Canada." The calls for improvements come against a backdrop of increased accusations of deceitful marketing practices, with Canada's largest bank and an oilsands group both the subject of investigations. Some business leaders, as well, fear rampant greenwashing undermines honest efforts to build enviro-friendly brands. The Competition Act, which applies to advertising claims, is expected to be amended as part of legislation making its way through Parliament. The proposed changes would require businesses that claim a product has environmental protection or climate change benefits to be able to back up their statements with "an adequate and proper test." Yet these new rules will be difficult to enforce, critics say. "We don't have the level of oversights and enforcement that we need and that's the result of a lot of different factors, one being the lack of capacity from the Competition Bureau to tackle these issues," Hulse said. Environmental activist groups including Greenpeace are seen climbing a Shell oil tank to protest against "greenwashing" advertisements in Rotterdam, Netherlands October 4, 2021. Environmental activist groups including Greenpeace are seen climbing a Shell oil tank to protest against advertisements in Netherlands in 2021. (Eva Plevier/Reuters) Story continues Slow process, few fines In total, eight investigations involving greenwashing have been opened by the Competition Bureau in the past two years, including one against the Royal Bank and another against Pathways Alliance, which represents major oilsands producers. Neither has been settled. Others that have resulted in fines have been few and far between. One of the most significant was against Keurig Canada, which was ordered by the Competition Bureau in 2022 to pay a $3 million penalty for making misleading claims that its single-use K-Cup pods can be recycled. Last year, Shell Canada halted a promotional campaign which encouraged customers to fund carbon-offset projects at the fuel pump amid an investigation by the bureau. Greenpeace filed the complaint, arguing there was a lack of evidence Shell could wholly offset emissions from its fossil fuels and major shortcomings with its carbon offsets scheme. Innovation, Science and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne speaks at Canada's Competition Summit hosted by the Competition Bureau Canada in Ottawa on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023. Innovation, Science and Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne speaks at the Competition Summit, hosted by the Competition Bureau, in Ottawa on Oct. 5, 2023. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press) Keith Stewart, a spokesperson for the environmental group, said he sees Shell dropping the campaign as a victory. But it also highlights Canada's flawed process, he said. The Shell campaign ran for three years, from 2020 until November 2023, ending before the bureau made a decision. "If you're a company, what you could do is you could start an advertising campaign and when the complaint goes in, you withdraw the advertising campaign," Stewart said. "We actually need to have some real teeth put into our truth-in-advertising laws." In the Netherlands, by contrast, Shell was quickly ordered in 2021 to discontinue the Dutch version of its campaign, arguing that the neutrality claim could not be proven. (Shell disputed the decision, but lost its appeal). In a statement, Shell spokesperson Stephen Doolan said the company decided to retire the program in Canada. "Our focus remains on providing our customers with the most competitive offers, including low-carbon alternatives that keep pace with consumer demand," Doolan said. Activists take part in a demonstration against greenwashing at a climate summit in Glasgow 2021. Activists take part in a demonstration against greenwashing at a climate summit in Glasgow 2021. (Alastair Grant/The Associated Press) A game of 'Whac-A-Mole' In Canada, environmentalists argue the rules against greenwashing should apply not just to claims about a product itself, but also to a company's commitments, such as a promise to achieve "net-zero" by 2050. Such commitments, Hulse says, should be supported with publicly available evidence. A separate department within the Competition Bureau, something like a watchdog unit recently set up in the United Kingdom, would also help speed up the process, he said. "It all starts with the enforcement capacity," he said. "Are we tackling this systemic problem in a systemic manner and not doing a bit of a Whac-A-Mole as complaints happen to come across the doorstep of the Competition Bureau?" The European Union is planning to put in place more specific rules to address deceptive marketing. Under a proposed law, terms like "environmentally friendly," "natural," "biodegradable" and "climate neutral" would be prohibited unless a company can offer proof. Businesses want clarity, too In a statement, Innovation Canada, which oversees the Competition Bureau, said the proposed rules regarding environmental claims builds on the bureau's "existing expertise in enforcing the law, and will apply economy-wide." Still, experts warn that, without stronger regulations, the faith consumers have in green commitments will be further eroded. Already, more than half of Canadian consumers do not believe most green claims brands make, according to a recent survey by Deloitte. As it stands, the lack of clarity isn't just an issue for environmentalists. Businesses are also frustrated, says Wren Montgomery, who specializes in corporate sustainability at the Ivey Business School at Western University in London, Ont. "Companies are really scared about sort of stepping in it around greenwashing, which makes them really hesitant to speak out," she said. Montgomery recalled speaking to a classroom full of executives who told her: "'We want to do more and we want to talk about what we're doing, but we're really scared that we're going to be called out for greenwashing.'" "I think that really speaks to the sort of ambivalence and confusing nature of what's out there now," she said. Daily News 05 / 02 / 2024 First evaluation of the Frontex Regulation delivers overall positive assessments despite challenges On 2 February, the Commission adopted the evaluation of the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation (Frontex Regulation) together with an Action Plan to support its implementation. With this first evaluation of the Frontex Regulation, which is a legal obligation, the Commission has assessed the impact, effectiveness, and efficiency of the Agency. The evaluation finds that, despite significant challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, the instrumentalisation of migration and Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine Frontex has significantly contributed to strengthening the management of the EU's external borders in full compliance with fundamental rights. To mitigate and address the challenges identified, the Commission also proposed an Action Plan to support the implementation of the Frontex Regulation, with a number of recommendations to be implemented by the Agency, its Management Board, Member States, and the Commission. The Commission will work with Member States and Frontex to address identified shortcomings and closely monitor the action plan's implementation. For more information, a press release is available online . (For more information: Anitta Hipper - Tel.: +32 2 298 56 91; Elettra Di Massa Tel.: +32 2 298 21 61) EU and IFC to unlock over 500 million in private sector investments for reconstruction in Ukraine The European Commission and IFC have just signed a guarantee agreement to support investments that will help drive an inclusive and sustainable reconstruction in Ukraine. Through the agreement, the European Union will provide up to 90 million in financial guarantees to support investments in Ukraine to the IFC a member of the World Bank Group as part of IFC's Better Futures Program (BFP) . Mobilised investments under the program by the private sector are expected to reach more than 500 million across sectors including essential infrastructure and goods production, promoting decarbonisation, and the preservation of livelihoods. In 2022, the IFC launched the $2 billion Economic Resilience Action (ERA) Program to support Ukraine's private sector. Since then, the IFC has provided financing of over $650 million and mobilised over $400 million to support the tech sector, agribusiness, critical exports and imports, and SME finance. It complements the World Bank Group's joint efforts to help businesses stay afloat and enable the government to provide essential services and make critical repairs. Total EU support to Ukraine and its people since the beginning of Russia's war of aggression amounts to over 88 billion. This includes contributions from EU institutions and Member States for economic, financial, military, and humanitarian support, as well as hosting Ukrainian refugees in EU Member States. A press release is available online. (For more information: Ana Pisonero - Tel: +32 229-54320; Zoi Muletier Tel.: +32 229-94306) Olive oil from Turkiye added to register of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO) The European Commission has today added Aydin Memecik Zeytinyagi, a natural extra virgin olive oil, to the register of Protected Designations of Origin (PDO). The oil is obtained from the Memecik olive variety grown in Aydin. It has a green to golden yellow colour and an intense fruit odour. The high levels of bitterness and pungency are particularly characteristic of Aydin Memecik Zeytinyagi. The oil contains fruity aroma of green almonds, green apples, and freshly mown grass. The Memecik olive variety, from which Aydin Memecik Zeytinyagi is produced, grows in the Southern Aegean Region of Turkiye. The oil is produced exclusively within the borders of the province of Aydin. A Mediterranean climate prevails in the region. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are rainy. Snowfall is very rare. The province of Aydin is located in the Buyuk Menderes Basin. As the Buyuk Menderes Valley opens up to the sea, the warming winds and rainfall from the sea can easily reach the interior. These winds give the oil its unique properties and protect the olives from the olive fly during the ripening period. Olive cultivation in this region has been practiced for over 2,000 years. This new denomination will be added to the list of 1,686 agricultural products already protected. The list of all protected geographical indications can be found in the eAmbrosia database. More information is available online at Quality Schemes and on our GIView portal. (For more information: Olof Gill Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Myrto-Amaryllis Lappa Tel.: +32 2 299 70 98) EU provides 1 million to support humanitarian response to cholera outbreak in Zambia The Commission will provide 1 million to Zambia, to support the country in its response to the ongoing cholera epidemic, which is putting around 3.5 million people at risk. The emergency funding will support humanitarian partners UNICEF and the WHO in their efforts to address immediate and critical needs related to Health, water, hygiene and sanitation. As of 31 January 2024, the cumulative number of cases stood at 16,526 with 613 deaths. There is a high fatality rate of close to 4%, with most of the cases and deaths reported in Lusaka Province. As the rainy season in the country is expected to continue until May, further floods due to heavy rains in Lusaka urban and peri-urban areas could re-ignite the spread of cases. (For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Daniel Puglisi - Tel.: +32 2 296 91 40) Commission welcomes continued airline competition on the routes from Amsterdam to the US The European Commission welcomes the positive developments at Amsterdam airport enabling new entrant JetBlue Airways Corporation (JetBlue') to continue operating at the airport over the IATA Summer 2024 Season. The Commission has actively and closely monitored the evolution of the market conditions at Amsterdam airport. Specifically, this concerned the degree of congestion of the airport and the operations of the Blue Skies joint venture (JV') between Air France-KLM Group, Delta and Virgin Atlantic, to identify any risk of serious and irreparable damage to competition for transatlantic traffic, in particular on the Amsterdam-New York route. The Commission stood ready to intervene with interim measures in case JetBlue did not secure appropriate access to Amsterdam airport for the IATA Summer 2024 Season. Between 2010 and 2015, the Commission investigated three JVs related to transatlantic passenger services: (i) Oneworld Atlantic Joint Business (American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair and Iberia), (ii) Star A++ (Air Canada, United Airlines and Lufthansa), and (iii) the TAJV between Skyteam members Air France-KLM Group, Alitalia and Delta. In 2020, the Blue Skies JV between Air France-KLM Group, Delta and Virgin Atlantic replaced the TAJV and the former JV between Delta and Virgin Atlantic. As a result of its investigations, the Commission found that, on certain hub-to-hub transatlantic routes such as Amsterdam-New York, the entry of a new competitor or the expansion of an existing competitor was necessary to remedy the distortive effects of the joint ventures. The Commission will continue its monitoring ahead of the IATA Summer 2025 Season. A press release is available online. (For more information: Lea Zuber Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Sara Simonini - Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67) Commission approves 300 million Polish State aid scheme to alleviate social costs of closing coal- and lignite-fired power plants and lignite mines The European Commission has approved, under EU State Aid rules, a 300 million Polish scheme to support workers affected by the closure of coal- and lignite-fired power plants and lignite mines. Poland notified to the Commission its plan to introduce a 300 million scheme to provide financial support to those workers who will lose their jobs due to the closure of coal- and lignite-fired power plants and lignite mines. Under the measure, the support will take the form of a one-year severance payment for employees, which they can choose in place of the severance payments foreseen in the applicable collective labour agreements. Poland also notified, for legal certainty, a paid leave up to four years for employees close to pension age until their retirement. The scheme will run for a period of 10 years until February 2034. Poland may request a prolongation after that period. The Commission assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107 (3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU'), which enables Member States to support the development of certain economic activities subject to certain conditions, and the 2022 Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy (CEEAG'). On this basis, the Commission approved the Polish scheme under EU State aid rules. Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: This 300 million scheme will support the workers that will lose their jobs due to the unavoidable closure of the coal- and lignite-fired power plants and lignite mines in Poland. It shows that the Commission is committed to a green transition that leaves no one behind. A press release is available online. (For more information: Lea Zuber -Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 2 299 81 63) La Commission autorise un regime d'aides d'Etat francais de 325 millions d'euros en faveur de la production de chaleur a partir de biomasse La Commission europeenne a autorise, en vertu des regles de l'UE en matiere d'aides d'Etat, un regime d'aides francais d'un montant de 325 millions d'euros visant a soutenir la production de chaleur a partir de biomasse durable destinee a etre utilisee dans les processus de production manufacturiers et industriels. L'objectif de ce regime est d'encourager l'utilisation de sources d'energie renouvelables a la place de combustibles fossiles pour la production de chaleur. Le regime contribuera ainsi a l'atteinte des objectifs de l'Union et de la France en termes de reduction des emissions de gaz a effet de serre et d'augmentation de la part des energies renouvelables dans la consommation de chaleur. La mesure est ouverte aux producteurs de chaleur, industriels ou tiers energeticiens, qui mettent en place de nouvelles capacites de production de chaleur a partir de biomasse, pour une production energetique previsionnelle superieure a 12 GWh/an, et qui pourront ainsi contribuer significativement aux objectifs de decarbonation. Dans le cadre du regime, l'aide prendra la forme d'une subvention directe annuelle, versee sur une periode de 15 ans, qui vise a couvrir la difference de cout entre le projet de biomasse beneficiant de l'aide et son scenario contrefactuel consistant en la production de chaleur a partir de combustibles fossiles. Le regime sera en place jusqu'au 31 decembre 2025. La Commission a apprecie le regime au regard des regles de l'UE en matiere d'aides d'Etat, en particulier des lignes directrices de 2022 concernant les aides d'Etat au climat, a la protection de l'environnement et a l'energie. La Commission a estime que le regime est necessaire et approprie pour stimuler la production de chaleur a partir de biomasse durable dans le secteur industriel, conformement aux objectifs du pacte vert pour l'Europe. En outre, la Commission a constate que le regime est proportionne, car il est limite au minimum necessaire et que ses effets positifs, notamment sur l'environnement, compensent les eventuels effets negatifs en termes de distorsions de concurrence. Sur cette base, la Commission a autorise le regime francais, en vertu des regles de l'UE en matiere d'aides d'Etat. La version non confidentielle de la decision sera publiee sous le numero SA.59269 dans le registre des aides d'Etat figurant sur le site web de la Commission consacre a la concurrence, des que les eventuels problemes de confidentialite auront ete resolus. (Pour plus d'informations: Lea Zuber -Tel.: +32 2 295 62 98; Nina Ferreira - Tel.: +32 2 299 81 63) STATEMENTS Commission calls for eradication of Female Genital Mutilation worldwide Ahead of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation on 6 February 2024, the European Commission and High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell reaffirmed the EU's strong commitment to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation worldwide: Female Genital Mutilation is a violation of human rights and a form of violence against girls and women. Let us be clear: these procedures do not happen for medical reasons. The lives of girls are at risk, their human rights are violated and they suffer lasting physical and psychological trauma. There is simply no justification for Female Genital Mutilation. Communities, governments, organisations and international partners shall unite to protect women and girls' human rights, dignity and health. The European Union will continue to cooperate with international partners in a zero-tolerance approach towards Female Genital Mutilation to strive for a World where every girl and woman is free from any form of violence. The full statement is available online. (For more information: Anitta Hipper - Tel.: +32 2 298 56 91; Jordis Ferroli Tel.: +32 2 299 27 29) ANNOUNCEMENTS La commissaire Kyriakides en Ethiopie avec l'Equipe Europe pour renforcer la collaboration UE-Afrique dans le domaine de la sante Stella Kyriakides, commissaire chargee de la sante et de la securite alimentaire, se trouve aujourd'hui en Ethiopie jusqu'au 7 fevrier, dans le cadre d'une delegation de l'Equipe Europe qui comprend Caroline Gennez, ministre belge de la cooperation au developpement, et des representants de haut niveau de 9 Etats membres. La commissaire et les representants d'Etat membre tiendront un dialogue conjoint avec des representants de l'Union africaine et des centres africains de controle et de prevention des maladies (Africa CDC), afin de discuter d'une cooperation plus approfondie sur des questions cles pour la sante mondiale et d'explorer de nouveaux domaines de collaboration. Cela se fera conformement a la strategie mondiale de l'UE en matiere de sante ainsi qu'au nouvel ordre de sante publique pour l'Afrique. Cette visite est l'occasion d'approfondir le partenariat UE-Afrique dans le domaine de la sante mondiale, avec des investissements Global Gateway offrant des possibilites de fournir de meilleurs soins de sante aux citoyens, le developpement de la fabrication locale de vaccins et de medicaments, et de renforcer la securite sanitaire en Afrique, en Europe et dans le monde. Aujourd'hui, la commissaire participera a une ceremonie de signature d'accords de cooperation avec l'Africa CDC, afin de renforcer les capacites de ce dernier a consolider l'architecture continentale de securite sanitaire en adoptant l'approche One Health . Soutenus par l'Autorite de preparation et intervention en cas d'urgence sanitaire (HERA) de la Commission, les accords viseront notamment a intensifier la surveillance basee sur le sequencage et a renforcer les capacites des reseaux de laboratoires de sante publique pour la detection des epidemies et la reaction a celles-ci. Pendant son sejour a Addis-Abeba, la commissaire visitera egalement un refuge pour les femmes et les jeunes filles victimes de violences fondees sur le genre, echangera avec des scientifiques de l'hopital specialise Tikur Anbessa, et discutera avec des etudiants de l'universite d'Addis-Abeba. Plus d'informations disponibles ici. (Pour plus d'informations : Stefan De Keersmaecker Tel. : +32 2 298 46 80; Ana Apse-Paese Tel. : +32 2 298 73 48) Commissioners Ferreira and Schmit participate in the informal General Affairs Council on Cohesion Policy, in Mons Tomorrow, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira and Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights Nicolas Schmit will participate in an informal meeting of the General Affairs Council on Cohesion Policy in Mons, Belgium. Organised by the Belgian Presidency of the Council to the EU and chaired by the Minister-President of Wallonia, Elio Di Rupo, the meeting will gather 27 national ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy to share their strategic vision for the future trajectory of the policy. They will discuss how Cohesion Policy needs to be adapted in the post-2027 period, to ensure that it continues to deliver on its mandate of supporting prosperity and convergence in Europe. Cohesion Policy is the EU's main long-term investment tool. It contributes to correcting imbalances between countries and regions and strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion across the EU. On Tuesday, 6 February, at 13:00, a press conference on the outcomes of the meeting will be held by Commissioner Ferreira and Minister-President of Wallonia Elio di Rupo. The press conference can be followed live on EbS, with additional information on the meeting available here. (For more information: Stefan de Keersmaecker - Tel.: +32 229 84680; Laetitia Close - Tel.: +32 229 67073) Tentative agendas for forthcoming Commission meetings Note that these items can be subject to changes. Upcoming events of the European Commission Eurostat press releases Zarazeno po 05.02.2024 12:02:00 Zdroj Evropska komise en Original ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/documents?reference=MEX/24/646&language=en lang en guid /MEX/24/646/ Eradication of Female Genital Mutilation worldwide Ahead of the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation on 6 February 2024, the European Commission and the High Representative/Vice-President reaffirm the EU's strong commitment to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation worldwide: Female Genital Mutilation is a violation of human rights and a form of violence against girls and women. Let us be clear: these procedures do not happen for medical reasons. The lives of girls are at risk, their human rights are violated and they suffer lasting physical and psychological trauma. There is simply no justification for Female Genital Mutilation. Communities, governments, organisations and international partners shall unite to protect women and girls' human rights, dignity and health. The European Union will continue to cooperate with international partners in a zero-tolerance approach towards Female Genital Mutilation to strive for a World where every girl and woman is free from any form of violence. Last year, the European Union ratified the Istanbul Convention. This is a crucial step underlining violence against women as a human rights violation. Another important step will be to enshrine the effective criminalisation of Female Genital Mutilation in EU law. We are working on these rules and they will be part of a broader legal framework to combat all forms of violence against women. In our proposal to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence we suggest to specifically criminalises Female Genital Mutilation as a self-standing offence. The proposal is currently under negotiations. We are also preparing a recommendation on how to prevent harmful practices against women and girls in the first place. In Europe and across the world, women and girls need to be free from Female Genital Mutilation and all other forms of violence. Background Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons, as defined by the World Health Organization. It is a form of violence against women and girls and has severe life-long physical and psychological consequences. It is estimated that 190,000 girls in 17 European countries alone are at risk of being mutilated while 600,000 women are living with the consequences of FGM in Europe. Every year at least 20,000 women and girls are coming to Europe from FGM-risk countries as asylum seekers. The European Commission is strongly committed to ending all forms of gender-based violence including FGM both inside and outside the EU as outlined in the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024, the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, the EU Gender Action Plan III, and the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child, which aims to end violence against children. In line with these policies and our commitment to end FGM in Europe and globally, we support and cooperate with survivors, affected families and communities, experts and policymakers. Criminalisation of FGM is required under the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention). The Convention was signed by all EU Member States and has been ratified by 22 Member States so far. The Convention entered into force for the EU on 1 October 2023. With this accession, the EU is bound by ambitious and comprehensive standards to prevent and combat violence against women in the areas of judicial cooperation in criminal matters, asylum and non-refoulement, and its public administration. In March 2022, the Commission put forward a proposal to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence, which specifically criminalises FGM as a self-standing offence. The proposal is currently under negotiations. The Commission will also soon adopt a specific Recommendation on preventing and combating harmful practices against women and girls, including FGM, in 2024. This would include specific suggested actions directed at Member States and additional and specialised support for the protection of victims of harmful practices such as FGM. The Commission's Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) offers funding for projects tackling gender-based violence, including FGM. In November 2023, the Commission published a new call for proposals to prevent and combat gender-based violence. Projects can be submitted until 24 April 2024. Harmful practices are among the call's priorities, covering female genital mutilation, intersex genital mutilation, forced abortion, forced sterilisation, child and forced marriage or honour-related violence. The 1989 UN Convention on the rights of the child, to which all EU Member States are party, also condemns violence against children. In 2021, the Commission adopted a comprehensive EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child to reinforce the EU's commitment to safeguarding children from FGM in EU Member States and globally, and emphasise the importance of education, awareness-raising, and legal measures to eradicate FGM practices, with concrete actions and recommendations to end all forms of violence against children. In the context of external action and development cooperation, ending FGM continues to be a key action under the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024 and the EU Gender Action Plan 2021-2025. This is reflected in political dialogues as well as concrete actions. The EU and its Member States has been a leading donor of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, supporting it with a total contribution of 18.5 million since 2016. The EU contributed 60 million to support the Team Europe Initiative on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Africa, and 23,5 million to the Spotlight Africa Regional Programme, that combats gender-based violence, including FGM in 18 partner countries. The EU seeks to transform social and gender norms by partnering with men and boys, which is key to ending FGM and child marriage. By 2023, over 6 million boys and men have participated in dialogue and education sessions that reinforce positive masculinity and male engagement to prevent harmful practices and empower girls, facilitated by close to 900,000 religious, traditional and community leaders mobilised by the programme. For More Information European Commission webpages on Ending gender-based violence Factsheet - Myth-busting Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Research from the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) on prevalence of female genital mutilation Zarazeno po 05.02.2024 12:02:00 Zdroj Evropska komise en Original ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/api/documents?reference=STATEMENT/24/605&language=en lang en guid /STATEMENT/24/605/ "Lake Wales Envisioned" to Screen Twice During Panama City Event A documentary film about the creation of the Lake Wales Envisioned planning process has been selected for screening at the annual Redfish festival in Panama City, FL. The film, produced by Lee Dover of the Dover, Kohl & Partners planning film, is a recap of the effort and results of the six-month community-wide effort that resulted in a "roadmap" that may help prevent sprawling residential developments from overwhelming the city in the future. Numerous local residents and civic leaders were interviewed for the film, which premiered in Lake Wales in October before a large audience at the Lake Wales Woman's Club auditorium. Courtesy Dover, Kohl & Partners Theresa Lee Dover produced the documentary film which will be entered in the Redfish Film Festival. The film features dozens of Lake Wales locations, and residents who share their ideas about the future of the area. The film's selection was announced at this past weekend's Seaside Prize celebration when Redfish Film Festival founder Kevin Elliott took the mic and announced that the documentary film about Lake Wales Envisioned will be screened twice during the festival, April 11-13, 2024, in historic Panama City. About the festival: According to organizers, "Redfish is a documentary film festival in historic downtown Panama City, Florida. Our goal is to be the premier event of its kind in the Southeast U.S. We will be celebrating the documentary art-form and throw quite a few great parties. "The festival includes the films along with keynote addresses, panels, and discussions. Downtown Panama City will be the host location for an opening night red carpet party, a community block party, VIP meet-the-artists gatherings, a closing night casual gala, and an Anthony Bourdain-themed champagne brunch." The 76th AnnAnniversary of Independence of Sri Lanka was celebrated at the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva with a multi-religious ceremony attended by the representatives of Sri Lankan Community and Mission staff. PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 5: The Children's Academy Group of Schools hosted the prestigious Shri. V.V. Bhat Memorial Trophy Competition on February 3rd, 2024, at its Malad branch. Marking its 22nd year, the competition witnessed an astounding participation of over 1450 students from 40+ schools across Mumbai and its neighboring regions. The coveted Shri. V.V. Bhat Memorial Trophy was awarded to St. Joseph School Malad with St. John's High School, SSC, Siddharth Nagar being the 1st Runners Up and Thakur Public School being the 2nd Runners up. Established in 2002, the competition honors the legacy of the school's founding Principal, Shri. V.V. Bhat, who championed a holistic educational approach emphasizing both academic and co-curricular activities. As Rohit Bhat, CEO of the Academy, stated, "Shri V. V. Bhat believed that education goes beyond textbooks, and this competition embodies that spirit. We strive to create unique and thought-provoking challenges that encourage creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking." Also Read | Layoffs Will Continue in 2024, Middle Managers and Remote Workers Will Be Particularly Vulnerable: Report. True to its tradition of innovation, the 2024 edition revolved around the theme 'Inside Out' This theme inspired 18 diverse events designed for students across grades 1 to 10. From 'Doodle Delight' to 'Rhythm of Harmony,' the competitions sparked imagination and showcased the immense talent of the young participants. Unlike typical competitions, the Shri. V.V. Bhat Memorial Trophy Competition awards points to the top 6 participants in each event, fostering inclusivity and encouraging participation across all categories. This unique approach underscores the competition's focus on recognizing well-rounded development rather than just individual winners. Also Read | Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas: 25 Religious Leaders From Minority Communities Meet PM Narendra Modi in Parliament, Endorse His Leadership (Watch Videos). With each successive year, the Shri. V.V. Bhat Memorial Trophy Competition continues to inspire young minds, celebrate individuality, and uphold the legacy of its namesake. By fostering creativity, collaboration, and a love for learning, the competition promises to leave a lasting impact on generations of students to come. About Children's Academy Group of Schools The Children's Academy Group of Schools was founded as a small school in a two room rented premises with a handful of students by the Late Shri V.V. Bhat in 1970. It shifted to a fully constructed seven-storied building at Bachani Nagar, Malad East in 1991. Today, it has grown to four schools catering to over 8000 students with 450 qualified and dedicated teachers. The other 3 branches are at Thane, Kandivali - Ashok Nagar and Thakur Complex. Website: https://www.childrens-academy.in/ Contact:Shraddha Bhat,Shraddha.bhat@children-academy.org+91-9819968056 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2334039/St_Joseph_School_Malad.jpgPhoto: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2334038/Dance.jpgLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1956326/4469240/The_Childrens_Academy_Group_of_Schools_Logo.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) NewsVoir Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], February 5: In a strategic and forward-thinking move, the board of VST Tillers Tractors Limited proudly announces the appointment of Arun Surendra as the new Chairman, effective February 1st, 2024. This significant transition follows the retirement of V.K. Surendra, a stalwart who has steered the Rs 1000 Cr. company as Chairman since 1996. Headquartered in Bengaluru, the VST Group with a turnover of Rs 4000 Cr. is a multifaceted entity encompassing manufacturing, automobile dealerships, an education institute, and financial services. Also Read | TG to Replace TS: Revanth Reddy Cabinet Approves Changing Telangana's Abbreviation to TG From Present TS. Arun Surendra, with an illustrious career spanning over 20 years within the VST Group, has been a driving force behind the expansion of the auto and financial services verticals. With an MBA from the Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management at the University of California, his visionary leadership is poised to navigate a transformative trajectory for the company. Assuming the mantle from the departing Chairman, V.K. Surendra, and working with Managing Director, V.T. Ravindra, the company is well-positioned to harness cutting-edge technologies, steering India's agricultural industry towards a progressive future. "Embracing a rich legacy, our company is a living testament to lasting excellence. With Arun at the helm, a torchbearer of our cherished tradition, his visionary leadership promises to spark excitement. I am confident that the organisation rests securely in the capable hands of the next generation," states V.K. Surendra as he passes the baton forward. Also Read | Tamil Nadu Shocker: Cops Rescue Man From Suicide Bid, Latter Slits Throat Inside Police Station in Palani. "Taking on this role is truly an honour, and I'm excited to lead with unwavering dedication. Together with our remarkable team, I'm committed to crafting a legacy that not only moulds the future of our industry but also leaves a positive footprint on a global scale. We're dedicated to ensuring prosperity spans generations, offering benefits to both our dedicated team members and valued shareholders," says Arun Surendra. VST Tillers Tractors Limited (VTTL) is India's leading farm equipment manufacturer. VTTL was established in the year 1967 by the VST Group of companies. With a legacy of more than 57 years, VTTL continues to drive farm mechanisation and empowerment of Indian farmers. The organization is the largest Indian manufacturer of tillers and a pioneer of 4WD compact tractors. Amongst the leading producers of the other categories of tractors, engines, transmissions, power reapers, and precision components. VTTL also exports products to European, Asian, and African markets. For more details, please visit www.vsttractors.com and vst-international.com. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (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, Feb 5 (PTI) A total of 344 antiquities have been returned to India from other countries since 2014, the government informed the Parliament on Monday. Union Minister of Culture G Kishan Reddy said this in a written response to a query in Lok Sabha. Also Read | TG to Replace TS: Revanth Reddy Cabinet Approves Changing Telangana's Abbreviation to TG From Present TS. Only one antiquity had been returned to India during 2004-13, according to the data shared by him in his response. A total of 115 antiquities were returned to India in 2023, and 344 antiquities have been returned since 2014, he said. Also Read | Tamil Nadu Shocker: Cops Rescue Man From Suicide Bid, Latter Slits Throat Inside Police Station in Palani. On a query regarding smuggled antiquities, he replied that 314 antiquities have been repatriated during the last five years, and he also shared the country-wise data. From the US, 262 such items were repatriated in the last five years, 15 from the UK, 35 antiquities were returned from Australia and one from Italy in the same period. The issue of repatriation was attempted to be addressed in the Culture Working Group event during the G20 Summit. The subjects was "Re(ad)dress: Return of Treasures", he added. Reddy, in response to another query, said the Ministry of Culture celebrated the life and sacrifices of socialist leader Karpoori Thakur on the occasion of his 100th birth anniversary on January 24, 2024. "His contribution to the freedom struggle and his honest public life as a politician were portrayed through an exhibition and a commemorative stamp and coin were released. On the eve of his birth centenary, the Government of India announced that Shri Karpoori Thakur Ji will be conferred with the highest civilian honour, Bharat Ratna, posthumously," Reddy said. On a query on Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, he said, a Digital District Repository has been compiled to discover and document the stories of people, events, and places linked to the freedom struggle at the micro level of the district. "As on date, about 14,500 stories have been compiled and uploaded on the portal. These stories are broadly classified under the heading - People & Personalities, Events & Happenings, Hidden Treasures -- Built & Natural Heritage, and Living Traditions & Art Forms," he said. -- (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Guwahati, Feb 5 (PTI) The Assam government has proposed to impose punishment of up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore on anyone found involved in unfair means in recruitment examinations, the state assembly was informed on Monday. Introducing the Assam Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Bill, 2024, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the proposed legislation will give full immunity to any government officer implementing the clauses in "good faith". Also Read | West Bengal Budget 2024-25: Discussed CAG Findings With Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Says Suvendu Adhikari. Sarma, in the Memorandum of the Bill, said it empowers the government to punish any person, including examinees, indulging in any attempt to leak, produce, sell, print or solve question papers directly or indirectly to assist a candidate and hold tests in undesignated centres. Such a person will be imprisoned for a minimum of five years, extendable up to 10 years, and shall also be liable to be fined at least Rs 10 lakh, which can go up to Rs 10 crore, the Bill mentioned. Also Read | Assam Teacher Recruitment 2023: Registration Date for Assistant Teachers Posts Extended Till February 13, Apply Online at dee.assam.gov.in. "...in case of default of payment of fine, such person shall also be liable to be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term of two years," it added. Besides, an examinee just indulging in unfair means is liable to be punished with imprisonment of up to three years and also liable to be fined a minimum of Rs 1 lakh, and another nine months of jail in case of default in payment, the tabled legislation said. The Bill will also empower the government to debar any examinee from taking any public examination for a period of two years if he or she has been convicted under the provisions of this law. "The court shall make an order of recovery of any wrongful gains made by such person, by way of attachment and sale any of the assets/property movable or immovable, or both, of such person," it said. The Bill also proposed to make all offences as cognisable, non-bailable and non-compoundable, and authorise an officer of deputy superintendent of police rank or above to probe the crimes. It also said that "no suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding" shall be applicable against any public servant acting under the direction of the Assam government for anything done or planning to do in "good faith" under this Act. The government in consultation with the Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court will also institute special courts, headed by not below Additional District and Sessions Judge, to try offences under this Act. Sarma, in the Statement of Object and Reasons of the Bill, said that it aims to provide an effective measure to prevent and curb the leaking of question papers and the use of unfair means in job tests to any post under the state government, including autonomous bodies, authorities, boards and corporations. (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 5 (ANI): In view of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, a joint meeting between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is likely to be held in Dehradun on February 19, sources said on Sunday. Leaders from both the BJP and RSS are expected to attend this meeting, including Arun Kumar from the RSS and Organization General Secretary BL Santosh from the BJP. Also Read | Noida Shocker: 24-Year-Old Meerut Man Stoned to Death by Three Men Following Clash During Cricket Match at Noida Extension. This meeting comes ahead of the BJP's national convention scheduled to be held on Feb 17 and 18 at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi. The convention will be inaugurated by the party's national president JP Nadda and conclude with a closing address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: TMC MP Dipak Adhikary Resigns From Panels of Three West Bengal Government Bodies Ahead of General Polls. A preliminary meeting of BJP's national office bearers is also planned a day before the convention. A meeting of BJP's national office bearers is also scheduled a day before. As per party leaders, the general secretaries, convenors of cells, presidents of all Morchas, municipal corporations, municipalities, nagar panchayats, and district panchayats will be invited to the convention. The National Executive, National Council office bearers, district presidents across the country, district in-charges, Lok Sabha in-charges, Cluster in-charges, Lok Sabha convenors, Lok Sabha extensionists, Disciplinary Committee, Finance Committee, chief spokespersons of states, Media Cell convenors, IT Cell officials at different levels from across the country, including convenors, have also been invited to the two-day brain-storming session, they added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], February 5 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Monday that she will be unable to attend the 'One Nation, One Election' meeting in Delhi. Instead, Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Kalyan Banerjee will attend the meeting. Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: Man Mistakenly Participates in Ex-Girlfriend's Wedding Procession in Ahmedabad, Gets Thrashed by Her Relatives; Case Registered. The chief minister was expected to attend a meeting in Delhi called by the Central government to discuss the 'One Nation, One Election' proposal. "I have cancelled my trip to Delhi because the state's budget is on February 8...and because I have only 2 days left, I have cancelled my trip to Delhi due to an emergency... I am sending Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Kalyan Banerjee on behalf of my party," CM Banerjee said. Also Read | Sanjay Singh Not Allowed To Take Oath As Rajya Sabha Member Despite Court Order, Says AAP. Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to the high-level committee on 'One Nation, One Election', saying that she does not agree with the concept of simultaneous polls as the Indian Constitution does not follow the concept. "Does the Indian Constitution follow the concept of 'One Nation, One Government? I am afraid it does not. Our Constitution conceives of the Indian nation in a federal manner. Therefore, the Indian nation has been given a Union Government and several State governments. If the framers of the Indian Constitution did not mention the concept of 'One Nation, One Government, how have you arrived at the concept of 'One Nation, One Election'?" the Trinamool Congress supremo said in her letter. On February 2, the High-Level Committee (HLC) on One Nation One Election, chaired by Ram Nath Kovind, former President of India, held a consultation round with a delegation from Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) comprising Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, R Dinesh, President, Sanjiv Puri, President Designate, Marut Sen Gupta, Deputy Director General, Amita Sarkar, Deputy Director General, Binoy Job, Executive Director, and G Srivastava, Chief Economic Strategy and Project Coordination. The delegation made a presentation before the committee in which the views of the industry on ONOE and its impact were highlighted, after which they presented a formal memorandum. Ram Nath Kovind, Chairman HLC also held an interaction today with Dr. Santosh Kumar Suman, Minister Government of Bihar & National Chairman, Hindustani Awaam Morcha (HAM), who presented the view of his party on holding simultaneous elections. The fifth meeting of the committee was attended by NK Singh, former Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, Dr Subhash C. Kashyap, former Secretary General, Lok Sabha and Sanjay Kothari, former Chief Vigilance Commissioner. One Nation, One Election was constituted through a notification dated September 20, 2023. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], February 5 (ANI): Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is set to visit Punjab's Samrala on February 11 to lead the state's first worker convention of the party. In a statement, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) leaders said that the convention is being organized by the Punjab Congress, under the leadership of PPCC Chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. Also Read | Noida Shocker: 24-Year-Old Meerut Man Stoned to Death by Three Men Following Clash During Cricket Match at Noida Extension. The statement credited the collective leadership of PPCC, including Raja Waring and Partap Singh Bajwa, for preparing the party body at various levels, emphasizing the significance of this convention before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. As per party leaders, MPs, MLAs, along with district, block, and mandal level presidents of the party will attend the convention. Apart from this, district, block, and mandal committees will also be in attendance at this convention. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: TMC MP Dipak Adhikary Resigns From Panels of Three West Bengal Government Bodies Ahead of General Polls. "This is the first-ever worker's convention that is being organised by Punjab Congress, as till now no other PPCC President was able to complete the entire body of Punjab Congress up to booth level committees," Punjab Congress leaders said. "It just goes on to showcase the hard work of Amarinder Singh Raja Warring that he has been able to complete the entire structure after only taking over as president two years back," they added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], February 5 (ANI): The Rouse Avenue court on Monday directed the CBI to file a detailed status report on the further investigation in a sealed cover in the Delhi Excise policy case. This direction was passed after the defence counsel objected to non-full disclosure about the status of the investigation. Special judge M K Nagpal directed the CBI to file a detailed status report by the next date of hearing. The matter has been listed on February 22 for further hearing. Also Read | Gujarati Thug Remark: Supreme Court Reserves Order on Quashing Defamation Case Against Tejashwi Yadav. Judicial custody of Former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia has also been extended till the next date. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a report stating that the investigation is ongoing and at a crucial stage. Also Read | Dog Attack in UK: Elderly Woman Mauled to Death by XL Bullys As Grandson Watched in Horror. The agency also stated that the investigation regarding the 16 charge-sheeted accused persons has been completed. Further investigation is ongoing against only the other accused and suspects in the case. The counsel for CBI submitted that the matter may be fixed for arguments on charges. Defence counsel opposed and submitted that the status report is incomplete. He also submitted that they received the translated copies of the documents supplied today. They need time for scrutiny. It was also submitted that there is no point of argument on charge without completion of the investigation. The court has also directed the CBI to get the software installed in the laptops of defence counsels to access the files related to the case. On January 19, the Rouse Avenue court called for a fresh status report from the CBI on the investigation. A compliance report was also filed by the IO stating search list is supplied. As per the compliance report a set of DVDs containing charge sheets and relied upon documents to counsel for accused, the court noted. The Supreme Court of India had dismissed the bail partition of Sisodia. His earlier bail applications were rejected by the High Court as well as the trial court. Sisodia was arrested by the CBI on February 26. ED arrested him on March 9. The ED has alleged that proceeds of crime of around Rs 622 crore have been generated due to the activities of the present accused Manish Sisodia. (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 5 (ANI): A final-year MBBS student died by hanging herself inside her hostel room at Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) in the national capital on Monday. According to the police, the 23-year-old lady student was found dead in her hostel room. Also Read | Assam Government Introduces Bill Imposing Rs 10 Crore Fine, 10 Years Jail if Found Cheating in Public Recruitment Exams. "A 23-years-old has committed suicide by hanging herself with ceiling fan. Information was received around 1.30 PM regarding suicide at MAMC in a hostel room," the police said. As per the police, no suicide note has been found yet. Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: Four-Year-Old Girl Raped by Private School Watchman in Kandivali; Accused Held. "Forensic teams have inspected the spot. No suicide note found yet. Friends and family are being questioned to ascertain the reasons behind the suicide," the police added. Further investigation into the matter in underway. (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, Feb 5 (PTI) The Citizenship Amendment Act will be implemented in West Bengal soon, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said on Monday, asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, which can abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, can also enforce the CAA. He was here in the national capital to meet Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Also Read | My Arrest a Black Chapter in Indian Democracy, Raj Bhavan Also Involved in Conspiracy, Alleges Jharkhand's Former CM Hemant Soren (Watch Video). Replying to questions, Adhikari said that the CAA was not part of the agenda of his meeting with the home minister. The CAA was passed by Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Its implementation is due which will happen soon, he said, adding, The government, which can abrogate Article 370, can also enforce the CAA. It's possible when Modi is there. Also Read | Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas: 25 Religious Leaders From Minority Communities Meet PM Narendra Modi in Parliament, Endorse His Leadership (Watch Videos). Under the CAA brought in by the Narendra Modi government, Indian nationality will be granted to persecuted non-Muslim migrants -- Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians -- from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who had come to India till December 31, 2014. There were massive protests in some parts of the country after the CAA was passed by Parliament in December 2019 and received the presidential assent subsequently. Speaking to reporters, Adhikari, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, refused to share details of his meeting with the home minister. I won't share what was discussed with the home minister. That you will see in the actions going to happen in the coming days You will see the action and reaction of the discussion that took place and the roadmap (prepared), he told reporters at the Parliament complex. (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 5 (ANI): India wants to maintain friendship with the whole world, but not compromise with the security of the country and its citizens, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday. Shah was addressing the launch event of the Observer Research Foundation's (ORF) Foreign Policy Survey in the national capital. Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: Four-Year-Old Girl Raped by Private School Watchman in Kandivali; Accused Held. From the time of independence until 2014, India had no policy for internal security, and even if there was one, it was buried under the burden of India's foreign policy, he said. Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India's foreign policy has also become clear. Also Read | Germany: Bushido Trial Ends with Fine for Berlin Clan Boss. "We want to maintain friendship with the whole world, but we will not compromise with the security of the country and its citizens. Modi ji has presented the country's internal and external security policy to the world with thrust, and the world has also respected our rights," he said. He further said that if a country's borders are not secure, the country cannot remain safe because the security of the border is national security. "We have worked to ensure the security of the borders through border security, border-to-border and people-to-people connectivity, and multidimensional and integrated policies," he said. He said that under the Vibrant Village Programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has instilled confidence in the people by calling the village, which was considered to be the last village of the country, the first village of the country. In the last two years, work has been done to achieve 100 per cent saturation of 300 government schemes in 6,000 border villages. (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 5 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has hit out at the Central government over the release of funds for the state, saying that the dwindling grants-in-aid and the glaring absence of budgeted funds raise the question of whether the autonomy of the Finance Commission is merely a 'facade' under the BJP. Karnataka CM, who also announced a protest against the BJP-led centre on Wednesday, said that the demonstration is not a political one but an attempt to' safeguard the interest' of the state. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: 23-Year-Old Final Year MBBS Student Found Hanging in Hostel at Maulana Azad Medical College. "FM @nsitharaman, in the Parliament today, asserts the sanctity of the Finance Commission's recommendations. But, the NITI Aayog CEO's revelations about @narendramodi's attempts to sway the Commission, paint a different picture. The rejection of Rs 5,495 cr in special grants for Karnataka, despite the Commission's advice, the dwindling grants-in-aid, and the glaring absence of budgeted funds such as the Rs 5,300 cr for the Upper Bhadra project, all lead to the question: Is the Finance Commission's autonomy merely a facade under @BJP4India?" Siddaramaiah said in a post on X. He also invited all party leaders to join the protest called by the Karnataka government and said that the Congress government wants to ensure that our concerns are heard by the Union government. Also Read | Bihar Shocker: Man Loses Eye in Brutal Assault in Jamui After Row Erupts Over Child Picking Up Cauliflower From Agricultural Field. "I invite @BJP4Karnataka MPs, MLAs and leaders to join during the protest to raise our voice for the State's Rights. We are staging protest at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar on February 7 to safeguard the interests of the state. We are committed to honouring the trust and opportunity bestowed upon us by the citizens of the state. We anticipated that the Union government would adhere to the principles of the federal system, and we have been awaiting the fulfilment of the commitments made in last year's budget. The state government is inviting all parties to join the protest to demand justice for Kannadigas. We are protesting to ensure that our concerns are heard by the Union Government," he added. He also claimed that the Union Government had announced to provide Rs 5,300 crores to the Upper Bhadra scheme in the last year's budget, but the Centre has not released a single rupee so far. "They have not released anything for drought relief either," he said, adding, "This is not a political protest by the Congress Party against the BJP. We are protesting to highlight the unfair treatment by the Union Government, urging all Indians to take notice of this injustice." Siddaramaiah further said that under the 14th Finance Commission (2015-2020), Karnataka received 4.71 per cent of the tax share, which was reduced to 3.64 per cent by the 15th Finance Commission (2020-2025). "This 1.07 per cent decrease resulted in an estimated loss of Rs 62,098 crore for Karnataka over five years. To compensate, the 15th Finance Commission recommended a special grant of Rs 5,495 crore for Karnataka in the interim budget, which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman subsequently declined," he added. "Additionally, there were recommendations for Rs 3,000 crore each for lake and water body development and peripheral ring road projects. Altogether, Karnataka missed out on a total of Rs 73,593 crore," he further said. Criticising the Union government over the implementation of GST, the Karnataka CM said, "Despite our criticism that GST was unscientific, the Union government went ahead with its implementation. Before GST, our state's tax collection growth was 15 per cent. The Union Government promised that GST would not only increase tax revenues and central grants but also offer assurances of compensation for any potential losses. However, this compensation was discontinued in June 2022, after just five years. This cessation has significantly impacted our ability to achieve a 15 per cent tax collection growth rate again. We have appealed for the continuation of this compensation, but the Centre has yet to make a decision on this matter. As a result, we continue to face unjust treatment under the GST regime." Karnataka, the second-highest tax collector after Maharashtra, contributes a significant Rs 4,30,000 crore in tax revenue, the Karnataka CM said, adding that the state, however, receives only around Rs 12-13 out of every Rs 100 in taxes, with the rest held by the Union Government. "In 2017-18, with a Union Budget of Rs 21,46,735 crore, Karnataka received Rs 31,908 crore in tax devolution and grants totaling Rs 47,990 crore. In 2018-19, with a budget size of Rs 24,42,213 crore, the state received Rs 51,157 crore (Rs 36,215 crore in tax devolution + Rs 14,942 crore in grants). In 2019-20, with a budget size of Rs 27,86,349 crore, Karnataka received Rs 54,814 crore, including Rs 39,806 crore in tax devolution and Rs 15,008 crore in grants," he said. In 2023-24, the Union Budget is Rs 45,03,097 crore, and Karnataka's share is only Rs 50,257 crore, comprising Rs 37,252 crore in tax share and Rs 13,005 crore in grants, he added. "The devolution rate has decreased from 2.2 per cent in 2017-18 to 1.2 per cent in 2024-25. This consistent decline in the state's share highlights a growing injustice towards Karnataka," Siddaramaiah said. He further said that the Centre had previously announced a grant of Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Project, which was included as part of the irrigation project grants in Basavaraj Bommai's Budget, but the state has not received any funding in this regard "This project is crucial as it provides water to an extensive area of 2.5 lakh hectares. However, despite these announcements, we have not received any funding in this regard, and I strongly urge its release without further delay," he said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Akhnoor (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], February 5 (ANI): In their efforts to address the healthcare needs of villagers in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor, the Indian Army organized a free medical camp at Dokh Khalsa village on Sunday, supplying medicines to both humans and animals free of cost. Residents of this remote region often face challenges accessing medical facilities due to a lack of basic infrastructure. Also Read | Noida Shocker: 24-Year-Old Meerut Man Stoned to Death by Three Men Following Clash During Cricket Match at Noida Extension. The camp, attended by a significant number of Bakarwal community members and locals, aimed to provide essential health services to those in need. Free medicines were distributed, benefiting both humans and animals. The veterinary doctor addressed the medical requirements of injured and sick animals, which hold economic significance for many in the Bakarwal community. Expressing gratitude, Abdul Rashid, a beneficiary from Khalsa, lauded the Indian Army for providing much-needed medicines for the underprivileged, emphasizing the camp's vital role in the absence of nearby hospitals. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: TMC MP Dipak Adhikary Resigns From Panels of Three West Bengal Government Bodies Ahead of General Polls. The medical camp also featured an informative session conducted by the army doctor, who highlighted the dangers of bidi, cigarettes, and gutka, stressing their association with cancer. This knowledge-sharing initiative sought to raise awareness and empower the community to adopt preventive measures against cancer. Abdul Rashid shares gratitude for an Indian Army camp in Khalsa, where medicines were provided for poor people, animals, and the families of those who couldn't afford healthcare. "In Khalsa, the Indian Army organized a camp where they invited us, the poor. They provided medicines for animals and sick mothers, sisters, and daughters. We received a warm welcome, especially. As there is no nearby hospital or if there is one, we poor don't have money for treatment. The doctors explained that avoiding bidi, cigarettes, and gutka can save lives, mentioning the difficulty in treating cancer," Abdul Rashid said. Ashraf Ali, another resident, expressed thanks to the army for organizing the camp and appreciated the doctor's comprehensive insights on cancer prevention. "We are thankful to the army for organizing a camp and providing free medicines for humans and animals. The army's constant presence at the borders is appreciated. The doctor gave a detailed explanation on preventing cancer by staying away from harmful substances like cigarettes and alcohol," he said. Kali Das, the ex-sarpanch of Dokh Khalsa, commended the army's efforts in distributing free medicines to a substantial number of people and animals. "The recent army camp was significant, distributing free medicines to many people and animals. The army doctor provided insightful information on how cancer develops. Gratitude to Indian soldiers for their continuous service to civilians," he said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ramban (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], February 5 (ANI): Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH44) will be closed for traffic at Kishtwari Pathar and Dhalwas in Ramban district from 8 am on Tuesday until 8 am on Wednesday. The road will be closed because of the widening work being carried out in these places. Also Read | Revanth Reddy Meets Sonia Gandhi in Delhi: Telangana CM Urges Congress Leader To Contest Lok Sabha Polls From State. "Based on the recommendation of Project Director, NHAI, PIU Ramban, and to ensure the safety and well-being of the general populace/travelers/drivers, the sanction is hereby granted in favor of NHAI, PIU Ramban, for taking a 24-hour traffic haltage from 0800 hours on 06.02.2024 till 0800 hours on 07.02.2024 for the widening of the road at Kishtwari Pathar & Dhalwas on NH-44 in strict adherence to the conditions outlined in the aforementioned communication from the Project Director, NHAI, PIU Ramban," said an order issued by the District Magistrate, Ramban. "Senior Superintendent of Police, Ramban, and Senior Superintendent of Police, Traffic, NHWs, Ramban, shall implement the above orders in letter and spirit," the order added. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: 23-Year-Old Final Year MBBS Student Found Hanging in Hostel at Maulana Azad Medical College. On Thursday, also, NH 44 in Ramban district was blocked due to road damage, shooting stones, and mud slush. The Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority issued avalanche warnings for many districts on Monday. Avalanche with a 'low danger level' is likely to occur above 2,400 meters over Bandipore, Baramulla, and Kupwara, said JKDMA. JKDMA also said that an avalanche with a 'medium danger level' is likely to occur above 2,200 metres over Doda, Kishtwar, Poonch, Ramban, and Ganderbal districts in the next 24 hours.People living in these areas are advised to take precautions and avoid venturing into the avalanche-prone areas. Meanwhile, many places in Jammu and Kashmir continued to receive fresh snowfall, and the temperature lowered to 9 degrees Celsius on Monday. Several districts are blanketed with several feet of snow in the Kashmir Valley at present, and it affected flights and traffic on the strategic Jammu-Srinagar national highway. Gulmarg in Baramulla district is covered in a thick blanket of snow as snowfall continues in the region. a landslide struck the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway at Kishtwari Patheri near the Sher Bibi area due to a drastic change in the weather conditions. The Ramsu-Banihal-Srinagar stretch of the highway also recorded massive snowfall, while the rest of the 270-kilometer highway was pounded by rain. Chopper service to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district also remained suspended due to inclement weather. On Sunday, a total of six IndiGo flights from Delhi to Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar and Leh were canceled due to bad weather conditions in the regions. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jammu, Feb 5 (PTI) Welcoming the interim budget of Rs 1.18 lakh crore for Jammu and Kashmir, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said it highlights the government's commitment towards ensuring rapid economic growth of the Union Territory. He also said that the budget seeks to strengthen democracy at the grassroots, encourage the start-up ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir as well as enable an environment for investment to accelerate industrial growth. Also Read | Gujarat: Woman Accuses Husband of Second Marriage, Domestic Abuse and Torture in Junagadh; Case Registered. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed an interim budget of Rs 1.18 lakh crore for the fiscal 2024-25 for the Union Territory. The interim budget envisages a fiscal deficit of Rs 20,760 crore and a 7.5 per cent growth in gross state domestic product (GSDP). The capital expenditure for the fiscal has been proposed at Rs 38,566 crore, which is 14.64 per cent of the GSDP, according to the budget tabled in Parliament on Monday. Also Read | Match Made by AI: Russian Man Uses ChatGPT To Find and Propose to His Wife. The revenue receipts for the next fiscal stood at Rs 97,861 crore. "Grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for J&K's interim budget 2024-25, which is dedicated to farmers, women, youth, marginalised sections of society and seeks to strengthen the grassroot democracy in the Union Territory," the Lt Governor said on 'X'. He said the interim budget highlights the government's commitment of rapid economic growth and it ensures that the growth is socially inclusive and sustainable. "It focuses on fast expansion of the agricultural economy and addresses the issue of regional imbalances and seeks to bridge rural-urban divides. The budget 2024-25 creates an enabling environment for investment and seeks to accelerate industrial growth," Sinha said. He said the budget will ensure that industries generate more employment and provide support to thrust areas identified for investment. "Budget focuses on skill development and employment of 'Nari Shakti' (women empowerment). It seeks to ensure that benefits of rapid economic growth flow equitably to the women in rural and urban areas, SHGs are empowered and women-owned business enterprises are provided access to resources and networks, he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Feb 5 (PTI) Soon after the JMM-Congress coalition government of Champai Soren won the trust vote, the Congress on Monday said Jharkhand has shattered the arrogance of the "dictator" and truth has won by defeating the conspiracies of the BJP. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP tried to topple the coalition government in Jharkhand as the chief minister was a tribal. Also Read | TG to Replace TS: Revanth Reddy Cabinet Approves Changing Telangana's Abbreviation to TG From Present TS. "Want to congratulate all alliance MLAs, (Champai) Soren ji as that they stopped the BJP-RSS conspiracy and protected the government of the poor," Gandhi said at a rally at the Shaheed Maidan held in Ranchi during his Manipur-to-Maharashtra Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh that "the operation lotus of the BJP has been unsuccessful." Also Read | Tamil Nadu Shocker: Cops Rescue Man From Suicide Bid, Latter Slits Throat Inside Police Station in Palani. "This government will survive the remaining term of one year and we will go to the people of Jharkhand for a renewed mandate based on the work that we have done," Ramesh said. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Jharkhand has given a big blow to the conspiratorial plans of Modi-Shah." "Jharkhand shattered the arrogance of the dictator. India won, and the people won," the Congress said in a post in Hindi on X soon after the trust vote. Kharge said the truth has won by defeating "all the conspiracies of the BJP". "Congratulations to all the MLAs including Chief Minister Champai Soren and JMM Working President Hemant Soren. Lord Birsa Munda has taught us to fight against the arrogance of power. We will protect the water, forests and land of Jharkhand from those who are greedy for power," the Congress president also said in a post in Hindi on X. Ramesh also alleged that the governors are "biased" in their role, be it Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand or Bihar and said they do what the home ministry tells them. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal also said the INDIA bloc's victory in the trust vote in the Jharkhand Assembly proves the power of the people. "We are the popularly elected government and the ED cannot overturn the people's voice. The Centre's fascist attempts at destroying democracy using their agencies like the ED will be resisted with full force. "They attacked a government of the adivasis, backwards and poor people of Jharkhand, and they will face their wrath in the Lok Sabha elections," Venugopal said in a post on X. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi met Kalpana Soren, the wife of former chief minister Hemant Soren, in Ranchi. Jharkhand's JMM-led coalition government headed by Chief Minister Champai Soren won the vote of confidence in the Assembly on Monday. While 47 MLAs voted in favour of the confidence motion, 29 legislators opposed it in the 81-member Assembly. Independent legislator Saryu Roy abstained from voting. Seventy-seven MLAs were present in the Assembly during the voting. The ruling alliance comprises the JMM, Congress and the RJD while it is supported from outside by the lone CPIML(L) legislator. The BJP-led opposition has 26 legislators of the saffron party and three of the AJSU party. JMM legislature party leader Champai Soren took oath as the chief minister of Jharkhand on February 2, after his predecessor Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last week in an alleged money-laundering case. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], February 5 (ANI): Karnataka Heavy and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil chaired a meeting here on Monday to address the drinking water problem in the state's industrial areas. "Heavy and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil held a meeting with various departments here on Monday and discussed finding effective solutions to solve the drinking water problem faced by various industrial areas of the state. Rural Development Minister Priyank Kharge was also present," as per a press release. Also Read | Assam Government Introduces Bill Imposing Rs 10 Crore Fine, 10 Years Jail if Found Cheating in Public Recruitment Exams. Officials of BWSSB, the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board and the Rural Water Supply Department participated in the meeting convened at Khanija Bhawan. "Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that the industrial areas of Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapurs, Tumkuru and Kolar districts are facing severe drinking water problems. Further, the Dharwada industrial area requires 45 MLD of drinking water every day that can be supplied from the Hidkal reservoir," as per the release. Also Read | Mumbai Shocker: Four-Year-Old Girl Raped by Private School Watchman in Kandivali; Accused Held. "Likewise, the Vijayapura industrial area also needs to be supplied with the same amount of drinking water from the Krishna Reservoir daily. Kalaburagi industrial area needs 7 MLD of drinking water from the Krishna and Bhima rivers, the Ballary industrial area needs 13 MLD from the Tungabhadra dam, and the Raichuru industrial area needs 13 MLD from the Krishna river," Patil said. Expressing concern about the problem, he said, "Put together, all the above districts require a total of 290 MLD of water daily. If the required water supply is not ensured, the industrial growth of the state will suffer." The industrial areas of Tumkuru, Bengaluru, Kolara, and Chikkaballapura located in the Old Mysuru region have already been using treated wastewater for industrial purposes. However, there is a severe shortage of drinking water in these places. Hence, the availability of volume of water and sources from which it can be supplied need to be identified and another meeting would be held in this regard in a week or so, Patil added. The supply of drinking water to industries is a primary responsibility and it is one of the basic facilities necessary for the growth of industries in the state, he opined. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jind (Haryana) [India], February 5 (ANI): A junior magistrate first class (JMIC) began a probe into the alleged custodial death of a farmer in Haryana's Jind district on Monday. The kin of the deceased, who allegedly died due to police torture in custody, staged a day-long dharna at a civil hospital seeking action against police personnel, but later lifted it after higher officials assured them of a fair action. The parents claimed it was a custodial death due to police torture and they sought action against the police. Also Read | Bihar Shocker: Man Loses Eye in Brutal Assault in Jamui After Row Erupts Over Child Picking Up Cauliflower From Agricultural Field. Notably, the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) wing allegedly arrested two members of a buffalo-stealing gang from Safidon town in Jind district on February 1. The accused were identified as Paramjeet alias Pummy, a native of Malikpur village in Safidon town of this district, and Neetu, hailing from Kamhera village in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. Police officials claimed that during the investigation, Paramjeet told the police that one of his relatives, named Angrej Singh, asked him to join the buffalo-stealing gang if he wanted to earn money. Angrej Singh asked him to share details of those who keep buffaloes and are vulnerable to theft. "Thereafter, he gave a tip-off to the gang members that only a caretaker stays with a buffalo at a site on Bohli-Dharamgarh road near Safidon town. Following which, they made a plan to steal buffaloes from the spot but people caught them," the police said. Also Read | Gujarat Shocker: Man Mistakenly Participates in Ex-Girlfriend's Wedding Procession in Ahmedabad, Gets Thrashed by Her Relatives; Case Registered. "We met with the superintendent of police (SP) Sumit Kumar and asked to see the deceased's body. When we saw the body, we observed several marks on his body, which suggested that he was beaten badly by the CIA team during custody. Therefore, a thorough investigation must be done into this matter," Amritpal Singh, the sarpanch of Malikpur village, said. Villagers said that it was a matter of investigation how the police claimed his involvement in theft, as he was a farmer who owned seven acres of land in the village. The entire incident must be probed fairly, they said. SP Sumit Kumar told them that during the probe, the deceased admitted his crime, following which he was sent to jail. "On Sunday, he was admitted to a civil hospital, where he died during treatment. A magistrate will conduct an inquiry into this matter now. The body has been sent for an autopsy and the cause of death will be known after the process. Action will be taken according to the reports," he added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], February 5 (ANI): Congress MP Manickam Tagore gave an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha on Monday seeking a discussion on the appointment of 1.5 lakh youth selected for the Defence forces between 2019 and 2022. Tagore said that the delay in their appointment has led to distress, and the deadlock should be resolved immediately. Also Read | Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma Addresses Employees Amid Going RBI's Restriction on Paytm Payment Banks Saying 'There Will Be No Layoffs' and 'Don't Know What Went Wrong. "I urge the government to take swift action in appointing the 15 lakh youth who were selected for the Army, Air Force, and Navy between 2019 and 2022. The delay in their appointment has caused distress and uncertainty, and it is imperative to resolve this deadlock promptly," the Congress MP said in his notice. Tagore also sought the reinstatement of the "old recruitment system" as it was more effective than the newly launched Agnitpath scheme. Also Read | We Will Forget Other Temples if Ayodhya, Gyanvapi and Krishna Janmabhoomi are Freed, Says Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Treasurer Govind Dev Giri Maharaj (Watch Videos). "The Agnipath scheme has led to a decline in military career interest and raised concerns about fairness and attractiveness for recruits. We propose reinstating the old recruitment system, which was more effective and did not leave thousands in limbo, ensuring a smoother transition for aspirants into the armed forces," he stated in his notice. The Agnipath program is a recruitment scheme for Indian youth to serve in the Armed Forces. The youth selected under this scheme are known as Agniveers. Under the Agnipath scheme, the Agniveers will be enrolled in the Forces under respective Service Acts for a period of four years. They would form a distinct rank in the Armed Forces, different from any other existing ranks. Upon the completion of four years of service, based on organisational requirements and policies promulgated by the Armed Forces from time to time, Agniveers will be offered an opportunity to apply for permanent enrolment in the Armed Forces. Up to 25 per cent of each specific batch of Agniveers will be enrolled in a regular cadre of the Armed Forces, the Defence Ministry said in a release. Earlier in December, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Manoj Pande said that the introduction of the Agnipath scheme has been a path-breaking manpower intake and management methodology that will ensure induction of youthful profile and bring more technologically adapted and oriented soldiers into all ranks and files of the forces. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Damoh (Madhya Pradesh) [India], February 5 (ANI): Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has ordered a magisterial probe into a scuffle involving members of two communities in Damoh. Earlier on Sunday, several members of a community staged a protest outside the Kotwali police station following a scuffle between a tailor and a group of people belonging to another community. Also Read | Revanth Reddy Meets Sonia Gandhi in Delhi: Telangana CM Urges Congress Leader To Contest Lok Sabha Polls From State. Taking to 'X', CM Yadav said, "Maintaining peace and law and order in the state is our priority. Magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the Damoh incident." Meanwhile, three of the protestors, identified as Aqram Raeen, Mubin Qureshi, and Zeeshan Pathan respectively, have been arrested by the police. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: 23-Year-Old Final Year MBBS Student Found Hanging in Hostel at Maulana Azad Medical College. "Three of the accused, namely Aqram Raeen, Mubin Qureshi, and Zeeshan Pathan, have been arrested by the police. All three have political connection. Prime accused Aqram, who was allegedly making inflammatory speech, is linked to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Mubin Qureshi is a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the third accused, Zeeshan Pathan is associated with the Congress party," said Sunil Tiwari, Superintendent of Police, Damoh. The SP added that all the accused were produced in the district court, and later, handed over to the judicial custody. "All the accused have been charged with IPC sections 153 A, 147, 148, and 149. Arms and ammunitions have also been recovered from the possession of prime accused, Aqram. He has also been charged with sections 25/26 under the Arms act," SP Tiwari said. The SP stated that further probe is underway. More details are awaited. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kozhikode (Kerala), Feb 5 (PTI) The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student organisation of the BJP on Monday staged a protest march to the National Institute of Technology-Calicut here, seeking action against the woman professor who had allegedly glorified Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse. Professor A Shaija of NIT had been booked by police on Saturday for her Facebook comment "expressing pride" in Nathuram Godse for "saving India". Also Read | Delhi Shocker: 23-Year-Old Final Year MBBS Student Found Hanging in Hostel at Maulana Azad Medical College. ABVP activists marched to the institution and burnt an effigy of Godse. ABVP leaders sought action against the professor saying she posted an insulting comment against the Mahatma. Also Read | Bihar Shocker: Man Loses Eye in Brutal Assault in Jamui After Row Erupts Over Child Picking Up Cauliflower From Agricultural Field. "The professor posted something which is insulting the Father of the nation and praising Godse who assassinated him," a student leader said while addressing the ABVP activists. Shaija, a senior faculty member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at NIT here, posted a comment on Facebook on January 30 saying "Proud of Godse for saving India." She was commenting on a post by a lawyer, Krishna Raj, who posted Godse's photograph captioning it Hindu Mahasabha activist Nathuram Vinayak Godse, a hero of many in India. Multiple complaints were lodged against Professor Shaija in several police stations in the city by various student organisations, including SFI, KSU and MSF, 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 those where complaints were filed against her. (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 5 (ANI): Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday expressed condolences on the demise of Namibia's President Hage G. Geingob, remembering his role in facilitating the relocation of eight Namibian Cheetahs to India in 2022. The Chairman shared his feelings while addressing the members earlier, when the House assembled for the day. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Youth Rapes 16-Year-Old Girl After Threatening To Make Her Private Videos and Photos Viral on Social Media, Arrested. "Hon'ble Members, I have to inform the House of the sad demise of the President of the Republic of Namibia, His Excellency Dr. Hage G. Geingob. He was a freedom fighter, statesman, Chairman of the Constituent Assembly that formulated the Namibian Constitution, the first Prime Minister of independent Namibia and the third President of the country," the Rajya Sabha Chairman said. Dhankhar further mentioned that the Namibian President dedicated his entire life to the welfare of his people and the development of his country. Also Read | Rahul Gandhi Meets Hemant Soren's Wife: Congress Leader Meets Former Jharkhand CM's Wife Kalpana Soren in Ranchi After JMM-Led Government Wins Floor Test. "President Geingob was a friend of India. President Geingob's role in facilitating the relocation of eight Namibian Cheetahs to India in September 2022 is greatly admired." On behalf of this House, the Chairman said, "We express our "deepest condolences to the government and the people of Namibia. We share our sympathies with his family, friends and admirers. " "We deeply mourn the passing away of his Excellency Dr. Hage G. Geingob," added the chairman. Geingob, 82, died in the hospital early on Sunday, weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer. Geingob had been in charge of the thinly populated and mostly arid southern African country since 2015, the year he announced he had survived prostate cancer. Born in 1941, Geingob has been a prominent politician since before Namibia achieved independence from white minority-ruled South Africa in 1990. He chaired the body that drafted Namibia's constitution, then became its first prime minister at independence on March 21 of that year, a position he retained until 2002. In 2007, Geingob became Vice President of the governing South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO), which he had joined as an agitator for independence when Namibia was still known as South West Africa. Geingob served as trade and industry minister before becoming prime minister again in 2012. He won the 2014 election with 87 percent of the vote but only narrowly avoided a runoff with a little more than half the votes in a subsequent poll in November 2019. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hyderabad, February 5: Telangana Chief Minister and state Congress president A Revanth Reddy on Monday urged Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi to contest from the state in the coming Lok Sabha polls. Reddy, who met Sonia Gandhi in Delhi Monday evening, brought to her notice that the Telangana Congress unit had passed a resolution urging her to contest from the state. The request to contest from the state is being made as people see her as the 'mother' who gave statehood to Telangana, he said, according to an official release here Monday night. Gandhi has responded by saying that a decision would be taken at an appropriate time, the release said. TG to Replace TS: Revanth Reddy Cabinet Approves Changing Telanganas Abbreviation to TG From Present TS Revanth Reddy, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and state Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, informed her about the poll promises being implemented by his government. Out of the six poll 'guarantees' of Congress, free travel for women in state-run RTC buses and a health scheme of Rs 10 lakh for the poor are already being implemented, the CM said. He informed her that a decision has been taken to implement two other promises - supply of LPG cylinder for Rs 500 and free electricity up to 200 units - soon. He also told her that the government has decided to conduct a 'caste census' and that preparations have begun for it. Democracy Strangulated: Sonia Gandhi Slams Centre, Targets PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for Distorting History To Defame Jawaharlal Nehru (Watch Video) Observing that the party's state unit is making efforts to win as many seats as possible (out of the total 17 seats) in the Lok Sabha elections, Revanth Reddy said preparations were being made to achieve the goal. Meanwhile, Revanth Reddy met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' at Ranchi. The CM informed Rahul Gandhi about the election promises being implemented, the release said. He appealed to Rahul Gandhi to see to it that Sonia Gandhi contests from Telangana in the LS polls. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru, February 5: What are the odds of finding a phone that was stolen in a moving train, especially when the thief deboarded at the next station? It seems in Raj Bhagat's case, not only luck, but was too the technology on his side that he tracked the thief and caught him red-handed with the phone and many other things that the repeat offender had stolen during the course of the day. All in a matter of two hours. "When I could see him standing right in front of me with my dad's handbag, I can't tell you how good it felt. Of course, it helped that I could read maps and that I was in a small place like Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu that I knew quite well," Bhagat told PTI over the phone. Incidentally, Bhagat tracks data and maps professionally to aid government policymaking. Chennai Shocker: Father-Son Duo Lures Techie With 'Sandwich Massage', Steals Cash and Gold After Thrashing Him. In fact, his mapping expertise was used by filmmaker Mani Ratnam for his magnum opus, Ponnyin Selvan' in which maps are used to show the core Chola territory and the areas that were conquered and subdued, he added. Bhagat said his father had lost the handbag containing his phone on the intervening night of 3 and 4 February, when he was probably busy looking for his seat in the Nagercoil-Kacheguda express and settling himself, at about 1.40 am. When his father realised his bag was missing, almost two hours had already passed. After looking around, he called Bhagat from someone else's phone with the news. Luckily, said Bhagat, his family shares location with each other and he could see his father's phone moving along the track near Melapalayam in Tirunelveli. "So, I deduced that the thief got off at Tirunelveli junction and was returning to Nagercoil in another train," he said. Unemployed Before Holidays Again: Techie Who Quit Twitter Last Year Now Laid Off by Spotify As Music Streaming Giant Announces To Cut 1,500 Employees in Third Layoffs. Bhagat decided to take a friend along and confront the thief. "We also stopped along the way and convinced a railway police cop to come along with us," said Bhagat. But when the Kanyakumari express, on which the thief was coming back, according to the map, pulled in, it was too crowded and Bhagat lost the thief in the crowd. "But through the map movement, I could again deduce that he exited through the main gate and took a local bus that connects the railway station with Anna bus stand. So, we started chasing the bus on our bike," said Bhagat. Finally, the man got off at Anna bus stand, said Bhagat. "Google maps gave me a location that was accurate by two metres. I would see him there right in front of me and confirm that the bag that he was holding was my father's. It was only after that we moved in, and with the help of people around, we cornered him," added Bhagat. Later, at the police station, the man's identity was checked out as a repeat offender and police found all the other items he had stolen that day cell phone charger, Bluetooth earphones, lock and key, train chain and Rs 1,000 in cash. "I understand technology like location tracking can be invasive to one's privacy. But in this instance, something that all in my family do tell each other where they are exactly at any point of time so that my mother is not worried, helped us find the man in the flat two hours. I think that is incredible," said Bhagat. Incidentally, location tracking and social media volunteers had recently helped a Mumbai-based Nikhil Jain find his AirPods that he lost in Kerala all the way to Goa. The man who took it surrendered at a police station near his home, when his neighbour who had come across Jain's post on social media told him about it. The outcome of the story shared on social media as well published in newspapers, helped another, Kannada actress Shradddha Srinath, to find hers too. In her case, when she posted on social media seeking help, especially from Jain, because hers was tracked to Andhra Pradesh, the man who stole it, an acquaintance of her assistant apparently, decided to return it when he realised that she had managed to track the location and was looking to find him. Lucknow, Feb 5 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday presented the Rs 7.36-lakh-crore budget for 2024-25 invoking Lord Ram and prioritising infrastructure development as well as the welfare of women, youth and farmers. Lord Ram was on the centre stage during the budget presentation in the assembly with Finance Minister Suresh Khanna starting his speech with a verse of epic Ramcaritrmanas, saying that the state government is inspired by the concept of Ram Rajya'. Also Read | Match Made by AI: Russian Man Uses ChatGPT To Find and Propose to His Wife. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath dedicated the state budget to Lord Ram, saying it will ensure Lok Mangal' (public welfare). The budget, that came days after the consecration of Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya and before the 2024 general polls, has set the target of 5.1 per cent growth rate for the agriculture sector in the state, allocated Rs 1,750 crore for the development of 'Dharmarth Marg' (roads to religious places) and Rs 2600 crore for Mahakumbh-2025. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: 35-Year-Old Woman Raped by Her Neighbour in West Delhi's Naraina Area, Accused Arrested. Focusing on inclusive growth, new schemes to spur employment generation, infrastructure development, women empowerment and promoting research and innovation in emerging technologies like AI have been announced. The budget proposed Rs 4,000 crore for the distribution of tablets and smartphones under Swami Vivekananda Yuva Sashaktikaran Yojana. In the current year, more than 25 lakh tablets/smartphones have already been distributed, and the process is ongoing, Khanna said. Khanna allocated Rs 2,600 crore for culture and urban development departments for organising Mahakumbh-2025 and providing funds for an international Ramayan and Vedic research centre in Ayodhya. Another Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for development of Ayodhya. To achieve a 5.1 per cent growth in agriculture, Rs 460 crore has been allocated for three new agriculture-related schemes. Khanna proposed an outlay of Rs 2,400 crore for providing electricity at concessional rates to private tube wells of farmers. The amount is 25 per cent more than the budget for the same provided in the current financial year. A provision of Rs 1,150 crore is proposed for the establishment of an international airport and the purchase of land in Jewar of Gautam Buddha Nagar district. Khanna said Rs 449.45 crore has been proposed for the implementation of PM Kusum Yojana, which is more than double than the allocation for the ongoing fiscal. Under the central government's rural job guarantee programme MGNREGA, the state generated 28.68 crore man-days and provided employment to 75,24,000 workers during the current financial year. The target is to create 33 crore man-days in 2024-2025. The amount payable to the beneficiaries under the Destitute Women Pension Scheme has been increased from Rs 500 per month to Rs 1,000 per month while under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission Yojana, a provision of Rs 952 crore is proposed for the establishment of health and wellness centres, integrated public health labs in rural and urban areas. Rs 300 crore is proposed in the financial year 2024-25 for Ayushman Bharat Mukhyamantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan. Arrangements for cashless treatment have been made in private hospitals affiliated to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Rajya Karmchari Cashless Chikitsa Yojana. An estimated expenditure of Rs 150 crore is anticipated for this, which is being borne by the state government, the minister said in the budget speech. The budget also proposed Rs 400 crore for the establishment of a medical college in Varanasi district, Rs 125 crore to provide free medical facilities for incurable diseases, Rs 300 crore for upgrading trauma centres in government medical colleges. To address the issue of traffic congestion in cities and towns, a provision of Rs 1,000 crore is proposed for the construction of flyovers and similar infrastructure in urban areas, Khanna said. The budget also proposed increased allocation of Rs 2,000 crore to ensure continuous power supply during summers, up 33 per cent from the current fiscal. Besides, Rs 10 crore has been proposed for the International Ramayana and Vedic Research Institute in Ayodhya, Khanna said. After the budget presentation, Yogi Adityanath told reporters that the budget has been dedicated to Lord Ram and is for "Lok Mangal" (public welfare). In the beginning of the budget, in the middle and at the end , lord Ram is there in every word of the budget. In his thoughts and resolution, Shri Ram is there because Sri Ram is synonymous with"Lok Mangal", he said. Leader of opposition Akhliesh Yadav asked the state government what is there in it for 90 per cent of the people, who are the PDA - the SP coinage for the backward sections of the society, Dalits and minorities while BSP chief Mayawati termed it a budget for "electoral interest of the BJP". BSP chief Mayawati said, "The budget for the year 2024-25 presented in the House today by the Uttar Pradesh government seems to be more for the party's electoral interest and less for the broader public interest and welfare." Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi said, "this budget is encouraging tokenism and misleading youths." According to the budget document, the state's total expenditure has been pegged at Rs 7,36,437 crore for 2024-25 against the revised estimate of Rs 6,32,362 crore for the current fiscal year. Total receipts have been pegged at Rs 7.21 lakh crore, including revenue receipts of Rs 6.07 lakh crore and capital receipts of Rs 1.14 lakh crore. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dehradun, February 5: The Uttarakhand Assembly session will begin on Monday in Vidhan Bhavan, Dehradun, at 11 am. In this special session of the Assembly, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami's government will table the Uniform Civil Code Bill tomorrow, February 6. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill will be tabled in the upcoming session of the Assembly after a draft report related to UCC got approved at a Cabinet meeting on Sunday. The UCC proposes uniform civil laws for all communities in the state. "In the cabinet meeting on Sunday, a proposal to bring a bill on Uniform Civil Code in the upcoming Assembly session was unanimously passed. We will table it in the Assembly. We will move forward in the direction to make it an Act," Chief Minister Dhami told ANI. Earlier, a draft of the UCC was handed over to the Chief Minister by the five-member committee headed by retired Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai. UCC in Uttarakhand: Draft Committee Chairperson Ranjana Prakash Desai Presents Final Report to CM Pushkar Singh Dhami in Dehradun (Watch Video). 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 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. Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand: UCC Bill To Get Cabinet Nod After Completion of Legislative Work on Draft. 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 of the 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. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Coochbehar (West Bengal) [India], February 5 (ANI): Border Security Force (BSF) troops foiled a smuggling bid and apprehended one woman narcotics smuggler with prohibited Yaba tablets on the Indo-Bangladesh international border on February 5. "Acting on reliable input, on February 4 a special operation was launched. Vigilant troops of 90 Bn BSF apprehended one woman narcotic smuggler with 1000 Yaba tablets worth Rs 5 Lakh in the area of responsibility of BOP Gitaldah under Coochbehar district in West Bengal," the BSF said in a press release. Also Read | 'Ye Modi Ki Guarantee Hai': PM Narendra Modi Says 'India Will Be 3rd Largest Economy in Third Term of BJP-Led NDA Government' (Watch Video). The BSF further said that the woman smuggler was apprehended when she was trying to smuggle prohibited Yaba Tablets from India to Bangladesh. "The apprehended smuggler alongwith seized items is being handed over to the Police for further legal action," the BSF further said. Also Read | UP Horror: Toddler Lured With Chocolates by 17-Year-Old Neighbour, Raped in Aligarh; Accused Held. Keeping in view the vulnerability of the border, and heightened activities of drug traffickers and anti-national elements on the border, BSF troops are always on the alert to thwart trans-border crimes including drug trafficking and are making all-out efforts to prevent the commission of such crimes, the BSF added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow, February 5: As many as 63 prisoners lodged in the Lucknow district jail are patients of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and are being treated, officials said on Monday. Speaking to PTI, Director General of Prisons S N Sabat on Monday said, "No prisoner has died due to HIV infection in the District Jail Lucknow in the last five years." "We check HIV infected people from time to time in all the jails of Uttar Pradesh. Not a single person has become HIV infected after being admitted in the Lucknow jail. They were already infected. Most of the affected prisoners were infected due to drug abuse," Sabat said. Lucknow district jail authorities said as on January 1, 2023, a total of 47 prisoners detained in the jail were found to be HIV-infected. Uttar Pradesh: 36 Prisoners Test Positive for HIV in Lucknow District Jail, Total Cases Reach 47 Due to non-availability of HIV testing kits from September, 2023, HIV testing was not held at the district jail for three months, the officials said. When the inmates were tested for HIV in a health camp held on December 3, as many as 36 of them were found to be HIV infected. A a total of 20 infected prisoners were released meanwhile, they said. Currently, a total of 63 prisoners are suffering from HIV and are being treated. Most of these are drug addicts who used to take various types of drugs through syringes before getting jailed, the officials said. "No prisoner has been infected with HIV after entering the jail. All the prisoners are getting regular treatment from the HIV centre," Jailor of Lucknow District Jail Hrithik Priyadarshi told PTI. World AIDS Day 2023 Date, Significance & Theme: What is the Difference Between HIV and AIDS? Everything to Know About the Day That Raises Awareness About Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Priyadarshi said all these patients are being treated at King George Medical University and ARP Centre. They are given regular counselling. Apart from this, nutritious food is also given to them, he added. (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, Feb 5 (PTI) S&P Global Ratings on Monday said strong credit growth of Indian banks could moderate to 12-14 per cent in the next fiscal if deposit growth remains tepid. "Deposit growth continues to lag credit for the Indian banks we rate, leading to tight liquidity conditions," S&P Global Ratings credit analyst Nikita Anand said. Also Read | Assam Teacher Recruitment 2023: Registration Date for Assistant Teachers Posts Extended Till February 13, Apply Online at dee.assam.gov.in. Banks may be compelled to look for wholesale funding, S&P said, adding that higher costs of such funding could further strain margins and hurt profitability. Rising cost of funds and potential rate cuts in fiscal 2025 will squeeze net interest margins, it added. Also Read | PNB SO Recruitment 2024: Notification Released for 1025 Specialist Officer Posts at pnbindia.in, Know How to Apply Online. "Liquidity is tightening for Indian banks. The sector's strong credit growth could moderate to 12-14 per cent in fiscal 2025 if deposit growth remains tepid, compounded by higher deposit costs and competition for funds," S&P said in a report titled 'Tight liquidity shackles Indian banks' robust credit growth'. S&P expects the share of unsecured personal loans in the banks' total loan book to continue to rise. This will also help banks to partly mitigate the downside risks to margins from tighter liquidity. The Reserve Bank of India's recent ruling on applying higher risk weights to unsecured personal loans has not yet hindered rapid growth in this segment, S&P said. Stable asset quality and steady capitalisation support the banks' credit profiles. "Favourable equity markets and operating conditions could spur more banks to raise equity in 2024," Anand said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Feb 5 (PTI) The initial public offer of Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, which runs hotels under the "The Park" brand, was fully subscribed on the first day of bidding on Monday and ended with 2.52 times subscription. The Rs 920 crore IPO received bids for 8,75,33,280 shares against 3,47,61,903 shares on offer, as per NSE data. Also Read | PNB SO Recruitment 2024: Notification Released for 1025 Specialist Officer Posts at pnbindia.in, Know How to Apply Online. The category for Retail Individual Investors (RIIs) received 5.70 times subscription while the quota for non-institutional investors fetched 3.24 times subscription. The portion meant for Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) got subscribed 1.17 times. The Initial Public Offer (IPO) has a fresh issue of up to Rs 600 crore and an offer for sale component of up to Rs 320 crore. Also Read | Union Bank of India Recruitment 2024: Application Process for 606 Specialist Officers Posts Begins, Apply Online at unionbankofindia.co.in. The IPO has a price range of Rs 147-155 a share. Those offering shares in the OFS are Apeejay Surrendra Trust, Apeejay Pvt Ltd, RECP IV Park Hotel Investors Ltd, and RECP IV Park Co-Investors Ltd. At present, promoters and promoter group members hold a 94.18 per cent stake in the company, and the two investors own 5.82 per cent shareholding in the firm. Proceeds of the fresh issue would be utilised towards payment of debt and for general corporate purposes. Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Ltd has mobilised Rs 409.5 crore from anchor investors. The company operates hospitality assets under its brands, The Park, The Park Collection, Zone by The Park, Zone Connect by The Park, and Stop by Zone. It has five decades of experience in the hospitality business of owning and operating hotels, with the first hotel being launched under brand "The Park" at the iconic Park Street in Kolkata. It has established a presence in the retail food and beverage industry through its retail brand 'Flurys'. Also, it operates 81 restaurants, night clubs and bars as of September 30, 2023. The company has presence in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi-NCR as well as in other major cities such as Coimbatore, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jammu, Navi Mumbai, Raipur, and Visakhapatnam. JM Financial, Axis Capital and ICICI Securities are the managers to the offer. (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 5 (PTI) In a huge relief for H-1B visa holders, a White House-backed bipartisan deal has been unveiled under which automatic work authorisation would be granted to about 100,000 H-4 visa holders, who are spouses and children of a certain category of H-1B visa holders. The National Security Agreement that was announced on Sunday after long negotiations between the Republican and the Democratic leadership in the US Senate also provides a solution to about 250,000 aged-out children of H-1B visa holders. Also Read | Chile Wildfires: Death Toll Rises to 112 in Vina Del Mar As Officials Struggle To Contain Forest Fires. The move comes as good news for hundreds and thousands of Indian technology professionals who are waiting in a painstakingly long wait for a Green Card, in the absence of which their spouses cannot work and their aged-out children face the threat of deportation. A Green Card, known officially as a Permanent Resident Card, is a document issued to immigrants to the US as evidence that the bearer has been granted the privilege of residing permanently. The per-country caps are numerical limits on the issuance of green cards to individuals from certain countries. Also Read | AAP Leader Manish Sisodia Appears in Court for Delhi Excise Policy Case Hearing: Live Breaking News Headlines & Updates, February 5, 2024. For too long, going back decades, the immigration system has been broken. It's time to fix it...It will make our country safer, make our border more secure, treat people fairly and humanely while preserving legal immigration, consistent with our values as a nation, US President Joe Biden said in a statement. In another good news for Indian American immigrants, the bill provides ageing-out protection for children of long-term H-1B visa holders provided kids have maintained H4 status for eight years. It provides 18,000 more employment-based green cards per year for the next five years with country caps. This means that over the next five years, the United States will be issuing 158,000 employment-based green cards per year. This bill provides work authorisation to approximately 25,000 K-1, K-2, and K-3 nonimmigrant visa holders (fiance or spouse and children of US citizens) per year, and about 100,000 H-4 spouses and children of certain H-1B non-immigrant visa holders who have completed immigrant petitions (temporary skilled workers) per year, so they no longer have to apply and wait for approval before they can begin working in the United States, the White House said in a fact sheet released Sunday night. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. Occupations that qualify for the H-1B visa are typically in fields such as technology, finance, engineering, architecture, or more. It will expedite work permits so that those who are here and qualify can get to work more quickly. It will create more opportunities for families to come together through short-term visits as well as increased permanent lawful pathways. It ensures the most vulnerable, unaccompanied young children, have paid legal representation, Biden said. According to the White House, the bill ensures that those who are here and qualify can get to work faster. It provides work authorisation to asylum seekers once they receive a positive protection screening determination. This will allow asylum seekers to begin to support themselves and their families in the United States much earlier than the current 180-day statutorily required waiting period, which only begins after an individual submits an asylum application, it said. This will also reduce the resource strain on our cities and states who have been supporting asylum seekers during this existing waiting period, the White House said. For the first time in over 30 years, it raises the cap on the number of immigrant visas available annually by adding an additional 250,000 immigrant visas over five years (50,000/year). Out of 250,000 visas, 160,000 of these will be family-based, and the other 90,000 will be employment-based, it said. These additional immigrant visas expand lawful pathways to the United States, prioritising family reunification, reducing the time families have to spend apart, and getting US businesses access to additional workers. The White House said the bill provides relief to over 250,000 individuals who came to the United States as children on their parents' work visas. Notably, a significantly large number of them are from India. These individuals have resided lawfully in the United States since they were children and have established lives here in the US but have since aged out of continuing to receive lawful status through their parents and have no other means of lawfully remaining in the United States with their families, the White House said. Noncitizens who lived lawfully in the United States as a dependent child of an employment-based nonimmigrant for at least 8 years before turning 21 will be eligible to remain temporarily in the United States with work authorisation. In support of family unity, the bill makes clear that certain noncitizens can travel to the United States on a temporary visitor (B) visa to visit their family members, it said. The bill among other things, provides resources to help US allies and partners in the region build the capabilities necessary to address threats from an increasingly assertive China and to meet emerging challenges. It is critically important that we maintain our focus on the Indo-Pacific and preserve peace and stability, it said. The bill provides USD48.43 billion for continued US support to Ukraine in its fight against Russia. The White House urged the US Congress to quickly pass the bill. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tel Aviv [Israel], February 5 (ANI/TPS): In the center of the Gaza Strip, a squad of five terrorists was identified in the area where forces of the IDF's (Israel Defence Forces) Nahal Infantry was operating at the time. In a joint activity of the ground forces, aided by aircraft, naval vessels and tanks, the terrorists were eliminated. When one of the terrorists was eliminated explosions were identified that testified to the fact that he had explosive devices in his possession. Also Read | Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong Acquitted by Seoul Court in Controversial 2015 Merger Case. Also, fighters of the 646th Reserve Paratrooper Brigade raided terrorist targets and located Kalashnikov type weapons, sniper rifles, grenades and cartridges. The fighters also eliminated ten terrorists with close range fire and air support. In addition, over the past day, the Israel Navy used missile ships to attack terrorist infrastructures used by in the Gaza Strip. (ANI/TPS) Also Read | Total Solar Eclipse 2024 Date and Time: Will Surya Grahan Be Visible in India? Heres All You Need To Know About the Upcoming Celestial Event. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Karachi, Feb 5 (PTI) About 80 per cent of the polling stations established for Thursday's general elections in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province have been declared "sensitive" or "highly sensitive" by the authorities. Of the total 5,028 polling stations in Balochistan, only 961 (approx 19 per cent) are designated as normal, Balochistan's Interior Minister Zubair Jamali said, expressing serious concerns about the potential security challenges in the province during the polls. Also Read | Chile Wildfires: Death Toll Rises to 112 in Vina Del Mar As Officials Struggle To Contain Forest Fires. While 2,337 polling stations have been declared "sensitive", 1,730 are classified as "highly sensitive", he said. Jamali said given the recent terror incidents in Balochistan with attempted strikes on security forces, installations, government servants and civilians, security on the polling day would be very tight. Also Read | Supreme Court to Hear Petition by Uddhav Thackeray Faction of Shiv Sena: Live Breaking News Headlines & Updates, February 5, 2024. Balochistan's caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai on Sunday announced that internet services would be temporarily suspended in areas with polling stations marked as sensitive on the day of the election in the province. In a statement, the minister said social media platforms could be utilised by terrorists for communication purposes on polling day. To mitigate this risk, access to the internet would be restricted in various areas, including Turbat, Macch, and Chaman. Jamali said the government, establishment and security forces carried out an extensive survey of all polling stations to categorise them for the elections. We have taken into account past incidents of terrorism, the presence of militant groups in different areas and their ability to create violence during polls, he said. Last week, terrorists belonging to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) tried to storm the towns of Mach and Kolpur apparently to free inmates in the Mach jail but the attempt was foiled by the security forces. However, four security personnel, two civilians and at least 24 terrorists were killed during the operation. There have been several incidents of poll violence in Balochistan. In January, four people were killed and six others injured in a bomb blast at a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) party rally in Balochistan's Sibi city. The provincial government has already implemented a ban on political rallies and corner meetings in view of poll-related violence incidents. Jamali said there would be increased deployment of security forces at polling stations, particularly in sensitive and highly sensitive ones. Since last year there has been a spike in terror incidents in Balochistan, especially after the ceasefire between the federal government and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) outfit ended in November 2022. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Male [Maldives], February 5 (ANI): Only 24 Maldives Members of Parliament (MPs) attended the opening sitting of the People's Majlis, where President Mohamed Muizzu delivered his first presidential address, Maldives-based online news outlet Adhadhu reported. The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Democrats decided to boycott the sitting due to the "undemocratic ways of the government." Also Read | Dog Attack in UK: Elderly Woman Mauled to Death by XL Bullys As Grandson Watched in Horror. A total of 56 MPs boycotted the opening sitting. This includes 13 MPs from the Democrats and 44 MPs from the MDP. Only 24 MPs were in attendance when the sitting began at 9:00 am. Also Read | First Group of Indian Troops to be Sent Before March 10, Says Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu in Maiden Parliament Speech. MDP MP Speaker Mohamed Aslam chaired the sitting. He chaired the sitting despite calls by government MPs to recuse from presiding as a no-confidence motion has been moved against him, as per Adhadhu. The government MPs have further moved a no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Ahmed Saleem, who is also an MDP MP. The opening on Monday was attended by Muizzu, first lady Sajidha Mohamed. "President Dr @MMuizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed attend the opening of the People's Majlis for the year 2024, where the President delivers his first Presidential Address," the Maldives President's Office wrote on 'X'. The president, while delivering his address, said he has decided not to appoint more people to senior political positions given the country's current economic and financial situation, Maldives media outlet Mihaaru reported. Muizzu said the main reason for the deficit and the increase in debt is the sharp increase in the government's expenditure relative to revenue. With that, he said, the government has been forced to take measures to reduce operating expenditures, as per Mihaaru. He said: "I have decided not to appoint any more people to senior political positions except in exceptional circumstances in order to reduce government expenditure". (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Taipei, February 5: Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence (MND) on Monday said that they have detected five Chinese military vessels and two aircraft around Taiwan between 6 am (local time) on Sunday and 6 am (local time) on Monday, Taiwan News reported. Following China's action, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed air defence missile systems to keep a watch on the People's Liberation Army (PLA) activity, according to the MND. According to Taiwan's MND, no PLA aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line or entered the southwest corner of Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) during that time, according to Taiwan News report. In a post on X, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence stated, "2 PLA aircraft and 5 PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and employed appropriate forces to respond." Beijing Will Reunify Taiwan With China, Xi Jinping Warns Joe Biden During Summit in San Francisco. So far in February, Taiwan has detected 27 Chinese military aircraft and 19 naval ships. Since September 2020, China has intensified its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships that are functioning around Taiwan. Gray zone tactics are "an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one's security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force," Taiwan News reported. It is not the first time Taiwan has made such a move. On February 4, Taiwan's Ministry of Defence said that seven PLA aircraft and four PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected. Notably, China's Communist Party considers Taiwan its own territory, despite never having controlled it. In a post on X, Taiwan Ministry of National Defence stated, "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 SW ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces monitored the situation and employed appropriate forces to respond." Taiwan Elections 2024 Results: Democratic Progressive Party Wins Record Third Term As Lai Ching-te Wins Presidential Poll. On January 31, Taiwan's Marine Corps held a maritime drill at the Zuoying Naval Base in Kaohsiung, featuring a mine-laying ship and a domestically built assault boat that carried out maritime surveillance and combat operations to simulate defending against a Chinese invasion, Focus Taiwan reported. The manoeuvres, which took place in waters around Zuoying Harbour, were designed to test the Marine Corps' ability to identify Chinese military movements quickly as well as their combat preparedness and capability. During the exercise, the Taiwan Navy made an emergency departure from the harbour with a minelayer and an indigenous M109 assault boat and performed a variety of actions, including surveillance and the use of radar systems and drones to alert battleship forces to approaching hostile forces, reported Focus Taiwan. Officers and troops on the M109 assault boat told CNA that during the drills, the M109 assault boat played an important part in the operation by bringing sea and land forces together to respond to China's "gray zone" actions near Taiwan while maintaining maritime safety. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, February 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new toll-free Mumbai Coastal Road Project north-south portion of Phase 1, here on February 19 -- the 394th birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj -- which is expected to revolutionise road commute in the country's commercial capital. The MCRP, which is named officially as 'Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Coastal Motorway', is being executed by the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporatoin (BMC) from its own resources. As per Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's suggestion, the CSMCM will be toll-free for Mumbai commuters and will shall the travel time from Worli to Marine Lines, a distance of 10.58 km, from the existing 50 minutes to barely 15 minutes. PM Narendra Modi Replies to Motion of Thanks on President's Address in Lok Sabha (Watch Video). When fully completed, the 8-lane, 29.2 km long grade-separated motorway will link Marine Drive with Kandivali suburb via the city's western coastal route, the first of its kind in the state and billed an engineering marvel, costing around Rs 12,700 crore. The work on MCRP was first proposed by the Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray in 2013, the work on the project started in 2017-2018. Later in November 2019, Thackeray took over as Chief Minister heading the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, and work slowed down due to the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown before picking up pace later. Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas: 25 Religious Leaders From Minority Communities Meet PM Narendra Modi in Parliament, Endorse His Leadership (Watch Videos). "We started the work in 2017-2018 and till our government was toppled by a bunch of cowards in June 2022, the MCRP work had already completed 65 per cent progress. We held weekly reviews and monthly visits, unlike the current regime," said Worli MLA Aditya Thackeray, taking potshots at the current MahaYuti government of Shinde. Slamming the government, he said that in order to claim credit before the elections, the government wants to inaugurate an unfinished coastal road. "Elections are the criteria, not citizens. Inaugurating the coastal road, not fully ready, is a bad idea but then, for politics, what all can be done! Shame that our city is being used for their politics," said Aditya Thackeray. The first phase will be fully ready by May 2024 when it will be thrown open to traffic in both directions, as indicated by BMC Commissioner I.S. Chahal last week. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 05, 2024 05:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). The Delhi High Court on Monday rejected the plea to quash the summons issued against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a criminal defamation case, which revolves around his re-tweet of an allegedly defamatory video posted by YouTuber. A 16-year-old Pakistani national has been arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) troops on Monday, February 5, 2024. The minor was apprehended near the international border in a village of Tarn Taran district and has been identified as a resident of Kasur in Pakistan. One mobile phone and one Pakistan currency note of Rs 100 have been recovered from his possession. Punjab: BSF Hands Over Aged Pakistani National Back to Rangers. Pakistani National Arrested From Punjab Tarn Taran, Punjab: On February 5, BSF troops apprehended a Pakistani national near the international border in a village of Tarn Taran district. The apprehended 16-year-old, revealed himself to be a resident of Kasur in Pakistan. One mobile phone and one Pakistan currency note pic.twitter.com/LRVJPvOaCQ ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Bengaluru, February 5: Prior to the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) ambitious Gaganyaan mission, which will be the nation's first human space journey with Indian astronauts, the country's female robot astronaut Vyommitra will be launched into space. According to Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Jitendra Singh, the manned mission Gaganyaan is scheduled for launch in 2025, while the unmanned Vyommitra mission is scheduled for the third quarter of this year. The origin of the name Vyommitra lies in two Sanskrit words - Vyoma, which means space, and Mitra, which means friend. ISRO Unveils First Glimpse of Female 'Vyommitra' Humanoid For Gaganyaan Mission, Watch Video. According to the Union Minister, the robot astronaut is capable of monitoring module parameters, sending out alarms, and carrying out life-support procedures. It can also operate six panels and reply to inquiries. "It has been designed in such a manner to simulate human functions in the space environment and interact with the life support system," stated Singh, as cited by Press Information Bureau (PIB). October 21, 2023, marked the completion of the first test vehicle flight, TV D1, prior to the launch of Gaganyaan. This was done in order to certify the parachute and crew escape systems. All propulsion stages are qualified, all preparations are in place, and the launch vehicle has received its human rating. Vyommitra is India's First Humanoid to Go in Space on Gaganyaan, Here Are Other Robots That Have Been Created For Space Missions. The goal of the Gaganyaan project is to send a crew of astronauts into a 400-kilometer orbit and return them safely to Earth in order to demonstrate human spaceflight capabilities. According to Singh, the Chandrayaan-3 Mission is operating as planned. The mission touched down on August 23, 2023, close to the Moon's south pole. He said that the crucial insights it sent will be released shortly. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 05, 2024 04:42 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Vote counting is underway in El Salvador election 2024 after the polls closed on Sunday, with President Nayib Bukele expected to secure a second term, according to CNN. Bukele, 42, faces minimal organized opposition and boasts one of the highest favorability ratings in the region, often polling above 70% in independent surveys. His popularity is attributed to a crackdown on criminal gangs, leading to a significant reduction in the murder rate, despite concerns over mass arrests that have given El Salvador the world's highest incarceration rate. READ NEXT: El Salvador President Nayib Bukele Rejects 'Indefinite Tenure' Bukele's Security Strategy and El Salvador Election 2024 Dynamics Bukele, widely popular, campaigned on the success of his security strategy, involving the suspension of civil liberties to arrest over 75,000 Salvadorans without charges, Reuters reports. The detentions resulted in a sharp decline in nationwide murder rates, transforming a country of 6.3 million people that was once among the world's most dangerous. However, some analysts question the sustainability of mass incarceration, constituting 1% of the population, in the long term. In a recent press conference, Bukele urged support for his party to maintain its anti-gang fight and continue reshaping El Salvador. He expressed optimism about the country's future. "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," Bukele said. Despite debates on human rights concerns, many Salvadorans seem set to reward Bukele for the positive changes, including reduced crime and a surge in tourism. Pre-election polling indicated single-digit support for traditional parties FMLN and ARENA, reflecting public dissatisfaction with decades of traditional politics marked by violence and corruption. Nayib Bukele's candidacy itself has been controversial, enabled by a loyalist Supreme Court ruling allowing him to bypass a constitutional ban on successive terms, per France24. When questioned about seeking a third term, he replied, "I don't think constitutional reform is necessary," leaving his future plans unclear. International Reactions and El Salvador Election 2024 Atmosphere Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena and China's Embassy in San Salvador congratulated Bukele, anticipating a "historic victory." Nayib Bukele, known for his strong anti-gang stance, faced virtually no competition, with soaring approval ratings making his second term widely expected, Al Jazeera noted. For the first time since the civil war ended in 1992, the El Salvador election is being held under a state of emergency imposed for Bukele's crackdown on criminal gangs. While the move significantly reduced homicide rates, it drew criticism for human rights violations. Most Salvadorans, however, seem focused on the positive changes, particularly the reduction in crime, giving little priority to reported human rights concerns. The El Salvador election 2024 dynamics saw Nayib Bukele focusing on promoting his Nuevas Ideas party, holding a majority in the 84-member assembly. Legislative reforms led by Bukele reduced the overall number of seats to 60, potentially making it more challenging for smaller parties to secure sufficient votes. Alternating in power for three decades, traditional parties ARENA and FMLN faced discreditation for corruption and inefficacy, with their presidential candidates polling in the low single digits. The direction El Salvador takes under Bukele's continued leadership will become clearer as the official results unfold. READ MORE: El Salvador Festivals This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Why El Salvador's Nayib Bukele is set to win reelection - From Associated Press Buckingham Palace Announces King Charles III Has Been Diagnosed With Cancer and Will Postpone Public-Facing Duties per Doctors Advise Buckingham Palace released an official statement announcing King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer. The diagnosis was made while the British King was undergoing treatment for a benign enlarged prostate at The London Clinic. The prognosis or stage have not been revealed to the public, but the announcement says His Majesty will be postponing public facing duties and only continue to "undertake State business and official paperwork" The palace did specify The King does not have prostate cancer. The King returned to London on Monday to begin out-patient care, and "remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible," the palace said. According to BBC, there's a "constitutional mechanism for when the head of state is unable to carry out official duties - in that circumstance "counsellors of state" can be appointed to stand in for the monarch." This includes Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Anne and Prince Edward. The monarch informed his sons and siblings personally about his diagnosis and it's in constant communication with Prince William. The Duke of Sussex, who currently lives in the United States, will be traveling to the United Kingdom to see his father in the coming days. The release says His Majesty decided to publicly share his diagnosis to primarily prevent speculation, but also in hopes it "may assist public understanding for those around the world who are affected by cancer." The king was last seen in public at Sandringham on Sunday to attend a church service with the queen. One person is injured following an accident that has shut down a portion of Route 604 in Hackettstown, police said. Hackettstown Police Patrolman Kevin MacQuesten told lehighvalleylive.com the accident happened around 7:30 a.m. Monday at Route 604 (Willow Grove Street) between Bilby Road and Musky Ridge Drive. Local police and New Jersey State Police are investigating at the scene with state police handling the case, MacQuesten said. A spokesman for New Jersey State Police did not immediately return a request for more information Monday morning to confirm that account. Residents of a village in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador are looking forward to having for the first time clean water, thanks to the skills and efforts of determined engineering students at University of Wisconsin-Stout. The students are members of the universitys Engineers Without Borders chapter. They designed a system that captures spring water and chlorinates it for safe consumption. Then, gravity transports it in buried pipes down the mountain to a pair of 5,000-liter holding tanks, where villagers will access it. Three members of the chapter, Jeremiah Hubbard, Jack Lonn and Elana Showalter, visited the village, Naranjal, for 10 days last August and September to help the 100 residents begin installing the system. The villagers have continued to make progress and are close to completing Phase 1, a section highest on the mountain. We learned a lot about the process of engineering, said Showalter, of Northfield, Minnesota, EWB chapter vice president who is majoring in mechanical engineering. This isnt guesswork. We know it will work because of our calculations. The system will improve residents lives by eliminating fears of E.coli and other water-borne illnesses. Currently, they use a system that isnt chlorinated and requires them to boil water or travel to find clean spring water. The new system also will capture and hold more water, be more accessible to residents who live over about a 2-mile area and with larger holding tanks store water even during the dry season. The intention is that once we finish the project, we hope well never have to touch it again. They can operate it completely on their own, said Hubbard, of Hammond, the chapter president and also a mechanical engineering major. He is minoring in global perspectives in engineering. About six-tenths of a mile of pipe was installed during the visit, with residents working independently on another three-tenths. Excavating equipment was brought in to dig trenches for the pipes. The students plan to return to Naranjal in 2024 to begin Phase 2, farther down the mountain. Phase 2 would cover about another mile and bring holding tanks to more residents. The approximately $17,000 project was paid for through fundraisers, EWB chapter funds and grants. Naranjal residents are covering about 5% of the cost. Students paid their own travel expenses, about $700 each. They are fundraising for their return trip. Donations can be made at the UW-Stout EWB student chapter website. The students worked with EWB professional engineer advisers and Rachel Conrad, representative of an Ecuador NGO nonprofit government organization. Conrad also acted as a translator, though Showalter also speaks Spanish and is pursuing a minor in it. In 2024, Engineers Without Borders USA is working on 506 projects in 39 countries involving more than 14,000 volunteers. Assistant professor Vince Wheeler, who provided project support, was impressed by the students efforts. It takes determination and a deep sense of purpose to dedicate this much of their time and expertise to help people in need, he said. UW-Stout has four undergraduate programs and one in Graduate Studies in engineering, part of the Robert F. Cervenka School of Engineering, and an engineering technology degree. Huge motivation to go back Prior to the trip, students met about 12 villagers during several virtual meetings. We talked with community members, explained our plan and asked them if they had questions, said Lonn, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, a computer and electrical engineering major. The villagers were all in to help, said Lonn, previous EWB chapter president. Some digging had been done before students arrived, but PVC pipe, a Bobcat excavator and other materials had to be trucked up the mountain before the full project could begin. Designing the system, which involved numerous steps and approvals, including from EWB, took about two years during the students spare time. We had to submit pages of math to show this should be able to go where we want it to go, Hubbard said. They were warmly received in Naranjal, with residents amazed they would come all the way from America to help them. We were honored that they would invite us into their community, Showalter said. Students housed and ate at residents homes, and on their last night the entire village threw them a party with food, music and dancing. We have this huge motivation to go back and help them, Showalter said. Its that responsibility we all knew we had to the community but especially after meeting them and seeing the people were helping. The project began in 2020 under chapter president Daniel Horist but was delayed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the meantime, students remained in touch with Naranjal residents and provided plans for greenhouses needed to grow certain types of crops in a tropical climate. They saw the finished greenhouses during their visit. This team, and those in EWB before them, have persevered through serious setbacks since the project started, Wheeler said. The project is the first one successfully implemented by UW-Stouts EWB chapter. Stormonts new leaders have vowed to work in unity to press the UK Government for more funding to tackle the long list of problems facing public services in Northern Ireland. The regions first ever nationalist First Minister, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill, and her DUP counterpart, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, were commenting after meeting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Irish premier Leo Varadkar on a day when Stormonts new ministerial Executive got formally down to business. The powersharing institutions were restored on Saturday after a deal between the UK Government and the DUP to address unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements, which included passing new legislation at Westminster. Ms ONeill said she and Ms Little-Pengelly had put on a united front as they delivered a loud and clear message to Mr Sunak on Monday that a 3.3 billion Treasury package to accompany the return of devolution was not sufficient. Ms Little-Pengelly said securing enough money to meet the pay demands of striking public sector workers was a key ask of the Government. The ministers conducted their first joint press conference ahead of convening a meeting of the new Executive at Stormont Castle. Earlier in the day, all the Executive ministers gathered at the castle for separate meetings with Mr Sunak and then Mr Varadkar. While the Prime Minister has said the 3.3 billion offer represents a generous and fair settlement, Stormont ministers have collectively penned a letter to the Government insisting it is not enough to deliver sustainable public services and public finances. They say more money, along with further reform of the funding model for the region, is required if they are to get on top of a bulging in-tray following two years of political impasse in Northern Ireland. Earlier, Taoiseach Mr Varadkar insisted the Irish government was willing to help Northern Ireland with further financial support. Ms ONeill said the Executive needed more money to deliver good public services. The offer that has been put on the table sounds good on the face of it, but whenever you break it down into the details theres a lot more to be done here, she told reporters. If were going to be successful politically, we need to also have the resources to deliver good public services. I think the Prime Minister heard that very loudly and clearly from both Emma and I collectively, and from all Executive colleagues. She added: We are not working on failure, we are working on the basis that we are going to be successful. We know weve a lot of work to do but we need the Treasury to be engaged with us because for many, many years we have been underfunded, we now are trying to fix that, we want to transform our health service. We have an in-tray as long as your arm in terms of the issues we need to deal with. Ms Little-Pengelly said Executive ministers had to work together to meet Northern Irelands financial challenges. Within every department there are very important issues, she said. But the key thing here is we are only going to find resolutions for those by working together and working constructively together. Thats what were up for, I think the rest of the Executive is up for that challenge. The DUP MLA added: We know that theres a very clear expectation of delivery, we want to deliver, we need to fix our public services, we need to help those people who are struggling at the moment in terms of getting access to those necessary public services. So we took the opportunity this morning to raise that issue directly with the Prime Minister. I welcome the fact that the Prime Minister has indicated that he will continue with those conversations, that those will be detailed conversations around issues such as the fiscal floor and public sector pay. Prior to their meeting with Executive ministers, Mr Sunak and Mr Varadkar met for private discussions at Stormont. However, they did not conduct any joint meetings with local politicians or hold a joint press conference through the course of Monday. The lack of a side-by-side public appearance fuelled talk of tensions in the Anglo-Irish relationship following Irelands move to launch a legal challenge against the UK Governments contentious legislation to address the legacy of the Northern Ireland Troubles. Both sides moved to play down suggestions of a rift between them. During his individual press conference at Stormont, Mr Varadkar highlighted that the Irish government had already invested millions of euros in projects in Northern Ireland that had a cross-border element, and he said more funding pledges through its Shared Island Initiative would be forthcoming. The bulk of Irish investment in the region has focused on capital infrastructure projects. The Taoiseach, addressing reporters in Parliament Buildings in Belfast, said he was confident the new administration in Belfast would last. I want to thank people who made today possible, to congratulate the First Minister, the deputy First Minister, the new Executive on taking up their new roles, and really pledge to do everything that we can do to help this Executive to be successful, he said. Theres a lot of everyday issues that need attention here in Northern Ireland, and I know theyre going to work very hard on that. Were keen to get north-south co-operation going again and have a meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in the next couple of weeks and focus on some of that practical co-operation that works well for everyone on the island. So, very keen to work with a new Executive and looking forward to doing that. Asked by reporters if his government was prepared to offer new money to the region, the Taoiseach said: Yes, we are. You know the Shared Island Fund is there and we would intend to make further allocations from that over the course of this year. But were also very keen to co-ordinate that with the Secretary of State (Chris Heaton-Harris) and also with the Executive, now it is up and running. Mr Sunak said his Governments funding deal for Northern Ireland was significant and generous and would focus on long-term sustainability as well as addressing the immediate issues. He added: I had very constructive meetings this morning with the Executive, with political leaders across Stormont, and it is a historic and important day for the country, because Northern Irelands politicians are back in charge, making decisions on behalf of their people, which is exactly how it should be. Now, our new deal gives them more funding and more powers than they have ever had, so they can deliver for families and businesses across Northern Ireland. And thats what everyones priority is now. Mr Sunak also insisted that Stormonts leaders should focus on the day-to-day concerns of people in Northern Ireland, rather than the prospect of a poll on reunification. He made clear that constitutional change was not a priority in response to weekend comments from Ms ONeill in which she claimed a border referendum could be held in the next 10 years. It is not constitutional change, it is delivering on the day-to-day things that matter to people, the Prime Minister said. Mr Varadkar would not be drawn on the question of reunification when asked by reporters. Aside from the difference of opinion on the legacy laws, Mr Varadkar was asked to respond to the suggestion of disquiet in No 10 amid claims he had muscled in on the Prime Ministers visit to the region to mark the re-establishment of devolution. I had a very good welcome and very good meeting with the Prime Minister and then a very warm welcome from the First Minister, deputy First Minister and Executive, he replied. And theres a long-standing tradition since the Good Friday Agreement was signed that the Taoiseach would attend events like this. Principals and deputy principals from across Irelands Education & Training Boards (ETBs), including Kildare & Wicklow ETB, have called for an increase in the allocation of deputy principals in ETB post primary schools with DEIS designation, at their national conference this week. Over 300 delegates were joined by Dr Katriona OSullivan, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science in Maynooth University, and bestselling author of Poor, who challenged them to expect and support excellence from all their students. DEIS schools get extra funding because some students in the area may come from a disadvantaged background. Education is all about relationships, Dr OSullivan told the ETB principals and deputy principals, and relationships require time and space. The allocation of more deputy principals can transform a school, freeing up school leaders to support students and teachers develop relationships where talent can shine. Read more Kildare news Paddy Lavelle, General Secretary of Education and Training Boards Ireland agrees: ETBs have the highest proportion of DEIS post-primary schools in the country, 129 in total, and their young people need and deserve adequate supports. The deputy principal role is a crucial one: the high administrative burden placed on principals means the deputy principal is, typically, the staff-member available to identify challenges or risks for the student body or individual students; to provide support to students experiencing difficulties; to keep a watching eye on at-risk students and to liaise with other support services to ensure all students get the care and attention they need. We are appealing to the Department to increase the allocation by between .5 and 1 deputy principal per school, depending on its size* and believe this will make a significant impact on outcomes for our learners, some of whom are the most vulnerable young people in Irish society. From the feedback weve received from our Principals, this increase will help relieve the administrative burden and free them up for a greater focus on Teaching and Learning, providing increased support for student support and wellbeing, and professional support for their teachers. This years ETBI brincipals and deputy principals conference was also addressed by Dr Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children and Prof Selina McCoy, Associate Research Professor ESRI. Delegates also attended workshops on meeting the challenges of vaping, hidden bullying and the new Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum. Network Ireland Kildare Branch kick-started 2024 with an inspirational event on January 24th, marking the first in this year's series of empowering gatherings. Held at the prestigious Osprey Hotel, Naas, Co Kildare this event brought together leading Women in business, entrepreneurship, and public service to inspire, educate, and network. The theme of the evening, Networking with the President, Leadership and Resilience: Paving the Way for Success in 2024, aimed at equipping attendees with the tools and insights necessary to navigate the challenges of the modern workplace while seizing opportunities for growth and development. The event featured keynote speeches from Previous presidents sharing their experiences, and networking opportunities, designed to inspire action and foster a community of support among professional women in Kildare and beyond. Highlighting the event was a speech from our National Network Ireland President Linda Codoul. Attendees benefited from learning practical and actionable skills from the experiences of all the Past Presidents in the room. leaders who have led the organisation under different situations including COVID. These skills include resilience, negotiation, digital marketing, and mental wellness, reflecting Network Ireland Kildare Branch's commitment to holistic development. The evening provided a unique opportunity for members and guests to connect with like-minded professionals, share experiences, and collaborate on future initiatives. The vibrant atmosphere was a testament to the strength and solidarity among women striving for excellence in their respective fields. "Launching our year with such a powerful event sets a positive tone for 2024," said the President of Network Ireland Kildare Branch Anita Meenehan. We are committed to providing our members with the resources, support, and community needed to achieve their goals. Tonight was just the beginning of what promises to be an extraordinary year of growth, learning, and achievement. Network Ireland Kildare Branch will be announcing a series of upcoming events and workshops throughout the year, each designed to support women's professional growth and leadership development. For more information about future events or to become a member, please visit networkireland.ie or follow us on social media. Plans are being made to ensure that the Naas Farmers Market prospers. The level of interest among stall holders in setting up shop at the market - set in the the most historic quarter of the town - has fluctuated since it opened at the old potato market site in November 2022, The price structure used by council to attract traders is to be reviewed with a view to keeping it competitive, Kildare County Council official Eoghan Ryan said. He also said that the market, which opens between 10am and 3pm on Saturdays, will be promoted on social media platforms. A manager has been appointed to liaise with tenants and the venue will also be open to use by community groups on days when the market is not open. Naas councillor Anne Breen said the market, situated in the shadow of St Davids Castle which itself was a Norman stronghold in the 13th and 14th centuries, had a successful relaunch but some stall holders had left. Read more Kildare news Mr Ryan conceded that a number of traders had departed including some who would not be what you would expect to see there and at times the footfall has not been there He also said that not enough promotional work had been undertaken in the background. Kildare County Council has also pointed out that the venue is for both community and cultural use as well. The space was vacant and over-grown for many years before the council engaged with the owners, secured a lease and secured funding for conservation works. The space has been used for a number of events throughout the year, including St. Brigids Day/Brigid 1500, St. Patricks Day, the Wild Food Festival and the Liam OFlynn Feile. Mr Ryan said when it opened in November 2023 it was at or near capacity and while numbers declined, there is renewed interest from stall holders and the council continues to get enquiries. He noted that the council met with the stall holders to explore how, collectively, we can support and promote the market and a list of action points was formulated and these are being implemented and include, temporary signage erected on approach roads (which are in place), signage at the gate (ordered with temporary signage in place), a number of brown tourist signs, some of which have gone up. The council have recently advertised on MAST (Markets Alive Support Team Ltd) the main insurance provider for stall holders in Ireland. Once we reach a critical threshold, we intend to have a formal official opening and the councils communications team will develop a communications strategy around the event. Ultimately though, he said, it is up to the community to support the market if they wish to see it continue. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has told Stormonts leaders the real work starts now as he held talks in Belfast after powersharing returned to Northern Ireland. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who is also at Stormont to mark the restoration of devolution, said it was a very positive day. The two leaders, whose governments are co-guarantors of the landmark Good Friday peace agreement, also met each other for a bilateral meeting at Parliament Buildings. Later, Mr Sunak travelled the short distance to Stormont Castle for a meeting with Northern Irelands first ever nationalist First Minister, Sinn Feins Michelle ONeill, and her DUP counterpart, deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly. As the meeting got under way inside the castle, Mr Sunak told the joint heads of the ministerial executive: It has taken a lot of hard work and indeed courage to get us sitting round this table. Today isnt the end; its the beginning, and the real work starts now. Earlier, Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, who accompanied Mr Sunak on his visit to Stormont, rejected claims by Stormont ministers that better funding is needed from the UK Government as powersharing returns. The Cabinet minister insisted the 3.3 billion package offered by Westminster is ample for the Executive to get on with the job. The newly-formed Executive has already written to the Prime Minister calling for urgent discussions on long-term funding stability to deliver public services. Asked about claims that the current funding arrangement will not provide the basis for the Executive to deliver sustainable public services, the Northern Ireland Secretary told BBC Breakfast: I dont believe that is the case. I think Stormont has fantastic, strong foundations now and it will survive, it will be sustainable. He added: There is a thing, I think, about choices. Youre going into politics, you have to make choices on these sorts of things. It's great to be back in Northern Ireland a special part of our United Kingdom. After two years, it's clear how important the Assembly's return is to local people giving them a say in issues that matter. Now it's time to deliver a brighter future for Northern Ireland. pic.twitter.com/BEuh4B731C Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) February 4, 2024 Those choices havent been made for a long time out here, and I believe the new set of ministers are completely capable of running their public finances perfectly well with the fair and generous funding package weve given them. Theres a 3.3 billion package available to ministers on day one here to get on with the job of sorting out Northern Ireland public sector pay, health services and a whole host of other things, and Id say thats ample for the time being. The new powersharing Executive will also hold its first meeting on Monday as it begins the task of trying to manage Northern Irelands strained finances. The institutions were restored after a deal between Mr Sunaks Government and the DUP to address unionist concerns over post-Brexit trading arrangements, which included passing new legislation at Westminster. The UK Governments 3.3 billion funding offer is aimed at stabilising finances in the region, and settling public sector pay claims. The Prime Minister has said the offer represents a generous and fair settlement. However, the letter from all Stormont ministers to the Prime Minister states that the current financial package on offer does not provide the basis for the Executive to deliver sustainable public services and public finances. Ahead of Mondays meeting with Mr Sunak, Ms ONeill said: If we are to tackle the serious problems across public services in our hospitals and our schools then how we are funded needs to change and I will be strongly pressing that point at todays meeting. It is critical that the Executive has the right resources to deliver effective public services for all our citizens and we will engage with the Prime Minister to achieve our shared objective. Ms Little-Pengelly said the Executive would be speaking with one voice in its meeting with the Prime Minister. She added: We will be saying that the people of Northern Ireland deserve better public services and that we need to work together the Executive and the Government to deliver long-term fiscal stability. We are ready to engage with the Government and get down to the work of putting our finances on a sound footing. However, we will also be seeking to ensure the UK Government provides sufficient funding in a package to fulfil its promises on public sector pay. In Leitrim, there are currently 603 guests living in 214 host homes. This represents 28% of the total number of Ukrainians who have arrived in the county since the invasion of Ukraine. Nationally, 25% of all arrivals from Ukraine are currently living in host homes or pledged accommodation. Local Leitrim host, Lorraine McHugh, says, We've been hosting a young woman from Ukraine for over a year now and it's been a fantastic experience. There are challenges of course, like the language barrier at times, but we've learned a lot from each other along the way and we've found our rhythm. We just felt we had to do something and this is one way we could help out when these people have had their whole lives turned upside down. If it's an option for other people, then Id say it really is worth doing. A recent survey of people who host Ukranians shows that 92% have had a positive experience and 76% would recommend hosting to someone else. The research was presented by Helping Irish Hosts and the Irish Red Cross to Oireachtas members at a briefing in Leinster House on Wednesday, 31 January. Angie Gough, CEO and Co-Founder of Helping Irish Hosts, says, The research reaffirms everything weve seen over the past 22 months. Hosting is having an incredible impact - for the hosts, their guests and also their communities. While its not the right option for everyone and its not a long-term solution, it does offer a key integration opportunity for people seeking refuge in this country. Our priority is to nurture the host response as a significant part of the refugee accommodation solution, while acknowledging its limitations and advocating for the changes needed to sustain it. The Consortium of organisations responsible for activating pledged accommodation is still receiving around 300 accommodation pledges a month. The briefing to Oireachtas members also heard that the savings to the taxpayer are in the region of 386 million annually, when compared to state accommodation. At the briefing on Wednesday, the group presented recommendations to Government and offered resources to support constituents and communities that are hosting. Key asks included extending the proposed 90-day policy for new arrivals to reduce the risk of harm to already vulnerable groups, and widening the Accommodation Recognition Payment (ARP) to include Programme Refugees who have been granted status in Ireland. Angie Gough says: We know that 76% of people were motivated to host out of solidarity, or compassion. This is hugely inspiring but we also know that the monthly ARP is a fundamental and brilliant tool in facilitating and sustaining hosting. From our conversations with hosts, its clear that there is a strong will in this community to extend the welcome currently being shown to Ukrainians, to all refugees. Alongside our Consortium partners, we are ready to draw on the current frameworks in place to pilot this approach. The Consortium is a partnership that is funded by DCEDIY and led by the Irish Red Cross, comprising Helping Irish Hosts, Peter McVerry Trust and IOM, to activate pledged accommodation on behalf of the Irish State and to retain and extend host arrangements. One social media user has shared their reservations online about the new Deposit Return Scheme, where he was charged the levy on a product with no Re-Turn sticker. User @sdaly213 on X (formerly Twitter) questioned the extra 15c levy that he was charged after purchasing a bottle of Tropicana juice, which did not sport the new Re-Turn logo to verify that the product applies to said scheme. The retailer, Supervalu in Ballymahon, Longford, saw the tweet and responded with a reasonable explanation, albeit confirming the product was missing the Re-Turn logo, which consumers are now told to look out for. Hi There! We can confirm that if a bottle has no Re-Turn logo, the Reverse Vending Machine will be able to read the barcode on the bottle. A receipt to redeem the deposit will still be issued. Just make sure the label and barcode are intact. Thanks, SuperValu Team SuperValu Ireland (@SuperValuIRL) February 1, 2024 Supervalu said: "Hi There! We can confirm that if a bottle has no Re-Turn logo, the Reverse Vending Machine will be able to read the barcode on the bottle. A receipt to redeem the deposit will still be issued. Just make sure the label and barcode are intact." The Deposit Return Scheme came into affect this Thursday, February 1. It aims to get people to recycle more by charging them between 15c and 25c extra for a product at the time of purchase, and returning that extra cost when the consumer brings back the plastic bottle/aluminium or steel can empty and undamaged. The consumer can then recycle the empty drink container in the Re-Turn recycle unit, located in-store of where the item was originally purchased, and get a voucher for that retailer back. Participating retailers can be found online, as well as more information. Acepodia Announces FDA Clearance of Investigational New Drug Application for ACE2016, a First-in-Class Allogeneic Anti-EGFR Cell Therapy ACE2016 Is an Allogeneic Gamma Delta 2 (??2) T Cell Therapy Targeting the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) in Patients With Solid Tumors. Phase 1 Clinical Study Expected to Begin in H2 2024. ALAMEDA, Calif. and TAIPEI, Feb. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Acepodia (6976:TT), a clinical stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class cell therapies with its unique Antibody-Cell Conjugation (ACC) and allogeneic gamma delta 2 (??2) T cell platforms to address gaps in cancer care, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the company's investigational new drug (IND) application for ACE2016, an allogeneic gamma delta 2 (??2) T cell therapy for the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expressing malignancies in patients with solid tumors. This clearance enables Acepodia to initiate a Phase 1, first-in-human trial evaluating the safety, tolerability and pharmacodynamics of ACE2016 in adults with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-expressing solid tumors. Acepodia expects to begin the trial in the coming months and treat the first patient in the second half of 2024. "This milestone is a key step as we advance our pipeline of next generation cell therapies and explore the potential of our novel Antibody-Cell Conjugation (ACC) technology in solid tumors, which remain to be unmet medical needs in the cell therapy field," said Sonny Hsiao, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Acepodia. "The rapid progression of obtaining the third IND approval within 18 months highlights the team's remarkable efficiency and dedication to advancing innovative programs swiftly. With our third program in the clinic, we are proud to continue progressing the field of cell therapy with the goal of delivering powerful, accessible treatments for patients through a first-of-its-kind approach." About ACE2016 ACE2016 is an off-the-shelf ??2 T cell therapy candidate developed from Acepodia's proprietary ACC platform. ACE2016 targets EGFR-expressing solid tumors through antibody conjugated ??2 T cells that target tumors driven by the cancer-causing EGFR gene. Leveraging the advantages of ACC technology and Acepodia's proprietary ??2 T cell platform, ACE2016 has shown promising cytotoxicity against several EGFR-expressing cancers in various pre-clinical study models. The Phase 1 trial will evaluate the safety, tolerability and pharmacodynamics of ACE2016 in patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-expressing solid tumors. The trial is expected to dose its first patient in the second half of 2024. About Acepodia Acepodia is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class cell therapies with its unique Antibody-Cell Conjugation (ACC) platform technology to address gaps in cancer care. Leveraging its ACC technology, the company links tumor-targeting antibodies to its proprietary immune cells, such as natural killer and gamma delta T cells to create novel ACE therapies, which have increased binding strength against tumors that express low levels of tumor antigens. Acepodia is made up of seasoned leaders and scientific experts dedicated to advancing its robust pipeline of ACE therapies with the potential to bring innovative, effective, and affordable cell therapies to a broad population of patients across a variety of solid tumors and hematologic cancers. For more information, visit www.acepodia.com and follow Acepodia on Twitter and LinkedIn. SOURCE Acepodia Inc. 4 february 2024 at 19:00 News published onand distributed by: GenAI Jumpstart Accelerator Offers Significant Benefits for Businesses in Highly-Regulated Industries TELUS International (NYSE and TSX: TIXT), a leading digital customer experience (CX) innovator that designs, builds and delivers next-generation solutions, including artificial intelligence (AI) and content moderation, for global and disruptive brands, sees potential in its GenAI Jumpstart accelerator for businesses in highly-regulated industries. With a path-to-production focus, the short eight-week engagement designed for companies at an early stage of their AI journey, rapidly identifies use cases, builds powerful risk mitigation tools and delivers a functional generative AI (GenAI)-powered virtual assistant prototype. According to a recent survey by Everest Group, supported by TELUS International, 59% of customer experience management (CXM) leaders in the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) industry plan to invest $1 million or more on GenAI solutions in the next 12-18 months. This result was 4% higher than the survey average for this question, which included CXM leaders from across the technology, travel & hospitality, telecom & media, retail and healthcare industries. However; when it comes to their organization's ability to adopt and implement GenAI solutions, BFSI CXM leaders cited AI regulatory compliance as the top roadblock, followed closely by data security and privacy concerns and exposure risk from GenAI. The company's unique Dual-LLM Safety System, a key feature of its GenAI Jumpstart accelerator, uses a large language model (LLM) to supervise the results of a retrieval augmented generation (RAG) system. A RAG-based system runs on a company's private and secure database of controlled and secured information rather than the open internet to help ensure that responses generated by a virtual assistant only use approved information that conforms to regulatory frameworks. Unlike traditional chatbots that can struggle with maintaining up-to-date information or accessing domain-specific knowledge, this feature helps keep AI assistants focused to mitigate inaccuracies, hallucinations and jailbreaking - a form of hacking that aims to bypass or trick an AI model's guidelines and safeguards to misuse or release prohibited information. "What is holding many companies back from truly unlocking the power of GenAI within their organizations is their lack of or limited in-house resources and expertise to safely and responsibly design and develop AI-powered solutions," said Tobias Dengel, president of WillowTree, a TELUS International Company. "Working with a trusted partner is especially important within highly-regulated industries like banking where there is an added layer of complexity when integrating GenAI into operations due to the constant need to adapt to new and updated regulatory changes and comply with strict consumer protections due to the sensitive nature of the information being handled." In the same Everest Group survey, no more than 7% of customer experience management (CXM) leaders considered any of their GenAI solutions to be at a steady-state in their organization across all applications. "For many use cases and specific tasks, particularly in highly-regulated industries but frankly a necessity across all industries, organizations must strive to retain total control over the knowledge database that an LLM references," continues Dengel. "Our global team has the experience to take clients from whiteboard to working prototype over the course of an eight-week sprint, without sacrificing security and quality, and decreasing both time to market and critically, time to value." Case study: A Safe and Compliant AI Assistant in a Highly-Regulated Industry Leveraging its GenAI Jumpstart accelerator, TELUS International and WillowTree designed and developed a next-gen chatbot experience for a leading North American multinational bank in eight weeks that balanced its need to improve customer service and productivity with the industry's strict governance demands. The fully-automated Dual-LLM Safety System, which eliminates the need for data scientists to manually create and evaluate hundreds of prompts and responses, saves significant time. By leading research and testing with the bank's users, the team was also able to establish customized user experience (UX) guidelines for the chatbot. Following its successful delivery, the GenAI Jumpstart offering was codified to create a safe, secure, modular architecture that can be adapted to address use cases spanning all industries. "Through user interviews, testing strategy, risk analysis, and reporting, WillowTree has not only understood users' needs, mental models, and desires related to AI-powered virtual assistants but also established the UX guidelines and added to the bank's bot experience knowledge base,"1 Alison Close, Research Manager, IDC Worldwide Outsourcing Services Team. GenAI Jumpstart is part of TELUS International's recently launched Fuel iX, the company's enhanced solution backed by the power of generative AI to deliver end-to-end CX innovation and AI-fueled intelligent experiences (iX). The company also launched Experts Engine, a fully-managed, tech-enabled experts-on-demand sourcing solution for generative AI model builders. TELUS International is a leading provider of comprehensive, end-to-end AI data solutions, and together with WillowTree, the company is helping its global clients leverage the power of AI to meet critical CX business needs. For more information about GenAI Jumpstart, click here. About TELUS International TELUS International (NYSE & TSX: TIXT) designs, builds and delivers next-generation digital solutions to enhance the customer experience (CX) for global and disruptive brands. The company's services support the full lifecycle of its clients' digital transformation journeys, enabling them to more quickly embrace next-generation digital technologies to deliver better business outcomes. TELUS International's integrated solutions span digital strategy, innovation, consulting and design, IT lifecycle including managed solutions, intelligent automation and end-to-end AI data solutions including computer vision capabilities, as well as omnichannel CX and trust and safety solutions including content moderation. Fueling all stages of company growth, TELUS International partners with brands across strategic industry verticals, including tech and games, communications and media, ecommerce and fintech, banking, financial services and insurance, healthcare, and others. TELUS International's unique caring culture promotes diversity and inclusivity through its policies, team member resource groups and workshops, and equal employment opportunity hiring practices across the regions where it operates. Since 2007, the company has positively impacted the lives of more than 1.2 million citizens around the world, building stronger communities and helping those in need through large-scale volunteer events and charitable giving. Five TELUS International Community Boards have provided $5.4 million in funding to grassroots charitable organizations since 2011. Learn more at: telusinternational.com. About WillowTree, a TELUS International Company WillowTree, a TELUS International Company, is a digital experience consultancy partnering with the world's most customer-centric brands to tackle their thorniest challenges. The company designs and builds mobile apps and websites, launches personalized and automated marketing campaigns, and deploys the latest in Generative AI and machine learning. WillowTree staffs small, elite teams to minimize the time from idea to code and concept to campaign ? all with a relentless focus on ROI. Founded in 2008, WillowTree has a team of 1,000+ strategists, designers, engineers, and data scientists across the globe. Discover more about WillowTree, a TELUS International Company, and its suite of services at: www.willowtreeapps.com. 5 february 2024 at 06:50 News published onand distributed by: ARway.ai The Spatial Computing Platform to Present at Small-Cap Growth Virtual Investor Conference February 7th TORONTO, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ARway.ai ("ARway" or the "Company") (CSE: ARWY), (OTC: ARWYF) (FSE: E65), an AI powered Augmented Reality Experience platform with a disruptive no-code, no beacon spatial computing solution enabled by visual marker tracking with centimeter precision, is pleased to announce CEO Evan Gappelberg will present live at the Small-Cap Growth Virtual Investor Conference, hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on February 7, 2024 DATE: February 7th, 2024 TIME: 10:30am ET LINK: https://bit.ly/496OeL9 This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the Company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event. The Company invites individual and institutional investors, as well as advisors and analysts, to attend in person or online at VirtualInvestorConferences.com It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com . Recent News About Virtual Investor Conferences Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors. Contact John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221 [email protected] About ARway.ai ARway.ai (CSE: ARWY) (OTCQB: ARWYF) (FSE: E65) is a spatial computing platform powered by artificial intelligence (AI) providing an array of augmented reality (AR) experiences for indoor spaces. ARway's breakthrough no-code no-beacon IPNN allows for the easy creation of navigation, tours, information sharing, notifications, advertising and gamification. ARway works seamlessly as a cross platform solution on iOS/Android. ARway's technology is optimized for both mobile devices and AR glasses: Apple's Vision Pro, Magic Leap and Microsoft's HoloLens. ARway has unlimited use cases for augmenting physical spaces, making it a valuable tool for creators, brands and companies in various industries. The complete ARway platform includes: the Web Creator Studio, the ARwayKit Software Development Kit (SDK) and a mobile app for iOs and Android . Nextech 3D.ai On October 26, 2022, ARway.ai. was spun-out from its parent Company, Nextech3D.ai (OTCQX: NEXCF) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: 1SS). Nextech retained a control ownership in ARway.ai. with 13 million shares, or a 50% stake. Nextech3D.ai is a Generative AI powered 3D modeling Company and leading provider of augmented reality ("AR") experience technologies and 3D model services. Nextech's AI-powered 3D modeling platform, "ARitize3D" has contracts with; AMZN, KSS, CB2, Genuine Parts & many others. To learn more about Nextech3D.ai, visit www.nextechar.com . For further information, please contact: Investor Relations Contact Julia Viola [email protected] ARway.ai Evan Gappelberg CEO and Director 866-ARITIZE (274-8493) Forward-looking Statements The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the completion of the transaction are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. ARway.ai will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. 5 february 2024 at 07:30 News published onand distributed by: Hanwha Techwin Automation Americas, Inc. Appoints Gustavo Jimenez as New General Manager for Mexico Published: 05 February 2024 by Tyler Hanes by Tyler Hanes CYPRESS, CALIFORNIA Hanwha Techwin Automation Americas, Inc., a pioneer in precision manufacturing and technology, announces the appointment of Gustavo Jimenez as the new General Manager for Mexico. This strategic appointment comes at a time when Hanwha Techwin is solidifying its presence in the region and reinforcing its commitment to driving innovation and excellence in the electronic manufacturing industry. Gustavo Jimenez, an accomplished Sales and Engineering professional, brings to the table a rich blend of expertise and a proven track record in the electronic manufacturing industry, particularly in Surface Mount Technology (SMT). With a strong foundation in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Universidad del Valle de Mexico, Gustavo has honed his skills in Sales, Negotiation, Accounts Management, Project Management, and Customer Service. His vast experience and profound knowledge of the industry make him the ideal leader to steer Hanwha Techwins operations in Mexico towards unprecedented growth and success. Hanwha Techwin is renowned for pushing the boundaries of technology, as recently demonstrated at the exclusive VIP events held in Guadalajara at its Center of Excellence (CoE) in Cypress, CA. The events showcased groundbreaking advancements, including the unveiling of the HM520W, part of Hanwha Techwins high-performance pick-and-place series, and the introduction of the innovative XM520 Blended Mounter. The companys commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions is evident in the recent enhancements across its range of technologies, ensuring increased efficiency, productivity, and profitability. The introduction of the HM520W and the XM520, along with the revolutionary D2 different product dual line capability, underscores Hanwha Techwins position as a leader in odd- form component handling and a pioneer in the industry. Gustavo Jimenez, commenting on his new role, stated, I am excited to join Hanwha Techwin, a company that stands at the forefront of technology and innovation. I look forward to leveraging my experience and expertise to further strengthen our position in Mexico, enhancing our customer relations, and contributing to the companys global competitiveness initiatives. Tim Kang, CEO of Hanwha Techwin Automation Americas, Inc., expressed his enthusiasm about the new appointment, We are delighted to welcome Gustavo Jimenez to our team. His extensive experience and profound understanding of the industry align perfectly with our vision and goals. With Gustavo at the helm in Mexico, we are confident that Hanwha Techwin will continue to drive innovation, exceed customer expectations, and set new benchmarks in the industry. Under the leadership of Gustavo Jimenez, Hanwha Techwin is set to embark on a new chapter of growth and innovation in Mexico, reinforcing its commitment to delivering state-of-the-art solutions and supporting manufacturers in their pursuit of excellence and global competitiveness. For more information about Hanwha Techwin, please visit www.hanwha-pm.com NOVA CHEMICALS CORPORATION ANNOUNCES CASH TENDER OFFER FOR ITS 4.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2024 CALGARY, AB, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - NOVA Chemicals Corporation (" NOVA Chemicals ") announced today that it has commenced a cash tender offer (the " Tender Offer ") for any and all of the outstanding U.S. $650,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 4.875% Senior Notes due 2024 (the " Notes "). The Tender Offer is being made pursuant to an Offer to Purchase, dated February 5, 2024 (as may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the " Offer to Purchase ") and the related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the " Notice of Guaranteed Delivery " and together with the Offer to Purchase, the " Offer Documents "), which set forth a more comprehensive description of the terms of the Tender Offer. The Tender Offer is scheduled to expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 9, 2024, unless extended by NOVA Chemicals (such time and date, as the same may be modified, the " Expiration Time "). Holders who (i) validly tender their Notes on or before the Expiration Time and do not validly withdraw on or before the Withdrawal Deadline (as defined below) or (ii) deliver a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and all of the other required documents on or before the Expiration Time and tender their Notes prior to the Guaranteed Delivery Date which is at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on February 13, 2024, which is the second business day after the Expiration Time, and whose Notes are accepted for purchase by NOVA Chemicals, will receive the " Tender Offer Consideration " indicated in the table below. Accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes accepted for purchase (including those tendered through the guaranteed delivery procedure) from the most recent interest payment date of the Notes up to, but not including, the Settlement Date (as defined below) (the " Accrued Interest ") will be paid in cash on the Settlement Date or the Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date (as defined below), as applicable. Certain information regarding the Notes and the terms of the Tender Offer is summarized in the table below. Description of Notes CUSIP/ISIN Outstanding Principal Amount of Notes Targeted Tender Amount Tender Offer Consideration 4.875% Senior Notes due 2024 144A: 66977WAQ2/ US66977WAQ24, Reg S: C67111AH4 / USC67111AH49 U.S. $650,000,000 Any and All U.S.$998.75(1) _______________ (1) The amount to be paid for each U.S. $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) at or prior to the Expiration Time and accepted for purchase, not including Accrued Interest. NOVA Chemicals will purchase Notes that have been validly tendered by the Expiration Time and not validly withdrawn by the Withdrawal Deadline (other than Notes tendered in reliance upon the guaranteed delivery procedures) and that NOVA Chemicals chooses to accept for purchase, subject to all conditions to the Tender Offer having been satisfied or waived by NOVA Chemicals, expected to be within one business day following the Expiration Time, or as promptly as practicable thereafter (the " Settlement Date "). With respect to any Notes accepted for purchase pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures, the holders thereof will receive payment of the Tender Offer Consideration for such accepted Notes (to the extent that such Notes are not delivered prior to the Expiration Time) on the settlement date expected to be February 14, 2024, which is the third business day after the Expiration Time, or as promptly as practicable thereafter (the " Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date "). Holders will be permitted to withdraw validly tendered Notes (i) at or prior to the earlier of * the Expiration Time and (y) in the event that the Tender Offer is extended, the tenth business day after commencement of the Tender Offer, and (ii) after the 60th business day after commencement of the Tender Offer if for any reason the Tender Offer has not been consummated within 60 business days after commencement, but not thereafter (such date in clause (i) or (ii), the " Withdrawal Deadline "). NOVA Chemicals has the right, in its sole discretion, to extend, amend or terminate the Tender Offer at any time, subject to applicable law. NOVA Chemicals obligation to accept for purchase, and to pay for, Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Tender Offer is conditioned upon the satisfaction or, when applicable, waiver of certain conditions, which are more fully described in the Offer to Purchase, including, among others, the consummation of an offering of new senior notes raising aggregate gross proceeds of U.S. $650 million on terms satisfactory to Nova Chemicals, as further described in the Offer to Purchase. In addition, subject to applicable law, Nova Chemicals reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to (i) extend, terminate or withdraw the Tender Offer at any time or (ii) otherwise amend the Tender Offer in any respect at any time and from time to time. Nova Chemicals further reserves the right, in its sole discretion, not to accept any tenders of Notes. NOVA Chemicals is making the Tender Offer only in those jurisdictions where it is legal to do so. NOVA Chemicals may redeem, repurchase or otherwise discharge any Notes that remain outstanding after the completion of the Tender Offer prior to the maturity date of the Notes, but it is under no obligation to do so. RBC Capital Markets, LLC and TD Securities (USA) LLC are acting as dealer managers for the Tender Offer and can be contacted at their respective telephone numbers set forth on the back cover page of Offer to Purchase with questions regarding the Tender Offer. Copies of the Offer Documents are available to holders of Notes from Global Bondholder Services Corporation, the information and tender agent for the Tender Offer. Requests for copies of the Offer Documents should be directed to GBSC at (855) 654-2014 (toll free), (212) 430-3774 (banks and brokers) or [email protected] and such holders may access documentation at https://www.gbsc-usa.com/nova/. None of NOVA Chemicals, the trustee for the Notes, the agent under the indenture for the Notes, the dealer managers, the information and tender agent, any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates or any of its or their respective directors, officers, employees or representatives makes any recommendation to holders as to whether or not to tender all or any portion of their Notes, and none of the foregoing has authorized any person to make any such recommendation. Holders must decide whether to tender Notes, and if tendering, the amount of Notes to tender. All of the Notes are held in book-entry form. If you hold Notes through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you must contact such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee if you wish to tender Notes pursuant to the Tender Offer. You should check with such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to determine whether they will charge you a fee for tendering Notes on your behalf. You should also confirm with the broker, dealer, bank, trust company or other nominee any deadlines by which you must provide your tender instructions, because the relevant deadline set by such nominee may be earlier than the deadlines set forth herein. None of the Offer Documents nor any related documents have been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, nor have any such documents been filed with or reviewed by any federal or state securities commission or regulatory authority of any country. No authority has passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Offer Documents or any related documents, and it is unlawful and may be a criminal offense to make any representation to the contrary. The Tender Offer is being made solely on the terms and conditions set forth in the Offer Documents. Under no circumstances shall this press release constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes or any other securities of NOVA Chemicals or any of its affiliates. The Tender Offer is not being made to, nor will NOVA Chemicals accept tenders of Notes from, holders in any jurisdiction in which the Tender Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities of blue sky laws of such jurisdiction. No recommendation is made as to whether holders should tender their Notes. Holders should carefully read the Offer Documents because they contain important information, including the various terms and conditions of the Tender Offer. Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements included in this release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws, including statements about the New Offering and the intended use of proceeds and the Tender Offer. All forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which could affect our actual results and could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, NOVA Chemicals. Further information regarding the important factors that could cause actual results to differ from projected results can be found in the Offer to Purchase. About NOVA Chemicals. NOVA Chemicals develops and manufactures chemicals and plastic resins that make everyday life healthier, easier and safer. Our employees work to ensure health, safety, security and environmental stewardship through our commitment to Sustainability and Responsible Care. NOVA Chemicals, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is wholly owned ultimately by Mubadala Investment Company PJSC of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, which, in turn is wholly owned by the government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The NOVA Chemicals logo is a registered trademark of NOVA Brands Ltd.; authorized use/utilisation autorisee. Responsible Care is a registered trademark of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada. SOURCE NOVA Chemicals Corporation 5 february 2024 at 07:45 News published onand distributed by: ProfoundBio Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial of PRO1107, a Protein Tyrosine Kinase 7 (PTK7)-Targeted Antibody-Drug Conjugate Incorporating a Novel, Proprietary Hydrophilic MMAE-Based Linker-Drug SEATTLE , Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ProfoundBio, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapeutics for cancer, today announced dosing has initiated in the Phase 1/2 first-in-human clinical trial of PRO1107 (NCT06171789). "By bringing the first ADC with our next generation MMAE linker-drug platform to the clinic, we are furthering our commitment to developing ADCs with the potential for improved outcomes for patients," said Naomi Hunder, MD, chief medical officer of ProfoundBio. "We believe our preclinical data support the potential of PRO1107 to provide much improved safety and activity compared to prior PTK7 ADCs, demonstrating the compelling attributes of our LD343 platform, which incorporates our novel highly hydrophilic linker combined with the clinically validated MMAE payload conjugated at a high drug-antibody ratio of 8. We look forward to evaluating PRO1107 as a treatment for the broad population of patients with PTK7-expressing tumors, and we are thankful to the investigators and patients who make this research possible." PRO1107 is being evaluated in a global, open-label, multicenter Phase 1/2 trial. This trial is designed to determine the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of PRO1107 in patients with advanced solid tumors, including non-small cell lung, breast, and ovarian cancer. It is designed as a two part study: Part A, which is aimed at determining the recommended optimal dose regimen(s) through dose escalation and expansion, and Part B, which focuses on the expansion of treatment to specific tumor types. "With three clinical-stage programs derived from two distinct proprietary ADC technology platforms, ProfoundBio is demonstrating our capability to efficiently bring innovative ADCs with best- and/or first-in-class potential to patients with unmet medical need. We first showcased this program and the LD343 linker-drug technology in our preclinical presentations at SITC 2023, and we are thrilled to potentially provide benefit to patients across a wide range of PTK7-expressing tumors," said Baiteng Zhao, PhD, chief executive officer of ProfoundBio. About PRO1107 PRO1107 is an ADC consisting of a Protein Tyrosine Kinase 7 (PTK7)-targeted antibody conjugated to ProfoundBio's novel, proprietary hydrophilic MMAE-based linker-drug, LD343, at a homogeneous drug-antibody ratio (DAR) of 8. MMAE is a potent, membrane permeable microtubule inhibitor that has been clinically validated as an ADC payload by multiple vedotin-based ADCs incorporating MMAE at a DAR of ~4. LD343 incorporates a highly hydrophilic stable, cleavable linker designed to mask the hydrophobicity of conjugated MMAE on the ADC, enabling high DAR and efficient delivery of the MMAE payload to tumors while maintaining favorable physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of the ADC. About ProfoundBio ProfoundBio is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of novel antibody-based therapeutics for patients with cancer. Built on internally developed, innovative, and proprietary technology platforms, ProfoundBio has developed a pipeline consisting of multiple antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) drug candidates targeting solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The company's disclosed development pipeline consists of rinatabart sesutecan (Rina-S; PRO1184), an ADC targeting folate receptor-alpha; PRO1160, an ADC targeting CD70; PRO1107, an ADC targeting PTK7; and PRO1286, a bispecific ADC targeting two clinically validated, broadly expressed solid tumor antigens. ProfoundBio is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. For more information, please visit www.profoundbio.com and follow us on LinkedIn. SOURCE ProfoundBio 5 february 2024 at 08:00 News published onand distributed by: Medallia Commits to Net Zero by 2040 Medallia, Inc., the global leader in customer and employee experience, today announced a commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040, 10 years ahead of what is required in The Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement calls on countries to reduce their emissions and work together to adapt to the impacts of climate change. After measuring their baseline GHG footprint for the first time in 2023, Medallia determined that it would also commit to setting near-term science based GHG emissions targets through the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) by the end of 2026 ? joining more than 4,000 companies globally helping to create a zero-emissions economy grounded in climate science. "Sustainability has long been a priority at Medallia and we're excited to honor the environmental goals of our customers and partners by reducing our own emissions and in turn, helping them reduce theirs," said Joe Tyrrell, CEO, Medallia. "This commitment is the first of its kind in the experience industry and highlights our industry-leading commitment to do our part in the fight against climate change." As one of the first steps to obtain net zero by 2040, Medallia has also participated in a new virtual power purchase agreement facilitated by Watershed. The commitment made by Medallia and other Watershed customers will re-power a previously decommissioned wind farm in Texas, adding renewable energy in a state that largely relies on coal and gas. The wind project is expected to avoid 800 pounds of CO2 per MWh of power generation. Cumulatively, Medallia's five-year commitment will avoid over 6,000 tonnes of CO2e, equivalent to over 15 million car miles driven, and cover 70% of Medallia's 2023 North American carbon footprint. To learn more about Medallia's Environmental strategy, read more in the 2023 Global Impact Report. About Medallia Medallia is the pioneer and market leader in customer, employee, citizen, and patient experience. As the leading enterprise experience platform, Medallia Experience Cloud is the mission-critical system of record that makes all other applications customer and employee aware. The platform captures billions of experience signals across interactions including all voice, video, digital, IoT, social media, and corporate-messaging tools. Medallia uses proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning technology to automatically reveal predictive insights that drive powerful business actions and outcomes. Medallia customers reduce churn, turn detractors into promoters and buyers, create in-the-moment cross-sell and up-sell opportunities, and drive revenue-impacting business decisions, providing clear and potent returns on investment. For more information visit www.medallia.com. 2024 Medallia, Inc. All rights reserved. Medallia, the Medallia logo, and the names and marks associated with Medallia's products are trademarks of Medallia. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 5 february 2024 at 08:15 News published onand distributed by: Community Hospital Consulting Announces Management of Morehouse General Hospital PLANO, Texas, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Community Hospital Consulting, the management and consulting arm of Community Hospital Corporation, is pleased to announce it has aligned again with Morehouse General Hospital, Bastrop, La., to provide management services as of February 1, 2024. CHC Consulting will collaborate with the Morehouse Parish Hospital Service District, which retains governance over the hospital. "We are pleased to be working with CHC Consulting for their expert guidance and assistance as we further develop quality patient care services to meet the growing needs of our community," said Robert Green, Chairman, Morehouse General Hospital. "Our strategic planning efforts are focused on long-term strength and a vision to be known as the center of choice for healthcare services in the future." CHC's Mark Kimball, Vice President of Special Projects, is serving as Interim CEO for Morehouse as new management services begin. Kimball has more than 30 years of executive operations and management experience, including senior executive roles for organizations in Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia. Established in 1930 as a 19-bed facility, Morehouse General Hospital today is a 49-bed community hospital offering many of the benefits of a larger hospital in a metropolitan area, including a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, advanced technology and equipment, and highly skilled staff. The hospital serves the Northeast Louisiana and Southeast Arkansas region with a mission "to improve the health of the communities we serve through safe, compassionate and professional care." Craig Sims, CHC Senior Vice President of Hospital Operations, said, "We are excited to step in and work together with the Morehouse General staff to identify areas for operational, financial and clinical improvement. Many of our team members will be hard at work alongside the talented staff at Morehouse." Similar to many other rural hospitals nationwide, Morehouse General Hospital is an independent, non-profit, and community-driven facility. As federal and state governmental mandates continue to drive reimbursement down for both hospitals and physicians, many providers are seeking solutions through collaboration and economies of scale. CHC Consulting specializes in the management and operation of community-based hospitals across the country. About Community Hospital Corporation ? HELP WHERE HOSPITALS NEED IT Community Hospital Corporation owns, manages and consults with hospitals through CHC Hospitals, CHC Consulting and CHC ContinueCARE with the purpose to collaborate with partners and bring innovative solutions to support the vibrancy and accessibility of community healthcare. Based in Plano, Texas, CHC provides the resources and experience community hospitals need to improve quality outcomes, patient satisfaction and financial performance. Visit http://chc.com. CONTACT: Anne Block 972-943-6470 [email protected] SOURCE Community Hospital Corporation 5 february 2024 at 08:51 News published onand distributed by: Global Microfluidics Market to Surpass Valuation of $90.26 Billion by 2030, Recording a CAGR of 15.16%, Driven by Growing Integration in Healthcare & Diagnostics, States Kings Research DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As per the latest report published by Kings Research, the global Microfluidics Market size was recorded at USD 29.17 billion in 2022 and is estimated to grow to USD 90.26 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 15.16% through the projection period of 2023-2030. The main factor impelling market growth is the growing integration of microfluidic technology in several sectors. Microfluidics is revolutionizing patient care in the healthcare and diagnostics industry by enabling faster and more accurate diagnostic testing, drug delivery systems, and lab-on-a-chip applications. Microfluidics is also particularly beneficial to the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors, which use it for high-throughput screening, formulation, and drug discovery. Microfluidics refers to the discipline that focuses on the manipulation and regulation of fluids on a minuscule scale, often occurring within channels measuring only a few micrometers. This field encompasses the creation, construction, and utilization of devices capable of accurately managing small quantities of liquids. The range of applications for microfluidics is extensive and spans multiple industries. Within the healthcare and diagnostics sector, microfluidic devices have found utility in point-of-care diagnostic examinations, DNA analysis, and drug administration systems. Microfluidic devices have the advantage of delivering quicker and more precise outcomes, all while minimizing the quantity of samples needed. Request Sample PDF of the Report: https://www.kingsresearch.com/request-sample/microfluidics-market-266 Trending Now: Australian Scientists Unveil Innovative Static Droplet Microfluidic Device Enabling Cancer Cell Detection through Simple Blood Tests In September 2023, researchers at the University of Technology (UTS) in Sydney, Australia, devised an innovative method for identifying tumor cells in the blood. According to a UTS news release, this approach utilizes imaging to induce fluorescence in cells with elevated lactase. The UTS team engineered a Static Droplet Microfluidic (SDM) device capable of detecting circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that have detached from the cancer source and entered the bloodstream. The isolation of CTCs aligns with the fundamental concept of liquid biopsies, and the use of microfluidic devices can enhance the efficiency of capturing problematic cells. The newly developed SDM device at the UTS holds the potential for early cancer detection, paving the way for medical professionals to monitor and treat cancers more effectively. Inquire Before Buying This Report: https://www.kingsresearch.com/enquiry/microfluidics-market-266 Competitive Landscape Major companies operating in the global microfluidics market are focusing on partnerships and collaborations to retain their standing in the competitive market landscape. For instance, Dolomite Microfluidics and Phosphorex formed a collaboration in January 2022 with the goal of accelerating the advancement of lipid nanoparticle (LNP) technology. This partnership strives to optimize the production of LNPs, which play a pivotal role in the efficient delivery of genetic therapies, vaccines, and medications. By working together, these companies aspire to bring about a paradigm shift in the realm of drug delivery, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes. Prominent players in the global microfluidics market include: Illumina Inc. Agilent Technologies Inc. Fluidigm Corporation PerkinElmer Inc. Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Dolomite Microfluidics Danaher Corporation Bio-Rad Becton, Dickinson and Company Ask for Customization: https://www.kingsresearch.com/customization/microfluidics-market-266 The global Microfluidics Market is segmented as: By Application Healthcare and Diagnostics Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Electronics Academic and Research Ongoing Development of Innovative Microfluidics Solutions to Fuel Demand in Healthcare and Diagnostics Sector On the basis of application, the healthcare and diagnostics segment contributed to a sizable share of the microfluidics market revenue in 2022 and is anticipated to experience significant growth through the projection timeframe. The healthcare industry is expected to grow substantially in the coming years due to the increasing demand for fast and accurate diagnostic tests, point-of-care devices, and the continuous development of innovative microfluidic solutions. Microfluidics plays a vital role in improving patient care by providing efficient and precise diagnostic tools. Given the current emphasis on healthcare efficiency and accessibility, the healthcare and diagnostics segment is set to dominate the market in the near future. By Material Polymer-Based Glass-Based Silicon-Based Others Use of Polymer-based Materials in the Production of Microfluidic Devices to Increase Due to its Versatility In terms of material, the polymer-based segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the global microfluidics market in 2022 and is anticipated to continue to lead the market over the forecast period. The growth of the segment can be attributed to the versatility and cost-effectiveness of polymer materials in producing microfluidic devices. Microfluidics made from polymers have several advantages, such as easy fabrication, transparency, and compatibility with various applications in healthcare, diagnostics, and research. As the demand for affordable and scalable microfluidic solutions continues to increase, polymer-based microfluidics are expected to maintain their position as the preferred choice in the market. This ensures their continued prominence and market dominance. Purchase This Comprehensive Research Report for Valuable Market Insights: https://www.kingsresearch.com/buy-now/266 Growing Need for Point-of-care Diagnostics in the Healthcare Industry to Fuel Microfluidics Market Expansion The microfluidics market is witnessing substantial growth as a result of the increasing need for point-of-care diagnostics within the healthcare industry. These devices facilitate the creation of handheld and user-friendly diagnostic tools that deliver rapid and precise results. This holds particular significance in distant or resource-constrained regions where traditional laboratory testing accessibility is restricted. Moreover, there is another potential avenue for growth in the field of microfluidics that pertains to the further development of organ-on-a-chip technology. This emerging area presents significant possibilities for pharmaceutical research, disease modeling, and drug testing. Organ-on-a-chip devices are capable of replicating the physiological conditions of specific organs, facilitating a more precise examination of the effects of drugs and treatments. By minimizing dependence on animal testing and enhancing the efficiency of drug development procedures, this technology carries the potential to vastly improve the industry. North America to Dominate Microfluidics Market Due to Established Framework for R&D North America led the global microfluidics market in 2022 and is likely to experience considerable growth in the following years. The presence of a firmly established framework for research and development in the region incorporates various educational establishments, research bodies, and tech enterprises actively engaged in the study and practical use of microfluidics. Moreover, the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries in the region have been quick to embrace microfluidic technology, employing it for purposes such as diagnostic examinations, drug creation, and lab-on-a-chip applications. For more information on the report, visit: https://www.kingsresearch.com/microfluidics-market-266 Key Points from TOC: 1 Introduction of The Global Microfluidics Market 1.1 Market Definition 1.2 Market Segmentation 1.3 Research Timelines 1.4 Limitations 1.5 Assumptions 2 Executive Summary 3 Research Methodology 3.1 Data Collection 3.1.1 Secondary Sources 3.1.2 Primary Sources 3.1.3 Research Flow 3.2 Subject Matter Expert Advice 3.3 Quality Check 3.4 Final Review 3.5 Bottom-Up Approach 3.6 Top-down Approach 4 Global Microfluidics Market Outlook 4.1 Market Evolution 4.2 Overview 4.3 Market Dynamics 4.3.1 Drivers 4.3.2 Restraints 4.3.3 Opportunities 4.3.4 Challenges 4.4 Pricing Analysis 4.5 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 4.6 Value Chain Analysis 4.7 Macroeconomic Analysis 5 Impact of Russia-Ukraine War 6 Global Microfluidics Market, By Application 7 Global Microfluidics Market, By Product 8 Global Microfluidics Market, By Material 9 Global Microfluidics Market, By Geography 10 North America 12 Asia Pacific 13 Middle East & Africa 14 Latin America 15 Global Microfluidics Market Competitive Landscape 15.1 Overview 15.2 Key Developments 15.3 Key Strategic Developments 15.4 Company Market Ranking 15.5 Regional Footprint 15.6 Industry Footprint 16 Company Profiles 16.1 Illumina Inc. 16.1.1 Key Facts 16.1.2 Financial Overview 16.1.3 Product Benchmarking 16.1.4 Recent Developments 16.1.5 Winning Imperatives 16.1.6 Current Focus & Strategies 16.1.7 Threat from competition 16.1.8 SWOT Analysis 16.2 Agilent Technologies Inc. 16.2.1 Key Facts 16.2.2 Financial Overview 16.2.3 Product Benchmarking 16.2.4 Recent Developments 16.2.5 Winning Imperatives 16.2.6 Current Focus & Strategies 16.2.7 Threat from competition 16.2.8 SWOT Analysis 16.3 Fluidigm Corporation 16.3.1 Key Facts 16.3.2 Financial Overview 16.3.3 Product Benchmarking 16.3.4 Recent Developments 16.3.5 Winning Imperatives 16.3.6 Current Focus & Strategies 16.3.7 Threat from competition 16.3.8 SWOT Analysis 16.4 PerkinElmer Inc. 16.4.1 Key Facts 16.4.2 Financial Overview 16.4.3 Product Benchmarking 16.4.4 Recent Developments 16.4.5 Winning Imperatives 16.4.6 Current Focus & Strategies 16.4.7 Threat from competition 16.4.8 SWOT Analysis Continued...... Browse Complete TOC: https://www.kingsresearch.com/toc/microfluidics-market-266 Browse More Related Reports: Genealogy Products and Services Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2023-2030 Latex Agglutination Test Kits Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2023-2030 Mobile Endoscopic Workstations Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2023-2030 Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Systems Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2023-2030 PD-1 and PD-L1 Inhibitors Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast 2023-2030 About Us: Kings Research stands as a renowned global market research firm. With a collaborative approach, we work closely with industry leaders, conducting thorough assessments of trends and developments. Our primary objective is to provide decision-makers with tailored research reports that align with their unique business objectives. Through our comprehensive research studies, we strive to empower leaders to make informed decisions. Our team comprises individuals with diverse backgrounds and a wealth of knowledge in various industries. At Kings Research, we offer a comprehensive range of services aimed at assisting you in formulating efficient strategies to achieve your desired outcomes. Our objective is to significantly enhance your long-term progress through these tailored solutions. Contact Us Kings Research Phone: (+1) 888 328 2189 E-mail: [email protected] Website: https://www.kingsresearch.com Blog: https://www.kingsresearch.com/blog Follow Us: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter SOURCE Kings Research 5 february 2024 at 10:30 News published onand distributed by: Singapore Exchange (SEL) Digital Transformation Strategy Analysis Report 2023: Innovation Programs, Technology Initiatives, Estimated ICT Budget, and Major ICT Contracts DUBLIN, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Singapore Exchange Limited - Digital transformation strategies" company profile has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides insight into SGX's tech activities, including its digital transformation strategies, its innovation programs, its technology initiatives, its estimated ICT budget, and its major ICT contracts. Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX) is a financial market "infrastructure," operating equity, derivatives, and fixed income markets. It offers trading, listing, settlement, clearing, depository, and data services, with approximately 80% of listed bonds and 40% of listed companies and originating outside Singapore. SEL is a liquid offshore market for the benchmark equity indices of ASEAN members and non-members, including India, Japan, and China; and provides currency and commodity derivatives products. The company also offers data and market connectivity services. Scope SGX has embraced digital collaboration tools and services to support its digital transformation and developed digital curriculum to train employees on digital solutions. To enhance its customer experiences, SGX is investing in digital experiences across online platforms, including RegCo Submission portal for listed companies, in-house Titan OTC Pro platform for commodity clients, and Investor Portal for retail investors. SGX is collaborating with organizations and institutions to support start-up ecosystem and help them scale their solutions, and in turn leverage their innovative technologies in its business process. SGX signed MOU with Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), to create a streamlined path for innovative technology companies into the capital markets. Launched Project Ubin, to explore the use of distributed ledger technology (DLT) for clearing and settlement of payments and securities. SGX is leveraging AI, ML, and big data technologies to improve operational efficiency and help traders trade fast and securely, by reducing latency rates and introducing data tools. For instance, SGX RegCo uses AI-powered, real-time surveillance system to monitor trade transactions. Reasons to Buy Gain insights into SGX's tech operations. Gain insights into its tech strategies and innovation initiatives. Gain insights into its technology themes under focus. Gain insights into various product launches, partnerships, investments, and acquisition strategies. Key Topics Covered: Overview Digital Transformation Strategy Accelerators, Incubators, and Other Innovation Programs Technology Focus Technology Initiatives Investment Acquisitions Partnership, Investment & Acquisition Network Map ICT Budget and Contracts Key Executives Contact the Publisher A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes Impactsure Technologies ScoutAsia Trumid Hillhouse Capital GeoSpock NeoXam Smartkarma Marketnode Temasek Covalent Amazon CryptoCompare AMTD International Options HCL Technologies TCS Finastra Baton Systems DataBP Syfe For more information about this company profile visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3p71kr About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets 5 february 2024 at 11:00 News published onand distributed by: American Water Charitable Foundation Launches 2024 Water and Environment Grant Program The American Water Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization established by American Water, the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., announced today that it launched the 2024 Water and Environment Grant Program. The Foundation invites community partners to apply for grants that promote clean water, conservation, environmental education, climate variability and water-based recreation projects. The Foundation supports three pillars of giving ? Water, People and Communities. To streamline the grant experience for its community partners, the Foundation has combined American Water's former Environmental Grant Program with its Water and Environment Grant Program. This strategic integration will strengthen the Foundation's charitable focus and impact across American Water's footprint. In 2023, the American Water Charitable Foundation awarded over $1 million in Water and Environment grants to organizations located in communities served by American Water, including Upstream Alliance, supporting a Solar-Electric Education Vessel, which will serve as a floating classroom in the City of Camden, New Jersey. "Thanks to the generosity of the American Water Charitable Foundation and the Water and Environment Grant Program, Upstream Alliance is developing a solar vessel that will provide on-water education experiences for underserved students in Camden and beyond," said Don Baugh, President, Upstream Alliance. "We are thrilled for this important community project to come to fruition and are committed to our mission of supporting local communities and the environment." Since 2012, the American Water Charitable Foundation has invested $15.5 million in funding through grants and matching gifts that positively benefit the communities where American Water and its employees live and work. "The American Water Charitable Foundation is delighted to again launch the Water and Environment Grant Program, supporting impactful initiatives and programs across the nation," said Carrie Williams, President of the American Water Charitable Foundation. "Our charitable focus to Keep Communities Flowing empowers communities to learn how every drop counts while engaging local organizations on the importance of protecting this vital resource." Applications will be accepted from organizations served by American Water and located in the following states, in addition to its Military Service locations: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Learn more about the American Water Charitable Foundation and how to apply here. About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water's 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram. About American Water Charitable Foundation The American Water Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides a formal way to demonstrate the company's ongoing commitment to be a good neighbor, citizen, and contributor to the communities where American Water and its employees live, work and operate. For more information, visit amwater.com/awcf. 5 february 2024 at 11:05 News published onand distributed by: PANTHERx Rare Selected by Chiesi Global Rare Diseases for the Distribution of Filsuvez (birch triterpenes) topical gel PITTSBURGH, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- PANTHERx Rare, a leader in rare disease product patient access and support services in the United States, is pleased to announce it was selected by Chiesi Global Rare Diseases, a business unit of the Chiesi Group, for the distribution of Filsuvez topical gel, the first approved treatment for wounds associated with both dystrophic and junctional epidermolysis bullosa (EB) in adult and pediatric patients 6 months of age and older.1 EB is a group of inherited disorders characterized by fragile skin and mucous membranes that result in formation of blisters and wounds in response to minor trauma and can lead to fibrosis and scarring, joint contracture, and increased risk for developing cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).2-4 Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) is a major type of EB resulting from impaired type VII collagen expression which leads to separation of skin layers between the basement membrane and the upper dermis.3,5 Junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) is a less common subtype of EB that occurs from various absent or deficient adhesion proteins leading to separation of the epidermis and basement membrane.3,5 Both are associated with intolerable pain with limited mobility. Living with EB entails daily challenges to navigate, including slow-healing wounds at risk of infection and painful dressing changes. Filsuvez is applied topically to the wound surface at home, during wound dressing changes and works to accelerate wound healing with a goal of achieving complete wound closure within 45 days.6 "We strive to be the catalyst that seamlessly delivers essential medications to individuals confronting rare conditions," said Rob Snyder, CEO of PANTHERx Rare Pharmacy. "We look forward to working with the Chiesi Global Rare Diseases to make a difference in the lives of those living with wounds associated with both dystrophic and junctional epidermolysis bullosa." About PANTHERx Rare PANTHERx Rare is a dual-accredited specialty pharmacy focused on rare and orphan disease, distributing several orphan products and providing access and support services to those needing them most. PANTHERx transforms lives by delivering medicine breakthroughs, clinical excellence, and access solutions to people living with rare and devastating conditions. While each rare condition affects few people, together all rare diseases impact an estimated 25 to 30 million Americans.3 Currently over 7,000 rare diseases have been identified and more than 90% of rare diseases are still without an FDA-approved treatment.3 Changes in federal policy and advances in science have led to a surge in FDA orphan drug approvals, providing tremendous hope to the rare disease community. PANTHERx is a dual-accredited specialty pharmacy, holding distinctions in rare disease including the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) Distinction in Orphan Drugs and Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) Rare Disease Center of Excellence.4-5 As a pharmacy focused on patient satisfaction, PANTHERx is now a six-time winner of the prestigious MMIT Patient Choice Award, including the 2023 honor.6 PANTHERx is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is licensed in all 50 states and US territories. About Chiesi Global Rare Diseases Chiesi Global Rare Diseases is a business unit of the Chiesi Group established to deliver innovative therapies and solutions for people affected by rare diseases. As a family business, Chiesi Group strives to create a world where it is common to have a therapy for all diseases and acts as a force for good, for society and the planet. The goal of the Global Rare Diseases unit is to ensure equal access so as many people as possible can experience their most fulfilling life. The unit collaborates with the rare disease community around the globe to bring voice to underserved people in the health care system. Filsuvez. Package Insert. Chiesi; 2023. Kern JS, Sprecher E, Fernandez MF, et al. Efficacy and safety of Oleogel-S10 (birch triterpenes) for epidermolysis bullosa: results from the phase III randomized double-blind phase of the EASE study. British Journal of Dermatology. 2022;188(1):12-21. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/bjd/ljac001 ?tublar A, Drago? V, Dolenc-Volj? M. Inherited epidermolysis bullosa: epidemiology and patient care in Slovenia with a review of the updated classification. Acta Dermatovenerologica Alpina Pannonica et Adriatica. 2021;30(2). doi:https://doi.org/10.15570/actaapa.2021.15 Boeira VL, Souza ES, Rocha Bde O, et al. Inherited epidermolysis bullosa: clinical and therapeutic aspects. An Bras Dermatol. 2013;88(2):185-198. doi:10.1590/S0365-05962013000200001 Garrick N. Epidermolysis Bullosa. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Published April 11, 2017 . Accessed January 26 , 2024. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/epidermolysis-bullosa Hou PC, Del Agua N, Lwin SM, Hsu CK, McGrath JA. Innovations in the Treatment of Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (DEB): Current Landscape and Prospects. Ther Clin Risk Manag . 2023;19:455-473. Published 2023 Jun 14. doi:10.2147/TCRM.S386923 For more information, please contact marketing@pantherxrare.com SOURCE PANTHERx Rare 5 february 2024 at 11:17 News published onand distributed by: ONCOURSE HOME SOLUTIONS ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF CONSUMERS ENERGY APPLIANCE SERVICE PLAN BUSINESS NAPERVILLE, Ill. , Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Oncourse Home Solutions (OHS), a leader in providing trusted and affordable home warranty solutions, announced today that its affiliate American Water Resources, LLC has entered into a definitive agreement with Consumers Energy, a subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), whereby OHS will acquire the Consumers Energy Appliance Service Plan (ASP) business. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2024, subject to customary closing conditions. "We've made significant investments over the last two years to propel our business forward, and this strategic move allows us to seamlessly expand our presence and offerings to homeowners," said Josh Cohen, CFO of Oncourse Home Solutions. "Consumers Energy is known for its superior service and quality, and the acquisition of its reputable ASP business will help us with our long-term goals of increasing accessibility, value and protection for customers to help make home ownership enjoyable for all. This new relationship will strengthen our customer-first approach and support our unwavering commitment to perfecting the customer experience, which lies at the heart of our business." The Appliance Service Plan business has served as the leading provider of appliance protection and related services to homeowners in Michigan for over 35 years. Its comprehensive plans provide customers with coverage for repairs and replacement, offering financial protection from unexpected appliance breakdowns. With 24/7 access to representatives to schedule service calls, and priority scheduling for heating and cooling emergencies, the Appliance Service Plan team deploys experienced local technicians to customers to fix issues effectively and efficiently. In addition to appliance protection, OHS offers complete protection for outside the home, including water line, sewer line, external gas line, external electric line, well line, and septic line protection, as well as protection for inside the home through its in-home plumbing emergency program, cooling and heating repair programs, power surge protection program, hot water heater program and interior electric protection program. Upon closing, Consumers Energy and Oncourse Home Solutions will continue their partnership, allowing customers to enjoy the benefits of ASP appliance protection services, as well as have greater access to a broad suite of the high-quality home protection products offered by Oncourse Home Solutions. "We now have an opportunistic ability to scale and add a significant number of customers and new partner relationships that are both complementary and advantageous to our organization," said Cohen. For more information on Oncourse Home Solutions, its offerings, and updates, please visit: OncourseHome.com . About Oncourse Home Solutions Oncourse Home Solutions is a leading provider of home protection solutions focused on protecting homeowners from unexpected costs through flexible services for home repairs and maintenance. Through its companies, Oncourse Home Solutions serves 1.5 million homeowners across 43 states and Washington, D.C. With over three decades of experience, Oncourse Home Solutions remains committed to simplifying the hassles of home care and providing coverage that simply works, giving homeowners peace of mind. Visit OncourseHome.com for more information about Oncourse Home Solutions. Contact: Marlo Gaal 312.504.0965 marlo.gaal@oncoursehome.com SOURCE Oncourse Home Solutions 5 february 2024 at 14:15 News published onand distributed by: illumin Announces Personnel Changes TORONTO, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- illumin Holdings Inc. (TSX:ILLM) ("illumin" or the "Company") announced that effective today, Mr. Nadeem Ahmed, Chief Revenue Officer, is no longer with illumin. The Company thanks Mr. Ahmed for his services and wishes him great success in his future endeavours. The Company is in the process of identifying Mr. Ahmed's successor, and on an interim basis, his responsibilities will be assumed by Joe Ontman, the Company's Chief Business Development Officer and Co-Founder. About illumin: illumin is a journey advertising platform that enables marketers to reach consumers at every stage of their journey by leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms and real-time data analytics. The company's mission is to illuminate the path for brands to connect with their customers through the power of data-driven advertising. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, illumin serves clients across North America, Latin America, and Europe. For further information, please contact: Steve Hosein Investor Relations Coordinator illumin 416-918-5647 [email protected] Babak Pedram Investor Relations ? Canada Virtus Advisory Group Inc. 416-644-5081 [email protected] David Hanover Investor Relations ? U.S. KCSA Strategic Communications 212-896-1220 [email protected] 5 february 2024 at 16:05 News published onand distributed by: 18 2024 : , , 1902 . 1909 . 1967 Torrey Canyon ( 300,) 120.000 16 (. ). . , , 270 120 55 . 30 . 1989 , , 4.400 . 1992 Microsoft Windows 3.1. South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc. Declares Cash Dividend MYRTLE BEACH, S.C., Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc. ("South Atlantic" or the "Company") (OTCQX: SABK), the parent of South Atlantic Bank (the "Bank"), announced that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.10 per share on its common stock. The dividend will be payable on February 28, 2024 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 14, 2024. Commenting on the dividend, K. Wayne Wicker, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, remarked, "2023 was a challenging year for the banking industry. Despite the difficult operating environment, I am pleased with our Company's performance for the year. We are excited to announce our second consecutive cash dividend following our inaugural cash dividend payment in the first quarter of 2023. We sincerely thank all our shareholders for their continued support in the success of our Company." About South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc. South Atlantic Bancshares, Inc. (OTCQX: SABK) is a registered bank holding company based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Company's banking subsidiary, South Atlantic Bank, is a full-service financial institution spanning the entire coastal area of South Carolina, and is locally owned, controlled and operated. The Bank operates twelve offices in Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, North Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Pawleys Island, Georgetown, Mount Pleasant, Charleston, Bluffton, Hilton Head Island and Beaufort, South Carolina. The Bank specializes in providing personalized community banking services to individuals, small businesses and corporations. Services include a full range of consumer and commercial banking products, including mortgage, and treasury management, including South Atlantic Bank goMobile, the Bank's mobile banking app. The Bank also offers internet banking, no-fee ATM access, checking, certificates of deposit and money market accounts, merchant services, mortgage loans, remote deposit capture, and more. For more information, visit www.SouthAtlantic.bank. Available Information The Company maintains an Internet website at www.southatlantic.bank/about-us/investor-relations. The Company makes available, free of charge, on its web site the Company's annual meeting materials, annual reports, and quarterly earnings reports. In addition, the OTC Markets Group maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding the Company (at www.otcmarkets.com/stock/SABK/overview). The Company routinely posts important information for investors on its website (under www.southatlantic.bank and, more specifically, under the Investor Relations tab at www.southatlantic.bank/about-us/investor-relations/). The Company intends to use its web site as a means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under the OTC Markets Group OTCQX Rules for U.S. Banks. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Company's web site, in addition to following the Company's press releases, OTC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, the Company's web site is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this press release. Contacts: K. Wayne Wicker, Chairman & CEO, 843-839-4410 Matthew Hobert, EVP & CFO, 843-839-4945 Member FDIC SOURCE South Atlantic Bank 5 february 2024 at 16:01 News published onand distributed by: A campaign poster of Ilham Aliyev in Baku on January 15 TOFIK BABAYEV / AFP On February 7, Azerbaijan's 62-year-old president, Ilham Aliyev, will bestow upon himself a fifth term in office against a backdrop of fierce repression of independent media and the threat of slamming the door on European institutions. Some 6.3 million voters are being called to the polls to choose between the man who inherited the presidency from his father, Heydar Aliyev, in 2003, and six other candidates vying with each other in ways that they may ensure that no one votes for them. "Voters have turned away from politics to an unprecedented degree," explained exiled political scientist Bahruz Samadov. "This can be explained by the genuine popularity of the outgoing president, Ilham Aliyev, who boasts of having restored Azerbaijan's sovereignty in Nagorno-Karabakh, but also by the intensification of repression during the election campaign." Read more Subscribers only Nagorno-Karabakh: The fall of an enclave born of the disintegration of the USSR At the end of September 2023, a military operation launched from the capital of Baku led to the flight of more than 100,000 people (almost all the Armenians living in the region) from Nagorno-Karabakh. For three decades, the enclave had been administered by a separatist entity allied with Armenia and outside Baku's control. By 2020, Azerbaijan had forcibly retaken a large part of it, inflicting a crushing and deadly defeat on the Armenians. Keen to convert this military victory into an election win, Aliyev has brought forward the election by a year, while cracking down further on critical voices. Since November 2023, 10 journalists have been arrested by the authorities. 'We won't take part in this circus' During the last presidential election in 2018, the opposition succeeded in staging several large demonstrations in Baku. By mid-December 2023, the two main opposition parties, Musavat and the Popular Front of Azerbaijan, had decided to boycott the ballot. "We will not take part in this circus, this fake election is nothing but a sham of democracy," declared the leader of the Popular Front, Ali Karimli, during his party's convention. According to the American organization Freedom House, Azerbaijan ranks among the 16 countries with the fewest civil liberties and political rights in the world, alongside Myanmar and Yemen. The deterioration of the political system has not escaped the attention of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which has sent 11 observers to the presidential campaign. In an interim report published on its website, the OSCE drew attention to the absence of genuine competition, government pressure on the media and obstacles to election monitoring by public bodies. It also noted: "Of the six presidential candidates standing in this election other than the incumbent, all have been publicly supportive of the President in the recent past." You have 49.85% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas receiving France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Stephane Sejourne at his headquarters in the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on February 5, 2024. THAER GHANAIM / AFP French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said on Monday, February 5, that Israeli "settler violence must stop" against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Under no circumstances can there be forced displacement of Palestinians, neither out of Gaza nor out of the West Bank," Sejourne said during a Middle East tour aimed at securing a truce between Israel and militant group Hamas in Gaza. The French minister denounced anti-Palestinian rhetoric and "even calls to commit war crimes" by Israeli officials, after some Netanyahu allies have appeared to endorse Jewish re-settlement of the Gaza Strip after the war. Sejourne called for supporting the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority of president Mahmud Abbas. "The future of the Gaza Strip is inseparable from the future of the West Bank, we must prepare for this future by supporting the Palestinian Authority," Sejourne said. "It must renew itself and redeploy as soon as possible in the Gaza Strip," where Hamas seized power in 2007. "I repeat: Gaza is Palestinian land," the top French diplomat said on his first tour of the region since taking office in January. Read more Subscribers only Israel-Palestine: Europeans united to defend the idea of a two-state solution The Palestinian militant group Hamas in 2007 ousted Gaza forces loyal to the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited autonomy in parts of the West Bank. Israel in 2005 withdrew troops and settlers from Gaza, but in the West Bank there are around 490,000 Israelis living among approximately three million Palestinians in settlements that are considered illegal under international law. Since the October 7 attack triggered war between Israel and Hamas, at least 381 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian health ministry in Ramallah. Israeli rights group Yesh Din dubbed 2023 the "most violent" year on record for settler attacks. Sejourne called for "a comprehensive political solution, with two states living in peace side by side", urging the resumption of the peace process "without delay." Israel and the Palestinians have not held substantive peace talks in more than a decade. "Without a political solution, there will be no just and lasting peace in the Middle East," Sejourne said. Later on Monday Sejourne was due to travel to Ramallah to meet his Palestinian counterpart Riyad al-Maliki as well as Abbas. A YOUNG man who was stopped by gardai while practicing for his driving test on St Patricks Day pleaded guilty at Newcastle West Court to drug driving and having no insurance. Sohayb Essefiani, aged 19, of Deer Park, Adare pleaded guilty to the two offences at Black Abbey Road, Adare on March 17, 2023. Inspector Barry Manton, prosecuting, said the accused was stopped by gardai performing a checkpoint. The garda formed an opinion that he had consumed an intoxicant. He was arrested and conveyed to Henry Street garda station. A blood specimen taken was positive for cannabis. A demand was made for his insurance details which were not produced, said Insp Manton, who added that the defendant has no previous convictions. Ted McCarthy, solicitor for Mr Essefiani, said his client was driving in the estate where he lives. He was practicing for his driving test. He understood he was driving under his mothers insurance policy. After he was stopped he discovered he wasnt (covered). Four days later he was added as a named driver. He has passed his driving test and got his licence, said Mr McCarthy. The solicitor then addressed the drug driving count. He accepts it was in his system. He was not in the process of smoking cannabis. He has pleaded guilty and he apologises, said Mr McCarthy, who asked the judge not to disqualify his client from driving on the no insurance count. Judge Carol Anne Coolican fined Mr Essefiani 150 for driving without insurance. The judge used her discretion not to disqualify him on that count. Judge Coolican fined the defendant 500 and put him off the road for one year for drug driving. A NEW agreement looks set to see a supply chain corridor created between Foynes and the Dutch port of Rotterdam. Bosses at the Shannon Foynes Port have signed the deal with the largest European port, located in the Netherlands. It comes with a view to developing a link between the two to bring green fuels to Europe produced from the west of Irelands wind resource. The agreement will focus on market and trade development for green hygiene and the items which come from it. These will be provided at the planned green energy hub on the Shannon Estuary. Europes overall green hydrogen strategy is to import 10m tonnes of renewable hydrogen by 2030 for use in heavy industry and transport sectors that are traditionally reliant on coal, natural gas, and oil. The Port of Rotterdam intends to facilitate volumes of 40 million tonnes from across the world by 2050, a significant proportion of which can come from the Shannon Estuary. The deal also provides for engaging relevant public stakeholders to support the initiative and sharing of information regarding the potential supply of green hydrogen and green hydrogen derivatives, such as green ammonia, green methanol, etc, as well as sharing best practice information on areas such as desalination, high voltage electricity, industrial clustering around the H2 molecule and green ship bunkering processes. The two ports will also potentially work together on market development in this new market and jointly finding final off-takers for supplies from Ireland. These would include maritime fuels sector, sustainable aviation fuels, green fertiliser and facilities with direct green hydrogen fuel requirements such as the steel industry. Pat Keating, chief executive of Shannon Foynes Port Company said: With the largest wind resource in Europe off our west coast, we have the opportunity to become Europes leading renewable energy generation hub. "That will deliver transformational change for Ireland in terms of energy independence and an unprecedented economic gain in the process. "In delivering on this, too, we can make our biggest ever contribution to the European project as we become a very significant contributor to REPowerEU, Europes plan to end reliance on fossil fuels. Passengers travelling to the United States from Shannon Airport will have an even easier travel experience with the introduction of a new innovative mobile passport control app, MPC, for pre-clearance. MPC is a free mobile app, launched by the US Customs and Border Protection agency, designed to streamline a travellers entry process into the United States by reducing inspection time at the US pre-clearance facility in Shannon Airport. US-bound passengers can now simply complete part of the pre-clearance process on the new app before coming to the airport. Through the secure app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, passengers can create a profile using their passport information, which will then allow them to submit their travel documentation, photo and customs declaration electronically, removing the need to complete a paper declaration form. MPC is the latest in a series of measures introduced by Shannon Airport to make transatlantic travel as seamless as possible for customers. In 2009, Shannon became the first airport in the world outside of the Americas to have full United States Preclearance services, meaning passengers arrive in the US from Ireland as domestic passengers, allowing them to avoid immigration queues upon arrival and pick up their bags and go. Building on this, in 2016, Shannon Airport became the first airport in the world to operate a combined European compliant and US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) compliant checkpoint system which means the passenger is screened only once to both regulatory standards and therefore eliminates the additional screening requirements which apply at other pre-clearance airports. These provisions, combined with the airports hi-tech security screening, shorter queues, sensory room and age friendly initiatives, mean it has never been easier to fly from Shannon. "At Shannon Airport, our approach is centred around making it easy for passengers, so we are delighted with the latest addition of Mobile Passport Control for US-bound passengers," airport director Niall Kearns commented. "As one of only two airports in Europe to offer US pre-clearance facilities, we pride ourselves on being able to provide a seamless airport experience. The MPC app, in addition to our existing time-saving US pre-clearance facilities, mean passengers can now avail of an even shorter pre-clearance process and will have more time to relax and enjoy their airport experience," he said. "When they touch down on US soil, they also have the added benefit of landing as domestic passengers having completed the entire pre-clearance process prior to departure from Shannon. We know our passengers will be very pleased with this latest time-saving technology, which further bolsters our commitment to ensuring a quick and efficient travel process for our customers," Mr Kearns added. THE MOTORCYCLIST in his 60s who tragically died following a collision in Limerick has been remembered as a "decent, nice and kind" man. Dan Curtin lost his life when the motorbike he was driving was involved in a collision with a car on the R515 at Kilmallock on Friday afternoon. He lived near Mallow in Cork, but he was raised in Tournafulla in west Limerick where he and his family remain in high esteem. Local Fine Gael councillor Liam Galvin said the family would be one of the most respected in the west of the county. "The family is steeped in the GAA, music and all parish activities. The community of Tournafulla will rally around them at this terrible time. It's another tragedy to hit Tournafulla," he said. Details of the father-of-three's funeral have not yet been published, but are expected to be made available this Tuesday afternoon. Dan worked at Dairygold, and tributes have been paid to him from both sides of the Limerick/Cork border. "Dan was a very nice and kind man who helped so many time in Dairygold," one person wrote in a tribute on www.rip.ie. "He was great company, sincere and a true friend," another added. And a third wrote: "What a sad loss of a beautiful man, a decent man. He was always kind and helpful may God cherish his soul. May his family friends and colleagues be comforted by his very presence. May he always be with us. So hard to accept such a loss - look after us Dan." Jim Lane, who runs Lane's Stores in Abbeyfeale paid his tributes, as did Patsy and Brid Hartnett, who run Tournafulla post office. "May you have the best bet in heaven Dan, reunited now with all your family gone before," the sub-postmasters wrote. Former Cork Fianna Fail TD Ned O'Keeffe described Dan as: "A wonderful employee of Dairygold and had a great approach in dealing with farmers when he worked in the lab in Mallow." In words also posted to www.rip.ie, Adare man Liam Woulfe, who founded Grassland Agro, joined his wife Marguerita in paying tribute to Dan, who studied together in Pallaskenry and University College Cork. "Since then as our careers separated, our pursuit for the success of Limerick hurling was our common cause. Dan was a gentleman and a true friend always," Liam added. Following Friday's incident, the R515 was closed for a technical examination by Garda forensic collision investigators. An appeal has been issued for any road users who may have camera footage, including dashcam pictures, who were travelling in the area between 1.30pm and 2.15pm on Friday last. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Henry Street garda station on 061-212400, the garda confidential line on 18--666111, or by visiting any garda station across the State. Dan is the beloved husband of Marion, and adored father to Eoin, Ruth and Brian. The eldest son of the late Sean and Wily Curtin, and a much loved brother of Maurice, Breda, Miriam and Gerard. His family have asked if any donations are made, they go to suicide prevention charity Pieta. His funeral arrangements are due to be released on Tuesday afternoon. May he rest in peace. In India's dynamic modern workplace, characterised by a surge in remote work post-pandemic, asynchronous collaboration is revolutionising team dynamics. With Indian organisations increasingly adopting flexible work arrangements, the shift from traditional synchronous schedules to asynchronous collaboration is gaining momentum, reshaping team interactions. Employers are actively seeking remote talent on a global scale. Remote's Workforce Report revealed that 60% of employers have seen an uptick in high-quality applicants since transitioning to a distributed workforce model. Additionally, 55% of decision makers prioritise hiring the most qualified individual for the job, regardless of their location. As the workforce becomes more distributed, asynchronous work becomes essential. The report indicates that 44% of companies are ramping up international hiring, necessitating collaboration across multiple time zones. View Full Image Marcelo Lebre, President & Co-Founder at Remote Distributed teams require adaptable processes. With employees no longer sharing physical office spaces, outdated systems become obsolete, demanding corresponding operational changes. Embracing the Flexibility of Asynchronous Collaboration View Full Image With employees no longer sharing physical office spaces, outdated systems become obsolete, demanding corresponding operational changes. The widespread acceptance of remote work has propelled the adoption of asynchronous collaboration, where employees contribute at their own pace rather than in real-time. Traditional synchronous methods, often reliant on live video calls or face-to-face meetings, are being re-evaluated as Indian companies recognise the benefits of a more flexible approach. New Strategies for a Changing Landscape View Full Image Reducing reliance on real-time communication accelerates work processes and minimises the need for meetings. Concerns about diminished creativity in an asynchronous environment are common among business leaders. The absence of spontaneous interactions, like water cooler chats or impromptu calls, may seem to hinder idea generation. However, this is not an inherent flaw of asynchronous collaboration but rather a challenge that can be addressed with the right tools and mindset. Building Trust in Asynchronous Work The successful implementation of asynchronous collaboration in India hinges on trust. Remote emphasises the importance of documentation in facilitating efficient asynchronous work, eliminating wait times for information through comprehensive and accessible documentation. Companies like Shopify, with their 'no meetings' policy, are spearheading the shift to asynchronous work, highlighting the need for Indian businesses to embrace this change. Remote has cultivated a robust company culture and achieved global competitiveness through a commitment to redefining traditional work paradigms. By embracing asynchronous work, companies can unlock opportunities for success beyond India's borders. Remote even has an entire section on asynchronous work in their public handbook here. Advantages Beyond Borders View Full Image Maintain boundaries between professional and personal life to promote a healthy work-life balance. According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report, businesses plan to enhance working hours and flexibility by 2027, with over 20% offering more flexible arrangements within countries. Asynchronous collaboration not only offers flexibility in working hours but also enhances speed by allowing individuals to work at their own pace, accommodating diverse time zones and preferences. Reducing reliance on real-time communication accelerates work processes and minimises the need for meetings. By enabling efficient contributions from team members, organisations can reallocate resources to more impactful tasks. Strategies for Effective Asynchronous Collaboration View Full Image Marcelo Lebre, President & Co-Founder at Remote, suggests that by embracing change and implementing effective processes, Indian businesses can thrive in the dynamic modern workplace. To successfully transition to asynchronous collaboration, consider the following strategies: Ensure effective communication by setting clear communication protocols that prioritise asynchronous communication methods like proper documentation and written procedures. Expand hiring efforts globally to tap into diverse skills and ideas. Set clear expectations especially when it comes to deadlines and required response times so you and your team are on the same page. Maintain boundaries between professional and personal life to promote a healthy work-life balance. Cultivate trust and autonomy by providing team members the necessary support and resources to carry out their tasks without unnecessary micromanagement. Remember that asynchronous communication does not need to be limited to work topics. You can also build strong bonds with coworkers by connecting asynchronously on hobbies and personal interests. The shift to asynchronous collaboration presents an opportunity for businesses to boost productivity, leverage global talent, and foster a healthier work environment. By embracing this change and implementing effective processes, Indian businesses can thrive in the dynamic modern workplace. (The views expressed here are of Marcelo Lebre, President & Co-Founder at Remote.) Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Boeing is reworking 50 undelivered 737 MAX jets after a suppliers employee recently found misdrilled holes on some fuselages, a new production snafu for the aircraft manufacturer. Spirit AeroSystems, which has been at the center of quality issues affecting 737s, supplied the fuselages. Boeing said that the issue could delay some deliveries in the near term and that existing 737s can keep flying. This is the only course of action given our commitment to deliver perfect airplanes every time," Boeings commercial chief Stan Deal said in a memo to staff on Sunday. Boeing said it is finalizing instructions for the rework and expects to know how long it will take in coming days. Deal said the employee flagged to his manager two holes that may not have been drilled exactly to the jet makers requirements. Delays will allow the company to inspect and, if necessary, fix any problems, he said. A Spirit spokesman said the company is aware of the issue and is in close communication with Boeing. Last year, misdrilled holes by Spirit on the aft bulkhead of some MAX jets led to production delays. Boeing is facing additional regulatory scrutiny after the Alaska Airlines door plug blowout last month. That incident, which also involved a Spirit fuselage, followed a string of issues involving the supplier, none of which led to in-flight incidents. In the case of the blowout, the jet maker and industry officials increasingly believe Boeing employees failed to put back bolts needed to secure the door plug during production. Deal also said Boeing has recently instructed a major supplier to hold shipments until all parts meet requirements, a move he said would lead to production delays. A spokeswoman declined to say if Deal was referring to Spirit or a different supplier. Boeing executives have pledged to review manufacturing practices and root out defects. The company last week said it wouldnt set financial targets for the year as it focuses on improving quality. Investors and airline customers, which already are short on planes, worry that heightened scrutiny and Boeings efforts to improve its processes could slow deliveries. Write to Sharon Terlep at sharon.terlep@wsj.com Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Northrop Grumman CEO and President Kathy Warden said the empty 63-acre Waynesboro site on which the company broke ground Friday will be transformed into a vibrant factory by 2025 with hundreds of jobs. Leaders from Northrop Grumman, the city of Waynesboro and the commonwealth including Gov. Glenn Youngkin shivered in the cold Friday as they celebrated the official start of construction on the advanced electronics and manufacturing facility the major defense technology company is building in Waynesboro. There will be more than 300 jobs paying $94,000 on average and an investment of more than $200 million in factory construction and equipment at the site behind Waynesboro Town Center, according to officials. The jobs are expected to be gradually phased in after construction is finished in 2025. Warden said the company would create tech-ready employees to work at the plant. Noting that the company is headquartered in Falls Church and already has nearly 7,000 employees in Virginia, she said, We have bet on Virginia and will continue to bet on Virginia. Northrop Grumman did not provide specific answers to questions Friday about why the company chose Waynesboro. However, Waynesboro Economic Development and Tourism Director Greg Hitchin has said his contacts with the company said the decision hinged on a site with correct zoning, transportation and utilities. Youngkin said construction of the 314,000-square-foot plant will be finished by 2025 and production will start in 2026. These will be 300 high-paying, extraordinary jobs, Youngkin said. The governor boasted that Virginia has experienced a renaissance in its job market during his first two years in office, noting that the commonwealth now ranks third in the nation for job creation. There are 230,000 more Virginians working than two years ago, Youngkin said Friday after the groundbreaking. Waynesboro Mayor Lana Williams expressed appreciation for the confidence Northrop Grumman has placed in our city. Hitchin said the 15-month trajectory of finalizing a deal with Northrop Grumman included significant effort from several city departments and the help of local real estate professionals. Other factors included rezoning the factory site from highway business to industrial and a GO Virginia grant to help prepare the site for development. A new access road to the plant funded by a Virginia Department of Transportation grant will be finished in 2025. Waynesboro City Councilman Terry Short said the location of Northrop Grumman in Waynesboro is just part of the citys DNA that includes a rich industrial legacy. That legacy dates back nearly a century when Wilmington, Delaware-based chemical manufacturer DuPont opened a large plant downtown. That was followed by other industry heavyweights, such as Boston-based General Electric, which had a factory making power grid components in the city for years. Both of those facilities have shuttered. In recent years, Waynesboro has depended more on the opening of big-box retailers close to where the Northrop Grumman facility will be built. Short also said the company picked a strategic location near Interstate 64 and a strong labor market. Youngkin said Virginias population trends favor people who want to settle in rural Virginia where they can live, work and raise a family. Virginia is providing the company with a Commonwealths Opportunity Fund grant of $8.5 million. The grant is tied to Northrop Grumman meeting performance measures. A reimbursement of $8.5 million in Waynesboro taxes to Northrop Grumman over the first decade of the plant is also bound to the companys performance agreement with the city. Virginia higher education institutions are likely to be involved in training the Northrop Grumman Waynesboro employees. Blue Ridge Community College President John Downey said the Weyers Cave school is expected to help train the employees through its manufacturing and electronics technology programs. Tech giants Google and Yahoo are lowering the hammer on indiscriminate email marketing by introducing new requirements for bulk senders. Their new rules dont mean consumers should expect to immediately glimpse the bottom of their inboxes again, however; if anything, they could encourage marketers to prize emails more than before, marketing executives say. Brands hope the changes will mean that more recipients pay attention to their messages, because they wont be so hidden among unsolicited junk mail and phishing scams. The new rules, which took effect this month, also could make it less common for emails from legitimate senders to be tagged as spam, as users are offered an easier way to unsubscribe. The changes from Gmail and Yahoo Mail, two of the largest email service providers in the world, require bulk email senders to authenticate their own email addresses, include code with their emails that lets recipients unsubscribe with one click, and keep their spam complaint rate below an average of one per 1,000 emails. The email providers could punish offenders by delivering less of their emails to users main inboxes until they get back in line. The email domain has become a bit of a mess, and if the channel is a bit messy, thats an issue," said Karim Meghji, chief product officer at Code.org, a nonprofit that provides computer science education in schools and communicates with stakeholders by email. I would like a cleaner inbox for teachers, admins and parents because our message will come through clearer." Google said it defines bulk email senders as those that send more than 5,000 emails a day. Yahoo declined to share its definition. The companies previously encouraged authentication and easy unsubscribes, but without the threat of sanctions. They already punished emailers with high spam rates by diverting more of their messages to spam folders, but now will give senders more information about those ratesand why they might be going upto help prevent that from happening, they said. Email love A practically ancient media in the grand scheme of digital communications, email is still adored by marketers. Brands often see better results from email marketing than any other online form, partly because it is one of the few digital environments where consumers choose to let brands in (and kick them out again) and partly because they can tailor their messages to the receiver, said Kate Nowrouzi, vice president of deliverability and product strategy at communications software provider Sinch. A 2021 report from Gartner found email to be the best performing channel for technology marketers, beating newer channels including social media, search engine optimization and digital display advertising. Google and Apples recent moves to upend the way advertisers track and target online consumers also have pushed more companies to invest in direct lines of communication with people. Sending an email is one of the cheapest such avenues, Nowrouzi said. Consumers are understandably less enthusiastic. The sheer amount of messages they receive a day has meant reaching inbox zero" has become an unachievable dream for many. Phishing attacks and other scams have grown more sophisticated and harder to spot. And spam rates continue to rise along with the volume of emails sent, Google and Yahoo said. As we stand on the precipice of things like [generative] AI, maybe that changes even more," said Neil Kumaran, the leader of Gmails security and trust team, referring to the ways scammers could use new technologies to fool users with immaculate reproductions of legitimate emails. The new rules aim to protect users and alleviate inbox stress, Kumaran said, while also offering marketers greater clarity around email marketing standards, which senders have described as murky. We want to make the experience more predictable for everybody," he said. The new definition of spam Email marketing gained prominence in the 1990s as a child of direct mail. It only took a few years before the medium became fertile ground for unsolicited messages. Most of the spam that you would see as a consumer back then would be very bad stuffillegal pharmaceuticals, scams and pornography," said Chad S. White, head of research at Oracles digital experience agency. Email providers moved quickly to clamp down, giving their users the ability to report spam. The introduction of the CAN-SPAM act of 2003, the law that set the rules for sending commercial email in the U.S., also helped tamp down junk mail to a lesser extent, White said. The worst of the spam largely receded, he said. And yet the report spam" button still remained on email interfaces. So people started to use it for other stuff," White said. Brands they shopped with, but didnt get permission to email; brands that they did sign up to but they just dont want to hear from anymore, and they dont want to try to navigate that unsubscribe page." The new rules from Gmail and Yahoo Mail should help consumers more easily unsubscribe from emails they dont want, and in the process protect companies emails from getting erroneously marked as spam, the companies said. It does make me nervous Marketers at large companies are largely unworried about getting penalized for sending too many emails, marketing executives said. Experienced email marketers with access to analytics tools have learned to divide their contact lists into groups based on factors like loyalty, interests and purchase history to send more relevant emails, and taken email providers best practice guides to heart. The spam threshold that the email providers are asking senders to stay under is relatively lenient, Oracles White said, noting that most reputable senders will likely only be at risk from hitting the limit during peak seasons, such as the holidays for retailers. Even then, Yahoo and Google both say they will monitor rates on a rolling average, let senders track their own spam rates, and send out warnings before taking any action against their emails, he said. Deliverability has very much been a black box, so its nice that theyre giving us some really discreet things that we need to pay attention to," White said. The rules may have a weightier effect on smaller or newer companies, those with less experience and support managing their email lists and email marketing strategy. For Emily Ryan, a consultant who helps businesses use the email marketing platform Mailchimp, the threshold isnt to be ignored. The email providers require just one person in a thousand to flag emails as spam for a sender to end up in the danger zone, Ryan said. It does make me nervous," she said, which is why Im saying to clients now, OK, lets start doing whatever we can to keep that low." Write to Katie Deighton at katie.deighton@wsj.com Mukesh Ambani's Jio Financial Services has dismissed any discussion going on to buy Paytm's wallet business, on February 5, according to an exchange filing. With reference to the captioned subject, we clarify that the news item is speculative and we have not been in any negotiations in this regard," the company stated in the filing. According to a Hindu BusinessLine report, the troubled fintech was in exploratory talks with a few companies, including HDFC Bank and Jio Financial Services. Also Read: At record low! Paytm share price at 10% lower circuit after a 36% fall in last 2 sessions So far, there has been no official statement by Paytm on the matter. Mint couldn't independently verify the claims. Meanwhile, a Paytm Payments Bank spokesperson refused to give an official statement. We do not comment on any market speculation. We completely abide by the direction of the regulator, and the teams effort is to ensure a smooth customer experience with the products offered by PPBL," INC 42 quoted a company spokesperson as saying. Also Read: Paytm denies FEMA probe, terms media reports misleading, baseless and malicious After the media reports claiming the sale of Paytm's wallet services to Jio Financial Services, the company shares rose by nearly 14% on BSE on Monday. Jio Fin's company shares closed 13.91% higher at 289.05 per share on BSE on Monday. According to the Hindu BusinessLine report, seven senior fintech and banking sector executives associated with the matter accepted that Paytm has been in contact with Jio Financial Services since November last year. With KYC-related issues compounding for Paytm, theyve not been as aggressive with the business as they were before 2022 in the wallets business and if valuations on the table were decent, the talks with Jio would have fructified much earlier," Hindu BusinessLine quoted a source as saying. Paytm landed in deep trouble after the Reserve Bank of India, on January 31, ordered Paytm Payments Bank from taking deposits or allowing top-ups after February 29. The RBI is considering scrapping the bank's licence as early as March. BSE More Information Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! SINGAPOREFor years, Western companies complained about Chinese copycats. Now, the copycats are coming for Chinese companies. Starbuckss Chinese rival, Luckin Coffee, has fought a long legal battle with a look-alike in Thailand that it says damages its brand. Beverage franchise Heytea, which recently opened its first store in New York selling its signature cheese-foam tea, has faced off against its Singaporean doppelganger Heetea. And behind Nigerias first lithium-processing plant, launched with great ceremony in October, isnt the China-based Tesla supplier Ganfeng Lithium but a local venture called Ganfeng Lithium Industry. As more Chinese companies go overseas and become coveted brands, they are discovering one of the pitfalls of international success: imitators. After all, you are more at risk if you are actually successful and famous," says Catherine Lee, a senior partner at the international law firm Dentons Rodyk and one of the lawyers representing Chinas Heytea. International lawyers interviewed by The Wall Street Journal said that inquiries from Chinese companies seeking to protect their intellectual property had risen in recent years. There were nearly 6.2 million trademark registrations in China in 2022, triple the amount compared with five years earlier, according to data from the China National Intellectual Property Administration. China has strengthened enforcement at home, with higher penalty fees for patent infringements, and shortened the time courts take to handle the cases. In 2022, China handled around 430,000 first-instance civil IP cases, up from 280,000 in 2018, according to Chinas Supreme Peoples Court. In 2005, Starbucks sued Shanghai Xingbake Cafe, a Chinese coffee-shop chain using Starbuckss Chinese characters, for trademark infringement, alleging that the latter was its doppelganger and causing confusion among customers while diluting the value of its brand in China. Starbucks won the case and Xingbake was ordered to pay damages and change its name. Luckins out Now, Luckin Coffee, which has knocked Starbucks off its top spot in the Chinese coffee market, is fighting against a look-alike abroad. Pictures emerged online two years ago showing a cafe in Thailand with the name Luckin Coffee" and a logo of a blue deer on a white background looking left. The logo of China-based Luckin Coffee shows a white deer on a blue background looking right. The Chinese company issued a statement in August 2022 calling the Thai store fake" and saying it would take legal action. In December 2023, however, Thai Luckin said on social media that Thailands Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court had rejected Luckins case for trademark and copyright infringement. That is because Thailand, like China, follows a first-to-file" regimen for intellectual property, which grants use rights to whoever registered the trademark first. 50R, the company behind Thai Luckin, has registered nearly 200 trademarks in Thailand, including names such as TikTok, T-Mall and Pinduoduoall of which are popular Chinese online platforms. (The company also trademarked Chinese-character versions of Chanel, Tesla and the name Trump.") It registered Luckin with Thai authorities in 2018, three years ahead of Chinas Luckin, and then proceeded to sell coffee. Luckins pre-2018 fame in China carried no weight with the Thai court because of the lack of a trademark protection treaty between the two countries, said Lin Shanlin, a Bangkok-based lawyer at Mandarin Accounting Law Firm. Luckin Coffee declined to comment. Neither Thai Luckin nor 50R Group responded to requests for comment. Some 73 of the 100 Most Valuable Chinese Brands in 2023," as determined by marketing data firm Kantar, attempted to have their trademarks registered in Thailand. In nearly half of the cases, this appears to have been done by third parties suspected of not being the legitimate owners of the mark, according to data collected by Akkaraporn Muangsobha, a Bangkok-based partner at the international law firm Rajah & Tann Asia. Whats in a name? Chinas global leadership in solar panels and batteries is also attracting imitators. A company billing itself Ganfeng Lithium Industry treated Nigerias minister of solid minerals development, Dele Alake, to a red-carpet reception and gave him a golden spade for a ceremony marking the construction of a $250 million lithium-processing plant in October. Days later, Nigerias Ganfeng released a statement taking issue with media reports that called it a subsidiary of Chinas Ganfeng Lithium, one of the worlds largest lithium-salt producers for EV batteries, and accusing its Chinese counterpart of impersonation instead. It had never relied on or utilized any resources or influence" from its more established namesake, Nigerias Ganfeng said in the statement, adding that the Chinese characters for its name mean Sweet Harvest." The meaning of the Chinese characters in the name of Tesla supplier Ganfeng is vanguard of Jiangxi," a reference to the southeastern Chinese province in which it was founded in 2000. Chinas Ganfeng said it was surprised to see someone undertake an entire project using its name. It added that it was currently in the process of registering its trademark in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world. Nigerias Ganfeng and the ministry didnt respond to requests for comment. In countries with strong IP laws, Chinese companies have fared better. In Singapore, a store called Heetea began operating more than six years ago, selling drinks with a salty layer of cheese foam on top of fresh tea. Its logo showed a cartoon man in black and white from the side drinking from a cup. There was only one hitch in Heeteas plan: Heytea. Heytea is a Chinese beverage chain founded in 2012 and was already famous in the Chinese-speaking world for introducing cheese tea to a broad audience. Singapores intellectual-property office sided with the Chinese firm, invalidating Heeteas trademark in 2021. The office pointed to striking similarities in the logo, from the shape of the head, nose, and mouth; angle of the head tilt; the way the boy holds the cup in the right hand with four fingers visible" to the font and positioning of the text. For the future, intellectual-property law practitioners say Chinese companies need to do what Western companies long ago learned to do: carry out due diligence, register trademarks early and monitor their use overseas. That advice comes too late for Chinas Luckin Coffee, at least in Thailand, where it wont be allowed to open stores called Luckin Coffee." Write to Sha Hua at sha.hua@wsj.com The biggest clean-energy investor in private markets is widening its lead, tapping into rising demand for wind and solar power and a push by big companies to reduce emissions. Infrastructure investing giant Brookfield Asset Management said it hopes to raise more than $25 billion for two new private funds investing in clean energy. The firm said Monday it has taken in $10 billion for its latest energy transition fund and will continue fundraising for it. Brookfield expects to raise billions more in an emerging-markets-focused fund. The latest cash infusion gives Brookfield firepower for climate projects that only the largest investment firms and energy producers such as BlackRock and NextEra Energy can match. It also shows investor confidence in the sector, despite the permitting, construction and cost challenges facing many clean-energy developers. Across all its funds, Brookfield says it has deployed over $100 billion in renewable-power and energy-transition investments. That figure has surged in the past few years. Demand for renewable energy continues to climb, with cities and companies looking for cleaner ways to power everything from data centers to manufacturing plants. The growth is being supercharged by tighter climate regulations, along with generous government incentives in the U.S. and other major economies. The demand, particularly from corporates for green power, is simply overwhelming," Connor Teskey, the head of Brookfields renewable power and transition business, said in an interview. Total global investment in the energy transition hit about $1.8 trillion last year, a 17% increase from 2022, according to BloombergNEF. That was still far short of the $4.8 trillion the data provider estimates is needed annually from 2024 to 2030 to meet the worlds climate targets. Brookfield hopes to fill some of the gap. Its new fund will invest in a range of projects, starting with a wind farm operator in the U.K. and a partnership with a solar developer in India. The firms first energy transition fund a few years ago raised $15 billion. That funds investments include U.S. renewable developers, carbon-capture startups and a deal to buy nuclear-power services provider Westinghouse Electric. The new fund is on track to be larger. Brookfield also uses its energy-transition funds to buy fossil-fuel projects and says that responsible ownership of them is needed to reduce their emissions over time. It recently led a consortium that tried to buy Origin Energy, one of Australias largest power companies, for $11 billion and take it private. Shareholders rejected the deal, nearly two years after investors in Australias AGL Energy rejected a bid from Brookfield and Australian billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes. Teskey said Brookfield will consider similar deals despite the setbacks. The firm will also consider putting money from the new fund into industrial companies that need to cut emissions, such as manufacturers, steelmakers and cement producers. Environmentalists say such investments can be an excuse for big firms to keep putting money into polluting sectors. Brookfields energy transition funds are co-led by Teskey and Mark Carney, the former head of central banks in the U.K. and Canada and the point person on climate finance for the United Nations. At the U.N. summit last year, the United Arab Emirates said it was putting $2 billion into Brookfields new energy-transition fund and up to $1 billion into the emerging-markets fund. Teskey also heads Brookfields publicly traded renewables unit. That unit puts money into the transition funds, as well as the firms infrastructure investment funds. What we bring is scale," he said. Write to Amrith Ramkumar at amrith.ramkumar@wsj.com Hyundai India IPO: Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) an Indian arm of South Korean-based Hyundai Motor Co. is mulling over listing its IPO on Indian bourses around Diwali in November this year, according to a report by the Economic Times. Livemint tried reaching out to a company's spokesperson, who declined to comment. Hyundai Motor India was incorporated on May 6, 1996, and with this development, the company is expected to reach the Indian stock market nearly after 28 years in India. HMIL was India's second-largest passenger vehicle seller last year, after Maruti Suzuki India. Top global investment banks are vying for a potential Hyundai India IPO. Representatives from Goldman Sachs, Citi, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Bank of America, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, and UBS pitched their expertise to Hyundai leadership last week in Seoul. Bankers valued the company at $22-28 billion, implying a potential market cap of 1.82-2.32 lakh crore. Hyundai is reportedly exploring a 15-20% dilution, aiming to raise $3.3-5.6 billion ( 27,390 crore to 46,480 crore), the ET report further added. Hyundai Motor India is expecting to derive 65 per cent of its sales from sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in 2024, a segment in which customers prefer the higher fuel efficiency and power of a diesel engine in the larger segments, and petrol and CNG for better fuel economy at the lower end, Mint earlier reported. Diesel used to account for 60% of our sales at its peak, with petrol accounting for 40%, but now the trend has reversed with diesel accounting for 40%, which is good and in line with the industry direction. This year, it seems that 38-40% will be diesel, but because of our new turbo petrol engine, some diesel volumes may shift to that and diesel may account for 30-35% of our sales," Tarun Garg, COO, Hyundai Motor India, said, as quoted by Mint earlier in January 2024. Meanwhile, the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Maharashtra's Industries Minister Uday Samant in Davos. Hyundai Motor India Ltd has committed to invest 6,000 crore in Maharashtra, in January 2024. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Investors have cheered the strong commentary of The Indian Hotels Co . Ltd (IHCL) management post the December quarter (Q3FY24) earnings, taking the stock to a 52-week high of 515.95 apiece on Friday. IHCL has guided for double-digit revenue growth in FY25, driven by growth in its portfolio, new brands and businesses. It sees portfolio growth primarily through management contracts. IHCL has raised management fees to 319 crore in the nine months of FY24, doubling from 156 crore in the corresponding period of FY20. Management contracts account for 42% of operational inventory, and form 76% of the pipeline. IHCL aims to open at least two hotels per month. It expects to launch two brands in the next six months. With this, a 10-15% growth in average room rate (ARR) next year wont be surprising, IHCLs management said in a Q3 earnings call. In Q3, standalone ARR grew by 17% y-o-y, leading to a 25% surge in revenue per available room (RevPAR). After Q3 earnings, many anal-ysts have raised their assumptions for the coming years. On the flip side, operations in US, especially New York, are yet to return to pre-covid tre-nds. San Francisco faces temporary headwinds. In Q3, RevPAR in US dropped 3% year-on-year. That said, Prashant Biyani, analyst at Elara Securities (India), said that Ebitda contribution from US is insignificant. He emp-hasized that monitoring trajectory of ARR growth and occupancy rates is crucial, in future. Demand growth outpacing supply coupled with IHCLs strong balance sheet, has helped its shares rally 57% in the past year. Emkay Global Financial Services has assig-ned valuation of 24x EV/Ebitda for December 2025, a tad up from 23.5x earlier, reflecting business strength. Increased demand from domestic travellers, rebound in foreign tourist arrivals, and rise in corporate travel will sustain high room demand for hotels, leading to elevated room rentals in short to medium term. Indian Premier League, and new meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, tourism venues, are some short-term growth drivers for IHCL. Though, any slowdown in corporate travel or a slower recovery in inbound and outbound tourism pose a risk. Share of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), India's largest life insurer, achieved a significant milestone in today's trading session by surpassing the 1,000 mark for the first time and touching a new peak of 1,028 apiece by gaining 8.8%. Following a subdued performance post-listing, LIC shares experienced a notable upswing in November, concluding with a substantial gain of 12.83%. This positive trend continued into the next two months, with an impressive rise of 22.52% in December and 14% in January. On January 23, the company's shares exceeded the IPO price of 949 per share, marking a notable milestone post-listing. Since then, the stock has maintained its upward momentum, consistently achieving fresh record highs. This sustained surge has proven to be rewarding for early investors who have retained their positions since the listing. Also Read: FPIs find stability in Indian debt amid equity challenges; what's behind the inflows into bonds? The insurance behemoth was listed on the Indian stock exchanges on May 17, 2022, at 875.25 apiece as compared to the issue price of 949. Surging to a new all-time high, the company's market capitalization reached 6.50 lakh crore, securing its position as the sixth-largest listed company in India and the foremost among government-listed PSU companies. In December, the government granted a one-time exemption to LIC to achieve the required 25% minimum public shareholding (MPS) within 10 years. The originally required to meet the 25% MPS rule by 2027. The government held a 96.5% stake in the company at the end of Q3 FY24, while retail investors and domestic institutional investors each held 2.4% and 1% stake, respectively. Also Read: Q3 results this week: Airtel, Nestle India, Trent, Zomato, LIC, MRF among others to declare earnings | Full list here The company is set to announce its Q3 FY24 earnings on Friday, February 09, 2024. For H1FY24, the company reported a net profit of 17,469 crore as compared to a net profit of 16,635 crore in the same period a year ago. Its new business premium (individual) for H1FY24 jumped 2.65% to 25,184 crore from 24,535 in H1FY23. New business premium is the premium due in the first policy year of a life insurance contract. The assets under management (AUM) increased to 47,43,389 crore in H1FY24 as compared to 42,93,778 crore in the same period last year, registering an increase of 10.47% year on year. At noon, the stock was trading with a gain of 6.57% at 1,006.80 apiece. Disclaimer: We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! In a notable surge, UCO Bank 's stock witnessed another significant jump of 14.5% in today's trade to 57.75, the highest level since June 2015, amid a strong surge in volumes. In today's trade, a total of 206.5 million shares changed hands on both the NSE and BSE , marking a substantial 2.31-fold rise from the stock's average weekly volume of 89.4 million shares. This upward movement extends the positive momentum observed in the stock over the past six trading sessions, resulting in a cumulative gain of 40% over the six days. Also Read: NBCC: This PSU stock gained over 110% just in a month, jumped nearly 400% in a year Following the interim budget, the shares of PSU banks continued their winning streak, fueled by positive surprises from the Indian government. The government set a fiscal deficit target of 5.8% for FY24 and 5.1% for FY25. An even bigger positive was gross borrowing, coming at 14.13 lakh crore. This development contributed to a decline in 10-year Indian government bond yields, benefiting PSU banks, which hold a greater proportion of government bonds compared to private sector banks. The Indian 10-year government bond yield dropped to 7.02% during Friday's trade (February 2), marking the lowest level since mid-July. The drop in yields will lift mark-to-market (MTM) gains for PSU banks as bond prices rise amid declining yields. "The government's target of a lower fiscal deficit will translate to lower borrowings by the government. This means that the yields of government securities will ease out. Also, with lower government borrowings, there will be more headroom for private sector entities to raise capital. This means we will see more private entities going via the bond issuance route to raise capital from the market," said Abhijit Roy, CEO, GoldenPi. Also Read: FPIs find stability in Indian debt amid equity challenges; what's behind the inflows into bonds? Another positive factor contributing to the rally in PSU banks is the anticipation that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), during its February Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) review meeting, is likely to once again implement a pause on the repo rate. "We expect the RBI to continue its pause stance in upcoming policy. Strong US non-farm payroll data and wages seem to have pushed back on market expectations for a quick pivot to rate cuts," said SBI research in its Ecowrap report. In its December meeting, the RBI made a unanimous decision to maintain the policy repo rate at 6.5%. This rate has been consistently held at 6.5% since February 2023. RBI Governor-headed Monetary Policy Committee will start its three-day deliberations on February 6. Governor Shaktikanta Das will announce the decision of the six-member panel on February 8. Also Read: RBI Monetary Policy Committee meeting: Check the date, time, and where to watch In terms of financial performance, UCO Bank reported a 23% YOY decline in its standalone net profit at 505 crore in Q3 FY24, impacted by higher provisions for wage revision. Its net interest income improved by 1.84% YoY to 1,952 crore in Q3 FY24. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! It appears there is no stopping the Tata Motors Ltd stock. Post its December-quarter (Q3FY24) results, the automakers shares gained nearly 6% on Monday, becoming the top Nifty 50 gainer. With this, the shares have appreciated by 19% so far in 2024, after surging 101% in 2023. Investors are gung-ho primarily owing to the improving performance of Tata Motors British subsidiary, Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Plc. In Q3, JLRs margin on earnings before interest and tax, or Ebit, increased by 510 basis points year-on-year to 8.8%, aided by moderating chip and material costs coupled with favourable product and geography mix. The portfolio mix was tilted towards China and that had a positive bearing on the gross margin. As such, JLR is on the right track to achieve its FY24 Ebit margin target of over 8%, which would be a big jump from 2.4% in FY23. FY24 is likely to end up as a noteworthy year for JLR. But the next fiscal year may see a slowdown in the pace as headwinds emerge. For one, the Red Sea crisis could impact supplies to China and other overseas markets. China accounted for about 14% of JLRs wholesale volume in the nine months ended 31 December, while the share of the overseas region was 20%. Besides, freight costs may also increase. Two, a new wage agreement could lead to an increase in employee costs. And three, JLR aims to invest more in customer acquisition with a rise in variable marketing expenses (VME) from the current level of 2.5% of revenue. Kotak Institutional Equities expects that with a normalised orderbook the company will incur higher VME discounts and fixed marketing expenses. But the broking firm also expects that the increase in expenses will be offset by cost-cutting measures, process improvements, and operating leverage benefits. Having said that, one needs to monitor the volume trajectory. In the nine months ended December, JLRs wholesale volume was up by over 28%. FY25 JLR volume growth should taper to a low single digit," Nuvama Research said in a report dated 3 February, adding that S&P Global Mobility has forecast underlying four-wheeler industry growth in 2024 at 2% for the US, 3% for Europe, and 5% for China. Coming to the domestic businesses, the commercial vehicle (CV) segment is likely to see a volatility in volume in the backdrop of the upcoming national election. In Q4, Tata Motors expects CV industry volume to decline in single digit year-on-year, and remain softin the first quarter of FY25. The automakers CV market share in Q3 stood at 38.7%, down 100 basis points sequentially. The passenger vehicle segment is also seeing some demand concerns. Tata Motors expects the industry to clock a growth rate of less than 5% in FY25. Moreover, the electric vehicle portfolio would weigh on profitability as it is margin-dilutive. The company plans to launch three EVs in 2024. But it is encouraging that the Ebitda margin before accounting for research and development expenses in the electric vehicle business was near breakeven in Q3. All things considered, given Tata Motors strong Q3 showing, analysts have raised their earnings estimates on the company. Jefferies India has raised its FY24-26 earnings per share estimate for Tata Motors by 7-11%, factoring lower India CV volumes but higher estimate for JLR. Meanwhile, debt levels are falling and that is a positive. In Q3, Tata Motors net auto debt stood at 29,200 crore, down by 24.5% sequentially. The automaker expects to be in a net cash position in the JLR business in FY25. As things stand, investors are factoring in the optimism adequately but continued deleveraging and improving profitability remains crucial. Senior Citizen Fixed Deposits (FDs) are term deposit plans with special interest rates offered to individuals who are over the age of 60. The rate of interest on senior citizen FDs in India varies from bank to bank. Apart from the additional rate of interest, which can be 0.50% more than what is offered to the general public, these fixed deposit accounts also offer a wide range of other benefits to elderly people. Some banks changed their fixed deposit rates in the week ending February 3, 2024. Let's take a look at the FD rates offered by these banks to senior citizens Unity Small Finance Bank FD rates for senior citizens Small finance banks generally offer higher rates than larger banks. At Unity Small Finance Bank, senior citizens can get up to 9.50 per cent on FDs of 1,001 days. The bank revised rates on February 2, 2024. It provides 9.25 per cent to senior citizens for more than six months to 201-day FDs. For 501-day FDs, the bank offers the elderly 9.25 per cent. For 701 days, Unity Bank offers senior citizens 9.45 per cent. Punjab & Sind Bank FD rates for senior citizens The bank revised the rates on February 1. For FDs for 444 days, Punjab & Sind Bank offers 8.10 per cent. These special FDs are valid up to March 31, 2024. These rates were revised on February 2, 2024 Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) FD rates for senior citizens Effective February 1, 2024, Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) offers senior citizens the highest 8.00 per cent on its 444-day FD. Senior citizens can get a maximum of 7.75 per cent on FDs of 400 days. The bank revised rates on February 1, 2024. PNB hiked the rate for 300 days deposits by 80 basis points for general, senior citizens as well as super seniors. These deposits will guarantee a return of 7.55 per cent for senior citizens and 7.85 per cent for super senior citizens. PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK More Information Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Several weeks ago, I contacted my congressional representative, Rep. Bob Good, and encouraged him to support additional military assistance to Ukraine. On Jan. 19, I received a reply from the congressman and his staff. I was impressed by the promptness and the courteous tone of the email. However, it was clear to me that the substance was a canned reply sent to anyone who has questions regarding Ukraine. It started off strongly condemning the Russian invasion, but then immediately pivoted to blaming the Biden administration for, among other things, curtailing Americas energy independence, our poorly executed withdrawal from Afghanistan, supporting woke policies and refusing to defend our borders. While there are many U.S. citizens who are upset about these and other issues, these rants, in my opinion, have nothing to do with U.S. support for Ukraine. (And just for the record, U.S. oil production is at an all-time high and no one produces more than we do.) So, I replied to the congressman and his staff, asking them to avoid the finger-pointing for past events and focus on where we are and where we, as a nation, want to be in the future. I suggested that our leadership, both our executive and legislative branches, need to ensure we have a well-defined Ukraine strategy and that our investment in Ukraine is productive, efficient and effective. Whether we want the role or not (and in my opinion, we should embrace it), we are the worlds 500-pound gorilla. Our diplomatic, information, military and economic capabilities are robust and unparalleled. As a retired Marine, I worked often with our allies militaries. The respect they have for our military and its professionalism and dedication is immense. But they always doubt our political willpower to stay the course. And the congressmans reference to our Afghanistan withdrawal is an excellent example. As a Marine, I could not and cannot guarantee U.S. long-term commitments, but I suggested that he can help do so. A spot-on example of keeping one of our long-term commitments is the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, signed by Ukraine, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S. Ukraine signed, giving up its nuclear arsenal and sending its nuclear warheads to Russia in return for security assurances from the other three signatories. This included the commitment to Ukraine ... to respect the independence and sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine. Russia has completely forsaken its promise but I suggest we will have as well if we leave Ukraine resisting Russias invasion without our financial assistance and advice. If Congress must link its support to Ukraine to concessions by the administration on other issues, I understand. Thats how D.C. should work: sensible compromises that result in win-wins for all. And its worth noting that much of our military assistance goes to the U.S. defense sector to produce the weapon systems and the ammunition. Its unfortunate, but the 118th Congress is on track to be the least functional session ever. My desire is for our legislators to act, to move us forward; the current intransigence is maddening. And while both parties mistakenly take pride in preventing their opponent from declaring victory in any matter, this is not good for the American taxpayer. An I do not compromise approach simply means nothing gets done. We need our legislators to rise above ego, fear and self-doubt and truly do what their higher selves know is right. I ended my email to congressman Good by humbly requesting that he and his fellow representatives, from both parties, collectively work together to find solutions, not only to Ukraine funding but to all the complex issues we face. No one should be beholden to any one person or party. Our allegiance must simply be to promoting the ideals of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I hold and have held many beliefs and opinions. In some cases, I was certain I was right, only to find out somehow, some way, that I was wrong. And Im willing to bet that Im not alone in that. So lets be more open-minded. No one person or party has a monopoly on good ideas. Not even Goods ideas. NEW DELHI : Prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday gave a peek into the primary agenda of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) if it wins a successive third mandate in the upcoming national electionto make India the worlds third-largest economy while accelerating its growth as a developed nation, or Viksit Bharat. Replying to a discussion on the motion of thanks on the Presidents address in the Lok Sabha, the prime minister said the work done by the government in its current term gave him confidence that in the third term of the NDA, India will become the worlds third-largest economy, up from its fifth position now. This is Modis guarantee," he told legislators, citing the speed of work in the country that gave him confidence this target would be reached within the next five-year term if the NDA wins the national election. Hitting out at the previous Congress-led UPA government, Modi said that in the interim budget for 2014, the then finance minister had said India had become the worlds eleventh-largest economy and over the next three decades would become the third-largest economy. This meant that India would become third-largest economy only by 2044. We are confident of achieving this feat in the governments third term itself," Modi said. The prime minister said that the pace of work in the country had reached unprecedented levels. Our third term will be full of big decisionsI had said from the Red Fort and also reiterated at the time of Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha that I want to see the country prosperous and at the pinnacle of success for the next thousand years. The third term will be the time to lay a strong foundation for the next 1,000 years," Modi said. Confident of winning and returning to power, the prime minister estimated that the NDA would win in more than 400 electoral seats, with the BJP winning in at least 370 of those. The prime minister said the NDA governments first term was spent on plugging loopholes of the earlier Congress-led government, while the second term focused on the development agenda. In our third term, the goal of becoming Viksit Bharat will get new speed," he said. Referring to the Presidents address to a joint session of Parliament on 31 January, the prime minister reiterated that the priorities of the government would rest on four key pillarsyouth power, women power, farmers, and the poor. In this regard, he said women are making fruitful contributions in all sectors of the economy, and even in rural India 10 million women in self-help groups had become lakhpati didis. This number would grow to 30 million in the third term, Modi said. The prime minister also highlighted how the government helped the farmers by purchasing food grains worth 18 trillion and pulses and oilseeds worth 1.25 trillion in the past 10 years of the BJP-led government. Under the PM Kisan Samman scheme, the government has provided 2.8 trillion to farmers, and under the Fasal Bima Yojana scheme 1.5 trillion, he said. The prime minister also said the budget for infrastructure had risen to 44 trillion over the past 10 years, from 10-12 trillion in the 10 years prior to 2014, when the first Narendra Modi administration took charge at the Centre. We want India to become a manufacturing, innovation and R&D hub," Modi said. The prime minister called on the Opposition as well to participate in the development of the nation, and help it become a developed nation by 2047. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Corporate Americas diversity initiatives are here to stay, but they are being adjusted in response to lawsuits and intense scrutiny. Businesses are trying to fashion programs that foster inclusion without running afoul of the law and potentially bringing costly consequences, according to lawyers and corporate advisers working on such policies. That means some are abandoning the most legally risky and potentially discriminatory practices, such as numerical targets that can be seen as quotas" or the use of unconscious bias training that casts blame. A less-divisive approach is in at many organizations. After George Floyds murder in 2020, U.S. businesses from sneaker company Nike to Wells Fargo bank rolled out diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as the country took a hard look at racial inequality. But legal pressure following last years Supreme Court decision to strike down affirmative action in college admissions has led to, if not a retreat from DEI programs, a rethink in how to best approach them. Frankly, employers got really comfortable doing some things that were questionable," said Johnny Taylor Jr., an employment lawyer who heads the Society for Human Resource Management, a trade group for human resource executives. I just cringed at some of the pronouncements that were being made." Some well-intentioned CEOs and board leaders made major pronouncements that [for example] one in three of our going-forward hires are going to be people of color or women. And you just cant say that," Taylor said. Taylor said some business leaders he has spoken to have begun wholesale reviews of their organizations DEI policies. Any policy shifts tend to be undertaken quietly, however, because businesses dont want to give plaintiffs lawyers a potential angle to sue by implicitly conceding a past policy might have been illegal, he said. Not surprisingly, theyre not exactly announcing it," he said. Will DEI programs disappear? The programs themselves dont seem to be disappearing. Chief human resource officers dont plan to scale back diversity initiatives, according to 194 executives who participated in a survey released in December by the Conference Board, a nonprofit business research organization. Still, the tone has shifted, said Diana Scott, leader of the Conference Boards U.S. Human Capital Center. Many companies felt pressure to jump on the bandwagon, and I think the pendulum swung way, way, far in one direction," Scott said. Some companies are quietly pulling back from quotas and things that could be perceived as discriminatory." The U.S. Supreme Courts decision last year in the case challenging affirmative action at Harvard University didnt directly touch on employment law, but prodded some businesses to reconsider their practices. The Harvard decision woke up a lot of people," said Natasha Teleanu, a former U.S. Justice Department lawyer who now works at the law firm OMelveny & Myers. Challenges to DEI Shareholder activists, politicians, conservative groups and employees all have repeatedly challenged what they say are illegal practices that some of the countrys most influential corporations have used in the pursuit of diversifying their workforces. In the educational sphere, the Harvard case ended a legal epoch, but there is no single analogous case poised to redefine employment law. Some cases on discrete practices, though, are working through the courts. At a hearing in Miami last week, for example, an appeals court heard arguments on the legality of a program, operated by the philanthropic arm of venture fund Fearless Fund, that awards grants to businesses owned by Black women. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit voted to block the fund from picking new grant winners while it considers the appeal. In a ruling last month, a federal judge refused to throw out a case challenging diversity training at Pennsylvania State University that a professor said vilified white people, though the judge dismissed some claims. Aggrieved white employees are increasingly bringing lawsuits over what some term reverse discrimination," and in some cases winning damages in the tens of millions of dollars. Theyre real," said Melissa Atkins, a partner at the law firm Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel who represents employers. You see more of them now than you have in years past." A federal jury, for example, last year awarded more than $25 million to a white former Starbucks regional manager who oversaw a Philadelphia store where two Black men were arrested in 2018, finding that her subsequent firing was a result of racial discrimination. Starbucks said it remains committed to creating a culture of warmth and belonging, where everyone is welcome." It has set goals of achieving racial and ethnic diversity" of at least 30% at the corporate level and at least 40% in manufacturing and store roles by 2025. The coffee chain also has created a fund that invests in small-business growth in communities with historically limited access to capital." Starbucks declined to comment on what changes it made to its human resources policies, if any, following the lawsuit. Targeting the targets? Fixed numerical targets, sometimes seen as quotas, have drawn particular attention in the new environment, and lawyers say they can potentially open a company up to legal action. Following the Harvard decision, a group of Republican attorneys general last year warned businesses against the use of racial quotas and preferences. A group headed by Stephen Miller, a former senior adviser to former President Trump, also has sued and lodged official challenges targeting dozens of businesses. In the past few months, America First Legal has filed federal complaints over alleged quotas at Nike that it says discriminate against white men, alleged antiwhite racial quotas at toy makers Hasbro and Mattel, and allegedly discriminatory practices at American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. United said it maintains the highest standards for pilot hiring, training and safety, and that it provides no exceptions. American and Mattel declined to comment. The other companies didnt respond to requests for comment. Companies also face challenges from right-leaning groups using the ownership of their shares as a basis to challenge diversity programs. Last year saw a record number of what are known as anti-ESG shareholder proposals, including some challenging employment practices. The abbreviation is short for environmental, social and corporate governance. Scott Shepard, executive director of the Free Enterprise Project at the conservative think tank National Center for Public Policy Research, said his organization is trying to negotiate with a number of companies right now after floating shareholder proposals. NCPPR already has put forward proposals targeting financial services firm Citigroup, snacks and soda company PepsiCo and farm machinery maker John Deere. John Deere declined to comment. Citigroup and PepsiCo didnt respond to requests for comment. Additionally, boards can be sued on the grounds that they failed to curb diversity policies that could in theory open a company up to discrimination lawsuits from white or male employees. Another practice under scrutiny is the use of diversity training programs that bring up hot-button topics such as white supremacy," which some say can foster antagonism. A Canadian antiracism trainer, for example, drew scrutiny after allegedly bullying a white principal who disagreed with the trainers views on systemic racism. The principal sued after allegedly being ostracized by colleagues in the wake of the training and later died by suicide. The company behind that training, Kojo Institute, called the allegations false and said it still believes white supremacy is an important topic to address. We would not go anywhere near training that uses phrases like white supremacy," said Domenique Camacho Moran, a partner at law firm Farrell Fritz who advises companies on employment law. You have to be really careful not to be part of the problem." Despite the frothy legal environment, many advisers feel diversity programs are valuable and can be crafted in a way that insulates the companies from legal challenges. Corporate advisers roundly suggest focusing on the I" of DEIthat is, inclusion. We want everybody to feel like they belong," said Moran. Write to Richard Vanderford at Richard.Vanderford@wsj.com Days after the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) demolished a centuries-old mosque, Masjid Akhoondji, in the Mehrauli area in the national capital, the Delhi High Court on Monday directed the DDA to maintain the status quo on the land. According to the Indian Express, the DDA bulldozed the Akhoondji mosque and the madrasa on January 30. The action was taken as part of a demolition drive to remove illegal structures in Sanjay Van, a reserved forest area in Delhi. Also Read: Hindus wont look at other mosques if Gyanvapi, Kashi, Mathura', Ram Mandir official Removal of the illegal structures, religious in nature, was approved by the Religious Committee, conveyed vide Minutes of Meeting dated 27/01/2024," the English Daily quoted the DDA as saying. Mosque of Akhondji, which was demolished by the DDA also finds its mention in an official account of an Archaeological Survey of India officer. The mosque was listed in the 1922 publication by an ASI officer, reported IE. The 700-year-old mosque was also home to 22 students enrolled in an Islamic boarding school, the caretakers of the mosque told news agency AFP. Before the demolition drive, the DDA did not send any intimation or legal notice to the mosque's managing committee warning them about the action, Mohammad Zaffar, a member of the mosque's managing committee, told AFP. He also said that the demolition was carried out "in the dark of the night". All the graves in the mosque compound were also desecrated, and no one was allowed to take out their belongings and even Quran from inside the mosque before it was razed, Zaffar told AFP. "Many of our revered figures and my ancestors were buried there. There is no trace of the graves now. The rubble from the mosque and the graves has been removed and dumped somewhere else." Zaffar told AFP. Since the DDA action, a heavy police presence has barricaded roads outside the grounds and also refused entry of people to the site. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri Maharaj on Sunday urged the Muslim side to give up the Gyanvapi and Mathura mosques to resolve the dispute over religious sites peacefully. He said that Hindus would not even look at other temples if the Gyanvapi and Krishna Janmabhoomi temples were freed. Speaking at an event in Pune, Maharaj said, We do not even desire to look at the other temples if three temples are freed because we have to live in the future and not in the past." The countrys future should be good and if we get these three temples (Ayodhya, Gyanvapi, and Krishna Janmabhoomi) peacefully we will forget about all other things," he said. He said these three temples are the biggest scars of the attacks done by invaders. If the Muslim side can heal this pain amicably, then it will help in building brotherhood," the treasurer said. The Hindu side claims that after demolishing grand Hindu temples, the Gyanvapi and Mathura mosques were established by the Mughals. Last month, the Hindu litigants claimed according to the ASI survey, the Gyanvapi mosque was built on the remains of a Hindu temple. The Varanasi court last week allowed the Hindu side to offer prayers in the Vyas Ka Tehkhana area inside the Gyanvapi mosque complex from February 1. It is situated adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, while the Mathura mosque is near the Krishna Janmabhoomi temple. Following the court's order, the Masjid Intezamia Committee has filed a revision petition in the Allahabad High Court against its decision to allow Hindus to perform prayers inside the southern celler of the mosque. The mosque has four 'tahkhanas' (cellars) in the basement, of which one is still in the possession of the Vyas family, who used to live there. Vyas had petitioned that, as a hereditary pujari, he be allowed to enter the tahkhana and resume pooja. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! As the elevated areas of the Kashmir valley experienced heavy snowfall, authorities in Kashmir have issued avalanche warnings for hilly areas, urging residents to avoid unnecessary movement in the next 24 hours. Snowfall in the valley led to an increase in minimum temperatures and a decrease in daytime temperatures across most areas. The Meteorological Department forecast suggests an improvement in the weather in Kashmir starting from Tuesday onwards. Also Read: Delhi Weather Update: Flights delay at IGI airport as fog grips national capital. Check IMD forecast here All flights at Srinagar airport were cancelled, and traffic on the crucial 270-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was halted for nearly four hours following a landslide in Jammu's Ramban district around 11:15 am, according to officials. Private carrier IndiGo, in a statement from Mumbai, announced the cancellation of six of its flights - four destined for Srinagar and two for Leh - due to adverse weather conditions. View Full Image A view of the Lal Chowk (Ghanta Ghar) during a snowfall in Srinagar on February 4, 2024. (Waseem Andrabi/HT Photo) (HT_PRINT) The Ramsu-Banihal-Srinagar stretch experienced snowfall, impacting the helicopter service to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Various regions, including Poonch, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Doda, and the upper reaches of Reasi, reported snowfall, leading to a rise in minimum temperatures across the valley. Despite the end of the 40-day harshest winter period, the region continues to experience a cold wave during the 20-day Chilla-i-Khurd (small cold), followed by a 10-day 'Chilla-i-Bachha' (baby cold). View Full Image Improvement in Weather over many parts of J&K. (Photo: metsrinagar/X) The IMD has issued an orange alert for heavy rainfall/snowfall in isolated pockets of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim on February 5th. Meanwhile, in Himachal Pradesh, a total of 475 roads, including five national highways, were shut down for vehicles due to a recent round of snowfall and rainfall. View Full Image Shimla: Tourists play with snow after a fresh snowfall, at Jakhu in Shimla, Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. (PTI Photo) (PTI02_02_2024_000201A) (PTI) The sky remained densely overcast throughout the day, leading to reduced visibility that impacted vehicular traffic. Various regions in the state experienced snowfall, with Kalpa in Kinnaur receiving 5.6 mm of snow, followed by Bharmaur with 5 cm, Gondla with 4.2 cm, Keylong with 3 cm, Khadrala and Kufri with 2 cm each, Kukumseri with 1.6 cm, and Sangla and Pooh with 1 cm each. Also Read: Delhi-NCR wakes up to light rains, IMD predicts thunderstorms for tomorrow: Check full forecast here Uttarakhand experienced intense cold conditions following recent snowfall in the higher regions of the state and rainfall in lower areas on Sunday. Places such as Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Hemkund, Auli, Dehradun's Chakrata, Chaurangikhal, and Nachiketa Tal in Uttarkashi district witnessed snowfall. Additionally, rain occurred in various locations across the state, including Dehradun, on Saturday night. (With inputs from agencies) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate on Monday questioned the inaction of the Enforcement Directorate (EB) against Paytm Payments Banka subsidiary of fintech firm Paytmdespite negative observations by the banking regulator of the country, news agency ANI reported. What is the Centre's stand on the issue? Why did the Paytm Payments Bank get a long rope for the past seven years? The founder of Paytm Payments Bank is a bhakt of PM (Narendra) Modi, gets selfies with him and publishes ads in the PM's favour," the Congress leader told ANI. PM Modi backs Paytm in his election rallies. Why do the agencies stay mum when allegations are levelled against PM Modi's associates? Why is the ED silent?" Shrinate said. The RBI has restricted Paytm Payments Bank and there will be no existence of it after February 29...There are very serious charges levelled by the RBI. The irregularities started in 2017...Why is the CBI silent when the RBI talks about money laundering in this case?" Shrinate asked. The Congress leader's remark came after the fintech firm informed the stock exchanges in a regulatory filing that neither the parent company One97 Communications nor its founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma is facing a probe by the ED. "Neither the Company nor its founder and CEO is 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 the regulatory filing. "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. Meanwhile, a Bloomberg report has claimed that the RBI is considering the cancellation of the operating licence of Paytm Payments Bank as early as next month. The bank regulator could act after the February 29 deadline, after which the Paytm subsidiary cannot accept new deposits. The violations included alleged misuse of customer documentation rules and non-disclosure of material transactions, Bloomberg reported citing sources. The reports alleged that hundreds and thousands of Paytm Payments Bank customers had not submitted their KYC documents and a single document was used to register thousands of customers in some cases. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Phoebe Bridgers secured an early lead at the 66th Grammy Awards by clinching four trophies during the preliminary ceremony, along with her boygenius bandmates who infused a lively atmosphere. As reported by the Associated Press, the initial accolade, presented by host and songwriter Justin Tranter, was the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance Award, won by SZA and Phoebe Bridgers for their collaboration on Ghost in the Machine." Taylor Swift, the pop superstar, achieved yet another milestone in the music industry on Sunday by winning the Grammy Award for Album of the Year for an unprecedented fourth time. This achievement adds to a growing list of honours dominated by women at the Grammy Awards. Coco Jones, a rising star, emerged victorious in the highly competitive category for best R&B performance at the Grammys, claiming the award for her song "ICU." The stiff competition included SZA's "Kill Bill" and Victoria Monet's "How Does It Make You Feel." SZA secured her second win of the evening by taking home the best progressive R&B album award for "S.O.S." Meanwhile, Taylor Swift made a significant announcement during the Grammys on Sunday, using her 13th Grammy win to reveal details about her upcoming album. The new album, titled Tortured Poets Department," is set to be released on April 19, AP reported. View Full Image Taylor Swift accepts the award for Album of the Year for Midnights during the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 4, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Blake (REUTERS) The announcement followed U2 frontman Bono presenting Swift with the award for Best Pop Vocal Album for her album "Midnights." I know that the way that the Recording Academy voted is a direct reflection of the passion of the fans," she said in her speech. So I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that Ive been keeping from you for the last two years which is that my brand new album comes out April 19. Its called The Tortured Poets Department. I'm gonna go and post the cover right now backstage." Grammy Awards on Sunday showcased a triumph for female artists as pop sensation Taylor Swift, R&B artist SZA, and pop singer Miley Cyrus emerged as winners. Women dominated this year's top honours in the music industry, highlighting their significant contributions and achievements. In 2024, the Grammy Awards introduced three new categories, with the first one, Best Pop Dance Recording, presented shortly thereafter. The award went to Kylie Minogue for "Padam Padam," marking her first win in 18 years. Prior to the main broadcast, approximately 80 Grammys were awarded, including the recognition of Regional Mexican star Peso Pluma, who secured his first Grammy for Best Musica Mexicana Album with "Genesis," his debut and sole nomination. Below is a list of recipients in the key categories for the 66th annual Grammy Awards, presented on Sunday in Los Angeles. Album of the Year: "Midnights" - Taylor Swift Record of the Year, recognizing overall performance on a song: "Flowers" - Miley Cyrus Song of the Year, recognizing songwriting: "What Was I Made For?" (From The Motion Picture 'Barbie') - Billie Eilish & Finneas O'Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish) Best New Artist: Victoria Monet Best Pop Vocal Album: "Midnights" - Taylor Swift Best Pop Solo Performance: "Flowers" - Miley Cyrus Best Rock Album: "This Is Why" - Paramore Best Rock Song: "Not Strong Enough" - Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers & Lucy Dacus, songwriters (boygenius) Best Rock Performance: "Not Strong Enough" - boygenius Best Alternative Music Album: "the record" - boygenius Best Rap Album: "Michael" - Killer Mike Best Rap Performance: "Scientists & Engineers" - Killer Mike featuring Andre 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane Best Rap Song: "Scientists & Engineers" - Andre Benjamin, Paul Beauregard, James Blake, Michael Render, Tim Moore and Dion Wilson, songwriters (Killer Mike Featuring Andre 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane) Best Global Music Album: "This Moment" - Shakti Best African Music Performance: "Water" - Tyla Best Music Video: "I'm Only Sleeping" - The Beatles Best Comedy Album: "What's in a Name?" - Dave Chapelle Best Audiobook, Narration and Storytelling Recording: Michelle Obama, "The Light We Carry, Overcoming in Uncertain Times" - Artists with most wins - Phoebe Bridgers - 4 boygenius - 3 SZA - 3 Victoria Monet - 3 Killer Mike - 3 Taylor Swift - 2 Billie Eilish - 2 Miley Cyrus - 2 Meanwhile, during the early part of the afternoon, the song "Barbie" claimed two Grammys in rapid succession, winning in the categories of Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Song Written for Visual Media. Billie Eilish and Finneas made an early appearance in the afternoon to accept the Grammy for Song Written for Visual Media for their ballad "What Was I Made For" from the "Barbie" soundtrack. Also Read: List of Grammy winners 2023 in top categories Dozens of stars began arriving early, with Dua Lipa and Monet among the stunning looks on the arrivals carpet. Michelle Obama secured a Grammy in the category of Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording for her work on "The Light We Carry: Overcoming In Uncertain Times," triumphing over notable contenders such as Meryl Streep, William Shatner, Rick Rubin, and Sen. Bernie Sanders. Interestingly, upon the initial announcement of nominations in this category, some fans expressed surprise that Prince Harry's memoir "Spare" did not receive recognition. Where to watch The main Grammy Awards show is scheduled to be broadcast live on CBS and Paramount, starting at 8 p.m. Eastern. Viewers with Paramount and Showtime subscriptions have the option to watch it both live and on demand. However, for Paramount Essential subscribers, streaming of the ceremony will be available only the following day. The Nominees SZA leads the Grammy nominations with nine, closely followed by Monet and Bridgers with seven each. Bridgers' band, boygenius, has six nominations, matching Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, St. Vincent, Jon Batiste, and producer Jack Antonoff. This year presents historic opportunities: No Black woman has won Album of the Year since 1999, but SZA or Janelle Monae could change that narrative. (With inputs from agencies) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu said on Monday that India and the Maldives have reached an agreement to repatriate the initial contingent of Indian troops stationed in the Maldives before March 10 of this year. According to local media reports, President Muizzu made this statement during his inaugural address at the commencement of the final session of the 19th Parliament, highlighting that discussions are currently underway with India regarding the withdrawal of their troops. According to a report by Sun Online, Muizzu stated that the Indian Army will relocate its military personnel from one of the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by March 10, 2024. He said, The military personnel of the remaining two platforms will leave by May 10." Also Read: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu says no one has license to bully us amid diplomatic row with India Muizzu emphasized that his primary commitment as president was to safeguard the freedom and sovereignty of the Maldivian people. He said that the support of a large majority of the people of Maldives for his government was a pledge to withdraw foreign troops from Maldives, recover the lost part of Maldives seas and cancel any agreement made by the state that could undermine Maldives sovereignty." In his address at the Parliament, Mohamed Muizzu announced that he will establish the ability of the Maldives military to maintain the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) 24 hours a day. Also Read: Maldives opposition parties who criticised Mohamed Muizzu's 'anti-India' pivot, to now boycott his presidential address Furthermore, Maldives-based online news outlet Adhadhu reported that during the inaugural session of the People's Majlis, where Muizzu delivered his first presidential address, only 24 Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Maldives attended. The opposition, consisting of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the Democrats, chose to boycott the session citing concerns about the undemocratic ways of the government." A total of 56 MPs boycotted the opening sitting. This includes 13 MPs from the Democrats and 44 MPs from the MDP. Also Read: India-Maldives row: Why does Maldives want Indian troops out | Explainer Furthermore, the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives was a central focus of Muizzu's party's campaign. Presently, approximately 70 Indian troops, accompanied by a Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, are stationed in the Maldives, ANI reported. Also Read: India-Maldives row: President Muizzu should apologise to PM Modi says Maldivian opposition leader On the second day of his presidency, Muizzu formally requested the Indian government to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives. Muizzu had previously asserted in December of the preceding year that, following discussions with the Indian government, an agreement had been reached for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel. In the latest development, the second meeting of the high-level core group between the Maldives and India occurred last week in New Delhi. Both sides agreed that the Government of India will replace the military personnel in one of the three aviation platforms by 10 March 2024, and will complete replacing military personnel in the other two platforms by 10 May 2024," the Maldives Foreign Ministry stated. Also Read: All is good, Maldives envoy says day after opposition leader urged Prez Muizzu to apologise to PM Modi. Detail here The Maldives has reported that during the second meeting of the high-level core group between the two nations, both sides conducted a thorough review of the existing bilateral cooperation. The focus was on enhancing the partnership in the areas of defence and security cooperation, economic collaboration, and development partnership. An agreement was reached to hold the third meeting of the high-level core group in Male, during the last week of February, on a date mutually acceptable to both parties. Importantly, the MEA in its statement, noted that India and the Maldives have mutually agreed upon practical solutions to facilitate the ongoing operation of Indian aviation platforms, which provide humanitarian and medevac services to the people of the Maldives. Also Read: India to replace military personnel in three aviation platforms in Maldives amid diplomatic row The statement mentioned that the two sides sustained discussions on a broad spectrum of issues concerning bilateral cooperation, with a focus on identifying measures to strengthen the partnership. This includes efforts to expedite the implementation of ongoing development cooperation projects. (With inputs from ANI) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! As the upcoming Pakistan General Elections approach, incidents of explosions and violence have escalated in the country. In recent days, another bomb blast occurred outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office in Balochistan's Nushki District on Sunday. As reported by ARY News, there have been no reported casualties. However, police said that the explosion was triggered outside the gate of the ECP office. Also Read: Homemade bomb sparks blast outside Election Commission office in Karachi ahead of parliamentary polls An investigation is currently underway to determine the nature of the explosion. The police have cordoned off the area, and efforts to apprehend the perpetrators are in progress. This incident follows a blast that occurred last week outside the ECP office in Karachi. Also Read: Pakistan Elections: Nawaz Sharif vows message of peace to India in PML-N manifesto. What else his polls plan include? As per the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), the explosive material was concealed in a shopping bag beside the wall of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) office in Karachi's red zone area. Notably, the SSP highlighted that the explosive substance did not include ball bearings. The Election Commission of Pakistan has taken note of the explosion outside its Karachi office, and it has sought reports from the District Monitoring Officer and SSP South. Also Read: Imran Khan's nomination for 2024 Pakistan national elections rejected by poll body Meanwhile, as many as six people, including Pakistan People's Party (PPP) workers, were injured on Friday in various hand grenade attacks in different towns of Balochistan. Several incidents of violence marred the pre-election atmosphere in Balochistan and Karachi as multiple hand grenade attacks and explosions targeted political entities and election-related offices. Also Read: Pakistan news: Homemade bomb sparks blast outside Election Commission office in Karachi ahead of parliamentary polls In the Mughalsarai area of Kalat town, three workers affiliated with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) were injured when unidentified assailants on a motorcycle attacked the party's election office. The attackers detonated a grenade in close proximity to the building, as reported by Dawn. In Balochistan, six individuals, including PPP workers, suffered injuries in separate hand grenade attacks across different towns. The general elections are scheduled to be held across the four provinces of Pakistan on February 8. (With inputs from ANI) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! (Bloomberg) -- Speaker Mike Johnson vehemently denied that former President Donald Trump is setting the Republican congressional agenda on immigration and US border security. Johnson was asked on NBCs Meet the Press whether Trump who has said Republicans would be making a mistake if they support an emerging bipartisan Senate deal that includes immigration and border security reform is calling the shots. Of course not," Johnson shot back. He is not calling the shots. I am calling the shots for the House. Thats our responsibility." Trumps role came up as the Democratic-led Senate and Republican-controlled House pursue separate tracks in a presidential election year. A bipartisan group of negotiators are expected to present a Senate proposal combining asylum reform and other border measures with aid to US allies including Ukraine as early as Sunday. Johnson on Saturday unveiled a $17.6 billion standalone bill to aid Israel in its war with Hamas, saying thats the most urgent priority. The White House criticized Johnsons move as a political ploy. The speaker again claimed that the lengthy Senate negotiations forced the House into action and said he hasnt been briefed on the more comprehensive Senate package. Weve been awaiting their action," Johnson said Sunday. We cannot wait any longer." House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed the White House in criticizing the Israel-only bill, while saying House Democrats would evaluate it even though it falls short by failing to support Ukraine and doesnt address the USs broken immigration system." The responsible approach is a comprehensive one to address Americas national security priorities," he said on ABCs This Week. Jeffries blamed Johnson and other House Republicans for doing Trumps bidding in calling the Senates bill dead on arrival" without seeing it. White House spokesman Andrew Bates said Sunday that Johnson is flailing to come up with any excuse he can to prevent bipartisan action to secure the border, all while he admits to staying in close touch with the former president about the issue." Sinema Speaks Senator Kyrsten Sinema, an independent from Arizona whos one of the border bills negotiators, laid out key details of proposed measures that she said would restrict so-called economic migrants from entering the US by seeking asylum. Those who dont meet asylum standards in a new, streamlined process would be swiftly returned to their home country," she said on CBSs Face the Nation. Meanwhile, Johnson predicted the Israel aid bill he intends to have the House vote on this week will pass by a wide margin." The time is urgent and we have to take care of that responsibility," he said on NBC. Johnson reiterated the House passed its own GOP-backed border security bill months ago, which he said Democrats in the Senate have ignored. He said its not a matter of embracing the Senates package on immigration or nothing. Read more: House to Vote on Israel Aid Without Ukraine Funds Next Week US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan reiterated that the administration sees Johnsons Israel-only bill as a ploy" and not a serious effort to deal with US national security challenges. That means supporting Israel. It means the war in Ukraine. It means the Indo-Pacific. And it means the border," Sullivan said on This Week. The House bill includes funds for Israels Iron Dome and Iron Beam missile defense systems, funds for US military operations in the Middle East and enhanced protection for US personnel at embassies. It wouldnt lead to offsetting spending cuts, unlike a $14 billion Israel aid bill that passed the House over Democratic objections. Johnson said Saturday that the goal is to get aid to Israel urgently to help its battle with Hamas in the Gaza Strip after the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel. --With assistance from Ellen M. Gilmer. (Updates with White House reaction in 11th paragraph.) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The United States has said this is just the beginning" after a punishing weekend of airstrikes in Iran amid an escalating Middle East conflict. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on CBSs Face the Nation that the strikes on Friday night against 85 targets in Iraq and Syria, designed as retaliation for the killing of three US soldiers, were the beginning, not the end of our response" "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, we will respond and we will respond forcefully", Sullivan added. I would just say that the president (Joe Biden) was clear when he ordered them and when he conducted them that that was the beginning of our response and there will be more steps to come," Sullivan told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union." US carried out major strikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria. US forces also carried out further strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen this weekend. The Houthis, who have said their attacks on global shipping are in response to Israel's war in Gaza, vowed the latest strikes will not go unanswered. In his interviews, Jake Sullivan vehemently rejected a chance to rule out strikes on Iran itself, which would be a major escalation that the US has so far been determined to avoid. Jake Sullivan said the Houthis' activities and the attack on US forces are "distinct but related challenges" that both point back to Iran. US has adopted a multi-tiered" response to the drone attack that killed three US soldiers and wounded more than 40 others last week. The attack brought the worst loss of US military life in the region in nearly three years and the first US military fatalities since the war in Gaza erupted. As UN Security Council prepares to debate the US strikes in Iraq and Syria, Iraqi government, many close to Iran, demanded an end to the presence of US troops in their country, claiming Washington was taking the region to the edge of an abyss". Notably, US and UK's assault on Iraq and Syria was supported by six other countries, including Canada, the Netherlands and Bahrain. However, this third war front, after the Israel-Gaza war, and a second sporadic missile exchange on commercial trade route on Red Sea, US seems to be diving face forward in an escalation of the conflict in West Asia, also popularly known as Middle East", that Washington has desperately tried to avoid, while also providing arms to Israel. Houthis have vowed that they would continue attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea in support of Palestinians in Gaza. However, Tehran has repeatedly said it does not seek conflict. On Friday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said his country will not initiate a war but will respond strongly." On Friday, the US hit 85 targets across seven locations in Iraq and Syria, a significant escalation in tensions between the US and Iran-backed groups attacking American bases across the region in protest of Israels war in Gaza. The US strikes killed at least 16 people in Iraq, including civilians, and injured 25 others, the Iraqi government had said Friday. The attacks hit areas close to the border with Syria and targeted facilities used by Iranian-linked al Hashd al Shabi or Popular Mobilization Units in the Iraqi city of Al-Qaim, Iraqi officials said. The next day, the US and UK conducted strikes on at least 30 Houthi targets in Yemen from air and surface platforms, including fighter jets, with the support of several other countries. (Mint could not independently verify the numbers put on war damage) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! As an amateur photographer, I have long been interested in the interplay of light while making images, especially of the human face. I had long thought that the medium of film, which I used from the 1980s and through the first decade of the 21st century, and the digital sensors I used thereafter were unbiased recorders of light (or the lack thereof) and of colours and their interaction with light. Todays modern camera sensors use a Bayer filter (named after its inventor Bryce Bayer) to register pixels as shades of red, blue or green (bit.ly/3SOJJQk). The combination of colour that each pixel gives off in relation to its neighbouring pixels results in photographs that accurately represent colour. White, which reflects almost all light that falls on it, registers as white, and black, which absorbs a lot light, registers as black. The logarithmic average of the two polar ends of this colour range (black to white) registers as 18% grey, which is the standard used by most photographic light-meters. I have written before about the problems of facial recognition technology, especially with respect to intentional biases (such as perpetrated by Chinas government on its own citizens) as well as unintentional ones that have found their way into it. These problems have proven so intractable that in 2020, three American Big Tech companies announced that they would pull back their facial recognition programmes. Amazon, IBM and Microsoft all said that they would either cancel their initiatives or place holds on police departments using their algorithms to identify people. Many observers had then welcomed it. As the author of an article in Forbes (bit.ly/3UsVugl) said: I dont think we can overstate the importance of IBM, Microsoft and Amazon and their roles in influencing other tech companies to take a stronger stand on human rights and anti-discrimination. Lets hope other tech companies start screening their technology through similar human rights and anti-discrimination glasses and follow their lead." A review of that technology was prompted by a startling set of findings. For instance, in mid-2018, Rekognition, Amazons open application programming interface (API) for facial recognition made news with its results on a test run by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). It test-scanned the faces of all 535 members of US Congress against 25,000 public mug-shots (of arrested people and/or criminals). None of the members of Congress was in that set of photographs, but Amazons system threw up 28 false matches, with obvious implications. At the time, Amazon said that the ACLUs tests were run at its default confidence threshold of 80%, and not at the 95% that it recommends for law enforcement, where false identification can have serious consequences. Such nuanced arguments are passe. Rekognition and others like it were withdrawn for a while. My impression was that these biases were due to faulty data sets fed to facial recognition systems, and in the case of racial discrimination, programmer bias against non-Caucasians. To me, the camera, whether film or digital, was an impartial observer that simply recorded the truth. But I was startled to find recently that I was wrong. Richard Dyer, in a 1997 book, White (Routledge), includes an essay on how the development of films and early photographic techniques used for lighting were contributors to this bias right from the early days of photography. Initially, photographic films were orthochromatic, sensitive to blue and green light but blind to red. This technical limitation meant that lighter skins were rendered in more flattering tones, while darker skins appeared unnaturally dark and lacked detail. The fact that white" skin isnt really white but is a form of pink meant that this (lighter) tone of red was not reproduced faithfully on orthochromatic film. Dyer highlights how these early photographic biases were not merely technical flaws, but were embedded in a socio-cultural context that favoured lighter skin. Early photographers found ways to correct for this, including by using heavy make-up on their human subjects as well as carbon arc lights instead of natural light, which made fair complexions appear whiter." Dyer also attributes a colonial bias to it, with non-Caucasians seen as the other." This was perpetuated by film development processes that catered to Caucasian subjects. Shirley cards," used by photo labs to calibrate skin tones, featured a Caucasian woman to set standards for colour balance and contrast, but it did not account for a diverse range of skin tones. The implication is clear: Photographic technology was developed with a specific demographic slice in mind. Orthochromatic film was in general use from roughly 1873 till about 1906, when panchromatic black-and-white film (which could also register red light) was invented. It took some years before panchromatic films took hold and the partially blind version became a thing of the past in black-and-white photography. The bias crept up again in the 1960s, when colour film came into widespread use but the standards used for its product development were again focused on the skin tone of Caucasian subjects. Dealing with a bias this insidious is no small task. Merely stopping work on facial recognition is not the answer. We need some combination of regulation, data-set cleaning and inclusivity-oriented technological advances to eliminate this bias (hopefully with the help of Artificial Intelligence). Every breath we take holds the potential for life or disease, and as a lung surgeon tracking and treating respiratory diseases, I am a witness to the silent war waged within our bodies on account of the toxic air we breathe. Air pollution is not merely an environmental concern; it is a public health crisis of colossal proportions. Globally, every year it claims at least 7 million lives. To put this number in perspective, 7 million is roughly the Worldometer tally of the entire covid pandemics death toll (though the actual number may be higher). The spectre of pollution looms over every stage of life, with links to diseases ranging from cancer and asthma to heart disease and dementia. Despite its catastrophic toll, 99% of the worlds population resides in areas where air quality exceeds World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. On top of it, the economic costs of air pollution related health impacts are tremendous, amounting to over $8.1 trillion, or 6.1% of global GDP, in 2019. India, with its burgeoning urbanization, is grappling with a dire air quality crisis. Over 80% of our cities bear witness to recurring spells of hazardous air. The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), launched in 2019, strives to combat this menace and had set an ambitious target of reducing PM2.5 pollution by 20-30% by 2024. In 2022, the NCAP aim was extended to 2026, by when its aiming for a 40% reduction in pollution levels from the 2017 levels. However, the battle against air pollution extends beyond governmental initiatives; it requires a collective, conscientious effort by each city, every policymaker and each citizen. As cities evolve, so must our strategies for combating the adverse health effects of pollution. This surge in air pollution demands a paradigm shift in the approach taken by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to safeguard public health. While drawing inspiration from global initiatives, particularly Londons Air Quality Action Plan, the focus should be on tailoring these strategies to suit the unique challenges faced by Indian cities. The first and foremost is the need for accurate data. This would mean calling for city-wide air pollution monitoring infrastructure. Real-time sensor-based technology allows us to capture local nuances, identify pollution hotspots and enable prompt interventions. In addition to the air-quality data, we need health-impact data for any meaningful intervention. This would be in the form of pollution and health vulnerability mapping and information on hotspots that are more prone to poor air quality and its adverse effects. That said, data without a strategy for action is of no use. So, authentic data must be coupled with action: for example, the development of a disease calendar using the environmental and health data that would empower cities to allocate resources optimally and safeguard vulnerable areas in specific months of the year. Communication becomes the lynchpin in this battle. Transparent dissemination of real-time pollution and health data through various channels, from digital billboards and newspapers to social media platforms, fosters public engagement. The information disseminated on air quality should not be restricted to displaying AQI numbers; rather, it should be coupled with clear health advisories that make the numbers relatable to the public without letting a sense of apathy set in. Our air-quality messaging should shift from merely cautioning people against poor air quality to showcasing the benefits of clean air on good days and fostering behavioural changes through public health campaigns, like those against tobacco and covid. Another much neglected and yet important piece of the puzzle is the need to upgrade our health centres for targeted services to ensure adequate care is provided to those who suffer from the adverse health impacts of air pollution. Hospitals and health centres should be prepared to respond to patients whose health is impacted by polluted air, our healthcare workforce should be educated to make sure they factor in the history of exposure to poor air, including levels of household or occupational risk, while diagnosing a disease and prescribing treatment. A remarkable example of this is the recent decision of Great Ormond Street Hospital in London to look at home air pollution when diagnosing illnesses." Hospitals and other health facilities should be at the forefront of monitoring air quality and disseminating evidence-based information to the public. In this aspect, I am proud of the efforts taken by my own department at Medanta, Gurgaon. In 2022, we launched the Medanta Institute of Research and Advocacy for Clean Air and Health (MIRACAH) with the objective of working towards advocacy, training and research on air pollution and health." Our belief is that any health infrastructure must not merely respond, but proactively protect citizens from the health hazards of the air we breathe. Finally, we must address the root cause of poor air quality in our cities, and this means ensuring strict compliance with emission norms, be it for polluting industries, waste management or road vehicles. Importantly, we must avoid propagating false and end-of-pipeline solutions that often yield no results and are a huge burden on the public exchequer. Air pollution is not a technical problem that only needs smokestacks and tailpipes fixed, but a human health problem that needs a different perspective and approach to solutions. The health of our cities hinges on decisive action. Cities must seize this opportunity to democratize data, engage communities and place health at the core of policy planning. As a lung surgeon on the front-lines, I implore our cities to breathe life into these strategies, not just as plans on paper, but as the blueprint for a breathable, vibrant future. The battle against air pollution is not just a policy matter; it is a fight for the very air that sustains our existence. Let us rise to the occasion, recognizing that each breath is a gift and safeguarding the air we share is a matter of collective responsibility. The time for action is now. Jharkhand Assembly will witness crucial floor test on Monday, 5 February, of the ruling alliance led by JMM leader and chief minister Champai Soren . Last week Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren was arrested by Enforcement Directorate in land fraud case, necessitating another senior JMM leader Champai Soren to take over. The Assembly will convene for a two-day session on 5 February. The newly formed Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) in Jharkhand under the leadership of Chief Minister Champai Soren will face the floor test today. Section 144 has been imposed near Jharkhand assembly. A special court in Ranchi allowed former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren to participate in the trust vote in the state assembly on February 5. JMM leader Manoj Pandey said, "I think it is just a formality. The spirit of the opposition is already low seeing the numbers and the unity of the INDIA alliance. The figure can also cross 48. Our party, our alliance is united...Former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren will also be present and will vote during the floor test..." Here are 10 updates to Jharkhand Assembly Floor test -The ruling alliance of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and Lalu Prasad Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had sent off their MLAs to Congress-ruled Telangana to prevent any poaching by Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). -Jharkhand MLAs in the ruling alliance, who left for Hyderabad after the swearing-in, are currently staying at a private resort in the Telangana capital ahead of the floor test in the Assembly. -There have been allegations that some of the MLAs were approached by the BJP, in an attempt at what the Opposition calls Operation Lotus. -The ruling alliance has 47 MLAs in the 81-member house, where the majority mark is 41. Currently 43 MLAs are backing Champai Soren. -The BJP has 25 MLAs and the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) has three. The NCP and a Left party have one each and there are three independent MLAs. -Arrested former Chief Minister Hemant Soren has been allowed to participate in the trust vote. A special court in Ranchi has allowed it despite vehement objections by the Enforcement Directorate. -Amidst the political unrest in the state, triggered by former CM Hemant Soren's arrest by Directorate of Enforcement officials in an alleged land scam case, Champai Soren, a leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha party, took oath as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand at the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi on 2 February -Alongside Champai Soren, Congress' Alamgir Alam and RJD's Satyanand Bhokta also took the oath as ministers in the Jharkhand cabinet. -The ruling MLAs were shipped off to Hyderabad to protect the government ahead of the coming general election. "Our MLAs are united... We have the support of 48 to 50 legislators," state minister Alamgir Alam told reporters on their return from Hyderabad this evening. -Hemant Soren, Jharkhand's youngest chief minister, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in an alleged money laundering case connected to a land scam. The former Chief Minister -- who was questioned on Wednesday morning -- was being evasive, the Central agency had said, and pointed to the seven summons he had evaded. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the Delhi Police's notice to him has no mention of a first information report (FIR). The chief minister said the country would not progress by such theatrics, adding that the Delhi Police was "insulted by its political masters". "...everyone knows which party topples government, breaks up parties," the Delhi chief minister was quoted by PTI as saying. Kejriwal was referring to an incident when the crime branch team arrived at his residence last week. The team had served him a notice to join a probe over his claim that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was trying to poach seven Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs by offering them 25 crore each. ALSO READ| Excise policy case: ED approaches court after Arvind Kejriwal skips five summons "I pity those officers. Young officers join police with a lot of idealism that they will protect women and reduce crime. They never think that they will be made to indulge in theatrics. Is that why they joined the police? The officer must have been feeling bad. This insult was caused by their political bosses," he said. "I found it very weird and felt very sorry for the (Delhi Police) Crime Branch officer (from the Crime Branch team who served notice to Delhi CM). The officials who came yesterday were made to act in front of my house for 5 hours...The Delhi Police was disrespected yesterday by their political masters," said Arvind Kejriwal. On former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren's arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Kejriwal said, Wrongful arrest of a sitting CM is not right, whatever is happening is not good for democracy." Hemant Soren was arrested by the ED in the alleged land scam. He was later sent to five-day ED custody. Soren on Monday challenged the BJP to prove the corruption charges against him, asserting that if the accusations are proved, he will quit politics. Taking part in the confidence motion moved by his successor Champai Soren in the assembly, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president also alleged that the Raj Bhavan was instrumental in his arrest after a "conspiracy" was hatched by the Centre. ARVIND More Information Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Congress leaders issued a sharp rebuttal on Monday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the party had failed in its role as Opposition. The senior BJP leader predicted a landslide victory for the BJP-led alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha contest and told Parliament that opposition parties had lost the courage to contest elections. Modi also attacked the Congress and Rahul Gandhi over several issues and said that former Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru had considered Indians 'lazy' and 'less intelligent'. PM Modi is repeating one speech again and again. I don't understand if he is tired or something has happened. We respect the PM's oratory talent but today it was below form, I think. We were saying that we should not have high expectations because he is giving the same speech...Nehru ji died 60 years back, but he speaks about hin. What has happened to PM Modi? I think he needs fresh energy," countered senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. It's a political speech. He is always attacking Congress, UPA govt and Nehru. He ignored what the common people are facing" asserted Congress MP K Suresh. PM Modi had accused the Congress of failing to trust the capabilities of people in India while considering itself rulers". Addressing the Parliament during debate on the motion of thanks on the President's address, he also claimed that many Opposition politicians had lost the courage to contest elections preferring to change seats or vie for Rajya Sabha candidature. Ek hi product baar-baar launch karne ke chakkar mein, Congress ki dukaan tala lagne ki naubat aa gayi haiCongress had a good opportunity to play a good opposition, but failed in that role. There are other young people in the opposition, but they were not allowed to speak out of fear that it may overshadow a particular person," he added. (With inputs from agencies) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! In Russias coming presidential election, the candidates running against Vladimir Putin are confident of one thing: their certain defeat. I dont dream of beating Putin. Whats the point?" Leonid Slutsky, the leader of Russias Liberal-Democratic Party, or LDPR, said after registering his candidacy in December. Andrei Bogdanov from the Russian Party of Freedom and Justice was more blunt when asked if he can win: Of course not. Do I look like an idiot?" Nearly two years into the invasion of Ukraine, polls show Putin is assured of victory in a vote that will give him six more years at Russias helm and could make him Moscows longest-running leader since Stalin. Billboards promoting his campaign have gone up across Russia and in occupied parts of Ukraine including Mariupol, the city Russian forces pulverized before they seized it in 2022. Putins biggest potential challengers have either fled or are locked up in prison. Criticism of his war in Ukraine is rarely heard. Indeed, his bet that Russia can outlast the Wests support for Ukraine appears to be paying off as political leaders in Europe and the U.S. bicker over aid to Kyiv, while Russias economy steps up production of the arms and ammunition needed to sustain the war. So why do Putins opponents bother to run, and why does he hold the election at all? Its a question of principle," says Tatyana Stanovaya, a Russian political analyst in Paris who maintains contacts with people close to the Kremlin. He wants to reassure himself that people support him and he needs it to show the world that he still benefits from huge social support." Not that the Russian leader opens up the field to just anyone. Over the years, Putin has assembled a political system that squeezes out rivals seen as posing a threat but permitsand at times encouragesa handful of contenders who uphold a facade of fair elections while ultimately backing his line on the issues that the Kremlin cares about most. It took shape after Putin first came to power in 2000, when he set about creating what political-science majors call a power vertical, where different levels of the political hierarchy answer ultimately to him. Key to this was something the Kremlin spin-doctors dubbed managed democracy," a form of governance that maintains elections while doing everything to determine their outcome. For it to work, Putin requires a coterie of Kremlin-approved parties that participate in Russian elections to uphold a veneer of democracy. Some have greater scope to push their own policy ideas, so long as they dont threaten Putins hold on power. Others are entirely subordinate to the state. From Putins point of view this is a healthy, responsible and constructive opposition that understands the rules," said Stanovaya. But they are part of the vertical, and they are not really independent." For years, those groups existed alongside what Russian political analysts call the non-systemic opposition," including the anti-Putin movement spearheaded by Alexei Navalny. When he made a failed bid for the presidency in 2018, Navalny oversaw a Russia-wide network of political offices that organized street protests and nurtured local politicians who sometimes won unlikely victories. By late 2021, months before Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, this actual opposition had been decimated, with its members fleeing a sweeping political crackdown. Navalny, Putins main political rival and critic, was convicted on what he says were trumped up charges and is now serving a 19-year sentence in an Arctic prison colony. His aides and acolytes are living in exile as they seek in vain to influence events inside Russia from abroad, squabbling with other opposition factions and unable to unite as a single political force. These are not elections," Leonid Volkov, a top aide to Navalny now based in Europe, said about the coming vote. Theyre Putins public relations show." He described the candidates allowed to run against Putin as sparring partners tasked with getting the smallest percentage of votes." Even the authorized opposition appears to be confused about what it is supposed to be doing. Candidates fielded by the main Kremlin-approved parties have publicly stated they wont criticize Putin. One says there is no point registering candidates to oppose him. Another issued a statement in Putins support and backed out of the race. After an independent candidate, former journalist Yekaterina Duntsova, was in late December banned from running in the elections because of what the electoral commission said were procedural flaws, she appealed to one of the permitted parties, Yabloko, to run as its candidate. Yabloko leader Grigory Yavlinsky rebuffed her, saying in a radio interview that there was no point. Yavlinsky is a veteran politician who helped oversee Russias transition to a market economy in the 1990s and contested the presidential election on three occasions. In the 2018 vote, he was skeptical of his chances but said he ran to show people that real political competition is possible. Yes, politics was on the decline, it was subdued. But there was an opportunity to say important things," he said in a phone interview. That option is now gone, and it wont come back." Despite their tightly managed nature, analysts say elections are important to Putin as a way to legitimize his continued rule. He can use the result he garners as evidence that he retains popular backing in Russia, wielding it against potential rivals and citing it at international summits. And for many of the Potemkin candidates, taking part is a way to make a name for themselves. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a firebrand nationalist who in 1992 founded the right-wing LDPR and led it until his death in April 2022, contested six presidential elections and earned himself a reputation as a foil for Putin. Socialite and TV presenter Ksenia Sobchak ran against Putin in the 2018 vote while defending his reputation and calling on Russians not to demonize" him. On the campaign trail she described the election as fake" and came in fourth amid widespread accusations that she was a Kremlin plant. But some approved candidates have given Putin a run for their money. In 2018, farming tycoon Pavel Grudinin amassed so much grassroots support after his nomination by the Communist Party that the authorities moved to rein him in with a propaganda campaign on state TV and online aimed at discrediting him. His ratings plummeted. Putin won with 77.5% of the vote. Grudinin came in second with 11.9%, and Sobchak got less than 2%. In an echo of Grudinins campaign, Russians have in recent days lined up in the cold to leave signatures for antiwar candidate Boris Nadezhdin, whose surname roughly translates to Man of Hope." Analysts say that at a time when criticizing the military or speaking out against the invasion of Ukraine can easily lead to jail time, an endorsement of Nadezhdin is the closest thing to protesting the war. But Stanovaya says that wartime conditions and Putins secure hold on power have diminished the Kremlins appetite for risk. Few expect Nadezhdin, who has long been in the states good graces with appearances on television talk-shows where he plays the token liberal, to be allowed onto the ballot. Election officials have questioned the legitimacy of his support, and after he submitted his signatures on Thursday, state TV aired multiple reports sowing doubts about their validity Even before she was barred from contesting the vote in December, Duntsova carefully hedged her words. She now says protests are pointless, wont comment on Navalny, and says she doesnt see herself as part of the opposition. She says those approved to run against Putin are well aware that they are pawns in a game. They used to at least say they want to win, now they dont even talk about it," she said. They understand theyre part of the system." Slutsky, the current LDPR leader, is at least attempting to campaign. Last week, he launched a fleet of LDPR-branded buses to fan out across the country and answered voters questions about his platform. Slutsky is probably on safe ground, though. Calling for a swift victory in Ukraine, he may even be more supportive of the war than Putins United Russia party. After his nomination in December, he tied himself in knots explaining his candidacy. I dont call on people to vote against Putin," he told reporters that month. The president will win by the largest ever margin." Write to Matthew Luxmoore at matthew.luxmoore@wsj.com Four years ago, the U.S. launched a drone strike to kill the man who headed up Irans covert paramilitary operations. Qassem Soleimani had an almost cultlike following as the Middle Easts perhaps most recognizable military commander, and had placed his Quds Force atop a web of regional militias that over two decades had extended Iran military influence across the Arab world. His funeral procession drew such huge crowds that more than 50 people were killed in a stampede. The man who succeeded him is very different, an unassuming backroom dealer who now faces a difficult new taskusing this patchwork of armed groups to expand Irans footprint without provoking a devastating reprisal from the U.S. Since taking over the Quds Force, Brig. Gen. Esmail Qaani has quietly worked to consolidate the various militias working under Irans direction from Baghdad to the Red Sea, where they have created what the U.S. government calls the most volatile situation in the Middle East in decades. From the Houthi rebel movement in Yemen to Shia paramilitaries in Syria and Iraq, Qaanis militia clients have the potential to inflame a cascading series of conflicts triggered by Hamass Oct. 7 attack, and draw the U.S. further into the morass by targeting American bases, such as the drone strike that killed three U.S. soldiers in Jordan more than a week ago. When the U.S. responded with strikes on Iran-backed militias across Syria and Iraq at the weekend, it was a message directed squarely at Qaani: Back off. Whether Qaani will be able to put a lid on the militias, freshly galvanized by Israels war in Gaza and stung by the American attacks, is perhaps the greatest source of uncertainty across the region. The U.S.s killing of Soleimani was a specific attempt to dislocate the chain of command running from Tehran to its armed allies operating from Syria and Iraq to Yemen, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. But it didnt degrade their ability to upend the region; it just made them more freewheeling, disrupting shipping in the Red Sea, attacking Israel and posing a growing threat to American forces. If the aim was to diminish Irans control of these groups, the United States achieved that. Thats where the problem comes from," said Hamidreza Azizi, visiting fellow and expert on Irans regional policies at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, or SWP. Indeed, the Quds Force commander has spent weeks since Hamass attack on Israel shuttling between the militias to tell them to make sure their attacks against Israel and U.S. bases arent so severe that they end up triggering a broader regional war, according to a Western security official, a senior Lebanese official and an adviser to Irans Revolutionary Guard. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned last week that weve not seen a situation as dangerous as the one were facing now across the region since at least 1973, and arguably even before that," referring to the year of the Yom Kippur War. Soleimani had been instrumental in arming and training Irans alliance of nonstate actors. He was arguably the regions most recognizable commander, with an almost mythical aura among his followers and a public image cultivated by the Iranian leadership as evidence of its growing influence in the Middle East. Soleimani was thought about as a once-in-a-lifetime figure, a generational player. They dont come down the pike so often," said Ray Takeyh, an expert on Irans Revolutionary Guard with the Council on Foreign Relations, an American think tank. Qaani is a more understated figure." Born in the late 1950s, Qaani has revealed few biographical details to the public. A bureaucrat, he spent much of his career overseeing Irans interests in Afghanistan and spoke little to no Arabic. Unlike other senior figures in Tehran, he doesnt appear to have played an active role in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, joining the Revolutionary Guard, formed to defend the new rulers, a full year later, in 1980. He befriended Soleimani in the early 1980s on the southern front during Irans war with Iraq, and later said the fighting forged a deep friendship between them. We are all war kids," he said in a 2015 interview, cited by Ali Alfoneh, an expert on the Revolutionary Guard. Those who become friends at times of hardship have deeper and more lasting relations than those who become friends just because they are neighborhood friends." In the 1990s, following the war, Qaani rose in the ranks and as deputy chief of the Guards ground forces turned his attention to Afghanistan, where he fought drug smugglers and later supported the anti-Taliban Northern Alliance, which worked with the U.S. to topple the Taliban in 2001. When Soleimani mobilized tens of thousands of fighters to defend the Syrian government against Islamic State forces during the civil war there, Qaani helped recruit Afghan Shiites to join their ranks. As the wars in Iraq and Syria waned, the role of Irans militia network changed. Many became part of the political fabricin Lebanon, where Hezbollah is both a political party and viewed as a deterrent against attacks from Israel, and in Yemen, where the Houthis have captured the capital and are viewed as the de facto government. In Iraq, the militias integrated deeper into the countrys political and security system, gaining power to influence national politics, while remaining outside state control. Receiving funding and arms from Iran, the groups all operated within an overall framework established by Tehran, but with the autonomy to pursue their own domestic agendas. The groups growing self-sufficiency relieved Tehran of some of the economic burden of financing them, but also lessened its ability to restrain them. This is a problem for Iran. Whereas Soleimani used his charisma to mobilize what he called the axis of resistance," Qaani has sought to tie Irans disparate allies closer together at an operational level, Takeyh said. And that requires more of a backroom conversation than a cult of personality like Soleimani," he said. Arash Azizi, a historian at Clemson University, S.C., and the author of a biography on Soleimani, said that is especially true for the Iraqi militias, perhaps the most volatile of all the pieces in the Quds Force network. Soleimani had built a relationship with them over the years and was respected by them tremendously," he said. Qaani lacks the charisma and history of relationship with these Iraqi and other Arab groupsAs a result, Qaani struggles much more in keeping the Iraqi groups in check and in line with the broader axis. Same problem exists in relation to Houthis who are more independent-minded." With the Middle East on the brink of what could be a broader conflict, Qaani and other Iranian officials are working to ensure that their militias dont provoke further attacks. After the drone strike in Jordan, Iranian officials traveled to Iraq to tell its allies there that the attack had crossed a line by killing American troops, according to a senior adviser to the Iranian government who participated in the meetings. U.S. officials say they have yet to see evidence that Iran ordered the attack, and Iran wouldnt gain anything from killing American troops, Azizi of SWP said. The aim since October 7 has been to keep the other fronts busy to provide some breathing space for Hamas, but without inviting broader conflict or a U.S. attack," he said. It doesnt fit into the Iranian pattern of escalation, and wouldnt serve any of Irans strategic aims at the moment." The question now is whether the militias will listen. Costas Paris contributed to this article. Write to Sune Engel Rasmussen at sune.rasmussen@wsj.com This Valentine's Day, gift your partner an unmatched sound experience with ease of use. Wireless neckband earphones not only bring a sense of ease but also offer a long battery backup. If you are online looking for a wireless neckband earphones under 2000 to gift then this guide will help you pick one with cutting-edge features. You can carry them on your neck, unlike TWS earphones which you have to pull out every time from the case when you want to use them. The connection is also stronger because both ears are connected to the same Bluetooth chip. It offers tactile feedback when you want to control music or change volume, unlike the unreliable touch controls on TWS earphones. There are a bunch of things that you should know before opting for the earphones that you want to gift someone you love this Valentine's Day. The pros, cons and detailed specifications are mentioned for the products to help you. We also created a compact guide to help you make a smart decision. 1. pTron Tangentbeat in-Ear Bluetooth Wireless Headphones The pTron Tangentbeat offer a seamless Bluetooth experience with punchy bass, 10mm drivers, and clear calls. Features include 10-hour playback, magnetic buds, dual pairing, fast charging, and IPX4 water resistance. The ergonomic design ensures a secure fit, and the flexible band provides comfort. With Bluetooth 5.0, fast pairing, and a 10m wireless range, these earphones deliver stereo audio with deep bass. The 10mm dynamic driver ensures exquisite sound details. Additional highlights include voice assistance support, sweat resistance, and multi-function controls. The package includes soft silicone ear tips and a 1-year warranty on manufacturing defects. Specifications of pTron Tangentbeat Brand: pTron Driver size: 10mm Playtime: 10 hours Features: Punchy Bass, 10mm Drivers Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Punchy bass No active noise cancellation 10mm drivers for rich sound Also read: 8 best earbuds under 1,500: Choose from top offerings 2. boAt Rockerz 245 V2 Pro The boAt Rockerz 245 V2 Pro offer up to 30 hours of playtime, delivering a comfortable audio experience. With boAt Signature Sound and 10 mm drivers, they provide rich bass and high treble. Dual pairing allows seamless switching between devices, while BEAST Mode ensures lag-free gaming with a low latency of 60 ms. ENx Technology enhances call clarity in any environment. Bluetooth v5.2 connectivity extends up to 10 m, and fast charging adds 10 hours of playtime with just a 10-minute charge. Specifications of boAt Rockerz 245 V2 Pro Brand: boAt Driver size: 10 mm Playtime: Up to 30 hours Features: Dual Device Pairing, BEAST Mode, ENx Technology, Bluetooth v5.2, ASAP Charge Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Long 30-hour Playtime None Powerful boAt Signature Sound 3. OnePlus Bullets Z2 Bluetooth Wireless in-Ear Earphones OnePlus is a well-known brand for smartphones and its accessories. The Bullets Z2 are wireless neckband earphones with impressive features. A quick 10-minute charge provides 20 hours of audio playback, while the flagship-level battery offers a total of 30 hours on a single charge. The 12.4 mm bass driver ensures deep, powerful beats with titanium coating for rich audio detail. Anti-distortion technology maintains smooth audio playtime, and the IP55-rated design makes them water and sweat-resistant, suitable for all weather conditions. Specifications of OnePlus Bullets Z2 Brand: OnePlus Driver size: 12.4 mm Playtime: Up to 30 hours Features: Quick 10-minute charge for 20 hours of playback, Bombastic Bass with titanium coating Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Impressive 30-hour battery life A bit expensive Quick 10-minute charge for 20 hours playback 4. Portronics Harmonics Z7 Portronics Harmonics Z7 offers 40 hours of playback with 10mm dynamic drivers. Its large drivers are built to provide powerful bass and clear details. Featuring Bluetooth 5.3 for quick pairing, it supports voice assistants, gaming, and music modes. With IPX4 water resistance, it withstands splashes and sweat during all your workouts. Type-C charging ensures the convenience of charging them with your smartphone's charger. Specifications of Portronics Harmonics Z7 Brand: Portronics Driver size: 10mm Playtime: 40 hours Features: Powerful Bass, Voice-Enabled Interface Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid 40 hours playback None Powerful bass 5. Boult Audio FXCharge Boult Audio FXCharge Wireless Neckband Earphones offer a 32-hour playtime, 5-minute fast charging, and dual pairing for multitasking. With 14.2mm drivers, it provides rich bass and immersive audio. The Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) ensures clear calls, while the comfortable design and inline controls enhance user experience. Bluetooth 5.2 ensures seamless connectivity, and voice assistance adds convenience. Designed in India, it combines style with advanced features for an uninterrupted audio experience. Specifications of Boult Audio FXCharge Brand: Boult Audio Driver size: 14.2mm Playtime: 32 hours Features: Fast charging, Dual pairing Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid 32-hour playtime None Fast 5-minute charging 6. Infinity JBL Glide N120 The Infinity - JBL Glide N120 wireless neckband earphones deliver an immersive audio experience with deep bass and dual equalizer settings. Featuring 12mm drivers and a premium metal design, these earphones ensure a comfortable fit with a flexible neckband. With Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and IPX5 sweatproof rating, they offer convenience for on-the-go use. Enjoy up to 7 hours of music playtime under optimal audio settings, making them a reliable choice for extended listening sessions. Specifications of Infinity JBL Glide N120 Brand: Infinity - JBL Driver size: 12mm Playtime: 7 hours Features: Dual Equaliser, Premium Metal Earbuds Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Deep Bass None Dual Equalizer 7. Sony WI-C100 The Sony WI-C100 wireless headphones offer a customizable equalizer for deep bass, supported by the Headphones Connect app. With a long battery life of up to 25 hours and a quick 10-minute charge providing 60 minutes of playback, they ensure uninterrupted music enjoyment. The headphones feature DSEE technology for restoring high-frequency sounds, a built-in mic for clear hands-free calls, and easy operation with dedicated buttons. The splash-proof design with an IPX4 rating makes them suitable for various activities. The well-balanced neckband ensures a secure fit, and Fast Pairing and 360 Reality Audio add to the immersive experience. Specifications of Sony WI-C100 Brand: Sony Driver size: Not specified Playtime: Up to 25 hours Features: Customizable equalizer, Headphones Connect app support Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Customizable equalizer Only wired headband Long battery life 8. JBL Tune 215BT The JBL Tune 215BT wireless neckband earphones offer a comfortable fit with 16 hours of playtime and quick charging. The 12.5mm dynamic drivers deliver a balanced sound experience without overwhelming bass. Featuring Bluetooth 5.0, dual pairing, and voice assistant support, these earphones provide seamless connectivity. The ergonomic design and three-button remote offer convenience, while the tangle-free flat cable ensures comfortable wear. With a quick 10-minute charge providing one hour of playtime, these earphones prioritize efficiency. Specifications of JBL Tune 215BT Brand: JBL Driver size: 12.5mm Dynamic Drivers Playtime: 16 hours Features: Bluetooth 5.0, Quick Charge Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid 16 hours of playtime No ANC Quick 10-min charge Also read: Valentine's Day gift ideas: Make audiophiles happy with 7 best earphones 9. boAt Rockerz 255 Pro+ Another amazing wireless neckband earphone from the Indian brand Boat with premium features. It offers an impressive 60-hour playback time and quick ASAP Charge for 10 hours of audio in just 10 minutes. With 10mm drivers, it delivers boAt's signature sound. Perfect for outdoor use with an IPX7 rating, it features integrated controls, dual pairing, magnetic earbuds, and voice assistant support. Advanced Bluetooth v5.2 ensures a seamless wireless experience. Specifications of boAt Rockerz 255 Pro+ Brand: boAt Driver size: 10mm Playtime: Up to 60 hours Features: ASAP Charge, IPX7 rating Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Impressive 60-hour playback None Quick ASAP Charge 10. MadRabbit Fly Wireless Bluetooth Earphone MadRabbit Fly Wireless Bluetooth Earphones provide a sporty and comfortable audio experience with a semi-in-ear design, 14.2mm ultra-clear sound driver, and dual pairing capability. The matte-finished neckband is lightweight and water-resistant (IPX5), making it suitable for various activities. Enjoy up to 20 hours of music playback with a 1.5-hour charging time. The magnetic buds add convenience, and the device boasts ideal call quality. Specifications of MadRabbit Fly Wireless Bluetooth Earphones Brand: MadRabbit Driver size: 14.2mm Playtime: Up to 20 hours Features: Semi in-ear design, dual pairing Reasons to buy Reasons to avoid Sporty and unique design Semi-in-ear design may not suit everyone Ultra-clear sound with deep bass Top 3 features for you Product Name Drivers Playtime Features pTron Tangentbeat 10mm 10 hours Punchy Bass, 10mm Drivers boAt Rockerz 245 V2 Pro 10mm Up to 30 hours Dual Device Pairing, BEAST Mode, ENx Technology, Bluetooth v5.2, ASAP Charge OnePlus Bullets Z2 12.4mm Up to 30 hours Quick 10-minute charge for 20 hours of playback, Bombastic Bass with titanium coating Portronics Harmonics Z7 10mm 40 hours Powerful Bass, Voice-Enabled Interface Boult Audio FXCharge 14.2mm 32 hours Fast charging, Dual pairing Infinity JBL Glide N120 12mm 7 hours Dual Equaliser, Premium Metal Earbuds Sony WI-C100 Not specified Up to 25 hours Customizable equalizer, Headphones Connect app support JBL Tune 215BT 12.5mm Dynamic Drivers 16 hours Bluetooth 5.0, Quick Charge boAt Rockerz 255 Pro+ 10mm Up to 60 hours ASAP Charge, IPX7 rating MadRabbit Fly Wireless Bluetooth Earphones 14.2mm Up to 20 hours Semi in-ear design, dual pairing Best value for money The boAt Rockerz 245 V2 Pro stands out as the best value for money, offering an impressive blend of features like dual device pairing, extended playtime, advanced ENx technology, and ASAP Charge. Its competitive pricing makes it an excellent choice for those seeking quality and functionality without breaking the bank. Best overall product The boAt Rockerz 255 Pro+ emerges as the best overall product, boasting an exceptional 60-hour playtime, ASAP Charge for quick refuelling, and an IPX7 rating for water resistance. Its blend of longevity, functionality, and durability makes it a top pick for users looking for a reliable and versatile neckband earphone. How to find the best neckband earphones for a Valentine's Day gift? When selecting neckband earphones as a Valentine's Day gift, consider factors such as the recipient's music preferences, lifestyle, and comfort preferences. Opt for earphones with features like quick charging for convenience, long battery life for extended use, and Bluetooth connectivity for wireless freedom. Look for brands known for audio quality and durability. Consider special features like customizable equalizers or dual pairing options for added versatility. Reading user reviews can provide insights into real-world performance and satisfaction. Lastly, choose a design and colour that complements the recipient's style. A thoughtful and functional gift that aligns with their interests will make for a memorable Valentine's Day surprise. FAQs Question : Can neckband earphones be used during workouts? Ans : Yes, many neckband earphones come with features like water resistance and secure fit, making them suitable for workouts. Question : How does quick charging in neckband earphones work? Ans : Quick charging allows earphones to charge rapidly, providing a shorter downtime for users. This is especially handy for users on the go. Question : Are all neckband earphones compatible with voice assistants? Ans : Not all, but many neckband earphones offer voice-enabled interfaces, allowing users to access voice assistants like Siri or Google Assistant. Question : What is the significance of dual pairing in neckband earphones? Ans : Dual pairing enables the earphones to connect with two devices simultaneously, offering convenience for users who switch between devices frequently. Question : Are neckband earphones suitable for making calls? Ans : Yes, neckband earphones often come with built-in microphones and noise-canceling features, making them suitable for clear and hands-free calls. Disclaimer: At Livemint, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Mint has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act of 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The interim union budget for FY25 announced the setting-up of a 1 trillion-corpus to fund deep-tech ventures. This gives Indias nascent deep-tech sectors a shot in the arm. However, there will be challenges. Mint explains why the corpus is significant. Why does deep-tech need govt support? Deep-tech includes sectors that are heavily driven by engineering, research and development, and innovation. This niche area covers technologies that are yet to go mainstream. Innovation of this nature requires sizeable funds, as deep-tech has a long development phase before hitting the markets. The technologies are also of national significance, because of which developed economies invest heavily in order to not be reliant on other nations. While venture capital investments are important, the massive amounts needed make government funding key to developing foundational and fundamental deep-tech industries. Which sectors are likely to benefit? Semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and high-tech manufacturing. Globally, other sectors that get clubbed under deep-tech include aviation, climate-tech, mobility, biotics and space. Indias startup economy is the target for this fund, since domestic VCs largely offer early-stage funding that is made available in small ticket sizes. After the budget, union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the Centre will focus on certain strategic sectors to begin with, before other deep-tech sectors also get access to funds. However, the priority sectors for the Centre have not been disclosed yet. How will the fund be made available? The framework will be released in the coming days. Following this, select sectors will be chosen for funding. Sectors such as semiconductor development and quantum communications, which are of significant geopolitical importance, are likely to be prioritized. Other sectors will then go through a proposal-based framework of application for government funding. How large is the Indian fund? The 1 trillion ($12 billion) corpus is significant, but not the largest globally. In November, the European Innovation Council said in the past year it offered 1 billion (around 9,000 crore) to deep-tech ventures. The US is aheadeven without a deep-tech fund. Goldman Sachs pegs R&D spending on frontier technologies at over $120 billion annually as of 2019. Data from Chinas finance ministry shows funding of a massive $273 billion in 2022 alone for deep-tech ventures. Is this fund enough for deep-tech to grow? Industry veterans believe the corpus is sizeable, and should be good to boost development of foundational AI models, semiconductor design, quantum communications and security, space solutions etc. However, much will hinge on how the fund is made accessible. Deep-tech startups face the biggest challenge in scaling upthe Centre can help become a customer through public-sector enterprises. The fine print will determine if the corpus would significantly impact Indias global position in deep-tech. The chief said detectives spoke briefly to Russell once and they want to interview her again. A Longford couple, Nicola Donlon and her partner Nathan Hanlon, are undertaking a skydive to raise funds for Diabetes Ireland. At the age of three, and just before Christmas 2022, their daughter Sasha was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and they organised the fundraiser as a way of giving back a little after the care and support they received. Nicola explained, For our 30th birthdays, myself and Nathan decided to do something a little different to mark it. The care and support that was set in place for Sasha from day one was absolutely mind blowing, so we thought we'd try to raise some funds and give back a little. We've decided to do a tandem skydive, and the jump is happening on February 5, weather depending. Diabetes Ireland is a national charity dedicated to helping people with diabetes and Nicola remarked, We'd love it if people could share and donate to our fundraiser. You know every little bit helps. You can donate HERE Gaelscoil Longfoirt, where Sasha is in Naionain Bheag, are also doing a La Gorm fundraiser on Friday, February 9. Telecom Egypt and Budapest-based telecoms/IT group 4iG have formally established a joint venture to build their proposed express subsea cable between Albania and Egypt. On Thursday, the two companies signed an agreement on the terms of cooperation for the construction of the cable, which aims to create a high capacity, intercontinental connection linking Africa and Asia (through the Red Sea) to Europe, via Egypt, the Mediterranean, and Albania. This follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Telecom Egypt and 4iG last October. The initial configuration of the subsea cable will include a branch to Italy, with the option to extend the cable to Mediterranean destinations such as Libya, Cyprus, and Greece. Both ends of the cable will be designed with an open point-of-presence concept, which means the Egyptian end will provide access to various subsea cables running southeast via the Red Sea to Asia and Africa, as well as over ten terrestrial trans-Egypt routes connecting the Mediterranean cable segment to other cable extension options in the Red Sea. On Albanias end, the system will provide the shortest path to Frankfurt, as well as other international traffic destinations in Eastern and Central Europe and the Balkans, including Sofia, Vienna and Budapest. As we previously reported, the Albania-Egypt system will leverage open and neutral ecosystem WeConnect as an enabler, ensuring seamless cross-connection with multiple subsea systems and offering customers robust connectivity solutions and access to Egypts infrastructure. 4iG Group chairman Gellert Jaszai said the agreement will enable the company to accelerate its growth and competitiveness in international markets. Our strong market presence in Albania gives us the opportunity to make the additional onshore investments necessary for the success of the project and to open a new data gateway to Europe in cooperation with Telecom Egypt, he said. Mohamed Nasr, MD and CEO at Telecom Egypt, said the new cable will add more diversity to its Mediterranean network and cater to the booming growth in international data traffic coming from Asia and Africa to Europe. Egypts Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Amr Talaat, who witnessed the signing, said the most important feature of JV is that it comes within the framework of the Egyptian governments strategy to target the Eastern Europe region to enhance business continuity and future expansion. Egypt is keen to expand its international digital infrastructure, especially given that more than 90% of the international data traffic between the East and the West passes through the country thanks to its distinguished geographical location - with 14 international subsea cables currently in service, he said is a statement. Work is underway to establish another five international subsea cables through international alliances. Leading real estate agency DNG is now offering 500 transition year students the unique chance to experience the exciting world of Irish real estate through its Transition Year Work Programme. Registration for the interactive online work experience TY programme is now open to aspiring young real estate agents from Longford, with DNG set to deliver the programme from February 21t 23. Through a series of interactive exercises, the programme will provide students with a first-hand understanding of working in the Irish property sector. They will experience a day in the life of working as an estate agent, selling property through auctions and 3rd level college and apprenticeship presentations. Since introducing its online TY programme in 2021, the number of students participating has grown year-on-year, with DNG now having delivered the programme to 1,400 students. Commenting on the programme, Niamh Comber, Head of Franchising at DNG said: Securing meaningful work experience can be a source of stress for both TY students and their parents. Now in its fourth year, our virtual TY programme approach lets us accommodate 500 TY students across Ireland, giving them the opportunity to explore the world of Irish real estate and potentially spark a career path. DNGs Transition Year Work Programme coordinator Jennie McDonnell added: We were thrilled to welcome students from 24 counties to our TY programme last year, and we would encourage all TY students to consider participating in this enriching experience this year. The virtual format makes it accessible to students from all corners of the country, regardless of their location." TY students, parents, and teachers can find further information about DNG's TY programme and register for participation at https://ty.dng.ie/ Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board have called for more Deputy Principals to tackle the problems of disadvantage in the educations system. Principals and Deputy Principals from across Irelands Education & Training Boards (ETBs) made the call at a national conference held this week. The author of the autobiographical account of her life growing up, Poor, Dr Katriona OSullivan addressed the conference. Over 300 delegates attended the event that took place in Portlaois. Dr OSullivan, who is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science in Maynooth University, challenged those in attendance to expect and support excellence from all their students. Education is all about relationships, Dr OSullivan told the ETB Principals and Deputy Principals, and relationships require time and space. The allocation of more Deputy Principals can transform a school, freeing up school leaders to support students and teachers develop relationships where talent can shine. Paddy Lavelle, General Secretary of Education and Training Boards Ireland agrees: ETBs have the highest proportion of DEIS post-primary schools in the country, 129 in total, and their young people need and deserve adequate supports. The representatives said: The Deputy Principal role is a crucial one: the high administrative burden placed on Principals means the Deputy Principal is, typically, the staff-member available to identify challenges or risks for the student body or individual students; to provide support to students experiencing difficulties; to keep a watching eye on at-risk students and to liaise with other support services to ensure all students get the care and attention they need. Mr Lavelle used the opportunity to make the case for increasing the number of Deputy Principals: We are appealing to the Department to increase the allocation by between .5 and 1 Deputy Principal per school, depending on its size* and believe this will make a significant impact on outcomes for our learners, some of whom are the most vulnerable young people in Irish society. From the feedback weve received from our Principals, this increase will help relieve the administrative burden and free them up for a greater focus on Teaching and Learning, providing increased support for student support and wellbeing, and professional support for their teachers. This years ETBI Principals and Deputy Principals Conference was also addressed by Dr Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children and Prof Selina McCoy, Associate Research Professor ESRI. Delegates also attended workshops on meeting the challenges of vaping, hidden bullying and the new Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curriculum. Minister Peter Burke raised the issue of pay and conditions of Tutors in the Longford Westmeath Education Training Boards with the Minister for Higher Education, Minster Simon Harris recently: I am glad that plans are advanced at regularising the terms and conditions of tutors that do such valuable work in our education sector and that a proposal to standardised the payscale and align it with the Youthreach Resource Person Scale is being considered. Minister Burke said: We need to be able to attract and retain staff in the Adult Education sector and improving the pay and conditions and allowing for an incremental progression on a career path will be a useful aid to reaching this goal. I welcome the progress to date with the Department of Education, the Department of Higher Education and the unions agreeing in principle to the proposals and await final sign off from Department of Public Enterprise, he said. Minister burke concluded by saying: There will be flexibility offered to tutors to opt for the new Adult Educator pay scale or to remain on their existing arrangement. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: February 05 2024 Floyd McNeil shot and killed a 21-year-old man and shot another victim in a Freeport park; will serve a total of 50 years to life in prison because of a previous June 2022 trial conviction. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Bloods gang member was sentenced today to 25 years to life in prison for the November 2020 murder of a 21-year-old man and attempted murder of another individual in Freeport. Floyd McNeil, a/k/a DOT and Diddy DOT, 27, of Hempstead, was convicted after a trial before Judge Howard Sturim on November 27, 2023, of Murder in the Second Degree (an A-I felony); Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony); Attempted Assault in the First Degree (a C violent felony); and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony). McNeil was sentenced today to 25 years to life in prison consecutive to a 25-year sentence McNeil is currently serving after being convicted at trial in June 2022 of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (a B violent felony); Assault in the First Degree (a B violent felony); Criminal Use of a Firearm (a B violent felony); and two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony) for a September 2019 shooting in Hempstead. This defendant caused unbelievable pain and suffering, senselessly murdering a 21-year-old man, and nearly killing another because they interrupted a gang meeting in a park, said DA Donnelly. Floyd McNeil is an incredibly dangerous individual, wreaking havoc in Hempstead and Freeport in 2019 and 2020. Todays sentence ensures that McNeils violence in those communities will finally end. Our thoughts remain with the family of Taffarie Haughton, and we hope this sentence provides some measure of justice. DA Donnelly said that on November 28, 2020, 21-year-old Taffarie Haughton and a second 19-year-old victim were at Martin Luther King Jr. Park in Freeport. The victims entered the park bathroom and were followed by several Bloods gang members who were attending a gang meeting in the park. When Haughton and the other victim attempted to leave the park, the exit was blocked by numerous members of the gang, including the defendant. McNeil and his co-defendant, Christopher Anderson, then began firing on the victims, striking them both. Haughton was struck twice, once in the chest, piercing his lung and heart, and once in the left foot. He was taken to Nassau University Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. The other victim was struck once in the shoulder and taken to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital where he was treated for his injuries. Seven shell casings were recovered from the scene. McNeil and Anderson were both arrested on June 13, 2022, by detectives of the Nassau County Police Departments Homicide Squad. Anderson pleaded guilty in June 2023 before Judge Sturim to Murder in the Second Degree and Attempted Murder in the Second Degree. He was sentenced in August 2023 to 22 years to life in prison. Local News By Chris Boyle Published: February 05 2024 The college and the Suffolk County Anti-Trafficking Initiative recently hosted the Human Trafficking Awareness Walk at Belmont State Park. As part of the national effort to increase awareness of sexual assault and domestic violence, Suffolk County Community College participates in several events related to Take Back the Night. The college and the Suffolk County Anti-Trafficking Initiative recently hosted the Human Trafficking Awareness Walk at Belmont State Park. Members of the Suffolk County Community College Take Back the Night Planning Committee, along with Suffolk students, faculty and alumni, attended the event. Other members of the community also present included representatives from ECLI/Vibes, Survivor Advisory Board, Crimes Victim Center, The Retreat, LIADV, Touro Law's Women Bar Association, Sepa Mujer, SCATI Long Island, Legislator Sam Gonzalez and Staff, Suffolk County Police Department, Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, Human Trafficking Detective Division led by Detective Lieutenant Cassidy and Sgt. Linda Piotrowski from the office of Police Commissioner Waring, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Nu Phi Zeta Chapter, Farmingdale State College, St. Joseph's University. This is one of the events we host each year leading up to Take Back the Night, which is a nationwide initiative that gives the college an opportunity to share resources and support for survivors of sexual violence, which include survivors of human trafficking, said Dr. Edward Bonahue, President of Suffolk County Community College. Take Back the Night was started in the 1970s to end domestic violence and sexual assault in all forms through events such as a march, vigil or rally. It aims to raise awareness of and bring an end to domestic violence and sexual assault in all its forms by empowering survivors with hope, inspiration, support and resources to begin healing from trauma. Members of the community are welcomed to be a part of the upcoming event on April 11, 2024 at Suffolk County Community Colleges Michael J. Grant Campus in Brentwood. To participate or learn more about becoming involved with the Take Back the Night initiative, visit https://forms.office.com/r/ce9ZSfwbY3 or contact Danielle DiMauro, Chair of the Take Back the Night Committee, at dimaurd@sunysuffolk.edu. About Suffolk County Community College Suffolk County Community College is the largest community college in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, enrolling approximately 21,000 students at its three campuses in Selden, Brentwood and Riverhead. Suffolk offers the Associate in Arts (A.A.), Associate in Science (A.S.), and Associate in Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees, as well as a variety of certificate programs. Offering affordable college tuition, a highly respected Honors program, workforce training programs, extensive extracurricular activities, championship athletic teams, and numerous transfer programs, Suffolk is a first-choice college for Long Island students. Visit us online at sunysuffolk.edu. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: February 05 2024 Roberto Velasquez attacked 58-year-old Michael Oliver with a machete after argument in a laundromat; victim died 10 days later. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that an undomiciled man pleaded guilty today to manslaughter for a March 2023 machete attack inside of a 24-hour laundromat in Valley Stream. Roberto Velasquez, 32, pleaded guilty today before Judge Helene Gugerty to Manslaughter in the First Degree (a B felony). He is expected to be sentenced to 21-1/2 years in prison at his next court appearance on March 15, 2024. On March 14, 2023, Robert Velasquez and Michael Oliver were both sleeping overnight at the 24-hour laundromat when an argument erupted and turned violent, said DA Donnelly. Velasquez pulled a large machete out of his duffle bag and slashed at the victim multiple times, striking him in the leg and causing a massive injury with severe blood loss. Despite intensive life-saving measures, Michael Oliver tragically died at the hospital 10 days after the attack. Now, this defendant will be held accountable for his violent outburst and taking another life. DA Donnelly said, according to the charges, at approximately 2:10 a.m. on March 14, 2023, the defendant, Roberto Velasquez, and several other individuals were inside the 24-hour Laundry Palace on Merrick Road in Valley Stream. Velasquez was seated in a chair next to 58-year-old Michael Oliver. The two got into a verbal altercation, leading the defendant to get up out of his chair, reach for a duffel bag, and hit Oliver with the bag. The contents of the bag spilled to the floor, revealing a large machete. The defendant grabbed the machete and swung it at Oliver twice in the back, paused, and hit the victim once more on the back of his left leg just above the knee. Oliver then fell to the ground, bleeding profusely. The defendant gathered his duffle bag and the machete and left the laundromat. Oliver was taken to North Shore University Hospital - Manhasset and required emergency surgery. Though he survived the surgery, Oliver suffered damage to major organs because of the blood loss and an infection and was placed on life support. He died 10 days after the incident on March 24, 2023. Velasquez was arrested by detectives with the Nassau County Police Departments 5th Squad on March 14, 2023, in Lynbrook. Brentwood Pawnshop Owner Sentenced To Three To Nine Years In Prison For Operating An Organized Retail Theft Ring Crime By Chris Boyle Published: February 05 2024 Carlos Ulloa, Ringleader, Pleaded Guilty in September to Receiving Merchandise Stolen from Local Retailers at EZ Cash Pawn & Jewelry and Selling Those Goods Online. Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Carlos Ulloa, 51, of Patchogue was sentenced to three to nine years in prison after pleading guilty in September to Enterprise Corruption, Money Laundering, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Make no mistake, said District Attorney Tierney. We will not tolerate organized retail theft in Suffolk County. We will protect our businesses and the jobs that come with a thriving business community. Here, our Suffolk County Police detectives did not simply catch and release these low-level boosters. Instead, they followed them to uproot the entire stolen goods operation. As a result, this ringleader was held responsible with a serious prison sentence, a ban on his returning to the pawn business, and forfeiture of nearly $2 million in stolen goods and criminal proceeds. In Suffolk County, we support our businesses and, more importantly, the communities that they serve. According to the investigation and the defendants allocutions during their guilty pleas, between May 14, 2020 and August 6, 2022, after EZ Pawn manager, Sandra Hinds, and her employees at the pawnshop received stolen merchandise from thieves, Ulloa and his associates then transported the stolen merchandise to his warehouse in Patchogue. The stolen items were then stored, inventoried, photographed, and listed for sale online. The selling of stolen items online generated a large sum of criminal proceeds for Ulloa. Search warrants executed on August 6, 2022, at the pawnshop, the warehouse, and Ulloas residence, resulted in the seizure of brand-new stolen merchandise belonging to retailers throughout Suffolk County. During the search of Ulloas residence, police also seized an unlicensed stolen handgun. Ulloa, the owner and operator of EZ Cash Pawn & Jewelry in Brentwood, pleaded guilty on September 11, 2023 before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable John B. Collins, to one count of Enterprise Corruption, a Class B felony, one count of Money Laundering in the Second Degree, a Class C felony, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony. Ulloas corporations, Ulloa Global LLC and Ulloa Commercial LLC, also pleaded guilty to Enterprise Corruption. Ulloa was ordered to surrender his Dealers in Second-Hand Articles License and Precious Metal/Gems License to the Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing & Consumer Affairs, and as a result, upon his release, he will not be able to enter into any businesses involving pawn shops or purchasing second-hand articles for reselling. Also, Ulloa has already terminated his rental of the warehouse. Moreover, Ulloa forfeited $968,081 in criminal proceeds, as well as approximately $1 million in stolen merchandise. On February 2, 2024, Justice Collins ordered Ulloa to serve an indeterminate sentence of three to nine years in prison for his conviction to Enterprise Corruption and Money Laundering, and an indeterminate sentence of two and one-third to seven years in prison for his conviction to Criminal Possession of a Weapon. Ulloas corporations, Ulloa Global LLC, Ulloa Commercial LLC were sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge. Ulloa and his corporations were represented by David Besso, Esq. Sandra Cruz, 25, of Patchogue, the manager at the warehouse where the stolen merchandise was stored, pleaded guilty on August 14, 2023 before the Honorable John B. Collins, to one count of Attempted Enterprise Corruption, a Class C felony. Cruz is expected to be sentenced to six months of incarceration followed by five years of probation on April 12, 2024. Cruz is represented by Daniel Sullivan, Esq. Sandra Hinds, 47, of Brentwood, the manager at EZ Cash Pawn & Jewelry, pleaded guilty on August 23, 2023 before the Honorable John B. Collins, to one count of Attempted Enterprise Corruption, a Class C felony. Hinds is expected to be sentenced to six months of incarceration followed by five years of probation on April 12, 2024. Hinds is represented by Geroge Duncan, Esq. Henry Delgado, 42, of Brentwood, the associate who laundered the criminal proceeds of the online sales of stolen merchandise in furtherance of the criminal enterprise, pleaded guilty on September 25, 2023 before the Honorable John B. Collins, to one count of Attempted Enterprise Corruption, a Class C felony. Delgado is expected to be sentenced to six months of incarceration followed by five years of probation on February 20, 2024. Delgado is represented by William Keahon, Esq. These cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys James Bartens and Adriana Noyola of the Financial Crimes Bureau, with investigative assistance from Suffolk County Police Departments District Attorney Squad. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: February 05 2024 Defendants Allegedly Abducted and Tortured Victim Before Demanding Over $150,000 in Cash and 50 Pounds of Marijuana. Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, a superseding indictment was unsealed charging Aasim Boone, Jarrett Bruce and Lesly Valentin with one count of kidnapping conspiracy and Valentin with one count of transmission of interstate communications with intent to extort. The charged crimes arise from the December 2022 abduction and attack on a victim from the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, New York. Valentin was previously arrested and charged in the underlying indictment with transmission of interstate communications with intent to extort and is currently in custody. Boone was arrested yesterday, and Bruce was arrested today. Both will be arraigned on the superseding indictment this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy. Valentin was previously arrested and is being held in custody pending trial. Valentin will be arraigned on the superseding indictment at a later date. Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James Smith, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arrests and charges. As alleged, the crimes in this case are very disturbing. The defendants targeted an unsuspecting victim, abducted him outside of his home and subjected him to unimaginable crueltyall in their efforts for financial gain, stated United States Attorney Peace. My office will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the victim here receives justice and that our community is safe from these senseless acts of violence. Mr. Peace thanked the Joint Violent Crimes Task Force, which is comprised of agents from the FBI and detectives from the NYPD, for their assistance with the investigation. A victim subjected to kidnapping, brutal beatings, inhumane torture, and cash demands this not a plot from a movie these three defendants allegedly conspired and carried out these despicable acts on their target. The alleged actions of Boone, Bruce, and Valentin are disturbing and will not be tolerated. FBI New York is determined to ensure brazen individuals willing to use inconceivable violence for financial gain are brought to justice, stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Smith. As set forth in court filings, Boone, Bruce and Valentin conspired to kidnap the victim on December 9, 2022. The victim was seized from outside of his apartment complex in Astoria. After forcing the victim at gunpoint into a vehicle, the assailants drove the victim to New Jersey, subjected him to escalating forms of torture, and held him for nearly five hours. Among other things, the assailants beat the victim with a gun, poured bleach on him, burned his back and legs with a blowtoch, and also sliced the victims ear with a knife. The victim was ultimately released on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. A few days after the kidnapping, one of the defendantsValentinsent text messages to the victim, threatening further harm to him and his family if he failed to pay the defendants $150,000 in cash and 50 lbs. of marijuana. All three defendants have extensive criminal histories, and are believed to have participated in a series of residential burglaries committed by a violent street gang operating out of New Jersey. Valentin had also previously pled guilty in New Jersey state court to aggravated assault in connection with a prior kidnapping. The charges in the indictment are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted of kidnapping conspiracy, the defendants face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Israel Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant meets with senior advisor to President Biden Amos Hochstein at the Ministry of Defense Headquarters in Tel Aviv on February 4, 2023. (Israel Minister of Defense office) Israels Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned Hezbollah about further escalation along Israels northern border on February 4 during his visit to the Tel Nof airbase in central Israel. Each attack in Lebanon advances us in changing the security situation on the northern border, he said, adding that Israels aircraft are pointed north. We still havent used all our special capabilities, Gallant said. His statement underlines continuing and growing concern about the Hezbollah threat as well as Israels determination to change the subsequent security situation in its north. The warnings came a day after Israel Defense Forces spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari gave a briefing that detailed the IDFs efforts against Hezbollah over the last four months. Hezbollah began attacks on Israel on October 8, one day after the massive Hamas attack in southern Israel. Hezbollah has launched more than 2,000 rockets into Israeli airspace in addition to sending in numerous drones and firing anti-tank guided missiles at Israeli border communities. More than 400 homes have been damaged with more than a dozen soldiers and several civilians killed. The IDF says it has eliminated 200 Hezbollah terrorists and struck 3,400 Hezbollah sites in Lebanon, destroying command centers, weapons stashes and other threats. The large number of targets has not reduced the rocket fire from Lebanon. On February 4, there were numerous rockets launched against communities all along the northern border. The IDF said on February 5 that there were additional attacks: throughout the day, numerous launches were identified crossing from Lebanon into northern Israel. IDF soldiers struck the sources of the launches as well as in additional areas in Lebanon. The IDF used artillery to strike at a Hezbollah military site and another command center as well as other military compounds. The IDF continues to note that Hezbollahs ongoing terrorist activity and attacks against Israel violate UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The IDF will continue to defend Israels borders from any threat. I drove along Israels northern border with Lebanon on February 5 to get a sense of the ongoing security threat. Most Israeli communities along the border were evacuated in October, sending some 80,000 civilians to live in hotels or other communities. Some members of these communities pay regular visits to their homes for general security checks and to tend to farming or other business-related needs. Although there was rocket fire in the morning near the coastal city of Nahariya as well as in the areas of Avivim and Yiron on the border near where I was there was no sense of heightened tension. This is likely due to Israels preparations along the border over the last several months. An IDF spokesperson, for example, noted on February 3 that the IDF has three divisions deployed in the north. The IDF has conducted extensive training with these units in the north as well, concentrating on many of the reserve brigades that were called up after October 7. During his February 5 visit to Jerusalem, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne condemned the October 7 Hamas attack, noting that 42 French nationals had been killed with three French citizens still being held in Gaza. The Ministers trip to the region will also include a stop in Lebanon. US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein was in Israel on February 4 to discuss tensions on Israels northern border as well as Israels demands that Hezbollah remove its forces from the border area. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also arrived in the region on February 5, underscoring the US and Wests growing concern over the potential for Israels defensive war to erupt into a wider war in the region. Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the acting news editor and senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post. Subsea cable activity in the Asia-Pacific region isnt slowing down any time soon, judging by two recent announcements. In the past few days, the ALPHA (Asia Link for Advanced Performance of High-Speed Access) Consortium has announced the signing of a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) to plan and develop a proposal for an international undersea cable system connecting Singapore, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Vietnam and more. It appears Indonesia will be acting as a hub for this project. Budi Satria Dharma Purba, CEO of international carrier services company PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Telin), explains, Instead of having the hub on the land, we'll have the hub in the sea. Indonesia's waters will be critical in distributing all this traffic to support data centre capacity. The ALPHA consortium comprises South Korean telecommunications company KT Corporation (KT), Telin and a number of yet-to-be named Japan-based groups. The ALPHA cable will offer at least eight fibre pairs with 18 Tbps per fibre pair for a minimum design capacity of 144 Tbps, enabling seamless and high-capacity transmission of data across the East and Southeast Asian regions. We may get more detail on the project in the third quarter of this year when procedures for selecting a turnkey supplier and preparation to deliver the contract are expected to begin. The ALPHA cable system is expected to be ready for service by the first quarter of 2027. This announcement comes about a week after Prima, a telecommunications and data infrastructure company based in Vanuatu, and Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) announced a smart cable project connecting Vanuatu and New Caledonia The system will provide a supplementary telecom cable to New Caledonia, extending to Australia and Fiji, enhancing digital connectivity. It will also support seismic monitoring in the Pacific region, enhancing security and preparedness against natural disasters. Ukrainian refugees living in Luxembourg will be able to continue to benefit from temporary protection status - enabling them to work without restrictions - for a further year, the government said on Monday. The status, which has been applied to those fleeing Ukraine since Russias invasion two years ago, was due to expire on 4 March but has been extended until the same date in 2025, the home affairs ministry said in a press release. There are currently more than 4,200 people living in Luxembourg with temporary protection status, Home Affairs Minister Leon Gloden said last month, Virgule reported. Temporary protection status enables a person to work in Luxembourg but limits certain other rights, such as access to child benefits. Also read: Lives upturned: Ukrainians in Luxembourg, one year on Ukrainians who have found employment and are not living in state-run shelters are eligible to apply for residency in Luxembourg, under a government plan announced last year by former foreign minister Jean Asselborn. Determining the exact number of returnees is difficult, said Nicolas Zharov, the president of the LUkraine association, although he added that the group estimates that around 1,000 refugees who arrived in Luxembourg have since left the country. However, Zharov said the association cannot say how many have returned to Ukraine or gone to another country. The situation remains fluid, and the decision to return is deeply personal, influenced by factors such as safety, family ties, and the economic situation in Ukraine. Many people often return for a short period of time to Ukraine but due to the security situation they tend to come back to Luxembourg, he told the Luxembourg Times in an emailed statement. The stance of the Ukrainian government can vary, focusing on the current situation in Ukraine and the safety of its regions. However, there have been multiple calls specifically to the Ukrainian citizens who have left the country illegally to return, added Zharov. A minority of arrivals are going back because they have no jobs or places to live, Yuri Skobel, who works at the Ukrainian House in Strassen, said last year. Many of the problems are in finding a house or an apartment, he said, adding that refugee families with one earner were often being turned down by private landlords. Luxembourgs refugee shelters are reaching maximum capacity, with the vast majority of communes either having no beds or just a handful available, the government said in December, weeks after a tougher policy was implemented, which sees single, male refugees who started their asylum procedure in another country (so-called Dublin cases) put on waiting lists and priority given to families. (Additional reporting by Duncan Roberts) Earlier in the night, the rapper had won all three of the categories in which hed been nominated, picking up Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for his track Scientists and Engineers, and Best Rap Album for Michael his sixth studio album released in June 2023. Nokia announced it signed a multi-year patent cross-license agreement with Chinese smartphone vendor vivo. In a statement, the Finnish vendor said it will take royalty payments from vivo, along with catch-up payments to cover the dispute period. A licensing agreement between the two had expired in 2021 and was not renewed leading to legal action in Germany. The agreement ends all pending patent litigation between the two companies in all jurisdictions. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Nokia Technologies president Jenni Lukander said: This is the sixth major smartphone patent licence agreement we have signed in the past thirteen months, and we have now almost completed our smartphone licence renewal cycle. Together these licensing agreements demonstrate Nokias significant contribution to developing key technologies relied upon by the entire smartphone industry and they will provide long-term stability to our licensing business for years to come. Xianwen Xu, General Manager of Legal Affairs Department at vivo Mobile Communication Company stated: We are pleased to have reached a global cross-license agreement with Nokia. Signing the agreement reflects the mutual recognition and respect for each other's patent value in cellular technology and it also plays a significant role in fostering a positive development environment within the industry. We are dedicated to investing in R&D of smart devices and intelligent services, providing extraordinary hi-tech products and services for users worldwide. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Whether you are in love or lovelorn, Western Massachusetts probably has a Valentines Day event for you over the next week. There is a ton of stuff going on, so lets jump right in, with events listed chronologically. First up is an Anti-Valentines Day party at St. Stanislaus Polish Lyceum in Palmer on Feb. 9. Rock 201 will be there to provide the music, which will probably be shaded toward the Love Stinks type of songs. St. Stans is at 2114 Main St. in the Three Rivers section of town. Next up, on Feb. 10, Bishops Lounge will offer an unusual twist on a Valentines Day party. You can dance pulsating beats in a blacklight atmosphere, at the venues Halos and Horns Party, where patrons can dress up as angels or devils and win cash prizes for best costumes in couples, group, and single categories. Bishops Lounge is a 41 Strong Ave. in Northampton. Looking for something different? On Feb. 10 and 11, Bright Ideas Brewing in Westfield will hold a Valentines Day Weekend Arts and Craft Fair. The venue will have an array of creators setting up shop throughout the brewery so you can find the perfect gift for your Valentine. The venue will have two totally different lineups on Saturday and Sunday respectively, offering everything from pottery to candles to stitchwork to herbals. Bright Ideas is at 109 Apremont Way. Also on Feb. 10, the Majestic Saloon in Northampton will hold a burlesque, drag, go-go dance Valentines Day party. The evening will feature two sets of burlesque and drag along with a go-go dance party. The event will be hosted by Harley Foxx with music by DJ Cajar Doors open at 8 p.m. and the cover charge is $10. The Majestic Saloon is at 24 Main St. On Valentines Day itself, real romantics might want to head over to JW Banquet House in Chicopee. Thats where you can find Jazz Night for Valentines Dinner and Dance featuring vocalist Ethel Lee backed by Richie Mitnick on keyboards. Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. JW Banquet House is at 60 Cabot St. But if youre down on the whole love thing on Feb. 14, you can head over to Nathan Bills in Springfield where there will be an Anti-Valentines Day party featuring DJ BBV. Nathan Bills is at 110 Island Pond Road. Last but not least, on Feb. 15, the Northampton Arts Council will present LOVE YOU! - a post-Valentines Day Arts Cabaret. The party will showcase the talent of the artistic vision of each of councils recent grant recipients. The event is free and open to the public, and will feature food, drink, music and dancing. The event will take place at the Smith College Conference Center at 49 College Lane on the Smith College Campus from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. A Boston doctor was found not guilty Wednesday on a charge of lewd acts near a 14-year-old girl on an airplane after a three-day trial in federal court in Boston. Lawyers for Dr. Sudipta Mohanty, 33, said more than a dozen passengers sitting in seats near Mohanty and flight attendants charged with serving the passengers said they didnt see anything consistent with the accusation while on the flight. Mohanty said the accusation and trial have been incredibly difficult for himself and his family for a crime he didnt commit. My fiance was sitting next to me on that flight, and neither of us can understand why this happened to us, he said in a written statement. I have dedicated my life to caring for others as a physician, and it has been heartbreaking to step away while I dealt with these false accusations. Mohanty opted for a bench trial, meaning his acquittal was handed down by a judge, not a jury. He had been indicted on one count of lewd, indecent and obscene acts on an aircraft. Investigators had said Mohanty was a passenger aboard a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu to Boston in May 2022 with a female companion and was seated next to a 14-year-old girl traveling with her grandparents, who were sitting nearby. About halfway through the flight, investigators said, the 14-year-old said she noticed that Mohanty had covered himself with a blanket up to his neck and that his leg was bouncing. A short time later, the minor said the blanket was on the floor, no longer covering Mohanty, and that Mohanty was masturbating, according to prosecutors. The minor moved herself to an empty seat in a different row. After arriving in Boston, she told family members, and police were notified. Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said he was disappointed in the outcome, but he respects the verdict. Our office has no reservations about having proceeded with this case. Our office will remain steadfast in supporting victims, particularly minor children. It is critical that victims know they can come forward, and they will be heard and be fully supported by our office, Levy said in a written statement. Mohantys lawyer, Claudia Lagos, said the accusations have been devastating. Dr. Mohanty is a talented and dedicated medical doctor. He has absolutely no history of wrongdoing whatsoever, she said in a statement. The last six months have been a bizarre nightmare for him, and he is relieved this is finally over so that he can rebuild his life. Mohanty had faced a sentence of up to 90 days in prison, one year of supervised release and a fine of as much as $5,000. Mohanty, of Cambridge, worked as a doctor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. The hospital said last year that he is no longer practicing at the hospital. Thirty years ago, Boston Police Officer Berisford Wayne Anderson was shot and killed in Bostons Dorchester neighborhood after stopping a speeding, wrong-way driver. This February, as we observe Black History Month, we pay homage to Officer Andersons sacrifice and service, Boston police wrote in a press release Monday. Anderson was off-duty and wearing plain clothes when he stopped the vehicle and identified himself as a police officer on Feb. 5, 1994, police said. The driver, who had outstanding warrants, pulled out a handgun and shot Anderson, but was arrested shortly afterward. Anderson was killed by a young male named Dalton Simpson, who a jury convicted of first-degree murder and other charges in connection with Andersons death, according to a 2001 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court case. Dalton appealed the conviction up to the states highest court, arguing that he deserved a new trial, but the court ultimately affirmed his convictions. The court detailed the events leading up to Andersons death in its decision, writing that Simpson was driving a stolen car at high speeds late that afternoon when he hit another vehicle. He then got out of the vehicle, yelled obscenities at the driver and behaved aggressively before driving off. Anderson soon stopped Simpson, who got out of his car and spoke briefly with Anderson before he started shooting, according to the case. Anderson fired back, but Simpson was able to get into his car and drive away, leaving Anderson to die of a single gunshot wound to the chest. Before his death, Anderson served as a Boston police officer for 14 years, police said. People who knew him remembered him for being gentle someone even bad guys respected, according to a 1994 article in The Boston Globe. Anderson left behind a wife and five children, and is buried at Forest Hills Cemetery in Bostons Jamaica Plain neighborhood. His name is etched on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington D.C., the Hero Wall at Boston police headquarters and the police memorial at the Massachusetts State House. In honor of his heroism, a commemorative Hero Sign stands at the intersection of Spencer Street and Talbot Avenue in Dorchester, serving as a lasting tribute to Officer Andersons bravery and sacrifice, Boston police wrote. CHICOPEE A downtown shooting left a man critically injured Saturday night. The shooting took place just before 10 p.m., Saturday, and was reported by a person who called 911 after hearing gunfire in the Ames Privilege parking lot at 1 Springfield St., said Travis Odiorne, police public information officer. Police arrived to find a victim lying on the ground bleeding from a gunshot wound, he said. Officers were able to locate the wound and began to perform life-saving measures, Odiorne wrote in a statement on Facebook. A Chicopee Fire Department ambulance arrived soon after and emergency medical technicians took over the care of the man and brought him to a local hospital. The victim remains in critical condition, he said. Chicopee police secured the scene and its detective unit along with Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, Odiorne said. Anyone who saw anything suspicious Saturday night or has any information about the shooting is asked to call city detectives at 413-594-1740. Police are also asking anyone who lives in the area and has security cameras to review footage to see if the video captured anything that may help police, he said. The shooting took place across the street from Chicopee City Hall. A Brockton woman is facing larceny and fraud charges for stealing about $150,000 from a 95-year-old Boston woman that she was caring for as a personal aide, according to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office. Dominique Emmanuel, 41, was charged with one count of medical assistance fraud by provider and larceny over $1,200 by a single scheme, the district attorneys office said in a press release Sunday. She is set to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court in Dorchester on Feb. 22. Emmanuel stole from the victim by taking money directly from her bank account, collecting rent money intended for the victim and taking out a reverse mortgage on the victims Mattapan home, the district attorneys office said. The reverse mortgage caused the victims home to go into foreclosure. In February 2023, Boston police received a report from a woman who said her mothers personal care assistant (PCA), who was later identified as Emmanuel, had been stealing from her, the district attorneys office said. The victim told police that Emmanuel had been her PCA for several years, and that they met at the Santander Bank in Mattapan where Emmanuel worked as a bank teller. Through the victims will, policed discovered that Emmanuel was listed as an alternate executor of her assets, the district attorneys office said. The victims daughter then discovered that her mothers home was in foreclosure due to a reverse mortgage that was unknown to the victim or and her family. The family also learned that approximately $120,000 had been withdrawn from the victims Santander Bank account, the district attorneys office said. The total included $70,000 that was made payable to a construction company for work that was never done. While working as the victims PCA, Emmanuel was responsible for collecting over $30,000 in rent from a tenant on behalf of the victim over the course of a few years, the district attorneys office said. The victim never received the rent payments even though the tenant paid them, and investigators found numerous cash deposits into Emmanuels Santander bank account that matched the payments. Additionally, a review of Emmanuels employment records from the personal care attendant program she was employed through showed that she had been paid for hours of work she did not perform, the district attorneys office said. The records indicated that Emmanuel billed the program for hours worked while she was out of state and while the victim was undergoing in-patient treatment, totaling nearly $4,000. The stunning breadth of this scheme illustrates the trust and authority given to this woman and how she abused that trust and authority to fill her own pockets, District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in the release. Its something weve seen far too often, and its a clear signal to older adults and their families to be ever vigilant when money and services are involved. Hayden recently launched the Suffolk County Fraud Fighters a program which helps residents recognize common scams and signs of financial fraud to combat the rise of such crimes. Antisemitic and anti-trans flyers were mailed to several Worcester officials last week following a transphobic outburst during a Worcester City Council meeting late last month, according to Worcester City Councilor-At-Large Thu Nguyen. On Thursday, Nguyen wrote on Facebook that the mailings were from the Goyim Defense League, which the Anti-Defamation League calls a small network of virulently antisemitic provocateurs. Pictures of the mailings show that they include references to the Goyim Defense League, as well as Holocaust denialism, conspiracy theories and hateful rhetoric about Jewish and transgender people. This is outrageously disgusting, we condemn this level of hate, Nguyen, who is Massachusetts first openly non-binary elected official, wrote. It has no place anywhere and absolutely not in politics despite these folks targeting us. Read more: How Newton Public Schools plans to make up school days lost to the strike One of the mailings includes text at the top that reads HOW DARE YOU CUT ME OFF HERES THE REST OF MY SPEECH. This is likely a reference to an anti-trans screed that a public commenter made during a Jan. 23 Worcester City Council meeting, as the comments made at the meeting match the contents of the mailing word for word. The caller, who spoke to the council virtually, said they were commenting on Councilor-at-Large Khrystian Kings request that the city manager provide the council with a report on gender identity discrimination policy data every six months a measure that passed unanimously that night. The comment was recorded in city council minutes as being from Matt Mahan, Worcester resident. Late last year, the Anti-Defamation League said it had recorded more than 100 incidents nationwide in which public forums were disrupted by antisemitic speech. The vast majority were perpetrated by people claiming to be part of the Goyim Defense league, it said. In August 2023, rice bags with materials containing antisemitic rhetoric were distributed to homes in West Brookfield. Police said at the time that the Anti-Defamation League believed the bags were distributed by the Goyim Defense League. Councilor King, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty, and five other city councilors said they received the mailings, according to The Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Petty told the newspaper he found the mailings disgusting, while Councilor-at-Large Kathleen Toomey said she found them disturbing. Councilor-at-Large Morris Bergman, who is Jewish, told the Telegram & Gazette hes rarely seen such language used publicly during his 10 years as a city councilor. I respect the fact that the First Amendment gives folks a lot of leeway. But by the same token, it doesnt mean its not offensive, and it is offensive to me and Im sure its offensive to my colleagues, he told the newspaper. HOLYOKE The School Committee started creating a game plan to end state control of city schools after the State Commissioner of Education sent it a letter pushing off an official decision on its call to end the receivership. It was a letter committee members described as frustrating, vague and disrespectful. The committee held a retreat Sunday to discuss efforts to move forward, two days after Commissioner Jeffrey Riley rejected a call for a return to local control in a four-paragraph letter sent to city officials at 5:08 p.m. Friday. The Department would like to further confer with the Receiver and the School Committee about how to sustain and build upon the districts progress as we make plans for returning the district to local control. To allow for those conversations to proceed, at this time I am deferring a formal determination on your petition, Riley said in the letter. Members said they were frustrated there was no specific guidance on how they could recapture local control. Since there was not even a formal rejection there is no way to even appeal the decision, said committee Vice Chairwoman Erin Brunelle. The School Committee will send a formal letter to Riley outlining concerns about his response and inviting him to meet with them monthly to discuss their progress. I was profoundly disappointed, not so much with the decision but the lack of action points associated with it, said Ellie Wilson, a committee member. There is nothing explicit in our plan that we can point to and say check we met it. Committee member John Whelihan agreed, calling the letter vague. It contained no recommendations on how to gain local control. The only specific mention was a focus on improving absenteeism, which he argued is a statewide issue. Continuing concerted investments in the districts teaching and learning systems and continuing prioritization of student attendance will be key to sustaining this progress, Riley said in the letter. Mayor Joshua Garcia, who also serves as School Committee chairman, said the school system seems to be stuck in a system that offers no exit. The state took over the district saying we are not performing and now we are under the states control and we are not performing ... and thats on them, Garcia said. The state receivership has not resulted in noticeable gains in student performance on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Systems exams, and the state seems to have no answers and is not willing to discuss it, Garcia said. Garcia added he received no response in the past when he requested a meeting with Riley in Boston. Despite its frustration with having no response and no clear answer to regaining local control, the School Committee agreed it is not completely ready to take over the helm of the district immediately. When I look and exiting receivership, Im asking for a transition, said committee member Mildred Lefebvre. It doesnt mean a full exit. Instead she said she would like to see the state start by giving the committee a specific area which they could take charge of while the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education continues to offer assistance. We dont need saviors. We know what are the barriers that create receivership, Lefebvre said. Everyone is making decisions for all of us but us. Members said they have at least continued to work as representatives to voters after being placed in receivership, even though the receivership took much of their power away and essentially made the School Committee an advisory board. Brunelle proposed the group meet twice a month instead of the current practice of meeting monthly. She also proposed restructuring subcommittees where a lot of the nuts-and-bolts work takes place. The committee is expected to formally vote on the proposals at its next meeting on Feb. 12, although members agreed that they like the preliminary plan of meeting on the second and fourth Mondays of the month. The committee has to set strategic, realistic and measurable goals show it can take over, said committee member Yadilette Rivera-Colon. The committee debated about either creating a task force about reversing state receivership which would include parents, educators, business leaders and other members of the community or a subcommittee of just School Committee members. Several discussed include developing a subcommittee to just look at focusing on William J. Dean Technical High School, which was merged into the Holyoke High School campus when the state took over, a move members agree was a mistake. Some of the other developments during the half-day retreat included. A discussion about the fact that all three communities placed in receivership, which also includes Southbridge, all have student bodies with very high populations of Latino students. Rivera-Colon said the states Spanish translation of Rileys letter was done poorly which is insulting to the citys large number of Latino families. The City Council is planning to hold a meeting to discuss the letter and the overall state receivership plan. Editors note: The headline of this article has been updated After missing 11 days of school to a strike by the Newton teachers union, Newton officials and the union reached an agreement Friday night, allowing Newton Public Schools to reopen Monday. But some issues that arose as a result of the strike still remain, such as how the school district will make up the lost days of school. The Newton School Committee met Thursday to discuss this issue, and some decisions were made, such as eliminating the districts February break. The school committee also agreed that Superintendent Anna Nolin will decide how the rest of the school days will be made up, and that high school students will not be penalized for missing make-up days. Families, youre gonna have to make a decision thats best for you and your family, Nolin said during the meeting. Were not going to punish children and families that are doing what they need to do on those days, should they become school days, but we would expect as much attendance as possible so that students can remediate what has been lost for them. Notably, the first day of February break is Presidents Day, and the school district cannot use federal or state holidays to make up the lost days, according to the superintendent. Thus, Newton students will still get that Monday off. It is still up in the air as to whether parts of the school districts April vacation will be used, what day the school year will end on and whether school days will be made up on weekends, Nolin said Thursday. The school district is required by state law to provide 180 days of schooling by June 30 or get a waiver from the state education department to extend the school year into July. Why the school committee canceled February break With the exception of School Committee Chair Chris Breszki, who was not present at the meeting because he was attending educator contract negotiations Thursday night, the school committee unanimously voted in favor of getting rid of February break, even though many families already made vacation plans for that week. The break was set to happen in just two weeks. Ward 1 School Committee Member Rajeev Parlikar proposed the idea, citing the large number of school days that already needed to be made up and the fact that school could be canceled again this winter due to bad weather. While the district has several options as to how it might reach its required 180 days, no solution is an easy pick, he said. Were not at the point where a single one of those options is going to be sufficient, Parlikar said. Ward 6 Councilor Paul Levy agreed, adding that since the students have been out of school for two weeks, it would be more beneficial to their learning to have them stay in school for February break instead of having them come back for two weeks and then take another week off. Its better to start catching up sooner rather than later, he said. How the rest of the days may be made up The school district must make up a total of 13 school days, including the extra day teachers work once the school year ends and one more day Franklin Elementary School missed due to an emergency earlier in the year, Nolin said. The superintendent told the school committee that feedback from parents was completely mixed and that there was not one prevailing preference that the district could follow. You have an impossible choice before you, she said. The school district accounts for five snow days when the school calendar is set up. Nolin indicated during the meeting that these days will likely be used to help make up for the strike. This would mean that the school year would run through Monday, June 24, for students. School officials also brought up concerns about high schoolers who may have jobs or internships over the summer or college visits during April vacation. That said, they seemed to prefer extending the school year and taking away April vacation over making up school days on weekends, citing concerns about student and faculty mental health and religious practices. Theres a reason we have weekends, Levy said. Nolin will communicate with families once she makes her decision on what other days will used as make-up days. A New Hampshire state trooper arrested a Lawrence man early Monday morning after he drove as fast as 110 mph while driving drunk and trying to evade the trooper, according to police. Richard Gomez, 37, has been charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated, disobeying a police officer, resisting arrest, operating after suspension offense, reckless conduct and reckless operation, New Hampshire State Police said in a press release. Around 1:40 a.m. Monday, a trooper tried to stop a vehicle for speeding and defective equipment violations on I-93 north in Bow, New Hampshire police said. The driver, who was later identified as Gomez, did not stop after the trooper turned on their emergency signals and instead sped up to 110 mph, according to police. When Gomez left I-93 and entered Concord, New Hampshire, he had trouble staying in the correct lane and drove on the wrong side of the road for a short time, police said. Eventually, Gomez abandoned his vehicle and ran away, police said, but he was arrested soon after when the troopers K-9 dog located him. Gomez was already wanted on two active warrants in New Hampshire, police said. He is set to be arraigned Monday in Concord District Court. A jury has found a Lynn man guilty on all charges related to an October 2022 break-in, strangling, and sexual assault in Bostons Jamaica Plain neighborhood, according to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office. On Friday, 56-year-old Washington Pearson was found guilty of assault with intent to rape, indecent assault and battery, two counts of strangulation, armed robbery, and three other charges, the district attorneys office said. On Oct. 24, 2022, Pearson used a screwdriver to break into an apartment on the Arborway in Jamaica Plain where two women lived, the district attorneys office said. One of the women was home at the time of the break-in and discovered Pearson in her living room. Pearson strangled the woman until she fell unconscious, and when she regained consciousness, she found that her pants and underwear were removed, the district attorneys office said. Pearson then strangled her a second time and left her apartment after stealing her phone, her jewelry and some of her roommates belongings. Pearson has a criminal record going back to 1987 that includes nearly 200 entries, the district attorneys office said. At the time of the attack, he was living in a residential reentry program in Bostons Fenway neighborhood in the wake of his release from prison in July. Pearson was captured by U.S. Marshals in Virginia in November 2022 after an arrest warrant was issued, the district attorneys office said. During the trial, the victim and other witnesses testified and Pearson represented himself. This was an extraordinarily frightening experience for the victim, and she showed great courage to come forward and tell jurors what happened in her apartment that day, District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in the release. Pearson is set to be sentenced on Feb. 6. A 33-year-old Pittsfield man died early Saturday morning in a crash in Montague, New York, according to a news report by Syracuse.com. Authorities identified the man as Richard M. Mangiardi, Jr., who was snowmobiling with family and friends in Lewis County, New York State Police told the outlet. Mangiardi was snowmobiling near Culpepper Road in Montague, Trooper Jack Keller, a police spokesperson, told the outlet. The crash happened around 2:47 a.m. when Mangiardi attempted to make a turn, according to Keller. Keller said Mangiardi suffered a traumatic head injury and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Edgartown man who threatened a Falmouth bank with a gun, claimed to place a bomb on the bank counter and fled with a bank customer, all during a robbery, was sentenced to prison, according to Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levys office. Petar Petyoshin, 40, was sentenced to 102 months, or over eight years, in prison with five years of supervised release, Levys office said in a statement on Monday. Petyoshin pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery in October 2023. U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley delivered the sentencing. Read more: Chicopee shooting leaves man in critical condition On April 8, Petyoshin left Marthas Vineyard on a Steamship Authority vessel at around 7 a.m. before he arrived at Woods Hole in Falmouth. By around 8:58 a.m., he walked into the Rockland Trust Bank in Falmouth wearing a blonde wig, Levys office said, and then placed what was suggested to be a bomb on the tellers counter. Petyoshin pointed a gun at tellers and customers and told one of the bank employees, Im robbing you, before making the customers and bank employees zip-tie their hands together, Levys office said. He had two more tellers place more than $20,000 in cash from the bank into a brown Walmart bag, took a customers car keys and fled the scene in the customers vehicle, Levys office continued. Petyoshin boarded a 1:15 p.m. return ferry to go back to Marthas Vineyard. At some point immediately after the robbery, he made several thousand-dollar cash down payments on a lease for a new Mercedes. Petyoshin was arrested on state charges in connection with the robbery on May 23, 2023, with a subsequent search of his home recovering thousands of dollars in cash bundled with the Rockland Trust money. Surveillance footage captured Petyoshin before and after the robbery. During the search, 57 firearms and a large quantity of ammunition were found, while the jacket Petyoshin worn during the robbery was found in his personal locker at the Oak Bluffs Water Department where he worked, Levys office said. Investigators determined Petyoshins clothing stores Facebook page displayed photos of the same clothes he wore during the robbery, specifically the jacket, the sunglasses and the wig. SPRINGFIELD Hundreds of members of Springfields Vietnamese community gathered at the Cedars Banquet Hall on Island Pond Road to celebrate perhaps the biggest holiday on the Vietnamese calendar Tet. It is maybe about like Christmas is for you, Trinh (Huynh) Roblinski said. Here, we dont have a lot of days of celebration, but in Vietnam, we took five days for the whole festival. We would travel and see family to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year. " Target has pulled a civil rights-themed magnet set after a viral TikTok video revealed that the product mismatched the names and images of famous Black historical figures. Read more: Meet the OG Black lesbian author who birthed a literary revolution 50 years ago Last week, Las Vegas high school teacher Tierra Espy posted a TikTok video in which she explained that she had bought the product, a Civil Rights Magnet Learning Activity, from the big box chain. She said she had planned to give it to her children in anticipation of Black History Month, but noticed inaccuracies as soon as she opened it. The product appeared to have mismatched the images and names of W.E.B. DuBois, Booker T. Washington and Carter G. Woodson. For instance, on one magnet, DuBois image was depicted above Woodsons name, the video showed. I get it, mistakes happen, but this needs to be corrected ASAP, Espy said in the video. Read more: Six notable Black historical figures who have ties to Massachusetts Target said in a statement to MassLive that it was no longer selling the product online or in stores, and that the chain had alerted the products publisher of the issues. The product bears the logo of Ohio-based childrens publisher Bendon Publishing. The publishing company did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MassLive on Monday. Espy told The Associated Press Friday that Target and Bendon had yet to reach out to her, and that she was disappointed to not see an apology from the companies yet. As of midday Monday, neither company had posted an apology to their social media accounts. I caught it in two seconds. They could have caught it by just doing a quick Google search, Espy told the Associated Press. It is unclear how long it will take Target to remove the product. Tewksbury police are seeking the publics help in identifying a man who exposed himself after he parked his truck outside a business, the department said in a statement. On Thursday, Jan. 25, Tewksbury police were notified of reported lewd activity in a business parking lot at 10 Main St., the statement read, at the Stadium Plaza Shopping Center. Hong Kong: Northbound travel bookings refined The Transport Department today announced that the Specified Dates Booking System for Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles will be refined to shorten the periods of booking for departure and cancellation of booking for departure from tomorrow. The arrangement aims to facilitate Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles applicants to travel from Hong Kong to Guangdong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The period of making a booking for departure will be shortened to at or before noon on one calendar day before departure. For example, the applicant may make a booking for departure on February 7 via the system at or before noon of February 6. Regarding the cancellation of booking for departure, the period of putting up a cancellation request will be shortened to at or before noon on one calendar day before departure. For example, the applicant may cancel a booking for departure on February 7 via the system at or before noon of February 6. The department also reminds applicants to make reservations in advance through the system and drive to Guangdong Province via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge in accordance with the specified date and time reserved. The department added that it will maintain close liaison with the Mainland authorities and conduct random checks on the vehicle crossing records of Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles to ensure that applicants comply with the terms and conditions. This story has been published on: 2024-02-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A total eclipse of the sun is going to be seen across the United States on April 8, 2024, but there are some better places to see it than others. The path of totality, which is where the sun will be completely blocked by the moon, consists of a band stretching from Texas to Maine. People within this band will be able to see the suns corona, or outer atmosphere, usually obscured by the brightness of the sun, according to NASA. The path of totality will pass through Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Unfortunately, Massachusetts is a bit south of the band, but there are plenty of ways to get there. The dark gray line on this map from AccuWeather shows the path of the moons shadow during the total solar eclipse coming on April 8, 2024.AccuWeather Depending on the proximity to the center of the path, the length of time the moon completely blocks out the sun can last up to four minutes, according to NASA. These are a list of cities lying within the path of totality, when totality will begin, local time, on April 8, and how long it will last: Dallas, Texas, 1:40 p.m. (Central), 4 minutes Idabel, Oklahoma, 1:45 p.m., 4 minutes Little Rock, Arkansas, 1:51 p.m., 3 minutes Poplar Bluff, Missouri, 1:56 p.m., 4 minutes Carbondale, Illinois, 1:59 p.m., 4 minutes Paducah, Kentucky, 2 p.m., 3 minutes Evansville, Indiana, 2:02 p.m., 3 minutes Cleveland, Ohio, 3:13 p.m. (Eastern), 4 minutes Erie, Pennsylvania, 3:16 p.m., 4 minutes Buffalo, New York, 3:18 p.m., 4 minutes Burlington, Vermont, 3:26 p.m., 3 minutes Lancaster, New Hampshire, 3:27 p.m., 3 minutes Caribou, Maine, 3:32 p.m., 2 minutes This map from NASA illustrates the path of the moons shadow across the U.S. during the total solar eclipse coming on April 8, 2024. During a total solar eclipse, the moon completely blocks the sun while it passes between the sun and Earth. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk, and those standing in the path of totality may see the suns outer atmosphere (the corona) if weather permits. (NASA Visualization Studio)NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio By road or rail The straightest shot from Massachusetts to the path of totality is up to neighboring Vermont. A car ride from Springfield, Worcester or Boston to Burlington, Vermont can run between 3 and 4 hours, depending on traffic. Those with a car might want to venture a bit north of the city closer to the Canadian border to get deeper into the path of totality for a longer time the sun will be behind the moon. There are public transit options, too. Greyhound, Megabus and several other bus lines have Boston to Burlington trips, though the timing of some trips means you would need to book your trip the day before. From Western Massachusetts, the most direct route is the Amtrak Vermonter train, which stops at Springfield, Holyoke, Northampton and Greenfield and winds up in St. Albans, Vermont. St. Albans might even be a more desirable location to watch the eclipse, as it is deeper into the path of totality. Once again, the train will not arrive in Vermont in time for the eclipse during same-day travel, so booking a ride at least a day before will be necessary. By plane Boston Logan International Airport has flights to numerous cities along the path of totality. JetBlue runs nonstop flights from Logan to Buffalo, Cleveland and Dallas; Delta has nonstop flights to Cleveland, Dallas and Indianapolis; American has nonstop flights to Dallas and Indianapolis. Here are typical flight times to the following cities from Boston Logan: Buffalo: 1 hour 35 minutes Cleveland: 2 hours 15 minutes Indianapolis: nearly 3 hours Dallas: 4 hours 30 minutes The cheapest flights as of February 5 were to Buffalo and Dallas. The only nonstop flight from Bradley International Airport along the path of totality is to Dallas, a 4 hour 10 minute flight run by American. There are connecting flights through a number of airlines to other cities along the route. When is the next time to see an eclipse Its a while unfortunately until the next time there is a total solar eclipse that can be seen in the United States 20 years. The soonest one after this year is on August. 23, 2044, according to NASA. Groundhog Day has come and gone, but over half of those who responded to a University of Massachusetts Amherst poll would rather not see a repeat of the 2020 election in 2024 between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump. While there is a malaise among voters looking at a likely rematch... there is also little likelihood of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley creating a surprise matchup against the incumbent Biden in this years election, UMass Amherst said in a statement on Monday. Polling conducted between Jan. 25 and Jan. 30 found that 53% of the 1,064 respondents surveyed, including 29% of Republicans, said it would have been better if Trump did not run in 2024, pollsters said. With Biden, 57% of respondents and 37% of Democrats would prefer if Biden did not seek to be re-elected. The third name in this poll, Haley, has opened up conversations about her closer-than-expected results in the New Hampshire primary and Iowa caucus, the statement read. However, the new polls shows that her road to the nomination wont be easy. In what is fast becoming the sequel that no one asked for, former President Donald Trump is set to square off against President Joe Biden this fall in a rematch of the 2020 presidential election, said Tatishe Nteta, provost professor of political science at UMass Amherst and director of the poll, in the statement. Trump holds a commanding 38-percentage-point lead over Haley and is the preference of most demographic and political groups in the Republican electorate. Haley has an uphill battle in front of her if she wants to become the partys nominee and with the specter of losing her home state of South Carolina to Trump on the horizon, we may be in the final weeks of the Haley campaign. Read more: Republican politicos push Nikki Haley to drop from 2024 primary election Nteta added that he and his colleagues see little enthusiasm looking ahead at the general election on Nov. 5. Instead, his team is seeing a lot of fear. He cited the negativity of Trumps 2020 campaign, followed by months of not conceding the election and culminating in the Jan. 6 riot on the U.S. Capitol are all still fresh in the memories of Americans, it is not surprising that only 29% of Americans view this matchup as a good thing while a plurality (45%) of citizens believe this potential contest to be bad for the nation. Malaise stems from the 63% of voters who view both Trump and Biden as old, with 48% believing both candidates are out of touch with issues the country faces, UMass Amherst political science professor and poll co-director Jesse Rhodes said. Even as Trumps court battles carry on, pollsters found that the effect of his legal woes and a potential conviction wont change how voters think of him, associate professor of political science at UMass Amherst and co-director of the poll Alexander Theodoridis added. As well, the poll generated results when asking what emotions the elections prospects stir in voters: according to Theodoridis, the result was summed up as fear and loathing, the occasionally-politicized term popularized by journalist Hunter S. Thompson. Less than three in 10 Americans think this rematch is good for the country, Theodoridis said in the statement. Huge majorities of Democrats and Republicans say they will feel fear, anger, disappointment and sadness if the other partys candidate wins. Fear by party-aligned voters towards both candidates was evenly split, with 71% of Democrats fearing a Trump victory and 69% of Republicans afraid of another Biden term, political science professor and poll co-director Raymond La Raja said. However, 39% of voters are hopeful for a Trump win while only 27% of respondents are enthusiastic about Bidens possible re-election. As we head into the 2024 presidential campaign, fear is a predominant emotion among both Biden and Trump supporters, Rhodes said. Democrats and Republicans have distinctive fears, though. Many Biden supporters expect chaos or even dictatorship if Trump is elected. Meanwhile, a significant share of Trump supporters fear that a Biden victory will lead to the erosion of religious liberties and gun rights, as well as an explosion of undocumented immigration. With over 70% over Americans expressing concern about violence in connection with the 2024 campaign, Rhodes said voters on both sides share the belief that the other side could enact violence if they lose the election. The polling margin of error is 3.7%. UMass Amherst pollsters and YouGov reached out to 1,064 respondents nationwide. The sampling frame followed a politically representative modeled frame of U.S. adults based on American Community Survey data and public voter file records, among other sourcing that includes the 2020 presidential vote. A Massachusetts lawmaker whos taking the lead on poverty-related issues has called on the Biden administration to address to take a proactive approach to addressing homelessness nationwide, arguing its the best way to fight the increased criminalization of the unhoused. U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-2nd District, the vice-chair of House Democrats Poverty Task Force, joined with his colleagues in a Feb. 1 letter to President Joe Biden, calling on the Democrat to include homeless services, substances use disorders programs, and community-driven alternatives, in the 2025 budget proposal hes slated to submit to Congress on March 11. McGovern was joined on the letter by Democratic U.S. Reps. Barbara Lee, of Texas, who chairs the Democrats poverty task force; Cori Bush, of Missouri, who also serves as co-chairperson of of the Congressional Caucus on Homelessness and vice chairperson on Criminalization of the Poverty Task Force; and Bobby Scott, of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the House Education and Workforce Development Committee. The number of unhoused people nationwide skyrocketed in 2023, rising by 12% to 653,104 people, USA Today reported, citing data compiled by the U.S. Dept. of Urban Planning and Development. In 2022, there were 582,462 people, according to the federal data, which is based on a single night in January. That data came after the federal government released figures showing the nation faced growing poverty and food insecurity rates, USA Today reported. In 2022, the most recent year for which data were available, more than than 12% of the nations population was living below the poverty line, and nearly 13% said they didnt have enough to eat, the newspaper reported. In their letter to Biden, the lawmakers noted that communities of color experience higher rates of homelessness, with nearly 4 in 10 unhoused people identifying as Black, African American, or African, while 28% identified as Hispanic or Latino. Because the White House has said it wants to reduce homelessness by 25% by 2025, the lawmakers said the White Houses fiscal blueprint should support unhoused populations through constructive, permanent solutions of increased funding for homeless services, substances use disorders programs, and community-driven alternatives. The lawmakers letter also comes as Massachusetts struggles to meet surging demand for its emergency shelter system, which has been driven in large part by an influx of new arrivals. Last week, the Healey administration began housing migrants, who formerly had been sleeping on the floor at Boston Logan International Airport, at a recreational center in Roxbury. Read More: State to move migrants staying at Logan Airport to Boston recreation center McGovern and his colleagues credited the administration for its efforts to date to address homelessness, which have included efforts to provide more housing vouchers; additional emergency rental assistance, and by increasing the nations stock of affordable housing. But, they noted, even with that work, too many people still were slipping through the cracks. With sharply rising numbers of homeless populations, there must be a comprehensive federal response that takes into account the multitude of challenges affecting unhoused communities and individuals in order to realistically reach this laudable goal, they wrote. Massachusetts two U.S. senators are calling for robust disaster federal relief for Bay State farmers who lost crops and suffered damages in the wake of damaging floods last year. The two lawmakers put their concerns in a letter to the top Democratic and Republican leaders in the chamber, and the heads of the Senates budget-writing Appropriations Committee, asking them to include the aid in a 2024 funding package now pending on Capitol Hill. Thanks to heavy weather that included freezes and floods, farmers across the commonwealth saw some 3,000 acres of crops ruined, racking up at least $49 million in damages, Warren and Markey told Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y.; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, who lead the Senate Appropriations Committee. The $2.8 billion in disaster assistance that President Joe Biden included in a supplemental funding request last fall is woefully insufficient to cover some $8.5 billion in expected losses nationwide, the two lawmakers said in a statement. Even with federal disaster declarations last year that cleared the path for federal assistance through low-interest, already cash-strapped Massachusetts farmers still werent able to fully recover from the losses. Nor could they afford to repay additional loans when some already had taken on debt to plant their crops in the first place, they noted. Massachusetts farms are in dire need of grant-based federal aid to compensate for crop loss. We request that Congress appropriate funding to [the U.S. Department of Agriculture] that can be distributed to Massachusetts farmers in the form of direct grants, to compensate for the loss of revenue and quality or production losses of crops . . . due to flooding, freeze, tornadoes, and frost, Markey and Warren wrote. Last year, Massachusetts lawmakers approved, and Democratic Gov. Maura Healey signed, a year-end funding bill that channeled some $20 million in state-level disaster assistance to Massachusetts farmers. Last month, as she rolled out her 2024-25 budget plan, Healey also asked lawmakers to authorize the creation of a permanent disaster relief resiliency fund that would speed the flow of assistance to disaster-stricken communities. The resiliency fund is based on House and Senate legislation respectively sponsored by Rep. Natalie Blais, D-1st Franklin, and Sen. Joanne M. Comerford, D-Hampshire/Franklin/Worcester. Right now, the Bay State is one of only two states that doesnt have a permanent disaster relief fund, MassLive previously reported. The eagerly anticipated Campus Abroad Annual International Education Fair 2024 is set to take place on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, from 1:00pm to 6:00pm at the prestigious Hennessy Park Hotel. This flagship event promises to be an invaluable opportunity for students and parents in Mauritius to connect with representatives from esteemed universities worldwide. Spanning the globe, universities from Australia, Canada, UK, Spain, China, France, Hungary, Mauritius, and New Zealand will converge at the fair, offering a diverse range of academic programmes and pathways to attendees. With a focus on facilitating meaningful interactions, the fair provides a platform for students and parents to explore various institutions and gather essential information to inform their educational journey. One of the unique highlights of this years event is the synchronicity with the release of A Levels results for HSC students in Mauritius on February 7. The strategic timing of the fair, from 1:00pm to 6:00pm, allows students ample opportunity to attend and engage with university representatives immediately after receiving their results. This synergy enables students and parents to make informed decisions and explore potential university options together. The Campus Abroad Annual International Education Fair 2024 offers a dynamic environment where attendees can interact directly with representatives from universities across the globe. From discussing application procedures to exploring scholarship opportunities and post-study work possibilities, participants will gain invaluable insights into the intricacies of studying abroad. While the decision to study abroad is significant, the fair aims to provide students and parents with clarity and guidance throughout the process. By engaging with university representatives, attendees can address questions regarding entry requirements, visa applications, and important deadlines, remarked Jayashankar Seshadri, Director of Campus Abroad Mauritius Ltd. Moreover, the release of HSC results on February 7 empowers students to leverage their academic achievements and explore university options effectively. With timely access to their results, students can inform representatives about their scores and assess their eligibility for various programmes. Additionally, the fair coincides with the application deadlines of numerous institutions which all fall around February and March, allowing students to take proactive steps towards securing their academic future, says Campus Abroads co-founder and director, Rajeshwari Jayasankar. The Campus Abroad Annual International Education Fair 2024 serves as a beacon of opportunity, guiding Mauritian students towards global academic excellence and personal growth. As students embark on the journey of higher education, this event promises to be a pivotal moment in shaping their future trajectory. CLAREMORRIS teenager Dana Carney has earned top honours at Scifest for developing an app that helps parents navigating extensive Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) waiting lists. Beating of competition from 160 girls showcasing 89 projects, Danas TalkTime app saw her crowned overall Junior Winner at the event at The Digital Hub in Dublin. Dana worked on her app at Project Squad, TeenTurns after school programme which takes place in Mount Saint Michael secondary school in Claremorris every Thursday afternoon. TalkTime, is an early intervention app for children aged 3-5 with speech-language difficulties, explained Dana, who came with the idea after watching a younger relative of mine suffer with speech-language difficulties. As a result of extensive waiting lists her family notice a huge drop in her self-confidence and ability to socialise. They all felt helpless, and didnt know how to help their daughter, said Dana. I created TalkTime for children and families like hers, to help parents of children with speech-language difficulties feel less frustrated and helpless, and to help children to make progress while awaiting treatment. TeenTurn is an Irish non-profit organisation that provides teen girls the opportunity to gain hands-on STEM experience and the support to acquire qualifications and jobs, with a particular emphasis on underserved communities. Speaking about the experience of working with TeenTurn Dana said she loved every minute of participating in the project. If I had to pick a favourite thing about it, Id probably say all the new and interesting people you meet throughout your project; be it other girls from Mount St Michael, TeenTurn girls from all over Ireland with similar interests to mine, parents or speech-language therapists I interviewed, or mentors that helped me with my project. Everyone was always so supportive and willing to share ideas or help with anything. Even with all the hard work, we always had great craic too! she added. Join Enterprise State Community Colleges Fine Arts Division this March as students and community members share what life is like while working 9 to 5 in the Colleges spring production of the hit musical. According to the Music Theatre International website, 9 to 5 The Musical, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton and book by Patricia Resnick, is based on the seminal 1980 hit movie. Set in the late 1970s, this hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic. Pushed to the boiling point, three female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot they call their boss. In a hilarious turn of events, Violet, Judy and Doralee live out their wildest fantasy giving their boss the boot! While Hart remains otherwise engaged, the women give their workplace a dream makeover, taking control of the company that had always kept them down. Hey, a girl can scheme, cant she? Tickets sales are open for community members and ESCC students. Tickets can be purchased at escc.edu/9to5 or through the ESCC Business Office. General Admission tickets are $15, and student tickets are $5. Students must purchase their tickets through the Business Office and be able to show their Student ID. Performances of 9 to 5 will be March 14, 15, and 16 in the Student Center MPR. Each performance will begin at 7 p.m. Enterprise State Community College is a comprehensive community college which serves more than 2,200 students annually between its Enterprise campus and the Alabama Aviation Colleges in Andalusia and Ozark. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, February 5, 2024 Pereira ODell, an affiliate of Munich-based holding company Serviceplan, is launching an AI innovation and incubation lab that it says will develop new capabilities/services around AI-powered media, data, optimization, creative, customer experience design, and operations. According to the agency, the new lab, based at its offices in San Francisco, has been spun out of its existing AI development lab and is part of Serviceplan Groups global AI ecosystem. advertisement advertisement The agency has hired Silicon Valley entrepreneur Rob Wrubel as managing director of Silverside. Wrubel, who was the first CEO of Ask Jeeves, will work closely with Pereira ODell co-founders PJ Pereira and Andrew ODell. The lab is designed to help keep Serviceplan Group agencies on the leading edge of AI-driven ad technology and related offerings. Serviceplan Group has also unveiled an AI Lab in Munich to help strengthen the Group's global AI capacities. Several startups are participating in the Silverside lab including Pactto, an AI start-up focused on redefining how creative feedback is exchanged digitally. Other incubation partners include: Beautiful.ai, a AI-powered presentation company; Boomy, a leading AI generation music startup; and Gocharlie, a text and image generator for ad creation. In 2023 Serviceplan Group expanded its operations in the U.S. with the creation of Serviceplan Americas and the acquisition of a 30% stake in New York-based agency L&C NYC. by Tanya Gazdik , February 4, 2024 Target, which has an entire microsite dedicated to its vast array of Black History Month offerings, has pulled an item that misidentifies several civil rights leaders. The mistake was revealed via a TikTok video created by Tierra Espy, a high school U.S. history teacher, which has been viewed 1.2 million times. The Civil Rights Magnetic Learning Kit includes a case of 26 magnets and informational cards features illustrations of Black leaders and slogans from the civil rights movement. Espy, 26, who teaches 11th-grade U.S. history at Cheyenne High School in Las Vegas, Nevada, says she bought the tin of magnets for her children, ages 4 and 6, as an educational tool for Black History Month, which is celebrated in the United States and Canada in February. advertisement advertisement Espy, who shares content under the handle @issatete, says she was alarmed to discover the mistakes. I was upset because I was like, how does this get to so many people, so many levels, and put into stores, and I caught it in 10 seconds? Espy tells The New York Times. Whoa, this is not OK. The names of three Civil Rights icons Carter G. Woodson, W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington do not match cartoon depictions of their photos. Target tellsTime in an email: We will no longer be selling this product in stores or online. Weve also ensured the product's publisher is aware of the errors. In a follow-up TikTok video, posted after reports Target had pulled the product, Espy said she felt compelled to call out the errors. "I wasn't going to let it slide for my 200 students or my two babies, who I'm responsible for teaching, she says. Tete says she noticed mistakes as soon as she opened the toy, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "This is not W.E.B. Du Bois," she says, pointing to an image erroneously labeled with his name. "This is Booker T. Washington." This is not the first time Target has run into issues related to its special collections, according to the Star Tribune. Last year, Target pulled some items from its Pride collection after backlash and protests over the products. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, February 5, 2024 Yandex NV, the parent company of the Russian search engine, has agreed to sell its assets in the country to a group of local investors for $5.2 billion in one of the largest corporate exits from Russia since Moscows invasion of Ukraine. The company, which is based in the Netherlands, said Monday the total consideration for the sale will be RUB 475 billion, subject to adjustments and payable in a combination of cash and Class A shares of YNV. At least 50% will be paid in cash. Yandex will retain some of its assets outside of Russia, such as autonomous-driving, cloud computing and artificial intelligence businesses. The company will seek shareholder approval to rebrand under a new name. The plan is to delist "its Class A shares from the Moscow Exchange, to be effective as of the second closing. The Target is expected to obtain public status and a listing on the Moscow Exchange in advance of the first closing," the company published in a release on its website. advertisement advertisement The cash consideration for Yandex, known for its Google-like tech qualities, will be paid in Chinese Yuan (CNH) outside of Russia, Yandex NV said in a statement. The Purchaser is Consortium.First, a newly formed closed-end mutual investment combined fund managed by Solid Management, a Russian joint stock company and licensed trust manager, as trustee. Lukoil, a Russian oil producer, and several entrepreneurs are part of the group buying Yandex assets led by local management. This would put the company under Russian ownership. Lukoil said in a statement reported by The Wall Street Journal it would hold 10% of the new Russian company. Apart from the search engine, Yandexs Russian assets include a popular ride-hailing application, an ecommerce platform and an Alexa-style virtual assistant called Alice. Arkady Volozh, Yandexs co-founder, moved from Russia to Israel in 2014. He condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It led some in the Kremlin to push to nationalize Yandex, people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Russias invasion of Ukraine is barbaric, and I am categorically against it, Volozh said in a statement published in August 2023. I am horrified about the fate of people in Ukraine many of them my personal friends and relatives whose houses are being bombed every day. The Kremlin welcomed the deal and has been engaged in negotiations with Yandex for around 18 months to try and spin off the Russian businesses from Yandex NV, its Dutch parent, according to reports. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, February 5, 2024 Interpublic Group has announced the appointment of Susan Credle as its first-ever Creative Advisor. For the remainder of 2024, she will retain her role as Chair of global network FCB, which she joined in 2016 as Global Chief Creative Officer after two decades at BBDO. Credle will continue to report IPG CEO Philippe Krakowsky. advertisement advertisement In her Creative Advisor role, IPG said Credle will work with creative leaders across the holding company. She is tasked with infusing creative perspectives into emerging offering such as commerce and marketing technology solutions including areas like generative AI. Krakowsky applauded her work at FCBduring her time there it was named Cannes Global Network of The Year and North America Network Of The Year for the last five years. We wanted to create an opportunity for that impact to extend to the rest of IPG, he said. ANDALUSIAThe death of an inmate in the Covington County Jail is being investigated by Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys State Bureau of Investigation Special Agents, according to Alabama Law Enfocement Agency. SBI Special Agents identified Justin Aaron Blackmon 34, of Andalusia, as the inmate. At the request of the Covington County Sheriffs Office, the SBI launched an investigation into Blackmons in-custody death reported at approximately 2:15 a.m. on Saturday. An autopsy will be performed by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, according to a news release. Nothing further is available as the investigation is ongoing. Once complete, the findings will be turned over to the Covington County District Attorneys Office. Highlights: AiSee, a wearable assistive device, empowers visually impaired individuals by using AI to identify and provide information about objects The device's human-centric design incorporates a discreet bone conduction headphone, challenging the traditional camera-equipped glasses AiSee's components include a micro-camera, cloud-based AI algorithms, and bone conduction technology, ensuring operational autonomy and affordability Empowering the visually impaired, AiSee's AI-driven technology identifies objects, challenging conventional designs. A discreet bone conduction headphone and affordability make it a game-changer. #assistivetech #innovation #medindia Advertisement AiSee: A Five-Year Evolution Advertisement How AiSee Works Advertisement Components of AiSee The Eye: Vision Engine Computer Software AiSee incorporates a micro-camera, forming the 'vision engine computer software. This software extracts features such as text, logos, and labels from captured images for processing. The Brain: AI-Powered Image Processing and Interactive Q&A System After capturing an image, AiSee uses cloud-based AI algorithms to process and analyze it, identifying the object. Users can interact with AiSee by asking questions about the object, leveraging advanced text-to-speech and speech-to-text recognition. The Speaker: Bone Conduction Sound System AiSee's headphone uses bone conduction technology for sound transmission through the skull. This ensures that visually impaired users receive auditory information while retaining awareness of external sounds, critical for decision-making in various situations. Operational Autonomy and Affordability of AiSee NUS researchers develop AI-powered eye for visually impaired people to see objects - (https://news.nus.edu.sg/ai-powered-eye-for-visually-impaired-people/) For many, the act of grocery shopping is a routine, almost automatic part of daily life. However, for those with visual impairments, this seemingly simple task can become a daunting challenge. Recognizing the need for enhanced support, a team of researchers from the National University of Singapores School of Computing (NUS Computing) has introduced AiSee, an innovative and affordable wearable assistive device. AiSee's primary goal is to empower individuals with visual impairments by providing them with a unique way to 'see' and identify objects around them through the power of artificial intelligence (AI) One of the significant hurdles faced by individuals with visual impairments is the identification of everyday objects. This challenge extends beyond the basic act of recognizing items; it directly impacts their ability to make both simple and complex decisions in their daily lives. While strides in AI have significantly improved visual recognition capabilities, the practical application of these technologies remains a complex and error-prone endeavor.Developed initially in 2018 and continually upgraded over five years, AiSee is positioned as a solution to overcome the limitations faced by visually impaired individuals in object identification. The key innovation lies in its utilization of state-of-the-art AI technologies, making it a valuable tool for daily life.Lead researcher of Project AiSee, Associate Professor Suranga Nanayakkara from the Department of Information Systems and Analytics at NUS Computing, emphasizes the human-centric design philosophy behind AiSee. The researchers questioned the conventional approach of using glasses augmented with a camera, considering potential reluctance among users to wear glasses due to stigmatization. As an alternative, AiSee incorporates a discreet bone conduction headphone.AiSee operates on a simple premise, allowing users to hold an object and activate the in-built camera to capture an image. The AI within AiSee then identifies the object and provides additional information when queried by the user.Unlike many wearable assistive devices that require smartphone pairing, AiSee operates as a self-contained system, enhancing user convenience. The researchers are actively working to make AiSee more affordable and accessible to a broader audience. This involves ongoing enhancements, including a more ergonomic design and a faster processing unit.User testing, in collaboration with SG Enable in Singapore, is currently underway to refine and improve AiSee's features and performance. Notably, B.P. De Silva Holdings Pte Ltd has generously contributed S$150,000 to support the project, highlighting a commitment to corporate social responsibility and inclusivity.Ms. Ku Geok Boon, Chief Executive Officer of SG Enable, emphasizes the transformative potential of AiSee. She envisions innovative solutions, enabled by assistive technologies, changing the lives of persons with disabilities, supporting independence, and lowering barriers to employment.Beyond the current project, SG Enable expresses interest in further collaboration with NUS to explore how AI, human-computer interface, and assistive technology can offer more technological options for persons with disabilities. This collaborative effort reflects a commitment to ongoing advancements that enhance accessibility and inclusivity, underlining the transformative power of technology in creating a more equitable and inclusive world. Last year, it was reported that Lokesh Kanagaraj had approached Shah Rukh Khan for a cameo in Rajinikanths upcoming untitled action entertainer Thalaivar 171. The report claimed that SRK had refused the part. Now, theres been strong buzz that the King of Bollywood has been approached for another cameo role in the upcoming pan-Indian gangster action entertainer Toxic starring Rocking Star Yash. A source told Pinkvilla that director Geetu Mohandas, Kannada superstar Yash and the makers of Toxic approached SRK. Shah Rukh Khan is at the peak of his career and every director is looking to collaborate with him at the moment. Earlier in the year, Yash, Geetu Mohandas and Toxic makers approached Shah Rukh Khan for an extended cameo in the gangster-based actioner. Its an author-backed role and not one of those just added for a gimmick. There is a proper track for the character which has been offered to SRK, and the makers are hoping to have him on board. The U.S. military's continuing efforts to defuel and ultimately close the underground Red Hill fuel storage facility have sparked an unexpected controversy all the way in the Philippines as the Pentagon grapples with how to supply its forces in the Pacific. Just before Christmas, commanders hailed the departure of the Yosemite Trader a commercial ship carrying the last shipment of "usable" fuel from Red Hill as it sailed from Pearl Harbor bound for Subic Bay. The Philippine port is one of several locations the U.S. military is using to redistribute the more than 104 million gallons of fuel that sat in tanks just 100 feet above a critical aquifer most of Honolulu relies on for drinking water. But just as the voyage neared completion, Philippine Sen. Imee Marcos on Jan. 10 released a statement accusing the U.S. and Philippine governments of a lack of transparency regarding the shipment. A day later the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority told Philippine Media that the Yosemite Trader had canceled its request to enter Subic Bay. Cmdr. Matthew Comer, a spokesperson for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that "delivery of fuel shipped from Red Hill to Subic Bay was delayed due to country diplomatic clearance. On Friday, January 19th, diplomatic clearance was received and the ship offloaded fuel in Subic Bay before returning to sea." But the flurry of news around the fuel delivery drew scattered protests in the Philippines. In a statement to the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the group Stop the War Coalition Philippines said that "aside from health and environmental repercussions, the security risk is posed by who will ultimately use it, what they will use it for, and who will be responsible for securing it, we are talking about massive amounts of dangerous, combustible substances. We demand answers, accountability and transparency in this matter that will impact the public." Marcos, who helped set off the controversy, is the elder sister of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and chair of the Philippine Senate's committee on foreign relations. Both siblings lived in Hawaii when their father, the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., was overthrown in 1986 and went into exile in Honolulu. Lately, Marcos Jr. has been working to shore up relations with the U.S. military as tensions escalate between the Philippines and China. Manila and Beijing are locked in a series of disputes over maritime territorial and navigation rights. In 2016 an international court ruled in the Philippines' favor and declared that China's territorial claims had "no legal basis." But Beijing doubled down, with the Chinese military building bases on disputed islands and reefs, and now frequently attacking and harassing Filipino fishermen and other maritime workers. In 2023 the Philippines signed an agreement with the Pentagon allowing the U.S. military access to several bases in the country to store equipment and conduct operations. That Imee Marcos would vocally criticize the fuel transfer as her brother is trying to tighten the alliance surprised some. The Marcos family has historically worked closely together, guarding their wealth and working to rebuild their reputation in the country as they gradually worked their way back into power. But Patricio Abinales, a professor at the University of Hawaii at Manoa who specializes in the Philippines, said the rift comes as no surprise and called it "all politics." "The sister has been marginalized from the brother's inner circle ever since he became president," Abinales said. "Imee was and is still close to former President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte. President Marcos' closest advisers are his cousin, the speaker of the House, Martin Romualdez, and the first lady, Lisa Araneta." Marcos Jr. ran for office in 2022 with a campaign platform promising to continue many of Rodrigo Duterte's policies, including seeking closer ties with China and rethinking relations with the United States. The Marcos and Duterte families worked closely together. But over the past few months, the Marcos-Duterte alliance has begun to fray as both families prepare for the next elections. The Philippine legislature recently slashed Sara Duterte's large "confidential funds" budget, and some lawmakers close to Marcos have expressed an openness to allow the International Court of Justice to prosecute Duterte's father for human rights abuses that resulted from the brutal drug war he launched in 2016, which killed as many as 11,000 people. During his presidential campaign Marcos touted his friendships with Chinese officials in campaign interviews and argued he could better negotiate with the Chinese government, and even suggested setting aside the 2016 court ruling. But Chinese forces also have continued to aggressively harass Philippine vessels despite initial friendly overtures from Marcos. The attacks have deepened anti-Chinese sentiments in the Philippines and pushed the Marcos administration to take a much tougher stance with Beijing as it now seeks closer cooperation with the United States. During a visit to Hawaii in November, Marcos said in a speech in Waikiki that "the situation has become more dire than it was before. The nearest reefs that the (Chinese military) have started to show interest in, in terms of slowly using these atolls and shoals for building bases ... are approaching closer and closer to the Philippine coastline. And the nearest one is now around 60 nautical miles from the nearest Philippine coast." The Dutertes have publicly criticized Marcos personally for his pro- U.S. shift, accusing him of being an American lackey. The Marcos family hails from the Philippine province of Ilocos Norte, the same place much of Hawaii's Filipino population comes from. The family continues to have strong supporters in Hawaii. Abinales said he suspects that helped inspire Imee Marcos' decision to press the issue of the Red Hill fuel transfers. "Imee wants to be part of the central drama, and the only way she can do this is to raise hackles like the one on the U.S. Navy fuel ship," said Abinales. "Allies in Hawaii must have alerted her to this. The question is, Who are these people among the large Ilocano community in Honolulu?" For years the Navy insisted that Red Hill was vital to national security. But in November 2021 fuel from the facility tainted the Navy's Oahu water system, which serves 93,000 people including service members, military families and civilians living in former military housing areas. The Pentagon announced in March 2022 that it would close Red Hill, and military officials said they would pursue a new "distributed" strategy of storing fuel at various points around the region, as well as "afloat locations" aboard tankers. After years of insisting they couldn't keep forces fueled without Red Hill, military brass now argue the new plan will make supply lines more "resilient" and give commanders more flexibility. The Pentagon chartered several commercial tankers to remove fuel from Red Hill. In addition to Subic Bay, they ferried fuel to West Oahu facilities run by Island Energy Services at Campbell Industrial Park, to a fuel storage point in San Diego and to another in Singapore. In her statement on the fuel delivery to the Philippines, Imee Marcos accused the Philippine military of "inexplicable silence" and noted that Subic Bay which was a U.S. Navy base until the Philippine government ordered it closed in 1992 after a disagreement over leasing costs is not among the facilities the U.S. military can use to pre-position forces or equipment under the 2023 agreement. But the Philippine military responded that there was "nothing to explain on the fuel shipment." Spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar told Filipino reporters that "the process that was followed by the U.S. government, these are all administrative in nature and did not involve the participation of the armed forces." Abinales said it was unlikely that the political spat between the Marcos and Duterte families would lead to any sort of meaningful disruptions in the alliance between the U.S. and the Philippines. "Both militaries have had a long and close relationship, and this even survived the anti- U.S., pro- China position of Rodrigo Duterte," said Abinales. "(Duterte) cursed at U.S. officials a lot during his time, but Rodrigo could never get the Philippine military to reorient itself towards China and away from (the United States). His generals put their foot down, and he quietly allowed U.S.-Philippine military exercises to continue." ___ (c)2024 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Members of San Diego's congressional delegation are asking the U.S. Dept. of the Navy to release data that may reveal the true effects the Tijuana sewage crisis has had on Naval operations. On Jan. 23, Reps. Juan Vargas, Scott Peters, Sara Jacobs, Darrell Issa and Mike Levin wrote a letter to Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro requesting statistics for 2022 and 2023. They specifically want to know how many times training or operations have been suspended or relocated because of beach closures, the costs of having to relocate or halt operations and how often personnel are raising concerns about sickness or injuries and the type after coming in contact with contaminated water and sand. Additionally, they asked how the Navy has been collecting this information. In February 2023, the Navy said that the number of in-water training sessions canceled at the Silver Strand Training Complex in Coronado went from none in 2021 to more than 20 in 2022, the Congressional delegation said in its letter. Coronado is home to the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command and neighbors Imperial Beach. For months on end, their shorelines were shut down because untreated wastewater repeatedly spills over the border from Mexico. And when it rains, pollution is flushed through the Tijuana River and into the South County region. "These flows have impacted water quality at beaches in our region including those where Navy Seals regularly train," the letter says. "If the pollution in the ( Tijuana River Valley) is not addressed, we are concerned that further training cancellations due to water quality concerns could harm the Navy and our military readiness." Brian O'Rourke, Navy Region Southwest spokesperson, said Friday that when the county issues a water advisory because of poor water quality, "in-water training evolutions are delayed, moved or canceled to mitigate any potential impact in accordance with our established risk management protocols." "Like local citizens who work and swim in local waters, the Navy does have some concern regarding the amount of sewage and debris that pollutes the south San Diego County coastline, causes erosion, damages natural resources and impacts the health and well-being of our community," he added. Similarly, U.S. Border Patrol agents have raised concerns about the health risks of working in often polluted terrain in the Tijuana River Valley. Officials will use the data to further build their case for why funding is urgently needed to fix and expand a dilapidated wastewater facility in San Diego that treats sewage from Mexico. This story originally appeared in San Diego Union-Tribune. 2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. More than 2,200 military families and civilians filed the latest lawsuit Monday against the federal government over water contamination at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii -- many of whom say they still suffer health effects from the 2021 debacle that sent thousands of gallons of jet fuel into the tap water in their homes. The suit -- the third filed over spills at the U.S. Navy's Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility -- alleges that personnel, families and civilians have ongoing medical conditions as a result of drinking, bathing and inhaling fumes from the base water supply. Several families say the health consequences have been so severe that they have been placed in their respective services' Exceptional Family Member Programs, giving them access to additional services and treatment but limiting them to assignments in locations where such care is available. Read Next: As US Troops Take Fire in Middle East, Lawmakers Consider Billions in New Funding The case, Hughes et. al. v. the United States of America, is named for the family of Jaclyn Hughes, the spouse of an active-duty Navy officer who was living on base on Nov. 22, 2021, when more than 5,000 gallons of jet fuel leaked from the Red Hill facility into a drinking water well operated by the service. Shortly before the spill, Hughes gave birth to a son. Around Thanksgiving, she began experiencing a burning throat while her newborn broke out into rashes, according to the lawsuit. Within weeks, the couple's daughter developed obsessive compulsive disorder and pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome, a condition categorized, in her case, by rage, irritability, sensitivity and other behavioral problems that she had never before displayed. Although the cause of the illness is not well understood, according to Stanford Medicine, it is "thought to be triggered by infections, metabolic disturbances, and other inflammatory reactions." She continues to display symptoms, the lawsuit alleges. In the suit, retired Army Lt. Col. Anthony Wilson and wife Raechel Wilson said their children -- one of whom had previously been diagnosed with autism -- developed severe neurological symptoms within a month of the spill. In the case of the 6-year-old autistic son, he suffered manic episodes so severe he was prescribed Lithium, followed by the antipsychotic drug Abilify, which Wilson and his wife declined out of concern for long-term consequences, according to court documents. More than 93,000 people living in military housing on and around Pearl Harbor were affected months earlier by a massive spill of 20,000 gallons of fuel at the Red HIll facility in May 2021, which eventually led to the dumping of fuel into the ground and tap water in November. The November incident forced thousands from their homes and obliged those who opted to remain to use bottled water for months. Surveys conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in January and February 2022 and again in September 2022 found that military personnel, their spouses and children suffered headaches, skin irritation and rashes, diarrhea, fatigue and dizziness they believe was caused by using contaminated drinking water at Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Facing pressure from the Hawaii delegation in Congress, environmental advocates and the State of Hawaii, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced in March 2022 that the Navy would close the massive Red Hill facility, which contained more than 12.4 million gallons of diesel and 93 million gallons of jet fuel. Drainage is ongoing. Joint Task Force-Red Hill completed the gravity defueling portion, transferring 104 million gallons of the most easily removed fuel, on Dec. 16. Since Jan. 15, the task force has removed 25,002 gallons of residual fuel that was left behind in drains and vent valves, according to a press release. The Hughes suit joins Patrick Feindt Jr. et. al v. the United States of America, which also seeks damages and compensation for health issues and trauma related to the spill, and Jessica Whaley et. al, v. the United States of America, a suit filed by active-duty personnel that challenges the Feres doctrine, a court precedent that largely prevents service members from suing the federal government for injuries. The plaintiffs in the three cases, who now total more than 7,500 people, are represented by Just Well Law, an Austin, Texas-based firm. Related: 3 Retired Admirals Censured for Roles in the Red Hill Spill that Tainted Navy Community's Drinking Water Download our 2024 AI Superguide to discover over 200 other AI tools. Freddy AI for Sales is a powerful tool that integrates artificial intelligence into your CRM to enhance your sales performance. With Freddy as your always-available AI assistant, you can accomplish more tasks in less time. 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Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter , Facebook and Instagram. Billions of dollars for U.S. military operations in the Middle East, where American troops have been under consistent fire from Iran-backed militants since October, are on the line as lawmakers bicker over U.S. border politics. A long-awaited bipartisan Senate agreement to provide funding for the conflicts in Israel and Ukraine in exchange for U.S. immigration reforms includes $2.4 billion to support American military operations in the Central Command region. The Senate is expected to take an initial procedural vote on the bill as soon as Wednesday. But conservative GOP complaints that the immigration provisions do not go far enough to "shut down" the U.S. southern border have put the fate of the entire package, including the Middle East funding and funding for weapons for Ukraine, into question. Read Next: Navy Sinking Nearly $1 Billion into Barracks Construction Amid Revelations of Poor Living Conditions "The United States and our allies are facing multiple, complex and, in places, coordinated challenges from adversaries who seek to disrupt democracy and expand authoritarian influence around the globe," Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement Sunday that touts that the bill "provides billions in vital investments in America's national security to address growing threats in the Middle East and Red Sea." Meanwhile, House Republicans have proposed a bill focused solely on the Middle East that includes more than $3 billion for U.S. military operations there. Democrats, though, have dismissed that proposal as a political ploy that pits support for Israel against support for Ukraine and is aimed at denying President Joe Biden a win on border policy. But House Republicans argue that the Middle East funding is too pressing to wait for agreement with the Senate on the larger bill, with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., contending in a letter to colleagues Saturday that the upper chamber "eliminated the ability for swift consideration of any legislation" by excluding the House from talks. The political fighting at home comes as U.S. troops have been battling Iran-backed militias in Iraq, Syria and Yemen in a tit-for-tat that has grown increasingly dangerous for American forces and has all the hallmarks of a regional conflict despite Pentagon statements to the contrary. The militants in Iraq and Syria stepped up attacks on U.S. forces in those countries after the start of the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip in October. Houthi rebels in Yemen also started firing on ships in the Red Sea in what the Houthis claim is a show of support for Palestinians in Gaza. Late last month, the attacks killed three U.S. soldiers who were serving at a logistics base in Jordan in support of the U.S. forces in Syria. More than 100 other U.S. troops have also been injured in the Iraq and Syria attacks. And while officials have been hesitant to say U.S. Navy ships, rather than commercial ships, are being targeted by the Houthis in the Red Sea, at least one Navy ship recently had a close call. The U.S. responded to the deaths in Jordan with airstrikes on dozens of sites in Iraq and Syria on Friday in what officials described as the first step in a multi-tiered response. U.S. forces have also conducted nearly daily strikes in Yemen since a massive first wave of strikes Jan. 12. With the Middle East violence showing no signs of abating soon and the costs of deployments and used weapons adding up, the Senate bill released Sunday would provide $2.4 billion for "U.S. operations, force protection, deterrence, and the replacement of combat expenditures in the United States Central Command region," according to the text of the bill. Senators included border policy in the bill in an attempt to entice support from conservatives who increasingly oppose funding for Ukraine, which would get about $48 billion in U.S. military aid in the legislation. But border politics are now threatening to sink the entire package. House Republican leadership has rejected the Senate bill over their opposition to the legislation's immigration provisions, making it unclear what path there is to funding the Middle East military operations. "Any consideration of this Senate bill in its current form is a waste of time," Johnson and the rest of his leadership team said in a joint statement Monday. "It is DEAD on arrival in the House. We encourage the U.S. Senate to reject it." A competing House Republican plan released Saturday would provide $3.3 billion in personnel, operations and procurement funding for the ongoing U.S. military operations in the Middle East. The House will vote on the GOP bill this week, Republican leaders have said. But leaving out aid for Ukraine and any attempt to address what Republicans have described as a "crisis" at the southern border makes the House plan unlikely to become law, too. In a statement Saturday, the White House rejected the House proposal as a "cynical political maneuver." Related: Army Still Weighing Combat Awards for Soldiers Hit by Deadly Drone Attack at Jordan Base One of the most popular U.S. Coast Guardsmen in the history of the service had a tendency to sleep while on duty, did not always follow commands and was easily distracted by food. But what he lacked in capability, Sinbad made up for by simply being what he was -- a mixed-breed dog full of unconditional love, loyalty and endless tail wags. Sinbads unlikely journey to becoming the Coast Guard cutter Campbells mascot for more than a decade made him the subject of a short movie, a popular book (Sinbad of the Coast Guard), and a national publicity tour. After he died, this cherished dog with an affinity for whiskey and beer was deemed worthy of a full military funeral. According to the Coast Guard, the Campbells crew found Sinbad on the streets of New York in 1937 while on liberty and smuggled him onto the ship. Named after the fictional mariner, Sinbad was only allowed to stay aboard the Campbell when Capt. James Hirshfield, the ships commanding officer, proved no match for the way in which the terrier, wagging its tail excitedly at his feet, made his case. Lets hope you enjoy your stay aboard, Hirshfield told Sinbad. And enjoy it, Sinbad did. The beloved dog was treated like a distinguished guest, with hammocks and collars made specifically for him, along with a personal life jacket. Just like any other Coastie, Sinbads service and health records were on file with the service, and he was assigned service number 069-069. With his life jacket doubling as a mattress, Sinbads sleeping quarters moved nightly, depending on which crewmates bunk he chose. A draft of the dust jacket for Sinbad's biography, written by George Foley Jr., circa 1945. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard Historians Office) As long as its beloved pooch was around, the crews mood seemed to be brighter. Described as a valiant shipmate, a builder of morale, a sympathetic friend, and a symbol of loyalty and unselfish affection by a lieutenant commander under whom he served, Sinbad was just one of the guys. Except for the fact that he never paid his tab, no one could ask for a better drinking buddy than Sinbad. He was a bar hopper extraordinaire when the crew was on liberty, grabbing a stool at local bars and then barking to request a beer. The Campbells crew often pooled their money to pay for Sinbads cab fare, but sometimes the dog did not make it back to the cutter so easily from a night out. Sinbads disappearing acts became so worrisome that the Campbells crew developed its own S.O.S. call whenever its dog went AWOL: Seen Our Sinbad. Sinbad became well-known in ports around the world, but not always for the right reasons. He once survived a failed kidnapping attempt in Cuba, and he was the subject of multiple courts-martial, one for chasing sheep in Greenland. The French and British even attempted to buy him on separate occasions, with the latters bid of $1,500 worth $33,000 today. Thankfully, that offer was rejected. Sinbad was blissfully asleep when in February 1943, German submarines attacked the Campbell in an incident that culminated with the battleship and a Polish destroyer sinking the U-boat and the Campbells engine room being flooded, endangering the cutters survival. The Campbell remained disabled for four days in the North Atlantic before being towed to Newfoundland. What was Sinbad doing during this battle? For the most part, sleeping. Still, that did not stop him from receiving a promotion to Chief Dog -- if only he had not overslept for the promotion ceremony. For that infraction, Sinbad remained at the rank of dog first class. After Germany surrendered, the Campbell finished its war service as an amphibious warship in the Pacific. Sinbad earned five war ribbons and four battle stars before embarking on a postwar life full of adoration. Besides the national tour and a book release, a newsreel called A Dog of the Seven Seas was produced. Sinbad retired from the Coast Guard in 1948 with the rank of Chief Dog and settled into a comfortable life at the Barnegat Lighthouse in New Jersey. He died on Dec. 30, 1951, at the age of 13. A Coast Guard magazine editor once said of Sinbad that he was a salty sailor, but hes not a good sailor. Hes been on report several times, and hes raised hell in a number of ports. On a few occasions, he has embarrassed the United States government by creating disturbances in foreign zones. Perhaps thats why Coast Guardsmen love Sinbad; hes as bad as the worst and as good as the best of us. When a new Campbell was commissioned in 1988, members of the old crew gifted the cutter with a statue of the famous dog -- one of the few animal mascots in U.S. military history to be classified as a noncommissioned officer. Want to Know More About the Military? Be sure to get the latest news about the U.S. military, as well as critical info about how to join and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. 3:11pm: Per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, Harrison would have a salary of $1.5MM this season if he makes the club and has an opt-out opportunity on March 21. 1:44pm: The Reds have come to terms on a minor league contract with utility man Josh Harrison, as confirmed by Harrisons agency MSM Sports. The deal includes an invitation to spring training. In his age-35 season, Harrison appeared in 41 MLB games, splitting his time between third base, second base, and the corner outfield spots. He also has experience playing shortstop and has filled in at first base, in center field, and on the mound as needed. Yet, given Cincinnatis abundance of infield depth, its hard to imagine Harrison making the team out of spring training. Barring an injury to one (or several) of Elly De La Cruz, Jeimer Candelario, Jonathan India, Noelvi Marte, Matt McLain, and Spencer Steer, there simply isnt any space or any need for another infielder on the 26-man roster, no matter how versatile. However, if Harrison, an Ohio native and University of Cincinnati alum, is willing to bide his time at Triple-A, there could be a role for him eventually as injuries inevitably pop up. Harrison was a valuable role player as recently as the 2022 campaign, when he posted a 97 wRC+ and 1.4 FanGraphs WAR in 119 contests for the White Sox. Unfortunately, he struggled mightily the following year with the Phillies, hardly ever walking and hitting for even less power than usual. He was worth -0.6 fWAR in just 41 games, leading to his release after the trade deadline. Although he landed with the Rangers soon after on a minor league deal, the veteran infielder failed to make his way back to the majors before opting out of his contract at the end of August. Considering his age and steep decline, it would be fair to presume Harrisons best days are behind him. At the same time, he has a long track record of success and played well from 2020-22. If he can bounce back, the young Reds offense could certainly benefit from his experienced presence in the clubhouse. The Dodgers and Yankees swapped left-handed relievers on Monday. New York acquired Caleb Ferguson for Matt Gage and minor league right-hander Christian Zazueta. Ferguson, 27, joins a new organization for the first time in his career. He was drafted by the Dodgers in 2014 and has been with them ever since. He made his debut in 2018, starting his first three major league outings before being moved to a relief role. Apart from some occasional starts as an opener, hes stayed in the bullpen ever since. The results have been quite strong, with Ferguson making 96 appearances from 2018 to 2020, tossing 112 1/3 innings while allowing 3.93 earned runs per nine. He struck out 29.1% of batters faced in that time, gave out walks at an 8.7% clip and kept 44% of batted balls on the ground. Unfortunately, he required Tommy John surgery in September of 2020, wiping out the remainder of that campaign and preventing him from pitching at all in 2021. He has since returned to the mound and has produced fairly similar statistics to before his injury layoff. In 126 appearances over 2022 and 2023, he has 113 2/3 innings pitched with a 2.85 ERA. He struck out 27.5% of opponents in that time, walking 8.8% of them and getting grounders at a 48% clip. Those results have come with Ferguson moving to higher leverage appearances, as he earned seven holds in 2022 and 17 last year. He is now in his final season of club control, slated for free agency after the upcoming season in which hell make a salary of $2.4MM. This is the second left-handed reliever that has gone from the Dodgers to the Yankees this offseason, with Victor Gonzalez having been dealt to the Bronx in December. The Yankees have used Wandy Peralta as their primary lefty out of the bullpen in recent years, but he became a free agent this offseason and signed with the Padres last week. They now have Ferguson and Gonzalez as their top southpaw relievers, alongside righties Clay Holmes, Jonathan Loaisiga and Tommy Kahnle. Gage, 31 next week, will give the Dodgers another lefty to replace Ferguson, but one with a more limited track record. Gage has made 16 big league appearances over the past two years, suiting up for the Astros and Blue Jays, with a 1.83 ERA in a tiny sample of 19 2/3 innings. He spent most of last years with Houstons Triple-A club, tossing 37 1/3 innings at that level with a 4.58 ERA, 23.4% strikeout rate, 12% walk rate and 41.5% ground ball rate. New York claimed him off waivers from the Astros last week. For now, it appears the trade will be 40-man neutral. By sending Gage to the Dodgers, the Yanks opened up a 40-man spot for Ferguson. The Dodgers are also reportedly signing Ryan Brasier, so they will still need to open a spot for him but could perhaps do so by designating Gage or some other player for assignment. For the Yanks, they upgrade their bullpen for the 2024 season while giving up a bit of future value in Zazueta, a 19-year-old who posted a 3.29 ERA in the DSL last year. The Dodgers, meanwhile, were going to be facing a roster squeeze with the Brasier signing and have used one year of Fergusons services to give them an extra prospect and some more roster flexibility. It wouldnt be a surprise to see them pursue a different lefty at this point, as they are now down to Alex Vesia, Ryan Yarbrough and Gage as their southpaw relievers. Jon Heyman of the New York Post first reported the Yankees were acquiring Ferguson. The Posts Joel Sherman reported the Dodgers were acquiring two players, one in the upper minors and one nowhere near the majors. Heyman reported Gages inclusion. BLOOMFIELD HILLS., MI - A staple of the Metro Detroit community has closed its doors for good. The owners of the Maple Theater in Bloomfield Hills posted a heartfelt letter on social media saying they have permanently closed the business. They also posted a message on the closing on the theaters website. The current owners, Jay and Lauren Goldstein, who have run the small theater the last 12 years, say their lease expired and it was time to shut the doors. After months of difficult deliberations, we have decided that it is time to end our run as operators of this wonderful institution, they wrote. With sincere gratitude and love, we thank everyone who bought a ticket, ate a meal, or worked a shift. We will savor the memories from opening night, Secret Cinema, and the many celebrations and special events that will live forever in our memories. The owners say the pandemic played a factor in the closing, saying it had huge effects on independent art house theaters. The Maple Theater joins another longtime independent theater in Metro Detroit to close, Royal Oaks Main Art Theater, which shut down in 2021. We are proud that we stayed open and continued to serve people during such a crazy time, The Maple Theater owners added. We worked hard to return near to pre-pandemic attendance, and while there are tangible glimmers of hope, we are unable to make the financial commitment necessary to keep the Maple a first-class establishment. The owners say they have partnered with Emagine to honor Elite Memberships. Beginning on Monday, February 12, those people can head to the Birmingham 8 at 211 South Old Woodward Avenue to receive a one-year Emagine Extras membership. Those who owned Maple Theater gift cards can redeem them for an Emagine gift card at the Birmingham 8. Memberships and gift cards must be redeemed by June 1st. Pre-purchased movie tickets will be refunded. FLINT, MI For those in need of a kidney transplant or who would like to become a donor, this upcoming event in Flint is the place to be. Kidney transplants freed Londel Cook and Deb Gustafson from years of dialysis, Alena Christians life was saved by a gift from her sister, and Armond Baskin still needs a kidney transplant of his own. All four will join representatives of Gift of Life Michigan, the states organ and tissue donation program, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24, at Mott Community College for a public conversation about donation and transplantation, along with a free lunch for attendees. Community members are invited to attend Talks and Takeout in the auditorium of the Mott Regional Technology Center, 1401 E. Court St. in Flint. More than 2,400 Michiganders are waiting for life-saving organ transplants, according to a Gift for Life Michigan news release. Of that group, 80% are awaiting kidney transplants, including in Genesee County. Organ donation advocates say a lack of accurate information often prevents people from receiving the life-saving gifts they need. The event on Feb. 24 will focus on the following topics: Organ donation and transplantation in multicultural communities; myths and misconceptions addressed by medical experts from Hurley Medical Center and Shalonda Griffin from Gift of Life Michigan; what organs and tissues can be transplanted; why a person might need a transplant; and the Michigan Organ Donor Registry and how you can help others some day. Those planning to attend are asked to register in advance for lunch planning purposes. Visit golm.org/rsvp to reserve your spot. Tax season is officially underway and the Internal Revenue Service is urging filers to check if they are eligible for one of the most often overlooked tax credits. The Earned Income Tax Credit is a tax break for low to moderate earners with higher amounts available for those with children. According to the most recent IRS figures, about 23 million workers and families received about $57 billion in EITC for tax year 2022 with an average amount received of $2,541. The IRS estimates about 20% of eligible taxpayers dont claim the credit, however. Who is eligible? To claim the EITC, workers must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if their income level falls below the threshold that would require them to file. Income thresholds are $56,838 for individuals and $63,398 for married filing jointly with investment income of less than $11,000 for the tax year. Other requirements include a valid Social Security number, being a U.S. citizen not filing Form 2555 reporting foreign income. Here are income thresholds and credit amounts for this year: No children with adjusted gross income of up to $17,640 for single filers or $24,210 for joint filers - $600 maximum credit. One child with AGI of up to $46,560 for single filers or $53,120 for joint filers - $3,995 credit Two children with AGI of up to $52,918 for single filers or $59,478 for joint filers - $6,604 credit Three or more children with AGI of up to $56,838 or $63,398 for joint files - $7,430 credit The maximum EITC is up from $6,935 in 2022. Refund delays Claiming EITC or the Additional Child Tax Credit can delay your tax refund. Federal law requires additional checks to prevent identity theft for filers claiming the credits. While most tax refunds are available within three weeks, EITC or ACTC filers wont receive their refunds until at least Feb. 27 if taxpayers chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with the tax return. The IRS Wheres My Refund? will be updated by Feb. 17 for credit filers. You can see more on qualifying or filing for EITC here. DETROIT A Michigan woman has been sentenced to years in prison for the non-fatal shooting of her ex-husbands girlfriend after invading his home in Detroit, authorities said. Barika Butler-Quarles, 42, a licensed psychiatrist, of Grosse Pointe, was sentenced on Thursday in Michigans 3rd Circuit Court to 4 years and five months to 22 years in prison, according to a news release from the Wayne County Prosecutors Office. A jury convicted her of several felony counts in January. It happened around 8 p.m. on Aug. 4, 2021, officials said. Butler-Quarles entered her ex-husbands home on Woodward Avenue in Detroit without permission, startled his then-girlfriend, a 41-year-old woman from Texas, and then shot her. Butler-Quarles fired one shot, inflicting four bullet wounds, officials said. The bullet entered the victims bicep, exited through the back of her arm, and then entered her left side and exited through her back. The ex-husband wrestled the weapon from his ex-wifes hands before another shot was fired, officials said. Detroit police officers were dispatched to the residence for a reported shooting, officials said. They found the victim outside of the residence, suffering from gunshot wounds. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Two days later, Butler-Quarles was arraigned on one count each of assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, discharge of a firearm in a building causing injury, first-degree home invasion, and carrying a concealed weapon, plus four counts of felony firearm, officials said. Last month, a jury convicted her of assault with intent to do great bodily harm, first-degree home invasion, discharge of a firearm in a building causing injury, and three counts of felony firearm, officials said. Judge John Gillis sentenced Butler-Quarles to 4 years and 9 months to 20 years for first-degree home invasion, 3 to 15 years for discharge of a firearm in a building causing injury, 2 years and 5 months to 10 years for assault with intent to do great bodily harm, plus 2 years to be served consecutively for two counts of felony firearm. Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Act 2023 (Closing Loopholes Act) aims to erase the legal loopholes embedded within the workforce that are rooted in underpayments, lack of efficiency and a lack of inclusion. The Fair Work Act 2009 (Clth) is the central piece of legislation that regulates, governs and monitors employment within Australia. Consequently, these modifications are groundbreaking as an employer or employee. This article will break down the key introductions and modifications that are already effective or will be in effect this year. Criminalising Wage Theft The Closing Loopholes Act will be introducing a criminal offence for intentional underpayments when businesses and employers engage in wage theft. In response to intentional underpayments from employees and businesses, the penalties for underpayment have also increased. As of January 1, 2025, employers who commit wage theft have the potential of facing: A maximum of ten years in prison and/or a maximum fine and/or; A fine equivalent to three times the amount of the underpayments or; $1,565,000 for individuals and $7,825,000 for corporations. The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) holds the responsibility of investigating these criminal offences and will report to the DPP and Federal Police for consideration and prosecution when appropriate. Employers who genuinely mistook underpaying their employees are not encompassed under the new criminalisation of wage theft. In response, employees are more protected from underpayment due to the Closing Loopholes Act. Changes to Labour Hire Arrangement Orders A key change in relation to the Closing Loopholes Act is the modification of employees, unions and host employers to apply to the Fair Work Commission for labour hire employees to be paid what they would earn under a hosts enterprise agreement. The Commission is prohibited from approving any applications unless it has satisfied that the work to be performed for the host employer is not for the service, but rather a product of the labour. The Commission also has discretion in deciding whether or not an order made is fair or not, and can decline an application based on reasonability. This change means that labour hire employees covered by an order of the Commission will be entitled to be paid what they would earn under the hosts enterprise agreement. Labour hire employees are also granted the right to request information from their host to calculate the correct rate of pay hosts are legally obliged to comply with these requests. These changes commenced on 15 December, 2023, however, regulated labour hire arrangement orders will not come into force until 1 November, 2024. Stronger Discrimination Protections One of the key changes that will be introduced through the Closing Loopholes amendment is the strengthening on discrimination laws. The Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) 2023 Act commenced this strengthening on December 15, 2023. The reforms include ensuring employees who have been/are subject to family and domestic violence (FDV) are not fired or refused hiring on the basis that they are victims of such violence. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has also ensured that any enterprise agreements or modern awards that discriminate against victims are subject to legal action. These changes coincide with the FWC introducing 10 days of paid leave for domestic and family violence victims within the Fair Work Act. These changes will be applicable to full-time and part-time workers, and casual employees and are entitled to a payment that equals the amount earned on the hours they were rostered. Evidence may be required from employers when an employee claims their leave. For those who are subject to such violence, evidence may be required to employers granting the leave, however, is ultimately up to the discretion of those allowing the FDV leave. Constructing a Family and Domestic Violence Leave Policy supports employees in the event that they are a victim of violence and alleviates employers from having to provide clarity to those claiming FDV leave. This also ensures a smoother process when applying for the leave as the procedure is set out within the policy. To adjust to these changes, employers should ensure their discrimination policy includes FDV and is framed around these new changes. Redundancy Payments for Small Businesses The new reforms will also address an anomaly which leads to employers and employees who are undergoing liquidation or are bankrupt, to miss out on the NES entitlement of redundancy pay. When an employer downsizes due to insolvency to their business having less than fifteen staff members, they become a small business employer and are exempt from providing redundancy pay. These changes mean that employees who are made redundant later than other employees will not be disadvantaged in regards to attaining a redundancy payment. These changes came into effect on 15 December 2023. Modifications to Work, Health & Safety Laws The Closing Loopholes Act will also modify aspects of health and safety within the workplace. These reforms are more niche and include: An introduction of presumptive liability to the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 for first responders who sustain PTSD. This means that there will be a more efficient process when making a compensation claim in relation to PTSD. Amending the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency Act 2013 to include matters regarding silica and silica-related diseases. Amending the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) to introduce the industrial manslaughter offence. The penalties for industrial manslaughter will also be increasing. Conclusion The Closing Loopholes Act introduces crucial reforms to combat wage theft, strengthen discrimination protections, ensure fair compensation for labour hire employees, address redundancy payment disparities, and enhance workplace safety. By criminalising intentional underpayments and imposing severe penalties, the Act aims to deter exploitative practices while safeguarding against inadvertent errors. Changes to labour hire arrangements empower workers, while stronger discrimination protections and provisions for family and domestic violence victims promote inclusivity and support. Additionally, adjustments to redundancy payments ensure equitable treatment for all employees. Modifications to health and safety laws prioritise worker well-being, with measures to address emerging risks and enhance accountability. Overall, the Act signifies a significant advancement in promoting fairness, equity, and safety in the workplace, underlining the commitment to protecting workers rights and fostering a positive work environment. Penned by Raja Abbas, Lawpath author Lawpath is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Information, documents and any other material provided by Lawpath or Dynamic Business is general in nature and not to be considered legal advice. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. ALPENA TOWNSHIP, MI A Northern Michigan man is facing charges after allegedly knocking down and punching a man during an argument over a family matter, police said. Bryan Milo White, 37, is accused of showing up at the victims home three times during one night, arguing about a family matter, according to a news release from Michigan State Police. The alleged assault happened during the third visit. MSP troopers from the Alpena Post responded to the assault complaint around 2:20 a.m. Thursday to a residence on Hickok Road in Alpena Township, officials said. On their way to the scene, they noticed an unoccupied Honda SUV crashed into a snowbank on Sitting Bull Lane. Upon arrival, the troopers spoke with the victim and witnesses. The victim stated that the suspect came to the residence three times that evening, officials said. The first time, the suspect began arguing about a family matter with the victim. The victim believed the suspect was intoxicated and told him to leave. The second time, White came with his young children. Again, the victim told the suspect to leave. When White arrived for the third time, without children, he argued with the victim and allegedly assaulted him. The incident was captured on the homes security system, officials said. White and the victim were in the garage. White allegedly shoved the victim to the ground and began punching him. He then left the residence. On their way to Whites residence, troopers noticed the Honda SUV was no longer there, officials said. The tire tracks indicated the vehicle was traveling in the direction of Whites home. When troopers arrived at Whites home, a woman answered the door and troopers asked to speak with White. He came to the door. Troopers detected a strong odor of intoxicants, and he displayed signs of intoxication, officials said. Troopers informed White why they were there and asked him to step outside. He refused. The troopers told him he was under arrest. White resisted and struck one of the troopers. The suspect was subdued and lodged in the Alpena County Jail. White was arraigned in the 88th District Court in Alpena County for assault and battery and resisting and obstructing police. His bond was set at $10,000. Hes due back in court on Wednesday, Feb. 21. The U.S. State Department has issued a security warning, urging people to reconsider travel to Jamaica after 65 people were murdered in one month. According to the State Department, the most recent reconsider travel warning comes due to high crime and lack of medical services. AUBURN HILLS, MI A 32-year-old woman died over the weekend in a single-vehicle crash on a freeway exit ramp in southeast Michigan, authorities said. The crash happened around 11 p.m. Friday on the exit ramp from southbound I-75 to eastbound M-59 in Auburn Hills, police said. The Pontiac woman was the sole occupant of the vehicle, a 2017 Chevy Trax. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The womans name is being withheld by police at the request of her family, according to a news release from the Auburn Hills Police Department. Auburn Hills police and fire departments responded to the scene. This crash is under investigation by Auburn Hills detectives and the Southeast Oakland County Crash Investigation Team, which consists of investigators from Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Township, Troy, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham and Clawson. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has related information is asked to contact the Auburn Hills Police Department at 248-370-9460. ANN ARBOR, MI Wayne Kramer, co-founder and guitarist for the seminal proto-punk rock band MC5, has died. He was 75. Legends are still told about how the band, known for anti-establishment lyrics and kicking out the jams in boisterous fashion, moved to Ann Arbor from Detroit in 1968 and became part of a new radical left countercultural movement. Managed by marijuana activist John Sinclair, whose entire commune of hippie activists famously relocated to Ann Arbor and started the White Panther Party, the band rocked out in their garage on Hill Street for hours every day and put on high-energy shows in West Park that the city eventually shut down. Everybody was on acid at West Park. We just had a ball at that motherf*****, Sinclair once recalled, noting they called themselves acid freeks, spelled with two Es like free. Ann Arbors West Park kicked out the jams in the 1960s then the city shut it down Kramer died Friday, Feb. 2, in Los Angeles from pancreatic cancer, The New York Times reported, crediting the MC5 for helping set the stage for punk rock and inspiring generations of bands, including the Clash, Sex Pistols and Ramones. An Ann Arbor legend, City Council Member Dharma Akmon, D-4th Ward, said of Kramer in a Facebook post. The Ann Arbor District Library reflected on the passing of Kramer on Friday, noting AADL has a pair of interviews with the late rocker available, as well as books and music that library patrons can request to celebrate his life and career. AADLs online archives also include photos and articles about Kramer and the MC5. In a 2012 interview with AADLs staff while in town for the 40th anniversary of the John Sinclair Freedom Rally, Kramer reflected on his life and career, discussing what influenced his music, struggles with drug and alcohol abuse, the Vietnam War protest era and how he used an American flag motif on his guitar to make a political statement that he disagreed with American policies but was still expressing his patriotism and belief in the founding principles of the United States. He recalled having the police called on the MC5 for performing loud music with profanity in West Park and how police came to their house to see if they were trying to start a violent revolution. We had some romantic ideas about what violent revolution meant. We were frustrated as young people in America, Kramer said. We were in agreement as a generation that the direction the country was going in was wrong, that the war was wrong, that the way people of color were treated was wrong, that the marijuana laws were wrong, that Bing Crosby and Bob Hope were wrong. It was all wrong. And we rejected it. The city ended up taking legal action against the MC5 for unauthorized concerts in the park and at one point all five members were arrested and charged with disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct. Watch the MC5 perform at West Park in 1969. That wasnt Kramers only run-in with the law. Later in the 1970s, he spent two years in prison for trying to sell cocaine to undercover agents. By the time he sat down with AADL in 2012, Kramer had started a nonprofit organization called Jail Guitar Doors USA with a mission to provide musical instruments to prisoners. He ran the charitable organization with his wife, Margaret, out of a Hollywood studio where he made a comfortable living composing music for movies and television, The Associated Press reported. And its the best stuff I do, delivering guitars and talking to prisoners, Kramer told AADL. Because I feel like half the time theyre the only people that really understand what Im talking about. Because I know these guys. I am those guys. 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. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI A Dexter man accused of exposing himself to a woman, and suspected of trying to break into several Dexter-area homes, almost two years ago has taken a plea deal. Isaiah Matthew Hopkins pleaded no contest Thursday, Feb. 1, to one count of aggravated indecent exposure and, in a separate but linked case, three counts of first-degree home invasion, court records show. In pleading no contest, four additional counts of first-degree home invasion and additional count of aggravated indecent exposure will be dismissed at sentencing. Sentencing is scheduled for March 7 before Washtenaw County Trial Judge Arianne Slay. Hopkins, 39, of Dexter, was accused of exposing himself to a women on the Border-to-Border Trail in Dexter Township and breaking into several homes in the area during the summer of 2022, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office. During one of the incidents, police had been called by a woman to the Border-to-Border Trail in Dexter Township at about 10 p.m., June 19, 2022, for a report of a man exposing himself, police said. The 67-year-old woman said the man came up from behind her, exposed himself and tried to prevent her from leaving the area before she managed to get away and call 911, police said. Using a detailed description provided by the woman, police were able to locate the man, later identified as Hopkins, and arrest him, police said. Following Hopkins arrest, detectives were able to link him to several previous indecent exposure cases and Dexter-area home invasions, police said. On June 17, police were called to four attempted residential break-ins on Victoria Drive that occurred overnight, police said. Investigators discovered that someone had cut the screens to sliding doors, but failed to get inside because the sliding doors were locked, police said. Hopkins remains lodged in the Washtenaw County Jail with bond set at $50,000. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - Election Day is becoming election month. Ahead of the Tuesday, Feb. 27 presidential primary, voters across Washtenaw County will be able to cast ballots early. The election is the first across the state to bring the full implementation of Proposal 2, the 2022 ballot measure expanding voting rights in Michigan. Early voting, where residents can physically cast a ballot through a tabulator instead of just completing an absentee ballot, begins Saturday, Feb. 17 and runs nine days. Presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle, including President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will be on the ballot, in addition to local ballot questions in some jurisdictions. Read more: Who will be on Michigans 2024 presidential primary ballot So, where can you go vote early? The answer depends on where you live. In Washtenaw County, four cities and townships Ann Arbor, Milan, Ypsilanti Township and Bridgewater Township chose to implement their own early voting plans. Their early voting site hours and locations are listed below. For the other 23 jurisdictions, theres one coordinated network of early voting sites administered by Washtenaw County. It will be operational for all state and federal elections held in 2024. Heres how it works. Washtenaw County coordinated early voting sites Voters in areas participating in the county early voting plan have two sites to choose from. The first is a central county location available to voters in all 23 participating jurisdictions and located at the Washtenaw County Learning Resource Center, 4135 Washtenaw Ave. in Pittsfield Township. The second is a regional site open only to voters living in certain cities and townships in that region. The sites and regions are: Region 1 - Sylvan Township Hall, 18027 Old U.S. 12, Chelsea - serving voters in the city of Chelsea, city of Manchester, Dexter Township, Freedom Township, Manchester Township, Lima Township, Lyndon Township, Sharon Township and Sylvan Township. Region 2 - Scio Township Hall, 827 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor - serving voters in the city of Dexter, Ann Arbor Township, Northfield Township, Scio Township and Webster Township. Region 3 - Ypsilanti Freighthouse, 100 Market Pl., Ypsilanti - serving voters in the city of Ypsilanti, Augusta Township, Salem Township and Superior Township. Region 4 - Pittsfield Township Administration Building, 6201 W. Michigan Ave., Ann Arbor - serving voters in the city of Saline, Lodi Township, Saline Township, Pittsfield Township and York Township. All of the county-coordinated voting sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. between Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 25, including on weekends. The coordinated approach was offered to each jurisdiction in the county, intended to support local clerks, increase efficiency and reduce the overall costs of administering early voting long-term, county officials said. Michigan elections require the active involvement of state, county, city and township officials. Adding early voting to this decentralized system is a big and complicated job, said county Clerk Larry Kestenbaum in a statement. The implementing legislation gave each area the flexibility to determine the right approach for its citizens and its unique geography. Our early voting plan takes advantage of those opportunities, he added. The county Election Commission is also holding an early voting public information session from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at the Washtenaw County Learning Resource Center. There, county Elections Director Ed Golembiewski will present information on early voting, discuss other expanded voting rights as a result of Proposal 2 and take questions. Residents have the option of attending via Zoom. Ann Arbor Ann Arbor voters have a half dozen options for early voting, including sites on the University of Michigans campus and in city libraries. Read more: Ann Arbor has new early voting plan for presidential primary The early voting sites, available to all city voters no matter what precinct, are: City Hall, 301 E. Huron St., open 8 a.m to 5 p.m. University of Michigan Museum of Art, 525 S. State St., open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. UM Pierpont Commons/Duderstadt Center (North Campus), 2101 Bonisteel Blvd., open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Ann Arbor District Library Traverwood Branch, 3333 Traverwood Dr., open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. AADL Malletts Creek Branch, 3090 E. Eisenhower Pkwy., open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. AADL Westgate Branch, 2503 Jackson Ave., open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The early voting locations will be open Feb. 17 to Feb. 25. A map of Ann Arbor early voting sites, available to any city voter. The sites, operating similarly to polling places on Election Day, will be open Saturday, Feb. 17 through Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024 for the presidential primary election.City of Ann Arbor Milan Milan is not participating in the countys coordinated early voting network due to differences in the kind of voting equipment used in Washtenaw and Monroe counties, with the city split between the two, according to city officials. Early voting will be available Feb. 17 through Feb. 25 at Milan City Hall, 147 Wabash St. Hours will be 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday through Sunday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Ypsilanti Township Ypsilanti Township leaders also declined to participate in the county early voting plan, opting to run their own voting sites. The townships voters will have two options for the presidential primary: the Ypsilanti Township Civic Center, 7200 S. Huron River Dr., and the township Community Center, 2025 E. Clark Rd. The two sites, up and running Feb. 17 to Feb. 25, will be open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the exception of Tuesday, Feb. 20, when the hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Bridgewater Township Bridgewater Township is also going it alone to offer residents early voting. Voters may cast a ballot early at the township hall, 10990 Clinton Rd., Manchester. On Feb. 17, Feb. 19, Feb. 21, Feb. 23 and Feb. 25 it will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Feb. 18, Feb. 20, Feb. 22 and Feb. 24, it will be open noon to 8 p.m. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. FLINT, MI The case of a Flint man charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of 17-year-old Antquan Cox on the citys north side in February 2023 is headed to circuit court. Mario McPherson, 44, appeared before Genesee County District Court Judge David J. Goggins Thursday, Feb. 1, and waived his right to preliminary examination. The move prompted Goggins to bind McPhersons case to circuit court, where he can either proceed to trial, plead as charged or take any potential plea agreement offered to him. LAKE COUNTY, MI A 63-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly shot and killed a person who was entering his home in the middle of the night, Lake County sheriffs deputies said. The suspects name is being withheld pending arraignment in a Lake County District Courtroom. Police responded to a 1:47 a.m. report of a potential break-in on Monday, Feb. 5, at a home on North Skookum Road in Dover Township. The homeowner a 63-year-old man told dispatchers that he shot the intruder. When sheriffs deputies arrived at the home, they located a 61-year-old man dead from a gunshot wound. Police did not say where the man was shot. Police said the homeowner and deceased man who was not immediately identified knew each other and were drinking together prior to the incident. The 63-year-old man was arrested at the scene and lodged at the Lake County Jail. The investigation remains ongoing. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. OTTAWA COUNTY, MI Jana Daniels had just been hired as a teacher at Holland Public Schools after years of substitute teaching, attending college and raising her son, Tyler. Students and staff at Grand Rapids and East Grand Rapids schools loved and cared for her, her mother, Dee Lewis said. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A new Albanian bakery has opened on the citys Southeast Side, specializing in fresh artisan bread, brunch options, pastries, coffee, and much more. Bujar and Michelle Selimi opened Buka Bakehouse at 884 Forest Hill Ave. SE in December 2023 to serve great bread and various other homemade goods to the Grand Rapids area and West Michigan region. The namesake of the business, Buka, translates to bread in Albanian, which represents the passion to make and bake good quality loaves of bread like an old-school neighborhood bakery. Bujar Selimi said the inspiration is just that: he doesnt like the store-bought bread offered at popular grocery stores. They just seem to have too much stuff that we dont need, and we shouldnt be eating, Selimi said. It just seems the majority of the flours out there are always bleached or just harshly treated and its affecting people more with their digestive tracks than anything else. He said he opened the new spot to create something of good quality, something thats nutritious and not just for profit. Currently, the bakehouse only has its to-go side open, with the plan to host a grand opening officially marking the launch of the bakery and cafe side soon. New and returning customers can still expect plenty of fresh bread to order, as well as Middle-Easter-style pizza and burek, which consist of homemade dough stuffed with meat, onion and spices. Available options include the spinach and feta burek. Selimi, who is from Kosavar, Albania, said both his immediate and extended family have helped the business get started, but that he still needs early-bird employees for morning preparation. Its a quarter of what were going to be offering, he said. Ultimately, Im the one thats been making pretty much everything thats consumed the past couple of months here. Thats what is holding us back. As far as hospitality experience goes, it comes naturally for Selimi, almost like an innate trait for people in Albania, he said. Currently, the bakehouse only has its to-go side open, with the plan to host a grand opening officially marking the launch of the bakery and cafe side soon. (Photo provided to MLive by Michelle Selimi)Michelle Salimi If you ever visit Kosovar, then you would know its just a natural thing that comes to us, he said. I think being raised in a multi-generational household; you learn quite a bit about your place. He told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press that he started out baking for his co-workers while working in customer service-related fields. Eventually, I just wanted to do my own thing because Ive been baking for quite a while and Ive always been passionate about it, he said. I just got the courage to say, You know what? Im just going to go for this. And here we are rocking it. Selimi touts that what separates Buka Bakehouse from other area spots is that it isnt about rushing the food out the door, its about time, quality and nutritional value. If you compare my bread to industrial commercialized bread, its night and day difference in nutritional values, in taste, in everything, he added. Thats what inspired me because I want people to eat good bread and good food. Learn more and stay updated on all things Buka Bakehouse by visiting their Facebook page. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. Read more: Founders Brewing temporarily closing Grand Rapids kitchen, taproom during remodel Explore the evolution of Barbie at new Ferris State University exhibit Grand Rapids surveying random households on city services, quality of life Whats being built near I-196 on Grand Rapids northeast side? Its got 25 suites 2023 in review: Vietnam economy weathers the storm Though 5.05% GDP growth last year was below the target, the economy steadily improved through the year despite the global headwinds. A director of a wood products company in Dong Nai Province said his production fell by half last year. "We had to cut costs, restructure and find new partners. In general, we had to find every possible way to survive." Looking back at the year he believed his business just about survived. It was a challenging year for the Vietnamese wood industry as demand in its major markets such as the U.S. and the EU plummeted. Many businesses had to downsize production and even shut down. Exports of wood and wood products decreased by 16.2% to US$13.4 billion as against a target of $17.5 billion. Other billion-dollar export sectors, such as garments, footwear and seafood also struggled. Fortunately, there was a revival in the third quarter. Though minor, it was a lifesaver for businesses, the wood company director said. The bright spots According to experts, despite falling short of the GDP growth target, the economy grew at an incremental rate every quarter. The agricultural sector, for long a pillar of the economy, had a successful year despite the economic downturn. The sector has shifted from its passive state to a more proactive and innovative one to overcome difficulties, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh commented. Agricultural exports grew at an impressive 17% despite the global decrease in demand, with exports of six products exceeding $3 billion each. The prices of some key agricultural items, such as coffee and rice, saw significant increases. The tourism industry was another that did notably well. Thanks to various promotions, the industry exceeded its targets for both international and domestic tourist numbers, resulting in a substantial increase in revenues. Vietnam was also honored as the World's Leading Heritage Destination for a fourth time last year. Public investment, another pillar of the economy, saw a significant increase of $4.5 billion (VND110 trillion) $29.09 billion. Disbursement was also up, at around $27.7 billion being the highest level in four years. Many important infrastructure projects were either initiated or completed last year as a result. Some 475 kilometers of expressways were completed, increasing their total length across the country to 1,900 km. Construction of some major transport infrastructure projects, such as Tan Son Nhat International Airports terminal 3, began last year. Meanwhile, foreign direct investment was worth nearly $37 billion with a record $23 billion being disbursed. These figures were considered "very impressive" by the investment ministry. Vietnam attracted foreign investors with its infrastructure, workforce and governance, with the government taking a number of measures to facilitate production and business, according to Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong. The government also engages in regular dialogues with business executives, including from foreign firms, to provide timely support, he said. These are key factors that foreign investors look for, he added. Besides improving its investment environment, Vietnam also focuses on foreign affairs to foster economic cooperation and attract investment in technology. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said the countrys leaders made 22 visits to neighboring countries, important trade partners and nations with long-standing friendships with Vietnam. There were also 28 visits by foreign dignitaries to Vietnam, including some of historical significance, such as those by Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden. Gabor Fluit, Chairman of EuroCham Vietnam, an organization representing European businesses in the country, said Vietnam is a rising star in the eyes of foreign investors. The 32% increase in FDI last year is evidence of their growing confidence in the economy, he added. Shifting away from traditional labor-intensive sectors, Vietnam has recently become a focal point for emerging industries like semiconductors and other areas of technology. More challenges ahead Experts said the economy suffered negative impacts from both its inherent problems and the global downturn. Of the 2,700 businesses that participated in a recent survey done by VnExpress and the government's Private Sector Development Committee (Board IV), more than 69% described their current situation as "negative" or "very negative." Nearly 73% of them plan to downsize, temporarily suspend operations or close down. Many said they are still struggling with lack of new orders and cash flows, administrative procedures and the risk of legal complications due to outdated laws. The government's 2023 report also highlighted some existing challenges such as difficulties in getting credit and the sluggish real estate market. Dealing with underperforming credit institutions and speeding up delayed projects take time due to the need to go through numerous processes and procedures. Administrative procedures, particularly those related to investment, remain cumbersome, the report admitted. As a result many experts and businesses have a cautious outlook for 2024 despite positive forecasts. The Central Institute for Economic Management run by the Ministry of Planning and Investment said GDP could grow by 6.48% this year in the best-case scenario. To deal with unpredictable developments, experts said, the government should focus on developing the countrys strengths. "Vietnam should leverage its inherent strengths, promote infrastructure projects and invest in public projects that strengthen both short- and long-term growth," Andrea Coppola, chief economist of the World Bank, advised. The country should also enhance productivity, he added. Financial services provider HSBC called for improving infrastructure, the workforce and business environment to attract more investors. Board IV, in its recent report, recommended that the government and local authorities should roll out more support policies for businesses in 2024 to foster their recovery and confidence in the economy. In the meantime, businesses have to make their best efforts to face new challenges, it said. The Dong Nai wood company executive said: "Just like how the economy declines quickly but recovers very slowly, businesses also require a lot of time, resources and support to recover. "But we will not give up." Story by Duc Minh, Graphics by Dang Hieu STURGIS, MI -- A woman accused of stealing an Amish familys horse and buggy from outside Walmart was found hiding in a motel shower under a pile of clothes, according to Sturgis Police Department records. About 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, police responded to Walmart, 1500 S. Centerville Road, to investigate a stolen Amish buggy and horse. The owners, an Amish couple from Shipshewana, Indiana, were shopping at Walmart and came out to find the horse and buggy missing, police said. SAGINAW, MI Back in November, two Saginaw women were taking morning strolls when a pack of pit bulls attacked them. Though both women survived, a smaller dog belonging to one of them was not so fortunate, suffering fatal wounds in the mauling. Months on, prosecutors have decided no criminal charges will be forthcoming. Its not because we dont want to issue charges, said Saginaw County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Blair N. Stevenson. The way the law is written, when a dog bites someone, we cannot charge the owner criminally unless the dog has been previously declared a dangerous animal, which requires a civil process. Prosecutors could also issue charges if the injured person suffered maiming or debilitating injuries, which did not occur in this situation, Stevenson said. The matter began about 8:07 a.m. on Nov. 25, when a woman in the 4100 block of Mackinaw Street stepped out of her house with her 20-pound, 1-year-old emotional support dog on a leash. Suddenly, three pit bulls appeared and began attacking the smaller dog, according to reports obtained via a Freedom of Information Act from Saginaw County Animal Care & Control Center. The woman tried fighting off the dogs with her bare hands. The pit bulls knocked her down and began biting her lower torso. A neighbor happened to pull up as this was going on and tossed a metal tool to the woman. The woman grabbed the tool and used it to fend off the dogs, then scooped up her own dog and ran for the neighbors vehicle. The woman managed to get in her neighbors vehicle. They took the injured dog to Great Lakes Pet Emergencies, where it had to be euthanized. The woman went to an area hospital for treatment of her wounds. Saginaw police officers responded to the incident. About 13 minutes later, a woman out for her morning run near Weiss Street and Linda Avenue was also attacked by the three pit bulls. They bit both of her legs and one jumped on her back. Another woman driving by pulled over and allowed the attacked woman to get in her vehicle. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment. Police soon identified the pit bulls owner, living on Mackinaw Street. He retrieved one of the dogs while police recovered the other two. The dogs owner told officers he had noticed his dogs were not in his backyard but was unsure how they managed to get out as the gate was closed. The day after the attacks, the pit bulls owner surrendered all three dogs to Animal Control. They were subsequently euthanized. Reports indicate Animal Control officers have received six prior dog-related complaints at the owners house since 2018. The woman who was initially attacked and her daughter wrote letters to county officials, describing their trauma. I am too afraid to walk around my own block now, the woman wrote. I dont sleep well and I have nightmares when I do sleep. I have survivors guilt because I lived and our innocent loving dog did not. She asked officials to ensure criminal charges were issued and that the pit bulls owner could not own dogs again. Owned-dogs attacking residents has been on the rise in Saginaw County in recent months. On Oct. 30, a pack of 18 pit bulls attacked a Richland Township woman and her beagle, killing the smaller dog. All 18 pit bulls were rounded up and several have since been euthanized. On the morning of Jan. 20, an 89-year-old Richland Township woman and her Shih Tzu were attacked by a neighbors Great Dane and Alaskan Malamute. The 14-pound Shih Tzu died of its injuries the next day. As eyes turn to November and the 2024 presidential election, Democrats nationally feel they have a winning topic abortion. The subject was a winner for the party across the country in 2022. It seems theyre willing to bet on it again come November 2024, with Democratic politicians already sounding the alarm on what could happen to access should Republican Donald Trump win the election this fall. But whether that plan will be successful hinges on one thing according to those closely following the topic: messaging. Abortion is on the ballot in all 50 states ... In a state where we just not rejected Dobbs, but we took it a step further by expanding access to reproductive freedom, we also are at risk of losing that if Joe Biden is not the president of the United State after this next election, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said during an interview with CBSs Face the Nation earlier this month. Though Democrats are stressing that abortion is on the ballot across the country, what that really means can be unclear to voters, said Mary Ruth Ziegler, Martin Luther King Jr. professor of law with Californias UC Davis. While the message they propose may seem simple vote for Biden or lose reproductive rights it may also come off as too moralistic, Ziegler said. In doing so, Democrats could possibly turn off prospective voters. You hear Democrats tell the story, its more of like, were on the right side of this and theyre on the wrong side, so you should go for us, which, I think a lot of people respond ... well, we already have abortion rights here, so its not going to matter in our lives whos in the White House, she said. In the days surrounding what would have been the 51st anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Roe v. Wade, Democrats held events across the state, warning of what a Trump presidency could bring with regard to womens health care. RELATED: Michigan Gov. Whitmers national ambitions grow with $2M in federal fundraising And though the politicians at each event were different, the message was largely the same: A national abortion ban is coming unless Biden is reelected. Were here today because, once again, our freedom is at risk ... If Donald Trump wins again, he will sign a national abortion ban. And under a national abortion ban, our laws, our state constitution in Michigan, wont matter, U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, said Jan. 22. She, alongside other Michigan state and federal politicians, spent the Roe decision anniversary on Jan. 22 stumping for reproductive freedom and, by extension, a second Biden term across Michigan. While the sentiment of a nationwide abortion ban may sound far-fetched, Ziegler said there are ways for a president to do so without a law from Congress. She referenced plans touted by former Trump administration officials as part of Project 2025, which could override the will of the voters in places like Michigan regarding abortion. The document is a detailed proposal on how to reshape the executive branch of the federal government in the event of a Trump winning in the 2024 presidential election. RELATED: Biden meets with UAW members, Black faith leaders during Michigan visit One way it recommends tamping down on abortion access? Utilizing the 19th century-era Comstock Act, which prohibits mail delivery of any lewd or lascivious material including any instrument, substance drug, medicine, or thing used for producing abortion. The statute usually is not interpreted as a ban on abortion, Ziegler said. The Biden administration even issued a legal memo in December 2022 arguing the Comstock Act does not bar mail delivery of abortion medication unless the sender is intending for that medication to be used illegally. However, former Trump administration officials see the act as being applicable to not just a ban on abortion-producing medication, but even the act of mailing surgical tools that doctor and hospitals could use in the abortion process. Should Trump win in November, he could ostensibly instruct to U.S. Department of Justice to begin enforcement of the act upon taking office, some warn. Thats also the case for ordering the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary to override the U.S. Food And Drug Administrations approval/rule making decisions on medication like mifepristone, a pill capable of ending a pregnancy less than 10 weeks along. RELATED: What to know about the abortion pill and efforts to suspend use I dont know that the Supreme Court would say he has the legal authority to do it, but its not a completely ridiculous thing to imagine that he would want to do it, or that he would be allowed to do it by the Supreme Court, Ziegler said, noting Trump personally appointed three of nine sitting Justices and that the current Court is the one which ultimately voted to overturn Roe. Theres also the issue of whether pressing on abortion can make up for potential ground lost with other traditionally Democratic voters. Young voters turned out in abundance during Michigans 2022 midterms, with abortion access being the driving factor said Gene Burns, a Michigan State University professor whose research centers on reproductive politics, religion and social movements. These are also the same sect of voters, aged 18 to 29, who are polling more in favor of Trump than Biden according to data from the New York Times and Siena College published on December 19th. Part of that is being blamed on Bidens continued support of Israel in the war against Hamas, as the civilian death toll in Palestine surpasses 20,000. Nationwide polling largely puts Trump ahead of Biden, per the polling website FiveThirtyEight. In Michigan, Biden only bests Trump in one out of seven polls conducted in January and, only by a four point margin. RELATED: Biden will celebrate UAW endorsement in Detroit, where Arab American anger is boiling over Gaza Who knows if itll still be an issue in November, but younger voters are more critical of Bidens stance on Israel and Gaza. ... Younger voters are also the most progressive and liberal on abortion, Burns said, adding: These things can matter. Michigan legalized abortion with the passage of Proposal 3 in 2022. With that victory came Democratic domination at nearly all levels of upper state government, with the party not just now controlling the state House and Senate, but the also the governorship, secretary of state and attorney general as well as a majority on the Michigan Supreme Court. Lauren Hitt, senior spokesperson for the Biden-Harris 2024 campaign, said in a statement that the overturning of Roe was just the beginning for the former president and his allies. A second Donald Trump presidency promises to further strip away a womans fundamental right to make her own health care decisions, she said. His allies say he can institute a complete abortion ban without the help of Congress or the courts and theyve already laid out the plans to do so ... The pain, chaos, and cruelty women in America face every day will only grow more severe if Trump returns to the White House. Those are the stakes this November. Amazon packages at a facility in Robbinsville, New Jersey, on November 27, 2023. Photo by Reuters Cross-border e-commerce is expected to be fifth highest in the list of Vietnams exports by 2027 with a value of US$12 billion, according to U.S. e-commerce giant Amazon. "2023 Performance Report: Empowering Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Vietnam" published by the firms Amazon Global Selling Vietnam, a unit that supports sellers, said by 2027 cross-border e-commerce exports could reach $5 billion under "normal" circumstances and $12 billion in the best-case scenario if small, medium- and micro-sized businesses get support from the government. In the latter case, cross-border e-commerce will account for the countrys fifth biggest exports. Amazon Global Selling said online exports of Vietnamese goods could thrive since more and more global consumers are shifting from offline. Last year Vietnam's exports were worth nearly $356 billion, according to the General Statistics Office. The top exports items, all exceeding $20 billion, are electronics - computers, phones and components, machinery - equipment, textiles, and agriculture - forestry - fisheries. Vietnamese retailers sold over 17 million products on Amazon last year, up 50% from 2022, according to the e-commerce platform. The number of sellers increased by 40% and those with revenues exceeding $100,000 increased by 70%. The top five product categories were household appliances, kitchen tools, health-personal care, clothing, and beauty products. These reflect Vietnam's long experience in manufacturing and exporting products such as furniture, home decor and apparel. "The growth of emerging sectors such as health and personal care and beauty products contributes to the increasing diversity of Vietnam's online exports," the report said. The main export markets were Southeast Asia and China, according to a study by the technology advisory firm Access Partnership. In the next five years the U.S. and Europe are likely be priority markets as consumers in those regions are growing increasingly fond of Vietnamese goods on online platforms, the study said. "E-commerce is one of the next major trends for businesses who are looking to expand globally," Gijae Seong, head of Amazon Global Selling Vietnam, said. The challenge for these businesses is whether they could quickly leverage this trend, grasp global consumer demand and build long-term development plans, he said. Access Partnership said Vietnamese businesses face challenges in online transactions like high customs duties and post-clearance costs. To capitalize on the opportunities for e-commerce exports, businesses need more legal and financial support, it said. So measures like establishing cross-border e-commerce zones and providing grants for exports and e-commerce businesses would play a crucial role, it added. Maldives, Thailand, Singapore among preferred Lunar New Year destinations for Chinese: poll People pose for a photo in front of lantern decorations on Lunar New Year's Eve at Chinatown in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 21, 2023. Photo by Reuters The Maldives is the top overseas destination for Chinese tourists during the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year holidays, followed by Thailand and Singapore, a poll has found. Russia was fourth, followed by Japan and New Zealand, the survey of 25,000 respondents done by Global Times newspaper said. The rest of top 10 were Iceland, Switzerland, France, and Italy. Vietnam was absent from the list though China sent the largest number of tourists to the country before Covid. According to industry insiders, the top-ranked countries have friendly visa policies for Chinese tourists. Thailand and Singapore recently announced visa exemptions for Chinese visitors, and the Maldives allows them to apply on arrival. The Lunar New Year falls on Saturday, Feb. 10 and is widely celebrated in many Asian countries including Vietnam. Data from Chinese online travel agency Ctrip reveals tour bookings to Southeast Asia is up 1,026% from last year and air travel by 864%, China Daily reported. The U.S. Justice Department has charged an Iranian man and two Canadian citizens for allegedly plotting to murder two people on U.S. soil. One of the intended victims is a defector from Iran. In a statement, the Justice Department said that between December 2020 through March 2021, Naji Sharifi Zindashti, who is based in Iran, and Canadians Damion Patrick John Ryan, and Adam Richard Pearson conspired to murder two individuals who lived in Maryland. The defendants used the encrypted messaging service SkyECC to plot details of the assassination scheme. The Justice Department said Zindashti agreed to pay Ryan $350,000, with an additional $20,000 for expenses. Assistant Director of the FBIs Counterintelligence Division Suzanne Turner wrote, Todays [January 29] charges show a pattern of Iranian groups trying to murder U.S. residents on U.S. soil. Mr. Zindashti and his accomplices alleged plot is reprehensible, and the FBI will not tolerate such acts against U.S. residents, and we will continue to pursue these individuals until they are brought to the U.S. to face justice. In 2023, the Justice Department brought charges against three individuals who conspired (but failed) to murder an Iranian-born human rights activist in New York city. Two years earlier, the Justice Department charged an Iranian intelligence officer and three other Iranian intelligence assets with plotting to kidnap the same human rights activist and forcibly bring her to Iran. That scheme too was thwarted. In an action related to the most recent Justice Department charges, the Department of Treasury announced the United States, in coordination with the United Kingdom, is imposing sanctions on Naji Sharifi Zindashti and his network of key associates. That network, the Treasury Department stated, operates at the behest of Irans Ministry of Intelligence and Security and has carried out numerous acts of transnational repression, including assassinations and kidnappings across multiple jurisdictions in an attempt to silence the Iranian regimes perceived critics. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said in a statement, The Iranian regimes continued efforts to target dissidents and activists demonstrate the regimes deep insecurity and attempt to expand Irans domestic repression internationally. The United States, alongside our international allies and partners, including the United Kingdom, will continue to combat the Iranian regimes transnational repression and will utilize all available tools to stop this threat, especially on U.S. soil. (AU SFB), the largest Small Finance Bank in India, has officially established a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the(IIT), Jodhpur. The purpose of this agreement is to promote innovation and encourage collaboration in several areas of mutual interest. The focus of the MoU includes joint efforts in co-creation, design thinking, and innovation for enterprises. It also involves participating in open innovation cohorts alongside faculty and students, undertaking research and development activities, jointly advising students on their theses and projects, and engaging in various educational activities for mutual benefit.The joint initiatives will encompass domains like startup/incubation centers, the digital transformation of the campus for financial services, fintech solutions, and the establishment of a Center of Excellence, among other pertinent areas. This collaboration is designed to build a vibrant ecosystem for innovation, research, and educational pursuits, harnessing the combined strengths of AU Small Finance Bank and IIT Jodhpur. The collaboration's scope is adaptable and subject to modification by mutual agreement to effectively tackle emerging challenges in the future.Since its establishment in 2008 by the Ministry of HRD (Government of India), IIT Jodhpur, a leading institution in technology and education, has been instrumental in supporting industries and MSMEs for the last 15 years. The institute actively encourages emerging entrepreneurs, startups, and research students, aligning with the Make in India initiative. Adapting to the evolving trends in the industry, IIT Jodhpur has introduced new undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), and research programs in diverse subjects such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Sensors, Management and Technology, Computational Science, Digital Humanities, Fintech, and Cyber Security.On this strategic partnership, Mr. Uttam Tibrewal, Executive Director, AU Small Finance Bank, said, "We are delighted to partner with IIT Jodhpur, a prestigious institution known for its commitment to excellence in technology and education. This collaboration aligns with our vision to promote innovation, research, and educational initiatives. This strategic partnership is poised to make significant contributions to technology, entrepreneurship, and fintech, bringing about a transformative impact on both institutions and the broader community".Rishi Dhariwal, Group Head Liability, AU Small Finance Bank said, "At AU Small Finance Bank, we believe in building a technology-led Bank, and to achieve this, weve strategically infused our team with some of the finest tech talent. In our pursuit of excellence, weve expanded our resources across Product Design, Engineering, and Data Science, ensuring a diverse and vibrant pool of expertise. Our approach is characterized by a strong academic foundation, top talent acquisition from premier institutions, and a dynamic workforce with over 100 recent hires from esteemed institutions like IITs, IIMs, and BITS through campus placements. Today, this collaboration with IIT Jodhpur aligns seamlessly with our ethos, and we look forward to a transformative journey together".IIT Jodhpur boasts a sprawling permanent campus covering 852 acres, buzzing with more than 4,500 students and over 500 faculty and staff members. The curriculum is specially crafted to enable students to actively engage in comprehending the swiftly evolving technological landscape, aligning with industry requirements. The institute has consistently ascended in national rankings, securing the 30th position in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2023. Brookfield Business Partners (NYSE:BBU Get Free Report) issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday. The business services provider reported $6.57 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $5.67, MarketWatch Earnings reports. Brookfield Business Partners had a net margin of 6.86% and a return on equity of 21.92%. The business had revenue of $13.41 billion during the quarter. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.49 EPS. Brookfield Business Partners Trading Up 2.9 % Shares of BBU stock opened at $23.06 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $1.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 1.44. Brookfield Business Partners has a 1-year low of $12.22 and a 1-year high of $23.06. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.52, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 0.79. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $19.43 and its 200-day simple moving average is $16.98. Get Brookfield Business Partners alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have issued reports on BBU. Scotiabank boosted their price objective on shares of Brookfield Business Partners from $25.00 to $26.50 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. Desjardins upped their price target on shares of Brookfield Business Partners from $29.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Brookfield Business Partners from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $28.00 price objective on shares of Brookfield Business Partners in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $29.08. Insider Transactions at Brookfield Business Partners In related news, major shareholder Gp Ltd Bcp sold 387,068 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.24, for a total transaction of $867,032.32. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 29,981,414 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $67,158,367.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders have sold a total of 5,732,783 shares of company stock worth $12,598,396 in the last three months. Institutional Trading of Brookfield Business Partners Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Invesco Ltd. grew its position in Brookfield Business Partners by 2.5% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 237,099 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $3,604,000 after acquiring an additional 5,877 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada grew its position in Brookfield Business Partners by 1.3% in the second quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 8,650,879 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $149,054,000 after acquiring an additional 114,754 shares in the last quarter. Citadel Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Brookfield Business Partners in the second quarter valued at approximately $323,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC acquired a new stake in Brookfield Business Partners in the second quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Finally, Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its position in shares of Brookfield Business Partners by 1.2% during the first quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 123,637 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,276,000 after buying an additional 1,500 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.81% of the companys stock. Brookfield Business Partners Company Profile (Get Free Report) Brookfield Business Partners L.P. is a private equity firm specializing in acquisition. The firm typically invests in business services, infrastructure services, construction, energy, and industrials sector. It prefers to take majority stake in companies. The firm seeks returns of at least 15% on its investments. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Business Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Business Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Quaker Chemical (NYSE:KWR Get Free Report) and Elementis (OTCMKTS:EMNSF Get Free Report) are both basic materials companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, earnings, dividends, valuation and profitability. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings for Quaker Chemical and Elementis, as reported by MarketBeat. Get Quaker Chemical alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Quaker Chemical 0 0 3 0 3.00 Elementis 0 2 1 0 2.33 Quaker Chemical presently has a consensus target price of $239.00, suggesting a potential upside of 24.44%. Given Quaker Chemicals stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Quaker Chemical is more favorable than Elementis. Dividends Valuation & Earnings Quaker Chemical pays an annual dividend of $1.82 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.9%. Elementis pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.7%. Quaker Chemical pays out 202.2% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Elementis pays out 33.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Quaker Chemical has increased its dividend for 16 consecutive years. Elementis is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. This table compares Quaker Chemical and Elementis gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Quaker Chemical $1.97 billion 1.75 -$15.93 million $0.90 213.40 Elementis N/A N/A N/A $0.24 7.09 Elementis has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Quaker Chemical. Elementis is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Quaker Chemical, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Institutional and Insider Ownership 77.5% of Quaker Chemical shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 66.0% of Elementis shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.3% of Quaker Chemical shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Profitability This table compares Quaker Chemical and Elementis net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Quaker Chemical 0.84% 9.89% 4.66% Elementis N/A N/A N/A Summary Quaker Chemical beats Elementis on 12 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About Quaker Chemical (Get Free Report) Quaker Chemical Corporation, doing business as Quaker Houghton, develops, produces, and markets various formulated chemical specialty products for a range of heavy industrial and manufacturing applications in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It offers metal removal fluids, cleaning fluids, corrosion inhibitors, metal drawing and forming fluids, die cast mold releases, heat treatment and quenchants, metal forging fluids, hydraulic fluids, specialty greases, metal finishing fluids, offshore sub-sea energy control fluids, rolling lubricants, rod and wire drawing fluids, and surface treatment chemicals. The company also provides chemical management services. It serves steel, aluminum, automotive, aerospace, offshore, container, mining, and metalworking companies. The company was founded in 1918 and is headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. About Elementis (Get Free Report) Elementis plc operates as a specialty chemical company in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, North America, and internationally. It operates through Personal Care, Coatings, and Talc segments. The Personal Care segment provides rheological modifiers and compounded products, including active ingredients for AP deodorants, for personal care manufacturers. The Coating segment produces rheological modifiers and additives for decorative and industrial coatings. The Talc segment engages in the production and supply of talc for plastics, coatings, technical ceramics, and the paper sectors. The company also offers personal care products for antiperspirants/deodorants, bath and soap, color cosmetics, and hair and skin care products; and coating products for adhesive and sealants, architectural coatings, ceramics, colorant dispersions, construction, drilling fluid additives, industrial finishes, inks, and lubricant additive application, as well as paints and coating, paper, plastics, polyester putties, pulp, stimulation, and specialty applications. It also offers talc products for food and pharmaceuticals markets. The company was founded in 1844 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Receive News & Ratings for Quaker Chemical Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Quaker Chemical and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Highlands REIT (OTCMKTS:HHDS Get Free Report) and OUTFRONT Media (NYSE:OUT Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations, earnings, risk and institutional ownership. Volatility & Risk Highlands REIT has a beta of 30.83, meaning that its share price is 2,983% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, OUTFRONT Media has a beta of 1.85, meaning that its share price is 85% more volatile than the S&P 500. Get Highlands REIT alerts: Profitability This table compares Highlands REIT and OUTFRONT Medias net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Highlands REIT -29.54% -3.87% -2.77% OUTFRONT Media -23.79% -48.05% -7.45% Valuation & Earnings Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Highlands REIT $31.36 million 2.83 -$7.66 million N/A N/A OUTFRONT Media $1.77 billion 1.21 $147.90 million ($2.68) -4.87 This table compares Highlands REIT and OUTFRONT Medias gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. OUTFRONT Media has higher revenue and earnings than Highlands REIT. Insider and Institutional Ownership 0.0% of Highlands REIT shares are held by institutional investors. 2.7% of Highlands REIT shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 1.0% of OUTFRONT Media shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for Highlands REIT and OUTFRONT Media, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Highlands REIT 0 0 0 0 N/A OUTFRONT Media 0 3 2 0 2.40 OUTFRONT Media has a consensus target price of $14.50, suggesting a potential upside of 11.20%. Given OUTFRONT Medias higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe OUTFRONT Media is more favorable than Highlands REIT. Summary Highlands REIT beats OUTFRONT Media on 6 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks. About Highlands REIT (Get Free Report) We are a self-advised and self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT) created to own and manage substantially all of the non-core investment properties previously owned and managed by our former parent, InvenTrust Properties Corp., a Maryland corporation (InvenTrust). On April 28, 2016, we were spun-off from InvenTrust through a pro rata distribution (the Distribution) by InvenTrust of 100% of the outstanding shares of our common stock to holders of InvenTrust's common stock. Prior to or concurrent with the separation, we and InvenTrust engaged in certain reorganization transactions that were designed to consolidate substantially all of InvenTrust's remaining non-core investment properties in Highlands. About OUTFRONT Media (Get Free Report) OUTFRONT leverages the power of technology, location and creativity to connect brands with consumers outside of their homes through one of the largest and most diverse sets of billboard, transit, and mobile assets in North America. Through its technology platform, OUTFRONT will fundamentally change the ways advertisers engage audiences on-the-go. Receive News & Ratings for Highlands REIT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Highlands REIT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. As the eight-day Spring Festival holiday draws closer, global tourist destinations are keen to attract Chinese holidaymakers, with high hopes for a tourism boom. In a video message last week, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin extended a warm welcome to Chinese tourists, as they had been the largest source of inbound tourism for the country. The prime minister expressed hopes that Chinese visitors would have a delightful and secure experience in Thailand. This came after China and Thailand signed a mutual visa exemption agreement, which will come into effect from March 1. "As a Thai citizen, I'm so excited about the news," said Chanapan Kaewklachaiyawuth, vice president of the Thai Chinese Tourism Alliance Association, adding that it will facilitate travel and be the best mechanism to boost economic gains. Chanapan said the association expects between 200,000 and 250,000 Chinese tourists to enter Thailand during this year's Spring Festival holiday, running from Feb. 10 to 17. In 2024, the Southeast Asian country aims to attract 8 million tourists from China, more than double the figure from 2023 and constituting 75 percent of the pre-pandemic peak recorded in 2019. Singapore, which also signed a visa-free agreement with China last month, experienced a recovery in its tourism sector last year, with the Chinese mainland topping its tourist spending chart. The city-state expects its tourism industry to recover further this year, driven by improved global flight connectivity and capacity as well as the implementation of the mutual 30-day visa-free travel with China. Tourism bureaus across China are actively promoting local attractions and employing innovative strategies to entice visitors. Featuring unique local traditions such as distinctive dressing-up, traditional dances and delectable cuisine, these efforts aim to captivate tourists in the lead-up to the Spring Festival holiday. The "ice city" Harbin, capital city of northeast Heilongjiang Province, took advantage of its winter landscape to promote ice and snow tourism, attracting more than 3 million visitors during the three-day New Year holiday and raking in a total tourism revenue of 5.91 billion yuan (about 831.6 million U.S. dollars), both reaching record highs. On Alibaba's travel platform Fliggy, bookings for domestic and overseas destinations for visits during the Spring Festival holiday have surged, with that for outbound travel increasing more than 15 times compared with 2023, leaving tour guides buzzing with excitement. "Customers are eager to explore overseas destinations, particularly after countries like Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore waived visa requirements for Chinese tourists. It's like a renaissance for both individual and group tours," said Tan Mingyuan, a tour guide with GZL International Travel Service. "I have to work the entire holiday period," said Tan, who just returned from the Philippines and is leaving for Vietnam with a 20-member tour group. Looking ahead, 2024 will be a big year for China's tourism industry, which will enter "a new prosperous cycle," according to the China Tourism Academy. Chinese tourists are expected to make more than 6 billion domestic trips this year, up from nearly 4.9 billion in 2023, while the number of outbound trips by Chinese tourists is expected to reach 130 million, a big jump from more than 87 million last year, according to the academy. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said that following a strong 2023, international tourism is well on track to return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024. According to the first UNWTO World Tourism Barometer of the year, the unleashing of remaining pent-up demand, increased air connectivity, and a stronger recovery of Asian markets and destinations, are expected to underpin a full recovery by the end of 2024. You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Dinesh Unnikrishnan is Editor-Banking & Finance at Moneycontrol. Dinesh heads the Banking and Finance Bureau at Moneycontrol. He also writes a weekly column, Banking Central, every Monday. February 05, 2024 / 10:54 PM IST --Vivek Joshi, Secretary Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, chaired a review meeting to address banking and insurance related issues faced by exporters and importers in New Delhi, today. --The meeting was attended by senior officers from MEA, Department of Commerce, and Ministry of Finance. Functionaries of RBI,IRDAI,along with Chairman, State Bank of India (SBI) and senior executives of major commercial banks joined the meeting. --Specific issues like delay in issuance of e-bank realisation certificates, overdue letters of credit, etc. were discussed. Banks were advised to engage with clients to expedite resolution of their problems while appropriately examining compliance requirements. Siddharth Upasani is a Special Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He has been covering the Indian economy, economic data, and monetary and fiscal policies for nine years. He tweets at @SiddharthUbiWan. Contact: siddharth.upasani@nw18.com Meghna Mittal MEGHNA MITTAL is Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com The RoKs trade with Vietnam comes to 79.43 billion USD last year. (Photo: VNA) The RoKs trade with Vietnam came to 79.43 billion USD last year, with exports shrinking 12.3% to 53.49 billion USD, according to the Korea International Trade Association (KITA). Imports from Vietnam also dropped 2.9% on-year to 25.94 billion USD, and the RoK's trade surplus shrank 19.5% to 27.55 billion USD. Vietnam outstripped Japan for the second consecutive year in 2023 to retain the No. 3 spot, following China and the US with 267.66 billion USD and 186.96 billion USD, respectively. KITA attributed last year's drop in trade with and exports to Vietnam to falling chip exports. The RoKs semiconductor shipments to Vietnam tumbled 21.6% on-year to 12.73 billion USD in 2023. Four other exports -- flat panels and sensors, petroleum products, wireless communications equipment, and synthetic resins -- also went down last year, according to the data. The RoKs trade with Vietnam has been growing exponentially since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992, when bilateral trade reached only 500 million USD. Bilateral trade volume gained further momentum as the RoK and Vietnam signed a free trade agreement in 2014. Vietnam was the RoKs eighth-largest trading partner that year, but its ranking surged to fourth place a year later. In 2022, Vietnam outpaced Japan and became the RoKs third-largest trading partner for the first time./. Yash Sadhak Shrivastava is an aspiring voice in the Journalistic forefront with experience in covering financial markets & geopolitics. PM Pham Minh Chinh visits Can Tho city on February 4. (Photo: VNA) The PM visited the Mekong Delta city on February 4 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 a total value of over 74 billion VND (over 3 million USD) 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 Pham Minh 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 hoped that the Party Organisation, administration, Fatherland Front Committee, 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 were 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 were told to provide timely medical examination and treatment for people in sickness. On this occasion, the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group awarded 10 billion VND to 200 households in Can Tho city to replace temporary and dilapidated houses. The same day, PM Pham Minh 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, the government leader 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./. Rachita Prasad heads Moneycontrols coverage of conventional and new energy, and infrastructure sectors. Rachita is passionate about energy transition and the global efforts against climate change, with special focus on India. Before joining Moneycontrol, she was an Assistant Editor at The Economic Times, where she wrote for the paper for over a decade and was a host on their podcast. Contact: rachita.prasad@nw18.com Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (standing) addresses the working session with the Commission for Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC) and 19 groups and corporations under the commission's management on February 5 (Photo: VNA) PM Pham Minh Chinh highlighted contributions from the 19 groups and corporations to the countrys overall success in 2023, but underlined that the countrys socio-economic development tasks for 2024 are much harder than those for 2023, requiring more efforts from ministries and sectors, including the CMSC. Although they are small in number, State-owned groups and corporations hold large resources, assets, and capital, serving as an important force of the Party and State, the PM stressed, adding that along with economic development, the groups and corporations have actively participated in ensuring social security. The Government leader asked leaders of ministries, sectors as well as the groups and corporations to analyse and assess their performance in 2023 and propose tasks and solutions to promote business and production in 2024, thus contributing to boosting socio-economic development this year and following years. Particularly, they were requested to review and propose any necessary changes to institutions, mechanisms, policies and laws to enhance the operational efficiency of the groups and corporations. Last year, the total revenue of the 19 groups and corporations reached nearly 1.13 quadrillion VND (46.34 billion USD), equivalent to 105.15% of the yearly plan. Their combined pre-tax profit hit 53.25 trillion VND (excluding Vietnam Electricity) was equal to 166.09% of the 2023 plan and 110.92% compared to the same period in 2022. The groups and corporations paid 79.25 trillion VND to the State budget, reaching 199.96% of the plan for the year and equivalent to 120.22% of the figure recorded in the same period of 2022./. 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. Editor: ZAD February 29, 2024 02:12 PM IST Lok Sabha polls: DMK allots two seats each to CPI, CPI(M) An official release from the DMK said the seat-sharing talks were finalised today. February 28, 2024 05:27 PM IST BJP submits memorandum to Bengal's poll panel chief claiming 16 lakh fake voters in state Leading a delegation of the West Bengal BJP unit, party leader Suvendu Adhikari expressed dissapointment with the poll panel's failure to address the issue despite assurances. February 28, 2024 05:20 PM IST Truth of Congresss Feb 26 Shimla Dinner: Fake handshakes, hugs, and smiles Abhishek Manu Singhvi failed to read There was much bonhomie which would have set at ease any fears the Congress leadership and its high command had of cross-voting. But lurking beneath was an old party rivalry that has now culminated in minister Vikramditya Singhs resignation after a humiliating Rajya Sabha defeat for chief minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu February 28, 2024 01:27 PM IST PM Modi slams DMK, Congress for creating 'rift' among people The DMK's 'running away' shows its 'hatred' for people's faith, Modi said in an apparent reference to the opposition walkout when the Parliament took up the matter. February 28, 2024 10:29 AM IST With handouts, piped water and cooking gas, PM Modi woos women voters Polling agency C-voter told Reuters its surveys predict 46% of India's 472 million women voters would opt for the BJP-led alliance in the election against 43% men, which would help it get a healthy majority in India's first-past-the-post polling system. February 28, 2024 09:23 PM IST Rajya Sabha Elections 2024 Highlights: After RS poll loss, scare for Congress govt in Himachal Himachal Pradesh Rajya Sabha Elections: "I will not press my resignation until a decision is taken. The final decision will be taken in the coming time," said Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh, who submitted his resignation as Himachal cabinet minister earlier in the day. February 27, 2024 03:28 PM IST LS polls: Pradhan directs HEIs to conduct voter awareness activities from Feb 28-Mar 6 The directive comes following a clarion call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the first time voters to exercise their franchise in large numbers. February 27, 2024 02:24 PM IST Opposition convinced of loss in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, thus abuses me: PM Modi Modi, speaking at the conclusion ceremony of the BJP state unit's padayatra at the Central Stadium here, urged Kerala's people to bless the saffron party with seats in double digits in the 2024 LS polls. February 27, 2024 10:42 PM IST No proposal for FM Sitharaman to contest Lok Sabha polls: Source Union Finance Minister Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar are Rajya Sabha members from Karnataka and Gujarat respectively. February 27, 2024 11:13 AM IST Nirmala Sitharaman, Jaishankar to contest Lok Sabha polls: Pralhad Joshi To a question whether it will be Bengaluru, Joshi said, "How can I answer when nothing has been finalised?" Union Finance Minister Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar are Rajya Sabha members from Karnataka and Gujarat respectively. February 27, 2024 10:59 PM IST Rajya Sabha Elections 2024 Highlights: BJP wins eight seats, SP two in Uttar Pradesh Rajya Sabha Elections 2024 Highlights: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won eight Rajya Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, while the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance faced a blow as it could only win two seats. February 26, 2024 08:01 PM IST Lok Sabha Polls 2024: Sitharaman, Jaishankar to contest, seats not finalized, says Pralhad Joshi Joshi assured reporters that both union ministers will undoubtedly run for the Lok Sabha seats. Which constituency and from where they will run, meanwhile, are still up in the air February 26, 2024 06:07 PM IST Ahead of LS polls, Congress steps up efforts to strengthen party in Hyderabad, woos BRS leaders Out of the total 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, four constituencies Malkajgiri, Secunderabad, Hyderabad and Chevella are in the GHMC limits. February 26, 2024 03:59 PM IST Lok Sabha polls 2024: JP Nadda invites people's suggestions for BJP manifesto As part of the campaign, BJP president JP Nadda also flagged off video vans from the party headquarters to highlight the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi February 26, 2024 12:48 PM IST Will scrap 'Agnipath', revert to old recruitment scheme if voted to power: Congress Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to President Droupadi Murmu on Monday, highlighting the "gross injustice" done to the youngsters seeking regular employment in the armed forces due to the "Agnipath" scheme, and urged her to ensure justice for them. February 25, 2024 06:37 PM IST Resolve to give Modi govt third term with more than 400 LS seats: Shah to BJP workers Addressing booth level workers of the party at Khajuraho, the Union minister also claimed the Congress means corruption and corruption means Congress. February 24, 2024 08:58 AM IST PM Modis poll vault to cross 370: From Bengal to Tamil Nadu, Kerala to Maharashtra, mega rallies, events planned next week With over 100 seats in the south, including 59 in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, 48 in Maharashtra and 42 in Bengal, the BJP is hoping that their biggest star campaigner and in whose name the party has been winning every election from Panchayat to Parliament, Modi can once again set the stage for them ahead of the announcement of the election dates. February 24, 2024 10:51 AM IST Lok Sabha Polls: BJP's mega huddle today, 'longer' candidate list likely to be out March first week During its huddle of election incharges and their deputies, BJP will discuss strategies that will be common practice in all states and UTs along with details of poll rallies by top guns like PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and JP Nadda February 24, 2024 10:59 PM IST Farmers' Protest Highlights: Authorities initiated the process of partially reopening Singhu border earlier today Dilli Chalo March Highlights: Authorities initiated the process of partially reopening Singhu (Delhi-Haryana) border earlier today, almost two weeks after it was sealed in view of farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' march. February 23, 2024 10:07 PM IST No change in TMC's stand of contesting all 42 LS seats in West Bengal: Derek O'Brien However, O'Brien, the TMC leader in the Rajya Sabha, said, "A few weeks agoWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated that TMC is fighting all the 42 seats in Bengal. We are also in the fray in a few seats in Assam and the Tura Lok Sabha seat in Meghalaya. There is no change in this position." February 23, 2024 08:20 PM IST Congress hopeful of finalising seat-sharing with TMC, AAP soon Sources said while the talks with the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP have almost been concluded, discussions are still underway with the Mamata Banerjee's TMC. The sources expressed hope the leadership would work out a solution soon accommodating the expectations of all parties. February 22, 2024 05:46 PM IST "Break alliance or Kejriwal will be arrested," Atishi accuses BJP of threatening AAP leaders AAP leaders have received messages threatening to arrest Arvind Kejriwal if their party doesnt break the alliance within two days, alleged Atishi February 22, 2024 04:34 PM IST Lok Sabha polls: Uttar Pradesh sealed, what's next for INDIA alliance? Lok Sabha Elections: The political struggle is far from over, as alliance partners remain hesitant to offer a substantial share to the grand old party. February 22, 2024 12:52 PM IST Ajay Maken accuses BJP of 'financial terrorism' to cripple Cong ahead of LS polls Income Tax Department has transferred Rs 65.88 crore from three Congress accounts, as well as from the accounts of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and the National Students Union of India (NSUI), alleged Maken. February 21, 2024 12:53 PM IST Haven't joined INDIA bloc, will support anyone with 'selfless' thought for nation: Kamal Haasan Addressing reporters here after leading the 7th anniversary celebrations of his Makkal Needhi Maiam, Haasan also welcomed the recent political entry of top Tamil actor Vijay. February 21, 2024 11:41 AM IST Differences among INDIA bloc allies in couple of states, will be resolved: Sharad Pawar Speaking to reporters in Kolhapur, the senior politician said a meeting of the INDIA alliance, formed by several opposition parties to take on the ruling BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, has not been convened of late. February 20, 2024 04:11 PM IST 'We scrapped Article 370 then to seek 370 seats now,' PM Modi stresses on an evolved J&K Lok Sabha Elections: Prime Minister Narendra Modi also referred to the upcoming Bollywood film Article 370 and slammed previous governments for depriving women of their democratic rights. February 19, 2024 04:48 PM IST SP releases second list after refusing to join Rahul's Bharat Nyay Yatra Lok Sabha Elections: Akhilesh Yadav said his party will participate in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra only after seat-sharing agreement with the Congress is finalised. February 20, 2024 11:47 AM IST PM Modi to visit Jammu on Feb 20: What it means for BJP ahead of LS polls Lok Sabha Elections: Modi will visit Jammu on Tuesday to launch multiple development projects, including for education, railway, aviation and road sectors, worth Rs 30,500 crore. February 19, 2024 12:49 PM IST Mayawati dismisses rumours of alliance, says BSP to go solo in Lok Sabha polls Mayawati, a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, has also asked workers of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to be beware of such rumours. February 15, 2024 06:43 PM IST Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Farooq Abdullahs NC to contest all seats in J&K - what does it mean? Lok Sabha Elections 2024: The decision has surprised many in view of Abdullah's recent lament that We are gradually moving towards a situation where there will be one country ruled by a single party. February 15, 2024 03:24 PM IST Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Farooq Abdullah says NC to go it alone National Conference is one of the constituents of opposition INDIA bloc formed in July 2023 to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls February 14, 2024 10:01 PM IST EC seeks 3.4 lakh CAPFs for deployment in LS polls, Assembly elections in 4 states The EC has also sought adequate rolling stocks with all appropriate facilities in the trains, thereby ensuring hassle-free mobilisation and a timely movement of the forces to perform election duties. February 14, 2024 02:26 PM IST Sharad Pawar-led NCP will not merge with any political party: Supriya Sule Apart from Pawar and Sule, former Maharashtra ministers Anil Deshmukh and Rajesh Tope, MPs Amol Kolhe and Shrinivas Patil along with others leaders attended the meeting. February 14, 2024 09:25 AM IST Not allowing for 100% VVPATs is 'terrible anyay' on Indian voter: Congress The opposition party also said that not allowing for 100 per cent VVPATs is a "terrible injustice" on the Indian voter. February 13, 2024 04:43 PM IST 'Legal MSP guarantee' if Congress voted to power, announces Rahul Gandhi amid farmers' Delhi march Gandhi said this step will ensure the prosperity of 15 crore farmer families. This is the first guarantee of Congress on the path of justice." February 13, 2024 02:31 PM IST AAP wants to contest 6 seats in Delhi, offer one to Congress: Sandeep Pathak The party also announced its candidates for two Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat and one in Goa. February 13, 2024 01:57 PM IST Ex-Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan to file nomination for Rajya Sabha with BJP backing Chavan joined the saffron party on February 13 in the presence of Maharashtras deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis. February 12, 2024 03:51 PM IST Another week, another blow, Ashok Chavan adds to Congress' exit list In 2010, Ashok Chavan had to step down as the chief minister of Maharashtra for his alleged involvement in Adarsh housing scam February 12, 2024 02:27 PM IST BJP will win 370 seats, NDA more than 400 seats in Lok Sabha polls: Amit Shah Amit Shah also took a swipe at the Congress and said out of the 10-year rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first five years went in filling up the "pit" dug by the opposition party, when it ruled the country, and another five years in laying the foundation (of development). February 09, 2024 05:19 PM IST Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Over 96 crore voters to exercise franchise Over two crore young voters between the age group of 18-29 have been added to the voter list. February 09, 2024 09:01 AM IST AAP to hold meeting on February 13 to decide on Lok Sabha candidates' names for 3 states In a sign of exasperation over protracted seat-sharing talks with its INDIA bloc partner Congress, the AAP on Thursday declared party candidates for three Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam. February 09, 2024 05:59 AM IST BJP bags Rs 1,294 crore as donations through electoral bonds sold in FY23 Electoral bonds totaling a cumulative value of Rs 2,800 crore were sold during the fiscal year spanning from March 2022 to March 2023. February 07, 2024 01:59 PM IST 50%-plus vote share, alliances, and gains in east & south: How BJP plans to fulfill PM's target of 'Abki Baar, NDA 400 paar' Getting Ajit Pawar on board in Maharashtra, JDS in Karnataka, Nitish Kumar back in the NDA in Bihar and opening talks with Jayant Chaudhary in Uttar Pradesh and Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh all this is a part of BJPs strategy to maximise the NDAs tally and vote share in 2024. February 05, 2024 01:59 PM IST Dont engage children in poll campaign: ECI to political parties The directions from the Election Commission of India have come just two months ahead of the 2024 general elections, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third straight term at the Centre. February 05, 2024 02:31 PM IST Lok Sabha Election: Women rule revised minimum income scheme in Cong policy to beat BJP Under the scheme, the opposition Congress is planning that women across the country would be given at least Rs 60,000-70,000 annually. February 01, 2024 06:12 PM IST How FM Sitharaman invoked PM Modi's 'four castes' slogan in Budget 2024 The earlier approach of tackling poverty through entitlements had resulted in very modest outcomes, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in her Budget speech. When the poor become empowered partners in the development process, governments power to assist them also increases manifold, she added. January 30, 2024 11:15 AM IST 'Modi's guarantee' a jumla, real issue in India is unemployment, inflation: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra The Congress general secretary shared a video on X which showed people queuing up for a recruitment drive to send workers to Israel. In today's edition of Moneycontrol Pro Panorama: More NBFC's piled in past three years, simultaneous polls may not be an unalloyed... Moneycontrol Pro Panorama | Markets need their Vitamin D too, as disclosures make them stronger Japan has managed to retain its title as the worlds biggest exporter of automobiles in 2023 amid intense competition from China which came close to snatching it away. China continues *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Feb 5, 2024 / 01:16 PM ISTAll Rights Reserved. FT and Financial Times are trademarks of the Financial Times Limited Not to be redistributed, copied or modified in any way. Micro Connects data on Chinas real economy brings risks at a time when Beijing is increasingly keen to control the narrative about macroeconomic performance. Kaye Wiggins, Cheng Leng and Hudson Lockett in Hong Kong When China started rolling back its zero-Covid policy, the early official numbers on the diseases spread were so low that they were publicly ridiculed. But on a screen in his Hong Kong office in December 2022, Charles Li could see signs that more people were becoming ill. Lis information was coming from Micro Connect, a company he founded in 2021 after leaving his high-profile job as head of Hong An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 2, 2024 shows a cargo ship sailing in the main channel of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin. Tianjin Port, located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, is a major shipping point in north China. In recent years, taking full advantage of its unique location, Tianjin Port has continuously improved its port functions to build a high-level maritime gateway for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It has successively opened a green channel serving the Xiong'an New Area, set up a service center coordinating port services between the port and Beijing's CBD, and launched sea-rail freight trains linking itself with Pinggu District of Beijing, Xingtai City in north China's Hebei Province and other areas. The port now has trade links with over 500 ports in more than 180 countries and regions. In 2021, the world's first smart zero-carbon terminal was put into operation in Tianjin Port and an autonomous driving demonstration zone was set up here. According to statistics, the container throughput of Tianjin Port exceeded 22.17 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, up 5.5 percent year on year. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 2, 2024 shows container vessels berthing at a container terminal of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin. Tianjin Port, located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, is a major shipping point in north China. In recent years, taking full advantage of its unique location, Tianjin Port has continuously improved its port functions to build a high-level maritime gateway for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It has successively opened a green channel serving the Xiong'an New Area, set up a service center coordinating port services between the port and Beijing's CBD, and launched sea-rail freight trains linking itself with Pinggu District of Beijing, Xingtai City in north China's Hebei Province and other areas. The port now has trade links with over 500 ports in more than 180 countries and regions. In 2021, the world's first smart zero-carbon terminal was put into operation in Tianjin Port and an autonomous driving demonstration zone was set up here. According to statistics, the container throughput of Tianjin Port exceeded 22.17 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, up 5.5 percent year on year. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 2, 2024 shows the smart zero-carbon terminal of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin. Tianjin Port, located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, is a major shipping point in north China. In recent years, taking full advantage of its unique location, Tianjin Port has continuously improved its port functions to build a high-level maritime gateway for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It has successively opened a green channel serving the Xiong'an New Area, set up a service center coordinating port services between the port and Beijing's CBD, and launched sea-rail freight trains linking itself with Pinggu District of Beijing, Xingtai City in north China's Hebei Province and other areas. The port now has trade links with over 500 ports in more than 180 countries and regions. In 2021, the world's first smart zero-carbon terminal was put into operation in Tianjin Port and an autonomous driving demonstration zone was set up here. According to statistics, the container throughput of Tianjin Port exceeded 22.17 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, up 5.5 percent year on year. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 3, 2024 shows a container terminal of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin. Tianjin Port, located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, is a major shipping point in north China. In recent years, taking full advantage of its unique location, Tianjin Port has continuously improved its port functions to build a high-level maritime gateway for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It has successively opened a green channel serving the Xiong'an New Area, set up a service center coordinating port services between the port and Beijing's CBD, and launched sea-rail freight trains linking itself with Pinggu District of Beijing, Xingtai City in north China's Hebei Province and other areas. The port now has trade links with over 500 ports in more than 180 countries and regions. In 2021, the world's first smart zero-carbon terminal was put into operation in Tianjin Port and an autonomous driving demonstration zone was set up here. According to statistics, the container throughput of Tianjin Port exceeded 22.17 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, up 5.5 percent year on year. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 3, 2024 shows a container terminal of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin. Tianjin Port, located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, is a major shipping point in north China. In recent years, taking full advantage of its unique location, Tianjin Port has continuously improved its port functions to build a high-level maritime gateway for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It has successively opened a green channel serving the Xiong'an New Area, set up a service center coordinating port services between the port and Beijing's CBD, and launched sea-rail freight trains linking itself with Pinggu District of Beijing, Xingtai City in north China's Hebei Province and other areas. The port now has trade links with over 500 ports in more than 180 countries and regions. In 2021, the world's first smart zero-carbon terminal was put into operation in Tianjin Port and an autonomous driving demonstration zone was set up here. According to statistics, the container throughput of Tianjin Port exceeded 22.17 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, up 5.5 percent year on year. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 2, 2024 shows the smart zero-carbon terminal of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin. Tianjin Port, located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, is a major shipping point in north China. In recent years, taking full advantage of its unique location, Tianjin Port has continuously improved its port functions to build a high-level maritime gateway for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It has successively opened a green channel serving the Xiong'an New Area, set up a service center coordinating port services between the port and Beijing's CBD, and launched sea-rail freight trains linking itself with Pinggu District of Beijing, Xingtai City in north China's Hebei Province and other areas. The port now has trade links with over 500 ports in more than 180 countries and regions. In 2021, the world's first smart zero-carbon terminal was put into operation in Tianjin Port and an autonomous driving demonstration zone was set up here. According to statistics, the container throughput of Tianjin Port exceeded 22.17 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, up 5.5 percent year on year. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 3, 2024 shows a container terminal of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin. Tianjin Port, located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, is a major shipping point in north China. In recent years, taking full advantage of its unique location, Tianjin Port has continuously improved its port functions to build a high-level maritime gateway for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It has successively opened a green channel serving the Xiong'an New Area, set up a service center coordinating port services between the port and Beijing's CBD, and launched sea-rail freight trains linking itself with Pinggu District of Beijing, Xingtai City in north China's Hebei Province and other areas. The port now has trade links with over 500 ports in more than 180 countries and regions. In 2021, the world's first smart zero-carbon terminal was put into operation in Tianjin Port and an autonomous driving demonstration zone was set up here. According to statistics, the container throughput of Tianjin Port exceeded 22.17 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, up 5.5 percent year on year. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 3, 2024 shows a ro-ro dock of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin. Tianjin Port, located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, is a major shipping point in north China. In recent years, taking full advantage of its unique location, Tianjin Port has continuously improved its port functions to build a high-level maritime gateway for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It has successively opened a green channel serving the Xiong'an New Area, set up a service center coordinating port services between the port and Beijing's CBD, and launched sea-rail freight trains linking itself with Pinggu District of Beijing, Xingtai City in north China's Hebei Province and other areas. The port now has trade links with over 500 ports in more than 180 countries and regions. In 2021, the world's first smart zero-carbon terminal was put into operation in Tianjin Port and an autonomous driving demonstration zone was set up here. According to statistics, the container throughput of Tianjin Port exceeded 22.17 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, up 5.5 percent year on year. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 2, 2024 shows a container vessel berthing at the smart zero-carbon terminal of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin. Tianjin Port, located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, is a major shipping point in north China. In recent years, taking full advantage of its unique location, Tianjin Port has continuously improved its port functions to build a high-level maritime gateway for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It has successively opened a green channel serving the Xiong'an New Area, set up a service center coordinating port services between the port and Beijing's CBD, and launched sea-rail freight trains linking itself with Pinggu District of Beijing, Xingtai City in north China's Hebei Province and other areas. The port now has trade links with over 500 ports in more than 180 countries and regions. In 2021, the world's first smart zero-carbon terminal was put into operation in Tianjin Port and an autonomous driving demonstration zone was set up here. According to statistics, the container throughput of Tianjin Port exceeded 22.17 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, up 5.5 percent year on year. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 3, 2024 shows vehicles at a ro-ro dock of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin. Tianjin Port, located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, is a major shipping point in north China. In recent years, taking full advantage of its unique location, Tianjin Port has continuously improved its port functions to build a high-level maritime gateway for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It has successively opened a green channel serving the Xiong'an New Area, set up a service center coordinating port services between the port and Beijing's CBD, and launched sea-rail freight trains linking itself with Pinggu District of Beijing, Xingtai City in north China's Hebei Province and other areas. The port now has trade links with over 500 ports in more than 180 countries and regions. In 2021, the world's first smart zero-carbon terminal was put into operation in Tianjin Port and an autonomous driving demonstration zone was set up here. According to statistics, the container throughput of Tianjin Port exceeded 22.17 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, up 5.5 percent year on year. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 2, 2024 shows an international container terminal of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin. Tianjin Port, located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, is a major shipping point in north China. In recent years, taking full advantage of its unique location, Tianjin Port has continuously improved its port functions to build a high-level maritime gateway for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It has successively opened a green channel serving the Xiong'an New Area, set up a service center coordinating port services between the port and Beijing's CBD, and launched sea-rail freight trains linking itself with Pinggu District of Beijing, Xingtai City in north China's Hebei Province and other areas. The port now has trade links with over 500 ports in more than 180 countries and regions. In 2021, the world's first smart zero-carbon terminal was put into operation in Tianjin Port and an autonomous driving demonstration zone was set up here. According to statistics, the container throughput of Tianjin Port exceeded 22.17 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, up 5.5 percent year on year. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) An aerial drone photo taken on Feb. 2, 2024 shows a container vessel berthing at a container terminal of Tianjin Port in north China's Tianjin. Tianjin Port, located on the coast of the Bohai Sea, is a major shipping point in north China. In recent years, taking full advantage of its unique location, Tianjin Port has continuously improved its port functions to build a high-level maritime gateway for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. It has successively opened a green channel serving the Xiong'an New Area, set up a service center coordinating port services between the port and Beijing's CBD, and launched sea-rail freight trains linking itself with Pinggu District of Beijing, Xingtai City in north China's Hebei Province and other areas. The port now has trade links with over 500 ports in more than 180 countries and regions. In 2021, the world's first smart zero-carbon terminal was put into operation in Tianjin Port and an autonomous driving demonstration zone was set up here. According to statistics, the container throughput of Tianjin Port exceeded 22.17 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023, up 5.5 percent year on year. (Xinhua/Zhao Zishuo) Editor: WXL 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. Editor: WJH This photo taken on Jan. 9, 2024 shows an ancient house at Bailong Village, Tumen City of northeast China's Jilin Province. (Xinhua/Shao Meiqi) CHANGCHUN, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- As night gradually awakens, a rising wave of cooking smoke curls out of a tranquil folk village on the banks of the Tumen River in northeast China's Jilin Province. In the village, Jin Jingnan is preoccupied with heating up the stove inside a Korean ethnic house over 140 years old. "The tourists will soon arrive," said the 71-year-old. Much to his delightful surprise, his residence, the oldest one in Bailong Village, is now a popular sight. Facing south, the house was built in 1880 using the traditional mortise-and-tenon joints instead of using nails and screws to join pieces of wood, which experts acclaim as "a rare and well-preserved Korean-style house made with wood and shingles." The village is situated in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, the only autonomous prefecture of China's Korean ethnic group. Korean-style dwellings dotting the village are connected by wooden bridges and flagstone roads, while crocks used for making and preserving soy sauce are neatly placed between the yards. Less than 100 people currently reside in the village, mostly over 60 years old, according to Jin. "Few people came to the remote village in the past, but now, their visits allow us to live a much better life," said Jin. Jin, who used to make a living by working in the Republic of Korea, decided to come back to Bailong Village and settle down in 2005, after seeing how infrastructure and cityscape have undergone tremendous transformation in his hometown. He also began to reconsider the value of the ancient Korean-style houses. "The history of our village is a microcosm of the history of the Korean ethnic people in China," noted Jin. Now every day, tourists flood in the village for photo-shooting tours, savoring Korean ethnic cuisine, and experiencing the architecture, customs, and traditional living practices of the Korean ethnic group. Last year, the village welcomed over 100,000 tourists, according to Jin. "It's an unforgettable trip," said Zhang Wenli, who came with three friends from Sichuan Province. "We will definitely recommend for more of our friends to visit," Zhang said. "This year, we plan to open more culinary tours such as making spicy cabbage and rice cakes," Jin said, adding that the village has also set up a team presenting Korean-style performances to sightseers. "I can make an additional 3,000 to 4,000 yuan (about 422 to 563 U.S. dollars) a month by performing," said Wu Zhenghua, a local resident. Zhang Xiangshun, 45, opened a beauty salon in Bailong Village last year, mainly offering makeup service to visitors on photo-shooting tours. After graduation from university, Li Xuanzhu, 24, also moved to the village to run a homestay. "At first, my relatives and friends said that I've made a 'bold' decision, but I was quite optimistic. Now after seeing the influx of visitors, they've recognized my decision," Li said, adding that she is planning to increase investment to inject more vitality into the ancient village. Editor: WJH The death of a loved one is a universally painful experience. In India, the confusion around transmission of assets renders the process of claiming ones inheritance even more painful, especially when the deceased is the bread-winner of a family who has not made a Will or been careful about listing nominees. On the one hand, technology and economic growth have increased work-related migration across income strata; on the other, transmission of assets remains a challenge when dealing with banks, financial institutions and government departments. Standard operating processes (SOPs) are absent, and processes are manifold and, often, harrowing. This is evident in the investor education and protection fund (IEPF) under the ministry of corporate affairs (MCA), which impounds corporate benefits, shares and debentures that remain unclaimed after seven years. The Reserve Bank of Indias (RBI) portal to trace unclaimed bank deposits also has a mixed response about ease of use. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has gone further than other regulators in May 2023 by issuing a comprehensive master circular with detailed guidelines on transmission and transfer of shares. In 2015, the law commission recommended a simplification of inheritance procedures; but little has changed. Mandatory Probates A peculiar legal requirement of Wills applies only to those residing or owning property in former British Presidency townsMumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. If a person has made a Will or left an immovable property here, it is mandatory to have the Will probated by a court. This means that the Will is certified by a court. Probate involves a substantial court fee and time, even if uncontested. Additionally, heirs incur legal fees for completion. Why this unfair burden on people in these three cities? Well, because the Indian Succession Act dates back to 1925 and the British law has remained unchanged after 76 years, even though we overhauled the Indian Penal Code (which was also 150 years old) and also have launched new legislation for goods and services tax (GST) under the slogan one nation one tax. Court fees vary within these cities. In Mumbai, it could cost up to Rs75,000; in Kolkata, the fee is capped at Rs50,000; and, in Chennai, it is Rs25,000. A probate takes eight to ten months, even when there are no disputes. So why haven't people pushed for dropping it? The answer is threefold: individuals face this process only once or twice in their lives; legal professionals have no incentive to push for reforms that only benefit their clients; and, until 20 years ago, few Indians wrote Wills, with property divided based on family agreements or their respective succession laws. It is only in the past two decades that a significant number of people acquired substantial self-earned assets, necessitating careful distribution through documented Wills. This has, to an extent, prompted financial regulators and the government to improve the transmission process. Regulators Actions SEBI has made strides in smoothening the transmission process. In May 2022, SEBI issued a master circular to eliminate the capricious demands by depository participants (DPs) and registrar and transfer agents (RTAs) to transfer securities. In October 2023, SEBI introduced a central mechanism for reporting demise to streamline the transmission process, establishing clear guidelines for listed companies, registrars, transfer agents, mutual funds, exchanges, depositories and DPs ( https://www.sebi.gov.in/legal/circulars/oct-2023/centralized-mechanism-for-reporting-the-demise-of-an-investor-through-kras_77534.html ). Effective January 2024, this central reporting mechanism will put on hold all transactions in a deceased persons account until transmission to the legal heirs, preventing misuse of the shares by intermediaries or unauthorised persons. However, in July 2021, SEBI issued a controversial circular stipulating that trading and demat accounts that did not have a nominee would be frozen. It required investors to submit know-your-customer (KYC )details of the nominee. It is unclear how a regulator can freeze an individuals self-earned assets without their consent. Perhaps that is why SEBI has repeatedly extended the deadline for initiating coercive action. But the threat has evidently worked since nearly 90% of over 1,100 persons who participated in a survey by Moneylife Foundation have complied with the nomination requirement. Another 10% intend to comply, but a small 1% are clear that they do not plan to list a nominee. In June 2022, SEBI permitted mutual fund investors to list a nominee or specifically opt-out via a formal declaration. ( https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/asset_transmission Although nominations aid quick transmission of assets, it cannot be a mandatory requirement and take away individual choice merely to simplify processes. RBI delegated the issuance of SOPs to the Indian Banks Association which released a procedure in 2016; this has been ineffective, while RBI has merely issued multiple circulars asking banks to treat customers better. MCA requires companies to transfer shares and corporate benefits which are lying unclaimed for seven years to IEPF. Its online process for tracing and claiming funds remains challenging for individuals or their legal heirs. Many Changes Required India's wealth distribution is highly skewed. However, everyone agrees that the growing middle-to-upper-middle-class population, estimated at over 300mn (million), has self-earned wealth that they should be able to distribute smoothly as desired. Unfortunately, responses to Moneylife Foundations survey indicated that we have a long way to go in ensuring smooth transmission because institutions that deliberately delay the handover of assets to rightful legal heirs to face cost or penalty. Here are some egregious examples of the difficulties people have faced: A Will and a probate do not guarantee smooth transmission. In one case, the heirs waited six years for the completion of a probate. Once done, the bank decided it would distribute assets equally among all because the probate wasn't well construed. Another bank would not accept a Will and refused to provide access to Rs32 lakh to the widow even if her two daughters provided a release and indemnity. It insisted that the Will should be probated. A common complaint is that officials dealing with transmission lack knowledge; there are no SOPs or a list of documents to be submitted. Often, bank managers or persons in charge come up with demands such as indemnities, sureties, multiple affidavits and no-objection certificates (NOCs) from siblings, etc. In one case, a notarised probate was rejected by an uninformed official who would accept only a succession certificate. Another sought KYC documents and an Aadhaar of a deceased mother even after a death certificate was provided; worse, the deceased was a long-time customer of the bank and had received her pension in the branch for many years. Only the threat of legal action ended the harassment. A public sector bank manager asked a nominee to submit a statement of assets and liabilities to determine if he was worthy of access to the locker. A public sector insurer refused to release death benefits to a nominee until the untraceable agent signed the documents. Eventually, the heirs were coerced to buy new policies to get their inheritance. An RTA demanded indemnities and sureties despite the submission of a registered Will. Mumbai-based RTAs were also known to demand a probated Will in all cases, even though it is not mandatory in all but three cities. SEBIs new rules ought to end the transmission harassment with capital market products. At a time when banks offer multiple services (trading and depository accounts, mutual funds, insurance and credit cards) linked to a single unique customer identity number (UIC), it should be mandatory to provide nominees/heirs with a complete snapshot of the deceased persons financial dealings with the bank. This does not happen. Foreign nationals claiming assets of deceased Indian parents have the hardest time. They are forced to make repeated trips to India and pay hefty legal fees to complete the formalities since officials handling transmission are ignorant about the role of executors and their duty to distribute assets. Moneylife Foundations survey does not include fixed assets/ property, whose transmission is a bigger challenge. There is a clear need to tackle transmission through a holistic process covering all asset classes with a central database for reporting death. Similarly, people should have the right to make a Living Will outlining life support, resuscitation and organ donation preferences. But until there is a public outcry for better systems, this will remain a low-priority area for all, except the victims of a heartless system, who are deprived of their rights. After arriving on a Vistara flight from Dubai, certain passengers were erroneously taken to Mumbai's domestic terminal, without completing immigration procedures on Sunday at Mumbai airport. The airline has said that they will enhance operating procedures to avoid such occurrences in the future. This incident raises concerns as it appears to be a security violation, considering the mandatory immigration process for international arrivals at Indian airports. Bureau of Civil Aviation (BCAS) is yet to respond to the incident. Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Monday, the airline said that few of their customers, arriving from Dubai to Mumbai on Vistara flight UK 202 on February 4, were erroneously taken to domestic arrivals instead of international arrivals. Our teams worked alongside security agencies and relevant authorities to ensure that the said customers were taken to the designated area to complete their arrival formalities and conclude their journey, said the spokesperson. We regret the inconvenience caused to the customers, inadvertently. We are revisiting and further tightening our standard operating procedures to avoid any recurrence, the spokesperson added. Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article. Ukraine's state budget deficit in Jan 2023 down to UAH 14.9 bln due to lack of funding Ministry of Finance The state budget deficit of Ukraine, after growing in December 2023 to a record UAH 285 billion compared to UAH 145.1 billion in November, fell to UAH 14.9 billion in January of this year, such recent data from the State Treasury were reported by the Ministry of Finance on Monday. It clarified that the general fund deficit decreased from UAH 274.4 billion in December and UAH 162.5 billion in November to UAH 33.3 billion. The Ministry of Finance indicated that cash expenditures of the state budget in January fell to UAH 169.3 billion after a December record of UAH 548.2 billion and UAH 337.9 billion in November. For the general fund, expenses decreased to UAH 149.5 billion from UAH 397.7 billion in December and UAH 286.3 billion in November. As the Ministry of Finance noted, in January 2024, revenues to the general fund of the state budget decreased to UAH 116 billion from UAH 127.1 billion in December and UAH 121.7 billion in November, while international grant assistance decreased to UAH 3.4 billion from UAH 20.5 billion in December, while in November it was absent. The agency clarified that value added tax (VAT) on goods produced in Ukraine in January brought in UAH 35.1 billion compared to UAH 22.5 billion in December, while VAT refunds decreased from UAH 10.9 billion to UAH 9.8 billion. Import VAT added another UAH 37 billion to the budget (in December - UAH 35.7 billion), corporate income tax - UAH 2 billion (versus UAH 4.1 billion in the same comparison), personal income tax and military duty - UAH 13 billion (UAH 20.9 billion), and royalty for the use of subsoil - UAH 3 billion (UAH 3.5 billion). The excise tax brought in another UAH 12.2 billion (UAH 8.3 billion), and import and export duties - UAH 4.6 billion (UAH 3.2 billion). Single social tax revenues to the Pension Fund and social insurance funds in November 2023 decreased to UAH 34.2 billion from UAH 53.1 billion in December, the Ministry of Finance added. It is noted that the State Tax Service exceeded its monthly revenue target by 13.8%, or UAH 7.3 billion, while the State Customs Service exceeded its monthly revenue target by 30.3%, or UAH 11 billion. According to the ministry, actual government borrowing into the state budget general fund in January 2024 fell to UAH 43.28 billion, or 34.6% of what was planned for this period. From the placement of government bonds in January, UAH 32.03 billion was received, of which in foreign currency - UAH 19.3 billion, or $250 million and EUR 235 million. Payments to repay the state debt in January 2024 amounted to UAH 17.5 billion, or 94.6% of the plan, while servicing payments amounted to UAH 9.5 billion, or 90.6% of the plan. The Ministry of Finance emphasized that the rollover on government bonds in January was complete: the funds raised through government bonds made it possible to fully cover the needs for payment on them. Reporter 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. President Hage Geingob of Namibia gestures during an interview with Reuters in central London, Britain December 1, 2016. A 2020 Ford Explorer hybrid police vehicle is unveiled in Dearborn, Michigan, U.S., May 15, 2019. Picture taken May 15, 2019. U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during the opening of the Biden for President campaign office in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., February 3, 2024. The Polish Agriculture Ministry plans to propose charging 8% VAT on Ukrainian vegetable oil and capping sugar imports from Ukraine to Poland, Polish Deputy Agriculture Minister Michal Kolodziejczak said in an interview with TVP Info. Poland's Agriculture Ministry is analyzing data, including what amount of frozen raspberries was delivered from Ukraine and Poland this year, Ukrainian media said, citing Kolodziejczak. Several hundred tonnes of frozen raspberries have been imported to date. The price of this produce makes growing fresh berries in Poland unnecessary. Therefore, the Polish Agriculture Ministry wants import caps to be imposed and to increase the output of these products inside the country. Speaking about the introduction of VAT on Ukrainian vegetable oil, Kolodziejczak said he is puzzled why vegetable oil should be imported at a 0% VAT rate, which is intended for Ukrainian producers. Commenting on a farmers' 30-day nationwide strike, which is due to start on February 9 and will involve blocking crossings on the Polish-Ukrainian border, Kolodziejczak said that he supports farmers' decision, adding that "the border with Ukraine must be closed very tightly." Kolodziejczak said he would ask the Road Transport Inspection to check vehicles carrying goods from Ukraine to Lithuania via Poland in order to make sure that the seal is not removed in Lithuania to enable the same vehicle with cargo to return from Lithuania to Poland. The first changes will be carried out this week, Kolodziejczak said, adding that he would travel to Lublin on Monday to meet with the head of the local administration and subordinate services to decide on specific further actions. Monday Lingering Power Outages View Photo Sonora, CA There are power outages lingering in the Mother Lode following Sundays storm system. In Groveland, there are still 401 customers without power. The outage started at 3:40 on Sunday afternoon. It is unclear when there will be full restoration. There are also 203 without power near Copperopolis with an 11 pm (Monday) restoration time. 162 are without electricity in Arnold and there is also an 11 pm restoration projection. Valley Springs and Jackson were also hit hard with power outages. There are smaller incidents around Angels Camp, San Andreas, Sonora, Jamestown, and Twain Harte. PG&E is also busy working to restore widespread outages in the Bay Area and Central Valley. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the northern Sierra Nevada and Yosemite National Park, above 5,000 feet, through 4 am tomorrow. A flood watch is also in effect for the Mother Lode through early tomorrow morning. Find the latest weather information by clicking here. Tuolumne County Voting View Photo Sonora, CA Today is when voters can first start casting a ballot for the March primary election. Several local races will be decided on March 5, including many board of supervisor seats in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties, and Sonora City Council. In addition, Californians will weigh in on the Presidential race, US Congress, US Senate, and state legislative contests. Tuolumne County Clerk and Auditor, Debi Bautista, says her office at 2 South Green Street in Sonora is now open for early voting, effective today (same goes for Calaveras County). Bautista adds, Ballots are also being mailed today. In California, every single voter gets a vote by mail ballot, so if you dont get your ballot by the end of next week, please call the office at 533-5570 and ask for a replacement ballot. There are 10 ballot drop boxes throughout Tuolumne County, and additional Vote Centers will open later this month. Click here to find more information. For details on Calaveras County elections, click here. Nelson Chamisa launches mobilization drive for new political movement In a bid to reshape the political landscape of Zimbabwe, former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has launched a mobilization drive for his new political movement, which is set to be unveiled soon. Chamisas loyalists, including former legislators Amos Chibaya and Gift Ostallos Siziba, took the stage in Mutare to address supporters during the inaugural mobilization program. Prominent opposition figures, such as former lawmakers Regai Tsunga and David Chimhini, were also present at the meeting, demonstrating their support for Chamisas new venture. However, Chikanga legislator Lynette Karenyi-Kore was notably absent from the gathering. Chamisas decision to step down from the CCC last month was motivated by his belief that the party had been infiltrated by Zanu PF. He cited the actions of self-imposed interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu, who had purged several CCC legislators from Parliament. Chamisa and his supporters now consider the CCC to be a thing of the past. Speaking to NewsDay, Siziba emphasized the need to present a new message of hope and a fresh vision for Zimbabwe under President Chamisa. He stressed the importance of promoting democracy in the face of authoritarian consolidation and reiterated Chamisas legitimacy as the leader of the alternative movement. Despite attempts by a rival faction to lure Chamisa back to their party, he has firmly declined their offers. Siziba confirmed that similar meetings would be held in all provinces, with Masvingo being the next destination on their agenda. We are now building from the rubble. The remnants of the struggle, we are building from there, Siziba explained. CCC is no longer the vehicle for the future. The grassroots are clear. They are rallying behind Nelson Chamisa. They reaffirmed the social contract between them and their leader. Chamisa himself spoke about the unique political movement he is forming, describing it as a new and unprecedented approach. He emphasized that he aims to be a leader for Zimbabwe, rather than just a party leader, offering a fresh perspective to the countrys political landscape. I am ready to lead Zimbabwe and not a party. Zimbabwe needs a leader, a unifying leader, not a party leader, Chamisa stated. He highlighted that since 1980, the countrys leadership had been occupied by party leaders rather than national leaders. This new political movement, according to Chamisa, represents a previously unexplored path towards addressing the challenges Zimbabwe faces. As the mobilization drive gains momentum, Chamisas supporters eagerly anticipate the unveiling of his new political movement. With his sights set on leading the nation, Chamisa seeks to bring about a transformative change that transcends party boundaries and unifies Zimbabwe under a shared vision for the future. Breaking News via Email European Union renews sanctions on Zimbabwe, dealing blow to Mnangagwas re-engagement efforts President Emmerson Mnangagwas administration has suffered a major setback in its re-engagement efforts as the European Union (EU) extended its restrictions on Zimbabwe. In a statement issued by the EU council, it was announced that sanctions would remain in place until February 20, 2025. While the EU removed individual targeted sanctions on key figures such as Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, Grace Mugabe (the late former President Robert Mugabes widow), and Zimbabwe Defence Forces boss General Valerio Sibanda last year, the restrictive measures on the country itself have been renewed. The sanctions primarily consist of an arms embargo and targeted asset freeze on Zimbabwe Defence Industries. The EU emphasized that it would closely monitor the human rights situation in the country to determine the future of the sanctions. The EU will continue to closely follow developments in Zimbabwe, with particular attention to the human rights situation and recalls its readiness to adapt the whole range of its policies accordingly, the statement read. The EUs sanctions were initially imposed in 2002 in response to electoral fraud and human rights violations. Over the years, the measures have been gradually eased to encourage political reform. However, relations between Zimbabwe and the European bloc have deteriorated significantly following the countrys general elections last year, which drew criticism from regional and international bodies, including the EU, for falling short of expected standards. Breaking News via Email To tell our Middle East tale a bit out of order, lets start with what is currently a linchpin factoid and work around to other elements: Israel: well pause bombing you for 30 days, free all the detainees, then well resume the mass killing again, ok? Palestinian resistance: no, we want a permanent ceasefire Israel: OMG HAMAS SAID NO TO CEASEFIRE https://t.co/rJ8EmiZP7W ashok kumar (@broseph_stalin) February 5, 2024 So all the Israel government is willing to entertain is a protracted pause. All that does is extend the Gaza genocide timetable. Hamas leaders are presumably smart enough not to fall for that. But with Israel having proposed a ceasefire that is actually unserious about stopping the extermination in Gaza, they have succeeded in playing their cards to make Hamas look like the bad guys. But since the West already runs crude Israel video fakes as real, Hamas would be scapegoated whether or not they were being reasonable. 1 If you have been following the state of play in the Middle East, Tony Blinken, who as far as I can tell has yet to get any deal done evah in the Middle East, looks to be continuing his track record. He set out to attempt to broker a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel. Even though Netanyahu and right-wing members of his coalition had maintained that destroying Hamas is first and getting the hostages back will follow from that, protests by the families of hostages have put pressure on the government to entertain talk of a ceasefire. But if I read this correctly, its na ga happen: Israeli coward Ben Gvir: I am not a sheep, if there is a ceasefire in Gaza, we will LEAVE the government! I will NOT allow the signing of an agreement that will lead to the victory of Hamas!. pic.twitter.com/kc5IvN5ugT The Saviour (@stairwayto3dom) February 4, 2024 The speaker, Itamar Ben-Gvir, is head of the National Security Council. More important, hes willing to topple the government if he does not have his way. From a recent Wall Street Journal story based on an exclusive interview with Ben-Gvir: Now, crucially, Ben-Gvir has enough support in the ruling coalition to undermine Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus rule, and he says he is willing to use it. In his first interview with a foreign news organization since joining the government, Ben-Gvir warned that he would oppose any deal with Hamas that would free thousands of Palestinians held for terrorism or end the war before Hamas was fully defeated. Ben-Gvir is a forceful proponent of clearing Gaza entirely of Palestinians and turning it into a Jewish enclave. He also believes Trump would be more willing to back these plans than Biden. It appears to take some months to organize new elections in Israel after a government falls (knowledgeable readers please pipe up). One could assume a caretaker government would continue existing policies and would not enter into something as important as a ceasefire deal, let alone one that was more than short term. So it is a little earlier than optimal for Ben-Gvir to force new elections. And Netanyahu obviously wants to stay Prime Minister as long as possible to hold off his prosecutions. But this calculus is part of the equation. Consider also that, at least per some commentary, Biden is trying to contain the conflict surrounding Israel to more or less the current level, so as to avoid a regional war, at least before November elections. But it is hard to see his actions as being properly calibrated to achieve that end. Attacking g 85 targets to retaliate for 3 servicemember deaths on what is widely believed to be a US installation in Syria, hence illegal, is so excessive as to look silly, as in an admission of some combination of lack of emotional self control and lack of confidence in targeting.2 The US over the weekend made more strikes in Yemen when again many military experts have pointed out the use of force there wont accomplish much.and it hasnt save creating even stronger Yemeni support for the Houthis, more properly called Ansrallah. We cant possibly invade Yemen. We dont have the force strength and Hamas would likely sink some of our ships, a credibility disaster. And Yemen is just as difficult territory as Afghanistan, where neither the Soviet Union nor we prevailed. And on the Iraq front, regardless of whether the strikes were all that effective, they look to have also had the effect being a big fat no to an Iraqi insurgent offer to stop harassing the US if wed keep on with the US plan to exit the country, as wed allegedly said wed do just a few days before. Recall, as we recounted, it was an Iraqi group, Kataib Hezbollah, that admitted to the strike that killed and said it was suspending strikes so as not to get in the way of the withdrawal deal. 85 strikes is way way more than what the US would need to make to keep up the appearance it was defending US forces. Perhaps one reason for the over-the-top number is that no way, no how will there be even an itty bittiest appearance that rebel action influence us. On top of that, all of this threat display is using up more of our scarce weaponry. The US has supply issues with ship-borne missiles. We may not be as immediately constrained with ones launched from jets, but we look to be over-committed, between demands in Ukraine and sure-to-be-continuing needs on behalf of Israel. With that introduction, lets turn to the Administrations fantasies about how it will get out of its current mess, as revealed in the planted Wall Street Journal story, U.S. Pairs Military Action With Diplomacy in Effort to Reshape Middle East. To its credit, the Journal plants a lot of skeptical markers: monumental challenges, formidable obstacles, urgent challenge. Its lead photo captures Tony Blinken in a deer in the headlight gaze. Nevertheless, the article reveals the US is stuck in a badly-outdated picture of its influence, thinking it can drive events when we cant even bring Israel to heel. From the report (emphasis ours): On the military front, the U.S. has sought to buy time for its diplomacy by keeping Irans proxies at bay The administrations effort faces formidable obstacles, not least the demanding compromises it would require on all sides. The article also makes clear the US will engage in at most two-state theater: Advancing the Palestinians prospects for a state of their own has become a prerequisite for pursuing Israeli-Saudi normalization and with it the hope of fostering a broad anti-Iran alignment in the region. Right before the end, the piece does acknowledge that the US has a armaments problem: Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute, a Washington-based think tank, said that the Friday strike was the largest military action the U.S. has launched against Iranian proxies in Syria and Iraq since the Iraq war. From the perspective of these proxies and Iran itself, they are engaged in a long-term attritional struggle against the U.S., Lister said. For now at least, this looks more like a hiccup along the road for them. But rather than tease out the implications, the very next sentence talks about the US using hard power, as if we were still dominant in that category. Contrast the US view of what it thinks it can still do with the Axis of Resistance perspective, conveyed in a Black Mountain Analysis article we highlighted in Links: The main actor in the region, Iran, is driving the expulsion of foreign forces out of the Middle East, and is accelerating its efforts As soon as the Quds plan has been activated [and it was with October 7] there is no turning back. The Rubicon has been crossed. All disguised Quds operators across the Middle East act to help coordinate the moves. And since they have done this, they are visible to the Mossad.The end of what just started will be a free Middle East (from an Iranian perspective), or no Middle East. In other words, good luck with Biden trying to contain the violence or have the US dictate or even significantly influence outcomes. Russia has been playing nice by geopolitical standards. The Axis of Resistance wont if tested. ____ 1 Hamas could try to set up a deal where the Israelis were likely to fail to deliver fully on their commitments, then cancel. For instance, it would make sense from a public health standpoint for Hamas to seek a very high level of food deliveries to make up for the many weeks of starvation conditions (as in get a little fat back on dangerously thin bodies). The Israelis make a point of holding up all arriving supplies with the excuse that they need to inspect truck for weapons. As for this idea in particular, in the event Hamas were to propose making up for the protracted calorie deficit, Israel is likely to contend this is actually a Hamas scheme to stockpile food for its own use. 2 CNN reported that the US says it destroyed or damaged 84 of the 85 targets. But as Scott Ritter and others reported regarding our previous strikes on Yemen, most if not all were targets wed identified and shot at earlier. And on top of that, aside from it not being clear that there was much of anything left, its not clear there was much of anything there initially. During a working trip to Zaporizhia region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the frontline positions of the Ukrainian military near the village of Robotyne, the press service of the head of the Ukrainian state said. "In particular, the Head of State visited the location of the 65th separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy was briefed on the operational situation by the commander of the Zaporizhzhia operational grouping of troops Volodymyr Horbatiuk," the president's website said on Sunday. During his visit, Zelenskyy spoke with Ukrainian military personnel and presented them with state awards. In particular, he handed over the Presidential award "Cross of Military Merit" to the commander of a reconnaissance platoon, Senior Lieutenant Andriy Olshanskyi. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also awarded the warriors with the Orders of Bohdan Khmelnytsky and "For Courage." "It is a great honor to be here today. To support you and present awards. You are facing a difficult and crucial mission to repel the enemy and win this war. I wish you this victory. I wish you to do everything to speed up this victory. I wish you to be supported by your family, friends and all citizens of Ukraine. All sane people in the world understand that you have the most difficult job, and all Ukrainians are proud of you," the president said. Yves here. Below is a useful primer on the evolution of thinking around what constitutes a just war and an outline of what are now considered to be the key parameters. Youll note that a just war can take place only between states, leaving wars of liberation and revolutions as presumed unjust. Dr. Sotirovic ends with the thought that a war of attrition wind up being unjust via how it is conducted. Im not sure that is a given; reader ideas welcomed. It might help to factor in a discussion of the evolution of war strategy from the Big Serge post, The End of Cabinet War. Dr. Sotirovic voices the view that World War I and II shattered the doctrine of the Just War. But Big Serge suggests that happened before, in the Franco-Prussian War, although only a comparatively few recognized that at the time. From his post: By all rights, [Field Marshal Helmuth von] Moltkes masterpiece at Sedan should have ended the war. The French had lost both of their trained field armies and their head of state, and ought to have given in to Prussias demand (namely, the annexation of the Alsace-Lorraine region). Instead of bringing France to its knees, the Prussians found a rapidly mobilizing nation which was determined to fight to the death. The mobilization prowess of the emergency French government was astonishing: by February, 1871, they had raised and armed more than 900,000 men. Fortunately for the Prussians, this never became a genuine military emergency. The newly raised French units suffered from poor equipment and poor training (particularly because most of Frances trained officers had been captured in the opening campaign). The new mass French armies had poor combat effectiveness, and Moltke managed to coordinate the capture of Paris alongside a campaign which saw Prussian forces marching all over France to run down and destroy the elements of the new French Army. Crisis averted, war won. All was cozy in Berlin, it would seem? Far from it. While many were content to shake hands and congratulate each other on a job well done, others saw something horrifying in the second half of the war, and the French mobilization program. Surprisingly, Moltke himself was among this party. Moltke viewed the ideal form of war as something which the Germans call a Kabinettskriege. Literally a Cabinet War, this referred to the limited wars which dominated affairs for much of the 16th through 19th centuries. The particular form of these wars was a conflict between the professional militaries of states and their aristocratic leadership no mass levies, no horrible scorched earth, no nationalism or mass patriotism. For Moltke, his earlier war against Austria was an ideal example of a Cabinet War: the Prussian and Austrian professional armies fought a battle, the Prussians won, and the Austrians agreed to Prussias demands. There was no declaration of a blood feud or a guerilla war, but instead a vaguely chivalrous acknowledgment of defeat and limited concessions. What happened in France, in contrast, was a war which began as a Kabinettskriege and devolved into a Volkskriege a peoples war, and thus had brought into question the entire concept of the limited Cabinet War altogether. As Moltke put it: The days are gone by when, for dynastic ends, small armies of professional soldiers went to war to conquer a city, or a province, and then sought winter quarters or made peace. The wars of the present day call whole nations to arms Big Serges entire post is worth reading, since he also connects the lessons of the Franco-Prussian War to the Ukraine conflict. He also has a longer post on The Moltke Mirage. And remember Big Serge is a very big admirer of Moltke. Thank Dr. Sotirovic for sending us this informative piece. By Dr. Vladislav B. Sotirovic, Ex-University Professor; Research Fellow at Centre for Geostrategic Studies, Belgrade, Serbia As a matter of historical fact, since human beings have been living in settled communities (villages, towns, cities), they have sought to protect themselves against different types of military threats to their lives and livelihood but on other hand as well as to occupy the land of others and to rule over the others. Many archaeological excavations confirm that security was a main consideration in the design and construction of human settlements. There are records of endless numbers of different palisades, moats, walls, turrets, and other defense constructions around the world for the purpose of communal or state security in the case of war against outsiders (for instance, the Hadrian Wall in the UK). The purposes of war have been different ranging from the purpose of pillage, slave capture, and occupation of certain territories, to access to resources, revenge, abduction of women (for example, the Trojan War), strategic routes, honor or prestige, etc. However, in many historical cases, those settlements and polities that lost wars faced draconian consequences (for instance, the destiny of the city of ancient Punic Carthage in North Africa). Wars ended typically with the extermination of the surviving male citizens, pillage, and the capture of youth and women as slaves. Villages, towns, and cities were destroyed in many cases to the ground. The Second World War completed the demolition of measures designed to provide security for both the territorial integrity of states and civilians during military operations. The two atomic bombs dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6th and 9th, 1945 by the US authorities are far better known, but, however, the numbers of killed people were not significantly higher than those who lost their lives from conventional fire bombs (for instance, the 1945 Dresden Massacre). Nevertheless, while some German Nazi and Japanese leaders were captured, tried, convicted, and hanged for war crimes and crimes against humanity, victorious British, American, and Soviet architects of atrocity escaped similar fates. In WWII, there were around 74 million casualties but 60 million of them have been civilians, i.e., non-combat forces. After 1945, national security became the most prominent value in international relations (IR) sought by governments. Contemporary Great Powers are spending vastly more resources on defense against real or anticipated enemies than they do on education, housing, and other domestic priorities. However, at the same time, they try to justify the military spending and wars fought by them within the concept of a Just War. One of the most disputed topics with regard to the concept of war is the idea of a Just War a war held to be founded on the principles of justice in principle caused and conducted in the name of humanity like, for instance, self-defense or protection of minority groups, etc. That the Just War was a phenomenon is an inherent aspect of politics and foreign affairs is recognized even by Antique authors like classical Greek writers, as represented mostly by Thucydides and his famous History of the Peloponnesian War. In the Antique time, the early Christians have been pacifists and, in fact, practiced abstention from the policy in general. At that time, the authorities of the almighty Roman Empire, once converted to Christianity in the 4th century A.D., in fact, have been forced to reconcile the pacifist philosophy of Jesus Christ with the demands of everyday real politics, war, and power on the ground from Britain to Egypt. A Christian philosopher and theologian St. Augustine (354430) argued in De Civitate Dei that day-to-day acceptance of political realities was inevitable for all Christians living in the fallen world of the Roman Empire. This topic was further developed by another Christian (Roman Catholic) philosopher and theologian St. Thomas Aquinas (c. 12251274), who made a distinction between Just and Unjust War by using two groups of criteria: 1) Jus ad bellum the justice of the cause; and 2) Jus in bello the justice of the conduct. By definition, Jus ad bellum is a just resource to war. It has to be based on certain principles that restrict the legitimate use of force. Jus in bello is the just conduct of war. It has to be founded on certain principles that stipulate how war should be fought. These two elements of Just War theory just cause and just conduct continued later up today to dominate the debate over the concept of war. In the 20th century, just cause became narrowed to the issue of self-defense against aggression and helping the victims of aggression. Basically, the theoretical doctrine of just cause is concentrated on discrimination between combatants (soldiers) and non-combatants (civilians) and proportionality between the injustice suffered and the level of retaliation. However, the Total war, as both world wars have been, has strained, in effect, to the breaking point of the doctrine of Just War. During the time of the Cold War, nuclear deterrence added an additional dimension to the debate for the reason that two opposite groups of thinkers became formed: The biggest number of political scientists and military experts on the concept of Just War have condemned nuclear war as Unjust War on several grounds: discrimination, proportionality, and no prospect of a successful outcome. However, some Christian thinkers considered the factor of deterrence: the threat to use nuclear weapons is morally acceptable. Some Roman Catholic clergy like the US Bishops have distinguished between 1) the mere possession of nuclear weapons, constituting a so-called existential deterrent (being acceptable); and 2) the real intention to use those weapons (being not acceptable). In principle, the Just War theory is founded on the general idea that war can be justified and has to be understood and/or judged within the framework of fixed ethical criteria. In other words, a Just War is a war in which both final purpose and conduct meet certain ethical standards, and, therefore, can be (allegedly) treated as morally justified. Concerning such a definition of Just War, it is, basically, fluctuating between two theoretical extremes: 1) Realism, which is understanding war through the prism of realpolitik the pursuit of power or self-interest. 2) Pacifism, which denies the existence of any war and violence which can be morally justified. The Just War theory is, in fact, much more a topic of ethical and/or philosophical reflection and studies, rather than fixed political doctrine. Historically, the philosophical origins of the Just War theory go back to the Roman philosopher Cicero. However, it was first systematically developed by philosophers and theologians St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, Francisco de Vitoria (14921546), and Hugo Grotius (15831645). In the Just War theory, concerning the idea of Jus ad bellum, there are six basic principles to be respected regarding just resources for war: Last resort. It means that all sides have to try and exhaust all non-violent options (like diplomacy) before one of them decides to go to war in order that the use of force is going to be justified. This principle is, basically, the principle of necessity. Just cause. According to this principle, the purpose of war has to be to redress a wrong that has been suffered. Therefore, this principle is usually associated with the principle of self-defense as a response to a military attack (aggression). It is historically understood as the classic justification for war. Legitimate authority. This principle is understood that lawful war can be conducted only by the legally constituted government (states authority) of a sovereign state, rather than a private individual or group (like a political movement). It means that the war in principle can be conducted only between sovereign states while all other wars are going, in fact, to the category of military conflicts. Right intention. It requires that any war has to be conducted on the foundations of aims that are morally acceptable rather than revenge or the desire to inflict harm. Nevertheless, those morally acceptable aims of the war may or may not be the same as the just cause. Reasonable prospect of success. Accordingly, war has not to be conducted if the cause is, basically, hopeless, in which life is expended for no purpose or real benefit (for instance, the Phyric victory). Proportionality. This last principle of Jus ad bellum requires that warfare should result in more good than evil. In other words, any response to aggression should be measured and proportionate. For example, a wholesale invasion is not a justifiable response to a border incursion. From that viewpoint, for instance, the 2001 Afghanistan War was an unjustifiable response to the 9/11 attack. Nevertheless, the principle of proportionality is understood by many experts as macro-proportionality for the sake of distinguishing it from the Jus in bello In the case of warfare, however, there are three principles to be respected concerning Jus in bello or just conduct in war: Discrimination. Accordingly, the force has to be directed only at military targets, on the very grounds that civilians (non-combatants) are innocent. The injury or death inflicted on the civilian population is, however, and therefore, acceptable only if they are the accidental and unavoidable victims of deliberate attacks on legitimate targets. This phenomenon in war is usually nowadays called collateral damage unintended or incidental injury or damage caused during a military operation. In practice, nevertheless, the term is used as a cynical euphemism in order to justify war crimes (for instance, ethnic cleansing can be a euphemism for genocide). This principle in overlapping with Jus ad bellum holds that the force used must not be greater than that needed to achieve acceptable military aims, and must not be greater than the provoking cause. Humanity. It requires that any force or torture must not be directed ever against captured enemy personnel (prisoners of war), wounded, or being under control. This principle is a part of formalizing the so-called Laws of War. One of the pioneers of international law who drew up conditions for a Just War that remained influential until today was Francis Suarez (15481617), a Jesuit theologian and philosopher of law, and in particular international law, called the last of the great scholastics. The opposite concept to the principles of Just War is the concept of hegemony. Hegemony is an opaque power relation relying more on leadership through consensus than coercion through force or its treat so domination is by the permeation of ideas. For instance, concepts of hegemony have been used to explain how, when the ruling ideas are the ideas of the ruling class, other classes will willingly accept their inferior position as rights and power. Nevertheless, hegemonic is the adjective attached to the institution that possesses hegemony. It means that wars launched by such institutions (in fact, state authority) can be only hegemonic but not just. Concerning IR, hegemon is a term used when the concept of hegemony is applied to the competition between nation-states: a hegemon is a hegemonic state. For example, during Cold War 1.0 (19491989), there were two competing hegemonic powers in international relations the USA and the USSR. It was a period conventionally defined as running from the creation of NATO to the fall of the Berlin Wall, during which the globe was structured around a binary political geography that opposed US imperialism (a superior-inferior relationship in which one state controls the people and territory of another area) to Soviet communism. Although never reached an all-out military confrontation, this period did witness intense military, economic, political, and ideological rivalry between the superpowers and their allies. That was the time of limited war a conflict fought for limited goals by limited means. In other words, a war fought for less than total destruction of the enemy and less than unconditional surrender. Even though the two superpowers possessed nuclear weapons, they did not use them in conflicts, and conflicts were kept isolated to specific locations (local wars). However, the USA is understood after the Cold War 1.0 as the hyperpower hegemon in international relations and world politics (the competition for, and exercise of, power and authority in the international system) and, therefore, all wars fought by Washington after 1989 are considered to be unjust or hegemonic wars (wars fought for the hegemonic position in International Relations by only hyperpower). It can be anticipated that a war of attrition is as well as a kind of unjust war regarding its technical nature. To remind ourselves, a war of attrition is a strategy that aims to defeat the opposition by wearing it out. Attrition can be costly in terms of men and materials. WWI is a classic example of a war of attrition but today the competition between NATO and Russia over Ukraine is, in fact, a war of attrition too. Vladislav B. Sotirovic 2024 ____________ Personal disclaimer: The author writes for this publication in a private capacity which is unrepresentative of anyone or any organization except for his own personal views. Nothing written by the author should ever be conflated with the editorial views or official positions of any other media outlet or institution By Mattea Kramer who writes on a wide range of topics, from military policy to love and loss, and Dr. Sean Fogler, the co-founder of the public-health organization Elevyst. Originally published at from TomDispatch. Amid ongoing emergencies, including a would-be autocrat on his way to possibly regaining the American presidency and Israels war on Gaza (not to mention the flare-ups of global climate change), the U.S. has slipped quietly toward an assault on civil liberties as an answer to plummeting mental health. From coast to coast, state lawmakers of both parties are reaching for coercive treatment and involuntary commitment to address spiraling substance use and overdose crisesan approach that will only escalate despair and multiply otherwise preventable deaths while helping to choke the life out of America. In December, we wrote about how loneliness has become a public-health crisis, according to the Surgeon General, and the ways in which it drives widespread substance use. We reach for substances to ease feelings of isolation and anguishand when the two of us say we, we mean not just some hypothetical collective but the authors of this article. One of us, Sean, is a doctor living in long-term recovery from a substance-use disorder and the other, Mattea, is a writer who uses drugs. And were anything but unique. Disconnection and loneliness arent just the maladies of a relatively few Americans, but the condition of the majority of us. Vast numbers of people are reaching for some tonic or other to manage difficult feelings, whether its weed, wine, work, television, or any mood- or mind-altering substance. These days, theres scarcely a family in this country thats been unscathed by problematic drug use. Not surprisingly, under the circumstances, many elected officials feel increasing pressure to do something about this crisiseven as people who use drugs are widely considered to be social outcasts. In 2021, a survey of thousands of U.S.-based web users found that 7 in 10 Americans believed that most people view individuals who use drugs as non-community members. It matters little that the impulse to use such substances is driven by an urge to ease emotional pain or that the extremes of substance use are seen as a disease. As a society, we generally consider people who use drugs as rejects and look down on them. Curiously enough, however, such social stigma is not static. It waxes and wanes with the political currents of the moment. Stigma has risen its ugly head in almost every generations attempts to manage better these kinds of issues, says Nancy Campbell, a historian at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the author of OD: Naloxone and the Politics of Overdose. Campbell reports that she finds herself a target of what she calls secondary stigma in which others question why she even bothers to spend her time researching drug use. Perhaps one reason to study such issues is to ensure that someone is paying attention when lawmakers of virtually every political stripe seek to answer a mental health crisis by forcing people into institutionalized treatment. Notably, such treatment can increase the odds of accidental death. Allow us to explain. Treatment Can Be a Death Sentence Across the country, the involuntary detainment and institutional commitment of people with mental illnessincluding those with a substance use disorderis on the rise. Deploying the language of helping those in need, policymakers are reaching not for a band-aid but a club, with scant or even contradictory evidence that such an approach will benefit those who are in pain. The process can involve being strip-searched, restrained, secluded, having drugs forced on you, losing your credibility, said UCLA professor of social welfare David Cohen in a 2020 statement about his research on involuntary commitment. He co-authored a study that found its use rose nationwide in the decade before the pandemic hit, even as there was a striking lack of transparency regarding when or how such coercion was used. Today, many states are expanding laws that authorize mandatory treatment for people experiencing mental-health crises, including addiction. According to the Action Lab at the Center for Health Policy and Law, 38 states currently authorize involuntary commitment for substance use. None of them require evidence-based treatment in all involuntary commitment settings, and 16 of them allow facilities to engage in treatments of their choice without the individuals consent. Nearly every state that ranked among the highest in overdose rates nationally has an involuntary commitment law in place. In September, the California legislature passed a bill that grants police, mental healthcare providers, and crisis teams the power to detain people with severe substance use disorder. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors subsequently voted to postpone implementation of the law, with Board Chair Lindsey Hogarth noting the risk of civil rights violations as a reason for the delay. In October, Pennsylvania state legislators introduced a bill that would permit the involuntary commitment of people who have been revived following an overdose. While many mental health advocates acknowledge the good intentions of legislators, the potential for harm is incalculable. New research shows that people who attended abstinence-based treatment programs were at least as likely, if not more likely, to die of a fatal overdose than people who had no treatment at all. By contrast, those who had access to medications like methadone or buprenorphine for opioid-use disorder were less likely to die. Those medications, however, are not considered abstinence and so are not uniformly provided in treatment settings. Though there is extensive evidence of the effectiveness of medications for opioid use disorder, abstinence still remains widely regarded as the morally upright and best path, even if it makes you more likely to die. The reason for the elevated risk of mortality following abstinence-based treatment is no mystery: Abstinence reduces the bodys tolerance. If a person who has been abstinent resumes use, the ingestion of a typical dose is more likely to overwhelm his or her bodily system and so lead to death. Disturbingly, both The Atlantic and The Wall Street Journalrecently ran columns favoring mandatory treatment, with the Journal citing as evidence a 1960s study in which individuals fared well after 18 months of mandated residential treatment that included education and job traininga standard of care thats virtually nonexistent today. The Atlantic referenced a study of 141 men mandated for treatment in the late 1990s whose outcomes were comparable to individuals who entered treatment voluntarily; the studys own authors had, however, cautioned against generalizing the findings to other populations due to its limited scopeand since then, the potent opioid fentanyl has entered the drug supply and raised the risk of a fatal overdose following a period of abstinence. Meanwhile, as policymakers turn to coerced treatment, consider this an irony of the first order: There are far too few treatment options for people who actually want help. There is no place in this country where there is enough voluntary treatment. So why would you create involuntary commitment, involuntary treatment? asks Campbell. The reason, she suggests, is the inclination of lawmakers not just to do something about an ongoing deadly crisis, but in no way to appear soft on drugs. Just to put the strange world of drug treatment in context, imagine elected officials wanting to seem tough on constituents who have cancer or heart disease. The idea, of course, is ludicrous. But 7 in 10 Americans think society at large views addiction as at least somewhat shameful and people who use drugs as significantly responsible (that is, to blame) for their substance use. No surprise, then, that politicians would find it expedient to punish people who use drugs, even if such punishment only layers on still more shame, with research indicating that shame, in turn, exacerbates the pain and social isolation that drives people to use drugs in the first place. As Dr. Lewis Nelson, who directs programs in emergency medicine and toxicology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, pointed out to USA Today, the science of addiction and recovery is frequently overlooked because its inconsistent with ingrained social ideas about substance use. I Still Dont Need Saving Punishing people for substance use worsens the pain and isolation that make drugs so appealing. So rather than punishmentand in our world today this will undoubtedly sound crazywhat if we treated people who use drugs as full and complete human beings like everyone else? Like, say, people with high blood pressure? What if we acknowledged that those who use drugs need the very same things that all people need, including love, support, and human connection, as well as stable employment and an affordable place to live? Research on this, it turns out, suggests that human connection is particularly good medicine for the emotional pain that so often underlies substance use and addiction. Stronger social bondsnamely, having people to confide in and rely onare associated with a positive recovery from a substance use disorder, while the absence of such social ties elevates the risk of further problematic drug use. Put another way, perhaps you wont be surprised to learn that a powerful means of healing widespread mental distress is to connect with one another. When people in distress have friends, attendant family, and healthcare providers who are genuinely there for them no matter what, their own self-perception improves. In other words, we help one another simply by being nonjudgmentally available. Jordan Scott is a peer advocate for Recovery Link, which offers free digital peer support to people in Texas and Pennsylvania. She identifies as a person who uses drugs. I felt like the message got reinforced that there was something wrong with me, that there was something broken with me, she told us. Anything that isnt abstinence, or anything that doesnt include total abstinence as a goal, is constantly positioned as less than. New research published in the journal Addiction draws a contrast between treatment focused exclusively on abstinence and a broader array of wellness strategies, including reducing drug use rather than eliminating it entirely. The study found that reduced use had clinical benefits and that health can distinctly improve even without total abstinence. Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse Nora Volkow, for instance, supports a nuanced approach that includes many possible paths of recovery along with a shift away from the criminalization of drug-taking to a focus on overall health and well-being. And the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has identified four dimensions critical to recovery: health, home, purpose, and community. Most important of all, a person doesnt necessarily need to be abstinent in order to make gains in all four areas. This makes good sense when you remember that addiction or other problematic substance use is a symptom of underlying pain. Rather than exclusively treating the symptomthe drug useaddressing the underlying loneliness, trauma, or other distress can be a very effective approach. Family can be a valid pathway to wellness, Scott pointed out, while adding that her own path went from 12-step meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous to active civic engagement. For someone else, quality time with his or her kids or even exercising and eating well might be a linchpin for staying mentally healthy. In other words, healing from the pain that underlies substance use disorder can look a lot like healing from any other health challenge. Yet policymakers continue to call for intensifying the use of coercive treatment. I think were going to see more [involuntary commitment] before we see less of it, said Campbell, who studies historical patterns in the social response to drug use. Theres nothing new, she noted, in the move to help people by institutionalizing themeven if such a move constitutes an erosion of basic civil rights. I think most of the time people are genuine in wanting to help, said Scott, who has been a target of such help. The problem, she explained, is the idea that there is a group of people considered normal and therefore superior, who think theyre in a position to save other members of society. I didnt need saving. I am a drug user now. I still dont need saving, Scott told us. These days shes focused on being a part of her community through volunteerism while drawing on a support network of people who respect her path. As for the two of us writing this article, Sean is spending time with his children, staying connected with friends, practicing meditation and yoga, and has for years facilitated a group of physicians in recovery. Mattea has started a new habit of going to the gym with her uncle to ease her loneliness, while also confiding in close friends for support. And all of that truly does make a difference. Republican state legislators are mad at state Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) because he declined to lead them in the Pledge of Allegiance last week. I see where Jones is coming from on this. If you stand in a group of dishonorable people who are all about to lie their socks off and invoke God while doing it, you dont go along with it. You dont give your tacit approval to people lying to God by leading them in the lie. Were supposed to believe that Tennessee Republicans are all for the republic? Yall, Gov. Bill Lee went to Texas to thumb his nose at the republic. The state legislatures rules for who can visit the Capitol and what they can do there are like the rules of Calvinball, except people with guns enforce them. Cutting people off from government with arbitrary unstated rules isnt granting them liberty or justice. Rep. Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood) is out here trying to undermine the power of the judiciary to act as a co-equal part of the state government. And Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) who, let me remind you, tried to pull down the pants of another adult he was mad at is all, If you do not respect our nation, its flag, and all of those who have sacrificed for them, then you should not hold public office. No shit. Tell that to Gov. Lee, who went to Texas to disrespect our nation. Hell let Tennesseans die of COVID. Hell do nothing to ensure that no one else is killed by guns like his friend was. But by God, he will be there to ensure that no one makes unauthorized entry into the United States through a park in Texas. What a leader. That being said, do you know who Sally Wells is? Exactly. The spotlight slid right off her and onto legislative squabbling instead. Jones invited Wells, a Choctaw artist from West Tennessee, to open the legislative day with a prayer. She was even honored as Chaplain of the Day. One of Wells primary passions is teaching young people traditional Choctaw beadwork, for which she earned one of the Tennessee Folklife Heritage Awards in 2019. The press release the state put out about it is full of her other accomplishments. Ive done some beadwork in the past, and I follow Kate Madeira on Instagram, so I am somewhat qualified to tell you that shit is hard. I made this necklace from green beads and barbed wire. (I wear it when I want to subtly indicate that I dislike someone I will be spending time with and I hope their interactions with me are painful.) Things I failed at: getting the beads evenly spaced, getting the barbed wire to lay how I wanted it, keeping the clasp on the necklace. I also made a blue necklace for my mom. It lasted about a week and then came apart all over the inside of her car. And please note that these are both just variations on the kind of necklace you might make in kindergarten put the bead on the string, put another bead on the string. In theory, they seem impossible to screw up. In practice? Youre looking at two strings of screw-ups. Sally Wells is doing just banana-pants levels of intricate beading. In the picture accompanying this article in the Daily Journal about her residency at the Discovery Center in Murfreesboro, you can get a pretty good look at what shes capable of. That red necklace/collar in the lower left corner is blowing my mind. I think my fingers just spontaneously sprouted tiny holes in them in anticipation of all the times Id stab myself with a needle trying and failing to do that. State of Play: What to Expect From the Tennessee General Assembly State leaders return to Nashville to consider laws related to abortion, education and the ongoing culture wars And, like, the part that makes me a little teary-eyed to think about it is that she has these skills that she learned from her own mother, going back generations, and she can make this jewelry that, if fairly priced, none of us would be able to afford. She could just hoard that knowledge and let it benefit only herself. That would be her right. But every news article and press release I found on Sally Wells, all the YouTube videos I watched, they all focus on how she is working to teach her skills to others. Frankly, this is exactly the kind of thing I would love for our state legislature to take to heart. Imagine what it would be like if lawmakers saw their work as empowering people in the state to learn new skills and to embrace wisdom. Maybe this is just me being cynical, but I suspect that fighting about the Pledge of Allegiance is a lot less challenging to peoples concept of self than contemplating the message by example Chaplain Wells brought into the state Capitol. So its not surprising, I guess, that this is what we got. But it is a shame. 6 Pro-lifers CONVICTED for peaceful protests, could face 10 years behind bars Six pro-life activists could face up to 10.5 years in jail plus hefty fines following their conviction for violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, a federal felony. On Jan. 30, a jury delivered a guilty verdict for the six, who participated in a March 2021 "rescue" at the Carafem Health Center Clinic in the suburb of Mt. Joliet in Tennessee. The pro-life individuals who were convicted are as follows: Chester Gallagher from Tennessee Heather Idoni from Michigan Calvin Zastrow from Michigan Coleman Boyd from Mississippi Dennis Green from Virginia Paul Vaughn from Tennessee "Each of the protesters involved in the Tennessee rescue now faces as many as 10.5 years behind bars, and up to $260,000 in fines," said LifeSiteNews. "Sentencing is slated to take place July 2." Idoni participated in an earlier "rescue" done in front of a Washington, D.C. abortion clinic. She and her co-activists were convicted of violating the FACE Act in that instance and taken into custody. Meanwhile, Vaugn a husband and father of 11 was arrested at gunpoint at his family home in 2022. Caroline Davis, an activist who was charged in the 2021 Tennessee rescue, entered a guilty plea in October 2023. As part of this plea deal, she is now "cooperating with the government" and has agreed to "testify against her co-defendants at trial." Davis previously testified against defendants, including Idoni, in the Washington, D.C. rescue. The federal grand jury in Nashville alleged that the defendants, "aided and abetted by one another, used force and physical obstruction to injure, intimidate and interfere with employees of the clinic and a patient who was seeking reproductive health services" the latter a common euphemism for abortions. Incidentally, the Carafem Health Center Clinic was forced to stop providing abortions in compliance with the Volunteer State-enacted pro-life legislation following the June 2022 overturn of the Roe v. Wade abortion ruling. (Related: REPORT: 137 Abortion clinics have been SHUT DOWN since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.) Conviction triggers outrage from pro-lifers Despite the harsh convictions the defendants received, the so-called "rescue" was far from chaotic. In fact, it was markedly peaceful with participants standing inside the building, singing hymns and some even sitting in front of doors to prevent entry and exit. Footage made public by the pro-life group Live Action shows activists standing and sitting inside a building hallway. They were singing hymns and praying, and even attempted to engage a woman seeking infanticide. The activists sought to convince the woman not to abort her baby. Supporters of the six pro-life defendants responded to the conviction with outrage and disappointment. Steve Crampton, an attorney representing Vaughn, said in a statement that the verdict was a "frustrating setback [for his client and] for his family." The senior counsel at the Thomas More Society continued that it was also a setback "for the extended pro-life community, which has rallied support for Paul from the day of his arrest in front of his wife and children by heavily armed Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, on through the trial. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), meanwhile, accused the Biden administration of having a double standard when it comes to the FACE Act. While the law is mainly invoked to protect abortion facilities, its provisions also apply to pro-life pregnancy centers. 'The Biden administration incarcerates people for praying at abortion clinics while ignoring violent acts at churches and pregnancy centers," he posted on X. "So many camels. So much obsessive attention paid to harmless things mistaken for gnats." According to LifeSiteNews, "many Republican lawmakers and others have contended that the Biden administration has 'selectively enforced' the FACE Act to go after pro-lifers, while failing to do enough to prosecute the more than 100 attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers and churches since the U.S. Supreme Court's draft decision overturning Roe v. Wade was leaked." Visit BigGovernment.news for similar stories. Watch Dr. Taylor Marshall weigh in on the conviction of the six pro-life activists in Tennessee below. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Truly EVIL: U.K. high court BANS PRAYERS near abortion clinics. Pro-life activist sues Justice Department for FBI's September 2022 early morning home raid. Over 20 pregnancy resource centers have been ATTACKED by pro-abortion extremists since May. While Democrats let actual criminals roam free, these two elderly women were CONVICTED and face 11 years in prison for peacefully blocking an abortion clinic. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com Brighteon.com Alderman blasts Chicagos $9K in monthly freebies for each illegal immigrant in the city A member of the Chicago City Council has denounced the administration of Mayor Brandon Johnson for giving illegals freebies amounting to $9,000 each per month Alderman Anthony Beale, who represents the city's Ninth Ward, expressed his indignation to the scheme during an address made on the council floor. According to him, illegals are being paid more than $9,000 each per month in free childcare, housing vouchers, food, clothing, education, legal help and other services. "Now, I've said this before," Beale remarked. "If you give me three meals, housing, childcare, education [and] a voucher for $9,000 you know what, I'd come to Chicago too. "That's what they're doing. They're sending money back to Venezuela. [They're telling people] to come to Chicago because they're saying 'Hey, the good times are rolling there. They're taking care of everybody.' "Now when we have Venezuelans that are driving cars where did they get a driver's license? Where did they get insurance from? And then you have Venezuelans being caught with drugs and guns; where are they getting them from?" Despite being a member of the Democratic Party, Beale has become a major opponent of Johnson who is part of the party's progressive wing. The incumbent mayor who took over his predecessor Lori Lightfoot has continued the sanctuary city's friendly policies for illegals, at the expense of resources originally meant for the Windy City's Black community. Beale was also one of the aldermen who endorsed a straight question of whether Chicago should retain its sanctuary city status on the 2024 ballot. However, he and his supporters failed after Johnson reframed the question into one that didn't give voters the chance to end the city's migrant-friendly policies. "Right now, we're dealing with a huge, huge disaster here in the city of Chicago and we need to get a handle on it. Nobody has ever asked the voters, the people who actually vote and pay taxes here in the city of Chicago, if they want to remain a sanctuary city," the alderman said last September. NYC Mayor Adams DOUBLES DOWN on support for illegals Given the Windy City's hefty financial assistance for illegals, it won't be long before the city's finances feel the strain. New York City (NYC), another sanctuary city, has reached that breaking point. Still, NYC Mayor Eric Adams recently doubled down on his support for unlawful border crossers. During his State of the City speech last Jan. 24, he reiterated that the Big Apple will continue to support the illegal immigrants being brought to the city by Texas through city resources. Adams also urged the federal government to play a role in helping illegals adjust and assimilate. "The federal government must step up and step in. This is a national crisis that calls for a national solution," said Adams. "It is time for the federal government to deal with this federal crisis and make sure we give them the opportunity; let them work." (Related: NYC Mayor Adams pledges support for ILLEGALS despite the strain on the city's finances.) He also endorsed the training and hiring of illegal aliens bused to the Big Apple by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Adams boasted: "We have helped more than 172,000 asylum seekers by providing food, asylum and medical care. We have helped tens of thousands file applications to extend, temporarily, their status and to seek employment." Go to OpenBorders.news for more stories about illegals in sanctuary cities. Watch this Fox News report about an activist warning that parks, schools and clinics in Chicago are being overrun by illegals. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Chicago's Black community slams city officials over $51 million fund for migrants. Chicago holds JOB FAIR for MIGRANTS amid rising number of unemployed Black residents in the city. Chicago officials refuse to disclose how they spent $120M in taxpayer money on ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. Sources include: Breitbart.com TheEpochTimes.com Brighteon.com New Biden gun rule will BAN private firearms sales, ATF whistleblowers warn The rumor mill is speculating that the Biden regime is about to ban all private gun sales in America, meaning gun enthusiasts would need to make all their purchases through only licensed vendors. The watchdog group Empower Oversight says the Biden regime needs to procure documents showing what this alleged regulation entails. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is said to be spearheading the rule, which will also require universal background checks on most or all gun sales period. Back in August, President Biden rallied his troops around the proposition of stricter gun laws in the United States. Biden said he wants people who "repetitively" sell firearms to register as federally licensed gun dealers, which would make them subject to background checks. According to Empower Oversight, whistleblowers within ATF told the watchdog group that, at the direction of the Biden White House, the federal agency "has drafted a 1,300-page document to justify a rule effectively banning the private sale of firearms," this according to a series of X posts by Empower Oversight president Tristan Leavitt. "The whistleblowers say the rule is being drafted by Senior Policy Counsel Eric Epstein, who worked as the Phoenix Field Office's Division Counsel during Operation Wide Receiver (a precursor of Operation Fast and Furious)," Leavitt wrote in one of the posts. "Such a sweeping rule with the effect of banning private sales would clearly violate the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, which declares that 'the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.'" (Related: In order to unleash another round of medical martial law, the government needs to seize everyone's guns.) Guns threaten globalism To get to the bottom of the matter, Empower Oversight filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with both the Department of Justice (DoJ) and ATF seeking additional information about what Biden has planned. This includes a request for all communications with the White House, as well as any potential Jeffrey Epstein emails addressing the alleged plan. It would be a pretty bad year for Biden to unveil such a measure, seeing as how we have now entered another rocky presidential election cycle. Biden making headlines for taking people's guns might not go over so well with the general electorate, though time will tell. In 2022, the ATF already interpreted a bipartisan gun law to mean that more people must register as federally licensed gun dealers in order to continue selling them legally. The law was passed after the mass shooting in Uvalde, Tex., and was aimed at people who repetitively sell guns "to predominantly earn a profit." Before Uvalde, the law only applied to gun sellers who had "the principal objective of livelihood and profit," meaning only people whose gun sales are a primary source of their living income. Concerning the new alleged law, private gun sellers would need to perform all of the usual duties as gun dealers, including conducting background checks by entering gun buyer information into the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Since the proposition is still just a rumor, its precise wording remains unknown. The ATF whistleblower who brought it to light says that this is the gist of it, which is why they are concerned. Many private gun sellers might not be able to easily access NICS, or they may not even know that they need to, putting them in legal jeopardy. As for family gun transfers and other ways guns move around to different hands, there is no indication what would become of all this under the new proposal, though we do know that if real, it would have to first undergo a public notice and comment period during which the American public would have a say in its passage or rejection. The Second Amendment is incompatible with the globalists' envisioned new world order. Find out more at SecondAmendment.news. Sources for this article include: NYPost.com NaturalNews.com REPLACEMENTS: The number of people pouring over the southern border each year now EXCEEDS the U.S. birth count One of the stealthiest ways to cripple a nation and weaken its power is to rid that nation of its borders. A nation cannot defend itself from foreign adversaries if that nation can no longer define its territory and enforce its laws. Right now, over 300,000 people a month are kicking down the door and marching into the United States as undocumented aliens. This figure now exceeds the U.S. birth rate. Americans are being replaced by hordes of people who could NOT care less about American values, traditions and the republic on which the nation was founded. To make matters more extreme, the current regime that occupies the White House is not only working against the states and actively sabotaging Americans efforts in defending the country from this invasion, they are enabling it. This is a national security issue, but instead of defending Americans, leaders in the federal government are acting in treason, facilitating the invasion and working against Americas interests. The takedown of America through foreign invasion and occupation According to statistics from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Americans are being replaced by a constant stream of illegal immigration at the southern U.S. border. In September 2023, there were approximately 305,000 births in the United States. That same month, there was about 341,000 migrant encounters. More illegals entered the U.S. that month than children being born. The Great Replacement Theory is not some racist conspiracy about the White man being replaced by immigrants. The Great Replacement Theory more accurately describes the takedown of America through foreign invasion and occupation. Skin color is not important here. The continuity and integrity of a republic is at stake. Americans of all backgrounds and cultures are more vulnerable than ever before because our country is being infiltrated by lawlessness, and it cannot economically sustain the burdens of illegal immigration. To make matters worse, a new voting bloc is being created, one that favors centralization of power, one that seeks to breakdown American values, customs and traditions -- all the things that made our republic different from where they originated. Democrats accelerate the demise of American values, traditions and history In America right now, history is being rewritten; institutions are being weaponized against Americans; and values and traditions are being replaced by cultural rot and lawlessness. American ideals are being cut up and discarded because the people defending their values are constantly being replaced by a stream of foreign invaders who do not understand nor care about the ideals of liberty, law and personal responsibility. With open borders, drug dealers and sex traffickers are infiltrating the country. Foreign flags, broken glass and feces fill the city streets, as historic monuments come toppling down, as law enforcement are attacked, as communist ideals overtake our education systems. The American way of life is threatened at every turn because this invasion has gone on too long. The very people who make up the backbone of the country are regarded as racist xenophobes for wanting to defend the country's borders. These American families are now being replaced by foreign invaders at a rate they cannot compete with. Ten more years of these open border policies will yield a nation where Americans are kicked out of their own homes -- their property and their rights a figment of the past. Right now, government leaders are begging Americans to take in these so-called migrants. In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams pleaded for American homeowners to house the migrants that the government can no longer manage in their sanctuary cities. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker even begged Texas Gov. Greg Abbot for mercy because Illinois sanctuary cities could no longer manage the invasion that the Democratic Party openly encouraged with their policies. America is not a diverse and compassionate nation any longer. The Democrats' open border and sanctuary city policies have created an insecure nation that has no identity, no defense and no pride -- a nation that is being eaten away, from the inside out. Sources include: Revolver.news NaturalNews.com Twitter.com ImmigrationForum.org [PDF] FreeBeacon.com WashingtonExaminer.com U.S. President Joe Biden supported the bill containing a bipartisan agreement on the border, as well as aid to Ukraine, and called on Congress to speed up its passage in both houses, according to his statement published on the X social network. " Weve reached an agreement on a bipartisan deal that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. I strongly support it," Biden said. He said this agreement will make the U.S. more secure, treat people fairly and humanely while preserving legal immigration, consistent with American values. The bipartisan agreement will also address two other important priorities. "It allows the United States to continue our vital work, together with partners all around the world, to stand up for Ukraine's freedom and support its ability to defend itself against Russia's aggression," the U.S. leader said. According to him, if "we don't stop Putin's appetite for power and control in Ukraine, he won't limit himself to just Ukraine and the costs for America will rise." "This agreement also provides Israel what they need to protect their people and defend itself against Hamas terrorists. And it will provide life-saving humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people," Biden said. The treacherous U.S. federal government has entirely abandoned its duty to defend states against INVASION is it time to form a NEW union? The clash between the U.S. federal government and the state of Texas over the border has stirred up a national debate about states rights, with opinions generally divided along party lines. However, this is actually a very cut-and-dry case, and one only needs to actually read the supreme law of the land, the U.S. Constitution, to see that the federal government has rendered its supremacy null and void by abandoning its duty to defend states against the immigrant invasion. The standoff was inevitable, with the Biden administrations open borders policies flooding neighborhoods throughout the state with unscreened illegal immigrants, some of whom are potential terrorists, drug traffickers and human traffickers. Even those who dont fall into one of those categories and are simply looking for a better life are a significant burden on the state. They need to be processed, fed and housed, for starters, and taxpayers are footing the bill. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott explained the magnitude of the problem: Under President Bidens lawless border policies, more than 6 million illegal immigrants have crossed our southern border in just 3 years. That is more than the population of 33 different States in this country. This illegal refusal to protect the States has inflicted unprecedented harm on the People all across the United States. The federal government has been not just unhelpful but downright combative, cutting down razor wire erected by state officials to deter illegal crossings so the influx can continue unabated. Its only natural that Texas is desperate to protect itself and theyre 100 percent within their rights to do so, according to the Constitution. Abbott points out that Article IV, 4, states that the federal government shall protect each [State] against invasion, and its failure to do so has triggered Article I, 10, Clause 3, which gives states the right to self-defense when invaded. Abbott wrote: For these reasons, I have already declared an invasion under Article I, 10, Clause 3 to invoke Texass constitutional authority to defend and protect itself. That authority is the supreme law of the land 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. Since it is up to the states themselves to determine if they have been invaded, his logic is sound. The objective of this section of the Constitution is to give states certain powers outside the federal governments authority; if determining whether a state was being invaded was truly up to the feds, there would have been no point in including this section. Republican governors rally behind Gov. Abbott Fourteen Republican governors who support Texass stance are headed to the U.S.-Mexico border in Eagle Pass this weekend, where they will undergo a security briefing and be updated on the states Operation Lone Star mission. The governors in attendance all support the states right to take action when the feds have failed in their duty to keep them safe. Abbott has been backed by 25 Republican governors overall, along with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and former President Donald Trump. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis wrote on X: If the Constitution really made states powerless to defend themselves against an invasion, it wouldnt have been ratified in the first place and Texas would have never joined the union when it did. As Texas and the Biden administration continue their battle, the problem of illegal immigration is getting worse. In December, the U.S. southern border registered its highest number of illegal migrant encounters on record at 302,000. Sources for this article include: Mises.org STLToday.com Steve Kirsch: CDC FORGOT to warn the public that COVID-19 vaccines cause DEMENTIA Vaccine Safety Research Foundation founder Steve Kirsch recently found that the number of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine recipients having dementia had increased 1,000 times. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is currently the seventh leading cause of death and one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people globally. The data is all out in the open but may have been covered up or agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may have failed to inform the public. But Kirsch took the liberty to check and it took him just a few seconds to uncover the truth. From the graph on the National Vaccine Information Center website, he found 998 cases where the brain condition was symptomatic as against the types of vaccines from the Dec. 29, 2023 release of Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) data. He further explained that the calculation is relative to the average vaccine and not against all vaccines in history combined. It would be important to note that many of these vaccines have far more doses than the coronavirus vaccine and if that is considered, the difference would be more extreme, Kirsch added. "The results are self-explanatory: the COVID-19 vaccines cause dementia," Kirsch concluded in his Substack newsletter dated Jan. 30. "Anyone who tells you that 'correlation isn't causation' should explain the actual cause of this if it wasn't the COVID-19 vaccine." He also said that no one would even want to go on a debate with him on this because nobody would want to talk about the truth. Worse, the mainstream media would not even cover and report this. The independent investigator further reminded that people who want to get an immigration visa to the U.S. would be required to take the COVID-19 vaccine. "So you can get dementia too!" he added. And unlike other shots, no medical conditions would allow an individual to opt out of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. What is more stunning, he said, is that the said jabs are recommended especially to pregnant women. And this is despite nurse Michelle Gershman's bombshell revelation that it can increase the rate of fetal demise by 50 times or more. Finally, he still recommended religious exemption to those who wished not to take the jabs. But almost no one gets approved as per observers. Back in August last year, Kirsch also released a report that COVID-19 vaccines are linked to a 2,500 percent increased risk of early onset dementia. He spoke to a charge nurse at a rehabilitation and long-term elderly care facility who told him what she is now seeing in terms of the sheer number of new dementia cases cropping up all around her. Before the pandemic, the healthcare professional would rarely see anyone suddenly exhibit dementia-like behaviors including sudden onset hallucinations for no apparent reason. Just a year or two after the roll-out of vaccines, the nurse has seen early onset dementia symptoms appear nearly 50 times, which represents a 25-fold increase in the illness rate. (Related: COVID jabs linked to 2,500% increased risk of early onset dementia.) Drug manufacturers craft cures to injuries that their COVID-19 vaccines brought At one point in the testimonials during the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic hearing earlier in January, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) raised a concern apart from the given and proven fact that the "shots" contained foreign spike proteins that harm the body systems and create blood clots. Controversial doctors Peter McCullough, Ryan Cole and Kirk Milhoan have cited several studies proving these are true but lamented how President Joe Biden's government agencies ignored them. Another point is that the Big Pharma companies seem to have manufactured medications and vaccines that would "cure" the adverse reactions brought about by the COVID-19 shots. Green even quoted Big Pharma: "'Sell the disease and then sell the cure. And their friends in Congress, in turn, force Americans to pay for it. This is how Washington works in many cases.' Is it fair to say then that these vaccine manufacturers created these vaccines with synthetic mRNA that has created heart disease, strokes, neurological problems and everything that you've talked about, do these same manufacturers sell the cures for the diseases that they're creating?" Cole, a board-certified anatomic and clinical pathologist, did not answer directly but said he finds it ironic that major drug manufacturer Pfizer just spent $40 billion on a cancer treatment company. According to reports, since the commencement of COVID-19 vaccines, there has been an unprecedented rise in the deaths of young people between 2021 and 2022 from rapidly metastasizing and terminal cancers, according to data from the U.K.'s Office for National Statistics. Also, Pfizer's mRNA vaccine was found to be contaminated with cancer-causing DNA fragments. Internist and cardiologist McCullough chimed in stating that following the roll-out of the mRNA vaccines, he has never prescribed so many blood thinners in his career. This is extraordinary. All day long, I'm confronted with blood clots of different scenarios," he said. The early treatment proponent for coronavirus also revealed how the prices are skyrocketing for medical procedures. Recently, he has been ordering more and more cardiac magnetic resonance images (MRIs) and electrocardiograms (ECG or EKG) and seeing recurrent visits to the emergency room, especially in those who are military servicemen. Watch the full unedited coverage of the Congressional hearing on the injuries caused by COVID-19 vaccines below. VaccineInjuryNews.com has more stories on the adverse events of the coronavirus injections. Sources for this article include: WHO.int KirschSubstack.com 1 KirschSubstack.com 2 Expose-News.com Alex Jones: Biased MSM highlights anti-White violence and prejudice InfoWars founder Alex Jones has denounced the biased mainstream media (MSM) for highlighting anti-White violence and prejudice The independent journalist and freedom fighter recently shed light on an increase in racially motivated attacks, which were predominantly Black-on-White violence. The MSM, he added, is emphasizing these incidents to push divisive narratives. "There are just tons of these videos every day," Jones said before showing a video of one such incident. "Standard deal stomp on their head until somebody is dead." According to the InfoWars founder, the MSM has been consistently spotlighting these incidents. These, in turn, fuel divisive tribalism and obscure broader crime statistics. "I see these clips of murders of White people every day. Shot in the back of the head, run over, beaten to death you see it all the time. And when it happens, the media tries to cover it up. When I posted a video that got millions of views from a local newscast, leftists went on my X account and said that I was being racist," he said. "I am not putting this out to demonize Black people in general. I don't care if it's a White lady or a Black lady I care about an innocent [person] being murdered. I don't care it it's a White baby or a Black baby being aborted; I am against it. "But the point is that corporate media is trying to hide this because they are the ones promoting it. They are the ones pushing it." Professor pressured to resign over study alleging that police shootings aren't biased against Blacks It appears that Jones' remarks not only apply to the mainstream media, but also to the academe. Even if a study is color-blind, i.e. it has no bias toward one race, there must always still be a racial issue to foment. Back in 2020, Michigan State University (MSU) professor Stephen Hsu was forced to step down from his position after noting in a study that police shootings aren't biased against Blacks. Prior to his resignation, Hsu had been MSU's vice president for research and graduate studies. MSU's Graduate Employees Union (GEU) spearheaded the calls for the professor's ouster. Hsu meanwhile defended himself, telling the College Fix in an email: "The GEU alleged that I am a racist because I interviewed MSU psychology professor Joe Cesario, who studies police shootings." (Related: Data showing no racial bias in police shootings dubbed "racist," college researcher who compiled it fired.) Cesario and four others authored the aforementioned study, which was published July 2019 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). According to the PNAS paper, it "did not find evidence for anti-Black or anti-Hispanic disparity in police use of force across all shootings. While While racial disparity did vary by type of shooting, no one type of shooting showed significant anti-Black or anti-Hispanic disparity." Hsu shared the study, noting its conclusion that "there is no widespread racial bias in police shooting." But this did not sit well with the GEU, which launched a successful campaign to pressure the professor into resigning. Hsu did resign in June 2020, and Cesario and his co-authors retracted the study a month later. Head over to AntiWhite.news for more stories like this. Watch this clip of Alex Jones discussing the rise of anti-White attacks, which the MSM is promoting alongside tribalism. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Medical school has turned into a creepy anti-white racism CULT where graduates are required to swear oaths against white people. MEDICAL CULT: In order to graduate from medical school in America, you now have to conform to "white privilege" allegations. FIRE THE WHITES: Far-left Minneapolis teachers union pushes contract with stipulation that white teachers are laid off first. White student denied access to mental health care at Florida university because he wasn't a 'person of color': Emails. Sources include: YourNews.com TheCollegeFix.com PNAS.org Brighteon.com County prosecutors charge Navy reserve veteran with HATE CRIME for decapitating Iowa Satanic statue Polk County prosecutors charged a former U.S. Navy fighter and instructor pilot with a "hate crime" after he pushed over and beheaded the horned deity Baphomet monument in the Iowa Capitol on Dec. 14. He then discarded the head of the statue in the trash. Michael Cassidy was charged with a misdemeanor fourth-degree criminal mischief the day after the decapitation, but had been informed that he may be liable for further charges. Most recently, he was accused of a more serious offense felony third-degree criminal mischief. It was also noted that the act was committed "in violation of individual rights" under Iowa's hate crime statute. As per Polk County Attorney's Office representative Lynn Hicks, the "evidence shows the defendant made statements to law enforcement and the public indicating he destroyed the property because of the victims religion" resulting in the hate crimes charge. According to Hicks, the cost to replace the statue of Baphomet crafted by the Satanic Temple would be between $750 and $1,500. The non-theistic religious organization had filed its own damage estimate, saying that it would be $3,000 to replace the statue. "My conscience is held captive to the word of God, not to bureaucratic decree. And so I acted," Cassidy who claimed he was committing an act of "Christian civil disobedience," said at the time. As of press time, he has already raised $114,529 for his legal defense on a GiveSendGo fundraising campaign. He said that people need to wake up to what is happening in the world: "They may think it's a joke that they triggered us, but the devil is real and we have to be ready." R. David Younts, one of Cassidy's lawyers, told Fox News Digital that he hopes the District Attorney's office will dismiss the charge against his client. "It is deeply disappointing that my client is being targeted with this type of charge," Younts said "His non-violent actions were motivated by his sincere and deeply held religious faith. Nothing he did was targeted at any specific individual or organization. I hope that as the [district attorney's] office carefully reviews the facts of this case they will dismiss the charge." In court filings, another attorney from Cassidy's legal team, Sara Pasquale, pointed out that the Satanic Temple, which organized the pagan display, was intending to "evoke strong emotions and incite others." (Related: Women's magazine gives detailed instructions for carrying out "satanic abortion ritual.") The statue was part of a display organized by Iowa's Satanic Temple and allowed by the state during the holidays. The installation drew strong criticism from state and national leaders, including Gov. Kim Reynolds and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. In a statement following the destruction of the statue, Reynolds said she found the statue "absolutely objectionable," but that the best response to objectionable speech is more speech and prayer. Court records show Cassidy is scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 15. Cassidy slams critics for "over-complicating" situation, calls on people to stand firm against evil The 35-year-old "vandalizer," who tore down the goat-headed figure used to represent Satan, has called out those who are defending the display under constitutional rights for "over-complicating" the situation. "People start over-complicating the truth, which is that God is great and should be honored, and the devil is evil and should not be honored," he told the Christian Post. "I think people are tying themselves in knots trying to justify it, and it's really a lot simpler than that." Cassidy also revealed that he didn't immediately start ripping down the display. According to him, he first eyed the open doors near the statue and felt compelled to do something. "I don't want to have the conversation with Jesus someday and have Him say, 'Hey, there was this statue, and you knew it was wrong for it to be up there, but you were afraid of worldly things and worldly consequences, and you were ashamed of me and my opposition to the devil," he argued. Iowa State Rep. Jon Dunwell posted on X that although he personally finds the altar 'classified as evil,' he doesn't think it is the government's place to get involved. "For me, I would rather have an evil, blasphemous display or no display at all than have the state dictate what they think is appropriate," Dunwel stated. However, Cassidy stood firm that just because the Satanists ticked all the boxes to get their display into the Iowa State Capitol does not mean the statue deserved to be held equivalent to the Nativity scene or displayed on government property, especially during the Christmas season. "The devil is evil, and we should not pretend or act as if he is equal to a Nativity scene," he said. Head over to Evil.news to read more stories similar to this. Sources for this article include: ThePostMillenial.com GiveSendGo.com FoxNews.com DesMoinesRegister.com DailyMail.co.uk Pentagon instructs U.S. troops stationed in Iraq to BE PREPARED for possible Israel-Hamas war escalation An online nonprofit news organization acquired a copy of a memo from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) that ordered U.S. Air Force personnel to remain on standby in case of " on-ground U.S. involvement in the Israel-Hamas war." Citing a DoD document that circulated earlier this month, the Intercept reported that the troops stationed in Iraq since last year are being forewarned to prepare to be deployed. While it did not suggest that U.S. military ground involvement in the war is forthcoming, the January memo is the latest intimation of the Pentagon's preparations to support Israel in the wake of Hamas' Oct. 7 attack. After the said assault, the U.S. military was said to put 2,000 troops on prepare-to-deploy orders for potential support to Israel, though from neighboring countries. It also immediately dispatched two aircraft carriers to the region. The Defense Department did not respond to a request for comment but until this moment, Washington maintains its support for Israel in the Gaza war. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the support would not include "boots on the ground." "But as we've also said, we have significant national security interests in the region," Kirby added. In fact, the U.S. special forces have been active in Israel since October, with senior official Christopher Maier telling reporters at the time that American commandos were "actively helping the Israelis to do several things." The pentagon also admitted to flying spy drones over Gaza "in support of hostage recovery efforts." The White House posted a picture of U.S. President Joe Biden in Israel posing alongside members of the secretive U.S. special operations units, then quickly deleted it afterward. The memo obtained by the news outlet just proved that the U.S. military presence is still in the Middle East, with personnel deployed to theaters where many Americans think the mission ended long ago. Also, since the Gaza war began, American soldiers in Iraq, Syria and Jordan have come under fire more than 150 times, with Iran-aligned Shi'ite militias subjecting their bases to regular drone and rocket barrages. One such attack in Jordan killed three U.S. soldiers and injured others. "As we said before, if the U.S. keeps supporting Israel, there will be escalations," a senior official from an alliance of Iraqi militia said. "All U.S. interests in the region are legitimate targets, and we don't care about U.S. threats to respond." Meanwhile, reports have surfaced that American ships and warplanes have launched strikes against Houthi militants in Yemen to break a blockade on "Israel-linked" merchant shipping passing through the Red Sea. They are countering attacks by the Yemeni militant group targeting U.S. commercial and military vessels in the area. Biden will make those responsible for the killing of American soldiers in Jordan pay Biden said his regime will act accordingly concerning the death of American troops who were killed and dozens more injured in a drone strike in northeast Jordan near the Syrian border. The president, of course, placed the blame on Iran-backed militias for the first U.S. fatalities after months of strikes by such groups against American forces across the Middle East since the start of the conflict there last year. "We had a tough day in the Middle East. We lost three brave souls in an attack on one of our bases," he said. After asking for a moment of silence, Biden spoke, "and we shall respond." In a statement, Biden said that the nation will hold all those responsible "to account at a time and in a manner of our choosing." Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin added that they "will take all necessary actions to defend the United States, our troops and our interests." (Related: Trump warns of WWIII, blames Biden for drone strike on troops in Jordan and execution of four people in Iran.) As per a Europe-based activist, who heads the Deir Ezzor 24 media outlet, Omar Abu Layla, the Iran-backed fighters in east Syria have already begun evacuating their posts due to fear of U.S. airstrikes and retaliation. According to U.S. Central Command, at least 34 troops were injured by the one-way attack drone, with eight flown out of Jordan for follow-up care, who are all in stable condition at the moment. In a statement published by the Jordan-run Petra news agency, the country "condemned the terrorist attack" that targeted Biden's men. "Jordan will continue to counter terrorism and the smuggling of drugs and weapons across the Syrian border into Jordan, and will confront with firmness and determination anyone who attempts to attack the security of the kingdom," Muhannad Mubaidin, a government spokesman, said in the press release. Head over to WWIII.news to catch more updates on the ongoing and escalating conflict in the Middle East. Sources for this article include: RT.com TheIntercept.com APNews.com Social media influencers pushing ASSISTED SUICIDE on children: Its OK to pass away today A disturbing video aimed at children is circulating on social media , encouraging them to opt for assisted suicide because "it's OK to pass away today." The alleged "satire" video, or so its creators later claimed, features Muppet-like cartoon characters singing songs to children about how euthanasia is A-OK, and that children who opt for it will get to be placed into a cool urn after cremation. "It's always hard to say goodbye, but Uncle Urny says, 'It's OK to pass away!'" the creepy video says in one portion. One might assume that the video is aimed at children who are already dying, but apparently it is showing up on YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, Bitchute and various other platforms. Some social media users also say the video is appearing in the advertising break on other videos. "So all children allowed to visit video platforms are being exposed to this," noted All News Pipeline. (Related: Every day, Canada euthanizes 36 citizens, according to the latest data.) There's no dignity in children dying Though the video in question is often labeled as "satire" in the description, its contents are anything but a joke. Impressionable youth who stumble upon it could be enticed to kill themselves, thinking the funny cartoon characters they see encouraging this will play with them in the afterlife. One encouraging piece of news is that YouTube, upon becoming aware of the video's presence, pulled it from the platform for "violating YouTube's Community Guidelines." As for other streaming platforms, the video is presumably still streaming. "This is clearly yet another facet of the multi-pronged attack against us, with our children being used as an attack vector," wrote one Bitchute user who uploaded the video, but with a warning attached. Supposedly, the video was created as part of a "dark humor" project, but what could be less funny than encouraging innocent babes to play with death? Who of sound, let alone moral, mind would ever produce such a thing, and with cartoon characters no less? The speed at which the video in question went viral suggests that whoever is behind it intended for it to spread quickly and vastly, ensuring it would be seen by as many children as possible before likely getting pulled. Perhaps the Canadian government is behind the video, seeing as how "Medical Assistance in Dying" (MAiD), as they call it, is one of Canada's most liberal and well-known social policies, allowing for pretty much anyone to die through euthanasia if they so choose. A group called "Terminal Wellness" is apparently behind the video, though nowhere on the group's website is it ever suggested that the video is satire. The site looks like a medical site, but extra digging revealed that it is actually "a dark romantic comedy that is a satire of our completely messed up healthcare and political systems ..." "The only way to know when visiting the website itself that this is supposed to be satire, is if you click the ad ink," All News Pipeline says. "Assisted suicide is now fodder to be joked about, just another step towards being like Canada liberals, where they want to open up assisted suicide for 12-year-old children." While there is certainly something to be said for using satire to make a point, messing around with suicide in a cartoonish format aimed at children and basically promoting suicide to children is moral repugnance encapsulated. "The scum that promotes this trash are morbid demon possessed pigs," one angry commenter wrote about the video. "Even if it were satire, it is still distasteful and detestable to suggest such immoral ugliness. Many have been given over to reprobate minds." The push to expand assisted suicide throughout the West is a globalist depopulation ploy. Learn more at Genocide.news. Sources for this article include: AllNewsPipeline.com NaturalNews.com United Airlines SUED over harassment and bullying of unvaxxed employees instigated by WOKE CEO Scott Kirby Employees of United Airlines are suing the company for harassing and bullying its unvaccinated managers and co-workers during the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic." LGBT drag queen and United CEO Scott Kirby is accused of being the chief instigator who ring-led the mistreatment of his company's unvaccinated employees, branding them with "Scarlet Letter"-style stickers as a humiliation ritual. "In late 2020, Kirby began trying to leverage [the COVID-19] crisis for United's benefit by publicly discussing a potential vaccine mandate," the court filing states. "In January 2021, without telling his executive team beforehand, Kirby made national headlines by stating that United should mandate a COVID-19 vaccine for its 60,000 employees." After Kirby launched these theatrics, many United employees filed for a medical or religious exemption to avoid being forcibly jabbed by their cross-dressing medical fascist CEO, only to be "sacrificed on the altar of Kirby's quest," to quote LifeSiteNews, to "advertise a 100 percent [employee] vaccination rate after deciding that marketing was more important than its employees' civil rights." "United's actions had their desired effect, as bullying and harassment became commonplace across United's workforce," the lawsuit further states. "Ultimately, the record is clear that United's employees felt free to criticize accommodated employees when they saw their CEO doing the same thing." (Related: Last March, United Airlines announced a new all-LGBT "rainbow" flight crew for its San Francisco to Sydney jetliner route.) No medical privacy at United Airlines Kirby was reportedly so obsessed with bullying all of his employees into getting COVID-jabbed that he actually "proposed requiring accommodated employees to walk around with special stickers on their badges broadcasting their vaccination status." One human resource (HR) employee expressed shock at the sticker proposal, likening the move to the "Scarlet Letter." Others noted Kirby's proposal was also similar to the yellow armbands that Jewish people were forced to wear during World War II. Because of the precedent Kirby set for the company-wide harassment of unvaccinated employees, many employees in HR who "heard Kirby's message of ostracization and derision loud and clear" and who were "responsible for reviewing accommodation requests felt free to mock and criticize those requests." Some of the mockery that allegedly went on behind the scenes because of all this, according to the suit, include: An instance in which an HR representative suggested that unvaccinated employees "are probably going to do what they have been doing ... buying fake vaccine cards and adding it, or filing a 'religious exemption' ... Our employees cannot be trusted[.]" Another instance in which a United employee who was reviewing accommodation requests called another employee's request for a medical exemption "bulls**t," assuming it was fabricated. Yet another instance in which an HR representative at United criticized an employee who sought a religious exemption for "purchas[ing] a statue of Buddha from Amazon." "I want to know where [people] are getting these sham [doctors] to write them off for these alleged illness[es]," scoffed another. As you can see, the workplace environment at United became overwhelmingly toxic due to Kirby's anti-unvaccinated messaging and stunts. And now, those employees who were injured by the toxic environment Kirby created want accountability and recompense. Amazingly, in August 2021, United even went so far to broadcast its employees' vaccination status by sending postcards to the homes of those who had not yet provided proof of vaccination. "It wasn't enough to pressure employees in the workplace, they also wanted employees considering an accommodation to be pressured at home," the suit further states about how the abuse also reached the family members of unvaccinated United employees. Will woke corporations like United Airlines survive or go broke? Find out more at Wokies.news. Sources for this article include: LifeSiteNews.com NaturalNews.com White House concerned about Bidens DECLINING mental state and Kamalas UNPOPULARITY White House officials are very concerned about President Joe Biden's declining mental state and Vice President Kamala Harris' unpopularity. Thus, they are worried that these two factors could cost the Democrats their position of power over the federal government. This is according to insider information obtained by guerrilla journalist James O'Keefe, the former founder and CEO of Project Veritas. Following his departure from the latter in February 2023, he now heads a new guerrilla journalism outlet the O'Keefe Media Group. O'Keefe was able to secretly record a 13-minute conversation with Charlie Kraiger, a cybersecurity policy analyst and desk officer for Foreign Affairs at the Executive Office of the President of the United States. Before being brought into the White House, Kraiger, a graduate of Georgetown University, worked at the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Following the publication of the sting video, Kraiger has since scrubbed his presence on most social media platforms, although a LinkedIn page with his name is still active as of press time. (Related: Rep. Ronny Jackson: Biden "can't do the job" of U.S. president due to COGNITIVE DECLINE.) During this conversation filmed at a restaurant in Washington, D.C. earlier in January wherein O'Keefe posed as a gay man going on a first date with Kraiger the White House official shared that the administration knows that Biden is "slowing down," a reference to his mental decline. "I have a grandfather who is 91 with dementia and Biden is worse than my grandfather," said Kraiger. "I think voters are gonna look at that and it's gonna hurt us." "I'm just telling you what I've heard; they're really concerned about it," said Kraiger, who warned that neither he nor other staffers can "say it publicly" due to fear of public backlash. But during one interaction with the president, Kraiger admitted that Biden did not recognize him not only that but "he sang like a bird" when he met Kraiger. "I think they need to get rid of him. But no one in modern history has ever said, like, 'We're not going to renominate the president for a second term.'" White House officials worried about Harris' popularity, or lack of it Speaking of the vice president, Kraiger admitted that Harris has been guaranteed a spot on the ticket as vice president "because she's a woman and she's multiracial." Harris is notable for being the country's first vice president who is a woman and the first vice president of African and Asian ancestry her mother and father being a Tamil Indian and a Jamaican American, respectively. "She will be the vice presidential nominee. There was a debate about removing her from the ticket, but sadly they didn't. She's not popular, but you can't remove the first Black lady to be vice president from the g*****n presidential ticket," said Kraiger. "Like, what kind of message are you going to send to, like, African American voters? How do you spin that? People would be like, 'What the f**k? Like, she's a woman and she's multiracial.'" Kraiger also noted that Harris "hemorrhages" Black staff members in her office, who he said "quit on her en masse." Learn more about recent events and revelations involving the president at JoeBiden.news. Watch this clip of Charlie Kraiger telling James O'Keefe about what White House officials truly think of the president and the vice president. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump supports COGNITIVE TESTS for presidential candidates. VP Kamala Harris says she is ready to be president HELL NO. WSJ poll: Biden is TOO OLD to run for a second term in 2024 elections. Nikki Haley: Prospect of Kamala Harris presidency "sends chills down every American's spine." Biden insists he's still capable of leading America, but his MIND and BODY are clearly not up to the task. Sources include: 100PercentFedUp.com TimesNowNews.com DailyWire.com SportsKeeda.com GBNews.com Brighteon.com Isolated tornadoes and strong winds are forecast in the Southern US, according to the latest forecast. The stormy conditions can also spread over portions of Florida. In the latest advisory, the National Weather Service (NWS) warned of showers and thunderstorms in Florida and Southeast. In the Bay area, homeowners should stay alert for Wind Advisories and High Wind Warnings in the region, bringing potential power outages and tree damages. In New Orleans, NWS monitors the development of a small-scale pressure center in the region. Homeowners should stay alert for high winds reaching from 50 to 55 mph. In this week's weather, homeowners should be alert for the following threats this week: Isolated tornadoes Strong Winds Thunderstorms Flash flood Heavy rain Hail conditions Severe Weather Threat and Isolated Tornadoes: Where Will Challenging Weather Unload? The latest forecast warned of brief tornadoes and damaging winds in parts of southern Georgia. In the Central Plains and Mississippi Valley, homeowners can expect anomalous warmth this week. People traveling this week should watch out for severe thunderstorms, strong winds and isolated tornadoes. The weather conditions can lead to slower commutes and widespread travel disruption in the affected areas. According to the weather outlook, homeowners should check for severe weather conditions on the weekend and early next week, including in portions of the Gulf Coast states. On Sunday, a soaking rain is possible in the southern US. Flooding concerns can become concerning in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Flooded roads are also likely, to cause challenging commutes for motorists. On the weekend, severe thunderstorms can spread in the following areas: Tallahassee Brunswick Jacksonville Daytona Beach Gainesville In Miami, residents can anticipate a few showers and storms this week, including in the PBC metro area. Homeowners should watch out for a special weather statement in portions of Miami. Wind damage and flooding are also likely. On Monday, rainy outlook is expected in the following areas: Atlanta Montgomery Jacksonville Tampa Miami Dry and mild weather are also forecast in the following areas: Raleigh Nashville Little Rock Jackson New Orleans In the early week, abnormal warmth can unfold in Minneapolis, Memphis, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, and Chicago. Meanwhile, cold conditions are forecast in Seattle, Portland and Billings. Also Read: US Weather Forecast: Early Spring, Extended Winter Season Expected in Some Parts of the Country Weather Preparedness: How to Keep Safe From Isolated Tornadoes Isolated tornadoes can happen anytime in parts of the southern US, which is prone to severe thunderstorms. Tornadoes can unleash massive damage to property and life. As a result, homeowners should watch out for Tornado Watch and Warning. Limiting outdoor travel is also advisable to stay safe from severe thunderstorms. Thunderstorms are dangerous in the south. When thunder strikes, people should keep away from powerlines, trees and open areas. It is also best to evacuate to buildings, and wait until lightning stops. Related Article: NWS Weather Forecast: Light Snow to Unload in Upstate New York, Eastern Pennsylvania This Midweek For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World New More than 16,000 animals are aboard the MV Bahijah, which is stranded off Western Australia in extreme heat after authorities ordered the Israeli-owned ship transporting the live cargo to turn around due to fears that it will be targeted by Houthi militants in the Red Sea. Animal Welfare Last month, the MV Bahijah abandoned its journey through the Red Sea, where Houthi forces in Yemen have been attacking ships, trapping the animals on board for weeks. The vessel remained at sea, awaiting the Australian government's ruling on whether the livestock could be offloaded. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry said that it was still examining the exporter's application to re-export the animals. The ship was cleaned and resupplied with fuel and food during its temporary stay at Fremantle Port near Perth, according to the authorities. Despite requests from animal welfare advocates to enable cattle to leave the ship as quickly as feasible, none have been offloaded. The government hired two independent vets to evaluate the live cargo, and they reported "no significant animal health or welfare issues." In a previous statement, it stated that any animals entering the nation would be subject to "strict biosecurity controls" and that their "health and welfare" was the top concern. The Australian government claims that its biosecurity measures, which are among the strictest on the planet, have kept the country free of many of the world's most invasive pests and diseases. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Australia (RSPCA), it is impossible to thoroughly examine all of the animals while they are still on the ship. "The evidence tells us that the welfare of the animals is only going to get worse and worse over the coming days due to the amount of time they've spent on the ship. So, it's very urgent and we couldn't be more gravely concerned," said Suzanne Fowler, Chief Science Officer with RSPCA Australia. Australia's live export trade has long been a source of contention between the industry and critics, who argue that it emphasizes income over animal welfare. The Australian government has committed to banning live sheep exports but has yet to provide a timeline for when this would happen. Read Also: 500-Year-Old Landslide in Red Sea Could Trigger a Tsunami in Egypt and Saudi Arabia Red Sea Crisis The MV Bahijah left Fremantle on January 5 for the Middle East, according to an Australian government statement. A request to detour the ship across Africa, as other ships have done to avoid Houthi missiles and drones, was turned down fifteen days into the voyage. "To ensure the health and welfare of the livestock on the MV Bahijah, the department directed the exporter that the consignment be immediately returned to Australia," said a government statement on January 20. The incident underscores the far-reaching repercussions of recent Houthi militia attacks on ships. In recent weeks, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have attacked commercial vessels in revenge for Israel's military incursion in Gaza, causing a crisis in the region's important Red Sea commerce corridor. Related Article: Man Attempts the World's First Swim Across the Red Sea to Tackle Climate Change President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is thinking not only about replacing the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny, but also a number of other leaders. "Zaluzhny? We need a reset, a change of leadership, not just a military one. This is a question that concerns the people who should lead Ukraine. A reset, a new beginning is definitely needed," he said in an interview with the Italian television company RAI, published on Sunday. "When I speak of turnover, I have in mind something serious that does not concern a single person, but the direction of the country's leadership. When we talk about this, I mean the replacement of a number of government leaders, and not just in one sector, for example, in the army. I am thinking about this replacement, but we cannot say that we replaced one person here," he said. Zelenskyy said that if Ukraine wants to win, then everyone needs to move in the same direction. "we cannot be discouraged, we must have the right and positive energy, negativity must be left at home... That's why I'm talking about a reset, a replacement. I have something serious on my mind, it's not about one person, it's about the direction of the leadership country," he said. Betty White the chicken, a "beloved" hen and internet star, in Australia died when an alligator ate it after being thrown into the reptile's den. The accused person behind the incident is Peter William Smith from the town of Singleton in New South Wales. According to reports, the 57-year-old man snatched Betty White from its enclosure in an animal sanctuary and threw it into an alligator pen. Evidence against the Singleton man is based on shocked witnesses, including families, who reportedly saw the alleged incident at Oakvale Farm and Fauna World. Local authorities accused Smith of throwing the chicken in front of the onlookers at the popular wildlife park located in New South Wales. It is unclear why Betty White was specifically selected by the perpetrator. Alligators are known for eating almost anything, including chickens and other livestock since these crocodilians are carnivorous. In captivity, alligators are often fed with raw meat such as those coming from chickens. In recent years, related incidents from different parts of the world had surfaced on the internet with some becoming viral on social media. Betty White The Chicken Death Following the death of the silkie hen, Oakvale Farm's owner Kent Sansom stated that the park's management and staff were saddened by the fate of Betty White the chicken, based on a released statement as reported on Monday, February 5. This is also the first time in 43 years that a member of the public apparently engaged in animal cruelty, according to Sansom. The park owner adds Betty White was hand-raised in the enclosure and served a significant role in Oakvale's endangered species breeding program by providing surrogacy to chicks. Furthermore, the famed chicken's quiet nature, as seen with customers carrying animal pellets, made her an easy target for people with bad intention. Also Read: Unique Albino Alligator Is Florida's New Star Animal Cruelty Case Latest reports surrounding the incident show Smith plans to plead not guilty to the charges against him, specifically one count of aggravated animal cruelty. This is according to a high-profile defense lawyer Brian Wrench, who told Magistrate Justin Peach that "this is an allegation about an alligator eating a chicken." Based on reported court documents, the local police said Smith carried out aggravated animal cruelty on "a silkie bantam chook" at a time between 2:57 p.m. and 3:10 p.m. at Oakvale Farm and Fauna World in Salt Ash on January 2. In line with the animal cruelty case, Peach ordered the police to prepare evidence against the defendant by March 4 and adjourned the case on March 18. In August 2023, it was reported that the animal rights body Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in Western Australia found an 11% increase in animal cruelty reports across Australia over the past year. Between 2022 and 2023, RSPCA received 7,126 cases of animal cruelty reports, with a common factor attributed to the cost-of-living crisis. Related Article: Chicken or Egg Dilemma: Which Came First? Scientists Provide Conclusive Answer to the Age-Old Question U.S. and British forces launched a series of additional strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to continuing attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, Jim Garamone, U.S. Department of Defense, reports. "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," Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a statement released by the Pentagon. The Houthis receive equipment, training, intelligence and money from Iran. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link An F-18 takes off from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower to strike Houthi targets in Yemen, Feb. 3, 2024 (Picture source: U.S. CENTCOM) While U.S. and U.K. aircraft hit the targets, they were supported by an international coalition. Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States issued a joint statement announcing the strikes. The international group struck 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen in response to the Houthis' 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," the communique said. The strikes targeted sites associated with the Houthis' deeply buried weapons storage facilities, missile systems and launchers, air defense systems and radars, officials said. The Houthis have launched more than 30 attacks on commercial vessels and naval vessels since mid-November. These actions constitute an international challenge, and the coalition that is protecting the sea lines of communication through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden continues to grow. "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," the coalition members said in a statement. The Houthis continue to threaten vessels in the Red Sea. Officials at U.S. Central Command noted that aircraft conducted a strike in self-defense against a Houthi, anti-ship cruise missile that was prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. "U.S. forces identified the cruise missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined it presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region," the Centcom release said. "This action will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S. Navy vessels and merchant vessels." In addition, the destroyer USS Carney engaged and shot down one unmanned aerial vehicle over the Gulf of Aden on Friday, Centcom officials said. Later that day, U.S. Central Command forces struck four Houthi UAVs that were prepared to launch. Later, the destroyer USS Laboon and F/A-18 Super Hornets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group engaged and shot down seven UAVs over the Red Sea. All these strikes seek 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 el-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden," Centcom officials said. Joint Statement from Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and United States on Additional Strikes Against the Houthis in Yemen FEB. 3, 2024. Today, at the direction of their respective governments, the militaries of the United States and the 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 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 world's most critical waterways in the face of continued threats. The next packages of military assistance to Ukraine will include F-16 aircraft and missiles with a range of hitting targets of 300-500 kilometers, Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Seriy Nayev said. "In subsequent military assistance packages, Ukraine expects F-16 aircraft and missiles with a range of hitting targets of 300-500 kilometers, which will allow the Ukrainian Defense Forces to achieve even greater success on the battlefield and liberate our territory from the enemy," Nayev said in an interview posted on the Joint Forces Command Facebook page on Sunday. According to him, the Ukrainian arsenal has already been replenished with modern weapons from drones to advanced air defense systems, and the Ukrainian army has mastered them very quickly. Nayev expressed confidence "that no country in the world has such a variety of weapons as Ukraine." "Thanks to the material and technical assistance of partner countries, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received Western artillery weapons; in terms of their tactical and technical characteristics, similar types of Russian artillery prevail. In particular, the M777A1, FH70 field howitzers and CAEZAR, AHS Krab, PzH-2000, M109 self-propelled artillery mounts were received, which, in combination with counter-battery systems and reconnaissance UAVs, allowed the Defense Forces to neutralize the enemy's multiple advantage," the commander said. At the same time, he said the greatest threat from the enemy currently comes from missile and air strikes using long-range aircraft, Iskander operational-tactical missile systems, Kh-47M Kinzhal hypersonic aircraft systems, and anti-aircraft missile systems. S-300/400 and Iranian kamikaze drones of the Shahed type. "The massive use of all types of missiles and UAVs is carried out from the depths of Russian territory, which does not allow them to be hit on a larger flight path," Nayev said. Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. Russian occupiers shelled the center of Kherson, as a result of which two people were killed, the information is being clarified, Head of the city military administration Roman Mrochko said. "Today, after 12.00, Russian occupation forces shelled Kherson from the temporarily occupied left bank. As a result of enemy shells hitting the city center, a fire broke out. Upon arrival at the scene of the call, rescuers discovered two bodies. The information is being clarified," Mrochko said in the Telegram channel on Monday. As a result of Russian strikes over the past week, 12 civilians were killed and 60 people were injured, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko has said. According to him, the intensity of enemy shelling increased last week by almost a quarter Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine more than 1,500 times. "Attacks have been recorded in more than 570 settlements. Most of all in Zaporizhia region," Klymenko said in Telegram channel. He saidt rescuers and police are the first to arrive at shelling sites: they eliminate the consequences of enemy fire, clear away rubble, document war crimes and help affected citizens. Michael Sorrentino recalls how he saved his son from choking, calls it, Scariest moment of our lives Washington DC, February 4 American TV personality Michael Sorrentino shared a scary moment when his 2-year-old started choking on his dinner, according to People. 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 - Posted on 05 February 2024) Michael Sorrentino recalls how he saved his son from choking, calls it, Scariest moment of our lives Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Karan Singh Grover shares his experience of shooting for 'Fighter' Mumbai, February 4 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. 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 - Posted on 05 February 2024) Karan Singh Grover shares his experience of shooting for 'Fighter' Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Amitabh Bachchan shares heartwarming letter he received from his idol and inspiration Dilip Kumar Mumbai, February 4 Mega Star Amitabh Bachchan on Sunday shared some throwback pictures with late legendary actor Dilip Kumar and called him his "idol and inspiration." Big B took to Instagram and treated fans with a letter written by Dilip Kumar along with throwback photos. https://www.instagram.com/p/C27U4E6BOsh/ The letter read, "On Amitabh and my admiration My Dear Amitabh: With tears of pride in her eyes Saira handed over the print out of your eloquent tribute to my work in your blog. I read it once, then again and again. As you yourself would be keenly aware, we actors are completely oblivious of ourselves and our surroundings while we perform and, even when we watch our work in the rushes shown to us, our senses and vision are trained to detect shortcomings more than accomplishments." Dilip Kumar also praised the actor in the letter, which read "If any Indian actor, in my personal opinion, deserves the world's most coveted award, it is you. I have heard so much about Paa which we didn't catch up with. You know how Saira is- she never could see me die in my films and she could not muster the courage to see your death scene in Paa." "Thank you, Amitabh, for your warm love and good wishes. May God keep you, Jaya, and your family happy always," the letter concluded. Sharing the post, Amitabh wrote, "What can one say when you receive the blessings from THE Ultimate actor, DILIP KUMAR, my idol and inspiration .." Meanwhile, on the work front, Big B will be next seen in the sci-fi action thriller film 'Kalki 2898 AD' alongside Deepika Padukone and Prabhas. He also has a courtroom drama film 'Section 84' in his kitty. (ANI - Posted on 05 February 2024) Amitabh Bachchan shares heartwarming letter he received from his idol and inspiration Dilip Kumar Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Hrithik says 'brilliant' Sanjeeda Sheikh made emoting in scene easy for him 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. 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. (IANS - Posted on 05 February 2024) Hrithik says 'brilliant' Sanjeeda Sheikh made emoting in scene easy for him Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Zendaya reveals she had to 'protect' herself as a child star Los Angeles, Feb 4 Actress Zendaya has said that she had to learn to "protect" herself as a child star. The 27-year-old actress shot to fame in her early teens when she was cast alongside Bella Thorne in the Disney Channel sitcom 'Shake It Up'. Speaking on YouTube series PayOrWait, she said: "It's a lesson you have to learn young. I was a kid thrown into a very adult industry where if you do have a perspective or something to say, it's like 'Well they're a kid'. And the parents...it's like...they are just the parents so you have to learn how to protect yourself quite quickly. For me, it was a lesson learned quite early - back in my Disney days - of little tricks and little things I could do to protect myself, or protect my peace or protect my happiness. I think when you're a kid in this industry, you're very vulnerable. I do wish I could have just been a kid for a little bit longer but yeah, the lessons happened very early. I don't know if there was a specific moment but it definitely happened quite young, having to learn to have my own back a little bit. However, the actress recalled having an on-set teacher during her time on Disney Channel who she felt prioritised the child's well-being above all else and claimed it may come as a "surprise" to learn that someone like that is fairly uncommon in the industry. She said: "I had a wonderful on-set teacher who was very adamant about safety, breaks, time and so...she's like an aunt to me now. Shoutout to Monique. She became my family, but she was someone who just advocated for the kid, she'd say 'They need to take a break', or 'That's too dangerous, I don't want them doing that', or 'They have school!'. You'd be surprised how that is not common practice in this industry. (IANS - Posted on 05 February 2024) Zendaya reveals she had to 'protect' herself as a child star Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Varun Dhawan's film with Atlee titled 'Baby John', release date unveiled Mumbai, February 5 And the wait is over. On Monday, Varun Dhawan finally disclosed the title of his first-ever collaboration with ace filmmaker Atlee. Varun also shared an intriguing teaser in which he is seen in a completely different avatar. The teaser began with a disclaimer that says, "Use Headphones for better experience." https://www.instagram.com/p/C29Z0oiMhKT/?hl=en "babyjohn Worldwide release on May 31st 2024," he captioned the post, The teaser received a big thumbs-up from the netizens. "Killer," a social media user commented. "Looks like a blockbuster," another one wrote. Keerthy Suresh, Wamiqa Gabbi, Jackie Shroff and Rajpal Yadav are also a part of 'Baby John', which will hit the theatres on May 31, 2024. The film is produced by Murad Khetani, Priya Atlee and Jyoti Deshpande. In the coming months, Varun will be seen in the Indian adaptation of the Hollywood series 'Citadel' opposite actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu. It is an Indian adaptation of the Russo Brothers' series of the same name. Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden headlined the international version. The release date of the Indian version of Citadel is awaited. Raj and DK have created the Indian version. (ANI - Posted on 05 February 2024) Varun Dhawan's film with Atlee titled 'Baby John', release date unveiled Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Because the jury also found that Sosa-Mejia knew his victim was intoxicated at the time of the sex, he faces the possibility of up to 14 years in prison. The death toll due to enemy artillery shelling of Kherson has risen to four people, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko said. "Rescuers are extinguishing a car that came under artillery shelling in Kherson around noon. Unfortunately, it was not possible to save the driver and passenger. In total, Russian shelling claimed the lives of four local residents. Another person was injured," Klymenko said in his Telegram channel on Monday. Earlier it was reported that Russian occupiers shelled the center of Kherson, as a result of which two people were killed. Later, Head of the regional military administration Oleksandr Prokudin said the Russians continued to shell the city, and a woman had also died. Over perhaps the next three months or maybe not that long if someone is able to knock some sense into his head billionaire owner Jerry Reinsdorf will try to convince the state Legislature to have the public pay for a big chunk of the new stadium he wants on Chicagos South Side. In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers assess how genetic variation in a cluster of differentiation 38 (CD38) is associated with increased personal distress in an emotionally evocative situation. Study: CD38 genetic variation is associated with increased personal distress to an emotional stimulus. Image Credit: Dragana Gordic / Shutterstock.com CD38 and oxytocin Oxytocin is a peptide neurohormone that is actively involved in social behavior, including parent-infant bonding, particularly in the immediate period following childbirth, romantic relationships, and group dynamics. Oxytocin-related genetic variants have been associated with various effects on empathy, brain activation during emotion recognition tasks, responses to trauma, and the risk of autism. Recently, researchers have identified that A allele carriers of the CD38 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3796863 had higher plasma oxytocin levels, a more sensitive approach to parenting, and stronger empathic responses. However, other studies have reported that students with the AA genotype of the CD38 SNP reported higher levels of suicide ideation, depressive symptoms, and greater alienation from parents and peers. These conflicting findings have led some researchers to theorize that A carriers may be more socially sensitive, which, as a result, could lead to a stronger negative emotional response during stressful situations. Despite this concept, no study to date has assessed the impact of the CD38 genotype on negative reactivity to an emotionally stressful situation. About the study For the present study, researchers recruited Canadian university students 18 years of age and older with no health issues expected to influence hormone levels. All study participants were shown a three-minute video depicting a father narrating the story of his childs terminal cancer. After the video, study participants completed a questionnaire seeking to assess their emotional response to 12 emotions, six of which involved feelings of empathic concern, whereas the remaining six included feelings of personal distress. These responses were rated on a scale from one to five, with higher scores indicating higher endorsement of the emotional response. Two Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) subscales, including the personal distress and empathic concern subscales, were used to explore whether the CD38 genotype related to dispositional measures of emotional responses. Participants completed the IRI approximately 10 minutes after watching the emotional video, during which they rated their responses on a five-point Likert scale, with a higher score indicating increased empathy. Study findings A total of 171 students participated in the current study, 24, 77, and 70 of whom had the AA, AC, and CC genotypes of the CD38 SNP, respectively. The average distress-related response ratings were higher for females than males and AA/AC than CC genotypes, thus suggesting that sex and CD38 genotype affected these responses but not their interaction. Females also scored higher than males on empathy-related responses; however, these scores were not significantly different among the different genotypes. On both IRI subscales, sex had a significant effect, with females scoring higher than males. However, the IRI subscale results were not significantly different between the CD38 genotypes. When seeing someone in distress, people with the A allele reported insignificant levels of empathy, a well-recognized response of care, but markedly higher levels of personal distress, a self-focused emotional reaction. An empathy-inducing situation may elicit these two responses simultaneously; however, they can have different consequences. For example, while empathy promotes helping behavior to relieve the distress of the individual in need, a person in distress may have the urge to alleviate their own distress rather than offer help to the other person in need of help. Conclusions The current study provides preliminary evidence that genetic variation in CD38 influences social-emotional sensitivity. To this end, A allele carriers were more vulnerable to distress-related emotions in response to a negative social stressor. The study findings may reconcile paradoxical findings that CD38 A allele carriers are more empathetic despite exhibiting worse interpersonal outcomes. Despite having greater empathy, their high levels of personal distress may prevent appropriate social support from being provided when involved in social conflict. This data on oxytocin-related genetic variants could be used to predict individuals for whom the buffer against stress and anxiety in response to challenging interpersonal situations is weaker. Given their inability to regulate their negative emotions, these individuals should receive adequate and timely support. Future studies, especially in interpersonal contexts, need to use more natural empathy paradigms to assess the role of CD38 in emotional regulation. In a recent study published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, researchers estimated the effectiveness of the 2023-24 updated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. The Advisory Committee on the Immunization Practices of the United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended on September 12, 2023, that all individuals aged six months or older receive the 2023-24 updated monovalent COVID-19 vaccine. The updated vaccine contains a component from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron XBB.1.5 lineage and lacks ancestral strain components. The JN.1 lineage was identified in the US in September 2023, which harbors 30 additional mutations in the spike (S) protein compared to XBB.1.5. Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results can help distinguish some SARS-CoV-2 lineages. S-gene target failure (SGTF) is detected in JN.1 and other BA.2.86 lineages, whereas S-gene target presence (SGTP) is detected in most lineages from 2023, including XBB. Study: Early Estimates of Updated 20232024 (Monovalent XBB.1.5) COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Against Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection Attributable to Co-Circulating Omicron Variants Among Immunocompetent Adults Increasing Community Access to Testing Program, United States, September 2023January 2024. Image Credit: New Africa / Shutterstock About the study In the present study, researchers estimated the effectiveness of the 2023-24 updated COVID-19 vaccine against symptomatic infection. They included tests conducted between September 21, 2023, and January 14, 2024, among adults reporting at least one symptom. Cases were individuals with a positive nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). Controls were individuals with a negative NAAT. The team excluded tests from Janssen vaccine recipients, Novavax recipients, immunocompromised individuals, those who received the most recent vaccine dose within a week preceding testing, and those with a positive COVID-19 test within the past 90 days. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) against symptomatic COVID-19 was estimated by comparing the odds of receipt of the updated vaccine versus non-receipt among cases and controls. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios. VE was computed separately by SGTP and SGTF status. Test-positive samples with reduced or null S-gene amplification were deemed to have an SGTF, whereas those without SGTF were considered SGTP. Findings Of over 9,200 NAAT results for individuals with symptoms of COVID-19-like illness, 3,295 tested SARS-CoV-2-positive. Around 1,125 individuals received the updated COVID-19 vaccine seven days earlier. More controls received the updated vaccine than cases. The median time from the last dose among updated vaccine recipients was 60 days for cases and 51 days for controls. Nearly 8,100 individuals did not receive the updated vaccine. Of these, 30% were non-vaccinated and 70% were vaccinated. Among the vaccinated, the median time since vaccination was 378 days for cases and 363 days for controls. The estimated VE was 57% in the 1849 age group and 46% among those aged 50. VE was estimated at 58% and 49% among people tested 759 and 60119 days after receiving the updated vaccine, respectively. There were 679 tests available with S-gene target results. Of these, 258 showed SGTF, and 421 exhibited SGTP. VE was not precise for tests with SGTF during the 759 days post-receipt of the updated vaccine, given the emergence of JN.1 in the US. VE during the 60119 days post-receipt of the updated vaccine was 60% for tests with SGTP and 49% for those with SGTF. Conclusions The study provided early efficacy estimates of the updated monovalent XBB.1.5 vaccine against symptomatic infection and the first VE estimates against the JN.1 lineage. These VE estimates include data up to 119 days post-vaccination. However, VE will likely wane with time since vaccination, as observed after the original monovalent or bivalent COVID-19 vaccination. Prior infection history, medical conditions, and vaccination status were self-reported, thereby subject to recall bias. Besides, the VE estimates were computed for a population that opted to be tested for COVID-19; therefore, the estimates are subject to selection biases. Further, coverage of the updated vaccine is low among adults and varies by age. Taken together, the updated monovalent vaccine provided 54% protection from symptomatic illness. Waning of the VE is expected over time, especially against less severe outcomes. In a recent study published in the journal Cell, a team of scientists predominantly from Stanford University discovered that sex-biased autoimmunity, where females are more affected by autoimmune disorders than males, is primarily driven by the Xist ribonucleoprotein complex containing various autoantigenic components. Study: Xist ribonucleoproteins promote female sex-biased autoimmunity. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock Background After cancer and cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disorders are the most prevalent category of disease, with females having a four-fold higher incidence of autoimmune diseases than males. Sjogrens disease has a 19 to one female to male prevalence, while the sex ratio of systemic lupus erythematosus patients is 9:1 for females to males. Furthermore, Klinefelter syndrome patients who have XXY sex chromosomes and are phenotypically male with hormonal patterns of a biological male also have the same risk of autoimmune disorders as females. While the role of hormones has been extensively studied in relation to autoimmune disorders, research indicates that irrespective of hormone status and sex, X chromosome dosage seems to be one of the major drivers of autoimmune disease risk. Additionally, studies among identical twins indicate that the penetrance of autoimmune disease can also vary, suggesting that environmental factors can influence the genetic disposition to autoimmune disorders. X-linked genes such as toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) have been thought to contribute to the development of some autoimmune disorders. About the study In the present study, the researchers used autoimmune-resistant and autoimmune-prone mouse models, C57BL/6J and SJL/J, respectively, to understand the role of X chromosome dosage compensation in determining the disproportionate risk of autoimmune diseases in females. Since mammalian females have two copies of the X chromosomes as compared to mammalian males, who have an XY genotype, one of the two X chromosomes in females is epigenetically silenced for dosage compensation in every cell through a mechanism involving a 19-kb pair long non-coding ribonucleic acid (lncRNA) called Xist. Xist is not expressed in males, and only the inactive X chromosome transcribes this lncRNA in females. Studies in embryonic stem cells from mice have shown that X chromosome inactivation is established when Xist forms a ribonucleoprotein complex with 81 binding proteins that are unique to this complex. Xist binds directly to 10 of these binding proteins through RNA-protein interactions, and to the remaining 71 indirectly through protein-protein interactions. Several of these binding proteins have previously been identified as autoantigens and are thought to activate innate immune system pathways through toll-like receptors. Here, the researchers used non-silencing alleles of Xist that were inducible and introduced them into the autosomes of the autoimmune-resistant and autoimmune-prone mice strains. The induction of Xist ribonucleoprotein complex formation in male mice of a chemically induced systemic lupus erythematosus mouse model allowed this female-specific process to be observed in a male background. RNA sequencing and ATAC-sequencing or assay of transposase-accessible chromatin by sequencing were used to assess changes in gene expression in splenic CD4+ T cells and potential transcription regulation alterations. Principal component analysis was also used to determine similarities between male mice expressing the induced Xist allele. Serum samples from treated mice were also assessed for antigens against scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus. Additionally, serum samples obtained from human patients of systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, and scleroderma were tested for reactivity against proteins from the Xist ribonucleoprotein complex. Results The results reported that the induction of transgenic expression of non-silenced Xist in male mice formed Xist ribonucleoprotein complexes and led to the production of autoantibodies. Male autoimmune-prone mice models of pristane-induced systemic lupus erythematosus showed multi-organ pathology that was more severe than that seen in the wild-type mice. Furthermore, the expression of Xist in the male mice had reprogrammed the chromatic states and the B and T cell populations to be more similar to those found in wild-type female mice. The reactivity against multiple proteins from the Xist ribonucleoprotein complex was also found to be significant in the serum samples obtained from human systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatomyositis, and scleroderma patients. The findings highlight the potential for using these Xist ribonucleoprotein complex-associated proteins as novel antigens for detecting and monitoring autoimmune diseases. The discovery of atypical B cell accumulation due to Xist ribonucleoprotein complex expression also provides a potential area of research for autoimmune disorder therapy. Conclusions Overall, the findings indicated that the Xist ribonucleoprotein complex selectively expressed in females and involved in X chromosome dosage compensation drives sex-biased autoimmunity. Patients with autoimmune conditions such as scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus have higher reactivity against proteins from the Xist ribonucleoprotein complex, highlighting the potential use of these proteins as antigens for screening and early detection of autoimmune disorders. Disrupted function of "cleaning cells" in the body may help to explain why some people with obesity develop type 2 diabetes, while others do not. A study from the University of Gothenburg describes this newly discovered mechanism. It is well known that obesity increases the risk of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. It is also well known that some people who gain weight suffer from the disease and others do not. The reasons for these differences are not clear, but they are related to the function of the adipose tissue rather than the amount of body fat. The current study, published in the journal PNAS, is mainly based on experiments in mice, but the research indicates that the newly discovered mechanism also applies to humans. Weight gain increases the breakdown of the structural protein collagen to make room for the growing fat cells within adipose tissue. Collagen is a natural building block in the body that provides strength to cartilage, muscles, and skin. The breakdown of collagen is handled by macrophages, a type of white blood cell that is part of the immune system. Macrophages are involved in the destruction of invading bacteria, but they also engulf and digest damaged cells and debris such as degraded collagen in adipose tissue during weight gain. The macrophage function is impaired in obesity The collagen is fragmented by enzymatic degradation outside the fat cells, and the collagen fragments are then engulfed by macrophages for complete degradation. What this study shows and describes is how highly regulated this uptake of collagen fragments is. And it is fast when it works properly. However, this function of macrophages was found to be deactivated in obesity and insulin resistance, leading to the accumulation of collagen fragments in adipose tissue. While this has not been considered a problem until now, the study shows that collagen fragments are not just debris, but actively influence various cellular processes such as inflammation and cell division. The process thus goes from maintaining normal adipose tissue function during weight gain, to becoming pathogenic in some cases. When samples of human macrophages were exposed to diabetes-like conditions, they also lost their ability to "clean up" collagen. Identification and prevention The study was carried out by a research team at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, led by Ingrid Wernstedt Asterholm, Professor in Physiology. When adipose tissue grows, macrophages help the remodel the tissue in a controlled way. Exactly why this mechanism is sometimes deactivated is difficult to say, but perhaps it happens when there is at a certain, genetically determined, degree of adiposity." Ingrid Wernstedt Asterholm, Professor in Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg "It is our hope that these results ultimately lead to new strategies for preventing or treating type 2 diabetes. It is also conceivable that certain collagen fragments could serve as measurable biological markers, for example to identify individuals at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes." A fundraising ad for U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) shows a photo of Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, behind bars, swarmed by flying bats. Rosendale, who is eyeing a challenge to incumbent Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, maintains that a Montana biomedical research facility, Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, has a dangerous link to the pandemic. This claim is echoed in the ad: "Its been revealed that Fauci brought COVID to the Montana one year before COVID broke out in the U.S!," it charges in all-caps before asking readers to "Donate today and hold the D.C. bureaucracy accountable!" The ad, paid for by Matt Rosendale for Montana, seeks contributions through WinRed, a platform that processes donations for Republican candidates. Rosendale also shared the fundraising pitch on his X account Nov. 1, and it remained live as of early February. Rosendale made similar accusations on social media, during a November speech on the U.S. House floor, and through his congressional office. Sometimes his comments, like those on the House floor, are milder, saying the researchers experimented on "a coronavirus" leading up to the pandemic. Other times, as in an interview with One America News Network, he linked the lab's work to covid-19's spread. In that interview clip, Rosendale recounted pandemic-era shutdowns before saying, And now were finding out that the National Institute of Health, Rocky Mountain Lab, down in Hamilton, Montana, had also played a role in this. Rosendale's statements echo broader efforts to scrutinize how research into viruses happens in the United States and is part of a continued wave of backlash against scientists who have studied coronaviruses. Rosendale is considering seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Tester, in a toss-up race that could help determine which party controls the Senate in 2025. Political newcomer Tim Sheehy is also seeking the Republican nomination for the Senate. Rosendale proposed amendments to a health spending bill that would ban pandemic-related pathogen research funding for Rocky Mountain Laboratories and cut the salary of one of its top researchers, virologist Vincent Munster, to $1. The House has included both amendments in the Health and Human Services budget bill that the Republican majority hopes to pass. A temporary spending bill is funding the health department until March. We contacted Rosendale's congressional office multiple times with emails, a phone call, and an online request asking what proof he had to back up his statements that the Montana lab infected bats with covid from China before the outbreak. We got no reply. Kathy Donbeck, of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases' Office of Communications and Government Relations, said in an email that the ad's claims are false. Interviews with virologists and a review of the research paper published shortly before Rosendale's assertions support that position. Where this is coming from Rosendale's statements seem to stem from a Rocky Mountain Laboratories study from 2016 that looked into how a coronavirus, WIV1-CoV, acted in Egyptian fruit bats. The work, published by the journal Viruses in 2018, showed that the specific strain didn't cause a robust infection in the bats. The study did not receive widespread attention at the time. But on Oct. 30, 2023, the study was highlighted by a blog called White Coat Waste Project, which says its mission is to stop taxpayer-funded experiments on animals. Some right-wing media outlets began to connect the Montana lab with the coronavirus that causes covid. Rosendale's office issued an Oct. 31 news release saying the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China "shipped a strain of coronavirus" to the Hamilton lab. "Our government helped create the Wuhan flu, then shut the country down when it escaped from the lab," Rosendale said. It's a different virus Rocky Mountain Laboratories is a federally funded facility as part of NIAID, the nation's top infectious disease research agency, which Fauci led for nearly 40 years. According to the study and Donbeck's email, the Montana researchers focused on a coronavirus called WIV1-CoV, not the covid-causing SARS-CoV-2. They're different viruses. "The genetics of the viruses are very different, and their behavior biologically is very different," said Troy Sutton, a virologist with Pennsylvania State University who has studied the evolution of pandemic influenza viruses. In a review of media reports on the Montana study, Health Feedback, a network of scientists that fact-checks health and medical media coverage, showed the virus's lineage indicated that WIV1 "is not a direct ancestor or even a close relative of SARS-CoV-2." Additionally, the description of the coronavirus strain as being "shipped" suggests that it physically traveled across the world. That's not what happened. The Wuhan Institute of Virology provided the WIV1 virus's sequence that allowed researchers to make a lab-grown copy. A separate study, published in 2013 by the journal Nature, outlines the origins of the lab-created virus. According to the study's methodology, the researchers used a clone of WIV1. An NIAID statement to Lee Enterprises, a media company, said the virus "was generated using common laboratory techniques, based on genetic information that was publicly shared by Chinese scientists." Stanley Perlman, a University of Iowa professor who studies coronaviruses and serves on the federal advisory committee that reviews vaccines, said Rosendale's claim is off-base. He said Rosendale's focus on where the lab got its materials is irrelevant and serves "only to make people wary and scared." Rosendale's efforts to prohibit particular research at Rocky Mountain Laboratories appear ill-informed, too. Rosendale targeted banning gain-of-function research, which involves altering a pathogen to study its spread. In her email, NIAID's Donbeck said the Rocky Mountain Laboratories study didn't involve gain-of-function research. This type of research has long been controversial, and people who study viruses have said the definition of "gain of function" is problematic and insufficient to show when research, or even work to create vaccines, could cross into that type of research. But both Sutton and Perlman said that, any way you look at it, the Rocky Mountain Laboratories study published in 2018 didn't change the virus. It put a virus in bats and showed it didn't grow. And it had no effect on the covid outbreak a year later, first detected in Washington state. Our ruling Rosendale's ad said, "It's been revealed that Fauci brought COVID to the Montana one year before COVID broke out in the U.S!" The campaign ad and Rosendale's similar statements refer to research at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories involving WIV1, a coronavirus that researchers say is not even distantly close in genetic structure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused covid-19. Rosendale's claim is wrong about when the scientists began their work, what they were studying, and where they got the materials. The researchers began their work in 2016 and, although they were studying a coronavirus, it wasn't the virus that causes covid. The Montana scientists used a lab-grown clone of WIV1 for their research. The first laboratory-confirmed case of covid was not detected in the U.S. until Jan. 20, 2020. Rosendale's ad is inaccurate and ridiculous. We rate it Pants on Fire! Sources: Viruses, "SARS-Like Coronavirus WIV1-CoV Does Not Replicate in Egyptian Fruit Bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus)," Dec. 19, 2018 White Coat Waste Project, "Horror Show: Shady Zoo Sent Bats to NIH to Be Infected With a Wuhan Lab Coronavirus," Oct. 30, 2023 MattForMontana X post, Nov. 1, 2023 Campaign ad, accessed Dec. 14, 2023 Rep. Matt Rosendale, House floor speech, Nov. 14, 2023 One America News Network, interview, accessed Dec. 14, 2023 Rosendale congressional office, "Rep. Rosendale Reacts to Reports That Wuhan Lab Shipped Coronavirus to Fauci-Run Lab in Hamilton Prior to Pandemic," Oct. 31, 2023 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, "History of Rocky Mountain Labs (RML)," accessed Dec. 14, 2023 Email exchange with NIAID, beginning Dec. 14, 2023 Statement from NIAID provided to Lee Enterprises, accessed Jan. 2, 2024 Nature, "Isolation and Characterization of a Bat SARS-Like Coronavirus That Uses the ACE2 Receptor," Oct. 30, 2013 Ravalli Republic, "Rosendale Moves to Strip Rocky Mountain Lab Research Funding," Nov. 17, 2023 Interview, Troy Sutton, assistant professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences at Pennsylvania State University, Jan. 5, 2024 Interview, Stanley Perlman, professor of microbiology and immunology and professor of pediatrics at the University of Iowa, Jan. 13, 2024 FDA, "Roster of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee," accessed Jan. 16, 2024 Health Feedback, "2018 Coronavirus Research in NIAID Montana Lab Is Unrelated to the COVID-19 Pandemic, Contrary to Claim by Fox News's Jesse Watters," last accessed Jan. 17, 2024 Email exchange with OpenSecrets, an independent research group tracking money in politics, beginning Jan. 30, 2024 CDC Museum COVID-19 Timeline, accessed Feb. 2, 2024 The specific fund within the European Peace Facility (EPF) to satisfy Ukraine's military needs will be endorsed in upcoming time, Spokesperson for the EU Foreign Diplomatic Service Peter Stano has said. "The European Union will continue supporting Ukraine not only for as long as it is needed, but also with whatever is needed. There is determination [for this]. And the [EUR] 50 billion fund for Ukraine was already agreed by member states and the specific Ukraine assistance fund within the EPF is also something that got endorsement from the European Council. And it now really remains to be worked out in details among the member states in the upcoming time which will hopefully not be a long time," he said at a midday briefing in Brussels on Monday. Stano also noted the EU is "very much aware about the needs on the Ukrainian side when it comes to anything concerning military supplies to help Ukraine defend itself against the brutal ongoing Russian aggression." "This was discussed several times last week. So, there were at least three occasions and three of them were discussed during the informal meeting of the defense ministers during the European Council by the European leaders, and then also on Saturday during the informal meeting of the foreign ministers. And I think the the conclusions from the European Council on Thursday are very clear when it comes to Europe's determination to continue helping Ukraine," he said. As reported, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell came up with an initiative to create a EUR 5 billion fund for assistance to Ukraine within the framework of the EPF. In a recent study published in JAMA Network Open, a group of researchers evaluated the efficacy of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga (SKY) in reducing psychological distress and enhancing wellness among physicians at risk of burnout. Study: Sudarshan Kriya Yoga Breathing and a Meditation Program for Burnout Among Physicians. Image Credit: ZephyrMedia/Shutterstock.com Background The prevalence of burnout and stress among physicians, exacerbated by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, presents serious challenges, impacting healthcare professionals, patient care, and the health system. This situation underscores the need for effective interventions to alleviate psychological symptoms, enhance sleep quality, and prevent burnout. While organizational measures are crucial, individual strategies that complement these are also essential. Among these, SKY, a comprehensive wellness program encompassing yoga, unique rhythmic breathing, meditation, and stress management techniques, has shown promise. This program, effective even when conducted online, has been beneficial in various groups, including war veterans, prisoners, and university students, demonstrating improvements in stress, anxiety, depression, and overall wellness. Further research is needed to explore these interventions' long-term effects and scalability across diverse healthcare settings and populations. About the study The present online randomized clinical trial, conducted from November 2021 to March 2022, compared the effects of SKY and stress management education (SME) on physicians from Turkey, Germany, and Dubai. Endorsed by the Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center, it involved physicians aged 25 to 65, excluding those with major illnesses or regular mind-body practice. The study initially attracted 280 physicians, reducing to 129 participants after screening and randomization to either SKY or SME groups. The SKY group participated in 1.5-hour online sessions for three days, practicing gentle stretches, breathing exercises, meditation, and cognitive coping skills, followed by daily 30-minute practices and weekly sessions for eight weeks. The SME group received similar training focused on psychological distress reduction. The study assessed stress, insomnia, anxiety, optimism, depression, professional fulfillment, and self-reported errors using Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-42), Life Orientation TestRevised (LOT-R), Regensburg Insomnia Scale (RIS), Professional Fulfillment Index (PFI), mixed linear regression and statistical tests. Despite limited sex-based analysis due to low male participation, sensitivity adjustments for sex were made. The study, adhering to statistical significance at P < .05, was conducted using Stata SE version 17.0. Study results In the present study involving 129 participants, predominantly female Turkish physicians from various specialties, the SKY group demonstrated significant improvements compared to the SME control group. The participants were well-distributed across age groups, with most from Turkey's major cities. The DASS-42 results indicated that the SKY group experienced a notable reduction in stress and depression after the training and at the 8-week post-intervention point. Anxiety levels also significantly decreased in the SKY group at post-intervention. These findings, supported by moderate to large effect sizes, underline the positive impact of SKY on mental health parameters. However, no significant differences were noted between high and low adherence groups within the SKY participants in additional analyses. Regarding optimism, as measured by the LOT-R, no significant differences were observed between the SKY and control groups at any point. Interestingly, higher adherence to SKY practice showed a significant positive effect on optimism at post-intervention. In terms of insomnia, measured by the RIS, there was a noteworthy decrease in symptoms in the SKY group from baseline to post-intervention, suggesting the intervention's effectiveness in improving sleep quality. However, the effect sizes were very small, and no differences were found between different adherence levels in the SKY group. PFI outcomes revealed significant improvements in professional fulfillment, interpersonal disengagement, work exhaustion, and overall burnout in the SKY group. These positive changes were consistent from the baseline to the post-test and follow-up periods. In contrast, the control group reported higher work exhaustion, interpersonal disengagement, and burnout, with lower professional fulfillment, particularly at follow-up. The effect sizes ranged from small to moderate. For self-reported medical errors, no intervention effect was observed. However, subgroup analysis indicated that higher adherence to SKY practice resulted in fewer reported medical errors than the control group. Burnout scores, typically presented in dichotomous categories, showed that the SKY group's scores fell below the burnout threshold at follow-up, in contrast to the control group, which remained above this threshold throughout the study. Similarly, for professional fulfillment, both groups scored below the desired cutoff across all time points. Sensitivity analyses adjusting for sex did not alter these outcomes, underscoring the robustness of the findings across different demographic groups. These results highlight the potential of SKY as a beneficial practice for improving mental health and reducing burnout among physicians. In a hands-on demonstration of flexibility, the same pipette dispenses from 20 microliters up to 20 milliliters. Festo offers SLAS 2024 attendees the opportunity to interact with the latest life-science automation innovations, including the companys new wide-range flexible pipetting solution. (The Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening [SLAS] Festo Booth #1319, February 3-7, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center) Visitors to the Festo booth will also find solutions for automated dispensing, dosing, sample handling, and decapping/gripping. Each of the four demonstrations at the booth combines Festo components into dynamic systems. These systems highlight scalable and flexible solutions designed for OEMs and integrators automating life-science research and screening processes. New flexible pipetting solution In a demonstration of the new flexible pipetting solution, the pipetting system scales seamlessly from 20 l up to 20 ml for bulk transfer. Attendees interact with the demo by changing pipetting volumes via a text-based HMI; in practice the system can be controlled by any automated system using standard Ethernet protocols. Featured components include the Festo DHOE open loop pipette head and the ultra-compact PGVA pipetting and dispensing controller. The DHOE pipette head can transport extremely small volumes down to 1 l with an outstanding precision. Thanks to its chemical resistance, the DHOE accommodates a wide range of liquids of varying viscosities. The solution shows how a single versatile system can serve many functions a plus for laboratory and screening device manufacturers that look to deliver greater flexibility to their customers. The PGVA pipetting and dispensing controller is a compact solution for environments without a central compressed air supply. A single PGVA can supply air pressure to multiple pipette or dispensing heads. The PGVA allows the pressure supply (positive or vacuum) to be centralized within the machine. It operates silently with precision thanks to its industry leading piezoelectric-based valves. The point of Festos 2024 active demonstrations and the overall Festo exhibit at SLAS is to not only simulate solutions vital to laboratory research and screening, but also present the breadth of Festo life-science components and application expertise. We work with OEMs and integrators to bring proven commercial technologies to labs around the globe said Sam Stoney, LifeTech Industry Segment Manager. LifeTech is the fastest growing segment within Festo. We believe the reason for exceptional growth is that our product portfolio in high-speed sample and media handling is second to none, as is our Boston-based application engineering team. Festo supports its products globally and reduces risk through its robust and reliable supply chain. Gantry robot with 3-axes of motion and 8 Z-axes Another must see at the Festo booth is a gantry robot demonstration featuring three axes of motion (X, Y, and Z) and eight independently controlled Z-axes. Multiple Z-axis increases the flexibility of the sample and media handling systems by fitting more workflow into less space. Featured components include the latest iteration of the Festo EXCL life-science optimized gantry robot, which customers receive as a kit that is easily assembled in hours. EXCL kits come complete with all key components, from power connector to energy chain, motors, and motion control. Festo assigns gantries unique part numbers for simplified reordering. The company developed an online configuration tool that makes specification fast and optimized to the needs of the application. Other featured Festo components in this demo include the CMXL motion controller, PGVA pipetting and dispensing controller, DHOE pipettor, and DHAP pipette tips. Automated aspiration for dosing microwell plates In a liquid dosing demo, the system aspirates liquid droplets from two bulk wells and dispenses them into microwell plates. The system adjusts volume to create a gradient, showing the flexibility of this automated aspiration system. Following filling, the liquids are aspirated away in a bulk transfer, and the pipette tip is automatically replaced. Key Festo life-science components include the EXCM-30 bench-top gantry robot, ELGC linear actuator, CMXL motion controller, PGVA pipetting and dispensing controller, DHOP smart pipettor, DHAP pipette tips, VAEM valve controller, and VTOI dispense/aspirate head. Liquid dispensing via state-of-the-art media separated valve The fourth demonstration involves liquid dispensing. In this demo, small volumes of liquid are dispensed with the VYKA media separated valve. Using hit-and-hold current reduction circuits in a VAEM valve controller, valve opening time is quickly and precisely controlled, which reduces heat transfer to the media. Other featured Festo components include the VTOF dispensing head for the VYKA valve, VYKB media separated valve, VAVN dispense needles, and PGVA pipetting and dispensing controller. A new research facility at the University of Surrey could soon help society better understand various diseases or even help scientists trace nanoplastics through the bodies and cells of humans and animals. Thanks to a 500,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation, Surrey will soon open the doors to its Centre of Excellence for Bioanalytical Science. Leading researchers will use a unique blend of high-end equipment - including ion beams. The Centre will develop new ways of measuring biomarkers that are unavailable anywhere else in the world. Our new Centre will drive forward the next generation of technologies and biomarker measurements that are smarter, faster and environmentally friendly. Our novel approach to measurement will enable new research aimed at combatting anti-microbial resistance, exploring the impact of nanoplastics on human and animal health, non-invasive patient sampling and rapid clinical diagnostics for humans and animals." Professor Melanie Bailey, Centre Director, University of Surrey Biomarkers are chemical signatures widely used in biology and medicine to monitor health and wellness, diagnose diseases earlier, and understand and treat diseases. As well as enabling new research in science and medicine, the Centre will provide a specialist measurement service, train the next generation of scientists and offer an innovation hub for academic, industry, government, and NHS partners. Professor Paul Townsend, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Surrey, said: "Through our Centre, academics and industry will work together like never before. Our research will make a real impact by harnessing the power of AI-driven multi-omics and multi-modal imaging. "We will transform how we treat and diagnose disease. We could develop non-invasive tests to check if someone has taken their medicine, or even help in forensics - we are asking big questions and are aiming to find big answers." The Centre will make use of the Surrey Ion Beam Centre, an Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council national research facility. The Ion Beam Centre already supports 100 million in funding from 23 universities and industries. It will develop new methodologies not available anywhere else internationally, including multi-modal ion beam analysis - which uses high and low energy beams to precisely locate individual molecules within a cell. The Centre will work closely with Surrey's SEISMIC facility to use advanced technology to analyse individual cells and parts of cells. Research will incorporate artificial intelligence to maximise understanding and use of findings. The Centre will be led by Professors Anthony Whetton, Melanie Bailey and Paul Townsend. It may be possible to restore drug-resistant neuroendocrine prostate cancer to a state that responds to treatment by depletion of a certain protein in cancer cells. A recent study by the University of Eastern Finland found that this protein, DPYSL5, is expressed in neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, and the second most common cause of cancer death in Western countries. The growth of prostate cancer often depends on androgens, and the effect of androgens is sought to be reduced by drug therapy, especially in metastatic prostate cancer. However, cancer cells can become resistant to drugs, resulting in castration-resistant prostate cancer. Second-generation antiandrogens, which are drugs that inhibit the activity of the androgen receptor, have been developed as a treatment alternative for castration-resistant prostate cancer. Unfortunately, recent studies have shown that about one in four castration-resistant prostate cancers develop into what is known as treatment-induced neuroendocrine cancer, which is aggressive and typically leads to death within a year of the diagnosis. Neuroendocrine prostate cancer cells usually do not have androgen receptors, and currently no treatment is available for this group of patients. A protein affecting neuroplasticity promotes the development of neuroendocrine prostate cancer At the University of Eastern Finland, the Ketola Lab led by Academy Research Fellow Kirsi Ketola explores the differentiation, plasticity and development of drug resistance in cancer cells. In the new study researchers at the Ketola Lab discovered a potential new target for drug development in neuroendocrine prostate cancer. The protein, DPYSL5, is expressed especially in this cancer type and could therefore be a suitable target for drug therapy. The Ketola Lab collaborated with the University of British Columbia in Canada, utilising the university's extensive collection of neuroendocrine prostate cancer patient tumor samples to verify the expression of the DPYSL5 protein in these samples. Normally, the DPYSL5 protein regulates the development of neurons in the brain and is not expressed in other parts of the body. However, the researchers now found that antiandrogen treatment caused the DPYSL5 protein to be expressed in prostate cancer cells. As a result, these cells acquired stem cell-like and neuron-like properties observed in neuroendocrine prostate cancer cells. DPYSL5 promoted cell transformation by activating the PRC2 complex, which caused cancer cells to go into a stem cell-like state. DPYSL5 also caused cancer cells to form extensions similar to those found in neurons, which helped them to invade the surrounding tissue. However, depletion of DPYSL5 inactivated the PRC2 complex, prevented the formation of neuron-like extensions, and restored cells to a state where antiandrogen treatment was once again effective preventing cell division. The findings can be used for the development of new cancer drugs. Next, we will be using novel imaging methods available at our Cell and Tissue Imaging Unit to screen drugs that inhibit the function of DPYSL5." Kirsi Ketola, Academy Research Fellow Published in Nature Communications Biology, the study was funded by the Research Council of Finland, the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation North Savo Regional Fund, and the Cancer Foundation of Finland. Forty-three million Americans lack access to municipal water, and 1 in 10 people globally do not have access to safe drinking water. Rice University's new WaTER Institute, launched today, aims to address this and other complex water-related challenges. "Clean water can save more lives than doctors," said Pedro J. Alvarez , the institute's director and the George R. Brown Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The institute's researchers will also predict and prevent diseases by monitoring wastewater; decrease the amount of energy used to move and treat water in large municipal water systems; predict water-related natural disasters; extract high-value metals with high energy efficiency and low water consumption, and more. The institute will lead cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research and technological innovation focusing on three key areas: public health, energy transitions and resilient infrastructure. Its full name is the Institute for Clean Water Technologies, Entrepreneurship and Research. "Rice has strategically increased its investment in research that will positively impact the community, region, nation and world," said President Reginald DesRoches, "As university president and a civil engineer, I am confident that Rice scientists will make discoveries that transform lives and communities through innovation." Researchers will tackle seven major challenges related to water: Safe water quality for a growing population Distribution between humans and their environment Water disaster protection Water infrastructure (distribution and collection) Enough food for all Water to produce energy Solutions for water conflicts and a fair share for all I'm excited to see how the WaTER Institute, drawing from the expertise of institutes and disciplines across campus, develops transformative solutions that economically produce clean water while minimizing energy and chemical requirements. This institute brings together fundamental science, technological innovations and policy. It also promotes a culture of entrepreneurship around water." Ramamoorthy Ramesh , executive vice president for research "The WaTER Institute builds on longstanding partnerships and existing strengths that Rice has in wastewater monitoring, water treatment, nanomaterials development and environmental research," said Rafael Verduzco , professor and associate chair of chemical and biomolecular engineering and professor of materials science and nanoengineering. For example, the Houston Health Department, partnering with Rice and Houston Public Works, is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Wastewater Surveillance System Center of Excellence. The wastewater monitoring effort, led by Lauren Stadler, Rice assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering; Loren Hopkins, chief environmental science officer for the Houston Health Department and a professor in the practice of statistics at Rice and Katherine Ensor, the Noah G. Harding Professor of Statistics, helps predict and prevent pandemics by detecting diseases in sewage. The center, dubbed Houston Wastewater Epidemiology, will provide training on wastewater epidemiology to other state and local health departments as well as research on developing statistical tools and metrics to enhance surveillance interpretation. Qilin Li , one of the institute leaders, has been leading a collaboration with the city to develop decision-making tools to optimize water supply systems, including wastewater reuse for potable water supply to alleviate shortages. Rice scientists also plan to develop virtual testing to improve resilience, minimize energy requirements and prevent degrading water quality associated with water distribution through large, centralized systems. "The Rice WaTER Institute will provide a much-needed platform for researchers, practitioners, entrepreneurs and policymakers to work together toward a long-term vision for water management that is supported by sound technological solutions," said Li, professor of civil and environmental engineering and co-director of the Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment with Alvarez. The researchers will also protect public health through the technologies they are developing to remove contaminants such as endocrine disruptors and PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) or "forever chemicals" that are breaking through traditional water treatment systems. "Like other toxic things in our water and environment, PFAS is not going away by itself," said Mike Wong, a Rice researcher and one of the institute's leaders. "We need better understanding and better solutions, but we also need better plans on how to get the technology off campus and into the homes, communities and businesses that need help the most. I am excited about all the ways the WaTER Institute can speed up our collective work to create low-cost, no-fuss methods to destroy PFAS." Wong is the Tina and Sunit Patel Professor in Molecular Nanotechnology, chair and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and professor of chemistry, materials science and nanotechnology, and civil and environmental engineering. The institute will promote entrepreneurship, specifically startups, for water technologies, Alvarez said. Researchers will collaborate with the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and The Ion. The WaTER Institute's work will cut across the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities and engineering and connect with Rice's other research institutes . "Our collaborative structures and culture are a major competitive advantage," Alvarez said. This marks the fifth institute Rice has launched over the past year and the eighth to receive additional funding from the university. The other new institutes include the Rice Advanced Materials Institute, Rice Synthetic Biology Institute, Medical Humanities Research Institute and the Rice Sustainability Institute. Who hasn't seen it before: the view through the microscope in which a sperm penetrates an egg cell and fertilizes it. This fundamental step in procreation happens dynamically and seemingly without problems. However, if you zoom in on the processes that take place during fertilization at a molecular level, it becomes highly complex and it is thus not surprising that 15 percent of couples worldwide struggle to conceive. No microscope, however modern, can illuminate the countless interactions between the proteins involved. Therefore, the exact trigger for the fertilization process and the molecular events that transpire just before the fusion of the sperm and egg have remained murky -; until now. With the help of simulations on "Piz Daint", the supercomputer of the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS), a research team led by ETH Zurich Professor, Viola Vogel has now made the dynamics of these crucial processes in the fertilization of a human egg cell visible for the first time. According to their study, which was recently published in the journal Scientific Reports, the researchers' simulations have succeeded in revealing important secrets. Special protein complex enables the fusion process It was previously known that the first specific physical connection between the two germ cells is an interaction of two proteins: the JUNO, which is located on the outer membrane of the female egg cell, and the IZUMO1 on the surface of the male sperm cell. "It was assumed that the combination of the two proteins into a complex initiates the recognition and adhesion process between the germ cells, thereby enabling their fusion," says Paulina Pacak, a postdoctoral researcher in Vogel's group and first author of the study. However, based on the crystal structure scientists had not yet been able to clearly describe the mechanism. The ETH research team finally succeeded in doing this in their latest simulations. In order to create a realistic environment in the in-silico experiment, the researchers needed to simulate JUNO and IZUMO1 in an aqueous solution. In water, however, the protein moves, and the interactions with the water molecules change both the way the proteins bind to each other and, in some cases, the function of the proteins themselves. This makes the simulations much more complex, also because water alone already has a highly complex structure, but the simulations provide a more detailed picture of the dynamic of the interactions." Viola Vogel, ETH Zurich Professor The simulations on "Piz Daint" spanned 200 nanoseconds each and showed that the JUNO-IZUMO1 complex is stabilized by a network of over 30 short-lived contacts -; the individual bonds lasted less than 50 nanoseconds each. According to the researchers, a deeper understanding of these network dynamics of the rapidly changing formation and breaking of individual bonds presents new possibilities for the development of contraceptives, as well as for better understanding mutations that affect fertility. Zinc ions regulate bond strength With these network dynamics brought to light, the researchers then investigated how these vital protein binding could be destabilised. Zinc ions (Zn2+) play an important role here: If they are present, IZUMO1 bends into a boomerang-like structure as shown by the simulations and, as a result, IZUMO1 can no longer firmly bind to the JUNO protein. According to the researchers, this could be one reason why the egg cell releases many zinc ions immediately after fertilisation in a so-called "zinc spark". This flood of zinc is known to prevent further sperm from penetrating the egg cell which would otherwise cause aberrant development. "We can only find out something like this with the help of simulations. The findings that we derive from them would hardly be possible on the basis of the static crystal structures of the proteins," emphasizes Vogel. "The highly dynamic process of fertilization takes place far away from the equilibrium. As available protein structures show them embedded in the crystal, resources such as those at CSCS are essential to capture and understand these interaction dynamics." Folic acid binding by IZUMO1 Thanks to the simulations, the researchers were able to unravel another mystery too: how naturally occurring folates and their synthetic equivalents, folic acids, bind to the JUNO protein. Expectant mothers are generally recommended to take folic acid supplements before a planned pregnancy and during the first three months to support healthy neural development in the fetus. However, laboratory experiments have shown that the JUNO protein does not bind with folate in aqueous solution, even though JUNO itself is a folate receptor. The molecular dynamics simulations have now shown that Folate binding is possible once IZUMO1 binds to JUNO. Only then can the folate enter the presumed folate-binding pocket of JUNO. These new discoveries are not only of fundamental interest for structural biology. They also provide a detailed basis for the development of active pharmaceutical ingredients. According to the researchers, the decoded dynamic mechanisms of the interaction between the JUNO and IZUMO1 proteins could point to new ways of treating infertility, developing drug-based non-hormonal contraceptive methods, and improving in vitro fertilization technology. The South Korean automotive giant, Hyundai, is said to be considering an initial public offering (IPO) later this year to raise a minimum of USD 3 billion (approximately Rs 25,000 crore). Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) is likely to dilute 15-20 per cent stake to raise funds in the range of USD 3.3-5.6 billion, news agency PTI reported citing sources. Also Read: SME IPO: Alpex Solar Issue To Open On This Date, Sets Price Band, Check Details Here If the company, which is the second largest carmaker in India after Maruti Suzuki India, goes ahead with the IPO, it will be the largest in India, beating LIC share sale worth Rs 21,000 crore. When contacted over the issue, the company declined to comment. HMIL commenced operations in India in 1996 and currently sells 13 models across segments. It has a network of 1,366 sales points and 1,549 service points across the country. UP Assembly Budget Session 2024: Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna on Monday presented the budget for the financial year 2024-25 in the state assembly with an outlay of Rs 7.36 lakh crore, higher than the current fiscals budget of Rs 6.90 lakh crore. UP Budget 2024- 25 Updates: The total outlay of Rs 7,36,437.71 crore for the next fiscal includes new schemes worth Rs 24,863.57 crore, the state finance minister said while presenting the budget. The states budget for 2023-24 was Rs 6.90 lakh crore that included new schemes worth Rs 32,721 crore. For the next fiscal, the state governments budget has estimated the total receipts at Rs 7,21,233.82 crore, which includes a revenue receipts estimated at Rs 6,06,802.40 crore and capital receipts at Rs 1,14,531.42 crore. The share of tax collection in revenue receipts is estimated at Rs 4,88,902.84 crore, which includes states own tax revenue of Rs 2,70,086 crore and its share in central tax pool at Rs 2,18,816.84 crore. The total expenditure is estimated at Rs 7,36,437.71 crore. Out of the total expenditure, Rs 5,32,655.33 crore has been allocated for the revenue account and Rs 2,03,782.38 crore for capital account. After deducting the total expenditure from the receipts of the consolidated fund, a deficit of Rs 15,103.89 crore is estimated in the budget.x Yogi Government Budget 2024 The Uttar Pradesh governments annual budget for the next financial year has set a target of 5.1 per cent growth rate for the agriculture sector in the state. A provision of Rs 460 crore has been made for three new agriculture-related schemes in the budget. Khanna said that the target is to achieve the growth rate of 5.1 per cent for the agriculture sector. He announced three schemes to push the agriculture sector. One of the scheme, State Agricultural Development Scheme, will have a provision of Rs 200 crore. Another Rs 200 crore has been allocated for the World Bank-assisted UP Agris Scheme. The third scheme for the installation of automatic weather station-automatic rain gauge in blocks and panchayats has been allocated Rs 60 crore, the state finance minister said. He further said that the Chief Minister Khet Suraksha yojna (Farm Security Scheme) is also being started with a provision of Rs 50 crore. Yogi Adityanath Big Announcements UP Budget 2024: Besides, an outlay of Rs 2,400 crore has been proposed for providing electricity at concessional rates to private tube wells of farmers. The amount is 25 per cent more than the budget for the same provided in the current financial year. Khanna said that Rs 449.45 crore has been proposed for the implementation of PM Kusum Yojana, which is more than double than the allocation for the ongoing fiscal. Destitute Women Pension Scheme Khanna said that under the Destitute Women Pension Scheme, the amount payable to the eligible beneficiaries has been increased from Rs 500 per month to Rs 1,000 per month. As many as 31,28,000 destitute women have benefited under the scheme till the third quarter of 2023-2024. Under the Women Farmer Empowerment Project, the target is to provide technical support by forming 200 producer groups in the financial year 2024-2025, the minister said. Aero City in Lucknow Khanna also announced that the state government is planning Aero City in Lucknow on the lines of Delhi, which will be developed in about 1500 acres. It will have facilities like a 7-star hotel, park, world-class convention centres and others. Speaking on the unemployment rate in the state, the finance minister said that UP government has so far been successful in bringing about 6 crore people out of poverty. Today the unemployment rate in the state is only 2 percent, he said. He also added that semiconductor policy has been approved by the state government. This policy will pave the way for the establishment and development of semi-conductor units in the state, which will bring large-scale investment in the state from within the country and abroad. Uttar Pradesh has become the fourth state in the country to bring such a policy. Moreover, speaking on the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22, the state finance minister highlighted tourism boost in the state. He said, Our social and cultural sector has got a lot of encouragement due to the construction of the grand temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. Ayodhya has become a big tourist centre of the world. There has been a huge increase in the number of tourists coming here from India and the world which has greatly improved our economic condition He also added that an MoU for investment of Rs 4,000 crore has been signed by the state government with Hero Future Energies, under which the organization will invest in renewable energy and clean technology projects in the state. Khanna had earlier told reporters the budget will be Sarv Samaveshi (all-inclusive) and Sarv Sparshi (taking care of all) to ensure all-round development. The Yogijis (Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath) budget will take UP forward to achieve its target of becoming a 1-trillion dollar economy, he had said. Yash Shekhar, an engineering graduate from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, has taken an unconventional path by transitioning from a lucrative job to becoming a spiritual healer and motivational speaker. Despite earning a computer science degree with first-division distinction marks, Yash chose to follow his spiritual calling, demonstrating that one can find both fulfilment and financial success in the field of spirituality. His journey towards spirituality commenced during his engineering studies, where he became a certified Kriyavana from Yogoda Satsang Ashram (YSS). This marked the beginning of Yashs association with Himalayan masters, deepening his meditation skills and focusing on mastering Reiki, a complementary and alternative healing practice. Yashs early life was marked by financial hardship, as his father, a journalist at a newspaper, faced job instability during a strike in November 1989. The family endured financial challenges until December 1993. Raised in an impoverished slum, Yash learned the value of leading a simple life while navigating financial constraints, instilled by his parents. Despite its humble beginnings, Yash Shekhar has emerged as a prominent figure in the field of spiritual healing. Over the past decade, he has garnered recognition from hospitals, charitable organisations and individuals across various domains. Yashs expertise in spiritual healing has extended to training college students at NMIMS and LEAD, two prestigious management schools in India, as part of the Taleem o Tarbiat program. The initiative is overseen by social reformer and Maulana Azad National Urdu University Chancellor Zafar Sareshwala. Yash has also played a crucial role in educating doctors globally on meditation, yoga, mental health and patient care. Serving as the president of the Indian Fertility Society, he actively contributes to the field. In addition to his spiritual pursuits, Yash Shekhar continues to make a significant impact on education, healthcare and social reform, showcasing that a spiritual journey can be both personally enriching and professionally successful. The Odisha government on Sunday signed an MoU with New Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) for the establishment of a centre for Odia studies at the varsity. The proposed Biju Patnaik Special Centre for Odia Studies aims at delving into the leadership, governance and contribution of former chief minister of Odisha, Biju Patnaik, officials said. The MoU was signed here between Higher Education Secretary Arvind Agrawal and JNU vice-chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, on the sidelines of the three-day World Odia Language Conference, which will conclude on Monday. The Odisha government will provide a one-time assistance of Rs 10 crore for the educational facility. Besides Biju Patnaiks leadership and governance, the centre will study the Jagannath culture and manuscriptology of ancient Odia literature, the officials said. Pandit said the Biju Patnaik Special Centre for Odia Studies would create favourable conditions for promotion of Odia language, literature and culture. Zelenskyy visits Kropyvnytskyi, holds meeting on protection of critical infrastructure, assistance to IDPs in region President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Kropyvnytskyi on Monday, where he held a meeting on the protection of critical infrastructure facilities in Kirovohrad region and assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs). Kropyvnytskyi. I held a meeting on the situation in the region. This is one of the regions that actively contributes to the country's survival, both economically and militarily. The region is also restoring the potential of its enterprises, he said on his Telegram. During the meeting, Zelenskyy discussed with representatives of the regional authorities issues of assistance to internally displaced persons. Nearly 90,000 of whom remained in the region. It is important to preserve and create jobs, he said. During the visit, the head of state also discussed issues of protecting critical infrastructure facilities in the region and strengthening air defense. In particular, the President noted the importance of building up electronic warfare systems. The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) commenced the WB Madhyamik exams 2024 on February 2. While students appeared enthusiastic as they appeared for exams, a woman who hails from a village in the state displayed her resilience as she turned up in a hospital to write her Class 10 exams only a few hours after giving birth to a child. With a newborn baby in her lap, Parul Khatun, who is a Class 10 student at Kashimnagar High School in Shankarpur village in Suti in Murshidabad, wrote her English paper the next morning after delivering the baby at night. Parul is now making headlines for her courageous move as she boldly refused to take it easy, as advised by her family members and even doctors. Reportedly, Parul was admitted to Mahesail Rural Hospital in Suti after she complained of labour pain on Thursday night. The same night, she gave birth to a baby boy. Since the exams were scheduled to commence on Friday, Parul decided not to give up and write her exams in the presence of the examiner. Despite being physically weak, she chose to continue with her exam following which the arrangements were made in the hospital itself with the help of authorities and management. Deepa Biswas, a teacher at Aurangabad Girls High School, informed that the arrangements were made by the hospital authorities to examine in the right manner. Meanwhile, the father of the woman, Zaidul Sekh, in a media interaction, said, After the delivery of my daughter, I thought she might not be able to appear for exams this year. But my daughter is very strong-minded. She took an exam despite her physical weakness. All other tests will also be given. Uttarakhand will become the first state after Independence to adopt the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), after Goa, where it is operational since the time of Portuguese rule. The UCC will be applicable to all religious communities in India on matters of marriage, inheritance, divorce, adoption, maintenance and others. The 800-page final report submitted by the five-member committee to Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recommends exempting tribal communities from its purview, focusing on women empowerment, including banning polygamy and forming a uniform marriage age across religions. Moreover, practices such as Halala, Iddat and Triple Talaq under Muslim personal law will be punishable offences in the report submitted by the panel. The UCC is likely to regulate live-in relationships. Once the Uttarakhand Assembly approves the final draft in the session beginning today, the Bill would become a model for other states such as Gujarat and Assam to adopt. Impact of UCC on Personal Laws Hindu community: Existing laws like the Hindu Marriage Act (1955) and the Hindu Succession Act (1956) would be dissolved and incorporated into the UCC. This would lead to standardisation and uniformity in marriage, divorce, inheritance, and succession laws for Hindus. Succession law: Under the Hindu Succession Act (1956), the husbands family is considered the rightful heirs of the dead wife, and her parents and siblings are considered secondary. The Act also make a distinction between ancestral and acquired property. Under UCC, who is considered as legal heirs and how the property is acquired under the Act will change. Inheritance law: In Hindu laws, full-blood relations are preferred over half-blood ties under Section 18 of the Hindu Succession Act. It also enlists people who cannot inherit the property on different grounds. This will change with the implementation of UCC. Adoption: The UCC will bring uniformity, which means, communities, which were currently not allowed to legally adopt a child, may be given such an option. At present, the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act (1956) is meant only for Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists. Hindu Undivided Family: The HUF is a separate legal entity, which has a separate PAN card, and can run business and invest in shares and mutual funds. It is barred from tax exemption of up to Rs 2.5 lakh. Once the government abolishes tax, insurance and investment exemptions, it will impact several Hindu families over loans and bank accounts. Muslim community: If UCC is adopted, practices such as contract marriage (mutah), Nikah halala, misyar marriage, and polygamy would likely become ineffective. Even the minimum marriage age under the Shariat law would be changed. Adoption: At present, a Muslim cant adopt a child, but can become a Kafil and provide for the maintenance and well-being of the child even though he is not a biological parent. Polygamy: At present, a Muslim man has the right to marry four women at a time, but their women counterparts cannot do so. The UCC, however, will end polygamy, which means the Muslim man will lose his right to legally marry four different women. Divorce and Separation: The UCC will bring more accepted ways through which both Muslim men and women can end their marriage. It will ensure a balance between the rights of both men and women. Christian Marriage: At present, the Catholic law recognises a Christian marriage as permanent, indissoluble, while some may also recognising it as a contract. The UCC will bring uniformity in marriages. Divorce: The Catholic law does not recognise a divorce, however, Christians, can file for divorce under the Indian Divorce Act. The UCC will bring uniformity in rules and procedures for divorce. Succession: The Succession Act (1925) gives Christian mothers no right to inherit property of their dead children. This will change under UCC. Sikh community: The Anand Marriage Act of 1909 governs the marriage laws of Sikhs. However, there is no provision for divorce. If the UCC is introduced, a common law for divorce is likely to be applied to all communities, including Sikhs. Parsi community: The UCC would impact the laws of adoption within the Parsi community. Currently, Parsis do not recognise the rights of adoptive daughters, and adopted sons have limited inheritance rights. The UCC may introduce reforms to address these disparities. Inheritance: If a Parsi woman marries outside her community, her children do not hold the right to inherit the property of a deceased Parsi intestate. This rule would change under UCC. Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra on Monday said Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be visiting Karnataka on February 10, during which he is expected to participate in party and official events in Bengaluru and Mysuru. Speaking to reporters here, he said Shah is also likely to hold a meeting with the state BJP core committee members. Amit Shah ji is coming to Karnataka, to Bengaluru on February 10. We will be having a Lok Sabha cluster leaders meeting in Bengaluru. Four Lok Sabha segments will come under one cluster, Vijayendra said. There is information about him attending a government event too, we have not yet got any official information, but he is coming on February 10. In the evening around 5 PM, he will be in Sutturu (in Mysuru) to attend Sutturu Jathra (fair), he added. BJP and JD(S) have formed an alliance and decided to fight the Lok Sabha polls together. Seat-sharing talks are on between the two parties. Out of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, BJP had won 26 seats, including Sumalatha Ambareesh, an independent candidate supported by the party from Mandya, in the 2019 polls. The Congress and the JD(S) had secured one seat each. The Hindu side of the Gyanvapi mosque case on Monday filed a fresh plea in the court demanding ASI survey of the rest of the basements in the mosque premises. The petitioner, Rakhi Singh one of the plaintiffs in the Shringar Gauri worshipping suit filed the application in the lower court of Varanasi. The application said that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) should conduct the study after removing the blocked entrance and debris. In the petition, Singh has claimed some of the basements inside the mosque were not surveyed as their entrances were blocked. Hence, ASI be directed to survey the cellars without causing any damage to the structure, the petition said. SC TO HEAR PETITION SEEKING SURVEY OF WAZUKHANA The Supreme Court, on the other hand, is set to hear a petition demanding the scientific survey of the wazukhana and the surrounding sealed areas of the disputed Gyanvapi mosque complex on Monday. The wazukhana an ablution pond where worshippers wash themselves before praying at the mosque) sealed in 2022 after an order from the apex court. The Hindu side has claimed that the fountain-like structure in the wazukhana is a Shivling. The plea also demands another survey by the ASI in the ten cellars inside the mosque complex. Last week, the Allahabad High Court issued a notice to the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee which managed the Gyanvapi mosque on a plea challenging the Varanasi courts refusal to direct the ASI to conduct a survey of the wazukhana. The order was passed on a revised petition filed by Rakhi Singh, in which the primary contention was that the survey of the wazukhana, excluding its portion where a Shivling was claimed to be found, is necessary to ascertain the religious character of the property in question. However, rejecting Singhs application, the judge observed that in an order passed on May 17, 2022, the apex court had directed to protect the area where the Shivling is stated to have been found and therefore, it is not proper to direct the ASI to survey the area. HINDUS GET RIGHT TO WORSHIP IN MOSQUE BASEMENT Hindu side petitioners were granted permission to perform puja in the Vyas Tehkhana basement portion of the Gyanvapi mosque premises, the Varanasi Court said on January 31. The order was passed by judge AK Vishvesh, who directed the district magistrate to make arrangements for the puja within seven days, counsel Madan Mohan Yadav, adding the prayers will be facilitated by the Kashi Vishwanath Trust. There was no basis to stop the puja. The Temple Trust will now get the puja done here, we are very proud of thisThis is the first step, if this verdict is opposed, we are ready to answer, he said. According to the petition, priest Somnath Vyas and his family used to perform puja there till 1993 when the cellar was shut down by the authorities. Shailendra Kumar Pathak, maternal grandson of Somnath Vyas, had sought the right to worship the deities there. The Hindu side counsel said the puja of deities was stopped during the rule of chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. Meanwhile, the Muslim side argued that the cellar is part of the mosque complex, and hence permission to perform puja there should not be granted. The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee said that it will challenge the district courts order in the Allahabad High Court. A court here on Monday sent an Indian embassy staffer arrested for allegedly spying for Pakistans intelligence agency ISI to judicial custody till February 7. The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Uttar Pradesh Police on Sunday said it arrested Satendra Siwal, a resident of the states Hapur district, in Lucknow after questioning as he could not give satisfactory answers and confessed his crime. Siwal has been working as an IBSA (India-Based Security Assistant) in the Indian embassy in Moscow since 2021. An FIR was lodged at the ATS police station in Gomtinagar on February 3 against Siwal under section 121A (waging war against the country) of the IPC and sections 3,5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act. The accused was presented before the court of Additional Session Judge VS Tripathi, who sent him to judicial custody earlier in the day. The ATS filed a plea for Siwals police custody, and the judge ordered that the man be presented in court on Tuesday for the hearing on the same. The ATS has alleged that Siwal provided confidential information regarding the strategic activities of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian military establishments to the ISI for money. KERALA LOTTERY WIN WIN W-755 RESULT ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the results of the Win Win W-755 lucky draw for Monday, February 5. Check the Live Updates and district-wise full list of winning numbers below. ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Result Today LIVE: Akshaya AK-638 WINNERS for February 11, 2024; First Prize Rs 70 Lakh! FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR WIN-WIN W-755 LOTTERY Winning number for 1st prize worth RS 75 lakh is: WY 586971 (KOLLAM) Agent Name: ALIYAR KUNJU Agency No.: Q 6298 Winning number for 2nd prize worth Rs 5 lakh is WR 851291 (KAYAMKULAM) Agent Name: K SANTHUSH KUMAR Agency No.: A 2936 Winning numbers for 3rd prize worth Rs 1 lakh are WN 899574 (THIRUR) WO 347925 (VADAKARA) WP 170085 (THRISSUR) WR 203929 (KANNUR) WS 985587 (ADIMALY) WT 569202 (ERNAKULAM) WU 727544 (KOLLAM) WV 818840 (KASARAGOD) WW 531629 (THAMARASSERY) WX 238416 (PALAKKAD) WY 844887 (IRINJALAKUDA) WZ 789179 (THIRUVANANTHAPURAM) Winning numbers for Consolation prize worth Rs 8,000 are WN 586971 WO 586971 WP 586971 WR 586971 WS 586971 WT 586971 WU 586971 WV 586971 WW 586971 WX 586971 WZ 586971 Winning numbers for 4th prize worth Rs 5,000 are 0310 0371 1415 1886 3923 4487 4681 5505 5597 6244 6303 6365 6520 7080 8501 8516 8598 8950 Winning numbers for 5th prize worth RS 2,000 are 0789 4744 4802 5551 6465 7106 7157 8118 9002 9005 Winning numbers for 6th prize worth Rs 1,000 are 0123 0126 2166 2690 3208 4045 4846 6422 7624 7890 8020 8358 8541 8781 Winning numbers for 7th prize worth Rs 500 are 0088 0134 0302 0307 0378 0626 0730 0964 1109 1215 1381 1499 1591 1664 2002 2016 2119 2369 2393 2552 2575 2687 2741 2817 2884 3009 3057 3088 3142 3392 3523 4017 4041 4231 4286 4537 4684 4824 5115 5456 5567 5614 5669 5686 5781 5816 6100 6104 6182 6190 6237 6355 6762 6860 6998 7018 7230 7378 7497 7527 7581 7593 7666 7821 7943 7947 8166 8181 8311 8498 8646 8706 8857 8894 8987 9188 9190 9320 9383 9694 9785 9852 Winning numbers for 8th prize worth Rs 100 are 0063 0133 0202 0265 0269 0340 0343 0386 0414 0421 0440 0508 0604 0668 0720 0946 0982 1066 1072 1410 1583 1590 1804 1859 1920 1938 2009 2063 2180 2379 2455 2475 2529 2578 2599 2612 2639 2834 2934 3015 3045 3058 3074 3304 3337 3350 3720 3814 3827 3832 3878 3929 4108 4128 4207 4287 4328 4414 4544 4567 4582 4961 4982 5067 5126 5129 5136 5188 5347 5573 5574 5627 5680 5793 5822 5854 5909 6333 6409 6438 6474 6523 6544 6651 6862 6874 6896 6913 7024 7076 7360 7419 7421 7443 7521 7541 7550 7655 7684 7745 7790 7862 7976 8031 8124 8198 8232 8465 8480 8604 8665 8881 8993 9072 9151 9246 9311 9339 9426 9620 9690 9709 9917 9977 9990 9996 KERALA LOTTERY RESULT TODAY: WIN-WIN W-755 PRIZE STRUCTURE 1st Prize: Rs 75 lakh 2nd Prize: Rs 5 lakh 3rd Prize: Rs 1 lakh 4th Prize: Rs 5000 5th Prize: Rs 2000 6th Prize: Rs 1000 7th Prize: Rs 500 8th Prize: Rs 100 Consolation Prize: Rs 8,000 HOW TO CHECK KERALA WIN-WIN W-755 LOTTERY RESULTS? To verify the Win-Win W-755 lottery results, visit the official website of the Kerala Lottery Department at www.keralalottery.info. You also have the option to personally verify the results at the Kerala Government Gazette office. Stay informed through these options to discover if you are among the fortunate winners. HOW TO CLAIM PRIZE MONEY? Cross-reference your ticket number with the draw results featured in the Kerala Government Gazette to check if youve won a prize in the Win-Win W-755 lottery. If your ticket number corresponds to the announced results, you qualify for the prize. Winners have a 30-day timeframe from the results announcement date to claim their prize at the Kerala lottery headquarters situated in Gorky Bhavan. During the prize claim process, winners are required to present both the winning ticket and valid identification for verification purposes. The Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on the presiding officer in the Chandigarh mayoral polls saying it is evident that he defaced the ballot papers. The apex court was hearing an AAP councillors plea challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that refused to grant any interim relief to the party seeking fresh mayoral polls in Chandigarh. Is this the way he conducts the elections? This is a mockery of democracy. This is a murder of democracy. We are appalled. This man should be prosecuted. Is this the behaviour of the Returning Officer? CJI DY Chandrachud said. The top court has ordered the preservation of the entire record of the election process including ballot papers, videography and other material through the Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court further directed that the ensuing meeting of the Chandigarh Corporation shall be deferred till the next hearing in the matter. SG Mehta submits that the entire record is handed over the entire record to the deputy commissioner of UT Chandigarh. The deputy commissioner shall hand it over to the registrar general HC. The ensuing meeting of Chandigarh Municipal Corporation shall be deferred till the next date. Let the papers be handed over to the HC registrar general by today 5:00 pm, CJI added. Chandigarh Mayoral Polls The BJP swept the Chandigarh mayoral polls, retaining all three posts on January 30, after eight votes of the INDIA bloc were declared invalid. Following the BJPs sweeping victory, the Congress-AAP alliance had alleged tampering with ballot papers by the presiding officer and sought fresh polls under the supervision of a retired judge of the court. On Wednesday, a division bench of Justices Sudhir Singh and Harsh Bunger of the high court denied interim relief to the Aam Aadmi Party on its plea alleging tempering in the mayoral polls. The high court issued notices to the Chandigarh administration, the municipal corporation, presiding officer Anil Masih and newly-elected mayor Manoj Sonkar, among others, asking them to file their replies within three weeks. Following the high courts order, AAP councillor Kuldeep Kumar, a candidate for the mayors post, filed an appeal in the top court against the denial of interim relief and listing of the plea after three weeks. AAP Leaders React to Supreme Courts Ruling AAP Rajya Sabha MP, Sandip Pathak called the top courts ruling a good decision saying it is about fixing criminal culpability and liability. It is a good decision. Such a decision reaffirms faith in the judicial system. They had fraudulently declared 8 votes illegal. BJP was caught doing this on camera. It is not about getting elections done again. But this is about fixing criminal culpability and liability, the AAP leader said. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is now leading the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, for harming the country. Speaking at the inaugural event of News18 India Chaupal, the Minister of Earth Sciences criticised former Congress president for provoking people during his yatra. News 18 Chaupal is a special programme where the politicians and influential personalities from different fields share their perspectives on various issues of national importance. Minister Rijiju praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his effort to take the country forward while calling him a Rockstar. The Minister of Earth Sciences highlighted a shift in the perception towards India by the global leaders, crediting Prime Minister Modi for the transformation. Rijiju praised PM Modis leadership, labelling him a rockstar for driving the countrys growth towards becoming a developed nation by 2047. The way the world looks at India has changed today and this has happened because of PM Modi. We are the fastest growing economy today. India will become a developed country by the year 2047. PM Modi is taking the country forward. He is a rockstar, the Union Minister said. He also criticised Rahul Gandhi, stating that he is detrimental to the nation and lacks seriousness as a leader. Criticising the Opposition alliance, INDIA bloc, he said, If they do or say anything against the country then we will definitely respond. Kiren Rijiju accused Rahul Gandhi of travelling with the sole purpose of harming the country through provocative actions. He stated that speaking against the country abroad, spreading confusion, or making false claims about China and security are considered criminal. Questioning Rahul Gandhis commitment as a parliamentarian, Kiren Rijiju said, When the Budget session is going on he is touring the country. Kiren Rijiju also took a jibe at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The Union Minister criticised Kejriwal, stating he hadnt seen a more corrupt individual and questioned how anyone could tolerate him. Rijiju accused Kejriwal of spreading lies when facing the media. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, while speaking in the Lok Sabha, took a jibe at the Congress party saying they will be seated in the visitor gallery after the next election, and added that they failed as Opposition. The prime minister, while replying to the Motion of Thanks to President Droupadi Murmus address, said, I appreciate the Oppositions resolve to remain in the opposition for a long timeThe way you sat here (in govt) for many decades, the same way you resolve to sit there (in opposition)The public will certainly give you its blessings During reply on the Presidents address, PM Modi says, I appreciate the Oppositions resolve to remain in the opposition for a long timeThe way you sat here (in govt) for many decades, the same way you resolve to sit there (in opposition)The public will certainly give you pic.twitter.com/3yJJdHwnFE ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024 Heres what PM Modi said while replying to Presidents address in Lok Sabha- When the President came to this new Parliament building to address all of us and the pride and honour with which Sengol led the entire procession we were walking behind it. When we become a witness to the reflection of that holy moment of Indias independence in this new tradition in the new Parliament building, the honour of democracy rises, the prime minister said. PM Modi further targeted the Congress party saying it was responsible for the state of opposition right now. They (Congress) have failed miserably as opposition and have dragged down other opposition leaders with them. They are scared if other young leaders will speak, it will be harmful to that one young leader, he said. I have no problem with relatives in one party but parivaar should not be the party. Their attempt to launch the same failed product has forced their shop to the brink of closing, the prime minister said. #WATCH | PM Modi attacks Congress, Rahul Gandhi, says, Ek hi product baar-baar launch karne ke chakkar mein, Congress ki dukaan tala lagne ki naubat aa gayi hai pic.twitter.com/uGtG3kALQO ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024 The prime minister also added that the (Opposition) failed to fulfil their responsibility as opposition. I have always said that the country needs a good opposition. PM Modi further guaranteed that India will be the worlds 3rd biggest economy in his third term. We wont let this take 30 years. Itll be done in my third term, he said. India was the 11th largest economy in 2014. Today, India is the 5th largest economy and yet they (Congress) are silent. They had even lost the ability to dreamIt is Modis guarantee that in our third term, India will be the third-largest economic power, the prime minister stated. Comparing the pace of development, PM Modi noted that it would have taken Congress 100 years to build 4 crore houses. We built 4 crore houses for the poor. For the urban poor, we built 80 lakh pucca houses. Had these been built at the speed of Congressit would have taken 100 years to do this work. Five generations would have passed by then. Congress mindset is that it has never trusted the capability of the country. It considered itself rulers and the public as someone lesser, someone smaller he added. Blaming Congress for strengthening inflation, PM Modi said, Two songs on inflation were superhits in our country Mehngai Mar Gayi and Mehngai Dayain Khaye Jaat Hai. Both of these songs came during Congress governance. Inflation was in double digits during UPAs tenure, it cant be denied. What was their governments logic? Insensitivity. They said you can have expensive ice creams but why do you cry about inflation?Whenever Congress came to power, it strengthened inflation. Congress cant tolerate OBCs quipped PM Modi adding that the UPA government did not do justice to OBCs. Congress party and the UPA government did not do justice with OBCs. A few days ago, Karpoori Thakur ji was conferred with Bharat Ratna. In 1970, when he became Bihar CM, what not was done to destabilise his government? Congress cant tolerate OBCsThey keep counting how many OBCs are there in the government. Cant you (Congress) see the biggest OBC here? he asked. #WATCH | PM Narendra Modi says, Congress mindset is that it has never trusted the capability of the country. It considered itself rulers and the public as someone lesser, someone smallerHe reads out a statement of the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru, It means that Nehru ji pic.twitter.com/69D6kTgmLO ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024 Targeting the INDI alliance, the prime minister said, Alliance ka hi alignment bigad gaya. #WATCH | Alliance ka hi alignment bigad gaya, says PM Modi as he targets INDIA alliance. pic.twitter.com/x97pfmV1ex ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024 The prime minister also talked about growth in the Defence Sector saying the country has become more empowered in the area of security compared to the last 10 years. The country is experiencing security and peace. Compared to the last 10 years, the country has indeed become empowered in the area of security. Terrorism and naxalism are now restricted to a small circle. But Indias policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism is now compelling the entire world to walk towards this policyWe should be proud of the valour of Indias military, he said. People may try to break their morale as much as they want but I trust our militaryA few politicians would say something for the military and that would demoralise it those who think so should come out of those dreamsIf they become someones agent and such language comes out of anywhere, country can never accept it, he added. Speaking about the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi expressed confidence that the BJP will cross 370 seats and NDA will cross 400 seats in the 2024 elections. The third term of our government is not very far now. Only 100-125 days remain to goI dont go into numbers but I can see the mood of the country. It will make the NDA cross 400 and BJP will definitely get 370 seatsThe third term will be about taking very big decisions he said. (With ANI inputs) Congress ally in Kerala, the Indian Union Muslim Leagues state President Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal sparked a controversy with his recent remark on Ayodhya Ram Mandir. Addressing an event on January 24 at Manjeri near Malappuram, Thangal said, 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. A video of his speech went viral on Sunday, news agency PTI reported. 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. 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 maturely. Indian National League (INL) Kerala State Secretariat Member NK 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. The consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was a grand affair, celebrated by millions of Hindus not just in India, but worldwide. The temple has been built on a 2.67-acre site inside a 70-acre complex and only its first phase is ready. The second and final phase is expected to be completed by December 2025. The temple, which opened to the public on January 23 following the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, has attracted an estimated 18.75 lakh devotees from across the country. The first day alone had a staggering 5 lakh visitors, and the numbers have remained consistently high, with daily visits averaging more than 2 lakh. German opposition to the proposed overhaul of an EU military support fund risks delaying arms deliveries to Ukraine, The Financial Times (FT) reports, citing unnamed EU officials. German opposition to the proposed overhaul of an EU military support fund risks delaying arms deliveries to Ukraine, the ezine informs. The FT notes that the European Peace Facility (EPF), which provides assistance to Kyiv, needs additional funding so that it can partially reimburse the EU's spending on arms supplies to Kyiv. The volume of the EPF, which is not part of the EU budget, amounted to EUR 12 billion. The Facility is formed from contributions from the union states, which are calculated depending on the size of national economies. The size of the fund has now been reduced: EUR 5.6 billion went to the EU countries as part of the reimbursement of arms supplies to Ukraine. However, Germany and a number of other countries advocate abandoning such a compensation process. The proposal to invest EUR 5 billion in the EPF cannot yet be implemented, since the EU states are unable to reach a consensus on how to reform the Facility so that it better meets the needs of Ukraine and helps the European arms industry meet them. They [these countries] dont want to say yes to the money or no without being certain that the [terms] are in line with what is acceptable for them, said a senior EU official involved in discussions with leaders last week, referring to Germanys stance. The FT recalls that Berlin is demanding that the value of the weapons it supplies bilaterally to Kyiv should count against its share of the fund. However, smaller countries say that would drastically shrink the funds size. According to the sources, at the summit on February 1, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz insisted that agreement on the proposed EPF reform should include suggestions made by member states, according to people briefed on the discussions. Germanys solution, he added, would take into account the national contributions that are delivered . . . to Ukraine. The EPF reform as circulated ahead of the summit aims to achieve a more structured, efficient and pragmatic way of funding weapons for Ukraine, according to a document seen by the Financial Times. One official said the majority view was for the existing model to apply in 2024, at least, and for financing of joint production to scale up next year. Countries with large weapon industries, such as Germany and France, are pushing for a speedy change and will be the biggest beneficiary, said the EU official. At the same time, the countries that made large contributions to the fund claim that smaller countries, such as the Baltic States, received large compensations from the EPF for sending obsolete Soviet-made weapons to Ukraine and used this money to modernize their own arsenals. Josep Borrell, the EUs chief diplomat who oversees the EPF, last week said that he would urge leaders to reach an agreement as soon as possible, because there is no more time. He also said that, according to the latest information from EU member states, they have been able to supply 330,000 shells from their reserves to Ukraine since March 2023 - a third of the 1 billion promised for the year. At the same time, the EU is discussing the creation of a military assistance fund for Ukraine in the amount of EUR 5 billion. He should transform the European Peace Facility: now the emphasis will be placed not on using existing arsenals, but on acquiring new weapons through joint contracts. Southern states, especially Karnataka and Kerala, are gearing up to corner the union government over unfair treatment meted out to them during devolution of taxes and releasing grants. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah along with his party MLAs and MPs will be protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Wednesday to draw the attention of people of the country and the Union Government. So what is the tax devolution maths? The Congress-led Karnataka government argues that in the 14th Finance Commission the state got 4.71% of total taxes, while it has been reduced to 3.64% in the 15th Finance Commission. This reduction of 1.07% has resulted in a 45,000 crore loss to Karnatakas share over the last four years, it says. If this years estimates are taken into account, then this deficit will be Rs 62,098 crore for the five-year period. The 15th Finance Commission recommended special grants of Rs 5,495 crore to Karnataka in its interim report. Additionally, the final report also recommended Rs 6,000 crore for Bengalurus peripheral ring road and the rejuvenation of water bodies. The overall special grant recommended by the 15th Financial Commission totals to Rs 11,495 crore. The Karnataka government argues that the union finance ministry under Nirmala Sitharaman has refused to honour this recommendation. Thus, according to it, the state has suffered a loss of Rs 73,593 crore because of a reduction in the devolution of funds and special grants given by the 15th Finance Commission not being accepted by the union government. Devolution of taxes and grants given to Karnataka was 2.2% of the budget in Financial Year 2017-18 but it has reduced to 1.23% in 2023-24. The overall budget outlay has doubled but funds being given to us have not, it has gone down. This year an estimated 4.3 lakh crore is being collected from Karnataka but only 50,257 crore is being given in return, argued Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah Refusing to get drawn into a north India vs south India debate, the CM said that he had no issues with the northern states being given a little more. We are not against north Indian states. They can give a little more to poorer states. They can give more to them. But we cant be treated unfairly. Rs 1,87,000 crore is the loss to us from 14th Finance Commission to 15th Finance Commission, he said. The union finance minister refuted allegations that she had stopped any funds from being given to any state and called it a politically vitiated narrative. Till six months ago if it was hunky dory, whats going wrong now? Have you started spending on items on which you were not supposed to spend? Im not even questioning that, do spend it. But dont put the blame on me. Dont blame the Centre, said Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament. Responding to it, Siddaramaiah asked why the Rajya Sabha member from the state was not safeguarding Karnatakas interest. This has nothing to do with guarantees. When the interim report of the Finance Commission was submitted to the finance minister, there were no guarantees. Who rejected the special grant of Rs 11,000 crore recommended by the Finance Commission? She promised 5,300 crore for Upper Bhadra in her last budget. Where is it? asked Siddaramaiah. Karnataka plans to argue to include cess and surcharge in the devolution pool when the 16th Finance Commission takes up deliberations. Currently, it is not shared with the states. An estimated Rs 5.5 lakh crore is expected to be collected as cess and surcharge by the union government in the present financial year. With the National Wildlife Boards nod for the Thane-Borivali twin tunnel in Mumbai, there is a possibility that the Maharashtra government may carry out the groundbreaking ceremony for the project on February 19, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit the state, said sources. ALSO READ | Tunnels Under National Park To Cut Borivali-Thane Travel Time Get Wildlife Board Nod The tunnel will pass through the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which is home to 18 reserved wildlife species, and cut down the travel time between Thane and Borivali to 20 minutes, from the current one hour. The groundbreaking ceremony of this project was to happen on January 12, when PM Modi inaugurated the Atal Setu, but had to be deferred as the nod was awaited. WHAT NEXT? Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had announced the project in 2015, when he was handling the public works department. The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), which has successfully constructed the longest sea bridge in the country joining Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, has got the green nod from the National Wildlife Board. It will also require the final nod from the Central Environment and Forest Department, for which the state government has submitted a proposal to the Centre. PROJECT DETAILS The MMRDA will invest approximately Rs 16,000 crore in the project. The work has been awarded to Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering Infrastructure. According to the MMRDA, they will build 10.25-km-long tunnels, while the approach road will be 1.1km. MMRDA Commissioner Sanjay Deshmukh shared the news of receiving the much-awaited nod of the National Board of Wildlife for the twin tunnels project on X: Happy to inform you that the National Board of Wildlife has approved the Thane-Borivalli Twin Tunnel. This marks an important milestone in starting work of this watershed project. Two persons were held in Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh for allegedly murdering their 30-year-old kin and having sex with her corpse, a police official said on Monday. The incident took place in a forest near Parsagudi Haritma village under Rajpur station limits on January 30 and the two accused, including a minor, were held on Sunday, he said. The minor, who is 17 years old, is the younger brother of the womans husband, while the other accused is also related to the victim, he said. The woman and her husband had shifted to Akola in Surguja district, a few kilometres away from Parsagudi for work. On the day of the incident, the accused called her over phone to come to Haritma forest to irrigate their farmland, he said. Later in the night, the three consumed liquor after which the minor boy strangled her with a nylon rope. Passersby found her body the next morning. A probe zeroed in on the two accused who confessed to killing her and having sex with her corpse, the official said. Further probe into the crime is underway, the police official said. The Uttarakhand cabinet passed the Uniform Civil Code Bill on Sunday, paving the way for the state to be the first in India to have one. A special four-day session of the Assembly from Monday has been called by the Pushkar Singh Dhami government to table the legislation, setting off intense debate across the state about the impact of the civil code. 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 final draft of the UCC, running into 740 pages in four volumes, was submitted to Dhami recently by a five-member panel headed by retired judge of the Supreme Court Ranjana Prakash Desai. Mixed Reactions Outside IIT-Roorkee, News18 caught up with city residents from different walks of life. While some like teacher Tushar Arora called the Dhami government s move a political ploy ahead of Lok Sabha elections, students like Geetendra Saini argued that this was a much-needed push for womens rights. Sati pratha was also once legitimised in the name of god, but we realised how wrong it is to get a woman to burn on her husbands pyre. Similarly, all arguments being made to justify anti-women laws and rules in personal laws will also be acknowledged soon as laws that needed to go, Saini said. Political activist Pooja Nanda, a BJP supporter, agreed. As a woman, I welcome this. It is a great move for women across communities. Tushar Arora, who supports the Congress ideology, said: This is an attempt to divide Hindus and Muslims. Under the Directive Principles of State Policy, the government could have given equal rights to women without bringing in UCC. But ahead of Lok Sabha elections, this is a political plank to divide people. The proposed Uniform Civil Code in Uttarakhand could make personal laws dealing with polygamy, marriage, inheritance and adoption infructuous. Muslim women could get adoption rights. Polygamy could be criminalised and marriage age for girls could be fixed across communities at 18 and 21 for girls and boys, respectively. Reports suggest that Uttarakhand, which has over 2% tribal population, could keep Scheduled Tribes out of the purview of UCC. Nayyer Kazmi, AIMIM state president, asked: Why are tribals being kept out; how is this uniform? Is this not just a way to target Muslims and their personal laws? Poet Afzal Mangalori, however, refused to see the proposed law as anti-Muslim. There is no major opposition to what is being proposed. We are waiting for the final text of the bill, but from what media is reporting about the proposed provisions, most people are willing to keep an open mind, he said. What About Live-In Couples? According to sources, the five-member panel that drafted the bill has proposed that live-in couples register themselves. Cutting across communal lines, this proposal is unpopular as critics say it encourages such relationships. Liaqat Ali, a Roorkee resident, said: The proposal for registration of live-in couples is wrong. The government should do away with this system fully. Why are they giving it legal backing? In Haridwars Harki Pauri, Pandit Pawan Krishna Shastri agrees. This live-in related law is western influence. We should discourage it rather than get couples to register themselves, he said. Soni Ror, a social worker, however, disagrees. Raja ki zimmedari hai praja ka dhayan rakhna. With changing times, law must change. Today, live-in relationships are in, but look at what happened to Shradha Walkar. If live-in was registered, she may have lived. People should have fear of law, he said. Islamic preacher Mufti Salman Azhari on Sunday was arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad in Mumbai in connection with a hate speech case. Earlier on Saturday, two persons were arrested by the Junagadh police after a video of an inflammatory speech, allegedly delivered by the Mufti, went viral on social media. An FIR against Azhari and local organisers Mohammad Yousuf Malek and Azim Habib Odedara was registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 153B (promoting enmity between religious groups) and 505 (2) (making statements conducive to public mischief). Who is Mufti Salman Azhari? Salman Azhari, founder of the Jamia Riyazul Jannah, Al-Amaan Education and Welfare Trust and Darul Amaan, is an Sunni Islamic research scholar from Mumbai. Having studied Dawah Islamiya from Egypts Jamia Al-Alzhar, Azhari enjoys a global following, a Times Now report said. Azhari is known for his controversial speeches, which have often been accused of hate speech and incitement. This was not Azharis first arrest, he was earlier held in 2018 for his provocative remarks about Hindus while delivering a speech in Karnataka. Reportedly, Azhari was let out on bail after a few days, however, the charges against him are still pending. The viral speech video, for which the Junagadh police arrested two persons, was from an event held at an open ground near the B division police station in Junagadh on January 31 night. In fact, following the Islamic preachers arrest on Sunday, hundreds of supporters gathered outside the Ghatkopar police station demanding his immediate release, leaving the cops with no option but to resort to mild lathicharge for tackling the crowd. (With PTI inputs) Karisma Kapoor, the diva, may have taken a hiatus from the silver screen, but her influence remains strong, especially through her engaging social media presence. While winter fashion typically revolves around puffer jackets and cozy boots, Kapoor is breaking away from the norm and choosing a unique path with summer themed outfits. Her recent photos from a shoot feature the actress wearing comfortable floral attire; however, it was her footwear that caught everyones attention. Apart from her impeccable sense of style, the Raja Hindustani star also has excellent taste in footwear. In the recent post, the spotlight was on her mustard yellow satin heels from Jimmy Choo, which, despite their simple yet stylish appearance, comes with a hefty price tag of approximately Rs 1.2 Lakh. According to the product details on the website, the Sunflower Satin Platform Sandals, worn by Karisma, are a unique and instantly recognisable creation. Crafted in Italy, these sandals feature a delicate crystal chain that resembles elegant jewellery for the ankle. The sandals make a striking and bold statement with a curved heel measuring 125mm/4.9 inches. With their unique and eye catching features, these sandals effortlessly blend fashion and sophistication. View this post on Instagram A post shared by EatTweetBlog (@eattweetblog) Karisma Kapoor showed her fondness for vibrant attire from the local designer, Yavi. The Hum Saath Saath Hain star chose a red floral printed silk top featuring unique sleeves and a front bow. Complementing the top, she paired a blue skirt with matching floral prints in a light, flowy fabric from the same designer. The Bollywood beauty complemented her dress with minimal accessories, as she wore golden rings and earrings that elevated her look. With a glowing appearance and an adorable smile, Karismas overall look was beautifully enhanced. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karisma Kapoor (@therealkarismakapoor) As a fashion icon, Karisma Kapoors style evolution has been remarkable over the years. From her debut in the industry to the present day, she has consistently set trends and adjusted her fashion sense to mirror the changing times, all while preserving her signature sophistication. On the professional front, while the actress made an intriguing cameo in Shah Rukh Khan starrer Zero, she is currently busy in the shooting of her upcoming comeback movie titled Murder Mubarak. The film features Sara Ali Khan, Kunal Khemu, and Vijay Verma. Additionally, Karisma is also set to appear in a web series named Brown, where she will share the screen with Helen, KK Raina, Jishu Sen, Surya Sharma and Soni Razdan. Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai dated for a brief period of time before getting married in April 2007. They welcomed their daughter Aaradhya Bachchan in November 2011. Abhishek and Aishwarya have starred together in multiple movies such as Dhoom 2 (2006), Guru (2007) and Raavan (2010), among others. Talking about their marriage, the couple was once asked how often they fight. Aishwarya was quick reply and told Vogue India in July 2010, Oh, every day. However, Abhishek clarified, But theyre more like disagreements, not fights. Theyre not serious, theyre healthy. Itd be really boring otherwise. Abhishek also said that he is always the first one to apologies and make up. Women dont make up! But we have a rule we dont sleep on a fight. And in defence of all men, I want to tell you, half the time the reason we give in and say sorry is because were just so sleepy and want to go to bed! Besides, women are the superior race, and theyre always right. The sooner men accept that, the better. It doesnt matter what you say, even if you have concrete proof, in their world, its futile, it makes no sense. Most recently, a video of Aishwarya talking about his Roka ceremony with Abhishek went viral on social media. In the viral video, Aishwarya said, Theres something called a Roka. Were South Indians, so I dont know anything called a Roka. Suddenly, there is this call from their (Abhisheks) house to ours that We are coming. My dad was out of town and we were like, Okay. I was like, Dad, and he was like, Yeah, itll still take me a day to come. So this Roka is happening with a call to my father whos out of town. Mums here, we are here. Theyve all arrived and are emotional and Im like, Oh my god, its happened. Then theyre like, Come on, lets go home. Im like, What just happened here? Is this an engagement? Aishwarya recalled during an interview with Filmfare. Vicky Kaushal recently took to his Instagram handle to release the trailer for the directorial debut film All India Rank, helmed by his close friend Varun Grover. Promising a gripping narrative, All India Rank is all set to hit the theatres on February 23. Sharing the trailer, Vicky penned a heartfelt note that read, Hum dono engineers ka cinema ki duniya mein safar lagbhag saath hi shuru hua with Masaan. Saala yeh dukh kaahe khatam nahi hota bey! A line written by him has over the years evolved to be one of the most noteworthy scenes of my filmography so far. On a closing note, he further added, Im so happy and proud to be presenting the trailer for ALL INDIA RANK the Directorial Debut of my dear and incredibly talented friend #VarunGrover. Shine on mere bhai and my best wishes to the entire team. Have a look at the same: Vicky Kaushal, known for his charismatic on-screen charm, began his career with an engineering degree and shifted gears with Masaan, his debut film. Ever since, the actor has been winning millions of hearts. Varun Grover, recognized for writing beautiful and breathtaking stories for Masaan and Sacred Games, is all set to make his directorial debut with All India Rank. The trailer unfolds with an upbeat and catchy tune, showcasing various aspects of an aspiring IITians lifefrom parental pressure to adapting to hostel culture. All India Rank is a story of every teenager fighting in this rat race to become an IITian. The IMDb synopsis of the film reads, Set in the late 1990s, ALL INDIA RANK is a slice-of-life dramedy about 17-year-old Vivek who is sent away from home to a prep school to prepare for the highly competitive IIT (the MIT of India) entrance examination. Presented by Sriram Raghavan, All India Rank is written and directed by Varun Grover. Produced by Sanjay Routray and Sarita Patil, the film is co-produced by Gayatri M. It is all set to hit the theatres on February 23, 2024. The film stars Shashi Bhushan, Sheeba Chaddha, Bodhisattva Sharma, and Kailesh Gowthaman in key roles. Get ready for more sand and spectacle as Denis Villeneuves Dune: Part Two gears up to deliver thrills just like its predecessor. As the sequels release is a month away, exciting details about the film are emerging, adding to the excitement. Interestingly, for the upcoming movie, director Denis Villeneuve opted to follow Christopher Nolans footsteps in Oppenheimer, as he chose to shoot the entire movie using IMAX cameras. This decision goes beyond logistics, as it links with the practicalities of the story and enhances the visual experience. Villeneuve, an Academy Award nominee, shared insights into his thought process for this unique approach in an interview with Comic Book. The director said, The thing is that in Dune Part One the idea was that we bring everything that will be linked with nature and space will be shot in IMAX. Because what is very interesting for a filmmaker is to use a change of formats as a new kind of inner rhythm, you can increase some of the impact of some emotions or the impact of some revelations or discovering new landscape for using a change in the formats. Denis Villeneuve added, Part Two is mostly shot in the desert so Greig Fraser (cinematographer) and I decided that we will go all for it. I used the changes of formats more going from a standard IMAX (aspect ratio) 1:43 to 1:90 which is like just like less abrupt but still I wanted. Its a much more immersive movie that it made sense for me to go full IMAX. Dune: Part Two, the sequel of the hit 2021 film Dune, is the adaptation of Frank Herberts renowned novel, which picks up where the first film ended. The official synopsis read, This follow-up film will explore the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two will feature Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Austin Butler, Christopher Walken, Florence Pugh, Lea Seydoux and Souheila Yacoub. Shot across picturesque locations such as Budapest, Abu Dhabi, Jordan and Italy, the upcoming movie is scheduled to release on March 15. It was only last month that Janhvi Kapoor confirmed on Koffee With Karan that she is dating Shikhar Pahariya. Karan Johar had asked Janhvi to name three people on her speed dial and with her answer, the actress confirmed that she is dating Shikhar Pahariya. During the episode, Janhvi was all praises for Shikhar and how he supported her. The actress has now showered love on Shikhars brother Veer and their mother, Smruti Shinde. Veer Pahariya recently took to Instagram to wish his mother a happy birthday. He shared a throwback photo of himself with his mother along with a recent photo. Janhvi Kapoor expressed her love for them and commented Best people. Check out the post here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Veer Pahariya (@veerpahariya6) Janhvi Kapoor had not formally accepted her relationship with Shikhar Pahariya earlier, but she never shied away from stepping out with him on lunch and dinner dates. The rumoured lovebirds recently partied together as Shikhar attended Janhvis sister Khushi Kapoors birthday bash. They even took a vacation to the Maldives together and Shikhar was also present at Janhvis uncle, Anil Kapoors birthday party. He is also often seen visiting the Tirupati temple with the actress. Shikhar Pahariya is the grandson of politician and Maharashtras former Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. Reportedly, Shikhar and Janhvi were in a serious relationship earlier but then broke up. Karan Johar in Koffee With Karan season 7 almost confirmed the dating rumours, but Janhvi then maintained that she was single. Janhvi and Shikhar reportedly patched up last year. They are often spotted together now and Shikhar has also posed for paps with Boney Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor on several occasions. Meanwhile, on the work front, Janhvi Kapoor will soon be making her Telugu debut with the film Devara. She will also reportedly feature in a romantic film with Varun Dhawan. Presence of Wagner mercenaries in Belarus compels Ukraine to maintain defensive positions to protect from potential future incursions British Intelligence The continued presence of Wagner mercenaries in Belarus almost certainly also benefits Russias war effort by compelling Ukraine to maintain defensive positions and personnel along its northern border with Belarus to protect from potential future incursions, the British Intelligence believe. At the same time, a report published on Sunday on the social network X of the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland notes that it is highly likely that fewer than 1,000 Russian Wagner mercenaries remain in Belarus, their duties include training the Belarusian military and security forces. British intelligence adds that the unrecognized president of Belarus is unlikely to use Wagner fighters outside their current competence. They are involved in the training of Ministry of Interior troops but are highly unlikely to participate directly in maintaining domestic or border security in Belarus, the message reads. Rakesh Chaurasia has carved out a position for himself in the world of Indian classical music with the Bansuri, a basic but incredibly difficult bamboo flute to play. Recently, he has dominated headlines ever since he earned several nominations on the global music awards stage. His collaborative album As We Speak was nominated at the Grammy Awards in three distinctive categories Best Contemporary Instrumental Album, Best Instrumental Composition, and Best Global Music Performance. The album was a joint effort by Padma Vibhushan Zakir Hussain, multiple Grammy Award winners Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, and Rakesh Chaurasia. Amid formidable competition, the album secured a dual win in the Best Contemporary Instrumental and Best Global Music Performance categories. Speaking about the hard work and efforts put into this award-winning album, Rakesh Chaurasia told Mid Day, Theres such a big world of learning here. When you come from the classical genre, you can do as you please on stage. But, when collaborating with Western instruments and musicians from the West, one needs to become better at understanding them. In this album, no dubbing was involved. Everything on the album was recorded live. Its hard work. We have to practice a lot to think about how we can improve each day. Ive done many projects, but trying to understand what is being expected of me is interesting. Early Life Rakesh Chaurasia is a student and nephew of flute master Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia. He is considered the most accomplished of his uncles pupils and has carried the Chaurasia legacy to even greater heights. An Invincible International Career The flutist has toured the world extensively, captivating audiences in classical and semi-classical concerts in Japan, Australia, Europe, South Africa, and the United States. While Rakesh Charasia likes to experiment with his albums, he has always remained focused on his ultimate goal of becoming a full-fledged classical musician. He has intensively performed at prestigious festivals such as WOMAD in Athens and Festivals of India in Russia, Japan, the United States, and Europe. His rising popularity and status have earned him invitations to perform solo at prestigious events in both India and abroad, including the Festival of Saint-Denis in Paris and the Leicester International Music Festival in England. He has collaborated with several of the most prominent figures in the Indian film business. Another feather in his cap was that, Rakesh Chairasia was invited for the 24-hour live music broadcast to a global audience on BBC commemorating Her Majesty Queen Elizabeths Silver Jubilee. Awards and recognition In 2007, the Honourable President of India, Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam, awarded him the Indian Music Academy Award. In 2008, he earned the Aditya Birla Kalakiran Puraskar. In 2011, he received the Guru Shishya Award. Bollywood stars Rakul Preet Singh and Jackky Bhagnani have chosen to tie the knot in an intimate two-day celebration, set to conclude on February 21 in Goa. Ahead of their big day, the lovebirds, along with their close friends and family, jetted off on a bachelor trip to Thailand. A couple of photos from their yacht party recently went viral. Pragya Jaiswal, who accompanied them, shared the photos on her Instagram handle. Have a look at the photos: Rakul and Jackky have been dating for a few years now, leading to this joyous moment of matrimony. From their first few encounters to the love they share today, their journey has captivated fans and set the stage for a heartwarming celebration. Contrary to speculations, we hear that Rakul and Jackky will have an intimate wedding in the presence of their family and close friends in Goa only. There will be no extended celebrations or a reception in Mumbai or anywhere else after. It looks like it is going to be a 3-4 day affair like most weddings usually are, an insider shared earlier. A source close to the soon-to-be-married couple had earlier revealed, Rakul and Jacky had initially planned for their wedding to take place in the Middle East. After nearly six months of meticulous planning, everything was pretty much in order. However, following the call from the Indian PM in December urging rich and influential families to choose India as the venue for their big life events, Rakul and Jackky reconsidered their original plans and relocated the wedding to India. Their decision, made in mid-December, necessitated a complete reset, involving the destination, rest, and accommodations. Despite the considerable changes, the couple embraced the overhaul, driven by their love for the country and desire to contribute to its growing economy. As we eagerly await more details about this intimate celebration, fans are ready to immerse themselves in the joy of this beautiful union. The Deol family celebrated another joyous occasion as Dharmendras granddaughter, Nikita Chaudhary, tied the knot with overseas businessman Rushabh Shah on January 31. The grand wedding was attended by close friends and family, including Bollywood actors Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol and Abhay Deol, who blessed the couple with love. As glimpses of the lavish ceremony circulate on the internet, lets delve into who Rushabh Shah is and the love story that brought him into the Deol family. Rushabh Shah, the groom, is reported to be a businessman. The love story between Rushabh and Nikita unfolded in the United States, where they met and soon decided to embark on their marital journey. Nikita is the daughter of Ajeeta Deol, the eldest daughter of legendary actor Dharmendra and his first wife, Prakash Kaur. Ajeeta, who chose to lead a life away from the limelight after marrying Dr. Kiran Chaudhary, a U.S.-based dentist, has two daughters Nikita and Priyanka. Interestingly, both daughters have pursued careers in dentistry. The intimate wedding ceremony took place in Udaipur, Rajasthan, where the Deol family came together to celebrate the union of Nikita and Rushabh. Abhay Deol, known for his roles in films like Dev D and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, shared a heartfelt selfie of the newlyweds, expressing his joy at witnessing the baby girl in his niece grow into an amazing woman. His caption read, The bride and the groom, ladies and gentlemen, send them your blessings for this new chapter in their lives. Adding to the festive atmosphere, a video from the wedding captures Bobby Deol dancing to the beats of his viral song Jamal Kudu from the film Animal. Bobby looked stylish in a black kurta paired with a matching jacket and white pyjamas, bringing his signature charm to the celebration. Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren on Monday won the floor test in the state Assembly with the support of 47 MLAs. The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led Mahagathbandhan will retains its government in the state. Of the 77 MLAs present in the Assembly during the trust vote, the opposition NDA BJP in alliance with AJSU party got 29 votes in the 81-member House. Meanwhile, Independent legislator Saryu Roy did not participate in the voting process. Champai Soren was given ten days to prove his governments majority on the floor of the House, following which he set the date for the trust vote as February 5. HEMANT SOREN TAKES PART IN TRUST VOTE During the session today, former CM Hemant Soren challenged the Bharatiya Janata Party to prove the corruption charges against him, asserting that if the accusation are proved, he will quit politics. Taking part in the confidence motion moved by CM Champai Soren, Hemant alleged that the Raj Bhavan also had a role in his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate. I challenge BJP to prove corruption charges against me. If proved, I will resign from politics, said Hemant Soren. Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with a money laundering case in an alleged land fraud. On February 2, the former Jharkhand CM was remanded to ED custody for five days by the court. However, a special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court in Ranchi allowed Hemant Soren to participate in the trust vote in the Assembly on Monday. JMM-LED COALITION MLAs BACK IN RANCHI Around 40 MLAs of the ruling JMM-led coalition, who were camping in a resort in Hyderabad, returned to the state on Sunday to take part in the crucial trust vote on Monday. After arriving in Ranchi, legislators had exuded confidence to win the trust vote in the assembly. Our MLAs are united We have the support of 48 to 50 legislators, Minister Alamgir Alam said. The MLAs were earlier sent to a private resort in Shamirpet, on the outskirts of Hyderabad, amid fear of poaching after JMM leader Champai Soren took over as the chief minister following Hemants arrest. The ruling 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. Earlier while staking claim to form the government, Champai Soren had said, We expect that the number will reach 46-47 so there is no problem. Our gathbandhan is very strong. WHAT IS A FLOOR TEST? A floor test, also known as trust vote, generally takes place when a new government is sworn in. The test aims to check whether the said government has the support of the majority of the legislature. If the party under test, fails the trust vote, the executive of the government has to step down. In a show of supreme confidence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in the Lok Sabha that he believes that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will cross the mark of 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, while the National Democratic Alliance would cross the 400-seat mark. This could be a landslide victory if Modis prediction comes true. ALSO READ | Congress Failed As Oppn, BJP Will Cross 370 Seats In 2024 Polls: PM Modis Reply On Motion of Thanks In LS Modi said the peoples mood is such, and the BJPs campaign song for 2024 has also given the message of Tabhi toh sab Modi ko chunte hain (the only choice for the people is Modi). The PM, in his speech in the Lok Sabha, also predicted the Congresss dwindling fortunes in the next elections and said they would be soon seen in the visitors gallery of Parliament and they had vowed to stay in the opposition for many years to come. This came after Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee said two days ago that the Congress would not get even 40 seats in the upcoming elections. The PM referred to the strains in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) and how the parties in the opposition camp did not trust each other. Alliance ka alignment bigad gaya hai, the PM said, hinting at Nitish Kumar walking out of the opposition camp and into the NDA, and Banerjee and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwals party saying no to an alliance in Punjab. Modi also said that many in the Congress had lost the will to fight the upcoming election and some of their Lok Sabha MPs wanted to take the Rajya Sabha route. The BJP, on the other hand, could make some of their outgoing Rajya Sabha MPs contest the Lok Sabha elections. THE MODI FACTOR Leaders of the BJP have been confident that they will cross the 2019 mark of 303 seats for the BJP, which was also 21 seats up from 2014. Modis target of 370 seats for the BJP is a big one, and underlines the BJPs confidence that it will retain its stronghold states in the heartland and make new forays in the states in the south. Modi has been urging his party leaders to impress upon the electorate the benefits of a strong and stable government and how that is the reason that the Modi government could deliver big-ticket measures like the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K and the construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The Modi government has Hindutva, nationalism and delivery of benefits to the poor, like free ration, as its major planks. PM Modi takes 'OBC' jibe at the #Congress, says, The party keeps a count of OBC leaders and their posts but I wonder how can they not see the biggest OBC (PM points at himself)#PMModi #LoksabhaElection2024 #Parliament pic.twitter.com/lWSxlGSGzF News18 (@CNNnews18) February 5, 2024 The PM also feels that his government has delivered on its major promises like 370 abrogation and Ram Temple and is hence on an even stronger footing that it was in 2019 and 2014. While in 2014, Narendra Modi has stormed to power on the back of a strong campaign on anti-corruption against the UPA government, the 2019 saw a nationalistic pitch post the surgical strikes in Pakistan by Indian security forces. The PM feels that with the country in an upbeat mood on the front of the economy, successes like the G-20 Presidency and Chandrayaan-3, and the countrys growing stature abroad people are in no mood to give anyone else other than him as the charge of India. ALSO READ | Opinion | What Makes Modi Unbeatable? So, Is 2024 A Done Deal? A non-populist interim budget was also an indicator of the Modi governments confidence that a booming economy with low inflation is a sure recipe for success in the upcoming elections. Modis swipe at Rahul Gandhi without naming him, as a product that has been failing despite repeated launches, also is a message to the Congress that people will never prefer Rahul over Modi. His pitch is of a strong and stable government amidst two major wars in the world and India surviving the pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday referred to Jawaharlal Nehrus Independence Day speech of 1959 and said the former PM felt Indians were lazy. Replying to the Motion of Thanks in the Presidents address, the Prime Minister said Nehrus daughter Indira Gandhi was no different from him. Indira Gandhi felt that whenever the country was progressing, people were involved in self-interest. They (Nehru and Indira Gandhi) were wrong about Indians, but were right about the Congress party, said PM Modi. He also came down heavy on Congress and called it responsible for the condition of the Opposition today. In a veiled dig at Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi said, Ek hi product baar-baar launch karne ke chakkar mein, Congress ki dukaan tala lagne ki naubat aa gayi hai (In an effort to launch the same product time and again, the Congresss shop is on the verge of closure. Nehrus Lazy Remark PM Modi Referred To In his Independence Day speech of 1959, Prime Minister Nehru said Indians were not very hard-working people and urged them to work hard for the countrys progress. on 15th Aug, 1959, PM Jawaharlal Nehru had said, in India we dont have habit of working hard like China, Japan, Russia or America. He called Indians as lazy- heres the speech of Nehru being referred to by PM @narendramodi today pic.twitter.com/gkvZisNCX4 Payal M/ / / (@payalmehta100) February 5, 2024 In India, there has not been a habit of working hard. Its not our fault, sometimes such habits get formed. But the fact is we dont work as hard as Europeans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians or Americans. Dont think that those countries developed due to some magic, they became so because of hard work and intelligence, the former PM had said from Red Fort. Speaking At News18 Chaupal event, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the PM cant sleep without abusing Congress. Why are they afraid of Congress party? They cant sleep without abusing Congress. They are abusing Nehru ji and Indira Ji, he said. Karnataka is all set to lead a protest against the alleged injustice and stepmotherly treatment by the Central government in the interim budget for 2024-25, one that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reiterated should not to be interpreted as a Congress versus Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) issue. It is to be held in the countrys capital, New Delhi, at Jantar Mantar on February 7. Calling it a move to highlight the financial disbursement disparity shown to states in the North and the South of India, neighbouring Kerala will also protest a day later at the same venue. NOT POLITICAL Its not a political protest; it is a protest against the stepmotherly treatment by the Centre, even when Karnataka was badly hit by drought, said Siddaramaiah. Whats on the agenda? Senior Congress leaders that News18 spoke to said that although Karnataka has been the second highest contributor to taxes in the country, it is yet to get its due. The daylong protest will also include submitting a memorandum to the Union government on the unfair tax devolution and grants-in-aid to the state. The ruling Congress in Karnataka has also urged the Opposition BJP to join the agitation in Delhi. The agitation is in the interest of Karnataka, and the BJP leaders in Karnataka should understand that the fight is for those people who elected them. They should fight for their rights. They should shed their party allegiance and become allegiant towards people, said a senior Congress leader to News18. Siddaramaiah said that Ministers, MLAs of both the Houses of the legislature, and MPs will participate in the protest against the issues related to the 15th Finance Commission, including disbursement of grants from the Centre. The BJP government in the Centre has been constantly meting out a raw deal to Karnataka, be it relief for COVID, drought, MNREGA, or irrigation projects. We will list all this while we protest in Delhi, said Siddaramaiah, adding, Why should we be silent spectators? Deputy CM Shivakumar said that there was a need to fight this injustice unitedly and repose the faith that the people of Karnataka had put in the government while repaying their debt. We have been cooperating with the Centre as we believe in Federalism. But what do we get in return? We have been seeing the injustice caused to the state for the past 10 yearsOur trust has been betrayedSome northern states have contributed much lower to taxes than Karnataka. It is our duty to raise this issue with the Union government and create awareness among the people of Karnataka as to where the issue stems from. That is the purpose of the protest on the 7th. THE ISSUES Congress chief spokesperson Natraj Gowda enumerated the details of the protest to held in Delhi. Of the 61 projects that the Centre had promised for Karnataka under 23 ministries, funds have not been released for even one. In the last budget, the Union government said they would release funds for the suburban rail, peripheral ring road in Bengaluru, most importantly, Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Krishna project. Where is all that money that was promised? We have not seen a penny. It is necessary that we raise the voice for our people, Gowda said. CM Siddaramaiah further highlighted how, as per the 14th Finance Commission, Karnataka had to receive Rs 10,000 crore, which had not been disbursed. Karnataka faced a loss to the state to the tune of Rs 62,098 crore in taxes, he stated. Karnataka got a share of only 4.71 per cent of taxes and 3.64 per cent of taxes as per the 15th Finance Commission, in which a special grant of Rs 5,495 crore was to be disbursed. What happened to all these promises and money, asked Natraj. Reacting to the BJPs attack that the Congress is unable to manage its states finances after having promised guarantees ahead of the elections, Shivakumar said the state has the capability to manage the guarantees as announced. Let the Centre give us our share. We will be in Delhi to demand our share. They can leave the finances of our state to us. BJP MLC Gopichand Padalkar, while objecting to the Maharashtra governments latest decision of giving OBC certificates to the Maratha community, said the move was against OBCs as well as SCs and STs. Speaking at an OBC Elgar Melawa in Ahmednagar on the weekend, Padalkar appealed to both the communities to come together and fight for justice. The governments notification regarding Maratha community is not only against OBCs but also against SC and SC communities. The government said Marathas in Marathwada would get Kunbi certificates as per the new notification, which extended the quota to Sage-Soyare (relatives from the family tree). However, in Maharashtra, Ramoshi-Berad and Bedar communities are relatives and marry each other. Bedars get SC certificate but Ramoshi-Berad do not get it despite being relatives, he said. Taking a swipe at Maratha leader Manoj Jarange Patil, who led a protest to Mumbai last month demanding reservation for the community, he said: He was fasting for reservation. The protesters were stopped at Navi Mumbai and chief minister Eknath Shinde broke Jaranges indefinite fast and accepted all of his demands. The governments notification regarding Maratha reservation has met with opposition from OBCs as they fear that their share of 27 per cent quota would get disturbed if Marathas get reservation as Kunbis from the OBC quota. There are rallies being held across the state to oppose the government move. The BJP leader said that by bringing a notification in favour of the Maratha community, the government has not only disrupted OBC quota but also reservation policy for SC and ST communities. He also warned the government that it would have a long-term impact on the governments reservation policy and lead to unrest in other communities. In another example, Padalkar said there is a sub-community in Dhangars called Khatik Dhangar which gets SC certificate. These Khatik Dhangars marry with other Dhangar members. Does that mean all the Dhangars would get SC certificate? he asked. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a massive rally on February 25 in Tamil Nadus Palladam in Tiruppur district, where state BJP chief K Annamalais En Mann En Makkal (My Land, My People) yatra will conclude. Annamalai on Monday said that ahead of the PMs visit, BJPs national president J P Nadda would also address a rally in Chennai on February 11. The BJP state chief is set to conclude his tour of all 234 assembly constituencies in the state at Palladam Assembly constituency. Modiji will address the meeting in which about 10 lakh cadres and members of the public are expected to participate, Annamalai told reporters here. Expecting a massive gathering, seats would be arranged for five lakh persons, Annamalai, who has been leading the yatra since it was flagged off by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in July 2023, said. The yatra aimed to cover all 234 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were announced. Asked if he would contest the Parliamentary elections, Annamalai replied, I will contest if the partys parliamentary board says so. My present task is to tour the state and strengthen the party. Inaugurating the BJPs election office in Aminjikarai here in the presence of the in-charges of the Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu, Aravind Menon and P Sudhakar Reddy, and other senior leaders, he said the party machinery has already been activated and that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections would be historic. Tamil Nadu will contribute in a big way to ensure that Modiji returns as Prime Minister for the third straight time, he told reporters. Speaking of what he learned from the yatra, he said he believed that people in Tamil Nadu, irrespective of their party allegiance, had realised that the upcoming elections would be about choosing Indias growth and that this would translate to votes for the BJP. So, you will see a lot of voting in favour of Modiji from TN, as well, Annamalai said. On the prospects of reviving the NDA in Tamil Nadu, he said talks were on with G K Vasan-led Tamil Maanila Congress and that a clear picture of the parties keen on forging ties with the BJP would emerge before the end of this month. Speaking at the state assembly ahead of the trust vote on Monday, former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren said he would not shed tears as the tears of indigenous people and backward sections do not matter. Taking part in the confidence motion moved by his successor Champai Soren in the assembly, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader, said I Will not shed tears. Will save it for the future as the tears of indigenous people and backward sections do not matter. (Main aansu nahi bahaunga, aansu waqt ke liye rakhuga, aap logo ke liye aansu ka koi matlab nahi). Soren, who resigned as Chief Minister on January 31 amid charges of money laundering, added, I will give a befitting reply to the feudal forces at an appropriate time. #WATCH | Former Jharkhand CM and JMM leader Hemant Soren says, Main aansu nahi bahaunga, aansu waqt ke liye rakhuga, aap logo ke liye aansu ka koi matlab nahi pic.twitter.com/y1dOU0f7td ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024 Hemant Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) soon after he resigned as the chief minister. Backed by MLAs from JMM, the Congress and other allies, Sorens close aide, Champai Soren, took oath as Chief Minister on February 2 and won the majority test in the 81-member assembly on Monday. The arrested former chief minister also challenged the BJP to prove the corruption charges against him, asserting that if the accusations are proved, he will quit politics. Hemant Soren also alleged that the Raj Bhavan was instrumental in his arrest after a conspiracy hatched by the Centre. I challenge BJP to prove corruption charges against me. If proved, I will resign from politics, said Hemant Soren. The ex-chief minister who is in ED custody now was allowed by a special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court to participate in the trust vote. January 31 was a black chapter in Indias history. A chief minister was arrested at the behest of the Raj Bhavan The BJP doesnt want a tribal CM to complete 5 years in Jharkhand; they did not allow this even in their regimes, Hemant Soren said. Except non-tribal BJP leader Raghubar Das, none of the other 10 previous chief ministers belonging to the saffron party or JMM could complete a full five-year term in the state which was formed in 2000. Claiming that Tribals would be forced to shun their religion as BR Ambedkar was compelled to convert to Buddhism, he alleged that the BJP considers Tribals untouchable. Tribals and Dalits are not safe under the present regime in the country I will come back with more strength. Oppositions conspiracy will be thwarted, Hemant Soren said. When the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony at Ayodhya took place on January 22, the BJP had stated it would bring Ram Rajya, he said, adding: First they destabilise the government in Bihar and then in Jharkhand. When the former chief minister reached the assembly, the ruling JMM-led alliance MLAs greeted him with slogans like Hemant Soren zindabad. (With PTI inputs) President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Ukrainian defenders who are being treated at one of Kropyvnytskyi's medical institutions, the press service of the head of state reports. "President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy familiarized himself with the conditions of treatment of Ukrainian servicemen who were seriously injured during the fighting with the Russian occupiers in eastern Ukraine, in particular in the area of Robotyne and Verbove," the message says. The President thanked the military for their heroic service. "Thank you for your service. You are great, you are heroes. I wish you a speedy recovery," he said. For personal courage and selfless actions shown in protecting the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, loyalty to the military oath, the President awarded the servicemen with state awards. In particular, he presented the defenders with the Order For Courage of the III degree and the medal For Military Service to Ukraine. Android users and malware have become an irrepressible duo for all the wrong reasons over the years. And the latest concern is linked to a few apps that are available on Googles Play Store and are capable of stealing personal data and even recording phone calls. Google has been talking about the need to prevent malicious apps from making its way to the Play Store but repeated incidents of new threats does raise questions about its overall work. The latest details come via researchers at ESET, quoted in this report, talks about a new malware named VajraSpy that has been spotted in 12 malicious apps and the big worry for Google is that 6 of these apps were present for over 2 years. The company seems to have removed these 6 apps but they are available from other app stores which means people still need to be careful and avoid sideloading them to their Android phones. 6 Android Apps Found With VajraSpy On Google Play Store Privee Talk Lets Chat Quick Chat Chit Chat Rafaqat MeetMe Google has made a habit of acting once security researchers inform/report about these apps. However, the company is supposed to fool-proof its Play Protect mechanism so that incidents like this dont happen in the first place. It is becoming increasingly clear that users will have to put their own effort to avoid using apps like these that can steal data, record calls, which means all your details are available to the hacker. So, what does one do to avoid installing malicious apps? The most important point is, always install apps from genuine app stores, limit sideloading apps to publishers who are well known, and finally, keep your device updated to the latest version to secure it from possible threats. Generative AI has been the talk of Silicon Valley ever since OpenAI launched ChatGPT, based on its GPT-3.5 LLM, publicly. Since then, tech companies have worked hard and fast to enter this rapidly evolving space. Not only have giants like Google, Microsoft, and Meta embraced it, but they have also started to make these tools widely available in consumer-grade products such as smartphones. For instance, OpenAI has already introduced an iOS and Android app for ChatGPT, while Google has integrated its Gemini AI model into the Pixel 8 lineup. Meanwhile, a slew of AI tools now exist that people can use to enhance efficiency and simplify tasks, which previously required a significant investment of time and money. Here are 4 AI tools that can be useful in everyday life: Adobe Podcast: This free AI-powered tool proves to be exceptionally valuable when encountering digital audio noise in a file that you must leverage. The user is merely required to upload the audio file, whereupon it will automatically undergo processing to enhance its quality, and if the background noise isnt over the top, the tool can actually make your recordings sound great. Google Bard: Gone are the days when you had to use Grammarly to check for spelling and grammar errors. Thanks to Googles advanced Gemini Pro LLM, you can now easily ask the Bard chatbot to check a piece of text for grammar errors for free. Additionally, you can use Google Bard to generate images for free, which requires a paid subscription with ChatGPT. ChatGPT Voice: While it is the same ChatGPT chatbot underneath, ChatGPT Voice makes it easier to have a natural conversation with the chatbot. You can ask it to speak a particular language such as Punjabi or French and even ask it to translate a phrase for you. This can prove to be particularly useful for translation, and of course, learning a new language. It is available for free as part of the ChatGPT app. DALL-E 2: This tool, created by OpenAI, the same organisation that developed ChatGPT, represents another useful resource. It allows users to generate images by submitting detailed text-based prompts. These images can be used to visually depict abstract or non-existent scenarios, among others. DALL-E 2 also serves as a fun tool for turning imaginative concepts into tangible visual representations. Google MusicLM: This free tool is currently a part of the Google AI Test Kitchen. It lets you submit text-based prompts and get audio in return. You can ask it to generate a wide range of music such as jazz, synth, and more. It can also generate music based on various moods such as sad, upbeat, and dramatic. In an eerie yet fascinating turn of events, The Simpsons has once again demonstrated its uncanny ability to predict the future, this time foreseeing Apples latest technological innovation the Vision Pro virtual reality headset. The popular animated sitcom, now in its 35th season, has a history of accurately predicting real-world events, leaving viewers and fans bewildered. One of the most recent instances of this peculiar phenomenon occurred in a 2016 episode titled Friends and Family. In this episode, characters were depicted using virtual reality headsets in their daily lives, an image that bears a striking resemblance to Apples recent launch of the Vision Pro, priced at an astonishing Rs 2.8 lakh. In the episode, The Simpsons were hired by Mr. Burns to act as his virtual reality family, and the storyline included humorous scenes of the characters participating in various virtual activities like virtual picnics and virtual kisses. Little did audiences know that this satirical take on futuristic technology would manifest itself in the form of Apples cutting-edge Vision Pro headset eight years later. The Simpsons have remarkably predicted various significant events, showcasing an eerie foresight that extends to smartwatches, FaceTime, the Walt Disney and FOX merger, a submarine disaster, Ted Cruzs escape to Mexico amid a natural disaster, and even Donald Trumps presidency, including the potential 2024 reelection campaign. These instances merely scratch the surface of the shows remarkable ability to anticipate future occurrences. Meanwhile, the Vision Pro, unveiled by Apple last month, has already taken the tech world by storm. Tim Cook, Apples CEO, hailed it as the most advanced consumer electronics device ever created. The device is supported by macOS, iOS and iPadOS operating systems, offering users access to a plethora of apps, photographs and spatial FaceTime video. Since its official release, the Vision Pro has garnered substantial attention, with an estimated 200,000 units already sold through pre-orders, according to the New York Post. Users have flooded social media with videos showcasing their experiences using the VR headset in public spaces, bringing to life scenes reminiscent of The Simpsons episode from nearly a decade ago. Apples visionOS, the operating system powering the Vision Pro, facilitates powerful 3D experiences and can be operated using hands, eyes and voice commands. The device allows users to seamlessly blend virtual and augmented reality, integrating digital content with their physical surroundings. The success of the Vision Pro is attributed to years of technological advancements in machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), display technology, and silicon chip design. On social media, the journey from obscurity to virality is often swift and exhilarating. Campbell and Jett Puckett, popularly known as the Pookie couple on TikTok, experienced the whirlwind of internet fame through their endearing videos showcasing Jetts sweet reactions to Campbells outfits of the day. However, their rapid rise was soon met with the harsh reality of online scrutiny, unearthing elements from their past that led to public backlash. The Pucketts, a married couple hailing from Georgia, established their presence on TikTok by sharing snippets of their everyday lives, particularly focusing on fashion and relationship dynamics. Jetts endearing comments and the couples genuine chemistry endeared them to millions, resulting in an outpouring of love and support from an ever-growing online audience. The phrase Pookie is looking absolutely fire tonight became synonymous with the couples content, creating a viral trend that saw both fans and even big brands joining in on the fun. Despite initial awkwardness, Jetts sincere and loving demeanour endeared him to viewers, turning the Pucketts into an internet sensation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Campbell Puckett (@campbellhuntpuckett) However, the intoxicating elixir of fame also brought along the bitter taste of scrutiny. As the couples popularity skyrocketed, curious viewers began delving into their online history. The pervasive nature of social media allowed for an exhaustive search, unearthing photos that ignited controversy. Among the uncovered images was a photo of Campbell in front of a Confederate flag, which had allegedly been removed from her Facebook account. An additional image on Pinterest displayed her adorned in a vintage-inspired gown featuring a voluminous skirt. Several individuals perceived this attire as reminiscent of an Old South plantation-themed ball costume. This particular post was shared publicly by Phi Mu, the sorority Campbell was once associated with at the University of Mississippi. In response to the growing controversy, Campbell took to her Instagram Story to address the situation directly. She acknowledged the resurfaced photos and issued a public apology, explaining that she was young and naive when those pictures were taken. At the time these photos were taken, I was 20. I didnt fully understand the impact of my actions the way I do now, 12 years later, she confessed. I fully apologise for the harm this may have caused for some and take full responsibility. Campbell also acknowledged the harsh reality that comes with living a public life, especially in the age of social media. The couple, who once shared their lives with joy and intimacy, now faced the consequences of their past actions being dissected under the unforgiving lens of public judgment. Because we live our lives so publicly, everything is on the internet, even my mistakes, she stated. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday for another Middle East crisis tour, hoping to secure a new truce in the Israel-Hamas war as Gaza saw no let-up in fighting. On his fifth trip to the region since Hamass October 7 attack that triggered the war, Blinken landed in Riyadh and was later expected to visit Israel, Egypt and Qatar. Ahead of the trip he stressed the need for urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza, after aid groups have repeatedly sounded the alarm over the devastating impact nearly four months of war have had on the besieged territory. The situation is indescribable, said Said Hamouda, a Palestinian who fled his home in the Gaza Strip to the southern city of Rafah on the border with Egypt. Dubbed a pressure cooker of despair by the United Nations, Rafah now hosts more than half of Gazas population, displaced due to Israels assault. Over the weekend, Israel pressed further south towards the densely-crowded border city, warning that its ground forces could advance on Rafah as part of the campaign to eradicate Hamas. On Monday morning, sources told AFP they could hear artillery shelling in the areas of eastern Rafah and Khan Yunis, where Israel believes high-ranking Hamas officials are hiding. At least 128 people, mostly women and children, were killed in Israeli strikes overnight to Monday, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory. The Hamas government media office said Israeli bombardment had continued across the centre and south of the coastal Strip, including near hospitals. The Israeli military said troops operating in the northern and central Gaza Strip had killed dozens of terrorists, and were engaging with Hamas militants in the Khan Yunis area. Hamass armed wing said its militants attacked Israeli troops southwest of Gaza City. No agreement yet Blinken is expected to discuss a proposed truce thrashed out in a Paris meeting in January of top US, Israeli, Egyptian and Qatari officials. The diplomatic push has become more urgent with a surge in attacks across the region by Iran-backed groups in solidarity with Hamas, triggering counterattacks by the United States. The proposed truce would pause fighting for an initial six weeks as Hamas frees hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, according to a Hamas source. Hamas has said no agreement has yet been reached, while some Israeli officials have expressed opposition to any perceived concessions. 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. Israel says 132 remain in Gaza including at least 28 believed to have been killed, according to updated figures from the prime ministers office. Vowing to eliminate Hamas, Israel launched a massive military offensive that has killed at least 27,478 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-ruled territorys 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. UNRWA itself is facing a major controversy after accusations that 12 staff members were involved in Hamass October 7 attack. More than a dozen countries, led by the United States, suspended their funding to the agency after the claims surfaced. On Sunday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned that nations suspending funding to UNRWA were threatening the existence of an agency providing vital aid to more than 1.1 million people in Gaza suffering from catastrophic hunger and the outbreak of diseases. Humanitarian crisis Before departing for the region, Blinken said the humanitarian crisis would be one of his focuses. Urgently addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza and advancing stability in the Middle East are priorities we share with Saudi Arabia, Blinken said he told Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan. The Gulf state had been mulling establishing formal relations with Israel before the war. After talks in January with de facto Saudi ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Blinken said he still saw a clear interest in pursuing normalisation. Blinkens latest Middle East visit comes as Israels National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told the Wall Street Journal that its key ally had not shown sufficient support. Instead of giving us his full backing, (US President Joe) Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel (to Gaza), which goes to Hamas, he said in an article published Sunday. His outburst followed Washington imposing sanctions on four settlers amid rising violence against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit back at Ben-Gvir, saying: I dont need help to know how to navigate our relations with the US and the international community, while standing firm on our national interests. As well as divisions within his cabinet, Netanyahu is also facing public fury over the fate of the remaining hostages. Hundreds of people rallied Saturday in Tel Aviv to demand early elections. Since the Gaza war broke out, Israel has also traded almost daily rocket fire with Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah across its northern border with Lebanon and evacuated many towns and communities there. Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Monday that time is running out to reach a diplomatic solution in south Lebanon. Israel will act militarily to return the evacuated citizens to its northern border area if no diplomatic solution is reached to end the violence, Katz told his visiting French counterpart Stephane Sejourne. US President Joe Biden reportedly called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a bad ***king guy amid tensions between the two leaders over the ongoing war in Gaza, slowly threatening to spread to the wider Middle East region. The US President has reportedly grown suspicious of Netanyahu as the war enters its fifth month and has privately called him a bad fucking guy, a Politico report said, citing unnamed sources. Andrew Bates, Bidens spokesperson, told the publication that the president did not say that, nor would he, noting the two leaders decades-long relationship that is respectful in public and in private. This comes as a far-right minister in Israels government has criticised 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 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the region again this week. 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. The Biden administration has skirted US Congress to rush weapons to Israel and shielded it from international calls for a cease-fire in the four months since Hamas October 7 attack. However, 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 US conduct would be completely different. His remarks drew fire from Benny Gantz, a member of Netanyahus three-man War Cabinet, who said Ben-Gvir was causing tremendous damage to US-Israeli ties. Opposition leader Yair Lapid, also said Ben-Gvirs remarks prove that he does not understand foreign relations. The war in Gaza has leveled vast swaths of the tiny enclave, displaced 85 percent 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. (With agency inputs) One employee of the GDBOP has been detained under suspicion of espionage in favour of a foreign state, and that is Russia, the interior ministry chief of staff Zhivko Kotsev told journalists. He refrained from further comments as the operation was still ongoing, only adding that the employees illegal activities had been under surveillance for months. The operation was conducted together with the intelligence State Agency for National Security (SANS) and the Sofia City Prosecution, he said. According to state BNT television the officer had shared information about probes, including international ones, that investigated possible schemes to bypass the EU sanctions against Russia by companies with Russian capital. Bulgaria, which has been historically and culturally very close to Moscow, has since 2019 expelled dozens of Russian diplomats and diplomatic staff suspected of espionage. In June 2022 alone, Sofia announced the expulsion of 70 Russian diplomatic personnel. Last September, authorities also expelled the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia and two Belarusian priests, accusing them of serving Moscows geopolitical interests. Five Bulgarians will also go on trial next year in London on charges that they had been part of a network conducting surveillance for Russia between August 2020 and February 2023. The French foreign ministry said that it summoned Russias ambassador to France on Monday over the deaths of two French nationals working for nongovernmental organizations in Ukraine. The humanitarian workers were killed in Russian strikes on Thursday near the front line of fighting in the war in Ukraine north of the Dnipro River. Three other French nationals were wounded in the strikes. A day after the strikes, French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Russian barbarity has targeted civilians in Ukraine Russia will have to answer for its crimes. The French aid workers were killed in the town of Beryslav in the southern Kherson region, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said. French President Emmanuel Macron, who is expected to visit Kyiv in the next few weeks, denounced the attack as cowardly and outrageous. The French foreign ministry said that officials would also use the summoning of Russias ambassador to denounce the resurgence of disinformation targeting France. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari urged people to vote for the arrow the election symbol of the party if they want to stop the lion, making a reference to the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N). You just get PPP won. I will handle this lion, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said while addressing a rally on Sunday in Sindhs Hyderabad. The former foreign minister also attacked the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and urged people to not vote for parties that raise anti-Pakistan slogans. We will not vote for those who raise anti-Pakistan slogans, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said. He also took aim at independents contesting the elections and said votes would be wasted if people vote for independents backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). It should be noted that PTI candidates are contesting elections as independent candidates as the Supreme Court last month upheld the Election Commission of Pakistans (ECP) decision to strip of PTIs bat symbol because of alleged irregularities in intra-party elections. Bilawal appeared to criticise old allies of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition and fired salvos at Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F). The JUI-F, PML-N and MQM-P. He said people must note cast votes for the book symbol Addressing the public rally, Bilawal also did not spare even Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), the party which was an ally of the PPP in the previous Pakistan Democratic Movements government. He urged the participants not to vote for book, the electoral symbol of JUI-F, asking them not to support those who divide the nation on a religious basis. I needed all the seats of Hyderabad, he tasked his party workers. Bilawal thanked the people for electing PPP during the recent local body elections in the city and said: There will be a rain of arrows on February 8. The PPP leader urged the masses to bury the politics of hatred and division with the power of vote. Moving on to the PML-N, Bilawal said another party in the federation was doing the politics of hatred and division. In a veiled dig at PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, the PPP leader said that he wanted to return to power for the fourth time by hook or by crook. Slamming the PML-N leadership, Bilawal said that they did not understand peoples problems, adding that they just wanted to rule the country for the fourth time. PPP and PML-N, two key allies in the former PDM-led government, have been criticising each other since the end of the coalition regime. A heated war of words between the two mainstream parties escalated further as the country braces for the upcoming elections. Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has emerged as the mastermind of the violence on military installations on May 9 last year based on the accounts of eyewitnesses who have given statements against the 71-year-old founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), top sources close to the Pakistani establishment told News18. Sources said none of these eye-witnesses have been promised any concession offer directly or indirectly. On May 9 last year, PTI workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Jinnah House (Lahore Corps Commander House), Mianwali Airbase, and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time. However, Khan has maintained that his party was being targeted over May 9 violence and that the violent protests targeting the Corps Commander House and the GHQ of the Pakistan Army were a part of the London agreement, in which, he alleges, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif is being favoured by the powerful Pakistan Army. Cases against more than 100 people have already concluded at a conviction rate of 90%. The judgments of these cases, however, are not being pronounced and are likely to be clubbed with the judgement of military courts. According to sources, once the countrys supreme court gives permission, the decisions of the military courts will be issued. The establishment is taking this very seriously and harsh punishment will be given to those who are behind this attack, an official said. Imran Khan has been convicted four times since 2022, when he was ousted from power. His sentences total 34 years and will be served concurrently. A Pakistani court on Saturday convicted and sentenced Khan and his wife to seven years in prison on a charge that their 2018 marriage violated the law. The latest verdict follows another case in which Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were sentenced to 14 years in prison on Wednesday for corruption. Imran Khans mounting legal troubles come ahead of the February 8 parliamentary elections in which the PTI chief has already been disqualified because of graft convictions while his party is struggling to run an election campaign. Khan is currently serving multiple prison terms at Adiala prison in Rawalpindi, where his trials were held because of security concerns. He is embroiled in more than 150 legal cases, including inciting people to violence after his arrest in May 2023. Russian occupation troops fired at the town of Vorozhba in Sumy region from the Grad MLRS, a local resident was killed, a woman was injured, Sumy Regional Military Administration reports. "As a result of the shelling, a 40-year-old man was killed, his mother was injured. Another person was also injured," the message posted on the Telegram channel says. According to preliminary information, five residential buildings, utility structures, electrical networks, and Internet connection were damaged. It is noted that the relevant services are working on the spot, and all necessary assistance is provided to the victims. In his first Parliament speech, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Monday reiterated his anti-India stance, asserting that the nation wont permit any interference in its sovereignty. These remarks follow a deal between New Delhi and Male for the departure of Indian troops from the Maldives by May 10. Muizzu, who is widely seen as a pro-China leader, said that he believes a large majority of Maldivians support his administration with the expectation that they will remove foreign military presence from the country. We have officially requested India to remove its troops stationed in the Maldives. Deliberations on this issue are ongoing. As per the most recent discussions, military personnel on one of the three aviation platforms will be recalled before March 10, 2024. The military personnel on the remaining two platforms will also be recalled by May 10, 2024, Muizzu, was quoted as saying by The Edition newspaper, in the address that was boycotted by the opposition. The roughly 80 soldiers stationed in the Indian Ocean archipelago will be replaced by civilians. Last week, the External Affairs Ministry said that both sides have agreed on a set of mutually workable solutions to enable the continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian service. New Delhis ties with Male have been under strain since Mohamed Muizzu was elected president of the Maldives last year, pledging to end the countrys India First policy. Read More: Maldives Opposition, Who Rebuked Muizzus Anti-India Stance, Boycotts His Inaugural Speech The first set of Indian troops will leave by March 10 and the rest by May 10, the Maldives earlier said, citing an agreement reached at a high-level meeting in the Indian capital on a range of issues concerning bilateral cooperation. Earlier today, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) boycotted Muizzus inaugural address to the Parliament. Another opposition party, The Democrats, also joined MDP, saying the three cabinet members whom the Parliament rejected last week had been invited to the sitting. The MDP, which holds a majority in the Parliament, said its decision to boycott Muizzus address is meant to diminish the Parliaments honour, the Maldivian outlet SunOnline International reported. Local media reported that the President of the island nation is required by the Constitution to address Parliament at the first session of the first term of the year. The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Monday boycotted President Mohamed Muizzus inaugural address to the Parliament. Another opposition party, The Democrats, also joined MDP, saying the three cabinet members whom the Parliament rejected last week had been invited to the sitting. The MDP, which holds a majority in the Parliament, said its decision to boycott Muizzus address is meant to diminish the Parliaments honour, the Maldivian outlet SunOnline International reported. Local media reported that the President of the island nation is required by the Constitution to address Parliament at the first session of the first term of the year. Amid largely empty seats, Muizzu began his address in the morning. His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is delivering the Presidential Address at the First Sitting for the year 2024 of Peoples MajlisWatch it live at: https://t.co/ljMzHyLwl4 pic.twitter.com/KqEcdiGNRE Peoples Majlis (@mvpeoplesmajlis) February 5, 2024 On Sunday, the MDP said that another reason it decided to boycott the address is because top government officials were involved in rioting outside the Parliament on the day of the cabinet approval vote. The opposition party accused the Muizzu government of making no effort to stop the protestors as they threatened and physically assaulted lawmakers. The party further said this decision was a form of peaceful protest in condemnation of the actions of the government that is far removed from democracy. Two main opposition parties last month had expressed grave concern about the governments anti-India stance, stressing the importance of New Delhi as a key long-standing ally. The MDP and The Democrats had said that alienating any development partner, especially the countrys most long-standing ally would be extremely detrimental to the long-term development of the country. The two opposition parties said, Consecutive governments of the country must be able to work with all development partners for the benefit of the people of the Maldives, as the Maldives has traditionally done. In the joint statement, they also raised concerns on other issues including a lack of transparency in the financial status of the state and the lack of transparency in the MOUs and Agreements that the Government is signing, especially, with foreign parties. Although no country was named in the statement, China was reportedly the country in question. A new political party named Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (MML), believed to be a new face of the banned groups of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, will participate in the February 8 general elections, according to a media report. A BBC Urdu report 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 the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamaat-ud-Dawa or Milli Muslim League in the past. Saeed, who has been incarcerated in a jail in Lahore, has been sentenced to a total of 31 years by Pakistans anti-terrorism courts in several cases of financing terrorism. 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 Muaz bin Jabal Educational Trust, in the list of banned organisations. Quoting analysts, who monitor religious parties in Pakistan, the report on Saturday claimed the Markazi Muslim League is the new political face of Saeeds JuD. Son, son-in-law contesting on MML ticket A spokesman of the party, however, denied any affiliation with Saeeds organisations. The report said Saeeds 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, Saeeds 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. International 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. Pakistans caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi, in response to the BBCs 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, 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 Saeeds 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. New political face of JuD 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 Saeeds 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 Kings 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. On November 26, 2008, ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists from Pakistan arrived by sea route and in an indiscriminate fire killed 166 people, 18 of them security personnel, and injured several others during a 60-hour siege in Mumbai, Indias financial capital. 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 US 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 Bidens administration over immigration enforcement. But declines in crossings are part of a complex mix of developments along the US 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 US Border Patrols 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 wasnt 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 US Border Patrol agents at Shelby Park. Crossings in recent weeks are down overall along the entire US 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 US 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 Bidens 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 US 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. More than 30 militants attacked a police station in northern Pakistan early Monday killing at least 10 officers, a senior commander said. Terrorists launched an attack from three directions on the Chaudhwan police station in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The attack occurred early morning in Tehsil Daraban. There was an exchange of fire for over two and a half hours, Khyber chief Akhtar Hayat Gandapur told news agency AFP. The assailants targeted the police station using heavy weapons, including grenades and intense gunfire from all directions. He said 10 officers were killed and four wounded in the attack on Chaudhwan police station in Dera Ismail Khan district. Gandapur said that the militants briefly seized control of the police station during the Monday morning assault, which started around 1:30 am. In response, the police engaged in a counteroffensive, but the terrorists managed to escape under the cover of darkness. The injured personnel were promptly transported to the district hospital. Pakistan agencies have established a cordon around the area and initiated a search operation to apprehend the fleeing militants. The border regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have for years been a hotbed of militancy, with both Pakistan Taliban and Islamic State fighters attacking government and security targets. (With agency inputs) The UN Security Council was to convene Monday at Russias demand to discuss US air strikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for a deadly drone attack on American soldiers. The meeting scheduled for 4:00 pm (2100 GMT) was requested urgently by Moscow, which labelled the US strikes acts of aggression against sovereign states and said they were raising tensions in the Middle East as the Israel-Hamas war rages. The US military struck targets in Syria and Iraq overnight on Friday to Saturday, in retaliation for a January 28 drone attack on a base in Jordan that killed three US soldiers. The White House said Sunday it plans more US retaliation. The American strikes on dozens of targets said by Washington to be Iran-backed militias drew criticism from Iraq and Syria and also from Iran, which denies any role in last months drone attack. There is no group affiliated with the Islamic Republic of Irans 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, Irans UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said in a letter to the Security Council that was published Monday. The US military carried out air strikes against five missiles in Yemen on Sunday, including one designed for land attack and the others for targeting ships. This comes a day after a wave of air raids was launched against Yemens Iran-backed Houthis in response to the rebels persistent attacks on shipping. US forces conducted a strike in self-defense against a Houthi land attack cruise missile, and later struck four anti-ship cruise missiles, all of which were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea, Central Command (CENTCOM) said on social media. American forces identified the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region, CENTCOM added. Feb. 4 Summary of Additional USCENTCOM Self-Defense Strikes in YemenOn Feb. 4, at approximately 5:30 a.m. (Sanaa time), U.S. Central Command forces conducted a strike in self-defense against a Houthi a land attack cruise missile. Beginning at 10:30 a.m. U.S. forces struck pic.twitter.com/ScZWEajJe2 U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 5, 2024 Read More: US, UK Target Houthi Anti-Ship Missiles, Drones, Other Facilities in Preemptive Strike On Friday, the US military launched airstrikes in Iraq and Syria against more than 85 targets linked to Irans Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and the militias it backs, in retaliation for last weekends attack in Jordan that killed three U.S. troops. The strikes, which included the use of long-range B-1 bombers flown from the United States, were the first in a multi-tiered response by President Joe Bidens administration to the attack by Iran-backed militants. The Houthis 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 Houthis, who have since declared American and British interests to be legitimate targets as well. Anger over Israels military 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 US responded Friday with a series of unilateral strikes on targets in Syria and Iraq. (With agency inputs) US National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for eastern Los Angeles County, California, including the arena where the Grammy Awards event is taking place on Sunday night. This flash flood warning is in effect until (3 am Eastern Time on Monday), as is the earlier warning for western and central Los Angeles County, CNN reported. The areas under flash flood warning include Downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach, Pasadena, Inglewood and Manhattan Beach. Flood Advisory issued for northern Ventura county and northern LA County (including Antelope Valley) until midnight. Expect minor roadway flooding as well as shallow rockslide and mudslide activity. #LArain #LAWeather #cawx pic.twitter.com/DRsj260Olf NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 5, 2024 California This warning comes as the first of two back-to-back atmospheric rivers slowly pushed into California last week, triggering statewide storm preparations and calls for people to get ready for potential flooding, heavy snow and damaging winds. Known as a Pineapple Express because its long plume of moisture stretched back across the Pacific to near Hawaii, the storm rolled into the far north first. US forecasters expect an even more powerful storm to follow it Sunday. In a statement on X on Sunday, the Office of the Governor of California said the state is ready with a record number of emergency assets on the ground to respond to this storm. This is a serious storm with dangerous and potentially life-threatening impacts. Pay attention to any emergency orders or alerts from local officials, it added. California is ready with a record number of emergency assets on the ground to respond to this storm.This is a serious storm with dangerous and potentially life-threatening impacts. Pay attention to any emergency orders or alerts from local officials. pic.twitter.com/bozPzVJpi5 Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) February 4, 2024 According to the US broadcaster, further northwest in Ventura County, the flood threat has been labeled as considerable and is an extremely dangerous flood situation unfolding from the Santa Barbara area and nearby foothills. Local law enforcement reported numerous flooded roads, vehicles submerged, rock and mud slides, and quickly rising levels of area rivers, the US weather service said. Over 550,000 customers in the state now experiencing power outages as the state receives heavy rain and wind. As of 4:15 pm local time, over half a million customers are in the dark in many coastal and southern parts of California, according to PowerOutage.us. Multiple universities in the state of California are pivoting to online classes on Monday as the state expects to continue facing extreme wind and rain. (With agency inputs) Shellyne Rodriguez, a US professor who was previously caught on camera holding a machete to a reporters neck, has now been fired from another job after her anti-Israel rant. Earlier terminated from her position at a college in New York, Rodriguez was fired again from a role at Cooper Union in Manhattan. In May of last year, the 47-year-old Rodriguez was sacked by Hunter College after she threatened to chop up a reporter outside her apartment, who questioned her about a viral video in which she attacked Pro-Life students on campus. Hunter College professor Shellyne Rodriguez held a machete to a New York Post reporters neck.He questioned her about a viral video she was in where she attacked Pro-Life students on campus.#AttemptedMurder #TheViolentLeft pic.twitter.com/Au19xyWxnv Justin Theory (@realJustATheory) May 23, 2023 Dont bite your tongue Cooper Union has fired me because of a social media post I made about Zionists effective immediately, Rodriguez, wrote in a January 23 email to students, according to The New York Post. This is fascism. Yall are learning about it in real-time, Rodriguez wrote. Stay strong, [stay] brave, stay defiant, dont bite your tongue, and drink plenty of water! Pa-lante! This firing represents an intense escalation of McCarthyist repression meant to intimidate and punish those in support of a Free Palestine and must be resisted to prevent its further normalisation and the ongoing genocide in Gaza, Cooper Union Students for Justice in Palestine wrote. Reason for termination The reason for Rodriguezs latest sacking was not initially clear but came after she participated in a virtual panel on Palestine last month in which she spoke about the possibility of a boycott movement involving Jewish landlords or landlords who support Israel, the Post said. Her remarks included Rodriguez explaining, the idea that we could be a Trojan horse, that we are inside empire, and youre here to upend it. Of others supporting Israel, she told those on the panel, You probably wait tables where they go to brunch. Find them, go to their offices, dont let them sleep. This is one of many events linked to the war in Gaza, which began with Hamas Oct. 7 raid into southern Israel. Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped around 250 that day. Israel responded with an air and ground campaign that has so far killed over 27,000 Palestinians. Gazans have faced dire humanitarian conditions, and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said on X that there is very limited access to clean water and sanitation amid relentless bombardment. (With agency inputs) The US Senate on Sunday unveiled a $118 billion bipartisan border security bill that would also provide aid to Ukraine and Israel following months of negotiations. This sets off a long-shot effort to push the bill amid heavy skepticism from Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson. Weve reached an agreement on a bipartisan deal that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. And it includes support for Ukraine and Israel and provides humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people. I urge Congress to pass this bill immediately, President Joe Biden said in a statement. Weve reached an agreement on a bipartisan deal that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. And it includes support for Ukraine and Israel and provides humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people.I urge Congress to pass this bill immediately. pic.twitter.com/jGuiDDxIO9 President Biden (@POTUS) February 5, 2024 $60 Billion for Ukraine The national security supplemental legislation includes $60 billion in support for Ukraine, and $14.1 billion in security assistance to Israel, according to a summary released by Senate Appropriations Committee chair Patty Murray. The deal also includes $20.2 billion for US border security and a myriad of immigration policy changes agreed to by Democratic and Republican negotiators. An additional $10 billion would provide humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine. The US would provide $4.83 billion to support key regional partners in the Indo-Pacific where tensions have risen between Taiwan and China, as well as $2.33 billion for Ukrainians displaced by Russias invasion and other refugees fleeing persecution. Opposition from both sides Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he would take steps to hold an initial vote on the bill on Wednesday but faces opposition from both sides of the aisle. Independent US Senator Kyrsten Sinema told reporters the legislation would secure the southern border, including by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to close the border if there are an average of more than 5,000 crossing attempts per day over seven days. The priorities in this bill are too important to ignore and too vital to allow politics to get in the way, Schumer said in a statement. The United States and our allies are facing multiple, complex and, in places, coordinated challenges from adversaries who seek to disrupt democracy and expand authoritarian influence around the globe. Schumer said the agreement see more frontline personnel and asylum officers hired and new processes instituted to provide faster and fair immigration decisions. This moment demands American leadership.It demands the Senates decisive action. I have no doubt that the Senate can, once again, rise to the occasion and lead America forward. My statement on the Senates bipartisan agreement on the emergency national security supplemental: pic.twitter.com/hPSl6uHUCG Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 5, 2024 Mitch McConnell, the top Senate Republican, has been supportive of the negotiations, saying Republicans would not get a better deal under a Republican White House. But other congressional Republicans have said Biden can enact many of the changes they want to immigration policy through executive action, though they had previously called for legislative action. Biden had asked Congress in October to pass a measure providing additional funds for aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as Ukraine tries to repel Russian forces and following Oct. 7 raids by Hamas in Israel and a subsequent war. That request was stalled by House Republicans insistence that it be tied to a shift in immigration policy. Immigration is the second largest concern for Americans, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Wednesday. The US Border Patrol arrested about 2 million migrants at the border in fiscal year 2023. Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to challenge Biden in the November election, has campaigned heavily on opposition to immigration. (With agency inputs) Ex-policeman, who defected to Russian side during occupation of Izium, sentenced to 15 years in prison - prosecutor's office A panel of judges of Dzerzhynsky district Court of Kharkiv found guilty a former policeman of high treason committed under martial law (Part 2 of Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). "He was sentenced to 15 years in prison," the press service of Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office reports. As it was established, during the occupation of Izium, the accused, being a district police officer in the prevention sector of the district administration, voluntarily took a similar position in a pseudo-law enforcement agency created by the invaders. He went on duty as part of investigative task forces, kept records of unified accounting journals, and ensured public order for the occupation authorities. In addition, the accused agitated colleagues to swear allegiance to the Russian Federation and work in the occupation police. Subsequently, he went on a "promotion" and became a "senior district police commissioner of the department of district police commissioners for minors." After the liberation of Izium, the man was hiding from justice. Last October, he stepped on a Russian anti-personnel mine and suffered a traumatic amputation of his foot. After treatment, law enforcement officers detained him. At the hearing, the accused did not admit his guilt. The verdict has not entered into force. There is a deadline for an appeal. A pilot working for Delta airlines filed a lawsuit against an elevator company after a moving walkway at the Denver International Airport swallowed his foot whole last November. The incident happened when pilot Kenneth Gow was walking through Concourse A of the Denver airport and suddenly his foot caught on the end of a moving walkway. The walkway was missing a protective plate. The complaint alleged that Gows foot, shoe and sock were all severely damaged as his foot was trapped in the open slot. A pilot has filed a lawsuit after an airport travelator caught his leg.Kenneth Gough, a pilot from Utah, had an unfortunate incident at the airport in Denver, Colorado. When the man walked up the moving walkway, it pulled his leg. pic.twitter.com/pwZCOrlOpY Trending News (@Trend_War_Newss) February 5, 2024 Gow, who hails from Utah, originally filed the complaint against TK Elevator Corporation last December in Denver District Court. It was moved to Colorados federal district court last month due to several factors. ALSO READ | Rescuers Amputate Womans Leg Stuck in Airports Travelator in Bangkok A video of the incident shared by Australian broadcaster 9News shows a missing comb plate at the end of the walkway a few moments before Gow trips and falls. Following the incident, Gow visited a clinic in Utah where he was given physical therapy for the pain in his left ankle and left foot. He also sustained injuries to his left shoulder due to the fall, the lawsuit said. The medical reports diagnosed Gow suffered inflamed joints, a strained left Achilles tendon and bone contusions, as per the lawsuit. The lawsuit says that despite undergoing therapy he remains in serious pain. As the incident happened in Colorado and Gow and the walkway maker company are from different states, he is claiming more than $75,000 in damages due to which the case was removed from state to federal court, according to a report by The Denver Post. The pilot is seeking compensation for physical and emotional damages, as well as to cover doctors fees, prescriptions, hospital care, physical therapy and other medical procedures. The amount will be determined at trial. The case was reminiscent of the incident at Bangkoks Don Mueang airport in July last year where rescuers amputated the leg of a woman who got stuck in a travelator. High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, stopped in Poland on his way to Ukraine to consult with the Polish side on further support for Ukraine. Borrell said this at a joint press conference with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski in Warsaw on Monday. I am on my way to Ukraine. I am on my way to Kyiv, and I wanted to make a stop-over in Warsaw because certainly, we have to make consultations with our Polish friends in order to understand better what is going on in Ukraine and how we can continue our support, the High Representative said. According to him, during the negotiations with the Polish side, issues of "all forms of our support to Ukraine" were discussed: military, financial, rehabilitation, measures against Russia, the use of frozen assets. Allow me to recognise that Poland has demonstrated, since the beginning, a firm support for Ukraine from the day one. Hosting refugees, providing substantial military assistance, hosting the Headquarters of the training mission (EUMAM Ukraine), which will be training 40,000 Ukrainian soldiers, and offering a logistical hub for military supplies provided by all partners. It is a lot of effort that the Polish government and the Polish society have been doing. And I want to thank you for this important contribution to the overall European Union support to Ukraine. I think we can say that we agreed that not only we have to support Ukraine for as long as it takes, but for whatever it takes. It is not just a matter of time, it is a matter of quantity and quality of our supplies, Borrell said. At the same time, the EU High Representative said that we have to do more and quicker, because Ukraine has to prevail. Ukraine is fighting but it is also fighting for the European security, he stressed. Borrell also stated that it is necessary to think about the long-term perspective. Supporting Ukraine is first and foremost about helping Ukraine to defeat the invasion, but we have to think about how to reach peace and how we support Ukraines reconstruction process. I am going to Ukraine to discuss the ongoing [work on] EU security commitments, the High Representative explained. He also spoke about the need to continue to supply ammunition. I think that we will - with the support of Poland - reach a final agreement by early March on the proposed Ukraine Assistance Fund, within the European Peace Facility, and I count on the strong support from Poland. If we agree on that, it will ensure more predictability and sustainability for further support to Ukraine being co-financed by the European Union, Borrell stressed. Syndicates of health personnel at some of Harare City Council clinics are allegedly creating an artificial shortage of child health cards so they can sell them for between US$10 and US$20 to desperate parents. Child health cards are essential and are supposed to be provided for free and are often needed to prove a birth and, with the birth record and parents IDs, acquire birth certificates. Other requirements are a birth record and parents identification documents. In an investigation carried out by this publication at Warren Park Polyclinic, our reporter was linked to the syndicate by some local residents who supplied their contact details. Upon contacting one of them, a meeting was set up outside council premises at Magamba Hall where the transaction began. Our reporter then met a male nurse wearing a navy-blue uniform, who without hesitation and in haste requested US$20 for a single child health card. The fee was said to also cover for the filling in of details on the card including the childs date of birth and place, weight as well as routine checks ups since birth. Our reporter then negotiated and the price was subsequently lowered to US$10 which he paid in an instant while details for the form were being taken down. He was told to wait for five minutes for the card which was produced in that time. The reporter went on to verify details before it was taken for official stamping at a near-by private hospital and a few moments later, he was given the officially stamped child health card. The reporter then later contacted the referees to the syndicate who confirmed being given US$2 as a token of appreciation by the nurse for referring to a client. Ministry of Health and Child Care spokesperson Mr Donald Mujiri referred questions to Harare City Council director Dr Prosper Chonzi who yesterday confirmed that there were indeed anomalies which are now under investigation. Our team is on the ground right now in Warren Park. I am informed that there was a delivery done in October of cards which is failing to be accounted for. The ones which they are using right now were delivered in January so there is a discrepancy of births that occurred and cards used. It could be true that someone was hiding those cards and using them against our policy, he said. Dr Chonzi said the ones delivered in January are currently in use and no one should be made to pay anything. The team is currently at Warren Park going through everything, checking on each birth to see if it was given a child health card and serial numbers. But for now, they have cards for both boys and girls. There is something happening that we are investigating right now, he said. Zimbabwe Nurses Association president Mr Enock Dongo said nurses should immediately refrain from engaging in such unscrupulous acts. Government services which are supposed to be given to the public should be free and remain such that no one should sell Government products, which is criminal and unacceptable. As an association we do not support anyone who does criminal activities at work. We condemn that at the highest level. It is an abuse of Government resources depriving ordinary people who cannot pay, he said. Mr Dongo said nurses were essential services providers hence they should never jeopardise the trust bestowed on them by the public. We urge our nurses that they desist from doing that with immediate effect. Moreso nurses are respected cadres in the society and if the public lose confidence with them that is unacceptable, they should conduct themselves professionally, he said. Mr Dongo also said there was a need for the Government to ensure adequate supply of the cards at all times so that there is no room for exploitation. Combined Harare Residents Association director Reuben Akili said the creation of fake shortages by public health professionals was worrying. We have been working together with the city health department to some extent engaging the Home Affairs Ministry on this matter. This also included again the issue of faking the unavailability of birth records. Then at the end of the day people are fined. It is worrying, this a serious human rights violation in terms of issues relating to right to identity as provided for in the Constitution, he said. Mr Akili, however, said the trend was decreasing following engagements with the city health director. We cannot allow some individuals in councils to violate human rights willy nilly, he said. A top Government health official who preferred anonymity said there was indeed a time when the health cards were in short supply, but the situation was swiftly addressed. It is actually a shock worrying that something like that is happening. There was a temporary shortage of child health cards sometime last year, but was hurriedly resolved. So, it is unfortunate and shameful that some officials decided to take advantage of a past situation, said the source. Corruption has been rampant in the council-run local authorities, with this publication having exposed some of the scams. Some women who gave birth at Glen View, Mabvuku and Highfield suburbs claimed that health personnel at the clinics were demanding bribes to issue birth records. Council officials were said to be demanding kickbacks ranging between US$5 to US$10 to issue out birth records for newborn children which thus hindered many from accessing the critical birth certificates. Further allegations were that the clinic health personnel were also creating an artificial shortage of birth record books as a deliberate strategy of forcing desperate mothers to offer bribes. Herald Nelson Chamisa says that he is forming a unique political movement, which he described as a new door that has never been used. It is a beautiful answer to all our challenges. It is a new way of doing things what has not been seen or done before. Its a new door. A door that has never been used. I am ready to lead Zimbabwe and not a party. Zimbabwe needs a leader, a unifying leader, not a party leader. Since 1980, the office of prudency of this country has been occupied by a party leader instead of a national leader, he told The Standard. Chamisa yesterday launched a mobilisation drive for his new political movement that he says will be unveiled soon. Chamisa loyalists led by former legislators Amos Chibaya and Gift Ostallos Siziba yesterday addressed supporters in Mutare during the inaugural mobilisation programme for the new political movement. Other senior opposition figures who attended the meeting include former lawmakers Regai Tsunga and David Chimhini. Chikanga legislator Lynette Karenyi-Kore also attended the meeting. Siziba told NewsDay in an interview yesterday that CCC was a thing of the past to Chamisa and his supporters. We had a provincial meeting in Mutare which was attended by democrats from different spheres. We are setting the tone. We are giving people the new message of hope and the new Zimbabwe vision under president Chamisa. We need to continue to state the case of democracy in the face of a pure authoritarian consolidation. The democratic movement is under attack, but we need to continue to state the message that there must be a democratic change in this country despite the assault. We emphasise that Nelson Chamisa is the legitimate leader of the alternative, Siziba said. A rival faction has been making attempts to lure Chamisa to rejoin the party, but he has declined. Siziba said the pro-Chamisa campaigners would be holding similar meetings in all provinces with Masvingo being the next port of call. We are now building the new (sic) from the rubble. The remnants of the struggle, we are building from there. When Hiroshima falls there are rubbles that remain. CCC is no longer the vehicle for the future. The grassroots are clear. They are rallying behind Nelson Chamisa. They reaffirmed the social contract between them and their leader. The grassroots were also clear that even if the MPs whom they voted for remain in CCC, they will go with Chamisa. Quentin Tarantino is working on what will be his tenth film as a director, which he says will be his lastand according to reports in several media outlets, the movie will see the filmmaker reunited with Brad Pitt, who starred in Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds in 2009 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood in 2019. Deadline speculates Pitt will play the title character in the upcoming film, The Movie Critic, which Tarantino has said "is based on a guy who really lived but was never really famous, and he used to write movie reviews for [an adult film] rag." The movie is set in California in the 1970s, but little else is known beyond that, Variety reports. USA Today notes Tarantino had earlier said he'd be working with "a new leading man" who would be about 35 years old. Iran issued a warning Sunday to the US over potentially targeting two cargo ships in the Mideast long suspected of serving as forward operating bases for Iranian commandos. The warning came just after the US and the UK launched major airstrikes against Yemen's Houthi rebels. The statement from Iran on the Behshad and Saviz ships appeared to signal Tehran's growing unease over US strikes in recent days in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen targeting militias backed by the Islamic Republic. Attacks launched overnight Sunday struck across six provinces of Yemen held by the Houthis, including in Sanaa, the capital. The US said the strikes hit underground missile arsenals, launch sites, and helicopters. "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." 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." President Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, also warned the strikes may continue. The Behshad and Saviz are registered as commercial cargo ships with a Tehran-based company that the US Treasury Department has sanctioned as a front for the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines, per the AP. 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 the video statement Sunday by Iran's regular army, a narrator for the first time describes the vessels as "floating armories." (More Israel-Hamas war stories.) Op-eds are known to occasionally provoke, but after a weekend column in the Wall Street Journal, a Michigan city now says it needs law enforcement to step in. The mayor of Dearborn, Abdullah Hammoud, announced in a Saturday social media post that police would be upping their presence at "all places of worship and major infrastructure points" in the city after the Journal piece that he says prompted "an alarming increase in bigoted and Islamophobic rhetoric," reports CBS News . The opinion piece , titled "Welcome to Dearborn, America's Jihad Capital," accused local politicians and imams of supporting Hamas in the Israel-Hamas war and noted, "Support for terrorism in southern Michigan has long been a concern for US counterterrorism officials." The op-ed, written by Steven Stalinsky, head of the Middle East Media Research Institute, went on to detail "local enthusiasm for jihad against Israel and the West" and concluded: "What's happening in Dearborn isn't simply a political problem for Democrats. It's potentially a national-security issue affecting all Americans." In a statement, Hammoudthe city's first Muslim and Arab-American mayor, per the Detroit Free Pressslammed the column, noting, "This is more than irresponsible journalism. Publishing such inflammatory writing puts our residents at increased risk for harm." Stalinsky tells the AP that he simply wanted to highlight demonstrations held in Dearborn and elsewhere in the US. "Nothing in my article was written to instigate any sort of hate," he says. "This is a moment for counterterrorism officials to be concerned." Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appeared to push back on the piece, though she didn't name it specifically. "Dearborn is a vibrant community full of Michiganders who contribute day in and day out to our state," she wrote Sunday on X. "Islamophobia and all forms of hate have no place in Michigan, or anywhere. Period." President Biden put up a similarly worded post, noting this kind of thing "shouldn't happen to the residents of Dearbornor any American town." (More Wall Street Journal stories.) The European Commission announced on Monday the signing of a guarantee agreement with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to support investments for the recovery of Ukraine. "Through the agreement the European Union will provide up to EUR 90 million in financial guarantees to support investments in Ukraine to IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, as part of IFC's Better Futures Program (BFP)," according to a joint statement of the parties published in Brussels. Private investment under the program is expected to exceed EUR 500 million across all sectors, including core infrastructure and goods production, promoting decarbonization and sustaining livelihoods, the document notes. The European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) is part of the European Union's investment framework. It supports public and private investment in partner countries around the world by providing financial guarantees, blended finance and technical assistance to promote inclusive economic development, Brussels explains. Financial guarantees under EFSD+ are legally binding agreements under which the EU agrees to pay the amount due in the event of financial losses that creditors may face. / What to Know About the New Border Bill Senate bill sets migrant thresholds for closing the border, as House speaker calls it 'dead on arrival' UPDATE Feb 22, 2024 12:53 PM CST First, Dartmouth. Now, Yale. The latter has become the second Ivy League institution to reverse course and require standardized testing for incoming students, reports the New York Times. Both were among schools that ditched SAT and ACT requirements during the pandemic. Yale will allow students to submit scores from the Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate tests in place of SAT or ACT scores if they wish. Feb 5, 2024 8:36 AM CST College hopefuls got a bit of a reprieve from standardized testing during the peak of the pandemic, but one Ivy League institution is now about to put an end to that. The Wall Street Journal reports that Dartmouth College will once more require SAT or ACT scores to be submitted with student applications, noting that research shows such test scores are a helpful determinant in whether students at the New Hampshire school will succeed in their first year there. "I've become less convinced that [test] optional is working for us at Dartmouth," Lee Coffin, VP and dean of admissions and financial aid, tells the paper. "We're reanimating the policy based on evidence." The Israeli-Hamas war appears to be hurting the bottom line of McDonald's. The chain said Monday that global same-store sales missed expectations, and the Gaza conflict is seen as a big factor, reports the Wall Street Journal. The trouble began last year when McDonald's announced it was providing free meals to Israeli soldiers, per the AP. That led to boycotts from those who accused the chain of taking sides in the war, which CEO Chris Kempczinski called "misinformation" in a statement last month. UPDATE Feb 6, 2024 6:25 PM CST Tucker Carlson has confirmed that he is going to interview Vladimir Putin during his visit to Russia. The former Fox News host will be the first Western journalist to interview the Russian leader since the invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago, the BBC reports. "Most Americans have no idea why Putin invaded Ukraine or what his goals are now," Carlson said in a video posted on X Tuesday. "Americans have a right to know all they can about a war they are implicated in." Carlson, who has previously expressed support for Putin and slammed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a "dictator, said the interview would air on X and TuckerCarlson.com, CNBC reports. Feb 5, 2024 11:34 AM CST Tucker Carlson is taking in the sights in Moscow, which is leading to more than a little tongue-wagging that he's just there as a tourist. "It is beautiful," Carlson told the Izvestia newspaper. "I just wanted to see it because, you know, I have read so much about it, but I have never seen it before." But as Reuters reports, the ex-Fox News pundit, when asked if he was in town to interview a certain Vladimir Putin, just smiled and said, "We'll see." The Kremlin, Reuters notes, was equally evasive, with a rep saying that "many foreign journalists come to Russia every day, many continue to work here, and we welcome this. We have nothing to announce in terms of the president's interviews to foreign media." US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday on his fifth visit to the region since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, hoping to press ahead with a potential ceasefire deal and postwar planning while tamping down regional tensions. But on all three fronts he faces major challenges: Hamas and Israel are publicly at odds over key elements of a potential truce. Israel has dismissed US calls for a path to a Palestinian state, and Iran's militant allies in the region have shown little sign of being deterred by US strikes. In Gaza, meanwhile, the AP reports that Hamas has begun to re-emerge in some of the most devastated areas after Israeli forces pulled back, an indication that Israel's central goal of crushing the group remains elusive. Blinken was expected to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi officials say the kingdom is still interested in normalizing relations with Israel in a potentially landmark deal, but only if there is a credible plan to create a Palestinian state. But any such grand bargain appears a long way off as the war still rages in Gaza, where 113 bodies were brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours alone, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory. It says another 205 people were wounded. The fatalities bring the overall Palestinian death toll from nearly four months of war to 27,478. A video circulating online Monday showed masked gunmen leading a line of shirtless detainees past bombed-out buildings in northern Gaza, forcing them to shout out that they are thieves. It was the latest sign that Hamas is reasserting control in parts of the north. Residents say Hamas-led security forces, which numbered in the tens of thousands before the war, have begun to reappear in some areas where they focus on distributing civil salaries and cracking down on looters. Meeting with troops on Monday, PM Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had defeated 18 of Hamas' 24 battalions, without providing evidence. "We are on the way to absolute victory, and I want to tell you that we are committed to it and we will not give it up." (More Antony Blinken stories.) After Donald Trump's civil fraud trial in New York concluded, Judge Arthur Engoron said he would try to rule by Jan. 31, but we're now into February with no ruling. Alfred Baker, a spokesperson for New York's Office of Court Administration, says a ruling is now expected in mid-February under the "working timeline," USA Today reports. Engoron has already determined that Trump and his company committed fraud by inflating property valuations. His ruling will include a financial penalty for Trump as well a possible ban on Trump doing business in the state and clarification for an order of "dissolution" of his New York companies. New York Attorney General Letitia James has called for a penalty of $370 million. One reason for the delay could be a potential perjury charge against Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organization's former chief financial officer. Sources tell the AP that prosecutors are weighing the charge against Weisselberg in connection with testimony he delivered during the fraud trial. Weisselberg testified for two days in October, and it's not clear which of his statements prosecutors are looking at, though the New York Times reports that he "abruptly stopped testifying" after a Forbes article alleged that he had lied under oath when he claimed he "never focused" on the value of Trump's apartment in Trump Tower. Sources tell the Times that Weisselberg is negotiating a plea deal under which he would have to admit that he lied on the witness stand. Weisselberg, 76, spent 100 days in jail last year after pleading guilty to charges including tax fraud. The Times notes that the company gave him a $2 million severance package that included a requirement for him not to cooperate with any law enforcement investigations unless legally required to do so. (More Trump New York fraud trial stories.) The owner of Snapchat is cutting approximately 10% of its worldwide workforce, or about 530 employees, the latest tech company to announce layoffs. Snap Inc. said in a regulatory filing that it currently estimates $55 million to $75 million in charges, mostly for severance and related costs. It expects the majority of the costs to be incurred in the first quarter. This isn't the first time Snap has eliminated jobs, the AP reports. The Santa Monica, California-based company announced in August 2022 that it planned to cut about 20% of its global workforce. In the third quarter of 2023, it began winding down its AR Enterprise business, which included reducing its global employee headcount by approximately 3%, according to a regulatory filing. There are 406 million daily average users that use Snapchat every day, on avarege, according to Snap's website. It has more than 7 million Snapchat+ subscribers. Snap is expected to report its fourth-quarter and full-year financial results on Tuesday after the markets close. Snap is among several in the tech industry announcing layoffs. Microsoft is laying off some 1,900 employees in its gaming division, according to an internal company memo. Online retailer eBay Inc. will cut about 1,000 jobs, or an estimated 9% of its full-time workforce. And Google has said that it was laying off hundreds of employees working on its hardware, voice assistance, and engineering teams. Other companies that have announced layoffs include TikTok, Amazon divisions Twitch and Audible, and Riot Games. (More Snap Inc. stories.) A former Trump administration official shot during a carjacking rampage last Monday died of his injuries five days later. Mike Gill, a married 56-year-old father of three, served as chief operating officer for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He was shot in his new Jeep on Monday as he was waiting to pick up his wife, Kristina, from her law office in downtown Washington, DC, the Washington Post reports. "It is with profound sadness that I wish to inform the community of the passing of my husband," she said Saturday. Gill also worked for the Housing Policy Council and served three terms as a DC election official. "Mike demonstrated a passionate pursuit of equity and a commitment to public service throughout his professional career which he mirrored in his private life as a devoted husband, father, and friend," CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam said in a statement. Police say Gill was shot by 28-year-old Artell Cunningham, who was killed by officers in New Carrollton, Maryland, early Tuesday. Cunningham shot Gill just a minute after he got into his vehicle and then ran away, police say. Around an hour after Gill was shot, Cunningham killed another man, 35-year-old Alberto Vasquez, in a downtown DC carjacking, police say. Police say Cunningham killed Vasquez, the father of two young girls, in front of his girlfriend after Vasquez handed his car keys over, NBC Washington reports. Police say Cunningham carried out two other carjackings and shot at officers during a string of crimes that began with Gill's shooting. Police say they think Cunningham was mentally ill and did not know any of his victims. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described Gill as "wonderful and brilliant" and a "highly respected member" of his administration. Gill was a "SPECIAL PERSON," Trump said, adding that the "Federal Government must take over D.C." (More carjacking stories.) Today we still have high rates for mail service, but the long delivery times have greatly improved. It is amazing to think how fast all those parcels and printed material arrive today, and how dependent we are on the modern U.S. Postal Service. Weve come a long way since the old days. This express History Nugget has been brought to you by the Fairbanks Igloos of the Pioneers of Alaska. You can learn more about them at pioneersofalaska.org. Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference 'Citizens' assessment of the situation in the country and the actions of the authorities. Trust in social institutions, politicians, officials and public figures' On Wednesday, February 7, at 13.00, the press centre of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference entitled "Citizens' assessment of the situation in the country and the actions of the authorities. Trust in social institutions, politicians, officials and public figures" based on the results of a poll conducted by the Razumkov Centre sociological service from January 19 to January 25, 2024. The public opinion poll was conducted by Razumkov Centre as a part of its project implemented under the USAID/ENGAGE activity, which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Pact. The contents of the Results are the sole responsibility of Pact and its implementing partners and do not necessary reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government. Participants include President of the Razumkov Centre Yuriy Yakymenko; Director of the Razumkov Centre sociological service Andriy Bychenko; Chairman of the Board of the Centre for Applied Political Surveys "Penta" Volodymyr Fesenko (8/5a Reitarska Street). The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot with editorial IDs. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 5. Azerbaijanis living in Estonia will support the candidacy of President Ilham Aliyev in the extraordinary presidential election scheduled for February 7, said a statement of the House of Azerbaijan in Estonia, Trend reports. Furthermore, Fuad Aydinbeyzade, the head of the Azerbaijan National Association Queensland (ANAQ), Australia, emphasized that Azerbaijanis residing in the country take pride in the accomplishments of Azerbaijan as a sovereign nation, led by President Ilham Aliyev. Specifically, they commend the liberation of ancestral Azerbaijani territories from Armenian occupation. "We are confident that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan will make even more significant growth and development," said Aydinbeyzade. Ulviya Jabbarova, the supervisor of the Coordination Council of Scandinavian Azerbaijanis in Finland, head of the Azerbaijan House in Helsinki, and chairwoman of the Azer-Turk Youth Organization, extended her best wishes to Ilham Aliyev for success in the presidential election as the leader of the victorious nation. "I am sure that our people, experiencing the joy of victory President Ilham Aliyev gifted us, will always proudly voice the words of genius personality, National Leader Heydar Aliyev "I am proud to be an Azerbaijani!"," Jabbarova emphasized. Zumrud Dadashova, the supervisor of the Coordination Council of Azerbaijanis in Arab Countries for Jordan (Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan), also conveyed her assurance that the Azerbaijani people's choice for a victorious leader will undoubtedly be President Ilham Aliyev. "We are proud to say that we support the candidacy of Ilham Aliyev in the extraordinary presidential election under the motto 'Continuing the victorious path!'" Dadashova said. Hajar Gala, the Chairman of the Cultural Association of Azerbaijanis in Australia, expressed her wholehearted support for the candidacy of Ilham Aliyev. "Ilham Aliyev's innovative program and superb diplomacy resulted in the effective liberation of lands that had been occupied for three decades. We are certain that, based on this achievement, our people will once again place their trust in Ilham Aliyev at the next election," Gala emphasized. Sedat Shamilli, the Chairman of the Khari Bulbul Cultural Association of World Azerbaijanis in the Polish city of Krakow, expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for his dedicated efforts in service to the motherland and the people. Particularly noteworthy was the acknowledgment of President Aliyev's significant role in the complete liberation of Karabakh from Armenian occupation. "We will always support Ilham Aliyev's policy and do our best to promote and represent our motherland in Poland," Shamilli said. Isai Aronovich Skvirsky, who lives in the Israeli city of Netanya and is the holder of the Golden Badge and diploma "Honorary Baku resident and the title "Ambassador of Peace", mentioned in his address to President Ilham Aliyev that he was born in Baku in 1936. He graduated from secondary school No. 6 in 1955, graduated from Azerbaijan Technical University in 1960, and worked in high positions in the Ministry of Industrial Construction from 1960 to 1996. "Having had the privilege of meeting the esteemed National Leader Heydar Aliyev on multiple occasions, I currently reside in Israel. I firmly believe that, especially in challenging times, Azerbaijan requires a robust leader like President Ilham Aliyev, who has successfully restored the country's territorial integrity. I urge all voters to make the prudent choice for the continued prosperity of our shared homeland, Azerbaijan," Skvirsky added. Residing in Riyadh, Kamalya Mejidli underscored the commitment of Azerbaijanis living in Saudi Arabia to endorse the candidacy of Ilham Aliyev in the upcoming extraordinary presidential election. "President Ilham Aliyev has restored historical justice, demonstrating to the world that no external power can derail Azerbaijan from its rightful path. We are deeply grateful to our leader for winning a resounding victory for us. May God continue to illuminate his path!" Mejidli said. Eluja Atali, a writer residing in Stockholm, Sweden, highlighted that the upcoming extraordinary presidential election on February 7 marks the first election since the liberation of her native Karabakh. "Respected Mr. President, as a military commander, you have successfully liberated our lands from occupation and restored the integrity of our country! I am confident in your victory in the upcoming election," Atali said. Elkhan Gahramanli, the supervisor of the Coordinating Council of Azerbaijanis for Australia and the countries in Oceania for Malaysia, is optimistic that a president to be elected on February 7 will guide Azerbaijan to even greater successes and steadfastly defend the interests of the Azerbaijani people. "As a fellow Azerbaijani, I stand in support of President Ilham Aliyev in this pivotal and historic election," Gahramanli said. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, yesterday received a cable of congratulations from Commander-in-Chief of Bahrain Defence Force, His Excellency Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa on the 56th anniversary of the establishment of BDF. HM the King also received a cable of congratulations from His Highness General Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa, the National Guard Commander, on the event. Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa extended, on behalf of all BDF personnel, congratulations to HM the King on the occasion which falls on February 5, hailing HM the Kings role in establishing the BDF. He reiterated the BDF personnels allegiance to HM the King and their commitment to serving their nation. HM the King sent a cable of thanks in reply to the BDF Commander-in-Chiefs cable, hailing the BDF for pivotal role in defending the nation. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Aluminium Bahrain (Alba)s Chief Executive Officer Ali Al Baqali proudly recognised nine national Alba employees for successfully completing their Professional Diploma in Waste Management (PDWM) from Arabian Gulf University (AGU) in a ceremony held on 01 February 2024 at the Companys premises. The certificate is offered by AGUs Department of Natural Resources & Environment, College of Graduate Studies, supported by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). With seven more Alba employees currently enrolled in the same certification, Alba has underlined its commitment to the third pillar of its Environment, Social and governance (ESG) Roadmap Circular Economy and Secondary Aluminium, by equipping its employees from diverse functions with the knowhows that will boost sustainable, innovative and integrated waste management practices in Alba. Investigative report shows FLO only charging network without issues in surprise EV charging test QUEBEC CITY, Feb. 5, 2024 /CNW/ - FLO, a leading North American electric vehicle (EV) charging company and a smart charging solutions provider, solidified its standing as the most reliable EV charging network following a surprise Canadian Broadcast Company (CBC) investigation. Conducted by CBC's Marketplace, known for its consumer-focused investigative journalism, the investigation revealed FLO as the sole charging network among those tested that performed without any reliability issues during the investigation -- Putting Electric Vehicles to the Test: Are We Ready for 2035. FLO Demonstrates Unrivaled Reliability in CBC Marketplace Investigation (CNW Group/FLO) From the Marketplace report: "The team encountered some sort of challenge at seven of the 12 stations. The seven included one Ivy station, three ChargePoint and three Petro-Canada locations. The challenges included needing multiple attempts in order to start or end a charging session as well as problems completing payment through an app or credit card reader. At two of the locations (ChargePoint and Petro-Canada), the team could not charge at all. No charging hiccups occurred at the FLO locations visited." Louis Tremblay, President and CEO of FLO, emphasized the company's unwavering commitment to reliability, "Achieving great uptime for FLO is not just an accident, it's an obsession at FLO, and it shows. We're leading the EV charging industry with a 98%+ charging network uptime. Going head-to-head with a few of our biggest competitors, FLO emerged as the undisputed leader, demonstrating that reliability is not merely a promise, but a reality for our users." "When people ask how FLO can achieve high reliability when others cannot, I tell them it is the strength of FLO's Network Operations System," said Martin Briere, FLO Chief Network and Experience Officer. "We monitor all the chargers on the FLO Network 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This allows us to quickly resolve any issues that may come up. This CBC report shows FLO is leading the way in reliability. We know 98%+ uptime is achievable and we think it should be the norm." For more on FLO's products and mission, please visit flo.com. About FLO FLO is a leading North American electric vehicle (EV) charging network operator and a smart charging solutions provider. We help to overcome climate change and accelerate EV adoption through a vertically integrated business model and by delivering EV drivers the best charging experience from curbside to countryside. Every month, we enable more than 1.5 million charging events thanks to over 100,000 fast and level 2 EV charging stations deployed at public, private and residential locations. FLO operates its network across North America and our high-quality charging stations are assembled with care in Michigan and Quebec. To learn more about what "EV charging done right" means to us, visit flo.com. SOURCE FLO For further information: Andrea Knapp, [email protected] BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 5. The investigation is ongoing into the detention of a Czech Republic citizen for illegally crossing the border from Armenia into Azerbaijan, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani State Security Service (SSS). The security service is actively pursuing investigative and operational inquiries into the criminal case initiated in connection with this incident. Previously disseminated information indicates that the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Azerbaijan was notified about the apprehension of the individual in question. A Czech citizen was apprehended in Azerbaijan on February 3 after illicitly crossing the border from Armenia. The individual traversed through territory mined by Armenians on the Azerbaijani side of the border. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel In Feb 2023, Remilk received a "No Questions Letter" from the FDA and the Singapore Food Agency's approval. The company made headlines again in April as the first to receive regulatory approval of its kind in Israel. Now, it is the first company producing animal-identical protein to receive Health Canada's No Objection Letter. The letter opens Canada's door for use of Remilk's protein in a variety of products with the same taste and texture as milk, ice cream, yogurt, cream cheese, and more, while free of lactose, cholesterol, and growth hormones, and with significant nutritional and environmental benefits. "This is an important day for us at Remilk, and a historic one for Canada as it opens its doors to the new-dairy revolution. We developed a strategic roadmap for regulatory approvals around the world, recognizing that CPG companies seek solutions that benefit consumers throughout North America. We prioritized Canada in our regulatory strategy, following the green light from the FDA," said Aviv Wolff, Remilk's Co-Founder and CEO. "There's a lot to love in dairy, which is why we set out to create a solution that will enable consumers to enjoy the taste of the dairy they love, without dairy's environmental and health-related drawbacks. The recognition from Health Canada - which follows years of R&D and major investments by Remilk - led to this pivotal moment, enabling a substantial market entry." Remilk's animal-free BLG milk protein is equivalent to its cow-derived counterpart, but it is produced without a single cow, via precision fermentation. The company manufactures its protein at commercial scale in several locations around the world. "Health Canada's acceptance of our animal-free protein is additional validation of its safety and purity. Canada's is the fourth separate health administration to conduct thorough examinations of our protein and each, individually, found it to be equivalent to its traditional counterpart," said Dr. Ori Cohavi, Co-Founder and CTO at Remilk. "Regulatory approvals serve to not only open new markets for the sale of our proteins but, also, as reassurance for both industry and consumers that our protein is the same milk protein they have been consuming and enjoying for decades." "Canada is an important market for us, and we are proud to be the first to enter with an opportunity to deliver an unparalleled dairy experience for Canadians. We are now ready to partner with leading food companies in the country and offer consumers a whole new experience of guilt-free indulgence," added Wolff. "Remilk's animal-free protein represents a breakthrough. We're creating the new generation of food that is not only delicious and nutritious, but significantly more sustainable, and kind to our planet and animals." About Remilk Remilk is a global leader in the development of animal-free dairy. The company was founded by CEO Aviv Wolff, an entrepreneur behind several business and social initiatives, and CTO Ori Cohavi, PhD in Biochemistry, who has worked in R&D at a variety of biotech firms. They founded Remilk driven by a shared dedication to reinvent dairy, by removing cows from the milk-making process. Remilk produces dairy-identical milk proteins through precision fermentation and has developed a unique and patented approach to scalable manufacturing which requires a fraction of Earth's resources compared to traditional dairy. it also dramatically increases efficiency in production and, for the first time in history, eliminates the need for dairy cows in industrial-scale dairy production. Dairy made with Remilk's animal-free protein is rich and creamy, providing consumers with the dairy experience they know and love, but free of lactose, cholesterol, hormones, and antibiotics. Remilk is real dairy, no cows. Media Contact: barbara@seymourpr.com SOURCE Remilk Taking place in Bengaluru the "Silicon Valley of India" the GBF will focus on investment opportunities in the state of Karnataka and position India as an investment destination NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2024 /CNW/ -- World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) an international trade organization connecting more than 300 World Trade Center (WTC) locations in nearly 100 countries and World Trade Center Bengaluru will host the 54th annual WTCA Global Business Forum (GBF) in Bengaluru, India from March 3-6. This will be the first time WTCA presents its newly rebranded Global Business Forum (formerly called the "General Assembly") in India to focus on the B2B aspect of the event. The rebrand further accentuates WTCA's core mission, "Connecting Businesses Globally," by shifting focus to the expansion of Members' international trade presence and integration into various global supply chains. The association's premier annual event will bring together WTCA Members and their global networks consisting of leaders in business, government, academia, media and international organizations reflecting WTCA's diverse global footprint. Over 80 WTC businesses from 30 countries/territories have already confirmed their participation with more to follow. This includes representations from: Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China Mainland, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Ghana, Guyana, Iraq, Ireland, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Palestine, Panama, the Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Syria, Taiwan, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Vietnam and Yemen, with several WTC businesses bringing delegations to participate in the B2B matchmaking aspect of the event. With the theme of "EPIC: Empowering Progress through Innovation & Collaboration," the Forum will feature an engaging keynote address and panel discussions, including a special address from the Honorable Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri. Siddaramaiah and felicitations from the Honorable Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri. D.K. Shivakumar on Monday, March 4. Romal Shetty, CEO of Deloitte South Asia, will provide the keynote address to set the theme of this year's GBF and unveil the new Deloitte research report ''India as an Investment Destination.'' Other notable speakers include M.R. Jaishankar, Executive Chairman, Brigade Enterprises Limited who will provide the opening address alongside John E. Drew, Chair, WTCA Board of Directors. A robust agenda of panel discussions on AI & tech start-ups, exporting overseas, agritech, and real estate will include moderators and panelists: Nirupa Shankar, Joint Managing Director, Brigade Enterprises Limited and Brigade REAP; Remy Swaab, Vice-Chair, WTCA (WTC Panama); Uma Reddy, Vice President, Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FKCCI); Prashanth Gokhale, President, Buhler Group India Private Limited; Pavitra Shankar, Managing Director, Brigade Enterprises Limited; Mr. Naresh V. Narasimhan, Managing Partner & Principal Architect, Venkataramanan and Associates (VA); Dr. R. Srinivas, Subject Matter Expert on Smart Cities; and Dr. Tuan Anh, CIO/CXO, Becamex (WTC Binh Duong New City). "This year's GBF will not only showcase India, specifically Karnataka, as a rising investment destination of the world, but also serve to strengthen relationships between industry leaders," said Vineet Verma, Managing Director of World Trade Center Bengaluru, Chennai and Kochi; and newly-appointed WTCA Board Member. "This will be an invaluable opportunity to interact with leading innovators and invest in India's growing economy backed by our dynamic and skilled workforce." The Forum will demonstrate the strength of the global WTCA network, facilitate business relationships and focus on investment opportunities in Karnataka across 12 diverse industry sectors including: Agriculture & Food Processing; Automotive; Aviation & Aerospace; Biotech; Education; Heavy Engineering; IT, ITeS & Electronics; Manufacturing; Real Estate & Construction; Tech Startups; Textile & Garments; and Travel & Tourism. In partnership with the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC), the event will offer onsite B2B matchmaking services, connecting international delegates with business opportunities in the state of Karnataka. The full GBF program agenda is available here. India stands as the world's fifth largest economy by nominal GDP, and the third largest by purchasing power parity. Bengaluru, often referred to as the "Silicon Valley of India," is renowned for its cutting-edge advancements and innovation hub status. The GBF's strategic location in Bengaluru will afford WTCA Members and attending delegates with the opportunity to tap into the region's dynamic and rapidly growing business landscape. "India is experiencing rapid economic growth, coupled with a surging demand for commercial infrastructure and global business connectivity. As a result, our network has grown phenomenally in the country during the past decade. Today, we have our second largest membership cluster here with 40 Members representing most of India's major cities and contributing to India's sustainable development," said John E. Drew, Chair, WTCA Board of Directors. "Bengaluru's entrepreneurial spirit makes it an ideal setting for fostering synergies and exploring lucrative business opportunities in one of the world's most promising economic regions." For more information about the 2024 WTCA Global Business Forum, please visit https://wtca.swoogo.com/2024gbf/4132448. Also, follow along on social media via #WTCAEvents. MEDIA CONTACTS: World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) Chanelle Dimalanta Phone: +1 212 432 2644 Email: [email protected] Violet PR Kate Traina Phone: +1 908 967 2117 Email: [email protected] About World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is a network of more than 300 highly connected, mutually supporting businesses and organizations in 91 countries. As the owner of the "World Trade Center" and "WTC" trademarks, WTCA licenses exclusive rights to these brands for Members to use in conjunction with their independently owned, iconic properties, facilities and trade services offerings. Through a robust portfolio of events, programming and resources that it offers its Members, the goal of WTCA is to help local economies thrive by encouraging and facilitating trade and investment across the globe through Member engagement. To learn more, visit www.wtca.org. About World Trade Center (WTC) Bengaluru World Trade Center (WTC) Bengaluru is a licensed member of the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA), headquartered in New York. Promoted by the Brigade Group, it was set up in 2010 to help develop an international business platform specific to the region of Bengaluru and Karnataka as a whole. WTC Bengaluru meets specific needs of its clients & partner organizations by providing international market research, business matchmaking and connections to valuable public and private resources, as well as through the planning of strategic trade missions, trade educational programs and networking events. In addition to Bengaluru, the Brigade Group has operational WTC businesses in Chennai & Kochi along with upcoming locations in Hyderabad, Devanahalli and Thiruvananthapuram. To learn more, visit www.wtcbengaluru.org. SOURCE World Trade Centers Association BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 5. Chairmen of Central Election Commissions (CEC) of several countries and heads of observation missions have arrived in Azerbaijan in connection with the upcoming February 7 extraordinary presidential election, Trend reports, referring to the ''Election-2024'' Independent Media Center. According to the information, among them are CIS Secretary General Sergey Lebedev and Head of CIS Secretariat Sergey Burutin, Montenegro CEC Chairman Nicola Mugosa, OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Yousef AlDobeay and Head of Election Observation Department of OIC Secretariat Shakir Mahmoud Bandar, Georgian CEC Chairman Giorgi Kalandarishvili and several members of the Commission, Kazakhstan CEC Chairman Nurlan Abdirov and several representatives of the Commission, members of CECs of Ukraine and Maldives, representatives of CIS Parliamentary Assembly. It is expected that they will meet with several election officials. ''Election 2024'' Independent Media Center was launched by the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki on Sunday described the resignation of his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, as chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, committee for ward congresses in the state as unfortunate. The six-man-committee was to conduct congresses in the 192 wards across the Edo State to elect delegates that would nominate the partys candidate for the September 21 governorship election. PDP has slated its primary for February 22, 2024, ahead of the September 21, governorship election. Other members of the committee are the governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah as vice chairman, Dr Agbu Kefas, Taraba State governor, Hon Marie Ebikan and Hon Pascal Adigwe. Makinde hinged his resignation on the alleged irregularities on the list of appointed electoral officers. He also alleged that the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly was leading the team of Electoral Officers in his own Local Government Area, Owan West. Obaseki, who spoke while addressing journalists after the election of three delegates at the PDP Ward Congress election in Ward 4 of Oredo Local Government Area, noted that the resignation of Makinde from the exercise does not affect the credibility of the process. It is unfortunate that Makinde withdrew, there are three governors and he is only one of three, so withdrawing does not really remove the credibility of the process and it is not just the process and what makes a process credible is the quality of the participation. You can see for yourself. So it is unfortunate that Governor Makinde had to take such decision but I hope that all our efforts to continue to unify the party and pacify all players would continue. We are not deterred at all, we are going to make sure that PDP plays its role in the politics of this country. You can also see from the crowd that the exercise is a huge as regards the turn out. We have over 600 people coming out to participate here, our people are now very politically conscious. We are happy with this turn out to elect delegates for a our gubernatorial primary, and we are also expecting this huge turnout in the main election, he said. Obaseki, however, commended the party faithful for coming out enmasse to exercise their franchise in electing delegates for the governorship primary. The governor, who also spoke on the non participation of members of the Legacy Coalition of the party, noted that no exercise can be hundred per cent successful. He added that the crisis in the party is overhyped and not as fundamental as people were made to believe The crisis in PDP in the state is hyped. It is not as fundamental as it is made to look on ground. There is very little crisis. The crisis is fanned from outside and our people are smarter than that. You will see that during the main election, we are not going to allow ourselves to be sold, he stated Meanwhile, nine governorship aspirants on the platform of the party also petitioned the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party in Abuja to protest against the composition of the committee to conduct the delegates election. The aspirants who signed the protest letter are Philip Shaibu the deputy governor of the state, Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, Anselm Ojezua, Felix Akhabue, Martin Uhomoibhi, Hajia Hadizat Umoru, Omosede Igbinedion, Earl Osaro Onaiwu and Arthur Esene. DAILY POST, while monitoring the ward delegates congress in Benin metropolis, noted that in spite of the Makindes resignation from the committee and the protest by nine governorship aspirants, the exercise still held. At Gorege Idah Primart School, Benin City, some party faithful arrived at the venue of the congress as early as 7 am. Speaking with newsmen, Victor Enoghama, Special Adviser to the state governor on Political Matters, Edo South Senatorial District, described the exercise as democracy in action. This is democracy where our people come to exercise their franchise, we appreciate this turnout, our party is known for its principles which is fairness, equity and justice, he added. At Ward 7, at Ugbekun Primary School in Ikpoba-Okha local government, Dr. Major Itemowe led others to conduct the exercise while in Oluku Ward, Hon Kunle Koya from Lagos State conducted the exercise. The ward congress is to elect a total of 576 ad-hoc delegates that would elect a governorship candidate for the party on February 22, 2023. The federal government has announced plans to reform the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to make it a revenue-generating agency. Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, the Minister of Youth Development, made the disclosure while speaking on Channels Televisions Sunday Politics programme. The minister also explained that the Federal Government was working on reforming the NYSC scheme to reflect the present realities of the nation. She further explained that they all understand that resources were dwindling, stressing that they would find innovative ways of ensuring that corps members welfare is well-taken care of. According to her, The reforms will transform the NYSC into a revenue-generating agency and prepare the corps members for the job market and to be decently and gainfully employed or to be employers of labour through entrepreneurship all the support they need in that career path. She also disclosed that corps members were no longer posted to states deemed unsafe in the wake of worsening insecurity in the country. The minister explained that the security of corps members required collaboration with other agencies of government. King Charles III has been diagnosed with a form of cancer, Buckingham Palace revealed in a statement on its website on Monday. This is coming after the King visited a London hospital last month for a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, says more than 50 per cent of certificates of pharmaceutical products that are imported into Nigeria are fake. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this at the stakeholders engagement meeting with regulators, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies on Monday in Abuja. The certificate of a pharmaceutical product is issued in the format recommended by the World Health Organisation, WHO, and it establishes the status of the pharmaceutical product and the applicant for the certificate in the exporting country. It is for a single product only since manufacturing arrangements and approved information for different dosage forms and different strengths can vary. Adeyeye said that substandard and falsified products threaten access to safe efficacious and affordable medicines, and undermine the achievement of universal health coverage in Nigeria, and Africa. Adeyeye said, We have 55 countries in Africa and we belong to the Member States globally and we agreed to ensure that products coming to the region are of quality and WHO created a scheme called certificate of pharmaceutical product, and what this means is that if we send a certificate of pharmaceutical product out to another country, we are assuring the receiving country that it will be of quality. Most of our medicines come from South East Asia and we belong to the member states too. We have a scheme where before medicines that were approved leave that part of the world, we do pre-shipment testing, and that comes with CPP to assure us of quality, but that is not the case, because through our scheme we have been able to stop over 140 products that were approved from coming in. The residents of Minna, the Niger State capital, have flooded the streets to protest the rising cost of food and living in the state. The protesters, in large numbers, blocked the Minna-Bida Road at the popular Kpakungu roundabout as early as 7 am on Monday. Efforts by the police to control the crowd almost resulted in violence as protesters asked police to leave, forcing the police to fire several shots in the air to disperse them. The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, says the scheme has stopped posting corps members to states deemed unsafe as a result of the worsening security conditions in the country. The Minister of Youth, Jamila Ibrahim, disclosed this in an interview on Channels Televisions Sunday Politics monitored by newsmen. Recall that several corps members have been kidnapped in some parts of the country during their one-year mandatory national service, raising fears about the sustainability of the scheme. However, Ibrahim said the scheme has taken steps to secure NYSC members including posting them only to safe states. As an immediate intervention of the government and the NYSC as an agency, we have stopped posting corps members to unsafe states. We have been doing it. We have been doing it in the past. There are states we have not been posting corps members to to ensure their safety, she added. According to her, the security of corps members requires collaboration with other government agencies. She said the Federal Government is working on reforming the NYSC scheme to reflect the present realities of the nation, particularly in the area of their allowance. Press Release February 5, 2024 SENATOR RONALD "BATO" DELA ROSA APPROVAL ON THIRD READING SBN 2449 PNP REORGANIZATION ACT FEBRUARY 5, 2024 MANIFESTATION Mr. President, it is with such joy and pride that I wish to thank this august chamber for approving on Third Reading Senate Bill No. 2449, which lays down Organizational Reforms in the Philippine National Police, amending Republic Act Nos. 6975 and 8551. RA 8551 mandated the NAPOLCOM and the PNP to propose organizational reforms to our national police agency to be approved by [the] Congress. For several congresses, Mr. President, the proposal to institutionalize these much-needed reforms in the Philippine National Police barely moved. In some congresses, the said proposal was given the courtesy of a Committee Hearing, while in others it was simply read on First Reading and then archived. As a consequence, the PNP was forced by circumstance to operate and function with an organizational structure based on a law crafted 25 years ago. To my colleagues Senator Bong Revilla and Senator JV Ejercito who also co-sponsored the bill, co-authors Senate President Migz Zubiri, Senator Bong Go, Senator Francis Tolentino, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, and Majority Floor Leader Senator Joel Villanueva, thank you for the support you have shown this bill, for seeing not just its necessity, but also its urgency. Kina Senator Francis Tolentino, Senator Allan Cayetano, Senator Bong Go, Senator Win Gatchalian, Senator Grace Poe, Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Chiz Escudero, Majority Floor Leader Senator Joel Villanueva, Senator Risa Hontiveros, at Minority Leader Senator Koko Pimentel, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, maraming salamat sa inyo. Senator Robinhood Padilla, Senator Nancy Binay, Senator Sonny Angara, maraming salamat sa inyong tulong. Kung ang pagsasabatas ng isang panukala ay ihahalintulad natin sa paggawa ng bahay, malaki ang aking kumpyansa na ang bahay na ating itinatayo ay matatag at hindi mapipinsala ng anumang unos o sama ng panahon. Pinatibay po ng inyong bawat tanong, komento, at suhestyon ang pundasyon ng panukalang ito. And of course, to the personnel of the Philippine National Police, headed by the able leadership of Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr., the Chief PNP, along with Police Major General Rudolph Dimas, the Director for Plans, as well as Police Brigadier General Ponce Rogelio Penones Jr., Police Colonel Wilson A. Santos VI, Police Colonel Ricky Delelis, Police Major William Aspilan Jr., and Police Major Joey S. Delos Santos, and to the National Police Commission, with Alberto A. Bernardo, Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer, Commissioner Edilberto D.C. Leonardo, Commissioner Ricardo P. Bernabe III, Commissioner Beatrice Aurora A. Vega-Cancio, Staff Service Chief Planning and Research Service Evangeline R. Almirante, Staff Service Chief Legal Affairs Service Atty. Chito Noel D. Bustonera, and Special Police Assistant to NAPOLCOM PCol. Laudemer N. Llaneta, and to the Department of Interior and Local Government led by our competent secretary, Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr.: Words are not enough to thank you for your patience, your wisdom, and your hard work. After all these years, finally, the PNP organizational reforms we sought to introduce are being materialized. They are beginning to see the light of day. I hope we can all welcome that day together, when this measure is passed into law, soon enough. Once again, my heartfelt thanks to this august body. We have acted in the spirit of the words of George Bernard Shaw, refusing to wait for the right opportunity, we have, instead, gone ahead and created the opportunity. Moving forward, I have more reason to hope, Mr. President. May this be the year that they receive, in their honorable institution, the legislated reforms they so rightfully deserve. Maraming salamat, Mr. President. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 5. A meeting was held between Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Samir Sharifov and Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus Igor Sekreta, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. During the meeting, the sides expressed satisfaction with the current level of bilateral ties between Azerbaijan and Belarus and noted that political dialog at the highest level plays a key role in the development of bilateral cooperation in all spheres. The ongoing positive dynamics of cooperation between the two countries in the economic sphere were especially emphasized. The sides also had a broad exchange of views on international issues of mutual interest. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Okechukwu Isiguzoro, a chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, has lambasted Northern leaders for kicking against the relocation of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, and some units of the Central Bank of Nigeria , CBN, from Abuja to Lagos. Recall that the Federal Governments move to relocate the two agencies to the commercial hub of the nation has been generating controversy. Some Northern lawmakers, as well as groups such as the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, had in separate outings, condemned the move, alleging that it was a plot to under-develop the region. Speaking on the matter, Isiguzoro wondered why northerners were silent when the former President, Mohammadu Buhari, relocated the military headquarters to Borno State in 2015. It is an act of sheer wickedness and a display of unpatriotic behavior for Northern leaders to either feign ignorance or turn a blind eye to these historical facts and evidence, specifically when their own, former President Buhari, moved the military headquarters from Abuja to Maiduguri during his inaugural speech on May 29, 2015. Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders, and Senators from the North should recognize that President Tinubu is emulating the footsteps of Former President Buhari, who relocated the military headquarters to Maiduguri from Abuja. This marks the initial step towards the necessary restructuring of Nigeria, he said. Isiguzoro, however, asked President Bola Tinubu to consider the economic importance and national security implications and approve the relocation of important Federal Ministries, including Petroleum, Trade and Investment, Commerce and Industry, and Transportation, to the old Eastern region, covering the 11 states of the Southeast and the Niger Delta. The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum are expected to meet on Monday (today) to take a stance on the matter. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended Fred Ogboji, the electoral officer for Jos north LGA. In a letter to Ogboji on Sunday, Isah Idakwo, head of electoral operations, said the suspension would allow the commission to investigate the case of missing ballot papers during Saturdays rerun election. Idakwo directed the electoral officer to hand over to Elekwa Onyemauche, the local government supervisor. You are directed to step aside from Office to enable the Commission carry out proper investigation and circumstances that lead to the missing of Federal House of Representatives ballot papers in 16 polling units in your Local Government, the letter reads. You are further directed to handover to Barr. Elekwa Onyemauche the Local Government Supervisor and the two RA Supervisors of Tudun Wada Kapong and Naraguta B (E.O Shendam and E.O Kanke Local Government Areas respectively) to coordinate and complete the remaining process. On Saturday, INEC rescheduled elections in 16 polling units in Jos north/Bassa federal constituency of Plateau, due to the missing ballot papers. The election was rescheduled to February 4. Oliver Agundu, the resident electoral commissioner (REC), had said the commission discovered the missing ballot papers on the eve of the rerun, adding that the case had been referred to the security agencies for investigation. Determined that voters in the affected polling units were not disenfranchised, the commission convened a stakeholders meeting to explain the situation and discuss the way forward, he said. It was resolved that the commission should remobilise and conduct the election in the affected polling units on Sunday, February 4, 2024, to conclude the process in the federal constituency. The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2023 General Elections, Atiku Abubakar, has faulted President Bola Tinubus economic policies. Atiku explained that the Presidents performance on the economic front over the past six to seven months has been disastrous. He said this in a statement, in Abuja, on Sunday. Atiku said, The economys performance has, in recent weeks and months, been a subject of intense discourse among Nigerian citizens at home and abroad. Nigerians are gravely concerned, and rightly so, that Tinubus poor response to Nigerias economic challenges is setting the stage for a prolonged and deeper domestic economic crisis. His economic policies, drawn from a so-called renewed hope agenda, are ironically dashing hopes, creating pain and causing despair. The private sector is shrinking by the day as small businesses are emasculated and as Multinational companies, confused and weary of the economy, leave Nigeria in droves. The intense cost of living pressures has created more misery for the poor in towns and villages. There is HUNGER IN THE LAND as basic commodities, including BREAD, are becoming out of reach for average Nigerians. His 2024 budget is a business-as-usual exercise, bereft of concrete ideas and actions that would support Nigerias journey toward economic transformation consisting mainly of wasteful expenditures to cater to a bloated Federal Government. Budget 2024 will not facilitate growth and cannot empower our citizens to earn a living and live a decent life. BAT has shown no capacity to deal with the adverse and disastrous impact of the new subsidy regime on the people and businesses and the new foreign exchange policy, which provides for a free-floating exchange rate. His initiatives are literally uninformed, arbitrary, and chaotic. BATs palliatives are too mean, pitiable, and contemptuous of the poor. He seems genuinely lost, bewildered, and overwhelmed. The former Vice President (1999-2007) further said, To mask their failures, BAT and his political appointees are busy blaming his predecessor in office for bequeathing a dead economy. This is a familiar game popularised by former President Buhari while in office. It reinforces what we already know: that BAT came into office unprepared. Tinubu and his economic management team must swallow their pride, admit their missteps and failures, and follow those who know the terrain. They must act fast before the economy sinks deeper into the abyss. The question is, will they? A Bergen County police department has been ordered to allow a police officer fired more than three years ago to return to work after it was determined he was falsely accused of sexual assault. Daniel Fugnitti, 36, was suspended from the Ridgefield Police Department without pay on Dec. 16, 2020, and terminated the following year from the non-civil service department after an administrative hearing in the borough. In an order signed last week, a Superior Court judge found there was no evidence of a sexual assault and agreed with a Bergen County Prosecutors Office recommendation that Fugnitti be suspended, not terminated. He could be owed $550,000 in back pay, pension and other compensation, according to his attorney Patrick Toscano. Ridgefield Borough Administrator Ray Ramirez declined to comment on the case when reached by NJ Advance Media. Toscano said his client has been advised that town officials plan to discuss the ruling at a meeting this week. Fugnitti was sent to a womans hotel room on May 29, 2020, to settle a billing dispute between her and the manager, according to court documents. The woman later claimed Fugnitti returned to the hotel two days later while off duty and sexually assaulted her, according to court documents. Fugnitti was fired after the woman made complaints to the Bergen County Prosecutors Office and the Ridgefield Police Department, but he was never criminally charged. He denied sexually assaulting the woman and said the sexual contact between them was consensual. Fugnitti also told investigators the woman asked him for $2,000 in exchange for her dropping the claim. Fugnitti said he gave the woman the money, but she decided to report him to local police anyway. An administrative hearing officer hired by the borough determined Fugnitti had violated three departmental rules, including conduct unbecoming an officer and he was fired on June 23, 2021. In a decision signed last week, Judge Christine Farrington vacated Fugnittis termination and noted that the Bergen County Prosecutors Office had recommended Fugnitti serve a 90-day suspension instead of termination. During the administrative hearing, a prosecutors office detective testified that Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella had found in his investigation that no crime was committed. The 18-page decision states the boroughs hearing officer did not address the fact that the woman received $2,000 only after she reported the alleged sexual assault to the prosecutors office, raising the question of whether Fugnitti had been extorted. In addition, a Bergen County investigators noted there was no evidence of a sexual assault and there were inconsistencies in the womans story. In her decision, Farrington noted the borough did not try to contact or call the woman to testify during the administrative hearing, and that her whereabouts and the $2,000 Fugnitti gave her remain unknown. As of Monday, Fugnitti had still not returned to work, but his attorney said hes looking forward to getting his job back. Officer Fugnitti is of course relieved that the court has deemed his termination as illegal and unjustified, and he is anxious to return to work, Toscano told NJ Advance Media. That said, why Ridgefield terminated him in the first instance, completely disregarding Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musellas recommendation, remains both quizzical and bemusing, Toscano said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A man accused of opening fire at a birthday party in Cumberland County in a 2021 mass shooting that left three dead and 11 injured has been indicated on murder charges, authorities said Monday. Arthur Armstead, 30, of Fairfield Township, is one of two men charged in what authorities have described as a targeted attack at a home on East Commerce Street, outside Bridgeton in Fairfield Township on May 22, 2021. Police have said at least six guns were fired in the shooting. Armstead is facing charges of two counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and related charges, the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office said Monday. He remains in Cumberland County jail. Armstead is charged with killing Kevin Elliott, 30 and Brailyn Holmes, 19, as well as wounding three other people, prosecutors said. Asia Hester, 25, also died from the shooting. Armed guests opened fire around 11:45 p.m., causing the crowd to race for cover. Police previously said the violence began after partygoers from another gathering went to the celebration. At least 48 shell casings were found at the scene. Prosecutors said Armstead fled to Delaware after the shooting. He then hid at an Atlantic City casino hotel before surrendering to state police in Bridgeton, prosecutors said. He was also previously indicted for obstruction, hindering apprehension and conspiracy. Zedekiah G. Holmes, Brailyn Holmes brother, was charged in August 2021 with first-degree murder in the killings of Hester and Elliott, prosecutors said. Seven others, including Armsteads mother, were indicted on lesser charges related to the shooting. Zedekiah Holmes has a pretrial conference scheduled for Feb. 20. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com. A Gloucester County man was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly forced his way into a house with a handgun, fired a shot and pistol-whipped his uncle. Westville police received multiple 911 calls shortly after 11 p.m. Jan. 31 reporting a shooting near the 500 block of Broadway, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutors Office. Officers located a resident who said Raul Leadum, 19, of Westville, forced his way into his house and fired a handgun at close range in the direction of the victim, the prosecutors office said in a press release. The round did not hit the man. Court documents described the man as Leadums uncle and said the defendant broke a window next to the front door to get inside. After firing the shot, Leadum allegedly chased after his uncle and pistol-whipped him several times before leaving, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed with the charges. Westville officers arrested Leadum a short time later. A rifle and revolver were recovered as part of the investigation, officials said. An attorney for Leadum did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment Monday. In addition to first-degree attempted murder, Leadum is charged with second-degree counts of aggravated assault and burglary, along with two second-degree weapons possession charges. He remains jailed while awaiting a detention hearing. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Gloucester County Prosecutors Office Detective Krystal Santiago at 856-384-5508 or Westville Police Detective Eric Hibbs at 856-456-9444. Information may also be emailed to the prosecutors office at tips@co.gloucester.nj.us. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. BFD is operating at a multi alarm fire on E 44th St. Avoid this area. @CityofBayonne pic.twitter.com/mwfdehxwgq Bayonne OEM (@Bayonne_OEM) February 5, 2024 Two Bayonne homes were damaged and a total of eight residents were displaced when a four-alarm fire raged through a home on East 44th Street Sunday night, authorities said. One firefighter was injured and later released from the hospital in the fire at 23 East 44th St., which also damaged the neighboring home at 25 East 44th, Bayonne Fire Deputy Chief Bill Bartos said. All the residents were evacuated safely. Firefighters responded at 8:41 p.m. and found heavy fire conditions at the three-story, two-family home, with fire extending into the home next door. Firefighters used multiple handlines to extinguish the blaze, which was declared under control at 10:13 p.m., Bartos said. The eight displaced residents are under the care of the Bayonne Office of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross. Bartos said the fire is under investigation, but it does not appear suspicious at this time. I want to express my thanks to all the men and women who worked very hard to contain this fire, Bartos said. Their efforts kept fire damage to a minimum in the one-family home, even though they were faced with a large volume of fire on arrival. I also want to thank our mutual-aid partners who helped us both at the scene and manned our firehouses, and the Bayonne Fire Canteen. Dont Blame Me if I fly to Japan to see Taylor Swift again. Swift will head to Tokyo, Japan to perform at the Tokyo Dome from Feb. 7-10. Heres everything you need to know to see Taylor Swift live on her international tour. Where to buy the cheapest Taylor Swift concert tickets Throughout the Eras Tour, the cheapest last-minute tickets for Swifts 2024 concerts have been on StubHub and Vivid Seats. But unfortunately for dedicated Swifties, the lowest-priced seats still cost hundreds of dollars. As of now, the cheapest ticket for one of Swifts Eras Tour concerts at the Tokyo Dome is $875 on StubHub and some tickets are listed as high as $6,176. First-time Vivid Seats users can save $20 on ticket orders over $200 by entering promo code NJ20 at checkout. Fans also should check out other secondary sites to snag last-minute tickets, like TicketCity and TicketNetwork. Where is Taylor Swift playing next? Taylor Swift will perform 84 shows throughout the second leg of her Eras Tour. Her next shows will be in Melbourne, Australia with Sabrina Carpenter from Feb. 16-18. Tickets are available on sites like StubHub, Vivid Seats, TicketCity and TicketNetwork. A complete list of Swifts tour dates is available here. More massive upcoming tours Taylor Swift is not the only artist on a huge tour right now. Here are a few more upcoming tours you wont want to miss: Morgan Wallen, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo and Justin Timberlake. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. The last time New York Mets fans saw Daniel Murphy in their colors, he was making major league history in the postseason. In Spring Training, the three-time All-Star will be back this time in the booth with SNY as a fill-in for Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling, according to The New York Posts Mike Puma. Murphy will be a game analyst for at least two games while the real both Gary Cohen, Hernandez, Darling work five games apiece, Puma reported. BUY METS TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER Murphy, the Mets 13th-round pick from the 2006 draft, last played in the majors in 2020 with the Colorado Rockies. He attempted to make a major league comeback in 2023, parlaying a strong stint with the Long Island Ducks into a deal with the Los Angeles Angels, where he reached Triple-A (.295/.379/.362 in 169 plate appearances with 25 RBI and no home runs). SNY has been home to several recent former players second careers, including Todd Zeile and Jerry Blevins and even had Adam Ottavino, whom the Mets recently re-signed, as an analyst. Murphy spent seven seasons of his 12-year career with the Mets, where he was last seen blitzing the postseason in 2015 with home runs in six consecutive games to set a major league record and helping him to NLCS MVP. Murphy signed with the Nationals on a three-year deal that offseason and was traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2018 before signing with the Rockies. Murphys Mets tenure was valued at a 109 OPS+, as he posted a career .296/.341/.455 slugging (113 OPS+) with 138 home runs and 735 RBI. According to Spotrac, Murphy earned nearly $75 million in his career. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. WASHINGTON Senators on Sunday released a highly anticipated $118 billion package that pairs border enforcement policy with wartime aid for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, setting off a long-shot effort to push the bill through heavy skepticism 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 Senates 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 faces a wall of opposition from conservatives. With Congress stalled on approving $60 billion in Ukraine aid, the U.S. has halted shipments of ammunition and missiles to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian soldiers outgunned as they try to beat back Russias invasion. The new bill would also invest in U.S. defense manufacturing, send $14 billion in military aid to Israel, steer nearly $5 billion to allies in the Asia-Pacific, and provide humanitarian assistance to civilians caught in conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. The United States and our allies are facing multiple, complex and, in places, coordinated challenges from adversaries who seek to disrupt democracy and expand authoritarian influence around the globe, Schumer said in a statement. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., listens during a news conference On Capitol Hill Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, in Washington.AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib 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 criticized the proposed measures as insufficient. Republicans have also been reluctant to give Biden a political win on an issue they see as one of his biggest vulnerabilities. They have 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. But at the same time, House Republicans have also pushed for their own, stricter version of border security legislation. Johnson, a Republican of Louisiana, told NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday that he had tried to involve House Republicans directly in the Senates negotiation, but was rebuffed. He added he was unaware of the bills details, but thought the solution to border problems should be a House proposal of hardline immigration measures. What were 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 $17.6 billion of military aid for Israel a move that allows House Republicans to show support for Israel apart from the Senate deal. Still, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an Arizona independent who negotiated the border proposal, told CBS Face the Nation that the legislation would be realistic, pragmatic, and the strongest solution to our border crisis in my lifetime. 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, Sinema said. 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. FILE - Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., the Democrats' chief negotiator on the border security talks, speaks with reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)AP Biden, referencing the authority, has said he would use it to shut down the border as soon as the bill is signed into law. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said Sunday that Johnson has 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. At the state level, Republican governors have considered sending National Guard troops to the border. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who again led a group of more than a dozen other GOP governors to the southern border near Eagle Pass on Sunday, has been cheered on by those in his party over his extraordinary showdown with the Biden administration regarding immigration enforcement. The bill would allot $20 billion to immigration enforcement, including the hiring of thousands of new officers to evaluate asylum claims, as well as hundreds of Border Patrol agents. Some of that money would go to shelters and services in cities across the U.S. 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 was a closely guarded secret in the Capitol. The $14 billion in the package intended for military support for Israel could also splinter Democratic votes. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent of Vermont, is pushing to strip $10 billion for offensive weaponry for Israel from the package while maintaining money for defensive systems. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries suggested in an interview on ABCs 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. Were in a period of divided government. That means we should be trying to find bipartisan common ground. Senators completed the border proposal on Friday, but other portions of the package, including aid for U.S. 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. However, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, suggested during an interview on Fox News Sunday that GOP senators would push to slow the Senate from advancing the bill quickly. Were not going to deal with this next week, he said. Its too important. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 6.The delegation of Serbia to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has sent an appeal to President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Theodoros Rousopoulos objecting the resolution adopted by the Assembly regarding the Azerbaijani delegation. Trend presents the appeal: Excellency, We are writing with regard to the recent unfortunate developments in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, whereby the credentials of the delegation of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan were challenged and the resolution not to ratify them was adopted. Regretfully, the Delegation of the Republic of Serbia was unable to take part in the voting on this resolution due to the ongoing formation process of our National Assembly following the parliamentary elections in the country on 17 December 2023. Nonetheless, herewith the Serbian Delegation would like to register its dissent with the attitude against the Delegation of Azerbaijan and resolution adopted on highly dubious grounds. We are deeply convinced that the resolution is a step back from genuine dialogue within the PACE, only contributing to the ongoing polarization. It is also an illustration of deepening degradation of values within the Assembly. The Serbian delegation to the PACE herewith strongly objects the adopted resolution, and calls for its reconsideration with a view to preventing the adverse effects on the reputation and envisaged role of our Assembly, and the Council of Europe as such. Challenging credentials of the Azerbaijan's parliamentary delegation renders engagement with Azerbaijan in the framework of PACE impossible, leading to the potential loss of even more avenues for cooperation with this country in the broader framework of the Council of Europe with its rich tapestry of various bodies and mechanisms for cooperation and fulfillment of commitments. Such a situation runs contrary to the very fundamental objective of this body designed to serve as a platform for dialogue and fulfillment of our relevant commitments. It is also a serious blow to the reputation of the Assembly and the Council of Europe in general, as well as a neglect of the cooperative spirit that they espouse. Moreover, it leads to distancing of the Council from matters concerning the South Caucasus region, including those directly related to the mandate of the organization, which cannot be regarded being in the best interest of this organization. Once again underscoring the utmost importance of maintaining genuine dialogue and engagement with all PACE members, the Delegation of Serbia appeals to you with the request to act resolutely and annul the resolution on non-ratification of the credentials of the delegation of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Biljana Pantic Pilja, Head of the Delegation Dubravka Filipovski Elvira Kovacs Dunja Simonovic Bratic Stefan Jovanovic Jelena Zaric Kovacevic Aleksandar Markovic. A dog that walked onto an NJ Transit train Thursday morning and took a 30-minute ride to Hoboken was successfully reunited with her family over the weekend. The dog, a female Shih Tzu, followed a commuter onto a Morris & Essex Line train at Mountain Station in South Orange at 7:52 a.m. Thursday and rode to Hoboken Terminal, NJ Transit police said on X, the website formerly known as Twitter. By Maria Lopez-Nunez, Kim Gaddy and Wynnie-Fred Victor Hinds Senate Candidate Tammy Murphy launched leading maternal and infant health and climate change education initiatives as First Lady of New Jersey, but she has yet to oppose plans for a new gas-fired power plant in Newarks Ironbound community. Residents here already face dirty air and disproportionate health impacts even as the Murphy administration last week rejected a similar project just a couple miles away. Newark is the definition of an overburdened environmental justice community. The city suffers from some of the worst air quality in the entire country due to a long history of environmental racism. Newark is a city where one in four children are diagnosed with asthma, three times higher than the national average. The Ironbound, in particular, is a sacrifice zone. This 4-square mile community where 50,000 people reside is already home to three gas-burning power plants, our states largest trash incinerator, and constant diesel truck traffic through the community to the port and to warehouses. The Ironbound also has New Jerseys largest wastewater treatment facility run by the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC). It is here where this public agency seeks to build a new gas power plant to provide backup power to the treatment plant in the event the grid goes down, which happened during Superstorm Sandy. Its something that has not happened again despite record-breaking rain from the remnants of Hurricane Ida. PSEG has invested heavily rendering this plant unnecessary. Given the First Ladys emphasis on Climate Change education and maternal and infant health, we would expect that she would understand students who marched to defend their neighborhood against this unnecessary fossil fuel plant. In 2021, six of us women environmental justice leaders and activists met with First Lady Tammy Murphy. During our conversation, she said she shared our concerns about the Ironbound. We wanted her to support our effort to stop PVSCs polluting proposal and to support a clean, renewable energy alternative. This meeting was over two years ago, but she has yet to let us know her position on this gas plant, and the project remains on the table. As First Lady, Mrs. Murphy said that she really cares about the environment. She was trained by Al Gores Climate Reality Project. She helped develop New Jerseys K-12 climate curriculum. She talked about her concerns about maternal and child health, and launched the Nurture NJ Strategic Plan, to transform a system that has historically failed our mothers and babies especially mothers and babies of color and make our state the safest and most equitable state to raise a child. At our meeting with the first lady, we provided ample documentation about the public health harms caused by fossil fuel and dirty energy pollution. This included a letter signed by over 135 health care professionals and scientists opposing the PVSC gas plant. On January 26, NJ Transit canceled plans for a similar gas plant citing recent multi-billion dollar investments by public utilities including PSE&G to upgrade the power grid and raise substations above flood levels. For several years, advocates have been making this argument to NJ Transit and to PVSC against the development of these unnecessary, dirty gas plants. With NJ Transits announcement, the case for building another health-harming gas plant in Newark crumbles further. Its time for Mrs. Murphy to take a stand. The contradiction between her advocacy for maternal and child health and climate change education and her silence on a fourth proposed gas plant in Newark leaves us wondering about the alignment of her environmental commitments with actions that directly impact the health and well-being of the residents of Newark. As advocates for a cleaner and healthier future, we hope she will publicly oppose the proposed gas plant in light of the well-documented public health risks associated with fossil fuel and dirty energy pollution. Now more than ever, as she runs for a powerful new role in the United States Senate, we call on Tammy Murphy to show us where she truly stands on issues of maternal, fetal and child health issues. Where does she stand on environmental justice and unconscionable levels of pollution in sacrifice zones like the Ironbound? Will she reject the PVSC dirty gas proposed power plant and tell the governor to stop the plant now? This essay was submitted by six women and the organizations they represent, which met with Murphy in 2021: Maria Lopez-Nunez, deputy director, Ironbound Community Corporation Kim Gaddy, national environmental justice director, Clean Water Action Wynnie-Fred Victor Hinds, executive director, Weequahic Park Association Liz Ndoye, Hoboken RESIST Sam DiFalco, Food and Water Action Paula Rogovin, Dont Gas the Meadowland Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Are you an Abraham Lincoln expert? Do you want to ski for free? If you can recite the entire Gettysburg Address all 272 words of it from memory, you can win a free lift ticket at Mountain Creek Resort in Sussex County on Feb. 12 in honor of Lincolns Birthday. And in the spirit of Honest Abe, no cheating allowed! officials at the Vernon-based resort said in a news release. That means no headphones, airpods, or any other listening devices to assist you. The ski resort, which is located near the New Jersey-New York border, is offering the promotional deal Feb. 12 in honor of the 16th presidents birthday, officials said. Its simple: repeat the entire Gettysburg Address and claim your free lift ticket, the company said. And hey, dressing up in a top hat never hurts! Well be waiting to see whos ready to rise to the challenge. Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address during the Civl War in 1863. The speech which famously began Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation was known for its brevity. Those interested in reciting the address can try to win the free lift tickets at Joe Cs Cafe, located inside the Red Tail Lodge at the resort, between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Feb. 12. A full-day snow access ticket at the resort can cost anywhere from $50 to $100, depending on the day of the week and if theres a special deal, according to the resorts website. You are able to use the free ticket prize on either Feb. 12 or any other day this season, a resort spokesperson said. The prize is for a snow access ticket only. It does not include equipment rentals or parking. The ski resort has previously offered other promotional deals. In 2020, a leap year, the resort offered a free lift ticket to anyone born on Leap Day, on Feb. 29. They had to bring a valid ID showing their birthday to guest services. Mountain Creek opened its ski trails in December, two days before Christmas. The resort creates snow from a system anchored by seven lakes on top of the mountain. Every season, roughly 180 million gallons of water are used to create the snow, officials said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.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%. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. During the 66th Grammy Awards telecast on Sunday, Jon Batiste helped pay tribute to artists who died over the past year. As he sang during the show's "in memoriam" segment, the names of his cousin, drummer Russell Batiste Jr., and fellow New Orleans artist Jean "Mr. Big Stuff" Knight flashed on the screen at Los Angeles' Crypto.com Arena. Other than that, he didn't get much screen time. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 5. Following a tender procedure under the Public Procurement Act, ICGB is awarding a Bulgarian company with the contract for detailed design scope for GMS2 Stara Zagora that would allow capacity expansion of the Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), ICGB told Trend. The transmission system operator aims at upgrading the Gas Metering Station in Stara Zagora to boost its technical capacity from 3 bcm/y to 5 bcm/y. ICGBs strategic decision of commencing the detailed design phase at GMS2 Stara Zagora even prior to seeing the anticipated outcomes of the binding phase of the incremental capacity process scheduled for July 2024, which is the usual process and chronology required upon regulation, emphasizes ICGBs commitment to providing improved gas transmission capabilities to the region, said ICGBs Executive Officers Teodora Georgieva and George Satlas. As a next step from the ongoing incremental capacity process, ICGB has published jointly with the Bulgarian transmission system operator a draft Project Proposal for the entry-exit point at Stara Zagora for public consultation on its website. All interested parties are invited to participate by sending their comments and proposals by 4th March 2024. A Project Proposal with The Greek Natural Gas Transmission System DESFA is about to be published as well. The Greece-Bulgaria interconnector connects Bulgaria to the Southern Gas Corridor and is part of the Vertical Gas Corridor. The pipeline strengthens the energy connectivity and security in the region, providing access to natural gas from new, diversified sources. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 5. The Law On the Status of a Teacher, signed by the President, made the following additions to the Law On State Duty, Trend reports. Teaching staff are exempt from paying state fees in civil courts on claims related to the protection of their honor, dignity and business reputation when carrying out their professional activities. Also, teaching staff are exempt from paying state fees when appealing to the Administrative Courts illegal decisions of state bodies, actions (inactions) of their officials that violate the rights of teaching staff when carrying out their professional activities. BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 5. Swiss AsstrA - Associated Traffic AG plans to open representative offices in Kazakhstan's Aktau and Astana cities, Ramilya Akhmetova, branch manager of Almaty (Kazakhstan) office AsstrA, told Trend. "We have ambitious plans for the development of AsstrA in Kazakhstan; in particular, this concerns expanding the network of offices. For example, we plan to open representative offices in Aktau and Astana. Our efforts are aimed at increasing orders and expanding our customer base, especially in industrial project logistics," she said. As Ramilya Akhmetova noted, the company is also actively developing a partner network to provide warehouse areas. "Since AsstrA is an international company, we think on an interstate scale, understanding that effective, uninterrupted logistics requires interaction between experts and representatives of different regions. Therefore, the development strategy also includes strengthening our presence in the regional markets of the Caucasus and developing offices in Baku (Azerbaijan) and Tbilisi (Georgia)," the branch manager said. She also pointed out that the company will continue to actively strengthen professional skills and improve the qualifications of its employees. "Our goal is to make a significant contribution to the successful development of AsstrA in Kazakhstan and neighboring regions," Ramilya Akhmetova added. Meanwhile, for almost 30 years, AsstrA has been providing customers with logistics solutions tailored to their unique business requirements and cargo characteristics. The companys team of experts from 24 countries delivers efficient transportation solutions that eliminate logistics worries and free customers to focus on planning and implementing long-term development strategies. Integrated technological processes ensure the reliability and transparency of all logistics supply chains built with AsstrA. This "one window" approach applies to the companys entire service portfolio, including road, rail, sea, and air transport, project and contract logistics, as well as customs, warehouse, and insurance services. AsstrA has a well-developed network of representatives across Europe, the CIS, Asia, and the United States of America. After an absence of more than a decade, Barnes & Noble is returning to Lake County. The bookseller, the largest brick-and-mortar bookstore chain in the country, plans to open in Schererville not far from where the beloved Highland Borders was. Barnes & Noble, Victoria's Secret and Buckle are coming to the Town Square Shopping Center in Schererville at the southwest corner of Indianapolis Boulevard and Main Street. They will take over the space previously occupied by Bed, Bath and Beyond, the national New Jersey-based retailer that went bankrupt last year. Construction recently started to subdivide the big-box space into three smaller stores. "The old Bed, Bath and Beyond, which is closed now, will be split into three retail spaces, Barnes and Noble, Buckle and Victoria's Secret," Schererville Town Manager Jim Gorman said. "It will be nice to see this vacant retail space being used by three well-known national retailers. The residents of Schererville have been very pleased and excited to see a bookstore coming back to the area. We know they will all do well in that space." Buckle will occupy 7,500 square feet, Victoria's Secret 6,750 square feet and Barnes & Noble about 20,000 square feet, according to property manager AlbaneseCormier. Barnes & Noble is looking to come to Schererville as part of a national expansion. "We are excited to be opening a store in Schererville and are planning to be open at the end of October 2024," Barnes & Noble said in a statement. "The store will carry a curated selection of books, based on customer interest, with a compliment of gifts, toys, games and puzzles as well as a curated selection of vinyl. We are seeing a tremendous growth with reading and as a result we expect to open 50 stores across the country this year. We are always on the lookout for new opportunities to expand and are thrilled to be opening in Schererville." Buckle sells jeans for women, men and children, as well as tops, bottoms, shoes, accessories and other clothes. Founded as The Brass Buckle in Kearney, Nebraska more than 55 years ago, it's grown to more than 440 retail stores in 42 states, including at the Southlake Mall in Hobart. It's also an online retailer that started to focus on denim jeans in 1970 and established itself as a presence in malls nationwide in the 1980s. Billing itself as a "denim destination," the publicly traded company has sold more than 5 million pairs of jeans and brought in more than $1.3 billion in sales in 2022. Victoria's Secret is a well-known lingerie, beauty and women's clothing retailer that's been a staple at malls since its founding in 1977. It's been the largest lingerie retailer in the country since the early 1990s, when it surpassed $1 billion a year in annual sales. The publicly traded company has more than 775 locations across the country, including at the Southlake Mall in Hobart and the River Oaks Center in Calumet City. Macy's, which also has a presence in both malls, also recently expanded to the thriving retail trade area at the border of Schererville and Highland. The new stores are located just southwest of the Highland Grove Shopping Center, one of the largest outdoor shopping malls in Northwest Indiana with more than 540,000 square feet of retail space at Indianapolis Boulevard and Main Street. Highland Grove was home to a very popular Borders that closed in 2011 when the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based bookstore chain went bankrupt. That bookstore's coffee shop was a local cultural hub and hangout spot for local creatives, including writing groups and college students, that people still fondly remember and talk about today. Late Times columnist Mark Kiesling wrote the Border's closing will leave a hole in our soul. Barnes & Noble also closed its longtime location at 2240 E. 80th Ave. in the Crossings of Hobart outdoor shopping mall across from the Southlake Mall in 2011 amid a time of contraction in the industry. New York-based Barnes & Noble, a Fortune 1000 company, has more than 590 retail stores in 50 states, including locally in Valparaiso and Orland Park. It has been expanding its footprint again in recent years, for instance opening a new location at Woodfield Village Green in Schaumburg in 2020. Like Portillo's, the retailer eyed a Schererville location for more than a decade before finally pulling the trigger. Barnes & Noble was supposed to be one of the original tenants of the Shops on Main shopping center just across the street from the Town Square Shopping Center in 2007 but those plans were dashed by the Great Recession. It also was touted as a possible tenant for the Centennial Village development in neighboring Munster but that also never came to fruition. Barnes & Noble has diversified beyond just books to also offer Lego sets, games, vinyl records, children's toys and other related items, though the bulk of its business remains books, magazines and coffee and baked goods in the cafe. It's been undergoing a revival that's been credited in part to granting local managers more autonomy over what the locations stock so they can be more tailored to their communities the way independent bookstores have always been. The location in Schererville will be somewhat smaller than the average Barnes & Noble. The Barnes & Noble in Valparaiso, for instance, is 33,766 square feet. The new Barnes & Noble will be the first bookstore in Schererville, an affluent suburb with a college graduation rate that's higher than the national average, since The Cat's Tale Used Bookstore closed during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. VALPARAISO A 21-year-old woman has been sentenced to probation after Valparaiso police found her last summer in an apartment with three young children, who were walking around in soiled diapers and suffering from extreme diaper rash. The apartment unit was stacked with garbage, littered with the feces of a malnourished cat and swarming with bugs, police said. Police said they also found marijuana and an officer was handed a drug smoking device by one of the children. Aleyah Rebac had pleaded guilty to a felony count of neglect of a dependent, as well as theft from another case, in return for prosecutors dismissing other charges and agreeing to allow her to serve no further time behind bars, records show. She was sentenced Friday by Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer to nearly three and a half years of probation. Valparaiso police said they were called out July 2 to an apartment in the 1200 block of East Chicago Street in response to a disturbance and spotted the children wearing soiled diapers hanging nearly to their knees. Garbage in the kitchen stacked about waist high and a crock pot were all swarmed by fruit flies, and feces was scattered on the floor from a malnourished cat, who did not have food or water, police said. Teacher's aide pleads guilty to punching mentally challenged student VALPARAISO A 54-year-old man, who was charged nearly five years ago with punching a mentally challenged student in the classroom, has pleade Andrew Williams, then 22, blamed Rebac for neglecting the children and leaving them alone as she did drugs and drank alcohol while he worked, the incident report says. Officials said they found the children suffering from extreme cases of diaper rash. Both Rebac and Williams blamed the other for marijuana and drug paraphernalia found in the apartment, police said. Rebac and Williams were taken into custody and each faced a felony count of neglect of a dependent, as well as misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Former town official slapped with felony charges of deleting a year's worth of emails "A review of what data was retrievable indicates some emails deleted pertained to city business," according to a charging document. The criminal case against Williams is still pending, records show. The children were released to the temporary care of a family member and were to be relocated by the Indiana Department of Child Services, the police report said. Police said they had responded 17 times last year to various calls at the apartment involving Rebac and Williams. CROWN POINT A Merrillville man shot a 29-year-old man during a drug deal after the two got into an argument, according to recently unsealed court documents. Michael Baker, 24, was charged in December with two counts of murder in the death of Demetri Russell, 29, on Jan. 21, 2023. He also faces a charge of attempted dealing in a controlled substance and two firearm enhancements. Russell allegedly went to a residence on the 500 block of Chase Street to purchase codeine and promethazine from Baker, which are mixed to make a drug known colloquially as lean, according to a probable-cause affidavit. Russell felt he was being overcharged for the drugs he was attempting to buy and the two began to argue. Russell punched Baker in the face and Baker purportedly pulled out his gun and shot Russell, according to the affidavit. Russell was not armed when he was killed, witnesses told police, the affidavit said. The death was ruled a homicide from two gunshot wounds to the torso, according to a report from the Lake County coroner's office. Cell phone records show Russell called Baker approximately 20 minutes before police were dispatched to the homicide scene. Both of their phones pinged off a cell tower near the Chase Street location at the time of the reported shooting, the affidavit said. Video surveillance from around the time of the shooting shows Russell and another man exit a white Dodge Charger outside the Chase Street location and enter a basement. Minutes later, Russell sprints out, collapses on the ground, picks himself up and drives off in the Charger, documents show. He arrived shortly after at Methodist Hospital and said he was shot by "my friend Mike," the affidavit said. He died a few hours later. Baker was arrested Friday, online court records indicate. He is being held without bail. VALPARAISO A 54-year-old man, who was charged nearly five years ago with punching a mentally challenged student in the classroom, has pleaded guilty to the lesser of two counts in return for probation. Lloyd Clifton, of Michigan City, pleaded guilty Friday before Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer to a misdemeanor count of intimidation. Prosecutors in return dropped a felony county of battery causing injury to a disabled person and agreed to suspend Clifton's 180-day jail sentence to probation, records show. He had served one day in jail at the time of his 2019 arrest. Clifton is to have no contact with the young victim in the case while serving his sentence. The case stems back to May 22, 2019 when Porter County police were called out for a report of a battery to a student at Pine Elementary School, which while in Porter County, is part of the nearby Michigan City Area Schools. Officers were told the mentally challenged boy was punched in the stomach by Clifton, who was working at the time as a classroom assistant. Whiting man given home detention for battery to cop The case goes back to March 6, 2021, when he was stopped in Valparaiso on accusations of driving while intoxicated. The boy reportedly told police he was dancing in the classroom and Clifton did not approve and punched him in the stomach. "Victim 1 stated that when Mr. Lloyd punched him, it hurt him, he was unable to cough, had a difficult time breathing, and fell to the ground," according to a court document. The boy's mother reportedly told police her son has an emotional disability and had told her of previous incidents were Clifton became physical with him. The boy claimed Clifton grabbed his wrist one time and punched him in the shoulder another time. Former town official slapped with felony charges of deleting a year's worth of emails "A review of what data was retrievable indicates some emails deleted pertained to city business," according to a charging document. The classroom teacher said the boy had refused to take part in an activity on the day in question and began swatting at and trying to grab Clifton, police said. The boy then charged Clifton and began swinging at him. The teacher said Clifton shoved and "chest bumped" the boy and then raised his fist toward the child and said, "I'll beat you and your daddy," according to a court document. As the boy continued to be aggressive, Clifton pinned him to a table and after releasing him, punched him in the stomach, the teacher told police. The boy fell to the ground gasping for air and saying he could not breathe. LAPORTE County police said they confiscated an "extraordinary" number of illegal THC cartridges during a recent traffic stop along the local stretch of Interstate 94. A member of a highway interdiction team began following a passenger vehicle Wednesday morning and carried out a traffic stop due to driving violations, police said. A police dog detected the presence of illegal drugs and police said they discovered two large cardboard boxes containing "an extraordinary amount of THC cartridges," the department reported. The driver, identified as Mark Crowley, 28, of Aurora, Illinois, was taken into custody and faces a felony county of dealing in a controlled substance, police said. MICHIGAN CITY Police are seeking the public's help in identifying the occupants of a Ford Escape sought in the wake of pellet gun shootings Sunday involving property and a pedestrian. Michigan City police received numerous complaints of shootings occurring between 4:40 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. "These incidents occurred in the central and west side areas of Michigan City," police said. "The Michigan City Police Department continues to receive additional complaints of property damage caused by a person discharging a pellet gun." Teacher's aide pleads guilty to punching mentally challenged student VALPARAISO A 54-year-old man, who was charged nearly five years ago with punching a mentally challenged student in the classroom, has pleade Surveillance video footage caught images of a dark-colored Ford Escape, which was released by police. Anyone with tips is encouraged to contact Cpt. Kevin Urbanczyk at 219-874-3221, Ext. 1042 or by email at kurbanczyk@emichigancity.com. CROWN POINT Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. has pleaded guilty to reckless driving, a class C misdemeanor, for driving more than 40 mph above Taft Street's posted speed limit in 2021. Martinez appeared in court Monday before Special Judge Jeryl F. Leach to plead guilty to the offense. In exchange, special prosecutors Stanley Levco and David O. Thomas agreed to drop a felony charge of resisting law enforcement. The sheriff had been set to go trial Feb. 12. Leach guided Martinez through the procedures all defendants are required to go through when pleading guilty to ensure they understand the implications of a guilty plea. "Are you pleading guilty because you are in fact guilty of the offense?" Leach asked. "Yes," Martinez said. "I am." Martinez was sentenced to 60 days of informal probation, which is often offered to first-time offenders of minor crimes. People on informal probation are not assigned to a probation officer, but may be asked to report to the judge periodically or complete community service. Martinez will complete the probation in Newton County, where Leach presides over a circuit court. Martinez apologized for his conduct and said he understands his driving was dangerous. He said he knows he cannot change what happened the night of the incident and he wants to spend the remaining three years of his term providing service to the people of Lake County. "The people in my community expect better of me," Martinez said. "And I expect better of myself." Levco agreed with the plea, stating that he and Thomas had planned to present evidence at trial that Crown Point police officers saw Martinez driving close to 90 mph in a 45 mph zone on Sept. 18, 2021. Defense attorney Paul Stracci said he agreed the plea was fair, based on the facts of the case. "We are pleased with the outcome of Sheriff Martinez's case and believe it is appropriate resolution," defense attorneys Stracci, J. Michael Woods and Maryam Afshar-Stewart said in a statement. "Sheriff Martinez has spent over thirty years serving and protecting our community. With todays plea, Sheriff Martinez has accepted responsibility for a mistake many of us have made driving too fast in a fashion reflecting our greater expectations of elected office." Martinez was indicted on Jan. 6, 2022, by a grand jury. The case was investigated by the Indiana State Police. The incident spurred two years of litigation, appointment of a special judge and prosecutors, countless court documents and the anticipation of a trial. Martinez filed a motion last week to push the trial because his defense claimed they learned of the existence or potential existence of exculpatory evidence during witness depositions taken last month, according to information in a motion to continue the trial. This motion was set to be discussed at Mondays hearing. Woods said in court that the defense filed a motion to keep a protective order on certain public records from the case, which have been sealed since July. Some of the records were briefly unsealed in December, but quickly sealed again when it was determined they contained information that Leach determined was subjected to marital privilege between Martinez and his wife. Martinez previously tried to get the case dismissed a month after the indictment was filed, due to what he said what an unfair influence on grand jury proceedings by Levco and an ISP commander who testified at the hearing. The motion was denied, so Martinez took it up with the Court of Appeals who affirmed the charges in January 2023. He appealed this to the Indiana Supreme Court, but his appeal was rejected. A law regarding whether or not Hoosiers charged with felonies can carry weapons in public pending trial has been pending review by the Indiana Supreme Court after Martinez and his attorneys challenged it. This is no longer relevant to the sheriff, who can likely now carry a gun in public. The Indiana Court of Appeals will not reduce the 82-year sentence issued to a Gary man who escaped from police custody in Newton County, broke into three homes, and engaged in a shootout with police before being recaptured. Jayme Lopez, 38, was convicted of seven felonies, including two counts of burglary and one count of escape, and received a sentence enhancement for pointing a firearm at a police officer, for his actions on May 11, 2022, that ultimately required a SWAT team, police snipers and the closing of a four-lane highway to get Lopez back in custody, according to court records. Records show Lopez ran from police while wearing handcuffs and a belly chain, but no leg restraints, immediately upon arriving in a police car at the Newton County Jail after being picked up in nearby Iroquois County, Illinois, on an outstanding warrant. On the run, Lopez broke into a house in Kentland where no one was home, shaved his head, and stole a knife, a gun, boots and clothing, according to court records. Records show Lopez then borrowed a phone from a motel employee to arrange a ride before breaking into an apartment in a nearby building where police tracked him down. Cops proceeded to evacuate the apartment complex and shut down a nearby highway. Lopez's refusal to leave the apartment led to the deployment of a SWAT team that eventually shot gas canisters into the apartment, according to court records. Records show Lopez returned fire, shooting three times into the hallway where police officers were stationed, before Lopez left the gas-filled apartment and broke into an adjacent apartment. When Lopez subsequently exited the second apartment with a gun in his hand he was shot by a police sniper. The sniper hit the gun Lopez was holding, which deflected shrapnel into Lopez's face and permanently blinded Lopez in one eye, enabling police to put him under arrest, according to court records. Lopez argued in his appeal that his trial was unfair because he was not allowed to call an expert witness that Lopez claimed would testify about "potential adverse interactions" of medicines he was prescribed at the time of his crimes. The appeals court, however, observed that Lopez waited until just before trial to request the expert and Lopez declined the opportunity to call the doctor who actually prescribed the medication in favor of one who claimed the medicine "may" interact and "cause troubles." "Lopez informed the trial court that he did not intend to assert a diminished capacity defense. And since he was not attempting to raise any defense regarding his capacity, it is not clear and he does not explain what defense he hoped to raise and prove by showing that his medications had interacted and caused adverse effects," the appeals court said in rejecting his claim. "Further," the appeals court said, "the independent evidence of Lopezs guilt is overwhelming. Multiple individuals, including officers and civilian witnesses, identified Lopez as the person who fled from (police), broke into homes and apartments, stole items, and fired three shots at police officers." Regarding Lopez's lengthy sentence, the appeals court similarly denied Lopez's claim that his prison term is inappropriate in light of the nature of the offenses and his character. The three appellate judges said Lopez's extensive criminal history, the crimes he committed in this instance, and the dangerous situation he created for himself and others by escaping from police all weighed against any sentence reduction. "Lopez's actions resulted in a multi-agency search for him, the shutdown of a portion of a four-lane highway, the evacuation of an apartment complex, and the utilization of a SWAT team. While Lopez may have been the only person to be injured during the offenses, many people were placed in danger by his actions," the appeals court said. "We therefore affirm Lopezs convictions and sentence." Lopez still can ask the Indiana Supreme Court to consider reviewing his case. Otherwise, his earliest possible release date, assuming good behavior, is April 19, 2079, according to the Indiana Department of Correction. Gallery: Recent arrests booked into Lake County Jail Jamille Walker Rebecca Strand Jennifer Phillips William Riley Damien Sahagun Jillian Sencaj Lashawntel Mackay Tursena Harris Semaj Irvin Todd Kasperan Imelda Lopez Tinotchy Evans Luke Hardin Lazarius Allison Patrick Colvin Antonio Santana Cameron Smith Primas Sweet Don Wiley Steven Mikel Jr. Jesus Morales Marcus Nash Mark Nicpon Ann Horta Enrique Feliciano Jacoby Gibson Eugene Clay Haley Austin Robert Van Noort Michael Udrow Derrick Keys Richard Morris Larry Newman Jr. Terrane Robinson Christian Saavedra Ibn Jones Donald Elmore III Brian Hawkins Brian Jablonski LaTeshia Adams Nashee Burns Stephanie Crilley Tonya Stevens Joseph Szilagyi Daniel Tyrka Jessica Smith Victor Sandoval Al Sepulveda Paul Slagle Crystal McLain Stuart Roane III Kelly Klapkowski Alyssa Hecker Eve Holt Lori Kikkert Mosell Gordon Jr. David Garcia Luveli Gipson Xavier Binder Jose Cotto Jr. Stephanie Crilley BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, February 5. A cooperation program for 2024-2026 has been signed between the foreign ministries of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan,Trend reports. According to the Kyrgyz MFA, the program was signed following negotiations between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Jeenbek Kulubaev, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, in bilateral and expanded formats. On February 4, 2024, at the invitation of the Tajik side, Kulubaev arrived for an official visit to Tajikistan. During the negotiations, the FM emphasized Kyrgyzstan's commitment to further strengthening neighborly relations with Tajikistan. Kulubaev stated that the complete demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik state border along its whole length will allow both sides to strengthen bilateral cooperation in all mutually advantageous areas. He stated that Kyrgyzstan is prepared for a timely and mutually beneficial resolution of this problem, taking into account the interests of both parties. The two countries discussed the current condition and possibilities for Kyrgyz-Tajik relations in the political, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian areas. Views were expressed on the global and regional situations. Furthermore, the parties discussed their cooperation within the frameworks of international organizations such as the UN, OSCE, SCO, and others. Well, this is awkward. U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Noblesville, announced Monday she will run for a third term representing Indiana's 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House nearly one year to the day after Spartz set off a stampede for her seat by saying wouldn't seek reelection. Spartz said her change of heart was prompted by requests from constituents in her district generally encompassing Carmel, Kokomo, Marion, Muncie, Anderson, Fishers and points in between and her own desire to continue unspecified work she has underway in Congress. "Deciding where your duty lies family, work or country, is never an easy task," Spartz said. "As someone who grew up under tyranny, I understand the significance of these challenging times for our republic, and if my fellow Hoosiers and God decide, I will be honored to continue fighting for them." The 45-year-old congresswoman was born in Ukraine when it was part of the Soviet Union. She was among the first American politicians to condemn the war crimes carried out by Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but she's also criticized how Ukrainian government officials have fought to defend their country's sovereignty. While Spartz likely would have faced little to no opposition as an incumbent, so far nine Republicans, including state Rep. Chuck Goodrich, R-Noblesville, have filed to run for the GOP nomination in the 5th District thinking it would be an open seat this year. The deadline for candidates to withdraw from Indiana's primary election ballot is Feb. 16. GARY Five state lawmakers representing northern Lake County are hosting a public forum to update their constituents on the work of the Indiana General Assembly at the midpoint of the annual legislative session. The free event is set for noon Saturday in the Savannah Center at Indiana University Northwest, 3400 Broadway, Gary. In addition to hearing from the elected officials on the proposed new laws awaiting final approval at the Statehouse, residents are invited to share their opinions on pending state policies and to identify other currently unmet needs. "I hope you will join me and other area legislators on Feb. 10 ... to learn more about legislation we are discussing at the Indiana Statehouse that will impact your daily lives," said state Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, the event organizer. Also participating will be state Reps. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago; and Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary; and state Sens. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago; and Dave Vinzant, D-Hobart. Meet the 2024 Northwest Indiana legislative delegation State Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago State Sen. Dave Vinzant, D-Hobart State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr. State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville State Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie During a speech at the Grammys on Sunday, Jay-Z criticized the awards show for what he described as its snubs and inconsistencies in giving out honors to Black artists, pointing out that his wife, Beyonce, has the most Grammys but has never won for album of the year. Even by your own metrics it doesnt work, he said. He added, We want you to get it right at least get it close to right. Jay-Z also referred to Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeffs boycott of the 1989 Grammys because the rap category was not televised at the time. He noted that he had boycotted the show when DMX released two No. 1 albums but was not nominated. Some of you may get robbed, he said, adding, Some of you dont belong in the category. He also conceded that the process of awarding Grammys is subjective. Its music and its opinion based, he said. Shortly after winning three Grammys, the rapper Killer Mike was arrested at the awards show on Sunday in connection with a physical altercation at the Los Angeles arena where the ceremony took place, the police said. In a post on social media, the Los Angeles Police Department said that Killer Mike, who was born Michael Render, was booked on a misdemeanor battery charge and that he was being released. Representatives for the rapper did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Recording Academy, which presents the awards, referred questions to the police. Less than an hour before the Grammys telecast began, video posted on social media by a journalist for The Hollywood Reporter showed Killer Mike, in handcuffs, being led through the Crypto.com Arena by a police officer. But Mr. Mousa focused on one number: 3,892. That was his position on a New York City food vendor waiting list. Like thousands of the citys mobile food vendors, Mr. Mousa cannot get a permit for his cart, the Halal Plates. A longstanding cap limited the number of permits to 5,100, before a 2021 law began allowing for 445 new permits a year for a decade. So far, the city has issued 71 new permits. Almost 9,500 people were on waiting lists in January, according to the citys health department. A spokesman said it had released 1,074 applications a permit prerequisite since the law was enacted, but most applicants had yet to complete the process. While he waits, Mr. Mousa said he and his business partner pay $18,000 in cash every two years to rent their permit from a Bronx cabdriver who Mr. Mousa said obtained it decades ago for a few hundred dollars. Mr. Mousa said such arrangements were the only ways many vendors, who otherwise follow regulations, can avoid fines and confiscation of their carts. The music industrys biggest stars attended the 66th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in attire as varied as their songs and albums. Much of that attire whether it was a cutout gown or a sheer shirt exposed midsections. Dua Lipa and Miley Cyrus were two of the many who chose outfits with metallic tones, perhaps in hopes of earning a golden statue to match. Gracie Abrams, Paris Jackson and others opted for black, while Kylie Minogue and Bonnie McKee were among those in red, one of the most popular colors seen on carpets this awards season. (Ms. McKee complemented her red dress with a nest of fiery hair.) Several of the nights most memorable looks reminded viewers that theres nothing wrong with replaying old hits. Laverne Cox, the E! host who interviewed stars on the red carpet, wore a structured Comme des Garcons dress from 2015, and Olivia Rodrigo chose a white Versace gown that is almost 10 years older than she is. The Grammy Awards are known to be a fashion playground, and this years event was no exception. But the following 22 looks (three of which belonged to the members of boygenius) stood out more than most, for better or worse. Garages are often cluttered with dusty boxes of heirlooms, untouched gym equipment or a multitude of tools. But how about a piece of a Cold War-era nuclear missile? Members of the bomb squad in Bellevue, Wash., on Thursday were called to inspect parts of a military-grade missile in the garage of a resident. Elements of the larger, intact missile, such as the warhead, were missing and the authorities deemed the piece to be inert and safe, the police said in a news release on Friday. An Air Force museum in Dayton, Ohio, contacted the police in Bellevue on Jan. 31 to report that a resident had offered to donate the missile, which belonged to his late neighbor. Locked in a legal battle with the Biden administration over immigration enforcement, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas said on Sunday that he was expanding his effort to establish state control over areas near the Rio Grande in an effort to deter migrants. Mr. Abbott, flanked by 13 other Republican governors, said that Texas would not limit its high-intensity efforts to the small municipal park along the river in Eagle Pass where the state has taken over and limited access for federal agents. A top Texas official said state law enforcement officers were also looking to move in on riverside ranch land north of the city that migrants have continued to use for crossing. Texas has deployed National Guard troops and state police officers up and down the Texas border since 2021, and began stringing concertina wire along the banks of the river the next year. What changed last month in the park, known as Shelby Park, is that Texas began preventing federal agents from routine access to the riverbank or from using the park to detain and process large numbers of migrants. As we speak right now, the Texas National Guard, theyre undertaking operations to expand this effort, Mr. Abbott said during a news conference at the park. Were not going to contain ourselves to this park. We are expanding to further areas to make sure we expand our level of deterrence and denial of illegal entry into the United States. Last January, 14 members of the British public entered a wood-paneled room in the back of the British Museum for a secret presentation. They were there to learn about an exhibition still in development, which the museum wanted kept under wraps. Onscreen in a prerecorded video, the museums curator of Roman and Iron Age coins, Richard Abdy, outlined his plans for a show about life in the Roman Empires army. The exhibition would take visitors from a soldiers recruitment to his retirement, he said, and would feature hundreds of objects, including the armor that warriors wore on the battlefield and letters they wrote home to their families. When the presentation was finished, a staff member from Morris Hargreaves McIntyre, a company that runs focus groups, asked the museum goers for their thoughts on aspects of Abdys plan, including which types of artifacts the museum should show, how they should be arranged and even how much entry should cost. Most of the participants seemed excited, according to an anonymized report for the British Museum. Several attendees said they especially liked that the exhibition would focus on the stories of individual soldiers, including everyday subjects like their food and pay. Billy Joels first new pop song in nearly two decades was sparked by someone miles from the record business: a Long Island doctor. Joel, 74, has long made it known that he isnt interested in making more albums. He released 12 studio LPs between 1971 and 1993 most platinum several times over and retired from the format, though he never stopped tinkering with classical music, or playing live. But new songs? I have this fear of writing something thats not good, he said in an interview last month at his estate in Oyster Bay, N.Y. I have a very high bar for myself. And the work to get there is intimidating. I dont want to go through it anymore. Joels influence as a songwriter has endured, drawing in new generations. (He is everything, Olivia Rodrigo, 20, who referenced him in her song Deja Vu, said last summer.) Over the years, the list of people whod tried to cajole him back into writing and recording grew legion: Clive Davis. Rick Rubin. Elton John. Yet when Joels family doctor urged him to meet a kid interested in discussing music near his place out east in Sag Harbor, he agreed to a lunch. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, February 5. Representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) office in Kyrgyzstan and the State Agency of Architecture, Construction, and Housing and Communal Services under the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan (Gosstroy) discussed collaborative projects, Trend reports. In particular, the parties discussed the preparatory steps for introducing electronic management systems within the construction industry of Kyrgyzstan. The Deputy Director of the state agency, Baktyyar Stanbekov outlined several main directions for developing digital infrastructure in the architectural and urban planning fields of the country, proposing to deepen practical cooperation between the parties. In response, Ainagul Amanova, Senior Project Specialist at ADB in Kyrgyzstan, expressed the bank's readiness to provide technical, advisory, and other support within the framework of collaboration to enhance the digital infrastructure of the construction sector. Following the meeting, the sides decided that it was necessary to submit project proposals. Between network, cable and streaming, the modern television landscape is a vast one. Here are some of the shows, specials and movies coming to TV this week, Feb. 5-11. Details and times are subject to change. Monday THE EXORCIST (1973) 5:55 p.m. on Flix. There are two things Im always in the mood to watch: reality television and horror movies (both involve a bit of schadenfreude). The Exorcist, of course, is genre royalty, and since it turned 50 last year, its a good time to watch Regans head go around and lament the ever-decreasing quantity of practical effects. You can also play my favorite TV game: trying to catch which parts have been edited out for broadcast. BELOW DECK 9 p.m. on Bravo. Our beloved stud of the sea Captain Lee Rosbach has finally sailed off into the sunset after 10 seasons of managing unruly young yachties (dont worry, hes fine: hes gabbing about all things Below Deck on his podcast, Salty). Captain Kerry Titheradge, of Below Deck Adventure fame, is now manning the helm. Fraser Olender returns as the chief stew, and with the rumors that hes now dating a charter guest confirmed, theres sure to be plenty to rock the boat this season. Since the Congregation Bonai Shalom in Boulder, Colo., was founded in 1981, one of its several Torahs has been taken from the ark each Sabbath, and on other holy days, and read to members of the congregation. In August, another, particularly special Torah arrived at the temple, one of some 1,400 scrolls whose survival during the Holocaust has inspired Jewish congregations around the world. Confiscated by the Nazis as they purged synagogues and communities throughout Bohemia and Moravia, the Torah scrolls were shipped to the Jewish Museum in Prague. The scrolls were rescued from Prague years after World War II and have become part of a sprawling inventory of faith administered by a London trust that loans the Torahs out to synagogues, universities, hospitals and other institutions in 25 countries. Dartmouth College announced this morning that it would again require applicants to submit standardized test scores, starting next year. Its a significant development because other selective colleges are now deciding whether to do so. In todays newsletter, Ill tell you the story behind Dartmouths decision. Training future leaders Last summer, Sian Beilock a cognitive scientist who had previously run Barnard College in New York became the president of Dartmouth. After arriving, she asked a few Dartmouth professors to do an internal study on standardized tests. Like many other colleges during the Covid pandemic, Dartmouth dropped its requirement that applicants submit an SAT or ACT score. With the pandemic over and students again able to take the tests, Dartmouths admissions team was thinking about reinstating the requirement. Beilock wanted to know what the evidence showed. Our business is looking at data and research and understanding the implications it has, she told me. Three Dartmouth economists and a sociologist then dug into the numbers. One of their main findings did not surprise them: Test scores were a better predictor than high school grades or student essays and teacher recommendations of how well students would fare at Dartmouth. The evidence of this relationship is large and growing, as I explained in a recent Times article. U.S. hit targets in the Middle East The U.S. launched scores of strikes against Iranian-backed militias in the Middle East over the weekend. The latest one came yesterday in Yemen, where the U.S. military said it had destroyed an antiship cruise missile that belonged to Houthi militants. The U.S. and Britain hit 36 Houthi targets in northern Yemen on Saturday, a day after the U.S. carried out attacks on more than 85 targets in Syria and Iraq. U.S. officials said that the strikes were carefully calibrated to avoid setting off a direct confrontation with Iran and that they hampered the militias ability to hit U.S. forces. But the attacks risk the kind of escalation of hostilities that President Biden has sought to avoid since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October. Background: The U.S.-led air and naval strikes began last month in response to Houthi drone and missile attacks that have upended commercial shipping in the Red Sea since November. The weekends retaliation made good on President Bidens promise to respond to a recent drone attack that killed three American soldiers at a remote outpost in Jordan. After two deadly crashes involving its best-selling 737 Max 8 planes five years ago, Boeing spent billions of dollars to make its products safer and repair its reputation. Now, the company is again confronting a wave of uncertainty and costs after a harrowing incident involving a different 737 jet. Just four weeks ago, a hole blew open on a 737 Max 9 jetliner during an Alaska Airlines flight shortly after takeoff when what appears to have been a poorly attached panel tore away. The Alaska pilots made an emergency landing as terrified passengers feared the worst. The incident has prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to indefinitely halt Boeings ambitious plans to raise production of Max planes. Passengers have filed class-action lawsuits against the company. And some infuriated airline executives are taking the rare step of criticizing Boeing publicly and expressing doubt about its ability to deliver planes when they were expected. The chief executive of United Airlines has gone so far as to suggest that his company might cancel some of its orders with Boeing. A case the company settled with the federal government for $2.5 billion in the waning days of the Trump administration to avoid prosecution could be reopened if the Justice Department determines Boeing did not comply with the terms of the deal. A South Korean court on Monday acquitted Lee Jae-yong, Samsungs top executive, on charges of stock price manipulation and accounting fraud, the latest twist in the billionaires legal troubles tied to a merger that helped him secure control of the nations largest company. A Seoul district court judge said that there was not enough evidence to prove the prosecutors charges against Mr. Lee and 13 other current and former Samsung officials, including the accusation that the primary intent of the merger was to strengthen Mr. Lees power over the conglomerate, against the business interests of each Samsung affiliate that merged. Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence of five years and a fine of 500 million won against Mr. Lee, 55. He has denied any wrongdoing. Prosecutors have the option to appeal the decision to a higher court. Neither Samsung Electronics nor the prosecutors office immediately commented after the verdict. Mr. Lees lawyers said in a statement that the decision clearly confirmed the legality of the merger and the accounting of its affiliates. Two far-flung corners of the world, known for their temperate climates, are being buffeted by deadly disasters. Wildfires have killed more than 120 people as they swept the forested hillsides of Chile, and record-breaking rains have swelled rivers and triggered mudslides in Southern California. Behind these risks are two powerful forces: Climate change, which can intensify both rain and drought, and the natural weather phenomenon known as El Nino, which can also supersize extreme weather. In California, meteorologists had been warning for days that an unusually strong storm, known as an atmospheric river, was gathering force because of extraordinarily high Pacific Ocean temperatures. The rains began over the weekend and several counties were under a state of emergency. By Monday, officials warned that the Los Angeles area could be deluged by the equivalent of a years rainfall in a single day. In the southern hemisphere, Chile has been reeling from drought for the better part of a decade. That set the stage for a hellish weekend, when, amid a severe heat wave, wildfires broke out. The president has since declared two days of national mourning and warned that the death toll from the devastating blazes could significantly increase. Black people in the United States are more likely than white people to report that they do not sleep much, research shows. On average, they live in louder neighborhoods, work longer hours and pick up more late-night shifts concerning to public health experts, since sleep deprivation is linked to chronic health issues and early death. But a group of public-health researchers from multiple universities and the National Institutes of Health wondered whether unequal exposure to police violence could also be contributing to racial sleep disparities, since those events are known to increase hypervigilance, worry and post-traumatic stress. They designed a pair of complex studies to measure how police killings of unarmed Black people affected sleep among Black and white people over time. The results were published Monday in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. Black people were consistently more likely to report harmfully low levels of sleep after such a killing than they did before it occurred, the researchers found, regardless of whether the killing was a nearby event or a high-profile incident captured in media. The researchers did not find substantial impacts on sleep among white people in either case. Dr. Atheendar Venkataramani, an associate professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman School of Medicine, was a co-author of the studies. He said the findings reflected the general human tendency to interpret events and disparities in events in ways that apply to you, and your future, and your familys future. Dr. Venkataramanis lab, the Opportunity for Health Lab, uses statistical data to investigate the relationship between economic opportunity and health outcomes. He said that standard health questionnaires and clinicians, including himself, tended to ask patients about behavioral risk factors but that we dont really collect data with these kinds of timely social exposures in mind. Were never really asking, Hey, did you see something on the news that made you kind of rethink your position in society or how you feel about your future? he said. Dwayne Montgomery, a retired police inspector who was once friendly with Mayor Eric Adams, pleaded guilty on Monday to misdemeanor conspiracy, saying that he had directed straw donors to contribute to the mayors 2021 campaign. Mr. Montgomery was indicted in July by the Manhattan district attorneys office, accused of a scheme to funnel contributions to the campaign and to conceal the source of donations. In his plea Monday, Mr. Montgomery, 64, agreed not to organize or host any fund-raisers or solicit contributions for a campaign for one year. In return, the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, said that he would recommend that Mr. Montgomery complete 200 hours of community service and pay a $500 fine. The mayor was not implicated in the indictment and has not been accused of any wrongdoing. When the charges became public, his campaign spokesman, Evan Thies, thanked Mr. Braggs prosecutors for their hard work on behalf of taxpayers. In February 2021, Oregon decriminalized possession of small amounts of all drugs, via a ballot initiative known as Measure 110. The idea was to treat addiction as a public health problem, based on overwhelming evidence that jailing people for having small amounts of drugs for personal use is both ineffective and counterproductive. Since then, decriminalization has been widely blamed for increased homelessness, soaring rates of public drug use and a 68 percent rise in the overdose death rate in its first two years. This spike was far greater than the 14 percent rise in the nations overall overdose deaths during the same period. Although Measure 110 passed with nearly 59 percent support, many Oregon voters are now calling for drugs to be recriminalized, citing these worsening conditions. The state legislature, which convenes on Monday, is considering new legislation that would, among other things, restore a criminal penalty of up to a month in jail for low-level possession. Repealing decriminalization would be a mistake. Researchers studying Measure 110s effects recently presented compelling evidence that the current law is extremely unlikely to have done the harm for which it is being blamed. But rampant misinformation often being spread for political gain means that the legislature is likely to return to its old-school drug war approach. With overdose deaths still on the rise and other states considering decriminalization, a reversal could undo vital national progress in fighting addiction, which is far more effectively resolved with care, not coercion. BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, February 5. Topographic working groups from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have successfully agreed on 3.71 km of state border demarcation between the two countries, Trend reports. The agreement was reached following a meeting of the topographic working groups, which took place in the city of Batken, Kyrgyzstan, from January 30 through February 5, 2024, according to the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan. It was noted that the parties will continue working on delineating the remaining sections at the next meeting, scheduled to be held in Tajikistan. To note, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have a common border of 970 km, but some areas still require identification and marking. Meetings between delegations are held alternately on the territory of each country. Dr. Hirsh Theriault soon learned that most of her fellow Google News engineers in Cambridge had also lost their jobs. More than 40 people in the news division were cut, a union at the company said, though a number of them were later offered jobs elsewhere inside Google. Dr. Hirsh Theriaults experience is increasingly common at Google, where rolling job cuts in recent months, after a year of significant layoffs, have employees on edge. The layoffs have slowed down projects and prompted employees to spend working hours trying to learn which work groups have been hit and who could be next, said 10 current and former Google employees, including some who asked for anonymity so they could speak candidly about their jobs. Mudslides and severe flooding were reported across parts of Los Angeles late Sunday and Monday morning, as experts warned that a massive storm was likely to stall over the region, bringing more misery throughout the day. Winds lashing power lines and trees on Sunday left thousands without power across the state. But forecasters said the greater peril stemmed from the trajectory of the atmospheric river a huge plume of moisture drawn from the Pacific Ocean that meteorologists expected to stall over one of the countrys most populated regions. The major wind and power outages will be the less dangerous part of the storm, relative to whats about to unfold, and is starting to unfold, in Southern California, Dr. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with the University of California, Los Angeles, said during an online briefing on Sunday evening. Already, the region has been lashed by record rainfall. Mudslides covered the canyon roads in and out of Malibu, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. And in the Studio City neighborhood, firefighters evacuated six people from homes as water dragged debris down into the area, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. Most school districts in Southern California, including Los Angeles Unified, the second-largest in the country, were planning to keep most classrooms open on Monday, officials said, even as the state battled heavy rain, flooding and mudslides. Many students depend on schools for basic nutrition, the Los Angeles superintendent, Alberto Carvalho, said at a news conference on Sunday, explaining why he had decided not to close most of the district. On Monday morning, district officials noted in an update that winds were forecast to diminish, citing that as another reason to keep schools open. Los Angeles Unified has more than 400,000 students in more than 700 schools across the district. At least one, Vinedale College Preparatory Academy in Sun Valley, will be closed because it is in a mandatory evacuation area. Those students will report to a different school, according to the district. Several other districts in Southern California, including Long Beach and San Diego, also had not announced any plans to close as of early Monday morning. Long Beach Unified School District said on social media that it would trim trees and remove debris from roofs to eliminate potential hazards. It also asked parents to prioritize safety and leave more time for drop off and pickup. In Bal Harbour, Fla., an oceanside village north of Miami Beach, a luxury mall says it wants to help tackle one of the nations and Floridas most intractable problems: a lack of affordable housing. It is an unexpected move for a retail temple where Gucci, Chanel and Rolex are on offer. Affordable? Here? But in a rare instance of bipartisan agreement, the Florida Legislature passed a law last spring intended to encourage projects like the one that the owner of the mall, Bal Harbour Shops, has in mind. Called the Live Local Act, the law allows developers to bypass certain local zoning rules and to qualify for tax breaks if their projects include enough work force housing. Local officials around the state, stripped of their power to say no, dont like it. And nowhere has seen more backlash to date than little Bal Harbour. In winter 2021, more than 150,000 people living in Jackson, Miss., were left without running water. Faucets were dry or dribbling a muddy brown. For weeks, people across the city lost the water they normally relied on to drink, cook and bathe. With no way to flush their toilets, some parents sent their children into the woods to relieve themselves. Businesses closed. Mississippis capital effectively shut down. The following year, at the height of Mississippis sweltering summer in August 2022, it would all happen again. Each time Jackson faced a water crisis, local and state leaders cast blame in familiar directions. Lawmakers criticized city officials for ignoring leaky pipes and failing to collect payments from customers. City officials pointed to Jacksons shrinking population and decades of economic decline. And they said state officials, mostly white and Republican, had starved the mostly Black, Democratic city of resources. But the final blow was delivered by Siemens, a giant German corporation that had swept into town in 2010, boldly promising to install modern water meters that would boost revenues and return Jacksons water system to a moneymaking enterprise that could afford to fix its crumbling infrastructure. Fresh off an overwhelming victory in South Carolinas Democratic primary, President Biden rallied supporters on Sunday in Nevada, saying that he had kept his promises to the Black and Hispanic voters who helped elect him. Mr. Biden spoke at a community center in the historic Westside neighborhood of Las Vegas, home to an African American community in a critical battleground state. He rattled off statistics about reductions in child poverty for Black, Hispanic and Indigenous people, talked about growth in minority-owned business and attacked former President Donald J. Trump for saying that immigration was poisoning the blood of the United States. But he seemed to acknowledge that many voters were skeptical of his accomplishments as president at a time when his approval rating had sunk below 40 percent I know, we know, we have a lot more to do, Mr. Biden said. Not everyone is feeling the benefits of our investments and progress yet. President Biden met on Monday with members of Nevadas powerful culinary workers union, after the union averted a planned strike by reaching contract agreements with Las Vegas properties over the weekend. Mr. Biden visited the Vdara Hotel, one of the properties where the union agreed to a contract for its members, and greeted workers in an employee cafeteria shaking hands, taking photos and at one point appearing to FaceTime with someone on a workers phone. Wall Street did not build America. The middle class built America. Unions built the middle class. There would be no middle class without the unions, he told the crowd. So I came to say thank you. Not just to say thank you for the support that youve given me last time out, but to thank you for having the faith in the union. Mr. Biden later stopped at a boba tea shop in Las Vegass Chinatown, a nod to the states large and growing Asian American population. Officials with Nikki Haleys campaign said Monday that she had raised $16.5 million in January, her biggest monthly fund-raising total to date, adding a new infusion of cash to the $14.6 million her campaign brought into the new year to keep the nomination fight with Donald J. Trump going. Public polling has shown that Ms. Haley, the former South Carolina governor, has made little progress in closing the gap with the former president, either in her home state, which holds its Republican primary election on Feb. 24, or nationally. But a burst of fund-raising and national publicity, including a surprise appearance on NBCs Saturday Night Live, have tamped down chatter that she could withdraw from the race imminently. Her announced fund-raising numbers in January, which included $11.7 million from digital and direct mail outreach and 69,274 new donors, signaled a desire for her not to fold. We are going to have the resources to go the distance, Betsy Ankney, Ms. Haleys campaign manager, told reporters on Monday morning. We will continue to fight as long as have we momentum and have the resources to do so. Senate Democrats released a $118.3 billion emergency national security bill on Sunday that would tie a fresh infusion of aid to Ukraine to measures clamping down on migration across the United States-Mexico border. The fate of measure, which has the backing of President Biden and Senate leaders in both parties, will turn on whether enough Republicans embrace its border security provisions a long shot given the opposition of former President Donald J. Trump and House leaders who quickly denounced it on Sunday night as a nonstarter that does not crack down enough on migration. The legislation will need bipartisan support to advance this week in the Senate, where it must draw at least 60 votes to advance in a test vote set for Wednesday. Heres a look at whats in the 370-page bill: Money for Ukraine, Israel, Palestinians and the border. The bill includes $60.1 billion in military assistance for Ukraine, $14.1 billion in security assistance for Israel and $10 billion in humanitarian aid for civilians of global crises including Palestinians and Ukrainians. Only five days after Donald J. Trump left office, one of his aides emailed a lawyer to request approval of a formal-looking seal for use on statements from the office of the 45th president. Margo Martin, one of his closest personal aides, told the lawyer, Scott Gast, that consultants had designed a subtly modified seal for Mr. Trump. They said they changed a few things to avoid trademark issues, she wrote, asking Mr. Gast if the design was acceptable. The eventual image that Mr. Trumps team used a recognizable eagle from the Great Seal of the United States, placed in a circle was evocative of the presidential seal that identified Mr. Trump with the job he had just left. And while he is hardly the first former White House occupant to affix an eagle to his website, the early conversations about presidential imagery revealed what has turned out to be an important obsession of Mr. Trumps: being seen as much as a future president as a former one. The Swiss luxury watchmaker and London-based fashion house revealed the limited-edition Chronomat 36 Victoria Beckham collaboration at a star-studded dinner in Manhattan Some of fashions biggest names gathered in New York City last night for an intimate celebration, as Victoria Beckham and Breitling CEO Georges Kern unveiled the much-anticipated limited-edition Chronomat 36 Victoria Beckham collection. The dinner was held at Indochine Restaurant in NoHo, a suitably stylish locale for the occasion. Since opening in 1984, the iconic, 28-table hot spot has hosted a whos-who of the citys cultural icons. The launch brought together a select list of VIPs, including the collections campaign star Annemary Aderibigbe, and top models including Frida Aasen, Lara Worthington, and Helena Christensen. Actor Katie Holmes was also in attendance, along with author and TV personality Derek Blasberg. Other notable attendees included Breitling ambassadors American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland and model Ronja Furrer. The night began with welcome aperitifs, followed by a sumptuous sit-down dinner featuring Indochines signature French-Vietnamese fare, followed by a night of dancing to DJ Elias Becker. Chronomat 36 Victoria Beckham Breitling STYLISH PAIR Just as coveted as the guest list was the new Chronomat 36 Victoria Beckham collection itself. Limited to just 1,500 pieces, the line effortlessly blends heritage and modernity, bringing together 140-plus years of Swiss watchmaking and Victoria Beckhams always-on-point design style. Victoria Beckham is a brand that defines modern and quiet luxury, noted Breitling CEO Georges Kern. Everything is considered and elevated, but with an ease that can be worn from day to night. Victoria Beckham echoed his sentiments about the collaboration, revealing, It was a real exchange. Working closely with Breitlings expert craftsmanship and know-how and bringing in my aesthetic was exciting. She also reflected on her personal vision for the collection: This is the perfect watch for women who are looking for something versatile. Its elevated and chic but still has a relaxed feel to it. The mix of masculine and feminine has always been how I like to dress myself, and I am quite a minimalist at heart. Chronomat 36 Victoria Beckham Breitling RETRO REIMAGINED Powered by the Breitling Caliber 10, the Chronomat 36 Victoria Beckham collection retains classic Chronomat features including the metal rouleaux bracelet and raised rider tabs at the 15-minute marks, while introducing fresh new colorways inspired by Beckham's Spring/Summer 2024 palette: peppermint, midnight blue, dove gray, and sand. The co-branded collection features the Victoria Beckham logo on the seconds hand and as a subtle inscription on the bracelet, with options for cases in stainless steel or yellow gold an heirloom material revived by Breitling just for this collection. The dials also reference the limitation: One of 400 for each of the stainless-steel pieces, and One of 100 for each of the gold variations. Their stunning campaign also made waves in the fashion world. Shot by legendary Italian fashion and portrait photographer Mario Sorrentia frequent contributor to Vogue and Harpers Bazaar it features rising-star model Annemary Aderibigbe. The campaign embodies the strength, sophistication, and touch of the unexpected that characterize both the archetypal Breitling and Victoria Beckham woman. All the timepieces come in a specially designed, co-branded box. And for members of the fashion set who want something extra, a Breitling x Victoria Beckham travel pouch accompanies each piece crafted in gold. For more detail on the watches, click here. John Bolton has a warning about what a second Donald Trump presidency might look like. Trump really cares only about retribution for himself, and it will consume much of a second term, Bolton, who served as Trumps national security adviser, writes in a new edition of his White House memoir, The Room Where It Happened. I am your warrior. I am your justice, and for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution, Trump told supporters last year. He promised to appoint a special prosecutor if hes re-elected to go after President Biden and his family. (Trumps advisers are concerned his public comments about retribution will alienate swing voters. He tried to play down his interest in payback in January.) A vindictive Trump second term is now a frequent point of discussion. But Bolton already got a close-up look at Trumps nature and how his anger can boil over. He spent 17 months in the administration and left in 2019. American warplanes destroyed or severely damaged most of the Iranian and militia targets they struck in Syria and Iraq on Friday, according to the Pentagon, the first major salvos in what President Biden and his aides have said will be a sustained campaign. Maj. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said on Monday that more than 80 of some 85 targets in Syria and Iraq were destroyed or rendered inoperable. The targets, he said, included command hubs; intelligence centers; depots for rockets, missiles and attack drones; as well as logistics and ammunition bunkers. It was the first military assessment of the strikes carried out in response to a drone attack in Jordan by an Iran-backed militia in Iraq on Jan. 28 that killed three American soldiers and injured at least 40 more service members. This is the start of our response, and there will be additional actions taken, General Ryder told reporters without elaborating. We do not seek conflict in the Middle East or anywhere else, but attacks on American forces will not be tolerated. VoteVets, the liberal political action committee known for supporting veterans running for office, will spend $45 million to back President Biden and Democratic candidates for the House and Senate, Jon Soltz, the groups co-founder and chairman, said. VoteVets is the latest liberal organization to announce its 2024 plans to back Mr. Biden and other Democratic candidates. Future Forward, the main Democratic super PAC supporting Mr. Bidens bid, has a $250 million ad blitz planned. Last month the liberal activist group MoveOn revealed its $32 million program. The centerpiece of the VoteVets effort is a $15 million project aimed at veterans and active-duty military families in the presidential battleground states. The man Mr. Biden beat in 2020 and is likely to face in a rematch this fall, former President Donald J. Trump, slipped among veterans during his re-election campaign. In 2020, Mr. Trump performed a net 14 points worse among veterans and military families than he did in the 2016 election against Hillary Clinton, according to a Pew Research study released in 2021. Mr. Trump still carried veterans, but his erosion of support followed an array of evidence that he had been disrespectful to military officials and families. The worst of the storm appeared to be over Sunday night in the San Francisco Bay Area, after rain drenched the region and wind toppled trees throughout the day. But residents will be dealing with the effects for days to come. More than 300,000 Bay Area households lacked power on Sunday night, some roads remained closed, and there were reports of homes and vehicles that were damaged. While communities in Northern California had been concerned about flooding before the storm hit, the fierce winds ended up causing more problems. Towering trees fell onto highways and blocked traffic. Ferries on the San Francisco Bay were called back to shore. An outdoor dining structure in Noe Valley even slid into the middle of the road before bar patrons and neighbors ran outside and pushed it back into place. An Australian writer and businessman who has been detained in China since 2019 has been declared guilty of espionage and was given a death sentence with two years probation on Monday, in a blow to warming relations between Australia and China. The severe punishment for the businessman, Yang Hengjun, was first revealed by the Australian government, and then confirmed by Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a daily briefing in Beijing. If Mr. Yang does not commit any crimes in those probationary two years, the sentence can be commuted to life imprisonment, Penny Wong, the Australian foreign minister, said in a statement. She described the verdict as harrowing. The long detention of Mr. Yang who is also known by his legal name, Yang Jun has been one of the sources of tensions between Australia and China. Now the severe sentence may again weigh on relations, which had been improving after the election of a new, center-left Labor government in Australia in 2022. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, visited Beijing late last year and has pressed for Mr. Yangs release. Blinken began a push for the latest cease-fire deal Antony Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state, landed in Saudi Arabia yesterday, beginning his visit to the Middle East. He is trying to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from becoming a broader regional war and to rally allies around a proposal to release hostages in Gaza. Heres the latest. Blinkens visit comes as the U.S. and its Arab allies wait for Hamas to respond to a proposal for a potential cease-fire. Under the proposed agreement, Hamas would return more than 100 Israeli hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a pause in fighting there and for the release of Palestinians in Israeli jails. The Biden administration is also pursuing further retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed militias that have targeted U.S. troops. A U.S. official said Blinken would seek to reassure U.S. allies that the strikes should not be interpreted as an escalation of fighting in the Middle East. Politics: Many blame Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel for the security failures that led to the Oct. 7 attacks and want him out of office. While theres no clear way to force early elections, there are other ways to oust him. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain took an unaccustomed victory lap on Monday, visiting Belfast to celebrate the restoration of Northern Irelands power-sharing government. His ministers struck a deal last week that brought the Norths disaffected unionists back into the territorys assembly. For Mr. Sunak, who is embattled on so many other fronts, it was a rare unalloyed success significant not just because it ended two years of political stalemate in Northern Ireland, but also because, some analysts believe, it could shore up a United Kingdom that has seemed in danger of spinning apart since Brexit. With the revival of self-government in Northern Ireland, diplomats and analysts said, the spotlight will shift away from the tantalizing prospect of uniting the North with the Irish Republic and shine on everyday issues like cutting waiting times at hospitals or giving pay raises to public workers. There was a head of steam building on the issue of Irish unity, said Katy Hayward, professor of politics at Queens University in Belfast. Nothing was working, everything was broken, so people were thinking about the alternative. If you have the institutions working, it relieves the pressure a little. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said that a broad overhaul of the countrys military and civilian leadership was needed to reboot the war effort against Russia, suggesting that a major shake-up of his government was imminent. Mr. Zelenskys comments, in a broadcast on Sunday night, indicated that his plans would likely go beyond replacing the top military commander, Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny. And they signaled a search for a new strategy among Ukraines leadership at a precarious moment, with depleted Ukrainian forces on the defensive and leaders in Kyiv waiting to see whether the United States will provide much-needed military and financial assistance. A reset, a new beginning is necessary, Mr. Zelensky told the Italian media outlet Rai News. I have something serious in mind, which is not about a single person but about the direction of the countrys leadership. Friction between the military and the civilian government represents the most serious schism in Ukraines leadership since the start of the war almost two years ago. The acrimony, which has been building for months, seemed to reach a breaking point last week, when Mr. Zelensky summoned General Zaluzhny for a meeting to tell him he was being fired, only to back off at least temporarily, according to Ukrainian officials familiar with the discussion. A trip back to the Middle East by the United States top diplomat to continue talks on a possible cease-fire deal highlights a week of high-level wrangling over the war in Gaza and beyond. Starting on Monday, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken is expected to visit Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank on his trip to the Middle East, in hopes of reaching an agreement to release the remaining hostages held in Gaza and secure a humanitarian pause for civilians there, the State Department said. Hamas has said it is considering a cease-fire proposal, but signaled that there were still significant gaps to bridge. Egyptian and Qatari mediators, along with Israel and the United States, have given Hamas a proposal that would pause the fighting for the first time since a one-week cease-fire in November during which more than 100 hostages were freed. Heres what to watch for this week: The United Nations Security Council will gather on Monday after Russia called for an urgent meeting to discuss U.S. strikes. The United States has retaliated for a deadly drone attack by bombing Iran-backed militia targets in Syria and Iraq. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russias Foreign Ministry, accused the United States on Saturday of carrying out the strikes with the intention of further escalating conflict in the Middle East, saying the strikes demonstrated the aggressive nature of U.S. policy in the region. Further retaliation was possible this week, after top U.S. national security officials said on Sunday that President Biden had approved additional actions, although they did not specify the timing or nature of the response. Fridays strikes in Syria and Iraq, followed by additional U.S.-led strikes against the Houthi militia in Yemen over the weekend, were a sharp escalation of the conflict that has rippled from Israels war against Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel is on his last legs, it is widely believed, and will be forced to relinquish his post once the war against Hamas in Gaza ends. He is historically unpopular in the opinion polls and blamed for the governmental and security failures that led to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, the killings of an estimated 1,200 Israelis and the difficult war that has followed. He faces a long-running trial on a variety of corruption charges. And he has defied President Biden on American efforts to create a postwar path to a two-state solution, with a demilitarized Palestine alongside Israel. While opposition to a Palestinian state is popular among Israelis, defiance of Washington is considered risky. But Mr. Netanyahu, 74, known everywhere as Bibi, has been a remarkable dancer through the complicated choreography of Israeli politics, having survived many previous predictions of his downfall. And new elections in Israel are not legally required until late October 2026. If you have heard about the frenzy of getting tickets for Taylor Swifts concerts, well this is the watch worlds version of an absolute must-attend event and tickets go online tomorrow! Tomorrow (February 6th), tickets will go online for Watches and Wonders public days and there is going to be more to see than ever before. So, make sure you are in front of your computer when the ticket gates because they are going to go fast! The big news for this years 2024 edition is that there is going to be an extra day of festivities, so you can sign up for one, two, or three days (Saturday 13th to Monday 15th April inclusive). Tickets will go online on www.watchesandwonders.com tomorrow (Tuesday 6th February). The exact time has yet to be specified, so if you want us to drop you a line when tickets are live, let us know below and you will be the first to know. Every edition gets bigger and better, but the organizers have really put their hearts and souls into making the public days a horological extravaganza this year. The big news is that it is going to be possible to book watch presentations to see the novelties from your favourite brands in small groups directed by the individual brands product experts. And if visiting over 50 watch brands isnt enough to keep you entertained, there will also be guided tours to make the most of your visit and a host of panel discussions each day on watchmaking topics covering economics, society, and technology. For those who arent quick enough to get tickets, there is no need to despair as there will also be a new Watchmaking Village in the heart of Geneva on the Pont de la Machine. The watch boutiques will be open with a host of in-store activities and presentations and there will be many opportunities to learn more about the art of watchmaking and talk to experts directly. One important date to put in your diary is the evening of Thursday 11th April at Quai General-Guisan as there will be a free concert, so definitely get your dancing shoes out for that! We understand that many of you may be reading this from abroad, cursing me for tempting you with such delights, but dont worry, we have you covered too. At WorldTempus, we have loads of things planned for Watches and Wonders with new watch reviews, one-on-one interviews with the brands movers and shakers, and fun videos where we put the watches to real tests. You can also join us for the experience on social media @worldtempus so you will be in the thick of the action with us, so there really is no excuse for not joining the fun! See Where Heavy Rainfall Deluged California Hourly precipitation Total precipitation accumulation 0.5 1 2 3 4 inches Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations National Centers for Environmental Prediction Notes: Data reflects near-real-time analysis of liquid precipitation amounts. Values are in inches of water or the equivalent amount of melted snow and ice. Times are Pacific. A powerful atmospheric river inundated California late Sunday evening and Monday morning, bringing howling gusts and torrential rain that flooded roads, felled trees and snapped power lines. The storm lingered over Southern California on Monday, with some areas receiving record-breaking rainfall. Where flooding was detected in Los Angeles on Monday California Flooded area Area of detail Studio City 101 Santa Monica Mountains Los Angeles San Gabriel River Los Angeles River 405 Santa Monica Bay Santa Ana River Corona 5 5 miles Calif. Area of detail Flooded area 101 Studio City Santa Monica Mountains Los Angeles San Gabriel River Los Angeles River 405 Santa Monica Bay Santa Ana River 5 10 miles Calif. Area of detail Flooded area San Gabriel River 101 Los Angeles Santa Monica Mountains Studio City Los Angeles River Santa Ana River 405 5 Santa Monica Bay 10 miles Source: Flooding data via Floodbase Note: Flooding data is the maximum flood extent detected from 4 p.m. Pacific time on Sunday to 4 a.m. on Monday. Flash flood warnings in the Los Angeles metro area were lifted on Monday morning by the National Weather Service, which no longer expects significant flooding to pose an immediate threat. But forecasters have warned that nonstop rain could continue piling on through Tuesday, increasing the potential for more flooding and landslides. The Los Angeles River in Los Angeles, Calif., on Monday. Jenna Schoenefeld for The New York Times Mudslides covered the canyon roads in the Hollywood Hills after parts of the nearby Santa Monica Mountains received more than seven inches of rain over two days. Several homes in Studio City were damaged by debris flow brought by the rushing water into the neighborhood, which is in the San Fernando Valley, and some residents there were evacuated from their homes. On Monday, street service trucks and utility repair crews brushed away mud and rocky debris that had built up overnight on Laurel Canyon Boulevard in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles. Jill Cowan/The New York Times Rainfall totals in downtown Los Angeles surpassed six inches on Sunday, breaking a century-old daily rainfall record for Feb. 4, according to the National Weather Service. Eight to 14 inches of rain could fall on Monday in parts of Southern California, potentially dumping in a single day the amount of rain that Los Angeles usually averages in an entire year. Residents dig out a road after a mudslide in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles. Reuters The latest storm is the second atmospheric river to drench California in a few days. Intense rain and strong winds also hit the Bay Area and Central Coast beginning late last week, prompting road closures from flooding and debris flow and leaving hundreds of thousands of people without power. Russias Ministry of Education and Science recently fired the director of the prestigious Institute of General Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences allegedly for controversial remarks that are incompatible with science. Geneticist Alexander Kudryavtsev was named director of the General Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences in June of 2021 and was scheduled to carry out his mandate until 2027, but last month, Russias Ministry of Education and Science announced that Kudryavtsev had been relieved of his duties and replaced. His sacking was immediately linked to a series of controversial statements made in March of last year, during the 3rd International Scientific and Theological Conference God Man World. The Russian scientist claimed that before the biblical flood, humans used to live for up to 900 years, but that their lifespan has shortened since then due to original, ancestral and personal sin. While speaking during the above-mentioned conference, Alexander Kudryavtsev also said that sin affects the human genome, making them more susceptible to negative health outcomes. The geneticist added that even though atheist scientists will blame genetic decay on factors like radiation or pollution, he believes that it is caused by sin. These are the kind of mutations that genetic doctors find every day when they work with patients, Kudryavtsev said. Atheist scientists will tell you that in fact its radiation, its pollution, its all mutagenic effects. Nevertheless, my personal conviction is that such destruction is initiated by original sin, aggravated by ancestral sin, and personal sin too. The controversial scientist also warned his audience not to sin, as this can affect their offspring as well for up to seven generations. Photo: Pixabay I wanted to emphasize the harmful influence of so-called bad habits what theologians call sin, he said They also affect the genome. If a mutation occurs in your body, in your gametes, it will be passed on to your offspring, and nothing can be done about it. The conclusion is simple: if you want to have healthy offspring, dont develop bad habits, dont fall into sin. Kudryavtsevs position as director of a prestigious genetics institute has been contested by many in the Russian scientific community for almost a year now, with many calling him incompatible with his position. There is no scientific side to Alexander Kudryavtsevs statements. There is simply reading the Bible because thats where its all written. All believers know that the Lord created the Earth in seven days, and this was about 6000 years ago, Evgeniy Alexandrov, head of Russias Commission of Combating Pseudoscience said in a statement. But science has made great strides since biblical times and knows how many years the Earth has existed when man appeared as a species and so on. And it is absolutely incompatible with the mythological tales of the Bible. Yes, it is now customary to treat the church politely, but what does science have to do with it? Due to the blowback of his unusual statements, Alexander Kudryavtsev was forced to put out a statement clarifying that the remarks made during the God Man World conference reflected only his personal beliefs and should not be associated with the genetics institute he headed. That wasnt good enough for many of his critics, though. The Russian Government did not specify the reason for Kudryavtsevs dismissal, but Fyodor Lukyanov, the head of the Russian churchs commission on family issues, has said that his dismissal for religious beliefs and statements in accordance with these beliefs violates the ethics of the scientific community. Kudryavtsev isnt the only scientist to make outlandish claims. Back in 2018, we reported that an Indian education organization wanted universities to teach students that batteries and airplanes were invented in India thousands of years ago. Met Eireann's forecast partner has issued a Snow Warning for parts of England with a winter snap set to hit Ireland and Britain later this week. The Met Office has issued a Status Yellow Snow Warning for Thursday and Thursday night for much of Wales and the Midlands and Northern England. It warns that a period of snowfall could bring some disruption on Thursday and Thursday night to the affected areas. There is a small chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel Met Eireann has not yet issued any warning or advisories for snow but there is snow, freezing temperatures and wintry showers in its forecast for Ireland for later this week. UPDATE: MET EIREANN ISSUES SNOW AND ICE WARNINGS FOR PARTS OF IRELAND - TAP TO SEE MORE According to Met Eireann, the colder weather will start on Tuesday night with most areas will be dry and clear but some wintry showers are possible near northern coasts. It will be cold with frost and ice as temperatures fall to between -2 and +2 degrees, in a light west to northwest wind. Wednesday morning will be cold with frost and icy stretches. It will be dry with hazy sunny spells at first, but cloud will spread from the south through the day and patchy rain will develop in the south and southwest. Highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees in a light and variable wind. According to Met Eireann, rain or sleet will extend across Munster, Connacht and Leinster on Wednesday night and snow is possible on higher ground. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees in a light to moderate east to northeast wind, freshening later. Rain and sleet will move further north on Thursday, clearing to scattered showers in the south later. Snow is possible on higher ground. Cold and breezy, with highest temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees and a moderate to fresh northeasterly wind. According to Met Eireann, rain and sleet will continue over the northern half of the country on Thursday night, with scattered showers further south. Snow is possible on higher ground in the north. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees with a moderate to fresh east to northeast wind. It will stay unsettled on Friday with showers or spells of rain or sleet. Highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees generally, milder in the south, with a moderate to fresh northeasterly wind. A 29-year-old man arrested by detectives investigating the murder of 17-year-old Blake Newland in Limavady on Friday, February 2, has been released on bail to allow for further investigation. The teenager died following Friday night's stabbing in the Woodland Walk area of Limavady. A total of five males remain in police custody at this time. 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. Press Release February 5, 2024 'These laws protect Filipinos' -- Bong Go slams UN rapporteur's call to repeal Anti-Terror Law, Cybercrime Prevention Act Senator Christopher "Bong" Go criticized the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression Irene Khan for urging the Philippine government to repeal the Republic Act No. 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020 (ATL), and RA 10175, or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Go said that Khan should take into consideration the sovereignty of the Philippines and its democratic institutions governed by laws that were thoroughly studied to protect the lives of every Filipino. "These assumptions do not reflect our country's reality and needs. These laws were passed by the Philippine legislature to address challenges and the threats that we face from terrorism and cybercrime in order to protect our people and promote national security," said Go. Go also stated that the country has constitutional processes and democratic mechanisms in place to ensure that these laws are implemented with respect for human rights and the rule of law. "These laws have safeguards and mechanisms to ensure that they are not abused or misused by anyone. Most importantly, these measures have went through the scrutiny of our legislature based on the collective wisdom of lawmakers, executive agencies, subject matter experts and stakeholders who participated in the legislative process," he stated. Nevertheless, Go said that if there is a need to amend or repeal any law, both houses of congress have oversight functions to study this possibility when necessary. "Napag-aralan naman ito ng mabuti bago naipasa noon. Kung kakailanganing i-update or ayusin ang batas, babantayan namin yan sa lehislatibo base sa implementasyon at epekto ng mga batas na ito. Pero sa ngayon, para sa akin, napakaimportante ng mga batas na ito sa pagprotekta sa buhay at kapakanan ng bawat Pilipino," he said. Go also suggested that before making remarks about Philippine laws, Khan should also listen and consult with the lawmakers who crafted and passed the ATL and the Cybercrime Prevention Act or the law enforcement agencies implementing them. Go then defended the ATL and the Cybercrime Prevention Act, saying they were necessary measures to combat terrorism and cybercrime, which pose severe threats to the Philippines' national security and public order. "These laws are not meant to suppress the freedom of expression of our people, but to protect them from the enemies of the state and the lawless elements who use cyber platforms to spread misinformation, recruit members, plan attacks, and commit crimes," explained the senator. The senator then requested Khan to be more mindful of the implications of her statements or actions on the sovereignty and dignity of the Philippines and its people. "She should stop meddling in our affairs and respect our laws and institutions. She should focus on her mandate as a UN rapporteur and not take sides with groups or individuals with a political agenda against the government and its policies," said Go. "She should be fair, objective, and respectful in her work, or else she will compromise her credibility and legitimacy as a UN rapporteur," Go concluded. Carolina Shiino, a 26-year-old native of Ternopil, who recently won the title of Miss Japan 2024, has given up her crown. The Ukrainian has Japanese citizenship and has been living in the country for over 20 years, but many netizens disagreed with the jury's choice, saying that she "does not reflect true Japanese beauty." ADVERTISIMENT However, as it turned out, Shiino refused the coveted title because of a new scandal, Kyodo News reports. Japanese tabloids published information stating that Carolina is having a relationship with a married man. A statement on the Miss Japan Association's website said Shiino's request to relinquish the crown had been accepted. The organization also offered its "deepest apologies" to stakeholders, meaning sponsors and judges, saying the pageant award will remain vacant for the rest of the year. ADVERTISIMENT The organizers of Miss Japan initially supported Shiino after she told her modeling agency, Free Wave Co. that she had ended the relationship after learning that the man was married. But a new statement from the agency says she continued to date the Japanese man after learning of his marital status. In an apology posted on her Instagram page, Carolina said she was unable to tell the truth due to confusion and fear after the article was published. "I am sincerely sorry for the huge trouble I caused and for betraying those who supported me," she wrote. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Poland is considering imposing tough trade restrictions on Ukrainian products. Among other things, they are considering introducing an additional 8% value-added tax (VAT) on vegetable oil and restricting sugar supplies from Ukraine to Poland. The latter is demanded by local farmers, who will start a new strike at the border on February 9. ADVERTISIMENT Michal Kolodziejczak, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Poland, spoke about such plans on TVP Info. According to the Polish official, he will personally request the introduction of a VAT of "at least 8%" on oil that can come from Ukraine to Poland, 24.pl reports. "To introduce VAT, at least 8%, on oil that can come from Ukraine to Poland... Why should it be at the 0% rate, which is intended for Polish producers and Polish consumers?" Kolodziejczak said. As for sugar, commenting on the upcoming farmers' strike, Kolodziejczak supported the demands of the farmers and emphasized that"the border with Ukraine should be very tightly closed." As a reminder, the strike involves blocking border crossings. It is expected to start on February 9 and last for 30 days. At the same time, Kolodziejczak also appealed to Polish sanitary authorities to"exercise full control over each batch of sugar". "I don't trust importers who determine that this sugar is good on their own," Kolodziejczak said during a press conference in Lublin. ADVERTISIMENT He added that sugar has been excluded from the control of the sanitary inspection since 2011. "It is simply allowed to be sold on the basis of Ukrainian documents, which I personally do not trust and I know that those who can introduce this sugar can skip certain procedures," the official said. According to Kolodziejczak, during one of the last checks at the border crossing with Ukraine, he found that the batch of sugar "had a strange smell." "This was confirmed by the officials who had the sugar sample on their desk," he said. As a reminder, Poland has been banning imports of a number of Ukrainian agricultural products since spring 2023. The European Commission's decision in September of the same year to lift restrictions on imports of Ukrainian products did not affect the position of the Poles and some other neighbors of Ukraine, although it contradicts EU trade rules. Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary have imposed unilateral restrictions on Ukrainian imports. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, the European Commission has recently made an official proposal to extend the free trade regime with Ukraine without duties and quotas for another year, until June 2025. However, the proposal contains a strict reservation - the need to protect the European agricultural market from Ukrainian goods. As reported by OBOZ.UA, earlier, European Commissioner from Poland Janusz Wojciechowski, who is responsible for agriculture in the European Commission, threatened to disrupt the extension of EU trade preferences for Ukraine. Among other things, the European Commissioner demanded a ban on imports of Ukrainian grain, as well as quotas on sugar and poultry. Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The Russian information space continues to criticize the command and authorities for misallocating priorities on the battlefield. Bloggers complain about their inability to properly equip the Russian Armed Forces with drones and electronic warfare systems. ADVERTISIMENT This began in response to a recent unsuccessful mechanized attack near Novomykhailivka in Donetsk region, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces defeated an occupation column. In recent days, the situation has been gaining momentum, and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has once again written about it. For example, on February 4, pro-war Russian bloggers claimed that Russia's drone industry is poorly managed, and this limits its ability to innovate. One propagandist argued that poor management causes unjustified losses for the Russian army and will be the "scourge" of its "victory over Ukraine." Moscow Duma deputy Andrey Medvedev has previously criticized the mass production of drones in Russia. He believes that this will lead to an accumulation of UAVs that lack the technological adaptations necessary to compete with Ukrainian drones on the battlefield. ADVERTISIMENT Another Russian blogger reacted to the January 30 footage of Ukrainian drones striking Russian armored vehicles and tanks near Novomykhailivka, saying that it was "negligent" of the Russian command to allow the convoy to go into battle without proper electronic warfare equipment. He said that Russian troops should "abandon" the idea of a deep mechanized breakthrough until they are adequately equipped with electronic warfare systems, and in the meantime, small infantry-led and drone-supported attacks should be conducted. "Russian bloggers have recently focused on this event as evidence of the Russian military's struggle to innovate and get out of the current positional war in Ukraine," ISW said. As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the spectacular defeat of a Russian convoy by the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Novomykhailivka pointed to broader problems of the Russian Armed Forces. They are related to the occupiers' ability to adapt to maneuverability at the front. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The Czech Regulator's enforcement of Prague's slot machine ban heralds a transformative approach to gambling, aiming to combat addiction and reshape the urban gambling landscape for a safer future. In a decisive move by the Czech Republic's gambling regulatory body, the long-anticipated ban on slot machines in Prague has finally come into full force. Almost four years in the making, this landmark decision aims to reshape the gambling scene in the country's capital, reflecting a broader trend of tightening gambling regulations across Europe. With the ban now active, the implications for players and operators alike are significant, signaling a new era in Czech gambling law. Enforcement and Transition to a Slot-Free Prague Prague's gambling landscape visibly changed as the city edged closer to the 2024 full enforcement deadline. Despite slot machines being operational until December, a concerted effort to remove these machines from venues was set in motion at the start of the year. This operation saw many machines being phased out, with some venues holding onto their equipment until the very end of January. The confirmation from the gambling regulation department that the ban was in full effect from January 1 underscored the city's firm stance on gambling regulation. Martin Sabo, the department director, emphasized that enforcement actions had actually begun as early as 2021. This staggered approach allowed venues with more extended licenses a transitional period to adjust to the impending realitya slot machine-free Prague. Online Gambling: A Continuing Avenue While the ban has drastically altered the physical gambling landscape in Prague, it does not extend to the digital realm. Online slots remain accessible, reflecting a nuanced approach to gambling regulation that acknowledges the evolving nature of gambling practices. Alongside the machine ban, new regulations for online gambling were introduced, tightening the noose around unlicensed operations. These updated regulations now classify any unlicensed online gambling site accessible in the Czech Republic as illegal, a significant shift from the previous policy. Future Regulatory Changes on the Horizon Despite these substantial regulatory measures, the gambling landscape in Prague and the broader Czech Republic may be subject to further changes. According to Sabo, a review by the Office for the Protection of Economic Competition found discrepancies between the decree and competition law. This suggests that adjustments to gambling operations in Prague could be forthcoming, potentially influenced by fines or other regulatory actions. Crackdown on Illegal Operations Continues The full implementation of the slot machine ban has not deterred all illegal gambling activities within the city. Recent actions by customs officials highlight the ongoing challenge of enforcing the ban, with an illegal gambling hall in Strizkov being uncovered. This operation resulted in the seizure of 16 technical gaming devices and the continuation of rigorous checks throughout the city to combat unauthorized gambling venues. To sum up, Prague's enforcement of the slot machine ban represents a significant step in the Czech Republic's approach to gambling regulation. By addressing both land-based and online gambling activities, authorities are signaling a comprehensive strategy aimed at protecting citizens from the potential harms of gambling. As the city adapts to these changes, the future of gambling in Prague will likely be shaped by a balance between regulatory measures and the evolving landscape of digital gambling. "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. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). The destruction of the Sun and the fate of the Earth is a matter of a very distant future, estimated at about 5 billion years. But it still worries scientists. Astronomers study different types of stars and star systems to predict further developments. ADVERTISIMENT Observations of white dwarfs can currently provide the most information, as these are low-brightness stars (about 1% of the Sun's brightness) near which you can try to see planets. Scientists studying four such stars within 75 light-years of the Earth can already make some assumptions. According to Science.org, they have published their data on the pre-publication service, and the data is encouraging. According to current science, when the Sun starts to turn into a red giant in 5 billion years, it will swallow Mercury and probably Venus and even the Earth. The rest of the planets, if they do not suffer the same fate, may be pushed out of the solar system. But there is a chance that some may still survive. Using NASA's JWST space telescope, astronomers have for the first time obtained direct images of planets outside the Solar System. They orbit white dwarfs - dead stars that remain after they have passed the stage of red giants. It turned out that the orbits of these planets resemble the orbits of giant planets from the outer edge of our system. Currently, these data still need to be verified and refined, but the potential discovery could be very exciting, said Mary Ann Limbach of the University of Michigan. ADVERTISIMENT Science has concluded that the red giant stage ends for a star when it sheds its envelope, and then the object turns into a white dwarf. The size of such stars is comparable to the size of the Earth. Earlier, astronomers recorded signs of the existence of planets around them. For example, the atmosphere of some white dwarfs appears to be contaminated with rocky material. This suggests that the planets orbiting them, invisible to telescopes, repel comets and asteroids. Other white dwarfs periodically fade, suggesting that they are eclipsed by planets orbiting the stars. And in 2011, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope directly detected a potential planet near a white dwarf. However, the orbit of this planet is huge, the distance from its star is about 2500 times the distance from the Earth to the Sun. Closer planets, whose orbits are more similar to those of Jupiter and Saturn, have so far gone unnoticed. ADVERTISIMENT Astronomer Susan Mullally of the Space Telescope Science Institute and her colleagues used JWST to study four nearby white dwarfs within 75 light-years of Earth. And near two of the white dwarfs, they were able to spot objects that could be planets. One of these objects is 1.3 times the mass of Jupiter and orbits its star in an orbit similar to that of Saturn. The other is 2.5 times heavier than Jupiter and has an orbit slightly larger than that of Neptune. According to Mullally, if the information is confirmed, it will be the first evidence that planets like Jupiter and Saturn are able to survive the evolution of their Sun into a white dwarf. The researchers are not yet sure that the discovered objects are planets and not background galaxies. This has yet to be convincingly proven. However, the probability of error is estimated at 1/3000. Now the team of scientists needs to find evidence that the planet-like objects are associated with their stars. That is, they must be moving together in space. ADVERTISIMENT To do this, astronomers need to spend more time at JWST. If they are able to prove their assumption, it will mean that JWST can observe many such planets. Since such planets are brighter than their stars, their atmospheres should be relatively easy to study to identify their similarities with the giant planets of the Solar System or to establish key differences from them. Subscribe to OBOZ.UA channels onTelegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. "There was no such thing as Palestinians," said Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, in an interview with The Sunday Times on June 15, 1969. In March 2023, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich denied the existence of a Palestinian people or nationhood just weeks after calling for a Palestinian town to be "erased". 137 countries worldwide (70%) have recognized Palestine. In 2014 the EU voted to 'Recognize Palestine in principle'. Within Europe as a whole, only the Czech Republic, Iceland, Malta, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Sweden, and Ukraine have recognized Palestine. We know that the US supports the genocide in Gaza, but what do the Europeans think? In an effort to answer that question, Steven Sahiounie of MidEastDiscourse interviewed the Norwegian expert on the Middle East, Kari Jaquesson. #1. Steven Sahiounie (SS): EU foreign affairs council held a Peace Summit in Brussels on January 22, chaired by EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell. The EU presented a proposal, which some have called bizarre, to create a framework for a Peace Plan, with the ultimate goal of a two-state solution by 2025. It ignores the genocide being committed in Gaza today, and fails to call for a ceasefire. How is this proposal being viewed in Europe? Kari Jaquesson (KJ): Before we start, I just want to let your readers know who I am, Steven, and also that we know each other from when I first visited Syria in 2017 as an independent journalist and I did an interview with you on my stop-over in Beirut. It is a great pleasure to follow your work. So, I am a Norwegian national, and Norway is not a member of EU, though much of our legislation is being dictated by EU-mandates. Much of our political cast is very pro-EU, even though Norwegians have twice voted not to become members. I am a private citizen, do not belong to any political party, and participate in public discourse representing only myself. As more or less a household name in Norway, both because of a 20+ year-long TV career as a fitness and health expert, later as a presenter in different TV-shows, and a debater and op-ed author of so-called controversial issues, I have been able to lift non-mainstream perspectives into the public eye. My profession is still in fitness and health, and in addition I work as a researcher, translator and occasional writer for steigan.no, the only truly independent major Norwegian non mainstream news portal, so I process daily a lot of news, discussion and commentaries from European, American, African and Arabic sources, as well as historical files. I just want to make it clear that I only speak for myself, I do not represent any organization or company. The distance between the non-elected officials in the EU-administration and the peoples of Europe could hardly be greater. This has been ongoing for years, and the heads of state in West European countries have hardly any popular support at all. The people in Western Europe, and let me include Norway are in great numbers demoralized and struggling to make ends meet. The NATO proxy war against Russia is draining the state coffers, and even in a should-be wealthy country like Norway, we have long lines in the food banks, energy costs have gone through the roof, and the general cost of living is not sustainable for an increasing part of the population. The state is extremely wealthy, but people's wallets are getting slimmer by the day. Most people have little or no time or interest in politics, and most people get their so-called news from the state-subsidized media, which includes not only the big newspapers and TV channels, but also former so-called independent outlets. So, quite frankly, most people do not know about nor care about, nor have the energy or will to reach out to more in-depth coverage of such events as the announcement of EU's proposal. But, on the other hand, there is an impressing engagement against both the genocide going on as we speak, and the occupation of Palestine as such. "From now on I will not talk about the peace process, but I want a two-state-solution process," Borell said to journalists ahead of a EU foreign ministers' meeting. This concept of two states has been dangled in front of the Palestinian people for decades, but I can't see how anyone who has followed the history of the occupation for one minute can take such a stand seriously. The Zionist entity has made it perfectly clear, not only now, but through their actions since 1948, that they want all of Palestine, and more. Furthermore, the occupiers deny the mere existence of Palestine, and even of a Palestinian people. The EU do not use the correct terminology, which is a sure give-away on the partiality. They keep saying conflict, but avoid at all cost the true description. The true description is occupation. #2. SS: The Israeli foreign minister, Israel Katz, showed EU foreign ministers a video about creating an artificial island next to Gaza to house Palestinians. Various Israeli plans to deport Gazans to the Sinai desert in Egypt, and the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank to Jordan, have been openly discussed. How do Europeans view the ethnic-cleansing of Gaza? KJ: In all European cities there have been, and are, still huge demonstrations against the ongoing genocide. I am not sure all are aware of all the indecent remarks and proposals for "final solution" the occupiers are announcing. The news coverage is biased, and a notable part of the public are easy targets for the type of shock and awe reporting that dominated the news right after the October 7th incident. Their mind is still fixed on what has long since been debunked as flat-out lies. But even so, an engagement not seen since the Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Vests) in France is keeping its momentum, and some admissions are being made by some Western-European leaders. According to a poll in Norway's biggest newspaper earlier this month, almost every second Norwegian thinks it would be right to boycott Israel, but the government has no such plans. Minister of foreign affairs Espen Barth Eide has previously called Gaza "hell on earth", but has been adamant that Norway cannot implement its own national sanctions. We have no tradition in Norway of unilateral sanctions, he said, adding that Norway would do it if the Security Council agrees. Norway has since 2011 been practicing the same sanctions against Syria as the EU, although we are not a member. #3. SS: The EU is planning to impose visa bans on 12 or so of the most violent Israeli settlers soon, according to French foreign minister Ste'phane Se'journe'. However, many of the 700,000 illegal settlers in the West Bank are US citizens, so the ban would likely be meaningless. Why would the EU propose something so insignificant, instead of calling for the end of occupation in the West Bank? KJ: First of all, what difference would this make? What is the purpose? And what is this other than a pathetic symbolic suggestion? As you point out, they have dual citizenship, and though the numbers vary, it is reason to believe that hundreds of thousands of dual citizenship-holders have returned to their country of origin. Which is a harsh contrast to the situation of the Palestinians who have no citizenship at all, and who know that if they leave, they will never be able to return. After this week's ruling there is a legal ground to accuse Europeans who have been fighting with the IDF to be prosecuted and punished for having participated in a genocide. And there are many who are doing this. #4. SS: The US Biden administration refuses to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. They are prevented in doing so, even though the majority of Americans are in favor of a ceasefire, because of the Israel lobby, AIPAC, which exerts overwhelming pressure on the politics in the US. Does Europe have a similar Israel lobby that prevents EU leaders from demanding a ceasefire in Gaza? KJ: It is almost impossible to understand to what extent France and Britain is controlled by Jewish Zionist groups, but you may get an impression if you try to make count of who is allowed on the TV debates and the biased perspective from the TV presenters and who they invite for interviews and for commenting. However, this is a complete taboo and you will not find any serious discussion about this in any major news outlet. No mainstream politician will touch the issue, well knowing it would be political suicide. Years ago, the former Israeli Minister Shulamit Aloni was a guest on the American channel Democracy Now, and she explained the inability for the Zionists to accept criticism without resorting to false accusations of antisemitism and the second world war. She called it "a trick that we always use". Most of the Western European countries, including Norway, may be described as 'vallas', in other words, satellite states of the United States of America. We have no independent foreign policy. #5. SS: The German government has been supporting the revenge killing of 25,000 Palestinians in Gaza at the hands of the Israeli government. They keep reiterating the mantra, "Israel has the right to defend itself." Many experts have characterized Germany as a country held hostage to the holocaust, as they have refused to call for a ceasefire. Isn't it time that Germany divorce itself from the crimes of Adolf Hitler, and be allowed to treat Israel like any other country? KJ: First of all, Israel is not a country, let me make that clear. It is an occupation. Secondly, the occupation is expanding with an insatiable appetite for more land; therefore this supposed country has no borders. Also, it has no constitution. Is it really the alleged guilt from the second world war that is making Germany so docile vis-a-vis the genocidal Zionist? Maybe there is another reason, less noble. Unfortunately, this is verboten territory. Germany and many other countries have made research and revisions of that period illegal, even for historians, and even if the number of alleged victims have been significantly reduced, yet, officially, it is forbidden to say so. Even the plaque at the most infamous concentration camp has been drastically revised, something few are aware of. If the German leadership truly believed in their country's history and crimes, wouldn't they be the first to recognize and oppose new genocides? Yes, but they don't. Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist No matter how idealistic it sounds, no democratic society can rule out the concept that media freedom is instrumental to ensuring a healthy democracy in the modern world. Nepal is no exception to this fact. That transparency, accountability and the rule of law, the vital principles of democracy, require media freedom cannot be sidelined as a stereotyped slogan. The utilization of media freedom involves the task of supplying accurate and unbiased information to people, who need to select right leadership for public positions. The notion of media freedom, in a broader sense, concerns mainly journalistic freedom as well as the freedom that public media outlets exercise for higher purposes of democracy and people's progress. Ideally, we expect the utilization of media freedom to contribute to the evolution of an effective, transparent and accountable government in Nepal. While the mere trumpeting of media freedom does not ensure a better quality of journalism potentially capable of revolutionizing the dull mindset into a critical and analytical one, journalists require an appropriate atmosphere for carrying out their public responsibilities in an independent and dignified manner. For this, high quality responsible journalism must be the widely held principle, with no space for trivial plays under the disguise of journalism. Nepali political stakeholders have almost confined themselves to majority game, jeopardizing the very spirit of democracy itself. Democracy, in a genuine sense, means more than just the majority rule. It is a tool for change at grassroots levels. Democratic leaderships must come up with transformative policies as well as a keen mindset to implement them. Democracy is a soil for the cultivation of a healthy society to be founded on social justice and social harmony. In this respect, our journalistic practices deserve insight-building and growth opportunities. We need to wholeheartedly internalize media freedom not with a partisan mindset but with a catalyzing positive intention in the process of nurturing democratic culture capable of intrinsically combating corruption culture. It is extremely important to utilize media freedom as a crucial element for good governance. This is a process fraught with tough challenges, especially for journalists as self-conscientious individuals who are willing to practice pro-public journalism despite their having to get through severe economic constraints. Bargaining and lingering attitudes at political levels and the multiplication of structurally organized corruption have decelerated Nepalis' progress, with the level of mass frustration going up. Within historical political parties, intra-party revolution has to happen in ideological and cultural terms. The reason is clear: the Nepalis have the right to see their political parties equipped with a scientific leadership that can de-addict party politics from individual-centrism, chief-orientedness and leaders' subconscious lustfulness given to corruption. The Fourth Estate faces a grand challenge of maximizing the utilization of media freedom toward promoting ideologically guided policy-oriented and merit-oriented party politics in Nepal. Quality journalism entails understanding the contemporary issues in-depth. For instance, more youths have been forced to swarm to Gulf countries for bread after 2006 because the dominant political forces have failed to prove their worth in implementing the transformative principles accepted in the Comprehensive Peace Accord signed between the then Maoist rebels and the Seven-Party Alliance. Likewise, market prices have skyrocketed anarchically, with no moral courage and political willpower seen in addressing them for regulating daily public life in a just and democratic manner. Never was such a devastating moral downfall of Nepal's dominant political parties seen before. Due to the ever continuing moral degradation of political leaderships, people have begun to lose trust in them. In this situation, practicing journalism with independence and self-conscience involves a tough challenge amidst the emergence of new political forces, ideologically and epistemologically unidentified yet. Nevertheless, seeking political insight through media freedom could be a positive method for improvement. The Nepali Fourth Estate was subject to heavy censorship and attacks in the past. However, there have been recent improvements in media freedom, following the adoption of a new constitution that enshrines freedom of expression and media freedom values in the Preamble itself. The Freedom House yearly report 2023 has scored Nepal's media freedom status as 58/100. It has been rated as partly free in terms of media freedom. In the light of this report as well as from our general observations, it is obvious that financially fragile journalism is subject to uncalculated self-censorship and demoralization from other possible manipulative forces. However, there needs to be a constant practice of a free and responsible press for the democracy to thrive in a real sense. Despite some visible deviations even in the journalistic domain affected by the all-pervasive corruption and other conditions of ill-governance in the country, well-principled journalists should not lose their heart and self-conscience. Combating the rising fake journalism and yellow journalism in various disguised forms is a serious challenge not to be ignored by morally bold and well-principled journalists. Low media literacy among Nepalis can have a negative impact on media freedom in the country. More gullible masses, unable to critically differentiate between truthful and fake information, are likely to be added vehicles to spread false propaganda. This will result in the loss of media credibility in general. In the same way, those in power have an opportunity to suppress analytical and critical reporting while manipulating information. Moreover, audiences with little media literacy cannot even complain to media outlets for failing to report adequately and meaningfully on vital issues such as the prolonged severe scarcity of drinking water in the Kathmandu valley and the deaths of thousands under the age of 50 due to widespread alcoholism across Nepal. Therefore, stakeholders should be serious enough to take steps for promoting media literacy and critical thinking skills to better equip Nepalis to evaluate and engage with the news media and hold public stakeholders accountable. Concerning the productive utilization of media freedom, conditions for pure journalistic practices must be desired and sought in order to practically demonstrate the genuine commitment to the recognition of the value of the Fourth Estate in the democratic system. Following the end of 10-year armed insurgency in 2006, Nepalis did expect qualitative changes in their lives through a transformed political leadership. But it has been more than apparent that the Nepalis will still need to work hard to acquire a transformed political leadership. With the same conventional and individual-centric political leadership in active positions, no qualitative changes have occurred. Utilizing media freedom, the Fourth Estate needs to dynamize the Nepali minds toward constructing a social psychology of good governance and qualitative transformation. It has now been essential for the Nepali Fourth Estate to combat post-truth effects (corporate influences included) mainly visible in social media networks on the one hand and to sustain a principled media stance in favor of public wellbeing on the other. A more verifying, critical and analytical media approach is the need of the day toward utilizing media freedom for building a healthy democracy in Nepal. Is this the dilemma the world is faced with today? Paul Craig Roberts has long been a critic of Vladimir Putin's policy towards the United States. He stigmatizes his pusillanimous reactions to American provocations, such as NATO's on-going move East, the seizure of Russian Consular property in San Francisco, the freezing of about $300 million of Russian financial assets, and economic sanctions imposed on Russia that are a case of war absent a U.N. Security Council's approval. In today's editorial, Gilbert Doctorow joins Roberts in his criticism of Putin (see articles below). As pertinent as their opinion might be, I respectfully disagree. Here is why. Vladimir Putin is an intelligent, rationale and knowledgeable person. The United States are led by neocons - a bunch of people who are overwhelmed by their emotions and could - one thing leading to another - start World War III.* Bombing Yemen is ineffective. Joe Biden knows it but vowed to continue anyway! The situation in the Middle East is extremely unstable, and the war in Ukraine shows no sign of abating. Taiwan is an enigma. The world is unsettled. Vladimir Putin knows it, so does Xi Jinping. Neither one wants to face another Cuban crisis, not even a situation that would be close to it. Both follow a policy aimed at protecting their country's respective interests while avoiding anything that could make it worse or be viewed as provocative by the United States and increase tension. The United States never, ever declared war with the exception of World War I, and the Iraq invasion of 2003. All the wars fought by the United States were provoked by Washington. The war in Ukraine is a case in point, but so is the war against Mexico, the war against Spain, Vietnam, not to mention the attrition of Indian tribes through repeated treaties Washington knew very well Indians could not abide by, etc. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping know that and act accordingly. The danger, of course, and this is what worries Paul Craig Roberts and Gilbert Doctorow, is that Vladimir Putin's and Xi Jinping's rational, controlled attitude may backfire, and lead to their defeat - a prolonged Ukraine war would do Russia in. A weakened Russia would give China no choice but surrender. Indeed, the risk exists. The question then becomes: What's preferable? WWIII or subjugation? Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping are desperately trying to find a middle way. Will they succeed? As for the neocons, one wonders whether they are aware of the dilemma. *According to The Royal Institute of International Affairs (April 2014), on thirteen occasions the world came close to a nuclear war due to human errors or technical deficiencies during the Cold War. Will War result from the ever-hesitant Putin Paul Craig Roberts - Jan. 22, 2024 Click Here Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Dumpling Week, Portlands annual celebration of all things dough-wrapped and delicious, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with specials at more than 50 Portland restaurants. Download a passport, take a look at the map then visit one of these restaurants for a dumpling special only available Feb. 4-10, 2024. As with previous incarnations, this years Dumpling Week features dumpling specials from around the globe. Think Kachkas Buffalo chicken pelmeni with blue cheese smetana; Cafe Rowans Maine lobster and shrimp dumpling in a spicy tom kha broth or Mothers Bistros beef kreplach with sour cream. Farmhouse Thai is offering Zapp Zapp wontons with a spicy tom yum chili paste from its two locations, while Little Thai Peacock is serving crispy Thai dumplings (yum giew thod) stuffed with juicy ground pork and krab in a pickled garlic fish-lime sauce dressing. Eastern European dumplings are on display this year, with Mothers aforementioned kreplach and Kachkas fun pelmeni joined by newcomer Mayroses potato-gruyere Perogi with caraway kraut, creme fraiche and beet horseradish and Pacific Standards fried steak pierogi with balsamic onions, cheese and mushroom-taleggio sauce. Lardo is doing birria dumplings with jack cheese and avocado salsa verde, while Papi Chulos has birria wontons with mozarella and a guajillo vinagrette. Sister restaurants Gado Gado (Indonesian-style chicken-shrimp wonton soup), Omas Hideaway (crispy shrimp-pork siu mai with spicy peanut sauce) and The Houston Blacklight (Iberico ham and Calabrian chili wontons) are each offering their own intriguing dumpling specials, while the metro areas many Top Burmese locations serve up Burmese-style tea leaf dumplings. This year, theres even a special treat for canines, with downtown Portland food cart Bring! Treats for Dogs serving their dough folded into a purse shape and filled with apple and carrot puree. Dumpling Weeks 10th anniversary runs now through Feb. 10. Take a look at the more than 50 participating restaurants and (where provided) their dumpling specials: Bamboo House Dumpling Special: Wonton in Chili Oil: Pork and shrimp wontons in house chili oil, topped with crispy garlic, toasted sesame seed, and cilantro Location: 4005 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., bamboohousepdx.com Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen & Bar Dumpling Special: Pan-Seared Dumpling Special A pinwheel of savory pork dumplings topped with sweet chili sauce and Bambuzas secret wok sauce. Served with cucumber, scallion strips, pickled carrots and daikon radish, and sprinkled with cilantro. Locatoin: 3682 S. Bond Ave., bambuza.com Boke Bowl Dumpling Special: Sichuan Style spicy pork & shrimp wonton with fermented Chinese black beans, black vinegar and Boke chili crunch oil. Location: 1028 S.E. Water Ave., bokebowl.com Bring! Treats for Dogs Dumpling Special: For participating canines, our signature treat dough folded into a purse shape and filled with apple and carrot puree. Location: 431 SW Harvey Milk St., bringtreats.dog Cafe Rowan Dumpling Special: Maine Lobster and shrimp dumpling served in a spicy tom kha broth. with lemongrass, galangal coconut milk, fish sauce, Thai chilis, lime Location: 4437 S.E. Cesar Estrada Chavez Blvd., caferowan.com Cascadia Restaurant Dumpling Special: Pork, shrimp & chive dumplings steamed or Pan fried Location: 9000 S.W. Washington Square Rd., Tigard Chins Kitchen Location: 4126 N.E. Broadway St., chinskitchenpdx.com Chinese Delicacy Dumpling Special: Pork dumplings, shrimp dumplings Location: 6411 S.E. 82nd Ave. Cibo Location: 3539 SE Division St., cibopdx.com City Thai Dumpling Special: Steamed Pork Dumplings, ground pork and ground shrimp marinated seasoning stuff in thin wonton wrapper, topped with fried garlic, served with spicy pickle chili black sauce Location: 6341 S.W. Capitol Hwy., citythaipdx.com Farmhouse Kitchen Dumpling Special: Zapp Zapp Wonton Handmade Dumplings in Spicy Tom Yum Chili Paste. Organic Chicken. Shrimp. Chinese Broccoli. Lemongrass. Kaffir Lime. Cilantro Location: 3354 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. and 121 N.W. 9th Ave., farmhousethai.com Farm to Fit Dumpling Special: Chicken and Shiitake Bao & Seared Vegetable Bao --served with house-made pickles & dipping sauce. Order online: farmtofit.com Gado Gado Dumpling Special: Chicken and Shrimp Wonton Soto: pickled gai choi, aromatic chili smaltz, crispy chicken skin, chicken broth Location: 1801 N.E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd., gadogadopdx.com Grassa Dumpling Special: Ezzo pepperoni, mozzarella, marinara, Ranch Locations: 1375 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Portland; 4055 Mercantile Dr., Lake Oswego; 1506 N.W. 23rd Ave., Portland; 780 Waterfront Wy., Vancouver; 1205 S.W. Washington St., Portland; grassapdx.com Happy Deli Dumpling Special: Deep-fried potsticker dumplings topped with sriracha mayo and crispy fried onions. Location: Inside Hiep Hung Asian Marketplace, 13011 S.E. 84th Ave., Clackamas, hhasianmarket.com Hop City Tavern Dumpling Special: Cheesecake Mochi Tanghulu with Strawberry Sauce Location: 3176 N.W. 185th Ave. Il Solito Dumpling Special: Malfatti traditional Italian rustic dumplings Location: 627 S.W. Washington St., Portland, ilsolitoportland Classic pelmeni at Kachka. For this year's Dumpling Week, the Southeast Portland restaurant will serve their dumplings with Buffalo sauce and blue cheese sour cream. Kachka Dumpling Special: Buffalo Chicken Pelmeni with Blue Cheese Smetana and Celery Location: 960 S.E. 11th Ave., kachkapdx.com Lardo Dumpling Special: Birria Dumplings: jack cheese, cilantro, avocado salsa verde. Location: 1212 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., Portland; 4025 Mercantile Dr., Lake Oswego; 1205 S.W. Washington St., Portland; lardosandwiches.com Little Thai Peacock Dumpling Special: Thai Crispy Dumplings: aka Yum Giew Thod, house-made dumplings filed with crab stick and juicy ground pork, topped with mild spicy ground pork and pickled garlic fish-lime sauce dressing. Location: 126 S.W. 2nd Ave. (inside Pine Street Market), littlepeacockpdx.com Magna Kusina Dumpling Special: Crispy lamb, wagyu and bone marrow dumpling with tallow whipped potatoes, bulalo (beef broth) reduction, marinated cabbages. Location: 2525 SE Clinton St., magnapdx.com Mama Chows Kitchen Dumpling Special: Chicken Wonton Soup: Chicken, Caramelized Shiitake Mushroom and Yellow Onion Wontons served with Garlic Chive and Bok Choy in a Bonito Brown Butter Bone Broth. Location: 2415 SE 35th Place, Instagram: @mamachowskitchen Mandarin House Location: 120 S.W. Ankeny St., 2nd Floor; mandarinhouse97204.com Masu Sushi Dumpling Specials: 1. Pork and shrimp shumai with kari kari chili crack. 2. Vegan mushroom steamed bao Location: 406 SW 13th Avenue, masusushi.com Mayrose Restaurant Dumpling Special: Gruyere and Potato Perogi with Caraway Kraut, Chive Creme Fraiche, and Beet Horseradish Location: 545 S.W. Taylor Ave., opentable.com/r/mayrose-portland Mothers Bistro & Bar Dumpling Special: Beef Kreplach on braised stoneground mustard cabbage with a sour cream drizzle & green onions 121 S.W. 3rd Ave., mothersbistro.com Normandie Dumpling Special: Pork & Prawn Dumplings, Miso Broth, Chile Oil, Scallions, Togarashi Location: 1005 SE Ankeny, normandiepdx.com North 45 Dumpling Special: The inside out peanut butter cup dumpling Fried dumpling with a chocolate ganache center, peanut butter drizzle and a honeycomb peanut brittle topping. Location: 517 NW 21st Ave, north45pub.com Old Asia Teahouse & Restaurant Dumpling Special: Tea Leaf Dumplings, fried dumplings made with fermented tea leaves, sticky rice, garlic, and lime. Served with Top Burmese dumpling sauce. Five dumplings per order (VG, DF, NF) Location: 12055 S.W. 1st St., Beaverton; OldAsia.co Omas Hideaway Dumpling Special: Shrimp and Pork Siu Mai Batagor: spicy peanut sauce, crispy dumplings, tofu, cabbage Location: 3131 S.E. Division St., omashideaway.com Pacific Standard Dumpling Special: A fried pierogi filled with steak, balsamic onions, and cheese, topped with mushroom and taleggio sauce and a touch of gremolata Location: 100 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, kexhotels.com/eat-drink/pacificstandard Paddys Dumpling Special: Reuben Pillows: House smoked pastrami, sauerkraut and Swiss in puff pastry and deep fried, drizzled with 1000 island dressing and green onions. Location: 65 S.W. Yamhill St., Portland, paddys.com Papi Chulos Dumpling Special: Birria wonton: beef birria stew, mozarella cheese, guajillo vinagrette Location: 611 N.W. 13th Ave., papichulospdx.com Pope House Bourbon Lounge Dumpling Special: Fresh andouille and cabbage potstickers, red eye gravy, pickled mustard greens, macha chili crisp, scallion and toasted sesame Location: 2075 N.W. Glisan St., popehouselounge.com Por Que No? Taqueria Dumpling Special: A crispy masa empanada filled with melty Queso Enchilado and roasted Jalapeno peppers. Served with a spicy serrano & tomatillo salsa, topped with crema & garnished with cilantro and pickled onions. **vegetarian & gluten-free** Locations: 3524 N. Mississippi Ave. and 4635 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd., porquenotacos.com Produce Row Dumpling Specials: Zucchini malfatti with pillowy Italian zucchini dumpling with a spinach, miso, ginger & lime sauce and a cheeseburger dumpling with seasoned ground beef, beer cheese and onions in a dumpling wrap, served with pickled pepperoncini and house burger sauce. Location: 204 S.E. Oak St., producerowcafe.com Pure Spice Location: 2446 S.E. 87th Ave. #101, purespicerestaurant.com Shanghais Best Dumpling Special: Pork Pan Fried Dumplings, Chicken Pan Fried Dumplings, Vegetarian Pan Fried Dumplings, Vegan Pan Fried Dumplings Location: 126 S.W. 2nd Ave. (inside Pine Street Market), Instagram: @shanghais_best Sherpa Kitchen Dumpling Special: Salsa de mo mo (pork with nepalese style tomatoes onions and cilantro chutney loads of spice. (there is optional veggies for only vegetarian) Location: 5716 S.E. 92nd Ave., sherpakitchenpdx.com Siam Umami Dumpling Special: Chor Tan ta wan, gluten-free dumpling stuffed with minced shrimp, grated coconut, garlic, cilantro, and white pepper. Location: 4237 S. Corbett Ave., siamumami.com Southpark Seafood Dumpling Special: Smoked Salmon Wontons Location: 901 S.W. Salmon St., southparkseafood.com Stickers Asian Cafe Location: 6808 SE Milwaukie Ave, stickersasiancafe.com Tacos Fita Co. Dumpling Special: Empanadas deep fried, choices to choose from will be cheese, chile verde, chili Colorado, vegan Al pastor Location: 2415 S.E. 35th Pl., tacosfita.com.com The Houston Blacklight Dumpling Special: Crispy Pork and Shrimp Wonton: Iberico ham, calabrian chili, parmesan Location: 2100 S.E. Clinton St. thehoustonblacklight.com Tango Crab Restaurant Dumpling Special: Two favorite soup dumplings in a cup. 6327 S.W. Capitol Hwy A., tangocrabs.com Top Burmese Dumpling Special: Tea Leaf Dumplings (NW 23rd and Hillsboro locations), fried dumplings made with fermented tea leaves, sticky rice, garlic, and lime. Served with Top Burmese dumpling sauce. Five dumplings per order (VG, DF, NF) or Sweet Pumpkin Dumplings (NW 21st and Beaverton locations): Fried dumplings filled with kabocha pumpkin with skin. Served with Top Burmese dumpling sauce. Five dumplings per order (VG, DF, NF) Locations: Top Burmese Bistro Royale: 12655 S.W. 1st St., Beaverton; Top Burmese Burma Joy: 1305 N.W. 23rd Ave., Portland; Top Burmese: 413 N.W. 21st Ave., Portland; Top Burmese Ambassador: 180 E. Main St., Hillsboro XLB Dumpling Dish: Pork Rib Bao, pork rib braised in a black bean garlic sauce with sweet potato, shallots, and parsley. Location: 4090 N. Williams Ave., xlbpdx.com Ya Hala Restaurant Dumpling Special: Three baked, spiced beef dumplings, wrapped in dough, served with a warm, tangy yogurt sauce, and drizzled with a garlic, mint pesto. Location: 8005 S.E. Stark St., yahalarestaurant.com Zoiglhaus Brewery Dumpling Special: Potatoes keg stuff bacon cheese served with mushrooms, jager sauce white wine sauce. Location: 5716 S.E. 92nd Ave., Instagram: @zoiglhausbrewing Michael Russell; mrussell@oregonian.com This politician-declared state of emergency to address fentanyl is a joke, (Gov. Tina Kotek, local leaders declare 90-day fentanyl state of emergency for downtown Portland, Jan. 30). This is nothing more than a dog-and-pony show coinciding with an election cycle. Those that make up the emergency response group are responsible for the crisis to begin with. The only one missing from this three-ring circus is Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, who does not support prosecution of street level drug possession. The story said none of the three elected leaders - Kotek, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson - were able to detail specific goals or measurable outcomes they hoped to achieve through the coordinated action. They said those would take shape in the coming weeks. You would think that they would have come into this emergency with viable goals outlined. Its not like this crisis cropped up last week. But no. If my out-of-state employer decrees that my office no longer meets their standards, will the state legislature use Oregon taxpayer dollars to pay 15% of the cost of a new one? Assuming the answer is no, then why should the legislature subsidize a new place of business for the Hillsboro Hops? (Opinion: The Hillsboro Hops are well worth Oregons investment, Jan. 31). Make no mistake, the purported modest state investment in a new ballpark is no investment at all. The state would have no ownership interest in the facility, nor any guaranteed rate of return. Indeed, nothing would preclude the Hops from demanding yet another new stadium in 10 years. Rather, it would represent a transfer of public funds to a wealthy private ownership group whose business model is apparently unsustainable without them. Oregon faces many, many challenges statewide, and has finite resources. The requested $15 million would be better spent where it can truly benefit the public - education, roads, state parks, emergency preparedness - rather than subsidizing a private business unwilling or unable to pay its own way. Duncan Brown, Portland To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. Bobst North America to Open New Competence Center in Atlanta in April Slated to open its doors April 15-16, Bobst new Competence Center will provide visitors access to live demos, expert presentations and networking opportunities, as well as gain insights into label and flexible packaging production. Slated to open its doors April 15-16, Bobst new Competence Center will provide visitors access to live demos, expert presentations and networking opportunities, as well as gain insights into label and flexible packaging production. Feb. 5, 2024 - Bobst North America has announced plans to open a new competence center in Atlanta, Georgia. The new facility is scheduled to open its doors on April 15-16, 2024. At this event, visitors will gain valuable insights into the future of label and flexible packaging production through live demos, presentations from industry experts, and exclusive networking opportunities. "We're very excited to unveil the new Atlanta Competence Center, as we welcome visitors to two days of engagement, information, and experience," said Emilio Corti, Regional Business Director, Americas. "This event will mark the start of the center functioning as a prime hub of innovation for the US market, with easy access to our latest technologies, including the 'One complete solution' for flexible packaging, digital printing technologies, and the BOBST Connect platform." The new facility will be around five times larger than the previous demo center in Alpharetta. Notably, it will feature BOBST's flexo, digital, and all-in-one printing - as well as laminating - technologies for both flexible packaging and labels, helping to unlock new potential for printers. "As a working environment, the center will enable us to support customers better and fully train operators to maximize their investments by ensuring greater efficiency, productivity, and sustainability," Corti added. Among the machinery in focus will be the VISION CI flexo press, which combined with the NOVA SX 550 solventless laminator offers a fully optimized flexible packaging workflow, known as 'One complete solution.' In terms of digital printing capabilities, the DIGITAL MASTER 340 All-in-One modular and upgradable platform for high-throughput and large-sized label production, along with the recently introduced DIGITAL EXPERT 340 label press, will be presented. Bobst is one of the world's leading suppliers of substrate processing, printing and converting equipment and services for the label, flexible packaging, folding carton and corrugated industries. SOURCE: Bobst Photo: (Photo : Sean Gallup/Getty Images) In New York, a man demonstrated extraordinary bravery by scaling the facade of a burning Brooklyn building to save children, including an infant. 8-Month-Old Baby Rescued From Apartment Fire A Spring Valley resident received a commendation for rescuing an 8-month-old baby during a Saturday afternoon fire at an apartment complex. The emergency call was received just after 2:30 p.m., reporting a kitchen fire on the second floor of a unit on West Eckerson Road. This real-life heroic act unfolded in East New York, with Juan Dilone, dubbed the neighborhood's own Spider-Man, seen in a video climbing a three-story structure to rescue three children from a fire, one of them a mere 3 months old and clad only in a diaper. Juan Dilone recounted the events, stating, "My wife was in the window. She saw the guy yelling, 'help, help, help,' so we see the smoke coming out through the roof, and she told me, 'go, go help.'" Dilone, responding to the cries and witnessing a desperate father attempting to evacuate his kids through a window, shared, "A lot of smoke was coming out, but all I got on my mind was the kids, you know, trying to save them." Without hesitation, he took action, recalling, "I ran. I climbed the wall to try to reach the kids, so the father passed the kid to me, then I grabbed it, passed it to them." Climbing up the building to a third-floor window, Dilone held on with one hand and successfully retrieved each child, passing them to neighbors who had gathered below. "They were crying, so once we got down, all the neighbors covered them with blankets," Dilone mentioned. Dilone attributed his climbing abilities to his childhood experiences in the Dominican Republic, stating, "I've been climbing since I was a baby back home, you know. Climbing trees, jumping around, so it was normal." The incident occurred around noon on Friday on Hendrix Street near Sutter Avenue. Firefighters arrived and rescued the parents and another child who were trapped inside. Although Dilone's daughter playfully calls him Spider-Man, he humbly views himself as being in the right place at the right time, saying, "Thank God I was here. He put me here by that time so I could help them, to save them, you know." Read Also: Adoption Tech Fails: Investigation Reveals Inadequate Support for Prospective Parents New York Apartment Building Fire According to emergency officials, the fire ignited in the afternoon at a residence on West Eckerson Road in Spring Valley. Numerous tenants faced difficulties evacuating as smoke inundated the hallways. A resident from a nearby complex described how he swiftly intervened, scaling a tree and navigating a fence to access the building's fire escape and reach the top floor, where he successfully rescued the infant. Recounting the incident, Jean Donald Mathieu shared, "I saw a lot of people over there, they were screaming. I saw one baby, I think she was 1 year old. I attempted to save the baby." While residents navigated the dense smoke and utilized the fire escape to evacuate, Jean Donald Mathieu, returning home from work, witnessed the situation and immediately took action. Mathieu noticed the baby, Isabella, along with her mother and possibly another individual on the upper floor. Without hesitation, he sprang into action, climbing a tree, overcoming a metal fence, and rushing towards the smoking building. Utilizing a narrow fire escape ladder, Mathieu reached the third floor and safely rescued Isabella from harm. Expressing her gratitude, Isabella's mother, Katia Locrete Pierre-Louis, acknowledged Mathieu's heroic efforts. Syndia Preval, who was at work during the incident and learned that the fire had damaged her apartment, received a call from Mathieu explaining the situation. As of Saturday night, the cause of the fire remained unclear. The rescued family was taken to a local hospital for smoke inhalation, and they are looking forward to recovery. Dilone's message highlighted the importance of helping others in need if you have the ability to do so. Related Article: From Safe Haven Baby Box to Forever Family: Firefighter Adopts Newborn in Florida The military of the Ukrainian Defense Forces have once again successfully worked on weapons depots and bases of the Russian invaders in the temporarily occupied territories. Over the course of the week, six facilities were taken away from the enemy. ADVERTISIMENT The Telegram channel "Armed Forces of Ukraine. War against the Occupiers" published a map showing the cities where Ukrainian soldiers have organized a "bavovna season" for Russians. In total, the Russians lost two ammunition depots and six bases (or headquarters) during the week of January 29-February 4. Map of the "demilitarization" of the Russian army: - Donetsk - hit to the base; - Rozdolne, Crimea - hits to the base; - Tokmak, Zaporizhzhia region - hits to the base and minus the HQ; - Kakhovka district, Kherson region - minus BC; - Lysychansk, Luhansk region - hit the base; - Kherson district - hit the base; - Belbek, Crimea - hit the base. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Russian military used a bakery in Lysychansk, which was shelled by "LPR" terrorists on February 3, for their own purposes. After the capture of the city, they started baking bread for the occupiers, and the Russians also held meetings there. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! I sometimes encounter the complaint from some atheists that they dont even desire immortality because, they say, eternal life would be unendurably boring. I dont take the complaint very seriously. On any given day, if I were to be told that I could choose between my life ending at midnight, on the one hand, and, on the other, having at least one more day, I would always choose the latter. I would prefer to think of the next day, of the next minute, rather than of forever as some sort of concrete and monolithic reality, and Im always up for the next minute and the next day. Ill always elect for yet another dip in the pool, yet another Alpine panorama or tropical seascape, tomorrows chocolate milkshake or chicken coconut kurma, one more repetition of Pachelbels Canon, one more viewing of Groundhog Day. Ive always found it difficult to call it quits and turn the lights off at night. Am I bored by tours to the Middle East? I can see why one might imagine it to grow boring. But I always enjoy introducing people to the pyramids and Caesarea Philippi and the Hagia Sophia for the first time. Theres much more that could be said, of course, in response to the claim that immortality will be unbearably dull. And I suppose that the claim does raise a serious issue. But I ran across this passage from G. K. Chestertons classic book Orthodoxy (1908) a few moments ago, and it seems cheekily relevant to the topic: Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, Do it again; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, Do it again to the sun; and every evening, Do it again to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we. We had reservations for a session at the Laie Hawaii Temple the other day but, for previously unforeseen reasons, we had to let them go. (We also had to cancel our reservations for a whale watching cruise, for the very same previously unforeseen reasons.) Today, though, we had lunch at the home of a friend across the island in Kahuku and, thereafter, we at least had the chance to drive over to the Temple and to spend just a few minutes walking around its extraordinarily beautiful grounds, and then to drive for just a bit around the Hawaii campus of Brigham Young University. There is a special spirit in and about Laie that Ive felt every time Ive visited. Including today. Perhaps it even antedates the Temple and the Latter-day Saint settlement there since, in former times, it was very appropriately, I think a puuhonua, a sanctuary for fugitives. I had hoped to touch base with Professor Matthew L. Bowen, who teaches at Brigham Young Universitys Hawaii campus and who is a still relatively recent addition to the board of directors of the Interpreter Foundation. Unfortunately, we were unable to make it work. But he was able to be in our home back in Utah just a few days ago for the first Interpreter Foundation board meeting of 2024, so that will have to do. Dr. Bowen has published numerous articles as well as these two books through the Interpreter Foundation: I commend his work to your attention. For reasons that will shortly become apparent, Ive lately been reading a fair amount about New Zealand history and the history of the Maori. And I cant help but contrast the attitudes of the nineteenth-century Pakeha, the New Zealanders of European descent, toward the indigenous peoples of the country with the attitudes of Latter-day Saint leaders that led them to found the Polynesian Cultural Center (the PCC) in Laie. The Brethren were, of course, concerned about the costs to students especially, then, to (often impoverished) Polynesian students of an education at BYU-Hawaii. They believed that the PCC would help those students finance their schooling. But they were also concerned that the traditional cultures of not only Hawaii but Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji, and other Pacific islands (including Aotearoa or New Zealand) were in danger of disappearing. So they created the PCC to preserve, showcase, and incentivize the cultivation and conservation of those cultures. In New Zealand history, however, a recurrent theme among Pakeha politicians and leaders in the 1800s was that it was the destiny (and, perhaps, even the duty) of the Maori to assimilate if not altogether to disappear. This is no longer the attitude, of course. And happily so. But Im proud that Church leaders took practical steps all the way back in 1963 to try to preserve the cultures and traditions of the island peoples. I dont think that one needs to hold to any particular political views I myself foreswore any and all public political views a few years ago, and I no longer publicly care who occupies 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue nor whether the Whigs, the Tories, or the Federalists control the Parliament of the United States in order to find such things as this rather, well, off-putting: With FlashPoint Live, roster of Pentecostal prophets hits the road for Trump: The tours personalities and themes are borrowed from FlashPoint, a Christian current-events program that features Trump and his former officials, members of Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Fox News host Jeanine Pirro. (Dont just go by the title. Read the article. When did politics become our religion?) Posted from Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii Gavin Ortlund is a Reformed Baptist author, speaker, pastor, and apologist for the Christian faith. He has a Ph.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary in historical theology, and an M.Div from Covenant Theological Seminary. Gavin is the author of seven books as well as numerous academic and popular articles. For a list of publications, see his CV. He runs the YouTube channel Truth Unites, which seeks to provide an irenic voice on theology, apologetics, and the Christian life. See also his website, Truth Unites and his blog. In my opinion, he is currently the best and most influential popular-level Protestant apologist, who (especially) interacts with and offers thoughtful critiques of Catholic positions, from a refreshing ecumenical (not anti-Catholic) but nevertheless solidly Protestant perspective. His words will be in blue. ***** Gavin did a video called, Does Jerome Undermine Apostolic Succession? (Truth Unites YouTube channel, 8-14-23). I critiqued it in my article, St. Jerome, Papacy, & Succession (vs. Gavin Ortlund) [1-20-24]. Then I did a more compact 30-minute audio-only talk on the same topic on Catholic apologist Suan Sonnas You Tube channel, Intellectual Catholicism (Dave Armstrong Responds to Gavin Ortlund on Jerome & the Monepiscopacy, 2-4-24). This is a transcript of the notes that I prepared specifically for that show (that I recited), with just a few extra tidbits or notes, and some links, added presently. Gavins words will be in blue; St. Jeromes in green. *** 1) My written response to Gavin on my blog is called St. Jerome, Papacy, and Succession. It has most of the references with links, that Ill be referring to, and more material not in this presentation. 2) Hes a good debater. I differ with him on premises and conclusions drawn from what I think are false premises. We Catholics have our own premises too. Everyone does. We all need to examine our own premises more closely, to see if they can withstand scrutiny. 3) Monepiscopacy (or monoepiscopacy, as Gavin says) is a 50-cent word meaning one bishop for each city or area. Episkopos is the Greek biblical word for bishop. Gavin is claims that St. Jerome said things that imply that this was not the case in the earliest days of the Church. He wrote in his blog article related to his YouTube video: Jeromes commentary on Titus 1:5 contains an important testimony about the development of the monoepiscopacy in the early church (in addition to various statements in his letters). 4) In Titus 1:5 (I use RSV), Paul directed Titus to appoint elders in every town. The Greek word there is presbyter, which is basically a priest or a pastor. Then Paul goes on to mention bishop (i.e., episkopos) in verses 7-9, so that he seems to be using the two terms synonymously or interchangeably. And this is Gavins argument in a nutshell: Jerome is following Paul, meaning that the two terms are describing the same office, and so Gavin argues there goes hierarchical Church government (!), where bishops are higher than elders / priests / pastors. This is why there are no bishops at all in the Baptist tradition. Another Reformed Baptist apologist, James White, wrote to me in a letter many years ago that he himself was a bishop [I am an elder in the church: hence, I am a bishop, overseer, pastor, of a local body of believers: 1-10-01]. Hes usually referred to as an elder in his circles, but he believes that bishops and elders or presbyters are the same office, according to Scripture. 5) In Jeromes commentary on Titus 1:5. he refers to the very same priest, who is a bishop and that bishop and priest are one. He asserts that before Paul wrote to the Corinthian church the churches were governed by a common council of the priests. Jerome also noted that Luke in the book of Acts called the priests in Ephesus elders (Acts 20:17 in RSV; Gk., presbyteros) and wrote that Paul sent for them, whereas Paul himself calls the same priests overseers (Gk., episkopos), who care for the church of God (20:28). So that settles it, right? Well, sure, if these were the only things we read in Jeromes commentary. 6) Gavin, to his credit, includes the entire context (five paragraphs altogether), of Jeromes words, and in the context, I submit that Jerome explains what he means by these observations, and does so in a way completely harmonious with the Catholic view. People tend to highlight things in quotations that they agree with. We always need to look at the entire context and also compare a given patristic citation with comments from the same Church father elsewhere in his writings (just as we compare Bible passages on the same topic). Jerome also wrote in the same passage that early on in Church history (certainly in the first century): it was decreed for the whole world that one of the priests should be elected to preside over the others, to whom the entire care of the church should pertain, 7) In other words, Jerome was saying that when Paul was writing his letters, references to church offices were sometimes used interchangeably, but that very soon, the strong tendency was towards single bishops in cities and areas. Thus, this particular commentary doesnt prove that Jerome denied monepiscopacy. Quite the contrary: he not only describes it but entirely agrees with it, as I will soon show. Jerome also stated: at that time they called the same men bishops whom they also called priests, therefore he has spoken indifferently of bishops as if of priests. 8) The time Jerome is referring to is when Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians. Scholars believe the date was the late 50s or early 60s. Jerome isnt talking about his own belief. He was describing how the terminology for church offices was used in the mid-first century, but also noting that it soon changed or developed into a system of episcopacy. Then St. Jerome expressed a similar view for the third time: to the men of old the same men who were the priests were also the bishops; but gradually, as the seed beds of dissensions were eradicated, all solicitude was conferred on one man. 9) Note that his word gradually is essentially describing the process of development of doctrine. But then Jerome expressed something that actually supports one of Gavins views, and those of many Protestants: just as the priests know that by the custom of the church they are subject to the one who was previously appointed over them, so the bishops know that they, more by custom than by the truth of the Lords arrangement, are greater than the priests. 10) Jerome reiterates the same thing: bishops are greater than the priests and priests are subject to them. But this is a custom, rather than the Lords arrangement. Gavin and many Protestants believe that there is no single God-ordained system of ecclesiology or Church government described in Holy Scripture, and here he claims that Jerome agrees with that. The Catholic Church teaches that ecclesiology is included in the apostolic deposit; therefore, a hierarchical and episcopal church, including the pope, is ordained by God. 11) So how do Catholics respond? I would by saying that Jerome simply got this aspect wrong [but maybe not: see more on this below]. We dont regard individual Church fathers as infallible. They get things wrong. So Jerome was in error so it seems at least in this excerpt about ecclesiology being God-ordained. Jerome also didnt like the deuterocanon (the seven books that Catholics include in the Old Testament, that Protestants reject), and didnt want to include it in his Vulgate translation, but bowed to Church authority and did so. But this wasnt a cut-and-dried case, either. Its a mixed bag. In various places [as I have documented] he cited the books of Tobit, Sirach, Wisdom, and 1 and 2 Maccabees as if they were Scripture, and he quoted one of Baruchs proclamations as having been made by the trumpets of the prophets (letter 77, section 4). 12) Lastly, Jerome wrote in his commentary on Titus 1:5: And they ought to rule the Church commonly, in imitation of Moses who, when he had under his authority to preside alone over the people of Israel, he chose the seventy by whom he could judge the people. This may at first glance seem to support Gavins view of governance by groups of elders, but it actually is fully in accord with the Catholic position. Its not an either/or proposition for us. The pope can be the supreme leader, while also working with bishops and priests (including in solemn ecumenical councils) to govern the Church, just as in the US political system, Senators and Representatives govern and pass bills, which are subject to the presidential veto. Jerome stated that Moses had authority to preside alone. He simply chose others to assist him in governing, by delegating authority, which is precisely like the pope and bishops, and bishops having authority over priests in their domain. It doesnt follow that the pope is not supreme. 13) Though Jerome either was, or may be wrong about Church government being merely a matter of custom, he still bore strong witness to the dominance of episcopacy very early on, as I will demonstrate as I proceed. 14) What St. Jerome refers to in this commentary is, I believe, the fluidity of Church offices in the New Testament. I wrote about it 27 years ago, in 1996 in my first book, A Biblical Defense of Catholicism. I even mentioned Titus 1:5: the very passage that Gavin brought up, that Jerome commented on. I wrote: As is often the case in theology and practice among the earliest Christians, there is some fluidity and overlapping of these three vocations (for example, compare Acts 20:17 with 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:1-7 with Titus 1:5-9). But this does not prove that three offices of ministry did not exist. For instance, St. Paul often referred to himself as a deacon or minister (1 Cor. 3:5; 4:1, 2 Cor. 3:6; 6:4; 11:23; Eph. 3:7; Col. 1:23-25), yet no one would assert that he was merely a deacon, and nothing else. [Appendix Two: The Visible, Hierarchical, Apostolic Church, p. 252] None of this refutes what Catholics believe. This doctrine was to develop, just as every other doctrine does and has. This being the case, not all would fully understand it in the earlier centuries of the Church. But there are plenty of biblical indications of bishops and what their function was, and biblical proof that bishops are the successors of the apostles. 15) Jerome bears witness to the presence of monepiscopacy starting almost immediately after the death of Jesus. There is plenty of evidence in his writings confirming what he thought was actually the case in early Church history, as best he could determine them in the 4th and 5th centuries when he lived ; of how local churches were governed. But first, lets see what Gavin claimed about this. In his video on the topic, at 14:26, he said: All of his prooftexts for the synonymy of presbyter and bishop are after 1 Corinthians. So if Jerome thought that the change to the monoepiscopacy had happened around 50 AD, he wouldnt cite evidence against that model from the 60s. 16) Lets look at what Jerome actually wrote about this, rather than indulge in mere speculation. For example, in one of his treatises called On Illustrious Men a goldmine of information along these lines Jerome wrote the following about St. James: James, . . . after our Lords passion [was] at once ordained by the apostles bishop of Jerusalem [which, by the way, is an explicit statement of apostolic succession], . . . Hegesippus, who lived near the apostolic age [c. 110-c. 180], in the fifth book of his Commentaries, writing of James, says After the apostles, James the brother of the Lord surnamed the Just was made head of the Church at Jerusalem. . . . And so he ruled the church of Jerusalem thirty years, . . . (section 2) This is very early, and we can even know with a high degree of certainty exactly how early it was. Its believed that James was martyred in 62 or 69 AD. Thus, thirty years as the bishop of Jerusalem means that he assumed that role between 32 and 39 AD, and that this is what Jerome himself believed. 17) But there is more. Jerome says about St. Peter, from the same book in section 1: Simon Peter . . . himself chief of the apostles, after having been bishop of the church of Antioch . . . pushed on to Rome . . . and held the sacerdotal chair there for twenty-five years until the last, that is the fourteenth, year of Nero. Nero died in 68 AD (his reign began in 54). Thus, according to St. Jerome, St. Peter was bishop in Rome from 43 AD until 68 AD. Case closed. Jerome believed that sole bishops of cities were present in the 30s (James in Jerusalem) and 40s (Peter in Rome). Now, of course that doesnt mean all cities, but at least some major ones had bishops in those times. But Gavin erroneously claimed that Jerome believed that monepiscopacy began in the mid-3rd century; thats his view. . . . but its certainly not 50 AD. Thats from his video, at 19:14. If that were in fact true, then Jerome couldnt mention any bishops ruling cities until around 250 AD. Thats already massively disproven by the examples of James and Peter, over 200 years earlier. But theres much more. Ill be interjecting the life dates of the men mentioned. 18) In the same book, On Illustrious Men, Jerome mentions many bishops before that time. He refers to Clement as the bishop of the church at Rome. He lived from c. 35 to 99; and to Papias, who lived from c. 60 to 130), as bishop of Hierapolis. He says that Clement was the fourth bishop of Rome after Peter and that the second was Linus (who died c. 76) and the third Anacletus (who died around 92). Jerome thought that Ignatius (who died between 110 and 117) was the third bishop of the church of Antioch after Peter the apostle and that Polycarp, who lived from 69 to 155, was a disciple of the apostle John and by him ordained bishop of Smyrna. This is a second explicit proof of apostolic succession in Jeromes writings. Yet Gavin stated at 6:51 in his video, that Jerome is against apostolic succession in its common definitions. 19) It goes on and on (all from the same book). Jerome noted how Hegesippus (d. c. 180) went to Rome in the time of Anicetus [who died in 168], the tenth bishop after Peter, and continued there till the time of Eleutherius [he died in either 185 or 193], bishop of the same city, who had been formerly deacon under Anicetus. Note here how he specifically differentiates deacon and bishop, at a time before 193. Melito of Asia (who died c. 180) was bishop of Sardis. Theophilus (d. c. 183-185) was sixth bishop of the church of Antioch. Apollinaris (2nd c.), was bishop of Hierapolis in Asia. Dionysius (fl. 171) was bishop of the church of Corinth. He mentions several others as bishops, who lived before 250: Pinytus and Philip of Crete, Pope Victor, who ruled the church for ten years, Pothinus of Lyons, Demetrius and Clement of Alexandria. Alexander of Jerusalem, Serapion of Antioch, and Theophilus of Caesaria. 20) 106 additional and similar uses of bishop occur in this one work alone. Some specifically assume the contrast between bishop and presbyter (the former being a higher office); for example, he noted that Origen (d. c. 253) had been ordained presbyter by Theoctistus and Alexander, bishops of Csarea and Jerusalem. 21) Jerome also wrote in his Letter 146 to Evangelus, a letter that Gavin mentioned: For even at Alexandria from the time of Mark the Evangelist until the episcopates of Heraclas and Dionysius the presbyters always named as bishop one of their own number chosen by themselves and set in a more exalted position, just as an army elects a general, . . . Tradition holds that Mark founded the church of Alexandria around 49, and Jerome is already calling him a bishop. According to Eusebius [Ecclesiastical History, II, 24, 1] Mark was succeeded by Anianus as the bishop of Alexandria in the eighth year of Nero (62 or 63). 22) Then Jerome makes a very interesting and revealing analogy: In fact as if to tell us that the traditions handed down by the apostles were taken by them from the old testament, bishops, presbyters and deacons occupy in the church the same positions as those which were occupied by Aaron, his sons, and the Levites in the temple. This tells us two things: 1) perhaps Jerome did believe, after all, that hierarchy and episcopacy were of divine and apostolic origin, and that how ecclesiology in the Church was developing suggested that; 2) the analogy from the Old Testament is precisely about hierarchical authority, with Aaron being similar to a bishop. Thus, it seems that Jerome was either self-contradictory regarding these matters (as he was concerning the Deuterocanon), or changed his position. 23) Gavin makes a great deal out of the fact that Jerome referred to presbyters electing bishops. This is neither here nor there. Its not necessarily how they are elected, but the fact that the very notion of a bishop above presbyters is upheld. Catholic cardinals, of course, vote on decrees of ecumenical councils, and they vote for popes. It doesnt follow that there are no such decrees or popes because votes were taken to establish them. I think a big part of the problem is that Gavin wrongly dichotomizes apostolic and development of doctrine. For example, he states at 27:46 in his video: This is why, when people defend episcopal Church government and apostolic succession, they often do so as a Holy Spirit-led development, rather than something thats literally apostolic, like the apostles themselves commanded it. His use of rather proves that he is drawing this false dichotomy here. But theyre not separate or in conflict at all. Apostolic doctrines develop and they remain the same in essence, by definition, when they do so. The Catholic view is that bishops are the successors of the apostles. There are various biblical arguments for that. How they are elected or appointed is a separate and non-essential question that doesnt work against apostolic succession. Gavin seems to mistakenly think that it does. By analogy, a US Senator in American government remained the same legitimate political office, even though at one time they were appointed by governors, and then [in 1914] they started being elected by the public. 24) Things also develop at different rates in different places. Jerusalem and Rome had sole bishops very early on. Other regions took longer. This is to be expected and poses no problem for Catholic ecclesiology. 25) Gavin stated at 22:46 in his video: apostolic succession requires ordination from a bishop. This is not necessarily the case in all times and places, either, for the doctrine to be true. The doctrine is that bishops are successors of the apostles in authority. Ordination is itself a doctrine, and, we believe, a sacrament. So it developed as well. In the early centuries it was still developing, so we would fully expect to see different applications and even some disagreements. Some folks simply got things wrong. In Catholic thinking, development of doctrine is simply the way in which the divine institution unfolds. Its always misunderstood by some in earlier stages, and increasingly understood as time goes on. This is true in all cases of development of all doctrines. 26) St. John Henry Newmans analysis of the development of both episcopacy and the papacy explains the nature of this process in history: While Apostles were on earth, there was the display neither of Bishop nor Pope; their power had no prominence, as being exercised by Apostles. In course of time, first the power of the Bishop displayed itself, and then the power of the Pope . . . [F]irst local disturbances gave exercise to Bishops, and next ecumenical disturbances gave exercise to Popes; and whether communion with the Pope was necessary for Catholicity would not and could not be debated till a suspension of that communion had actually occurred. . . . it is a less difficulty that the Papal supremacy was not formally acknowledged in the second century, than that there was no formal acknowledgment on the part of the Church of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity till the fourth. No doctrine is defined till it is violated . . . (Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, Part 1, Chapter 4, Section 3) 27) Many Protestants casually assume that development of doctrine is fundamentally opposed to the notion of the apostolic deposit. Catholics accept both things and believe that they are entirely harmonious. Cardinal Newman used as his jumping-off point regarding his theory of development, the work of St. Vincent of Lerins (d. c. 445) and his work, The Commonitorium. It contained what is called his dictum: much-beloved of Anglicans: we hold that faith which has been believed everywhere, always, by all (ch. 2, sec. 6). This was a general statement of principle, not to be taken absolutely literally. What many dont realize, however, is that in the same work, St. Vincent expressed the most explicit statement of development of doctrine to be found in the Church fathers: The growth of religion in the soul must be analogous to the growth of the body, which, though in process of years it is developed and attains its full size, yet remains still the same. There is a wide difference between the flower of youth and the maturity of age; yet they who were once young are still the same now that they have become old, insomuch that though the stature and outward form of the individual are changed, yet his nature is one and the same, his person is one and the same. . . . In like manner, it behoves Christian doctrine to follow the same laws of progress, so as to be consolidated by years, enlarged by time, refined by age, and yet, withal, to continue uncorrupt and unadulterate, complete and perfect in all the measurement of its parts, and, so to speak, in all its proper members and senses, admitting no change, no waste of its distinctive property, no variation in its limits. (ch. 23, sections 55-56) 28) There is no conflict between believing that the apostles received the fullness of Christianity from Jesus and passed down these beliefs, and development of doctrine, where progress and understanding occurs, but nothing essential changes. In other words, development of doctrine isnt evolution of doctrine. * *** * Practical Matters: Perhaps some of my 4,500+ free online articles (the most comprehensive one-stop Catholic apologetics site) or fifty-five books have helped you (by Gods grace) to decide to become Catholic or to return to the Church, or better understand some doctrines and why we believe them. Or you may believe my work is worthy to support for the purpose of apologetics and evangelism in general. If so, please seriously consider a much-needed financial contribution. Im always in need of more funds: especially monthly support. The laborer is worthy of his wages (1 Tim 5:18, NKJV). 1 December 2021 was my 20th anniversary as a full-time Catholic apologist, and February 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of my blog. PayPal donations are the easiest: just send to my email address: apologistdave@gmail.com. Heres also a second page to get to PayPal. Youll see the term Catholic Used Book Service, which is my old side-business. To learn about the different methods of contributing (including Zelle), see my page: About Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong / Donation Information. Thanks a million from the bottom of my heart! * *** Photo credit: collage used on Catholic apologist Suan Sonnas You Tube channel, Intellectual Catholicism, for the show, Dave Armstrong Responds to Gavin Ortlund on Jerome & the Monepiscopacy, (2-4-24). Summary: Reformed Baptist scholar Gavin Ortlund argues that St. Jerome rejected apostolic succession, and monepiscopacy before 250 AD. I offer much counter-evidence. For the first time in many years, you have a choice when buying a new Intel-based laptop: Intels 14th-gen Core Ultra (Meteor Lake) or its latest 14th-gen Core HX chip. Which should you buy, and why? Well talk about the differences between the two platforms, with some testing to help illustrate the distinctions. Weve already done a deeper dive on Intels 14th-gen Core HX, the Raptor Lake Refresh platform that doesnt offer that many differences from the 13th-gen Raptor Lake notebook platform that debuted a year ago. As the codenames suggest, the two platforms are quite similar. But Intels Meteor Lake is significantly different, both in design as well as purpose. Intel is using Core Ultra as well as Core as the brands of both the 14th-generation Meteor Lake and Raptor Lake Refresh, and thats what youll see on the box. As Intel moves into subsequent generations, such as Arrow Lake and Lunar Lake, executives have said the company will maintain those brands and without the generational distinctions of years past. We find that confusing. For claritys sake, youll see us refer to both the architecture as well as the brand where necessary.) Put simply, Intels Core Ultra appears to be the brand Intel and its partners will use for AI PCs that emphasize long battery life. The Core HX is aimed at performance and gaming. But you will likely see some overlap, such as in the recently announced Asus notebooks which split the difference between creativity and productivity. Further reading: The best laptops of 2024 Core Ultra vs. Core HX: Two different chips If youd like you can dig into our deep dives into the Meteor Lake architecture as well as the 14th-gen Core HX. What you need to know, however, is that the two chips are entirely different. the first 14th-gen core hx laptop we've reviewed Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2024) Read our review 14th-gen Core HX chips use a traditional two-die Intel architecture, combining the main CPU and a secondary I/O chip inside a package. Intels 14th-gen Core HX chips are fabricated on the Intel 7 process, with both performance and efficiency cores (P-cores and E-cores). Turbo clock speeds run up to 5.8GHz on the high end, with a base power consumption of 55W. From a platform perspective, the 14th-gen Core HX includes an eight-lane PCI Express 5 connection specifically designed for an external GPU. Memory runs up to DDR5-5600 speeds. This will be the platform on which Intel launches Thunderbolt 5, though as a discrete part thats not yet available. Core Ultra (Meteor Lake) is a four-tile architecture, consisting of specific CPU, SOC, graphics, and I/O tiles made from differing process technologies and even different factories. The Meteor Lake CPU tile is made on a finer, less power-hungry Intel 4 process technology, with P-cores that top out at 5.0GHz at turbo speeds. In general, Intels Meteor Lake chips are made to consume 28W, though theres a 45W chip, the Core Ultra 9 185H, due to ship this quarter at up to 5.1GHz. Meteor Lake also includes eight lanes of PCIe 5 for eGPUs, but a sharply improved integrated graphics unit as well. Only Thunderbolt 4 is available. Theres also a subtle, profound difference in how the two chips actually handle new tasks. Intels Thead Director works with the operating system to route new tasks, or threads, to the CPU. The 14th-gen Core HX has a traditional approach: Thread Director routes news tasks to the fastest P-cores, and drops them down to slower, more efficient E-cores if necessary. The Core Ultra actually includes a special, slower low-power E-core, and Thread Director routes new tasks to these slowest, most-power efficient cores first, and then pushes them to the P-cores if needed. Core Ultra vs. Core HX: The AI difference the first core ultra laptop we reviewed Acer Swift Go 14 Read our review Youve probably heard quite a bit of talk about AI, and how Meteor Lake is the engine of the AI PC. Thats true, to an extent. Meteor Lake includes an AI engine, also called an NPU, within one of its tiles. The 14th-gen Core HX does not; theres no AI block at all. This will matter less than Intel (or, to be fair, AMD or Qualcomm) would have you believe in the near future. For now, much of AI (ChatGPT, Claude, Google Bard, and Microsoft Copilot) happens in the cloud, with your PC communicating with those services just like any other server or website. At CES 2024, we found very few local AI applications, and an NPU can be replaced by a good CPU or GPU in AI calculations. NPUs are more efficient than either of the two others in terms of battery life, for applications like Windows Studio Effects in the Surface Pro 9. However, the simplest, most powerful way to achieve AI performance right now is simply to buy a gaming- or creator-class notebook with a powerful discrete GPU and it doesnt matter whether its Meteor Lake or a Core HX. (Intel is working to triple the performance of its NPU inside the Lunar Lake mobile chip due at the end of this year, but its not here yet.) Core Ultra vs. Core HX: Which is faster? In an ideal world, a laptop manufacturer would design the same laptop with options for both the 14th-gen Core HX as well as Meteor Lake, for an apples-to-apples comparison. (We recall fondly 2019s Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 which offered both the 10th-gen Core [Ice Lake] and the Ryzen 3000 Mobile family, allowing for a head-to-head comparison.) But because of the separate roles that the Core HX and Meteor Lake platforms play as well as their power consumption this isnt possible. Michelle Johnston Holthaus, executive vice president and general manager of the Client Computing Group at Intel, holds the Intel Core Ultra mobile processor launched Dec. 14, 2023. Intel In fact, we dont have two comparable laptops (say, two gaming laptops) available, either. We at least have two laptops from the same manufacturer, MSI: the Prestige 16 AI Evo (with a Core Ultra 7 155H Meteor Lake chip inside) and the MSI Raider GE78 notebook with a Core i9-14900HX chip inside. That helps assume some commonality in the design and the components. Lets be clear: This is not a direct comparison. Lets call this a first look between the two platforms, and we might never get better. Anyone who says this is an unfair comparison well, youre right. But for right now, this should help explain the performance differences between the two platforms for those who want a bit more context. As we did with the Core HX comparisons, weve focused on CPU-specific benchmarks, with the hope that we can eliminate the impact of the GeForce RTX 4090 mobile GPU in the MSI Raider, and the lack of a discrete GPU in the Prestige Evo. Once again, weve dialed up the Windows 11 performance slider to its highest. The one thing we dont feel comfortable testing is battery life or power consumption, as the discrepancies in GPU and display are just too great. Remember, this is a Core i9 versus a Core 7 chip, with significant power (and cooling) behind the Core HX machine. The two chips have very different core/thread counts as well. Cinebench R23 is probably the easiest point of comparison: The test renders a scene using just the CPU, and all of the cores and threads that the platform allows. According to our tests, the Core i9-14900HX notebook outperforms the Core Ultra 7 155H by more than a factor of two. We also ran the test on Cinebenchs single-threaded benchmark, with closer results. Mark Hachman / IDG Thats not particularly unusual, however. Just for some additional context, we reviewed our historical database and compared the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Pro 360 productivity laptop, with a 13th-gen Core i7-1360P inside, and a multithread score of 10,145 and single-thread score of 1,791, against the MSI Titan GT 77 HX 13V gaming behemoth, with a Core i9-13980HX inside, and a Cinebench R23 multithread score of 31,072, and a single-threaded score of 2,063. Those chips were from the same architecture, but we see a similar differential between productivity and gaming platforms in that generation as well. (We couldnt bear not to run this test on an Acer Swift Edge 16 with a Ryzen 7 7840U inside: 12,574 for the multithreaded test, and 1,718 for the single-threaded result.) We also ran two more tests comparing Meteor Lake and the Core HX. The Handbrake app transcodes a video file over a prolonged period, so its a good indicator how the performance of the CPU will hold up over a prolonged task. How the processor is cooled will make a significant difference, giving an advantage to the gaming laptop and its Core HX chip. Mark Hachman / IDG Using the HWInfo utility, we know that the Core HX chip we tested can run in a turbo, overclocked state for 56 seconds, climbing over 5GHz before falling back to 2.4GHz to avoid overheating. The same tool reports that the Core Ultra 7 155H can run up to 4.8GHz for a shorter 28 seconds before falling back to 3GHz. That further demonstrates that the Core HX will be the superior processor, as running faster for a longer period of time results in more performance. Finally, we looked at the UL Procyon benchmark, which measures AI. Again, the Core HX chip does not include an NPU, while the Meteor Lake architecture does. The Procyon measures how well individual logic blocks like the CPU, GPU, and NPU fare in processing AI tasks like the underpinnings of LLMs, or AI chatbots. We test using OpenVINO, which is optimized for the Intel Core architecture. Mark Hachman / IDG What the benchmark does not do is add up the combined power of all three logic blocks working together. Instead, it tests the individual components. Here, the Core HX still outperforms Meteor Lake, though the difference is closer than in other benchmarks. We also tested Meteor Lakes NPU, for comparison. (Incidentally, testing the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evos CPU for AI performance runs the fan pretty aggressively. When the NPU was tested, it was silent.) And the results provide a different perspective: Although weve written that the NPU doesnt matter as much compared to the GPU, Meteor Lakes NPU handily outperformed the Core HXs CPU, at least where AI is concerned, with a score of 511. Thats significant! (However, the MSI Raider GE78s GeForce 4090 GPU crushes it, as it returns a score of 2,745 when the GPU is tested, with GeForce RTX optimizations turned on.) Remember, what we havent tested is battery life, which is affected by the chip, the display, and so on. This is one of the Core Ultras strong suits, and your best bet is to simply peruse reviews of Meteor Lake notebooks you intend to buy and see what reviewers say. Core Ultra vs Core HX: Which should you buy? The early data suggests that there is still a clear demarcation in performance between Meteor Lake and the Core HX platform which isnt that different from the performance difference that existed in earlier generations of Intel chips. This time around, though, its easier to tell. Instead of asking you to parse the CPU model numbers on the side of the box, the distinction will be more in your face: The brand logo will be the signal that tells you what that laptop offers AI and solid battery life (the Core Ultra) or sheer performance (the Core, and specifically the Core HX). On balance, though, this clearer communication is good: for Intel, for reviewers, and for you. Recall the rather slimy attack Intel made on AMDs model numbers, labelling them snake oil. Neither Intel nor AMDs processor naming schemes are still that easy to read. But if Intel can continue to distinguish between the Core (HX) and Core Ultra processor brands, with notable differences in their performance and capabilities, then this new dual-brand approach to mobile processors might just be one consumers will understand and benefit from. After all, it will be right on the box. Further reading: The best laptops of 2024 the first core ultra laptop we reviewed Acer Swift Go 14 Read our review Theres a looming diplomatic row as Burkina Fasos Military leader Ibrahim Traore has disclosed that his country will consult Mali and Niger to take a final decision on whether to allow Ghanaian traders and other West African nationals to do business in their countries. He said a final determination would be made on the matter as consultation would first have to be made by leaders ofNiger Mali and Burkina Faso. We remain pan-African. Anyone in Africa or an African who wants to come to Burkina, is welcomed. We will decide what measures to take in due course regarding traders coming from Ghana, Nigeria and other West African countries), he said. The three nations officially announced last week that they were departing from the sub-regional ECOWAS trading bloc. This raised fears from the Ghana Union of Traders (GUTA) which said its members import vegetables and other livestock from Mali Burkina Faso and Niger would be affected. This thing is going to affect us more than the other member states. We should bypass the ECOWAS to find an immediate solution, Dr Joseph Obeng, President of the Union told Joy News. He added the cross border trading activities that goes on is going to be impacted negatively. Look at the cola nut that we ship to Niger, the onions that we bring from there and the tomatoes that we bring in. "Also consider the bulk of things that the Burkinabes come to buy from us [in Ghana] so definitely it's going to have a negative impact. Ibrahim Traore added that the departure from ECOWAS is well thought. He added it's not a burst of anger. If it was an outburst, we would have done it a long time ago. Source: myjoyonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA) has said it will step up efforts to clamp down on illegal felling of trees, particularly economic trees in the country. In line with that, the authority was putting up zonal offices across the country to enhance its operations and also sensitise the public to desist from the practice. We have stepped up efforts to curb the situation by setting up zonal offices, and also embarked on sensitisation exercise to educate the public on the laws. Anyone who flouts the law will be dealt with to serve as deterrent to others, the authority added. The Chief Executive Officer of the TCDA, William Quaittoo, who made this known in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Tamale, said the tree crops regulations prohibit the indiscriminate felling of trees, and that anyone found culpable would face the full rigours of the law. Per the regulations, any individual or entity that wanted to fell a tree for a reasonable purpose was expected to seek a permit from the authority or the Forestry Commission (FC). Interventions Mr Quaittoo further said the authority was undertaking series of interventions to reposition the sector as key player in the country's economy with immense potential for growth and development. Key among the interventions, he said, was the planting of grafted shea seedlings across the savannah ecological zone to respond to the threat to the shea industry and also help tackle climate change. Mr Quiattoo expressed concern that illegal felling of economic trees was not only affecting livelihoods of rural folks, but also taking a toll on the environment as trees made up the vegetative cover. The survival of indigenous and economic trees, particularly shea, has come under major threat with an upsurge in the felling of the trees in the savannah ecological zone. Large tracts of these species, which serve as major source of livelihood for rural population, particularly women, are going extinct due to the indiscriminate felling of trees for charcoal and firewood. The perpetrators, referred to as shea tree entrepreneurs, are said to be feeding the growing demand of pito brewers and other commercial users. The shea tree charcoal and firewood are said to be in high demand in the market in recent times because they last longer than charcoal and firewood from other tree species. Working Group The authority recently inaugurated a Shea Technical Working Group in Tamale. The group, which is a convergence of relevant and diverse professionals drawn from the public and private sectors, research institutions, academia and civil society organisations, seeks to coordinate and adopt best practices and strategies to promote the sustainable development of the industry. It will serve as a platform for stakeholders from the public and private sectors to collaborate and coordinate their efforts for the overall development of the sector. Source: graphiconline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Most Rev. Dr. Abraham Opare Kwakye, is urging the family of the late Dr. J. B. Danquah to let go of any pain suffered as a result of the circumstances leading to the death of Dr. J. B. Danquah. He said the family should rather live the J.B. Danquah ideals of promoting freedom and justice for all and respect for traditional institutions. Preaching at the remembrance service held at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church of Ghana in Kyebi, Dr. Opare Kwakye indicated that it is time for total forgiveness. He advised Ghanaians to emulate the J. B. Danquah spirit by speaking truth to power without fear. In his tribute, Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori narrated that the whole nation stood in grief and shock at the untimely demise of Dr. J. B. Danquah in the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, where he had been detained on the orders of the Kwame Nkrumah-led Convention Peoples Party (CPP) under horrendous circumstances. He said J. B.'s contribution to the consolidation of Okyeman and Akan cultural heritage, the independence struggle of our country, the defence of democracy, and the struggle against authoritarianism and arbitrariness has a unique place in the history of Ghana. According to Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori, Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah was with Nananom at the Conference of Paramount Chiefs of the Eastern Province of the Gold Coast at the early age of 21 years, serving as State Secretary of Akyem Abuakwa, where the foundation was laid for the establishment of the Joint Provincial Council, where he led in the formulation of the Native Administration Ordinance of 1927. He said the impact J. B. Danquah made to the understanding and preservation of Akan culture, heritage, and tradition can be seen in his cogitative rendition of a theoretic and scientific treatise of the customary institutions of the Akan people in his celebrated work, AKAN LAWS AND CUSTOMSAND THE AKYEM ABUAKWA CONSTITUTION," published in London in 1928. "Dr. J. B. Danquah was imprisoned under the Preventive Detention Act, an obnoxious law that anticipates and punishes your future actions. Under the imprimatur orders of the CPP leadership, Dr. Danquah was arrested on January 8, 1964, and admitted to the Nsawam prisons condemned cells, a cell that was not suitable for a man of his condition and age. The man who had high blood pressure and suffered asthma was put in a cell where he could neither stand nor walk, fed on gari, salt, and water, and endured other forms of inhuman treatment till the day he collapsed and died on February 4, 1965," Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin said. He added that, even in his death, J. B. Danquah was punished. The Nkrumah-led CPP government decreed that the burial was to be held within 12 hours. His body was not to be publicly laid in state, and there was to be no public mourning and crying. "The District Commissioner received orders from Accra, and a team of officers and men from the Army and the Police were dispatched to Kyebi to ensure compliance. For 59 years, Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah was denied a funeral rite, the most sacred of all rites of passage." He was quick to add that, as time is the great healer of wounds, the functionaries of the Nkrumah-led CPP and their assigns can and should be forgiven. Okyehene mentioned the need to look to a brighter future guided by a vision of hope, tolerance, and reverence for the opinions, lives, and dignity of all persons, irrespective of their political views. Osagyefo described Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah as the epitome and embodiment of respect for human dignity, the culture and traditions of all peoples, and the love for freedom of all men. "May the vision of Dr. J. B. Danquah and the challenges of his times guide us all towards this goal of preserving and entrenching the culture of peacefulness, respect for personal freedom, and political pluralism enjoyed by the people of Ghana," Okyenhene said. Read below Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin's tribute TRIBUTE BY THE OKYENHENE HIS ROYAL MAJESTY OSAGYEFUO AMOATIA OFORI PANIN ON THE OCCASSON OF THE MEMORIAL SERVICE AS PART OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FUNERAL OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS JOSEPH KWAME KYERETWIE BOAKYE DANQUAH EBENEZER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH HALL, KYEBI, 4TH FEBUARY 2024 Fifty nine years today in the morning of 4th February, Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah, Statesman, Pan Africanist, Author, Poet and Human Rights Activist answered the eternal call, closing the curtains on the stage of the most arresting drama of Ghanas politics and its most celebrated actor, who will forever belong to the ages. The whole nation stood in grieve and shock at the untimely demise of one of the most treasured sons of Ghana in the Nsawam Medium Security Prison where he had been detained on the orders of the Kwame Nkrumah led Convention Peoples Party (CPP), under horrendous circumstances. His contribution to the consolidation of Okyeman, Akan cultural heritage, the independence struggle of our country, the defence of democracy and the struggle against authoritarianism and arbitrariness has a unique place in the history of Ghana. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah considered himself a lifelong worthy servant of the Chieftaincy institution, and often described Nananom as natural and anointed rulers. A protege of his senior brother Okyenhene Sir Ofori-Atta, he was with Nananom at the Conference of Paramount Chiefs of the Eastern Province of the Gold Coast at the early age of 21 serving as State Secretary of Akyem Abuakwa where the foundation were laid for the establishment of the Joint Provincial Council where he led in the formulation of the Native Administration Ordinance of 1927. He was part of several delegations with Nananom to the Colonial Office in England. Notably was the 1934 delegation which successfully persuaded the Colonial Administration to enlarge the Legislative Council and for persons other than Chiefs to be made members. This far reaching reforms led to the introduction of popular franchise, for the first time in the Gold Coast, although restricted in some aspects by the Colonial Administration, it represented the most momentous victory in struggle against colonialism. The impact J. B. Danquah made to the understanding and preservation of Akan culture, heritage and tradition can be seen in his cogitative rendition of a theoretic and scientific treatise of the customary institutions of the Akan people in his celebrated work , AKAN LAWS AND CUSTOMS AND THE AKYEM ABUAKWA CONSTITUTION published in London in 1928. It is imperative to mention that Okyeman in recognition and appreciation of the sacrifices of Dr. J. B. Danquah created the important Twafo stool and enstooled him as Okyeman Twafohene. Dr. J. B. Danquah has secured himself in history as the iconic chronicler and codifier of not only Akyem Abuakwa but also Akan custom, tradition and history. In 2017, the Government and People of Ghana decided to honour the founding fathers noted in history as the BIG SIX of this nation by legislating that the 4th day of August should be observed every year as a national holiday. August 4th 1947 at Saltpond was the day of the birth of the first political party in Ghana that pursued national independence as its core agenda of which J. B. Danquah, Paa Grant, R. S. Blay and other members of the BIG SIX who endured deprivation, arrest and imprisonment in the struggle for national sovereignty and dignity. This earned him the accolade THE DOYEN OF GHANA POLITICS. Dr. J. B. Danquah was imprisoned under the Preventive Detention Act, an obnoxious law which anticipates and punish your future actions. Under the imprimatur orders of the CPP leadership, Dr. Danquah was arrested on the 8th January, 1964, admitted to the Nsawam prisons condemned cells, a cell which was not suitable for a man of his condition and age. The man who had high blood pressure and suffered asthma was put in a cell where he could neither stand nor walk, fed on gari, salt and water and endured other forms of inhuman treatment till the day he collapsed and died on 4th February, 1965. Even in his death Danquah was punished. The Nkrumah led CPP government decreed that the burial was to be held within 12 hours. His body was not to be publicly laid in state and there was to be no public mourning and crying. The District Commissioner received orders from Accra and a team of Officers and men from the Army and the Police were despatched to Kyebi to ensure compliance. For 59 years, Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah was denied a funeral rite, the most sacred of all rites of passage. As TIME IS the great healer of wounds, the functionaries of the Nkrumah-led CPP and their assigns can and should be forgiven. We need to look to a brighter future guided by a vision of hope, tolerance and reverence for the opinions, lives and dignity of all persons irrespective of their political views. Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah is the epitome and embodiment of the respect of human dignity, the culture and traditions of all peoples and the love for freedom of all men. This is the most endearing tribute to the memory of the man whose funeral was denied by men responsible for his demise, for which we have all gathered here today. May the vision of Dr. J. B. Danquah and the challenges of his times guide us all towards this goal of preserving and entrenching the culture of peacefulness, respect for personal freedom, and political pluralism enjoyed by the people of Ghana. May His Soul continue to find rest in the Bosom of our Lord. OSAGYEFUO AMOATIA OFORI PANIN OKYENHENE 25/01/24 Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video lagbearer and the leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has started his Building Ghana Tour in the Northern Region of Ghana starting from Monday, 5th February to Tuesday February 6, 2024. As part of the two-day tour, the former president and the leader of the opposition NDC, is expected to pay courtesy calls on the chiefs in the region as well as visit the Gushegu, Mion and Yendi Constituenccies. Again, Mr. John Dramani Mahama is expected to visit the constituecies within the Capital of the Northern region which includes, Tamale Central, Tamale North, Tamale South, and Sagnarigu constituencies. The ultimate objective of the This transformative journey is to connect with supporters, instil hope, and fulfil promises made to NDC branch executives. The "Building Ghana Tour" shall provide the 2024 flagbearer, John Mahama, the opportunity to meet and interact with Ghanaians from various backgrounds, including party supporters and sympathizers. The tour covers a plethora of activities, such as, town hall meetings, community durbars, and extensive conversations with various stakeholders to see how the economic fortunes of the people of Northern Region can be turned around. The Building Ghana Tour is part of the campaign process of the National Democratic Congress in the build up towards the December, 2024 geneal elctions. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama, has cautioned customers not to purchase prepaid or post-meters from anyone, whether they are staff or not. Mr. Dubik Mahama, in an interview on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", responded to a texter who messaged the host Kwami Sefa Kayi about an ECG staff member charging him GHC 7,000 to fix a meter for him. In reply, the ECG boss stated unequivocally that their meters are not for sale. "ECG doesn't sell meters. It is a service connection; we recoup the cost of the meter over a period of time. It's not an instant sale. So, when you hear people say they bought the meter, it is not true because the meter is not for sale. That is why we have written on the meter 'property of the Electricity Company of Ghana'", he emphasized. The ECG MD also admonished electricity users not to fall into the trap of fraudsters, saying, "Do not pay anybody any money or any form of something that has appeared on your phone". Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Russian army reserve of about 60,000 concentrated at the front in Ukraine largely corresponds to the aggressor's expected priorities in combat, but does not necessarily indicate its future offensives. However, in 2024, with the help of such a reserve, the Kremlin will be able to determine where, when, and to what extent hostilities will take place if the Armed Forces do not challenge the initiative by switching from defense to attack. ADVERTISIMENT This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). At the same time, they believe that the Russian defense industrial base is unlikely to be able to fully support such a manpower reserve, despite its ability to produce military equipment and maintain the current pace of operations. Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets stated that Russian troops currently have 17 regiments, 16 battalions, and two regimental-battalion-level tactical units in reserve. The total number of personnel of the Russian Armed Forces in the reserve units is about 60,000-62,000, but the Russian forces have equipped only about 20,000 personnel of the tactical and operational-tactical reserve with weapons and equipment. According to him, the largest number of Russian army reserves is concentrated in the operational area of the Southern Group of Forces, followed by the Western, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Eastern and Central Groups. ADVERTISIMENT The Southern Group of the occupation forces is responsible for the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions. And Mashovets noted that the concentration of enemy reserves in this area coincides with the areas of concentration of Russian forces in the offensive. At the same time, it is not surprising that the Russian Dnipro Group, which operates in the temporarily occupied part of Kherson region, ranks third in terms of reserves, given that Russian forces may be concerned about the Ukrainian threat on the left bank. Ukrainian officials recently said that Russian forces have more than 70,000 troops on the left bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, but many are concentrated deeper in the rear. The ISW suggested that the reserves of the Dnipro group of the occupiers could easily move to the Zaporizhzhia direction if circumstances demanded. ADVERTISIMENT Mashovets calculated that the Central Group of Troops, which is responsible for the Liman direction, has the lowest concentration of reserves due to its smaller operational area, which requires fewer troops. Analysts additionally estimate that this is also because Russian operations in this area are most likely intended to support the actions of the Western Group of Forces on the Kupiansk-Svatove line (they are likely to be involved in offensives in the Kharkiv and Luhansk regions). According to experts, Russian troops will be able to freely move their reserves between different parts of the frontline as long as Russia holds the strategic initiative in the entire theater of operations. ADVERTISIMENT "An active Ukrainian defense on the entire front line in 2024 would cede strategic initiative to the Russian Armed Forces, allowing Moscow to determine where, when, and on what scale fighting occurs and allocate resources accordingly, while forcing the Ukrainian Armed Forces to respond. However, Ukraine could deprive Russia of this opportunity if it were able to challenge this initiative," the ISW concluded. At the same time, they estimate that the Russian defense industrial base is unlikely to be able to fully support the Russian manpower reserve, despite Russia's ability to maintain the current pace of operations and ongoing efforts to expand its military-industrial base. ADVERTISIMENT Mashovets stated that the operational and strategic reserves of the Russian Armed Forces are generally not combat-ready, but the Russian military-industrial base tends to view their reserve component as a "bottomless barrel." According to him, the Russian defense industry is capable of producing about 250-300 "new and thoroughly modernized" tanks a year. The Russians can also annually repair about 250-300 tanks that are in long-term storage or have been damaged in combat. The Ukrainian military expert says that the situation is similar to armored combat vehicles, suggesting that the Russian military-industrial base can more or less cover the annual losses of equipment in the war. At the same time, he believes that Russia will not be able to produce enough equipment to equip large reserves if the need suddenly arises. ADVERTISIMENT Analysts also recalled the estimates of Latvian Defense Ministry Secretary of State Janis Garisons, who said on December 13 that Russia could "produce and repair" about 100-150 tanks per month. And then there is Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev, who boasted in March that their military-industrial base could produce 1,500 main battle tanks in 2003, which implies an average production of 125 units per month. But the ISW believes that even with these higher estimates, the Russian military-industrial base is unlikely to be able to support a large-scale mobilization of manpower, and will likely have to expand dramatically to support larger offensive operations that will require the use of more manpower reserves. "Russia will only be able to expand its military-industrial base and accumulate resources if it retains the initiative in the entire theater of operations throughout 2024, although it is unlikely to provide large masses of mobilized reservists or conscripts this year," the analysts said. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZ.UA previously reported, Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, believes that the Russian army's offensive will end soon. In his opinion, the invaders' offensive, which began in November 2023, will be completely exhausted early this spring. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The Third Session of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic will reconvene on Tuesday, February 6, 2023. This was after the House adjourned sine die, on Thursday, December 22, 2022, for the legislators to take a break for the Christmas and New Year holidays. A statement signed by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin in Accra, last Monday, said: "The Third Session of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic shall commence at Ten o'clock in the forenoon of Tuesday, 7th February, 2023." It said the Speaker of Parliament, by Clause (1) of Article 112 of the 1992 Constitution, appointed Parliament House, Accra, to be the place of meeting. "Know Ye All Men that in the exercise of the powers conferred on the Speaker by Clause (1) of Article 112 of the Constitution, I, Rt Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament, by this Constitutional Instrument, appoint Parliament House Accra to be the place...., it said Appropriation Bill Before adjourning for the 2022 festive season, the House passed the Appropriation Bill for the 2023 Fiscal Year. An Appropriation Bill, also known as a Supply Bill or Spending Bill, is a proposed law that authorises the expenditure of government funds. It is a bill, which sets money aside for specific spending. In some democracies, approval of the Legislature is necessary for the Government to spend money. The break also marked the end of the Third Meeting of the Second Session of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic Source: graphiconline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is poised to make significant changes to his ministerial appointments after months of public demands. The last modifications to his government occurred a month after former Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen and Food and Agriculture Minister Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto resigned to concentrate on their political campaigns. Sources suggest that this impending reshuffle will be on a grand scale, and it was strategically delayed to allow the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to conclude its presidential and parliamentary primaries. The party primaries were held over the weekend to ensure that the affected ministers would not have to face the added emotional burden of potential defeat while simultaneously adjusting to new roles. The reshuffle was initially penciled for December but was moved to February after the governing partys internal elections to prevent any losing candidates from blaming the president for their defeat. A number of MMDCEs have been penned down for removal to shake up the system. This decision highlights President Akufo-Addos sensitivity to the needs and expectations of his ministers, reinforcing his commitment to maintaining a harmonious and efficient government. By allowing the NPP primaries to take place first, the President has displayed a thoughtful approach, ensuring that the reshuffling process does not interfere with the well-being and electoral aspirations of his cabinet members. The delay in announcing the ministerial changes showcases the Presidents dedication to fair and considerate leadership. By allowing candidates to focus solely on securing their party nominations, President Akufo-Addo is ensuring that the reshuffled ministers will be able to approach their new roles with a clear perspective and renewed vigor. As the President finalizes his plan for the massive reshuffle, Ghanaians eagerly await the announcement of these alterations to the government. The changes are expected to bring new perspectives, fresh expertise, and increased efficiency to the various ministries involved. President Akufo-Addos commitment to public demand and his consideration for his ministers electioneering efforts underscore his dedication to good governance and responsive leadership. With the looming reshuffle on the horizon, it remains to be seen how these changes will affect the governments performance moving forward. However, Ghanaians can be rest assured that President Akufo-Addos decisions stem from a sincere desire to continually improve and strengthen his administration. Source: dailyguidenetwork.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Deputy National Director of Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Tanko Rashid Computer, has expressed concern about the readiness of the Electoral Commission (EC) for the December 2024 general elections. He says the Commission has not submitted its programme of activities, raising questions about its preparedness to conduct the 2024 general elections. Speaking on JoyNews Newsfile on Saturday, February 3, Dr Rashid cited the recent District Assembly elections as the EC's lack of readiness. He mentioned issues such as shortage of ballot papers and problems with the electoral register that hindered some people from voting. "This year they are going to do another registration. At the time we were at the IPAC meeting, the Electoral Commission did not have the roadmap for the 2024 election. They have not given us the road map and their programme of activities. "We asked for it, and they told us at the next IPAC meeting, they were going to make it available. The next IPAC meeting we attended, up till now, they didnt have it," Dr Rashid stated. He explained that the EC is currently advertising for people to apply to become returning officers for the upcoming elections, stressing that the Commission has not yet submitted its programme of activities to the political parties, as required. That is why I say, their posture tells us that they are not even ready, for me, even for the December 2024 elections, he added. Source: Myjoyonline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The 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 Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Mr. Kofi Bentil, the Vice President of Imani Africa, has reposed confidence in the vice President Dr. Mahmud Bawumia, when he is elected as the President of Ghana come December, 2024. According to Mr. Kofi Bentil, he has no doubt that Dr Bawumia will be a better president, hence needs to be given the opportunity. Taking to his facebook wall, Lawyer Kofi Bentil, said Every man deserves a fair hearing. We gave Prez Mahama a chance to be President, the least we can do is give Dr Bawumia a fair and objective hearing. He is not President, and has never been President! I have no doubt he will be better! The VP position in Ghana, apart from standing in when the president is away (and he cant make any serious decisions), it is totally powerless! he is like an advisor! Theres a good reason Kwame Nkrumah refused to have a Vice President! Indeed the Minister of finance has more constitutional power than the VP in managing our finances and the EMT has zero power to effect its decisions. They advise the President who acts through his ministers! Every man deserves a fair hearing. We gave Prez Mahama a chance to be President, the least we can do is give Dr Bawumia a fair and objective hearing. He is not President, and has never been President! I have no doubt he will be better! The VP position in Ghana, apart from standing in when the president is away (and he cant make any serious decisions), it is totally powerless! He is like an advisor! Theres a good reason Kwame Nkrumah refused to have a Vice President! Indeed the Minister of finance has more constitutional power than the VP in managing our finances and the EMT has zero power to effect its decisions. They advise the President who acts through his ministers!!! I trust VP Bawumia. Because he has been the best VP ever. Even under trying circumstances he has shown himself not corrupt and indeed has been effective in delivering some crucial transformations. I am entitled like everyone to my belief and choice and I believe he is a better choice. All the rest of us need to do, is give the man a fair hearing. Of course youre entitled to your choice but you cheat yourself if you close your ears. My earlier post elicited a lot of responses many say that they tried this government and it failed them And so they wont do another trial. The same people are advocating for someone who earlier failed and was rejected. Its amazing they cant see the huge contradiction. That position is illogical when they advocate for JM. You tried JM and Nana Addo and you claim They failed! DMB has not been tried and he has not failed as President!! So that logic falls flat. By the trial logic. The person left is DMB. If you are Not to return to the certified proven failure then Only DMB is qualified. I am simply saying. Give the man a fair hearing. He is not Nana Addo.And he has been the best VP in Ghanas history. In life we move forward, dont go back!! especially to what you tried and failed when you have a fresh choice. For me, Even if I will make a mistake I will Make it going forward not backward. Asalaam Aleikum. Shalom. Peace'' Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video By Ashley Stalnecker, LNP (Lancaster) (TNS) At least 18,365 Lancaster County students regularly eat free breakfast at their schools since Gov. Josh Shapiro allocated state funds to make sure all students at Pennsylvanias 500 public school districts have access to the meal this school year. Thats 30% of students from 16 Lancaster County school districts, excluding Pequea Valley but including Octorara Area, which is in Chester County but serves Christiana and Sadsbury Township in Lancaster County. The other 70% of students are missing out on an opportunity for a free meal, though most school districts say Shapiros initiative has increased participation compared to recent years. In December 2022, an average of 8,853 students at participating schools, excluding Pequea Valley, regularly ate breakfast, according to Pennsylvania Department of Education data. Studies link receiving school meals to improved academic achievement, improved attendance and a reduction in food insecurity the latter two of which are also linked to improved academic outcomes, according to the Food Research & Action Center. Youre ensuring that theyre getting all the nutrition that they need so that theyre ready to learn, said Nicole Melia, School Nutrition Association of Pennsylvania public policy and legislation chair. When you have students who are ready to learn, theyre coming in, youre seeing fewer disciplinary issues, fewer nurses visits... theyre ready for their tests... and to participate in that school day. The nonprofit School Nutrition Association of Pennsylvania represents 1,000 food service professionals and is a recognized authority on school nutrition in Pennsylvania. In the Penn Manor High School cafeteria, junior Marina Youssef sat down to eat a breakfast muffin and a juice. She said she first started eating breakfast at the school in the 2022-23 school year but was happy to see that all students could get a free breakfast when the 2023-24 school year began. Breakfast is very important for me and makes me focus in school, Youssef said. Without the availability of free breakfast at Penn Manor, Youssef said shed normally skip the morning meal, despite it often being dubbed the most important meal of the day. Usually Im in a rush, Youssef said. If she doesnt have time to eat in the cafeteria, she can sometimes bring leftover food to her first class as long as no students in the room have a food allergy. Doug Kramer, a math teacher at the high school, gathers up all of the unopened food at the end of breakfast to hand out to students who might have missed the meal. At Hambright Elementary School, students dutifully place unopened food and drinks on the share table as they return their trays and throw out their trash. That food, too, will go to students in need. A huge impact More than half of Pennsylvanias 1.7 million students at its 500 public school districts were already certified for free or reduced breakfast before the 2022-23 school year, according to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. Children from families with incomes at or below 130% of the poverty level, participating in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, and receiving food stamps are eligible for free meals, while children in families whose income is between 130% and 185% of the poverty level are eligible for reduced price breakfast and lunches. For a four-person household, a family making $37,500 is at 130% of the poverty level and a family making $55,500 is at 185% of the poverty level. Universal free breakfast provides breakfast to all students regardless of their families income levels and eliminates the need for families who qualify for free and reduced meals to apply. Its a huge impact to take away the stigma of half of the kids who are eligible for free meals, Melia said. It levels the playing field. Kids dont need to worry about money. They dont need to worry about whether their parents filled out their meal applications... it takes the stress out of the school day for them. To further encourage participation in Pennsylvanias free school breakfast program, the state created a three-month program challenging schools to compete for the largest increase in student participation. The Governors School Breakfast Challenge asks districts, for example, to promote free breakfast through flyers and social media, offer a breakfast promotion activity, implement an alternative breakfast serving method and serve at least two local foods per week. Schools with the greatest success in participation will be recognized by the state but a specific award wasnt mentioned on the state department of educations website. But, some school districts need to meet a few more needs before expanding their breakfast participation. Penn Manor School District, for example, needs more staff before it can even think about piloting new breakfast serving methods in an effort to increase participation, said Food Services Director Courtney Kolp. We are serving so many kids right now that we are already struggling just to get them through the lines quick with the very little amount of time that they have to eat, Kolp said. We dont have the staff to increase our numbers and timewise dont have the time to get the kids through the line if we were to really increase that participation. Roughly 31% of the districts 5,531 students regularly participate in the free breakfast program, with the high school seeing the lowest participation at 15% of 1,806 students and Pequea Elementary seeing the highest at 40% of 358 students. If the district had more staff, however, Kolp said shed like to implement grab-and-go breakfast kiosks where students enter the building. At the districts middle schools, Kolp said students receive breakfast in their classrooms to cut time spent in lines. It increased participation to 50% at Manor Middle School when it was implemented last year, but fell to 37%, or 109 students, this year. Kolp said the decrease this year was due to an increased number of students who pack their own meals or make their own breakfast at home and theres less kids enrolled at the school overall. It almost would need to be a revamp of the system, Kolp said. We need to have more resources. For example, she said, schools might need to carve out time in the school day for breakfast, as they do for lunch, but that idea is often met with pushback due to the value of educational instruction time. We do struggle to get them to their classrooms by 9 a.m., Kolp said, noting that some students opt not to get breakfast when they see long lines. Its especially difficult for students to brave large crowds and long lines after the extended isolation they faced while at home during the pandemic, Kolp said. Free breakfast participation has remained the same, if not lowered since the state began paying to help schools feed all students following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021-22, Kolp said. At School District of Lancaster, which enrolls approximately 10,000 students, participation in free breakfast has increased slightly since 2021-22, from 27% to 30% in 2023-24, but is still down from 38% participation in 2019-20. Breakfast participation has increased at Octorara Area School District. Superintendent Steven Leever credits positive media coverage to a 23% increase from 142 students in 2022-23 to 608 students in 2023-24 in regular breakfast participation. Octorara Area currently enrolls 2,027 students, Leever said. We believe that students learn more effectively if they are not distracted by hunger, Leever said. Not all students are able to get the nutrition they need from home and we are happy to be able to offer both meals daily to any student that would like to participate. A new musical is headed to Broadway, thanks partly to a Lebanon County native. And audiences can expect quite a spectacle when the show makes its acrobatic debut. Dan Weschler grew up in the Palmyra area, and spent his childhood taking acting classes in the basement of a friends house with a few other local kids. Hormel Foods, based in Austin, Minn., announced over the weekend that they are recalling 945 pounds of ready-to-eat spiced deli ham products because of misbranding and an undeclared allergen. The deli meat was packaged on Nov. 17, according to a press release from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. The spiced ham is in a 5-lb. plastic casing or other weight packages sliced from a retail deli and says Hormel Spiced Ham With Natural Juices with lot code 051424 on the packaging. The ham is packaged in boxed cases labeled as HML SPCD HAM-D SHAPE 9/5LB with a case code 04472 and a prepare-by date of May 14. The product also has the establishment number EST. 199 located inside the USDA mark of inspection. The deli meats were shipped to retail locations in Pennsylvania, the USDA said. The USDA learned of the problem when an establishment told them that deli employees saw cheese in the spiced deli ham while slicing it. The spiced deli ham does not contain milk, a known allergen, and it is not found on the label. Currently, there are no reports of anyone having adverse effects after eating these products. Anyone concerned about becoming ill should contact their healthcare professional, the USDA said. Consumers can reach Hormel Foods Customer Relations by visiting the contact us section of the companys website or by calling 800-523-4635 between 8 a.m. and 4 p..m. Monday through Friday, Central Time. Anyone with general questions about food safety should call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-674-6854 or email MPHotline@usda.gov. Valentines Day is right around the corner, so time is ticking if you want to make a dinner reservation. To assist you, OpenTable, an online reservation service, released its annual list of the top 100 most romantic restaurants in the nation. The list features five establishments in Pennsylvania, including two in Lancaster City. OpenTable analyzed over 12 million diner reviews and metrics to create the list, which includes the following Pa. restaurants: Altius in Pittsburghs Mount Washington neighborhood is described as modern and contemporary. Your first visit may be for the view, but you will return again and again to enjoy one of Pittsburghs best premiere fine dining experiences. Belvedere Inn Restaurant and Bar in Lancaster blends American and European styles in an elegant dining atmosphere. We are committed to using the freshest local produce and organic ingredients from Lancaster County, plus unique foods from around the world. Josephines in Lancaster Executive Chef Daniel LeBoon resurrected Josephines in Marietta, which operated back in the early 2000s, as Josephines Downtown, which is now a lavish city establishment. Monterey Bay Fish Grotto in Pittsburghs Mt. Washington is known for its high standards and more than 20 types of fresh fish, which is flown in from a number of locations on the East and West coasts and Hawaiian Islands. SkyHigh at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia at Comcast Center presents a chic and comfortable dining experience specializing in approachable Jean-Georges cuisine. Experience panoramic views and world-class service. A lottery ticket worth $699,035.50 was sold at a store in York County earlier today, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery. The store that sold the ticket, Royal Farms, located at 1170 Loucks Road in West York, will receive a $5,000 bonus. The ticket was for the Strike It Rich game, a $20 Fast Play game that offers top prizes starting at $350,000. Fast Play games are print on-demand games that are purchased from a Lottery sales terminal or a touch-screen vending terminal. They are similar to Scratch-Off games, but there is no need to scratch the ticket or wait for a drawing. To see if theyve won a prize, players should review their ticket, scan it at a Lottery retailer or use the Ticket Checker feature on the Lotterys App. Winners should sign the back of the ticket and call the lottery at 800-692-7481. Prized must be claimed within one year of the purchase date. Prizes must be claimed and tickets validated before any winners can be identified. All prizes greater than $5,000 are subject to withholding. If you have a gambling problem and are located in Pennsylvania, call 1-800-GAMBLER or contact the 24-hour helpline chat at https://www.pacouncil.com/chatline. On February 3, the occupying head of the "LPR Ministry of Emergency Situations" and collaborator Oleksiy Poteshchenko was killed in a strike on the occupied Lysychansk, Luhansk region. "LPR deputies" Artem Trostyansky and Ivan Zhushma were also killed. ADVERTISIMENT The death of Poteshchenko was reported by Russian propaganda media, citing a representative of the "LPR Ministry of Emergency Situations." The occupation head of the LPR Leonid Pasichnyk confirmed the death of the "minister". Later, the occupation mayor of Lysychansk, Eduard Sakhnenko, said that two deputies, Artem Trostyansky and Ivan Zhushma, were also killed in the strike. Propagandists claim that the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck a bakery in the occupied city, allegedly killing 28 people and injuring 10 others. Pasichnyk claims that "civilians" were allegedly in the building, but the Lysychansk city military administration said that the bakery was used by the occupiers and was opened after the city was captured. Bread was baked there for the Russian Armed Forces at the front and meetings of the invaders were held there. ADVERTISIMENT According to some Russian sources, at the time of the attack, Ivan Zhushma, the owner of the bakery, was celebrating his birthday. At the celebration, he gathered the "top of the Ministry of Emergency Situations", "prosecutors" and local "deputies". The attack was allegedly carried out thanks to the work of a gunner. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation stated that, according to preliminary data, the attack was allegedly carried out with a HIMARS MLRS. ADVERTISIMENT What is known about Oleksiy Poteshchenko Oleksiy Poteshchenko was born on December 3, 1976, he was 47 years old. He held senior positions in the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, but in 2014 he sided with the occupiers of the terrorist "LPR". He worked in the "LPR People's Police " and later in the "LPR Ministry of Emergency Situations". In September 2023, the occupiers appointed him "Minister of Emergency Situations of the LPR". According to the Myrotvorets website, Poteshchenko lived in Lysychansk. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the occupiers shot dead a whole family of local residents in Kreminna, Luhansk region. One of the suspects in the murder has already been detained, two are still wanted. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! HOUSTON, Texas U.S. Coast Guard members inspecting shipping containers at a dock in Houston made an unexpected find last week. Four inspectors from the Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston were randomly selecting containers among thousands for inspection. Thats when they heard barking and scratching coming from a container that was in a stack. The governments of Jamaica and the Bahamas responded recently to travel advisories from the U.S. State Department that warned Americans of a high amount of violent crime occurring in both countries. Not withstanding the advisory, Jamaica remains not only a desirable destination but a safe and secure destination for international visitors, Edmund Bartlett, tourism minister for the country, told the Miami Herald. Sometimes, the unintended consequences of policies is they cause great harm and damage to the stability and safety of other countries. The U.S. State Department released two travel advisories a few days apart for both Jamaica and The Bahamas. The Jamaica warning, issued on Jan. 23, said that travelers should rethink going to the country due to high crime and a lack of adequate medical services. The Level 3 advisory said that violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common in the country, and that sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts. Then, on Jan. 26, the State Department sent out a Level 2 advisory for the Bahamas saying that the country is dangerous for tourists due to the high level of crime, especially in the capital city of Nassau. Murders have occurred at all hours including in broad daylight on the streets, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau said in a separate statement, noting that 18 murders have taken place in the capital since the beginning of the year. In response, the Jamaica Tourist Board said that the crime rate against visitors is extremely low at 0.01%. The board also said that homicides are trending downward in the country and that 42% of its tourists are returning visitors. We are aware of instances regarding U.S. citizen victims of violent crime, but are unable to comment on this further due to privacy considerations, Bartlett said. We are committed to working on our areas of imperfection and to ensure that where we see weaknesses like in some of the areas indicated, as our economy improves, and our resources allow, we will solve all our health and social problems, he added. In a separate statement, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism said that the Level 2 advisory does not reflect general safety in the Bahamas, a country of 16 tourism destinations, and many more islands. The government of the Bahamas is implementing a robust and innovative crime reduction and prevention strategy. This comprehensive approach is informed by the latest research and successful international models, focusing on five key pillars: prevention, detection, prosecution, punishment, and rehabilitation, the statement, according to Travel Weekly, said. There have been two additional homicides in the Bahamas since the travel advisory was issued, the Miami Herald said, as well as two separate incidents of sexual assaults against two people visiting the country, a 30-year-old Mexican woman and an 81-year-old Canadian woman. Over 4.1 million people visited Jamaica in 2023 while nine million people visited the Bahamas, according to Travel Weekly. Lancaster police on Monday announced the retirement of one of their police dogs that has been battling cancer. Zoltans final shift with the department was Sunday, according to the announcement posted online. Zoltan, a 9-year-old German Shepherd, has been fighting B-cell lymphoma for over a year, police said, undergoing two 19-week rounds of chemotherapy. After several months of remission, the cancer has returned. His handler has been supporting Zoltan through his second cancer treatment at PETS Hospital. Police officials and Zoltans doctors agreed it was in his best interest to retire. Originally from Hungary, Zoltan was cross-trained to help his handler with patrol duties and to find illegal narcotics in the city and surrounding jurisdictions. Among his remarkable achievements are the discovery of a storage unit filled with marijuana and assisting the PSP Vice in locating half a kilo of cocaine, police said. Zoltan has a successful track record of locating missing people and apprehending suspects involved in crimes including 4 felons. Zoltan also helped to encourage 33 people to surrender peacefully to officers, according to the news release. Our community is safer and stronger thanks to Zoltans commitment to duty, honor, and courage, police said. We kindly ask that you keep Zoltan, his handler Officer J. Hatfield, and their family in your thoughts and prayers during this challenging time. In the days leading up to the death of Christopher Keith Ply, 38, another incarcerated person tried to get him help, saying he was concerned Phy was planning to take his own life. The note, dated December 6, submitted as a request for medical help was never reviewed. That help never came. And five days later, on December 11, Phy died by suicide inside Dauphin County Prison. He is among 20 incarcerated people to die during their incarceration at the prison since Jan. 1, 2019. Nostradamus has been dead for a really, really, really long time, but the famous seer has managed to keep a spot in the headlines because it feels like his predictions have a way of coming true. Take, for instance, the awful news Monday that King Charles III is battling cancer. That news, alone, is brutal enough. Now, consider that, as we reported back at the first of the year, Nostradamus apparently had a reference to Prince Harry taking over for Charles III tucked away in his quatrains and ... well, you can understand why people might be a little bit freaked out. And they are, indeed, freaked out about this one over on social media. So Nostradamus was right, one person posted on X, formerly Twitter. Didnt Nostradamus say something was going to happen to him in 2024? another pointed out. As prophesied. That nostradamus knew his stuff pic.twitter.com/ireSEMCrIN edna marple (@edna_marple) February 5, 2024 As prophesied, another wrote. That Nostradamus knew his stuff. There was already some thought that Nostradamus had a hit earlier this year when there was a 7.6 earthquake off the coast of Japan. The quatrains that people believed applied to that read, Red adversary will become pale with fear, putting the great Ocean in dread. Not familiar with Nostradamus? Well, hes an ancient astrologer, whom History calls historys most famous seer, and like last year, and it seems just about every year, he left us some words to try to spoil the party. Its worth noting that, yes, these are quatrains and they have long been interpreted. So, its not like Nostradamus is directly saying something is going to go down specifically. Still, his quatrains have had a knack of hitting pretty close to home. And here we are. So, that leaves the question of just what else the he might have written about this year. Well, it looks like more no so fun stuff lies ahead. One of Nostradamus quatrains reportedly reads, The dry earth will grow more parched, and there will be great floods when it is seen. So, lets all come together now, say a prayer or send up good vibes whatever you do for Charles III, and collectively root against Nostradamus the rest of the way. Check out last years here: What does 2023 hold for us? Well, lets just hope Nostradamus predictions were wrong - pennlive.com. One man was killed and two others wounded in a shooting at a baby shower in western Pennsylvania over the weekend. Gunfire broke out around 6:15 p.m. Saturday at the party being held in a Salvation Army center in Pittsburghs Fairywood neighborhood, according to media reports. Over 100 people protesting Israels conduct in Gaza were detained Monday afternoon after refusing the leave the Pennsylvania Capitols main atrium. Protestors were led away in zip-tie handcuffs by capitol officers and state troopers, but released after roughly an hour with trespassing citations. By Tom Lisi, LNP (Lancaster) (TNS) The 2023 municipal election may have been the first one in years, perhaps decades, in which Marvin Stouffer, 72, did not tally a vote. It wasnt for lack of trying. The Willow Valley Communities resident signed his ballot Oct. 29 and put it in the mail shortly thereafter. He made no clerical mistakes, such as forgetting to sign a declaration on his return envelope. And according to the postmark printed on his return envelope, his ballot made it to the U.S. Postal Services Harrisburg mail-sorting center within a day, on Oct. 30. What happened next remains a mystery. Stouffers ballot, along with 267 others with the same days Harrisburg postmark, were not delivered to the Lancaster County elections office for another two weeks, arriving on Nov. 13, according to county officials. An automated alert sent the next day from the Pennsylvania Department of States voter notification system told Stouffer his ballot had been received and rejected for arriving past the Election Day deadline of Nov. 7 last year. I felt sufficiently bad about it that I decided that, at least for a little while, Im just going to have to vote in person, Stouffer said. Through a public records request, LNP LancasterOnline inspected and recorded the names of all 268 voters whose ballots were affected by the issue. LNP was able to make contact with 19 of the 268 affected voters. Many said they did not know their ballots, all postmarked in Harrisburg on Oct. 30, were not delivered to election officials until a week after Election Day. Some, like Stouffer, said they would vote in person this year or drop off their ballot at the county elections office, rather than rely on the Postal Service. Pennsylvania House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler, of Peach Bottom, sent a letter to Lancaster County asking for more information about the incident. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania sent questions to the Postal Service for clarity on the issue, according to a spokesperson. He asked what type of investigation the Postal Service is conducting. Casey asked, Will the local, regional or national changes aimed at preventing this from happening in the future be made public at any point? his spokesperson said. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, through his spokesperson, Eric Reath, had tough words for the Postal Service in an email statement. Rep. Smucker believes that everyone who lawfully casts a ballot in an election should have their vote tallied and is frustrated that a number of voters in Lancaster County were denied having their voices heard through the egregious failure of the United States Postal Service, Reath said. Smucker declined to say whether he inquired about the issue, citing a 1974 law that bars federal officials from releasing records that include personal information. LNP LancasterOnline did not ask for any personal information or records. No culprit, no apparent movement The home addresses, mailboxes and post offices where the 19 voters who spoke with LNP dropped off their ballots span the county, with no obvious geographic pattern. Mike Stephenson, president of the Pennsylvania Postal Workers Union, said all first-class mail from Lancaster County is processed in Harrisburg, something the union has opposed because it adds to the time it takes to deliver mail. If I live in a row house in Lancaster and I wanted to mail a birthday card to the house Im attached to, it would have to go to Harrisburg and then come back, Stephenson said. So, instead of being able to inform them itll get there tomorrow, itll take three to five days, normally five days. Meanwhile, the Postal Service, through a regional spokesperson, has offered few details on its efforts to find answers on what caused the delay. In a Jan. 25 email, USPS regional spokesman Mark Lawrence repeated earlier statements that the Postal Service was taking the issue seriously. At a board of commissioners meeting in January, Lancaster County Commissioner Ray DAgostino said the Postal Service told county officials that its investigation so far had turned up no satisfying answers. According to DAgostino, the Postal Service also pledged to take an in-depth look at its procedures for mail-in ballots, given expectations that voter turnout will be significantly higher during the years presidential election cycle. When asked to confirm DAgostinos comments about a Postal Service investigation and in-depth review later this year, Lawrence declined to comment, saying in an email, We have no further information at this time. Postal workers contacted by LNP said they had no knowledge of a Postal Service investigation. Kim Miller, a local Pennsylvania Postal Workers Union leader representing workers in Harrisburg, said she was not aware of the delayed Lancaster County ballots until a reporter raised the issue. Miller said she asked a manager at the Harrisburg facility about the matter and was told that the manager also was unaware of the problem. Thats a manager of distribution and operations who was unaware of any kind of mail not being accounted for, Miller said. She said the Postal Service mail-delivery system showed no delays for Oct. 30, the day all 268 ballots in question were recorded as arriving in Harrisburg, according to Miller. The system also showed the volume of first-class mail passing through Harrisburg was unusually low. Miller, a 23-year veteran of the Postal Service, said the fall and holiday seasons are usually a very busy time for letters and cards making their way through the mail. But not this past year, she said, which makes the 14-day journey of the 268 ballots even more confounding. The 268 ballots represent about half a tray of first-class mail, Miller said, the term the Postal Service uses for the bins in which mail is sorted for delivery. The Postal Workers Union has been outspoken about its distrust of Postal Service plans to consolidate mail sorting operations into larger regional plants, Miller said. The plans are supposed to cut costs and increase the efficiency of the mail system, but Miller and Stephenson said the consolidations have made mail delivery slower in general. In the coming weeks, letters from Lehigh County will be routed through Harrisburg, too. The U.S. Senate has presented a compromise version of the supplemental funding agreement, which provides assistance to Ukraine and Israel, as well as funds to strengthen the southern border. The bill provides $60 billion to help Ukraine and $14.1 billion to help Israel. ADVERTISIMENT The total amount of funds is $118.28 billion. Senators are scheduled to vote on the bill on Wednesday, February 7, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on his Facebook page. According to the text of the document published on the Senate website, funding for the protection of the US border is increased by $13 billion (up to $20 billion), and the funds for Ukraine are distributed as follows: - $19.85 billion to replenish the stocks of US weapons and equipment provided to Ukraine from the Pentagon's reserves; - $13.8 billion for the purchase of weapons and ammunition from the US defense industrial base; - $14.8 billion for continued training of the Ukrainian military, intelligence sharing and other support measures; ADVERTISIMENT - $7.85 billion for direct budget support to Ukraine; - $1.58 billion to support the development of the Ukrainian economy in priority sectors. The bill also includes small amounts for humanitarian aid in the war-torn regions and for defense operations in the Red Sea and Taiwan. The White House press service has published an address by US President Joe Biden, in which he called for the bill's passage and promised to sign it as soon as possible if the document is approved. The Head of State emphasized that members of his administration and a bipartisan group of senators had managed to make progress on a national security agreement "that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades." ADVERTISIMENT As for the border security portion of the bill, Biden said it would make America and its borders more secure while maintaining legal immigration "consistent with our values as a nation." He also emphasized that the bipartisan agreement also allows the United States to continue working with partners around the world to defend Ukraine's freedom and support its ability to defend itself against Russian aggression. "As I've said before, if we don't stop Putin's appetite for power and control in Ukraine, it will not be limited to Ukraine, and the costs to America will rise. This agreement also gives Israel everything it needs to protect its people and defend itself against Hamas terrorists. And it will provide vital humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people," Biden said. As reported by OBOZ.UA, the White House expressed confidence that the decision-making process on additional aid for Ukraine had not failed and that the decision would eventually be positive, as bipartisan support for Ukraine remained in Congress. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is going to visit Turkey on February 12. He plans to discuss with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a "new mechanism" for exporting Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. ADVERTISIMENT This was announced by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Reuters reports. This trip should be the Russian leader's first visit to a NATO ally after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The publication noted that Ankara is trying to persuade Russia to return to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, from which Moscow withdrew in July 2023. The agreement was brokered by the UN and Turkey to ensure safe passage for exports from Ukrainian ports. At the same time, Fidan said that some ships were able to transport Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea even without this agreement. "We want to clarify this de facto (situation) with a new mechanism," he said. Meanwhile, Turkish banks are massively closing accounts for Russian companies. Financial institutions have also increased the requirements for Russians wishing to open an account in Turkey. The reason is the fear of secondary sanctions. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Defence Express publication reported that Ukraine may receive new Russian S-400 air defense systems from Turkey. The journalists suggested that the US is trying to improve relations with Turkey, and for this purpose, they sent US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland to the country. Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! New Career-Best Score For Lithuania's Paulius Zilinskas in the OlyBet Showdown Vilnius February 05, 2024 Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Lithuania may not be the first country that springs to mind when you think about prestigious live poker tournaments, but the country's capital, Vilnius, was awash with poker talent during the past week, who were all in town for the OlyBet Showdown Vilnius Ace Breaker festival. The 555 buy-in Main Event was the showpiece of the festival. It saw 371 players buy-in and create a 178,080 prize pool. Over three days of intense poker action, the 371-strong crowd was whittled to a more manageable 14 players. Paulius Zilinskas found himself in the bottom half of the chip counts at the start of play but was the last man standing after the final hand concluded. Zilinskas has live tournament winnings of $14,895 before this event, with his largest score weighing in at 1,644 ($1,806). Zilinskas now has a 34,805 prize on his resume. 555 OlyBet Showdown Vilnius Ace Breaker Main Event Final Table Results Rank Player Country Prize 1 Paulius Zilinskas Lithuania 34,805* 2 Titas Gancierius Lithuania 28,000* 3 Egidijus Dovidaitis Lithuania 16,950 4 Ronaldas Aglisnkas Lithuania 12,865 5 Audrius Laimelis Lithuania 9,890 6 Dominik Ostrowski Poland 7,660 7 Arnas Bazys Lithuania 5,755 8 Robertas Sakinis Lithuania 4,375 9 Bahadir Hatipoglu Turkey 3,340 *reflects a heads-up deal Turkey's Bahadir Hatipolgu was the first finalist heading for the cashier desk after he ran ace-king into the pocket aces of Egidijus Dovidaitis, the final table's chip leader. Pocket rockets sent Robertas Sakinis to the showers in eighth place. Sakinis committed the last of his chips with pocket queens, only for Polish grinder Dominik Ostowski to wake up with the best starting hand in No-Limit Hold'em. Seventh place went to Arnas Bazys, who got his short stack into the middle of the table holding ace-ten and needing some help to crack the red queens of Audrius Laimelis. A king-high board did not come to Bazys' rescue, and the final table was down to only six players. Kings of Tallinn 2024: Northern Europe's Premier Poker Festival Returns for its Milestone Tenth Year Check out the schedule Those six became five with the untimely demise of Ostrowski. Rolandas Aglinskas initially limped in with ace-king before calling the short-stacked shove from Ostrowski, made with king-eight. Ostrowski missed the flop and turn, with a nine on the river being only one pip away from doubling him up. Laimelis managed to triple his stack after hitting trip eights on the river, but he was still the next player heading away from the tournament floor. Laimelis defended his big blind with jack-nine from a cutoff min-raise before check-calling a 60,000 bet from Zilinskas on a draw-heavy queen-jack-king flop with two clubs. Both players checked the red seven on the turn, with Laimelis checking on the ten of clubs river. Zilinskas bet 410,000, the precise amount left in Laimelis' stack, and Laimelis called with his straight. Unfortunately for Laimelis, Zilinskas held ace-five for a Broadway straight. Each of the four surviving players locked in a five-figure score, and it was Aglinskas who captured the first such prize. Aglinskas limped in for 60,000 with pocket nines under the gun, Titas Gancierius raised to two million from the small blind with ace-trey of diamonds, and Aglinskas called off the 700,000 chips he had behind. An ace on the flop catapulted Gancierius into the lead, with an unnecessary three on the river locking in the win. Heads-up was set less than ten minutes later in one of the biggest pots of the tournament. Gancierius opened from the button before quickly folding after witnessing Dovidaitis three-bet and then Zilinskas four-bet jam his massive stack. Dovidaitis called all-in for slightly less than 20 big blinds, revealing ace-king as he did so. Zilinskas flipped over pocket queen, which held on a ten-high board. Priit Parmasto Takes Down Record-Breaking Kings of Tallinn Main Event That last hand gave Zilinskas a 6,625,000 to 4,470,000 chip lead over Gancierius. The heads-up duo went on a short break, and returned having discussed and agreed to a deal. The deal guaranteed Zilinskas 29,800, Gancierius 28,000, with 5,005 and the trophy awaiting the eventual champion. Zilinskas started the one-on-one battle brightly and eventually got his hands on all of the chips in play. The final hand happened during the 40,000/80,000/80,000a level, and saw Gancieirus limp, Zilinskas raise to 300,000, Gancierius four-bet to 800,000, and Zilinskas call. Zilinskas check-called a 600,000 bet on the ace-eight-six flop, which showed two clubs. Both players checked the jack of spade turn, with Zilinskas checking again on the three of clubs river. Gancierius jammed for around two million chips, and Zilinskas wasted no time in calling. Gancierius showed king-three, which was crushed by the ace-four in the victor's hand. 2024 Kings of Tallinn Runs February 23 through March 3 Players don't have long to wait for the next chapter of OlyBet's live poker festival offering because the 2024 edition of the long-running Kings of Tallinn is right around the corner. The festival runs from February 23 through March 3 at the Hilton Tallinn Park Hotel & Olympic Park Casino. The schedule boasts over 50 tournaments, including a 1,100 buy-in, 500,000 guaranteed Main Event. Estonia's Piriit Parmasto is the reigning champion, having outlasted 715 opponents on his way to banking 97,400 in 2023. Full details of the 2024 Kings of Tallinn schedule can be found right here at PokerNews. Lead photo courtesy of OlyBet and Tautvytas Juknevicius Sharelines Paulius Zilinskas warms up for the 2024 Kings of Tallinn with an impressive victory in Lithuania. Speaker Mike Johnson claimed that Republicans were cut out of the negotiations on the border bill, but Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) said Johnson was invited but refused. Did Mike Johnson Lie About The Border Bill? Johnson tried to paint the House as being in the dark about the border bill negotiations on Meet The Press, Well, youre addressing some of the rumors about what are in this text. Its been negotiated behind closed doors by a small handful of persons, and even most of the members of the Senate dont know whats in it. However, CNNs Manu Raju reported, One other note here, Johnson has complained, including today, that the House was essentially shut out of these negotiations. Lankford told me that the senators actually offered Mike Johnson the ability to sit down for the negotiations. Johnson said the House has already spoken, referring to that same bill, HR 2. And Johnson was loosely briefed, according to Lankford, over the course of several months. Video: To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. Sen. James Lankford says Senators offered to let Speaker Mike Johnson join the negotiations, Lankford told me that the senators actually offered Mike Johnson the ability to sit down for the negotiations. Johnson said, The House has already spoken. pic.twitter.com/Xad2CW41Yg Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 5, 2024 House Republicans could have participated in this process and helped shape a bipartisan landmark bill that could become and deliver long-overdue immigration reform to the United States. Instead, Speaker Johnson chose to play politics and lie to the American people about it. If the border bill fails, and it is likely to, it will be because Donald Trump and House Republicans killed it. If Johnson believed that the border bill was terrible, he would not have to lie to the American people about it. Mike Johnson claims to be a Christian, but he is just another MAGA liar who worships Donald Trump. A Special Message From PoliticusUSA If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here. We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value. In an effort to entice his own party to take the bipartisan border deal that gives them more than they could have ever hoped for, Republican Senator James Lankford reminded his partys base that border crossings were also high under Trump due to gaps and loopholes in the law, which the bipartisan border deal addresses. I would remind folks that during the Trump administration we also had days of more than 4,000 people that were illegally crossing the border in 2019 and they were struggling because there were gaps and loopholes in the law, Lankford (R-OK) said on Newsmax. Watch: Sen. Lankford on Newsmax: I would remind folks that during the Trump administration we also had days of more than 4,000 people that were illegally crossing the border in 2019 and they were struggling because there were gaps and loopholes in the law. pic.twitter.com/U1tKcKSVwS To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 5, 2024 Lankford has been dropping a few uncomfortable truth bombs for his party in the last few days, having corrected Speaker Mike Johnson claims that Republicans were cut out of the negotiations on the border bill, saying that actually, Johnson was invited, but he refused. Lankford is not exactly a moderate, either, although hes being called a RINO by the base for championing the concept of actually doing the work legislators are paid to do. Way back in 2010, just a week after he had been elected to the U.S. House, he had to testify in a deposition due to sexual abuse allegations lobbed against other people during his time as as the director of youth programming at the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center. While he himself was not accused of any wrongdoing, including not being accused of being aware of the abuse, he did testify that he believed a 13-year-old could consent to sex, in a state in which the age of consent was 16. So yeah, he is hardly a raging moderate. Anyway, why is Lankford having to remind his own party to take what they asked for when its being given? Because of that guy who is facing 91 felony counts. Yes, former President Donald Trump has ordered House Republicans that they are not to allow a border bill to be passed no matter how good it is. You see, its not about solving the border crisis; its about a campaign issue that operates on base fear, which is Trumps easiest way to manipulate the populace into not looking at what hes been up to for the last several years (for example, he was found liable for rape and fraud recently.) Republican Speaker Mike Johnson (who thinks he is Moses?) has had a hard time trying to justify his obstruction of the huge compromise being made by the Democrats and President Bidens administration to agree on the bipartisan national security bill. The bill is historic in its accomplishments and the most comprehensive border security bill in more than 40 years, as Jason Easley explained in The Daily, noting that Republicans arent likely to ever get a better deal from Democrats: The bill that was negotiated by the White House, Senate Democrats, and Senate Republicans is historic because it addresses concerns that both Democrats and Republicans have had for decades. One of the biggest magnets that draws migrants to the Southern border is that the broken immigration system takes so long to process asylum seekers that it incentivizes coming to the United States illegally for a better life. It can take 5 to 7 years for asylum seekers to be processed. This is due to a lack of staff, technology, and an outdated system. The bipartisan legislation deals with this issue. The legislation is also the most comprehensive border security bill in more than 40 years. Republicans arent going to get a better deal from Democrats maybe ever. It checks off almost everything that Republicans have wanted in terms of securing the border. Just last week, Trump claimed again even after PolitiFact deemed this mostly false way back in 2021, When I was President, we had the most secure Border in History (sic), but reality begs to differ because unfortunately, the border is not easily solved in a humane way that upholds U.S. values of freedom and liberty. PolitiFact pointed out, Trump ignores that the surge started in the spring of 2020 when he was still in office. Pew Research found that in spite of all of the rhetoric and policy changes, Trumps arrest numbers for unauthorized migrants was lower than President Obamas first term: While CBP enforces immigration laws at the border, ICE is tasked with apprehending unauthorized immigrants in the interior of the country. The number of interior arrests made by ICE (known as administrative arrests) rose 30% in fiscal 2017 after Trump signed an executive order giving the agency broader authority to detain unauthorized immigrants, including those without criminal records. They went up again in fiscal 2018 but decreased in fiscal 2019 and remain far lower than during President Barack Obamas first term in office. Trumps numbers did benefit from the eventual closure of the border due to the pandemic, but its also true that there have also been shifts in the reasons people seek asylum here that have nothing to do with U.S. policy. Poor James Lankford, he tried to do his job and the MAGA wing of his party just wont have it. MAGA Republicans (Trumps puppets) are insisting that the border is an imminent national security threat so frightening that all humanity must be tossed aside, but it must not be dealt with until the election is over. Weve seen this play before from Trump. His caravan fear-mongering actually incited the mass murder of Jewish people in their Synagogue. To fear-monger to this degree and then refuse to take the win handed to you by the other party is a grotesque admission of callous political manipulation for the benefit of One. A Special Message From PoliticusUSA If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here. We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value. Incumbent Joe Biden received all of the votes cast in more than a quarter of Aiken County's 86 precincts during the South Carolina Democratic Presidential Primary on Saturday. Biden received all of the votes cast in 22 precincts, or 25.58 percent of the county's precincts, according to unofficial results provided by the South Carolina Election Commission. Biden received between 98 percent and 100 percent in five additional precincts. He also received between 96 percent and 98 percent in 20 more precincts, meaning Biden received more than 96percent of the vote in 47 of the county's 86 precincts. In total, Biden received 3,132 votes in Aiken County or 95.96 percent of the votes cast in Aiken County. Statewide, Biden received 126,321 votes, 96.22 percent of the votes cast, in the primary according to unofficial results provided by the South Carolina Election Commission. 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 provided to the Associated Press. 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. David Elam said he voted for Biden on Saturday morning. He said with the way the world is today, things will get worse if a "revengeful" president is elected. Elam said voters should cast ballots for someone they would want their children to look up to. He said people who look up to Trump aren't going to be able to get away with what the former president has gotten away with, noting the arrests and convictions of protesters who entered the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. Nathaniel Dicks also said he voted for Biden . The Berkeley County Library System (BCLS) is hosting a Spotlight on Local Women of Note from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Friday, March 22, at Moncks Corner Library, 1003 Highway 52 in Moncks Corner. Read moreBCLS hosting Spotlight on Local Women of Note This is an edition of Capital City Progress, a weekly column that focuses on business, growth and development news in the Columbia area. It is written by Post and Courier Columbia business reporter Hannah Wade. COLUMBIA Over a year and a half after Publix announced it would open another location in northeast Columbia, the Florida-based grocery chain has broken ground on the project. The southeastern grocer, headquartered in Lakeland, Fla. received the go-ahead from the city to begin clearing land at the corners of Spears Creek Church Road and Earth Road on Jan. 25, according to city permits. The $3.3 million buildout will include the 46,000-square-foot grocery store and additional 12,000-square-feet in retail space, permits show. Publix is expected to open in late 2024 or early 2025, according to an email from a company spokesperson. It is expected to hire 140 employees when it opens. The grocery store chain first announced the location in August 2022 and had an anticipated timeline of early 2024, but progress on the project has been slow-moving. That strip of Spears Creek Church Road, along Interstate 20, has grown rapidly in recent years. An 8700-square-foot upscale retail plaza, known as Spears Creek Plaza, signed its first tenant earlier this year. A development group purchased 37 acres of land along the road in hopes of building 300 townhomes, according to an Oct. 2023 release from real estate group Colliers. COLUMBIA The State Law Enforcement Division is nearly two months into a pilot program using a tracking system to help investigate instances of sexual assault, and the Midlands are one of the first regions to begin using the comprehensive tracker. SLED released a biannual report Jan. 31 with statewide statistics detailing how many sexual assault tracking kits have gone through or will go through forensic analysis. The report comes three years after the Legislature passed a law calling for the agency to create and operate a tracking system. "The stated intent of the Sexual Assault Kit Tracking legislation is 'to further empower survivors with information, assist law enforcement with investigations and crime prevention, and create transparency and foster public trust,'" SLED Chief Mark Keel said in a news release, citing the bill signed by Gov. Henry McMaster in 2020. SLED had 77 tracking kits in its system as of Dec. 11, of which 11 have gone through forensic analysis, according to the biannual report. One kit was destroyed or removed from the system, and two others had been pending for more than a year. Forensic analysis has been requested for another 26 kits. Keel said the agency "currently cannot provide adequate statistics broken down by jurisdiction due to the ongoing implementation of the Track-Kit by region," but they expect future reports to contain clearer details. The program was rolled out on Dec. 11, 2023, in the Pee Dee region and launched in the Midlands on Jan. 22. Officials said they expect to implement the tracking system in the Upstate and Lowcountry by Feb. 20. Before the law was signed, officials told legislators that a new tracking system would cost about $150,000. In Finland, the defense company Nammo Lapua's ammunition plant plans to increase its output fivefold in 2024. This is due to the fact that artillery shells are the basis of Helsinki's assistance to Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT This was announced by the company's regional director Ilkka Heikila on Sunday, February 4, Yle reports. According to him, Nammo Lapua has applied to participate in the European Union's ASAP project (Ammunition Support Act), which provides for the production of one million shells a year. The plant, which produces shells for artillery shells, is located in the city of Sastamala in western Finland. The project will also require funding from the national government. "The increase in production at the plant in Sastamala, which produces shells for artillery shells, is related to the war in Ukraine, as artillery shells play a key role in Finnish aid to Ukraine," the statement said. Nammo (Nordic Ammunition Company) is a Norwegian-Finnish company specializing in the production of ammunition. The company's shares are equally divided and owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Finnish defense corporation Patria. ADVERTISIMENT As reported by OBOZ.UA, at least four factories of Nammo, a company involved in supplying the Ukrainian Defense Forces with shells, will stop working in Finland for two days due to strikes. Therefore, the timing of the production of ammunition and its delivery to Ukraine may change. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! MOUNT PLEASANT Childhood friends Justin Hunt and Dimitri Hatgidimitriou have found success at their Mount Pleasant restaurant Philosophia, where shareable Greek plates include pastitsio, whole branzino and pan-fried kefalograviera cheese, flambeed with brandy and lemon and served in a cast-iron skillet. Their second act, Taverna Philosophia, has a different look and feel, as the duo looks to blend the service style and ambiance of a brasserie with Greek cuisine. The new restaurant, at 976 Houston Northcutt Blvd. in the former Bacco space, opened Jan. 16. Extensive renovations have taken place since Taverna Philosophia was announced last April. The biggest involved replacing Baccos pizza oven with a raw bar, which separates Taverna Philosophia's dining room and kitchen. Serving oysters, clams and ceviche, the raw bars menu will expand as Hunt and Hatgidimitriou settle into the space. Philosophias proximity to Taverna Philosophia will allow Hunt and Hatgidimitriou to be present at both restaurants, Hunt said. Though Taverna Philosophia is the shiny new toy, the restaurant owners maintain their commitment to the regulars who helped get Philosophia off the ground in 2021. We've got a great, great team at Philosophia that's able to give us the opportunity to get this open while they take care of our regulars, Hunt said. While developing the Taverna Philosophia menu, Hunts time at celebrity chef Bobby Flays Bar Americain in New York City and Thomas Kellers famed California restaurant, The French Laundry, came in handy. CLEMSON Artificial intelligence is both a growing business and a growing concern and Clemson University will establish its place in AI research this fall with a new center focused on studying human interaction with the technology. The Clemson University Board of Trustees approved the Center for Human-Artificial Intelligence (CU-CHAI) at its winter board meeting in Charleston, funding interdisciplinary research initiatives based in the college of engineering. In its first five years, the university will spend $1.38 million on the center, though Provost Bob Jones told the board it will be self-sustaining in its second year. AI is currently an $88 billion business that is expected to grow to $407 billion by 2027, according to meeting materials. CU-CHAI will study interaction, collaboration and teaming how humans and AI are exposed to one another and how they can work together to reach a humans goals or a shared goal. While consumers worry about misinformation and job security because of AI, the centers vision is to ensure the technologies are designed to benefit humans, improving the benefit AI can provide to the lives of those at Clemson University, in South Carolina and the world. The center is estimating it will receive around $100,000 of grants in its second year with 20 percent growth annually. The college has identified $439,000 for startup costs to launch the center in fall 2024. Its estimated expenses in the first year are $189,851, largely due to staffing the center. Nathan McNeese, who has studied AI for more than 15 years and currently serves as the director of the data science lab, will lead the center. CU-CHAI will prioritize its research on how AI can be implemented alongside humans to extend capabilities while aiming to improve the acceptance and social good of the technology, according to meeting documents. On March 5, special agents with the South Carolina Department of Social Services, Office of Inspector General, arrested a Dorchester County woman in connection with fraudulently receiving $9,584 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Read moreDSS charges Dorchester County woman with food stamp fraud Charleston, SC (29403) Today Sun and clouds mixed. High 71F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 41F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Former Gov. Nikki Haley criticized the bipartisan Senate immigration deal for not doing enough to halt migration and said she would be open to surgical strikes on military commanders in Iran in retaliation for attacks on U.S. troops. If we're going to do this, do it right," Haley said of the immigration deal during a wide-ranging question-and-answer session Feb. 5 as part of The Post and Courier's Pints and Politics event. The gathering started at 10:30 a.m. at Palmetto Brewing Co. in Charleston, so water, and not beer, was on tap. Haley, as a presidential candidate, said a border deal should include the pandemic-era Remain in Mexico policy, under which asylum seekers would have to await hearings on the southern side of the border. We shouldnt even let them set foot on U.S. soil, she said. Haley said there are aspects of the deal she likes, including provisions that would tighten the asylum rules. But unlike House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., who has already declared the deal dead on arrival in the lower chamber or former President Donald Trump who wants to see it fail for political reasons, Haley said legislators need to keep negotiating until they reach an agreement. I dont think you wait until an election to do a border deal because I think we need something immediately, she said. Separately, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., issued a statement on the proposal in which he said he looked forward to the amendment process. Haley pledged that she would not drop out of the presidential race against Trump after coming third in Iowa, second in New Hampshire and lagging behind the former president by 26 points in her home state, according to a Monmouth University-Washington Post poll released Feb. 1. Press Release February 5, 2024 PNP Organizational Reforms Act hurdles Senate final reading In a bid to revolutionize the structure and operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Senate on Monday approved on final reading a proposed measure that seeks to introduce organizational reforms in the institution. With 23 affirmative votes no negative vote and no abstention, Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2449 or the PNP Organizational Reforms Act, sponsored by Sen. Ronald "Bato' Dela Rosa was approved on third and final reading. The proposed measure seeks to amend Republic Act No. 6975, also known as the Department of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, as well as Republic Act No. 8551, or the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998. "For a quarter of a century, the PNP has waited patiently for the much-needed reforms and reorganization they justly deserve. The time has arrived for decisive action, for bold change, and for unwavering commitment," Dela Rosa said. SBN 2449 seeks the institutionalization of offices created by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) such as the Directorial Staff, Area Police Command (APC), Special Offices, and strengthened National Administrative and Operational Support Units. The Directorial Staff system shall be implemented to enhance the PNP chief's control in the administration, operation, and oversight of the police force and to bolster the efficient working relationship among all PNP offices. The measure institutionalizes the establishment of APC in clustered police regional offices, initially the Northern Luzon APC, Southern Luzon APC, Visayas APC, Eastern Mindanao APC, and Western Mindanao APC. SBN 2449 also seeks to set the term of office for the PNP chief, who shall have a fixed term of two years and shall be compulsorily retired at the maximum tenure or otherwise relieved from office by the President. The proposed measure aligns the compulsory age of retirement for the PNP with that of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), setting it at 57 years old. Uniformed personnel who have less than one year of service at the time SBN 2449 becomes effective shall be given the option to retire at the age of 56. SBN 2449 mandates that all PNPA cadets will be appointed by the PNP chief or, under his authority, by the PNPA director. They will assume the temporary position of police cadet, entitled to salaries, benefits, and emoluments equivalent to a police executive master sergeant. The proposed measure also grants the PNP chief authority to order immediate preventive confinement for any PNP personnel under investigation or facing charges for a serious administrative offense or crime, to barracks, quarters, or a designated facility for a maximum period of 90 days. Area police commanders, regional directors, provincial directors, district directors, and chiefs of police may exercise this authority unless revoked by their immediate supervisor or the PNP chief. "Consistent with the principles of innovation and enhanced accountability of the PNP, this bill is to ensure that our police force is better equipped to address contemporary challenges, uphold the rule of law, protect the rights of our dear citizens, and maintain public trust," Dela Rosa said. SBN 2449 was approved in substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 1505, 1905 1965, and 1997 introduced by Senators Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Dela Rosa, Joseph Victor Ejercito and Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri, respectively, taking into consideration House Bill No. 8327. The issue of the United States' assistance to Ukraine is moving in the right direction. This is a complicated process in an election year. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Oksana Markarova during a national telethon. The diplomat emphasized that there is no reason to talk about "betrayal". "The situation is extremely complicated, but there are no grounds to talk about 'betrayal'. Everything is moving in the right direction, but it is a complicated process in an election year. We are doing everything to ensure that the draft law on assistance to Ukraine is approved. And the chances are extremely high," Markarova said. She reminded that the media recently reported that the House of Representatives had registered a bill on aid to Israel only. However, in order for the bill to become law, both houses of Congress must vote for it, and then it must be signed by the president. ADVERTISIMENT "Therefore, we expect a bipartisan bill to be published, which will include Ukraine, Israel, border issues, and other issues. We hope that the next day after the publication, the consideration of the bill will begin," Markarova said. As reported by OBOZ.UA, the US Congress is in dispute, which is delaying the approval of the aid package for Ukraine. The head of the House Democratic Caucus, Pete Aguilar, said that Republicans are refusing a bipartisan agreement that would strengthen the protection of the southern border of the United States, support Israel and help Ukraine. The White House expressed confidence that the decision-making process on additional aid for Ukraine had not failed and that the decision would ultimately be positive, as bipartisan support for Ukraine remained in Congress. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 20:45:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 455 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Alexandria Labs is thrilled to announce its collaboration with Pennsylvania publisher Blue Heron Book Works, as Alexandria Labs continues to establish itself as the home for independent presses on the modern internet.NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 /Alexandria Labs, a NYC-based technology company, is thrilled to announce its groundbreaking collaboration with Pennsylvania publisher Blue Heron Book Works as Alexandria Labs continues to establish itself as the home for independent presses on the modern internet.Before You Go and Rigger book covers Covers of Before You Go and Rigger, books by Blue Heron.Alexandria Labs is an innovative platform for publishers to create and distribute limited digital editions, unlock a new revenue stream, and reach new audiences. With traditional book formats, readers must give up true ownership when they purchase a digital book. With Alexandria Labs' limited edition e-books, this trade-off no longer exists, and these e-books can be treasured, displayed, or lent freely by readers while protecting authors' and publishers' copyrights. Alexandria Labs is committed to preserving literature and access to information, using blockchain technology and encryption to make Alexandria e-books safe from loss, theft, and censorship as e-books have never been before.Novelist Bathsheba Monk founded Blue Heron Book Works, LLC in 2014. This year Blue Heron Book Works celebrates a decade of serving as a megaphone for voices that contribute to America's complex culture, focusing on memoir and lived experiences, and currently branching off into fiction that reflects the rapidly changing nature of life on our planet.Recent releases from Blue Heron Book Works include Riffs, a collection of memory essays on jazz, blues, and early rock from G. Bruce Boyer, the legendary former men's fashion editor of Town and Country, and Before You Go, a transcendent memoir from hospice and palliative care nurse Linda J. Mancinelli. "An incredible shared experience," wrote a reviewer on Before You Go. "A tapestry of love and fascination," said another on Riffs, "[] will sweep you off your feet." "Blue Heron Book Works is very pleased to collaborate with Alexandria Labs to be able to offer our readers a crisp next-generation e-book experience. We are excited about the possibilities for readers and authors that Alexandria's vision and this new platform create," says Paul Heller, editor-in-chief of Blue Heron Book Works.Alexandria Labs founder and CEO Amelie Lasker says, "The authentic storytelling of Blue Heron Book Works has deeply moved us, and we are so proud to bring these books onto our platform." Contact InformationAmelie Lasker Founder and CEOamelie@ alexandrialabs.xyz (978) 430-8449Bathsheba Monk Founderblueheronbookworks@ gmail.com 610-653-6959Related FilesAlexandria Labs Logo.pngBlue Heron Logo.png SOURCE: Alexandria LabsView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 17:00:54 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 481 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Total Sellout Expected Generating Millions in RevenueEAGAN, MN / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / Asset Marketing Services (AMS), one of the largest direct-to-consumer retailers of collectible coins, announces an exclusive, one-of-a-kind collectible Gold Krugerrand Proof from the South African Mint.2024 Oom Paul Gold Krugerrand Specializing in high-quality collectibles since 1984, AMS leverages relationships with select world mints to develop its own unique collectibles. In this case, that means the release of a limited mintage of 2024 Gold Krugerrand Proofs struck on the same coin press that minted the first-ever Krugerrands and Krugerrand Proofs in 1967, complete with a unique, limited privy mark. These are the final Gold Krugerrands ever to be minted on the historic "Oom Paul" Press-collectors' quality proofs-at the South African Mint. Oom Paul will soon end its career at the South African Mint as an active press and be moved to the South African Reserve Bank for a new museum.That press, known as "Oom Paul," which translates to "Uncle Paul" in Afrikaans, has a long history. It is one of the oldest working coin presses in the world. It was manufactured by Ludw. Loew & Co. in Berlin in 1891 for use in the first South African mint established in 1892. Oom Paul struck more than 8 million coins between 1892 and 1900, and exported to Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Dutch East Indies, India, Ceylon, Burma, Straits Settlements and the United Kingdom from 1925-1933, during the era when South Africa was governed by the British.These 2024 Oom Paul Krugerrand Proofs, struck in 91.67% gold like the 1967 Krugerrands, are sure to be a monumental historic numismatic release. In honor of the significant year that started it all (1967), the authorized mintage of the 2024 one-ounce gold proofs is 670, and the 2024 quarter-ounce gold proofs is 1967."I'm extremely excited we are able to offer this final gold Krugerrand program from the historic Oom Paul Press, in partnership with the South African Mint. It is a testament to what AMS does best: partnering with major sovereign mints around the world and distributing world-class precious metal coins into the U.S. market. Given the legacy of the Gold Krugerrand brand worldwide, we expect a complete sellout, generating millions of dollars in revenue," said Brian Johnson, Senior Marketing Director at AMS.AMS has worldwide exclusivity on all 2024 Oom Paul Gold Krugerrand Proof coins, officially minted by the South African Mint.About Asset Marketing ServicesSince 1984, AMS has provided collectors, history buffs and others with the finest numismatic and collectible coin products. Its brands, GovMint.com , ModernCoinMart (MCM) and LPM.hk ., combine to make one of the largest direct-to-consumer marketers of coins and numismatics.About the South African MintThe South African Mint is one of the foremost preservers of South Africa's history. Their coins are ambassadors of South Africa and its rich heritage.Contact InformationBrian Johnsonmedia@ amsi-corp.com SOURCE: Asset Marketing ServicesView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 11:20:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 926 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024, Avon River Ventures LLC is a leading Asset-Backed Lending firm that collateralizes Tangible and Intangible Assets to disburse non-dilutive funding to companies across North America, Asia, and Europe. Avon River Ventures is thrilled to announce the completion of an Intellectual Property (IP) Valuation for Edgewater Wireless Systems Inc., the foremost pioneer in Wi-Fi Spectrum Slicing technology and intellectual property for residential and enterprise wireless applications. This valuation stands as a significant milestone in Edgewater's ongoing journey and shines a spotlight on the extraordinary worth of its core IP assets. Edgewater boasts an undeniable competitive edge: Unleashing Wi-Fi with ten times the speed and half the latency for ALL devices, whether legacy or cutting-edge.The IP Assets have been independently assessed at between US$90M and US$180M for the entire portfolio. Hailing from Ottawa, Canada, Edgewater is an innovation-driven, fabless semiconductor and IP licensing company with a remarkable portfolio of 26 granted patents, trade secrets and groundbreaking Spectrum Slicing technology that reshapes Wi-Fi performance across residential, enterprise, and prosumer applications. Edgewater's product lineup includes WiFi Spectrum Slicing-powered chipsets, Access Points, reference designs, IP licensing and technology transfer capabilities.Wi-Fi Spectrum Slicing represents a technological leap forward by enabling multiple concurrent links (or channels) within a given coverage area using standards-compliant WiFi. Edgewater's patented and standards-leading approach to Wi-Fi finds ideal applications in environments with a high density of clients or access points, making it highly relevant for enterprise, residential, and Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) applications.With the evolution to the WiFi7 standard and beyond, multi-link/channel capabilities are becoming foundational to delivering next-generation Wi-Fi performance. Building on the company's work with CableLabs on the Dual-Channel Wi-Fi() standard, WiFi7 includes the marquee feature Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which allows a single WiFi7 client to concurrently use connections across multiple bands and quickly switch between them. Like the load-balancing techniques used in wired Ethernet connections, MLO can significantly improve performance and reliability. However, we believe MLO's requirement for more links/channel capacity on access points makes Wi-Fi Spectrum Slicing an essential feature for enterprise, residential and Industrial IoT applications.Of paramount importance, including Spectrum Slicing in WiFi7 and the upcoming WiFi8 silicon solutions presents Service Providers and vendors with a field-proven method to deliver performance gains of 10x or more and half the latency for ALL devices - a development set to impact the more than 20 billion Wi-Fi devices deployed globally.No other approach offers such promise for deployed and future networks.IP Valuation by Avon River Ventures LLCAvon River Ventures LLC, a renowned asset-backed lender and IP valuation firm, conducted an exhaustive IP valuation analysis for Edgewater Wireless Systems Inc. A team of seasoned IP specialists meticulously evaluated the Fair Market Value (FMV) of Edgewater Wireless Inc.'s IP assets, culminating in a US$90 to US$180M valuation for the entire portfolio. Edgewater's high-quality patent families in advanced interference mitigation and wireless performance improvements are compared strongly against major semiconductor players. This valuation serves as a resounding testament to the immense value of Edgewater's intellectual property and the groundbreaking technology and innovative solutions it brings to Wi-Fi technology. With a robust IP portfolio and a relentless commitment to advancing Wi-Fi performance, Edgewater is solidly poised to sustain its growth and leadership in the industry.The successful IP Valuation conducted by Avon River Ventures LLC reaffirms Edgewater's stature as an industry trailblazer in Wi-Fi technology and intellectual property development. This valuation underscores the Company's IP assets, substantial valuation, and potential for continued triumph in the dynamic and burgeoning global communications market. Edgewater Wireless and Avon River Ventures eagerly anticipate a future of sustained collaboration and innovation in wireless technology.For more details on Avon River Ventures' IP valuation and IP-backed financing products, please visit www.avonriverventures.com About Edgewater WirelessWe make Wi-Fi Better.Edgewater Wireless ( www.edgewaterwireless.com) is the industry leader in innovative Spectrum-Slicing Technology for residential and commercial wireless applications. Their advanced Wi-Fi silicon solutions, Access Points, and IP licensing cater to the high-density and high-quality-of-service requirements of service providers and their clientele. With 26 granted patents, Edgewater's multi-channel, single-radio technology redefines Wi-Fi, delivering the next generation of Wi-Fi capabilities today.Edgewater's Spectrum Slicing at the physical layer division allows a frequency band to be carved into slices, enabling multiple radios to function within a given area. Consider Spectrum Slicing transitioning from a single-lane road to a multi-lane highway, irrespective of the Wi-Fi technology. A recently conducted Proof of Concept (PoC) collaboration with a major Tier 1 Service Provider showcased performance gains of 7 to 18 times in 75% of surveyed homes. Interestingly, homes with the most devices witnessed the most substantial improvements.For further details, please visit www.edgewaterwireless.com About Avon River Ventures LLCAvon River Ventures LLC is an independent venture funding group within the asset-backed lending space disbursing non-dilutive funding between $1,000,000 and $50,000,000 for companies rich with tangible and intangible assets.Avon River Ventures LLC undertook a comprehensive IP Valuation for Edgewater Wireless Systems Inc. Their seasoned team of IP Specialists conducted a scrupulous assessment of the Fair Market Value (FMV) of Edgewater Wireless System Inc.'s IP Assets, resulting in a valuation of $180,963,958 for the entire portfolio.Avon River Ventures specializes in appraising both intangible and tangible assets, providing financial solutions that acknowledge the growing significance of intellectual property in today's knowledge-driven economy. The firm's proficiency in IP-backed Financing and patent sales underscores its profound understanding of the value of intellectual property in the modern business landscape.To learn more about Avon River Ventures' IP Valuation Practices, please visit: https://avon PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 15:21:05 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 560 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Bristol Myers Squibb Company ranks in top 10 of Pharmaceutical and Biotech Sector on the issues Americans care about mostPRINCETON, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 /Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) is honored to announce it has been recognized as One of America's Most JUST Companies. The ranking, presented by JUST Capital and CNBC, recognized BMS for its commitment to key social responsibilities, including employees, customers, communities, and environmental impact. Bristol Myers Squibb earned a spot on the top 100 list and ranked six in the Pharmaceuticals and Biotech industry overall.This achievement is reflective of BMS' focus on delivering long-term value through our efforts to address unmet patient needs, advance equitable access to life-transforming medicines and foster a high performing, inclusive global workforce. It also underscores our commitment to operating with effective governance, uncompromising quality and compliance, and the highest ethical standards to deliver our mission."We are proud to be recognized as a leader by JUST 100, reinforcing our focus on community impact, employee well-being and ethical practices to best serve our patients," said Cari Gallman, Executive Vice President, Bristol Myers Squibb. "This achievement reflects our collective passion for excellence in what we do- not only by bringing forward innovative medicines, but also by making a positive impact on society." Out of nearly 1,000 analyzed companies, BMS' leadership on community issues, particularly job creation and economic development, contributed to its inclusion in this prestigious ranking. Among the notable achievements are BMS' efforts to invest more than one billion dollars with small and diverse-owned businesses, creating economic opportunities in underrepresented communities.Additionally, BMS was recognized for its ethical interactions with stakeholders, noting efforts to protect customer privacy, which are guided by the company's Principles of Integrity and Standards of Business Conduct and Ethics.Learn more about Bristol Myers Squibb's ESG progress and sustainability commitments in the latest Environmental Social and Governance Report.About JUST CapitalThe mission of JUST Capital, an independent nonprofit, is to demonstrate how just business - defined by the priorities of the public - is better business. Our goal is to help companies create value for all their stakeholders - their workers, customers, communities, the environment, and shareholders - by focusing on the issues that matter most to Americans.For the annual Rankings, JUST Capital collects and analyzes corporate data to evaluate the 1,000 largest public U.S. companies across 20 Issues identified through comprehensive, ongoing public opinion research on Americans' attitudes toward responsible corporate behavior. JUST Capital has engaged more than 170,000 participants, on a fully representative basis, since 2015.CNBC will delve into the data, highlighting company-specific results and showcasing key stakeholder performance stories about this year's JUST 100 leaders across the network's broadcast and digital platforms at cnbc.com/just100 . An exploration of the JUST 100 companies can be found at justcapital.com/rankings About Bristol Myers SquibbBristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.corporatefinancial-newsBristol Myers SquibbMedia Inquiries:media@ bms.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Bristol Myers Squibb Company on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info:Spokesperson: Bristol Myers Squibb CompanyWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/bristol-myers-squibb-company Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Bristol Myers Squibb Company PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 15:03:01 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 381 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CLS Health, the largest physician-owned and physician-led organization in Houston with more than 33 locations, emphasizes the satisfaction and empowerment of its physicians as a key element in delivering exceptional patient care.HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 /CLS Health offers a model that has been strategically designed to help preserve physicians' autonomy and prevent staff burnout. The multispecialty group addresses many unique, complex issues faced by independent physicians, including high operational costs, patient satisfaction, value-based care, collecting payments, and hiring/retaining qualified staff.As a multispecialty group, CLS Health provides an operational management support and resource program to empower physicians in providing patient care. It allows physicians to channel their focus on delivering quality healthcare without the burden of administrative duties. Dr. Abdul Moosa, Primary Care, states, "I did not become a physician to be corporate, I became a physician for people, and I want to maintain that happiness." CLS Health aspires to transform private practices into profitable partnerships by guiding them through the transition to value-based care, enhancing financial viability, and ensuring sustained growth. The multispecialty group not only fosters a professional environment but also empowers physicians with financial autonomy.Dedicated to providing compassionate, comprehensive, and patient-centric healthcare, CLS Health places the well-being and needs of patients at the forefront. By fostering collaboration across disciplines, the multispecialty group strives for comprehensive care that leads to optimal patient outcomes. The patient-centric approach empowers healthcare providers to deliver exceptional care while fostering a sense of ownership in their roles.The flexibility shown by a multispecialty group such as CLS Health stands out meticulously because it is designed to cater to the unique needs of each medical practice.CLS Health emphasizes physician ownership, reserving this distinction exclusively for its physicians. Notably, CLS Health ensures care through the continuum, maintaining control over the entire patient journey - from primary care offices to specialists, hospitals, ICUs, LTAC, SNFs, and nursing homes.CLS Health multispecialty group's mission aims to reshape the landscape of independent medical practices. By effectively addressing administrative challenges, fostering professional autonomy, and intensifying its focus on patient care, CLS Health stands at the forefront of redefining healthcare.Contact InformationIsaiah RinconMedia Relations Managerbd@ cls.health 832-557-3338Maria Penalozamaria.penaloza@newswire.com SOURCE: CLS HealthView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 20:00:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 325 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 BALTIMORE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / Contracting Resources Group (CRG) today announced that it has been appraised at level 3 of ISACA's Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI). The appraisal was performed by Sensible Process LLC.CMMI is a proven, outcome-based performance model and the globally accepted standard for improving capability, optimizing business performance, and aligning operations to business goals.In achieving Maturity Level 3, our organization has demonstrated a commendable performance at the "defined" level, signifying a state where processes are thoroughly characterized, comprehended, and meticulously documented in standards, procedures, tools, and methods. The foundation of Maturity Level 3 rests upon our well-established and continuously enhanced set of standard processes, showcasing our commitment to excellence and ongoing improvement.CRG serves clients across the Department of Defense and Federal government and recently celebrated its 21st anniversary.Dina DiPalo, founder and CEO of CRG, says, "CRG is proud to achieve this benchmark and continue to serve our clients at the highest possible level." "Organizations worldwide are harnessing CMMI to elevate their business performance to new heights, creating a sustainable competitive advantage in the process," says Ron Lear, Senior Director, CMMI Program. "We commend CRG on achieving this CMMI appraisal level and demonstrating their ability as a high-performing organization." For more information about CMMI performance solutions, visit www.isaca.org/enterprise/cmmi-performance-solutions ###More about Contracting Resources GroupFounded in 2002, Contracting Resources Group Inc. is a woman-owned small business based in the Washington-Metropolitan Area providing professional support services to the U.S. Department of Defense and civilian Federal agencies. Our team offers program support and project management services; program evaluation and analysis; acquisition management support; and strategic communications planning and execution. The mission of CRG is dedication to the highest quality of customer service with a sense of integrity, sincerity, openness, professionalism, and company pride.Contact InformationSandra HillMedia Specialistshill@ contractingrg.com 334.494.8829SOURCE: CRG Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 14:01:53 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 477 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The long-awaited Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic's Miami branch office is now available for free consultationsMIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / The world-famous Dr. Serkan Aygn, a pioneer in the hair transplantation realm, has opened a new branch office for his eponymous clinic in downtown Miami. Floridians dealing with hair loss can now visit the award-winning clinic in the Magic City to get a free consultation and schedule their life-changing surgery in Turkey.Miami Branch Office - Dr. Serkan Aygin Dr. Serkan Aygin Clinic's Miami branch office is now available for free consultations Top-Notch Hair Transplant ResultsA hair transplant in Turkeyhas become synonymous with world-class results at a fraction of the price. Turkish clinics have patient-oriented medical teams focusing on service quality, satisfaction, and safety and following the highest industry standards. Dr. Serkan Aygn Clinic is no exception.Famous for natural-looking results, it helps patients wave hair loss goodbye and welcome thick, dense hair that transforms their appearance. Dr. Serkan Aygn has 25+ years of experience, counting 10,000+ satisfied patients who enjoy a 98% hair regrowth rate.His contributions to the field have brought him many accolades, including Europe's Best Hair Transplant Surgeon Award at the 2019 European Awards in Medicine. His clinic has also received recognition, including the Best Medical Tourism Facility Award at the 2019 Tourism Awards by VD Viajes' La Razon in Spain.Cutting-Edge Hair Transplant MethodsDr. Serkan Aygn Clinic specializes in innovative hair transplant methods, including Sapphire FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) and DHI (Direct Hair Implantation). The former addresses extensive hair loss, while the latter suits patients with mild-to-moderate baldness.Both techniques ensure high precision, minimize scalp trauma, reduce healing time, and provide natural-looking results. However, the DHI method is the upgraded version that helps achieve higher graft survival and density and doesn't require shaving the head.It uses a Choi pen for extracting and directly implanting hair grafts without previous incisions. Besides eliminating scarring, it enables surgeons to insert follicles at the correct angles, ensuring transplanted hair matches natural hair.Constant InnovationDr. Serkan Aygn Clinic doesn't take a one-size-fits-all approach to hair transplantation. It offers personalized services to meet every patient's needs and expectations. One includes 3D technology for analyzing hair and taking measurements for pre-operative planning.The award-winning Doku Studio Arc, the clinic's device for 3D hair analysis, creates a 360 head model, takes photos from multiple angles and axes, and calculates the hair density, thickness, and strand number in roots. It provides accurate information for successful hair transplants.Contact InformationAnyone considering a hair transplant in Turkey can contact or visitDr. Serkan Aygn Clinic in Miamifor a free consultation. The clinic is at 333 SE 2nd Ave Suite 2000 and is open Mondays through Fridays from 12 a.m. to 8 p.m.Contact InformationAli Atakaninfo@ timcompany.de +49 (0)30 5490 7696SOURCE: Dr. Serkan Aygin ClinicView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 18:02:12 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1011 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 RADNOR, PA / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP( www.ktmc.com) informs investors that a securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio against GrafTech International Ltd. ("GrafTech") (NYSE:EAF). The action charges GrafTech with violations of the federal securities laws, including omissions and fraudulent misrepresentations relating to the company's business, operations, and prospects. As a result of GrafTech' s materially misleading statements and omissions to the public, GrafTech' s investors have suffered significant losses.CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR GRAFTECH LOSSES. YOU CAN ALSO CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK OR COPY AND PASTE IN YOUR BROWSER: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/graftech-international-ltd?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=eaf&mktm=r LEAD PLAINTIFF DEADLINE: MARCH 25, 2024CLASS PERIOD: FEBRUARY 8, 2019 THROUGH AUGUST 3, 2023CONTACT AN ATTORNEY TO DISCUSS YOUR RIGHTS:Jonathan Naji, Esq. at (484) 270-1453 or via email at info@ ktmc.com Kessler Topaz is one of the world's foremost advocates in protecting the public against corporate fraud and other wrongdoing. Our securities fraud litigators are regularly recognized as leaders in the field as well as the firm itself which is continuously awarded for the successful results we've achieved. We are proud to have recovered billions of dollars for our clients and the classes of shareholders we represent.In addition to representing investors in cases where the fraud has been revealed, Kessler Topaz also represents whistleblowers - persons who expose wrongdoing to those in positions of authority or to the public- in cases brought under federal and state qui tam statutes, and through financial fraud whistleblower programs, such as those run by the SEC, CFTC and IRS. If you have information about fraud against government programs (such as Medicare), or violations of federal securities, commodities, tax or anti-foreign bribery laws, contact Kessler Topaz at (866) 369-7779 or at wbinfo@ ktmc.com or go to https://www.ktmc-whistleblower.com DEFENDANTS' ALLEGED MISCONDUCTBefore the start of the Class Period, GrafTech had underwent an extensive transformation that wasintended to revamp the company's business and return it to profitability. In public filings with the SEC, the company lauded its "transformation" and claimed that it had emerged from its restructuring with the "most competitive portfolio of low-cost graphite electrode manufacturing facilities in the industry." The company further represented that GrafTech's facilities were "modern, strategically located and well-maintained," which they claimed would provide the company with efficient growth opportunities following the offering. Key to this purportedly sustainable growth were the company's claims regarding the "more environmentally friendly nature of EAF steelmaking" employed by GrafTech's customers. Defendants continued to represent throughout the Class Period that GrafTech was committed to protecting the environment and acting "proactively" to advance sustainability initiatives.The truth began to be revealed on September 16, 2022, when GrafTech disclosed that its critical manufacturing facility in Monterrey, Mexico had been shut down by regulators following inspections by the State Attorney's office for the Secretary of Environment and the Ministry of the Environment. The Monterrey facility was responsible for manufacturing 30% of GrafTech's overall graphite electrode output and 100% of its pin stock. Following this news, GrafTech's stock price fell $0.45, or 8.5%, to close at $4.85 on September 19, 2022.Then, on August 4, 2023, GrafTech issued a press release reporting the company's financial and operational results for the quarter ended June 30, 2023. In the results, GrafTech reported that sales declined 49% compared to the second quarter of 2022 as the company continued to "recover" from the effects of the Monterrey facility shutdown in 2022. As a result of the substantial decline in net sales, GrafTech reported a net loss of $8 million compared to $115 million in net income reported in the second quarter of 2022. On the investor conference call discussing the results, GrafTech attributed the Monterrey suspension as the "key driver" of the underperformance and disclosed that GrafTech's ability to secure customer contracts would continue to be indirectly impacted in the second half of fiscal 2023.Following this news, GrafTech's stock price fell $1.18 per share, or 22.56%, to close at $4.05 per share on August 4, 2023.WHAT CAN I DO?GrafTech investors may, no later than March 25, 2024, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class, through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLPor other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages GrafTech investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information. The class action complaint against GrafTech, Porter v. GrafTech International Ltd., et al., Case No. 24-cv-00154, is filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASEWHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLPKessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com CONTACT:Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP Jonathan Naji, Esq.280 King of Prussia RoadRadnor, PA 19087(484) 270-14 PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 10:01:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 654 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 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 PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 15:02:04 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 433 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / Fortitude Gold Corp. (OTCQB:FTCO) (the "Company") declares its monthly dividend of $0.04 per common share payable on February 29, 2024 to shareholders of record as of February 20, 2024. Fortitude Gold is a gold producer, developer, and explorer with operations in Nevada, U.S.A. offering investors exposure to both gold production and dividend yield.Dividends may vary in amount and consistency or be discontinued at the Board of Directors' discretion depending on variables including but not limited to operational cash flows, Company development requirements and strategies, construction, spot gold and silver prices, taxation, general market conditions and other factors described in the Company's public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.About Fortitude Gold Corp.:Fortitude Gold is a U.S. based gold producer targeting projects with low operating costs, high margins, and strong returns on capital. The Company's strategy is to grow organically, remain debt-free and distribute substantial dividends. The Company's Nevada Mining Unit consists of five high-grade gold properties located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt and a sixth high-grade gold property in west central Nevada. The Isabella Pearl gold mine, located on the Isabella Pearl mineralized trend, is currently in production. Nevada, U.S.A. is among the world's premier mining friendly jurisdictions.Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. If you are risk-averse you should NOT buy shares in Fortitude Gold Corp. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "target", "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding the Company's strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release.Contact:Greg Patterson719-717-9825 greg.patterson@fortitudegold.comwww.Fortitudegold.com SOURCE: Fortitude Gold Corporation PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 16:16:56 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 404 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / Frito-Lay, in partnership with PepsiCo and the PepsiCo Foundation, proudly celebrate their continued support of Dallas College students and their collaboration with the college's Advanced Transportation Technology Division to create workforce readiness opportunities to prepare students for the next stage of their career. On January 18, 2024, PepsiCo donated a much-needed international Class 8 Heavy-Duty tractor to Dallas College Cedar Valley campus. This donation will enhance hands-on learning opportunities for students in the Diesel Preventative Maintenance Program and symbolizes a broader commitment to supporting education and job creation within the Southern Dallas community.Leaders from Dallas College, including Dr. Veronique Tran, Vice Provost of the School of Manufacturing & Industrial Technology, and Dr. Joe Seabrooks, President of Dallas College Cedar Valley Campus, were also present at the event. Notable alumni from the Advanced Transportation Technology Division, who are also recent PepsiCo hires, had the chance to share their experiences transitioning from classroom to field. As Dr. Veronique Tran, Vice Provost of the School of Manufacturing & Industrial Technology at Dallas College, aptly puts it, "The PepsiCo Tractor Truck will provide invaluable hands-on learning opportunities for our students." In addition to the truck donation, Frito-Lay announced a $20,000 donation to the South Dallas Driving Academy, a local non-profit. Nikki Jolly, Senior Manager of Corporate Citizenship and Social Impact at PepsiCo Foods North America remarks, "At Frito-Lay, community is at the heart of everything that we do. We're proud to invest in impactful programs that support the students at Dallas College and help create opportunities that break systemic barriers and lead to meaningful career pathways. Our goal is to open doors for these students and help them achieve their dreams." This donation will facilitate driver's license training and CDL support for Dallas College students, further reinforcing PepsiCo's dedication to creating a talent pipeline, especially in high-need job growth areas like Automotive Technician.Since 2021, the PepsiCo Foundation has provided $600,000 to Dallas College, benefiting nearly 200 students pursuing associate degrees or trade certificates in high-growth industries, including Automotive. Additionally, $1.5 million has been allocated to Dallas College graduates for pursuing bachelor's degrees at 4-year universities. With a remarkable 90% of scholars on track to graduate, the impact of this support is evident.Photo credit: Dallas CollegeView additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Frito-Lay North America on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: Frito-Lay North AmericaWebsite: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/frito-lay-north-americaEmail: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: Frito-Lay North America PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 18:35:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 605 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / The neologism "K-Semiconductor" is a coined word with "Korea" and "Semiconductor," which represents the dynamic business movement of Korean semiconductors. Such dynamic business activities are not confined to a specific country and make a significant impact internationally. Remarkably, South Korea's semiconductor industry in the U.S. market has undergone a notable transformation.Recently, the most impactful event in the semiconductor industry in the U.S. was the establishment of Samsung Semiconductor, which is famous for its foundry size of five million in Texas. Samsung's semiconductor department announced that the new foundry will operate in the second half of the year to manufacture high-tech semiconductors for 5G, HPC AI, etc.The prospect of the new foundry is bright because South Korea's semiconductor exports, which have receded since August 2022, have rebounded since November last year. Amid such positive momentum, experts predict that if Samsung Electronics launches a new foundry, the synergy with its growth trajectory will undoubtedly be substantial.Taking off of Korean semiconductor companies is not limited to semiconductor companies themselves. Not only Korean semiconductor companies but also the equipment necessary for semiconductor factory operations are showing strength as Korean-made. In the safety equipment sector, particularly in the gas detection market, which was once dominated by foreign companies, the prominence of Korean companies is striking. Korea's gas detection company Gastron leads this aspect.Installing a gas detector is not optional because, based on the semiconductor industry characteristics, there are various gases and masses of gases in the industrial site. Furthermore, the gases are hazardous because mainly the gases are toxic and corrosive. That is why detecting target gas time and detecting accuracy is very important. If the detector sends a delayed alarm or false alarm, the detector cannot preempt the industrial disaster. An ordinary gas detector is unsuitable for the semiconductor industry for this reason. For instance, the ordinary sensor in the detector is susceptible enough to react to Ethanol, which is used for cleaning the equipment. Such being the case, other detectors have alarms even though the target gas does not exist. Thus, only the gas detector that can detect the target gas precisely can be applied to the semiconductor industry.The detector that Gastron developed is applied to the interference gas filtering algorithm with an infrared sensor. The interference gas filtering algorithm and infrared sensor can avoid interference from other gases. It enabled accurate detection of only the target gas, which is the result of analyzing the wavelength band of the gases. These features not only increase safety but also foundry operation efficiency. Based on these values, Gastron is supplying products to large and small sites in the U.S., and it is known that it has also led gas detector facilities in Samsung Electronics' U.S. foundry mentioned earlier. It is analyzed that Gastron's business and technology performance are primarily attributed to its experience in collaborating with leading semiconductor companies in Korea, such as Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix.Korea has been a definite powerhouse in the semiconductor industry, not only in the past but also in the present, and unless there is a significant change in the future, it will be so. As the foundation expands beyond Korea to the United States, attention is being paid to how much synergy the U.S. can generate with Korean semiconductor companies.About GastronGastron is an enterprise that has led the Korean domestic gas detector industry since its establishment in 1992. We provide suitable solutions for your company's safety.Contact InformationYunseok Seosys@ gastron.com SOURCE: GastronView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 16:03:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 684 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The move is part of the ongoing Gebruder Weiss expansion in the U.S.WOOD DALE, IL / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / Gebruder Weiss, a 500-year-old international transport and logistics company, announced the acquisition of Cargo-Link, a fully family-owned, non-asset-based freight forwarding company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Cargo-Link specializes in less-than-container load (LCL) shipping and imports from Asia to mid-west-based customers in the U.S. The acquisition is a component of the Gebruder Weiss plans for continued growth in North America, including further development of LCL services in its Air & Sea division.Cargo-Link CEO Scott Ogden and CEO of Gebruder Weiss North America Mark McCullough Photo caption (photo by Michael Kunde) - Scott Ogden, CEO and Owner of Cargo-Link, finalized the company's acquisition with Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebruder Weiss North America.With Cargo-Link, Gebruder Weiss will offer specialized weekly LCL service from North and South China ports directly into Salt Lake City. Gebruder Weiss, the North American division headquartered in Wood Dale, Illinois, will leverage Cargo-Link's strategic location and its leadership team's expertise to open new LCL routes to Asia and Europe. Salt Lake City is a fast-growing market that values local presence, and the acquisition provides a new regional market entrance. Gebruder Weiss will retain Cargo-Link's management team and integrate its employees into the newly merged organization."We are thrilled to bring Cargo-Link under the Gebruder Weiss umbrella," says Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebruder Weiss North America. "There are tremendous synergies between the two companies, and we mutually benefit from the agreement. We look forward to partnering with the Cargo-Link leadership team to enhance our customers' LCL and Intermountain West-based opportunities." Cargo-Link was founded in 1976 in Salt Lake City and grew to become a renowned freight forwarder and Customs House Brokerage (CHB) in a secondary market. Operationally, the majority of the business is comprised of sea freight imports, with air freight, domestic freight forwarding, and export business making up the remainder. CEO and Owner Scott Ogden has managed Cargo-Link since its inception and has developed an extensive network of client relationships and overseas partners."This acquisition significantly upgrades our service potential and broadens customer access, seamlessly blending Cargo-Link's expertise with the expansive capabilities of Gebruder Weiss," says Scott Ogden, CEO of Cargo-Link. "The two companies are a cultural fit as well as a business fit. Cargo-Link is a family-owned, family-focused company with a philanthropic culture, and we sought those same values in a corporate partner." In addition to Gebruder Weiss' greater coverage in the Intermountain West geographic area and establishing Salt Lake City as its 15th North American location, the company also gains access to a 22,000-square-foot warehouse attached to the Cargo-Link office and optimally positioned near the Salt Lake City airport. Gebruder Weiss North America has opened operations in all major U.S. markets and is now focusing on regional markets with location-specific experience and operations.For more information, please visit www.gw-world.com About Gebruder Weiss Gebruder Weiss, a global freight forwarder with a core business of overland transport, air, and sea freight and logistics, is the world's oldest transport company with a history that dates back more than 500 years. The family-owned company employs more than 8,400 people worldwide and boasts 180 company-owned locations. The business presence in North America includes headquarters in Chicago and offices in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Laredo, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. The company has implemented a wide variety of environmental, economic and social initiatives and is considered a pioneer in sustainable business practices. The company's emphasis on superior customer service pairs customized solutions with a single point of contact to provide customers with focused, reliable, and economical solutions. www.gw-world.com/us North American Contact:Karolyn Raphael Public Relations for Gebruder Weisskarolyn@ wingermarketing.com 312-494-0422Contact InformationKarolyn RaphaelPR for Gebruder Weiss North Americakarolyn@ wingermarketing.com 312-494-0422SOURCE: Gebruder WeissView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 02:00:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 495 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 GroupFi is set to redefine communication in the Web3 era with its public alpha release, introducing unique features like free Web3 Social Identity creation and diverse group interactions, aligning with users' diverse needs across various decentralized applications.SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE / ACCESSWIRE / February 4, 2024 / In an exciting development poised to redefine the Web3 landscape, GroupFi ( groupfi.ai) announces the launch of its public alpha test, slated for later this month. As the first-of-its-kind 100% on-chain, free Web3 messaging protocol, GroupFi is introducing revolutionary features like Token & NFT group functionalities, setting a new benchmark in the realm of decentralized communication.Innovative Beginnings with GroupFi's TrollboxGroupFi's pioneering feature, the trollbox, exemplifies the company's commitment to innovation. Seamlessly integrable into any decentralized application (dApp), it aims to fill a vital gap in the Web3 ecosystem by enhancing user interaction within dApps. This initiative addresses the critical challenge of limited user engagement metrics in Web3 dApps, positioning GroupFi as a transformative force in decentralized user experience.Alpha Testing Insights: Paving the Way for User-Centric FeaturesThe internal alpha test of GroupFi witnessed enthusiastic engagement from 99 users, providing crucial insights into the platform's capabilities and user preferences. A focal point of this test was the distribution of the GroupFi OG NFT, enabling users to explore NFT groups and utilize free on-chain messaging. The feedback underscored:Unanimous interest in integrating GroupFi's trollbox within users' favorite dApps. Key advantages highlighted by users included: 52.4% for ease of access within dApps. 19% for native token/NFT channels. 14.3% for the platform's commitment to decentralization. 14.3% for cross-app chatting functionality. The Public Alpha Test: A Leap ForwardThe imminent public alpha test promises to unveil a suite of new features aimed at enriching user interaction and connectivity. These include the creation of free Web3 Social Identity, a novel hyperlink function, and an intuitive message quoting feature. Additionally, the public alpha test will broaden the scope of community interaction with the introduction of diverse group functionalities. Users will have the opportunity to engage in NFT groups, Token groups, and Whale Token Groups, catering to various asset scales and interests.GroupFi's adaptability across different dApps will enable each platform to offer distinct group experiences, tailored to their unique user communities. This underscores GroupFi's dedication to enhancing the relevance and appeal of groups within their respective ecosystems.Future Prospects: GroupFi's Beta VersionWith its eyes set on continuous innovation, GroupFi's Beta version, expected in Q2 2024, plans to achieve Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility. This strategic move is anticipated to facilitate GroupFi's entry into various ecosystems, further cementing its position as a frontrunner in the Web3 messaging domain.Concluding ThoughtsGroupFi stands at the vanguard of revolutionizing Web3 communication, offering a more interconnected, decentralized, and user-focused experience. The eagerly awaited public alpha release marks a new chapter in the evolution of decentralized communication platforms, underlining GroupFi's commitment to redefining the way users interact in the Web3 space.Contact InformationGarrett JinCofounder of GroupFisupport@ groupfi.ai +8618600428123SOURCE: GroupFiView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 06:20:28 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 701 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / HARO Link Building, the fastest-growing provider in the Help A Reporter Out (HARO) link building industry, is proud to announce a significant milestone in its journey of providing high-quality link building services to websites across the globe. The company has officially welcomed its 10th member of staff, underscoring its rapid growth and commitment to excellence in the digital marketing arena.Since its inception, HARO Link Building has dedicated itself to connecting websites with authoritative and relevant media outlets, leveraging the HARO platform to secure valuable backlinks and enhance online visibility. This approach has not only driven traffic and improved SEO rankings for their clients but has also established HARO Link Building as a trusted leader in the industry.The recruitment of the 10th staff member marks a new chapter in the company's expansion, enabling HARO Link Building to scale its operations and further improve its bespoke link building services. This growth is a testament to the team's hard work, expertise, and the increasing demand for quality link building strategies in today's competitive digital landscape."We are thrilled to reach this milestone," said John Samuels, COO at HARO Link Building. "Each member of our team plays a crucial role in our success and our ability to serve clients worldwide with unparalleled service. As we grow, our focus remains on delivering exceptional results and fostering long-term partnerships with our clients." HARO Link Building's services are designed for websites looking to enhance their online authority through high-quality backlinks from reputable media outlets. With a team of experienced professionals, the company offers tailored strategies that align with the unique goals and requirements of each client.As HARO Link Building looks to the future, it is excited to continue its journey of growth and innovation, further cementing its position as a leader in the HARO link building space. The company is committed to leveraging the latest technologies and strategies to ensure its clients stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing.For more information about HARO Link Building and its services, please visit www.harolinkbuilding.com What is HARO link buildingHARO link building refers to the process of using the platform "Help A Reporter Out" (HARO) to secure backlinks from media outlets and other high-authority websites. HARO is a service that connects journalists and bloggers with sources for their stories. These sources are typically experts, businesses, or public relations professionals who can provide the information, quotes, or expertise that journalists need to complete their articles.The process of HARO link building involves several steps:Signing Up as a Source: Businesses or individuals sign up on HARO as a source to receive queries from journalists and content creators looking for expertise related to their industry.Monitoring Queries: Three times a day, HARO sends out emails with queries from journalists covering a wide range of topics. Sources review these queries to find opportunities where they can provide valuable insights or information.Responding to Queries: When a source finds a relevant query, they craft a detailed, informative, and compelling response. This response aims to provide the journalist with exactly what they're looking for, thereby increasing the chances of being quoted or featured in their article.Securing Backlinks: If the journalist uses the source's contribution in their published piece, the source often receives a mention or a direct link back to their website. These backlinks are valuable for SEO because they come from high-authority and credible media sites, which can significantly boost the source's search engine rankings and online visibility.About HARO Link BuildingHARO Link Building is the fastest-growing HARO link building provider, offering expert link building services to websites worldwide. Utilizing the Help A Reporter Out (HARO) platform, the company specializes in securing authoritative backlinks to improve SEO rankings and online visibility for their clients. With a focus on quality and results, HARO Link Building has established itself as a trusted partner for businesses seeking to enhance their digital presence.Media ContactOrganization: HARO Link BuildingContact Person: John SamuelsWebsite: https://www.harolinkbuilding.com/ Email: links@ harolinkbuilding.com Address: 1350 6th AveAddress 2: Floor 2City: New YorkState: NY 10019Country: United StatesSOURCE: HARO Link Building PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 16:46:50 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 614 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 A request for proposals is now open for local grassroots organizations with MetLife employees reviewing and selecting organizations to receive fundingNEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / MetLife Foundation today announced an additional $1 million commitment to its Community Impact Grant Program, which it launched in June of 2023. The program's success resulted from the dedication and passion of MetLife employees whose efforts expanded the Foundation's impact and involvement in communities where MetLife has a presence.MetLife employees will continue to lead the effort as the Foundation issues request for proposal (RFP) opportunities in 2024 to provide immediate assistance to communities across the U.S.A selection committee of MetLife employee volunteers will award grants to local grassroots organizations who are addressing emergency needs of people with low- to moderate-incomes and communities impacted by the growing income and wealth divide. For this funding round, MetLife Foundation grants will go to organizations who serve one of the seven eligible cities and plan to implement their program in one of the following counties:Cary, NC (Chatham, Durham, Wake Counties), New York, NY (Bronx, New York, Queens, Kings, Richmond Counties), Omaha, NE (Douglas County), Philadelphia, PA (Philadelphia County), San Francisco, CA (Alameda, San Francisco Counties), St. Louis, MO (St. Louis County) and Tampa, FL (Hillsborough County)"We launched this program to demonstrate employee care and create connectivity and vitality across our communities. Last year's success resulted from MetLife employees coming together to live our purpose and drive change in our communities," said Mike Zarcone, Head of Corporate Affairs for MetLife and Chairman of MetLife Foundation. "Our employees continue to be at the center of our effort to reach those in need and provide a source of immediate assistance." The grant program will support four focus areas to address acute needs disproportionately impacting people with low- to moderate-incomes. Selected recipients will receive programmatic support through grants between $5,000 - $50,000 in the following focus areas:Hunger Relief and Nutrition to provide access to healthy food options that address food insecurity, nutrition and healthy eating.Physical and Mental Well-Being to provide access to shelters and affordable housing, social services, mental health and well-being services.Environmental Sustainability to mitigate the impact of changing weather patterns and improve the environment in local communities.Quality of Life to improve access to transportation to increase the accessibility of support for critical needs and services; emergency supplies, clothing and financial support; and access to recreation, arts and cultural experiences.The RFP for this latest round of funding is now open and available on MetLife Foundation's website, with another request for proposal opportunity to be issued later in 2024. The Foundation will accept applications to the Community Impact Grant Program until Friday, March 15 at 8:00 p.m. EDT. All organizations who apply will receive a decision on their proposal in May 2024.For more information on the program, visit www.Metlife.org About MetLife FoundationAt MetLife Foundation, we are committed to driving inclusive economic mobility for underserved and low-income communities around the world. We collaborate with nonprofit organizations and provide grants aligned to three strategic focus areas - economic inclusion, financial health and resilient communities - while engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help drive impact. MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLife's long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since its inception, MetLife Foundation has contributed over $1 billion to strengthen communities where MetLife has a presence. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit www.metlife.org Contact:MetLife Olivia Janicelli(212) 578-3547 olivia.janicelli@metlife.com View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from MetLife, Inc. on 3 blmedia.com Contact Info: Spokesperson: MetLife, Inc.Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/metlife-inc Email: info@3 blmedia.com SOURCE: MetLife, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 18:16:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 442 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Blue Ridge Bankshares, Inc. ("Blue Ridge" or the "Company") (NYSE:BRBS). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.The class action concerns whether Blue Ridge and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until February 5, 2024, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you are a shareholder who purchased or otherwise acquired Blue Ridge securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com [Click here for information about joining the class action]On October 31, 2023, after the market closed, Blue Ridge filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission a current report on Form 8-K announcing it would need to restate its consolidated financial statements for its 2022 Annual Report, and the first two quarters of 2023 (the "Restatement Announcement"). In the Restatement Announcement, Blue Ridge disclosed that it had "determined that certain specialty finance loans that, as previously disclosed, were placed on nonaccrual, reserved for, or charged off in the interim periods ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023 should have been reported as nonaccrual, reserved for, or charged off in earlier periods" and "[a]s a result, the Company's audited financial statements included in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and unaudited interim financial statements included in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023 should no longer be relied upon and will be restated." On this news, Blue Ridge's stock price fell $1.06 per share, or 33.65%, to close at $2.09 per share on November 1, 2023.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 19:17:41 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 315 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN DIEGO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / Shareholder rights law firm Johnson Fistel, LLP has launched an investigation into whether the board members of Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR) ("Juniper" or "the Company") breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the proposed sale of the Company by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE).You can click or copy and paste the following link to join this investigation: https://www.johnsonfistel.com/investigations/juniper-networks On January 10, 2024, Juniper announced that it had entered a deal to merge with HPE. Under the terms of the deal, Juniper shareholders will receive $40.00 per share in an all-cash offer.The investigation concerns whether the Juniper board failed to satisfy its duties to the Company shareholders, including whether the board adequately pursued alternatives to the acquisition and whether the board obtained the best price possible for Juniper shares of common stock.If you are a shareholder of Juniper and believe the proposed buyout price is too low or you're interested in learning more about the investigation, please contact lead analyst Jim Baker ( jimb@ johnsonfistel.com ) at 619-814-4471. If emailing, please include a phone number.About Johnson Fistel, LLP:Johnson Fistel, LLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm with offices in California, New York, Georgia, and Colorado. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit http://www.johnsonfistel.com Attorney advertising.Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.Johnson Fistel, LLP has paid for the dissemination of this promotional communication, and Frank J. Johnson is the attorney responsible for its content.Contact:Johnson Fistel, LLP501 W. Broadway, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101James Baker, Investor Relations or Frank J. Johnson, Esq., (619) 814-4471 jimb@ johnsonfistel.com or fjohnson@ johnsonfistel.com SOURCE: Johnson Fistel, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 22:31:52 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 557 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / SNOWLINE GOLD CORP (TSX-V:SGD)(OTC:SNWGF) (the "Company" or "Snowline") announces today that Mr. Gunther Roehlig has tendered his resignation as an independent director of the Company, effective immediately, to focus on his other professional commitments. He will continue to support the Company as a consultant.Craig Hart, Chair of Snowline Gold stated, "On behalf of the Board of Directors and management, we would like to thank Gunther for his valuable contributions as a founding director of the Company, and throughout his subsequent tenure. We wish him the best with his future endeavours and look forward to his continued support as a consultant and shareholder." The Board of Directors is in the process of expanding the breadth of the Board and aims to strengthen its composition with an individual having advanced project or mine development expertise, as the Company advances its Rogue Project from exploration through to resource development.ABOUT SNOWLINE GOLD CORP.Snowline Gold Corp. is a Yukon Territory focused gold exploration company with an eight-project portfolio covering >333,000 ha. The Company is exploring its flagship >94,000 ha Rogue gold project in the highly prospective yet underexplored Selwyn Basin. Snowline's project portfolio sits within the prolific Tintina Gold Province, host to multiple million-ounce-plus gold mines and deposits including Kinross's Fort Knox Mine, Newmont's Coffee deposit, and Victoria Gold's Eagle Mine. The Company's first-mover land position and extensive database provide a unique opportunity for investors to be part of multiple discoveries and the creation of a new gold district.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARDCraig HartIndependent Chair & DirectorFor further information, please contact:Snowline Gold Corp.+1 778 650 5485 info@ snowlinegold.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis news release contains certain forward-looking statements. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof.Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things: risks related to uncertainties inherent in drill results and the estimation of mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the Company's plans and intentions. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.SOURCE: Snowline Gold Corp. PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 22:45:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1031 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 PORT HUENEME, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / The Port of Hueneme welcomed two distinguished visitors, Dee Dee Myers, the Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz), and Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson, Chair of the Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement. The two California officials toured The Port of Hueneme's onsite facilities and learned about its unique Hueneme Way of supporting logistics and trade through its collaboration and utilization of offsite facilities to create more job opportunities for local residents and maximize the throughput and efficiency of California bound cargo. As the only deep-water Port between Los Angeles and San Francisco, The Port of Hueneme serves as a vital link in the supply chain, handling over $15.8 billion worth of cargo annually.Director Myers visited The Port of Hueneme on her way to keynote a local Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) event honoring port CEO Kristin Decas as the new board chair. The very next day, as part of his tour of all ports along the California Coast Assemblymember Gipson met with port officials, stakeholders, and workers to learn about The Port of Hueneme's operations, challenges, and achievements. His goal is to gather insights, best practices, and opportunities from each of the ports to inform a comprehensive white paper that will guide the state's policies and investments in this vital industry. Both Director Myers and Assemblymember Gipson were instrumental in establishing a $27 million Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create a partnership among five California container ports to help build greater cooperation and standardization when it comes to the collection, transformation, of supply chain data amongst California ports and the state.(Center) Kristin Decas, CEO & Port Director, Port of Hueneme; Dee Dee Myers, Senior Advisor and Director, Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz); Celina Zacarias, Oxnard Harbor District President; are joined by Port of Hueneme staff, members of ILWU l-46, Operations Manager of Del Monte, and Martin Erickson, Executive Director, Ventura County Transportation Commission for a boat tour of The Port."We are honored to have had Director Myers and Assemblymember Gipson visit our Port and witness our logistics and trade excellence," said Celina Zacarias, President of the Oxnard Harbor District Board of Commissioners. "The Hueneme Way is the result of our collaborative efforts with our customers, our community, and our state. We are proud to be a model of innovation and efficiency for the maritime industry." (Center) Celina Zacarias, Board President, Oxnard Harbor District; Jason T. Hodge, Secretary, Oxnard Harbor District, Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson, Chair of Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement; Kristin Decas, CEO & Port Director, Port of Hueneme; Jess J. Ramirez, Vice President, Oxnard Harbor District; Laura E. Lane, Platinum Advisors; are joined by members of the Pacific Maritime Association, the Office of Senator Monique Limon, the Office of Assemblymember Steve Bennett, at Anacapa Fresh Logistics in Oxnard.The Port is a leader in logistics and trade, having established strategic partnerships with several companies. Offsite facilities such as BMW North America and Anacapa Fresh Logistics, which Director Myers and Assemblymember Gipson toured, increase the speed and quality of service and further reduce emissions because of their close proximity to the Port of Hueneme. Together, the Port and its partners utilize state-of-the-art technology and equipment to ensure the safe and smooth movement of cargo, such as automobiles, and produce such as bananas, blueberries, and pineapples.Scott Fitzpatrick of BMW North America gives Director Myers a tour of his facility on Arcturus Rd. in Oxnard."The Port of Hueneme is a shining example of how ports can be both engines of growth and champions of sustainability," said Director Myers. "The Port's logistics and trade support is impressive and commendable as it enhances the competitiveness and resilience of our supply chain and reduces our environmental impact. This is a win-win for our economy and our planet." Assemblymember Gipson echoed Director Myers' sentiments and added: "As the Chair of the Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement, I am impressed by the Port of Hueneme's achievements and aspirations. The Port is a vital asset for our state - supporting thousands of jobs and generating millions of dollars in tax revenue. The Port's logistics and trade support is exemplary and inspiring as it showcases the power of partnership and technology to optimize our supply chain and serve our customers. This is a great example of how California leads the way in innovation and collaboration." Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson, Chair of Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement tours The Port of Hueneme Harbor with port staff, Laura E. Lane, Platinum Advisors; members of the Pacific Maritime Association, and the Office of Senator Monique Limon, the Office of Assemblymember Steve Bennett.Both Director Myers and Assemblymember Gipson were welcomed by Kristin Decas, CEO and Port Director of The Port of Hueneme, representatives from Naval Base Ventura County, the Economic Development Collaborative of Ventura County, and the FATHOMWERX facility located at The Port of Hueneme.Director Myers tours FATHOMWERX at The Port of Hueneme.FATHOMWERX is a technology-based collaborative that fuses academia, civilian and DoD partners to work on the most challenging problems in the Port and maritime domains. It serves as a public-private laboratory, community, and resource for technological innovation, leveraging the unique assets and capabilities of The Port of Hueneme and the surrounding ecosystem. During the tour, Director Myers and Assemblymember Gipson learned about the various projects and programs that FATHOMWERX supports, such as unmanned systems, environmental monitoring, Port security, and workforce development. They also interacted with some of the entrepreneurs, researchers, and student leaders who are part of the FATHOMWERX network and witnessed demonstrations of cutting-edge technologies and prototypes.Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson tours FATHOMWERX located at The Port of Hueneme.Director Myers praised FATHOMWERX for its role in fostering economic development and innovation in the region. "Ports are the lifeline of California, connecting us to the rest of the world and generating billions of dollars in revenue and taxes," she said - "FATHOMWERX is helping our Ports to become more efficient, resilient, and competitive in the global market, while also addressing the environmental and soci PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 19:01:01 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 519 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 UFOFLEET Upgrades an Experience That Hasn't Changed Since 1888LUXEMBOURG / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 /UFODRIVE releases two significant new features to its UFOFLEET platform to further support its automotive OEM, dealer and financing customers. The first new feature enables a fully digital test drive experience that can be deployed directly to customers or managed by dealerships. Customers can book, drive and engage with the retailer from one app without any paperwork. Behind the scenes, fleet management, automation, customer service, energy, and more can be optimized with ease.UFOFLEET Logo The second new feature supports the other end of a test drive, rental, subscription, loaner, or lease process when a vehicle moves out of a program to be sold. Here, UFOFLEET leverages its existing inventory and vehicle status management to create an up-to-date visual record, maintenance file and residual value calculation. These can be submitted directly to the preferred sales channel and validated at each step from final customer return, logistics collection and point of sale arrival."When we started our first automotive project, we realized the test drive experience hasn't changed since Karl Benz started in 1888. Millions of people test drive cars every day, but it's mostly done in person and on paper," said Aidan McClean, CEO and co-founder of UFODRIVE. "UFOFLEET now helps modernize a critical component of the car buying journey. We put the customer in control of the experience while ensuring the salespeople or brand can engage at the right time with the right offer." UFOFLEET has been enabling successful rental, subscription, leasing, hire, purchase, sharing, rideshare, and last-mile programs for customers in 12 countries, working with some of the biggest brands like Hertz, Uber, Amazon, and Merchant's Fleet. All this is in addition to its UFODRIVE EV rental business that provides one of the highest-rated rental experiences in the world."Automotive is our fastest-growing sector," said Edmund Read, Chief Commercial Officer at UFODRIVE. "As vehicle ownership and platforms evolve, the customer experience becomes a critical differentiator for OEMs and Dealers before, during, and after the sale. Leveraging UFOFLEET, our partners can provide an advanced experience to their customers from the first touchpoint to their test drive, subscription, multi-year lease, maintenance visits, and more - all in one white-labeled app. Behind the scenes, we make it run smoother with tools like the resale module and fleet automation to help our partners generate more sales, reduce operating costs and maintain longer lifecycles." About UFOFLEETUFOFLEET is a modern, integrated fleet enablement platform that makes electric easy. The SaaS platform now powers some of the world's biggest rental, rideshare, lease, and last mile fleets in Europe, North America and Asia - enabling partners to deploy more than 15 products, including test drive, lease, subscription, rental, sharing, and rent to own on a single customer-centric platform. UFOFLEET is built by UFODRIVE, the first 100% digital EV rental company that operates 40 locations worldwide, including London, Paris and New York since its launch in 2018. Learn more at www.ufofleet.com Contact InformationWeesie Thelenweesie@ mbpconsultants.com SOURCE: UFOFLEETView the original press release on newswire.com PR-Inside.com: 2024-02-05 19:17:44 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 441 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / VexusTradeis a unique platform that simplifies online financial services. It is designed to meet the needs of a sophisticated user base by providing innovative solutions that go beyond the usual digital financial offerings.Photo source: Unsplash Seamless User Experience Takes Center StageThe company is committed to providing a smooth experience for its users. Its easy-to-use interface makes online financial transactions hassle-free. The platform's intuitive design simplifies the complexities of digital finance, allowing users to access advanced financial tools with ease.Advanced Analytics Redefines Decision-MakingVexusTrade has a very advanced analytics suite that can help you in digital finance. It uses the latest data analysis tools to give you insights into market trends and financial dynamics. This can help you make informed decisions and give you an edge in the fast-paced world of digital finance.Fortifying User ConfidenceSecurity is very important in the world of digital finance, and they are committed to providing a safe and trustworthy platform. The website uses advanced security measures to protect user data and assets and is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of cybersecurity. With VexusTrade, you can be confident that your digital financial transactions are secure and protected.Customer-Centric Support: A Pillar of VexusTrade's EthosIn the world of online finance, the quality of customer support can make or break a platform's reputation. The company stands out in this area, as it puts its customers first and offers quick and individualized help. The support team at VexusTrade is made up of knowledgeable professionals who are committed to assisting users with any issues they may face, making the user experience even better.About VexusTradeVexusTrade is a digital finance platform that aims to provide users around the world with a comprehensive and personalized experience. The platform is designed keeping the users in mind and utilizes advanced analytics to ensure that the user experience is seamless. The company gives utmost priority to security and localized solutions, making it a reliable and safe option for users who seek a modern and innovative approach to online finance.VexusTrade's main focus is to empower its users and help them navigate the digital financial landscape with ease. They blend global connectivity with localized solutions to provide a customer-centric experience. Additionally, The company ensures that its security protocols are always up-to-date and top-notch. All of these efforts make VexusTrade a pioneer in fostering a new era of financial engagement, where users have more control over their financial destinies.Company DetailsCompany Name: VexusTrade Email Address:media@ vexustrade.comCompany Address: Suite 5, 7th Floor, 50 Broadway, London, United Kingdom, SW1H 0DB Company Website: https://vexustrade.com/ SOURCE: VexusTrade President Bola Tinubu heartily congratulates Nigerias musical talents nominated for the 2024 Grammy Awards: Burna Boy, Davido, Olamide, Tems, Asake, and Ayra Starr. President Tinubu celebrates these musical marvels who have put Nigeria on the chart of cultural command through their artistry and anthemic earworms, building and earning our nation enormous soft power. The president commends these exceptional artists for their fidelity to the art, audacity, and discipline in the pursuit of excellence. READ ALSO: Our superstars nominated for the Grammy Awards are all winners. I am proud of their exploits. They represent that Nigerian ideal; the courage to strive and succeed against all odds and the hope to stay true to purpose. I congratulate and thank them for being exemplary envoys of Nigeria, the president says. Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A little over one year after veteran Yoruba actor Ebun Oloyede, aka Olaiya Igwe, went naked in a campaign video for President Bola Tinubu, he has toed Kwam 1s footsteps, decrying the level of hardship in the country. Recently, Kwam 1, in an Instagram video, lamented the suffering endured by Nigerians since Mr Tinubu assumed office and urged him to address the ongoing hardships. Mr Olaiya, 66, an avid APC supporter, on the other hand, in a video on his official YouTube page on Tuesday, called on the President to heed the peoples cries. He said: The citizens are crying and wailing; thats why everybody is angry even Nigerians in the diaspora are not happy with the current situation in the country. I want to talk to our father, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Citizens are crying because their expectations from you were not met. I know youre trying, but the people in your cabinet do not allow your efforts to show. I understand your efforts, but those around you hindered your progress. Youre partly responsible because you didnt carefully select them. They lack professionalism. You have a keen eye for talent; otherwise, you wouldnt have appointed Wike to lead in Abuja, where hes achieving great things. The actor was in the news in December 2022 for going naked to campaign for Mr Tinubu, a move that earned him flak. Subsequently, his Instagram page was suspended shortly after he posted the video, but the page was later restored. In this new video, the actor maintained that although he doesnt regret campaigning for President Tinubu, he urged him (Tinubu) to address the widespread hunger in the land as well as the absence of positive expectations Nigerians are expecting from him. Furthermore, the Ogun-born actor appealed to the President to establish a monitoring team to oversee some of his projects meant to alleviate poverty and reduce hardship for Nigerians. Mr Olaiya noted that the diversion of palliative funds, intended to alleviate the impact of fuel subsidy removal, was due to a lack of a monitoring team. He suggested that the Presidents children should lead the team, noting their vested interest in the success of his government. Mr Olaiya alleged that not all of Mr Tinubus appointees are committed to his success; some have ulterior motives. He argued that past Presidents failed due to the absence of effective monitoring teams overseeing projects. He said: I implore you to establish a monitoring team, led by either your son or daughter, to oversee national operations diligently. Its imperative to supervise the allocation of resources across all sectors, as things rarely go as planned without oversight. Remember the embezzlement with the palliative distribution; trusting solely in youth led to mismanagement. Despite potential bribery within the monitoring team, discreet supervisors can ensure effective execution. Failure to act may result in shared consequences, as evident from the curses we both receive. Recognise that while not everyone around you is corrupt, many are. Its time to prioritise competence over political affiliations, replacing unfit appointees. Rather than resorting to cursing, lets offer prayers for accountability. Many, like myself, prayed for Tinubus success without expecting personal gain. Controversial video Mr Olaiya noted that he went naked to campaign for Mr Tinubu following a revelation he received. He added that he had been faced with criticism, curses and abuse since he went naked to campaign for the President, especially now the countrys situation has worsened under Mr Tinubus led administration. The actor, who apologised to Nigerians for misleading them to vote for Mr Tinubu by going naked, clarified that he harbours no anger against those cursing him. He added that such consequences were foreseeable given his actions and popularity and attributed the curses to the economy, insecurity, and hardship currently facing the country. According to him, his naked prayer at the beach was not to seek an appointment but rather a gesture of gratitude for saving his life during a health crisis. He added that the backlash and curses come from individuals and groups not affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and those with personal vendettas against him. He said: I am using this platform to greet everyone watching me. Im here to discuss our father, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Yinka TNT. Our father, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, when he was campaigning for president because of what he had done for me regarding my health. A revelation came to me to perform specific actions at the beach. Despite facing a lot of abuse and curses afterwards, I remained unruffled, knowing such reactions were inevitable given my public role. Those who were surprised by my actions questioned my motives. The curses and abuse mainly came from non-APC parties and individuals with personal grudges against me. Rest assured, no one has offended me. Perhaps, once Tinubu assumes office and things go according to plan, the abuse will decrease, and love for me will increase. However, when expectations are unmet, people resort to insults and curses. I need to speak with our father, Tinubu. Daddy, I didnt regret supporting you during your campaign, nor was I angry because you helped me when I was in dire need. However, theres something I need to discuss with you now. The citizens are unhappy; theyre in tears. Their expectations remain unmet. CBN policy The actor urged Mr Tinubu to consider and utilise the words of former Central Bank Governor of Nigeria (CBN), Charles Soludo, upon his removal from office. Although he failed to mention the words, he acknowledged their relevance and suggested that he (Tinubu) should have examined and acted upon them. He said: I want you to remember Charles Soludo, all the words he said when he was removed from the post; all those words make sense. You should look into the mans words and work on them. It seems youre not taking it seriously, Daddy. Naked video On 3 December 2022, PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Ogun state indigene prayed for Mr Tinubus victory stark naked at an undisclosed beach and uploaded the controversial video on his Instagram. The video showed him from behind, turning around for a headshot while praying for Mr Tinubus success. Before the shocking video, he was filmed rolling on the floor in gratitude to the then Lagos State Park and Garages Management Chairperson Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, for gifting him a car. A clip of MC Oluomo giving the veteran actor a Mercedes Benz on 10 August 2022 went viral. After the nude video went viral, Mr Olaiya explained his actions in an interview on the breakfast program Your View aired on Television Continental, attributing them to divine instructions. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso last week announced they wanted nothing to do with the sub-regional bloc, ECOWAS, further deepening tensions between the bloc and countries currently led by juntas. The 15-nation regional economic bloc was established in 1975, To promote cooperation and integration to raise the living standards of its peoples, and to maintain and enhance economic stability. Although created for economic reasons, the bloc has since gained political relevance, playing a key role in resolving political disputes in member countries with the latest being in Sierra Leone. The trio said their exit was due to what they called illegal, illegitimate and inhumane sanctions. They added that ECOWAS has moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and Pan-Africanism. ECOWAS, under the influence of foreign powers, betraying its founding principles, has become a threat to its member states and its populations whose happiness it is supposed to ensure, the three countries said in a joint statement. ECOWAS had initially suspended these countries as a temporary punishment for the military takeovers that occurred at separate times. However, the suspension of each country did not deter soldiers of the other from staging their coup. The exit of these countries is perhaps a blow to ECOWAS efforts to strengthen democracy in the region at a time when there appears to be a ceremony of coups. In response to the announcement by the trio, ECOWAS said it had yet to receive any notification of withdrawal as of Sunday. The regional bloc also said it was still in talks with the juntas of the three countries to return to civilian rule. But the real question is whether these countries can leave ECOWAS without the latters consent. Chances are that they can even though the ECOWAS charter stipulates otherwise. The decision to act contrary to what the charter stipulates is a sign that they will get away with murder the same way they seem to be getting away with the coups in their countries. But again, countries have freedom of association and can choose where they want to be. What does the ECOWAS Charter say? The ECOWAS charter stipulates that any Member State wishing to withdraw from the Community shall give to the Executive Secretary one years notice in writing who shall inform the Member States thereof. At the expiration of this period, if such notice is not withdrawn, such a State shall cease to be a member of the Community. The three countries did not notify ECOWAS, at least according to the sub-regional body, perhaps in a show of defiance. What does this mean for all involved? Of course, this new development has implications for the withdrawing countries. But not just for them, it also has implications for the region and the continent. There will be political and economic ramifications, said Ryan Cummings of Signal Risk who noted that key concerns at this stage are whether the withdrawing countries are still going to be allowed to facilitate financial transactions in the West African monetary union and also be able to use the West African bank. He noted that if ECOWAS calls on its members to sever relations with these countries as a punitive measure, it could also impact the countries, all of whom are landlocked. However, there are no guarantees neighbouring countries will adhere. Countries have bilateral relations outside of ECOWAS, so it will be a hard call to make in terms of cutting ties with neighbours whom they have had age-long relationships with. This withdrawal would also have implications for trade between countries. For instance, trade figures between Nigeria and Niger in 2022 were about $226 million, according to International Trade Centre data. The economic sanction imposed on Niger following the July 2023 coup, led to a loss of about $50 million in potential earnings and revenues in just three weeks following the border closure. Nigerien families bore the brunt of the sanctions alongside their Nigerian neighbours who live in border communities. In addition to economic and political implications, there are security implications. As the withdrawing states continue to move towards alternative sources to secure their states, which is a key promise made by the junta on taking over, their already porous borders become even more porous allowing unsuspecting criminal groups to infiltrate and begin to operate within their borders. This is not only detrimental for them but also for their neighbours with whom they no longer share intelligence. For a region that is already bedevilled by several terrorist factions, the situation will only worsen. For example, Niger until last years coup was a member of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) set up by neighbouring countries (Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin) to jointly share intelligence and fight terrorists who operate across the countries. Additionally, Mr Cummings said, the exit of the trio is a worrying development for ECOWAS that seeks to foster inclusivity among members. Having followed developments in the Sahel for years, Ornella Moderan of the Hague-based Clingendael Institute told PREMIUM TIMES that the announcement by the three countries to exit the regional bloc further fragilises its foundations. She noted that in the three countries and beyond, ECOWAS is perceived as an organisation that lacks consistency in its promotion of democratic norms and values, condemning military coups on the one hand but validating constitutional manipulations by power-hungry incumbents on the other hand. To a large extent, it is this double standard that has fragilised ECOWAS moral and political authority in the region in the first place, Ms Moderan said. There is a concern at this stage, there has to be. ECOWAS could be subject to significant fragmentation and its ability to ensure that democratic norms prevail in the subregion will be severely compromised, Mr Cummings said. How ECOWAS will react to this violation of its law remains to be seen. What is certain, however, is that whatever action the bloc will take will go a long way in persuading or dissuading the member states. Mr Cummings suspects that ECOWAS would explore diplomatic means of resolving the conflict. Ms Moderan suggested that if the bloc wants to survive the challenge posed by Sahel states and revive its democratic agenda in the region, it will have to reconsider what it means to support such an agenda and undertake substantial reforms to become more effective and consistent at promoting democratic norms, not just on the surface with facade elections, but in the spirits of liberal democracy accountability, rule of law for all including those in power, and systematic refusal of any abuse of power and position. It seems challenging for an organisation undergoing a profound identity crisis at the moment one that Sahel countries exit could turn into an existential crisis, she said. Ms Moderan advised that Niger, Mali and Burkina Fasos decision should be seen as symbolic, noting that even though they said their withdrawal was immediate, from a practical point of view, it will take at least a few weeks or months to reorganise relations after their exit decision. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Osun State Fire Service, on Monday, said it recorded 70 fire outbreaks in the state between January and December 2023. The 2023 Osun State Fire Incident Record, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo on Monday, put the property lost to fire outbreaks in the year under review at N1.45 billion. The record showed that the months of January, May and December 2023 had the highest cases of fire outbreaks, with 13 fire cases recorded in January and property estimated at N302 million destroyed. In May, 12 fire outbreaks were also recorded, with property worth N715 million lost, while eight cases of fire disasters were recorded in the month of December, with property worth N25 million destroyed by fire. Property worth 30.9 billion was saved from fire outbreaks, with no loss of lives recorded during the fire incidents, the record said. The spokesperson for the fire service, Adekunle Ibrahim, said the majority of the fire outbreaks were caused by carelessness on the part of the citizens. He said: The careless ways people deal with electronics and electrical appliances at home and how they also handle naked fire often serve as catalysts for fire outbreaks. Mr Adekunle, however, said the agency was always sensitising residents, market women, religious bodies, banks, business owners and others on how to prevent and manage fire outbreaks. We have been sensitising the people and enlightening them to be very careful about how to handle naked fire as well as steps to be taken in cases of fire outbreaks. We have also been enlightening them on the need to properly take care of electrical appliances to prevent fire outbreaks. He said that the fire service had intensified fire safety awareness in the state, adding that it had also gone round to train hoteliers and others on fire safety and prevention methods. We have also been going round banks in the state to inspect their fire safety equipment and also enlighten them on what to do in case of fire outbreaks, he said. The spokesperson advised residents to always unplug their electrical appliances when not in use and turn off their electricity while leaving home. He also urged them to be mindful of bush burning, especially during dry season, as well as their activities in the kitchen, as lots of domestic fire outbreaks start from there. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Residents of Minna, Niger State, trooped out in large numbers to protest the hardship in Nigeria caused by the rising cost of living occasioned by the downturn of the economy. On Monday, women and many youths blocked the roundabout in the Pkakungu area of Minna to express their grievances over the issue. The youth and men among them blocked the road, stopping vehicular movement. Efforts by the police to stop the protest and disperse the protesters failed until the deputy governor of the state, Yakubu Garba, addressed them. They urged the federal and state governments to do something urgently to tackle the hardship across the country before it gets out of hand. Responding, Mr Garba appealed to the protesters to sheath their swords as the state government was doing everything possible to ameliorate the economic hardship on the people, pledging that the government would continue to distribute palliatives to the downtrodden. The state government is very much aware of the economic hardship faced by our people, hence you have to remain calm as modalities have been put in place to ease your sufferings, he said. Efforts to get the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Wasiu Abiodun, to speak on the issue were not successful as he refused to reply to messages sent to him. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, has hinted that the banks headquarters in Abuja is overpopulated. The CBN governor noted that the development remains part of the reason the bank is relocating some of its staff members from Abuja to Lagos. Mr Cardoso spoke on Monday during an interview on Arise Television. Speaking on the rationale behind the movement of staff to Lagos, the apex banks governor claimed that there is an attempt to sensationalise what is a normal process for any vibrant entity like the central bank. When asked if the CBN headquarters is over-populated, Mr Cardoso replied in the affirmative. It is over-populated, he said, adding that the bank anticipates that the move will address the concern at the banks headquarters in Abuja. Quite frankly, anybody that comes to the bank and interacts at the level will see that it is over-populated. Weve got to see that we are able to manage potential issues that could fall out from an overpopulated environment, he stated. He explained further that the CBN, as a national institution, has a presence in every state of the federation. However, the apex bank governor said a situation where staff members with technical skills are located in one particular section could undermine collective efforts. So this has really been an attempt to realise that and to ensure that skills are moved from overabundance to where there is a great shortage of these skills, he said. The CBN governor noted that the apex bank regulates banks based in Lagos and those in charge of such oversight should have the right skills to effectively do their jobs. In January, the CBN in an internal memo announced plans to transfer some of its departments to Lagos on the ground that its headquarters in Abuja is congested with staff. The move generated concerns across the country, particularly among the northern lawmakers, some of whom have condemned the relocation of some departments in the CBN and the headquarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos State. The senators called on the federal government to consider a reversal of the relocated departments or ready to face legal actions. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Namibia on Sunday swore in former Vice President Nangolo Mbumba as the new president of the country following the demise of President Hage Geingob. I take on this heavy mantle, cognisant of the weight of this responsibility, to serve all the People of the Republic of Namibia with utmost dedication and commitment, in the service of all citizens of the Namibian House, Mr Mbumba said in his acceptance speech. The 82-year-old president pledged to continue building on the excellent foundation established by his predecessors. Mr Mbumba also announced the appointment of Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, former deputy prime minister, as vice president. I am not going to be around for the elections so dont panic, he said at his swearing-in ceremony. He praised his predecessor for the calm and stability the country enjoys. This is owing to the visionary leadership and foresight of President Geingob, who was the chief architect of the Namibian Constitution and the champion of our Governance Architecture, based on stable Processes, Systems and institutions, that are guiding us today, he said. The late President Geingob passed on Sunday while receiving cancer treatment in Namibia. He had just returned from the US where the presidency said he had gone for some treatment. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has announced the dissolution of the 21 local governments in the state, following the expiration of the tenures of their elected chairpersons. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tenure of the local government chairpersons expired on Monday, 5 February. The governor directed the chairpersons to hand over to the Directors of Personnel Management of their respective local government areas. Addressing the outgoing chairperson at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, he thanked them for the services rendered to their constituencies, saying that they had done well. He said that there were laws governing the local government administration, adding that it was imperative for the government to respect those laws. We need to do the needful so that later anything can follow. We did not intend to send anybody away. We will make sure that nobody is left behind. This is your government, therefore, you need to support it to succeed. Of course, there is the need for you to work assiduously to see that this government succeeds, he said. The governor promised to continue to deliver the dividend of democracy to all parts of the state in fulfilment of our campaign promises. Responding, the chairperson of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in the state, Aminu Sarkin-Fada, thanked the governor for his support which, according to him, aided them to record success. I believe without the support of His Excellency, we wouldnt have achieved what we have achieved, Mr Sarkin-Fada said. He said that through the distribution of free fertilisers to farmers and cash disbursement to empower people, due to the governors support and magnanimity, many people had become self-reliant. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Boko Haram insurgents have killed two construction workers and abducted three other persons in an attack on Sunday on Kukareta, a community in Yobe State, North-east Nigeria. The two people were killed at the residence of the communitys district head just like the abducted three people. They also burnt down a Peugeot 504 car belonging to the district head. Residents of Yobe and other North-eastern states, especially Borno and Adamawa, have suffered numerous terrorist attacks for over a decade and a half which has led to the death of hundreds of thousands and displacement of millions. PREMIUM TIMES gathered from a counter-insurgency specialist, Zagazola Makama, who is from the North-east, that the terrorists first attacked a military formation 233 Battalion on the outskirts of Kukareta but retreated after the soldiers engaged them in a gun duel. While fleeing through the village, they decided to attack the home of the district head. They knocked on his door, but sensing danger, the district head escaped with his wife through the back door. The terrorists later gained access into the house and killed 2 people and also burnt the district heads vehicle as well as carted away another vehicle belonging to the vigilante, Mr Makama said. The district head of Kukareta, Lawal Babagana, confirmed the attack to Daily Trust newspaper. READ ALSO: Suspected Boko Haram insurgents vandalise power transmission line in Yobe They stormed the town around 3 a.m. on Sunday shooting sporadically, they set my house on fire, razed my 504 Peugeot car, and also destroyed one house in the town. As you know, as a traditional ruler, I used to host people that come to my domain. These boys (Boko Haram fighters) brought these (workers) out of my house and shot them instantly. There are three grasshopper hunters, who I was hosting in my house. They (terrorists) handcuffed, and kidnapped the hunters in the vehicle of vigilantes, which was parked at my house, Mr Babagana said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised the alarm over fake certificates of pharmaceutical products that are imported into Nigeria. Speaking Monday at the stakeholders engagement meeting with regulators, policymakers, and law enforcement agencies in Abuja, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, revealed that over 50 per cent of such certificates are fake. The certificate of a pharmaceutical product is expected to follow the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO) and it establishes the status of the product and the applicant for the certificate in the exporting country. According to Mrs Adeyeye, substandard and falsified products threaten access to safe, efficacious, and affordable medicines, and undermine the achievement of universal health coverage in Nigeria, and Africa. She explained that WHO created a scheme called Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CPP) and what this means is that if we send a CPP out to another country, we are assuring the receiving country that it will be of quality. Scheme According to Mrs Adeyeye, most of the medicines imported to Nigeria are from South East Asia. We have a scheme where before medicines that were approved leave that part of the world, we do pre-shipment testing, and that comes with CPP to assure us of quality, but that is not the case, because through our scheme we have been able to stop over 140 products that were approved for coming in, she said. We found out that more than 50 per cent of the CPPs that come into our country are fake. Part of those responsible is our people that go to China or India and we are going to deal with it. She said the agency is more stringent than ever, hence there is no cutting of corners. She noted that trade is a mutual agreement and if that agreement is harming one part of the agreement, it will be stopped. If a company is suspected to be compromising, in two hours we will be there, and we will shut the company down, she said. Major threat Mrs Adeyeye expressed concern that the significant prevalence of substandard and falsified medicines in Africa poses a major threat to public health, adding that the prevalence of falsified medicines in the region is due to limited regulation processes. Only about 10 per cent of national regulatory agencies have attained maturity level three. What leads to maturity level three is market control, and that is one of the nine models of maturity level three, so we have a lot of work to do in Africa, she said. The NAFDACs mandate puts a burden on us to see a reduction in substandard and falsified medicines, both the ones that are locally manufactured and the ones that are imported. READ ALSO: NAFDAC issues warning alert on highly caffeinated energy drinks sold online Mrs Adeyeye said the agency is doing its best to fight substandard and falsified medicines and products based on three thematic areas, which are to prevent, detect, and respond. In 2022, the WHO certified NAFDAC as a stable, well-functioning, and integrated regulatory system maturity level three rating scale of the Global Benchmarking Tool. According to WHO, NAFDAC is eligible for inclusion into the transitional WHO Listed Authority, a list of regulatory authorities that should be globally recognised as meeting WHO and other international standards. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Sadly, a new generation of believers has arisen many of who are business partners with Satan in mocking and tearing down pastors and churches, given the slightest provocation. They dont know that the fall of one of us is the fall of all of us. It is becoming increasingly difficult for many faithful believers and, most importantly, many faithful pastors to run and finish this race of faith on the platter of truth. The odds are really against us and would increase in intensity as the battles of the last days intensify. As the wave of compromise continues to blow across the entire landscape of global evangelicalism, shattering the hearts of many in the body, there seems to be no better time to strengthen our prayer altars than now. A couple of days back, a beloved father and elder in the American Pentecostal circle came under a barrage of attacks on account of his unbelievable public stand towards an unbiblical marriage doctrine. This has been a faithful servant of God with more than four decades of unwavering commitment to the preaching of the truth of Gods word, but who is now being cancelled and removed from Christian radio stations across America. Scheduled conferences are dropping his name. Ministry friends are disassociating themselves from him. It is heart shattering. I have been listening to him for a long time. About three years ago, a foremost teacher of Gods word with close to five decades of a global ministry influence for God was enmeshed in a series of allegations of moral failure. I cried my eyes out as this servant of God was literarily cancelled, not just by culture, but by many in the church. Things got so bad that the entire ministry structure that blessed millions of people all over the world has now been dismantled radio stations have cancelled the ministry, TV stations have removed its slots from the air, and several prominent Christian libraries have also reportedly taken down many of the ministrys materials. Hell went into a lavish celebration. Heaven mourned. For several days, I was shattered beyond words, crying like a baby in the privacy of my room. As we speak, the barrage of attacks against faithful pastors is unbecoming, lethal, and to many extents, meeting Satans strategic goals. As we speak, the number of pastors quitting ministry is on the increase. A very anointed prophet of God that Im close to has recently gone back to his secular job. He would seat me down to relay to me countless stories of changed lives, signs and wonders, prophetic messages and fulfilments. But he had faced so many attacks and crises that the very thought of going back to the pulpit is a nightmare to be avoided for him. Dr Perry Stone gave a startling statistic in one of his TV broadcasts. In his words, more than 7,000 pastors have died in America in the last two years. In mainstream Europe, the attacks on churches and pastors seem to have reached an all-time high. In Nigeria, the statistics of attacks on pastors and the failures of pastors are troubling. About two years ago, I received a letter from a servant of God in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. Apparently, he had read one of our monthly Newsletter that I author. In his words that shook me to my roots, Sir, please pray for the church of God in my city. He mentioned the city. He continued, Most of our pastors have now joined different occultic societies, and many of our youths have also followed them. Please pray for our city. A stunning report that is well documented by Dr Erwin Lutzer, Senior Pastor of the Moody Church in America, in one of his latest books, states that more than 1,400 churches across Europe have been shut down, bought, and converted to mosques and business centres. In Nigeria, the statistics of attacks on pastors and the failures of pastors are troubling. About two years ago, I received a letter from a servant of God in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. Apparently, he had read one of our monthly Newsletter that I author. In his words that shook me to my roots, Sir, please pray for the church of God in my city. He mentioned the city. He continued, Most of our pastors have now joined different occultic societies, and many of our youths have also followed them. Please pray for our city. I was stunned with grief. Yes, there are great pastors across the globe. Yes, there are many forthright servants of God in Nigeria. But Apostle Paul makes it very clear to us in Galatians 5:9 that A little leaven leavens the whole lump. If you understand this statement, you would understand the danger of having even only one pastor fall away. One attack of heresy against a servant of God can mislead millions of others. This explains why Jesus told us the story of the man with a hundred sheep who left the remaining ninety-nine to look for one lost sheep. Why? One loss that is not properly managed, and possibly restored, can trigger the loss of the remaining ninety-nine. I can go on and on to tell you the stories of faithful servants of God who Satan has now attacked, and whose fall is now leading to the fall of thousands upon thousands of other people. Its a very strategic option for Satan to bring down one faithful pastor in order to bring down one million others. We need to be very intentional about praying for our pastors. It seems like we are failing or have failed woefully in the place of prayers for one another, and particularly for our faithful pastors. Enough of these heartbreaks in our midst. The ship of our faith must not sink. No faithful father in the faith must drown. No faithful missionary on the field must fall into adultery. No faithful pastor in the city must endorse same-sex marriage or any of the satanic doctrines that have bedeviled our world. We can achieve this in the place of prayer. It is time to pray Satan away from drowning Gods faithful servants. And just recently, another prominent servant of God in the US, who has stood the test of time for decades, got into a series of allegations of moral failure that no one believed could be true, given the simplicity of the life he has lived. Hearts were shattered. Homes were broken. Many souls went back from following the Lord. Hell went into celebration again, while heaven mourned. We are in a very serious situation. Sadly, a new generation of believers has arisen many of who are business partners with Satan in mocking and tearing down pastors and churches, given the slightest provocation. They dont know that the fall of one of us is the fall of all of us. It is becoming increasingly difficult for many faithful believers and, most importantly, many faithful pastors to run and finish this race of faith on the platter of truth. The odds are really against us and would increase in intensity as the battles of the last days intensify. True Christian faith is rooted in persecution. Apostle Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, makes it clear, Those that will live godly in Christ will suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12). However, the scars of persecution are not the same as the scars of compromise. It is better to bear scars for standing for the truth, than to bear scars for standing for errors. Sadly, the latter is getting more traction in our world. Friends, take the names of every pastor that you know who is standing for the truth to your prayer altar and bath them in prayers. Enough of these heartbreaks in our midst. The ship of our faith must not sink. No faithful father in the faith must drown. No faithful missionary on the field must fall into adultery. No faithful pastor in the city must endorse same-sex marriage or any of the satanic doctrines that have bedeviled our world. We can achieve this in the place of prayer. It is time to pray Satan away from drowning Gods faithful servants. Ayo Akerele is the senior pastor of Rhema Assembly and the founder of the Voice of the Watchmen in Ontario, Canada. He can be reached through ayoakerele@gmail.com Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print ( Read 2422 Times) The teaser for the Punjabi film "Majnoo" has been unveiled, creating waves with its emotional dialogues and captivating shots. The teaser provides a glimpse into the romantic and emotional aspects of the film, featuring beautifully shot scenes and a poignant dialogue delivered by the lead actress. In the teaser, the backdrop of emotionally charged dialogues adds a special touch, emphasizing the theme of unbridled love hidden within a heart. The film appears to break away from typical Punjabi cinema trends, focusing on a romantic triangle with a unique and impactful presentation. Gurmeet Singh, known for his soul-stirring melodies, has composed the beautiful tunes that complement the film's narrative. His previous work, including songs sung by Hashmat Sultan, Kamal Khan, Nachhatar Gill, Jasmine Akhtar, Simran Bhardwaj, and Shahid Mallya, has set high expectations for the film's music. "Majnoo" produced by Shree Tilok Kothari and directed by Sujad Iqbal Khan, features a talented cast including Preet Bath, Kiran Shergill, Sabby Suri, Nirmal Rishi, Gurpreet Bhangu, Malkit Rauni, Shivendra Mahal, Jugnu Sharma, and Babbar Gill. The film, presented by Shaleemar Productions Limited, promises to deliver a compelling package of love and romance in a captivating narrative. With the release date set for March 22nd, 2024, the anticipation is high among the audience, eagerly awaiting the unveiling of this romantic triangular tale. The film is expected to leave a lasting impact on viewers with its emotional depth and soulful storytelling. Source : This is the second agreement from Grain LNG's competitive auction process which was launched in September 2023. The successful outcome of the auction further secures the future of Europe's largest LNG import terminal into the mid 2040s. Currently undergoing a significant expansion, Grain LNG will soon have enough regasification capacity to service approximately one third of the UK's gas demand, serving as a gateway to the UK energy market as well as the broader European region. The UK has recently seen a significant rise in LNG imports as Europe has diversified its LNG sources. With volumes across its projects - Calcasieu Pass, Plaquemines LNG and CP2 LNG - this investment will bolster Venture Global's status as a strategic supplier to Europe. This flexibility and access to Venture Global's volumes will be critical to the UK and Europe's efforts to replace LNG volumes from other suppliers. To date, Venture Global has exported about 75% of its cargoes to Europe. Mike Sabel, CEO of Venture Global said: "Venture Global is thrilled to announce our first investment in LNG infrastructure outside of the United States, bolstering our ability to supply LNG from all our projects. The Grain LNG terminal is an important gateway to the broader European market, and we look forward to supplying the region through this new access point for years to come." Katie Jackson, President of National Grid Ventures said: "I'm delighted that we are today able to announce the second result from our September auction, commencing a long term partnership with Venture Global. LNG imports play a critical role in making sure the whole of the UK has the gas it needs, when it needs it, providing a flexible and reliable supply of gas to heat peoples' homes. The UK has recently seen a significant rise in LNG imports as Europe has sought alternative energy sources. The addition of our first US customer further diversifies our supplier base, underpins UK consumers' energy security and guarantees the future of our world-class site out to 2045." For further information on Grain LNG, go to: www.grainlng.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2334035/Two_Ships_at_Night_png.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2031724/4529766/venture_Logo.jpg NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The 3D printing medical devices market size is estimated to grow by USD 3.96 billion from 2022 to 2027 at a CAGR of 18.81% according to Technavio. The rising cost efficiency and enhanced productivity is one of the key factors driving growth. 3D printing stands out in manufacturing due to its cost-efficiency, productivity, and unique capabilities. Its additive technique deposits materials layer by layer, facilitating the creation of intricate, freeform, and hybrid structures. The technology provides enhanced design flexibility, potential functional improvements, and cost-effectiveness by minimizing raw material wastage and processing costs. This makes it particularly valuable for creating customized implants and prosthetics used in various medical applications, including spinal, dental, and craniofacial disorders. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global 3D Printing Medical Devices Market 2023-2027 High initial setup costs of 3D printing facilities are one of the key challenges hindering growth. North America is estimated to contribute 39% to the growth during the forecast period. The growth in the region is driven by factors such as robust healthcare infrastructure, widespread adoption of these devices in healthcare facilities, and the presence of key companies. Professional societies, like the Society for Manufacturing Engineers, actively support medical 3D printing. The aging population and the demand for advanced healthcare services further contribute to expansion. 3D Systems Corp., Anatomics Pty Ltd., Autodesk Inc., Biomerics LLC, Boston Scientific Corp., Desktop Metal Inc., EOS GmbH, Formlabs Inc., General Electric Co., Groupe Gorge, INTAMSYS TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD., MATERIALISE NV, Mecuris GmbH, Medtronic Plc, Organovo Holdings Inc., Qualtech Consulting Corp., Renishaw Plc, Schultheiss GmbH, SLM Solutions Group AG, and Stratasys Ltd. are key companies. The adoption of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology and desktop printers is a primary trend shaping the growth. Drivers, Trends, and Challenges have an impact on dynamics and can impact businesses. Find some insights from a free sample report! Why Buy? Add credibility to strategy Analyzes competitor's offerings Get a holistic view of the market Grow your profit margin with Technavio- Buy the Report Coverage: Parent market analysis; key drivers, major trends, and challenges; customer and company landscape; company product insights and recent developments; key companies; and positioning of companies Parent market analysis; key drivers, major trends, and challenges; customer and company landscape; company product insights and recent developments; key companies; and positioning of companies Segments: application (orthopedic and spinal, dental, hearing aids, and others), end-user (hospitals and clinics, academic institutes, pharma and biotech companies, and others ), and geography ( North America , Europe , Asia , and Rest of World (ROW)) Request a Free sample report 3D Printing Medical Devices Overview: 3D printing has revolutionized the production of medical devices, including implants and prostheses, particularly in the field of orthopedic surgery. This technology has significantly impacted healthcare by enabling the customization of medical devices to fit patients' unique anatomies, leading to better outcomes. Hospitals and clinics are adopting 3D printing to create patient-specific implants and prosthetics, improving patient care. The technology has also contributed to advancements in medical specialties, promoting economic growth in the health sciences sector. This intersection of technology and medicine has transformed clinical medicine and medical technology, offering new possibilities for patient treatment and care. What are the key data covered in this report? CAGR during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth between 2023 and 2027 Precise estimation of the size and its contribution to the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the 3D Printing Medical Devices industry across North America , Europe , Asia , and the Rest of the World (ROW) , , , and the Rest of the World (ROW) A thorough analysis of the competitive landscape and detailed information about companies Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of companies Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports The Orthopedic 3D Printed Devices Market size is estimated to grow by USD 1.35 billion at a CAGR of 16.53% between 2023 and 2028. Dental 3D Printing Devices Market size is estimated to grow by USD 1,588.84 million between 2022 and 2027 accelerating at a CAGR of 20.5% during the forecast period. ToC: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Sizes Five Forces Analysis Segmentation by Deployment Segmentation by Type Segmentation by Geography Customer Landscape Geographic Landscape Drivers, Challenges, & Trends Company Landscape Company Analysis Appendix About US Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential areas and assess their competitive positions within changing scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio JERUSALEM, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A first-ever "Indigenous Embassy" was launched in Jerusalem at an impressive event attended by more than 200 people, including ambassadors from all around the world. It is the 100th embassy to be opened in the State of Israel, according to the Chief of State Protocol for Israel's Foreign Ministry. The Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem hosted by Friends of Zion Heritage center in center of Jerusalem. The opening of the first-ever Indigenous Embassy hosted by Friends of Zion Heritage center in Jerusalem (Credit: Yossi Zamir) The Indigenous Embassy in Jerusalem is an international project that opens with strong expression of support from indigenous leaders from all around the world: Singapore, Taiwan, Samoa, American Samoa, Hawaii, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Native American chiefs and paramount chiefs from Southern Africa. Dr. Mike Evans - one of the greatest Evangelicals leaders, founder of Friends of Zion Heritage center, a #1 New York Times bestseller of 118 published books read by 38 million people and Nobel Peace Prize candidate for his contribution fighting antisemitism, declared: "Friends of Zion Heritage center is a Zionist platform dedicated combating anti-Semitism and BDS, which main goal is supporting the Jewish people and the state of Israel. Naturally, the Indigenous Embassy which opened in Jerusalem would operate in its campus. I congratulate ICFI on this decision- opening of an embassy in Jerusalem and thank them for their support in Israel, especially in these times." At the event, Evans quoted from the bible 'Comfort ye my people, saith your God,' (Isaiah 40:1) following that he added "You're going to be an enormous comfort to the nation of Israel. And you are going to be the ambassadors to your nations that are going to be sparking a flame of love, God bless you and thank you." Jerusalem's Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum who spearheaded the initiative along with the ICFI said, "You've become the fifth embassy to open in Jerusalem, and that is very very special. We are grateful to the ICFI leadership for pursuing this initiative, especially during a time of war. The Jewish people are the indigenous people of Israel and so we are thrilled with the support of the global First Peoples's community." Hassan-Nahoum thanked the Friends of Zion and Dr. Mike Evans "for being a visionary of what a Friend of Zion actually means." Gil Haskell, Chief of State Protocol for Israel's Foreign Ministry declared that "the Indigenous Embassy is the exactly 100th embassy to be opened in the State of Israel." and continued "This is a difficult period for the State of Israel but with friends like Mike Evans and all of you here we will prevail." According to Dr Sheree Trotter, ICFI co-founder and one of this project's initiatives: "Antisemitism has seen a disturbing and unprecedented rise in the weeks since 7 October. The indigenous peoples recognize the Jewish people as indigenous to the land of Israel. Further, many view Israel as a truly inspirational expression of self-determination in ancestral homelands. We believe this is the right time to launch the embassy in order to send a strong message of solidarity from indigenous peoples around the world, that we recognize the Jews as indigenous to Israel and stand with her in her struggle against forces that seek her annihilation." Trotter expressed her hope that IEJ will become a hub for indigenous peoples visiting Israel and a tangible expression of their support, and act as a center to 'galvanize' global indigenous support. The embassy will develop a digital production department to counter misinformation about Israel prevalent on social media and "to tell the story of our indigenous friendship." IEJ will not purport to be an official representative of any of the governments that host nations of the respective indigenous peoples. It will engage in educational and cultural initiatives and mutually beneficial collaborative projects. IEJ will foster relationships with Israel, promote understanding and fight antisemitism. Friends of Zion Heritage center was established in 2015, in the center of Israel's capital Jerusalem, by founder Dr. Mike Evans. This is a Zionist platform dedicated to the fight against anti-Semitism and BDS. On of its main goals is bolstering awareness for the historical support of the Christian friends of Israel. In their advanced Media Center, FOZ museum holds dozens of events, activities, and press conferences in line with their vision. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNAjsnH2VHU&ab_channel=FriendsofZionMuseum credit: Gil Mezuman Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2334272/Friends_Of_Zion_Heritage_Center.jpg For inquiries, contact Tal Marom Spokesperson for FOZ [email protected] SOURCE Friends of Zion BEIJING, and TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ADAMA Ltd., a leading global crop protection company, today announced its intent to introduce the novel in-licensed active ingredient Feralla into the European molluscicide market, bringing innovation with real value to farmers. Feralla-based molluscicide products stand out with superior rapid-stop feeding effect and prolonged pellet integrity compared to current Ferric-Phosphate products on the market. Field tests have shown that products using Feralla speed up mollusc death during the first three days following application, resulting in a significant reduction in feeding damage during this time frame. Feralla-based products offer increased palatability to pests due to the unique formulation and proprietary manufacturing process powered by ADAMA's Desidro Technology. This increased palatability contributes to the superior rapid stop feeding effect versus ferric-phosphate products. In addition, the low concentration of active ingredient helps farmers reach their sustainability goals, while achieving increased mortality, and greatly decreased feeding severity. "European farmers are facing significant challenges in pest control, with regulatory restrictions and sustainability concerns limiting their tools," said Darren Palendat, Global Product Strategy Manager for ADAMA. "At ADAMA, we listen to farmers needs and understand the market environment. The development of Feralla-based molluscicides stems directly from these challenges, showing our commitment to providing an effective solution tailored to address their specific concerns." Regulatory approval of Feralla is expected in Europe in 2024, with Feralla based product launches to follow in the UK, France, Spain, Germany and other European countries. The Active Ingredient Feralla has been registered in multiple countries outside Europe. About ADAMA ADAMA Ltd. is a global leader in crop protection, providing solutions to farmers across the world to combat weeds, insects and disease. ADAMA has one of the widest and most diverse portfolios of active ingredients in the world, as well as state-of-the-art R&D, manufacturing and formulation facilities. With a culture that empowers our people to listen to farmers and ideate from the field, ADAMA is uniquely positioned to offer a vast array of distinctive mixtures, formulations and high-quality differentiated products, delivering solutions that meet local farmer and customer needs in over 100 countries globally. For more information, visit us at www.ADAMA.com and follow us on Twitter at @ADAMAAgri. ADAMA Contact: Tal Moise Public Relations Email: [email protected] SOURCE ADAMA Ltd. HONG KONG, Feb. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Agilis Robotics, a leading innovator in surgical robotics, is spearheading a paradigm shift in the field of "incisionless" endoluminal surgery. The company has made remarkable technological breakthroughs in developing highly miniaturized and flexible robotic instruments that offer exceptional dexterity even in the most challenging anatomies. This achievement empowers surgeons to perform intricate tissue resection procedures with precision and ease, directly within natural orifices. Uniquely, the system integrates seamlessly with standard endoscopes used by hospitals and clinics, including colonoscopes and cystoscopes, leveraging existing endoscopic expertise, flattening the learning curve, and improving cost-effectiveness. The robotic instruments offer unprecedented possibilities across endoluminal surgery, spanning the upper and lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract, urinary tract, throat, and gynaecology. Miniaturized robotic instruments for endoluminal surgery The system consists of a primary cart, a compact control console, and disposable robotic arms which ensure performance and sterility. The cost of the system will be less than 20% of conventional robotic systems on the market, resulting in lower upfront investment and higher gross profits for medical institutions. The demand for endoluminal surgeries is surging worldwide, driven by increasing cancer screening and detection of early-stage tumours. With more than 3.5 million new GI cancer cases and 690k bladder cancer cases per year globally, Agilis Robotics is strategically positioned to capture the underserved endoluminal surgery market, allowing patients to receive effective early-stage treatment with reduced procedure time and recurrence rates. Agilis Robotics is a spin-off from The University of Hong Kong and has secured more than HKD 90 million in funding from private investors. The funds are being utilized for further development and preparation for clinical trials. The company has completed six live animal studies with their clinical partners in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, demonstrating promising results for the system's accuracy, safety, and efficacy. First-in-human trials are targeted for the first half of 2024. The company is actively preparing for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) regulatory submissions, which mark a significant milestone towards commercialization. The company's CFO, Hui Ka-Ming, with extensive experience in investing and pre-profit biotech companies, highlights the success of "Chapter 18A" listed companies in the HKEX, despite their relative immaturity compared to Agilis Robotics. Furthermore, Agilis Robotics understands the importance of cost-effectiveness, marketability, and market potential, ensuring a successful venture for investors and hospitals. For media contact, please email: [email protected] SOURCE Agilis Robotics Limited CHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Automotive ethernet market size is projected to grow from USD 2.2 billion in 2023 to USD 5.5 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 19.7%, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The increasing demand for faster in-vehicle networking is expected to increase the demand for automotive ethernet. Additionally, continuous innovation in connected car features will boost the demand for automotive ethernet. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=103704247 Browse in-depth TOC on "Automotive Ethernet Market". 270 - Tables 64 - Figures 269 - Pages Automotive Ethernet Market Scope: Report Coverage Details Market Size USD 5.5 billion by 2028 Growth Rate CAGR of 19.7% Largest Market Europe Market Dynamics Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities & Challenges Forecast Period 2023-2028 Forecast Units Value (USD Million/Billion) Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends Segments Covered Type (Automotive Ethernet Network, Automotive Ethernet Testing), Component Type (Hardware, Software, Services), Bandwidth, Application, Vehicle Type (Passenger Cars & Commercial Vehicles) & Region Geographies Covered Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America Report Highlights Updated financial information / product portfolio of players Key Market Opportunities Advancements in software-defined vehicles Key Market Drivers Booming trend of connected cars Network segment is expected to have largest share in the global automotive ethernet market The network segment is expected to hold the largest share of the automotive ethernet industry during the forecast period. The network section of automotive ethernet is undergoing tremendous growth, exceeding other areas, as the vehicle landscape evolves toward smart features, connectivity, and autonomous driving. The necessity for high-bandwidth connection for infotainment and ADAS, the cost-effectiveness and scalability of ethernet compared to older CAN bus systems, and its role in enabling crucial technologies like V2X communication are all driving this boom. Automotive ethernet product and solution providers are working closely with automakers to develop and provide efficient solutions. For instance, NXP Semiconductors announced in July 2023 that it will be working together with Mahindra and Mahindra, Ltd. (India) over connected vehicles. Automotive ethernet, with its improved data processing capabilities and futureproof architecture, serves as the foundation for next-generation cars, assuring safer, more efficient, and more sophisticated transportation experiences. 2.5/5/10 Gbps bandwidth segment is estimated to exhibit the fastest growth in global automotive ethernet market The 2.5/5/10 Gbps bandwidth range in automotive Ethernet signifies an exponential leap in data transfer rates, facilitating ultra-high-speed communication within vehicles. This standard enables a host of highly data-intensive applications, including extremely high-definition multimedia streaming, intricate real-time sensor fusion for advanced autonomous driving systems, and the seamless integration of complex vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communication. This 2.5/5/10 Gbps bandwidths are defined by IEEE 802.3ch. PAM4 encoding, full duplex transmission, and a point-to-point topology are used by 2.5/5/10 Gbps bandwidths. These bandwidths allow the high data speeds required for autonomous driving systems. To deliver high-resolution video for image recognition, these applications demand lossless video transmission. Autonomous driving systems are linked to actuators that can assume control of the car, and there must be no interruptions in the video or other connections. Multiple companies in automotive ethernet market are providing products and solutions capable of supporting such high bandwidth. For example, Q6223 automotive ethernet switch was released by Marvell Technology, Inc. in June 2023 which houses multiple PHYs capable of 2.5 Gbps data transfer speed. Germany to lead the electric vehicle tires market in Europe Germany is expected to be the largest market in Europe for electric vehicle tires during the forecast period. Automotive Ethernet is growing rapidly in Germany, owing to the country's position as a worldwide automotive powerhouse and its continuous dedication to technical innovation. Germany, known for engineering prowess and cutting-edge automobile manufacture, is at the forefront of driving automotive developments. The country's automotive and technology behemoths are actively leading R&D efforts, with an emphasis on incorporating modern technologies such as driver monitoring, OTA software updates, and high-speed networking solutions into automobiles. The primary elements driving its growth in Germany include the industry's relentless pursuit of technological advancements, government support for research and innovation, stringent safety standards that necessitate robust in-vehicle networking solutions, and a consumer base that increasingly demands vehicles with cutting-edge safety features and seamless connectivity. Germany has a significant presence of automotive ethernet product and solutions providers such as Rhode & Schwarz, Ruetz System Solutions GmbH, Infineon Technologies AG and TSN Systems GmbH. In February 2023, Rhode & Schwarz announced an investment of USD 65.2 million to develop a new research and manufacturing center in the country. Inquire Before Buying: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=103704247 Key Market Players: The major players in Automotive Ethernet Companies include Broadcom (US), Marvell (US), Microchip Technology Inc. (US), NXP Semiconductors (Netherlands), and Texas Instruments Incorporated (US), among others. Recent Developments In November 2023 , Broadcom announced the completion of its acquisition of VMware, Inc. (US) for around USD 61.0 Billion . This acquisition will help speed innovation and provide more options and flexibility for building, running, managing, connecting, and protecting applications at scale. , Broadcom announced the completion of its acquisition of VMware, Inc. (US) for around . This acquisition will help speed innovation and provide more options and flexibility for building, running, managing, connecting, and protecting applications at scale. In October 2023 , Microchip Technology Inc. announced the expansion of its Detroit Automotive Technology Center in Novi, Michigan . The new 24,000-square-foot building features additional high-voltage and E-mobility labs, along with technical training rooms for automotive clients to create and improve solutions. , Microchip Technology Inc. announced the expansion of its Detroit Automotive Technology Center in . The new 24,000-square-foot building features additional high-voltage and E-mobility labs, along with technical training rooms for automotive clients to create and improve solutions. In September 2023 , Marvell announced the plans for a new R&D center in Pune, India . This upcoming establishment is expected to double the current workforce capacity. , Marvell announced the plans for a new R&D center in . This upcoming establishment is expected to double the current workforce capacity. In September 2023 , Cadence Design Systems, Inc. announced the completion of the acquisition of Intrinsix Corporation from CEVA for USD 35.0 Million . This acquisition will help Cadence Design Systems, Inc. get ahead in high-growth sectors such as automotive and consumer electronics through newly gained expertise in advanced nodes, radio frequency, mixed signal, and security algorithms. , Cadence Design Systems, Inc. announced the completion of the acquisition of Intrinsix Corporation from CEVA for . This acquisition will help Cadence Design Systems, Inc. get ahead in high-growth sectors such as automotive and consumer electronics through newly gained expertise in advanced nodes, radio frequency, mixed signal, and security algorithms. In July 2023 , NXP Semiconductors announced a collaboration with VinFast ( Vietnam ) in the early stages of new VinFast automotive projects, using NXP's extensive range of system solutions for cutting-edge applications. , NXP Semiconductors announced a collaboration with VinFast ( ) in the early stages of new VinFast automotive projects, using NXP's extensive range of system solutions for cutting-edge applications. In June 2023 , Texas Instruments Incorporated announced intentions to extend its internal manufacturing footprint in Malaysia by establishing two new assembly and testing facilities in Kuala Lumpur and Melaka. These investments, totaling USD 2.0 billion and USD 1.0 billion , will assist TI's ambition to move 90% of its assembly and testing activities in-house by 2030 to have greater supply control. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=103704247 Browse Adjacent Market: Automotive and Transportation Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Automotive LiDAR Market - Global Forecast to 2030 Automotive Communication Technology Market - Global Forecast to 2025 Connected Car Market - Global Forecast to 2026 About MarketsandMarkets: MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients. Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America's best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes. The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines - TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing. Built on the 'GIVE Growth' principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies - helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry. To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/automotive-ethernet-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/automotive-ethernet.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Starting today, BK is launching its first-ever Million Dollar Whopper Contest* in the U.S. MIAMI, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Calling all flame-grilled fanatics, culinary creators and A.I. aficionados Burger King, the home of the flame-grilled Whopper sandwich, has a million-dollar question for you: how would you top your Whopper? Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/9247251-burger-king-million-dollar-whopper-contest From February 5 - March 17, Burger King Guests can share their dream Whopper creation for the chance to win a $1 million grand prize. How will you top your Whopper? For more information and to enter, visit BK.com/MDW. The flame-grilled Whopper currently offers more than 200,000 customized combinations, but if youve ever wanted to top the flavorful burger with savory sensations or sweet and sour showstoppers, then your moment to shine has officially arrived. For more information, visit BK.com/MDW. Starting today, Guests can let their imaginations run wild and enter the Million Dollar Whopper Contest, submitting the ingredients for their dream Whopper sandwich for a chance at a $1 million prize* and seeing their creation sold in restaurants nationwide for a limited time. The flame-grilled Whopper currently offers more than 200,000 possible customized combinations, but if you've ever wanted to top the flavorful burger with savory sensations or sweet and sour showstoppers, then your moment to shine has officially arrived. Since its debut in 1957, the Whopper sandwich has transcended from a signature item at Burger King to a cultural icon recognized worldwide through its flame-grilled taste and inescapable jingle. Created with lb.** of flame-grilled beef and classic toppings, the Whopper has been reimagined by the Burger King culinary team throughout the years from the Angry Whopper to the Ghost Pepper Whopper and more but now, for the very first time, Burger King is putting the sandwich in the hands (and creativity) of its Guests. Entering the Million Dollar Whopper Contest is as easy as 3-2-1 (million): Burger King fans can visit BK.com/MDW or the BK App (no purchase necessary) to submit their Whopper creation now through Sunday, March 17 , using their free Royal Perks account. , using their free account. Guests can follow the prompts to submit their Whopper sandwich concept, which can feature up to eight toppings. After submitting their Million Dollar Whopper idea contest entry, with the power of artificial intelligence (A.I.), they will receive a preview A.I. version of their flame-grilled creation, to which they can then add a personalized A.I. generated-jingle, and a thematic background. The final image or video can then be shared across their social media platforms. Later this year, three Whopper sandwich creations will be selected by the contest judges, and the three finalists representing the selected Whopper sandwich ideas will be invited to Burger King headquarters in Miami, where they will have the opportunity to refine their concepts before they appear on menus nationwide for a limited time later this year. Guests will then have a chance to try out the three final Whopper creations and vote on their favorite Million Dollar Whopper, with the finalist who receives the most votes taking home the $1 million prize. "Burger King is all about Having It Your Way, and this contest is a true embodiment of that. More than 50% of Guests customize their Whopper sandwich, and now, the possibilities of what those customizations include are endless," said Pat O'Toole, Chief Marketing Officer. "And, whether or not your Whopper ends up in restaurants nationwide, we're giving Guests the opportunity to experience and share their creation using the power of A.I. technology." The fun doesn't stop there. On Feb. 17 and 18, Burger King Guests in the Los Angeles area can visit "Million Dollar Whopper World" at the Santa Monica Pier an immersive pop-up experience that will allow them to sample a California-inspired Whopper sandwich, or create their own Million Dollar Whopper Contest inspired sandwich, using a number of ingredients that can't be found in restaurant, snag exclusive merch and more. For more information on the Million Dollar Whopper Contest, to become a Royal Perks member or to find your nearest Burger King restaurant, please visit www.bk.com. *NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 U. S./D.C., 18 years or older (19 years or older in AL/NE). BK Royal perks account required. Enter Contest by 3/17/24. See bk.com/mdw for contest rules, entry requirements, judging criteria & prizes. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. **Weight based on pre-cooked patty ABOUT BURGER KING Founded in 1954, the Burger King brand is a global quick service hamburger chain known for food quality and value and as the only place guests can get the iconic flame-grilled Whopper sandwich. The Burger King system operates more than 19,000 locations in more than 100 countries and U.S. territories. Almost 100 percent of Burger King restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, many of them family-owned operations that have been in business for decades. To learn more about the Burger King brand, please visit the official brand website at www.bk.com or the newsroom at news.bk.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE Burger King DUBLIN, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Carrefour S.A - Digital Transformation Strategies" company profile has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides insight into Carrefour's retail activities, including its digital transformation strategies, its innovation programs, its technology initiatives, its estimated ICT budget, and its major ICT contracts. Carrefour S.A. (Carrefour) is a global consumer goods retailer that operates multi-format and omni-channel retail platforms. The company owns and operates a wide network of hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, and cash and carry stores worldwide. The company provides a portfolio of food and non-food products, including fresh produce, local specialties, consumer goods, clothing, consumer electronics, home furnishing goods, and cultural goods. Carrefour also offers various services such as ticket booking, floral service, home delivery, photo printing, and track rental services. The company's operations spread across Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Scope Carrefour aims to achieve threefold increase in its ecommerce gross merchandise value to reach 10bn by 2026, it will also invest 3 billion between 2022 and 2026 to boost digital commerce and profits. Carrefour initiated the move2cloud strategy for migrating its information technology systems to the cloud. Till date it has already moved 30% of group applications to the cloud and aims to become a fully cloud-based company by 2026. Carrefour is tapping the power of AI to optimize its supply chain including inventory management, and reduce waste. AI solutions help the company efficiently manage inventory levels across its warehouses serving both physical outlets and ecommerce services. Carrefour is leveraging blockchain technology to allow customers get details related to products they consume. Customers can scan the QR code on the packaging using their smartphone and track the entire lifecycle of the product. Carrefour has partnered with Capgemini and SAP to deploy SAP S/4HANA solution, ensuring financial and accounting data are distributed in a transparent, simple and accessible manner. Reasons to Buy Gain insights into Carrefour's tech operations. Gain insights into its tech strategies and innovation initiatives. Gain insights into its technology themes under focus. Gain insights into various product launches, partnerships, investments and acquisition strategies. Key Topics Covered: Overview Digital Transformation Strategy Accelerators, Incubators, and Other Innovation Programs Technology Focus Technology Initiatives Acquisitions Partnership and Acquisitions Network Map ICT Budget and Contracts Key Executives Contact the Publisher A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes Rappi Yode Group Talabat SGS Advantech Intel AiFi Zaitt Tencent Mastercard BNP Paribas A3BC Worldline Insider Symphony RetailAI Food-X Technologies SAS Capgemini Google Cloud IBM TASIL NielsenIQ Brandbank Meta Criteo Smartly.io Tradelab Marmiton 750g Sirqul Semtech Generix Group Pricer Oracle LiveRamp Yandex Majid Al Futtaim Takeoff Technologies Meridiam Plug Power Thread in Motion Appier AiDeal VTEX Tremend TerraCycle Jumia JD Daojia Publicis.Sapient Uber Eats Deliveroo For more information about this company profile visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/g25hea About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets PARIS, Feb. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 31, the concert celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations and the commencement of the 2024 China-France Year of Culture and Tourism took place at the Royal Opera of the Palace of Versailles, France. During the event, Yanghe launched a special gift box of Yanghe Spirit Classic, Dream Blue M6+ to celebrate the 60 years of bilateral relations. Yanghe, played a symphony of beauty with liquor, resonating with peace and unity. While showcasing the mutual exchanges of Chinese and French cultures, it presented the global audience a gala of liquor and art. Yanghe launched a special gift box of Yanghe Spirit Classic, Dream Blue M6+ to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations. The concert featured the harmonious interplay of Chinese folk music and French symphony, including pieces like Carmen Overture. The audience also appreciated Zhao Cong's pipa concerto "Flying Apsaras on the Silk Road". This presentation showcased the fascinating charm of the integration of Chinese and Western cultures, introducing excellent Chinese culture to the world. The special edition of Dream Blue M6+ launched by Yanghe for the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-France diplomatic relations marked a milestone of the company's internationalization strategy. The gift box, designed for the series of events for the 2024 China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, will be used in particular for receptions. Serving as a witness of the important setting and historical milestone in the diplomacy between China and France, the design of the gift box is based on the symbolic images of the Chinese dragon and the French Gallic rooster, representing the auspicious meaning of "harmony between the dragon and the phoenix". With a dedicated 60th-anniversary logo and the fusion of the two nations in the design, Yanghe showed its responsibility and commitment as a Chinese brand, conveying heartfelt blessings for the friendship between the two countries. As an outstanding representative of Chinese liquor, Yanghe established a global marketing network years ago. It was one of the first in the industry to promote its brand globally and engage in cultural publicity. Since 2013, when China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, Yanghe has then embarked on a magnificent cultural journey. As of today, Yanghe's liquor fragrances have reached 63 countries and regions in six continents, becoming a part of people's lives worldwide. SOURCE Yanghe Distillery Leading sustainability summit will unite global leaders across business, policy, science, and activism to drive solutions. DALLAS, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EarthX will host Earthx2024, an unprecedented Congress of Conferences from April 22-26, 2024, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, TX. The event will bring together thousands of people and organizations globally to collaborate on actionable solutions for energy, oceans, climate, business, policy, and more. EARTHX 2024 ANNOUNCES 9th ANNUAL CONGRESS OF CONFERENCES ON SUSTAINABILITY Leading sustainability summit will unite global leaders across business, policy, science, and activism to drive solutions Earthx2024 will feature 80+ speakers and sessions across 5 days exploring diverse sustainability topics. Each day will highlight a unique theme, including "The Future of Energy," "Circular Economy," "Money, Power, and Politics," "Oceans and Philanthropy," and "Wildlife and Ocean Conservation." Programming will catalyze unprecedented collaboration through debates, roundtables, summits, and open dialogue among leaders across the ideological spectrum. "As we embark on the Earthx2024 Congress of Conferences, we are not just hosting a conference; we are fostering a global dialogue on sustainability," said EarthX CEO Rajan Singh. "Our mission is to unite thought leaders, visionaries, and change-makers to inspire actionable solutions for a more sustainable future. Together, we can create a profound impact that resonates across borders, making our planet a better place for generations to come." The conference will feature a lineup including influential speakers such as Van Jones, Jay Faison, Chris Ruddy CEO NewsMax, Ivan Carter, Benji Backer, Robert Kaplan, and many more, representing diverse perspectives and initiatives globally. Earthx2024 will facilitate collaborations through interactive sessions, debates, summits, and open dialogue to drive sustainability solutions across business, policy, science, and activism. To learn more and get involved, visit www.earthx.org. About EarthX EarthX, a brand under the umbrella of Earth Day Texas Inc., was established in 2010 as a 501(c)(3) organization, initially focused on supporting Earth Day festivities in Dallas. Since its inception, EarthX has evolved into a prominent international nonprofit and a leading global environmental entity. Our overarching mission is to cultivate environmental awareness, promote education, and ignite a fervor for sustainable practices among individuals and organizations, propelling us collectively towards a more eco-conscious future. At the forefront of our initiatives, EarthX spearheads EarthxTV, a groundbreaking 24/7 linear television network committed to captivating and enlightening audiences worldwide. Broadcasting in over 60 million homes internationally, our reach extends far and wide. Headquartered in the vibrant city of Dallas, Texas, EarthX Media Inc. is dedicated to weaving together the threads of environmental consciousness. Explore the impactful work we do at EarthX by visiting EarthX.org, and join the conversation on Instagram and Facebook by following @earthxorg SOURCE EarthX DUBLIN, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Cutlery Market Forecasts from 2023 to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global cutlery market is projected to witness a compound annual growth rate of 2.12% to grow to US$8.826 billion by 2028 from US$7.622 billion in 2021. The increasing number of food service restaurants coupled with an increase in hotels, cafes, and other food service joints is increasing the demand for high-quality cutlery products to serve their consumers. With increasing demand in food service establishments, there is an increasing surge for premium quality knives, and forks, among others. Moreover, the increase in technological advancement as it has made the production procedures easy is also one of the reasons boosting the global cutlery market growth. Furthermore, the increase in e-commerce is boosting the global cutlery market in the projected period. Also, the increasing popularity of culinary shows on TV and video-on-demand networks has introduced viewers and cooking lovers to various cuisines and various cutlery options such as chopsticks with were initially used in Japan but have become famous all around the world, such globalization of cutlery is pushing the global cutlery market towards an upward curve. Rising preference for fine dining The growing number of fine dining restaurants along with growing per capita income in developing countries is aiding the global cutlery market growth. Further, the growing use of new and innovative products with advanced materials like carbon fiber, synthetic fibers, ceramics, and titanium alloys is increasing the demand for new and improved cutlery in the projected period. For instance, to keep up with the demand for new products Eco-Products launched its newest line of sustainable products of compostable cutlery. According to OEC World, the top importers of cutlery sets plated with precious metal in 2021 were France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Ireland with imports worth 4.94, 4.79, 3.28, 3.10, and 2.81 million respectively. The increasing imports in France can be attributed to the presence of a large number of fine dining restaurants coupled with increasing visits of tourist to such places In North America, it is projected that the global cutlery market will grow steadily. The North American region is estimated to have a large share during the projected period due to the market players that are involved in matching client expectations by offering quality cutlery sets and items. Additionally, there is an increase in financing for R&D initiatives to identify better composition and raw materials, which will enhance the efficacy and efficiency of the cutlery products and fuel the regional cutlery market. The United States is anticipated to be the largest growing market during the forecast period The United States cutlery market is growing owing to the increased demand for edible cutlery, as people are more concerned about the environment and are switching to decompostable and edible cutlery. The market is also growing due to growth in government initiatives and various product developments in the nation. According to the US Census Bureau, the import of cookware, cutlery, and tools increased from 1, 069 million dollars in May to 1, 079 million dollars in June 2023. This import growth is due to the rising demand for an improved dining experience. Manufacturers in the nation are further focusing on product innovation, diminishing the use of plastics and using environmentally friendly products. For instance, Sabert Corporation announced the introduction of a new line of compostable paper cutlery in April 2022. The cutlery line is recyclable and constructed of FSCTM-certified paper. The set comes with a 13cm coffee spoon, a 17cm fork, a 17cm knife, and four 17cm spoons. Market Key Developments In August 2023 , the family-owned American manufacturer Benchmade Knife Company (Benchmade) unveiled a newly designed website with a digital makeover that highlights the brand's dedication to quality. , the family-owned American manufacturer Benchmade Knife Company (Benchmade) unveiled a newly designed website with a digital makeover that highlights the brand's dedication to quality. In June 2023 , Sabert, a leading producer of sustainable food packaging solutions in the United States , unveiled its EcoEdge line of patented recyclable and biodegradable paper cutlery. , Sabert, a leading producer of sustainable food packaging solutions in , unveiled its EcoEdge line of patented recyclable and biodegradable paper cutlery. In April 2023 , Eco-items introduced compostable cutlery with a distinctive, user-friendly design that is constructed from birch wood and has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) as the newest range of eco-friendly items. Company Profiles Boker Baumwerk GmbH Solingen Carl Schmidt Sohn GmbH Kyocera Corporation BergHOFF Ergo Chef Stanley Rogers Fiskars Group W.Wright KitchenAid ZWILLING Market Segmentation: By Product Type Forks Table Fork Dessert Fork Others Spoons Teaspoon Tablespoon Dessert Others Knives Bread Knife Meat Knife Dessert Knife Others By Price Range Low End Medium Range Premium By Material Stainless Steel Plastic Sliver Others By Distribution Channel Online Offline By Geography North America United States Canada Mexico South America Brazil Argentina Others Europe United Kingdom Germany France Spain Others Middle East and Africa and Saudi Arabia UAE Israel Others Asia Pacific Japan China India South Korea Indonesia Thailand Others For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2ueuxh About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets SINGAPORE, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- High Point Aerotechnologies (HPA), a leading provider of counter-drone solutions, is proud to announce the opening of its new regional subsidiary, High Point Technologies Pte Ltd (HPT), with its headquarters in Singapore. This strategic move positions HPA as a dominant force in Southeast Asia's rapidly growing counter-drone market, enabling the company to provide enhanced support to governments, civil aviation authorities, law enforcement agencies, and critical infrastructure providers across the region. HPA launch party in the USA with subsidiaries in U.K. and now Singapore Strategic Location for Expanded Growth Singapore's central location, world-class infrastructure, and commitment to technological innovation make it an ideal base for HPA's regional operations. The new office will serve as a hub for HPA's sales, marketing, customer support, and training activities, allowing the company to build stronger relationships with regional stakeholders. Al White, CEO of High Point Aerotechnologies, stated, "We are thrilled to open our doors in Singapore, a dynamic and forward-thinking nation at the forefront of technological advancement. This expansion underscores our commitment to providing comprehensive counter-drone solutions to governments and organizations across Southeast Asia, as we have in the region for over 10 years. With our dedicated team of experts based in Singapore, we are confident in our ability to address the evolving drone threats in the region and ensure the safety and security of our partners." White noted that the Company plans to host an inauguration ceremony during the upcoming Singapore Airshow, and anticipates additional announcements related to key personnel soon. Enhanced Support for Regional Governments HPA's expanded presence in Singapore will enable the Company to provide more comprehensive support to regional governments. This includes: Collaborative partnerships: Working closely with civil aviation authorities and law enforcement agencies to develop and implement effective counter-drone strategies. Technology transfer: Providing governments access to HPA's cutting-edge counter-drone technologies and training programs. Regional expertise: Leveraging HPA's deep understanding of the unique drone threats in Southeast Asia to tailor solutions to specific needs. While leadership details of the office have yet to be announced, the company revealed its plans to host on-site interviews for various positions during the upcoming Singapore Airshow. About High Point Aerotechnologies High Point Aerotechnologies is a global leader in counter-uncrewed autonomous systems (CUxS / CUAS) solution development across air, land, and maritime domains. Its innovative physical solutions and DefenseOS open architecture software environment enable operations at machine speed to detect, identify, track, and defeat UAS and other conventional and autonomous threats. High Point offers an array of integrated, interoperable solutions to provide fixed, mobile, and distributed C-UAS capabilities for civilian, military, and critical infrastructure clients High Point has active C-UAS solution deployments in more than 15 countries worldwide. Learn more at highpointaerotech.com. SOURCE High Point Aerotechnologies DUBLIN, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The "IPM Pheromones Market - Forecasts from 2023 to 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. With a value of US$0.744 billion in 2021, the market is forecasted to expand significantly with a CAGR of 11.53%, reaching US$1.597 billion by 2028 As a critical component in the fight against crop-affecting pests, IPM pheromones are gaining traction among growers for their ability to monitor and control insect populations effectively without the detrimental impacts associated with traditional pesticides. The global IPM pheromones market is poised for substantial growth, according to the latest market analysis report, which has been added to our comprehensive research repository. As the world leans towards eco-friendly and sustainable agricultural practices, integrated pest management (IPM) stands at the forefront, propelling the demand for IPM pheromones. North America is a major contributor to the market's success, showcasing rapid adoption rates owing to the region's robust agricultural industry and intensifying shift towards organic farming practices. In the United States and Canada, farmers have increasingly recognized the environmental, economic, and social advantages offered by IPM pheromones. This uptake is supported by promising initiatives from regional industry players, as well as burgeoning demands for high-quality, organic produce. Market Developments Signaling a Shift towards Safer Pest Control Solutions Noteworthy developments within the market display a tangible commitment to innovation and sustainability. Partnerships and acquisitions by companies underline the sectors' push towards integrating pheromone-based technologies into mainstream agriculture, highlighting an industry-wide pivot to more conscientious pest control methodologies. Within the market's segmentation, the report delineates multiple categories based on product, function, mode of application, crop type, and geographical distribution. These detailed segmentations underscore the varied applications of IPM pheromones and provide vital insights into the demographic trends shaping the industry's trajectory. Thorough analysis delineates growth trajectories across various sectors, including mating disruption, detection and monitoring, and mass trapping. Diverse application methods such as traps, sprayers, and dispensers are examined to gauge efficacy and user adoption rates. Data-driven insights describe market dynamics across staple crops, again reiterating the technology's wide-reaching implications and benefits for farming communities. The significance of the IPM pheromones market is further accentuated by its potential to address mounting challenges related to food security, sustainable agriculture, and environmental conservation. The comprehensive research document offers in-depth analysis and forecasts that are vital for stakeholders, policymakers, and market participants keen on understanding the nuances of this burgeoning sector. Farmers, agronomists, researchers, and industry players are all set to benefit from the insights provided by this richly detailed market analysis. As the industry continues to evolve, the role of IPM pheromones in fostering sustainable agricultural practices is expected to become increasingly critical, thereby promising lucrative opportunities for growth and innovation within the sector. Companies Mentioned Syngenta Bioline Russell IPM Sumi Agro France Hercon Environmental BASF SE Shin-Etsu Isagro ISCA Technologies Pacific Biocontrol Corporation Suterra Market Segmentation: By Product Pheromones Aggregation Pheromones Others By Function Mating Disruption Detection and monitoring Mass Trapping By Mode of Application Traps Sprayers Dispensers By Crop Field Crops Vegetable Crops Others By Geography North America United States Canada Mexico South America Brazil Argentina Others Europe United Kingdom Germany France Spain Others Middle East and Africa and Saudi Arabia UAE Israel Others Asia Pacific Japan China India South Korea Indonesia Thailand Others For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/4fr8to About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets STAMFORD, Conn., Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION FERRARO FAMILY FOUNDATION, INC. and JAMES L. FERRARO, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. CORCEPT THERAPEUTICS INCORPORATED, JOSEPH K. BELANOFF, CHARLES ROBB, and SEAN MADUCK, Defendants. Case No. 3:19-CV-01372-JD SUMMARY NOTICE OF PENDENCY OF CLASS ACTION AND PROPOSED SETTLEMENT, FINAL APPROVAL HEARING AND MOTION FOR ATTORNEYS' FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF LITIGATION EXPENSES TO: All Persons that during the period from August 2, 2017 through January 31, 2019, inclusive (the "Settlement Class Period"), purchased or otherwise acquired the common stock or options to purchase common stock of Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated (the "Settlement Class"). PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY. YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA (THE "COURT"). PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT, CORCEPT THERAPEUTICS INCORPORATED, OR ANY OTHER DEFENDANT, OR THEIR COUNSEL, REGARDING THIS NOTICE. ALL QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS NOTICE, THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT, OR YOUR ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO LEAD COUNSEL OR THE CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR, WHOSE CONTACT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED BELOW. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and an Order of the Court, that the Settlement Class in the above-captioned litigation (the "Action") has been preliminarily certified for the purposes of the proposed Settlement only. YOU ARE ALSO NOTIFIED that the Ferraro Group (consisting of the Ferraro Family Foundation, Inc. and James L. Ferraro) ("Lead Plaintiff"), on behalf of itself and the proposed Settlement Class, and the Defendants have reached a proposed settlement of the Action for $14 million in cash (the "Settlement Amount"), that, if approved, will resolve all claims in the Action (the "Settlement"). A hearing (the "Final Approval Hearing") will be held before the Honorable James Donato, United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of California, either via telephonic or video conference, or in Courtroom 11, 19th Floor, San Francisco Courthouse, 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco, California 94102 at 10:00 a.m. on June 6, 2024, to, among other things, determine whether: (i) the proposed Settlement should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable and adequate; (ii) the Action against the Defendants should be dismissed with prejudice, as set forth in the Stipulation of Settlement ("Stipulation"), dated April 11, 2023; (iii) the proposed Plan of Allocation for distribution of the Settlement Fund, and any interest earned thereon, less Taxes, Notice and Administration Costs, Litigation Expenses awarded by the Court, attorneys' fees awarded by the Court and any other costs, expenses or amounts as may be approved by the Court (the "Net Settlement Fund"), should be approved as fair and reasonable; (iv) the application of Lead Counsel for an award of attorneys' fees and reimbursement of Litigation Expenses should be approved; and (v) the application for an award to pay the time and expenses of Lead Plaintiff should be approved.1 The Court may change the date of the Final Approval Hearing without providing another notice. You do NOT need to attend the Final Approval Hearing in order to receive a distribution from the Net Settlement Fund. IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE SETTLEMENT CLASS, YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AND YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO SHARE IN THE NET SETTLEMENT FUND. If you have not yet received (i) the printed Notice of Pendency of Class Action and Proposed Settlement, Final Approval Hearing and Motion for Attorneys' Fees and Reimbursement of Litigation Expenses ("Notice") or (ii) the Proof of Claim and Release form ("Claim Form"), you may obtain a copy of those documents from the Settlement website www.CorceptSecuritiesLitigation.com or by contacting the Claims Administrator: Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated Securities Litigation Claims Administrator c/o A.B. Data, Ltd. P.O. Box 173029 Milwaukee, WI 53217 Please refer to the website for more detailed information and to review the Settlement documents. Inquiries other than requests for information about the status of a claim may also be made to Lead Counsel: Shannon L. Hopkins Gregory M. Potrepka Levi & Korsinsky, LLP 1111 Summer Street, Suite 403 Stamford, CT 06905 Telephone: (203) 992-4523 If you are a potential Settlement Class Member, to be eligible to share in the distribution of the Net Settlement Fund, you must timely submit a valid Claim Form, which can be found on the website listed above, postmarked no later than May 13, 2024. If you are a potential Settlement Class Member and do not submit a valid Claim Form, you will not be eligible to share in the distribution of the Net Settlement Fund, but you will nevertheless be bound by any judgments or orders entered by the Court in the Action. 1 The Notice and the Stipulation, available for download at www.CorceptSecuritiesLitigation.com, contain additional information concerning the Settlement and the definitions, and further explanation, of many of the defined terms used in this Summary Notice (which are indicated by initial capital letters). If you are a potential Settlement Class Member, but wish to exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you must submit a written request for exclusion in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Notice, which can also be found on the website, postmarked no later than May 13, 2024. If you properly exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you will not be eligible to share in the Net Settlement Fund. If you are a potential Settlement Class Member and do not timely exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you will be bound by any judgments or orders entered by the Court in the Action. Any objections to the proposed Settlement, Plan of Allocation, Lead Counsel's application for attorneys' fees and reimbursement of Litigation Expenses, or the application for an award to pay the time and expenses of Lead Plaintiff must be submitted to the Court in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Notice, including by filing with the Court no later than May 13, 2024, and postmarked or emailed to the Settling Parties' counsel no later than May 13, 2024. DATED: FEBRUARY 5, 2024 THE HONORABLE JAMES DONATO United States District Court Judge, United States District Court for The Northern District of California SOURCE Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Award-winning hospitality developer's latest offering set to add value to Ras Al Khaimah's expanding luxury real estate sector RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Marjan, the master developer of freehold properties in Ras Al Khaimah, has signed an agreement with Range Developments to launch three new exclusive properties on Al Marjan Island, the Northern Emirate's premium tourism, business and investment destination. The distinctive luxury offerings comprising The Beach House, The Beach Residences and Beach Vista will fuel the growth of Ras Al Khaimah's expanding luxury real estate sector. From left to right: Tariq Bsharat, Director of Strategy & Business Development; Abdulla Al Abdooli, Chief Executive Office of Marjan; Mohammed Asaria, Managing Director, Member of the Board of Range Developments; Riaz Sharif, Managing Director, Member of the Board of Range Developments (PRNewsfoto/Range Developments) The project marks Range Developments' debut in the UAE market bringing its exceptional expertise in developing 5-star hotels in Dominica, St. Kitts and Grenada. The upscale beachside residential buildings, each with its own distinctive design and offerings, will further add to the allure of Ras Al Khaimah as a sought-after destination for residents, tourists and investors. The Beach House is a collection of 88 apartments with a mix of studios and 3-bedroom simplex and duplex apartments set in prime beachfront location boasting stunning sea views. With striking floor to ceiling windows that frame the panoramic beach views, it is the perfect space for individuals and families seeking to find the ultimate retreat for mind, body and soul cocooned by the serenity of the Arabian Gulf. With 412 apartments and 11 townhouses, The Beach Residences is a masterpiece of modern design and comfort. The project is set to redefine the concept of waterfront living with custom built high-quality features combining style and functionality offering up an unparalleled living experience. The Beach Vista similarly is positioned on prime beachfront real estate, showcasing the perfect space for end users as well as discerning investors seeking to buy into the booming lifestyle destination. Arch. Abdulla Al Abdouli, Chief Executive Officer, Marjan, said: "Our agreement with Range Developments to build three new luxury properties, furthers our goal to redefine the high-end real estate sector at Al Marjan Island. With its stunning waterfront locale, Al Marjan Island offers the perfect venue for those seeking to set up elevated residences that boast world-class amenities in the heart of a thriving eco-system like Ras Al Khaimah. Range Developments' industry expertise and leadership will no doubt elevate this space into a truly sought-after destination that will only add to the emirate's vibrant allure among homeowners and investors alike." Mohammed Asaria, Joint Managing Director and Member of the Board of Range Developments, Range Developments, added: "We are harnessing our wealth of beachfront development across the world to Ras Al Khaimah and Al Marjan Islands. We pride ourselves on our vision to present distinct offerings to fuel the growth of Ras Al Khaimah's expanding luxury real estate sector. All the three luxury properties are set to elevate the lifestyle at Al Marjan Island adding to Ras Al Khaimah's draw as a premium tourist and real estate destination. The strategic combination of our seasoned expertise in this sector with our focus on innovative projects, positions Range Developments as a driving force in shaping the landscape of high-end real estate in the region." The addition of three new luxury properties to the burgeoning skyline of Al Marjan Island, further showcases the international appeal of Ras Al Khaimah among property developers and real estate magnates. Riaz Shariff, Joint Managing Director and Member of the Board of Range Developments, said: "With its economic stability, rising property prices, booming tourism sector, tax benefits, and high rental yields, Ras Al Khaimah offers the perfect investment destination. Range Developments' site selection, building design and interior aesthetic have been carefully curated to cater to end-users and investors alike." With a booming demand for high-end ultra net worth properties to stay and invest in, the northern emirate has in recent times showcased its allure as a cultural and economic hotspot that's gaining greater global outreach. A sharp focus on sustainable growth alongside unparalleled waterfront living has boosted the emirate's real estate appeal. About Marjan Marjan is the master-developer of freehold property in Ras Al Khaimah, responsible for path-breaking developments such as Al Marjan Island aimed at positioning Ras Al Khaimah as one of the region's leading tourism and investment destinations. Mandated with developing waterfront, urban and mountain destinations that will add to the competitiveness of the Emirate, Marjan's strategic master-planning approach is to leverage Ras Al Khaimah's natural assets and lay the foundations of the Emirate's future expansions. Through its world-class master-planned communities in Ras Al Khaimah, Marjan attracts foreign investment as well as international visitors and positions the emirate as a strong investment and tourism hub. Media Queries: ASDA'A BCW [email protected] About Range Developments Range Developments is an award-wining developer with more than a decade of experience, completing the Park Hyatt St. Kitts (CNN named it 'Best New Hotel in the Caribbean' in 2017) and the InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa (Forbes magazine claimed it was the most anticipated hotel opening in the Caribbean in 2019). Range Developments is opening the Six Senses in Grenada in April of this year and is finishing the InterContinental Grenada Resort, due to open in 2025. Range Developments has also created a number of ultra luxury properties in some of Dubai's most prestigious neighbourhood. In 2023, Range Developments acquired a number of beachfront land parcels on Al Marjan Island and is developing 600 apartments across 3 projects. Media Contact: Rupert Wright Ashbright [email protected] +44 7557 371908 Photo : https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2334044/Range_Developments.jpg SOURCE Range Developments CHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Middle East cybersecurity industry will need to incorporate sophisticated technologies like cloud security, IoT security, Zero Trust, and AI/ML, focus on regulatory compliance, and boost investment due to growing cyber threats and government initiatives. The region's cybersecurity landscape is also being shaped by important trends like tackling the skills deficit in cybersecurity, incident response preparation, and collaborative collaborations. The Middle East Cybersecurity Market size is projected to grow from USD 14.8 billion in 2023 to USD 23.4 billion by 2028 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 9.6% during the forecast period, according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets. The expansion of the Middle East Cybersecurity Market is propelled by the surge in digital transformation initiatives, driving widespread adoption of cloud technology. Regulatory efforts to counter the evolving threat environment further bolster this growth, emphasizing the critical role of cybersecurity. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 is also a key driver, shaping the region's cybersecurity market dynamics. As the KSA charts a comprehensive vision, it fuels advancements in digital security. Concurrently, the Middle East witnesses a flourishing startup ecosystem that intricately shapes the trajectory of cybersecurity solutions. This confluence of factors positions the region at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation and resilience. Browse in-depth TOC on "Middle East Cybersecurity Market" 403 - Tables 47 - Figures 422 - Pages Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=121119697 Scope of the Report Report Metrics Details Market size available for years 2017-2028 Base year considered 2022 Forecast period 20232028 Forecast units Value (USD Million/USD Billion) Segments Covered Offering, Solution Type, Security Type, Deployment Mode, Organization Size, Vertical and Region. Geographies covered UAE, KSA, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Israel, Egypt, Turkey, and Others. Companies covered Major vendors in the Middle East Cybersecurity Market include IBM (US), Cisco (US), Palo Alto Networks (US), Check Point (US), Trend Micro (Japan), Fortinet (US), Broadcom (US), Sophos (UK), Trellix (US), EDGE Group (UAE), SecureWorks (US), CPX (UAE), MDS UAE (UAE), Forescout (US), Protiviti (US), Mandiant (US), LogRhythm (US), Help AG (UAE), Moro Hub (UAE), DTS Solution (UAE), Ras Infotech (UAE), spiderSilk (UAE), CyberSec Consulting (US), CodeGreen Systems (UAE), Malwarebytes (US), Safe Decision (KSA), Security Matterz (KSA), Cato Networks (Israel), CyberGate Defense (UAE). Based on the offering, the services segment will grow at the highest CAGR during the forecasted period. The exponential growth of the services segment in the Middle East Cybersecurity Market is driven by the multifaceted challenges posed by evolving cyber threats. The region has witnessed a significant surge in cyber threats and attacks, creating a heightened demand for cybersecurity solutions and services. The expanding landscape of eCommerce and digital payment solutions has intensified the need for robust cybersecurity measures, fueling the growth of services specializing in digital asset protection. The region's stringent regulations and compliance requirements have mandated comprehensive cybersecurity services, ensuring adherence and robust data protection practices. Concurrently, the ongoing digital transformation initiatives amplify the demand for cybersecurity services essential for safeguarding digital assets and infrastructure. Moreover, the rising demand for cyber-insurance contributes significantly to the burgeoning services sector, establishing it as the fastest-growing segment in the Middle East Cybersecurity Market. Request Sample Pages@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=121119697 By deployment mode, on-premises accounts for the highest market size during the forecast period. The on-premises segment has the largest market size in the Middle East Cybersecurity Market for various reasons, such as the paramount importance placed on data privacy concerns. Organizations, particularly government agencies and critical infrastructure operators, prioritize data sovereignty and control over sensitive information. On-premises solutions offer greater control over data storage and processing, alleviating concerns about cloud-based solutions potentially exposing data to foreign jurisdictions. Additionally, regulatory compliance in the region may restrict or discourage storing certain types of data in the cloud, further emphasizing the role of on-premises solutions in ensuring adherence to regulations. Security considerations also play a pivotal role, with on-premises solutions providing customization, control over security policies, and offline functionality to ensure uninterrupted operations during internet outages. Cost factors, including the preference for predictable costs over recurring subscription fees and the limited cloud infrastructure in some Middle Eastern regions, contribute to the dominance of the on-premises segment. Moreover, existing infrastructure and investments, such as legacy systems and internal expertise in managing on-premises security solutions, further consolidate the on-premises market's stronghold in the region. By region, Israel is to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Israel is witnessing an unprecedented growth rate in the Middle East Cybersecurity Market, driven by a combination of factors uniquely positioning the nation for rapid expansion. With a robust technological foundation, Israel's vibrant startup ecosystem is pivotal in fostering groundbreaking cybersecurity technologies. The strong military and intelligence sectors contribute significantly, investing heavily in cybersecurity development and cultivating a pool of highly skilled professionals. Israel's emphasis on STEM education further ensures a well-educated workforce, creating a robust talent pipeline for the cybersecurity industry. In the face of constant cyber threats, Israel has developed extensive expertise in defending against sophisticated attacks, resulting in practical solutions for the market. Cybersecurity is not merely a business concern but a cornerstone of national security, garnering significant government support and investment. Furthermore, the market-specific advantages of niche expertise, adaptability, and cultural proximity to some Middle Eastern countries position Israeli companies as leading players in the region. Foreign investment and regional collaborations further propel Israel's cybersecurity sector, solidifying its status as the fastest-growing player in the Middle East. Top Key Companies in Middle East Cybersecurity Market: IBM (US), Cisco (US), Palo Alto Networks (US), Check Point (US), Trend Micro (Japan), Fortinet (US), Broadcom (US), Sophos (UK), Trellix (US), EDGE Group (UAE), SecureWorks (US), CPX (UAE), MDS UAE (UAE), Forescout (US), Protiviti (US), Mandiant (US), LogRhythm (US), Help AG (UAE), Moro Hub (UAE), DTS Solution (UAE), Ras Infotech (UAE), spiderSilk (UAE), CyberSec Consulting (US), CodeGreen Systems (UAE), Malwarebytes (US), Safe Decision (KSA), Security Matterz (KSA), Cato Networks (Israel), CyberGate Defense (UAE) are the key players and other players in the Middle East Cybersecurity Market. Recent Developments In November 2023 , Cisco integrated new business metrics into Cloud Observability, enhancing the platform's ability to provide business context for modern applications on Amazon Web Services. This update includes AWS services integration, application performance monitoring (APM) correlation, and comprehensive visibility into cloud-native applications. It enables teams to prioritize tasks based on business impact by offering insights into the relationship between application performance and critical business key performance indicators (KPIs). Cisco Cloud Observability also facilitates easy identification of business transactions configured with metrics and advanced KPI visualization. , Cisco integrated new business metrics into Cloud Observability, enhancing the platform's ability to provide business context for modern applications on Amazon Web Services. This update includes AWS services integration, application performance monitoring (APM) correlation, and comprehensive visibility into cloud-native applications. It enables teams to prioritize tasks based on business impact by offering insights into the relationship between application performance and critical business key performance indicators (KPIs). Cisco Cloud Observability also facilitates easy identification of business transactions configured with metrics and advanced KPI visualization. In November 2023 , Palo Alto Networks introduced Strata Cloud Manager, a groundbreaking AI-driven Zero Trust management solution. Boasting over 4,400 machine learning models, this innovation underscores Palo Alto Networks' dedication to merging AI and Zero Trust for optimal customer protection. Strata Cloud Manager enhances network security by predicting disruptions, fortifying with AI analysis, and streamlining efficiency across diverse form factors, reinforcing Palo Alto Networks' leadership in modern enterprise security. , Palo Alto Networks introduced Strata Cloud Manager, a groundbreaking AI-driven Zero Trust management solution. Boasting over 4,400 machine learning models, this innovation underscores Palo Alto Networks' dedication to merging AI and Zero Trust for optimal customer protection. Strata Cloud Manager enhances network security by predicting disruptions, fortifying with AI analysis, and streamlining efficiency across diverse form factors, reinforcing Palo Alto Networks' leadership in modern enterprise security. October 2023 Check Point's Horizon Playblocks is a security collaboration platform streamlining network operations. A vital component of the Horizon suite alongside MDR/MPR SOC service and XDR/XPR SOC platform. Playblocks revolutionize team collaboration. It automates preventive measures, deploys swiftly, and consolidates defenses, ensuring a robust, unified response against cyber threats. Check Point's Horizon Playblocks is a security collaboration platform streamlining network operations. A vital component of the Horizon suite alongside MDR/MPR SOC service and XDR/XPR SOC platform. Playblocks revolutionize team collaboration. It automates preventive measures, deploys swiftly, and consolidates defenses, ensuring a robust, unified response against cyber threats. In January 2023 , Trend Micro established a new subsidiary, CTOne, which aims to enhance 5G network security. CTOne has been created as a standalone business, drawing upon the intellectual capital and leadership of Trend Micro's innovative culture, and is the latest incubation project to be launched in this way. , Trend Micro established a new subsidiary, CTOne, which aims to enhance 5G network security. CTOne has been created as a standalone business, drawing upon the intellectual capital and leadership of Trend Micro's innovative culture, and is the latest incubation project to be launched in this way. In March 2022 , IBM introduced a new cloud service for managing and protecting critical data in hybrid and multi-cloud environments. This service enables businesses to utilize IBM's security features for their data, no matter where it is stored, be it on other clouds, on-premises, or in IBM's cloud. The service aims to reduce the risk of cyberattacks and insider threats to sensitive information. Inquire Before Buying@ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_BuyingNew.asp?id=121119697 Middle East Cybersecurity Market Advantages: Advanced cybersecurity services and solutions are needed to safeguard sensitive data, digital assets, and vital infrastructure in the region as a result of growing digitalization and connectivity. Strong cybersecurity solutions are needed for the region's ongoing digital transformation projects in sectors like banking, healthcare, energy, and government services in order to protect digital assets, facilitate the adoption of secure clouds, and guarantee regulatory compliance. This is creating a demand for cybersecurity goods and services. By investing in cybersecurity awareness programmes, training, and skill development, Middle Eastern organisations are progressively realising the value of cybersecurity and developing a workforce that is cyber-resilient and promoting a culture of cybersecurity responsibility. Because of its advantageous geographic position as a hub for global trade and commerce, the Middle East is frequently the target of cyberattacks. As a result, strong cybersecurity measures are required to safeguard vital digital infrastructure and preserve confidence in the regional economies. is frequently the target of cyberattacks. As a result, strong cybersecurity measures are required to safeguard vital digital infrastructure and preserve confidence in the regional economies. Middle Eastern governments, businesses, and cybersecurity providers are teaming up to tackle cybersecurity issues collaboratively, exchange threat intelligence, and create cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions suited to the region's requirements and obstacles. Investors, service providers, and cybersecurity vendors wishing to take advantage of the region's potential for cybersecurity market growth and meet changing cybersecurity needs will find great investment opportunities in the Middle East due to the growing need for cybersecurity solutions. Report Objectives To describe and forecast the Middle East Cybersecurity Market by offering, solution type, security type, deployment mode, organization size, vertical, and region from 2023 to 2028, and analyze the various macroeconomic and microeconomic factors that affect market growth To analyze the subsegments of the market concerning individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the overall market To provide detailed information regarding major factors (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges) influencing the growth of the market To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders and provide details of the competitive landscape for the major players To profile the key market players; provide a comparative analysis based on the business overviews, regional presence, product offerings, business strategies, and critical financials; and illustrate the market's competitive landscape. To track and analyze the competitive developments, such as mergers and acquisitions, product developments, partnerships and collaborations, and research development (R&D) activities, in the market. Browse Adjacent Market: Information Security Market Research Reports & Consulting Browse Other Reports: Phishing Protection Market - Global Forecast to 2028 Cyber Security Market - Global Forecast to 2028 Digital Signature Market - Global Forecast to 2028 Edge Security Market - Global Forecast to 2027 Log Management Market - Global Forecast to 2026 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America's best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report. MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. 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Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/middle-east-cyber-security-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/middle-east-cyber-security.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2297424/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg SOURCE MarketsandMarkets CHICAGO, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Paessler AG, the monitoring experts, announced today that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has recognized two of its North American channel leaders, Mike Gonzalez and Peter Campisi, on its 2024 Channel Chiefs list. Each year, the prestigious CRN Channel Chiefs list recognizes the IT vendor and distribution executives who are driving strategy and setting the channel agenda for their companies. 2024 is the second consecutive year that Gonzalez has been named to the list, and the third for Campisi, for their impact on the channel. Mike Gonzalez, vice president of sales and marketing, Americas, Paessler AG Peter Campisi, Director Channel Sales US & CA, Paessler AG Mike Gonzalez is the company's vice president, sales & marketing for the Americas. He capitalized on participation in MSP-focused events, which allowed him to build a stronger foundation for the competitive advantage that Paessler's PRTG monitoring software adds to MSPs service offering. Doing this helps MSPs to offer a more robust, flexible, and cost-efficient monitoring service to their end-customers. Under Gonzalez' leadership, Paessler's channel team successfully brought a brand-new product to the channel through the company's acquisition of Qbilon, which provides a platform for automatically capturing, analyzing and optimizing hybrid IT landscapes. Peter Campisi, director of channel sales for the US & CA, helped partners continue to expand beyond traditional technology monitoring as the convergence of IT/OT and Industrial IoT become more prevalent. Campisi led the reorganization of Paessler's channel team to better enable partner growth and development. The team is better positioned to allow closer relationships with channel partners to develop and to build solid business plans with mutual KPIs that lead to mutual success and sustainable growth. "Mike and Peter have both achieved much success in building strong channel-focused teams and new programs geared to help Paessler's channel partners expand their services portfolios and sustainability grow their business. Their incredible drive and passion have helped Paessler's customers be in the forefront of emerging technologies and markets to better capitalize on the opportunities within them," said Helmut Binder, CEO, Paessler AG. "We are incredibly proud of the work they both have done to position PRTG as a must-have solution for any channel partner, regardless of their size, vertical or business focus. We appreciate CRN's recognition of their accomplishments." The Channel Chiefs list, released annually by CRN, showcase the top leaders throughout the IT channel ecosystem who work tirelessly to ensure mutual success with their partners and customers. "These channel evangelists are dedicated to supporting solution providers and achieving growth by implementing robust partner programs and unique business strategies," said Jennifer Follett, VP, US Content, and Executive Editor, CRN, at The Channel Company. "Their efforts are instrumental in helping partners bring essential solutions to market. The Channel Company is pleased to acknowledge these prominent channel leaders and looks forward to chronicling their achievements throughout the year." CRN's 2024 Channel Chiefs list will be featured in the February 2024 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs. About Paessler AG Paessler believes monitoring plays a vital part in reducing humankind's consumption of resources. Monitoring data helps its customers save resources, from optimizing their IT, OT, and IoT infrastructures to reducing energy consumption or emissions for our future and our environment. That is why Paessler offers monitoring solutions for businesses across all industries and all sizes, from SMBs to large enterprises. Paessler works with renowned partners, and together they tackle the monitoring challenges of an ever-changing world. Since 1997, when Paessler first introduced PRTG Network Monitor, it has combined its in-depth monitoring knowledge with an innovative spirit. Today, more than 500,000 users in over 170 countries rely on PRTG and other Paessler solutions to monitor their complex IT, OT, and IoT infrastructures. Paessler's products empower its customers to monitor everything and thus help them optimize their resources. Learn more about Paessler and its products at www.paessler.com About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 40 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com Follow the Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. 2024. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. SOURCE Paessler AG - The Monitoring Experts LOS ANGELES, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Path Mental Health, a leading company in the behavioral healthcare space, today announced a new brand and name, Rula Health. This brand evolution comes after a notable year of growth and expansion for the company. The new name and brand pillars are intended to emphasize the company's vision to not just increase access to mental healthcare, but to improve clinical outcomes for patients' mental health. "Since we began in 2019, we've expanded our services to address broad behavioral health needs," says CEO Josh Bruno. "Our approach to mental healthcare considers the whole person, and our new brand represents the comprehensive behavioral health solution we have become." The company's new brand foundations go beyond care access, emphasizing an additional commitment to clinical quality, rigorous standards, and a strong therapeutic alliance. This new brand comes at an auspicious time for the company, which has experienced a run of growth and expansion over the past year. Rula's therapy services are now offered in 48 states. The company has also expanded its psychiatry and prescribing services, now offering medication management in 7 states. Growth among insurance network partnerships has increased Rula's covered lives to over 100 million meaning that Rula's mental healthcare services are now available to nearly a third of the U.S. population. The company accepts most major insurance networks, including Aetna/CVS, Anthem/Elevance, Cigna/Evernorth, Kaiser, United Healthcare/Optum, and many Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. The company is led by Josh Bruno, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer; Gabe Diop, co-founder; Doug Newton, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer; David Katcher, Chief Operating Officer; and Tracey Scraba, General Counsel. About Rula Health Rula is reimagining how people access high-quality, affordable behavioral healthcare. With a diverse network of over 8,000 providers across 48 states, the company offers therapy (for ages 5+), couples, and family therapy, as well as psychiatric services. Rula Health accepts most of the major insurance networks, including Aetna/CVS, Anthem/Elevance, Cigna/Evernorth, Kaiser, United Healthcare/Optum, and many Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, covering over 100M lives. Patients can visit rula.com to find a provider that meets their unique preferences and be seen in as little as 48 hours. Since 2019, Rula Health has facilitated millions of hours of therapy. SOURCE Rula Health HOUSTON, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Silver Star Properties REIT, Inc., a Houston based real estate investment trust (the "Company"), filed an 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding legal challenges to the Company's previously disclosed Rights Agreement dated August 18, 2023. The Company believes the claims are meritless and will vigorously defend against them. "The best way to protect and build shareholder value is to oppose these unwarranted efforts to liquidate the Company, which would result in a fire sale of assets," said Gerald Haddock, Chairman of the Company's Executive Committee and co-Chief Executive Officer. "We remain steadfast in our commitment to advance our transition into self-storage while undertaking an orderly disposition of assets that no longer fit with the Company's business model. Any actions that slow these processes are not in the best financial interests of Silver Star shareholders." The Company previously announced that it would move away from investing in office properties as that asset class has faced significant post-pandemic occupancy, valuation and financing challenges resulting from an increase in remote working. The sale of existing office holdings has enabled the Company to pay down existing debt, improve its balance sheet and position it for self-storage facility acquisitions in target markets. The Company's Executive Committee believes that continuity of leadership under current management puts Silver Star in the best position to enhance its financial performance. "The ongoing support from our shareholders and tireless dedication of our employees continues to bolster the Executive Committee as we work together to achieve our shared vision for the Company," said Haddock. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on management's current expectations, assumptions and beliefs. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should" and similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. They are not guarantees of future results and forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement, including those described in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("the SEC"), particularly those described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was filed with the SEC on May 26, 2023 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements and are encouraged to review the Company's other filings with the SEC for a more complete discussion of risks and other factors that could affect any forward-looking statement. The statements made herein speak only as of the date of this Press Release and except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. Contact: Investor and Media Relations [email protected] SOURCE Silver Star Properties REIT, Inc. Smith, a senior marketing executive with global and domestic expertise in sales, top consumer brand management, strategic development and planning, brand strategy and digital marketing, will serve as Smithfield's chief marketing officer. In this role, he will lead Smithfield's marketing team to deliver the planning, development and execution of the company's marketing, advertising, innovation and strategic planning initiatives, with responsibilities for its brands throughout the retail, deli and food service channels. He reports to Steve France, Smithfield's president of packaged meats. "I'm excited to have Brendan lead our marketing team and programs," said France. "His extensive experience in marketing in the food and beverage space is unparalleled, and I look forward to his contributions in differentiating Smithfield's brand story to strengthen consumer brand perception and further build our relationships with our customers." Smith's marketing experience includes senior leadership roles in international food and beverage companies. His most recent role was as chief marketing officer for New Realm Brewing and Distilling, where he built a marketing department supporting retail, onsite restaurant growth and food, beverage and spirits innovation. His previous roles include vice president of marketing for Pizza Hut, where he led the marketing team and developed the company's brand strategy; senior vice president of international marketing for Monster Energy Company, directing all marketing initiatives for the Monster family of brands; and vice president of sales and marketing for Southern Tier Brewing Company, developing strategy and leading all tactical execution of the company's sales and marketing programs. Prior to serving in these roles, Smith was senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Smithfield Foods and its Smithfield, Farmland, Gwaltney and Cook's brands, where he led and directed all domestic marketing, R&D and innovation initiatives. He began his career with Anheuser-Busch, Inc., serving in leadership positions of increasing responsibility. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio. Allyson Bouldon, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer Bouldon, a senior leader with extensive experience in global regulatory and legal compliance in the agricultural, consumer products, food manufacturing, packaging and retail sectors, will serve as Smithfield's chief ethics and compliance officer. In this role, she will lead and manage Smithfield's ethics and compliance program, sustaining a culture of integrity and ethical decision-making across the company. She reports to Michael Flemming, Smithfield's chief legal officer. "Smithfield has built a strong culture of compliance throughout our history, producing good food the right way," said Flemming. "We are pleased to have Allyson join our team and look forward to applying her experience to our ethics and compliance commitments." Bouldon previously served as managing counsel for Wolters Kluwer, supporting compliance programs for its North America businesses, and was acting chief compliance officer for Bright Machines, Inc. Prior to serving in these roles, Bouldon served as vice president and chief compliance officer for Michael's Stores, where she managed global supplier compliance; and as vice president and chief compliance officer for Chiquita Brands International, Inc., developing and implementing the company's global compliance strategies. Her additional roles included vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Tegrant Corporation and counsel Americas for Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, delivering legal, compliance, privacy and corporate secretarial support to more than 30 company subsidiaries. Bouldon holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Chicago Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College. She has been a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation since 2009. About Smithfield Foods, Inc. Headquartered in Smithfield, Virginia, since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is a U.S. food company that employs nearly 60,000 people in seven countries and partners with thousands of American farmers. As one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies, we are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly." to feed a growing world population. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in our U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30% across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to food banks, disaster relief efforts and community outreach programs in all 50 U.S. states. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield, Eckrich, Gwaltney and Nathan's Famous, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads. SOURCE Smithfield Foods, Inc. Index Points to Continued Job Growth in the Coming Months NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Conference Board Employment Trends Index (ETI) increased in January to 113.71, up from a downwardly revised 112.91 in December. The Employment Trends Index is a leading composite index for employment. When the Index increases, employment is likely to grow as well, and vice versa. Turning points in the Index indicate that a change in the trend of job gains or losses is about to occur in the coming months. "The ETI increased for a second consecutive month, suggesting employment growth will continue in the coming months," said Selcuk Eren, Senior Economist at The Conference Board. "The Index now stands at its highest level since May 2023 and remains elevated compared to prepandemic levels, though below its peak in March 2022." Eren added: "Payroll gains were economywide in January 2024, after being predominantly driven by three industries (healthcare and social assistance, leisure and hospitality, government) in the second half of 2023. Temporary help servicesan early indicator for hiring in other industries and a component of the ETIadded jobs in January, breaking the downward trend observed since April 2022. Furthermore, the percentage of consumers saying jobs were 'hard to get' in The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Surveyanother ETI componentis back to single digits for the first time since March 2022. With job openings remaining elevated compared to prepandemic levels and layoffs at an historic low, the prospects of a soft landing continue to rise." January's increase in the Employment Trends Index was driven by positive contributions from four of its eight components: Percentage of Respondents Who Say They Find "Jobs Hard to Get," Real Manufacturing and Trade Sales, Number of Employees Hired by the Temporary-Help Industry, and Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance. The Employment Trends Index aggregates eight leading indicators of employment, each of which has proven accurate in its own area. Aggregating individual indicators into a composite index filters out "noise" to show underlying trends more clearly. The eight leading indicators of employment aggregated into the Employment Trends Index include: Percentage of Respondents Who Say They Find "Jobs Hard to Get" (The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Survey ) ) Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance (U.S. Department of Labor) Percentage of Firms with Positions Not Able to Fill Right Now ( National Federation of Independent Business Research Foundation) Number of Employees Hired by the Temporary-Help Industry (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) Ratio of Involuntarily Part-time to All Part-time Workers (BLS) Job Openings (BLS)* Industrial Production (Federal Reserve Board)* Real Manufacturing and Trade Sales (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis)** *Statistical imputation for the recent month **Statistical imputation for two most recent months The Conference Board publishes the Employment Trends Index monthly, at 10 a.m. ET, on the Monday that follows each Friday release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Situation report. The technical notes to this series are available on The Conference Board website: http://www.conference-board.org/data/eti.cfm. NOTE: This month's release incorporates annual revisions of standardization factors to the Employment Trends Index, which bring it up-to-date with revisions in the source data. These revisions do not change the cyclical properties of the index. The standardization factors, known as volatility adjustment factors, are done by calculating the standard deviation of the monthly percent change in each component. The updated period used for calculating the standardization factors is November 1973 to December 2022. The standardization factors are then used to construct the index from November 1973 to present. As a result, the revised index, in levels and month-on-month changes, will not be directly comparable to those issued prior to this annual revision. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.conference-board.org/data/eti.cfm About The Conference Board The Conference Board is the member-driven think tank that delivers Trusted Insights for What's Ahead. Founded in 1916, we are a non-partisan, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. www.conference-board.org. Employment Trends Index (ETI) 2024 Publication Schedule Index Release Date (10 AM ET) Data for the Month Monday, January 8, 2024 December 2023 Monday, February 5 January 2024 Monday, March 11 February Monday, April 8 March Monday, May 6 April Monday, June 10 May Monday, July 8 June Monday, August 5 July Monday, September 9 August Monday, October 7 September Monday, November 4 October Monday, December 9 November SOURCE The Conference Board LAS VEGAS, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Raelian Movement (IRM) proudly announces the launch of its groundbreaking series, "Rael, the Last Prophet: 50 Years of Spiritual Revolution." The series will premiere on February 7th on YouTube, inviting viewers to embark on a journey that revisits the origins and unfolds the future of the IRM. Audiences worldwide can access the premiere via https://www.youtube.com/@RaelianMovement (in English) and https://www.youtube.com/@MouvementRaelien (in French). Pierre Gary, President of the IRM, expressed his enthusiasm about the series, which follows the international convention in Okinawa last December, celebrating half a century since Rael's momentous encounter with an extraterrestrial human being. This event saw over five hundred participants from approximately fifty countries pay tribute to Rael, the last Prophet on Earth. The series promises to delve into the IRM's origins, sparked by Rael's encounter on December 13, 1973, with the Elohim's leading representative. This civilization, advanced in genetic engineering, is credited with creating all life on Earth. The IRM's mission is to unveil our extraterrestrial origins and advocate for a revolutionary spirituality, devoid of gods or evolution, aligning with the infinite universe's principles. "The religion of infinity," Gary explained, "challenges traditional creationist and evolutionary theories, proposing instead that the universe's infinite nature in time and space is central to understanding our existence." He underscored Rael's teachings over the past five decades, emphasizing sensual meditation techniques to foster a deep connection with the universe and rediscover religion's true meaning. The IRM aims to empower individuals to lead lives of happiness and fulfillment, free from societal constraints, and grounded in respect for all forms of life, thereby eliminating violence. This vision for humanity aligns with redistributing wealth and advancing science to enjoy life's pleasures and cultivate qualities long repressed by a patriarchal society. Spanning several episodes, the series will explore various aspects of the religion of infinity, culminating in the 50th anniversary of Rael's second encounter with the Elohim on October 7, 2025. The International Raelian Movement invites global audiences to witness this extraordinary exploration into the forthcoming spiritual revolution that promises to redefine our world and our cosmic identity. SOURCE Raelian Movement SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- MixMode, the leading provider of advanced AI-powered cybersecurity solutions, today announced that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Todd DeBell, VP of Global Channel and Alliances at MixMode, to the prestigious 2024 CRN Channel Chiefs list. This annual list honors the technology industry's top-performing channel executives who continually demonstrate outstanding leadership, influence, innovation, and growth. Todd DeBell of MixMode Honored as a 2024 CRN Channel Chief Post this The Channel Company, has named Todd DeBell, VP of Global Channel and Alliances at MixMode, to the prestigious 2024 CRN Channel Chiefs list. As VP of MixMode's Paradigm Partner Program, Todd DeBell, has led transformative initiatives to strengthen MixMode's partnerships with the world's top Value Added Resellers (VARs), Managed Service Providers (MSP) Global, Systems Integrators (GSIs), and Distributors, to help meet the accelerated demand for MixMode's Advanced AI Platform. Over the past year, he oversaw major updates to the partner portal for enhanced deal registration and tracking, launched new partner specializations with tailored benefits, and grew partner revenue through co-branded campaigns and programs. "We congratulate Todd on this well-deserved honor," said John Keister, CEO at MixMode. "As a channel-first company, we and our partners are committed to bringing transformative threat detection solutions to organizations globally that meet the growing scale and sophistication of today's cyber threats, and we are fortunate to have Todd leading our partner program." With more than 24 years building and leading channel sales programs at top enterprise cybersecurity companies, DeBell has a proven track record of transforming channel programs and executing strategies that deliver value to partners and customers to drive growth and market expansion. In addition to this year's recognition, DeBell has been named a CRN channel chief several other times during his career, executed numerous 5-star rated Partner Programs and is recognized as an industry leader for his channel excellence and innovation. "I am honored to be recognized as one of CRN's 2024 Channel Chiefs," said Todd DeBell, VP of Global Channel and Alliances at MixMode,. "This reflects MixMode's ongoing investments in enabling our partners' success through advanced AI cyber security solutions, profitability incentives, and joint go-to-market initiatives. My team and I remain dedicated to accelerating partner growth and customer acquisition by continuing to innovate and challenge ourselves. I want to thank both CRN and our loyal partners for this exciting achievement." The Channel Chiefs list, released annually by CRN, showcases the top leaders throughout the IT channel ecosystem who work tirelessly to ensure mutual success with their partners and customers. Channel Chiefs represent some of the most influential leaders in the IT channel who raise the industry bar by bringing channel-centric visions, goals, and partners together. "These channel evangelists are dedicated to supporting solution providers and achieving growth by implementing robust partner programs and unique business strategies," said Jennifer Follett, VP, US Content, and Executive Editor, CRN, at The Channel Company. "Their efforts are instrumental in helping partners bring essential solutions to market. The Channel Company is pleased to acknowledge these prominent channel leaders and looks forward to chronicling their achievements throughout the year." CRN's 2024 Channel Chiefs list will be featured in the February 2024 issue of CRN Magazine and online at www.CRN.com/ChannelChiefs. About MixMode MixMode is the leader in delivering AI cybersecurity solutions at scale and is the first to bring a third-wave, context-aware AI approach that automatically learns and adapts to dynamically changing environments. MixMode offers a patented, self-supervised learning Platform designed to detect known and unknown threats in real-time across cloud, hybrid, or on-prem environments. Large enterprises with big data environments, including global entities in financial services, Fortune 1K commercial enterprises, critical infrastructure, and government sectors, trust MixMode to protect their most critical assets. Backed by PSG and Entrada Ventures, the company is headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA. Learn more at www.mixmode.ai. About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 40 years of unequalled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelcompany.com 2024. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. Follow MixMode: X (Twitter), LinkedIn and Facebook. Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn , and Facebook. The MixMode Company Contact: Karen Buffo MixMode [email protected] The Channel Company Contact: Natalie Lewis The Channel Company [email protected] SOURCE MixMode, Inc. BOSTON, Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- TraceLink, the world's largest digital network platform for healthcare and life sciences, expanded its digitalization capabilities in 2023, leading to an annual increase of more than 300 new customers. Utilizing the industry's largest integrated digital network of over 290,000 entities, TraceLink is working to revolutionize the way businesses orchestrate the digital journeys of products, processes, and partners that span the end-to-end supply chain, resulting in the following 2023 achievements: Customer Growth: Surpassing 1,600 total customers, an increase of 23%, a testament to the market's confidence in TraceLink's unique supply chain digitalization model. These 1,600+ customers' supply chain activities operate in over 100 countries globally. The growth was fueled by the introduction of new solutions aimed at tackling the industry's most intricate challenges. Post this Solution Adoption: 50+ new clients in 2023 selected TraceLink's cutting-edge solutions in orchestration intelligence, partner orchestration, and process orchestration, demonstrating broad industry demand for end-to-end supply chain digitalization capabilities. Successful Implementations: 510 customer implementation projects were deployed on the TraceLink network in 2023, demonstrating the effectiveness of TraceLink's unique Integrate-Once partner integration and solution delivery model. "Our team's relentless focus on customer enablement and success, and our ability to meet rapidly changing supply chain demands through our proven network integration capabilities, have been key drivers of our growth this year. Eclipsing more than 1,600 total customers in 2023 is a clear indication that our vision and maturing set of product, partner, and process orchestration capabilities is resonating with the market," said Shabbir Dahod, President & CEO, TraceLink. The growth was fueled by the introduction of a range of new solutions aimed at tackling the industry's most intricate multienterprise challenges: Product Availability Intelligence (PAI): Designed to enhance product availability and minimize shortages by leveraging advanced analytics and real-time data to predict them 90 days in advance. Designed to enhance product availability and minimize shortages by leveraging advanced analytics and real-time data to predict them 90 days in advance. Multienterprise Information Network Tower (MINT): Enabling 100% partner integration, at an affordable cost, to provide a comprehensive view across the supply chain, facilitating better decision-making through increased visibility and collaboration. Enabling 100% partner integration, at an affordable cost, to provide a comprehensive view across the supply chain, facilitating better decision-making through increased visibility and collaboration. Supply Chain Work Management for Compliance Exceptions (SCWM): Facilitating the management and resolution of compliance exceptions efficiently, ensuring regulatory adherence while maintaining supply chain integrity. Facilitating the management and resolution of compliance exceptions efficiently, ensuring regulatory adherence while maintaining supply chain integrity. Compliance Solutions for Emerging Markets: Supporting regulatory requirements in Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , and other emerging markets, aiding businesses in navigating complex compliance landscapes. Supporting regulatory requirements in , , and other emerging markets, aiding businesses in navigating complex compliance landscapes. Expanded DSCSA Capabilities: Streamlining compliance with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), improving traceability and security in pharmaceutical supply chains while providing operational efficiency. These new offerings underscore TraceLink's unwavering commitment to solving the most pressing challenges of supply chain orchestration. TraceLink's efforts in digitalizing the supply chain continue to set the industry standard, demonstrating how strategic innovation can lead to tangible improvements in efficiency, compliance, and collaboration across the global healthcare and life sciences sector. For more information, please visit www.tracelink.com . About TraceLink Inc.: TraceLink Inc. is the leading digital network platform company, enabling end-to-end product orchestration by connecting more than 291,000 healthcare and life sciences entities through its B2N Integrate-Once network. Leading businesses trust TraceLink to deliver complete global connectivity, visibility, and traceability of pharmaceuticals, ensuring that every patient gets the medicines they need when needed, safely and securely. For more information, visit www.tracelink.com . Contact: Erica Burns [email protected] SOURCE Tracelink, Inc. More than 500 North American farmers, manufacturers, retailers and shoppers join the Non-GMO Project to urge the E.U. to keep strong oversight of new GMOs BELLINGHAM, Wash., Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The European Parliament's Committee on Environment, Public Health, and Food Safety (ENVI) is advancing a proposal to deregulate GMO production in Europe. There is significant support for the proposal from some ministers and biotechnology developers. The proposal will be put to a plenary vote on February 6. This is highly concerning to the natural products industry. If the proposal passes, the majority of new GMOs created through powerful technologies like CRISPR could enter the food system untracked, untested, unregulated, and unlabeled. This is a striking reversal of the E.U.'s longstanding commitment to protecting the global non-GMO food supply. It would undermine shoppers' rights to know what's in their food and to avoid GMOs. The E.U. produces about a fifth of the global food supply. Shoppers in Europe and North America overwhelmingly support transparency and their right to make informed choices. Many avoid GMOs to support a more natural, regenerative, organic food system. Advances in non-GMO, organic, and regenerative food production, often informed by deep indigenous knowledge, have proven to be powerful tools in creating a more resilient food system that can slow, stop, and potentially reverse climate change without the need to genetically engineer the building blocks of life. Outside of the natural products industry, genetic engineering is increasingly used in tandem with artificial intelligence. We need to place serious safeguards and regulatory oversight on their use, given their multiple risks and misguided benefit claims. These technologies short-circuit nature and artificially create novel forms of life for human consumption. Without regulatory oversight, we will drastically limit our ability to identify and contain emergent social, environmental or economic risks associated with GMOs. The Non-GMO Project is responding to the imminent plenary vote in the E.U. parliament by circulating a public sign-on letter that will be submitted to E.U. Parliament Ministers. Farmers, shoppers, brands, retailers, and others throughout the North American natural products sector can ask the E.U. Parliament to delay this vote and do more to protect non-GMO and organic food networks from unwanted new GMOs. Hundreds of concerned citizens and organizations have read and signed the letter here. About the Non-GMO Project The Non-GMO Project is a mission-driven nonprofit organization dedicated to building and protecting a non-GMO food supply. The Non-GMO Project Verified seal remains North America's most trusted third-party verification for GMO avoidance. Backed by our rigorous Standard, the Butterfly label is a meaningful way for brands and retailers to show their commitment to non-GMO choices and the food transparency that shoppers seek. Learn more at www.nongmoproject.org . Media Contacts: Alexandra Tursi | [email protected] | 802-777-6737 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2333945/Non_GMO_Project_Logo_Logo.jpg OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In the highly regulated financial services industry, insurance products are often competitively similar in benefits, coverages and price. Travelex Insurance Services Inc. recognized early on that making customer experience and service a pillar of its business could differentiate the company in the travel insurance space. Since then, Travelex has won many awards for its customer care. Now, the company adds another prestigious award to its shelf: Virtuoso's 2023 Top-producing Specialty Partner Award (U.S.). Virtuoso, the leading global network specializing in luxury and experiential travel, introduced regional awards last month at its U.S. Forum in Orlando, Florida, making Travelex the award's first recipient in this category. The Top-producing Specialty Partner category honors the Virtuoso partner with the highest overall network sales in a respective category. Travelex adds another prestigious award to its shelf: Virtuoso's 2023 Top-producing Specialty Partner Award (U.S.). Post this "On behalf of Travelex, I am honored to receive this award, especially from our longtime partner," said Shannon Lofdahl, President and CEO at Travelex. "We've been a Virtuoso preferred supplier for 25 years, and we are immensely appreciative of their partnership, members and advisors. We look forward to many more years of partnership and collaboration." Travelex stood among Virtuoso's most esteemed U.S. travel agencies, advisors and preferred partners to receive one of the network's first annual regional awards honoring members and partners that set the standard in their given categories, based on sales volume and engagement within the network. About Travelex Insurance Services For more than 25 years, Travelex Insurance Services has been a leading U.S. provider of travel insurance. As a premier partner to the travel industry, Travelex offers an array of products designed to help travelers create and protect the moments that matter most while they explore the world. We are part of the Zurich family of global brands and a woman-led organization that appreciates diversity. Guided by our values, we are optimistic, caring and reliable. With forward thinking, determination and a sense of togetherness, we help travelers dream, explore, and travel on. Learn more at TravelexInsurance.com. About Virtuoso Virtuoso, the leading global travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel, is a by-invitation-only organization comprising over 1,200 travel agency locations with more than 20,000 travel advisors in 54 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. For more information, visit Virtuoso.com. Contact: Amy Goldyn P: +1-402-880-7481 E: amy.goldyn@travelexinsurance.com SOURCE Travelex Insurance Services TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Zenith American Solutions, Inc.("Zenith"), the leader in third-party administration services for Taft-Hartley trust funds, is pleased to announce that Patrick Horne has joined Zenith's Executive Leadership Team as the Company's Chief Information Officer. ZENITH AMERICAN SOLUTIONS' TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE CONTINUES WITH CIO APPOINTMENT Post this Patrick Horne, EVP, Chief Information Officer, Zenith American Solutions Patrick Horne has been an IT professional for over thirty-two years, managing IT operations for publicly traded and privately held companies. He has assisted dozens of companies with designing and executing their IT operational improvement plans, cloud migrations, infrastructure refreshes, regulatory compliance, business automation, and information security programs. For the past fourteen years, Horne has worked in various healthcare industries including senior living, locum tenens emergency medicine physicians, primary care physicians, medical and paramedical examination services, and national pharmacy and PBM services. Prior to joining Zenith American Solutions, Horne served as the Chief Information Officer at Southeast Medical Group based in Alpharetta, Georgia. As CIO, Horne will lead the Company's technology team as they support its ongoing technology upgrade and cybersecurity compliance initiatives. Horne said, "I am honored to assume the role of Chief Information Officer at such a reputable company. Zenith's longstanding history and widespread respect throughout the Taft-Hartley community make this appointment a source of immense pride for me. I look forward to working with and serving the Zenith Executive Leadership Team, our dedicated and talented staff members, and the Unions, funds, and members that depend on us to deliver world-class TPA services." Kim Fiori, Zenith's President and Chief Executive Officer said, "Pat brings an abundance of IT expertise to Zenith that seamlessly aligns with our ongoing commitment to cybersecurity and state-of-the-art technology solutions. I am thrilled to welcome him to the leadership team." A key initiative and differentiator in the market that will continue under Horne's leadership is the Company's investment in annual System and Organization Controls (SOC) audits, which assess internal controls. The Company has set the bar high, undergoing both a SOC1 and SOC2 audit annually under SSAE 18, Reporting on an Examination of Controls at a Service Organization Relevant to User Entities' Internal Control Over Financial Reporting (AICPA, Attestation Standards, AT-C sec. 320), and the AICPA guide, Service Organizations Reporting on Controls at a Service Organization Relevant to User Entities' Internal Control over Financial Reporting. The Company's SOC2 Type 2 assessment is performed against the AICPA's Trust Services Criteria for Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy. The SOC2, Type 2 audit is a comprehensive evaluation of our security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy controls. This certification signifies our dedication to safeguarding your data, ensuring the utmost security and confidentiality. Zenith's ongoing achievements have been centered around client satisfaction and the effectiveness of our controls. Our annual investment to both audits is a testament to our commitment to excellence. Throughout the annual audit period, our team works collaboratively to ensure every aspect of the process is executed seamlessly. The success of these audits is not possible without the contributions of every team member. We are grateful for their commitment to maintaining and improving our controls. These certifications solidify our status as a trusted partner, dedicated to transparency, security, and operational excellence. About Zenith American Solutions, Inc. Zenith American Solutions provides innovative technologies, services, systems, and support methodology to Taft-Hartley benefit plans, ensuring Union members and customers get the solutions they need for increasingly complex regulatory changes and technology-driven solutions. Zenith American Solutions is the largest independent third-party administrator in the United States serving Taft-Hartley trust funds and currently operates 35 offices nationwide. For more information visit www.zenith-american.com. About Harbour Benefit Holdings, Inc. Harbour Benefit Holdings, Inc. ("Harbour"), formerly known as Zenith American Holding, Inc. is a third-party administrative holding entity. The Harbour family of companies includes Zenith American Solutions, Inc., the leading provider of third-party administration in the Taft-Hartley/multiemployer benefit fund market, Pacific Federal, LLC, a full-service administrator of employee benefits via single-source direct services, Benefits Administration, LLC, a provider of third-party administration in the Taft-Hartley/multiemployer benefit fund market, and Associated Administrators, LLC, a third party administrator also specializing in Taft-Hartley benefit funds. Media Contact: Tom Sciuto EVP, Chief Marketing, Strategy & Community Labor Officer Zenith American Solutions, Inc. (203) 383-0801 SOURCE ZENITH AMERICAN SOLUTIONS 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 Jaipur, Feb 5 : Congress leader Shashi Tharoor believes that the Ram Temple construction in Ayodhya will just have a short-term impact in favour of the BJP and the issue may not benefit the ruling party in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Stressing that people need to think about their living conditions and not the Ram Temple, he says: "It is high time they emphasized their economic condition. Is it better under this government? Are they happy with their lives? Can they afford to eat what they were two years back? Just look at the prices of basic commodities... has their condition improved on any parameter under this government?" The MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, while speaking at a session and later with the media during the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), said that the current dispensation has done "very little" to empower the people who are at the bottom of the pyramid and trying to make ends. "The poor are getting poorer and nothing is working for them. Congress is committed to a free economy and wants to witness the participation of the financially weak (in the economy) so they can succeed in their lives." Ask him about the multiple raids and arrests of politicians by central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Tharoor opines that while the agencies should do their work, it is important that it is done fairly. "Why is it that only Opposition leaders are arrested? It is sad to see that these agencies are being shamelessly used by the government." He said that till a few years ago there was a culture of cooperating across divides, including politically to serve the nation, but the same "does not hold now". "Anyone who disagrees with the Central government is branded anti-national. Just because we have different approaches, does it mean that we do not respect and love our country? Every country, state and constituency needs a different approach. Sadly, for over a decade now there has been talk of only one person and democracy is facing a real challenge," Tharoor added. Accusing the Centre of destroying India's democratic institutions, he said the country is turning into an "electoral dictatorship". "The country now needs a different leadership that is willing to understand the needs of the people and find solutions to their problems." Calling upon the youth to use their vote carefully, he said that only their vote counted and their future is in their own hands. Even as Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has switched back to NDA and Trinamool Congress chief Mamta Banerjee has announced to go alone in West Bengal, Tharoor said that the INDIA alliance comprises several parties and there are bound to be disagreements. Dismissing BJP's criticism of Congress leaders not attending the Ram Temple ceremony, the politician-author said: "Just because we did not go to Ayodhya on that day does not mean we have something against Hinduism. By the way, since childhood, I have been praying to Ram. BJP should remember that it does not have a right over Ram. I will go when I want to. For us to choose our own time and place, convenience and worship, does not make us anti-Hindu." BEIJING, April 26, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi addresses the opening ceremony of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China, April 26,. Image Source: IANS News Cairo, Feb 5 : Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has stressed 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 on Sunday during a meeting here with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Stephane Sejourne, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement by the Egyptian Presidency. 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 October 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. Ramallah, Feb 5 : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to step up international efforts to stop the ongoing Israeli "aggression" against the Palestinian people. Abbas made the remarks on Sunday during his meeting at the presidential headquarters in Ramallah with the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Palestinian news agency WAFA. Abbas called on Guterres to continue his personal efforts and intensify international efforts "to withdraw Israeli occupation forces from the entire Gaza Strip and not to confiscate any inch of its land," WAFA reported. Abbas underlined the need to ensure an increase in humanitarian aid, relief materials, and shelter for the Palestinians. He also stressed the importance of preventing the displacement of Palestinians and stopping all attacks by "occupation forces and settlers", as well as the release of all Palestinian clearance funds. Abbas said it was important to achieve full membership for the State of Palestine in the United Nations through a decision of the Security Council and holding an international peace conference to ensure the withdrawal of Israelis from Palestine. Tel Aviv, Feb 5 : Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has said that there would be "disastrous repercussions" in the stability of the region if funding for United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is halted. The Qatar Prime Minister was speaking to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York, according to Hebrew media reports. Media reports stated that the Qatar Prime Minister has stressed the "severe consequences" of discontinuing funding to the UNRWA and emphasized that halting financial support to the agency could lead to "disastrous repercussions". He also showcased its pivotal role in ensuring regional stability and providing humanitarian relief. The discussion, as per reports, brought to the forefront the critical situation in the Middle East, particularly in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The Qatar Prime Minister highlighted the "indispensable" contribution of UNRWA in supporting millions of Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. He further indicated that the stability of the region and the welfare of millions of people rely on the continuity of the agency's operations. Mumbai, Feb 5 : At least two persons were injured when Mumbai Police resorted to mild caning to control a huge crowd which protested the release of a Muslim preacher who was arrested by Gujarat Police in a 'hate speech' case, officials said here on Monday. A team of Junagadh Police (Gujarat) came to Mumbai and nabbed Mufti Salman Azhari who had allegedly made an inflammatory discourse at a public event there on January 31. After videos of the discourse went viral, the Junagadh Police booked two local organisers M. Yousef Malek, Azim H. Odedara and Mufti Azhari, who had reached Mumbai later after allegedly making objectionable utterances. The Gujarat Police's Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) rushed to Mumbai and swooped on Azhari's home in the eastern suburbs early on Sunday, detained him for several hours before placing him under arrest and then took him to Ghatkopar Police Station for completing the formalities before taking him to Junagadh. Hearing of the arrest, a large number of his supporters gathered outside the police station, on Sunday even and the crowds kept increasing by late night, raising slogans and demanding the immediate release of Mufti, disrupting traffic movement for some time. In the wee hours on Monday (February 5), the police resorted to mild caning to disperse the crowds in which at least two persons were injured, and videos of the victims surfaced on social media. The situation is said to be under control and police are keeping a tight vigil in the vicinity. An alumnus of the Al Azhar Cairo University (Egypt), Mufti Salman Azhari is a Islamic scholar, Sunni preacher and YouTuber who has founded several institutions, and lectures all over the world. In a statement on his official account on X, it is said that 25-30 strong Gujarat ATS teams came and detained him around 11.56 a.m. (Sunday), and the action came after the Gujarat Police lodged a FIR based on "a false allegation of hate speech by right wing activists". New York, Feb 5 : The Immigration Reform Bill unveiled by a bipartisan group of Senators has several provisions that could benefit Indians -- if passed -- including protection for H1B visa holders' children who become adults during the green card wait, automatic work authorisation for H1B workers' spouses and additional green cards. The Bill provides 50,000 additional immigrant visas -- or green cards -- during each of the next five years, according to the draft published by Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema on Sunday evening. The ambitious Bill that aims for the first comprehensive reform of the broken immigration system since 1986 when Ronald Reagan was US President is, however, imperilled by the opposition of former President Donald Trump and his hardline followers in Congress. The Bill would automatically allow spouses and children of H1B visa holders to work. Spouses, and fiances of US citizens and their children would also get work permits while they are in the process of getting their green cards. A special category of visas would be given to those waiting for their green cards to visit family in the US temporarily, but without work authorisation. The bill aims at mainly dealing with the border crisis that has seen 7.5 million people enter the US illegally since President Joe Biden assumed office, according to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee and the other measures are add-ons. Republicans made containing illegal immigration and tightening the standards and procedures for asylum a condition for approving $60 billion in aid to Ukraine and $14 billion to Israel, which Biden desperately seeks. After nearly four months of negotiations, Senators Kyrsten Sinema, an Independent, James Lankford, a Republican, and Chris Murphy, a Democrat, crafted the Immigration Reform Bill in hopes of ending the stalemate. However, the Bill faces an uphill battle in Congress because hardline Republicans have said they would not vote for it taking their cue from Trump, who wants the migrant crisis to continue to be a potent issue in the November election. US House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, posted on X, "If this bill reaches the House, it will be dead on arrival." "It won't come close to ending the border catastrophe the President has created," he said, reflecting the views of many Republicans who claim it doesn't go far enough. Throwing them a challenge, Biden said, "House Republicans have to decide: Do they want to solve the problem? Or do they want to keep playing politics with the border?" Even if the party's leadership allows it to get to a vote in the Republican-controlled House, it would require the support of members of both parties because of the opposition by hardline Republicans and by Democrats on the left who have been critical of it, but for different reasons. Sinema warned, "Senators must make a decision: Pass our package and solve the crisis or accept the status quo, do nothing, and keep playing politics while our system breaks and our communities continue to suffer." It has a better chance of getting through the Democrat-controlled Senate. The Bill would allocate 18,000 of the additional 50,000 green cards to the employment category and 32,000 to relatives of citizens. However, it did not appear to specify any changes to the way green cards are distributed by nationality, which has a limit of seven per cent of the total for each country's citizens, regardless of the size of the population, treating India and China with population of about 1.4 billion on par with Tuvalu and Nauru with about 12,000. The total number of employment and family green cards covering all countries is set at 366 this year. Indians are among those hit hardest by the country limit. In some employment green card categories, Indians whose green cards were approved in 2012 are only now able to get them and in some family categories, it goes back to 2005, according to the State Department. H1B visa holders' children, who entered the US as minors, lose their visa status if their parents do not get green cards by the time they turn 21 and face deportation under the current regulations. Because of the country quotas, many Indian H1B visa holders eligible for green cards will have to wait for several decades to get green cards for themselves and their families as the backlog continues to build. This tears apart families, forcing the children to leave the country after having lived here for several years while their parents remain in the US with younger siblings. The Bill would remedy this by making the children of H1B visa holders eligible to continue to legally live and work in the US after turning 21 while waiting for their green cards. It could benefit about 250,000 people, according to Sinema's office -- and many would be Indians. In pursuit of its main goal of restricting the momentous influx of migrants that is threatening Biden's re-election, the bill would shut down the border if more than 5,000 people per day on average during a week or more than 8,500 on any day try to cross it. It would raise the standards for claiming asylum by barring those who had lived safely in another country and those who could relocate to a safer location in their country. Officials would be required to detain those sneaking across the border. The Bill would also make it easier to deport those who fail to prove their claims for asylum. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) Kochi, Feb 5 : A week after the announcement that the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) will commence its probe into Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's daughter's IT firm, the SFIO team on Monday began its inspection at the office of the mining company CMRL, in which the state-owned Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has a stake. Kochi, Feb 5 (IANS) A week after the announcement that the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) will commence its probe into Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayanas daughteras IT firm, the SFIO team on Monday began its inspection at the office of the mining company CMRL, in which the state-owned Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has a stake. The SFIO team, led by Arun Kumar, began its inspection at CMRLas corporate office in Aluva. The SFIO was acting on the findings of the preliminary probe by the Registrar of Companies (ROC). Prior to the ROC investigation, this issue was first raised by Congress MLA Mathew Kuzhalnadan on the basis of a media report. The media report had quoted an Income Tax Department officer as saying that Vijayanas daughter Veena Vijayanas IT firm Exalogic had received Rs 1.72 crore from the mining company CMRL, in which the KSIDC has a stake. At that time Vijayan and the entire top leadership of the CPI-M trashed the report as politically-motivated. However, now, with the SFIO reaching the office of CMRL, the next stop would be Veena Vijayan as she is the sole director of Exalogic, which is temporarily closed. The SFIO team is also expected to reach the KSIDCas office soon. Washington, Feb 5 : Former US President Donald Trump apparently slipped again making doubtful claims, described as false by the media, about the Middle East, rival Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other subjects. Trump's alleged false claims came in an interview that aired on Sunday morning on Fox News, notably including his claim that he warned the US not to invade Iraq in March 2003, media reports said. Invasion of Iraq: Trump claimed that he had publicly spoken against the idea of invading Iraq, a claim he has been making since his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump told FOX: "Going into Iraq was a stupid thing. Remember I used to say, 'Don't do it, but if you do it, keep the oil.'" Fact check: Trump's claim is false and was debunked eight years ago. In reality, Trump did not publicly express opposition to the 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", CNN said in a report apparently dug out from the past statements of the ex-President. Trump did not express a firm opinion about the looming war in a Fox interview in January 2003, saying that "either you attack or don't attack" and that then-President George W. Bush "has either got to do something or not do something, perhaps." Trump criticised the war in 2003, but after the invasion, he claimed that American troops should not be withdrawn from Iraq. He emerged as an explicit opponent of the war in 2004. A CNN search in 2019 turned up no examples of Trump saying anything before the war about keeping Iraq's oil. Trump's White House did not respond at the time to the news agency request to provide proof. Iran's missiles: Trump reiterated an earlier claim that Iran intentionally avoided hitting bases 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 told Fox News, Iran "called me." He said, "We knew they weren't going to hit inside the fort" even though outside observers were left wondering, "How come they all missed?" Fact check: Trump's claims that all of Iran's missiles missed the base are false, media reports said. 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. A CNN team of reporters that visited the base days after the attack had then said that: "Ten of the 11 missiles struck US positions at the sprawling desert Iraqi air base. One struck a remote location on the Iraqi military's side. 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. General Mark Milley, who was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the time, told reporters he believed Iran's intent was to kill; he credited "the defensive techniques that our forces used" for the absence of deaths. Trump, reports claimed, did not substantiate his claim that Iran called him to telegraph the strike and offer reassurance. As The Post reported, Iraq's 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 was "because Democrats are stupidly allowed to vote in the Republican primary, and Independents also." Trump's statement was found to be incorrect: Registered Democrats aren't allowed to vote in New Hampshire's Republican primary. Only registered Republicans and Independents are allowed to vote. Democrats who have flipped sides and become 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. That's not true, reports said. (A general practice is that some states allow people to switch affiliations by a certain date to participate in another party's primary.) Mitch McConnell and the Green New Deal: In a clip from the interview that Fox aired on 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, reports said. "Mitch McConnell. I mean, he's 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. Trump's 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, CNN verified. Trump did not mention that McConnell was a vocal opponent of the Green New Deal congressional resolution as a whole and that Congress has never actually passed the resolution. New Delhi, Feb 5 : Neobanking startup Muvin has reportedly shut down its operations, as per a Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s directive to stop using Unified Payments Interface (UPI) in a co-branding arrangement. A notification sent by Muvin to its users read that the "Muvin card programme has been closed". "Any available balance is being migrated to the "Issuer Livquik" app. The migration is expected to be finished by February 1 and we would notify next steps to access your balance. Thank you for the support and we regret that Muvin is unable to support your journey towards financial literacy," said the notification. The Muvin app was also not available on Google Play Store, reports Entrackr. Co-founded by Vineet Gupta and Mukund Rao, Muvin used to cater to both teens and young adults through its prepaid card and mobile app. Muvin had raised $3 million in a pre-Series A round led by WaterBridge Ventures in January 2022. In June 2023, the RBI had directed prepaid payment instrument (PPI) issuers to stop UPI in a co-branding arrangement. The directive had forced DreamX (Dream11), Fampay, Akudo, Muvin and CheqUPI to discontinue UPI services as they did not hold PPI license. Leading US-based investment firm Y Combinator-backed Akudo, a teenagers-focused neo-banking platform, also shut down its core UPI and card business in September last year. Akudo, founded by Lavika Aggarwal, Khanna, and Jagveer Gandhi, is a digital bank for teenagers that offers debit cards that can be controlled by parents. The firm raised $4.2 million led by Y Combinator, JAFCO Asia, Incubate Fund India and AET Fund. Tribe Capital, Cabra Capital, and a few other investors also took part in the round, which was announced in September 2021. Press Release February 5, 2024 Senator Mark Villar Celebrates the 60th Anniversary of Elsie Gaches Village-- A Shelter for Mentally-Disabled Individuals Senator Mark Villar celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the Elsie Gaches Village (EGV) together with his wife, DSWD Undersecretary Emmeline Villar, and the residents and partners of the shelter. He, along with the partners of the shelter, were awarded for their generosity to its residents. "As we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Elsie Gaches Village, I hope that we will all be reminded of all the lives we have saved and touched through our sincerest help to the shelter. The past sixty years of the EGV reminds us of the successes and challenges of ensuring that every resident here at the shelter experiences a life of equality and fairness despite their conditions," Senator Mark said in his inspirational message. The Elsie Gaches Village is a residential care center in Alabang, Muntinlupa City under the DSWD-NCR. They provide care and rehabilitation to abandoned and neglected children with special needs such as those who have cerebral palsy, epilepsy, visual and hearing impairment, mental retardation, autism, and other related illnesses. The shelter is funded both through government assistance and subsidy and private donations. "No monetary amount could ever equal the fulfillment it brings us whenever we see our residents full of happiness as they enjoy their life here and outside of the shelter. I hope that the EGV has changed your lives for the better as it did with mine and my family's," Senator Mark exclaimed "Ibang klase po ang saya na ibinibigay ng mga residents dito sa EGV whenever we see them happy in doing what they love. Sa mga pagkakataon na ako ay nakakabisita dito sa shelter, I've witnessed how happy they are in pursuing activities that make them feel alive, all the while developing life skills that help them integrate into the society," Senator Mark further said. Senator Mark, a long-time advocate for mental health and developmental disabilities, filed several bills to help individuals with these disorders. He filed Senate Bill No. 2062 or the Comprehensive Mental Health Benefit Act, which aims to expand PhilHealth's health benefit packages to include all mental health concerns, including minors, regardless whether their parents are members or not. He also filed Senate Bill No. 220 or the Early Detection and Intervention Services for Children with Mental Illness Act. This bill aims to put in place a comprehensive and coordinated health policy on children with special needs that will provide the directions and interventions that must be undertaken by and among concerned agencies in an effective and timely manner. "We are aiming to provide better healthcare access to mentally challenged individuals that will help them to properly navigate their conditions. The least we could do is to help them get the quality care they need and deserve in a timely manner," Senator Mark claimed. Washington, Feb 5 : The US Senate on Sunday approved a $118 billion funding package which includes a bipartisan deal to redress the migrant crisis at the southern border and fresh aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other US allies. But its fate is uncertain in the House of Representatives as Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican from Louisiana, said the Bill was "dead on arrival." Washington, Feb 5 (IANS) The US Senate on Sunday approved a $118 billion funding package which includes a bipartisan deal to redress the migrant crisis at the southern border and fresh aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other US allies. But its fate is uncertain in the House of Representatives as Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican from Louisiana, said the Bill was "dead on arrival." Democrats have embarked on a challenging path forward in the upper Congressional chamber where they hold the majority at 51 to 49, where the Republican leadership quickly panned it. But in the House of Representatives Republicans hold the majority and it will take a tough call on like-minded liberals and conservatives to come together to approve the package. Reports about the bipartisan agreement were in the offing as President Biden's aid package for Israel and Ukraine was stuck with Republicans wanting to take the latter out and there was no hope in the lower chamber of the House of Representatives. The final text of the Bill being released will allow leaders including those Republicans who have already sworn off the proposal to evaluate the legislation, media reports said. The 370-page Bill includes the supplemental aid package requested by President Joe Biden for foreign conflicts, which would appropriate $60 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, and $10 billion for humanitarian aid, including in Gaza, the reports pointed out. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, said he would launch consideration of the legislation this week as "the overwhelming majority of Senators want to get this done." But the bipartisan agreement is facing fierce opposition and sharp criticism from the virtual GOP boss and former President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders. The odds of the Bill passing muster in the House of Representatives either appear bleak now, reports said House Speaker Mike Johnson, said on Sunday evening that the Bill is "even worse than expected" and said it will be "dead on arrival" if it reached the House. Even some Republican senators slammed it: Senator Mike Lee, said, "I cannot understand how any Republican would think this was a good idea." Senator James Lankford, told reporters that he urged his colleagues to consider it before passing judgment. "Why don't we actually work through the process to see what (lawmakers) actually step out and say they do support this?" he said. President Joe Biden said in a statement released on Sunday night that it is the "toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades" and that he strongly supports it. Schumer called it a "monumental step" and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said it includes "direct and immediate solutions" and called upon the Senate to "carefully consider the opportunity in front of us and prepare to act." The details of the new deal on borders and aid to American allies as revealed by the media, is as follows. The border control proposal seeks to expand detention capacity and make it harder for people to qualify for asylum but would allow migrants who can claim credible fear to stay in the country and work. It includes around $20 billion in additional funding to expand the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) ability to catch, process, house, and transport migrants and to catch people smuggling fentanyl and other narcotics across the border. The plan also makes it easier for multiple DHS agencies to hire additional employees, USA TODAY reported. The legislation would end a practice known as "catch and release," in which migrants caught crossing the border illegally are released into the United States while they wait for the government to process their asylum application. Instead, they would be detained while their claims are evaluated. It would also create a new, voluntary program for migrants to fly back to their home countries on commercial airlines paid for by the US government, the publication said while revealing details of the senate deal. The deal would expand the number of Green Card-eligible visas every year for the next five years and guarantee that children of H1-B visa holders remain eligible for Green Cards once they turn 18. It includes a pathway to citizenship for Afghans who left their country after the Taliban took over a version of the Afghan Adjustment Act. Perhaps the most controversial element of the Bill is a three-year policy to shut down the processing of asylum applications from people who crossed illegally if the number of expulsions and apprehensions of migrants reaches a week-long average of 4,000. It would create a mandated shutdown after a week-long average of 5,000 or more. There were 302,034 encounters at the southern border in December, according to US Customs and Border Protection an average of 9,743 per day. When the border is shut down, migrants caught crossing illegally would be immediately deported. The process would still allow the processing of asylum claims from people who try to enter at official ports of entry. The border would also reopen after illegal border crossings slow to 75 per cent of that trigger number, or after 270 days have passed in the first year, 225 days in the next, and 180 days in the third year, US media reports said. "That'll be one that we'll have to talk about," Senator John Lankford, the lead GOP negotiator on the Bill, told reporters Thursday on what criticism to expect on the deal. "The process is really set up to be able to process more people faster, make decisions faster, deport faster," he said. "But when the system gets overwhelmed, everyone gets deported until we get caught up." The bipartisan package where like-minded Democrats and Republicans thrashed out a quick-fix solution to end the border crisis took months to negotiate, with opposition from extreme Right wingers. The Democrats want to stick to the open borders policy to help asylum seekers but the influx of immigrants from North and South America has been overwhelming for the Biden Administration. Negotiators have been debating the contents of the package for months. Originally, Republicans demanded border security legislation in exchange for their support for additional aid for Ukraine, as GOP lawmakers have split on providing additional US assistance to the war-torn country. Islamabad, Feb 5 : At least 10 police officials were martyred and six critically injured in yet another targetted terror attacks on a police station in Dera Ismail Khan during the early hours of Monday. The attack signifies the tense, sensitive and critical situation in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province with increased terror attacks, only four days before the polling day on February 8. According to the police, terrorists entered the Chodhwan police station at around 3 a.m. on Monday morning, sniping out the guards standing around it. "They hurled grenades as well as shot at police officers they encountered. Four of the martyred belong to the Elite Force," said a police official. "After entering the building, the terrorists used hand grenades which caused more casualties to the police," said Malik Anees ul Hassan, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Draban. Police sources also revealed that the attack was carried out by at least 30 terrorists, who attacked from at least three different directions. "There was an exchange of fire for at least two-and-a-half hours," KP Provincial Police Chief Akhtar Hayat Gandapur said. "Following the attack, a clearance operation was initiated by police officers as well as military personnel. Military has taken up security duties around the police station and are also leading a clearance operation in the forest nearby," he added. The latest attack is part of a series of attacks in recent days, further complicating the security situation in the province and raises even more concerns over the upcoming general elections to be held on February 8 across the country. Just over a month ago, at least 23 soldiers were martyred after militants rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a security forces post in Dera Ismail Khan district. The car bomb was followed by a suicide attack, collapsing the building causing casualties. The Dera Ismail Khan district has been under the shadow of terror attacks for some time, especially since the announcement of the polling day. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has also taken notice of the ongoing incidents of terror attacks and had called in an emergency meeting with security officials. It is to be noted that the terror attacks have also claimed lives of candidates of various political parties. Awami National Party (ANP) activist, who was contesting as an Independent candidate for the National Assembly in KP's Bajaur district, was killed at a political rally of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Qilla Abdullah in Balochistan. Moreover, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) candidate Ali Madad Jattak was killed in a grenade attack in Quetta's Sariab Road while a similar attack also claimed life of Mir Zahoor Buledi in Kech district of Balochistan. Targetted terror attacks on political rallies and people contesting elections, especially in KP and Balochistan, including targetted major attacks on security posts and police stations, have put some serious questions over the maintenance of security during the election day. New Delhi, Feb 5 : After arriving on a Vistara flight from Dubai, certain passengers were erroneously taken to Mumbai's domestic terminal, without completing immigration procedures on Sunday at Mumbai airport. The airline has said that they will enhance operating procedures to avoid such occurrences in the future. This incident raises concerns as it appears to be a security violation, considering the mandatory immigration process for international arrivals at Indian airports. Bureau of Civil Aviation (BCAS) is yet to respond to the incident. Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Monday, the airline said that few of their customers, arriving from Dubai to Mumbai on Vistara flight UK 202 on February 4, were erroneously taken to domestic arrivals instead of international arrivals. "Our teams worked alongside security agencies and relevant authorities to ensure that the said customers were taken to the designated area to complete their arrival formalities and conclude their journey," said the spokesperson. "We regret the inconvenience caused to the customers, inadvertently. We are revisiting and further tightening our standard operating procedures to avoid any recurrence," the spokesperson added. Bengaluru, Feb 5 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said the proposed protests of Karnataka Congress in New Delhi on February 7 is against the step-motherly treatment meted out to the state by the Central government. Karnataka Congress will organise a protest in New Delhi on February 7 which will be led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah against not releasing funds for the drought-hit state. The Congress has asked all its ministers, MLAs and MLCs from across the state to attend the proposed protest. "All ministers and MLAs from Karnataka are leaving for New Delhi on Tuesday evening. We want to draw the attention of the nation and the Central government towards the injustice meted out to Karnataka in the budget," the Chief Minister told media persons. He said that till date, Karnataka has not released its judicious share of Rs 1.87 lakh crore by the Central government. "From 14th Finance Commission to 15th Finance Commission, the allocation of funds to Karnataka has been reduced by 1.07 per cent. In four years, the state was allocated Rs 45,000 crore which is lesser money in tax devolution alone. Karnataka has lost Rs 73,593 crore of its judicious share this year," the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister said that the tax collections in Karnataka amount Rs 4.30 lakh crore. "We are number 2 after Maharashtra in terms of tax collection in the country. This year we got Rs 50,257 crore out of taxes. Out of Rs 100 collected from Karnataka, we are only getting Rs 12 to Rs 13 back," the Chief Minister said. He said that the budget size of the Central government has doubled from Rs 21, 46 lakh crore in 2017-18 to Rs 45.03 lakh crore in 2023-24. "The devolution which was 2.2 per cent in 2017-18 has been reduced to 1.23 per cent now. When the size of the budget increases, our grants should also increase but it has remained at Rs 50,257 crore only," the Chief Minister said. He said that the Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman announced Rs 5,300 crore funds for the Upper Bhadra project which aims to irrigate 2.50 lakh hectares. "I demand that it should be released now," the Chief Minister said. He said that the gazette notification for Mahadayi project has also been finalised but the environment clearance is not given by the Central government. "This project will help to utilise the state's share of 7.56 tmc of water. The Central government has also announced that it will declare the Upper Krishna scheme as a national project. The Mekedatu project has also not been given the green signal as of yet. The Central government must act soon," the Chief Minister said. He said that the Central government should give more funds to poor states of north India but should not do injustice with the southern state, especially with Karnataka. "Chicken which gives golden eggs should not be killed," the Chief Minister said. He said that the BJP leaders and former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Basavaraj Bommai never talk to the Central government about releasing Rs 1.87 lakh crore due to Karnataka. "LoP R. Ashoka does not even have any idea about it. Ministers Pralhad Joshi, Shobha Karandlaje, Bhagwant Khuba have also not raised their voice," the Chief Minister said. He said that the Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman who got elected from Karnataka as MP is also not doing anything for the release of funds to Karnataka. "I do hope that the state will get justice following our protests in New Delhi on February 7," the Chief Minister said. New Delhi, Feb 5 : "It is the foremost duty of a ruler to keep his subjects happy and gain their confidence. In the same manner, it is also his duty to always uphold the truth and maintain honesty and sincerity in his behaviour." In the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, Bhishma Pitamah gives the aforementioned treatise on Rajdharma -- or the principles of governance -- to Dharmaraj Yudhishthira. This ancient wisdom of Rajdharma serves as an inspiration to public servants like me. When I became the Chief Minister of Assam on 10 May 2021, I sought to emulate these ideals. In front of me was the inspirational story of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a man who has lived up to the ideals of Rajdharma and served as an embodiment of righteousness. In 2014, he undertook a series of mammoth confidence-building initiatives to gain the trust of the people of the Northeast and win over their hearts with sincere love and devotion. As a result, when I took office, my mission was clear -- I had to take forward the vision of PM Modi and implement his policies on the ground. We have envisioned an Assam where we eliminate the problems faced by the people and script a new destiny for their future. Upon assuming office, we undertook various administrative reforms to improve governance. For example, we took the decision to hold weekly Cabinet meetings so as to make sure we are regularly communicating and updating ourselves to best govern the people of Assam. We have also held Cabinet meetings outside the capital, decentralising governance quite literally and taking it to different districts and towns. Through such measures, we have been able to take decisions and implement policies that have laid the foundation of a new Assam. Our double-engine government has been working in the relentless pursuit of Rajdharma through various avenues. The first major challenge we faced after assuming office was to improve the economic growth of a state that has historically been plagued by insurgency and militancy. Assam was lagging behind in key aspects of health, education and infrastructure. The state had minimal business activity, despite its tremendous potential. The first step towards regenerating economic growth was the construction of infrastructure and then the clearing up of legal and administrative bottlenecks. This was a process that had speedily begun since 2014. Assam in particular has witnessed unprecedented development in recent times, with the addition of several newly constructed bridges, the expansion of roads and highways, and the ongoing construction of a tunnel under the Brahmaputra. This infrastructure boost offers massive headroom for connectivity via road, air and sea, fostering economic growth. These measures by the Union government are being complemented in Assam by our state government policies that promote ease of doing business. With the decriminalisation of labour laws we have eliminated the risk of imprisonment for economic offences that do not involve mala fide acts. We have also repealed 364 old Acts to reduce the compliance burden on citizens and businesses. With a cheap land bank made available for industrial use, Assam paved the way for investors to establish manufacturing and other industries in the state. The state currently boasts of more than 50 industrial parks with sector-specific infrastructure, an industrial zone of 99.4 miles along the National Highways near Guwahati and the only industrial growth centre in India with access to four countries within 750 km at Matia. The latter is the most crucial, as Indiaas total exports to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and Nepal stand at $17 billion, making Assam India's gateway to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Pacific. If we purely look at numbers, Assamas gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita income have grown at unprecedented rates since 2014. The steep rise is a proof of the central governmentas constant push for the development of Assam and the Northeast. The result of these measures has been that the gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Assam for 2023-24 (at current prices) is projected to be Rs 5.67 lakh crore, amounting to a growth of 15 per cent over 2022-23. In 2022-23, Assam's per capita income (at current prices) was estimated to be Rs 118,504, an increase of 15 per cent over 2021-22. In 2022-23, India's per capita income was estimated to increase by 14 per cent to Rs 170,620. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey, in 2021a"22, Assamas unemployment rate was 4.9 per cent (as per current weekly status), lower than the national unemployment rate of 6.6 per cent. Currently, we are also working to calculate the GDP at the district level so as to understand the economic conditions of each district and work towards achieving equitable economic progress throughout the state. These steps taken by the state government, coupled with the Centre's push for strengthening geographical connectivity through building robust road and railway infrastructure along with building new airports, gave Assam the title of 'most improved big state' by India Today. --IANS dan/ (The writer is the Chief Minister of Assam. Excerpted with permission from Modi's North East Story, edited by Tuhin Sinha and Aditya Pittie, Rupa Publications.) Dakshina Kannada, : Feb 5 (IANS) Karnataka Police arrested three persons on Monday in connection with a case of moral policing and harassment of a couple reported from Panambur Beach on the outskirts of Mangaluru city in Dakshina Kannada district. According to police, the incident took place at the Panambur Beach on the outskirts of Mangaluru city. The couple, a man from Kerala and a woman from Bengaluru were visiting Panambur Beach. The accused, allegedly attached to the aRam Senaa waylaid them and questioned why they were together as they belong to different religions. Panamburu police rushed to the spot and took the accused into custody. Later, after the Preliminary Enquiry, they were arrested. More details are yet to emerge regarding the incident and further investigation is on. Hyderabad, Feb 5 : Tight security has been made for Congress MLAs from Bihar staying at a resort near here after they were shifted here on Sunday night to foil suspected poaching attempt by the BJP-led NDA. Security personnel were keeping a tight vigil around Siri Nature's Valley Resort at Kagazghat in Rangareddy district, about 40 km from the city. Police have erected barricades to check the movement of vehicles around the resort off the Nagarjuna Sagar Road. The Congress party, which is in power in Telangana, has made all arrangements to ensure the MLAs stay comfortable. Local Congress MLA Malreddy Rangareddy was supervising the arrangements. The Ibrahimpatnam MLA personally received the legislators from Bihar at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and escorted them to the resort amid tight security. The authorities have ensured that outsiders do not have access to the block allotted to the MLAs. Sources said this was done as a precautionary measure to make sure that no one tried to approach the MLAs. A few Bihar Congress leaders accompanying the MLAs were coordinating the arrangements with the party's Telangana leadership including ministers. The MLAs are likely to stay till February 11. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is likely to meet them after his return from Jharkhand where he reached on Monday to participate in Congress Rahul Gandhias Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The MLAs were moved from Patna to Hyderabad amid poaching fears ahead of the trust vote in Bihar Assembly on February 12. As the newly formed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has to prove its majority, some Congress leaders have voiced the apprehension that BJP or JD (U) may try to lure Congress MLAs. The Congress party is the second largest constituent of aMahagathbandhana which lost power after Chief Minister and JD (U) president Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA. The Congress party has 19 MLAs in Bihar. Three remaining MLAs are also likely to reach Hyderabad later in a day or two. The Bihar MLAs arrived in Hyderabad on a day when Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress MLA returned to Ranchi after a three-day stay in Hyderabad. About 40 MLAs of the two parties had reached Hyderabad on February 2 by two chartered aircrafts. They were also staying at Leonia Resort on the city outskirts. Jharkhandas new government led by Champai Soren proved its majority in the state Assembly on Monday. JMM leader Champai Soren took oath as Jharkhand Chief Minister on Friday, two days after the arrest of Hemant Soren by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case. New Delhi, Feb 5 : The Supreme Court on Monday adjourned till March 5 the hearing on a plea filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh, who is accused in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. A bench presided over by Justice Sanjiv Khanna was apprised by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S.V. Raju that the Delhi High Court on January 31 had reserved its judgement on the regular bail plea filed by the AAP Rajya Sabha MP. "The order on the regular bail is reserved (by the Delhi HC) and judgment may come up in a couple of days. This matter may be adjourned for a week," submitted ASG Raju, who appeared on behalf of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Taking note of the submission, the bench, also comprising Justice Dipankar Datta, ordered: "Re-list on March 05, 2024." A bench of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its judgement on a appeal filed by Singh after Special Judge M.K. Nagpal of Rouse Avenue Court dismissed his regular bail plea. In November 2023, the Supreme Court had issued notice on a plea filed by the AAP leader against his arrest by the ED and subsequent remand. It had granted liberty to the AAP leader to file for a regular bail application before the jurisdictional court concerned. Patna, Feb 5 : Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Monday alleged that Lalu Prasad Yadav's family has misused power when he was Chief Minister and a minister at the Centre. He said that the Lalu family will be held accountable in the court of law. "Tejashwi Yadav wanted to become a political player in the state but he has completely failed in his efforts. The family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav misused the power in the state and in Centre. Action will be taken against them through courts," Sinha said. He said that the people of Bihar had given the mandate to NDA in the 2020 assembly election but the RJD stole the mandate and came to power from the back door. "They have defamed and frightened the people of Bihar and because of them a large number of migrations has taken place across the state. Our top priority is to save the state," the Deputy Chief Minister said. He said that during the 2020 Bihar assembly election, the NDA had promised about 19 lakh jobs in the state. "The recruitment process was also started during the NDA government. Even the decision of caste based survey was also taken during our tenure," the Deputy Chief Minister said. IANS ajk/dan Patna, Feb 5 : Ahead of the floor test of the NDA Government in Bihar, the leaders of three major political parties, the BJP, RJD and the JD-U have kicked-off credit politics. After the frequent flip-flops by Nitish Kumar, there is a general perception in the state now that he can change his political alliances any time. Hence, the leaders of the RJD are not bothered with making any comments on him and are instead focusing on drawing the attention of voters to the works done by the party and the Mahagathbandhan Government in Bihar. The leaders of the RJD are pointing out that the teachers' recruitments in the first and second phase, where more than 3 lakh people of Bihar and other states got jobs, were Tejashwi Yadav's vision. Now, every RJD leader is holding discussions with common people about the 17 months of the Mahagathbandhan Government versus 17 years of Nitish Kumar's rule with the BJP as the alliance partner. "Nitish Kumar was the Chief Minister of Bihar for 18 years but he did not take the initiative to provide jobs until he became part of the Mahagathbandhan Government in Bihar. Was he waiting for Tejashwi Yadav? "The recruitment of teachers and staff in other Government departments started soon after the formation of the Mahagathbandhan Government in Bihar. "Nitish Kumar was sworn in on August 9, 2022 and he announced 10 lakh jobs and 10 lakh employment opportunities in various sectors on August 15, 2022 from the Gandhi Maidan Patna. How did this happen? It happened due to Tejashwi Yadav's initiative as he made the poll promise in the run up to the 2020 Assembly election and as soon as he came to power, he executed it," said Ejaz Ahmed, spokesperson of the RJD. To counter the RJD, JD-U leaders are claiming that the teacher recruitments were part of the 'Seven points programme part 2.' The BJP has placed front page advertisements in various newspapers saying that the recruitments were due to the efforts of Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav had no role in it. Vijay Kumar Sinha, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar said, "The recruitment of teachers began during the tenure of the NDA Government. The RJD leaders are taking credit for various works but they were completed during the NDA Government." Prabhakar Mishra, spokesperson, BJP said, "To those who are talking about 'khela (game)', I want to say that there would be 'mela (fair)' in Bihar. The fair of jobs, development and education." "The NDA Government has only one agenda and that is to develop Bihar at a rapid pace," Mishra said. Mumbai, Feb 5 : Ahead of Valentine's Day, the musical duo Sachet-Parampara Tandon have released a love anthem titled 'Pyaar Ban Gaye', and called it a beautiful fairy tale about childhood sweethearts. This enchanting love ballad, featuring Rohit Zinjurke and Karishma Sharma, is poised to become the Valentine's anthem, capturing the essence of romance and igniting the spark of love. The song is sung as well as composed by Sachet and Parampara, while the lyrics are penned by Sayeed Quadri. Talking about the song, Sachet and Parampara said: "We both are die-hard romantics, and it is a genre of music we love. To top that, 'Pyaar Ban Gaye' has such a beautiful story to it, about childhood sweethearts growing up and with them, the love for each other also grows. It is a fairy tale told through a song." Rohit shared: "Pyaar Ban Gaye is just beautiful. The song, the way it was shot. It carries an essence that will pull your heartstrings, so thanks to Sachet and Parampara ji for this beautiful song. Thanks to Karishma for being a wonderful co-star." Karishma added: "The best thing about 'Pyaar Ban Gaye' is that it instantly makes you fall in love. It's the month of love and this song goes so well with the sweet love story that you will want to see it again and again." Lyricist Sayeed said: "The song defines pure and innocent love. The aim was to pen down emotions that resonate universally-- the joy, the longing, and the magic of falling in love." The music video is directed by Video Brains. Produced by Bhushan Kumar, 'Pyaar Ban Gaye' is available on T-Series' YouTube channel. New Delhi, Feb 5 : US-based investment firm Vanguard has reportedly slashed down ride-hailing major Ola's valuation to less than $2 billion. Vanguard marked down Olaas parent company ANI Technologies valuation to $1.88 billion (as of November 30, 2023), as per its regulatory filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This valuation is 29 per cent lower than its previous fair value of $2.65 billion (August last year), reports Entrackr. This is the third consecutive mark-down of Olaas valuation by Vanguard since February 2023. In February last year, Vanguard marked down the fair value of its stake in Ola by 35 per cent to $4.8. The asset management company later slashed its holding by another 52 per cent to $3.5 billion. Bhavish Aggarwal-run Ola was valued at $7.3 billion in 2021. Ola posted Rs 2,800 crore revenue in the fiscal year 2022-23, while managing to cut its losses by almost 50 per cent. ANI Technologies, Ola's parent company, registered 42 per cent growth in revenue to Rs 2,799 crore in FY23, compared to Rs 1,970 crore in FY22, as per the audited financial results available on Ola's website. The company cut down its losses by about 50 per cent to Rs 772 crore in FY23 against Rs 1,522 crore in FY22. Ride-hailing company Ola's mobility business in India reported a profit of Rs 250 crore in FY23 against a loss of Rs 66 crore in FY22. Los Angeles, Feb 5 : California Governor Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency for several counties in Southern California as a series of winter storms began impacting much of the state with high winds, damaging rain and heavy snowfall. The proclamation covers eight counties -- Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura, Xinhua news agency reported. The emergency proclamation includes provisions authorising a California National Guard response if tasked, facilitating unemployment benefits for impacted residents, and making it easier for out-of-state contractors and utilities to repair storm damage, according to Newsom's office. "California is ready with a record number of emergency assets on the ground to respond to the impacts of this storm," Newsom said in a statement. More than 790,000 customers in California are experiencing power outages as of Sunday night, according to PowerOutages.us. The US National Weather Service (NWS) issued a rare hurricane-force wind warning for the Central Coast. "Additional areas of heavy rainfall are expected in the Central and Northern CA Coastal Ranges and the Central Valley going through the evening and into the overnight hours," said NWS. A flash flood warning is in effect for parts of the Southern and Central coast, including areas in Los Angeles, where officials warned of one of the "most dramatic weather days in recent memory". Kolkata, Feb 5 : There was tension in front of the West Bengal Assembly on Monday. Just when the legislators started entering the Assembly premises to attending the opening day of the budget session, deprived candidates who became victims of the multi-crore cash-for-school jobs case in West Bengal started staging a protest near the Assembly gate, demanding entry and permission to meet Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to express their grievances. When the police present at the spot stopped the protesters, they sat on the street and started raising slogans. After some time, the police forcefully pushed them into prison vans and took them away. The protesters later accused the police of acting in an inhuman manner. "The male cops physically assaulted and dragged the women protesters and pushed them into the prison vans. Some of the protesters were even held by their necks and dragged into the prison vans," a protester alleged. Another protester claimed that they have been deliberately denied their legitimate jobs. "What does the state government want? Does it want us to end our lives protesting in demand of our legitimate jobs," she asked. New Delhi, Feb 5 : The Delhi High Court on Monday rejected the plea to quash the summons issued against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a criminal defamation case, which revolves around his re-tweet of an allegedly defamatory video posted by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in 2018. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who presided over the case, upheld the summoning order by the Magistrate, dismissing Kejriwal's revision plea. The judge said that re-tweeting defamatory content falls under the offence of defamation as per Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Section 499 of the IPC says that whoever, by words either spoken or intended to be read, or by signs or by visible representations, makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm, the reputation of such person, is said, except in the cases hereinafter excepted, to defame that person. Kejriwal had filed the petition in 2019, and a Coordinated Bench had previously stayed trial court proceedings in December 2019. Justice Sharma said that online interactions, specifically re-tweeting on now X, can incur liability for defamation. If Kejriwal wishes to justify his re-tweet, the court suggested doing so during the trial. In a judgment on criminal liability for re-tweeting, Justice Sharma stressed the amplified impact of statements in the cyber domain. The court noted the broader ramifications when public figures, especially political figures, share content on social media. The judgment said that the legal system should adapt to the context of virtual platforms and urged a sense of responsibility in re-tweeting content without proper knowledge. The court stated that re-tweeting by political figures, such as a Chief Minister, with a significant social media presence, can be perceived as a public endorsement. The Magistrate had earlier summoned Kejriwal, deeming the re-tweet prima facie defamatory. The case was filed by Vikas Pandey (Sankrityayan), the founder of the social media page "I Support Narendra Modi," who claimed that Kejriwal's re-tweet of the video tarnished his reputation. Vikas Pandey, whose X handle reads MODIfiedVikas, posted: "HC rules against @ArvindKejriwal (Arvind Kejriwal) in the defamation case by me. He had shared a video against me made by Dhruv Rathee. I thank my lawyers @raghav355 (Raghav Awasthi) & @ThisIsTheMukesh (Mukesh Sharma) who took this case up pro bono and have been fighting against the few highest paid lawyers in India in the case." Kolkata, Feb 5 : The Calcutta High Court on Monday stayed any kind of probe by the West Bengal Police into the ration distribution cases in West Bengal. The single-judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta ordered the stay while hearing a petition filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking hand over of probe in all cases relating to the alleged multi-crore ration distribution irregularities in West Bengal from the state police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Although the ED and CBI have launched a parallel probe into the matter, six cases are still under the jurisdiction of the state police. Justice Sengupta said the state police started the investigation following an FIR lodged at the Ballygung police station in Kolkata in 2019. However, the bench ordered that in case the state police are still carrying out any investigation into any ration-distribution related case, they should stop the probe for the time being. The stay will be in force till March 5. Justice Sengupta also ordered the state police to submit the case diaries relating to all such cases to his bench at the earliest. On Friday, the bench had not said anything about EDas plea to hand over the investigation in all such cases to CBI. In its plea, that ED argued that despite the state police having filed FIRs in these six cases, there had been virtually no progress in the investigation since then, and the state police have not taken any action against a single accused in the cases. The central agency also complained that although it has written to the state police regarding the progress of investigation in these cases, there was no reply from the latter. The central agency has also accused the state police of deliberately going slow in the matter because of the involvement of politically-influential people, including members of the state Cabinet. The ED has already arrested State Forest Minister and former Food & Supplies Minister Jyotipriya Mallick in connection with the ration distribution case. The two other persons arrested in connection with the case are Kolkata businessman Bakibur Rahaman and Trinamool Congress leader Shankar Adhya, both known to be close confidants of Mallick. New Delhi/Agartala, Feb 5 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday separately held meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J.P. Nadda in New Delhi and discussed issues related to Lok Sabha election and various state affairs, party sources said. BJP sources said that Saha held meetings with both Shah and Nadda at the new parliament building and discussed various issues of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, developmental initiatives of Tripura and the party's organisational matters. After the meeting, the Chief Minister said on X: "We discussed the developmental initiatives of Tripura and also discussed about the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024 in detail." "We discussed the upcoming Lok Sabha elections 2024 and the organisational issues of the state. Tripura is committed to bloom two lotuses (two Lok Sabha seats) for Modi again in 2024," Saha said after meeting with Nadda. Tripura has two Lok Sabha seats and the BJP won in both the seats in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. However, BJP sources said that parleys are going on with the opposition Tipra Motha Party (TMP), which has a strong base among the tribals, who constitute one third of Tripura's 28.56 lakh voters. BJP leaders are frantically seeking support of the TMP for securing the Tripura East Lok Sabha seat, which is reserved for the tribals. New Delhi, Feb 5 : The Delhi High Court on Monday directed Tihar Jail authorities to facilitate video conferencing for the appearance of former chairman of the Popular Front of India (PFI), Erappungal Abubacker, who is currently incarcerated, in hearing his interim bail plea filed on medical grounds. The Division Bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain is overseeing the matter, and it mandated the jail authorities to provide a comprehensive medical report on Abubacker, detailing the instances of hospitalisation, including those in the Jail Hospital. "The jail authority concerned is also directed to send the current medical report of the appellant, specifying therein as to how many times he remained admitted in hospital, including Jail Hospital, and the duration thereof," the court ordered. Furthermore, the court directed the jail authorities to ensure Abubacker's virtual presence in court for the next hearing, contingent upon his medical fitness. The next hearing is scheduled for February 21. Earlier, the court had directed Tihar jail's Medical Superintendent to file a status report of Abubacker's health condition. The Division Bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Anish Dayal had said that the complete medical record of the treatment given to Abubacker by All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) must be there in the status report. The Bench was then dealing with his appeal seeking implementation of an order passed by the special judge for him to be admitted in AIIMS. The other appeal sought condonation of delay in filing appeal. "The interim relief is that the special judge directed his admission in AIIMS. It is not done yet. We are seeking implementation of that," Abubacker's counsel Adit S. Pujari had told the court. The National Investigation Agency's (NIA's) counsel had submitted that there was no objection to the same since the accused was in judicial custody. After noting the above submission, the Bench while condoning the delay of over 40 days in filing the appeal, had also issued a notice on the appeal and sought reply of the agency within three weeks. Abubacker was arrested by the NIA on September 22, 2022 and charged under the provisions of the UAPA. He has been in judicial custody since October 6, 2022. He was active in organisations like the Ideal Students League, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). According to Abubacker, he is suffering from multiple ailments, including a rare type of esophagus cancer, Parkinson's Disease, hypertension, diabetes, and loss of vision. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Budget session of Parliament. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while replying to the Motion of Thanks on President's address in the Lok Sabha on Monday, launched a blistering attack on the Opposition over the current state of polity in the country. Lamenting the 'pitiable' state of the Congress-led Opposition, the Prime Minister said that their 'negative and destructive' politics is responsible for their state of affairs in the current political set-up. "They have failed to take up the responsibility as Opposition. They will continue to sit in the opposition, and it seems they are prepared for it," Modi said. Ridiculing the main Opposition party for its 'dwindling' fortunes in successive elections, Modi said that after the coming Lok Sabha polls, Congress will be seen seated in the "visitors' gallery". In a scathing attack on nepotism and 'parivaarvad' in politics, apparently directed at Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister slammed the top Congress leadership for trying to "launch and re-launch the same person" without any tangible results. Recalling the exit of some of the top leaders from the Congress such as Ghulam Nabi Azad and others, Modi said that many leaders were "sacrificed" for the sake of one person. "In its effort to launch and re-launch one person, the Congress made other tall leaders scapegoats and let the party slip into oblivion," the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister also said that he always advocates a good and robust Opposition, but it is sad to see that they have lost the courage to contest elections. "In the election year, the Opposition could have come up with some constructive agenda to corner the government, but it failed miserably," Modi said. Further lashing out at the Opposition, the Prime Minister said that many Opposition members are contemplating their seats this time in a bid to confirm their seat. He said that "sensing trouble", many are having double-thoughts about contesting the Lok Sabha polls and are now thinking of entering the Parliament via Rajya Sabha. Modi also accused the Congress of trying to pull Centre's leg even on progressive policies, and advised it to keep national interest above own. "Congress is stuck in a cancel culture. It wants everything cancelled. It says cancel Make in India, cancel Vocal for Local and Vande Bharat... I'm surprised. Because of its hate politics, the country's achievements are getting cancelled," Modi said. London, Feb 5 : The international student admission process in the UK is set to be reviewed after accusations of universities lowering entry standards for foreign applicants who pay far higher tuition fees. Universities UK, which represents 140 universities, announced a series of measures to review international foundation programmes and the use of recruitment agents employed to attract foreign students, The Guardian reported. In addition to taking a review, the universities will also update their admissions code of practice "to clearly state its applicability to international students". The move comes after Higher Education Minister, Robert Halfon said in the House of Commons that he was "very disturbed" by a Sunday Times report that "clearly showed bad practice in the use of agents and thatas not acceptable". "While I am a strong supporter of international students, I want a level playing field for all domestic students as well," Halfon said while taking up questions from the MPs last week. After Halfon's remarks, Vice Chancellors said they would work with the government to review the use of agents and make changes to "improve resilience and identify bad practice". According to the Times report, the University of York has told staff to be "more flexible" in admitting international students with lower-than-expected grades. The Times investigation also recorded agents acting for universities such as Durham and Exeter claiming that international students with poor grades could easily gain entry via international foundation courses. Denying the accusations, Durham University said in a statement that "entry requirements for international students who have completed international foundation years are benchmarked to ensure they are equivalent to those for home students entering with A-levels". Indians form a large chunk of international students coming to the UK with the Home Office reporting a substantial 54 per cent increase in the number of sponsored study visas granted to Indian students in 2023 compared to 2022. It is anticipated that the number of Indian students enrolling in UK universities will cross three lakhs in the upcoming academic session. According to local media reports, the number of Indian students at Durham University, which was mentioned in the Sunday Times report, has grown by more than 200 per cent to 340 in the last four years. --IANS mi/vd New Delhi, Feb 5 : A Delhi court on Monday extended former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's judicial custody till February 22, but permitted him to visit his ailing wife once a week during the period Special judge M.K. Nagpal, of the Rouse Avenue Courts, who is overseeing the Delhi excise policy case, directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a detailed status report on the case by the next date of hearing, expressing concerns over incomplete disclosure about the probe's status. The central agency also filed a report stating that the investigation is ongoing and at a crucial stage, with completion regarding the 16 charge sheeted accused persons. However, the defence counsel objected, citing incomplete status reports and the need for time to scrutinise translated documents received recently. The court, recognising the complexity of the case, directed the CBI to install necessary software in the laptops of defence counsel for efficient access to the voluminous case files. The alleged excise policy scam is being probed by both the enforcement agencies a" the Enforcement Directorate and CBI. On Monday, judge Nagpal adjourned Sisodiaas bail application in cases by both the agencies. Sisodia had asked for custody parole for twice-weekly visits to his ailing wife. However, the court granted a weekly visit and adjourned the bail application. Recently, the same court had asked for a fresh status report from the CBI in the case. The judge had also closed the opportunity for accused persons to inspect documents at the CBI office, stating sufficient time had been given. The court had directed that the matter should now be listed for arguments to frame charges. As counsel for Sisodia had mentioned that the CBI had not concluded its investigation, the court had called for a fresh status report to facilitate the commencement of arguments on charges. A compliance report had indicated the supply of DVDs containing charge sheets and relied-upon documents to the accused's counsel. The court had also refused to direct the CBI to provide seized documents during a search at Sisodia's residence and office, saying that the legality would be considered during the trial. It had also expressed dissatisfaction with the jail authorities for not informing about Sisodia's video conferencing appearance. Earlier, on December 22, 2023, the court had directed the CBI to facilitate document inspection at its headquarters, allowing counsel time until January 15, and subsequently, the CBI was to file a compliance report. Jaipur, Feb 5 : Hours after Rajasthan Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa triggered a controversy by commenting "Bharat Ratna is given to the dead", state unit BJP chief CP Joshi on Monday hit back at the grand old party, saying it had bestowed the prestigious award on two prime ministers when they were alive. Jaipur, Feb 5 (IANS) Hours after Rajasthan Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa triggered a controversy by commenting "Bharat Ratna is given to the dead", state unit BJP chief CP Joshi on Monday hit back at the grand old party, saying it had bestowed the prestigious award on two prime ministers when they were alive. The erstwhile Congress government had conferred Bharat Ratna to country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1955 and fourth Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1971. The BJP government conferred the highest civilian award to late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee after coming to power in 2014. Bharat Ratna was also conferred on former Congress president and founder of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha Madan Mohan Malaviya in 2015 posthumously. "Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa should check the history of Bharat Ratna awardees. Congress governments conferred Bharat Ratna on two Prime Ministers when they were alive. They should know the history before criticising others," Joshi said. The Central government has said that it would confer veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani with Bharat Ratna. Advani is widely credited as one of the tallest leaders who scripted BJP's rise from 'oblivion to prominence'. It was after his Rath Yatra in the 1990s that catapulted the saffron party into national politics. Randhawa has said that if BJP people had so much love for the Ram temple then they should have taken Advani to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony as he had organised the Rath Yatra for the Ram temple. Gurugram, Feb 5 : A 14-year-old girl, hailing from Nepal, was stabbed to death in Gurugram, police said on Monday. The victim was identified as Rekha and the accused has been identified as Ram Bahadur alias Ramu, who is still at large. Her father Giani Thapa told the police that he, along with his family member, used to reside in the Indira Vikas Colony in Gurugram and Ram Bahadur alias Ramu from Nepal also lived on rent in the neighbourhood and considered Rekha as his niece. He also used to give her money and food, but about six months ago, Ramu had accused the girl of stealing mobile and cash. There was an altercation between them regarding this matter. During this, Ramu threatened Thapa to kill one of his family members. After this, Thapa, along with his family, shifted to another place, but Ramu also came to the same place, the complainant told the police. "On Sunday, Rekha had gone to buy soap and did not return. When I returned home at night, my wife informed him about her being missing. During a search we found her body wrapped in a blanket in Ramu's room who later fled the spot," the complainant added. "A case of murder has been registered against the absconding accused. Police are making efforts to arrest the accused Ramu," Inspector Manoj Kumar, SHO of Sector-40 police station, said. Bengaluru, Feb 5 : The Karnataka BJP on Monday refuted the charges made by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over alleged discrepancies in the allotment of central funds to the state. The BJP said the Chief Minister was attempting to conceal his government's failures. In a social media post on Monday, the BJP challenged, "Mr. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, do you have the capacity to bring out a White Paper on the utilisation of funds released under the Jal Jeevan Mission, Amrut Yojna, Smart City, PM Awas Yojna, and irrigation projects by the central government?" "You have no moral right to question this matter as you had taken away the hard-earned money of Kannada people to spend on elections in Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan," the BJP alleged. "Mr. CM Siddaramaiah, you have been pointing fingers at others throughout your lifetime, the non-availability of appropriate information reflects the inefficiency of your government. PM Narendra Modi's Government has given three times more share in tax and allotments to Karnataka than the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). "During 2004-2014, when the UPA was ruling and amid the coal scam, 2G scam, and Commonwealth scams, the central government was left with only Rs 81,795 crore to be allotted to Karnataka. In comparison, the Congress will never be able to hide the fact that PM Modi's Government had given Rs 2,82,791 crore to Karnataka, which is higher by 245 per cent. "It is impossible for you to twist the fact that Karnataka state has received a higher amount of funds for development like never before. For a self-proclaimed finance expert like you, it is not difficult to know the amount of money released for specific projects. "It is enough to know the basics to see that the funds received by the state under PM Modi are more than Rs 2,08,882 crore, whereas during the UPA Government, the state received Rs 60,799 crore. "In our state, your party from 1947 to 2014 could construct 6,750 kms of roads. PM Modi's Government after 2014 has constructed 13,500 kms of roads. Mr. Siddaramaiah, earlier it took four hours to reach your native place, now you are able to reach in one-and-half hours. "That road was also constructed by PM Modi's Government. Your government had released Rs 835 crore for Railway projects between 2009 and 2014. PM Modi's Government has released Rs 11,000 crore, and you have to tell how many times more it is?" The social media post went on to say, "The Congress had laid only 7 kms of the Metro line in Bengaluru. Between 2014 and 2023, 73 kms of Metro track has been laid, which is more than 10 times of what you have done. During the Congress rule of 67 years, seven airports were built in Karnataka. However, after the people sent Congress home in 2014, in Karnataka alone, 14 airports were built by the Modi Government. "In the last five years, the PM Modi Government has released Rs 30,000 crore for national highways in the state. Rs 10,990 crore have been disbursed directly to the farmers of Karnataka under the Kisan Samman scheme. More than 62 lakh people from Karnataka are beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat Yojna. Mr. Chief Minister, you should also know that the first IIT in Karnataka was established by PM Modi's Government." Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Monday said the proposed protests of Karnataka Congress in New Delhi on February 7 is against the step-motherly treatment meted out to the state by the Central government. The Congress has asked all its ministers, MLAs and MLCs from across the state to attend the proposed protest. He said that till date, Karnataka has not released its judicious share of Rs 1.87 lakh crore by the Central government. The Chief Minister said that the tax collections in Karnataka amount Rs 4.30 lakh crore. "We are number two after Maharashtra in terms of tax collection in the country. This year we got Rs 50,257 crore out of taxes. Out of Rs 100 collected from Karnataka, we are only getting Rs 12 to Rs 13 back," the Chief Minister said. San Francisco, Feb 5 : The Oversight Board on Monday urged Meta to begin labeling manipulated content, such as videos altered by artificial intelligence (AI) or other means, when such content may cause harm. This comes after the Board, the external advisory group that Meta created, reviewed a misleading seven second clip of US President Joe Biden that made the rounds on social media last year. It said that the "cheap fake" video of Biden reveals major inconsistencies in the way Meta treats altered content and that it could reshape the companyas misinformation policies ahead of the 2024 election. The Board said Meta should stop removing manipulated media when no other policy violation is present and instead apply a label indicating the content is significantly altered and may mislead. "The volume of misleading content is rising, and the quality of tools to create it is rapidly increasing," said Michael McConnell, Co-Chair, Oversight Board, in a statement. "Platforms must keep pace with these changes, especially in light of global elections during which certain actors seek to mislead the public. "Manipulated media, however, present special challenges," McConnell said. Raising concerns about the manipulated media policy in its current form, the Board said it is "incoherent", lacks "persuasive justification", and can specifically disrupt electoral processes. This was seen in the case of Biden's video which was uploaded to Facebook in May 2023 with a caption describing Biden as a "sick pedophile". The original video showed the President accompanying his granddaughter Natalie Biden to cast her ballot in 2022, and pinning an "I Voted" sticker and kisses on her cheek. However, the edited version removed visual evidence of the sticker, setting the clip to a song with sexual lyrics and looping it to depict Biden inappropriately touching the young woman. The video does not violate Metaas Manipulated Media policy as now written, given that the policy applies only to video created through AI and only to content showing people saying things they did not say. Since the video in this post was not altered using AI and it shows President Biden doing something he did not do (not something he did not say) -- and the alteration of the video clip is obvious -- it does not violate the existing policy. "As it stands, the policy makes little sense," said McConnell. "It bans altered videos that show people saying things they do not say, but does not prohibit posts depicting an individual doing something they did not do. It only applies to video created through AI, but lets other fake content off the hook. "Perhaps most worryingly it does not cover audio fakes, which are one of the most potent forms of electoral disinformation weare seeing around the world. Meta must urgently work to close these gaps." While Meta was right to leave up the content, it should take prompt action to amend that policy to bring it into alignment with its stated purposes and label such content as manipulated in the future, the Board noted. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Budget session of Parliament. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his reply to Motion of Thanks on President's Address in Lok Sabha on Monday, named two former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi and called out 'inadequacies' of the chair that they held. Mocking the Opposition for a lackluster performance in an election year in Lok Sabha, PM Modi touched upon statements of two former Congress Prime Ministers to point out their 'lack of faith' in their own citizens. Recalling former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's Independence speech in 1959, he said: "Nehru had said from Red Fort that Indians don't have a habit of working hard. He said that we Indians don't work as hard as those in Europe, Japan, China, Russia and the US. Nehru thought that Indians are lazy," PM Modi said. "Nehru thought that Indians were lazy and less intelligent," PM Modi said, amid slogan-shouting and angry protests by Congress parliamentarians. PM Modi also stated how former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi mentioned once that Indians 'run away' from difficulties and obstacles. Reading a quote of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from ramparts of Red Fort on I-Day, he said: "Unfortunately, our habit is that when some auspicious work is about to be completed, we become complacent, when any difficulty comes, we become hopeless, sometimes it seems that the entire nation has failed. It seems like we have adopted the feeling of defeat." Lambasting the Congress leadership for prioritising 'one family over everything', PM Modi said that the grand old party never trusted the countrymen and its capability. PM Modi -- addressing the last session of Lok Sabha -- started his speech by training guns at the Congress for fostering 'parivaarvad culture' at the cost of its top leaders. He said that Congress was 'launching & re-launching' one particular leader despite its repeated failures and never felt the need for introspection. He also held the Opposition parties responsible for their current state of affairs and said that despite this being an election year they couldn't set their house in order. New Delhi, Feb 5 : The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully carried out four flight trials of high-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) - ABHYAS. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that it is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an autopilot indigenously made by the DRDOas Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE). It has Radar Cross Section, Visual and Infrared augmentation system required for weapon practice. It also has a laptop-based Ground Control System with which the aircraft can be integrated and pre-flight checks; data recording during the flight, replay after the flight and post-flight analysis can be carried out, an official added. The MoD informed on Monday that the trial was carried out from the Integrated Test Range, Chandipur in Odisha, between January 30 and February 2. The trials were conducted with four different mission objectives in a revised robust configuration, using a single booster designed by Advanced Systems Laboratory, Hyderabad to provide reduced launch acceleration. Objectives like safe release of booster, launcher clearance and attaining the required end of launch velocity were achieved. During the flight trials, various parameters like required endurance, speed, maneuverability, altitude and range were successfully validated, official added. Designed by ADE, ABHYAS offers a realistic threat scenario for practice of weapon systems. The MoD said that ABHYAS requires minimum logistics and is cost-effective compared to imported equivalents. The systems tested recently were realised through Production Agencies a" Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro (L and T) Defence. With identified production agencies, ABHYAS is ready for production. The system has export potential and can be offered to friendly countries, officials added. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has congratulated the DRDO, the Armed Forces and the industry for the successful flight trial of ABHYAS. The development of this system will meet the requirements of aerial targets for the Armed Forces, he said. Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat appreciated the efforts of the teams associated in the design, development and testing of the system. Amaravati, Feb 5 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N. Chandrababu Naidu claimed on Monday that there are no takers for YSR Congress Party tickets to contest forthcoming Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh. Naidu said that though Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is offering YSRCP tickets for the Assembly elections, the candidates are not ready to be in the race. The former Chief Minister was addressing a massive public meeting at Madugula in Anakapalle district as part of the ongoing 'Raa Kadali Raa' programme. Taking a potshot at the YSRCP leaderas public meetings titled aSiddhama (ready), Naidu remarked that Jagan is not 'Siddham' (ready) and has several doubts on going to polls. Referring to Jaganas recent claim that he clicked buttons more than 100 times to transfer funds for welfare schemes, the TDP supremo asked why he had not pressed the button for the job calendar, for imposing total prohibition and on the revocation of Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). "I am sure that Mr Jagan will certainly go home with the button to be pressed by the voters," he remarked. Jagan pressed the button nine times to enhance the electricity charges and imposed a burden of Rs.64,000 crore on people, he said. Maintaining that he has seen several leaders in his political career but has never seen a "psycho" like Jagan, he said that the state will prosper only if Jagan is out of power. "Itas not the question of how many times you have pressed the button but you should reveal how much you have swallowed," he said. Expressing deep concern that Visakhapatnam, which was once known as the financial capital of Andhra Pradesh, has now turned into the capital for crime, the former Chief Minister said that though Jagan wants to go to Visakhapatnam, the local people are not ready to welcome him. Regretting that north Andhra has turned into a centre for violence, turbulence and land encroachments, he said that Jagan encroached even Rishi Konda. Recalling how he developed Hyderabad city by welcoming several international companies, Naidu said Jagan, however, has been chasing out the companies that have already established their units in the state. Addressing another public meeting at Chintalapudi in Eluru district, the TDP chief said no section was happy under YSRCP rule. Stating that people are no longer ready to bear Jagan, he said they were waiting to send him home. Naidu alleged that by seeking one chance to become the Chief Minister, Jagan drowned people in Godavari river. He believes that whichever party the youth supports will only win the polls and the upcoming elections will decide the future of the entire Telugu community. The former Chief Minister said that the TDP-Jana Sena combine has already won the polls in the public domain and expressed confidence that the alliance will certainly emerge victorious and form the government after the polls. Naidu promised to implement much better welfare schemes than the YSRCP government has implemented and mentioned about the Super-Six schemes in which youth will be provided 20 lakh jobs in five years and pension for women. --IANS ms/vd Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis arrives at Vidhan Bhavan on the second day of Monsoon Session. Image Source: IANS News Mumbai, Feb 5 : Two days after a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Ganpat Kalu Gaikwad was nabbed for shooting a ruling Shiv Sena leader in Ulhasnagar, several Ministers of the latter's party called on Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis here on Monday. The Shiv Sena ministers met Fadnavis before the state cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Excise Minister Shambhuraj Desai told mediapersons later. The ostensible reason for the meeting was Gaikwad's comments levelling serious allegations against the CM, accusing Shinde of reportedly owing him a lot of money and for setting up a criminal fiefdom in the state. "Shinde is trying to establish a kingdom of goons in the state. He deceived Uddhav Thackeray, he will betray the BJP also. He owes me crores of rupees. Shinde should quit if Maharashtra has to be administered well. This is my humble plea to Fadnavis and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Gaikwad earlier had said before he was whisked off by the Thane Police. Apparently rattled by the allegations hurled publicly by a ruling ally directly naming and targeting the Chief Minister, the delegation is understood to have conveyed its sentiments to Fadnavis, terming the comments as "baseless and unwarranted". It may be recalled that late on Friday night (February 2) , Gaikwad had opened fire at Shiv Sena Kalyan-Ulhasnagar leader Mahesh Gaekwad inside the Hill Line Police Station of Ghatkopar, sparking a massive political furore. Mahesh Gaekwad sustained six bullet injuries and his aide Rahul Patil took two bullets. Gaekwad underwent a six-hour emergency surgery on Saturday to extricate bullets at the Jupiter Hospital in Thane city -- the hometown of CM Shinde -- and his condition is now gradually improving. Taking a serious note of the incident, CM Shinde and his son, Dr. Shrikant E. Shinde, Kalyan MP, have visited Gaekwad several times at the hospital to enquire after his health. The comments of Gaikwad -- now in police custody till February 14 -- have not gone down well with the party rank-and-file as they came from an ally leader ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. --IANS qn/pgh New Delhi, Feb 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi met a delegation of religious leaders from the Indian Minorities Foundation in the Parliament premises on Monday. The delegation also called on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. The Prime Minister later posted on X: "Delighted to meet a delegation of religious leaders in the Parliament today. I thank them for their kind words on the development trajectory of our nation." The delegation included the chief Imam of the All India Imam Organisation, Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, and leaders representing various minority communities. After the meeting, Jain guru Vivek Muni said, "It was a very good meeting with PM Modi. We gathered in the Parliament on behalf of the Indian Minorities Foundation. Our works on unity, integrity, and 'Sarv Dharm Sadbhaav' have been appreciated by the Prime Minister." After the meeting, the religious leaders stated that different people from different communities are united in India and are living like brothers and sisters. "Unity and peace are supreme for this country," the leaders said, adding, "Bharat is moving very fast on the path of becoming 'Vishwa Guru' (world leader) under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi." "Our traditions are different, but humanity is what keeps us united. We are all one in the country. We have to take the country forward," they said. "The presence of leaders from minority communities in the new Parliament building presents a beautiful picture of changing India, which is one and united," they said, adding, "The nation is above everything and above all personal considerations." The high priest of the Parsi community, Dastur Ji, said, "We have come here to bless all religions. We are not scared about anything till PM Narendra Modi is here. We will keep moving ahead, and I want our country to be the greatest in the world." Patna, Feb 5 : Over 100 students fell ill after consuming midday meals in Bagaha sub-division of Bihar's West Champaran district on Monday, officials said. The incident occurred at a government middle school located at Parsauni village in Bagaha. An official said that the children had consumed the midday meals on Monday afternoon, and soon after that, they started vomiting and complained of stomach ache. The news spread soon in the village and the parents of the students assembled in the school in large numbers and took their wards to Ramnagar common health centre. Later, some of the affected children were shifted to sub-divisional hospital Bagaha. "We have admitted 90 students in the hospital and they are undergoing treatment. They are in the process of recovery and are out of danger," said a doctor of Bagaha sub-divisional hospital. "As soon as I learnt about the incident, I reached the hospital and assessed the situation. The midday meal was facilitated by an NGO. We have demanded that the Education Department and district administration take action against the NGO," Bagaha MLA Bhishma Sahani said. Jammu, Feb 5, : The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, on Monday lauded the Interim Budget 2024 for the Union Territory, and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman on Monday presented the Interim Budget 2024 for J&K, besides revising the estimates for the UT for the current fiscal. The L-G tweeted: "Grateful to Hon'ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji & Hon'ble FM Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Ji for J&K's Interim Budget 2024-25, which is dedicated to farmers, women, youth, marginalised sections of society and seeks to strengthen the grass-roots democracy in the Union Territory. "The Interim Budget highlights the government's commitment of rapid economic growth and ensures that the growth is socially inclusive and sustainable. It focuses on fast expansion of agricultural economy and addresses the issue of regional imbalances besides seeking to bridge the rural-urban divide. A statement issued by the Finance Department of the UT said: "The Central government has agreed to provide Rs 41,751.44 crore to the UT government in this financial year and Rs 37,277.74 crore in the next financial year. It said that these assistance figures have been duly captured in the Revised Estimates of 2023-24 and the Budget Estimates of 2024-25 of the Central government. "This assistance will be provided under the MHA's demand No. 58 for assistance to the UT. This assistance includes the normal assistance (resource gap) to the UT government, and equity contribution for hydropower projects at Kiru, Kwar and Rattle," the statement said. The L-G said, "The budget creates an enabling environment for investment and seeks to accelerate industrial growth. It will ensure that industries generate more employment, provide support to the thrust areas identified for investment and encourage the startup ecosystem in the UT. "The budget focuses on skill development and employment of Nari Shakti. It seeks to ensure that benefits of rapid economic growth flow equitably to the women in rural and urban areas, SHGs are empowered, and women-owned business enterprises are provided access to resources and networks." Hyderabad, Feb 5 : A suspended Telangana Police Inspector, who was allegedly absconding for nearly a week in BMW crash case involving son of a former MLA of the state, has been arrested in neighboring Andhra Pradesh. Durga Rao, who was suspended as SHO of Panjagutta Police Station in Hyderabad in December for allegedly letting off former BRS MLA Shakeel Aamias son Raheel Aamir, was taken into custody in Guntakal. The suspended police official had been missing since January 29 and multiple teams were on the lookout for him. He had also moved the Telangana High Court seeking anticipatory bail. Police had also issued a lookout circular for Raheel, who had left for Dubai via Mumbai to be with his father on December 24, hours after ramming the BMW car into the barricades in front Praja Bhavan, the official residence of Telangana Deputy Chief Minister. According to police, the incident occurred in the early hours of December 24. A car being driven at a high speed rammed into the barricades in front of Praja Bhavan in Begumpet area. No one was injured but the barricade and the front portion of the car were damaged in the incident. The person driving the car and three others travelling with him escaped leaving behind the car. Later, a person came to the spot to claim the abandoned car. A case of rash driving was registered against him. However, subsequent investigation revealed that Raheel, son of the former MLA from Bodhan, was driving the car. The police officers allegedly let off Raheel, thus helping him to escape. On January 28, police arrested Circle Inspector of Bodhan Police Station, Prem Kumar and former MLAas aide Abdul Wasey. Hyderabad Police Commissioner K. Sreenivasa Reddy, in an unprecedented action on January 31, transferred the entire staff of the Panjagutta police station and shifted them to police headquarters. The Commissioner was unhappy with the handling of some cases by the police personnel including the case involving the former MLAas son. --IANS ms/vd Chennai, Feb 5 : The Madras High Court has asked the Tamil Nadu government as to why it is not taking constructive steps on the issue of fishermen being arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy. Responding to a PIL filed by Fishermen Care, an NGO, pleading for the safe return of Tamil fishermen who are in the custody of the Sri Lankan Navy, the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, S.V. Gangapurwala, wondered why the state government is not taking up the fishermen's issue. The NGO requested the court to protect the traditional fishing rights of Tamil fishermen in the waters between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu. The counsel for the NGO requested the court to consider formation of a joint committee of state and Central government officials to discuss the issues faced by the traditional fishermen in the sea where they are attacked by Sri Lankan Navy as also by pirates. The counsel for Tamil Nadu government informed the court that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this issue. The bench posted the matter for next hearing on March 11. New Delhi : Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses the inauguration ceremony for the e-bus service in Jammu via video conference. Image Source: IANS News Imphal, Feb 5 : A delegation of various tribal organisations from Manipur is expected to meet Home Minister Amit Shah and officials of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in Delhi to discuss the current situation in the northeastern state. The tribal leaders' delegation to meet the Home Minister and MHA officials comprises leaders of Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), Committee on Tribal Unity, Kuki Inpi Manipur, Zomi Council, Hill Tribal Council and all tribe councils. Senior ITLF leader and spokesman Ginza Vualzong said that the tribal leaders' delegation would reach Delhi late on Monday night. They are expected to meet the MHA officials Tuesday or Wednesday. ITLF sources said that they would discuss the prevailing law and order situation in Manipur and the distress of people affected by the ethnic unrest since May 2023. Ten tribal MLAs of Manipur, including seven from the ruling BJP and all the tribal organisations have been demanding a separate administration (equivalent to separate state) for the tribals. The demand was on a number of occasions rejected by the Union Home Minister, Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and the ruling BJP. Last week, Biren Singh held separate meetings with Shah and MHA officials in Delhi. He had said the Centre is set to take some important decisions keeping in mind the interests of the people of Manipur. A senior official in Imphal said that the Chief Minister apprised Shah and the Home Ministry officials of the latest situation in Manipur, especially in the bordering town of Moreh. In the recent violent incidents, two Manipur police commandos, several village volunteers and villagers were killed, while many others were injured, including a BSF trooper, in attacks by suspected armed militants in different parts of the riot-hit state. The ITLF in a statement said that the imposition of President's rule is the only way the central government can prevent total anarchy in Manipur. Manipur has witnessed unprecedented violent clashes, attacks, counter-attacks, and burning of vehicles and government and private properties in 10 of the 16 districts during and after May 3 'Tribal Solidarity March' called by the All-Tribal Students' Union of Manipur to oppose the demand for inclusion of the Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category. In the ethnic violence between the non-tribal Meitei and tribal Kuki-Zo communities, over 190 people have been killed and over 1,500 people injured while over 70,000 people of both communities displaced. --IANS sc/pgh New Delhi, Feb 5 : A 23-year-old final year MBBS student was found dead hanging in her hostel at Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) here on Monday, police said. A senior police official said that information was received around 1.30 p.m. regarding suicide at a MAMC hostel room and a police team rushed to the spot. "The deceased was found hanging from the ceiling fan in the hostel," said a senior police official, adding that forensic teams have inspected the spot. "No suicide note was found. Friends and family are being questioned to ascertain the reasons behind the suicide," the official added. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Budget session of Parliament. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 5 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in the Lok Sabha on Monday, referred to an incident when former Bihar Chief Minister late Karpoori Thakur, who was popularly known as Jan Nayak, was humiliated by the combined forces of the Congress and other parties in Bihar. New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while replying to the Motion of Thanks on the Presidentas address in the Lok Sabha on Monday, referred to an incident when former Bihar Chief Minister late Karpoori Thakur, who was popularly known as Jan Nayak, was humiliated by the combined forces of the Congress and other parties in Bihar. PM Modi also accused the Congress and the erstwhile UPA government of doing injustice to the backward communities. The Prime Minister said that while Congress leaders keep counting the number of OBCs in the government, they fail to see the biggest OBC leader. The Prime Minister also said that the previous UPA government did injustice to OBCs. Referring to Karpoori Thakur, Modi said his government honoured him by posthumously conferring the Bharat Ratna on the leader who represented the backward communities. The Prime Minister asked the Congress about the presence of OBC leaders or officials in the National Advisory Council (NAC), as he called the NAC an extra constitutional body. He also said that the government had no authority over the NAC. He then accused the Congress and said that efforts were made in 1970 to remove Karpoori Thakur as the Chief Minister to destabilise his government. The Prime Minister said that the Congress could not tolerate a 'backward' person. Sajjan Kumar Singh, a political analyst and researcher, said that as happened in 1968, when Karpoori Thakur was ousted from power by the Congress and B.P. Mandal, on August 12, 1987, he was removed from the post of leader of opposition in the Bihar Assembly by the Congress and the followers of Mandal from his own party. Karpoori Thakur died six months later on February 17, 1988. Mohali court order may help to speed up cases against corrupt IAS officers(IN). Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 5 : A Delhi court on Monday granted four-week interim bail on medical grounds to Amit Katyal, an alleged close associate of former Union minister Lalu Prasad's family, who has also been named along with some companies in the charge sheet in the land-for-job scam case. Katyal, promoter of AK Infosystems, was arrested in November last year by the central probe agency. On Monday, he appeared before Special Judge Vishal Gogne of Rouse Avenue Court, who allowed his application seeking bail for medical treatment. The judge allowed him to receive treatment in a hospital within Delhi NCR, and directed him to furnish the details of the hospital and treatment obtained on his surrender before the jail authorities upon the expiry of interim bail. The judge also asked the accused to furnish a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and two sureties of the like amount. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on January 30 informed the court that it will file a supplementary charge sheet within a month in connection with the alleged land-for-job scam. Before Judge Gogne, the agency had assured that the final report would be submitted by the end of February. Recently, the court had issued summons to Lalu Prasad's wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, her daughters, and others in the money laundering case, asking them to physically appear in the court on February 9. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently filed its first charge sheet in connection with the case of which the court took cognisance. The court had directed the individuals named in the charge sheet to appear in the court, saying there were sufficient grounds to proceed in the matter. Meanwhile, Katyal has been alleged of acquiring several lands from aspirants on behalf of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief and former Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. He was first detained and later arrested by the financial probe agency on November 11 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Katyal's premises in upscale south Delhi's New Friends Colony was declared as an office of AK Infosystems but was allegedly being used by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as residential premises. The ED on July 31, 2023, attached six immovable assets having a value of Rs 6.02 crore belonging to RJD leaders Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti (daughter of Lalu Yadav), Vineet Yadav (husband of Lalu's daughter Hema Yadav), Shiv Kumar Yadav (father-in-law of Hema Yadav), AB Exports Pvt Ltd and AK Infosystems Pvt Ltd., both companies owned and controlled by family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav, under the provisions of PMLA, 2002 in the Railway job for land scam. The Delhi High Court had earlier declined to provide relief to Katyal seeking a copy of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in a money laundering case, saying that it cannot impede the investigative process of the ED at the stage of summons issuance under the PMLA. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma had dismissed Katyal's plea. Katyal had sought the quashing of the ECIR and a summon issued by the ED. He wanted to prevent the probe agency from taking any coercive action against him, including further investigation in the money laundering case. --IANS spr/ Hyderabad, Feb 5 : Police in Telangana's Bhongir town on Monday booked six employees of the SC Welfare Hostel in connection with the death of two Class 10 students there. Police registered a case on a complaint from the families of the girls. Hostel warden Shailaja, Physical Education Teacher Prathibha, auto driver Anjaneyulu, cooks Sujatha and Sulochana, and hostel tuition teacher Bhuwaneshwari have been booked at Bhongir Town police station registered the case under section 174 of CrPC. Kodi Bhavya, 14, and Gade Vaishnavi,15, both Class 10 students, were found hanging from separate ceiling fans in the same room of the hostel on Sunday morning. Other students alerted the hostel staff, who shifted them to the Bhongir area hospital, where doctors declared them brought dead. The two girls belong to Narsampet in Warangal district and their parents were residing in Hyderabad. The girls, both students of a government school near the hostel, took the extreme step after a teacher reprimanded them for allegedly misbehaving with some female junior students. A purported suicide note was also recovered from the hostel room. Both the students, who were close friends, wrote that they were falsely blamed for an altercation. "We are being framed for something we did not do. We are unable to cope with it and so we are dying," they wrote in Telugu. They also requested their families to perform their funeral together. The girls signed the letter but the parents of the girls claimed that the handwriting did not match either of them and blamed the hostel warden and other employees for their death. The police said the investigations were on. The autopsy report is likely to throw light on the cause of the death as the families of the girls have alleged that there were injury marks on their bodies. Police have sent the suicide letter to a forensic lab in Hyderabad to check whether the handwriting matched with that of the girls. Relatives of the girls and some Dalit and student organisations staged protests demanding action against those involved. New Delhi, Feb 5 : The Delhi High Court on Monday directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to maintain status quo on the land where the 600-year-old Masjid Akhonji was recently demolished in Mehrauli. Justice Sachin Datta issued the order in response to an urgent application by the Managing Committee of the Delhi Waqf Board, specifying that the status quo is applicable until February 12. The court clarified that the order pertains only to the khasra number where the mosque stood, allowing the DDA to proceed with actions in adjoining areas. The mosque, Madrasa Bahrul Uloom, and graves were demolished by the DDA on January 30, prompting the Managing Committee to claim the demolition was illegal and in violation of judicial orders. The Committee alleged that the DDA conducted the demolition without a property survey or prior notice. They said that the Imam of the mosque, Zakir Hussain, and his family were left without shelter as their hutment was also demolished. The Committee further claimed the tearing of Quran copies, denial of children's belongings, and lack of protection for records. DDA's counsel questioned the locus of the Managing Committee to challenge the demolition, stating it was based on the religious committee's recommendation on January 4, which also targeted some temples and religious structures. The court was informed that 20 religious books are in DDA's custody, to be handed over, and the Waqf Board CEO opposed the demolition recommendation during the religious committee meeting. Chennai, Feb 5 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who is on an eight-day investment garnering visit to Spain, has requested the Tamil diaspora in the country, to support the state in its development, an official statement said on Monday. The Chief Ministeras office, in the statement, said that this was his first visit to Spain and added that the welfare board for non-resident Tamil's welfare, constituted by the DMK government, would assist them if they needed. Stalin said that his government had invited Tamil diaspora across the world and had spoken to them about their grievances and the support the state government can extend to them. He stressed that the state government would support the Tamil diaspora in any manner they wanted. He also spoke about the recent Global Investor Meet (GIM) organized in Chennai and said that several serious investment proposals have been signed during the meet. Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa and senior officials were also present on the occasion. --IANS aal/vd Panaji, Feb 5 : Goa BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Tanavade said on Monday that the issue of 'misappropriation of funds' raised by Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar against Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude has been resolved. "Earlier, I had said that it is our family matter. Later, some people criticised me over the issue. Neither is it a happy or unhappy moment for me," Tanavade said, after holding a meeting of Tawadkar and Gaude at the CM's official residence. He said that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was also present during the meeting. "Though they (Tawadkar and Gaude) hold key positions, they have both been elected on party symbols. Hence, being an MLA is the first criteria, then comes the different positions. Some become ministers, some become Speaker. Hence, to defuse this issue, me and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant held a meeting with them and resolved the matter," he said. When the Assembly session began on Monday morning, opposition MLAs had raised the issue demanding discussion over the alleged corruption case. However, speaker Tawadkar didn't allow the discussion. Leader of opposition Yuri Alemao had demanded a statement from the Chief Minister on the issue, but Sawant said the opposition should write to the right forum. Opposition parties had also slammed Tanavade for calling the 'misappropriation of funds' by his own party minister as 'family matter' and had demanded to sack Gaude, holding him responsible for the alleged loot. Last Friday, Tawadkar had levelled allegations against Art and Culture Minister Gaude over alleged misappropriation of 'special grants'. Tawadkar, a senior BJP leader from the ST community, had said that he would not tolerate the indiscipline of the minister "who was behaving without any protocol". "I am witnessing such an incident for the first time where a minister from my government is behaving in an irresponsible manner and not following protocol. I feel sad about this. It should not happen. I will not tolerate it," Tawadkar had said. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath and his son Nakul Nath show their forefingers marked with indelible ink after casting their vote during the fourth phase of 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Shikapur of Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district on April. Image Source: IANS News Bhopal, Feb 5 : The Congress is yet to finalise its candidates for the coming Lok Sabha election but the party's lone MP from Madhya Pradesh, Nakul Nath, on Monday said that he would be the candidate from Chhindwara constituency and not his father and former Chief Minister Kamal Nath. Addressing a gathering of party workers in Susar Assembly seat of Chhindwara, Nakul Nath said: "There have been rumours doing the round for the last few days that Kamal Nath will be contesting the Lok Sabha election. Let me make you all clear that I will be the candidate from Chhindwara constituency and not Kamal Nath." He further added that his father and veteran Congress leader will be supervising the election preparation. "People of Chhindwara have been showing their love for my father for last 40 years, and I believe that strong bonding between you (people) and the Nath family will remain forever." He also noted that Chhindwara has been the only district where the Congress won all seven assembly seats the election held in November last year. The Congress had won all seven assembly seats of Chhindwara in 2018 also. Nakul Nath's statement came a day after his fatherhas said that the party would decide candidates. Nakul Nath, 49, a graduate from Boston University, was elected as MP from Chhindwara in 2019, and is said to be the richest MP in the 17th Lok Sabha with assets worth Rs. 660 crore. Kamal Nath was elected as a MP for nine times from his bastion Chhindwara. Even during the state Assembly election, Kamal Nath has presented his home district as a model of development in Madhya Pradesh. Bhubaneswar, Feb 5 : The Budget Session of Odisha Assembly commenced with the address of Governor Raghubar Das here on Monday. Das in his almost two-hour long speech highlighted the major achievements of the Naveen Patnaik-led state government. Das began his address by extolling the government for successfully completing and dedicating the Rs 800 crore Srimandir Parikrama Prakalpa to the devotees on January 17. He also praised the state government for the transformation of the 16th century Maa Samalei temple in Sambalpur, 11th century Shree Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar and other religious and heritage spots across the state. The government has spent Rs 200 crore for the SAMALEI project and 280 crore for the EKAMRA project. Das in his speech presented a detailed account of the state government's achievements in different sectors including agriculture, industry, education, Information and Technology, etc. Das said that due to the measures taken by the government, the state has made major strides in the agricultural sector. He said the foodgrain production in the state has risen to 141.36 lakh metric tonne during 2022-23 as against 55.35 lakh MT of food grains in 2000-01. The state witnessed all-time high productivity in rice and cotton during the recent period. The state has also been conferred with 'Best Millet Promoting State'. Governor Das said Odisha is one of the fastest growing states in India that showed exemplary growth revival post-Covid pandemic. He said the growth rate of agriculture and allied sector, industries and service sectors rose significantly. "The state economy has witnessed an annual average growth rate of 6.47 per cent at 2011-12 prices during the period from 2012-13 to 2022-23, which is higher than the National/ Indian Annual Average Growth rate of 5.59 per cent. As per the Advance Estimate, Odisha's Economy has registered a growth rate of 7.8 per cent in 2022-23 (AE) at 2011-12 prices which is higher than the Indian Economy projected to grow by 7 per cent in 2022-23(AE)," said Das. The per capita income in Odisha at current prices has also grown at 16.9 per cent in 2022-23(AE) to reach Rs 1.51 lakh from Rs 1.29 lakh in 2021-22. Das also said that the unemployment growth rate of Odisha has declined. Das also highlighted the success of many schemes launched by the state government such as Krushak Assistance for Livelihood and Income Augmentation (KALIA), Location Accessible Multi-modal Initiative (LAccMI), Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojna (BSKY), etc. Meanwhile, the members of the opposition Congress party Monday staged a walk out from the house alleging that the government is blowing its own trumpet with the help of the Governor. "Today, after (Odisha) Governor spoke for long hours, I told him that as in old days, the Kings used to hire some people (Bhats) to listen to their own praise, similarly the Odisha government is using you in a similar fashion which is unfortunate," said veteran Congress leader Narasingh Mishra. Mishra also alleged that many misleading facts have been included in the Governor's address by the state government. Meanwhile, the leaders of main opposition BJP party also claimed that the state government presented many lies through the Governor's address. Chennai, Feb 5 : Voices for Asian Elephants, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has handed over a robotic elephant to a Shiva temple in Devarshola, Gudalur, in Tamil Nadu. The NGO handed over the robotic elephant -- said to be the first such 'elephant' to be donated to a temple in Tamil Nadu -- to the temple on Sunday. The 11-feet-tall robotic elephant weighs around 800 kg. The NGO had earlier handed over several such robotic elephants to temples across Kerala. Sangita Iyer, founding executive director of Voices for Asian Elephants, told mediapersons that the move is meant to put an end to the often-criticised practice of maintaining elephants in captivity at temples, often in unhealthy and inhumane conditions. Iyer said, "Elephants are tortured by keeping them chained at temples. While we pray to Lord Ganesh, we don't treat elephants well." She also said that elephants should be in the wild, not in captivity, adding that elephants were social animals who need to be among herds of other elephants. Iyer also said that 25 captive elephants in Kerala died in 2023 alone, while three have died already in 2024. She also praised the restrictions on domestic elephants in Tamil Nadu. Mumbai, Feb. 5 : In a shocking incident, a four-year-old girl was allegedly brutally raped and assaulted by the watchman of a private school in Kandivali East where studied, officials said here on Monday. The incident occurred on February 2, but her terrified parents were reluctant to lodge a police complaint. Finally, her mother approached the Samata Nagar police station on Monday and lodged a complaint, which was registered under the POCSO Act and other sections of various laws. Earlier, in a preemptive action, the police had arrested the accused watchman late on Saturday after they got an alert about the incident, even as the girl was hospitalised. As per preliminary investigation, the accused watchman lured the child to the washroom on the pretext of giving her a chocolate and then committed the heinous crime there before fleeing the spot. After the family lodged a complaint on Monday evening, even the school teacher and principal were added as accused in the case. They are likely to be arrested on Tuesday. As the news of the horror on the minor girl spread, angry parents and locals staged a noisy protest outside the school building on Monday. Patna, Feb 5 : Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJPR) President Chirag Paswan on Monday came to the support of HAM supremo and former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, saying injustice cannot be done with him and his party. "It is right that the party of Jitan Ram Manjhi is small and has only four MLAs but in the current circumstances, those four MLAs have big value in the formation of Nitish Kumar government. I don't know what kind of negotiation was done by Manjhi with (Chief Minister) Nitish Kumar before the swearing-in ceremony for the formation of the NDA government but I firmly believe that injustice cannot be done with him," Paswan said. The Nitish Kumar led NDA government in Bihar has 128 MLAs - 78 from BJP, 45 MLAs from JD-U, 4 MLAs from HAMS, and 1 independent, against the required majority level of 122 MLAs in the 243-member Assembly. If the four MLAs of HAMS would withdraw support, the NDA government could be on edge. This is the reason why Manjhi, who is in the role of king maker, is demanding two ministers of his part, while Nitish Kumar has given him cabinet rank minister only. Meanwhile, Manjhi on Monday once again said that his stomach is not getting filled with "one roti" and he wants "two rotis", or two ministers) are required for him. "We are discussing within our house and hence demanding from the owner to give two rotis. One roti is not good enough to fill my stomach. It's up to the owner whether he would give it to me or not," Manjhi said while interacting with media persons in Jahanadab. "We used to do the politics of poor people. So, we need such a ministry which can predominantly address the grievances of rural areas," he said. New Delhi, Feb 5 : Delhi government on Monday announced free bus travel for the transgender community in the national capital. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that a proposal will soon be passed in the Cabinet to implement the new scheme. Just as women can travel free in buses in the national capital, the transgender community will also be granted free tickets from now onwards. The Delhi government had announced free bus travel for women in October 2019, and since then, approximately 147 crore free tickets have been issued to women, Kejriwal said. The Chief Minister also expressed concern about the neglect faced by the transgender community in the social environment, emphasising that they are also human beings with equal rights. He hoped that this decision by the government will greatly benefit the transgender community. Transgender individuals will receive the benefit of free bus service based on government certificate. Currently, certificates for transgender individuals are issued by the district magistrate's office in all districts. Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said, "Transgender individuals will avail themselves of free bus services based on data received from the Social Welfare Department. Discussions are underway with the Social Welfare Department to consider consolidating the entire data of transgender individuals for the Transport Department. This initiative is expected to benefit thousands of transgender individuals in Delhi." Bengal Guv vs state: Guv appoints former Karnataka CJ as interim V-C of RBU. Image Source: IANS News Kolkata, Feb 5 : West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Monday sought a fresh report from the Mamata Banerjee-led state government about the January 5 attack on an ED team in North 24 Parganas when it went to conduct a raid and carry out searches at the residence of a Trinamool Congress leader, Sheikh Shahjahan. Raj Bhavan sources said that a letter has been forwarded from the office of the Governor to Chief Secretary B.P. Gopalika, seeking updates on progress in the investigation. The Governor sought details about the updates on tracking down the mastermind of the attack, Sheikh Shahjahan who is currently absconding. Raj Bhavan insiders said the Governor has sought such a report from the state government for the second time. The Governor has also sought a report on the overall law and order situation in Sandeshkhali where the attack took place. Bose had taken a tough stand on the attack on ED and CAPF personnel right from the beginning. The ED has already issued a lookout notice against Shahjahan in anticipation that he might escape to Bangladesh as the neighbouring country's border with India is quite close to the place where the attack took place. Although Shahjahan had remained absconding so far, he had approached two courts in the state through his counsel for anticipatory bail. He also ignored a notice from the ED to appear at the agency's Salt Lake office on the outskirts of Kolkata. Kolkata, Feb 5 : In a significant move, the Congress on Monday gave full authority to the party's West Bengal President Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury about the finalization of the candidates and chalk out the campaign strategy for the state for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Congress central leadership announced formation of the 28-member West Bengal Pradesh Congress Election Committee, with Chowdhury as its Chairman. Political observers feel that this development is significant on two counts. The first is that the Congress high command too has exhausted its last hope for an amicable seat sharing agreement with Trinamool Congress and hence given full authority to Chowdhury in the matter. Secondly, the responsibility to Chowdhury will expedite the process of finalising seat-sharing talks with the CPI-M-led Left Front which he is already keen on. Observers also said that besides Chowdhury, the majority in the 28-member election committee are from those who are strongly against any kind of alliance with Trinamool in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. "The committee constitution is a clear endorsement from the Congress high command to the views of Chowdhury and his followers that for the party, the BJP and the Trinamool Congress are equal enemies in the West Bengal perspective," a city-based political observer said. SIT chief being questioned on clean chit to tainted Punjab police officer.(photo:IN). Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Feb 6 : A Delhi court has ordered a stay on the execution of non-bailable warrants (NBW) against British national Sumit Chadha, accused by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to controversial arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari. Additional Sessions Judge Neelofer Abida Perveen of Delhi's Rouse Avenue Courts said that the stay was granted as Chadha, residing in the UK, had appeared through counsel upon learning of the proceedings, thereby directing the NBW's execution to remain stayed until the next hearing on February 28. On January 22, the judge had issued NBWs against Chadha, stating that ordinary processes could not secure his presence. Now, upon Chadha's plea seeking cancellation of the NBWs, the court has sought a response from the ED. The court, after reviewing the supplementary prosecution complaint (ED's equivalent of a charge sheet) filed by the ED, had found sufficient grounds to summon accused UAE-based NRI C.C. Thampi and Chadha. The court had noted that cognisance of the money laundering offence was taken on October 5, 2020. The ED recently filed a supplementary charge sheet against Thampi and Chadha for the commission of offences defined under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The ED alleges that Bhandari created a web of entities, with Thampi and Chadha working in tandem, involved in acquiring properties outside India. Chadha, despite summons, refused to receive them through diplomatic channels. In April 2023, the ED attached a property in Delhi worth Rs 4.50 crore belonging to Sharan Svadha LLP in connection with a case lodged against Pilatus Aircraft Ltd, Switzerland, Bhandari, and others. Meanwhile, the extradition process of the main accused, Sanjay Bhandari, from the UK is underway, over oncerns about potential evasion of legal proceedings. London, Feb 6 : King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and has begun a course of treatment, Buckingham Palace announced on Monday London, Feb 6 (IANS) King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and has begun a course of treatment, Buckingham Palace announced on Monday "During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. The type of cancer has not been revealed, but according to a palace statement the King began "regular treatments" on Monday. "His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual," it said. The statement further said that the King is "grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible". According to Buckingham Palace, King Charles has chosen to share his diagnosis to "prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer". No further details are being shared on the stage of cancer or a prognosis. A Dalit locality was attacked by people from a particular community on Thursday afternoon, in which more than 13 persons were injured. (IANS Infographics). Image Source: IANS News Bhopal, Feb 6 : Tension prevailed in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh district after a group of people allegedly thrashed an Imam when he tried to stop a group of people from beating up a tailor, an official said on Monday. Tension further built up as people from Hindu and Muslim communities came face-to-face, with a large crowd from both sides gathering outside a police station. The incident happened on Sunday. However, quick action by the police brought the situation under control and prevented an untoward incident in the region where incidents of communal violence were reported in the past too. It all started after a group of youth belonging to Hindu community allegedly beat up a Muslim tailor on Saturday night. While the miscreants were beating up a tailor near the mosque, an Imam, who was passing by, tried to stop the fight. The Imam was allegedly pushed by youths who were beating up the tailor. As the message of the thrashing of Imam spread, numerous people from the Muslim community assembled at a local police station and demanded action. While the people from Muslim community were staging a protest to press their demand to arrest the persons who allegedly thrashed Imam, a video surfaced on social media, which escalated the tension further. Seeing that, many people from both sides had gathered outside the police station. In a video that surfaced on social media, a cop was seen confronting an aggressive crowd, warning them to leave the spot otherwise "the police will handle the situation in their own way". The aggrieved crowd from both sides later dispersed. Eventually, four youths, who thrashed the tailor and Imam, were booked under relevant charges and action was assured by the police. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Monday asked the police to take quick action against those who tried to create violence. Subsequently, at least 40 people have been booked. He has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter. Damoh SP Sandeep Sharma said the situation was under control and no further disputes were reported in the last 24 hours in the region. He further said that those tried to take the law in their hands will be punished as per the law. "Four persons mainly responsible for the situation have been booked under Section 294, 323, 506, 427 and 34 of IPC. Further investigation in the matter is underway," Sharma added. --IANS pd/pgh Bengaluru, Feb 6 : Former Karnaraka CM and BJP Central Parliamentary Board Member B.S. Yediyurappa has said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is directly responsible for the decrease in the state share to 3.64 per cent in the 15th Finance Commission. CM Siddaramaiah while announcing that he will lead the protest in Delhi at Jantar Mantar on February 7 stated that in the 14th Finance Commission, the state share which was 4.71 per cent has decreased to 3.64 per cent in the 15th Finance Commission. "That is 1.07 per cent reduction, which means that there is Rs. 45,000 crores decrease in 4 years. According to the estimate, Rs 62,098 crore will be reduced for Karnataka," the Chief Minister said. On this, Yediyurappa said that as per the 15th Finance Commission recommendations, the NDA government has released Rs 1,16,828 crore. "... about the share of tax for the period of 2026 during the 15th Finance Commission, the state is going to get more than Rs 2.5 lakh crore. This is more than what 14th Finance Commission under the UPA government recommended. CM Siddaramaiah led government is directly responsible for decrease of state's share to 3.6 per cent in 15th Finance Commission. Because, when the commission was preparing the report, Siddaramaiah-led Congress government was ruling in the state. It has failed to convince the commission on the real economic scenario of the state," Yediyurappa said. Under 15th Finance Commission the state has already got Rs 13,985 crore. The state is going to get Rs 3,500 crore this year. "CM Siddaramaiah has concealed all these facts and spoke half-truth," the BJP leader said. "Siddaramaiah thinks that by repeatedly telling lies, he can hide the truth. Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman has also given suitable answers regarding the matter. Wherever it is possible, the taxes are increased," he added. The former CM further said the unproductive guarantees have destroyed the economy of the state and the situation is getting out of the hands of CM Siddaramaiah. "The government has failed on all fronts. They have come to know that the guarantee schemes wonat rescue the party in the Lok Sabha elections. Following this, they have a clear idea of dropping the guarantees after the Lok Sabha elections. As part of the plan they are creating a base by pointing fingers at the Central government,"he said. New Delhi, Feb 6 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar inspected the Jantar Mantar venue for the prostest, scheduled to be held on February 7, against the alleged the injustice being meted out to the southern state. Speaking to media, Shivakumar said that this is the protest by the Karnataka government. "It does not have any connection with the BJP or Congress. The agitation will be taken up by the state government to get attention of the Central government against the injustice." "All Congress MLAs, MP, MLCs and Rajya Sabha members are taking part in the protest. Four to five MLAs have requested for exemption citing their health conditions," he said, adding that the timing of the protest would be announced soon. "I humbly request all 224 MLAs, 28 MPs, 75 MLCs, 12 Rajya Sabha members including Central ministers from the state to participate in the protest," Shivakumar said. When asked whether they will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman after the protest, Shivakumar said: "What's wrong with that? We have sought appointments and we will explain the situation to them." Asked whether all south Indian states come together to stage a protest, Shivakumar said: "Presently, I am limited to Karnataka. It is about their rights. I have been told that Kerala legislators are coming on February 8 to New Delhi." On Kerala Chief Minister's statement that an invitation has been sent to 12 Chief Ministers including for Karnataka's Siddaramaiah to participate in the protest against Centre's "step-motherly" treatment, Shivakumar said that the invitation was received. "However, during the protest, our state assembly session will be in motion. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will respond to this further..." Patna, Feb 6 : The Bihar Education Department has warned the contractual teachers in the state against holding any protest against the competency examinations being conducted by it. Education Department's Additional Chief Secretary K.K. Pathak cautioned the contractual teachers to avoid protesting against competency tests else they could face legal action and also lose their jobs. Director, Education Department, Kanhaiya Prasad Srivastava in this regard wrote letters to all District Magistrates (DMs) in the state to take legal action against contractual teachers under relevant sections of the IPC if they participate in any kind of protest. The contractual teachers earlier announced that they would gherao the Bihar Assembly on February 13 and register a protest against the Education Department's notification on the competency examination. The Education Department has said that all contractual teachers in the state will have to clear the competency examination in a maximum of three attempts else they would lose their jobs. The DMs were also asked to identify contractual teachers if they would take part in the protest. "As 13 February is a working day, if any contractual teacher would participate in the protest, it would be attributed to obstructing the educational process in schools. Hence, apart from legal action, they would also face the department inquiry," the Education Department said. "At Haute Retreats, we are dedicated to providing an unparalleled experience for our guests. Our curated selection of luxury villas for rent reflects our commitment to excellence, ensuring that every stay is a memorable one." 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Press Contact: Name: Sabrina Piccinin Phone: + 39 3332065514 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Haute Retreats On January 31, six protesters from the group Writers Against the War on Gaza (WAWOG) disrupted a PEN America event in Los Angeles featuring a conversation between comedian Moshe Kasher and actor Mayim Bialik, an outspoken supporter of Israel. One of the protesters, author Randa Jarrar, was physically removed from the scene by security. The demonstration focused on 13 writers and poets killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since October 7, whose names were shouted and played on a loudspeaker by protesters. Following the event, which was cosponsored by L.A.based literary nonprofit Writers Bloc, the freedom of expression nonprofit released a statement regarding the protest and Jarrar's physical removal, expressing "regret that this step had to be taken in order for the event to proceed." "Alongside many in the literary community, we mourn the immense loss of Palestinian lives in Gaza. We have paid tribute to writers and artists who have been killed in the conflict," the statement continued. "As a free speech organization, we defend and uphold the right to protest. However, we are firm in the conviction that protesterswhile they have a right to be heardcannot be allowed to shout down, shut down, or obstruct the speech of others." "When it comes to public events, the open exchange of ideas cannot devolve into an environment where only the loudest voices are heard," said Allison Lee, Los Angeles director of PEN America. "As we have stated in our published principles and reiterated regularly in statements and commentary over the years, when a speaker sparks controversy, those who object and wish to protest must have an opportunity to make their opinions known. But protesters cannot be permitted to impose a hecklers veto that forecloses the ability of others to be heard." In an open letter released after the event, WAWOG demanded that "PEN release an official statement about these deaths [of Palestinian writers killed by Israeli airstrikes], many of which have been targeted assassinations." The letter continued: "As this letter circulates, the death toll among Palestinian writers and reporters will likely grow. If PEN continues to remain silent, it will become absolutely clear to the public whose lives and voices matter to it and whose dont." In the weeks leading up to the January 31 event, novelists Angela Flournoy and Kathleen Alcott withdrew their participation from PEN's New Year, New Books event, slated to take place in Los Angeles on January 25, over the organization's involvement with Bialik, which Flournoy called "unconscionable." 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ADVERTISEMENT U2 performed live from the Las Vegas Globe and presented the award for Best Pop Vocal Album to Taylor Swift for Midnights during Sunday night's ceremony on CBS and Paramount+. Swift announced during her acceptance speech that her next album, The Tortured Poet's Department, will release April 19. She posted a preview of the album cover to Instagram. Earlier, multiple-nominee Olivia Rodrigo performed "Vampire" and Lizzo presented the award for Best R&B Song to SZA for "Snooze." SZA earlier collected awards for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance alongside Phoebe Bridgers for "Ghost in the Machine." Cyrus took to the stage to perform her song "Flowers," which had earlier earned her the Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance The show opened Sunday on CBS and Paramount+ with Dua Lipa performing her single "Training Season." FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs then performed "Fast Car." The song, originally written and recorded by Chapman, earned Combs a nomination this year for Best Country Solo Performance. Christina Aguilera and Maluma presented the Grammy for Best Musica Urbana Album to Karol G for Maiana Sera Bonito. SZA then took the stage to perform "Snooze" and "Kill Bill," followed by Billie Eilish performing What Was I Made For. Several awards were announced prior to the broadcast on CBS, starting with Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, which went to SZA for "Ghost in the Machine" featuring Phoebe Bridgers. The award for Best Pop Dance Recording went to Kylie Minogue for "Padam Padam," Best Musica Mexicana Album (Including Tejano) went to Peso Pluma for GENESIS and the Best Pop Solo Performance Grammy went to Ruben Blades for "Siembra: 45o Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 14 de Mayo 2022)." Barbie The Album scored a win in the Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media category, Ludwig Goransson earned the Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media (Includes Film And Television) for Oppenheimer and the award for Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media went to Stephen Barton and Gordy Haab for Star Wars: Jedi Survivor. Billie Eilish scored her first win of the night, earning the Best Song Written For Visual Media Grammy for "What Was I Made For?" from Barbie The Album. The Beatles won Best Music Video for "I'm Only Sleeping" and the award for Best Music Film went to the David Bowie documentary Moonage Daydream. The award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical went to Victoria Monet's Jaguar II, engineered by John Kercy, Kyle Mann, Monet, Patrizio "Teezio" Pigliapoco, Neal H, Pogue and Todd Robinson, with mastering engineer Colin Leonard. The album also earned Monet the Grammy for Best R&B Album. The award for Best Remixed Recording went to "Wagging Tongue (Wet Leg Remix)" by Wet Leg. The Best Immersive Audio Album award went to The Diary Of Alicia Keys, by Alicia Keys, George Massenburg, Eric Schilling, Michael Romanowski and Ann Mincieli. The award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording went to "Rumble" by Flowdan, Fred Again and Skrillex; while Best Dance/Electronic Music Album went to Fred Again for Actual Life 3. Best Country Solo Performance went to Chris Stapleton for "White Horse," which also earned him the award for Best Country Song. Allison Russell collected the Best American Roots Performance award for "Eve Was Black," and Brandy Clark won the Best Americana Performance Grammy for "Dear Insecurity," featuring Brandi Carlile. Best American Roots Song went to Jason Isbell for "Cast Iron Skillet," and Isbell also won Best Americana Album for Weathervanes alongside the 400 Unit. Bobby Rush won Best Traditional Blues album for All My Love For You and Larkin Poe won Best Contemporary Blues Album for Blood Harmony. The Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance went to Lecrae and Tasha Cobbs for "Your Power and Best Gospel Album went to All Things New: Live In Orlando by Tye Tribbett. The Best Contemporary Christian Music Album award went to Lecrae for Church Clothes 4, and Best Roots Gospel Album went to the Blind Boys of Alabama for Echoes of the South. The award for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical, went to Theron Thomas and the award for Best Gospel Performance/Song went to Kirk Frankin for "All Things." Best Traditional R&B Performance went to PJ Morton featuring Susan Carol for "Good Morning. Killer Mike won the Best Rap Performance Grammy for "Scientists & Engineers," a song featuring Andre 3000, Future and Eryn Allen Kane. Killer Mike also won Best Rap Album for Michael. Lil Durk and J. Cole won Best Melodic Rap Performance for "All My Life." Best Spoken Word Poetry Album went to J. Ivy for The Light Inside, and Best Global Music Performance went to "Pashto" by Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Zakir Hussain, featuring Rakesh Chaurasia. Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Disney/John Fleenor By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/05/2024 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Joey Graziadei 's older sister Carly Monzo has hinted that she knows who ended up with Joey's final rose.Joey took to Instagram on Wednesday, January 31 and posted a video of Carly and himself taking on a viral trend.In the video, Joey and Carly are walking down a street together and poking fun at themselves."I'm the Bachelor, of course I kiss multiple girls on national television," Joey tells the camera, to which Carly quips, "I'm the Bachelor's older sister, of course I'm going to vomit in my mouth every time you make out with someone.""Car, it's only going to get worse," Joey jokes, to which Carly complains, "Yeah, but why do they have to turn the volume up so loud?""I'm the Bachelor. Of course I'm going to post a lot on social media," Joey goes on to say."I'm the Bachelor's older sister. Of course I'm going to pick a fight with you in the comments if you say something mean," Carly insists."I'm the Bachelor. Of course I lived in Hawaii and I have a really cool job," Joey shares."I'm the Bachelor's older sister. Of course you had to quit your job and now you sleep on my couch," Carly responds."Carly I told multiple talk shows I don't live on your couch! I have my own room," Joey quips, before adding, "I'm the Bachelor. Of course I can't tell you how my season ends.""I'm the Bachelor's older sister. I'm gonna tell you exactly how this season ends," Carly says, excitedly running towards the camera."Nope, nope, nope, nope," Joey says, shutting the exchange down. "We're done. We're done."During a recent appearance on the "Off the Vine with Kaitlyn Bristowe " podcast, Joey admitted to former ette star Kaitlyn Bristowe whom he's told about his 28 winner.According to Joey, he shared the outcome of his season with about a handful of people."I've told a close group of family members and I think that's really about it. [Also] a few friends, but not much," Joey revealed."I want people to watch it with everyone else. I want people to find out on their own what the outcome is, because I think that's the whole purpose of it. But it's hard [to stay silent], I'm not going to lie. To put your life on pause like this and hold it all in, it's never easy."Joey's confession seems to confirm that Joey had spilled the beans about the identity of his winner -- and if he's engaged -- with Carly.Joey teased last month how the ending of his season is "emotional" and a big "shocker," and he's also mentioned how he's happy and has no regrets when looking back on the process as a whole.However, Joey has been dodging specifics in the media when asked about his finale.When Joey appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! late last month, host Jimmy Kimmel asked Joey, "I hear you live with your sister in Philadelphia, right?""Yes," Joey replied. "I'm not couch surfing though. I have my own room. I have a little spot. The guest room is Joey's room, and so it works out okay."Jimmy pointed out how Joey "must be alone" after filming because he "can't be living" in his sister's guest room with his winning bachelorette."You think what you want!" Joey said with a laugh. "I'm not going to say anything else. All I know is that I'm staying in my sister's room. That's all I've got -- in her guest room -- and let's just end it at that."Joey revealed at the time he's not paying his sister rent, which enables Carly to ask him for things without feeling any guilt.Joey reiterated how that was all he was allowed to say."But it's possible one of these women lives in a different city and you guys are just trying to figure it out until you get together," Jimmy noted."That is very possible," Joey confirmed.Jimmy wrapped up the segment by asking if his Uncle Joe -- who made a brief appearance on Charity Lawson 's ette season last year -- has met Joey's fiancee yet."That is another [time] you're trying to stump me!" Joey vented. "But I'm not saying anything!"Joey said he's never heard of a Bachelor moving his winner into his family's home, but Joey acknowledged how he's very Italian."Will you be the Bachelor again next season?" Jimmy asked."You can't keep asking these questions!" Joey said with a laugh. "You're going to have to wait to find out!" Click here to learn more about Joey's bachelorettes or click here to read spoilers that reveal how Joey's season ends and who he picked as his winner.Interested in more news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group Disney/John Fleenor By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/05/2024 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. 's Lauren Hollinger has opened up about her decision to leave the show before Joey Graziadei 's second Rose Ceremony and whether she wishes she had done anything differently.Lauren, a 28-year-old registered nurse from Philadelphia, PA, and her younger sister Allison Hollinger appeared on the February 1 episode of the "Bachelor Happy Hour" podcast and discussed Lauren's sudden and abrupt departure from 's 28th season.The podcast's co-hosts Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt asked Lauren if she regrets quitting on Joey, and Lauren shared, "It's like yes and no. Right now, I will say yes. But at the same time, I think it was time for me."Lauren had both an emotional and fiery exit from 's January 29 episode.Lauren, who was still grieving the recent death of her beloved father, got upset during a wedding-themed group date because she realized her father was never going to be able to walk her down the aisle.At the cocktail party preceding the second Rose Ceremony of Joey's season, Lauren was therefore hoping to "redeem" herself and have a positive and uplifting chat with star.However, Lauren had to wait her turn, and as more and more bachelorettes had sweet moments with Joey and gushed about their connection with him, Lauren grew impatient and annoyed."I had already made such a scene about [being pissed off], and when I'm in a bad mood, I'm in a bad mood," Lauren explained on "Bachelor Happy Hour."Joey eventually found Lauren at the cocktail party to check on her, but Lauren began to cry and blurted out, "So I am going to go home."Lauren apparently lost hope that she could turn things around with Joey; she essentially gave up on the stressful process."When [Joey] came over, he was like, 'Okay, sit down.' And I was like, 'Okay, maybe I will stay.' And then when they brought out the cake and it wasn't [red velvet], I think that set me off again," Lauren recalled."And I was like, 'Forget it, I'm leaving! I just need to leave. I need to just mentally heal a little more. I don't know if I'm fully through the whole grieving process. But if I stay any longer, I don't know how much worse it will get for me,' honestly. That's how I was in the second episode."Lauren revealed that the tears she had shed during Episode 2 is "the most" she has cried "in forever."Lauren confessed to Joe and Serena, "I wasn't as mentally prepared as I thought I was for [ ] experience. I thought that I was going to breeze through this sh-t, but then the second episode, I was, like, done!"But when looking back on her exit, in hindsight, Lauren acknowledged, "I know I could've handled that better. I know I could've done things a little differently."Serena asked Lauren if she felt like her father's passing was the main reason she left or if something else was the driving force behind her decision to quit."That and the fact I wasn't mentally prepared for it. You're supposed to date one person, and so you're not used to competing against a bunch of other people. And even just hearing conversations, everyone feels good and you start to overthink that," Lauren reiterated."And then you're like, 'Was my [talk with Joey] even good? Are we even having in depth conversations?' I just got in my head and I was like, 'Maybe this isn't for me right now.' I was like, 'It is time for me to go.' It wasn't meant to be."Lauren said if Joey had fought for her to say, she "maybe" would've considered marching on.However, the brunette beauty noted, "Looking back, I know I was meant to go. When I came home, I focused on my mental [health]. If he pushed harder, I would've stayed, but I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, and it was just my time to go -- so I'm glad I did it."Lauren also admitted that she felt relief following her departure.For Joey's part, he just seemed surprised and taken aback by Lauren's choice to leave."I didn't expect that. I thought I was checking in on her, but she's made her mind up," Joey said in a confessional during the latest episode.Joey told Lauren that she was clearly "over" the show and that was "okay" with him. He also apologized for anything he might have done to sway Lauren into quitting.Joey expressed remorse for how hard the process had been for Lauren, and he noted, "Maybe this setting wasn't the best way for us to get to know each other.""I'm sorry that it had to happen this way," Lauren replied.A producer then brought over a cake for Lauren to enjoy, but it wasn't her favorite red velvet flavor -- and she let Joey know that she was, once again, furious.Joey wished Lauren well, and then Lauren, on behalf of her sister Allison, quipped, "Maybe I'll see you at hometowns."On her way out, Lauren smashed the cake on the ground."I did see potential with Joey, I really did. I think he's a great guy," Lauren said in her final words on ."He's handsome as f-ck... I'm going to still find love, it's just not going to be right now. If my dad was here, he'd say, 'I told you not to go on that show.'" Click here to learn more about Joey's bachelorettes or click here to read spoilers that reveal how Joey's season ends and who he picked as his winner.Interested in more news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group A Wolf in Wolf's Clothing The Gen 3 Glock has essentially become the ultimate open-source pistol, with every component from frame to slide available in countless OEM and non-OEM configurations from many manufacturers. No longer must your pistol conform to Austrias definition of perfection. Now you can have it your way, and many companies have released their own versions of a Glock-pattern pistol. Lone Wolf Arms has been in the Glock game for decades, founded in 1998 as one of the OG aftermarket Glock parts providers. Over the years, you could always count on Lone Wolf for everything to build or modify your Glock, from barrels to connectors to parts and slides. They were also very early in developing their own alternative frame, the Timberwolf, with a grip angle that was more JMB than Gaston. However, their bread and butter has always been parts and components, and with the bottom dropping out of 80-percent builds, Lone Wolf is expanding its business in complete guns. DUSK 19 Lone Wolf incorporated everything theyve learned and developed over the years into their vision of the perfect not-a-Glock pistol, starting with a 19-sized variant. They know the markets crowded, so their objective is to deliver a premium gun with all the features youd want at a reasonable price. Lets start with the frame. The new DUSK frame has all of the popular frame mods, plus more tricks up its sleeve. Lone Wolfs original Timberwolf design brought a 1911-style grip angle to the Glock platform. The DUSK 19 comes with interchangeable backstraps for you to pick your poison a flat one replicates the 1911s 19-degree angle, while a rounded one splits the difference with Glocks normal grip angle. The rounded swells on the integral side grip panels help to fill your hand and mitigate the like a brick feeling that so many complain about with Glocks. Other enhancements that provide a better grip on the gun include aggressive texturing on the front and back straps and side panels, a very significant trigger guard undercut, a small extended beavertail, a subtle toe kick at the end of the grip, and integrated thumb rests/index points on either side of the frame, just above and forward of the trigger guard. For smoother reloads, the magwell is flared, and the magazine release button is enlarged like a Gen 4 Glock. Additionally, the dust cover has two Picatinny slots. Interestingly, you can swap out an adapter in the dust cover to accommodate Gen 4 uppers. Moving on to the upper, the 17-4 stainless steel slide is nicely machined and contoured, with front and rear cocking serrations. Its cut for an RMR optic footprint; you could argue that this is less versatile than Glocks MOS system, but its lower profile and more robust with fewer screws to fail if you simply select an optic footprint and stick with it. The RMR footprint is a solid choice; there are so many compatible optics that you can surely find one that fits your needs. Nobody likes to read owners manuals, but note Lone Wolfs warning about the length of optic mounting screws make sure they dont protrude into the extractor depressor plunger channel. The slide ships with an aluminum cover plate installed, along with your choice of lower-third co-witness or suppressor-height Night Fision Stealth series iron sights. These come with a Tritium insert in the front sight and a plain black rear sight, just the way we like em. The corners of the rear sight are also bobbed, which many shooters appreciate. As youd expect from Lone Wolf, you have several options for the slide finish black nitride or PVD in colors such as flat dark earth, oil rubbed bronze, or graphite gray. The barrel is 416 stainless steel and button rifled with a PVD coating; you can opt for a threaded barrel if you like. The trigger is Lone Wolfs own design, with a flat metal trigger shoe and geometry tweaked in order to break when its at 90 degrees. Other enhancements include an extended take down lever, extended slide stop release, and a captured recoil spring assembly with a nitrided, stainless steel guide rod. To maintain control over quality and tolerances, Lone Wolfs making essentially everything themselves, except for the sights. Fieldstripping the DUSK 19 follows the classic Glock procedure. First, remove the magazine and ensure the gun is unloaded. Pointing it in a safe direction, press the trigger to drop the striker. Retract the slide a tiny bit, then push down on the takedown lever. Release the slide forward, and itll come off the frame. Remove the recoil spring assembly and barrel, and youre done. KITTING UP Packed with features, the DUSK 19 doesnt need any modifications to the pistol itself, unless you want to opt for a higher performance trigger. We didnt think that was necessary for a carry gun. However, items that definitely are necessary include an optic, light, and holster. For an optic, we fitted Swampfox Optics Liberty with a green dot. It sits comfortably in the RMR footprint, and the Night Fision sights co-witness in the lower part of the window. SureFires compact XC1 weaponlight fits nicely on the DUSK 19, tucked in under the dust cover with minimal bulk. Its switches are convenient and intuitive, and it puts out 300 lumens from a single AAA battery. Lone Wolf designed the DUSK 19 to match the key dimensions of Glock frames to maximize compatibility with holsters. Digging around in our holster drawer, many but not all Glock 19 and 17 holsters accommodated the pistol. We settled on a BlackPoint Tactical DualPoint designed for a Glock 19 with the XC1; it worked perfectly to carry all day. The texturing on the DUSKs side grip panels was a bit aggressive on our soft underbelly; if you find it bothersome, you could sand them down. AT THE RANGE We tested the DUSK 19 with a grab bag of various ammunition, from CCI, Federal, Winchester, and Global Ordnances Igman range ammo to defensive loads from Federal and Norma. The only malfunction we encountered was a failure to extract out of a 50-round box of CCI Blazer aluminum-cased ammo. The case stuck in the chamber, and we had to forcefully rack it out. All of the other ammo ran great. Our favorite thing about the DUSK 19 is the frame. The rounded side panels are great; everyone should offer this. Combined with the rounded back strap, it made for a very comfortable grip. All the frame modifications contribute to a gun that feels great in hand, provides a secure grip, and is easy to run hard. For those accustomed to Gen 3 Glocks with too-small stock mag releases or too-large extended buttons, the DUSK 19s Gen 4-style, reversible mag release is a big improvement. The trigger on our sample broke at just over 4 pounds, nice to see in a factory gun. Of course, it still feels like a factory Glock trigger, but cleaner and lighter with improved take-up and minimal overtravel. The flat metal trigger shoe is a nice touch. While our DUSK wasnt the most accurate Glock weve ever had, we had no issues drilling A zones with it. And the frame design contributed to good recoil management on multi-shot strings in our testing, like bill drills. All of our testers liked the DUSK 19s frame, though one who predominantly runs Glocks wouldve preferred an OEM grip angle. Wed love for Lone Wolf to offer a third, larger backstrap that mimics factory Glocks; they could easily do this and have their bases covered for all shooters. Our plump-handed tester was happy about the integrated beavertail; he adds beavertails to all his Glocks to avoid inevitable slide bite. LOOSE ROUNDS Lone Wolf has done an excellent job incorporating pretty much everything that one might want in a factory not-a-Glock 19, right out of the box. In particular, we really appreciate what they did with the frame. If youre looking for an enhanced Glock-pattern pistol that you dont need to upgrade, take a close look at the DUSK 19. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. On this episode of Word on the Beat, assistant news editor Allison Mawn sits down with education reporter Guinevere Grant to discuss the intricacies of her job on the education beat. They cover teaching disparities, bus driver shortages, and more. Homero Elizalde Castro poses at home.made in Athens, Georgia, on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. Castro met Mimi Maumus, home.mades owner, while working at home.made, and the two went into business to create Homy Made Taco Truck. (Photo/Jaxon Meeks; @stillsbyjaxon) The appointment with Marie-Laure Cerede, Cartiers creative director of watches and jewelry, is in an apartment at the top of an elegant building located on Avenue Bosquet, in Paris. Before going up, you have to announce yourself to a security guard. The mere presence of this uniformed man confirms that, at the top of this building, between the Champ de Mars and Les Invalides, there is a secret (or a treasure) that must be guarded. Inside the apartment, there are more men in black. In one of the rooms with huge windows from which you can see the Eiffel Tower in all its majesty theres a grand piano and, above it, silver frames displaying photographs of Gary Cooper, Alain Delon, Romy Schneider, Jacqueline Bisset, Grace Kelly and other iconic actors. Its easy to see that each of these stars wore one of Cartiers most iconic pieces on their ring finger: the Trinity ring, with three rings intertwined to infinity. Louis Cartier, grandson of the founder of the Cartier luxury brand, designed the Trinity ring in 1924, thinking about the number three. Since ancient times, its considered to be the perfect number. The three rings in one, which revolutionized the jewelry business 100 years ago, referred to Louis and his two brothers, Pierre and Jacques, heirs to the buoyant empire founded by their grandfather. The three rings also reference the three stores that the firm had at the time, in Paris, London and New York City. The ring also materialized a concept thats now very popular: diversity. Three different elements a gilt gold band, a rose gold band and a white gold band come together and harmoniously form a unit. The Trinity, which is celebrating a century of life, has become a symbol of love in all its forms: filial, family, friendly and marital. Its one of the most-requested models among customers who wish to declare their love for someone or for themselves. Everyone thinks that Cartier created the Trinity ring for Cocteau, but it's not true, clarifies Marie-Laure Cerede, creative director of the brand, who is delighted with this confusion. Lea Crespi Generally, each Cartier piece begins with a handmade drawing. In this case, the starting point was an object that already has a lot of history and is already perfect. Because Trinity is perfect: three bands in one and one in three, a celebration of the concept of inclusion, explains Cerede, after welcoming EL PAIS into one of the rooms of this Parisian apartment. In front of her, the new Trinity collection is displayed: rings, XL bracelets and pendants. The creative director of the jewelry house began working on this project two years ago, with the idea of commemorating the centenary of the original line. She made more than 50 prototypes. I actually lost count of how many attempts we made. We had no obligation to carry out this new collection. If the final result wasnt good or didnt convince us, we werent going to release it. But there was a lot of pressure, because we were working with an iconic object, she acknowledges. Cerede began her career at Cartier in 2002. After spending almost 12 years at Harry Winston, she returned to the French house. In 2017, she was promoted to the top position in design, ultimately becoming responsible for the esthetics of all Cartier watches and jewelry pieces. She knows the history of the house well and as is often the case she began this new collection by visiting the archives. I always come back to them. Part of my job is to have a deep understanding of the brands heritage. And another part is seeing that legacy with fresh eyes. We wanted something new we didnt know what, but we wanted something new, she affirms. Actress Romy Schneider was also a fan of Cartier's Trinity ring. Archivo de Cartier Its difficult to reinvent the wheel (or, rather, the circle), but Cerede has achieved it by playing with sizes, volumes and shapes, such as larger and maximalist Trinity rings and bracelets, or new pendants. The most promising piece is the Trinity ring in the shape of a cushion, an almost square ring that departs from the circularity of the original design, but not with the essence of the three intertwined bands. Its hard to get a new shape in the world of jewelry. We made a prototype in gold and realized that it had the same value as the original design, she explains. From an emotional point of view, the essence of Trinity is those three bands that spin around the finger. People can play with the jewel on their finger and create a personal bond with it. That [factor] couldnt be lost. Since its creation a century ago, Trinity has been a unisex collection, intended for both men and women. In the 1930s, figures such as the decorator Elsie de Wolfe, the actress Kendall Lee and the poet Jean Cocteau wore the three intertwined rings. Cocteau, for example, wore his on his little finger (sometimes he wore two) and gave another one just like it to his lover the dashing actor Jean Marais with the following dedication: The first band is for you, the second is for me, and the third is our love. Everyone thinks that Cartier created the Trinity ring for Cocteau, but its not true, Cerede clarifies, although shes delighted with this confusion. I think its cool. Its already part of history. You see the photos of Cocteau with the ring and you have the feeling of being in front of something very innovative, new and fresh. We wanted to get that back, continue that story, she says. The new pieces have the modern and genderless touch that luxury buyers demand these days. In fact, at Cartier, we never think in terms of gender. I dont think about men or women. If something is very feminine or very masculine, then its not Cartier, she shrugs. Serge Reggiani, Jean Cocteau and Jean Marais in Paris, circa 1941. PIERRE JAHAN / ROGER VIOLLET / GETTY IMAGES The idea of this new collection isnt to replace old pieces with new ones, but to add another chapter to Trinitys history. Thats why new jewelry has to work with old jewelry. [The pieces] have to work for the mothers who wear the original Trinity and for the new generations who are discovering this collection, the creator explains. Cartier a brand founded in 1847 has been reaching out to younger people for years through social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, using new famous faces who act as brand ambassadors. This new generation is connected to everything. They have access to so much information and so many images theyre so well-informed about luxury, that their eyes look at everything in a different way. Theyre more demanding and have the ability to quickly identify what they want or what they aspire to, the designer observes. Times change, but Trinity never goes out of style. The proof is that celebrities such as 28-year-old French-American actor Timothee Chalamet and other Gen Z idols are new fans of the centenary three-band ring. If something doesnt have meaning, itll only work for a few months. But an object with meaning never loses its validity, Cerede concludes. Marie-Laure Cerede has reinvented the centenary Trinity ring, a piece made up of three gold bands, intertwined to infinity. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI) has lifted the restriction to allow the same insolvency professional for the resolution process of a company as well as its personal guarantor for a better harmonisation and effective coordination of both processes. The changes made to IBBI - Bankruptcy Process for Personal Guarantors to Corporate Debtors, Regulations, 2019 -- came into effect on January 31. IBBI has also amended the provision regarding the meetings of the Committee of Creditors to make them mandatory in insolvency matters about personal guarantors. Earlier, after the repayment plan was submitted by the personal guarantor, the resolution professional would evaluate its viability and submit a report to the Adjudicating Authority with a recommendation on whether to call a meeting of the creditors. If the professional deems such a meeting unnecessary, he provides reasons for the same. A resolution professional looks after the operations of the sick company after the insolvency process starts and coordinates the resolution process among the committee of creditors, adjudicating authorities, and prospective bidders. This provision was initially designed for speedier resolution in less complex cases where there was no mandatory requirement to regularly convene meetings of the creditors. The IBBI has amended this provision keeping in mind the intricacies of personal guarantor cases, which often involve elaborate financial interdependencies and multiple creditors, that would require a more thorough approach. This mandatory involvement of creditors brings a comprehensive and collaborative approach to the resolution process, enhancing the efficacy and fairness of the system, the IBBI said. The regulator added that the amendment intends to foster active participation and cooperation among all stakeholders, thereby reinforcing a robust and equitable framework for addressing financial distress in personal guarantor cases. In November last year, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the key provisions of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), including the validity of initiation of insolvency against personal guarantors. Anil Ambani, chairman of the Reliance group, who was among the petitioners who challenged the IBC provisions, had said in his appeal that the IBC law left personal guarantors at the mercy of resolution professionals. 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. 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. 'On the final product, there can be an increase of a minimum of 10 per cent in February and March.' IMAGE: People watch Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman present the Union Budget at an electronics store in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo Consumers may have to shell out more to buy television panels because prices of open cells continue to increase while manufacturers have reduced production. The industry has been facing this issue after the pandemic and open-cell prices have gone up 20 per cent since December and television-panel manufacturers expect another 15 per cent increase to kick in towards the end of February, after the Chinese New Year. Also, manufacturers expect a demand-supply imbalance because of the production cut. The open cell, one of the main components in manufacturing television sets, accounts for 60 to 65 per cent of the production cost. Also, the main component is manufactured by four or five companies in China, due to which pricing power remains in their hands. While open cell prices rose last year in August, they came off later. Though the decision on the price hike rests with manufacturers, a retailer said both small- and large-screen television panels were expected to see an increase in prices, but that largely depended on how manufacturers passed on to buyers the cost increase. The retailer said some manufacturers might pass it on in a staggered manner as they also sit on some amount of inventories. "Open-cell prices are increasing month to month and there is a demand and supply situation again. Manufacturers have decided to cut production. Therefore, they will increase prices," Avneet Singh Marwah, director and CEO, Super Plastronics, a Kodak brand licensee, told Business Standard. "There will be a huge spike in large sizes and in smaller sizes also. On the final product, there can be an increase of a minimum of 10 per cent in February and March," Marwah added. Videotex, another contract manufacturer of television panels, plans to increase prices by 5 to 10 per cent. "The industry is dealing with a notable increase in open-cell pricing, which has been a recurring issue, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. The recent price hike is because open-cell manufacturers curtailed production, resulting in a 20 to 40 per cent increase, depending on sizes," said Arjun Bajaj, director at Videotex. "The prices are still going up, and we're unsure how much more they'll rise," he added. Despite challenges, Bajaj said, "we manage well due to strong relationships with suppliers and solid collaborations with brands. We're getting ready with enough inventories to keep the supply chain running smoothly." Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com The point made by sociologist M N Srinivas, that it represented a Sanskritic act that was linked to caste, is never raised in Indian debates and the disapproval of drink is almost universal, notes Aakar Patel. Kindly note the image has been published only for representational purposes.. Photograph: Kind courtesy Prem Pal Singh Tanwar/Pexels I am writing this from Gujarat, where the government has decided to lift prohibition in one part of the state. As a news report put it, this was done to 'attract global financial institutions', and to that end 'alcohol would be allowed at hotels/restaurants/clubs offering "Wine and Dine" in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City near the state capital Gandhinagar.' This, the report added, would be available only to officials, employees and owners working from GIFT city, who would be exempt from the prohibition law, which makes alcohol consumption illegal across the state. Other Gujaratis who drank would continue to be forced to abstain or forced to do it illegally. It is interesting to see what the origin of prohibition in law in India has been, from the Constitutional point of view. The sociologist M N Srinivas has written that the use of alcohol and intoxicants in Hindu religious ritual is part of the practices of popular and indigenous cultures. However formal religious rites involve no alcohol and like beef, the idea of consuming the 'som' intoxicant in a ritual was given up long ago and made taboo. In the Constituent Assembly, the claim was made (by Congressman B G Kher) that 'the drinking of liquor is one of the five deadly sins which the Smritis have laid down' and that not only Hindus and Muslims but even Christians viewed it as a sin. When the point was made by other members that alcohol was a part of Adivasi culture and ritual, Congressman V I Muniswami Pillai claimed that 'there is no such thing as require liquor, toddy, brandy or any such thing, at the time of the ceremonies of the aborigines'. He said that alcohol came to the indigenous people with the British and had left with them. A spirited response to the Hindu conservatives came from B H Khardekar, an independent who represented Kolhapur. He said that the arguments being put forward in favour of prohibition did not hold. The first argument, that the Americans had enforced it between 1920 and 1933, was flawed because the Americans had let it go. The second, that the Congress had pledged itself to it, did not matter because the Congress was only one political party after Independence and did not represent the nation. The third, that the claim that Parsis and Christians were also in favour of prohibition, was bogus. And last, that Gandhi was in favour of it, did not hold because Gandhi was also against compulsion. Khardekar also spoke of lost excise revenues which could be put to use to build the state and also quoted the economist Harold Laski's Liberty in the Modern State in which he says prohibition infringes on personal liberty. His is the most structured and factual intervention in the debate. But his primary arguments were dismissed by the others as being either of no consequence or resoluble. In absence of any pushback other than from Khardekar and a clear Congress desire to push this through on moral grounds, the amendment was accepted. Article 47 reads: 'The State shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties and, in particular, the State shall endeavour to bring about prohibition of the consumption except for medicinal purposes of intoxicating drinks and of drugs which are injurious to health.' The provision was smuggled in under the cloak of health and well-being. But as the decades have shown, the obligation of the State in the first part, of raising the levels of nutrition and standard of living and improvement of health, and indeed these being its primary duties, has been followed in the breach. India stood 129th out of 189 nations in the 2019 United Nations Development Programme human development index which measures life expectancy, education and per capita income. In 2023, it was ranked at 132. Since independence, Gujarat has always been under prohibition but had an HDI rank of 14 among 25 Indian states in 2017 ('Human Development Index across Indian states', State Bank of India, Issue 94, FY 2019). Bihar, which is currently under prohibition ranked 25, the very last among all states surveyed. In 2022, the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies assessed the performance of India's states and districts on the POSHAN Abhiyan. This was a programme launched in March 2018 with a stated aim to achieve improvement in the nutritional status of pregnant women, adolescent girls, lactating mothers, and children under six. Gujarat has the lowest rank at 28. The data shows that it is very hard to relate prohibition in India to that Constitutional goal of raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health. And to be honest, this was never the real reason, just as the desire to ban cow slaughter is unrelated to the State's 'endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines', as Article 48 puts it. It is religious conservatism parading as science. Prohibition in India is pushed always from the moral point, that of women's well-being and societal well-being. The point made by Srinivas, that it represented a Sanskritic act that was linked to caste, is never raised in Indian debates and the disapproval of drink is almost universal. Aakar Patel is a columnist and writer and you can read Aakar's earlier columns here. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'In the short term the relationship will get worse.' Photograph: Kind courtesy Rajnath Singh/X Gautam Bambawale is one of only three Indian diplomats who have served as the Republic's ambassadors to China and Pakistan this century. Having served four tenures in China, Ambassador Bambawale arguably understands the People's Republic better than many 'China experts' in New Delhi. Which is why this eloquent interview is a must read. "As India's global power increases, China's relative power will decrease. India will be able to stand her ground even more firmly as that process unfolds," Ambassador Bambawale tells Rediff.com's Archana Masih and Nikhil Lakshman in the concluding segment of the interview. How would you assess India-China relations in the short term? In the short term the relationship will get worse. After China's shenanigans in Eastern Ladakh since summer 2020, India has held firm militarily, diplomatically and politically. China will have to untie the knot if the relationship has to improve. Both in the short and long term, the future is bright for India. India is enhancing its comprehensive national power and strength. I have no doubt that over a 15-20 year perspective, we will reduce the power asymmetry with China. As India's global power increases, China's relative power will decrease. India will be able to stand her ground even more firmly as that process unfolds. In your understanding, how much command and control do PLA troops have on the ground? Or do they need a go-ahead from the senior leadership far away in Beijing? Earlier, it used to take more time for PLA troops on the LAC to receive their orders. Perhaps, they used to come all the way from Beijing and its Central Military Commission. In recent years, the PLA has been reformed and restructured. The theatre commands have much more latitude in decision making which has accelerated their actions on our frontier. One of the goals undertaken by the PLA was to enable commanders to take decisions on the ground and not wait for orders to percolate all the way down from Beijing. It appears to me that the crack Chinese troops of the PLA are good, with excellent training. However, some of the formations across the LAC which the Indian Army faces in Tibet may not be as good. Moreover, the Indian Army is battle hardened and well trained. This is my takeaway as an ordinary individual who has studied the situation in the last four years after the clash in Eastern Ladakh. How has India handled China over the last few decades? Post 1976, India has handled China very well. Though we did not severe diplomatic relations with China after the 1962 War, we re-established relations at the ambassador level in 1976. Since then we have dealt well with China. The 1988 construct ensured peace on our borders for around 30 years. The only problem was that we did not focus on our own economic growth and hence as China grew rapidly, the power asymmetry between us was allowed to grow and become humongous. The crux of the matter is that we have to strengthen ourselves, grow our economy, increase female labour force participation, reduce infant mortality etc. The answers to many issues of international politics including the one of dealing with China, lie within India. Now, we have begun focusing on them. We have to grow faster than China is doing so that we reduce the asymmetry between us. IMAGE: People's Republic of China's Premier Li Qiang with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi at the Bharat Mandapam, September 9, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo As India's ambassador to China who saw the early years of Xi Jinping's regime, what is your understanding of his thinking, of who he is? Xi Jinping is more in the Mao Zedong mould. He believes the (Chinese Communist) party should have absolute command over the country, society and economy. He took over as party secretary in November 2012 and has re-centralised political and economic decision making power and authority. The 40 years of reform under Deng Xiaoping and his two followers -- Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao -- were aimed at decentralising both political and economic decision-making authority. It resulted in China's fast-paced growth. In those four decades China saw double digit growth every year. The re-centralisation under Xi has resulted in the slowing down of the Chinese economy. Such a large country and big economy cannot be centrally driven. You have to leave economic decisions to the people. If you don't, then you cannot grow as fast as in the past. This is what China is experiencing. This is good for us in India as it allows us a window of opportunity to narrow the power gap and differential with China. We must seize this opportunity with both hands. We cannot let such a chance pass us by. Do you think there could be a backlash against Xi and his policies from within the Communist party? Not as yet because he controls all the levers of power. Discontent primarily flows if there is economic discontent among the populace -- and we can see that happening already. Young graduates, fresh out of college, are not getting jobs. Whether this will have a larger political impact, we have yet to see. IMAGE: Indian soldiers patrol high altitude areas. Photograph: Kind courtesy Northern Command - Indian Army/Twitter What is your assessment of India's foreign policy recently? India is making huge strides globally. G20 was an example of that. Our standing in the international community is rising every day. Our voice matters and we are sought out amongst the nations of the world for our views and for our positions on international and global issues. We have played our cards well. I am confident we shall continue to do so. And that is making the Chinese insecure? Naturally. India's emergence as the leading voice of the Global South will shake them a bit. Does China remain our enemy number one? I won't say enemy no 1, but challenge number 1. The Government of India has handled the China challenge very well so far. I am sure we shall continue to do so in the near future too. IMAGE: Indian Army tanks and BMP infantry combat vehicles carry out drills in Eastern Ladakh. Photograph: ANI Photo Do you believe our foreign policy in the last ten years has become more aggressive and proactive? There is little doubt that Indian power has increased and there is no doubt that when your power increases your ability to influence decisions internationally improves. In the last 20-25 years, we have lifted a large number of people out of poverty and have become a stronger country. We should continue to grow India's power. We are headed in the right direction and we have to continue doing that for the next 25 years. In doing so, I am confident we will reduce the asymmetry with China and in the process we shall also tackle the 'China Challenge'. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com 'India should respect Maldivian nationalism and their desire to be not over-dependent on India.' IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai. Photograph: ANI Photo First, an anti-India tenor to Mohammed Muizzu's presidential election campaign in the Maldives. Then a boycott-Maldives social media campaign in India, followed by President Muizzu's visit to China. During the visit, the Maldives signed not just agreements with China in tourism cooperation, disaster risk reduction, blue economy and investment in the digital economy, but also elevation of their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership (CSCP). What makes the small island so attractive to China? Who gets upper hand in this situation? China or India? "By signing the CSCP agreement with China, President Muizzu has sent a clear signal to India that the Maldives' dealings with India will be on a different plane than before," Colonel Ramani Hariharan, a retired military intelligence specialist on South Asia who is associated with the Chennai Centre for China Studies, tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier. How did the anti-India campaign start in the Maldives? Maldives is an archipelago of tiny islands with scant resources. This has made it totally dependent upon India for almost everything. This has been resented by sections of nationalists like Muizzu. He rallied the nationalists to launch an anti-India campaign during the election. Maldives is a conservative Islamic society with the presence of strong radical Islamic elements. During the times of ISIS, Maldives had the highest per capita number of people joining the terrorist group. Muizzu wanted to take advantage of both the radical Islamists and the latent anti-India feeling among the public unlike the earlier pro-Indian government of President Solih. President Muizzu, even during his first foreign visit to Ankara in Turkey, was trying to whip up Maldivian nationalism, rather than projecting the Islamic aspect. He also visited the UAE to address Maldivian expats employed there. In Turkey also, he addressed the expats and asked them to project Maldivian nationalism. I don't consider Muizzi merely used anti-India as a slogan to get elected. He is fully aware the Maldives cannot exist without India's support. But he is trying to reduce the over-dependence of the Maldives upon India for everything. Though he is importing some rice from Turkey, the UAE and Pakistan, India will continue to be the main source of rice imports. Maldives also imports sand from India, which is essential for the reclamation of land, and India is the nearest source. The harsh reality of the Maldives is that the highest point in the country is just 18 inches above sea level. The island nation cannot wish away these harsh realities.. IMAGE: Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mohamed Muizzu at a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, January 10, 2024. Photograph: cnsphoto via Reuters Is China's interest in the Maldives because it is close to India? Not at all. China doesn't see India as a main factor in the Indo-Pacific, though India may look at China that way. China under President Xi Jinping is on an international power projection. After all, it is the second most powerful economy in the world. So, it wants to assume its place in the world to match that image. That's why China is talking about a New World Order. The Belt and Road Initiative and the 21st century Maritime Silk Road are infrastructure initiatives for China's strategic power projection. Maldives is astride international the shipping route of the Indian Ocean. As many as 15 ships pass through the Maldives channel every minute. That is one reason China is wooing the Maldives. In 2014 itself, two years after coming to power, Xi visited the Maldives as it was an important part of China's domination of Indian Ocean security. IMAGE: External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar meets with Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer in Kampala, January 18, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo So, to expand its economic power, China needs countries like the Maldives. Does that mean, the importance of smaller countries increases because of their strategic location? Economic power is one of the factors that dictate international politics. Politics is also run like a profitable business and all that you see in business, you see in politics. And the geographic location of a country plays an important part in it. The Maldives is also important in the overall scheme of Indo-Pacific security, because a US base is located in Diego Garcia. It is an island claimed by Mauritius and is 700 km from the Maldives. That's one reason why China would like to have a friendly Maldives. That is also why we should not see everything happening in the Maldives from an anti-India, pro-China angle. You talked about Indian tourists boycotting Maldives, but it had more tourists from China than India during the pre-covid days. It shows how important China is to the Maldives. Moreover, China has invested a lot in tourism in the island. As a part of the BRI initiative, China has also invested enormously in infrastructure projects in the island nation. Also, Maldives' debt to China is $1.7 billion, which is 20% of its public debt. The next debtor is Saudi Arabia which includes loans, grants, real estate and religious activities. The third largest debtor is India. The most important advantage the Maldives has is, it is geographically positioned like a 'toll gate' between the western Indian Ocean chokepoints of the Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Hormuz on one hand, and on the other, it also connects the Strait of Malacca in the eastern Indian Ocean. But unlike other neighbouring nations like say, Sri Lanka, the Maldives is very much dependant on other countries. For example, there is no fresh water in the Maldives. Once when they ran out of water, India sent a naval ship with fresh water. IMAGE: A painting condemning the Maldives in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo Why has the island turned against India? They have not turned against India; they are trying to reduce its over-dependence on India. Muizzu is using this as a political ploy. It is not the first time a president is getting elected on an anti-India platform. His mentor Abdul Yameen also got elected on an anti-India platform. After he was thrown out due to corruption, the next president was elected on a pro-India platform. They want to replace its dependence on India to a certain extent with China. That's why Muizzu is seeking China's help in many areas in the island. By signing the CSCP agreement with China, President Muizzu has sent a clear signal to India that the Maldives' dealings with India will be on a different plane than before. Muizzu said that the majority of the sea routes of the Indian Ocean pass through or in proximity to the Maldives, and that securing sea lanes of communication was as vital to the Maldives as it was to the wider Indian Ocean region, global trade and commerce. He wanted the Maldives to be contributing in the discussions and discourses on Indian Ocean security; not as an observer, but as an active partner in upholding a rule-based international order. In short, he wants the Maldives to be treated on par with big powers like India and China. But the fact is, it cannot just wish away India, its closest neighbour. So, my point is, we should not look at India-Maldives relations as anti-India or pro-China. India should respect Maldivian nationalism and their desire to be not over-dependent on India. India should not behave like a big brother towards Maldives as many times, we tend to behave like that. The fact is, for regional security, the Maldives is an important component. In the army, we call the frontline forces, vanguard. If Sri Lanka is the vanguard for India in land, Maldives is India's vanguard for maritime security. So, a prosperous Maldives is in Indian interests. So, you should not see India-Maldives relations in the binary of China-India relations. IMAGE: Colonel R Hariharan IMAGE: Colonel R Hariharan Does the Maldives need India more, or does India need Maldives more? Of course, the Maldives needs India more as it is a small island country, and India has been providing the wherewithal. My point is, India should not behave like a patriarch. India should not have a big brotherly attitude. Why did Xi Jinping go to Maldives in 2014? Because he knew the importance of the island as vital for China's strategic power projection. For the same reason, it is important for India also. In fact, it is more important for India as we are close neighbours. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com A resolution lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the successful consecration ceremony at the new Ram temple in Ayodhya was unanimously adopted by the assembly in the Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Gujarat in Gandhinagar on Monday during the ongoing budget session. IMAGE: A view of the Gujarat assembly. Photograph: Courtesy Gujarat Information/Twitter It thanked Modi for carrying out a "historic cultural duty that will be remembered for millennia." The resolution, moved by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, was passed unanimously as besides the BJP MLAs, members of the Opposition Congress as well as the Aam Aadmi Party extended their support to it. Extending his party's support, senior Congress MLA Arjun Modhwadia reminded the House it was then-PM Rajiv Gandhi who allowed foundation stone laying ceremony at the site, where the temple has come up in Ayodhya, way back in 1989. Umesh Makwana (AAP) also supported the BJP move and said a hospital and a college should be built in the campus of the temple, where Ram Lalla's idol was consecrated on January 22 in a landmark event led by Modi. Chief Minister Patel said he was feeling happy and proud to come up with a historic resolution. He said thanks to the efforts of Modi, Hindus, who were waiting for 500 years for such an event, were able to consecrate Ram Lalla into the grand temple in the Uttar Pradesh town. "The people of Gujarat became emotional for a moment when on January 22, Narendrabhai Modi, the son of Gujarat and the respected former leader of this House (referring to his stint as CM), performed the consecration ('pran pratistha') of Lord Ram. "This was a moment of pride and honour for the people of Gujarat. It was Narendrabhai who was also the 'sarathi' (charioteer) of the historic Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya (launched by BJP stalwart L K Advani)," said Patel in his address. Good governance in India means administrative systems established by Lord Ram. Ayodhya of that time set an example for the world by establishing an administration based on public interest and welfare of people which was an ideal form of governance by Shri Ram, the CM said. He maintained that though invaders and foreign regimes destroyed India's culture and traditions, people managed to reconstruct the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya through constitutional means because of the sacrifices made by lakhs of devotees over centuries. Like an ascetic sage, Modi did 'anusthan' (special rituals which included fasting) for 11 days instead of three days ahead of the consecration ceremony, said the CM, adding crores of people of India are proud of their faith due to such devotion by the PM. "As representatives of people, we know PM Modi has made the people of Gujarat proud by worshiping Lord Ram who is the guardian of the people. Today is the time to express feelings of joy and pride. This Legislative Assembly thanks PM Modi for carrying out a historic cultural duty that will be remembered for millennia," stated the CM. On the occasion, Patel recalled the contributions of 'kar sevaks' (people who volunteer their services for free to a religious cause) and said the BJP was the first political party which took up the cause of freeing the Ram Janmabhoomi (from litigation) after independence. He said the construction of the Ram temple was made possible due to continuous "penance" of Modi and contributions of several other leaders such as Balasaheb Deoras, Vishnu Hari Dalmia, Rajju Bhaiya, Acharya Giriraj Kishore and Ashok Singhal (RSS/VHP leaders), among others. Congress MLA Modhwadia said his party welcomes the construction and consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. "We (Congress) welcome the construction of the Ram temple and its pran pratishtha. Modi was lucky because the Supreme Court gave its final verdict when he was PM...The telecast of Ramayan serial on Doordarshan started when Rajiv Gandhi was PM in 1986. Moreover, it was Rajiv Gandhi who gave permission for laying the foundation stone for the construction of a Ram temple in 1989," he maintained. AAP MLA Makwana, after extending support to the resolution on behalf of his party, which has four legislagtors, suggested that a hospital and a college should be built in the Ram temple premises. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday promised a nationwide caste census and removal of the 50 per cent cap on reservation if the INDIA bloc forms the government at the Centre after the Lok Sabha polls. IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi meets a young labourer, who is carrying around 200 kg of coal on a bicycle for sale, during the party's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, in Jharkhand, February 5, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Gandhi also launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying when the demand for caste census was raised and the time came to give rights to OBCs, Dalits and tribals, the PM stated there are no castes, but when it is time to get votes, he says he is an Other Backward Class. He also alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party tried to topple the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal government in Jharkhand as the chief minister was a tribal. "Want to congratulate all alliance MLAs, (Champai) Soren ji as that they stopped the BJP-RSS conspiracy and protected the government of the poor," Gandhi said at a rally at the Shaheed Maidan held here during his Manipur-to-Maharashtra Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Gandhi claimed that Dalits, tribals, and Other Backward Classes were made bonded labourers and their participation was lacking in big companies, hospitals, schools, colleges and courts. "This is the biggest question before India. Our first step would be to get a caste census in the country," the former Congress chief said. Noting that more than 50 percent reservation cannot be given under existing provisions, Gandhi promised that an Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance government would "throw out" the 50 percent cap on reservation. "There will be no reduction in the reservation of Dalits and Adivasis. I am giving you a guarantee that the backward sections of society will get their rights. This is the biggest issue - social and economic injustice," Gandhi said. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi used to say that he is an OBC but when the demand for a caste census was made, he stated that there are only two castes -- the rich and the poor. "When the time came to give rights to OBCs, Dalits, tribals, Modi ji says there are no castes, and when it is time to get votes, he says he is an OBC," Gandhi claimed. Slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party soon after the Champai Soren-led government won the trust vote in the Jharkhand assembly, Gandhi alleged that the BJP tried to remove the government as it cannot accept a tribal CM. "The Congress and the JMM stood against them together and the government was saved. They do this in all opposition-ruled states through probe agencies and money power. "They are attacking democracy and the Constitution and want to suppress the voice of the people. The INDIA coalition will not let the voice of democracy be suppressed," the Congress leader, who also met Kalpana Soren, the wife of former chief minister Hemant Soren, said. Gandhi also came down heavily on the Modi government over what he said was an attempt to privatise Public Sector Undertakings in order to benefit its "crony capitalist friends". "Narendra Modi and his government are slowly killing the PSUs... The central government wants the Heavy Engineering Corporation Limited (HEC Limited) to not function, and in the coming days, they will replace the name HEC with an Adani nameplate. "They want to privatise it... Wherever I go, I see people of PSUs standing with posters in their hands. Be it BHEL, HAL, or HEC, all are being slowly handed over to Adani," Gandhi alleged. He asserted that the Congress will not allow such privatisation. "I say to the people of the BJP do whatever you want to do, we will not let Adani's name be stuck over HEC. We will not allow Adani to be given this free gift...When our government comes you will be given all support and made competitive," Gandhi said. Gandhi alleged that the Centre was throttling all the PSUs in order to benefit Adani. This privatisation is an attempt to "steal" from Dalits, OBCs, tribals, minorities and poor general caste, he said. Raising the pitch over the caste census issue, Gandhi asked the crowd at the rally if anyone knew the number of Dalits, tribals and OBCs. "No one can give a number... In the country there are at least 50 per cent OBCs," he said. Gandhi also said that Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy had told him that his government had fulfilled the promise of a caste survey made to the people of that state. In a few months, Dalits, OBCs, tribals, minorities and general caste poor will get to know their numbers, Gandhi said. He said that out of the 90 secretaries running the government, only three are from the OBC category. Gandhi claimed that there was "massive" unemployment in the country and small and medium enterprises had been "destroyed" due to demonetisation. "PM Modi lied and said 'I am fighting against black money' and then carried out demonetisation, then implemented GST. The Indian youth cannot get jobs in such a scenario," the Congress leader said. Gandhi alleged that the BJP-RSS make people of different religions and languages fight and "then take their money and hand it to billionaire Gautam Adani". The rally took place in Shaheed Maidan which is a part of the HEC complex and the Congress general secretary alleged that the Modi government has attempted to sell HEC itself. In his speech, Gandhi raised the issue of privatisation because it is one of the most glaring injustices experienced by the people of Jharkhand, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said. The Yatra will stop at Khunti tonight, and on Tuesday morning, it will start again and travel through Gumla district before entering Odisha. The Yatra will return to Jharkhand on February 14 and 15. The Yatra is scheduled to cover 6,713 km, passing through 15 states, before culminating in Mumbai on March 20. The Gujarat police have arrested Islamic preacher Mufti Salman Azhari from Mumbai in connection with an FIR registered against him for allegedly delivering a hate speech and are bringing him back to the state, an official said on Monday. IMAGE: Islamic preacher Mufti Salman Azhari is brought to the ATS office in Ahmedabad from Mumbai, February 5, 2024. Photograph: ANI/X The speech was delivered at an event held on an open ground near the 'B' division police station in Gujarat's Junagadh city on the night of January 31. After a video of it went viral, an FIR was registered against Azhari and local organisers 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), police said. Malek and Habib were arrested on Saturday, while the police were searching for Azhari. The Gujarat police traced Azhari to Mumbai and arrested him on Sunday. He was being brought back to Junagadh after securing a transit remand from a court in Mumbai, Junagadh crime branch police inspector J J Patel said. The Junagadh police carried out the operation with the help of the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad, Patel said. The accused was being brought to Junagadh where he will be produced before a court on Tuesday, he said. As per officials, the arrested men had taken permission from police for the gathering stating that Azhari will speak about religion and spread awareness about de-addiction, but he allegedly delivered an inflammatory speech. The Junagadh local crime branch is investigating the case. After the Gujarat cops detained Azhari in Mumbai, the police resorted to mild lathi charge as hundreds of supporters of the preacher gathered outside Ghatkopar police station in the Maharashtra capital demanding his immediate release, bringing traffic to a standstill in the area, an official earlier said. A magisterial probe has been ordered into a scuffle involving members of two communities in Damoh city after Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav warned of the strictest action against miscreants, an official said on Monday. Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo A process has also been initiated to invoke the stringent National Security Act against one of the accused persons, identified as Akram Khan Rain, for allegedly making inflammatory speech. Several members of a community staged a protest outside Kotwali police station in Damoh city following a scuffle between a tailor and some persons of another community on Saturday night, the police said. "In Damoh, the miscreants tried to disturb the law-and-order situation, which was controlled by the police in time. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has given instructions for investigation regarding this incident. Strictest action will be taken against the culprits. Maintaining peace in Madhya Pradesh is the main priority of the government," the CMO tweeted on X. Damoh collector Mayank Agrawal said a magisterial probe has been ordered which will look into the reasons that triggered the protest and also identify persons responsible for the incident. Additional district magistrate Meena Masram will also probe if the protest was pre-planned, as per the orders issued by the collector. Superintendent of police Sunil Tiwari on Monday said he has proposed to the district administration to invoke NSA against Akram Khan Rain, who was detained by the police for allegedly making an inflammatory speech. "A petty dispute occurred on Saturday between one Lallu Sharma and tailor Ansar Khan over the delivery of stitched clothes on time. Sharma and his associates misbehaved with one Hafiz (a Muslim cleric) when he intervened," said Kotwali police station in-charge Anand Singh. "Soon, a large number of people gathered at the police station demanding to arrest and bulldoze the house of the accused (from another community) within two hours," he said. The cleric and some other persons were also trying to pacify the crowd, he said, adding that based on a complaint lodged by the tailor, the police registered a case and arrested two men on Saturday night. When the police were dispersing the crowd, Akram Khan, addressing the crowd on a mobile loudspeaker, allegedly said the hands of the accused (involved in the alleged manhandling of the Muslim cleric) would be chopped and their throat would be cut if the police failed to do justice within 24 hours, Singh said. The police registered a case under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc), 143 (unlawful assembly) and 147 (Punishment for rioting) of the Indian Penal Code against 30 to 40 persons, he said. Akram Khan and two of his associates have been detained, he said. Meanwhile, a video purportedly showing a man threatening physical harm has gone viral. Another video clip shows police officer Anand Singh telling the crowd that two of the accused (involved in the manhandling incident) have been arrested and action would be taken against others within 24 hours. The Treasure of Villena is one of the most important finds of gold articles dating from the Bronze Age (2,200 to 750 B.C.) in the Iberian Peninsula. It is composed of 59 gold objects (including 27 bracelets and 11 bowls) and a few pieces made of silver or iron. It was identified in 1963 by archaeologist Jose Maria Soler Garcia after workers found various loose pieces in a gravel pit in Villena (eastern Spain). The discovery ignited an enormous scientific debate because it has no relationship with any of the archaeological sites in its surroundings, with the sole exception of what is known as the Cabezo Redondo hoard (35 objects), found in 1963 also in Villena, and which includes some similar golden pieces. The Treasure of Villena is kept in an armored display case, given its immense value, in the towns archaeological museum. Experts have always doubted whether it belonged to the post-Argaric period (1,500-1,300 B.C.) or the last stages of the Late Bronze Age (8th century B.C.). Now, the study Meteoritic iron in the Villena Treasure? by researchers Salvador Rovira-Llorens, Martina Renzi ,and Ignacio Montero-Ruiz, from the National Archaeological Museum, the Diriyah Gate Development Authority (Saudi Arabia), and the Institute of History at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) respectively, has added a spectacular fact thanks to metal analysis carried out on some of the pieces: they were made in the Late Bronze Age (1,400-1,200 B.C.) using iron from a meteorite. The key that leads some researchers to place the chronology of the complex well into the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age is the existence of two iron pieces: a small hollow semisphere covered with a sheet of gold, supposedly interpreted as a pommel of a sword hilt, and an open bracelet. They are the first objects found in the Iberian Peninsula that were made with material from beyond planet Earth, the experts say. The pommel is decorated with three bands, crossed by four parallel strips that create four sectors and result in a four-pointed star. The bracelet is an open ring, with rounded and somewhat flattened ends. Its discoverer described it as a dark leaden metal. It is shiny in some areas, and covered with a ferrous-looking oxide that is mostly cracked. Image of the Treasure of Villena. Enrique Iniguez Rodriguez Their analysis has been able to determine that these are not pieces made with terrestrial iron produced by the reduction of minerals existing in the mantle of planet Earth. Instead, they are extraterrestrial and [were] made during the Late Bronze Age. To obtain this data, two tiny extractions were made, under the supervision of the technical staff of the Alicante museum. The samples were then taken to Madrid for analysis at the laboratory of the National Archaeological Museum. Meteorite iron is found in certain types of aerolites that, since they come from outer space, are composed of an iron-nickel alloy with a variable nickel composition greater than 5% by weight. They also contain other minor and trace chemical elements, cobalt being one of the most significant. However, the levels of nickel in terrestrial iron are generally low or very low and frequently not detectable in analysis, the study explains. A part of the Tesoro de Villena hoard, a bracelet made of iron from a meteor. Museo Arqueologico de Villena Iron is a material that oxidizes in the short term in the presence of oxygen and water, forming oxides and hydroxides, which gives it its characteristic brown rust. Meteorite iron is no stranger to this phenomenon, so most of the objects made with it are in a very delicate state of conservation, the authors of the study point out. Tutankhamun's Tomb But every rule has its exception, and in this case it is found in one of the objects from Tutankhamuns tomb, in particular a recently reanalyzed dagger with a gold handle. Its blade barely shows signs of oxidation due to the extreme dryness, which could have favored its conservation in excellent condition. However, other iron objects (16 miniature chisels) from the same tomb showed distortions on their surface. The first analyses on the pommel and bracelet at the National Archaeological Museum clearly indicated the presence of iron and nickel, with very high peaks of the latter. The cobalt peak was more doubtful. Therefore, the test was repeated, using the mass spectrometry technique, at the Curt-Engelhorn-Zentrum Archaometrie (CEZA, in Mannheim, Germany). This technology is more sensitive than that used in Madrid and resulted in the pommel being possibly made of meteoritic iron, with a nickel proportion of 5.5%. The bracelet, on the other hand, only had 2.8%, too little to be meteoritic iron. For this reason, technicians Ernst Pernicka and Michael Brauns, from the German laboratory, suggest new analyses. In any case, the conclusions obtained in Spain and Germany are clear: The results of the analyses carried out on the iron pieces from the Villena hoard indicate with a high probability that they are objects made with meteoritic iron. And they explain: The available data suggests that the pommel and bracelet from the Villena hoard would currently be the first two pieces attributable to meteoritic iron in the Iberian Peninsula. This is compatible with a chronology of the Late Bronze Age [1,400-1,200 B.C.], prior to the beginning of widespread production using terrestrial iron. The chronology of abandonment of Cabezo Redondo [the other hoard related to that of Villena] dates back to before 1,200 B.C., and the relationships established between the two seem to be the best arguments to establish the chronology. Ignacio Montero Ruiz, from the CSIC Institute of History and one of the experts who contributed to the report, concludes: These two pieces of iron had enormous value. For this reason, they were considered worthy of becoming part of this spectacular ensemble with numerous delicate gold objects and ones made with a very special iron. Who manufactured them and where this material was obtained are still questions that remain to be answered. A new political party named Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, believed to be a new face of the banned groups of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed, is participating in Thursday's general elections, according to a media report. A BBC Urdu report has 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 the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamaat-ud-Dawa or Milli Muslim League in the past. Saeed, who has been incarcerated in a jail in Lahore, has been sentenced to a total of 31 years by Pakistan's anti-terrorism courts in several cases of financing terrorism. He was on December 10, 2008, included in the list of 'global terrorists' by the UN. On December 29 last year, India asked Pakistan to extradite Saeed, who is wanted by Indian probe agencies in several terror cases. India has also taken note of reports of Saeed's son Talha contesting elections in Pakistan and said the "mainstreaming" of radical terror outfits in the neighbouring country is nothing new and that it has been part of its State policy for a long time. Talha Saeed is considered the No.2 person in the LeT hierarchy, with his father being at the helm of the terror outfit. Pakistan has 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 on Saturday 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, 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. On November 26, 2008, ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists from Pakistan arrived by sea route and in an indiscriminate fire killed 166 people, 18 of them security personnel, and injured several others during a 60-hour siege in Mumbai, India's financial capital. Sonam Wangchuk, a key campaigner for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, on Monday said they would launch a fast unto death from February 19 to press their demands and that details of participation of local residents in the agitation were being worked out. IMAGE: Reformist Sonam Wangchuk along with others stage a protest over various demands including a separate statehood for Ladakh and inclusion of the Union Territory in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi, February 15, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The Ramon Magsaysay Award winner said a sense of desperation was growing among the local residents over their unfulfilled demands, including safeguards under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and full statehood for Ladakh. On the proposed fast unto death, Wangchuk told PTI Videos, "First it will be Thupstan Chhewang (former BJP Lok Sabha MP) and me and if we die, who next and how many? All that roster is being prepared." He said he was earlier planning to go on a three-week-long fast from February 3 but postponed it after Chhewang, the chairman of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), asked him to wait till February 19, when prominent leaders from the Union territory would meet Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai in New Delhi. Rai heads a high-powered committee, set up to look into various issues pertaining to the protection of rights of Ladakh residents. Ladakh witnessed a major protest rally on Saturday when the Union territory observed a complete shutdown in response to calls given by the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) in support of their four-point agenda. "People came out in numbers like 30,000, which is unprecedented in the history of Ladakh. It's like one-third of the adult population of Ladakh came out to tell the government that it was not the voice of one person but everyone wanted the safeguards for the region," Wangchuk said. He said this was the result of restlessness among the people as several rounds of talks have taken place and nothing came out of them. Wangchuk explained what the safeguards under the Sixth Schedule meant for them. "All that the Sixth Schedule does is that it requires the consultation of local indigenous people in any agenda. It is about setting up councils of indigenous people with legislative rights, lawmaking rights, and any industry can come, but not without consultation or consent of the people. "Secondly, it's not also about protecting Ladakh from outsiders alone. It's as much protecting Ladakh from Ladakhi people. We can do a lot of damage also. Like there's Pangong lake, there's Tsomoriri lake, very fragile ecosystems," he said. The LAB has been demanded inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which provides safeguards for tribal rights. It is in force in tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. The KDA has been demanding statehood for Ladakh. Wangchuk said the prevailing desperation was making people say that they were better off being with the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, which was bifurcated into Union territories in 2019. "...many people are saying that. I think that's the extent of their pain. I don't think that people really want to be in a state where their peculiar environmental conditions do not match. But people are expressing their anguish and pain...," he said in reply to a question. Wangchuk, while advocating for the Union territory to have its own legislature, said that strategically also it was important for the region to have its elected representatives. "In Chinese maps, they show Ladakh. Now, if India says yes, it is disputed. We are keeping it without democracy, because it is disputed. China will be happy to say, yes, it was ours. You have acquired it," he said. After the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019, Ladakh was made a Union territory without any legislature and is governed by a lieutenant governor. The UK's Opposition Labour Party has claimed Infosys was effectively granted VIP access after a media report alleged the software services major was promised help to grow in Britain due to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's familial connection with co-founder Narayana Murthy. IMAGE: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and UK First Lady Akshata Murty arrive at Palam Airforce Airport for the G20 Summit, in New Delhi, September 8, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo A Sunday Mirror report based on a freedom of information request said Trade Minister Lord Dominic Johnson discussed the UK operations of Infosys during a meeting at the company's offices in Bengaluru during a visit last April. A readout of the meeting reportedly said Lord Johnson made clear that he was keen to see a bigger Infosys presence in the UK and would be happy to do what he could to facilitate that. After the Tories handed billions in taxpayers' cash to cronies for duff PPE (personal protective equipment), the public will wonder why an outfit so personally close to Rishi Sunak appears to have been granted this VIP access. There are serious questions to answer, Labour's shadow minister Jonathan Ashworth told the newspaper. Sunak's wife, Akshata Murty, has a 0.91 percent stake valued at around GBP 500 million in the IT business co-founded by her father and received millions in dividends in the past financial year. A steering brief for the meeting is reported to have said that it would be good to reassure them on the prospects for the UK economy and remind them of the support that we can provide through DBT [Department for Business and Trade]. Lord Johnson is said to have outlined to the Infosys executives, whose names were redacted in the FOI documents, the advantages for the multinational as a result of the UK's high-potential individual visa scheme. The investment minister regularly meets businesses and international investors, including a range of Indian businesses, to champion the UK as an investment destination and secure commitments worth billions of pounds. That engagement drives investment across the UK, creating thousands of high-quality jobs and boosting the UK economy, said a DBT spokesperson. Infosys has been approached for a reaction over these latest claims, coming in the wake of some Opposition murmurings around Infosys seeking visa benefits to accrue from the proposed India-UK free trade agreement. The briefing paper for the April 2023 meeting reportedly notes that one of the objectives was to reassure that the FTA will further create new opportunities and investor-friendly policies to support business growth. This is the latest Opposition attack faced by Sunak's wife over her business interests after Labour raised questions over Akshata Murty's decision to liquidate an investment venture named Catamaran Ventures. The 43-year-old Indian businesswoman and daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy had incorporated the venture in 2013 with her husband as one of the directors, before he resigned in 2015. It had emerged in a financial statement last year that she had decided to wind down her firm as a going concern. The personal finances of Sunak and his wife have previously also been under scrutiny when it was revealed that Murty had legal non-domicile tax status, which meant she did not have to pay UK tax on her Indian income. However, after an Opposition furore over this issue, she had relinquished her non-dom tax status and said she would pay all her taxes in the UK to prevent the issue becoming a distraction for her husband's political career. Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday asked why no probe agency swung into action after Bharatiya Janata party MLA Ganpat Gaikad claimed that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde owes him crores of rupees. IMAGE: Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray addresses a rally in Ratnagiri. Photograph: @ShivSenaUBT_/X Speaking at a public rally in Rajapur tehsil of Ratnagiri district, Thackeray said he does not support the action of Ganpat Gaikwad, who is accused of firing at a Shiv Sena leader inside a police station in Thane district on Friday, but the BJP MLA's claims cannot be easily ignored, he said. Before his arrest in connection with the firing incident, Ganpat Gaikwad on Friday said only criminals will be born in Maharashtra if Shinde is the chief minister. "Shinde sahib betrayed Uddhav. He will betray the BJP. He owes me crores of rupees. Shinde should resign if Maharashtra has to be well-managed," the MLA told a news channel. During the rally on Monday, Thackeray asked, "Why has no action been taken against the chief minister when BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad has levelled serious allegations against him?" The MLA has said that his crores of rupees are stuck with Shinde, the former Maharashtra chief minister noted. "If it is true, then why no probe agency has swung into action? I want people to think before they go to vote," Thackeray said. "If the Union government can send probe (agency) officials to the houses of (former Jharkhand CM) Soren and (Delhi CM) Kejriwal,?" he asked. Thackeray further said he wanted to ask the ruling BJP's supporters that if their own MLA's issues were not being addressed by the government, why were they backing their party. He also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and claimed, "I do not see PM Modi as my enemy but he considers me like the one. He engineered a split in my party and stole by party. Late Balasaheb Thackeray had once helped him during his critical time but now Modi is helping a thief and made him chief minister of the state." Thackeray further targeted PM Modi over Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar parting ways with the opposition INDIA bloc, and arrest of former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in a money laundering case. "Even my Shiv Sena leaders are being targeted because none of them are extending support to him," he claimed. Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra treasurer Govind Dev Giri Maharaj said that the Hindu community will forget about all other things if these temples (Gyanvapi and Krishna Janmabhoomi) are freed peacefully. IMAGE: Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra treasurer Govind Dev Giri Maharaj . Photograph: ANI Photo "We do not even desire to look at the other temples if these temples are freed because we have to live in the future and not in the past. The country's future should be good and if we get these temples (Gyanvapi and Krishna Janmabhoomi) peacefully we will forget about all other things," Dev Giri Maharaj said on Sunday in Pune. He also appealed to the Muslim side for a peaceful solution for all these three temples. "I appeal with folded hands to free all these temples (Gyanvapi and Krishna Janmabhoomi) because these are the biggest scars of the attacks done by invaders. People are in pain, if they (the Muslim side) can heal this pain peacefully then it will help in increasing brotherhood" Dev Giri Maharaj said. The statement from Govind Dev Giri Maharaj came days after the Allahabad high court denied the stay on the Varanasi Court order that allowed the Hindu side to offer prayers in the southern cellar of Gyanvapi mosque. The court granted time until February 6 for the Masjid Intezamia Committee of Gyanvapi mosque to amend its pleadings to include a challenge to a January 17 order consequent to which the January 31 order was passed. The bench of Justice Rohit Ranjan Aggarwal said that the mosque side should first challenge the order of January 17, 2024. By this order, District Magistrate Varanasi was appointed as the receiver, and after that, the DM took possession of the Gyanvapi premises on January 23. After this, the District Court, by an interim order dated January 31, has given permission to Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust to perform puja in the basement through a priest. The court had asked the Masjid Intezamia Committee lawyer SFA Naqvi why the basic order of January 17, 2024, was not challenged. The committee's lawyer said, "That due to the order of January 31, he had to come immediately. Will also challenge it (the basic order). Because as soon as the order was given, the district magistrate made preparations at night and started the puja within nine hours." Vishnu Shankar Jain, the Hindu side lawyer, objected to the maintainability of the appeal. He said that the original order has not been challenged. The subordinate court has not granted relief to the plaintiff. The authority has been given to the temple trust. Meanwhile, on January 31, the Varanasi district court allowed the Hindu side to offer prayers in the southern cellar of Gyanvapi mosque. The court directed the Varanasi district magistrate to make arrangements within seven days for 'puja' to be performed by the Hindu side and a pujari (priest) nominated by Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. High 44F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A few flurries are possible. Low around 30F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Operation anti-corruption au sein de la Police gabonaise : 6 agents accuses de divers delits apprehendes - alibreville.com Accueil MonKiosk.com Sports Business News Annonces Femmes Necrologie Publicite NEWS News Societe Article Societe Operation anti-corruption au sein de la Police gabonaise : 6 agents accuses de divers delits apprehendes Publie le lundi 5 fevrier 2024 | aLibreville.com Autre presse par DR Symbole de la justice Tweet Suite a de nombreuses plaintes emanant de citoyens, le chef dEtat-major des polices dinvestigations judiciaires, le colonel Emmanuel Constant Boubata, a procede a l'arrestation de 6 agents en exercice au sein des Forces de police nationale (FPN), a-t-on appris ce lundi 05 fevrier 2024. Ces agents, charges de la securite publique, font face a des accusations dextorsion de fonds, d'association de malfaiteurs, d'abus d'autorite et de controles inopines dans la ville. L'operation d'apprehension intervient moins d'un mois apres les instructions fermes du president de la Transition, le general Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, lors de la presentation des vux pour l'annee 2024. Le chef de l'Etat avait appele a des sanctions severes contre tout comportement deviant au sein des troupes, soulignant la necessite de restaurer l'image des Forces de defense et de securite. Depuis le "coup de liberation", les autorites gabonaises s'efforcent de mettre fin aux comportements indelicats des agents, cherchant a instaurer une armee respectueuse des lois et des droits des citoyens. Cette operation anti-corruption demontre l'engagement du gouvernement a assurer la discipline et l'integrite au sein des forces de securite pour renforcer la confiance de la population dans ces institutions. HB A couple of years ago, Eddie Jaku who became known at the end of his life for his memoir The Happiest Man on Earth died in Sydney at the age of 101. While reading the book by this German-Jewish engineer, who was arrested by the Nazis in 1938 and interned in various concentration camps, happiness is made conspicuous by its absence. However, his narration serves to illustrate the decision he made that miraculously saved his life. After managing to escape from the concentration camp in the last days of the war, he survived in a cave, living on snails, slugs, and dirty water. With the last of his strength having contracted cholera and typhoid fever he crawled to the road. American soldiers found him. He weighed only 62 pounds and had a low chance of survival. In that uncertain state, he made a decision: I promised myself: if I get out of this, I will be the happiest man in the world. I will be helpful, I will be kind. We dont know if the pact that he made with himself helped Eddie heal, but in the life he would lead in Australia, he did his best to be friendly and helpful to everyone. He continuously received awards and recognitions up until he passed away. In 2019, he stated that he didnt hate anyone, despite having lost a large part of his family and friends in the Holocaust. He preferred to invest his energy into doing everything possible to help his community. Is his an extraordinary case? Or can you really be happy after having experienced extreme adversity? In one of his most memorable phrases, Nietzsche stated: What doesnt kill us makes us stronger. Several contemporary authors support this vision. In his book Out of the Darkness, psychologist Steve Taylor analyzes the cases of 30 people who were awakened to life by intense trauma. One of the most shocking is that of the Australian citizen Gill Hicks, a workaholic architect who was a victim of the attacks on the London subway in 2005. She was the last person to be pulled alive from the wreckage of the train. As a result of her injuries, both her legs had to be amputated. As she began her second life in her own words she began to value each day, hour and minute in a totally new way. Perhaps because she had been on the verge of dying, she was finally able to enjoy every drink of water, every drop of tea or coffee, savoring every bite of food and enjoying every glass of wine. In another testimony collected by Taylor, a suicidal man who jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco became aware, as he fell, that he wanted to continue living. After learning (in the rescue boat) that he belonged to the scarce 2% of people who survive the jump, he discovered that the depression that had relentlessly stalked him had disappeared. Suddenly, he felt enormous gratitude towards life, which was giving him a new chance. His transformation fits with the study that psychologist David Rosen carried out in 1975 with the 10 people who, at that time, had managed to survive the fall from the Golden Gate Bridge. All of them claimed to have experienced a spiritual awakening during or just after the jump. These are extreme examples of resilience, a process that neurologist Boris Cyrulnik describes in this way: A trauma has upset the injured person and taken them in a direction they would [have liked to avoid]. However, given that he has fallen into a current that drags him and takes him towards a cascade of bruises, the resilient person must call on his internal resources he must fight to not let himself be carried away by the natural slope of the traumas. Perhaps this is the secret: when you surpass the last boundaries of despair, you discover, on the other side, a strength and vitality that was anesthetized by the noise of negative thoughts. The lesson we can draw from these testimonies is that we should be able to appreciate life without needing to be on the verge of losing it. Even if we feel like were going through a tunnel, it will help us to know that theres light on the other side. As Albert Camus once wrote: In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. An unexpected enthusiasm for life One of the most unique stories about adversity was the one published in 2012 by Olivier Bouyssi. After suffering a serious accident in 1988, a transfusion of HIV-infected blood caused him to suffer from several cancers. In his book, he details the frequent visits to hospitals, as well as the disastrous diagnoses he received. Perhaps all of this drove him to live with ferocious joy and enthusiasm. A quarter-of-a-century after his illness, he wrote a memoir delving into this idea, titled Happy Against All Odds. And, at the time of the publication of this piece, against every prognosis, hes still happy in this life. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The lawsuit is the latest to target a critic of powerful Cambodian politicians. Hun Sen speaks at a news conference at the National Assembly in Phnom Penh after a vote to confirm his son, Hun Manet, as prime minister on Aug. 22, 2023. Former Prime Minister Hun Sen and the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party on Monday sued the spokesperson of human rights group ADHOC, accusing him of defamation in his recent criticism of the ruling partys legal actions toward a leading opposition figure. Party lawyers demanded 2 billion riel (US$500,000) in damages in the lawsuit against Soeng Senkaruna filed in Phnom Penh Municipal Court. The complaint signed by three lawyers for the Cambodian Peoples Party, or CPP, said that Senkaruna commented last week to The Cambodia Daily that the party has used its influence with the courts to put pressure on its political opponents. The lawsuit is the latest to target a critic of powerful Cambodian politicians. In November, a Banteay Meanchey man was sentenced to three years in prison for comments he made on Facebook over the CPPs inability to prevent illegal immigration from Vietnam and drug use. Last year, the Supreme Court upheld a US$1 million defamation judgment against Son Chhay, the vice president of the opposition Candlelight Party. A lower court in 2022 ordered Son Chhay to pay the amount to the CPP and the National Election Committee following comments he made about local commune elections, which he said was marred by irregularities. According to the lawsuit, Senkaruna told The Cambodia Daily that the CPP should seek to compete with opposition politicians in the political realm, such as through free and fair elections, rather than through court complaints. The Cambodia Daily newspaper closed in Phnom Penh in 2017. It has since been relaunched as a Khmer- and English-language online news outlet based in the United States. The outlet cited Senkaruna's paraphrased comments in a Khmer-language article on Friday. He was not directly quoted. Hun Sens online threat The lawsuit claims that Senkaruna's remarks seriously damaged the CPP's reputation and deliberately harmed the upcoming Feb. 25 Senate election. It was filed the day after Hun Sen made remarks on Facebook threatening to sue Senkaruna for commenting on the Son Chhay case. After stepping down as prime minister in August, Hun Sen was named president of the CPP. Senkaruna declined to comment about the CPPs lawsuit when contacted by Radio Free Asia. However, on Facebook he said his comments in the article were aimed at promoting respect for human rights, law, social justice and democracy without serving any particular political party. Any paraphrasing of my words to add or leave out [the meaning] in order to attack directly on the name of a political party was not my intention and goal, he wrote on Facebook. Senkaruna has been actively involved in the promotion of human rights in Cambodia for more than 20 years, Am Sam Ath of human rights group Licadho told RFA. He is always active in helping people with land grabbing and other rights violations, and in asking the relevant authorities to intervene to find a solution for the people, he said. On Facebook, Senkaruna added a note of thanks to friends and supporters. Thank you very much for the kind words, greetings and concerns from my family, friends, media, civil society, international partners and foreign diplomatic friends for my safety, he wrote. Im fine. Translated by Sok Ry Sum. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. The demands being made by Israel and Hamas are complicating the ceasefire agreement that the mediating countries the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to reach for weeks. At this point, the differences between the two sides are insurmountable. Oblivious to internal and external pressures, from the families of the hostages or from his closest ally, Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted Sunday that he will not accept an agreement at any price. He was referring, among other things, to the request to release thousands of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails, or to ease military pressure in Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas has still not officially responded, although some media have stated it will not agree to a deal unless there is an end to military operations in the Strip and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. This distancing of positions is driving the advance of the war in the Palestinian enclave, where more than 27,000 people have been killed and nearly two million displaced amid an almost total blockade on the entry of humanitarian aid. Netanyahu stressed that his priority is to finish off Hamas, despite the fact that efforts to free the hostages are continuing at all times, according to statements provided by his office. The Israeli prime minister also reacted to comments and reports published about a possible agreement to bring about a cessation of hostilities. We will not agree to every deal, and not at any price. Many things that are being said in the media, as if we had agreed to them, such as regarding the release of terrorists, we will simply not agree to them, he added. The division is also evident within the ministerial cabinet where the hardline wing led by ultra-nationalists opposes any concessions to the people of Gaza, as opposed to the approach of centrists and some army generals, according to Reuters sources. It has been a week since Paris hosted a high-level meeting at which Israel and the negotiating countries outlined a possible cessation of hostilities of between one and two months, which would open the door to a new exchange of hostages captured in the October 7 attacks for Palestinian prisoners. It would also facilitate a greater flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Hamas, which did not attend the meeting, has not responded to the plan. The entrenched positions of both sides have prevented movement toward a ceasefire. Hamas demands the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops and the release of thousands of prisoners. Netanyahu, for his part, continues to insist that he will not give in to these demands and does not intend to withdraw the occupying troops, or to open the gates of his prisons on a massive scale. The level of demand for the exchanges, according to Israel, was set in the previous ceasefire agreement at the end of November, when the ratio was one hostage in the Strip for three Palestinian prisoners. Hamas wants to bring the bar closer to the famous exchange, nearly two decades, ago of Israeli soldier Guilad Shalit, who was freed in exchange for over 1,100 Palestinians, including the current head of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar. The name of the most famous Palestinian prisoner, Marwan Barguti, has come to the fore as one of the possible demands of the Islamist militia. A perennial candidate for president of the Palestinian National Authority, Barguti has been behind bars for over 20 years and is serving five life sentences. Families of the Israeli hostages in Gaza protest in Tel Aviv. Luis De Vega Hernandez Several thousand people again took to the streets in Tel Aviv in various rallies and marches on Saturday night to protest the governments handling of the war. The families of the more than 100 hostages remaining in Gaza continue to demand that their release be a priority. Another group is calling directly for the prime minister to step down. Others, albeit in the fewest numbers, are demanding an end to the war and that the lives of Palestinians be taken into account, with the same value as those of Israelis. Without directly addressing the protestors, Netanyahu took advantage of Sundays governmental meeting to underline, once again, his priorities. I would like to clarify our policy: The essential goal is first of all to eliminate Hamas, his office said. With a certain optimism, the president stated that 17 of the 24 battalions of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas armed wing, have already been wiped out. The remaining ones, he added, are in southern Gaza, including Rafah, the border area with Egypt where more than a million displaced people are crowded. Despite this, Netanyahu remains determined to extend his military operation there. Every airstrike in Gaza brings us closer to achieving our goals and returning the hostages, said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on a visit to a military base, as quoted by Haaretz. The pressure on Hamas is working, they are in a very difficult situation and we are hitting them hard. On Sunday, the army reported that they had raided the Khan Younis office of Mohamed Sinwar, brother of the Hamas leader, located in one of the places used to train those responsible for the October 7 attacks. The military response to that attack has already killed more than 27,000 Palestinians in the Strip, the vast majority of them women and children, according to Hamas-controlled local government sources. Military aircraft from Jordan and the Netherlands dropped humanitarian aid from the air over the Palestinian enclave on Sunday, according to media in the Arab country. Meanwhile, the United States continues to lead attacks against militia groups linked to Iran. After those carried out in Iraq and Syria over the weekend, the latest target has been the Houthi rebels in Yemen. Washington, which has not taken the step of directly attacking Iran, although it has targeted Tehran-backed militias, insists that this will not be the end to retaliatory strikes following the deaths of three U.S. military personnel in a drone attack in northern Jordan. The Tehran-backed Houthis have been attacking maritime traffic in the Red Sea since last December, to show support for Gaza. On Sunday a Houthi spokesman, Mohamed Abdulsalam, said that they will continue with this strategy despite the attacks by the U.S. the U.K., and that the West will not find it easy to destroy their military capabilities, reports Reuters. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition This is the first article in a three-part series on the Prince Group. For Part II of RFAs investigation, click here. For Part III, click here. Sahajak Boonthanakit, a Thai actor, will never forget the day he met Chen Zhi. He was very much I dont want to make this too dramatic but very much like a godfather. He didnt say much, I believe, except hello, Sahajak recalled in an interview with RFA. He seemed so powerful. Chen, a Chinese emigre, is indeed one of Cambodias best-connected tycoons. At the time of the 2018 meeting, he held a position equal to secretary of state as an adviser to Cambodia's Interior Ministry. He later became an adviser to then-Prime Minister Hun Sen and today holds the same position for Hun Sens successor and son, Prime Minister Hun Manet, according to royal decrees granting him the roles. His Prince Group conglomerate, which includes real estate, malls, banks and more across Cambodia, has raked in billions of dollars. To Sahajak, though, the short, pale, goateed 30-year-old was just the enigmatic money man financing his latest film and hosting a meal at a Phnom Penh villa overlooking the Mekong river. After luxury cars ferried the cast and crew to Chens home, Sahajak and his colleagues were led to a banquet hall. A large round table seating roughly 20 was laid with fine wines and delicacies, including shark-fin soup, which regularly sells for hundreds of dollars a bowl. The film they were celebrating was Cambodias first attempt at a homegrown, Hollywood-style action flick. The Prey centers on Xin, a Chinese detective wrongly imprisoned in a remote Cambodian prison while working undercover to penetrate a violent gang engaged in unspecified but lucrative cybercrimes. In backing Cambodias first big-budget action movie, Chen likely sought to establish himself as a tycoon of consequence. But it was also a sort of Freudian slip of the checkbook. Chinese police have been investigating whether much of Chens wealth is drawn from illegal activities similar to those featured in the film, RFA has learned. Chen Zhi was a backer of The Prey, Cambodias first attempt at producing its own Hollywood-style action movie. ( The Prey" / Altered Vision Films - Kongchak Pictures ) Previously unreported Chinese criminal court judgments dating from 2020 to 2022 describe Chens Prince Group as a notorious transnational online gambling criminal group that has generated at least 5 billion yuan ($700 million) in illicit revenue. In May 2020, Beijing police established a special task force to investigate the Prince Group, court records show. Since then, there have been at least seven judgments from separate Chinese provincial courts convicting low-level Prince Group or Prince Group-linked employees of gambling and money laundering offenses. The Prince Group itself and Chen so far do not appear to have become the subjects of a Chinese prosecution. A representative of Prince Group told RFA the company denies all the allegations, which it believes are the result of impersonation by criminal elements. But to understand how Prince Group could draw such scrutiny, it is necessary to look at how Chen transformed from an unknown small business owner in his native China to a multibillionaire Cambodian citizen. Today, he boasts deep connections to Cambodias most powerful officials, which may well have protected him and other Prince Group executives at least thus far. This is the first of three stories examining how his Prince Group came to rise so rapidly, where the wealth came from and why Chinese law enforcement is looking at it so closely. A princely rise to power Chen was born on Dec. 16, 1987, in Fujian, which has for centuries been a hub of international trade. He was a young business prodigy, according to a biography posted on the website of DW Capital Holdings, the Singapore fund manager for his personal investments. Before the age of three, the biography claims, he was assisting with a family business in Shenzhen. Chens first solo venture was apparently a small internet cafe in Fujians capital, Fuzhou, according to the website. In 2011, the bio noted, Chen sailed off into the uncharted waters of real estate development in Cambodia. Chens business ventures came into sharper focus when he emigrated to Cambodia, where opportunities abound for the smart and well-connected. His first firm was a Phnom Penh-based real estate company established the year he emigrated, according to bank records seen by RFA. In 2015, he founded Prince and it soon became an omnipresent brand on the streets of Cambodian cities. Its real estate arm, the Prince Group, played a major role in the transformation of Sihanoukville from a quiet, if seedy, coastal resort to a Chinese casino boomtown. Having seen healthy returns on its thousands of Sihanoukville apartments and hotels, the Prince Group branched out into Phnom Penh condominiums, supermarkets and shopping malls. Within a year of its founding, they began offering banking services as a private microfinance institution. Three years later, the group received its commercial bank license. As Chens businesses were growing, so too was his political capital. Chen Zhi stands with Cambodias then-Prime Minister Hun Sen after Chen was made neak oknha on July 20, 2020. (Prince Holding Group) On Feb. 16, 2014, Chen was naturalized as a Cambodian citizen. Naturalization which requires an investment or government donation of about $250,000 has become an increasingly popular route for wealthy foreigners, but few have made the personal inroads Chen has. Three years later, a royal decree declared him an adviser to the Interior Ministry. While unpaid, the role gave Chen status in Cambodia equivalent to that of an undersecretary of state. Weeks after he received that title in 2017, Chen went into business with Sar Sokha. At the time, Sokhas father was the powerful interior minister. In 2023, Sokha took over the position himself. Chen and Sokhas business Jinbei (Cambodia) Investment Co. Ltd. was dissolved in 2021, but it was the first of five companies with names featuring the word Jinbei established by Chen and other Prince executives, according to Cambodian business records. Together, the companies formed the Jinbei Group, whose website today boasts of $300 million invested in the Cambodian tourism sector. Though they are separate entities, so close is the association between the companies that Chinese authorities have called Jinbei a subsidiary of Prince in court documents linking the two a description Prince Group rejects. Jinbeis flagship is arguably a seven-story, 16,500 square meter Sihanoukville hotel and casino called the Jinbei, or Golden Shell, in Mandarin. It opened in 2017. The resort, which boasts 43 gaming tables spread over a 2,000 square meter casino floor, and two V.I.P. saloons, was one of more than 100 casinos to open in Sihanoukville in the years leading up to 2019 boom years that saw the city feted as a new Macau. Speaking to Macau Business in 2019, Jinbeis marketing manager, Victor Chong, attributed this flourishing to the Cambodian governments pro-business stance, under which he said a casino license was issued to anyone willing to pay the $40,000 annual fee. Jinbei Casino in the southern resort city of Sihanoukville, a magnet for Chinese gamblers visiting Cambodia, is seen in this undated photo. The casino is owned by Chen Zhis Jinbei Group. (Jin Bei Casino via Facebook) Online, under the table Though the laws are not always enforced, gambling is illegal for Cambodian citizens. It was Chinese nationals who made up most of the customers in Sihanoukvilles gambling dens as well as the lions share of proprietors. Throughout the mid- and late-2010s, the gamblers were joined by an influx of Chinese gangsters looking to make quick money as loan sharks and extortionists. Bodies started washing up on the beach. Prostitution, illegal in Cambodia, flourished. Cybercriminals, who had long used Sihanoukville as a base, exploded in numbers. Many scammers targeted their compatriots back in China. A sense of impunity began to reign with brazen gangland-style shootings in the streets and at restaurants. The intended victims were invariably Chinese, although Cambodians were occasionally caught in the crossfire. The atmosphere drew Chinas ire but what may have troubled Beijing even more than the upswing in crimes against its nationals was the business model many of the casinos used. Most were hosting online gambling websites targeting customers in China, a clear violation of Chinese law. Citing the rising crime, and likely bowing to pressure from Beijing, Prime Minister Hun Sen in 2019 outlawed online gambling operations. The consequences for Sihanoukville were nearly instantaneous. More than 200,000 Chinese workers and entrepreneurs abandoned the city, and thousands more were stuck without funds to get home. The pandemic, Chinas tight travel restrictions and its domestic economic struggles have only compounded the problems. Four years on and Sihanoukvilles skyline is a mess. At night, the blinking lights of the few remaining casinos glimmer through skeleton frames of half-finished skyscrapers, abandoned mid-construction. Commuters ride motorcycles along a street in Sihanoukville, Feb. 14, 2020. The city was once hailed as a new Macau, but a ban on online gambling and the COVID pandemic thwarted those dreams. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP) But if there are losers here, the Prince Group isnt one of them. On a visit by RFA last year, Jinbei was still welcoming guests through its doors under a gigantic neon clam filled with lucky red dice. The multi-story Prince Mall, home to luxury goods stores, a videogame arcade and the Prince Supermarket, replete with lobster tanks, still beckoned the odd shopper. And at the heart of the malls ground floor a display stand for the groups real estate arm showcased architects models for coastal and metro skyscraper apartments. Even the Nonni II, Chens $24 million superyacht with an onboard home cinema and a disco bar, still could be seen docked at Sihanoukvilles ports from time to time. What has allowed Prince to flourish while so many competitors saw their bubbles burst? The answer, according to court documents, is crime on a massive scale. High-tech money mules According to court records seen by RFA, Chinese law enforcement began openly investigating the Prince Group in 2020 and, in particular, whether at least a third of its estimated $2 billion investment value came from illegal online gambling operations. In May 2020, the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau created a group called the 5.27 Special Task Force. It was formed to investigate and handle the case of the notorious transnational online gambling criminal group, known as the 'Prince Group,' in Cambodia, according to a 2021 court judgment. Prince spokesman Gabriel Tan wrote in an email that this task force is not related to any activities of Prince Holding Group. In a follow-up note he said that any explicit mention of Prince within court documents is due to impersonation issues. The judgment describing the task force from a district court in Henan was one of several issued in different provinces against individuals linked to the Prince Group who are accused of money laundering and gambling. Some of these individuals worked directly for the conglomerate, while others worked for Prince-linked companies, including Jinbei. One judgment describes Jinbei as a subsidiary of the Cambodian Prince Group that has developed a series of gambling software and put it on the Chinese network platform. The Prince Group is also accused of continuing to run the type of online casinos Hun Sen banned in 2019, the court documents suggest. Chinese citizens are allowed to move only $50,000 out of the country each year. Those capital controls would stymie the efforts of anyone trying to run illicit online casinos, such as the Prince Group has been accused of doing. The solution Prince is alleged to have arrived at, the Chinese courts found, was employing a vast network of individuals to ferry bank cards between China and Cambodia. In all, the task force identified 458 people who had allegedly moved money in this way for the Prince Group. One such money mule, Guo Caina, was 28 when in March 2018 she was recruited from her hometown of Luoyang to work for Prince in Cambodia, according to the court judgment against her. Her job would be a mix of customer service and bookkeeping, she had been told. Once in Cambodia, Guo handed over four Chinese bank cards in her name in exchange for 1,000 yuan ($140) per card. She quit the company after one day and went back to China but was rebuffed when she asked to have her bank cards returned. By the end of April 2018 more than 140 million yuan ($19.5 million) in gambling funds had passed through her bank accounts, according to the judgment. Guo pled guilty to being part of a conspiracy to open a casino. She was given a suspended sentence and fined 30,000 yuan ($4,200). Chinese law enforcement is openly investigating the Prince Group, whose headquarters in Phnom Penh are seen in this undated photo. (Google Street View) Guo's case is far from unique. The court judgments reviewed by RFA are littered with mules like Guo being convicted for processing gambling funds, so the Chinese believe, on behalf of the Prince Group and Jinbei. A July 2022 announcement by the Wancang County Court in Sichuan province estimated the Prince Groups illicit profits from gambling activities since 2016 at more than 5 billion yuan ($700 million). Multiple attempts to reach Chen were unsuccessful, but Prince spokesman Tan told RFA that the company categorically denies any involvement with Jinbei Group and the alleged online gambling operations. The references to Cambodia Prince Group in the Chinese court documents are likely the result of impersonation by criminal elements, Tan wrote in an email, adding that the company is aware of multiple instances where our company's name has been misused by unauthorized entities, individuals and criminal elements. He similarly denied that the company had made use of Chinese employees bank cards to transfer online gambling funds, calling the allegations completely unfounded with respect to the Prince Holding Group. Jinbei could not be reached for comment. Too connected to jail? The prosecutions against Princes alleged money mules and betting agents are part of a wider war on gambling announced by the Chinese government in 2018. Beijing views online casinos as a national security threat, estimating gambling to be responsible for 1 trillion yuan ($145 billion) in capital flight each year. In January 2023, a Macau court sentenced Alvin Chau, one of the islands most successful gaming tycoons, to 18 years in prison on 162 charges, including heading an organized crime group, fraud and facilitating illegal online gambling. In August, nine Chinese-born Cambodians were arrested in Singapore as part of the city states largest ever money-laundering investigation. Prosecutors accused them of operating illegal gambling websites targeting mainland China. Observers noted that the crackdown came one week after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Singapore, suggesting that Beijing might have been behind the charges especially since several of the accused had outstanding arrest warrants in China. The Prince Group may present a more complex challenge for Beijing. The Chinese police and judiciary appear intent on pursuing a case that Prince and its subsidiaries constitute a criminal group. But the names of Chen and other senior figures in the group many of whom are his uncles and cousins have been wholly absent from any Chinese court judgments. Where they remain present, however, is in the political fabric of Chinas most reliable regional ally. When regional heads of state converged on Phnom Penh in November 2022 for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations biannual meeting, Hun Sen presented them with limited-edition luxury watches valued at $20,000 apiece. The face of each timepiece was emblazoned with the name of Chens Cambodian watchmaker, Prince Horology. Cambodia's then-Prime Minister Hun Sen shows one of the 25 limited-edition watches that were given as gifts after the ASEAN summit in Phnom Penh, Nov. 13, 2022. The watches bear the name of Chen Zhis Cambodian watchmaker, Prince Horology. (Cindy Liu/Reuters) Further afield, in his role as Hun Sens personal adviser a position he has held since 2020 Chen has accompanied him on a diplomatic mission to Cuba and doled out aid on the governments behalf to neighboring Laos. He is also a personal adviser to former National Assembly President Heng Samrin and former Interior Minister Sar Kheng. Shortly after Hun Manet became Cambodias first new prime minister in four decades, Chen was named one of his 104 advisers. Those ranks give him a rank equal to minister. Any attempt to charge Chen directly, then, would necessarily implicate Cambodias top law enforcement official and embarrass both the former and current prime ministers. Beijing spent decades of diplomatic effort and billions of dollars turning the Hun dynasty into one of Chinas most ardent friends. Sok Eysan, a spokesman for the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, said he could not comment and referred RFA to Cambodian government spokesman Pen Bona, who did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Cambodian American academic Ear Sophal, who has authored books on Cambodia and China, told RFA it seems unlikely Chen will be heading to prison anytime soon. Clearly, someones untouchable, Sophal said. Is Chen Zhi trying to do something political in China? No. So it's okay, it's just money; his underlings will pay. This is the first article in a three-part series on the Prince Group. For Part II of RFAs investigation, click here. For Part III, click here. Edited by Abby Seiff, Jim Snyder, Mat Pennington and Boer Deng. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will on Wednesday make his first visit to neighboring Thailand since succeeding his strongman father Hun Sen six months ago. Hun Manet is scheduled to meet Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in Bangkok for talks on economic development of border areas, bilateral trade, closer transport connectivity and tourism, Thai officials said Monday. The two leaders may also discuss overlapping territorial claims in the Gulf of Thailand and a longstanding dispute over Preah Vihear, an ancient Hindu temple complex located on the Thai-Cambodian border, according to analysts. Hun Manet, a graduate of United States Military Academy West Point, was in command of Cambodian forces around the temples when the two countries clashed several times over ownership between 2008 and 2011. Thousands of troops are still deployed along both sides of the border and access to the temple from the Thai province of Sisaket remains off limits. Pumin Leeteeraprasert, a lawmaker from Thailands ruling Pheu Thai party, said he hoped that Srettha would address the issue of Preah Vihear and reopening the border gate to help promote tourism. The prime minister acknowledged our request. Its up to him to raise the matter with PM Hun Manet, Pumin told RFA affiliate BenarNews. The Thai-Cambodian relationship is in good shape, but we have to wait and see the result. In 2013, a judgment by the International Court of Justice ordered Thailand to withdraw its forces in honor of a 1962 resolution that awarded the temple to Cambodia. Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Manet salutes during an inspection of troops at a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Cambodian Army in Phnom Penh on Jan. 24, 2024. (AFP) The temple dispute is not the only source of tension between the Southeast Asian neighbors. Thailand and Cambodia both assert control over an area of ocean covering roughly 27,000 square kilometers in the Gulf of Thailand. The overlapping claims area could hold 11 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, large quantities of condensate and oil, according to CLC Asia, a government affairs and corporate advisory firm headquartered in Bangkok. The two new prime ministers may want to solve both land and maritime disputes, Panitan Wattanayagorn, an independent scholar on security and foreign affairs, told BenarNews. The two leaders could look to share resources in the gulf, possibly by creating a joint authority for exploration and exploitation such as the one agreed to by Thailand and Malaysia in 1979, said Panitan, who once served as a security adviser to former Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha. Former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, center, walks in front of the National Assembly in Phnom Penh on Aug. 21, 2023. (AP) Hun Manet took over leadership of Cambodia when his father, Hun Sen who built a decades-long reputation for corruption and repression stepped down in August. Last week, ahead of Hun Manet's visit, three exiled Cambodian activists were arrested by Thai immigration authorities for threatening to protest his arrival. They included Kong Raiya, who was jailed twice for his outspoken criticism of the Cambodian government; Lim Sokha, a senior member of the banned opposition Candlelight Party; and opposition activist Phan Phana, who was arrested with his wife and two children, aged two and four. The three activists had recently fled to Thailand to seek asylum and had been granted refugee status, Phan Phana told Radio Free Asia. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated online news organization. Yang Hengjun, arrested in 2019, was accused of spying for a foreign country China has not publicly revealed. Yang Hengjun, who was arrested at Guangzhou airport in 2019, was accused of spying for a foreign country China has not publicly revealed. A Beijing court on Monday handed down a suspended death sentence to Yang Hengjun, a Chinese-Australian author detained on suspicion of espionage for more than five years without trial, according to media reports. Yang, a pro-democracy blogger, is an Australian citizen of Chinese descent who was working in New York before his arrest at Guangzhou airport in 2019. He was accused of espionage on behalf of a nation that China has not disclosed, nor has it made public the details of the case against him. Yangs colleague, Sydney University of Technology professor Feng Chongyi, said a Chinese court had sentenced him to a suspended death sentence that would convert to life imprisonment after two years, which was relayed to his family, Reuters reported on Monday. Feng told Reuters that it was a serious case of injustice, adding that Yang had denied the charges. He is punished by the Chinese government for his criticism of human rights abuses in China and his advocacy for universal values such as human rights, democracy and rule of law, Feng said, as cited by Reuters. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Monday that Australia is appalled at the courts decision and has called in Chinas ambassador. Wong added that the Australian government understood the sentence can be commuted to life imprisonment after two years if the individual does not commit any serious crimes in that period. This is a decision within Chinas legal system. Clearly, this is an occasion [on] which we disagree. However, Australia will continue to advocate for the interests of Yang, she said. This is harrowing news for Dr. Yang, his family and all who have supported him. Separately, a family spokesman in Sydney said Yangs family was shocked and devastated by this news, which comes at the extreme end of worst expectations, according to Reuters. Born in 1965 in Hubei province, China, Yang worked for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs before moving to Australia and becoming an Australian citizen in 2002. He later lived in the United States, where he became a spy novelist, political commentator and activist in favor of democratization in China. China released Australian journalist Cheng Lei last year after imprisoning her for three years and there were hopes in Australia that Yang would be released soon as well. However, Chinas ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, once said Yangs case could not be resolved in the same way as Chengs. Edited by Elaine Chan and Mike Firn Effect of visa-free policy to shore up international trust may be limited: experts. China has expanded its visa-free entry policy for tourists and business travelers from more than a dozen European and Asian countries, opening up its borders further in recent months as it struggles to shore up foreign interests to help arrest an economic slowdown. In January, the Chinese government announced that it would provide unilateral visa exemption for Ireland and Switzerland and introduce a mutual visa exemption for Singapore for 30 days. Additionally, from March 1, China and Thailand will also allow permanent visa exemption for citizens of both sides. In the past six months, Beijing has implemented a visa-free policy to tourists from Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. While the number of foreign tourist arrivals has jumped nearly seven times to 35.5 million last year from 4.5 million in 2022, its still a far cry from the 98 million recorded in pre-pandemic 2019, according to China's National Immigration Administration. But foreign nationals would be hesitant to travel to China for several factors: the high cost of air tickets, the inconveniences upon arrival without a Chinese mobile phone number which is needed for mobile payment apps as many businesses and restaurants do not take cash as well as being closely surveilled and controlled by the authorities. I recently returned to China and the biggest inconvenience was that overseas credit cards are difficult to use in China. Chinas WeChat Pay or Alipay require a Chinese domestic WeChat account to install, an Australian citizen surnamed Yang lamented to Radio Free Asia. Moreover, without a mobile phone number in China, I cant even hail a taxi. I have to ask someone to hail one for me every time. Yang said another issue was the close surveillance he endured. After registering for accommodation with the neighborhood police station a requisite the neighborhood committee cadres would come to verify, and also inform him they knew of his comings and goings from the residence. It was nothing more than a warning to me: the Public Security Bureau is closely monitoring my every move and deliberately putting pressure on me. Not only was Yang under close surveillance, but his work partners were not spared either. I used my Australian mobile phone in China to make a call to a boss in Zhejiang to discuss possible cooperation. A few hours after the call, the lady was summoned to the police station. The police told her that it was an overseas fraud call and made a record. She was so scared that she never dared to answer my call again. Yang added he was scarred from the experience and would try to avoid going to China, which he described as a hysterical country. A CCTV security surveillance camera overlooks a street as people walk past in Beijing, China. (Thomas Peter/Reuters) Costly airfares and politics A woman who works in the United States and only gave her name as Angela said the air ticket price from the U.S. to China remains high, although a slight decline allowed her to return last month. Angela said that compared to her experience three years ago, the Chinese government has stepped up its controls on the people. One thing that makes it very inconvenient is: everywhere I go, I am being checked for my identity be it to get on the high-speed rail, book a ticket for a tourist attraction, and even to register a shared bike account. The purpose of this is probably to collect and control information and capture everyones whereabouts, but it is very annoying. Separately, a travel agent in the U.S. who only gave her surname Cai noted that middle-aged and elderly overseas Chinese are reluctant to travel to China because of the political environment. Its not that we don't do business in the Chinese market -- now is not the right time, whether it is political or other factors. Beijing is trying to rebuild its international image and trust with the international community, and the visa-free policy was one of the measures to improve relations with foreign countries, said Riley Walters, a senior researcher on international economics at the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based think tank. The slowdown in the economy and stock market has made Chinas demand for foreign investment high. Relaxing visa restrictions will also help the tourism industry, Walters said. But how effective Beijings visa-free policy will be in shoring up foreign investment remains to be seen. Ralph Weber, a professor from the European Center for Global Studies at the University of Basel in Switzerland, believes the policy will have a limited effect on attracting business travelers. Investors are hesitant to go to China because they feel uneasy. Theyre worried about whats happening in China, like the espionage laws. So the impact created by the visa-free policy is not worth mentioning. I cant imagine a Swiss business traveler thinking, Wow, I now dont have to pay for a Chinese visa, so Im going to invest in China. Thats not the logic, Weber said. Chinas actual foreign direct investment fell 8% to 1.13 trillion yuan (US$159 billion) last year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. Translated by RFA staff. Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn. The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance will go after media who platform national security suspects. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee, right, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam, left, and Secretary for Security Chris Tang arrive for a news conference at government headquarters in Hong Kong on Jan. 30, 2024. New national security legislation will make it harder for detained suspects to meet with their lawyers and could target journalists and media organizations for interviewing them, Hong Kong officials have revealed in recent comments aired by a pro-China broadcaster. Suspects in national security cases, who are typically people who have opposed the government via their public speech or peaceful actions, could be seeking to stay in touch with accomplices, by requesting to see their lawyer, who might also be a member of their group, Secretary for Justice Paul Lam told TVBs Speak Clearly talk show at the weekend. As a result, they could continue with activities that endanger national security under the guise of seeing a lawyer, said Lam, whose government launched a public consultation on the new law, which the city is obliged to enact under Article 23 of its Basic Law, its mini-constitution since the 1997 handover to Chinese rule. The Article 23 legislation was recently rebooted following a 20-year hiatus in the wake of mass popular protests, and is being billed by the government as a way to close loopholes in the already stringent 2020 National Security Law, which was imposed on the city by Beijing in response to the 2019 protest movement. The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance which will criminalize treason, insurrection," the theft of state secrets, sabotage and external interference, among other national security offenses is highly likely to be passed by the Legislative Council now that electoral rules have been changed to allow only patriots to run for election. Lam also warned of tougher penalties for media organizations that interview people wanted by the Hong Kong government. They could be seen as providing a platform and aiding and abetting them, he warned, calling on the media to be careful. Hong Kong democracy activist Agnes Chow, who is now on the citys wanted list, speaks from Toronto during an online interview with AFP on Dec. 5, 2023. Secretary for Justice Lam has warned of tougher penalties for media organizations that interview people wanted by the government. (Su Xinqi/AFPTV/AFP) Hong Kong has already plummeted in press freedom and overall freedom indexes since launching a post-2019 crackdown on dissent, and has placed a number of high-profile journalists including Next Digital mogul Jimmy Lai on trial for national security offenses linked to newspaper articles. The new legislation could also target people deemed to be using too confrontational a tone to criticize the government in public life, Secretary for Security Chris Tang told the show. You can criticize the government, but if you keep repeating yourself and spicing it up, using your tone of voice for example to deliberately stir up peoples emotions, that could be regarded as inciting hatred [of the authorities], Tang warned, but said that would only happen in cases where there was criminal intent. Intimidation on a huge scale Current affairs commentator Sang Pu, who is also a lawyer, said that such assurances cant be trusted, however. The Hong Kong government, the national security police and the Department of Justice have very loose criteria for determining criminal intent, Sang said. Basically, there is criminal intent if they say there is. A lot of people will come under that definition, which will be extended [under this legislation], he said. He said the new law could spell the end of independent political commentary about the city, even beyond its borders, as overseas commentators still have friends and family back home who could be put under greater pressure as a result of their comments. This is intimidation on a huge scale, and is totally designed to eliminate any voice that tries to provide oversight of the government. Secretary for Justice Paul Lam attends a ceremony to mark the beginning of the new legal year in Hong Kong on Jan. 16, 2023. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters) To Yiu-ming, a former assistant journalism professor at Hong Kongs Baptist University, agreed, saying that officials are clearly targeting political commentators, exiled and wanted Hong Kong activists, media organizations and journalists. This is clearly about political law enforcement, To said. The Hong Kong government doesnt want the voices of exiles and wanted activists to be heard back in Hong Kong. Its being done so as to allow law enforcement agencies to have the option, if needed, to cause trouble for certain reporters they dont like and prevent them from doing their jobs, he said. Eric Lai, research fellow at the Asian Law Center at Georgetown University, said that while the consultation document isn't a final draft, the details revealed so far suggest that the media is a major target of the law. The Article 23 legislation incorporates some elements of the [planned] fake news law into its text, Lai said. According to the consultation document, if you interview people wanted [by the authorities], or publish some remarks that are considered to endanger national security, you could be prosecuted, he said. The devil is in the details, he said. If all of these provisions are included [in the final draft], it will certainly have a huge impact on press freedom. More stringent than the mainland Patrick Poon, human rights researcher currently at the University of Tokyo, said that even mainland Chinese law hasnt banned overseas news organizations from interviewing its dissidents overseas. People inside China face the biggest pressures and the highest risks if they give interviews to foreign journalists, Poon said. [Now], it could be risky for foreign journalists to interview people in exile, which is even more stringent than some of the practices in mainland China. He said the potential restrictions on allowing meetings with a national security detainees lawyer is a violation of international law and human rights standards. He said the Hong Kong authorities wouldnt be able to guarantee a fair trial to suspects under such an arrangement. State news agency Xinhua hit out at the criticism of the Article 23 legislation in a Feb. 3 commentary, describing critics of the law as ants on a hotpot. Theyre falling over each other to attack and smear [this] legislation, the article said. People who love China and Hong Kong wont feel the slightest bit worried ... [but] will support its completion as soon as possible. It accused anti-China and disruptive elements in Hong Kong of seriously undermining Hong Kongs stability and endangering national security, warning that they will face prosecution and prison as a result. These anti-China disruptors in Hong Kong do not want to be upright Chinese people, but want to be slave-dogs driven by the enemy, the article said, warning that the new law will make them into homeless dogs without foreign masters to rely on. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. The Pentagon awarded a multi-million dollar contract to Raytheon to build advanced missiles for Taipei. The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded a contract worth US$68.4 million to a major defense company to develop state-of-the-art air-launched missiles for Taiwan, a department statement said. The contract to produce and deliver 50 joint standoff weapon air-to-ground missiles (AGM-154 Block III C) over the next four years was given to Raytheon Missile & Defense (RMD), a business segment of RTX Corporation, formerly known as Raytheon Technologies. Two-thirds of the production will be performed in Tucson, Ariz., where RMD is based. The contract is part of an arms sale package approved by Washington in June 2017 which included seven possible military sales to Taipei with a total value of $1.363 billion. The AGM-154 missiles, also called glide bombs, are 1,000-pound air-to-surface precision strike weapons that have been incorporated into several U.S.-made fighter jets, including the F-16s, to enhance its long-range strike capabilities. Joint standoff weapons if launched at a high altitude can reach targets as far as 110 kilometers (68 miles) away. Taiwan's F-16 fighter jets fly in close formation over the Presidential Office during National Day celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan, Oct. 10, 2021. (Chiang Ying-ying/AP) Taiwans Air Force has the largest fleet of F-16 fighters in Asia, with around 140 units, and has recently upgraded them all to facilitate the integration of the new weapons. Taipei is also buying 66 more F-16Vs from the U.S. However the purchase has reportedly been delayed due to competing U.S. military commitments across the world. Beijing has yet to respond to the latest Raytheon contract but it protested strongly when the arms package for Taiwan was announced in 2017. At that time, China said it was outraged and urged Washington to revoke immediately its wrong decision. Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang. Two minors are in critical condition after stepping on a landmine, residents told Radio Free Asia on Monday. The two were injured on Sunday while helping their families measure land they planned to sell, a resident said, declining to be named for fear of reprisals. The landmine was planted near Mindat-based junta Battalion 274 in southern Chin state. They live at the bottom of the Mee Thet Kone hill, he said. The girl stepped on a mine planted by the junta and lost one of her feet. The boy who came along with the girl was hit on his back by shrapnel. The boy is 12 years old and the girl is 14, but neither could be named for security reasons, residents said. The children are receiving medical treatment at military Battalion 274 in Mindat city. Locals claimed the landmine was planted by junta forces, but RFA could not independently confirm this. RFA contacted Chin states junta spokesperson Aung Cho for comment on the incident, but did not receive an answer by the time of publication. Landmines have become an increasing problem in Chin state following the coup, especially for villagers performing agricultural tasks. Residents told RFA these blasts were never a problem before the military took power in 2021. Both the junta and resistance groups have denied planting landmines that could harm villagers, with the junta telling RFA that the military does not bury landmines in areas where civilians live. The Chin National Front spokesperson similarly claimed that its landmines are removed once fighting has ended, and that there has never been any civilian hurt because of us. On Jan. 26, a man from Chin states Taingen village in Tedim township stepped on a landmine while looking for his cattle, locals said. He later needed his leg amputated. In January alone, landmines in northern Myanmar killed one and injured 22, according to locals who said they could not determine which group planted them. People living in over half of Myanmars 330 townships are at risk of injury or death from landmines, according to a December report from the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. As rebels gain ground, the military has increasingly turned to air attacks. A school damaged in an airstrike by Myanmar junta forces is seen in Daw Si Ei village of Demoso township, Kayah state, Feb. 5, 2024. A junta airstrike on an elementary school in eastern Myanmars Kayah state left four children dead and 10 others injured on Monday, according to members of a local anti-junta Peoples Defense Force. A military junta jet appeared to drop a 500-pound bomb while children were inside the school at about 10 a.m., several members of a Peoples Defense Force, or PDF, told Radio Free Asia. The explosion took place in Daw Si Ei village of western Demoso township. The four children killed were between 10 and 13 years old, a PDF member told RFA. The 10 who were injured were also children, he said. Demoso township has seen increased fighting since ethnic Karenni forces and PDF paramilitaries began a coordinated offensive against the military on Nov. 11 in an attack thats been dubbed Operation 1111. Junta-affiliated media outlets said on Monday that reports of an airstrike in Demoso township on Monday were false. RFAs attempts to contact the juntas spokesperson for Kayah state, Zarni Maung, for his comments on the bombing of the school were unsuccessful. Juntas ground losses Mondays airstrike was the latest junta bombing that appeared to have targeted civilians. Since the February 2021 military coup detat until the end of last month, a total of 1,429 people have been killed and 2,641 injured by junta airstrikes and artillery attacks, according to data compiled by RFA. The figures include 149 civilians killed and 267 injured in January. Junta commanders have increasingly turned to air attacks as resistance forces see more success on the ground, according to Kyaw Zaw, the spokesperson of the shadow National Unity Governments Presidents Office. The army has suffered losses in the battles. Moreover, tens of thousands of their soldiers have deserted and fled, he told RFA. At the same time, forces of the military council are committing more brutalities against civilians in accordance with the orders of a handful of senior generals. During the first year of the coup between Feb. 1, 2021, and Jan. 31, 2022 109 civilians were killed and 177 were injured by airstrikes and artillery attacks. During the second year of the juntas post-coup regime, the number of civilian casualties increased almost four times to 328 killed and 768 injured. In the third year between Feb. 1, 2023, and Jan. 31, 2024 992 people were killed and 1,696 were injured. Region by region The number of armed conflicts in northern Shan state with the junta fell last month after a China-brokered ceasefire was put in place. But junta air attacks in Rakhine state and the Sagaing, Magway and Bago regions significantly increased, PDF members and residents said. The junta attacked villages in Seik Phyu township in Magway on Jan. 29, injuring three civilians, a local villager said. Four villages were bombed by airplanes, the villager said. Machine guns were used in the aerial attacks. The highest civilian death in January took place in Rakhine, where 35 civilians were killed and 76 were injured. The second highest figures were in Sagaing, with 37 deaths and 55 injured, followed by Shan state with 27 civilians casualties and 36 injured. RFA attempted to contact regime spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun to ask about the aerial attacks, but he was unavailable. Junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said on Saturday that the aerial and artillery attacks are effective ways of defeating resistance forces. He made similar remarks on Dec. 15. Last week, the junta extended emergency rule in Myanmar for another six months, thereby delaying the date by which elections must be held according to the countrys constitution. A political analyst who asked for anonymity for security reasons predicted more bombings over the next six months as the junta becomes more aggressive in suppressing resistance forces with the aim of conducting a national census by the end of the year. A census would be a first step toward holding a general election. Translated by Aung Ning. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster. The attack prompted dozens of border guards to flee across the border to safety. Members of the Myanmar Border Guard Police, in civilian clothing, sit under trees in Ghumdhum, Bangladesh, after abandoning their posts following an attack by Arakan Army forces, Feb. 5, 2024. They are being guarded by Bangladesh border guards. The anti-junta Arakan Army seized an outpost manned by the military-affiliated Border Guard Force along western Myanmars border with Bangladesh on Sunday, confiscating arms and equipment, according to residents and an alliance of ethnic rebels. The attack marked the latest blow to Myanmars military in Rakhine state, where the ethnic Arakan Army, or AA, ended a ceasefire in November that had been in place since the junta assumed power in a Feb. 1, 2021, coup detat. The AA took control of the Taung Pyo Let Yar outpost in Maungdaw township on Sunday afternoon, taking prisoners and prompting nearly 60 fighters with the Border Guard Force, or BGF, to flee towards the border, the Three Brotherhood Alliance of which the AA is a member said in a statement. The statement by the alliance, which also includes the Taang National Liberation Army, and the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, said that AA fighters were killed in the battle, although it did not provide details of the number of casualties. It said the AA is also attacking a nearby BGF outpost called Taung Pyo Let Wae. The two outposts, located just north of the seat of Maungdaw township, are vital to the junta and each were manned by at least 100 soldiers, residents told RFA Burmese. Local people bring a man wounded by a gunshot to Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) in Ukhia, Bangladesh, Feb. 4, 2024. (Tanbir Miraj/AFP) Photos and videos of the battle posted to social media appeared to show BGF troops running towards the Bangladesh border amid volleys of gunfire, as well as wounded BGF fighters. Media reports cited officials in Bangladesh as saying that at least 95 Myanmar border guards, some of whom are wounded, have fled across the border over the last few days. Reports said the Myanmar border guards had been provided shelter at Bangladesh Border Guard outposts and that at least 24 of them had been sent to hospitals in neighboring Coxs Bazar district to be treated for their wounds. Fierce fighting continued in the area on Monday, residents said, and the military sent a jet fighter to carry out an airstrike. One resident of Maungdaw who declined to be named due to security concerns said the AA began attacking the outposts on Saturday, forcing villagers to flee to the border for safety. Some local residents fled to Bangladesh, while others dug bunkers and took shelter, he said. Fighting is ongoing so [people] dont dare stay there. A plane came and attacked two or three times. More than 1,000 people live in the Taung Pyo area, including residents of nearby Thin Baw Hla and Mee Taik villages who were displaced by fighting between the military and anti-junta forces in 2022. The junta has not released any information about the attacks on the BGF outposts in Maungdaw or troops fleeing to Bangladesh. Calls by RFA to Hla Thein, the juntas attorney general for Rakhine state, went unanswered Monday. Fighting spills across border At least two people in Bangladesh a Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya refugee were killed on Monday when a mortar shell fired from Rakhine exploded on the womans house in Bandarban district near where the fighting was happening, media reports said, citing Bangladeshi government officials. Police identified the two victims who died in the mortar explosion as Hosne Ara, 50, a local resident, and Nobi Hossain, 65, a Rohingya laborer who was working at her house. Firing and shelling had intensified since the morning. Suddenly, a mortar shell landed in my sisters house and exploded. She died, Shah Alam, Hosne Aras brother, told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated news outlet, on Monday. A Bangladeshi boy displays a bullet, allegedly shot from Myanmar during fighting between Myanmar security forces and Arakan Army, in Ghumdhum, Bangladesh, on Feb. 5, 2024. (Shafiqur Rahman/AP) Iman Hossain, the son of the dead Rohingya laborer, said his family had received the news that his father was killed in the explosion. We came to Bangladesh from Myanmar to save our lives. But my father died in a Myanmar mortar shell [explosion]. What else can be more painful than this? Nobi Hossain told BenarNews. Some 1 million ethnic Rohingya refugees have been living in Bangladesh since 2017, when they were driven out of Myanmar by a military clearance operation. AA will press further Another resident of Rakhines Maungdaw township, who also spoke on condition of anonymity citing fear of reprisal, said only 10 BGF battalions and three BGF tactical forces remain there and in nearby Buthidaung township. I believe the AA will press further, he said. If the outposts of Taung Pyo are captured, I think that [cross-border] trade will resume in Rakhine state. Also, I think, the rest of the outposts in the area will be attacked, too. The resident said the AA is likely targeting outposts along the border to reestablish trade routes with Bangladesh, which had been blocked by the military. When the junta blocked the roads to Rakhine, all goods became scarce, so the AA feels they have the responsibility to reopen them, he said. Therefore, it can be assumed that the main reason for the attacks in Maungdaw are to reestablish trade with Bangladesh. Smoke rises from a Myanmar Border Police post following fighting with Arakan Army forces near Ghumdhum, Bangladesh, Feb. 5, 2024. (Shafiqur Rahman/AP) The AA announced in December that it had captured more than 60 BGF outposts since November, when fighting resumed in Maungdaw township. The group claimed that junta troops retreated from most of the outposts because they were afraid of being attacked. The AA has launched offensives against junta bases in Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Mrauk-U, Minbya, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Ponnagyun and Ramree townships. Rohingya refugees Meanwhile, in Rakhines Taung Nyo township, where clashes between the military and the AA are now raging, the junta has set up temporary camps to receive some of the Rohingya refugees who have been living in Bangladesh. Khin Maung, an aid worker who is assisting the refugees, told RFA that the return of the Rohingyas is still a long way off, due to intense fighting in the area. How will the Rohingya return to an area where this kind of fighting is going on? he asked. We ran away in the past because we couldnt live in such a situation. Now the situation has returned to the way it was before, so how can we go back? There is no favorable situation to return. Amid the worsening conflict, the United Nations Security Council planned to meet Monday to discuss the crisis in Myanmar. Britain, France and the United States three permanent Security Council members and six other countries issued a joint statement on Monday expressing concern about what they called the dire situation in Myanmar, where the U.N. says some 2.6 million people have been displaced by fighting since the coup. Specifically, they noted that conditions in Rakhine state had further deteriorated and called for the voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return of the Rohingyas and internally displaced persons. Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news outlet. The whereabouts of Lobsang Thabkhey, the former librarian of Kirti Monastery, remain unknown, two sources told RFA. Lobsang Thabkhey, the former librarian of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba county in southwest Chinas Sichuan province, is seen in an undated photo. A Tibetan Buddhist monk was arrested by Chinese police in June 2023 on charges of republishing books from the exiled Tibetan community and for contacting people outside the region, Radio Free Asia has learned. The whereabouts of Lobsang Thabkhey, 54, who served as librarian of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba county in southwest Chinas Sichuan province, remain unknown, two sources inside Tibet said on condition of anonymity for safety reasons. Thabkhey, had been summoned several times by Chinese police before his arrest for questioning, one of the sources told RFA. The primary charge that was leveled against him was that he had published and disseminated books that had origins in the Tibetan exiled community while he was in charge of the library at Kirti monastery and he communicated with people outside Tibet, another source said. RFA contacted the Ngaba police station, but an official there said he had no idea who Thabkey was. Thabkhey hails from Ngabas Meruma township, which has been the scene of many protests and pro-Tibet political activities since 2008. Following the 2008 anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan Uprising which saw as many as 400 Tibetans killed as Chinese authorities quelled major protests that broke out inside Tibet there have been more than 150 Tibetans who have self-immolated to protest Chinese repression in Tibet. Chinese authorities consider it illegal for Tibetans inside Tibet to contact people outside the region and engage with the exiled Tibetan community or the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who China considers a separatist. However, the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile advocate a Middle Way approach that calls for genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people within the scope of the Chinese constitution that enables the preservation of Tibetan cultural, linguistic, and religious identity. Translated by Tenzin Pema. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster. Nayib Bukele won a landslide victory in El Salvadors elections on Sunday. The incumbent president will govern the Central American country for another five years after having obtained 85% of the votes, according to data he made public himself without waiting for the release of the official results by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. It is unprecedented result that certifies the death knell for any hint of opposition. Furthermore, his party, Nuevas Ideas (New Ideas), also swept the Legislative Assembly, where it will hold 58 of the 60 seats, according to the presidents data. This allows Bukele to continue to enforce the state of emergency, with which he has dismantled the gangs and imprisoned over 70,000 people, for as long as he wishes. His supporters celebrated the victory in the streets, waving flags and stopping traffic. San Salvadors starry sky was momentarily illuminated by fireworks. There were no surprises in Sundays ballot. Bukele, 42, is immensely popular for having reduced homicides and extortion to a minimum during his presidency. El Salvador has ceased to be one of the most dangerous countries in the world. The powerful gangs, which terrorized the population for decades, have been destroyed, according to security experts. Humanitarian organizations, however, say this heavy-handed policy has been carried out in violation of some of the fundamental rights of citizens. Detainees have little or no contact with their families or lawyers. In the CECOT, the massive prison constructed by the government to house alleged terrorists, it is easy to enter, but it almost impossible to see the light of day again. None of this has had any impact on the campaign. Bukele blames the criticism on an external enemy that he identifies with the NGOs, the philanthropist George Soros, the media, and a liberal current that wants to harm him. He often refers to them as the elites, even though he comes from a wealthy family. Salvadorans have heard some of these complaints and are aware that some innocent people have been arrested, but they put the presidents security achievements above all else. They no longer have a gang member at their doorstep extorting them, nor are they afraid to walk in certain neighborhoods. Yes, sure, some unpleasant things have happened, many say, but we are a thousand times better off than before. Bukele governs with a small inner circle made up of his brothers Karim, Ibrahim and Yusef, all sons of Armando Bukele, a now-deceased businessman of Palestinian origin who hosted a television show in which he addressed cultural and political issues. Armando owned a communications company that advised the FMLN, El Salvadors leftist party, where Bukele began his career. Nayib governed a small town when he was only 31 and then made the leap to the capital, San Salvador. When he aspired to the presidency and the party hierarchy prevented him from doing so, he built a party around himself, with which he won the 2019 elections and now, the 2024 vote. He has given assurances that he will not modify the Salvadoran Constitution to seek a third term, but some believe that his ambition is such that they cannot imagine him relinquishing the presidency. Messages of congratulation from foreign leaders began to arrive even before the official results were announced. They was little margin for error, as Bukeles victory was guaranteed. One of the first came from the president of Guatemala, Bernardo Arevalo, who said that the Salvadoran people have made their will heard. Guatemala is reaching out to them to advance peace and development for our sister nations. China, which has financed the construction of a spectacular library in downtown San Salvador, described the victory as historic. Mexican Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena congratulated El Salvador for its peaceful election day and Bukele for his victory. Xiomara Castro, the president of Honduras, noted that Bukeles strong commitment to security spoke loudly at the polls. Bukele appeared on the presidential balcony after 10 p.m. to the sound of REMs Its the End of the World as We Know It. Today, El Salvador has broken all the records of all democracies in the history of the world, he said in a grandiloquent tone. He added that this will be the first time there will be a single party in a democratic system, all together the opposition was pulverized. He then made a summary of how his government had performed in the last five years: El Salvador has made history again. In 2019 we defeated the bipartisanship that had us subdued and we turned the page on the post-war period. But we did not have governability, remember how we fought with the Assembly. In 2021 you gave us not a simple majority, but a qualified majority in the Legislative Assembly, with which we were able to remove the previous Constitutional Chamber, remove the previous attorney general, approve what we needed for the territorial control plan and, in March 2022, approve the state of emergency. Supporters of Nayib Bukele celebrate his victory in front of the presidencial palace in San Salvador. Gladys Serrano We are not substituting democracy Hours earlier, speaking to reporters after voting, Bukele defended his administration against foreign criticism: We are not substituting democracy, because El Salvador never had democracy. Bukele has proven very sensitive to those who pick up on the criticisms of human rights organizations, or those who state that the country is sliding towards authoritarianism. This is the first time in history that El Salvador has democracy. And Im not saying it, the people say it, he insisted on several occasions. Bukele defended his administration in security matters. 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. 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, he said, adding that El Salvador will soon post security data on a par with that of Canada. Bukele defended having applied his own solutions, not those used in other countries. We listened to recipes from abroad, when we were bleeding to death and 50 years of suffering came. Now is our time to move forward, ha said. Salvadorans have overwhelmingly decided to keep him in office after his success in minimizing violence, the countrys great historical concern. El Salvador is once again in Bukeles hands. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition He also hopes to convince a cellmate to end his own hunger strike. Vietnamese political prisoner Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, left, is seen at his trial in Ho Chi Minh City on Jan. 20, 2010. Dang Dinh Bach, right, the director of an environmental group campaigning to reduce Vietnams reliance on coal, is seen in an undated photo. A Vietnamese prisoner-of-conscience who is serving a five-year sentence said he was beginning a hunger strike to protest harsh prison conditions and to convince a cellmate to end his own hunger strike, his wife told Radio Free Asia. Dang Dinh Bach, a lawyer and the director of the environmental group that had been campaigning to reduce Vietnams reliance on coal, was arrested in July 2021 and sentenced to five years for tax evasion. Bach told his wife Tran Phuong Thao during a visit Thursday at Prison No. 6 in the northern province of Nghe An that he would stop eating food on Friday, Feb. 2, for two reasons. He wanted to persuade his cellmate Tran Huynh Duy Thuc to stop the hunger strike he started on Jan. 27. He was also protesting that Prison No. 6 did not guarantee his rights to send letters and call home, and that the canteen inside the facility did not sell him vegetables and fruit. In Vietnam, prisoners are fed with basic prison food, but can also buy higher quality food from the canteen, and inmates are allowed to receive non-perishable food from their families. Bach said he would start his hunger strike from Feb. 2 because Prison No. 6 does not comply with the law and does not ensure the rights of prisoners, Thao told RFA Vietnamese. Thuc has been on hunger strike since January 27 and now he is very tired. He is very weak and there are times when he cannot breathe, she said. Bach advised Thuc to stop the hunger strike right now, so Bach wants to support him so that he can convince Thuc to stop his hunger strike. No free speech Thuc was arrested in 2009 for writing online articles criticizing Vietnams one-party communist state and convicted in 2010 on charges of plotting to overthrow the government. He is in the last year of his 16-year sentence and began his hunger strike on Jan. 27 because the prison canteen has refused to sell him food. Bach told his wife that in December 2023 that he wrote two letters to his family but that they had not received them. At the end of January, Bach registered to call his family, but the prison only allowed him to call to exchange health information. He wanted to say other things, none of which are illegal, but the prison cut off his right to call home because he did not agree to keep all discussion to the subject of his health. Thao said that since September, Bach and three other political prisoners in an area of the prison called Camp 1 have not received rations from the prison. Bach only ate dry food sent by his family, and wanted to buy more vegetables and fruit from the prison canteen, but the canteen always replied that there was no food to sell to this group of political prisoners, she said. The prison did not even provide boiling water so that Bach could process dry foods such as bean flour and dried vermicelli noodles that his family sent in, forcing him to use cold water during the dead of winter. The Vietnamese state, in the spirit of building a rule-of-law state, needs to ensure strict enforcement of the constitution and laws to protect human rights, which for a long time has created frustration and injustice in the entire society in general and those in detention in particular, Thao quoted her husband as saying. RFA called Detention Center No. 6 by telephone to ask about Bach and Thucs situation, but received no response. Prison abuse Bach has told his family about several incidents of abuse he has experienced in prison. In August 2023, a group of people holding knives jumped into the political prisoner detention area of Camp 1 one night to threaten four prisoners including Thuc and Bach after the four demanded that the prison publicly post prisoners' rations. Bach also says that prison guards hit him in the head, causing serious injuries, but the prison denies his accusations. Bach has been on hunger strikes before, the most recent one lasted a month and ended in mid-July 2023. In addition to being sentenced to 5 years in prison, Bach must also pay 1.4 billion dong (US$57,000) in fines for his tax evasion case. The government is putting pressure on Thao to get her to pay, making it difficult for her to register her residence, which is necessary for her to send their 3-year-old son to public school. The family is also not able to register for water bills. Thao is currently not employed and is raising their young children alone. RFA attempted to contact the Hanoi City Civil Judgment Enforcement Department to verify these claims but the person on the phone said those questions could only be answered in person. Translated by Hanh Seide. Edited by Eugene Whong. 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. Iranian women can be detained, fined, or even jailed for simply not covering their hair in public. So, when the authorities permitted an American porn star to visit the Islamic republic, angry Iranian social media users were quick to accuse officials of hypocrisy. Whitney Wright traveled last week to Tehran, where she posted photos of herself covered head-to-toe at landmarks in the capital, including the former U.S. Embassy that now serves as a museum. I'm sharing exhibits from a museum that are never seen," Wright wrote on Instagram. "It's not an endorsement of the government. But Iranian social media users have accused her of promoting the clerical regime in Iran, where pornography is strictly banned. Wright is an advocate for Palestinians and a critic of Israel, a stance shared by Tehran. Iran views Israel as its archenemy and backs Hamas, the Palestinian extremist group that is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union. The porn actress, whose posts on Instagram have since been deleted, left the country and arrived in neighboring Iraq on February 4. But that has not curbed the tide of criticism aimed at the 32-year-old and the Iranian authorities. American porn star Whitney Wright is in Iran, my birth country, where women are killed for simply showing their hair and being true to themselves, Masih Alinejad, a U.S.-based Iranian activist and opposition figure, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on February 4. Irans Chastity and Hijab Law requires women and girls above the age of 9 to adhere to a strict Islamic dress code that includes wearing a hijab, or head scarf, in public. Offenders, often charged with promoting immorality, can be fined, imprisoned, and even deprived of their civil rights. In late 2022, Iran was rocked by months of protests sparked by the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who was detained for allegedly not properly observing the hijab. Hundreds were killed and thousands detained as the authorities cracked down on the nationwide demonstrations. Despite the criticism, Wright defended her trip. Do you guys want me to apologize forgoing to a museum? she wrote on Instagram, before criticizing some of her critics for shamelessly supporting Israel. Iranians also criticized the authorities for violently cracking down on women over the mandatory hijab but permitting foreigners who openly engage in activities deemed illegal by the Islamic republic to visit Iran. You punish people of this country in various methods for removal of the hijab but you allow a porn actress to come here for tourism!?" Iranian actor Setareh Pesiani wrote on Instagram. Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani on February 5 said he had no information about Wrights visit. Citizens of other countries do not travel to Iran through the Foreign Ministry, he said, without elaborating. The United States advises its citizens against all travel to Iran due to the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary arrest of U.S. citizens. American citizens can only travel to Iran as part of an organized tour or with a state-appointed guide. Wrights trip is not the first controversial visit to Iran by a Western porn star. British adult film actress Candy Charms traveled to Tehran in 2016 for plastic surgery and posted a picture on Instagram that showed her wearing a head scarf. Conservatives criticized the administration of moderate former President Hassan Rohani for granting her a visa. When asked about Charms visit, Hassan Qashqavi, a deputy foreign minister at the time, credited the high moral standards of the Iranian authorities for not recognizing the British porn star. When an American-British star applies for a visa through a travel company, some ask why [Iranian agents] did not recognize her. Our colleagues do not know women like that, he said in 2016. A secretive assault force called Storm Gladiator, made up of convicts sprung from prison by the Russian Defense Ministry to fight in Ukraine, has been involved in some of the most brutal engagements in the war and has suffered heavy casualties, RFE/RLs Russian investigative unit has found. The investigative unit, Systema, spoke to former members, relatives, and other people with knowledge of Storm Gladiator, forming a detailed picture of its history, commanders, and recruitment practices, as well as its place among the other assault units under the Defense Ministry. Gladiator is considered an elite special forces unit and is grouped among the militarys other assault units, also comprised of convicts, under the collective designation Storm Z. In addition, Systema uncovered strong indications that Gladiator and the militarys other convict-based assault units are being reorganized under legislation signed by President Vladimir Putin in June 2023. Gladiator may be in the process of being disbanded. Leopards And Bobcats In the fall of 2023, Russia launched offensive operations simultaneously at several points along the front line in Ukraine in a bid to secure new positions before the onset of winter. The militarys Storm Z assault forces, including Gladiator, played leading roles in the fighting. At first, we trained with Storm Z, one former soldier told Systema. Then [commanders] showed up and selected guys for the Gladiator subunit. All of us were from prisons. Dmitry Knayev, a Russian soldier who was taken prisoner in Ukraine and interviewed in a video posted on pro-Ukrainian social media channels in December, told a similar story, saying he was serving seven years for manslaughter when he was recruited and sent to Storm Z, from which he was selected for Gladiator. Sources close to Gladiator said men were selected based on their physical condition, their unmarried status, and their military or law enforcement experience. Initial training was carried out by instructors from the mercenary group Wagner or the Chechnya-based Akhmat special forces detachment. They are given difficult targets, a relative of a Gladiator fighter said. Like several other people cited in this report, the relative spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions. Gladiator participated in the fighting around the village of Robotyne, in Ukraines southern Zaporizhzhya region, where Ukrainian forces attempted to break through Russian lines and push toward the Azov Sea coast in a counteroffensive that fell far short of its goals last year. One Gladiator fighter said the unit lost up to 60 percent of its members in three months of intense fighting last autumn." The main work was carried out by our neighbors, colleagues, and comrades from Storm Gladiator, Daniil Tulenkov, a former convict and fighter with Storm Z, wrote in a December 20, 2023, post on Telegram. They are also Storm Z they are attached to our regiment but operate as a separate unit. The Gladiators are the main assault force. Our unit was a bit lower in status. To use an image, it is like a leopard and a bobcat. Storm Z, he continued, was mainly engaged in transportation and logistics, while the Gladiator soldiers were fierce attackers. As a result, Gladiator has suffered heavy casualties, sources told Systema. One Gladiator fighter said the unit lost up to 60 percent of its members in three months of intense fighting last autumn a toll that includes fighters killed or wounded but not those missing in action or taken as prisoners of war. Since the beginning of 2024, evidence suggests Gladiator is being disbanded and its surviving soldiers assigned to other units. 'Beloved Gladiators' In June 2023, Major General Ivan Popov issued an audio message to his troops to announce his dismissal as commander of the 58th Army. The address was posted on Telegram by Andrei Gurulyov, a lawmaker from the ruling United Russia party who served as deputy commander of Russias Southern Military District from 2016 to 2019. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here. Systemas examination of documents from the Gladiator unit confirmed that it was part of the 58th Army. Good evening, my beloved gladiators, beloved, all one family, said the general, who uses the military call sign Spartak. He said that he had been removed from his post after complaining to the military command about problematic issues that he felt needed to be resolved. According to the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War, Popov had complained to Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov about the need to rotate frontline troops. Soon thereafter, he was sent to Syria, where Russia has a large military presence. Popov was replaced as commander of the 58th Army by Lieutenant General Denis Lyamin, who was one of the signatories of the Defense Ministrys paper On Storm Z, fragments of which were published by the investigative media outlet IStories in October. Systema obtained the complete document, dated February 2023, which outlines the creation of assault groups comprising convicts. The document authorizes commanders to shoot soldiers in order to ensure discipline and order if they refuse to follow orders or abandon their positions without authorization. In November, the newspaper Vecherny Stavropol published an article that said an officer it described as the commander of the Gladiators, Colonel Aslan Shurdumov, had come to town to accept two boxes of warm socks knitted by 88-year-old retiree Valentina Potyomkina and her daughter. I really wanted to personally shake the hand of this granny, Shurdumov was quoted as saying. I understand that [in these socks] there is concern, pain, and emotion. They will not only warm the feet of our warriors, but more importantly, their souls. The scene was a far cry from a night in November 2013 when a 23-year-old man was shot to death and his body burned in a car in a case that shook the Baksansky district of the North Caucasus region of Kabardino-Balkaria. In November 2015, Shurdumov was convicted of the crime and sentenced to 12 years in prison, a term that was reduced on appeal to 10 years. In late October, Gladiator soldiers gathered to celebrate the birthday of the units chief of staff, a major using the military call sign Kornet. A video of the occasion was posted on Telegram. Systema was able to identify Kornet as Vladislav Olensky, a former lawyer and investigator with the Federal Security Service (FSB) who was sentenced in 2019 to 12 years in prison for bribery and extortion. From Z To V In February 2023, Yevgeny Prigozhin -- the Wagner head who was killed in a suspicious plane crash in August, two months after he led a short-lived mutiny against the military leadership -- announced that Wagner would no longer recruit fighters from Russian prisons. Defense Ministry recruiters had already been working in the prisons since the autumn of 2022. By April 2023, the ministry was looking to recruit at least 1,400 inmates into Z assault groups, each of about 100 men. The pay and benefits for the convict-soldiers were worse than those of normal contract soldiers or mobilized soldiers, but they were ensured a presidential amnesty following the completion of their contract. However, on June 24, 2023, Putin signed a law on the recruitment of convicts to contract service with the Defense Ministry, and the new system based on the law became operational in September. According to the BBCs Russian Service, prisoners recruited under the new law were being assigned to units under a new designation, Storm V. Under the new law, instead of a presidential amnesty, the convict-soldiers are granted conditional early release, and they are paid similar wages to those of regular contract soldiers -- about 200,000 rubles ($2,240) a month. The new contracts are formally for one year, but since the convict-recruits are considered the same as contract soldiers, their service can be extended until the end of the invasion, which the Kremlin euphemistically calls a special military operation. In January, Mediazona and the BBC reported that more than 7,800 recruited Russian convicts had been killed fighting in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion was launched in February 2022. Written by RFE/RLs Robert Coalson based on reporting by Daniil Belovodyev of Systema The reelection of Nayib Bukele in El Salvador on Sunday, February 4, comes as no surprise. His popularity and approval among Salvadorans stands at above 70%, and the rigging of the Constitution which officially bars presidents from a second consecutive term coupled with the irrelevance of the opposition, made it all but inevitable. Bukeles popularity is largely down to his apparently effective strongman approach to El Salvadors gang violence which he appears to have solved in record time. But is Bukeles approach sustainable, and is it worth the cost to Salvadoran society? Bukele, 42, is the result of 30 years of post-war democracy in which the majority of the population witnessed ever increasing social inequalities, increased migration/expulsion among its most vulnerable sectors, unfulfilled promises from both the right and left and, of course, the uncontrollable expansion of gang violence throughout the country. During this period, El Salvador came to be recognized as one of the most dangerous countries in the world. In 2015, the homicide rate reached 106 per 100,000 inhabitants. In March 2022, after breaking the pact he had made with these criminal groups, Bukele established a state of exception that gave him the power to pursue and imprison anyone suspected of belonging to a criminal organization. Approximately 2% of the population has since been jailed with human rights organizations documenting mass volumes of arbitrary arrests and violations of due process. When Bukele broke onto the scene in 2019 with his magic formula to quash the gangs almost 30 years after El Salvador signed peace accords to end its civil war, the word democracy meant little or nothing to the majority of the population. Filling the vacuum, Bukeles authoritarian and repressive approach had a tangible impact on the lives of many Salvadorans, namely the reduction of violence and an increase in the quality of daily life. El Salvador closed 2023 with a homicide rate of 2.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. Given this drastic drop in the murder rate, the cost to democracy has seemed to many to be a reasonable enough price to pay. However, the violence in El Salvador is rooted in historical social inequalities that cannot be addressed through mere repression. Repressing a problem does not solve it. If the causes of that problem are still there, sooner or later, it will resurface, perhaps in a different guise, but there all the same, reminding us that it had in fact, never gone away. Beyond the controversy, it is crucial to remember that Bukeles strategy has a high human cost. He has achieved what he has achieved because he and his New Ideas government violate the human rights of thousands of men and women, especially those in living in vulnerable conditions. The presidents actions target neither the elite nor the middle classes but have a biased focus on the poor. Those who for the past 30 years were the gangs main victims have now become the target of government repression. But they are not the only ones to suffer at the hands of Bukeles policies. The two-year state of exception has also been cruel to children, young people, women and dissidents. Dozens of children and teenagers have been left homeless following the arrest of their parents. Grandmothers, aunts and sisters have had to step in to supply economic support and physical and psychological care. The burden has been placed squarely on womens shoulders. The state of exception has also become a tool to persecute those defending both human rights and the environment. Given that anyone can be suspected of belonging to a gang, several rural leaders and their families have been intimidated or detained. An indefinite state of exception that violates the fundamental rights of some in exchange for relative and temporary tranquility of others is yet another form of violence for El Salvador. It is a violence that is proving to be ineffective in achieving true social stability, and should be understood as proof of the presidents inability to offer real and lasting solutions that do not involve the systematic violation of human rights in the country he governs. Laura Aguirre is a sociologist, journalist and co-founder of the feminist digital media outlet Alharaca. Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions and their relationships with the Western Balkans and Europe's Eastern neighborhoods. I'm RFE/RL Europe Editor Rikard Jozwiak, and this week I'm drilling down on two issues: how the EU overcame a Hungarian veto and the heated debate over Ukrainian food. Brief #1: The EU Finally Agrees To Fund Ukraine What You Need To Know: The EU summit on February 1 was supposed to be a difficult one. But after an early morning start, there was clear unanimity among EU leaders well before noon: The bloc would provide Ukraine with 50 billion euros ($54 billion) of grants and loans for the next four years. With Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban spectacularly vetoing a deal at the Brussels summit in December, it's come at just the right time for Ukraine. The U.S. Congress has so far failed to agree on more funding for the war-torn country, and Kyiv has said it's running low on funds. On the surface, it seems that Orban lost this time around, underestimating the other 26 member states' resolve and, in the end, only managing to extract a few concessions. He will not get any vetoes over the annual disbursements of money for Ukraine between 2024 and 2027 -- something that had been talked about as a possible concession for Orban -- and he won't see any of the money meant for Budapest that the European Commission has frozen over concerns about Hungary's democratic backsliding. The EU funds will start going to Ukraine as soon as March, with a first tranche of 1.5 billion euros. Deep Background: Orban, however, claimed "mission accomplished" in a tweet after the meeting, noting that "Hungary's funds will not end up in Ukraine" and that there would be "a control mechanism at the end of the first and second years." (To be clear, EU money meant for Hungary has never been diverted to Ukraine, and the control mechanism Orban is referring to is wide open to interpretation.) The best way to digest all of this is to look at the EU summit conclusions that were agreed on by all leaders. There were two crucial paragraphs. The first of these says that "on the basis of the commission's annual report on the implementation of the Ukraine facility, the European Council will hold a debate each year on the implementation of the facility with a view to providing guidance. If needed, in two years, the European Council will invite the commission to make a proposal for review in the context of the new MFF (the multi-financial framework is the long-term EU budget)." Whether this is a "control mechanism" or not, it's pretty clear that Hungary didn't get the vetoes it wanted. An annual report by the European Commission is not a veto, nor is a yearly debate among leaders in the European Council, which defines the political direction and priorities of the EU. And in order to trigger a review, all 27 EU member states must agree. That means some of Ukraine's greatest supporters, such as the three Baltic states, can now simply prevent a review if they feel it isn't necessary. And then there is the word "review" itself. While Hungary could interpret the process as a veto, others don't, showing once again the EU's mastery of semantic gymnastics in order to achieve a compromise. Drilling Down As an illustrative anecdote, diplomats pointed to the agreement the EU struck at the end of 2022 over the price cap on Russian oil. At the time, it was settled at $60, even though more hawkish EU member states such as Poland wanted a lower figure. The promise that the European Council would hold reviews every other month helped convince Budapest, which perhaps took it to mean proper negotiations and potential vetoes over the price. Nothing like that has ever happened, however, and the price cap remains at $60 to this day. In this case, a review has meant just regular updates and not much more. The second relevant paragraph is a single sentence at the end of the summit conclusions that states that "the European Council recalls its December 2020 conclusions on the application of the conditionality mechanism." The conditionality mechanism being referred to was the rule change, agreed for the EU budget of 2020-27, that meant money could be withheld from member states if there was a fear that it was being misused -- which is exactly what the European Commission has done with Hungary. So, what are the takeaways here? After speaking on background to officials in Brussels, the deal on the Ukraine aid package can also be interpreted as the member states gently putting pressure on the commission to unfreeze at least a portion of the 10 billion euros that is being withheld from Hungary. Or at least an urging to loosen up on the conditions that Hungary has to fulfill to get the money. It's possible that cash will start flowing to Hungary in the spring, especially since the European Parliament -- as a body, one of Orban's fiercest critics -- will soon go from legislative mode to election mode as EU-wide polls in June are approaching. It's also possible that, with Hungary coming on board, Ukraine's enlargement process might be slowed down -- something that Budapest would certainly welcome. It could be that the intergovernmental conference for Ukraine, which would mark the de facto official opening of accession talks, won't happen in March as Kyiv is hoping for but after the EU elections, so in the summer or even the fall. Despite not getting quite what he wanted, the whole affair has been a boost for Brand Orban. Ahead and during the summit, the two most spoken words were "Viktor" and "Orban." The Hungarian leader is perhaps the best-known populist politician in the bloc at the moment, and his talking points about sending less money to Ukraine and the need for peace talks might appeal to more Europeans than just his Hungarian faithful. If Euroskeptic parties do well in the European Parliament elections, Orban could see his star rising even higher once again. Brief #2: The Problem With Ukrainian Food What You Need To Know: The European Commission last week decided to renew the suspension of import duties and quotas on Ukrainian (and Moldovan) exports into the European Union. Known as Autonomous Trade Measures (ATMs), they have been crucial in supporting Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. But while the suspension was universally welcomed by the 27 EU member states back in 2022, there are now considerable grumblings in the bloc, especially among Ukraine's immediate neighbors. They have complained that the measures have meant their domestic markets are flooded with cheap Ukrainian agricultural goods, threatening the livelihood of their own farmers. Despite the opposition to the continued suspension of import duties and quotas, the ATMs are expected to be green-lit by EU member states later in the year. Unanimity isn't required for this: Only a qualified majority of 55 percent of the member states, comprising 65 percent of the total EU population, is needed for adoption. This doesn't, however, mean that Ukrainian goods will flow freely into the bloc quite yet. It is Poland -- incidentally, one of Kyiv's biggest supporters during the war -- that is putting on the brakes. Back in May 2023, Poland, followed by Hungary, Slovakia, and Bulgaria, unilaterally shut their borders to all Ukrainian goods after complaining about the glut of food produce. The European Commission then found a temporary solution, allowing wheat, maize, rapeseed, and sunflower seeds from Ukraine to transit "unsealed" through those four countries, plus Romania, to the rest of the bloc and to destinations around the world. The increased imports of Ukrainian goods came as Russia drastically curtailed Ukraine's lucrative Black Sea trade, and then, later that summer, backed out of a Turkey-brokered deal that had allowed ships to use a limited number of Ukrainian ports for the delivery of grain. And while Ukrainian ships continue to make the journey by hugging the Romanian and Bulgarian Black Sea coasts, the majority of food is still rerouted over land via the EU. Deep Background: This temporary solution was not extended in September 2023, resulting in Poland unilaterally banning all Ukrainian products from entering its market. While Warsaw did still allow the transit of produce, long queues on the Polish-Ukrainian border meant more bad blood between Warsaw and Kyiv and also between Poland and the EU. The move by the Polish government, led by the right-wing Law and Justice party, was seen by many at the time as a play for votes, especially among the powerful farming sector, ahead of parliamentary elections in October 2023. However, the new, more pro-EU government, which came into power in December, has not backed away from the restrictive policy, and the unilateral ban remains in place. Poland's new agriculture minister, Czeslaw Siekierski, is a member of the Polish People's Party, a junior partner of the government and the country's main agrarian party. In early January, Siekierski wrote a letter to the European Commission opposing the continued suspension of duties and quotas. He wrote that "the immediate liberalization of imports serves not so much the overall economy of Ukraine as it contributes to the increased profits of a small group of oligarchs, often locating their capital outside Ukraine." Drilling Down At the same time, Warsaw has been constructive, opening up to the possibility of allowing Ukrainian produce back on its domestic market. Warsaw is largely driven by the fear that, sooner or later, Brussels would drag Poland to court for taking unilateral trade measures that affect the bloc's common single market. After intense negotiations between Polish officials and the European Commission, a number of "safeguard measures" have been put into place for when the new ATM kicks in on June 6. The aim is that this should allow Warsaw to eventually drop the ban and reassure its farmers that they are "protected." Poland has long highlighted how much poultry, eggs, and sugar the bloc imports. And, according to the European Commission's own figures, Warsaw has a point. Take poultry as an example. In 2021, when the normal tariffs still applied, the bloc was importing 86,000 tons a year. In 2022, with the new liberalization measures in place from June, that figure increased to 138,880 tons. In 2023, it rose again, with 200,000 tons of poultry being imported. There were similar increases in the trade volumes for eggs and sugar. As a solution, the European Commission has suggested a mechanism for automatic tariffs. That would mean if imports of poultry, eggs, or sugar between June and December 2024 rose to a certain level, additional tariffs on Ukrainian agricultural products would be imposed within a week. The devil is in the details, in particular what that level should be. The European Commission first suggested that the threshold should be the amount of poultry, eggs, or sugar imported in 2023. But considering that last year was a record year for imports, Warsaw argued that the threshold was too high. A compromise was made, with the agreed threshold based on the average of 2022 and 2023 imports, which increases the likelihood of tariffs kicking in. The European Commission also agreed on simpler procedures for applying an emergency brake in the form of import restrictions on products other than poultry, eggs, or sugar. This essentially means that it is deemed sufficient for one EU member state to demonstrate destabilization in its own market, instead of having to prove that it is a problem for the entire EU. While Poland was initially alone in pushing for safeguard mechanisms, Hungary and Slovakia, which both share a border with Ukraine, have since joined. The move also coincided with farmers taking to the streets in Belgium, France, and Germany over rising production costs (not directly related to Ukraine) and the EU stepping away from a trade deal with Mercosur, a bloc made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, that would have allowed for cheap food imports from South America. Looking Ahead The European Union is gearing up for more sanctions against Russia. Over the weekend of February 3-4, ambassadors of EU member states were discussing a new package with European Commission officials that will coincide with the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24. The new measures would largely consist of asset freezes and visa bans against Russian officials. The European Parliament will meet in Strasbourg this week, and on February 7, lawmakers will debate the recent mass arrests of opposition figures in Belarus. A nonbinding resolution will be voted on the following day, and the chamber is expected to call for more restrictive measures against Minsk. That's all for this week. Feel free to reach out to me on any of these issues on Twitter @RikardJozwiak, or on e-mail at jozwiakr@rferl.org. Until next time, Rikard Jozwiak If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. David Young, Rebecca Black, Nina Lloyd and Jonathan McCambridge, PA Updated: 12.15pm Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he wants devolved government in Northern Ireland to last, adding the Irish Government will help in any way it can to make this Executive a success. The Taoiseach was greeted by the Norths new First Minister Michelle ONeill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Stormont Castle on Monday, and held a meeting before Mr Varadkar met with the rest of the newly-formed Executive. Welcoming the Taoiseach to the Executive table, Ms Little-Pengelly said she looked forward to building a constructive relationship based on mutual respect with the Irish Government. She added it makes sense for us to have a constructive relationship we havent always had in the past. Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Norther Ireland's Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly at Stormont Castle. Photo: Oliver McVeigh/PA Wire Mr Varadkar said he was glad to be there on this very positive day, adding there were various times over the past year or two I didnt think this day would happen. Its great that the institutions are back up and running again. We want the Executive to be a success and to last, and are keen to help in any way we can but not to interfere, but definitely to help, and keen to see the North-South Ministerial Council up and running again as soon as possible, and the British Irish Council as well, of course, he said. Well have the St Patricks Day visits, which I think will take on a much more positive feel, because in the US theyll be keen to see the Good Friday Agreement institutions working, and the main thing is to try and keep the lines of communication open. UK prime minister Rishi Sunak is also in the North to mark the restoration of powersharing, telling Stormonts leaders the real work starts now. Mr Varadkar and Mr Sunak also met each other for a bilateral meeting at Parliament Buildings. Mr Sunak then travelled the short distance to Stormont for a meeting with Ms ONeill and Ms Little-Pengelly. As the meeting got underway, Mr Sunak told the pair: It has taken a lot of hard work and indeed courage to get us sitting round this table. Today isnt the end; its the beginning, and the real work starts now. Mr Sunak and the UKs Northern Ireland secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, also held talks with Ms ONeill and Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald. The Sinn Fein leaders are understood to have voiced their objection to elements of the deal between the DUP and UK government which prompted the unionist party to return to Stormont, following concerns that the agreement adopted a pro-Union approach to issues such as a border poll and the development of an all-island economy. Ms ONeill and Ms McDonald are believed to have made it clear that the party intends to drive an all-island economy through the finance and economy portfolios it now holds in the new Executive. They are also believed to have stressed the requirement for the UK government to remain impartial in relation to the calling of any future referendum on Northern Irelands constitutional future. UK Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle ONeill, Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly and UK prime minister Rishi Sunak at Stormont Castle (Oliver McVeigh/PA) Earlier, Mr Heaton-Harris rejected claims by Stormont ministers that better funding is needed from the UK government as powersharing returns. He insisted the 3.3 billion package offered by the UK government is ample for the Executive to get on with the job. The newly-formed Executive has already written to Mr Sunak calling for urgent discussions on long-term funding stability to deliver public services. Asked about claims that the current funding arrangement will not provide the basis for the Executive to deliver sustainable public services, Mr Heaton-Harris told BBC Breakfast: I dont believe that is the case. I think Stormont has fantastic, strong foundations now, and it will survive, it will be sustainable. He added: There is a thing, I think, about choices. Youre going into politics, you have to make choices on these sorts of things. It's great to be back in Northern Ireland - a special part of our United Kingdom. After two years, it's clear how important the Assembly's return is to local people - giving them a say in issues that matter. Now it's time to deliver a brighter future for Northern Ireland. pic.twitter.com/BEuh4B731C Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) February 4, 2024 Those choices havent been made for a long time out here, and I believe the new set of ministers are completely capable of running their public finances perfectly well with the fair and generous funding package weve given them. Theres a 3.3 billion package available to ministers on day one here to get on with the job of sorting out Northern Ireland public sector pay, health services and a whole host of other things, and Id say thats ample for the time being. The new powersharing Executive will also hold its first meeting on Monday as it begins the task of trying to manage Northern Irelands strained finances. 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. A young cigarette vendor takes a break in downtown Merida. Artur Widak (Getty Images) Among shipments of textiles and footwear entering the port of Colon in Panama, dozens of containers with illegal cigarettes circumvent customs controls every month en route to the domestic market and to be re-exported to other countries. In parallel to drugs and weapons, tobacco smuggling by drug trafficking groups has increased in recent years, warn port authorities and social groups in Latin America. Juan Carlos Buitrago Arias, a retired Colombian police general and leader of the public-private alliance between Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama (Coepa) to curb this crime, says that tobacco has become a branch of business for Mexican criminal organizations such as the Sinaloa Cartel. According to his research, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl cartels in the region use the same networks and routes to smuggle illegal cigarettes mostly from Asia to widen the black market for this product and launder drug money. Buitrago Arias says that smuggling in Mexico is valued at some $25 billion a year, of which 30% corresponds to the black market in cigarettes. In our investigations, we have identified that Mexico plays a similar role to Panama in terms of the influence of transnational organized crime. Specifically, drug trafficking uses the illicit trade of cigarettes, alcohol, clothing, household appliances, and gold to monetize drug trafficking profits, he says. Buitrago Arias says that in 2019, while still an active general in the Colombian police, he was in charge of Operation Empire, a tactic to dismantle the structure of cigarette and liquor smuggling operated by the Sinaloa Cartel and whose detection originated from the seizure of $100 million from Joaquin El Chapo Guzmans cartel in Los Angeles. Buitrago Arias states that the routes used by Mexican cartels to move drugs and weapons are now used to move tobacco to other destinations such as the United States, but they also enter the domestic market, for example, in the Tepito neighborhood in Mexico City. The transfer of illegal tobacco, mostly from Asia, he adds, has permeated most Latin American countries, with Panama being one of the main points of access. According to these investigations, criminal groups use Panamas ports to re-export without paying taxes thousands of cigarettes in containers that return with contraband drugs, weapons and minerals. One of the most vulnerable points for smuggling is the Colon Free Trade Zone in Panama, which covers over 1,000 hectares and whose tax exemption mechanism for private companies made it the main port for re-exporting licit and illicit goods in Latin America and the Caribbean. Cigarettes with brand names such as Gold City, Time or Bright, written in Chinese or English, enter Latin American countries for up to $1 per pack, compared to the almost $5 for which a legal pack is sold. The illicit tobacco, which is not subjected to sanitary or quality controls, enters Panama through smuggling routes and continues to the north of the continent by sea or land. Most of this merchandise comes from production centers in China, South Korea, India, and Cambodia, according to Coepa, which states that in Panama, Latin Americas logistic hub par excellence, 90.2% of the tobacco market is illegal, followed by Ecuador with 90% and Colombia with 40%. According to Coepas analysis, the Panamanian government lost out on taxes worth some $300 million from the black market in tobacco in 2023, with 8.5 billion illegal cigarettes entering that country alone. In Latin America, the amount of taxes lost due to cigarette smuggling amounts to over $6 billion. Coepa has identified and analyzed more than 80 companies, 29 maritime, land, and air routes for illicit trade, and 14 criminal groups involved in tobacco smuggling. The lucrative profits, combined with minimal penalties, make cigarette smuggling attractive for drug trafficking groups in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, and other Latin American countries. Gregoire Verdeaux, senior vice president of U.S. tobacco company Philip Morris International and part of Copea, says his goal is to replicate in Latin America the decline in cigarette smuggling achieved in countries such as Greece and Italy. Many governments think that cigarette trafficking is not important, but this is not the case; it is part of the criminal system and the system is growing very rapidly, he says. Illegal cigarettes seized at the Colon Free Trade Zone in Panama. Cortesia Panama is not only a destination, but a transit point. Cigarettes are made generically in Asian factories specifically for smuggling and the fiscal advantages of Panamas free and logistical zones are taken advantage of for distribution to the rest of Latin America. On the land route, the contraband goes up from the ports in Colon or Manzanillo in Panama to Paso Canoas (Costa Rica), and from there onward to countries such as Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and the United States. Alejo Campos, director of the Crime Stoppers collective for Latin America, warns that cigarette smuggling is a transnational crime that involves the trafficking of people, drugs, arms, and merchandise, with overlapping locations, routes, and criminal groups. Specifically, Campos organization works in Belize and Guatemala to prevent the transfer of cigarettes to Mexico. In Guatemala, in the entire Peten department, Los Zetas and also the Barrio 18 gang controls the border crossing and, in the end, there is illegal trade not only in cigarettes but also of many products. What we are trying to do is contain the problem from Guatemala, destroying the product in that country, and with that to prevent them from passing to Mexico, he says. Authorities and social groups agree that the lack of resources in customs to invest in more technology and controls, as well as corruption and lax legislation, contribute to cigarette smuggling gaining ground year after year. It is necessary to create more effective laws to prevent, prosecute, and punish this crime, and also to offer alternatives to the tobacco-consuming public, says Campos. From tobacco factories in China, Cambodia, or India to the Colon Free Trade Zone in Panama, one of the biggest in Latin America, thousands of generic cigarettes, legally produced in their countries of origin, travel thousands of miles to be repackaged and re-exported to other destinations illegally, sidestepping taxes and without meeting the sanitary standards of their end markets. Clandestine tobacco routes have become yet another means of profit to be exploited by drug trafficking networks. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Canada Housing Ban News foreign ownership gets setback Chrystia Freeland emphasized the significance of this move in a statement issued on Sunday. Canada Housing Ban News: In an effort to address housing affordability concerns for Canadians, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland announced a strategic measure to extend the ban on foreign ownership of Canadian housing. The existing ban, originally slated to conclude on January 1, 2025, will now be prolonged until January 1, 2027. This decision aligns with the government's commitment to leveraging all available tools to create a more accessible housing market for residents. By extending the ban, policymakers aim to mitigate the impact of foreign investment on the domestic housing market, promoting stability and affordability. Chrystia Freeland emphasized the significance of this move in a statement issued on Sunday. The decision underscores a proactive approach to ensure housing remains within reach for Canadians, acknowledging the complexities of the real estate landscape and the need for strategic interventions. This extension serves as a part of the broader initiative to cultivate a housing market that caters to the needs of the local population, fostering a sustainable and equitable real estate environment. Advertisement Extending the ban on foreign ownership of Canadian housing until January 1, 2027, may carry certain disadvantages. While the intention is to address housing affordability concerns, critics argue that such restrictions could deter foreign investment, potentially impacting the overall real estate market. The extended ban might lead to reduced demand from international buyers, affecting property values and slowing down market activity. Additionally, some argue that foreign investment can contribute to economic growth and job creation in the construction and related industries. By limiting foreign ownership, there is a risk of constraining these economic benefits.Moreover, critics contend that such measures might not be a comprehensive solution to the root causes of housing affordability issues. Addressing supply and demand imbalances, improving housing supply, and implementing effective urban planning are often considered equally crucial factors. In summary, while the extension of the ban aims to address housing affordability, it is not without potential drawbacks, including the impact on foreign investment, economic contributions, and the need for a comprehensive approach to tackle housing issues. Chile declares state of emergency in Valparaiso due to wildlife fire Chile is facing a serious problem with wildfires in its central region. Chile wildlife fire 2024: Chile is facing a serious problem with wildfires in its central region. The government has declared a state of emergency as the fires have tragically taken the lives of 51 people and caused significant damage to communities and the environment. The emergency declaration allows for mobilizing resources, coordinating efforts to fight the fires, and seeking international help to deal with the escalating situation. Increasing Death Toll Due to Escalating Fire Incidents: Advertisement The emergency declaration extends to the affected areas of Margalla and Valparaiso, enforcing a curfew to expedite emergency and logistical assistance. Currently, 92 active fires are ravaging nearly 43,000 hectares, with 372 residents reported missing in Valparaiso alone. Emergency personnel are focusing efforts on urban areas, where over 1,100 homes have already been damaged. As officials work to gather information from areas currently inaccessible, the death toll may rise. Emergency declared amidst intense wildfires crisis: Chilean President Gabriel Boric has declared a state of emergency in the central Valparaiso region, responding swiftly to a massive and rapidly spreading wildfire. The devastating fire has consumed approximately 480 hectares, claiming the lives of at least 51 people. Thousands of hectares of forest have been destroyed, prompting evacuations on a large scale. Advertisement According to the National Forest Corporation (CONAF) of Chile, the wildfire in Valparaiso has wreaked havoc on nearly 7,000 hectares, earning an 'extreme' designation from the agency. Petrol and Diesel Prices in India Petrol and diesel prices in India experienced fluctuations on Monday Petrol and Diesel Prices in India Experience Fluctuations: Petrol and diesel prices in India experienced fluctuations on Monday, reflecting the dynamic nature of the global oil market. As of the latest updates, major cities are witnessing changes in fuel rates. In Delhi, the current petrol price stands at Rs 96.72.per liter, while diesel is priced at Rs 89.62. The Mumbai residents are grappling with petrol costs at Rs 106.31. and diesel at Rs 94.27. Meanwhile, Kolkata and Chennai reported petrol prices at Rs 106.03 and INR 102.77, respectively, with diesel rates at Rs 92.76 and Rs 94.24, respectively.The fluctuations in petrol and diesel prices in India can be attributed to various factors, including international crude oil prices, geopolitical events, and currency exchange rates. Consumers are advised to stay informed about these changes, as fuel prices play a crucial role in impacting daily expenses. Advertisement It's essential for individuals and businesses alike to monitor these fluctuations, as they can have a cascading effect on transportation costs and overall economic activities. As fuel prices remain a key economic indicator, understanding their dynamics is crucial for making informed financial decisions. Police remove AAP workers staging hunger strike at MC office. Chandigarh Mayor Elections 2024 AAP workers staging hunger strike Chandigarh Mayor Elections 2024 Row: AAP councillors faced resistance from police as they sought entry into the municipal corporation office. Tensions escalated, resulting in a heated exchange between the councillors and the on-duty police personnel. AAP members, who were reportedly on a hunger strike during the Chandigarh mayoral polls, were removed by law enforcement from the Municipal Corporation premises. The incident unfolded amid heightened political activity surrounding the mayoral polls in Chandigarh. The clash between AAP members and police highlights the intense atmosphere surrounding the civic body's proceedings. The police intervention reflects the challenges and controversies in the ongoing mayoral elections. Advertisement AAP councillors engaged in a verbal dispute with the police on Monday when they were prevented from entering the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation office. This incident occurred on the second day of the party's protest against the BJP, alleging "rigging" in the recent mayoral polls. The clash between AAP members and law enforcement adds to the ongoing tension and protest, as the party continues to voice its concerns regarding the fairness of the electoral process in Chandigarh. Five Aam Adami Party workers, including a councillor, who sat on a hunger strike outside the municipal corporation office were also removed by the police. The police later detained the protesters who had gathered at the site. AAP councillors, headed by Sunny Ahluwalia, the party's Chandigarh co-incharge, raised slogans against the BJP, demanding action against the presiding officer for alleged ballot paper tampering in the mayoral polls. When they attempted to enter the municipal corporation office, police personnel deployed on-site prevented their entry, leading to a verbal dispute. Advertisement AAP councillor Prem Lata asserted, "We have every right to enter the municipal corporation office." The situation prompted a significant police presence with barricades erected outside the office premises, highlighting the heightened tension during the ongoing protest against alleged irregularities in the mayoral polls. Terrorist Attack in Pakistan Just Three Days Before Elections 2024 Terrorist Attack in Pakistan news Terrorist Attack in Pakistan news: In a shocking incident, a terrorist attack occurred at a police station in the Darbar city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. According to Pakistani media Geo News, 10 people have lost their lives in the incident. This attack happened three days before the elections scheduled for February 8. Currently, no terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for the attack. A police officer said "Terrorists attacked the police station in Darbar city around 3 am on Monday. They surrounded the station, threw grenades, and initiated gunfire. We responded with counteraction, but the terrorists managed to escape. A search operation is underway to apprehend them." Swift Attacks by Baloch Liberation Army and Pakistani Taliban Unleashed: Increased incidents of violence are occuring in pakistan ahead of the national and assembly elections scheduled for february 8th. In recent days, there was been a surge in terrorist attacks in balochistan and khyber pakhtunkhwa,with the baloch liberation army active in balochistan and pakistan tailban launching attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Advertisement Blast Strikes Outside Election Commission Office in Balochistan, Details of Perpetrator and Motive Unknown:There was an explosion outside the office of the Election Commission in Balochistan on Monday morning. According to Pakistani media ARY News, a bomb exploded outside the gate of the Election Commission. Information about who carried out the blast and why is not available as of now. Foreign trade from Germany and investor confidence from the euro area are the top economic news due on Monday, headlining a busy day for the European economic news. At 2.00 am ET, Destatis is scheduled to issue Germany's foreign trade data for December. The trade surplus is forecast to fall to EUR 19.8 billion from EUR 20.4 billion in November. At 3.15 am ET, Spain's services PMI survey data is due. Economists expect the index to rise to 52.2 in January from 51.5 in the previous month. At 3.45 am ET, Italy's HCOB services PMI data is due. The services index is expected to rise to 50.7 in January from 49.8 in December. Final composite PMI survey results are due from France and Germany at 3.50 am and 3.55 am ET, respectively. At 4.00 am ET, S&P Global publishes euro area final composite PMI survey results. The final composite reading is seen at 47.9 in January, in line with flash estimate. At 4.30 am ET, Eurozone Sentix investor confidence survey results are due. Economists forecast the investor sentiment index to rise to -15.0 in February from -15.8 in January. In the meantime, UK S&P/CIPS final services PMI survey data is due. The index is forecast to rise to 53.8 in January from 53.4 a month ago. At 5.00 am ET, Eurostat publishes euro area producer prices for December. Economists forecast producer prices to drop 10.5 percent on a yearly basis after easing 8.8 percent in November. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News U.S. forces have carried out another round of air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to continuing attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The U.S. Central Command said its forces conducted a strike in self-defense against a Houthi land attack cruise missile Sunday morning local time. It was followed by attack on four anti-ship cruise missiles, which were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea. Centcom said U.S. forces carried out the attack after identifying the missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, which "presented an imminent threat to U.S. Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region." On Saturday, U.S. and British forces launched a series of air raids hitting 36 Houthi targets across 13 locations in Yemen. "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," U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin said in a statement. The joint US-UK strikes were supported by an international coalition, also consisting of Australia, Bahrain, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. The strikes targeted sites associated with the Houthis' deeply buried weapons storage facilities; missile systems and launchers; air defense systems; and radars, according to the Pentagon. "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," the coalition members said in a statement. Also last week, US warships shot down Houthi drones over the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels vowed to retaliate against the latest strikes on its bases. The Houthis have conducted more than thirty attacks on international and commercial vessels in the Red Sea since mid-November, significantly disrupting the free flow of commerce and navigational rights in one of the world's most vital waterways. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News A state of emergency has been declared for eight counties in Southern California as a series of winter storms began impacting much of the state with high winds, damaging rain and heavy snowfall. Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed the emergency to support storm response and recovery efforts. The proclamation covers Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The emergency proclamation authorizes a California National Guard response if tasked, facilitating unemployment benefits for impacted residents, and making it easier for out-of-state contractors and utilities to repair storm damage. On Sunday, the Governor visited the State Operations Center near Sacramento for an update on the storm and the state's response efforts. "This is a serious storm with dangerous and potentially life-threatening impacts. Please pay attention to any emergency orders or alerts from local officials. California is ready with a record number of emergency assets on the ground to respond to the impacts of this storm," Newsom said. Nearly 40 million people in the state fall under the risk of life-threatening flooding as nearly half a year's worth of rainfall is expected to lash across Los Angeles by Tuesday. Tens of thousands of California residents are reportedly affected by blackout. Local authorities have issued evacuation order to thousands of residents in southern and northern parts of the state. The National Weather Service said a strong Pacific storm system will bring impactful and dangerous flooding rains, heavy snow, strong winds, coastal flooding, and high surf to California. "Heavy rainfall will bring the threat for life-threatening flash, urban, and river flooding as well as debris flows and mudslides. High elevation snow may produce whiteout conditions and dangerous, near impossible travel conditions." A phenomenon called atmospheric river already resulted in flash flooding and heavy mountain snow in Central and Southern California. The threat for flash flooding centers on Southern California Monday, according to NWS. Heavy Snow has been reported in parts of the Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, Northern Rockies, and Four Corners Region. Snowfall of several feet is expected for higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada. There is a warning that snowfall rates of 2-3" per hour and gusty winds above 60 mph will keep travel dangerous. Excessive rainfall in parts of western Arizona and Southern Nevada has been forecast for Tuesday. Moderate to heavy showers are expected from Northern California into the Pacific Northwest, while some showers and thunderstorms are possible for parts of Florida and northeastward along coastal Georgia and South Carolina, NWS said in its latest Short Range Forecast Discussion. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News US senators have reached a bipartisan agreement on a national security Bill that aims to secure the border and fix the nation's broken immigration system. The proposed legislation includes a tough and fair set of border reforms and provisions to grant new aid to Ukraine and Israel. The bill would introduce measures to try to control illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border, which is at record level, and to stop the abuse of parole. It is estimated that an average of 10,000 people a day are crossing the borders to the United States illegally. December 2023 set a record in this trend. The end of catch-and-release policy that hands out work permits for free along the southwest border, and the abuse of humanitarian parole, is expected stop at least half-a-million border crossings every year. The Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act creates a new mandatory Border Emergency Authority that allows the President and Secretary of Homeland Security to shut down the border when the system is overwhelmed. It has provisions for legal consequences for anyone who tries to return after deported, and to end massive caravans of migrants flowing over the border from Latin American countries. If the average number of border crossings exceeds 5,000 people a week, everyone crossing illegally will be rapidly deported out of the country without an asylum screening. The Bill provides 50,000 detention beds, more ICE agents, deportation flights, and asylum officers to keep more people in custody while processing. It prohibits illegal migrants who could have relocated within their home country from being eligible for asylum in the US. It provides new expedited removal authority to ensure illegal migrants are removed within 90 days. $650 million will be earmarked to build and reinforce miles of new border wall, an idea originally conceived by former President Donald Trump. Currently, the process to get to a final decision on a migrant's asylum claim can take 5 to 7 years. Once fully implemented, this bipartisan agreement would give the Administration the authority and resources to reduce that process to 6 months. This bill provides work authorization to approximately 25,000 K-1, K-2, and K-3 non-immigrant visa holders (fiance or spouse and children of U.S. citizens) per year, and about 100,000 H-4 spouses and children of certain H-1B non-immigrant visa holders who have completed immigrant petitions (temporary skilled workers) per year. They no longer have to apply and wait for approval before they can begin working in the United States. The $120 billion funding deal has set aside $60 billion to support Ukraine in the war against Russia, and $14 billion in security aid for Israel. With funds to arm Ukraine exhausted, U.S. Defense officials had warned that without action from Congress, further U.S. assistance for Ukraine could be in jeopardy at a critical time as Russia's war approaches the two-year mark. Republicans defeated a foreign aid Bill for Ukraine in the Senate in December in protest against the package's lack of changes to border and immigration policy. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News King Charles III has been diagnosed with a form of cancer, Buckingham Palace announced Monday in a statement in which it did not provide further details of the diagnosis. The tumor was discovered during the treatment of a benign prostate enlargement, although, according to the statement, it is not prostate cancer. Doctors have recommended the 75-year-old king postpone his public schedule, but he will continue to carry out his state duties. The official statement notes that the monarch has decided to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope that it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer. The king began this Monday a schedule of regular treatments, according to Buckingham. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake state business and official paperwork as usual, the press release added. The usual treatments in these cases are chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy. According to Cancer Research U.K., the most prestigious British organization in the battle against this disease, at the monarchs age the most common cancers among men are bladder, bowel, lung, melanoma, or prostate. The monarch personally communicated the news to his two sons, William (the heir and Prince of Wales) and Harry. The latter has announced that he will travel in the coming days to the United Kingdom to visit his father. There is a constitutional mechanism foreseen to replace the king in case of serious illness. These are the so-called Counsellors of State, who can replace him in his public duties, in the following order: Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Anne (sister of the monarch) and Prince Edward (brother). However, for the moment, it is not necessary, according to Buckingham Palace, to activate this provision. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wished the monarch a full and speedy recovery after learning of his diagnosis. I have no doubt hell be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well, he wrote on his official X account. Labour opposition leader Keir Starmer and the Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, also sent the king their well-wishes. Charles III announced last January 17 that he had been diagnosed with benign prostate enlargement, like many men of his age. On the 26th of the same month, he was admitted to the London Clinic, where he stayed for three nights, to undergo treatment. Upon being discharged, he left the hospital on his own two feet. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Tata Motors Unveils Indias First CNG AMT Cars Tiago and Tigor Set to Redefine the Market Tata Motors is gearing up to launch Indias first Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cars equipped with Automated Manual Transmission (AMT). The eagerly anticipated models, Tiago CNG AMT hatchback and Tigor CNG AMT hatchback, have already generated significant interest as bookings are now open ahead of the official launch, expected in the coming days. 2024 Tiago CNG AMT Walkaround A detailed first look walkaround of the Tiago CNG AMT has been made possible thanks to Kataria Garage, showcasing the innovative features and design elements that set it apart. The Tiago CNG AMT will be available in three variants XTA CNG, XZA+ CNG & XZA NRG, while the Tigor CNG AMT will come in two variants XZA CNG & XZA+ CNG. Both the Tiago and Tigor, currently offered with 1.2-liter petrol engines and manual or AMT options. It also comes with CNG variants with reduced output of 73.5 hp and 95 Nm, exclusively paired with a 5-speed manual transmission. Now, the introduction of AMT in the CNG variants marks a significant milestone as the first automatic transmission option for CNG cars in India, offering a new driving experience to consumers. Pricing and Expectations Despite the automatic transmission, it is worth noting that the fuel efficiency of the CNG AMT variants may experience a marginal decrease compared to their manual counterparts. The Tiago CNG is priced from Rs 6.55 lakh, while the Tigor CNG starts from Rs 7.80 lakh (ex-showroom), with an expected premium of approximately Rs 60,000 over their manual counterparts. The AMT variants of Tata Tiago CNG and Tigor CNG are set to establish a new benchmark in the segment. The design elements, including projector headlamps, auto-folding ORVMs, wrap-around tail lamps, and two-tone alloy wheels, remain consistent with their standard models. The interiors boast automatic air conditioning, a 7-inch infotainment system, a semi-digital driver display, and an 8-speaker sound system, providing a comfortable and feature-rich driving experience. Safety features, such as dual front airbags, rear parking camera, tyre pressure monitoring system, ABS, and EBD, continue to be a priority for Tata Motors. The incorporation of Tatas twin-cylinder technology ensures optimal performance while freeing up valuable boot space. As for pricing expectations and competition, the Tiago CNG competes with Hyundai Grand i10 Nios CNG, Maruti Suzuki Celerio CNG, and Wagon R CNG, while the Tigor CNG rivals Maruti Suzuki Dzire CNG and Hyundai Aura CNG in its segment. The introduction of the first CNG AMT cars in India is expected to set a new trend in the market, potentially prompting other automakers to follow suit. In the future, Tata Motors may extend this offering to models such as the Tata Punch and Tata Altroz CNG with AMT options, further diversifying consumer choices in the growing market. Just like a battery bank for your phone This will act as an additional battery pack and give range boost when going longer distance In a groundbreaking move to address range anxiety in electric vehicles (EVs), Ford has filed a patent for an electrifying concept a roof-mounted battery backup system. The leaked patent, published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), reveals an intriguing design that could revolutionize how electric cars handle long journeys without convenient access to charging stations. Battery bank for electric cars Titled Electrified Vehicle Roof-Mounted Battery Backup, the patent application, originally filed on December 8, 2021, showcases a novel approach to extending the range of EVs. The concept involves a supplementary battery pack that can be securely fastened to the roof of an electric vehicle, providing an additional power source when traditional charging stations are unavailable. The patent illustrations depict a Bronco-like SUV equipped with a roof carrier linked to a charging cable, highlighting the potential for on-the-go charging. The supplemental battery housing resembles conventional rooftop cargo carriers, with the added twist of integrated air channels designed for battery cooling. The application suggests the possibility of utilizing standard roof rack attachments, making the system not only functional but also removable though the logistics of handling a hefty battery pack on and off a car roof may pose a challenge. Similar Concepts in the Industry This innovative concept isnt entirely unprecedented in the EV landscape. Rivian, a fellow automaker, had previously patented a removable battery in 2019. Despite initial excitement and mentions of production plans by Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe, the company has yet to materialize this concept in its production lineup. However, Fords proposal introduces a unique twist by exploring the potential of a roof-mounted solution. While the patent application offers a glimpse into Fords forward-thinking strategy, its crucial to note that a patent filing doesnt guarantee the development or production of a specific product. Practicality and Challenges The practicality of the roof-mounted battery backup remains a subject of speculation. Experts suggest that such a system might find utility as an overlanding or off-roading accessory rather than a mainstream solution for long road trips. The added weight and aerodynamic drag could potentially offset the benefits of the backup battery during extended journeys. Despite the uncertainties surrounding the feasibility and market viability of the roof-mounted battery backup, Fords exploration of such inventive concepts underscores the automotive industrys commitment to pushing the boundaries of electric mobility. As the demand for electric vehicles continues to rise, addressing range anxiety remains a key challenge, and automakers are actively seeking innovative solutions to enhance the convenience and versatility of EVs. As the automotive landscape evolves, it will be intriguing to see whether Ford transforms this patent into a tangible product that could potentially redefine how electric vehicles navigate the challenges of range limitations. Whether the roof-mounted battery backup becomes a practical reality or remains a fascinating concept, it undeniably adds an exciting chapter to the ongoing narrative of electric vehicle innovation. Each of these 6 leading automakers have contributed to total positive growth across domestic markets while MoM total exports dipped 6.21% Two wheeler domestic sales of 6 leading automakers Hero, Honda, TVS, Bajaj, Suzuki and Enfield entered the first month of the New Year with an overall (domestic + exports) 25.94 percent growth to 16,63,127 units. It was also a MoM improvement of 16.55 percent when compared to 14,27,010 units sold in December 2023. Taking a breakup of domestic sales and exports into account, these 6 automakers have each posted both YoY and MoM growth in domestic markets. However, exports saw Suzuki and Enfield post a YoY de-growth while except for Honda and Suzuki each of the other automakers have seen MoM decline in exports. Two Wheeler Domestic Sales January 2024 Total domestic sales stood at 14,16,096 units in the past month, up 26.40 percent from 11,20,330 units sold in January 2023. This was a volume growth of 2,95,766 units. Hero MotoCorp led the segment with a 20.46 percent YoY growth to 4,20,934 units sold in January 2024. This was a volume growth of 71,497 units over 3,48,437 units sold in January 2023. MoM sales also saw a significant improvement of 11.40 percent from 3,77,842 units sold in December 2023. Hero MotoCorp currently commands a 29.72 percent share among these 6 automakers. At No. 2 was Honda with a 37.52 percent YoY and 33.70 percent MoM growth in sales in January 2024. There were 3,82,512 units sold in the past month, up from 2,78,143 units sold in January 2023. It was also a marked improvement from 2,86,101 units sold in December 2023 taking up share percentage to 27.01%. TVS sales also grew by 23.91 percent YoY to 2,68,233 units in January 2024, up from 2,16,471 units sold in January 2023. This was a 51,762 unit volume growth. MoM sales were up 24.77 percent from 2,14,988 units sold in December 2023. Posting a YoY and MoM growth was Bajaj Auto with 1,93,350 units sold last month, up 35.81 percent from 1,42,368 units sold in January 2023. This was also a MoM improvement by 22.09 percent from 1,58,370 units sold in December 2023. Suzuki also posted a Yoy and MoM growth in sales in January 2024 to 80,511 units which was a 21.60 percent YoY and 16.64 percent MoM growth from 66,209 units and 69,025 units sold in January 2023 and December 2023 respectively. Trailing the list was Royal Enfield with 70,556 units sold last month, a 4.22 percent YoY and 23.15 percent MoM growth over 67,702 units and 57,291 units sold in January 2023 and December 2023 respectively. 2W Exports January 2024 Exports saw a 23.40 percent growth in January 2024 to 2,47,031 units, up from 2,00,192 units sold in January 2023. It was however a MoM decline by 6.21 percent from 2,63,393 units shipped in December 2023. Bajaj Auto has seen a YoY growth of 14.12 percent to 1,14,898 units, up from 1,00,679 units shipped in January 2023 while MoM exports fell by 7.81 percent from 1,24,631 units sold in December 2023. Its export share currently stands at 46.51 percent. TVS has also posted a YoY growth but MoM decline in exports to 61,704 units in January 2024. There had been 48,239 units and 75,076 units shipped in January 2023 and December 2023 respectively. Its current export market share is at 24.98 percent. Outstanding YoY improvement in exports has been reported by Honda with a 102.43 percent increase to 36,883 units in January 2024, up from 18,220 units shipped in January 2023. It was also an 18.89 percent growth from 31,022 units shipped in December 2023. Suzuki exports fell by 18.69 percent YoY but improved MoM by 45.83 percent to 15,251 units. There was also Hero with a 74.60 percent YoY growth but a decline by 21.39 percent MoM to 12,664 units while Enfield finished at No. 6 with both YoY and MoM dip in exports to 5,631 units. Total 2W Sales January 2024 These 6 leading two wheeler makers have each posted YoY and MoM growth in terms of total sales which stood at 16,63,127 units in the past month. This related to a YoY growth of 25.94 percent from 13,20,522 units sold in January 2023. MoM sales also improved by 16.55 percent when compared to 14,27,010 units sold in December 2023. This saw Hero MotoCorp head the list with 4,33,598 units sold last month relating to a 21.56 percent YoY and 10.06 percent MoM growth. Honda was at No. 2 with the highest percentage growth at 41.51 percent YoY and 32.25 percent MoM with 4,19,395 units sold in January 2024 with a 41.51 percent YoY and 32.25 percent MoM growth. It was followed by TVS (3,29,937 units), Bajaj Auto (3,08,248 units) and Suzuki (95,762 units) while Royal Enfield was at No. 6 with 76,187 total units sold last month. Teachers, students and parents lined the streets of Division Street outside of Rancho de la Nacion School to bring attention to ongoing contract negotiations In the wake of a rally and threats of a union-approved strike, the National School District and the elementary teachers union have reached a contract settlement, the district announced Tuesday. The main points of contention in the contract, which covers the current school year, were related to the salaries and workload of teachers. The district and the union had been at an impasse in contract negotiations since October. The negotiations began in February 2017. Last week, in the midst of a mediation phase, the union put pressure on the district to reach an agreement. First, about 88 percent of members of the National City Elementary Teachers Association voted on May 21 to authorize a strike. Two days later, teachers, joined by students and parents, rallied outside Rancho de la Nacion School before a school board meeting. Advertisement The associations goal has never been to go to a strike, said Christina Benson, president of the union. We honestly have been trying to communicate what our members want. In regards to salary for the 2017-18 school year, the proposed settlement offers teachers a 2 percent raise retroactive to January. The district plans to use funds from the 2018-19 Local Control and Accountability Plan to pay for the raises. The union had requested a 4 percent salary raise from the district, which had offered teachers a one-time 2 percent bonus, with no pay increase. Under the proposed settlement, the district increased its maximum contribution to medical, dental and vision benefits, as well as life insurance premiums, by $700, bringing the total to $13,000 per eligible, full-time employee. According to a statement released by the district, the agreement also provides for increased collaboration between the district and teachers in the areas of educational objectives, curriculum and textbook selection among other policy matters. The union had requested language in the contract to address what teachers described as an overload of work. Benson said last week that teachers wanted the contract to lay out changes to address the issue and allow them to have a say on the amount of work. We want a say on how our collaboration time with our colleagues occurs, the tools necessary in the classroom, and the curriculum to teach our students, Benson said. Not having a curriculum forces teachers to search for materials on their own time and purchase books and materials with their own money. Benson, a fifth-grade teacher at Central Elementary School, said other districts in Chula Vista, San Ysidro and San Diego include language related to workload in their teachers contracts. She was not available for comment following the announcement of the proposed contract settlement. It was unclear if the settlement includes all or some of the language the union had proposed. While the union and district appear to have settled on a 2017-18 contract, the two sides have started to negotiate a contract for the upcoming school year. The district has proposed a 5 percent salary increase for the 2018-19 school year, which will include longer workdays by 20 minutes. The union had not yet put a salary proposal on the table as of last week. Benson said she is not pleased with the districts offer. If theyre already saying that they have the money for next year, why dont they put that toward what were asking for now, and then we settle the next years contract when it comes, she said. While the board met behind closed doors at Rancho de la Nacion School last week, outside about 100 teachers, students and parents lined the north and south sidewalks of Division Street as part of a rally to bring attention to the stalemate in the salary negotiations. Teachers held signs that read, I dont want to strike, but I will. Their chants included, We cant succeed with district greed. Following the hours-long rally, the group of teachers, parents and students filled the auditorium of the elementary school for the regular school board meeting. Almost a dozen supporters spoke in favor a significant raise and reasonable workload for teachers. Without our teachers, our schools are nothing, said Marina Barraza, whose five children attended schools in the district. We are asking you to be fair with our teachers, hear their demands and take action. Benson called the districts offers insulting, ridiculous and absurd. We are ready to strike, she told the board. The time to avoid a strike and settle (on a contract) is now. Are you ready to start a new school year without teachers? The settlement will be considered for approval first by the union, then by the school district. The next school board meeting is scheduled for June 13, a week after the last day of school. Going into the summer, we are thankful for the opportunity to move forward together and put children first, Superintendent Leighangela Brady said Tuesday in a statement. Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez The year is 1967. Taormina, Sicily. Two of Hollywoods biggest stars of the moment, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, attend the film festival that takes place on the island. Theyre coming to accept the David di Donatello award for best foreign actors. Both of them. There are photos of the duo enjoying a few days in the area: in the train station, in a restaurant, taking a walk, and of course, accepting their awards. But Burton and Taylor are not just the stars of the moment, they are the couple of the moment. In the chronology of their relationship, by the time they got to Taormina, they had been together for five years, ever since they met during the filming of Cleopatra, when both were married he to Sybil Williams, she to Eddie Fisher. In 1964, after she got her divorce, Taylor and Burton got married for the first time. Elizabeth Burton and I are very, very happy, he related in a press statement. Nothing else needed to be said, the images of them from around the world told the whole story: yachts, jewels, high-end dinners, haute couture, cigarettes and gigantic sunglasses built the reputation and legend of the early power couple, before the concept of a power couple even existed. Now a new book on the pair, Erotic Vagrancy, Everything About Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, written by Roger Lewis, reveals that the image projected by the two stars was never left to chance, but rather the work of a vast team that included secretaries, make-up artists, housekeepers, personal photographers, bodyguards, nurses, chauffeurs, butlers and even staff who were in charge of packing and unpacking their suitcases. Not surprisingly, according to the book, they did not travel light. When they alit upon Taormina, they arrived with 156 pieces of luggage between them. One word perfectly defines the couple: excess. We knew that Burton and Taylor drank to excess (according to The Love and the Fury, another biography on the pair, they started drinking at breakfast and didnt stop until they went to bed). We know, too, that they spent money in excess. In particular, on the glittering gems that Burton gave his wife, such as the Krupp yellow diamond, the Peregrine pearl (which had belonged to Spains Philip II and appears in works by Velazquez) and the 69-carat Taylor-Burton diamond. We knew that they loved each other in excess, even marrying twice. Now, we know more about their very own dolce vita, down to its details: at the Parisian Lancaster Hotel, they occupied a total of 21 rooms. Their dogs accompanied them to its restaurants, and were fed from the menu, according to Erotic Vagrancy. On other occasions, the glamourous couple reserved empty rooms in cities they would never visit. Their belongings were also a reflection of this excess. According to the author, in 1967 they bought a luxury yacht, which they baptized Kalizma, that featured seven cabins with double berths, three bathrooms and an armory containing machine guns. The actors outfitted it with Chippendale furniture and carpets that had to be replaced every six months because the pets relieved themselves on them. Not only did their dogs eat from restaurant menus, they also had their own boat. In 1968, while the couple was in London for one of Burtons shoots, they decided to install their pets in a boat that was moored near Tower Bridge, at a cost of 1,000 pounds a week, to circumvent the canine quarantine restrictions that existed at the time in the United Kingdom. Both were aware of their specific needs and, according to the writer, constantly joked about them. I introduced Elizabeth to beer. She introduced me to Bulgari, said Burton. Burton and Taylor in the Taormina train station, in Sicily, on August 1, 1967. Keystone-France (Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images) The book is not the only cultural artifact that recalls the life of Taylor, already inseparable from that of Burton, the man who was known as the love of her life. Another lover of excess has signed on to revisit to the stars world. A few days ago, it became public knowledge that Kim Kardashian will be the executive producer, in addition to one of the narrators, of a new BBC documentary about the actress that aims, to a certain extent, to dismantle part of the exact legend propagated by Erotic Vagrancy. For too long the story of Elizabeth Taylor has been told as a soap opera, explains the description of the documentary, which is entitled Elizabeth Taylor: Rebel Superstar. It will be divided into three parts: The eight marriages, the diamonds, the addictions. This series gives Elizabeth Taylor the significance she richly deserves, in all her incarnations: as an actor, rebel, business mogul, and activist to reveal how Taylor created the blueprint for modern celebrity. It will analyze her work as an actress and how she reinvented the nature of fame, even as she smashed the glass ceiling in Hollywood, before going on to become a billion-dollar businesswoman, activist and advocate. Kardashians involvement is far from casual. According to what has been revealed by publications like Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, the reality television star and multimillionaire businesswoman was the last person to interview the actress, who died in March 2011 at 79 years old. Thirteen years after her death, Taylor is still making headlines: from Bulgari collections that celebrate her legacy to news of her last romances (specifically, with Irish actor Colin Farrell). Perhaps this is the best reflection of how she reinvented the nature of fame. But her work and her characters also endure. Theres Gloria, the sex worker protagonist of BUTtterfield 8; Martha, the alcoholic wife she brought to life in Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf?; and Maggie, in the unforgettable Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, a movie that the #MeToo movement has revindicated from a feminist lens. 2024 will bring her back, once again, in all her excess and faults. Firefighters help removed protective clothing from colleagues after they recovered a body from a drainage ditch in Greeley, Colo., on Wednesday, May 19, 2010. The body was found within a half mile of the home of Kayleah Wilson, 12, who has been missing since March. (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski) An 18-year-old Colorado man has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a 12-year-old girl whose decomposed body was recovered this week in an irrigation ditch, police said. Greeley police Sgt. Joe Tymkowych said the arrest of Robert Laurencio Montoya, a former boyfriend of sixth-grader Kayleah Wilson, is unrelated to the homicide investigation involving her death. Authorities said they know how the girl died, but arent releasing details. This arrest is separate and distinct from the Kayleah Wilson homicide case that is currently being investigated, Tymkowych said in a statement. Advertisement Kayleah had been missing since March when her body was found Wednesday in an industrial area about a half-mile from her house. Montoya was arrested that same day, police said. He faces felony charges of sexual assault on a child, pattern of abuse. He appeared in court Friday where bail was set at $100,000. His next court hearing is May 25. Tymkowych said Montoya had previously been interviewed and cooperated with their missing person investigation. It was unclear whether Montoya had hired an attorney. A home number could not be immediately found. On Friday, police said they were examining a mountain of evidence and developing a list of people to re-interview about the disappearance and death of the 12-year-old. Tymkowych said they still had no suspects in the slaying but are looking at a range of individuals who had the time and opportunity to kill Kayleah and dont have good alibis. Were reviewing every detail that we developed when this was a missing person investigation, deciding which lead could be more fruitful, then prioritizing which people to talk to first, Tymkowych said. Evidence gathered along the irrigation ditch earlier this week was also being processed for testing. Tymkowych would not disclose what investigators found. Two eyewitnesses previously told police they saw Kayleah at the Greeley Mall March 28, about a half-hour after her mother said she left to attend a friends birthday party. Tymkowych said police also have surveillance video from near the mall showing a grainy figure that could be Kayleah. Kayleahs last known whereabouts are crucial in determining how her body ended up about a mile away from the mall, where a worker checking the ditch after a heavy rain found the body Wednesday. Meanwhile Greeley, an agricultural community of about 93,000 people 65 miles north of Denver, grieved the death of Kayleah. A steady stream of parents and children, some in tears, visited the spillway in the ditch where Kayleahs body was found. A makeshift memorial of teddy bears, candles, flowers and crucifixes grew on the grassy banks. Its an open wound because whoever did this is still out there, Melissa Lujan, whose daughter knew Kayleah said Thursday. You know its bringing us together to where we watch our children more often, we tell them we love them, we kiss them goodnight, kiss them before they leave but just knowing that somebody could do this. Cheryl Frendrich, whose grandson was friends with Kayleah, described her as a happy little girl, full of life. The decomposing body had been in the irrigation ditch for some time in an area that had been searched twice, Police Chief Jerry Garner said. Greeley is about 60 miles northeast of Denver. Wilsons March 28 disappearance spawned repeated searches by police, Greeley residents and the FBI. Authorities said they pursued more than 300 leads and knocked on the doors of about 1,000 homes. No one has been ruled out as a suspect, but investigators have nothing that points to family members, Garner said. In April, as leads from the public dwindled, authorities increased the reward for information about Wilson to $20,000. Investigators also described behavior that might point to a possible abductor. They urged people to watch for someone who had missed work, had unexplained injuries or shown an unexpected or sudden interest in the case. Police met with Kayleahs mother, April Wilson, before the public announcement. A victims advocate said Wilson did not want to speak with the media. KYODO NEWS - Feb 5, 2024 - 12:57 | All, World, Japan Classified Japanese diplomatic information was leaked following Chinese cyberattacks on the Foreign Ministry in 2020, a government source said Monday, exposing the nation's digital vulnerability. Japan detected the large-scale attack and release of diplomatic telegrams during a period of government under then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the source said, but the nature of the leaked information is still publically unknown. Tokyo and Washington discussed countermeasures in the wake of the leak of the diplomatic telegrams, which are highly confidential documents exchanged daily between the ministry and diplomatic missions abroad, the source said. The diplomatic telegrams were sent via an encrypted Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network, or IP-VPN, according to the source. The use of this kind of network is critical in the transfer of sensitive data. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said at a press conference that the government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has not confirmed that secret Foreign Ministry information was accessed through the cyberattacks. The ministry "has routinely worked to maintain and strengthen cybersecurity," Hayashi, the top government spokesman, added. Japan has lagged behind other developed countries in the development of its cybersecurity defenses, causing great concern to its close security ally the United States. Washington has urged Tokyo to improve its cybersecurity capabilities. In its National Security Strategy updated recently, Japan pledged to introduce "active cyber defense" to eliminate in advance the possibility of serious cyberattacks that could threaten "national security and critical infrastructure." But bills to implement a more active approach to cyber defense have not been submitted to parliament as discussions on the issue have stalled, with fears lingering that such a move could violate the nation's Constitutional guarantee on the secrecy of communications. Among other governmental offices that have suffered cyberattacks, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency was likely targeted by an attack last year, but no sensitive information on rockets or satellites was accessed. In August, the government's National Center of Incident Readiness and Strategy for Cybersecurity said it found that email addresses and other information might have been leaked as a result of unauthorized external access. Related coverage: Hacker group attacks Japan nuclear websites over Fukushima water plan Ragnar Locker ransomware gang taken down in international sweep More than 40% of consumers fall prey to "dark pattern" sites: survey By Peter Masheter, KYODO NEWS - Feb 5, 2024 - 20:58 | Arts, All, Japan, World A Ukraine-born model with Japanese citizenship who won the 2024 Miss Japan beauty pageant has given up her title, competition organizers said Monday, in the wake of a weekly magazine report detailing her relationship with a married man. Karolina Shiino, 26, was named the 2024 Miss Japan Grand Prix winner on Jan. 22. She was the first person of European descent to win the top prize in the contest organizers say is dedicated to crowning a representation of the "foremost beauty of all Japanese women." Born to Ukrainian parents, Shiino grew up in Nagoya, central Japan, after coming to the country at age 5. Her Miss Japan victory had already been considered controversial due to her foreign roots, but she gave up the title following the Shukan Bunshun weekly magazine revelation on Thursday, which reported her relationship with a married influencer who is also a doctor. In a statement on its website Monday, the Miss Japan Association said it has accepted her request to relinquish her title and "seriously reflects on our responsibility in bringing about the series of disturbances." The association also offered its "deep apologies" to concerned parties, including sponsors and judges, and said the competition's top honor will remain vacant for the rest of the year. Contest organizers had initially backed Shiino following the report, after she told her model agency Free Wave Co. that she had ended the relationship upon learning the man was married. But a new statement from the agency Monday said it had confirmed she continued to see him after learning his marital status. In an apology posted to her Instagram, Shiino said she had been unable to tell the truth amid her confusion and fear after the article came out. "I am truly sorry for the huge trouble I have caused and for betraying those who supported me," she wrote. A naturalized Japanese citizen, Shiino has said her identity is that of a Japanese person. In a tearful acceptance speech upon winning, she said, "I had not been accepted as Japanese many times, but I am filled with gratitude to have been recognized as Japanese today." But her appointment ignited debate over what constitutes Japanese identity and led to polarized views on social media over whether her background made her an appropriate winner. Eligible applicants must hold Japanese citizenship, be unmarried and be between 17 and 26 years old as of the end of their application year. In selecting its winners, the contest says it judges candidates based on their inner strength, looks and actions. Shiino said in an interview with Kyodo News on Thursday before stepping down that she welcomes discussion over her selection and respects people who oppose her win on the basis that she does not match the image of Miss Japan. "I don't feel negative toward that way of thinking. Rather, I believe such views provide an opportunity for reflection," she said. Miss Japan was first held in 1950, though its current incarnation dates back to 1967. It is a domestic event that does not send its winner to represent Japan in international competitions. Japanese beauty contests have previously been the subject of debate over identity including in 2015, when the Miss Universe Japan competition named Ariana Miyamoto, who was born to a Japanese mother and African-American father, as its first winner of mixed heritage. KYODO NEWS - Feb 5, 2024 - 23:05 | All, Japan Tokyo and neighboring areas were hit by snowfall on Monday, disrupting public transportation and prompting Japan's weather agency to issue a heavy snow warning across the capital. For the first time since February 2022, snow accumulation of at least 1 centimeter was measured in Tokyo's central area. It was also the first time in about a year that a heavy snow warning was issued for Tokyo's 23 wards. Snowfall is expected to peak late Monday night, but commuters may still encounter snowy and icy roads the following day as a temperature drop is expected in the morning, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Emergency services in Tokyo have already started receiving calls related to falls and injuries, with some 40 people taken to hospitals by ambulance, according to the Tokyo Fire Department. A power outage was impacting about 14,400 homes in Tokyo and six prefectures in eastern Japan as of 10:30 p.m. Monday, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. said, though the company could not confirm if snow was the cause. Mountainous areas in the Kanto-Koshin region will likely continue to see heavy snow through Tuesday morning as a low-pressure system advances along the southern coast of the main island of Honshu toward the east, it said. All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines canceled at least 100 flights in total, mostly leaving or arriving at Tokyo's Haneda airport Monday afternoon, with over 11,000 people being affected. East Japan Railway Co. decided to suspend some limited express train services on the Chuo Line starting Monday evening. Major expressways running through Tokyo and its vicinity, including Tomei Expressway and Metropolitan Expressway, have been partially shut down, according to operators. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism requested drivers to put winter tires on their vehicles or carry snow chains and refrain from going out unless necessary. During the 24 hours through 6 p.m. Tuesday, 40 cm of snow is forecast in mountainous areas of the northern Kanto region, 30 cm in areas such as Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture and Tama in western Tokyo, and 8 cm in Tokyo's 23 wards, according to the weather agency. During a 24-hour period through 6 p.m. Tuesday, 40 cm of snow is forecast in mountainous areas of the northern Kanto region, 30 cm in areas such as Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture and Tama in western Tokyo, and 8 cm in Tokyo's 23 wards, according to the weather agency. Related coverage: Sapporo Snow Festival opens with all COVID restrictions removed CCTV: It was reported that the US military launched air strikes on targets within the territories of Syria and Iraq on February 3 to retaliate after a previous drone attack which killed US troops based in Jordan. Both the Syrian and Iraqi governments condemned the US infringement on their sovereign security. What is Chinas comment? Wang Wenbin: Syria and Iraq are sovereign countries. China opposes any act that violates the UN Charter and infringes upon other countries territorial sovereignty and security. The current situation in the Middle East is highly complex and sensitive. China urges relevant parties to earnestly observe international law, remain calm, exercise restraint, and prevent the tensions in the region from escalating or even spiraling out of control. Reuters: We have learned that Australian writer Yang Jun was given a suspended death sentence today. Can you share more information about his case and what is Chinas comment? Wang Wenbin: On February 5, 2024, the Beijing No.2 Intermediate Peoples Court announced the sentencing for the first instance of the case of Australian defendant Yang Jun who was accused of espionage. The Court ruled that Yang Jun was guilty of espionage and sentenced him to death with a two-year reprieve and ordered that all his personal property be confiscated. The peoples court heard the trial in strict accordance with the law and ensured that Yang Jun fully exercised his procedural rights. The court also respected and ensured the Australian sides consular rights, including the right to consular visits and notifications, and arranged for the Australian side to sit in on the sentencing. Xinhua News Agency: The Namibian government said on February 4 that President Hage Geingob passed away due to illness. Does China have any comment on his passing? Wang Wenbin: We express deep condolences over President Hage Geingobs passing and extend sincere sympathies to the Namibian government and people and to President Geingobs family. President Geingob was an extraordinary leader of his country. He led the Namibian people in pursuing national independence and liberation and advancing socio-economic development, and was supported and loved by the people. President Hage Geingob was an old friend of the Chinese people. He oversaw on the Namibian side the upgrade of China-Namibia ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and the deepening of the relationship, and he made important contribution to the friendship between our two countries. The Chinese people firmly stand with the Namibian people in this time of grief. Reuters: Its reported by Japanese media that owing to Chinese hackers attacks, confidential Japanese diplomatic documents were leaked in 2020. Whats your comment? Wang Wenbin: I am not aware of that. We oppose groundlessly smearing and accusing China without any solid evidence. China News Service: Devastating wildfires in Chile recently killed 112 people, with more than 300 people missing. President Gabriel Boric declared two days of national mourning. The Chilean authorities said the death toll is likely to rise amid raging wildfires. Does China know whether there have been any Chinese killed or injured? Wang Wenbin: The fatalities and serious financial loss caused by the devastating wildfires in Chile were heart-wrenching. We mourn for the lost lives and extend condolences to the bereaved families and the injured. China believes that under the strong leadership of the Chilean government, the people in Chile will get through this difficult time and rebuild their homes soon. As far as we have learned, there have been no Chinese casualties in the wildfires. Bloomberg: The Filipino government said that they foiled an attempt to hack a government website by hackers operating in China. Do you have any comment on these accusations by the government? Wang Wenbin: Cybersecurity is a global challenge. China always strictly cracks down on cyber attacks in all forms in accordance with the law and stands for dialogue and cooperation among all countries to jointly safeguard cybersecurity. AFP: Senegalese President Macky Sall postponed the presidential election in the country hours before the official campaign was due to begin. Police and protesters clashed yesterday in the country. Does China support Senegalese Presidents decision? Wang Wenbin: What you mentioned is Senegals internal affairs. Global Times: The Korean Peninsula has seen continued tensions, especially the rising rivalry between the DPRK and the ROK recently. The DPRK adjusted its policy on handling relations with the ROK, saying that the relationship between South and North Korea is no longer the relationship between people of the same nation, but a relationship between two hostile countries and two belligerents at war, and that unification with the South is no longer possible. What is Chinas comment? Wang Wenbin: We noted this. The DPRKs statement on its policy is a sovereign matter of the DPRK. China always supports the DPRK and the ROK in improving their relations. The situation on the Korean Peninsula has come to where it stands today for a reason. Tensions on the Peninsular do not serve the common interests of relevant parties. Relevant parties need to work towards the same direction, keep to the major direction of political settlement and jointly safeguard peace and stability on the Peninsula. China Daily: Its reported that the Kosovo authorities recently announced the euro-only currency policy and ban on the Serbian Dinar in Kosovo. Whats your comment? Wang Wenbin: We noted relevant news. China believes that any unilateral actions are not conducive to the settlement of the Kosovo issue as well as regional peace and stability. We support relevant parties concerned in working with each other within the framework of the relevant Security Council resolution to reach a mutually acceptable political solution through dialogue. In this process, Serbias sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity should be fully respected, and the rights to subsistence and development of all ethnic groups in Kosovo should be guaranteed. KYODO NEWS - Feb 5, 2024 - 16:43 | Sports, All Olympic champion Uta Abe was named the International Judo Federation's female judoka of the year for the second year running Sunday after continuing her dominance of the women's 52-kilogram division. The 23-year-old, who has not lost in IJF competition since 2019, went back-to-back as both world champion and Tokyo Grand Slam winner last year. Her world title victory in Doha in May was the fourth of her career. Uta and older brother Hifumi, the reigning men's 66-kg Olympic and world champion, earned early selection for this summer's Paris Games, where they will once again be gold-medal favorites. "I'm very happy. I want to fight with all my might at the 2024 Paris Olympics," Uta said in a video message played at the award ceremony in Paris. Georgia's Tato Grigalashvili, the men's 81-kg world champion, was named the top male judoka for the second straight year, while the rising star award went to 19-year-old Dota Arai from Japan, the men's 100-kg junior world champion. Related coverage: Olympics: Japan predicted to finish 4th on Paris Games medal table Judo: Abe siblings win gold as Japan tops Grand Slam medal table Judo: Abe siblings headline Japan team at Tokyo Grand Slam Han Baosan provides free medical services in Huanxian County of Qingyang, northwest China's Gansu Province, July 1, 2023. (Xinhua) SHANGHAI, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Beitun City, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is the hometown of Han Baosan, director of the Breast Surgery Department of Xinhua Hospital affiliated with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Moreover, since 2012, Han has made it his yearly mission to visit this destination and offer free diagnosis and treatment services for breast diseases. According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer became the most diagnosed cancer worldwide in 2020. During this period, nearly 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer were reported, surpassing the number of new lung cancer cases for the first time. In China, breast cancer ranks as the most common cancer among women. "Early detection, and early diagnosis and treatment are particularly crucial for patients with breast cancer, which can effectively reduce the mortality rate," Han, 51, told Xinhua ahead of the World Cancer Day, which falls on Sunday this year. However, the breast cancer screening coverage in China is lower than that of developed countries, especially in rural and remote areas, Han said. This results in many cases of breast cancer spreading to other parts of the body before the disease is diagnosed, he noted. After graduation from Xinjiang Medical University, Han entered Shanghai Jiao Tong University to research breast cancer. Now, he has become a renowned expert in breast cancer plastic surgery in China, and he has given more than 300 speeches at academic conferences. "I grew up in Xinjiang, so I have always felt that I have the responsibility to do something for the healthcare there," Han said. Since 2012, he has traveled to Beitun to help improve medical services by giving free breast disease diagnosis and treatment. Every year, he passes on his experience and knowledge to local doctors in major hospitals as a volunteer. Whenever Han visited Xinjiang, he was well-received by residents, and he has also made many friends with local doctors and patients. As more doctors joined him, Han officially launched a volunteer project called "Heart to Heart" with nearly 100 doctors nationwide supported by China Women's Development Foundation, to encourage experts to provide free medical services in rural and remote areas. In his view, the essence of being a volunteer is spreading love. "From the very beginning, I volunteered to provide free medical services in Xinjiang on my own. Then more medical experts joined me, and most of them are famous doctors from first-tier cities," Han said emotionally. Up to now, the footprint of the volunteer organization has covered 15 provinces and autonomous regions in China. The group has continuously promoted prevention and the early detection of breast cancer, having carried out more than 400 operations for free after screening 40,000 people. "There have been so many great moments and precious memories forged during the 'Heart to Heart' journey," Han said, adding that one of the most challenging tasks was when the medical crew operated 15 surgeries in 23 hours without a break in Gansu Province. A shortage of medical professionals is one of the key problems holding back the development of healthcare. Wherever Han and his peers go, the volunteer group would try to help grassroots healthcare workers improve their skills. An outline for "Healthy China 2030" issued in 2016 calls for optimizing health for women and children and promoting the early diagnosis and treatment of common diseases among women. "Healthcare awareness in less developed areas still needs further improvement. There is still a long way to go," said Han. Apart from breast cancer screening coverage, the proportion of breast-conserving surgery and breast reconstruction in China is also relatively low compared with developed countries. "The treatment of breast cancer should not only focus on the disease, but also on how the patients feel," Han said, advocating using the "circumareolar incision technique" to avoid inappropriate surgical methods which might affect the quality of life of patients. Speaking of the plan for the future, Han said the first plan is to write popular science books related to breast diseases, and the second is to lend a helping hand to more places. "'Heart to Heart' is a journey with love and dream as well," Han said. "I have a dream that the footprint of my volunteer journey will cover all provincial-level regions across China before retirement." Shares in troubled French technology company Atos plunged by a quarter on Monday as pulled a 720m rights issue and entered talks with lenders. Atos said it had appointed a mediator to oversee refinancing talks with lenders. The company faces 2.25bn in debt payments next year. Talks to sell Tech Foundations, Atos's loss-making IT consulting arm, to Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky's EPEI group are ongoing, with "no certainty that these negotiations will result in an agreement", Atos said. It warned in January that free cash flow would be slightly below its initial target for the second half of 2023. The ditched rights issue was part of a plan unveiled in August to split the company and sell its lossmaking legacy IT business to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky. Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com Telecoms giant Vodafone held full-year guidance as it reported a fall in third-quarter service revenues, driven largely by declines in Germany. The company on Monday said service revenues fell 1.4% to 9.3bn on a reported basis. Service revenue growth in Germany was down 0.3%. Vodafone added that it was still in active talks on a potential merger for its Italian operations after rejecting a deal with rival Iliad in Italy last month. Service revenue in Italy fell by 1.3% in the third quarter against a 1% drop in the prior three months. Vodafones third quarter had some pockets of optimism for investors to cling to. Growth was in line with the second quarter, arguably a better result than some had feared," said Matt Britzman, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. "The key German market managed to scrape its way into growth territory but saw a slowdown. Comparisons to the second quarter were always going to be tough, with some non-recurring revenue streams not repeating." "Regulatory changes in Germany are set to kick in this year, adding a layer of uncertainty to operations in the region." Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com NEW DELHI, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least 36 prisoners lodged at a jail in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh have tested positive for HIV, multiple local media reports said Monday. The inmates at the district jail in Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, tested positive for HIV during health checks conducted in December 2023. With the fresh detections, the number of HIV-infected inmates now increases to 63 in the jail. Kutch Copper, a new copper refinery aiming to produce 1 million tonnes of refined copper annually, will be constructed in two phases. In June 2022, the Adani Enterprises subsidiary secured financial closure for Phase 1, which has a capacity of 0.5 million tonnes per annum, through a syndicated club loan. "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", quoted one of the sources as saying. "They aim to be the world's largest copper smelting complex by 2030", the report added. According to the report, the per capita copper consumption in India is approximately 0.6 kg, which is lower than 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 crucial to highlight that over the last five years, India has experienced a consistent increase in imports, as domestic production has struggled to keep pace with demand. In the fiscal year 2022-2023 (April to March), the country set a record by importing 181,000 tonnes of copper, while exports hit an all-time low of 30,000 tonnes, even falling below the levels observed during the COVID-19 pandemic period, as per government data. 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. Furthermore, the integrated complex will generate sulphuric acid, a vital raw material used in the production of phosphatic fertilizers, detergents, pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, paper and sugar bleaching, and water treatment. India currently imports approximately two million tonnes of sulphuric acid. In an era of unprecedented change, the role of the CFO has transcended traditional boundaries, evolving into a strategic linchpin within organizations. Focused on driving innovation, fostering efficiency, and shaping future strategies, finance leaders now bear a multifaceted mantle of responsibilities. From strategic planning to talent cultivation, from leveraging data and technology to spearheading sustainability initiatives, the modern CFO stands at the forefront of organizational evolution. NetNex is proud to present the 16th edition of CFO StraTech 2024 in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on February 8, 2024. This seminal event is meticulously crafted to convene a vibrant community of CFOs in the region, providing a platform for the exchange of experiences, insights, and foresight. At CFO StraTech, participants will engage in dynamic discussions on emerging trends and cutting-edge technologies, exploring forward-looking solutions and strategies aimed at fostering sustainable and impactful outcomes. Against the backdrop of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia's visionary blueprint for a prosperous and diversified future, our gathering takes on heightened significance. Vision 2030, championed by the Kingdom's leadership, heralds a dynamic era of transformation. As we gather in Riyadh for CFO StraTech 2024, we recognize the indispensable role of CFOs in driving this transformation forward. From innovation to resource optimization, from strategy formulation to execution excellence, finance leaders are integral to the realization of Vision 2030's ambitious goals. CFO StraTech 2024 isn't merely a forum for knowledge exchange; it's a catalyst for active engagement with the vision, enabling finance leaders to contribute meaningfully to its fruition. As peers gather to share best practices and chart growth strategies, CFO StraTech 2024 emerges as a beacon of learning and collaboration, empowering CFOs as architects of strategic transformation. The CFO StraTech 2024 will explore the wide-ranging challenges and opportunities facing today's finance leaders. The sessions will draw insights from both expert speakers and attending delegates, offering a comprehensive perspective on the topic. CFO's Role in Advancing the Sustainability Agenda Strategic Utilization of Data Analytics Mastering Change for Digital Financial Excellence Harnessing the Power of Scenario Planning Leveraging Cost Optimization for Growth Initiatives Digital CFO : Objectifying the Digital Business Strategy For more information about CFO StraTech 2024 KSA, including registration and partnership opportunities, please visit our Event website https://cfostratech.com/riyadh IIT Madras has joined forces with Munitions India Limited, a Defense Public Sector Enterprise, to collaborate on the development of India's inaugural domestically designed 155 Smart Ammunition. The primary aim is to enhance the accuracy of the 155 mm shell, achieving a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 10 meters, a significant improvement from the current 500 meters in Indian-developed ammunitions. Additionally, the project aims to boost lethality at the terminal impact point, as stated in an official statement by IIT Madras. Munitions India is the countrys biggest manufacturer of a range of ammunition and explosives for the armed and paramilitary forces. Prof. G. Rajesh, Faculty, Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Madras, and his team of researchers will be developing the smart ammunition, which has a duration of two years. Elaborating on the key aspects of this project, Ravi Kant, Chairman and Managing Director, Munitions India said, this will be a giant leap forward for the country in achieving its goal of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Prof. G. Rajesh said: "The Special Purpose Shell will house the guidance, navigation and control system along with roll isolation strategies, canard actuation system, fuze, shell body and warhead. The smart projectile will have complex technologies such as miniaturized electronics/sensors and mechanical structures. The proposed smart projectile will use the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) for guidance. This means independence from foreign governments satellite systems". Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), has secured the top position among Indians and second globally in the Brand Guardianship Index 2024 by Brand Finance. He outpaced global corporate leaders like Microsoft's Satya Nadella, Google's Sundar Pichai, Apple's Tim Cook, and Tesla's Elon Musk. Ambani also surpassed notable Indian figures like Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran (ranked fifth, up from eighth in the 2023 ranking) and Anish Shah (ranked sixth) of Mahindra Group, among others. Brand Finance's survey awarded Mukesh Ambani a Brand Guardianship Index (BGI) score of 80.3, placing him just below Huateng Ma of Tencent with a score of 81.6. The BGI is a global acknowledgment of CEOs who contribute to sustainable business growth by balancing the interests of all stakeholders, including employees, investors and the broader society. In the 2023 ranking, Ambani held the second global position, but in the 2024 ranking, he secured the top spot among 'Diversified' conglomerates. Brand Finance employs a balanced scorecard to assess CEOs' ability to act as stewards of their company's brand and long-term value. As per Brand Finance's survey, the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors have emerged as the most significant influence on CEO reputation. The Brand Guardianship Index acknowledges CEOs who effectively balance commercial success, long-term brand development and personal reputation management. Being recognized as a 'sustainability champion' contributes to 14% of the variation in reputation scores, surpassing factors like perceived trustworthiness (12.5%), possessing a 'strong strategy and vision,' and global recognition. The Brand Guardianship Index assesses Perception factors, reflecting current perceptions, Performance factors indicating tangible results, and Promotion factors supporting future perceptions and performance. South Indian Bank, a private sector bank in India, announces the Grand Finale winners of the 'SIB Ignite Quizathon' a National Level Quiz Competition held at St Joseph's University, Bangalore. The prestigious title of the National Champion was earned by Team Qurious Docs (Gauhati Medical College And Hospital), for demonstrating exceptional knowledge and agility, and was awarded a grand prize of Rs 1,50,000. Team Neanderthals (LNMIIT Jaipur) secured the second prize of Rs 1,00,000 while the third prize of Rs 60,000 was awarded to Team Cuizzzers (Christ University) for their remarkable performances. The Grand Finale, held at St Joseph's University, flagged off with an introductory address by Mr. Thomas Joseph K, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer of South Indian Bank. Setting the stage for the event, Mr. Gyanendra Kumar Gangwar IAS, Managing Director of Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd, delivered an insightful keynote address, followed by a special address from Rev. Dr. Fr. Victor Lobo SJ, Vice Chancellor of St Joseph's University. The other prominent attendees also included Mr. Sony A, SGM & CIO, South Indian Bank. Ms. Azmat Habibulla, Joint General Manager & Chief Marketing Officer, South Indian Bank, and Ms. Rekha VR, Regional Head - Bangalore, South Indian Bank. Mr. Thomas Joseph K, Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, South Indian Bank said, "The SIB Ignite Quizathon stands as a testament to South Indian Bank's unwavering dedication to fostering intellectual curiosity and knowledge among the youth. This competition serves as a platform that tests the participant's cognitive abilities and encourages them to delve into a diverse range of subjects. The outstanding performances witnessed during the event prove the depth of talent that thrives among the young minds of our nation. South Indian Bank is committed to engaging with the youth and reinforces its dedication through the SIB Ignite Quizathon. This initiative marks a strategic step towards nurturing young minds and establishing lasting connections with the vibrant generation of tomorrow". The SIB Ignite competition aimed to captivate and inspire college students nationwide, providing a platform for them to exhibit their general knowledge and enrich their understanding of diverse subjects. The competition comprised three rounds, starting with a preliminary qualifying round held online for teams across the nation. The winners of the preliminary round proceeded to zonal rounds and the subsequent winners, thereon to the Grand Finale for the coveted title of national champion. The grand finalists included Team Mark Men (IIM Ahmedabad), Team Cuizzzers (Christ University), Team Neanderthals (LNMIIT Jaipur), Team Qurious Docs (Gauhati Medical College And Hospital), Team TURING (RTM Nagpur University), Team Batman & Robin (IIT Palakkad), Team Keynesians (St Berchmans College Changanassery), and Team RM Girls (Pope John Paul II College of Education). South Indian Bank remains dedicated to fostering knowledge and for providing a platform for young minds to shine. The success of the SIB Ignite Quizathon underscores the Bank's commitment to education and the promotion of intellectual growth. The 'SIB Ignite Quizathon' featured Pinnacle as the associate partner, BrainQuest as the Knowledge Partner, and St. Joseph's University as the Institution Partner. India's humanoid robot astronaut Vyommitra is set to embark on an uncrewed space mission preceding the Gaganyaan mission, India's inaugural manned space flight with Indian astronauts. According to Union Minister Jitendra Singh, the Vyommitra Mission is slated for the third quarter of this year, while the manned Gaganyaan mission is planned for 2025. The name Vyommitra is a fusion of two Sanskrit words, 'vyoma' meaning space, and 'mitra' meaning friend. Vyommitra, India's humanoid robot astronaut, is set to precede the Gaganyaan mission, the nation's inaugural manned space flight with Indian astronauts, according to Union Minister Jitendra Singh. The uncrewed Vyommitra Mission is scheduled for the third quarter of this year, while the manned Gaganyaan mission is planned for a 2025 launch. Designed to simulate human functions in the space environment, Vyommitra can monitor module parameters, issue alerts, execute life-support operations, operate panels, and respond to queries. The first test vehicle flight TV D1, qualifying the crew escape and parachute systems, was completed on October 21, 2023, in preparation for the Gaganyaan launch. The Chandrayaan-3 Mission, landing near the Moon's south pole on August 23, 2023, is progressing as expected, with vital information to be shared soon. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In light of a recent outbreak in bail scams, the NYPD is issuing a warning to New Yorkers. The 121st Precinct posted to X on Friday, warning residents of a scam where individuals pretending to be from a law enforcement agency call victims on the phone, and tell them either their loved ones need help with bail, they have a warrant for their arrest, or ask for donations to a fake police charity. The police will never contact you to ask for money, police advise. Its not a cop, its a scam! Recent phone scams in our area involved someone calling and claiming to be a law enforcement agency while requesting payment to help with bail, or help a family member. ATTENTION The police will never contact you to ask for money. Its not a cop, its a SCAM pic.twitter.com/wvAMhkvzqB NYPD 121st Precinct (@NYPD121Pct) February 2, 2024 Residents are advised to be aware that the scammers can manipulate caller ID to make it appear as if the calls are coming from law enforcement. The caller ID may also have your name or a family members name in order to seem legitimate, police warn. A HISTORY OF SCAMS In September, Assistant Chief Joseph Gulotta, the NYPD borough commander, spoke with the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com about the the prevalence of scammers. Gulotta said at the time telephone and internet scams targeting senior citizens cost Staten Island victims more than $2.6 million in 2023 alone. An 86-year-old Staten Island man fell victim to a telephone scam in August of last year that cost him $50,000 when he thought he was helping his son, who he was falsely told by scammers was under arrest in New Jersey. According to the NYPDs post, the best thing one can do if confronted with these types, or any other type, of scams is to hang up the phone. To report suspicion of a scam to local authorities call 718-556-7226 or email reportscams@rcda.nyc.gov. A man accused of opening fire at a birthday party in Cumberland County in a 2021 mass shooting that left three dead and 11 injured has been indicated on murder charges, authorities said Monday. Arthur Armstead, 30, of Fairfield Township, is one of two men charged in what authorities have described as a targeted attack at a home on East Commerce Street, outside Bridgeton in Fairfield Township on May 22, 2021. Police have said at least six guns were fired in the shooting. Armstead is facing charges of two counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and related charges, the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office said Monday. He remains in Cumberland County jail. Armstead is charged with killing Kevin Elliott, 30 and Brailyn Holmes, 19, as well as wounding three other people, prosecutors said. Asia Hester, 25, also died from the shooting. Armed guests opened fire around 11:45 p.m., causing the crowd to race for cover. Police previously said the violence began after partygoers from another gathering went to the celebration. Zedekiah G. Holmes, 21(Salem County Correctional Facility) At least 48 shell casings were found at the scene. Prosecutors said Armstead fled to Delaware after the shooting. He then hid at an Atlantic City casino hotel before surrendering to state police in Bridgeton, prosecutors said. He was also previously indicted for obstruction, hindering apprehension and conspiracy. Zedekiah G. Holmes, Brailyn Holmes brother, was charged in August 2021 with first-degree murder in the killings of Hester and Elliott, prosecutors said. Seven others, including Armsteads mother, were indicted on lesser charges related to the shooting. Zedekiah Holmes has a pretrial conference scheduled for Feb. 20. SANAA, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- U.S. and British warplanes launched a new wave of airstrikes against Houthi camps in northern Yemen late Sunday, reported the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV. The strikes hit targets in Saada province, a Houthi stronghold, and Hodeidah, a strategic Red Sea port city. In Saada, the strikes hit the eastern part of the provincial capital, also called Saada, and the northern district of Bakim. In Hodeidah, the strikes targeted camps in Ras Issa, a northwestern coastal district, and the neighboring district of Az-Zaydiyah. Other strikes hit the southern part of the city, which has been the main portal for imported commodities in Houthi-controlled areas. The U.S. side has not commented on the new airstrikes, which came less than 24 hours after another round of U.S.-British attacks on Houthi camps in areas under their control. The U.S. Defense Department said in a statement that the previous airstrikes on Saturday night were meant 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." Houthi chief negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam said on al-Masirah TV that the U.S. airstrikes would not destroy his group's weapons or limit its military operations and capabilities. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea vowed that his group would launch retaliatory attacks against the U.S. Navy after the U.S. airstrikes hit the group's camps in six northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Some of New York Citys conservative politicians called on the city and state Monday to be more cooperative on deportation proceedings. Led by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn), the group gathered in Times Square near the site of a recent attack on NYPD officers that has been linked to the citys ongoing migrant crisis. Last weeks attack was only one of about 1,000 different incidents in the city, but it got a lot of scrutiny and media attention because it was an attack on police officers, she said. This is completely unacceptable, and sadly, its not the first one that weve seen. According to information the NYPD released Tuesday, officers attempted to disperse a disorderly group in Manhattans Times Square Saturday, Jan. 27 around 10 p.m. when a physical altercation started with multiple individuals punching and kicking the officers when they tried to take a member of the group into custody. Cops have arrested seven people in relation to the incident, and police have provided home addresses for some of those arrested that correspond with existing city migrant shelters. NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell identified some of the people connected to the incident as migrants, and lamented some of the alleged perpetrators release without bail, according to reporting from NBC 4. Four of the individuals have reportedly fled the city on buses bound for the U.S.-Mexico border. Some of them live in the migrant shelter, they appear to be migrants, obviously. I dont know when they got here. Some of them already have lengthy police records, Chell said. These individuals who were arrested [or] will be arrested should be indicted, they should be sitting in Rikers awaiting their day in front of the judge. Plain and simple. Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore), Councilman David Carr (R-Mid-Island), Councilman Bob Holden (D-Queens), Councilwoman Vickie Paladino (R-Queens), and Kenneth Genalo, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director for the New York City field office, joined Malliotakis in her push for more deportation cooperation. Sanctuary city policies have been in place in the five boroughs since the late 1980s with a series of laws at the city and state level strengthening those policies over the years, but Genalo said Monday that a pair of laws passed during Mayor Bill de Blasios administration have made ICE officers jobs even harder. Unfortunately, a lot of the way that we have to do our intelligence in ICE is the same way that you find out about cases. Its through the media, he said. Were no longer contacted. Were no longer called. More than 170,000 people have made their way to the five boroughs since spring 2022, and tens of thousands still remain in the citys care at homeless shelters around the five boroughs. Mayor Eric Adams said Monday that while he believes most of those people have come to the U.S. seeking a better life, those who commit crimes should be held accountable. Any New Yorker that thinks theyre going to commit a crime in this city, that is not acceptable, he said. The role of the federal government, if a person is found guilty of a crime, is to deport and I think deport after they served their sentence for the crime that they committed. The mayor pointed to an existing city law that limits local cooperation with the federal government, but contended that ICE remained free to take actions of its own on deportation matters. Gov. Kathy Hochul has also voiced support for removing the alleged attackers involved in the Jan. 27 assault on NYPD officer. Get them all and send them back, she said during an unrelated press conference Thursday. You dont touch our police officers. You dont touch anybody. Support the Peninsulas only locally-owned newspaper. Subscribe! Subscribing annually brings you big savings. We also offer monthly and weekly subscriptions. Premium Subscription As low as $8.25 per month Premium Includes: Access to the Daily Journals e-Edition: a digital replica of our daily newspaper including crossword puzzles, games, comics, classifieds and ads. The ability to download a digital replica of the Daily Journal for offline reading. The ability to clip & download articles or images to share with others. Access to the last 90 days of e-Editions with search, downloading and clipping options. Unlimited access to our award-winning online content Commenting access on all stories as a valued member of the DJ community Management says the strategic acquisition of the Hillgrove project has moved the company into a new league, transforming it from explorer to developer and potential miner overnight. The deal was partly funded through a $4.9 million placement and also shares to the value of $2.5 million. The shares were issued to international commodity trader Trafigura, which will now speak for 15 per cent of Larvottos stock. Trafigura was a major creditor of Red River, the previous owner of Hillgrove, and agreed to transfer its Red River debt into Larvotto stock in order to enact the deal. Additionally, the company gained the support of a new cornerstone investor, Beijing-based GAGE Capital Management, which not only subscribed for $2.9 million in the placement for a 19.9 per cent holding in Larvotto, but fully underwrote a $2.7 million entitlement offer. Commenting on the deal that was consummated in December last year, Larvotto managing director Ron Heeks said: After an intense few months of due diligence and negotiations with the administrators of Red River, we have achieved what no exploration program could ever have done in one swoop, we have added 1.4-million ounces of high-grade JORC gold-equivalent ounces for the purchase price of under $6/oz (after NSW government environmental bonds). Hillgrove is 375km north of Sydney and 23km east of the regional city of Armidale in northern NSW, placing it within easy reach of key supportive infrastructure including major highways, grid power, rail links and regional airports. While the project already has a sizeable resource and plenty of well-developed drill targets, it curiously also has a 113-hectare tailings dump that was commissioned in 1982 by New England Antimony Mines, about 500m from the current processing plant. The tailings are entirely within the current mining leases and encouragingly, old records show gold sitting in them at 1.34g/t, antimony and plenty of tungsten. All told, there are 1.4 million tonnes of tailings in the dump that was created mostly during the era of antimony mining. Larvotto still has more work to do to see how consistently the 1.34g/t grade runs through the tailings. However, at 1.4 million tonnes, if the grade holds up Larvotto may well have a rolled-gold walk-up start to mining and quick and easy cashflows. In-house test results and physical TSF surveying support the old production records and documented grades and indicate that recovery of gold and antimony is potentially viable from the tailings. Further tailings evaluation and metallurgical testwork is ongoing to determine average grades and recoveries for gold, antimony and potentially tungsten. It will also be carried out on hard rock goldantimony recoveries to model possible co-processing from any existing stockpiles and likely future mill feedstock and may also explore the feasibility of a dedicated tungsten recovery module. Notably, the current resource at Hillgrove includes nothing from the tailings, which means they could become a source of a quick and easy and cheap resource upgrade. The historic mining town of Hillgrove was established in 1884 and grew rapidly during the 1880s and 1890s due to increasing production from the mines. Early Hillgrove mining operations were centred around a collection of small mines worked mainly for gold, antimony and, to a much lesser extent, tungsten during the late-19th century. Early smaller gold mines in the area were soon eclipsed by the discovery of high-grade gold at Bakers Creek in March 1887, which developed into the Bakers Creek Goldmining Companys lease. First returns from the mine were impressive at 51 ounces of gold to the tonne, precipitating a gold rush to the area and a 20-head crushing battery was soon installed alongside a tramway that was built for more efficient transport up and down the steep gorge. The mine remained one of the richest in NSW for the first decade of the 20th century. Past production from Bakers Creek, mostly between about 1880 and 1916, is estimated at about 304,000 ounces of gold from 176,000 tonnes of ore for an average grade of more than 50g/t gold, making it the most productive gold mining area in the Hillgrove mineral field. Larvotto views the area as retaining significant potential for new high-grade gold discoveries. Results from 2022 drilling by Red River into the Little Reef lode at the Hillgrove project, which is part of the rich Bakers Creek reef system, underscore the companys view. Management says three diamond drill holes put into the inferred extension of Little Reef to locate a repeat of the steeply-dipping, high-grade ore shoots successfully demonstrated reef continuity and intercepted high gold grades in all three holes. They include 0.45m at an eye-watering 257g/t gold, 0.4m going 96.8g/t gold and 0.6m running 108 g/t gold. The latter intersection accompanied a shorter 0.4m intercept higher in the same hole at a stunning 525 g/t gold. Other broader intercepts include 9.5m at 4.3g/t gold and 0.8 per cent antimony from 70m, in addition to 20.3m at 4.1g/t gold and 0.9 per cent antimony from 51m. Larvotto says the three drill holes intercepted quartz breccia structures on-trend with the Little Reef structure. Along with other structures in the approach to the footwall structure, the breccias display visible gold, reflected by high-grade gold in assays which is always a good sign. Notably, historical records also show mining at Little Reef through a north-west strike of 280m to a vertical extent of 550m below the base of the gorge yielded production in 1890 at grades above 2 ounces (more than 60g/t) of gold per tonne, which begs the question, how much of this mineralisation did the old-timers miss? The companys Hillgrove tenure encloses a total of 254sq km made up of four exploration licences and importantly, 48 already-granted mining leases. The area was mined for both gold and antimony at different times as far back as 1857 and continuous antimony production at the site took place for more than 30 years up until 2002 when the price fell to an all-time low. The Hillgrove operations have produced more than 740,000 ounces of gold and about 40,000 tonnes of antimony. Before slipping into administration, largely due to the woes associated with its Queensland operations, Red River was planning to refresh the reserves base and increase resources at Hillgrove through exploration of both new and existing targets. It spent about $20 million on exploration and successfully increased resources and generated several more high-grade new targets adjacent to existing resources, which Larvotto says it will follow-up. More than 2000 tonnes of scheelite concentrate, the principal ore mineral of tungsten, have also been produced from the area. As an upside to future exploration, more than 204 individual mineral occurrences have been identified to date in the greater region, with the mineralisation often developed as strike-extensive veins up to 20km long, with potentially deep, steeply dipping fissures. Both antimony and tungsten are designated as strategically critical commodities by many countries including the United States, European Union, China, and Australia and add an unusual and unique flavour to the project that is essentially a gold play. Larvotto says while Hillgrove was operated successfully as a gold mine and as an antimony mine both were never mined at the same time although both metals often have complementary extraction processes and together constitute an overall high-grade mining opportunity. The locality typically hosts higher-grade antimony near the surface with gold grades increasing with depth as antimony decreases. The company believes that one commodity could potentially support the other through the mines transitional phases. Larvotto is about to get into a 2000m diamond core drilling program to test the exciting Bakers Creek reef system, which it believes could hold significant potential for high-grade gold mineralisation. Success in the Bakers Creek drilling could give it a good initial leg up as the company begins reassessing the resource inventory of the entire operation. The Larvotto story is one that the gaggle of financial players known as admin chasers always hope to emulate, but few manage to do so. Admin chasers are those financial markets types that hang around administrators and receivers hoping to steal and reinvent the crumbs of failed operations. By any measure, however, Larvotto has pinched Hillgrove from the administrators. Paying just $3 million or call it $5 million if you like (including the environmental bond) for a fully-functioning mining plant and an exploration package that combined have seen about $200 million thrown at them, is the dream play of the admin chasers. Throw in a 1.4-million ounce gold equivalent resource going more than 6g/t gold equivalent and a backroom full of high-value exploration targets on paper, and it is starting to get a little embarrassing for the administrators. Oh yes, and the tailings appear to be laced with gold going at least partially 1.34g/t, too and thats on top of the biggest antimony resource in the country. Not a bad little asset spread for a $15 million market-capped company. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au Heres a thing you dont see every day: a strange collision of the worlds of true crime and high fashion this week as a remarkable collection of designer clothes and shoes owned by the infamous dead conwoman Melissa Caddick is auctioned off. Receivers of Caddicks estate have been busy doing what they could to recover some of the estimated $30 million she fleeced from clients of her dodgy investment schemes before her mysterious disappearance in 2020. Melissa Caddicks designer collection is up for auction. Credit: Sydney Morning Herald But you wont have to be in Caddicks league for ill-gotten riches to get a piece of the action, with some banging bargains to be had when the gear goes under the hammer at Shapiro Auctioneers in Chippendale on Thursday. Lets see there are dresses by Dior, Chanel, Gucci, Diane von Furstenberg, Herve Leger and other high-end labels that Shapiros reckon will go for between $200 and $400 or further upmarket. The email was irate as well as incredulous: I was shocked to receive a letter from my bank telling me the federal government are phasing out cheques. For years, I have used cheques for donations to charities and sending family members a gift of money. Sending cash in the mail is not secure, and I have always found cheques to be a reliable and safe way to send money. How can I send a surprise gift of cash to family and friends once the cheque option is no longer available? Cheques are an antiquated and inefficient form of payment. Credit: Getty Images I must confess it caught me by surprise. Its been years since Ive sent or received a cheque, and I have never given much thought to them. They are one of the most inefficient methods of payment around. To send someone a cheque you have to write it out in legible handwriting, find their address and write that on an envelope also legibly add a postage stamp and then take the letter to a post box. Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock has said she is not ruling anything in or out in terms of the RBAs next move, after opening the floor to questions in the banks first press conference outside a crisis. Hi, she said, cutting the tension in the room, before reflecting on the trajectory of interest rates which reached close to zero during the pandemic. That was emergency settings, it was never going to stay there forever, she said, noting the latest inflation figure still has a four in front of it. Reserve Bank of Australia governor Michele Bullock today. Credit: Louise Kennerley The last two decades prior to the pandemic, inflation was about 2 per cent. It was in the background people werent focused on it, she said. The board does understand that people are doing it tough, and thats why its really important we get inflation down. We want it back in the background again, where people arent worrying about it. Bullock is speaking after the RBA kept interest rates on hold at 4.35 per cent at their first meeting of the year, broadly in line with market expectations. Answering the first two questions on how markets had reacted to the decision, Bullock said the RBA was looking for data that convinced them that inflation was coming back towards its target range of between 2-3 per cent. Markets will make their own decisions, and theyre putting their money where their mouth is on those sorts of things, she said. But were not really driven by market pricing. Really, whats important for us is looking at the economic data. We want to see inflation continuing to decline. The RBAs central forecast is that inflation will return to the target in 2024, and reach the midpoint of the target range in 2026. ANKARA, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces "neutralized" 11 members of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria, the country's Defense Ministry said on Monday. The YPG members were targeted while plotting an attack on Turkish soldiers in the "Operation Olive Branch" and "Operation Euphrates Shield" zones in northern Syria, the ministry said in a statement. "We continue to respond in kind to terrorist attacks," said the ministry. Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralize" in their statements to imply the alleged "terrorists" have either surrendered, been killed, or been captured. The Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016, Operation Olive Branch in 2018, Operation Peace Spring in 2019, and Operation Spring Shield in 2020 in northern Syria to create a YPG-free zone along the border with the neighboring country. Turkiye sees the YPG group as the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades. Journey times for about 60,000 commuters will double in morning and evening peaks when buses replace trains for 12 months on a busy south-west suburban line. Illustrating the extent of disruption, an all-stops bus trip between Sydenham and Bankstown is forecast to blow out to 49 minutes in the evening peak, against the current 25-minute train trip. Bankstown line passengers will be forced to catch replacement buses along congested roads. Credit: Edwina Pickles For morning commuters, an all-stops bus trip is expected to take 43 minutes when the 13-kilometre stretch of the T3 Bankstown line is closed for a year from as early as July. When converted to handle driverless metro trains, it will be the final section of the $21.6 billion Metro City and Southwest line. For limited-stop services, internal modelling by Transport for NSW forecasts a bus from Sydenham to Bankstown will take 41 minutes during the evening peak, more than double the 17-minute train trip, and 36 minutes in the morning peak. Envirobank has advised that the drink container recycling pods it operated for Containers for Change have been abruptly closed down. Loading 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. One of five youths arrested in relation to the death of a grandmother in a car park near Brisbane has been charged with her murder. Vyleen White, 70, was killed outside a Redbank Plains shopping centre just after 6pm on Saturday in what police described as an abhorrent, cowardly, and violent attack. Her six-year-old granddaughter was not physically injured. White died at the scene and her car, a 2009 Hyundai Getz, was then allegedly stolen and found at Springfield Lakes on Sunday morning. A $42 million legal dispute between businesses at Docklands shuttered Central Pier and state government agency Development Victoria has been settled for a confidential sum. The case was settled on Monday, just as an eight-day hearing was set to begin in the case that was filed five years ago. The fenced-off Central Pier at Docklands in 2021. Credit: Chris Hopkins Federal Court Justice Timothy McEvoy made orders in the proceedings reflecting a settlement between the parties with no order made as to costs. The historic pier, which housed function spaces and restaurants, was subject to an emergency evacuation in August 2019 due to safety concerns about its structural integrity, with diners given just 15 minutes to finish their meals. West Australian police have arrested a member of the Rebels bikie gang after he allegedly shot at a rival gang members home in Landsdale last month. The 28-year-old man appeared in the Armadale Magistrates Court on Monday after being charged over the shooting at the home of Brett Kaos Pechey on January 24. CCTV footage shows a man running from the area after the incident. Credit: Nine News Perth Pechey was not home at the time, but in a Facebook post after the alleged incident, he claimed his wife and children had been. Shooting up houses that women and kids live in is not a victory, he wrote. Scum bag move especially when they no [sic] Im not even in the country. Australia lost its fear of the Chinese Communist Party in the last few years. Now Beijing is setting out to recondition us to be afraid once more. Three months ago, it was a deliberately dangerous naval manoeuvre against the crew of the HMAS Toowoomba in international waters. Beijing pretended nothing had happened. Yang Hengjun has been detained in China since January 2019. Credit: AP Now its an outlandishly harsh punishment of an Australian citizen, a suspended death penalty for a man in fragile health with two young sons in Australia, Yang Hengjun. Beijing pretends its purely an independent judicial matter at arms length from the government. Just when the Australian government was convincing itself that the long China crisis was over, that it had successfully stabilised relations, inviting President Xi Jinping to visit. However, not all the then-councillors were named in the Sandon report. Two of them, Rex Flannery and Timothy Jackson, resigned before the February 2020 sacking. IBAC does not have the authority to make findings of criminal conduct. When IBAC tabled the Sandon report in July last year, then-acting IBAC Commissioner Stephen Farrow said the watchdog would refer evidence to the Office of Public Prosecutions. Sam Aziz (left), John Woodman and Geoff Ablett. Credit: Marija Ercegovac Yet after more than five years of investigations, explosive public evidence before IBAC and the release of the Sandon report, none of the key players in the Casey scandal have been charged or convicted of any offence. That leaves all former councillors free to recontest this years election. Among those likely to contest the October poll is former deputy mayor and ALP member Wayne Smith, one of the then-councillors IBAC found had benefited from Woodman campaign donations, but who had repeatedly failed to declare conflicts of interest when dealing with the Woodman-related projects. Smith told IBAC that he was unaware of the developments in which Woodman had an interest. Theres a good chance I will run, said Smith who, while confident he would not be prosecuted, said he wanted this made official. He called on IBAC to clarify who, if anyone, was to be charged, well before this years election. My life has been put on hold in terms of lots of things, he said. IBAC found that Woodman donated about $1.2 million including cash in suitcases and shopping bags to former Casey mayors Sam Aziz and Geoff Ablett, in return for their support for lucrative planning decisions. The Age approached Ablett about the possibility of nominating for this years elections, but he did not respond. Aziz could not be contacted. But one-time Liberal MP and former councillor Gary Rowe confirmed he was a possible candidate despite IBAC finding he had also failed to declare Woodman donations. In 2020 Rowe told an IBAC hearing he did not believe he needed to declare $10,000 in donations because they were made up of multiple proceeds from tickets sold to an event under the then-$500 disclosure threshold. Asked if he should have declared the money, Rowe responded: Perhaps in hindsight. Later Rowe said: Im sorry if Ive done something wrong. Yes, Im considering it [running], he said. Rowe also called for clarity about what action might still be pending against former councillors. If I was really keen on running I would like that [the IBAC issues] resolved, he said. I certainly would not run to be part of a circus. Former councillor Rosalie Crestani a member of the far-right Rise Up Australia Party before it was deregistered in 2019 said she was not ruling out standing again. Its a decision thats sitting with me at the moment and that Im keeping to myself. IBACs then-acting commissioner, Stephen Farrow (left), and deputy commissioner David Wolf after Operation Sandon was tabled to parliament in July last year. Credit: Wayne Taylor Former councillor Rex Flannery, who was not mentioned in the Sandon report and was not accused of wrongdoing, confirmed he was on the comeback trail. I want to run again. Ive got nothing to hide. He said he was concerned by the lack of action against individuals who had damaged Caseys reputation through the land scandal. If IBAC let those involved in alleged corruption walk from this uncharged, I will be devastated, he said. If theyre going to charge someone, charge them now. Multiple Liberal Party sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, also tipped that former councillor and Liberal Party member Damien Rosario was preparing to run in October, noting his recent prominence at community functions. He was not named in the Sandon report or accused of wrongdoing. The Age has approached Rosario for comment. IBAC found that former mayor Serey was the recipient of tens of thousands of dollars in Woodman campaign donations, including when she stood as a Liberal candidate at two state elections, but that she had repeatedly failed to declare conflicts of interest when dealing with Woodman projects. The details of the charges against Yang have never been revealed, but the allegations of spying have always been strongly denied by the federal government and his family. A spokesman for Yangs family said the sentence comes at the extreme end of worst expectations. The family is obviously shocked and devastated by this news, he said. Yangs two sons repeated their message to their father and his supporters in October last year. He is in jail because he represents truth, democracy, respectful exchange of rational ideas, they said. Yangs supporter Dr Feng Chongyi accused the Chinese government of outrageous political persecution. Yangs blog was critical of Beijing and promoted practising law, fairness and justice, social justice, freedom, and democracy. Detained Australian Yang Hengjun and his wife. Yang worked for Chinas Ministry of State Security before migrating to Australia in 1998. He is punished by the Chinese government for his criticism of human rights abuses in China, said Feng, who supervised Yangs PhD thesis at the University of Technology, Sydney. Amnesty International Australia said it was horrified by the sentence while Human Rights Watch Australia described the sentence as catastrophic. To this day, the Chinese authorities have failed to substantiate their allegations that Hengjun is a spy, and he has consistently denied these allegations, an Amnesty International spokesperson said. This sentence and his prosecution appear to be purely motivated by Hengjuns advocacy for democracy and because of his writings critical of the Chinese government. Feng said his friend would struggle to appeal the verdict due to poor health. Five years of arbitrary detention and torture have taken a heavy toll on his health. He is now critically ill. The top priority for Dr Yang is to receive proper medical treatment on medical parole immediately, he said. Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham described the decision as deeply distressing and a painful blow to Yang and his family. Im sure Australians will be aghast and appalled at the decision of Chinese authorities to level a sentence of this nature against an Australian citizen, he said. Birmingham said the government should make advocating for Yangs release its top priority in discussions with Chinese officials. Australian Strategic Policy Institute executive director Justin Bassi said the appalling sentence was a form of hostage diplomacy. This ruling shows up as farcical any Chinese government claim to be seeking a better relationship with Australia, he said. Stabilisation to Beijing means pressuring Australia into a permanent state of silence and submissiveness. Loading A consular report by Australian officials who visited Yang in jail in October said his health had been rapidly declining. Yang said he had trouble standing and had collapsed several times after struggling with a 10-centimetre cyst on his kidney. The risk of being left to die from medical maltreatment is especially clear to our father because he has seen it happen to his friends, his sons said. Asked if the suspended death sentence would prevent Yangs family from continuing to advocate for him for the next two years, Wong said she did not want to speculate on the restrictions imposed by the Chinese court. All I would say is that he has appeal options available to him, she said. The release of fellow Australian Cheng Lei in October before Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses visit to Beijing had raised hopes of a resolution for Yang after a year of steadily improving diplomatic and economic ties between the nations. Loading Lowy Institute senior fellow Richard McGregor said he believed the case had been handled by the Ministry of State Security, which would have been largely indifferent to the verdicts impact on China-Australia relations. McGregor said Mondays decision would have a severe impact on bilateral relations. It displays on a wide screen the opacity of the Chinese legal system, its imperviousness to reasonable requests by foreign governments on behalf of their citizens and its vindictiveness to people who challenge it, he said. The world is in a state of high anxiety about the possibility of Donald Trumps return to the US presidency. How much havoc might he wreak against the interests of Americas allies? It turns out that we dont need to wait for Trump. The US political system is so dysfunctional that it is in danger of committing an unfathomably stupid act against its own interests, as well as those of its allies. The US political system is dysfunctional, and Donald Trump isnt even in power. Credit: AP With the US engaged in competition with China to win the 21st century, according to President Joe Biden, whats the prospective act of self-harm? Surrendering a strategic monopoly over a vast swathe of the Pacific Ocean to Australias north and potentially opening it for Chinese Communist Party domination. If so, it could isolate Australia and New Zealand from the US, just as the Japanese Imperial Forces attempted in World War II. Chen Hai (R), Chinese ambassador to Myanmar, and Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein attend the opening of the Happy Chinese New Year event at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 4, 2024. The China Cultural Center in Myanmar's commercial hub Yangon, adorned with vibrant red cultural decorations, bustled on Sunday with visitors enjoying the Year of Dragon Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) YANGON, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The China Cultural Center in Myanmar's commercial hub Yangon, adorned with vibrant red cultural decorations, bustled on Sunday with visitors enjoying the Year of Dragon Spring Festival. Phoo Pwint Khine, 32, said, "This is my first time attending such a New Year celebration event at the cultural center. I'm experiencing their traditional culture and admiring their calligraphy and paper cutting works." "I came here at the invitation of my Chinese language teacher. I have been learning Chinese for over three years now," she said. "This kind of event serves as a platform for fostering friendship between the two countries," the Myanmar resident told Xinhua on Sunday. "I enjoy the dragon dances and Chinese songs, especially those accompanied by the Chinese zither," she said, adding that despite not being a Chinese, she had participated in Spring Festival celebrations with her Chinese friends in the past years. Fifteen-year-old Zeyar Naing, a Chinese boy from Bago region, expressed his excitement about attending the Spring Festival celebrations in Yangon with his elder brother. "This is my first time joining such a New Year celebration at the cultural center. However, I have previously participated in the celebrations in my hometown Thone Sal," he said. "Dragon dance performances are the things I like most in the Spring Festival celebrations," he said. "I also enjoy the traditions like receiving red envelopes and New Year Eve's dinner." "I got a lot of cultural experience by participating in the event," he said, adding that he would share this experience with his friends. Thet Htar San, an eight-year-old girl who entertained visitors with Wushu performances during the event, said, "I'm in Grade two. My teacher brought me here." "I'm happy. I also played with toys and enjoyed going around with my friends," the Myanmar girl in a traditional Chinese dress told Xinhua. The Spring Festival event, organized by the Embassy of China in Myanmar at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, was adorned with red lanterns, couplets and various styles of Chinese calligraphy. Chen Hai, Chinese ambassador to Myanmar, said that the Happy Chinese New Year event has served as a platform for friends from China and the world to celebrate traditional festivals and share Chinese culture. At the event, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein extended wishes for happiness and peace to Chinese people residing in Myanmar, as well as to Chinese citizens in China and around the world on this Chinese New Year occasion. The event, which included a Spring Festival bazaar, a dragon eye-dotting, Myanmar traditional dance performances, dragon and lion dance performances, Wushu performances and cultural booths among other activities, attracted over 200 people. The 2024 Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of Dragon, falls on Feb. 10. Visitors learn paper cutting during the opening of the Happy Chinese New Year event at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 4, 2024. The China Cultural Center in Myanmar's commercial hub Yangon, adorned with vibrant red cultural decorations, bustled on Sunday with visitors enjoying the Year of Dragon Spring Festival. TO GO WITH "Feature: Year of Dragon celebrated with cultural activities in Myanmar" (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) Visitors paint Chinese opera masks during the opening of the Happy Chinese New Year event at the China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 4, 2024. The China Cultural Center in Myanmar's commercial hub Yangon, adorned with vibrant red cultural decorations, bustled on Sunday with visitors enjoying the Year of Dragon Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Myo Kyaw Soe) ~Secure Yours Before the February 29, 2024 Deadline!~ PHILIPSBURG:--- The Ministry of Finance of Sint Maarten is thrilled to announce the commencement of the distribution of the highly anticipated 2024 Motor Vehicle QR Code Stickers. Starting Monday, February 5, 2024, residents can pick up their stickers at the Receivers Office, with a structured process to avoid last-minute rushes before the payment deadline on February 29, 2024. The distribution will occur in two stages. In the initial stage, which begins on February 5, 2024, QR Code Stickers are available for those with number plates falling under the M & P category. Subsequently, from February 12 through 29, 2024, individuals with number plates in the M, P, and all other categories will be able to access their QR Code Stickers. Please be advised that if individuals currently possess a temporary number plate or require a new one, the collection of their QR Code Sticker is not yet possible. The Ministry assures that information regarding the designated time for collecting both new number plates and QR Code stickers will be communicated at a later date. Residents have three convenient methods to pay the 2024 Motor Vehicle Tax: online payment through credit or debit cards (excluding Maestro), bank transfers, and cash. Online payments through credit or debit cards can be made via services.sintmaartengov.org, and it is crucial to have valid insurance, inspection, and, if applicable, a bill of sale ready for upload during the online payment process. Bank transfers are accepted with the following details: Windward Island Bank (WIB) USD Account: 324800-05 Naf. Account: 324800-03 RBC Royal Bank: USD Account: 8200000403930461 Naf. Account: 8200000005425048 When initiating the transfer, residents should ensure to include their name and plate number in the description box. After which, receipts and QR Code Stickers can be collected at the Receivers Office within 3 working days, provided residents present a valid inspection and insurance card. Finally, cash payments can be completed at the Receivers Office on Pond Island (8:00 AM 2:00 PM) or the Public Service Center in Simpson Bay (8:30 AM 12:00 PM, 1:00 PM 2:00 PM). Please be aware that only three transactions are permitted per person. Individuals owning more than three vehicles are advised to either utilize online services or submit copies at the receiver's office in a sealed envelope, including their name and contact number on the envelope. The 2024 Vehicle Tax tariffs in Antillean Guilders are: *Price of QR Code Sticker and new plates BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- China on Monday urged relevant parties to remain calm and exercise restraint after U.S. military launching air strikes on targets within the territories of Syria and Iraq on Feb. 3. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a regular press briefing in responses to a query concerning the strikes. It was reported that the air strikes were launched to retaliate after a previous drone attack which killed U.S. troops based in Jordan. Both the Syrian and Iraqi governments expressed condemnation on the U.S. infringement on their sovereign security. Wang said Syria and Iraq are sovereign countries. China opposes any act that violates the UN Charter and infringes upon other countries' territorial sovereignty and security. Noting that the current situation in the Middle East is highly complex and sensitive, Wang said China urges relevant parties to earnestly observe the international law, remain calm, exercise restraint, and prevent the tensions in the region from escalating or even spiraling out of control. Australian soldier appeals war crimes defamation loss Sydney, Feb 5 (AFP) Feb 05, 2024 A prominent Australian former SAS soldier launched an appeal Monday after losing a defamation case that implicated him in a string of war crimes in Afghanistan. Ben Roberts-Smith, who was a member of Australia's elite Special Air Service regiment, sued three Australian newspapers over stories printed in 2018 that alleged he was involved in the killings of unarmed Afghan prisoners. The ex-soldier lost the multi-million-dollar courtroom battle in June 2023, with a judge finding the newspapers had proven that the bulk of their allegations were "substantially" true. Roberts-Smith, 45, attended the first day of the appeal hearings in Sydney, wearing a dark suit, white shirt and light grey tie as he entered the Federal Court building. His lawyers argued in the appeal that the judge "erred" in the way he assessed some of the evidence. The trial is scheduled to run over two weeks. Before the defamation trial, Perth-born Roberts-Smith had been Australia's most famous and distinguished living soldier. He won the Victoria Cross -- Australia's highest military honour -- for "conspicuous gallantry" in Afghanistan while on the hunt for a senior Taliban commander. The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times shredded this reputation when they published a series of bombshell reports alleging that Roberts-Smith had engaged in a pattern of criminal and immoral behaviour while serving overseas. The papers reported Roberts-Smith had kicked an unarmed Afghan civilian off a cliff and ordered subordinates to shoot him. He was also said to have taken part in the machine-gunning of a man with a prosthetic leg, later bringing the leg back to an army bar and using it as a drinking vessel with comrades. The court ruling ultimately implicated Roberts-Smith in the murder of four unarmed Afghan prisoners. He has not been charged in a criminal court over the allegations. US strikes five missiles in Yemen: military Washington, Feb 5 (AFP) Feb 05, 2024 American forces carried out air strikes against five missiles in Yemen on Sunday -- one designed for land attack and the others for targeting ships, the US military said. The strikes came a day after US and UK forces launched a wave of air raids against Yemen's Iran-backed Huthis -- their third round of joint military action in response to the rebels' persistent attacks on shipping. US forces "conducted a strike in self-defense against a Huthi... land attack cruise missile," and later struck "four anti-ship cruise missiles, all of which were prepared to launch against ships in the Red Sea," Central Command (CENTCOM) said on social media. American forces "identified the missiles in Huthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined they presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region," CENTCOM added. 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. 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 US responded Friday with a series of unilateral strikes on Iran-linked targets in Syria and Iraq. Iran says 'will not hesitate' to respond to US attack on its territory Tehran, Feb 5 (AFP) Feb 05, 2024 Iran said Monday it "will not hesitate" to respond in the event of US attacks on its territory after the White House declined to say whether strikes on Iran were ruled out. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Sunday the US will press on with its retaliation against Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria. Asked whether the United States would rule out the possibility of striking Iran directly, Sullivan told NBC, "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 said. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani hit back on Monday, saying: "The Islamic Republic has shown that it has always reacted decisively to any threat to its security, territorial integrity and sovereignty." Iran "will not hesitate to use its capabilities" to respond to any attacks on its soil, said Kanani during his weekly press briefing. He nonetheless reiterated that Iran "does not seek to aggravate tensions and crises in the region". Regional tensions have soared since the October 7 outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, drawing in Iran-backed groups in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Lebanon. The US military said it carried out airstrikes against five missiles in Yemen on Sunday. The strikes came a day after US and UK forces launched a wave of air raids against Yemen's Iran-backed Huthis -- their third round of joint military action in response to the rebels' persistent attacks on shipping. The Huthis say their attacks in the Red Sea are in solidarity with Palestinians in war-battered Gaza. The US military struck targets in Syria and Iraq overnight on Friday to Saturday, in retaliation for a January 28 drone attack on a base in Jordan that killed three US soldiers. The Islamic republic condemned the strikes in Yemen, Syria and Iraq. President Joe Biden has blamed "radical Iran-backed militant groups" for the attack in Jordan, but said the United States does not seek a wider conflict in the Middle East. Hungary ruling party holds up Swedish NATO bid vote Budapest, Feb 5 (AFP) Feb 05, 2024 Hungary's ruling party on Monday boycotted a parliament session on Sweden's NATO membership, postponing a vote by the last alliance member to approve the expansion of the alliance despite US pressure. Hungary has maintained close ties with Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and while it has said it supports the Swedish bid in principle, it has been dragging its feet for months. The United States has ramped up pressure on Hungary to ratify Stockholm's bid. On Friday, the US embassy reminded Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban in a statement that he promised to act "at the first opportunity" and "Monday's session provides him with one". Co-chairs of the US Senate's NATO Observer Group warned that "both time and patience are wearing thin." US Ambassador David Pressman was present in the viewing gallery during Monday's parliamentary session along with envoys from 14 other NATO countries, a US embassy spokesperson told AFP. But the sitting was adjourned due to the lack of a quorum. Out of 199 MPs, only 51 voted on the agenda as almost all members of Orban's Fidesz-KDNP ruling coalition -- except for presiding deputy speaker Sandor Lezsak -- stayed away. Politicians from almost all opposition parties have urged a speedy ratification and condemned the governing majority for not attending. Orban is delaying the vote due to his "personal vanity", Agnes Vadai from the biggest opposition party told AFP. She accused the Hungarian premier of seeking to "make headlines in the international press, while making a gesture to Russian President Vladimir Putin by undermining the unity of NATO and the EU." The far-right Our Homeland party argued against accepting Sweden's NATO bid. -- Waiting for a leaders' meeting -- Orban has invited his Swedish counterpart, Ulf Kristersson to Hungary, citing the need to "build strong mutual trust" through "more intense political dialogue". The Swedish leader accepted the invitation but rejected the idea of "negotiations" and "demands" concerning the country's bid to join NATO. The ruling coalition signalled that it was "waiting for the Swedish Prime Minister to visit Hungary" before they finish ratification. "If this is an important issue for the Swedes, the Swedish Prime Minister will obviously come to Budapest," Fidesz wrote in a statement sent to AFP. Parliament is due to reconvene on 26 February, and ratification could take place quickly once it has received Viktor Orban's approval. Turkey's parliament last month ratified Sweden's NATO membership after more than a year of delays that upset Western efforts to show resolve in the face of Russia's war on Ukraine. NATO membership applications require unanimous ratification by all alliance members. ros/tw Iran top security official in Baghdad amid regional tensions Baghdad, Feb 5 (AFP) Feb 05, 2024 Iraq is working for regional "de-escalation", Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani said Monday as he welcomed a senior Iranian security official to Baghdad, with tensions high over US strikes in the country and the war in Gaza. Ali Akbar Ahmadian, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, also spoke with the Iraqi national security councillor Qassem al-Araji and discussed the "regional political and security" situation. Tehran, one of Iraq's leading trade partners, wields considerable political influence in Baghdad. Its Iraqi allies dominate parliament and appointed the current government. "Iraq has deployed, and continues to deploy, important efforts towards preserving stability and establishing de-escalation, in the interests of all the people of the region," Sudani told Ahmadian, according to a statement from his office. On Friday, the United States launched a wave of strikes in Syria and Iraq against elite Iranian forces and pro-Tehran armed groups. They were in response to a drone attack on January 28 that killed three US soldiers at a base in Jordan close to the Syrian border. The strikes in Iraq, close to the border with Syria, killed 16 fighters from Hashed al-Shaabi, a coalition of mainly pro-Iran paramilitaries now integrated into Iraq's regular security forces. The attacks took place in the context of wider escalation and violence gripping the Middle East following the start of the Israel-Hamas war. In mid-January, Tehran launched its own strike in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region at what it called a "headquarters" used by Israel's Mossad intelligence agency. That allegation, to which Israel has not responded, was denied by security officials in Baghdad. "The Iraqi government has demonstrated its attachment to the principle of good neighbourliness and the establishment of the best possible relations with the countries of the region and the world, without this coming at the expense of Iraq's sovereignty and security," said Sudani during the meeting, according to his office. UN Security Council to meet on US strikes in Iraq and Syria United Nations, United States, Feb 5 (AFP) Feb 05, 2024 The UN Security Council was to convene Monday at Russia's demand to discuss US air strikes on Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for a deadly drone attack on American soldiers. The meeting scheduled for 4:00 pm (2100 GMT) was requested urgently by Moscow, which labelled the US strikes acts of aggression against sovereign states and said they were raising tensions in the Middle East as the Israel-Hamas war rages. The US military struck targets in Syria and Iraq overnight on Friday to Saturday, in retaliation for a January 28 drone attack on a base in Jordan that killed three US soldiers. The White House said Sunday it plans more US retaliation. The American strikes on dozens of targets -- said by Washington to be Iran-backed militias -- drew criticism from Iraq and Syria and also from Iran, which denies any role in last month's drone attack. "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," Iran's UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said in a letter to the Security Council that was published Monday. BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Emergency Management and two other government departments have sent 20,000 disaster relief supply items, including cotton-padded quilts, to central China's Hunan Province, the ministry said on Monday. The ministry upgraded the emergency response for disasters induced by low temperatures, rain, snow and freezing conditions in Hunan from level-IV to level-III on Sunday. The ministry also activated a level-IV emergency response for the same reasons in east China's Jiangxi Province on Sunday, while it maintained the level-III emergency responses in Anhui and Hubei, as well as the level-IV emergency responses in Hebei, Shanxi, Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan, Chongqing, Guizhou and Shaanxi. Petrochemical Commercial Company (PCC), which is linked to the Iranian state, used a web of front companies in the UK to discreetly move money around the world, according to documents seen by the Financial Times (FT). Mr Trudgill added: 2024 marks the start of the election year, and at a time when political parties are trying to appeal to the country for support, they need to consider the realities people are experiencing. Particularly when their key economic targets include growth and economic security. The Danube, Europes second-longest river, flows from the Black Forest in the west to its mouth in the Black Sea to the east, serving as an exceptional gateway to the numerous countries it crosses. During your journey, anticipate visits to some of Europe's must-see destinations such as Budapest, Vienna, and Bratislava, each offering unique historical architecture, vibrant bars, and delightful restaurants. When not immersing yourself in the sights of these European capitals, there's ample opportunity to explore Austria's renowned wine towns in the Wachau Valley, including Durnstein and Melk. It doesnt get much more intimate than this six-bedroom Marylebone stay, the former home of Jane Austens brother Henry. With its lace-fringed four-poster, pastel palette and tasselled dressing table stool, the Eliza suite is unashamedly romantic in a full-blown Regency way. You can almost imagine Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet bedding down under the glassy chandelier, sipping fizz by the historic fireplace or sinking into the bath (though they may not have known what to do with the Dyson hairdryer). Theres no restaurant breakfast is served in the pantry kitchen but thats only an excuse to have your other half treat you to dinner at Michelin-starred Locanda Locatelli, just around the corner. "Joined by several other trackers, they provided first aid. All the ski area teams are affected by this tragedy and all our thoughts are with the family," Le Dauphine reports He said: I know there is speculation about the breed of the dogs involved and we are working with experts to establish this.I would ask you not to speculate, we will establish the facts and we will keep the community of Jaywick updated. We are pleased that after collaborating with the Dedicated Card and Organised Crime and Payment Crime Unit, the case has now been resolved and the perpetrator has been brought to justice. Speaking as MPs considered the latest air strikes on Houthi sites in Yemen, Mr Pritchard (The Wrekin) told the Commons: I agreed with the Secretary of State, and indeed with the Government, that we dont want to see an escalation in the region and (need to) be proportionate in our response and calibrate our response to not provoke and antagonise. Meanwhile, a drone attack on a base housing US troops in eastern Syria killed at least seven allied Kurdish fighters late Sunday, in the first significant attack in Syria or Iraq since America launched retaliatory strikes over the weekend against Iran-backed militias that have been targeting its forces in the region. BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Guang, former vice president of Beihang University, has been arrested on suspicion of taking bribes, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said on Monday. The arrest decision was made by the Jiangxi 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. Bringing back VAT-free shopping on goods for international visitors would more than pay for itself by encouraging spending in shops, hotels, bars and restaurants across the UK rather than abroad. Scrapping the tourist tax would be a win-win for business and the economy across the country, including London. We are ready to engage with the Government and get down to the work of putting our finances on a sound footing; however, we will also be seeking to ensure the UK Government provides sufficient funding in a package to fulfil its promises on public sector pay. Theyre definitely not met at this point in time, and I would suggest that actually top of the in-tray for an incoming Executive has to be things like public-sector pay, the health service, which needs massive transformation out here, funding on education and a whole host of other things that actually all people in Northern Ireland from both communities truly care about. Mr Gardiner, who released a documentary on Monday into the "injustices" faced by people living in leasehold housing, added: Residents came up to me and said they have been making complaints about boilers not working and were told that its unsafe, and they must not use it. In a joint statement, the transport unions GMB, Unite and Siptu said given the potential for the new Infrastructure Minister John ODowd to move quickly and offer workers a pay increase, they said it was unanimously agreed by all three unions to reschedule the date of the next, planned strike action which was provisionally set for February 15 until the end of the month. Tehran-backed groups declaring support for the Palestinians have entered the fray across the region. Hezbollah has fired at Israeli targets at the Lebanese-Israeli border, Iraqi militias have fired on US forces in Iraq and Syria, and the Houthis have fired on shipping in the Red Sea and at Israel itself. Elaine Pearson, who heads Human Rights Watch in Asia, said the sentence was "outrageous", and called on the Australian government to work "with other governments that also have their citizens arbitrarily detained" in China including Canada, Japan and the United States. MANILA, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Philippine troops on Monday killed two suspected rebels in a clash in Masbate, an island province in the central Philippines, a military report said. The report said the fighting broke out between troops and around 10 New People's Army (NPA) insurgents around 7 a.m. in a village in Cawayan town. The gunfight resulted in the killing of the two rebels, and no soldier was killed or wounded in the clash, it added. Troops recovered an M16 assault rifle, a revolver, a homemade shotgun left behind by the fleeing rebels. NPA rebels have been fighting the government troops since 1969. They concentrated their attacks on rural areas and have skirmishes with the military. Military data showed that the NPA is estimated to have 2,000 members, significantly lower than its peak strength in the 1980s. Simon Steele, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), wrote on his social media page following his visit to Baku that the "Global Financial System must meet the UN's climate transition goals with a clear plan for their implementation, Azernews reports. "Whether it is reducing emissions or building resilience to climate change, it is clear that finance is crucial to the global fight to protect the environment. Without a significant increase in finance, the 2023 climate victories at COP28 will quickly fade into empty promises. We need streams, not rivulets, of climate finance," Steele said. He said climate finance issues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will be key at the upcoming COP29 in Baku in November. "COP29 in Baku will be a very important meeting to achieve our shared ambitions. Engagement with international financial institutions (IFIs), development banks will create confidence in the ability to realise climate goals," says Steele. In his opinion, the annual investment of $2.4 trillion in RES development, adapting the world's economies to the energy transition is not such a critical amount, because it is about investing in innovation and technological progress. "The industrial revolution is underway, the digitalisation of economies opens up great opportunities. Every sector of the economy should care about climate protection, there is a need for co-operation, teamwork," Steele emphasised. He expressed hope that in 2024, private banks, IFIs will be able to demonstrate their intentions to support climate steps. The Executive Secretary also said at a lecture at the ADA University in Baku that "the Olympic motto 'faster, higher, stronger' should become our common climate mantra". "I had important talks in Baku and I am happy to give the lecture to ADA students. We are preparing a new, next climate conference - SOR29 in Baku. I congratulate again the government and citizens of Azerbaijan on this event. It is a great responsibility. There will be hard work ahead. But Azerbaijan will cope with it, as it has a great experience of hosting the world's most important events," Steele emphasised. Addressing the students, he noted that the world will look beautiful in 2050 if it is possible to limit global warming to 1.5C and protect all nations from the effects of climate change. "Although last year's agreement at COP28 was far from perfect, but only a few years ago it was unthinkable at all, it is a very strong signal that global decarbonisation is inevitable," he believes. He believes it will take an Olympic effort over the next two years to meet the targets set by the UN on climate by 2030 and by 2050. "Governments around the world once consciously joined the Paris climate agreement. I think it is pragmatic and achievable to achieve a 43 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and this was mentioned at COP28. I see a global energy system with zero greenhouse gas emissions. The UN has been trying for 25 years to change the approach to the issue of environmental protection through necessary measures in the industrial sector, in agriculture. After all, the health of all people on Earth depends on it," said the UNFCCC Executive Secretary. He added that decarbonisation is now an important part of the transformation of the world's economies. "The UN will present a major study in 2025 on the achievements of the Paris Climate Agreement and it is important for us to step up our efforts," Steele added. ISLAMABAD, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Four policemen were injured when a blast hit their vehicle in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, sources said. The incident happened in the South Waziristan district, where the vehicle was targeted in a market area when the police were on their routine patrol in the city, the sources told Xinhua. The injured policemen were shifted to a nearby hospital. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. The area had been cordoned off for security and investigation purposes. DefMin Tilvar, ambassador Portman discuss importance of continuing support for Ukraine Defence Minister Angel Tilvar on Monday welcomed British ambassador in Bucharest Giles Portman for an exchange of views on the state of play of Sea Black security amidst the ongoing Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine, told Agerpres. According to a press statement released by the Defence Ministry (MapN), Tilvar and Portman highlighted the importance of continuing support for Ukraine, mentioning Romania's participation in the training efforts carried out in the UK as part of Operation Interflex, as well as inside EUMAM. Also discussed were co-operation inside NATO from the perspective of the upcoming meeting of NATO defence ministers on February 14 and 15, and the NATO anniversary Summit in Washington. Tilvar praised the UK for its contribution to enhancing NATO's posture on the eastern flank and especially in the Black Sea region, which he called "concrete evidence of allied solidarity and unity." He thanked the UK particularly for the announcement regarding the return of the British Royal Air Force to Romania this year to carry out air policing missions. "Current and forward-looking aspects related to bilateral co-operation between the two armies were also discussed, with the success of the Sandown-class minesweeper programme being mentioned. It was also highlighted that the new Joint statement on the Romanian-British Strategic Partnership of 2023 offers a new impetus to bilateral defence co-operation." ForMin Odobescu in Sofia: We are coordinating to achieve common goal of joining Schengen with land borders Romania and Bulgaria are coordinating to achieve, "as soon as possible," the common goal of having their land border controls lifted in the European free movement area, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luminita Odobescu, said on Monday in Sofia, told Agerpres. She had a joint press conference with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel. "We agreed to maintain close cooperation and coordination, in the context in which we continue the steps regarding the implementation of the decision of March 31, this year, with the support of the European Commission. Furthermore, we decided to coordinate in such a way as to obtain, as soon as possible, the decision to have the land border controls lifted for our countries. In this respect, we will continue the dialogue with the Austrian partners, with the other member states and, obviously, with the European Commission, to achieve this goal," said Odobescu. The head of Romanian diplomacy added that she discussed with her colleague in Sofia aspects regarding security in the Black Sea and the risks generated by Russia's war against Ukraine. "I emphasized the importance of strengthening NATO's defence and deterrence position on the Eastern Flank," the Romanian minister said. In this regard, the official mentioned the Romania-Bulgaria-Turkey demining agreement in the Black Sea, "a concrete proof" of how the two states can cooperate in the Black Sea region, "in a difficult context." Also, during the consultations with his Bulgarian counterpart, Minister Luminita Odobescu welcomed the recent positive developments regarding the advancement of infrastructure projects of major interest to both states - the FastDanube project, respectively the construction of a new bridge over the Danube, likely to contribute significantly to the consolidation of interconnectivity at the regional level, states the MAE. In terms of the European agenda, Minister Luminita Odobescu expressed Romania's firm support for advancing enlargement as a key European policy, both in terms of the Western Balkans and the Eastern candidates, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia. According to a press release sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Romanian minister was received by the president of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, and also by the prime minister, Nikolai Denkov. During the meeting with President Rumen Radev, the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted the importance of the bilateral strategic partnership, established a year ago, which provided a consolidated framework for the expansion of cooperation between the two neighbouring states, says the MAE. During the discussions, aspects related to regional security and the importance of continuing close coordination at the European and international level were addressed. Also, the reception with Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov provided the opportunity to reconfirm the common interest in expanding and diversifying bilateral economic and sectoral cooperation. Themes of central interest for Bucharest and Sofia were addressed, such as coordination on priority EU files, with an emphasis on completing the process of accession to the Schengen area as quickly as possible. Last but not least, the discussions with the head of the Bulgarian executive focused on the steps to strengthen regional interconnectivity in the field of transport and energy, in accordance with those agreed during the trilateral meeting of the Prime Ministers of Romania, Bulgaria and Greece, held in Varna, at October 9, last year, the MAE press release also states. Ludovic Orban announces Force of Right to challenge with Constitutional Court merger of elections The leader of Force of Right Party [Forta Dreptei], Ludovic Orban, announced on Monday that he will challenge by any means a merger of this year's elections, first of all with the Constitutional Court, this being the decision of the National Council of the party, told Agerpres. "The Force of Right categorically rejects any merger of elections. Each election must be held on time, respecting the Constitution, the principles of democracy. And any attempt to merge elections, regardless of whether it is the merger of local elections with the elections for the European Parliament, the merger of the first round of the presidential elections with the local elections, of merging the local elections with the parliamentary elections, no one really knows what they want anymore, we will use all the opposition levers we have at our disposal to prevent this serious violation of democracy, of the right of Romanian citizens to choose in full knowledge of the cause and to prevent this attempt to defraud the Romanians' votes by mixing the different types of elections. We believe that the elections for the European Parliament must be the only elections that will take place on June 9 and as such we will challenge with the Constitutional Court, we will organize massive protest actions to prevent this hijacking of the vote of the Romanian citizens", declared Orban in a press conference held at the Parliament. MEP Muresan: President Iohannis' speech to EP, Romania's opportunity to present its vision of EU challenges, future The speech that Romania's President Klaus Iohannis will deliver on Wednesday to a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg is "an opportunity for Romania to present its vision of the challenges that we have to face, of the progress and future of the European Union," MEP Siegfried Muresan said on Monday. The moment when the head of state "addresses the European Parliament is an important one," Muresan told a meeting with Romanian journalists at the EP in Strasbourg. "Several heads of state or government from the European Union have been invited to address the plenary session of Parliament during this legislature. The heads of state or government that we see and will see in the coming weeks, in the last sessions, will be among those with greater weight in the European Council, with greater experience and representing larger member states of the European Union." Iohannis will address the plenary session of the European Parliament on Wednesday, during the "This is Europe" debate on an invitation received from the president of the EU legislature, Roberta Metsola. According to the Presidential Administration, on his trip to Strasbourg, Iohannis will also have consultations with Metsola on EU current affairs and priorities for 2024. In his speech, the Romanian president will unveil his vision of the solutions to the main challenges that the EU is currently facing and will emphasise the joint actions that have to be undertaken to defend and promote the interests of European citizens, as well as their well-being and security. The "This is Europe" debate series at the European Parliament started in 2022, shortly after the outbreak of the war against Ukraine. In 2022-2023, 12 such meetings with European leaders took place, with the aim being to reaffirm European values and unity, to strengthen the democratic debate on current affairs and to generate a consistent vision regarding the future of the European design. MEP Siegfried Muresan says merging elections is not seen negatively at European level Merging European elections with local elections "is not something seen negatively at the European level", but is "a usual practice in member states" of the European Union, declared on Monday, in Strasbourg, PNL MEP Siegfried Muresan, told Agerpres. "At the European level, this subject did not exist and it was very far from provoking the volume of discussions it provoked in Romania. The practice of merging elections is a common practice in member states of the European Union", he stated at a meeting with Romanian journalists in the European Parliament. "The European Parliament (...) makes significant efforts to increase the voter turnout in the European Parliament elections, and combining the elections is a good thing in this sense. A decision to change the electoral legislation shortly before the elections would have been, obviously, viewed with critical eyes by the competent institutions, but it is not the case. The only thing that is done is that the date of the elections is practically set, and the date of the elections is always fixed a few months before the elections, never a year before the elections In the last European parliamentary elections, we also had the referendum on justice and, if I'm not mistaken, in the European parliamentary elections of 2009 there was the referendum on the unicameral parliament and the reduction of the number of parliamentarians," said Muresan. He also emphasized that the authorities and the candidates "will have to inform the people exactly about all the ballots and all the votes they will have to cast." Regarding the USR's approach to notify the Venice Commission regarding the merger of the elections, Muresan declared that he saw "no reason for the Venice Commission to express a negative opinion." He voiced hope that, in case the elections are merged, the European themes will not be eclipsed by the local themes. "I hope that European issues will have as big a role as possible, not only during the electoral period, but throughout the duration of the mandate of the European Parliament (...) Obviously, the candidates also have a responsibility here. The better the candidates are prepared on the issues European issues, the more our chance to discuss European issues, the greater the chance that those who will run for office will not run away from European issues", said Muresan, reminding at the same time that "in none of the campaigns for the European Parliament, in the past, there were not only European themes." Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, extends his festive greetings at a meeting with leaders of national religious groups ahead of the Chinese New Year in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Monday extended Spring Festival greetings to religious figures and believers nationwide. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, extended his festive greetings at a meeting with leaders of national religious groups ahead of the Chinese New Year. Wang gave the religious groups credit for their work in 2023 and called on them to be more purposeful in serving the overall work of the Party and the country, find their location and direction over the course of the country's modernization drive, and rally more religious figures and believers around the Party and the government. He urged the religious groups to stay committed to the principle that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation, follow the guidance of core socialist values and cultivate in religious figures and believers a growing sense of identity with the motherland, the Chinese nation, the Chinese culture, the CPC, and socialism with Chinese characteristics. The official also advised the religious groups to exercise full and strict governance over their religions and consolidate their gains in programs of promoting frugality and renouncing extravagance. Noting that the Party and the government attach importance to the religious work and care about religious figures, Wang asked localities and authorities to strengthen their communication with religious figures and believers and ensure they enjoy a happy and peaceful Spring Festival. Orban: Gov't, law enforcement agencies should be much more present in managing atypical risks Romania's government and law enforcement agencies should be much more involved in managing atypical threats and risks, national leader of the Right Force Ludovic Orban said on Monday, adding that he had not seen currently no Russian spies expelled, as happens in almost all NATO countries, told Agerpres. "I think that the government and, above all, the law enforcement agencies, should be much more involved in managing risks and threats that are not necessarily forms of war, they are of an atypical type, so to speak. I have not seen any expulsion of Russian spies in Romania and I do not believe that there are no Russian spies in Romania. Almost all NATO countries have expelled spies with clear accusations of espionage. I have not heard of any expulsion of Russian spies from Romania, but I it seems that this reflects a certain perfunctory approach of the matter, because Russia's provocations, aggressions, are not only of a military nature, but are asymmetrical, they are of other types - attack on democracy, attack on institutions, support for all websites that spread fake news, support for some political formations, including political and financial support, support for spy networks. I have not seen so far the intelligence services in Romania expel Russian spies," MP Orban told a news conference at the Parliament House. Asked about how he sees the public information regarding the expansion of military training, Orban said that there is an older discussion and added that volunteers should be incentivised. "It's an older discussion about strengthening the corps of volunteers, practically not to return to the mandatory conscription, but to be possible for larger number of citizens to get military training. Of course, those people should somehow be motivated to do military service voluntarily and in a way it must have certain advantages and guarantees. Of course, we are in a geopolitical situation where we will have to be extremely careful regarding the security guarantees that Romania has and contribute to this system of security which is ensured in the context of our presence in NATO and, obviously, within the European Union." The Directorate of Criminal Investigations of the Romanian Police detected or clarified, between January 1 and 31, the situation of 338 persons pursued nationwide, of whom 253 had warrants issued in their name for the execution of prison sentences, and 40 had preventive arrest warrants. According to a press release of the IGPR sent to AGERPRES, at the same time, 28 people who had been issued European arrest warrants were found, for 11 of whom criminal sentences of hospitalization in specialized medical units were ordered. In January, as a result of the activities carried out by the criminal investigation police, 1,213 missing persons were found, 782 being minors, the Romanian General Police Inspectorate (IGPR) informed. PM Ciolacu says Romania on first place in Europe in terms of mortality from cervical cancer Romania ranks first in Europe in terms of cervical cancer mortality, shows the message of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, presented by state councilor Carmen Orban during the "Women's Cancer" debate held at the Senate. "We are still in first place in Europe in terms of mortality from cervical cancer, while in other countries this disease is curable. And this is because, in our country, detection is done in advanced stages of the disease, and the vaccination program against HPV has only registered some interest and progress in the last two years. Breast cancer screening programs must go beyond the pilot program phase if we want to have real results in combating this disease," Ciolacu said. According to him, the Government is "strongly involved in identifying solutions and solving problems" in the health system. At the same time, he urged women to go to the doctor for the annual set of tests, noting that a disease detected in time can be treated with a much higher success rate. The message emphasizes the importance of screening programs, but also of a healthy lifestyle, in conditions where the main risk factors are smoking, alcohol consumption or obesity. "Cancer remains the second leading cause of death in Romania, after cardiovascular diseases, representing 19% of all deaths, according to the National Institute of Public Health. Also, according to the same source, it is estimated that by 2035 the number of cancer in the EU will increase by 24%, so that this disease will become the first cause of death. Women are in great need of screening programs, information campaigns and more care from us, from all of us", added the prime minister The president of the Romanian College of Physicians (CMR), Daniel Coriu, said that a while ago a cancer diagnosis sounded "like a condemnation", but, thanks to the advances in medicine in the last 30-40 years, now there are "good hopes" of healing. In this sense, he emphasized the importance of continuity, noting that in 2024 the budget for prevention and screening programs was reduced by 30%. "We have the Plan to fight cancer, we have the National Health Strategy, approved by Government decision, but we need perseverance and continuity. The role of the family doctor is essential. We all talk about the role of family medicine, primary medicine and ambulatory medicine , because they have, somewhat, a similar role, an equally important role. Last year, following the negotiations with the National House, through the framework contract, we managed to implement such prevention and screening programs with growth, which is satisfactory , of the budget. But at the beginning of this year, we found ourselves with a 30% reduction in this budget. This means that we are missing the essential element: continuity. (...) Fortunately, we managed to avoid a crisis, temporarily, at least, until June. Let's see what will happen next," Coriu said. PSD: Ciolos, main culprit for the situation in which Romania finds itself in mining dispute The Social Democratic Party (PSD) says that former Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos is guilty of undermining the national economy and the "critical situation" in which Romania finds itself in the dispute with the company that owns the mining rights at Rosia Montana, told Agerpres. According to a press statement released on Monday by the PSD, "Romanians risk paying billions in damages, due to the decisions of Ciolos, Orban and USR [Save Romania Union]". "PSD categorically states that the former prime minister Dacian Ciolos is the main culprit for the critical situation in which Romania finds itself in the dispute with the company that owns the mining rights at Rosia Montana. Romanians must know that! Regardless of the decision the international court will issue by February 10, 2024, it is obvious that when he approved the submission of the application for the inclusion of the Rosia Montana site in the UNESCO universal heritage, Dacian Ciolos knew that it would affect the interests of Romania in the already opened litigation with the owner of the exploitation right." The social democrats add that Ciolos "knew very well" that with that decision he violated Romania's commitment and that all taxpayers in Romania could be made to pay huge damages, with a huge negative impact on the national economy. "Given the circumstances, Dacian Ciolos is guilty of undermining the national economy and is definitively disqualified from holding any public office. Ciolos can no longer ask for the vote of the citizens whom he could condemn, through his decisions, to pay huge damages! Equally guilty is Prime Minister Orban, who ordered the resumption of the procedure for inscription in the UNESCO Heritage List, after the PSD government had requested the interruption of the procedure until the dispute was resolved. Also, a large part of the responsibility rests with USR, which launched itself into politics on this subject, and later, through his ministers in the Citu government, he vehemently opposed the withdrawal of the file from UNESCO, although the then finance minister pointed out that Romania risks paying huge damages of between USD 0.5 and 3.5 billion." According to PSD, "the same protagonists are also responsible for the overpriced purchases of COVID vaccines," as a result of which Romania is asked to pay damages of EUR 1 billion . "The Romanians must know because of whom they risk paying the possible damages established in the international courts! PSD emphasises that it does not question either the opportunity or the environmental impact that the Rosia Montana gold mining project would entail. The problem is that Romania, through the right-wing governments that granted the right to exploit, made a commitment, which Ciolos, Orban and USR knowingly broke, thwarting any possibility to resolve the dispute amicably." Romanian Parliament, illuminated in Ukrainian flag colours on 24 February The Standing Bureau of the Chamber of Deputies approved, on Monday, a letter from the Ukrainian Embassy to Romania, which proposes the illumination of Parliament in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, on 24 February, told Agerpres. "The Embassy of Ukraine to Romania presents its greetings to the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies of the Romanian Parliament and has the honour to address the following: on 24 February 2024 it will be two years since the launch of the Russian Federation's unprovoked full-scale war against Ukraine. In this regard, as well as as an expression of firm solidarity with the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian side addresses the Romanian side with the proposal to join other states in the world in commemorating the citizens of Ukraine killed in the war with a national minute of silence in a meeting of the Romanian Parliament closest to the mentioned date, as well as the hoisting of the Ukrainian flag in front of the Romanian Parliament on 24 February and the illumination of this building in the colours of the Ukrainian flag," the document reads. According to it, Romania's solidarity with Ukraine is of great importance in overcoming the armed aggression of the Russian Federation, restoring respect for the fundamental principles of international law and developing a peaceful, resilient and prosperous Europe. Senator Stefan Palarie of the opposition Save Romania Union (USR) announced on Monday having notified the Ombudsman and the Court of Accounts regarding the "void" generated as a result of the dismantling of county school inspectorates and the Pre-University Education Quality Assurance Agency (ARACIP). "Instead of producing a positive change, the education package produced a void, a black hole. Today, the entire pre-university education system is about to implode, because the legal basis for the operation of the county inspectorates and ARACIP was wiped off on September 3, but the Education Ministry has not yet put anything in place, neither at central, nor at county level. Mrs. Minister Deca chaotically applies chunks of the old law and of the new law, as it suits her. Unless urgent clarification is provided, all the documents issued by these institutions risk being invalidated if they are challenged in court," Palarie said at the Palace of Parliament. He points the finger at a "legislative chaos" due to which any decision to second teachers, to delegate tasks and responsibilities, or perform any transfer from one school to another could be "nullified". "At this moment we operate in a legislative void, which is why, together with my USR colleagues, I drafted two reports, one for Mr. Mihai Busuioc from the Court of Accounts, and the second for the Ombudperson, Ms. Renate Weber. Both institutions, which are paid from public money to clarify such cases, are the ones we turn to with the request to clarify the legislative framework in pre-university education. If things are as we and our lawyers see them, then we have a time bomb ticking and are in the situation where, until the fall of 2025, all issued documents risk being invalidated," said the USR senator. Stefan Palarie asked Education Minister Ligia Deca to publicly clarify the situation. ST. LOUIS A small grocery store just north of downtown didnt have many groceries for months. The shelves were largely empty. The refrigerated cases contained food frozen burritos, roasted turkey breast, lobster egg rolls but it was mostly expired. The parking lot was generally empty. Still, the GreenLeaf Market, on North Tucker Boulevard, was mostly open and staffed, usually with one person behind the register. And that person was often connected to St. Louis politics and north St. Louis developer Paul McKee. How can I help you? McKee lawyer Darryl Piggee asked a customer one day this past summer. Just to warn you, we are operating with limited inventory right now. McKee and his supporters pitched the market to city leaders in 2017, as an oasis in the middle of a food desert. Residents clamored for healthy options, officials said. The community needs a grocery store, residents said. Over the next few years, McKees team convinced officials bank executives, federal bureaucrats, city leaders to send the project millions of dollars in tax incentives and publicly backed support for the store. It opened in 2019 with official proclamations, stocked shelves and about $20 million in tax dollars and publicly backed loans. As its fortunes later dimmed, it stayed open. The fine print in some of its funding contracts warned developers against abandoning the project. Residents said it no longer served the neighborhood. Finally, in December, it closed. McKee insisted the store, despite its problems, stayed open for the good of the neighborhood. Had we closed the store completely with no appearance of ongoing operations it would have immediately become a target for vandals and others with bad intentions, McKee said in a November email to the Post-Dispatch. Our law-abiding neighbors would have become victims had we shuttered the store while working out the logistics of getting it up and running. It doesnt appear the agencies that funded the store can do anything about the recent closure. The tax increment financing agreement with the city of St. Louis, which authorized $2.8 million for the grocery store and neighboring gas station, does not include penalties for an early closure. The Bank of Springfield, which gave the store a $10 million loan backed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said it couldnt disclose details. The Missouri office of the USDA said the bank would be paid back for most of the loan even if GreenLeaf closes and defaults. The state Small Business Development Center said theres no requirement in the pandemic Paycheck Protection Program, which paid the store $232,000, requiring it to stay open. And it did not appear that the federal New Markets Tax Credit program, which sent the developer $7.5 million in financing for the project, could claw back the cash. Former grocery store employee Evie Williamson-Moore, a north St. Louis resident, said she was disappointed the store hasnt been successful. Its the only grocery store you can go to, said Williamson-Moore. But it was never open long enough to make a difference. Now McKees team says it hopes to reopen in March. But the store stands as another example of how McKees ambitious plans for St. Louis have stalled. It was exciting Two decades ago, McKees NorthSide Regeneration group started buying up hundreds of acres of land north of downtown, with promises of a north St. Louis revitalization. The city originally stood behind the idea. But as McKees properties began to deteriorate and resident complaints grew, officials rescinded their support, questioning if McKee had the finances to fund the projects. Last week, aldermen advanced a plan to use eminent domain against north St. Louis properties, including McKees. NorthSide Regeneration has had some public successes. NorthSide helped assemble the site for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agencys new western headquarters, at Jefferson and Cass avenues about a mile west of the grocery store; built a gas station across the street from the store; and recently opened a small hospital near the NGA site. The grocery store was the first private project to materialize within the 1,500-acre NorthSide Regeneration footprint. Tax dollars to support it began lining up about six years ago. In 2017, the St. Louis Development Corporation board approved a total of $7.5 million in federal tax credits for both the store and gas station projects. The city also authorized up to $2.8 million in tax increment financing assistance. And the McKee-affiliated St. Louis Grocery Group, which owns the store, received a $10 million Rural Development loan from the Bank of Springfield, guaranteed by taxpayers via the USDA. Then-U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay Jr. attended GreenLeafs ribbon-cutting in April 2019, saying the store would be life-changing for residents. Given the fact that many residents in this neighborhood depend on public transportation, having a good store within a few blocks from home is the difference between a livable neighborhood and a failed neighborhood, the congressman said then. Nearby residents took to the idea of a grocer with fresh food in their neighborhood. It was exciting, local resident Linda Chatman recalled. One neighbor recalled buying birthday cakes for her kids from the bakery and seeing seasonal meal deals promoted consistently. A year later, COVID-19 hit. Like many businesses, GreenLeaf closed in 2020. That same year, St. Louis Grocery Group received almost $232,000 in financial relief through the Paycheck Protection Program via the Small Business Administration. According to Small Business Administration records, the Grocery Group applicants said the money would go to payroll for 75 employees. The loan was forgiven, as were most such loans. The store reopened in March 2021, but would-be customers said it never fully launched. Hours dwindled and the parking lot was often empty. Food wasnt restocked and the store stopped selling fresh meat or produce. Alderman Rasheen Aldridge, whose ward includes the store, said its a shame GreenLeaf never bounced back. The community needs it, he said in a July email. I havent heard any complaints from residents besides that they are ready for it to open. Empty shelves, sparse staffing By the summer of 2023, the store had become a hodge-podge of empty shelves, odd operating hours and sparse staffing. John Cross, a political adviser to Clay, was often tending the shelves. He said he was part of the Grocery Group and had been with the store since 2019. Piggee, the McKee lawyer and a former senior staffer for Clay, was often behind the register or holding what he called neighborhood meetings over the summer. Piggee at one point said the store anticipated more inventory and the return of hot, ready-made food in August. But August passed and hot food didnt arrive. Piggee then said the store would relaunch in September. By October, while the market had started selling hot lunches to-go, it had also blocked off the rest of the store. On some November days the store was just closed. Even the stores team was on different pages. McKee insisted the store was open for business. Cross said it wasnt. Piggee said it was getting new management. In a deed of trust with the city, documents state that the Grocery Group shall not abandon the premises. Bank of Springfield loan documents say that if the project was to be abandoned for 45 days or more, the developers would default on the loan. McKee said they kept the store open for the neighborhood. I would assume theres language expecting us to operate the store, McKee said in the November email. But that has nothing to do with our decision to maintain the appearance of activity as we work to get up and running again. Last summer, McKee tapped James Lawrence to take over operations. Lawrence said recently GreenLeaf Markets latest projected opening date is March 15. He said he is in talks with food distributors and plans to stock the store with a variety of meat and fresh produce. In addition to refilling shelves and the return of a food court, Lawrence said he is in the process of hiring about 20 workers with disabilities. Im looking for incentives to hire handicapped people, disenfranchised people, to create opportunities for people in the neighborhood, jobs, provide training, Lawrence said. Lawrence said hed be able to get benefits and tax credits through Social Securitys Ticket to Work program and the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit. He is also seeking a grant from the city for operating in a food desert. And he hopes to sublease part of the store to a pharmacy. He even has plans to open a second GreenLeaf location, at Grand Boulevard and Cass Avenue, later this year. He said he would name Cross, the Clay political adviser, assistant manager. I want him to beat the bushes, Lawrence said. I want to be able to walk up to [politicians] face to face, ask them to support the store, ask them to help influence and show the type of people that come here. [Cross] already has those connections. Local residents are skeptical that GreenLeaf will succeed once it relaunches. Heather Moore, of Columbus Square, said GreenLeaf Market is a lost cause. To succeed, she said, it needs a new name, better products and tons of advertising. That would be great if they could open with a big bang, Moore said. We need something down here. Jacob Barker of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. Joe Holleman Political correspondent/columnist Follow Joe Holleman Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Another labor group has thrown its support to Lucas Kunces attempt to unseat incumbent GOP U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley. Calling him the only pro-worker candidate in this race, the Missouri Kansas Laborers District Council tossed its support Monday to Kunce. Right now, weve got Josh Hawley, a senator who talks tough about workers on the campaign trail but votes against us in Washington, said Brandon Flinn, the councils business manager. The council is one of the larger unions in Missouri, with more than 12,000 members working in construction and the public sector. Kunce, the overwhelming favorite to win the Democratic nomination, also has been the overwhelming choice of union organizations so far. Previously, Kunce has received the endorsement from a passel of unions, including the Missouri AFL-CIO; Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters; Service Employees International Union; Missouri Council of Machinists; Building and Construction Trades Council of both St. Louis and Kansas City; and United Food and Commercial Workers. ST. LOUIS A 14-year-old boy was shot early Sunday, but he would not tell police where he was when the shooting happened. Officers were called to the 5500 block of Floy Avenue in the city's Walnut Park West neighborhood around 4 a.m., police said. The teenager had been shot in the arm and the side. He said he was riding in a white Toyota when the shots were fired, police said. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive. CLAYTON A 43-year-old man was sentenced Monday to life in prison for killing his girlfriend and her young daughter and shooting two other children. Joseph Jones pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, first-degree assault and attempted assault in the deaths of Bernadetta Cooper, 40, and Doryan Bryant, 6, at a Jennings apartment on Oct. 10, 2020. Charges said police arrived at the scene in the 8800 block of Shannon Fox Circle and found Cooper and Bryant dead. Cooper's other daughters, ages 16 and 10, had also been shot. Jones had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, according to a news release from the St. Louis County prosecutor's office, though he was deemed competent to stand trial and plead guilty. Prosecutors recommended a sentence of life plus 20 years in prison, and a judge agreed. TEHRAN, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said Monday that direct talks with the United States on regional issues were unnecessary. He spoke at a weekly press conference in Tehran, where he answered a question about the need for negotiations between Iran and the United States to ease tensions in West Asia. Kanaani said Iran's position was clear, and it had conveyed its message to Washington through mediators. The solution to the crisis and the tension in the region was clear, and so was the source of the crisis, which was the Palestinian issue. He added the U.S. government was not part of the solution, but the problem, and it was escalating tensions in the region. He said this was not only Iran's view, but also that of many nations and governments. Furthermore, he criticized the U.S. and British strikes on the Houthi targets in Yemen, slamming it as a "crude move, in violation of international law and regulations, and aimed at diverting global public opinion from the source of the crisis in the region." "What is taking place in the Red Sea is the effect, not the cause," said Kanaani, accusing the U.S. of trying to expand the conflicts in the region, which would endanger international security and peace. The U.S. and Britain have launched several rounds of strikes on the Houthi targets in Yemen since January in response to the group's attacks on ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea. The Houthis said their attacks were to stop the Israeli strikes on Gaza, which began on Oct. 7, 2023, and to show solidarity with Palestinians. 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. ST. LOUIS Police on Monday said they were still searching for a teenager who escaped from the city's juvenile detention center Saturday evening. The 17-year-old boy facing a murder charge escaped shortly before 6 p.m. from the Juvenile Detention Center at 3847 Enright Ave. Court staff were reviewing how the boy escaped and police were investigating as well, authorities said. No injuries were reported. Authorities cannot release the teenager's name because he had not been certified as an adult in court, said Joel Currier, a spokesman for the 22nd Judicial Circuit. The boy had been held in the detention center since Dec. 8 on second-degree murder and first-degree assault charges in the shooting death of 20-year-old Calvin Kelly on Oct. 24 in the 4200 block of Shreve Avenue. ST. CHARLES COUNTY After a tumultuous month of student protests, national headlines and community outrage, Francis Howell School District is considering revised curricula for its Black history and Black literature courses. The new curricula are largely similar to the versions that drew opposition from the conservative majority on the districts school board late last year. But the district dropped the most hotly contested bits: social justice standards set by the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit legal organization that specializes in civil rights litigation. Other than removing the standards, which I dont see as political, I dont really see a difference, said Jani Wilkens, a former Francis Howell teacher who helped develop the original Black literature curriculum. The all-white Francis Howell School Board voted 5-2 in December to rescind the social justice standards outlined by the SPLC. Student reaction was swift. A group of students and teachers came to school one day dressed in black in protest. On Jan. 18, hundreds of high school students walked out of class. And many students expressed skepticism of a politically neutral curricula that board President Adam Bertrand said the board would approve. Now, the board is expected to have a first reading for the new curricula at its meeting on Thursday. A final vote is slated for March. Community and board members in favor of booting the SPLC standards said they feared they were a veiled attempt to teach students critical race theory, a once-obscure academic concept thats become a lightning rod of right-wing scrutiny in recent years. The theory loosely analyzes how public policy and systems were shaped by racism. The left knows that getting rid of these standards (and any curriculum using them) is a first step in removing ideological indoctrination from schools, Francis Howell Families, a conservative PAC that supports the majority of board members, wrote on its website. The new curricula The new curriculum for the Black history course is significantly different from the previous one, while the Black literature course remained mostly true to its original version. Both are electives offered to juniors and seniors at Francis Howells three high schools. For Black literature, most unit titles and descriptions were slightly reworded or kept the same. The Power of Black Voices unit, for example, became The Impact of Black Voices. Black history, meanwhile, had entire units refocused. Gone is a unit on how laws and economic policies affected Black wealth, as is another on what historical and modern-day struggles exist for Black people working toward equity. Instead of a more analytical approach to history, where students made value judgments, or assessments of history as right or wrong, the course is based on sequential, straightforward history. It spans from the origins of African kingdoms to the present day. The original course was more topical, with entire units focused on the lasting legacy of Black cultural icons, how Black Americans persevered and became change agents, and how Black history influenced local history, among other units. Essential questions of the units, which educators typically use to guide discussions, have changed from Is protest patriotic?, Is education equitable for all? and What does it mean to be Black? to less-philosophical questions that would lead to more fact-based answers, such as: What impact did Plessy v. Ferguson and Jim Crow laws have on Black Americans? We evaluated the language to see, Is this just obviously incendiary? Lucas Lammers, director of curriculum and high schools said at a district event last week. Like, why poke the bear? (Were) just trying to be smart. A team of seven people worked two days to revise the curricula. Of those, there were two Black literature teachers, two Black history teachers, a social studies content leader, a content leader facilitator and Lammers. We just wanted some great discussions This year, 60 students took Black history this year, and 42 took Black literature. For now, teachers have continued to teach the courses as they were originally written. The courses were based, in part, on the standards formed through SPLCs Teaching Tolerance project. The nonprofit founded the project in 1991 to strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people, according to its website. The projects social justice standards call for students to be able to recognize their own responsibility to stand up to exclusion, to express comfort with people who are both similar to and different from them, and express pride, confidence and healthy self-esteem without denying the value and dignity of other people, among several other goals. The Black history and literature courses were developed by Francis Howell teachers, staff and administrators in the 2020-21 school year at the request of students. Dr. LaGarrett King, who directed the Carter Center for K-12 Black History Education at the University of Missouri at the time, consulted on the courses development. Critics of the courses questioned Kings involvement, claiming he infused the courses with critical race theory. But those involved in the courses development have said Kings involvement was minimal. Wilkins, one of the teachers involved with the curriculum writing, said the social justice standards were incorporated after a person on the team looked for discussion questions online and came across the Southern Poverty Law Centers website. Thats as harmless as it all comes, Wilkens said. We just wanted some great discussions to start the course. I think Black history has promise now Parents were able to review the new curricula at an event last week in which educators sat at tables to discuss changes to the Black history and literature courses, in addition to 15 other courses up for evaluation. Amy Chance, whose daughter is a senior, said she was concerned the courses would be whitewashed. I appreciate that they tried to keep the integrity of the classes and just kind of took out the wording they didnt like, Chance said. I am concerned it will not get pushed or voted on. Only two of the seven board members who initially approved the courses in 2021 remain on the board, which is now dominated by members supported by the conservative Francis Howell Families PAC. Janet Stiglich was one of the two board members who voted against rescinding the original courses. She said last week she thought the new curricula and standards looked fine, but she didnt have any concerns about the previous curricula. Randy Cook, one of the new board members, wrote a 17-page letter in opposition to the courses in 2021. He asked the board to suspend the courses until the curriculum was overhauled or eliminated altogether. Cook was elected to the board the following year. Last week, Cook told a reporter: I think Black history has promise now. Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the number of students who took Black literature this year. JEFFERSON CITY Gov. Mike Parson said he is committed to sending additional resources to Texas Operation Lone Star to secure the southern border, but specifics were not immediately available on Monday. In a video Sunday, Parson said Missouri would put boots on the ground to help more than it already has. Two Missouri National Guard companies have already been deployed to the southern border, Parson spokesperson Johnathan Shiflett said last week. Parson on Sunday said that President Joe Biden and whats going on in Washington, D.C., is not going to be able to help secure the border at this point. We know there is a way to secure the border, Parson said. If it takes the states to do that, thats exactly what were gonna do. In 2018, Parsons predecessor, Republican Eric Greitens, deployed four Missouri Army National Guard troops and one helicopter to Arizona to help border protection. Greitens called it a critical mission even though the guard members were in a support role, providing only aerial surveillance. Parson on Sunday traveled to the Texas border town of Eagle Pass, where he joined Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and 13 other Republican governors for a security briefing on the states Operation Lone Star and a news conference. Flanked by the Republican governors, Abbott at the Sunday news conference said, We are here to send a loud and clear message that we are banding together to fight to ensure ... that states will be able to defend against any type of imminent danger. Abbott attributed the imminent danger to Bidens abject refusal to enforce U.S. immigration laws. Parsons commitment to send additional Missouri resources to the Texas border comes after illegal U.S.-Mexico border crossing arrests reached an all-time high in December and amid an ongoing battle between Texas and the federal government over immigration enforcement. It also comes after the U.S. Senate on Sunday unveiled a bipartisan border deal that would tie tougher illegal immigration measures with more aid to Ukraine. But, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, said on X that the plan would be dead on arrival if makes it to the other chamber. This bill is even worse than we expected, he said. While immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border will likely be a central issue in what appears to be shaping up as a Trump vs. Biden presidential contest, some Missouri politicians seeking higher office this year have also capitalized on the attention the hot-button issue garners. At a news conference last week, House Speaker Dean Plocher, a Des Peres Republican running for lieutenant governor, said of illegal immigration, We have to tackle that issue. State Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor in a crowded Republican primary field, has filed anti-immigration legislation and last week said as governor he would immediately take action to deport illegals out-of-here. Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, an Arnold Republican who is running to fill the seat of retiring Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer, last month announced a measure that would urge the Governor to activate Missouris National Guard to aid the officials of Texas in the protection of the borders of the United States. Coleman on X on Sunday called the U.S. Senate border bill truly terrible. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / SNOWLINE GOLD CORP (TSX-V:SGD)(OTC:SNWGF) (the "Company" or "Snowline") announces today that Mr. Gunther Roehlig has tendered his resignation as an independent director of the Company, effective immediately, to focus on his other professional commitments. He will continue to support the Company as a consultant. Craig Hart, Chair of Snowline Gold stated, "On behalf of the Board of Directors and management, we would like to thank Gunther for his valuable contributions as a founding director of the Company, and throughout his subsequent tenure. We wish him the best with his future endeavours and look forward to his continued support as a consultant and shareholder." The Board of Directors is in the process of expanding the breadth of the Board and aims to strengthen its composition with an individual having advanced project or mine development expertise, as the Company advances its Rogue Project from exploration through to resource development. ABOUT SNOWLINE GOLD CORP. Snowline Gold Corp. is a Yukon Territory focused gold exploration company with an eight-project portfolio covering >333,000 ha. The Company is exploring its flagship >94,000 ha Rogue gold project in the highly prospective yet underexplored Selwyn Basin. Snowline's project portfolio sits within the prolific Tintina Gold Province, host to multiple million-ounce-plus gold mines and deposits including Kinross's Fort Knox Mine, Newmont's Coffee deposit, and Victoria Gold's Eagle Mine. The Company's first-mover land position and extensive database provide a unique opportunity for investors to be part of multiple discoveries and the creation of a new gold district. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Craig Hart Independent Chair & Director For further information, please contact: Snowline Gold Corp. +1 778 650 5485 [email protected] Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain forward-looking statements. Wherever possible, words such as "may", "will", "should", "could", "expect", "plan", "intend", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict" or "potential" or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things: risks related to uncertainties inherent in drill results and the estimation of mineral resources; and risks associated with executing the Company's plans and intentions. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law. SOURCE: Snowline Gold Corp. View the original press release on accesswire.com Award Focuses on Advanced CPU Micro Segmentation and Confidential Computing To Establish a Hardware Root of Trust and Protect Against Side-Channel Attacks ALEXANDRIA, VA / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2024 / Mainsail Industries is pleased to announce it has been selected by AFWERX for a STTR Phase 1 focused on Metalvisor, a Type Zero Hypervisor to address the most pressing cybersecurity challenges in the Department of the Air Force (DAF). The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and AFWERX have partnered to streamline the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) process by accelerating the small business experience through faster proposal to award timelines, changing the pool of potential applicants by expanding opportunities to small business and eliminating bureaucratic overhead by continually implementing process improvement changes in contract execution. The DAF began offering the Open Topic SBIR/STTR program in 2018 which expanded the range of innovations the DAF funded and now on December 13th, 2023, Mainsail Industries will start its journey to create and provide innovative capabilities that will strengthen the national defense of the United States of America. Advanced CPU Micro-Segmentation "This award is not only a recognition of Metalvisor's potential but a catalyst for groundbreaking developments in cybersecurity." - Eric Van Arsdall. (Mandatory disclaimer) "The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government." About Mainsail Industries Mainsail Industries is a U.S. cybersecurity company creating the most secure edge computing platform. We are dedicated to bringing advanced technology to the warfighter, promoting our warfighting capabilities. Mainsail's next-gen TypeZero hypervisor, Metalvisor, delivers advanced CPU micro-segmentation to secure mission-critical workloads, bringing full stack protection at the edge. We are focused on research, design, development, and integration of Metalvisor's technology for the Defense and Public Sectors, Enterprise, and Critical Infrastructure verticals. About AFRL The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. About AFWERX As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 325 military, civilian and contractor personnel at six hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has executed 4,697 contracts worth more than $2.6 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. Company Press Contact: Chris Dougherty SVP Sales Operations [email protected] Contact Information Chris Dougherty SVP [email protected] 301-674-5571 SOURCE: Mainsail Industries, Inc. View the original press release on newswire.com. First quarter performance exceeded the Companys expectations FY24 financial guidance reiterated, highlighted by 20% adjusted EPS growth at the mid-point Design backlog increased by 9% to a record high, including all-time highs across the largest markets Segment adjusted operating margin set a first quarter record, driven by high-returning organic NSR growth Strong cash flow enabled nearly $100 million of capital returns to shareholders DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AECOM (NYSE: ACM), the worlds trusted infrastructure consulting firm, today reported first quarter fiscal 2024 results. First Quarter Fiscal 2024 (from Continuing Operations; $ in millions, except EPS) As Reported Adjusted1 (Non-GAAP) As Reported YoY % Change Adjusted YoY % Change Revenue $3,900 -- 15% -- Net Service Revenue (NSR)2 -- $1,708 -- 7% Operating Income $163 $223 7% 17% Segment Operating Margin3 (NSR) -- 15.0% -- +100 bps Net Income $97 $144 11% 22% EPS (Fully Diluted) $0.71 $1.05 15% 25% EBITDA4 -- $251 -- 14% Operating Cash Flow $143 -- 19% -- Free Cash Flow5 -- $87 -- 4% Design Backlog $21,847 -- 9%6 -- First Quarter Fiscal 2024 Highlights Revenue increased 15% to $3.9 billion, operating income increased 7% to $163 million, the operating margin decreased 30 basis points to 4.2%, net income increased 11% to $97 million and diluted earnings per share increased 15% to $0.71; results included a ($29) million after-tax adjustment to the fair value of AECOM Capital investments. Organic net service revenue2 in the design business increased by 9% in the Americas and 8% overall. The segment adjusted1 operating margin3 on an NSR basis increased by 100 basis points to 15.0%, which marked a new first quarter high. Margin expansion was driven by high-returning organic growth; the Company reaffirmed its 17% long-term margin goal. Adjusted1 EBITDA4 and adjusted1 EPS increased by 14% and 25%, reflecting the benefits from high-returning organic growth initiatives, expanding profitability and a returns-focused capital allocation policy. Total design backlog increased by 9%6 to a new record, driven by a near record win rate and continued strong end market trends. Contracted backlog in the design business increased by 17%6, which is supported by funding strength across the Companys key geographies. The share of trailing twelve-month wins valued at $25 million or greater expanded further and remains at an all-time high, which reflects the benefits of the Companys strategy that has expanded its addressable market and contributed to high win rates on larger pursuits. Cash Flow, Balance Sheet and Capital Allocation Update Operating cash flow was $143 million and free cash flow5 was $87 million, which enabled the return of nearly $100 million to shareholders in the first quarter through repurchases and dividend payments. Including share repurchases executed through March 2024, the Company has repurchased $1.8 billion of stock since the program commenced in September 2020. The Company affirmed its commitment to its returns-focused capital allocation policy, which includes prioritizing investments in organic growth followed by share repurchases and dividends. This includes continued share repurchases under the $1 billion share repurchase authorization that was approved by its Board of Directors in November 2023. This also included the 22% increase in the Companys quarterly dividend payment in January, consistent with its long-term commitment to double-digit annual increases. Fiscal 2024 Financial Guidance Building on a strong first quarter and positive momentum across the Companys end markets, AECOM reiterated its financial guidance for fiscal 2024, which includes expectations for strong organic NSR2 growth, a record segment adjusted1 operating margin3, and double-digit adjusted1 earnings per share growth. The Companys guidance also includes expectations for: Organic NSR2 growth of approximately 8% to 10%. A segment adjusted1 operating margin3 of approximately 15.6%, representing a 90 basis point increase from fiscal 2023. Adjusted1 EBITDA4 of between $1,065 million and $1,105 million, representing a 13% increase at the mid-point over fiscal 2023. Adjusted1 EPS of between $4.35 and $4.55, representing a 20% increase at the mid-point over fiscal 2023. Other assumptions incorporated into guidance: Reflecting the highly cash generative nature of its Professional Services business, the Company expects 100%+ adjusted1 net income to free cash flow5 conversion. An average fully diluted share count of 138 million, which reflects only shares repurchased to-date, though the Company intends to continue repurchasing stock that would provide a benefit to per share earnings. An adjusted effective tax rate of between 24% and 26% for the full year. This includes an expected adjusted effective tax rate in the high 20%s in the second and third fiscal quarters, consistent with last years phasing. The Company expects to deliver a return on invested capital7 (ROIC) of approximately 20% in fiscal 2024. Our strong first quarter performance reflects the strength of our strategy and culture, which is focused on winning what matters and collaborating to bring the best of our technical resources to our clients globally, said Troy Rudd, AECOMs chief executive officer. We delivered a record design backlog, strong organic NSR growth, record first quarter margins and strong free cash flow. Importantly, funding growth in our largest markets is accelerating, we are organically gaining market share as evident in our near record high win rates, and we are expanding our addressable share of the highest-value elements of our clients most critical investments through our Program Management and advisory business. All of this positions us to deliver on both our financial guidance for fiscal 2024 and on our long-term financial framework to outgrow the market organically and deliver double-digit annual compounding of per share earnings and cash flow. Through our Think and Act Globally strategy, we have created a competitive advantage at a time when investments are increasing across our largest and most profitable markets, said Lara Poloni, AECOMs president. The megatrends of global infrastructure investment, sustainability and resilience, and the energy transition are firmly intact and through our culture of collaboration and innovation, along with the benefits of our Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 strategy, our teams are ideally suited to continue to gain organic market share and outperform the overall market. We have created an algorithm for superior shareholder value creation by focusing our time and capital on high-returning organic growth opportunities, investing in innovation, and executing on our disciplined returns-focused capital allocation policy, said Gaurav Kapoor, AECOMs chief financial and operations officer. As our recently authorized $1 billion share repurchase program demonstrates, we believe there is a substantial value creation opportunity ahead as we execute on our strategy. Business Segments Americas Revenue in the first quarter was $3.0 billion. Net service revenue2 was $978 million and included 9% growth in the design business, driven primarily by growth in the Companys transportation, water and program management businesses. Operating income increased by 7% over the prior year to $175 million. On an adjusted1 basis, operating income increased by 6% to $179 million. The adjusted operating margin on an NSR2 basis of 18.3% included a 10 basis point increase over the prior year and a new first quarter record, reflecting the underlying strength of the business, positive impacts of growth, and ongoing reinvestment in long-term organic growth initiatives including our teams, key hires, business development and digital innovation. International Revenue in the first quarter was $861 million. Net service revenue2 was $730 million, an 8% increase from the prior year, which included growth across all of the Companys largest geographies. Operating income increased by 40% over the prior year to $77 million. On an adjusted1 basis, operating income increased by 40% to $77 million. The adjusted operating margin on an NSR2 basis increased by 230 basis points over the prior year to 10.6%, which set a new quarterly record for the International segment as the Company executes on its continuous improvement initiatives. Backlog Backlog in the design business increased by 9%6 to $21.8 billion to a new record and included strong growth in both the Americas and International segments, which reflected a continued near all-time high win rate. Contracted backlog in the design business increased by 17%6, and when combined with continued strong pipeline growth, provides for substantial visibility. Balance Sheet As of December 31, 2023, AECOM had $1.2 billion of total cash and cash equivalents, $2.2 billion of total debt and $1.0 billion of net debt (total debt less cash and cash equivalents). Net leverage8 was 0.9x. Tax Rate The effective tax rate was 19.5% in the first quarter. On an adjusted1 basis, the effective tax rate was 22.0%. The adjusted tax rate was derived by re-computing the quarterly effective tax rate on adjusted net income9. The adjusted tax expense differs from the GAAP tax expense based on the taxability or deductibility and tax rate applied to each of the adjustments. Conference Call AECOM is hosting a conference call tomorrow at 8 a.m. Eastern Time, during which management will make a brief presentation focusing on the Company's results, strategy and operating trends, and outlook. Interested parties can listen to the conference call and view accompanying slides via webcast at https://investors.aecom.com. The webcast will be available for replay following the call. 1 Excludes the impact of certain items, such as restructuring costs, amortization of intangible assets, non-core AECOM Capital and other items. See Regulation G Information for a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the comparable GAAP measures. 2 Revenue, less pass-through revenue; growth rates are presented on a constant-currency basis. 3 Reflects segment operating performance, excluding AECOM Capital and G&A. 4 Net income before interest expense, tax expense, depreciation and amortization. 5 Free cash flow is defined as cash flow from operations less capital expenditures, net of proceeds from disposals of property and equipment. 6 On a constant-currency basis. 7 Return on invested capital, or ROIC, reflects continuing operations and is calculated as the sum of adjusted net income as presented in the Companys Regulation G Information and adjusted interest expense, net of interest income, divided by average quarterly invested capital as defined as the sum of attributable shareholders equity and total debt, less cash and cash equivalents. 8 Net leverage is comprised of EBITDA as defined in the Companys credit agreement dated October 17, 2014, as amended, and total debt on the Companys financial statements, net of total cash and cash equivalents. 9 Inclusive of non-controlling interest deduction and adjusted for financing charges in interest expense, the amortization of intangible assets and is based on continuing operations. About AECOM AECOM (NYSE: ACM) is the worlds trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy, and the environment, our public- and private-sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $14.4 billion in fiscal year 2023. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM. Forward-Looking Statements All statements in this communication other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives for future operations, profitability, strategic value creation, risk profile and investment strategies, and any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, and the expected financial and operational results of AECOM. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results, performance and achievements, or industry results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: our business is cyclical and vulnerable to economic downturns and client spending reductions; potential government shutdowns or other funding circumstances that may cause governmental agencies to modify, curtail or terminate our contracts; losses under fixed-price contracts; limited control over operations that run through our joint venture entities; liability for misconduct by our employees or consultants; failure to comply with laws or regulations applicable to our business; maintaining adequate surety and financial capacity; potential high leverage and inability to service our debt and guarantees; ability to continue payment of dividends; exposure to political and economic risks in different countries, including tariffs, geopolitical events, and conflicts; currency exchange rate and interest fluctuations; retaining and recruiting key technical and management personnel; legal claims; inadequate insurance coverage; environmental law compliance and adequate nuclear indemnification; unexpected adjustments and cancellations related to our backlog; partners and third parties who may fail to satisfy their legal obligations; managing pension costs; AECOM Capital real estate development projects; cybersecurity issues, IT outages and data privacy; risks associated with the benefits and costs of the sale of our Management Services and self-perform at-risk civil infrastructure, power construction and oil and gas businesses, including the risk that any purchase adjustments from those transactions could be unfavorable and result in any future proceeds owed to us as part of the transactions could be lower than we expect; as well as other additional risks and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our forward-looking statements set forth in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement. Non-GAAP Financial Information This press release contains financial information calculated other than in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company believes that non-GAAP financial measures such as adjusted EPS, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net/operating income, segment adjusted operating margin, adjusted tax rate, net service revenue and free cash flow provide a meaningful perspective on its business results as the Company utilizes this information to evaluate and manage the business. We use adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS to exclude the impact of certain items, such as amortization expense and taxes to aid investors in better understanding our core performance results. We use free cash flow to present the cash generated from operations after capital expenditures to maintain our business. We present net service revenue (NSR) to exclude pass-through subcontractor costs from revenue to provide investors with a better understanding of our operational performance. We present segment adjusted operating margin to reflect segment operating performance of our Americas and International segments, excluding AECOM Capital. We present adjusted tax rate to reflect the tax rate on adjusted earnings. We also use constant-currency growth rates where appropriate, which are calculated by conforming the current period results to the comparable period exchange rates. Our non-GAAP disclosure has limitations as an analytical tool, should not be viewed as a substitute for financial information determined in accordance with GAAP, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP, nor is it necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures is found in the Regulation G Information tables at the back of this release. The Company is unable to reconcile its non-GAAP financial guidance and long-term financial targets due to uncertainties in these non-operating items as well as other adjustments to net income. The Company is unable to provide a reconciliation of its guidance for NSR to GAAP revenue because it is unable to predict with reasonable certainty its pass-through revenue. AECOM Consolidated Statement of Income (unaudited - in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended December 31, 2022 December 31, 2023 % Change Revenue $ 3,382,355 $ 3,899,920 15.3 % Cost of revenue 3,167,367 3,655,950 15.4 % Gross profit 214,988 243,970 13.5 % Equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures 9,829 (28,941 ) (394.4 )% General and administrative expenses (35,612 ) (35,724 ) 0.3 % Restructuring costs (37,459 ) (16,180 ) (56.8 )% Income from operations 151,746 163,125 7.5 % Other income 1,984 2,569 29.5 % Interest income 5,886 12,102 105.6 % Interest expense (36,700 ) (41,257 ) 12.4 % Income from continuing operations before taxes 122,916 136,539 11.1 % Income tax expense for continuing operations 25,765 26,658 3.5 % Income from continuing operations 97,151 109,881 13.1 % Loss from discontinued operations (388 ) (1,287 ) 231.7 % Net income 96,763 108,594 12.2 % Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests from continuing operations (9,644 ) (13,117 ) 36.0 % Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests from discontinued operations 826 (1,039 ) (225.8 )% Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (8,818 ) (14,156 ) 60.5 % Net income attributable to AECOM from continuing operations 87,507 96,764 10.6 % Net income (loss) attributable to AECOM from discontinued operations 438 (2,326 ) (631.1 )% Net income attributable to AECOM $ 87,945 $ 94,438 7.4 % Net income (loss) attributable to AECOM per share: Basic continuing operations per share $ 0.63 $ 0.71 12.7 % Basic discontinued operations per share (0.02 ) NM Basic earnings per share $ 0.63 $ 0.69 9.5 % Diluted continuing operations per share $ 0.62 $ 0.71 14.5 % Diluted discontinued operations per share 0.01 (0.02 ) (300.0 )% Diluted earnings per share $ 0.63 $ 0.69 9.5 % Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic 138,687 135,897 (2.0 )% Diluted 140,642 137,101 (2.5 )% AECOM Balance Sheet Information (unaudited - in thousands) September 30, 2023 December 31, 2023 Balance Sheet Information: Total cash and cash equivalents $ 1,260,206 $ 1,192,260 Accounts receivable and contract assets, net 4,069,504 4,269,023 Working capital 319,228 279,546 Total debt, excluding unamortized debt issuance costs 2,217,255 2,214,970 Total assets 11,233,398 11,389,921 Total AECOM stockholders equity 2,212,332 2,247,296 AECOM Reportable Segments (unaudited - in thousands) Americas International AECOM Capital Corporate Total Three Months Ended December 31, 2023: Revenue $ 3,038,683 $ 861,041 $ 196 $ $ 3,899,920 Cost of revenue 2,867,708 788,242 3,655,950 Gross profit 170,975 72,799 196 243,970 Equity in earnings (losses) of joint ventures 3,658 4,282 (36,881) (28,941) General and administrative expenses (2,451) (33,273) (35,724) Restructuring costs (16,180) (16,180) Income (loss) from operations $ 174,633 $ 77,081 $ (39,136) $ (49,453) $ 163,125 Gross profit as a % of revenue 5.6% 8.5% 6.3% Contracted backlog $ 18,196,458 $ 4,306,154 $ $ $ 22,502,612 Awarded backlog 13,643,939 2,061,613 15,705,552 Unconsolidated JV backlog 1,599,860 1,599,860 Total backlog $ 33,440,257 $ 6,367,767 $ $ $ 39,808,024 Total backlog Design only $ 15,478,792 $ 6,367,767 $ $ $ 21,846,559 Three Months Ended December 31, 2022: Revenue $ 2,579,311 $ 802,796 $ 248 $ $ 3,382,355 Cost of revenue 2,416,406 750,961 3,167,367 Gross profit 162,905 51,835 248 214,988 Equity in earnings of joint ventures 883 3,298 5,648 9,829 General and administrative expenses (2,678) (32,934) (35,612) Restructuring costs (37,459) (37,459) Income from operations $ 163,788 $ 55,133 $ 3,218 $ (70,393) $ 151,746 Gross profit as a % of revenue 6.3% 6.5% 6.4% Contracted backlog $ 19,238,125 $ 3,930,046 $ $ $ 23,168,171 Awarded backlog 15,680,479 1,751,686 17,432,165 Unconsolidated JV backlog 224,259 224,259 Total backlog $ 35,142,863 $ 5,681,732 $ $ $ 40,824,595 Total backlog Design only $ 14,218,518 $ 5,681,732 $ $ $ 19,900,250 AECOM Regulation G Information (in millions) Reconciliation of Revenue to Net Service Revenue (NSR) Three Months Ended December 31, 2022 September 30, 2023 December 31, 2023 Americas Revenue $ 2,579.3 $ 2,936.7 $ 3,038.7 Less: Pass-through revenue 1,655.6 1,932.2 2,061.0 Net service revenue $ 923.7 $ 1,004.5 $ 977.7 International Revenue $ 802.8 $ 905.2 $ 861.0 Less: Pass-through revenue 133.9 182.8 131.1 Net service revenue $ 668.9 $ 722.4 $ 729.9 Segment Performance (excludes ACAP) Revenue $ 3,382.1 $ 3,841.9 $ 3,899.7 Less: Pass-through revenue 1,789.5 2,115.0 2,192.1 Net service revenue $ 1,592.6 $ 1,726.9 $ 1,707.6 Consolidated Revenue $ 3,382.4 $ 3,842.4 $ 3,899.9 Less: Pass-through revenue 1,789.5 2,115.0 2,192.1 Net service revenue $ 1,592.9 $ 1,727.4 $ 1,707.8 Reconciliation of Total Debt to Net Debt Balances at December 31, 2022 September 30, 2023 December 31, 2023 Short-term debt $ 4.6 $ 3.1 $ 3.2 Current portion of long-term debt 48.4 86.4 88.4 Long-term debt, excluding unamortized debt issuance costs 2,172.8 2,127.8 2,123.4 Total debt 2,225.8 2,217.3 2,215.0 Less: Total cash and cash equivalents 1,160.4 1,260.2 1,192.3 Net debt $ 1,065.4 $ 957.1 $ 1,022.7 Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow Three Months Ended December 31, 2022 September 30, 2023 December 31, 2023 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 120.0 $ 285.2 $ 143.1 Capital expenditures, net (36.3 ) (22.3 ) (56.2 ) Free cash flow $ 83.7 $ 262.9 $ 86.9 AECOM Regulation G Information (in millions, except per share data) Three Months Ended Dec 31, 2022 Sep 30, 2023 Dec 31, 2023 Reconciliation of Income from Operations to Adjusted Income from Operations Income from operations $ 151.7 $ 80.3 $ 163.1 Noncore AECOM Capital (income) loss (3.2 ) 1.9 39.1 Restructuring costs 37.5 137.9 16.2 Amortization of intangible assets 4.7 4.6 4.6 Adjusted income from operations $ 190.7 $ 224.7 $ 223.0 Reconciliation of Income from Continuing Operations Before Taxes to Adjusted Income from Continuing Operations Before Taxes Income from continuing operations before taxes $ 122.9 $ 56.8 $ 136.5 Noncore AECOM Capital (income) loss (3.2 ) 1.9 39.1 Restructuring costs 37.5 137.9 16.2 Amortization of intangible assets 4.7 4.6 4.6 Financing charges in interest expense 1.2 1.2 1.3 Adjusted income from continuing operations before taxes $ 163.1 $ 202.4 $ 197.7 Reconciliation of Income Taxes for Continuing Operations to Adjusted Income Taxes for Continuing Operations Income tax expense for continuing operations $ 25.8 $ 9.2 $ 26.6 Tax effect of the above adjustments(1) 9.4 38.4 14.0 Adjusted income tax expense for continuing operations $ 35.2 $ 47.6 $ 40.6 (1) Adjusts income taxes during the period to exclude the impact on our effective tax rate of the pre-tax adjustments shown above. Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests (NCI) from Continuing Operations to Adjusted Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests from Continuing Operations Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests from continuing operations $ (9.6 ) $ (13.7 ) $ (13.1 ) Amortization of intangible assets included in NCI (0.2 ) (0.1 ) (0.2 ) Adjusted net income attributable to noncontrolling interests from continuing operations $ (9.8 ) $ (13.8 ) $ (13.3 ) Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to AECOM from Continuing Operations to Adjusted Net Income Attributable to AECOM from Continuing Operations Net income attributable to AECOM from continuing operations $ 87.5 $ 33.9 $ 96.8 Noncore AECOM Capital (income) loss (3.2 ) 1.9 39.1 Restructuring costs 37.5 137.9 16.2 Amortization of intangible assets 4.7 4.6 4.6 Financing charges in interest expense 1.2 1.2 1.3 Tax effect of the above adjustments(1) (9.4 ) (38.4 ) (14.0 ) Amortization of intangible assets included in NCI (0.2 ) (0.1 ) (0.2 ) Adjusted net income attributable to AECOM from continuing operations $ 118.1 $ 141.0 $ 143.8 (1) Adjusts the income taxes during the period to exclude the impact on our effective tax rate of the pre-tax adjustments shown above. AECOM Regulation G Information (in millions, except per share data) Three Months Ended Dec 31, 2022 Sep 30, 2023 Dec 31, 2023 Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to AECOM from Continuing Operations per Diluted Share to Adjusted Net Income Attributable to AECOM from Continuing Operations per Diluted Share Net income attributable to AECOM from continuing operations per diluted share $ 0.62 $ 0.24 $ 0.71 Per diluted share adjustments: Noncore AECOM Capital (income) loss, net of NCI (0.02 ) 0.01 0.29 Restructuring costs 0.27 0.99 0.12 Amortization of intangible assets 0.03 0.03 0.03 Financing charges in interest expense 0.01 0.01 0.01 Tax effect of the above adjustments(1) (0.07 ) (0.27 ) (0.11 ) Adjusted net income attributable to AECOM from continuing operations per diluted share $ 0.84 $ 1.01 $ 1.05 Weighted average shares outstanding basic 138.7 138.1 135.9 Weighted average shares outstanding diluted 140.6 139.4 137.1 (1)Adjusts the income taxes during the period to exclude the impact on our effective tax rate of the pre-tax adjustments shown above. Reconciliation of Net Income Attributable to AECOM from Continuing Operations to EBITDA and to Adjusted EBITDA and to Adjusted Income from Operations Net income attributable to AECOM from continuing operations $ 87.5 $ 33.9 $ 96.8 Income tax expense 25.8 9.2 26.6 Depreciation and amortization 43.4 44.6 43.1 Interest income, net of NCI (5.9 ) (15.8 ) (10.7 ) Interest expense 36.7 41.4 41.3 Amortized bank fees included in interest expense (1.2 ) (1.2 ) (1.2 ) EBITDA $ 186.3 $ 112.1 $ 195.9 Noncore AECOM Capital (income) loss, net of NCI (3.2 ) 1.9 39.1 Restructuring costs 37.5 137.9 16.2 Adjusted EBITDA $ 220.6 $ 251.9 $ 251.2 Other income (2.0 ) (2.2 ) (2.6 ) Depreciation (37.7 ) (38.8 ) (37.5 ) Noncontrolling interests in income of consolidated subsidiaries 9.6 13.7 13.1 Interest income included in NCI (1.4 ) Amortization of intangible assets included in NCI 0.2 0.1 0.2 Adjusted income from operations $ 190.7 $ 224.7 $ 223.0 Reconciliation of Segment Income from Operations to Adjusted Income from Operations Americas Segment: Income from operations $ 163.8 $ 186.2 $ 174.6 Amortization of intangible assets 4.4 4.3 4.3 Adjusted income from operations $ 168.2 $ 190.5 $ 178.9 International Segment: Income from operations $ 55.1 $ 71.9 $ 77.1 Amortization of intangible assets 0.3 0.3 0.3 Adjusted income from operations $ 55.4 $ 72.2 $ 77.4 Segment Performance (excludes ACAP and G&A): Income from operations $ 218.9 $ 258.1 $ 251.7 Amortization of intangible assets 4.7 4.6 4.6 Adjusted income from operations $ 223.6 $ 262.7 $ 256.3 AECOM Regulation G Information FY2024 GAAP EPS Guidance based on Adjusted EPS Guidance (all figures approximate) Fiscal Year End 2024 GAAP EPS guidance $3.63 to $3.95 Adjusted EPS excludes: Amortization of intangible assets $0.13 Amortization of deferred financing fees $0.04 Noncore AECOM Capital $0.28 Restructuring expenses $0.51 to $0.36 Tax effect of the above items ($0.24) to ($0.21) Adjusted EPS guidance $4.35 to $4.55 FY2024 GAAP Net Income from Continuing Operations Guidance based on Adjusted EBITDA Guidance (in millions, all figures approximate) Fiscal Year End 2024 GAAP net income from continuing operations guidance $561 to $595 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest from continuing operations ($60) to ($50) Net income attributable to AECOM from continuing operations $501 to $545 Adjusted net income attributable to AECOM from continuing operations excludes: Amortization of intangible assets $18 Amortization of deferred financing fees $5 Noncore AECOM Capital $39 Restructuring expenses $70 to $50 Tax effect of the above items ($33) to ($29) Adjusted net income attributable to AECOM from continuing operations $600 to $628 Adjusted EBITDA excludes: Depreciation $152 Adjusted interest expense, net $115 Tax expense, including tax effect of above items $198 to $210 Adjusted EBITDA guidance $1,065 to $1,105 FY2024 GAAP Interest Expense Guidance based on Adjusted Interest Expense Guidance (in millions, all figures approximate) Fiscal Year End 2024 GAAP interest expense guidance $155 Finance charges in interest expense ($5) Interest income, net of NCI ($35) Adjusted net interest expense guidance $115 FY2024 GAAP Income Tax Guidance based on Adjusted Income Tax Guidance (in millions, all figures approximate) Fiscal Year End 2024 GAAP income tax expense guidance $165 to $181 Tax effect of adjusting items $33 to $29 Adjusted income tax expense guidance $198 to $210 AECOM Regulation G Information FY2024 GAAP Income from Operations as a % of Revenue Guidance based on Segment Adjusted Operating Income as a % of Net Service Revenue Guidance (all figures approximate) Fiscal Year End 2024 Income from operations as a % of revenue 5.9% Pass-through revenues 8.3% Amortization of intangible assets 0.1% Corporate net expense 0.9% Restructuring expenses* 0.4% Segment adjusted operating income as a % of net service revenue 15.6% *Based on midpoint of FY2024 guidance View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205272134/en/ Investor Contact: Will Gabrielski Senior Vice President, Finance, Treasurer 213.593.8208 [email protected] Media Contact: Brendan Ranson-Walsh Senior Vice President, Global Communications 213.996.2367 [email protected] Source: AECOM Bristol Myers Squibb Company ranks in top 10 of Pharmaceutical and Biotech Sector on the issues Americans care about most PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) is honored to announce it has been recognized as One of America's Most JUST Companies. The ranking, presented by JUST Capital and CNBC, recognized BMS for its commitment to key social responsibilities, including employees, customers, communities, and environmental impact. Bristol Myers Squibb earned a spot on the top 100 list and ranked six in the Pharmaceuticals and Biotech industry overall. This achievement is reflective of BMS focus on delivering long-term value through our efforts to address unmet patient needs, advance equitable access to life-transforming medicines and foster a high performing, inclusive global workforce. It also underscores our commitment to operating with effective governance, uncompromising quality and compliance, and the highest ethical standards to deliver our mission. We are proud to be recognized as a leader by JUST 100, reinforcing our focus on community impact, employee well-being and ethical practices to best serve our patients, said Cari Gallman, Executive Vice President, Bristol Myers Squibb. This achievement reflects our collective passion for excellence in what we do not only by bringing forward innovative medicines, but also by making a positive impact on society. Out of nearly 1,000 analyzed companies, BMS leadership on community issues, particularly job creation and economic development, contributed to its inclusion in this prestigious ranking. Among the notable achievements are BMS efforts to invest more than one billion dollars with small and diverse-owned businesses, creating economic opportunities in underrepresented communities. Additionally, BMS was recognized for its ethical interactions with stakeholders, noting efforts to protect customer privacy, which are guided by the companys Principles of Integrity and Standards of Business Conduct and Ethics. Learn more about Bristol Myers Squibbs ESG progress and sustainability commitments in the latest Environmental Social and Governance Report. About JUST Capital The mission of JUST Capital, an independent nonprofit, is to demonstrate how just business defined by the priorities of the public is better business. Our goal is to help companies create value for all their stakeholders their workers, customers, communities, the environment, and shareholders by focusing on the issues that matter most to Americans. For the annual Rankings, JUST Capital collects and analyzes corporate data to evaluate the 1,000 largest public U.S. companies across 20 Issues identified through comprehensive, ongoing public opinion research on Americans attitudes toward responsible corporate behavior. JUST Capital has engaged more than 170,000 participants, on a fully representative basis, since 2015. CNBC will delve into the data, highlighting company-specific results and showcasing key stakeholder performance stories about this years JUST 100 leaders across the networks broadcast and digital platforms at cnbc.com/just100. An exploration of the JUST 100 companies can be found at justcapital.com/rankings. About Bristol Myers Squibb Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. corporatefinancial-news View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205190223/en/ Bristol Myers Squibb Media Inquiries: [email protected] Source: Bristol Myers Squibb Discover how generative AI is evolving the landscape of work, learn from AI experts about how to invest in AI, and why safe AI is critical for all REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- C3 AI (NYSE: AI), the Enterprise AI application software company, will host its fifth annual AI conference, C3 Transform 2024, from March 57, 2024 in Boca Raton, Florida. This event brings together business leaders, technical experts, thought leaders, and C3 AI customers to discuss enterprise AI innovation, performance, and value; this year, the focus is on how generative AI is delivering enormous productivity and efficiency benefits across industries. At its core, C3 Transform is where the vision of enterprise AI comes to life, said C3 AI CEO and Chairman Thomas M. Siebel. Generative AI is changing the future of business, and leaders across every sector are turning to it to improve efficiency, productivity, and workforce skills and knowledge. By bringing together experts from C3 AI and early adopters who can speak to the value of enterprise AI, C3 Transform gives attendees the chance to discover exactly how they can use generative AI securely and effectively. The agenda features notable keynote presentations, panel discussions, and breakout sessions designed to educate and engage attendees. Throughout the event, attendees will have the unique opportunity to hear perspectives from industry thought leaders on topics ranging from AIs evolving role in national security to the origins and future of LLMs. Featured speakers include: Thomas M. Siebel, CEO and Chairman, C3 AI The Honorable Condoleezza Rice, 66th U.S. Secretary of State Jim Snabe, Chairman of Supervisory Board, Siemens AG Christopher Manning, Director of the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab, Inaugural Thomas M. Siebel Professor in Machine Learning, and Professor of Linguistics & Computer Science, Stanford University Alan Murray, CEO, Fortune Media The C3 AI Board of Directors In addition to conversations around trends shaping the wider industry, C3 Transform 2024 will highlight the evolution of C3 AIs solutions and offer attendees a firsthand look at the latest innovations in C3 Generative AI. C3 AI customers, including Holcim, GSK, and Con Edison, will also share invaluable insights from their digital transformation journeys, offering best practices for effectively building, scaling, and maintaining enterprise AI programs. Those interested in attending can register their interest here: https://c3.ai/c3-transform-2024/ About C3.ai, Inc. C3 AI is the Enterprise AI application software company. C3 AI delivers a family of fully integrated products including the C3 AI Platform, an end-to-end platform for developing, deploying, and operating enterprise AI applications, C3 AI applications, a portfolio of industry-specific SaaS enterprise AI applications that enable the digital transformation of organizations globally, and C3 Generative AI, a suite of domain-specific generative AI offerings for the enterprise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205797983/en/ C3 AI Public Relations Edelman Lisa Kennedy (415) 914-8336 [email protected] Investor Relations [email protected] Source: C3.ai Global Software Solutions Provider Secures Larger Office Space in Tempe Area To Meet Growing Tech Industry Needs TEMPE, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Chetu, a leading provider of world-class software development and support services, is excited to announce the opening of its new, larger office in Tempe, Arizona. This strategic relocation comes in response to the companys sustained growth and commitment to meeting the demands of the West Coast tech scene. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205898991/en/ Above is Chetus new, more spacious Tempe, AZ, office located in the Jackson Plaza, 4600 South Mill Avenue, Suite 180. (Photo: Business Wire) With 14 offices throughout the U.S., United Kingdom, and India, Chetus sustained, organic growth continues to fuel its regional and global presence. The companys back-to-back double-digit growth in 2021-2022 has enabled the company to grow to more than 2,800 software experts worldwide. Our growing West Coast presence demanded more space, said Rick Heicksen, Vice President of Sales, who supervises the new Tempe office. The tech industry continues to grow, and we are excited to be a part of it. We look forward to expanding our team and contributing to the vibrant Arizona and West Coast tech communities. Having opened the Tempe office in 2021 to manage Chetus West Coast operations, the new location more than doubles the size of the original office with 3,000 square feet of operating space. It can house at least 24 team members, an increase from the 12 team members currently working in Tempe. The new location is conveniently located in Jackson Plaza, 4600 South Mill Avenue, Suite 180, Tempe, AZ 85282. The expansion is part of Chetus sustained growth during the past two years, including: Opening a new Software Skill Development and Training Center and a third software development delivery center in Noida, India. Adding a third office in Florida on the West Coast in Brandon. For information on Chetu or to request a consultation, please visit www.chetu.com. About Chetu Founded in 2000, Chetu is a global software development solutions and support services provider. Chetu's specialized technology and industry experts serve startups, SMBs, and Fortune 5000 companies with an unparalleled software delivery model suited to the needs of the clients. Chetu's one-stop-shop model spans the entire software technology spectrum. Headquartered in Sunrise, Florida, Chetu has 14 locations throughout the U.S. and abroad. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205898991/en/ Media Contact: [email protected] 954-342-5676 Source: Chetu With the Year of the Dragon just around the corner, a temple fair was held in the Nigerian capital to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Produced by Xinhua Global Service LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Golub Capital acted as Sole Lender on a senior credit facility to support Thoma Bravos take private acquisition of German company EQS Group AG (EQS). Proceeds of the transaction will be used to fund future growth initiatives and provide capital for potential add-on acquisitions. EQS is a leading international cloud provider in corporate compliance, investor relationships and sustainability (ESG) reporting. There is a growing interest for take-privates in the European market, with direct lenders being in an advantageous position to provide the financing solutions needed by sponsors to acquire high-quality assets like EQS, said Tara Moore, Managing Director and Head of European Originations at Golub Capital. We are honored to expand our partnership with Thoma Bravo and to be able to deliver on our first take-private financing in the German market. The Thoma Bravo acquisition will provide additional operational and software industry expertise, enhanced financial flexibility and strategic support to fully seize the long-term growth opportunity in the rapidly growing European compliance market. We are pleased to leverage Golub Capitals capabilities beyond the U.S., to also provide capital to businesses in Europe, said Irina Hemmers, Partner at Thoma Bravo. Golub Capital has completed 40 transactions with Thoma Bravo since 2018. EQS Group marks the Firms first transaction with Thoma Bravos new London office. About Golub Capital Sponsor Finance Golub Capital is a market-leading, award-winning direct lender and experienced credit asset manager. We specialize in delivering reliable, creative and compelling financing solutions to companies backed by private equity sponsors. The firms Direct Lending group provides buy-and-hold financing for sponsor-backed transactions with hold positions up to $700 million and arranges syndicated credit facilities up to $2 billion. As of January 1, 2024, Golub Capital had over 875 employees and over $65 billion of capital under management, a gross measure of invested capital including leverage. The firm has lending offices in New York, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco, London, Seoul and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit golubcapital.com. About EQS EQS is a leading international cloud provider in the fields of corporate compliance, investor relations and ESG. Working with EQS, more than 10,000 companies worldwide inspire trust by fulfilling complex regulatory requirements in a reliable and secure manner, minimizing risks and communicating their business success and its impact on society and the climate transparently to stakeholders. EQSs products are pooled in the cloud-based software EQS COCKPIT. This platform ensures the professional handling of compliance workflows in the fields of whistleblower protection and case management, policy management, business approvals, third party management, insider list management and disclosure obligations. Listed companies benefit from a global newswire, investor targeting and contact management, IR websites, digital reports and webcasts for efficient and secure investor communications. In addition, EQS offers software for the management of ESG (environment, social, governance) data, the fulfilment of human rights due diligence obligations along corporate supply chains and for rule-compliant sustainability reporting. EQS was founded in 2000 in Munich, Germany. Today the group employs around 600 professionals and has offices in the worlds key financial markets. About Thoma Bravo Thoma Bravo is one of the largest software investors in the world, with approximately US$134 billion in assets under management as of 30 September 2023. Through its private equity, growth equity and credit strategies, the firm invests in growth-oriented, innovative companies operating in the software and technology sectors. Leveraging Thoma Bravos deep sector knowledge and strategic and operational expertise, the firm collaborates with its portfolio companies to implement operating best practices and drive growth initiatives. Over the past 20 years, the firm has acquired or invested in more than 455 companies representing over US$255 billion in enterprise value (including control and non-control investments). The firm has offices in Chicago, London, Miami, New York and San Francisco. For more information, visit Thoma Bravos website at thomabravo.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205782396/en/ Media [email protected] Source: Golub Capital Multi-orbit antenna delivers first-ever polar service MCLEAN, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Intelsat, operator of one of the worlds largest integrated satellite and terrestrial networks and leading provider of in-flight connectivity (IFC), has completed a series of historic test flights to the Arctic Circle demonstrating that airlines that require inflight internet connectivity on long-haul flights at extreme northerly latitudes can access low-latency, high-throughput service at any point on their route map. Airlines and their passengers have never had access to polar connectivity, but Intelsat made history as the first inflight connectivity provider to provide high-speed internet service above the Arctic Circle, said Dave Bijur, the companys senior vice president of Commercial Aviation. This is an important region for airlines operating intercontinental flights. Thanks to Intelsats multi-orbit satellite service and ESA antenna, millions of international passengers flying on polar routes will enjoy reliable, non-stop connectivity from gate to gate. The test flights were completed on Intelsats test aircraft, a CRJ-700 regional jet equipped with an Electronically Steered Array (ESA) antenna. During the test flights, engineers from Intelsat and Ball Aerospace collected data necessary to understand the ESAs operations and connections with different satellite orbits at different latitudes: On December 17, 2023, Intelsat operated its test aircraft from Seattle, Washington to Anchorage, Alaska. Anchorage is located at roughly 61 north, making it the northernmost city served by major airlines, anywhere on the planet. This flight was operated using Intelsats fleet of geostationary (GEO) satellites, proving high-throughput GEO service is available using Intelsat ESA at all global airline hubs. On December 18, 2023, Intelsat operated a roundtrip flight from Anchorage to Utqiagvik, Alaska (formerly Barrow, AK). Utqiagvik is situated at a latitude of 71 north, the same as many polar routes connecting Asia, North America and Europe. This flight was operated using OneWebs fleet of low Earth orbit satellites and demonstrated that high-speed, low latency performance is available even in a challenging geographic region that previously never had inflight internet service. The two tests validated the capabilities of Intelsats multi-orbit solution for airlines, said Pat Walsh, senior vice president of Engineering. As the aircraft traveled due north from Anchorage into the Arctic Circle, we seamlessly connected to the OneWeb low-earth orbit constellation delivering 150 megabits per second inflight and on the ground in Alaska. In addition, near the polar region, Intelsats GEO operations exceeded expectations, delivering a reliable, high-speed connection all the way to Anchorage. Commenting on the test flight, Ben Griffin, VP Mobility at Eutelsat OneWeb said, We congratulate Intelsat on this milestone moment, made possible by OneWebs low Earth orbit constellation. This continuous connectivity across all routes and latitudes is a game changer for international airlines flying between East and West across the polar region. This historic flight validates the 5Cs of connectivity that together OneWeb and Intelsat can deliver to our airline customer namely coverage, capacity, connection, consistency, and community. About Intelsat Intelsats worldwide team of professionals is focused on providing seamless and secure, satellite-based communications to government, NGO and commercial customers through the companys next-generation global network and managed services. Bridging the digital divide by operating one of the worlds largest and most advanced satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructures, Intelsat enables people and their tools to speak over oceans, see across continents and listen through the skies to communicate, cooperate and coexist. Since its founding six decades ago, the company has been synonymous with satellite-industry firsts in service to its customers and the planet. Leaning on a legacy of innovation and focusing on addressing a new generation of challenges Intelsat team members now have their sights on the next firsts in space as they disrupt the field and lead in the digital transformation of the industry. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205140901/en/ Melissa Longo - [email protected]; +1 240-308-1881 Source: Intelsat Proceeds Modestly Higher Than Current Carrying Values NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF) announced today that, consistent with its strategy to build the leading independent global Investment Banking and Capital Markets firm, Jefferies agreed to the sale by OpNet S.p.A (the Italian wireless broadband provider formerly known as Linkem) of substantially all of OpNets operations to Wind Tre S.p.A., a subsidiary of CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings Ltd. (CKHGT). Under the terms of this sale agreement, the consideration will be 485 million, subject to certain adjustments, that will consist of cash in an amount sufficient to satisfy all of OpNets financial debt, transaction costs and other cash obligations and approximately 225 million to be paid also in cash or, at CKHGTs election, in three-year notes issued by CKHGT that are similar to CKHGTs publicly listed investment-grade bonds and are marketable. In addition to the consideration of the CKHGT notes, OpNet will retain majority ownership in other operating telecom companies, resulting in approximately 320 million in final value to Jefferies from this transaction, which exceeds our current carrying value. This sale is subject to regulatory approvals and is anticipated to close in the second or third quarter of 2024. Jefferies recently agreed to sell Foursight Capital LLC (an automobile finance company) to One Main Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: OMF), and Golden Queen (a gold and silver mining company) to Andean Precious Metals (TXV:APM). To reflect the completion of the substantial reduction of these legacy investments, Jefferies will reclassify the remaining legacy investments as Other investments in its Asset Management reportable segment in fiscal 2024. The only individual investment of size today is HomeFed, our real estate development company that specializes in mixed-use, master-planned communities. We expect to operate the core business of HomeFed, which has solid long-term prospects, and to liquidate certain peripheral assets in an orderly manner. Rich Handler, CEO of Jefferies, and Brian Friedman, President of Jefferies, commented: After over a decade of optimizing and efficiently monetizing our merchant banking assets and using the proceeds to reinvest in Jefferies and return capital to our shareholders, we are thrilled to be back to our roots of focusing exclusively on building the very best pure play global investment banking firm. With the support of our more than 5,500 employee-partners worldwide, we have been able to achieve our goal of focusing Jefferies efforts on our core business, becoming a leader around the world in Investment Banking and Capital Markets. And we believe our human capital investment to broaden and deepen our capabilities, together with our Strategic Alliance with SMBC, position us well as we move forward in 2024 and the years beyond. About Jefferies Jefferies (NYSE: JEF) is a leading global, full-service investment banking and capital markets firm that provides advisory, sales and trading, research, wealth, and asset management services. With more than 40 offices around the world, we offer insights and expertise to investors, companies and governments. For more information: www.jefferies.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include statements about our future and statements that are not historical facts. These forwardlooking statements are typically identified by such words as believe, expect, anticipate, may, intend, outlook, will, estimate, forecast, project, should, and other similar words and expressions, and are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which will change over time. Forward-looking statements may contain beliefs, goals, intentions and expectations regarding revenues, earnings, operations, arrangements and other results, and may include statements of future performance, plans, and objectives. Forward-looking statements also include statements pertaining to our strategies for future development of our businesses and products. Forwardlooking statements speak only as of the date they are made; we do not assume any duty, and do not undertake, to update any forwardlooking statements. Furthermore, because forwardlooking statements represent only our belief regarding future events, many of which by their nature are inherently uncertain, the actual results or outcomes may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results or outcomes indicated in these forward-looking statements. Information regarding important factors, including Risk Factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ, perhaps materially, from those in our forward-looking statements is contained in reports we file with the SEC. You should read and interpret any forward-looking statement together with reports we file with the SEC. Past performance may not be indicative of future results. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. Therefore, it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy will be profitable or equal the corresponding indicated performance level(s). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240131906401/en/ Media Inquiries Jonathan Freedman (212) 284-2300 [email protected] Source: Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Hamlet Falling Creek marks companys second build-to-rent development in Midlothian VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Middleburg Communities (Middleburg) today announced it has secured financing from Simmons Bank to begin construction of Hamlet Falling Creek, a 260-unit build-to-rent community to be developed along Genito Road in Midlothian, Virginia about 20 minutes southwest of Downtown Richmond. The project marks Middleburgs second build-to-rent community in Midlothian, joining Hamlet Watkins Centre, which is currently under construction. We are excited to develop Hamlet Falling Creek, which, together with Hamlet Watkins Centre, will set the standard for what build-to-rent living in Richmond is all about, said Robin Bettarel, Managing Director of Development for Middleburgs Mid-Atlantic Region. This type of community is highly appealing to all types of lifestyles families, individuals, empty nesters as it provides the opportunity to reside in a high-quality, meticulously maintained neighborhood without the burden of property upkeep or maintenance. Part of an approximately 100-acre master plan including for-sale homes and townhomes, retail, and preserved wetlands, Hamlet Falling Creek will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom cottages, duplexes and townhomes for rent. Like Hamlet Watkins Centre, the community will provide a truly differentiated living experience, with luxury finishes in every home, a best-in-class amenity package and a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood design. Situated between Route-288, Powhite Parkway, and Hull Street Road, the propertys location offers easy access to Downtown Richmond and 530,000 jobs within a 30-minute drive. The site is located in the highly-rated Chesterfield County school district and is part of the Genito Road/288 Corridor improvement plan, which includes landmark projects such as the recent expansion of the RiverCity sportsplex and The Lake, a massive surf-park anchored development currently under construction. Selim Tay-Agbozo, President of Middleburg Development, stated, The Richmond MSA possesses many of the fundamentals that drive our investment decisions. It continues to benefit from strong population growth as a result of its robust business climate, top-tier school and health systems, and desirable quality of life. On top of that, the availability of single-family homes available for purchase or rent in the area is at historic lows, and we look forward to helping fill that gap with the development of these two communities. Hamlet Falling Creek will offer renters a new rental experience blending the amenities and professional management of a Class-A apartment community with the welcoming feel of a neighborhood. All residences will feature stainless steel Energy Star appliances, quartz countertops, luxury vinyl plank flooring, 9 ceilings, private patios with yard space, and more. Shared amenities include a resort-style pool, fitness center, dog park, several pocket parks and shared green spaces, co-working booths, EV charging stations and extensive pedestrian walkways. Middleburg expects the first units at Hamlet Falling Creek to be completed in late-2025. Middleburg currently has six built-to-rent communities under construction in Richmond, Charlotte, Charleston, Jacksonville, Huntsville, and Wilmington. About Middleburg Communities Middleburg is a leading investment firm maximizing value through a fully integrated approach to the acquisition, development, construction and operations of high-quality attainable rental housing. Since 2004, Middleburg has acquired, developed or transacted in excess of $3 billion. The Middleburg team shares a vision for greater value creation through community impact. The firms success is rooted in a genuine desire to serve its local communities in thoughtful and holistic ways. Middleburg embraces people, property, and partnerships to enhance the lives of others, contribute positively to its neighborhoods and maximize real returns for partners. For more information, please visit www.middleburgcommunities.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205737213/en/ For Middleburg Communities [email protected] Source: Middleburg Communities Catalent Stockholders to Receive $63.50 Per Share in Cash, Representing a 47.5% Premium to the 60-day Volume-Weighted Average Price as of February 2, 2024 COPENHAGEN, Denmark & SOMERSET, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Catalent, Inc. (NYSE: CTLT), a leader in enabling the development and supply of better treatments for patients worldwide, and Novo Holdings, a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, today announced that they have entered into a merger agreement under which Novo Holdings will acquire Catalent in an all-cash transaction that values Catalent at $16.5 billion on an enterprise value basis. Transaction Overview Novo Holdings will acquire all outstanding shares of Catalent for $63.50 per share in cash. The purchase price represents a premium of 16.5% to the closing price of Catalents common stock as of February 2, 2024, the last trading day prior to this announcement, and a 47.5% premium to the 60-day volume-weighted average price as of February 2, 2024. In addition, the purchase price represents a premium of 39.1% to the closing price of Catalents common stock on August 28, 2023, the last trading day prior to Catalents announcement that its Board of Directors formed a Strategic and Operational Review Committee to conduct a review of Catalents business, strategy and operations, as well as Catalents capital-allocation priorities with a view towards maximizing value for all Catalent stockholders. Of Catalents more than 50 global sites, Novo Holdings intends to sell three Catalent fill-finish sites and related assets acquired in the merger to Novo Nordisk (CPH: NOVO), in which Novo Holdings has a controlling interest, shortly after the closing of the merger. These three sites are located in Anagni, Italy; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; and Brussels, Belgium. This transaction is aligned with Novo Holdings strategy of investing in established life science companies with strong long-term potential. Alessandro Maselli, President and Chief Executive Officer of Catalent, said: Over the past several years, Catalent has built a comprehensive end-to-end offering of services and capabilities to drive innovation in the healthcare system and improve patient outcomes. This transaction is a testament to our teams hard work and dedication to this mission, and I am incredibly excited for this next step in our journey. We look forward to benefiting from Novo Holdings significant resources to accelerate investment in our business and enhance key offerings as we continue to offer premium development and manufacturing solutions for pharma and biotech customers. John Greisch, Executive Chair of the Catalent Board and Chair of the Strategic and Operational Review Committee, said: This transaction delivers significant, certain and premium value to our stockholders. Novo Holdings believes in our vision and will provide Catalent with a strong foundation as we continue developing, manufacturing and supplying top products. Novo Holdings has a proven track record of successfully investing in the life sciences sector. Importantly, Novo Holdings purpose is to improve peoples health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Kasim Kutay, CEO of Novo Holdings, said: We are excited to partner with Catalent as it enters a new phase of growth and accelerates its mission to develop, manufacture and supply products that help people live better and healthier lives. With our expertise and track record of investing in high quality life sciences businesses, we believe Catalent is a very good strategic fit. We are excited to support the Companys stakeholders in the years ahead, especially employees and customers as they work to develop new products to benefit patients. As engaged investors committed to productive relationships with all our partners, we look forward to working with the Catalent team to realise the Companys full potential. Importantly, our acquisition of Catalent is aligned with our mandate to invest in high quality life sciences companies for the benefit of the Novo Nordisk Foundations mission and philanthropic causes. Marc Steinberg, Partner at Elliott Investment Management L.P., said: As a significant investor in Catalent, Elliott fully supports the transaction announced today. We believe that this transaction, which is the culmination of a process led by the Strategic and Operational Review Committee of the Catalent Board, clearly maximizes value for Catalent stockholders. We commend Catalents Board and management team for delivering this outstanding outcome. Transaction Details The merger is expected to close towards the end of calendar year 2024, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Catalent stockholders and receipt of required regulatory approvals. The transaction is not subject to any financing contingency. Following an evaluation of possible value-maximizing alternatives, the Catalent Board unanimously determined that the transaction with Novo Holdings, which delivers a premium and certain cash value, is in the best interest of Catalent. Accordingly, the Catalent Board unanimously recommends that Catalent stockholders vote in favor of the merger. In addition, Elliott Investment Management L.P. and certain of its affiliates have entered into a support agreement pursuant to which they have agreed to vote their shares of Catalent common stock in favor of the merger. Following the closing of the merger, shares of Catalent will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange and Catalent will become a private company. Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results Catalents second quarter 2024 earnings results are expected to be issued on February 9, 2024. In light of the announced transaction, Catalent will not host an earnings conference call. Catalents second quarter 2024 earnings press release will be available on its investor relations website at http://investor.catalent.com. Advisors Citi and J.P. Morgan are acting as financial advisors to Catalent. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal advisor to Catalent and Jones Day is serving as legal advisor to the Catalent Board of Directors. Morgan Stanley is acting as financial advisor to Novo Holdings and Goodwin Procter LLP is serving as legal advisor to Novo Holdings. About Novo Holdings Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and the wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve peoples health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk A/S and Novonesis A/S and manages an investment portfolio with a long-term return perspective. In addition to managing a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate, infrastructure and private equity assets, Novo Holdings is a world-leading life sciences investor. Through its Seeds, Venture, Growth, and Principal Investments teams, Novo Holdings invests in life science companies at all stages of development. As of year-end 2022, Novo Holdings had total assets of EUR 108 billion. www.novoholdings.dk About the Novo Nordisk Foundation Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve peoples health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundations mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society. www.novonordiskfonden.dk/en About Catalent Catalent, Inc. is a global leader in enabling pharma, biotech, and consumer health partners to optimize product development, launch, and full life-cycle supply for patients around the world. With broad and deep scale and expertise in development sciences, delivery technologies, and multi-modality manufacturing, Catalent is a preferred industry partner for personalized medicines, consumer health brand extensions, and blockbuster drugs. Catalent helps accelerate over 1,500 partner programs and launch over 150 new products every year. Its flexible manufacturing platforms at over 50 global sites supply approximately 70 billion doses of nearly 8,000 products annually. Catalents expert workforce of nearly 18,000 includes more than 3,000 scientists and technicians. Headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey, the company generated nearly $4.3 billion in revenue in its 2023 fiscal year. Forward-Looking Statements This press release, and any related oral statements, may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of, and subject to the safe harbor created by, the federal securities laws, including statements related to the proposed merger of Catalent with an entity controlled by Novo Holdings, including financial estimates and statements as to the expected timing, completion and effects of the merger. These forward-looking statements are based on Catalents current expectations, estimates and projections regarding, among other things, the expected date of closing of the merger and the potential benefits thereof, its business and industry, managements beliefs and certain assumptions made by Catalent, all of which are subject to change. Forward-looking statements often contain words such as expect, anticipate, intend, aims, plan, believe, could, seek, see, will, may, would, might, considered, potential, estimate, continue, likely, expect, target, project, or similar expressions or the negatives of these words or other comparable terminology that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes. By their nature, forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend upon future circumstances that may or may not occur, such as the closing of the merger and the anticipated benefits thereof. These and other forward-looking statements, as well as any related oral statements, are not guarantees of future results and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: (i) the completion of the merger on anticipated terms and timing, including obtaining required stockholder and regulatory approvals, and the satisfaction of other conditions to the completion of the merger; (ii) potential litigation relating to the merger that could be instituted by or against Catalent, Novo Holdings or their respective affiliates, directors or officers, including the effects of any outcomes related thereto; (iii) the risk that disruptions from the merger will harm Catalents business, including current plans and operations; (iv) the ability of Catalent to retain and hire key personnel; (v) potential adverse reactions or changes to business or governmental relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the merger; (vi) continued availability of capital and financing and rating agency actions; (vii) legislative, regulatory and economic developments affecting Catalents business; (viii) general economic and market developments and conditions; (ix) certain restrictions during the pendency of the merger that may impact Catalents ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions; (x) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including but not limited to acts of terrorism, pandemics, outbreaks of war or hostilities, as well as Catalents response to any of the aforementioned factors; (xi) significant transaction costs associated with the merger; (xii) the possibility that the merger may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; (xiii) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger, including in circumstances requiring Catalent to pay a termination fee or other expenses; (xiv) competitive responses to the merger; (xv) Catalents management response to any of the aforementioned factors; (xvi) the risks and uncertainties pertaining to Catalents business, including those set forth in Catalents most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Catalents subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports filed or furnished by Catalent with the SEC; and (xvii) the risks and uncertainties that will be described in the proxy statement available from the sources indicated above. These risks, as well as other risks associated with the merger, will be more fully discussed in the proxy statement. While the list of factors presented here is, and the list of factors to be presented in the proxy statement will be, considered representative, no such list should be considered a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material impact on Catalents financial condition, results of operations, credit rating or liquidity. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Catalent does not undertake to and specifically disclaims any obligation to publicly release the results of any updates or revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect future events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. Important Additional Information and Where to Find It In connection with the proposed merger between Catalent and Novo Holdings, Catalent will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a proxy statement, the definitive version of which will be sent or provided to Catalent stockholders. Catalent may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed merger. This document is not a substitute for the proxy statement or any other document which Catalent may file with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the proxy statement (when it is available) and other documents that are filed or will be filed with the SEC by Catalent through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov, Catalents website at www.catalent.com or by contacting Catalents Investor Relations Team at: Catalent, Inc., Investor Relations [email protected] (732) 537-6325 Participants in the Solicitation Catalent and certain of its directors, executive officers and other employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Catalents stockholders in connection with the proposed merger. Additional information regarding the identity of the participants, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the proxy statement and other materials to be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed merger (if and when they become available). Information relating to the foregoing can also be found in Catalents proxy statement for its 2023 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on December 15, 2023 (the Annual Meeting Proxy Statement). To the extent holdings of securities by potential participants (or the identity of such participants) have changed since the information printed in the Annual Meeting Proxy Statement, such information has been or will be reflected on Catalents Statements of Change in Ownership on Forms 3 and 4 filed with the SEC. You may obtain free copies of these documents using the sources indicated above. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240204431488/en/ Novo Holdings For global media inquiries, please contact: Senior Communications Partner Marie-Louise Jersin [email protected] Phone: +45 30494957 For US media inquiries, please contact: Communications Specialist Dora Gonzalez [email protected] Phone: +1 617 922 5027 Catalent Investor Contact: Paul Surdez +1 (732) 537-6325 [email protected] Media Contact: Laura Hortas +1(609) 240-7025 [email protected] Source: Catalent, Inc. Valentines Dinner for Two is Just $45 and Includes an App and Two Entrees NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- OCharleys Restaurant + Bar is your go-to great-food source this February, whether youre hosting friends and family for the Big Game, going out for a date night for Valentines Day or craving a delicious Southern Supper. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205226394/en/ OCharleys is celebrating the Big Game with great deals on delicious meals! (Graphic: Business Wire) OCharleys is offering 20% off party platters on Feb. 11 to give fans the fuel they need to cheer on their favorite teams in the Big Game. Guests should order online and use the code GAMEDAY. To add to the fun, OCharleys is also offering their popular $25 Family-Style Meal Deal to Go all weekend long. (It is usually only offered Monday-Thursday.) The deal includes: Famous Chicken Tenders Family-Style Meal 25 Chicken tenders dipped in buttermilk and lightly fried, with Honey Mustard dressing for dipping. Served with rolls and your choice of two family-size sides. Serves 6. $25. 25 Chicken tenders dipped in buttermilk and lightly fried, with Honey Mustard dressing for dipping. Served with rolls and your choice of two family-size sides. Serves 6. $25. Chicken Alfredo Pasta Family-Style Meal Sliced grilled chicken breast tossed with creamy Alfredo sauce and linguini. Served with rolls and a family-size House or Caesar Salad. Serves 4-6. $25. If an intimate celebration is more your style, OCharleys is treating guests to a Valentines Day Dinner for Two from Feb. 14-17. Dine-in only. For just $45, the special menu includes a choice of Spinach & Artichoke Dip or Spicy Jack Cheese Wedges PLUS two delicious entrees from the following list: Louisiana Sirloin USDA Choice 12-oz. Top Sirloin, grilled with Louisiana seasoning. Topped with Cajun butter and served with two sides. USDA Choice 12-oz. Top Sirloin, grilled with Louisiana seasoning. Topped with Cajun butter and served with two sides. Cedar Plank Salmon A 9-oz. Atlantic salmon fillet seasoned with lemon pepper. Cooked and served on a cedar plank. A 9-oz. Atlantic salmon fillet seasoned with lemon pepper. Cooked and served on a cedar plank. Garlic Steak Pasta Slices of sirloin steak served over alfredo sauce, tomatoes, chopped asparagus, sliced mushrooms, fresh garlic, and tasty penne. Sprinkled with shaved parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes. Slices of sirloin steak served over alfredo sauce, tomatoes, chopped asparagus, sliced mushrooms, fresh garlic, and tasty penne. Sprinkled with shaved parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes. Seafood Combo Platter Atlantic cod, buttermilk-fried shrimp, and stuffed crab. Served with fries, coleslaw, tartar, and cocktail sauces. Atlantic cod, buttermilk-fried shrimp, and stuffed crab. Served with fries, coleslaw, tartar, and cocktail sauces. Lobster & Shrimp Scampi Shrimp and linguini sauteed in our scampi sauce with garlic butter. Topped with chopped lobster and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. To sweeten the deal for their sweethearts, guests can add the NEW! Four-layer Chocolate Cake for just $8.99 or enjoy a piece of delicious pie (free on Valentines Day itself, as it is on all Wednesdays!). Also launching this month, OCharleys is offering a $10 Southern Supper weekends in February (Fridays-Sundays) and including the following guest favorites for only $10 each: Meatloaf Traditional southern-style meatloaf topped with our tomato sauce and served with two sides. Traditional southern-style meatloaf topped with our tomato sauce and served with two sides. Country Style Steak Seasoned, tenderized steak topped with our Cajun mushrooms and onions and lots of brown gravy. Served with two sides. Seasoned, tenderized steak topped with our Cajun mushrooms and onions and lots of brown gravy. Served with two sides. New Orleans Cajun Chicken Pasta Cajun-seasoned grilled chicken breast with sauteed peppers and onions, parmesan cheese tossed with linguini in a cream sauce. Cajun-seasoned grilled chicken breast with sauteed peppers and onions, parmesan cheese tossed with linguini in a cream sauce. Honey Drizzled Southern-Fried Chicken Buttermilk-breaded chicken breast drizzled with honey. Served with mashed sweet potatoes and broccoli. The $10 Southern Supper special is for dine-in only. For more details and to find your nearest location, visit www.ocharleys.com. About OCharleys OCharleys Restaurant + Bar was born in Nashville, Tennessee and has served craveable American food and drinks inspired by their Southern roots since 1971. OCharleys operates restaurants across the Southeast and Midwest. In addition to great food, good times and famous unsliceably soft rolls, OCharleys welcomes guests with genuine hospitality every time they walk through our doors or use our curbside delivery. To find an OCharleys location near you, please visit www.OCharleys.com. OCharleys is also on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205226394/en/ Laura Braam @ 615-512-8892 [email protected] Source: OCharleys Restaurant + Bar MAIN TRANSACTION TERMS Reverse share split through the exchange of one thousand (1,000) existing shares with a par value of one euro cent (0.01) for one (1) new share to be issued with a par value of ten euros (10.00) Period of the reverse share split exchange: from February 20th, 2024 to March 21st, 2024 inclusive Effective date of reverse share split (listing of new shares): March 22nd, 2024 Suspension of the deferred settlement service for existing shares: from February 27th, 2024 PUTEAUX, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: ORPEA S.A (Paris: ORP) (the Company) announces today the characteristics and expected timetable of the reverse share split of all outstanding shares of the Company (the "Reverse Share Split"). The Reverse Share Split will begin on February 20th, 2024, following settlement-delivery of the share capital increase with shareholders' preferential subscription rights in an amount (including the issue premium) of EUR 390,019,672.62, by way of issuance of 29,324,787,415 new shares, having been the subject of a prospectus approved by the AMF on January 17th, 2024 under number 24-006, and the settlement-delivery of which is scheduled for February 15th, 2024 according to the indicative timetable announced in the press release dated January 18th, 2024 (the "Rights Issue"). The Chief Executive Officer, using the delegation of authority granted to him by the Company's Board of Directors on January 16th, 2024, and in accordance with the twenty-fifth (25th) resolution of the Company's combined General Meeting held on December 22nd, 2023, has today decided to implement the Reverse Share Split. The Reverse Share Split will result in the allocation of one (1) new ordinary share to be issued with a par value of ten (10.00) euros (the "New Shares") for one thousand (1,000) existing ordinary shares with a par value of one euro cent (0.01) each (the "Existing Shares"), and the division by one thousand (1,000) of the number of outstanding shares of the Company's share capital at the start date of the Reverse Share Split on February 20th, 2024, i.e. a total of 159,191,703,111 shares with a par value of 0.01 euro each, taking into account the 29,324,787,415 shares to be issued, according to the indicative timetable, on February 15th, 2024, as part of the Rights Issue. The Reverse Share Split is a purely technical exchange transaction with no direct impact on the total value of the Company's shares held by each shareholder. Main terms and conditions of the Reverse Share Split: Date of the beginning of the Reverse Share Split : February 20th, 2024, subject to completion on that date of the Rights Issue. : February 20th, 2024, subject to completion on that date of the Rights Issue. Basis of the Reverse Share Split : exchange of one thousand (1,000) Existing Shares with a par value of one euro cent (0.01) for one (1) New Share with a par value of ten (10.00) euros. : exchange of one thousand (1,000) Existing Shares with a par value of one euro cent (0.01) for one (1) New Share with a par value of ten (10.00) euros. Number of Existing Shares subject to the Reverse Share Split : 159,191,703,111 shares, each with a par value of 0.01 euros, based on the Company's share capital which, at the start of the Reverse Share Split on February 20th, 2024, will include the 29,324,787,415 shares to be issued, according to the indicative timetable, on February 15th, 2024, as part of the Rights Issue. : 159,191,703,111 shares, each with a par value of 0.01 euros, based on the Company's share capital which, at the start of the Reverse Share Split on February 20th, 2024, will include the 29,324,787,415 shares to be issued, according to the indicative timetable, on February 15th, 2024, as part of the Rights Issue. Number of New Shares to be issued as a result of the Reverse Share Split: 159,191,703 shares with a par value of 10 euros each, on the basis of the Company's share capital which will include, on the date of commencement of the Reverse Share Split on February 20th, 2024, the 29,324,787,415 shares to be issued, according to the indicative timetable, on February 15th, 2024, as part of the Rights Issue. The final number of Existing Shares subject to the Reverse Share Split and the final number of New Shares to be issued as a result of the Reverse Share Split, after taking into account the 29,324,787,415 shares to be issued in connection with the Rights Issue, will be determined by the Chief Executive Officer no later than the day on which the Reverse Share Split operations begin, and will be published by the Company on its website. Reverse Share Split exchange period : thirty (30) days from the date of commencement of the Reverse Share Split, i.e. from February 20th, 2024 to March 21st, 2024 inclusive. : thirty (30) days from the date of commencement of the Reverse Share Split, i.e. from February 20th, 2024 to March 21st, 2024 inclusive. Whole shares : the conversion of Existing Shares into New Shares will be carried out automatically ( procedure doffice ). : the conversion of Existing Shares into New Shares will be carried out automatically ( ). Fractional shares: shareholders who do not hold a number of Existing Shares corresponding to a whole number of New Shares must personally purchase or sell fractional Existing Shares, in order to obtain a number of shares that is a multiple of 1,000, up to and including March 21st, 2024 inclusive. After this date, any shares that could not be allocated individually and corresponding to fractional shares will be sold in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in Article R. 228-12 of the French Commercial Code and in accordance with market practice. Existing shares that have not been consolidated will be delisted at the end of the Reverse Share Split period. Voting rights: the New Shares will immediately carry double voting rights, provided they are held in registered form, if, at the date of the Reverse Share Split of the Existing Shares from which they are issued, each of these Existing Shares carried double voting rights. At the end of the Reverse Share Split period, shares that have not been consolidated will lose their voting rights and will no longer be included in the calculation of the quorum, and their rights to future dividends will be suspended. Centralization: all transactions relating to the Reverse Share Split will be carried out by Societe Generale Securities Services, 32 rue du Champ de Tir, CS 30812, 44308 Nantes Cedex 3, appointed as agent for the centralization of the Reverse Share Split. Pursuant to Articles L. 228-6-1 and R. 228-12 of the French Commercial Code, at the end of a period of 30 days from March 22nd, 2024, the New Shares that could not be allocated individually and corresponding to fractional shares will be sold on the stock market by the account holders, and the proceeds of the sale will be allocated in proportion to the fractional shares of the holders of these shares. Existing Shares subject to the Reverse Share Split will be admitted to trading on Euronext Paris under ISIN code FR0000184798 until March 21st, 2024, the last day of trading. New Shares resulting from the Reverse Share Split will be admitted to trading on Euronext Paris from March 22nd, 2024, the first day of trading, under the new ISIN code FR001400NLM4. Adjustment of the exercise ratio of free shares awarded : the Board of Directors has granted full powers to the Chief Executive Officer, in order to preserve the rights of holders of free shares awarded, to adjust the exercise ratio of free shares awarded following the Reverse Share Split, if necessary, to take account of the impact of the said Reverse Share Split on the situation of holders of free shares awarded. : the Board of Directors has granted full powers to the Chief Executive Officer, in order to preserve the rights of holders of free shares awarded, to adjust the exercise ratio of free shares awarded following the Reverse Share Split, if necessary, to take account of the impact of the said Reverse Share Split on the situation of holders of free shares awarded. Suspension of the eligibility of the Existing Shares for the deferred settlement service: Until the close of trading on February 26th, 2024, the Existing Shares will remain eligible for the deferred settlement service (the "DSS") and may therefore continue to be subject to deferred settlement. As from February 27th, 2024, the Existing Shares will no longer be eligible for the DSS and will have to be settled in cash until their last trading day, i.e. March 21st, 2024. As from March 22nd, 2024, the date of their admission to listing, the New Shares will be eligible for the DSS. Indicative timetable: February 5th, 2024 Publication of the notice of the Reverse Share Split in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires February 20th, 2024 Start of Reverse Share Split operations From February 27th, 2024 Suspension of the DSS for the Existing Shares February 20th, 2024 to March 21st, 2024 inclusive Possibility for shareholders to buy and sell shares in order to obtain a number without fractional shares March 21st, 2024 Last day of trading of Existing Shares March 22nd, 2024 Listing of the New Shares A notice of Reverse Share Split has been published today in the Bulletin des Annonces Legales Obligatoires (BALO). About ORPEA ORPEA is a leading global player, expert in providing care for all types of frailty. The Group operates in 20 countries and covers three core businesses: care for the elderly (nursing homes, assisted living facilities, homecare and services), post-acute and rehabilitation care and mental health care (specialized clinics). It has more than 76,000 employees and welcomes more than 267,000 patients and residents each year. https ://www.orpea-group.com/ Since December 2023, the ORPEA Group has been 50.2% owned by Caisse des Depots, CNP Assurances, MAIF and MACSF Epargne Retraite. ORPEA is listed on Euronext Paris (ISIN: FR0000184798) and is a member of the SBF 120 and CAC Mid 60 indices. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240204745378/en/ Investor Relations ORPEA Benoit Lesieur Investor Relations Director [email protected] Toll-free number for shareholders : 0 805 480 480 Investor Relations NewCap Dusan Oresansky Tel. : 01 44 71 94 94 [email protected] Press Relations ORPEA Isabelle Herrier-Naufle Investor Relations Director Tel. : 07 70 29 53 74 [email protected] Image7 Charlotte Le Barbier // Laurence Heilbronn 06 78 37 27 60 06 89 87 61 37 [email protected] [email protected] Source: ORPEA Company announces roadmap anchored by new two plate workflow enabling preparation of samples up to 2 million cells and beyond New collaborations with Vizgen, BioLegend, and SPT Labtech will extend range and ease of high parameter research using ScaleBio tools SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Scale Biosciences (ScaleBio), an innovator in exponentially scaled single-cell sequencing, providing instrument-free workflows and accessible cost, today announced its development of a new two plate workflow to enable dramatic scaling of its technology and a first set of partners to improve ease of use and enable the deployment of their portfolio across new omics applications. The new platform, announced at the 2024 Advances in Genome Biology and Technology (AGBT) general meeting being held February 5-8, 2024 in Orlando, Fla., allows researchers to prepare sequencing-ready single-cell libraries of up to 2 million cells in a experiment and reduces the plates needed from three to two. This technology will form the basis for future ScaleBio innovation and product development. As we look to the future, we are focused on enabling dramatic scaling of single cell-based experiments with higher throughputs across a wider range of parameters and applications, said Giovanna Prout, CEO of ScaleBio. Empowering researchers to discover more is as much about building high-quality tools as it is about working across the industry to expand whats possible when different types of tools and datasets are brought together. Were not only adding high throughput capabilities to our kits, we are also working with industry partners to enable new applications of single-cell research and alternate product options. ScaleBio will initially commercialize their new platform technology as part of a single-cell high parameter protein profiling workflow leveraging BioLegends (part of Revvity) highly validated TotalSeq-A antibody panels. ScaleBio also plans to incorporate this new platform technology into its single-cell RNA sequencing portfolio, to enable researchers to conduct ultra-high throughput experiments in functional drug screening and other applications, accessing thousands of samples and millions of cells at a time. ScaleBio partners with Vizgen Inc. to support growing demand for integration of single-cell and spatial technologies across omics applications ScaleBio is partnering with Vizgen to give the scientific community more options to combine single-cell and spatial technologies for integrated data analysis. The complementary nature of these methods will allow scientists to understand tissue composition and the roles and interactions of heterogeneous cell types within a tissue for further insights then performing the methods on their own. Bringing these methods together has utility across a variety of applications including neuroscience and cancer biology. At AGBT, the companies will share combined datasets of high-resolution data from mouse brain tissue sections generated using their respective technologies. These datasets will demonstrate the measurements from single-cell RNA-seq and targeted spatial gene expression profiling to identify matching cell types, including all major cell types in the brain and subtypes of neurons. The matched datasets will also allow for integration of Vizgens targeted neuronal panel with spatial mapping and cell-typing with ScaleBios high-throughput single-cell RNA data which enables profiling of low-abundance cells and non-targeted gene expression to map to the spatial analysis. Advancing biological research and biomedical innovation requires a wide range of tools and data types to answer increasingly complex research questions, said Terry Lo, President and CEO of Vizgen. Partnering with ScaleBio provides our customers with complementary multiomic solutions that work in parallel to offer useful insights about the role of cells within tissues, driving biological discovery. In partnership with other companies, ScaleBio aims to streamline and improve the customer experience with its products with an eye towards driving efficiency around its existing instrument-free workflow and data analysis. Through a new relationship with SPT Labtech, ScaleBio is working to offer customers an automation option to implement their workflows on SPT Labtechs firefly platform by creating plug and play, cloud-based scripts optimized for ScaleBio library preparation protocols. ScaleBio also has a partnership with Basepair to offer the ScaleBio Seq Suite on the Basepair platform. This data analysis offering enables researchers, regardless of in-house bioinformatics capabilities, an easy way to access an optimized bioinformatics pipeline through a user-friendly, web-based tool. Connect with ScaleBio at AGBT Sponsored Talk: The Single Cell Era, Scaled Presenter: Giovanna Prout, CEO, ScaleBio Time: Wednesday, February 7, 2:20 p.m. 2:40 p.m., ET Location: Palms Ballroom II & III Scientific Talk: Atlas-scale Single-cell DNA Methylation Presenter: Andrew Adey, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular and Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University Time: Wednesday, February 7, 7:50 p.m. 8:10 p.m., ET Location: Palms Ballroom II & III Poster #627: Scaling Single-Cell Sequencing: Multiplexing Innovations for Cost-Effective High-Throughput Profiling Presenter: Frank Steemers, Ph.D., Cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer, ScaleBio Time: Wednesday, February 7, 4:45 p.m. 6:10 p.m., ET Location: Palms Ballroom I Poster #559: Enhanced Single Cell DNA Methylation Analysis Using Combinatorial Indexing Presenter: Margaret Nakamoto, Ph.D., Manager, Product Applications Time: Wednesday February 7, 4:45 p.m. 6:10 p.m., ET Location: Palms Ballroom I In Suite Poster: Ultra-high Parameter, Instrument-free, Protein Profiling by Sequencing Using TotalSeq-A Antibodies at Scale Location: Suite Bonaire 6 For more information visit https://scale.bio/agbt-2024/ or join us in suite Bonaire 6. About Scale Biosciences ScaleBio is a single-cell sequencing solutions company founded by a multidisciplinary team of scientists and technologists with combined expertise in next-generation sequencing, genomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics, and a common mission for unlocking the potential of single-cell analysis at scale by eliminating barriers to discovery. ScaleBio is financed by leading life sciences tools investors ARCH Venture Partners, BNG01, and Tao Capital. ScaleBio has facilities in San Diego and San Carlos, Calif. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205650624/en/ For Media Gwen Gordon [email protected] For General Inquiries [email protected] Source: Scale Biosciences ABERDEEN, Scotland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- TauRx Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a global leader in Tau-based research in Alzheimers disease (AD), announced today that the company will present the 24-month data from its Phase III LUCIDITY trial of hydromethylthionine mesylate (HMTM) at the upcoming AD/PD 2024 Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases Conference from 5-9 March 2024, in Lisbon, Portugal. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205168572/en/ Professor Claude Wischik (Photo: Business Wire) Professor Claude Wischik, Co-Founder, CEO and Executive Chairman of TauRx will present data including details of the final 12-month open label phase of the study indicating maintenance of subjects with mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimers at baseline cognitive scores. A panel, moderated by Dr. Serge Gauthier and including Professor Henrik Zetterberg, Professor Alistair Burns, and Dr. David Watson, will discuss the relevancy of these data and the potential impact of HMTM on people living with Alzheimers. We believe that presentation and discussion of this data represents an important step in our mission to bring people living with Alzheimers and their loved ones a safe and effective oral treatment that they will be able to access, said Professor Claude Wischik. Alzheimers is a global problem, one that impacts millions of people in some way at some point, and we are determined to help those impacted by this disease. HMTM is designed for early intervention to modify the disease, slowing progression of AD. If approved, HMTM will be the first oral, anti-tau therapy with a robust safety profile requiring minimal testing and treatment monitoring. This simplified profile will promote accessibility and affordability for people living with Alzheimers. At the conference, TauRx will present the data during a moderated panel discussion at 13:50 CET on 7 March (Abstract #2363; 24-month topline results from Phase III LUCIDITY trial in AD show combined disease-modifying and symptomatic activity for HMTM) and host an additional question and answer session on 9 March. Professor Wischik will also participate in a forum discussion Anti-tau therapies in clinical trialswhat are the challenges and opportunities for a rational therapy? on 8 March. TauRx has initiated regulatory engagement in the UK and the US for intended product approval. Other territories will follow in line with plans to scale commercialisation of HMTM. For additional information, please visit: https://taurx.com/ or https://adpd.kenes.com/. TAU PATHOLOGY IN ALZHEIMERS Through dedicated research programs, it is understood that certain age-related factors lead to misfolding and aggregation of tau proteins, and the subsequent formation of tau tangles in Alzheimers. Pathological aggregation of tau protein disrupts and damages neuronal function. The process begins many years before symptoms of dementia are seen. Tau pathology has been proven to correlate with the clinical decline (loss of memory and ability to care for oneself) commonly seen in people with Alzheimers, establishing it as an important target for treatment. HMTM is primarily a tau aggregation inhibitor, which effectively crosses the blood brain barrier to target the source of this damaging process. Its secondary pharmacological action is symptomatic through increasing acetylcholine levels in parts of the brain essential for memory functions. ABOUT LUCIDITY Completed in June 2023, LUCIDITY was a double-blind randomised controlled Phase III clinical trial comparing change over 12 months in cognitive, functional and brain atrophy outcomes at HMTM doses of 16 mg/day, 8 mg/day and methylthioninium chloride (MTC) at a dose of 4 mg twice weekly as a control in a 4:1:4 randomisation, with a subsequent 12 month blinded open-label extension phase in which all participants received 16 mg/day. ABOUT TAURx PHARMACEUTICALS LTD TauRx was founded in 2002 in Singapore, with primary research facilities and operations based in Aberdeen, UK. The company has dedicated the past two decades to developing treatments and diagnostics for Alzheimers and other neurodegenerative diseases due to pathological aggregation of tau and other proteins. Alzheimers disease is a leading cause of disability and death throughout the world and is one of the most important global public health issues. TauRx will contribute to addressing this unmet need with data from LUCIDITY and pursuit of regulatory approvals in line with its overall plans to make HMTM available for people living Alzheimers. Future research is planned for other related neurodegenerative diseases. https://taurx.com/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205168572/en/ Kirstie Rennie [email protected] Source: TauRx Pharmaceuticals Ltd. PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) recognizes the University of Phoenixs Master of Health Administration (MHA) program as a CAHME Mentorship Circle (CMC) Program. CMC designated programs engage in mentorship, best practice dissemination, and other activities that support continuous improvement in healthcare management education. Being part of the CMC is more than an honor; its a pledge to the field, stated Dr. Anthony Stanowski, president and CEO of CAHME. Becoming a CMC Program means that the diverse voices of our students and faculty will contribute to a national dialogue to improve the effectiveness of all CAHME accredited programs," shared University of Phoenix College of Health Professions Associate Dean, Graduate Programs, Dr. Heather Steiness. University of Phoenixs Master of Health Administration program is designed for early- to mid-career health professionals seeking advanced education while remaining employed. The program equips students with the necessary competencies to grow professionally, drive cross-system transformation in line with the Institute for Healthcare Improvements Triple Aim, and engage constructively with their communities. The program aims to foster health sector leaders who are authentic, transparent, and creative who think critically and with agility, comfortable at the intersection of industry expertise and academic scholarship. Being a CMS Program allows us to contribute to the continuous improvement of all CAHME accredited programs while continuing to evolve ours, stated Dr. Mark Johannsson, dean of the College of Health Professions at the University of Phoenix. About CAHME Since 1968, the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) has served the public interest by advancing the quality of healthcare management education globally. The 143 CAHME Accredited programs, and those that are in candidacy, the certified programs in population health management and in healthcare quality and safety are leading the field in setting the standards to advance the quality of healthcare management education. CAHME works with leading academic programs and numerous healthcare practitioners to ensure that graduates entering the healthcare field have undergone an educational process meeting rigorous, measurable standards for effectiveness. The result is a formal academic education focusing on key competencies, plus practical experiences. This enables new graduates to quickly add value to an organization and grow into future leaders. CAHME is the only organization recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation to grant accreditation to individual academic programs offering a professional masters degree in healthcare management education. For more information, visit cahme.org. About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelors and masters degree programs, and a Career Services for Life commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240205528054/en/ MEDIA CONTACT: Michele Mitchum [email protected] Source: University of Phoenix BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- China always supports the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in improving their relations and called on relevant parties to jointly safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said here Monday. Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily news briefing when responding to a query on the Korean Peninsula, which has seen continued tensions, especially rising rivalry between the DPRK and the ROK recently. Wang said the situation on the Korean Peninsula has come to where it stands today for a reason, and tensions on the Peninsula do not serve the common interests of relevant parties. "Relevant parties need to work towards the same direction, keep to the major direction of political settlement and jointly safeguard peace and stability on the Peninsula," he said. Boeings (NYSE: BA) shares slid 2% in premarket trading Monday after the jet maker announced that additional work is required on approximately 50 737 MAX airplanes awaiting delivery. The issue, which could lead to potential delays in near-term deliveries, is due to Spirit AeroSystems, a supplier, identifying two improperly drilled holes in some fuselage sections. The problem, confirmed by Boeing, came to light following a Reuters inquiry, with industry insiders reporting a spacing issue in the drilling of holes on a window frame of some aircraft. Despite the scrutiny Boeing has faced from both regulators and airlines following an incident on January 5 involving a door plug malfunction on a 737 MAX 9, the company assured that the safety of the aircraft is not compromised and that currently, operational 737s can continue flying. "This past Thursday, a supplier notified us of a non-conformance in some 737 fuselages. I want to thank an employee at the supplier who flagged to his manager that two holes may not have been drilled exactly to our requirements," Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal wrote in a letter to employees referring to Spirit, the sole 737 fuselage supplier. "While this potential condition is not an immediate flight safety issue and all 737s can continue operating safely, we currently believe we will have to perform rework on about 50 undelivered airplanes," Deal said. Although the identified issue does not pose a direct threat to flight safety, allowing all 737s to operate as normal, it is anticipated that approximately 50 planes awaiting delivery will require additional work, Deal noted. Joe Buccino, a spokesperson for Spirit, told Reuters that the problem, which deviates from engineering norms, was discovered through their comprehensive quality management program by a team member. Deal also indicated that Boeing intends to allocate several "factory days" at its Renton 737 manufacturing facility near Seattle this week to address the issue of misaligned holes and complete other pending tasks. These dedicated days will enable the workforce to focus on particular issues while pausing their regular activities, without having to halt production entirely. The total time required for these additional efforts is anticipated to be determined in the near future. By Vahid Karaahmetovic Catalent, Inc. (NYSE: CTLT), a leader in enabling the development and supply of better treatments for patients worldwide, and Novo Holdings, a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation (NYSE: NVO), today announced that they have entered into a merger agreement under which Novo Holdings will acquire Catalent in an all-cash transaction that values Catalent at $16.5 billion on an enterprise value basis. Transaction Overview Novo Holdings will acquire all outstanding shares of Catalent for $63.50 per share in cash. The purchase price represents a premium of 16.5% to the closing price of Catalents common stock as of February 2, 2024, the last trading day prior to this announcement, and a 47.5% premium to the 60-day volume-weighted average price as of February 2, 2024. In addition, the purchase price represents a premium of 39.1% to the closing price of Catalents common stock on August 28, 2023, the last trading day prior to Catalents announcement that its Board of Directors formed a Strategic and Operational Review Committee to conduct a review of Catalents business, strategy and operations, as well as Catalents capital-allocation priorities with a view towards maximizing value for all Catalent stockholders. Of Catalents more than 50 global sites, Novo Holdings intends to sell three Catalent fill-finish sites and related assets acquired in the merger to Novo Nordisk (CPH: NOVO), in which Novo Holdings has a controlling interest, shortly after the closing of the merger. These three sites are located in Anagni, Italy; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; and Brussels, Belgium. This transaction is aligned with Novo Holdings strategy of investing in established life science companies with strong long-term potential. Alessandro Maselli, President and Chief Executive Officer of Catalent, said: Over the past several years, Catalent has built a comprehensive end-to-end offering of services and capabilities to drive innovation in the healthcare system and improve patient outcomes. This transaction is a testament to our teams hard work and dedication to this mission, and I am incredibly excited for this next step in our journey. We look forward to benefiting from Novo Holdings significant resources to accelerate investment in our business and enhance key offerings as we continue to offer premium development and manufacturing solutions for pharma and biotech customers. John Greisch, Executive Chair of the Catalent Board and Chair of the Strategic and Operational Review Committee, said: This transaction delivers significant, certain and premium value to our stockholders. Novo Holdings believes in our vision and will provide Catalent with a strong foundation as we continue developing, manufacturing and supplying top products. Novo Holdings has a proven track record of successfully investing in the life sciences sector. Importantly, Novo Holdings purpose is to improve peoples health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Kasim Kutay, CEO of Novo Holdings, said: We are excited to partner with Catalent as it enters a new phase of growth and accelerates its mission to develop, manufacture and supply products that help people live better and healthier lives. With our expertise and track record of investing in high quality life sciences businesses, we believe Catalent is a very good strategic fit. We are excited to support the Companys stakeholders in the years ahead, especially employees and customers as they work to develop new products to benefit patients. As engaged investors committed to productive relationships with all our partners, we look forward to working with the Catalent team to realise the Companys full potential. Importantly, our acquisition of Catalent is aligned with our mandate to invest in high quality life sciences companies for the benefit of the Novo Nordisk Foundations mission and philanthropic causes. Marc Steinberg, Partner at Elliott Investment Management L.P., said: As a significant investor in Catalent, Elliott fully supports the transaction announced today. We believe that this transaction, which is the culmination of a process led by the Strategic and Operational Review Committee of the Catalent Board, clearly maximizes value for Catalent stockholders. We commend Catalents Board and management team for delivering this outstanding outcome. Transaction Details The merger is expected to close towards the end of calendar year 2024, subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Catalent stockholders and receipt of required regulatory approvals. The transaction is not subject to any financing contingency. Following an evaluation of possible value-maximizing alternatives, the Catalent Board unanimously determined that the transaction with Novo Holdings, which delivers a premium and certain cash value, is in the best interest of Catalent. Accordingly, the Catalent Board unanimously recommends that Catalent stockholders vote in favor of the merger. In addition, Elliott Investment Management L.P. and certain of its affiliates have entered into a support agreement pursuant to which they have agreed to vote their shares of Catalent common stock in favor of the merger. Following the closing of the merger, shares of Catalent will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange and Catalent will become a private company. Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results Catalents second quarter 2024 earnings results are expected to be issued on February 9, 2024. In light of the announced transaction, Catalent will not host an earnings conference call. Catalents second quarter 2024 earnings press release will be available on its investor relations website at http://investor.catalent.com. Advisors Citi and J.P. Morgan are acting as financial advisors to Catalent. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is serving as legal advisor to Catalent and Jones Day is serving as legal advisor to the Catalent Board of Directors. Morgan Stanley is acting as financial advisor to Novo Holdings and Goodwin Procter LLP is serving as legal advisor to Novo Holdings. About Novo Holdings Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and the wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve peoples health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk A/S and Novonesis A/S and manages an investment portfolio with a long-term return perspective. In addition to managing a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate, infrastructure and private equity assets, Novo Holdings is a world-leading life sciences investor. Through its Seeds, Venture, Growth, and Principal Investments teams, Novo Holdings invests in life science companies at all stages of development. As of year-end 2022, Novo Holdings had total assets of EUR 108 billion. www.novoholdings.dk About the Novo Nordisk Foundation Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve peoples health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundations mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society. www.novonordiskfonden.dk/en (Updated - February 5, 2024 7:55 AM EST) Yandex is reportedly offloading its remaining Russian operations at a significant markdown, a move prompted by sanctions following Russia's military action in Ukraine two years prior. According to the reports, the deal, encompassing the divestiture of all Yandex N.V.'s ventures in Russia and several adjacent markets, is pegged at approximately 475 billion rubles ($5.2 billion), which is about half the Netherlands-based firms market value based on the average stock price over the three months leading to January 31, 2024. Yandex fell 3.8% in Moscow trading. This considerable discount stems from a Russian regulatory mandate requiring sales of Russian assets by entities based in nations labeled as unfriendly by Moscow to be conducted at a minimum discount of 50 percent. Given the Netherlands' participation in the EU's sanctions against Russia, it is classified under this unfriendly designation, affecting the sale terms for Yandex N.V. Arkady Volozh, a co-founder of Yandex who relocated from Russia to Israel in 2014, criticized Russia's invasion of Ukraine as "barbaric" in August, prompting calls from some within the Kremlin to nationalize the company, according to sources familiar with the situation. However, concerns over the potential exodus of tech talent ultimately deterred moves towards nationalization, leading to a complex agreement. Under this agreement, Yandex's operations, which generate over 95% of its revenue, will stay in Russia and fall under Russian management. The Kremlin, which has endorsed the arrangement, has been in talks with Yandex for about 18 months to facilitate the separation of its Russian operations from its Dutch parent company, Yandex N.V. By Vahid Karaahmetovic Lipstick is displayed in the M.A.C flagship store in Paris, February 28, 2013. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer/File Photo By Ananya Mariam Rajesh (Reuters) -Estee Lauder plans to cut 3% to 5% of its global workforce as the cosmetics giant expands an effort to shore up margins squeezed by Chinese customers cutting back on higher-priced luxury products, sending its shares up as much as 19%. A boom following the lifting of pandemic curbs in China never materialized and recent results have indicated mixed luxury demand. While companies like LVMH and Richemont have posted strong sales growth, others like Burberry have flagged a sluggish rebound. Estee witnessed "a small reduction in market share" during the second quarter in China, CEO Fabrizio Freda said on an analysts call. Some analysts have pointed to higher youth unemployment, a lingering property crisis and a shift to local brands for the challenges facing global brands. "There are a lot of local Chinese brands that have emerged. Many of them are of decent quality, and Chinese consumers are more willing than before to try these products and embrace them," said Javier Gonzalez Lastra, luxury-focused portfolio manager at Tema ETFs. Organic net sales in the Asia-Pacific region fell 7% during the reported quarter, Estee said, while overall margins dipped 60 basis points. Estee expects incremental operating profit between $1.1 billion and $1.4 billion from the efforts in fiscal years 2025 and 2026, up from $800 million to $1 billion it had estimated earlier. The company said it may record between $500 million and $700 million in charges before taxes. Shares were trading higher at $159.75, but well below the January 2022 record high of $374.20 when the company gained from a resurgence in demand after a pandemic lull. Estee had about 62,000 employees worldwide, as of June 2023 Meanwhile, the company cut its annual profit forecast for a second time as its U.S. business also slowed down. Organic net sales in the Americas fell 1% in the quarter, compared to the 6% growth in the prior quarter. Estee now expects full-year 2024 adjusted profit per share between $2.08 and $2.23, compared with $2.17 to $2.42 earlier. Excluding items, the company earned 88 cents per share, surpassing expectations of 55 cents. (Reporting by Ananya Mariam Rajesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai and Sriraj Kalluvila) Wide Formation Mineralisation Confirmed Over a 1.6km Strike LengthNew Great Flat Lode Splay DiscoveredMultiple New Mineralised Structures Intersected Between the Great Flat Lode and Wide Formation VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cornish Metals Inc. (AIM/TSX-V: CUSN) (Cornish Metals or the Company), a mineral exploration and development company focused on advancing the South Crofty tin project (South Crofty or the Project) located in Cornwall, United Kingdom, to a construction decision, is pleased to report results from the first six drill holes of the ongoing 9,000 metre Carn Brea drill programme. All six drillholes intersected the Wide Formation lode structure, which is characterised by strong tourmaline alteration and variable tin mineralisation, similar to all historically mined tin-bearing structures in the South Crofty area. Drilling has also identified a new mineralised structure lying directly beneath the Great Flat Lode (named the Great Flat Lode Splay), as well as several high-grade, steeply dipping tin zones between the Great Flat Lode and the Wide Formation (see cross sections at the end of this release). Highlights All six drill holes intersected the Wide Formation at the expected target depths, proving the exploration model for a parallel tin mineralised structure beneath the Great Flat Lode; Wide Formation structure has been confirmed over a strike length of at least 1.6km, a downdip extent of at least 525m, thicknesses ranging from 1.8m 4.8m, and remains open; Notable tin intercepts from the Wide Formation (Figure 2 and Figure 3), including: 1.21m grading 0.87% Sn in CB23_004 1.90m grading 0.83% Sn in CB23_006 Notable tin intercepts from the newly identified Great Flat Lode Splay (Figure 2), including: 3.38m grading 1.01% Sn in CB23_002 1.00m grading 1.56% Sn in CB23_004 Notable tin intercepts from multiple steeply-dipping, high-grade tin zones mainly intersected between the Great Flat Lode and the Wide Formation, including: 0.30m grading 7.48% Sn and 3.09m grading 1.21% Sn in CB23_001 1.21m grading 1.83% Sn in CB23_004 3.06m grading 0.93% Sn in CB23_005 1.17m grading 0.62% Sn in CB23_006 A further eight drill holes are planned, testing a 2.5km strike length of the Wide Formation; Table 1 below presents all significant intercepts. Richard Williams, CEO and Director of Cornish Metals, stated: These results confirm Cornish Metals model that the Wide Formation represents a new, large-scale, tin-bearing exploration target lying beneath the historically mined Great Flat Lode. The discovery of additional mineralised structures above and below the Wide Formation is a bonus. The intensity of alteration and the strength and thickness of the Wide Formation structure is similar to others in the region, and the next step for us is to define the location, orientation and extent of the high grade pay shoots, which are typical of this style of mineralisation. The discovery of the Great Flat Lode Splay and the other new zones of high-grade tin mineralisation demonstrates the exploration upside of this area, which we view as having tremendous potential to add to our current Mineral Resource base at South Crofty. The Wide Formation The Wide Formation represents a new high-grade tin target in the Carn Brea South exploration area, located along the southern boundary of the South Crofty underground mine permission area. A 14-hole / 9,000 metre drilling programme commenced in Q3 2023, with the first six holes confirming the Wide Formation lies parallel to, north of, and beneath the Great Flat Lode. The drill programme is designed to test the geometry and the continuity of tin mineralisation within the Wide Formation over an area measuring 2,500m along strike (northeast to southwest) and 525m downdip to the southeast. Drilling to date has intersected the Great Flat Lode and Wide Formation tin mineralisation structures where expected, confirming continuity of the Wide Formation over a 1.6km strike length and 525m downdip. Two drill rigs are currently on-site, drilling holes CB23_008 and CB23_009 of the programme with future holes planned to continue testing the Wide Formation along strike, and to improve on-target definition. The Great Flat Lode Splay Drilling has also intersected a previously unrecognised splay structure immediately beneath the Great Flat Lode. The Great Flat Lode Splay is mineralised, varies up to 9m in thickness, and represents an important new exploration target less than 280m below surface (see drill intercepts in table below and cross sections at the end of this release). New Steeply Dipping Tin Zones The ongoing drill programme also intersected multiple steeply dipping high-grade tin zones, mainly located between the Great Flat Lode and the Wide Formation (see table below and cross here). More work is required to determine the orientation and true thickness of these zones. Identifying areas where these structures intersect both the Great Flat Lode and the Wide Formation is of particular interest as these intersection points represent areas of greater fracturing and potential for high grade tin mineralisation. Hole ID From (m) To (m) Length (m) Sn % Comment CB23_001 31.60 36.21 4.61 0.08 Great Flat Lode Including 33.90 34.78 0.88 0.30 CB23_001 441.74 442.04 0.30 7.48 New Zone CB23_001 537.32 541.33 4.01 0.06 Wide Formation Including 540.38 540.91 0.53 0.31 CB23_001 607.99 611.08 3.09 1.21 New Zone Including 607.99 608.90 0.91 2.57 And 609.86 611.08 1.22 0.61 CB23_002 204.23 208.20 3.97 0.32 Great Flat Lode Including 204.23 206.34 2.11 0.60 And 204.23 205.28 1.05 0.90 CB23_002 227.13 234.02 6.89 0.62 Great Flat Lode Splay Including 227.13 230.51 3.38 1.01 And 229.30 230.51 1.21 2.52 CB23_002 612.37 616.32 3.95 0.08 Wide Formation Including 614.81 615.30 0.49 0.58 CB23_003 255.65 256.40 0.75 0.43 Great Flat Lode CB23_003 266.98 277.16 10.18 0.05 Great Flat Lode Splay Including 272.35 273.10 0.75 0.45 CB23_003 473.37 477.81 4.44 0.26 New Zone Including 473.37 474.37 1.00 0.60 CB23_003 643.72 646.53 2.81 0.06 Wide Formation CB23_004 198.17 198.87 0.70 0.01 Great Flat Lode CB23_004 252.89 259.62 6.73 0.26 Great Flat Lode Splay Including 258.62 259.62 1.00 1.56 CB23_004 373.81 375.17 1.36 1.13 New Zone CB23_004 528.47 529.68 1.21 1.83 New Zone CB23_004 538.77 540.64 1.87 0.69 New Zone Including 539.88 540.64 0.76 0.96 CB23_004 700.84 705.24 4.40 0.25 Wide Formation Including 703.47 704.68 1.21 0.87 CB23_005 78.66 82.72 4.06 0.08 Great Flat Lode CB23_005 350.60 359.43 8.83 0.42 New Zone Including 351.19 354.25 3.06 0.93 CB23_005 703.70 710.27 6.57 0.05 Wide Formation CB23_006 64.11 65.99 1.88 0.91 Great Flat Lode CB23_006 152.29 153.46 1.17 0.62 New Zone CB23_006 511.98 512.59 0.61 1.60 New Zone CB23_006 549.62 551.52 1.90 0.83 Wide Formation Including 549.62 550.63 1.01 1.30 Table 1 Selected drilling results from holes 1-6 at the Wide Formation target.Note 1 True thickness of down-hole intersections reported are expected to be approximately 70-100% of the down-hole lengths. Hole ID Hole Length CB23_001 617.7m CB23_002 698.9m CB23_003 731.3m CB23_004 773.6m CB23_005 759.3m CB23_006 614.3m Table 2 Drill hole lengths from surface to end of hole. GEOLOGY AND MINERALISATION The geology in the Carn Brea South exploration area is identical to that at South Crofty, comprising metasediments (locally termed killas) which overlie an intrusive granite body. The mineralisation of the Wide Formation consists predominantly of blue tourmaline with disseminated cassiterite, hosted within a siliceous tourmaline altered granite. The cassiterite is mostly hosted within tourmaline-quartz veins which overprint the interpreted earlier blue tourmaline lode structure. No mining has ever been carried out on the Wide Formation. The Great Flat Lode Splay, discovered up dip of Wheal Bassett mine (Figure 1), occurs as a blue tourmaline-rich lode with quartz (occasionally brecciated) hosting disseminated cassiterite mineralisation. The mineralised structure, which appears to separate away from the metasediment/granite boundary of its shallower counterpart, is hosted within strongly altered granite. This structure forms an unmined splay off the Great Flat Lode, is several meters thick and has an approximate area of 700m by 450m. The Wide Formation, Great Flat Lode Splay, and new zones of steeply dipping high-grade tin mineralisation warrant further exploration. TECHNICAL INFORMATION Drilling at Carn Brea South was performed by Priority Drilling Company Ltd using an Atlas Copco CS14 Diamond Drill Rig. Hole construction consisted of HQ (96.1-millimeter (mm) diameter) to recover 72.8mm diameter drill core from within the shallower Great Flat mineralised zone, before reducing to NQ (76-mm diameter) to recover a 48mm diameter drill core when drilling at depth through the Wide Formation target. On completion, holes were multi-shot surveyed using a Reflex EZ-Trac. Core recovery was greater than 95%. The core was logged, split via core saw, and sampled by Cornish Metals personnel. The samples, comprising half core, were sent for assay at ALS Minerals, Loughrea, Ireland. Sample preparation involved crushing to 70% less than 2mm, riffle split and pulverised to 85% less than 75 microns. The analytical method used for tin, copper, tungsten, zinc, and arsenic was X-ray florescence (XRF) following a lithium borate fusion. A multi-element 4 Acid Digestion ICP-AES analysis was also carried out to further characterise the mineralisation and alteration assemblages. Overlimit assays on silver were carried out using a 3-acid digest and a HCl leach ICP AES analysis. Comprehensive Quality Assurance / Quality Control programme using standards, duplicates and blanks was included within the sampling programme. The technical information in this news release has been compiled by Mr. Owen Mihalop who has reviewed and takes responsibility for the data and geological interpretation. Mr. Owen Mihalop (MCSM, BSc (Hons), MSc, FGS, MIMMM, CEng) is Chief Operating Officer for Cornish Metals Inc. and has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined under the JORC Code (2012) and as a Qualified Person under NI 43-101 and AIM. Mr. Mihalop consents to the inclusion in this announcement of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. ABOUT CORNISH METALS Cornish Metals is a dual-listed company (AIM and TSX-V: CUSN) focused on advancing the South Crofty high-grade, underground tin Project through to a construction decision, as well as exploring its additional mineral rights, all located in Cornwall, United Kingdom. South Crofty is a historical, high-grade, underground tin mine that started production in 1592 and continued operating until 1998 following over 400 years of continuous production; The Project possesses Planning Permission for underground mining (valid to 2071), to construct new processing facilities and all necessary site infrastructure, and an Environmental Permit to dewater the mine; South Crofty has the 4th highest grade tin Mineral Resource globally and benefits from existing mine infrastructure including multiple shafts that can be used for future operations; Tin is a Critical Mineral as defined by the UK, USA, and Canadian governments, with approximately two-thirds of the tin mined today coming from China, Myanmar and Indonesia; There is no primary tin production in Europe or North America; Tin connects almost all electronic and electrical infrastructure, making it critical to the energy transition responsible sourcing of critical minerals and security of supply are key factors in the energy transition and technology growth; South Crofty benefits from strong local community and regional and national government support. Cornish Metals has a growing team of skilled people, local to Cornwall, and the Project could generate 250 300 direct jobs. An updated Mineral Resource was completed in September 2023 with a 39% increase in tonnes and 32% increase in contained tin in the Indicated category for the Lower Mine (see news release dated September 13, 2023) as summarised below: South Crofty Summary (JORC 2012) Mineral Resource Estimate Area Classification Mass(kt) Grade Contained Tin / Tin Equivalent (kt) Lower Mine Indicated 2,896 1.50% Sn 43.6 Inferred 2,626 1.42% Sn 37.4 Upper Mine Indicated 260 0.99% SnEq 2.6 Inferred 465 0.91% SnEq 4.2 The Mineral Resource Estimate for South Crofty is available in a report titled South Crofty Tin Project - Mineral Resource Update NI 43-101 Technical Report, dated October 27, 2023, co-authored by Mr. N. Szebor (MCSM, MSc, BSc, CGeol, EurGeol, FGS) and Mr. R. Chesher (FAusIMM(CP), RPEQ, MTMS) of AMC Consultants, and can be accessed through the above link and on the Companys SEDAR+ page. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Richard D. WilliamsRichard D. Williams, P.Geo For additional information please contact: Cornish Metals Fawzi HananoIrene Dorsman [email protected] [email protected] Tel: +1 (604) 200 6664 SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker) Richard Morrison Charlie Bouverat Grant Barker Tel: +44 203 470 0470 Hannam & Partners(Joint Broker) Matthew HassonAndrew Chubb Jay Ashfield [email protected] Tel: +44 207 907 8500 BlytheRay(Financial PR) Tim Blythe Megan Ray [email protected] [email protected] Tel: +44 207 138 3204 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Caution regarding forward looking statements This news release contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements). Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections, outlook, guidance, estimates and forecasts and other statements regarding future plans, the realisation, cost, timing and extent of mineral resource or mineral reserve estimates, estimation of commodity prices, currency exchange rate fluctuations, estimated future exploration expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, requirements for additional capital, future or estimated mine life and other activities or achievements of Cornish Metals, including but not limited to: mineralisation at South Crofty, mine dewatering expectations, Cornish Metals exploration drilling programme, timing and results of Cornish Metals feasibility study, strategic vision of Cornish Metals and expectations regarding the South Crofty mine, timing and results of projects mentioned. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as seek, anticipate, believe, plan, estimate, forecast, expect, potential, project, target, schedule, budget and intend and statements that an event or result may, will, should, could, would or might occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to receipt of regulatory approvals, risks related to general economic and market conditions; risks related to the availability of financing; the timing and content of upcoming work programmes; actual results of proposed exploration activities; possible variations in Mineral Resources or grade; outcome of the current Feasibility Study; projected dates to commence mining operations; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations. Cornish Metals forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward- looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Cornish Metals does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or managements beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law. Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information pursuant to Article 7 of EU Regulation 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 as amended. Appendix alteration halo means a border of minerals produced by hydrothermal alteration in the rock surrounding a vein cassiterite means a tin oxide mineral which is the principal source for tin metal "grade(s)" means the quantity of ore or metal in a specified quantity of rock "Indicated Mineral Resource" is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade or quality, densities, shape and physical characteristics are estimated with sufficient confidence to allow the application of mining, processing, metallurgical, infrastructure, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental factors to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Geological evidence is derived from adequately detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing and is sufficient to assume geological and grade or quality continuity between points of observation. An Indicated Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to a Measured Mineral Resource and may only be converted to a probable mineral reserve. "Inferred Mineral Resource" is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration. An Inferred Mineral Resource is based on limited information and sampling gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. "JORC Code" means the 2012 edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves prepared by the Joint Ore Reserves Committee of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Australian Institute of Geoscientists and Minerals Council of Australia. The JORC Code is an acceptable foreign code for purposes of NI 43-101. "Lodes" means a vein of metal ore in the earth "MRE" means Mineral Resource Estimate "kt" means thousand tonnes "Mt" means million tonnes NI 43-101 means National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects issued by the Canadian Securities Administrators, which provides standards of disclosure of scientific and technical information regarding mineral projects Sn means Tin "t" means tonnes tourmaline means the crystalline silicate mineral group that occurs as prismatic crystals in granitic and other rocks Source: Cornish Metals Inc. Brussels, Dublin, Dusseldorf, London, Paris, 5 February 2024 8:00 AM (CET) DEXIA AND MOUNT STREET SIGN AN AGREEMENT FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF DEXIAS BOND PORTFOLIO Dexia and Mount Street announce that they have signed an agreement enabling Mount Street to take over the servicing of Dexias 17 billion bond portfolio and a team of eight bond management experts, acting as Dexias exclusive outsourced service provider for portfolio management services. Under the terms of the five-year contract, Mount Street, through its regulated business, Mount Street Portfolio Advisers GmbH (MSPA), will undertake a range of services including asset management, trade execution, portfolio market data and valuation, and strategic advisory. The 17 billion Dexia portfolio comprises of a range of bonds, financial instruments and credit products from issuers in the public finance, local municipality, utility, social housing and related sectors, across various jurisdictions in Europe and North America. The new mandate builds on Mount Streets established outsourcing track record and role as portfolio manager-of-choice for blue chip institutions. In 2017, it completed the successful acquisition of EAA Portfolio Advisors, from Erste Abwicklungsanstalt, which included the management of 22 billion of funds. In February 2022, Mount Street was appointed by Aviva Investors to provide debt servicing functions on a portfolio of 30 billion. In 2023, in its role as independent portfolio manager for Helabas HLB Private Markets Platform, it supported the fund-raising strategy for Helabas Infrastructure Debt Fund I. The transaction between Dexia and Mount Street enables Dexia to pursue the management of its loan and bond portfolio in run-off with a solid partner and in an orderly manner for the ensuing years. Anchored with Mount Street, Dexia will be able to rely on the strong expertise of its Dublin-based bond portfolio managers while giving them new career perspectives within the Mount Street Group. Pierre Crevits, CEO at Dexia, commented: I am delighted with this agreement with Mount Street, a very experienced and recognised player in the field of portfolio management. This partnership reflects Dexia's desire, within the context of its orderly resolution, to ensure a future for its bond portfolio management experts within the Mount Street Group while at the same time securing the continuity and quality of its portfolio management services. Stephan Plagemann, Chief Financial Officer at Mount Street, commented: Having established a strong relationship with Dexia over the past six years, this appointment is a significant milestone in our legacy portfolio outsourcing capabilities. There remains a need for institutions in resolution to review their structural set-up from time to time as the underlying portfolios are scaled down, while still having to satisfy the requirements of their various stakeholders. We are very excited to have the opportunity to partner with Dexia and provide innovative solutions throughout this process. ABOUT MOUNT STREET GROUP Mount Street is a leading global third-party loan servicing and credit asset management firm with approximately 150 billion of assets under management. Mount Street is recognised as a leading real estate loan servicer and among the fastest-growing companies in Europe. Leveraging its proprietary technology and a global presence across 10 offices in key financial centers worldwide, Mount Street has built an international team of seasoned banking, real estate, infrastructure, shipping, and technology professionals to assist institutional investors in capturing value across the lifecycle of their credit and other investments. To learn more about Mount Street Group, visit mountstreet.com ABOUT DEXIA Dexia is a former banking institution and a 99.6% State-owned Belgian-French group, which entered in orderly resolution in December 2012. The Groups mission is to manage its residual assets in run-off while ensuring that the interests of its shareholders and guarantors are preserved. The Group's parent company, Dexia Holding, is a public limited company under Belgian law. Based in France, Dexia is the Group's main operating entity. As at 30 June 2023, Dexia Holding had 515 staff members and total assets of about EUR 60 billion. To learn more about Dexia, visit www.dexia.com CONTACT DETAILS Dexia Press and Investor Contacts Brussels: +32 2 213 57 39 Paris: +33 1 58 58 58 49 Mount Street Viviane Adjado Email: [email protected] - Tel: +44 20 7659 7005 FTI Consulting (PR Advisers) Email: [email protected] - Tel: +44 3727 1000 Attachment Boston, MA, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) proudly unveils its 2023 Impact Report highlighting the inspiring journeys, achievements, and resilience of entrepreneurs in underserved communities across North America. The entrepreneurs ICIC helps are often located in under-resourced communities facing high rates of poverty and unemployment, with limited access to crucial resources for small business growth. In 2023 alone, ICIC served more than 3,000 businesses in 56 states, territories, and Canadian provinces. Of these businesses 72% percent were BIPOC-owned and 68% percent were woman-owned. ICIC's work, as detailed in the report, goes beyond mere assistance. It's about nurturing a community of entrepreneurs who draw wisdom from their experiences, leading to self-development and expansion. The report emphasizes the critical role small business owners play in driving economic growth and job creation, particularly in underserved communities. Ten entrepreneurs, who overcame significant obstacles, are highlighted in the impact report, showcasing their tenacity and relentless pursuit of success, including: Liseth Velez of LJV Development, a BIPOC-, woman-, and veteran-owned construction company based in Everett, Massachusetts; Brian Krusz, a former U.S. Marine who owns Sgt. Clean Car Wash, a chain of car washes in Uniontown, Ohio; Mayra Kahn, a serial entrepreneur whose most recent venture, Teamficient, is providing remote office solutions to businesses in the Chicago, Illinois area; Lawrence Charles, the CEO of Charles & Company, a BIPOC-owned organic and kosher tea brewing company in Long Beach, California; Diseiye Thompson, a fashion designer based in Toronto, Canada, and founder of BIPOC-, woman-, and LGBTQ+-owned DISEIYE; Oscar Zepeda, CEO of Real Zepeda Tequila, a craft tequila business based in Boston, Massachusetts; Beth Nodland, founder of Juniper Environmental, a woman-owned environmental contracting firm in Bismarck, North Dakota; Former U.S. Army officer Lalini Pillay, CEO of LE Global, a woman- and veteran-owned construction company based in Washington, D.C.; Kei-Che Randall, a deaf artist, educator, and innovator providing enrichment opportunities for deaf/hard of hearing students through STEPS by Kei-che, her BIPOC-, woman-, and disability-owned business based in Cedar Falls, Iowa; Carmen Brown and Ken Harris of neMarc Professional Services, Inc., offering top quality administrative and clerical staff to government, education, and business sectors from their headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. Liseth Velez, Founder & CEO of LJV Development, exemplifies the kind of success story ICIC aims to replicate across the board. As a veteran, a woman, and a person of color, her journey speaks volumes about the potential and resilience within these communities. "In the grand scheme of things, every small business owner plays a crucial role in fostering economic growth and creating jobs. ICIC has been instrumental in giving me access to opportunities that I might not have had otherwise. This support has been vital in my journey as an entrepreneur. Being part of ICIC has immersed me in a vibrant community of entrepreneurs. This network has not only given me access to new opportunities but also a sense of belonging and shared purpose. We're not just building businesses; we're collectively enhancing economic growth and job creation in our communities." shared Liseth Velez. Steve Grossman, CEO of ICIC, commented: "This Impact Report not only reaffirms our commitment to serving the needs of business owners within our underserved communities but also highlights our dedication to thought leadership in the field. Through extensive research and collaboration, we continually strive to stay at the forefront of industry trends and innovative solutions. From providing access to capital and creating jobs to promoting wellness outcomes, addressing poverty, and fostering a robust network, our collective impact resonates. The Impact Report delves into how ICIC's programs have guided entrepreneurs like Velez through various stages of their business lifecycle, providing invaluable mentorship, resources, and networking opportunities. It captures the essence of entrepreneurial resilience the ability to overcome hurdles and seize opportunities, a theme that resonates throughout the document. The 2023 Impact Report is more than just a collection of success stories. It is a powerful statement on the transformative role of ICIC in nurturing and empowering entrepreneurs, thereby contributing significantly to the economic fabric of our society. About ICICInitiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) is the widely-recognized authority on accelerating small business growth in under-resourced communities. Founded by renowned Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter 30 years ago as a research and strategy organization, today ICIC drives inclusive economic prosperity in underserved communities through innovative research and programs to create jobs, income, and wealth for local residents. Sarah Ginand ICIC +1 617-803-4532 [email protected] Source: ICIC Nokia signs 5G patent cross-license agreement with vivo License covers Nokias fundamental inventions in cellular technologies Nokia to receive payments from vivo for a multi-year period along with catch-up payments to cover the dispute period Nokia has now concluded patent license agreements with six major smartphone vendors in the past thirteen months 5 February 2024Espoo, Finland Nokia announced today it has signed a multi-year patent cross-license agreement with vivo. Under the agreement vivo will make royalty payments to Nokia, along with catch-up payments to cover the dispute period. The agreement resolves all pending patent litigation between the parties, in all jurisdictions. The terms of the agreement remain confidential as agreed between the parties. Jenni Lukander, President of Nokia Technologies, said: This is the sixth major smartphone patent license agreement we have signed in the past thirteen months, and we have now almost completed our smartphone license renewal cycle. Together these licensing agreements demonstrate Nokias significant contribution to developing key technologies relied upon by the entire smartphone industry and they will provide long-term stability to our licensing business for years to come. Lukander added: We are delighted to have reached an agreement with vivo which reflects mutual respect for each other's intellectual property rights. vivo is one of the leading players in the global smartphone industry. We look forward to bringing more innovation to their users around the world through our collaboration. Xianwen Xu, General Manager of Legal Affairs Department at vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd., stated, We are pleased to have reached a global cross-license agreement with Nokia. Signing the agreement, reflects the mutual recognition and respect for each other's patent value in cellular technology and it also plays a significant role in fostering a positive development environment within the industry. We are dedicated to investing in R&D of smart devices and intelligent services, providing extraordinary hi-tech products and services for users worldwide. The agreement is consistent with the assumptions that Nokia has disclosed for Nokia Technologies in its Financial Report for Q4 issued on 25 January 2024. Nokia will begin recognizing net sales from this agreement, including catch up payments covering the periods of non-payment, in Q1 2024. Nokia Technologies is progressing towards the conclusion of the smartphone licensing renewal cycle and is making good progress in its growth areas of automotive, consumer electronics, IoT and multimedia. It remains confident that its annual net sales run-rate will return to EUR 1.4 to 1.5 billion in the mid-term. Nokias industry-leading patent portfolio is built on around 150 billion invested in R&D since 2000 and is composed of around 20,000 patent families, including over 6,000 patent families declared essential to 5G. Nokia contributes its inventions to open standards in return for the right to license them on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. Companies can license and use these technologies without the need to make their own substantial investments in the standards, fueling innovation and the development of new products and services for consumers. Resources and additional informationWebpage: nokia.com/licensing About NokiaAt Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. Media inquiries Steven Bartholomew, VP Communications and Marketing, Nokia TechnologiesEmail: [email protected] Follow us on social mediaLinkedIn Twitter Instagram Facebook YouTube Source: Nokia Oyj TORONTOandMANCHESTER, England, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Onex Corporation (Onex) (TSX: ONEX) today announced that Onex Partners V has completed a majority investment in Morson Group (Morson or the Company), a leading UK engineering and technical staffing and workforce solutions business, with growing operations in the UK, U.S., Italy, Canada and Australia. The investment has been made alongside the founding family CEO Ged Mason and members of the management team. Financial terms were not disclosed. Headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom, Morson Group provides services including: (i) contingent workforce solutions, relating to the placement of engineering, IT and technical contractors with customers, (ii) permanent recruitment and recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), (iii) related planning workforce support management and training, and (iv) engineering consultancy and design services. With a history stretching back over 55 years, the Company employs more than 1,500 people in over 60 locations, with a vision to create a better, more innovative world through inspiring, supporting, reskilling, and nurturing talent. Morson deploys specialist recruitment and engineering expertise on STEM skills in its focus sectors of aerospace, defence, IT and technology, rail, marine, nuclear, multi-disciplined engineering, professional services, construction, and manufacturing. Morsons ability to deploy unique sector knowledge and innovative solutions to its clients in highly resilient sectors of the economy is unique. We are attracted by its growth profile, corporate culture and multiple opportunities for value creation going forward. Most importantly, we are delighted to be partnering with Ged Mason and the management team, to continue building on what they have accomplished, said Nigel Wright, Co-Head of Onex Partners. Adrien Faure, a Managing Director of Onex Partners, added, Morson is an excellent business and a leader with pedigree in its core markets. The investment aligns with our theme of investing in businesses that help to solve the need for technical and specialist skills alongside the best management teams. It builds on our track record in the broader human capital management sector. Ged Mason, who will continue as CEO of Morson Group, said, We have found a true partner in Onex, and a team whose values are aligned with ours. Onex shares our vision. It has an impressive track record of helping companies to grow and we are confident about the contribution our new partner will make to achieving our goals. About Onex Onex is an investor and asset manager that invests capital on behalf of Onex shareholders and clients across the globe. Formed in 1984, we have a long track record of creating value for our clients and shareholders. Onex two primary businesses are Private Equity and Credit. In Private Equity, we raise funds from third-party investors, or limited partners, and invest them, along with Onex own investing capital, through the funds of our private equity platforms, Onex Partners and ONCAP. Similarly, in Credit, we raise and invest capital across several private credit, public credit, and public equity strategies. Our investors include a broad range of global clients, including public and private pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, insurance companies and family offices. In total, Onex has US$49.7 billion in assets under management, of which US$8.1 billion is Onex own investing capital. With offices in Toronto, New York, New Jersey, Boston and London, Onex and its experienced management teams are collectively the largest investors across Onex platforms. Onex is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ONEX. For more information on Onex, visit its website at www.onex.com. Onex security filings can also be accessed at www.sedarplus.ca. About Morson Group Morson Group is a leading provider of complete talent solutions, offering services across contingent workforce, design consultancy, and permanent recruitment through a variety of delivery models. The Companys proprietary technology underpins managed service provider (MSP) and recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) offerings alongside other service models. Morson employs over 1,500 people in more than 60 locations in the UK, Australia, the United States, and Canada. With revenues in excess of 1.3 billion, Morson is ranked by SIA as the worlds third largest engineering and technical staffing business. Disclaimers This press release may contain, without limitation, statements concerning possible or assumed future operations, performance or results preceded by, followed by or that include words such as believes, expects, potential, anticipates, estimates, intends, plans and words of similar connotation, which would constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees. The reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information because they involve significant and diverse risks and uncertainties that may cause actual operations, performance, or results to be materially different from those indicated in these forward-looking statements. Except as may be required by Canadian securities law, Onex is under no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein should material facts change due to new information, future events or other factors. These cautionary statements expressly qualify all forward-looking statements in this press release. For Further Information: Onex Jill Homenuk Managing Director Shareholder Relations and Communications [email protected] +1 416.362.7711 If a nation disrespects religious freedom, all other rights surely will be limited, oppressed or violated Washington, DC, Feb. 05, 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 [email protected] [email protected] AMMAN, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- A cultural event was held in the Jordanian capital Amman on Sunday to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. The event, which featured artistic performances, heritage shows, Chinese calligraphy writing, traditional games, Chinese tea-tasting, was organized by the China Cultural Center in Amman and the TAG Confucius Institute in Jordan. Shi Wei, the cultural counselor of the Chinese embassy in Jordan, said the Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival, offers an opportunity to strengthen the traditional friendship between Chinese and Jordanians. More than 130 students and teachers from a local school attended the event. TDECU Board Strengthens Expertise to Support Evolving Financial Landscape Sugar Land, TX, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TDECU, Texas fastest-growing credit union, is preparing for a year of unparalleled growth and improving the Member experience to help people along their financial journeys. Award-winning attorney and technology executive Lavonne Burke, and finance veteran Adam Chibib, have been named to TDECUs Board of Directors. Lavonne Burke is a technology executive, award-winning attorney, speaker, author and transformative leader, currently serving as VP at Dell Technologies, where she leads a global legal team focused on multiple levels of security, including IT, privacy/data protection, fraud and security investigations, and more. She is a Houston native and long-time Member who credits TDECU for helping her buy her first home. When I graduated law school, banking and mortgage departments told me I was too much of a risk because of my student loan debt, said Burke. I thought it was phenomenal that TDECU would look beyond what was on paper and focus on the exact circumstances of the individual. Adam Chibib is the Chief Financial Officer for Self Financial, Inc., serving individuals with no credit, or bad credit, by helping them establish and report their credit profile. He has been one of Austins leading financial and operational executives for more than 25 years. I embraced the opportunity to join the TDECU Board because I often reflect on the difference a credit union once made in my life, Chibib said. I purchased all my cars through them, saved my money, received my first credit card, and more. It was a wonderful, empowering experience, and I want to help others discover how credit unions like TDECU can transform its Members' lives. TDECU Board Director David Sikora says both Burke and Chibib are an ideal fit for the not-for-profit credit union which is on an accelerated growth trajectory. I am very excited to work with Lavonne and Adam, who are both very aware of the benefits of being credit union members and focused on supporting their communities, said Sikora. Their knowledge in digital banking and the financial industry will be invaluable as we grow our Membership base both on the ground and online. The financial institution is also offering gratitude to two long-term board members who helped make TDECU the largest credit union in Houston. George Hornback, Jr. has been a TDECU Member since 1977, and served on the board for more than a decade. As a machinist for the Dow Chemical Company in Freeport, he knew the importance of putting Members first and regularly participated in community outreach events. He has served as the Board Secretary since 2008. Frank Coe was a member of the board for the Bluebonnet Credit Union before it merged with TDECU in 2011. In 2015, Coe joined the TDECU Board of Directors with a focus on innovation and technology, strategic projects management, and risk management. Frank Coe and George Hornback, Jr. officially retired from the board on December 31, 2023. About TDECU | Founded in 1955, TDECU is a not-for-profit financial cooperative with more than 383,000 Members and over $4.7 billion in assets. TDECU currently has 39 service locations, including 35 Member Centers, and offers a complete selection of convenient, innovative, and competitive products and services, including a full suite of deposit products as well as mortgage, auto and personal loan products, online and mobile banking. TDECU also offers, through its subsidiaries, retirement planning and wealth management, personal and business insurance products. Members can also access a worldwide network of over 55,000 surcharge-free ATMs. For more information visit TDECU.org or call (800) 839-1154. Attachment OTTAWA, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thermal Energy International Inc. (Thermal Energy or the Company) (TSX-V: TMG, OTCQB: TMGEF), a provider of innovative energy efficiency and carbon emission reduction solutions to major corporations around the world, today announced that William Crossland, President and CEO, will present at the Small-Cap Growth Virtual Investor Conference, hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on February 7, 2024 DATE: February 7th, 2024TIME: 12:30 PM ETLINK: https://bit.ly/496OeL9Available for 1x1 meetings: February 7 th, 8th and 9th. This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event. It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com. Recent Company Highlights Reported 71% revenue growth and significant increases in profitability in fiscal 2024 second quarter ended November 30, 2023; Trailing four quarters revenue, net income, and EBITDAi were highest on record; Fiscal 2024 year-to-date order intake and order backlogii highest on record and each up approximately 200% over two years About Thermal EnergyThermal Energy International Inc. provides energy efficiency and emissions reduction solutions to Fortune 500 and other large multinational companies. We save our customers money by reducing their fuel use and cutting their carbon emissions. Thermal Energys proprietary and proven solutions can recover up to 80% of energy lost in typical boiler plant and steam system operations while delivering a high return on investment with a short, compelling payback. Thermal Energy is a fully accredited professional engineering firm with engineering offices in Ottawa, Canada, Pittsburgh, USA, as well as Bristol, UK, with sales offices in Canada, UK, USA, Germany, Poland, and Italy. By providing a unique mix of proprietary products together with process, energy, and environmental engineering expertise, Thermal Energy can deliver unique, site-specific turnkey and custom engineered solutions with significant financial and environmental benefits for our customers. Thermal Energys common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbol TMG and on the OTCQB under the symbol TMGEF. For more information, visit the Companys investor website at https://investors-thermalenergy.com or company website at www.thermalenergy.com. About Virtual Investor ConferencesVirtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors. Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors. CONTACTS:Thermal Energy InternationalWilliam CrosslandPresident and CEO(613) 723-6776[email protected] Virtual Investor Conferences John M. ViglottiSVP Corporate Services, Investor AccessOTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221[email protected] _____________i EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, amortization, impairment of intangible assets, and share-based compensation expense.ii Order backlog represents any purchase orders that have been received by the Company but have not yet been reflected as revenue in the Companys published financial statements. Source: Virtual Investor Conferences SAINT-HUBERT, Quebec, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Urbanimmersive Inc. (Urbanimmersive, the Company, or UI) (TSX VENTURE: UI) (OTCQB: UBMRF), a leading provider of 3D digital twin solutions for the real estate marketing industry, has received a general Cease Trade Order (CTO) issued by the Canadian Securities Administrators (Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) being the principal regulator) in accordance with National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders (NP 12-203) and the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) has halted the Company stock. The CTO was issued due the missed filing deadline of January 28, 2024 to file its annual audited financial statements, accompanying management's discussion and analysis and related Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer certificates for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, as required under applicable Canadian securities laws. The delay in filing was caused by the Company's former auditors not renewing their mandate and the ongoing process of finding a new auditor in a short time frame in the busy season at a reasonable cost. The Company will continue to operate in the normal course of business, fulfilling its commercial contracts and obligations and intends to immediately apply for a revocation of CTO as soon as its annual filings are duly filed. Funding initiatives In the last year, while completing the integration process of its recent acquisitions, the Company has significantly streamlined its operations which includes a reduction of its workforce representing annual savings of nearly $2.0 million. Even with a decline in its revenues impacted by the challenging real estate market conditions in 2023, the Company believes it should be able to generate positive free cash flows over the next 12 months. However, as a result of its low liquidities ending the low season and less secured fundings than planned in the last year, Urbanimmersive has continued to work actively on securing a small equity financing in the recent weeks that would be used for working capital purposes and its growth initiatives and will continue to pursue those initiatives. As there is no guarantee of the outcome so far, the Company has decided to explore other alternatives to generate liquidities in the short term which may include divestiture of certain assets. That said, the Company has not made any decisions at this time, and there is no guarantee that it will result in any specific favourable outcome. TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed this press release and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. About Urbanimmersive Urbanimmersive develops and commercializes real estate photography technologies and services focused on redefining industry visual content standards. The Company all-in-one platform enables high-volume photography businesses to increase operational productivity delivering feature-rich 3D tours and floor plans, leading-edge property websites and high-resolution AI-indexed images. The Company operating segments include software (SaaS), 3D photography equipment and, in a growing number of North American cities, technology-powered real estate photography service business units leading the industry photo-shoots standards transformation. Learn more at urbanimmersive.com. Caution of Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information that involves various risks and uncertainties. Such statements relating to, among other things, the prospects for the company to enhance operating results, are necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which are significant in scope and nature. These uncertainties may cause actual results to differ from information contained herein. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of the management on the dates they are made and expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management estimates or opinions change. For more information, please contact: Simon Bedard, CA, CPA, CFA, MBAInterim Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer514 394-7820 X 224[email protected] Source: Urbanimmersive Inc. BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) today announced Kahlil C. Williams as the foundations general counsel and corporate secretary. Mr. Williams will be responsible for all legal affairs of the foundation, including providing legal counsel to the board of trustees, president and CEO, the executive team and foundation staff. He will serve as corporate secretary for the foundation board of trustees and oversee the internal audit function of the foundation. Mr. Williams most recently was a partner at Ballard Spahr LLP in Philadelphia where he led the firms Black Lawyers Group, the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Working Group and co-led the firms Racial Justice & Equality Initiative. He brings a wide range of legal experience to the foundation including representing companies and individual corporate litigation & government inquiries as well as advising companies on emerging legal and reputational risks concerning their ESG programs. He has also represented individuals and governmental entities on numerous voting rights matters, drawing on his work prior to law school for the Brennan Center for Justice and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. Prior to Ballard Spahr LLP, Williams was an associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in New York. He holds a juris doctorate from Columbia Law School, a masters in political science from The University of Pennsylvania, and a bachelors in political science from The Pennsylvania State University. Williams will be a member of the executive leadership team, reporting to WKKF president and CEO La June Montgomery Tabron. Kahlil brings a wealth of global and corporate litigation and legal experience to the foundation. We welcome his expertise in all aspects of the foundations commitment to equity and look forward to adding his leadership voice in this urgent time for the children and families we serve, Tabron said. Three executive leaders earn promotions The foundation also announced the promotion of three WKKF executive colleagues to newly designed leadership roles. Dr. Carla Thompson Payton has been promoted to chief strategist and impact officer for the foundation and will be responsible for creative and strategic program leadership, driving impact and achieving programmatic goals, both domestically and internationally. Thompson Payton joined the foundation in 2012 as a vice president for program strategy, overseeing the national strategic grantmaking for early childhood education, economic equity and health equity. Most recently, she held responsibility for strategic grantmaking strategies from design through implementation, evaluation and dissemination, including policy advocacy and social impact investments. Previously, Thompson Payton was deputy director of the Office of Child Care at the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C. There, she was responsible for developing national early childhood education policy, managing the $5 billion annual budget of the Child Care Development Fund and providing oversight to 10 regional offices serving states, tribes and territories. Previously, she was assistant superintendent for early childhood education for the District of Columbia, where she initiated the first publicly funded pre-kindergarten program. Dr. Alandra L. Washington has been promoted to chief transformation and organizational effectiveness officer. Washingtons focus will be the oversight and strengthening of the integration and agility of the operations of the foundation, and the convergence of organizational skillsets to increase quality, analytical rigor, and operational excellence. Additionally, she holds responsibility for the programmatic and operational alignment of the foundations internal and external commitments to racial equity. Washington joined the foundation in 2002 as program director responsible for the design and execution of national initiatives that fostered the adoption of racial equity grantmaking frameworks, practices and approaches, democratizing philanthropy and strengthening identity-based philanthropy. She also served as director for programs for education and learning, family economic security and New Mexico teams, and most recently as vice president for transformation and organizational effectiveness. Dr. Washington has more than 25 years of experience leading non-profit and philanthropic organizations. Prior to joining the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, she served as CEO of the Greater East. St. Louis Community Fund. Michael Murphy has been promoted to chief of staff, in addition to his continued leadership of the communications team at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. In partnership with Tabron and the executive leadership team, Murphy will prioritize external relations, key sector engagements, enterprise-wide efforts such as the National Day of Racial Healing, and new initiatives and projects as they are designed and created across the foundation. Murphy joined WKKF in 2021 as vice president of communications. For more than eight years, Murphy was chief marketing officer at the Cleveland Foundation, where he was responsible for providing strategic communications, public affairs, and thought leadership counsel for the worlds first community foundation. The foundation also announced title changes for two WKKF leaders to better reflect their existing portfolio of responsibilities: Don Williamson serves as chief financial officer and treasurer, and Dianna Langenburg is chief of talent and human resources officer. The new responsibilities for this robust and action-oriented leadership team, along with Williams as our new general counsel and corporate secretary and our full executive committee, represent the collective leadership approach required to sustain and deepen the execution of the foundations strategies for the future, Tabron said. Performance excellence honors These announcements follow in part from the learning and insights received from the Michigan Performance Excellence Program (MIPEx) as the foundation recently earned its Pursuit of Excellence designation. The foundation applied to the Michigan Performance Excellence Program in Feb. 2023, and examiners conducted staff interviews and a site visit as part of the process. MIPEx examiners provided feedback as part of its recognition of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, using the national Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence as its framework to help Michigan-based organizations enhance their performance. The feedback we received with this honor is truly a gift, said Tabron. It offers both important strengths to celebrate and key enhancement opportunities, helping us identify and address the most important and impactful continuous improvements as we approach nearly a century of working with communities to ensure every child thrives. MIPEx provides information, feedback, training, and education to assist Michigan organizations in improving quality, customer satisfaction, and other results. The MIPEx program is the first step in pursuit of The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which was established by the U.S. Congress in 1987 to raise awareness of quality management and recognize U.S. companies that have implemented successful quality management systems. ### The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal innovator and entrepreneur Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life. Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - February 5, 2024) - E-Power Resources Inc. (CSE: EPR) ("E-Power" or the "Company") is pleased announce the Company has entered into an option agreement with Volt Carbon Technologies Inc. (TSXV: VCT) ("Volt" or "Volt Carbon") enabling Volt Carbon to acquire a 5% interest in the Tetepisca Graphite Project ("Tetepisca") by funding $680,000 in exploration before December 31, 2024 and making a one-time cash payment of $1,500,000 on or before December 31, 2025. James Cross, President and CEO of E-Power commented: "We are pleased to be announcing further exploration of our Tetepisca Graphite Project. Volt Carbon is a carbon science company with holdings in graphite exploration properties. Volt Carbon has developed proprietary graphite ore processing technology and is in the early stages of developing and producing solid-state lithium-ion batteries. We have previously engagedVolt to process samples from Tetepisca into graphite concentrates which can be provided as samples to battery manufacturers. We welcome continued collaboration with Volt Carbon as a step in the process to bring Tetepisca graphite from the ground in Quebec to end-users in North America and Europe." About the Tetepisca Property The Tetepisca Property is located approximately 220 km north of the town and deep water port of Baie-Comeau in the North Shore Region of Qubec. The property consists of 230 claims covering an area of approximately 12,620 hectares within the emerging Tetepisca Graphite District ("TGD"). The TGD is an active graphite exploration and development district with delineated measured and indicated resources in excess of 100 Mt at an average grade of 14% Cg. The Company's Tetepisca property is strategically located only a 3 hour and 15 minute drive from the deepwater Port of Baie-Comeau. Baie-Comeau is the planned home of a 200,000 tonne per year battery anode material producer. The Tetepisca Property provides an excellent opportunity to host very significant graphite resources in a tier-one jurisdiction providing for environmentally and socially responsible development and production. About the Tetepisca Property Option Agreement Under the terms of the agreement E-Power will grant Volt an option to acquire a 5% interest in the Tetepisca Graphite Project. Volt has agreed to spend $680,000 on exploration of the Tetepisca Graphite Project prior to December 31, 2024. As part of the agreement, EPR will issue to Volt 6,600,000 shares of the Company, in tranches, as exploration expenses are incurred. In order to exercise the option to acquire 5% of the Tetepisca Graphite Project, Volt will be required to make a cash payment to EPR of $1,500,000 on or before December 31, 2025. The agreement remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange. About E-Power E-Power Resources Inc. is a Quebec Corporation based in Montreal and focused on battery minerals exploration in Quebec. The Company is currently advancing two projects; the Tetepisca property, located in the North Shore region of the Province and the Turgeon property located in the Abitibi region adjacent to the Ontario border. The Company's priority target is flake graphite on the Tetepsica Property. The Turgeon property is located in the prolific Abitibi gold and base metal mining district and the Company is evaluating Turgeon primarily for its copper-zinc and gold potential. For more information about E-Power Resources Inc. please visit the Company website at: e-powerresources.com Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains "forward-looking statements". Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (referred to herein as "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company's future exploration plans with respect to its property interests and the timing thereof, the prospective nature of the projects, future graphite markets, success of exploration activities and metallurgical test work, permitting time lines, currency exchange rate fluctuations, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of exploration work, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses, title disputes or claims and limitations on insurance coverage. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results, "may", "could", "would", "will", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. All forward-looking statements are based on various assumptions, including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management, the assumed long-term price of graphite, that the Company will receive required permits and access to surface rights, that the Company can access financing, appropriate equipment and sufficient labour, and that the political environment within Canada and the United States will continue to support the development of mining projects in Canada. In addition, the similarity or proximity of other graphite deposits to the Company's projects is not necessary indicative of the geological setting and mineralization at the Tetepisca project. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of GFG to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: actual results of current exploration activities; environmental risks; future prices of gold; operating risks; accidents, labour issues and other risks of the mining industry; availability of capital, delays in obtaining government approvals or financing; and other risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties and the additional risks described in the Company's most recently filed annual and interim MD&A are not, and should not be construed as being, exhaustive. Although E-Power has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. In addition, forward-looking statements are provided solely for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of our operating environment. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date hereof and E-Power assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. For information contact: James Cross, CEO, Tel: (438) 701-3736, [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196832 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 5, 2024) - Fremont Gold Ltd. (TSXV: FRE) (OTCQB: FRERF) (FSE: FR20) ("Fremont" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of the geochemical soil sample survey undertaken at its Urasar property in northern Armenia. Urasar geochemical soil sample results The Company collected a total of 744 C-horizon soil samples across the Urasar Mineral District in November and December 2023. Urasar was last worked by Soviet government teams in the 1950s and 1960s, resulting in the identification of three mineralized zones and four geochemically anomalous zones along a 14 km strike length. Gold fire assay and multi-element geochemical results from Fremont's recent soil sampling survey display continuous gold-copper/base metal anomalies hosted in an east-west structure 1.2km wide over a 15 km strike length, as shown in the figures presented below. Gold values ranged up to 449 ppb with a mean of 142 ppb. Gold in C-horizon soil samples at Urasar To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/196825_c4a064dec4ae0ad0_002full.jpg Copper soil geochemistry at Urasar To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/196825_c4a064dec4ae0ad0_003full.jpg The copper anomalies generally mimic the gold anomalies but display a tighter distribution comprising three distinct populations, consistent with the earlier Soviet work. A continuous, robust copper anomaly greater than 5 km in length is evident in the western portion of the project area, congruent with the largest and strongest gold anomaly. At the far eastern end of the license, the gold geochemistry is comparatively weak while the copper anomaly is quite coherent and robust. Copper values ranged up to 497ppm with a mean of 233 ppm. Arsenic Soil Geochemistry at Urasar To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/3169/196825_c4a064dec4ae0ad0_004full.jpg Anomalous arsenic soil geochemistry generally reflects the same distribution as the gold geochemistry but is well developed on the eastern end of the 5-km long Cu-Au anomaly in the western part of the project. Initial spatial analysis of the anomalies suggests a continuous mineralized structure over 1 km wide, offset by post-mineral north or northeast-trending faults in step-wise fashion. The disposition of the anomalies suggests a southward displacement of about 1 km between the first and second anomalies, and approximately 2 kms displacement between the second and third anomalies. This distribution is most easily observed in the copper geochemistry image above. Fremont's President and CEO, Dennis Moore states, "These soil geochemical results support management's belief that Urasar is a well-endowed mineral district with at least three en echelon mineralized zones. These east-west striking zones are six, four and three kilometers in length with minimum widths of approximately 1.2 kilometers. Detailed geological mapping and trenching are planned for the spring, with diamond drilling following in the summer. We are very excited about these results and believe we are on the cusp of a significant new discovery." About Fremont Gold Fremont's mine-finding management team has assembled a portfolio of potential world-class copper-gold mineral opportunities within the central Tethyan belt of Armenia, and controls two advanced gold exploration projects in Nevada. Qualified person The content of this news release was reviewed by Dennis Moore, Fremont's President, CEO and interim Chairman, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Dennis Moore President and CEO, interim Chairman For further information, contact: Telephone: +351 9250 62196 www.fremontgold.net https://twitter.com/GoldFremont https://www.linkedin.com/company/fremont-gold/ Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking statements This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements including, without limitation, statements regarding future exploration programs at Urasar. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations including the risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Forward-Looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only as expressly required by Canadian securities law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196825 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 5, 2024) - Newpath Resources Inc. (CSE: PATH) (FSE:0MZ) (OTC PINK: RDYFF) ("Newpath" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on the preliminary analyses of analytical results received from the prospecting program carried out on its Alpha/Bravo Project (the "Project") during the late summer and fall of 2023. In addition to the Hilltop Pegmatite Showing (See November 22, 2023 news release), a preliminary review of the analytical results received in December has allowed the Company to refine and prioritize additional target areas that will be pursued in 2024. Alpha/Bravo 2023 Exploration Program Highlights Key trace element (Li, Cs, Rb and Ta) whole rock and Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (" LIBS ") analyses of samples collected from the Alpha/Bravo Project yield results consistent with trace element signatures and diagnostic rare earth element ratios associated with fertile granites, beryl type and spodumene subtype pegmatites. ") analyses of samples collected from the Alpha/Bravo Project yield results consistent with trace element signatures and diagnostic rare earth element ratios associated with fertile granites, beryl type and spodumene subtype pegmatites. In addition to the Hilltop Target Area, whole rock major element analyses identifies three new target areas centred on peraluminous, potentially fertile granite occurrences on the Alpha/Bravo Project Although the Company has not yet visually identified spodumene or other lithium bearing minerals on the Project, geochemical analyses of whole rock samples and LIBS scans of lithium indicator minerals have identified a number of positive indicators that support a favourable setting prospective for lithium-cesium-tantalum ("LCT") pegmatite deposits including; Elevated lithium and cesium contents in muscovite * Elevated Rb and Cs contents in potassic feldspar * K/Rb ratios from potassic feldspar * Trace element analyses of 74 samples yielded Mg/Li ratios of less than thirty (30) and 28 samples yielded Nb/Ta ratios of less than eight (8), indicating a high degree of fractionation. Just like other exploration companies exploring for LCT pegmatites in the Quetico Subprovince, the Company relied on an extensive body of research to assess whole rock and individual mineral geochemistry. In particular, the work by Selway, Breaks and Tindle (2008); summarized in A Review of Rare-Element (Li-Cs-Ta) Pegmatite Exploration Techniques for the Superior Province, Canada, and Large Worldwide Tantalum Deposits. Their research described a range of bulk trace element contents and rare element ratios associated with fertile granites and ranges of element compositions from bulk potassic feldspar and muscovite analyses associated with fertile granites, beryl type and spodumene subtype pegmatites. Based on these criteria, a large proportion of the geochemical results from whole rock analyses of samples collected from the Alpha/Bravo Project are consistent with the ranges of elements and associated rare earth element ratios associated with fertile granites. Furthermore, LIBS analyses of individual K feldspar and muscovite grains found within pegmatites found on the property have yielded ranges of element (Li, Cs, K, Rb) compositions and trace element ratios that are also favourable. Based on these results, the Company has identified four target areas (Including Hilltop) for follow up exploration in 2024. During the first-pass prospecting programme approximately 450 outcrops were visited, 113 pegmatites evaluated and 142 representative grab, float and channel samples were collected and submitted for analyses. Although most of the accessible roads were prospected, the sample density remains sparse and a second, more focussed phase of prospecting and mapping will be required to follow up on positive geochemical results from the 2023 program, particularly in areas with no road access. Sampling and Analytical Protocols Newpath's field consultants implemented industry standard sampling, analytical and QA/QC protocols during the collection of all rock samples collected during the 2023 exploration campaign from the Alpha/Bravo Project. Grab samples were collected in the field with a hammer, channel samples were collected using a rock saw to cut parallel cuts and collected by hammer and chisel. The vast majority of samples collected were greater than 1 kg in weight. The internal QA/QC protocol included inserting and monitoring either an OREAS lithium standard or blank material approximately every twenty samples collected. All rock grab samples were put in sturdy plastic bags, tagged, and sealed by the field geologists. Sample bags were then put in rice sacks and kept secure before delivered by our exploration consultants to AGAT Laboratories Ltd. ("AGAT") in Thunder Bay, Ontario. AGAT is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards and certified to ISO 9001:2015. Field crews used a SciAps Z903 LIBS handheld scanner to analyze specific minerals in rock samples. The LIBS unit was initially calibrated by SciAps, Inc. using a matrix matched Li pegmatite calibration based on commercially available standard reference materials. The LIBS unit calibration was also checked regularly in the field utilizing the same standards. *The geochemical results from the LIBs scanner are considered semi quantitative and being used by the Company in a comparative context. The primary objective is to identify fractionation trends by assessing the relative concentrations of lithium, cesium, potassium, and rubidium within specific indicator minerals, primarily K-feldspar and Muscovite minerals. Due to the limitations and uncertainties associated with handheld LIBS technology, the company does not exclusively depend on LIBS analyses for determining the element compositions of entire rock or mineral samples. Due to the high degree of variability and heterogeneity in the sampled pegmatites and granites, the reported sample analyses may not be representative of the overall mineralization/characteristics of the bedrock. Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Douglas S. Turnbull, P.Geo., the Company's COO and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Acknowledgment of First Nations Newpath Resources Inc. is committed to fostering lasting, transparent, trust-based relationships with the Indigenous communities where we operate. We respectfully acknowledge that our Alpha/Bravo project is on the traditional territories of many Nations including Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek, Fort William First Nation, Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek, Red Rock Indian Band, the Metis Nation of Ontario and Red Sky Metis Independent Nation. Newpath Resources recognizes the great privilege of conducting work on these lands and recognizes the accountability and commitment we owe to the communities who have resided here since time immemorial. Newpath shares a common interest in ensuring that the lands and waters will continue to provide cultural, environmental, and economic wellbeing for Indigenous communities for generations to come. About Newpath Resources Inc. Newpath is a Canadian exploration company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol PATH. Newpath's early-stage Orefield critical metal exploration project, which is composed of three claim groups (Alpha Bravo, Charlie and Delta), totals 3,180 claim units covering approximately 67,448 hectares (approximately 674 square kilometres) west and southwest of Lake Nipigon in Northern Ontario. The company also wholly owns the Northshore gold project located in the Schreiber-Hemlo greenstone belt. On Behalf of the Company, NEWPATH RESOURCES INC. "Alexander McAulay" Chief Executive Officer Email: [email protected] CEO Direct Line: +1 (604) 365-0425 Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release may contain certain "forward-looking information". Forward-looking information included in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the exploration work on the Project. Forward-looking information is based upon the assumptions and estimates considered reasonable by management of the Company as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, the effectiveness and feasibility of lithium extraction technologies on a commercial scale , and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Any statement containing forward looking information speaks only as of the date of this news release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196629 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 5, 2024) - Legalese Decoder, a pioneering force in legal technology, is thrilled to announce the launch of its revolutionary "AI Lawyer" platform. Designed to cater specifically to the needs of Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs), AI Lawyer leverages cutting-edge artificial intelligence to provide expert legal answers and document review capabilities. AI Lawyer is set to transform the way SMBs navigate legal complexities, offering a powerful tool that can decipher legalese, answer queries, and review documents seamlessly. This innovative platform is equipped to analyze text and scans, providing accurate and rapid responses to legal inquiries. Introducing Legalese Decoder's Groundbreaking Innovation AI Lawyer To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8928/196829_1dd4fd0d24352b63_001full.jpg Key Features of AI Lawyer: AI Lawyer harnesses the power of advanced algorithms to interpret and provide precise answers to legal questions commonly faced by SMBs. Document Review Made Easy: With the ability to review both text and scanned documents, AI Lawyer ensures that SMBs can confidently navigate contracts, agreements, and other legal documents with increased efficiency. Time and Cost Efficiency: AI Lawyer empowers SMBs to obtain quick and reliable legal insights, saving both time and resources. User-Friendly Interface: Legalese Decoder understands the importance of simplicity. AI Lawyer boasts a user-friendly interface, making it accessible to users with varying levels of legal expertise. Secure and Confidential: Legalese Decoder prioritizes the security and confidentiality of user data. AI Lawyer employs robust security measures to safeguard sensitive information. Legalese Decoder's CEO, William Tsui, expressed excitement about the launch, stating, "AI Lawyer represents a significant leap forward in making legal assistance accessible to small and medium businesses. We believe that every business, regardless of size, deserves access to reliable legal support, and AI Lawyer is our commitment to making that a reality." The launch of AI Lawyer aligns with Legalese Decoder's mission to democratize legal services and empower SMBs to navigate the legal landscape confidently. As businesses face an ever-evolving legal environment, AI Lawyer stands as a game-changer, and efficient solution. About Legalese Decoder: Legalese Decoder is at the forefront of legal technology, committed to simplifying legal processes for businesses. With a focus on innovation and accessibility, Legalese Decoder's solutions empower businesses to navigate legal challenges with confidence. Contact Name: William Tsui Phone: (619) 975-3425 Country: Canada Website: https://legalesedecoder.com Email: [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196829 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 5, 2024) - Telescope Innovations Corp. (CSE: TELI) (OTCQB: TELIF) ("Telescope" or the "Company"), a developer of enabling technologies for the global pharmaceutical and chemical industries, announces it has signed a Distribution Agreement with METTLER TOLEDO (NYSE: MTD) for Telescope's online chemistry sampling and analysis product, the DirectInject-LC". METTLER TOLEDO is a global leader of precision instruments and services, including automated chemistry solutions provided by the company's AutoChem unit. This Distribution Agreement builds on the success of DirectInject-LC", which has been adopted by 13 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world in the first year of commercialization. The agreement between Telescope and METTLER TOLEDO takes advantage of METTLER TOLEDO's global reach, sales expertise, technical support, and service infrastructure. This will help increase the availability of Telescope's new technology offering, which supports the rapid development of robust, safe, and high-quality laboratory and related chemical processes. "Through the new Distribution Agreement, we will be able to rapidly bring our products to customers across the globe without requiring a high initial capital outlay, ongoing overhead costs, and additional expenses for international distribution," explained Jeff Sherman, COO of Telescope. "METTLER TOLEDO's market leadership in the automated chemistry market, with thousands of installations world-wide, is ideally positioned to deliver our game-changing DirectInject-LC" technology to research and process development teams across the fine chemical manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries." "Based on our strong existing relationship, with METTLER TOLEDO's iC software integrated with DirectInject-LC", it is a natural step to extend this collaboration with this global distribution agreement," says Olivier Ubrich, Head of METTLER TOLEDO's AutoChem business. "With an expanded geographical reach even more firms, from pharmaceuticals to industrial, will be able to visualize, interpret and report the results of their samples." About DirectInject-LC" DirectInject-LC" is a breakthrough tool which allows unattended, continuous process monitoring using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), the gold standard for chemical analysis in pharmaceutical and high-value chemical process development. This orthogonal, complimentary tool is a powerful extension of the existing portfolio of METTLER TOLEDO real-time analysis products and software. About Telescope Innovations Telescope is a chemical technology company developing scalable manufacturing processes and tools for the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. The Company builds and deploys new enabling technologies including flexible robotic platforms and artificial intelligence software that improves experimental throughput, efficiency, and data quality. Our aim is to bring modern chemical technology solutions to meet the most serious challenges in health and sustainability. About METTLER TOLEDO METTLER TOLEDO (NYSE: MTD) is a leading global supplier of precision instruments and services. We have strong leadership positions in all of our businesses and believe we hold global number-one market positions in most of them. We are recognized as an innovation leader and our solutions are critical in key R&D, quality control, and manufacturing processes for customers in a wide range of industries including life sciences, food, and chemicals. Our sales and service network is one of the most extensive in the industry. Our products are sold in more than 140 countries and we have a direct presence in approximately 40 countries. With proven growth strategies and a focus on execution, we have achieved a long-term track record of strong financial performance. For more information, please visit www.mt.com. On behalf of the Board, Telescope Innovations Corp. Jeffrey Sherman, Chief Operating Officer E: [email protected] Forward-Looking Information Forward-looking information is based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this news release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements in this document include expectations surrounding Telescope's online chemistry sampling and analysis product, the DirectInject-LC", the Distribution Agreement with METTLER TOLEDO, the ability of METTLER TOLEDO's global reach, sales expertise, technical support, and service infrastructure to help increase the availability of Telescope's new technology offering, Telescope's ability to rapidly bring its products to customers across the globe without requiring a high initial capital outlay, ongoing overhead costs, and additional expenses, and all other statements that are not statements of historical fact. Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with the global COVID-19 pandemic; general economic conditions; adverse industry events; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favorable terms; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies; competition; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196514 New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 5, 2024) - Bracewell LLP announced today that Judge Roslynn R. Mauskopf, who served 16 years as a district court judge and as director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, has joined the firm's New York office as a partner in the government enforcement and investigations practice. Judge Mauskopf will focus her practice at Bracewell on government and internal investigations, regulatory enforcement and compliance, corporate governance, white-collar litigation, arbitrations and corporate monitorships, providing advice and counsel to companies, boards of directors and corporate executives on sensitive matters involving reputational risk. "I'm delighted to welcome Judge Mauskopf to the firm," said Bracewell Managing Partner Gregory M. Bopp. "Her distinguished career as a judge, prosecutor and public servant brings additional depth and experience to our highly respected government enforcement and investigations team." Judge Mauskopf has devoted her entire career to public service, including as a federal prosecutor and judge. From February 1, 2021, through January 31, 2024, she served as director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the chief administrative officer of the federal courts. In announcing Judge Mauskopf's retirement from the federal judiciary, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. praised her for bringing "superb judgment to bear in addressing a broad range of issues." Judge Mauskopf guided the judiciary through the COVID-19 pandemic, implemented workplace conduct and ethics reforms and strengthened the courts' cybersecurity defenses, all while providing a steadying hand in operations and serving as secretary to the Judicial Conference of the United States, the principal policy-making body for the federal court system, and as a board member of the Federal Judicial Center. She also served as the Judicial Branch's congressional liaison, working with congressional committees on legislation affecting the Judiciary and to secure the Judiciary's annual appropriation and executing the Judiciary's budget. Prior to joining the bench, Judge Mauskopf was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2002 to serve as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. In 2007, President Bush nominated her to serve as a judge in the Eastern District of New York. She became Chief Judge in 2020. Prior to her federal service, Judge Mauskopf was appointed New York State Inspector General by New York Governor George Pataki. Judge Mauskopf led the office from October 1995 to September 2002 in investigating allegations of corruption, fraud, criminal activity, conflicts of interest, waste and abuse in state executive branch agencies. Judge Mauskopf began her legal career in 1982 as an Assistant District Attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, where she worked with current Bracewell partners Barbara S. Jones and Daniel S. Connolly and served as Deputy Chief of the Special Prosecutions Bureau and Chief of the Frauds Bureau. "In a distinguished career that spans four decades, Roz Mauskopf has made invaluable contributions to the American legal system. She is a remarkable and talented lawyer, prosecutor and judge," said Connolly, who is managing partner of Bracewell's New York office and a member of the firm's management committee. Bracewell's government enforcement and investigations practice represents organizations and individuals in high-stakes white-collar trials and investigations, drawing on the team's decades of collective experience as defense lawyers and former prosecutors, regulators and judges. Members of the government enforcement and investigations team include, in addition to Connolly and Jones, Seth D. DuCharme, Rachel B. Goldman, Thomas F. Kokalas and David A. Shargel in New York; Kevin D. Collins and Timothy A. Wilkins in Austin; Matthew G. Nielsen in Dallas; Jeffery B. Vaden in Houston; and Stephen L. Braga, Michael W. Brooks, Charles R. Mills, Britt Cass Steckman and Robert J. Wagman Jr. in Washington, DC. Last week, the team expanded its international reach with the arrival of Mark Hunting as a partner in the London office. "I'm excited to begin the next chapter in my career and look forward to working with the stellar government enforcement and investigations team at Bracewell, including my friends and former colleagues Barbara Jones, Dan Connolly and Seth DuCharme," said Mauskopf. Mauskopf graduated magna cum laude and with highest honors with a B.A. from Brandeis University in 1979, and received her J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center in 1982. About Bracewell LLP Bracewell is a leading law and government relations firm primarily serving the energy, infrastructure, finance and technology industries throughout the world. Our industry focus results in comprehensive state-of-the-art knowledge of the commercial, legal and governmental challenges faced by our clients and enables us to provide innovative solutions to facilitate transactions and resolve disputes. Roslynn R. Mauskopf, Bracewell LLP, Partner To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9451/196828_mauskopf_roslynn_press.jpg ### Contact: Jay Plum T: +1.212.508.6197 E: [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196828 COLOMBO. Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Monday forecasted that the country can attract 2 million tourist arrivals this year, for the first time in the history of the Maldives since the inception of its tourism industry, according to local media. Muizzu made the statement while delivering his first presidential address at the opening sitting of the last session of the ongoing 19th parliament on Monday morning. The president said the expansion of Velana International Airport (VIA) would increase tourist arrivals by 10.3 percent on average in the medium term. Muizzu said his government wants to open 20 new resorts this year, and these will create 2,827 beds. The president said they are now identifying obstructions to the development of islands, land plots and lagoons leased for tourism development that have been halted over various reasons and exploring possible solutions. According to official data, the Maldives recorded the arrival of over 1.8 million tourists in 2023. The Maldives recorded the arrivals of over 192,000 tourists in January this year, a 11.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the statistics released by the Tourism Ministry. NEW YORK , Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Prime International ("Health Prime" or "the company"), a provider of revenue cycle management ("RCM") solutions for physician practices, announces that Aquiline Capital Partners LP ("Aquiline") has made a majority investment. Aquiline is a private investment firm, investing in financial services and related technologies, with over $10 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2023 . Founded in 2004, Health Prime provides tailored RCM solutions to over 800 clients across 50 specialties. The company offers comprehensive end-to-end services through a multi-shore delivery model that differentiates it from peers. Health Prime's proprietary Datalytics and Prime Flow technologies are compatible with nearly all EMRs, generating valuable insights and driving powerful results for healthcare practices. The company has completed 4 acquisitions since 2019 and is well-positioned to continue to execute strategic M&A. Pranil Vadgama , CEO at Health Prime, said: "We are excited to continue our growth trajectory with the support of Aquiline. Their deep network and experience within healthcare technology will be invaluable as we work together to achieve our long-term goals. This investment is not just a change in sponsorship but a strategic move to accelerate Health Prime's growth and services." Benedict Baerst , Partner at Aquiline, said: "Effectively navigating the complexities of revenue cycle management is becoming increasingly critical for providers in today's healthcare ecosystem. Health Prime's unique tech-enabled delivery model has consistently produced successful outcomes for its clients. We look forward to partnering with Pranil and the Health Prime management team to execute our collective vision for the business." Guggenheim served as Aquiline's lead financial advisor, alongside Lincoln and Rothschild. Ropes & Gray served as Aquiline's legal advisor. AB Private Credit Investors provided the unitranche debt financing to support the transaction. TripleTree served as financial advisor to Health Prime. Notes to editors About Health Prime Health Prime is a provider of powerful revenue cycle management solutions to physician groups across a variety of specialties. The company's proprietary technology suite includes financial reporting tool Prime Datalytics and workflow automation applications Prime Link and Prime Flow. Health Prime was founded in 2004, headquartered in National Harbor, MD and has more than 3,500 employees in the United States , Costa Rica , India , and the Philippines . About Aquiline Capital Partners Aquiline Capital Partners LP is a private investment firm based in New York , London , Philadelphia , and Greenwich, Connecticut , that invests across financial services, healthcare, and technology. For more information about Aquiline, its investment professionals, and its portfolio companies, visit www.aquiline.com . View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aquiline-capital-partners-announces-partnership-with-health-prime-302052363.html SOURCE Aquiline Capital Partners LP DUBAI, UAE , Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit , the world's third largest crypto exchange by volume, is set to inscribe the future with the launch of an integrated inscription marketplace supporting both Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) ecosystems. The marketplace will enable users to mint and trade inscriptions on multi-chains, unlocking unprecedented possibilities for the global Web3 community. Bybit Web3 has also entered into a strategic partnership with UniSat and is set to integrate UniSat, with full deployment on the horizon. Users and developers will soon be able to seamlessly connect to the inscription ecosystem through Bybit Web3, offering a comprehensive one-stop platform. The crypto community has recently witnessed a surge in interest surrounding ordinal inscriptions, where data such as images, videos, and text are directly engraved onto the Bitcoin blockchain. Bybit Web3's Inscription Marketplace is at the forefront of this movement, providing users with a seamless experience to engage with the evolving Web3 landscape and the larger inscription ecosystem. With this groundbreaking integration, Bybit Web3 aims to connect over 1 million Web3 wallet users to the existing 20 million users within the Bybit ecosystem. This partnership will create an extensive network, fostering collaboration and inclusivity within the rapidly expanding Web3 community. Phase 1: Bybit Web3 Adds BRC and EVM Inscriptions On February 1st , Bybit Web3 team extended a warm welcome to BRC-20 and EVM inscriptions including AVAX, Ethereum (IERC-20), Polygon, Fantom, and Mantle into its Inscription Marketplace . Simultaneously, Bybit Web3 will consolidate liquidity from all inscription marketplaces across primary and secondary markets, transforming Bybit Web3 into the largest liquidity provider and ecosystem for the inscription economy. Phase 2: Expanding Horizons through Bybit Web3 In Phase 2, Bybit's Inscription Marketplace will expand and include ARC-20, BRC-420 Ordinals, Bitcoin NFTs. Inscription enthusiasts can access and participate in various inscription marketplaces through a simple, unified experience on a single page. This signifies that all Web3 users can look forward to accessing both BTC and EVM inscription assets conveniently from a single page and click, gaining access to one of the most extensive and most accessible arrays of multi-chain connected inscription marketplaces. This initiative positions Bybit Web3 as the ultimate destination, serving as the one-stop shop for all inscription assets and opportunities. Ben Zhou , Co-founder & CEO of Bybit, expressed the company's commitment to enhancing user experience through the newly launched Bybit Inscription Marketplace . "We hope to provide users with a one-stop gateway through the Bybit Inscription Marketplace , facilitating the exploration and experimentation with inscription tokens and enjoying their dividends to support industry development. The simplified process aims to make the overall user experience more straightforward and enjoyable." This reflects Bybit's dedication to simplifying the user journey, embracing a fair launch and equal access as well as fostering innovation within the industry," added Zhou. #Bybit / #TheCryptoArk About Bybit Web3 Bybit Web3 is redefining openness in the decentralized world, creating a simpler, open, and equal ecosystem for everyone. We are committed to welcoming builders, creators, and partners in the blockchain space, extending an invitation to both crypto enthusiasts and the curious, with a community of over 1-million wallet users, over 10 major ecosystem partners, and counting. Bybit Web3 provides a comprehensive suite of Web3 products designed to make accessing, swapping, collecting and growing Web3 assets as open and simple as possible. Our wallets, marketplaces and platforms are all backed by the security and expertise that define Bybit as a top 3 global crypto exchange, trusted by 20 million users globally. Join the revolution now and open the door to your Web3 future with Bybit. About Bybit Bybit is a top-three cryptocurrency exchange by volume with 20 million users established in 2018. It offers a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One's reigning Constructors' and Drivers' champions: the Oracle Red Bull Racing team. For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press . For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] For more information, please visit: https://www.bybit.com For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bybit-web3-shatters-barriers-introducing-an-all-in-one-marketplace-for-bitcoin-and-evm-inscriptions-302053175.html SOURCE Bybit COLUMBIA, Md., Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Charles R. Conner III has joined MedStar Health as the new vice president of Government Affairs. In this critical role, Conner will lead the Government Affairs team with a focus on advancing MedStar Health's mission by enhancing the organization's presence and voice at the state and local level in Maryland and the District of Columbia , and with the federal administration, departments, and regulatory agencies. He will also play a key part in MedStar Health's relationships with industry, business, and community organizations. Conner comes to MedStar Health from the law firm Venable LLP where he was a member of the state and local government practice. Before his work at Venable, Conner served in several significant roles including as director of Government Affairs for Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski , deputy state director for United States Senator Christopher Van Hollen , chief of staff to Maryland Delegate Luke Clippinger , and executive director of the Maryland Democratic Party. Conner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion from Davidson College, a Master of Divinity degree from Duke University, and a Juris Doctor degree from the Charleston School of Law. "Chuck is smart, thoughtful, humble and engaging," said Kenneth A. Samet , president, and CEO of MedStar Health. "I'm sure he will be a terrific addition to our organization, and I'm so pleased to welcome him to the MedStar team." Conner will also serve as a member of the MedStar Health Leadership Team. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/charles-conner-iii-tapped-to-lead-government-affairs-for-medstar-health-302053546.html SOURCE MedStar Health HONG KONG , Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CNOOC Limited (the "Company", SEHK: 00883 (HKD Counter) and 80883 (RMB Counter), SSE: 600938) announces today that Suizhong 36-1/Luda 5-2 Oilfield Secondary Adjustment and Development Project has commenced production. The project is located in Liaodong Bay of Bohai Sea , with an average water depth of approximately 30 meters. The main production facilities include 2 new central processing platforms and 2 new wellhead platforms. 118 development wells are planned, including 81 production wells and 37 water-injection wells. The project is expected to achieve a peak production of approximately 30,300 barrels of crude oil per day in 2025. It is the largest secondary development and adjustment project in offshore China . Guided by the concept of region-wide development, the project has set a good example for the sustainable development of offshore producing oil and gas fields. Besides, it is developed relying on onshore power supply, which enables the project to consume green electricity generated onshore, thus steadily promoting the green and low-carbon development of offshore oil and gas resources. CNOOC Limited holds 100% interest in this project and acts as the operator. End Notes to Editors: More information about the Company is available at http://www.cnoocltd.com. *** *** *** *** This press release includes forward looking information, including statements regarding the likely future developments in the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, such as expected future events, business prospects or financial results. The words "expect", "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "objective", "ongoing", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe", "plans", "intends" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by the Company as of this date in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate under the circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet the current expectations and predictions of the Company is uncertain. Actual results, performance and financial condition may differ materially from the Company's expectations, including but not limited to those associated with macro-political and economic factors, fluctuations in crude oil and natural gas prices, the highly competitive nature of the oil and natural gas industry, climate change and environmental policies, the Company's price forecast, mergers, acquisitions and divestments activities, HSSE and insurance policies and changes in anti-corruption, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering and corporate governance laws and regulations. Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. The Company cannot assure that the results or developments anticipated will be realised or, even if substantially realised, that they will have the expected effect on the Company, its business or operations. *** *** *** *** For further enquiries, please contact: Ms. Cui Liu Media & Public Relations CNOOC Limited Tel: +86-10-8452-6641 Fax: +86-10-8452-1441 E-mail: [email protected] Mr. Bunny Lee Porda Havas International Finance Communications Group Tel: +852 3150 6707 Fax: +852 3150 6728 E-mail: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cnooc-limited-announces-suizhong-36-1luda-5-2-oilfield-secondary-adjustment-and-development-project-commences-production-302053007.html SOURCE CNOOC Limited MARLBOROUGH, Mass. , Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Concentric Energy Advisors, Inc. ("Concentric"), a recognized leader in management consulting services to the North American energy and water industries, is proud to announce that Mr. Stephen B. Wemple has joined Concentric as a Vice President. Stephen B. Wemple Joins Concentric Energy Advisors as a Vice President Mr. Wemple comes to Concentric with over 30 years of experience in the energy industry. As a former senior energy executive, he has a wealth of knowledge in utility regulatory affairs and has successfully implemented both utility-scale and distributed clean energy strategies. Mr. Wemple's expertise also extends to green hydrogen, battery storage, transmission scheduling, and wholesale and retail energy trading. "The Concentric team is at the forefront of the diverse challenges facing the energy industry, and I look forward to helping our clients successfully navigate the clean energy transition," said Mr. Wemple. Danielle Powers , Chief Executive Officer, and Daniel Dane , President & Vice-Chair, jointly expressed their excitement in welcoming Mr. Wemple . "We are very enthusiastic to have Steve join our team. As the energy industry continues to evolve, the solutions become more nuanced, requiring multi-faceted expertise. Steve's background in regulatory affairs and clean-energy implementation strategy align with our mission of providing experienced and trusted experts to serve a changing industry." To learn more about career opportunities at Concentric or to receive industry news and insights, please visit Concentric's Careers page and subscribe to the Concentric Connection. About Concentric Energy Advisors: Concentric Energy Advisors, Inc., and Concentric Advisors ULC (together known as "Concentric") specializes in management consulting, financial advisory, depreciation, and valuation services focusing on the North American energy and water industries. For more information, please visit https://ceadvisors.com. Media Contact: Wendy Preston [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/concentric-energy-advisors-welcomes-clean-energy-strategy-and-policy-expert-302053808.html SOURCE Concentric Energy Advisors Award-winning hospitality developer's latest offering set to add value to Ras Al Khaimah's expanding luxury real estate sector RAS AL KHAIMAH , UAE , Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Marjan, the master developer of freehold properties in Ras Al Khaimah , has signed an agreement with Range Developments to launch three new exclusive properties on Al Marjan Island, the Northern Emirate's premium tourism, business and investment destination. The distinctive luxury offerings comprising The Beach House, The Beach Residences and Beach Vista will fuel the growth of Ras Al Khaimah's expanding luxury real estate sector. The project marks Range Developments' debut in the UAE market bringing its exceptional expertise in developing 5-star hotels in Dominica , St. Kitts and Grenada . The upscale beachside residential buildings, each with its own distinctive design and offerings, will further add to the allure of Ras Al Khaimah as a sought-after destination for residents, tourists and investors. The Beach House is a collection of 88 apartments with a mix of studios and 3-bedroom simplex and duplex apartments set in prime beachfront location boasting stunning sea views. With striking floor to ceiling windows that frame the panoramic beach views, it is the perfect space for individuals and families seeking to find the ultimate retreat for mind, body and soul cocooned by the serenity of the Arabian Gulf. With 412 apartments and 11 townhouses, The Beach Residences is a masterpiece of modern design and comfort. The project is set to redefine the concept of waterfront living with custom built high-quality features combining style and functionality offering up an unparalleled living experience. The Beach Vista similarly is positioned on prime beachfront real estate, showcasing the perfect space for end users as well as discerning investors seeking to buy into the booming lifestyle destination. Arch. Abdulla Al Abdouli , Chief Executive Officer, Marjan, said: "Our agreement with Range Developments to build three new luxury properties, furthers our goal to redefine the high-end real estate sector at Al Marjan Island. With its stunning waterfront locale, Al Marjan Island offers the perfect venue for those seeking to set up elevated residences that boast world-class amenities in the heart of a thriving eco-system like Ras Al Khaimah . Range Developments' industry expertise and leadership will no doubt elevate this space into a truly sought-after destination that will only add to the emirate's vibrant allure among homeowners and investors alike." Mohammed Asaria , Joint Managing Director and Member of the Board of Range Developments, Range Developments, added: "We are harnessing our wealth of beachfront development across the world to Ras Al Khaimah and Al Marjan Islands. We pride ourselves on our vision to present distinct offerings to fuel the growth of Ras Al Khaimah's expanding luxury real estate sector. All the three luxury properties are set to elevate the lifestyle at Al Marjan Island adding to Ras Al Khaimah's draw as a premium tourist and real estate destination. The strategic combination of our seasoned expertise in this sector with our focus on innovative projects, positions Range Developments as a driving force in shaping the landscape of high-end real estate in the region." The addition of three new luxury properties to the burgeoning skyline of Al Marjan Island, further showcases the international appeal of Ras Al Khaimah among property developers and real estate magnates. Riaz Shariff , Joint Managing Director and Member of the Board of Range Developments, said: "With its economic stability, rising property prices, booming tourism sector, tax benefits, and high rental yields, Ras Al Khaimah offers the perfect investment destination. Range Developments' site selection, building design and interior aesthetic have been carefully curated to cater to end-users and investors alike." With a booming demand for high-end ultra net worth properties to stay and invest in, the northern emirate has in recent times showcased its allure as a cultural and economic hotspot that's gaining greater global outreach. A sharp focus on sustainable growth alongside unparalleled waterfront living has boosted the emirate's real estate appeal. About Marjan Marjan is the master-developer of freehold property in Ras Al Khaimah , responsible for path-breaking developments such as Al Marjan Island aimed at positioning Ras Al Khaimah as one of the region's leading tourism and investment destinations. Mandated with developing waterfront, urban and mountain destinations that will add to the competitiveness of the Emirate, Marjan's strategic master-planning approach is to leverage Ras Al Khaimah's natural assets and lay the foundations of the Emirate's future expansions. Through its world-class master-planned communities in Ras Al Khaimah , Marjan attracts foreign investment as well as international visitors and positions the emirate as a strong investment and tourism hub. Media Queries: ASDA'A BCW [email protected] About Range Developments Range Developments is an award-wining developer with more than a decade of experience, completing the Park Hyatt St. Kitts (CNN named it 'Best New Hotel in the Caribbean ' in 2017) and the InterContinental Dominica Cabrits Resort & Spa (Forbes magazine claimed it was the most anticipated hotel opening in the Caribbean in 2019). Range Developments is opening the Six Senses in Grenada in April of this year and is finishing the InterContinental Grenada Resort , due to open in 2025. Range Developments has also created a number of ultra luxury properties in some of Dubai 's most prestigious neighbourhood. In 2023, Range Developments acquired a number of beachfront land parcels on Al Marjan Island and is developing 600 apartments across 3 projects. Media Contact: Rupert Wright Ashbright [email protected] +44 7557 371908 Photo : https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2334044/Range_Developments.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marjan-signs-agreement-with-range-developments-to-launch-3-new-luxury-properties-at-al-marjan-island-302053180.html SOURCE Range Developments FRANKLIN, Tenn. , Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA), has partnered with AutoFi Inc. and Santander Consumer USA to launch ClickShop 2.0, an industry-first digital solution. ClickShop 2.0 connects the car-buying journey from Mitsubishi Motors' Tier-1, and its dealer partner's Tier-3, websites directly to the Mitsubishi dealer showrooms, delivering an unparalleled and seamless shopping experience. ClickShop 2.0 combines the award-winning customer satisfaction of MMNA's dealer-partner network with powerful digital AutoFi solutions and the financing power of Santander Consumer USA. This industry-first blend of three partners' core strengths will revolutionize the way consumers shop for Mitsubishi Motors vehicles and enable Mitsubishi Motors dealers to deliver the buying experience consumers have long desired. ClickShop 2.0 delivers more transparent choices and dramatically shorter sales cycles, benefiting both customers and dealers. Through ClickShop 2.0, Mitsubishi Motors will become the first U.S. -based auto manufacturer to offer a personalized shop-by-payment on its manufacturer and dealer-partner websites, leveraging the prequalification capabilities of Santander Consumer USA, all through a system powered by AutoFi. Based on just a soft credit-pull, consumers can see all in-stock vehicles that meet their financing qualifications, and then confidently shop those vehicles by payment to select a car that fits their budget and needs. When these pre-qualified customers arrive at the dealership, the AutoFi showroom solution enables the dealer to pick the deal up wherever the consumer left off and collaboratively complete the sale. Early results of the ClickShop 2.0 solution are striking for dealers and customers alike, with a 70% reduction in the time to purchase a vehicle. "A new car is the most expensive item most people will ever buy, so why not remove some of the stress by making it an easier, faster, and more positive process? We asked ourselves that question as we considered new and different ways to go to market," said Mark Chaffin , MMNA president and CEO. "New brands are joining the market, offering new ways for customers to shop and buy vehicles, and we are seeing the success of these approaches. We intend to allow our customers to shop where and when they choose, through our award-winning franchised dealer partners. ClickShop 2.0 makes buying a new car fast and fair, establishing a positive relationship with our customers right from the start." "This is a game-changing combination and the culmination of all of the innovation we have undertaken the past few years. Connecting an industry-defining online shopping experience to where the deals happen in-store fully aligns the interests of the manufacturer, dealers, and their captive partners in a way where all can optimize without compromising the interests of one another," said Josh Baer , President of AutoFi. "We are excited to see our first Powered by Drive offering come to life through our partnership with MMNA and their ClickShop 2.0 solution. Powered by Drive is fueled by our proprietary pricing model, which allows us to provide consumers with accurate prequalification that they can bring to a local Mitsubishi dealership, simplifying the buying process and generating valuable leads for dealers," said Bruce Jackson , Santander Consumer USA CEO. The Clickshop 2.0 program further strengthens MMNA's position as a leader in customer experience. The company was named the top mass-market brand in J.D. Power's 2023 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study and in Reputation's 2023 Automotive Report. These awards support the brand's commitment to customer service, and, when coupled with the included maintenance and long warranties, showcase Mitsubishi Motors' desire to exceed all customers' expectations at every step of the ownership journey. For more information on the full lineup of Mitsubishi vehicles, visit MitsubishiCars.com . For more information on MMNA, visit media.mitsubishicars.com . ABOUT MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC. Through a network of approximately 330 dealer partners across the United States , Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. (MMNA) is responsible for the sales, marketing and customer service of Mitsubishi Motors vehicles in the U.S. In its recently announced Midterm Plan "Challenge 2025" MMNA's parent company Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) has committed to accelerating its efforts toward a sustainable carbon-neutral future, setting goals of 40 percent reduction in vehicle CO2 emissions and 50 percent reduction in operational CO2 emissions by 2030. Additionally, MMC has set targets for global sales of electrified vehicles at 50 percent by 2030 and 100 percent by 2035, leveraging a blend of plug-in hybrids (PHEV), hybrids (HEV) and pure electrics (BEV). MMNA has its headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee , as well as corporate operations in California , Georgia , Michigan , New Jersey , Texas , and Florida. For more information on Mitsubishi vehicles, please visit media.mitsubishicars.com . ABOUT AUTOFI AutoFi is the leading provider of sales and finance technology across the automotive industry. The AutoFi platform includes digital retailing, deal estimation, desking, lender routing and F&I menu - all in one powerful platform that helps dealers sell smarter, not harder. AutoFi also elevates the prequalification and financing experiences for Enterprise clients such as manufacturers, lenders and marketplaces through its cloud-based pricing technology and Lending as a Service APIs. For more information, visit www.autofi.com. ABOUT SANTANDER CONSUMER USA Santander Consumer USA Inc., headquartered in Dallas, Texas , is a consumer finance company focused on vehicle finance, third-party servicing and delivering superior service to our more than three million customers across the full credit spectrum. Santander Consumer, which began originating retail installment contracts in 1997, had an average managed asset portfolio of approximately $63 billion for FY 2022. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Santander Holdings USA, Inc., and is part of Madrid, Spain -based global banking leader Banco Santander . For more information about Santander Consumer USA, please visit www.santanderconsumerusa.com. Contact Jeremy Barnes Senior Director, Communications and Events [email protected] Mobile: 714-296-1402 Brendan Dougherty Senior Director, Marketing [email protected] Mobile: 847-977-8765 Cristina Martinez Head of Communications, Santander Auto & SC [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mitsubishi-motors-launches-industry-first-digital-retailing-program-connects-prequalified-shoppers-to-dealer-in-store-capabilities-for-a-transparent-and-faster-car-buying-experience-302052715.html SOURCE Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. Global meeting to focus on improving nitrogen management for sustainable growth BERKELEY, Calif. , Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pivot Bio, a leading sustainable agriculture company, is teaming up with the International Nitrogen Initiative to sponsor the 9thInternational Nitrogen Conference Feb. 5 to 8 at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University in New Delhi . The summit will convene international nitrogen experts from around the world. Pivot Bio's sponsorship supported the participation of more than 20 world-renowned scientists from Afghanistan , Australia , Bangladesh , Kenya , the Maldives , Nepal , Nigeria , Sri Lanka , Tunisia , Uganda and the United States , all of whom will consider how to move closer to INI's goal of cutting nitrogen loss in half by 2050. "The International Nitrogen Initiative is the world's leading platform for improving nitrogen management." "The International Nitrogen Initiative is the world's leading platform for improving nitrogen management," says Pivot Bio CEO Chris Abbott . "It is a critical place for academics, policy makers and both emerging and traditional nitrogen providers to come together to help ensure the world's farmers can continue to provide the food the world needs in the face of increasing volatility." By way of background, nitrogen is essential to plant growth, but until Pivot Bio arrived on the scene, farmers had only two choices for their crops: manure and synthetic fertilizer. In both cases, the all-important nitrogen was vulnerable to runoff and leaching, which lead to waste for farmers' and loss that lead to environmental challenges. For example, surplus nitrogen can become nitrous oxide, the most potent of the three leading greenhouse gases. By adhering directly to the roots of crops, Pivot Bio products can avoid this loss by, "spoon feeding the nutrient to the plant throughout its life cycle." As a result, Abbott said, "We welcomed with open arms the opportunity to help fund the INI conference and to share our own journey to give growers a better, more environmentally sustainable form of nitrogen." The invitation to sponsor the INI conference came from David Kanter , associate professor of environmental studies at New York University, INI chairperson and a member of the Pivot Bio Science Advisory Board. "We are grateful for the funding from Pivot Bio, of course, but our gratitude goes far beyond the sponsorship. Pivot Bio has developed a promising way of keeping nitrogen with the crops that could see very important benefits for the environment and farmers' bottom lines," said Kanter. "We are very pleased to prominently include their voice at the world's leading conference for nitrogen science and policy." Abbott and Karsten Temme , chief innovation officer and a co-founder of Pivot Bio, will address conference attendees in a 36-minute presentation that explains the workings of the company's technological advances and why we need to continue finding a way to replace synthetic nitrogen fertilizers with products that take into account the needs of growers and the planet. "We want to find ways to combine with other great ideas out there, to take the best new innovations and get them in the hands of growers as quickly as we can," Temme said. "So, if we can prevent excess nitrogen from leaving a field in the form of nitrous oxide or nitrate runoff, for the grower, it's better because 100% of the investment they make ends up getting converted into fuel for a crop." See their presentation online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tWs1z6LKls. Anyone interested in working with Pivot Bio on solutions that support our growers and our food system is invited to reach out to [email protected]. About Pivot Bio Pivot Bio is a leading sustainable agriculture company delivering farmers patented crop nutrition technologies that harness the power of nature to reliably and productively grow the food the world needs in the face of increasing volatility. Currently available in North America and soon in Brazil , the company's products are a breakthrough innovation. They are among the industry's most promising climate solutions because they deliver nitrogen to plants without the negative impacts of synthetic fertilizer. Our nitrogen is weatherproof, safer to handle, and does not leach or contribute to nitrous oxide pollution. By making this possible for the first time at scale, Pivot Bio is upending the 190 billion USD nitrogen market. Pivot Bio has been recognized twice by Time magazine on its annual list of best inventions, by Fast Company on its World Changing Ideas and World's Most Innovative Companies lists, by CNBC in its Disruptor 50 list of private companies, and by Fortune on its Impact 20 list of startups driving social good. The company recently announced its fourth consecutive year of growth. For more information, visit PivotBio.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pivot-bio-to-sponsor-9th-international-nitrogen-conference-302053599.html SOURCE Pivot Bio, Inc PROVIDENCE, R.I. , Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Rhode Island Commerce the official full-service, economic development organization for the state of Rhode Island is pleased to announce it has been awarded two prestigious Adrian Awards - a Silver Adrian Award for its winning entry in the Print Collateral category as well as a Bronze Adrian Award in the Experiential Marketing category. This sets the state's marketing efforts apart in a highly competitive field of several hundred entrants. "Unique events like WaterFire Providence, and our diverse culinary scene are just two of many drivers for Rhode Island's tourism industry," said Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce Liz Tanner . "These honors celebrate the innovative work being done at Rhode Island Commerce and highlight Rhode Island as an excellent year-round destination." Rhode Island Commerce will be honored for travel marketing excellence by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) at the annual Adrian Awards Celebration, at the New York Marriott Marquis , Feb.13, 2024. Silver Adrian Award, Print Collateral WaterFire Invitation: Capitalizing on the state's one-of-a-kind, nationally renowned art experience, WaterFire, located in the heart of Providence. Rhode Island Commerce sought to invite individuals to be a part of the experience by participating in the WaterFire procession + boat lighting of the iconic braziers. sought to invite individuals to be a part of the experience by participating in the WaterFire procession + boat lighting of the iconic braziers. Throwing traditional invites to the wind, the team created tabletop fire pits that could be enjoyed for years to come, packaged with eye catching matches in a striking, custom box. The inside of the box's lid featured a QR code, leading to a landing page, where invitees could learn more about WaterFire as well as RSVP to attend the event. Engagement with the QR code proved that recipients were pausing to interact with the invitations, utilizing the boxes beyond their purpose as a mailing container. Commerce saw recipients visiting the landing page an average of 3.8 times, with a 50 percent conversion rate on the RSVP form. Bronze Adrian Award, Experiential Marketing "Stuffie" from Rhode Island Campaign: Rhode Island Commerce executed a fun and fresh activation to drive awareness for the Ocean State as a travel destination while building Commerce's leads database. Exploiting the Ocean State's renowned seafood and leveraging the current "foodie" tourism trend, Commerce built a giant "stuffie" a Rhode Island stuffed clam, one of the state's most notable appetizers and hot sauce bottle, mounted to a glass truck. The "stuffie's" accompanying hot sauce bottle held a monitor which displayed Rhode Island video highlights including recipes, history and more. executed a fun and fresh activation to drive awareness for the Ocean State as a travel destination while building Commerce's leads database. Exploiting the Ocean State's renowned seafood and leveraging the current "foodie" tourism trend, Commerce built a giant "stuffie" a stuffed clam, one of the state's most notable appetizers and hot sauce bottle, mounted to a glass truck. The "stuffie's" accompanying hot sauce bottle held a monitor which displayed video highlights including recipes, history and more. The "stuffie" truck sported a QR code as it trailed from Michigan to New York , leading to an augmented reality postcard experience, offering users the chance to enter-to-win a three-night stay in the Ocean State. The augmented reality experience not only differentiated the campaign but drove the goal of generating leads through information acquisition. "This year our team set a goal to market outside of the box. We focused on unique experiences and travel trends to tailor our efforts and drive creativity," said Anika Kimble-Huntley , Chief Marketing Officer for Rhode Island Commerce. "I could not be prouder of this team and the acclaims we've received. The WaterFire Invitations and 'Stuffie' Truck were labors of love, that we knew would resonate with travelers." For 2023, Adrian Awards are being presented in advertising, digital, PR/communications, and integrated campaign categories, as well as Trending categories for Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). "The Adrian Awards celebrate the innovation and ingenuity that fuel our success and recognize the marketing leaders whose extraordinary efforts literally 'open the doors' to exploration and excitement," said Robert A. Gilbert , CHME, CHBA, president and CEO of HSMAI. "Their work inspired the world to get out and create memories through travel, and HSMAI is proud to honor them." Now in year 67, the Adrian Awards are the largest and most celebrated competition in global travel marketing. This year's theme, WanderLOVE, highlights the stories of remarkable ads, campaigns, and experiences that sparked a love for travel, igniting a desire for exploration among travelers worldwide. Visit https://adrianawards.hsmai.org/ for more information on the event and competition. For more information on Rhode Island Commerce visit, https://commerceri.com. To view imagery of the WaterFire invitation and Rhode Island "Stuffie" Truck, click here. About Rhode Island Commerce Rhode Island Commerce is the official full-service, economic development organization for the state of Rhode Island . Rhode Island Commerce works with public, private, and nonprofit partners to create the conditions for businesses in all sectors to thrive as well as improve the quality of life for Rhode Island citizens by promoting the state's long-term economic health and prosperity. Rhode Island Commerce's tourism division works in partnership with local convention and visitors' bureaus, chambers of commerce, and private travel-related organizations to promote economic opportunity and prosperity for Rhode Island through both domestic and international tourism. For more information on visiting Rhode Island including travel guides, events, images and more, go to www.VisitRhodeIsland.com . About HSMAI The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) is committed to growing business for hotels and their partners and is the industry's leading advocate for intelligent, sustainable hotel revenue growth. The association provides hotel professionals and their partners with tools, insights, and expertise to fuel sales, inspire marketing, and optimize revenue through programs such as the Marketing Strategy Conference, Adrian Awards, and HSMAI ROC. Founded in 1927, HSMAI is a membership organization comprising more than 5,000 members worldwide, with 40 chapters in the Americas Region . Connect with HSMAI at hsmai.org, HSMAI Facebook, HSMAI Instagram, HSMAI Twitter /X , and HSMAI YouTube. CONTACT: Casey Fox , (850) 668-2222, cfox@zimmerman.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rhode-island-commerce-garners-two-international-marketing-awards-302052999.html SOURCE Rhode Island Commerce Corporation CATANIA, Italy , Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SIFI, a leading international ophthalmic company headquartered in Italy , is pleased to announce it entered into an agreement with Globe MedEx, its commercial partner and exclusive distributor in Egypt , to establish a Joint Venture ("JV") to commercialize premium innovative intraocular lenses ("IOLs") in the Countries belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council ("GCC"). The JV will have exclusive rights to SIFI's range of IOLs, including the innovative Extended Depth of Focus ("EDOF") IOLs. These include Well Fusion, the most advanced solution for cataract refractive surgery, allowing correction of myopia/hyperopia, presbyopia and astigmatism resulting in spectacle-free uninterrupted high-quality vision at all distances and in all lighting conditions, and Evolux, a novel extended monofocal IOL, based on a hydrophobic material and a non-diffractive profile, designed to provide better intermediate vision and equivalent distance vision when compared to a standard monofocal IOL. The JV will be based in Dubai and initially focus on the United Arab Emirates (" UAE "), expanding its commercial reach to Bahrein, Oman , Qatar , Kuwait , and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a second step. Approximately 100.000 cataract surgeries are performed each year across these Countries with an annual growth rate of 3.0%, with almost 50% Premium IOLs. "We are excited to enter into this partnership with Globe MedEx to access the Gulf Countries and potentially the wider Middle East ." stated Fabrizio Chines, SIFI Chairman and CEO. "With its successful track record in marketing our products in Egypt and given the strong connections between the Egyptian and the local medical communities, Globe MedEx represents the partner of choice to bring our innovative solutions for cataract surgery to patients in this fast-growing region of the world." "SIFI was the worldwide pioneer of EDOF IOLs and I believe their best in class technologies have significant potential in the Gulf region and beyond." said Mohamed Fares , Globe MedEx Chairman and CEO. "It is therefore a great honor to invest alongside SIFI and bring such innovation to ophthalmologists and patients". Under the terms of the agreement, SIFI will own a majority of the shares and contribute its existing portfolio and development pipeline of IOLs together with its clinical development and regulatory expertise, while Globe MedEx will be primarily responsible for managing commercial operations. Both parties will provide funding for growth. Grimaldi Alliance and Baitulhikma acted as legal advisors on this transaction. ABOUT SIFI: SIFI is a leading international ophthalmic company, headquartered in Italy , featuring an integrated business model, from research & development to manufacturing and commercialization both in pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors. Since our foundation in 1935, our mission is to improve people's lives through meaningful innovation in eye care. SIFI exports to more than 40 countries worldwide with a direct presence in major European markets, Mexico and, through joint ventures, in China and the United Arab Emirates . ABOUT GLOBE MEDEX: Globe MedEx was established in October 2017 with the mission to introduce high quality ophthalmic medical devices in Egypt first and then in the Middle East and Africa . Globe MedEx was ranked 11th by the Financial Times among Africa's Fastest Growing Companies in 2023. Globe MedEx is the exclusive distributor of SIFI's range of IOLs in Egypt . Media Contact: +39 3336999669 [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sifi-announces-the-establishment-of-a-joint-venture-in-the-united-arab-emirates-302052445.html SOURCE SIFI S.p.A. Tourists walk past light installations at a park in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 5, 2024. Light installations were established here to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) Light installations are seen at a park in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 5, 2024. Light installations were established here to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) Light installations are seen at a park in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 5, 2024. Light installations were established here to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) Tourists watch light installations at a park in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 5, 2024. Light installations were established here to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) Tourists walk past light installations at a park in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 5, 2024. Light installations were established here to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) Light installations are seen at a park in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 5, 2024. Light installations were established here to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) Tourists walk past light installations at a park in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 5, 2024. Light installations were established here to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) Tourists walk past light installations at a park in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 5, 2024. Light installations were established here to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui) Kidults on the rise: inspiration for the future Powerful sense of community in an ideal atmosphere NUREMBERG, Germany , Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Spielwarenmesse has succeeded in asserting its unique leading role in the global market. Between 30 January and 3 February, the entire industry came together at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre for its sole global event of the year. 2,354 exhibitors from 68 countries an increase of 10% over the previous year took the opportunity to publicise their trends and new ideas. Alongside the product innovations, a multitude of different networking opportunities and stimulating ideas on the lead theme of Kidults awaited the 57,000 visitors from 125 nations who gathered there. "The Spielwarenmesse is the one constant to rely on in the current era of the regional and national toy shows working to find their new rhythm," was the view of Helena Perheentupa of US company Wyncor. As a consequence, the importance of the trade event continues to rise. 97% of the exhibitors (2023: 95%) considered participation in Nuremberg to be important or very important. "As the leading trade fair, the Spielwarenmesse is the place where everyone from all over the world meets. You won't find these opportunities anywhere else," declares Ram Ronen of PMI Trading & Enterprise. For the Vice President, the fair is the ideal opportunity to meet up with existing customers and to generate new contacts. "We were able to welcome customers, potential customers and press representatives from all over the world from New Zealand , Asia , Europe , and the USA to South America to our stand," adds Paul Heinz Bruder , CEO of Bruder Spielwaren. Andrea Herre of Spin Master International rates visitor quality very highly, too: "We had all the relevant decision-makers and key accounts meeting us at our stand." Christian Ulrich , Spokesperson of the Executive Board at Spielwarenmesse eG, notes that China , one of the most important consumer markets, was able to re-establish its very high pre-pandemic levels. In addition, central Asian countries (such as Kazakhstan ) and Ukraine have acquired a dynamism that compensates to some extent for Russia's absence. The USA , too, which was already showing high potential last year, is among the top 10 countries for visitors. Overall, more than 90% of exhibitors were satisfied with their participation. "The Spielwarenmesse is the centre of the toy universe!" explains Jennifer McIver of the Wishbone Design Studio. "We can show our novelties to so many countries all in one place. And we discover the latest trends here, too." With its key focal themes, the Spielwarenmesse has once again proved itself to be the initiating force for the sector. "We were particularly interested by the Kidults focus, which we seized on with enthusiasm where new ideas were concerned," says Fischertechnik MD Thomas Buhart. With its special area 'Life's a Playground Toys for Kidsters, Kidults & Co.', an international study and expert talks, the Spielwarenmesse highlighted adults as a target group, offering promising new suggestions for the trade. "Renowned exhibitors such as Mattel took up the Kidults theme in a big way. And the market figures from market research company Circana also demonstrate that we've picked up on the spirit of the age," emphasises Christian Ulrich . In addition, the large number of events taking place during the Spielwarenmesse underlines its global relevance: both the Disney Group's breakfast, which takes place every year, and that of Circana have grown from being European to worldwide events. Licences, moreover, are becoming ever more prominent. The partnerships with the global association Licensing International and with BRANDmate the B2B event for partnerships, collaboration and licensing have thus continued to expand. "The LicenseTalks were a perfect opportunity for us to generate new knowledge," says Maria Gunderson from the Flops startup company. The LicenseLounge brought together everyone who is anyone. Licensors such as Paramount, NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. were represented. "At the Spielwarenmesse, all the stakeholders are there," underlines Martina Vierkotter of Haba, for whom winning the ToyAward in the Baby & Infant category was the icing on the cake. "It's a great place to have conversations, it put a noticeable wind into our sails and generated various spontaneous meetings." Winning the ToyAward in the Teenagers & Adults field brought many visitors to the Fizz Creations stand, too. "We're very fortunate to be part of this incredible trade fair," says Caroline Hedges . Exhibitors' opinions of the supporting programme were every bit as positive as their views on the range of services. For the second RedNight on the Thursday evening, over 100 exhibitors invited interested trade fair visitors directly to their stands. "Personal discussions with customers, networking at the RedNight, which is still in its infancy, and the inspiring atmosphere are all important elements," thinks Waltraud Maria Iden of the Iden Group. Vedes Board Director Julia Graeber was another who spoke in praise of the positive atmosphere: "The Spielwarenmesse is a lively platform for intense discussion a true class reunion that reflects the warmth and sense of belonging in our industry." Across all five days of the fair, small and mid-sized retailers were as heavily represented as the leading retail groups which included firms such as Auchan, Amazon, Costco, Muller, Target, Smyths Toys and Walmart. The degree of personal contact and the networking nature of the fair provided the Spielwarenmesse with opportunities for communication and relationship-building for a wide range of target groups. Those with an interest in games were able to cultivate key contacts on the Friday at the second edition of the Internationale Spieleerfindermesse Game Inventors Convention. Similarly successful was the second OPEN DAY on the Saturday, for which 3,200 consumers flooded into the model railways hall. "With its diversity, its wide-ranging supporting programme and its unique service, the Spielwarenmesse showed again this year that it continues to be the international meeting point for the sector. The 'Spirit of Play' was in evidence everywhere," concludes Florian Sieber , CEO of the Simba Dickie Group. 84% of exhibitors (2023: 83%) plan to participate in the Spielwarenmesse again. The next edition of the fair takes place between Tuesday 28 January and Saturday 1 February 2025 . Spielwarenmesse The trade fair and marketing services provider Spielwarenmesse eG is the organiser of the Spielwarenmesse the leading international trade fair for toys, hobbies and leisure. This B2B fair creates a comprehensive communication and ordering platform for national and international exhibitors. Its presentation of innovations and comprehensive overview of the industry offer a valuable pool of information for specialist retailers from around the world, guiding them through the market every year. A new addition for 2022 is the multifunctional platform Spielwarenmesse Digital, as a complementary service to the Spielwarenmesse. Since 2013, the term Spielwarenmesse has also been a protected word mark in Germany . Fair date: Spielwarenmesse, Tuesday to Saturday, 28 Jan 1 Feb 2025 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2330029/4529821/SWM_Logo_2024.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2334037/Spielwarenmesse_2024.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spielwarenmesse-consolidates-its-position-as-sole-global-industry-event-302053291.html SOURCE Spielwarenmesse eG New API streamlines appointments, optimizes processes for carriers, shippers and receivers, and drives operational efficiencies for the industry at large LAS VEGAS , Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- (Manifest) - Uber Freight , the leading end-to-end enterprise suite powering intelligent logistics, today announced a piloted rollout of a new scheduling application programming interface (API), making it the first activation of the Scheduling Standards Consortium's (SSC) Technical Standard for the industry. The new API, designed for Uber Freight's transportation management systems (TMS), offers enhanced scheduling capabilities and fosters seamless communication across its network of shippers and carriers. The active pilot is set to be fully released for general availability in the second half of 2024. Across the industry, scheduling inefficiency not only contributes to a significant cost in servicing the load, but also causes delays in getting appointments set and increases the lead time required to get the load serviced. To address this challenge, Uber Freight began testing its new scheduling API within the company's brokerage business. The team saw early success in getting loads made available within the digital marketplace with zero human intervention, and loads are ready for coverage as much as 75% faster compared to manual scheduling. With today's announcement, Uber Freight will enable automated scheduling within the Uber Freight TMS, which facilitated 6 million appointments across more than 1,500 facilities in 2023. "Uber Freight's scheduling API marks a significant leap forward in streamlining operations for all stakeholders in the freight ecosystem," said Lior Ron , Founder and CEO of Uber Freight. "By seamlessly integrating with Uber Freight TMS, this innovation is just the beginning of transformative changes. Our customers and carriers stand to gain immediate advantages, experiencing faster appointment scheduling, increased visibility, and stronger partnerships. This development not only delivers tangible benefits but also reflects our commitment to drive positive change in the broader industry. It is the culmination of the great work carried out by the SSC and reinforces our dedication to providing efficiency, speed, and savings for everyone involved." Driving Efficiencies Across the Marketplace Uber Freight's scheduling API empowers seamless integration between logistics technology platforms and carrier scheduling systems, eliminating manual processes and enhancing visibility across supply chains. The new feature delivers substantial benefits for both shippers and carriers, including: For Shippers: Faster appointment scheduling: Reduce lead times and expedite shipment preparation by streamlining the appointment booking process. Increased visibility and control: Gain real-time insights into dock activity and manage appointments with ease, minimizing disruptions and rescheduling. Enhanced carrier relationships: Foster stronger partnerships with carriers by providing a standardized, efficient and self-service scheduling experience. For Carriers: Simplified integrations: Eliminate the need for multiple logins and manual data entry through standardized API connections. Improved appointment accuracy: Reduce errors and miscommunication with a single source of truth and centralizing scheduling data. Increased operational efficiency: Helps optimize driver schedules and mitigate facility congestion by leveraging real-time facility data. "Innovation and collaboration must go hand-in-hand to drive immediate and lasting impact and the partnerships and pilots that are emerging from the SSC are testament to that," said Raj Subbiah , Head of Product at Uber Freight. "Together, we are helping carriers and shippers gain the speed, efficiency and savings they need to get and stay ahead with technology at the core." For more information on the Uber Freight scheduling API, contact the Uber Freight team: https://insights.uberfreight.com/ssc-api-signup . For more information on Uber Freight TMS, visit: www.uberfreight.com/logistics-applications/tms/ . ABOUT UBER FREIGHT Uber Freight is a market-leading enterprise technology company powering intelligent logistics. With a suite of end-to-end logistics applications, managed services and an expansive carrier network, Uber Freight advances supply chains and moves the world's goods. Today, the company manages over $18 billion of freight and one of the largest networks of carriers. It is backed by best-in-class investors and provides services for 1 in 3 Fortune 500 companies, including Del Monte Foods, Nestle, Anheuser-Busch InBev and more. For more, visit www.uberfreight.com ABOUT UBER FREIGHT TMS Uber Freight TMS is the engine powering intelligent logistics forward. Powered by actionable data and insights, Uber Freight TMS is the all-in-one solution for planning, executing, and managing logistics operations across modes and regions. Since 2005, leading brands have trusted Uber Freight TMS to streamline their operations end-to-end, from procurement and execution to visibility and payments. With Uber Freight TMS today, shippers and their logistics partners can improve their networks while gaining visibility, foresight, and control across their shipments. They can also save time and money, improve cash flow, and achieve better business outcomes. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/uber-freight-releases-pilot-for-scheduling-api-a-first-under-new-industry-standards-302052473.html SOURCE Uber Freight Britain's King Charles reacts after unveiling statues of Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip upon his and Queen Camilla arrival to attend the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Britain, November 11, 2 By Michael Holden and Muvija M LONDON (Reuters) -King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and will postpone public engagements to undergo treatment, Buckingham Palace said on Monday, but added he remained "wholly positive" about the scare less than 18 months into his reign. Charles, 75, who became king in September 2022 following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth, has begun a series of treatments, the palace said, adding he was looking forward to returning to fulltime duties as soon as possible. The cancer revelation comes after Charles spent three nights in hospital last month where he underwent a corrective procedure for a benign enlarged prostate. The palace said a separate issue of concern had been spotted during that hospital stay, but did not given any further details beyond saying tests had revealed the king had a "form of cancer". "No further details are being shared at this stage, except to confirm that his majesty does not have prostate cancer," the palace said. "Throughout this period, his majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual." As such, Charles will continue to have meetings with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, while his wife Queen Camilla will continue with her engagements. SMILING On Sunday, the king gave no indication of the diagnosis when he was pictured smiling and waving to onlookers as he attended a church service with Camilla. It was his first public outing since he and his daughter-in-law Kate left the same London hospital a week ago where they had both undergone planned treatments. Kate, the Princess of Wales and wife to heir to the British throne Prince William, spent two weeks at the London clinic following abdominal surgery for an unspecified but non-cancerous condition. She will not be returning to royal duties until after Easter. William, who has been looking after their three children as she recovers, will carry out his first public engagement since her operation on Wednesday. While the royals usually closely guard details of their health, regarding it as a private matter, Charles has been open about his recent treatment. "His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer," Buckingham Palace said. Sunak sent his best wishes to the King on X. "I have no doubt he'll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well," he said. BIDEN CONCERN The leaders of Australia and Canada, where Charles is also head of state, expressed their best wishes and hopes for the king to make a speedy recovery, while U.S. President Joe Biden said he was concerned by the news and planned to call Charles later. "Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship takes hope and absolute courage," Biden said. "Jill and I join the people of the United Kingdom in praying that His Majesty experiences a swift and full recovery." The monarch told his immediate family personally about his cancer diagnosis, and Prince Harry, his younger son, will travel to the UK to see him in the coming days, a source close to the Duke of Sussex said. Harry now lives in California with his American wife Meghan and their two children after the couple stepped down from royal duties in 2020. After waiting longer than any heir in British history to become king, Charles' first year on the throne was dominated by his coronation - Britain's biggest ceremonial event for generations, full of pomp and pageantry. While before he became sovereign there were suggestions that the long-time environmental campaigner would bring a radical overhaul of the monarchy, Charles has generally followed in the style of his mother, while trying to add some of his own touches. Polls suggest most Britons have a favourable view of his reign so far, although younger generations appear much less enthusiastic about the royal family in general. Prior to his recent health issues, the biggest shadow over the royals was the ongoing fallout between his son Harry and the rest of his family, most notably Harry's elder brother Prince William. Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, said that for Charles, a workaholic who often worked until midnight on his papers, his recent health issues would mean he would have to take it more slowly now. "His body will tell him he has to, and Camilla certainly will," she said. "I think he's mentally exhausted since the death of the queen. It's been non-stop for him since then." While Queen Margrethe II of Denmark abdicated last month in favour of her son King Frederik X after 52 years on the throne, Seward said there was no chance Charles would follow suit. "Absolutely not, 100% no," she said. (Reporting by Michael Holden, Muvija M and William James; Writing by Kate Holton and Michael Holden; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Rosalba O'Brien) 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, Switzerland, June 6, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo 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) FILE PHOTO: The new logo of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) building is seen in Mumbai, India, July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas By Jayshree P Upadhyay Mumbai (Reuters) - India's stock markets have become the fourth largest in the world, overtaking Hong Kong's, as investors flock to a fast-growing alternative to China's floundering stock indexes. As the country heads for elections this year, India continues to attract foreign investors, who have a number of ways to invest in the country. FOREIGN PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS To invest in shares of Indias listed companies, foreign investors have to use the foreign portfolio investment (FPI) route. Investors, whether individuals or firms, need to be registered with countrys markets regulator and adhere to its disclosure requirements. Most of the 10,800 FPIs are funds. There are no restrictions for investing in Indian companies via this route, however an FPI cannot hold more than 10% in a listed company. If an FPI invests more than 10% in any company, it is categorised as foreign direct investment for which there are restrictions in some sectors. All FPI investments must be in Indian rupees and dealt through brokers. All FPI transactions are taxed at par with taxes applicable to domestic investors, which includes capital gains at 15% for short-term holdings of less than a year, 10% for long term holdings and a surcharge and securities transaction tax. DISCLOSURES The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has a hands-off approach for offshore funds' registrations but mandates custodian banks, through whom foreign money flows into India, to disclose details of the investors in these funds. Custodians are typically domestic banks or Indian branches of foreign banks. There are a total of 17 custodian banks registered in India including Citi Bank, Deutsche Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, DBS Bank, HSBC, State Bank of India, Standard Chartered Bank among others, according to SEBI website. Under Indias anti-money-laundering rules, regulators also require details of the so-called beneficial owners, which refers to any investor holding 10% or more of the assets of a fund. Further, SEBI has enhanced disclosure requirements for funds which have concentrated holdings in a single corporate group. NON-RESIDENT INVESTMENTS Non-resident Indians can invest in the Indian stock market through the portfolio investment scheme and transactions are routed through a non-resident ordinary (NRO) savings account. The overall investment limit for NRIs and any person of Indian origin (PIO) in stocks is 10% of the companys paid-up capital. Individual investment is capped at 5%. NRIs cannot engage in intra-day trading, they have to take delivery of shares and cant trade derivatives. OFFSHORE DERIVATIVES If a foreign investor does not wish to go through the process of registering with SEBI, they can invest in Indian shares through offshore derivatives instruments or participatory notes (P-notes). SEBI defines these instruments as ones issued overseas by an FPI against securities held by the FPI in India. Taking a short position in India requires upfront disclosures, but investors can do so via P-notes to obscure their positions. Foreigners can also invest in the roughly 150 American and Global Depository Receipts (ADRs/GDRs) of Indian firms listed on offshore exchanges. In recent years, the number of companies raising funds via ADR/GDR has reduced. (Reporting by Jayshree P Upadhyay; Editing by Vidya Ranganathan and Kim Coghill) TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgia's State Security Service said on Monday that it had seized a clandestine shipment of explosives bound for the Russian city of Voronezh from the Ukrainian port of Odesa. The South Caucasus country's domestic security agency said that the explosives were hidden in a cargo of car batteries that entered Georgia in January overland from Ukraine via Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey, and were seized at its border with Russia. In a statement, it said that the explosive cargo arrived in Georgia in a Ukrainian-owned minivan and was to be transported to Voronezh, a Russian city about 180 km (110 miles) from the Ukrainian frontier. It did not say what for. In 2022, Russian investigators said that a truckload of explosives used in an attack that badly damaged the Crimean Bridge that year had entered Russia from Ukraine by a similar route. Ukraine's SBU security service, which has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on Russian targets, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Georgia's government, which says it opposes Russia's invasion of Ukraine and wants to ensure it does not spill onto its own territory, has faced accusations of being tacitly pro-Russian since the outbreak of full-scale war in February 2022. (Reporting by Felix Light; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) FILE PHOTO: Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim speaks as Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (L) looks on at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico August 27, 2019. Press Office Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo MONTERREY, Mexico (Reuters) - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that his government has reached an agreement with local billionaire Carlos Slim to buy the concession to part of a highway still under construction in the southern state of Oaxaca. "I am very grateful to Carlos Slim because we have reached an agreement that the federal government is going to acquire the concession that was granted to him, and on very good terms," Lopez Obrador said in a speech in Oaxaca on Sunday, without giving any details as to the cost. Slim oversees major firms such as telecommunications giant America Movil and Grupo Carso, a conglomerate. He sits on the board of directors of Ideal, which is wrapping up construction on the branch of the highway running from the towns of Mitla to Tehuantepec. Representatives for Ideal and Mexico's transportation ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The highway track, part of a larger stretch running all the way to the city of Oaxaca, will be inaugurated on Aug. 31, Lopez Obrador said. The president, who will leave office later this year, has made infrastructure projects in the historically poorer southern part of Mexico a cornerstone of his administration. He made the announcement at an event to open another part of highway in the state of Oaxaca, where he has also recently launched a coast-to-coast passenger rail network. (Reporting by Kylie Madry in Mexico City and Laura Gottesdiener in Monterrey; Editing by Paul Simao) By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand government ministers were heckled by protesters and their speeches drowned out by song on Monday as they arrived in the town of Waitangi for anniversary celebrations of the signing of New Zealands founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and some coalition government ministers were welcomed by local Maori to the site of the signing in a traditional ceremony, but leaders of the two smaller government parties were interrupted by protesters displeased at moves to change indigenous policies. During the welcome, or powhiri, Luxon's speech only went ahead after a Maori elder called for respect. "I came here thinking wed be challenged and thered be a range of views around the table, around the conservation, which there was," Luxon told reporters. "I understand there are really big differences." New Zealand's centre-right coalition is promising to undo policies of previous governments, particularly those promoting the official use of the Maori language and seeking to enhance Indigenous living standards and rights. The government has also said it will introduce, but are not committed to passing, a bill that would reinterpret the Treaty of Waitangi. Earlier on Monday, hundreds of protesters carrying white flags and holding plywood signs with the words Toitu Te Tiriti, or Honour the Treaty, arrived at the Waitangi venue. Critics say the moves are the most significant step backward for Maori rights in decades, and some have taken legal action against the government to stop the policy changes. Protests are planned for the main celebration day Feb. 6, marking the day in 1840 when the Treaty of Waitangi was first signed between the British Crown and more than 500 Maori chiefs. Organiser are expecting upwards of 60,000 people to attend Waitangi Day events, which started on Saturday making it the biggest event since the 150-year celebrations in 1990. Protest has long been part of Waitangi celebrations and in 1995 official events had to be cancelled due to anger over government policies. In 2016, a minister was struck in the face by a dildo thrown by a woman protesting a trade agreement. (Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Michael Perry) HELSINKI (Reuters) -Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia said on Monday it has signed a multi-year 5G patent license agreement with Chinese smartphone vendor Vivo and will begin recognising net sales from the deal in the first quarter of 2024. "The agreement resolves all pending patent litigation between the parties, in all jurisdictions. The terms of the agreement remain confidential as agreed between the parties," Nokia said in a statement. It was Nokia's 6th major smartphone licensing agreement in the past 13 months and follows deals with Apple, Samsung, OPPO, Honor, and Huawei. "Nokia has now almost completed its smartphone license renewal cycle," the company said. The group last month said it expected Nokia Technologies, its intellectual property licensing business, to generate at least 1.4 billion euros ($1.51 billion) of operating profit in 2024. ($1 = 0.9276 euros) (Reporting by Anne Kauranen, writing by Terje Solsvik, editing by Stine Jacobsen) Killer Mike accepts the award for Best Rap Album for Michael during the Premiere ceremony of the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 4, 2024. REUTERS/Mike Blake LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Rapper Killer Mike was taken away from Sunday night's Grammy Awards in handcuffs by police after sweeping up three of the music industry's biggest prizes for rap music, witnesses said. Los Angeles police offered no statement on the matter and two separate press officers on duty said they had no information. Video posted on social media showed police escorting Killer Mike, his hands cuffed behind his back, through the concourse of Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Hollywood Reporter, citing an arena security official, reported that Killer Mike was detained for an unspecified misdemeanor charge unrelated to the Grammy Awards. Earlier in the day, Killer Mike and collaborators won the Grammy for best rap song and best rap performance for "Scientists & Engineers," and best rap album for "Michael." Born Michael Render, Killer Mike is also a known for social activism on issues such racism and police brutality. His agent and publicists did not immediately respond to requests for comment. (Reporting by Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles and Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Editing by Mary Milliken and Stephen Coates) FILE PHOTO: Lockheed Martin's logo is seen during Japan Aerospace 2016 air show in Tokyo, Japan, October 12, 2016. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo By Pesha Magid RIYADH (Reuters) -U.S. weapons maker Lockheed Martin has signed agreements for Saudi Arabian companies to manufacture parts of its missile defense system, as the U.S. continues to conduct military operations in the Middle East against Iran-backed groups. The sub-contracts for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system will enhance manufacturing capabilities in Saudi Arabia and transfer expertise to strengthen the countrys defence industry, Lockheed said in a statement on Monday. The deal was announced on the sidelines of the World Defense Show in the capital Riyadh. State-owned Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) signed 11 agreements at the event, according to the country's state news agency. The contracts come at a time of rising tension in the region. The United States and Britain unleashed attacks against 36 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday, a day after the U.S. military hit Tehran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for a deadly attack on U.S. troops in Jordan. Some shipping companies have suspended transit along the busy Red Sea route to avoid being attacked by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi group, which has launched waves of exploding drones and missiles at vessels since November in response to Israel's military operations in Gaza. The Biden administration has maintained backing for the Saudis to receive the THAAD system first approved in 2017 to counter ballistic missile threats. The prime partners of Lockheed Martin's deal that will receive sub-contracts include Middle East Propulsion Company (MEPC) and Arabian International Company (AIC) for Steel. Airbus also said on Monday it was in talks with existing operators of its A330 tanker military planes, including Saudi Arabia, for more orders. In a separate deal, Boeing Saudi Arabia and Bahri Logistics, a unit of the country's national shipping company, signed an MoU that envisages boosting supply chain activities in the country and enhancing Bahri's support for services and defence-related products. FORMER FOES Qatar's Barzan Holdings also said on Monday it had signed a preliminary agreement with SAMI in what it dubbed the first such deal between defense companies in the Gulf. "We would like to explore some quick wins with them and think about longer term opportunities as well," CEO Abdullah al-Khater told Reuters, without specifying the nature of projects. The defense cooperation comes almost three years after Saudi Arabia and Qatar restored ties. Riyadh and Doha had been locked since 2017 in a bitter rivalry over regional influence, the role of Islam in politics, and support for pro-democracy movements across the Middle East. In 2017, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed all ties with Qatar over accusations that it supported terrorism and had forged closer ties with Iran. Doha denied the charges. "That was in the past," Khater said when asked about the dispute. "We always think about what is the future, what we can do together, when both leaderships agree to resume the natural relationship we always had." (Reporting by Pesha Magid in Riyadh and Jana Choukeir and Federico Maccioni in Dubai, Writing by Maha El Dahan, Editing by David Goodman and Jan Harvey) Saudi Arabia's newly appointed Defence Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman Al-Saud is seen during his meeting in the Ministry of Defence in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, September 27, 2022. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea and Saudi Arabia on Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding to expand defence cooperation, Seoul's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said, as Seoul looks to ink further arms sales in the region. The agreement will see the two establish a joint committee to form a working group for weapons systems research and development as well as production to continue cooperation in defence, DAPA said in a press release on Monday. Defence minister Shin Won-sik, who was visiting Riyadh for the World Defense Show as part of a week-long trip to the Middle East, and his Saudi counterpart Khalid bin Salman Al Saud were present during the signing of the agreement, according to DAPA. A foundation of defence cooperation, which amounts to a "future-oriented strategic partnership," has been established, Shin was quoted as saying in a South Korean defence ministry press release. Shin also held talks with Abdullah bin Bandar Al Saud, the minister of Saudi Arabia's National Guard, to discuss strengthening bilateral military cooperation and defence partnerships, the ministry said. South Korea is looking to boost sales to become one of the world's largest suppliers of weapons, despite stiff competition from other global arms exporters. Its arms sales jumped to $17 billion in 2022 from $7.25 billion the year before, data from the defence ministry showed. The country's weapons exports to the Middle East grew nearly tenfold between 2013 and 2022, according to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. In recent years, South Korean companies Hanwha, Poongsan and LIG Nex1 concluded deals with Saudi Arabia, collectively worth around $989 million, for multiple rocket launchers, ammunition and electro-optical systems, and more deals could be in the works, according to a November report by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). "Arab Gulf states are looking to diversify their sources of defence procurement and partnerships beyond their traditional Western suppliers," the report said. "And Seoul can offer increasingly advanced equipment alternatives, often at competitive prices and with shorter lead times." (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Additional reporting by Josh Smith; Editing by Ed Davies) TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwanese companies are not being affected much by disruptions to the key shipping lane of the Red Sea as it has coincided with the traditional low season in demand for exporters, Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said on Monday. Some shipping companies have suspended transit along the Red Sea route to avoid being attacked by Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi group, which has launched waves of exploding drones and missiles at vessels since November in response to Israel's military operations in Gaza. The Houthi attacks have primarily targeted container vessels moving through the Red Sea. Taiwanese container shipping line Evergreen Marine said in December that ships scheduled to pass through the Red Sea would be rerouted around Africa's Cape of Good Hope. Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Wang said her ministry had spoken with 14 industry groups as well as companies to gauge the impact of the Red Sea disruptions. "The winter is the low season for Europe. So our shipping to Europe in the winter is rather less. Before the Spring Festival it's even less," she said, referring to the week-long Lunar New Year holiday which starts this week. "Of course shipping costs have gone up," she said, but added it was not nearly as bad as in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Taiwan has a trade dependent economy and is a major producer of semiconductors used in everything from cars and microwaves to smartphones and artificial intelligence servers. The second half of the year is when Taiwanese exporters are traditionally busiest as they ramp up output for the year-end holiday season in Western markets. Taiwan's economy grew by a preliminary 1.4% in 2023, its slowest pace in 14 years, but is forecast to bounce back strongly this year to expand more than 3% given strong demand for AI applications, many of which are powered by made-in-Taiwan chips. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Sonali Paul) FILE PHOTO: Bottles of Roundup, a brand owned by Bayer, are seen for sale in a store in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., June 30, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo By Brendan Pierson (Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court on Monday refused to dismiss a Georgia doctor's lawsuit claiming that Bayer AG's Roundup weedkiller caused cancer, the latest setback in the German company's efforts to fend off thousands of similar cases carrying potentially billions of dollars in liability. A three-judge panel of the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Bayer's argument that federal regulators' approval of Roundup shielded the company from being sued under state law for failing to warn consumers of the product's risks. Several other appeals courts had previously reached the same conclusion in similar lawsuits. Bayer said in a statement that it disagreed with the ruling and that it "continues to stand fully behind its Roundup products," which it maintains are safe. The ruling comes as some investors have been pressuring the company to change its strategy on the litigation, by pursuing settlements or breaking up its business. So far, however, the company has doubled down on continuing to fight Roundup cases in court, saying it believes it can win key victories on appeal. If the 11th Circuit had broken with those other appeals courts, it would have made it more likely for the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the issue. Another federal appeals court, the Philadelphia-based 3rd Circuit, is currently considering the issue in a separate case. Bayer has said that it hopes a favorable Supreme Court ruling could eliminate much of its liability from the Roundup-related litigation, but the court has so far rebuffed its appeals. Roundup-related lawsuits have dogged Bayer since it acquired the brand as part of its $63 billion purchase of Monsanto in 2018. The company settled most Roundup claims that were pending against it in 2020 for up to $10.9 billion, but still faces more than 50,000 claims over the product. David Carson, the plaintiff in Monday's case, said in his lawsuit he was diagnosed with a type of cancer called malignant fibrous histiocytoma in 2016 after using Roundup for 30 years. Much of his case was initially dismissed by a trial judge, who agreed with Bayer that his failure-to-warn claims were barred by federal law. The 11th Circuit panel in July 2022 disagreed and revived the case. Monday's ruling comes after the panel was ordered by the full 11th Circuit to reconsider its earlier decision. The panel said that a Georgia law that requires companies to warn consumers of foreseeable dangers from using their products does not conflict with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, the federal law under which Roundup's label was approved. The court said it would have been possible for the company to seek to put a cancer warning on Roundup to comply with Georgia law. "We're gratified the court rejected Monsanto's defense and upheld the validity of Dr. Carson's claims," David Frederick, Carson's attorney, said in an email. "The harm Monsanto caused with Roundup is immeasurable." Bayer has won 10 of the last 16 trials over Roundup. But it has been hit in the cases it lost with more than $4 billion in jury verdicts since last October. Some of those awards are likely to be reduced on appeal because they exceed U.S. Supreme Court guidance. Most plaintiffs allege that Roundup caused a type of cancer called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, though some like Carson say it caused other cancers. (Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Josie Kao, Alexia Garamfalvi, Will Dunham and Aurora Ellis) The logo of Chinese drug research and development group WuXi AppTec is displayed alongside its company website, in this illustration picture taken February 5, 2024. REUTERS/Florence Lo/Illustration By Andrew Silver SHANGHAI (Reuters) -A draft U.S. bill that has triggered a sell-off in shares of China's biotech firm Wuxi Apptec could deal a major blow not just to the firm but could also impact many labs and Western drugmakers that rely on it for research and manufacturing, public data showed. A congressional committee focused on China introduced a bill late last month that would restrict federally funded medical providers from allowing China's BGI Group, Wuxi Apptec and other biotech firms from getting genetic information about Americans. Similar legislation was introduced in the Senate to prohibit federal agencies from contracting with those firms and also stop the government from entering into contracts with companies that use their equipment or services. The bill has a long path forward before potentially becoming law. Wuxi AppTec's shares, listed in Shanghai and Hong Kong, have since tumbled nearly 50%. Its Hong Kong shares rose 4% on Monday, while Shanghai shares dropped 4% after the company said it has no links with any governments or their military institutions and does not collect human genomic data in any of its business. Founded in 2000 by its chairman and CEO Ge Li, who earned a doctoral degree in organic chemistry from Columbia University, Wuxi has grown to a leading company offering early drug research and development services and contract manufacturing for Western companies, according to its website. The company or its affiliate Wuxi Biologics have counted Pfizer, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline as well as state-funded U.S. labs as its partners. Their projects include a research on Alzheimer's disease with researchers from Pfizer, a vaccine component production deal with AstraZeneca and a licensing agreement with GSK on antibodies for cancer research. The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has also used Wuxi's services on an antivirals lab project, using virtual compounds synthesized by Wuxi AppTec, according to a 2022 report from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information. AstraZeneca, Pfizer and GSK did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A spokesperson for Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory said it had no active orders or collaborations with Wuxi AppTec or its affiliates, nor outstanding orders or pending contracts with them. It declined to comment on the bill or its potential impacts. The Wuxi group also has a large presence in the United States with multiple offices including a lab testing facility in New Jersey that it said in 2018 would be "one of the largest" labs for drug development testing in the country. Services it offers in the U.S. include cell and gene therapy manufacturing and biologics testing, according to its website. Such projects and expansion work helped the U.S. market become the biggest source of revenue for Wuxi AppTec, accounting for two thirds of its total revenue of 29.5 billion yuan ($4.10 billion) in the first nine months of 2023. "The proposed bills are still in their early stages in the legislative process," said Yiming Liu, a partner at Cooley LLP. "There is no set timeline for when either chamber of Congress must consider the bills." Analysts, however, caution Wuxi shares would continue to come under pressure. "This is an investor confidence problem ... this year is the U.S. election year, so there could be a lot of similar news in terms of restrictions on China (companies) going forward that weigh on investor confidence," said Steven Leung, director of institutional sales at UOB Kay Hian in Hong Kong. ($1 = 7.1979 yuan) (Reporting by Andrew Silver in Shanghai, Donny Kwok and Summer Zhen in Hong Kong and Ethan Wang and Ryan Woo in Beijing; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Christopher Cushing) FILE PHOTO: U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo speaks on Day 1 of the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park in Bletchley, Britain on November 1, 2023. Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Monday said her department plans to make several funding awards within two months from the government's $39 billion program to boost semiconductor manufacturing. "We're in the process of really complicated, challenging negotiations with these companies," Raimondo told Reuters in an interview without identifying the companies. In the "next six to eight weeks, you will see several more announcements. That's what we're striving for." The semiconductor fund is intended to subsidize chip production and related supply chain investments, and the awards will help build factories and increase production. "These are highly complex, first-of-their-kind facilities. The kind of facilities that TSMC, Samsung, Intel are proposing to do in the United States -- these are new-generation investments -- size, scale complexity that's never been done before in this country," Raimondo said. In December, Raimondo said she expected to make around a dozen semiconductor chips funding awards within the next year, including multi-billion dollar announcements. Raimondo said she is personally involved in regular conversations with chip company CEOs. The department has made two small awards from the "Chips for America" semiconductor manufacturing and research subsidy program approved by Congress in August 2022. Raimondo said she did not think the government was behind in making awards. The awards can be a mix of grants, government loans and loan guarantees up to about 35% of project capital costs. Raimondo is positive about demand for chips despite cyclical market issues. "Artificial intelligence is going to drive demand for chips in a way that we haven't ever seen," she said. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler and Cynthia Osterman) UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No 8)* Century Communities, Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (Title of Class of Securities) 156504300 (CUSIP Number) Dale Francescon 8390 East Crescent Parkway, Suite 650 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) December 31, 2023 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: Rule 13d-1(b) Rule 13d-1(c) Rule 13d-1(d) *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). SCHEDULE 13G CUSIP No. 156504300 1 NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS Dale Francescon 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) (b) 3 SEC USE ONLY 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States of America NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH 5 SOLE VOTING POWER 1,848,403(1) 6 SHARED VOTING POWER 35,000(2) 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,848,403(1) 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 35,000(2) 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,883,403(1)(2) 10 CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 5.9%(3) 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS) IN (1) Consists of 183,641 shares of Common Stock held directly by Dale Francescon and 250,000 shares of Common Stock held by the Dale Francescon Roth IRA. Also includes 1,274,762 shares held by DF Century, LLC and 140,000 shares of Common Stock held by the James R. Francescon 2020 Trust. Dale Francescon, the sole member of DF Century, LLC, has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares held by DF Century, LLC. Dale Francescon, the sole trustee of the James R. Francescon 2020 Trust, has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares held by the James R. Francescon 2020 Trust. Does not include up to 69,326 shares of Common Stock issuable on February 7, 2024 upon the vesting of a performance share unit award based on the accomplishment of an adjusted pre-tax income goal for a three-year performance period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023. (2) These shares are held by the DCF Family Foundation. Dale Francescon shares voting and dispositive power over the shares held by the DCF Family Foundation. (3) 31,774,615 s hares of Common Stock of the Issuer outstanding as of December 31, 2023, as reported in the Issuers Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2024. This percentage is based on31,774,615hares of Common Stock of the Issuer outstanding as of December 31, 2023, as reported in the Issuers Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 31, 2024. SCHEDULE 13G Item 1. (a) Name of Issuer: Century Communities, Inc. (b) Address of Issuers principal executive offices: 8390 East Crescent Parkway, Suite 650 Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111 Item 2. (a) Name of person filing: Dale Francescon (b) Address or principal business office or, if none, residence: The principal address for Dale Francescon is: 8390 East Crescent Parkway, Suite 650 Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111 (c) Citizenship: Dale Francescon is a citizen of the United States of America. (d) Title of class of securities: Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (e) CUSIP No.: 15604300 Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: (a) Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o). (b) Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (c) Insurance company, as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (d) Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8). (e) An investment advisor in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E). (f) An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F). (g) A parent holding company or control person, in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G). (h) A savings association, as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813). (i) A church plan, that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3). (j) A non-US institution in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). (k) Group, in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(K). If filing as a non-U.S. institution in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J), please specify the type of institution: Item 4. Ownership. Dale Francescon: The information required by Items 4(a)-(c) is set forth in Rows 5-11 of Dale Francescons cover page and is incorporated herein by reference. Item 5. Ownership of 5 Percent or Less of a Class. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the following . Item 6. Ownership of More than 5 Percent on Behalf of Another Person. Not applicable. Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company or Control Person. Not applicable. Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. Not applicable. Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Not applicable. Item 10. Certifications. Not applicable. SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of the undersigneds knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Dated: February 5, 2024 /s/ Dale Francescon Dale Francescon ** Note 1 ** ALPS Advisors, Inc. (AAI), an investment adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, furnishes investment advice to investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (collectively referred to as the Funds). In its role as investment advisor, AAI has voting and/or investment power over the securities of the Issuer that are owned by the Funds, and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of the Issuer held by the Funds. However, all securities reported in this schedule are owned by the Funds. AAI disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities. In addition, the filing of this Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that the reporting person or any of its affiliates is the beneficial owner of any securities covered by this Schedule 13G for any other purposes than Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Alerian MLP ETF is an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and is one of the Funds to which AAI provides investment advice. U.S. Army soldiers assigned to Bounty Hunter Troop, 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, load onto a CH-47 Chinook to depart for an Air Assault during Operation Wolf Valkyrie, Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Nov. 30, 2023. (Aaron Downing/U.S. Army) During the darkest and coldest days in Alaska, when the sun peeks from the horizon for less than five hours and ice-rimmed thermometers dive to readings of -25, some of the 7,000 soldiers at the Armys northernmost base in the world line up for a bone-rattling dunk into The Hole. Tethered to a safety team, the volunteers representing their company stand over a water-filled pit in full combat camouflage gear. They step off, splash, bob to the surface, orient themselves and reverse, then they have 30 seconds to climb out under their own power. Chest on the ice, pull yourself out, a sergeant can be heard yelling to a soldier splashing at the lip of the ice in a Fort Wainwright-produced video. For the soldiers of Fort Wainwright near Fairbanks, its an embrace of the extreme world where they live, train and could conceivably fight. Col. Steve Phillips, former commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade, has done The Hole and said it serves a real purpose beyond getting shivering and soaked. When you are looking down at that dark water, it takes a degree of personal courage to take the step off, said Phillips, now a division deputy commander. You are doing it for yourself and your team. The Hole symbolizes fortitude, endurance and confidence that troops can operate in and even dominate an extreme environment, he said. The bitter cold central Alaska winter will play host Thursday to 10,000 American and Canadian troops participating in the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center-Alaska 24-02 exercises. The war games will test the ability of the units to meld into a combined force that could take on adversaries such as Russia and China who are increasingly active in the polar regions. Alaska will kill you, Phillips said. People here say that with pride. There is a fundamental difference in what it takes to survive here than in other places soldiers serve. A soldier from Fort Wainwright, Alaska, in December 2023 works his way out of The Hole, an icy water hole thats part of a competition among soldiers of the 1st Brigade of the 11th Airborne Division. (U.S. Army) A world of extremes The Hole is primarily a competition for the 1st Brigade of the 11th Airborne Division, the air-assault infantry nicknamed the Arctic Wolves. The Arctic Wolves company with the most successful exits from The Hole gets the honor of carrying the brigade guidon pole topped with a wrought gun-metal head of a growling wolf. The 11th Airborne Division also includes the parachute-qualified 2nd Infantry Brigade, nicknamed The Spartans, which operates from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson near Anchorage. The 11th Airborne Division, with the two brigade combat teams, and aviation, support, training and reconnaissance units, are the Arctic Angels. While the 1st Brigade is the infantry fighting force, the lesson is front and center for every soldier at Fort Wainwright. A uniform check is not a by-the-book formality. At Fort Wainwright, it ensures soldiers dont freeze their fingers, toes and nose. The wilderness has grizzly bears, lynxes, wolverines and wolf packs. Finding yourself between a 1,200-pound Moose and her young is unlikely to end well. Soldiers of the 1st Brigade, 11th Airborne based at Fort Wainwright in Alaska on a training patrol. (U.S. Army) Fort Wainwrights soldiers operate in an unforgiving environment, where helicopters flying too low and close in a mountain gap or assault vehicles driving a treacherous icy dirt road to a training ground have led to fatal accidents in the past year. The Army has worked to improve mental health services for soldiers and their families who are far from home and can face mental and emotional struggles when there is so little light for so long. The challenge of serving in central Alaska is made plain before soldiers ship out to Fort Wainwright. They qualify for a bonus of up to $4,000 that serves as a reward and a warning. The remote and austere conditions assignment incentive pay is meant to be spent on personal clothes, gear and deep-freeze, winter equipment, such as engine block heaters for the family car. Single soldiers at Fort Wainwright receive $2,000, and those bringing dependents receive $4,000. Soldiers serving at Elmendorf-Richardson in the relatively urbanized Anchorage area receive half the amount. Top of the world Phillips said Fort Wainwrights soldiers are stationed so far north because of a strategic need. That can seem odd, even to soldiers arriving for duty at the remote garrison. It makes people scratch their heads, he said. Im in Alaska, and this does not compute with the Pacific command being at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. Phillips had a simple trick to get people to understand. He would grab a globe and turn it on its side with the polar region pointed at his audience. (Noga Ami-rav/Stars and Stripes) When you start to view the globe, not with the equator in the center in North and South America in prominence, but focus the North Pole at the center, you start to realize, holy cow, this makes sense, Phillips said. Russias closest point is 53 miles from Alaska across the Bering Strait. NATO has an increasing number of regional members including Canada, Norway, and Danish-controlled Greenland now being joined by Finland and Sweden. China also has declared itself an arctic adjacent nation and has held joint naval exercises with Russia in the polar region. With global warming, shipping channels across the top of North America and Europe are becoming a new area of military and commercial competition. If ground combat were to occur in the Arctic, Fort Wainwright would be the place to learn needed tactics that units trained in warmer climates wont know. A river in July can force a unit to pivot in another direction in Alaska. The same river in February can be frozen solid and serve as a highway carrying troops faster to their objective. Phillips said risk is always a factor. The goal is to master the environment when possible, and knowing when to forge ahead can be dicey. We need to dominate this environment in times to come if we get into a conflict, he said. A healthier, more lethal soldier Col. Mike Arnett leads the Fort Wainwright medical team as deputy commander of clinical services. He said dealing with hypothermia and frostbite and transporting ill or injured patients to trauma-oriented hospitals in Anchorage are all part of the challenge for the doctors, nurses and other staff at Fort Wainwright. An overriding issue is getting soldiers to take care of themselves and others physically and mentally. While depression from darkness and cold can prey on soldiers and their families, having a sense of being part of a crucial mission can outweigh any seasonal affective disorder that can spread throughout the homes and offices at the base. Col. Mike Arnett, the top medical officer at Fort Wainwright, goes out for some dog mushing near Fairbanks, Alaska. (U.S. Army) The more that is done to give them a sense of purpose, a tribe they belong to that will help their health, including behavioral health. From what I can see, the 11th Division is applying more resources, giving people more activities, Arnett said. The investment in time, money and attitude to make Fort Wainwright feel more bearable, welcoming and enjoyable make it seem like their home. Resiliency builds strength, Arnett said, including on the battlefield. It also makes them more lethal in this environment, he said. Its humbling Cpl. Sarah Myers transferred from Fort Riley, Kan., to Fort Wainwright in December 2021, right into the shock of the sub-zero winter. The nearly sunless days and deep-freeze temperatures were unlike any winter back home in Yadkinville, a North Carolina town of roughly 3,000 residents about 30 minutes west of Winston-Salem. The first winter was rough, she said. I remember losing feeling in my fingertips. Serving with a general support aviation battalion at Fort Wainwright, she has worked year-round on and in UH-60 Black Hawks, CH-47 Chinooks and UH-60 Medevac Support helicopters. Army Cpl. Sarah Myers serving at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, the northernmost U.S. military installation in the world. The North Carolina native has learned to live with and even enjoy at times the extremes of dark, cold winters and summers with barely any night. (U.S. Army) Two years later, Myers still isnt ready to say that serving at the Armys base closest to the North Pole is something she wants to make permanent. I dont like the 24-hour dark or the 24-hour day in June, she said. In winter, I crochet, play guitar, sing and keep close to the people in my company. We get it its hard here. We stay hydrated, and we stay connected with people back home. Myers endures the winters, explores the summers in her 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee and is happy that Alaska is a stop in her life. Its a place thats humbled me as a person, she said. It makes me know I am stronger than I think. I can handle more situations. Its another thing off my to-do list in adulting. Myers can now wear the experience on her sleeve. I now have my Arctic tab, she said. Jenny Owens, of Wilkesboro, N.C., watches the giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta. Shes been visiting the zoo to see the pandas for close to 10 years now. I stay a week at a time and come every day, she said. (Kendrick Brinson/For The Washington Post) Mary Barker was determined to see the last remaining giant pandas in the United States, so she kept her foot on the gas. In December, she plowed through torrential rain while driving 18 hours each way from her home in northern Pennsylvania. In between she spent six hours at Zoo Atlanta, which is supposed to return the animals to China at an undetermined time this year. It was definitely worth it, Barker said. I would do it again in a heartbeat. While her adventure may have been a bit extreme, she is far from alone in her desire to visit the pandas while Americans can do so without a passport. Travel agent Lainey Melnick, 61, flew from Austin to Atlanta for the Dec. 8 weekend just to see the pandas. She had previously seen them in D.C., and in Japan, but knew that visiting them in Atlanta would be her last opportunity for a while. I would even fly to China to see them, but its a lot easier to fly to Atlanta, Melnick said. Attendance at Zoo Atlanta has been higher than normal the past few months, and thats likely due to the pandas, but other factors, like weather, may also be playing a role, said zoo spokeswoman Rachel Davis. Anecdotally, theres no doubt that panda FOMO is a motivator. On Facebook groups like the Ultimate Panda Fan, people have been sharing their travel plans and encouraging one another to make the trip. My trip came at my daughters suggestion. We made two outings to the zoo during a long weekend explicitly to see the pandas. We met Barker, 59, and her daughter, Helena, 30, on Dec. 11 after a zoo employee commented on how many out-of-towners had been visiting. From left, Raimy Gray, 2, her sister Charlie, 9, and their brother Owen, 6, sit back-to-back with a giant panda as their parents Hope and Nathan take photos at Zoo Atlanta. The family traveled from Spartanburg, S.C. to see the bears. (Kendrick Brinson/For The Washington Post) I announced that wed flown in from Colorado. Another family had driven six hours from Kentucky. Barker outdid us all, sharing the story of her drive. She had been watching the Today show when she heard that the Smithsonians National Zoo in Washington, D.C., was returning its three giant pandas, and that the four in Atlanta were also due to leave. With so many things going on with China and the United States, I figured if they pulled the pandas out I would never get to see them, she said. A tax preparer, she knew her busy season was fast approaching and that she needed to act quickly if she was going to take the road trip. (For those who cant make it to the Atlanta zoo, there are panda cams.) A storm was coming up the East Coast, she recalled. We didnt care. It wasnt keeping us away from the pandas. She drove alone from her home to Virginia Beach to pick up her daughter, then they continued to Atlanta. Nearly half the drive was in the pouring rain. We stayed overnight at a motel, got up and were at the zoo when it opened, she said. In all, they spent about two hours watching the giant pandas, including listening to an educational talk by a zookeeper who let them touch a sample of panda fur. About four hours were spent exploring the rest of the zoo. Then they got back in their car and retraced their route. Because theres no set departure date yet, the Atlanta zoo is still in the process of planning ways we will celebrate this very special legacy. But if the Panda Palooza that the National Zoo held as a cele-bear-ation of its pandas is any indication, the number of arriving panda enthusiasts will go up. Inside a gift shop at Zoo Atlanta. (Kendrick Brinson/For The Washington Post) Visits to the National Zoo between Sept. 26 and Nov. 9 roughly the start of Panda Palooza to the bears departure day increased 179% over those of the same period in 2022, said Ellie Tahmaseb, a spokeswoman for the Smithsonians National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. More than 250,000 people entered the National Zoo over that six-week period last year, including guests from Alaska, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Guam. Although I cant say definitively this was due to the giant pandas, its hard to look at the data and come to any other conclusions, she said. The National Zoo had been nearly synonymous with pandas after housing them for more than 51 years. But, the first panda in the U.S. arrived in 1936 when it was brought over by socialite Ruth Harkness, then acquired by Chicagos Brookfield zoo, where it died at 16 months old. Panda diplomacy between the China and the United States began in 1972, when Hsing-Hsing and Ling-Ling were presented as gifts to commemorate President Richard M. Nixons historic trip to the communist country. The pair was exhibited at the National Zoo. In the 1980s, China moved to loan pandas to zoos under 10-year contracts that not only rewarded friendly relations, but also brought in huge money to Chinas conservation programs. The Atlanta zoo alone has contributed more than $16 million. The deals were generally extended, but after President Donald Trump added tariffs to Chinese goods, a trade war ensued, and by 2019, the three bears at the San Diego zoo had been returned. The single bear in Memphis went back in April. The trio at the National Zoo was returned in early November. Atlanta has had pandas for nearly a quarter-century, with Chinese-born Lun Lun and Yang Yang arriving in 1999, when they were both 2 years old. Their contract is set to expire in late 2024. Part of the agreement said that any offspring born in the zoo would be returned to China, so five of the pairs seven cubs have already gone back. The two youngest, Ya Lun and Xi Lun, are now 7 years old and expected to travel to China this year as well. The zoo anticipates getting significant advance notice to share before any actual return dates, Davis said. And, while there is some hope that panda diplomacy may live on, it is not clear if, when or where that might happen. Theres no doubt the United States will miss its pandas, but its less clear that the pandas will miss the United States. Tahmaseb said during Xiao Qi Jis birthday party at the National Zoo this summer, the bear looked at the crowd singing to him and walked away, leaving his cake and his fans behind. During my two days watching the pandas, there was a lot of sleeping, eating of bamboo and hanging out on a raised platform, interspersed with a bit of walking and some animated inspecting of the water fountain. Valley Farnsworth, 2, watches and photographs the giant pandas at Zoo Atlanta. (Kendrick Brinson/For The Washington Post) Helena Barker said the pandas were asleep when she and her mother first arrived. Still, shes was beyond thrilled to see them in person. I couldnt contain my excitement, she said. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, speaks at a State Council meeting on clean governance, Feb. 5, 2024. Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, presided over the meeting. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday urged the resolute implementation of the Communist Party of China's strategic policy of full and rigorous self-governance, and called for greater advancements in improving Party conduct, upholding integrity and combating corruption within the government. Li, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a State Council meeting on clean governance. Addressing the meeting, Li acknowledged the progress that governments at all levels and their departments have made over the past year in improving Party conduct, upholding integrity and combating corruption. Li called for strict adherence to political discipline and rules. He also urged the nation's governments at all levels and their departments to focus on the rectification of corruption in key areas, remove grounds that breed corruption by deepening reform, and ensure that work to prevent and rectify corruption is consistent and sustained. Li said that focusing on the people's benefit is essential when evaluating performance. He emphasized the need to tackle pointless formalities and bureaucratism resolutely, guard against complacent thoughts and behaviors, and make solid efforts to implement the Party Central Committee's decisions and plans. Ding Xuexiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Chinese vice premier, presided over the meeting. As a concerned observer of international justice, I find myself deeply troubled by recent developments in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. The prosecution of Francis Chenyi, Claude Chi and Lam Nestor Langmi (known collectively as the Kansas City 3) raises profound questions about the consistency and fairness of the United States approach to its citizens supporting foreign conflicts. At the heart of this issue lies a glaring discrepancy: Why are U.S. citizens who send financial support to individuals in conflicts in Cameroon treated differently than those aiding present conflicts in Israel and Ukraine, and in the past, against the government of Cuba? U.S. citizens have not been prosecuted for enlisting or joining the Ukrainian army and fighting in its war against Russia in violation of The Neutrality Act without risk of prosecution. In the past, the United States also armed and trained individuals on U.S. soil, in Florida, to launch an invasion against the government of Cuba in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. 960 and no one was prosecuted. The U.S. permitted U.S. citizens to be recruited as mercenaries on U.S. soil to fight against the elected government of Angola in 1975-1977 in violation of 18 U.S.C. 9602 and no one was prosecuted. The evidence of U.S. citizens fundraising for Israel and Ukraine is indisputable as well. Reports from reputable sources like The Wall Street Journal and Reuters describe the nature of aid being sent from tactical gear to financial contributions. Aid is also being sent to Israeli citizens to be used for self-defense, especially to those living near Gaza. These acts of support are similar to those of Chi, Chenyi and Langmi for Southern Cameroon citizens, yet they have not attracted the same legal scrutiny. In fact, as Gina Chon noted in a Reuters article in March 2022 titled War crowdfunding is a weapon that cuts two ways, regarding crowdfunding for the Ukrainian military: Theres nothing new about foreigners and diaspora populations contributing amid clashes. In fact, there does not appear to be any history of prosecutions based on the provision of aid for military efforts or self-defense in the aforementioned conflicts. The absence of prosecutions in the context of aid to Ukraine and Israel, even when civilian casualties are reported, further underscores this inconsistency. The question arises: Why are Chi, Chenyi and Langmi facing prosecution under U.S. terrorism statutes for supporting what they believe to be a legitimate fight for self-determination in Africa? As Ive previously written and is known to the U.S. government and the broader international community, since 2016, Cameroons President Paul Biya has declared a senseless war on the people and civil society of Southern Cameroons. The three accused mens families and community are facing a devastating genocide against them in Cameroon. As a result, they have been working in the U.S. to raise funds to support their ailing families. The situation of the Anglophone citizen-fighters in Cameroon, who reportedly took up arms in response to violent government repression of peaceful protests, resonates with the historical narratives of many nations, including the United States. The global community has long recognized the right to self-determination and the legitimacy of resistance against oppressive regimes. The U.S. government claims that it supports Democracy against totalitarianism yet the United States has supported the government of Biya, a brutal dictator in Cameroon who has been in power over the past 42 years and leads the suppression of the people of the Anglophone region and their legitimate struggle for self-determination. As a nation founded on the principles of revolution and self-determination, the United States must reflect on its own history. It is imperative to ask whether the current approach in the prosecution of Chi, Chenyi and Langmi, aligns with these principles and the values of fairness and consistency in international justice. The case of Chi, Chenyi and Langmi calls for a thorough reevaluation of Americas stance on supporting foreign conflicts. It demands a consistent application of justice, devoid of double standards based on geographic or political considerations. Only through such fairness can the United States truly uphold its ideals and maintain its credibility at home and on the global stage. Lennox S. Hinds is a professor emeritus of law and former chair of the Administration of Justice Program at Rutgers University. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the International Criminal Court for Rwanda, the International Criminal Court for Yugoslavia, the Permanent International Criminal Court in The Hague and the Special Court for Sierra Leone. He was Nelson Mandelas U.S. attorney and counsel in the U.S. to the government of South Africa, the African National Congress of South Africa and of Namibia. He is the permanent representative to the United Nations for the International Association of Democratic Lawyers. Chinese authorities ordered a suspended death sentence Monday for Australian writer Yang Hengjun, detained in China for more than five years on espionage charges, in a case that underlines the opacity of Chinas justice system and threatens a fragile rapprochement between China and Australia. Yang, 57, a former employee of Chinas state security services turned author of spy novels, pro-democracy blogger and academic, was given a death sentence that can be commuted to life imprisonment after two years, according to Chinas Foreign Ministry. Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Yang was found guilty of espionage by Beijings No. 2 Intermediate court in a trial that was in strict accordance with the law. The sentencing comes after a closed-door trial in May 2021 where details of Yangs charges were never released. He has denied all charges. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her government was appalled at the sentence. This is harrowing news for Dr. Yang, his family and all who have supported him, Wong wrote in a statement. All Australians want to see Dr. Yang reunited with his family. We will not relent in our advocacy. Yang, a naturalized Australian citizen since 2002, was detained at Guangzhou Airport in January 2019 while visiting China with his family. He was formally charged with spying on China for another government, but authorities have not disclosed which country. Yangs wife and an official from the Australian Embassy were at the hearing Monday, which lasted 30 minutes, according to Chongyi Feng, an associate professor at the University of Technology in Sydney and Yangs former doctoral supervisor and friend. Feng spoke with Yangs wife, Yuan Ruijian, who said she was able to make eye contact with Yang briefly before he was taken away. He looked very thin and fragile, Feng said. Feng condemned the sentencing of his friend and called on the international community, especially the Australian government, to maintain pressure on Beijing. Hes [being] punished for his publications advocating universal values like democracy, rule of law, human rights, and he also criticized the government for human rights abuses in China, he said. Yangs attorney Mo Shaoping said his client has 10 days to appeal his sentence. But in Chinas court system, where conviction rates are as high as 99 percent, such appeals are unlikely to go anywhere. During his detention, Yang was blocked for months from seeing an attorney or communicating with family, according to Feng. Australian officials have said they are concerned about reports that Yang has been subjected to solitary confinement and torture. His health has deteriorated. In a letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese before a visit to China in November, Yangs children said their father had collapsed in prison and pleaded with Albanese to secure his release. They were told Yang had a 10-centimeter cyst growing on his kidney. The sentence shines a light on Beijings opaque criminal justice system, which the Chinese Communist Party controls, said Human Rights Watchs Australia director, Daniela Gavshon. While the Australian government has condemned the outcome, stronger action is needed. Yangs sentence comes less than four months after the release of Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who had been detained in China for three years. The contrast between the two cases underlines the limits of new efforts to repair strained relations between Canberra and Beijing. Cheng, an anchor for an English-language state broadcaster, was also found guilty on charges of espionage during a trial held behind closed doors. And while her release, after lengthy negotiations between the two countries, appeared to reflect the recent stabilization of relations after years of discord, Yangs severe sentence will inject renewed tension, experts said. This just shows you the limits of stabilization, said James Curran, a history professor at the University of Sydney who recently wrote a book on relations between Beijing and Canberra. Albanese has tried to improve the relationship without making concessions to China, he said, culminating in a trip to Beijing in November. But Yangs sentence will be a setback. Were dealing with an Australian citizen on a suspended death sentence, facing life imprisonment, Curran said. This will undoubtedly cast a dark shadow, a pall, over the management of the relationship going forward. It wont derail it, but it will certainly inject a real gloom over the Australia-China relationship over the next six or 12 months. The sentence was at the extreme end of what was expected and showed that at least part of the Chinese government was indifferent to its impact on bilateral ties with Australia, said Richard McGregor, senior fellow for East Asia at the Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank. Lately, weve seen Australia and China put a floor under the relationship, McGregor said. This is a reminder that there is a ceiling, and at times, its very low. Above all, the sentence seemed to be aimed at pro-democracy activists like Yang, he added. The inescapable conclusion is that hes going to die in prison, McGregor said. So somebody somewhere is trying to send a message to people like Dr. Yang. Both experts said Australia had few options for how to respond. Wong told reporters that she had summoned the Chinese ambassador to express her governments objection to the news but stopped short of expelling him. When asked whether Australia would scrap plans to host the Chinese president or premier later this year, Wong appeared to indicate the visit would proceed. Stabilization means we cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, and we engage in the national interest, she said, adding: Clearly this is an occasion on which we disagree. Members of Taiwans 564th Armored Brigade present their flag after demonstrating their ability to repel an airborne attack near Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Jan. 11, 2023. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes) TOKYO A three-nation command-post exercise underway this week in Japan and Hawaii is not practice for a potential war with China, according to Japans Ministry of Defense. The Kyodo News agency reported Sunday that Beijing was identified as the hypothetical opponent of this years Keen Edge exercise involving U.S., Japanese and Australian military personnel. The report, which cited anonymous government sources, said the training, which began Feb. 1 and wraps Thursday, includes a computer simulation of an emergency on Taiwan. However, a spokesman for Japans Joint Staff told Stars and Stripes by phone Monday that Keen Edge does not suppose any specific area or country. Many Japanese spokespeople speak to media on condition of anonymity as a requirement of their positions. Identifying an enemy wouldnt change the mechanics of Keen Edge, according to Brad Glosserman, deputy director and visiting professor at the Center for Rule-Making Strategies at Tama University in Tokyo. It doesnt matter what the enemy is called when the exercise is built, he said by email Monday. Historically, Japan has been unwilling to be straightforward about who it considered a potential adversary, Glosserman added. Grant Newsham, a retired Marine colonel and senior researcher with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo, said Friday that Keen Edge is almost by definition directed at Beijing. China is the only plausible answer and has been for at least a decade, he said. And that, by definition, means youre also getting ready to fight over Taiwan since it will be China that is causing the trouble for Taiwan. The Italian frigate ITS Virginio Fasan and the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush conduct flight operations in the Mediterranean Sea in March 2023. A European Union mission in the Red Sea that would help protect ships from attacks by Houthi militants in Yemen will be commanded by an Italian admiral, according to media reports. (Novalee Manzella/U.S. Navy) NAPLES, Italy A European Union mission that would coordinate with U.S. military efforts to protect commercial ships in the Red Sea from attack by Islamic militants will be under the command of an Italian admiral, according to media reports. Italy also is considering sending surveillance aircraft in addition to the frigate ITS Frederico Martinengo as part of the EU mission, which is called Aspides and is expected to be launched by Feb. 19, Reuters reported Friday. The admiral who would take command of the mission wasnt named publicly. Martinengo would relieve the Italian frigate ITS Virginio Fasan, already on duty in the region since December. At least seven European countries, including France and Germany, have agreed to send warships or aircraft or make other contributions to the EU mission, which would coordinate with the U.S.-led Operation Prosperity Guardian against Yemens Houthi militants. But while Aspides would protect ships and intercept Houthi attacks, it would not take part in military strikes on the group in Yemen, EU officials have said. The U.S. has been launching retaliatory strikes in the past few weeks against the Houthis, who are backed by Iran. On Saturday, American and British forces attacked 36 Houthi sites at 13 locations in Yemen, targeting underground storage facilities, missile systems, drone storage and operations sites, radars and helicopters, U.S. Central Command said in a statement Sunday. It was the largest strike against the Houthis since a similar joint operation Jan. 11 to degrade the groups capabilities, Stars and Stripes reported Jan. 12. On Sunday, the U.S. struck a Houthi land-attack cruise missile and four anti-ship cruise missiles preparing to launch in what U.S. Central Command described in a statement Monday as a defensive measure. Greece is expected to take overall command of Aspides, to which EU states gave initial backing last month. Command headquarters would be in the city of Larissa, although Greek leadership of the operation had not been formally announced, Reuters reported Friday. For months, the Houthis have waged attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, saying that they are acting in response to Western support for Israel in its war against Hamas. Worsening of the situation in the Red Sea could threaten security in the Mediterranean Sea and hurt Italys economic stability, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told Italian lawmakers Thursday, Reuters reported the same day. Italy would become a Houthi target as well if it participated in attacks against the group, one of its leaders, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, recently told the Italian newspaper la Repubblica. Exports of sawn timber from Russia in 2023 decreased by 10 % compared to the previous year and amounted to 20.7 mln m. The top ten largest importers are Azerbaijan (516 thousand m), Tajikistan (482 thousand m), Kyrgyzstan (417 thousand m), Iran (392 thousand m), South Korea (340 thousand m), Japan (337 thousand m), Hong Kong (337 thousand m), China (392 thousand m), and China (402 thousand m), Hong Kong (283 thousand m), Azernews reprots, citing the press service of Roslesinforg (forestry institution of the Federal Forestry Agency of the Russian Federation - Rosleskhoz). The main importer is still China, to which about 13 mln m of sawn timber was shipped from Russia in 2023 (the figure remained at the level of 2022). Next comes Uzbekistan - more than 2 mln m, an increase of 8 %. Kazakhstan closed the top three with 926 thousand cubic metres, which is 17 per cent more than in 2022. At the same time, Azerbaijan reduced imports of sawn timber from Russia by 21 per cent. In total, Russian sawn timber products were shipped to 51 countries last year. Exports of Russian sawn timber in 2022 totalled 23 mln m. The top ten largest importers of Russian processed timber then included China, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Estonia, Tajikistan, Japan, Singapore, Iran and Finland. ADEN, Yemen, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Warplanes belonging to the United States and Britain launched airstrikes on the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah on Monday, according to the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV. The broadcaster stated that two aerial bombardments struck the Al-Katheeb area overlooking the strategic Red Sea port in the city of Hodeidah. Local media outlets reported that the raids resulted in civilian casualties, with some of the wounded being rushed to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment. During the past hours, the Houthi's media outlets, quoted a military source confirming that "American-British aggression aircraft carried out 15 raids on the governorates of Saada and Hodeidah late on Sunday night." This escalation comes after a two-day period during which the U.S. and British forces executed a total of 48 raids on the Houthi-held capital, Sanaa, and other Yemeni provinces. The airstrikes are part of an ongoing military response by Washington and London since January 12, targeting Houthi-controlled areas of Sanaa and other northern provinces. The international actions are reportedly in retaliation for Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The Houthis, who have been engaging in military actions in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden since last November, claim to be targeting Israeli ships and vessels sailing to Israel. These actions unfold against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Gaza since October. The situation remains tense, with both sides showing no signs of de-escalation. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower conducts flight operations on Jan. 22, 2024, in response to increased attacks by Iranian-backed Houthi militants in the Red Sea. (Kaitlin Watt/U.S. Navy) The White House on Sunday urged Iraqs government to act more quickly against Iran-backed militias operating in the country after senior officials in Baghdad raised an outcry over a wave of airstrikes that the United States launched in retaliation for the deaths of three U.S. soldiers. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Sunday that the Iraqi government must move with more alacrity to end threats from militia groups that have attacked U.S. military positions. The groups, organized under the umbrella of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, have launched at least 165 attacks against U.S. forces since October. Three Americans were killed, three troops; three families now are grieving, Kirby said, speaking on Fox News Sunday. The presidents not going to sit back and idly just take that. Were going to respond. Kirby said that President Biden had approved smaller strikes in response to earlier attacks on U.S. positions and that he wasnt going to let the deaths of the three soldiers go unanswered. The soldiers Staff Sgt. William Rivers, 46; Sgt. Breonna Moffett, 23; and Sgt. Kennedy Sanders, 24 were killed Jan. 28 when a one-way attack drone crashed into sleeping quarters at a small outpost in northeastern Jordan that is close to the borders of Syria and Iraq. The strikes on Friday night hit about 85 targets across Iraq and Syria, the Pentagon said, prompting the Iraqi government to summon a senior U.S. diplomat, David Pecker, and issue an official note of protest. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said that civilians were killed in the strikes and that Iraq does not want to be an arena for settling scores between rival countries. The comments underscored the difficult balancing act Washington and Baghdad are trying to maintain as the militias, which are armed and trained by Iran, pressure the United States to leave Iraq. The Pentagon has about 2,500 U.S. troops in Iraq at the invitation of the government in Baghdad to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State. About 900 more U.S. troops are in Syria with a similar mission. The United States and Britain on Saturday also launched a new wave of attacks in Yemen, hitting roughly 35 targets connected with Houthi militants that seized control of much of the country in 2014. For months, Houthi fighters have attacked commercial vessels and U.S. warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Like the militias in Iraq and Syria, the Houthis have linked their attacks with the war in Gaza and U.S. support for the Israeli government. They also receive weapons and training from Iran, U.S. officials have said. Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, said on ABC News This Week on Sunday that U.S. officials cannot rule out further attacks by the groups on U.S. forces. The central purpose of the strikes has been to take away capabilities from the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria that are attacking our forces and from the Houthis that continue to threaten Red Sea shipping, Sullivan said. And we believe they had good effect in reducing, degrading the capabilities of the militias and of the Houthis. And, as necessary, we will continue to take action. Sullivan, in a separate interview on MSNBCs Inside with Jen Psaki, said the United States also will watch for potential reactions from Iran in coming weeks. Biden, he said, is not looking to escalate the conflict. How Tehran chooses to proceed from here, obviously, will be up to them, Sullivan said. But we will watch that carefully, and were prepared to deal with whatever comes next. Republicans and some nonpartisan national security experts have criticized the Biden administration for its approach, saying Washington has not done enough to deter Irans role in the attacks. Kenneth Frank McKenzie, a retired Marine Corps general who led U.S. military operations across the Middle East from 2019 to 2022, said on CBS News Face the Nation that the United States has explicitly taken Iran itself off the list of potential targets in this campaign, and that doing so gives Iran aid and comfort. I am not advocating for striking Iran, McKenzie said. I am advocating that they need to be in the space of possible targets so that theyre held at risk. McKenzie said theres some truth to Iran probably not directing the specific attacks against U.S. forces. A few years ago, he said, Iran gave blanket clearance for the militias to attack U.S. positions in Iraq and Syria, creating a structure where the militias do not need to go back to Tehran for approval. As the Biden administration worked to contain the fallout, it dispatched Secretary of State Antony Blinken to the Middle East for his fifth trip in the region since October. Blinken will travel to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Israel and the West Bank, the State Department said Sunday. Blinken has sought to prevent a wider expansion of the conflict. He is also working on longer-term postwar planning for Gaza, including an agreement among Arab states and Israel for a unified, Palestinian-led body that would govern the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Blinken will work to establish a more integrated, peaceful region that includes lasting security for Israelis and Palestinians alike, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. But significant gaps remain between Israeli and Arab leaders on Blinkens road map, which calls for the creation of a Palestinian state something Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will not allow. Blinken will also seek to expand humanitarian access in Gaza as Palestinians face near-famine conditions, lacking food, medicine and water. Jennifer Hassan in London, John Hudson in Washington and Kelly Kasulis Cho in Seoul contributed to this report. The United Nations is undertaking an external review of its Palestinian-aid agency after donor countries recoiled from allegations that some staff participated in the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. The probe, to be led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, will assess whether staff of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, known as UNRWA, broke its neutrality principle and will make recommendations on how to improve its enforcement. The review group will evaluate whether UNRWA is doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality and to respond to allegations of serious breaches when they are made, the office of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement Monday. The external review is separate from an internal investigation into Israeli allegations that at least a dozen UNRWA employees participated in the attacks, in which some 1,200 people were killed and about 240 more kidnapped. Colonnas probe, with the support of three Nordic research groups, will be in parallel to that investigation by the U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services. Israel accuses some 10% of the agencys personnel of being members of the militant groups Hamas or Islamic Jihad. U.N. officials are hoping swift reviews into the agencys work will provide donors some reassurance after the U.S., the European Union and at least 15 other countries suspended funding for UNRWA in response to the Israeli allegations. UNRWA is the main agency responsible for the humanitarian response in Gaza amid Israels military offensive to wipe out Hamas, which has destroyed large portions of the strip and killed more than 26,000 people, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry. The review group will begin its work Feb. 14 and a final report, which will be made public, is expected to be finished in late April, according to the statement. The review will take into account the particular operational, political and security context in which the agency works, it said. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2024 Bloomberg L.P. A rape kit on Dec. 4, 2019, in the emergency department at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/TNS) (Tribune News Service) By the time she was 23, Madison Campbell had racked up more than a dozen cease-and-desist letters and was seated at a deposition table, staring down lawyers who argued she was endangering the same vulnerable people she claimed to be helping. In the five years since, the Bridgeville, Penn., native has won accolades for helping sexual assault survivors, first in Forbes magazine, and most recently when she was crowned Miss Pittsburgh in the 2023 pageant a month before moving her DIY rape assessment startup from Brooklyn to her hometown. One thing hasnt changed since she first started promoting Me Too Kits in 2019: Her product hasnt actually been used in court. Her adviser, chief operating officer and testing lab each told the Post-Gazette that the carefully packed sets of swabs she now markets as early evidence kits cannot be used as evidence at trial. What the tests do tell you, her testing lab in Deerfield Beach, Florida, said, is whether foreign DNA is present on your swab. You would need more information to prosecute a case, said Allison Nunes of DNA Labs International. Campbell, who has said she was a victim of sexual assault in college, makes the case that her startup company, now called Leda Health, is selling a product to help individuals who have been assaulted but dont want to rely solely on the official process of going to a hospital or to the police to be tested for proof against the perpetrator. Kits sold by Leda Health are packaged by Morel Ink in Portland, Oregon. They include DNA swabs resembling Q-tips from Puritan Medical Products in Guilford, Maine. Users are instructed to collect DNA from their mouth and vagina, with the samples then sent using prepaid shipping labels to DNA Labs via FedEx. Each kit costs the company $12 to make. They have been sold, so far, to sororities and nonprofits. The controversy over such kits isnt limited to those Campbells company sells. With reports of huge piles of official rape kits going untested for years in labs around the country whether because of a lack of resources or differences in priorities the potential market is there. But the field of do-it-yourself testing is relatively new, especially as relates to court cases, and lawmakers and industry experts are wrestling with how to regulate them. While Campbell views her product as an effective way to more easily back up rape allegations, and to promote sexual assault education and support for survivors, attorneys general across the country and sexual assault prevention specialists have called the product dangerous. They say the kits could divert people from necessary health care, eliminate paths to justice and offer false hope. They concede there are flaws in the more official channels used to help sexual assault victims. Backlogs and poor tracking can delay results, certified nurses are in short supply, and the exams themselves can be traumatic. A number of advocates and experts say they are working toward solutions, but battling with people like Campbell a tenacious and stubborn entrepreneur has been exhausting and counterproductive. Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, a Republican from Washington state who led her states effort to ban the at-home kits, recalled an intense fight with Campbell that slowed Leda Healths push there. She was literally flying in with teams nonstop and paying our most challenging lobbyist to wait outside the hearing rooms and to pressure my colleagues, Mosbrucker said. Shell keep going from state to state until she can figure out a way to keep making millions of dollars. Campbell said thats a misunderstanding of her goals, and any profit she makes will only come from a product that people desperately need. Eighty percent of sexual assault survivors dont feel comfortable going to the hospital, she said. I was one of those. I was sexually assaulted when I was a junior in college. I didnt go to the hospital, I didnt get a rape kit done. Guidelines in Maryland Campbells startup has raised almost $10 million in venture capital, much of it during the initial controversy. One of her earliest backers, the New York City venture capitalist Bradley Tusk, said he was impressed by the entrepreneur and thought the kits would fill a need. Until you guys can solve the problem yourselves, Im not gonna apologize. And I wouldnt ask Madison to stop doing what shes doing, he said. If the nonprofit sector could have solved this problem, they would have done so by now. From 2019 to 2022, attorneys general from Washington to Michigan to New York ordered the company to stop selling the kits, arguing deceptive marketing tactics would mislead victims. More recently, Campbell has turned to more niche funding streams, including development contracts from the U.S. Air Force. She also sent 1,000 kits to Ukraine with the goal of prosecuting war crimes. Her new chief operating officer, Sean Bogle who joined the startup after overseeing on-campus sexual assault cases as dean of students at Yale University and Stanford has pushed for a different kind of kit that is less focused on prosecution, which he said is premature given the lack of legal precedent. Campbell said the only change shes currently making to the kits is to add Spanish instructions to the packaging. Leda Health is gearing up for a launch in Maryland, despite public pushback from a panel of state experts. Campbell initially described Maryland as her next big win. The company was promoting the kits at colleges around the state, saying that a push for guidelines for such products by state Sen. Shelly Hettleman would allow a mass rollout in October. In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Hettleman said those guidelines were meant to be a cautionary measure, not a green light. We have made it very clear that we were going to examine what the possibilities were, she said. Its really disappointing that they continue to mislead people. Maryland created a policy and funding committee in 2017 solely devoted to sexual assault evidence kits. Under a new law passed last year, the group had to issue a report to the governor and the General Assembly on the potential benefits and pitfalls of at-home kits by December, working in tandem with the state attorney general. The law was focused mostly improving sexual assault evidence collection, preservation and storage. There are so many issues that are raised by these kits, we want to make sure that were being really thoughtful and comprehensive and putting forth recommendations, Hettleman said. That work came as Marylands attorney general sent a warning letter to victims rights groups, hospitals, universities and local health departments in August, warning that Leda Health was making false and misleading statements, both verbally and in writing, in promotion of their self-administered collection kits. One nonprofit director, Randi Woods, told the Post-Gazette she was ready to promote the kits throughout Maryland. Woods, who leads Sisters Together and Reaching, likened the product to HIV detection kits and said they could be especially helpful to minority communities. Campbell has described the kits as the next pregnancy test. Fifty years ago, we used to criticize women for doing at-home pregnancy tests because we thought they were medically unreliable and women couldnt do it, she said. She has also called sexual assault a multi-billion dollar industry. And thats part of the problem that Maryland officials and other critics have: They see Campbell as approaching justice for rape as a business, rather than a service. For example, Leda Health is selling kits to college sororities, even though many colleges offer free resources to victims of assault, said Gabriella Romeo, public policy director at the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. Campbell also found a customer in the U.S. Air Force, which has given her company two development contracts one for $73,879 to study the kits usefulness for active duty personnel, another $109,945 to promote sexual assault education and support for survivors. We just need ... buy-in Pamela Marshall, director of the forensic graduate program at Duquesne University, has advised Leda Health since 2018, when its kits were still named after the #MeToo movement the awareness campaign that grew from the exposure of sexual abuse by American film producer Harvey Weinstein in 2017. She said the startups current kits arent yet ready for court but have come a long way. Theyre not up to the standard yet, she said. But I will tell you that the kit that I have right now has come an astronomical length. Now we just need more of the stakeholders to have some buy-in. Campbell likes to point to California as an early proof of concept. The state tried at-home kits in Monterey County, during COVID and with direct monitoring by a forensic nurse, a detective and a victim advocate. An investigator with that county department said those kits which were made by another startup, Preserve Group are no longer in use. Dr. Reshma Ramachandran, an assistant professor at Yale University School of Medicine, said she sees the intent behind the kits, but finds it incredibly irresponsible to promote them as a path to justice. I very much hope there is an effort from the FDA to regulate these sorts of tests, she said. As doctors, we never want to prescribe or administer a test thats going to give patients a result that they dont know what to do with. Undeterred, Campbell has looked for new clients overseas. She sent 250 kits to Kenya. After Hamas invaded Israel, she tried to send kits there. But unfortunately, our friends that we were working with in Israel were telling us that rape kits werent necessary because of all the women that were getting raped were also getting killed, Campbell said from the head of a thrifted conference table at her new office in Lawrenceville. Even if the kits fail, Bradley, her investor, said hell support her next venture. Campbell isnt ready to give up. She said polling conducted through her new Survivor PAC shows that people want an at-home solution. Meanwhile, in November, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape warned prosecutors statewide that at-home kits leave victims without services and pathways to justice. It was the same warning the group issued in April 2020. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. directed two deputies to look into the warning, a spokesperson said. Romeo, PCARs policy director, said shed like to work more closely with Campbell to explore solutions for survivors. The kits are not part of that vision. She described them as a defense attorneys best dream. Sexual assault is extremely difficult to prosecute to begin with, let alone when youre not following the proper channels, she said. 2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Visit the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at www.post-gazette.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. ISLAMABAD, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least one policeman was killed and two others were injured when a bomb went off in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, official sources said on Monday. The plaintiffs claim that since early January Foley has called to their home and left his business card in an attempt to collect monies from them Martin 'The Viper' Foley, seen here in 2018. Photo: Collins The directors of an auto parts business have claimed before the High Court that an accountant has hired convicted criminal Martin 'the Viper' Foley to collect a disputed debt of approximately 19,000 from them. Maynooth-based NCS Autoparts Limited, its director Paul and his wife Brenda Lanigan have brought proceedings against chartered accountant Gerard Young trading as Mara Young & Company who they allege is "wrongfully and unprofessionally" trying to "intimidate and harass" them over the alleged debt for works done. The plaintiffs claim that since early January Foley has called to their home and left his business card in an attempt to collect monies from them for the defendant based at Moneycooley, Maynooth, Co Kildare. They allege that that the hiring of Foley, who they claim arrived in a large van at their home and gave them his business card, was an attempt of "strong-arm intimidation" by the defendant. They also claim they are fearful that Foley will return to their property, especially after they read reports about Foley's past criminal activities on the internet. Represented by Ronnie Hudson Bl, instructed by solicitor Max Mooney, the plaintiffs have asked the Court for orders including an injunction restraining the defendant from instructing Kimmage-based Foley and his debt recovery business from calling to their property or corresponding with them. Martin 'The Viper' Foley, seen here in 2018. Photo: Collins Counsel said his clients have a good defence to the debt claimed by the defendant. He said that some years ago NCS acquired a motor parts business called CPL Motor Factors from Mr Lanigan's parents some years ago. Counsel said that earlier this year, and unknown to his clients, the defendant obtained a circuit Court judgement against NCS. It was accepted that a warning letter about that claim had been overlooked in error. Mr Foley, it is claimed, was then hired by the defendant to collect monies on foot of the judgement. The plaintiffs intend to appeal that judgement and have it set aside as quickly as possible. Counsel said that the defendant had been CPL's accountant and had carried out some work for NCS for approximately one year in 2014 after the changeover in the business. The defendant, they claim was never its accountant, and counsel said that NCS uses another firm to do its accounting. During the changeover NCS was unhappy with the defendant's work, and disputed a VAT charge of 16,000 which it alleges the defendant had attributed to NCS. Counsel said that other separate High Court proceedings arose between the couple and the defendant arising out of the takeover of CPL had ben brought, which he said have been settled. Counsel said that the couple and NCS, with an address at Kilmore, Enfield, Co Meath had sought undertaking from the defendant to the effect that Foley would not attend at their property, nor attempt to contact them. No such undertaking were forth coming, resulting in the couple seeking injunction relief. The matter came before Mr Justice David Nolan on Thursday. The judge said that he was quite satisfied to grant the plaintiffs permission, on an ex-parte basis, to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings on the defendant. The judge said that the Viper's alleged involvement was from the plaintiffs' point of view "very intimidating." The matter was made returnable to a date next week. The judge added that while he was not making any orders at this stage of the proceedings he said that he was certain that Foley would not be calling to the plaintiff's property between now and when the matter returns before the court. Parrot, with an address at Portland Row in the north inner city, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to both men Jonathan Parrot admitted the assaults on the officer and garda A Dublin man has admitted punching a prison officer and a garda sergeant in the face in separate attacks. Jonathan Parrot (37) hit and injured the prison guard while he was an inmate at Mountjoy, while the attack on the garda happened on a Dublin street a year later. The case against him was adjourned at Dublin District Court for victim impact evidence. Parrot, with an address at Portland Row in the north inner city, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to both men in incidents a decade ago. Garda Sergeant Tony Flanagan told Judge Anthony Halpin the DPP consented to the cases being dealt with in the district court on pleas of guilty only. The judge asked to hear an outline of the evidence so he could consider the issue of jurisdiction. Sgt Flanagan said Parrot was a prisoner in Mountjoy on December 19, 2013 when he struck an officer, causing soft tissue injury to his jaw. The victim had soreness to his mouth and lost a day of work afterwards, but there were no long-term injuries and he made a full recovery. In the second unconnected incident, a garda sergeant had an interaction with Parrot on Kings Inn Street on July 3, 2014. The accused struck him on the mouth and twice on the left temple with his fist. This victim attended a doctor to be treated for a slight cut to his upper lip, abrasions to his chin and bruising to his temple, but made a full recovery and remained on duty, Sgt Flanagan said. Judge Halpin accepted jurisdiction, allowing the case to remain in the district court instead of sending it forward to the circuit court, which has tougher potential sentencing powers on conviction. The court heard victim impact statements may be required. The judge remanded Parrot on continuing bail to a date later this month for this, as well as full facts and mitigation to be heard before sentencing. Linda Stauntons latest shoplifting offences added to her tally of petty crimes A serial thiefs 344 criminal convictions were a terrible history but still not a record, a court heard. Linda Stauntons latest shoplifting offences added to her tally of petty crimes but a judge was told others had surpassed this. Judge Anthony Halpin said the accused was in a tragic situation and gave her a six-month suspended sentence. Staunton (48), of Dunne Street Flats in Dublins north inner city pleaded guilty to several theft charges. Dublin District Court heard the accused went to Lululemon on Grafton Street last August 17, placed 592 worth of clothing in a bag and left without paying. She was stopped by security and the goods were recovered. She took 60 worth of groceries at Lidl, Moore Street on January 10 this year and had stolen clothing valued at 86 on her when she was stopped by gardai in the city centre last October 22. The court heard her 338 previous convictions included theft and she was put on a peace bond last August. Judge Halpin asked if her previous convictions were a record and was told by a garda they were not. Now she has 344, the judge said. Thats not a record? Youre telling me other people have surpassed that? Staunton had stolen food from Lidl as she was supporting her children and was herself not eating, her solicitor Yvonne Bambury said. She accepted her client had a terrible history of offending, but had addiction issues. Staunton had finally got a handle on this and was on methadone. John Donaghy took full responsibility for 27 kilos of the drug found in the boot of his Ford Mondeo John Donaghy AKA John Knibbs who was convicted in Naas Circuit Court for having in excess of 2.1M worth of cocaine and canabis for sale or supply at Ballynamullagh, Carbury, Co. Kildare. In the UK, as John Knibbs, he was prosecuted a number of times for dog fighting and was disqualified from keeping animals. Pic taken 31-1-2024 John Donaghy and the drugs and cash found by gardai This is the convicted dog-fighting boss on the run from the UK authorities who is now facing prison time in Ireland after being caught with 1.9 million worth of cocaine. John Donaghy, who has 16 previous convictions for animal cruelty, took full responsibility for 27 kilos of the drug found in the boot of his Ford Mondeo outside his rural Co Kildare bolt hole last July. Donaghy, also known as John Knibbs, had been living in Ireland for the last six and a half years breeding dogs despite being disqualified from owning an animal in the UK. John Donaghy The 59-year-old father of six also admitted holding 110,000 cash found in a Super Valu shopping bag on a shelf in a kitchen hot-press by the Organised Crime and Drugs Unit during a search. While Donaghy refused to name who he was holding the drugs and cash for, the Sunday World can reveal the cache has been linked to a Midlands organised crime gang that are currently the target of the Criminal Assets Bureau. It was heard at Naas Circuit Court this week that Donaghy held the stash at the home he shared with his partner and young children to pay off a drug debt thanks to his 500 to 600 a week cocaine habit. Evidence of the Garda operation was given by Detective Kevin Hearn, who said Donaghys own CCTV system captured him, loading the blocks of cocaine contained in a black refuse sack into his car. The drugs and cash found by gardai Gardai from the National Organised Crime Bureau, acting on confidential information carried out the search at Donaghys home at Ballynamullagh, Carbury Co Kildare. The drugs were found immediately and Donaghy took full responsibility for them and the cash found in the kitchen and was full co-operative". Detective Hearn said Donaghy told him that if he revealed who he was holding the drugs and cash for he would fear for my wife and kids. He and his wife Kimberleigh Steele have lived at the Kildare house for the last three years with their four children aged under six. During his time in Ireland the UK native has not come to the attention of the gardai and has been in custody since his arrested in July last year. There were no obvious trappings or wealth, but Donaghy had no income to support his family other than his dog breeding. It emerged during the court hearing that Donaghy still had outstanding matters to deal with in the UK courts in relation to his dog-fighting convictions. Donaghy had changed his name by deed poll from John Knibbs, it was heard at a previous bail hearing. His defence counsel said he was under pressure to pay his drug debts which had got bigger and didnt go away and found himself in a situation where he had no control over what was delivered. An image from Donaghys dog-fight video Since being in prison he had beaten his addiction and was on an enhanced regime working as a cleaner. John Donaghy, originally from Sleaford in Lincolnshire, had previously been living in Tulsk, near Strokestown, Co Roscommon. Donaghy was convicted in his absence, in the name of Knibbs, for several offences relating to dog fighting at Lincoln magistrates court in 2019 after failing to appear at his own trial. The prosecution came as a result of Operation Camelot, a joint investigation into organised dog fighting by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and police forces in England and Wales. Donaghy, is seen as a key figure in the world of organised dog fighting and was first convicted of dog fighting in 2009 and banned from keeping dogs for life after In that case he admitted various charges and causing suffering to two presa canarios, a large breed of dog native to Spain. The RSPCA also seized five pit bull-type dogs during the same operation, but also found a dead bull terrier which he had thrown in a bin after it died from malnutrition. He was then convicted of breaching his ban on keeping animals in 2016 after it was discovered that he had changed his name to John Donaghy and was planning a commercial breeding business. It emerged during his 2019 trial a heavily scarred pitbull was rescued from his premises while videos and text messages were found on phones. Baddy the bull terrier who was rescued One video showed a fight between a pitbull and the massive Spanish bread that lasted 45 minutes and other animals with horrific injuries. His wife Kimberleigh Steele, who had also been charged, initially failed to turn up for her trial but later returned to the UK in 2019 and was given a suspended sentence. She was convicted of keeping a fighting dog and aiding and abetting Knibbs, who is 25 years her senior, who had been disqualified for life from keeping dogs. John Donaghy is due to be sentenced at Naas Circuit Court later this month in relation to the cocaine seizure. Fr Brian Starken says he still questions how mental-health professionals treating the 42-year-old in prison didnt foresee that Kearney would offend again prior to a decision to release him. Fr Brian Starken was attacked by Kearney in his Dublin presbytery Richard Kearney during his trial for the 2001 murder of Mary Dillon Richard Kearney attacked Fr Brian and tried to strangle him A 75-year-old priest who survived being strangled by convicted murderer Richard Kearney, after he was given temporary release from a life sentence, says he has forgiven him. But Fr Brian Starken says he still questions how mental-health professionals treating the 42-year-old in prison didnt foresee that Kearney would offend again prior to a decision to release him. I forgive the guy for what he did, Fr Brian Starken told the Sunday World. You wont forget it, but you can always forgive. Thats probably for me the most important part of letting go of it myself and not holding a grudge or whatever against the guy. Fr Brian was one of three elderly people attacked in their homes by pensioner-killer Kearney on March 15 last year during a spree of violence in west Dublin. On Tuesday of this week Kearney was sentenced to eight years in prison for the attacks, and for the false imprisonment of his former prison chaplain in her home nine days earlier. The thug had previously been jailed for life in 2001 for beating 72-year-old Mary Dillon to death in her Finglas home in 1998 but was freed on temporary release after serving 21 years behind bars. Fr Brian Starken was attacked by Kearney in his Dublin presbytery Fr Brian, who had just returned from preparing for a funeral, answered and allowed Kearney, who appeared well-groomed, to enter as he didnt appear to pose a threat. Once inside, Kearney spoke to the priest of feeling depressed following his release after 20 years in prison. He complained that he couldnt get a job and said he missed the therapy he had been receiving while in custody. Fr Brian said Kearney then got up as if to leave and he stood up in turn only for Kearneys demeanour to completely change as the killer suddenly attacked. In an instant he changed from being quite normal and having a normal conversation, he said. When he stood up, I thought he wanted to go and I stood up, and in that second he attacked me. Using the arm of his jacket as a ligature, Kearney tried to strangle the priest as he held his other hand over his mouth. Somehow I got my hand inside the ligature, Fr Brian said. And I was able to shout out. 85-year-old Fr Pat Coughlan, who was upstairs in the presbytery at the time, made his way down the stairs and attempted to go to his colleagues assistance. Richard Kearney during his trial for the 2001 murder of Mary Dillon Kearney then dropped Fr Brian to the ground before running at Fr Coughlan, knocking him to the ground and causing him to break his hip. He then fled, leaving a shaken Fr Brian, who had lost a tooth in the attack, to call 999. Gardai would later inform Fr Brian that Kearney had also attacked an 86-year-old woman in her home elsewhere in Clondalkin earlier that same day. Fr Brian, who has since departed his role as co-parish priest in Bawnogue, said this week he is still receiving therapy as a result of the trauma Kearney inflicted on the day of the attack. Im not too bad at this stage, he said. Im getting a little bit of therapy because it was quite a traumatic experience. Im very lucky that Fr Pat was there as well, otherwise Im not sure how it might have ended up. But Im generally pretty OK and Im on a bit of a break, so thats nice, and Ill take up another post in due course. Asked how Fr Pat is doing, Fr. Brian said his hip is still giving him trouble and he is walking with the aid of a walker. Hes in good enough form, he said. Hes very keen to get back to Bawnogue if he can. Speaking of the circumstances of the attack, Fr Brian continued: What he said to me, when I was talking to him that day, was that he had great support in the prison in terms of psychologists and psychiatrists. He said he didnt have the access to those resources or people or whatever after he was released from prison. I suppose my question would be, if he was getting regular psychiatric treatment in the prison, would they not have noticed his behaviour that he was liable to offend again given the opportunity? I wonder about that. I cant answer it. When I gave my victim impact statement to the detective, I said: Look, I forgive the guy for what he did. You wont forget it, but you can always forgive. And thats probably for me the most important part of letting go of it myself and not holding a grudge or whatever against the guy. I forgive him. What that does for him, Im not sure, but it does for me anyway. Asked if he believe the attack by Kearney was premeditated, the cleric replied: I have wondered about that. Did the guy just attack me because he wanted to be sent back to prison because he was missing all the services? Was he institutionalised? I just dont know, to be honest. Sentencing Kearney, Judge Martin Nolan said that for reasons known only to himself, he approached these people, entered their property, attacked them, terrified them and falsely imprisoned them. The evidence was somewhat similar to the facts of the murder of Mary Dillon for which Kearney was convicted in 2001, the judge said. He noted the victims were quite elderly and not in a position to resist or defend themselves. He said they were greatly affected by the attacks. Judge Nolan handed down an eight-year prison sentence, which he backdated to last March. The court heard that the Parole Board will deal separately with him in relation to the fact he was on temporary release when he committed the offences. The suspected arson is the latest attack on a property linked to the housing of migrants in Ireland A security guard alerted emergency services to arsonists who targeted a vacant HSE building in Dublin that was being considered for refugee accommodation. The suspected arson is the latest attack on a property linked to the housing of migrants in Ireland, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar saying he was very concerned. The blaze broke out at the former nursing home in Crooksling, near Brittas, early yesterday morning. Forty firefighters from the Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) responded to the blaze, which was contained by the afternoon. In recent weeks, a group had been holding demonstrations at the property against potential plans to accommodate refugees at the building. Protesters who remained outside the site yesterday said they had nothing to do with the fire and that they were there peacefully. Gardai and members of Wicklow Fire Service outside the entrance to a HSE Site which was formally Crooksling Nursing Home, Co. Dublin where a major fire took place Sources have said the fire is being investigated as criminal damage and that gardai believe it was started intentionally. Justice Minister Helen McEntee described the incident as an attack, and said those involved would be brought to justice. The Sunday World understands that private security had been hired to guard the property and that a security worker alerted emergency services to the fire at around 7am. Initial examinations indicate the fire started in the former 22-bed Ruben unit before it spread to other former residential units. The incident is the latest in a wave of suspected arson attack on buildings around the country connected to the housing of refugees or asylum-seekers. There have also been attacks elsewhere in Dublin, in Galway, Donegal, Leitrim and Cork. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris previously said he did not believe there was a guiding hand orchestrating the attacks. While arrests had been made in a number of cases and charges brought in one case, there has been criticism over the lack of prosecutions related the attacks. Protests had taken place at the Crooksling site in recent weeks involving local residents along with members of the South Dublin Says No group, which has held numerous anti-immigration protests. One local woman protesting said she was devastated by the blaze, adding: This isnt what were about, were about peaceful protest. Why would we sit here all night and then burn the place down, it doesnt make sense. Firefighters pictured at the entrance to the former St Bridget's Nursing home in Crooksling Photo: Frank McGrath Another woman said, we didnt do this and described the fire as unfortunate, while adding: Why would anyone want to burn it down? The protesters said they had gathered there after being told male refugees would be moving into the vacant building, and criticised a lack of communication about the plans. We had gotten word they were going to house refugees up here, one woman said. 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. There have been several posts on social media in recent days about the site, including some by a prominent far-right activist. One post, which was later deleted, drew comments relating to the potential burning of the building. The HSE-owned property was first used as a TB sanatorium in 1911, but more recently operated as a nursing home. In 2020, the remaining residents were moved to another building in Tymon North after the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) deemed the Crooksling facility not fit for purpose. The Department of Health previously said the former nursing home was among 300 properties being considered for refugee accommodation. It is understood no decision had yet been made on whether it would be used to house refugees. Yesterday morning, the DFB posted a message on social media saying firefighters were called at 7am to vacant buildings alight at Crooksling on the Blessington Road. Seven fire engines including a turntable ladder and emergency tender were sent to the scene, it said, adding that there were traffic restrictions. A photograph showed a building engulfed in flames with the roof collapsed. In an update yesterday, the DFB said it had scaled down its response, but that four fire engines remained at the scene as they continued to extinguish hotspots. Local politicians had been engaged in trying to get the facility turned into a step-down facility for elderly people in the area, in order to free-up hospital beds and provide care for the elderly as they progress from hospital. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Ireland had a rules-based immigration system (Brian Lawless/PA) Commenting on the incident, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: I am very concerned to learn about the fire. 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. Mr Varadkar also said it was very ironic that some of those who try link migration to crime engage in serious criminal activity themselves. 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 Mr OBrien about this site only last week and highlighted the threat of arson, given the attacks we have seen right across the State, Mr Crowe said. 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, he said. People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny said the incident was 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. Friends Katie Graham (19), Daryl Culbert (21) and Michael Kelly (25) all died when the car they were travelling in collided with a tree 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. At the moment the legislation is very much focused on physical seizures of goods or technologies or anything like that Justice Minister Helen McEntee highlighted cases of child abuse where the new measures will be particularly effective. Photo: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos Gardai are to be given sweeping new powers to search and seize child abuse material and other information stored digitally by suspected criminals on cloud computer systems. Justice Minister Helen McEntee is to bring draft legislation to the Cabinet tomorrow that will enable gardai to apply to the courts for preservation and production orders that would be served on internet service providers (ISPs) during criminal investigations. These orders will oblige ISPs, a significant number of which maintain their European bases in Dublin, to preserve and eventually produce digital evidence that has been on their cloud computing systems by people suspected of a criminal offence. At the moment, when it comes to search and seizures, the legislation is very much focused on physical seizures of goods or technologies or anything like that, Ms McEntee said. Any of the legislation we have related to online is very specific to information thats held on a computer. But we know nowadays, if someone stores information, its in a cloud, its not necessarily stored on a physical device. So the legislation essentially will allow the gardai to go to a service provider and obviously, we have a lot of them here in Ireland if they are not really sure what theyre looking for, theyll be able to get a preservation order. So it means information that might be used as evidence to present in court for conviction of a crime, that could be frozen, essentially or preserved. Ms McEntee highlighted cases of child abuse where the new measures, which will be outlined in the general scheme of the Criminal Justice Protection, Preservation and Access to Data on Information Systems Bill, will be particularly effective. If you have someone who is engaged in child abuse, that theyre doing it online, its not necessarily on their laptop, theyre sending it other places, its stored in other places, gardai could go to a district court judge and say: We need to get a preservation order to freeze whats on this persons laptop, she said. She explained that once gardai establish more information about such a case, they can then apply for a production order that will allow them to obtain the information that has been preserved by the ISP. At the moment, someone can lose a laptop, damage information, delete it, and its much harder to access or its not possible. So its very much focused on what cases gardai are investigating now, she said. It brings them in line with the fact that criminals are using technology in a way they never did before, its cloud based storage. The reforms are viewed within the Government as a significant step forward in tackling crime that takes place online, however they are likely to spark some concerns among civil liberties organisations and some TDs who have previously expressed concerns about garda use of facial recognition technology. Ms McEntee is likely to argue that the legislation will include certain safeguards around privacy, including the requirement for judicial authorisation as is the case for conventional search warrants. 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. 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. Once the area is declared safe, 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 sh*te, 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 six 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." WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- After prolonged discussions, U.S. Senators from Republican and Democratic parties on Sunday unveiled a bipartisan border security bill aimed at enhancing border security and facilitating aid for Ukraine. This pivotal accord, emerging from over three months of intensive negotiations, represents a rare consensus on an issue that has long eluded resolution in American politics, but could still face obstacles in the deeply divided Congress. The deal proposes stringent measures on asylum claims and detention capacity expansion, coupled with substantial financial provisions for Ukraine and border security enhancements. However, it stops short of fulfilling some stringent demands, leading to mixed reactions across the political spectrum. The success of this ambitious legislative effort hinges on overcoming deep-seated divisions, with a crucial vote anticipated in the Senate to determine its viability. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Majority Leader from New York, announced his intention to schedule a preliminary vote on the border and Ukraine assistance proposals by Wednesday. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, however, has pronounced it "dead on arrival" in the Republican-controlled lower chamber. "For too long, going back decades, the immigration system has been broken. It's time to fix it," President Joe Biden said in a statement released Sunday. "Now we've reached an agreement on a bipartisan national security deal that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. I strongly support it," Biden said. If there is peace in Ukraine by the time the protection ends, then I imagine lots will go home. 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. 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. The DUP Lagan Valley MLA was due to legally represent the 60-year-old loyalist at his Pitt Park show-of-strength trial Alleged East Belfast UVF boss Stephen Matthews has parted ways with his barrister Emma Little-Pengelly, who is the new Deputy First Minister. The DUP Lagan Valley MLA was due to legally represent the 60-year-old loyalist at his Pitt Park show-of-strength trial which had been due to start tomorrow. She had been representing Matthews shortly after he was charged with unlawful assembly, affray and intimidation in connection with a high-profile incident when dozens of masked men walked through an area off the Lower Newtownards Road three years ago. And as junior counsel to senior counsel John Larkin KC, she was due to help fight the charges on Matthews behalf. Masked gang in the Pitt Park area of east Belfast linked to UVF trouble Instead, the 44-year-old former DUP special adviser will be busy with the business of government. The former South Belfast MP started her career as a barrister, qualifying in 2003. When former First Minister Arlene Foster was ousted as party leader in June 2021, Ms Little-Pengelly quit the party and five months later announced she was returning to the Bar. At the time, she described herself as being deeply saddened over the in-party fighting after the election of former leader Edwin Poots. She said she was devastated and asked Mr Poots not to put her name forward for consideration for a special advisor or other post within the DUP. But yesterday it emerged both she and Mr Poots will be working cheek-by-jowl in the newly-formed Executive. She will take up the role of Deputy First Minister, while he is the Assembly Speaker. And because of her important new job, Ms Little-Pengelly had to pass the briefs of the Matthews case to another barrister on Thursday. Being appointed Deputy First Minister is a proud moment for the co-opted MLA, whose father Noel Little was one of three men arrested in Paris in 1989 in connection with a plot to exchange a stolen missile for South African guns. Her father denied BBC claims he was a gunrunner for Ulster Resistance and said of the allegations: Its hard on Emma. Newly appointed First Minister Michelle ONeill, left, and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly (NI Assembly/PA) This week, Matthews trial was postponed until March 1 after it emerged witnesses at his trial were also witnesses in another trial which has taken precedent. Last year, as Matthews barrister, Ms Little-Pengelly put forward an impassioned no case to answer argument as to why the charges should be thrown out. Prosecutors have contended that a group of men associated with the East Belfast UVF went into the area with their faces covered by scarves and hoods. Disputed claims were made that up to 11 people living in the area fled their homes and sheltered for days in a nearby community centre. Matthews, of Pansy Street, and Derek Lammey, of Spring Place, allegedly played leadership roles in the gathering. The defendants deny being involved and are not accused of any paramilitary offences. Ms Little-Pengelly, representing Matthews, told the court that even if his alleged participation could be established, he did nothing unlawful. My client carried out no violence or threat of violence, no attack on anybody, no shouting or threats, no weapons, she submitted. He is seen simply, it is alleged, walking in a gathering. My client disputes that it is him identified. Judge Paul Ramsey KC threw out defence applications that Matthews and Lammey had no case to answer. In his ruling, Judge Ramsey said: The statements from civilians in my opinion convey an atmosphere of fear, dread and intimidation. Matthews has previously denied being a member of the UVF. The Palace declined to confirm the type of cancer. Britains King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. Buckingham Palace confirmed the disease, which is not prostate cancer, was discovered while the King was being treated in hospital for an enlarged prostate. The British King has started a schedule of regular treatments, but has been advised to postpone his public-facing duties. The Palace declined to confirm the type of cancer. He will carry on working behind the scenes on state business and official papers, and returned from Sandringham to London on Monday to commence treatment as an out-patient. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: During The Kings recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual. The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer. Charles, 75, was discharged from the London Clinic a week ago after undergoing treatment on an enlarged prostate. The shock news is the latest health scare to hit the royal family at the start of 2024, coming after the Kings hospital stay, the Princess of Waless major abdominal surgery and Sarah, Duchess of Yorks diagnosis of skin cancer. Buckingham Palace announced on January 16 that the King was to have treatment for an enlarged prostate, but that the condition was benign. The Palace announced the Kings cancer diagnosis at 6pm on Monday. Prince Harry has spoken with the King about his cancer diagnosis and will travel to the UK to see him in the coming days, a source close to Harry said. Charles, who acceded to the throne just 17 months ago, was last seen on Sunday when he attended church in Sandringham. Charles had attended a Sunday church service for the first time since his treatment in hospital for an enlarged prostate. Charles smiled and waved to the public as he and the Queen walked to St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Sunday morning, accompanied by a member of the clergy. He 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. Charles underwent a corrective procedure for the benign condition last week and it has been reported that he could take up to a month off from public duties as he recuperates. The Queen is currently the most senior member of the royal family carrying out public engagements while both the King and Kate recover, with William taking a break from royal events to support his family. Earlier this week, Camilla said her husband was "doing his best" following his release from hospital as she opened a cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reacted to the news of the Kings cancer diagnosis by tweeting: Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. I have no doubt hell be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well. Hes able to get around fine, but he doesnt drive anymore as hes 94 now. Shane MacGowans sister Siobhan stresses their father is fit and well following his much-publicised ordeal in Limericks main hospital. Author Siobhan who took part in a recent protest against overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick reveals her dad Maurices hospital ordeal actually happened six years ago. I went on the protest last Sunday week because conditions havent changed, Siobhan told the Sunday World. It happened in 2018 when he was in hospital, and hes all sorted now. Hes able to get around fine, but he doesnt drive anymore as hes 94 now. Maurice attended Shanes funeral in Nenagh in December and lives near the Co. Tipperary town, as does Siobhan and her partner. Siobhan, who along with Shanes wife Victoria gave a eulogy at his funeral, was one of hundreds of people who last month took part in a latest demonstration at the overcrowding crisis at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). Maurice had been brought there six years ago after he complained of a heart murmur. He was on a trolley overnight, she recalls. Nobody was coming around to him. He has slight dementia. The family were so outraged at conditions there they decided to move him to a Dublin hospital to be cared for. I had to stay with him as long as I could. I came back the next morning and had to get him out of there and drive up with him to Dublin to have him seen to, she recollects. Its like a Third World hospital. Its bloody awful. Siobhan was one of hundreds of protesters who braved wind and rain during Storm Isha in a demonstration against the conditions at the Limerick hospital. Crowds marched from the Crescent Shopping Centre in Dooradoyle to the gates of the hospital as part of the protest organised by health campaigner Mike Daly. Protesters demanded the reopening of the emergency departments in Nenagh, Ennis, and St Johns hospitals and an end to chronic overcrowding at UHL, which has been overflowing with patients in its emergency department following closures of other local units. Emergency departments in these hospitals were all closed as part of a reconfiguration of hospital services in 2009, when all acute and emergency services were redirected to UHL, which has seen the facility cope with pressure by placing patients on trolleys, often for days, before being admitted to a bed. Weather Eye with John Maunder Monthly rainfalls for Tauranga have been recorded at several recording sites during the last 126 years. From January 1898 to December 1904, the observation site was described as the Tauranga Harbour, from November 1904 to April 1907 the site was described as simply Tauranga'. From January 1910 to December 1923 the site was Waikareao, in Otumoetai; from January 1924 to September 1940 the site was at 148 Waihi Rd, in Judea; from October 1940 to January 1941 the site was at Te Puna; and from February 1941 to now, the site is Tauranga Airport. The methodology used in adjusting the older sites to the current observing site was published in the NZ Meteorological Service Miscellaneous Publication' No 180 in 1984. It is considered that the homogeneous rainfall series described here is a fair and true record of what the rainfall would have been if the current observation site (Tauranga Airport) had been used since 1898. This should be coupled with the understanding that although standard accepted methodologies have been used, any adjustments are only estimates of what would have occurred if the location of the rainfall records had always been in the same place with the same surroundings and the same or similar recording gauge. In terms of climate change (such as is it getting wetter or drier, or warmer or colder), the methodology used in computing an official' set of climate observations is very important, as otherwise erroneous conclusions may be drawn. The graph shows the range of Tauranga's January rainfalls from 1898-2024, varied from an extreme high of 532 mm in 1907 to a low of only 1 mm in 1928. The second wettest January was 2023, when 385 mm was recorded; and the second driest January was in 2013, when only 4 mm fell. The long-term average rainfall for Tauranga for January is 89 mm. The rainfall for January 2024 was 68 mm.. The graph of the January rainfall shows generally normal variations from year to year. Since 1898 there have been nine January months with a rainfall of 180 mm or more, with two such wet January months, 1940 and 1941, being consecutive. Seventeen January months have experienced rainfalls of less than 20 mm. In chronological order, the nine wettest January months are 1907 with 532 mm, 1920 with 196 mm, 1940 with 254 mm, 1941 with 245 mm, 1951 with 204 mm, 1965 with 183 mm, 1989 with 268 mm, 2011 with 347 mm, and 2023 with 385 mm. In contrast, the seventh driest January months in chronological order are 1900 with 8 mm, 1928 with 1 mm, 1944 with 10 mm, 1957 with 8 mm, 1988 with 9 mm, 2013 with 4 mm, and 2015 with 8 mm. ******* Temperatures have been recorded in the Tauranga area at several sites during the last 111 years, including the current Tauranga Airport site from June 1990. The graph above shows details of the average daily maximum temperatures (called simply afternoon') for Tauranga for January from 1914-2024. The long-term average afternoon temperature in January for Tauranga is 23.8 degrees Celsius, ranging from the cool January months of 1920, with 21.6 degrees Celsius, and 1939 with 21.8 degrees Celsius, to the very warm January month of 1935, with 27.7 degrees Celsius, and January 2019 with 26.7 degrees Celsius. The average afternoon temperature in January 2024 was 25.6 degrees Celsius, the third warmest on record. The average January afternoon temperature during the 50 years from 1963 to 2011 of 23.8 degrees Celsius, is the same average recorded in the 50 year period from 1914 to 1962. From 1914 to 2024, there have been fourteen January months with an average afternoon temperature of 25.3 degrees Celsius or higher, and seven January months with an average afternoon temperature of 22.5 degrees Celsius or lower. The warmest January months (in terms of afternoon temperatures), on record, in chronological order, are 1914, 1915, 1935, 1970, 1957, 1999, 2009, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021,,2022 and 2024,. By contrast the seven coolest January months on record, in chronological order, are 1918, 1920, 1922, 1925, 1930, 1939, and 1980. For further information on a range of weather/climate matters see: "Climate Change: A Realistic Perspective" The title of my climate book "Fifteen Shades of Climate" has been changed to "Climate Change: A Realistic Perspective" to better reflect its contents. Note: I was born in Nelson (New Zealand) and lived inTakaka in 1938-45 when I watched the Takaka River flood, and as a 7 year old I asked two questions ..Why did it rain, and What were the consequences of the rain. I still have questions. The new book is identical to the old book, with the exception that a new Author's Foreword has been included. The new book is available from Amazon. Scions leading biomaterials, 3D printing, packaging, and machine-learning knowledge is being called on as part of a 7.5 million (NZD$13.25m) research project funded in partnership with the European Union. The EUs key research and innovation funding programme, Horizon Europe, awarded the funds to a four-year project led by INRAE, France's National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment. The project, starting in May, brings together 15 partners from seven countries. Scion will play a central role in the project and contribute approximately NZD$3m of research to the project. The research programme, UPWEARS, aims to develop a sustainable e-textile (electrically conductive textile) using cork, hemp, flax and paper byproducts, and develop ways to recycle and reuse textile waste. The overall aim is to contribute to a sustainable economy by unlocking the potential of bio-based and hybrid fabrics. To demonstrate the e-textile, the team will create high-performance clothing for biking that is abrasion and tear-resistant, waterproof or repellant, stretchable, and breathable. The product will also be biodegradable, and this will be tested in Scions biodegradation facility in Rotorua. Scions expertise in sustainable electronics will be used to create flexible sensors from biomaterials for integration into the clothing, sending temperature and humidity data to a users device. Scion will lead in turning recovered textile waste into filament or pellets for 3D printing meaning the clothing will be recyclable and a zero-waste product. Scion will also contribute to using AI/machine learning to optimise the production process reducing waste and increasing zero-defect products. Overall, the project will help with the transition to a modern textile fabrication process using natural fibres and reducing waste during and post-production. According to the EU, the textiles industry is responsible for water pollution through things like dyeing and laundering, and responsible for 10 per cent of global carbon emissions. End-of-life waste is a huge problem and tackling textile waste goes towards achieving a circular economy. New Zealand signed an association with Horizon Europe in February last year allowing it to access Horizon Europe funding. Scientists Dr Yi Chen and Dr Marie Joo Le Guen will be leading Scions science team. Chen says involvement in the bid came after the establishment of the International Associated Lab for biobased products, LIA BIOMATA, in 2023 forming a collaborative partnership between Scion and INRAE and providing an ideal framework for the development of larger partnerships. Scion has been developing sustainable biosensors and using AI for forestry and packaging applications, and this technology translates to a variety of applications such as wearable devices. "It is fantastic that our capability is recognised globally by world-leading partners. This success is a tangible outcome of the collaborative efforts over the past year with INRAE and the strong connections established through being an International Associated Lab. While Horizon Europe funding is mostly for projects that will further the EU on the world stage, Chen says it also benefits New Zealand by attracting leading researchers and state of the art technology and raising our profile with future international collaborators. Some of the projects goals include substituting at least 50 per cent of synthetic materials and using natural fibres from 100 per cent local EU suppliers. The production process aims to reduce water and chemical use and carbon footprint. Scientists will develop bio-bleaching techniques, use cork coating for stability and antibacterial properties, flax for flexibility and hemp for mechanical resistance. Dr Alec Foster, Scions Bioproducts and Packaging Portfolio lead says work like this helps progress a circular bioeconomy and being involved in such a globally significant project is a privilege for Scion. To be one of the first in New Zealand to be a Horizon partner, and to also play such a central role in a substantial consortium, is a fantastic achievement and exemplifies the tremendous opportunity Horizon Europe presents for our country. The cross-fertilization of ideas and knowledge with some of the worlds foremost experts in the field is the best way to achieve a circular bioeconomy and make a global impact. He says being part of such transformative project with European partners underscores Scions commitment to making a significant and positive difference in the world with new technologies. MBIE and Horizon Europe will support Scion's involvement in the project. INRAE researcher Sofiane Guessasma says UPWEARS proves change towards sustainable products while improving individual wellbeing is possible and sustainability does not mean necessarily sacrificing our lifestyle. UPWEARS leads the way towards a viable transition by addressing challenges about resource depletion, reduction of chemical use and promotion of high value bio-based products. He says UPWEARS contributes to the 2030 INRAE vision of building a sustainable future through shared science and innovation. UPWEARS will be integrated into a cross-country biking suit. Scion has been a key partner of INRAE for many years, particularly in the development of sustainable materials from biobased resources. "The recent establishment of the LIA BIOMATA has strengthened the collaboration with an increased visibility of our shared strengths in this field. The UPWEARS project will further enhance our visibility on the international stage through our ongoing commitment to innovation in this field. The other organisations involved include research organisations, universities and textiles companies from France, Sweden, Portugal, Italy, Belgium and the United Kingdom covering the technical e-textile value chain, from fibre to prototype manufacturing and testing, as well as stakeholder engagement and market analysis. A doctor has breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers Rights for directing an unqualified employee to administer Botox to a woman who then suffered adverse reactions and for not ensuring that appropriate informed consent was obtained. The employee was a member of an overseas nursing organisation, but she was not registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand to practise as a nurse, and she did not hold a practising certificate in New Zealand. She was not entitled to perform health services, including injecting prescribed medicines. The employee was working as the clinical practice manager at the medical centre owned by the doctor. She told HDC that, in addition to administrative tasks, she also, at the doctors request, assisted the doctor with clinical activities when the medical centre was short-staffed. The doctor was away on the day the employee administered Botox to the woman. The employee phoned the doctor and was advised to proceed with the treatment. The woman signed a consent form for the doctor to provide her with Botox treatment, but the treatment was provided by the employee who signed the consent form as the "doctor". The only risks and side effects listed on the consent form are a minor, temporary drooping of the eyebrow or eyelid, and slight swelling or bruising. No other discussion about potential risks or side-effects of the procedure occurred. Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner, Deborah James, found the doctor breached Right 4(2) of the Code (which gives consumers the right to services that comply with legal, professional, ethical, and other relevant standards) for directing the unqualified employee to administer the womans Botox injections. "As the registered health practitioner, the doctor was responsible for ensuring he delegated his clinical work to appropriately qualified and trained staff. I am concerned that the doctor also asked the employee to assist with Botox treatments for other consumers, when she was not qualified to do so." Deborah says the woman was not provided with adequate information, as part of the informed consent process, and there was not a proper discussion about the risks and side-effects before treatment was provided. "Ultimate responsibility to ensure that the risks were discussed, and that appropriate informed consent was obtained, rested with the doctor as the medical professional who remained responsible for the treatment,"says Deborah. Deborah also found the doctor breached Right 6(1) of the Code by failing to ensure such information was provided, and Right 7(1) for failing to ensure that the womans informed consent was obtained before treatment was provided. Since the events, the medical centre has reviewed and updated its consent form and its policy and procedure on Botox. The doctor is no longer practising, and his practising certificate expired in 2020. The employee told HDC she now works in a job "which does not include any type of clinical activities or cosmetic treatments". Deborah recommended the doctor undertake a competence review, with the assistance of the Medical Council of New Zealand, should he return to medical practice. She also recommended that if the medical centre decides to continue appearance medicine services, it review and update its policy to ensure that only a doctor or registered nurse can provide Botox treatment, and not a physician assistant. Finally, Deborah recommended the employee familiarise herself with the requirements to practise as a registered nurse in New Zealand and ensure that she does not sign any documentation or consent forms as a "doctor" in future. The full report of this case can be viewed on HDCs website - see HDC's ' Latest Decisions'. HDC promotes and protects the rights of people using health and disability services as set out in the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights (the Code). In a report released today, Aged Care Commissioner Carolyn Cooper found a medical centre breached the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers Rights (the Code) for their care of a man with prostate cancer. The man was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2016 and had a surgical procedure to remove the prostate and surrounding tissue. In 2019 the mans care was handed back to his medical centre and his urologist provided instructions to the centre to check his PSA levels every six months and complete an immediate referral back to urology if levels became detectable. PSA is a protein in the blood that is produced by normal, as well as malignant, cells of the prostate gland. Over the next three years, five test results showed the mans PSA levels were detectable. However, because these results were not picked up by the medical centre, they were not relayed back to the man accurately, and he was not referred to a urologist. This meant that the cancer spread to other parts of the mans body, including his pancreas and, sadly, he passed away. Carolyn identified deficiencies in the standard of care and communication provided to the man by the medical centre. She found that multiple clinicians who reviewed the mans PSA levels overlooked the urologists letter and did not fully understand his clinical history. "There were several opportunities for clinicians to review the mans clinical notes, and it must be acknowledged that had an earlier urology referral been made, it is possible (but not inevitable) that his pancreatic tumour may have been detected at an earlier stage," says Carolyn. Carolyn found the medical centre company in breach of Right 4(1) of the Code - the right to services provided with reasonable care and skill - for failing to read and adhere to the urologists recommendations, failing to interpret rising PSA results in the context of the mans past clinical history, and failing to have effective administrative systems that supported coordinated care and communication amongst individual providers. She also found the medical centre company in breach of Right 6(1)1 of the Code, the right to be fully informed, and for failing to explain to the man the results of his PSA tests. "I acknowledge the distressing impact of this on the man and his family and express my sincere condolences to the family for their loss." Carolyn also made adverse comments about one of the GPs and a nurse practitioner at the medical centre who reviewed the mans PSA tests for failing to accurately interpret the results. She recommended they both write letters of apology to the mans whanau. She also recommended the medical centre confirm: the implementation of a proposed inbox management process; that a patient portal has been implemented to communicate test results to patients; and that all post-prostatectomy patients have a double recall system established in its practice management system to facilitate timely clinician review of test results and interventions. The full report of this case can be viewed on HDCs website - see HDC's ' Latest Decisions'. HDC promotes and protects the rights of people using health and disability services as set out in the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights (the Code). Europa Press Jaen Monday, 5 February 2024, 18:33 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram A court in Jaen in the Andalucia region of southern Spain has sentenced a 64-year-old man to six months in prison for leaving his dog locked in the car all day in the town of Cazorla, in the middle of July and with temperatures above 40C, which led to the death of the animal due to heat stroke. Although initially the Prosecutor's Office requested a sentence of one year in prison, the sentence was reduced to six months in prison when the individual pleaded guilty and conceded that he acted under the effects of alcohol, and offered the mitigating circumstance of drunkenness. The court sentence ruled that on 7 July 2022, at around noon, the accused, "affected by the consumption of alcoholic beverages", left the car parked on a street in Cazorla "under the direct influence of the sun's radiation" and "with absolute abandonment of his care obligations" he left his dog weighing around 25 kilos, "locked inside his vehicle until nightfall". It was left "without any type of ventilation and without sufficient water, despite the adverse weather conditions" due to the high temperatures recorded that day, which were around 42C during the hottest hours. In the evening, and according to the police report, the accused, under the influence of alcohol, fell on a public road and after being treated for a shoulder injury, was transferred to the Local Police station. Officers addressed the man's concern about the condition of the dog but when they arrived at the vehicle the animal was already dead. The veterinarian's autopsy report stated that the dog died from heat stroke. Eventually, the court sentence imposed on the accused was as the author of a crime of death of a domestic animal with the mitigating circumstance of drunkenness. In addition, a ban of three years was imposed on him from the "exercise of profession, trade and commerce that is related to animals and from their ownership". The defendant's agreement with the sentence implied his commitment not to appeal the sentence, which is now final. Europa Press Malaga Monday, 5 February 2024, 17:41 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Police have smashed an alleged gang of criminals for feeding homemade explosive devices into ATMs so they could flee with cash stolen from bank machines throughout Andalucia. The technique called "the pizza slide" involve inserting the device into the cash dispenser hole via a metal rod, before exploding the device to break open the ATM and gaining access to the money. Following extensive investigations, National Police officers arrested seven people in Cordoba, Malaga and Almeria provinces. The gang members were allegedly responsible for nine robberies, eight in Granada, Cordoba, Malaga and Almeria provinces and one in Badajoz. Police carried out searches of various properties and seized two explosive devices ready for use, ammunition and cash. The investigation started last September when an ATM at a bank branch in the Granada town of Motril was blown up, with 40,000 euros worth of money inside taken. A father and son, two of the group's members A father and son pair living in Cordoba were among those arrested, according to investigators. A third member of the gang was also located in the same city and a fourth in Almeria, who in addition to allegedly participating in some of the robberies, managed the procurement of high-end rental vehicles for use during the crime spree and changing the number plates. The gang was allegedly planning a new wave of attacks in late January and were looking to ramp up the violence, according to investigators. They were allegedly planning to acquire guns, grenades and bulletproof vests, according to the police. Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (R) meets with French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne in Amman, Jordan, Feb. 4, 2024. (Photo by Mohammad Abu Ghosh/Xinhua) AMMAN, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Sunday stressed the importance of the international community's continued support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), saying it plays an indispensable role in assisting Palestinian refugees, especially in the war-torn Gaza. The Jordanian minister made the remarks at a meeting in Amman with French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne, during which the two sides discussed efforts to achieve a complete ceasefire in Gaza, ensure the protection of civilians, and deliver sufficient and sustainable humanitarian aid throughout the region, according to a statement by the ministry. The Jordanian minister praised France's supportive stance for the two-state solution, and expressed appreciation for France's continued support for the UNRWA, especially under the current circumstance. For his part, the French minister stressed that the UNRWA plays a crucial and essential role in Gaza, particularly as the humanitarian situation worsens in Gaza, noting that France has not halted its support for the organization. A number of UNRWA donors, including Canada, Australia, Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, Estonia, Japan, Austria and Romania, have recently joined the United States in pausing funding for UNRWA after Israel accused several employees of the agency of involvement in the attack of Gaza-ruling Hamas on southern Israel on Oct. 7 last year. Given the serious accusations leveled against the UNRWA, the agency must demonstrate the highest level of transparency, Sejourne said, adding France welcomes the immediate measures taken by the agency, and now awaits the results of the investigation to ensure full confidence in its operations. Juan Soto Malaga Monday, 5 February 2024 | Updated 09/02/2024 18:28h. Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Malaga's carnival parade returned to the city on Sunday 4 February and transformed the streets into streams of colour. Hundreds of people took part in the parade through the streets of the city centre, watched by tens of thousands of spectators. Some 47 animation and singing groups took part in the parade, with members of the cavalcade tossing confetti at the crowds. The parade set off from the Santo Domingo esplanade towards the Plaza de la Merced, where some of the groups stopped to perform. Among the participants were the god and goddess of this year's carnival, who were selected at the official opening of the proceedings on Saturday, who will act as representatives of the proceedings throughout the week. Also present was Malaga Carnival foundation president Carlos Torres, who praised the number of people who took part in the street party. "It's a great parade and the public is having a good time," he said. Related article Picture special Malaga Carnival 2024, in pictures Migue Fernandez / Marilu Baez Rest until next weekend After a few days of rest, Malaga Carnival will restart later in the week. On Friday 9 February, the big drag queen gala is scheduled to take place in the Plaza de la Constitucion which this year will focus on butch queens. On Saturday 10 February, the Battle of the Flowers a brightly coloured parade along Calle Larios from which confetti and streamers are thrown into the crowd - will begin at 6pm; while an 80s fancy dress competition, along with live music, will be held in Plaza de la Constitucion from 9pm. The festivities will come to a tragic end on Sunday, with the ritual of the Entierro de Boqueron, the burning of a giant anchovy. Most of Spain buries a sardine to mark the end of festivities and the start of Lent, but Malaga burns an anchovy. SUR in English Malaga Monday, 5 February 2024, 13:40 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram What is the day-to-day life of a diplomatic ambassador like? This is what the 15 winners of the second British Embassy's Ambassador for a Day programme in Madrid, which aims to promote female leadership among young women, have been able to find out. The students, aged between 16 and 18 and from all over Spain, had the opportunity to talk to ambassadors and diplomats from different countries stationed in the Spanish capital and learn the skills needed to dedicate themselves to the diplomatic world. Seventeen-year-old Lara Villalba from Malaga attended after being shortlisted from 200 entries with her piece explaining how she would promote peace in today's world. The 15 young women enjoyed a full programme on Thursday and Friday, which started with advice and guidance from ambassadors and representatives from the participating embassies, including British ambassador Hugh Elliott. They were also able to listen to high-level speakers such such as Maria Solanas, director of programmes at the Elcano Royal Institute, Marta Perez Dorao, president of the Inspiring Girls Foundation, founded by lawyer Miriam Gonzalez Durantez, and influencer Maria Speaks English, who teaches English to her hundreds of thousands of followers on social networks. Thursday concluded with two sessions on communication and culture in diplomacy. On Friday, the students attended a Women in Science conference to discuss challenges facing women in science and technology. "With initiatives such as Ambassador for a Day, we want young women to get to know the diplomatic world from the inside and see that it is within their reach. I hope that the 15 winners from all over Spain who have visited us have learned and enjoyed all the activities," said Sarah Cowley of the British Embassy. Lara Villalba said it had been an "extremely interesting and enriching" experience from which she has learned, for example, what is "behind an ambassador's press conference". "The programme motivates me and gives me hope that in the future I will be able to dedicate myself to something related to international relations," she said. Ignacio Lillo Malaga Monday, 5 February 2024, 14:40 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram The rains are coming back, and with a bit of luck, they will leave a good sprinkling in Malaga province. The forecast of the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) considers rainfall to be certain on Friday, 9 February, and to a lesser extent, on Saturday and Sunday. With reference to yesterday's update of the European weather forecast model, the downpours will begin in the very early hours of Friday morning and will end at midday on Saturday. However, we will have to wait at least until Wednesday to see a more accurate forecast, said Jose Luis Escudero, Malaga weather expert and author of the SUR blog Tormentas y Rayos (Storms and Lightning). "The key thing is that the two main weather forecast models (European and American) on this occasion, unlike the couple of times, have similar predictions and they both concur". And what these weather systems agree on is that it will start raining in Malaga province in the western areas (as usual), in the early hours of Friday morning. It is a "very wet and active" front, which comes with a bank of humidity, pushed by so-called "rainy" winds. Therefore, significant accumulations are forecast, especially in the Serrania de Ronda and the western strip of the Costa del Sol, where up to 80mm could be deposited. In the upper Axarquia area around 40mm could be collected and in Malaga city approximately 30mm. "This Friday could leave a good downpour, although it will be confirmed on Wednesday with more certainty," said Escudero. From Saturday afternoon onwards, showers may be seen in Antequera, although it is still possible that this situation will also extend to Sunday. Water for La Concepcion If this scenario is confirmed, the reservoir that will benefit most in Malaga province is also one of those most in need of water: La Concepcion. The reservoir that supplies a large part of the Costa del Sol is at a very low level, at 22.7 per cent of its capacity with barely 13 cubic hectometres. The good thing is that the small reservoir, which has a capacity of only 57.5 cubic hectometres, can be filled as easily as it is emptied, thanks to the inflows from the Rio Verde and from the Guadaiza, Guadalmina and Guadalmansa. The good news will continue in the second half of February and into early March, when the European model anticipates possible "positive anomalies" of rainfall in Andalucia, and this time it includes Malaga (on other occasions, it has covered mainly Huelva and Cadiz). Terral As far as temperatures are concerned, today Tuesday and Wednesday, an episode of warm 'terral' wind is forecast, where the westerly wind usually arrives in Malaga province - in the city, Velez-Malaga, Estepona, etc). Escudero explained that, given that the air mass is temperate, the westerly wind could cause the thermometer to rise to 22-23C, well above average for February. Even in Antequera and Ronda it will rise to 16 to 18 degrees, which are high for this time of year and "similar to spring". On Thursday the 'terral' will be gone but temperatures will still be above average, and between Friday and Saturday a drop is expected, with maximums of 17C, due to the arrival of the colder air mass. January balance sheet In terms of recent records, January 2024 was once again an extremely warm month, two degrees centigrade warmer than average. In fact, it is no longer very different from what has become the norm: in 2022 and 2023 it was one degree above average. The historical average temperature of the first month of the year is 12.1C, while during the thirty years (1994/2024) that serve as a reference, the average has been exceeded 21 times. Of these, nine years have been consecutive: from 2016 to 2024. In January 2024, the average temperature was 14.1 degrees. The record for January still stands at 1955, when the average temperature was 14.8, so far the highest average since records have been kept. It was followed by 1966, with 14.7. Although, as Jose Luis Escudero warned, "at that time the average was not exceeded so many years in a row, but rather it was a one-off event; now the climate change is clearly noticeable because it is not normal to have so many consecutive years with higher than normal average temperatures". Raquel Merino Malaga Monday, 5 February 2024, 11:28 | Updated 11:38h. Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram The approach of an upper-level isolated depression (DANA - Depresion Aislada en Niveles Altos) weather system to Spain will cause an increase in medium and high-level cloud over the mainland, although the anticyclonic weather will continue this Monday (5 February), so temperatures are not expected to experience major changes, according to state meteorological agency (Aemet). Some provinces including Huesca, Mallorca, Lerida, Navarra and Alava will be at risk this Monday (yellow alert) due to fog that will reduce visibility to 200 metres. Likewise, low morning clouds are expected to affect areas of Galicia, the Cantabrian Sea, the northern plateau, the Ebro, northeastern depressions, the Balearic Islands, the Strait of Gibraltar and Alboran, with probable morning mist and fog, locally persistent in the northern plateau and the Ebro basin. Meanwhile a thunderstorm is expected on Tuesday or Wednesday, according to local weather expert Jose Luis Escudero in his SUR blog Tormentas y Rayos (Storms and Lightning). In some places, maximum temperatures could reach 22 and 23C, while in the inland Ronda and Antequera areas the maximum temperatures will be between 16 and 18 degrees. On Thursday the maximum temperatures are expected to be above average for the time of year. Escudero also anticipates some good news: the possibility that the powerful blocking anticyclone, which has affected the Spanish mainland over the last few days, will begin to weaken. This will result in the polar jet stream dropping in latitude, which will allow the storms to move closer. In addition to this, an atmospheric band of moisture will probably also reach the mainland, although we will have to wait to confirm this and to know which areas it may affect. With this forecast, Jose Luis Escudero forecasts that the probability of rainfall could be high for the western part of Andalucia. What is not yet clear is how it will affect the province of Malaga. Edurne Martinez Madrid Monday, 5 February 2024, 12:13 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram A whopping total of 85 million tourists visited Spain last year spending more than 108 billion euros between them, according to latest figures. The all-time record is almost 19% more than 2022 and 2% more than before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019, the best year for tourism, according to the data from the country's INE national statistics agency (INE). The Canary Islands was the most popular destination among tourists in December, with 26.4% of the total number of visitors flocking there. It was followed by Catalonia (19.6%) and the Valencian region (13.7%). Hotel bookings increased by 16% and rental properties by almost 70%, the figures show. Visitors from the United States and Latin America soared by 40%, which is 30% more compared to 2022. In total, there were more than eight million tourists from the American continent, 3.86 million from the USA and more than 4.7 million visitors from Latin America, 17% more than those who came before the pandemic. Tourists spent a total of 108.662 billion euros last year in Spain, an increase of almost 25% compared to 2022. Brits spent the most last year, almost 20 billion euros, followed by Germany (13 billion) and France (almost 10 billion). The regions with the highest total expenditure in 2023 were Catalonia (with 20,878 billion, 26.7% more than in 2022), the Canary Islands (20,334 billion) and the Balearic Islands (17,722 billion). British, French and Germans Despite a surge in tourists from the Americas, the highest number of visitors in 2023 were the British, with more than 17 million visitors, 15% more than the previous year. They were followed by the French, with almost 12 million tourists and the Germans with 10.8 million tourists. Italian tourists increased by 21%, as did the arrival of Swiss tourists, the figures show. GABORONE, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Botswana on Monday received an integrity award for reaching a milestone in its tobacco control efforts from the World Health Organization (WHO), according to the country's health ministry. This award was made at the 10th session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), held in Panama from Feb. 5 to 10. "The award was in specific recognition of Botswana's efforts to safeguard public health by ensuring that there was no undue influence or pressure from the tobacco industry, in any of its public health policy formulation or implementation processes, in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)," said Christopher Nyanga, Botswana's Health Ministry spokesperson, in a statement to announce the award. Botswana's Tobacco Control Act strictly prohibits any form of contributions or corporate social responsibility initiatives from the tobacco industry. Botswana believes that the supply and demand of tobacco products should be regulated so that those who use tobacco, do so, with the knowledge about its health implications on them and those around, said the statement. Nyanga said the ministry advises Batswana to continue taking personal responsibility for their health, especially vulnerable populations. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. DeWitt, N.Y. -- PPC Broadband plans to add nearly 100 jobs this year in an expansion of its facilities in DeWitt, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Monday during a visit to the company. PPC, a maker of connectivity products for broadband providers and cable television companies, will spend $7.3 million to expand its operations at its two facilities in DeWitt, Hochul said. Kingston, N.Y. An 85-year-old man accused of helping a person die by suicide in Upstate New York has been charged with manslaughter. The uncommon arrest was made after a nearly three-month investigation into a death in a motel room in the Hudson Valley. The investigation began at 11:15 a.m. on Nov. 9 when a person was found unresponsive and unconscious at Super 8 by Wyndham Kingston in Kingston. No information about the person who died has been released. At first, it appeared the person had died by suicide while alone in a 487 Washington Ave. motel room, the City of Kingston Police Department said in a news release. But evidence soon revealed a man from Arizona who contributed to or assisted in the suicide had been present when the person died, police said. Stephen P. Miller was arrested Friday on an arrest warrant charging him with second-degree manslaughter for aiding or causing a suicide, Kingston police said. The Tuscon man was also charged with first-degree assault and second-degree assault, both felonies. Miller was not related to the person who died, police said. No additional information including how the Arizona man knew the person or ended up assisting with a suicide in New York was immediately released. Medical aid in dying, or assisted suicide, is not legal in New York state. Miller was arraigned in Ulster County Court, where police said his bail was set at $500,000 cash, a $1,000,000 bond or a $3,000,000 partially secured bond. He posted a bond and was released from custody on the day of his arrest, VINE records show. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal feelings, help is available 24/7 at the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988. A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie is set to visit Upstate New York ahead of his new album Better Off Alone. As part of his 2024 tour dates, A Boogie will take the stage on Saturday, February 17 at Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, N.Y. Tickets are originally sold through Ticketmaster but fans looking to secure tickets are advised to explore reselling platforms such as VividSeats, StubHub, and more. VividSeats : Tickets start at $48 StubHub : Tickets start at $51 SeatGeek : Tickets start at $43 TicketNetwork : Tickets start at $87 A Boogie, whose real name is Artist Julius Dubose, is best known for the hip-hop hits Look Back At It, My S---, Drowning and Numbers. He released his fourth album, Me vs. Myself, in December and collaborated with Metro Boomin for a new song on the recent Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse soundtrack. Related: Rapper returning to Syracuse 5 years after one of NYS Fairs biggest concerts His 2018 performance at the Fair drew some criticism over reports of violence prior to and after his concert. Police said a Syracuse teen was stabbed; two women fell through a glass area while fighting at a food stand; and several videos of fights were posted online. Who will be former President Donald Trumps running mate in the 2024 election? Trump VP rumors have swirled as he remains the likely Republican presidential nominee, and he named two possible picks during an interview with Fox News on Sunday. Trump said he wouldnt announce his choice for a vice presidential candidate for a while, but he has not yet decided. I havent, and theres no reason, Trump told Maria Bartiromo during Fox News Sunday Morning Futures. However, Trump fueled speculation about a short list when he named two GOP favorites for the potential job: Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. Scott was previously in the White House race, but dropped out and endorsed Trump. I called (Scott) and I said, You are [a] much better candidate for me, than you were for yourself, he said. When I watched Tim, he was fine, he was good, but he was very low-key. I watched him in the last week, defending me, and sticking up for me and fighting for me. Trump added that Noem has been incredible fighting for him, and referenced comments where she said she would never run against him because [she] cant beat him. Trump did not name Rep. Elise Stefanik, who represents Upstate New Yorks North Country and is one of the top Republicans in the House. Stefanik, who recently made headlines when she grilled college presidents over antisemitism on campuses, has long supported Trump and endorsed him for president in 2022 before he even officially announced his campaign. She has widely been considered a likely candidate for Trumps running mate, sparking VP! chants at a Trump event in New Hampshire last month. Other potential vice presidential candidates that have been floated over the past two years include Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, his former press secretary; Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn; North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who endorsed Trump after dropping his own White House bid; Florida Rep. Byron Donalds; and Fox News host Tucker Carlson. Republicans who have also supported Trump on the campaign trail include Noem, Scott, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. The Hill notes that presidential candidates do not typically name running mates until officially receiving their partys nomination, but he continues to hold a large lead over former United Nations Ambassador and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley after he won in N.H. and Iowa. Still, Trump told Fox News that hes got criteria in mind for a possible VP as he challenges President Joe Biden. Always its got to be one thing, Trump said Sunday. Its got to be who would [be] able to be a good president. I mean, you always have to think that because you know, a civil emergency ... things happen right? No matter who you are, things happen. Its got to be number one. Whos your enemy. LONDON (AP) King Charles III has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and has begun treatment, Buckingham Palace said Monday. The palace says the cancer is not related to the kings recent treatment for a benign prostate condition. It did not say what form of cancer the 75-year-old monarch has. BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a message of condolences to Namibia's newly sworn-in President Nangolo Mbumba over the death of former Namibian President Hage Geingob. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, and in his own name, Xi extended profound condolences and expressed sincere sympathy to the Namibian government and people, as well as Geingob's family. In his message, Xi pointed out that President Geingob, an outstanding leader of Namibia, had promoted the in-depth development of the China-Namibia comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation during his lifetime and made important contributions to boosting China's friendship with Namibia and Africa. His death is a great loss to the Namibian people, and the Chinese people also lost a good friend, Xi said. He added that China cherishes the profound traditional friendship between China and Namibia and is ready to work with the Namibian side to push forward the continuous development of the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation. A hot potato: The JPEG XL image format is a royalty-free standard supporting lossy and lossless compression. The standard was designed to replace the older JPEG format. However, browser companies seem hesitant to implement it despite a significant interest among developers. The JPEG XL "Image Coding System" ISO standard is a new universal image format providing a cost reduction on server storage requirements and backward compatibility with existing JPEG-based applications. It was designed as a capable, efficient replacement for the JPEG format, an image compression technology initially introduced in 1992. Unfortunately, we will likely not see widespread web adoption of the format anytime soon, despite it being the most popular choice among developers during "Interop 2024" a project created to promote interoperability among the Chromium, Gecko (Firefox), and WebKit (Safari) browser engines. According to Interop Project's GitHub page, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla will cooperate to implement cross-compatible web technologies in their browsers. As the most requested feature at Interop 2024, JPEG XL would be a perfect candidate for this new interoperability utopia. Must read: How Does JPEG Work? Understanding the Subtle Beauty of Image Compression The web developers are very interested in using JPEG XL format, but members of the Interop project will not follow through. The organization explained that it rejected the JPEG XL proposal because its members couldn't agree on its inclusion. Interop notes that the rejection should not be viewed as "a comment on the technology as a whole." Many quickly pointed fingers at Google as the reason for JPEG XL rejection. The company deprecated experimental support for the format in Chromium last April, stating that the web ecosystem has no sufficient interest in a technology that doesn't provide significant benefits over existing image formats. Jon Sneyers, image researcher at Cloudinary and editor of the JPEG XL specifications, said the Chrome team is seemingly opposing the new format. Sneyers doesn't think that Google as a company is trying to sink JPEG XL, considering that many of the format developers come from Google Research. However, the Google Chrome team is "organizationally quite distant" from the Google Research department. As for the "ecosystem interest" in JPEG XL, Apple and Adobe currently support the format in their software development. Samsung promised support in their upcoming phones, while Microsoft could soon bring the format to Windows. Mozilla said it is neutral about the technology, as the JPEG XL technology doesn't seem to perform much better than its competitors like AVIF. However, the Firefox maker is willing to support the new format if there is enough demand for it. The top headlines from last week centered on the massive changes in the US and Japan's policies, with the US DEFIANCE Act now looking to combat AI-generated porn of famed celebrities. This is in response to Taylor Swift's latest explicit images which shocked the world, having no consent from the artist. Moreover, there is the latest Japanese Visa that will allow remote workers, a.k.a. Digital Nomads, to live in the country and explore it for around six months of stay. Lastly, the controversial subway robot that New York has launched to surveil its passengers was recently removed from service due to massive problems it encountered. US DEFIANCE Act to Answer Taylor Swift, AI Porn A new bipartisan bill was recently established to cover the massive spread of AI-generated porn of renowned individuals and public personalities, sparked by the controversy faced by Taylor Swift. The DEFIANCE (Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits) Act of 2024 looks to combat the creation and spread of these types of media to protect the victims. Through this bill, those who will create these types of content are subject to face legal action from their victims which came shortly after AI-made edits of Swift spread online. Moreover, it aims to address the deepfakes and misleading content online, with AI's abundance making it possible to create unimaginable things and share them with the world. It will target non-consensual edits and depict lewd media content. Read Also: Qualcomm Surges Ahead with 5% Revenue Boost, Hits $9.9 Billion in Q1 2024 New York Removes its Subway Surveillance Bot Five months after New York launched the K-5 Robot, it is now shutting down the program and retiring the surveillance machine on its subway station. Designated on New York's Times Square station, the K-5 strolls around on its wheels to record the happenings and potential crimes, and it also presents a help button to assist passengers with their needs. However, the bot faced hardships and challenges in its test run, particularly as it required frequent charging and could not navigate through stairs. According to AFP, it is now stored in a lot instead of operating in the station. Albert Fox Cahn, executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, went as far as to call it a "trash can on wheels," also noting that its wheels are no longer working as well. Japan Visa: Allow Remote Workers to Stay Long Japan's Immigration Service Agency launched a new Visa Program that will help digital nomads secure a permit to stay in the country for longer times while being able to explore the country and enjoy what it features. Through the program, those who are working remotely may do so in the Land of the Rising Sun, and the visa entails as much as six months of stay in the country. Nikkei Asia claimed that the agency's goal is to boost tourism in the country and welcome skilled professionals from other parts of the world. The program will start by the end of March, with this unique offer catering to IT engineers and remote workers who earn a total of 10 million yen ($68,000) per year. Related Article: Multinational Firm Loses $25M in Elaborate Deepfake Scam Impersonating CEO and CFO 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The United Kingdom has unveiled its newest plans to accelerate the construction of thousands of charging points for electric vehicles. Headlining the new plans are grants that cover up to 75% of costs for state-funded schools, nurseries, and academies. Multiple local government units are also set to receive over 14.2 million in funding for EV charging points. Today, Nottinghamshire's greener schools will receive support from Technology and Decarbonization Minister Anthony Browne. The new grant will cover up to 75% of the cost of purchasing and installing charge points, up to 2,500 per socket-up from the previous 350. The funding, which the Department sponsors for Transport, is available for state-supported schools, colleges, nurseries, and academies to improve the charge point amenities for employees and guests. It is a component of the Workplace Charging Scheme. Allowing the public to use their charge points might also assist schools in making money. (Photo : Jens Schlueter/Getty Images) A worker demonstrates the charging process of Volkswagen's second generation ID.3 electric car on May 24, 2023 in Zwickau, Germany. The school's grant applications are available online, but the announcement states that the academic institutions must have designated off-street parking spaces. Private schools can also apply for the grant via the SMEs Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Grant and the Workplace Charging Scheme. Applicants are highly encouraged to wait for the voucher code to ensure they are granted the cash incentive. Applicants may apply for grants up to 40 charging points. UK's efforts prove to be in line with its government goal to achieve zero-emission vehicles by 2035. The zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) requirement, which helps accelerate the development of charge points by giving customers and industry certainty, reportedly mandates that by 2030, 80% of new cars and 70% of new vans sold in Great Britain must be zero-emission vehicles. Read Also: LG Expands Into US EV Charging Market With New State-Of-The-Art Facility in Texas Streamlining EV Charging Point Construction Aside from the grants, local governments around the UK are also receiving the 381 million Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund. Three local authorities spanning from East Sussex to North Yorkshire and two London boroughs have been approved for the first capital payments for charging projects. This reportedly brings the total financing for these locations to over 14.2 million. The money will enable the installation of thousands of additional chargers, guaranteeing that the rollout proceeds quickly to assist drivers nationwide. UK's other efforts to accelerate EV charging points include streamlining EV charging constructions with permits rather than licenses. Consultations have also begun removing the 2-meter restriction so that wall-mounted outlets and upstands can be constructed anywhere within an area legally utilized for off-street parking, giving people and organizations who want to install EV charging outlets even more options. This new announcement follows after the government reportedly set a record number of public electric car chargers built in the UK for 2023. Reports indicate that about 16,000 new public chargers were deployed in the year ending December 12th, bringing the total to over 53,200. Compared to 2022, that is a 43% gain, which is far faster than the past three years. UK Residents on EV Charging Points Amidst such an increase, a representative from the public council of Cornwall recently stated that EV charging stations still need to continuously increase over the next ten years in line with the growing number of EV owners. The local government unit further stated they are seeking recommendations for locations where chargers could be required. They focus on lower-powered "destination" chargers to assist EV drivers without access to home charging and when it is doubtful that the private sector will install its chargers. Related Article: Ford to Roll Out Free Tesla Charging EV Adapters Soon 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Battery swapping is taking off in China, and it could help rescue the EV revolution in the United States, U.S. media outlet Business Insider has reported. America's EV revolution is stalling, and the time it takes to charge an electric car is at the heart of the issue, said the report published on Saturday. Charging an EV can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 50 hours and anxieties over range and charging are putting many drivers off going electric, it added. Battery swapping, an approach being used by Chinese EV maker Nio, might provide a solution as it sees dead EV batteries replaced with fully charged ones in less than five minutes, the report said. The company's battery-swapping strategy has picked up traction in the fiercely competitive Chinese EV market in recent months, with deals being signed with fellow Chinese electric vehicle makers, the report said. Experts quoted in the report said battery swapping offers a solution to many of the concerns of EV drivers. "From a purely technological point of view, it is the panacea," said Dylan Khoo, an analyst at ABI Research. In the meantime, he noted that establishing a battery-swapping network in the U.S. would require intense collaboration between U.S. automakers, who would have to agree to use batteries with a similar size and design. "A lot of the automakers in the West are a bit more protective and defensive. They want to have a lot more ownership and they wouldn't necessarily be as comfortable with sharing this big network because the battery is really the key defining component of EVs," Khoo said. Recognized as the world's happiest country and a recent addition to NATO, Finland declared its active involvement in NATO's joint operations for 2024, signaling a significant shift in its security policy. (Photo : ANTTI HAMALAINEN/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images) TOPSHOT - Finnish and Nato flags flutter at the courtyard of the Foreign Ministry in Helsinki, Finland, ahead of accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on April 4, 2023. - Finland becomes the 31st member of NATO, in a historic strategic shift provoked by Moscow's war on Ukraine, which doubles the US-led alliance's border with Russia. Joining NATO operations Finland's defense ministry confirmed the participation, which will include deploying up to eight fighter jets and a mine-hunting navy vessel, as reported by Interesting Engineering. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, both Finland and Sweden sought NATO membership in May 2022. While Finland has officially joined NATO and is actively participating in its operations, Sweden is still awaiting approval from the Hungarian parliament. Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen underscored the importance of NATO allies engaging in peacetime collective defense missions. He highlighted that such active participation would convey a message of unity among allies and strengthen deterrence efforts. In the maritime and aerial arena, Finland's Navy will contribute by deploying a Katanpaa-class vessel to join NATO's mine countermeasure unit in the Baltic Sea from April to May 2024. Manned by a 40-member crew, the vessel will undertake crucial tasks such as clearing old sea mines, participating in exercises, and safeguarding underwater infrastructure. This deployment aligns with NATO's rapid response forces and aims to strengthen the alliance's maritime defense capabilities. The Defense Ministry revealed that, apart from the ship's permanent personnel, contract soldiers will be hired separately from the reserve. Also Read: NATO Exercise Sees First Torpedo Drop From Unmanned Electric Aircraft, Marking Significant Milestone in Naval Drone Tech As a demonstration of continued solidarity, Finland's Air Force is set to deploy up to eight fighter jets for air patrolling and military demonstrations in Romania and Bulgaria, including the Black Sea region, spanning from June to July. This Air Shielding operation encompasses various activities. These include air policing, armed patrol flights operating within NATO's integrated air and missile defense framework, joint operation training, and a military display of strength. Minister Hakkanen emphasized that, given Finland's geographical location on the eastern edge of the alliance and its defense force primarily composed of reservists, the country is currently not involved in NATO's advanced ground forces at this stage. Aligning with NATO's Initiatives As Finland progressively aligns with NATO's initiatives, the unfolding Steadfast Defender 24 exercise encompasses approximately 90,000 soldiers from all member nations. This serves as a robust demonstration of the alliance's preparedness to safeguard its member states. The Economic Times reported that the tangible manifestation of Finland's NATO integration extends to its own territory, notably with the incorporation of the Steadfast Defender 24 training complex. Defense Minister Hakkanen views these initiatives as concrete manifestations of how Finland's alliance membership contributes to the nation's security and the well-being of its citizens. A pivotal event in 2024, the upcoming Nordic Response 24 exercise, will involve approximately 20,000 soldiers from 14 countries, with almost half comprising Finnish reservists. Under the leadership of Norway, this exercise aims to enhance NATO's capabilities in fortifying and defending the northern regions. The defense minister additionally disclosed that a report on Finland's participation in these initiatives would be presented to the parliament by the State Council in February. Related Article: NATO Announces $1 Billion Innovation Fund to Support Defense and Security Startups 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. China-Russia relations have met a common ground regarding artificial intelligence's applications in military technology after the two nations' officials reportedly met in Beijing. The two countries have reportedly agreed to cooperate and collaborate regarding the use of AI technology. Specifically, the Russian foreign ministry stated the departmental officials from the two nations had "a detailed exchange of assessments" of the use of AI technology for military objectives during the meetings on Thursday. (Photo : OLIVIER MORIN/AFP via Getty Images) This illustration photograph taken in Helsinki on June 12, 2023, shows an AI (Artificial Intelligence) logo blended with four fake Twitter accounts bearing profile pictures apparently generated by Artificial Intelligence software. The Russian statement mentioned talks about "the doctrinal guidelines and initiatives of Russia and China" on the matter, but it did not specify which individuals were engaged. Coordination between the two nations was stated to be paramount within a UN-backed forum, the GGE on LAWS. The Chinese statement regarding the meeting stated that discussions were not specifically about the military's use of AI but about outer space security, biosecurity, and artificial intelligence. Read Also: China May Blacklist Illegal AI Training Data China and Russia's Growing Relations The coordination between the two nations follows after the People's Republic of China Ma Zhaoxu met with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. A meeting was part of the latter's business visit to Russia on January 30. The parties in the meeting reportedly applauded the two nations' momentum in advancing their relations by their commitments. The two officials then conveyed their willingness to enhance their bilateral collaboration on foreign policy issues, with an unwavering aim of promoting peace and stability in the surrounding area and globally. Similar to the meeting held regarding AI applications for military tech, the parties also emphasized the importance of China and Russia achieving even closer coordination on the international stage, including within the UN and the UN Security Council. Major Powers on Artificial Intelligence China's AI font proves to be advancing, with the nation reportedly approving over 40 AI models for public use in the first half of a year after officials started the licensing process. Recently, Chinese regulators approved using fourteen large language models (LLM) for general public consumption. This is the fourth set of permissions that China has given, and Xiaomi Corp. is one of the recipients. On the other hand, Russia reportedly saw its President Vladimir Putin announcing that he would support a national AI development policy, stressing the importance of preventing a Western monopoly. Putin stressed the importance of utilizing Russian solutions to develop transparent, dependable, and human-safe artificial intelligence systems while speaking at an AI conference in Moscow. Putin stated that the monopolistic domination of such foreign technologies in Russia is intolerable, hazardous, and not permitted. There are reportedly no set rules for using AI in warfare, even though the US, China, and Russia are three of the leading countries making significant investments in the field. To create international norms, Washington published the Political Declaration on the Responsible Military Use of Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy a year ago. Related Article: US, China, Join Forces to Possibly Forbid AI in Autonomous Weaponry 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Boeing, the aerospace giant, is grappling with a fresh wave of challenges as it confronts delivery delays affecting around 50 of its popular 737 Max planes. The setback arises from a new production glitch discovered by a key supplier, Spirit Aerosystems, further intensifying the scrutiny surrounding Boeing's manufacturing processes. Production Errors on 737 Max Fuselage According to Reuters, Spirit Aerosystems identified two misdrilled holes in the fuselages of approximately 22 out of 47 inspected planes. Though not an immediate safety concern, the fuselage flaw has prompted Boeing to initiate corrective work on the affected aircraft. This revelation comes at a critical juncture for Boeing, already under severe examination after a recent incident involving part of a fuselage falling off an Alaska Airlines flight. In response to the fuselage issues, Boeing's Commercial Airplanes CEO, Stan Deal, reassured in a letter to staff that the problem did not pose an immediate safety risk. However, it underscores Boeing's persistent challenges in restoring confidence in its manufacturing processes. Read Also: Electric Aircraft Maker Eve Strikes Major Deals for 'Flying Car' Sales at Paris Airshow 2023 'Last Chance Saloon' Adding to Boeing's woes is the commentary from Sir Tim Clark, the head of Emirates Airlines, who described Boeing as being in the "last chance saloon" after noting a "progressive decline" in standards. Clark emphasized the urgent need for Boeing to instill a safety culture and thoroughly review its manufacturing processes to avoid shortcuts. The Guardian reported that until this latest incident, Boeing had been striving to ramp up production of its 737 Max, a model grounded for nearly two years following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019. The recent fuselage problems add to the pressure Boeing is facing from airline customers, particularly after the alarming incident involving a panel falling off an Alaska Airlines flight. Boeing's struggles extend beyond its reputation, with ongoing investigations by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) into the Alaska Airlines incident. Both Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems are under intense scrutiny regarding the quality of their work. An Alarming Trend AP News tells us that Alaska Airlines and United Airlines, the only U.S. carriers flying the Max 9 model, reported loose hardware indoor plugs of other planes following the fuselage incident. The FAA temporarily grounded all Max 9s, subsequently approving an inspection and maintenance process for their return to service. The recent fuselage issues mark another blow for Boeing, which had already withdrawn a safety exemption request for a new model of the 737 Max due to concerns about meeting safety standards. The challenges underscore the critical need for Boeing to address not only immediate manufacturing issues but also broader concerns about safety culture and quality control. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: This Futuristic Lockheed 'Ring-Wing Plane' Uses Less Fuel Than Regular Aircraft 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tech giant Microsoft has recently joined forces with media company Semafor to boost news creation using the power of artificial intelligence. The project, as first reported by The Financial Times, involves leveraging ChatGPT, Microsoft's advanced chatbot, as a research tool to assist journalists in crafting news stories for a new initiative called "Signals." AI-Powered News Creation Engadget tells us that the new "Signals" will be a sponsored breaking news feed curated by Semafor, with a dozen posts per day focusing on breaking news and providing in-depth analysis of major stories. Microsoft's significant financial support for this endeavor, while undisclosed, demonstrates its commitment to transforming the digital media landscape with its digital offerings. The partnership is not without challenges, particularly in light of The New York Times Dec 2023 lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI alleging copyright infringement. The lawsuit, which seeks billions in damages, states that Microsoft and OpenAI's AI models can produce content that closely resembles the expressive style of New York Times articles, undermining the newspaper's unique identity and business interests. Read Also: Microsoft Gaming Soars 49 Percent Higher in Q2 Because of Activision Blizzard, Xbox Remains Stagnant AI's Role Semafor, co-founded by former Buzzfeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith and Justin Smith, plans to approach news creation with a unique blend of human expertise and AI tools. Financial Times also reports that journalists at Semafor will be the primary authors of "Signals," using ChatGPT as a research aid to quickly access breaking event reporting from diverse sources worldwide in multiple languages. This approach addresses the ongoing debate surrounding the use of AI in newsrooms, where concerns about AI-generated content's reliability and potential misinformation have been raised. A Closer Look Despite the controversies, Gina Chua, Semafor's executive editor, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that it represents a significant opportunity and a leap forward in journalistic tools. The collaboration extends beyond Semafor, with Microsoft also announcing partnerships with prominent journalism organizations such as the Craig Newmark School of Journalism, the GroundTruth Project, and the Online News Association. The financial details of Microsoft's collaboration with Semafor remain undisclosed, but the impact on Semafor's business is described as "substantial." Semafor, which generated over $10 million in revenue in 2023 and is on the cusp of profitability, focuses on delivering comprehensive analysis in breaking news coverage. Ben Smith, co-founder of Semafor, emphasized the company's goal of providing confirmed facts and meaningful analysis, steering away from the rushed efforts prevalent in internet news. He stated, "We're trying to go the other way. Here are the confirmed facts. Here are three or four pieces of really sophisticated, meaningful analysis." Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Microsoft Allegedly Silenced Engineer's Concerns on OpenAI's DALL-E 3 Image Generation 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, Clorox disclosed a staggering $49 million in expenses attributed to the cyberattack by the end of 2023. The company's 2024 Q2 Quarterly report outlines that these costs predominantly stem from third-party consulting services, encompassing IT recovery, forensic experts, and various professional services essential for investigating and remediating the cyber assault. Additionally, incremental operating costs were incurred due to the resulting disruption to Clorox's business operations. Clorox's Ongoing Recovery Efforts: A Glimpse into the Future Despite the substantial financial setback, Clorox remains committed to its recovery journey. According to Bleeping Computer, the company anticipates a gradual reduction in costs associated with the cyberattack in the coming months. Clorox Chair and CEO, Linda Rendle, expressed optimism in an 8-K filing. Rendle said that the second quarter results "reflect strong execution on their recovery plan" from the security incident that took place in August 2023. "We are rebuilding retailer inventories ahead of schedule, enabling us to return to merchandising and restore distribution. While there is still more work to do, we're focused on executing with excellence in what remains a challenging environment to drive top-line growth and rebuild margin," she added. Related Article: Multinational Firm Loses $25M in Elaborate Deepfake Scam Impersonating CEO and CFO Insights into Johnson Controls International's Ransomware Ordeal Echoing Clorox's challenges, Johnson Controls International unveiled that a ransomware attack in September 2023 inflicted $27 million in expenses. The aftermath included a data breach, exposing sensitive corporate information. Who's the Culprit Behind Clorox Cyberattack While Clorox remains tight-lipped about the specifics of the cyberattack, reports from Bloomberg suggest the involvement of the notorious hacker collective, Scattered Spider. This loosely organized group of threat actors, predominantly English-speaking, specializes in social engineering attacks to infiltrate company networks. What sets Scattered Spider apart is its affiliation with the BlackCat/ALPHV ransomware gang. Notably, this ransomware gang typically collaborates with Russian-speaking threat actors. Scattered Spider's unconventional alliances have drawn attention, with their past exploits including attacks on prominent entities DoorDash and Reddit. The dangerous group of hackers was also believed to be the one responsible for the MGM Resorts cyberattack. In our previous report, we wrote that two anonymous sources claimed that Scattered Spider was accountable for the data breach. Based on their investigation, the group excels in social engineering and some of its members are even younger than 20 years old. The experts said that sooner, Scattered Spider will figure out how to bypass their security defenses due to their expertise in identity technology. For more reports about cyberattacks, just click here to read the latest updates in the field of cybersecurity and data protection. Read Also: DeFi Savings: Pig-Butchering Scam Kits Are for Sale on the Dark Web 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In an earnings call for Qualcomm, CEO Cristiano Amon dropped a significant revelation about Microsoft's upcoming version of Windows, expected to grace our screens in the middle of 2024. Amon linked this timeframe to the release of the Snapdragon X Elite chip, the powerhouse behind Microsoft's anticipated AI-powered laptops. Snapdragon X Elite Chip: Paving the Way for AI-Powered Laptops With the surge of AI-powered laptops, there's no doubt that they could bring out the best software of the futureand having a more powerful Windows version is no exception. "We're tracking to the launch of products with this chipset [Snapdragon X Elite] tied with the next version of Microsoft Windows that has a lot of the Windows AI capabilities ... We're still maintaining the same date, which is driven by Windows, which is mid-2024, getting ready for back-to-school," Amon said in a report by The Register. The mid-2024 release date aligns with the launch of laptops fueled by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chip, bringing AI capabilities to the forefront of Microsoft's computing strategy. If this is true, we are seeing the next-gen version of Windows OS anytime soon. Related Article: Microsoft Partners with Semafor to Boost News Creation Using ChatGPT Decoding Windows 12 or Windows 11 24H2 The ongoing speculation regarding the nomenclature of Microsoft's next desktop operating system adds a layer of mystery to the anticipation. The question boils down to what specific name will it have between Windows 12 or Windows 11 24H2. While the answer remains elusive, current indicators point towards Windows 11 24H2. However, the possibility of Windows 12 emerging in 2025 cannot be ruled out entirely. Germanium Enters Windows Architecture Despite the confusion surrounding the version name, a major change in Windows architecture is imminent with the introduction of Germanium. This underlying platform is set to enhance performance and security, laying the foundation for the future of Windows, according to TechRadar. The arrival of Germanium signifies a departure from mere updates, promising a fresh Windows experience for users. Snapdragon X Elite-Powered Laptops: The Real Innovation in 2024 When Amon references Snapdragon X Elite-powered laptops arriving in mid-2024 with the next version of Windows, the focal point is the integration of Germanium. This platform represents a significant leap in the capabilities of AI PCs, offering enhanced performance and security features. Rollout Plans: New Laptops First, Existing Windows 11 PCs Later The rollout strategy for the new Windows involves a staggered approach. New laptops, designated as AI PCs, are expected to debut with the Germanium-powered Windows in July, according to grapevine buzz. However, existing Windows 11 PCs may need to wait until September for the upgrade. This phased release aims to prioritize the latest technology for new users while ensuring a subsequent upgrade for existing Windows 11 users later in the year. Microsoft's mid-2024 revelation unveils not just a new version of Windows but a groundbreaking platformGermaniumthat sets the stage for the future of AI-powered computing. The collaboration with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chip hints that Microsoft continues to evolve and adapt to the latest tech changesmost notably with AI. Read Also: AI-Powered Digital Watermarks Could Swiftly Speed up Copyright Infringement Cases, Study Finds 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Huawei has recently reclaimed its dominance in China's smartphone market, toppling rivals and industry leaders in the initial weeks of this year. The remarkable resurgence comes after the US imposed sanctions on the tech giant in 2019, pushing it to the sidelines. However, fueled by the success of its Mate 60 Pro 5G smartphone, Huawei is once again at the forefront, adding pressure to competitors like Apple and major domestic brands (via the South China Morning Post). Mate 60 Pro 5G Sparks Huawei's Comeback Huawei's triumphant return to the number one spot in China's smartphone market is attributed to the unexpected success of its Mate 60 Pro 5G, released in August. The Mate 60 Pro's surprise presales launch last year, priced at 6,999 yuan (US$962), demonstrates Huawei's confidence in the product's appeal and technological prowess. This flagship device, powered by the locally developed Kirin 9000S processor and featuring the HarmonyOS mobile platform, played a pivotal role in revitalizing Huawei's handset business despite US trade sanctions. Chinese consumers' loyalty to the brand, coupled with the advanced features of the 5G handsets, contributed significantly to Huawei's resurgence. Huawei Holds Ground Amid Heating Competiton Despite facing cutthroat competition from Apple, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, a recent Counterpoint report indicates Huawei's resilience. The report underscores the fierce competition in the high-end smartphone segment, with domestic demand for Huawei's 5G models reflecting an increased appetite for handset upgrades. SCMP tells us that the overall smartphone industry in China showed signs of recovery in 2023, with a 6.5% year-on-year shipment growth, reaching 289 million units. Domestic brands, including Huawei, accounted for around 80% of total shipments. Apple, though still leading the vendor ranking, reported a nearly 13% drop in revenue from Greater China in the December quarter. Weekly iPhone shipments in China declined by 30 to 40%, signaling a challenging market for the tech giant. Read Also: Goodbye Nokia? HMD Global to Bring Original, 'Human Mobile Devices' Says CEO Global Premium Smartphone Market Shifts While Apple remains the undisputed leader in the global premium smartphone market, its share decreased from 75% in 2022 to 71% last year. The resurgence of Huawei in China and the gains made by Samsung contributed to this shift, indicating a more competitive landscape in the premium segment. In response to market challenges, Apple offered discounts of up to 800 yuan (US$113) on various products, including iPhones and MacBooks, ahead of the Lunar New Year. However, Huawei opted not to pursue a similar strategy due to supply shortages of its Mate 60 Pro. This strategic silence might reflect Huawei's confidence in the organic demand for its products. Huawei's Innovation Recognized While dominating smartphone headlines, Huawei's innovative approach extends beyond handsets. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology praised Huawei's mobile "Cloud Phone" at the 2023 ICT Excellent Cases event (via GizChina). This smartphone, running on cloud services, allows users to access data and apps from anywhere, emphasizing security, longer battery life, and enhanced computing power. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Teardown Reveals Huawei's Latest Laptop Comes with 5-nm TSMC Chip, Defying China's Tech Sanctions 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. HONG KONG, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- An unprecedented number of Chinese enterprises are going overseas, reaching a historic high, despite some Western media's negative reports about China's economy, the Hong Kong-based Yazhou Zhoukan reported on Sunday. Chinese enterprises are going overseas despite high tariffs and various sanctions imposed by the United States, the report said. This indicated China's powerful innovative abilities and risk consciousness, the report said, adding that it created new commercial space and represented China's robust national competitiveness. According to the report, China's cross border e-commerce platforms are attractive to foreign consumers. The country's digital management ability and complete industrial chain can cut costs by eliminating middlemen, thus providing consumers with more affordable prices. In the global market, this digital process helps China's manufacturing industry expand and gain a greater presence in both developing and developed countries, the report said. Chinese enterprises that go overseas have a technological advantage, the report said. Apart from advantages in hardware, China's software also impresses the world, it added. The article took Chinese catering companies as an example, saying they relied on their digital techniques from supply chains to front services to stay competitive. Some of these companies, according to the report, have entered high-end markets in Europe and the United States. TOKYO, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Heavy snowfall over a wide area in Japan's Kanto-Koshin region, including Tokyo, is expected from around noon on Monday to Tuesday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). The Koshin region that comprises Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures as well as the mountains of northern Kanto region are expected to see up to 30 cm of snow during the 24 hours through Tuesday morning, while 20 cm of snowfall is expected in the plains of northern Kanto region and 7 cm in the plains of southern Kanto region. Tokyo's 23 wards are expected to see 5 cm of snowfall during the same period, the JMA added. The agency called on people to be on alert for traffic disruptions caused by snow and icy roads, urging caution for snow on power lines and trees, collapsing greenhouses and avalanches. For domestic flights to and from Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have decided to cancel 76 flights on Monday afternoon, Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported. 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 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 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. 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. Visitors try Chinese paintings during a celebration to mark the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 3, 2024. The event, sponsored by the China Cultural Center in Cairo, was attended by about 80 participants from seven Egyptian provinces. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) CAIRO, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- A celebration was held in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Saturday evening to mark the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year. The event, sponsored by the China Cultural Center in Cairo, featured performances of Chinese folk music and dances. Young Egyptians joined the event in traditional Chinese outfits, wrote their names in Chinese, savored Chinese cuisine, and participated in cultural activities from Chinese calligraphy and painting to paper-cutting and tea-tasting. Speaking at the event, Yang Ronghao, the director of the center and cultural counselor for the Chinese embassy in Egypt, noted that Egyptians are becoming more interested in attending Chinese cultural activities, which he attributed to the fast-growing China-Egypt relations in recent years. The center will continue to promote cultural exchanges and mutual learning between China and Egypt, he said. The event was attended by about 80 participants from seven Egyptian provinces. A visitor poses for photos during a celebration to mark the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 3, 2024. The event, sponsored by the China Cultural Center in Cairo, was attended by about 80 participants from seven Egyptian provinces. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) Visitors try paper-cutting during a celebration to mark the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 3, 2024. The event, sponsored by the China Cultural Center in Cairo, was attended by about 80 participants from seven Egyptian provinces. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) A visitor takes photos of a dragon-shaped exhibit during a celebration to mark the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in Cairo, Egypt, Feb. 3, 2024. The event, sponsored by the China Cultural Center in Cairo, was attended by about 80 participants from seven Egyptian provinces. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa) The deadliest wildfires of the 21st century Paris, Feb 5 (AFP) Feb 05, 2024 Blazing wildfires in central Chile which have claimed at least 112 lives are among the deadliest this century. Here are the others: - 2009: Australia, 179 dead - On February 7, 2009, which became known as "Black Saturday", 179 people were killed when firestorms swept through towns and hamlets in the southeastern state of Victoria. Whole towns, including Kinglake, Marysville, Narbethong, Strathewen, and Flowerdale and more than 2,000 homes were destroyed or badly damaged in the fires which lasted several weeks. - 2018: Greece, 193 dead - In Greece's worst-ever fire disaster, 103 people died when wildfires swept through homes and vehicles in the coastal town of Mati near Athens in July 2018, leaving only charred remains. Most of the victims were trapped by the flames as they sat in traffic jams while trying to flee. Others drowned while trying to escape by sea. - 2023: Hawaii, 100 dead - The August 8, 2023 fire in the US state of Hawaii was the deadliest wildfire the United States has seen for more than a century. It burned through around 2,000 acres (800 hectares), killing 100 people on the island of Maui. A handful of people are still listed as missing. - 2021: Algeria, more than 90 dead - More than 90 people were killed in dozens of wildfires in northern Algeria in August 2021. The fires affected 26 of the country's 58 provinces, including the worst-hit province of Tizi Ouzou. The government blamed arsonists and a blistering heatwave for the blazes, but experts also criticised authorities for failing to prepare for the annual wildfire season. - 2018: California, 86 dead - On November 8, 2018 at dawn, California's deadliest modern wildfire broke out in the town of Paradise, some 240 kilometres to the north of San Francisco, killing 86 people over more than two weeks. Called the Camp Fire it ripped through a nearby timber plantation, spreading rapidly through thickly planted trees and logging debris to devour more than 62,000 hectares of land. An investigation found that high tension electricity wires sparked the fire. Armenian Defence Minister Suren Papikyan said on public television that New Delhi and Paris have become Yerevan's main partners in the defence sphere, "purchases in the sphere of military-technical production have increased 20 times in the last 2 years", Azernews reports. The head of the Defence Ministry added that a territorial defence command will be formed in Armenia. The command will coordinate the training of reserve forces and will have a permanent officer staff. The Defence Minister added that the situation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan can be described as stable and calm. "There is no accumulation of troops on the border. Thus, the situation in recent months can be characterised as stable and calm," Papikyan said. Li Hongzhong, Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with a delegation from Germany's Friedrich Ebert Foundation led by its president Martin Schulz, also former president of the European Parliament, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Li Hongzhong, Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, on Monday met with a delegation from Germany's Friedrich Ebert Foundation led by its president Martin Schulz in Beijing. Hailing the positive contributions by Schulz over the years to the promotion of China-Germany relations and ties between China and Europe, Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China is willing to work with Germany to strengthen exchanges between political parties and legislatures and promote steady and lasting ties. While speaking highly of China's modernization achievements, Schulz, also former president of the European Parliament, said Germany adheres to the one-China principle, adding that the country is willing to strengthen political dialogue and cooperation in economy, trade, culture and other fields with China and jointly safeguard peace, development and prosperity of mankind. Li Hongzhong, Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with a delegation from Germany's Friedrich Ebert Foundation led by its president Martin Schulz, also former president of the European Parliament, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) People visit the China Defense exhibition area during the second edition of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 5, 2024. Saudi Arabia kicked off Sunday the second edition of the World Defense Show in the capital Riyadh, with Chinese defense delegation and Chinese Air Force attending. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen) RIYADH, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia kicked off Sunday the second edition of the World Defence Show in the capital Riyadh, with Chinese defense delegation and Chinese Air Force attending. Organized by the Saudi General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI), the five-day event is expected to showcase the kingdom's commitment to becoming a global hub for the defense industry, according to a press release by the authorities. The show is attended by 773 exhibitors representing more than 75 countries, alongside numerous government entities and leading local and international companies in the defense and security sector. Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, also vice chairman of GAMI's board of directors inaugurated the event. During the show, GAMI Governor Ahmad Al-Ohali highlighted the support to enhance the kingdom's strategic independence, which aims to localize 50 percent of its military procurement by 2030, adding that localization rates at the end of 2022 have increased from 4 percent to 13.6 percent. A total of 73 Chinese exhibitors, ranging from sea, land, air and electronic defense equipments, participated in this year's defense show and took an exhibition area of more than 4,500 square meters, ranking second in terms of number of exhibitors and exhibition area after Saudi Arabia. General Manager of Poly Technologies Inc. Saudi Branch, Sun Xinbo, said, "Poly Technologies is very honored to represent China's defense industry, bringing our country's latest defense products to friendly nations." "To address the increasingly severe non-traditional threats such as counter-terrorism and stability maintenance, we also introduced border defense systems and other products that meet the needs of police counter-terrorism," said Sun. Notably, the August 1st aerobatic demonstration team of the Chinese Air Force visited Riyadh to participate in the event, and is expected to bring flying stunts to the audience on Monday. People visit the China Defense exhibition area during the second edition of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 5, 2024. Saudi Arabia kicked off Sunday the second edition of the World Defense Show in the capital Riyadh, with Chinese defense delegation and Chinese Air Force attending. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen) Models are displayed at the second edition of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 5, 2024. Saudi Arabia kicked off Sunday the second edition of the World Defense Show in the capital Riyadh, with Chinese defense delegation and Chinese Air Force attending. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen) People visit the China Defense exhibition area during the second edition of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 5, 2024. Saudi Arabia kicked off Sunday the second edition of the World Defense Show in the capital Riyadh, with Chinese defense delegation and Chinese Air Force attending. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen) Aircrafts of the August 1st aerobatic demonstration team of the Chinese Air Force are seen at the second edition of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 4, 2024. Saudi Arabia kicked off Sunday the second edition of the World Defense Show in the capital Riyadh, with Chinese defense delegation and Chinese Air Force attending. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen) People visit the China Defense exhibition area during the second edition of the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 5, 2024. Saudi Arabia kicked off Sunday the second edition of the World Defense Show in the capital Riyadh, with Chinese defense delegation and Chinese Air Force attending. (Xinhua/Wang Dongzhen) ASX-listed Marmota has identified two separate uranium-bearing formations at its Bridget prospect after a review by an independent uranium expert of the target showing significant potential to build on its Junction Dam uranium resource in South Australia. The second stage of the review, completed by uranium specialist Mark Couzens, highlighted multiple palaeochannels that appear to be from two distinctly different geological ages, with similarities to nearby uranium deposits that are both coincident in the Bridget area. Marmotas Junction Dam uranium project sits close to Boss Energys Honeymoon operation in South Australia. More importantly, the Namba formation has Beverley-style mineralisation. The review says two separate uranium-bearing Eyre formation palaeochannels and associated floodplains have been interpreted from the Bridget review, with one extending from the companys Saffron uranium deposit to the south that hosts an inferred resource of 5.4 million pounds at 557 parts per million uranium oxide. Advertisement Eating outHot & new The Gold Coast welcomes a new contender for Australias best beach bar Hit this thrumming seaside spot for imaginative cocktails, a seafood-focused menu, and knockout water views of Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise. Matt Shea February 5, 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 Kirra Beach House captures in a single venue the changes sweeping across the southern end of the Gold Coast. For years, Kirra and Coolangatta have been the more relaxed counterpoints to Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise, whose towering skyscrapers sit in the distance to the north as you look out over the surf. Out there, the razzle-dazzle end of the city might as well be a different world. Kirra Beach House opened in early December. Courtesy of Kirra Beach House Ive spent a lot of time in this part of the Gold Coast over the past five years, says Kirra Beach House owner Dave Galvin. You never want to take away from this nostalgic coastal beach town that Kirra is. Its such a beautiful region. The people are different. Theres a relaxedness to it. Advertisement But over that time theres been a lot of migration to the area, and through a hospitality lens Ive watched some of the old-school hospitality turn, and we have some new things coming in. Probably in the last 18 to 24 months, it just feels like theres a genuine shift where people expect more, and they want to experience more cool things happening down here. 10 of the best places to eat on the Gold Coast right now Galvin opened Kirra Beach House in early December. Its part of the larger Kirra Point precinct on Marine Parade that also includes a rebooted Kirra Beach Hotel. Kirra Point Stays, a hotel-apartment development, is scheduled to open in the coming months, as will a retail complex. Its been so busy since we opened, Galvin says. Advertisement Maybe its because weve created something that everyone can enjoy. It attracts a really mixed crowd of all ages. The venue is split into numerous smaller spaces, helping it retain a sense of intimacy. Courtesy of Kirra Beach House With three bars and an events room spread over 1200 square metres, Kirra Beach House could have easily turned into a soulless drinking barn. But the design, by Techne Architecture & Interior Design (which previously worked on the revamped Hotel Esplanade in St Kilda), splits the venue into a series of clearly defined spaces. Outside, theres a north-facing terrace with three bookable cabanas, plenty of greenery and knockout views towards the beach and Surfers and Broadbeach beyond. A western terrace overlooks Percy Pease Memorial Park and has a more secluded vibe, and can be booked for functions. Inside, in the wine bar, its all mosaic tile floors, terrazzo bench tops, fluted bar fronts, arched entranceways and booth-style seating. Advertisement The chilled seafood platter at Kirra Beach House. Courtesy of Kirra Beach House Its a venue that has the capacity to retain a sense of intimacy even when it gets a pump on. Drinks are led by the cocktails, with a big focus on signatures and twists on the classics. Theres the Melon Shakerato (tropical rum, honeydew melon, fresh grapefruit), a Beach House Negroni (gin, strawberry vermouth, blood orange, wattle seed), a Kirra Beach House Martini (citrus gin, vermouth, fino, verjus, served with a coastal olive gilda) and a Kirra House Old Fashioned (whiskey, maple, rooibos and black walnut). A relatively tight but thoughtful wine list is well priced and mixes Old World with New. For food, theres everything from share plates and bowls to wood-fired pizza, main plates and items from the grill. Much of it is the kind of approachable, snackable stuff that looks just as good on the Gram as it does on the plate: a tempura bug milk bun with smoked cocktail sauce; burrata with peach, aged balsamic and sorrel; and kingfish ceviche with citrus dressing, orange and thyme. Advertisement Pizza comes from a Marana Forni pizza oven, and is cooked Roman-style with a relatively light and crispy base. Larger plates and the grill menu include a couple of burgers; orecchiette with zucchini, cherry tomatoes, chilli, lemon and pangrattato; steak frites with a leaf salad; and a half roast chicken served with gremolata, charred corn, chicken jus and a watercress salad. A western-facing terrace can be booked for private functions. Courtesy of Kirra Beach House Were here to please, not educate, is always my mantra with food, Galvin says. So you can go there for a dining experience, or you can go there for the ultimate seaside grazing menu as well. And everything is prepared to be shared. I want this to be Australias best beach bar. People wanted something like this, where there was a reason to go out to bring people together. Advertisement A lot of people are proud its in the region; Im certainly very proud. And I think the southern Gold Coast, in particular, is about to really blossom. Open Sun-Thu 11am-late, Fri-Sat 11am-1am. 4 Marine Parade, Coolangatta. kirrabeachhouse.com The author was a guest of Kirra Beach House. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Advertisement Review Eating outArmadale Saddle up for this cult-worthy cheeseburger at Armadales sunny new wine bar At first glance, Pony might feel like any other Melbourne wine bar. But this one stands out from the crowd. Besha Rodell February 6, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share As featured in the Melbourne March hit list. See all stories . 1 / 7 The go-to dish: Burger, with molten raclette and caramelised onions. Paul Jeffers 2 / 7 Chargrilled chicken skewers topped with oregano and fermented chilli sauce. Paul Jeffers 3 / 7 Chickpeas in broth with tomatoes and harissa. Paul Jeffers 4 / 7 The interior of Pony in Armadale. Paul Jeffers 5 / 7 Pan-seared snapper served with harissa and lemon. Paul Jeffers 6 / 7 Ponys snapper crudo is exactly what youd expect from a wine bar. Paul Jeffers 7 / 7 Brown butter budino is like Italys version of pot de creme. Paul Jeffers Previous Slide Next Slide 14 / 20 How we score Contemporary$$$ Its hard to keep up with all the wine bars opening in Melbourne these days, and even harder to tell them apart. The wine bar is one of those genres in danger of becoming formulaic: cute shopfront, expensive bread, at least one dish that is basically just raw sliced fish with some acid added, a few glasses of Australian wine, a longer list with some European bottles thrown in. Do I sound jaded? If so, I recognise that its a privilege of the job. After all, we dont fault pubs for serving parmas and chips, for being reliable and predictable stalwarts. 11 of Melbournes best wine bars Advertisement The neighbourhood wine bar is now so ubiquitous that perhaps we ought to start thinking of them the same way as pubs: casual venues that deliver a familiar range of drinks and dishes for those nights where you know what you want and dont need to be surprised. (I proposed this wine-bar-as-pub theory to my son, who quipped, So, like a pub, only for annoying people? To which I replied, Yes, people like me. ) When I saw the news that Pony was opening in Armadale, I thought it was likely more of the same. But it turns out that there are quite a few things a wine bar can do to make itself stand out from the crowd. Behind the cute facade is a wine bar bursting with sunny good looks. Paul Jeffers One: Make that cute shopfront more than just a pleasing room behind vintage windows. Pony, which sits on Beatty Avenue amid a quaint little strip of cafes and other wine-focused venues, practically bursts with sunny good looks. The green-tiled facade gives way to mirrors and yellow walls in the front room; upstairs an intimate dining room gets an airy feel from high ceilings, burnished white and blue walls, and lush blue velvet banquettes. Its a lovely space, classic but fresh, and the trip through the kitchen to get upstairs is a fun peek behind the scenes. Advertisement It turns out that there are quite a few things a wine bar can do to make itself stand out from the crowd. Two: Hire staff who know whats what. In the bar, this means Dylan Field, who formerly worked at Gimlet, and is turning out drinks that would be at home in the citys best cocktail bars. My pick? The Aquarius ($21), a rum/passionfruit/vanilla concoction that finds balance in its use of brown butter. Fields creativity with tequila and mezcal is also impressive. The wine list has its crowd-pleasers, but also a few fun things for the nerds among us. And the service staff is both relaxed and knowledgeable, the kind of waiters who feel like friends at the end of the night. Ponys snapper crudo is a nice version of a ubiquitous wine bar staple. Paul Jeffers Advertisement Three: Its fine to do expensive bread and raw fish (here its an $11 flatbread and $22 snapper crudo, both of which are exactly what youd expect: nice! And predictable!) But you also need to do a few things that are just left of expected and do them very, very well. In Ponys case, that means a burger ($25) that is destined for cult status, its juicy beefy patties drenched in raclette and caramelised onions. The kitchen, led by chef Mark Jennings, is really good with all manner of meat: chicken skewers ($10 each) come charred from the grill and topped with a perky sauce made from oregano and fermented chilli; the 300g scotch fillet ($42) with chimichurri is honestly one of the better steaks Ive had in a while (and Ive eaten a lot of very expensive steaks in this town recently, as is the trend). Theres comfort on this menu, too, in the form of soupy chickpeas ($15) with tomatoes and harissa, or baked spinach and ricotta dumplings in red sauce ($40), that really only make sense for a group, since the serve easily feeds three people. I wasnt as convinced by the crispy rice pilaf ($26), not because its herb salad and yoghurt accompaniments werent lovely, but because it felt and cost more in line with a large side dish than a main course. Advertisement Brown butter budino: a perfect few bites of sticky decadence. Paul Jeffers But my faith was restored when dessert arrived, a brown butter budino ($15) basically the Italian version of a pot de creme. Layered with caramel sauce and a dollop of whipped cream that had a lovely sour edge, it was a perfect few bites of sticky decadence. Is Pony reinventing the Melbourne wine bar? Absolutely not. In fact, its following the playbook quite loyally. But it embodies a universal truth in this wily old business: as long as excellence is at the core of what you do, it will be better than good enough. The low-down Vibe: Sunny vintage elegance Go-to dish: Burger, $25 Drinks: Fantastic cocktails, short by-the-glass wine and beer list, eclectic bottle list Cost: About $120 for two, excluding drinks 14 / 20 Review Alberts is the neighbourhood wine bar everybody would love as their local Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Advertisement Review Eating outKirribilli Clever Aussie flavours make this sensationally good three-cheese toastie one to savour Cult cafe BTB Kirribilli marries old-school favourites with creative use of native produce. Lee Tran Lam February 5, 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 1 / 7 BTB Kirribilli was recently named one of the citys 20 best cafes. Dominic Lorrimer 2 / 7 Potato scallops. Dominic Lorrimer 3 / 7 Three-cheese toastie with warrigal greens, kimchi and tomato. Dominic Lorrimer 4 / 7 Summer salad. Dominic Lorrimer 5 / 7 Bacon and egg roll. Dominic Lorrimer 6 / 7 Lemon aspen squash. Dominic Lorrimer 7 / 7 Banana smoothie. Dominic Lorrimer Previous Slide Next Slide Modern Australian$$$ If you were after BTB Kirribillis history, you could thumb through property records and old floorplans or you could try the cafes excellent potato scallops. Theyre battered and fried until they resemble a geological wonder, the ridges and rocky surfaces catching crusty flakes of salt and hiding a welcome reserve of malt vinegar. The tart tang sharpens your tastebuds and electrifies each crunchy bite. And if this activates childhood memories of stepping into a fish and chip shop, then youve hit on this sites previous incarnation: selling the catch of the day and other seafood staples. It was formerly known as By the Bridge and BTB Kirribillis owners, Adam Brcic and Cameron Votano, kept part of the name when they took over in 2017 as tribute to the old space and their connection to it. Cams dad used to run a fish and chip shop in this location, says Brcic. The scallops are a sneaky shout-out to BTB Kirribillis past life by chef Daniel Backhouse (who previously worked at two-hat restaurant Berowra Waters Inn). Advertisement Potato scallops. Dominic Lorrimer This ultra-crunchy dish isnt the only thing that makes this spot by the Harbour Bridge and Milsons Point station noteworthy. The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide recently named BTB Kirribilli as one of the citys 20 best cafes, singling out the menus inspired use of native ingredients, which are mainly supplied by Indigenous social enterprise Bush to Bowl. Even the drinks taste like the countrys wide-ranging terrain: theres wattleseed syrup that sweetens the banana smoothie (in place of conventional cinnamon sprinkles and honey drizzles) and lively lemon aspen in the pub squash (this souring agent will reset the palate of anyone expecting the industrialised sugar hit of supermarket fizz). These ingredients are a reminder of what the landscape tastes like. The bubbly sarsaparilla, for instance, is flavoured with the plant of the same name. We grow a native form of it here, says Brcic. After a lifetime of throwing soft drinks into shopping trolleys, Id forgotten that this beverage like the kola nut that originally powered Coke actually came from something you could harvest. Bush to Bowl just sent it to us and said, Hey, we can grow this, is there anything for it? says Brcic. Advertisement After many experiments, the BTB Kirribilli team created fizzy sarsaparilla. When poured into your glass, the resulting drink has an earthy, medicinal flavour: like many native ingredients, its rich in vitamin C and its complexity takes a few sips to get used to. Its bold and reviving. Theres a strong Australian accent to everything on the menu: the char of red gum bark intensifies the tomato relish flavouring the bacon and egg roll, the summer salad is plated with cumin and lemon myrtle yoghurt and emu skewers are presented with macadamia satay sauce (light-hoofed native animals are softer on the environment than soil-damaging livestock herds, after all). Although Indigenous ingredients arent in every dish, theyre something BTB Kirribilli keenly showcase where possible. This direction was adopted in 2019, with support from Winsome Matthews, a cultural custodian and former chairperson of the NSW Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee. Theyve also collaborated with her on NAIDOC fundraising dinners at the cafe. Three-cheese toastie with warrigal greens, kimchi and tomato. Dominic Lorrimer Sustainability is a strong focus, too: the kimchi is fermented with warrigal greens instead of typical cabbage, because its fast growing, native and available all year round. Its a must in the three-cheese toastie (the sunny yellow mustard pickles and optional tomato slices are also welcome additions). Advertisement This sensationally good sandwich is also a telling snapshot of the Australian dining landscape and the many cultures that have contributed to it. Along with Binnorie cheddar from the Hunter Valley and Warrnambool cheese from down south, Marrickvilles Paesanella buffalo mozzarella also oozes from each slice. Paesanella was founded in the 1950s by Italian migrant Umberto Somma, whod hand-shape mozzarella in his Hawkesbury River shed at 7am and sell it door to door until 11pm. The other ingredients have long histories, too: kimchi has sustained Koreans for 3000 years, while Indigenous Australians appreciated warrigal greens long before Captain Cook used it to combat scurvy. You could enjoy the toastie without knowing any of this, but its another reason why BTB Kirribillis menu is worth savouring. The low-down Vibe: This cafe goes beyond the standard-issue menu items and celebrates Indigenous ingredients. Even the avocado is hit with wattleseed dukkah Cost (average cost for two): About: $40 for two, plus drinks Introducing Sandwich Watch a column dedicated to the essential Sydney sandwiches you need to try Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. House Made Hospitality will launch two bars and two restaurants at the landmark Wentworth site on Phillip Street, while the team behind The Charles Grand Brasserie is set to open a restaurant at The Langham. The team behind slick city restaurant The Charles Grand Brasserie will open a restaurant at The Langham hotel in April, while one of Sydneys fastest growing restaurant stables, House Made Hospitality, will follow suit in spring, opening four venues at the historic Wentworth Hotel site in the CBD. The mega deals signal an ongoing shift in strategy at the citys upmarket hotels. Sydneysiders at times reluctant relationship with dining in hotel restaurants has spurred an uptick in drafting outside talent. The Sofitel Sydney Wentworths prized horseshoe terrace was once a hot Sydney venue in the 1970s and 1980s. Supplied Last year the owners of Bentley Restaurant Group opened Brasserie 1930 at the new Capella Sydney hotel near Circular Quay, while Kiln at Ace Hotel and the Park Hyatt in The Rocks both recruited chef talent from outside the hotel world. Justin Newton, director at House Made Hospitality, is keen to bring some of the local engagement and community his group has fostered at city restaurants Lana and Grana, and Promenade Bondi Beach, to the four venues headed into Sydneys first five-star hotel, the iconic Wentworth site on Phillip Street. TIANJIN, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Wuqing Railway Station, which is along the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway and located between the urban areas of Beijing and Tianjin, serves as a window into the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Yao Bing, head of Wuqing Railway Station, has been working at the station for 13 years. Over the years, he has witnessed the growth of the station and the changes that the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway has brought to Wuqing and its neighboring areas. "When I first came to work here, Wuqing Station only handled some 3,000 passengers per day, while nowadays we serve about 8,000 to 9000 passengers per day," said Yao. In 2014, a national strategy was proposed for the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Since then, the strategy has seen progress including an improved transportation system, robust infrastructure, and enhanced technology innovations across the region, among others. With a more rational industrial layout, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region's gross domestic product (GDP) reached 10.4 trillion yuan (about 1.46 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2023, according to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics. Beijing Carale Robot Technology Co., Ltd. was established in the Chinese capital in 2014 and moved its factory and research and development center to the neighboring municipality of Tianjin in 2017, with the business flourishing since then. "All thanks to the policy support from the Tianjin Binhai-Zhongguancun Science Park," the company's founder Yin Li said. The park, established in November 2016 in the Tianjin Binhai New Area, has now become the city's scientific and technological innovation heartland. The park has not only inherited the innovative spirit of Zhongguancun, the country's first national high-tech industrial development zone, but it can also take advantage of Tianjin's strong manufacturing base. It was a big move towards linking the industrial layouts of the two municipalities. The same story is unfolding in the Xiong'an New Area, Hebei Province. In April 2017, China announced plans to establish the area, which spans the Rongcheng, Anxin, and Xiongxian counties and some adjacent areas. Some 100 km away from Beijing, the new area is easily accessible by car or train. The ride by high-speed train from Beijing takes less than an hour. A key move to advance the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Xiong'an has been designed as a major recipient of functions transferred from Beijing that are not essential to its role as China's capital. The country has also vowed to build Xiong'an, dubbed the "city of the future," into an innovative, green, smart and world-class city with blue skies, fresh air and clean water, in line with the country's high-quality development path. In less than seven years, Xiong'an has been transformed from a blueprint into reality, with over 3,000 buildings rising from the previously barren lowlands and shabby villages. Furthermore, the centrally-administered state-owned enterprises have set up more than 200 subsidiaries and various branches in the area. Looking ahead, the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region's industrial development is expected to be more closely linked to provide a solid industrial foundation for building the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regional city cluster. True crime and high fashion will come together this week as a remarkable collection of designer clothes and shoes owned con woman Melissa Caddick is auctioned off. Receivers of Caddicks estate have been busy doing what they can to recover some of the tens of millions of dollars Caddick fleeced from clients of her dodgy investment schemes before her mysterious disappearance in 2020. Melissa Caddicks designer collection is up for auction. Credit: Sydney Morning Herald But you wont have to be in Caddicks league for ill-gotten riches to get a piece of the action with to CBDs untrained eye at least some banging bargains to be had when the gear, as well as a smattering of artwork from the late criminal go under the hammer at Shapiros auction house in Sydney on Thursday. Online bids will be accepted. Lets see there are frocks by Dior, Chanel, Gucci, Diane von Furstenberg, Herve Leger and other high-end labels, which Shapiros reckons will go for between $200 and $400. Warner Brothers six-week takeover of a Mornington Peninsula wildlife sanctuary for a Harry Potter-themed event is facing a backlash over fears wildlife will be harmed and frustrations the event was approved in secret. At least six environmental groups have condemned the global touring event at The Briars in Mount Martha, while more than 20,000 people have signed an online petition calling for it to be relocated. Conservation campaigner Louise Page (foreground), with Marg Hawker, Heather Forbes-McKeon and Katrina Larsen, said Warner Brothers and the local council needed to find a new home for the Forbidden Forest event. Credit: Penny Stephens The local mayor has said the council will review the way it votes on such events in future after it emerged councillors had signed a non-disclosure agreement. The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council has signed a contract with Warner Brothers and local events company Fever to hold Harry Potter: The Forbidden Forest Experience inside The Briars, a 90-hectare, fenced wildlife reserve, which is a haven for many native species, including powerful owls, emus, wallabies, pademelons, koalas and sugar gliders. New Zealand are adamant their march towards an NBL Finals campaign remains on track after they defied an early injury to star import Anthony Lamb to break their Perth curse and shake up the post-season picture. New Zealand stuttered in the second half but did enough to prevail 89-78 on Sunday, with runaway MVP favourite Bryce Cotton kept to just 13 points on three-of-14 shooting. Bryce Cotton of the Wildcats goes to the basket during the round 18 NBL match between Perth Wildcats and New Zealand Breakers at RAC Arena. Credit: Getty Images The visitors won every quarter, but it was a bitter-sweet feeling after forward Lamb suffered a suspected season-ending achilles injury in the first half. Lamb played in the last NBA post-season with Golden State and was averaging more than 20 points per game in his first NBL stint. Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has described Peter Dutton as a thug and Scott Morrison as duplicitous in a fiery episode of the ABC docuseries Nemesis focused on the fallout of the 2018 leadership spill. Turnbulls allies claimed Dutton, now the opposition leader, stalked Turnbulls leadership before the August 2018 leadership spill that led to Morrison being installed as prime minister in a contest with Dutton. Peter Dutton and Malcolm Turnbull in 2018. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Turnbull said his overriding impression of Dutton was that of a thug. I thought Dutton would run off to the right and I thought he would do a lot of damage as prime minister of Australia in a short period, Turnbull said in the episode, which was aired on Monday night. Everyone deserves a roof over their head. Its a quote often reached for by Australian politicians, which suggests they do, in fact, see housing as a human right. But the question being asked from kitchen tables to boardrooms is what they can or are willing to do to make that a reality rather than a lofty slogan. Many argue the housing crunch has been coming for decades. Credit: Dan Peled In Queensland, its been almost 18 months since then-premier Annastacia Palaszczuk first convened an urgent meeting involving government, private and community sector figures to dig into the pressures driving prices to record highs and squeezing availability to similar lows for renters and would-be home buyers. In his first major appearance as her successor, Steven Miles will unveil his governments long-awaited and much-touted Homes for Queenslanders plan to a crowd at the Queensland Media Club in South Bank on Tuesday. Many more eyes will be watching. This article is part of Travellers Holiday Guide to ocean cruising. Passengers on a nine-month cruise have become unlikely stars on TikTok and Instagram, with thousands following their epic voyage and updates of daily life on board Serenade of the Seas. Wannabe cruisers have flocked to social media to follow the passengers adventures on Royal Caribbeans Ultimate World Cruise, lapping up footage of sightseeing on the 60-country trip as well as the more banal details of life on board. Serenade of the Seas. Nancy and Mike Jacobs, a couple from Michigan in the United States, now have more than 63,000 followers on TikTok. Their content ranges from a rough journey through the Drake Passage between Cape Horn and Antarctica to answering questions such as How do you get prescriptions? This photo taken on Feb. 5, 2024 shows a scene during a flower fair at a park in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Flower-themed fairs are being held in Chengdu to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) This photo taken on Feb. 4, 2024 shows a flower fair in a street in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Flower-themed fairs are being held in Chengdu to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) People buy a flower-shaped knit decoration at a flower fair at a park in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 5, 2024. Flower-themed fairs are being held in Chengdu to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) A dealer introduces flowers to customers at a flower fair in a street in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 4, 2024. Flower-themed fairs are being held in Chengdu to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) A dealer introduces flowers to customers at a flower fair at a park in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 5, 2024. Flower-themed fairs are being held in Chengdu to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) A dealer prepares a bouquet at a flower fair in a street in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 4, 2024. Flower-themed fairs are being held in Chengdu to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) People visit a flower fair at a park in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 5, 2024. Flower-themed fairs are being held in Chengdu to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) A visitor selects flowers at a flower fair at a park in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Feb. 5, 2024. Flower-themed fairs are being held in Chengdu to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) This photo taken on Feb. 5, 2024 shows a flower-shaped installation at a flower fair in a street in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Flower-themed fairs are being held in Chengdu to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie) The first shot of the next war between the worlds big powers, it is often said, will be fired in space. As conflict spreads on Earth, ill omens are emerging in the firmament. As countries race to develop new capabilities in space, some are also building the forces and weapons to fight beyond the atmosphere. On January 28 Iran said it had launched three satellites. Western countries fear they could be used in its ballistic-missile program. Russias invasion of Ukraine has opened a new chapter in space war. But Americas biggest dread is China, which seeks to match if not surpass Americas primacy in the heavens. Admiral Christopher Grady, vice-chairman of Americas joint chiefs of staff, explains it bluntly: Space has emerged as our most essential war-fighting domain. The mission and capabilities of Boeings X-37B space plane are largely secret. Credit: Boeing American generals scrutinise the cosmos from Space Commands headquarters in Colorado Springs. Guardians, as Americas new breed of space warriors call themselves, monitor about 15 daily missile launches, from Ukraine to Iraq and North Korea, at the Joint Operations Centre (JOC). They also watch the fast-growing deployment of satellites, heaps of orbiting junk and the re-entry of objects into the atmosphere. Above all, they look for danger. Among the most closely observed objects are two recently launched robotic space planes, smaller versions of the space shuttle. Americas X-37B lifted off from Cape Canaveral on December 28. Chinas Shenlong, or Divine Dragon, was lofted a fortnight earlier. Both missions are largely secret. Space planes ability to undertake long missions, deliver and capture payloads, change orbit and return to Earth to refuel make them potentially important weapons. Russia launched Cosmos 2570 in October, the latest nesting doll in orbit: it released a second satellite, which then let out a third. To American commanders, such things look like a test of a kill vehicle, in other words a projectile for destroying satellites. BEIRUT, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- An Israeli warplane bombed a house in a southern Lebanese village early Monday, killing three Hezbollah fighters and wounding three civilians, Lebanese medical and security officials said. Official sources in the Civil Defense and the Muslim Scout Association said the airstrike hit the village of Yaroun near the border with Israel, adding rescue workers and ambulances rushed to the scene to remove the rubble and transport the casualties to a nearby hospital. Meanwhile, anonymous Lebanese military sources told Xinhua that the Israeli military carried out five airstrikes in the morning in the region and fired about 50 shells at 11 towns and villages along the border. The airstrikes came amid heightened tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border, which has seen frequent clashes between the Hezbollah group and the Israeli army since Oct. 8, 2023. The cross-border violence has killed 247 people on the Lebanese side, including 179 Hezbollah fighters and 39 civilians, according to Lebanese security sources. Israel has not reported any casualties. William Dobbie announced as new managing director, R&B Distillers Image: (left to right) William and Bill Dobbie R&B Distillers has announced the appointment of William Dobbie as managing director. Dobbie has been commercial director of the company for four years. He takes over from Bill Dobbie, his father, who steps into the position of chairman. Bill Dobbie co-founded R&B Distillers in 2014 with Alistair Day. Bill Dobbie shares: William has helped drive double-digit revenue growth at over 20 per cent per annum during his four years as Commercial Director, and R&Bs Board was unanimous in its decision to give him the opportunity to lead the companys next phase of growth. We have continued to see solid growth in the UK and internationally over the last few years, including during what was a challenging year for the industry in 2023, and are excited by our prospects to build sales in existing and new markets over the next decade. R&B owns the Isle of Raasay distillery, which opened in 2017 and has since released gin and single malt whisky. It now plans to launch the Machrihanish Distillery near Campbeltown in the next 12-18 months. William Dobbie adds: The whole team deserves so much credit for our success to date, and our 10-year vision is centred on taking the business to the next level, increasing our international presence in lucrative markets like North America and Asia. While the high end of the whisky market has come under pressure over the last year, we have managed to significantly increase sales, grow a loyal customer base and brand in the face of industry headwinds. 5 February 2024 - Lucy Schofield BEIJING, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- In 2023, China's immigration authorities advanced the reform of immigration management services and introduced an array of new policies and measures to serve the country's high-level opening up and high-quality development. Over the past year, immigration authorities have made efforts to optimize entry and exit policies in order to facilitate inbound and outbound travelers, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) said on Monday. The administration has guided local authorities to resume accepting and approving applications for ordinary passports to travel abroad and visit friends, and exit-entry permits for traveling to and from Hong Kong and Macao, among other businesses. In 2023, about 4.8 million mainland residents benefited from a streamlined procedure that allows them to apply for exit-entry permits when traveling to and from Hong Kong and Macao, regardless of their household registration place, said the NIA, adding that such procedure has saved 8.88 billion yuan (about 1.25 billion U.S. dollars) for them. In 2023, the NIA launched over 30 new immigration policies to serve and support the construction of pilot free trade zones, the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin and the demonstration zone for realizing common prosperity in Zhejiang. Immigration authorities upgraded the functions on the government service platforms and introduced eight new online services in 2023. The NIA launched its official website in English, Russian, French, Spanish and Arabic, and opened a hotline, providing services for over 90 million people over the past year. Immigration authorities have continued to optimize the customs clearance environment for passengers and freight at ports over the past year. They also expanded China's visa-free transit policy to include citizens from Norway for a 72/144-hour stay in 2023. Budget session begins today Staff Reporter RAIPUR, The second session of sixth Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly will begin with an address by Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan at 11.05 am on Monday. Talking to mediapersons at Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Secretariat on Sunday, Speaker of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Dr Raman Singh said that the Budget session of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly would be held from February 5 to March 1. Total 20 sittings will be held in the second session. Financial and Government businesses will be transacted during the Budget session, said Dr Raman Singh. The Assembly Speaker said that the third Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2023-2024 would be tabled in the House on February 5. Discussions on the third Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2023-2024 will be held on February 6. A Motion of thanks to Governors Address will be held on February 7 and 8. The State Budget for 2024-25 will be tabled in the House at 12.30 pm on February 9 by Finance Minister O P Choudhary. Discussions on the State Budget for 2024-25 will be held on February 12 and 13. Discussions on departmental wise demands and grants for the financial year 2024-25 would be held from February 14 to 26. Discussions on the Appropriation Bill would be held on February 27. Three bills-namely Chhattisgarh Civil Court (Amendment) Bill-2024, Chhattisgarh Rajim Maghi Punni Mela (Amendment) Bill-2024 and Chhattisgarh Maal and Seva Kar (Sansodhan) Vidheyak-2024 have been received for tabling during the budget session. Total 2,335 information for questions have been received. Total 1,162 starred questions and 1,173 unstarred questions have been received. The MLAs can submit their questions till February 8 for the budget session. 10 applications for call attention motions have been received so far. One proposal has been received for discussion under Rule 139. Six applications for zero hour and 10 petitions have been received so far, he added. The Speaker of the Assembly announced that efforts are under way to transition to a paperless system at the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Secretariat. Proceedings of the House will be accessible through the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly website www.cgvidhansabha.gov.in and the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha mobile app. Additionally, plans are under way to launch an e-Vidhan portal, providing access to the Governors Address, Budget, and other pertinent information. Furthermore, the Health and Family Welfare Department of the Chhattisgarh Government will host a three-day health check-up camp at the Legislative Assembly campus from February 14 to 16. Corruption at lower level, political influence emboldening illegal grazing By Kaushik Bhattacharya Rampant illegal grazing of cattle, particularly of Kathiyawadi cow (Gir cow), on forest land in Nagpur division has emerged as a multi-dimensional issue in the past over a couple of decades or so. Apart from leading to conflicts between those bringing these cows to the region from outside and the locals, the illegal grazing has major implications for loss of habitat for wildlife, and feeding issues for local cattle for decades. Though the Forest Department is very well aware about the illegal grazing by Kathiyawadi cows that are brought mainly from Gujarat, no stern action has been taken so far against the Kathiyawadi tribe people who come every year to Vidarbha with their huge livestock. This has led to the spoiling of grasslands in the region. Keeping the threat of such illegal grazing in mind, the State Government had come out with a Government Resolution (GR) way back in November 2011, banning such grazing by livestock from outside Maharashtra. The intention of the Government was to curb grazing by Kathiyawadi cattle wreaking a havoc specially in Vidarbha where huge patches of forest and village farms are forcefully used by the Kathiyawadi tribesmen for grazing their cattle. However, the Government decision has hardly had any impact or pressure on Kathiyawadis because of support from some politically influential persons and some of the Forest Department staffers. When The Hitavada tried to investigate to find out the reasons and loopholes that have contributed to increase in illegal grazing in Vidarbha region by interacting with affected villagers and farmers, it found that most of them were ready to share details on the condition of anonymity. They preferred anonymous admission of the problem because they felt threatened by the Kathiyawadi tribesmen and involvement of influential people. Ramlal (name changed) is one such farmer from Katlabodi village, where recently a tiger mauled a man to death. The 42-year-old farmer and his family have been living in Katlabodi village for decades. His grandfather and father were also the natives of this same village. The family has been living in the lap of Nature. It has been grazing its cattle in the forest area for decades for which it has got requisite permission. Though the Government has banned cattle grazing in protected areas in any Reserve Forest in the State, it has allowed cattle grazing for local people and farmers in corridors. We have that permission. But, the Kathiyawadi tribesmen come every year here to graze their cattle without any permission. It has been going on for at least fifteen years, Ramlal rued. Staff Reporter Sadar police arrested Kunal Raut, President of Maharashtra Youth Congress and son of former State Minister and Congress MLA Dr Nitin Raut, on Sunday from Kuhi. The arrest was made in connection with the defacement of a poster of Prime Minister Narendra Modi near the Zilla Parishad office. According to Sadar Police, the incident took place on Saturday when Raut, alongside other Congress leaders, vandalised a poster of Prime Minister Narendra Modi near Zilla Parishad in Civil Lines. They not only erased the inscription Modi Sarkar but also added Bharat Sarkar to the poster. The act involved defacing the picture with black paint, said a Sadar police official. A case has been registered against Raut under Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, Section 3 of the Maharashtra Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, and Section 427 of the Indian Penal Code. The Sadar police team arrested Raut in Kuhi town on Sunday afternoon. Local Congress leaders reportedly protested the arrest and raised slogans. Raut was transported to Nagpur, where he underwent a medical check-up, according to the police. Contrary to police statements, a Congress leader asserted that a notice was issued on February 4 under Section 41-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) via WhatsApp which instructed Kunal Raut and others to appear for investigation on February 5 at 12 pm. However, Raut was apprehended abruptly by the police, the leader claimed. Raut will be produced before the Court on Monday. MPBSE Xth exams from today Staff Reporter Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Examiantion (MPBSE) is starting its final examiantion for high school on Monday with Hindi paper. While higher secondary examination, class XII, will begin from February 6. The Board has made various arrangements at centres to maintain transparency during the examination. Question papers have been sent safely to police stations amid tight security. Examinees have been asked to reach the centre one hour prior. The Board has already imposed Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) Act until the Board examination evaluation is done. There will be no supplementary copy in exam hall. The Board has secured OMR sheet with bar code. There are 9,92,101 male students and 7,48,238 female students registered to appear in the examination. The Board has set up 7,501 examination centres across the State. In Bhopal, there are 137 centres for both the examination. There are 3,863 centres for high school and 3,638 centres for higher secondary examination. This includes 302 sensitive and 309 super sensitive centres. SED has made special arrangements to put a tab on cheating cases. Students will be allowed to enter the examination hall after proper searching. Collector representatives and police teams have been assigned at each centre. Besides this, videography and CCTV camera surveillance is there at each centre. According to the schedule, class X examinees will be appearing for Hindi paper on February 5, Urdu on February 7, Sanskrit on February 9, Mathematics on February 13, regional language on February 15, English on February 19, Science on February 22, Social Science on February 26 and all subjects NSQF and artificial intelligence on February 28. Myanmar Junta Losing More Areas To Rebels By Arun Kumar Shrivastav ON THE third anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar, a joint statement from the European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States condemned the ongoing violence and human rights abuses perpetrated by the military regime. The statement released by Global Affairs Canada highlighted the devastating impact of the coup. Thousands of civilians have been jailed, tortured, and killed. Its military rule has caused the widespread destruction of infrastructure and the displacement of millions of people, it said. Under the military regime, violence against civilians has escalated, with thousands jailed, tortured and killed. Airstrikes, shelling and arson have been used to destroy civilian infrastructure, including homes, schools, healthcare facilities and places of worship. The militarys actions have fuelled a growing humanitarian crisis with 2.6 million people displaced from their homes and more than 18 million people in need, the statement from Global Affairs Canada stated. The statement urged the military to engage in meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders and implement the Five-Point Consensus adopted by the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). It also called on the UN Security Council to strengthen its efforts and urged all member states to support humanitarian needs in Myanmar and neighbouring countries. Three years ago, on February 1, 2021, Myanmars military overthrew the democratically elected Government, detaining Aung San SuuKyi and other leaders. The coup plunged the country into an ongoing conflict with significant humanitarian consequences. On February 1, 2024, many Myanmar citizens participated in a nationwide silent protest, expressing their opposition to the military regime despite the risk of repression. This unity follows intense fighting by pro-democracy armed groups in various regions, highlighting continued resistance to the junta. A Myanmar fan of pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi paid tribute to her on Twitter by posting one of her famous quotes: The only real prison is FEAR, and the only real freedom is FREEDOM from fear - Aung San SuuKyi With thousands killed and imprisoned in the last three years, Suu Kyi remains a big inspiration for the pro-democracy fighters. Multiple ethnic armed groups, including the Arakan Army and the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), continue to engage in armed conflict with the military. This includes incidents like the reported shooting down of a junta helicopter by the KNLA, demonstrating the ongoing challenges to the juntas control. The Rohingya population continues to face significant hardship, as highlighted by the Rohingya Union for Women Education & Development. Their plight remains a major concern within the broader conflict. Ugandan Member of Parliament Suuna King James has raised the alarm over 450 Ugandans allegedly held hostage by rebels near the Chinese border in Myanmar. This is the area where 450 Ugandans are being held hostage by Myanmar rebels near the border with China. The town was seized by rebels 2 weeks ago; China evacuated its nationals, leaving their employees behind. We wait to see if Uganda will send its commandos on a rescue mission, his tweet, accompanied by a video from a Myanmar site on February 1. European Parliament in ASEAN on February 1, 2024, tweeted, Three years ago, Myanmars military overthrew by force a democratically elected government. Today, the EU Parliament welcomes @NUGMyanmar Minister @ZawWaiSoe4 and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the Myanmar people in their quest for a free, peaceful and democratic future. The juntas extension of emergency rule underscores its intention to maintain control and disregard for democratic aspirations. This move has been met with international condemnation, including calls by figures like UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to end the dictatorship and sever ties with the junta. Despite international pressure and ongoing resistance within Myanmar, the military junta retains control. The situation remains volatile, characterised by armed conflict, human rights abuses, and a worsening humanitarian crisis. Finding a path towards peace and democracy in Myanmar requires sustained pressure on the junta, coupled with support for the democratic movement and efforts to alleviate the suffering of the people. This necessitates comprehensive and inclusive solutions that address the root causes of the conflict and respect the will of the Myanmar people. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the military regimes ongoing atrocities and human rights violations, the statement by Global Affairs Canada said, calling for an immediate end to the violence and the release of all political prisoners. (IPA) ONGC, IOC, other oil PSUs to invest Rs 1.2 lakh cr NEW DELHI : ONGC, IOC and other oil PSUs will invest about Rs 1.2 lakh crore in the coming fiscal starting April 1 in oil and gas exploration, refineries, petrochemicals and laying pipelines to meet the needs of the worlds fastest-growing energy consuming nation. The investment proposed in 2024-25 is 5 per cent higher than Rs 1.12 lakh crore spent by the state-owned oil firms in the current fiscal year that ends on March 31, according to Budget 2024-25 documents. Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) has a planned capital spending of Rs 30,800 crore in the next financial year. This expenditure in finding new reserves of oil and gas and bringing to production discoveries it has already made, is slightly higher than Rs 30,500 crore capex in 2023-24 fiscal (April 2023 to March 2024). It is developing discoveries on both east and west coasts of the country. The top oil producers overseas arm, ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) will invest 68 per cent more at Rs 5,580 crore in 2024-25 in oil and gas operations abroad when compared with the previous fiscal. Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the countrys top oil refiner, will be the top spender with an investment outlay of Rs 30,910 crore, with the bulk of it in expansion and upgrade of its seven refineries that produce fuel. This outlay also includes Rs 3,299 crore in the petrochemical business and another Rs 236.48 crore in the small oil and gas exploration portfolio it has. The investment planned by IOC is less than Rs 31,254 crore spending in the current 2023-24 fiscal. Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) has proposed a 30 per cent higher capital spending at Rs 13,000 crore, two-thirds of which will be in its core refining business. Gas utility GAIL India Ltd will see its planned investment decline to over Rs 8,000 crore in 2024-25 from Rs 9,750 crore in the previous fiscal as most of its pipeline grid expansion projects are nearing completion. Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL), a subsidiary of ONGC, will invest Rs 12,500 crore in FY25, marginally higher than Rs 12,000 crore in the previous year. Oil India Ltd, the nations second-largest oil producer, will invest Rs 6,880 crore next year as compared to Rs 5,648 crore in the current fiscal. In her interim budget for 2024-25 ahead of general elections, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had on February 1 put off capital support to oil marketing companies - IOC, BPCL and HPCL to the next fiscal year. She while presenting the annual Budget for 2023-24 on February 1 last year announced equity infusion of Rs 30,000 crore in IOC, BPCL and HPCL to support their energy transition plans. Alongside, she had also proposed Rs 5,000 crore for buying crude oil to fill strategic underground storages at Mangalore in Karnataka and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh that India has built to guard against any supply disruptions. In November last year, the finance ministry halved the equity support and the documents of the interim budget for 2024-25 Sitharaman presented in Lok Sabha on Thursday showed no allocation for equity infusion in the current fiscal. The Rs 15,000 crore has now been earmarked for 2024-25 fiscal (April 2024 to March 2025). The budget documents did not provide any funds either in the current fiscal or the next for filling the strategic reserves. While other state-owned oil companies such as ONGC and GAIL (India) Ltd too have lined up billions of dollars of investment to achieve net zero carbon emissions, the equity support was limited to the three fuel retailers, who had suffered huge losses in 2022 when they held retail petrol, diesel and cooking gas (LPG) prices despite a spike in raw material (crude oil) prices following Russias invasion of Ukraine. Industry sources said the decision may be linked to a boost in profitability of the three firms in the current fiscal which has partly covered for the losses in the previous 2022-23 (April 2022 to March 2023) fiscal. The three are making good profit this year as the freeze in retail selling prices extends into the 21st month despite crude oil prices having softened. The board of IOC and BPCL had last year approved rights issues to raise up to Rs 22,000 crore and Rs 18,000 crore, respectively. The Government was to participate in the rights issue. Sources said the two firms plan to halve the rights issue. In case of HPCL, the Government will not make any direct equity infusion as it had sold its majority stake in the company to ONGC in 2018. The infusion is likely to be through ONGC which will make the preferential issue of shares to the Government. BPCL and HPCL are aiming to end net carbon emission from their operations by 2040 and IOC is aiming for 2046 for the same. The trimming of the equity infusion and no allocation for crude oil filing may be linked to the Government prioritising spending in a bid to try to limit its fiscal deficit to 5.8 per cent of GDP this fiscal year ending March 31. Pak ISI agent Working at Indian Embassy in Moscow arrested by UP ATS LUCKNOW : THE police in Uttar Pradesh have arrested an Indian national working at the countrys embassy in Moscow for allegedly spying for Pakistans ISI, an official statement on Sunday said. The Meerut field unit of UPs Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) called Satendra Siwal, who was working as the IBSA (India Based Security Assistant) in the Indian Embassy in Moscow from 2021, for interrogation, the statement said. Siwal, a resident of Shahmahiuddinpur village in Hapur, could not give satisfactory answers and confessed to his crime during questioning, it said. He was arrested after an FIR was registered against him 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. 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, it said. The Anti-Terrorist Squad said that he was 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. Meanwhile, sources said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is aware of Siwals arrest and working with the investigative authorities in this case. Percentage of alcoholics diagnosed with liver ailments on rise: Dr Cherian By Vikas Vaidya Till now, the percentage of people, who consume alcohol being diagnosed with liver disease was 30. But now that percentage is rising. Sharing these details with The Hitavada, Dr Tom Cherian, well-known Liver Transplant specialist and Founder of South Asian Liver Institute, Hyderabad said, It is always said people should drink moderately. But it will be better if they dont consume liquor at all. Because liver disease is getting detected in many people who consume alcohol. When asked what alcohol does to liver, Dr Cherian explained, Frequent use of alcohol leads to severe damage to the liver. Whenever liver filters alcohol, some of its cells die. Obviously, new cell are developed. But prolonged consumption for several years reduces the ability of liver to regenerate the cells. Secondly, liver also resists the process of detoxification affecting, the efficiency of function of liver. Most people say that Wine with exercise is always good which according to Dr Tom Cherian is absolutely rubbish. Exercise and consuming wine are two different things. If one performs exercise, it surely helps our body and mind. But if one consumes wine and does rigorous exercise, that doesnt mean one can help oneself preventing damage to liver. Whatever damages are done by liver through alcohol will continue. Nobody should take an escape route, Dr Cherian made it clear. People start suffering from liver disease a bit late so nobody gives serious thought to it. Capacity of liver is so good that when its lesser portion gets damaged, it doesnt affect humans to a large extent. This is the reason where alive people donate part of their liver to their kin to give a lease of life to the recipients. We lose many lives in road accident mostly because of brain injury. If their organs are donated, then we can save several lives through liver transplant, pointed out Dr Cherian. Dr Cherian advised, One should have proper Body Mass Index (BMI). Rice should be avoided and wheat rotis should be consumed in moderation. One should consume fresh fruits, raw cucumber, carrot, apart from regular exercise. Millet is also very good. Dr Cherian has performed over 650 liver transplants with 90% success rate. Dr Cherians South Asian Liver Institute has tied up with Wockhardt Hospitals for performing liver transplant. His father, Dr Jecob Cherian, a well known Cardiac Surgeon, received Padma Bhushan for his contribution to community service. Removal From Caution List By Adv. R. S. Agrawal IN THE Judgment of the case- Advocate Shailesh Vishwanath Jambhale v. The General Manager, State Bank of India, Mumbai and others, delivered on January 30, 2024, by Justice Atul Chandurkar and Justice Jitendra Jain, at the Bombay High Court, the HC has expressed the view that the action of placing the name of the petitioner on the Caution List by the respondent Chief Executive Officer, Indian Banks Association, is liable to be quashed, since there is no element of fraud involved even according to the Respondents 1 and 2 coupled with the fact that the petitioner is sought to be held negligent disregarding the opinion expressed by him in the title search reports. Thus, the respondents 1 and 2 would be required to delete the name of the petitioner from the said Caution List. The petitioner is practicing Advocate. In the year 2012, he was included in the panel of Advocates at the State Bank of Hyderabad, now merged with the Respondent-State Bank of India, Which entrusted work to the petitioner of obtaining Search and Title Report of the properties on which loan was to be sanctioned. On October 14, 2014, November 11, 2014 and December 9, 2014, 3 Search and Title Reports with respect to 3 different properties were given by the petitioner to the respondent-Bank. Thereafter, the Bank sanctioned loan on these properties of which the search report was given by the petitioner. Subsequently, a fraud came to be unearthed with regard to the loan sanctioned by the respondent-Bank against the security of these properties. In view of this, on June 26, 2015 and June 30, 2016, the Bank issued a show cause notice to the petitioner directing him to give his comments on the lapses in furnishing the Title and Search Report without due care and caution. Through the letters of July 7, 2015 and July 11, 2016, the petitioner replied to the said notice and denied the allegations made in the said show cause notice. On August 1, 2018, respondent-2, the Chief Executive Officer of Indian Banks Association Replying to the Petitioners Advocate stated that the petitioners name has been placed on the Caution List in accordance with the guidelines of August 27, 2009 issued by the said CEO, who had further advised the petitioner to approach the respondent-Bank for removal of his name from the Caution List. The HC has pointed out that the short point arising in the petition for its consideration is whether the petitioner could be held to be negligible so as to be placed in the Caution List by these two respondents. The Search and Title Report issued by the petitioner on October 14, 2014, November 11, 2014 and December 9, 2014, expressly states that the documents scrutinised for the report are photo copies. These photo copies were given by the respondent -Bank to the petitioner for carrying out the title and search report, therefore, the respondent-Bank was well aware at the time of receiving the report that the Search and Title report are not based on certified copies, but are based on the photo copies. Therefore, the Bank cannot turn around now and allege negligence against the petitioner of the fact which they themselves were made aware by the petitioner in the report itself. In the said report, the petitioner has stated the process followed by him for giving his opinion on title and no fault is found in the procedure adopted by the petitioner by the Bank. The petitioner has categorically stated in the report that prior to the mortgage, NOC from the society should be obtained. The petitioner also expressly stated that original documents should be deposited for mortgage and intimation of mortgage should be given to the Sub Registrar within 30 days from the date of notice. The petitioner has also stated that his search report is based on the records available at the office of Sub Registrar and on the computer placed at the JDR Office at Pune. In the HCs view, the petitioner as an Advocate has expressed his opinion and expressly stated the steps to be taken by the Bank before sanctioning the loan, by seeking deposits of original documents etc. If subsequently, title deeds are found to be faked, then the petitioner cannot be held to be negligent since based on a perusal of the report, he can be said to have taken reasonable care and due diligence in discharging his duties. Considering it important, the HC has noted that the Circular of February 25, 2013 is addressed by the respondent-Bank to its branches and there was no material shown to the court that it was brought to the notice of the petitioner at the time of his empanelment. Therefore, the allegation that certified copies should be obtained by the Panel Advocate (as stated in the Circular), who shall compare the contents with the original documents and the petitioner having not done so is guilty of negligence, would not be correct. The said guideline also requires the branch of the Bank to take periodical inspection and obtain encumbrance certificate in respect of mortgaged property. This was also the responsibility of the Bank and not the petitioner. The Circular of November 18, 2015 issued by the Bank to its branches in continuation of its 2013 Circular requires the branches to review the performance of Advocate every year. Prior to 2015, there does not appear to be any adverse remark against the performance of the petitioner. The petitioner has also stated that on many occasions, he has given report in favour of the Bank against sanction of loan which was not disputed by the Bank. The Bank could not produce any document in respect of said 4 title reports against the petitioner. Nothing stopped the Bank from issuing show cause notice to the petitioner, if some fraud was found on the part of the petitioner. This also indicates that the petitioner cannot be found to be negligent in discharging his duty. In the Banks affidavit in reply, that the petitioner was not found hand in gloves with the borrower, but the only ground is on account of professional negligence, which according to the court is not correct. The Bank has also not initiated any criminal proceedings against the petitioner, which also justifies the stand taken by the Bank in its reply. The HC has observed that it would be too harsh to keep the Caution List forever. According to the Court its decision in the case Rajan Shrivallabha Deshpande v. Bank of Baroda and another (WP No. 3616 of 2021 at Mumbai) squarely applies to the facts of this case. Allowing the petition, the High Court has directed the respondent C.E.O. Indian Banks Association to remove the name of the petitioner-lawyer from the caution List, forthwith. Shinde writes to Kovind in support of simultaneous polls New Delhi, Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has supported the concept of simultaneous polls, saying frequent elections are not good for the economy and hamper growth. In a letter to chairman of the high-level committee on one nation one election Ram Nath Kovind, Shinde said simultaneous polls are one of the most critical reforms proposed by the NDA Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We strongly believe that one nation, one election will lead to focused and smooth governance. With elections going on in some part or other of the country it becomes very difficult to concentrate on governance as the entire attention is focused in winning these elections, he wrote. In his January 24 letter, he said everyone from the PM to ministers to CMs to MPs, MLAs and all leaders get involved with these elections. This causes virtual paralysis of administration at various levels. He noted that assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram were held just four months before the general elections to the Lok Sabha. Polls to elect new assemblies in Maharashtra, Haryana and some other states will be held within six months of the Lok Sabha polls. Huge amounts will be spent on these elections in such a short span of time. We feel that simultaneously elections would drastically reduce election expense not only for the ECI or the government but also of Political parties, he opined. Responding to a Lok Sabha question last week, the government had said that 35 responses have so far been received from political parties by the committee on one nation, one election. Set up in September last, the committee is mandated to examine and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, municipalities and panchayats keeping in view the existing constitutional framework. WELLINGTON, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Health Minister and Minister for Pacific Peoples Shane Reti will visit Tonga, Cook Islands and Samoa this week to reaffirm connections with the region. "New Zealand enjoys strong and long-standing relationships with our Pacific partners -- especially in Polynesia, where we have close political, economic, and people-to-people ties," Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Monday. New Zealand has deep and longstanding cultural links with the Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga, Reti said, adding that he will discuss the shared issues the communities face in New Zealand and the Pacific, particularly in health. The two ministers will meet with the prime ministers in the Pacific countries and some of their counterparts during a visit from Feb. 6 to Feb. 10. Submitted resignation to CM Shinde as he allocates portfolios: Bhujbal MUMBAI, MAHARASHTRA Minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal, who has opposed the reservation to Marathas under the OBC grouping, on Sunday said he had submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as he is responsible for the allocation of portfolios. Notably, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has not yet reacted to the announcement made by Bhujbal at a rally on Saturday that he resigned on November 16 but kept mum on the advice of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister. Deputy CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis has said that Bhujbals resignation has not been accepted. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will be able to clarify, he told reporters. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday dubbed Bhujbals disclosure about his resignation a hogwash and suggested that the NCP leader and BJP were hand in glove. The Shiv Sena led by Shinde, BJP, and the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) are the constituents of the Mahayuti Government. Ajit Pawar and eight MLAs of NCP, including Bhujbal, joined the Shinde Government last July. A Chief Minister allocates ministerial portfolios and informs ministers about their responsibilities. It is always the prerogative of a Chief Minister whom to include in his Cabinet, and accordingly, the state governor is informed, Bhujbal told reporters in Nashik when asked why he submitted his resignation to Shinde, who belongs to Shiv Sena. The disclosure by Bhujbal that he had resigned as a minister has put a focus on the Maratha quota tightrope the Eknath Shinde-led government is walking amid restlessness in OBCs, whom the BJP counts as loyal voters. Taking a swipe, Raut said Bhujbal claims he resigned from the Cabinet last year but he attended subsequent meetings of the council of ministers. It is said that Devendra Fadnavis is behind Bhujbals 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, he claimed. 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 Jaranges demand that blood relatives of Marathas with Kunbi (OBC sub-caste) records, will be given the Kunbi certificates. 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, the Food and Civil Supplies Minister said while addressing the rally a day before. 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. Talking to reporters, Fadnavis said, The Chief Minister will be able to clarify, but I can only say as of now that Bhujbals resignation has not been accepted by the Chief Minister or me. YANGON, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- University students in Myanmar who wants to fulfil their study dreams in China gathered at knowledge-sharing event to pursue their goals. "Knowledge-sharing provides students with a lot of support to achieve their goals," Margaret Wong, the Myanmar student who got doctor degree from China's Wuhan University, told Xinhua during a recent knowledge-sharing event held at Yangon China Cultural Center. In the event, eight Myanmar students shared their experiences and knowledge on how to prepare to study in China. 32-year-old Aung Pyae Phyo Win, who got doctor degree from China's Xiamen University and master degree from Yunnan Normal University, said that students who want to study in China need to be well-prepared and active in school activities such as cultural exchange programs. To boost bilateral ties effectively, knowledge on history and culture is required, he added. "This event helps students who are preparing to study in China. It's easier to find a job when coming back and if you can speak Chinese well, there will be many opportunities," Chuu Eindayae, 31, who studied in Jinan University for three years, told Xinhua. "I am interested in Chinese culture and really want to study in China and the information shared at the event is really helpful," said Myint Myat Thu, 20, a Sophomore student majoring in Chinese language from the Yangon University of Foreign Languages (YUFL). "I came here to fulfill my dream of studying in China," YUFL first year student Nang Htwe Kham said. "The information about the scholarship helped me to kick off my scholarship journey." RAMALLAH, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye rejected on Monday an Israeli proposal to relocate the Rafah border crossing, the only crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. He spoke at a weekly cabinet meeting in Ramallah, where he said Israel "is trying to move the Rafah crossing to another place." He said the Rafah crossing was the "gateway to the Palestinian-Egyptian border, and it is an Egyptian-Palestinian affair." His remark came after Israeli media outlets reported that Israel, the United States and Egypt were discussing moving the Rafah crossing to the Kerem Shalom area. The Rafah border crossing, crucial for evacuations and humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, has become a life passage for the Gazans trapped in the besieged enclave as the Hamas-Israel conflict continues. Ishtaye also said that "the crimes in Gaza have entered their fifth month, and the killing has not stopped, and the number of victims, including deaths, missing persons and wounded, has reached tens of thousands, most of whom are children, women and the elderly." Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza, killing more than 27,000 Palestinians, to retaliate for a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. NAIROBI, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Experts on Monday met in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, to harmonize telecommunications standards in Africa. The second African Telecommunication Union (ATU) forum for preparation of the World Telecommunication Assembly was attended by more than 200 stakeholders comprising telecoms regulators and the private sector from Africa to discuss how common standards will promote universal access to advanced wireless, broadband, and multimedia technologies. In his opening remarks, ATU Secretary-General John Omo said that Africa needs to develop similar standards for telecommunication equipment such as computer and mobile devices to promote interoperability of ICT devices across borders. "Africa also needs a common emergency telecommunications number so that countries can cooperate in responding to disasters such as floods," Omo said. He added that the continent also requires developing a common cybersecurity framework for telecommunication networks to ensure that the region is safe from online threats. Eliud Owalo, Kenya's cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy, said that common telecommunication standards will provide African manufacturers with a solid basis on which to compete in the global marketplace, unhindered by technical barriers. Owalo stressed that harmonized standards across the continent will benefit consumers who will have devices that are compatible and seamless across diverse platforms and technologies. Seizo Onoe, the director of the telecommunication standardization bureau at the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) which is a specialized agency of the United Nations, said that telecommunications standards are the lifeblood of information communication and technology connectivity and industry developments. Onoe noted that unified telecommunications standards in Africa will result in economies of scale and affordable digital services for consumers. David Mugonyi, director general of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), urged Africa to adopt harmonized telecommunications standards because it will boost cross-border interactions and interoperability of devices and systems. Environmental Protection First Coalition has addressed Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan with a statement on the environmental damage near Goycha Lake, Azernerws reports. The statement says that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan should realise the extent of environmental damage caused by the non-transparent activities of the mining enterprises entrusted to foreign investors near Lake Goycha. This approach will probably solve the problem of water purification, which has not found a solution for many years, the Coalition believes. Pashinyan was responding to protests by Armenian and Azerbaijani NGOs and environmental activists over the pollution of freshwater resources resulting from the exploitation of the Amuldag field without observing environmental norms. During the government session, he acknowledged that wastewater is discharged into Lake Goycha without prior treatment. Pashinyan also agreed that despite years of discussions, no final solution to the problem has been found so far, and Armenia does not have the necessary funds and resources for that. The head of the government emphasised that despite the participation of international partners in the process of water purification, after a certain period of time the lake becomes polluted again. The original name of the Sevan Lake is Gokhca, which means "blue river" in Turkish. There were a lot of Azerbaijanis living around the lake until 1988. Armenia deported more than 250,000 Azerbaijanis in January, 1988, as a result of its ethnic cleansing policy. Afterwards, the Armenian authorities falsified the etymology of the lake and changed its name to "Sevan". Recall, in 2014, Armenian government's decision has led to a critical situation for Lake Sevan, creating the possibility of water logging. The government disapproved a decision on rising water level in the country's only guaranteed major source of fresh water for the next five years, during which Lake Sevan will face negative ecological disasters. Former director of the National Park Sevan ecologist Gagik Sukhudyan has warned that the government's violation of the law on Sevan has created a critical situation. "The government has adopted a decision on draining an additional 70 million cubic meters of water, and it means that some 240 million cubic meters of water will be drained," he said. Under the law, only 170 million cubic meters of water can be drained from the lake every year. SEOUL, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- A South Korean court on Monday acquitted Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong of charges, such as stock price rigging and accounting fraud, linked to his management succession. The Seoul Central District Court ruled that no evidence was shown for all charges in this case, according to multiple local media reports. Thirteen more defendants, including former Samsung executives, were found not guilty of similar charges. Lee was indicted in September 2020 on charges of stock price manipulation, accounting fraud and other illegalities relevant to the controversial merger in 2015 between Cheil Industries and Samsung C&T. Prosecutors suspected that Samsung C&T, the de-facto holding company of Samsung Group, was devaluated in the stock market through irregularities, while inflating the valuation of Cheil, controlled by Lee at the time. Three Samsung C&T shares were offered for one Cheil share to help Lee smoothly inherit the management control of the country's biggest family-run conglomerate by allowing Lee to control the merged Samsung C&T, one of key shareholders of Samsung Electronics, prosecutors believed. The Samsung family was known to have controlled the group with a fraction of shares through cross-shareholding. Lee was also charged by prosecutors with his involvement in the suspected accounting fraud at Samsung BioLogics, a biopharmaceutical subsidiary of Cheil, to overvalue the subsidiary first and Cheil in the end. The prosecution office demanded a five-year jail term and a fine of 500 million won (375,380 U.S. dollars) for Lee, but it was dismissed by the court. The court ruled that Lee's inheritance was not the sole purpose of the 2015 merger while no evidence was discovered that the merger caused damages to shareholders. It noted that it cannot be concluded that the defendants had intentions of fraudulent accounting. According to the International Monetary Fund, assuming a Category 4 hurricane every three years in The Bahamas would require the government and private sector to save around 1.4 percent of GDP per year to cover for future losses. A file photo taken on March 14, 2022 shows Hage G. Geingob speaking in Windhoek, Namibia. Namibian President Hage G. Geingob passed away early Sunday while receiving cancer treatment in a hospital in the capital city of Windhoek, the presidential office announced. He was 82. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) Tributes flooded in from African countries after former Namibian President Hage Geingob passed away earlier Sunday. WINDHOEK, Feb. 5 (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. This photo taken on Feb. 4, 2024 shows Nangolo Mbumba during a swearing-in ceremony in Windhoek, Namibia. (Photo by Sharon Kavhu/Xinhua) 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. This photo taken on Jan. 10, 2024 shows a factory of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Li Auto Inc. in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province.(Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng) But he stressed the EU market is huge and Chinese manufacturers must make long-term plans if they want to succeed in Europe. ZAGREB, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- There is great potential for Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers to expand in Croatia and the European Union (EU) but they still face big challenges ahead, Croatian experts said in recent interviews with Xinhua. Over the past 10 years, China has achieved incredible success and its electric vehicles have excellent quality, appealing design and competitive prices, Hrvoje Paver, an independent adviser at the Trade Department of the Croatian Chamber of Economy told Xinhua. Croatian consumers had a big interest in Chinese electric vehicles as they are looking for reliable electric vehicles that they can afford, Paver said, adding that they see Chinese electric vehicles as a good choice. Echoing Paver, Hrvoje Prpic, president of the Croatian EV Drivers Association, said the quality of Chinese EVs has improved "significantly" in the past few years. Several major European car manufacturers are ordering Chinese batteries for their EVs, Prpic added. Mihael Akerman, a Croatian automotive industry expert, also said "Chinese electric vehicles are welcome in Croatia because they are better in terms of price and quality than those of many well-known car companies." People experience a BYD Tang electric car during a media preview of the 100th Brussels Motor Show in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) CHALLENGES AHEAD Despite the considerable advantages and progress, Chinese EV manufacturers still face such big challenges as high tariffs imposed by the EU as ways to protect its own car industry. On Chinese companies' bid to build factories in Europe to maintain competitiveness in the EU market, Prpic said "This will take a long time and the EU will do everything to slow down the construction of Chinese factories in Europe and delay the arrival of Chinese manufacturers in the EU as much as possible." But he stressed the EU market is huge and Chinese manufacturers must make long-term plans if they want to succeed in Europe. Moreover, Chinese manufacturers need to build a service network throughout Europe, because customers will be reluctant to buy an electric vehicle that does not have a service at a distance of 50-100 kilometers from their home, he added. Paver concurred with Prpic, noting that the primary obstacle for Chinese manufacturers in Europe is the import duties and the Chinese manufacturers need to build a service network in Europe. "When customers buy a car, they always ask where they can repair it and where they can find spare parts. So, Chinese companies must build a network of car services in Europe," he said. Despite the increasing hurdles imposed on Chinese imports, Akerman insisted that Croatian consumers will not care about where the EVs come from as long as they are affordable and of good quality. "That is why cheaper Chinese electric vehicles could be a hit in Croatia," he said. A NIO electric car is seen in a battery swap station during a ceremony of the shipment of the first battery swap station produced by the NIO Power Europe Plant in Biatorbagy, Hungary, on Sept. 16, 2022. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) Paver also expressed the belief that Chinese EV manufacturers will be able to overcome the obstacles and challenges and expand business in Europe. "I think that very soon we will see more and more Chinese electric cars in Croatia and Europe. There is great potential for their expansion," he added. BAGHDAD, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani said Monday that Iraq rejects any unilateral action by any country that does not respect the sovereignty of other countries. Al-Sudani made the remarks when meeting with visiting Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Akbar Ahmadian, according to a statement issued by al-Sudani's media office. The prime minister stressed that the Iraqi government is keen to establish good relations with other countries but, at the same time, "does not show courtesy at the expense of Iraq's sovereignty and security," the statement said. He added that Iraq has made significant efforts "to maintain stability and achieve calm in the common interest of various peoples of the region." For his part, Ahmadian stressed his country's commitment to Iraq's security and stability and its keenness to continue working with Iraq under the joint security agreement, according to the statement. He's using his fingers and he plays a whole bunch of cool licks and shit in there. He definitely adds to the vibe and feel of my lead because I'm playing off his part a lotit was a great foundation for me to build on, man. Adding more teeth to the silence Chicken neck syndrome ? | The silence continues-add the line for over 9 months-and what has made the continuation of this conspiracy of silence more eloquent this time is the fact that it came just one day after Chief Minister N Biren tweeted on X that the Government of India is set to take some important decisions in the interests of the people of Manipur. Qualifying the line set to take some important decisions in the interests of the people of Manipur with the continued silence, will probably be the most impactful blow for Manipur even as the world has stepped into the second month of 2024. After what the Chief Minister tweeted on February 3, the focus of Manipur was on the scheduled visit of the Prime Minister to Guwahati on February 4, but the silence since the evening of May 3, 2023 continued and continues to this day making one wonder if the important decisions meant continuing with the self imposed silence. True the Chief Minister tweeted the some important decisions line after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah and not the Prime Minister, but surely the two most important men in the BJP led NDA Government at Delhi would not have struck different stands on the same subject. This is why the focus of Imphal on Guwahati during the Prime Ministers visit, just next door. So what are the important decisions that may be taken in the interests of Manipur, is the question that is doing the round, and in line with the continued silence of the Prime Minister, Chief Minister N Biren too has preferred not to say anything more than what he tweeted on X on February 3. The silence after the grand announcement on X and the he came but did not look beyond Assam or the coming Lok Sabha election line comes uncomfortably close to the understanding of the chicken neck syndrome. Not that anyone expects a magic formula to come from the Prime Minister but as veteran CPI leader of Manipur, Dr Nara so eloquently put it, This is beyond our belief that the Prime Minister did not say anything on the Manipur issue. An address to the crowd lasting nearly 32 minutes sans any reference to the ongoing mayhem here says so many things and questions are sure to be raised against the BJP led Government at Imphal. Or is the Prime Minister and his men satisfied with the fact that the BJP led Government here will be in power till at least 2027 ? Only time will tell but the silence irks and it could say so many things, leaving it wide open to different interpretations. It will not make up for the continued silence, a silence that comes close to the understanding of a conspiracy, but why hasnt the Chief Minister elaborated on the important decisions the Centre is set to take on behalf of Manipur ? Or would spelling it out or hinting at it come close to the understanding of counting the chicks before they hatch ? Either way, it stands that Manipur is still a long way to come anywhere near the understanding of normalcy. And it has been like this for over 9 months. It should be more than obvious that the writ of the State Government no longer runs in many hill districts, particularly at Churachandpur and Kangpokpi. At Moreh, in Tengnoupal district, every efforts are being made to show that there is a Government in place, with the men in khakis leading the way, but does this not say something profound ? Does not portend well for Manipur at all. The emergence of power players such as CoTU at Kangpokpi, the ITLF at Churachandpur and numerous other powerful groups should say something profound about Manipur as a whole. Show there is a Government in place, and perhaps the starting point would be to see what sort of action can be taken up against the MLAs who have raised the call for a Separate Administration. Such a step can a long way in demonstrating that there is a Government in place and this is what Manipur needs right now. One of the bangers he played was the all-time tune Dont Dream Its Over. After he finished the song, one punter reportedly yelled out that was so much better than Bono!, about U2 recently covering the song at a Las Vegas Show. ROME, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least three people are confirmed dead and dozens are in hospital as foggy weather and low visibility in northern Italy resulted in a string of highway accidents on Monday, local media reported. The accidents involved over 150 vehicles in total and more than 70 km of highway was temporarily closed. Among the dead was a truck driver whose vehicle crashed into cars and caused a pile-up in the Emilia-Romagna region. Two other fatalities were reported in Lombardy, east of Milan, near the city of Brescia. A spokesman for highway patrol in Emilia-Romagna told Xinhua that visibility was extremely low amid dense fog early Monday morning. "You couldn't see clearly 30 meters in front of you." One of the accidents, a massive pile-up on highway A22 between the Emilia-Romagna cities of Reggio Emilia and Modena, involved more than 100 vehicles. Reports said police and firefighters had to pull several motorists from destroyed vehicles. About two dozen people were hospitalized, of whom two were under intensive care. The weather forecast said the foggy weather will continue in the area in the coming days. The dense fog is part of a trend of severe weather conditions in Italy. According to the observatory run by the environmental group Legambiente, the country had 378 severe weather events last year, including heatwaves, drought, hailstorms, floods and gales. City-based vehicle enthusiasts had another chance to touch base with automobile history at the Vintage and Classic Car and Bike Rally organised by the Automobile Association of Eastern India (AAEI) on Sunday. The venue of the rally was the Calcutta Rowing Club (CRC). A Ford Towned by The Statesman and used by the editors of The Statesman in the 1930s was on display. The vehicle won the Special Recommendation by the Judges trophy. This is the second event outside The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car Rally in which the vehicle took part. The vehicle was grounded for many years. It has been restored by well-known restorer Mr Rajiv Ghosh. More than 80 vintage and classic cars and motor cycles took part in the event. The CRC was thrown open to the public and many car enthusiasts came to the venue and took photographs of the old cars. The presence of young car and bike enthusiasts was remarkable. There were cars and motor cycles that are more than a century old. The oldest car that took part in the rally was a 1913 made Stoewer owned by Mr Ananda Chowdhury. His great grandfather Ishwarchandra had imported the vehicle from Germany. The car has served the Chowdhury family for four generations. The vehicle won a trophy for the best maintained vintage car. The display of a fleet of Rolls Royces owned and restored by Mr Shrivardhan Kanoria added value to the rally. Mr Kanoria, the most prominent restorer in Eastern India has a fleet of seven vintage Rolls Royces. Advertisement A rare Lanchester owned by Mr Amitava Saha, was also on display. A Rolls Royce which was used by Rajendra Prasad, first Indian President and now owned by Mr Vasant Kumar Karnani took part in the rally along with a Blue Plymouth which had belonged to Hemanta Mukherjee and is now owned by Mr SK Lahiri and a red Triumph once owned by Jackie Shroff and now owned by Mr Saikat Dutta. A huge six cylinder Hudson was a crowd puller. The rally covered a 20- km route and people stood on both sides of the road to cheer the drivers and enjoy the beauty of the vehicles. The trophy for best overall restoration in the vintage section was won by a Ford 7W 10 made in 1937 and owned by Mr Saurjya Pratim Mitra. The trophy for best overall restoration in the classic section was owned by a 1938 Mercedes Benz and owned by Mr Prithvi Nath Tagore. Mr Sarojesh Mukherjees 1974 Land Rover Series 3 won the Best Offroader award. Mr Prabir Roy, secretary general of AAEI said this was the sixth edition of the rally and had expressed satisfaction over the impressive turn out of cars and enthusiasts. Mr Swapan Banerjee, president of Indian Olympic Association was present at the rally The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) has successfully established and tested Indias first Hypervelocity Expansion Tunnel Test Facility, a major achievement that puts India amongst only a handful of countries with this advanced hypersonic testing capability. The facility, named S2, is capable of generating flight speeds between 3-10 kmps, simulating the hypersonic conditions encountered during atmospheric entry of vehicles, asteroid entry, scramjet flights, and ballistic missiles. This makes it a valuable test facility for ongoing missions of ISRO and DRDO including Gaganyaan, RLV, and hypersonic cruise missiles. The S2, nicknamed Jigarthanda, is a 24-meter-long facility located at IIT Kanpurs Hypersonic Experimental Aerodynamics Laboratory (HEAL) within the Department of Aerospace Engineering. The S2 was indigenously designed and developed over a period of three years with funding and support from the Aeronautical Research and Development Board (ARDB), the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and IIT Kanpur. Advertisement Commenting on this, IIT Kanpur Director Prof S Ganesh said here on Monday that , The successful establishment of S2, Indias first hypervelocity expansion tunnel test facility, marks a historic milestone for IIT Kanpur and for Indias scientific capabilities. I congratulate Prof Sugarno and his team for their exemplary work in designing and fabricating the hypersonic research infrastructure. S2 will empower Indias space and defence organizations with domestic hypersonic testing capabilities for critical projects and missions. Prof Mohammed Ibrahim Sugarno, Associate Professor, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Centre for Lasers & Photonics at IIT Kanpur said, Building S2 has been extremely challenging, requiring in-depth knowledge of physics and precision engineering. The most crucial and challenging aspect was perfecting the free piston driver system, which requires firing a piston at high pressure between 20-35 atmospheres down a 6.5 m. compression tube at speeds of 150-200 m/s, and bringing it to a complete stop or soft landing at the end. However, with our expertise, we were able to overcome this. Our team is proud to have designed, built, and tested this one-of-a-kind facility, cementing Indias position in the elite global hypersonic research community, he added. Prof. Tarun Gupta, Dean, Research and Development, IIT Kanpur,* said, S2 highlights IIT Kanpurs research excellence, positioning the institute at the forefront of innovative research and opening doors to groundbreaking advancements in aerospace technology. I am pleased to acknowledge the crucial support received from ARDB and DST. Prof G M Kamath, Head, Department of Aerospace Engineering, IIT Kanpur, said, With S2, we advance our research horizons, inspiring a new generation of aerospace enthusiasts and fostering innovation and exploration in this exciting field. Being the first in India to develop such a facility enables us to set a new benchmark for hypervelocity research in India and beyond. S2 represents a tremendous achievement for IIT Kanpur and a major capacity boost for Indias space and defence sectors. With sophisticated hypervelocity testing capabilities now available domestically, India is better positioned to develop advanced hypersonic technologies and systems. The Delhi governments education department has directed all government, government-aided and private schools to resume classes at their regular timings from Tuesday. The decision was taken in the wake of improved weather conditions in the national capital. In view of the improved weather conditions in Delhi, all government, government-aided and recognized private schools of Delhi shall resume their full normal timings w.e.f. 6th February (Tuesday), read the order issued by the Directorate of Education (DoE). Advertisement The HoSs (Head of Schools) must inform all students, parents and staff well in time through mass SMS facility, phone calls and other suitable means of communication, it added. Earlier last month, the DOE asked schools not to start before 9 am and extend classes beyond 5 pm in view of the dense fog. In view of the prevailing foggy conditions, no school (including double shift schools) will start before 9 am and have classes beyond 5 pm till further directions, the order read then. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said the inspiration to organise pilgrimages for the elderly came from the story of Shravan Kumar, who carried his blind elderly parents on his shoulders for a pilgrimage. It was stated by Kejriwal as he came to bid a happy journey to elderly of Delhi whose journey commenced to Tirupati under Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana. The Chief Minister emphasised that he considers the two crore people of Delhi as his family, making it his duty and responsibility to facilitate pilgrimages for the elderly. Advertisement This is the 89th train departed under this plan from Delhi on Monday, carrying 780 elderly pilgrims to Tirupati Balaji. Prior to this, a devotional evening for the pilgrims was organised at Thyagaraj Stadium, where Kejriwal personally met with pilgrims, extended his wishes for a joyous and successful pilgrimage, and pilgrims expressed their gratitude. During this journey, pilgrims will visit not only Tirupati Balaji but also Padmavati and ISKCON Temple. At Thyagaraj Stadium, the Delhi Chief Minister was welcomed by Manju Balaji, the senior-most pilgrim, who embraced him and offered her blessings. During the event, Delhi Revenue Minister Atishi was welcomed by the pilgrim Parvati. Kejriwal presented a symbolic ticket to pilgrim Premvati, wishing her a successful journey. The evening concluded with a presentation of devotional songs, enjoyed by all pilgrims. On this occasion, Kejriwal mentioned that almost every week, a train departs from Delhi under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Yatra Yojana, taking elderly pilgrims to various pilgrimage sites across the country. Through this pilgrimage plan, our elderly have visited approximately 13 pilgrimage destinations, including Sri Rameswaram, Dwarkadhish, Puri, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Mathura, Vrindavan, and Shirdi Baba. Pilgrims can choose any of these places based on their faith and embark on a pilgrimage. So far, 88 trains have left Delhi, and today marks the departure of the 89th train to Tirupati. Through these trains, nearly 84,000 pilgrims have returned after completing their pilgrimage, he said. The inspiration to organize pilgrimages for the elderly came from the life of Shravan Kumar. Shravan Kumar carried his blind elderly parents on his shoulders for a pilgrimage, showcasing tremendous dedication. We have all heard his story since childhood, learning the virtue of facilitating pilgrimages for our elders. There is Punya (merit) not only in undertaking a pilgrimage but also in organizing one, the Chief Minister added. Kejriwal said, My effort is to ensure that every elderly person in Delhi goes on a pilgrimage at least once. We are not facing a shortage of resources for this. We will arrange whatever resources are needed. There is a shortage of trains. We use all the trains provided by the central government and send our elderly on pilgrimages. After nearly a decade-long hiatus, actress Trisha Krishnan is making a triumphant return to Telugu cinema in the much-anticipated film Vishwambhara, starring Chiranjeevi. The duo last shared the screen in the 2006 blockbuster Stalin, directed by AR Murugadoss and inspired by the English film Pay It Forward. Trisha officially joined the cast on Monday, rekindling the on-set magic with warm welcomes from her co-stars and the entire crew. The actress, who was initially slated to appear in Chiranjeevis 2022 film Acharya, opted out due to creative differences. Kajal Aggarwal stepped in as her replacement but faced an unexpected exit from the project, despite completing her portions. See the post here: Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Trish (@trishakrishnan) Sharing her excitement on social media, Trisha posted pictures of her reunion with Chiranjeevi. She expressed the joy of returning to the Telugu film industry. On her X and Instagram accounts, she wrote, Guess this is what homecoming feels like. When magic and natures wonder take center stage Vishwambhara. Chiranjeevi reciprocated the enthusiasm by sharing a video from Monday, capturing the heartfelt welcome extended to the gorgeous Trisha on the film sets. The video showcases Trishas infectious smile as she embraces Chiranjeevi and interacts warmly with the rest of the team. The production of Vishwambhara is already in full swing, with Chiranjeevi leading the way. The team has erected an impressive array of 13 massive sets in Hyderabad. This sets the stage for this fantasy drama that promises to captivate audiences. Trishas return to Telugu cinema has generated immense buzz, given the success of her previous collaboration with Chiranjeevi. Fans are eagerly anticipating the on-screen chemistry between the two actors in this new venture. As the cast and crew dive into the shooting schedule, Vishwambhara is aiming to be a cinematic spectacle, combining the allure of magic with the wonders of nature. The Supreme Court on Monday said it was appalled by the conduct of the returning officer in Chandigarh mayoral polls who made a mockery of democracy and murdered it, and needs to be prosecuted. It said it was aghast over the way the officer conducted the election by defacing the ballot paper to ensure the defeat of the AAP-Congress combine candidate Kuldeep Kumar. Giving vent to its outrage after watching the video recording of the conduct of the mayors election, Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud heading a bench also comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra called for the entire record relating to the conduct of the elections including ballot papers, the video recording and other material, and directed the Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh administration to hand over the same to the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court for safekeeping and custody by 05.00 pm on Monday. Advertisement The video recording of the conduct of the mayors election was ordered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Directing the Returning Officer to remain present in the Supreme Court on February 19 the next date of hearing to explain his conduct as it appears in the video, the bench in its order said, Prima facie, at this stage, we are of the considered view that an appropriate interim order was warranted, which the High Court has failed to pass, in order to protect the purity and sanctity of the electoral process. Having called for the entire record relating to the conduct of the mayors election, the Supreme Court also indefinitely deferred the holding of the first meeting of the civic body slated for Wednesday February 7, 2024. If our conscience is not satisfied, we will order fresh elections, the court said while entertaining the petition by Kuldeep Kumar the AAP -Congress combine candidate in mayoral election. Telling the returning officer that the Supreme Court is watching him, Chief Justice Chandrachud said that before defacing the ballot papers, the returning officer a Haryana cadre IAS officer was looking at the camera. This is a mockery of democracy. RO is murdering democracy. We are simply appalled by what he is doing. Is this the way elections are conducted by a RO? We will not allow democracy to be murdered this way. The man puts a cross at the top of the ballots, the moment he sees a cross at the bottom (of the ballot paper), the CJI said. Dismayed over the conduct of the returning officer, Chief Justice Chandrachud said, This is a mockery of democracy. This is a murder of democracy. He needs to be prosecuted. We will not allow democracy to be murdered. Why he looks at the camera? Tell your returning officer we are watching him. CJI said, The only great stabilizing force in this country is the purity of democracy. The Returning officer had invalidated eight votes of AAP-Cong combine of 20, thereby paving the way for the victory of BJP candidate with a backing of 16 councillors elected civic body members. The bench appeared unmoved as the Solicitor General Tushar Metha told the bench not to form an opinion by looking at one side of the picture that is before it by way of the video recording of the polling process. At the outset of the hearing, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for AAPs mayoral candidate Kuldeep Kumar said that returning officer redubbed the majority of 20 to a minority of 12. The AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar has approached the Supreme Court seeking fresh mayoral polls in Chandigarh. Kuldeep Kumar has challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court refusing to pass an interim order staying the result in which Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Manoj Sonkar was declared elected as Mayor. While refusing to stay the election result, the High Court had issued notices to the Chandigarh administration, the municipal corporation, presiding officer Anil Masih and newly-elected Mayor Manoj Sonkar, among others. The High Court posted the matter for hearing on February 26. Besides the denial of the stay of the result, the AAP councillor Kuldip Kumar has pointed to the listing of his plea after three weeks on February 26, 2024. In the High Court Kuldip Kumar has sought directions for holding fresh polls in a free and fair manner, under the supervision of a retired judge to ensure no malpractice. The AAP councillor has also sought an investigation by an independent agency into the entire fraud committed during the election process. BJPs Manoj Sonkar was elected as the Mayor on January 30, 2024, after he bagged 16 votes against the 12 votes received by the Congress-AAP candidate Kumar. Eight votes were rejected in the process as invalid. The appeal in the top court said that the High Court erred in not granting any interim relief to the AAP candidate in the form of stay on outcome of elections for the post of Mayor or directing the preservation of electoral records. Jharkhand floor test: Former Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday arrived at Ranchi Assembly ahead of the floor test of Champai Soren-led government to prove their majority. Hemant Soren, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) executive president was arrested by the Directorate of Enforcement in an alleged land scam last week. He has sought permission to attend the floor test, which was granted to him. The newly formed Champai Soren-led coalition government has been asked to prove majority in the assembly. Advertisement The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha has 29 seats, its ally Congress has 17 and the RJD and the CPI (ML) have one seat in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly. With the support of 43 MLAs, the INDIA bloc has the numbers to sail through the floor test but cross-voting fear remains. Earlier on Sunday night, the MLAs of Jharkhands ruling JMM-Congress-RJD alliance, who have camping at a Telangana resort since Thursday, have returned to Ranchi ahead of todays 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. 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 today. The Jharkhand Legislative Assembly will convene for a special two-day session beginning today. GAZA, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Naema Safi, a 57-year-old Palestinian woman, has been living in a state of fear and anxiety after Israel threatened to expand its ground offensive to Gaza's southern Rafah City, the last refuge for many displaced Palestinians. "I can hardly deal with the current situation since we arrived in Rafah as we are struggling to live a normal life," the woman told Xinhua. "If the army starts its operation in the city, it means that we will go to hell." Safi is one of the about 1.5 million people in Gaza who were forced to relocate to the border town of Rafah to escape from the Israeli attacks. But Rafah offers no permanent peace. The Israeli army has intensified its military operation and the ground invasion in adjacent Khan Younis city, sparking fears that the army will reach the border town soon. On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said that they had "succeeded in disbanding al-Qassam Brigades in Khan Younis city," and would continue its operation Rafah. "The Israeli army realizes the great importance of the Rafah area in resolving the battle," Israeli army radio reported, adding that the tunnels in that area are the routes "through which the huge arsenal of weapons discovered in Gaza was smuggled." The border city is also a lifeline for the besieged enclave, which receives food and medicine aid from foreign countries and United Nations institutions through its land crossing with Egypt. "The possible Israeli attack on Rafah where hundreds of thousands of displaced sheltered would push things towards the abyss," Samih al-Satari, a Rafah-based Palestinian man said to Xinhua. Forty-five-year-old Walid Radwan, who lives with his six-member family in a tent on a public street in Rafah, said the entry of Israeli forces into Rafah would leave the displaced with two choices: either die or cross the separation fence and go to Egypt. Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN humanitarian office OCHA, said that most of the new arrivals in Rafah "are living in temporary buildings, tents, or in the open," and the city has now become a "pressure vessel of despair, and we fear what will happen after that." Residents in the Gaza Strip have been living in difficult conditions since Oct. 7, after Israel declared a large-scale war in response to Hamas' unexpected attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the killing of about 1,200 Israelis. Since then, the Israeli army has continued its air, land, and sea attacks on the Gaza Strip, killing more than 27,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. A delegation of 24 religious leaders from minority communities on Monday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Parliament. The delegation also called on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. After meeting them, Prime Minister Modi in a post on X said: Delighted to meet a delegation of religious leaders in Parliament today. I thank them for their kind words on the development trajectory of our nation. @Minoritiesfdn. In the post, Prime Minister Modi also shared some pictures with the religious leaders. Advertisement After the meeting, the religious leaders said different people from different communities are united in India and are living like brothers and sisters. Unity and peace are supreme for this country, the leaders said, adding, Bharat is moving very fast on the path of becoming Vishwa Guru (world leader) under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our traditions are different, but humanity is what keeps us united. We are all one in the country. We have to take the country forward, the religious leaders said. The presence of leaders of minority communities at the new Parliament building presents a beautiful picture of changing India, which is one and united, They said, adding, The nation is above everything and above all personal considerations. The delegation included the chief Imam of the All India Imam Organisation, Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, and leaders representing various minority communities. Earlier, Ilyasi told mediapersons, Paigaam-e-mohabbat hai, paigaam desh hai. Today, I am going to meet the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday criticised former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, saying they had no faith in the potential of Indians. Quoting a speech by Nehru from the ramparts of the Red Fort, Modi said that the first prime minister of the country thought that Indians were lazy and didnt have brains. Nehru had said, We do not work as hard the Europeans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians or the Americans. Do not think that these communities became prosperous by some magic. They have achieved this by hard work, by smartness. This shows Nehru thought Indians were lazy and did not have brains. He did not trust their potential, the Prime Minister said in Lok Sabha during a debate on Motion of Thanks on President Droupadi Murmus address at the beginning of the Budget Session. Advertisement Modi said that Indira Gandhi, another former prime minister form the Congress party, also thought similarly about the Indians. Indira ji had said from (the ramparts of) Red Fort, Unfortunately, it is our habit that when a good work is approaching completion, we become complacent. And when an obstacle comes, we lose hope. Sometimes it seems the whole nation has accepted defeat. Looking at Congress today, it appears that Indira ji may have underestimated the countrymen, but she evaluated the Congress well, he said. The Prime Minister also took an apparent dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying the party is trying to launch the same product over and over again. He also held the Congress responsible for the state of the Opposition, terming it ramifications of dynasty politics by the grand old party. They failed and didnt allow other parties to perform either. They have ruined the parliament, the Opposition and the country. I believe the country needs a strong Opposition. The country has faced the ramifications of dynasty politics, and the Congress has faced it too, he added. Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Sunday came down heavily on Jharkhand Governor CV Radhakrishnan, claiming Raj Bhavan was involved in his arrest. Speaking at the state legislative assembly ahead of trust vote, Hemant Soren said, on the night of January 31, for the first time in the country, a CM was arrestedand I believe that Raj Bhavan was also involved in this incident. He also announced to quit politics if the Enforcement Directorate proved the 8.5 acre land at the centre of his arrest is registered in his name. Advertisement 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 said. The former Jharkhand CM and JMM executive president further added,We have not yet accepted defeat. If they think they can succeed by putting me behind bars, this is Jharkhand where many people have laid down their lives. Earlier on Wednesday, the Enforcement Directorate arrested the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged land scam. A team of ED officials had accompanied Soren to the Raj Bhavan and arrested him moments after he tendered his resignation from the post of the chief minister. Soren was arrested under the the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). According to the ED, he was among the key beneficiaries of the alleged land scam in Ranchi that took place over the years and involved property dealers and businessmen. Earlier today, he was allowed to attend the floor test of his successor Champai Soren-led JMM-Congress-RJD alliance government. In a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, the United States finds itself recalibrating its military readiness, particularly in the Pacific, as concerns intensify over a potential conflict involving Taiwan. Recent joint exercises with Australia, notably the Talisman Sabre drills, not only showcased the deepening defence cooperation between the two nations but also revealed a discreet yet critical aspect ~ the creation of new stockpiles of military equipment left behind in Australia. The significance of this move lies in the US militarys recognition of the vulnerabilities within its logistics network, a pivotal factor often overshadowed by discussions of firepower and technological prowess. The aftermath of Talisman Sabre saw approximately 330 vehicles, 130 containers, and assorted equipment strategically positioned in southeastern Australia. This cache, previously undisclosed, can sustain up to three logistics companies comprising 500 or more soldiers ~ an essential resource for ensuring timely and efficient supply lines to fighters in potential conflicts. The looming spectre of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan has prompted a re-evaluation of the US militarys logistical capabilities. Interviews with current and former officials underscore a consensus that American military logistics in the Pacific represent a vulnerable point, one that adversaries might exploit to cripple US air and sea power. The fear is that China, in a hypothetical conflict, could target jet fuel supplies or refuelling ships, thus circumventing direct engagements with heavily armed fighter jets or the sinking of the US fleet. In response, the US military is strategically spreading its logistical hubs across the Pacific region, including establishing warehouses in Australia. This move is not merely about addressing immediate concerns but is part of a broader strategy aimed at enhancing the mobility and distribution of US forces in the region. The US Department of Defense emphasises collaboration with allies to achieve this goal, reflecting a commitment to shared security interests. However, critics argue that the current pace and allocation of resources are insufficient to address the urgency of the situation. Advertisement While the US military acknowledges the need for a more dispersed and agile logistics network, some voices, such as Congressman Mike Waltz, caution against extended timelines. In the face of intelligence warnings blinking red for the next five years, Mr Waltz points to the disparity in timelines to address these risks, with some projections stretching to 10, 15, or even 20 years. The crux of the matter lies in finding a delicate balance between strategic foresight and immediate action. The Talisman Sabre exercises and the subsequent stockpiling of military equipment in Australia demonstrate a proactive approach to mitigating logistical vulnerabilities. Yet, the critique underscores the broader challenge the US faces: how to reconcile the pressing need for security measures with the bureaucratic timelines inherent in large-scale military planning and implementation. The road ahead demands not just strategic foresight but an unwavering commitment to timely action to safeguard regional stability and security Google is planning some big changes to its artificial intelligence (AI) models, including reportedly changing the name of Bard to Gemini. Android app developer Dylan Roussel has apparently leaked a company change-log that says Bard is now Gemini which is the new model to compete with OpenAIs GPT-4. Bard is now Gemini. Gemini is the best way to get direct access to Google Al. All the collaborative capabilities you know and love are still here, and will keep getting better in the Gemini era, reads the change-log. Advertisement The companys however, did not make an official comment on changing Bards name to Gemini. Weve also evolved the Ul to reduce visual distractions, improve legibility, and simplify the navigation, according to the document. The log said that Google will debut voice chat with Gemini, as well as a new Ultra 1.0 model with Gemini Advanced, a paid plan that offers ChatGPT Plus-like file uploading features. Gemini Advanced gives you access to our most capable Al model, Ultra 1.0. With our Ultra 1.0 model, Gemini Advanced is far more capable at highly complex tasks like coding, logical reasoning, following nuanced instructions, and creative collaboration, read the Google document. Gemini Advanced will continue to expand with new and exclusive features in the coming months, including expanded multi-modal capabilities, even better coding features, as well as the ability to upload and more deeply analyse files, documents, data, and more. Gemini Advanced is a paid plan available in over 150 countries and territories. The Gemini app is coming soon, starting with English. Google, which brought Gemini Pro into its AI chatbot Bard in English last December, has now made it available in more than 230 countries and territories in over 40 languages, including nine Indian languages. The nine Indian languages include Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Gujarati, and Urdu. Myanmar authorities have arrested six suspects for illegal possession of rockets in southern Myanmars 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. Advertisement Qatars Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has said that there would be disastrous repercussions in the stability of the region if funding for United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is halted. The Qatar Prime Minister was speaking to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York, according to Hebrew media reports. Media reports stated that the Qatar Prime Minister has stressed the severe consequences of discontinuing funding to the UNRWA and emphasized that halting financial support to the agency could lead to disastrous repercussions. Advertisement He also showcased its pivotal role in ensuring regional stability and providing humanitarian relief. The discussion, as per reports, brought to the forefront the critical situation in the Middle East, particularly in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The Qatar Prime Minister highlighted the indispensable contribution of UNRWA in supporting millions of Palestinian refugees across Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. He further indicated that the stability of the region and the welfare of millions of people rely on the continuity of the agencys operations. 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%. RAMALLAH, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian presidency on Monday called on the United States to force Israel to stop its "aggression and war" against the besieged coastal enclave of the Gaza Strip. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesperson of the Palestinian presidency, said in a press statement that the United States must "pressure Israel to stop its war in Gaza" to prevent the conflict from further affecting regional security. Countries around the world should adopt practical and quick steps to save the region from the mire of the Gaza conflict, he noted. The steps must be taken under resolutions affirming the international legitimacy to end Israel's occupation and establish the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital on the 1967 borders, Aby Rudeineh added. He urged the United States to establish a clear mechanism and commit to specific steps and international guarantees within a specific time frame to recognize the Palestinian state. "The positive statements alone are no longer enough, and this is the appropriate and decisive moment to spare the region from the scourge of endless wars," the spokesperson said. Photograph by Providence-based photographer Shaun Martins will be among the art featured at the Attleboro Arts Museums A Contemporary Native, an exhibit celebrating Black History Month which runs Feb. 15-29. Job Title: Office Attendant (Fresher A Level Jobs) Organisation: Nile Hotel International Ltd Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Reports to: HR & Administration Officer About US: Nile Hotel International Limited (NHIL) is a company incorporated under the Companies Act of Uganda in 1994 as a company limited by shares, fully owned by the Government of Uganda. Nile Hotel International Ltd is an asset holding company and is located in Kampala. It operates in the hospitality sector through a hotel concession/lease model. Currently, the principal activity of the company is to monitor its hotel concessions/leases as well as undertaking new investments in the hospitality sector. Job Summary: The Office Attendant will be responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of the office, performing messenger errands and refreshment errands at the office. He/she will support the day-to-day administrative errands when the need arises. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Office Reception Cleaning Organizing Health and Safety Any other duties as may be delegated by the supervisor. Receiving and delivery of company communication letters. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: A Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education is mandatory. At least two years proven related work experience in an office environment is mandatory. Customer care skills with demonstrated knowledge of phone antiquates, appropriately receiving inward communications and delivery of outward communications. Ability to operate office and kitchen equipment i.e. printers, scanners, micro waves, percolators and blenders is mandatory. Cleaning skills is a mandatory. Basic reading and speaking of English is a mandatory skill. Aware of basic kitchen hygiene procedures is mandatory. How to Apply: All candidates are encouraged to drop their applications including the application letter, curriculum vitae and copies of the relevant certificates to: Nile Hotel International Ltd. 4th floor, Tall Tower, Crested Towers, Hannington Road, Nakasero, Kampala. Deadline: 16th February 2024 For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Job Title: Specialist, Data Integration Organisation: Stanbic Bank Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda About US: Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited is a subsidiary of Stanbic Africa Holdings Limited which is in turn owned by Standard Bank Group Limited (the Group), Africas leading banking and financial services group. The Standard Bank Group is the leading banking group focused on emerging markets. It is the largest African banking group ranked by assets and earnings. Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited is the largest bank in Uganda by assets and market capitalization. It offers a full range of banking services through two business units; Personal and Business Banking (PBB), and Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB). Job Summary: The Specialist, Data Integration will be responsible for processes related to the movement and consolidation of data from multiple sources across the organization to provide a complete, accurate and up to date dataset for business intelligence, data analysis and other applications and business process. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Extract and conduct preliminary analysis of data across the various partner systems in order to match this against the core banking systems customer master file that drives customer data integrity. Fix data misalignment between the customer master file and the partner systems as agreed with Partner System owners and Data Remediation teams and support fixing data errors emanating from the integration causing misalignments between the customer master file and partner systems. Identify misalignment between partner systems and core banking systems customer master file and support preparation of appropriate reports detailing the findings such as data comparison reports and dashboards and IT models (i.e. reports in Qlikview) to support the reports and dashboards Liaise and collaborate with the EDO team, providing support to the department for its integration needs. Collaborate with subject matter experts to select the relevant sources of information and translate the business requirements into integration outcomes. Presents findings and observations to team for development of recommendations. Make data updates in line with risk and compliance requirements and ensure that all issues are addressed before any updates are made. Ensures that all partner system updates are in line with Compliance regulatory requirements. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The applicant must hold a First Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology Three to five years of working experience. The role requires a good understanding of data principles, how data fits in an organisation and more specifically banks data including customers, products as well as transactional information. In addition, the roles requires knowledge of integration patterns, styles, protocols and systems theory. Business Process Improvement; The identification of new and alternative approaches to performing business activities. The analysis of business processes, including recognition of the potential for automation of the processes, assessment of the costs and potential benefits of the new approaches considered and, where appropriate, management of change and assistance with implementation. Data Integrity; The ability to ensure the accuracy and consistency of data for the duration that the data is stored as well as preventing unintentional alterations or loss of data. IT Applications; The knowledge and understanding of all relevant IT applications and architecture in order to perform required development and maintenance IT Systems; Knowledge and understanding of various IT systems and related configurations as applied within a specified business environment. IT Business Analysis; Knowledge and ability to analyse business requirements to be met by IT solutions. Proficiency Level: SEASONED Applies concepts without requiring supervision, able to provide technical guidance when required Behavioral Competencies: Adopting Practical Approaches Articulating Information Challenging Ideas Exploring Possibilities Interacting with People Interpreting Data Making Decisions Meeting Timescales Producing Output Taking Action Team Working Thinking Positively Technical Competencies: Business Process Improvement Data Integrity IT Applications IT Systems How to Apply: All candidates who wish to join the one of Africas biggest Banking Groups, Standard Bank in the aforementioned capacity is encouraged to Apply Online by visiting Link below. Click Here For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline BOGOTA, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and three others wounded in a military helicopter crash in Colombia's border area with Panama on Monday afternoon, local media reported. Media El Tiempo, Red Mas and others quoted military sources as saying that the Black Hawk helicopter, carrying seven occupants including four crew members and three passengers, crashed while performing landing maneuvers at a military base. Colombian National Army said in a statement that in the general area of the Cuti Binational military base, Unguia, Choco, an aircraft apparently suffered an accident, adding that contact was made with the Panamanian authorities to carry out verification. Immediate ReoPro is a popular trading bot developed by tech and trading experts to assist all traders in making profitable trading decisions. 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Advantages Of Immediate ReoPro The following are some of the main advantages of Immediate ReoPro: Multiple Trading Immediate ReoPro allows you to trade multiple cryptocurrencies at the same time without any difficulties. The trading system supports simultaneous trading and has a portfolio management system that works efficiently when you are trading and keeps a record of all of your trading transactions. Assistance The trading system gives you all the essential assistance needed to find the best trading opportunities. Immediate ReoPro has technologies that assist you in trading by giving you real-time insights into crypto trading, finding profit entry and exit points, updating you on any changes in the crypto trading trends, and so on. Less Time-consuming Immediate ReoPro makes crypto trading less time-consuming. When a person trades on his own, he will have to study the market, extract data, keep track of new fluctuations, and so on. However, when trading with Immediate ReoPro, the trading system will be the one doing all of this work for you which makes trading less time-consuming. Easy Trading Trading becomes easier when using Immediate ReoPro. The trading system gives you the necessary support, manages the technical side, and keeps you updated on everything. You can trade using your smartphone or any other device and only have to spend a few minutes of your day. Free Of Cost Immediate ReoPro is a free trading platform that does not have any hidden fees or subscription charges. This means you dont have to spend a penny from your pocket to use the services that the trading system provides you. The capital that you deposit in your trading account will be used for your trading needs only. Safe Trading Immediate ReoPro is a safe trading platform that has the best security features. The official website of the trading system is SSL-encrypted and you do not have to share any confidential information to trade with the platform. Unlocking Immediate ReoPro For Free! Immediate ReoPro - Pros And Cons These are the pros and cons of Immediate ReoPro: Pros Of Immediate ReoPro Immediate ReoPro is a free trading platform It allows simultaneous trading The trading platform gives you all the assistance needed for trading Immediate ReoPro can be used by both new and experienced traders The minimum deposit needed in your account to trade with Immediate ReoPro is only $250 The trading system offers a safe space to trade Cons Of Immediate ReoPro The registration process can be done only on the official website of Immediate ReoPro Immediate ReoPro does not have a mobile app Immediate ReoPro - Customer Reviews And Complaints Immediate ReoPro has been used by customers from different countries and most of them have had a satisfactory trading experience. The customers have shared their feedback on the trading systems efficiency on various online discussion forums and almost all of them say that Immediate ReoPro is a legit trading platform that has helped them make huge profits quickly. The customers also said that Immediate ReoPro is a safe trading system that allows them to trade anytime they want without worrying about safety or privacy issues. Immediate ReoPro - Cost, Minimum Deposit, And Profit Immediate ReoPro is a trading platform that does not charge users anything for trading with it. The trading platform is open for all people who want to make use of the latest technologies that the trading system features when trading with it. Even though you dont have to pay anything to use Immediate ReoPro, you will need capital for trading. The minimum capital needed in your Immediate ReoPro account to start trading is $250. The customers have the option to start with the minimum amount needed as capital or with a larger amount. When depositing capital, we advise you to take your financial status into account and invest accordingly. Now coming to profits, trading with Immediate ReoPro increases your chances of multiplying your profits and earning money. Immediate ReoPro - Customer Support Service Immediate ReoPro has an efficient customer support service that consists of people who have expertise in both technical and trading aspects. This customer support team is available 24/7 to resolve any kind of issue that a customer may face while trading with Immediate ReoPro. They also help in having a hassle-free experience by giving you the necessary assistance required. Start Trading With Immediate ReoPro For Free! Final Verdict On Immediate ReoPro Review Based on our in-depth research, Immediate ReoPro seems to be a legit trading platform that is worth the popularity. This trading system is equipped with technologies that make trading seamless for you by giving you insights into the trading market, analyzing the latest trading trends, finding the best trading entry and exit points, and helping you make smart trading decisions. Immediate ReoPro allows you to trade multiple cryptocurrencies at the same time and manage your portfolio efficiently. The trading system is completely safe as the creators have made it by integrating the best trading features. Immediate ReoPro has a website that is easy to navigate and anyone can use the system without facing any difficulties. If you encounter any technical hiccups while using Immediate ReoPro, it has an efficient customer support team that is ready to help you out and solve it in the shortest time possible. Immediate ReoPro is a free trading platform with zero hidden charges. The minimum deposit needed as capital in your Immediate ReoPro account is $250. Taking all of these factors into account, Immediate ReoPro seems to be worth signing up for. Frequently Asked Questions Is it difficult for novice traders to use Immediate ReoPro? Immediate ReoPro is a trading platform that can be used by novice traders without any difficulties as it has an easy-to-navigate website. It also provides novice traders with all the assistance that could make trading seamless. How much money do I have to deposit to trade through Immediate ReoPro? You will have to deposit a minimum amount of $250 to start trading through Immediate ReoPro. Is the registration process easy on the official website of Immediate ReoPro? Yes, the registration process is quite easy on the official website of Immediate ReoPro. You only have to fill out the registration form with a little information. What information do I have to share while registering on the Immediate ReoPro website? When registering, you will have to provide your name, phone number, and mail ID on the official website of Immediate ReoPro. When can I withdraw money from my Immediate ReoPro account? You can withdraw money from your Immediate ReoPro trading account anytime you want. Johri is the former chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs Last Friday, the Kerala legislative assembly passed a unanimous resolution that accused the Union government of destroying the federal structure of the country by financially strangulating the states. State Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal presented that resolution, which was passed unanimously in the Kerala assembly. As Kerala government is going through a major financial crunch, Balagopal made it a point to criticise the Union government in his budget speech, too. Kerala cannot remain a mute spectator against the hostile approach of the Central government which is pushing the state towards the worst financial crisis in its history. Instead, we should strive forward with the strong sentiment of Thakarilla Keralam, Thalarilla Keralam, Thakarkkanavilla Keralathe (Kerala will not be shattered, Kerala will not tire, Kerala cannot bedestroyed), he announced before entering into the heart of his fourth budget in the Kerala assembly. Given Kerala's challenging economic situation, there was heightened interest in resource mobilisation strategies the finance minister might unveil in his budget. As the Lok Sabha elections are near, there has been speculation that Balagopal will not commit to highly adventurouslike the additional cess that he slapped on fuel and liquor in the last budgetmeasures. But at the same time, he was required to be imaginative on resource mobilisation measures in order to deal with the severe financial crunch. Given the constraints within which the state government has been operating, the government has introduced modest measures of (resource mobilisation), said K.J. Joseph, director of Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation, an autonomous institution supported by Kerala government. The economist added that the finance minister ensured not to give any big shock to the people. Thoughtful measures? The finance minister announced in his budget that programmes are being planned to attract investment to the tune of at least Rs. 3 lakh crore within the next three years. He went on to add that instead of waiting for justice from the Central government, the state government will utilize all its resources to raise capital investments from private and public sectors, to ensure the implementation of all its programmes. In the resource mobilisation front, Balagopal announced some focused measures in electricity duty, judicial court fee, motor vehicle department, excise, registration, land revenue, and scrapping policy, to ensure some additional money in the coffers. From 1963 onwards electricity duty is collected at the rate of 1.2 paise per unit for consumers who generate and consume energy for their own consumption. The rate is enhanced to 15 paise per unit. An additional revenue of 24 crore is expected. From 1963 onwards, electricity duty for the sale of electricity is being levied at the rate of 6 paise per unit. This is enhanced to 10 paise per unit. An additional Revenue of Rs.101.41 crore is expected, he announced as his first measure of resource mobilisation. Senior economists like Mary George are not particularly impressed by this decision. However, this former Member of Public Expenditure Review Committee of Kerala, wholeheartedly supported the measures not to slap any additional tax on petrol as well as the measures to tighten the rules in registration and land revenue. The budget has measures intended to prevent irregularities such as the transfer of mortgaged property, remortgaging by concealing mortgage information, and withholding of title deeds from the owner by financial institutions even after the mortgage matures. These kinds of issues arise because agreements relating to equitable mortgageswhere title deeds are deposited as security for creditare at present not recorded in the registration and revenue records by financial institutions except co-operative banks. The minister announced that steps are underway to introduce a state amendment to the Registration Act, 1908, to deal with these issues. The government has also announced steps to update the stamp duty levied on lease deeds by amending the Kerala Stamp Act. Balagopal is expecting an additional revenue of Rs 40 crore from this measure. The finance minister has declared measures to prevent stamp duty evasion done by not accurately reflecting the true value of buildings in the documents, and is expecting to earn an additional revenue of Rs 100 crore. There has also been an announcement of a revision of the fair value of lands. George said there exists a mafia in the state that involves land buyers, writers/scribes and registration officers which loot massive money that should come to the governments treasury. There is massive corruption in registration offices. It will be hard to bring some discipline to these places. But if the government shows determination, it can bring a lot of changes, she added. Currently, the Kerala government owes approximately Rs14,000 crore in arrears under various pre-GST tax laws. The government announced an Amnesty 2024 Tax Arrears Resolution Scheme to recover this amount. This scheme will not only provide relief to taxpayers but also enable the GST department to undertake new activities that will boost tax collection, said the finance minister during the budget speech. The government has announced another amnesty scheme for individuals and institutions who defaulted on the payment of lease rent due to the government for land leased. The government will also allow river sand extraction from Bharathapuzha, Chaliyar and Kadalundi rivers and is planning to earn an additional income of Rs. 200 crore. George, however, noted that the government has not really thought of innovative ideas to increase the state's own non-tax revenue. According to the economic review 2023 of the state, lotteries constitute 78.67 per cent of the total non-tax revenue of the state. There are around 36 major ways in which the state government can increase non-tax revenues; lotteries are just one of them. But the government is yet to implement a solid idea to reduce the share of lotteries in states' own non-tax revenue, she said. Ironies in play Balagopal opened his speech saying that Kerala is on the cusp of becoming a sunrise economy. Sunrise industries are new or relatively new industries that have the potential for rapid growth and are expected to become important in the future. Kerala Industrial Policy 2023 has put a big focus on high-priority industries in the sunrise category. In the budget speech of Balagopal too, this focus has been visible. The minister clearly stated that a joint focus on both infrastructure development and the knowledge economy would eventually result in growth in sunrise industries. Apparently, a slew of targeted plan funds have been announced in the budget. However, opposition leader V.D. Satheeshan criticised the budget speech saying the budget lacks touch with reality. In this financial year, just one-and-a-half-month is left and so far the government has spent 55 per cent of planned expenditure. If this is the case, then what is the reliability of plan allocation! he asked. In the last budget, the Life Mission project had been allocated Rs717 crore, however only 3.76 per cent of it was allowed. Notably, the Pinarayi Viajayan government announced that opportunities for establishing foreign university campuses will be examined in accordance with the new UGC guidelines. Ironically, last year, the CPI(M) politburo had issued a statement saying the party strongly opposes the move of the UGC to facilitate foreign universities and educational institutions to set up campuses in India allowing them autonomy in determining fees and recruitment of teachers after a 90-day approval process. This will lead to creating enclaves of high fees, elitist institutions which will further distort the structure of higher education in the country, said the politburo statement on January 7, 2023. The budget relies heavily on the belief that the government will be able to attract massive private investments in multiple domains. Programmes are being planned to attract investment to the tune of at least Rs. 3 lakh crore within the next three years, said the minister in his budget speech, while announcing that the state is looking at out-of-the-box project implementation models that promote efficiency and innovation, along with strengthening existing models. The finance minister announced that the state government will promote new generation investment models like public-private partnerships, joint ventures, CIAL model companies, Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT), Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) and Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). The government has also announced plans to make its branding programme, Keraleeyam, an annual event. The propaganda that Kerala was a land of extreme labour struggles was strong at one time. Studies on labour strikes and the loss of man-days thereon have proved this smear campaign wrong The aim is to honestly present the achievements of Kerala. Along with this, Keraleeyam will also discuss the ways to move forward as we overcome our shortcomings, said the minister in the budget speech. George, however, pointed out that events like Keraleeyam, which depend on sponsorship, have the potential to do some damage to the state coffers, too. If the government itself is going to collect sponsorship from those who have to pay taxes, will they pay taxes? The money they are paying as sponsorship will be collected back by them by evading paying taxes. This sort of politics is being exemplified in events like Keraleeyam, she noted. A promise to review the contributory pension scheme has been part of CPI(M) poll promises. In the budget speech, Balagopal announced that in order to address the insecurity created by the NPS, a three-member committee has been constituted to further examine the report of the committee appointed by the government to study its revision. The government is planning to review the NPS and implement a revised scheme that will provide security to the employees, read the budget speech. The opposition, however, mocked this move of the state government. Their promise was that they will withdraw the contributory pension scheme. And they had set up a committee to study it. Now, they have announced another committee to study the previous committee's report, said Satheeshan. Disappointments and despair The opposition alleges that the budget forgot to consider the issues of the poor and the farmers. There have been expectations that the government may increase the support price for rubber to Rs 250. However, Balagopal raised the support price by just Rs 10 from Rs 170 per kg to Rs180 per kg. Kerala is the only government which is intervening to resolve the crisis faced by rubber farmers. The Centre is adopting a policy that favors the large-scale rubber industry by promoting increased imports, as evidenced by the judgment passed by the Competition Commission against tyre companies. Although a request has been made to the Central government to increase this amount to Rs 250, there has been no positive response so far, said the minister in his budget speech. The disappointment of the rubber farmers may have an impact in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in regions like Kottayam. Kerala Congress leader Monce Joseph alleged that the budget would destroy the farming sector in the state. On the matter of welfare pension schemes also, the finance minister had an unenthusiastic announcement. The social security pension is provided to approximately 62 lakh people in the state, and government assistance has been stalled for the last five months. There have been speculations that the minister may announce some increase in social security pension. However, he chose not to do that. Instead, he blamed the Central government for the troubles in disbursement of pensions. While the government strives to ensure the proper disbursement of social security pensions, delays have occurred due to certain measures implemented by the central government, he said. The Kerala Social Security Pension Company Limited, established to facilitate pension distribution, has accumulated Rs 35,000 crore, out of which Rs 24,000 crore has already been repaid. However, the central government's restrictions on mobilizing funds through the pension company create obstacles, because the new policy of the Union government defines the fund mobilized by KSSPL as public debt, causing difficulties in pension disbursement. Moreover, the Central government provides only nominal assistance for social security pensions, and even that is not disbursed on time. The finance minister promised to take special measures to ensure timely and accurate payment of social Security pension in the next financial year. However, it is yet to be known what those special measures are. Snap Inc, the company that runs multimedia instant messaging app and service, Snapchat, announced on Monday that it is laying off 528 of its employees, which is 10 per cent of its workforce, joining several other tech and media companies like Amazon and Alphabet that announced layoffs in 2024. "In order to best position our business to execute on our highest priorities, and to ensure we have the capacity to invest incrementally to support our growth over time, we have made the difficult decision to restructure our team," Snap said in a statement. As a result, we currently estimate that we will incur pre-tax charges in the range of $55 million to $75 million, primarily consisting of severance and related costs, and other charges, of which $45 million to $55 million are expected to be future cash expenditures, the company added. A spokesperson for the company claimed that the move is aimed at reducing hierarchy and promoting in-person collaboration. We are focused on supporting our departing team members and we are very grateful for their hard work and many contributions to Snap, the spokesperson said, according to TechCrunch. According to Layoffs.fyi, about 32,000 employees have been laid off by various companies since the beginning of 2024. Reuters quoted a Challenger, Gray and Christmas as saying that the tech sector had as many as 168,032 layoffs in 2023, accounting for the highest number of job losses across various industries. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday moved the Calcutta High Court, seeking transfer of investigation of all cases pertaining to an alleged Rs 10,000-crore ration distribution scam in West Bengal from the state police to the CBI. Justice Jay Sengupta directed the state to file an affidavit in opposition before the court, after the West Bengal government opposed the prayer for transfer of investigation. The court also stayed any further step in respect of a case in this connection at Ballygunge police station in Kolkata till March 12, in which final report was filed. The ED, which had earlier arrested state minister Jyoti Priya Mallick, who held the Food and Supplies portfolio from 2011 to 2021, is investigating the money trail in the alleged scam. The agency claimed that the irregularities were to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore, of which Rs 2,000 crore was sent outside the country through illegal means. The ED's counsel submitted that it registered the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) pertaining to six FIRs at police stations in different districts, including Kolkata, which are being investigated or have been probed by the state police. The counsel claimed that proper investigation had not been conducted in those six FIRs, although five cases ended in charge-sheets and a final report was filed in one. The central agency also told the court that other similar cases were registered all over West Bengal, and sought details of those from the state government. Claiming that politically influential persons are involved in the alleged scam, the ED's counsel prayed that it is necessary the investigation of the cases be handed over to the CBI. Opposing the prayer, the state's counsel said the very fact that the charge-sheets have been submitted in five out of six cases showed the state was serious about investigating the matter. Justice Sengupta directed that the affidavit in opposition, as prayed for by the state's counsel, be filed within a fortnight, which will also disclose any other criminal cases registered in police stations over the same issue. The ED was asked to file its affidavit in reply within a week therefrom. The court also directed the state to produce the case diaries on the next date of hearing on March 3. The treasurer of Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust has said that the Muslim side should free peacefully controversial Gyanvapi and Mathura sites and Hindus will forget other things. Talking to ANI, Trust treasurer Govind Dev Giri Maharaj said, We do not even desire to look at the other temples if these temples are freed because we have to live in the future and not in the past. The country's future should be good and if we get these temples (Gyanvapi and Krishna Janmabhoomi) peacefully we will forget about all other things. Govind Dev Giri Maharaj said he is appealing to free all these temples as they are the biggest scars of attacks done by invaders. I appeal with folded hands to free all these temples (Gyanvapi and Krishna Janmabhoomi) because these are the biggest scars of the attacks done by invaders. People are in pain, if the Muslim side can heal this pain peacefully then it will help in increasing brotherhood, ANI reported quoting Dev Giri Maharaj. The Ayodhya trustees comments comes amidst the ongoing legal battle over the Gyanvapi site. Following an ASI report, the Varanasi District Court permitted the Hindu side to conduct prayers in the sealed cellar of the Gyanvapi mosque. The Allahabad High Court also refused to stay the lower courts order. Former Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who arrived at the Jharkhand Assembly to take part in the floor test of the new Champai Soren government, has accused the governor of playing a role in his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a land scam. Addressing the Assembly, the JMM executive president said: "On the night of January 31, for the first time in the country, a chief minister was arrested. I believe that Raj Bhavan was also involved in this incident," he said adding that January 31 was a black chapter in India's history. He said he would give a befitting reply to 'feudal forces' at an appropriate time. "We have not yet accepted defeat. If they think they can succeed by putting me behind bars, this is Jharkhand where many people have laid down their lives," the former chief minister said. He also challenges the BJP to prove corruption charges against him. "Today I have been arrested on charges of an 8.5-acre land scam. I challenge them to show the documents of the land registered in my name. I will quit politics if the allegations are proved right," Soren added. Soren was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last week in a money laundering case. A special PMLA court will hear a petition by arrested Hemant Soren against the ED action on February 12, his counsel Advocate General Rajeev Ranjan said on Monday. "The next hearing on Hemant Soren's petition against the ED action is on February 12," the advocate general said. In a major relief for the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led alliance, the Champai Soren-led government in the state won the floor test in the state assembly on Monday. Forty-seven MLAs voted in favour of the alliance. Former chief minister Hemant Soren, who was released from jail for the floor test, also took part. Independent legislator Saryu Roy did not participate in the voting process. Seventy-seven MLAs were present in the assembly during the voting. The 81-member Jharkhand assembly has a majority mark of 41. The JMM-led coalition held majority with 48 MLAs, including 29 from JMM and 17 from Congress, and one each from RJD and CPI(ML). The BJP-led NDA alliance has 29 MLAs. The session began with Governor C.P. Radhakrishnans address. Moving the confidence motion, Chief Minister Champai Soren said, BJP tried to destabilise a democratically elected Jharkhand government. Today, the whole country is seeing how injustice is being done to Hemant Soren. If you go to any village, you will find Hemant Soren's schemes in every house," ANI quoted him as saying. The chief minister also accused the BJP of using central agencies to frame JMM leader Hemant Soren in false cases. Hemant Soren, who has been arrested on charges of money laundering by ED in connection with land scam, has challenged the BJP that he would quit politics if the party can show proof of his wrongdoing. "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..." The MLAs of Jharkhand's JMM-led alliance were moved to Hyderabad ahead of the vote. They returned to Ranchi last evening. A special court in Ranchi granted Hemant Soren permission to take part in the special session for the trust vote. Soren pleaded before the court that he was a member of the assembly and had a right to participate in the special session. Addressing the assembly, Hemant Soren alleged that Raj Bhavan was involved in his arrest. He said he was targeted by the BJP since he was an Adivasi and they had issues with him flying in planes and staying in five-star hotels. The Saint Joseph Higher Secondary School, one of Kashmirs oldest Catholic educational institutions, faces an uncertain future as the authorities in Kashmir have not renewed the land lease documents of the institution. Located in Baramulla, 60 km north of Srinagar, the school was established in 1905. The school has been grappling with the challenge of renewing its land lease since 2018 to secure the future of hundreds of its students. Among the students, 700 in classes 9 to 12 require registration by the government education department to appear for examinations. In April 2023, a Statutory Order (SO) from the Union Territory's education department, followed by an order from the Board of School Education, prevented the affiliation and registration of students from private schools operating on state land whose lease has not been renewed. The Board of School Education has refused to register St. Josephs students for board examinations in the absence of land lease documents. Father Sebastian, Principal of the School, said despite bringing the matter to the attention of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, no action has been taken so far. He said there has been no positive response from revenue and education departments regarding the lease extension for the school despite their serious efforts. Even the registration of students in the government schools is not happening for the examinations, he said. Our school's case is different from other schools that are facing the land lease renewal problem, which has been acknowledged by the officials. He said the parents are worried as the fate of their children hangs in the balance. We are seeking a meeting with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, he said. Last time, there was a direction from his office about our issue but the way it was written to the revenue and the school education department was not very clear as was the case for Army Goodwill Schools, which are not even 50 years old. They were permitted the registration of students, he said. He said the school is a 120-year-old institution along with a hospital which is 103 years old. He said the total land with the school and the hospital is 170 kanals (21.25 acres) of which the lease for 19 kanals (2.375 acres) is valid till 2037. The lease was renewed in 1981, and three years before its expiry we applied for an extension, the principal said. The formalities from our side were completed, and in 2021, the Baramulla deputy commissioner forwarded the file to the divisional commissioner who was supposed to forward it to the secretary of revenue, which didnt happen. He said there were some clarifications sought which were done, and the file was again submitted to the divisional commissioner by the deputy commissioner in April 2022. Even after that, nothing happened, he said. The school currently has around 4,000 students and approximately 390 staff members, including those at the hospital. St. Joseph is the second oldest school in Kashmir after Tyndale Biscoe School at Sheikhbagh in Srinagar. The school was targeted by the tribals during the 1947 Tribal Invasion, leading to the killing of some staff. The school has been at the forefront of providing quality education to students in north Kashmir and provided unhindered healthcare to patients in Baramulla and the vicinity. Several schools in Kashmir are facing a threat due to an amendment in the Education Act in 2022, providing fresh guidelines for private schools in the UT. The order mandated the closure of private schools established on state land not having their lease renewed. With authorities not renewing the land lease, the Board of School Education has reportedly refused to register students for board examinations, leading to uncertainty for the students Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an all-out attack on the Congress on Monday and said former premier Jawahar Lal Nehru had considered the people of the country "lazy" and less intelligent. Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the Presidents address in Lok Sabha, Modi said India had suffered due to the mindset of the Congress party, which never trusted the capabilities of the countrymen. "Nehruji thought that Indians were lazy and less intelligent, Modi said, adding that the grand old party considered itself as rulers and the public as lessor and inferior. He further alleged that the thoughts of Indira Gandhi were no different from those of Nehru. "Looking at the people in Congress today, it seems that Indira ji could not assess the people of the country correctly, but she assessed Congress absolutely correctly, he said, referring to a statement made by Indira Gandhi on her party. The prime minister took a sarcastic jibe at the opposition, saying many of them had resolved to stay on the opposition benches for a long time. He, however, blamed the Congress for the present condition of the opposition. "Congress had a good opportunity to play a good opposition, but they failed in that role. There are other young people in the opposition, but they were not allowed to speak out of fear that it may overshadow a particular person," Modi said in an apparent reference to Rahul Gandhi. The prime minister also mocked that the grand old party may soon have to "shut shop" since they try to launch the same product time and again. Meanwhile, hitting back at Modi over his criticism of Nehru, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor later said, "Poor Nehru ji has gone since 60 years, and he continues the same lament about Nehru ji. We are flattered that he is so worried about us that he has devoted his entire speech towards the Congress." JUBA, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The World Bank, European Union, and other donors on Monday announced 400 million U.S. dollars to fund South Sudan's health transformation project and an additional 30 million dollars for the resilient agriculture and livelihood project (RALP). The health project aims to expand access to a basic package of health and nutrition services, improve health sector stewardship, and strengthen the health system whereas the RALP will build the capacity in good agricultural practices, investment support for improving agricultural production, food production, animal vaccination and reduction of fish and waste losses. Ousmane Dione, country director for Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Sudan at the World Bank, said the two projects are landmarks that are critical for the development of South Sudan and to the benefit of all South Sudanese people. "When you have health and when you have food, you have a provision for a long journey and that is important for the South Sudanese people. It is coming at a time when investing in health in South Sudan is not only investing in future generations but also is investing in the productivity of South Sudan which is currently much needed," Dione told journalists in Juba, South Sudan's capital, during the signing of the memorandum of understanding for the projects. He said agriculture productivity is important because it helps feed South Sudanese and produces excess to export which is a pride that every single nation should strive for and many countries who have been in tough situations have managed to pass the challenge. "South Sudan will be able to go beyond that challenge to reflect that the country can be a nation, the peaceful nation, a united nation, stable nation which pave the way for future generations to be much more successful than the present generation which have taken a long way, a difficult way of fighting for their independence being today an independent country," Dione said. Bak Barnaba Chol, South Sudan's minister for finance and planning, said health and agriculture are important for survival. As a country, they have prioritized health and agriculture to move the country forward to safeguard the people from the deteriorating conditions they continue to live in. He pledged transparency and accountability in implementing the projects to make sure that the funds are efficiently managed and effectively allocated and approved. A faction of the Congress party in Sivaganga has decided not to nominate Karti P. Chidambaram as their candidate in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. The resolution was passed in a meeting led by former union minister E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan on Sunday. The meeting was actually convened to discuss appointing booth agents and carrying out the election work, said Natchiappan. He also says that the support for Congress in the region has come down in the recent past with most of them switching over to other parties. Our own Congressmen have joined the BJP in Sivaganga. Karti did not keep the flock together. However, top party sources say the seat has been reserved for Karti, even when there is opposition. There was opposition in 2014 and again in 2019. The same Sudarsana Natchiappan and the Congressmen in Sivaganga were against Karti contesting the polls. It was even said that Karti was not capable of winning as he lost his deposit in 2014. But Karti won with a huge margin against BJPs H. Raja, who was in alliance with the AIADMK. This time, the opposition to Kartis candidature has got much more strength with a resolution being passed during a meeting in the district on Sunday. Sources close to Natchiappan in the Sivaganga Congress unit said that even the DMK is against giving a ticket to Karti in the ensuing polls. Natchiappan apparently left for Delhi to meet the top Congress leaders after the meeting. Speaking to THE WEEK, Natchiappan clarified saying, It was not my decision. A large crowd turned up against Karti and demanded that a resolution be passed against him. He said the resolution against Karti was because of his comment against Rahuls stature compared to Narendra Modi. Recently, during a TV interview, Karti said that nobody is a match for Modi, not even Rahul Gandhi. Though Natchiappan had opposed Karti in the past, in 2014 and 2019, he later accepted Kartis candidacy. Over the past five years, the electorate and the political nuances in Sivaganga have changed. While there is strong opposition to Karti even from his own supporters, the DMK too is not keen on supporting him, say sources. According to highly placed sources in the DMK, the Sivaganga party unit has opposed Kartis candidature. On the other hand, senior DMK leaders like Raja Kannappan and Periya Karuppan, who have a stronghold in the region are looking for tickets for their sons. If Karti vacates the seat, it will not be for the Congress. We will retain it, says a DMK functionary from Karaikudi, which falls under the Sivaganga constituency. Meanwhile, members of Kartis team are confident that he will be able to retain the seat. Does Natchiappan even have a vote in the constituency? asked one of Kartis supporters. Karti refused to comment on why there is so much opposition to his candidacy. You should only ask them, he replied. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in Lok Sabha on Monday. In view of this, the BJP has issued a a three-line whip to all its MPs in Lok Sabha to be present in the Lower House. The Congress has taken a jab at the Prime Minister, stating that "he would keep praising himself" in the speech. "In a vote of thanks opposition leader speaks first and then the PM replies to it. It will be an electoral speech and I do not expect anything from the PM. They will defame Congress, and will not speak anything on Manipur, China and rising unemployment. He will keep praising himself," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told ANI. On the fourth day of the ongoing Budget Session, the List of Business in the House for the day includes the minutes of the twelfth sitting of the Committee on Absence of Members from the sittings of the House held on December 14, 2023. MPs PP Chaudhary and NK Premachandran will present the 28th report of the Committee on External Affairs (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on the subject 'Countering Global Terrorism at Regional and International Levels'. BJP MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar will make a statement regarding the status of implementation of the recommendations contained in the 49th Report of the Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development on 'Functioning of Directorate General of Training' pertaining to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will lay in the Rajya Sabha today -Statements (in English and Hindi) of the estimated receipts and expenditure (2024-25) of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (with Legislature) and Statement under Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2006 (in English and Hindi). Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav will introduce the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024 Bill in the Rajya Sabha today to amend the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh will not be taking oath as a Rajya Sabha member on Monday as the House Chairman has denied permission. Being jailed in connection with a money laundering case, Sanjay Singh was renominated by AAP from Delhi to Rajya Sabha. According to reports, the AAP leader was not allowed to take oath as the Chairman said that the matter is currently with the Privileges Committee, ANI reported. All three AAP candidates former Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal, Sanjay Singh and ND Gupta got elected to Rajya Sabha. The party nominated Swati Maliwal for the first time to the House and renominated Sanjay Singh and Gupta. A Delhi Court on Saturday allowed Singh to visit Parliament and take oath under police custody. The court had directed authorities to take Singh to Parliament at 10am and make adequate security arrangements. The Enforcement Directorate arrested Singh on October 4 on charges of money laundering in connection with the now scrapped Delhi excise policy. The Delhi High Court on Monday upheld summons issued to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as an accused in a criminal defamation case for retweeting an allegedly defamatory video circulated by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee in May 2018, saying that reposting alleged libelous content will attract defamation law. The high court said a sense of responsibility has to be attached while retweeting content about which one does not have knowledge and added that retweeting of defamatory content must invite penal, civil as well as tort action if the person retweeting it does not attach a disclaimer. This court is of the view that rigours of Section 499 (defamation) of IPC will be attracted prima facie in case a person retweets/ reposts the alleged defamatory remarks or content, for the purpose of the general public to see, appreciate and believe, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said. The high court, while refusing to quash the trial court's 2019 order summoning Kejriwal, said when a public figure tweets a defamatory post, the ramifications extend far beyond a mere whisper in someone's ears. In social media, where information travels at lightning speed and has the potential to reach a global audience, the act of tweeting transforms the communication into a form of public publication. The audience, in this context, is not restricted to those physically present or within immediate earshot but encompasses the vast and diverse online community. In the digital age, the boundaries of publication' have expanded, and the implications of defamation are heightened due to the potential of widespread dissemination, it said. It added that unlike physical injury, which may be localised and limited in scope, virtual injury can have far-reaching and long-lasting effects. The court said the law with regard to posting of a defamatory content by way of re-tweeting or reposting is still not settled and is evolving. It said if the act of retweeting or reposting is allowed to be misused as it is still considered to be a vacant grey area of law, it will encourage people with ill intentions to misuse this vacant field of law and conveniently take a plea that they had merely retweeted a content. In addressing a democratic community, it is crucial to emphasise that freedom of speech, while a fundamental right, does not grant individuals the licence to inflict harm or tarnish the reputation of others, it said. In rendering equal protection, the court said it must balance the right of free speech with the need to prevent unjust harm to reputation and injurious falsehood of a statement will definitely invite defamation and loss of reputation. At times, it is difficult to erase the reputational injury from public memory, as the tweets may be deleted but perceptions are difficult to be deleted from the minds of the community, it said. The court said the use of cyberspace has seen rapid development and the users, for the purpose of posting their content even by way of retweeting, should remain conscious of a keen sense of danger in this new technological method of spreading information. The concept of publication, traditionally associated with printed materials, must be re-examined in the context of virtual platforms where information can reach a vast audience in seconds. Moreover, the legal system should be attuned to the dynamics of social media influence, it said. The court said when a person makes a smart move to dodge law, the courts and laws have to be smarter to catch that smartness and added that a person retweeting a defamatory content cannot wriggle out of his responsibility by merely contending that it was a retweet and not the original tweet. This court holds that retweeting or reposting defamatory content, without any disclaimer as to whether the person so retweeting agrees or disagrees or has verified the content so posted or not, and as to whether he projected to the world at large, who care to follow him, that he believes the content to be true so shared, a person would be republishing the original defamatory content which has the potential of lowering the moral or intellectual character or credit of a person, it said. The court said Kejriwal, being a Chief Minister, necessitates an acknowledgment of the inherent sense of responsibility that comes with such a significant political role. As a leader with political standing and maturity, he is presumed to be aware of the potential impact of his actions, including retweets, on the public perception. When a public figure, particularly one with a political standing, tweets or retweets a defamatory post, the stakes and repercussions escalate given the broader implications on society. The audience, therefore, becomes the citizenry at large, whose opinions and decisions may be influenced by the information they consume, including defamatory statements published on social media, it said. Where millions of people follow Kejriwal on social media platforms, anything which is posted by him is for public notice, the court said. The chief minister had said the trial court failed to appreciate that his tweet was not intended or likely to harm complainant Vikas Sankrityayan. The plea said the trial court erred in not providing any reasons for issuing the summons and the orders were 'ex-facie' devoid of judicial application of mind. Sankrityayan claimed the YouTube video with the title 'BJP IT Cell Part II' was circulated by Rathee, who lives in Germany, "wherein a number of false and defamatory allegations were made". Amid the controversy surrounding the statements of a woman professor of the National Institute of Technology-Calicut (NIT) in Kerala, who expressed pride in Nathuram Godse for assassinating M.K. Gandhi and thus "saving India", the Kerala faction of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) distanced itself from the remarks saying all the organisations under Sangh Parivar have always denounced Godse. ABVP national executive council member Yadhu Krishnan pointed out that the judicial system of the country had found Godse guilty of murder and sentenced him to death. "Every citizen of this country agrees with the court's verdict of finding Godse guilty. As outfits that work under the law in this country, organisations and parties like the RSS, BJP, ABVP and others agree that Godse committed a crime and denounce him. Sangh Parivar organisations have always come forward to condemn Godse," Krishnan said. Citing Kapur Commission report, he said RSS played no role in the murder of Gandhi. Members of ABVP staged a protest in front of NIT-Calicut demanding action against the professor, A Shaija. Krishnan said the professor supported the man who murdered the father of the nation. He observed that Gandhi had visited branches of RSS and added that RSS had nothing to do with his murder. He said ABVP has filed complaints against the professor with UGC and NIT. Shaija, a senior faculty member of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at NIT here 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. The new JMM government led by Champai Soren will face the floor test on Monday. While the JMM is confident of numbers, the Opposition BJP claims the coalition was set to lose the vote of confidence. JMM lawmaker Mithilesh Thakur said the JMM-led coalition will sail through the trust vote. The party has already released a video claiming the support of 43 legislators. 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. "Many BJP legislators are also in support of the alliance in the state," Thakur claimed. The MLAs of Jharkhand's JMM-led alliance were moved to Hyderabad ahead of the vote. They returned to Ranchi from Hyderabad on Sunday evening. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh too has expressed confidence in winning the test. "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. Meanwhile, the Jharkhand High Court will hear the petition filed by former Jharkhand Chief Minister, Hemant Soren, challenging his arrest by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Monday. The High Court had granted the ED five-day custody of Soren in connection with the case. Meanwhile, a special court in Ranchi granted Hemant Soren permission to take part in the special session for a trust vote. Soren pleaded before the court that he was a member of the assembly and had a right to participate in the special session. "Applicant (Soren) is, therefore, filing the present Application seeking an order from this Hon'ble Court to permit the Applicant to attend the Special Session of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly and participate in the proceedings of the Floor Test slated for February 5 at 11 AM," the petition said. Hemant Soren had also moved the Supreme Court, challenging his arrest. The top court on Friday refused to interfere with his arrest and asked him to approach the high court. During the interim budget announcement on Feb 1st, 2024, the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated Rs 13,043 crore ( $ 1.63 Billion) for the Department of Space (DoS), which oversees the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and other space-related activities. This represents a hike of Rs 500 crore or approximately $62 million, translating into a 4 percent increase from the previous year's budget estimate of Rs 12,545 crore ($1.56 billion). The Department of Space (DoS) serves as the overarching organization that encompasses various entities, including the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the space sector regulator IN-SPACe (Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre), as well as affiliated academic and research institutions. The increase in funds can be attributed to the successful completion of significant space missions like Chandrayaan-3 and Aditya L1, highlighting India's commitment to enhancing its space exploration capabilities. Out of the total allocation, approximately 56 percent (Rs 7,313.73 crore) has been specifically designated for space research, emphasizing the government's focus on advancing scientific inquiry and innovation in space exploration. Additionally, the budget introduces a new fund of Rs 1 lakh crore aimed at stimulating private investment in research and development. This initiative is expected to benefit around 200 space startups, showcasing the government's strategy to foster a robust ecosystem for space entrepreneurship and innovation, ultimately supporting the nation's aspirations in space technology and exploration. Established in 2020 by the Union Cabinet, IN-SPACe serves as a key agency overseeing the space sector. Since its inception, the agency has experienced a 24 percent increase in revenue expenditure. Reflecting this growth, the funding for the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe), which regulates India's space activities, was increased from Rs 60.35 crore in the fiscal year 2023-2024 to Rs 96 crore for 2024-2025. But will all this increase help the DoS deal with challenges of funding which many space missions face. Experts feel that much more can be done. The revenue allocated for space technologies, which encompasses projects such as Gaganyaan and the development of systems for new launch vehicles and spaceflight missions, rose by 27 percent. Despite this, the 8 percent budget increase for space technologies seems misaligned with the ambitious plans for upcoming missions in the Chandrayaan program, including Chandrayaan 4 and the Lunar Polar Exploration mission, as well as the development of a partially reusable launch vehicle. In the previous fiscal year, the Department of Space did not fully utilise its budget for space technologies, falling short by more than Rs 1,500 crore, space expert Girish Linganna told THE WEEK. On another note the funding for the INSAT satellite systems experienced a significant reduction, with expenditure being cut by half from Rs 531 crore in 2023-2024 to Rs 276 crore in 2024-2025, and capital expenditure decreasing by 60 percent. This reduction comes even as ISRO is gearing up for the launch of the INSAT-3DS meteorological satellite later this month, indicating a shift in budgetary priorities or adjustments within the organization's broader strategic framework. India has historically faced challenges due to limited space budgets, with its investment in space as a fraction of GDP being relatively low compared to other countries. For instance, the US allocates 0.28 percent of its GDP to space efforts, while Russia dedicates 0.15 percent. This places India as the seventh-highest worldwide, with a 0.04 percent allocation. However, ISRO has gained a reputation for developing cost-efficient solutions like the SSLV rocket, giving India an advantage in the international satellite launch market, remarked Linganna. However interestingly over the past ten years, India's space budget has steadily increased from Rs 4,163 crore in 2011-12 to Rs 13,043 crore in 2024-25, representing an average yearly growth rate of 12 percent. According to the data published in 2022 by Statista, NASA leads the world in space exploration with a substantial budget of $61.97 billion, making it the top space agency. China's CNSA closely follows with a budget of $11.94 billion, showcasing their ambition in space missions. Additionally, Japan's JAXA contributes significantly with $4.90 billion, and Russia's Roscosmos, despite a smaller budget of $3.42 billion, has a rich history of space exploration. The European Space Agency (ESA) brings together multiple European countries with a budget of $2.60 billion, while Germany's DLR, supporting ESA missions, has $2.53 billion to advance space and aeronautic technology. Lastly, India's ISRO has a budget of $1.93 billion, known for its cost-effective and innovative missions. The Interim Space Budget for 2024-25 reflects the Indian government's strategic direction and focus for the space sector, demonstrating its ambitions and acknowledging the obstacles it faces in a competitive global space landscape. The budget highlights the intent to bolster space technology and infrastructure development and encourages increased involvement from private and non-government entities. However, it also points to deficiencies in funding for space science and research, which are vital for scientific advancement and innovation. Therefore, there is a need for a more inclusive strategy that embraces all facets of space exploration and promotes a synergistic environment for India's space endeavors, pointed out Linganna. The Indian Space Association has welcomed the increased in fund allocation for the space sector and for technological research. It says that the government's allocation of the Rs 1 lakh crore corpus in the interim budget 2024 for long-term financing of technological research will be beneficial for startups in the rapidly expanding space sector, providing them with support to innovate and conduct further research across various domains of space technology. Wildfires spreading through the densely populated areas of central Chile claimed over 100 lives. An official two-day mourning period was declared by Chile government on Monday. Authorities still battle to doze off the fire intensifying due to high temparature and strong winds. At least 112 people had been killed in the wildfires spreading across the regions. Around 14,000 houses were damaged as the fire ravaged through coastal cities of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso. Hundreds of people remain missing, said officials. At least 1,600 people were left without homes in Via del Mar. The city of 300,000 people is a popular beach resort. On Sunday night, Deputy Interior Minister Manuel Monsalve said there were still 165 active fires. A curfew has been imposed in the hardest-hit regions and the military has been sent in to help firefighters stop the spread. On Sunday morning Chilean President Gabriel Boric visited the town of Quilp, which was one of the worst affected towns in Chile. As many as 64 people were killed in the region, said officials. Boric also said that the death toll is likely to further rise with many missing. Boric flew over some of the areas burned by the fires Sunday and visited a school that has been turned into a shelter for the displaced. All of Chile is suffering Boric said. But we will stand up once again. Curfews were declared in Via del Mar and the neighboring cities of Quilp and Villa Alemana as part of an effort to prevent looting. Deepening the Middle East crisis, a drone strike in Syria killed six Kurdish fighters backed by the United States. The attack struck the area at al-Omar base, near the region housing US troops in eastern Syria. Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Monday that the attack hit a training ground at al-Omar base of Deir el-Zour, where the forces commando units are trained. Initially SDF accused "Syrian regime-backed mercenaries" of carrying out Sunday's attack. Later, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, group backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for a drone attack on al-Omar field. Farhad Shami, a spokesperson for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), said on X that the drone struck an SDF commando academy at a U.S. base at Al-Omar oilfield, resulting "in the martyrdom of six of our Commando fighters." Meanwhile, Britian-based opposition war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed at least 18 SDF fighters were wounded in the attack. The Syria attack comes after US strikes hit Houthi targets in Yemen and Iran-backed stations in Iraq and Syria. Middle East unrest had intensified since Israel-Hamas war. Meanwhile, Israel claimed that it has killed "dozens of terrorists" in the central and northern Gaza Strip in the last 24 hours. "Conducted targeted raids on terrorist targets and located weapons including AK-47 rifles, sniper rifles, grenades, and ammunition," Israel claimed. Meanwhile, amid crisis in the UNRWA, with major world leaders suspending its funds supporting Palestinians, the agencys chief termed it as "disproportionate and dangerous". In the wake of withdrawal of funds after allegations were raised against its staffers involved in the October 7 attacks, Spain has decided to send additional funds. Spain will send the UN Palestinian refugee agency an additional 3.5 million euros in aid. Meanwhile, at least 20 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes on Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had fled. According to UN humanitarian agency OCHA, 234 Palestinians were killed over the weekend bringing the total death toll in Gaza. Amid intensifying Middle East tensions, the US Secretary of state Antony Blinken is set to arrive in Saudi Arabia on his fifth visit to the region since October attacks. Blinken's visit comes after the US carried out retaliatory strikes against Iran-linked stations in Iraq and Syria and Houthis in Yemen. Blinken is expected to begin his trip on Monday in Saudi Arabia, which before the 7 October attack had been mulling steps to establish relations with Israel, a potentially historic step for the country that is the guardian of Islams two holiest sites. (With agencies inputs) With three days left for the Pakistan presidential elections, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto has promised to advance Kashmir's cause if he is elected the Prime Minister. In a post on X, coinciding with Pakistan's so-called 'Kashmir Solidarity Day', Bhutto wrote that PPP's success on February 8 was essential to stop "Indian atrocities" in Kashmir. "By ending the politics of hatred and division in Pakistan, it is inevitable for the nation to unite in the power of unity and consensus for the cause of Kashmir," Bhutto said, adding that Muhammad Ali Jinnah had declared "Kashmir as the aorta of Pakistan." He also promised to follow in the footsteps of former PM and his grandfather Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and mother and former PM Benazir Bhutto. "I will advance the cause of Kashmir by being elected Prime Minister. I will awaken the conscience of the world to fulfil its promises to Kashmiris," Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Political leaders in Pakistan often rake up Kashmir just before the elections with some calling for restoring Article 370 for Kashmir. Bilawal has also been urging people to vote against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led by Nawaz Sharif. During an election rally, Bilawal told people to vote for the "arrow", his party's election symbol, if they wanted to "stop the lion", which is PML-N's symbol. "You just get PPP won [elections]. I will handle this lion," he said. Sharif is considered an ardent advocate of having good ties with all neighbours, especially India. "Improving ties with India has always remained a point of conflict between Nawaz and the establishment in the past. Whenever Nawaz Sharif came to power, he tried to shake hands with India against the wishes of the powers that be," the paper quoted an unnamed expert. On the other hand, Bilawal Bhutto is famous for his anti-India rhetoric, even targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In 2022, Bhutto triggered a major controversy when he said "Osama bin Laden is dead, but the butcher of Gujarat lives and he is the Prime Minister of India." His "uncivilised outburst" was criticised by India, calling it a "new low, even for Pakistan". However, he also became Pakistan's first leader to visit India in 12 when he flew down to Goa last year to attend a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. by Burak Akinci ANKARA, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Nearly one year ago, two powerful earthquakes struck southern Turkiye, claiming the lives of over 53,000 people and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless. The initial quake, registering at 7.7 on the Richter scale, rattled 11 provinces in Turkiye and northern Syria during the early hours of Feb. 6, 2023. Subsequently, a second tremor, measuring 7.6 magnitude, struck the same area, exacerbating the damage to tens of thousands of structures and infrastructure. Revising a previous count of 50,783 deaths, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Friday that the death toll from the earthquakes had risen to 53,537, making it the deadliest disaster in modern Turkish history. The seismic activity originated along the East Anatolian Fault, a nearly 1,000-kilometer-long fracture running diagonally across the southeastern part of the country. Istanbul, situated on the North Anatolian Fault between two tectonic plates, faces a heightened risk, as seismologists warn that a major quake in the city is "overdue" following the one that claimed nearly 20,000 lives in northwestern Turkiye in 1999. The nation reflects on the tragedy as some experts say "more destructive seismic events are unavoidable" in a region marked by active fault lines. Humberto Lopez, the World Bank's Country Director for Turkiye, said last November that the cost of making Turkish housing stock safe from future earthquakes was estimated at 500 billion U.S. dollars. "The expected earthquake in Istanbul will have a magnitude between 7.2 and 7.6. If this earthquake happens, it will do more damage than the quakes last February," Naci Gorur, an Istanbul-based geologist, said on his social media platform X. He added that it was not possible to stop the earthquakes, but it was possible to construct buildings that did not collapse and kill their residents on a massive scale. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned last month that 66 percent of the country's territory and 71 percent of its population were exposed to earthquake risk. "Preparing for earthquakes is more of a necessity than a choice for us. Because geographically, we are a country that lives face to face with earthquakes," Erdogan said in Istanbul. Every day, mild seismic tremors are recorded in various regions of Turkiye, where the population is very sensitive to news relayed by the media regarding earthquakes. Disaster management professor Mihat Kadioglu said during an interview with local media NTV that "we need a comprehensive approach to earthquakes, not a reactive and relief-oriented method when a quake occurs." Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday confirmed that there will be shakeup in the country's military. Zelenskyy said that he is seeking to replace the country's most senior military commander, Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Amid the ongoing war with Russia, the change at the military helm has shocked the nation. Zaluzhnyi, is a popular commander and has led the military before the war with Russia. He is credited with stalling Russia's full-scale invasion in the early days of the war as well. While speaking to an Italian outlet Rai News, Zelenskyy said "A reset, a new beginning is necessary." The review is "not about a single person but about the direction of the country's leadership, he added in the interview. "I'm thinking about this replacement, but you can't say here we replaced a single person," Zelenskyy said. "When we talk about this, I mean a replacement of a series of state leaders, not just in a single sector like the military. If we want to win, we must all push in the same direction, convinced of victory. We cannot be discouraged, let our arms fall. We must have the right positive energy," he said. Reportedly, Zelenskyy had asked Zaluzhnyi to resign last week but the general refused to step down. Tensions between the president and the top commander has been going on for few months over plans of further mobilisation. Zelenskyy said at the end of last year that he had turned down the military's request to marshal up to 500,000 people. Zaluzhnyi's dismissal could fuel uncertainty among Western allies as well. With Russian forces pressing in the frontline, Ukriane desparately requires Western military assistance. Lucknow, Feb 5 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said the state's annual budget for the financial year 2024-25 has been dedicated to Lord Ram and will ensure "Lok Mangal" (public welfare). "Today's budget has been dedicated to Lord Ram and is for Lok Mangal (public welfare). In the beginning of the budget, in the middle and at the end, Lord Shri Ram is there in every word of the budget. In his thoughts and resolutions, Shri Ram is there because Shri Ram is synonymous with Lok Mangal. "This budget is also an economic document of Uttar Pradesh for the overall and balanced development of the state, dedicated to the welfare of the people," Adityanath told reporters after the presentation of the budget in the state assembly. Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna presented the budget in the state assembly with an outlay of Rs 7.36 lakh crore, higher from current fiscal's budget of Rs 6.90 lakh crore. The chief minister said this is the eighth budget of his government. "Our first budget of 2017-18 was dedicated to the Annadata farmers of the state. The budget of 2018-19 was dedicated to the infrastructure and industrial development of the state. The budget of 2019-20 was dedicated to women empowerment, the budget of 2020-21 was dedicated to the youth energy of the state, the budget of 2021-22 was dedicated to the campaign of empowerment through self-reliance," he said. The budget of 2022-23 was the budget of self-reliance through Antyodaya and 2023-24 budget was for rapid and all-inclusive development. Lucknow, Feb 5 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday announced a Rs 1,000-crore Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan under which financial resources will be provided to educated and skilled youth for creating self-employment opportunities and setting up micro-industries. While presenting the budget for FY25, Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said a provision of Rs 1,000 crore is proposed for this mission. To encourage industrial establishments in the private sector, 10 pledge parks are being established in the state. In a statement issued later, the government said interest-free loans up to Rs 5 lakh will be provided to projects in the industry and the the services sector. Under this mission, 10 lakh units will be directly benefited in the next 10 years, with funding to 1 lakh units every year. New Delhi (India), February 5: Cellecor Gadgets Limited, an emerging consumer durables company on Indias fastest growing electronic goods landscape, is proud to announce the grand opening of its 2 Exclusive Brand Stores in Bhopal and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, with a meticulously curated plan to have more such Exclusive Brand Stores across India. These Exclusive Brand Stores are aiming to provide more intuitive, user-friendly shopping experience for those seeking a perfect blend of style, quality, exclusivity, and aordability. Opening exclusive stores will oer several benets to the Company, where it will control the entire shopping experience, reinforcing exclusive brand image, enabling the company to showcase its full range of products, including exclusive/limited-edition items, creating a sense of rarity and desirability. It will provide a direct platform for the Company to interact with its customers, understand their preferences, and build lasting relationships. All products including Mobiles, Smart TVs, Washing Machines, Kitchen appliances, Smart wearables and hearables will be available at these exclusive stores. Exclusive SKUs found only in oine stores will not be oered through online channels. Further, selected premium category products will have exclusive availability at the outlet for a specied period, with franchisees receiving priority for selling these items. Cellecor working on Franchise Model-In embracing the franchise model, Cellecor is fostering a collaborative venture where the synergy between our established brand and the entrepreneurial spirit of local franchisees creates a dynamic force in the retail landscape. This strategic partnership aims to enhance the customer experience signicantly, all while upholding the unique identity and exclusivity that dene our brand. With their profound understanding of regional preferences, consumer behaviours, and cultural nuances, our franchisees ensure a seamless integration of our brand into the fabric of each community. Cellecor Gadgets is advance stage of nalizing more collaborations to open more such Exclusive Brand Stores across India The company is currently in advanced discussions with multiple franchises to open approximately 16 stores across various cities in India by the end of March 2024. This move reects our strong commitment to the vibrant Indian market and our belief in the immense potential to promote Indian brands. We are actively exploring prime locations in key cities, emphasizing a seamless integration of our brand with local culture and preferences in each new outlet. Moreover, we are pleased to share that all these upcoming outlets will operate under the franchise model, promoting local entrepreneurship and contributing to the economic growth of the regions we enter. Mr. Ravi Agarwal, Founder of Cellecor Gadgets Ltd commented " I am delighted to announce the opening of our exclusive brand outlets. This strategic move represents a signicant milestone for our company, reecting our dedication to elevating the standard of retail excellence. We are proud to adopt a franchise model for these exclusive outlets, a strategic move that combines the strength of our brand with the entrepreneurial spirit of local partners. This collaboration not only facilitates our rapid expansion into diverse Indian markets but also empowers local business owners to thrive as ambassadors of our brand. We look forward to this exciting chapter in our company's journey and the prospect of becoming synonymous with luxury, exclusivity, and a commitment to unparalleled customer satisfaction. About Cellecor Gadgets Ltd.: Cellecor Gadgets journey in electronics device business, and selling products in its own brand, including mobile feature phones, smartwatches, TWS (True Wireless Stereo) earbuds, neckbands, and LED TVs -outsources from various electronic assemblers and manufacturers, started in 2012 as M/s Unity Communications-its founder Mr. Ravi Agarwals proprietorship rm. The company is promoted and managed with an enduring sustainable business strategy, wherein the company is aiming to synergetic amalgamate business potential embedded in the ever-growing demand of electronic products with modern business approach of sourcing, producing, and marketing with an objective to provide quality products at aordable price. Today, Cellecor Gadgets Ltd is a leading name in the consumer electronics industry, known for its innovative and cutting-edge technology. With a commitment to making happiness aordable, Cellecor oers a diverse range of products, including mobile phones, smart TVs, speakers, neckbands, TWS, soundbars, smartwatches, Washing Machines, and many more. The securities of the Company are listed on the NSE EMERGE (SME Platform of National Stock Exchange of India Limited) with Scrip Code: CELLECOR For Further information please contact You may please visit https://cellecor.com/ Ms. Bindu Gupta Chief Finance Ocer nance.head@cellecor.in Disclaimer: Certain statements and words in this document that are not historical facts are forward- looking statements. Such forward looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties like government actions, local, political or economic developments, technological risks and many other factors that could cause actual result to dier materially from those contemplated by these forward- looking statements. Cellecor Gadgets Limited shall not be in any way responsible for any action taken based on such a statement. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR Lucknow, Feb 5 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday proposed Rs 1,000 crore for providing free sweaters, shoes and bags to around 2 crore school children of classes 1 to 8 and another Rs 1,000 crore for the makeover of government primary schools. Presenting the state budget for 2024-25, Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna said a sum of Rs 650 crore has been allocated for providing free sweaters, shoes and socks and Rs 350 crore for school bags for over 2 crore students studying in class 1 to 8 in government schools. The government also proposed Rs 1,000 crore for Operation Kayakalp for primary schools. Khanna said that the procurement process for providing uniforms, sweaters, school bags, shoes, and stationery for students has been discontinued. Instead, a sum of Rs 1,200 per student is being directly transferred to the bank accounts of parents through DBT. "A provision of Rs 650 crore is proposed for free sweaters and shoes-socks, in addition to Rs 350 crore for school bags for over 2 crore students studying in classes 1 to 8. "A provision of Rs 255 crore is proposed with the aim of enrolling more than 2 lakh children from disadvantaged groups and economically weaker sections and Rs 1,000 crore is proposed under Operation Kayakalp for the fiscal year 2024-2025," he said. In 2023-24, digital libraries are being established at the Gram Panchayat and ward level with Rs 300 crore. A budget provision of Rs 498 crore is proposed for 2024-25 to continue this initiative. To operate 36 primary schools in Vantangiya villages, 144 posts have been created, he said. A provision of Rs 168 crore is proposed for the distribution of free uniforms to approximately 30 lakh students above the poverty line, he said. A provision of Rs 516.64 crore is proposed under the Samagra Shiksha Yojana to ensure that all government secondary schools in the state are equipped with basic facilities by the financial year 2024-2025 as well as to establish smart classes, labs in every government secondary school. He said that Rs 200 crore is proposed for enhancing infrastructure facilities in aided non-government secondary schools, Rs 5 crore is proposed for the establishment of the new Rajkiya Sanskrit Vidyalayas (Government Sanskrit Schools). Rs 10.46 crore is proposed for the construction of hostels and mini stadiums in Rajkiya Sanskrit Vidyalayas and Rs 4 crore is proposed for the operation of Sainik School, Gorakhpur, Khanna said. For the establishment of Maa Vindhyavasini State University in the Vindhyaachal Dham division, one state university in the Moradabad division, and Maa Pateshwari State University in the Devi Patan division, a provision of Rs 51.20 crore is proposed for each university. To encourage education, a provision of Rs 100 crore is proposed under the Mukhyamantri Shikshuta Protsahan Yojana and Rs 30 crore is proposed for the expansion of basic facilities in the state universities of the state. Rs 55 crore proposed for the establishment of new government colleges as well as the completion of buildings under construction at government colleges, he said. To bolster vocational education, a pragmatic and hands-on orientation program is slated for the students of classes 6 to 8 as well as for secondary-level students in the financial year 2024-2025. Aligned with the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, the roadmap includes conducting courses based on the National Curriculum Framework and National Credit Framework. This strategic approach aims to expand access to job roles and sectors for an increasing number of students. In this, emphasis will be laid on providing certificates in computer education along with UP Board certificate on passing 12th grade through the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology. With the participation of Tata Technologies Limited, the construction of modern workshops and classrooms in 150 government Industrial Training Institutes is in the final stage. The remaining 69 institutions of the state where at least 5000 square feet of land is available are proposed to be upgraded in the financial year 2024-2025, for which a provision of Rs 818.75 crore is proposed, he said. In order to provide training along with allowances to the youth in industries through apprenticeship, a provision of Rs 70 crore is proposed for the Chief Minister Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme in the financial year 2024-2025. New Delhi, Feb 5 (PTI) Veteran star Chiranjeevi on Monday welcomed actor Trisha on the set of the upcoming Telugu film "Vishwambhara". Written and directed by Mallidi Vassishta, "Vishwambhara" will hit screens on January 10, 2025, ahead of Makar Sankranti. The film will have music by "RRR" collaborators -- composer MM Keeravaani and lyricist Chandrabose. Chiranjeevi shared Trisha's casting announcement on his official X page. "Welcome on board. The Gorgeous @trishtrashers! #Vishwambhara," he wrote. Trisha, who worked with Chiranjeevi in the 2006 movie "Stalin", said she is happy to team up with the star once again. "What an honour it is to reunite with the one and only MEGASTAR after 18 years. Thank you so much for the warmest welcome Chiru sir @KChiruTweets," she replied to his post on X. "Vishwambhara" is produced by UV Creations. Jerusalem, Feb 5 (AP) Iran has issued a warning to the US over potentially targeting two cargo ships in the Mideast long suspected of serving as forward operating bases for Iranian commandos. The warning came just after the US 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 US 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 US soldiers and wounding of dozens of others in Jordan, attacks that 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 US 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 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 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. Biden's 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 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 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 ship's deck. In the video statement Sunday by 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 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 US Navy's Mideast-based 5th Fleet declined to 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 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) RUP RUP Beijing, Feb 5 (AP) A Chinese court gave a suspended death sentence to a China-born Australian democracy blogger on Monday. The Australian government, which has repeatedly raised his case over the years, said it was appalled. Yang Hengjun was found guilty of espionage and sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. Such sentences are often commuted to life in prison after the two years. The Australian Government is appalled, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said in a statement. This is harrowing news for Dr Yang, his family and all who have supported him. Yang, a former Chinese diplomat and state security agent who became a political commentator and writer of spy novels in Australia, was detained on Jan 19, 2019, when he arrived in the southern China city of Guangzhou from New York with his wife and teenage stepdaughter. He was tried behind closed doors in May 2021. The details of his case have not been disclosed. Yang, who became an Australian citizen in 2002, has denied working as a spy for Australia or the United States. In a letter to his sons in August last year, Yang said he hadn't experienced direct sunlight in more than four years. He told his family he feared he would die in detention after being diagnosed with a kidney cyst, prompting supporters to demand his release for medical treatment. Australia will be communicating our response in the strongest terms and will continue to press for his interests and wellbeing, including appropriate medical care, the Australian foreign minister said in her statement. Wang, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said the court had protected Yang's procedural rights and arranged for the Australian side to attend Monday's sentencing, likely referring to a diplomat or diplomats from the Australian Embassy. In October last year, Australian journalist Cheng Lei was freed after more than three years in detention in China for breaking an embargo with a television broadcast on a state-run TV network. The plights of Yang and Cheng had frequently been on the agendas of high-level meetings between the countries in recent years. (AP) SCY SCY 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 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 (PTI) 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. The Dawn newspaper on Sunday in an editorial said despite the use of state machinery to suppress a leading party PTI, the electoral contest is shaping up ahead of the final day. The lack of enthusiasm from smaller parties has left the polls looking like a three-way fight among the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the PTI, whose one of the main contenders (PTI) has been handicapped. It observed that the PTI remains absent from TV screens, while there has been very little it has been allowed to do, and jalsas (rallies) would have been out of the question with the state trying to suppress it. The state is keeping the PTI in check," the newspaper wrote. The PML-N enjoys the advantage of being perceived as the favoured party of the establishment, which is expected to boost its prospects. The PTI, meanwhile, is banking mainly on public sympathy to turn the tide. It is tapping into public discontent against the status quo and hoping the youth vote can swing the election in its favour. The paper opined that a lot will also depend on voter turnout: a high turnout is expected to favour the PTI. London, Feb 5 (PTI) The UKs Opposition Labour Party has claimed Infosys was effectively granted VIP access after a media report alleged the software services major was promised help to grow in Britain due to Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks familial connection with co-founder Narayana Murthy. A Sunday Mirror report based on a freedom of information (FOI) request said Trade Minister Lord Dominic Johnson discussed the UK operations of Infosys during a meeting at the companys offices in Bengaluru during a visit last April. A readout of the meeting reportedly said Lord Johnson made clear that he was keen to see a bigger Infosys presence in the UK and would be happy to do what he could to facilitate that. After the Tories handed billions in taxpayers cash to cronies for duff PPE (personal protective equipment), the public will wonder why an outfit so personally close to Rishi Sunak appears to have been granted this VIP access. There are serious questions to answer, Labours shadow minister Jonathan Ashworth told the newspaper. Sunaks wife, Akshata Murty, has a 0.91 per cent stake valued at around GBP 500 million in the IT business co-founded by her father and received millions in dividends in the past financial year. A steering brief for the meeting is reported to have said that it would be good to reassure them on the prospects for the UK economy and remind them of the support that we can provide through DBT [Department for Business and Trade]. Lord Johnson is said to have outlined to the Infosys executives, whose names were redacted in the FOI documents, the advantages for the multinational as a result of the UKs high-potential individual visa scheme. The investment minister regularly meets businesses and international investors, including a range of Indian businesses, to champion the UK as an investment destination and secure commitments worth billions of pounds. That engagement drives investment across the UK, creating thousands of high-quality jobs and boosting the UK economy, said a DBT spokesperson. Infosys has been approached for a reaction over these latest claims, coming in the wake of some Opposition murmurings around Infosys seeking visa benefits to accrue from the proposed India-UK free trade agreement (FTA). The briefing paper for the April 2023 meeting reportedly notes that one of the objectives was to reassure that the FTA will further create new opportunities and investor-friendly policies to support business growth. This is the latest Opposition attack faced by Sunaks wife over her business interests after Labour raised questions over Akshata Murtys decision to liquidate an investment venture named Catamaran Ventures. The 43-year-old Indian businesswoman and daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy had incorporated the venture in 2013 with her husband as one of the directors, before he resigned in 2015. It had emerged in a financial statement last year that she had decided to wind down her firm as a going concern. The personal finances of Sunak and his wife have previously also been under scrutiny when it was revealed that Murty had legal non-domicile tax status, which meant she did not have to pay UK tax on her Indian income. However, after an Opposition furore over this issue, she had relinquished her non-dom tax status and said she would pay all her tax in the UK to prevent the issue becoming a distraction for her husband's political career. Jean-Jacob Bissep, secretary general of the Unity Populaire pour la Liberation de Guadeloupe, has issued a statement on the occasion of the creation of the Nazione party in Corsica on the issue of decolonisation and independence of Corsica, Azernews reports. The statement reads: The Popular Unity Party for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG) supports the creation of the Nazione party in Corsica in order to put the decolonisation and independence of Corsica back on the agenda. On Sunday 28 January 2024, several Corsican parties and organisations consolidated to create a new Corsican political party in order to achieve independence for their country. While the elected members of the Corsican Assembly declared their support for the autonomy project for Corsica and their willingness to enter into negotiations with the French government, the members of the new party, considering that this path leads to a dead end, oppose it. In this context, their decision coincides with the position of the Polynesians. Despite the long struggle of the Corsican people, the French authorities continue their repression and hostile policy. Thus, the French authorities do not recognise the reality of the existence of Corsica and its people, nor do they recognise the right of the Corsican people to self-determination. After exploring all avenues for a solution, France is doing everything to delay the process. The most determined sons of Corsica respond to this: "NO", "STOP". They do not accept the reformation of Corsica into a colony and the change in the composition of its population. At the same time, they demand the right to exercise the right to self-determination. They call on the Corsican people to mobilise, to use all means to ensure their right and independence. The Party of Popular Unity for the Liberation of Guadeloupe expresses its full support for the activists who have consolidated to raise the issue of Corsica and solidarity in their struggle for sovereignty. Long live a free and sovereign Corsica! Jean-Jacob Bissep Secretary General of the Popular Unity for the Liberation of Guadeloupe. Pointe-a-Pitre, 1 February 2024. Recall that The Baku Initiative Group has strongly condemned the illegal detention of pro-independence activists and their family members by the French police following the successful holding of the Nazione movement's founding meeting. The statement from the Baku Initiative Group reads: Around 700 people have founded the "Nazione" movement in Corsica, uniting pro-independence organizations and activists, affirming their current and future commitment to the struggle against colonial rule. Just two days after Corsicans freely expressed their aspirations, on January 30, two "Nazione" activists were apprehended at the Borgu military camp. Their family members and another activist were summoned to the police station in Bastia in the afternoon. The methods chosen by the French search and operation team to detain the activists - broken doors, destroyed houses, parents thrown onto the ground right in front of their children - are disgraceful for a country that portrays itself as the homeland of human rights. Illegal police harassment continues and is aimed at terrorizing the Corsican people. - We therefore strongly condemn the illegal actions of the French law enforcement agencies. - We call on the French authorities to respect the principles of justice and human rights and to ensure that such actions do not recur in the future. The right of the Corsican people to freedom of assembly and to freely express their wishes must be guaranteed by the French government. - We call on the French government to refrain from putting pressure on colonial peoples. - We demand immediate release of all detainees. - We invite other non-governmental organizations and political movements to join this statement and support the "Nazione" movement. SANAA, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council on Monday appointed Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak as the country's new Prime Minister, the state-run Saba news agency reported. "Today, the decree No. (56) of 2024 was issued by the chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council, appointing Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak as prime minister," said Saba. Also, another decree was issued, appointing outgoing Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik as an advisor to the chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council. Bin Mubarak was appointed by then-President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi as his chief of staff in 2014. Later the same year, he was offered the position of prime minister but declined the appointment. Since late 2014, Yemen has been mired in a civil war when the Iran-backed Houthi militia seized control of several northern provinces and forced the Saudi-backed Yemeni government out of the capital Sanaa. In 2015, Bin Mubarak was kidnapped by the Houthi group for ten days. After being released, he assumed the role of Yemeni Ambassador to the United States. He was further elevated to the position of foreign minister in 2020. Kyiv, Feb 5 (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is thinking about dismissing the country's top military officer as part of a broader leadership shakeup, a possibility that has shocked the nation fighting a war to end Russia's invasion and also worried Ukraine's Western allies. Meanwhile, four people were killed and at least one was injured in a Monday afternoon strike over the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine, the head of the local military administration said. Zelenskyy confirmed in an interview with Italian broadcaster RAI TV released late Sunday that he was thinking about removing Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the popular commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces. He said he was contemplating the move to ensure the country remains led by individuals who are convinced of victory against Russia. A reset, a new beginning is necessary, Zelenskyy said. The review is "not about a single person but about the direction of the country's leadership. "I'm thinking about this replacement, but you can't say here we replaced a single person, Zelenskyy said. When we talk about this, I mean a replacement of a series of state leaders, not just in a single sector like the military. If we want to win, we must all push in the same direction, convinced of victory. We cannot be discouraged, let our arms fall. We must have the right positive energy. Zelenskyy's comments were his first acknowledgement of Zaluzhnyi,'s possible firing. The potential ouster of the general already has caused an uproar in Ukraine and delighted the Kremlin as the war approaches its second anniversary. Zaluzhnyi is widely respected among Ukrainian service members and considered a national hero. He is credited with stalling Russia's full-scale invasion in the early days of the war and expertly pushing back Moscow's troops. Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko criticized the possibility of Zaluzhnyi's firing, saying it was due to the general's leadership that many Ukrainians truly trust the armed forces. Today is a moment when politics might prevail over reason and country's interests," Klitschko said on social media. The mayor of Ukraine's capital city has been a vocal critic of Zelenskyy. The presidency in turn has accused Klitschko's office of inefficiencies. It is unclear who might replace Zaluzhnyi and if his successor would command the same level of respect from Ukraine's troops and foreign defence leaders. His firing could risk degrading morale at a critical time in the war. According to Ukrainian and Western media reports, Zelenskyy asked Zaluzhnyi to resign last week, but the general refused. Zaluzhnyi has not commented publicly on the reports. Tensions between him and the president have been rising since a much anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive, which was launched in June with the help of an array of Western weapons, failed to produce major territory gains in Russian-occupied areas, disappointing allies. Ukraine now is grappling with ammunition and personnel shortages while Russia is on the offensive, mounting relentless attacks. The need for a broad mobilization to beef up the number of Ukrainian troops has reportedly been one of the areas of disagreement between Zelenskyy and Zaluzhnyi. Zelenskyy said at the end of last year that he had turned down the military's request to marshal up to 500,000 people, demanding more details about how the mobilisation would be organized and paid for. A rift between Zaluzhnyi and Zelenskyy first broke into the open in the fall when the general acknowledged in an interview with The Economist that the fighting with Russia had stalemated. The president strongly denied that was the case. For his part, Zaluzhnyi has published two essays laying out his vision for how Ukraine can win the war. In his writings, he said it was critical for Ukraine to have air superiority, to extending its efficiency in countering enemy artillery, to build up reserves and to increase electronic warfare capabilities. Ukraine desperately needs more Western military assistance as the Russian forces are pressing in many directions of the 1,500-kilometer (900-mile) frontline, but an aid package has been blocked in the US Congress. Zaluzhnyi's dismissal could fuel uncertainty among Western allies. Russia has rejoiced at the prospect, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that the talk about Zaluzhnyi's dismissal exposed rifts in the Ukrainian leadership. The Ukrainska Pravda newspaper reported Monday that Zelenskyy also was considering the removal of General Staff Chief Serhii Shaptala. Zaluzhnyi on Monday congratulated Shaptala on his birthday and posted a picture of them together on Facebook. It will still be very difficult for us, but we will definitely never be ashamed, Zaluzhnyi wrote. (AP) SCY SCY London, Feb 5 (AP) The leaders of the UK and Ireland went to Belfast on Monday to meet Northern Ireland's newly revived government and bask in a good-news moment after two years of political crisis. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar visited the new administration at Belfast's Stormont Castle as its ministers met for the first time. The ministers wasted no time before pressing London for more money to patch up Northern Ireland's creaking public services. Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly appointed a power-sharing government on Saturday after a two-year hiatus sparked when the main British unionist party walked out in February 2022. The Democratic Unionist Party boycotted the administration to protest post-Brexit trading arrangements that it said undermined Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom. The party was coaxed into returning last week after the UK promised to eliminate most checks on goods moving to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. Under power-sharing rules established as part of Northern Ireland's peace process, the administration in Belfast must include both British unionists and Irish nationalists. The UK and the Republic of Ireland both have roles as guarantors of the peace. The new administration is led by First Minister Michelle O'Neill of Sinn Fein, the party allied with the Irish Republican Army during Northern Ireland's decades of violence known as The Troubles. Her appointment was historic, marking the first time an Irish nationalist, who aspires to take Northern Ireland out of the UK and unite it with the republic, has held the post. In practice, nationalists and unionists will continue to govern in uneasy balance. The post of deputy first minister held by Emma Little-Pengelly of the DUP is officially equal to the first minister, and neither can govern without the other. O'Neill said on the weekend that she believed a referendum on Irish unity could take place in the next 10 years, after the UK government said any such move was decades away. Under the terms of the Good Friday agreement, such a vote can take place if there is evidence a majority of people in Northern Ireland support joining the republic. Polls suggest a majority currently oppose the idea. Sunak said on Monday that everyone's priority was getting the government back up and running. It is not constitutional change, it is delivering on the day-to-day things that matter to people," he said. Varadkar, whose government in principle supports a united Ireland, also said the question of reunification was not for today". The DUP boycott left Northern Ireland's 1.9 million people without a functioning administration to make key decisions as the cost of living soared and backlogs strained the creaking public health system. The UK government has agreed to give Northern Ireland more than 3 billion pounds (USD 3.8 billion) as part of an incentive to restore the government. Already, the Belfast administration says it's not enough. Little-Pengelly said the ministers in Belfast would be seeking to ensure the UK government provides sufficient funding in a package to fulfil its promises on public sector pay. Chris Heaton-Harris, the UK's Northern Ireland secretary, said the package was ample for the time being. I believe the new set of ministers are completely capable of running their public finances perfectly well with the fair and generous funding package we've given them, he told the BBC. (AP) PY PY Jerusalem, Feb 5 (AP) An American porn actor who has advocated for Palestinians online during Israel's war on Hamas travelled to Iran and visited the former US Embassy in Tehran, which was abandoned after the 1979 hostage crisis. The visit by Whitney Wright as Iran imprisons Nobel Peace Prize laureate and women's rights activist Narges Mohammadi sparked heated criticism of the country's crackdown on women since the 2022 death in police custody of Mahsa Amini and the nationwide protests it sparked. Wright filmed herself throughout Tehran despite her work in pornography exposing her in theory to criminal charges that carry the death penalty. Wright did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press. But in remarks on social media, she described the US Embassy as a place she HAD to visit. Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard now runs it as a museum. Iranian students backing Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini overran the compound after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Embassy staff members taken hostage were held for 444 days. A direct line can be drawn between that crisis and the tensions between Iran and the US today. I'm sharing exhibits from a museum that are never seen," Wright wrote on Instagram. "It's not an endorsement of the government. Wright has previously shared pro-Palestinian information online, including material supporting armed militancy against Israel. As a US citizen born in Oklahoma City, she would need a visa to visit Iran. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not respond to questions about the actor's trip. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani was asked about Wright during a Monday briefing and said he had no information about her. The semiofficial Tasnim news agency, believed to be close to the Revolutionary Guard, quoted an anonymous official claiming the government issued Wright a visa while not being "aware about the nature of her immoral job. The presence of a performer from the US adult film industry immediately drew attention. Iranian actor Setareh Pesiani cited Wright's visit to criticise Iran's hard-line government for its mandatory headscarf policy, which led to the 22-year-old Amini's arrest and death. You punish people of this country in various methods for removal of hijab but you allow a porn actress to come here for tourism!?" Pesiani wrote on Instagram. Masih Alinejad, a US-based activist who has faced assassination and kidnapping attempts by Iran, also denounced Wright's visit. "We the women of Iran want be like Rosa Parks and not Whitney Wright," Alinejad wrote, referencing the US civil rights icon. The true warmongers are the agents of the Islamic Republic who will execute you if you be true to yourself. In 2016, a British porn actor known as Candy Charms travelled to Iran, prompting immediate criticism. But there's been no media coverage of Wright's visit inside Iran, likely a sign of how tightly controlled journalists are after the 2022 demonstrations. Then there's Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Iranian state media have seized on the US support of Israel to criticise the US and opponents of its theocracy. Abdolreza Davari, a media adviser to former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has as well. Israel is absolute evil and filth, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, in October. We will stand by anyone who fights against Israel, even if that person is Mia Khalifa, a former porn star who has cleared her record of cruelty and corruption by openly supporting the oppressed Palestinian nation and fighting Zionist crimes. Asked about Wright's visit, the US State Department told the AP in a statement that it has warned Americans to avoid travel to Iran and exercise increased caution due to the risk of wrongful detention. Americans and those with Western ties can find themselves detained and convicted in secret trials to later be used as bargaining chips in negotiations with Washington. The Islamic Republic of Iran is a primary driver of instability across the Middle East region, and it has been since 1979, the State Department said. If Iran actually cared about peace and stability in the Middle East region or the welfare of the people there, it would cease its support for terrorist organisations. (AP) GSP PY PY London, Feb 5 (PTI) The Indian-origin prime ministers of the UK and Ireland, Rishi Sunak and Leo Varadkar, met on Monday to oversee a historic power-sharing pact in Northern Ireland, where a devolved government took charge after two years. Prime Minister Sunak and Taoiseach Varadkar met at Parliament Buildings, Stormont Castle, in Belfast as they hailed efforts to restore devolution in Northern Ireland. They also met political leaders separately, including First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, who head the devolved regions executive. Pengelly belongs to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Now its time to get to work, said Sunak after his meetings. We've worked very hard and succeeded in protecting Northern Ireland's place in the union and built on what we achieved with the Windsor Framework to ensure the smooth flow of trade in the UK and all the benefits that are there as a result of Brexit can be seized, he said. While Southampton-born Sunak's roots connect with Punjab, Dublin-born Varadkar has his familial roots in Maharashtra. In a readout of the historic discussions between the British Indian and Irish Indian leaders, Downing Street said Sunak began by congratulating the Ireland rugby team for their emphatic win against France in the Six Nations contest on Friday. This had been a challenging time, but patience had proved key to a deal. Now that the institutions were up and running again, he wanted to see all three strands functioning equally well. The sense of relief and optimism from people in Northern Ireland had been very striking and made it all worthwhile, reads the Downing Street statement. Both leaders agreed that a stable, effective and successful Northern Ireland part of the United Kingdom and sharing a border with Ireland benefitted the UK-Irish relationship immensely. The British government has already pledged to provide a financial package worth GBP 3.3 billion, described by Sunak as generous and fair, to any newly-formed executive at Stormont. The return of power-sharing came after months of negotiations involving the government and the DUP of Northern Ireland. It withdrew from power-sharing in February 2022 protesting the post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland, agreed between the UK and European Union (EU). Last week, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson announced his party had a reached a deal with Number 10 that means no routine checks on goods crossing from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. He said on this basis, and with legislation passed at Westminster to implement more changes, his party would return to government. Writing in the visitors' book at Parliament Buildings in Belfast, Taoiseach Varadkar wrote: Delighted to be here on an important day for Northern Ireland and to witness devolved democracy and the Good Friday Agreement operating once more. The Good Friday Agreement, signed in 1998 by then British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Irish counterpart Bertie Ahern, backed by then US President Bill Clinton, brought an end to 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland, known as the Troubles. Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Feb 5 (AP) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday on his fifth visit to the region since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, hoping to press ahead with a potential cease-fire deal and postwar planning while tamping down regional tensions. But on all three fronts he faces major challenges: Hamas and Israel are publicly at odds over key elements of a potential truce. Israel has dismissed US calls for a path to a Palestinian state, and Iran's militant allies in the region have shown little sign of being deterred by US strikes. In Gaza, meanwhile, Hamas has begun to re-emerge in some of the most devastated areas after Israeli forces pulled back, an indication that Israel's central goal of crushing the group remains elusive. Video footage from the same areas shows vast destruction, with nearly every building damaged or destroyed. Blinken was expected to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi officials say the kingdom is still interested in normalising relations with Israel in a potentially landmark deal, but only if there is a credible plan to create a Palestinian state. But any such grand bargain appears a long way off as the war still rages in Gaza, where 113 bodies were brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours alone, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory. It says another 205 people were wounded. The fatalities bring the overall Palestinian death toll from nearly four months of war to 27,478. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count but says most of the dead were women and children. The war in Gaza has levelled vast swaths of the tiny enclave, displaced 85 per cent of its population and pushed a quarter of residents to starvation. A video circulating online on Monday showed masked gunmen leading a line of shirtless detainees past bombed-out buildings in northern Gaza, forcing them to shout out that they are thieves. The Associated Press was not able to independently confirm the incident, but it is consistent with AP reporting. It was the latest sign that Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since seizing power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007, is reasserting control in parts of the north. Residents say Hamas-led security forces, which numbered in the tens of thousands before the war, have begun to reappear in some areas where they focus on distributing civil salaries and cracking down on looters. The Israeli military says it has launched targeted operations in northern Gaza over the last week to prevent Hamas from rebuilding its capabilities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until Israel crushes Hamas' military and governing abilities and wins the return of the 100-plus hostages still held by the militant group after the October 7 cross-border raid that ignited the war. Hamas and other militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the 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. Meeting with troops on Monday, Netanyahu said Israel had defeated 18 of Hamas' 24 battalions, without providing evidence. We are on the way to absolute victory, and I want to tell you that we are committed to it and we will not give it up. The United States, Qatar and Egypt have drawn up a proposal for a cease-fire of several weeks and the phased release of the remainder of the hostages. But Hamas, which has yet to publicly respond to the proposal, has said it won't release any more captives until Israel ends its offensive. The militants are expected to demand the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners in return demands Netanyahu has publicly ruled out. The war has ignited tensions across the region, with a flurry of strikes and counterstrikes raising the risk of a wider conflict. Israel and Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah militant group trade fire across the border on a daily basis, and in recent weeks apparent Israeli strikes have killed senior Hezbollah commanders. A drone attack launched by Iran-backed militants killed three US soldiers near the Jordan-Syria border last week, prompting a wave of retaliatory US strikes. The United States and Britain have also carried out strikes on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen in response to their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea. (AP) PY PY Mumbai, Feb 5 (PTI) In a relief to Mumbai residents, the Maharashtra cabinet on Monday decided not to increase the property tax in the city, where civic polls are due since 2022, and also gave its nod to hold job fairs in the state. A proposal to maintain status quo on the property tax was moved by the urban development department and cleared at a weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde here. This decision would save Mumbai residents from an additional financial burden of Rs 736 crore, said an official statement without providing further details. The cabinet cleared another proposal to hold employment fairs at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in central Maharashtra covering the entire Marathwada region (eight districts) as well as in Nashik, Pune and Konkan divisions. Titled the 'Namo Mega Job Fair', such an event has already been held at Nagpur, which garnered a huge response, said the statement. There will be six such fairs where at least two lakh jobs will be generated, it adding, the cabinet approved an expenditure of Rs 30 crore for organising these events. A social justice department proposal to launch the 'Chief Minister Vayoshri Scheme' for senior citizens was also cleared at the cabinet meeting. Under the scheme, centres for mental well-being and yoga therapy will be set up for senior citizens. At least 15 lakh senior citizens who are above 65 years of age would benefit from it, said the statement. Kolkata, Feb 5 (PTI) Following are the top stories from the Eastern Region at 5 pm. CAL 27 JH-TRUST VOTE-LD RESULT * Jharkhand: JMM-led coalition govt of Champai Soren wins trust vote 47-29 Ranchi: Jharkhands JMM-led coalition government headed by Chief Minister Champai Soren won the vote of confidence in the assembly on Monday. CAL 29 JH-HC-LD HEMANT * Next hearing on Hemant Sorens plea on Feb 12 Ranchi: The High Court of Jharkhand on Monday adjourned the hearing of ex-chief minister Hemant Sorens petition challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate till February 12.* CAL 24 JH-TRUST VOTE-LD HEMANT SOREN * Prove corruption charges; will quit politics: ex-Jkhand CM Hemant Sorens challenge to BJP Ranchi: Arrested former chief minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren on Monday challenged the BJP to prove the corruption charges against him, asserting that if the accusations are proved, he will quit politics.* CAL 30 OD-ASSEMBLY-GOVERNOR * Stability provides unrestrained space for growth in Odisha: Governor Bhubaneswar: Odisha Governor Raghubar Das on Monday said the state has performed phenomenally well in several sectors, as stability has provided an unrestrained space for growth and development.* CAL 28 BH-NITISH-CPI(ML)LIBERATION * Nitish Kumar forged "unholy alliance" with BJP "under pressure": CPI(ML) Liberation Patna: The CPI (ML) Liberation on Monday alleged that Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar forged an "unholy alliance" with the BJP in the state "under pressure". * CAL 10 SK-CM-BIRTHDAY-PM PM, Union Ministers greet Sikkim CM Tamang on his birthday Gangtok: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union ministers on Monday greeted Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on his birthday. CAL 4 AS-ASSEMBLY-GOVERNOR * Assam Assembly's Budget Session starts on stormy note Guwahati: The opposition on Monday forced Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria to cut short his speech on the first day of the Budget Session by creating a noisy scene and displaying placards over various issues.** Lucknow, Feb 5 (PTI) As many as 63 prisoners lodged in the Lucknow district jail are patients of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and are being treated, officials said on Monday. Speaking to PTI, Director General of Prisons S N Sabat on Monday said, "No prisoner has died due to HIV infection in the District Jail Lucknow in the last five years." "We check HIV infected people from time to time in all the jails of Uttar Pradesh. Not a single person has become HIV infected after being admitted in the Lucknow jail. They were already infected. Most of the affected prisoners were infected due to drug abuse," Sabat said. Lucknow district jail authorities said as on January 1, 2023, a total of 47 prisoners detained in the jail were found to be HIV-infected. Due to non-availability of HIV testing kits from September, 2023, HIV testing was not held at the district jail for three months, the officials said. When the inmates were tested for HIV in a health camp held on December 3, as many as 36 of them were found to be HIV infected. A a total of 20 infected prisoners were released meanwhile, they said. Currently, a total of 63 prisoners are suffering from HIV and are being treated. Most of these are drug addicts who used to take various types of drugs through syringes before getting jailed, the officials said. "No prisoner has been infected with HIV after entering the jail. All the prisoners are getting regular treatment from the HIV centre," Jailor of Lucknow District Jail Hrithik Priyadarshi told PTI. Priyadarshi said all these patients are being treated at King George Medical University and ARP Centre. They are given regular counselling. Apart from this, nutritious food is also given to them, he added. Lucknow, Feb 5 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government has increased the welfare fund for lawyers in the state to Rs 500 crore from Rs 200 crore in the annual budget presented on Monday. Besides, the maximum limit of permissible assistance has been increased from Rs 1.50 lakh to Rs 5 lakh in case of the death of an advocate, who is a member of the Uttar Pradesh Advocate Social Fund Scheme. In addition, a provision of Rs 100 crore is proposed for the under-construction National Law University in Prayagraj district, the Uttar Pradesh government said in a statement. The budget also includes a provision of Rs 300 crore for the establishment of courts in various districts of the state. Under the pilot project, a provision of Rs 700 crore is proposed for the construction of the court complexes in this financial year. Welcoming the budget, Lucknow-based advocate Ashish Kumar Tripathi said, "Increasing the Advocate Welfare Fund from Rs 200 crore to Rs 500 crore is a welcome step. This will help in meeting the basic needs of the advocates." He also welcomed the provision of providing Rs 5 lakh on the sudden death of an advocate. New Delhi, Feb 5 (PTI) The Congress on Monday alleged Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi finalised the MCD Budget 2024-25 without holding any discussion in the House. Opposition leader Nazia Danish, while presenting suggestions on the budget to the House, said the budget has already been signed and sent for publishing. Addressing the mayor during a special House meeting held to discuss the budget estimates for 2024-25, Danish said, "We have heard that you have already signed the budget and sent it for publishing. If that's true, why are we holding these discussions? There is no point in holding these hoax discussions and fooling us." The municipal secretary denied the allegation saying that he has not received any budget document for finalisation. A special House meeting of the corporation discussed the budget estimates 2024-25 here at the Civic Centre. The meeting witnessed suggestions from the councillors of the opposition parties along with AAP leaders. Various issues such as the piled-up landfill sites in the city, delayed salaries of the MCD workers, alleged lack of amenities in hospitals and schools, poor conditions of public toilets, pollution, stray animal menace, and absence of standing committee were raised in the House. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations is preparing a plan to reach 15 million of the 25 million people in need of aid in war-torn Sudan, a UN spokesman said on Monday. Both Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi will take part in an announcement of the goals in Geneva on Wednesday, said Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "After nearly 10 months of conflict, more than half of Sudan's population, some 25 million people, needs humanitarian assistance and protection," Dujarric said. "The war has also forced more than 1.5 million people to flee across Sudan's borders to countries already hosting large refugee populations." He said the UN-coordinated Humanitarian Response Plan for Sudan aims to reach nearly 15 million people this year, while the Regional Refugee Response Plan aims to support almost 2.7 million people in five neighboring countries. The countries around Sudan holding refugees are the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia and South Sudan. The International Organization for Migrants said the 9 million internally displaced people in Sudan make it the largest internal displacement crisis globally. The latest Situation Report on the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs' Relief Web also said 3.5 million people were displaced from the capital of Khartoum since the war between two military factions began on April 15, 2023. Additionally, the report said at least 10,500 cases of Cholera, including 292 associated deaths, were reported from 60 localities of 11 states in Sudan. New Delhi, Feb 5 (PTI) The Railway Board has directed railway zones and units to make necessary arrangements for holding secret ballot elections in July-August to give recognition to trade unions. Registered railway employee unions contest the elections at the zonal level, and according to modalities, those unions that receive more than 30 per cent votes are recognised. The last elections were held in 2013. The polls were supposed to be held in 2019 but got delayed. The Railway Board has also asked all stakeholders to provide support to the Secret Ballot Election Committee on preparing draft modalities for the proposed polls. The board had constituted this committee on November 17 last year to seek comments of all stakeholders on the draft modalities. "Complete support is to be provided to the committee's process so that on completion of review/updation of the modalities and other related requirements by the committee, the elections for the verification/recognition of Unions may be conducted," the board said in a communication, dated February 1, to zones and units. Highlighting the urgency to hold the elections in July-August, it said annually there is a steep increase in loading in the railways in the months of February and March and summer specials are operated in very large numbers in April, May and June. "The essential safety preparations are needed to be undertaken before the onset of monsoon. General elections to the Parliament will also be held in the above period," the communication stated. Considering these, "the time required by the committee and operational requirement of the railways, the elections of the unions are to be held in July-August 2024. Railways may, accordingly, make necessary preparations for conduct of elections between July-August, 2024," it said. The railways had earlier decided to hold the secret ballot elections in 2019. However, it did not constitute any Secret Ballot Election Committee till the matter landed in the Delhi High Court. On August 3 last year, the court directed it to issue a notification for the constitution of the committee within four months. Dehradun, Feb 5 (PTI) Opposition Congress MLAs on Monday walked out of a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of Uttarakhand Assembly in protest against its decision to waive the Question Hour in the special assembly session to table a bill on the UCC. The bill on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will be presented in the House on Tuesday, followed by a debate on it. Asked about the protest by the opposition members, Speaker Ritu Khanduri said, "UCC is a going to be a very important law, not just for Uttarakhand but for the whole country. The Question Hour is important too but sometimes things are so significant that take precedence over routine procedures of the House," Khanduri said. Later in the day, a delegation led by Leader of Opposition in Uttarakhand Assembly Yashpal Arya met the governor and handed over a memorandum letter signed by all 19 Congress MLAs, including him, to register their protest and sought his intervention in the matter. Waiving the Question Hour and not taking up matters of urgent public interest is a violation of the rules of conducting House business and shows the government's total disregard for constitutional and parliamentary norms, the letter said and urged the Governor to issue necessary instructions to the government and "protect the constitution". The Congress MLAs also challenged the constitutionality of the decision of waiving the Question Hour on technical grounds. The ongoing session of the state assembly is not a special session as the previous session of the House had not been prorogued, they argued. Apart from Arya, the letter was signed by MLAs Pritam Singh , Bhuvan Kapri, Rajendra Singh Bhandari, Harish Singh, Mamata Rakesh, Furkan Ahmad, and Tilak Raj Behar, among 11 others. Asked whether the Congress members had resigned from the business advisory committee of the House, Speaker Khanduri said she had not received any such communication from them so far. Before the start of the special session on UCC on Monday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the UCC will be "for the good of all sections" and there is no need to worry as he urged members of other parties to debate the bill in the House in a positive manner. New Delhi, Feb 5 (PTI) A week after the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) razed a 600-year-old mosque in Sanjay Van in south Delhi's Mehrauli, locals have demanded that the agency rebuild another mosque at the same site. The Akhoondji mosque as well as the Behrul Uloom madrasa was demolished by the DDA on January 30 for being an "illegal structure" in Sanjay Van. The DDA has defended its action before the high court on the ground that the demolition took place pursuant to the recommendations of the Religious Committee dated January 4. The residents claimed a cemetery was also demolished during the drive. Fauzan Ahmed Siddiqui, a member of the management committee of Dargah Qutub Sahan in Mehrauli, said that nobody the area where the mosque, madrasa and cemetery were demolished has been barricaded and no one is allowed to go inside. The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to maintain status quo with respect to the land in Mehrauli where a mosque, stated to be over six centuries old, was demolished last month. The court, while listing the matter for further hearing on February 12, stated that the DDA shall maintain status quo over the site where the Akhoondji mosque was located. Regarding the recommendation from the Religious Committee, Siddiqui said the (DDA) should have gone to the court for a decision on the matter. He demanded that people be allowed to enter the cemetery area. "If someone dies today, where do we take him? There is already a lack of a cemeteries. The madrasa, graveyards and the mosque were demolished without giving any prior intimation," he said. "It is being told that a notice was received from the revenue department on January 2. The religious committee meeting was held on January 4 and later no one received any notice. They came and gave a notice one hour before the demolition and told the people present there to remove their belongings," he added. Israr Ali, general secretary of Akhoondji mosque, said the property is in the gazette of Waqf board. "The Waqf board has this property in its gazette. There were around 25 children in the madrasa who have been shifted to nearby madrasas. In 1994, the mosque came under Sanjay Van protected area which covers 738 acres of land," Ali said. Siddiqui, however, said, "If there was encroachment, it does not mean that you will raze the entire mosque. Encroachment had to be removed. There is a difference between an encroachment and a structure. We demand that the demarcation should be done along with the fencing. The cemetery should be opened and the mosque should be rebuilt at that place and given protection by the Waqf board," he said. Siddiqui added that the Akhoondji mosque was very old and renovated around 100 years ago. Nasir Ali, who is digging graves at the cemetery since 1976, alleged, "The demolition took place around 5 am. There were several orphan children who lived in the madrasa. They were made to stand outside. The officials took away the mobile phone of the Imam during the drive." The high court's order on Monday came on a plea by the managing committee of the Delhi Waqf Board which has argued that the demolition of the mosque was illegal. The waqf counsel urged the court to direct maintenance of status quo on the site. The decision to raze the mosque, DDA stated, was taken after the Religious Committee afforded an opportunity of hearing to the CEO of Delhi Waqf Board. The petitioner contended that the Religious Committee has no jurisdiction to order any demolition action. On January 31, the court asked the DDA to file its response clearly setting out the action that has been taken in respect of the property concerned as well as its basis. It also asked the DDA to state whether any prior notice was given before undertaking the demolition action. New Delhi, Feb 5 (PTI) Appalled by the alleged defacing of ballot papers in the Chandigarh mayoral polls, the Supreme Court on Monday said this is a mockery of democracy and ordered that the ballots and the video of the electoral proceedings be preserved. Taking note of a plea of an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor alleging wrongdoing in the polls, the court issued notices to the Chandigarh authorities, including the civic body. A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra expressed annoyance after watching the video of the electoral proceedings and said that, prima facie, the returning officer was defacing the ballot papers. "This is a mockery of democracy. We are appalled by what has happened. We will not allow democracy to be murdered like this," the CJI said. The bench ordered that the ballot papers and the video recordings of the proceedings be preserved. One of the AAP councillors had moved the top court challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that refused to grant any interim relief to the party seeking fresh mayoral polls in Chandigarh. The BJP on January 30 swept the Chandigarh mayoral polls against the Congress-AAP alliance. Manoj Sonkar of the BJP had defeated the AAP's Kuldeep Kumar for the mayor's post, polling 16 votes against his rival's 12. Eight votes were declared invalid. Hyderabad, Feb 5 (PTI) Telangana Chief Minister and state Congress president A Revanth Reddy on Monday urged Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi to contest from the state in the coming Lok Sabha polls. Reddy, who met Sonia Gandhi in Delhi Monday evening, brought to her notice that the Telangana Congress unit had passed a resolution urging her to contest from the state. The request to contest from the state is being made as people see her as the 'mother' who gave statehood to Telangana, he said, according to an official release here Monday night. Gandhi has responded by saying that a decision would be taken at an appropriate time, the release said. Revanth Reddy, who was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and state Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, informed her about the poll promises being implemented by his government. Out of the six poll 'guarantees' of Congress, free travel for women in state-run RTC buses and a health scheme of Rs 10 lakh for the poor are already being implemented, the CM said. He informed her that a decision has been taken to implement two other promises - supply of LPG cylinder for Rs 500 and free electricity up to 200 units - soon. He also told her that the government has decided to conduct a 'caste census' and that preparations have begun for it. Observing that the party's state unit is making efforts to win as many seats as possible (out of the total 17 seats) in the Lok Sabha elections, Revanth Reddy said preparations were being made to achieve the goal. Meanwhile, Revanth Reddy met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during his 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' at Ranchi. The CM informed Rahul Gandhi about the election promises being implemented, the release said. He appealed to Rahul Gandhi to see to it that Sonia Gandhi contests from Telangana in the LS polls. New Delhi, Feb 5 (PTI) The Opposition in the Rajya Sabha on Monday demanded a white paper on the recovery on black money and targeted the government over issues such as farmer suicide, unemployment, price rise, and increase in crimes against women. Speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, Trinamool Congress member Md Nadimul Haque said the government had promised to bring back black money stashed in tax havens abroad and demanded a white paper on it. "The Panama and Pandora Papers revealed the names of thousands of rich Indians who had parked black money in different tax havens. I demand a white paper from the government on this issue. No more empty promises. Let the people know," he said. Haque alleged that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was destroying institutions such as Parliament, Election Commission, CBI, ED, and the Reserve Bank. "Even the majestic Supreme Court has not been spared. It is now being called the subservient court. There is disturbing talk about 'bench fixing' in SC, Parliament cannot look away," he said, suggesting that cases are being assigned to preferred benches for favourable verdicts. "Why has the PM not held a single press conference in 10 years? Why has the Lok Sabha not had a deputy speaker in the last five years? Why has a single BJP MP not been suspended in the last nine years whereas 146 (opposition) MPs were suspended in the last Winter session for demanding a discussion on the security breach in Parliament," he said. Haque said the President's address did not mention about the government's oft-repeated promise of doubling farmers' income. Speaking on the motion after Haque, DMK member Kanimozhi NVN Somu raised several issues, including suicide by farmers and farm labourers. "It is very unfortunate that the incidence of suicide by farmers and farm workers is on the rise. More than 1 lakh farmers have committed suicide in the last 10 years. According to the records of National Crime Records Bureau, 30 farmers died by suicide every day in spite of tall claims of farm loans disposal by the government," she claimed. Flagging a rise in unemployment, Somu said that in 2014 the unemployment rate was 5.4 per cent and it has risen to 10.03 per cent as of today. "The unemployment rate in the 25-35 age group has touched 30 per cent. This shows 40 per cent of our youth population is unemployed. Another 30 per cent of the population are underemployed. Only 30 per cent of people are fortunate enough to get regular jobs. We should not forget that in their manifesto they (BJP) had mentioned about providing a job to every Indian," she said. Somu claimed violence and crimes against women and children are on the rise. She also raised the issue of decline in the value of rupee against dollar. AAP member Vikramjit Singh Sahney raised the issue of price rise and demanded an investigation into the decline in the number of beneficiaries in the PM Kisan Scheme. In his remarks, CPI(M) member A A Rahim, citing the constitutional mandate of secularism, said the government should not project the consecration ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram temple as an achievement. He said the president, in her address, did not use the word "unemployment- the elephant in the room". "Unemployment, under-employment and contractualisation of labour are the three major evils that are faced by the youth. (Short-term military recruitment scheme) Agnipath is a tremendous example of contractualisation of the Indian job sector. Instead of permanent appointment, the government is recruiting contract labourers in the banking sector, insurance sector and even the railways and PSUs," he charged. The Narendra Modi government "is not creating new jobs and also has no intention to fill up" vacant permanent posts, Rahim alleged. President Droupadi Murmu addressed a joint sitting of Parliament on January 31 and highlighted major achievements of the government. Participating in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, BJP MP Sushil Kumar Modi hailed the government for awarding the Bharat Ratna to BJP stalwart L K Advani, who had led the Rath Yatra for the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He said that in the third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India will pip Germany and Japan to become the third largest economy in the world. BRS MP K R Suresh Reddy said that in the 75th year of the republic, the time has come for parliamentary and legislative reforms. He suggested that the working days of Parliament should be increased as it would give more time for discussions, reflecting the diversity and views of regional parties. In some mature Parliaments the opposition decides the agenda for a day, he said. A private member's bill carries a lot of useful information, he said, adding such a draft should be taken seriously and debated. He said the government should accept whenever "something good" comes from the opposition benches without making it a prestige issue. RJD MP A D Singh expressed concern over the situation in ethnic violence-hit Manipur, and flagged China's growing influence over neighbouring countries. Singh also drew the government's attention to issues such as cybercrime and standard of education in India. BJD member Amar Patnaik, Congress MP Yajnik Amee, AIADMK MP M Thambidurai, BJD MP Sulata Deo, BJP MP S Phangnon Konyak, and Congress MP L Hanumanthaiah also participated in the discussion. A case with the potential to disrupt Donald Trumps drive to return to the White House is putting the Supreme Court uncomfortably at the center of the 2024 presidential campaign. In arguments Thursday, the justices will, for the first time, wrestle with a constitutional provision that was adopted after the Civil War to prevent former officeholders who engaged in insurrection from reclaiming power. The case is the courts most direct involvement in a presidential election since Bush v. Gore, a decision delivered a quarter-century ago that effectively delivered the 2000 election to Republican George W. Bush. It comes to a court that has been buffeted by criticism over ethics, which led the justices to adopt their first code of conduct in November, and at a time when public approval of the court is diminished, at near-record lows in surveys. The dispute stems from the push by Republican and independent voters in Colorado to kick Trump off the states Republican primary ballot because of his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden, culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Colorados highest court determined that Trump incited the riot in the nations capital and is ineligible to be president again as a result and should not be on the ballot for the states primary on March 5. A victory for the Colorado voters would amount to a declaration from the justices, who include three appointed by Trump when he was president, that he did engage in insurrection and is barred by the 14th Amendment from holding office again. That would allow states to keep him off the ballot and imperil his campaign. A definitive ruling for Trump would largely end efforts in Colorado, Maine and elsewhere to prevent his name from appearing on the ballot. The justices could opt for a less conclusive outcome, but with the knowledge that the issue could return to them, perhaps after the general election in November and in the midst of a full-blown constitutional crisis. The court has signaled it will try to act quickly, dramatically shortening the period in which it receives written briefing and holds arguments in the courtroom. Trump is separately appealing to state court a ruling by Maines Democratic secretary of state, Shenna Bellows, that he was ineligible to appear on that states ballot over his role in the Capitol attack. Both the Colorado Supreme Court and the Maine secretary of states rulings are on hold until the appeals play out. The former president is not expected to attend the Supreme Court session this coming week, though he has shown up for court proceedings in the civil lawsuits and criminal charges he is fighting. Whatever the justices decide, they are likely to see more of Trump, who is facing criminal charges related to Jan. 6 and other issues. Other election-related litigation also is possible. In 2000, in Bush v. Gore, the court and the parties were divided over whether the justices should intervene at all. The conservative-driven 5-4 decision has been heavily criticized ever since, especially given that the court cautioned against using the case as precedent when the unsigned majority opinion declared that our consideration is limited to the present circumstances. In the current case, both parties want the matter settled, and quickly. Trumps campaign declined to make anyone available for this story, but his lawyers urged the justices not to delay. The Court should put a swift and decisive end to these ballot-disqualification efforts, which threaten to disenfranchise tens of millions of Americans and which promise to unleash chaos and bedlam if other state courts and state officials follow Colorados lead and exclude the likely Republican presidential nominee from their ballots, Trumps lawyers wrote. Donald Sherman, the top lawyer at the group behind the ballot challenge, said voters and election officials need to have an answer quickly. And I think, obviously, voters have a not small interest in knowing whether the Supreme Court thinks, as every fact-finder that has reached this question, that Jan. 6 was an insurrection and that Donald Trump is an insurrectionist, Sherman said in an interview with The Associated Press. He is executive vice president and chief legal counsel at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Justice Clarence Thomas is the only sitting member of the court who was on the bench for Bush v. Gore. He was part of that majority. But three other justices joined the legal fight on Bushs side: Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. Bush eventually put Roberts on a federal appeals court and then appointed him chief justice. Bush hired Kavanaugh to important White House jobs before making him an appellate judge, too. Kavanaugh and Barrett were elevated to the Supreme Court by Trump, who also appointed Justice Neil Gorsuch. Thomas has ignored calls by some Democratic lawmakers and ethics professors to step aside from the current case. They note that his wife, Ginni Thomas, supported Trumps effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Ginni Thomas repeatedly texted White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in the weeks after that election, once referring to it as a heist, and she attended the rally that preceded the storming of the Capitol by Trump supporters. Nearly two years later, she told the congressional committee investigating the attack that she regretted sending the texts. Trump lost 60 different court challenges to his false claims that there was massive voter fraud that would have changed the results of that election. The Supreme Court ruled repeatedly against Trump and his allies in 2020 election-related lawsuits, as well as his efforts to keep documents related to Jan. 6 and his tax returns from being turned over to congressional committees. But the conservative majority Trumps appointees cemented has produced decisions that overturned the 5-decade-old constitutional right to abortion, expanded gun rights and struck down affirmative action in college admissions. The issue of whether Trump can be on the ballot is just one among several matters related to the former president or Jan. 6 that have reached the high court. The justices declined a request from special counsel Jack Smith to rule swiftly on Trumps claims that he is immune from prosecution, though the issue could be back before the court soon depending on the ruling of a Washington-based appeals court. In April, the court will hear an appeal that could upend hundreds of charges stemming from the Capitol riot, including against Trump. (AP) AMMAN, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- King Abdullah II of Jordan and President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday stressed the need to intensify efforts to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. At a meeting in Amman, King Abdullah and the UAE president stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to protect civilians, and ensure the continuous and sufficient delivery of humanitarian aid to the people in the Strip, according to a statement by the Royal Hashemite Court. Both leaders warned against the repercussions of continuing the conflict in Gaza, exacerbating the catastrophic humanitarian conditions. The two sides renewed their full support for the Palestinian people in achieving their legitimate rights, emphasizing that the only way to restore security and stability in the region is through launching a political process to reach a comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian issue based on a two-state solution. King Abdullah emphasized the importance of the international community's continued support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) to enable it to provide vital humanitarian services as mandated by the UN, given the tragic humanitarian situation in Gaza. Jordan praised the efforts of the UAE in supporting the people in Gaza, providing continuous humanitarian and medical aid, and diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire. The meeting also covered bilateral relations and opportunities to expand cooperation in all fields. A video of a guy I had never seen before and still dont know the name of was recently posted on a rather random WhatsApp group that I am on. In the video, a heimish man films himself complaining about a litvishe man who apparently didnt say Kaddish Yasom quickly enough for him. To make matters worse for our disturbed filmmaker, the Litvish man didnt even conform to the Sfard Nusach for Kaddish Hashem Yeracheim! (Sarcasm intended) Putting the stupidity and pointlessness of the video itself aside, there is something that bothered me tremendously about it. I have now seen that same video posted across multiple WhatsApp groups Im on, and in each case, the other members of the group engaged in spirited discussion over whether the man has a point or not. May I ask a question: Who cares? When did we become people who give a flying hoot about what a random persons opinion is so much so that well sit and argue ourselves senseless over a random incident, knowing full well that our own opinion about it makes no difference either? Once upon a time, to have your opinion heard and cared about by masses of people, you had to be a somebody in the first place. If you werent a rav or a known civic leader, nobody was going to pay attention to you and why should they? But now, with the advent of WhatsApp and social media platforms, literally any random person is awarded attention and oftentimes undeserved respect simply because they took a video of themselves and sent it to others. Why? This bothers me very deeply because Im worried about why we think the way that we do. Is our thinking nowadays guided by thoughtful people who earned themselves the right to be taken seriously, or are we being guided by people who are nothing more than dopes on WhatsApp? I fear the answer is the latter. NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of YWN. DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE POSTED ON YWN? SEND IT TO US FOR REVIEW. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Republican Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio had his mic cut and interview abruptly ended after he suggested that Donald Trump can defy a direct ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court. Host George Stephanopoulos questioned Vance about a previous statement he made in which he said Trump should ignore certain Supreme Court rulings. Fire everyone in the government then defy the Supreme Court? You think its OK for the president to fire the Supreme Court? Stephanopolous asked. We have a major problem here with administrators and bureaucrats in the government who dont respond to the elected branches, Vance said. Lets just give one very real-world example of this: in 2019 Donald Trump, having defeated ISIS said, We should redeploy our troops in Syria and Jordan out of the region. You had multiple members of the Defense Department bureaucracy who fought him on that. So, what happened? We have sitting ducks in the Levant, three of whom just got killed because the bureaucrats arent listening to the political branches. Thats a fundamental component of our government, George, that whoever is in charge agree or disagree with him, you have to follow the rules, he continued. If those people arent following the rules, then of course you have to fire them and of course the president has to run the government as he thinks he should. Thats the way the Constitution works, it has been thwarted too much by the way our bureaucracy has worked over the past 15 years. The Constitution also says the president must abide by legitimate Supreme Court rulings, doesnt it? Stephanopoulos pushed back. 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 that the president cant fire a general, that would be an illegitimate ruling, and the president has to have Article 2 prerogative under the Constitution to actually run the military as he sees fit, Vance said. 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 in history of the president of the United States doing just that. You made it very clear, the president can defy the Supreme Court. Thanks for your time this morning, Stephanopoulos said, cutting Vance off as the senator tried regaining order, saying No, no, no, George, but his mic was cut off. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) JOIN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS WHO ALREADY ARE ALERTED OF BREAKING NEWS LIKE THIS IN LIVE TIME: YWN WHATSAPP STATUS UPDATES: CLICK HERE to join the YWN WhatsApp Status. YWN WHATSAPP GROUPS: CLICK HERE to be added to an official YWN WhatsApp Group. MAKE SURE TO CHECK THIS PAGE FREQUENTLY AS UPDATES WILL BE PUBLISHED IN LIVE TIME THERE IS NO NEED TO REFRESH THIS PAGE AS UPDATES WILL APPEAR AUTOMATICALLY (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Nira Ronen, Hyd, 86, was murdered in her safe room in her home in Kfar Azza on October 7th together with her caretaker Anelyn Aguirre, a 32-year-old woman from the Philippines. Niras grandson, Omri Ronen, recently visited the ruins of his grandmothers home for the first time since her murder after serving in the reserves in an elite IDF unit for four months and discovered a disturbing note a Hamas terrorist wrote in his grandmothers day planner. He wrote: During my visit, we found a letter that the terrorist wrote in my grandmothers day planner that was still in her living room that tells the whole story. The note said: The Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades [Hamass military wing] passed here and defiled the nose of the Zionist occupiers. You will die and wont remain here.' Ronen noted that the terrorists goal was to harm our dignity and try to humiliate us. They wanted to murder and slaughter as many Israelis as possible, to make us reluctant to return and settle in the beautiful yishuvim of the Gaza border area. We found the day planner on a table in the living room, he told Ynet. Its a diary where she wrote all sorts of things she needed to remember. I took a picture and sent it to Arabic-speaking friends to translate for me. Their message doesnt intimidate us. My grandfather and grandmother founded the kibbutz, and this place is theirs and ours. It only teaches us who these murderers are and what our response should be. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) In a groundbreaking move, the IDF has introduced an innovative application designed to revolutionize the way medical information about injured soldiers is shared from the battlefield to hospitals. This technological advancement comes as the IDF continues its ground operations in the Gaza Strip, with the Medical Corps of the Technological and Logistics Directorate J4 playing a pivotal role in providing medical support to combat forces. Historically, the documentation of medical records for soldiers wounded in action relied on handwritten forms completed by field medics. However, the landscape of battlefield medical care has undergone a significant transformation with the implementation of this new application in November. The application, which is installed on tablets used by medical personnel in the field, allows for the digital recording of a soldiers medical condition and the initial treatment administered. This crucial data is then seamlessly transferred to hospital-bound medical teams via NFC cards, ensuring that detailed and accurate medical information accompanies the injured soldier throughout their evacuation process. This digital solution not only streamlines the transfer of vital medical data but also enhances the ability of medical teams to prioritize and treat incoming patients more effectively. By providing a comprehensive overview of each soldiers condition and the treatment they have received up to the point of hospital care, the application facilitates a smoother transition and continuity of care. The IDF has released footage demonstrating the application in action, showcasing its utilization by the Medical Corps soldiers of the Technological and Logistics Directorate J4 in combat scenarios. This innovative approach marks a significant step forward in the IDFs efforts to modernize and improve medical support for its personnel in the field. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) In a Sunday interview with NBCs Meet the Press, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday refused to dismiss the possibility of U.S. military strikes inside Iran itself. Host Kristen Welker questioned Sullivan on the potential for direct action against Iran, to which he responded, Well, sitting here today on a national news program, Im not going to get into what weve ruled in and ruled out from the point of view of military action. Welker continued to press on the possibility of strikes within Iran, with Sullivan saying, Again, Kristen, sitting here on television, it would not be wise for me to talk about what were ruling in and ruling out. The discussion also touched on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, particularly concerning the situation of hostages. Sullivan admitted the challenges in obtaining accurate information regarding hostages held by Hamas, explaining, You know, weve said from the beginning that because of the nature of how Hamas operates inside Gaza, hiding behind the civilian population, burrowing into these tunnels, that we do not and cannot have a clearer picture of exactly how many hostages are still alive and how many have tragically passed away. You know, weve said from the beginning that because of the nature of how Hamas operates inside Gaza, hiding behind the civilian population, burrowing into these tunnels, that we do not and cannot have a clearer picture of exactly how many hostages are still alive and how many have tragically passed away, he said. Weve learned over the course of this conflict that at least two American citizens passed away on Oct. 7, who we previously thought were hostages, he added. So we cannot with any clear sense say the exact number of hostages, but we know that there are many, and we know that its our job, day in, day out, to try to bring them home. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Former President Donald Trump on Sunday shared that Israel was initially set to participate in the 2020 assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Irans Quds Force, but ultimately withdrew from the operation. Soleimani, a key figure in Irans military operations, was killed in Iraq by a U.S. drone strike, marking a significant escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran. Speaking on Fox News, Trump detailed the events leading up to the strike, recounting Israels last-minute decision to pull out of the joint operation. When we took out Soleimani, you know Israel was supposed to do it with us. Two days before the take-out they said We cant do it. We cant do it. I said What? We cant do it, Trump said. Despite Israels withdrawal, Trump decided to proceed with the strike, consulting a general he described as great on the feasibility of carrying out the operation alone. Then I had a certain general, whos great, I said, So general, do we do it ourselves? He said We can, sir, its up to you. I said Well do it. Trump added that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was heavily involved in the planning process. But Israel was a part of it. You know, Bibi was a big part of it. And we had everything planned, everything. Because what [Soleimani did] was terrible. What he did to us was terrible. Killed so many of our soldiers. Killed so many people, Trump said. Trump claimed that recent attacks on U.S. forces, which resulted in the deaths of three troops, would not have occurred under his leadership. He asserted his strategy kept Iran in check, sharing an anecdote about Irans measured response to U.S. aggression during his presidency. I had Iran in check. Do you know, we hit them very hard for something that they did, and they had to hit back, they feel they have to do that and I understand that. Do you know, 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 They let us know. And we had 16 missiles that went off And we knew they werent going to hit. And now I reveal it So they aimed those missiles and they said, Please dont attack us, were not going to hit you. That was respect, we had respect. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A terrorist attempted to stab a Border Police officer early Monday afternoon near Maale Adumim. The other officers at the scene opened fire and neutralized the terrorist. A statement from Israel Police said that during a routine security operation, Border Police officers searched a suspect in the village of al-Eizariya, near Maale Adumim. During the inspection, the terrorist pulled out a knife and tried to stab the officers, who responded by opening fire and neutralizing him. BChasdei Hashem, there were no injuries to Israeli security forces. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Egypt recently issued a sharply worded message to Israel that a wave of Gazan refugees to Sinai would endanger the peace between the two countries, Israel Hayom reported on Monday. According to one source, the Egyptian message was that if even one Palestinian refugee crosses over the peace agreement will be nullified. A second source conveyed a more moderate message, stating that even if one Palestinian refugee crosses over the peace agreement will be suspended. According to the report, Egypts fears are based on a number of past statements by Israeli officials about the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza as a possible solution to the problems in the Strip. Egypt is concerned that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians will flow into Sinai and become a permanent Egyptian problem. Egypts concern about refugees is also driving its opposition to Israel taking control of the Philadelphi Corridor, which separates the Strip from Sinai. If Israel continues to prevent Gazans from returning to northern Gaza and battles take place in the Rafah area, the Gazans will be forced to flee south. This poses a major problem for Israel as a Hamas brigade with four battalions is located in Rafah and must be eliminated as part of the wars goals. In addition, Israel must maintain some control of the Egyptian-Gazan border in order to thwart smuggling operations between Sinai and Gaza. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Bank Leumi announced on Sunday that it froze the accounts of Yinon Levi, one of the four Israelis the Biden administration sanctioned for alleged violence against Palestinians in Yehudah and Shomron. One account is a personal account shared with his wife and the second is a business account shared with his brother. Bank officials fear the bank will face US sanctions as well if it continues to service Levi. Levi, who denies the US accusations, responded by saying: Biden, who publicizes tales about Israelis and is unable to deal with the Houthis who are murdering US soldiers, does not scare us. We will continue to settle the Land of Israel without fear. On Monday, it was reported that Bank Hadoar, managed by the Israel Post, a state institution, froze the accounts of David Chai Chasdai, another settler sanctioned by the US. The account is a personal one shared by his wife. Chasdai responded by saying: The fact that a government bank decides to freeze the accounts of settlers because of pressure from far-left organizations and the hostile American government is unfathomable but the fact that it is happening under a right-wing government shortly after the worst massacre in history is a national embarrassment. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi (Likud) stated: Blocking a citizens account at the Bank Hadoar due to an outrageous US order is intolerable. Such abuse of an Israeli citizen without any proper legal procedure is something that cannot be allowed. Unfortunately, as seen by the citizens of Israel, the level of service at the post office is deplorable and the Supreme Court even blocked the ministers authorities on the matter. I have forwarded the issue for a legal review and as long as I have the authority to do so, I will order the immediate reopening of the account. Channel 12 News reported that Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich is seeking to prevent Israeli banks from complying with the US sanctions. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki has called for dialogue to resolve a political dispute in Senegal. In a press statement released Sunday, Faki expressed strong encouragement for all political and social forces in Senegal to address any political disputes through civilized consultation, understanding and dialogue while strictly adhering to the principles that govern the rule of law. Faki also urged Senegalese authorities to organize transparent elections that promote peace and national harmony as soon as possible. On Saturday, Senegalese President Macky Sall announced the postponement of the presidential election, originally scheduled for Feb. 25, citing a dispute over the candidate list. The National Assembly of Senegal adopted a bill on the same day, requesting a six-month postponement of the election. The announcement was made in a message broadcast to the nation just a few hours before the start of the electoral campaign at midnight Sunday. This move followed the exclusion of several prominent opposition members from the list of candidates by the Constitutional Council last month. The decision raised concerns about the integrity of the election process and fueled growing discontent. Excluded candidates argued that the rules for candidacy were not applied fairly, a claim denied by the authorities. Twenty candidates were cleared by the Constitutional Council to compete in the polls. President Macky Sall has decided not to run for a third term. 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. The speed with which the CBI dispensed with the services of its former director general Tony Danker last year was in sharp contrast to the desultory and secretive way the employers group dealt with historic claims of alleged sexual misconduct by colleagues. Danker protested after the event that he was made the fall guy for events which took place before his stewardship began in 2020. Now he has been largely vindicated after the CBI reached an undisclosed settlement with him over a wrongful dismissal claim. The former director general apologised for personal behaviour which may have made fellow CBI employees feel very uncomfortable. But the conflation of his behaviour with past allegations of rape and sexual assault under his predecessors was unfair and damaging to Danker, a decent public servant, his family and associates. Vindicated: Ousted former CBI boss Tony Danker has been largely vindicated after the business group reached an undisclosed settlement with him over a wrongful dismissal claim Far from clearing the brush, the outcome of the Danker case focuses attention again on whether the CBI is worth saving. The choice of Rupert Soames as the next president (he will not be fully installed until June) is a lifeline. Soames is a respected executive who steered outsourcer Serco back to health through the slings and arrows which came with a mixed record in the pandemic. In the past, the CBI proved a valuable conduit between industry and government and was valued as a voice of business. Under the leadership of Dankers predecessor Carolyn Fairbairn its credibility was tarnished as a result of support for the Remain camp during and after the Brexit referendum. That, in many ways, diminished its reputation as the voice of all business and put it at odds with many in government. What has emerged in the nine months since the Guardian first shone a light on alleged sexual impropriety is that public life doesnt really need the CBI. The days when the director general could be trusted to sit down with trades union bosses in Downing Street to resolve labour disputes are long gone. Most of the stand-offs in recent times, such as those with the health unions, have been in the public sector where the CBI role is limited. Moreover, business seems capable of dealing with government and opposition without a middle person. The British Chambers of Commerce is a genuine grassroots organisation with competent central leadership. Labour was last week able to put on its own grand show for enterprise charging 1,000 a ticket for doing so. CBI surveys mainly duplicate the work of other trusted polls such as the S&P Global/CIPS purchasing managers indexes which allow for international comparisons. Rupert Soames may find the magic pill which restores the CBIs reputation and strained finances. But railways union ASLEF notwithstanding, the train already has left the station. Luxury losses Finally, the Government looks ready to take action on the tourist tax. Jeremy Hunt promises a review and the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) is springing into action. It plans an analysis of the costs and benefits of the scheme after then-chancellor Rishi Sunak abolished the ability of tourists to reclaim VAT on purchases in 2020. Since then, a campaign by this paper, supported by luxury retailers, the hospitality industry and retail venues have sought to reverse the decision. Forecasters at the CEBR estimate that Sunaks decision is costing the UK economy 11.1billion a year as visitors head to Paris and Milan instead. Fashion emporium Kurt Geiger describes the suspension of the privilege as a schoolboy error which has produced queues outside luxury goods outlets in Paris as Britain suffers. The blunder is self-evident. Dialling down Vodafone chief executive Margherita Della Valle finds herself in the vortex of deal-making as she seeks to reshape the business. Live discussion in Italy about a joint venture, a merger with Three in Britain and national security concerns about key investor Abu Dhabi have garnered all the attention. But a slowdown in the dominant German market disappointed in the third quarter. Della Vale is upbeat about prospects there citing lower broadband churn and improved fixed and mobile offers. Unfortunately for Della Valle, investors remain less than impressed. The crypto industry is doomed to repeat the mistakes that led to the collapse of FTX, a top Wall Street short seller has warned. Cryptocurrencies were plunged into crisis in 2022 after one of the biggest trading platforms FTX went bankrupt. Thousands of people lost a combined 7billion after boss Sam Bankman-Fried funnelled customer deposits into a separate company he owned. This turned out to be one of biggest ever US financial frauds and led to his conviction last year. But Marc Cohodes, former hedge fund boss, has said an even larger crisis could be brewing as regulators fail to implement protections for consumers. 'I don't think we have learned any lessons. It is worse than before,' he told the Mail. Concern: Cryptocurrencies were plunged into crisis in 2022 after one of the biggest trading platforms FTX went bankrupt 'Bitcoin is raging. Rules and regulations haven't changed.' His comments come after US regulators decided to approve so-called exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which look to make crypto trading even more accessible. The value of bitcoin has surged nearly 50 per cent in six months and is trading at around $42,900. And Cohodes said there is a reluctance on both sides of the Atlantic to examine how Bankman-Fried built the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, and stop something similar happening. 'Nobody wants to dig into how we got there with FTX. The money behind crypto and its exchanges are big and dirty. Money forces people to look the other way,' he said. Trading platform CMC Markets is slashing its global headcount in efforts to cut costs, following a strategic review. The London-listed firm told investors on Monday it will cut 200 positions, which represents 17 per cent of it its global workforce. The group said the move will save 21million a year by 2025, with around 2.5million expected to be cut this year, as the business continues 'to seek opportunities to drive efficiencies and control costs'. The London-listed firm said it is set to cut 200 positions, which represents 17 per cent of it its overall staff CMC Markets has already been driving cost savings by 'merging support functions across multiple business lines, streamlining reporting lines and automating processes', it added. The group also confirmed that trading remains in line with expectations and it is on track to deliver net operating income of 290million to 310million this year. CMC Markets soared by 12.35 per cent to 149.20p in Monday morning trading. Founded by the former Conservative Party co-treasurer, Lord Peter Cruddas, CMC benefited during the early part of the Covid-19 pandemic from a surge in amateur investors taking advantage of the heightened market volatility to make some extra cash. But online trading platforms have struggled to maintain activity levels seen during Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and during the pandemic. Nevertheless, CMC last month lifted net operating income expectations for 2024 from its previous forecast of 250million to 280million.. The firm attributed the strong quarterly performance to resilient business-to-business and institutional investor demand. Analysts at Peel Hunt said the cost savings should result in a 'significant increase to profitability'. The broker added: 'After recently upgrading earnings due to a stronger trading performance, management is taking decisive action to reduce the cost base to more appropriate levels after a number of years of investment. 'The stock is trading on just over 8x upgraded earnings, whilst yielding close to 6 per cent. We upgrade our target price from 140p to 200p based on our increased earnings estimates, and retain our buy recommendation'. Vodafone posted a slump in sales as its European business continues to falter. Total revenues at the telecoms group hit 11.4billion in the three months to December, down 2.3 per cent on the same period the previous year. Revenues in Germany its largest market crept up just 0.3 per cent to 3.3billion as price hikes continue to put off customers. They fell 1.3 per cent in Italy, where the FTSE 100 group continues to explore options to shrink its sprawling European operations, and they lost 1.1 per cent in Spain. The UK was a bright spot for the group, with revenues climbing 5.2 per cent to 1.7billion. Sales slump: Total revenues at Vodafone hit 11.4bn in the three months to December, down 2.3% on the same period the previous year Russ Mould, analyst at AJ Bell, said: In recent years Vodafone has been a business with all the alacrity of a beached whale and theres nothing in its third quarter statement to get investors particularly excited. Last week Vodafone snubbed the latest attempt by French telecoms operator Iliad to merge their Italian businesses. Vodafone chief Margherita Della Valle said yesterday the company was in active discussions in Italy but did not elaborate on what this meant for an Iliad bid. She is also pushing through a tie-up with Three UK. Vodafone agreed to merge with Three in a deal that will create the UKs largest mobile network with more than 27m customers. But the merger has come under scrutiny because of concerns that Threes Hong Kong-based parent company CK Hutchison could be granted access to sensitive national infrastructure. Vodafone said it was cooperating with regulators over the deal, as well as a national security review into the tie-up. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has agreed to settle a wrongful dismissal case brought by former boss Tony Danker. The business organisation sacked Danker as director-general last April following complaints about his behaviour. Terms of the pay-out were not disclosed but come as the latest embarrassment for the crisis-plagued organisation. Danker, 52, faced criticism for inviting younger colleagues to karaoke or breakfast meetings. In a BBC interview after his dismissal, he acknowledged making some staff feel very uncomfortable and apologised. Settlement: The Confederation of British Industry sacked former boss Tony Danker (pictured) as director-general last April following complaints about his behaviour The CBI said at the time that his behaviour fell short of that expected of his position. But Danker said he had been the fall guy as separate and much more serious claims about the organisation emerged. They included accusations of rape, sexual harassment and drug abuse of some of its staff none of them involving Danker. That wider crisis precipitated an exodus of some of the CBIs biggest corporate members, from insurance giant Aviva to retail group John Lewis, and threatened its very existence. Meanwhile, it was plunged into a war of words with Danker, who said shortly after being fired: Not only did they just throw me under the bus, they reversed the bus back over me. My reputation has been totally destroyed. At the time, he said of the claims against him: The CBI knew about all these things and never once raised them with me as a disciplinary issue, until suddenly they all became grounds for immediate dismissal. Brian McBride, then president of the organisation, said during the row that year that Dankers description of events had been selective. And McBride told the BBC that Danker was welcome to take his case to an employment tribunal or the courts if he thinks he has been mistreated. Danker hired leading employment lawyer Bruce Carr KC author of a 2014 government-commissioned review of industrial legislation to take on his case. A CBI spokesman confirmed yesterday it had settled the legal action brought against it by Danker after his dismissal. The spokesman said: The CBI board has agreed an undisclosed settlement with Mr Danker. Danker declined to comment. The announcement comes as the CBI seeks to restore its fortunes under new president Rupert Soames, a prominent City figure and former chief executive of outsourcing giant Serco. DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Nature Tanzania, a non-government organization in Tanzania that aims to support biodiversity conservation and human development, on Monday called for efforts to preserve the endangered grey-crowned cranes that are at risk of localized extinction. Noting that the birds are important tourist attractions, the organization said that they face the threat of localized extinction due to habitat loss, illegal capture for food, and wanton killing by farmers. Leonidas Momburi, Nature Tanzania project officer for the Conservation of Grey Crowned Crane, told journalists that records show grey-crowned cranes are among endangered species worldwide, including Tanzania. He said globally, grey-crowned cranes are only found in East Africa and South Africa. "According to studies, including those conducted by Nature Tanzania in the area bordering the countries of Rwanda and Uganda in the Kagera Region, Tanzania has a small number of such birds compared to neighboring countries that took early measures to protect them," Momburi said. Nature Tanzania aims to carry out the conservation project for grey-crowned cranes in the entire northwestern Tanzania, but due to limited funds, they are currently only implementing the project in Kyerwa district, he added. Momburi explained that Nature Tanzania is closely monitoring the development of the birds from their nests to determine the number of eggs laid and the hatchlings released, aiming to ascertain their total population. Members of a Chinese cultural troupe perform Chinese martial arts during a banquet hosted by the Chinese embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, Feb. 3, 2024. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua) ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan has said China remains committed to promoting bilateral relations and high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Ethiopia. Zhao made the remarks on Saturday at a banquet hosted by the Chinese embassy in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. "We will keep working with Ethiopia to push high-quality BRI cooperation to a new high," Zhao said while welcoming the guests and introducing a cultural troupe from central China's Henan Province. Noting that China and Ethiopia have upgraded their bilateral relations to an all-weather strategic partnership and Ethiopia has recently joined BRICS, the ambassador said cooperation between the two countries in trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture, communication, finance, culture, education, and other fields will continue to gain momentum. "We have worked together to implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative, and strengthened practical cooperation in the joint building of the BRI and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation," Zhao said. China remains committed to shouldering its responsibilities as a major power and always adheres to peaceful development and win-win cooperation with countries around the world, Zhao added. The cultural troupe performed a stunning show of Chinese martial arts, opera, and acrobatics to the delight of the attendees, including the Chinese community and Ethiopian government officials. The 2024 Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, will fall on Feb. 10, kicking off the Year of the Dragon. Members of a Chinese cultural troupe perform during a banquet hosted by the Chinese embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, Feb. 3, 2024. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- A bomb went off in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, leaving at least one policeman killed and two others injured, official sources said. The explosion happened when a police bomb disposal squad was defusing an improvised explosive device in Shigo Kas area of Lower Dir district in the province, the sources told Xinhua. Following the incident, police along with rescue personnel reached the area and shifted the wounded to a nearby hospital, where one person is said to be in critical condition. Security forces cordoned off the area and kicked off an investigation into the incident. No groups or individuals have claimed the blast yet. YANGON, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The opening ceremony of the Happy Chinese New Year Bazaar, an event to celebrate the Spring Festival, was held at the China Cultural Center in Yangon on Sunday. The event, organized by the Chinese embassy in Myanmar, was adorned with red lanterns, couplets and various styles of Chinese calligraphy. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai said the Happy Chinese New Year event has served as a platform for friends from China and the world to celebrate the traditional festival and share Chinese culture. Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein said Chinese traditional festivals are held periodically throughout the year in Myanmar, and Myanmar people also join to celebrate the events together. The event, which featured a Spring Festival bazaar, Myanmar traditional dance performances, dragon and lion dance performances, Wushu performances and cultural booths among other activities, attracted over 200 people. TOKYO, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The support rate for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet fell 2.8 percentage points to 24.5 percent, marking its second-lowest rating, amid a high-profile political funds scandal engulfing the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday. A total of 84.9 percent of the respondents said LDP lawmakers who failed to report income from fundraising parties should explain what they used the funds for, while 87 percent expected that the party's reform proposals drawn up in an interim report would not help the LDP restore public trust, according to the latest opinion poll. Meanwhile, the disapproval rating rose 1.4 points from the previous poll to 58.9 percent. Public support rate for Kishida's cabinet hit an all-time low in December 2023 at 22.3 percent, wavering in the 20 percent range for the past four polls, including the previous survey in January, Kyodo News reported. At the end of 2023, in the wake of the unfolding scandal where five major LDP factions were suspected of paying kickbacks to member lawmakers who sold fundraising party tickets above their quota without recording the amount as revenue in its political fund reports, over 10 senior officials or heavyweight lawmakers have stepped down from their positions in Kishida's cabinet or in the LDP. The survey results suggest Kishida is far from regaining the public's trust, as most respondents do not accept his efforts on party reforms, Kyodo News added. Some 76.5 percent said a guilt-by-association measure between lawmakers and their staffers should be introduced in the political funds control law, while 89.3 percent said it was even necessary to report expenses for political activities that are currently exempted from income and expenditure reports. The nationwide survey reached out to 495 randomly selected households with eligible voters and 2,168 mobile phone numbers, yielding responses from 428 household members and 627 mobile phone users. The parts of Ishikawa Prefecture affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake were excluded from the survey, Kyodo News noted. The saying, "a puppy is not just for Christmas", certainly rings true as Dogs Trust Ireland has reported an alarming surge in surrender requests, with 412 pleas for assistance pouring in since Christmas Day. The distressing figure comes on the heels of the charity handling 3,968 surrender requests in the previous year, marking the highest volume since its establishment in 2009. The reasons provided by owners seeking to relinquish their dogs vary, with common factors including a lack of time, accommodation issues, and unwanted behaviors. This surge in surrender requests has put immense pressure on shelters across the nation, exacerbating the issue of dog abandonment. Dogs Trust recently took in and cared for two emaciated Pitbull crossbreed puppies who were found at a bog in Donadea, Co Kildare by a shocked member of the public. Sandra Ruddell, Assistant Manager at Dogs Trust Ireland explains: "The sight of these two, defenceless little pups with their bones protruding broke my heart. We know there is very little rescue space available at the moment by the sheer volume of dogs we are being asked to take in, but we are begging people not to abandon their dogs, especially young puppies who have very little chance of survival if not discovered quickly." Corina Fitzsimons, PR & Communications Manager at Dogs Trust Ireland, expressed deep concern over the increase in dog abandonment cases, particularly involving young puppies. Fitzsimons said: "While dont know what would drive someone to abandon them in such a way, its clear that in their short lives, they hadnt received the love and care that all puppies need." Dogs Trust Ireland, having successfully found loving homes for 1,042 dogs in 2023, anticipates even greater challenges in 2024 as their resources are stretched thin. The charity is now appealing to the public for support through their 'Save the Next Dog' campaign, urging donations via www.DogsTrust.ie/Crisis. Additionally, individuals capable of fostering dogs temporarily are encouraged to visit www.DogsTrust.ie/Fostering for more information. Georgian government programme "For Building a European State" presented by Prime Ministerial candidate Irakli Kobakhidze states that Georgia will continue its efforts to promote peace, cooperation and stability in the South Caucasus, Azernews reports, citing Georgian media, Georgia will continue its efforts to promote peace, co-operation and stability in the South Caucasus, as well as maintain high dynamics of bilateral strategic relations with Turkiye, Azerbaijan and Armenia. "Efforts to promote peace, co-operation and stability in the South Caucasus will be continued. To this end, it is necessary to strengthen successful cooperation with neighbouring partner states, develop bilateral relations in all spheres," the programme says. People learn Chinese Wudang Kongfu during the "Happy Chinese New Year" Beach Carnival in Auckland, New Zealand, Feb. 4, 2024. The "Happy Chinese New Year" Beach Carnival, co-hosted by the China Cultural Centre in Auckland and the Asian Community Engagement Trust, was held at the Mission Bay Beach in Auckland on Sunday. (Xinhua/Guo Lei) People learn Chinese Wudang Kongfu during the "Happy Chinese New Year" Beach Carnival in Auckland, New Zealand, Feb. 4, 2024. The "Happy Chinese New Year" Beach Carnival, co-hosted by the China Cultural Centre in Auckland and the Asian Community Engagement Trust, was held at the Mission Bay Beach in Auckland on Sunday. (Xinhua/Guo Lei) An actor performs Peking Opera during the "Happy Chinese New Year" Beach Carnival in Auckland, New Zealand, Feb. 4, 2024. The "Happy Chinese New Year" Beach Carnival, co-hosted by the China Cultural Centre in Auckland and the Asian Community Engagement Trust, was held at the Mission Bay Beach in Auckland on Sunday. (Xinhua/Guo Lei) An actor performs Peking Opera during the "Happy Chinese New Year" Beach Carnival in Auckland, New Zealand, Feb. 4, 2024. The "Happy Chinese New Year" Beach Carnival, co-hosted by the China Cultural Centre in Auckland and the Asian Community Engagement Trust, was held at the Mission Bay Beach in Auckland on Sunday. (Xinhua/Guo Lei) TOKYO, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a heavy snow warning for all 23 wards in Tokyo on Monday evening, with weather officials warning of further disruptions to transportation networks. As a low-pressure system passed along the southern coast, snow accumulation of at least 1 cm was measured in Tokyo's central area for the first time since February 2022, the weather agency said. Snowfall is expected to peak late Monday night, but commuters may still encounter snowy and icy roads in the following day as a temperature drop is expected in the morning, it added. During the 24-hour period through 6 p.m. local time (0900 GMT) Tuesday, up to 40 cm of snow is expected in mountainous areas of the northern Kanto region, 30 cm in areas such as Hakone in Kanagawa Prefecture and Tama in western Tokyo, and 8 cm in Tokyo's 23 wards, according to the JMA. All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines canceled at least 100 flights in total, mostly leaving or arriving at Tokyo's Haneda airport Monday afternoon, with over 11,000 people being affected, Kyodo News reported. BANGKOK, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Thai agricultural exports to China, a major market for the Southeast Asian country's farm products, continued to grow in 2023, expanding 6.19 percent from a year earlier, a Thai government official said on Monday. The kingdom shipped 387.11 billion baht (about 10.82 billion U.S. dollars) worth of farm products to China last year, accounting for 41.92 percent of its total agricultural shipments, Thai trade representative Narumon Pinyosinwat said. Fruit exports were the main driver, with a value of 213.59 billion baht, up 26.14 percent from 2022. Fresh durian exports alone totaled 137.47 billion baht, up 29.65 percent year-on-year, government data showed. Thai authorities are working to further promote agricultural exports to China by opening up new markets for products such as fresh-cut durian and pineapple, Narumon said in a statement. The Ministry of Commerce is working to facilitate cross-border trade by establishing one-stop service centers for border trade and linking export-import documents through the National Single Window system, she said. She also noted that the government is committed to using market-led and innovative-driven strategies to increase the value of agricultural products and boost incomes for Thai farmers. This week we learned more about the scope of rising taxes in Jackson County. Even better . . . METRO TAX FIGHTERS BREAK DOWN MORE DEETS ABOUT JACKSON COUNTY TAXES RISING AT HISTORIC LEVELS!!! In the past, Preston Smith has told us it's okay to quote him . . . Why? Because the info he shares is ALWAYS correct, fact-checked and valuable to the entire community. Accordingly . . . A helps share perspective on how much locals are REALLY paying in a recent quote along with more helpful info . . . "Regarding a State Auditor report about Jackson County having a 24.35% increase in taxes . . . "That takes into account ALL taxes. If you break out what the increase has been only for real estate taxes, the increase is more than 69% since Gail McCann Beatty became the assessor in 2018. No other county in the state has had to endure what we have under this regime. Attached is a spreadsheet that I put together based on the annual reports from the State Tax Commission." Check the chart via www.TonysKansasCity.com screencap . . . Click on the image or this link for a bigger, better view . . . Developing . . . The Kansas City Star offers sketchy criticism to start the week. Perspective . . . There are many problems with the criminal justice system in Kansas City proper . . . The number of convicts we DON'T let back out on the street IS NOT one of them. Here's the counterpoint . . . "The Jackson County Prosecutors Office operates a conviction integrity unit . . . But local attorneys and advocates say the unit, or CIU, has failed to take seriously its mission to correct wrongs in the criminal justice system. The unit does not follow several recommendations made by national experts: It does not have written policies; attorneys who work in the CIU are primarily tasked with prosecutorial duties; and the unit has a high barrier for accepting a case." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . File this one under . . . CAPITALISM ISN'T WORKING FOR MOST AMERICANS!!! Check more recent & relevant research on rainy day funds: New study exposes finances of Americans: Most can't handle a $1,000 emergency expense About the "robust" American economy . . . Here's a peek at what's powering good times for many Americans: Americans Rack Up $19 Billion in Credit Card Debt in One Month Tragically . . . Early death is the only way to "beat" the credit card companies. Meanwhile . . . BEST & BRIGHTEST TKC READERS send us this peek at the good life for lucky locals who attend the Super Bowl in high style . . . And all of this reminds us that less talented people amongst the elite might not deserve the travel privileges of Kansas City's favorite award-winning diva . . . Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Taylor Swift's Super Bowl private jet parking likely secured despite concerns over pop star's travel plans Taylor Swift and her team likely made private jet accommodations long before the Kansas City Chiefs secured a spot in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, a private aviation expert told Fox News Digital. Heading to Super Bowl in private jet? Only a small number of landing slots available Taylor Swift likely has her spot secured but others looking to land at Southern Nevada airports need to make their plans quickly, according to officials. Why Taylor Swift's globe-trotting in private jets is getting scrutinized If Swift attends the Super Bowl, she will be traveling from Tokyo, where she is on tour. That will mean more than 30,500 kilometers by private jet in just under Developing . . . If you are planning a trip to France, Colmar must be on your list. This town in the Alsace region offers an experience like no other. You might wonder what makes Colmar so special. Well, let me guide you through this charming place, where every street corner tells a story. Colmar is a town where history and culture meet in a colorful display. The streets are lined with half-timbered houses, canals run through the town like veins, and the air is filled with the scent of fresh pastries and local wines. What sets Colmar apart is its ability to preserve its heritage while offering modern comforts and attractions. If you are a lover of history, a foodie, or just someone who appreciates beautiful places, Colmar has something for you. The town is small enough to explore on foot, yet it is packed with attractions that will keep you busy and delighted. With this article, here are the seven things you must do when you are in this French town. 1. A Walk Through Time in the Old Town Start your journey in the heart of Colmar by exploring the Old Town. Here, history comes alive around every corner. The cobblestone streets and colorful half-timbered houses create a scene straight out of a storybook. Make sure to visit the Maison des Tetes and the Pfister House, both renowned for their historical significance. 2. The Artistic Haven of Unterlinden Museum For art enthusiasts, the Unterlinden Museum is a must-visit. It boasts a remarkable collection ranging from medieval masterpieces to modern art, with the Isenheim Altarpiece being the star attraction. The museum, set in an old convent, is a piece of history in itself. 3. Little Venice: A Canal Ride Like No Other Experience Colmar's unique charm with a boat ride in Little Venice. This picturesque area, with its beautiful canals and flower-adorned houses, offers a serene and unforgettable view of the town. Related Article: Affordable Travel in France: How to Save Money and Enjoy 4. A Taste of Alsace in Colmar Indulge in the rich flavors of Alsatian cuisine in Colmar. Try local specialties such as choucroute, tarte flambee, and baeckeoffe, complemented by a glass of exquisite Riesling or Gewurztraminer wine. 5. Bartholdi Museum: A Tribute to a Legendary Sculptor Discover the legacy of Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, the designer of the Statue of Liberty, at the Bartholdi Museum. The museum presents an extensive collection of his sculptures and designs, offering insight into his creative process. 6. Colmar's Enchanting Christmas Market If you visit Colmar during the holiday season, the Christmas market is a wonderland you cannot miss. Renowned as one of France's most magical markets, it's a festive paradise with unique gifts, seasonal treats, and a warm, joyous atmosphere. 7. Exploring the Villages Around Colmar Venture out to the quaint villages surrounding Colmar, such as Eguisheim, Riquewihr, and Kaysersberg. Each offers its own charm, with stunning vineyards, historic architecture, and lovely streets. These day trips will enhance your experience of the beautiful Alsace region. Read Also: 5 Important Things to Know When Traveling Through France and Belgium Booking.com, a global leader in travel accommodations, recently launched a new advertising campaign featuring well-known actress Tina Fey. The campaign, which will air during the "big game" on Feb. 11, encourages travelers to explore different facets of their personalities through various travel destinations. Booking.com Launches New Ad Campaign with Tina Fey The campaign's theme is about choosing who you want to be on vacation. It highlights the vast range of accommodations available on Booking.com, from hotels and vacation rentals to unique properties. According to Breaking News Travel, the ads feature Tina Fey in various roles, such as a sasquatch and an influencer, to demonstrate the different experiences available through Booking.com. Additionally, the campaign includes appearances by actors Glenn Close, Jane Krakowski, and Jack McBrayer. Developed by Zulu Alpha Kilo and managed by Mindshare for media strategy, the campaign consists of several commercials, including a 30-second and a 15-second version, and an extended 90-second version of the "big game" ad. These commercials will be aired on TV, including prime time slots, and will also be available on online and social channels. Arjan Dijk, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Booking.com, states that the campaign aims to make experiencing the world easier for everyone. He mentions that the creative use of Tina Fey and other actors helps convey the message in a fun and optimistic way. This campaign comes at a time when 64% of travelers feel more empowered while on vacation, often embracing a travel alter-ego. Booking.com offers a wide variety of places to stay, including city hotels, beach houses, cabins, treehouses, apartments, and tiny homes, allowing travelers to experience new personas with each trip. Related Article: American Airlines Cuts Workforce, Focuses on Enhanced Customer Experience Booking.com Scams Surge by 580% in Australia Scams involving Booking.com have seen a dramatic increase in Australia, with reports soaring by over 580% last year. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) noted that 363 scam cases mentioning Booking.com were reported in 2023, a significant jump from just 53 cases in the previous year. These scams led to total losses exceeding $337,000, as per The Guardian. According to a spokesperson from Booking.com, some of their accommodation partners received phishing emails aimed at hijacking their computer systems. In some instances, this allowed scammers to access the partners' Booking.com accounts and impersonate them to communicate with guests. The spokesperson emphasized that this was a limited issue and did not reflect a breach in Booking.com's main systems. The ACCC advises users of Booking.com to independently verify any suspicious emails or messages that ask for personal or financial information. Real Booking.com staff will never ask for account passwords or credit card details over the phone. Users should also directly contact hotels to confirm details rather than relying on information provided in emails or texts. For added security, the ACCC recommends using the Booking.com app for account access and enabling two-factor authentication. This surge in scams is part of a larger trend in Australia, where a record $3.1 billion was lost to scams in 2022. The Consumer Action Law Centre has expressed concern over the increasing sophistication of these scams, making them harder for consumers to identify and avoid. Read Also: Nhow London Unveils Romantic Valentine's Packages for Couples Seeking a Stylish Getaway LOS ANGELES, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for several counties in Southern California on Sunday as a series of winter storms began impacting much of the state with high winds, damaging rain and heavy snowfall. The proclamation covers eight counties -- Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The emergency proclamation includes provisions authorizing a California National Guard response if tasked, facilitating unemployment benefits for impacted residents, and making it easier for out-of-state contractors and utilities to repair storm damage, according to Newsom's office. "California is ready with a record number of emergency assets on the ground to respond to the impacts of this storm," Newsom said in a release. More than 790,000 customers in California are experiencing power outages as of Sunday night, according to PowerOutages.us. The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) issued a rare hurricane-force wind warning for the Central Coast. "Additional areas of heavy rainfall are expected in the Central and Northern CA Coastal Ranges and the Central Valley going through the evening and into the overnight hours," said NWS. A flash flood warning is in effect for parts of the Southern and Central coast, including areas in Los Angeles, where officials warned of one of the "most dramatic weather days in recent memory." New Cruises & Tours Revealed as Sun Tours enters its 46th year Traveling the World Together | Spring Events Announced: Sail Away Showcase on February 22nd and Single Traveler Social on March 16th (TRAVPR.COM) UNITED STATES - February 2nd, 2024 - Albuquerque, NM February 2, 2024 SUN TOURS, New Mexico's oldest and largest tour operator, today proudly announced the release of its eagerly awaited 2024 catalog, showcasing a myriad of cruises and tours to extraordinary travel destinations across the globe. The catalog will be sent to customers via mail and can be downloaded/viewed at the company's newly redesigned and updated website, SunToursUS.com. Established in 1978, Sun Tours delivers unparalleled quality and value in sightseeing tours, growing to become a leading name in the travel industry in New Mexico and the Southwest. The company's dedication to excellence, attention to detail, and a philosophy centered on treating clients with respect and kindness have earned Sun Tours accolades, including the Albuquerque Journals Readers' Choice for best Travel Agency 2023 and 2023 Best of the City in Albuquerque the Magazine. Sun Tours offers cruises, tours, and travel to over 100 destinations annually, providing worry-free comfort and immersive experiences for travelers. The 2024 catalog features meticulously planned small group tours focusing on culturally rich, historical, and geological wonders. Some of the highlighted tours include: A delightful journey to Washington DC in March Traversing Scotland via some of the United Kingdoms most spectacular rail routes Cruising the treasures of coastal Spain Alaska Inside Passage cruise through stunning landscapes Touring the southern jewels of Charleston and Savannah Eric Rosenberg, Owner and CEO of Sun Tours, expressed his enthusiasm for the catalog release, saying, "For 46 years, we have been traveling the world with New Mexicans, providing our guests with the best, most immersive, and culturally enriching experiences while traveling in worry-free comfort, and the 2024-2025 slate of cruises and tours is our best yet! In addition to the new catalog launch, Sun Tours is excited to announce our upcoming Spring events. On Thursday February 22, join us for our Sail Away Showcase event highlighting the amazing cruises available through 2025. On Friday March 16, we host our annual Single Traveler Social where we invite all to come meet new friends who are interested in traveling together. Both events are free of charge, run from 2 to 4 pm, and will be held at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque. There will be refreshments provided as well as giveaways every half hour. For more information about Sun Tours and the exciting travel opportunities available, visit the website at SunToursUS.com or contact the company directly at (505) 889-8888. About SUN TOURS SUN TOURS was founded in Albuquerque in 1978 with a vision of sightseeing tours of excellent quality and great valuetours on which people are treated with respect and kindness. Our growth into New Mexicos largest tour operator is the realization of that vision. This success is rooted in taking care of the details, earning our clients trust, and a commitment to excellence. The Albuquerque Journals Readers' Choice for best Travel Agency 2023 as well as 2023 Best of the City in Albuquerque the Magazine, SUN TOURS offers the world in worry-free comfort, with our travelers in good hands from departure to return. Offering over 100 destinations yearly, SUN TOURS delivers small group touring at its best, with 5-star rated tours focusing on well-researched and planned destinations chosen for their unforgettable cultural, historical and geological experiences. ### HOUSTON, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, flanked by 13 other fellow GOP governors in the border town of Eagle Pass, vowed on Sunday that he will expand barriers along Rio Grande bordering the United States and Mexico amid his standoff with the federal government. "As we speak right now, the Texas National Guard is undertaking operations to expand this," Abbott said at a news conference at Shelby Park, a municipal park in Eagle Pass which has recently become a focal point in the national drama over immigration as partisan fights are unfolding in the U.S. election year. "We're not going to contain ourselves just to this park," the governor said. He didn't reveal further details. Instead, the governor repeatedly slammed the Biden administration over recorded illegal border crossings, which he described as an "invasion," claiming the state has the right to self-defense because President Joe Biden has failed to fulfill his duty to secure the U.S. border. "As opposed to detaining illegal immigrants, Biden has let them all loose, with no ability to accurately determine their whereabouts," Abbott said. "We've seen the catastrophic consequences of Joe Biden's open border policy." "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," he said. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said at the news conference that they would continue to deploy National Guard troops to the border to support Abbott, local media reported. But from the viewpoint of Texan Democrats, the Republican governors' gathering is another political show. "This is a campaign prop. This is a photo op," state lawmaker Trey Martinez Fischer, a Democrat from San Antonio, said in a video posted on social media. "We know you're there for gamesmanship. We know you're not there to solve the problem. We know you don't want to solve the problem," the lawmaker said. "Quit wasting our tax dollars on political propaganda," said Eagle Pass resident Juanita V. Martinez, chief of Maverick County Democratic Party. "Abbott doesn't care about anything but boosting his Republican political agenda." The Sunday event came one day after a convoy of protesters from the East Coast, a modest crowd waving "Trump 2024" flags according to The New York Times, held a rally in a neighborhood about 20 miles (32 km) north of Eagle Pass, vowing to "take our border back." The Texas National Guard seized Shelby Park in January and restricted federal access under Abbott's order. In response to the Supreme Court order that Texas cannot block Border Patrol agents from cutting wire to reach the river and rescue migrants in distress, Abbott asked state troops to install more razor wires and barriers along the border river. The Texan governor thus successfully made national headlines, and his feud with the Biden administration is heating up over the state's right to border control. Former President Donald Trump, a leading Republican presidential candidate in 2024, has voiced his support for Abbott. "It's primarily a political stunt by Republicans aimed at keeping immigration and border enforcement in the news," said Professor Jon Taylor, chair of the Department of Political Science and Geography with the University of Texas at San Antonio. "They clearly have decided that immigration is their number one issue for the 2024 elections," the professor said in an interview with Xinhua. "These immigrants ...have the right to come because they're looking for a better life," Jesus Casas, who has lived in Eagle Pass for almost 40 years, told Xinhua. "The problem here is that somehow these immigrants, by coming in a very unorganized way, cause problems at the business level here, and also with the residents." "We need to find some common ground where everybody can help each other," Casas said. CHICAGO, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Dragon dances and drum beating attracted flocks of people to a square in Chinatown on the south side of Chicago on Sunday, kicking off Chinese New Year celebrations for the Year of the Dragon. Chinese Consul General in Chicago Zhao Jian, representatives of Illinois senators and congressmen, representative of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Chicago alderwomen, and Chinese community leaders gave their good wishes for a healthy and prosperous new year. The main streets of Chicago Chinatown are decorated with hundreds of red lanterns, with poles along the streets hanging Chinese knots. Four dragon statues of different colors crouch in the square where the lighting ceremony is held. In the coming two weeks, events including concerts, Chinese New Year story-telling, DIY dragon, dragon exhibition, dumpling making, performances, and parades will be held to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10. Citywide, the Field Museum and Navy Pier are hosting dance and music performances, as well as Chinese calligraphy demos to usher in the Year of the Dragon. Fashion outlets in Chicago will host a kick-off event on Feb. 10 to ring in the Chinese New Year, and shoppers will be able to enjoy Chinese cultural games and activities, along with special performances featuring Chinese dance, Kung Fu, Chinese yo-yo and a children's choir. Also, special Lunar New Year red envelopes with free Savings Pass will be handed out by participating retailers. Despite growing sales by 40% over the last five years -- further locking in its status as the world's largest spirits company -- Diageo (NYSE: DEO) has seen its share price dip slightly over the same time. Thanks to this divergence between the company's declining share price and its steady business growth, investors may have an opportunity to buy the adult beverage juggernaut at a deep discount. Diageo stock trades at a valuation it hasn't seen since 2012 (even including the crash in March 2020). Here's why now may be the time to invest in Diageo and its 2.7% dividend yield. Diageo is building upon its leadership position Diageo has a 4.7% share of the total beverage alcohol (TBA) market, and is roughly 40% bigger than its next largest peer. It has the No. 1 position internationally in whiskey, scotch, tequila, rum, vodka, and gin. It boasts a portfolio of over 200 beverage brands, including famous global names include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, Baileys, Captain Morgan, and Tanqueray. Despite already maintaining a leadership position in the nearly $1 trillion industry, the company's growth story is far from over. Aiming to grow to 6% of the market by 2030, management expects the three following growth levers to propel Diageo's stock to new highs: Growing middle class: The World Bank expects over 470 million people to join the middle class globally by 2032. This burgeoning category is crucial to Diageo's long-term success, creating a pipeline of potential customers with disposable income to use on the company's premium products. Higher spirits penetration rate: Over the past five years, the overall alcohol market has grown by 4% annually but has been outpaced by spirits growth of 6%. This outsize performance extends a decades-long shift that saw spirits' share of the market increase from 29% in 2000 to 42% in 2022, overtaking beer's top spot. With the vast majority of Diageo's portfolio focused on spirits -- outside of a premium beer offering in Guinness and beer sales in Africa -- the company is well-positioned to thrive from this shift. Premiumization of spirits: Thanks partly to the world's steadily growing middle class, many consumers choose to "drink better, not more," as Diageo puts it. With industry experts expecting premium spirits to grow between 8% and 10% annually through 2030 -- compared to just 3% to 4% for the total alcohol market -- Diageo's focus on the higher-end side of things should help it outperform. Generating 63% of its sales from premium and super premium spirits, a figure that has grown from 56% in 2019, the company will undoubtedly welcome this premiumization trend. Story continues Diageo is quickly shifting its portfolio to capitalize on the growth levers listed above, including adding 11 net new super premium and premium brands through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) while disposing of 49 standard and value labels. Top-tier profitability Recording a return on invested capital (ROIC) of 13%, Diageo and its Jack Daniels-making peer, Brown-Forman, are the only spirits-focused companies that consistently generate value for shareholders when putting their debt and equity to use. DEO Return on Invested Capital Chart However, while Brown-Forman matches Diageo on this figure, it heavily relies on the Jack Daniels brand, whereas its market-leading peer boasts a more well-rounded portfolio. In addition to being tied for the highest ROIC among its peers, Diageo maintains the best net profit margin of the group at 20%. Incredibly enough, this impressive margin is 5 percentage points below its pre-pandemic peak, leaving further room for improvement as management hones in on $3.5 billion in cost improvements it wants to make by 2027. These potential cost improvements, paired with the company's focus on premium (higher-margin) spirits, could be the one-two punch that brings Diageo's net profit margin back to all-time highs. A once-in-a-decade valuation Best yet for investors, despite the company's leadership position, its intriguing growth trends, and its top-tier profitability, Diageo appears to be trading at a once-in-a-decade valuation. DEO PS Ratio Chart At its lowest price-to-sales (P/S) ratio since 2012, the company looks to be discounted, with its share price a full one-third lower than its all-time highs. And with its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 18, Diageo is near its decade-long low of 16 -- although its net income margin has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. Thanks to this cheap valuation, the premiumization of the company's portfolio, and a healthy 2.7% dividend that management traditionally funds with 50% of its net income, Diageo is (quite literally) a premium business selling at a tremendous price. Should you invest $1,000 in Diageo Plc right now? Before you buy stock in Diageo Plc, 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 Diageo Plc wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of January 29, 2024 Josh Kohn-Lindquist has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Constellation Brands. The Motley Fool recommends Diageo Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Magnificent Dividend Stock That's Down 25% and Trading at a Once-in-a-Decade Valuation was originally published by The Motley Fool In a groundbreaking announcement, Temple University unveiled the Temple Promise program, a visionary initiative aimed at covering tuition and fees for incoming full-time students from Philadelphia with a family income of $65,000 or less. This program, scheduled to take effect for the upcoming fall's incoming class, is set to be a transformative force not only for the university but also for the city it calls home. President Richard Englert, expressing confidence in the initiative, declared that the Temple Promise program would be "transformational for both the university and the city." Aligning with State Efforts for Affordability The announcement comes in the wake of an ambitious reorganization and affordability plan put forth by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. This broader state plan seeks to cap tuition for low- and middle-income students at Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) campuses at an unprecedented $1,000 per semester, a substantial reduction from the typical costs of $7,000 or more. While Temple University, operating independently of PASSHE as a public "state-related" institution, is not directly included in Shapiro's plan, the university has expressed its commitment to reinforcing the state's goals through its Temple Promise program. READ ALSO: CSU Board Of Trustees Expands Grant Offerings To Tackle Student Living Costs Addressing the Affordability Crisis in Pennsylvania Public Colleges Pennsylvania's public colleges have been grappling with affordability challenges in recent years. In the face of insufficient funding from the state Legislature, consistently falling below the national average, and heightened competition for a shrinking pool of applicants, public colleges find themselves navigating a precarious financial landscape. Temple University's proactive step with the Temple Promise program not only sets a commendable precedent but also directly addresses the larger issue of the affordability crisis facing higher education institutions across the state. A Transformative Initiative The Temple Promise program represents a bold move by Temple University to address the financial barriers that often deter prospective students from pursuing higher education. To qualify for this groundbreaking program, students must be legal residents of Philadelphia County and be working towards their first bachelor's degree at Temple. By focusing on students with family incomes of $65,000 or less, Temple is actively working towards creating a more inclusive and diverse academic community. President Richard Englert's emphasis on the transformational impact of the program underscores Temple University's commitment to making education accessible to all, irrespective of economic backgrounds. By providing financial support to students who might otherwise be unable to afford a college education, Temple is not only investing in individual futures but also contributing to the socioeconomic development of the city and the state at large. Aligning with State Efforts for Affordability While Temple University operates independently of Governor Shapiro's plan for PASSHE campuses, the alignment of the Temple Promise program with the broader state initiative is noteworthy. The collaborative effort between the state government and an independent institution sends a powerful message, emphasizing the collective responsibility of stakeholders in ensuring access to quality education. Governor Shapiro's plan, focused on capping tuition for low- and middle-income students at PASSHE campuses, complements Temple's efforts to make education more affordable. The state's commitment to providing an affordable education for its residents, coupled with Temple's dedication to reinforcing these goals, showcases a united front in addressing the pressing issue of college affordability. This collaborative approach sets a positive precedent for other institutions to consider innovative measures to enhance accessibility. Addressing the Affordability Crisis in Pennsylvania Public Colleges As public colleges in Pennsylvania grapple with financial challenges, Temple University's Temple Promise program serves as a beacon of hope. The financial strain on public colleges, resulting from inadequate funding and increased competition for applicants, has created an affordability crisis. Temple's proactive stance to make education accessible not only sets an example for other institutions but also contributes to reshaping the higher education landscape in the state. The Temple Promise program holds the promise of transforming lives and empowering communities. By taking proactive measures to alleviate the financial burden on students, Temple University is not only investing in the future of its students but also contributing to the socioeconomic development of the city and the state at large. As the Temple Promise program takes effect in the upcoming fall, it stands as a testament to Temple University's commitment to addressing the urgent need for affordable higher education in Pennsylvania. RELATED ARTICLE: University Of Virginia To Waive Tuition Fees For Low-Income State Residents Florida International University (FIU) has decided to terminate several partnerships with Chinese universities to adhere to a state law restricting public institutions' ties with "countries of concern." This move impacts various programs, including a dual-degree Spanish language program, engineering exchanges, and a prominent hospitality initiative. Political Scrutiny and Financial Gifts FIU's decision follows heightened scrutiny by Florida's Board of Governors, prompted by millions of dollars in gifts from Chinese institutions. A former Republican representative, Jose Oliva, raised concerns over the $3.2 million received in the 2021-22 academic year. FIU Graduate School Dean Andrew Gil explained that the funds were linked to educational programs in China, and the university was actively working on terminating these programs. The closures align with regulatory changes by the Florida Board of Governors and a law intensifying oversight of university partnerships and exchanges with specific countries, signed in 2021 and expanded in the subsequent year. FIU's foreign gift investigation revealed the university received the most gifts among state institutions, amounting to $27 million, with a focus on collaborative programs and exchange initiatives. READ ALSO: University Of Montana Faces Backlash Over China Study Abroad Program Compliance with State Law FIU's decision to end collaborations with Chinese universities is rooted in its commitment to comply with a state law aimed at regulating public institutions' associations with "countries of concern." The termination affects various programs, notably a dual-degree Spanish language program, engineering exchanges with seven Chinese institutions, and a thriving dual-degree hospitality program run in partnership with the Tianjin University of Commerce. The university's actions come in response to heightened scrutiny from Florida's Board of Governors, a politically appointed body overseeing public higher education institutions in the state. The scrutiny was prompted by substantial financial gifts from Chinese institutions, particularly the $3.2 million received by FIU during the 2021-22 academic year. At a board meeting in June, concerns were raised, leading to discussions with FIU's Graduate School Dean Andrew Gil, who explained that steps were being taken to terminate programs associated with these funds. The closures of these programs are part of a broader trend, reflecting changes in state regulations and laws governing international partnerships. The Florida Board of Governors revised its regulations for certain programs in the spring of 2023, contributing to the closure of FIU's hospitality program in China and two smaller initiatives. Additionally, a law signed in 2021 and expanded in the subsequent year heightened oversight, affecting joint ventures and hiring. The move to comply with the new law led FIU to pause the recruitment of researchers from specified countries in December, aligning with actions taken by other public universities in the state. This broader shift indicates a growing trend of increased scrutiny and regulatory control over international collaborations, particularly with countries like China. Unintended Consequences on Internationalization While the decision to end partnerships aligns with state regulations, critics argue that the current environment reflects a broader trend of ideological concerns overshadowing educational and economic considerations. William Brustein, an international education administrator, likens the situation to the McCarthy era, where political considerations in the Cold War era took precedence over educational opportunities. The closure of FIU's hospitality program in Tianjin, a significant and successful initiative, has raised eyebrows. Established in 2006, the program has been a cornerstone of Sino-American university partnerships, contributing to educational and cultural exchange. The abrupt termination of such programs, even those seemingly benign in nature, raises questions about the balance between political considerations and the potential loss of educational and economic opportunities. FIU's decision to end partnerships with Chinese universities reflects a broader trend of increasing scrutiny and regulatory control over international collaborations. While compliance with state laws and regulations is essential, the unintended consequences on educational and cultural exchange highlight the challenges faced by institutions in navigating the complex landscape of international partnerships. As geopolitical tensions continue, it remains to be seen how these decisions will impact the future of educational collaborations and the broader landscape of internationalization in higher education. RELATED ARTICLE: US Universities Face Growing Security Scrutiny Amidst Concerns Of Overreach In a significant move to strengthen cultural ties and broaden academic opportunities, French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled the Classes Internationales (International Classes) program. This initiative, announced during Macron's state visit to India as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, offers a unique proposition for Indian high school graduates: a year in France dedicated to learning the French language before embarking on their chosen degree programs. Bridging Educational Frontiers The Classes Internationales program aims to provide India's brightest students with access to the diverse educational offerings in France, effectively breaking away from the traditional limitation of English-taught programs. The strategic announcement was a focal point in the joint statement released by Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi following their meeting on January 26. Both leaders expressed their commitment to supporting the establishment of international classes, enabling Indian students to undergo French language training and academic preparation in esteemed French universities for one academic year, starting September 2024. The Classes Internationales program serves as a bridge between Indian students and the rich educational landscape of France. Regardless of their proficiency in the French language, Indian students are now offered the opportunity to enroll in undergraduate programs at French higher education institutions. This follows the successful completion of a foundational year of language training, whether they are already familiar with the French language or absolute beginners. READ ALSO: New Reports Show Rapid Growth Of International Students In US Macron's Commitment to Indian Students Emphasizing France's commitment to providing more opportunities for Indian students, Macron, during his visit to Amber Fort, interacted with Indian students from Alliance Francaise de Jaipur, the French departments of Delhi University, and Jawaharlal Nehru University. He also engaged with alumni who had returned from France after completing their studies. Macron proudly declared that India is now the largest beneficiary of French academic scholarships, highlighting his commitment to opening up more avenues for Indian students. "We want to welcome 30,000 Indian students to France by 2030," Macron expressed, underlining his enthusiasm for achieving this ambitious goal. Key Features of Classes Internationales The Classes Internationales program is distinguished by its inclusivity, welcoming Indian students regardless of their current proficiency in French. The sole prerequisite for participation remains academic excellence. The program offers a diverse range of educational choices, granting access to renowned French higher education institutions spanning various fields, including universities, grandes ecoles, engineering, management, sciences, humanities, arts, and other specialized schools. Participants in the program will experience immersion in French culture and language. The French language classes are tailored to the chosen field of study, complemented by preparatory courses. Exceptional students may receive scholarships from the French embassy to support their higher education endeavors in France. Applications for the Classes Internationales program are open until March 31, 2024, and can be submitted through this link: www.classesinternationales.org](www.classesinternationales.org. The launch of Classes Internationales signifies a remarkable step toward fostering educational collaboration between France and India. By providing a foundation in the French language and opening doors to diverse academic opportunities, this program paves the way for an enriched learning experience for Indian students in France. It not only underscores the commitment of both nations to cultural exchange but also sets the stage for a new era of educational partnerships, reinforcing the longstanding ties between France and India. The initiative aligns with the broader vision of promoting international education and creating a more interconnected global learning environment. As the program takes flight, it is poised to contribute significantly to the educational journey of Indian students and strengthen the bonds between the two nations. RELATED ARTICLE: Scholarships To Study In The USA For Indian Students Buyers searching for an unspoiled, million-dollar property to call home may find a solution in the Shadow Creek residential community of northwest Clive. Priced at $1,038,000 and located at 17697 Townsend Drive, a five-bedroom, four-bath property is currently listed by Joey Plummer of Iowa Realty. Completed in November 2023, the 2,951-square-foot space fills 1.5 stories with a lower level large enough to accommodate two bedrooms, a full bath, second fireplace, an exercise room, and a wet bar primed for entertaining. For just over $1 million, live in this new walkout home with five bedrooms in Shadow Creek in Clive. A two-story stone fireplace anchors the living room. Designed in a clean, contemporary style, both inside and out, the homes ground floor family room is centered around a two-story stone fireplace and sits a few steps from the open plan kitchen, walk-in pantry, and dining room seating around a sink-equipped island. For just over $1 million, live in this new walkout home with five bedrooms and a custom iron open staircase in Shadow Creek in Clive. Built with custom railings created by Des Moines Artistic Iron Works company, the staircase leads to the upper-level bedrooms upgraded with their own walk-in closets. The primary bathroom is furnished with an oversized tile shower, plus dual vanities, and more custom shelving. The living room and basement both look out onto a covered deck and a wooded area that provides a shield of privacy and is not scheduled for further development. A covered deck and a wooded area provide a shield of privacy. The backyard has lots of trees and backs onto a newer home that is on 20 acres with ponds and an outbuilding, so it feels like you are in the country, Plummer said. Other assets include a designated laundry area with its own sink, a large home office space, a mudroom with convenient lockers, and an attached three-car garage. Located between Alices Road and 10th Street, the Shadow Creek development is a short drive to Hickman Road and easy access throughout the region. Plummer also notes the residence secures entry to the well-regarded Waukee school district. Listed at just above the $1 million mark, statistics provided by the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors reveal 36 homes priced between $1 million and $1.1. million sold across the region in 2023, a slight dip from 38 houses sold within the same price range the year before. Story continues Comparable in price to other new residences in the immediate vicinity, Plummer is quick to praise the the growing neighborhood and overall design features of the property. This is a beautiful home, she said. The home is listed at $1,038,000 by Joey Plummer of Iowa Realty Mills Crossing. Contact Plummer at 515-453-4300 for more information and a private showing. More on this home For just over $1 million, live in this new walkout home with five bedrooms in Shadow Creek in Clive. Where: 17697 Townsend Drive, Clive Asking price: $1,038,000 Year built: 2023 Square footage: 2,951 square feet Lot size: 0.33 acres Richard Lane is a freelance writer for the Des Moines Register. If you have a home we should feature, reach out to Susan Stapleton at sstapleton@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: See what $1 million gets for a home in Clive's Shadow Creek Meet Masood Karimipour, UNODC Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Continuing its commitment to support the rule of law, security, and justice in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has appointed Masood Karimipour as its Regional Representative. Karimipour took the helm at the UNODC Regional Office for Southeast Asia and the Pacific last week in Bangkok, Thailand. Karimipour will lead United Nations diplomatic engagements, policy dialogue, strategic partnerships, and operations in justice and security matters under UNODC mandates across a vast region stretching from Myanmar to the Pacific states, covering 34 countries that are home to more than 700 million people. Karimipour will lead a 300-person strong team of UNODC professionals delivering programmes of expert support totaling $US 45 million per year across the region in a wide range of critical areas, including rule of law responses to organized crime, illicit trafficking of drugs, corruption, illicit financial flows, money laundering, cybercrime, human trafficking, smuggling of migrants, environmental crimes, violent extremism, and terrorism. Karimipour will also lead UNODCs collaboration with prominent regional organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS). We support countries to confront old as well as new criminal threats. For example, criminal networks in Southeast Asia are growing their illegal operations by exploiting technology. Cryptocurrencies, the dark web, artificial intelligence, and social media are boosting the trafficking of people and drugs as well as money laundering and scam operations, Karimipour stated. There are other troubling trends. For example, Myanmar has taken over Afghanistan as the biggest source of opium. Corruption is endemic, waste from other regions is being dumped illegally, cyberattacks are increasing, and the region hosts some of the worlds most overcrowded prison facilities, Karimipour added. Altogether, the illicit economy in this region is estimated to generate more than a hundred billion US dollars per year for organized crime while diverting enormous resources and depriving people of services, safety, health, and prosperity, Karimipour stated. But, through our comprehensive combination of mandates, expertise, partnerships, and field presence, we are uniquely positioned to strengthen national capacities and enhance cross-border, regional, and global cooperation to counter illicit economies in the region, Karimipour concluded. Karimipour brings a wealth of experience to the role. His journey includes 35 years serving as a trial attorney, criminal justice policy advisor, and rule of law development leader. His previous experience in UNODC includes serving as: Chief of the Terrorism Prevention Branch (TPB) in Vienna; Special Advisor on Strategic Coordination at UNODC headquarters in Vienna; Regional Representative for Middle East and North Africa, in Cairo; and Regional Representative for Central Asia, in Tashkent; before joining UNODC, he served as: Senior Judicial Affairs Advisor in UN Peacekeeping, in Sudan; Chief of Afghanistan Justice Sector Support Programme, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State; and Public Defender in the Western Pacific and New York. Karimipour holds a Juris Doctorate in Law. He is knowledgeable about Southeast Asia and the Pacific, having travelled throughout the region, including living for eight years in the Northern Mariana Islands in the Western Pacific where he met his wife, who is a national of Thailand, and with whom he celebrates 22 years of marriage this year. Life is short. You can spend it making money or making a difference, Karimipour said. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to help people experience greater peace, prosperity, safety, justice, and human rights under the law. February 5 2024 Carson & Partners has nominated Grainger Corporate Rescue & Recovery (GCRR) to assist in the progression of liquidation proceedings following a decision to wind up the business. Citing a confluence of personal and professional setbacks for the decision founder and director Iain Carson has reluctantly decided to close the business, despite providing loans of around 187k to keep it afloat. Having survived the pandemic slowdown the business was hit hard by the liquidation of Structured House Group in 2023 and resulting unpaid fees for a hotel in Gullane - as well as a project at Hydepark Street and a scheme for Merchant Residential. This was exacerbated by a period of ill health and the death of business partner Clive Sall of Carson Sall, a connected company based in London. Professional factors also took their toll including the delayed planning consent for key projects, notably a student housing project for Alumno on St George's Road. It is unlikely that a buyer for the business, which operates from offices in London and Glasgow, will be found. The Commonwealth Observers Group, led by former Nigerian President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, on Monday met Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Feb, 2024) The Commonwealth Observers Group, led by former Nigerian President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, on Monday met Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. The meeting was attended by ECP members, secretary and other senior officers. CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja, while welcoming the members of the Commonwealth Observers Group, expressed gratitude for their presence in Pakistan. He appreciated the Commonwealth Secretariat for sending a 15-member observer group along with a nine-member support team to Pakistan to observe the February 8 general elections. He informed them about the Election Commission's open-door policy for international observers and underscored that Pakistan had issued accreditation cards for over a hundred international observers, ensuring transparency in the electoral process. The CEC briefed the Commonwealth Observers Group about the election preparations, highlighting the dedicated efforts made by the Election Commission to ensure free, fair, and transparent elections. The Commonwealth Observers Group commended Pakistan's commitment to holding peaceful and successful elections. Dr. Jonathan, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Commonwealth Observers Group, expressed appreciation for the Election Commission's thorough preparations and extended gratitude for facilitating the group's visit to Pakistan. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Feb, 2024) Renowned historian and former Chairman Kashmir Committee Allama Jawad Jaffery on Kashmir Solidarity Day said that Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan and whole hearted support of Pakistani nation to the just struggle of Kashmiri people for their inalienable right to self-determination under the UN resolutions. Talking to ptv news channel, he reiterated the nations unwavering support for the Kashmir cause and the people of India-held Jammu and Kashmir, adding, Kashmir Solidarity Day is also an occasion to pay rich tribute to sacrifices made by Kashmiri brothers and sisters. Whole nation from different walks of life, including doctors, lawyers, social activists, students, and others were holding rallies and demonstrations, forming human chains across the country to infuse new spirits into the Kashmiris, who have long been fighting for their freedom, he added. "We have to continue raising the Kashmir issue on all international forums in order to convince the international community and the decision makers to ensure implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir issue", he mentioned. The Kashmiri people deserve the help of world powers to get rid of illegal Indian occupation, he further urged. "I hope that the voices of Kashmiris people will be heard across the globe, he said, adding, that the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir have been suffering from Indian atrocities for the last 76 years and Pakistan always stood by the Kashmiris brethren in crucial times. He also criticized that the economy and culture of Kashmir has been destroyed by Indian-occupied forces. Indian policies have exposed the cruel face of India in front of the world, he said, adding, the aggressive Indian policies have given new life to the freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people. India has turned Kashmir valley into the world's largest jail, he added. RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Feb, 2024) Malik Ibrar Ahmed, candidate of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is contesting election from NA-55, Rawalpindi-IV constituency, while 31 others including 20 independents are in the run. Total 431,832 registered voters including 221,049 male and 210,783 female will use their right to franchise on election day. As many as 311 polling stations including 156 male, 148 female, and seven combined will be set up in the constituency to facilitate the voters. There will be total 778 polling booths including 395 for male and 383 for female voters in Rawalpindi-IV, NA-55 constituency. Under the polling scheme of NA-55, out of total 2956 staff, there are 311 presiding officers with 1556 assistant presiding officers while 778 polling officers and 311 assistants will also perform their duties on the election-day. Babar Sultan Jadoon, candidate of Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians, Arif Hussain Shah, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Faisal Ul Hassan Khan, Tehreek Labbaik Pakistan, Muhammad Ijaz ul Haq, Pakistan Muslim League (Zia ul Haq), Nargis Jabeen, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party and Muhammad Basharat Raja as an independent candidate are contesting elections for NA-55. Main problems of this constituency are poor condition of several roads, sewerage system, poverty, uncovered drains and lack of other basic facilities. Malik Safdar, a resident of Dhoke Syedan told APP on Monday that the poor condition of several roads, sewerage system, low gas pressure, and water shortage are long-standing issues of people of this area. He said that as population is increasing, the problems in NA-55 constituency are also surging. Adil, resident of Peoples Colony said that people give vote so that their problems can be solved but it is very unfortunate that in past no attention was paid to neglected areas of this constituency. Faisal, a resident of Masrial Road area said that high prices of commodities and unemployment are major concerns of the people of NA-55, adding that general elections are very close and people hope that elected representatives would make sincere efforts to solve long standing issues of people of this constituency. He said that the residents of several areas including Qasimabad, Naseerabad, Allahabad, Carriage Factory Colony, Misrial Road, Friends Colony, Dhoke Gujran, Chakra Road, Dhoke Bannaras, Afshan Colony, Chur Harpal, Range Road, Siham, Dhoke Mustaqeem, Tariqabad, Azizabad (Mughalabad), Abid Majeed Road, Tench Bhatta, Mohalla Hajian, Allama Iqbal Colony, Dispensary Ground, Mughalabad, Jan Colony, Rawal Town, Kamalabad, Dhoke Syedan, Bakra Mandi, Ghaziabad, Chamanabad, Afshan Colony, Dhoke Chudharian, Dheri Hasanabad, Tahli Mouri, and others were facing problems due to lack of basic facilities. 395 ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Feb, 2024) As the general elections approach in Pakistan, TikTok has outlined efforts to combat misinformation and uphold election integrity on its platform. The platform's latest initiatives demonstrate its unwavering commitment to maintaining a safe, authentic, and reliable environment during this important period, said a news release issued here on Monday. TikTok is also working closely with local community partner orgnaizations in Pakistan to ensure platform integrity. These partnerships enable TikTok to identify potential misinformation, take action on it, and share accurate information with its community around important events. TikTok's fact-checking partners do not moderate content on the platform, but their assessments provide valuable input which helps TikTok take the appropriate action that upholds its Community Guidelines. TikTok's strategy included innovative product features aimed at enhancing user awareness and participation in maintaining platform integrity. TikTok has launched the Pakistan Election Center on the platform, which is a dedicated hub, available both in English and urdu, that will direct users to authoritative information on the election, including voting procedures and locations. Additionally, easy-to-use reporting tools will empower users to easily identify and report potentially misleading content. This user-centric approach fosters a vigilant and responsible community, crucial during the election period. Furthermore, TikTok is committed to raising awareness among its users, by providing educational content and in-app guides. These initiatives are designed to equip the community with the necessary skills to discern credible information, thereby reinforcing informed participation in the electoral process. Enforcement of TikTok's Community Guidelines, available both in English and Urdu, is a key component of its misinformation combat strategy. The platform employs a multi-pronged approach, including the removal of guideline-violating content, redirecting search results to authoritative sources, and reducing the discoverability of unverified information. This comprehensive approach ensures that the platform remains a safe space, free from harmful election-related misinformation. Transparency and collaboration are at the core of TikToks efforts. By working closely with experts, safety advisory councils, and civil society organizations, TikTok enhances its policy framework and ensures the elevation of reliable information sources within the app. This collaborative ethos underscores TikTok's commitment to being a responsible social media platform. As the Pakistan General Election nears, TikTok is dedicated to ensuring that its platform remains a source of joy and creativity, while also being an authentic source of reliable and factual information. TikTok continues to support its community in Pakistan and globally, fostering a digital environment where authentic content thrives and misinformation is diligently combated. (@ChaudhryMAli88) LUSAKA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Feb, 2024) Namibia appointed Nangolo Mbumba, the countrys former vice president, as its fourth head of state on Sunday, hours after his predecessor, Hage Geingob, passed away at the age of 82. Sworn in in the capital Windhoek alongside Mbumba was Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the former deputy prime minister and minister of international relations and cooperation, who is now the countrys vice president. Our nation remains calm and stable owing to the leadership of President Geingob, who was the chief architect of the Constitution. I take on this heavy mantle cognizant of the weight of responsibility, Mbumba said when he took the oath before Chief Justice Peter Shivute during a brief ceremony at State House. Mbumba, also 82, will serve in the role until elections due in November this year. His previous portfolios include as Minister for Agriculture, Water and Rural Development; Finance; Information and Broadcasting; Education; and Safety and Security. He was also secretary-general of the ruling South West Africa Peoples Organization (SWAPO) from 2012 to 2017. Nandi-Ndaitwah is the SWAPO candidate for the November polls, and she will become Namibias first female president if she wins. Geingob died early Sunday while receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Windhoek. He had been diagnosed with cancer and revealed the details last month to the public. Several regional leaders sent messages of condolences on his passing including Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Zimbabwes President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Malawis President Lazarus Chakwera and Botswanas President Mokgweetsi Masisi. (@FahadShabbir) BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Feb, 2024) The Embassy of Pakistan in Beijing on Monday observed the Kashmir Solidarity Day with a renewed commitment to support the struggle of Kashmiri brothers and sisters against India's human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). Deputy Head of Mission Bilal Mehmood Chaudhary, Counsellor Ms Nasreen Fatima and Counsellor Muhammad Omar read out messages of President Dr Arif Alvi, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani respectively to underscore Pakistans unwavering commitment to the Kashmir cause, including the right to self-determination of the Kashmiri people. Pakistan's Ambassador to China Khalil Hashmi, in his message, called upon the international human rights and humanitarian organizations to take cognizance of Indian crimes in the occupied Kashmir, ensuring accountability of the its occupation forces. The people of Jammu and Kashmir deserve a future free from oppression, and it is our moral, diplomatic and legal responsibility to ensure that their voices are heard and their rights, as recognized by the UNSC resolutions, are protected, he added. The Embassy also arranged a photo exhibition depicting Indian atrocities in the IIOJK. Meanwhile, the Embassy also organized a panel discussion on the continued non-implementation of the United Nations Charter and international law for the promotion of world peace and security. The panelists stressed the centrality of multilateralism, with the United Nations at its core, for the resolution of disputes and prevention of conflicts. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic corps as well as eminent scholars and academics representing the leading Chinese think tanks and universities. APP/asg RIYADH, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Feb, 2024) The Minister of Interior of the Republic of Tunisia, Kamel Feki, paid today a get-acquainted cordial visit to the Saudi Ministry of Interior (MoI)s pavilion participating in the World Defense Show (WDS) 2024 ongoing in the city of Riyadh from February 4 to 8, 2024. The event, patronized by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, is held under the theme Intrepid. The Tunisian minister was briefed on the artificial intelligence applications and digital innovative solutions MoI is using in maintaining security, developing safe cities, securing borders, managing crises and disasters, developing field work, preserving the environment, keeping security of vital facilities, localizing military industries, and developing plans for the whole internal security system. Washington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th Feb, 2024) US senators on Sunday released the text of a much-anticipated deal that would unlock billions in new aid for Ukraine and Israel while tightening US border laws -- although its prospects for becoming law are unclear. The so-called national security supplemental provides for $118.3 billion in total funding, including $60 billion to support war-torn Ukraine, matching the White House's request, and $14.1 billion in security assistance to Israel, according to a summary released by Senate Appropriations Committee chair Patty Murray. The legislation also includes $20.2 billion for US border security and a myriad of immigration policy changes agreed to by Democratic and Republican negotiators. It is not clear that the 370-page bill has the 60 backers it will need to clear the first procedural vote in the 100-seat, Democratic-controlled Senate, expected on Wednesday at the latest. Senators have been negotiating for months on a deal to combat illegal immigration, with Republicans insisting on bolstered border security in return for approving President Joe Biden's funding request for Kyiv. Release of the text was met with swift approval from the White House, which highlighted the decades-long pursuit to reform the country's "broken" immigration system. "Now we've reached an agreement on a bipartisan national security deal that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. I strongly support it," Biden said in a statement. He also urged Republicans -- who control the House of Representatives and have been pressured by White House hopeful Donald Trump to oppose the deal -- to back the bipartisan package. "If you believe, as I do, that we must secure the border now, doing nothing is not an option," he said. House Speaker Mike Johnson had previously declared the package "dead on arrival," although he appeared to change tack when he told Fox business last Friday that he's "not prejudging anything." - 'Detain and deport' - Biden ran on restoring "humanity" to immigration -- ending controversial Trump-era policies that led to families being separated at the US-Mexico border. But Republicans dismiss his term as a failure, pointing to statistics showing border agents picking up illegal migrants a record 302,000 times in December. For months, polling has shown Americans see the migrant crisis among their top concerns -- and mostly blame Democrats for the surge. Much of the major immigration reform that ended up in the bill was anticipated ahead of its release and were described by both sides as constituting the strictest border policy changes in decades. "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to close our open border and give future administrations the effective tools they need to stop the border chaos and protect our nation," Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, the lead Republican negotiator, said in a statement. He said the bill would put "a huge number of new enforcement tools in the hands of a future administration" and push the Biden administration to "finally stop the illegal flow" of migrants through border wall construction and stronger technology. The measure calls for tougher curbs in the system for processing asylum requests and for a clampdown when crossings exceed 5,000 people a week. Lankford said it changes US policy from "catch and release," which allows undocumented migrants to remain at liberty as they await court appearances, to "detain and deport." Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the legislation "a monumental step" towards strengthening America's national security abroad and along our borders." But he cautioned Republicans against the knee-jerk reaction of trying to sink the bill simply because Trump, the party's likely 2024 presidential nominee, opposes it. "Senators must shut out the noise from those who want this agreement to fail for their own political agendas," Schumer said. Shutterstock.com If youre in the market for a mobile or manufactured home, be prepared to pay a lot more if you live in the West. Using the U.S. Census Manufactured Homes Survey, GOBankingRates has compiled a list of states where these homes cost the most on average. Seven of the top 10 are western states as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. That includes Idaho, where the average manufactured/mobile home costs $168,500 in 2022. Thats tops in the nation and an increase of 82% since 2017. See: Escape the Cold on a Budget: The 5 Cheapest Places To Live in Florida Near the Beach Learn: 6 Unusual Ways to Make Extra Money (That Actually Work) GOBankingRates has also calculated the biggest year-over-year increases in price by state for 2021 to 2022, the most recent years with figures available. The state of Washington topped this metric with a whopping 34% increase to $158,400. If youre looking for the least expensive mobile or manufactured homes in the U.S., try Kansas. The total average sale price in the Sunflower State in 2022 was $100,800. The next least-expensive states were Ohio ($101,200), Nebraska ($101,900), Indiana ($103,800) and Connecticut ($108,100). Connecticut was the only state where prices actually declined from 2021 to 2022, with a drop of 3%. Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief. Why the stark difference in cost from state to state? In addition to varying costs for labor, materials and land around the country, the Manufactured Housing Institute points to home size as a reason. In other words, higher percentages of multi-section homes sold in Idaho and other western states drive up the average price overall. Demand has skyrocketed across the nation in recent years. The average cost of a mobile home stood at just under $72,000 in 2017, but increased by 77% to $127,300 by 2022, the New York Times reported last month, citing a Lending Tree analysis of the U.S. Census survey. Story continues Read on for the full list of states where mobile/manufactured homes will set you back the most. Estimates from Alaska, the District of Columbia and Hawaii were either not applicable or not available. Estimates from Delaware were suppressed to avoid disclosing data for individual dealers or homes. Find Out: 6 Safest and Cheapest Cities to Live in Virginia 10. Vermont Total average sale price in 2022: $140,700 Total average sale price in 2021: $107,800 Year-over-year change: 31% 9. Tennessee Total average sale price in 2022: $141,900 Total average sale price in 2021: $118,000 Year-over-year change: 20% 8. Oregon Total average sale price in 2022: $142,200 Total average sale price in 2021: $121,500 Year-over-year change: 17% 7. North Dakota Total average sale price in 2022: $146,100 Total average sale price in 2021: $144,900 Year-over-year change: 1% 6. Utah Total average sale price in 2022: $148,500 Total average sale price in 2021: $134,800 Year-over-year change: 10% 5. California Total average sale price in 2022: $153,400 Total average sale price in 2021: $126,000 Year-over-year change: 22% 4. Washington Total average sale price in 2022: $158,400 Total average sale price in 2021: $117,900 Year-over-year change: 34% 3. Arizona Total average sale price in 2022: $160,500 Total average sale price in 2021: $131,800 Year-over-year change: 22% 2. Montana Total average sale price in 2022: $160,600 Total average sale price in 2021: $133,400 Year-over-year change: 20% 1. Idaho Total average sale price in 2022: $168,500 Total average sale price in 2021: $148,000 Year-over-year change: 14% Methodology: To determine the states where mobile or manufactured homes are the most expensive, GOBankingRates used the U.S. Census Manufactured Homes Survey to find the average sales price for each state. Using this data, GOBankingRates was able to calculate the year-over-year changes in dollars and percentage to show the states where mobile or manufactured home are the most expensive. All data was collected and is up to date as of December 21, 2023. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 States Where Mobile Homes Are the Most Expensive USM Ambassador Series Presents Lift Every Voice Mon, 02/05/2024 - 08:36am | By: Jay Dean The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Ambassador Series will present the Opera Mississippi production of Lift Every Voice, featuring vocalist John Christopher Adams and pianist Tyler Kemp, on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 12:15 p.m. in the Fleming Education Center Auditorium, USM Gulf Park campus in Long Beach. The concert is free and open to the public. The program includes Soon I Will be Done, Aint-A-Dat Good News, Hush! Somebodys Callin My Name, Im a Soldier, Amazing Grace, A Change Gon Come, We Shall Overcome, and many other soulful spirituals and Civil Rights-era songs. Songs of tragedy and triumph have long been the soundtrack of the Black experience in America, and history has shown that music is the best way to reach everyone within that culture. From slavery to Civil Rights and beyond, music has the ability to unite and encourage, pass along messages, spread words of hope, and harness the power and resilience of the human spirit. Lift Every Voice is a celebration of the heartache and hope of the Civil Rights Movement. Operatic tenor Adams has delved into his own familys history and connections to Civil Rights activism in preparation for this important performance. He has performed on stages around the world including Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Israel, Chicago, Cincinnati, Houston, and Seattle. A native of Fannin, Mississippi, Adams studied theatre and music with the late Mrs. Karen Streit and Ms. Helen G. Morgan. He holds degrees in vocal performance and opera from Mississippi College and the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music. Singing the songs of Civil Rights is probably one of the greatest ways I could pay respect to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s legacy and the causes he championed, noted Adams. Learn more about the Ambassador Series. Czech citizen detained by Azerbaijani side at border with Armenia. At present Baku is investigating and clarifying all circumstances, Azernews reports. However, there are serious reasons to believe that this citizen was an agent and was carrying out an espionage mission. It is also noteworthy that the above-mentioned Czech citizen passed through minefields and passed Armenian checkpoints without any problems. Thus, on 2 February, Brigadier General William De Meyer of the French National Gendarmerie visited the location of the EU civilian mission in Armenia, where he got acquainted with the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. There are also serious reasons to believe that this citizen could have carried out an intelligence mission of the EU mission already on the territory of Azerbaijan. And France is apparently behind these dangerous games. In this article, we will be navigating through the current situation of housing in the US and some prominent national homebuilders, while covering the 15 best states for first-time homebuyers. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis, you can move directly to the 5 Best States for First-Time Homebuyers. Is the US Housing Market Witnessing a Rebound in 2024? 2023 was a demotivating year for many homebuyers including those who wanted to purchase their first ever house. As soaring home prices raised affordability concerns for these first-time homebuyers, they postponed their decision to buy a house. Simultaneously, existing homeowners held on to their houses since they were to pay a higher interest on a new house. Mortgage rates remained high and reluctant. The existing inventory of houses was also not enough to cater to the rising consumer demand. However, the gloomy housing market is experiencing a positive change in 2024. On February 1, Forbes reported that although house affordability problems are persistent, the drop in mortgage rates will enable numerous home shoppers to own a house in 2024. The majority of experts expect that the hike in the interest rates against inflation will finally be at rest. The markets return to normal also depends on certain factors. These factors include how well will the inventory be restored since this can bring the home prices down. Cities where home prices are falling have been previously covered. Another condition is a rather steady drop in interest rates. This is because a sharp decrease can highly increase demand which will ruin the gains in inventory. The current housing stock is still behind what is required. However, a positive development in this regard is that builders have begun to see improved conditions for future construction. During the month of January, the builder sentiment increased from 37 to 44. New single-family building permits have also experienced a rise. On January 25, The New York Times reported that the inventory of existing houses has been even less. This has driven new construction of homes to fulfill the demand. The construction and purchase of new houses went up in the second half of 2023. As of now, new homes account for 30% of the overall housing market. This new home market is relatively bright and offers options, especially to those who wish to buy for the first time. Another issue pertaining to newly constructed houses is that they tend to be more expensive than existing houses. In order to address this problem and cater to the needs of buyers who are budget-conscious, homebuilders are shrinking room sizes and altering floor plans. Story continues Leading US Home Construction Companies The US housing market is still subject to the issues it has faced throughout 2023. It will take quite some time for the market to go back to the pre-pandemic levels of inventory as well as mortgage rates. While the housing market cools down, companies such as Lennar Corporation (NYSE:LEN), PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM), and KB Home (NYSE:KBH) offer reasonable living options in desirable locations. Lets take a look at what these home construction companies have been up to. You can also take a look at some of the largest homebuilders in the US. Lennar Corporation (NYSE:LEN) is a leading US home builder that offers affordable houses for all generations. Lennar's Multifamily segment also develops high-quality multifamily rental properties. On February 2, Lennar Corporation (NYSE:LEN) reported that the company has initiated selling at its new community in Palmetto, Florida. Amenities in this single-family home master-planned community include a fitness center, playground, a clubhouse, and pickleball courts. Pricing for the new homes starts in the mid $400,000s. The community offers a short commute to Tampa and St. Petersburg. Anna Maria Island and beaches in Florida can also be visited by the residents. The opening for four professionally designed model homes that are still under construction has been planned for the summer of 2024. PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM) builds communities that offer a good standard of living across the US. The company tends to be well-positioned to capture the increasing demand for buyers as the housing market returns to better conditions. On January 30, PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM) reported strong financial results for the fourth quarter. The company reported earnings per share of $3.52, beating the EPS estimates by $0.29. The total revenue for the quarter amounted to $4.29 billion. An increase of 57% was recorded in net new orders. The homebuilder witnessed a substantial rise in buyer activity. KB Home (NYSE: KBH) is another major home construction company in the US. Homebuyers can choose from multiple design options to get their houses personalized based on their preference and budget. On January 26, KB Home (NYSE: KBH) reported the grand opening of three new communities namely Lexington, Fairfax, and Hayworth in Elk Grove, California. Parks, playgrounds, sports courts, and an elementary school are some of the included amenities. While staying in these communities, homebuyers can easily travel to major employment centers in Sacramento and Sacramento International Airport. Elk Grove Aquatics Center, Emerald Lakes Golf Course, and Elk Grove Regional Park can also be conveniently accessed. Pricing for homes in the three communities starts from the mid $500,000s, low $600,000s, and mid $600,000s, respectively. There are several other best homebuilder stocks to invest in. Now that we have taken a look at the current housing market in the United States, we can move to the 15 best states for first-time homebuyers. 15 Best States for First-Time Homebuyers 15 Best States for First-Time Homebuyers Our Methodology: In order to compile a list of the 15 best states for first-time homebuyers, we sourced data from Zillow, a leading real-estate source. The most recent state-level data was available from December 2023. We selected the average home price as our metric. The rationale behind choosing this metric was that it represents the primary concern of first-time homebuyers regarding affordability. The 15 best states for first-time homebuyers have been ranked in descending order of their average home prices. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. 15 Best States for First-Time Homebuyers 15. Nebraska Average Home Price: $245,663 As recorded in December 2023, the average home price in Nebraska is $245,663. This price increased by 4.6% year-over-year. Zillows market overview shows that the for-sale inventory in the state is 4,376. Hence, Nebraska is a suitable living option for first-time homebuyers. 14. North Dakota Average Home Price: $244,772 North Dakota is one of the US states deemed a good option for those who wish to buy their first house. The average home price in the state is $244,772. This price went down by 1.2% year-over-year. Zillows market overview shows that the for-sale inventory in the state is 2,156. 13. Missouri Average Home Price: $234,836 As recorded in December 2023, the average home price in Missouri is $234,836. This price went up by 4.3% year-over-year. Zillows market overview shows that the for-sale inventory in the state is 18,244. Hence, Missouri is one of the best states for those buying a home for the first time. 12. Michigan Average Home Price: $228,329 Michigan ranks among the other US states suitable for first-time homebuyers. As recorded in December 2023, the average home price in the state is $228,329. This price increased by 4.2% year-over-year. Zillows market overview shows that the for-sale inventory in the state is 26,721. 11. Indiana Average Home Price: $227,178 First-time homebuyers can also seek to live in Indiana. As recorded in December 2023, the average home price in the state is $227,178. This price experienced a rise of 4.3% year-over-year. Zillows market overview shows that the for-sale inventory in the state is 17,958. 10. Alabama Average Home Price: $216,564 Alabama is another good option for first-time homebuyers to settle in. As recorded in December 2023, the average home price in the state is $216,564. This price increased by 1.8% year-over-year. Zillows market overview shows that the for-sale inventory in the state is 17,477. 9. Ohio Average Home Price: $213,149 As recorded in December 2023, the average home price in Ohio is $213,149. This price went up by 5.4% year-over-year. Zillows market overview shows that the for-sale inventory in the state is 24,746. Hence, Ohio is one of the best states for those buying a home for the first time. 8. Kansas Average Home Price: $212,995 The 15 best states for first-time homebuyers include Kansas as well. As recorded in December 2023, the average home price in the state is $212,995. This price increased by 4.3% year-over-year. Zillows market overview shows that the for-sale inventory in the state is 6,743. 7. Iowa Average Home Price: $205,375 Iowa is deemed a good place for first-time homebuyers. As recorded in December 2023, the average home price in the state is $205,375. This price went up by 3.1% year-over-year. Zillows market overview shows that the for-sale inventory in the state is 8,973. 6. Arkansas Average Home Price: $196,406 Arkansas is one of the 15 best states for first-time homebuyers. As recorded in December 2023, the average home price in the state is $196,406. This price has risen by 2.5% year-over-year. Zillows market overview shows that the for-sale inventory in the state is 11,319. Click to continue reading and see 5 Best States for First-Time Homebuyers. Suggested articles: Disclosure: None. 15 Best States for First-Time Homebuyers is originally published on Insider Monkey. Cape Air resumes regular flights between the U.S. Virgin Islands to Anguilla next month. The airline operates more than 80 flights daily across the Caribbean. Australian Chinese writer Yang Hengjun, who was arrested and accused of spying five years ago, has been given a suspended death sentence by a Chinese court. Australias foreign affairs minister Penny Wong said the Chinese court's decision was "harrowing" and appalling. She said she had summoned China's ambassador in Canberra for an explanation. Australian officials say the death sentence imposed on the writer and activist may be commuted to life imprisonment after two years for good behavior. Yang, who blogged about democracy and Chinese affairs, has always denied allegations of espionage. The specific charges against him have not been made public. The Chinese-born Australian citizen has denied working as a spy for Australia or the United States. Speaking in Canberra Monday, Foreign Minister Wong said Australia would continue to ask for the writers release. The Australian government has advocated for Dr Yang with China at every opportunity and at the highest levels," she said. "We have consistently called for basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment for Dr. Yang, in accordance with international norms and China's legal obligations. Australia will not relent in our advocacy for justice for Dr. Yangs interests and wellbeing. Beh Lih Yi, the Asia program coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists or CPJ, a nonprofit which defends press freedom and journalists rights, said Yang's sentence was "appalling." "Sentencing an individual to death for blogging and commenting on current affairs is appalling and absurd," Beh told VOA in an emailed statement. "It will create a chilling effect on journalism in China, where the space for independent reporting is already very limited." According to CPJ, China was the worlds leading jailer of journalists in 2023, detaining 44 journalists out of 320 imprisoned globally. Chinas list of journalists jailed includes Yang as well as others such as Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai. Yang was arrested in Guangzhou, China in 2019, at a time when diplomatic relations between Australia and China were rapidly deteriorating over various geopolitical and trade disputes. His trial was held in secret in May 2021. Daniela Gavshon is the Australia director at Human Rights Watch, an advocacy organization. She told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that Yangs treatment in China is appalling. Like everyone else, we are shocked.," she said. "It is an outrageous, outrageous outcome for Dr. Yang and his supporters and it is not evidence of any wrongdoing but really of Beijings corrupt and opaque criminal justice system. That someone can be sentenced to death on such scant information is deeply, deeply worrying. Australia's Ambassador to China has previously accused Chinese authorities of arbitrarily detaining Yang. In October, China released Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who had been in detention for more than three years. She was accused of "supplying state secrets overseas," an allegation she denied. Australian officials say she was freed after legal proceedings against her came to an end. No other details were given. Australias left-leaning government came to power in May 2022 and has sought to stabilize relations with China, while stressing that there would be areas of difficulty and disagreement. Analysts say Yangs sentence could make it harder for both sides to ease diplomatic tensions. 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 after spending part of the weekend in California. The president last visited Nevada in December, when he highlighted 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 is 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% 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 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% 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 Republican Party is holding caucuses Thursday to allocate delegates. Trump is competing in the caucuses; rival Nikki Halley opted to stay on the nonbinding primary ballot. A powerful bomb blast in central Athens has sent shock waves across the country with authorities concerned about what they call a new era of terrorism. Surveillance footage showed the powerful blast exploding in front of the nations Labor ministry, shattering its steel-and-glass facade and gutting offices as far up as the sixth floor. Surrounding buildings were also scarred, and metal at a nearby construction site was mangled and melted. There were no casualties in Saturday's blast, but authorities said the fallout could have been bloody if the explosion had hit the Greek capitals busiest boulevard, an area teeming with bars, coffee shops and restaurants, during business hours. It was the first terrorist attack to mar the streets of Athens in five years, and Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoides said authorities are seriously concerned about the resurgence of terrorism. Greece has seen hits like this in the past, and he said authorities will do everything to safeguard democracy and the countrys image. The attack was claimed by a new urban guerilla group calling itself the Revolutionary Class Self-Defense. Security experts suspect the new group includes militant recruits drafted by terrorists remaining at large after the countrys most deadly terror group was disbanded some 20 years ago. Since then, several smaller groupings have emerged, staging sporadic low-grade attacks, but none of this intensity. At least 5 kilograms of explosives were used. Stavros Balaskas, a police investigator, said counterterrorism officials were focusing on forensic evidence to track the culprit from a list of potential suspects. Surveillance footage Balaskas says, shows a man making his way across the road to the ministry, hanging a sack of explosives on a steel railing and leaving. Members of the group claimed responsibility in telephone calls to a local newspaper and television station 40 minutes ahead of the explosion. Authorities expect the group will issue a proclamation to explain who they are and the reasons they targeted the Labor Ministry. Until then, investigators warn, the fear of a follow-up hit, potentially with victims, looms. Iran-backed militias in Syria are again targeting the United States and its allies, launching at least three attacks on American positions following a U.S. bombardment aimed at disrupting the ability of the militias to pose a threat. U.S. military officials told VOA the most recent attack came early Monday, when a single rocket was lobbed at U.S. and coalition forces at the Mission Support Site Euphrates base in eastern Syria. The official said there were no injuries or damage as a result of the attack. But an earlier attack, targeting the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces on Sunday, did hit its mark. The official said a one-way attack drone hit the base at the Omar Oil Field, near Deir el-Zour, causing multiple SDF casualties. SDF spokesman Farhad Shami said on social media that the drone attack killed six SDF fighters. The SDF base is located near the U.S. position known as Green Village. The U.S. also confirmed an attack by Iran-backed militias on Friday, when multiple rockets targeted Mission Support Site Euphrates base. No injuries or damage were reported. The three latest attacks are the first since the U.S. unleashed a series of airstrikes that hit 85 targets at seven locations in Iraq and Syria late Friday, dropping more than 125 precision munitions in about half-an-hour. U.S. officials have said Friday's strikes were aimed at disrupting the militia's logistical capabilities by striking targets "critical to their supply chain," including command-and-control centers, drone and missile storage sites, and other key facilities. Washington has also warned more strikes are coming. U.S. President Joe Biden "will do what he thinks needs to be done," White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, refusing to rule out strikes inside Iran itself. "There will be additional action that we will take all designed to put an end to these attacks," White House National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, told reporters following Friday's strikes. Iranian officials have condemned the U.S. strikes, calling them a violation of Syrian and Iraqi sovereignty. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani further described the U.S. strikes as "a serious strategic mistake." U.S. officials, so far, have declined to share estimates on how many militias members were killed in Friday's strikes, but Syrian opposition activists said at least 29 fighters were killed in Syria while Iraqi officials said at least 16 militia members were killed with another 36 wounded. The renewed attacks by Iran-backed militias in Syria come as Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen continue to threaten international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, despite a new wave of airstrikes Saturday by an international coalition led by the U.S. and Britain. 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 (CENTCOM), which oversees U.S. forces in the region, said the strike hit four anti-ship missiles that were being readied to launch at ships in the Red Sea. CENTCOM said it also carried out self-defense strikes against a Houthi land attack cruise missile in a separate incident on Sunday. Sunday's preemptive strikes come after the U.S. and Britain hit at least 36 Houthi targets in Yemen on Saturday. The Houthis, though, said they will not be 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." Still, the White House has defended its approach to both the militias in Iraq and Syria and Yemen's Houthis, recently designated as a terror group. "Each attack we undertake helps degrade capabilities" of the Iranian-backed militias in the region, the White House's Sullivan said Sunday. "The U.S. will step up when it's 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." Information from the Associated Press and Reuters was used in this article. A jury in Michigan began deliberations on Monday in a trial against Jennifer Crumbley, 45, the mother of school shooter Ethan Crumbley, 17. Jennifer Crumbley is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of the four students her son killed at Oxford High School in 2021: Hana St. Juliana, Tate Myre, Justin Shilling and Madisyn Baldwin. The case is the first instance in the U.S. of parents being charged in a school shooting committed by their child. Jennifer Crumbleys husband, James Crumbley, 47, will be tried separately in March. According to prosecutors, Jennifer Crumbley was grossly negligent in her failure to inform Oxford High School of key details that could have prevented the shooting. The prosecutors say that she failed to tell them that their family owned guns, including a 9 mm handgun purchased for her son before the attack. Additionally, before the attack, school officials met with the parents, concerned about disturbing images drawn on a math assignment, featuring the same gun the Crumbleys had recently purchased for their son. The image also featured pleas for help, according to prosecutor Karen McDonald. After the meeting, Jennifer and James Crumbley resisted taking their son home and were advised to seek counseling for him. He literally drew a picture of what he was going to do, said McDonald on Friday. She knew that he was proficient with the gun. She knew he had access to ammunition, she added. The Crumbleys are also accused of neglecting their sons mental health needs. Their son Ethan kept a journal leading up to the attack, where he wrote that his parents ignored his cries for help. He wrote, I have zero help for my mental health issues, saying that it led him to shoot up the school. Defense Attorney Shannon Smith argued that this case would set a dangerous precedent. She said that Ethan was a skilled manipulator, not someone with a mental illness, and that the gun was not Jennifer Crumbleys responsibility, but her husbands. The prosecution decided to charge too quickly, said Smith, arguing that it was done for political gain and media attention. Among the jury, comprised of six men and six women, are gun owners and people who grew up in households that owned firearms. The jury said that this wouldnt interfere with their fair judgement. During the trial, Jennifer Crumbley testified, saying that the gun was purchased as an early Christmas present to be used only at the shooting range. She told the jury she was unaware of discipline issues, and only knew that her son had trouble turning in assignments. I thought we were pretty close, she said, adding that she had no reason to believe that her son would commit the acts he did. A conviction for involuntary manslaughter brings a maximum of 15 years in prison. Some material for this report came from The Associated Press and Agence France-Press. The rate of malnutrition-related death in children displaced by violence in Sudans North Darfur region amounts to a humanitarian emergency, according to the findings of a new Doctors Without Borders (MSF) survey. Since the war broke out between Sudans military and paramilitary forces in April 2023, around 300,000 people living in the Zamzam camp near North Darfurs regional capital have been isolated from essential humanitarian aid and medical care. In a statement Monday, MSF said it estimates that there are around 13 child deaths each day, according to the rapid nutrition and mortality assessment conducted in January. Their malnutrition is treatable if they can access a health care facility, but due to lack of resources many are left without support as their condition worsens. Of the 400 households surveyed, MSF found a crude morality rate of 2.5 deaths per 10,000 people per day in the camp, double the number that is considered a threshold for a humanitarian emergency. Before the start of the conflict in April last year, people in the camp were heavily reliant on international support for food, health care, clean watereverything," said Claire Nicolet, head of MSFs emergency response in Sudan. "Now, they have been almost completely abandoned. There have been no food distributions from the World Food Program since May. People are going hungryand children are dying as a result. As the only health provider in Zamam camp, MSF said it intends to rapidly increase its work to treat children in critical condition but acknowledged that the disaster requires more resources than the organization can provide, including food, cash, health care, sanitation and water supplies. Emmanuel Berbain, an MSF medical doctor in El Fasher, said that over the past nine months, the camps fragile healthcare system and humanitarian response has stopped working. "This aid was abruptly halted, with roads and air supply routes severely hampered, Berbain said. The health system has collapsed, and staff no longer receive salaries; equipment and medicines are in short supply, along with fuel for generators, water, and other supplies to keep the health facilities running. Former programs to combat malnutrition in North Darfur are nonexistent and MSF is currently the only large international aid organization providing free pediatric care across all five of Sudan's Darfur states. "Referrals for patients from Zamzam camp to the pediatric hospital in El Fasher happen on a daily basis to try and save childrens lives, Nicolet said But we know from the mortality assessment that there are hundreds of children who do not even reach us. It is possible to prevent the situation from deteriorating further through a massive mobilization of the international community. Without it, even more children will die preventable deaths." At least 95 Myanmar border guards have fled to Bangladesh to escape the mounting fighting between Myanmars junta and rebel forces, according to a Bangladeshi border guard spokesman. The spokesman said the guards crossed the border to flee the fighting between government forces and the Arakan Army in recent days. The clashes have taken place in Rakhine state, which borders Bangladesh. Authorities in Myanmar have not commented. Doctors Without Borders, or MSF, said Sunday that it had seen 17 patients in Bangladesh, following the fighting at the border. All the patients had gunshot wounds, MSF said. Two of the patients suffered life-threatening wounds, while five were seriously wounded. In 2017, almost one million Rohingyas, a Muslim minority who lived in Myanmar, were forced to flee because of a brutal military crackdown on them. Many of them now live in Coxs Bazar, a massive refugee camp in Bangladesh. Officials said Monday that bullets and mortar from the fighting in Myanmar landed in Bangladesh and killed at least two people. Some information for this report was provided by the Associated Press,and Agence France-Presse. Retail real estate investment trusts (REITs) own, operate, or finance income-generating retail properties, including shopping centers, malls, strip malls, and other retail spaces, and generate revenue by leasing space to retail businesses. As is the case with all REITs, retail REITs are required to distribute a significant portion of their income to shareholders in the form of dividends, making them a popular choice for investors seeking income. If you're interested in buying a retail REIT with a high yield, here are two you should consider today. Federal Realty Investment Trust Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE:FRT) owns and manages a portfolio of mixed-use properties and open and shopping centers in top suburban markets, including Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C. Federal Realty currently pays a quarterly dividend of $1.09 per share, equating to an annualized dividend of $4.36 per share and giving its stock a yield of about 4.3% at the time of this writing. Federal Realty has also increased its quarterly dividend for 56 consecutive years, the longest record in the REIT industry, according to the company. Its track record of dividend growth and high yield make Federal Realty one of the most attractive dividend stocks in the stock market today. Don't Miss: Investing in real estate just got a whole lot simpler. This Dara Khosrowshahi-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, and you only need $100. Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, but few investors have the capital or resources needed to invest in this asset class. A platform backed by industry giant Marcus & Millichap is changing that, allowing individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000. Kite Realty Group Trust Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE:KRG) owns or has ownership interests in 180 open-air shopping centers and mixed-use assets containing approximately 28 million square feet of gross leasable space. Its portfolio is predominantly situated across major markets in the Sun Belt region, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami, Orlando, Phoenix, and San Antonio. Story continues Kite currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, equating to an annualized dividend of $1.00 per share and giving its stock a yield of about 4.7% at the time of this writing. The company has also raised its annual dividend payment each of the last three years, and its hike in October 2023 has it on pace for 2024 to mark the fourth consecutive year with an increase. Read Next: Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, but few investors have the capital or resources needed to invest in this asset class. A platform backed by industry giant Marcus & Millichap is changing that, allowing individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000. Collecting passive income from real estate just got a whole lot simpler. A new real estate fund backed by Dara Khosrowshahi gives you instant access to a diversified portfolio of rental properties, and you only need $100 to get started. Image Credit: Shutterstock "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article 2 Retail REITs Yielding Over 4% to Buy in 2024 originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. An oversight board is criticizing Facebook owner Meta's policies regarding manipulated media as "incoherent" and insufficient to address the flood of online disinformation that already has begun to target elections across the globe this year. The quasi-independent board on Monday said its review of an altered video of President Joe Biden that spread on Facebook exposed gaps in the policy. The board said Meta should expand the policy to focus not only on videos generated with artificial intelligence, but on media regardless of how it was created. That includes fake audio recordings, which already have convincingly impersonated political candidates in the U.S. and elsewhere. It also said Meta should clarify the harm it is trying to prevent and should label images, videos and audio clips as manipulated instead of removing the posts altogether. The board's feedback reflects the intense scrutiny that is facing many tech companies for their handling of election falsehoods in a year when voters in more than 50 countries will go to the polls. As both generative artificial intelligence deepfakes and lower-quality "cheap fakes" on social media threaten to mislead voters, the platforms are trying to catch up and respond to false posts while protecting users' rights to free speech. "As it stands, the policy makes little sense," oversight board co-chair Michael McConnell said of Meta's policy in a statement on Monday. He said the company should close gaps in the policy while ensuring political speech is "unwaveringly protected." Meta said it is reviewing the oversight board's guidance and will respond publicly to the recommendations within 60 days. Spokesperson Corey Chambliss said while audio deepfakes aren't mentioned in the company's manipulated media policy, they are eligible to be fact-checked and will be labeled or down-ranked if fact-checkers rate them as false or altered. The company also takes action against any type of content if it violates Facebook's Community Standards, he said. Facebook, which turned 20 this week, remains the most popular social media site for Americans to get their news, according to Pew. But other social media sites, among them Meta's Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads, as well as X, YouTube and TikTok, also are potential hubs where deceptive media can spread and fool voters. Meta created its oversight board in 2020 to serve as a referee for content on its platforms. Its current recommendations come after it reviewed an altered clip of Biden and his adult granddaughter that was misleading but didn't violate the company's policies because it didn't misrepresent anything he said. The original footage showed Biden placing an "I Voted" sticker high on his granddaughter's chest, at her instruction, then kissing her on the cheek. The version that appeared on Facebook was altered to remove the important context, making it seem as if he touched her inappropriately. The board's ruling on Monday upheld Meta's 2023 decision to leave the seven-second clip up on Facebook, since it didn't violate the company's existing manipulated media policy. Meta's current policy says it will remove videos created using artificial intelligence tools that misrepresent someone's speech. "Since the video in this post was not altered using AI and it shows President Biden doing something he did not do (not something he didn't say), it does not violate the existing policy," the ruling read. The board advised the company to update the policy and label similar videos as manipulated in the future. It argued that to protect users' rights to freedom of expression, Meta should label content as manipulated rather than removing it from the platform if it doesn't violate any other policies. The board also noted that some forms of manipulated media are made for humor, parody or satire and should be protected. Instead of focusing on how a distorted image, video or audio clip was created, the company's policy should focus on the harm manipulated posts can cause, such as disrupting the election process, the ruling said. Meta said on its website that it welcomes the Oversight Board's ruling on the Biden post and will update the post after reviewing the board's recommendations. Meta is required to heed the oversight board's rulings on specific content decisions, though it's under no obligation to follow the board's broader recommendations. Still, the board has gotten the company to make some changes over the years, including making messages to users who violate its policies more specific to explain to them what they did wrong. Jen Golbeck, a professor in the University of Maryland's College of Information Studies, said Meta is big enough to be a leader in labeling manipulated content, but follow-through is just as important as changing policy. "Will they implement those changes and then enforce them in the face of political pressure from the people who want to do bad things? That's the real question," she said. "If they do make those changes and don't enforce them, it kind of further contributes to this destruction of trust that comes with misinformation." Authorities in northwestern Pakistan said Monday that a pre-dawn militant raid had killed at least 10 police officers and injured six others ahead of national elections later this week. The attack occurred in the militancy-hit Dera Ismail Khan, where officials reported that a group of heavily armed assailants stormed a police station, using sniper guns and grenades and spraying security forces with bullets before fleeing. Area police said that a "large-scale search operation" was currently underway with the help of Pakistani troops to hunt down the attackers. All roads leading in and out of the district have been blocked. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the carnage, but suspicions fell on Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, an outlawed group that routinely stages attacks on security forces in the district located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. Last December, militants, including suicide bombers, assaulted an army base in Dera Ismail Khan, killing 23 soldiers and wounding many more in one of the deadliest attacks on the military in Pakistan's recent history. That raid was claimed by the newly emerged militant group known as Tehrik-e-Jihad Pakistan, or TJP, reportedly an offshoot of TTP. Both groups operate from Afghan territory "possibly with support from al-Qaida, according to a United Nations report released last week. An uptick in militant violence has fueled security concerns for voters and organizers of parliamentary elections Pakistan is scheduled to hold Thursday. Several political workers, including election candidates, have been killed in gun attacks and militant bombings in the lead-up to the vote. Last week, separatist insurgents carried out coordinated attacks against security forces' installations in southwestern Baluchistan province, which borders Afghanistan. The raid in the town of Mach killed four security forces and two civilians. The Pakistani military said that its three-day retaliatory operations and search missions had killed 24 assailants. The banned Baluch Liberation Army, or BLA, took responsibility for the attacks. The group confirmed the deaths of its 13 fighters and claimed they had inflicted heavy casualties on security forces. TTP and BLA are both listed by the United States as global terrorist organizations. Russia on Monday accused Ukraine of carrying out what the Kremlin called a monstrous attack on a bakery in a Russia-occupied city in eastern Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov further called Saturdays attack in Lysychansk a terrorist act on peaceful infrastructure. Russia said the attack killed 28 people. Lysychansk had a population of about 110,000 people before Russias invasion. It fell to Russia in the summer of 2022 and is 15 kilometers from Ukrainian-controlled territory. Ukrainian officials did not comment about the attack. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of conducting attacks on civilian sites, including Ukraine reporting frequent Russian missile and drone strikes targeting Ukrainian cities. 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. Zelenskyy said the changes could include the dismissal of his top military chief, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Last November, Zelenskyy rebuked Zaluzhnyi for telling a Western media outlet that the war in Ukraine had entered a new phase of attrition. Earlier Sunday, Zelenskyy visited Ukrainian troops on the southeastern front. 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. Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Authorities in the southwestern Somali town of Beled Hawo said six Ethiopians were among seven people killed in an overnight attack by suspected al-Shabab militants. The district commissioner of the town, Abdirashid Abdi Arog, told VOA Somali that gunmen attacked a compound, killing five women and two men. Last night at around 3:24 am local time we heard heavy gunfire, it happened at a time when security patrols change shifts, and the murderers took advantage of that, Arog said. Troops responded and when they reached the site they saw civilians men, women and children who some of them were killed and some injured. The six slain Ethiopians are ethnic Oromo while the seventh victim is a Somali woman, Arog said. Six other Ethiopians were injured in the attack, he added. He said the Somali woman killed was a neighbor of the Ethiopians who came out when she heard the gunshots and shone a light on the attackers. Arog said security forces offered support by calling the ambulance services and evacuating the wounded to medical centers. He said some of the wounded were taken to Mandera, Kenya, for treatment. Authorities suspect al-Shabab militants to be behind the attack. We know their tracks, we are investigating but we have the terrorists who kill people to be behind this, Arog said. They are the ones who kill people; we are accusing them of this killing. Arog said Beled Hawo is a border town, which sees movement of people from Kenya, Ethiopia as well as Somalis. He said the attackers fired indiscriminately. The security minister for Jubaland State, Yusuf Hussein Dhumal, told VOA Somali that his administration believes al-Shabab targeted the Ethiopian nationals, who live in the town for business and domestic work purposes. He said four gunmen were behind the attack. He said security forces followed them but the attackers escaped on motorcycles that collected them from the outskirts of the town and fled into towards the al-Shabab-controlled area of Gadoon Dhawe. Asked about the motive of the attack, Dhumal said he believed the militants intended to create conflict between Somalis and Ethiopians. They have two objectives one is terrorism which is known to them, and also to destabilize the people who live and work among us and [force them to] flee. Arog said authorities would be taking additional security measures to protect civilians. For us since we are the authorities in charge of the security of the area this incident is a question mark for us, he said. We have to respond, we have to take measures to ensure security and to make sure similar incident do not happen again. He said the victims were buried in Beled Hawo on Monday. Al-Shabab has not yet commented on the attack. Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the eastern front reacted with skepticism to comments by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, hinting of a possible shakeup in top leadership positions, including the military. In a series of interviews conducted by the Reuters news agency, some unit commanders on the ground said that a possible dismissal of General Valerii Zaluzhnyi would not be appropriate at this time. Zaluzhnyi is Ukraines top military commander. "The most popular (commanders) are those who are here, and who fight alongside the lads, who sit in the trenches," said a 31-year-old anti-tank unit commander who asked to be introduced by his call sign, Tiger. Tiger added that whoever was in charge should ensure the arrival of fresh replacement troops and a larger supply of drones both of which Zaluzhnyi has sought. Another soldier said, "If our government wants to change someone, these changes should only make things better, and not worse." According to a December 2023 poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, 72% of Ukrainians would view the dismissal of Zaluzhnyi negatively, with only 2% seeing it positively. In an interview with Italian state broadcaster Rai News 24 Sunday, Zelenskyy said, A reset is necessary, as he considers who would be the best people to lead various sectors in Ukraine. "If we want to win, we must all push in the same direction, convinced of victory. We cannot be discouraged, let our arms fall. We must have the right positive energy, he said. Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko criticized the possibility of Zaluzhnyis firing, saying it was due to the general's leadership that many Ukrainians truly trust the armed forces. Today is a moment when politics might prevail over reason and countrys interests," Klitschko said on social media. The mayor of Ukraine's capital city has been a vocal critic of Zelenskyy. The presidency in turn has accused Klitschko's office of inefficiencies. Citing Ukrainian and Western media reports, The Associated Press reports that Zelenskyy asked Zaluzhnyi to resign last week, but the general refused. Zaluzhnyi has not commented publicly on the reports. Tensions between him and the president have been rising since a much-anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive, which was launched in June with the help of an array of Western weapons, failed to produce major territorial gains in Russian-occupied areas, disappointing allies. The Ukrainian president has also been at odds with Zaluzhnyis push for a broad military recruitment of up to 500,000 in 2024. But the soldiers in the Donetsk region, many of them volunteers, who are still fighting after two years of full-scale war, told Reuters they no longer want to shoulder the entire burden of the conflict. "The mobilization is necessary, because we don't have enough people; the enemy has a great advantage over us in the number of soldiers," said a soldier by the name of Ihor. Tiger estimated 60%-70% of the original 59th brigade was still serving, and it had not been able to fill all the gaps left by those who have been killed or injured or who have been discharged for other reasons. Mykola, 59, said he would go home when he turned 60, in line with the current rules and added he felt for younger soldiers who didn't have that option. "Everyone has to understand that the entire country of Ukraine is at war, not just those who have been fighting for the last two years," he said. In the city of Kherson, four people were killed and at least one was injured by Russian shelling, local officials said. Video from the site, released by the regional prosecutor's office, showed a completely burned-out car that caught fire after an explosion, with two bodies found inside, officials said on the Telegram messaging app. Russian forces regularly target Kherson from occupied territories on the eastern bank of the major Dnipro River that divides the region. Russia on Monday accused Ukraine of carrying out what the Kremlin called a monstrous attack on a bakery in a Russia-occupied city in eastern Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov further called Saturdays attack in Lysychansk a terrorist act on peaceful infrastructure. Russia said the attack killed 28 people. Lysychansk had a population of about 110,000 people before Russias invasion. It fell to Russia in the summer of 2022 and is 15 kilometers (9.32 miles) from Ukrainian-controlled territory. Ukrainian officials did not comment on the attack. Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of conducting attacks on civilian sites. Ukraine reporting frequent Russian missile and drone strikes targeting Ukrainian cities. Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed a former French foreign minister to head up an independent review of the U.N. agency that assists Palestinian refugees, which is embroiled in a scandal and facing the loss of more than $400 million in donor contributions. The secretary-general, in consultation with UNRWA commissioner-general Philippe Lazzarini, has appointed an independent review group to assess whether the agency is doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality and to respond to allegations of serious breaches that have been made, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters Monday. Former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna will lead the group, which will start work on February 14 and submit a preliminary report to Guterres in late March. A final public report will follow toward the end of April. Dujarric said Colonna will work with three research organizations the Raoul Wallenberg Institute in Sweden, the Christian Michelsen Institute in Norway, and the Danish Institute for Human Rights. The U.N. Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, has come under intense scrutiny since the U.N. revealed on January 26, that Israel had provided it with information alleging that a dozen of its staffers were involved in the deadly October 7 terror attacks inside Israel. The U.N. immediately fired nine of them, one was confirmed dead, and officials are clarifying the identity of two others. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz welcomed the establishment of the review group in a message on X. He said Israel will submit all evidence highlighting UNRWAs ties to terrorism to the group, and he called for Lazzarinis resignation. Prior to the October 7 allegations, Israel had criticized UNRWA for years, alleging that the schools the agency operates have been used by Hamas for terrorist activities and that they promote an anti-Israel curriculum. The review group announced Monday is separate from the internal investigation the U.N. is conducting into the allegations related to the 12 staffers. Their probes will happen in parallel. In mid-January before the staff allegations surfaced, Lazzarini said he would conduct a review of the organization and its operations. Among its tasks, the review group will look at where the agencys policies and procedures have failed and make recommendations for their improvement or the creation of new ones, to make UNRWA better fit for purpose. Fallout UNRWA has warned that its relief operations in Gaza and throughout the Middle East could be shut down by the end of February if funding is not quickly restored. At least 16 countries, including top donor the United States, have suspended contributions pending the outcome of the internal investigation into the staff allegations regarding October 7. We hope that donors have taken clear notice of the swift action taken by the secretary-general, the commissioner general, to address head-on issues that may exist, Dujarric told reporters. We will continue to communicate with donors. UNRWA has 13,000 staff in Gaza, about 3,000 of whom are still reporting to work daily, attempting to support 2 million Palestinians with critical assistance. A senior U.S. state department official urged Papua New Guinea (PNG) to turn down China's offer of a potential security pact, warning the Pacific nation that any security guarantee with Beijing comes with consequences and costs. "We've seen that the Chinese commitment in defense or investment comes with a high cost. That's what we'd say to PNG," United States Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma told the Sydney Morning Herald in an interview published on Monday local time. Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkachenko told Reuters last week that it was in early talks with China on a potential security deal. China has offered to assist PNG's police force with training, equipment and surveillance technology, Tkachenko said. The U.S. and ally Australia for decades have seen the Pacific as their sphere of influence and are seeking to deter the island nations from forming security ties with China, after Beijing signed a security pact with Solomon Islands in 2022. Verma, in Australia last week after visiting the South Pacific, said it was a competition for influence in the resource-rich region, and that "we have to compete aggressively." His comments came ahead of an address by PNG Prime Minister James Marape to the Australian parliament later this week. PNG has previously said Australia and the U.S. were its security partners, while China was an important economic partner. "We would like to see people choose security arrangement or investment opportunities or advanced connectivity with countries that play by the rules, that live up to the international standards," Verma said. "China has shown that it is not doing that. China has shown that it's not interested in the modern rules-based order." He warned about the "false promise of authoritarian regimes" and said countries in investment arrangements with China have found that it can be a "debt trap." "There are other options out there," Verma said. The Biden administration announced Monday it is rolling out a new policy that will allow it to impose visa restrictions on foreign individuals involved in the misuse of commercial spyware. The administration's policy will apply to people whove been involved in the misuse of commercial spyware to target individuals including journalists, activists, perceived dissidents, members of marginalized communities, or the family members of those who are targeted. The visa restrictions could also apply to people who facilitate or get financial benefit from the misuse of commercial spyware, officials said. The United States remains concerned with the growing misuse of commercial spyware around the world to facilitate repression, restrict the free flow of information, and enable human rights abuses, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement announcing the new policy. The misuse of commercial spyware threatens privacy and freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. Such targeting has been linked to arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings in the most egregious of cases. Biden issued an executive order nearly a year ago restricting the U.S. government's use of commercial spyware that poses risks to national security." That order required the head of any U.S. agency using commercial programs to certify that they don't pose a significant counterintelligence or other security risk, a senior administration official said. It was issued as the White House acknowledged a surge in hacks of U.S. government employees, across 10 countries, that had been compromised or targeted by commercial spyware. A senior administration official who briefed reporters ahead of Monday's announcement would not say if any particular individuals were in line to immediately be impacted by the visa restrictions. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House. Officials said the visa restriction policy can apply to citizens of any country found to have misused or facilitated the malign use of spyware, even if they are from countries whose citizens are allowed entry into the U.S. without first applying for a visa. Perhaps the best-known example of spyware, the Pegasus software from Israels NSO Group, was used to target more than 1,000 people across 50 countries, according to security researchers and a July 2021 global media investigation, citing a list of more than 50,000 cellphone numbers. The U.S. has already placed export limits on NSO Group, restricting the companys access to U.S. components and technology. Pegasus spyware was used in Jordan to hack the cellphones of at least 30 people, including journalists, lawyers, human rights and political activists, the digital rights group Access Now announced last week. The hacking with spyware made by Israels NSO Group occurred from 2019 until last September, according to Access Now. It did not accuse Jordans government of the hacking. Amnesty International also reported that its forensic researchers had determined that Pegasus spyware was installed on the phone of The Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggis fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, just four days after he was killed in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The company had previously been implicated in other spying on Khashoggi. All About America explores American culture, politics, trends, history, ideals and places of interest. Apache. Lakota. Chinook. Iroquois. These are not only Native American tribes that once fought for their land against the U.S. military. They are also the names of U.S. Army helicopters. The convention of naming choppers after Americas Indigenous people is believed to date back to 1947. Army General Hamilton Howze reportedly wasnt thrilled with Hoverfly and Dragonfly the names of the first two Army helicopters and ordered some changes. He wanted to name them after something that was fast-moving, militarily strong and had some kind of connection to American military history, says David Silbey, a military historian at Cornell University. And he thought of the Native American warriors of the 19th century the Apache, the Lakota and all those folks. And so, he started that tradition of naming Army helicopters after Native American tribes. An Army regulation created in 1969 codified this naming protocol. Name suggestions were to be provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Silbey says required naming regulations no longer exist, but certain military naming traditions have continued. For example, the Lakota helicopter was named as recently as 2012 in honor of the Lakota tribe of the Great Sioux Nation in North and South Dakota. That same year, Lakota elders blessed two Lakota choppers at the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota. I think the idea of naming weapons and ships and planes is a good one as a way of invoking the history, the tradition, the ethos of the military, Silbey says. It's a way of invoking the long history of the United States and the U.S. military. And sometimes even including the folks we were fighting against, who we've now come to peace with, as is the case with Army helicopters. Since World War II, Army tanks have been named after generals. Theres the Sherman tank, named after Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman, and the Abrams tank, named for Vietnam-era General Creighton W. Abrams. Two Army missiles named after venomous snakes are the Titan and the Sidewinder. The [sidewinder snake] actually has the ability to sense infrared heat. Theres a thing in its snout that senses heat, and that's how it targets its prey, Silbey says. And that's how the missile guides itself it hones in on the infrared heat of a jet engine. So, there's that nice little actual connection to nature in the name. But other Army missiles are named the Falcon, Sparrow and Harpoon, which highlights how military naming protocols can sometimes be all over the place. However inconsistent, some naming traditions continue across the U.S. military, according to Silbey. The secretary for each service, whether its the Marines, Air Force, Army or Navy, has the final say on naming equipment and weapons. A report by the Congressional Research Service outlines how naming Navy vessels has evolved over time. Attack submarines, for example, were once named for fish, then later for cities and most recently [in most cases] for states, while cruisers were once named for cities, then later for states, and most recently for battles, writes report author Ronald O'Rourke, a naval affairs specialist. State names, to cite another example, were once given to battleships, then later to nuclear-powered cruisers and ballistic missile submarines, and most recently to [in most cases] Virginia-class attack submarines. The United States doesnt build battleships anymore, but when it did, the vessels were named after U.S. states. And for more than 200 years, theres always been a Navy ship in the fleet called the USS Enterprise. Of the Navys 15 most recently named aircraft carriers, two are named for members of Congress, and 10 have been named for past presidents, O'Rourke writes in the report. But none of those were named for presidents who were Democrats. The last Democratic president to have a carrier named after him is the John F. Kennedy. Theres no Barack Obama. There's no Bill Clinton. There's no Jimmy Carter. There's no Lyndon Johnson, Silbey says. There's a Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush. It's getting a little obvious that they're not naming them after Democratic presidents. There are some names that can go horribly wrong. Silbey points to the World War II-era ships designed to carry ammunition and explosives. Many of the ships in this class were named after volcanoes, and one of the vessels exploded in 1944, killing about 400 people. I think a way that the military has gone wrong with naming conventions has been that tendency to name things after Confederate generals, political figures, Confederate victories, Silbey says. The Confederates were traitors to the United States, traitors to the United States military, and naming a military weapon, installation, ship, plane after someone like Robert E. Lee, who betrayed his country, is/was the wrong choice. And I'm glad it's being fixed. The Army has renamed several bases that were initially named after Confederates. The newest branch of the military, the Space Force, which is tasked with conducting military operations in outer space, hasnt named any equipment yet. However, members of that branch of the nation's armed forces are currently called guardians. Photo: Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images On Sunday evening, the Grammys were upstaged by a force of their own making Taylor Swift announced her 11th album, The Tortured Poets Department, as she accepted Best Pop Vocal Album for Midnights. Other than that, musics biggest night tried its darndest to hang on to its self-proclaimed title. The show featured the largest slew of legends in recent memory, including performances by Joni Mitchell, Tracy Chapman, Billy Joel, and Stevie Wonder and appearances by Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Oprah Winfrey, and Meryl Streep. Todays stars were out, too, with SZA, Miley Cyrus, and Olivia Rodrigo performing the years biggest hits and Dua Lipa also launching a new era. And, of course, it all came back to Swift herself rewriting history. WHOA: Women sweep up the Rock and Alternative awards. Just a few years after nominating a slate of all women in Best Rock Performance, it was a bit bizarre to see the Academy deciding that, actually, Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, and a little band called the Rolling Stones deserved more attention in the categories this year. But at least voters righted things a bit by making sure a woman walked away with every Rock and Alternative trophy. Boygenius won Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song for Not Strong Enough and Best Alternative Album for The Record, while the Hayley Williamsfronted Paramore won Best Rock Album for This Is Why and Best Alternative Performance for its title track. (Add in a win for her SZA duet Ghost in the Machine, and Phoebe Bridgers is the top winner of the night wild!) Bonus: Pre-show watchers were treated to three charming Boygenius speeches. HIGH: The Academy actually gets some global wins right. The Grammys doesnt have a great track record when it comes to recognizing non-American music. Yes, they added the Best African Music Performance category this year, but only after failing to award previous Afrobeats hits like Essence and Calm Down. Not to mention that African music and the equally booming musica Mexicana scene barely made a blip outside of their siloed categories. But the Academy ever so slightly corrected the record this year by awarding a bonafide hit, Tylas amapiano track Water, the inaugural trophy, while Best Musica Mexicana Album went to Peso Plumas Genesis, giving some major recognition to the booming corridos tumbados scene. WHOA: Hazel Monet wants to go home. Put that on her own mama. Victoria Monets 2-year-old daughter was fussy on the red carpet, cutely interrupting interviews and looking thoroughly disgruntled during photo ops. Maybe the youngest-ever Grammy nominee was just disappointed that she didnt win her category for Best Traditional R&B Performance? LOW: AI gets an ad during the red carpet. IBMs generative AI was used to write social copy for the Grammys, and red-carpet presenters made sure to give the technology a shout-out. The Grammys wont let robots win awards, but apparently this is fine. HIGH: Dua Lipa dances the night away. Lipa opened the ceremony by debuting part of her unreleased single Training Season in a medley with Houdini (and a few seconds of Dance the Night). She remains determined to give us more than nothing, girl, so we got scaffolding choreo and a solid dance break, too. WHOA: Trevor Noah cant slow down. If the Grammys 8 p.m. start was dangerously close to your bedtime, Trevor Noahs opening monologue wouldve jolted you awake. Noah kicked things off with an overexcited, rapid-fire set of the usual jokes about big stars in the room along with some general music-industry news. Blame it on the coffee or something stronger, but Noah was on 1.5 speed this evening. Still, Noah got some good jokes in about Taylor Swift and Meryl Streep (Jo Koy who?), not to mention some spicy jabs at TikTok and AI. (On an AI recording of Andrea Bocelli singing My Neck, My Back: It was beautiful, but it was wrong.) If youve got job security, might as well put it to use. HIGH: Tracy Chapman sounds timeless. Tracy Chapman finally got to bask in the glow of Luke Combss hit Fast Car cover, and it was well worth the wait. At her first live performance in over three years, Chapman took us right back to where she started, bringing a reliable soul and warmth to her hit 1988 single. Combs, who said Fast Car was his favorite song before I knew what a favorite song was, grinned nonstop as he took in the moment and hit some great harmonies with his duet partner. One note, though: Why was Taylor Swift the only one in the audience standing and singing? Tracy Chapman, who has not performed in public in years, performs "Fast Car" with Luke Combs at the #Grammys: pic.twitter.com/VJg3knUYuV philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) February 5, 2024 WHOA: SZA brings out the swords. During SZAs performance of Kill Bill, a dancer jumped up on a table with a sword, one wrong move away from beheading Phoebe Bridgers (though SZAs Ghost in the Machine collaborator looked thrilled to witness the stunts firsthand). At one point during the stage fighting, SZA appeared to grab a man by his tie and send him flying to the ceiling. Thats one way to end an argument! WHOA: Miley Cyrus is the queen of ad-libs. After winning her first ever Grammy, Miley Cyrus was feeling loose as she sang her hit Flowers live. Why are you all acting like you dont know this song? she asked the crowd, as if said song didnt top the Hot 100 for eight weeks. There was a lot of sax, cheesy choreography, and a wild breakdown, but Cyruss impromptu comments stole the show. The best one: Started to cry, but then remembered I just won my first Grammy! "why are you acting like you don't know this song" LMFAOOOOO MILEYpic.twitter.com/uHTTx7Mgkq (@beyoncegarden) February 5, 2024 LOW: The sound mixing sounded off. Throughout the ceremony, we heard loud crowd chatter while presenters were talking, and there was also a little too much reverb on the mics at certain points. This isnt the first time thereve been audio issues at the Grammys, but come on. Isnt sound supposed to be your specialty? LOW: U2 gives us literal vertigo. Heres what we learned from the first-ever televised performance from the Sphere: If you get queasy, its not for you. The drone-shot footage of U2 performing Atomic City was dizzying, as the camera swept across the venue jerkily zooming in and out. With that much motion, it was hard to get an idea of what a Sphere performance even looked like. WHOA: Taylor Swift does a classic Taylor Swift reveal. Of course she had to do something special while accepting her 13th Grammy. I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that Ive been keeping from you for the last two years, she said, before announcing that her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, will drop on April 19. Tumblr is shaking. HIGH: The In Memoriam gets personal. A tribute performance is always going to be an intimate affair, but this years In Memoriam hit harder than usual. The supersize segment kicked off with Stevie Wonder re-creating his duet of For Once in My Life with a recording of Tony Bennett, after they recorded it for Bennetts 2006 album Duets. Annie Lennox followed with a powerful, stripped-down take on Sinead OConnors Nothing Compares 2 U, backed by Wendy and Lisa there to represent their mentor Prince. To honor the late Godfather of Black Music Clarence Avant, the Grammys tapped both Lenny Kravitz to give a speech about Avant, and Jon Batiste, for a lively medley of songs by Bill Withers, one of Avants biggest successes. And bringing the performance home was Oprah Winfrey herself, to remember her friend Tina Turner and to introduce Fantasia Barrino, who performed a rocking take on Proud Mary. Even compared to the past few years of moving In Memoriams, this one raised the bar. WHOA: Annie Lennox calls for a cease-fire while honoring Sinead OConnor. Lennox finished her cover of Nothing Compares 2 U by declaring, Artists for cease-fire! Peace! just before the cameras cut. Its the first explicit call for a cease-fire during a major American awards show this season, and its exactly what OConnor wouldve done. Annie Lennox calls for a ceasefire at the #GRAMMYs: Artists for ceasefire. Peace in the world. pic.twitter.com/0dhWf2pL2E Pop Base (@PopBase) February 5, 2024 WHOA: Jay-Z talks his shit. While accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award (with Blue Ivy at his side!), Jay-Z shaded the Grammys for historically snubbing Beyonce. I dont want to embarrass this young lady, but she has more Grammys than everyone and never won Album of the Year, so even by your own metrics that doesnt work, he said. Think about that. He went on to say that some nominated artists dont belong in their category, joking that he tells the truth when he gets nervous. HIGH: Joni Mitchell hits the Grammys stage and brings the Joni Jam crew. Joni Mitchells return to the spotlight has been a family affair, with Brandi Carlile ushering her back onto the stage at the Newport Folk Festival in 2022 and a collective of other musicians joining her for recent performances. So it only felt right for Mitchell to bring the whole Joni Jam for her first-ever (?!) Grammys performance. After Carlile introduced her friend and hero, Mitchell began singing a stripped-back Both Sides Now with her back to the audience. Then, after a dramatic chair-spin reveal, she appeared in the middle of nearly a dozen musicians, all there for her. As much as the harmonies shone, Mitchells rich, wizened voice was the focal point, and everyone on that stage (not to mention in the room) knew it. just wept through this entire performancegod bless Joni Mitchell pic.twitter.com/WrBnrEnfQW Emily Bergmann (@ekbergmann) February 5, 2024 WHOA: The Grammys CEO attempts a musical metaphor for world peace. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. takes the concept of harmony on earth quite literally, it seems. While a string quartet played in front of him, he gave a rambling speech that began by noting the global diversity of the performers and winners of the night. He went on to reference over 360 music fans who were killed on October 7 and all the tragic days that have followed. These musicians of Palestinian, Israeli, and Arab descent are here, playing together, he added. Now is the time for us, for humanity, to play together. Clearly he did not learn from the lessons of the celebrity Imagine cover. HIGH: Burna Boy takes the Grammys to Africa. The Grammys first-ever Afrobeats performance came way too late in the evening, but when it finally did happen, it happened in full force. Burna Boy didnt bring Africa to the stage he brought the Grammys to his home country of Nigeria, kicking off his set with a lively take of On Form surrounded by Nigerian musicians and dancers. He went on to show just how big the genre had gotten as he performed Sittin on Top of the World with 21 Savage, one of the biggest rappers working right now, and Brandy, an R&B icon. Better late than never. Burna Boy ft. Brandy & 21 Savage Perform Sittin On Top Of The World #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/P5FCFlA0vb Mela Yela (@_melayela_) February 5, 2024 LOW: Can we turn out the lights already? A Billy Joel performance earlier in the night wouldve been a welcome moment to slow things down. But Joels live debut of his new song Turn the Lights Back On over three hours into the ceremony just felt like a drag. (Though Joel popped up again for a romp of a show closer with You May Be Right.) Meanwhile, between the flashing lights and thrown chairs, Travis Scotts discordant Utopia medley felt like too much too late. Wed love to have a word with whoever schedules these performances. HIGH: Victoria Monet wins Best New Artist. She was overflowing with gratitude, thanking the Champagne servers at the ceremony, her mom (for singlehandedly raising this really bad girl), God, and her fellow nominees. Monet then teared up as she described her 15-year pursuit of the award, describing herself as a plant whose roots have been growing unseen in the music industry. I feel like today Im sprouting, finally above ground, she said. WHOA: Celine Dion makes a rare public appearance. Dion has stopped performing since being diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder. While she might not be ready to take the stage to sing again just yet, she was ready to return as the surprise presenter of the Album of the Year award. When I say that Im happy to be here, I really mean it from my heart, she said. WHOA: Taylor Swift breaks the Album of the Year record. With her fourth win for Midnights, Taylor Swift officially has more Album of the Year Grammys than Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, or Paul Simon. Just three years after she tied those legends for Folklore, Swift cemented her own legend status with her massive pop return Midnights and on a night when she announced what could be her next winner, The Tortured Poets Department. (Shes only the artist with the most AOTYs, though with this win, engineer Serban Ghenea earns his fifth trophy.) After Midnights was far and away the biggest album of her career, how else would this era have ended? Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the title of Dua Lipas next single. In this article, we will take a look at 20 Best Permanent Residency Countries in the World. You can skip our detailed analysis of permanent residency and go directly to the 5 Best Permanent Residency Countries in the World. This vast world is filled with places of wonderment. Many of us love to travel and experience the diversity in nature and culture that has spread out to nooks and corners around the globe. Additionally, there are those who choose to settle down permanently in a country other than their birthplace. In the latter case, the idea behind the visit is to simply explore new experiences and spend some vacation time in a pleasing manner. However, in the former, practicality takes precedence, and numerous variables are considered before a final decision is reached. The aim is to choose the best permanent-residency country in the world. According to the IOM UN Migration Report 2022, the majority of people worldwide still reside in their countries of origin. Only one in thirty individuals falls into the immigrant category. In 2020, it was estimated that approximately 281 million international migrants existed globally, constituting about 3.6% of the total world population. Notably, this figure marked an increase of 128 million people compared to the 1990 figure and was three times higher than the estimated figure for 1970. Thus, this indicates a burgeoning desire in people to move, sparking the search for the best country in the world to settle permanently. What is Permanent Residency? Permanent residency, often referred to as a PR visa, denotes a resident status in a country other than one's country of origin, granting individuals the right to live, work, study, and even establish a business in that country. Holders of a PR visa may also be entitled to social security, healthcare, and various financial benefits. Additionally, the visa may permit individuals to bring their families, including parents, and children may qualify for free schooling. It is important to note that these benefits can vary across countries. The residency permit, which is issued to legally ensure these activities, is usually renewed after a specific time period. During this time, individuals are free to enter or leave the country, but it's crucial to keep in mind that maintaining residency status typically requires a minimum physical presence. Story continues Types of Permanent Residency Visas There are various types of permanent residency visas, including skilled immigration, state/territory/province-sponsored immigration, employer-based immigration, family migration, and investment migration. While certain general requirements apply to all PR visas, specific details can vary from country to country. In fact, some countries do not even permit permanent residency, and the necessary physical presence requirement also differs across nations. Hence, before uprooting one's life to move elsewhere, it's essential to ensure that the chosen destination is the best fit for permanent residency. The Country with the Highest Immigrants Over the past decade, a significant number of individuals have been seeking settlement or acquiring second citizenship in European nations. This trend has been further fueled by European countries easing their immigration processes, largely in response to labor shortages within the union. However, it's noteworthy to highlight the permanent immigrant inflow figure of the United States for the year 2022, standing at 1.05 million--the highest compared to other countries. The U.S. has consistently ranked as the top country for accepting immigrants, with the 2021 figure reaching 833,900, as reported by US News. This trend is unsurprising, given the country's generous approach to immigration through various channels. One notable method is employer-based immigration, where companies sponsor employees for green cards. Tech giants like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Adobe Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE), among others, have actively sponsored their employees for green cards. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is an American multinational technology company that has employed a substantial number of overseas workers over the years. In the fiscal years 2020 to 2022 alone, the company submitted 13,381 labor condition applications for H-1B visas and 3,412 labor certifications for green cards. Notably, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) recently reached a $25 million settlement with the U.S. government concerning the hiring of immigrants. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), another American multinational technology company, has employed a significant number of foreign workers. From 2020 to 2022, the company submitted 26,695 labor condition applications for H-1B visas and 9,920 labor certifications for green cards. Barbara Leen, Senior Corporate Counselor at Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT), remains an advocate for immigrants, actively urging for reform in the U.S. immigration policy. Lets take a look at our list of 20 Best Permanent Residency Countries in the World. 20 Best Permanent Residency Countries in the World 20 Best Permanent Residency Countries in the World Methodology To determine the top 20 countries for permanent residency, our focus centered on the key reasons people move, such as improved work opportunities and a better quality of life, encompassing health and education. Our methodology relied on data from the Migrant Integration Policy Index 2020, considering metrics like security of permanent residency, labor market mobility, education, and health integration for each nation. By averaging these scores, we identified countries facilitating smoother relocation while meeting these key objectives. In the case of tied averages, the cost of living index served as a tie-breaker. For instance, if three places had the same scores, 0.2 points were awarded for the highest cost of living index, and 0.1 points for the second highest. A higher average score indicates a more favorable ranking. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that uses a consensus approach to identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The website tracks the movement of corporate insiders and hedge funds. Our top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 stock index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years ( see the details here ). So, if you are looking for the best stock picks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. 20 Best Permanent Residency Countries in the World 20. Japan Permanent Residency Score: 63 Labor Market Mobility Score: 59 Health Score: 65 Education Score: 33 Insider Monkey Average Score: 55 In the Asian region, Japan stands out as one of the best countries for permanent residency. As a developed nation, it ensures a high quality of life for its residents. Geographically well-positioned, Japan provides strategic access to other Asian countries, as well as Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific Islands, offering immigrants diverse opportunities. The country's high permanent residency score, coupled with robust health integration and labor mobility prospects, emphasizes the favorable conditions for immigrants to settle comfortably. Notably, Japan's permanent residency is granted indefinitely, in contrast to the continuous renewals or predetermined time limits associated with other visas. 19. United Kingdom Permanent Residency Score: 58 Labor Market Mobility Score: 48 Health Score: 75 Education Score: 40 Insider Monkey Average Score: 55.25 The United Kingdom remains one of the most favored destinations for expatriates. As a developed nation with high-quality amenities, particularly in education, many individuals aspire to secure permanent residency in the UK. Those with this status can enjoy various benefits, including the right to live and work in the country indefinitely. However, certain situations, such as spending more than two years outside the country or being convicted of a criminal offense, may nullify this right. The overall scores for the country present a positive picture, with a particularly favorable outlook on the health integration of immigrants-- a key incentive for those willing to go through the process of moving abroad. 18. Czechia Permanent Residency Score: 50 Labor Market Mobility Score: 54 Health Score: 61 Education Score: 60 Insider Monkey Average Score: 56.25 The Czech Republic stands out as one of the greatest countries in Europe, offering a safe, stable, and culturally diverse life while maintaining a high standard of living. With a lower cost of living compared to some other European nations and a business-friendly environment, it presents a prosperous outlook. Obtaining permanent residency status in the Czech Republic allows individuals to work and conduct business like citizens, with easy access to the labor market. The country's high scores in labor market mobility, health, and education further indicate favorable conditions for immigrant integration, making Czechia one of the best countries for permanent residency worldwide. 17. South Korea Permanent Residency Score: 60 Labor Market Mobility Score: 65 Health Score: 40 Education Score: 72 Insider Monkey Average Score: 59.25 In recent years, South Korea has not only gained popularity as a tourist destination but has also become a favored choice for expatriates. The country offers a high quality of life with a reasonable cost of living and competitive salaries. Immigrants can find a conducive environment for settlement with a notably high security of permanent residency. The educational prospects for children are promising, and the labor market mobility score supports individuals moving there for job or business purposes. Overall, South Korea is well-positioned to accommodate immigrants, making it one of the best countries for permanent residency in the world. 16. Netherlands Permanent Residency Score: 52 Labor Market Mobility Score: 65 Health Score: 65 Education Score: 57 Insider Monkey Average Score: 59.75 Bike enthusiasts may find the prospect of permanently settling down in the Netherlands particularly exciting, but the country boasts many other advantages as well. With a high standard of living offering excellent access to healthcare, education, and a robust labor market, the Netherlands provides a quality lifestyle, even though it may not be as affordable as some other European countries. Notably, the country secured the seventh position in the 2022 InterNations Working Abroad Index, with impressive scores in working culture and satisfaction. The permanent residency score further indicates a secure status for immigrants, solidifying the Netherlands as one of the best countries for permanent residency worldwide. 15. Australia Permanent Residency Score: 46 Labor Market Mobility Score: 37 Health Score: 79 Education Score: 79 Insider Monkey Average Score: 60.25 With a thriving economy, the Australian government actively promotes permanent residency, granting individuals the right to work and access the labor market. While the integration score may be somewhat lower, job opportunities are still available in the market. The allure of a high-quality life in Australia is a significant driver for the increasing interest in permanent residency. This status not only provides the right to work but also includes access to Medicare and free government primary and secondary school education. Integration scores further indicate the ease with which immigrants can enjoy these facilities. Australia unequivocally stands as one of the best countries for permanent residency, offering a high quality of life and essential amenities at a reasonable cost. 14. Estonia Permanent Residency Score: 75 Labor Market Mobility Score: 69 Health Score: 29 Education Score: 69 Insider Monkey Average Score: 60.5 For those seeking European permanent residency, Estonia emerges as a viable option. Especially attractive to tech individuals and entrepreneurs looking to leverage benefits from start-ups, Estonia is a favorable place to settle. Boasting a business-friendly environment, the country offers numerous tax benefits, making it an asset for foreign investors. The high labor market mobility score indicates a strong likelihood of immigrant integration into society. Estonia's permanent residency procedures are also conducive to securely settling immigrants in the country. Heading into 2024, it remains one of the cheapest countries to obtain permanent residency. 13. Austria Permanent Residency Score: 50 Labor Market Mobility Score: 59 Health Score: 81 Education Score: 52 Insider Monkey Average Score: 60.6 When you think of Austria, Vienna immediately comes to mind. This renowned city is synonymous with an excellent quality of life, offering exquisite food and wine. Affordable and high-quality healthcare and education further contribute to the appeal. Austria has earned a reputation for maintaining an exceptional work-life balance and has successfully accommodated over 1 million expats from around the world. The scores indicate that immigrants are likely to encounter few hurdles when putting down roots in this European country. Hence, Austria rightfully earns its place on our list of the best countries for permanent residency worldwide. 12. Switzerland Permanent Residency Score: 48 Labor Market Mobility Score: 63 Health Score: 83 Education Score: 48 Insider Monkey Average Score: 60.7 Switzerland, among European countries, stands out for its exceptionally high quality of life for residents. Beyond the breathtaking scenery, individuals can capitalize on abundant work opportunities and access top-notch health and education facilities. The labor market mobility score reflects the ease with which immigrants can integrate into the job market. With competitive salaries and high satisfaction among immigrants, Switzerland truly excels in offering a superior quality of life. 11. Germany Permanent Residency Score: 54 Labor Market Mobility Score: 81 Health Score: 63 Education Score: 55 Insider Monkey Average Score: 63.25 German permanent residency ranks among the favorites for expats worldwide, and rightfully so, as Germany stands among the strongest economies in Europe. Residents enjoy a very high quality of life at an affordable range. The country's excellent education and health facilities serve as major attractions for those looking to settle. The permanent residency score emphasizes a relatively secure route for immigrants. Furthermore, international high-skilled workers can greatly benefit from the job market, which includes access to the European Union work market. The labor market mobility score provides evidence of the easy integration immigrants can achieve in this country. 10. Italy Permanent Residency Score: 67 Labor Market Mobility Score: 67 Health Score: 79 Education Score: 43 Insider Monkey Average Score: 64 As one of the world's largest economies, Italy ranks among the best countries for permanent residency. The nation offers a high quality of life, particularly in healthcare, and serves as a gateway to the European market. With a comparatively low cost of living and encouraging permanent residency policies, Italy stands as an attractive destination for immigrants. 9. Spain Permanent Residency Score: 75 Labor Market Mobility Score: 67 Health Score: 81 Education Score: 43 Insider Monkey Average Score: 66.5 As one of Europe's countries with the lowest living costs, coupled with excellent public healthcare and education, it's no surprise that this nation is among the best for permanent residency worldwide. The stable political and economic environment ensures easy integration for immigrants. This is further evidenced by the country's high permanent residency score, providing security for the minds of new settlers. 8. Belgium Permanent Residency Score: 75 Labor Market Mobility Score: 56 Health Score: 73 Education Score: 74 Insider Monkey Average Score: 69.5 Belgium is one of those countries where individuals seeking permanent residency can greatly benefit from policies geared towards ensuring their easy integration into society. The country not only provides access to the large European market but also facilitates easy integration for immigrants. With excellent health and education facilities, new residents can maintain their objective for a high quality of life. Moreover, the cost of living is affordable. Consequently, Belgium holds the 8th place on our list of the best countries for permanent residency worldwide. 7. New Zealand Permanent Residency Score: 63 Labor Market Mobility Score: 59 Health Score: 83 Education Score: 76 Insider Monkey Average Score: 70.25 Known for its family-friendliness and high-quality education and healthcare, this country offers quick and affordable access to these facilities for those qualifying for permanent residency. Abundant work opportunities and a conducive labor market mobility score make it an attractive option for immigrants. For those seeking permanent residency in a developed nation to enjoy various perks, New Zealand is undoubtedly one of the best countries. 6. United States of America Permanent Residency Score: 63 Labor Market Mobility Score: 69 Health Score: 79 Education Score: 83 Insider Monkey Average Score: 73.5 The 'land of opportunity' indeed offers an easy and comfortable high standard of life for those seeking permanent settlement. Known for its robust economy, new residents have numerous work options to explore and build upon. The high labor market mobility score indicates ample access for immigrants. The United States is renowned for providing the best international education, including institutions like Harvard, the worlds top university. Permanent foreign residents can benefit from this without incurring the international costs of higher education, ensuring a superlative experience. Thus, the United States is undoubtedly one of the best countries for permanent residency in the world. Click to continue reading and see our 5 Best Permanent Residency Countries in the World. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 20 Best Permanent Residency Countries in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey. Killer Mike, left, at the Grammys Premiere ceremony. Photo: Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images Just after he won three Grammys, Killer Mike was arrested at Crypto.com Arena, the site of the awards. On Monday, Mike released a statement explaining that there was confusion on what door to enter the venue before he was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor. He clarified, We experienced an over-zealous security guard but my team and I have the upmost confidence that I will ultimately be cleared of all wrongdoing. A spokesperson for him also stated, The situation has been overblown but we are confident that the facts of the case, when laid bare, will show that Mike did not commit the alleged offense and he will be exonerated. Video tweeted by The Hollywood Reporters Chris Gardner shows the rapper, born Michael Render, being walked through the venue in handcuffs by police officers. Mike, are you serious? someone asks in the clip. Yeah, Im serious, he replies. Mike was released later the same night, his attorney told Variety, adding that the rapper will be celebrating his sweep tonight. A jovial Mike called into the Big Tigger Morning Show on Atlantas V-103 the day after, where he brushed off the incident as nothing (other than having to remove his six-figure chain). We hit a speed bump, and then we headed back to the party, he said. A source told Gardner the arrest was for a misdemeanor unrelated to the ceremony and is a big nothing. However, sources told TMZ that Render was arrested after an altercation outside the Crypto.com Arena. Mike had just attended the Premiere Ceremony at the nearby Peacock Theater without incident. There, he swept his nominations in Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Album, making him one of the days top winners. LAPD Media Relations Division posted on Twitter that Killer Mike has been booked for misdemeanor battery and would soon be released. Vulture has reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department as well as representatives for Killer Mike and the Recording Academy. Breaking: Rapper Killer Mike has been taken away in handcuffs in https://t.co/aF2yiyTHol arena after winning 3 #Grammys during telecast (Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for Scientists & Engineers, Best Rap Album for Michael) Free Mike someone shouts as he walks past. pic.twitter.com/4epfmzqMt8 Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) February 5, 2024 This post has been updated. Superlatives A Vulture series in which artists judge the best and worst of their own careers. Photo-Illustration: Vulture; Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images This article was originally published on December 15, 2023. In honor of Jack Antonoffs third Producer of the Year, Non-Classical Grammy, were re-running our Superlatives. Even though theyve recorded three albums together, Jack Antonoff doesnt ever remember officially booking a studio session with Lana Del Rey. Well just text and be like, Where are you? Okay, come over, he says. I was with her the other day and we just went to the studio and started messing around. Its very loose. That casualness sets the tone for the whole recording process, no matter what kind of song theyre working on. The music can be so incredibly serious, and we just end up trolling each other and being funny the whole time. Antonoff is feeling reflective as he whirls around his New York apartment, making coffee and getting ready to go out with his sister, Rachel Antonoff, and wife, Margaret Qualley. When he thinks back on the past year and change, hes grateful to have close collaborators like Del Rey, along with his friend Taylor Swift and his band Bleachers. Those bonds paid off when Antonoff was nominated for six Grammys earlier this year including what could be his third Producer of the Year in a row largely thanks to his production work on Swifts Midnights and Del Reys Did You Know That Theres a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. A lot of creative industries, especially nowadays, are so obsessed with these harsh pivots, so its not common to have really long-term collaborators, he says over video call. Hes also produced multiple albums for Lorde and St. Vincent and recently added the 1975 to his cadre. While some fans accuse him of adding too much of his 80s pop style or dulling their favorite musicians best qualities, the artists themselves keep coming back none more than Swift, whom hes worked with since her 2014 album, 1989. We will continue working together till 2089, she said, joking, as she accepted an award at this years VMAs. Safe to say Antonoff feels the same way about Bleachers, the group he started in 2014 as his own E Street Band. Hed spent the bulk of his performing career jumping between bands, from his grade-school punk band Outline to the jaunty rock outfit Steel Train to the indie-pop supergroup fun. Now, as hes preparing to release Bleachers self-titled fourth album next March, hes writing in new styles and breaking down the barriers between the band and his solo production. But throughout our conversation, he cant stop coming back to Del Reys A&W, which was nominated for Song of the Year this year. We didnt say this in the room, but its the kind of song where you would be like, Well, its definitely not getting nominated for a Grammy! he says of the seven-minute, two-part opus. But, you know what, Lana and Taylor and this year Ive had, I think the through-line is keep finding things that fucking thrill you. To do anything but push and find new ground is a bastardization of the job. Song you and Taylor Swift couldnt have made until Midnights Maybe Mastermind. We made the bulk of that album in my apartment. Theres a little studio in there, which is the same place that weve worked for many years. It feels like we have such a bedrock beneath us of things that we know that we can do that it makes it really feel possible to stretch. And I remember when we were making Mastermind, we were laughing at each other about going this way and that way. Its a strange little song, and it just reminded me of the kind of thing that you can do with really close friends, whereas if it was a new relationship, you might not be able to dare to suck. Like, just try some weird shit. Because every once in a while, when you really throw yourself out there, you actually get the stuff thats the most brilliant. Most surprising Swift era Oh, every one. Ive never been in a room with her and felt like we were doing anything but treading new ground that weve let last for even ten seconds. If were not feeling it, well move right the hell along. What I think is fascinating about songwriting is you cant fake it. Theres no shortcut; it comes or it doesnt. But the one thing that the years can do for you is at least recognize when its not happening and get off quicker. When I was 19, I might go down a rabbit hole of some weird shit because I would care about the amount of time or the resources I put into it, and the more I do it, the more I realize that thats a fools errand. You show up, you hope to grab it, and you do or you dont. When Im with my collaborators, the further we go down the road, the more were only vibrating on the really special stuff. Weve been at this point for many years. I mean, we started working together on 89, we did a ton of work on Reputation, which was so wonderful and intense, and then Lover, we started to do some more strange things. When we did Folklore, that was obviously a really different angle, and some of the earlier songs, like August and Mirrorball, are some of my favorite things weve ever done. You know, writing a song and collaborating with somebody, once you do it, youre like, Well, who knows if thatll ever happen again, cause its just magic. With her, Im constantly taken aback. Ill joke with her sometimes when we get something crazy, like, Okay, I guess we still fucking got it! Theres really nothing for her and I left to do if were not completely stretching ourselves out there into the darkness. And that was the whole story with Midnights we did so many things that we had never done before. Hardest part of re-recording his own songs for 1989 (Taylors Version) I dont work with any soft synths, so everything is a sound thats made in the room. The funny thing is you cant recall the sounds. So all the Bleachers guys helped a ton on that stuff. It became a really fun project for me and the band. It was like, All right, Mikey, here are the Juno tracks, do your best. Sean, heres the drum stuff, see what you can do. And then Ill have X amount of tracks that are just sound from the room. The internet was really interested in what sounded like a seagull sound in Is It Over Now? It was really fun, because it was all these analog instruments that we know and love: Moog model Ds, Juno-6s. I would liken it to finding an old diary. There are so many things on so many of those sessions that I was like, Oh, you little freak. Little layering I would do then, cause you go through phases, and it made me feel really sweet. That younger version of me that was just piling shit on, I mean, Out of the Woods is just like kitchen sink. Thats the glory of it: As someone who didnt really have any success as a producer, there was no reason for me to pile all that shit on other than it was just giving me a lot of joy. And it made this weird, messy symphony and I love it to this day. Most California song on Ocean Blvd Definitely Peppers. Or Taco Truck. But Lanas from Lake Placid and Im from New Jersey. Shes lived in California for a long time, so she really lives the life, but I do feel like both of us have this dream of California from growing up on the East Coast. Very often, someones idea of what a thing is can be a funnier, weirder version of what the thing is. I actually think the most California song weve ever made is Venice Bitch, and not for the obvious Venice line. I was thinking a lot about the space between Dick Dale and John Frusciante on the guitars; the drums, when I was playing them, I wanted them to feel like the early 2000s shoegaze scene that was happening out there. So Im not saying its a California thing its a New Jersey persons impression of California. She and I will write a lot, and then the framework of the albums will come together. For example, Jimmy, which ended up on A&W, was written during the Norman Fucking Rockwell sessions. So, the Venice Bitch at the end of Taco Truck is the original version of Venice Bitch. When we were doing Norman Rockwell, we had this whole idea of being up in Laurel Canyon and driving the truck down to the club. We moved on from that concept, so I had this original Venice Bitch. After we did A&W, where you have a song like Jimmy from that time period melding into it, I thought, This whole album is so sprawling and freaky. I just started putting things in weird places. This is another example of like, when you work with someone for a long time, you can start really getting weird. That was the theme of that album: Lets get fucking weird. Most surprising the 1975 lyric Im not easily shocked, but the stuff that shocks or surprises me is often the most beautifully written stuff. A lot of his funnier, snarkier stuff thats maybe more designed to shock, thats one corner, but the stuff that really knocks me off my feet is when someone says something that just feels like a gut punch. The first song, Matty had that line, Im sorry if youre living and youre 17, which cuts me so much that I pushed it to become a repetitive thing. Its not even about speaking to people that age Im sorry if youre living and youre 17 just feels so much like the experience of this moment. The one thing everyone agrees on is this grand failure of generations to come. When we were making that album, it was a pretty polarizing time in general, and that line just felt like a relief of a fact. But yeah, the stuff that shocks me the most is someones vulnerability in a song. The end of Youre on Your Own, Kid is one of those moments for me. I remember, she wrote that right in front of me and then we put it down, and I was completely punched in the gut. Beautiful. Most Bleachers song on Bleachers Theres a song called Tiny Moves, which no ones heard yet. The real story there is I started writing music when I was 14 or 15, and my younger sister was sick then. She died when I was 18, so all my formative experiences with writing music were writing about this massive, heavy, big loss and grief. Then, obviously, that grief grows and changes. Its such a fertile place to write from, and Id felt a little bit resigned, not in a comfortable way, just like, Okay, my place in life as a writer is to write about loss through the lens of age. And dont get me wrong, theres tons of that on this album. But I met my now-wife, and it feels like a lot of the mythology and armor that I wore we all say, like, I cant get relationships right, I dont do this, Im bad at this. And when you have a big shift like that, which was really meeting my person, its brilliant and amazing, but its also destabilizing cause you have to deal with all of the past, where you lived by this code that was bullshit. And within that, I found myself writing more conversationally, very deep and very intense. How do you have such a great loss and then also explore other parts of life? I wasnt able to do that in the past, because I felt like it was not honoring my loss to write about anything else. So, this is the first album where I explore other things, and theres presence to it that I havent had. Best Bleachers saxophone part Either Everybody Lost Somebody or Modern Girl. Both those parts were written by Evan Smith, whos one of our saxophone players. Modern Girl felt like a big, Knock down the front door, were back! Its giving me something that I felt like has been missing for a long time, which is, theres so much weight in my music and theres so much intensity, and theres so much fucking weight in the world, and I just wanted music to be fucking fun and irreverent again. I wrote this whole song that basically roasts culture, roasts myself, has every inside joke about the band. Its kind of a love letter to the fans, its kind of a fuck-you to the things that bother me out there in the world, and most importantly, were having a fucking blast playing it. Then also, you just dont hear saxophone out there, so I thought, Lets have the first thing people hear from the next album be this sax played like its head is on fire, and anyone whos not feeling it is not who were looking for. Most influential Steel Train song to Bleachers One thing Im not sure that everyone fully understands: fun. was sort of this, like, left pivot. Ive always written my own lyrics to my own songs, so it really went Outline, Steel Train, Bleachers, with production peppered through all of that. You know, fun. was this side project I started, with three friends, but it just had this funny hit, so it felt so front and center. But the ladder is Steel Train into Bleachers. I mean, the time between writing Bullet and Rollercoaster wasnt very far off. Theres a song called S.O.G Burning in Hell, which I feel like has a Bleachers-ness to it. It feels like trying to break through to that controlled chaos thing. Thats a huge thing that Im always after, that feeling of like, Is this thing gonna stay on the track? Like, I always want the audience to feel both safe and terrified all at once. I think with Bleachers, it really crystallized. Hardest project youve produced Its pretty rare that something is impossible to write or arrange. Its more like, I can get very obsessive on making the sound be what I hear in my head. I feel like the process is like either you capture this crazy lightning in a bottle and then you spend your time protecting it, or you have this crazy idea of what you want something to be. Did you ever hear that Lorde song Hard Feelings? The end of that, production-wise, I was so obsessed with wanting it to be these crazy Transformers fighting sounds, but also really warm. I went really crazy on that. Melodrama was a really intense process. We were just tearing stuff apart. Wed do one thing one day, zero it out, try a whole other thing. The end of August, the strings and twangy guitar that was one where it was really in my head, production-wise, for a long time. The end has to be so euphoric. Shes talking about, like, Meet me behind the mall and Back when we were living for the hope of it all. I kept attaching to all of her lyrics and being like, This crescendo at the end has to feel like all of that, on fire. The second Bleachers album, Gone Now, almost killed me, because I felt so fucking obsessive about what I had to say after being given the success I had off the first album. Like, This is the moment, I have to get this right. That second-album anxiety is pretty fucking heavy and with good reason. Youre given an opportunity, and youre just standing there remembering all the things that you thought your whole life that you had that opportunity. Song you produced that you want to steal for Bleachers You know, theres not really one. Like, stuff on Bleachers albums, its so separate. Ive written songs with Lana that have been on Bleachers albums, obviously Alma Mater. When I was exiting fun. and trying to get everyone to focus on Bleachers, but also wanting people to understand what I did as a producer, I feel like I created a lot of separation. Like, This is when Im in the studio for Bleachers. This is when Im in the studio producing an album. But it wasnt very true, to be honest. Its a pretty connected group of friends and were bouncing around a lot, playing on each others records, writing records with each other. I dont regret creating that narrative, but its not the most truthful one. I care less about that now, because I feel like I can recognize a community around it. This interview has been edited for clarity. 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Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, but few investors have the capital or resources needed to invest in this asset class. A platform backed by industry giant Marcus & Millichap is changing that, allowing individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000. The elections focus on healthcare policy, from Medicare reforms to long-term care and insurance regulations, could significantly impact the healthcare real estate sector. Welltower, with its diversified portfolio in essential healthcare services, is well-positioned to navigate these changes. The companys focus on senior living and outpatient services aligns with the broader trends in healthcare towards more cost-effective, patient-centered care models, which are likely to be at the forefront of political discussions. Should Donald Trump secure a victory, we might anticipate a continuation or expansion of his previous administrations policies, which focused on deregulation and private sector involvement in healthcare. This environment could foster growth opportunities for Welltower, particularly in areas like senior housing and post-acute care facilities, where private investment plays a significant role. The emphasis on deregulation could lead to more streamlined processes for expanding healthcare facilities and services, potentially accelerating Welltowers growth and expansion initiatives. Story continues On the other hand, a win for Joe Biden could see a push towards expanding public healthcare programs and increasing regulation on healthcare services, with potential implications for Medicare and Medicaid. Bidens approach might emphasize affordability and accessibility, possibly increasing demand for outpatient medical properties as part of a broader move towards cost-effective, patient-centered care. Welltower, with its diversified portfolio that includes outpatient services, could find new opportunities in this shift towards enhancing healthcare infrastructure to support public health initiatives. Welltowers extensive portfolio, covering key urban and regional markets, offers resilience against localized economic and policy shifts, ensuring broad exposure to the healthcare sectors fundamental growth drivers. In the third quarter of 2023, Welltower declared a dividend of $0.61 per share, with total dividends paid from January to September 2023 reaching $1.83. The companys diverse portfolio, spanning across the United States and catering to various sectors, from retail to education, ensures risk diversification and resilience. Investing in Welltower ahead of the 2024 election presents a strategic opportunity to engage with a sector at the heart of national well-being and policy discourse. The companys role in providing critical healthcare infrastructure positions it as a robust investment choice, capable of adapting to and benefiting from shifts in healthcare policy under either administration, making it an attractive proposition for those seeking a resilient and growth-oriented investment in healthcare real estate. Read Next: Commercial real estate has historically outperformed the stock market, but few investors have the capital or resources needed to invest in this asset class. A platform backed by industry giant Marcus & Millichap is changing that, allowing individuals to invest in commercial real estate with as little as $5,000. Collecting passive income from real estate just got a whole lot simpler. A new real estate fund backed by Dara Khosrowshahi gives you instant access to a diversified portfolio of rental properties, and you only need $100 to get started. Image Credit: Shutterstock "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article The 2024 Showdown: Trump's Deregulation vs. Biden's Healthcare Expansion - What It Means for Investors originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. World Nutella Day is marked on 5 February. Nutella, the Italian chocolate-hazelnut spread, is celebrated internationally with World Nutella Day on 5 February. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the iconic brand by Ferrero, a Made in Italy success story, invented in 1964. The story of Nutella goes back to post-war Italy when cocoa was a scarce commodity. Ferrero, founded as a pastry shop in Alba, northern Italy, responded to the cocoa shortage by creating a sweet paste made from hazelnuts, sugar and a small quantity of cocoa. This sweet-tasting concoction, named Giandujot, was originally sold as a solid block before being modified into the spreadable Nutella we know today. In the decades since, Nutella has become a global sensation, and in 2019 the hugely-successful Nutella biscuits were launched. Italy marked the 50th anniversary of Nutella with a commemorative postage stamp in 2014 and in 2021 Italy launched a limited-edition 5 coin in honour of Nutella. World Nutella Day was created in 2007 by the American blogger Sara Rosso for Nutella fans to share their photos, videos and recipes on social media with the hashtag #WorldNutellaDay. For more about World Nutella Day, see Nutella website. Photo credit: margouillat photo / Shutterstock.com. Rome's traditional cobblestones are loved and hated in equal measure. Rome would not be the same without its ubiquitous cobblestones, known locally as sampietrini, which carpet the streets and alleyways of the city's historic centre. Although an undoubted symbol of Rome, and much-photographed by tourists, the sampietrini (known by some as sanpietrini) are a source of debate and division among Romans. The purists defend the traditional role of the basalt stones in the landscape of the Eternal City, however motorists - particularly those on two wheels - beg to differ. They say the sampietrini are unsuitable for modern transport, providing a bumpy journey and - when it rains - a treacherous surface for motorbikes and scooters. Neither are they ideal for pushing strollers over, or walking across in high heels. They add to the noise of traffic whose vibration causes damage to surrounding buildings, while a missing sampietrino poses obvious dangers to motorists. However, in addition to their aesthetic quality, the humble sampietrini have certain advantages: they are robust but quick to remove when required, they offer easy drainage and can be reused. As for the sampietrino itself, it is a pyramid-shaped block of volcanic rock, cut by hand and then hammered into a sand base with mallets until it forms an even - or relatively even - surface. The rock originally came from quarries around Rome, at the foot of the Alban hills but also around Viterbo, however in 2000 the city imported machine-made stones from China in a bid to spruce up the capital for the Jubilee year. In recent years Rome has removed the historic cobblestones from streets used heavily by traffic, which in turn have been asphalted, leaving a thin border of sampietrini to serve as a reminder of what once was. The stones removed from busy streets are being taken to quieter, narrow streets which are either pedestrianised or have little or no traffic. The most high-profile street destined to be paved with sampietrini is Via del Corso, the city's main thoroughfare, between Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Venezia. Link between Rome and sampietrini The story dates back to the end of the 16th century when they were first used in the area around St Peter's under the pontificate of Sixtus V (1585-1590). As for its name, the term sampietrino / sanpietrino was born in 1725 to describe the new paving stones in Piazza San Pietro. Their use became more widespread in the early 18th century under Pope Clement XII Corsini who oversaw extensive building programmes in Rome. The sampietrino comes in various sizes according to the sampietrino.it website: the largest measure 121218 cm; the most common ones are 12126 cm; while the smallest ones, 66 cm, are very rare but can be found in certain areas of Rome such as Piazza Navona. In recent years the city's traditional sampietrini have been joined by hundreds of brass cobblestones, each with its own devastating story to tell. These memorials are referred to as stolpersteine in German, or literally translated stumbling stones and are installed outside the last chosen place of residence of victims of the Holocaust. During Italy's covid lockdown in the spring of 2020, grass grew between the city's sampietrini, most noticeably in Piazza Navona and Piazza del Popolo, which were covered in a green carpet. At the forefront of international elementary education in Italy, the American Overseas School of Rome (AOSR) offers a distinctive and superior educational journey. Situated in a country where the norm is a public, centralized education system with a uniform curriculum, AOSR breaks the mold by providing its students with an experience thats both unique and expansive. While many private schools in Italy are driven by religious affiliations or profit motives, often adhering to conventional methods with a focus on test scores, AOSR stands apart. These traditional private institutions might offer more extracurricular options compared to state schools, but they frequently lack the diverse and modern approach of AOSR. AOSR transcends the typical boundaries of the Italian/Private School educational system. Its not just another school in the landscape of Italys education system; its a gateway to a world-class, international education. Free from the constraints of the national syllabus that guides both state and most private schools, AOSR delivers an education thats not just about Italy, but about the world. This broadened curriculum doesn't just prepare students academically; it equips them with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in a dynamic, global society. Here's an overview of what makes AOSR's elementary education stand out: Embracing a Global Community AOSR is a vibrant cultural mosaic, uniting students from over 55 countries, thereby fostering a global mindset and cultural empathy from a young age. Understanding the international nature of our community, the school's grading system ensures smooth transitions between schools globally, avoiding issues with academic alignment or the need for grade repetition. This approach highlights AOSR's dedication to a globally adaptable and inclusive educational experience. Personalized Learning Approach from Pre-K to Grade 5 At AOSR, the focus is on personalized learning. Recognizing that each child is unique, the school offers a dedicated program that caters to individual learning styles and needs. This approach ensures that all students can thrive academically and personally, setting them on a path that aligns with their individual strengths and interests. Safe and Invigorating Elementary School Learning Spaces The school prioritizes the safety and well-being of its students. Classrooms extend beyond traditional indoor spaces, often held in open, natural settings that stimulate learning and creativity. This approach not only ensures a secure environment but also promotes a connection with the outdoors, enhancing the learning experience. Comprehensive Support for Elementary School Families Understanding the busy schedules of parents, AOSR offers various supportive services like a cafeteria, a school bus system, and a range of afterschool activities. These services provide convenience and peace of mind for parents, knowing their children are in a safe, engaging, and supportive environment even beyond school hours. A Modern and Holistic Curriculum Central to our educational philosophy is the recognition and cultivation of each student's unique strengths, tailoring learning experiences to what works best for them. This individual-focused strategy is key to helping every student achieve their full potential. AOSR's curriculum is dynamic and comprehensive, blending advanced subjects like coding with physical education and the arts, including music, art, and theater. This holistic approach not only fosters academic excellence but also enhances creative and critical thinking. Beyond Traditional Academics AOSR understands that education is not solely about achieving the best academic results. The school acknowledges the diverse learning methods of students, offering alternative approaches to education that suit different learning styles. This philosophy is evident across the school's teaching methods, aimed at fostering a lifelong love of learning in each student. The Joy of Learning At AOSR, we're passionate about active learning. We understand that true engagement in the classroom comes not just from listening, but from being an integral part of the learning process. Harvard research backs this up, showing that methods like playing educational games, brainstorming sessions, and reciprocal questioning not only keep concentration levels high but also significantly boost information retention. Despite some perceptions of active learning as less traditional, students involved in such interactive classes consistently achieve higher scores across all subjects. This approach aligns perfectly with the AOSR spirit, where making education both enjoyable and engaging is key to fostering happy, productive learners. In conclusion, AOSRs elementary school offers a unique and enriching educational experience that goes beyond traditional academic learning. It's a place where students are nurtured to grow into well-rounded individuals, prepared to face the challenges of a changing world with confidence and a global perspective. Linda Wenhold was blown away by the Patriot Academys classes, which tap into a growing fear among some evangelical Christians that their faith and its rightful place at the center of American culture and government were under siege. In this article, we are going to discuss the 25 Best Colleges with High Acceptance Rates. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global education sector, educational technology, and companies investing in the education sector, and go directly to the 10 Best Colleges with High Acceptance Rates. The Global Education Sector: Education typically leads to increased entrepreneurship, creativity, and productivity, as well as technological advancements. As a result, all these factors lead to higher output and economic growth. Recent years have seen strong growth in the higher education market size. It is expected to grow from $1.28 trillion in 2023 to $1.36 trillion in 2024, at a CAGR of 6.3%. Increased government funding, an increase in the number of private colleges and universities, and government initiatives for digital learning are the main growth drivers of this sector. The size of the colleges, universities, and professional schools market size is anticipated to increase steadily over the next few years, reaching $1.72 trillion in 2028, with a CAGR of 6.1%. The primary factors propelling this market's growth are the increased focus on expanding university campuses abroad, growing student enrollment, and rising investments in online learning establishments. According to a report by The Business Research Company, the forecast period's primary factors include emphasizing partnerships, concentrating on metaverse technology, integrating a learning management system into teaching and learning to create an efficient educational system, and concentrating on artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the teaching experience. In the aforementioned market, the Western Europe area held the top rank in 2023, with Asia-Pacific coming in second. Furthermore, the online education market is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.49% between 2022 and 2027, adding $148.22 billion to the sector. Educational Technology: The emergence of educational technology (EdTech), or the use of technology for teaching, learning, and education, has been attributed to the huge impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the world's educational landscape. Story continues Over the past few years, EdTech companies have experienced exponential growth, but the popularity of AI programs like ChatGPT has excelled in the education sector. In 2023, the industry-leading provider of student-centered online learning, Chegg Inc. (NYSE:CHGG), announced that it is collaborating with Scale AI, the AI data infrastructure, to create exclusive large language models (LLMs) that will enable Chegg's personalized learning assistant to deliver generative learning experiences. In 2023, Chegg Inc.(NYSE:CHGG) had $766.9 million in total net revenues, a 1% decline from the previous year. Revenues from Subscription Services increased 9% annually to $672.0 million, or 88% of total net revenues, up from 79% in 2021. Chegg Inc. (NYSE:CHGG) is confident in its future growth despite the decline in revenue, the business will flourish by launching the initial section of its brand-new AI-powered user experience. Companies Investing in The Education Sector: Facebook's parent company, Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META), declared in 2022 that it would contribute $150 million to the Immersive Learning initiative. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) will also launch 10 additional virtual campuses in the metaverse in collaboration with VictoryXR, a firm that develops software for extended reality education, eventually bringing the total to 100 universities. Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) aims to train a new generation of metaverse producers through immersive learning so they can produce high-caliber immersive experiences. The organization claims that working together on projects will enable these creators to pick up new skills and pursue fulfilling jobs. The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC), an exclusively online institution, is one example of a virtual campus. The university, which has over 45,000 students, will now offer spaces where students may interact and learn in the metaverse. Microsoft Corporation also recently announced that it will invest $10 billion in OpenAI, the company whose artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT has gained widespread attention. In just a few days after its launch, the tool had over a million users, sparking a new discussion about the future of AI in the workplace. With that said, here are the 25 Best Colleges with High Acceptance Rates. 25 Best Colleges with High Acceptance Rates Matej Kastelic/Shutterstock.com Methodology: To pick out the 25 Best Colleges with High Acceptance Rates and maintain objectivity and relevance in our statistics, we have limited the selection of universities for this article to those included in the QS World University Rankings 2024, which provides a list of the top universities globally. Next, we gathered accurate data regarding their undergraduate program acceptance rates from reliable sources like College Raptor and EduRank. We have chosen institutes from every continent in the world to make our ranking truly global. To demonstrate that even some of the top-ranked colleges in the world can have extremely high acceptance rates, we only included universities with an acceptance rate of 80% or greater. It is important to note that the acceptance rate, which typically appears as a percentage, is the ratio of all applications to all students who are accepted. By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or a professional looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders. 25. University of Mississippi (USA) QS World University Rankings 2024: 1001-1200 Acceptance Rate: 90% Ranked as one of the best universities with high acceptance rates globally, the 'Ole Miss' is a public research institution that was established in 1844. With over 23,000 students, it is particularly known for its engineering and scientific agricultural departments. 24. Alexandria University (Egypt) QS World University Rankings 2024: 901-950 Acceptance Rate: 89% Over 150,000 full-time students are pursuing degrees in 23 different faculties at this public university, which was founded in 1938 in the city known as the "Pearl of the Mediterranean." This university is renowned for its excellent medical, engineering, and humanities programmes. 23. University of Alabama at Birmingham (USA) QS World University Rankings 2024: 901-950 Acceptance Rate: 89% Widely recognized worldwide for its innovative and holistic approach to teaching, the University of Alabama at Birmingham serves not only as an academic medical center but also as a research university. Having been established in 1969 as part of the University of Alabama System, UAB has expanded to become the most significant employer in the state, employing approximately 24,200 academic and staff members as well as over 53,000 workers at the university and in the health system. Hence, becoming on the the best colleges with high acceptance rates. 22. West Virginia University (USA) QS World University Rankings 2024: 901-950 Acceptance Rate: 90% Established in 1867, West Virginia University (WVU) is a public land-grant research institution that has become one of the top universities with a high acceptance rate for international students, enrolling over 900 international students from over 90 nations. Energy, physics and astronomy, neurology, forensic science, rural health, and the fight against the opioid crisis are among the fields in which WVU researchers are active. 21. Kansas State University (USA) QS World University Rankings 2024: 851-900 Acceptance Rate: 96% It is a public college that was established in 1863 and provides more than 92 bachelor's degree programs. It is between 851 and 900th in the QS global university rankings. With 9,822 applications received in total in 2023, the institution had a good acceptance rate of 9,391 applicants accepted. 20. Federico Santa Maria Technical University (Chile) QS World University Rankings 2024: 801-850 Acceptance Rate: 81% Located in Valparaiso, the Federico Santa Maria Technical University is one of the top engineering schools in Chile. This university has four campuses and focuses primarily on engineering, technical, and basic sciences, with a more recent addition of economics and business sciences. In 1962, the UTFSM became the first university in Chile to provide a doctorate in engineering, thereby becoming the pioneer institution of higher learning in Latin America. 19. University of Oregon (USA) QS World University Rankings 2024: 721-730 Acceptance Rate: 93% Boasting 18,602 freshmen and 3,655 graduates, the University of Oregon is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Approximately 86 out of every 100 applications are accepted. This universitys most well-known alumnus is Phil Knight, a co-founder of NIKE. 18. University of Kentucky (USA) QS World University Rankings 2024: 681-690 Acceptance Rate: 92% The University of Kentucky was established in 1865 and is a public land-grant research institution. With 16 institutions and approximately 30,000 students, it offers a broad range of programmes. The university also counts two Nobel Prize winners among its graduates and has been rated between 681 and 690th globally, reaching the top 25 list of highly accepted universities. 17. University of Nebraska (USA) QS World University Rankings 2024: 551 Acceptance Rate: 81% The University of Nebraska is the only public university system in Nebraska with four campuses, each with a distinct mission and objective. 16,000 academic and staff members support the 51,000 students enrolled throughout the university's campuses by using outreach, education, and research to improve the state and the world entire. 16. Oregon State University (USA) QS World University Rankings 2024: 500 Acceptance Rate: 89% Oregon State University is an Oregon-based public land-grant research institution. OSU provides an extensive number of graduate and doctorate degrees, in addition to being home to more than 200 undergraduate degree programs. Out of all the colleges in Oregon, Oregon State University has the highest funding for research that tackles global concerns such as renewable energy, advanced technology, food supply, health and wellness, and climate change. This university is one of the easiest highly-ranked colleges to get into. 15. University of Iowa (USA) QS World University Rankings 2024: 491 Acceptance Rate: 86% Located in the city of Iowa, the University of Iowa is a public research institution in the United States. It is the state's oldest university, having been established back in 1847. With twelve colleges and more than 200 academic programs, the University of Iowa offers seven professional degrees. This university created a space physics powerhouse that is a vital NASA collaborator, the most comprehensive medical facility in the state, and a pioneer of highly regarded programs in speech pathology and audiology. 14. Washington State University (USA) QS World University Rankings 2024: 419 Acceptance Rate: 86% One of the most prominent universities in the world with high acceptance rates is the University of Washington, which was founded in 1861. Every year, this university attracts over 60,000 students and is a thriving hub for innovative research in a range of disciplines, such as business, education, public affairs, medicine, and aeronautics. 13. University of Kansas (USA) QS World University Rankings 2024: 410 Acceptance Rate: 92% Situated in the world's top 500 universities, the University of Kansas was established in 1864. It is a public research institution with over 27,000 students, of whom 2000 are abroad, and 370 different degree programs to choose from. The Sunderland Foundation made a landmark gift of $100 million to the KU Cancer Center in 2023 to finance the construction of a new facility for cancer research and care. 12. Colorado State University - Fort Collins (USA) QS World University Rankings 2024: 409 Acceptance Rate: 90% Originally established in 1870 as Colorado Agricultural College, Colorado State University - Fort Collins is a public land-grant research university that has a 90% acceptance rate. Jon Rubenstein, one of the primary developers of the iPod and iMac, is also one of the university's graduates. 11. Iowa State University (USA) QS World University Rankings 2024: 400 Acceptance Rate: 91% Iowa State University is a public land-grant research institution located in Ames, Iowa, and is ranked among the top colleges with high acceptance rates. Across the world, Iowa State University has earned recognition for its brilliance in science, technology, invention, and discovery, as well as for having a student-centered culture with staff and professors committed to the success of their students. Click to continue reading and see the 10 Best Colleges with High Acceptance Rates. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 25 Best Colleges with High Acceptance Rates is originally published on Insider Monkey. A similar bill passed in Montana last May, and the group has said it hopes to enact its successful formula in more than a dozen other states. Bills written in collaboration with the group were introduced last month in several states, including Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska and Virginia. Founded five years ago as the Energy 45 Fund, the group sought to tout Donald Trumps energy and environmental agenda and defend the greatest president in modern history. Its founder, Mandy Gunasekara, had spent the previous two years at the Environmental Protection Agency, where she played a key role in the decision to pull the United States out of the Paris climate accord and helped repeal the Clean Power Plan, which aimed to reduce emissions from coal-burning power plants. Gladys Anderson, along with nearly two dozen neighbours filed a lawsuit against the owners of a bitcoin operation, blaming the operation for various health problems. Credit: Rory Doyle/The New York Times The group is widely lionised by the bitcoin community, both for its legislative work and for its combative stance toward critics of the industry. But the funds aggressive approach has riled others in the bitcoin community who say they prefer to build consensus around cryptocurrency operations. The strife in Arkansas reflects disagreements across the United States as bitcoin mining has grown by leaps and bounds. Environmental activists, troubled by the industrys electricity consumption and resulting pollution, have called for federal regulation, while backers of the operations say the mines often help stabilise vulnerable electrical grids and provide jobs in rural areas. Concerns about the Arkansas mines have expanded beyond the initial noise complaints to include their connections to Chinese nationals. The operations are connected to a larger influx of Chinese ownership across the United States, The New York Times reported in October, some of which has drawn national security scrutiny. A web of shell companies connects the Arkansas operators to a multibillion-dollar business partially owned by the Chinese government, according to public records obtained by residents opposed to the operations. In November, the Arkansas attorney generals office opened an investigation into them for potentially violating a state law banning businesses controlled by Chinese nationals from owning land. A lawyer representing the operations said an independent security contractor was responsible for the incident near Greenbrier and the company never authorised any guard to brandish a firearm. They also said that the attorney generals investigation was based on a misunderstanding and that they are legally allowed to conduct business. Despite efforts to build bipartisan support, the Satoshi fund has succeeded predominantly in red states. But in Arkansas, where the state Legislature is dominated by Republicans, it is conservatives who have led calls to repeal the law, including Senator Bryan King, a poultry farmer whose district includes a property purchased by one of the companies tied to the Chinese government. He said it was not fair that the bitcoin operators received special protections under the law, which shields them from discriminatory industry-specific regulations and taxes, including noise ordinances and zoning restrictions. Theyre in a protected class more than any other business out there, King said. As restrictions introduced in Congress have failed to gain traction, states and cities have stepped in to fill the void. But as Arkansas has demonstrated, unsatisfying results can leave residents feeling betrayed. Loading Its exhausting Hell is how Gladys Anderson describes life since the bitcoin operation near Greenbrier opened last May less than 100 metres from her home. Computers have been running mostly around the clock, she said, creating so much noise they require constant cooling by loud fans that her son no longer goes outside. The reason we moved out here was to get away from people, get away from noise, she said. Her son, who requires full-time care for autism, has also grown more agitated and aggressive, she said. Its exhausting mentally, emotionally, physically, Anderson said. In July, she and nearly two dozen neighbours filed a lawsuit against the owners, NewRays One, blaming the operation for various health problems, including increased blood pressure, anxiety, difficulty sleeping and mood swings. The lawsuit also suggests the mine has depressed property values. Who would want to purchase property near the noisy site? one of the residents, Rebecca Edwards, wrote in an affidavit. Short answer: No one. Lawyers representing NewRays are seeking to have the case thrown out, citing the Right to Mine law, among other arguments. Recently, the same judge overseeing the lawsuit ruled in a separate case that a local ordinance restricting noise at a related operation was likely to be discriminatory, violating the state law. A lawyer for NewRays disputed the allegations made by Anderson and the other residents, telling the Times that the company looked forward to defending itself in court. As for the lawsuit at the related operation, in which NewRays is a partner, the lawyer said the mine would be a responsible neighbour and hoped to find additional ways to give back to the community. The industry is often criticised for its vast energy use often a boon for the fossil-fuel industry and noise is a common complaint. Credit: Getty Images After the law was signed by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders in April, 49 of the states 76 counties enacted ordinances limiting noise levels at data centres, including cryptocurrency mining operations, before it took effect in August, according to the Association of Arkansas Counties. The legality of those ordinances and local governments inability to regulate the industry are now central to the struggle between residents and the bitcoin operators, with some elected officials who voted for the state law now opposing it. What wasnt explained was the nature of these crypto mines and how they can cause an intolerable noise with no regard for neighbours or wildlife, Representative Jeremiah Moore, a Republican whose district includes a bitcoin operation, said in an email. Moore said the mining bill had been disingenuously promoted to lawmakers as protecting an industry that would create jobs and benefit nearby communities. He recently joined several other lawmakers in drafting a proposed statewide ban on industrial-level cryptocurrency mining. Senator Joshua Bryant, a Republican co-sponsor of the pro-mining legislation, said in an interview that the law was meant to protect the property rights of bitcoin miners and that he believed a significant amount of pushback was a result of misdirected anti-Chinese sentiment. Bryant said he that was exploring the possibility of a statewide noise ordinance to address potential health and safety harms to citizens of the state and that ultimately, we have to continue to figure out how to live with our neighbours. When a mining computer lands on numbers that bitcoins algorithm accepts, the payout is currently worth about $US250,000. The more computers an operation has, the better chance of earning the payout. The primary sponsor of the law, Representative Rick McClure, also a Republican, did not respond to requests for comment from the Times. A primary backer of the legislation was Cryptic Farms, a bitcoin-mining company run by Cameron Baker, an Arkansas native. Baker said his company did not anticipate that bad actors might exploit the law. It wasnt really on our radar that somebody was going to come in right behind the passage of this bill and present themselves as this perfect villain that does everything wrong, he said in an interview. Loading Tom Harford, an executive at Cryptic Farms who leads the Arkansas Blockchain Council, an industry group, said that he regretted putting residents in a position where they have no recourse and that no law is perfect. In Greenbrier, as the lawsuit wears on, Anderson said she and her neighbours have struggled to pay their lawyer. A fundraiser in October brought the community together, but the proceeds barely put a dent in their debt. Still, she said, as long as they can afford it, they will fight the mine. I dont want to be run out of my home, she said. Advertisement Eating outEat and drink Perth What is tonkatsu? The Japanese soul food at the heart of this new Victoria Park restaurant Operating out of a cosy 32-seat dining room, a former Nobu chef is using heritage breed pigs and house-made panko to create fried pork cutlets of a higher order. Max Veenhuyzen February 6, 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 Is it just me or has Vic Park quietly assumed the title of Perths ground zero for tonkatsu? Thats not to say tonkatsu that is, the Japanese soul food classic of breaded and fried pork cutlets is a recent arrival in the neighbourhood. Well-established Japanese restaurants in Vic Park such as Senoji and Kabuki have long served tonkatsu to guests, while dog-friendly Japanese cafe Inuha Cafe offers tonkatsu in sandwich format: a popular way of enjoying the dish in Japan and around the world. Late last year, specialist katsu and tempura restaurant Katen announced its arrival on Albany Highway with poppy splashes of colour and steady queues. The newest member of this porky fraternity is Katzu Katzu, a bijou eatery with a single-minded focus on deep-fried deliciousness. The humble tonkatsu - a Japanese soul food favourite. Supplied Advertisement Until December, this cosy space was known as Yuuma, a warm-hearted eatery whose menu featured Japanese classics as well as fancy, bigger-ticket items for those that felt like pushing out the boat: think rice bowls with wagyu and foie gras; the fatty tuna belly sashimi known as otoro, plus a set-course, chefs selection omakase set menu. The omakase menu was served at a counter where guests enjoyed facetime with Yuumas smiley owner Sean Hong, a Malaysian-born chef thats cooked Japanese around town including a long stint at Nobu. Its Hongs time at Nobu, I think, that speaks to the luxe ingredients that populated the Yuuma menu, not least the offer of a bento box with Nobus legendary miso-marinated cod. The Peruvian-influenced squid and watermelon on the Katzu Katzu menu a refreshing combination of lacey fried squid bodies arranged on cubes of cooling watermelon and dressed with white vinegar, red onion and chilli is another nod to Hongs Nobu era, although his version is far friendlier on the wallet than the original. While Hong might have learned his chops in casino-land, our mans new gig is very much about accessibility. Tonkatsu is Japanese soul food, says Hong. Advertisement I want this to be a restaurant that people can come and eat at regularly. Despite Katzu Katzus egalitarian spirit, Hong is still committed to dotting the proverbial Is and crossings those all-important Ts. Sean Hong is a tonkatsu chef with a fine dining background. Supplied The pork he uses, for instance, is a Berkshire pig raised in Corrigin. A breed with a high fat content, Berkshires are popular among those that make charcuterie. Berkshire pork is also prized by dedicated tonkatsu chefs for similar reasons with the breed referred to as kurobuta - Japanese for black pig, a reference to the Berkshires colour in Japan. Hong emphasises the breeds fattiness by leaving the fat cap on the loins before frying them, making for tonkatsu with an extra lush mouthfeel. The panko crumb that is used to coat the pork is another point of difference with Hong and his team making their own panko from soft Japanese-style bread. Advertisement When cooked in a house blend of canola oil mixed with a little sesame oil (a detail, I suspect, which is as much about taste as it is lowering the smoking point of the oil) creates a golden cutlet with that all-important furriness one might associate with Maisen, Wako or any of Japans other top-tier tonkatsu chains. 14.5 / 20 Review Residing in a former bank, Sonnys is a neighbourhood wine bar brimming with youthful vigour and potential A neat touch is having your (pre-sliced) tonkatsu served on a little tempura fry mesh that keeps the pork off the plate and, therefore, its bottom crisp. The tonkatsu comes in a range of formats including sets with unlimited rice and cabbage; a top an egg omelette (katsudon); in a bowl dressed with curry sauce; and in a bowl with udon noodles. A plus-sized mega pork katsu don featuring a cutlet cut extra-thick is also available, although considering how filling the standard-issue cutlet is, I wouldnt recommend ordering one unless you smashed some sort of World CrossFit Games record. Other fried katsu options include chicken, prawn and vegetarian croquettes. Advertisement Part of the fun of eating at Katzu Katzu is, after ordering, being able to use a suribachi (a ceramic bowl with a rough, mortar-like surface) to grind black and white sesame seeds into a paste that you add fruity tonkatsu sauce too. Its a cute pre-dinner ritual and the sort of thing you might expect to find in a citys unofficial home of tonkatsu. Katzu Katzu (861 Albany Hwy, East Victoria Park) is open for lunch and dinner daily. katzukatzu.com.au The countrys oldest Catholic school is preparing to enrol girls and the process has not involved grown men crying, public rallies or legal letters. St Marys Cathedral College on Monday opened applications to male and female students alike, from kindergarten to year 7 to start in 2025. Sarah Lichaa, 11, Matthew Lichaa, 14, Isaac Lichaa, 12, and Yasmin Lichaa, 8, will be able to go to school together. Credit: Kate Geraghty Principal Kerrie McDiarmid said the concept of co-education was not a radical one, as girls were enrolled in the school at various times in its 200-year history, most recently in 1967. She said there was demand for places for girls. We do have waiting lists across the college. This allows us to open the doors to a number of students, she said. Weve had a number of queries about potential co-education. London: King Charles III has begun treatment for cancer in London and will step back from his public duties following a shock health diagnosis just 17 months after he succeeded his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Buckingham Palace announced doctors had found a form of cancer discovered after the King, 75, underwent a procedure last month for a benign prostate enlargement. During his three-night stay in hospital doctors noticed a separate issue, undertook tests and Charles began regular treatments this week as an outpatient. It is not known which type of cancer was discovered, but palace aides confirmed that it was not prostate cancer. He is unlikely to return to public life for several months but has indicated that he will continue his constitutional duties as head of state. King Charles has been diagnosed with an unannounced form of cancer. Credit: Getty World leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, joined in a public outpouring of well-wishes on Tuesday as the palace reassured the public, announcing Prince William who is next in line would return to duties on Wednesday. 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. Alphabet's (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) Google Search is totally back to kick off 2024. But as investors' collective focus pivoted to profitable growth during the bear market, this is where the company stood out. Total operating income profit margins dialed in at 27.5% in Q4 2023, up from 24% a year ago. With profits rising again, Alphabet went to work last year doling out more shareholder returns. And those returns comprise the 61.5 billion reasons Alphabet is still a buy and hold in my book for 2024. Share buybacks were hefty last year Alphabet revealed in its Q4 2023 financial filings that it shelled out a whopping $61.5 billion worth of share buybacks last year. That was a near-4% increase from 2022. Not bad for a bear market. Granted, Alphabet also doled out employee stock-based compensation of $22.5 billion last year. Nevertheless, the buybacks still more than offset that amount and effectively reduced the total share count along the way. Investors were rewarded with a net 3.3% decrease in average shares outstanding in 2023 (a lower share count boosts earnings per share for remaining shareholders). Paired with those profit margin increases, the lowered share count is what helped Alphabet report a massive 56% year-over-year increase in earnings per share in Q4 2023. Adding to Alphabet's impressive buybacks... Of course, of the world's largest tech companies that also repurchase stock as part of their shareholder return policy, Apple reigns supreme. (Amazon is excluded here, as it has no current stock buyback program.) GOOGL Stock Buybacks (TTM) Chart However, what's impressive about Alphabet's shareholder returns is that it was also able to pull this off, all the while shelling out massive amounts of cash to upgrade its data centers and global infrastructure for a new era of artificial intelligence and accelerated computing. Purchases of property and equipment (or capex) totaled $32.3 billion last year. By comparison, Apple's capex was about one-third of Alphabet's. Story continues That speaks volumes about Apple's efficiency in designing and selling top consumer products, but let's not take too much away from Alphabet. It's a totally different business model, one where constant data center upgrades to support its internet-based business are a necessity. And in spite of all the capex spending and $61.5 billion in stock buybacks, Alphabet didn't even make a dent in its massive cash hoard. At the end of the year, it had cash and short-term equivalents of $111 billion, plus long-term investments of $31 billion. That's relatively unchanged from the cash and equivalents of $114 billion, and long-term investments of $30.5 billion, at the end of 2022. In other words, Alphabet still has plenty of room to return even more cash to its shareholders in the years to come. Profits set to rise even higher? Alphabet's various businesses continue to make more changes to focus on shareholder value creation as 2024 gets rolling. Google Cloud is only just now hitting the 10% operating profit margin threshold, so it has space to run higher. And the Google Other Bets segment (X Labs, which houses start-ups like Waymo) also said it will be bringing in outside investors starting this year to unlock more potential. If profit margins increase again this year, I expect another ramp-up in Alphabet's stock buybacks. This, paired with all that cash on the balance sheet, is a top reason I'm content to keep holding my shares for the long haul. Should you invest $1,000 in Alphabet right now? Before you buy stock in Alphabet, 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 Alphabet wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of January 29, 2024 Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Nicholas Rossolillo has positions in Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 61.5 Billion Reasons Alphabet Stock Is a Buy Again for 2024 was originally published by The Motley Fool Key Insights Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Magna International's stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions The top 25 shareholders own 48% of the company Insiders have sold recently If you want to know who really controls Magna International Inc. (TSE:MG), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 70% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Magna International. View our latest analysis for Magna International What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Magna International? 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. We can see that Magna International does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. 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. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Magna International's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Story continues Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Magna International. The company's largest shareholder is Managed Account Advisors LLC, with ownership of 4.5%. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is the second largest shareholder owning 3.5% of common stock, and Pzena Investment Management, Inc. holds about 3.4% of the company stock. A deeper look at our ownership data shows that the top 25 shareholders collectively hold less than half of the register, suggesting a large group of small holders where no single shareholder has a majority. 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. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Magna International The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Magna International Inc.. As it is a large company, we'd only expect insiders to own a small percentage of it. But it's worth noting that they own CA$26m worth of shares. Arguably recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 30% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Magna International that you should be aware of. Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. 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. An Irish MEP believes a new report will be game-changing from homeowners impacted by pyrite and mica. "The European Parliaments Petitions Committee gave thousands of Irish homeowners, affected by defective concrete products, a lot of hope in the last week," said MEP Luke 'Ming' Flanagan. This report will bring us a paradigm shift, it will help us come up with a definitive solution for the people who are suffering," he added. An EU delegation recently visited Donegal to see the scale of the problem."The chair of the Committee Dolores Montserrat explained why the mission to Ireland was so important. She said that - 'We did not want to let Irish people down.' She also stated that - 'This is for the future; never again can this happen in Ireland but also in the other States.' Given that there is evidence that defective concrete products have only recently been used in the construction of yet another house then this statement is particularly significant," said Mr Flanagan. He believes the draft report into the issue will see a 'paradigm shift' and highlights how much importance the EU Parliament places on the issue. "What has appeared in the draft report shows that the mission to Donegal has been taken seriously by the European Parliament When I was first approached three years ago by affected homeowners I suggested that they try this route. Ive had a previous positive experience with the committee with regard to another constituent, a whistle-blower called Julie Grace. At this week's committee, the chair said that in relation to those affected and the committee in general that - 'This is the bridge between European citizens and the European institutions I am sure we are going to all together going to shift the solutions and give you answers.' Following the strong recommendations made in the draft report that statement is indeed proving to be true," said the MEP. "What has appeared in the draft report shows that the mission to Donegal has been taken seriously by the European Parliament. The report explodes the myth that the grant scheme is fit for purpose. Something that the Irish government has been attempting to imprint on public opinion. This lie has now been thoroughly debunked. What makes this all the more significant is that it is being said by an MEP who inhabits the same political family as Fine Gael. It shows that some politicians can actually put people before politics," he added. Geraghty Boat Charters, a well-known name along the Wild Atlantic Way, is embarking on a new era. Operating since 1993, this family-owned business has been a mainstay for those seeking maritime adventures in the tranquil waters of Blacksod Bay. Reflecting on three decades of memorable journeys, Josephine Geraghty says the time has come to pass the leadership to the next generation. Established in the summer of 1993 with the launch of the 'Ave Marie' at Blacksod Pier, Geraghty Charters became synonymous with thrilling expeditions to the breathtaking Inishkea Islands, Achill Island, and exciting sea angling trips around Blackrock. The fleet expanded over the last 30 years with the addition of 'Fionnuala' and 'Noirin Ban', leaving behind a legacy of maritime experiences. As Mattie and Josephine bid farewell to their role as captains, the spotlight now turns to their son Jason, who, along with his partner Katherine and daughters Maisie and Kitty, is set to lead Geraghty Charters into the next chapter. Conveying sincere appreciation, Mattie and Josephine extend thanks to everyone who has been part of their remarkable journey. Manager of Mayo North Tourism, Mairead Melody Carr, extended her heartfelt gratitude to Mattie and Josephine for their unwavering dedication to tourism in North Mayo. Geraghtys welcome everyone as friends, and their captivating stories and warm hospitality have not only left a lasting impression on international visitors, the domestic market, and locals. Best wishes go to Jason, Katherine, Maisie, and Kitty for success in growing this business. On behalf of Mayo North Tourism, I express our appreciation for the Geraghty family's contributions and eagerly look forward to the exciting next chapter in Geraghty Charters' journey along Blacksod Bay and the Wild Atlantic Way. There can be no justification for ripping up the railway from Claremorris to Collooney and replacing it with a bicycle track, the Mayor of Sligo, Cllr Declan Bree, told members of the Western Inter-County Railway Committee at a Mayoral Reception in Sligo City Hall last week. I am supportive of greenways but it must be pointed out that there are enough alternative routes to build a greenway/bicycle track between Collooney and Charlestown without interfering with the existing rail infrastructure, he said. Cllr Bree hosted the reception to mark the occasion of the Railway Committee holding its first meeting of 2024 in Sligo. Welcoming the chairman and members of the Committee to City Hall, Cllr Bree said: I believe it is fitting that an important body like the Western Inter-County Railway Committee would hold its first meeting of the new year in this building, in the capital of the North West. We in Sligo are very much aware that the Western Inter-County Railway Committee, composed of elected representatives nominated by the local authorities in the West of Ireland, is committed to the re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor and the establishment of a full rail service between Limerick and Sligo via Mayo, Galway and Clare. Now more than ever before, more and more people are recognising that the development of strong transport infrastructure is critical to the future of this region. The fact that the EU has downgraded the status of the West and Northwest region from 'developed region' to a 'region in transition' is reflective of the fact that our region is falling behind and not seeing the same levels of investment in infrastructure by central government as other areas of the country. According to the most recent statistics published by the European Union, we learned that out of the 234 designated regions across the European Union, this region ranks at 218th for infrastructure. This places our region in the bottom seven per cent, alongside some of the poorest regions in the EU in Latvia, Romania and Bulgaria. Therefore in terms of ensuring balanced regional development, the re-opening of the rail line from Sligo to Galway offers the greatest potential for economic and social improvements. In my capacity as a member of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, I recently had the opportunity of participating in a meeting with the Taoiseach and making the case for the re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor. As committee members will be aware, the re-opening of the Sligo to Galway Western Railway line is included as a key objective in the North West Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy. The strategy includes the objective to deliver the Athenry-Tuam-Claremorris-Sligo rail line to an appropriate level of service and to a standard capable of facilitating passenger and freight transport. The re-opening of the rail service from Sligo to Galway will enable regional development in line with the National Planning Framework strategy, as a contributory driver of economic growth, helping to create sufficient scale to allow the West to compete on an equal footing with Dublin and the East and it will significantly improve the linkage of towns and cities stretching along the Atlantic Economic Corridor from Limerick to Galway to Sligo. By allowing a sustainable commuting option, rural, village and small town residents along the route will have the option of living at home and working in the larger urban centres. This will certainly help rural regeneration and social inclusion. The recent proposal to reactivate the section of the rail corridor from Athenry to Claremorris as part of a strategic freight route is most welcome as is the Government decision to apply for EU funding for the initiative. And the members of Galway County Council and Mayo County Council are to be congratulated for bringing about this breakthrough. It is clear evidence that where there is the will, central government can be won over. However, I was extremely disappointed to see the omission of any serious proposal for the final 47-mile section of the rail line linking Claremorris with Collooney. This, I believe, is due to the fact that there are mixed messages emanating from Sligo. Unfortunately, there are some elements who believe that ripping up railway infrastructure and replacing it with a bicycle track is the way forward. Sligo will need a lot more ambition than that if we want to be serious about re-opening the remaining section of the railway from Collooney to Claremorris. In my view, there can be no justification for ripping up the railway and replacing it with a bicycle track. I am supportive of greenways but it must be pointed out that there are enough alternative routes to build a greenway/bicycle track between Collooney and Charlestown without interfering with the existing rail infrastructure. In saying that, I warmly welcome the most recent comments made by Mr Jim Meade, the chief executive of Irish Rail, when he stated that he and Irish Rail certainly would support the ambition to keep the Claremorris to Collooney section of the corridor for rail traffic, and not for anything else. That view is shared by the Western Inter-County Railway Committee, it is shared by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly and it is shared by the vast majority of people in this community who support the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor. That message must be repeated and must go out loud and clear we want to keep the Collooney to Claremorris section of the corridor for rail traffic, and not for anything else. All of us are aware that the rail corridor is a key piece of infrastructure for the West and will link the economies of three major centres, Sligo, Galway and Limerick. The planning guidelines for this region have consistently and collectively called for the provision of inter-city passenger and freight services on the Western Rail Corridor between Limerick and Sligo. While the re-opening of the final stretch of the rail corridor is still under consideration at a national level we all know that Dublins growth has been allowed to spiral out of control while token gestures at balanced regional development has left our capital city bursting at the seams. If central government seriously wants to achieve balanced regional development, it needs to facilitate it happening by investing in our rail infrastructure, particularly in terms of re-opening the Western Rail Corridor, the Mayor said. I was amused recently to hear a man contend that Saint Brigid was actually a Protestant. Given that Protestantism was only born in 1517, I could tell he was wide of the mark but his contention is interesting nonetheless because there are many theories about Saint Brigid and her origins. So, who was this woman and what is her position in the order of thing? Stories merge I have a soft spot for Brigid as its my own mothers name. In its simplest form, the story of Saint Brigid is a merger of two traditions. There was the ancient feminine deity and there was the early Christian saint. As what mostly happened, when Celtic legends and Christian personalities met, the two stories became one in an effort to appeal and convert. The first Brigid or Brigit; meaning 'exalted one', is a goddess of pre-Christian Ireland. She appears in Irish mythology as a member of the Tuatha De Danann, the daughter of the Dagda and wife of Bres, with whom she had a son, Ruadan. She is associated with wisdom, poetry, healing, protection, smithing and domesticated animals. Cormac's Glossary, written in the 9th century by Christian monks, says that Brigid was "the goddess whom poets adored" and that she had two sisters: Brigid the healer and Brigid the smith. This suggests she was a triple deity. The second Brigid, Saint Brigid, shares many of the goddess's attributes. Even her feast day, February 1, was originally a Celtic festival called Imbolc. It may, therefore, be construed that the saint we know today is very closely linked with the ancient goddess, and that the gifts of one are the gifts of the other. Brigid of Kildare Saint Brigid or Brigid of Kildare; (c. 451 525), is widely recognised as the patroness saint of Ireland. According to accounts, she was an abbess who founded the important abbey of Kildare. There are few historical facts about her, and those that exist are mainly anecdotes and miracle tales, some of which are rooted in pagan folklore. They say this Brigid was the daughter of a chieftain, and was raised in a druid's household before becoming a consecrated virgin. She too is associated with many gifts, including poetry, learning, healing, protection, blacksmithing, livestock and dairy production. As with many noted feasts and festivals in the Irish calendar, the eve of the festival is just as important as the day itself. The traditions of the feast, while not much seen these days, have been well recorded. Irish Folklore and Traditions has information on some of the customs and rituals associated with Brigid's Day. A sod or two was often turned in a tillage field. Wind direction on the eve of the festival was carefully noted as the prevailing wind during the coming year. The day of the festival itself should show signs of improving weather but if it was too good it was an omen of bad weather to come. In some areas, especially in parishes dedicated to the saint, only work that was strictly necessary was carried out and in some areas of Kerry and west Cork any kind of work that involved the turning of wheels was avoided. In other regions, both ploughing and smithwork fell under this ban. The Brideog may not have been such a big thing in the Ox Mountain region, but in many places the tradition was, and indeed is, very strong. Information from the National Museum of Ireland takes up the story: Also, on the eve of the festival (January 31), called Brideog Night in some areas, the children of the district went out from door to door. They would disguise themselves in old clothes or in their own clothes turned inside out. They would mask their face with pieces of cloth or curtains, sometimes using straw or rush hats to keep the veils on. The Brideog, called Miss Biddy in this instance, was a doll made from old rags or a butter churn dressed up. The person recounting this tale mentions that in this case a turnip was carved and painted with soot. They would play music at each house to receive money or sweets. A rhyme of some description was said as the door was answered. This again varied to some degree by district but was fundamentally the same. Katie Shannon Clarke with the St Brigid's Cross she made at a recent workshop at the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Turlough Park. Picture: Karen Cox Brigids Cross Solvar, an Irish Celtic jewellery company, gives a concise account of the creation of the first Saint Brigids Cross. It is a bit like Saint Patrick using the shamrock to explain the Trinity, where a common plant, in this case, the humble rush, is used to help bring the message home. The story of the first St Brigid's Cross comes from a story about an old pagan lord on his deathbed whose servants summoned Brigid to his side to calm him. She held vigil there, comforting him, and in an effort to make him understand the new faith, she picked some rushes from the floor and wove an intricate cross. So moved by her care and her words, he asked to be baptised before he died. In certain parts of Ireland, there are different variations of the cross; the shape and constituent material varying from one county to another. While such crosses can be made from virtually anything, depending on the creativity of the person making them and the materials available, again the National Museum of Ireland has interesting information. The most recognisable cross is the four-armed cross, popularised since 1961 by its use as an emblem for Irish television. Regional styles and variations of St Brigids crosses existed throughout Ireland and often many styles were made in each home. Traditional designs were diamond, interlaced, or wheel-shaped, and could have two, three, or four arms. The simplest ones consisted of two strips of wood or straw plaits tied together to form a cross. Straw, rushes, and reeds were most common, but grass, hay, wood, goose quills, wire and fabric were also used to form crosses. Whatever the chosen material, it was sprinkled with holy water beforehand and a prayer to welcome the saint into the home was often recited. Crosses were hung up in homes and animal sheds to invoke St Brigids blessing. Note that the cross, any cross, and the design chosen are secondary to the blessings the cross bestows. The intention is the vital ingredient. Crosses are blessed, by Brigid herself, simply by leaving them outdoors on the night of January 31. Similarly, the Brat-Bhride, Brigids cloth, is left out to be imbued with Brigids healing powers. The cloth is then used for healing and protection throughout the year. Feminine power My own thoughts on Brigid are that we now have a feminine influence in our list of public holidays. This can only be a good thing. Indeed, if we had more of a feminine influence in our world today, we might have less conflict and less war. The horror of powerful armies killing women and children has never been more evident. What mother figure would oversee such destruction? As we celebrate this new public holiday, maybe that is our lesson: respect the power of the feminine. Whether you see Brigid as a Celtic deity or a Christian saint, who better to welcome spring to the Ox Mountains, at a time when wildflowers peep and new lambs leap. By Jaspreet Kalra and Jayshree P Upadhyay MUMBAI (Reuters) - India's $4 trillion stock market is pulling in billions of dollars of domestic and foreign money as investors flock to a fast-growing alternative to China, brushing aside risks around overpriced shares, upcoming elections and regulatory uncertainty. The stream of investment has lifted the benchmark NSE Nifty 50 Index by a third in the last 10 months and attracted $20 billion in foreign inflows in 2023, according to India's national depository data. India's allure is rising this year as global investors seek substitutes for sickly Chinese markets and as expectations grow that national elections this year will see current Prime Minister Narendra Modi return for a rare third term. And investors seem happy to overlook risks, such as the already lofty levels the market is priced at and any political surprises. "The recent rally notwithstanding ... the upcoming elections notwithstanding, I think India is a good market for long term investors," said Vikas Pershad, portfolio manager for Asian equities at M&G Investments. A steady flow of cash into the stock market from regular retail investment plans, currently averaging $2 billion a month, and buying by domestic institutional investors have been tailwinds. Goldman Sachs sees the Nifty index, currently around 22,000, hitting 23,500 by the end of 2024, while local brokerage ICICI Securities expects a nearly 14% jump. The market has become one of the world's most expensive ones. The 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio, a widely used valuation measure, is 22.8 for the Nifty 50, three times China's and higher even than the U.S. S&P 500 valuation at 20.23, according to LSEG data. Despite lofty valuations, ICICI Securities expects Nifty earnings to grow at a compounded annual rate of 16.3%. Global investors' desire to own a piece of the brightest market in the emerging world has been the catalyst, says Remi Olu-Pitan, head of multi-asset growth and income at asset manager Schroders, but that has meant an under-appreciation of the vulnerability and risks. Story continues "Whilst longer term we like India, we completely agree with the growth story, we just worry the market might not be pricing some of the risks that are brewing at the moment," she said. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Indias GDP is expected to grow by 6.5% in 2024, versus China whose growth estimate is 4.6%. PERFORMANCE PRESSURE To be sure, investors are bracing for possible short-term volatility, particularly around the elections, and for the Nifty's rise to be less than linear. As they look to hedge the risk, implied stocks volatility is rising. The chief risk is the level of expectations. "It is not India or China, but India and China," says Nilesh Shah, chief executive officer of Mumbai-headquartered Kotak Mutual Fund, referring to how investors now think of the two markets. "Since Indias premium valuation is on account of other markets not doing that well, now if they start doing well, things could change," he said. And that, he said, meant the market would need to keep delivering better and consistent earnings growth. While China's efforts to stabilise its economy and markets have yielded little so far, foreigners have been returning to mainland markets this year on hopes of an eventual rebound. "A large chunk of the countrys appeal right now is that it is not China," said Jeff Weniger, head of equity strategy, WisdomTree Investments. "In other cycles, we could confidently say that the prospect of these stimulus packages from Beijing would lift all boats, but the risk to India is a bull run in China taking away the intense fear that currently engulfs that stock market." Stock market regulator the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) is already cautious. As domestic institutions, which received inflows of over $22 billon in 2023, burst at the seams, SEBI asked asset managers to stress test their mid and small-cap funds and tightened scrutiny of offshore funds which have concentrated holdings in local stocks. Domestic ownership of Indian stocks is now at 35.6%, dwarfing the 16% foreign ownership. The remainder is owned by promoters, an Indian markets term for large shareholders who can influence company policy. FACTBOX-How foreign investors can invest in India) The May election, however, is front and centre on investors' risk maps. While Modi is hugely popular and his party is expected to maintain its majority in the country's parliament, a weaker than expected result could dampen its ability to push through economic measures that have helped drive markets higher. I think the political risk is the highest, so I would call it a low probability, high impact event, Hemant Mishr, chief investment officer at Singapore-based fund management company S CUBE Capital said. If it were to materialise, that would, more than the Middle East crisis, will have a bigger impact on India sentiment. (Reporting by Jaspreet Kalra, Jayshree P. Upadhyay; additional reporting by Ankur Banerjee, Bansari Mayur Kamdar and Tom Westbrook; Editing by Vidya Ranganathan and Kim Coghill) Grist spotlights a program in Georgia to investigate how a change in US tax law may enable the scale-up of solar power. A change in tax law has some solar providers walking on sunshine Originally published on grist.org, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange. Air Products' fiscal first-quarter 2024 earnings per share fell short of the company's own forecast, with a slowing Chinese economy partly to blame. The company also reduced its earnings forecast for the year. First-quarter adjusted earnings per share reported Monday were $2.82, below Air Products' projected range of $2.90 to $3.05. "Our reported results were lower than our expectations, mainly due to a slowdown in manufacturing in Asia, particularly in China; lower helium demand; cost headwinds from a sale of equipment project, and current devaluation in Argentina," Seifi Ghasemi, the company's chairman, chief executive and president said in a statement. First-quarter revenue was $3.0 billion, down 6% from the year-ago quarter. Air Products passes some energy costs through to its customers, so lower prices for energy cut into sales but do not affect net income. Air Products is the biggest producer of hydrogen in the world. Ghasemi is promoting that industrial gas as a fuel for a clean-energy economy that will move away from fossil fuels. The Upper Macungie Township-based company revised its full-year forecast for adjusted earnings per share to $12.20 to $12.50. Adjusted earnings exclude items the company considers to be one-time or unusual; For the second quarter, Air Products forecasts adjusted EPS of $2.60 to $2.75. In November, Air Products forecast adjusted EPS of $12.80 to $13.10 for fiscal 2024. The company also reduced its projected second-quarter adjusted EPS to $2.60 to $2.75, down from $2.90 to $3.05. The estimate for full-year capital expenditures remains $5.0 to $5.5 billion. Earnings for the first quarter on a Generally Accepted Accounting Principles basis, or GAAP, were $2.73 per share. GAAP does not allow for adjustments. The consensus estimate for first-quarter revenue was $3.31 billion, based on a survey of four Wall Street analysts by Zacks Investment Research. The average estimate of nine analysts was for first-quarter adjusted EPS of $2.99. Sales in the year-ago first quarter were $3.2 billion. The company will hold a conference call at 8:30 a.m. to discuss its results. Shares in Air Products are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol APD. The closing price Friday was $258.17. L. SAUCON TWP., Pa. - A grassroots organization of concerned citizens in Lower Saucon Township has announced a new complaint has been filed against Bethlehem Landfill and Lower Saucon Township. The complaint is in response to a controversial plan to expand a landfill in Northampton County. According to a media release from Citizens for Responsible Development, St. Lukes Hospital Anderson Campus, the Township of Bethlehem, and the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Inc. have joined forces in filing the legal complaint. The release continues to say the complaint challenges the actions of Lower Saucon Township and the Bethlehem Landfill that "purported to terminate scenic and conservation easements that prohibited the planned expansion of the landfill." The plaintiffs in the amended complaint are residents living near the proposed landfill expansion. The complaint centers on a dispute over the rezoning of land and the removal of conservation easements held by Lower Saucon Township, paperwork says. The above mentioned residents argue the expansion of landfill activities are "detrimental to the environment, public health, and scenic and recreational areas." There are multiple pending legal challenge against the proposed expansion. FILE PHOTO: Logo of Atos is seen on a company building, in Nantes By Stephanie Hamel and Dominique Vidalon (Reuters) -Shares in French technology company Atos plunged 27% on Monday after it dropped plans for a rights issue citing "changes in the market environment" and said it had started talks with its banks about refinancing its debt. Atos, which last month named its fourth new chief executive in less than two years and has grappled with a series of profit warnings, said it would request the appointment of an independent third party to facilitate talks with banks. A standby underwriting commitment by BNP Paribas and JPMorgan for a 720 million euro ($776 million) rights issue was no longer in effect, Atos said. "Atos will inform the market in due course of the progress of the discussions with its banks, its new refinancing plan, its contemplated disposals, as well as the possible changes in its capital structure which could result in a dilution of the existing shareholders," it added. By 0857 GMT, Atos shares were down 27%, taking their slide this year to more than 50%. The IT service provider in November said it was considering accessing capital markets and the sale of additional assets to tackle the capital raising plan, a 1.5 billion euro term loan maturing in January 2025, and 750 million euros in bonds maturing May 2025. Talks to sell Tech Foundations, Atos's loss-making IT consulting arm, to Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky's EPEI group are ongoing, with "no certainty that these negotiations will result in an agreement", Atos said. The group, in January warned that its free cash flow would be slightly below its initial target for the second half of 2023. ($1 = 0.9276 euros) (Reporting by Stephanie Hamel in Gdansk; additional reporting by Dominique Vidalon; editing by Milla Nissi and Jason Neely) New poll shows dramatic decline in electoral support of ANC Unless something unforeseen occurs, the shape of post-election South Africa is already reasonably clear - it shows a wounded and decaying ANC. One of Antonio Gramscis more famous comments was that the old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born. That seems to be true of South African electoral politics where the decline of the ANC seems unstoppable, but where no obvious successor has emerged the DA and EFF each attract only around a fifth or sixth of voters; a host of smaller parties consistently win a handful of votes; more than 90 new parties were recently registered, but have added noise rather than contributing substantial change to the political scene at least as measured by polls. A worse symptom, as Colette Schulz-Herzenberg noted after the 2019 general election, is voter hostility to voting: For the first time since the founding democratic elections in 1994, less than half (49%) of all eligible South Africans cast a vote in 2019. People either sit on their hands or simply dont bother registering as voters. It is easy to write this off as voter apathy. Rather than blame the voters, it is more accurate to say that no party has offered anything near enough to energise and mobilise these voters. Unless something unforeseen occurs, the shape of post-election South Africa is already reasonably clear: a wounded and decaying ANC, well below the 50% mark (in this poll at 42% among registered voters who intend voting) but bigger than any other party; the DA (19%) and EFF (16%) winning less than a fifth of the vote; many of the older smaller parties dying off; and the remainder dividing tiny vote shares. If the new world is taking shape anywhere, it is at provincial level, to which we now turn our attention. In late 2023, one of the newest parties in the country, Change Starts Now (CSN), commissioned a large baseline survey before the party was launched. CSN was launched in the last 10 days of fieldwork and so the surveys function was to understand the lay of the land, rather than specifically to research CSN or its leader, Roger Jardine. The survey had a sample of 9,000 respondents, drawn in appropriate proportions from all provinces and across urban/rural areas (many surveys scrimp on the rural component because it is commonly slow and costly, this one did not). CSN has given permission for the data analysed here to be released. Global South scholars explain their solidarity with Palestine, and why they cant stay silent Wits University scholars reflect on the Israel-Gaza war and what informs their solidarity as part of the Global South community. Finding your moral compass is a lifetimes journey but it can be the internal guide that holds steadier in a world easily pivoted to division, intolerance and convenient pigeonholing. Four scholars share some personal insights into how they came to stand in solidarity with Palestine, and why they raise an alarm over rising anti-Semitism. Its facing up to the complexities of what it means to be Global South scholars at this time of conflict and how they grapple with holding complexity, contradictions and even hypocrisies. Ultimately, they share their stories to tell why, as mothers, sisters, daughters as human beings they dont have the option to stay silent. Thokozile Madonko An art gallery is the distance of a thousand realities from the war in Gaza the air-conditioned quiet, the ordered curation, also an exit sign because visitors have a choice to leave. These contradictions were not lost on Thokozile Madonko when she visited the Past Disquiet exhibition at Zeitz Mocaa in the spring of 2023. It was weeks before the Israel-Hamas October war began. The documentary exhibition at the Cape Town gallery, which ends in March 2024, takes as its starting point a revisit of the 1978 International Art Exhibition for Palestine that was installed in Beirut, Lebanon, as an action and statement for museums to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian peoples struggle. Past Disquiet juxtaposes this with other struggles, including the anti-apartheid struggle. There was this poster of June 16 and it said something like it took children dying for us to take up a grenade. I was struck at how violence creates violence, whether in South Africa or in Palestine. Some of the photographs in the exhibition were 40 or 50 years old but they also felt very recent because of this long struggle of dispossession in Palestine. It made me very angry, Thokozile says Then, just weeks later, war erupted in the Middle East. Thokozile knew immediately the same photos shed seen in the exhibition would be made all over again. With each refreshed death count over the past few months, and with more images of Gaza beamed around the world, her anger rises. But this time she feels a deep professional and personal reckoning. My research in public economy is about poverty, inequality and social justice. But I dont really touch on issues around dispossession of land and settler colonial histories. But the more I have engaged and learnt about this settler colonial project that is the state of Israel, the more its made me think about the history of my own land dispossession and the damage that gets done. We must carry on and believe in our actions because there is hope when we think that today apartheid South Africa was defeated; Rhodesia no longer exists. Thokozile was born in Zambia. Her father was part of Zimbabwes liberation struggle against Ian Smiths rule. But he was Ndebele and found himself on the wrong side of history as the post-colonial period of state-sanctioned violence became the Gukurahundi massacre. I always say my father died of a broken heart, says Thokozile. It was because he had fought for liberation from Rhodesia but it had also been a fight that saw him exiled to Greece, only being allowed to return in 1992. Today, Thokozile lives in Cape Town. She has not returned to Zimbabwe for years theres no one there anymore, she says of the place that is her homeland too. There are silences and invisibility that come with the passage of time, the changing power dynamics and also who gets to control the story. Thokozile reflects on how this foments into propaganda. Its what is playing out to create anti-Palestinian sentiment, she says. We see it in how uncomfortable people are to speak out about what Israel is doing in Gaza, even among researchers, scholars and the university that knows the history of this country or of the armed struggle in Zimbabwe. There are real implications and it makes people unsure and it makes people feel like theres undue risk to speak out. But for me we must follow the facts and be awake to what is happening on the ground in Gaza. The people in Palestine do not live politically free lives or have basic human rights. And if we believe in global solidarity and we do believe in being anti-hate then this is what we stand for. For Thokozile, who is mom to a teenage daughter and the daughter of a man who fought for Zimbabwes liberation, the war in Gaza is a reminder that she must challenge the status quo of the war and also who funds the war and the occupation. Actions too must follow, including fundraising, fellowships for Palestinian scholars, divestment, joining protests and choosing visibility, she says. We must carry on and believe in our actions because there is hope when we think that today apartheid South Africa was defeated; Rhodesia no longer exists. These are long struggles, but my father didnt just accept what was put in front of him in a Rhodesia where they had no rights. Its this that gives me energy and that I want to have a different story one day to share with my daughter. Arabo Ewinyu Throwing stones looked like a lucky position to be in through the eyes of schoolgirl Arabo Ewinyu, growing up in Nairobi at the time the First Intifada of civil disobedience, protest and riots started gaining ground in Palestine in the late Eighties until the early Nineties. I remember seeing the images of children throwing stones and thinking how lucky they were not to have to go to school; I just didnt understand at the time, Arabo says. Whats stayed with Arabo all these years are the images of children in wars. Its how easily its overlooked that children are not shielded from war. Theyre right in the centre of conflict, counted among the casualties and the dead, or are the ones to grow up as another generation that has to go to war. As oppressed people in the Global South our sense of freedom is incomplete as long as theres another similar person who is in chains. The Middle East conflict involves children. This war strikes at a sense of identity, of displacement, and of witnessing people being written out of history. And when you see a child take to the streets you know they understand what this means, she says. Arabos own understanding of freedom from oppression came at the moment her two older sisters received their passports for the first time. That day, she remembers, her family home filled with excited energy. Bound in the small breast pocket-sized documents were blank pages representing freedom, travel, futures and choices. But the passports came with one distinct limitation. My sisters would be able to travel anywhere, except South Africa, which was still under apartheid rule. They grew up in Kenya but are Ugandan by birth. In solidarity, Ugandan passport holders chose to boycott visiting South Africa. Thats when solidarity sunk in for me and the realisation that we are never free as Africans as long as Africa is not free. So, as oppressed people in the Global South our sense of freedom is incomplete as long as theres another similar person who is in chains, whos in oppression and cannot express themselves fully. Today, Arabo is a mother of a son and a daughter; her youngest is just an infant. She admits it makes news and images of pregnant mothers in Gaza under bombardment with no access to maternal healthcare difficult to process. As an economist, one of her key focus areas is how households function. Shes fully aware that the idea of household and home has been destroyed for many families because of the Israel-Gaza war. The war in this moment feels different somehow its hit home harder trying to come to terms that homes have been left in rubble, families obliterated and too many children have been made orphans, and some too young to know their parents names or even their own. This war has forced me to remember that people I talk about in my research, or the people I read about, are people, not subjects, who are not devoid of story or humanity. It makes the case more strongly for qualitative elements and nuance in my research. Its a reminder too for me that as inequality scholars, we ultimately are talking about people and we need to be reflecting them honestly and fairly, she says. Its also a moment to step up to be unequivocal as scholar activists, she says, adding: The war is playing out in real time because of social media, but we have networks and we can communicate instantly. It means we must use these channels to apply an equal intensity of pressure along with other academic institutions and say that we as researchers, as SCIS, as the academy will not stand for what Israel is doing in Gaza. For her, academics taking a stand, choosing to be seen and not retreating to the anonymity of the ivory tower, allows others to see how almost everyone wrestles with their thoughts, their fears and on what taking a position means when it comes to an easily polarising issue. But, she says, when people find resonance in shared stories they might find shared humanity. In sharing my story about how I have come to this position, maybe it gives someone an entry point to start wondering, to start thinking about their own feelings and to become conscientised, she says. The academic space, Arabo says, should be where difficult conversations should be had, without fear of consequences or censorship. She owes this to herself, also to the children who are throwing stones still. Erin Hazan Theres a pendant of a Star of David that was given to Erin Hazan by her grandfather when she was just a baby. Its a family tradition that the first person who sees a baby girls first tooth popping out is assigned to give this girl child a gift in gold. Erin hadnt worn the necklace for years, but that changed in the days after the Hamas attack in Israel on 7 October. I put it on again because I thought if ever there was a time to be more overtly Jewish, that this was probably it. I put it on not as a justification, or support of the behaviour of the Israeli government, but as a way of representing myself, my religion and my ethnic group, and what this means to me with the global rise of anti-Semitism, which has honestly been terrifying. It feels right to be wearing it again, and showing my solidarity with being Jewish, while not feeling like I have to be posting all over social media, says Erin, a PhD fellow at SCIS. For Erin the past few months of the war have been about trying to make sense of contradictions, of expectations and assumptions, also versions of histories. And its a reality that hits close to home. Her father, brother and pregnant sister-in-law all live in Israel now. She worries for them but at the same time she cannot wrap her head around the fact that premature babies in Gaza were left unattended in their incubators as hospitals had to be evacuated, or the sheer number of people killed or left displaced in Gaza. There are distinctions to be made too that someone can be proudly Jewish but not support the Israeli government. I have been struggling in wanting to be supportive of my family in Israel and all that they are going through from the day of Hamass heinous attack, or thinking that my brother and sister-in-law have to think about how far they are from a bomb shelter at any given moment. But Im also thinking about how to hold space knowing that what is happening in Gaza is terrible and I cant condone mass state violence in the way that the Israeli government has been doing. These are not conversations I can have easily with many people. I understand their feelings and their emotions but its just become very hard, she says. As a historian and someone who does not shy away from debate, she says shes found herself increasingly resigned to biting her tongue, bowing out of conversations and even just un-friending people on social media. Erin says the war at this time in her life has made it clearer for her just how many grey areas exist in almost anything. Its made her more determined to insist that distinctions need to be made, blind spots recognised and that some facts are simply historically incorrect. She says: Im seeing how people can justify anything and let that be what people latch onto and then anything goes. But we need to be thinking critically so that we can hear both sides, so we debate a topic, not fight each other. There are distinctions to be made too, says Erin. Its that someone can be proudly Jewish but not support the Israeli government. Also, that the rise in anti-Semitic violence should be a warning bell for a world that should not tolerate more hate, and that the propaganda machinery on both sides of the conflict are always in high gear; and that any cause, protest or debate can easily be co-opted and hijacked. For Erin, speaking her truth matters even as it makes her feel more vulnerable and more exposed. But, she says, these are her views, she does not speak for her family or her community. Her point really is that there are personal stakes for her in this globalised conflict. So personal in fact that every day she wakes up and reaches almost immediately to scroll and look for a whale emoji among her messages. Since 2018, the year her brother moved to Israel, the siblings made a pact that, since he had decided to go and live in a war zone they would keep in contact every day. They settled on a whale emoji as code. It was the siblings personal language, a bond in a message from a big brother to say: Today Im okay, sis. Ruth Castel-Branco On Ruth Castel-Brancos playlist is a song thats become something of an anthem for her at this moment. Its called Somos Sur. We are South, says Ruth, translating the title of a song of resistance and solidarity that in 2004 brought together Chilean French artist Ana Tijoux and British-born Palestinian rapper Shadia Mansour its also stating her position. The song is a call to action for solidarity among those of the Global South. Its the stuff of our debates as we look for a southern response to the war in Gaza. The idea that we are South recognises the common experience of colonisation and evokes pride in the ongoing struggle for liberation and self-determination, says Ruth, a senior researcher and lecturer at SCIS. Ruth was part of the first generation born in an independent Mozambique after 1975. She reflects on the experience of growing up in a revolutionary moment, marked by hope and possibility, in the construction of a new society. But civil war broke out shortly after independence, backed by the apartheid regime, intent on destabilising the newly independent state. The war dragged on for 16 years, killing hundreds of thousands and displacing millions. I witnessed how war destroyed families, the fabric of society and the future of our country. Those experiences were horrifying but they also offered me a level of empathy with people who experience war, she says. We are the product of all our experiences; were also the product of other people and therein lies profound hope. Its made watching the pace and magnitude of the war unfold in Gaza hit home with dreadful profundity. It also means she is steadfastly focused on keeping up pressure on calling out Israels flouting of international conventions, and its political hypocrisies. Its also a rejection of Israels military tactics that have left hospitals, schools and universities flattened and thousands of civilians dead. She draws parallels between colonialism and what Israel is doing in Palestine. The language Israeli officials use to refer to Palestinians is evocative of how the Portuguese colonialists referred to Mozambicans. The differentiation between civilised and uncivilised; lightness versus darkness, for example, these create the foundations for a racist regime that permeates all corners of society. As a teacher, she says, its her role to foster a transgressive space that enables students to wrestle with questions of power. Regardless of the conclusion they may reach, its about creating the space, offering information and giving students the tools to think critically. As a white Mozambican the descendant of Portuguese colonisers but also of people who were colonised Ruth has had to wrestle with her place in a postcolonial society. It is easy to turn to avoidance as a strategy of self-preservation. But particularly as a scholar, I have the responsibility to confront this discomfort, to challenge oppression, and to contribute to a critical pedagogy. We are the product of all our experiences; were also the product of other people and therein lies profound hope. We impact each other and therefore we can transform our world. It might take our lifetimes, but so be it, its the spirit with which I come to this. Transformation can start small, as small, maybe, as sharing a song like Somos Sur but recognising the role of creative expression, of collaboration and of raising the volume of voices that carry the message of solidarity and justice. Ufrieda Ho is a former SCIS/Cameron Schrier Foundation Fellow. Thokozile Madonko, Arabo Ewinyu, and Ruth Castel-Branco are researchers at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS). Erin Hazan is a SCIS PhD Fellow. This article first appeared in the Daily Maverick (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. Most Read from Bloomberg 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. 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? Story continues 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? Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. In 2023, 480 thousand citizens of Azerbaijan visited Russia, which is 45.4% more than in 2022, Azernews reports, citing the border service of the Federal Security Service of Russia. Azerbaijan entered the top 10 countries in terms of the number of citizens visiting Russia. In general, the number of foreign tourists who visited Russia last year increased by about 18.6% year-on-year to 15.48 million people. Last year, the most frequent visitors to Russia were citizens of Kazakhstan - 3.16 million people (26.7% more compared to 2022). The second line in this rating is occupied by citizens of Uzbekistan - 3.11 million people (51.8% more than in 2022). The third line is occupied by Tajikistan - 2.15 million visitors (36.1% more than in the previous year). The next places are occupied by citizens of Kyrgyzstan (1.14 million people, 31.6% more than in 2022) and China (790 thousand people, 6.1% more than in the previous year). Key Insights Given the large stake in the stock by institutions, Berkeley Group Holdings' stock price might be vulnerable to their trading decisions A total of 11 investors have a majority stake in the company with 51% ownership Recent purchases by insiders A look at the shareholders of The Berkeley Group Holdings plc (LON:BKG) can tell us which group is most powerful. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 86% to be precise, is institutions. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. Hence, having a considerable amount of institutional money invested in a company is often regarded as a desirable trait. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Berkeley Group Holdings, beginning with the chart below. See our latest analysis for Berkeley Group Holdings What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Berkeley Group Holdings? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. Berkeley Group Holdings already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. 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. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Berkeley Group Holdings' earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Since institutional investors own more than half the issued stock, the board will likely have to pay attention to their preferences. Berkeley Group Holdings is not owned by hedge funds. The company's largest shareholder is First Eagle Investment Management, LLC, with ownership of 12%. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 9.3% and 7.3%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. In addition, we found that Rob Perrins, the CEO has 1.3% of the shares allocated to their name. Story continues After doing some more digging, we found that the top 11 have the combined ownership of 51% in the company, suggesting that no single shareholder has significant control over the company. 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. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Berkeley Group Holdings 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. Insider ownership is positive when it signals leadership are thinking like the true owners of the company. However, high insider ownership can also give immense power to a small group within the company. This can be negative in some circumstances. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own some shares in The Berkeley Group Holdings plc. This is a big company, so it is good to see this level of alignment. Insiders own UK78m worth of shares (at current prices). Most would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board. Still, it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 12% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Berkeley Group Holdings better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Berkeley Group Holdings (at least 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. FILE - President Joe Biden speaks in Raleigh, N.C., Jan. 18, 2024. Twenty-three million families will either have to pay more for internet or cancel their subscriptions altogether if a federal subsidy program to help with the monthly bill runs out of money in April, 2024. The potential expiration of the program comes as Biden recently touted his administration's goal of internet for all in North Carolina, where more than 900,000 families receive the benefit. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File) President Joe Biden recently traveled to North Carolina to promote his goal of affordable internet access for all Americans, but the promise for 23 million families across the U.S. is on shaky ground. That's because a subsidy that helps people with limited resources afford internet access is set to expire this spring. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides $30 a month for qualifying families in most places and $75 on tribal lands, will run out of money by the end of April if Congress doesn't extend it further. I think this should be high priority for Congress, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat who has worked with a bipartisan group of governors to promote the program, said in a phone interview. To many families, $30 a month is a big deal. It matters a lot to Shirleen Alexander of Charlotte, who said the money she saves through the ACP goes toward her grocery bills. It also offsets some of the stress she feels over medical bills. If they took (ACP) away, it would be like taking food out of my mouth, said Alexander, a senior citizen on a fixed income. I need the service, and some of my senior citizen friends need it, as well. The program is key to the Biden administration's plans to make the internet available to everyone, which the president has touted repeatedly as he has ramped up his reelection campaign. He has likened it to the Rural Electrification Administration, the New Deal program that delivered electricity to much of rural America in the 1930s. Our goal is to connect everyone in America to affordable, reliable high-speed Internet by the year 2030, everyone in America, just like Franklin Roosevelt did a generation ago with electricity, President Biden said in Raleigh last month. So far, only 43% of eligible households nationwide have signed up for the ACP subsidy. But the program has enabled people who have signed up to avoid the kinds of financial trade-offs Alexander described, said Brian Vo, chief investment officer of Connect Humanity, a nonprofit promoting widespread internet access. It also gives them access to vital services such as telehealth, remote schooling and work, he said. Story continues If you put ACP and affordability in the context of the social determinants it drives and the economic value created, the benefits far outweigh the cost of $30 per household, Vo said. If the program expires, participating families, including nearly 900,000 in North Carolina, will either lose internet access or have to pay more to stay connected. North Carolina is among the top states in the country when it comes to taking advantage of the ACP, according to an AP analysis of the program. More than 50% of eligible households in the state are enrolled in the program. A bipartisan group of lawmakers recently proposed a bill to sustain the ACP through the end of 2024 with an additional $7 billion in funding one billion more than what Biden asked Congress to appropriate for the program at the end of last year. However, no votes have been scheduled to move the bill forward and its unclear if the program will be prioritized in a divided Congress. In the meantime, the Federal Communications Commission has already taken steps to wind the program down. It has instructed internet providers to send notices about the projected end of the program and announced that it will stop accepting new enrollees after February 7. Nate Denny, the deputy director for broadband for North Carolina, said he's extremely worried about the winding down of the subsidy program, especially as the state is set to receive a total of $1.5 billion from the federal government. Most of that money will be awarded to internet providers to build internet infrastructure in areas that need it most. The ACP has a tremendous effect on adoption, but it also has a huge impact on the state's ability to stretch available infrastructure funding, Denny said. The ACP reduces the amount of grant money an internet provider needs to build into lower-income communities because it provides the assurance of a steady customer base, according to state broadband leaders the AP spoke with and an analysis from nonprofit Common Sense Media and consulting firm Boston Consulting Group. "With the ACP's help, internet providers are seeing more willing subscribers, more beneficiaries of their investments that then help them stretch their capital further, and thusly stretch state investments, as well," Denny said. The infrastructure money comes from a pot of $42.5 billion allocated for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, the cornerstone of the Biden administration's efforts to close the digital divide for good. In December, states submitted draft plans detailing lower-cost plans that providers who build networks using BEAD money will be required to offer qualifying families. Several states incorporated the ACP subsidies into those draft plans in ways that would lower the cost for internet access to zero for some customers. Though those lower-cost plans wouldn't work as designed without support from the federal subsidy program, a spokesperson for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration said BEAD will still connect everyone in America and ensure that newly connected households have access to affordable plans. Several Biden administration officials, including Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, have highlighted the need for more funding for the program during trips across the country in recent months. The state of North Carolina will do what it can to maintain affordable internet no matter what, the governor said, but he hopes Congress will keep the subsidies coming to those who need them. We want to try to keep this program alive, and I still think the chance to do that is still there, Cooper said. ___ Harjai reported from Los Angeles and is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Biz in the Valley is a monthly roundup of business happenings in the Beaver Valley and beyond. To submit an item, email csuttles@gannett.com. A Beaver County-based nonprofit and youth bike program is expanding its presence with a new central location in Monaca. Communicycle, best known for repairing bikes for children and others in Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Allegheny counties and neighboring Ohio announced the move to 1214 Pennsylvania Ave. in January. Fixing old bikes: Communicycle: They fix old bikes - and give them away Located in a former Family Dollar, the new Communicycle hub just made sense, said Lee Montanari, executive director of Communicycle. Beaver County Communicycles new building at 1214 Pennsylvania Ave. in Monaca. With dozens of satellite locations in the region, the nonprofit needed a larger space for partners to stock up on bikes, parts and tools. The new building is nearly double the size of Communicycles previous Monaca spot on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue. Its the most central place for people, Montanari said. Theres Route 51 in one direction and Route 18 in another. Nobody said Monaca was too far, so we decided to stick with Monaca for this new building. Were investing in this location so that all of these other satellites can also take place. Think of this location as the bin where all the parts are housed, he added. Its visible enough but set back so theres more parking, Beaver County Communicycles new building at 1214 Pennsylvania Ave. in Monaca. Communicycle collects used bikes and bike parts to repair and refurbish and give to those who dont own a bicycle, particularly children. The volunteer-run initiative hosts regular pop-up events at churches, community centers, schools and businesses throughout the region. The new building will continue to equip volunteers and provide a roomier space for community building, said Montanari. He hopes it becomes a gathering place. People could have meetings here for team building and then wed recommend Monaca businesses to support, he said, including the many breweries, coffee shops, eateries and music shops that line Pennsylvania Avenue. Story continues The Communicycle crew hard at working putting old bikes back on the street, ready to ride. Greater financial need will accompany the larger space, said Montanari. Financial assistance will allow our grant money to focus on programming, not just keeping the lights on, he added. It will cost roughly $5,000 a month to keep the new building running. Communicycle always needs bike and part donations, as well as volunteers. What we need is people who are willing to invest in what we do, Montanari said. Visit http://communicycle.org to give financially, volunteer, or donate bikes and parts. Funding to help develop former Bruce Mansfield site The Beaver County Corporation for Economic Development will receive $100,000 in funding and technical assistance to help repurpose the 600-acre Shippingport Industrial Park, housing the former Bruce Mansfield coal-fired power plant along the Ohio River. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management's Capacity Building for Repurposing Energy Assets initiative, created to help redevelop areas historically supported by fossil fuels infrastructure. This funding will help the communities build technical capacity and develop a workforce necessary to help revitalize energy systems, address environmental impacts and tackle challenges associated with energy assets that have been retired, or are slated for retirement, the DOEs January funding notice read. Bruce Mansfield Power Plant was a 2.49-gigawatt, coal power plant located in Shippingport, Pennsylvania in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. The federal government in early January announced a combined $800,000 in funding to eight government and nonprofit organizations to repurpose energy assets. Free entrepreneurship workshops in Beaver County Job Training for Beaver County, a nonprofit workforce development organization, is offering a series of free Smart Start entrepreneurship workshops for Beaver County residents. For those interested in starting or growing a small business, the in-person classes in Beaver Valley Malls Pennsylvania CareerLink Beaver County are available regularly throughout the year. Classes explore business ownership myths and facts, the 60-second elevator pitch, banking and bookkeeping, organizational types, marketing and communication, risk management, insurance and more. More: Biz in the Valley: Milk House Meats relocates, Ambridge grad named CEO of aviation nonprofit & more To see the full schedule of classes, visit https://jtbc.org/events. Contact Dianne Hanrahan at dhanrahan@jtbc.org or call 724-728-4860 ext. 233 to register. Stonecrest Business Park selected as PA SITES finalist The proposed Stonecrest Business Park in Lawrence Countys New Beaver is one of 20 applicants moving forward in the competitive Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites program, or PA SITES. The program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development under the Pennsylvania First program. It provides grant funding to develop or enhance business sites and support the relocation or expansion of Pennsylvania businesses. Stonecrest would be Lawrence Countys first privately developed business park in more than 40 years. It would aim to bring in light manufacturing and warehouse/distribution firms, offering pad-ready building sites with all public utilities in place. It's projected to create 1.5 million square feet of space and generate as many as 1,000 new jobs. Ben Bush, Forward Lawrence Chamber and Economic Alliance CEO, applauded Gov. Josh Shapiros administration and the General Assembly for recognizing the lack of shovel-ready industrial sites throughout the commonwealth, and their willingness to stand up a brand-new pilot program to invest in our communities. It is my hope that the sheer number of requests received will reveal to both the administration and the General Assembly the need to bolster programs such as PA Sites, so that the commonwealth can compete once again with our neighboring states in terms of the availability of pad-ready industrial sites," he said. "Speed to market is a necessity for businesses, and this program will go a long way in reducing build times for companies looking to relocate or expand their operations in Pennsylvania. John LaCarte, Stonecrest Business Park principal, said the projects inclusion as a program finalist demonstrates the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development's and the commonwealths commitment and recognition of the importance of our project to the economic future of Lawrence County. The DCED received funding requests totaling $236 million for the available $10 million. The next phase of the application is due March 1. This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Biz in the Valley: Communicycle expands with new Monaca building & more 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] Chen Xiaoling paints at her home in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. [Sun Zhenghao/Xinhua] XI'AN As a young woman, Chen Xiaoling clung to her passion for painting, even during her most miserable moments. "When can I paint freely on the canvas without having to worry about my life?" she asked herself hundreds of times while she was selling eggs, making bricks or collecting garbage to earn a living in a village in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. Decades later, Chen, now 64, sat in her study against the backdrop of a Chinese landscape she painted. She said she is satisfied with how far she has come. "I have been in love with painting since childhood," she said. "The love has nothing to do with my age or my profession." Chen said her interest in art was embedded in her genes. "My great-grandfather was a carpenter and good at painting, while my granny and aunt were both paper-cutting experts," she said. "And my two elder brothers both learned art at school." When she was a child, her second brother used to spread white lime on the slope of a canal and let her "draw" on it using her feet. In the following years, she would face some of the biggest struggles of her life. In addition to farming, she used to transport coal, sell wool and eggs and even collect trash to make money. While eight months pregnant, she even trekked on a mountainous road for more than 15 kilometers to find a kind of apple that she could grow. But her tough life would not stop her from seizing every opportunity she had to paint. Chen got married on a rainy day in 1983. The home she shared with her husband, who was from an impoverished family, had rooms that were fairly bare, without much decoration. On a wall in her bedroom, she spent three days completing a painting that depicted people traveling through mountains and streams. She finally had enough time to paint at the age of 53 after she bought a new apartment and her children moved away with their spouses. She called herself a layman back then. "I have never received any systematic training," Chen said. To learn how to paint, she frequented art exhibitions and enrolled in painting courses both at a seniors university and online. Once she saw a portrait inside a restaurant and went to have a look. "The waitress kept talking about their dishes to me. To silence her, I asked for a bowl of noodles," she recalled. The noodles cost her 28 yuan ($4), which she thought was quite expensive. But she saw it as a "tuition fee" to learn painting. Two things she has never hesitated to spend money on are painting tools and courses. She has spent more than 2,000 yuan to buy rice paper, and more than 10,000 yuan on paintings she liked. Chen has completed more than 30 long scrolls with paintings depicting how farmers' lives have improved over the past few decades since the country started its reform and opening-up policy. Surprised villagers would approach her while she painted. They used to ask her, "Can you fill up your stomach with paintings?" Chen said: "But after they saw my paintings, they began to understand. Whether they are in cities or in the countryside, people admire those who have real talent." On the occasions of funerals and weddings, she was always invited to write or paint something for the families. "She also likes giving paintings to others as presents, saying that art ignites people's lives," said her husband, Xu Keyong. In her spare time, Chen taught in kindergartens and formed an art society. Inspired by her, other women picked up brushes, including retiree Fu Weiwei. "Thanks to Xiaoling, I am now enjoying a richer senior life," she said. "Xiaoling encouraged us to be brave enough to chase our dreams, and not to be bound by age or profession." (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. The Take Our Border Back convoy held a rally Saturday at the Cornerstone Childrens Ranch in the town of Quemado, about 20 miles outside of Eagle Pass. (Image: Takeourborderback.com) Several hundred people gathered in three border states Saturday to call for stricter immigration security, ending the cross-country Take Our Border Back convoy that traveled from Virginia to Texas last week. Convoy organizers and supporters initially said as many as 700,000 vehicles would take part in three separate rallies in Arizona, California and Texas, including truckers who took part in recent protest convoys in Washington, D.C., and Canada, according to U.S. Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas. While hundreds of thousands of vehicles never materialized as the convoy moved across the country, about 100 passenger vehicles, recreational vehicles and trucks towing campers arrived in Texas, according to NBC News. The Texas rally occurred at the Cornerstone Childrens Ranch in the town of Quemado, about 20 miles outside of Eagle Pass. The daylong event included musical performances, vendors and speakers who voiced their concerns about illegal immigration. The mission here is the border, thats what were here for, said Trenis Evans, one of the speakers at the Quemado rally. At another Take Our Border Back rally Saturday in San Ysidro, California, convoy organizer Scotty Saks said the border is a national security crisis. We have a human trafficking problem on the border in proportions that weve never imagined, Saks told a crowd of about 200 people, according to the New York Post. The Take Our Border Back convoy also gathered for a rally in Yuma, Arizona. The rallies were held amid a feud between Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and the Biden administration over border enforcement measures and jurisdictional authority. The Texas National Guard seized control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass several weeks ago, and erected a razor wire barrier around it, limiting U.S. Border Patrols access to the area. On Sunday, Abbott held a news briefing in Shelby Park accompanied by 13 Republican governors to discuss border and immigration issues. A state can defend itself and its citizens to protect their safety from the imminent danger that we are facing, and from an invasion of millions of people coming from across the globe into our country who are unaccounted for whatsoever, Abbott said. Story continues Abbott also said he is expanding Operation Lone Star, the controversial border security initiative he launched in 2021. The operation has included deploying Texas National Guard members along the Mexico border, installing a floating barrier in the Rio Grande River and initiating safety inspections on commercial trucks arriving at ports of entry from Mexico. As we speak right now, the Texas National Guard is undertaking operations to expand this effort, Abbott said. Were not going to contain ourselves just to this park, we are expanding to further areas to make sure that we will expand our level of deterrence and denial of illegal entry into the United States. More articles by Noi Mahoney FBI alleges Mexican cartel, Canadian truckers part of drug ring 4 things to know about the Take Our Border Back convoy Mexicos truckers plan nationwide strike against cargo theft The post Take Our Border Back convoy ends with rallies in 3 states appeared first on FreightWaves. Around 250,000 people demonstrated in London on Saturdays National March for PalestineCeasefire Now rally. This was the eighth national demonstration in the capital since Israel unleashed its genocidal onslaught on Gaza. Held during a national rail strike, the numbers attending were down on the last national demonstration on January 13. Police arrested a member of the International Marxist Tendency (IMT) and initially detained two others. Rahul, an NHS doctor, and his two comrades were apprehended on charges of supporting terrorism, with police citing a headline on their placards and newspaper, The Communist, calling for intifada until victory. The arrested IMT member was later released without charge after being held for several hours in a police station, following a protest mounted outside. The Socialist Workers Party reported Sunday that police pushed into the Socialist Worker Student Society (SWSS) section of the march, seized the lead banner with its slogan, Victory to the resistancebut then returned it. The Metropolitan Police also changed the time of the dispersal order for the march without prior notice from 5.30pm to 4.00pm, only making this change known in a tweet posted at 4.22pm. The announcement cited the move giving us extra powers to prevent any antisocial behaviour should it occur. Police mobilise on Whitehall following the demonstration after calling for its early dispersal In the days leading up to the latest demonstration, the Met attempted to ban the march entering the seat of government in Whitehallthe thoroughfare leading from Trafalgar Square to Parliament that contains the prime ministers Downing Street residence. When the march organisersincluding the Stop the War Coalition and Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC)told the Met they intended to finish the demonstration in two stages, with one rally in Trafalgar Square and one in Whitehall, the police said under no circumstances would the march be allowed to march in Whitehall. On Thursday the PSC tweeted its plan that the march would go to Whitehall. The Met responded on its social media, The scale and frequency of marches is causing serious disruption to many Londoners. We do not support a request to extend the march into Whitehall. The police backed down on Thursday evening. Police squad and vans masse on a side road off Whitehall during the demonstration At the outset of the Gaza massacre, Palestinian trade unions called on trade unions internationally to prevent the Israeli war machine from receiving weapons and other material for the war from the main imperialist powers. The call was met with a deafening silence from the main unions federations everywhere, including in Britain. No major union has organised delegations of workers to attend the hundreds of demonstrations held around Britain since the genocide began. Trades Union Congress (TUC) leader Paul Nowak, overseeing affiliated unions with a membership of 5.5 millionhas not spoken on a single march in London to condemn the genocide. This is in line with Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmers backing for the genocide, in alliance with the Sunak Conservative government. The pseudo-left cheerleaders for the union bureaucracy have worked to cover their exposed rear by setting up a trade union block on the last few pro-Gazan marches to give the pretence that they are organising something. These consist of a few local union branches where pseudo-left supporters hold positions taking banners and a few members to rallies. It commits no-one to doing anything. Commenting on Saturdays demonstration, the Socialist Worker stated, There were at least 31 trade union banners in the special section of the march, and many others sprinkled throughout the rest of the demonstration. The purpose of this was to hail a workplace and student day of action taking place on Wednesday February 7, in which no industrial action is to take place. Several speakers lauded the presence of the trade union block and called for support for next Wednesdays day of action. The Rail, Maritime and Transport Union president, Stalinist Alex Gordon, was chosen as the speaker for the Stop the War Coalition and introduced as the president of the mighty, mighty, RMT. RMT President Alex Gordon speaking at the London protest, February 3, 2024 Gordon told the rally, This week is going to be an important week for taking action for Palestine, standing with Gaza, showing solidarity with Palestinians in your workplace. This week, on the 6th of February, the RMT London regional council, along with the London organisations of Unite the Union, the UCU [University and College Union], and the NEU [National Education Union] are holding a mass rally in the NEU headquarters. Speaking of the February 7 workplace day of action, he added, Stop the War and CND are calling on everyone who goes to work or attends a college or university to organise a walkout at lunchtime or an early morning protest with your fellow workers. Gordon again urged demonstrators to limit themselves to pressuring the main capitalist parties by demanding that our government stops fuelling war, stops colluding in the genocide of the Palestinians and instead calls and votes for a permanent ceasefire in Middle East. Gordon heads a trade union with 80,000 members who play a key role in transportation and logistics nationwide, with the power to bring the economy to a standstill. Behind his belated and rhetorical pledges of solidarity with the Palestinian trade unions, RMT members aboard Royal Navy auxiliary ships are involved in supplying the British warships backing Israel in the region, including acting alongside the US in the ongoing bombing of Yemen. Speaking again at the rally was Jeremy Corbyn, who led the Labour Party from 2015 to 2019, before being expelled from the parliamentary party by Starmer on false allegations of antisemitism. In line with Corbyns years of refusing to oppose the right wing, he again refused to utter Starmers name, only stating that those countries, Britain and the USA and others, that are still supplying arms and weapons and military assistance to Israel need to think again. If they read very, very carefully what the ICJ [International Court of Justice] judgement says, they are also in danger of being arraigned before a court for standing up against the judgement of the ICJ, which says there has to be an end to the fighting. Jeremy Corbyn speaking at the London rally, February 3, 2024 Corbyn added, Can I also say a special thank you to the trade union block that is here today and the trade unions and trade union members that have come here today, responding to the call of the Palestinian trade unions for action all around the world in support of the people of Palestine. The Stop the War Coalition and Palestine Solidarity Campaign leaders have from the outset insisted that given enough pressure, the Tory government and the Labour Party can be won to opposing the slaughter. Numerous speakers put forward the slogan, No Ceasefire, No Vote, calling on everyone to vote in a general election expected months from now against MPs not calling for an end to the genocide. This was summed up by Claudia Webbe, also expelled by Starmer from the parliamentary party, who stated, We take our fight from our streets to parliament to the ballot box. Claudia Webbe speaking at the rally, February 3, 2024 Backing Gordon, RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch made yet another pathetic call for Starmer to end his support for the Zionist regime, stating, We call on all of the trade union movement, and all of the socialist movement, and our Labour Party, stand up and support the people who are being massacred, stand up against the slaughter, stand up against genocide thats what we must do. Call out the politicians. Tell them stand with the people. RMT leader Mick Lynch addresses the London protest, February 4, 2023 The president of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) released a statement last month calling for urgent action by Parliament and the provinces to address the overcrowding crisis in the countrys hospital emergency rooms. The CMA statement warned that a flood of patients suffering from viral infections was intersecting with staff and material shortages that were the outcome of decades of underfunding to produce overwhelmed emergency services at health care institutions throughout the country, and that this would persist without major systemic changes. According to Dr. Kathleen Ross, who heads the association of 70,000 physicians and medical learners, Staff shortages and hospital overcrowding combined with poor access to high-quality team-based primary care are leaving hospital emergency departments woefully under-resourced for the avalanche of patients with influenza, COVID-19 or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) at this time of year. Some 200,000 Quebec health care workers participated in a wave of strikes at the end of last year, only to have the Common Front inter-union alliance reach sell-out agreements with the provincial CAQ government. Pictured here workers picketing CHUM, Montreal's largest hospital. She noted that patients are waiting 20 or more hours to receive care. This was most recently exemplified by the case of 17-year-old Angelina Malott, who had to wait 19 hours and seek treatment at two hospitals in Kitchener, Ontario in January for appendicitis. This felt so backwards because the resources were right there, but we couldn't get to them. We couldn't do what needed to be done, her mother Julia Malott told CTV News. In December two patients died while waiting for care in the ER of the Anna-Laberge Hospital in Chateauguay south of Montreal. The death of 37-year-old mother Allison Holthoff after waiting seven hours in extreme pain without care in a Nova Scotia emergency room sparked widespread outrage last year. Ross stressed that without a focus on improving access to high quality primary care for Canadians the health care system and those who work in it would continue to endure endless cycles of deterioration. A 2023 survey by the OurCare initiative found that approximately 6.5 million people, or 1 in 6 Canadians, did not have a primary care physician who they saw for regular checkups. And accounting for those who reported being unable to make an appointment with their family doctor, the CMA reports about half of Canadians do not have ready access to a physician. Consequently, among a broad swathe of the populationand for no fault of their owncommon medical conditions are left to fester untreated, leaving many no choice but to turn to emergency rooms for care when their symptoms become acute. What Rosss letter does not explain is that Canadas health system has been in crisis for decades due above all to systematic defunding by successive governments. The current New Democratic Party-backed Liberal government headed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has, in health care as in many other areas, continued and intensified the austerity policies of its Conservative predecessor. When population growth and aging are taken into account, the Trudeau government has imposed real spending cuts on health transfers from the federal government to the provinces during its eight plus years in office. A $46.2 billion deal reached last year with the provinces will only increase the federal share of healthcare funding from 22 percent to 24 percent, well below the 50-50 split which prevailed at the birth of the countrys public health care system, Medicare, in the late 1960s. Trudeaus attack on health care funding is part of his governments big business agenda which is aimed at advancing Canadian capitalisms global competitive position and predatory interests on the world stage at the expense of working people. The Trudeau government is determined to make workers pay for the hundreds of billions handed to big business and the banks during the pandemic, a massive program of military rearmament and the waging of war against Russia. The trade union bureaucracy, which serves as a key pillar of support for Trudeaus pro-war, pro-austerity government, was intimately involved in crafting last years health care funding settlement. In a statement released just days before Trudeau unveiled the final agreement, Canadian Labour Congress president Bea Bruske enthused over a productive and constructive meeting with Minister [of Health Jean-Yves] DuClos. Bruske concluded by urging Trudeau and the premiers to rise to the challenge of the health care crisis. While claiming to be opposed to the privatization of health care, the union leaderships have worked tirelessly to block any genuine struggle against privatization by health care workers. Instead, they have collaborated with provincial governments across the country to impose one sellout deal after another, as shown by the ongoing sabotage of the public sector workers struggle in Quebec. At the federal and provincial levels, the unions worked closely with the respective governments to enforce the back-to-work campaign during the early stages of the pandemic, overwhelming the health care system and killing thousands. The health care crisis has been deepened by the profits-before-life approach to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which has been adopted at every level of government, resulting in millions of infections and nearly 58,000 official deaths. Life expectancy fell for three years in a row between 2020 and 2022 in Canada, with COVID being the third leading cause of death. Since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, hospitals have been repeatedly overwhelmed by waves of illness and a tripledemic of COVID, flu and RSV. The crush of patients combined with underfunding has contributed to a surge in burnout among healthcare workers and the closure of emergency rooms due to staff shortages. According to the Ontario Health Coalition emergency rooms and emergency centres in Ontario closed 1,199 times in 2023 due to a lack of staff. The growing crisis in Canadas health care system has been used by all provincial governments to justify further privatization. The funneling of an ever greater share of public funds into private coffers has been justified with the lie that this will reduce wait times for basic care and medical procedures. In fact, as health experts have warned and various studies have demonstrated, the profusion of private for-profit health care clinics has only served to draw personnel and government funding away from the public system, exacerbating staff shortages and lengthening waitlists for urgently needed, even lifesaving, procedures. While private services have long been a part of Canadas health care system, with eye, dental, mental health care and prescriptions entirely or largely excluded from the universal Medicare system, privatization has picked up pace in recent years at the behest of corporate interests. Nearly one third of health care is now paid for by patients out of pocket or through insurance plans offered by their employers. In Ontario, the government of Tory Premier Doug Ford has approved the expansion of services which can be provided by privately-owned clinics from cataract surgery and MRIs to include hip and knee replacements. The authorization of private clinics to offer surgeries began in January 2022, with Ford presenting it as a means of easing pressure on the provinces hospitals. Such private clinics are receiving millions of dollars in public funds to perform surgeries. An investigation by CBC News found that a private clinic in Toronto was receiving more than twice the public funds for procedures covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Program than public hospitals. Quebecs right-wing populist Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) government adopted legislation late year last (Bill 15) which places the provinces entire public health care systemincluding hospitals, nursing homes, and community health clinics (CLSCs)under a new agency, Sante Quebec. The agency will be led by corporate top guns and charged with boosting the efficiency of the health care system through introducing market norms and outright privatization. The province also allows fully private clinics, which provide services to those who can afford to pay thousands of dollars per year out of pocket, for family care and surgeries like hip replacements. Meanwhile, the hard-right, anti-public health government of United Conservative Party Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has outlined a sweeping plan to smash up the provinces health system. A plan to split Alberta Health Services into four separate agencies will open up a further $17 billion in government funding for corporate pillaging. Successive New Democratic Party governments in British Columbia have given hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts every year to private surgical clinics, building on a policy initiated by the provincial Liberals. One of Canadas largest telecommunications monopolies, Telus, has gotten into the lucrative health care game in recent years. It offers telehealth, pharmacies and private clinics in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador through its subsidiary Telus Health. The company also operates in the US, UK and Australia. The subsidiary reported revenue of $422 million in the third quarter of 2023. Despite the crisis in the health care system, Medicare remains overwhelmingly popular among Canadian workers with privatization long treated as a political third rail. While they and their corporate taskmasters salivate at the billions to be made, all of the bourgeois parties know that outright privatization would spark mass outrage, hence the gradual privatization and death through a thousand cuts for public health services. This has been the preferred strategy enforced by all political parties when in office from the Conservatives, Liberals and Parti Quebecois to the NDP in partnership with the nationalist and pro-capitalist trade unions. The root of the health care crisis in Canada, as around the world, is the capitalist system, which subordinates the needs of humanity to the interests of profit accumulation. A political struggle by the working class against all the representatives of the ruling class is required to save Medicare and establish a truly universal health care system which provides high quality care to all. Health care workers must establish independent rank and file committees which will mobilize in opposition to the union bureaucrats to defend public healthcare. Above all this struggle requires the fight for socialism through the building of the Socialist Equality Party as the revolutionary leadership of the working class. Owner Bill Praschak of Fully Loaded Defense LLC at a ribbon cutting. Concealed carry classes offered in Wilmington The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 24 for Fully Loaded Defense at 4212 Oleander Drive in Wilmington. It offers concealed carry classes, women-only classes, firearm defense, home strategy planning, and basic pistol training in North Carolina. Details: www.fullyloadeddefensellc.com. Pictured from left, Tracy Green, Richard D'Anjolell and Carol Magnani (Chamber ambassadors), Bri Melchor, Ben Hardison, Mary Hardison (owner), Jeb Hardison and Felica Sexton (Chamber board of directors). Yoga studio opens in Southport The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 30 for Celestial Sunshine Yoga. Mary Hardison is the owner and operator of the business,which is located at 5503 Rob Gandy Blvd., Suite 1D in Southport. The yoga studio offers daily classes, retreats and special events. Details: https://www.celestialsunshineyoga.com/. A walk-in medical center opens in Southport Carolina Quick Care, a walk-in medical center, is now open in Southport. The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Feb. 9 at noon. The medical center is located at 5010 Southport Crossing Way. The Burrows Family recently opened a yogurt shop in Surf City, N.C. Frozen yogurt shop opens in Surf City The Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon cutting for Phroyo, a frozen yogurt shop. The shop opened by the Burrows Family is located in Surf City Crossing at 13775 N.C. 50, Suite 101, Surf City, and offers 10 variety of flavors and even more toppings. New health services opens in Wilmington The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce will hold a ceremony for RHA Health Services on Wednesday, Feb. 21 from 10 a.m.-noon at 1928 S. 16th St., Wilmington. A ribbon cutting will be held at 11 a.m. RHA Health Services assists individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health and substance use needs live their best lives. Details: https://rhahealthservices.org/. New boutique in Wilmington's historic district holds grand opening The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce invites the community to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Rosie Revolution, a boutique vintage clothing warehouse. The grand opening event will be held Friday, Feb. 23 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. with the ribbon cutting at 1 p.m. The boutique is located at 22 N. Front St., Wilmington. The shop also carries hats, handbags, jewelry, shoes and more. Details: rosierevolution.com. Story continues Tru by Hilton Leland Wilmington is located at 1462 Olde Waterford Way, Leland, N.C. New hotel opens in Leland The North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce held a grand opening and ribbon cutting on Jan. 30 for Tru by Hilton Leland Wilmington. The hotel is located at 1462 Olde Waterford Way, Leland. The hotel offers free breakfast, Wi-Fi, a lobby with work space, a game zone, and a 24/7 market. Open house held for healthy cafe The Greater Topsail Area Chamber of Commerce held an open house and ribbon cutting on Feb. 2 for Coastal Blends of Holly Ridge. The cafe offers nutritional snacks and drinks, protein coffees, fruit smoothies, espressos and protein shakes. The business is located at 1061 E. Ocean Road, Holly Ridge. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: New businesses in Wilmington, NC, include Rosie Revolution, Hilton hotel WSWS reporters spoke to some of the hundreds and thousands attending Saturdays protest in London against Israels genocidal onslaught on Gaza and expanding war in the Middle East. The video interviews are below. Join the fight for socialism On Thursday, February 1, striking airport staff brought 11 major German airports to a standstill. A 24-hour warning strike by security staff paralysed Berlin-Brandenburg, Frankfurt, Cologne-Bonn, Hamburg, Bremen, Hanover, Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, Leipzig-Halle, Dresden and Erfurt-Weimar airports. Over a thousand flights were cancelled with around 200,000 passengers affected. WSWS reporters speak to striking security staff at Berlin Airport, 01/02/2024 Around 25,000 security staff employed in passenger, personnel and cargo screening and in the service area took part in the industrial action, demanding better wages and overtime pay. The Verdi union is currently demanding 2.80 euros more per hour and an increase in overtime pay of 30 percent to commence from the first hour of overtime. The latest, provocative offer from the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS) provides for a miserly wage increase of 4 percent for 2024 and a further 3 percent for 2025. Negotiations will continue on February 6 in Berlin. Even if fully realised, Verdis demands would in no way cover the employees actual needs. Security personnel have had to accept real wage cuts for years. This is because at all German airports, except for Munich and Nuremberg (which were not on strike), the security areas have been separated from the public sector and been privatised in past yearswith the result that wages have deteriorated while workloads and stress have substantially increased. Display board at BER Airport during the security warning strike on Thursday The World Socialist Web Site spoke to strikers in Berlin about their grievances. Due to their irregular shift times, most security workers are dependent on their own car to travel to work, despite skyrocketing petrol prices. Some employees who live far away even have to pay for secondary accommodation close to the airport. Added to this is the ever-increasing work stress. Jobs cut at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 have never been replaced. In addition to the permanent staff shortage, there is a high sickness rate, which leads to constant additional shifts and unprecedented ongoing stress. We are regularly over-scheduled, Jordan, an employee at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), told WSWS reporters. As soon as the volume of flights increases, things really ramp up. We have an endless shortage of staff, confirms Dave, who also works at BER. He explains: We are sometimes on the assembly line for six hours without a break. As a result, people are constantly quitting, and not just new employees, but also colleagues who have been with the company for ten years or more. The employers offer is laughable, according to the workers unanimous opinion. It doesn't even come close to covering our real costs, Jordan said. Basically, we're just tools for them, nothing more. Not real people. The warning strikes, like the recent train drivers strike, have once again demonstrated the enormous power of the working class. The security strike took place in the midst of a wave of strikes in Germany. Following the train drivers strike, doctors at all university hospitals went on strike on Tuesday, and on Friday bus, underground and tram drivers stopped work and paralysed local public transport. Strikes will also continue at some airports with ground handling service staff taking action. However, the wave of strikes extends far beyond Germany. In Finland, several air transport unions are striking on February 1-2, forcing Finnair to announce 500 flight cancellations. In France strike action is planned commencing February 5 to protest against the Olympic Games due to take place this summer in Paris. In the UK, several strikes will take place over the next few days in the air transport, rail and London Underground sectors. There will also be nationwide rail strikes in Italy on February 5 and 12 and strikes at Milan Malpensa and Linate airports on February 9. Additional militant protests by farmers protests are planned in Germany, France, Belgium, Poland and Greece. The World Socialist Web Site and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) are fighting for the establishment of action committees in every sector so that these struggles can be networked and armed with a socialist perspective. Above all, the struggles must be taken out of the hands of the trade unions if they are to be successful. Warning strike by security staff at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport on Thursday, 1 February 2024 In the key security sector, the German public service trade union Verdi is not prepared to take any resolute industrial action for better wages and conditions. In common with the German trade union federation (DGB), Verdi is deeply integrated into the German economy and linked to the main political parties. It accepts the capitalist necessity that employees ultimately have to pay for the costs of war and austerity policies. With the warning strike, Verdi is merely creating an outlet for the workforce to express their anger at their exploitative conditions for just one day. This will change absolutely nothing and was already evident during the last one day warning strike two years ago. Just a few days later, Verdi concluded a new contract, which did nothing to change either the deterioration in lagging wages or the constantly increasing workload. Even today, the union opposes any substantial struggle, and systematically isolates one section of workers from all others taking action. The Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS) is well aware of this. Matthias von Randow, chief executive of the BDLS, who has rejected the demands in the security sector outright as unaffordable, was himself employed at the beginning of his career by the DGB and the SPD as a full-time official for ten years. He was initially head of a DGB project for European educational work and head of department at the DGB executive committee, and later head of department at the SPD executive committee. The German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder (SPD) made him State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport before he became Director of Air Berlin 15 years ago, and from 2011 general manager of the Federal Association of the German Air Transport Industry. Verdi negotiator Christine Behle (SPD) is also fully integrated into Germanys corporate sector and is committed to preserving capitalism. The Verdi deputy chair has been a member of the Lufthansa supervisory board for years and was re-elected as deputy chairwoman of its supervisory board last year. The Health Trade Union Alliance (HTUA) ended a two-day strike on Saturday after Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe agreed to arrange a meeting between finance ministry officials and union officials on February 6 to resolve the matter. Nurses and other health workers protesting outside Matara Hospital in Sri Lanka on January 16, 2024. Tens of thousands of health employees walked out to demand a 35,000-rupee ($US108) increase in their Disturbance, Availability, and Transport (DAT) allowance. It was the third national industrial action by health workers this year. On January 16 and 17, health employees held a two-day strike over the same demand. On January 8, the government agreed to increase the DAT allowance to doctors from 35,000 rupees to 70,000 rupees but refused to grant this increase to other health workers. HTUA convener Ravi Kumudesh told the media that the strike was temporarily called off because the government had made a positive response. He warned that if the government failed to meet health workers demands, the strike would resume on Wednesday. The HTUA is a collective of 72 health sector trade unions, including a joint federation of interim medical services unions, the health professionals federation, the public health officers union and the government midwives union. Those involved in last weeks strike included radiology and laboratory technicians, pharmacists, drug compounders, midwives, dental surgeons, public health inspectors, entomology officers, nurses and minor staff, bringing hospital services to a standstill. Just as it did during its mid-January strike, the HTUA directed its members last week not to hold any protests but to remain at home. Sri Lankan soldiers mobilised as strikerbreakers during two-day national strike by health workers last week. The government responded by deploying hundreds of army personnel as strike-breakers to 45 hospitals. The mainstream media reacted by shedding crocodile tears over the situation facing patients in a transparent attempt to whip up public hostility against health workers. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led All Ceylon Nurses Union (ACNU), the Frontline Socialist Party-led Joint Health Services Union (JHSU) and the government-controlled Public Services United Nurses Union refused to join the strike. The ACNU and JHSU ordered its members to keep working, claiming that the strike was a government conspiracy. Some members of these unions, however, defied their union leaderships and joined the walkout. The ACNU responded by sending a letter to its striking members at Gampola Hospital in central province, ordering them to return to work. A group of some members of our union have joined the strike It is not successful at any main hospitals. Moreover, there is a danger to our members if they continue this strike. Our members should report to work tomorrow, the letter declared. The ACNUs direct intervention against the strike flows from the nationalist and pro-capitalist politics of the JVP to which it is affiliated. The main concern of the JVP and its electoral front, the National Peoples Power (NPP), is the forthcoming elections in which it hopes to win more parliamentary seats. Under conditions where Wickremesinghes United National Party, the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, and the opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya are thoroughly discredited, the JVP/NPP is signalling to the ruling elite that there is nothing to fear as it does not support any mass industrial action by the working class. The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA), the union of public sector doctors, opposed last weeks strike on a sectorial basis, determined to keep health workers divided along professional and grade lines. It declared that doctors were the only ones entitled to receive the DAT allowance. The Government Nursing Officers Association, which is led by Saman Ratnapriya, who was appointed the Director General of Trade Unions last year by President Wickremesinghe, called on his members to join the strike to try and maintain his discredited unions hold on nurses. Notwithstanding these desperate manoeuvres, last weeks national health strike is a part of a rising wave of strikes and protests in Sri Lanka and globally against government and employer attacks on jobs and working conditions in the face of the rising cost of living. In the first week of January nearly 22,000 Ceylon Electricity Board workers held three days of national protests to oppose the governments moves to privatise the state-owned enterprise. Last weeks health workers walkout is another indication of the determination of Sri Lankan workers to fight for their jobs and conditions against the Wickremesinghe governments International Monetary Fund (IMF)-dictated austerity attacks. The HTUA leadership, however, is determined to prevent a genuine, nationally unified struggle of health employees coming into conflict with the government. Having called short-term industrial action to dissipate the rising anger of its members, the HTUA bureaucracy is preparing to negotiate a filthy backroom deal which it will impose on members. HTUA convenor Ravi Kumudesh told the media last week, Since 2020, we have not demanded anything from the government, given the countrys situation, he said. In other words, the unions have done all they could to assist the Sri Lankan capitalist ruling class overcome its unprecedented economic crisis. Like all the trade unions in Sri Lanka, the health sector unions have blocked development of a genuine struggle of the working class against the governments efforts to impose the full burden of the economic crisis on the working class and the rural masses and the associated attacks on their social and democratic rights. Like the government, the trade union bureaucracy is deeply concerned about the growing struggles of the working class. They fear that workers determination to fight for their jobs and basic rights will rapidly develop into the type of popular uprising that in AprilJuly 2022 led to the ouster of then President Gotabhaya Rajapakse and his government. The HTUA has repeatedly appealed to the president and his government to resolve the issues through discussions, complaining that unless there is a deal, they will face a situation that they cannot control. The surging cost of living and falling real wages facing health workers and the working class in general is the direct consequence of the governments IMF-dictated policies. The IMF has warned that the future installments of its $US3 billion bailout loan to Sri Lanka will be suspended if Colombo fails to implement its demands. The Wickremesinghe government has responded by making clear that it will not tolerate any opposition from the working class and will brutally repress any such movement. This is indicated by its brutal reaction to the three-day national anti-privatisation protests of workers of Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) in early January. On government orders, management sent show cause letters to all CEB workers who joined the action. Sixty-six workers have already been suspended and another 75 face suspension. Contrary to the claims of the union leaderships, health employees and other sections of the working class cannot defend their jobs, living standards and basic rights by pressurising the government. In order to move forward workers must take control of their own struggles. This means building action committees, democratically elected and controlled by workers in all workplaces, including hospitals and health institutions, and independent of the trade union bureaucrats and all capitalist parties. Only these committees can provide the framework for a united struggle of the working class against the government and its IMF policies. Such an independent political movement of the working class, rallying the rural masses, must be based on socialist policies that places human needs above private profit. The New York University campus in New York City, on December 16, 2021. [AP Photo/Seth Wenig] New York University (NYU) has suspended two adjunct professors for expressing opposition to the US-backed Israeli genocide in Gaza. Amin Husain, a professor at NYUs Gallatin School of Individualized Study, and Tomasz Skiba, a psychology professor at NYUs Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, have both been accused of violating the universitys Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment policies by making comments and social media posts denouncing the genocide and US imperialisms support for it. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at NYU denounces the suspensions of Husain and Skiba and calls on workers, students and youth at NYU, throughout New York City and beyond to fight for their reinstatement. Their suspension marks a further escalation of a months-long assault on democratic rightsorganized by fascist forces, the American state and the militaryaimed first and foremost at the campuses but ultimately at the working class. The denunciation of principled opposition to genocide as antisemitism and discrimination is slander that must be rejected. Husain is a longtime Palestinian-American activist who joined NYUs faculty as an adjunct instructor in 2015. He was suspended on January 25 after a video of him criticizing media coverage of the Gaza genocide circulated online. In the video, taken during a teach-in protest organized by Students for Justice in Palestine at The New School in December of last year, Husain says, Dont take what the media says They try to say Oh my God, youre supporting rapists and people that behead babies ... we know its not true. Husain also declared, referring to Hamas and other organizations, These groups are fighting for the liberation of their people and their land. Thats a right. Active in various radical protest groups for several decades, Husain has long been a target of attacks from various right-wing, pro-Israel elements. The present push to remove Husain from his position at NYU has been ongoing for over three months. On October 17, an NYU alumna launched an online petition slandering Husain as a propagator of hate and violence against Jews and demanding that the university take immediate action by dismissing Professor Amin Hussain [sic] from his teaching position. According to the Parachute Project, a civil liberties organization representing Husain, NYUs Human Resources (HR) department pulled Husain in for two meetings in January. In these conversations HR asked Husain about his speech-related activities and affiliation with the radical art-based collective, Decolonize This Place (DTP). University representatives referred to the organizations social media posts opposing the genocide in Gaza and questioned Husain regarding his connections with DTP. Following these meetings, Husain was suspended from his teaching position and instructed to await the findings of NYUs Office of Equal Opportunity. The university has yet to provide Husain with information about any allegations or complaints made against him. About six days later, at the beginning of last week, NYU suspended adjunct professor Tomasz Skiba. The university informed Skiba that it will be investigating complaints regarding his social media posts related to the Israel-Hamas war, accusing the professor of engaging in harassment and discrimination on the basis of race and shared ancestry. In December, Skiba reposted an Instagram story in which he criticized the United States government for taking our money and paying for a genocide. In another Instagram video, Skiba took up the propaganda surrounding the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, denying the allegations of mass torture and abuse of hostages by Hamas. Skiba told Washington Square News, NYUs undergraduate student news publication, Its hard for me to watch killings of innocent children and not speak about itthat doesnt make me antisemitic. The last thing I would want is to make anyone feel uncomfortable, especially my students, because we all should be represented. We should all be free and be able to speak up and be respected. Heavily funded by the American state and the military-intelligence apparatus, NYU plays a critical role in the recruitment of personnel and development of military-intelligence hardware. Now, it is providing the critical service of repression of domestic opposition to genocide and war. The universitys discrimination policy uses the 2016 definition of antisemitism by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which equates anti-Zionism with antisemitism. For years this has served as the basis for a campaign against left-wing criticism of Israel on campus, which has dramatically intensified since October 7. Last October, NYU law student Ryna Workman was blacklisted, doxxed and removed from their position as president of the universitys Student Bar Association for issuing a principled statement on the rights of the population of Gaza to resist oppression. In November, NYU Langone Winthrop Hospital resident physician Dr. Zaki Masoud was removed from service for expressing pro-Palestinian views. In December, freshman Hafiza Khalique was suspended and her scholarship rescinded in retaliation for her removal of pro-Israel posters on campus. On January 25, two NYU administrators, flanked by Campus Safety officers, broke up a small pro-Palestinian demonstration of students and faculty in the lobby of NYUs Bobst Library. At NYU and all the major university campuses, an intense, McCarthyite atmosphere of intimidation is being whipped up against even the most mild criticism of the genocide in Gaza and the broader war developing in the Middle East. At a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus of Columbia University on January 19, two former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers sprayed student protesters with something resembling a foul-smelling chemical weapon called Skunk. At least 10 students were hospitalized. In response, the Columbia administration blamed the student victims, calling the protest unsanctioned. Days later, the university announced it had banned the two students from campus, but students on social media have reported seeing both of them on campus multiple times over the past two weeks and no arrests or updates have been made. Meanwhile, student victims of the attack have been outspoken about the lack of support and resources they have received from Columbia, another academic bastion of the Democratic Party, the US military and Wall Street. A Palestinian-American student wrote a recent Op-Ed in the Columbia Spectator, bluntly stating, I thought that January 19 would be the wake-up call for the way in which supporting genocide has material consequences for our own community. I was wrong. Furthermore, the university system has only increased its attacks on the democratic rights and academic freedom of its students this past month. In response to a pro-Palestinian protest held on campus in December, Columbias sister school, Barnard College, is targeting and intimidating student attendees and holding disciplinary hearings which threaten sanctions against them, including suspension and expulsion. A new Barnard campus event policy, which covers protests, ridiculously requires that students and faculty submit requests at least 28 days prior and gain approval by the administration. On Friday, dozens of New York Police Department officers converged on a large peaceful protest against the genocide and repression of pro-Palestinian students outside the main entrance to Columbias upper-Manhattan campus. Police brutally assaulted protesters, reportedly dislocating someones arm, body slamming people to the ground and punching several others in the stomach. At least 12 people, including multiple Columbia students, were arrested. Columbia University has remained silent on the police assault and arrests. Following the state-led ouster of Harvard University President Claudine Gay for failing to crack down on student opponents of genocide with sufficient force, Harvard has established a task force for investigating allegations of antisemitism on campus, which will play a central role in strangling opposition on campus to genocide and war. Democratic rights on the campuses cannot be defended through appeals to the university administrations, just as the Gaza genocide cannot be stopped through appeals to the Democratic Party. To oppose war, genocide and fascism, students and youth must take up the fight to build a new socialist and anti-war movement in the working class. The IYSSE has called for a political general strike to halt the production and shipment of weapons used by the Israeli government in its assault on Gaza. Students and faculty who want to stop the genocide, oppose war and defend democratic rights should attend the IYSSE in New Yorks public meeting, The way forward in the global fight against Israels genocide in Gaza, on February 8 at 7 p.m. The 2024 federal budget, passed in the Bundestag (parliament) on Friday with the votes of the three coalition partiesSocial Democrats (SPD), Liberal Democrats (FPD) and Greensis a declaration of war on working people. It includes the highest military expenditure since the end of the Second World War. On the other hand, it includes compliance with the debt brake and massive cuts in the areas of healthcare, education, and social welfare. Officially, Germany will spend around 72 billion on defence this year. Of this, 51.95 billion is accounted for by the regular defence budget. A further 20 billion or so will come from the 100 billion Bundeswehr Special Fund for the Armed Forces, which was approved by the Bundestag and Bundesrat (upper chamber) in June 2022. Considering additional military expenditure hidden in other budget items and funds, defence spending for 2024 will amount to a total of 85.5 billion. This means it has more than doubled since 2017. [Photo: Max Linhof/WSWS] In the Bundestag, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) boasted about the record spending. The time has come! he shouted to the assembled deputies. Ten years ago, we promised to finally halt the decline in defence spending and try to get closer to 2 percent of gross domestic product within a decade. With the 2024 budget, a NATO quota of 2.1 percent will now be achieved for the first time in decades. The around 72 billion for our armed forces budgeted in Section 14 and the Bundeswehr Special Fund combine to make the highest figure since the Bundeswehr was founded. At the same time, Pistorius made it clear that this is just the beginning. We must prepare ourselves for the fact that the Bundeswehrs financial requirements will increase permanently, he explained. Security does not come for freenot today and certainly not in a few years time. The Special Fund was therefore only an important first step, but a reliable, sustainable and increasing budget was necessary. The increase that is being prepared behind the scenes is gigantic. According to a report in newsweekly Der Spiegel, the planners at the Ministry of Defence assume that in 2028, two percent of economic output will correspond to around 97 billion. The Bundeswehr will need this sum in any case, for example, for operating expenses, maintenance and new acquisitions. In addition, the planners have estimated a further 10.8 billion for foreseeable further requirements of the troops. This means that the Bundeswehr was heading for a 56 billion hole with the expiry of the Special Fund. These massive amounts serve a single purpose: to re-equip Germany as a major military power. In the Bundestag, Pistorius boasted about the major armaments projects that the coalition government has already launched in this legislative period: F-35 fighter jets, new-generation snowmobile vehicles, equipment for the infantryman of the future, Puma infantry fighting vehicles, CH-47 heavy transport helicopters and further maritime reconnaissance aircraft. In addition, a government purchase agreement had been concluded with Israel for the procurement of the Arrow air defence system and guided missiles, Pistorius said. To drive forward and accelerate the necessary armament, it was now important that all elements of the procurement chain work together: from the troops to industry. It was also clear that the security and defence industry needs to ramp up its production capacities, he continued. Because one thing was certain: The new era will be with us for a long time to come. And we can only take this path together: politically, socially and economically. The budget was a clear sign that we are taking shaping the turnaround very, very seriously. Workers and young people must take such statements as a warning. The German ruling class, which already fought two world wars in the 20th century and committed terrible crimes, is preparing for a potentially all-destroying third world war. Just a few days before his appearance in the Bundestag, Pistorius had declared that Germany and Europe would have to prepare for a war with the nuclear power Russia in a period of five to eight years. In the budget debate, Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) made it unmistakably clear that Berlin would not abandon its declared NATO goal of defeating Russia militarily in Ukraine. We will make our major contribution for this year, and we will do everything we can to ensure that Europes joint contribution is so great that Ukraine can build on it and that Putin cannot expect our support to diminish at any time, he declared on Wednesday. Just one day later, at a special summit in Brussels, the EU decided to continue financing and fuelling the war against Russia with an additional 50 billion for Kiev. This is in addition to the support provided by individual EU member states. German military aid for Ukraine alone is expected to total around 7.4 billion this year, more than doubling the amount. In his speech, Pistorius made clear that German imperialism was not just concerned with Ukraine and Russia, but with a global war offensive. We are currently confronted with a multitude of security upheavals and conflicts worldwide, whether in Israel, Yemen, Syria, the Balkans, the Caucasus or the Indo-Pacific, said the defence minister. We must therefore also be able to take a stand in other parts of the world with our tried and tested measures consisting of diplomacy and development cooperation, but also militarily if necessary. To make Germany fit for war again (Pistorius), the ruling class is preparing to reintroduce compulsory military service. Ensuring operational readiness involved reviewing our personnel requirements and, of course, the question of whether or not general compulsory service or conscription makes sense, Pistorius said. From a societal viewpoint, we have to ask ourselves who should defend this country when things get serious. The budget aims to pass on the costs of this monstrous pro-war policy to the working class. The healthcare budget alone will fall from 24.48 billion in 2023 to 16.71 billion. In 2022, it still stood at 64.4 billion. The massive cuts are the result of the governments profits before lives policy in the coronavirus pandemic. Almost all the funds that have since been made available to fight the pandemic have been cancelled againeven though COVID is still raging through the population. And the cuts go far beyond the expenditure associated with COVID-19. For example, the federal subsidy for long-term-care insurance, which previously amounted to one billion euros, has been cancelled. In future, it will have to be financed by higher employee contributions, which will hit low-income earners particularly hard. The cuts are also huge in other areas: 1.5 billion will be saved directly in social spending, including 600 million in the subsidy for statutory pension insurance. The coalitions only new social policy promise, basic child protection, had already been de facto cancelled by the government at its cabinet retreat in Meseberg last summer. The 12 billion originally promised by Green Family Minister Lisa Paus was cut to 2.4 billion. Following the Supreme Court ruling overturning the climate fund in November, the coalition government massively tightened the cuts once again with the so-called package for future-proof finances, social security and future investments. These are just some of the key figures: Spending on the Climate and Transformation Fund will be cut by 12.7 billion for 2024. The budget of the Ministry of Transport will be cut by 380 million. The budget of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research will be reduced by 200 million. Subsidies for motor vehicle tax for forestry and agriculture totalling 480 million and for agricultural diesel (440 million) will be gradually abolished. The citizens income bonus of 250 million will be cancelled and the amount for citizens income will be reduced. Among other things, this is intended to force alleged total refuseniks to accept any job, no matter how nasty, for a pittance. Refugees who cannot be deported are to be forced into low-paid work through sanctions for breaches of duty, with the aim of saving social benefits totalling 500 million. The governments pro-war policy and the associated massive attacks on social and democratic rights will further fuel the class struggle. The year has already begun with massive farmers protests, strikes by train drivers, airport workers and public transit employees. Added to this are demonstrations against Israels genocide in Gaza, which is fully supported by the government and opposition parties, and the mass protests against the Alternative for Germany (AfD). The far-right party is being deliberately built up by the ruling class to push through its programme of world war and social austerity. The crucial task is to develop the resistance that is growing throughout Europe and worldwide against the war and class war policies of the ruling class into a politically conscious movement of the working class against capitalism and to arm it with a socialist programme. This is what the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) is fighting for together with its sister parties in the Fourth International in the European elections. Some of our central demands are: Stop the NATO war in Ukraine! No sanctions and arms deliveries! Two world wars are enough! Stop the warmongers! 100 billion euros for daycare centres, schools, and hospitals instead of armaments and war! The USS Truxtun, right, and Canadian ships MV Asterix, middle, and Montreal in the Red Sea, May 3, 2023. [Photo: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Kenneth Blair ] On Friday, the United States carried out airstrikes on seven locations throughout Iraq and Syria, in what US officials said was the beginning of weeks or even months of attacks across the region. Over the next two days, Saturday and Sunday, the US and UK launched further airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The attacks mark the beginning of our response and there will be more steps to come, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union. In other words, the United States endless war in the Middle East, which has killed millions of people and destroyed entire societies over the course of the past three decades, is entering a new and more deadly stage. US officials have made it clear that a central target of the US military offensive is Iran. Appearing on Meet the Press Sunday, Sullivan was asked directly if the United States would rule out strikes inside Iran. Sullivan declared he would not do so, stating, Im not going to get into whats on the table and off the table when it comes to the American response. When Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson followed Sullivan on the same program, he made an even more explicit threat to attack Iran. When asked, Do you want to see strikes inside Iran? Johnson replied, It should not be off the table. The back-to-back appearances by officials of both the Democratic-controlled White House and the Republican-led House of Representatives were meant to convey the unanimity within the US political establishment for the escalation of the war in the Middle East. The Biden administration is proceeding with staggering recklessness, inflaming a regional war that threatens to draw in the entire world. A full-scale US war with Iran would have catastrophic human, political and economic consequences, eclipsing even the bloodbath caused by the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Every statement made by the White House to justify this war is a lie. The White House declares it is not seeking war with Iran, and every airstrike is justified with the assertion that it was not an escalation. Each new illegal airstrike is presented as a defensive action to protect US troops. But the very presence of these troops in the region is the continuation of decades of bloody US wars throughout the Middle East, which have killed more than one million people and have been accompanied by the systematic and deliberate use of torture as state policy. The US maintains over 45,000 US troops throughout the region, coupled with dozens of warships and hundreds of military aircraft. The latest US offensive in the Middle East is a crucial element of an unfolding global war, centrally targeting Russia and China. The subjugation of Iran, lying at the heart of Eurasia, is a critical component of the United States drive for global military domination. In its effort to militarily encircle and economically strangle China, Washington is seeking to drive a wedge between Beijing and Iran, which is a large oil supplier to China. A major factor in instigating the escalation against Iran is the massive setback suffered by the United States and the European imperialist powers in Ukraine. Even as US imperialism doubles down on its fight against Russia to the last Ukrainian, it has opened up another front in the global war. In his appearance on Sunday, Sullivan was keen to point out that the US strikes against Yemen and conflict with Iran have absolutely nothing to do with Israel. This too is a lie. The Biden administration has given Israel a green light to devastate Gaza in order to secure Israeli assistance to wage war in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and, ultimately, Iran. Israels final solution of the Palestinian problem, through the massacre and expulsion of the population of Gaza, is a critical component of the US drive to reorganize the Middle East under its domination. Less than 10 days after the events of October 7, the World Socialist Web Site warned: The US is using the present crisis to put into effect long-standing plans for a war with Iran, as the Middle Eastern front of the US war with Russia and war plans against China. The WSWS wrote that the massive armada the United States immediately sent to the Middle East was not just a show of force. It was meant to be used. Since then, the United States has mobilized this armada to repeatedly bomb Iraq and Syria, while strikes on Yemen have become virtually a daily occurrence. American imperialism confronts a staggering domestic crisis, in which democratic forms of government are breaking apart under the pressure of enormous and ever-expanding social inequality. Even as they are enmeshed in a bitter factional struggle that is rapidly intensifying into a full-scale constitutional crisis, both US political parties are committed to a massive escalation of war throughout the Middle East and across the globe. The domestic political crisis in the United States is a major factor in the global eruption of US imperialism. The deeper the crisis, the more aggressive the American government becomes abroad, hoping to project its internal tensions outward. The brazen recklessness with which the Biden administration is escalating war is made possible through the systematic demobilization of the working class by the apparatus of the trade unions. Last month, after announcing the United Auto Workers endorsement of Joe Biden, UAW President Shawn Fain declared, Mr. President, its time for us to go to war. This statement, pregnant with menace, made explicit the role played by the trade unions in the global eruption of US militarism. The Biden administration, having declared that it has broken down the dividing line between domestic and foreign policy, sees the suppression of the class struggle by the trade unions as a key element of the US war drive. The union apparatus functions as the direct adjunct of American military operations throughout the world. The struggle against imperialist war requires the independent mobilization of the working class, free of the domination of all the agencies that seek to suppress the class struggle, in a fight to overturn the capitalist nation-state system that is the root cause of imperialist war. On Sunday, 13 Republican governors joined Trump-aligned Gov. Greg Abbott in Eagle Pass, Texas to lend their support to Abbotts anti-immigrant campaign and his usurpation of federal authority over the border. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, center, is joined by fellow governors during a news conference along the Rio Grande Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. [AP Photo/Eric Gay] For more than two weeks, Texas National Guard troops have commandeered Shelby Park, a city park in the border town of Eagle Pass, from US Customs and Border Protection agents who had been using the area as a makeshift jail and processing center for immigrants. Since seizing the park, soldiers taking orders from Abbott have refused to grant US Border Patrol agents access to the facilities. The park includes a boat landing that agents had previously used to conduct water rescues of immigrants attempting to cross the sometimes treacherous waters of the Rio Grande River. On January 22, in a 5-4 decision, the US Supreme Court ruled that Border Patrol agents had the right to cut razor wire strung by Texas authorities in order to gain access to the park or to immigrants within it. In response, Republican politicians and right-wing commentators have called on Abbott to defy the courts decision, while numerous governors have pledged to send their own National Guard troops as well as police in support of his stand against federal authority. The Biden administration has directed Abbott to cede control of the park to the Border Patrol, which Abbott has yet to do. Abbott was joined on Sunday afternoon by Governors Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Arkansas), Brian Kemp (Georgia), Brad Little (Idaho), Eric Holcomb (Indiana), Kim Reynolds (Iowa), Jeff Landry (Louisiana), Tate Reeves (Mississippi), Mike Parson (Missouri), Greg Gianforte (Montana), Jim Pillen (Nebraska), Chris Sununu (New Hampshire), Bill Lee (Tennessee) and Spencer Cox (Utah). This list includes both those like Gianforte and Sanders who are slavish followers of Trump, and those like Kemp, Little and Sununu, who have been critical of either Trumps claims of a stolen election in 2020, or of his 2024 election campaign as a whole. This alignment demonstrates that the entire Republican Party leadership is united in promoting the border provocations and the defiance of federal authority by Texas. In his comments Sunday, Abbott reaffirmed that the governors were banding together to defend against an alleged invasion of immigrants. Mirroring the fascist Great Replacement Theory rhetoric of Trump and Republicans in Congress, who voted to advance articles of impeachment against Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas last week, Abbott accused the Biden administration of purposely refusing to enforce immigration laws and therefore aiding and abetting the invasion of America by millions of people from across the globe. Abbott boasted that his administration, through the Texas National Guard and Operation Lone Star, had strung more than 100 miles of razor wire barrier. He pledged to expand control of the border, but did not elaborate further. Sundays press conference featuring the governors was held just before the text of a proposed bipartisan $118 billion national security supplemental bill was released by the Democratic-controlled US Senate. In order to secure Republican support in the Senate for over $80 billion in military spending for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats have agreed to sweeping attacks on the democratic rights of immigrants. At this point, however, passage of the bill in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives remains in doubt. Likely Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has denounced the bill and called on Republicans to quash it, and House Speaker Mike Johnson has declared it dead on arrival in the lower legislative chamber. The World Socialist Web Site will provide a detailed analysis of the proposed package on Tuesday. Its major provisions include billions for the US/NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, billions more to enable Israels genocidal campaign of ethnic cleansing in Gaza (including a prohibition of US funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency), and billions in military aid to Taiwan, a direct provocation against China. On the home front, the bill dramatically increases the size of the border police, imposes new restrictions on the right of migrants to claim asylum, and grants the Department of Homeland Secretary and the president new authority to essentially seal the US-Mexico border, strikingly reducing immigration of any kind to the United States. At the Texas event, Abbotts remarks to the press were followed by statements from governors Kemp, Huckabee Sanders and Gianforte, in which they thanked the fascistic Texas governor for standing up to the Biden administration and defending the country from invasion. Several of the governors noted that they had previously pledged troops in support of Abbotts efforts and would do so again in the future. Far from opposing the further militarization of the US border, Democrats have made clear they are willing to work with Republicans to strip migrants of any rights and bolster the border Gestapo in return for war funding. Appearing on ABCs This Week, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-New York) lent his support to the supplemental package approved by top Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, and reaffirmed Israels right to defend itself. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, (New York-Democratic) speaks in favor of US military support to the IDF at the March for Israel rally in Washington DC, November 14, 2023. [Photo: Jewish Federation of Greater Washington] In his interview, Jeffries did not push back on the bogus invasion narrative of the Republicans and stressed the willingness of the Democrats to work with the Republicans to fix the broken immigration system. Jeffries attempted to outflank Trump and the Republicans by accusing them of blocking measures to sharply increase both detention and deportation of refugees in order to gain partisan political advantage. Calling on his Republican counterparts to find bipartisan common ground, he urged passage in the House of the Senate bill to fund Washingtons expanding multi-front war abroad and its war on migrants at home. Jeffries comments came less than a day after the New York Times, the unofficial press organ of the Democratic Party, published an editorial hailing Bidens statement last week pledging to shut down the border the same day he signs a bipartisan national security supplemental passed by Congress. While chastising Biden and the Democrats for being too slow to respond, the editorial went on to praise the Republicans for pressing for action on the southern border. In his appearance on Fox News Sunday, Senator Lindsey Graham (R- South Carolina) called on Republicans to have an open mind on the border agreement, which he praised as a real change in asylum, a real change in parole, and a real change in expedited removal. The governors appearance in Eagle Pass coincided with the final day of the fascist Take Our Borders Back convoy. At the same time that the governors, against the backdrop of National Guard soldiers and military equipment, were delivering anti-immigrant screeds in front of the cameras, a few hundred fascist members of the convoy backing the anti-immigrant campaign massed in Eagle Pass; San Ysidro, California; and Yuma, Arizona. On-the-ground journalists reported that several hundred fascists, including Proud Boys and QAnon fanatics, descended on Shelby Park as part of the convoy. In response, local residents held a rally in San Juan Plaza to denounce Abbott and the militarization of the border. One resident told reporters that the arrival of the convoy was the first time she felt unsafe in the community. Many residents pointed out that they were more afraid of right-wing militias and violent Trump supporters than they were of immigrants. On Saturday, independent journalists with News2Share interviewed neo-Nazi Ryan Sanchez at the Take Our Border Back rally in Yuma, Arizona. Sanchez, who was wearing a brown shirt, black tie, and black leather coat with a Totenkopf skull patch, said he had been looking forward to a rally against the invasion for some time. Neo-Nazi Ryan Sanchez at the "Take Back our Border" rally in Yuma, Arizona, February 3, 2024. [Photo: News2Share/Calvin Stewart/Cole Richardson/@N2Sreports] At the San Ysidro event in California, 2022 Washington House Republican candidate Joe Kent told the few dozen fascists in attendance that Democrats want to pump as many human beings into this country as possible in order to get these people ballots as part of a diabolical power play. Claiming that Biden and the Democrats were working with Communist China and the Mexican drug cartels, Kent called for a complete government shutdown until the invasion was repelled. United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, left, speaks as President Joe Biden looks on during a campaign stop at a phone bank in the UAW Region 1 Union Hall, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in Warren, Mich. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci] A Biden campaign video last week revealed something significant about the role of the trade union apparatus as a linchpin in the strategy and war plans of US imperialism. The video highlighted the recent endorsement by the United Auto Workers union of Biden, showcasing a backstage exchange between UAW President Shawn Fain and Biden. The video begins with Fain stating: Mr. President, its time for us to go to war and put the power of the membership behind you. Im looking forward to it. And were going to do it. Biden: Im confident. Fain: Im looking forward to it. Biden: So am I. What is the war Fain is referring to? The UAW president would presumably attempt to explain away the comment as an expression of his all-out commitment to Bidens reelection and opposition to Trump. But the remark has a simpler and more literal meaning: The UAW president was pledging to Biden to send workers to fight and die in wars on behalf of US imperialism. It was a promise to enforce brutal, war-time discipline and intensified exploitation in the factories, in order to pump out military equipment for Washington and its allies, and to produce super-profits for the corporations. Fains go to war statement was certainly taken as literal by viewers on Instagram, with some of the most popular comments denouncing US wars in general and the US-backed genocide in Gaza in particular (notably, comments referring to Gaza specifically were censored shortly after they appeared): President of wars. This is just sad, how could anyone want a war!!!! Im out of words today for how much I despise this administration. #CeaseFire The UAW apparatus is putting its full support and resources behind a president who is rapidly escalating wars and US military operations in Europe and the Middle East, wars which are widely unpopular among workers and young people. At the same time, preparations are far advanced for war with both Iran and China. Popular ire against Biden has centered on his support for Israels genocide in Gaza. Israels campaign of ethnic cleansing, carried out with US weapons and aid, has resulted in more than 27,000 deathsthe majority women and childrenand horrific war crimes every day, including targeted bombings of schools and hospitals and mass starvation as a deliberate policy. Fain and the UAW administration have postured in recent weeks as supporters of a ceasefire in Gaza. The UAWs executive board adopted a cynical and toothless resolution calling for a ceasefire. But the objective role of the UAW bureaucracy has emerged ever more clearly as an instrument of the ruling class to suppress opposition to war among workers. At Bidens campaign events hosted by the UAW over the past two weeks, protests against the US-backed genocide in Gaza have been forcefully suppressed. At UAW Region 1s headquarters in Warren, Michigan, on Thursday, riot police with batons and armored vehicles faced off against pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside. At the UAWs conference two weeks ago which formally announced the endorsement of Biden, several UAW members were dragged from the hall for shouting Ceasefire now! during Bidens speech, as Fain looked on. Notably, Bidens campaign video concludes with union bureaucrats shouting UAW! UAW! UAW! at the conference, as they were attempting to drown out the Gaza protesters. The UAWs endorsement of Biden is itself a further confirmation of the reactionary politics and pro-imperialist role of the pseudo-left Democratic Socialists of America, whose members occupy positions on both the UAWs executive board and among Fains top staff. UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancillaa DSA member who voted with the executive board to endorse Bidenhas pathetically and absurdly sought to posture as a critic of the UAWs endorsement process after the fact. The comments by Fain promising Biden that UAW members will go to war are the latest indication of the high-level discussions between the two over how the union bureaucracy can support the war aims of US imperialism. Last year, Fain and Biden repeatedly alluded to the World War II-era conversion of auto plants to military production, the so-called arsenal of democracy. While presented as a shining example of union-government-corporate collaboration, the policy entailed intense speed-up and no-strike pledges enforced by the UAWnot for a struggle against fascism but rather to support American capitalisms geopolitical aims during the Second World War. Today, however, what is being discussed between the UAW and the Biden administration would be more rightly called an arsenal of genocide. Biden is relying on the UAW and other union bureaucracies to chain the working class to the war chariot of US imperialism, as Washington seeks to exert global domination through military force. The UAW bureaucracy, along with its counterparts among the Teamsters and other unions, have worked systematically to either block strikes or keep them extremely circumscribed, as during Fains phony stand-up strikes last year. The fear by Biden and the capitalist political establishment is that any significant breakthrough by workers would trigger an uncontrollable movement for higher wages which would undermine Washingtons military operations. The ruling class is doubly concerned over any signs of antiwar sentiment among workers and is counting on the union apparatus to either snuff out or divert it as swiftly as possible. US imperialism is carrying out a war that is aimed at the working class internationally, a war which of necessity takes on an ever-more barbaric character, bringing forward all the worst horrors of the 20th century, including genocide and fascism. The war abroad requires a war at home, on the jobs and wages of workers and on vital social programs. Opposition to war and attacks on jobs among workers is already emerging. What is necessary is to build a conscious political leadership in the working class which fuses the struggles against war and exploitation on the basis of a socialist program. Newton, Mass. teachers on the picket line during their 11-day strike. Late Friday, February 2, the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) and the Newton School Committee announced an end to the strike by 2,000 teachers that had shut down classes in the suburb west of Boston for 11 days. The strike was the longest by teachers in the state of Massachusetts since the 1990s. The NTA planned to hold a vote on the contract over the weekend, but the union agreed to notify all employees that the strike is canceled and its members must return to work immediately, regardless of the outcome of the vote. Strikes of teachers and other public sector workers are illegal in Massachusetts, as they are in 37 US states and the District of Columbia. The school committee, which has been negotiating a contract with the NTA for almost a year and for months after the current contract expired in August 2023, immediately reacted to the outbreak of the strike on January 19 by appealing to the courts to impose huge fines against the teachers. By Friday, Middlesex County Superior Court Judge Christopher Barry-Smith had fined the NTA a total of $625,000, which is due to be paid to the state by Monday, February 5. As the teachers continued their strike, they came under growing attack from the courts, the state government and the media to end it. On Thursday, Governor Maura Healy, a Democrat, threatened to break the strike by asking the judge to appoint an arbitrator to order the NTA and the Newton School Committee to come to a binding agreement to force teachers back into classrooms. Talks had broken down Thursday when the school committee demanded that the NTA pay $1 million to the city for costs of the strike, including for police details. As part of the Return-to-Work Agreement, the NTA and school committee agreed to request that the Superior Court reduce some or all of the contempt fines imposed by the court so that those funds could instead be paid by the NTA to the Newton Public Schools to cover strike-related costs. The agreement further states, In no event shall the Committee be paid less than a total sum of $275,000.00. There is no guarantee that the court will reduce any or all of the fines imposed. The NTA potentially could be obligated to pay $625,000 to the state and $275,000 to the Newton Public Schools, for a total of $900,000. Much has been made of the supposedly lucrative salaries of Newton teachers, who earned on average $93,031 a year in 2020-2021, with bottom-step teachers earning $61,899. Newton, in the Greater Boston area, had a median household income of $164,607 as of 2021 and is home to the second highest number of millionaires anywhere in the state outside of Boston. Most teachers cannot afford to live in the city where they work, where most homes sell for over $1 million. Teachers aides and other paraprofessionals in Unit C, who shoulder key responsibilities in the classroom, earned only $21.83 an hour at the bottom step in 2022-2023. Before the strike, teacher and paraprofessional pay was below that of other high-income suburbs west of Boston. The NTA had proposed 21.5 percent in pay increases for teachers over four years. In the end, they agreed to 12.6 percent. The union proposed starting wage increases of 21.5 percent over four years for paraprofessionals but agreed to 12.6 percent, plus some one-time payments of $500 to $1,100 for full-time Unit C educators. The union had proposed a minimum of one social worker be assigned to each school building. The contract makes no such provision, only a side letter that commits a social worker in all but three buildings. The contract increases parental leave to a maximum of 60 days but with only the first 20 days to be fully paid by the district. There are no provisions in the contract for mitigation measures in schools against COVID-19, which has seen a surge in the Northeast region of the country and threatens the health and lives of students, teachers and their families. The Newton strike is the latest and largest in a wave of teachers strikes that have rocked the state since 2019. Before a strike in Dedham ended this lull in 2019, there had been a 12-year gap between teachers strikes. Since then, there have been strikes in Sharon, Andover, Brookline, Haverhill, Malden and Woburn. The rapid emergence of these strikes testifies to the growing militancy of educators around the country amid a period marked by the pandemic, soaring costs of living and deepening social inequality. The school committee, the city of Newton and the mainstream press have reacted with venom to the teachers strike and their demands. The Boston Globe has run several hit pieces against the teachers, blaming them for being solely responsible for students lost time at school. An opinion piece by Jeff Jacoby called for all the teachers to be fired, citing the example set by Ronald Reagan when he fired more than 11,000 members of the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization in August 1981. Jacoby declared, Unlike in the private sector, strikes by public employees are designed to inflict distress not on management but on innocent third partiesordinary citizensand to deploy that distress as a bargaining weapon. According to this view, teachers have no right to withhold their labor under conditions where cuts across public education at the local, state and federal levels are targeting the right to high quality education. Many Newton parents and residents have been supportive of the teachers demands, although as the strike continued and vitriol mounted against the teachers from the school committee and in the press, several parents filed bullying motions to the court demanding that the teachers be forcibly ordered back to work or, in one case, calling for NTA President Mike Zilles to be arrested and jailed. Educators and workers must fight against the attempts to seize the dues money of educators and other public sector workers as punishment for striking in the face of these reactionary no-strike laws. Rank-and-file Newton teachers must demand an end to the attack on their right to strike by the capitalist courts. There is a bitter history in Massachusetts of attacks on striking teachers. In Franklin, the Great Teachers Strike of 1977 saw 286 educators strike over pay, seniority and maternity leave. The Franklin School Committee demanded that the teachers return to work or face losing their jobs. When teachers refused to return to the classrooms, 34 teachers were arrested in a single day, followed by 100 arrests a week later. The teachers were fined $950 each, the equivalent of several thousand dollars today, and a judge handed down indefinite sentences for contempt of court charges to groups of teachers. When the teachers were finally forced back to work after 14 days, the Franklin Education Association had been fined $150,000. Teachers had to pay their own $950 fines or face returning to jail. In this years Newton strike, as in other teachers strikes in recent years, the NTA, along with their parent unionsthe Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) and the National Education Association (NEA)have refused to mobilize educators across the state, New England and the US to back the striking teachers. In this, they have followed the lead of the UAW, the Teamsters and other unions, which have isolated their memberships and forced through rotten contracts that have resulted in massive layoffs and deterioration of already abysmal working conditions. In 2022, the Biden administration, with the collusion of union leaders, imposed a sellout deal that outlawed rail workers right to strike. The president visited the picket lines of autoworkers in 2023 and hailed the contract reached with the Big Three automakers, a deal which laid the ground for the mass layoffs now taking place in the auto industry. Members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation, all of whom are Democrats, offered toothless statements of support for the Newton strike. Meanwhile, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, also a Democrat, denounced the teachers as greedy and unrealistic. Like her counterparts at the Massachusetts State House and in the US Congress, she claims that there is no money to fund vitally needed increases in public education and other social programs. This claim is made as trillions of dollars are funneled into Wall Street and the US war machine. Randi Weingarten, president of the other major educators union, the American Federation of Teachers, is a member of the Democratic Party National Committee and has supported Israels right to defend itself, as well as refusing to call for an end to the genocide by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza. She has also supported the US-NATO proxy war in Ukraine against Russia, while covering up the historical crimes of Ukrainian fascism. The experience of the Newton strike demonstrates that the teachers union apparatus, and their political masters in the Democratic Party, will not defend educators right to pay and conditions that reflect their indispensable and highly skilled role in society. Rank-and-file committees of educators, in alliance with students and parents, must be organized in every school district to secure contracts that provide livable wages and working conditions to all school workers. Educators and residents must organize across districts to counter any threats of fines and criminal penalties faced by educators who strike to defend their interests. The jury in the trial of Jennifer Crumbley on charges of involuntary manslaughter began deliberations on Friday following closing arguments by the prosecution and defense in Pontiac, Michigan. Defense attorney Shannon Smith, left, speaks to her client Jennifer Crumbley, back right, on the stand in the Oakland County courtroom on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024, in Pontiac, Mich. [AP Photo/Mandi Wright/Detroit Free Press ] Jennifer is the mother of Ethan Crumbley, the student who killed four of his classmates and injured seven others, including a teacher, in a shooting rampage in between classes at Oxford High School on November 30, 2021. The trial of Jennifer Crumbley, 45, opened on January 25 and included testimony by 21 witnesses brought by Oakland County prosecutors. The witnesses provided details of the shooting as well as the circumstances that led Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 at the time, to carry out the crime. Attempting to convince the 17-person jury that the mother of the shooter should be held criminally responsible for the killings, Assistant Prosecutor Mark Keast sought to paint a picture of a parent who was aloof, uncaring and disinterested in the problems faced by her son. As the World Socialist Web Site has maintained throughout the case, the criminal prosecution of Ethan Crumbleys parents by Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, a Democrat, is politically motivated and sets a dangerous and reactionary precedent. The undemocratic character of the case is underscored by a glaring contradiction: The shooter, who pleaded guilty, was tried as an adult in order to give him the severest possible sentencelife in prison without the possibility of parole. Yet his parents are being criminally prosecuted for involuntary manslaughter for allegedly failing to alert the school authorities of their sons disturbed and dangerous mental and emotional condition. McDonald, and the media, are placing exclusive blame on Jennifer and James Crumbley for the horrifying crime committed by their son in order to cover up the deeper causes within society for this and other school shootings across the country. Text messages from months before the shooting, in which the adolescent told his mother about his fears that their house was haunted by demons, were presented by the prosecution and read out to the jury by a forensic investigator. The prosecution maintained that Jennifer Crumbley never responded to these messages. The prosecution also presented text messages between Jennifer and her husband James Crumbley, Ethans father, as well as messages between Jennifer and other adults. The prosecution claimed that these messages showed the parents were more interested in their two horses, which were boarded at a local horse farm, than the deteriorating condition of their son. The prosecution also attempted to undermine Jennifers credibility by referring to an extramarital affair she was having and the fact that she and her husband frequented bars in nearby Lake Orion Township. The prosecution pointed further to the fact that the Crumbleys bought their son the gun he used in the shootings as a Christmas present. McDonald also called Oxford High School officials to the stand. On the day of the shooting, Ethan had been taken to the school office, and his parents had been called in for a counseling session after Ethan was found to be researching ammunition online and watching violent videos of shootings. Ethan had also sketched on a geometry paper a gun, a bullet and a person who had been shot. The sketch included the words, The thoughts wont stop. Help me, Blood is everywhere, The world is dead, and My life is useless. In the brief meeting, both the school officials and the parents decided that Ethan should remain in school since he had no prior record of behavior problems. No one asked if he had access to a weapon, and neither the parents nor the school counselor suggested that his backpack be searched. Defense lawyer Shannon Smith called only Jennifer Crumbley to the stand for questioning and the defendant testified on Thursday and Friday. The defense pointed out that the text messages provided by the prosecution were cherry-picked to conform to its narrative. When asked about the communications with Ethan regarding their house being haunted, the mother explained that Ethan had always joked with them about this and maintained that the messages that were being quoted were taken out of context. Jennifer said that the family had played with a Ouija board in the basement and Ethan was always sarcastic and always messing around with us. On the issue of the gun, Jennifer denied responsibility for the fact that the weapon had not been adequately secured in their house, saying that her husband was responsible for the gun. James Crumbley, 47, is scheduled for a separate trial on the same charges in March. In her testimony, Jennifer defended her parenting of Ethan, saying she did not feel like a failure. She said her son never asked for mental health care before he carried out his shooting rampage, even though the prosecution produced diary entries by Ethan in which he said his parents refused to help him with his problems. Jennifer said she had never seen the diary. She did say her son was anxious at times about schoolwork and had expressed concerns about his future. She said she regretted his carrying out the shootings, but that in retrospect she would not have changed her parenting decisions. The defense presented photos of the family doing things together such as camping out, vacationing and playing games together. In her closing argument, prosecutor McDonald acknowledged that the case was rare, but insisted that Jennifer Crumbley had enabled the shootings by doing the unthinkable, and because of that, four kids have died. Attorney Smith said her client should not be punished for bloodshed that her son set in motion, mainly because Jennifer Crumbley could not have foreseen what her son was going to do. Smith said Jennifer was a hyper-vigilant parent, and argued that Ethan was not mentally ill, but a master manipulator. Smith also told the jury: This case is a very dangerous one for parents out there. It just is. And it is one of the first of its kind. She continued, I am asking that you find Jennifer Crumbley not guilty. Not just for Jennifer Crumbley, but for every mother whos out there doing the best they can, who could easily be in her shoes. A conviction of the Crumbley parents would certainly set a precedent of holding parents responsible for the actions of their children in the growing number of deadly episodes of gun violence in schools across the US. As pointed out by Detroit-based attorney George Donnini, who spoke to The Detroit News, this case is about what was not done, rather than what was done. Donnini said, The criminal justice system usually punishes you for your actionsfor doing something wrong. Here, its for the defendant not doing something, and thats where the tension lies in this case. Prosecutors are saying she shouldve done more as a parent; the fact that she failed to do something is what is getting her in trouble, and thats why this is a unique trial. Judge Cheryl A. Matthews told the jurors that she would give them their instructions when they return to the court room on Monday morning to begin deliberations. A trio of federal lawmakers are expressing concern for flight options at the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport. In a letter to American Airlines leadership, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, alongside U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth are requesting changed flight times to better accommodate passengers leaving from Springfield. An American Airlines plane is photographed Nov. 22, 2022 at LaGuardia Airport in New York. Federal lawmakers are calling on the airline to offer improved flight departures from Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield. American Airlines is one of three airlines flying out of SPI, also including Allegiant Air and Breeze Airways. As it stands, American offers two daily flights to Chicago O'Hare International Airport departing at 2:18 p.m. and 6:27 p.m. respectively. This embedded content is not available in your region. "Neither of these flight times are conducive for travelers who need to be in Chicago for business in the morning nor are they convenient for travelers hoping to catch a connection through ORD," they wrote in a letter addressed to American Airlines CEO Robert Isom. More: Springfield welcomes Breeze Airways flight delay notwithstanding Responding to the letter, a spokesperson for American Airlines noted the airlines is the only major network carrier serving the airport and also serves airports in Peoria and Bloomington-Normal. We are constantly evaluating our network to best serve our customers, consistent with demand," the spokesperson said in a statement. Last year, businesses departed and entered the airport, its 75th year in operation. In June, American shifted its services from Dallas Fort-Worth to O'Hare after United Airlines ceased operations to and from Springfield. Breeze Airways started offering non-stop flights to Orlando and Tampa in December. SPI is estimated to have an annual economic impact surpassing $370 million, according to a 2021 Illinois Department of Transportation analysis. Contact Patrick M. Keck: 312-549-9340, pkeck@gannett.com, twitter.com/@pkeckreporter. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Flights to O'Hare from Springfield inconvenient, fed lawmakers say Bosnian-Serbian writer Lana Bastasic has become another target of the state-backed suppression of pro-Palestinian artists in the German-speaking world. Literaturfest Salzburg and Literaturhaus NO, two eminent Austrian literary organizations, have cancelled Bastasics upcoming residency and reading because she protested her German publishers silence on the genocide that Israel is committing in Gaza with the unwavering support of the Berlin government. Far from having silenced Bastasic, these cowardly organizations have provoked a blistering response from the writer that should serve as a model to artists everywhere. Lana Bastasic [Photo by Elena Ternovaja / CC BY 3.0 Bastasic was born to a Serbian family in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, in 1986. After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Bastasics family was forced to flee Croatia amid the nationalist frenzy of the early 1990s, as she wrote recently in the Guardian. This frenzy was stoked by the imperialist powers, the United States and Germany foremost among them, to gain access to rich mineral resources and strategic geopolitical advantages. During her childhood in Bosnia, Bastasic witnessed the poisonous effects of nationalism firsthand. Her Muslim classmates and neighbors were labeled violent and dangerous beasts, much as the Israeli state now calls Gazans human animals. By the time I was eight, I learned how to tell the difference between us and them, Bastasic wrote in the Guardian. A teacher was no longer a teacher; she was a Serb. A classmate was no longer a classmate. He was a Muslim. A doctor was no longer a doctor. They were now a Croat. These experiences informed the writers first novel Catch the Rabbit (2018), which won the 2020 European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL). The book examines the questions of exile and identity that Bastasic could not avoid confronting as a child. The historic savagery of the ongoing Israeli attack on Gaza has affected Bastasic deeply, as it has many artists. In December 2023, she severed her relationship with her German publisher S. Fischer to protest its failure to be vocal about the ongoing genocide happening in Gaza. She also denounced the publisher for not opposing the censorship of pro-Palestinian artists in Germany. This censorship has included the Frankfurt book fairs cancellation of an award ceremony for the Palestinian novelist Adania Shiblis Minor Detail (2017), Gorki Theatres cancellation of a performance of Austrian-Israeli Yael Ronens play The Situation and the Berlin Haus fur Poesies cancellation of an event honoring an anthology of works by 34 exiled Arabic poets. Bastasic, as quoted in Literary Hub, said that by breaking with her publisher, a step that authors almost never take, she turned her back on enough money to last me a year. She made this sacrifice because she believed it to be her moral and ethical duty to terminate my contracts with the publishing house. Bastasics decision is exemplary in an environment that encourages concern for ones career above all other considerations. Catch the Rabbit, Lana Bastasic However, this decision had unexpected consequences. Literaturfest Salzburg and Literaturhaus NO informed Bastasic by letter that they were canceling her upcoming residency and reading. With phony and hypocritical politeness, officials Josef Kirchner and Anna Weidenholzer thanked the writer for her interest and referred to supposedly intensive discussions they had had about her break with S. Fischer. As much as we appreciate your books, under the given circumstances, we unfortunately must withdraw our invitation, they wrote. Your stay at Literaturhaus NO and participation in the Literature Festival Salzburg would inevitably imply a positioning on our part that we do not wish for and contradicts our role. Clearly, these respectable and high-minded cultural organizations cannot risk giving the impression that they oppose the mass murder of innocent civilians. Bastasics incendiary response deserves to be quoted in full. She gave the following reply: Dear Anna, For the sake of truth and transparency, I would like to remind you that the interest was yours, given that you invited me. Your decision to uninvite me is a clear positioning on your part. Let it also be clear that this is a cancellation of a residency and an event we previously agreed on, based solely on my decision to leave a publisher. It is my political and human opinion that children should not be slaughtered and that German cultural institutions should know better when it comes to genocide. You should also know that you have now added yourselves to the long and infamous list of cultural institutions which cancel artists who refuse to stay silent when the world is screaming. I do not know what literature means to you outside of networking and grants. To me it means, first and foremost, an unwavering love for human beings and the sanctity of human life. Given that you invited me to your residency and festival, you must have been acquainted with my work, which deals closely with the consequences war has on children. Perhaps to you, literary works are divorced from real life, but then again you probably have never known war firsthand. Thank you for uninviting me. I would not want to be part of another institution which not only cancels artists because of their activism, but also seems to think silence and censorship is the right answer to genocide. While I am aware of the fact that the funding you receive within the system you inhabit must have made you forgetful of what art really is about, I still want to remind you that (fortunately for precarious writers like myself) you are not Literature. Your money is not Literature. S. Fischer is not Literature. Germany is not Literature. And we, the writers, will remember. Lana Bastasic Bastasics reply to these craven philistines shows commendable sensitivity, courage and anger. One can only cheer at her exposure of these literary professionals who care only about networking and grants and who believe that art should be cordoned off from life, especially when state interests demand it. Kirchner and Weidenholzer represent a social layer, by no means limited to Austria and Germany, that sees literature as a means for gaining a comfortable sinecure and establishing a reputation. Questions of human dignity and artistic truth are entirely alien to them. Writers, filmmakers, musicians and artists of every kind should study Bastasics example. It reflects growing anger and increasing political engagement among artists everywhere. The writers act of defiance is an encouraging sign for the development of opposition and the elevation of the worlds culture. University and school students are returning to classes amid a massive crisis of world capitalism. Many are recognising that this is a system that offers nothing but environmental destruction, war, fascism, social crisis and mass illness. A section of the Sydney school strike on December 7, 2023 We have reached a turning point in history. It is increasingly clear that if young people want a future, they must fight for it. All over the world, there is growing opposition and anger. However, to go forward, these sentiments require a perspective and a program based on a scientific understanding of society and the lessons of history. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) insists that what is needed is nothing less than a fight for the socialist transformation of society on a global scale to establish a world of peace and equality. The urgency of this struggle is summed up by the mass slaughter in Gaza. The IYSSE warns bluntly: this is not just a Middle Eastern question. The barbarism being inflicted on the Palestinians is what imperialism has in store for the world's population. In the last four months, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has murdered 30,000 Palestinians, over 90 percent civilians, and most of them women and children. More than half of Gazas infrastructure has been destroyed, and 1.9 million people (85 percent of the population) have been internally displaced. Israel has cut off power, food and water, leaving Palestinians to starve and succumb to deadly diseases. In targeted attacks, the IDF has damaged all of Gazas hospitals and slaughtered healthcare workers in their hundreds, leaving no means for the sick to be treated. By every definition of the word, Israel is carrying out a genocide. Its targeted attempt to ethnically cleanse the Gaza Strip by murdering the Palestinian population is a war crime that recalls the horrors of the Holocaust. The direct involvement of advanced industrial states to exterminate a people has been unprecedented since World War Two. Israels assault would not be possible without the political and military support, funding and involvement of the imperialist powers, led by the United States, who unwaveringly defend Israels supposed right to defend itself. US president Genocide Joe Biden admitted in December that his administration is consciously aiding and abetting what it knows to be war crimes. He blurted out that Israel is carrying out indiscriminate bombing and seeking retribution against all Palestinians. In Australia, the Labor government of Anthony Albanese has been among the most vocal in supporting Israels bombardment. The country is exporting weapons components used in the Israeli military machine and providing intelligence used to target Palestinians via the Pine Gap spy base. All this is occurring despite mass opposition among ordinary workers and youth to the genocide. Young people internationally are horrified by and opposed to Israels imperialist-backed assault, but despite 17 weeks of sustained worldwide protests, Israels slaughter escalates daily. Even after the UN overwhelmingly resolved in favour of a ceasefire and the International Court of Justices interim ruling that Israel is engaged in genocide, the murder of Palestinians continues. The critical question, therefore, is how to fight war. The fact that genocide has been adopted as policy by all the major capitalist powers is a warning. Gaza is the test case. The imperialist powers are making clear that there are no red lines they will not cross in their struggle to sustain their hegemonic rule. A man sits on the rubble as others wander among debris of buildings that were targeted by Israeli airstrikes in Jabaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled) The bombardment is part of Washingtons attempts to fully subordinate the resource-rich Middle Eastsomething which more than three decades and more than a million deaths due to US-led wars in the region have failed to accomplish. The Zionist state is an outpost of US imperialism in the Middle East, forged by the imperialist powers in an ethno-nationalist project that cynically exploited the horrors of the Nazi Holocaust to justify the creation of a nation by expelling the Palestinians who lived there. The Israeli regimes long-held perspective, headed by fascist Benjamin Netanyahu, is to drive the Palestinians out of Gaza entirely, whether by displacement or death. Support for genocide is intended to bring about an end to the Palestinian question in the interests of imperialism. The imperialist powers are setting out to embolden Israel as its attack dog in the Middle East so that it can serve as a launching pad for US wars throughout the region, with Iran as the main target. From the beginning, Washington has seized on Israels assault to surge troops, warships and aircraft into the Middle East. Already, the bombardment against Gaza has spread into neighbouring Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. The US and UK, with the aid of Australia and New Zealand, have launched strikes against the people of Yemen, and have begun bombing Syria and Iraq. The US sees the conflict in the Middle East as crucial to its existential struggle with Russia and China. It must subjugate and dismember what it sees as its rivals as the only means of maintaining its economic and military hegemony. What is being witnessed are the first stages of a third world war, with military fronts in Ukraine against Russia, in the Middle East increasingly targeting Iran and military preparations apace against what is identified as the main enemy, China. There is an increasingly open discussion about the use of nuclear weapons. US imperialism, with its NATO allies, is engaged in a proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. Having goaded the Putin regime into its reactionary invasion, NATO is attempting to carve Russia up among the imperialist powers for its resources and geostrategic position. Since 2010, the US has been systematically surrounding Beijing economically and militarily in a foreign strategy called the pivot to Asia. Australian imperialism plays a major role in the pivot. In a process that began in 2011, it has been transformed into a frontline state for war against China. The current Labor government serves as Washington's chief attack dog in the region and is overseeing a massive military build-up for war. Australia is a key member of several US-led military pacts, including the Quadrilateral, Five Eyes and AUKUS, which saw the Albanese government pledge $368 billion dollars in March 2023 to purchase nuclear-powered submarines as part of its role in a war with China. The Australian population was never allowed a vote on the massive increase in military funding or the fact it would be paid for by slashing government expenditure on health, education and welfare. All the decisions are being made behind the backs of ordinary people in a conspiracy against the working class. Yet, the fake left organisationslike Socialist Alternative, Socialist Alliance and Solidarity in Australiapeddle the illusion that protest alone will pressure governments to support a ceasefire in Gaza. No capitalist government, including that of Labor in Australia, cares that their policies are opposed. They didnt in 2003 prior to the invasion of Iraq which led to one million dead and the destruction of Iraqi society and they dont now. To insist there is a hope of changing their minds is to chloroform workers and tie them to the capitalist state and its appendages in the corporatised, anti-worker trade union bureaucracies. That is because the pseudo-left is oriented to privileged sections of the upper middle class who have gained personal wealth through the capitalist system. Their aim is not to fundamentally restructure social and economic life, but to redistribute wealth among those at the top. That is why they promote various types of racial and gender politics to compete for positions of power and privilege in corporate boardrooms, academia, the media, and the trade union apparatus and state. What the pseudo-left wants to avoid is a generation of youth drawing the link between genocide, war and capitalism. War emerges out of the inherent contradictions of capitalism: between the world economy and its division into competing nation-states and between the private ownership of the means of production and their socialised character, operated by a billions-strong international working class. To end war requires ending capitalism. Students and youth must turn to the only social force capable of overthrowing the profit system: the international working class. Workers produce all the wealth in society, but that wealth is concentrated in the hands of the tiny capitalist oligarchy. Meanwhile, the capitalist elite siphon billions of dollars out of healthcare, education and social welfare to fund machines of death. This gutting of social infrastructure was highlighted in capitalisms response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Governments in every country have scrapped all scientifically based public health measures in the interests of profit and militarism. As a result, at least 27 million have died globally from the preventable illness while tens of millions more are suffering the debilitating effects of Long-COVID. Meanwhile, the ultra-rich have gorged on death. Oxfams report last month revealed that the richest five individuals doubled their wealth since the pandemic began. In the same period, five billion people became poorer. This growing social polarisation is leading many millions of workers into open confrontation with capitalism. To suppress this growing social opposition to the program of war and austerity, the ruling elite internationally are turning to the far right and dictatorial forms of rule. The threat of authoritarianism is embodied in the 2024 presidential elections in the US, the centre of world imperialism. The elections are likely to be contested by Joe Biden, who wants world war, and would-be fascist dictator, Donald Trump. As the World Socialist Web Site Editorial Board wrote in Part Four of its New Years statement, The working class, the fight against capitalist barbarism, and the building of the World Party of Socialist Revolution: Taken as a whole, the normalization of different forms of social barbarism signify that the capitalist class has arrived at a dead end. A class whose policies consist of different forms of sociocide has clearly exhausted its historical, economic, social and political legitimacy. The response of young people and workers to the capitalist crisis must be the normalisation of socialist revolutionary politics around the world. World war, climate catastrophe, dictatorship, pandemics and mass poverty are international problems borne out of capitalism. They require a global socialist solution. We call on young people to join the IYSSE and go to factories and workplaces to advance a socialist and internationalist perspective among workers. Emerging struggles of the working class and youth against capitalist barbarism must be imbued with socialist consciousness based on the historical experiences of the working class. Only then can an egalitarian, peaceful world based on scientific and rational planning based on social need, not private profit, be built. Take up the fight for world socialism today! Join the IYSSE! Build the global mass anti-war movement! With less than two weeks remaining before the 2024 Indonesian presidential elections, each of the three candidates has presented their foreign policy, especially regarding the escalating confrontation between the United States and China. Presidential candidates, from left, Ganjar Pranowo, Prabowo Subianto and Anies Baswedan holds hands as they pose for photographers after the first presidential candidates' debate in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, December 12, 2023. [AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana] In a televised presidential debate on January 7, the candidates elaborated their programs for international relations, defence expenditure and tensions with China in the South China Sea. The outgoing government of President Joko Widodo, who has held office for two terms since 2014, was characterised by a heightened development of business relations with China. Widodo attracted Chinese investment for infrastructure projects, green energy transition, the development of a new capital city and the countrys nickel mining industry. China is Indonesias largest trading partner and investor, with imports rising from under $US40 billion in 2014 to over $71 billion in 2022. At the same time, Widodo, in the past two years, has overseen Indonesias participation in major joint military exercises with the US, called Garuda Shield, involving other imperialist powers such as Britain, France, Japan, Australia and Canada. Moreover, Widodo met with US President Joe Biden in Washington last November when the two leaders agreed to elevate their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the highest level of diplomatic cooperation. During last months presidential debate, all three candidates indicated a tilt away from economic dependence on China and the boosting of military spending to assert Indonesias claims in the South China Sea. While not explicit, this orientation would imply closer relations with US imperialism. They also expressed their commitment to continue Widodos promotion of economic relations with China while expanding Indonesias military presence in the region amid rising geo-political tensions throughout the region. Prabowo Subianto, who served as Widodos top defence minister and is currently leading in polls, said disputes in the South China Sea underline the need for a strong defence force, increased platforms for military patrols and additional satellites in the region. In his opening remarks, Prabowo reiterated Indonesias longstanding policy of non-alignment, or bebas aktif (free and active) as it is known, which is enshrined in the countrys constitution. He rejected the notion that Indonesia would take sides or join any security bloc. Nevertheless, Prabowos remarks indicate a certain shift towards Washington. Despite pledging to continue Widodos cultivation of Chinese investment, Prabowo indirectly criticised Beijing saying: We understand our country is very huge and rich; hundreds of years ago, countries from far away came to this archipelago to intervene and pit us against each other, to fight and to steal our wealth until we became independent. And now we have to deal with our natural wealth being taken cheaply. Prabowo, a notorious general in the Suharto military dictatorship, declared he was determined to have a strong defence system to meet the geopolitical challenges in the coming period. He promised to expand military spending, without providing an exact figure, and modernise military equipment if elected on February 14. He directly linked the building of Indonesias military capability to territorial disputes with China around the Natuna Islands in the South China Sea. In recent years, Chinese fishing vessels have operated in waters Indonesia considers part of its exclusive economic zone around these islands, parts of which Beijing also claims. Prabowo stated that Chinas maritime claims are inconsistent with international law. At the same time, Prabowo indicated that he was open to Indonesia joining the BRICS economic group of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Significantly, the Widodo administration declined an invitation last year to join BRICS due to concerns that Indonesia might be seen as openly aligning with Russia and China against the United States. Over the course of the debate, the other two candidatesAnies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowoboth attacked Prabowo as defence minister for being insufficiently aggressive in building Indonesias presence in the region. They presented themselves as better suited to building up the military and asserting Indonesias interests in the South China Sea. Anies, the former governor of Jakarta, criticised the defence ministrys decision to purchase 12 second-hand Mirage fighter jets from Qatar. He pledged to modernise military equipment and improve soldiers official residences. However, the most concrete proposals for boosting military spending came from the third candidate, Ganjar, the representative of Widodos PDI-P party, who has pitched himself as a progressive committed to addressing the plight of ordinary Indonesians. Ganjar said he would seek to more than double Indonesias defence budget, from the current 0.78 percent of the nations GDP up to as much as 2 percent. This massive increase in military spending will inevitably come at the expense of social programs, hitting the poorest layers of the population that he falsely claims to want to help. Ganjar said he would prioritise Indonesias naval capability, developing weaponry and resupplying patrol ships. As reported by Antara, he spoke of the need to strengthen our patrolling capacity in the South China Sea. To that end, we need to provide accessible logistics to the Indonesian Navy through tankers. No attack will come overland as Indonesia is an archipelago. Thus, the sea must be fortified, he went on. He referred to private conversations with figures in the Navy in which they demanded greater sensor technology and sonars to guard from seaborne attack. If elected, Ganjar would also allow defence industries to build more tanks, helicopters, submarines and enhance cyber technology. On conflict in the South China Sea, Ganjar proposed to push for temporary agreements between Indonesia and China with the aim of avoiding unwanted events, without elaborating what that would amount to or how it would be possible. Referring obliquely to the dangerous tensions across the Taiwan Strait deliberately inflamed by Washington, he warned: Equipment modernisation in China will be completed by 2027; by then it will be strong [about enforcing] its one-China policy Then there will be other conflicts that we can be affected by. Most provocatively, Ganjar declared his intention to begin exploiting gas reserves in the North Natuna Sea, that is, in waters which Beijing claims as its own maritime territory. In other election forums, Ganjar has confirmed he would continue fostering economic relations with China established under Widodo, including investment cooperation and the downstreaming policy of domestically processing minerals. However, in opposition to Prabowo, Ganjar, as well as Anies, hinted at their preference to diversify economic partnerships to reduce its dependency on China. Political analysts have noted Aniess history of strong relations with Western countries dating from his time as Jakarta governor. At a Jakarta forum last November of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a leading US think tank, Anies said he would be more inclined to encourage co-operation with countries in the European Union and East Asia than with China. Anies promised to move away from Widodos foreign policy which he criticised as transactionala reference to Indonesias economic dependence on China. Experts have said it is likely he would re-evaluate several of Widodos infrastructure projects, including the new capital city, financed by China. Instead, he has put forward a values-based policy based on deepening engagement with institutions like ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Anies said his government would lead ASEAN to play a bigger role in resolving the South China Sea disputes. During the campaign, Anies has also argued Indonesia should take a stronger position on the US-NATO proxy war in Ukraine against Russia. This was an indirect criticism of Widodo who has not condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. All the candidates, which represent the political and economic interests of the venal Indonesian ruling class, are engaged in an increasingly precarious balancing act between Washington and Beijing as the US plunges the world towards all-out war. The interests of Indonesian workers and youth will not be served by any of these figures, who have no progressive answer to the growing danger of nuclear war and imperialist barbarism. Los Angeles City Council Member Nithya Raman speaks during the Karen Bass election night party at the W Hotel Tuesday, June 7, 2022, in Hollywood. [AP Photo/John McCoy] In a statement last Wednesday, the Los Angeles chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) announced its endorsement of Los Angeles Councilmember Nithya Raman, who is running for her second term in the upcoming 2024 Los Angeles City Council general election. During her four years in office, Raman, a DSA member, has worked closely with Zionist organizations in Los Angeles and twice voted to increase the budget of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). In addition to the DSA, Ramans reelection campaign is being endorsed by the Los Angeles Times editorial board, LA Mayor Karen Bass (Democrat), and Democrats for Israel-Los Angeles (DFI-LA), a pro-Zionist organization aligned with the Democratic Party. The DSAs endorsement of Ramancynically combined with a toothless censure of herembodies the reactionary politics of this socialist organization. The DSA operates as the left-wing of the Democratic Party, corralling the growing opposition to capitalism and imperialist war behind the single oldest capitalist party on the planet. In their endorsement, the DSA-LA Steering Committee wrote, Members ultimately decided to uphold the endorsement and censure Councilmember Raman. Despite Councilmember Raman accepting and promoting the endorsement of DFI-LA, she has called for a permanent ceasefire and has acknowledged the violence and death suffered by Palestinians in council chambers. The DSA-LAs separate censure letter is more an exercise in damage control than a statement. The letter laments that Councilmember Ramans actions have undermined the work of DSA-LAs Palestine Solidarity Working Group, Political Education Committee, and DSA organizers broadly. Moreover, these actions have driven a wedge between this chapter and allied Palestinian liberation groups spending significant time and energy pressuring elected officials to end U.S. funding of Israeli colonial violence. In other words, the problem is not that Raman is a Zionist, opposed to taking a principled political stand against the Democratic Party and its support of genocide. No, the problem is that Ramans stance interferes with the DSAs role as a catchment to prevent people from leaving the Democratic Party. During her campaign for City Council in 2020, the pro-Zionist Jewish Journal had already taken note of her orientation when it published her comments rejecting the Boycott, Sanctions and Divestment (BDS) movement. In 2021, Raman co-authored a motion concerning the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) that was used to shut down discussion on a BDS motion in the Unified Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) union. In 2022, Raman co-authored a resolution which adopted policies on antisemitism for the city council that conflated antisemitism with anti-Zionism. Her motion included applying double standards to Israel as a key example of antisemitism. On October 7, she issued a statement condemning the horrific violence by Hamas and praying for a peaceful end to this conflict. The statement made no reference whatsoever to the ongoing, brutal occupation of Palestine, or any of the conditions underlying Hamas actions on October 7. Three days later she sent another tweet aimed at distancing herself from the DSA because it was unacceptably devoid of empathy for communities in Israel. Since she wrote these two tweets, more than 30,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed by US-made bombs in Israel. She has not tweeted about the issue since. In November, Raman issued a statement at city hall that fecklessly mourned Palestinian death while sowing illusions in and support for the Biden administration: I wholeheartedly support our federal government taking every measure possible to extend the current ceasefire into a permanent onebringing an end to the violence in Israel and Palestine, the safe return of all hostages, and a lasting peace with independence and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike. To what measures Raman was referring, no one knows. The most remarkable contribution of the Biden administration to a ceasefire is its veto against a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The genocide has been reliant on the Biden Administration sending a daily military supply plane with the bombs used to destroy Gaza. Gregg Solkovits, president of DFI-LA, clarified that his organization supported Raman despite her November call for a ceasefire because she opposed BDS. We appreciate that Nithya Raman supports the right of Israel to exist and personally opposes BDS She has not been the kind of hostile ideologue that other people elected with DSA support have been, Solkovits said in public statements. The DSA is pursuing a strategy to support Bidens candidacy in the 2024 election. New York Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a DSA member, declared on the podcast Ive Had It that she strongly endorsed Biden in 2024 despite some vague disagreements on Gaza. Ocasio-Cortez, like Raman, speaks from both corners of her mouth: while shedding crocodile tears about the Gaza onslaught, she has called for pro-Palestine protests to be shut down as well saying that she would consider voting to fund Israels Iron Dome missile system. As DSA-LA is organizing yet another stunt aimed at damage control, it invited Rashid Khalidi, a Palestinian-American historian supporting BDS and the two-state solution, to speak on the first Intifada on February 7. The move has sparked outraged comments on DSA-LAs Instagram account: The nerve to do a presentation on the first intifada while endorsing a Zionist. Or Why are you endorsing Zionist Nithya Raman? The role of the DSA is to capture and immobilize genuine opposition among workers and even among its own members to the policies pursued by the Democratic Party. While it seeks to convince its constituency that it is trying to pull the establishment to left, it instead shifts inevitably to the right. The DSA suggests that appealing to Biden and putting pressure on the Democrats would compel them to abide by popular sentiments. This is like asking pyromaniac to put out a fire. The policies of the Democratic Party, like those of the Republican Party, are driven by the class interests of large corporations, Wall Street and the Pentagon. Lodge As 2023 came to a close, the Sarasota County Public Hospital Board, which governs Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, named new officers for 2024. The new chair is Sarah Lodge, who has represented the boards Central District Seat 1 since 2020. Lodge has extensive experience in long-term strategic planning and financial problem-solving. A certified financial planner, she is first vice president with the Gress Lodge Group at RBC Wealth Management in Sarasota. Lodge has served in leadership roles for a number of local civic organizations. During her term as president of the Rotary Club Foundation, she helped start Rotary food pantries throughout Sarasota County, led the Rotary Reading Project and was subsequently named the 2019 Rotarian of the Year by the Rotary Club of Sarasota. She has worked closely with the Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation in its efforts to support critical hospital services and programs. Lodge succeeds Tramm Hudson, who served as 2023 chair of the Hospital Board. Other Hospital Board officers for 2024: First Vice Chairman: Brad Baker. Second Vice Chairman: Patricia Maraia. Treasurer: Bridgette Fiorucci. Secretary: Sharon Wetzler DePeters. Assistant Secretary: Britt Riner. Assistant Treasurer: Gregory Carter. Hudson remains on the nine-member board, which also includes Victor Rohe. Sunset Realty names top producers for 2023 The top producers for 2023 at Sunset Realty, in Sarasota, are Jennifer Bennett, Carolyn Allen and Thu Nguyen. Carolyn Allen, Cathy Lee Neubauer and R. Joseph Flowers have joined the Sunset Realty Million Dollar Club. Agent Jodi Fleming has been awarded a Florida brokers license. Hawk Safe Children hires VP of programs Child welfare organization Safe Children Coalition has recently hired Sarah Hawk, Esq. as its vice president of programs. Hawk will be responsible for providing leadership, supervision and management of the community-based care foster care programs in Floridas 12th Judicial Circuit (Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto counties) and oversight of all contracted entities. Story continues She will also be responsible for ensuring that programs achieve established outcomes, comply with related federal, state and local laws and rules, and meet all contractual requirements.Hawk has spent her entire career as an attorney in the child welfare realm. She comes to Safe Children Coalition after a decade with Childrens Legal Services, Department of Children & Families, where the bulk of her work was within the 12th Circuit, but her final role was serving as managing attorney for one of the largest Childrens Legal Services offices for the state: Floridas 13th Circuit (Hillsborough County). Prior to that, she was an attorney with the Guardian ad Litem Program for the 12th Circuit.Hawk interned with Childrens Legal Services and the Guardian Ad Litem Program when she was 18 years old and also volunteered for SCCs Angels program which provides holiday gifts for children in foster care and other vulnerable children in Circuit 12 for many years through college and law school.Hawk earned her law degree from the Stetson University College of Law and a bachelors from the University of Florida. Somers Job covers bank's Florida region Alicia Somers has joined First Horizon Corp. as the Florida Region Community Relations Director. In this role, Somers is responsible for developing and executing the community investment strategy for the Florida region. She will lead efforts that help create and maintain a positive reputation with the companys stakeholders and position the company as a regional banking leader within the industry and the markets it serves. Somers lives in Jacksonville. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: New chair of Hospital Board a leader and financial planner Key Insights The projected fair value for Thermo Fisher Scientific is US$607 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Thermo Fisher Scientific's US$552 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate The US$588 analyst price target for TMO is 3.1% less than our estimate of fair value How far off is Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by estimating the company's future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Thermo Fisher Scientific The Method We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$7.33b US$8.39b US$9.12b US$10.9b US$11.9b US$12.8b US$13.6b US$14.2b US$14.8b US$15.3b Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x5 Analyst x5 Analyst x3 Analyst x1 Est @ 9.60% Est @ 7.39% Est @ 5.84% Est @ 4.75% Est @ 3.99% Est @ 3.46% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.2% US$6.8k US$7.3k US$7.4k US$8.2k US$8.4k US$8.4k US$8.3k US$8.1k US$7.9k US$7.6k ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$79b We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.2%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 7.2%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = US$15b (1 + 2.2%) (7.2% 2.2%) = US$313b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$313b ( 1 + 7.2%)10= US$156b 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 US$235b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of US$552, the company appears about fair value at a 9.1% 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. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Thermo Fisher Scientific as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 7.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.999. 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 Thermo Fisher Scientific Strength Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Life Sciences market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years. Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the American market. Looking Ahead: Although the valuation of a company is important, it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Thermo Fisher Scientific, there are three pertinent items you should explore: Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Thermo Fisher Scientific . Future Earnings: How does TMO's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks 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. This years Sundance Film Festival introduced the audience to a fascinating new documentary titled Agent of Happiness. Directed by Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbo, this project took a closer look at the happiness levels of the citizens of Bhutan. Bhutan is a landlocked South Asian country where the majority of the population are followers of Buddhism. Interestingly, their government has a department called the Ministry of Gross National Happiness. The responsibility of the Ministry of Gross National Happiness is to measure the collective happiness and well-being of the citizens of Bhutan. Furthermore, people who work for this department are known as Happiness Agents. In Agent of Happiness, happiness agents Amar and Gunaraj are showcased going door-to-door to measure peoples happiness levels. While Gunaraj is a serious family man, his friend Amar is a hopeless romantic who dreams of getting married someday. The duo collects data for the Happiness Survey to create 5-year-happiness plans to increase the Happiness Index of the society. According to Catapult Film Funds, the synopsis of Agent of Happiness reads, Amar and Gunaraj are not only close friends but also Happiness Agents. They work together for the Happiness Ministry of Bhutan traveling door to door and measuring peoples happiness level. While searching for their own among the remote Himalayan mountains. It further reads, On their mission, they encounter various people chasing their dreams. This satirical road movie through a mosaic of different stories discovers the real desires of a society. Behind a national identity created by the Happiness Ministry of Bhutan, a closed country for centuries. Agent of Happiness: How does Bhutan measure gross national happiness? The modern introduction of national happiness began in the 1970s when then-King Jigme Singye Wangchuck famously stated, Gross national happiness is more important than gross domestic product. However, Bhutan officially began measuring the happiness of its citizens in 2008. According to NPR, Happiness Agents ask the citizens questions that cover nine domains deemed relevant to happiness. These domains include psychological well-being, health, education, community vitality, living standards, and good governance. However, in the end, the question arises, it it even possible to calculate something like human happiness? Many researchers believe it is possible. According to a social psychologist at the University of British Columbia named Elizabeth Dunn, happiness researchers have been widely successful. She stated, The study of happiness has made major strides over the past 40 years or so. Happiness researchers have actually been really successful in taking these seemingly ineffable concepts and turning them into metrics that we can analyze. Furthermore, Michael Givel stated that Bhutan introduced this concept when globalization seemed like a risk to the long-isolated countrys culture and heritage. Givel is a comparative political scientist at the University of Oklahoma who has done research in Bhutan. He said, The rulers of Bhutan recognized that the country needed to balance its traditional Buddhist values with modern, secular issues, like health care and living wages. Agent of Happiness directors Arun Bhattarai and Dorottya Zurbo are veterans in the art of creating documentaries. Furthermore, this project was produced by Noemi Veronika Szakonyi. The post Agent of Happiness: What Does Gross National Happiness Mean? appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Beyonce and Jay-Z are in the building! The A-list couple shocked the world by making a surprise appearance at the 2024 Grammy Awards, as Jay received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, bringing daughter Blue Ivy up to the stage with him. Beyonce, 42, was rumored to be performing at the 2024 award ceremony after Australias version of The Today Show tweeted in early January that the songstress was expected to perform a tribute to late icon, Tina Turner, who died after a long illness in her home near Zurich, Switzerland. However, a representative for the Dance For You artist confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month that she wouldnt be taking the stage. It wouldnt have been the first time that the songstress belted out a Tina Turner hit as the pair previously graced the stage together at the 2008 Grammys, giving an explosive performance of Proud Mary. Beyonces appearance at the Grammys follows her making history in 2023 as one of the most highly decorated artists of all time taking home her 32nd Grammy award last year. However, the Naughty Girl artist missed accepting her first award of the night after arriving late to the ceremony due to traffic. Upon her eventual arrival later that evening, host Trevor Noah announced that the Queen is officially in the building. Im surprised that traffic could stop you, the comedian joked as he presented the Texas native with her award. I thought you traveled through space and time. The camera showed the host greeting Bey as she sat at a table with her husband, 54. Beyonce won her first Grammy in 2001 with the girl group Destinys Child after they picked up awards for both Song of the Year and Best R&B Performance by a duo for their single Say My Name. Over the years, Beyonce has been nominated a whopping 88 times and is currently tied with Jay-Z as the most nominated artists of all time. There may be more failures than victories. Yes, Ive been blessed to have 24 Grammys, she gushed during an emotional 2020 commencement speech. But Ive lost 46 times. That meant rejection 46 times. Please dont ever feel entitled to win. Just keep working harder, she continued. Losing can be the best motivator to get you even bigger wins. Canacol Energy Ltd. CALGARY, Alberta , Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canacol Energy Ltd. (Canacol or the Corporation) (TSX:CNE; OTCQX:CNNEF; BVC:CNEC) is pleased to provide its capital and gas sales guidance for 2024. Dollar amounts are expressed in United States dollars, with the exception of Canadian dollar unit prices (C$) where indicated and otherwise noted. The Corporation announces that its 2024 capital budget is between $138 million and $151 million. Forecast average realized contractual gas sales for 2024, which include downtime, are anticipated to range between 160 and 177 million cubic feet per day (MMcfpd). The Corporations firm 2024 take-or-pay contracts alone average 124 MMcfpd, net of contractual downtime. The average wellhead sales price, net of transportation costs, is approximately $6.04/Mcf for our firm take-or-pay contracts. The average wellhead sales price (including take or pay and interruptibles volumes), net of transportation costs, is expected to average $6.59/Mcf. Forecast interruptible sales include potential sales to the Celsia-operated Tesorito gas-fired power plant, in which the Corporation holds a 10% stake. The plant operates intermittently to supply electricity to the national grid during periods of high electrical demand. When operating at full capacity the plant will consume approximately 40 million standard cubic feet per day to generate around 200 MW of electricity. Corporate Strategy Update Charle Gamba, President and CEO of Canacol, stated: As we previously stated, the Corporations long-term plan is focused on i) maintaining and growing our reserve base and production from our core assets in the Lower Magdalena Valley Basin, targeting the full use of existing transportation infrastructure; ii) exploring high impact exploration opportunities in the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin; iii) strategic entrance into the gas market in Bolivia, and iv) continue to improve our ESG scores. For 2024, the Corporation is focused on the following objectives: Story continues 1) In line with maintaining and growing our reserves and production in our core gas assets in the Lower Magdalena Valley Basin (LMV), we have planned comprehensive development and exploration programs. We aim to optimize our production and increase reserves by drilling up to 5 development wells, install new compression and processing facilities as required, and workover operations of producing wells in our key gas fields. We will also drill 4 exploration wells, complete the acquisition of 249 square kilometers of 3D seismic to add new reserves and production and to identify new drilling prospects. These development and exploration activities are planned to support our robust EBITDA generation and allow us to capitalize on strong market dynamics in 2024. 2) Maintaining a low cost of capital, cash liquidity and balance sheet flexibility to invest for the long term. In a year of expected, highly supportive gas market dynamics, we are tactically prioritizing investments in the LMV and have therefore decided to postpone drilling of the Pola 1 exploration well located in the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin to 2025. 3) Bolivia: achieve the governments approval of a fourth E&P contract that covers an existing gas field reactivation, to begin development operations with a view to adding reserves and production and commencing gas sales in 2025. 4) Continue with our commitment to our environmental, social and governance strategy. 2024 Corporate Guidance Provided below is the Corporations guidance for 2024: Highlights 2023E 2024 Low End Guidance 2024 High End Guidance Natural Gas Sales Volume (MMcfpd) 178 160 177 EBITDA ($ millions) 236 250 290 Capital Expenditures ($ millions) 205 138 151 2024 Capital Program 2023E 2024 Low End Guidance 2024 High End Guidance Development and Maintenance $95 $73 $77 Exploration (Wells, Seismic, and EIA) $90 $48 $56 Administrative, social, environmental and other $20 $17 $18 Total capital expenditures $205 $138 $151 The 2024 capital program balances the continued development of our existing reserves to optimize our production with exploration, targeting the addition of new reserves and production. During the first half of 2024, we are planning an active development drilling and workover program, coupled with investments in additional compression and processing facilities, to ensure that sufficient productive capacity exists to meet potentially high gas demand during the first half of 2024 related to the effects of El Nino. Our development plans include the drilling of up to 5 new wells. Our exploration plans include the drilling of 2 relatively low risk Cienaga de Oro prospects located close to transportation infrastructure in our core producing area, and 2 exploration wells targeting higher impact, slightly higher risk prospects which have the potential to open up new production areas. 2024 Financial Highlights 2023E 2024 Low End Guidance 2024 High End Guidance Natural gas sales volume (MMcfpd) 178 160 177 Interruptible spot sales as a % of total 17% 23% 30% Average gas sales price ($/Mcf) $5.41 $6.59 $6.59 Netback ($/Mcf) $4.11 $4.91 $4.99 EBITDA ($ millions) $236 $250 $290 Capital expenditures ($ millions) $205 $138 $151 As we have stated before, one of our long-term corporate objectives is to reduce debt. However, given current favorable gas market dynamics, the Corporation has decided to maintain substantial investments in its key producing blocks located in the Lower Magdalena Valley Basin, aimed at capitalizing on the prevailing market conditions. As a result of favorable market conditions that we expect to help us achieve high netbacks during 2024, we anticipate ending 2024 with net debt to EBITDA levels of 2.4x to 2.8x, which falls well below our debt covenants of 3.25x to 3.5x. A 5% increase/decrease in average sales price (+/- $0.33/Mcf) will have an EBITDA impact of approximately $16 million and $18 million on the low end guidance and the high end guidance, respectively. The Corporation will continue to evaluate the Return of Capital to Shareholders on a quarterly basis, in accordance with the Corporation's policy, aiming to achieve a balanced assessment of the Corporations strategy while being conscious of the diverse interests of our stakeholders. The Corporation will provide regular production and operational updates on a quarterly basis starting with the first quarter of 2024. Material changes with respect to gas sales, exploration drilling results, or any other matters during the quarter will continue to be disclosed in accordance with applicable material information disclosure requirements. About Canacol Canacol is a natural gas exploration and production company with operations focused in Colombia. The Corporation's common stock trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange, the OTCQX in the United States of America, and the Colombia Stock Exchange under ticker symbol CNE, CNNEF, and CNE.C, respectively. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this news release may be forward-looking statements. Such statements can generally be identified by words such as "may," "target," "could," "would," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "intend," "foresee" and other similar words or phrases. In particular, forward-looking statements herein include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expectations regarding the use of proceeds of the proposed offering. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Canacol believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. The forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Canacol assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as expressly required by applicable securities law. Further information regarding risks and uncertainties relating to Canacol and its securities can be found in the disclosure documents filed by Canacol with the securities regulatory authorities, available at www.sedar.com. CONTACT: For more information please contact: Investor Relations South America: +571.621.1747 IR-SA@canacolenergy.com Global: +1.403.561.1648 IR-GLOBAL@canacolenergy.com President Joe Biden has expressed concern for Britains King Charles III following his cancer diagnosis, news of which the palace announced Mondaysending shockwaves across the United Kingdom. Asked by reporters in Las Vegas if he had a message for the king, Biden said he had just heard his diagnosis and said, Im concerned about him. Hopefully Ill be talking to him soon. Biden is currently in Nevada campaigning ahead of the states Democratic Party primary on Tuesday. Former President Donald Trump also sent his best wishes to the monarch via a brief all-caps post on Truth Social, writing that the king was a WONDERFUL MAN, WHO I GOT TO KNOW WELL DURING MY PRESIDENCY. He added, WE ALL PRAY THAT HE HAS A FAST AND FULL RECOVERY! "I'm concerned about him." US President Joe Biden says he will be speaking to King Charles "God willing".https://t.co/uKRs0Pc7uL Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/J5LkbFJ5ZJ Sky News (@SkyNews) February 5, 2024 Charles has begun outpatient treatment for cancer and is pausing public-facing events, Buckingham Palace announced Monday afternoon, but aides have insisted he will continue with paperwork and private meetings. The palace said Charles remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. The palace said doctors discovered Charles cancer during a recent procedure to treat an enlarged prostate, but clarified that he does not have prostate cancer. During the kings recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted, Mondays statement read. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer. Prince Harry, whose relationship with his father has been strained in recent years, is dashing back from California to be by his fathers side. According to British newspaper The Telegraph, Harry is set to board a flight Monday night to be at Charles side, while his wife, Meghan Markle, plans to remain at home in California with their two children, Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. One of Wilmington's most famous one-time residents is about to get the Hollywood treatment. But will Bob Marley's time in Delaware make the final cut in Paramount Pictures' biopic "Bob Marley: One Love" when it is released in theaters on Valentine's Day? We'll have an answer soon. It's been 60 years since an 18-year-old Marley moved from Jamaica to Wilmington with his mother, Cedella Booker, living in (or visiting) the city on and off through 1977, according to the Bob Marley Foundation. Booker had married Edward Booker, whom she met in Delaware while visiting her sister following the death of Marley's father, Norval, in 1955. Marley lived with his mother and stepfather at 2313 Tatnall St., with the reggae star later purchasing the home next door at 2311 Tatnall St., working a short stint as a lab assistant at DuPont and later driving a forklift at the former Chrysler plant in Newark. FLASHBACK Bob Marley wrote some of his first songs living in Wilmington. This is his Delaware history. If it sounds like a recipe for culture shock, you'd be right. "He was here about a year and the only time I really saw him happy was when he knew he was going back to Jamaica," Cedella Booker told The News Journal in an interview in 1976. "He didn't go out. He would say he preferred to stay here. "He had a little book and he would write the words that came to his mind, then take his guitar and pick out a tune until he had something." 'One Love' co-writer also from Wilmington "Bob Marley: One Love" stars English actor Kingsley Ben-Adir ("One Night in Miami...," "Secret Invasion," "Peaky Blinder") as Marley, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, who helmed Academy Award Best Picture nominee "King Richard" in 2021. Bob Marley at a family picnic in Wilmington along the Brandywine at North Heald Street in July 1977. It was written by Green, Terence Winter ("Boardwalk Empire," "The Sopranos"), Frank E. Flowers and in a local twist Zach Baylin, a Tatnall School graduate who grew up in Wilmington's Highlands neighborhood and whose writing credits include "King Richard," "Creed III," "Gran Turismo" and the upcoming reinvention of "The Crow." A major feature film about a music legend with Wilmington ties and co-written by a Wilmingtonian deserves a Wilmington premiere. The organizers behind the annual Peoples Festival in Wilmington honoring Marley first launched in 1994 by the late Ibis Pitts and his wife, Genoveva "Genny, who still heads the event will host such a premiere. JAMMIN' This is the best place to see local Delaware bands & it's not a music venue or even a bar Booker would say her son's only friend in Wilmington was Ibis, according to Genny. Marley first met him around 1968. Ibis owned an Afrocentric shop at 24th and Market streets, and Marley's wife, Rita, came in one day, barefoot. Genoveva Pitts, the founder of the Peoples Festival, smiles while sharing stories of Bob Marley's time spent in Wilmington. She told Ibis about her musician husband and the two hit it off when they met, often getting together to play music with Marley on guitar and Ibis on drums with Marley eventually becoming a fixture at the shop for a bit. The Wailers' Junior Marvin coming for Wilmington premiere Genny Pitts and Peoples Festival will host a VIP red carpet premiere event at Penn Cinema Riverfront 14 + IMAX (401 S. Madison St., Wilmington) on Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. Junior Marvin, guitarist with Marley's band The Wailers, will attend as a special guest with a meet and greet ahead of the screening and a question-and-answer session afterward. Marvin's new album, "Happy Family," will be released Feb. 23. One Love Park in Wilmington is named after famed singer/songwriter Bob Marley. The premiere is hosted by Pitts' daughter Chandra, executive director of Wilmington's One Village Alliance, and Iz Balleto, Delaware Art Museum community engagement specialist and co-founder of the Wilmington Guerilla Republik community organization. It costs $30 to attend and tickets are available at peoplesfestival.com. Have a story idea? Contact Ryan Cormier of Delaware Online/The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier) and X (@ryancormier). FLASHBACK This Wilmington writer's first major film stars Will Smith and is gaining major Oscar buzz ANOTHER FLASHBACK From Highlands to Hollywood: The Wilmington native behind 'Creed III' This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 'Bob Marley: One Love' biopic opens on Valentine's Day Brandi Glanville has picked a side in the latest drama taking place between Real Housewives of Orange County stars Tamra Judge and Vicki Gunvalson. Stress is a real thing, Brandi wrote on X, formerly Twitter, but no matter how fat my face gets, Im showing up for my [favorite] housewife of Orange County. The OG of the OC [Vicki Gunvalson]. Im not Switzerland; Im just gonna say it shes my favorite. The former Bravolebritys post comes a few weeks after Tamra, Vicki, and Shannon Beadors feud became public. After throwing shade at her former Tres Amigas sisters with her own post, Tamra wrote, I felt like I just took the biggest dump of my life. So refreshed. So relieved. Will Brandi and Vicki ever return to the Real Housewives? Stress is a real thing, but no matter how fat my face gets I'm showing up for my FAVORITE!!!! housewife of Orange County, the OG of the OC @vgunvalson i'm not Switzerland I'm just gonna say it she's my favorite Brandi Glanville (@BrandiGlanville) February 1, 2024 Since Vickis RHOC departure in 2020, fans have wondered if Bravo would ever ask the reality star to return to the franchise she helped put on the map. After seasons of mixing and matching the cast, bringing back the likes of Heather Dubrow and Tamra after time off, theres still no sign of Vicki holding an orange for Season 18. Which really is a bummer. As for Brandi, the California local had been shoulder-tapped by Bravo and Peacock to participate in one-off series, like The Traitors and Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip. After a successful first season of both shows, Brandi returned for RHUGT Season 4. That was filmed in Morocco over a year ago. Brandi was sent home early following an alleged sexual encounter with the Real Housewives of New Jerseys OG Caroline Manzo. Fast forward to the present day. Caroline has filed a lawsuit against Bravo, NBC Universal, Peacock, and others for the alleged assault. The documents read that despite Carolines conversation with producers that Brandis behavior made her uncomfortable, they continued filming. Defendants even encouraged Ms. Glanville to become drunk on the set so that she would be more likely to commit outrageous and harassing acts, thereby helping Defendants ratings without regard to the rights and safety of those around her, the lawsuit reads. So, could Vicki return to the network in the future? Its certainly possible. Regarding Brandi, well, were just hoping that the truth of that case is brought to life. TELL US WHAT DO YOU THINK OF BRANDI PICKING VICKIS SIDE? The post Brandi Glanville Backs Vicki Gunvalson Amid Tres Amigas Fallout appeared first on Reality Tea. A look back at the New Hampshire primary Voters of all ages cast their New Hampshire primary ballots in Durham Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024. The Active Retirement Association announces a free general meeting via Zoom video conference on Monday, Feb. 5, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Registration for ARA non-members is required. Email seacoastara@gmail.com. A study in artificial intelligence DOVER On Monday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m. join systems and technology librarian Nick Gagnon at the Dover Public Library for a demonstration of some artificial intelligence programs such as ChatGPT, Google Bard, Bing Image Creator and more. Resilient Dover DOVER On Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dover Public Library, municipalities around the globe are acting at the local level to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare their communities for forthcoming climate change impacts. Jackson Kaspari, resilience manager/city planner, will lead this session in a case study on how Dover is approaching these issues and leveraging statewide partnerships on its path to become a more resilient community. Teen Movie Night: 'Warm Bodies' DOVER On Thursday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. teens in grades 7-12 are invited to join the Dover Public Library for a showing of "Warm Bodies" (rated PG-13). Themed snacks and drinks will be provided. Seacoast Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol information night PORTSMOUTH The Seacoast Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol will be holding an information night on Thursday, Feb. 8 at the Service Credit Union, 3003 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, starting at 6:30 p.m. Our members will be on hand to talk about what it is like to be a member of our squadron. Details: seacoast.cap.gov Comedy night DOVER On Feb. 10, at 7 p.m., the Lions Club of Dover, Rollinsford and South Berwick will host a Comedy Night to benefit community initiatives at Corner Point Brewing Company in Berwick, Maine. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at eventbrite.com/e/21-comedy-corner-point-to-help-dover-rollinsford-s-berwick-lions-club-tickets-748103857777. Books n Puzzles sale ROCHESTER On Saturday, Feb. 10, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at First Church Congregational, 63 South Main St. (use Liberty Street entrance): books and puzzles, each item 50 cents. Remaining items available the following week, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Everything free on Saturday, Feb. 17. Preschool art valentines PORTSMOUTH Bring your preschooler, ages 3-4, to the Portsmouth Recreation Department Community Campus on Saturday, Feb. 10 from 10 to 10:45 a.m. for Valentines making. $15 for residents/$20 non-residents. Sign ups required at cityofportsmouth.com/recreation. Be My Valentine dance PORTSMOUTH The Portsmouth Rec is holding a Be My Valentine dance on Saturday, Feb. 10 from 6-8 p.m. at the Community Campus gymnasium. Walk the red carpet, DJ and dancing, dress to impress. Families welcomed. $20 per family with pre-registration/$25 at the door. Sign-up at cityofportsmouth.com/recreation. Crafter morning DOVER On Saturday, Feb. 10 at 11 a.m. kids ages 6 and up are invited to join the Dover Public Library in the activity/storytime room to make a friendship bracelet. Please pre-register for this event at library.dover.nh.gov. Vow renewal Sunday PORTSMOUTH On Sunday, Feb. 11, from 2 to 4 p.m., join the North Church, 2 Congress St., Portsmouth, for Vow Renewal Sunday. We'll be opening our doors for all couples to come and renew their vows in our sanctuary. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Comedy night, Valentine's dance, Vow Renewal Sunday: Community events Paramount+s three-part docuseries #CyberSleuths: The Idaho Murders (Feb. 6) is a damning exposealbeit not about the quadruple homicide that prosecutors allege was committed by Bryan Kohberger. Rather, its a scathing indictment of the amateur-hour detectives who exploit tragedies for monetized clicks, likes, follows, and subscribes on social media. Recounting this horrible tale through the lens of these self-serving men and women, its a censure of a morally suspect trend that, in this instance, has done nothing but line the pockets and stroke the egos of its practitioners. As conveyed by this non-fiction effort, cybersleuths were immediately attracted to the murders of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle, who were slain in their home during the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022. The appeal of this headline-making case wasnt hard to discern. The foursome were good-looking all-American kids, and theyd seemingly been killed (viciously, with a knife) in their sleep, all while two additional roommates were in the house. Despite having been present (and thus probably privy to their friends screams), the survivors didnt call 911 until approximately noon the next day. Given that police quickly exonerated the victims friends and significant others, there were no clear suspects, nor any obvious explanations for how this crime was executed or the motivation behind it. In the immediate aftermath of this slaughter, Moscow, Idaho, police were less than forthcoming with information, so internet gumshoes like Olivia (1.2 million TikTok followers) and Bullhorn Betty (99.6k TikTok followers) seized the opportunity to fill the void via their own online channels, flooding the discourse with sensationalistic speculation. First, they pointed fingers at law enforcement for their lack of transparency, which supposedly meant something was amiss. Then they turned their attention to Kaylees boyfriend, whod broken up with her shortly before her death (and whom shed been trying to phone that fateful night). Later, there was a neighbor, Jeremy Reagan, whod done some TV interviews, and who was deemed creepy and weird by internet commenters. When those leads didnt pan out, they looked in different corners of the story, picking at details in a vain effort to prove that there was a conspiracy afoot, a larger truth, that the mainstream media didnt want you to know or was too incompetent to discover. They, conversely, deemed themselves independent and reliable voices of truth. Except, of course, that theyre unqualified strangers who have no connection to the Idaho murders, no expertise in criminal investigation, and no access to anything more than likeminded online randos eager to get a few seconds in the social media spotlight. Many of these fake detectives describe their work and defend themselves in #CyberSleuths: The Idaho Murders, such as Jenna (772.9k TikTok followers), who remarks about the media, Were clickbait but youre not? Cmon! She additionally says, about questioning everything, The fucking police did, so why cant I? Suffice it to say, these are not serious questions, and they do not make Jenna come across as a serious person. And the revelation that shes also a beauty and lifestyle influencer only underscores that impression. When it comes to not comprehending how journalism works, however, shes not alone; for example, fellow cybersleuth Brat (26.6k TikTok followers) asksin the wake of being totally duped by a troll posing as a witnessHow am I supposed to verify any of this? Woman Describes Eerie Tinder Date With Idaho Murder Suspect Bryan Kohberger #CyberSleuths: The Idaho Murders is full of such pearls of non-wisdom, including from Olivia, who claims, I have more freedom, where I can literally say whatever I want. Versus when you are working for a corporation, legally sometimes there are certain things the reporters cant talk about. In other words, she and those like her are just talking heads, and despite sometimes recording a video from the scene of a crime or outside a police departmentor even convincing victims desperate relatives to sit down for an interviewtheyre glorified crime tourists. It will come as no shock to learn that these faux-Hercule Poirots were caught totally off-guard by law enforcements arrest of Kohberger (whom theyd never heard of), nor that the myriad posts depicted in this docuseries involve TikTokkers reacting to material made public by the police of authentic journalists. Theyre not PIs; theyre personalities. Equally unsurprising is that Olivia and Bettys colleague JLR is a convicted fraudster and habitual con man, since every cybersleuth seen in #CyberSleuths: The Idaho Murders is quite blatantly using this real tragedy for personal profit. Theyre also, as the docuseries intimates, muddying the waters in various ways, including by re-traumatizing those directly related to the victims, influencing public sentiment (thereby complicating the jury-selection process), and possibly providing evidence toor being manipulated with fake clues bythe actual killer. What emerges, then, is a portrait of cosplayers who justify their endeavors with disingenuous and/or moronic platitudes about how social media is the new normal (and its not going away!), about how resource-thin small-town police forces need and want their help (see, they even asked for the public to keep sending in tips!), and about how theyre merely satisfying peoples pre-existing hunger for updates, conjecture and theories. Accused Idaho Killer Bryan Kohberger Teases Alibi in Students Slayings The infatuation with true crime is nothing new, but #CyberSleuths: The Idaho Murders suggests that its recent explosive popularity has been a net societal negative, at least insofar as its created a culture of exploitation. Theres a serpent-devouring-its-tale quality to the docuseries, which addresses the downsides of cybersleuthingand affords cybersleuths with plentiful chances to expose themselves as unprofessionaland yet nonetheless aims to attract viewers by platforming this subculture and its members. Critiquing with one hand and promoting with the other, it winds up caught in a tangle that its not deft enough to escape. Worse, though, is that the proceedings spotlight these self-interested strivers in favor of focusing on the Idaho murders themselves. Anyone looking for a lucid explication of the facts, or insights into the four young people whose lives were stolen on Nov. 13, 2022, wont find them in #CyberSleuths: The Idaho Murders. For that, I guess theyll have to turn somewhere elsesay, the legitimate media. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Saltburn actor Jacob Elordi is said to be involved in a police investigation in New South Wales, Australia, following an alleged altercation with the Australian breakfast radio show producer Joshua Fox. Local media reports that the altercation took place at the Clovelly Hotel in Sydneys Eastern Suburbs, where Fox is said to have approached Elordi with a camera. Multiple reports state that Elordi asked Fox to turn his camera away and delete the footage. The radio producer refused, at which point the altercation escalated. More from Deadline Officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command are investigating after a man was allegedly assaulted outside a hotel in Sydneys Eastern Suburbs, New South Wales police said in a statement to Deadline. Police were told about 3.30 pm on Saturday 3 February 2024, a 32-year-old man was allegedly assaulted by a 26-year-old man. The statement added: The man did not sustain any injuries. Inquiries into the incident are continuing. Born in Brisbane, Australia, Elordi is best known for his in Sam Levinsons Euphoria. The Aussie actor most recently starred in Sofia Coppolas subtle biopic Priscilla and Emerald Fennels viral Saltburn, for which he is nominated for a BAFTA. Hes next set to star in Guillermo Del Toros Frankenstein adaptation for Netflix and will feature in Paul Schraders next feature, Oh, Canada. Based on the 2021 novel Foregone by the late Russell Banks, the film tells the story of Leonard Fife (Richard Gere), a famed documentary filmmaker who takes stock of his life, with not long to go after being stricken with cancer at 80 years old. The most unreliable of narrators and men Fife offers the viewer a look at his home life, as a draft-dodging artist who abandoned one family for another, consistently evading any sense of responsibility for actions as he starts a new life in Canada. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Killer Mike arrives for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Feb. 4. - Credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images Killer Mike was detained at the 66th Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles Sunday afternoon, shortly after winning three of the four rap categories in the pre-show telecast about two hours earlier. An LAPD source tells Rolling Stone that Michael Santiago Render (Killer Mikes real name) was handcuffed and detained after an alleged physical altercation inside the arena involving a third party. Somebody complains, obviously we have to do something about it, the source said. Render was questioned and later booked for misdemeanor battery, according to the LAPD. He was released Sunday night on his own recognizance. More from Rolling Stone Breaking: Rapper Killer Mike has been taken away in handcuffs in https://t.co/aF2yiyTHol arena after winning 3 #Grammys during telecast (Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for Scientists & Engineers, Best Rap Album for Michael) Free Mike someone shouts as he walks past. pic.twitter.com/4epfmzqMt8 Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) February 5, 2024 Video captured by The Hollywood Reporters Chris Gardner showed Render being taken away in handcuffs. Gardner reported that an official said the arrest was related to an unspecified misdemeanor that didnt have to do with any happenings during the Grammys on Sunday. (A rep and attorney for Render did not immediately reply to a request for comment.) The detainment came shortly after the rapper had gone to the press area to field questions about his win elated to have been recognized after more than 20 years into his hip-hop career. It feels absolutely grand, Render said. If it feels like some people are reaching the finish line first, dont worry. Just keep running your race. The only thing stopping you is your imagination. Its our responsibility to be grand in every action. Sundays award marked the first time Render had won a Grammy for his solo work. His first win came more than two decades ago for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group alongside Outkast for The Whole World. Prior to 2024, he was last nominated in 2018 for Best Rap Song for Chase Me, the Run the Jewels collaboration with Danger Mouse and Big Boi. Render did not address the incident on social media following the detainment, but proclaimed Thank God and Dreams come true Its a sweep! Ironically, Renders father served as a policeman in Atlanta. In 2014, he told The Fader that his father wanted him and his siblings to be good citizens, but he didnt want them to join the police force. Render also referenced his father in 2020, during an emotional press conference amid intense protests in the wake of George Floyds and Breonna Taylors police killings. Im the son of an Atlanta City police officer. My cousin is an Atlanta City police officer. I got a lot of love and respect for police officers, he said standing alongside then-Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and rapper T.I. Render, along with T.I., also made polarizing pleas for Atlanta residents to stop looting and burning area establishments. He noted, Im duty bound to be here to simply say that it is your duty not to burn your own house down for anger with an enemy. It is your duty to fortify your own house so that you may be a house of refuge in times of organization. Render has frequently discussed the failings of the police system in his music, in interviews, and a 2014 op-ed about the Ferguson uprising, where he wrote, I will never take a day off policing the people we pay and keep a public trust with. I will use my camera, my pen, my pad, and my network to do my part, to make sure that American will no longer fear their government, or its employees. They work for us not the other way around. This is not the first time an artist has been arrested on the site of an awards show. In 2006, Yaasin Bey was arrested by the NYPD after a guerilla-style street performance. He traveled to Radio City Music Hall, where the MTV Video Music Awards were taking place, and performed Katrina Clap, a remix of UTPs Nolia Clap that spoke on the Hurricane Katrina tragedy. Though Beys then-publicist claimed he had a permit to perform, he was still arrested after a crowd gathered around the flatbed truck he was performing on. Additional reporting by Nancy Dillon and Tomas Mier. This is a developing story. Best of Rolling Stone King Charles, 75, Announces Cancer Diagnosis, Postpones All Future Engagements for Now "During The Kings recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer," the palace said about the King King Charles is facing another health battle. After undergoing a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate last month, Buckingham Palace revealed on Monday that the King, 75, has cancer. "During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer," the palace said in a statement. "His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual," they continued. "The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible," the statement added. "His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer." PEOPLE understands King Charles told his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, about the diagnosis himself. A source says William, 41, is in regular contact with his father while Harry, 39, who relocated to California with his wife, Meghan Markle, in 2020, is expected to travel to the U.K. in the coming days The King also personally informed his siblings, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, before the news was made public. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty King Charles and Queen Camilla attend church on Feb. 4, 2024 Related: How Kate Middleton and King Charles' Surgery News Differed from Past Royal Statements on 'Personal' Matters King Charles was seen with Queen Camilla attending church on Sunday at St. Mary Magdalene Church near Sandringham, where the royal family traditionally attends mass on Christmas Day. It marked the monarch's first outing since leaving the hospital on Jan. 29 following a three-day stay after his prostate procedure. King Charles returned to London from Sandringham on Monday to commence treatment as an out-patient. The monarch had stepped away from public duties amid his recovery from prostate surgery, and it's not known when he will return to royal engagements given his cancer diagnosis. PEOPLE understands he will continue to receive red boxes, the monarch's daily delivery of documents needing his attention, and process state documents during his treatment. There are currently no plans to appoint Counsellors of State to act on King Charles' behalf. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty King Charles attends church on Feb. 4, 2024 Last week, Queen Camilla, 76, visited Maggies Royal Free to officially open the new cancer support center at the Royal Free Hospital in London ahead of World Cancer Day. On Sunday, the royal family marked the day of recognition on social media by sharing photos of the Queen's outing. Buckingham Palace revealed that the King was seeking treatment for an enlarged prostate on Jan. 17. In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate. His Majesty's condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure, the palace statement said. The Kings public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation. He disclosed his diagnosis in hopes that it would inspire men to get checked. His decision proved to make an impact: after his announcement, there was a 1,000% increase in searches about prostate enlargement on the U.K.s National Health Service website. Related: Another Royal Is Taking a Short Break from Duties as King Charles, Kate and William Are Sidelined YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty Queen Camilla, King Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton in Scotland on July 5, 2023 Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! It was announced earlier on Monday that Prince William will return to public duty this week. The Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, 41, cleared his schedule as his wife, Kate Middleton, had abdominal surgery on Jan. 16. After a 13-day hospital stay, the Princess of Wales, 42, is continuing her recovery at home in Windsor. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Four hippos were originally brought to Columbia in the 1980s and were part of the late drug kingpin's private zoo, Hacienda Napoles Eric VANDEVILLE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty; AFP via Getty Images Pablo Escobar; a hippo Multiple people reportedly have recently encountered hippopotami descending from Pablo Escbobars so-called cocaine hippos Some people who have encountered the animals have apparently been hospitalized Experts believe the population could grow from about 170 now to about 1,000 in 2035 if proper action is not taken The population of hippopotami descending from Pablo Escbobars so-called cocaine hippos is reportedly on the rise and some locals are growing increasingly concerned about their presence. There are currently about 170 hippos roaming northwest Columbia, according to CNN and Vice. Local officials have since been attempting to mitigate the issues surrounding the invasive species which is now apparently starting to attack people. Some residents who have encountered the animals have been hospitalized according to CBS News and Vice. "They're very, very dangerous, one local told FOX News. Related: Pablo Escobar's 'Cocaine Hippos' Become First Animals in U.S. to Be Considered Legal 'Persons' Students and parents at a school in Doradal are among those who have reportedly encountered one of the cocaine hippo descendants. One of the animals recently showed up in a schoolyard while they were all present. The mothers get scared when they see an animal of that size," teacher Dunia Arango told AFP, per CBS News. Multiple hippos have made themselves at home in a lake just 20 yards from the same school. David Echeverri, an official with the local environment authority, said about 35 children play in the area and could provoke a tragedy should they make contact with the animals. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. While they may look very calm, at any moment, given their highly unpredictable behavior, they can attack, as has happened before, Echeverri added. Four hippos were originally brought to Columbia in the 1980s and were part of Escobars private zoo, Hacienda Napoles, according to Vice and NPR. The animals were abandoned after the drug kingpins death in 1993, allowing them to rapidly multiply. However, experts believe the population could explode to 1,000 by 2035 if proper action is not taken, CBS News and CNN reported. Related: Pablo Escobar's Former Hippos and Their Offspring Could Be Culled Over Environmental Concerns In November 2023, Colombias minister of environment and sustainable development announced a three-point plan to try and mitigate the countrys invasive hippo population, which includes sterilization, relocation, and even ethical euthanisa, per CNN and the BBC. The plan began with the sterilization of 40 hippos shortly after the November announcement, according to the AP. Additionally, 70 hippos have been transported to India and Mexico. Here we are in a race against time in terms of the permanent environmental and ecosystem impacts that are being generated, Environment Minister Susana Muhamad said in a statement, per CNN. And that is why we cannot say that only one strategy is effective for our objective, which is to control the population. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. UPDATED 7:30 PM WEDNESDAY: Phones in the L.A. area have exploded with yet another flash flood warning from the National Weather Service. The advisory called it a dangerous and life-threatening situation, and warned residents not to travel unless fleeing a flood area. It extends to 2 a.m. The National Weather Service also issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for the region stretching from Thousand Oaks to Glendale (west to east) and from Santa Clarita to Inglewood (north to south) until 8:45 p.m. This storm will contain wind gusts to 70 MPH! reads the NWS statement. It also warns of the potential for pea-sized hail. More from Deadline Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Glendale CA, Santa Clarita CA and Thousand Oaks CA until 8:45 PM PST. This storm will contain wind gusts to 70 MPH! pic.twitter.com/q2OmnjftkU NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 8, 2024 UPDATED with latest: A series of mudslides hit Mulholland Drive today roughly between Coldwater and Laurel Canyons, covering the road with debris and undermining stretches, making it unsafe for vehicles. The slides severed the major east-west artery in the Hollywood Hills. Commuters and residents are likely looking at an extensive closure of the popular canyon road. The slides were reported around midday Wednesday, prompting a closure of Mulholland between Skyline and Bowmont drives. Southbound Coldwater Canyon Drive was closed at Mulholland. Images from the scene showed mud covering several portions of Mulholland, along with sections where the land beneath the roadway had collapsed. Crumbing hillsides close a stretch of Mulholland Drive. https://t.co/mM6CLMkqa6 NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) February 7, 2024 There were no reports of any injuries. Numerous big-ticket homes are perched on the hills above the slide area, but it was unclear if any of them were in immediate danger of structural damage. City Councilwoman Nithya Raman wrote in a statement that the city is responding to multiple reports (of debris flows) along residential and arterial streets near Laurel Canyon, Coldwater Canyon, Benedict Canyon and Beverly Glen. The highest likelihood of mud and debris flows is on hillsides and canyons which can lead to impassable roads, Raman wrote. Drivers are advised to avoid these areas which are at heightened risk of mudslides and sudden closures. Indeed, city officials said Wednesday that there had been 520 reports of mudslides during the storm event of the past few days. STORM UPDATE Our office is working diligently with LADOT to clear debris and address street closures. In the meantime, please refer to these updates. @LADOTofficial @LADWP @metrolaalerts #LARain pic.twitter.com/JzZ306mQ0a Councilmember Nithya Raman (@cd4losangeles) February 7, 2024 The Mulholland closure is just over the ridge from a major mudslide that occurred during the peak of the storm on Sunday into Monday. It severely damaged six homes and threatened a seventh along Beverly Drive in Beverly Crest. Los Angeles Fire Department crews escorted 15 residents out of the area, including nine children, but no injuries were reported. Just the other side of Mullholland in Studio City, two homes sustained significant damage when mud and debris plowed down a hillside along Lockridge Road. Fire crews evacuated residents from nine homes on the stretch. The mudslide in Studio City (David McNew/AFP via Getty Images) In the Tarzana/Encino area, three homes were impacted by a debris flow along Boris Drive, prompting some evacuations. More rain is expected tonight. While nowhere near the deluge that L.A. has seen in the past few days, the quick-moving storm is forecast to deliver periods of moderate to heavy rain that will deliver between a quarter and an inch of rain, according to the National Weather Service. The rain amounts and intensities with this system wouldnt normally cause much concern, and for most urban areas issues should be minimal and confined to just standard minor road flooding, a statement from the NWS read. However, in areas near hillsides the additional rain could quickly trigger additional slides. As a result, a flood watch will be in effect from 6 p.m. Wednesday through late Wednesday night in most parts of northern and central Los Angeles counties including the valleys. A little heavier rain beginning to fall in San Luis Obispo Co as seen on this radar loop. Expecting this latest system to push through to LA County from about 6pm to midnight. #CAwx pic.twitter.com/UKsJ5BWVPG NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 7, 2024 PREVIOUSLY, 5:45 p.m. TUESDAY: The National Weather Service just updated its forecast for Los Angeles and the takeaway is that the next 48 hours wont be nearly as bad, but its not over yet. Sharing the latest radar animation which shows plenty of rain still out there, NWS LA said in a statement, Moderate to heavy showers are expanding over Ventura and Los Angeles County. Small hail has been observed. Expect roadway flooding and strong flows in creeks. Moderate to heavy showers are expanding over Ventura and Los Angeles County. Small hail has been observed. Expect roadway flooding and strong flows in creeks. Slow down on the roads. #cawx #larain pic.twitter.com/P7jCu7vLQ4 NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 7, 2024 As for whats next, An end is in sight, according to the NWS, but not until Thu. or Fri. Do not let the break Wednesday morning misguide you more rain and mountain snow coming Wednesday afternoon and night. A graphic shared by the NWS shows a predicted .75-1.5 inches of additional rainfall in L.A. County between 4 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at 4 p.m. Downtown L.A. is expected to see just under an inch, while Pasadena should see another 1.17 inches. Bear in mind that the highest storm total this morning was tallied at the Cogswell Dam, in the mountains above Pasadena. NWS monitors at that site recorded 13.15 inches over the past three days. The local forecast discussion this afternoon indicated showers and isolated thunderstorms into the evening hours [tonight]should end rather quickly by around midnight as the flow turns west to northwesterly. This means Los Angeles and Ventura Counties are in line for a break from the rain during the day on Wednesday. Projections see a trough of low pressure zipping down the west coast and through Southern California on Thursday. This system will be able to interact with the lingering moisture from our current storm to bring one last band of organized precipitation Wednesday afternoon and night. All areas should see about a 3 hour period of steady rain and mountain snow. Additionally, Gusty west to northwest winds will form Wednesday and continue into Thursday. Show levels will lower each day with mountain snow issues increasing. Saturday through at least Tuesday will be dry and warmer. There could also be some lingering pockets of precipitation through early Friday. See chart below. Evacuation warnings and orders were slowly lifted today as rain from the multiple-day storm slowly began to ease, but residents were still urged to remain prepared in case the threats of mudslides, flooding and/or debris flows return. Residents in the La Tuna Canyon area had been under an evacuation order since the storm began, but the order was lifted late Tuesday afternoon. Evacuation orders that had been issued for the Agua Fire burn area along Soledad Canyon Road east of Agua Dulce Canyon Road and the Owen Fire burn area, on Santa Maria Road north of Topanga Canyon in the Topanga area, were both reduced Tuesday afternoon to evacuation warnings, although residents were still urged to be prepared to leave if needed. Culver City on Monday issued evacuation warnings for various streets in the Upper Crest area due to concerns about possible mud or debris flows. City officials said the warnings will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. Tuesday. In the Hollywood Hills, which has been hardest hit, cleanup, assessment and warnings remain. A mudslide severely damaged six homes and threatened a seventh along Beverly Drive in the Beverly Crest area. Los Angeles Fire Department crews escorted 15 residents out of the area, including nine children, but no injuries were reported. City Building and Safety crews are assessing the extent of damage to the homes. The L.A. City Storm Impacts site showed the area should still be approached with caution, and roads through Benedict and Brown Canyons remain closed. A section of Mulholland near Fryman Canyon Park was also closed. L.A. will finally get a substantial break thereafter, though the NWS notes, Extended projections continue to show a chance for another storm system for the end of next week with a wide range of outcomes. Stay tuned. PREVIOUSLY, 9:45 AM: The state of emergency continues in Los Angeles as nearly a foot of rain has fallen in some areas during the past two days. And the relentless atmospheric river event is not over yet. This has truly been a historic storm for Los Angeles, Dr. Ariel Cohen of the National Weather Service said during a news conference this morning. Were talking about the third-wettest two day stretch since records started in the 1870s, and weve endured this and come through with no fatalities. The only higher two-day rain totals in L.A. were in 1934 and 1956. He added: We still have light to moderate rain ongoing across the Greater L.A. area, and because the soils are so saturated supersaturated, in fact it will take very little additional to increase already-flooded areas with more flooding, landslides, mudslides and other debris flows. Everyone needs to be at a high state of readiness. Cohen also said more rain is headed to L.A. Over the next several hours well have waves of this activity continue all the way through the mid- to late-afternoon hours. Could have some even heavier downpours come through this after that could really bring about an increased risk for flash flooding and additional landslides. Do not let your guard down. Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley said that, as of Monday afternoon, the LAFD had responded to 307 reports of mudslides related to the storm. Pacific Coast Highway at the Los Angeles County and Ventura County border was closed on the northbound side because of flooding. Falling trees also have menaced the region. A large eucalyptus tree fell onto a house and some power lines in the ritzy Brentwood area early Tuesday, resulting in an outage. Several power poles were damaged, but no injuries were reported. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reported about 7,000 customers were without power as of 9 a.m. Tuesday, with the most impacted areas including Koreatown, Mid-Wilshire, Pacific Palisades and, as mentioned, Brentwood. There was no immediate estimate on when all power would be restored. DWP officials said additional crews came aboard at 6:30 a.m. to relieve others who have been working up to 16-hour shifts. NWS updated its rainfall totals at noon on Tuesday, and there are some eye-popping numbers. The tony enclave on Bel-Air, home to so many celebrities and wealthy Angelenos, topped a foot of rain, clocking in at 12.32 inches. Many of the most-drenched areas are in the San Fernando Valley: Sepulveda Canyon at Mulholland: 12.01 Topanga Fire Station: 11.95 Woodland Hills: 11.70 The highest total came at the Cogswell Dam above Pasadena. NWS monitors at that site recorded 13.15 inches of rain in the past 72 hours. A little farther south, Beverly Hills has seen 8.61 inches of rainfall, Culver City 7.71 inches and Downtown L.A. to the east has endured 8.13 inches. That means that in just three days, downtown Los Angeles has received more than half of its 30-year average seasonal rainfall, which is 14.25 inches. Evacuation warnings were issued overnight for areas of Culver City adjacent to significant slopes. The warning applies to areas in the Upper Crest in the hills just east of Overland Avenue, north of the Westfield Culver City mall and about two miles south from the Sony Pictures lot. Officials are warning of possible debris or mudflows there. The City is asking residents who live above, below, or adjacent to a hillside in or below the Upper Crest neighborhood to prepare to leave your home and the area, gather your family, pets, basic needs and important paperwork and listen for instructions from local officials, according to an official statement, which also gives a list of streets impacted. Per Culver Citys Twitter/X account, Mud flows have been reported behind 2 homes along Cranks Road and 1 along Flaxton Street. It still was raining in Culver City at 10:15 a.m. In the Hollywood Hills, a mudslide severely damaged six homes and threatened a seventh along Beverly Drive in the Beverly Crest area. Los Angeles Fire Department crews escorted 15 residents out of the area, including nine children, but no injuries were reported. City Building and Safety crews were assessing the extent of damage to the homes. Elsewhere, flash-flood warnings warnings were extended Tuesday for a swath running from Glendale to Santa Clarita to Calabasas and another wide, narrow band along slopes from Newbury Park, through Malibu and Topanga to Bel-Air and West Hollywood. Flash Flood Warning continues for Santa Monica CA, West Hollywood CA and Beverly Hills CA until 10:00 AM PST pic.twitter.com/mTKOaG49qE NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 6, 2024 As of 10 a.m., the warnings extended east to Norwalk and Whittier. Flash Flood Warning continues for Norwalk CA, Whittier CA and South Whittier CA until 12:30 PM PST pic.twitter.com/sCGlBCEoAP NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 6, 2024 Flash Flood Warning continues for Topanga CA, Lake Sherwood CA and Glenview CA until 9:00 PM PST pic.twitter.com/yrM8LKKBaU NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 5, 2024 Once the main storm system passes by later tonight, forecasters said a roughly 20% to 40% chance of rain will linger through Friday, although most of that precipitation is expected to be light. Six Flags Magic Mountain remains closed today due to the storm. Knotts Berry Farm is also closed, along with the Getty Center and Getty Villa. The Los Angeles Zoo remains closed, as well. Disneyland and Disney California Adventure will both be open until 8 p.m. On Monday, the Los Angeles Fire Department swift-water rescue made a dramatic save. A man had jumped into the Los Angeles River after his dog fell in. The dog safely swam to shore, but the man had to be plucked from the torrent by a rescuer suspended from a helicopter. Great work by @LAFD rescuing a man who jumped into the water to rescue his dog, and also safely locating the dog down river.pic.twitter.com/RPpHRuk3DA LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) February 6, 2024 Farther south in Orange County, Santa Ana City Hall and the Santa Ana Main Library were closed due to a power outage. PREVIOUSLY, 1:20 PM Monday: The National Weather Service in Los Angeles has extended a flash-flood warning for West Central Los Angeles County and Southeastern Ventura County until 9 p.m. as several local counties remain under a state of emergency. The warning had been set to expire at 6 p.m. Doppler radar indicated moderate to heavy rainfall moving into much of the warned area, read a statement from the NWS. This additional rain will likely cause additional flash flooding as well as rock and mudslide activity. Recent burn areas could also see debris flow. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass today signed a declaration of a local emergency that is intended to help the citys response to the storm and ensure resources for the recovery period. It follows state and county emergency declarations. With unprecedented rain came unprecedented preparation, and now comes unprecedented response, Bass said during a news conference Monday. Among the late developments is that Disneyland is closing two hours early tonight, at 8 p.m. The resort closed down an hour early on Sunday night at 10 p.m. rather than 11. Flash Flood Warning including Glendale CA, Santa Clarita CA and Pasadena CA until 6:00 PM PST pic.twitter.com/PInhQDsdGg NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 5, 2024 PREVIOUSLY at 12:28 p.m.: Sunday marked one of the wettest days in the recorded history of Los Angeles, according to Mayor Karen Bass, and downtown L.A. set a record for the date, with over 4 inches of rain. Los Angeles officials urged residents to stay home and off the roads Monday. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in eight California counties, including Los Angeles and Orange counties. Los Angeles County later declared its own state of emergency. A mudslide in Beverly Hills (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Rocks and boulders fell on parts of Malibu Canyon Road overnight, prompting a closure along that street that later was lifted. LAFD reported that Benedict Canyon and Beverly Glen Canyon roads were closed because of flooding and rock slides. Video posted online by KNX News reporter Jon Baird shows an SUV buried in mud up to the windows on North Beverly Drive in Beverly Crest. Another #DebrisFlow in #LosAngeles. This time in #BeverlyCrest. On North Beverly Drive. It looks like one or two cars were practically buried. Authorities say 5 homes sustained significant damage. Firefighters helped people evacuate. 10 people have been displaced. @knxnews pic.twitter.com/2livCNC5Zy Jon Baird (@KNXBaird) February 5, 2024 Another post from KCALs John Schreiber seemed to show a Beverly Crest-area house that slid off its foundation and down Caribou Lane. You can see where this house USED to sit before getting knocked completely off its foundation and pushed down Caribou Ln in the #BeverlyCrest neighborhood of Los Angeles. Other homes and at least 3 cars also damaged. @kcalnews #LARain #CAwx pic.twitter.com/9cEjpIlhhe John Schreiber (@johnschreiber) February 5, 2024 Topanga was hit even harder, with very close to 11 inches of rain (10.8, per the NWS) falling in the past two days. According to a news conference hosted by L.A. Mayor Karen Bass this morning, a portion of Topanga Canyon Road was closed. Last night, evacuation orders were put in place for a portion of Topanga. Damage along Lockridge Road in Studio City (David Crane/Getty Images) Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access.https://t.co/kLvybm39S8 EVACUATION ORDER ISSUED DUE TO POSSIBLE MUD/DEBRIS FLOWS IN THE AREA OF SANTA MARIA RD. N/O TOPANGA CYN. IN EFFECT THROUGH 6:00PM 2/6/24. pic.twitter.com/4PtY5BuqBy LASD Lost Hills Stn. (@LHSLASD) February 4, 2024 Another major north-south artery in the Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu Canyon, was shut down at Mullholland and large boulders rained down onto the road. Drone footage of flooded Malibu Canyon and a bridge to community flooded over on north side of Malibu #atmosphericriver pic.twitter.com/tznytAzXi6 Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerAccu) February 5, 2024 Stretches of nearby Piuma Road were also closed due to flooding and debris flows, with sheriffs officials reporting several vehicles completely submerged on Piuma. The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District schools were closed Monday. A badly damaged car in Studio City (David Crane/Getty Images) On piuma about half a mile from the Malibu canyon light/intersections. Around 9 a.m. Monday morning. Take precaution while driving on the canyon. Follow @LHSLASD @CityMalibu @NWSLosAngeles @CaltransDist7 for updates on weather conditions and road closures. Contributed video pic.twitter.com/0Hj0EwYQd1 The Malibu Times (@TheMalibuTimes) February 5, 2024 Two homes sustained significant damage in Studio City when mud and debris slid down a hillside along Lockridge Road. Fire crews evacuated residents from nine homes on the stretch. In the Tarzana/Encino area, three homes were impacted by a debris flow along Boris Drive, prompting the evacuation of 16 residents and nine homes. More damage in Studio City(Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images) Several homes on Lockridge Road in Studio City damaged after part of the hillside came down. Look at the boulders that made their way down the hill to Fryman. @foxla pic.twitter.com/PF92aG1mau Gigi Graciette (@GigiGraciette) February 5, 2024 This is just one of a number of places in #LosAngeles where the #storm has caused significant damage. Here, trouble on Lockridge Road thanks to a #debrisFlow in #StudioCity in the #HollywoodHills. @knxnews pic.twitter.com/DGL2UYWs36 Jon Baird (@KNXBaird) February 5, 2024 With rain expected to continue falling throughout the day and into Tuesday, a flash flood warning was issued until 3 p.m. for the Santa Monica Mountains and the Hollywood Hills. Flash Flood Warning including Topanga CA, Lake Sherwood CA and Glenview CA until 3:00 PM PST pic.twitter.com/5RcDyzVxY3 NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) February 5, 2024 The intensity of the rain will resume, an official announced at Mayor Bass news conference. Conditions will deteriorate as the afternoon unfolds. A flood advisory was issued for the rest of L.A. County through 3 p.m. as rain continued falling. Videos posted online show the regions waterways including the L.A. River near Disney and Radford Studios and Ballona Creek near Playa Vista very close to overtopping bridges and their concrete banks. LA River at Centinela in Playa Vista pic.twitter.com/Nhsn3qrSex Maria Bruggere (@MariaBruggere) February 5, 2024 Roads leading to and through the perennially-flooded Sepulveda Basin were closed, including Burbank Boulevard between the 405 and Balboa Boulevard and Woodley Avenue between Burbank and Victory boulevards. Residents in the La Tuna Canyon Road area north of Hollywood Burbank Airport were ordered to evacuate until Tuesday due to the high risk of debris flow triggered by the heavy rain. The affected area borders Horse Haven Street to the north, Martindale Avenue to the east, Penrose Street to the south, and Ledge Avenue to the west, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Eastbound La Tuna Canyon Road was closed to all but residents in the evacuation area at Ledge Avenue, at Sunland Boulevard, at Honolulu Avenue and the westbound lanes are closed at the 210 Freeway with only freeway access allowed. Six Flags Magic Mountain and Knotts Berry Farm are closed today. The Getty Center and Villa and The Los Angeles Zoo announced they would also be closed. Additional rainfall amounts through Tuesday are generally expected to range from 1 to 2 inches for most coastal and valley areas, with 2 to 4 inches in the foothills and mountains. However, L.A. County will likely see higher amounts through Tuesday with an additional 1.50 to 3 inches for coastal/valley areas, and 3 to 5 inches for foothills and mountains. Rain rates between 0.10 and 0.25 inches per hour will be common through Tuesday, however local rates between 0.50 and 1 inches per hour will occur in heavier showers and thunderstorms. According to the National Weather Service, 4.10 inches of rain fell in downtown Los Angeles Sunday, breaking the daily rainfall total for Feb. 4 of 2.55 inches set in 1927. It was the third wettest February day and the 12th wettest day for anytime during the year since 1877, when rainfall totals first started being recorded. The wettest day on record for downtown Los Angeles was 5.88 inches set on March 21, 1938, the year of the citys great flood. City News Service contributed to this report. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Support group for Corsican people established in Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis issued statement. Azernews presents the statement: "On 28 January 2024, about 700 people in Corsica founded a new movement" Nazione", which brings together structures and activists fighting for independence and reaffirms its commitment to the fight against French colonial rule. The police of Macron's dictatorship, called on paper democracy, which tries to interfere rudely in the internal affairs of other countries without respecting the right of people to express themselves freely in Corsica, began to harass Nazione activists two days after the movement's creation. On 30 January, two Nazione activists were arrested on the instructions of the French National Counter-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office and taken first to the Borgou military camp and from there to Paris as terrorists. The French police attacked the homes of Nazionale activists by destroying doors with explosives, physically assaulting fathers in front of their children, destroying their homes and deliberately breaking children's toys. Family members of the detainees, as well as another activist, were then taken to the police for questioning. For a country that positions itself as the birthplace of human rights to destroy the door of a house containing young children with explosives is hypocrisy. These acts of violence prove once again that France is still not rid of its colonial mindset, failing to respect the basic rights of people in its current colonies. Even today, the illegal harassment by the French police continues and is aimed at intimidating the Corsican people in order to silence the supporters of independence. But, as was stated on 2 February at a press conference of the leaders of the "Nation" movement, no repression can stop the national struggle of the Corsican people and force them to submit. Let us recall that the French government, pursuing a policy of destroying the Corsican language, spoken by more than 150 thousand people, seeking to forget the national identity of the Corsicans, has banned the use of the Corsican language during debates in the local parliament, debates of members of parliament. This policy is a clear and violent violation of France's international commitments to universal human rights and the rights of national minorities. France denies the national identity of the peoples living on its territory by accepting only the notion of "French", which in itself is chauvinism. By abolishing the right to use the local language in Corsica, France had violated the requirements of the international instruments to which it had acceded and the commitments it had undertaken. Among these documents is the "Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen", the most important document of the Great French Revolution of 1789, which defines individual human rights. As well as the "International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights", the "Convention on the Rights of the Child", the "European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms", the "European Charter of Fundamental Rights", the "Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights", the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, the Convention on the Preservation and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, the "Regional or Regional Convention for the Protection of Minority Languages" and others. As a support group for the people of Corsica established in the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan: -We strongly condemn the illegal actions of French law enforcement agencies against pro-independence supporters in Corsica; - We demand that the French authorities respect fundamental human rights; - The freedom of the Corsican people to assemble freely, the right to associate must be guaranteed by the French government; - We demand the immediate release of all detainees and an end to political persecution". By Eduardo Baptista BEIJING (Reuters) - When a Beijing-based military institute in September published a patent for a new high-performance chip, it offered a glimpse of China's bid to remake the half-trillion dollar global chip market and withstand U.S. sanctions. The People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Academy of Military Sciences had used an open-source standard known as RISC-V to reduce malfunctions in chips for cloud computing and smart cars, the patent filing shows. RISC-V is an instruction set architecture, a computer language used to design anything from smartphone chips to advanced processors for artificial intelligence. The most common standards are controlled by Western companies: x86, dominated by U.S. firms Intel and Advanced Micro Devices, and Arm, developed by Britain's Arm Holdings, owned by SoftBank Group. U.S. and UK export controls prevent the sale of only the most advanced x86 and Arm designs - which produce the highest-performance chips - to clients in China. But as the U.S. widens restrictions on China's access to advanced semiconductors and chip-making equipment, the open-source nature of RISC-V has made it part of Beijing's plan to curb its dependence on Western technology, although the emerging architecture accounts for a fraction of the chip market. "The biggest advantage of the RISC-V architecture is that it is geopolitically neutral," the Shanghai government's Science and Technology Commission said in a report published in April. Beijing and dozens of Chinese state entities and research institutes, many sanctioned by Washington, invested at least $50 million in projects involving RISC-V between 2018 and 2023, according to a Reuters review of over 100 Chinese-language academic articles, patents, government documents and tenders, as well as statements from research groups and companies. While the figure is modest, recent RISC-V breakthroughs and applications in China, many with government funding, have raised Beijing's hopes that the open-source standard could one day threaten the x86-Arm duopoly, according to state media. Intel and AMD did not respond to questions about the matter, while Arm declined to comment. Story continues RISC-V chips made by Chinese firms and research institutes can now power self-driving cars, artificial-intelligence models and data-storage centres, according to two industry figures and the previously unreported documents. The military science academy did not respond to a request for comment sent via China's State Council. GROWING MATURITY Arm and x86 are closed architectures, meaning they are proprietary and charge users a license fee. Their outlines are thousands of pages long, with complex instructions and numerous incompatible versions that can only be modified by their developers. RISC-V is free to use and has a simpler outline, often leading to more energy-efficient chips, and users can build atop the framework to suit their needs. Half of the more than 10 billion RISC-V chips shipped globally by 2022 were made in China, the state-run China Daily reported in August. Bao Yungang, deputy director of China's Institute of Computing Technology, told a chip conference last June that funding for RISC-V startups in China had reached at least $1.18 billion to that point. "The RISC-V ecosystem in China is the most mature globally", a result of the need of government and industry to develop technology that can circumvent U.S. sanctions, said a sales representative from a Beijing-based company that develops RISC-V chips, who was not authorised to speak publicly. Some 1,061 patents involving RISC-V were published in China last year, up from 10 in 2018, Anaqua's AcclaimIP database shows. While the U.S. saw a similar increase, 2,508 such patents have been published in China, to the U.S.'s 2,018. Chinese tech giants Alibaba and Huawei, neither of which responded to requests for comment, were the fourth- and fifth-largest filers. Arm is the dominant architecture in China, so RISC-V is a long-term bet to insure Beijing against a scenario in which Arm is forced to not just halt licensing to Huawei, as it did temporarily in 2019, but to all Chinese companies. While the performance of RISC-V chips lags Arm in complex computing tasks, the gap is closing as RISC-V startups proliferate and more tech companies invest in the open-source standard, said Richard Wawrzyniak, principal analyst at the SHD Group, a market research firm. 'TRUE RISE TO POWER' RISC-V technology emerged last decade from labs at the University of California, Berkeley. A few months after Huawei was blacklisted by the Trump administration in May 2019, RISC-V International, a non-profit foundation that oversees development of the standard, moved its headquarters from Delaware to Switzerland. Calista Redmond, CEO of RISC-V International, told Reuters the move was not to "circumvent any legal restriction by any government" but "to ensure continued ecosystem growth of the open standard for years to come". Still, the foundation says on its website that the move alleviated uncertainty as there was concern from the RISC-V community "across 2018-2019" related to the geopolitical landscape, without mentioning China. Reuters reported in October that some U.S. lawmakers were urging the Biden administration to impose export restrictions around RISC-V, a move that Redmond has said would slow the development of new and better chips. The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry Security declined to comment. For China, there has been a geopolitical incentive to invest in the emerging standard. In 2019, researchers at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China organised a seminar on how RISC-V could help China achieve tech self-sufficiency. "Everyone agreedif domestic chip systems want to get rid of the limitations of x86 and ARM architectures and realise a true rise to power, RISC-V will be the biggest opportunity," says a summary of the seminar published on the university's website. Among recent breakthroughs in China, state-owned car maker Dongfeng Motor Corporation last year developed an automotive MCU chip, used to control the electronic systems of a car, using RISC-V. Dongfeng and China's Ministry of Science and Technology did not respond to requests for comment. MILITARY INTEREST Universities and research institutes linked to China's military have also developed and promoted RISC-V in recent years, Reuters' review found. The PLA-run National University of Defense Technology was in the top 15 for RISC-V patents filed in China since 2018, according to AcclaimIP, as was Peng Cheng Laboratory, which has partnerships with at least two defence-related institutes. At an academic conference in November 2022, researchers at Beihang University, whose scientists are involved in the development of Chinese military aircraft and missiles, presented the design for a RISC-V chip that processes radar signals. The year prior, researchers at the Institute of Software at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), a state think tank, co-developed a RISC-V chip to prevent a type of cyberattack. The institute is a PLA supplier, government tenders show. In May 2023, the CAS Institute of Computing Technology, which is under U.S. sanctions, unveiled the second generation of "Xiangshan", a RISC-V high-performance PC chip, and "Aolai", a RISC-V operating system. Interest from the Chinese institutes and universities, which did not respond to queries, echoes investment in RISC-V research labs and companies a decade ago by the U.S. government's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. An agency spokesperson said that while it did not directly fund the development of the RISC-V architecture, it funded efforts that used RISC-V to "create prototype chips and test research hypotheses in the interests of U.S. national security". Despite its promise, RISC-V so far has not broken x86 and Arm's dominance. The SHD Group estimated that 1.9% of all system-on-a-chip units shipped in 2022 had a RISC-V processor. But with demand for AI chips growing, RISC-V's low cost, ease of customisation and energy efficiency have made it attractive to some chipmakers. Original equipment manufacturers "want to develop highly customized cores. And RISC-V really fits that bill," Ziad Asghar, Qualcomm's senior vice president of product management, said in an interview published on the company's website in September. ($1 = 7.1497 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Eduardo Baptista and Beijing newsroom; editing by David Crawshaw) From the courts of bygone royalty to quaint bakeries in rural villages, and from grand restaurants lining the vibrant streets of Budapest to home kitchens filled with sweet aromas, Hungary's culinary offerings are as expansive as its history a flavorful journey through time and tradition. Unfortunately, despite boasting numerous Hungarian dishes you need to try at least once, people often overlook this nation as a culinary destination, unaware of the breadth of its delights. In fact, Hungarian interpretations of universal comfort foods like creamy rice pudding or buttery chocolate pastries might pleasantly surprise you. On the other hand, renowned Magyar-made desserts full of intricate layers of chocolate, fluffy cream, and unbelievably rich sponge cakes are nothing short of spectacular, seducing the senses and beckoning you to take bite after bite. So whether you're envisioning your next visit to Hungary or aiming to get inventive in the kitchen with a host of new recipes, we've got delightful suggestions to add some sweetness to your life. The only thing left to do is decide which to try first. Read more: 30 Types Of Cake, Explained Almond Dacquoise Layer Cake (Eszterhazy Torta) Hungarian Eszterhazy torta on plate - sweet marshmallow/Shutterstock Undoubtably, one of the most regal and renowned Hungarian desserts is Eszterhazy torta, an impressive dacquoise layer cake traditionally made from soft, nutty, almond meringue sandwiched between yellow buttercream enriched with golden egg yolks. History tells us that this treat was created in the 19th century and named in honor of Prince Pal Antal Esterhazy de Galantha, a member of Hungary's aristocratic Eszterhazy family. It soon spread in popularity, and the cake is still prevalent in areas of the former Austro-Hungarian empire, including Vienna. The dacquoise a type of airy cake not too dissimilar from a macaron is typically made with almonds (but also with walnuts or hazelnuts) and always contains egg whites and sugar. Soft, creamy, and thick buttercream is the ideal contrast indulgent and decadent. The finishing touch is a layer of fondant feathered with chocolate, or delicate whipped cream can crown the royal cake. Chimney Cake (Kurtoskalacs) chimney cakes being baked outdoors - csikiphoto/Shutterstock Although the exact date and place of its origin are uncertain, clues point toward an ancient delicacy being developed in Greece as early as 400 B.C., when bakers used to wrap dough around a spit to cook it. However, sweet chimney cake in its modern iteration is said to have originated in the former Hungarian territory of Transylvania. Made from a sweet yeasted dough rolled around a circular, cone-shaped spit, chimney cakes or as the Hungarians call them, kurtoskalacs (pronounced kurt-ohsh-ka-latz) are fluffy in texture and incredibly adaptable. Once considered a fairground or festival food, now you can find this handheld spiral delicacy sold fresh daily at stands across the capital city of Budapest. While the plain, lightly glazed version remains the most well-known, vendors often coat chimney cakes with sugar and flavorings like cinnamon or shredded coconut, or even dip them in chocolate and stuff them with ice cream. Chestnut Puree (Gesztenyepure) chestnut puree bowl with cream - Nicolae Cirmu/Shutterstock We can't think of any dish that celebrates seasonal produce more so than chestnut puree, a delicacy reserved for the autumn and winter. It's traditionally enjoyed for Christmas Eve, although some can't wait and start making it as soon as chestnuts appear on the trees. The dessert is popular in Hungary, France, and Austria, and it goes by different names in each country, and each has a distinct taste. The Hungarian version, called gesztenyepure, is an acquired taste, but it has a fair share of devotees, too. While you can buy pre-made slabs of chestnut puree across supermarkets in Hungary, as with most traditional recipes, it tastes best homemade and fresh. So, to make this unique treat, start by roasting whole chestnuts and cooking them in a blend of milk, water, and vanilla beans until the nuts reach a tender consistency. Once softened, mix the chestnuts with a simple sugar syrup, a hint of rum, and a pinch of salt. After chilling, push the puree through a potato ricer (or use an icing bag) and top it with generous amounts of whipped cream and shaved chocolate. Jam, Nut, And Poppyseed Layered Pastries (Flodni) Hungarian flodni on plate - grafvision/Shutterstock Hungary's vibrant history gave rise to a significant Jewish community that dates back centuries. By the early 1900s, Budapest boasted a thriving Jewish population, and despite the tragic events of World War II leading to the flight or loss of many Jewish residents, the community's traditions endure in Hungary, particularly in the cultural fabric of the capital city. One of these traditions is flodni, a Hungarian-Jewish treat made with layers of filling. Cafes across Budapest bustle with orders for this multiflavored treat during Jewish celebrations such as Hanukkah and Purim. Rather fittingly, the separate layers of the dessert buttery pastry (or crispy phyllo layers, depending on the baker) filled with sweetened ground walnuts, poppyseed paste, honey-soaked apples, and homemade plum jam are said to serve as a symbol of the diverse people of Hungary living together in a state of peace. Rice Pudding (Tejberizs) rice pudding bowl with cinnamon - Gaus Alex/Shutterstock What could be more comforting than a bowl of silky, creamy rice pudding? Whether it's kheer (a type of North Indian mithai dessert), a classic British baked rice pudding, or Hungary's tejberizs, this dish holds universal appeal. Interestingly, while we now think of rice pudding as an everyday comfort food, rice was once viewed as an exotic import in Europe, and a dessert like this was reserved for only the most special occasions imagine wedding feasts and royal dinner tables. Luckily, thanks to globalization and trade, we can now enjoy rice pudding as much as our hearts desire. The recipe is straightforward: heat milk with sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Cook the rice in the mixture, stirring regularly, until it's thickened and creamy. In Hungary, people typically complete the dessert with an ample sprinkling of cinnamon or bitter cocoa powder, but it's equally delightful with a dollop of fruit jam. Gerbeaud Cake (Zserbo) stack of Hungarian Gerbeaud cake - Marcus Z-pics/Shutterstock Hungarians are known for their love of layered desserts, with many of their most notable confections showcasing this delicious baking technique. At the forefront is Gerbeaud cake, also known as zserbo. The delight is linked with Budapest's beautiful and iconic Gerbeaud cafe, with roots dating back to 1858. Swiss-born Emile Gerbeaud was already one of Europe's most illustrious confectioners when he moved to Hungary in the late 1800s to oversee the eatery that now bears his name. While it may not have been Gerbeaud himself who created this cake, the treat soon became so beloved that it conquered the streets of Budapest. Before long, the entire nation of Hungary was yearning for a slice of this celebrated cake. The Gerbeaud cafe is still open for business, but if you fancy making this iconic dessert at home, you'll need to layer rich and buttery pastry with sweet apricot preserves (or homemade apricot jam enriched with rum) and chopped walnuts. Cover the whole thing in melted dark chocolate for a hint of bitterness, and enjoy. Shredded Pancakes (Csaszarmorzsa) shredded pancakes with preserved fruit - hlphoto/Shutterstock Shredded pancakes called csaszarmorzsa by Hungarians was a favorite dish of Emperor Franz Joseph, ruler of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy from the mid-1800s until his death in 1916. Stories vary as to how the dish originated. One legend involves a humorous tale of the emperor stopping by a rural farmer's house; in an effort to impress this royal visitor, the farmer cooked a pancake with all the best ingredients he had but in a fit of nerves, he was unable to toss the pancake and ended up shredding it instead. To hide the mistake, he slathered the pancake pieces with jam. Luckily, Franz Joseph was amazed by the delicious taste, and a new dessert was born. Over a century since the Austro-Hungarian empire's collapse, the dessert is still popular in both Austria and Hungary today. Hungarians typically serve it with a sprinkling of fine sugar and sweet apricot jam. In Austria, it's known as kaiserschmarrn, and it includes the addition of rum-soaked raisins. This is also one of the favorite desserts of Wolfgang Puck, who hails from Austria. Cocoa Swirls (Kakaos Csiga) Hungarian chocolate snail pastry - csikiphoto/Shutterstock If you like chocolate desserts, we've got the perfect suggestion: Hungary's cocoa swirls, a rich, buttery, chocolatey treat that's impossible to resist. Technically, its Hungarian name kakaos csiga translates to "chocolate snail" ... but you wouldn't have been nearly as tempted if we started with that, would you? These tantalizing pastries showcase a unique flaky pastry called blundell, a variety of laminated yeast dough similar to that of croissants only far richer, thanks to the addition of eggs. As such, making a kakaos csiga requires a definite mastery, so instead of preparing them at home, Hungarians usually pick one up from their favored pastry shop for a sweet breakfast. Of course, more than anything else, the delectable chocolate filling is what makes these twirls so tempting. The pastry's mixture of dark, unsweetened cocoa powder and sugar, when baked, creates the most gorgeous aroma. Cottage Cheese Cake (Rakoczi Turos) Hungarian Rakoczi turos on plate - veronikapallag / Instagram A buttery shortbread-style pastry base, topped with a tangy, sweet, and citrusy blend of firm cottage cheese, egg yolks, sour cream, lemon zest, vanilla, sugar, and raisins already sounds inviting to us! But, if that wasn't enough to make you hungry, bakers finish this dessert with a lattice of soft, fluffy meringue and spoonfuls of thick apricot jam. Traditionally, you'll always find the cake cut in attractive square slices, but you can refashion it as a tart or galette to suit your liking. This Hungarian cake goes by the name Rakoczi turos, blending several staples of the country's beloved desserts: apricot jam, cottage cheese, and skillfully crafted pastry. The recipe is believed to date back to a culinary journal from the 1930s, before debuting at the World Exhibition in Brussels in 1958, and finally achieving fame after appearing in a cookbook of Hungarian cuisine by famed confectioner Janos Rakoczi in the 1960s. Sweet Baked Pasta (Vargabeles) Hungarian vargabeles slice - Nicolae Cirmu/Shutterstock In Europe particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, including Hungary people consider pasta a far more versatile option than just for savory foods; it appears on dessert plates almost as often as lunch courses. Perhaps the most ubiquitous of all Hungarian sweet pasta dishes is vargabeles, a variety of "cake" combining delicate strands of buttery vermicelli pasta with cottage cheese, sour cream, whipped eggs, vanilla sugar, plump raisins, and bright lemon zest. Then, chefs encase the whole dish in a thin sheet of light strudel pastry before baking it in an oven, cooling it, and cutting it into individual portions. It's usually eaten after hearty main courses. Vargabeles is technically a dessert from Transylvania, a region that once belonged to Hungary and still features sizable Hungarian communities. During World War II, it's said that Hungary's demand for vargabeles remained so resolute that the historic Budapest restaurant Gundel flew the dessert in by plane. Christmas Poppy Seed Roll (Beigli) slices of Hungarian beigli - New Africa/Shutterstock For most European countries, Christmas is the biggest holiday of the year, culminating with the whole family sitting down to tuck into a massive festive spread. It's always a good idea to save room for after you've finished the Christmas dinner, because dessert is often the best part. While it's not as widely known as some of the best Christmas desserts, in the case of Hungary, beigli indisputably takes center stage during the most wonderful time of the year. Somewhat similar to a Swiss roll, beigli is a filled confection that features a yeasted dough often flavored with citrus zest, rolled up and baked to embrace a sweet poppyseed paste filling. There's meaning behind the poppyseeds. In Hungary, poppyseeds can symbolize good luck, making beigli a particularly auspicious treat for the Christmas and New Year festive season. Beigli is often offered with walnut paste instead of poppyseed, and occasionally you'll find beigli with chestnuts or chocolate, but the original poppyseed beigli always sells out first at Budapest's bakeries. Fruit Pie (Pite) slices of Hungarian cherry pite - Whiteaster/Shutterstock The Hungarian word "pite" is commonly translated to "pie" but you may be thinking, "that looks like a cake, not a pie." Indeed, while some Hungarian pies are closer to an American-style pie (with sweetened cooked fruits encased in a layer of pastry, often with latticework exposing the filling), others are more like cakes. This Hungarian pite variation resembles a sponge cake, but elevates the experience with the indulgence of butter and sour cream, resulting in an exceptionally fluffy, moist, and flavorful dough. The slight tartness of the fruit used to top the cake seeps into the batter, complementing the sweetness and undertones of tangy sour cream. Home cooks make pite using whichever fruits are in season, but sour cherry is always a popular choice, as is apricot and apple. Pastry-based pite (which looks more like a classic pie or tart) usually boasts a fruity filling. Alternatively, it can include a vanilla-laced poppyseed paste. Trifle (Somloi Galuska) Hungarian Somloi galuska trifle - Luba Kuzmicheva/Shutterstock Something about a glass trifle bowl piled high with a whipped cream topping promises unrivaled deliciousness, and we can't help when our eyes light up or our stomachs growl in approval. But Hungary's version of a trifle is an entirely new beast even more decadent than you could imagine. Like most special-occasion desserts, Hungarian trifle (Somloi galuska) requires substantial preparation time. It's all worth it, though. Not one, but three different types of sponge cake go into the treat: plain, walnut, and chocolate. Confectioners slather each type of cake in a rum and sugar concoction infused with orange peel and lemon zest; this imbues them with a gorgeous syrupy taste and adds a delightfully moist texture. Then, they combine the cakes with apricot jam, crushed walnuts, and a creamy, silky vanilla cream. The whole thing is topped with a sprinkling of bitter cocoa powder, a rum-chocolate sauce, and lightly whipped cream. Stuffed Crepes (Palacsinta) sweet Hungarian palacsinta - Food Via Lenses/Shutterstock Forget limiting crepes to breakfast these irresistible goodies are perfect all day, especially after a robust Hungarian meal. The soft, tender batter, boasting crispy caramelized edges, is decked with powdered sugar and filled with your choice of delights fruit jams, chocolate, sweet cottage cheese, cinnamon, and much more before being rolled up for easy eating. But how are Hungary's palacsinta treats different from other European pancakes? While we refer to these as crepes, that's not entirely accurate. Palacsinta is even thinner, with no rising agent in the batter, and it shares a similar preparation to an easy crepe recipe but Hungary's version is enhanced by the last-minute addition of sparkling water. With minimal or no sugar in the recipe, the focus remains on the delightful fillings, which are mostly sweet but can also include savory ingredients. Just about every market hall across Hungary features a palacsinta stand for shoppers to pick up a sweet snack. Dobos Torte (Dobostorta) slice of Hungarian Dobostorta - Jeffrey Steenbergen NL/Shutterstock Dobos torte may be the most famous of all the Hungarian layered cakes. If you pop into a confectionery anywhere across Hungary, from Budapest to a small town, a slice of "Dobostorta" will sit in pride of place behind a glass counter, tempting you to buy it. This treat even served as the inspiration for doberge cake, a New Orleans icon. It's no wonder that Dobos torte has achieved legendary status six layers of fluffy sponge cake spaced with chocolate buttercream and topped with gleaming hardened caramel are enough to have anyone drooling. "Dobos" means "drummer" in Hungarian, and it's a common mistake to assume that this cake was named for its round appearance and hard caramel topping that slightly resembles a percussion instrument. However, this sweet delight was invented by Hungarian chef Jozsef Dobos in the 1880s, who presented the cake to Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph before going on to achieve culinary renown throughout Central Europe. Pull-Apart Cake (Aranygaluska) Hungarian aranygaluska in a tray - pmate_photo/Shutterstock Monkey bread, the American breakfast treat, is a descendant of the Jewish-Hungarian aranygaluska, which translates to "golden dumpling" and is served as a pull-apart cake. Bakeries of Budapest's Jewish Quarter are full of the rich, buttery, nutty scent of this yeasted cake to celebrate Purim, a Jewish holiday in early springtime. The dessert was popularized in the U.S. after Nancy Reagan served a version of it at the White House. Because aranygaluska is a yeasted confection, you let the dough rise before baking it, meaning it's a labor of love but worth the time it takes. Your mouth starts watering when you dip each dough ball into a devilish amount of melted butter, then coat them in a mixture of sweetened chopped walnuts. Smoosh it all together in a baking pan, and into the oven it goes. After emerging golden brown, the aranygaluska is ready to be devoured, optionally with a flood of velvety vanilla custard. Alternatively, as in Jewish custom, serve it with a white wine applesauce. Cottage Cheese Dumplings (Turogomboc) turogomboc with sour cream - Whiteaster/Shutterstock Contrary to most American treats, Hungarian desserts typically aren't laden with syrup and sugar, instead favoring a balance of flavors between nutty, fruity, tangy, and honeyed. This unusual confection one we definitely recommend you try, either by making it at home or seeking it out from a Hungarian restaurant is a perfect example: turogomboc. These may look like doughnuts, but these dumplings aren't fried. Instead, the mixture has a foundation of Hungarian cottage cheese called turo, which is a fresher, thicker, and drier version of what we find in the dairy aisle of U.S. supermarkets. Added to the turo are beaten eggs, semolina, and a little sugar. Cooks form this mixture into balls, then rest them in the fridge, allowing the semolina to soak up the flavors. The turogomboc are then boiled in lightly salted water, rolled in fried breadcrumbs, and topped with sour cream. It's a classic recipe dating back to the late 1800s, and it remains one of Hungary's unmissable culinary treats. Bread Pudding (Maglyarakas) cut Hungarian maglyarakas - doro11ya / Instagram Although most regions across Europe have versions of bread pudding, this Hungarian one, called maglyarakas, remains entirely unique. Even within Hungary, there are varying ways to create desserts from leftover breadstuffs, but this one is perhaps the most in-demand bread pudding around the country. The dish is rooted in tradition, and every household has a different recipe. What remains constant, though, are the main ingredients; stale bread soaked in a mixture of egg and milk, topped with cinnamon-spiced apples and baked. Much like Rakoczi turos, the bread pudding is finished with a thick layer of meringue. The apples chosen for this recipe should be a bit past their prime, similarly to the stale bread used for the dessert. The resulting dish is hearty and warming, even more so with familiar additions of rum-soaked raisins or apricots, and it can be further elevated with subtle spicing. Read the original article on Tasting Table. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Alexander the Great was one of historys greatest generals, but his fatherPhilip IIwas no slouch either. His rule gave rise to Macedonia and its impressive army. While archaeologists have known that Philip IIs final resting place was in a tomb located at Aigai (now Vergina, Greece), they couldnt determine which tomb contained his remains. Now, a new study from an international team of archaeologists confirms the location of Philips final resting place using both scientific data and anthropological sources. Although he only lived to the age of 32, Alexander the Great consistently tops best of lists when it comes to military greatness (though, if you were on the receiving end of his greatness, you might disagree with the title). With his defeat of the Persian army at the Battle of Guagamela , he became King of Babylon, King of Asia, King of the Four Quarters of the World and his battle tactics are still studied to this day. Of course, Alexander the Greatalso known as Alexander III of Macedonwas set up for success. For one, his tutor was none other than Aristotle (yes, that Aristotle). But his biggest military boost came from the fact that his father was King Philip II, who facilitated the rise of Macedonia and created its incredible army that Alexander eventually marched around the eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East, and Asia. Although Philip II isnt quite the household name like his famous offspring, the king is now getting some much-deserved time in the limelight some 2,350 years after his assassination in 336 BCE in Aigai (present day Vergina, Greece). In a new study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, archaeologists have finally confirmed that the remains of Alexander the Greats half-brother, son, and father Philip II indeed rest in the family tomb located in Vergina, Greece. For two millennia, the town of Aigai was lost to history. But in 1977, Greek archeologist Manolis Andronikos discovered the final resting place of Philip II, and the archaeology site became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 . However, while archaeologists were pretty sure that the remains of Alexanders father lie in this newly discovered tomb, controversies and disagreements ensued as to who was in which of the three tombs located in the archeological complex. To solve this mystery, an international team of archaeologists from the U.S., Madrid, and Greece drew data from multiple methods of scientific investigationosteological analyses, dissections, X-rays, and moreand consulted historical sources. This finally determined that Tomb I contained the remains of Philip II, along with his wife Cleopatra (not that Cleopatra) and their infant son, who were both killed after Philip IIs assassination. Additionally, Tomb IIwhich scholars debated mightve actually contained Philips remainsinstead belongs to King Arrhidaeus (Alexanders half-brother) and his wife, a warrior named Adea Eurydice. Finally, Tomb III belongs to Alexander IV, the great Macedonian generals teenage son. We evaluated the hypothesis of Philip II in Tomb II and demonstrated why it cannot be supported, based on a full review of the available evidence, the paper reads. Unfortunately, all of the evidence is not yet available. We await the publication of the excavation diaries of Tomb I. Few father-son military duos have been so historically transformative as Philip II and Alexander the Great. And now, 2,360 years later, anthropologists and archeologists are finally piecing together the closing chapter of the duos first act. You Might Also Like NBC/Getty Images Can we start doing Halloween dressing now or do we have to wait for October? Because Dakota Johnson just wore a spooky sexy spider gown and I need it. I need it. I need to have it. I have a black cat and a small tattoo of a crescent moon; this is a dress I need to wear. Johnson stepped out for the Vogue Brazil Ball in Rio de Janeiro in a mesh gown embellished with crystals to form the pattern of a spiderweb; it's completely see-through, so Johnson added a black thong. She wore the look, obvs, as a nod to her role in Madame Web, the upcoming Spider-Man-adjacent flick costarring Sydney Sweeney. Haven't seen a spider this hot since the one in James and the Giant Peach. The star's stylist, Kate Young, was kind enough to share some pics: Dakota Johnson Instagram:@kateyoung The dress is a version of the Cobweb Midi-Dress from Annie's Ibiza ($2,373), though hers is customized, as the dress available online is shorter than Johnson's, and doesn't have the cape. You can order a custom one too, according to the brand's Instagram. Dakota Johnson Instagram:@kateyoung The cape is so important to me. Per the website description, the gown takes inspiration from nature's great seamstress, the spider. The intricate webwork has been hand-crafted with an array of glistening crystals that catch and reflect light, resembling dewdrops on a spider's web in the morning sun. Spiders are the seamstresses of nature! So true. The Fifty Shades star has recently been the self-appointed president of the exposed-panties trend, recently rocking the look to an SNL after-party. Dakota Johnson also opened up about her beauty secret, which can be explained in a single word: naps. If Im not working, if I have a day off on a Monday, then I will sleep as long as I can. Sleep is my number one priority in life, she said. This is honestly so spidery of her. Spiders just make sticky houses and wait for their food to come get caught. Spiders get it. Originally Appeared on Glamour Coffee has come a long way since its origins in Ethiopia and Yemen in the 15th century; nowadays everyone has their favorite way to drink it. Some still prefer Turkish-style coffee, while others rely on the convenience of their French press, drip coffee machine, Aeropress, or single-serve Keurig. Then there are the espresso drinkers, who order complicated lattes and cappuccinos at the local cafe, with their topping of steamed milk -- and that pure white foam just happens to be the perfect canvas for a pretty pattern. Although it may have origins in 19th-century Italy, in the U.S. latte art took hold in the 1980s, as baristas began to create beautiful designs. With the rise of Instagram culture, the practice has only become more popular and the designs have become more intricate. It was only a matter of time till someone created a machine that could make any picture you desired on your drink: the coffee printer. You can find countless latte printers available for purchase, but Ripples was one of the first companies to market the new technology. It uses 3D printing technology to create pictures that are made from minuscule coffee bean drops, which the company calls "ripples." Many customers have come to expect latte art at coffee shops, so the increased interest in coffee printers isn't surprising. "When they [customers] receive a drink with a unique design or message on it, it elevates the overall experience," Ripples' co-founder and CEO, Yossi Meshulam, told Perfect Daily Grind. Read more: How To Get More Flavor From Your Coffee Pods & Other Keurig Hacks The Printers Can Be Used For Other Drinks And Food coffee printer design of couple - Leon Neal/Getty Images Coffee printers, also known as latte art printers, have begun showing up in coffee shops. At Moka Matcha, a New York City-based coffee shop, customers can get a QR code from the barista and use it at the coffee printer to place a design or print of their choosing on top of their drink. Not surprisingly, selfies and cats are two popular choices. Those who've tried it rave about how accurate the depictions are. Coffee printers vary widely in price, with an Evebot portable coffee printer selling for less than $300, while one of its full-size machines equipped with a QR code to scan and camera sells for just over $1,800. The Ripple Maker, which goes for $2,100, also highlights its use of plant-based extracts such as black carrot, cabbage, and malt to create their colors, all in amounts that are tasteless in your drink. Many other companies offer cartridges described as food-grade, and while it probably is, seeing propylene glycol and sodium dehydroacetate in the list of ingredients may not sound appealing to everyone. Though primarily used for coffee, the printer's popularity has broadened its use. Most of them can also be used to print on everything from beer to macarons. Guinness even formed a partnership with Ripples to bring the printer into several of its locations, allowing customers the chance to print selfies or "Stouties" on top of their Irish stout. Read the original article on Mashed. Tech billionaire Larry Page might be trying to buy up all of the worlds private islandsor at least a good chunk of them. The co-founder of Google has been revealed as the buyer of the 300-acre Cayo Norte in Puerto Rico, Business Insider first reported. According to documents, Page used an LLC, U.S. Virgin Island Properties, to quietly snag the palatial property back in 2018. At the time, he paid a whopping $32 million for the spread, which is considered the largest privately owned isle in all of Puerto Rico. The off-market deal included a larger parcel for $28.7 million and a smaller piece of land for $3.4 million. More from Robb Report Per the publication, the ex-CEO has now racked up five private islands that are spread out across the Caribbean and South Pacific. Most notably, he reportedly owns Tavarua Island in Fiji and Eustatia Island in the British Virgin Islandsnot far from Richard Bransons Necker Island. In 2014, Page also dropped $23 million to acquire Hans Lollik and Little Hand Lollik in the U.S. Virgin Islands. As for his most recent purchase, Cayo Norteformerly known as West Key or North East Keyis located roughly 20 nautical miles east of Puerto Rico and is positioned off the coast of Culebra. The tropical retreat has stunning white sand beaches and the area surrounding it is teeming with coral reefs and wildlife including endangered sea turtles. Before Page, Cayo Norte was owned by local developer Dan Shelley starting in 2006. Prior to that, it belonged to the Padron family, the outlet reported. Google co-founder Larry Page paid $32 million for a private island off the coast of Culebra in Puerto Rico. In the six years since Page snapped up Cayo Norte, he hasnt submitted any applications for development, Richard Gautier, director of Culebras office for territorial planning, told Business Insider. According to locals, there has, however, been activity near the island. More specifically, people have been spotted using electric-powered surfboards, also known as hydrofoils, nearby, which has quickly become the water sport of choice among tech giants like Page, Mark Zuckerberg, and Larry Ellison. Our hope is that this guy doesnt want this as an investment property that will be developed and ruined, Mary Ann Lucking, the director of a nonprofit coral reef conservation organization called CORALations, told BI. If it can be protected with that north coast of [the nearby island] Culebra, that would be ideal. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. In case you didnt know, your digital calendar probably reminded you that today is Groundhog Day AGAIN. 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 that If you drink the water, you'll keep coming back. I can't think of anything more Groundhog's 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 June 16-23 and help install a new children's library. Details at www.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 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 web site at https://thechaplain.net/newsletter/. I can speak to your group. Many of you have heard me speak in the towns where my column runs. For instance, Ive crossed Florida to speak in Melbourne, Lakeland and Fort Myers. Ive spoken at colleges in Springfield, Missouri; Staunton, Virginia; Charleston, South Carolina; and Riverside, California. The churches in Binghamton, Elmira and Horseheads remain favorites in upstate New York. Its been a while, but Id love to return to Mountain Home, Arkansas or Mansfield, Ohio. (Or any of the other nine Buckeye towns where my column runs.) And if youre reading from places where Ive not yet shared like Lafayette, Indiana; Montgomery, Alabama; or in the California cities of Vacaville, Elk Grove and Auburn, I would love to make an appearance there, too. Buy one of my books. Even though Im constantly mentioning my books, some readers are still surprised to learn about them. My books are a compilation of two decades-plus of column-writing and will provide a way for the new reader to catch up. My titles: No Small Miracles (2008) is about my work as a pediatric chaplain. Heros Highway (2011) relates my service in a Combat Field Hospital. Thriving Beyond Surviving (2015) describes the seven F words I live by. Tell it To the Chaplain (2023) shares chaplaincy stories in healthcare, the military and the church. You can purchase the books on my website or simply send your book request and payment of $20 for each title to Norris Burkes at 10556 Combie Rd. Suite 6643 Auburn, CA 95602. Maybe if my readers buy enough books, Ill have enough money to buy a groundhog. Youll get a complimentary book when you start a monthly donation to Chispa or give a onetime donation of more than $100. Make checks to Chispa Project and send to 10556 Combie Rd. Suite 6643 Auburn, CA 95602. Comments received at same address or by email comment@thechaplain.net or at (843) 608-9715. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Norris Burkes: Is it Groundhog Day again? These notes worth a repeat "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." EV skeptics fret and moan about how no electric car will ever go far enough on a charge. How itll always be too hard to find a charging station. How range anxiety and the dread range rage will conspire to ruin their motoring life, destroy their marriage, and give them hives. Courtesy Mercedes-Benz Were less certain its as bad as all that or that the electric vehicle option is not getting more convincing every day. Still, theres no denying that the whole electric car business has a long way to go before its right for everyone. In one area, though, EVs usability and practical benefits have been clearly demonstrated the realm of the urban delivery van the so-called last-mile conveyance. The vehicle that drops the useless chazzerai grandma ordered while watching TV last night direct to her door a day or two later. Once her purchase passes out of a warehouse and spends some time on a big truck, maybe even an airplane or train, and perhaps on through another distribution center, it and the box in which its packed get tossed (delicately, of course) into the back of a van that will take the package on the final leg of its journey to grandmas house. Such deliveries, often in congested areas where noise and exhaust fumes rankle most of all, suggest the most perfect use for electric vans, quiet machines that might only drive a few hundred miles a day before returning to home base for a high-speed top-up or overnight charge. Courtesy Mercedes-Benz You know the electric delivery van is a good idea because its not just early adopters and committed tree-huggers buying them, but major businesses with firm eyes on their bottom lines. A lifetime of lower service and maintenance costs plus cheaper than gas electric power apparently has helped many larger firms overcome reservations about EVs' typically higher purchase price. It's hard not to notice, for instance, Amazons electric Rivian vans scuttling along the streets of American cities and, lately, GMs new Brightdrop electric carryalls sporting the Fed Ex logo can be spied, as can Ford Transit EVs fulfilling express delivery duty for DHL. Canoos Lifestyle Vehicle, funky but chic when dressed up as a delivery van, is purportedly about to start dribbling out for some high-profile assignments, while RAMs ProMaster electric van is due for 2025. All of which brings us to the new Mercedes Benz eSprinter and a media launch for it we just attended in Newport Beach, California. That this new Mercedes electric van is a good one should surprise no one as it is closely related to the diesel Sprinter to which it is outwardly similar. Theyre even built on the same line at Mercedes South Carolina Sprinter factory, to avoid the stiff 25-percent tariff levied on imported commercial vehicles (the so-called chicken tax). That diesel version remains quite simply the class of combustion van market. Students of vanning will recall that it was the Sprinters arrival on American shores in 2001 that shamed two of our Big Three van makers Ford and FCA (now Stellantis) into dragging their van wares into the 21st century. And though the current Ford Transit and RAM ProMaster represent respectively quantum leaps forward from the Econoline, with its roots in the middle Seventies, and the RAM Van, which actually debuted even earlier in the Seventies and ran for an incredible 32 years without major change. But they still werent as good (or expensive) as the Sprinter, a tradition that seems likely to continue with the eSprinter. For one thing, theres its range, which though not rated yet, is expected to handily crush the E-Transit on the EPA-cycle. While Mercedes has not released an official figure, somewhere in the area of 260-275 miles seems likely, spokespersons said, while the electric Ford truck, depending on roof height, will go half as far, between 108 and 126 miles before its batteries are spent. The EPA reckons the Rivian EDV is good for 201 miles. Courtesy Mercedes-Benz Unlike the e-Transit, with three body configurations offered by Ford, the eSprinter will debut in the U.S. in but one form: long (170) wheelbase cargo van with a high roof, 488 cubic feet of storage capacity, with 2,624 lbs. payload, and a fixed (but removable) partition behind its only seats, the front ones. Sitting in the drivers chair, the view is broadly reminiscent of Sprinters past, albeit modernized concordant with the current MB lookbook, with the new corporate steering wheel and its many buttons, plus a center screen and several of the telematic niceties found in Mercedes cars. High-mount cameras above the rear doors handle reversing and what you see in the rearview mirror. Courtesy Mercedes-Benz Paddle shifters allow the driver to easily toggle between its five different regenerative modes, varying from none to very little to a kind of a lot but not the most. A fifth, D Auto, calculates and selects what it deems an appropriate recuperation level for you and your van, based on its reading of surrounding traffic. Once wed learned that it will not bring the van to a full halt as it approaches a stopped vehicle, say behind another car at a traffic light, we were more comfortable with it, though it seemed to lack the utility of a system that actually stopped the van completely. Braking in general could seem a little odd, a result of the system toggling by its own secret formula between regenerative braking provided by the motor and the hydraulic braking system, which made at first for a less than satisfying pedal feel, though presumably one will get used to it. Courtesy Mercedes-Benz Three drive modes are available: Comfort which lets the vans driver access all available torque and performance (one colleague claimed an unofficial iPhone 0-60 time of 14 seconds;) Eco which cuts engine power for greater range; and a Maximum Range setting which reduces engine output while preventing the use of certain electricity-sucking features like air conditioning, to further increase range. In keeping with its mission, the truck is governed to go no faster than 75 miles per hour in its most powerful Comfort setting (less in other modes) which, if we are to be honest, is good enough for most anticipated uses. Courtesy Mercedes-Benz Surely and steadily, Mercedes grip on telematics, safety assists and on-board software has improved and the eSprinter benefits from it. Notably, its Navigation with Electric Intelligence feature, optimizes routes to suggested destinations with attention to traffic and topography. While calling out charging stations along the route, (and a map that inexplicably pictures all gas stations) it will also calculate and suggest alternate charging strategies to favor either speedy arrival or a fuller charge upon arrival. MBUX (an acronym for the Mercedes Benz User Experience) and other cloud-based goodies, offered on Mercedes passenger cars and offering several remote features, are for the first time available to Sprinter buyers. Courtesy Mercedes-Benz Equipped with a single permanent-magnet synchronous motor that tips the scale at a wee 286 pounds, the eSprinter is available in power levels of either 100 or 150 kilowatts of peak output, delivering up to 295 lb.-ft of torque for at least 30 seconds. Nestled in a handsome aluminum casting beneath the floor that is easily accessed, the motor and electric axle the rearmost element of a new three-part modular system -- drive the rear wheels only. (A two-motor 4x4 seems to us like an inevitable follow-up in years to come.) A battery pack, with 1,007 lbs. and 113 kW of lithio-ferro phosphate-filled batteries, liquid-cooled, and celebrated by Mercedes for their lack of cobalt and nickel, makes for a second module. A third, up front, under the hood, carries all the high-voltage componentry, and obviates any frunk, not that the eSprinter lacks for room. Wall charging is an option, though high-speed DC charging at speeds of up to 115 kW is possible, with an unexceptional 42 minutes the minimum needed to deliver an 80-percent charge from 10 percent. Enrollment in Mercedes Me Charge program, operated in conjunction with ChargePoint, gives eSprinter drivers access to some 85,000 charging points nationally, integrating sites belonging to ChargePoint, ElectrifyAmerica, and EVGo in one account. Mercedes says it plans to lead in electric and its sales targets are ambitious: 50 percent of electric van sales worldwide by 2030. Ready to be ordered now dealers now, eSprinters start at $71,866, with leasing options available, including a 36-month lease at $998 a month, with $6,386 down. Though wed say its worth the money, pricing is stiff, to be sure. Against that, the price includes all annual service for four years or 100,000 miles, with an extended battery warranty to 185,000/eight years also available. Courtesy Mercedes-Benz No mistaking it, the eSprinter is a van, a big, 6700-pound one, but its the nicest one we know of currently, a premium workhorse that is visibly blessed with better materials and higher quality construction than any competitor we can think of. The rear cargo hold is nicely outfitted with all manner of quality tie-downs and anchors. Towing up to 4,277 lbs is permitted. Driving is remarkably easy for such a big thing, the sense of supreme quiet abetted by a body structure that follows the path less taken by not rattling its way down the road as most vans tend to. It rides and steers well, too, its battery weight sited for a low center of gravity and only coming into focus as ride deteriorates in a certain situation that requires turning sharply while descending and compressing, such as leaving a hotel parking lot. Courtesy Mercedes-Benz Overall, the eSprinter testifies to progress made as the world ramps up for a substantially electric fleet and in van life generally. We can only imagine what the upfitters, overlanders and back-to-nature types will do when they get their hands on it and we also look forward to the 15-seat window version that may one day come. We wouldnt mind eSprinters in other shapes and sizes here in America and smaller Mercedes vans would be nice, too. But until then, its time for deliveries and the eSprinter delivers. You Might Also Like A few months ago, we learned that if you eat food that's been sitting out too long, it could lead to serious health complications. And, in rare cases, it could cause death. It is a phenomenon that some medical experts refer to as "Fried Rice Syndrome": Now people across the internet are pointing out another important aspect to keep in mind: Even if you don't leave your rice out at room temperature for very long, simply keeping it in your fridge for more than a day can be harmful. Johner Images / Getty Images/Johner RF Some people are even sharing how reheated, leftover rice has landed them in the hospital with food poisoning. Catherine Mcqueen / Getty Images BuzzFeed found one expert who experienced this firsthand and her story went viral. Dr. Lauren DeDecker is a resident physician in internal medicine who got so ill from rice she had to be transported to a hospital via helicopter. Lauren DeDecker She told BuzzFeed that while visiting the Himalayas, she ordered a "traditional sweet rice dish from Nepal." However, after a few hours, she became violently ill. "The following day I was too dehydrated and weak to leave. I had to be helicoptered to the nearest bigger town to get IV fluids," she shared. Miniseries / Getty Images Luckily, Dr. DeDecker was fine after she received medical care. "Before I left, I asked how had they prepared my dinner. They told me openly that the rice dish had been made in a large pot that morning, had been out at room temperature all day, then reheated and served that night for dinner. So, it hadn't been refrigerated. While I can't know for certain that it was the B. Cereus food poisoning or Fried Rice Syndrome based on what I ate and that history, it's very likely that that's what it was," she explained. You can listen to her story about it on TikTok here. Takanori Ogawa / Getty Images Dr. DeDecker said the safest recommendation is to put any rice that you're not going to consume immediately in the fridge within one to two hours of cooking (but one hour is safer). The most important thing to note, however, is that you should only reheat rice ONCE. "Let's say you have leftovers. You would not want to take some of that rice, reheat it, not finish it, put it back in the fridge, and then reheat that same portion of rice again." Kool99 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Reheating rice more than once, according to Dr. DeDecker, increases the risk that you could get B. Cereus because you're increasing the time that it's not properly cooled or heated. "Bacteria is ubiquitous in the environment, it's not rare, but it's not going to be in all rice and green products. You're not going to know if it is in the rice or not because it's microscopic. And this goes for white, fried rice, any rice," she explained. Cris CantAAn / Getty Images However, many people on TikTok are saying this phenomenon isn't real because they've reheated rice a million times and it has never happened to them...but Dr. DeDecker said it is very real. "The bacteria is not going to be in every single vat or package of rice. It also takes a certain amount of bacteria to make you sick. When cooked rice is out at room temperature for too long, the bacteria and the spores can multiply and increase in number and so the load can get high enough to make you ill," she added. Hill Street Studios / Getty Images So, let's go over Dr. DeDecker's safest practices so that we can do our best to prevent this illness from happening in our own lives: "To prevent getting sick, serve rice as soon as it has been cooked. Then, put the leftover rice in the fridge within one hour of cooking it. Keep the rice in the fridge no longer than one day. Do not reheat the same portion of rice more than once. Rice should be stored below 40 degrees Fahrenheit." You can read more about how to prevent Bacillus cereus here. If you live in the U.S., Christmas dessert probably means pecan pie, fruitcake, or maybe a Yule log, while those in the U.K. feast on Christmas pudding, Christmas cake, or mince pies. If you live in the Caribbean, though, you're probably very familiar with the sweet, fruity, alcohol-laced Caribbean black cake, also called rum cake. The cake varies from region to region, each iteration adding its own unique ingredients. Jamaican black cake, for example, often contains rosewater and almonds, whereas Trinidad's black cake does not. Christmas cake was introduced when the British colonized the West Indies in the 1800s, and it was eventually altered to fit its new surroundings. Jamaican black cake is similar to Christmas cake, as both cakes are made anywhere from two weeks to six months ahead of time. In both cases, alcohol is added every couple of weeks until the cake is completely infused and has a pudding-like texture. Recipe changes have also occurred, like regular sugar becoming burnt sugar, browning sauce, or molasses, and the whisky or brandy becoming rum. These days, it's becoming more common to see recipes use dessert wine for this infusion rather than spirits. Manischewitz grape wine or a red dessert wine may change the flavor slightly, but they impart a delicious sweetness to the cake while leaving its essence intact. Read more: Ingredients To Take Your Scrambled Eggs To The Next Level Dessert Wine Softens And Enhances The Cake's Fruit Slice of Caribbean black cake - Niki Emr / Shutterstock It's hard to say when dessert or sweet red wines began appearing in black cake, but many who have switched appreciate how well wine works for soaking the fruit and intensifying the cake's flavor. Susan Barnes, who emigrated from Antigua to Brooklyn in 1983, also prefers red wine. "The Passover wine is the best. I like it so much I send it to my mother in Jamaica for her cake," she told The New York Times. While swapping out rum for a red dessert wine has become routine for making Jamaican black cake, using a mixture of rum and wine is another option for those who still want a more traditional taste. That said, none of the cake's ingredients are set in stone, and people have even been known to use grape juice to make a non-alcoholic version. Unlike the fruit cake most Americans hate, black cake's alcohol-soaked dried prunes, cherries, and raisins are ground down, so the fruit is soft once it's time to eat. And this cake isn't just for Christmas Jamaican black cake is also prepared for weddings and other special occasions. Because it takes so long to make, it's considered one of the most loving and thoughtful gifts to receive. "You can only make a few, so when you give a cake, it's a special thing," declared Elizabeth Marshall, a Trinidadian who emigrated to Brooklyn in 1989. Read the original article on Mashed. How well does the fashion industry consider its water risks? Less than you might think, a new Planet Tracker study asserts. The nonprofit financial think tank used natural language processing to plow through 3,900 annual and sustainability reports, regulatory filings and investor meeting transcripts, finding that fewer than 10 percent flagged water-related risks related to its consumption, pollution, sanitation, scarcity or potential inundation. Many companies failed to mention any such risks at all, indicating a disparity in disclosure practices. More from Sourcing Journal Part of this has to do with whats known as carbon tunnel syndrome, said Richard Wielechowski, senior analyst of textiles and a co-author of the study. Businesses understand greenhouse gas emissions. Less so subjects such as water and biodiversity. But fashion cannot cope without H20. From irrigating fields to dyeing and finishing fabric to promoting factory hygiene, water is fundamental to every stage of textile production. At the same time, it can present a threat, for instance when theres too little of it because of environmental stress or untreated disposal or, conversely, too much due to coastal or riverine flooding, perhaps exacerbated by extreme weather. As water-sensitive operations increasingly butt up against the existential risk of climate breakdown, water will be nothing if not material, Wielechowski said. In fact, its effects are already writ large: Just take a gander at the drought-besieged Panama Canal, which has resulted in massive shipping delays, or the monsoon on steroids in 2022 that destroyed a large proportion of Pakistans cotton. Theres also reputational risk to consider. You cant really make green claims about your apparel if youre a major polluter of water, he said. Water is necessary for life. If youre using a liter of water and polluting it, its no longer suitable for drinkingthats water that might otherwise have been accessible to local populations. And a lot of this production is going on in areas of poor sanitation. Youre looking at countries where if you study the growth rate of the children, they sort of fall off the curve at about the age of two or three because theyre getting parasites all the time from dirty water. Water-risk targets for brands and retailers. Thats not to say fashion is ignoring water completely. According to Planet Trackers estimates, attention on agua has grown from roughly 2,000 disclosures in 2018 to more than 9,000 in 2022. And of the 29 companies that the organization looked at, among them Adidas, Gap Inc., H&M Group, Zara parent Inditex, Kering, Levi Strauss & Co., Nordstrom and Zalando, 15 reported to CDP on their water use. Its the quality of these revelations, however, that Wielechowski describes as broadly flat over the same period. Many brands and retailers home in on one of two targetswater expenditure, say, or efficiency. Whats necessary, however, is a truly robust approach that covers a wide range of metrics across the supply chain, in line with the Science Based Targets Networks new freshwater guidance, such that were talking apples to apples [and] we can say, Youre a laggard, youre doing well, your starting point is x and youre trying to get to y, he said. Wielechowski isnt so much surprised by the findings as he is disappointed. While some brands and retailers are leading the way in terms of talking about their water risksamong them Hanesbrands, which topped everyone with a disclosure quality grade of 16.5 percent, Kering, the next highest with 11.6 percent and Gap at No. 3 with 13.6 percentmost elide the liquids impacts on the bottom line. Some of the lowest scorers included Capri (1 percent), Zalando (0.3 percent), Burlington and Nordstrom (0.2 percent), Victorias Secret and Skechers (0.1 percent) and Under Armour (0 percent). H&M Group and Inditex earned a middling 2.5 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively, while Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing clawed a mite 1.2 percent. On average, non-luxury brands divulged the most water-related risks, followed by luxury brands. Multi-brand retailers, on the other hand, made very few water-related disclosures. Asian companies also appeared to lag behind their counterparts in Europe and North America. Not a single one, however, doesnt have work to do. These are not small mom-and-pop shops that havent got the means to do this, he said. The best-case scenario is theyre all busy working on water impacts and water management behind the scenes but just dont feel the need to tell anyone about it. I find that very hard to believe. Wielechowski said that the lack of disclosures in transcripts also suggests that investors are either unaware of water as a risk factor or dont think its important, yet its critical that the industry examine Scopes 1 to 3 for water as it does greenhouse gas emissions. There are investors for whom sustainability is nice but its not a priority, he said. But once you start saying, Actually, this could mean youre over-valuing your investment or insurance risk or operational risk, thats when they start to focus. So I think investors need to start thinking about water, incorporating it into the way they talk to management teams, pressing them on having a strategy. Shariful Hoque, water impact lead at H&M Group welcomed Planet Trackers report, agreeing that companies in the fashion industry should talk about water risks. He said that the Swedish retailers new water strategy for 2023-2030 will increase its ambition by setting further goals and actions that will spread across our full value chain, with a clear focus on water reduction and water quality improvement. We believe doing is as equally important as telling, meaning that transparency should go hand in hand with a robust water strategy showing concrete action and progress, Hoque added. One of our main goals is to reduce by 30 percent absolute water consumption reduction in our value chain by 2030 with a context-based targets approach. To reach such an ambitious target, we support our direct business partners to make sure water is managed in a responsible way in the factories where our products are made. Other brands and retailers either declined or did not respond to requests for comment. Wielechowski recalled seeing conversations at New York Climate Week last year split between the climate camp and the nature camp. He said that they need to come together instead of being siloed in their own categories. We are basically the way we were on greenhouse gas emissions 10, 15 years ago, which is its not something people have been thinking about; its difficult and costs money to sort it out and so its just not happening, he said. And you can see where weve got to today, most of the brands are setting to start to set science-based targets. Theyre reporting Scope 1, Scope 1, Scope 3 on greenhouse gas. Were just not there yet on water. Weve got a long way to go yet. At Heathrow a few weeks ago, the London-based Chinese journalist Xinran picked up a young Chinese student who was visiting England for a holiday. On the way into London, Xinran asked her how things were in her home country. The girl told me lots of people had been losing their jobs, Xinran says. I asked if this was because so many Western companies had been withdrawing their profits from China [in the 18 months up to September 2023, more than $160 billion was withdrawn, mainly over concerns at the countrys floundering economy]. The girl suddenly looked scared. She said, Shush, shush. We mustnt talk about this. I said, Dont be ridiculous! Were on the Heathrow Express! But the girl refused to say another word. Examples of Chinas suppression of free speech are hardly a revelation to Xinran, who has spent decades trying to uncover what she can of postwar Chinas secretive history, notably concerning the countless lives of ordinary people deleted by Chairman Maos ruthless purges during the Cultural Revolution, and in particular of women, historically denied a voice in a country that remains unyieldingly patriarchal. Through her charitable organisation The Mothers Bridge of Love, which strengthens ties between China and Britain, she is often a port of call for young Chinese people visiting the UK, and has encouraged them to work in the UK media. But since the National Security Law [passed in 2015], students are saying that their parents forbid it. We spent years [in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008] fighting for a more open China. But this generation remind me of the generation from the 1950s that feature in my new book. Xinran, 66, and I are talking at her flat in Bayswater, London, where she has lived for more than 20 years. On the table are copies of The Book of Secrets, her latest work of nonfiction to gather personal testimony from the people of her home country her landmark 2002 book The Good Women of China was based on her groundbreaking state-radio call-in show, broadcast nightly from 1989 to 1997. With an openness that seems unthinkable now, Words on the Night Breeze invited Chinese women to talk about their experiences, often as abused or neglected wives. The Book of Secrets comprises more than 30 years worth of diaries and letters from a former Communist Party member, Jie, a high-level operative in military intelligence for several decades. Most of the letters were written to Jies wife, Moon, but never sent, and contain an extraordinary firsthand account of Communist Party machinery at its most brutal and paranoid. Xinran confides that Jies account was potentially so inflammatory that she lay awake at night wondering if she should publish it at all. My publishers asked, Are you sure you want to talk about this? My mother has said, If you speak out, you wont be able to return to China. Red Guards in Tiananmen Square with Maos Little Red Book in 1967 - Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images Xinran, who moved to London in 1997, came across the diaries in late 2018, during her last trip to see her mother, who is 91 and lives in Nanjing. Often on these visits, she would hand out USB sticks to the young people she met, encouraging them to talk to their grandparents about their lives, the recordings of which she would then pay for. (A good third would do it.) So when she was handed a couple of USB sticks by a young woman called Snow, she thought nothing of it. Later, reading the contents, which Snow, Jies daughter, had found in her fathers study after he died, she was fascinated and appalled. They provide a unique testimony of the extraordinary incursion of the party into ordinary peoples private lives, leading to harrowing family betrayals. Before they were married, Jie was compelled to betray his wife Moons East German lover, Karl, who was sent to the gulags in Siberia on trumped-up charges of espionage. Moon later betrayed her own father to the Red Guards (he spent a decade in prison) to prove her party loyalty. Jie and Moons marriage itself was desolate and joyless because of the extent to which it was controlled by the state. Whats more, the letters offer multiple contemporaneous counter-narratives to the official record of the time, from a 1969 nuclear leak at the secret military 404 City, where Jie worked, which was both covered up and allowed to spread, to the true number of those killed in the 1959-61 famine (at the time, the party said it was about 450,000; the true figure is about 45 million). Xinran, author of The Book of Secrets - Rii Schroer There is also oblique reference to a highly secret military police force, modelled on the KGB, which operated between 1953-57 and killed innumerable people. Everyone in my mothers generation knows about that, but no one will talk. Xinran has tried to unearth more about the leak and about 404 City. But so thoroughly did the Cultural Revolution destroy the historical record, and such is the level of state censorship in China under Xi, that its been all but impossible. Furthermore, what she calls a collective amnesia has once again set in among the Chinese themselves. People who used to be happy to talk to me no longer want to do so on the phone. Even my mother will only give one-word answers. People wont discuss the Cultural Revolution. People say to me, We no longer care about social justice. Instead, they say surviving is victory. Its taking me right back to when I grew up. She also found writing the book traumatic on a personal level. Like Snow, Xinran never knew what her father did he died in 2017 and knows only that her mother worked at the military factory 798, a collaboration with East Germany built in the 1950s and intended to strengthen industrial ties between China, East Germany and the Soviet Union. As was the case with Snow, huge gaps, filled with untold horror, exist in her family history. She grew up during the Cultural Revolution and remembers the day she came home to find her parents had been arrested and sent to the labour camps. The contents of the house, including her beloved books and doll, burnt outside the home. Xinran was an early supporter of Xi Jinping, who became president of China in 2013 - NOEL CELIS/AFP via Getty Images Aged seven, Xinran was sent to a childrens prison, where she stayed for six years. During this time, she was forced to watch footage of her parents being beaten: In your country, a childs education includes visits to museums; ours included videos of our parents being punished. At night, a shadowy figure would patrol the dormitory and take out a child; Xinran still remembers hearing the screams. She still regularly wakes up in a cold sweat. Since my husband died [in 2017], I have to sleep surrounded by familiar things my glasses, my books so that I know where I am when I wake up, she says. To this day, her mother remains as emotionally remote as she was during Xinrans childhood. You know, I never spent a single birthday with my mum, Xinran says, and there are tears in her eyes. Buoyed by the economic and political progress China made in the 1990s and the Noughties, Xinran was an early supporter of Xi Jinping, who became president of China in 2013. I believed in the open-door policy. China used to be so poor I remember queuing for cooking oil. It only started to improve in the 1990s. And Xi himself lived through the Cultural Revolution: I never thought he would want to return to that. But on her 2018 trip, she was shocked by what she saw. There were slogans everywhere in praise of the revolution and proclaiming Xi as some sort of god. The surveillance of ordinary people is now commonplace. Xis China has become like [Orwells] 1984. What does the West have to fear from this new China? China is not so great a threat because so few of its people are well educated. Its still a largely agricultural country. What she does fear is its people. People dont care about history or their roots. They just care about their daily life, about whether they have food and a roof. Everything now is about fear. I dont know if or when I will be able to return. The Book of Secrets: A Personal History of Betrayal in Red China (Bloomsbury) is out now 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. Jack Hemmings joined the RAF in 1940 at 18. It has been 84 years since the grandfather-of-three, first took to the skies - Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph Its almost impossible for younger generations to imagine the skies being filled with the roar of Spitfires, let alone fathom the idea of signing up to go to war. Jack Hemmings, 102, doesnt recall feeling frightened when he joined the RAF in 1940 at 18 he trusted the training would prepare him for whatever the war threw at him. Going to war made me grow up a bit, I suppose, said Jack, a Second World War veteran and former RAF Squadron Leader, who on Monday became the oldest pilot ever to fly a Spitfire. A bomber pilot, he was stationed in Kolkata with 353 Squadron to protect the Bay of Bengal and the coast of Burma (as it was then known) until 1946, and received the Air Force Cross for exemplary gallantry while flying. Last month, Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, Chief of the General Staff, implored ministers to mobilise the nation, suggesting the countrys defences could be strengthened by bringing back conscription, which was suspended in 1960. What could younger generations learn from that of Jack? Whos to say that our generation was any better than theirs? he said, speaking before his flight in the Heritage Hangar at Biggin Hill airfield. But by and large I think the present generation are a bit scatty. Jack Hemmings in the Heritage Hangar at Biggin Hill airfield - Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph He added: Going to war, your mind is concentrating on what youre doing, which is your part in the war [] You apply your mind to your task and do it as well as you can. Back then, you relied on your squadron and your training to get you through, he said. Youre trained to meet all circumstances. If theres a new circumstance, thats what youre trained for to work out what the problem is, put it right and get back. On the airfield at Biggin Hill, as the Spitfire roared into life on Monday, you could feel the judder of its powerful Merlin engine. But as soon as you take flight, Jack said, soaring into the air at 210 knots, aiming for the clouds, its a different story there is a great sense of peace that comes with being airborne. Once youre on the ground and away from controlled airspace, the sky is yours, you get all sorts of emotions. Sometimes its just pleasure at a lovely outlook. Other times its relief when you maybe werent quite sure where you were. Now it was his turn to find out what all the fuss was about It has been 84 years since Jack, now a grandfather-of-three, first took to the skies. He might not have been fazed by much at 18, but at 102, you could have forgiven him for being somewhat daunted by the prospect of clambering into a cockpit on a freezing, windswept airfield and taking flight. But as soon as the signal came to board, he bounded out of his wheelchair and strode towards the aircraft in his khaki flying suit with the vim and vigour of a man at least 20 years younger. In 1940, he would have rolled his eyes at the Spitfire lads, he said, deeming them fighter boys and kids. Now, it was his turn to find out what all the fuss was about. Speaking before the flight, he wondered if he might find a Spitfire a slip of a thing compared to the aircraft he flew in the war easier to handle. I expect Ill find it vastly more manoeuvrable but of course there will be limits on the manoeuvres we can do. Im sure theyll want to keep it fairly straight and level. Jack is one of just two remaining members of his squadron Not that he planned to pass up the chance for a few aerobatics it seems youre never too old to use the heavens as a playground. I love aerobatics, he admitted, smiling broadly. I suppose its the pleasure of starting off straight and level and upsetting that situation and putting it right. Taking to the skies in the two-seater Spitfire - Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph This year will mark 80 years since the Battle of Kohima the turning point of the Japanese offensive into India, where Jack was stationed. He is one of just two remaining members of his squadron. Did he expect his former comrades to be in his thoughts when he took to the skies? He is far too pragmatic for all that. When youre in the air, he said, youre busy doing what youre supposed to do. Im not going to sit there and think of other times. This time is the important one. Mondays flight was by no means the first time in 80 years Jack had been airborne. He bought a small aircraft after his retirement. On his 100th birthday in 2021, he performed an aerobatic display in a Slingsby Firefly a surprise gift from his wife, Kate. Mr Hemmings described his flying skills as 'a bit rusty. Not surprisingly, as I am rusty' - Geoff Pugh for the Telegraph In 2022, he flew a 1947 Gemini the same model he took to Africa in 1948 in what was the first British mission to assess humanitarian needs in isolated communities dotted across the continent. Setting out with a map, a compass and only the River Nile as their guide, he and his friend Stuart King, who had been at D-Day, visited more than 100 mission outposts which were separated from vital resources by jungles and deserts. Jack wore a look of pure contentment on his face They crashed on a Burundi mountainside; a moment Jack (who once nicknamed himself Crasher Jack) remembers vividly. The surprising thing was we smacked the ground at 100 miles an hour, into a totally undeveloped hillside. We could have gone straight into an enormous boulder or tree but we went into rough ground and didnt burst into flames and the lid in the door opened quite simply. Neither of us was injured except I had a bruise on my thigh where it hit the throttle and Stuart had a cut on his little finger. It couldnt have been more minimal. They founded Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), the worlds largest humanitarian air service, which still flies all over the world delivering aid and medical help in low income countries. Coming into land after his 30-minute flight, Jack wore a look of pure contentment on his face. His co-pilot, Barry Hughes, had handed over the controls mid-flight. I dont think hes lost his touch, said Mr Hughes. How did Jack find it? Absolutely delightful, he said, beaming as the propellers slowed and the roof of the cockpit lifted. Slightly heavier than I expected. We were flying at about 210 knots which is faster than I used to fly in my Air Force days. I was a bit rusty. Not surprisingly, as I am rusty. 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. In the event that he has to sign off on a replacement of the westbound Washington Bridge, the head of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) walked the ailing span on Monday with Rhode Island officials to see the situation for himself. "It's a very complicated structure," Federal Highway Administrator Shailen Bhatt said while standing halfway up the closed Gano Street exit ramp off Interstate 195. State officials Monday declined to provide any estimate as to how long the westbound bridge would be out of service if the span has to be replaced. On Monday, Bhatt said it could be a "year or two," but that it would depend on the construction plan. "We've been tracking this pretty closely as it has evolved from a rehab and repair to a potential replacement," he said as he was flanked by Gov. Dan McKee and Rhode Island's congressional delegation. "I wanted to come up here and get eyes on the bridge today." Repair or replace? The team of engineers studying what to do with the closed span have yet to officially decide whether a repair or full replacement is needed to get the bridge in a safe state so that it can be permanently reopened. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation estimated in December that it would take only three weeks to repair the bridge, but with each subsequent briefing and update, the timeline has stretched and the possibility of a major replacement project has become more likely. No firm answers on how long Washington Bridge will be out of commission, but timeline is expanding RIDOT is expecting to deliver its plan for how to fix the bridge at the end of this month or early March. Peter Alviti Jr., the director of the state transportation department, has had the leading role in most Washington Bridge news briefings to this point, but was in the background during Monday's news conference. "The data will tell us," is all Alviti would say while being whisked away in response to questions about whether the current span will have to come down. McKee's deputy chief of staff, Joseph Almond, whom the governor assigned to coordinate the state's bridge response, walked by Alviti's side on the bridge. No cost estimates have been released for potential bridge repairs but Bhatt said the federal highway agency will bring in financial experts to determine the best way to pay for the repairs, however expensive they turn out to be. "If it is going to be a replacement ... what can we do as quickly as possible to bring federal funds to bear so that we can get the bridge replaced as quickly as possible if that is the course that they end up taking," Bhatt said. Federal government increasingly involved in the Washington Bridge The federal government has keen interest in the condition of the bridge, as it probably will fund the vast majority of whatever work is done on it. The Justice Department and Department of Transportation's inspector general last month launched an investigation into whether the tens of millions already spent on an assortment of construction projects at the bridge since 2015 violated the False Claims Act. With those other federal agencies on the case, Bhatt said his department will not be investigating how the bridge's condition deteriorated rapidly from the point when it passed an inspection in July to being at risk of catastrophic failure four months later. RIDOT's contractors are doing their own "forensic analysis" of the bridge with oversight from another consultant hired by the state Department of Administration. Federal highway officials, Gov. Dan McKee and other state officials gather at the Washington Bridge on Monday. In the next several days, Bhatt also said that his agency would bring in operational specialists to analyze how traffic is flowing through the area and to determine what may need to change to make that flow more efficient. Who is Shailen Bhatt and the connection to the Washington Bridge? Bhatt was appointed Federal Highway administrator at the start of last year and came to President Joe Biden's administration from the infrastructure consulting firm AECOM, for which he was a senior vice president. AECOM has worked as a consultant on numerous Rhode Island projects over the years, including the Washington Bridge. AECOM performed the July 2023 inspection of the Washington Bridge westbound span that determined that the structure, while in poor condition, was safe. In December, engineers working on the bridge discovered damage and deterioration that suggested it was at risk of failing, prompting state officials to close it. On Monday, Bhatt said he never worked on anything related to Rhode Island while he was at AECOM. Before joining AECOM, Bhatt was executive director of the Colorado Department of Transportation. When Bhatt left that position, he was succeeded by Michael Lewis, the former director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. (It so happened that Lewis was replaced at the Colorado DOT by Soshana Lew, who worked under Alviti at RIDOT.) Mayor Smiley tells tractor-trailers to stay out of Providence neighborhoods The emergency shutdown of I-195 West at the Washington Bridge, which in normal times carried more than 90,000 vehicles per day across the Seekonk River, caused severe traffic congestion and gridlock on local streets in Providence and East Providence. Since then, RIDOT has diverted westbound traffic onto half of the eastbound span, easing the worst congestion and equalizing traffic between the two directions. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley and East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva were both at Monday's news conference. In response to large trucks driving through East Side neighborhoods to avoid I-195 traffic, Smiley closed Gano Street over the weekend for emergency repairs and is asking the state to ban tractor-trailers from the street. If there is no way to legally prohibit trucks from driving through the neighborhood, Smiley appealed to truckers to "please" not get off the highway and detour onto neighborhood roads. On the other side of the river, RIDOT last Friday moved the bridge-required narrowing of I-195 West to two lanes further east toward Massachusetts to help alleviate gridlock on the local East Providence streets that feed onto highway entry ramps. More: Timeline of the Washington Bridge closure: Here's how it all happened. On Monday, McKee said the state is still analyzing the traffic impact of the change before deciding whether it should be reversed or made permanent. Bhatt praised RIDOT for closing the bridge in December after officials had found the structural problems, including multiple broken anchor rods. He described the Washington Bridge as complicated and essentially three bridges that function as one. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Federal highway administrator examines situation at Washington Bridge Gov. Jeff Landry said he will explore options to send Louisiana National Guard troops to Texas to assist that state in securing its southern border with Mexico as Gov. Greg Abbott escalates his effort to expand Texas' authority in managing border security. Landry and 12 other Republicans governors joined Abbott Sunday for a press conference at Eagle Pass, which has become a flashpoint in the debate on how far Texas can go in an effort to curb the massive influx of migrants that is generally considered a federal responsibility. The Supreme Court recently ruled that federal border agents could cut state-installed razor wire along the Rio Grande River at Eagle pass. Abbott and other Republican governors and GOP members of Congress have accused Democratic President Joe Biden of failing to take meaningful action to slow illegal immigration on the U.S. southern border. What we saw and learned (Sunday) makes one thing very clear: the Biden Administration has completely abdicated its responsibility to enforce the immigration laws on the books," Landry said in a statement. "Our open borders allow drugs and human trafficking to flow into our communities, putting our entire country at risk. Louisiana Gov. Landry speaks with Texas Major General Thomas Suelzer Sunday, Feb. 4, at Eagle Pass, Texas, where he joined Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for a press conference about border security. "When in trouble, our neighbors in Texas have always opened their arms to us. Now its time we return the favor. I look forward to working with our legislative leadership to find a way to send our National Guard troops to the southern border to support Texas. The rule of law must be enforced." Last month Landry was among 25 Republican governors who signed a letter statement backing Abbott in his bitter fight against the federal government over border control. We stand in solidarity with our fellow Governor, Greg Abbott, and the State of Texas in utilizing every tool and strategy, including razor wire fences, to secure the border," the 25 Republican governors said in their letter. In a post pinned to his social media X account on Jan. 25, Landry said: "Louisiana stands with Texas. Enough is enough." More: Governor Jeff Landry names team to restore and protect Louisiana's disappearing coastline More: Governor Jeff Landry says Louisiana owes it to victims, families to carry out death penalty Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Governor wants to send Louisiana National Guard troops to Texas border DETROIT A Michigan mayor ordered increased police patrols in the city over the weekend after an opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal labeled the city as "America's Jihad Capital." After the opinion piece was published Friday, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said police would ramp up their presence "effective immediately" in places of worship and major infrastructure points. Hammoud, the city's first Muslim and Arab American mayor, alerted the community to the opinion piece Saturday afternoon on X, formerly Twitter. Hammoud cautioned residents to be vigilant and said the decision was a result of the opinion piece that has "led to an alarming increase in bigoted and Islamophobic rhetoric online targeting" the city. "This is more than irresponsible journalism. Publishing such inflammatory writing puts Dearborn residents at increased risk for harm," Hammoud told the Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, on Saturday evening. Hate crimes across the United States reached record levels in 2023, according to preliminary data released in January from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University. At least 2,184 hate crimes were reported in major U.S. cities last year, which included the surge of anti-Jewish and anti-Muslim incidents amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Harvard under scrutiny: This complaint comes from Palestinian students US leaders support Dearborn following Wall Street Journal opinion piece The Wall Street Journal opinion piece titled, "Welcome to Dearborn, America's Jihad Capital" was authored by Steven Stalinsky, an American commentator on Middle Eastern terrorism who has served as the executive director of the Middle East Media Research Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit dedicated to international media analysis, since 1999. It had come just one day after Dearborn residents hosted a protest of President Joe Biden's visit to the area on Thursday, criticizing the Biden administration for its response to the war. On Sunday, Biden and other political leaders came to the defense of Dearborn. "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," Biden posted on X. "We must continue to condemn hate in all forms." Other political leaders, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, and U.S. Senator Gary Peters also posted messages of support for Dearborn on Sunday. FBI hate crime report: Reported hate crimes at schools and colleges are on the rise Other local, state leaders also respond Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi took to social media Saturday to notify members that the neighboring community is also on watch. "As Mayor of the Dearborn Heights, which neighbors the City of Dearborn, I am both perplexed and appalled by the Wall Street Journals false derogatory term used to describe the City of Dearborn as the 'Jihad Capital,'" Bazzi said. "The people of the City of Dearborn, along with the City of Dearborn Heights, and all its neighboring cities are placed in peril when hateful misinformation is disseminated in mainstream media." Michigan Senate Majority Whip Mallory McMorrow said she refused to amplify the hateful rhetoric used in the article. Other state leaders, including Wayne County Commissioner David Knezek, posted in support of Hammoud, touting his leadership in bringing the community together. "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. I am grateful for Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud, his leadership and the leadership of all the city's elected officials I will always stand strong in support of our neighbors," Knezek wrote on social media Saturday afternoon. In another post, Hammoud noted Dearborn's several accomplishments as a community in Michigan, calling it the fastest-growing city; a top travel destination; a coffee, food, and culture capital; and one of the most diverse cities. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Wall Street Journal op-ed called Dearborn 'America's Jihad Capital' An RAF Typhoon FGR4 is prepared prior to attacks on Houthis - Jake Green RAF/UK MOD/Handout via REUTERS Iran warned Britain and the US that airstrikes are fuelling chaos and disorder in the Middle East after successive bombing raids across the region. The latest wave of attacks on Saturday night was 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, Nasser Kanani, Irans foreign ministry spokesman, said. The comments came after Britain and the United States bombed Houthi militants in Yemen on Saturday and the US carried out its largest raid since the Iraq war on Friday night. Fridays strikes followed a drone strike in Jordan last Sunday that killed three US military personnel. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels also vowed to respond to the latest attacks. Yahya Sarea, the Houthis army spokesman, said that the UK and US conducted 48 airstrikes across six militant-held governorates and vowed that it would not deter them from their attacks on global shipping, which they frame as a support mechanism for Palestine. We will meet the escalation with escalation, Sarea said. The British Government denied that it was an escalation. The Houthis gave no assessment of the damage but the US described hitting underground missile arsenals, launch sites and helicopters used by the group. In a sign of unease from Iran, its army later released a video warning the US against attacking two of its cargo ships, the Behshad and the Saviz, which have long been suspected of being a forward operating base for Iranian commandos. 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, describing them as floating armories. The Behshad is currently docked in Djibouti just off the coast from a Chinese military base. Hamas also condemned the strikes, blasting them as an escalation that will drag the region into further turmoil and instability. The US again indicated on Sunday night that there are more airstrikes to come. Jake Sullivan, the US national security advisor, said: 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 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. On Sunday, the UKs Foreign Secretary implored the Houthis to stop their reckless attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea following the latest air strikes. Lord Cameron said the third wave of joint UK and US assaults took place after repeated warnings for the rebel group to cease its campaign of attacks on commercial ships. Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s were supported by Voyager tankers during the allied mission as they targeted locations in Yemen used by the Iran-backed militants. Analysts have said that airstrikes on the Houthis are feeding their anti-Western propaganda machine, and warn that the group may be encouraged to ramp up their own attacks. Airstrikes play into the Houthis hands, validating their narrative that theyve been at war with America, Nadwa Dawsari, a Yemen analyst, said. Now they can evade governance responsibilities and force more people into contributing to their war efforts. 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. Angelica Ramirez appears via Zoom in Yakima County Superior Court Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024. She is charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree assault, as well as multiple other charges in unrelated cases. Three men from Yakima accused of moving liquid heroin in Oregon, authorities say BEIJING (Reuters) - China's securities regulator said on Monday that it would tighten scrutiny of margin financing, malicious short selling and seek to ward off risks involving pledged shares. The watchdog's vow to stabilise the market comes amid growing concerns that slumping share prices could trigger more selling in a vicious spiral. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said it would guide brokerages to give investors more time to answer margin calls, so as to ease downward market pressure. Margin calls require investors to top up collateral for their borrowings, or unwind their leveraged bets. So far, risks are manageable - forced selling totalled roughly 900 million yuan ($125.03 million) in January - and the watchdog will ensure stable operations of the country's 1.6 trillion margin financing business, the CSRC said. In a separate statement, the CSRC said it would spur its crackdown on illegal activities that profit from recent market volatility. "Market manipulation and malicious shorting seriously erode people's wealth, and stand on the opposite camp of individual investors," the CSRC said. The CSRC vowed "zero tolerance" against ill-intended short sellers, saying those who dare flaunt the law will "lose their shirts and rot in jail". Regarding worries about major shareholders in China-listed companies who had borrowed against their holdings also facing margin calls, the CSRC said risks were under control. So far this year, company shareholders have been forced to liquidate pledged shares worth just 27.4 million yuan, which is tiny, the CSRC said. Although more than 100 major shareholders have supplemented their collateral this year, such activities won't lead to involuntary selling of shares, the watchdog said. "We will closely monitor the situation and take forceful measures to prevent risks involving pledged shares," the CSRC said. ($1 = 7.1982 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Beijing newsroom; editing by Jason Neely) Spania: Roman suparat ca l-a parasit sotia si-a otravit copiii, apoi s-a sinucis Un roman din Spania si-a otravit fiicele de 2 si 4 ani, dupa care s-a sinucis. Se presupune ca barbatul a vrut sa se razbune astfel pe sotia care l-a parasit de curand. Garda Civila a fost alarmata duminica seara, iar un echipaj [citeste mai departe] Lupta pentru pozitii in institutiile europene (II) In iulie 2023, mandatul lui Jens Stoltenberg a fost prelungit pentru o a patra oara pana la 1 octombrie 2024, un moment fara precedent. De doua ori a fost prim-ministru al Norvegiei si a condus alianta in deceniul cel mai dificil de la Razboiul Rece. Echilibrand cu indemanare nevoia de a sprijini [citeste mai departe] Germany faces more travel chaos as Lufthansa ground crews strike Travelers in Germany face more upheaval this week, with 25,000 Deutsche Lufthansa AG ground personnel set to walk off the job in warning strikes called by the Verdi labor union, according to Bloomberg. Germanys main services union urged the airlines ground crews in Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin and Dusseldorf to strike from 4 a.m. CET [] The post Germany faces more travel chaos as Lufthansa ground crews strike appeared first on Stiri online, ultimele stiri, presa online, ziar online - Sursazilei.ro . Citeste articolul mai departe pe sursazilei.ro Sursa articol si foto: sursazilei.ro Stiri pe aceeasi tema - Niciun avion nu va decola joi, 7 martie, de pe aeroportul Frankfurt pe Main, cel mai aglomerat din Germania si aflat in top 5 cele mai mari aeroporturi din Europa din cauza grevei personalului de securitate a zborurilor, care incepe la ora locala 4 si va dura pana sambata dimineata, la 7:10. Germany - Germany is experiencing a fresh wave of travel disruption after airport ground staff and train drivers separately began stoppages set to affect services into the weekend, according to Bloomberg. Deutsche Lufthansa AG said its operations on Thursday and Friday will be limited to between 10% and 20% - The UK government has privately urged Germany to provide long-range Taurus missiles to the government in Kyiv as London expressed irritation over comments made by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about British activity in Ukraine, according to Bloomberg. Senior British ministers and officials have repeatedly - Ministerul Afacerilor Externe (MAE) informeaza cetatenii romani care se afla, tranziteaza sau intentioneaza sa calatoreasca in Germania ca, incepand de marti, 20 februarie 2024, ora 4:00 si pana miercuri, 21 februarie 2024, ora 7:10, vor fi greve ale personalului de la sol al companiei de zbor Lufthansa, - Greva este programata sa inceapa la ora locala 04:00 (02:00 GMT) si sa dureze pana joi la ora 7:10, a spus sindicatul intr-un comunicat. Aeroporturile din Frankfurt, Munchen, Hamburg, Berlin si Dusseldorf vor fi afectate. Un purtator de cuvant al Lufthansa a spus ca este prea devreme pentru a spune - Security staff at some of Germanys biggest airports, including the global hub Frankfurt, walked off the job on Thursday, grounding flights and piling pain on Europes largest economy, according to Reuters. The 24-hour strike, called by labour union Verdi, is the latest in a series of industrial actions - Compania TAROM nu va opera joi cursele RO301 si RO 302 pe relatia Bucuresti Frankfurt, din cauza grevei personalului de securitate de pe aeroportul din Germania. Greva personalului de securitate de pe aeroportul din Frankfurt, ce se va desfasura in cursul zilei de maine, 1 februarie, conduce la imposibilitatea - Romanian President Klaus Iohannis is seeking to become the next European Council president, according to people familiar with his plans, vying for the post that will likely be vacated early due to Charles Michels unexpected announcement that hell run for a seat in parliament, according to Bloomberg. Cum sa reduceti o durere de cap Cu totii ne-am confruntat la un moment dat cu o durere de cap, uneori mai usoara, alteori mai severa. Durerile de cap sunt foarte frecvente si pot avea mai multe cauze. Dureri de cap cauze si tipuri Exista diferite tipuri de dureri de cap sau cefalee. In general, cefaleea poate fi clasificata in doua [] [citeste mai departe] Alice McLean Alice Mae McLean, age 89, of Stromsburg, passed away January 30, 2024 at Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Hospital in Osceola. Memorial services will be held Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the Evangelical Free Church in Stromsburg with Pastor Keet Redden and Pastor Leonard Suhr officiating. A private family inurnment will take place at a later time in the Greenwood Cemetery in York Alice Mae was born May 15, 1934 to Orville and Ruby (Wurtz) Miller in York. She attended country school Dist. 2 southeast of York through 7th grade at which time the family moved to Benedict where she finished high school. Following high school she was employed as a dental assistant for Dr. Lyle Furst and later at First National Bank in the bookkeeping department in York. On September 5, 1954 she was united in marriage to James Howard McLean in Benedict. To this union four sons were born. The family moved to Lincoln where she was employed at UNL in the Engineering Extension Department. Jim and Alice began traveling, as four years were spent in the US Coast Guard, from Connecticut to Washington State to California. In 1960 they returned to his mothers farm in Benedict, where they farmed and raised livestock until January 1993. Alice Mae was a faithful wife and mother, while helping with the farming and livestock. She loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren and had a love for arts and crafts. She was a great cook and hospitality was her gift. She was very selfless, compassionate and a caregiver. She was also a prayer warrior and loved Jesus. They enjoyed traveling in their motor home and seeing the country for long periods of time. They also took many cruises over the years. She especially enjoyed her family and was very proud of them. Every other year all the kids, grandkids and great grandkids would have a big get together. She was a member of Journey Church in Iowa and Yuma, Ariz. and the Evangelical Free Church in Stromsburg. Survivors include sons, Max (Jeanette) McLean of Stromsburg, Karl (Maria) McLean of San Tan Valley, Ariz., Brett McLean of Benedict and Clark McLean of Anchorage, Alaska; 12 grandchildren and 18 great- grandchildren; sister, Carolyn (Phil) Finley of Orange, Calif. and sister-in-law, Carol Miller of Omaha; brother-in-law, Larry Christensen of Mesa, Ariz.; many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, James who passed away June 17, 2023; parents, Orville and Ruby; brother, Charles Miller; sisters-in-law, Julie Christensen and Lottie Johnson and brother-in-law, Carl Johnson. Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated later. Dubas Funeral Home of Stromsburg and Osceola has been entrusted with arrangements. In a harrowing incident in Bijnor, an e-rickshaw battery exploded near a banquet hall in the village of Khari, within the Haldaur police station's jurisdiction. The explosion led to a fierce fire, severely injuring five individuals, including the e-rickshaw driver. Immediate Response and Treatment Authorities were quick to respond to the emergency. Police dispatched to the scene promptly evacuated the injured to the hospital for urgent medical care. The ongoing treatment of all passengers highlights the severity of the burns sustained in the accident. Victims of the Explosion The explosion's impact was devastating. The e-rickshaw driver, Shameem Ahmad from Mohalla Islamabad in Jhalu, and passengers Raees Ahmad, Ujjwal, Manju, Sanjay Bansal, and Navratna, all hailing from Meerut, suffered severe injuries. These individuals were en route to Bijnor from a wedding ceremony in Jhalu when the tragedy struck. Seeking Higher Medical Care Due to concerns over the adequacy of treatment at the district hospital, relatives of some injured victims opted to transfer them to a higher medical facility in Moradabad. This move underscores the critical nature of their injuries and the need for specialized care. Official Statement Sangram Singh, CO City, provided an official byte on the incident, emphasizing the swift action taken by local authorities to assist the victims. This tragic event has raised concerns over the safety of e-rickshaw batteries and the importance of emergency preparedness in the face of such unforeseen accidents. Recently, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt. Ltd. (SMIPL) revealed its sales report. The two-wheeler subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, showcased a noteworthy performance for January 2024. The company achieved a total sales figure of 95,762 units, showcasing a substantial year-on-year growth of 13%. This result comprises 80,511 domestically sold and 15,251 units exported during the first month of 2024. Mr. Devashish Handa, EVP of sales, Marketing and After Sales, Suzuki Motorcycle India Pvt. Ltd. said, Suzuki Motorcycle India continues its upward trajectory, showcasing sustained growth. This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction. We extend our sincere gratitude to our loyal customers, valued business partners, and dedicated team members for their steadfast support, contributing to our sustained success. In January, SMIPL broadened its reach by inaugurating a new dealership in Krishna Nagar, West Bengal. This latest addition to the network features SMIPL's complete domestic product range, including accessories, and is well-equipped with infrastructure to provide top-notch after-sales service. Upcoming launches According to some speculations, Suzuki plans to introduce eight new bikes in the 2024-2025 period. Among them, the Suzuki Burgman Electric, Suzuki V-Strom 800 DE, and Suzuki GSX-S1000 are set to launch in India with anticipated price tags of approximately Rs. 1.20 Lakh, Rs. 11.00 Lakh, and Rs. 12.00 Lakh, respectively New Delhi: Son of a schoolteacher from Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh, Vijay Shekhar Sharma was enamoured by Jack Ma-run Alibaba's focus on smartphones rather than desktop computers, when he built a digital payments company that would let Indians pay for vegetables, pay utility bills or buy cinema tickets using their mobile phones. Sharma, the poster boy of India's fintech boom, also set out to build an Alipay-like mobile marketplace to go alongside the payments business, allowing businesses to sell goods from matchbox to iPhones online. With fame came a set of controversies for arguably the most high-profile of a wave of Indian tech entrepreneurs. But none like the one now. The current crisis where the Reserve Bank has ordered Paytm Payments Bank to halt most of its business, is an existential one. Here is a breakdown of Paytm Payments Bank crisis: What was the recent RBI action against Paytm Payments bank all about? The regulator last week ordered Paytm Payments Bank Ltd, a restricted bank that can take deposits but cannot lend, 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 wallet customers can use money till the time their balance is exhausted. They cannot add money after February 29. And in case RBI does not relent, top-up for Paytm wallet will stop and transactions through it would no longer can be carried. So what is Paytm Payments Bank, and who owns it? Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL) is an associate of One97 Communications Limited (OCL). One97 Communications holds 49 per cent of the paid-up share capital (directly and through its subsidiary) of PPBL. Vijay Shekhar Sharma has a 51 per cent stake in the bank. PPBL commenced operations as a payments bank with effect from May 23, 2017. Paytm Payments Bank offered digital banking, including savings accounts, current accounts, fixed deposits with partner banks, and balance in wallets, UPI, and FASTag, among other services. Paytm Wallet, which comes under PPBL, leads the segment. As per RBI's provisional data for December 2023, Paytm Wallet users carried out 24.72 crore transactions worth over Rs 8,000 crore for purchase of goods and services while 2.07 crore transactions were carried out for transferring over Rs 5,900 crore. Paytm Payments Bank Crisis: What happened and what it means for customers? The RBI on January 31 directed the Paytm Payments Bank to stop accepting deposits or top-ups in customer accounts, wallets, FASTags and other instruments after February 29. Withdrawal or utilisation of balances by its customers from their accounts, including savings bank accounts, current accounts, prepaid instruments, FASTags, National Common Mobility Cards, are to be permitted without any restrictions, up to their available balance. Paytm Wallet users can continue to carry on transactions till February 29. However, after February 29, they will be able to use their existing balance till the time it is exhausted but not add any money to their account. The same rule is applicable on PPBL accounts, Paytm wallet linked services like FASTag, National Common Mobility Card that are used for travel in metro and other public transport. Paytm Payments Bank crisis: What are the alternatives for users? There are over 20 banks and non-banking entities that offer wallet service. The leading one after PPBL wallet includes Mobikwik, PhonePe, SBI, ICICI Bank, HDFC, Amazon Pay etc. Similarly, there are 37 banks comprising all the known public and private sector banks like SBI, HDFC, ICICI, IDFC, Airtel Payments Bank which are authorised to provide FASTag. Customers can recharge FASTag online using their banks mobile banking, internet banking or third party apps like Google Pay, PhonePe etc. Why did Paytm Payments Bank come under RBI lens? The banking regulator had been frequently flagging off issues. According to sources, money laundering concerns and questionable dealings of hundreds of crores of rupees between popular wallet Paytm and its lesser-known banking arm had led Reserve Bank of India to clamp down on Vijay Shekhar Sharma-run entities. Sources further said that PPBL had lakhs of non-KYC (Know Your Customer) compliant accounts and in thousands of cases single PANs were used for opening multiple accounts. There were instances of the total value of transactions -- running into crores of rupees, much beyond regulatory limits in minimum KYC pre-paid instruments raising money laundering concerns, sources said. What has been the company's response to the RBI's Jan 31 action? While users have the option to switch to other wallets, and FASTag services etc being provided by other vendors, Paytm management has said that PPBL is in discussion with RBI to comply with their direction for continuing the business. Paytm has said that its financial services such as loan distribution, insurance distribution and equity broking are not in any way related to PPBL and are expected to be unaffected. The company's offline merchant payment network offerings like Paytm QR, Paytm Soundbox, Paytm Card Machine will continue as usual, where it can onboard new offline merchants as well. Paytm sees an impact of Rs 300-500 crore on its annual operational profit. How has One97 Communications' shares responded? Following the RBI's crackdown, shares of One97 Communications Ltd, which owns Paytm brand, slumped 40 per cent in the last two days. The stock tanked 20 per cent to Rs 487.05, its lowest trading permissible limit for the day, on the BSE on Friday. In two days, the company's market capitalisation (mcap) eroded by Rs 17,378.41 crore to Rs 30,931.59 crore. New Delhi: Sometimes a split of second is all that it takes to snatch away everything from you. The same thing happened to BR Shetty, an Indian-born Emirati businessman and former billionaire whose fate caused him to lose nearly everything overnight. Bavagutthu Raghuram Shetty moved to the Gulf from Karnataka and became a billionaire businessman. He built and acquired several companies including Abu Dhabi-based NMC Health and Finablr. He was listed as one of the richest Indians on Forbes' billionaire list with a net worth of $3.15 billion. He acquired high-end villas in the Burj Khalifa and possessed private jets and luxury vehicles. However, an accusation by an investment research firm led to a sharp decline in his company shares, forcing him to sell his Rs 12,478 crore enterprise for a mere Rs 74. Shetty moved from Karnataka to the Gulf seeking better prospects. He had bigger dreams and intended to build an empire in the healthcare and hospitality industry, but all he possessed at that time was a pitiful Rs 665. But destiny had bigger plans for Shetty. With his sharp acumen and vision, Shetty became one of the worlds wealthiest people. His net worth increased to Rs 18,000 crores. He did so by setting up his company in the Gulf. He propelled forward NMC Health, the UAEs largest privately owned health operator. Shetty also listed Finabir, the holding company for his money remittance businesses UAE Exchange and Travelex Group. Shetty also owned the healthcare firm BR Life. In the Gulf, Shetty started having an extravagant lifestyle. He spent Rs 207 crore to acquire luxury villas and occupy two entire floors in the iconic Burj Khalifa. he also acquired properties in Dubais World Trade Centre and Palm Jumeirah. He had his own private jet and expensive cars such as Rolls Royce and Maybach. But in 2019, things took an ugly turn for Shetty after a UK-based investment research firm, Muddy Waters, claimed in a tweet that Shetty had fudged cash flow figures to hide actual debt. The companys shares saw a sharp decline due to this, forcing Shetty to sell his Rs 12,478 crore empire to an Israeli-UAE consortium for a mere Rs 74. New Delhi: Swedish furniture retailer IKEA is looking at the next round of investment in India after exhausting its commitment of Rs 10,500 crore when it entered the country 10 years back, according to the company's India CEO Susanne Pulverer. The company, which kicked off its retail operations in India with the opening of its first store in Hyderabad in August 2018, is currently setting up projects in Delhi-NCR that are expected to open in 2025 and will complete its committed investment for 10 years. (Also Read: French Bank SocGen To Cut About 900 Jobs At Paris Head Office) "This first investment that we committed is booked with the projects in NCR. So with that, we have exhausted the Rs 10,500 crore and we are looking at the next level of investment to further build IKEA presence in India, to expand volumes and increase sourcing. So that is in the plan making and we will announce more when we are ready. The plans are being formulated, and we will make announcements when ready," Pulverer told PTI. (Also Read: This Indian Businessman, Donated Rs 829734 Crore, Considered Most Charitable Man Of The Last Century--Can You Guess The Name?) In 2013, the government approved a Rs 10,500 crore FDI proposal by Ikea to set up 10 stores with allied infrastructure in 10 years. Subsequently, it had plans to open 15 more stores. At present, 100 percent foreign direct investment is permitted in single-brand retail trading through automatic route. Currently, Ikea is operating stores in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bengaluru and is investing around Rs 7,000 crore to enter the National Capital Region with two stores in Gurugram and Noida. When asked as to whether the next tranche of investment would be on a similar scale or potentially higher, Pulverer said a decision regarding this would be taken by its parent company Ingka Group. However, she also added would the next round to be "big and bold" looking at the growth potential of India. There is "a lot of belief in India as it is coming into its growth decade. As a market, it is very dynamic. Many young people are upgrading their lives and are investing in their homes. So it is a huge opportunity market for Ikea," Pulverer added. As part of the strategy, Ikea is focusing on markets of the South and West region with its omnichannel approach. However, with its upcoming stores in Delhi NCR, it is mulling expanding to other cities such as Lucknow and Chandigarh in North India, which also offer good opportunities. Though she added premature to disclose any plans beyond the Delhi NCR at this point "Beyond the NCR (National Capital Region), Pune and Chennai are of interest. Kolkata is also on our radar, but it will be a stepwise approach," she added. Besides, Ikea is also working to increase sourcing from the Indian markets for its global retail operations. It offers the potential to diversify in sectors such as furniture. "While India has the potential to further develop its production capacities, the current export of furniture from India remains relatively small. Exploring opportunities for regionalised and global sourcing from India is part of IKEA's ongoing strategy," she added. While, for its domestic operation in India, Ikea is sourcing around 33 percent of retailed products here as per the regulations and has even plans to increase it further. "Our intention is to continue increasing this percentage, as it makes sense to produce more locally and explore India's potential to supply other IKEA markets. Growing volumes in the country, with more stores and online markets, will facilitate the next level of local sourcing," she added. It is essential for sustainability and affordability for Indian consumers, she said adding that there is a need to focus on specific categories. "Textiles, plastics, metals, stainless steel, mixed materials, handicrafts, bulky furniture like mattresses and sofas, and local production of wood-based furniture are areas where we see the potential for growth," Pulverer added. Foreign retailers with more than 51 percent FDI in this sector have to source a minimum of 30 percent of the value of purchased goods domestically, preferably from MSME, village and cottage industries, artisans and craftsmen, in all sectors. Presently Ikea is getting one-fourth of its sales in India from online platforms from its own channels such as its app, and e-commerce portal. It also introduced Shop By Phone assistance service and increased doorstep delivery facility in 62 new markets in India. According to RoC filings, Ikea India sales were up 61 per cent to Rs 1,768 crore for the financial year which ended on March 31, 2023. However, its loss was at Rs 1,134 crore, on account of expansion in new markets and investments in infrastructure. New Delhi: 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. (Also Read: Paytm Customers More Than Welcome To SBI, Says Chairman Khara) 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. (Also Read: Explainer: Paytm Payments Bank Crisis And What It Means For Customers, Why Did It Come Under RBI Lens?) 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. Mumbai: State Bank of India on Saturday said it is ready to help Paytm customers who will be affected by the Reserve Bank of India's order to stop almost all its activities from March 1. Addressing the media during the third quarter earnings here, SBI Chairman Dinesh Kumar Khara ruled out going directly to the rescue of the once-storied Paytm, saying "we've no such plans" if the RBI cancels its payment bank licence. Khara, however, was quick to add that if there is a direction from the RBI to any effect, we will be there. He did not elaborate, though. The SBI reported a 35 per cent fall in net profit to Rs 9,164 crore. The RBI on January 31 directed Paytm Payments Bank to stop accepting deposits or top-ups in any customer accounts, wallets, Fastags and other instruments after February 29, effectively asking it to stop all its primary activities. However, the regulator said any interest, cashback, or refunds may be credited back to customers anytime. (Also Read: Rs 1 Lakh Penalty For Tobacco Product Makers If They Fail To Do THIS) The direction follows persistent non-compliances and continued material supervisory concerns, the central bank said in a statement. Asked whether SBI has any relationship with the fintech firm, Khara said, "there isn't anything beyond the settlement part". Asked if the bank is ready to help the millions of Paytm customers who are merchants, he said, "absolutely." "Our subsidiary SBI Payments are already in touch with these merchants, and we're ready to lap them up anytime. We are ready to supply them our PoS machines and all other payment needs they face. While now there is a more focused approach to them this is broadly their job," Khara. (Also Read: Fiscal Deficit Was 4.5% In UPA's Terminal Year, It's 5.8% In 2023-24 Under NDA: Chidambaram) To another query whether the bank is ready to support Paytm merchants with their accounts, as any app is linked to a bank account, he said of course; we can take them on board in all possible manner. New Delhi, February 5, 2024: In a pivotal address during the Budget Session in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined the agenda for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Prime Minister Modi, exuding confidence, touched upon various issues, including the abrogation of Article 370, the NDA's target of securing 400 seats, dissension within the Indian Alliance, dynastic politics, and corruption. During his speech, PM Modi shed light on the key issues that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to address in the country's most significant electoral battle. He utilized the opportunity to critique the shortcomings of previous Congress-led governments, employing sharp sarcasm to underscore their failures. The power-packed speech received frequent applause from the ruling party's benches, demonstrating strong support. Some are Eager to Change Seats Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the opposition's determination, stating, "I commend the opposition for their resolution. It is evident from their speeches that they have committed to remaining in the opposition for an extended period. Many of you have been seated on that side for decades, just as many have committed to staying there for many more decades. The hard work you are putting in these days will surely be rewarded by the people in the next elections. Some among you have lost the courage to contest elections, and I have heard that many are eager to change seats, while others aspire to enter the Rajya Sabha." Prime Minister Modi's speech sets the stage for a fierce electoral battle, with the BJP focusing on critical national issues. As the political landscape evolves, the country anticipates a dynamic and closely contested Lok Sabha election in 2024. Taking a stringent view of the outcomes of the Chandigarh Mayoral polls, the Supreme Court today said that it won't allow murder of democracy and even added that the returning officer should be prosecuted for what he did. The top court noted that the officer defaced the ballots. Hearing a plea filed by the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress, the Supreme Court said that the way mayoral polls were held was a mockery of democracy. "Is this the behaviour of the Returning Officer?" asked the top court. After watching the video of the poll proceedings, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said what the returning officer did 'was like the murder of democracy'. "It is clearly visible in the video that he is looking into the camera and spoiling the ballot paper...Is this the way he conducts the elections? This is a mockery of democracy. This is a murder of democracy. This man should be prosecuted," the Chief Justice said. The apex court also ordered the preservation of the entire record of the election process including ballot papers, videography and other material through the Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court. The top court also ordered that the ensuing meeting of the Chandigarh Corporation shall be deferred till the next date of hearing. The Chandigarh Mayoral election was marred by a controversy after the returning officer declared 8 opposition votes invalid and declared BJP candidate as the winner. The AAP and the Congress, which put up a joint candidate, moved the Supreme Court challenging the outcome of the mayoral polls after they did not get a relief from the Punjab Haryana High Court. BJP nominee Manoj Sonkar was declared the winner of the Chandigarh Mayoral election after he bagged 16 votes against the 12 votes bagged by Congress-AAP candidate Kuldeep Tita. The rendering of 8 votes as invalid led Opposition leaders to allege rigging. New Delhi: In a groundbreaking move aimed at fostering inclusivity and equality, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced free travel benefits for members of the transgender community on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses. This transformative initiative underscores the AAP government's commitment to addressing societal injustices and providing equitable opportunities for all, the CM said. "The Delhi government has decided that they will get to travel for free in state-run buses. Soon, this will be passed by the Cabinet and implemented. I have full faith that people of the transgender community will be greatly benefitted by this move," he said. , pic.twitter.com/3Wa560gKEk Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 5, 2024 Empowering The Third Gender Expressing his firm resolve to combat discrimination against the transgender community, Chief Minister Kejriwal emphasized the fundamental right of every individual to dignity and equality. "In our society, people belonging to the third gender are subjected to humiliation. This should not happen as they too are human beings and have the right to equality," stated the Chief Minister in a poignant message shared in Hindi on the social media platform 'X'. A Step Towards Inclusion Building upon the successful implementation of free travel for women on public buses since October 2019, the Delhi government's decision to extend this benefit to transgender individuals marks a significant milestone in the journey towards inclusivity. A senior official from the Delhi transport department affirmed the government's commitment to inclusivity, stating, "We plan to extend the facility of free travel to people from the third gender too." Practical Steps Towards Implementation To ensure seamless access to this initiative, individuals seeking to avail themselves of the free travel scheme will be required to present certificates issued by the revenue department. This pragmatic approach aims to streamline the process and facilitate the smooth implementation of the scheme. Legal Recognition And Support The Delhi government's proactive measures in support of the transgender community extend beyond transportation benefits. Following a directive from the Delhi High Court, efforts have been made to legally recognize the transgender community as the third gender, including the incorporation of a "third gender" category in various official documents and job application forms. Towards Comprehensive Welfare Recognizing the multifaceted challenges faced by the transgender community, the Delhi government has undertaken comprehensive measures to safeguard their rights and well-being. Initiatives such as the establishment of monitoring cells and the provision of social support services underscore a holistic approach towards addressing the needs of this marginalized group. A Statistical Insight Despite their significant presence in the city, as evidenced by Census 2011 data indicating a population of 4,213 individuals identifying as transgender, there remains a gap in their political representation, with only 1,176 enrolled as voters. This underscores the importance of initiatives aimed at empowering and amplifying the voices of the transgender community in the democratic process. New Delhi: In a significant development, the Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi on Monday granted former Delhi Deputy chief minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia permission to visit his ailing wife once a week while he remains in custody. Sisodia, who was present during the hearing, is currently detained in connection with the Delhi Excise policy case. Sisodia's Plea For Relief Seeking reprieve, Sisodia has appealed for regular bail in the Delhi Excise policy case, along with requesting custody parole to visit his wife twice weekly. Despite opposition from the CBI counsel, the court, presided over by Special Judge M K Nagpal, allowed Sisodia to meet his wife once a week, with provision for the attending doctor to visit during these meetings. Represented by senior advocate Mohit Mathur, Sisodia emphasized the necessity of these visits, citing his family responsibilities, which include an ailing wife, a son abroad, and an elderly mother. However, the court remained cautious, questioning the urgency of the visitation rights and noting previous instances where such privileges were granted. Ongoing Legal Battle The court scheduled the hearing for Sisodia's regular bail plea on February 12, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) slated to present its arguments. This legal saga has seen Sisodia's previous bail applications denied by various courts, including the Supreme Court, with his latest plea for review also met with rejection in December 2023. Delhi Liquor Scam Sisodia's alleged involvement in the Delhi Excise policy case stems from his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26, 2023, followed by subsequent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 9, 2023. Despite fleeting moments of relief, such as custody parole granted during Diwali in November 2023, Sisodia is entwined in a protracted legal battle with uncertain outcomes. NEW DELHI: In a fiery address marking the culmination of the Budget Session of Parliament before the upcoming general elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi confidently predicted that the NDA government will secure more than 400 seats this time around. This resolute declaration not only underscored the Prime Minister's confidence but also served as a direct challenge to the opposition, particularly the Congress party. Throughout his impassioned two-hour speech, Prime Minister Modi left the Congress party 'speechless' on numerous occasions, firmly placing them in the spotlight of scrutiny. In tonight's edition of DNA, we delve into a succinct analysis of Prime Minister Modi's fiery speech, dissecting its key points and future implications. During his address, PM Modi not only outlined his agenda and vision for 2024 but also laid bare the contrasting trajectories of the BJP and Congress. He meticulously highlighted the stark differences in the pace of progress between the BJP-led NDA government's tenure and the sluggish pace witnessed under previous Congress administrations. In a significant departure from his usual rhetoric, PM Modi directly addressed the issue of dynastic politics, drawing a clear distinction between the Congress party's dynasty-driven approach and the BJP's ideology. He provided a candid definition of dynasty politics, shedding light on its detrimental effects on India's political landscape. Furthermore, PM Modi didn't shy away from scrutinizing Congress's historical legacy and the detrimental decisions made during their tenures, which continue to serve as ammunition for the BJP. By invoking the legacies of Nehru and Indira Gandhi, PM Modi effectively silenced Congress MPs, highlighting their party's past failures. PM Modi also took potshots at the INDIA Alliance, suggesting that its alignment has faltered, likening it to a misaligned vehicle veering off course. This pointed critique underscores the Prime Minister's strategic approach to dismantling opposition alliances. PM Modi's speech today can be likened to a trailer for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, offering a glimpse of the intense battle that lies ahead. As the Prime Minister gears up for campaign rallies, it's evident that his words will reverberate with greater intensity, urging the Congress to brace themselves for the impending electoral storm. In tonight's edition of DNA, Zee News anchor Ram Mohan Sharma conducts a detailed analysis of PM Modi's fiercest attack on the Congress. Stay tuned for an insightful examination of this monumental address. New Delhi: In a fiery response to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi didn't mince his words on Monday, accusing the Congress of repeated failures and dynastic politics. With a poignant analogy, PM Modi highlighted the predicament of the Congress party, likening it to a struggling shop compelled to repeatedly relaunch the same product, in this case, referring to Rahul Gandhi. "In Congress, there are many talented people but the party did not let them stand. I always wished that the Country needed a good Opposition. We can see the situation of Adhir Babu. The situation is that (Mallikarjun) Kharge has shifted from this House to that House (Rajya Sabha), and Ghulam Nabi Azad has shifted out of the party. They all became the victims of 'parivarwad'. Ek hi product baar-baar launch karne ke chakkar mein, Congress ki dukaan mein tala lagne ki naubat aa gayi hai (Attempts are being made to launch a product again and again. Congress shop on verge of closure in an attempt to launch same product again and again'). Congress is trapped within a family," PM Modi said. #WATCH | PM Modi attacks Congress, Rahul Gandhi, says, "Ek hi product baar-baar launch karne ke chakkar mein, Congress ki dukaan tala lagne ki naubat aa gayi hai..." pic.twitter.com/uGtG3kALQO ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024 Congress' Failure To Nurture Talent Lamenting the lack of opportunities within the Congress for talented individuals to rise, PM Modi underscored the party's failure to nurture emerging leaders, leading to a stagnant political landscape. Victims Of 'Parivarwad' PM Modi didn't hold back, pointing out how senior Congress leaders like Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Ghulam Nabi Azad became casualties of dynastic politics, ultimately obstructing the party's growth. Congress's Disconnect With Aspirations Of Indians Expressing disappointment in Congress's inability to connect with the aspirations and accomplishments of millions of Indian families, PM Modi emphasized the party's detachment from the pulse of the nation. Congress Nurtures Dynastic Politics: PM Taking aim at dynastic politics, PM Modi contrasted it with leaders like Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, who rose through merit rather than lineage, highlighting Congress's over-reliance on a single family for leadership. Congress's 'Cancel Culture' Accusing Congress of adopting a 'cancel culture,' PM Modi criticized its opposition to key national initiatives like Make in India, Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and Vocal for Local, undermining the country's progress. Lamenting The Slow Pace During Congress Rule Mocking the sluggishness of the Congress's governance, PM Modi quipped about the party's inability to match the pace of development achieved under its tenure. Need For A Strong Opposition: PM While acknowledging the importance of a robust opposition, PM Modi criticized Congress for failing to fulfil this role effectively, stifling alternative voices and hindering democratic discourse. Confidence In Electoral Outcome: PM Expressing confidence in the electorate's discernment, PM Modi predicted a decline in Opposition strength post the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, signalling a potential shift in political dynamics. They Will Sit In Opposition Again: PM In a backhanded compliment, PM Modi commended the opposition's resolve to remain in opposition for the foreseeable future, reflecting on the cyclic nature of Indian politics. "People are like God and the way you (the opposition) are making efforts, I am convinced that people will bless you and you will move up to the public gallery," PM Modi said. at 9 "I really commend the resolution of the opposition. From every word of their speech, I and the country are now convinced that they have resolved to sit for a long time in the opposition. The way you sat here (in government) for many decades, the same way you resolve to sit there (in opposition)," he said. Reflecting on the solemnity of the parliamentary proceedings, PM Modi evoked the symbolism of 'sengol,' underscoring the sanctity of democratic traditions within the new Parliament building. "When the President came to this new Parliament building to address all of us and the pride and honour with which Sengol led the entire procession - we were walking behind it. When we become a witness to the reflection of that holy moment of India's independence in this new tradition in the new Parliament building, the honour of democracy rises." About sixty speakers took part in the debate on the motion of thanks on the President's address in Lok Sabha. The Budget Session commenced on January 31 and will conclude on February 9. The Supreme Court of India will today hear the Hindu side's plea for a scientific survey to determine the antiquity of the 'Shivaling' found in the Gyanvapi compound. Varanasi District Court has granted permission to perform rituals in the Vyasa tehkhana of the Gyanvapi Mosque, leading to objections from the Muslim side regarding the upper court's interference. It is noteworthy that the Hindu side has filed a petition in the Supreme Court, requesting a scientific survey to determine the antiquity of the 'Shivaling'. The Muslim side has claimed that the structure is not Shivalinga but a fountain. Alongside this, the Hindu side has also requested the opening of all 10 tehkhanas in the Gyanvapi compound for a survey. The Supreme Court will also hear arguments on this matter today. Additionally, the court will consider the maintainability of the petition filed by the Muslim side regarding the rights to perform rituals and worship of deities like Shringar Gauri within the Gyanvapi compound, asserting that such a plea is not admissible under the Places of Worship Act. Before this, the Varanasi District Court had granted permission for the performance of rituals and worship in the meditation cell of the Gyanvapi compound. Following this, worship commenced, drawing a significant number of people to witness it. The district court issued orders on January 31, allowing Hindu devotees to perform rituals and worship in the meditation cell of the Gyanvapi Mosque. The court had directed the district administration to make necessary arrangements within the next seven days. The management committee of the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid, which oversees the Gyanvapi Mosque, has challenged the order of the Varanasi District Court in the Allahabad High Court, questioning its legality. However, the High Court has rejected the plea of the mosque committee against the order, refusing immediate relief. The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for February 6. It's important to note that the court did not pass any order restraining worship in the meditation cell. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) claims that the decision of the Varanasi District Court to permit worship in the meditation cell of the Gyanvapi Mosque is a 'hasty' judgment. The Muslim side has stated that they will take the matter to the Supreme Court to seek justice. Muslim organizations have also suggested the need to implement the Places of Worship Act, 1991, to prevent conflicts arising from such disputes in the country. New Delhi: In a significant move, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has empowered states and Union Territory (UT) administrations to combat the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). This pivotal decision, announced on Monday, marks a proactive stance by the government in combating threats to national security. "Whereas, in the exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and (3) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government declared the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), to be an unlawful association vide notification number S.O. 354(E), dated the 29th January 2024, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section-3, Sub-section (ii), dated the 29th January 2024; Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 42 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby directs that all powers exercisable by it under section 7 and section 8 of the said Act shall also be exercised by the State Governments and the Union territory administrations in relation to the above said unlawful association," the order issued by the Home Ministry said. MHA delegates powers to state/UT governments to designate the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) as unlawful association under UAPA. Centre had recently renewed the ban on SIMI as unlawful association under UAPA for five more years. pic.twitter.com/NhNPqNyUIM ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024 Renewed Ban On SIMI The decision comes on the heels of the MHA's renewal of the ban on SIMI as an 'unlawful association' under the UAPA for an additional five years, reaffirming the government's commitment to curbing extremist activities and preserving communal harmony. Empowering States, UTs According to the directive issued by the MHA, all powers previously held exclusively by the central government under sections 7 and 8 of the UAPA will now be wielded by state governments and UT administrations concerning the banned organizations. This decentralization of power underscores the collaborative effort required to address security challenges effectively. Historical Context The ban on SIMI dates back to September 27, 2001, with subsequent extensions in 2003, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, and most recently, on January 29, 2019. This consistent vigilance reflects the evolving nature of security threats and the government's unwavering stance against terrorism. Rationale Behind The Ban The decision to extend the ban was prompted by SIMI's continued involvement in terrorist activities aimed at destabilizing peace and communal harmony in the country. With numerous criminal cases registered against the outfit and its members under various sections of the law, including the UAPA, the ban serves as a preemptive measure to safeguard national sovereignty and integrity. Government's 'Zero Tolerance' Policy Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the government's 'zero tolerance' policy towards terrorism, emphasizing the importance of decisive action in maintaining national security. The extension of the ban underscores the government's proactive approach to countering threats posed by extremist elements. Addressing Security Concerns The notification issued by the MHA highlighted SIMI's role in several incidents, including a conspiracy to disrupt the Prime Minister's visit in July 2022. It underscored the urgent need to curb SIMI's unlawful activities to prevent further disruption of communal harmony and safeguard national security. Growing Call For Action Against SIMI Several states, including Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh, have already recommended declaring SIMI as an 'unlawful association' under the provisions of the UAPA, reflecting a unified approach towards combating extremism. All eyes are on Jharkhand today where the new Chief Minister of the JMM-RJD-Congress alliance Champai Soren will have to prove a majority during the floor test today. CM Champai Soren reached the assembly with alliance MLAs this morning while former CM Hemant Soren was brought to the house by the Enforecement Directorate. The floor test is like a 'litmus test' for any government, where unexpected events such as legislators not showing up, cross-voting, defections or even mobile phones being switched off can occur. Ahead of the floor test, the ruling Mahagathbandhan in Jharkhand had sent its MLAs to Hyderabad to avoid any poaching. While the ruling alliance is confident of its numbers, the BJP is hoping for a 'Khela Hobe' moment. The MLAs returned to Ranchi last night hours ahead of the majority test in the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. They landed at the Birsa Munda Airport via a special flight and were then taken to the city's Circuit House in two buses. The coalition government is concerned that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may poach its legislators. JMM legislator Mithilesh Thakur claims that their coalition will easily gain the confidence vote. He also asserted that 'several BJP legislators in the state support the coalition.' Jharkhand Minister Alamgir Alam stated, "Our legislators are united. We have the support of 48 to 50 legislators." However, BJP's chief spokesperson, Biranchi Narayan, stated that the coalition government will not be able to secure the confidence vote today. Legislators were closely monitored in Hyderabad, indicating a lack of confidence in their victory, he said. In the 81-member Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, the 'JMM-Congress-RJD' coalition has 47 legislators, and it has the external support of one legislator from the CPI (ML). Looking at it this way, if nothing unexpected happens, the Champai government will easily gain the confidence vote. On the other hand, the NDA has 29 MLAs, which is 12 short of the majority mark of 41. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to the Motion of Thanks on Presidential address delivered on January 31, 2024, in the Parliament on Monday. Ahead of his motion of thanks the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) issued a three-line whip to its Lok Sabha MPs asking them to be present in the House today. President Droupadi Murmu had addressed the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on January 31, the first day of the Budget Session. On February 1, the Centre presented the Union Budget for 2024-25. The government said that the Budget was presented with a focus on economic policies that foster growth, facilitate inclusive development, improve productivity, and create opportunities for various sections while noting that it will pay utmost attention to the eastern region including states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and West Bengal to make them growth engines as part of goal to make India a developed country by 2047. Meanwhile, as per the List of Business in the House for the day, Lok Sabha MPs Ravneet Singh and Ramshiromani Verma will lay on the table the minutes of the twelfth sitting of the Committee on Absence of Members from the sittings of the House held on December 14, 2023. MPs PP Chaudhary and NK Premachandran will present the 28th report of the Committee on External Affairs (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on the subject 'Countering Global Terrorism at Regional and International Levels'. BJP MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar will make a statement regarding the status of implementation of the recommendations contained in the 49th Report of the Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development on 'Functioning of Directorate General of Training' pertaining to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present a statement (Hindi and English versions) of estimated receipts and expenditure of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2024-25. In Rajya Sabha, while the discussion over the Motion of Thanks on the President's address is to resume, MPs Ashok Kumar Mittal and Prakash Javadekar will lay on the table, a copy (in English and Hindi) of the Twenty Eighth Report of the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on 'Countering Global Terrorism at Regional and International Levels' in the House today. Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav will introduce the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024 Bill in the Rajya Sabha today to amend the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The last session before Lok Sabha polls expected to be held in April-May this year will be spread over eight sittings spread over a period of 10 days and may conclude on February 9. New Delhi: The government on Monday tabled the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 in Lok Sabha, aimed at addressing paper leak cases with stringent measures. According to the proposed legislation, all offenses related to unfair means in the conduct of public examinations will be cognizable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable. If the bill is passed, individuals involved in unfair practices during examinations could face imprisonment for a minimum of three years, extendable to five years, along with a fine of up to ten lakh rupees. Additionally, the service provider for the examination may be fined up to Rs 1 crore, and the proportional cost of the examination will be recovered from the company. The service provider will also be prohibited from taking any contracts to conduct examinations for a period of four years. The bill introduces further severe penalties and provision of imprisionment extending upto 10 years for the service provider, Director, Senior Management, or any person associated with the service provider firm or institution where the examination was conducted if the examination is found to be rigged with their consent. In case of organized crime involving a person or a group of persons, including the examination authority, service provider, or any other institution, the bill mandates imprisonment for a minimum of five years, extendable to ten years, and a fine of not less than one crore rupees. In a setback for the Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh, he was not allowed to take oath today as the Rajya Sabha MP after Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar did not permit the same. Singh is facing an Enforcement Directorate probe in the alleged Delhi Excise Policy case. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said that the matter is currently with the Privileges Committee. Singh was arrested on October 4, 2023, by the ED in the Delhi Excise Policy case and was charge-sheeted subsequently. However, Rouse Avenue had allowed Singh to take oath as MP Rajya Sabha in custody. The court also extended the judicial custody of Sanjay Singh till February 17. Earlier, Singh had moved a plea seeking interim bail to attend the ongoing Parliament session and to take the oath. However, since the court allowed him to take oath in custody, he withdrew his plea. Singh was earlier granted permission to file his election nomination and to collect his membership certificate from the returning officer. Singh's bail application is pending before the High Court. A bench of Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, after hearing the arguments made by both sides, had reserved the order. ED has alleged that Singh was involved in creating a special purpose vehicle to launder the proceeds of crime that would have been generated from the business arising out of the policy changes as conspired by him and his co-conspirators. Sanjay Singh was then involved in acquiring, possessing, concealing, dissipating and using proceeds of crime generated from the Delhi Liquor Scam during the policy period of 2021-22, said ED. Meanwhile, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj accused Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar of acting against the provisions of the Constitution after he did not allow Sanjay Singh to take oath as an MP. "I think the Chairman of Rajya Sabha is going against the constitutional provisions of this country. Article 99 says that every member shall take the oath. This matter of privileges was related to his membership, which has already expired....You cannot deny him an oath in his new term...I think they are just politicizing it," said Saurabh Bhardwaj. Lucknow: After announcing the Uttar Pradesh budget for 2024-25, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that there has been an increase of 6.7 per cent as compared to previous state budgets and for the first time, more than two lakh crore has been kept for capital expenditure in the budget, Addressing a press conference here today, CM Yogi said that this is a budget of Rs 7,36,437 crore. There has been an increase of 6.7 per cent compared to the earlier budgets. It also presents the achievements of the Double Engine Government dedicated to PM Modi's vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Vikas and Sabka prayas.' "For the first time, Rs 2,30,782 crore has been kept for capital expenditure in the budget, which shows that if money is spent on infrastructure, employment will also be generated and the economy will also be strong. If we compare the GDP of Uttar Pradesh in 2016-17, which was almost 12 lakh crores, and now if we talk about the GDP of UP in 2024-25, it will be successful in reaching 25 lakh crores," he said. CM Yogi further said that during this period his government succeeded in doubling the average person's income. Today UP has become the number two economy of the country. We are successful in achieving this feat because we have stopped theft. "The result is that the state has today become a revenue-plus state. The biggest feature of the budget is that the limit of fiscal deficit set by the Government of India and RBI is 3.5, our budget works within that limit. That is, we have developed, provided security, achieved the goals of governance but along with this we have also worked with full honesty to maintain fiscal balance in our budget," he added. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister asserted that in 2016-17, the unemployment rate was above 19.2 per cent, today it has come down to around 2.4 per cent. "We have given employment opportunities and MSMe units have been revived. For youths, 'Mukhyemantri Uddhyami Vikas Yojana' will be going to start. This is an initiative to ensure employment to the youth of UP in cities and villages in which interest-free loan facility will be provided by the government. This would be worth up to Rs 5 lakh," the CM said. "Farming has been our focus because most of the population of UP depends on it. In this budget, we have proposed the 'Mukhyemantri Khet Suraksha Yojana' scheme for the farmers. We have made provisions in the budget to establish automatic water stations, and automatic rain gauges in every gram panchayat so that agriculture in the state is less affected by global warming. Adequate funds have also been provisioned in this budget for the work of establishing Organic Culture Lab, Tissue Lab and Agri-Tourism Centre," he added. CM Yogi also mentioned that the Bundelkhand Industrial Development Authority is being established in the state. "After 46 years, an authority will be established which we have proposed between Kanpur and Jhansi. The place is given in the budget for the establishment of the Medical Research Technology Institute at IIT Kanpur. There is a place in the budget for Ayodhya, Kashi, Mathura, Vrindavan, and Vindhyachal. Arrangements have already been made in the budget for Prayagraj Kumbh," he said. February's climate typically marked by cold, rain, and fog, has taken an alarming turn with Delhi's minimum temperature reaching around 12 degrees Celsius. This unexpected weather pattern prompts a question: Are we heading towards an early onset of severe heat in March? With global warming and the El Nino effect, there's a looming possibility of record-breaking temperatures, reminiscent of last year when March temperatures soared near 40C. Unexpected February Weather Last year set a precedent with monthly temperature records, leaving people longing for cooler weather until December. The absence of snowfall in mountainous regions left many tourists disappointed. The real chill of winter only began to set in during January's second week. However, the onset of February brought rain across several states, initially indicating a prolonged winter season. Contrary to expectations, temperatures rose following the rainfall. Delhi's Rising Mercury on February 4 Delhi witnessed light rainfall on Sunday (February 4), coupled with an overcast sky and no sunlight. Despite these conditions, the minimum temperature escalated to 11.9C, 3 degrees above the average for this time of year. Morning fog was reported in some areas, yet the coldness diminished. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded the day's maximum temperature at around 20C. The Heat of Global Warming The IMD had previously forecasted a milder winter for this year. Dr. Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, IMD's Director-General, announced in December 2023 a decrease in cold spells. From December to February, most parts of the country are expected to experience higher-than-normal temperatures, primarily due to a strengthened El Nino near the equator in the Pacific Ocean. El Nino is not only affecting India but causing global climatic shifts, elevating sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea. This phenomenon contributes to the global temperature rise. At the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai last December, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) presented a report stating 2023 as the hottest year on record, a trend largely attributed to El Nino, which is expected to continue influencing temperatures this year. Bracing for a Scorching Year Ahead Prepare for a year of extreme heat, as forthcoming days might witness a sharp increase in temperatures. The United Nations (UN) has recently issued a warning that due to El Nino, temperatures this year could surpass the record-breaking heat experienced in 2023. The UN also appealed for significant reductions in carbon emissions to tackle climate change, noting that global warming is likely to cause unusually high temperatures due to phenomena like El Nino. New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted that the wet spell will continue in Northern India for the next two days, with dry weather expected thereafter. According to the IMD, light rainfall is likely in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh today. As per IMD's weather bulletin, light to moderate scattered to fairly widespread rainfall accompanied by thunderstorm, lightning, and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) at isolated places on February 5 over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Bihar and Uttar Pradeshfollowed by dry weather thereafter. IMD Predicts Dense Fog Conditions In Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan And Other States Dense to very dense fog conditions are likely over some parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi on the 5th of February. Isolated pockets of West Uttar Pradesh, north Rajasthan, Gangetic West Bengal, Assam & Meghalaya are also expected to experience dense fog on the 5th of February. Odisha is likely to witness dense fog on the 5th and 6th of February. Heavy Snowfall In Himachal, Uttarakhand Isolated heavy snowfall is expected over the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, with the possibility of hailstorm activity in lower reaches. The intensity will decrease on the February 5 and 6, transitioning to isolated to scattered rainfall/snowfall. IMD's Weather Forecast For Eastern India According to IMD, Arunachal Pradesh is likely to experience light to moderate scattered to fairly widespread rainfall/snowfall for the next 2-3 days. West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura are aslo expected to have isolated to scattered rainfall on February 7. Isolated thunderstorm accompanied by hailstorm is predicted over Sikkim on the February 5, 2024. In the midst of the Jharkhand political crisis, biryani enthusiasts are always on the lookout for the unique taste of Hyderabadi biryani at every food counter. A visit to Hyderabad is deemed incomplete without savoring its renowned biryani. Political figures from other states rarely get this chance. But when they start to feel a shift in their loyalty, when their ideological hunger is not satisfied, and the whispers of political games begin to weaken them, they are flown to Hyderabad to be fed biryani, as though it were imbued with the strength of Fevicol. What was once a wavering spirit is now revitalized, understanding loyalty, and finding satisfaction in the party's ideology alone. This trend was first noted in Jharkhand and has now been seen in Bihar, with the responsibility of serving biryani now in the hands of CM Revanth Reddy, who has moved from ABVP to TDP and finally to Congress. Biryani with a Political Flavor Years ago, D.K. Shivakumar emerged as a troubleshooter for the Congress and its allied governments. Now, Telangana's CM, Revanth Reddy, is assuming that role. At 56, Reddy, who was an ABVP member in his student days, ran as an independent MLA in 2007, later joined TDP, and by 2017 had become a part of Congress. Revanth Reddy seems to grasp the political flavor well. While discussing the instances of feeding biryani to Congress members from Bihar and Jharkhand, just hours earlier, Revanth intervened to save the popular food stall of Kumari Aunty. Through social media and bloggers, Kumari Aunty's stall gained such fame that even celebrities began to visit, causing traffic jams. After complaints led to relocation orders, the CM later rescinded these orders. A Political Refuge in Hyderabad After the swearing-in of a new chief minister in Jharkhand, when the fear of the BJP lingered, Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha legislators were flown out for a biryani feast. The legislators were accommodated at a resort in Hyderabad, with CM Revanth Reddy ensuring their hospitality was unmatched, preventing any "political bird" from disturbing them. This was followed by a public display of support by the legislators, with 38 of them heading to Hyderabad, presumably consuming 40 plates of Hyderabadi biryani each. At the Leonia Holistic Destination, security was tight, with guards stationed at every turn to ensure the safety of the legislators, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. Concerns Over Political Motives While the coalition's legislators were satiated with biryani, Congress remained cautious of the BJP leaders' motives. Rajesh Thakur, president of the Jharkhand Congress, voiced concerns over attempts to poach their majority and delays in administering the oath to Champai Soren. He criticized the BJP's facade of integrity while questioning their underlying intentions, reminiscent of political tactics previously seen in MP, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. New Delhi: Google introduced a new image generation feature for its AI chatbot Bard recently. This functionality is similar to Microsoft's Copilot which enables users to generate AI-created images by providing text prompts to the chatbot. There are reports suggesting that Google intends to rename its chatbot Bard to Gemini, mirroring Microsoft's rebranding of its AI chatbot Bing to Copilot. Dylan Roussel, a developer on X platform (formerly Twitter), shared a recently discovered changelog from Google. The changelog reportedly outlines upcoming updates for the AI chatbot Google Bard. As per the provided screenshot these updates are scheduled for release on February 7, and among the changes is the replacement of the name Bard with Gemini. (Also Read: Happy Birthday: Facebook Turns 20; Mark Zuckerberg Celebrates By Sharing Reel On Instagram) Google added a new changelog for Bard, and oh boy it's a big one! The availability in Canada is awesome! That said I don't really understand the limitations with the app. That's disappointing as someone who lives in Europe. Oh by the way... https://t.co/xM2snHVYJ9 is real. pic.twitter.com/QKgKrRjmM4 Dylan Roussel (@evowizz) February 3, 2024 This decision is in line with Google's strategy to incorporate its LLM model Gemini across various products. Gemini serves as the AI model powering Bard indicating that Google may be opting to promote its AI model Gemini more broadly. (Also Read: Deepfake Video Scam: Company Loses $25.6 Million As Virtual Avatar Of CFO Orders Money Transfers) In addition to the name change, the changelog screenshot suggests that Google is considering the introduction of a paid 'Advanced' tier featuring Gemini Ultra. Similar to OpenAI's subscription model for its advanced large language model GPT-4, Google is reportedly planning to offer an upgraded version of Gemini at a fee. This enhanced version is expected to bring improved multi-modal capabilities, enhanced coding support, and the ability to explore and analyze files and documents more extensively. Furthermore, the release of Gemini is extending to include Canada, marking its first availability in the country since the initial launch. Last year, Google introduced its LLM model called Gemini, comprising three versions: Gemini Nano, Gemini Pro, and Gemini Ultra. Google claims that its LLM model can handle intricate tasks such as logical reasoning, coding, interpreting nuanced instructions, and engaging in creative collaboration. Google has intentions to release a specialized Gemini application for mobile users. The Gemini app, designed by Google, allows users to leverage Google AI for tasks like learning, writing, and planning directly on their smartphones. This app will integrate with other Google services such as Gmail, Maps, and YouTube. Android users will have a standalone app for Gemini, while iOS users might access it through the Google app. As per a leaked Google changelog, the Gemini app is expected to have limited availability which would be accessible only on specific devices. The app will also feature support for additional languages like Japanese, Korean, and English covering most parts of the world, excluding certain European countries and regions. Google has future plans to incorporate more countries and languages into the Gemini app. It's essential to highlight that while Google has not officially confirmed these details, significant announcements are anticipated later this week. New Delhi: OnePlus launched its premium OnePlus Buds Pro 2 wireless earbuds in India in February 2023. The premium wearable device has received a price drop. Notably, it is one of the first TWS earbuds to adopt Googles signature spatial audio feature developed for Android 13, creating a multi-dimensional experience within a pair of tiny earbuds. The Chinese smartphone manufacturer rolled out the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, which claims to have a total battery life of up to 39 hours (ANC turned off) with the charging case, at Rs 11,999 in India. The earbuds have received a price cut of Rs 2,000. Now, consumers can purchase OnePlus Buds Pro 2 wireless earbuds at Rs 9,999 in India. Moreover, the company is also offering an instant discount of Rs 1,000 on ICICI Bank credit cards. (Also Read: Vivo V30 Launched Globally With Triple 50MP Camera Setup, Check Specs, Display And More) It is available in two colour options: Obsidian Black and Arbor Green. OnePlus Buds Pro 2 Specifications The wireless earbuds are equipped with adaptive noise cancellation (ANC), ensuring a personalized and immersive sound environment by dynamically adjusting to the surrounding noise levels. With Bluetooth 5.3 wireless connectivity, they guarantee a seamless and stable connection while also enabling efficient power consumption for extended usage. The earbuds come with touch controls for easy and convenient operation, complemented by three microphones to ensure clear and crisp communication. Collaborating with Google, the Spatial Audio feature further elevates the auditory experience, providing a sense of three-dimensional sound space. Also, the earbuds sport an IPX4 rating, making them resistant to water and dust, ensuring durability and reliability in various environments. (Also Read: Apple Plans To Buy AI Startup To Strengthen Its Vision Pro: Report) One unique and innovative feature sets these earbuds aparta cervical spine health monitoring function. This cutting-edge technology actively monitors cervical spine pressure, promoting good posture and aligning with ColorOS 11.0-powered smartphones. Copa Holdings, S.A. (NYSE:CPA), might not be a large cap stock, but it saw a significant share price rise of 20% in the past couple of months on the NYSE. The recent rally in share prices has nudged the company in the right direction, though it still falls short of its yearly peak. As a mid-cap stock with high coverage by analysts, you could assume any recent changes in the companys outlook is already priced into the stock. But what if there is still an opportunity to buy? Lets examine Copa Holdingss valuation and outlook in more detail to determine if theres still a bargain opportunity. See our latest analysis for Copa Holdings What Is Copa Holdings Worth? The share price seems sensible at the moment according to our price multiple model, where we compare the company's price-to-earnings ratio to the industry average. Weve used the price-to-earnings ratio in this instance because theres not enough visibility to forecast its cash flows. The stocks ratio of 9.98x is currently trading slightly below its industry peers ratio of 10.42x, which means if you buy Copa Holdings today, youd be paying a reasonable price for it. And if you believe that Copa Holdings should be trading at this level in the long run, then theres not much of an upside to gain over and above other industry peers. Although, there may be an opportunity to buy in the future. This is because Copa Holdingss beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the companys shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity. What kind of growth will Copa Holdings generate? Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. Copa Holdings' earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 64%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value. Story continues What This Means For You Are you a shareholder? It seems like the market has already priced in CPAs positive outlook, with shares trading around industry price multiples. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the financial strength of the company. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at CPA? Will you have enough confidence to invest in the company should the price drop below the industry PE ratio? Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on CPA, now may not be the most advantageous time to buy, given it is trading around industry price multiples. However, the optimistic forecast is encouraging for CPA, which means its worth further examining other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop. So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing Copa Holdings at this point in time. For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Copa Holdings. If you are no longer interested in Copa Holdings, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. As the political turmoil continues in the Maldives, the island nation's two main opposition parties--the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and The Democrats Party--have chosen not to attend the presidential statement scheduled for February 5, Maldives-based media outlet Mihaaru reported. The majority-holding MDP in parliament has not yet disclosed the purpose of the boycott. However, the Democrats released a statement explaining their decision to abstain from the meeting due to the re-appointment of the three ministers who had been rejected by parliament. It is the first session of Parliament this year. The presidential statement will be made on Monday at 9 a.m. by Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, according to Mihaaru. According to the outlet, more than one member of the MDP parliamentary group has confirmed the decision. The President is required by the Constitution to address Parliament at the first session of the first term of the year, outlining the state of the nation and outlining his recommendations for how to bring improvements. Quite recently, two opposition parties in the Maldives came out against the current regime over its 'stark' anti-India pivot. The Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and The Democrats jointly issued a joint press statement, labelling the shift in foreign policy as 'extremely detrimental' to the country's long-term development. The statement served to reassert and affirm the opposition's belief that "alienating any development partner, and especially the country's most long-standing ally will be extremely detrimental to the long-term development of the country". The opposition further underscored that "stability and security in the Indian Ocean is vital to the stability and security of the Maldives." Both the MDP and The Democrats emphasised the critical need for consecutive governments to maintain the ability "to work with all development partners for the benefit of the people of the Maldives, as the Maldives has traditionally done". Just three days ahead of the national elections in Pakistan, at least 10 personnel were killed and six were injured in a terror attack on a police station in Dera Ismail Khan of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The terrorists attacked the police stations around 3am with heavy weapons and caught the officials unprepared inflicting heavy casualties. In the recent years, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed many terror attacks. The wounded individuals have been transferred to DHQ Hospital, according to information from Geo News. The police reported that the assailants launched an attack on the police station using grenades and intense gunfire from all directions. Although the police responded with counterfire, the terrorists managed to escape under the cover of darkness during the night. Police forces have implemented a cordoned-off perimeter around the area and initiated a search operation to apprehend the escaping militants. Additionally, the quick response force, supported by additional reinforcements, has arrived on the scene.. Pakistan has seen a surge in terror attacks with at least 93 militant attacks taking place in the country in January this year, in which 90 people were killed and 135 injured. Moreover, 15 individuals have been reportedly abducted in January 2024. The data was released by an Islamabad-based think tank, the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS). jetcityimage / iStock.com Need to grab a few articles of clothing this February? Shoppers heading to Costco will find unbeatable clothing deals for every member of the family. From ladies jackets to mens joggers and kids tops and pants, there is a must-have for everyone at prices youll love. Save the dates for these clothing items while theyre still on sale! Here are Costcos best nine clothing deals. View: 11 Pantry Items To Buy at Dollar Tree Learn: How To Get $340 a Year in Cash Back for Things You Already Buy Costco undefinedundefinedundefined Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief. Costco undefinedundefined Costco undefined Costco undefinedundefined Costco undefined Costco undefinedundefined Costco undefined Costco undefinedundefined Costco undefinedundefinedundefinedundefinedundefined This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Costco: 9 Best Clothing Deals in February 2024 A couple started out with about $45 between them. Over their 23 years together, they've paid off $350,000 of debt. Mina and Joe Coleman made about $250,000 a year and had $350,000 in mortgages. Then they decided to rent out their townhome and live on a boat with their three children. The couple now make less money and continue to split finances as Mina Coleman makes a career pivot. This is part of our series Splitting the Difference, which examines the financial lives of couples. For Joe and Mina Coleman, it made sense to combine finances at the beginning of their relationship since the entirety of their assets amounted to the jar of coins that Joe had saved up through college. "We had about $45," Joe Coleman said. The couple met in Montauk, New York in 2001, during Mina Coleman's semester abroad from Bulgaria, at a time when her future husband was working on his brother's commercial fishing boat. He finished architecture school, and the couple exhausted their resources going back and forth between Bulgaria and the US before deciding to get married and move into his parents' basement in Fairfax County, Virginia. They purchased their first property with loans from family members: a townhome outside Washington, DC, that cost $190,000 in 2013 (in 2023, it has appreciated to about $400,000). They share bank accounts and consider all income shared Since then, they've kept shared bank accounts one savings and one checking account in the US and a single account in Bulgaria putting their varying income streams into the same pot and covering expenses from the same pool. As a couple, they've taken on debt for a townhome, two houses, two boats, a tractor, three cars, and Mina Coleman's nursing degree. Their first investment as a couple was for a mortgage on a house purchased for $280,000 in 2013 (with help from family members on the down payment) that they eventually paid off and sold for $420,000 in 2019. That sale relieved $350,000 of debt and allowed them to purchase and live on a boat with their three children for the next three years. Story continues There have been times over the years when they've earned incomes closer in range, but today, living back on land, Joe Coleman brings in the bulk of income as they try to build an overseas business. Regardless of who is the current breadwinner, they treat all income as shared, and expenses from groceries and kids clothing to travel and home renovations are treated as shared as well. Before the couple launched their boat-life chapter with their three children (then ages 9, 11, and 13), he was working as a regional director for facility management, earning a salary in the low six figures, plus a bonus, and she worked as a registered nurse, earning $60,000 a year. Jared Soares for BI After they bought a boat, he kept his job for two years, flying out of airports up and down the East Coast of the US to visit higher-education institutions during the week. His income, along with $1,600 of pretax income from renting out their townhouse in the suburbs of Washington which is paid off, though they're still making loan payments to a family member supported them while they lived on a sailboat and went up and down the East Coast and down into the Caribbean. They find creative ways to keep costs low They kept costs low by anchoring to avoid paying marina fees, which can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,500 a month for a boat as big as theirs. At one point, after selling their boat at a small profit, which allowed them to purchase a catamaran, they also lived in a boatyard while repairing and restoring it. "We used the showers that they use in case of emergencies if somebody spilled chemicals in their eyes," Mina Coleman said. On the seas, they found among the wide variety of boat families that they were considered middle income. "You meet people that have more money than they know what to do with," Joe Coleman said. "We are kind of at the lower middle income, and then you see people that have a boat that looks like it barely floats, and they use an outboard," he said, referring to a type of detachable motor typically used on small watercraft. While cruising in the Caribbean, they saved money by cooking everything including making their own crackers from scratch. They also homeschooled their kids and picked up odd jobs to boost their cash flow. When a rift emerged in the family over whether to go farther out to sea across the Pacific, they decided to sell the catamaran, making a profit in June 2022 thanks to post-lockdown demand. They're looking toward the future and thinking optimistically Jared Soares for BI Today, Mina Coleman works as a freelance writer and blogger , earning affiliate income of less than $100 some months, and he works as a product coordinator, making less than six figures. "Right now, we are not where we want to be financially, but we will get there," she said. She's being supported in her freelance business by her husband, along with the income from the rental property they co-own. Altogether, they earn about half what they did before quitting their jobs to sail. They dream of getting a Bulgarian brewery up and running in the next few years and letting their home in the Shenandoah mountain ridge continue to appreciate. Whatever their financial fortunes, they'll split the winnings and losses evenly. "If we go down, we go down together," Mina Coleman said. Business Insider confirmed the couple's transactions and debt. Read the original article on Business Insider Delta Air Lines DAL is set to augment its winter 2024 offerings with increased flight services to destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The expansion involves the launch of routes from major hubs, including Atlanta, New York-JFK and Minneapolis/St. Paul, to popular tourist destinations, such as Barbados, Puerto Plata and Mazatlan, and increased flights to Curacao. Joe Esposito, Deltas senior vice president of network planning, emphasizes the significance of the expanded schedule in providing customers with an extensive array of choices, totaling up to 1,000 weekly flights to diverse locations in Latin America and the Caribbean. The most notable additions will include daily service from Atlanta to Barbados starting from Nov 23, 2024, with Saturday-only flights from New York-JFK commencing from Dec 21. Additionally, daily service from Atlanta to Puerto Plata begins on Nov 23, whereas Minneapolis/St. Paul will see three times weekly flights to Mazatlan from Dec 21. Responding to growing interest, Delta will increase its flights to Curacao from Saturday-only to daily services beginning from Nov 23. These expansions will not only cater to customers' wanderlust but will also position Delta as a key player in connecting global travelers to these sought-after destinations. Delta's strategic move aligns with the expected resurgence in the travel industry as restrictions ease. Positive trends in travel demand can boost the airline's revenues and, consequently, its stock performance. Investors may view this expansion as a positive indicator of the airline's confidence in the recovery of the airline industry. In conclusion, Delta's expansion into Latin America and the Caribbean reflects a proactive response to increasing travel demand. The move not only strengthens its market presence but also signals potential positive impacts on the DAL stock, given the stronger-than-expected rebound in air travel demand. Story continues Zacks Rank & Key Picks Delta currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked airline companies are Air Canada ACDVF and SkyWest SKYW, both currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Air Canada is gaining from an uptick in passenger traffic. Recently, management announced plans to launch a year-round route between Montreal and Madrid. The service will commence in May 2024 as part of its expanded international summer 2024 flying schedule to cater to increased demand. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ACDVFs 2024 earnings has increased 10.5% over the past 60 days. SkyWest's fleet modernization efforts are commendable. Initiatives to reward its shareholders also bode well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SKYWs first-quarter 2024 earnings has risen 1.5% in the past 60 days. Disclaimer: This article has been written with the assistance of Generative AI. However, the author has reviewed, revised, supplemented, and rewritten parts of this content to ensure its originality and the precision of the incorporated information. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report SkyWest, Inc. (SKYW) : Free Stock Analysis Report Air Canada (ACDVF) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The website of Yemeni news agency ANN has published an analytical article on the upcoming 7 February snap presidential elections in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. The article brings to the readers' attention that the extraordinary presidential elections will be held in the conditions of full ensuring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan after the 44-day Patriotic War of 2020 and anti-terrorist activities of local character in September last year in Garabagh. "In September 2023, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces forced the Armenian separatists in Garabagh to surrender and the tricolour flag of Azerbaijan was raised in Khankandi after 30 years of occupation. Thus, the new political reality that has emerged in the South Caucasus region has been further strengthened," the publication says. The article says that 7 candidates will fight for the post of President of Azerbaijan in the elections, and also contains information about the establishment of polling stations in diplomatic missions of Azerbaijan operating in foreign countries, including Arab states. Insiders were net buyers of The Descartes Systems Group Inc.'s (TSE:DSG ) stock during the past year. That is, insiders bought more stock than they sold. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. View our latest analysis for Descartes Systems Group Descartes Systems Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year The President & COO John Pagan made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for CA$3.3m worth of shares at a price of CA$104 each. We do like to see buying, but this purchase was made at well below the current price of CA$120. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! Descartes Systems Group is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Does Descartes Systems Group 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. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Descartes Systems Group insiders own about CA$35m worth of shares. That equates to 0.3% of the company. 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 Do The Descartes Systems Group Insider Transactions Indicate? The fact that there have been no Descartes Systems Group insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. Overall we don't see anything to make us think Descartes Systems Group insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. Therefore, you should definitely take a look at this FREE report showing analyst forecasts for Descartes Systems Group. Story continues Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Many investors are still learning about the various metrics that can be useful when analysing a stock. This article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE). We'll use ROE to examine Douglas Dynamics, Inc. (NYSE:PLOW), by way of a worked example. Return on Equity or ROE is a test of how effectively a company is growing its value and managing investors money. Put another way, it reveals the company's success at turning shareholder investments into profits. Check out our latest analysis for Douglas Dynamics How To Calculate Return On Equity? The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Douglas Dynamics is: 12% = US$28m US$237m (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023). The 'return' refers to a company's earnings over the last year. Another way to think of that is that for every $1 worth of equity, the company was able to earn $0.12 in profit. Does Douglas Dynamics Have A Good Return On Equity? One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. You can see in the graphic below that Douglas Dynamics has an ROE that is fairly close to the average for the Machinery industry (15%). roe That isn't amazing, but it is respectable. Even if the ROE is respectable when compared to the industry, its worth checking if the firm's ROE is being aided by high debt levels. If so, this increases its exposure to financial risk. To know the 2 risks we have identified for Douglas Dynamics visit our risks dashboard for free. How Does Debt Impact Return On Equity? Most companies need money -- from somewhere -- to grow their profits. That cash can come from issuing shares, retained earnings, or debt. In the first two cases, the ROE will capture this use of capital to grow. In the latter case, the debt required for growth will boost returns, but will not impact the shareholders' equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used. Story continues Combining Douglas Dynamics' Debt And Its 12% Return On Equity Douglas Dynamics clearly uses a high amount of debt to boost returns, as it has a debt to equity ratio of 1.24. Its ROE is quite low, even with the use of significant debt; that's not a good result, in our opinion. Investors should think carefully about how a company might perform if it was unable to borrow so easily, because credit markets do change over time. Conclusion Return on equity is one way we can compare its business quality of different companies. In our books, the highest quality companies have high return on equity, despite low debt. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better. Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. Profit growth rates, versus the expectations reflected in the price of the stock, are a particularly important to consider. So you might want to take a peek at this data-rich interactive graph of forecasts for the company. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Elon Musk, the visionary behind Tesla and SpaceX, is also known for his distinct approach to family, as detailed in his biography by Walter Isaacson. The book sheds light on Musks rationale for having multiple children with different women, emphasizing his belief in the need for intelligent people to procreate. Shivon Zilis, a senior executive at Neuralink Corp. a company Musk helped to establish played a pivotal role in this narrative. Initially contemplating sperm donation for childbirth, Zilis was persuaded by Musk to consider him as the donor, a proposal that aligned with Musks advocacy for procreation among the intellectually inclined. He really wants smart people to have kids, so he encouraged me to, Zilis said. Don't Miss: Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved? The percentage may shock you . Average retirement income in America has been revealed Will you make enough each month? When faced with the choice between an anonymous donor and Musk, whom she greatly admires, Zilis described the decision as straightforward. If the choice is between an anonymous donor or doing it with the person you admire more in the world, for me it was a pretty f***king easy decision, she said. This arrangement, according to Zilis, was also perceived as something that would "make him very, very happy." Initially, she said that she didn't expect him to be very involved he is the father to multiple other children with two other women. In the biography, she explains she assumed he would take on a more "godfatherly" role to the twins. However, he has been actively involved in their lives. Trending: Are you rich? Heres what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy. Their decision to have children together, despite not being in a romantic relationship, stems from Musks broader concerns about the global decline in population. He has frequently voiced the importance of reversing this trend, especially among those with high intelligence, viewing it as crucial for civilizations survival. Story continues In July 2022, Musk took to X to express his commitment to addressing the underpopulation crisis, posting, Doing my best to help the underpopulation crisis. A collapsing birth rate is the biggest danger civilization faces by far. The post was just one day after Insider reported on court documents detailing how Musk and Zilis petitioned for their twins names to be changed to include Musk's surname and incorporate Zilis' last name into their middle name, according to Forbes. On Jan. 29, Musk took a significant step with Neuralink, announcing the first successful implantation of a "brain-reading" device in a person, marking a milestone in merging human cognition with technology. This advancement, coupled with his unique approach to family, highlights his multifaceted strategy to foster a smarter, more capable future generation. Musks life, straddling groundbreaking technological innovations and personal choices like fathering children with "smart people," reflects his complex approach to solving global challenges, from combating population decline to pioneering brain-computer interfaces. Read Next: The average American couple has saved this much money for retirement How do you compare ? How to turn a $100,000 investment into $1 Million and retire a millionaire. "ACTIVE INVESTORS' SECRET WEAPON" Supercharge Your Stock Market Game with the #1 "news & everything else" trading tool: Benzinga Pro - Click here to start Your 14-Day Trial Now! Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Elon Musk Had Twins With His Top Neuralink Executive, But They Never Dated She Explains 'He Wants Smart People To Have Kids, So He Encouraged Me To' And He's The Person She 'Admires Most In The World' originally appeared on Benzinga.com 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Wilmington, Delaware--(Newsfile Corp. - February 5, 2024) - In a landmark move, Emapta, a leading global outsourcing services company, has announced its ambitious growth plans in North Macedonia. The announcement came during a presentation attended by the President of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski, the director of the Directorate for Technological Industrial Development Zones (TIDZ), Jovan Despotovski and Emapta's Head of Europe, Inge Zwick. This new venture is set to significantly boost the local economy and employment sector. Emapta plans to open an office in the business space in TIRZ Skopje 1, aiming to employ over 850 young professionals in the next five years. By the end of the expansion period, the company anticipates allocating more than 15 million euros annually for salaries alone. Prime Minister Kovacevski expressed his pride and optimism regarding this development: "We are introducing a new approach to diversification of investments with Emapta's expansion. This is a significant stride in our nation's journey towards global integration, offering our youth the opportunity to work for world-class companies and become part of the global marketplace." Emapta, known for its extensive outsourcing network across Europe, South America, Australia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and New Zealand, serves a portfolio of over 750 client companies with a workforce of over 7,500 employees. Recognized as one of the best employers in Asia by HR Asia, Emapta offers a wide range of professional outsourcing services, encompassing sectors like IT, medical, telecommunications, software engineering, finance, and sales. "We are excited to unlock this tremendous potential in North Macedonia and contribute to the nation's growth and development," said Inge Zwick for Emapta. "Our investment here is not just about business expansion; it's about nurturing talent and creating opportunities for local professionals to shine on a global stage, without the need to leave their home countries." Story continues This expansion aligns with the government's vision of creating a favorable environment for foreign investors and strengthening the economic landscape of North Macedonia. About Emapta: Emapta is an ISO-certified global talent solutions provider trusted by hundreds of businesses across industries and geographies. With a presence across Southeast Asia, East Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, Emapta specializes in delivering top talent tailored to meet the staffing needs of companies worldwide. For more information about the company, visit www.emapta.com For more information about Emapta, please visit www.emapta.com. Contact Information: Kassy Rosewitz kassy.rosewitz@emapta.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/196660 Key Insights Using the Dividend Discount Model, Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad fair value estimate is RM3.86 With RM4.60 share price, Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value Industry average of 88% suggests Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad's peers are currently trading at a higher premium to fair value Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad (KLSE:HAPSENG) as an investment opportunity by taking the forecast future cash flows of the company and discounting them back to today's value. We will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model on this occasion. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad Crunching The Numbers We have to calculate the value of Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad slightly differently to other stocks because it is a industrials company. Instead of using free cash flows, which are hard to estimate and often not reported by analysts in this industry, dividends per share (DPS) payments are used. This often underestimates the value of a stock, but it can still be good as a comparison to competitors. We use the Gordon Growth Model, which assumes dividend will grow into perpetuity at a rate that can be sustained. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a company's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In this case we used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.6%). The expected dividend per share is then discounted to today's value at a cost of equity of 11%. Relative to the current share price of RM4.6, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. Story continues Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate) = RM0.3 / (11% 3.6%) = RM3.9 dcf The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad 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 11%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.105. 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 Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad Strength Debt is well covered by earnings. Dividend is in the top 25% of dividend payers in the market. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Current share price is above our estimate of fair value. Opportunity HAPSENG's financial characteristics indicate limited near-term opportunities for shareholders. Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine HAPSENG's earnings prospects. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Dividends are not covered by cash flow. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad, we've compiled three further items you should look at: Risks: For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Hap Seng Consolidated Berhad (1 is a bit concerning) you should be aware of. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! Other Top Analyst Picks: Interested to see what the analysts are thinking? Take a look at our interactive list of analysts' top stock picks to find out what they feel might have an attractive future outlook! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian 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. Key Insights Using the Dividend Discount Model, Eumundi Group fair value estimate is AU$0.96 With AU$1.15 share price, Eumundi Group appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value How far off is Eumundi Group Limited (ASX:EBG) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow. Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. 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 Eumundi Group Is Eumundi Group Fairly Valued? As Eumundi Group operates in the hospitality sector, we need to calculate the intrinsic value slightly differently. In this approach dividends per share (DPS) are used, as free cash flow is difficult to estimate and often not reported by analysts. Unless a company pays out the majority of its FCF as a dividend, this method will typically underestimate the value of the stock. The 'Gordon Growth Model' is used, which simply assumes that dividend payments will continue to increase at a sustainable growth rate forever. The dividend is expected to grow at an annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 2.1%. We then discount this figure to today's value at a cost of equity of 9.4%. Relative to the current share price of AU$1.1, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate) Story continues = AU$0.07 / (9.4% 2.1%) = AU$1.0 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 Eumundi Group 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 9.4%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.462. 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 Eumundi Group Strength Debt is well covered by earnings. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Hospitality market. Current share price is above our estimate of fair value. Shareholders have been diluted in the past year. Opportunity Significant insider buying over the past 3 months. Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine EBG's earnings prospects. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Dividends are not covered by earnings and cashflows. Next Steps: Whilst important, the DCF calculation shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Eumundi Group, we've put together three further elements you should further research: Risks: For example, we've discovered 7 warning signs for Eumundi Group (3 can't be ignored!) that you should be aware of before investing here. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for EBG's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. 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. By Tim Hepher and Valerie Insinna (Reuters) -Boeing Co said on Sunday it will have to do more work on about 50 undelivered 737 MAX airplanes, potentially delaying some near-term deliveries, after its supplier Spirit AeroSystems discovered two mis-drilled holes on some fuselages. Boeing confirmed the findings in response to a Reuters query after industry sources said an "edge margin", or spacing problem, had been found in holes drilled on a window frame on some jets. Boeing, which has been under fire from regulators and airlines since the Jan. 5 blowout of a door plug on a 737 MAX 9, said safety was unaffected and existing 737s could keep flying. "This past Thursday, a supplier notified us of a non-conformance in some 737 fuselages. I want to thank an employee at the supplier who flagged to his manager that two holes may not have been drilled exactly to our requirements," Boeing Commercial Airplanes CEO Stan Deal said in a letter to staff referring to Spirit, which is the sole 737 fuselage supplier. "While this potential condition is not an immediate flight safety issue and all 737s can continue operating safely, we currently believe we will have to perform rework on about 50 undelivered airplanes," Deal said in the letter, first reported exclusively by Reuters. Spirit spokesperson Joe Buccino told Reuters that as part of its 360-degree quality management program, a member of its team identified an issue that did not conform to engineering standards. "We are in close communication with Boeing on this matter," he said. Deal said Boeing plans to devote several "factory days" this week at the Renton 737 plant outside Seattle to work on the mis-aligned holes and finish off other outstanding work. Such days allow teams to pause normal work and attend to specific tasks without shutting production. The amount of rework time is expected to be finalised in coming days. It is the latest effort by Boeing to tighten its operations after the blowout on an Alaska Airlines jet threw the spotlight on quality controls. Story continues Investigators, who have been examining whether the bolts on the Alaska Airlines door plug were missing or badly fitted, are expected to issue an interim report this week. At the same time, Boeing has asked a major supplier, which it did not identify, to halt shipments until jobs have been completed to specification, Deal said. "While this delay in shipment will affect our production schedule, it will improve overall quality and stability." Boeing said parts that already conform to the right specification can continue to be shipped. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had no immediate comment. QUALITY DEFECT The U.S. regulator has ordered Boeing to cap 737 production at the current rate of 38 jets a month for an undefined period while it addresses quality lapses, deferring the increases in production needed to meet rising demand for new jets. So far, Boeing has said it will keep buying parts from suppliers at previously planned higher rates in order to cushion the impact they face from the freeze in production growth. The 737 MAX checks focus on potentially sloppy positioning of two holes on a window frame assembly supplied by Spirit, a condition known as "short edge margin," the industry sources said. Edge margins, or the gap between a fastener and the edge of a metal sheet, have to meet strict specifications designed to minimise the risk of metal fatigue over the long term. In the past, the FAA has occasionally ordered inspections for cracks resulting from fastener holes being mis-drilled. As of Friday, the "non-conformance" or quality defect had been found in 22 fuselages out of 47 inspected up to that point, spread between Boeing and Spirit, and may exist in some 737s in service, the sources said. The findings came to light in a routine notification known as a Notice of Escapement, in which suppliers notify Boeing of any known or suspected quality slip, the sources said. Such quality reports are common in aerospace but the discovery comes as Boeing and its best-selling jet are under the microscope following the Alaska Airlines emergency. The U.S. planemaker last month urged suppliers to intensify checks and told them it is "imperative" that they meet quality requirements, according to a memo seen by Reuters. People familiar with the matter said Boeing and Spirit have yet to come with an agreed position on how many of the mis-drilled holes have to be addressed, and how many of the errors are so slight that the fuselages can be used "as is". Spirit, spun off from Boeing in 2005, is due to unveil earnings on Tuesday. Boeing 737s are assembled in Renton outside Seattle from fuselages shipped by train from Sprit in Wichita, Kansas. (Reporting by Tim Hepher in Paris and Valerie Insinna in Washington; Additional reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Tom Hogue, Gerry Doyle and Jamie Freed) British Ambassador Fergus Auld has expressed his admiration for Azerbaijan, calling the country a priceless treasure trove in an interview with ASAN Radio, Azernews reports. Fergus Auld noted that the period of living in Ganja helped him to better understand the country's way of life and culture. Diplomat considers Azerbaijan a country with beautiful people and unique nature. The ambassador spoke of his love for Azerbaijani cuisine, including Shaki piti and Lankaran turshu kebab. "In my free time I like to travel outside Baku, to explore other parts of Azerbaijan," Auld said. The diplomat shared his experience of travelling to different parts of Azerbaijan, including the territories liberated from occupation. "I have already visited Gubadli, Fuzuli, Zangilan and Aghdam. I have not been to Shusha, but I very much hope to visit this city if I receive an invitation," the ambassador said. Fergus Auld noted that he feels a warm welcome wherever he goes in Azerbaijan. "There is a special bond between Azerbaijan and the UK. It is manifested in relations between people, governments and business circles," he said. The Ambassador expressed confidence that Azerbaijan and the UK will support each other at every important stage. By Summer Zhen HONG KONG (Reuters) - Chinese brokerages, including state-owned behemoth China International Capital Corp (CICC), have restricted the amount of cross-border swap transactions domestic investors can undertake, as authorities seek to defend the weak stock market, according to six sources familiar with the matter. Since Monday, domestic CICC clients cannot add new positions via total return swaps, to make overseas investments, as the broker seeks to limit its derivatives book, said the sources. Three sources said at least three other major Chinese state brokerages have taken a similar approach. A total return swap (TRS) is a financial derivative contract where one party agrees to pay or receive the total return of an underlying asset in exchange for a fixed or variable financing rate from the other party. It has been a popular over the counter (OTC) cross-border derivative for Chinese onshore funds, especially hedge funds, to access offshore stock markets, effectively side-stepping restrictions on capital flows. The restrictions could thwart domestic fund managers who were tapping TRS to short-sell offshore China stocks, such as China A50-related contracts, one source with direct knowledge of the curbs said. This will also allow brokers to limit overall exposure to derivatives, he said. CICC is among 10 major brokerages in China licensed to provide TRS services, and is a top player. CICC did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment. The measures come as China's stock market faces renewed pressure and plumbs multi-year lows. The country's securities regulator has vowed to prevent abnormal market fluctuations and crack down on "ill-intended short selling". China's blue-chip CSI300 Index tumbled nearly 5% last week to the lowest since early 2019, amid signs of panic selling and forced liquidation of leveraged trades. The outstanding balance of cross-border OTC derivatives at Chinese brokerages, including TRS and OTC options, amounted to 825.4 billion yuan ($114.7 billion) by the end of November 2023, up 8.5% from October, according to official data published by Chinese newspaper Securities Times. Story continues Shorting Chinese equities has been a crowded trade among global funds seeking to profit from the woes of the world's second-largest economy. Chinese authorities have been ramping up efforts to stem the selloff in Chinese stocks, including suspension of lending of restricted shares for short selling and curbs on leveraged stock trades. A brokerage source said the firm had been limiting the new volume of cross-border TRS business since late last year, when regulators told brokers to curtail leverage for derivatives. ($1 = 7.1974 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Summer Zhen, Selena Li and Xie Yu in Hong Kong, and Reuters Shanghai newsroom; Editing by Vidya Ranganathan and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For the sixth consecutive year, Gail Roberts, Ed Feijo & Team has earned its spot as the No.1 small sales team (1-3 members) nationwide for Coldwell Banker, based on adjusted gross commission income in 2023. The Global Luxury sales team is affiliated with the Coldwell Banker Realty office in Cambridge. Team members (l to r) Victoria Kennedy, Gail Roberts and Ed Feijo "Gail, Ed and their award-winning team are real estate industry leaders in New England, known for representing some of the most beautiful homes in Massachusetts. I am proud to commend them for their impressive ranking as a No. 1 team for six years strong," said Kamini Lane, president and CEO of Coldwell Banker Realty. Gail Roberts, Ed Feijo & Team surpassed more than $197 million in closed sales volume in 2023. To date, the team has achieved more than $1.6 billion in career sales volume. The team is skilled at working with buyers and sellers at all price ranges, from entry-level homes to high-end luxury properties. "Gail and Ed have built an impeccable reputation throughout the Cambridge area as market experts who never fail to provide unsurpassed service to their clients. I am thrilled to congratulate them on this impressive recognition as the top small Coldwell Banker team in the nation," said Pauline Bennett, regional president, Northeast, Coldwell Banker Realty. Roberts and Feijo offer clients decades of experience and world-class service, which has earned them numerous accolades throughout the years. They are selected members of the International Luxury Alliance, an elite group of luxury sales professionals from around the globe. Gail Roberts, Ed Feijo & Team has been honored by Real Trends as one of the top real estate teams in both Massachusetts and the United States. Gail Roberts, Ed Feijo & Team is a perennial recipient of Coldwell Banker's highest award, the International Society of Excellence, and has also been honored by the company for rental transactions. Story continues Both Roberts and Feijo are dedicated to giving back to their local community. Roberts sits on multiple non-profit boards including the New England Innocence Project, UNICEF USA, Cambridge Community Foundation, Huntington Theater, Overseers of Mount Auburn Hospital, and Furnishing Hope of Massachusetts. Feijo sits on the board of directors for Cambridge Community Foundation, Center for Coastal Studies, Furnishing Hope of Massachusetts, and Overseers of Mount Auburn Hospital. For more information about buying or selling a home, contact Gail Roberts, Ed Feijo & Team at 617-844-2712 or gail@gailroberts.com. Coldwell Banker Realty is located at 1000 Massachusetts Ave. Ste. 134, Cambridge, MA 02138-1804. See area listings at www.gailroberts.com. About Coldwell Banker Realty in New England Coldwell Banker Realty in New England is the largest residential real estate brokerage company in New England. With approximately 6,800 affiliated agents and 100 office locations, the organization serves consumers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut. Coldwell Banker Realty is owned by a subsidiary of Anywhere Real Estate Inc. (NYSE:HOUS), the largest full-service residential real estate services company in the United States. For more information, visit ColdwellBankerHomes.com. Media Contact: Kevin Guhl, kevin.guhl@cbhomeoffice.com 973-407-5916 CB Realty Logo (PRNewsfoto/Coldwell Banker Realty) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gail-roberts-ed-feijo--team-honored-as-no-1-coldwell-banker-sales-team-1-3-members-in-us-for-sixth-consecutive-year-302053451.html SOURCE Coldwell Banker Realty Transparency Market Research Gene synthesis contributes to the development of molecular diagnostics tools for disease detection and monitoring. Wilmington, Delaware, United States, Feb. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global gene synthesis market is estimated to flourish at a CAGR of 23.6% from 2023 to 2033. Transparency Market Research projects that the overall sales revenue for gene synthesis is estimated to reach US$ 14.2 billion by the end of 2033. With growing interest in space exploration, gene synthesis facilitates research into the adaptation of organisms to extraterrestrial environments. This includes studying extremophiles and designing synthetic organisms for potential life-support systems on other planets. Request for sample PDF copy of report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=43520 Some prominent players are as follows: GenScript Brooks Automation Inc. Boster Biological Technology Twist Bioscience ProteoGenix Inc. Biomatik ProMab Biotechnologies, Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Integrated DNA Technologies Inc. OriGene Technologies Inc. Gene synthesis technologies contribute to biosecurity efforts by enabling the synthesis and analysis of pathogen genomes for surveillance, diagnostics, and vaccine development, aiding in the detection and containment of infectious diseases. Integration of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms with gene synthesis platforms enhances design optimization, prediction of gene function, and automation of synthesis processes, improving efficiency and accuracy in gene design and synthesis workflows. Key Findings of the Market Report Solid-phase synthesis leads the gene synthesis market, offering efficient and scalable methods for synthesizing DNA sequences essential for various applications. Antibody DNA synthesis leads the gene synthesis market, meeting demands for custom antibodies crucial in diagnostics, therapeutics, and research. Gene & Cell Therapy Development leads the gene synthesis market, requiring custom DNA constructs for the development of innovative therapeutic interventions. Story continues Gene Synthesis Market Growth Drivers & Trends Continuous innovations in DNA synthesis and sequencing techniques drive growth in the gene synthesis market, enabling faster and more accurate synthesis of genes. Increasing demand for personalized therapeutics fuels the need for custom gene synthesis services, supporting precision medicine initiatives worldwide. Growth in biotech research and development activities increases the demand for gene synthesis services, driving market expansion globally. Gene synthesis finds applications in agricultural biotechnology, enhancing crop yields, disease resistance, and environmental sustainability. The burgeoning field of synthetic biology drives the need for gene synthesis technologies, enabling the design and engineering of novel biological systems and organisms. Ask Expert for the Research Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=ASK&rep_id=43520 Global Gene Synthesis Market: Regional Profile North America leads the gene synthesis landscape, driven by robust biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. The region hosts major players like Twist Bioscience, GenScript, and Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), leveraging cutting-edge technologies and extensive infrastructure. With a strong emphasis on research and development, North America's demand for custom DNA synthesis solutions remains high. Europe boasts a mature gene synthesis market, characterized by a strong scientific research community and technological expertise. Companies like Eurofins Genomics and Eurofins Scientific lead the landscape, offering a wide array of gene synthesis services. The region's focus on personalized medicine and bio-based industries fuels demand for advanced gene synthesis technologies, driving innovation and market expansion. The Asia Pacific region emerges as a rapidly growing market for gene synthesis, propelled by increasing investments in biotechnology and healthcare infrastructure. Countries like China, India, and Japan witness significant growth, driven by rising demand for synthetic genes in research, diagnostics, and therapeutic applications. Local players such as BGI Genomics and Thermo Fisher Scientific cater to diverse industry needs and evolving regulatory landscapes. Gene Synthesis Market: Competitive Landscape The gene synthesis market thrives amidst intense competition, with key players like Twist Bioscience, GenScript, and Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) leading the forefront. These companies offer cutting-edge technologies and services for custom DNA synthesis, addressing diverse research and industrial needs. Emerging contenders such as Eurofins Genomics and OriGene Technologies bring innovative solutions to the market, fostering competitiveness and driving advancements. Regional players like Thermo Fisher Scientific and Agilent Technologies contribute niche expertise and localized support. With increasing demand for synthetic genes in biotechnology, healthcare, and agriculture, competition intensifies, prompting companies to innovate, expand offerings, and enhance customer experiences in the dynamic gene synthesis landscape. Product Portfolio Twist Bioscience is a leading provider of synthetic DNA for biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. With its high-throughput silicon-based DNA synthesis platform, Twist offers customized DNA constructs, gene fragments, and oligonucleotides, enabling researchers to accelerate discoveries and drive innovation in molecular biology and synthetic biology applications. ProteoGenix Inc. specializes in custom peptide and antibody production services for life sciences research, diagnostics, and therapeutic development. With expertise in peptide synthesis, antibody production, and protein engineering, ProteoGenix delivers high-quality, tailored solutions to researchers worldwide, advancing discoveries in immunology, oncology, and beyond. Gene Synthesis Market: Key Segments By Method Solid-phase Synthesis Chip-based Synthesis PCR-based Enzyme Synthesis By Service Type Antibody DNA Synthesis Viral DNA Synthesis Other Service Types By Application Gene & Cell Therapy Development Vaccine Development Disease Diagnosis Others By End User Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Companies Academic & Government Research Institutes Contract Research Organizations By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Buy this Premium Research Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/checkout.php?rep_id=43520